QT: The Secondary Character Counterattacks (Obey Me! characters x Reader)

Arc 4. Charming Black Sheep Meets Secret Beauty Otaku (Levi x Reader) Chapter 6

Maya wanted to say yes but then she pulled back.

"What is it?"

"Um, I decided to stop playing basketball ... at least for now."

"What, why?" When you decided to start teaching her how to play days ago, she seemed to like it.

She was quiet, leaving you to think for a moment.

Then you chuckled. "Oh, kid. I'm not gonna hate you just because you like sports."

"But y-you only like artistic people--"

"That's different." You gently flicked her forehead and headed outside. "C'mon."

Maya rubbed her head and stared at your retreating figure for a while. With a small smile, she trotted after you.

Although Maya was athletic, she did just start a few days ago, so you had to hold back so she could make a few shots. The game lasted for a good whole hour.

"You're getting better," you complimented her as you two went to drink water.

Despite the sweat and hair sticking to her skin, Maya was more radiant than before and her cheeks were a nice shade of pink. "I've been practicing the basics in my room."

You raised a brow. "Why not practice here?"

She hesitated before looking down at her glass. "I wanted to surprise you."

"I see." It was an obvious lie, but you weren't going to pry. "Don't forget to cool down before you take a shower."

You went to your room, bathed, and snuck away to feed your stray puppy. When you returned, all the lights in the house were already gone. But you knew that only one person was sleeping.

"Open the monitor."

The light monitor showed you the inside of the tiny sound-proof piano room. Maya was in her mother's arms, her face was still red with tears as her mother brushed her hair.

"I told you to behave. Girls don't play basketball, but you got into your brother's good graces so I'll let it go."

Maya's shoulders trembled. Maya wore a sleeveless nightgown so the fresh, ugly splotches on her arms were visible.

The mother shushed her softly, "You know, I'm doing this for your own good, right?"

Mechanically, the daughter nodded her head.

"Once we get him to sign his inheritance to you, we can get rid of him properly and you'll be your dad's sole heir."

You stared at Maya's bruises with a certain darkness in your eyes.

***

Maya rolled around her bed.

Her father was always kind but he was never truly there for her. He would shower her with expensive gifts but a growing girl doesn't remember superficial things. He would smile and compliment and give her a fancy new toy before leaving for a date with her mother. Growing girls remember the sadness of being left alone with their new toys, of learning how to cook for themselves because their moms ate outside and didn't want to take them.

Maya thought she could get used to being alone. But, no, there will always be that tiny hope inside her wanting for more.

When she found out she had a brother, that hope sparked into a fire.

You were nothing like what she'd imagined an older brother would be. You were thorny, crass and too honest, but you cared, and for the lonely Maya that was enough.