Chapter 5 - Brother Issues

"Miss what? Earth? Or the human inside?" Basta asked.

"Both of them?" Vaz wasn't sure either.

"Hm, do you want us to eat and drink something?" Basta asked Vaz.

"Sure. I think I need it. But it looks like you just finished a pack of burgers?" Vaz said looking at the rest of Basta's burger bag beside him.

"Hahaha, it's still an appetizer," said Basta who immediately grabbed Vaz's shoulder to start walking.

"There's no need for that," Vaz tried to dodge but Basta didn't seem to care.

They arrived in front of a Chinese food restaurant, still not far from the Twin Towers. The end of the building still looked perfectly solid from the balcony where the two of them sat.

"How?" ask Basta about the restaurant of course.

"No problem. I can eat whatever they serve me," Vaz has always been. Not the biggest decision maker except when it comes to his own music.

Basta ordered some dimsum as well as duck and ordered baijiu for their drink.

"Are you serious? Afternoon alcohol? I don't want to carry you to Orion," Vaz asked.

"Hahaha. Don't worry. I won't drink much," said Basta.

One by one the food was served. Even Vaz had taken a sip of the provided baijiu.

"You have to start down again on earth I mean to play music," Basta said at first.

"I don't think I'm ready for that yet," Vaz said curtly.

"How long will it take Vaz? Don't let it be too late," said Basta while Vaz chose to ignore it.

"I'm quite happy with my life now. I can also still help you as Xander. Making humans happy in my own way," said Vaz again.

"Owh come on. What happened was not your fault. You were purely unintentional. Don't punish yourself too hard. I'm sure she is also happy there," Basta said trying to convince.

"I'm afraid the same thing will happen again Basta," said Vaz still briefly.

"I think you are one of Xander who has the best self-control among Xanders. Yes, of course you can make mistakes, but that doesn't mean you can't fix them, right?" Basta said again.

"Hahaha. You're really good at praising Basta," Vaz said, blushing too.

"Yes, you know I have a reason to be the leader among you," Basta said, intending to boast.

"Because you're old right?" Vaz asked deliberately teasingly.

"Damn you! Hahaha," said Basta but laughed too.

Vaz is indeed not a person who talks a lot from the past except with people who are really close to him. He's the type of Xander who does more action. Number two oldest after Basta. Vaz felt comfortable with Basta beside him because they basically had the same mindset even though they reflected on it differently. Maybe that's the reason the two became close even though they were far apart when seen with the naked eye.

"Where are you going after this?" ask Vaz.

"I'm going back to Malghavan. You?" Basta asked back.

"I want to meet your brother, Juno," said Vaz briefly.

"You know where he is?" Basta asked again.

"Sure, he's in the Swiss," Vaz replied casually.

"What? Isn't it very cold there and the wind is very strong?" Basta asked.

"Yes, of course but you also know that we are not human. There is no need to worry about such things," said Vaz again.

"Yes but we are still human and we can die if bad things happen to us. Mountains are not a safe place Vaz," Basta worried for his little brother.

"Then why didn't you tell him yourself? You know that Juno has always needed support from us to find his own strength, especially you're his older brother, but you're just too hard on him," said Vaz regretfully, even Juno was closer to him.

"Yeah, I don't know. Maybe this is just my way of showing him that I want the best for him. I want him to understand that what we have and what we want to achieve is not easy. Everything takes hard work and struggle. Everything needs blood, sweat, and tears," said Basta again.

"By ignoring him and scolding him in front of all of us? From which side would that work?" Vaz asked uncertainly.

Replace Basta who doesn't want to respond. He actually realized that his way might be wrong. But all this he did not without reason. Maybe there are still a few memories from the past that made him act like this to his younger brother. But deep in his heart, of course he really loves him. After all Juno is his only family now.

"Your face is already red, better go back to Malghavan after this," said Vaz.

"Hahaha. Alright. Please make sure Juno is okay there," said Basta finally.

Vaz just nodded and they parted ways at the Chinese restaurant. He headed for his Orion and Vaz staggered towards his own Orion. Vaz just walked into a regular toilet door but of course never came out again. Arrived in the Alps which was very cold with strong winds.

"Damn I forgot my jacket," luckily the house was in sight.

A warm house with dominant teak wood and rocks that can protect them from the cold air. Juno's back, which was seen near the window at the back of the house, was painting, of course. Something he's been doing lately. Vaz who was cold immediately looked for a fireplace that was indeed lit and warmed his body there. His clothes were also a little bit loose due to the melting snow.

"Don't you have a warmer, more comfortable hiding place? Hawaii for example?" asked Vaz sarcastically.

"I never invited you here," said Juno nonchalantly.

For some reason Vaz was convinced that Juno's coldness was apart from his bad relationship with Basta and his inability to find strength as well because he hung out with him too much. But of course it's all just an outward appearance because he really cares.

"Tsk, I came because I was worried," said Vaz.

"You don't have to worry about me!" Juno walked towards the kitchen intending to prepare hot tea for Vaz.

"Ah, I want warm ginger. Thank you," said Vaz not accepting rejection.

"Tch, ginger? Not your style," said Juno.

"I just finished drinking baijiu with Basta. I think I need some ginger to calm myself down now," Vaz replied.

Hearing his brother's name called, Juno became curious too. But since Vaz didn't tell him any further, he chose to remain silent and continued making warm ginger for Vaz.