Week Seven: Worry

  Mioko lit facts about Xeq like freworks. Xeq and Zamer resemble Feng Shu yet they also resemble Yin and Yang? It confused Xeq for a while but then it cleared as he learned that the Yin and Yang meant balance. Dragon being Yang and Phoenix being Yin. They represented everlasting love and symbolized that a man and spouse… Xeq stared at Mioko as he said ‘spouse’ not woman. Did that mean a man could be with a man?

  Personally, Xeq didn’t care. He had his handful of gay friends both men and woman. They were all good people. However, the thought of sleeping with them didn't cross his mind. There had been no interest in swinging that way either. When Xeq finally asked Mioko smiled. “Man chooses what he believes is true.” Was all that Mioko said and continued on with the explanation.

  As long as Xeq paid attention, absorbed all the information, and understood it that seemed to be Mioko’s greatest concern. It was also Xeq’s. He didn’t want to explain this all to Vile. Maybe he could bring Vile here for a lesson or two. He knew that he’d enjoy it. Especially if China was where they were meant to go instead of where they happened to be.

  They represented a love and passion that would last till the very end. Xeq was the basis of the Feng Shui that controlled the comic chi (energy) and forces on earth. He brought prosperity and good luck while the Phoenix was to bring the excellent side of the female.

  Xeq smiled bigger than he thought he would of when he heard that one. Mioko laugh and made a joke. It cause Xeq to blush but he laughed too because it was funny. There was more to the two's relationship than Xeq even considered. The two were meant to strengthen the relationship but it could even ‘relight the fires of a kindling relationship with the fiery energy of the Phoenix’ Mioko said exactly. It didn’t clear up until the next sentence which explained that it was a good symbol of a single female or bachelor looking to find love.

  “Well, she found it so I’m not worried.” Xeq laughed. “And I love her with more passion and words coming out of your mouth right now.” Xeq joked.

  Mioko smiled. “I did say that there were many things to learn did I not?”

  Xeq nodded. “Too many. What are you, my college professor?”

  This time, Mioko shook his head and smirked. “You could learn more from me than any college professor could promise you with two lives.”

  Xeq nodded. “Because you’re teaching me from a firsthand perspective not through the books and ‘this is how it works just cause’ attitude.”

  “Is that how you see your college professors now?” Mioko laughed.

  Xeq would have punched him in the arm if they had known each other longer. Mioko tricked him into saying that. Xeq rolled his eyes. “Yes it is and I would tell them any day.” Xeq smiled and spat back.

  “It would be an honor.” Mioko laughed again.

  The time that Xeq would spend with Mioko was limited. He hoped that he could get back to his brother but it occurred to him that Vile might not even notice that he was gone. Not because Vile and him weren’t close, but because Vile had been speaking to Zamer lately to tell him what Vile wanted to say. This Hydra’s heart interrupted the flow of connection that Vile and Xeq had. Speaking to his brother in person wasn’t so bad. It was the fact that they couldn’t communicate through thoughts that bothered him. Something was with this Hydra’s heart, something that had to do with destroying his connection with his brother.

 --

  Vile knocked on the door reluctantly. If Xeq was sleeping at Zamer’s all he had to do was tell her to tell him. But in the past few days he hadn’t heard a word from either of them. If they were having that much sex he didn’t want to know. He only needed to know about his brother’s whereabouts and since his brother had consumed the hydra’s heart to save him their connection had become murky and then it cut off completely. The two used to know how to communicate over long distance without technology but since the two were normally together or at least had an idea of where each other were at there was no need for the distant communication. Now, he really wish they focused on it because he was getting worried.

  Zamer’s mother answered the door with a smile. She was just as beautiful as Zamer. If Vile didn’t know any better he would call them sisters. At least she was nice. Vile shrugged in his head as he thought of what to say.

  “Vile!” Zamer’s mother wrapped her arms around him. “Son-in-law!” She said again as she squeezed him.

  Vile was careful to not hug her too tight. He always loved her hugs though. They were heartwarming and probably the best compared to anyone else he knew. Xeq and Zamer weren’t married yet but both their families treated the other as if they were already married. Xeq and Zamer both came to the conclusion to wait until after college because their families wouldn’t force them to be at home.

  “Mom.” Vile said with a smile.

  She blushed. “You don’t have to call me that if it makes you uncomfortable, honey.”

  Vile smirked. “No.” He shrugged as they let go of the hug. “That’s why I said it.”

  Vile and Zamer’s mother hadn’t spent a lot of time getting to know each other. He had come over only to stay on the couch and play video games, or to try and pry Xeq out of their house. Sometimes, he would even stay because they were fed up with home. Now, the brothers lived in the same house only a few blocks away from their parents. It was the farthest that Xeq and was allowed to go and Vile had promised that he would help pay bills so Xeq allowed the partnership.

  Zamer’s mom smiled. “Care to come in?” She said seeing that Vile didn’t step a foot inside.

  Vile shrugged. “If you want. I was hoping that I wouldn’t need to pry my brother out of your house again.”

  They both laughed at the remark but then her expression changed in concern. Before Zamer’s mother could say anything, Zamer flashed into the room. Returning to her normal form she let out an exhale of partial relief.

  “Vile!” She exclaimed. “Thank goodness you’re all right.” She paused and then look at Vile in more concern than Vile wanted her to. “You’re here for Xeq aren’t you?”

  Vile nodded slowly hoping that his brother would scare him from behind or run downstairs reluctant to see that his brother wanted him to come home.

  “He hasn’t been here in the past three days.” Zamer said in horror and disdain. “We were hoping that he’d be with you.”

  Vile’s eyes widened. He wasn’t at Zamer’s? At least if he had been he could make a joke or two about it but he wasn’t at Zamer’s? He already checked all the other places that Xeq would disappear to. He decided to save Zamer’s for last because he knew what Zamer and Xeq did in their free time. Vile bit his lip softly.  If he wasn’t here, then where could he be?