Blank Space

Chapter 35: Dangerous Encounter

"Deshawn!" You cried out from your room. He quickly responded, "Yes, Y/n." 

"I need help with this problem." You said as you pointed at the math equation.

"Nope, you know the goal, I can only help you with two on each page, and I already helped you with the first three." He said with a chuckle. 

"Most six-year-olds aren't doing math at a middle school level, De." You said with a frown. 

"Well, you aren't like most six-year-olds, are you?"

"No." You say in a defeated tone. 

"So, it looks like you'll be figuring out that math problem by yourself." He said, 'You let out a defeated sigh; your brother let out a chuckle.'

Seeing you complain about homework made him feel accomplished, knowing that he was doing his best to make sure that you were living a somewhat normal life, despite living in an abandoned church with no parents or adults at all, for that matter. 

He watched you, still seeing glimpses of your innocence. He felt a desperate urge to protect it- to protect you. He wanted to shield you from the world, from a universe that seemed determined to come between you both. And destroy what little you have left.

Deshawn exited the room, leaving you alone with the math problem. You stared at the problem, hoping the answer would just pop into your head, but the more you stared, the more your eyes began to hurt.

"Y/n!" Your brother suddenly shouted, "Come in here, it's important!"  You rushed to the front room, nearly knocking yourself down trying.

"Yes?" You answered, your tone sweet and little, just like you. "I'll let you put down the books for today." A joyous smile spread across your face, and you started to jump enthusiastically.

Your little cheers brought a smile to your brother's face. "Ok, calm yourself down, I wasn't done yet," he said in a laugh, and you couldn't help but laugh too. 

"Alright, I realized it's been a while since we've done any combat training or worked on sharpening our quirks. So that's what we're gonna do today, at least while we still have some daylight outside, sound good?" He said, his voice firm and full of resolve.

"Right!" You said, matching his energy, "Go outside and do some stretches for 30 minutes, and then we'll have a quick sparring match." 

"I already stretched." You quickly responded, anxious to start training, a soft laugh slipped from your brother. 

You quickly ran out the door, cheering and hysterically jumping. Deshawn followed behind you, looking at you as you waited for him.

"Hurry up!" you demanded.

Deshawn stepped outside, to you it him lightyears to come out.

"You sure you don't need to stretch?" He asked again.

"Yes I'm sure!" your patience wearing thin.

"Alright then, we'll start on three. Got it?" You nodded your head, giving a nonverbal yes.

"One.." Your brother began his count, you grew anxious with every syllable he spoke. 

"Two..' The hairs on your body stood straight. At this point, you were ready to pounce, ready to strike. 

"Two and a half.."Your brother joked, trying to break the tension in the air. You cracked a smile, and for that brief moment, it was all worth it just to see you smile.