Small Stories For Lost In Translation

and when the lights all went out we watched our lives on the screen

he stood above his twin-like foe, quietly enjoying being able to finally witness his older brother fall. the heavy sword his brother held during the beginning had been long gone, leaving his arm heavy and barely able to keep him sat up.

the foul taste of metal and salt coated his mouth and throat, unable to rid of it.

"so you want my honest opinion? i'm not sure you do."

he could barely even register the male above him speaking, but soon have a short nod, more blood spilling from his nose as he tilted his head forward.

"you're nothing more than a pathetic shadow of the man you so wish to be."the words sliced deeper than they should have. his little brother was supposed to always lose, to always stay below himself, so how did this happen

part of this sight hurt minsoo. this was his older brother, the person he had looked up to for so many years.

hidden anxiety from years ago crawled up from his stomach, filling his throat.

he had to bite the inside of his cheeks to keep the tears in.

minsoo let his head drop, hair darkening the view of his beautiful eyes.

when he peered back up, he didn't look at minsung, no, he looked behind him. staring at seemingly nothing there with pained eyes.

when he finally looked back to minsung, the tears fell. resolve breaking and crumbling at the sight of his older brother, in so much pain, gritting his teeth at how much he wanted scream.

minsoo wanted to ask why. to figure why his older brother had always had it out for him. but with every tear that fell, he lost his voice more and more. he just wanted to rush to minsung's side and help him, but a small voice in his head yelled at him to deal the finishing blow. 'put him out of his misery.'

and in his daze, he did just that.

when the deed was done, and the insisting voice had gone quiet, he had truly realized what had happened.

no. that couldn't have just happened. he wouldn't have. there's no way. minsoo was a king known for his anger issues, but also his ability to restrain his emotions. so what the hell just happened.

his sword felt heavier than ever in his hand, muscles going limp.

the sharpened metal clattered to the ground, followed by minsoo's armor clanking down next to it. his hand reached up to shove off his helmet, desperate to rid himself of any garments related to the death of his brother.

no, no. this wasn't his fault. it was minsung's. it was always minsung's fault. all minsoo had done in his life was to please his parents and older brother, but they just couldn't get that into their thick skulls. not until minsoo's kingdom of mayhem and maniacs had declared war on both kingdoms. minsung hadn't quite understood what was happening until he had traveled to his parents kingdom to discuss war strategies, only to find the town in flames and ruin. the gut-wrenching sight of his parents laying lifeless on the floor of their suite, coated in the red substance of their own blood.

a scroll layed waiting for him, neatly placed on their bed, sealed with the emblem of minsoo's kingdom.

the war hadn't progressed very far when the two kings finally met each other on the battlefield. and it had only taken minsoo a matter of minutes to get minsung begging for his life.

that time he had chickened out, slumping back and releasing his bloodied sword. turning his back to minsung and walking away. turning his back.

that was the first time minsoo had shown that he thought of minsung as inferior.

and countless time on the blood stained battlefield had minsoo refused to kill minsung. leaving his older brother on the ground, muddied and bloodied.

their latest fight had been the last straw, for minsoo had finally gathered enough confidence to finish the war he had started. but the haunting faces of his dead, disapproving parents halted his antics. their ghostly appearances, constantly seeping wounds, and disdain was too much. the way they lingered behind minsung, looking as if they wanted to help him, and only him. did minsoo not deserve it?

minsoo's blade stood still in front of his brothers throat, quivering at the shake of his hands. but it never lurched forward to deliver the final blow.

then a sharp pain shot across his slower back, and his waiting sword plunged into his brothers eating throat.

and then they stood. two brothers. watching their lives on a big-screen.

"i was there on the day you were born. feels like yesterday. and suddenly the lights went out, at your hands. but i can't find even a spark of hatred, because honestly, i can't blame you. not anymore."

minsoo spared his brother a glance, momentarily taking in his beaten for, and the tears streaming down his cheeks and washing away some drying blood.