Lemon and Tangerine x platonic! Reader
Lemon and Tangerine wonder who their sibling (reader, referred to as Grapefruit) is going out with. They don't really like what they discover.
Warnings: mentions of former injury, mentions of death and gun violence, fighting between siblings, mentions of anxiety, ibuprofen, not proofread
"No, completely out of question", Tangerine was yelling, "you're not going on this job!". "But I'm ready, besides I can't let you guys go on more jobs alone, it's driving me insane!", Grapefruit stood up from their spot on the couch. "You need time to fuckin heal, you looked like a sieve when we found you after that job and your arm is still healing", things could get loud when Tangerine and Grapefruit were fighting. Lemon knew better than to try and calm them down yet. They would yell at each other for some time and then later on both come crying to Lemon before apologizing to each other and their brother. "If anything, it'll kill me to keep worrying about you guys like that. I'm doing this", Grapefruit had started pacing by now, "I don't want this to end like Bolivia or even worse, like that train incident where I had to pick you up out of a train wreck". "Just sit this one out, it's not that hard. And it'll leave you more time for that guy you're shagging", it dawned on Tangerine that he had fucked up. "You take this back instantly, young man!", Grapefruit didn't care that they were only a few years older than the twins. Tangerine needed a moment to recover and Lemon was already hoping that this would be the end of the fight, but his brother had other plans: "You're so fuckin obvious about it too, you're always texting some guy and never tell us about him, you willingly take phone calls!" "It's none of your business! Anyways, I can never tell you about any guys if I don't want them to end up beaten to the verge of death", Grapefruit had that look on their face and Lemon knew that this fight could quickly escalate now. It was only thanks to Lemon that Tangerine and Grapefruit haven't messed up the living room due to a brawl between siblings in nearly fifteen years. "Alright, this is enough", Lemon stepped in between his siblings, "we should all calm down and discuss this properly once you're both cooled off". He moved Grapefruit to the couch, not oblivious to them cradling their freshly healed arm in the other one. Then he maneuvered Tangerine, who was nervously playing around with his rings, into the kitchen and proceeded to make three cups of tea. From then on the evening went smoothly. Just like Lemon had predicted, in less than an hour both his siblings were crying, then apologized and soon all three of them were sitting in front of the TV, watching some ancient VHS tape from their childhood.
The next morning Lemon and Tangerine left for another job, Grapefruit had agreed to stay at home this time, but they demanded frequent updates on how the job was going. Grapefruit started to get bored when they got a text from a certain guy. Ladybug. Grapefruit could honestly say that they had completely fallen for Ladybug. They admired how caring and sweet he was. He seemed to have an anxiety issue he was working on, just like Grapefruit was working on their own mental health, but with Ladybug it always felt safe to discuss these things. Grapefruit texted back, they'd meet up for a coffee date in the afternoon.
After hanging around in their room and calling Lemon and Tangerine to hear if everything was going well, Grapefruit made their way to the coffee shop. Ladybug was waiting outside and greeted them with a hug. They spent a nice afternoon together and Ladybug had offered to walk Grapefruit home (not completely home, but into their living area). It had become night by then, so Grapefruit called their brothers to hear how the job was going, wished them a good night and went to bed.
Lemon and Tangerine returned home the next day, late in the afternoon. The job had been an easy one and Lemon and Tangerine didn't have any major injuries, just a few bruises and scratches. They found Grapefruit resting on the sofa on the verge of falling asleep, which didn't keep them from announcing their return. Grapefruit needed a moment before sitting up and greeting their brothers. Lemon was the first one to reach Grapefruit who still looked half asleep. "You alright?", asked Grapefruit. "The job went well, but it was exhausting", Lemon took a quick look at Grapefruit's injured arm. It still looked properly bandaged but Lemon noticed something else. He had to tell Tangerine about this so he started making his way to the bathroom. Tangerine followed after greeting Grapefruit and making sure they went back to sleep.
"Did you see it?", asked Lemon. "See what? You'll have to be more specific", Tangerine began scrubbing his hands. "Grapefruit's wrist", began Lemon, "they used to wear two identical bracelets". "Yeah, they've been wearing these for the past two decades. What about it?", he searched the cabinet for nothing specific. "One of the bracelets has been exchanged. They wore two stainless steel chain bracelets, now it's only one and another different bracelet. Silver. Beaded", Lemon was always the twin who paid more attention to details. "What are you hinting at?", asked Tangerine. "Do you know who wears a bracelet like this?" "Oh fuck this", Tangerine buried his face in his hands in frustration, "it's Ladybug".
The brothers couldn't ignore this new bit of information. It wasn't like Grapefruit knew anything specific about what happened on the bullet train. They had picked their siblings up in a hurry, their only words being: "This time I don't even want to know". Grapefruit had been angry back then, but the twins knew that it was only because they worried about their brothers and had been scared about losing them. Grapefruit had never asked about the train again and didn't know who had been involved in the whole ordeal, which put Lemon and Tangerine in a very tricky situation. Ladybug knew about Grapefruit's two brothers, but didn't place the pieces together yet to understand that they were Lemon and Tangerine.
A few days later Grapefruit was getting ready to go out. "Do you have places to be?", asked Tangerine. "I'm going out", they secured the two bracelets around their wrists and dumped their house keys, wallet and phone into a bag. "Alone?", Tangerine began to have an idea already. "I'm going on a date and I'd like both of you to behave while I'm gone", Grapefruit downed an ibuprofen with a glass of tap water. Healing was taking longer than they had expected. "Share your location", instructed Lemon, "and text us when you arrive". Grapefruit didn't disagree. They didn't want their brother to worry more than necessary.
The restaurant wasn't far away and Grapefruit had picked it for their date with Ladybug for a couple of reasons. They could reach it on foot, Grapefruit knew their way around the restaurant and the waiter was happy to let customers point to their meal of choice on the menu instead of making them say the order out loud. This would be helpful for both Ladybug and Grapefruit. Ladybug arrived a few minutes later, Grapefruit took his hand to lead him into the building. They had a reservation for a nice little table in the corner of the room and for once Ladybug and Grapefruit were feeling relatively safe. No problems occurred while ordering and the food didn't take long to arrive.
Ladybug and Grapefruit barely could take their eyes off each other, it was clearly visible to everyone that they were in love. Even Lemon and Tangerine saw it and they were lurking into the restaurant from a high up window that could only be reached by stepping onto the garbage container outside. "I can't believe they're going out, he fucking shot me", muttered Tangerine. "Grapefruit doesn't know about that though, they don't even know that he's been on the train", Lemon tried to remember if Grapefruit could know Ladybug from somewhere else. "They never met on any jobs that I've been on with Grapefruit so it was either a job they finished alone or when you were with them. I don't understand this anyway, Ladybug is ancient compared to them", Tangerine didn't know it yet, but that was the hint to make Lemon remember something. "That's because they're ancient history", exclaimed Lemon, "remember when Grapefruit and I finished that job in Johannesburg?". "The one where you shot Ladybug?", the gears began to turn in Tangerine's head. "Exactly, I shot him twice and Grapefruit had something going on with another assassin during that time, but they never wanted to tell us who it was", concluded Lemon. "So they had something going on with him for years and never fucking told us", Tangerine got angry. "You don't know about that, maybe they just reconnected, I mean they only started acting strange a few weeks ago". "Lemon, I have a plan", and Tangerine dragged Lemon into the restaurant through the back door.
Meanwhile Ladybug and Grapefruit finished up their dessert. "It's very nice here", said Ladybug, "I never knew about this place before". "It's my favourite", answered Grapefruit, "this place always feels so safe". Ladybug agreed. They sat for a while, holding hands. It felt nice to not be in a rush for once, they didn't really have much time for each other when there were jobs to do. Eventually, Grapefruit decided to pay for both of them. Ladybug excused himself to the bathroom, he would mail the money back later. "Are you sure you'll find the way on your own?", asked Grapefruit. "I'm sure", and Ladybug made his way through the restaurant.
When he reached his destination and opened the bathroom door he jumped back, because he was suddenly face to face with Lemon and Tangerine. "Shit, what are you guys doing here? Do you want to scare me to death?", he leaned against the wall behind him. "We're here to ask you about how long your business with our sibling has been going on", Tangerine looked very intimidating. "You are Grapefruit's siblings?", looking back it made sense to Ladybug. "Did you really meet a person called Grapefruit and never considered even once that you know two other people called Lemon and Tangerine who could very much be related to them?", Lemon was much calmer than Tangerine. "Not really", Ladybug still tried to comprehend what consequences this would have. "I'm gonna tell them that you were the one who drugged Lemon and fucking shot me on that train", Tangerine had to be held back by Lemon. "You won't", tried Ladybug. "That's right, I won't. But only because Grapefruit would be upset by it". "What we're trying to say is that if you mess up, we're coming after you", said Lemon, "and there'll be a few more bullets used than back in Johannesburg, do you understand?". Ladybug just nodded. "Alright, now that this is clear, go on and finish this date", Tangerine and Lemon left as fast as they had arrived.
Ladybug and Grapefruit left the restaurant together and once again he offered to walk them home. When they reached their destination this time they kissed under a streetlight, not paying attention to Lemon and Tangerine who were trying to pass by unnoticed.