Armand’s eyes fluttered, the pain finally dulled to a mild ache. He turned his head hoping the hospital room was empty. Unfortunately, there was a visitor, a naturally tanned well dressed young man. Not entirely out of place, but was still unexpected.
A slight glare was reflecting on the man’s glasses from the holographic prompt he was reading, the only source of light in the room. He removed his glasses and tapped something into the prompt before setting down the small device it was projecting from. The soft glow a perfect ambient light. The man walked to the side of the hospital bed, a soft familiar smile across his face.
“Gregory,” Armand managed before the other could say anything. They didn’t look much alike; Greg had a foot to foot in a half of height, and his darker skin tone with their father’s gray green eyes made him stand out instantly. At least more so than Armand’s own sickly pale complexion.
Greg’s smile faltered. He looked down to try to hide it, but Armand had been around him enough to know better. Something was bothering him.
“I... didn’t mean to wake you.” He looked up again, a smile back on his face though he couldn’t hide the tears starting in his eyes. “H-how are you feeling?”
“I think I’m hallucinating...”
His brother’s smile widened, clearly he caught on. “Yeah... I figured something was going on when Kato contacted me.”
Armand coughed, his eyes probably noticeably wide. “Kato? I thought you didn’t like Kato.”
Greg frowned as he stepped back. “It wasn’t…” He gulped, rubbing awkwardly at his wrist. “I… I didn’t like Angeline.”
Closing his eyes, Armand laid back again. He tried nodding his head. “I don’t think any of us liked mother. She was finally convicted, anyway.”
“I heard.” Greg’s hand dropped from his wrist, his eyes locked to the floor.
Armand opened his eyes, turning onto his side. The glossed over look in his brother’s eyes scared him. “So how was your time in Sendria, then?”
Greg shook his head, looking up as he let out a hum. “Oh, Sendria. Right.” He sat down in the sparse visitor seating, again, this time thankfully closer. “It wasn’t that interesting.”
“I doubt that.” Armand shoved against the bed to readjust up. It twisted the tubes sticking out of him, but he was feeling much better, or at least than he had been. “You were there for nearly eight years.”
“So?” Greg let out a short growl. “I went to university; as I recall your classes weren’t that interesting so I don’t see how mine would be.”
“It’s a Border Nation,” Armand stated, unable to drop the subject. “Nobody’s traveled there in years! Surely you must have-”
“I didn’t come back to be questioned!” Greg took a swift breath in, rubbing at his forehead. He sighed, standing still for a moment, though his fingers still vaguely perched near his forehead. “I was more worried about your health.”
Armand gritted his teeth. “I’m fine.”
“You’re in a hospital, Armand,” Greg replied, turning back as he crossed his arms. A hardened frown coved his face. “You’ve been sick for as long as I can remember. You’ve hardly had a ‘fine’ day in your life.”
Letting out a groan, Armand slid down bunching the blankets above him.
“What have you been up to, anyway?”
“Putting the estate in order...”
Greg stared back in shock. “Oh-” He stayed silent for a good moment, hiding his mouth with his hand. “You’re not...” A gagged cough sputtered out, Greg taking a few moments to clear his throat and calm down. He continued, his voice softer and rougher, “You aren’t really that worse off, are you?”
“Of course not!” Armand coughed heavily, his chest burning from the effort of shouting. He waited till his breathing calmed before continuing, “Mother ruined the finances, probably due to some mistaken idea that father left everything to you.”
Dropping his gaze, Greg started rubbing his wrist again.
Armand reached out his arm trying to get his brother’s attention. “Gregory, it’s not your fault.” He coughed again, curling. Forcing a smile, Armand closed his eyes. “I’ve told father to divorce that bitch for-”
“You shouldn’t talk about Angeline like that!” Greg paled, or at least as much as his darker skin could pale.
“Come on, Gregory! You think it, too.” Armand straightened out with a heavy groan. “If father had just dropped her when he met your mother, she would have never...” He coughed, the pain in his chest flaring again. No, it was slightly worse; he could feel it through his body this time. Talking usually wasn’t so taxing.
Greg fixed his eyes down again, rubbing hard at his wrist.
“And stop that!”
Jumping from shock, Greg dropped his hands to his knees. “I…” A shiver worked up Greg’s spine as he kept his eyes fixed down. “I’m sorry…”
Exhaustion hit Armand hard. He forced a glance to the young man, anyway, the withdrawn and despondent state unchanged from the young twelve year old sitting at the kitchen table terrified about what had happened only hours before. Gregory might never change.
Armand yawned laying back. “You should take Kato.”
Greg shook his head. “I couldn’t. I can’t; he was designed for you.”
“He’s not much use in a hospital.”
“That’s a lie.” Greg let out a huff, shaking his head. “The doctors aren’t nearly as prepared-”
“Take Kato; he can remotely do all the necessary scans, and he’s better than any security force.” Armand shut his eyes, grimacing as a sudden pang hit. “I’ll be fine.”
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