Brother Thing (Hopper/Molt)
He had a lot to think about, that’s for sure. The whole team knew about it, but no one dared to ask the boss. They would have lived until that moment…
It was a scorching hot summer day, the sun beating down on the familiar Mexican sand. The mirages rippled over the ground in treacherous waves that could fool inexperienced minds, but not grasshoppers. The cicadas chirped almost deafeningly, but it was a natural song for the local band.
It was still some time before dusk, but already you could feel the air cooling. At the foot of a lonely signboard, an old straw hat was spread out, from which a softer Spanish tune was emanating.
The grasshoppers were dancing briskly, some of them more relaxed than others, and another group was sitting at a counter made of old horseshoes. The conversation was not too loud, especially as it was about the boss. The local mosquito bartender pretended not to hear the conversation.
„I haven’t seen him for a while. He usually comes down for a drink at least once during the day.“ Loco said.
„If you’re so worried, go and check him out!” grinned the other grasshopper.
Molt didn’t feel like laughing at the usual jokes, which consisted mostly of how grumpy their president was. He was getting seriously worried and was determined to check him out now. Molt often didn’t really notice how childish his behavior was, and he especially didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. He was the only one Hopper allowed into his own area, however much, but usually even his brother was not welcome there. Not that he was welcome at other times.
Molt had never had an easy time fitting in, nor had he ever really managed to. The other grasshoppers mostly just took advantage of him. Hopper rarely raised his voice about it, if Molt was stupid enough not to notice them, he deserved it. But he himself did no such thing. Hopper either cared about things or he didn’t. There was no happy medium, until now.
Molt politely broke away from his previous interlocutors, then took off with a loud whoomp and settled on the storey of the straw hat.
His brother leaned silently against the wall, waiting for the sun to set. He didn’t say hello, didn’t turn around. He just stood and thought.
„Hey, are you home? Earth to Hop!”
„Will you shut up?!“ The larger grasshopper suddenly called out to him as he turned around.
Molt held his hands out protectively.
„I’m sorry. You just stand there as still as a cactus. Are you all right?”
The wider grasshopper glanced sideways at the cap with the same seeds and water droplets as last night.
„Didn’t you eat anything?“
Indeed he was not, though his stomach had a decidedly different opinion on the matter. He reminded his master every minute that he needed the nourishment.
„Oooh, is this all because of that wasp?“ Molt grinned.
Hopper rolled his eyes, not answering. He was starting to annoy his brother… but he was so lost in his previous thoughts that he forgot to hit Molt.
„Oh, come on, a blind bug can see it in you!” his brother insisted.
“If you don’t shut up, I’ll throw that bullet at you.” Hopper pointed to the object without looking at it.
Molt snorted and said nothing. But then how would he talk to him? He couldn’t really use sign language, so he risked speaking again.
„Listen, I know you’d rather…“
And then the next second, with a shriek, he bend out of the path of the flying bullet. The bullet flew across the room and landed somewhere where there were probably more grasshoppers. Molt watched the edge of the upper storey for a while.
„Wow, you really want some privacy.”
His brother, however, didn’t let it go. Molt’s strength was not to stop talking.
„Hop, listen, you need to talk with someone.”
This statement was followed only by silence.
„Why are you so closed off? I mean, more private than usual. It’s pretty clear that you’re so weird because of this girl.“
Hopper turned around with a loud growl, his eyes sparkling of the anger as he began to approach his brother.
„What do you care? What business is it of yours? How dare you even come up here now? I clearly told you to leave me alone, but you’re still here!”
„Of course I care what happens to you! You’re not yourself! Seriously, you scare me!“
„Good! Finally, I have some success!”
Molt bit his lip, but his legs couldn’t stop him, he started to back away involuntarily.
„Hop, please. I know you don’t want company, but trust me, it helps if you talk about it.“
„I don’t want to talk about it!” The taller grasshopper snarled. „And you’re not a quacksalver to know what I need.“
„No, I don’t know what you need. I can only guess what you might need.” Molt said.
„You are an idiot.“ Hopper concluded.
„That’s true. But I’m also your brother, and you’re not going to hit me because of Ma.”
Hopper frowned, but his hands were still clenched into fists. He was annoyed by his brother, and the mention of their mother only made him more upset. Still, somehow he couldn’t swing his arm. With a great snort, he turned and went back to the brim of his hat.
„So… is that what you’re so worried about?“
The older grasshopper gritted his teeth. He just won’t stop, the fool! His eyes went back to the horizon… and then he reflected on the few months he had gone through. He’d met this wasp… Hopper had never opened up to anyone, except her.
They started talking about things that had been buried in Hopper’s mind for years. He was strangely impressed by the female, and on second thought, perhaps it was the lack of her that pull him down the most now. But Hopper refused to believe that he missed her. He had lost his food supply on Ant Island, and that stupid wasp was trying to stop him from doing what he wanted to do to with that rebel. At the same time, she saved his life… for the umpteenth time. The bird situation was her last act, and she risked her own life to save him.
And she finally killed the bird.
Hopper remembered she was injured, but stayed tough. They glared and just stared at each other. The fear of death and anger was still working in Hopper at the time… and then he left without a word. He never thanked her, never spoke to her, never said anything to her. He wanted to feel that he had nothing to say to her because she had chosen the ants.
Molt looked up again. It was rare that he actually picked up on something about his brother, but this time he had the presence of mind to keep quiet. He sensed it was a sensitive subject.
Hopper remained silent again.
„Hop, I swear I won’t tell anyone about this. I promise! It’s a brother thing.”
The taller grasshopper was still silent , and Molt was beginning to give up hope and was already moving to leave.
„Because of her.“ Hopper said quietly.
It had only just occurred to Molt that he didn’t know what to ask. But he had to try.
„Aaah, so I guessed right. But… You’ve never been confused around other females. I think I’m right that you like her.”
Hopper was getting nervous again, and turned to his brother in a rush. He didn’t notice how unstable his behaviour was. He calmed down more easily, but he also got angry more easily. Their noses almost touched, and Molt winced at the familiar sound.
„Do you think you’re right? Do you?! What makes you such an expert on partnerships?! What the hell do you know about females?!
Molt blinked for a moment, then raised one eyebrow.
„Why, what do you know about females?“
Hopper was so thrown off by the question that he stopped shouting. It was an amusing sight in its own way to see just a tiny sound filter out of his open mouth, and then he closed his mouth in confusion.
„Well… touché, I guess.” he shrugged his shoulders.
The two grasshoppers just stood facing each other for an uncomfortably long time, both avoiding eye contact, and finally Hopper spoke with a tired roll of his eyes.
„Females like flowers, don’t they?“
„Yyeaaah, well… I don’t think it’s quite that simple. You were with her, weren’t you? I suppose you had a talk.”
His brother became visibly irritated.
„Yes, and then she betrayed me.“
„You were there, you idiot! She took the side of the ants and then tried to get in my way!“
Molt squirmed uncomfortably as he recalled the moment in his head.
„She begged you to stop…”
„Begged, yes, but she must have known what was coming! She had just enough time to get used to the fact that I’m not in the habit of leaving unfinished business behind. And the begging didn’t suit her anyway, she’s a damn mercenary! She executed a finch, and now she’s begging? Mercenaries don’t beg, they do, what they have to do! She’s just proving to me that she’s as weak as the rest of them! If she’d been strong, she’d have left me at the nest, or better, killed me herself!“
The grasshopper gasped as he let out all his rage, and Molt listened with antennae down. It all explained things. Hopper was disappointed in the one he… liked, loved? Who knows.
„She killed the bird that was… tried to eat you?”
„Yes. And then she left behind unfinished business, because I’m still alive!“
„Hop, she saved your life! - Molt said a little louder. - I don’t think she left you alive because she was weak. She just couldn’t choose between the ants and… you.”
Hopper snorted and turned around with his hands in the air.
„If you hate her so much, why are you so brooding because of her?“ Molt asked.
„Because I didn’t want it to be like this! Things turned out differently than I planned, and it’s because of her!”
„Why? What did you plan? To get her into the gang?“ Molt smiled a little at the idea, but his question was met with a mournful silence. „Oh my Bug, really?”
„She’s incredibly strong, can fight, and she’s got a natural weapon unlike the rest of us. She and Thumper would have made a good team.“
„Really? You even want to take advantage of a girl you like?”
This question shook him inside for some reason, and he looked over his shoulder in bewilderment.
„You’re interested in her because you’re looking for her benefits! Just like with the ants! I understood that situation, but she’s not a slave!”
„Flees, I don’t want to keep her as a slave! I wanted to give her a place, so she wouldn’t be alone!“
„Why do you care so much what happens to her?!”
„Because I like her!“ he shouted.
The two grasshoppers stared at each other in silence, startled. And after an embarrassingly long time, Hopper seemed to start looking for the source of the voice, because he was quite sure that he hadn’t said it. But he had to admit that he couldn’t be lying to himself.
„I mean… like any other gang member.”
„Oh, please. You just said it!“ Molt smiled. „You like her!”
Hopper felt a bitterness in his mouth, which slowly mingled with something sweet.
Molt leaned against the wall, perplexed, and sighed before speaking.
„So… what now? Are you going to find her?”
„ I… guess…" Hopper’s eyelids narrowed uncertainly as he heard himself and realised he was not on top of the situation. But Molt laughed very good-naturedly.
„Wow, that girl really got into your head.“
„If you tell anyone, I swear…!”
„Easy, easy, my lips are sealed! Figure out what you want to do and we’ll do it.“
Hopper remained silent, his eyes unreadable. He felt a little gratitude, but it quickly faded. Instead, he just felt lighter now that he could release the tension to someone. He didn’t care that Molt might talk to the others. If that happened, even a promise to their mother wouldn’t protect him. And while his brother was right, Hopper would never admit it out loud.
Molt leaved without a word and flew downstairs with an indelible grin. It was probably the biggest success of his life, Hopper thought. The older grasshopper shook his head silently, then his eyes drifted to the food and water. His stomach immediately began to complain and Hopper looked down at it.
This subplot is unrelated to my main story, I wrote it earlier just for fun. And sorry about my english, I’m really trying to learn, and this is one of the best ways.
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