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Throwing Stones

Chapter Seventeen: Family Dinner

Touya hovered over Kagome's shoulder as Shouto followed his lead. Neither of them had much experience in the kitchen but he'd gotten curious after seeing Tenko so skilled with the knife. Maybe he could start learning? Tenko did say that women preferred men who could cook. Did Kagome prefer her men the same way?

His gaze lowered towards the happy smile painted across her lips. She reached towards the vegetables as she set aside the noodles she'd just finished preparing.

It looked as if their coordinator already had everything handled.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you two were looking to get first dibs on the food." Kagome smiled at them as she prepared the broth.

Touya grinned back at her, "We're vultures by nature. Don't be surprised when you catch us hovering."

Shouto approached her from the other side, "Do you need help with anything?"

By now the rest of the group was starting to hover. Everyone was hungry and, more importantly, her cooking was the best. Tenko was an extremely close second but Kagome just had a way with food that could make anyone melt.

Touya pressed his chest against her back as he leaned further over her shoulder. He didn't miss the subtle flushing of her cheeks nor the disapproving glare she shit him. Her body language was telling him that she was welcoming of his advances yet her eyes were telling him that he was crossing a line. Shouto also threw him an incredulous look, as if he were surprised by the sudden boldness.

"Lookin' good." Touya teased her, glancing down at the broth that was nearly ready.

He had no delusions about her accepting his advances and turning whatever they had into a relationship. She had her priority towards them as their coordinator. If she engaged in a romantic affair with him then the whole program could be jeopardized. Still, it didn't stop him from wanting that sort of future.

"Hey," Tenko pushed him back with his elbow, "Give the woman some space."

Touya grinned down at the other man, "Ph yeah? You gonna make me, short stack?"

He wrapped his arm around Tenko's neck and pulled him into a playful headlock.

"Say mercy," His grin widened as Tenko struggled to free himself from his grip. "I'm gonna hold you hostage until you give in."

Kagome threw them a displeased scowl, "If you two are going to rough house then take it out of the kitchen!"

"Oooh, you're getting scolded again Touya!" Himiko called from the living room while Kenji joined her in the teasing.

Touya glanced up to see Shouto's expression contorted in a mixture of longing and jealousy. His lips curled up into a wider grin.

With practiced movements, he locked his free arm around Shouto's neck and pulled him into a headlock as well. He watched as Aizawa stiffened from the other side of the room but Touya simply guided both Tenko and Shouto back towards the front entrance.

"You didn't think you'd escape being bullied by me before you went home, did you Shouto?" Touya released Tenko in favor of rustling his captured brother's hair. "You're still the baby of the family so I've got a duty to harass you until you're too big to bully."

He'd never had the opportunity to do anything like this back at their father's estate. It was partly his fault, that much he was aware of. However the bulk of the blame rested on Endeavor's shoulders. Now that he and Shouto were both older, it was easier for him to look at the boy as his sibling rather than his replacement.

"Touya, don't make me get involved!" Kagome scolded him from the kitchen, her voice as firm as a mother's would be.

His lips curled up into a wide grin, "Aw but I like having you scold me."

By now Shouto had managed wriggle himself free from his grip. He stood next to Tenko, the two of the mirror images of each other with furrowed brows and unamused expressions.

"Down boy! Before I spray you down with a squirt bottle filled with water." Her features had hardened and he could tell that she was at least partially serious.

He raised his hands in defeat, "I've been out numbered three to one."

It was clear that Kagome's patience for his antics had come to an end. So he wouldn't push her any further for the time being. Tomorrow would be another story though.

Everyone made their way to the dining room and took up their usual seats. As Hawks hadn't returned yet, Shouto had been giving the man's usual spot while Kagome had brought up an extra chair for Aizawa.

Much of the meal had gone over pleasantly. Everyone conversed and enjoyed themselves. Although he noticed Shouto periodically pausing to glance down at his broth with a serious look on his face. It was clear that his issue with his flames would not be resolved so easily. Then again, could any of their family's problems be solved in such a simple manner?

"Hey Shouto," He called to his youngest sibling. "I meant what I said earlier." Catching Shouto's look of surprise, Touya pressed on. "Do what you feel is right. Don't let the old man decide your path for you."

It wasn't much, but he could at least offer him this small bit of advice. As the oldest sibling of the family, he'd screwed up his life by allowing Endeavor's rejection to dictate his choices. He was older now. Maybe not smarter, but at least more experienced. It was his responsibility to serve as the guidepost for the rest of his siblings.

"That's so sweet I almost want to barf."

Tenko scoffed next to him.

"You have no room to make fun of anyone else short stack. You bawled like a kid when your family came to visit." He ruffled Tenko's hair roughly, "Don't make me put you on gardening duty tomorrow. I know how much you suck at anything related to manual labor."

Tenko swatted his hand away, "I'm not short. I'm only twenty. I still have some growing left."

"Growing? Where? Your hair?" Touya continued to mess with him.

It was ironic to him that Tenko and Shouto could both remind him of each other but still be so different all at once. Perhaps he simply missed having a younger brother to mess with as it'd been years since he'd last seen Natsuo.

Touya then shifted his attention back to Shouto, "Ignore this idiot. Just put your faith into your flames. They're yours so use them as you see fit."

He focused on his meal as everyone settled down for the evening.

That was the most he could give Shouto at the moment, the rest he would have to do on his own.

Touya gave his brother one last glance as they finished their meal.

Who knows, maybe his brother would break the cycle of hatred in their family after all.

A small smile spread across his lips.

He'd look forward to it.