(November 24, 2020)

listen i need some brotherly bonding fics

Summary: Evil X finds Xisuma reminiscing.
Category: Birthplace AU, hurt/comfort, but blink and you'll miss the hurt
Warnings: none
Word Count: 1110

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"You look like an old man, staring at the horizon with glazy eyes and all that," a familiar voice snarked, pulling Xisuma from his thoughts. The Admin gave a delayed and amused scoff as the person's boots clicked against the glass behind him.

"Right, well, I do hope you realize we're the same age," Xisuma said, just loud enough for them to  hear, sluggishly moving his legs into a butterfly position.

His brother stepped up to where he sat on the orange and blue globe on top one of the jungle towers. "Nah, you're a good thirty seconds older."

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of the Admin's lips. "Mmm. You're cheesing the system, so same difference." Xisuma's voice was quieter than normal, softer than normal. The smile gradually faded from his face as he looked back to the horizon, propping his arm on his knee and resting his head against his fist. With his other hand, he cradled the helmet in his lap, making sure to not drop it from the tower.

Next to him, Evil X frowned, looking to the general direction of where Xisuma gazed and then back to his brother. He examined X's face closer than he'd normally do so, eyes following the stressed and worry lines in his skin, along with the tired eyes and the dark eyebags under them. Ex knew he looked similar, despite not carrying the burden of Admin work and moderation. It was because of his time in the Void, the Void that slowly and painfully sucked the life from him.

Sure, both Voidwalkers may be over a thousand years old, but neither of them deserved to look so exhausted and tired while looking as young as they seemed to be.

"Alright there, X?" Xisuma hummed positively but half-heartedly. "What'cha thinkin' about?" Evil X continued, plopping himself down on the block next to Xisuma. He leaned forwards, resting his chin on both his fists. "You were frowning earlier."

Xisuma decides to not ask how long he was watching him. "Just... life."

"Anything specific?" Ex said, tilting his head with an unamused look.

"Eh, not quite. Well... thoughts happen to wander to the darker times but still... nothing too specific. So, there's your answer, I guess." Evil X sighed at his cryptic answers that raised more questions. He grabbed X's free hand, slowly pulling it into his lap. Xisuma's head turned at the same pace Ex moved his limb.

Evil X clasped his hand between his own hands. "Talk to me, Xisuma. There's clearly stuff on your mind."

Xisuma shook his head, a glint of fear shining in his eyes before it was gone. His brother pushed his lips out disapprovingly.

"Were you thinking of being an Enderkind?" Evil X asked. Xisuma stayed silent, managing to suppress a flinch. He couldn't blame his brother for being curious, nor could he blame him for blatantly asking. It's not like Ex was the most empathetic of people.

"I know you have that stupid mindset of dealing with your problems on your own so you don't bother other," Ex deadpanned in his silence. When he received no response yet again, his gaze softened, a gaze that's only reserved for his brother. "You can talk to me, y'know, I'm here for a reason."

"Yeah. I know." Xisuma reached out and cupped Evil X's jaw, brushing his thumb over the lightning-like scar that covered the left side of his face. "How about you tell me the story of this scar and then I'll tell you what it's like," he said in a quiet voice.

Ex narrowed his eyes and scowled, pulling Xisuma's hand away from his face by his wrist but not letting go. "No."

Xisuma met his gaze firmly, twisting his wrist in some weird way to get their fingers laced together. "Then that is my answer for you."

The two stared deep into each others eyes- lilac purple and desaturated red. Xisuma saw his lilac eyes in the red- a result of being too careless with his curse-given gift. He remembered the time they used to be green, and while he missed the comforting emerald color, the lilac is apart of who he was today, and a reminder that Evil X really does care about him despite the demeaning comments he makes daily.

On the other hand, Evil X remembers a time when his eyes were blood red, almost as red as the netherrack before the texture change. That was the time before he helped Xisuma. It was proof to him that change is possible. He wasn't some uncaring Voidwalker that lived in the Nether. He wasn't a clueless Hacker that hated everything. He wasn't some wimp that lived in the Nether. No, he wasn't a wimp for encountering the Void itself, and that's only a feat the strongest of players can survive, for the temptation to succumb to the grasp of the Void is too strong for some players to handle.

"Okay, that's enough, jeez." Evil X pushed Xisuma's face away, not gently in the slightest (however, he kept their hands intertwined with each other). "Stop acting like we're in a movie or somethin', that stupid dramatic moment where we just stare at each other for absolutely ages with an entire orchestra playing the the background. So stupid, absolute rubbish," Evil X muttered, shaking his head and leaning back against the glass as Xisuma released his signature breathy chuckle at Ex's half monologue.

"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean there, Evil X."

Ex scowled. "My goodness, you're incredibly irritating."

Xisuma grinned, relieved and how genuine it was. "I'm your brother, of course I am." He squeezed Ex's hand.

"I bet'cha real proud of that, huh, X? Aye? Right?" Evil X grunted, turning away with an overdramatic pout.

Xisuma only lightly slapped his brother's arm, releasing their hands. Ex turned back around with a smirk, and the Admin slung his arm over his shoulders, leaning them both back to lay against the glass. Ex turned into the touch, being as touch starved as he is, and rested his head on X's shoulder.

The two sat in comfortable silence, leaning against each other and staring out at the jungle horizon.

"Aye, now you're acting like an old man, Exy."

"Shut your face, 'Suma."

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^.^ heh heh I had fun writing that. I think I'm getting better at writing Xisuma after a fricking year of doing it-

It's hard to describe Ex's lightning scar without showing you it, so next chapter I'll try to draw something out I guess?

oh no I can't draw lmao

Thank you for reading and have a great day! <3