Shidge
Starts day of Kerberos launch
Shiro shook hands and smiled, saying goodbye to everyone allowed in the area. He paused at a soft voice.
"I swear on my grave, I will murder you if you get abducted by aliens."
Strange words to fall in love with, but Shiro's heart didn't seem to care. His eyes landed on a girl in a cute purple dress, long, honey colored hair cascading down her back and over her shoulders as she tugged at Matthew's uniform.
Matthew laughed. "Katie, you have the funniest imagination."
Katie stuck out her tongue. "I'm not a child. I'm a conspiracy theorist."
"Right, right." Matthew chuckled, then furrowed his brows. "Your grave?"
"Yes, because I'm dead inside." She responded without hesitance. Matthew rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Just be careful, okay? I can't go up with you and protect your wimpy ass."
"Don't cuss in front of mom." Matthew ruffled the short girl's hair, causing her to whine and pout as she swatted at him. "I'll be fine. I got Shiro and dad."
Shiro slowly approached.
Katie huffed. "As if dad can do anything to help. I'd feel better if mom went with you. Shiro, however, looks pretty capable."
"Of what?" Shiro himself asked just behind her.
She pivoted sharply and tilted her head back to look up at him with beautiful, wide amber eyes. She then grinned, cheeks pink and hands linked behind her back. "Of taking on some aliens that go after my wimpy brother." Katie mused, earning a pinch from said brother.
Shiro chuckled. "I suppose I'm strong, but not quite that strong."
"Aw, you didn't tell me he was modest and cute!" Katie giggled. "I'm counting on you, Shirogane."
Shiro smiled and took her outstretched, tiny hand. "Just call me Shiro."
The sweet smile that lit up her face made his heart skip and his face heat up. "Nice to meet you."
~
Shiro nearly choked on his water as Matthew told him his little sister's age. "She's fourteen!?"
Matthew raised a brow at Shiro from over his cards. "Yeah? And she'll be fifteen in about three months..."
"Who're we talking about?" Samuel asked, coming in from the control room.
"Katie." Matthew muttered as he put a card down. "Shiro met her back there and was asking about her."
Samuel snickered as he sat. "A firecracker is was that one is. Won't take anyone's shit and will do whatever she wants. Too smart for her own good, too." Matthew laughed as Shiro put his card down. "She'll have the whole universe under her thumb someday, I swear it."
Shiro smiled. "She probably will."
Maybe in the time he's in space, he can get over that stupid crush. After all, he's only seen her once and probably won't see much of her after they return.
