DabiHawks Escaped Convict A/U

14, Talking Things Out

Touya frowned. Keigo hadn't picked up his phone.

It was currently three in the afternoon, and Touya had given up calling Kei ages ago, since it only kept on dialing with no answer.

Right now, he was leaning against the wall while his siblings argued about what to do with him, because although he was their brother, he was still an escaped convict, so having him in their house was basically illegal. They had sent him out of the room and shut the door, but Touya could still hear their raised voices.

“You really just expect him to be accepted now? This whole thing will take months. He's basically a villain. And you know what happens to villains nowadays. It's not simple, you know. You can't just snap your fingers and expect everything to magically work out. If you want him out of that wretched prison, there'll be months of paperwork and trials to go through.”

“He's our fucking brother, Fuyumi! Who cares about the stupid paperwork? Who cares how long it'll take? If he'll become a free man in the end, it'll be worth it. Do you even want to see him become a part of this family again?”

“Of course I do! Stop acting like I'm the bad guy. Of course I want his name cleared, I just don't want to see you upset if it doesn't work, or…father might overreact and…our family doesn't need more trouble.”

“So you're saying Touya is a burden?”

“Stop twisting my words like that!” Touya could tell she was crying the way her breathing was ragged, and how she constantly sniffed. “Father, mother, and Shoto still don't know about this! What are they gonna do when they find out? Answer me that. Do you really think that dad will be fine with Touya coming back after nine years? After all the trauma he caused? He won't be able to handle it, Natsuo! I don't know if dad will feel guilty or not, but he'll make sure Touya is shut away in prison all over again, and none of us wil be allowed to see him, ever.”

Touya, who was listening in with his ear to the door, sighed heavily and leant his head agaisnt the door frame, closing his eyes. His fingers closed around the doorknob, and he twisted it, stepping into the room.

Both Natsuo and Fuyumi looked at him. Natsuo had his eyebrows furrowed together, looking pensive and anxious, while Fuyumi looked distraught, tears staining her cheeks. She bit her lip as Touya entered the room, turning her gaze to the floor.

Touya tilted his head at her. “Are you afraid?” he asked. She looked up at his voice.

“Afraid of what?”

“Me.”

Fuyumi widened her eyes a little, looking like she wanted to say something, but couldn't explain it. Natsuo glanced at her, anxious.

“I…why would you say that?"

Touya shrugged. “You seem pretty set on me going back to jail. Tell me the truth: what are you scared of?”

Fuyumi sniffled once more, wiping her eyes. “Well, I'm not scared of you, Touya.”

“Okay, but don't lie to me. I want to know.”

Fuyumi fidgeted, then sat down on the space on the sofa Touya was patting next to him. She looked down at her feet, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“I suppose…I'm scared of how father will react to seeing you again. I'm scared that this family will return to its old ways. I'm scared that if you leave us once more, Natsuo won't recover - he barely got over it nine years ago.” Fuyumi glanced at her younger brother, who turned his head, not wanting her to see the tears brimming in his own eyes.

“I'm scared that Shoto won't welcome you after what you did all those years ago. And I'm scared for all of us. I don't want to see anyone in trouble, or hurt, or…” she trailed off, her sobs getting the better of her. She covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. “I just don't want to see our family in pain again.”