Brothers
21
Ages
Hiro: 6
Tadashi: 12
Normal POV
"Whatcha doin Tadashi?" Hiro asked his older brother.
"Just looking for some kind of job I can do to earn money." Was his reply.
Hiro was bored just walking around outside doing nothing, so pestering his older brother with questions was all he could think of.
"Why are you trying to earn money?" Hiro asked.
"To get something." He replied, occupied in some flyer.
"What?" Hiro asked, clicking his tongue out of boredom.
"A part I need for this robot I'm building." Tadashi said, facing his brother for the first time. Hiro smiled back. "You found a job?" The little one asked, hoping they could go home now. Tadashi's smile fell. "No. Gah! What kind of job can a twelve year old possibly do?!" He cried out.
Hiro tapped his chin in thought. His face suddenly lit up and he gave his brother a megawatt smile, showing his teeth gap. "You can have the money from my piggy bank if you want. All of it!" he declared, as if he solved the problem. In one word, Tadashi was touched. He gave a goofy smile and pulled his little brother in for a ruffling session. Hiro pulled away and stuck his tongue out.
Tadashi laughed out loud. "Thanks Hiro. But I think I might still be a few bucks short even after your generous donation." The older boy said. Hiro's smile turned sheepish. "Sorry." Was all he had left to offer.
"Hey don't sweat it. I'll think of something." Tadashi assured. Hiro hit Tadashi lightly on his side. "Hey, that's my phrase. You can't steal it." He said. Tadashi smirked at him. "Don't sweat it! Don't sweat it! Don't sweat it!" he chanted, just to spite Hiro. The little one pounced on Tadashi, causing them to fall over.
"Ah! Hiro!" he cried with a laugh. Hiro crawled on top of Tadashi's laying form and wagged a finger in his face seriously. "Take it back." He demanded playfully. Tadashi refused, flipping them over and then tossing Hiro over his back. The younger of the two shrieked in surprise and then cried for Tadashi to let him go, trying to stifle his giggles.
"What was that Hiro?" Tadashi asked smugly. Hiro sighed in defeat. "Nothing. You win." He said. Tadashi chuckled and let Hiro down. "No! Now you have to carry me!" Hiro insisted. Tadashi raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?" he asked. "Because it's the rules." Hiro said, crossing his arms. "Well, if it's the rules." Tadashi said with a scoff, giving into Hiro. He placed his brother behind his shoulders and grabbed his legs for safety as they walked home.
Upon reaching the café, Tadashi let Hiro down on the couch while sulking next to him. Hiro crawled up to him and attempted to make him feel better. "Don't worry Tadashi. I'm sure you'll find a way to earn the money somehow. Even with a brain as small as yours." He says with a teasing smirk. Tadashi lets out a chuckle and leans his arm around his brother. "Thanks bonehead, but I doubt it. My brain's fried. There's just nothing a twelve year old can do to make money." He said with a sigh.
Hiro racked his brain for an idea while Tadashi left to the kitchen. "What would I do if I was Tadashi? Hmm… he's good with kids. He's really nice. Really caring and fun. Wait! That's it!' Hiro announced, running after his brother.
"Tadashi! Tadashi!" He cried in excitement. Tadashi released his grip from the cookie jar and turned attentively to his younger brother.
"What is it Hiro. You alright?!" He asked in alarm. Hiro waved his brother's motherly instincts away and got to the point. "Tadashi, I know what you can do to make money." Hiro said proudly. His older brother's motherly instincts were forgotten. "What?" he asks eagerly. "Babysitting. You'll be great at that." Hiro insisted. Tadashi thought about before breaking into a grin.
"Hiro, you're a genius!" Tadashi said in joy, picking his brother up and swinging him around the kitchen. "Yeah yeah, I know. Now put me down." Hiro said, fidgeting in Tadashi's hold.
"You sure you can do this?" Aunt Cass asked nervously.
"C'mon Aunt Cass, don't worry. It'll be a piece of cake. I take care of Hiro as it is." Tadashi reasoned. His aunt gulped and nodded. "You're right, it's just that I won't be here in case you need help and I wish I didn't have to go but this convention is- "Aunt Cass, don't even worry." Tadashi said, cutting her off. "Yeah, don't sweat it Aunt Cass." Hiro piped up to back his brother up. Aunt Cass giggled and patted Hiro's head. "Alright. Well take good care of the kid. This is your first job, so make sure you make a good impression on the parents." Aunt Cass advised.
"I will." Tadashi promised. "Yeah, I'll make sure he does. So you go to your convention and have fun." Hiro called, pushing his Aunt out the door. "Okay, I love you both!" She called as she left. "Love you too." They called, shutting the door.
"So how old is he? The kid you're watching." Hiro asked. "It's a girl and she's 4." Tadashi replied. Hiro wrinkled his nose. "Girl?" He questioned with distaste. "Yes girl. And you're going to be polite and on your best behavior." Tadashi warned. Hiro rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever." He replied, heading to his room.
The doorbell rang and Tadashi went to answer it. A young women, twenty at most, stood with a little girl. They had identical blonde curls and green eyes. The women gave Tadashi a friendly smile. "Hello. I'm Mrs. Franklin and this is my daughter Elizabeth." She said, gesturing to the small child. Tadashi gave her a warm smile and waved. The girl waved back a bit shyly.
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Like I said, I'll be gone for three hours tops." Mrs. Franklin said. "No problem. Have fun." Tadashi called to her, closing the door. He turned to face Elizabeth. "So are you ready to have some fun?" Tadashi asked. The girl looked down shyly and shrugged.
"Hey, how about we get to know each other better? I'll start. My name is Tadashi." He said kindly. Elizabeth cracked a light smile and held her hand out. "Mommy calls me Lizzy sometimes." She offers. Tadashi shook her hand, glad that they were getting along.
Half an hour must have at least passed before Hiro decided to come downstairs.
"Ah Hiro, you're just in time. Lizzy and I were going to play hide and seek. Wanna play?" Tadashi asks. "Hiro?" Lizzy questions.
"Oh right. Hiro, meet Lizzy. Lizzy, this is my brother Hiro. He's six." Tadashi introduces. Lizzy sticks her hand out for Hiro to shake, but he doesn't react. "Girls have cooties." He says flatly.
"Hiro, that wasn't very nice. Apologize." Tadashi says as Lizzy starts to sniffle. Hiro crosses his arms. "No way Tadashi. It's true. Ask anyone." His brother says stubbornly.
"Hiro I mean it. Cut it out with the nonsense and say you're sorry." Tadashi demands. Hiro rolls his eyes.
"Alright Lizzy. I'm sorry." He says with attitude. Lizzy doesn't seem to mind. That is, until Hiro speaks up.
"Sorry that you're a girl and have cooties." He says with his tongue sticking out. Tadashi gasped and Lizzy began to cry. "Hiro! Go to your room!" Tadashi commanded angrily, picking up the little girl. Hiro was taken aback. That wasn't how the six year old had expected things to go. He stomped all the way to his room in anger.
Hiro's POV
How could he yell at me like that? How dare he? Stupid Lizzie. Stupid girls in general. What am I even supposed to do now? I huffed and lay down in my bed, bored. I can't wait until this Lizzie girl goes away. Then Tadashi will just spend time with me. Just us two; the guys.
I stay in my room for what feels like forever before I head downstairs again. I hear laughter and sneak my way into the living room to see what's going on. I see Tadashi swinging Lizzie round and round and my blood boils. Who exactly did this girl think she was? Showing up and acting like Tadashi was her brother. News flash blondie, he's my brother.
I watch as she giggles in joy and Tadashi smiles. I glare at the sight and stomp into the room. Tadashi notices my presence and ignores me. I feel my walls crumble. "I'm sorry Lizzie. You probably don't have cooties." I say. At this point I'll say anything for Tadashi to quit spinning her around. My brother looks surprised at my apology.
"It's okay. We can be friends." Lizzie says all bubbly. I inwardly glare at her. Like heck we'll be friends.
"Tadashi, I want a turn." I say softly. "Don't worry Hiro. Lizzie's mom will pick her up in an hour or so. Then you can be spun as much as you want." Tadashi promised. My efforts are wasted as Tadashi continues playing with Lizzie.
"Tadashi, I'm bored. I want to do something too." I whine. He looks at me with a tired expression. "Hiro, I'm a bit busy. Can't you do something on your own for a while?" Tadashi asks. "Can't you just play with me for a few minutes? I mean, you've been with her for so long already." Hiro defends. He sighs, but comes toward me.
"Alright. I'll spin you, but then I've got to watch Lizzie okay?" He says sternly. I nod, happy that I got him to myself for a while. He's spinning me when Lizzie starts to sob. He puts me down instantly to my disappointment.
"Lizzie what's wrong? You okay?" he asks, concern all over his face. I frown. He's supposed to fuss over me like a mother hen, not some strange little girl.
"I wanna play." She whines. I roll my eyes. What a baby. She can't share Tadashi for more than a minute. I let her have him for two whole hours already. I want a turn.
"But Tadashi." I start, but he cuts me off with a look. "Hiro, just give me a sec okay?" He asks, ignoring me. I slump my shoulders and saunter upstairs.
She's young. That's gotta be how she's getting to Tadashi. I'll just have to look and act younger than. I rush to our closet and grab the clothes that make me look the most babyish. I find a red t-shirt with the words 'Bestest little brother' and slip it on. I practice my puppy dog face and then head back downstairs. Tadashi's feeding the she-demon dinner now. This my chance.
"Dashi, I'm hungry too. I haven't eaten yet." I pout. He looks at me with a slightly confused expression. He squints at my t-shirt. "Hiro, I thought you hated that shirt because it was grammatically incorrect." Tadashi points out. It's true. When Tadashi got it for me, I refused to wear it because it was babyish. I shrug. "I like it now. But I'm hungry Dashi." I say, emphasizing the nickname.
"Well you know where the food is. Help yourself." He simply says, going back to feeding Lizzie. I feel my efforts crumble once more and stomp to the cabinet to get a glass. As I open the cabinet, a glass falls without warning, straight on my foot. I cry out in pain and watch as blood pours out. Tadashi's at my side in an instant.
"Hiro, you okay?" he asks in concern.
"Yeah I'm fi- I mean OW! It hurts Dashi! It stings." I say, catching myself. Tadashi's finally paying me some attention. I can't let it go to waste. "It looks pretty bad. Nasty cut. Hang on, let me get the first aid kit." He says, rushing to the bathroom. I smile in victory.
He's back in a jiff, cleaning my foot up and wrapping it in a bandage. Then he cleans up the excess glass and pours me a glass of orange juice. "Feel better?" He asks, watching me carefully. I nod and smile. "Thanks." I say. He nods and goes back to feeding Lizzie.
That's it? Nothing else. No 'Hey Hiro, want to play? Want me to feed you too?' I frown again, but then an idea sparks in my brain.
I make sure Tadashi's occupied with Lizzie -which isn't hard to my dismay- and get a knife from the cabinet. I take a deep breath and lightly cut my right hand. I wince at the pain and clench my hand into a fist. Tadashi notices my pain and rushes over again.
"What is it Hiro? What happened?!" he asks. I look at him with my puppy dog face. "I think a piece of glass cut my hand from before." I lie, showing him my hand. He sighs. "God Hiro what am I gonna do with you?" he asks, but I catch the teasing in his voice. He wraps up my hand with a bandage and asks me how it feels.
"Stings a bit, but I can tough it out." I say.
"Do you think you can eat yourself?" he asks me. I shrug. "I think so, let me check." I say, grabbing a fork. I drop it for show and pretend to wince in sheer pain. "Wow, easy bonehead. I'll feed you. Lizzie's probably full anyway, right?" he asks. The blonde nods halfheartedly.
"Lizzie, why don't you go watch TV while I feed Hiro real quick okay?" Tadashi asks. She nods and rushes to the living room.
"So what do you want to eat, you big klutz?" Tadashi asks playfully. I smile happily. Finally Tadashi's back to his normal self.
"Anything is fine." I reply honestly.
Tadashi finishes feeding me all too soon and is back with Lizzie. I follow him as he sits next to her. "You want to play a game?" He asks. Lizzie nods shyly.
"Can I play too?" I ask, hopeful. Tadashi gives me a sympathetic smile. "Sorry Hiro. It's kind of a two player only game. But like I said, when Lizzie leaves, I'll play with you." He promises.
But I want to play now. An idea suddenly hits me. Tadashi always pays attention to me when I get hurt! If I injure myself, he'll come running without me even having to ask him.
I rush to the kitchen and open the pantry. I take a deep breath and slam it closed, while my one of my toes hits it painfully. I scream in pain and Tadashi's at my side in seconds. "Hiro, what happened?" he asks, observing my throbbing red toe. I sniffle. "The door hit my toe Dashi." I whine. He hugs me in an attempt to soothe me and I hug back.
"You'll be okay. It doesn't seem to be swelling so it should go away soon. You're okay, right?" He asks calmly. I frown at the fact that he's leaving so suddenly. I want him to stay. I look around, but can't find anything to help me so I resort to crying. Tadashi looks worried.
"D-Dashi, i-it hurts a l-lot." I blubber. He kneels down and hugs me again. "Don't worry Hiro, I'm right here. It'll be okay, I promise." He says. I melt into the hug, but I'm too selfish. I can't let him go. I know he needs the money, but I don't want him to babysit. He doesn't pay attention to me.
"Don't leave Nii-san." I beg. He widens his eyes. In all honesty, I haven't called him Dashi or Nii-san lately because I felt too old to keep saying it. But now that I know it gets his attention, I'm gonna keep doing it. Tadashi suddenly grabs me by the shoulders and narrows his eyes, frightening me.
"Hiro, what's this really about? You didn't hurt yourself on purpose did you?" he asks, a bit of anger in his tone. I gulp and look away from him.
"Hiro, look at me." He demands. I refuse and he sighs in frustration. "Hiro, why are you hurting yourself?!" He asks. I sniffle for real this time and I think Tadashi knows.
"B-because you won't pay me attention. You just keep playing with L-Lizzie." I bawl, smashing my face into his shoulder. He pats me on the back gently. "Hiro, she's only here for today. The other hundreds of days; I'm going spend with you. You know I love you right?" he asks. I sniffle again. "M-maybe sometimes." I choke out, turning away from him. He pulls me into him again.
"Hiro you bonehead don't hurt yourself to get my attention, okay? If you want me to pay attention to you, just tell me next time. I don't like seeing you in pain. Physical and emotional." He says.
I nod sheepishly. "Okay Tadashi." I promise.
"But hey, I didn't mind you calling me Dashi and wearing that t-shirt." He says teasingly. I blush and punch him in the side.
"That's for ruining the moment." I say with a smile of my own.
He laughs and hugs me yet again. "You're crazy, a klutz, and a bonehead, but I love you anyway." He says. I laugh. "You too Dashi. You too." I say, smiling widely as I hear the doorbell ring, indicating that Lizzie is out of here.
So, I started a different story about Hiro's friends from chapter 19 because people asked me to. I don't know if I'm going to continue that due to the fact that Strawberry has a crush on Hiro and I'm not good at writing mushy romance stuff. But if enough people want me to continue it, I will try. Anyways, check it out if you want, if not, that's cool too.
Also, someone asked me to do a chapter on Hiro getting hit on by some creepo dude for this story XD. I'll try to write that after the next chapter because I kinda already had an idea for the next one. Happy reading.
-Girl you wouldn't expect.