"Oops." Malik flinched as a loud crash was heard in the kitchen. He sighed as he got up and headed over. Peering into the small kitchen, he saw the remains of a glass cup scattered across the floor. Water was also spilled on the floor.
"...Tazim?" A small boy popped up on the far side of the island counter. Malik gave him a stern look, crossing his arms. "What did you do?"
The small boy looked down at his sneakers, which were a bit scuffed and seemed like they were recently splashed with water. He looked back up, meeting his father's gaze, but only for a moment. "It was an accident.." he mumbled. Malik sighed once again. This was the third glass his son had broken.
"You should have told me you were thirsty."
"I know-"
"I'm home!" At the sound of the front door opening, Tazim grinned and dashed out of the room. A young man stood in the entrance, a backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Uncle Kadar!" Tazim dashed forward, throwing his arms around Kadar's middle. Kadar slung the backpack off his shoulder and picked up the small boy, grinning.
"Hey, Tazim." Kadar took the small boy back into the kitchen. "Hey, bro- Why's the floor wet." Kadar lifted his foot, which was dripping from the water that had been spilled earlier. He placed Tazim on the counter before helping Malik pick up the shards of glass. "Did Tazim break another glass?"
"Yes. He did." Malik threw the last shards into the trash can. He frowned slightly as Kadar began to mop up the mess of water. His little brother was always cleaning up Tazim's messes. Technically, Malik was supposed to be doing that, right?
Kadar placed the mop aside, clearly glad with his work. "You didn't have to do that, you know," Malik mumbled.
"If I didn't clean it up, who was?"
"Tazim."
"Sure he was." Malik rolled his eyes at his younger brother. Kadar only grinned as he hugged his older brother. Malik returned the hug.
"How was school?" Malik asked. Kadar shrugged, taking out the materials to make himself a sandwich. "Boring."
"Oh." Kadar sat down at the counter, taking the bite out of his sandwich. Malik helped Tazim down from the counter, and after giving him a quick lecture on not breaking anymore glasses, Tazim dashed off. Malik frowned slightly again, hoping that his son would actually listen this time. And from the fact that he couldn't figure out how such a small person like Kadar could eat so much, who was halfway through his third sandwich. "I thought you had lunch with Zaria."
"I did."
"Then how come you seem to be starving?"
"'Cause I am." Malik rolled his eyes. "Someone as small as you shouldn't be eating so much." Kadar gulped down the last bit of his sandwich and started cleaning up the mess he made. Malik wiped the crumbs off the counter, a small attempt of trying to help his brother.
"Kadar, you're not going anywhere later, right?"
"Uhn, no. I don't think so. Why?"
"I have to work late tonight and-"
"And you want me to look after Tazim?" Kadar smiled. It was a common favor he did for his brother. "'Course I'll look after him."
"Thanks, brother."
A few hours later, Kadar was sprawled on the couch watching T.V. when Malik got ready to leave. Kadar looked up at his brother as he headed toward the door. "Remember Tazim has to be in bed by nine."
"Mmhm."
"No sugar before bed either."
"Mmhm."
"And-"
"Maliiiiiik." Kadar sighed as he sat up. "I've looked after Tazim before. Calm down."
"I know. But last time you forgot the no sugar rule."
"Did not."
"I came back and Tazim was passed out on the couch."
"So?"
"He had candy wrappers stuck in his hair."
"...oh."
"And he chocolate smeared all over his face-"
"Okay, I get it, Mal!"
Waving goodbye, Malik shut the door behind him. Kadar listened to the sound of his brother's car as he drove off. Once the sound of the car faded, he turned off the T.V. He checked his watch. 7:44. He made his way down the hallway, past his bedroom and into Tazim's room. The 7-year-old was sitting on the floor trying to build what seemed to be a castle out of Lego's. "Watcha' doing, Taz?"
"Building a castle." Kadar sat down next to him. The castle was almost complete when the phone rang. Tazim got up and dashed into the living room. Kadar dashed after him, reaching the receiver as Tazim answered the phone. "Hello?" Kadar snatched the phone from the 7-year-old.
"Hey!"
"You're not supposed to answer the phone." Kadar held the phone up to his ear. "Hello?"
"...Kadar?"
"Malik?" Kadar looked at his watch. 8:42. "What's wrong?"
"I need you to come pick me up."
"Why..?"
"Altaïr took my car."
"What? Why?"
"Because he's an ass. You should know that by know."
Kadar sighed. "Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes." He hung up and put the phone back on the receiver. Tazim tugged on his arm. "What did Daddy want?"
"We have to go pick him up."
"Why? He has a car."
"No he doesn't.."
"Why?"
"A.. Friend. Took it."
"...was it Uncle Alty?"
"...yeah." Kadar put on his coat and helped Tazim put on his. Grabbing his keys, he headed out the door. Tazim bounced ahead and waited by the small car. Kadar locked the door behind him and unlocked the door for Tazim. Tazim climbed into the passenger seat. Kadar slid into the driver's seat and started the car. A small 15 minute drive later, they pulled up to the curb where Malik was waiting. Tazim crawled into the backseat as his dad slid into the passenger seat.
"Why'd he take your car this time?" Kadar made a u-turn and headed home as his brother huffed angrily. "Because he's an- a jerk." Malik was know for his constant cursing, but he told himself that he wouldn't curse in front of Tazim. Or try to.
"You know Altaïr doesn't do things like this unless you did something to him."
"I didn't do anything to him."
"You sure?"
"Yes." Malik sneezed. It was raining, and he had to stand in the downpour for 15 minutes. "I only punched him in the face." Malik wiped his nose.
"You punched him?"
"Yes."
"..I'd ask why, but I already know you probably did it just because you had nothing better to do."
"He started it." Malik sniffled. He hoped he wasn't catching a cold.
Kadar pulled up to the small house, turning off the car. Malik got out, carrying a now asleep Tazim. He carried him inside, followed by Kadar. After putting the sleeping kid in bed, Malik changed into his pajamas (Black pj pants and a blank white tee) and crawled into bed. He sneezed and wiped his nose. Stupid Altaïr, he thought. Grumbling, he pulled the sheets over his head. There was a knock on the door. Malik sneezed again.
The door opened a crack. "Bro..?" Kadar stuck his head in. The pile on the bed grunted. "You okay.. ?" Kadar shuffled over to the bed, pulling the covers back. Malik scowled and looked up at him. Kadar was wearing the dark long sleeved shirt he had on early, and pants similar to Malik's, except they had little XBox symbols printed all over them. "I'm fine," Malik grunted. He sneezed yet again. Stupid cold.
"Uhn.. Wait here." Kadar left the room, and returned a few minutes later. "Here take this." He handed Malik a small bottle. Malik wiped his nose and took the bottle.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Medicine. For your cold."
"Oh." Malik swallowed one of the small pills. "Thanks."
"'Course, brother." Kadar gave him a small smile as he headed out the door. "Sleep well." Malik grunted in response. Kadar closed the door as his brother pulled the cover over his head. The medicine was already kicking in. Malik was already passed out before he even had a chance to think about how to get back at Altaïr.