After it's over, I walk aimlessly around for hours. I don't catch any streetcars running. So I only reach our apartment after darkness falls.

"Andrei!"

She's on me as soon as I open the door.

"Hi, Mom."

"We were so worried about you," she squeezes me, "are you all right? What happened? Where were you?"

We? I look over—and sure enough, there he is. Seated at the kitchen table.

Alex.

"The hell are you doing here?"

He just looks back calmly. "I'm your brother. Remember?"

I disentangle myself.

"Oh, yes. I remember. My brother. Dearest brother."

He has that stupid loftier-than-thou look on his face.

"Why have you deigned to visit us thus? Come to show us your medals? Tell us of your greatest feats?" I think he's been promoted recently or something.

"What medals? What are you talking about?" he takes a drink of his tea. "No. Somebody blew up Headquarters."

"Yeah, maybe the planes?" I walk over to the fridge.

"No," he continues calmly, "it happened only a few hours ago." My heart nearly stops. "One of the casualties was General Mireau."

"Oh." I try not to let it show. "Too bad they didn't get you," I laugh.

"Andrei!" Mom exclaims.

"I was on patrol," Alex says quietly.

I open the fridge door. Feel him studying me.

"Mother. Perhaps you should leave for a moment."

"Oh, giving orders already?"

He doesn't answer until the door closes.

"Andrei." I examine the contents of the fridge. "Andrei." Why don't we have any good food? "Andrei." I start moving things around. "Andrei." He walks over and closes the fridge door.

"Alex."

"Listen to me."

I look up at him.

"I'm worried about you."

He's still wearing his uniform. Black.

"Me too."

"I'm serious."

"Me too."

"I've been meaning to have this conversation with you."

Oh, that's just great. I struggle to keep a straight face.

"You should be careful, Andrei. About the things you do. The things you say. In school. And elsewhere." I roll my eyes. "They're starting to take notice."

"Uh-huh. Well tell them I said hi."

He continues lecturing me. "And now this absence from the shelter. Where were you?"

You really want to know? I stay silent. We wanted to see the Wall.

"You know you're not supposed to leave the permitted area." That patronizing look.

"How about this?" The anger that's been smoldering suddenly leaps up. "You stay the fuck out of my life. And I stay the fuck out of yours." Pretend you don't exist.

He doesn't react. Calm down. I glance around—I could leave. But I would have to come back. Eventually. Just calm down. I take a few deep breaths.

"If you refuse to correct your ways," he continues quietly, "we'll be forced to take action."

Something snaps.

"Oh. You'll be forced to take action. You'll be forced to take action." I step closer to him. "You want me to shut up? Well, fuck you. What are you going to do about it?" I glare at him, but he just looks back calmly. "You going to shoot me?"

Something changes in his eyes.

"Tell me, how many people did you kill today? How many people did you kill, you fucking Reaper?"

For a moment, I sure he's going to hit me. But, no. He just turns away. Walks out and slams the door behind him. It echoes through the apartment a long moment.

And I sit down at the table. Trying not to think.