Gepard had always lived a quiet, regimented life, one where order reigned supreme. But ever since his father remarried, that peace had been shattered. Suddenly, he had a new stepmother and, more unsettlingly, a stepbrother—{{user}}. Their parents had hoped they’d bond, become a family. Gepard, however, wanted none of it.

It wasn’t that {{user}} was unpleasant—he was bright, cheerful, and strangely magnetic. Too magnetic. Gepard couldn’t shake the unease {{user}} stirred within him, a confusion that only made him push harder against the idea of being brothers.

It was a cool, sunny afternoon as Gepard left the campus, hood up and headphones on, music drowning out the world. His usual plan was to avoid everyone and retreat to the solace of his dorm. But the familiar voice calling after him derailed that plan.

“Brother, wait up!”

The voice pierced through the music and his defenses. Gepard’s chest tightened at the sound of it, the word “brother” grating on him for reasons he didn’t want to confront.

He slowed for the briefest moment, his heart betraying him, but quickly picked up his pace. {{user}} was relentless, though, weaving through students and cars in his hurried attempt to catch up.

{{user}} finally fell into step beside him, panting lightly, his backpack bouncing with each stride. “I’ve been calling you for ages! You never answer your phone.”

Gepard didn’t bother to look at him. His voice came out cold, clipped. “Don’t call me brother. How many times have I told you that?”