XXXX

Rhys walked into the house and was greeted by the sound of coughing. Curious, he went into the room he shared with his younger brother. There was his ten-year-old baby brother, Shahar. His hair reached just past his ears at this point. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, though he was shivering. Or was he just shaking from the coughing?

Rhys suddenly felt guilty. Just the other day he’d hit Shahar again… all because he’d glared at him. Wait a second Rhys… this is Donovan’s heir we’re talking about. He’s destined to become just like him… you can see it when he glares or yells. Shahar is Donovan all over again. Rhys was about to turn away, then he thought of Mother. He froze and sighed. What would Mother say, if she saw him about to leave his younger brother who was ill? She’d be disappointed in him, very disappointed. And after all… he was family.

“Shahar… you ok?” Rhys asked. He walked in and leaned on the wall, his arms crossed. “You don’t look so good…”

Shahar pounded on his chest with his fist until he stopped coughing. He glared at his brother. “I’m fine. What do you care?” He slid off his bed and began to walk to the door. “I’m going to go get some water from the pond…”

Rhys half-wanted to just let him go. Let the little idiot go out into the blazing heat and walk a mile to get to the pond. He didn’t care. But he did. “Shahar… no. Go lay down. I’ll go get you some water.”

Shahar stopped and looked at his brother in shock. He glared at him again. “What are you trying to pull, Rhys? You know I don’t have anything you’d want.”

Rhys sighed. “I… I don’t know. Just lay down, alright? I’ll get the water for you. Besides, I can fly. I’ll get there faster.”

Shahar glared at him again. He was playing on the fact that he still couldn’t fly! But he did seem serious about going to get the water for him. It would save him the walk… and he doubted he could make it down the street… but he didn’t want to give in. To either Rhys or the sickness. “I’ll get it-”

“No.” Rhys said sternly. “Your going to lay down and rest. You have to think about what's best for yourself every once in a while. I know you just want to show me you don’t need my help, I know that. Just let me do this for you, ok?”

Shahar stared at him suspiciously, then climbing back into bed. He pulled the covers back over himself and rolled over on his side, his back facing towards his brother. “I could’ve gotten it myself, ya know.”

Rhys smirked and sighed. “I know, Shahar. You don’t need anyone taking care of you, you can watch after yourself.”

“Exactly. Your learning, brother.”

Rhys sighed again and walked out. When outside he kicked off the ground and flew over the village and to the pond. Normally he just walked, it wasn’t really a mile. Though it was a long walk… at least when you could barely stand. But now he was somewhat… urgent. He told himself it was just so he could get the little runt better, then he wouldn’t have to put up with his coughing and moaning. He landed beside the pond and saw Candeena there, filling a clay pot like the one Rhys had with him.

“Hello, Rhys.” Candeena said, smiling at him. “How’s Shahar?”

Rhys didn’t answer at first. He knelt down and began to fill his pot with water. “Hello. He’s sick. I’m going to bring him some water. The moron wanted to come get it himself. Sometimes I wonder if we’re actually related.”

Candeena smiled a bit. “I’m glad to see your worried about him.” She sighed. “Shahar is like that. He’s stubborn. Like you.” With that she lifted her pot out of the water and began to walk away.

“Oh gee thanks!” Rhys called after her. He finished filling his pot and began to walk back towards the house. If he flew with it he’d most likely spill the water. When he reached the house Father was home and acting as if he couldn’t hear his son coughing in his bedroom. Why in the world did we have to come live here? I’d rather be in the Banished Lands with Mother… He walked back into the room he shared with his brother.

“Hey. I got the water. Can you sit up?” Rhys asked, setting the pot down near the door. He walked towards his brother and watched him attempt to sit up. He sighed and helped him up. Rhys brushed his bangs out of his face and felt his forehead. Shahar was burning up. “Your burning up.”

Shahar frowned. “Really? I had no idea.” He coughed again and pounded on his chest again, as if trying to cough up the virus.

Rhys frowned this time. “Moron. That won’t do anything but make your chest hurt. You can’t cough up the virus… but you can get something else inside of you to eat it.”

Shahar looked curious now. “Eat it? What do you mean by that?” He furrowed his brow, trying to remember something they’d been taught in school.

Rhys nodded and went to pick up the water. “Yeah. The germs-the things that are making you sick-are the bad guys. And there are these white cells inside of you, they’re the good guys. They’re job is to eat the germs. And the reason you have a fever is because they’re trying to fight the germs and eat them. So you need to rest and give them help with medicine.” He walked back, dipped a rag into the water, and put it on his brother’s forehead.

Shahar stared. “Really? That’s pretty cool.” He laid back down and stared up at Rhys. “Why are you taking care of me?”

Rhys sighed. “I really don’t know. I guess it’s my instincts as a big brother or something. But right now just rest. I doubt you have been all day. Am I right?”

Shahar smirked. “Maybe I have been, maybe I haven’t.”

Rhys sighed, knowing the answer. “Your lucky you didn’t collapse in the street. You went to school and everything, didn’t you?”

“Yup.”

“Great… you probably got everyone sick. Didn’t your teacher say anything?”

“Yeah. She said, ‘Get out you little rat before you infect all of my students.’ So… I left.”

Rhys sighed and felt some sympathy for his brother. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t his fault Donovan made Shahar his heir. It wasn’t his fault he’d someday grow up to be evil and cold-hearted. Everything was decided for him already. So… everyone in the village hated him for just, well, being alive. “Ah well… I guess it was better she did that.”

Shahar shrugged and coughed. “Hey Rhys… why does everyone hate me? Is it because I’m a runt?”

Rhys shrugged. “I guess. Now get some sleep, I’m going out to find you some medicine. I’ll be back soon.”

xxxx

Half an hour later Rhys returned with a small glass bottle of a thin blue liquid. It was perfect for killing viruses like the one Shahar had. When he returned home he found Shahar out of bed, washing the floors. His cheeks were flushed and he was coughing and still shivering.

“Shahar! What are you doing?” Rhys asked.

Shahar looked up. “Mother told me to get out of bed and do my chores. I told her you told me to rest, but she just hit me and pulled me out of bed.”

“Where is she now? Mother?” Rhys asked. If she had gone out then maybe Shahar could rest while Rhys did his chores.

Shahar shrugged and went into a coughing fit. He gripped the front of his shirt, trying to keep from pounding on his chest again. After it was over, he continued to scrub. “I’ll be fine, Rhys.”

Rhys frowned and scooped his brother up. His brother was small, so his feet hung a few inches above the floor. “Your going to lay down. I’ll finish your chores.” He carried Shahar to their room and set him down on his bed.

Shahar curled up under the covers and shivered. “It stinks being sick. I’m hot and I’m cold at the same time!” He coughed again and Rhys helped him sit up.

Rhys sighed. “I know it does. Here, drink this.” He gave his brother the bottle filled with medicine. “It’s medicine, it’ll make you feel better.”

Shahar took it and tilted his head back. He drank it, though almost spit it out. It was tart and had a horrible aftertaste. But he drank it and then gave the bottle back to his brother. “That was horrible!”

“Things that are good for you always taste horrible.” Rhys said. “Now get some sleep. I’ll get your chores done for you.” He was almost out of the room when Shahar spoke.

“Rhys…”

Rhys stopped. “Yeah?”

“You’re an ok big brother.” Shahar said. With that he rolled over and fell asleep. Rhys smiled and walked out.

XXXX

I've been wanting to do something about these two. They have such a love-hate relationship. But Rhys can be a good older brother when he wants to. And I thought it would be nice to have Rhys show that he cared about Wizzie at least once when he was a kid. (And could remember it.) Plus it's been a good way to keep my mind off of what's been going on lately, and I think I made everyone feel emo with that oneshot I did. But yeah, trying to do some brotherly love here.

Review please!