My Sister's Keeper - A Creature Fanfic

Chapter 12: Brotherly Blessing

(A/N: Sorry for such a long hiatus, guys! Between exams, a trip to Thailand, and being sick off and on since Thanksgiving, I haven't had much time to think about how I wanted this part to go. Anyway, here it is, and I hope everyone is having an awesome New Year so far!)

(Joe)

Okay, Joseph, you can do this, I mumbled to myself as I stood at Kevin's door. Monday finally came around and we finished the E3 journey late last week. That also gave me enough time to think about what I want to say to Kevin since I asked Ruby to be my girlfriend on the trip. I've worked with Kevin for a while now, and I feel like I can go to him for anything, but asking for his blessing to date his sister is a whole new beast.

I raised my fist to knock on his door, then let it down again. I can't bring myself to do this right now. I've never seen Kevin mad, and I don't want this to be the first time I do. I don't think he'll be too mad, or mad at all, but he'll probably give me a talk about protecting Ruby and being a good boyfriend and such. I'm nervous, but I have to, for Ruby. Especially since I want to have our first date this weekend.

Instead of knocking on the door, I glare through the window right beside it. Kevin sat at his desk with his headphones on, looking like he was working hard on something. I shouldn't bother him, but I promised Ruby that I would do this today.

"Joe?" I heard a familiar female voice ask from behind me. I turn around to see my new girlfriend, still as beautiful as ever, coming at me from down the hall. "Have you talked to him yet?"

I shook my head no. "Not yet, gorgeous. I'm going to now."

She looked like she caught on to my nerves. "Is everything okay, Joesy?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm just... what if he says no, Ruby? What if he gets mad or starts to not trust us being together? I don't want to be responsible for messing up your time here because I came between you and your brother."

She stopped and gave me a hug, pecking my cheek. "If you're nervous, I can talk to him with you. Want me to?"

Her offer made me feel a little better, and less alone. I nodded and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Let's do it." I let her hand go and knocked on Kevin's door. Through the window, I saw him look up from the light of his computer monitor and smile at us. He waved us in and I opened the door.

"Permission to enter, captain?" Ruby asked behind me. "I hope we're not bothering your work."

"No, not at all. What's up?" He took off his headphones and placed them around his neck.

"Ruby and I..." I cleared the knot in my throat. "We have something we need to tell you."

His face didn't have much of a reaction, so I couldn't read it at all. "What's up? Shoot."

Ruby and I took the two chairs in his office and sat in front of his desk, like we were kids in trouble with the principal. "Kevin, I'm not quite sure how to start this off but... I really like your sister." Nice word structure there, brain. "And... Last week, when we were on the road trip, I, uh... I asked her to be my girlfriend, and... I wanted to ask for your brotherly blessing on our relationship."

Brotherly blessing. Once again... Nice.

Kevin wasn't angry, but he wasn't happy either. He was speechless and looking back and forth between us. I can't remember when it happened, but Ruby's hand was in mine and she was rubbing her thumb on the back of mine. He glanced down to our hands and a slight smile crossed his lips.

"I'm assuming you said yes, Ruby?" he simply asked.

She nodded. "I didn't even hesitate."

"And you really like each other, it seems."