His Brothers Keeper--Part 9
Rock groaned as the puck shot past his defenses once again and sailed into his net. This was their fifth game and it looked as though, once more that Rock was gonna be the loser.
He just couldn't seem to beat Blues at anything. "The guy must have radar"
He groaned again as another shot wizzed past him. winning the game for Blues.
"Ha ..!" Blues shouted " I thought you were going to go easy on me, not play dead!!!"
Rock winced. He knew he wasn't very good at air hockey, but it hurt that Blues had to rub it in. "Ha.....ya..un...pretty bad..huh?" Rock mumbled trying to humor his brother. "I guess I kinda lost my focus ."
"Don't let you mind wander Rock" Blues grinned "It's too little to be out on it's own"
Rock stopped , his mouth hanging open. He was taken back by the sudden insult. "Why's he being so mean to me...?" The small boys mind thought. He had no way of knowing about the angry hurricane of emotions brewing in Blues , or that he had any responsibility in causing it. All he knew was his brother was treating him differently....unfairly........and it hurt.
"Hey Blues,' Rock gave a stern look "what did you mean by that?"
"Let me put it this way Rock. Your mind is like a one way street ....and the traffic is very..very light" Blues hissed letting his anger colour his words. "In fact if you said every thing that was on your mind you'd be speechless"
Rock glared at him, tears stinging his eyes. /" Blues.. is just....teasing me ...right?"/ he asked himself. / "he's just playing......I just ..gotta.....play along. Alright I'll play his game" /
Rock dashed to the inn table pulling out the chess board "Ha, alright Blues, I challenge you to a battle of wits !" He cried.
"How brave of you to fight unarmed" Blues smirked setting up his pieces and taking a seat on the floor. Rock flinched again. / " It's just fun right?......He just playing isn't he?" / he couldn't make himself say yes. He wanted to be with his brother , but oh how his comments hurt.
*********************
"Checkmate " Blues said placing his piece in front of Rocks.
"Unng" Rock groaned " well I un..guess you win again .huh?"
"Yep" Blues confirmed grinning like a Cheshire cat. He was sure Rock was learning his lesson , "I'll show him who's helpless" he growled eyes narrowing behind his shades.
"Hey Blues, I got an idea. How about we go outside for a while?" Rock suggested.
"An idea...are you sure?" Blues set his face like stone, "How dreadful for it. All alone in that vast empty space"
"What do you mean?" Rock asked. He was getting nervous Blues, was really starting to freak him out now. First he was happy then he was rude and now he seemed almost angry. // what is going on ?// the little blue bot's mind screamed.
"If there's an idea in your head Rock, it's in solitary confinement!!" He snarled turning on his heel and heading for the door "But don't feel bad Rock, it's quite an achievement for the most galactically stupid robot on the planet."he gave a laugh and flipped his scarf over his shoulder
" Come on, lets go have lunch!!"
"I'll be .....there..in a...minute" Rock called uncertainly, as he began to put the chess game away.
Try as he might he couldn't stop one tear from falling down his cheeks, red and burning with embarrassment and humiliation suffered from Blues acid tipped tongue. "I thought he loved me" Rock sobbed, heading towards the kitchen.
*******************
When Rock came into the kitchen he found Blues tunneling into the fridge trying to find something in particular.
"Ah here we are" He threw Rock a package. "Twinkies, the food of champions and..." He grabbed a can from the fridge shelf, turning his back to Rock he gave it a few strong shakes.
"..Beer the drink of champions"
"You drink beer?" Rock asked.
"Damn straight...heck ..got one named after me"
"Really which?"
"Blues Light" he smirked, holding out the can and handing it to Rock. "You know dad likes beer to why don't you give him one"
"Um....ok" Rock took the can and went to find Dr. Light in his office. While in the kitchen Blues listened patiently. Soon there came the sound of a small explosion and cries of surprise from the other room.
"Blues!!!!" Dr. light's voice shouted
"Ha ha ha ha Suckers the dessert of champions" Blues laughed while bounding off.
****************
Blues flopped down on his bed. "That was the greatest HA ha Ha ha !!!" he held his side as he contined. "Ha ha....ha........ha......hmmm" the Sandy haired boy's laughter died down quickly
//If that was so great why do you feel like slime?// A little voice in the back of his head began to nag him. "Hey if you're my conscience , bug off!!!" Blues snapped.
//He loves you..// the voice pushed
"he has a funny way of showing it" Blues growled.
// or perhaps you just have a hard time accepting it?//
"Fuck off!!" Blues got up from the bed and threw the lamp at the wall "Just fuck off!!!"
// pushing everyone away isn't going to help you Blues//
"Hey Rock acted just like everyone else ""oh poor little helpless Blues, here let me save you"" He got what he deserved a taste of his own medicine!!!" Blues spat
// Yes I agree, he was just like the others who scorned you//
"All those years having people laugh at me" Blues mumbled.
//he never just hugged you, or told you the most redundant thing as though it were the greatest piece of news on the planet did he? Never stayed by your side hour after hour, because to him you were the greatest person in the world, his hero, you made him feel safe...no?..//
Blues sank down on to the bed, "oh...I messed up didn't I?.."
//You let your anger get the better of you again.//
"I just wanted to get even..." Blues whispered.
//no.....In the beginning you did. But you couldn't let go..you didn't want to...you wanted to hurt him, to let him feel your hurt. You must be proud of yourself, you succeeded.
"No...I...I'm not...I feel sick" Blues hung his head.
// The truth hurts Blues, but you can continue to run from it, or you can learn from.//
"What about what Rock did ?"
// he made a mistake.....so did you. ...learn from them..//
"Why...did I that to you Rock.....dammit !!!" He was running his finger over the design on his bed spread when, the door to his room was thrown open, ripping off one of the hinges.
Rock stood in the doorway looking more miserable and angry than he'd ever been.
"Rock I.." Blues got up from the bed.
"I HATE YOU!!!!!" Rock yelled he dove at his brother, his little fists punching into Blues's body, and sending him to the floor as pain went through his side.
"YOUR....MEAN...AND ..YOUR CRUEL ..Y...YOU...LIED TO ME...YOU..N....NEVER LIKED ME. YOU JUST LIKE BEING MEAN..AND...A...AND ..GETTING ME IN......T....T.. TROUBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rock was yelling and crying so hard , his face had gone as red as Blues suit. "YOU'RE A BULLY AND A HORRIBLE MEANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Rock turned and ran bawling from the room. "YOU'RE A MONSTER YOU HEAR ME A MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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It was late in the evening when Blues finally took the chance to venture out of his room.
He quietly tip toed down the hall and into Rock's room. "Rock,...hey Rock..." He whispered "I'm sorry Rock...really" Listening carefully he heard no breathing , save for his own. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and put his chin in his palms. " if my brother was being a jerk...where would I go?...no where.. I'd be a bigger jerk and make his life a living hell..." Blues huffed falling backwards on the bed.
"Huh?" He felt something under his head, getting up he pick up the object "A paper ball?...no..wait it's a note!" The young robot opened the paper and smoothed it down. "I don't believe it " Blues gasped as his hand brushed across the surface. " It's..in...brail. He wrote this for...me?"
Blues scrolled down the page, discovering that it was a poem that Rock had written for him. His heart tightened as he read the verses, Rock had poured his heart out onto the paper, and it was clear to Blues how grief-stricken he'd made the young boy. Parts of the poem were marred by dried tear drops Rock had shed while making it.
Which way you going brother
Can I go too?
Which way you going brother
Can I go with you?
I really love you brother
And all this time
I thought you loved me brother
But you were lying
I'm gonna miss you brother
And though I'm trying
I'm hurting so bad brother
I can't help crying.
Blues wanted to curl up and die. But he knew now where Rock would be. He had to hurry!
***************************
Rock stood on the bridge watching the water flow underneath him. He'd come here to clear his mind. "No dought Blues would have a snappy saying for that" Rock thought bitterly, throwing a stone into to the water. "It's hard to believe I almost tried to kill myself here a week ago. I would have succeeded too.....If Blues hadn't decided to play hero!!!"
"You should thank me" a voice answered , causing the little bot to jump three feet.
"Blues! What do you want?" Rock growled "Here to make another joke about my intelligence!!"
"Rock..I .."
"Maybe your here to give me instructions , for how to jump off a bridge!!!! "Rock yelled "Lord knows I'm not smart enough to do it myself right!!!!!
"Rock.."
"I hate you Blues. Y ..you lied..your mean!!!" he choked out.
"Your right!!!" Blues screamed "Your absoulfuckinglutly right!!!! I'm mean and cruel and unfair. I'm the biggest prick in the whole god damn universe . But I ain't no damn fucking liar.
Rock folded his arms across his chest "hmmph"
"I do care Rock..I..d..do..l.l..love you little brother" Blues started to cry softly.
There was silence between the two of them for a few moments before Rock spoke.
"Then why?..why did...... you act so mean to me?"
"When you made that comment about going easy on me because I was blind, I just snapped.
All my life I've been treated differently because I couldn't see...and I hated it. When you said that..I..I couldn't handle the fact that my little brother was going to start treating me that way too. It made me angry, so I started picking on you. I wanted to show you what it felt like when people treated you with bias "
"Oh" Rock nodded his head slowly.
"Did you like it when I treated you as though you were stupid?"
"No!" Rock cried "It...it hurt"
"Yes, and it hurts me when people see me as helpless because I'm blind !!! Do you understand Rock?" Blues asked placing a hand on Rock's shoulder
"Yes I...I think so. You were showing me what it feels like to be treated unfairly."
"Yes" The older boy nodded.
"Well that's okay then" Rock smiled, already feeling better.
"No it isn't . It wasn't ok to treat you like that. You did it because you thought you were helping me . I did it to get even.....and ...I know better."
Rock gazed at his brothers sightless eyes for a long moment. There was a weary sorrow to them, as though they had experienced too much suffering. His face was set in a frown, as if it pained him to smile. Rock noted how much older Blues seemed than the fifteen year old his features reflected.
"I forgive you" he whispered.
"No...you shouldn't " Blues answered softly.
"It's my choice" Rock stated "But I do have one question"
"Ok" Blues perk up giving his full attention.
"When I asked if you had ever seen me, and you said not with my eyes. What did you mean by that?"
Blues gave a soft chuckle "Exactly as I said, I can see you...with other parts of my body. I know the sound of your voice, the step of your walk, your smell, the feel of your hair, the curves of your face. I know you....I can..see you"
"But what about the colour of my hair and the shade of my eyes? My hairs black and my eyes are blue. But your hair's light brown and your eyes are hazel. "
"What's black what's brown" Blues smiled "how do you explain colour to a blind person, so they will understand it?"
Rock thought about that. How could he explain something like colour to Blues, so that his brother would understand it .
"I don't know" he finally admitted, "Blues what's it like to be blind?"
Blues took off his scarf and tied it over Rocks eyes. "There, what do you think?"
"It's dark...but not too bad ..I guess" Rock shrugged.
"Good now walk home" Blues said.
"But..I can't see...which way do I go?" the little bomber stretched his arms out and spun in a circle.
Blues laughed, grabbing Rock by an arm and turning him in the right direction, "Ok go"
Rock took a couple of clumsy steps before tripping and crashing to the ground.
"I can't do it " he sulked.
"Yes you can," Blues picked him up "try walking home with me , then you'll start to understand what it's like to be blind"
"But I'll run into stuff!" The young bot protested.
"I'm with you. Believe me I ran into so many closets and doors when I was younger it wasn't funny"
"Is that suppose to encourage me?"
"Brat" Blues gave him a gentle shove , then took his hand and started to lead the way home
"So tell me about when you were younger.." Rock smiled.
****************************
"...And so I ran smack into the wall.." Blues said
"Ouch..it musta hurt.." Rock stated
"It did...It was a stupid place to put a wall anyway.." the older boy shrugged. "Hey , what do ya know we're home"
"Great now I can take this scarf off" Rock exclaimed.
"Ah ah..not so fast," Blues knocked Rocks hand away from the blindfold.
"But Blues, I walked all the way home without my eyes, I get it now ok?"
"Can you see me?" Blues asked.
"Duh..of course not my eyes are still covered " Rock huffed
"Not with your eyes, what else is there that makes me...me?"
"I don't know" Rock mumbled
"Come on Rock, you couldn't see me all the way home but you knew I was me ..how?" Blues pressed.
Rock thought of his brothers deep rich voice as he spoke to him, of the strong arms that held him close, the smell of his cologne, his soft silky hair, his heart beat, the warmth of his body walking next to him. Yes he didn't have to see Blues with his eyes to know exactly what he looked like.
"I understand Blues" Rock breathed .
"Good," Blues took the scarf off his face. "Come on, I'm going up on the roof."
"What for?" Rock asked
"You'll see" Blues called.
*************************
Rock looked at his feet, noting that he would have to tie his shoelaces again. And that he somehow had to put two different coloured socks on his feet. He glanced over at Blues. The boy was, like Rock, lying on his back on the roof top. He'd put his shades back on so catching the fleeting emotions of his face were tricky. Rock quirked an eyebrow in his direction. His brother had wanted to go to the roof for something. He watched as Blues laid there slowly, tapping the shingles with his billy cane.
"Blues why are we lying on the roof?" he finally asked after almost fifteen minutes.
"We're watching the sunset" Blues whispered.
"Oh" Rock answered casually before doing a double take. "But Blues..you can't see the sunset!!"
"Oh no?"
"And I wouldn't even begin to know to explain it to you"
"..as though heaven itself opened it's gates and sent forth all the angels that lived in paradise , each carrying with them a tiny flame. So small but when brought together they formed the most beautiful of lights. A heavenly choir draped in a blanket of fire. Ever changing. Ever moving. Always beautiful."
Rock gaped, "How ..who explained it to you that well. That's exactly it"
"Nobody......I remember it. It's the one thing I can remember .." Blues answered flatly.
"What are you saying Blues?"
"Rock...I.... didn't exactly tell you the whole truth"
Rock shifted to make himself comfortable "Go on" he urged
Blues sighed. "Well despite what Dr. Light says ...............................I wasn't created blind"
To be continued..................