Disclaimer: I don't own Persona.
"It's good to have a big brother..."
Joker's ears perked up upon hearing the words that had been softly spoken to him. He gazed down at the person who had murmured them, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles.
Futaba was sitting alongside him on his bed. Her arms were wrapped around the older boy as she rested her head against his chest. Her eyes were closed while a small smile was on her face. She felt so safe with the young man who her adoptive father had taken under his care - thereby effectively making him her big brother.
Joker smiled. He wound his own arms around Futaba and held her close. His hand ran gently through her long, orange hair. She looked so small and vulnerable in the embrace of the tall, darkly-dressed young man. That was while he felt it was his duty to protect her.
Just as a big brother should do for his little sister.
Futaba smiled contentedly. She felt so safe and secure in Joker's embrace. He was, after all, the one who had rescued her from the dark pit of depression she had been trapped in for a long time. Had he not led the Phantom Thieves to answering her cries for help, she would have still been shut away from the world and isolated inside her room.
Or worse, she could have taken her own life.
It was true that Futaba had been contemplating suicide for some time. She felt she had no right to live following the death of her mother - and the endless blame the adults in her life had been piling on her had been pushing her closer towards the edge. If the Phantom Thieves hadn't helped her see the truth that her mother's passing wasn't her fault at all, there was a chance she wouldn't be here right now.
The Phantom Thieves had saved her.
They had released her from the shackles which had bound her from unfounded guilt, helping her to see the beauty in living life.
Futaba was proud to be part of this underground squad, helping them dive into palaces and change people's hearts.
She couldn't have asked for a better person to lead them.
Snuggling closer into Joker's embrace, Futaba gazed up at him through her glasses. The smile on her face was made from all the happiness she feeling for the first in a long time.
There was no way this person could be a delinquent, no matter what Sojiro had been told by the authorities when he had taken him in. A real criminal wouldn't have saved her from the dark place she had been trapped in and helped her to feel happy again.
Futaba was honoured to have Joker as the leader of the Phantom Thieves...
...and grateful to have him as her big brother.
"It's good to have a big brother..." Futaba whispered again, gently pulling herself from Joker's arms before reaching turning with a grin towards the other Phantom Thief in the room. "...and a pet cat!"
"Hey!" exclaimed Morgana, who had been sitting on the bed with the adoptive siblings, an indignant look crossing his face. "I am not a cat! How many times do I have to say that! I'd expect better from a smart girl like you, FutabAHHHHH!"
A groan escaped Morgana as Futaba cupped his fuzzy face in her hands. Her fingers scratched behind his triangular ears while her thumbs ran across his cheeks and whiskers.
"Who's a pretty kitty?" Futaba giggled. "Who's a cute cat? It's you, Mona!"
Joker chuckled. He was amused by what Futaba was doing to Morgana. His little sister could be so funny at times. That was one of many reasons why he was grateful to have her in his life.
"Ughhh..." Morgana muttered as Futaba showered him with affection. "This is a little much for me today..."
THE END