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Posted by Hans 'The Baron' von Richtoven
on January 9, 2025, 2:38 pm
Sometime over the festive period.
You hand a steaming mug of coffee to your better half, ensuring that she has it firmly grasped in her hands as if it was an offering to some deity before you release your grip.
’Danke my love.’
A kiss follows before you return to the task of completing the other two coffees.
The metallic thump of the portafilter being cracked against the side of the small bin you’ve got set aside for the waste resounds round the kitchen like a gun shot.
With practiced ease, you refill the ground coffee and accompanied by a satisfying ‘thunk’, insert it back into the machine.
The high pressure of the steam whistles next to you, drowning out the conversation of the two people in the kitchen besides yourself.
Turning round to face the second person chatting idly with your wife, you look to ask a question you already know the answer to.
The side glance and raised eyebrow from your younger brother stops you say anything.
’If you think you’re getting a kiss from me mein bruder just because you made me coffee? Nein. Einfach, nein.’
You make ‘that’ look in response, the one all siblings make to the other when the other one is being smart.
’Very funny…’
’I know.’
That smile appears, so self congratulatory. God it annoyed you just as much now as it did when you were children.
Your wife is being no help in this, just smiling away herself, amused by the needling you’ve been giving one another since he and the family had shown up for Christmas.
’Want to make it yourself?’
’Tempted, you never quite manage to get it just right afterall.’
You exhale through your nostrils, head tilting and eyebrows arching upwards at this.
He’s playing a dangerous game, your brother. Very dangerous.
You wag a finger at him over your shoulder as you focus back on the coffee machine, lifting one mug to place under the drip.
’Some guest you’re being Heinrich.’
’Well perhaps you could have gotten me that Rolex for Christmas, jah?’
Some foam is blown from Vanessa’s mug as she fights back a snort of laughter.
Your brother’s cattiness knows no bounds.
God you’ve missed him.
You’re not going to admit that to him though, not now at any rate.
Settling for deploying a death stare at him, you nevertheless return to making the two coffees, ‘almost’ dropping your brothers as you hand it to him.
A wink and a chuckle at one another reinforces there’s no ill feelings, much as you’re making out to be wounded.
You move off from the countertop you’ve been working at, making your way round to the island and one of the bar stools there.
As you move, Vanessa motions towards you.
’I never knew your uncle did so much for you and Heinrich.’
’Not opening up? Hans?’
He’s a good actor when he wants to be, but right now your brother is hamming it up something rotten.
You lean over the island to swat at him, but he far too easily moves out of range.
’Oh let up you. Can’t you get this out of your systems before you come visit?’
It’s a question aimed at you both and you don’t need to know what the other is thinking to utter an almost involuntary ‘no’.
Your brother saying it at the same time has Vanessa rolling her eyes.
’Sorry mein schatz, doesn’t work like that.’
’You rile each other up.’
’Jah. Best get used to it again Van.’
Your brother gestures vaguely towards where the lounge would be at the other side of the house.
’Family trait in the male side.’
’Hereditary.’
’Oh give me strength…’
Any follow up you had is put away for the moment at your phone buzzing in your pocket.
Havoc. Post attack.
’I swear I will come out to Iowa and I will not be leaving until I have ended whoever has done this to you!’
The phone is being held in front of your face by your friend Matthew. It’s fortunately not a video call, but it is on loudspeaker.
The medical attendant seeing to the back of your head studiously focuses on his work.
A nip of pain from his administrations tugs at the corner of your mouth, drawing a wince.
’Ohmygod, are you okay though honey?’
You go to nod, but a bracing hand from the attendant stops you.
Another nip at the back of your head follows as the wound is checked.
’Jah, I’m fine mein schatz.’
’Matthew, is he ok?’
With an almost apologetic look towards you, Red Dragon answers.
’He’s looked better Vanessa.’
’Hans!’
’What?!’
You didn’t mean to snap as you did, but right now, having someone manhandle your head in the locker room, dealing with a concussion… there was a lot to process and not a lot of computing power to do it coherently.
’Who did this to you? I’m freaking out here. I mean your brother’s fine about it of course.’
’Your brother is there?’
’Hallo Matthew!’
The next few seconds are filled by the two of them catching up at this unexpected opportunity.
You’d have focused on what they were saying, something about dropping by the academy perhaps, but the pain at the back of your head was intensifying and then suddenly stopping.
Or was it your wife cutting them off?
’You pair can talk later. Matthew, put my husband on please.’
With a pat of the shoulder, the attendant signals that he’s done.
You take the outstretched phone from Matthew, smiling gratefully at him and taking the phone off loudspeaker.
’It’s me. I’m ok, honest.’
’Who did this to you? Wisdom hasn’t said to me yet. Do they have any idea?’
’Nein, nothing.’
A quick glance up at Matthew confirms nothing has changed in that regard.
’No idea.’
’If it’s her...’
The venom in her voice makes it clear that she’s referring to Erica.
’It’s not her.’
’How can you be so sure honey?’
You choke off a laugh.
’Because that would be a first, her attacking me instead of you, jah?’
’Well it’s a new year, new leaf and all.’
’Some things never change, new year…’
You sigh as you feel gingerly at the back of your head.
’Still the same way to get to me.’
’And us.’
’Nein. Not you. Not Kai…’
Sometime over the festive period.
’I knew your uncle meant a great deal, that’s why we went with his first name, but y’know… would have been even nicer to hear this ages ago.’
She emphasises this by gently knocking her hips against yours.
You’re both standing watching your niece and nephew try in vain to beat your brother at Mario Kart.
In your arms is cradled your newborn. Eyes wide open and staring up at you, oblivious to the hollering and cries of ‘cheat’ from the gamers.
’I know…’
Your son gets a grip of the finger you’d been waggling at him.
’Oh he’ll be strong like you alright.’
’Jah, I can tell.’
He’s not for letting go. A happy burble confirms this.
You glance at your wife, now leaning in against you.
’It’s only when you get talking, jah? Mein bruder und I… memories come back und… all of them, not just the core ones.’
’I know what you mean babe. I just like hearing you tell them, that’s all.’
Another gentle bump of the hips.
’If you’re telling them to our boy, I’m to be there too though, alright?’
Smiling, you lean in for a kiss.
’I want him to know who he’s named after. What he did in life. Just like my grandpa, y’know.
She gently tickles your son’s stomach.
’That’s right mister. You’ve got his name as well. Your middle name! I want you to know where he’s been, what he’s done…’
The buzzing in your phone signifies another message.
Probably your flight details over to where Havoc is taking place.
You reach for your phone.
Havoc. End of the show.
Your phone buzzes in your pocket.
It does it again. Another notification coming through.
And again, that vibration against your upper thigh that calls your attention towards it.
Again.
Is someone calling? No, it’s not that. It’s irregular.
You’ve already checked in with Vanessa… with your brother… those would be the usual suspects. Your mother and Vanessa’s parents would call if they had to speak to you…
Fishing your phone out, it’s still vibrating as yet another notification pops up.
The world stops.
Just like it had done when your child had been born.
But with none of the emotions you’d experienced then.
’Nein!’
After all these years?
After all this time?
’Where has he been? What has he been doing?’
Another spike of icy fear hits you.
’What is he going to do now?
End.
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