Pedocestshipping (Roba x Ryori)

The day Ryori came along was the first day that Esper knew that they were all alone. Because that was the last day their mother came to the apartment, and she only stayed for five minutes. And when she left, Esper found one year old Ryori under the table. The next time their mother came to visit, the only reason they knew she had come was because Sojuro had been left outside the apartment and had started crying.

Their mother didn't come back again.

Every day was a nightmare. Esper tried desperately to hide the fact that their mother never came home, and that their father had been out of the picture for years. If the authorities found out, they would be sent to the halfway house, and it was more than likely that they would all be separated.

That was one thing that Esper could not allow. They had to stay together. They had to.

Sometimes, that put him at odds with his brothers.

"Why can't I go to Jiro's for the night?" Ryori shouted.

"Because what do you think will happen there? Jiro's parents will ask about ours!"

"You never let any of us do anything!"

"It's because I don't want us to get separated! Is that what you want?"

"Stop trying to be our mom!"

"If I'm not your mom, than we don't have one! So stop complaining, and what I say is final!"

Ryori screamed at him and fled into the shared bedroom. He locked the door behind him. Kyouto started complaining because he couldn't get to his Duel Monsters cards with the room locked. Sojuro started crying in that room because Roba couldn't get inside to feed him his formula.

It was a long, terrible day, made even worse by the stifling heat that their lack of air conditioning couldn't dispel.

It was night by the time the door opened timidly.

"Nii-chan?"

Roba had fallen asleep on the couch. He startled awake. Ryori's eyes glimmered in the dark.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Roba patted his head. Then he pulled the younger boy onto the couch, and they settled in next to each other, despite the heat. The closeness was necessary. They couldn't forget what was at stake.

"You know I love you guys, right?" Roba said.

"Mm-hm," Ryori said. "We love you too, nii-chan."

The days were nightmares, but the nights were sweet peace.


A/N: I have a very depressing view of Esper Roba. -_-'' But, but, but! Next is one of my OTPs!Wait for it...Peachshipping (Yugi x Anzu)!