Two years had passed since that day, days so similar from one another that 'I' and 'P' didn't even notice how much they had grown up. The little albinos revealed to be an outgoing curious kid, glued to his older brother, while 'I' was maturing a lot according to Father's appreciation.
Their days were segmented in different activities, all looking like school for them two, but with nuances that 'I' had started to notice.
Some odd things that didn't bother him at first, but with time that just didn't make sense.
For example, 'P' wasn't studying exactly the same thing, the same history. He was to learn about an ancient empire called "Prussia" and him, about "Italy". When there was only him, he had thought Miss Miller was just fond of italian stuff, but apparently that wasn't the case.
When he had asked why, the woman seemed thoughtful, before replying with a smile " Well, if you knew the same thing, that wouldn't be fun right? There's enough countries with their own history for each of you, and afterward, you will be able to share with your brother a lot of things!"
She looked so enthusiastic and confident in her explanation that "I" took it at that, brushing the odd feeling off and smiling back while his gaze returned to the open book beneath him.
'P' was more bored by the lesson, his head directly IN the book, frowning and making a scene about not wanting to read anymore. The words were just too difficult and it was almost time to go play!
But both knew they had to do it anyway, that was just like that. The weird professor always mumbling to himself told them so, and often during their check-ups, asked them if they had any dream about the respective countries, among other technical things.
Well, with all the photos they were watching each day, of course, but it seemed it didn't suffize to the man and he would always tell them to study more afterward while shaking his head in deception.
Not mean, but a hard-to-please man.
Their time of study came to an end finally, and both left the chairs they were sitting on to the exit, where one of their numerous escorts was waiting for them.
Walking through the white corridor, the boys were talking together about what they had learnt, when they at one point heard a noise coming from a hallway adjacent to theirs.
There was the voice of a man sounding angry, spatting his words to the smaller figure besides him.
"...And now you will both do as I say Number 2! Don't force me to punish you again!"
The group reached the hallways and met with a raven haired man pulling the arm of a teenager, while another kid was following head down to his feet, looking depressed, tired and painful as he was massaging his temple.
The teenager was resisting the grab and responding to the man with angriness but hint of pleading in the tone.
"Fath...Mister! Don't you see he isn't feeling well? He can't read a book in his state! Urg!"
The Mister in question, which was a scientist according to his white coat and his badge, wasn't going to give in to the argument. He pushed forward the other kid with a hand, the other still pulling the teenager with force.
" And he has missed too many lessons already! At this rate, Number 6 will surpass him and he is younger than him! Ah! Talking about the devil…"
The green infuriated eyes fell onto 'P', and if the 5 years old was oblivious to the glare, 'I' knew better that it wasn't a friendly gaze.
Dr Emilian Malsinger literally hated them to a passion, but what he hated even more than them was certainly Father. The two physician researchers were rivals of some sort, and for what 'I' had understood, their father was winning over him and gaining more favors from the higher ups so the man was on edge. How was Father 'beating' him exactly, it was a mystery for the brunette, but he knew it was a matter surrounding them : 'R' and 'C', Him and 'P'.
He had questioned himself or 'R' about this matter, without them reaching a perfect conclusion. 'R', or 'Number 2' , was a 11 year-old grayish blond haired boy with purple eyes, a big nose and of course, he was also wearing the black collar and the regulatory white T-shirt and short. He was taller than any of them, a little more than his age. 'C', also known as 'Number 5', on the contrary looked like a small kid uneasy on his feet. He was blond with curly hair on the edges and had a curl even longer than 'I's. His eyes were of another shade of deep purple. They all looked like kids, but there was a huge difference between them.
The two Malsinger's kids were always looking tired, depressed and worned out.
One would only stop on the way their father treated them, but 'I' knew it was much more than that. Father had told him : 'R' and 'C' were sick with a terrible condition due to something wrong in their birth process. 'C' was the most heavily affected by it, and he would often be in intensive care. Both had to receive an injection of a "serum", and it was almost every 4 hours for 'C'.
The brunette didn't think much about it, but each time they would meet, he couldn't help but to pity them a little.
'P' was also aware of this, but didn't comprehend it much. By the way, he didn't care about their differences, and to prove that, he went straight to his friend 'C', ignoring the bitter man beside him.
"Hi 'C'! You wanna play with me? I've built a plane with Miss Miller, he is super duper cool!"
His smile was contagious, and although 'C' wasn't feeling well, the timid boy smiled back. Not for long, as Emilian intervened, facing with all his height the albinos with disdain.
"Ha, you want to play with him? Kästner is so stupid to let you do what you want like spoiled kids! He thinks we are in a nursery school here?! I will not let you interfere, Number 6! Step aside right now."
It was another of their names, but it was never pleasant to be called that way, not that the whole phrase wasn't sufficient in itself to make them feel uncomfortable. Even the man accompanying them to their room obeyed, not wanting to be yelled at, hushing the kids under his responsibility to do the same.
The scientist proceeded to walk through, forcing his experiments to follow the pace and to take the corridor the two kids and their escort had just left.
The brothers looked at the leaving trio, before being reminded it was time for them to return to their room.
Obediently, they followed, already thinking about the game they wanted to play afterward!
