Brother Bonding//[Tom]

[sbeeg]

Cecil Grant.

The young boy squinted at the people who passed by, raising a hand to block the sun from his vision. They didn't notice to the two Grant boys even as loud as Cecil's voice was. That or they chose to ignore his rudeness. Little grey eyes peered out at the citizens of District Seven who walked by. The fourteen year old's scrutinizing eye picked at the people's figures as they passed. Maybe it was his youthful ignorance or his blunt personality, but he proclaimed, out loud, all the faults of the people who passed into his field of vision.


"What an old man," was his first remark. The man in question did not hear the exclamation partly due to his age. This was the first in this line of statements. The two boys had been forced out of the house by their mother and her underbelly activities. With nothing else to do they had found a green part of the district on a little hill overlooking a path into town and had set up camp. Laying in the grass they had first pointed out the funny shapes in the clouds but as the wind pushed the fluffy white stuff further west, Cecil had turned his attention to the citizens of District Seven. He knew better than to comment on Peacekeepers, but that did not keep him from thinking how odd that one's walk was. More like a waddle than a true stride. He'd whisper it to Colin later when the man was out of sight.

More people came into view and Cecil just had to remark on the state of the population of the district.

"Why is everyone so hard looking?" he asked, scrunching his nose up at the people passing through. "They're all so... rough."

Perhaps it was because they were adults and burdened with the adult worries and adult griefs. Or maybe they just didn't bathe enough. It could have been anything really.

While Cecil was smart for his age he was not exactly mature. He still would point at people, fuss over food, and complain about not getting his way. Then again there are grown men who behave like that. While Cecil was hot and fiery his brother was cool and, without realizing it, Cecil had taken to spending more time with Colin because of this reason. Cecil decided against telling his brother about the funny way that Peacekeeper walked because Colin would almost definitely find something beautiful in it.

Sometimes the young boy wished he was like his brother. So open and light. So thoughtful and, god forbid, nice. Cecil was anything but nice.

"Colin, why do you think that woman's face is like that?" he said pointing to a broad woman leaving town with a few bags. Her face was horribly scarred. Deep pink grooves left a large indent through her face, twisting her lip into a weird pucker. "She's awfully ugly."

The young boy added on the last comment to give himself a reason to look away. What if he had an accident and ended up like that? Cecil wouldn't be able to bear it.

[Tom]

Writing Thinks Says

The day started out like any normal day, his hands itching to create more wooden animals to sell. The task itself a rough and joyful one, but his day wouldn't go as he had predicted. Mother's words in his ears before he could get to his projects, "Colin, why don't you take Cecil out around the district, spend some time together?" The Grant boy knew it wasn't a suggestion. It was an order, hands grabbing for his shoes, feet moving to the door. Forced into the public's eye, nowhere to hide from the looks. A slight panic sets inside his body, sending a new fear into him. The troublesome shivers filling his body. His mind racing, No panic attacks Colin. Not today.

The little green hill spot was one of his favorite places to relax away from the people's stares, but close enough to study them like the people from District Three. A scientist among the lumberjacks. Colin's hands lay behind his head as the two Grants would point above at the clouds, blowing softly along. Fluffy white clouds forming animals and objects, only disappearing when the wind blows them away to never be seen again.

Cecil's rude attitude came out in a storm, one that tackled Colin like a hurricane. "What an old man," His insides churned at the words, the reasoning unknown. Elders were supposed to be respected, just like Curtis. The name brings emotions that he's shoved away for what felt like years. A sight finds it's way out, and the words continue as more people walk by. Colin's already sitting up and listening, "Why is everyone so hard looking?" The question was one that the oldest Grant boy could answer. The world was a rough place, they should know by now how rough it truly was.

Colin's thoughts took time, but he tried to answer quickly, but Cecil was fast. Just like a fire, burning swiftly across the land, leaving his destruction behind. "They're all so... rough." Rough like the hands that held him steady. Rough like the day when Curtis died. Rough like the all of the tortures they all go through on a daily basis. Colin was rough just like the people in District Seven. They go about trying to create a life that they enjoy, in the rough world that they lived in. It was beautiful how the people tried their best to make life bearable for everyone they care about.

Cecil was a firecracker in Colin's eyes. Always ready to face the world head on. Only focusing on the way he sees the world, until it bursts. Anger was what Cecil had, but the oldest Grant could see the intelligence, the strength, the skills that Cecil had that he wished he had. His brother was pretty much the opposite of him in everything. Smart, strong, and definitely able to be sociable. Colin wanted that, but never could get it. His mind wouldn't let him.

Colin looked up only for a moment and noticed the woman whose face was scarred, bags in her hand and a comfortable stride in place. Cecil was quick to react, "Colin, why do you think that woman's face is like that?" A frown came to his face, twisting at the next comment Cecil made about her. "She's awfully ugly." The oldest Grant's hands squeezed into a fist and all he wanted to do was punch his little brother's face for the rude comment that had just came out of his mouth. No one was ugly. Everyone had something beautiful in them. A lovely personality, or a beauty of a memory.

His hands were wide now, calm and steady, just like how he had to cut the wood for his animals. The reply was simple. "Cecil, don't be rude." A smile finds it's way onto his face as he watches the woman with bags walk away, his voice is calm and collected, "She's not ugly. That scar probably was from a daring trial that she had to face her fears, or maybe it was from a heroic act where she saved children or animals from being injured, or she was protecting her loved ones from some evil enemy. Who knows. I think it's a great indicator for something amazing that she's done, and I find that beautiful." As soon as he finished his thoughts on the matter, the air felt nice. A soothing breeze on his neck and a smile upon his face.

Another passerby appeared before the Grants, a man who was on the older side of his forties. A little girl, most likely his daughter close behind. In the little girl's arms was a teddy bear that was rather torn up from heavy useage. A beautiful sight for Colin indeed. Family that could actually be family. The man, clearly her father, holding her hand as they walked along the path, Colin couldn't miss voicing his opinion, "That was cute. A father caring for his daughter. That's something that I find beautiful. Sometimes, I wish I could talk to people and figure out their stories. Don't you agree, Cecil?" A beautiful day to see beautiful things all around. A great time to be spending it with little brother, some actual family bonding time. Maybe his mother was right, outside can do wonders for him.

[sbeeg]

Cecil Grant.

After his older brother's scolding, Cecil flopped into the grass, picking at the blades with his fingers. He ripped them up individually, twisting them in his hands. Sure, Colin had a nice way of looking at things but just once Cecil he wished he saw his side of the argument. Not all things are nice just like not all things were ugly. Shaking his head, the fourteen year flew himself onto his back, looking up at the clouds.

Cecil heard footsteps below and jolted up to watch an older man and young girl walk by. The girl held a grossly ragged teddy bear and held onto her father's hand like a vice.

Colin, of course, pointed out how sweet it was.

"How do you know their story is a nice one?" Cecil spat bitterly, twisting a piece of grass until it tore. He shriveled his nose at the fatherly love being shown- after all it wasn't like Cecil knew what that felt like. Sure he had Curtis, when he was alive, but he was his brother. None of the Grant kids really knew what having a father felt like. Sometimes Cecil thought Colin romanticized dads far too much. Cecil knew the truth- parents would always fail their children, just like theirs had. "For all you now he could be putting up a front in public and then beating her at home."

His tone was sharp and he knew Colin wouldn't like his words but he said them anyway. Ever since Curtis died he was being even more insufferably optimistic. Everyone's lives was just sugar candy and daises and all that bullshit.

"Not like you would know, you don't talk to people. You just sit carving those dumb animals," Cecil said, his eyes on his lap. He knew he was starting something but it just felt so good to let the feelings and words out even if they hurt his beloved brother. "You don't know anything about people."

[Tom]

Writing Thinks Says

It only takes a few words from his little brother to crack him like an egg. "How do you know their story is a nice one?" He didn't, no one could ever know anyones story until they knew them well enough to find it out. The story of the daughter and father could have been violent, but the affection he saw told him that wasn't true. They were happy, just like he wished he was. Just like how he wished all of the Grant siblings were happy. His body lets out a sigh and he begins stumbling on his words, but Cecil is quicker. Rougher emotions thrown at Colin aiming to shatter his optimism. "For all you now he could be putting up a front in public and then beating her at home."

His heart shatters at the thought. A little girl getting beat by her father. The sound of it sent himself spiraling down. Curtis was his father figure in all ways, even if he was his older brother. Colin had a father that would come once a month, but that man never truly was his father like Curtis was to him. Curtis was the one who basically took care of all of the Grant kids, now it was on Colin to take care of them, working for the lumber part of the district and selling his little wooden animals to people. It was a rough life, but he did it all for them. The little girl and father were good people. He knew they were. They had to be for him to feel happy and safe about the world.

Before he could even get a word out, Cecil hit him dead center of the target, slashing at his emotions like they were nothing. "Not like you would know, you don't talk to people. You just sit carving those dumb animals," The words strike him like a match, setting his body on fire. Air escapes his lungs and he feels himself wanting to cower away from his younger brother, but he couldn't. Face your fears stupid. Cecil already has the knife deep in his gut, but the words that come next twist the knife into an even deeper pain. "You don't know anything about people." And his body is a flame, burning everything inside of him. A panic sets in him and his mind screams for him to breath.

One. Inhale.

Two. Exhale.

One. Inhale. Two Exhale. And his panic disappears, as simple as it was, it felt like minutes, but really was seconds. Cecil probably noticed his panic, but in that moment Colin didn't care. A new anger sears his body. His voice comes out stumbling a bit, "You're right. All I do is carve the dumb animals. I don't know anything. What about you? You got the brains to do good, but instead you waste them on causing problem and getting into trouble. What a waste of potential." If Cecil was playing the game of damaging emotions, Colin could play too. Two could play at this game. He didn't stop there. He continued with the same words that Cecil had used upon him.

"You don't know anything about people either."

[sbeeg]

Cecil Grant.

For a few moments, with his eyes still on his lap, Cecil could hear his brother breath. Sometimes at night he could hear the deep breathes as Colin went to sleep. He remember how it looked the first time Colin freaked out- panic deep in his eyes like it was etched into them when he was born. He hated seeing him like that and here Cecil was, causing an episode.

When Colin calmed down, he hurled his own words Cecil's way.

"You're right. All I do is carve the dumb animals. I don't know anything. What about you? You got the brains to do good, but instead you waste them on causing problem and getting into trouble. What a waste of potential."

Cecil scrunched up his nose, his mouth twisting in rage and disgust as his brother made assumptions about him. Colin didn't know anything!

"You don't know anything about people either."

Cecil was on his feet before his brother could even finish his sentence. Finally, standing over Colin, he was taller. Cecil was never taller than anyone- especially his brothers. Now, looking down at him he felt the power they must always feel. But he also felt rage. His fingers curled into fists and he scowled down at his sibling.

"You don't know anything about me Colin! You're not my dad! You're not Curtis! And you can't tell me what to do! You're just jealous because I'm smarter than you and I don't have to count my breathing to keep from freaking out!" the words scorched his throat as they left them but there was no holding back now. "And I know all I need to know about people- that they're all terrible. That you can't rely on anyone else! They'll all leave- they'll all just leave."

His shouts began drowning in sobs as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"No one stays, no one is going to help you. They're all taken away," Cecil collapses in the grass again, his knees folding underneath him.

"I miss Curtis," he whispered through his sobs. "I miss him so much."