Third Person
Paris, France: Bar Haven
It was 10 but the night could've been darker by this hour. An 18-year-old young man with snow-white hair that seems to attract fireflies along the series of light posts along the street was walking slowly under the light of the celestial moonlight. He strides along the road slowly, afraid the dogs might chase after him like a burglar.
The boy would have bolted straight and made a 1-minute run if only, he wasn't with his brother who was sleeping on his back while he kept a keen eye for dogs, predators, and strangers on their way to their home.
"It's cold," the little boy he was carrying on his back spoke. His name is Menthos and he was named after a white mint candy. Only a thin fabric covers his shivering back, his toes were frozen no matter how much he curls to gain warmth inside his leather boots.
Dione, being an annoyed older brother grunted before whispering back, "Stop stating the obvious. I know it's cold— That's why I made you a jacket!"
Menthos closed his eyes and snuggled his face on his brother's nape as he felt another flock of cold wind passing through them. His eyes teared up when a mix of disco light came into view, he could only feel the shivering hands of his brother.
"Frère," he called before deciding to jump off his back. Dione stretched his back muscles and rotated his neck to hear the satisfying crack from his bones. He then turned to his brother's concerned look and smiled.
"Wow so you decided to stop being a burden because we're close," Dione complimented his younger brother and continued to walk towards the only building in the street with the lights on, "Aren't you being a little thoughtful and sweet?"
The younger brother was not hearing the little following steps from the child so Dione turned around and looked at his brother indifferently, "What?"
Menthos gulped and gathered his courage before finally saying, "I don't want you to work again," his squeaky voice made the older male clench his teeth out of cringe, "You should be at school with us..."
He was raging at the sight of his brother merging into the soft side. Taking his brother by the collar, he looked at the same red hued orb, but this time it was softer and caring, "Then what I am supposed to feed your parasitic sisters and brothers?" Dione reasoned, "Stop complaining! You're not the one doing it— let's go inside."
He let go of his collar before tossing him on the ground like a pound of a potato sack. The six-year-old boy didn't mind his brother's action, he got up and dusted the bits of dirt out of his pants before staring at the back view of who he considered his role-model.
Dione was never a kind brother to him or anyone in the orphanage, nevertheless, he still admired his older sibling's method of living and straight forward mouth. He desires to be like him one day, but if ever there is one thing about his brother he despises is that he was willing to be a puppet for people when he does exuberantly on his own.
Even with the clear warning from Dione, Menthos was unshakably determined as he ran in front of his brother's path to try and change his mind, "We should have stayed at your friend's house. It- It's so much safer there with—"
His lips were pursed close when his older brother started cackling with uncontrollable volume. No one was present on the streets, just the two of them concerning each other's volume in the wide street.
Dione stopped laughing before looking up to the pitch-black sky, "And he's already attached to that girl."
Looking down on his feet, Menthos thought about Raine's warm smile and hug before they left the condominium. He usually got the same thing from his mother, but getting the same treatment from the gentle lady created a new fuzzy feeling inside him.
His mind was interrupted when Dione pushed him aside forcefully before looking at him in disappointment, "You know what? If you want to go back there again, why don't you scram now?"
He looked at the other side of the city where the lights flourished like stable fireflies in a cage of glass. One thought came into his mind as he traveled his eyes tot he oath leading back to the city
"But—" the young boy stuttered, feeling the cold sensation on his palms coming back. It's so foolish of him to think that his brother would stop him, the moment he turned around to walk away.
But instead, he heard him saying, "Ciao!"— in a jolly tone.
His third step made him freeze when he heard the familiar ringing of a bell, Menthos turned around was faced by a woman who has the same snow-white hair and red eyes. His mother showed no worry on her beautiful pale face, it showed nothing, but pure anger.
She was wearing her usual red dress with a black fox fur wrapped around her shoulder that flawlessly embodies a Hollywood actress. Her brother just stood there, shocked that at their mother's sudden appearance.
"Where the hell were you?!" she sounded like a bomb waiting to explode.
Menthos shut his eyes tightly when he saw his mother raise her hand high in the air to slap his brother, "The customers are waiting! You inconsiderate child!"
And there it is again, the horrifying sound made by his mother's hand collision with his brother's face. Menthos was sick of hearing that same sound every day and night, but his blood turned more ice-cold when he heard his name called by the woman.
"Menthos," As shocked as she is, their mother slapped her older son on the same side again, leaving another red handprint on his left cheek, "You brought your brother out?!"
Dione having no intention of retaliating stepped aside and let his mother walked past by him as her widened eyes stared at his little brother who was in the middle of the cold street, only wearing a thin shirt.
She covered her little son with her big scarf before hurriedly guiding him inside the back door, Dione followed behind them and closed the door. Locking it before turning and seeing her mother changing his little brother's clothes.
After poking out his head out of the center hole of the fur sweater, he looked at his brother leaning against the wall before saying to his mother sweetly, "Momère, please don't be mad at Dione— I'm the one who insisted," he was trying to narrate more of the truth, but his brother interrupted again.
Dione snickered and uttered, "Of course, he'll say he's the one who wanted it but actually—"
Bewildered by the sight of her mother's enraged smoldering eyes, Dione didn't know what happened when the scarf was thrown over his face.
"Cover your eyes," their mother instructed and so he did, a grunt entered his ears and as he dropped the fabric on the floor, the sight of his brother on the floor, holding his stomach greeted him. He was smirking but feeling the pain where their mother had kicked him.
That's only the first kick.
Menthos bit his lip, giving his best not run and scream for the aid of elder brother. His eyes swelled and the stuffy sensation in his nose started as he saw Dione's smile still plastered on his face despite being in great pain.
The younger boy flinched when his mother looked at him and commanded with a scream, "I said— COVER YOUR EYES!"
His hands bolted downward to pick the scarf then he immediately covered his eyes with it. With twitching ears, he closed his eyes sewn shut as his audio pick up sense heightened. The grunts, hits, and cries of his brother were like a playlist with an unstoppable loop.
After an inconsiderate number of kicks, she stopped, lecturing his eldest son who was lying on the floor, curled up in a ball, "Regardless of who the hell insisted. You shouldn't bring him out!" She sighed, her eyes softened as she kneeled to stride her fingers along with her son's snow-white locks, soothing the pain she caused him.
"Please listen to me, my dear Dione to avoid this kind of temper from me," her voice was like that of a siren, calling them to live with her at the bottom of a trench.
Instead of just agreeing, the male decided to invest in his usual path and took ahold of her mother's wrist before tossing it aside. Dione laughed, sat up, and muttered, "I'm listening," the boy smirked, "I'm just not following—"
Leaning in his mother's face, he continued, "...ever."
With a last slap on the face which sent the obnoxious male lying on the floor again, she stomped on his chest three times with her wooden flat heels still on. Dione just stayed there, almost coughing up blood, not giving a damn if his internal organs were still working.
As he closed his eyes, the next thing he heard was his mother's gentle voice again, "Get upstairs and change your clothes..."
Gasping to what he just heard, Menthos almost had a heart attack when the scarf was peeled away from covering his eyes, "Help your brother," his mother instructed.
Reluctantly, he rushed to his brother and offered his hand to heave him up but his willingness to help was slapped. Dione stood up from the floor and just stretched his limbs to shake the pain away. He leaned his body against the wall for support as he lifted his shirt to reveal big bruises on his pallid skin.
"Take a bath and cover those with make-up," their mother commanded.
Shaking his head, Dione put on a smile again before walking up to the door leading upstairs. His little brother acted like a tail as he followed behind him. Before closing the door, both of the boys stopped climbing the stairs as their mother reminded his eldest son, "Don't take too long, I can't keep those promiscuous beings entertained with just your pictures."