Can I request Dennis older brother Reader coming to Pittsburgh to check up on him because he hasn’t answered his calls and texts and just worries about his little brother being all alone in the big city
Overprotective Older Brother (Dennis Whitaker x Whitaker!Brother!Reader)
Hiya!! Thank you so much for sending this request, I live for familial fics lol! I hope you enjoy it!!
Warnings: mentions of abuse, homophobia, feels, the f-slur is used once in reference to something someone said (trying to keep it vague but informative), reader has a black eye, swearing
It had been a long journey filled with planes and bus rides. But finally, finally, PTMC was in front of you. Heading in, you give your name to the receptionist and explain that you need to talk to your brother and she lets you head on in after checking your ID. The emergency department is chaotic but you ignore it in favour of trying to find your brother.
“Excuse me?” You approach the nurses station, as a woman with blonde hair looks up, Dana her badge says.
“What can I do you for?” She asks, placing her pen down.
“I'm looking for a Dennis Whitaker?”
“(Y/N)?”
“Dennis,” Relief floods through you, seeing your brother alive and okay in front of you. He was thinner and dark circles had taken residence under his eyes - both things you were going to have to sort out later.
“What are you doing here? And what happened to your eye?” He took in the bruise that was beginning to darken around your eye.
“You weren’t answering my calls,” You said, “I was worried.”
“You came all the way here, because you were worried?” He asked, leading you to a quieter corner of the ED, not wanting gossip to spread like wildfire.
You frowned, “Of course. You're my little brother.” You study him for a moment, seeing the apprehension in his eyes, the hesitation. “Kid, I'm not pissed that you left.”
His shoulders deflate and you can see the redness starting to form under his eyes almost immediately. “Dad called me after we spoke just before Christmas, you know.” Dennis admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “He told me to cut contact with you, that he wouldn’t have you tainted with my sins, that it would ruin you.”
“He said what?” Your face drained of all colour, “I can’t believe him. He’s full of shit.”
When Dennis stays silent, fiddling anxiously with the bottom of his top, your frown deepens. “What else did he say?” You ask, “I know dad, he doesn’t meddle by halves.”
Dennis sighs, running a hand over his face, “He said you were too nice to tell me yourself that you want nothing to do with a fag like me.”
“Oh, I’m gonna kill him.” You growl, “He told you that? Denny, I couldn’t care less if you’re gay, or that you left the farm to pursue your dreams. Fuck, I’m proud of you for doing that, and having the balls to be who you are.”
“It wasn’t that ballsy,” Dennis mumbled.
“Dennis, you stood up for yourself, you chose what you wanted to do in your own life, you looked that big bastard in the eyes and told him you wanted to be a doctor and that you’re gay, that’s the ballsiest thing I’ve seen in my life.”
Dennis looks down at his hands at that and your stomach sinks, “Kid, I have never been prouder of anything or anyone else.” You said, “I tell anyone who’ll listen about my kid brother who’s a doctor- hell, I told three people on the plane alone.”
“You are?” His voice is small, timid. And all you think about is the five year old boy who would wake you up during the night from bad dreams about your parents yelling. You don’t think, simply pulling him into a deep embrace. God, he was shorter than you remember, unless he’d shrunk?
“Always.” Your voice is hoarse, the thought that your brother has gone months - minimum - thinking you weren’t proud of him hurt. “I always will be. Don’t listen to our parents, especially dad, he’s always been a dick.”
Your brother can’t help but huff a laugh at that and it eases the ache in your chest a little. “You really mean that?”
“Kid, you liking guys changes absolutely nothing.” You reassure, letting your chin rest on top of his head. “You’ve always been my favourite brother.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, have you seen Ethan and Caleb?” You snort and Dennis gives a quiet laugh and a sniff. “I’ve always got your back, kiddo. I don’t care who you end up spending your life with, as long as they make you happy and as long as they treat you right.”
“Is that where you got the shiner from? From Ethan and Caleb?”
“Don’t you worry about that,” You dismissed.
Despite your reassurances, Dennis pulls away, “Seriously, (Y/N), what happened?”
“Dad,” You gave a shrug, quickly continuing when Dennis goes to speak. “I’m fine, Denny, I’m an adult, it doesn’t hurt, and I got a hit in too.”
“You punched dad?” He asks, eyes wide.
“He was being an ass.” You scoffed, “He deserved it, trust me.”
“Jesus, (Y/N)-!”
“No, you’re not allowed to lecture me, you’re younger than me.” You cut him off, grinning when he groans.
“He’s gonna be so pissed at you when you go back.”
You shrug, “It was worth it.” You answered, “I needed to check in on my little brother.”
“But still-”
“Dennis, I am an old man, I can take care of myself.”
“You’re not that old.”
“Dude, I’m like thirty six.”
“Still.” You shrug, “Besides, I’m debating finally moving out,”
“Yeah?” Dennis frowned, “Where were you thinking? Has Mr Brown’s property gone up for sale yet?”
“Yeah, Caleb’s talking about pricing with him.” You said, “But I was thinking somewhere a bit further out, like, pfft, maybe Pittsburgh?”
