Winter came early that year as North Korea patrolled down the empty streets of Pyongyang. It was already 12 midnight and most of his citizens were already asleep, but for North, it's his most active hour.
"Commander," a young soldier suddenly approached him from the fork of a road holding a firm salute. "Thank you for your hard work today."
"Likewise," he responded firmly with a salute,
The soldier smiled at this and had went his way because just as bland as their conversation sounded, those few words were what soldiers like him always wanted to hear from their commander, North Korea.
North, as the representative of the said nation, was assigned with the duty of the Nation's Homeland security; more specifically on carrying it out. North commandeers the patrolling soldiers and has the authority to assign and relieve them from their duty. A thing he had just done with that soldier earlier.
"I see that you've let another one slack off patrol duty today, brother." Pyongyang, the representative of the nation's heart city, called out as he happened to be patrolling the nearby street. "I swear North, if you allow another one to get off duty today, we'll be the only ones left patrolling these streets, again!"
"And so? It's not like there had been any casualties occurring recently," North shrugs as he pulled his scarf up to his nose as the wind was getting too chilly for his taste and the sight of Pyongyang wearing nothing but his uniform wasn't making things any better for him.
"Well, what if the South attacked us?!" Pyongyang panicked as he instinctively pulled out his gun and anxiously glanced around.
"Believe, me...he won't." North reassuringly replied. "He has way better things to do than attacking us Pyang. And besides," he turned to the younger man that stood only a few inches shorter than him. "Can you at least wear another layer top of that uniform of yours? We still have another hour of work before we are relieved from duty you know?"
"Say what?!" Pyongyang paled out making North shake his head in response as he can't help but to find how uncanny the similarities of Pyongyang with the South, Although he'd rather drop dead than admit that openly with anyone; even with Pyongyang.
"Yes, so keep moving. We don't want people thinking we're slacking off now, do we?" North said as he ushered him to continue the patrol. That night was going to be a very long one.
North and Pyongyang's patrol ended later than expected as both of them failed to notice the time. It was no longer a surprise since the two had always been known to be inattentive when it comes to their time once they both of them are together. Their subordinates often points out how well the two of them get along with each other on which North just replies with a smile saying, "well, he's my brother after all."
Now, to the view of the regular citizens, this bond between their two representative was heart-warming that many are actually genuine happy for them. However, there are those who weren't that eager with this at all. And one of them was his boss.
"North Korea, reporting for duty." North saluted as he entered the office of his boss.
"North Korea, let me be straight with you" his boss began with a stern tone as he glared at him sharply. "I've been hearing some unpleasing news lately about you slacking off in your duty. Is that true?"
"No Sir. I will never do such thing!" North suddenly raised his voice in defense which only made his boss stare at him in doubt that belief.
"Enough excuses," his boss doesn't looks wavered and worse, he seems more convinced that North was actually slacking off when he said, "Pyongyang has never strike me as a responsible representative that's why I ordered you to over watch his development for him to become a model citizen. However, from the looks of it, you are the one influenced by this slacker to perform less than required."
"Sir, it's not like what you think!"
"Silence!"
North was a taken a back as he took a step back and followed as commanded. His boss was in a terrible mood and pressing it further would just make it far worse for him and Pyongyang. And the last thing North would want is to have his brother Pyongyang in trouble because he can't shut his mouth.
Obviously triggered, North's boss massaged his temples as he glanced through the folders on top of his desk for a while causing silence to don upon them. North wants to peer over and see what his boss was reading due to curiosity, but at that moment, one wrong move might just make him have it. That's why with all his attention, he focused so much on staying still that when his boss called for him once, he didn't respond.
"North Korea!" his boss yelled angrily that snapped him out of his thoughts.
"S-sir!" North stuttered as he saluted again out of the blue irritating his boss even further.
"The rumors are true then. You really are slacking off ever since you are relocated here in the capital." The boss nods his head as it seems like he have come to a conclusion making North swallow the lump on his throat as he anticipated for the worse.
"Just as I want to punish you for your misconduct, I've already arranged with the United Nations that you will be deported out of the country together with Pyongyang to attend their University." His boss grits his teeth in displeasure. "Keep this in mind North Korea, this is a warning. Be thankful that you are saved for now, but if I hear that you or Pyongyang does anything to disgrace our nation's name, just now that once the both of you return, you will be punished beyond the usual punishment."
"I-I'll keep that in mind Sir!" North replied as he then got dismissed by his boss who he would, by all means, avoid the entire day.
'Now that was some twist of events,' North breathes out as he finally stepped out of his boss' building feeling a slight relief from his chest because if he were to be honest, the rumors weren't entirely false. He was, by a degree, slacking off. Especially with how he discipline his troops. However, in his opinion, their rules were actually too strict and that they should be more at ease. After all, the warring era is over and countries don't just randomly point their guns at each other anymore. Countries handle differences with diplomatic meeting these days. However, as a shut in nation after all, North Korea has a lot of catching up.
And speaking of catching up.
"Hey brother," Pyongyang greeted appeared out of the building with a grin still as wide as ever. "I knew you'd be here."
"Huh?" North looked at him puzzled. "What were you doing here Pyang? Did you had business with our bosses today?" he began asking as he felt his guts wrenched inside him. Had the boss scolded him already before he was or was it someone else who had done it? North just felt bothered as Pyongyang hardly gets called over to the building unless it's of important matters. And with his conversation earlier with their boss, he figured that Pyongyang isn't on the good side of any of their leaders right now.
"Not really," Pyongyang replied in a lax tone as he stared at North dumbfounded. "I was just here to check on one of the vehicles. Apparently we are going to use it for some reasons that's why they wanted me to check whether it could still go the mile."
"Is that so," North breathes out in relief. It seems like they haven't break out the news with him. Probably they didn't bother anymore since they are going to leave soon, apparently. He might even say that the odds were in favor of them this time. "That's good to hear."
"Hmm? Why, did something happen?" Pyongyang raised his brow in suspicion.
"It's nothing," North lied with a straight face as he decided that his brother doesn't need to know about it just yet. Well at least the part about the leaders' negative view of him. However, about the agreement with UN though. He knew he should break the news with him as he said, "at least, nothing to be worried about."
"Huh?"
"The car that you just checked earlier."
"Yeah, what about it."
"I think that would be our ride leaving this place."
"Great-no wait, what?! Leave! Where are we going?!" Pyongyang looks concerned as he furrowed his brow and had the look of confusion all over his face.
"Don't know." North replied as he realized that he has no idea of the specifics himself. "All I was told of was that we will be attending UN's University or something. I didn't manage to ask more about it as he dismissed me right away."
"University...?" Pyongyang became more confused. "But, didn't we graduated university like, more than decades ago? So why should we attend another one?"
"Beats me." North shrugs as he really doesn't care for reason at the moment. All he knows is that if attending this UN university thing would spare him and Pyongyang from punishment, then he might as well take it. But despite that, he can't help but be curious too.
Pyongyang was ahead of him though as he, with enthusiasm that came out of nowhere, exclaimed to him, "then, let's not just stand here. We need to gather Intel on this so that we could get prepared. After all, everything that relates outside relation is always politics for our leaders. This one included, so that means we need to get ready for this. Or else," Pyongyang shivered. "I'd rather not talk about it. But you get the idea."
North didn't, but he just nodded his head in agreement. After all, they have to prepare for this University thing...to whatever that means. But with the mention of the United Nations, North can't help but to feel slight uneasiness well up him.
'I bet he's also going to be there too right?' he pondered. But before he fell deep in his thoughts, Pyongyang grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to wherever making him snap of his pondering and smile.
Yeah, Pyongyang is his brother and that should be his main concern right now.
Thus, drowning all the thoughts away, he tried to make the most out of their time together.
The worst was yet to come.