Manchukuo extended his hand over, reaching for a wrap of gauges. He then pulled some of the thin material out, using his left had to brush Mengjiangs bangs out of the way and his other to wrap the bandage around Mengjiangs nose.
Mengjiang sat completely frozen, still shaken up from his encounter with Guangdong. For once, he didn't have anything to say.
Manchukuo finally grabbed a small pair of scissors, cutting the excess bandage and tossing the gauge and scissors aside. He then took a seat at Mengjiangs side, glancing at him in both worry and curiosity.
Manchukuo has so much questions, but he figured now wasn't the time; as Mengjiang seemed to have too much on his mind to talk.
The two of them sat in dead silence. Manchukuo tapped his feet on the ground anxiously, whilst Mengjiang simply stared off into space.
"I..." Manchukuos heart jumped, and he immediately turned to look at Mengjiang. "I'm sorry, Chukuo.."
Manchukuos brows furrowed, his eyes squinted, and he looked at Mengjiang in confusion. "What?"
Mengjiang swallowed, an empty pit forming in his stomach. He finally turned to look at his brother in arms. "Guangdong.. that bastard.. He- he was informed in what we were saying, at the IJA headquarters, it must've been those god damn soldiers.."
Manchukuos eyes widened. "What? How?" He questioned. He was moreso shocked that they hadn't been reported to the Emperor himself, they were lucky.
"I don't.. know. It's just that-" Mengjiang rubbed his temple in worry, his forehead wrinkling. "I'm scared, for you, Manchukuo."
"It's just that; If he beat my ass, who's to say he won't beat yours? You were in that dressing room with me, Manchukuo. And you.." Mengjiang paused, taking Manchukuos wrist gently, his whole hand could wrap around it.
"I'm sorry but, you're so- scrawny, skinny. With what he did to me- I- I just don't think it'll be the same outcome for you." Mengjiang finally responded truthfully, letting go of Manchukuos wrist and clasping his own fingers together, hunching over and leaning his head down on them.
Manchukuo saddened, eyeing Mengjiang with sympathy; though, he did have a point. Manchukuo looked down at his own wrist, somehow red from Mengjiangs hand despite him barely putting any pressure at all. Now that he thought about it, was he always this skinny?
"Was it.. Really that bad?" Manchukuo inquired, it hurt him to think about his only friend being beaten to the point of a broken nose, by his asshole of a boss.
Mengjiang hated seeming weak in front of others, it was humiliating and thought it was a strike at his dignity but.. it was a question, and hence he nodded. He had spent all of last night vomiting from his own fearfulness and because of the strikes at his stomach; the broken nose wasn't the only bad thing.
He glanced at Manchukuo, Manchukuo was the only one he had left.
In fact, Mengjiang was the only one Manchukuo had left.
The two sat in brief silence, deep in their own thoughts and curses directed at Guangdong. If the Emperor doesn't kill them, Guangdong will certainly finish the job.
Manchukuo seemed to understand what Mengjiang was thinking. "Well, hey, only 46 more hours left of that stupid factory, and we'll be returned to the farm in Lao Cai." Manchukuo comforted. He was good friends with Vietnamese Empire, so it wasn't that bad at all.
"46 more hours will be my hell.." Mengjiang sighed, getting up abruptly. Manchukuo only follows him with his eyes solemnly.
"I'm going to get going now, my kid needs me." Mengjiang said, lightly touching the bandage around his nose to make sure it was secure. Manchukuo always knew he had a kid, though, to have a kid you would need a wife, right? It confused Manchukuo, though it wasn't his place to question Mengjiangs love life.
Mengjiang went to the foyer of the house, throwing on his winter coat. "I'll see you later, Chukuo," He paused, glancing at Manchukuo with grateful eyes. "And.. thank you, for seeing to my wounds."
Manchukuo nodded, muttering a smile. With that being said Mengjiang slung open the lock on the door, sliding it open and making his way out of the home.
Manchukuo sighed. From the window behind the couch; he watched as Mengjiang walked across the pavement, disappearing into the far distance. The loneliness quickly getting to him.
He got up from the couch in a daze, making his way over to the small kitchen he had. He opened a cabinet door, pulling a glass cup out and deciding to make himself some green tea.
He took a sip of the hot liquid, savoring its favor. Green tea was a luxury nowadays; as the higher nobles normally took them out of shelves.
He glanced out one of the open windows, the curtains lightly blowing against it.
One day, he will be free.
YOU ARE READING
Brother In Arms || Countryhumans Alternate History ||
Historical Fiction"Ah, Manchukuo, Mengjiang, two of the Empires most prized trophies, yes? Now tell me, Mengjiang, how often do you lose a game of Heads or Tails?"
