Ducan blinked awake, his sheets damp and cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He heard muffled laughter from the hallway, then his younger brother appeared, grinning.
Wade leaned against the doorframe, his athletic jacket slung over one shoulder, basketball under his arm.
"What baby wets his diaper? I stopped wetting the bed when I was seven. Stop it, Wade."
"Just leave me alone," Ducan muttered, pulling his covers up.
Wade strode confidently down the corridor, high-fiving friends and chatting about the big game. Ducan lingered near the wall, clutching his backpack, invisible to most.
Jake, Wade’s best friend, spotted the brothers and smirked, nudging Wade to show off.
"Ducan looks lost again. You ever think he’d fit in if he tried sports?"
"He’s happier with his anime, trust me," Wade replied, glancing back at his brother.
Ducan grinned when he saw the gift, tossing his backpack aside. The note read, “Happy birthday, son. You can stay up until 12:00 AM.”
He settled in, controller in hand, immersing himself in another world, until Wade entered, settling next to him.
"It’d be nice if I had a soda," Wade said, a sly smile on his face.
Without thinking, Ducan replied, "Yes, master," and hurried off to fetch the drink.
Wade called out, "Ducan, come here right now," and Ducan appeared, posture stiff, eyes unfocused.
"Master? You really brainwashed him?" Jake asked, incredulous.
"Watch this," Wade ordered, "Strip down to your tighty-whites."
Without hesitation, Ducan complied, leaving Jake roaring with laughter.
Wade instructed, "Go put on your overnight Depends," and Ducan trudged off, head bowed.
"So your brother still wets the bed?" Jake teased, barely able to contain his laughter.
"Yeah," Wade replied, pride swelling in his voice as Ducan returned, embarrassed but obedient.
"You know, I wasn’t potty trained till I was ten," Jake admitted quietly, breaking the tension.
"What a baby!" Wade exclaimed, then paused, curiosity flickering in his gaze.
"Show me how you brainwashed Ducan. Why not have one more person to obey me?"
The room hung heavy with possibility, a cold moon casting shadows across the floor, as the brothers’ strange power dynamic threatened to grow even darker.
