Soldier of Heaven
Morozoko looked at his brother, confused. “Look around you, it’s cold!” He turns around in full circle with his arms raised to his sides. “There must be something wrong with you if you can’t feel the cold.” His voice was strong, confident but his smile said otherwise.
“Moro... I’ve never seen anyone here have such a red face due to the weather.” Izotz yawns again. He always had the habit of yawning. Not because he rarely slept or out of boredom. He does not know why it even happens, instead just coming to terms that he might be stuck with this habit until the end times.
“Whatever,” Morozoko looks at the frozen lake, crossing his arms. “She’s beautiful, gorgeous, and any other word that describes her.”
“I’d say she’s too dramatic.”
“Of course! critiquing while not being into anyone yet— has there been anyone you’ve laid your eyes on and thought to yourself: I want to get to know them, maybe spend some time with them...love them?” He moved his hands rapidly in circular motion, side-eyeing Izotz.
Izotz’s body tensed up a bit, his fingers playing with the tassel that once belonged on his brother’s coat. ”I have been seeing someone, actually. I’ve been with them for three months now.”
“HA! Is that so?” Morozoko laughs, pulling back his sincere words. “Quick, who’s this lover of yours?” His voice was similar to a ringmaster’s all of the sudden.
Izotz remains quiet for a moment, contemplating whether he should tell his brother about them. It was obvious that he would not believe anything related to him finally finding someone. Yet he did not know if he should be more worried at how well known his lover is, or Morozoko’s reaction to finding out his own brother is in love with a man.
He took a deep breath, eyes squinted as he slowly let out his answer. “...His name’s Ichabod.”
Morozoko stopped laughing, his face slowly shifting as his eyes widened. He could see his brother’s natural rosy cheeks fade away. Izotz pursed his lips, preparing himself for what was to come.
”Out of all people?” His brother’s words were quiet, yet the strength he showed when he grabbed Izotz’s shoulders made it clear that he was not so happy. “What made you think that was a good idea?”
“I know...,” Izotz buried his face in his hands, seemingly embarrassed when he was, in fact, smiling. He did not care for what Morozoko thought, what was he going to do? Travel all the way to Derkaz and snitch on them to the emperor? A lot of hard work just because he himself decided to get with a man.
“I-it’s— I don’t know... he’s..,” he began stuttering, words getting stuck as he tried explaining himself. His thoughts never correlated with his spoken words, it would be a miracle if they did.
“What if the emperor finds out?”
“I can always lie—”
Morozoko quickly slapped Izotz’s head. “Idiot! How could you lie in the emperor’s presence?” His brow furrowed. “Especially when you can be sent back here and executed?”
Izotz sulked. “Who would even pull that off...”— he steps forward— “let’s head over to the Krov’ Gebora monument.” He wanted to change the subject, regretting bringing up his lover in the first place, but it was no use. His brother continued, his words running rampant.
“I would have preferred you dating some random woman with no relations to the government— but a man— no, the emperor’s right-hand man?!” He seemed more surprised than mad, a different reaction than anticipated.
“This better be some strange phase of yours because I didn’t agree to having two Kanos’ as brothers!”
Two Kanos’? Izotz was taken back by those words. He had not heard from him in years ever since their argument. He was not the best, yet he never expected to be put in the same place as him by his older brother. His heart seemed to slowly shrink, becoming heavier.