Fitting Back Together

Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst

Trigger Warning: OCD

. . .

"You know, for the record, I'm not small," Yumiko huffed, trying to wrestle open the door with one hand whilst also keeping ahold of her brother with the other. She'd lost track of just how many times he'd wandered off during the far too long journey to his apartment - and she'd gotten sick of running after him in bare feet just to corral him back onto the correct path.

Like having a damn toddler.

"What?" Tomi asked distractedly, too busy examining the bottle she'd granted him the privilege of holding in exchange for staying put.

There was a click and the key turned at last.

Oh thank God.

Triumphantly, Yumiko opened the door and stepped inside. The rush of warm air was a welcome change from the chill - he'd forgotten to turn the heater off. Typical.

"Earlier, you called me small. I'm not small." When her brother neglected to follow, she huffed, tugging him in through the door. "Five foot eight isn't small."

With both of them safely inside at last, Yumiko released her death grip on his elbow, flexing her aching fingers with a grimace.

(not the kind of workout they were used to enjoying)

Tomi glanced down at her. "Really? Because you look like an ant from up here."

She elbowed him in the side. "I'm tall. Just not freakishly tall like you. There's a difference."

"If that's what you need to believe," he said absently, gaze returning to his precious bottle. "There's no shame in it. Not everyone can be as blessed in height as me. And we all have our shortcomings." His mouth twitched at the play on words, clearly quite impressed with himself.

"Ha ha." Yumiko allowed the sarcasm to bleed into her voice - before snatching the bottle from his grasp.

"Hey!"

"You didn't really think I'd let you keep it, did you?"

"Well, I'd hoped." He shrugged, moving past her. "Never to mind, I'm sure I can find a reasonable substitute around here somewhere."

Over her dead body.

She hadn't dragged his infuriating arse back here just so he could reach even greater levels of intoxication.

Having to hurl her brother over to the hospital on account of alcohol poisoning would just be the perfect cherry on top of this evening.

"Tomi, I swear to God if you don't go to bed right now I'll-"

"What?"

Yumiko considered her options. Crossed her arms. "I'll tell Magna where you live."

The blood drained from his face. "You're bloody ruthless, you know that?"

"Lawyer. Happens to be in the job description."

"So is stealing other people's joy apparently."

Grumbling, he headed into the bedroom.

Yumiko closed her eyes, releasing a breath. Just another hour. All she had to do was make it another hour and this would finally be over.

Hopefully.

She could do it. She could make it.

After all, she'd survived that first year of being Magna's attorney, despite her new client pulling out every trick in the book just to run her off. She could certainly survive another hour of her own brother's company.