"Come in, ███████."
Enters a youthful looking man with wavy blue-grey hair and an ethereal pink shift. I shot up from my desk to meet his large, perfectly hazy deep blue eyes with my own inferior stark red marbles. Unlike me, he showed not even the slightest hint of aging despite being only minutes younger. This was what it was like looking at the face of my dear little brother. It was inevitable that I would notice the differences between us.
He opened his mouth to expose fangs, much too small and dull in comparison to my own. Not sharpening them is a sign of how easy he must have it. No need when nothing dares challenge you.
"It's been a long time, brother. I didn't mean to interrupt your studies. I hope you can forgive me."
He gave me an innocent smile, the one that had fooled me so many times before. Make no mistake, this was the smile belonging to the same man who took everything away from me. The smile of a traitor who comes around every few years to rub salt in my wounds through subtle yet calculated movements.
"Do not worry yourself brother, you're always welcome here. My studies are never more important than you." I feigned a smile but my clever ███████ was unconvinced.
"That must be why you're making that monstrous face?" He was laughing at me.
"I suppose it comes with age to those of us not blessed as you." I managed to get out a measly chuckle, although it sounded more like whimpers in my mind. I felt as though he had stuck a dagger in my side.
"You know I only jest, ▋▋▋▋▋▋. Your face is still handsome even with the scary expressions you make at times."
My brother knew exactly what he was doing. Small jabs meant to wear me down and eventually shatter what is left of my self-esteem. His backtracking was only to conceal his motives. How cruel you are, ███████.
"You wouldn't understand, my face was something that mother hated. She didn't want to look at me any longer and cast me away with the first opportunity she had. It must be difficult for you, being so easy to look at. It sounds unbearable being the favorite."
███████ had a puzzled look on his face, but I'm certain he knew of what I spoke. He had to, he's been tormenting me ever since my fall from grace. Kicking me while I was down was his most favorite pastime.
"Where did this come from? Are you still brooding over mother's decision? You must understand I have hurt over it too."
I was baffled by this. He tried to reach out to me but I swatted his hand away out of reflex. How dare he insinuate that any mishap he experienced is anywhere near as dire as the suffering he's inflicted upon me?
"You're so ungrateful! How could you find something to be upset about in such a favorable outcome?" I was so angry I felt I might burst into tears right then and there if it were not him standing in front of me.
"Brother, please calm down! When mother and father separated it was not mother I wished to stay with. Surely you remember that I was always with father? The decision was not based on our looks or even how strong we are. They chose us based on the abilities we inherited. I have mother's power to create and restore and you have father's power to crush and destroy. You must see how our roles fit in with their choice? We are only guarding the gates for them."
What a pitiful look you have on your face, ███████.
"Why do you come here? Why do you insist on visiting me only to remind me of how you and I differ?" I actually was curious as to what he might say.
"Brother, I promise you that is not my intention. They are at war but that does not mean that we have to be."
Your words might have touched me if I were able to muster a place in my heart to forgive you. I will play your game for now.
"Very well. I hope you may pardon me for raising my voice and speaking such unkind words."
His repugnant expression changed back to that faux smile I knew so well.
"Of course, I forgive you. I came here to tell you of the good news."
Good news? More gloating? He truly does not understand how I feel. "Do tell."
"▊▊▊▊▊▊▊ and I are going to be having a child. Actually, we've been expecting for awhile now. He's being born tomorrow."
In the midst of this reveal I had my own revelation. Tomorrow is the day my wife gives birth to my own two sons. This is my chance, no one other than me would be able to make the preparations on such short notice. I will have not just two pawns in my possession, but three. One of them being my key back into Heaven. You left me an opening after all.
"How exciting! What a blessing that our children will be born on the same day, just as we were so long ago."
This time I almost started crying tears of joy. Thank you mother, for gifting me with such an adorably naive little brother.