Page 60 of Steel & Thunder
I narrow my eyes but continue. “We still wanted to do everything together. We’d lose our shit if someone tried to separate us. It wasn’t until we were older that we finally started wanting a little space. Still shared a bedroom for eighteen years though.”
“That is a long time to share a bedroom.” He’s a little taken aback. Probably didn’t have to share with his sister. “Did that not get awkward?”
“Not really. I mean, it wasn’t always easy to get some privacy when you wanted it, but we told each other everything anyway.” Still did up until recently. “Even when we started getting older and doing different things, we still looked out for each other. He got picked on in school a lot. I didn’t like that—I don’t like bullies in general. So I kinda made it my job to be his protector. Taught him how to defend himself.”
“I can just picture a tiny you making threats on the playground.” That’s actually pretty accurate.
“He’s my brother. That’s what you do for each other.” There really isn’t a whole lot I wouldn’t do for Mike if he needed it. “It wasn’t one sided either. I was a terrible student, but he was always there to help me. He used to stay up all night with me studying, or helping me with homework, or going over a paper I had to write. He’d explain things over and over until I finally got it. He wanted to make sure I didn’t fuck anything up too badly.”
“He sounds like a good brother.” Yeah, Mikey’s the best. Usually.
“He also once told me, ‘I refuse to have a dumb jock for a twin,’ so I’m not sure he was being entirely selfless.” Khazak’s smiling, a hint of something else behind his eyes. “What?”
“You get excited when you talk about your brother.” His head tilts, like he’s figuring me out. “It is rather endearing.”
That has me blushing. Time to shift the focus off of me. “What about you and your sister? Are you a lot alike?”
“When we were younger. We also liked to do everything together. Fishing, hunting, fighting—we were very competitive. Something our parents did their best not to encourage. I think they believed we were trying to outdo one another, but it was really more about pushing each other further. If we made a bet, there was never a sore loser. Although we still managed to find ways to get on each other’s nerves.”
“I figured that was a given with all siblings.” His chuckle that tells me he knows what I mean. “Do you have any others?”
“Two younger brothers and a younger sister. Yogik, Ignatz, and Ursza.” He holds up three fingers as he names them. “You?”
“Older brother and younger sister. Joseph and Kira.” So we both come from big families.
“Are you also close with them?” He pushes his plate to the side, our lunch forgotten as we share our stories.
“Not really. I looked up to my brother a lot when I was little, but I grew out of it. My little sister is...a little sister. I could be anywhere from completely annoyed to super overprotective with her. Shit, her birthday is next month.” She will not be happy I missed it. Or that I didn’t get her a present.
“It may take a while to reach her, but you could always write to her,” Khazak offers a perfectly reasonable solution.
“I’ll think about it.” I already know I’m not going to take him up on it, but there is something else I need. “So, since our fish is cold, and I’m meeting your family tonight... Do you think I could finally get the haircut I’ve been asking about?”
“Yes, David, we can get you a haircut.” With a huff of laughter, Khazak stands and grabs our plates. Time to get cleaned up.
The sun has already started to set by the time we start our journey to Khazak’s parent’s house. We just left the barber after giving my hair a fresh trim. Nothing fancy: short on the sides and evened out top, same as I’ve gotten for years. I prefer my haircuts low maintenance, especially when I’m not sure when my next one might be. Khazak paid of course, but I’m thinking I may need to take him up on that offer to find a job so I can pull my own weight a little for the next two months and start saving up.
“We have arrived.” We come to a stop in front of a home that looks like a large version of our own, all stone and wood. “Ready?”
“I think so.” It’s just dinner, right?
With a nod, Khazak leans forward to knock, and a few moments later, the door swings inward.
“Khazak” is the only intelligible thing I make out when the orc on the other side starts speaking, but hey, kind of impressive I even got that.
As we walk inside for a second, I think that the orc greeting us is Khazak’s doppelganger. Same height, same hair, same build. But when he turns to me, I notice the small differences. His hair and beard are more salt-and-pepper than black, and the lines on his face run deeper. This must be his father.
It’s my turn to be spoken to, but I don’t understand any of it because it’s in Orcish. “No, father, he cannot speak—”
“Well, I hope you are taking care of that,” he tells his son before turning back to me, hand outstretched. “Orlun Ironstorm.”
“David Ceranooooff—” I’m pulled into a hug when I reach my hand out.
“A little on the scrawny side.” The comment is spoken over my shoulder as I’m placed back on the ground. “Nothing we cannot fix. It is nice to meet you, David.”
“Nice to meet you too...” Shit, what am I supposed to call him? Orlun? Mr. Ironstorm? That’s gonna get confusing. “Sir.” Aaaaand that was even worse.
“Word around the city is that you and my son have been quite busy.” He looks between the two of us expectantly and my face heats. Of course, everyone here has probably heard about...everything.
