Chapter Text
Emil isn’t sure why he lied.
Well, yes— he does know why he did, he’s just not very proud of it now that the moment has passed, and even less so that it didn’t pull the desired reaction from his stupid older brother.
Things had been…tense, recently. With Emil’s high school experience wrapping up, Lukas was on his ass more than ever about what the future holds for him.
Like Emil fucking knows.
He’s shocked he’s even lived to 18– he never planned for a future where he became an adult, never stroked any ambitions, never dared to dream big.
But every day now there were questions about finals and “You know we should really start touring colleges” and “Have you thought about this program? What about this one I heard it pays good?” and more endlessly.
And Emil shrugs it off, or snaps and stomps up the stairs so he can slam the door of his room; but when dinner comes around Lukas still makes his plate, still looks at him with the same fondness that only ever shines in his eyes for his younger brother.
He knows he’s being a dick, and that Lukas was just worried about him because he has always had everything planned out, and hell— he’s probably just as surprised that Emil is still alive after years of witnessing the hopelessness and detachment that clung to his younger brother.
Lukas has always been overbearing, but Emil used to like it when he was younger. Loved being doted on by his cool older brother. Then, when the world went grey around him, he became indifferent to the treatment. And now? Now he just feels like shit because all Lukas has been is good to time and all Emil has been is an ungrateful leach. No matter what cruel words or cold actions Emil throws at Lukas, he never falters in his love, his patience never seems to run thin.
Just for once, just once, Emil wants Lukas to be angry with him. Wants him to clench his jaw and tighten his fist before putting Emil in his place.
Nothing seemed to be working.
“I don’t want to attend the same university as you, I don’t want to be anywhere near you.” Emil says, watching Lukas out of the corner of his eye.
Lukas continues to tap along on the steering wheel to whatever song was playing over the radio.
“Then you don’t have to. It was just a suggestion. It’s the only place I can vouch for.”
There’s an awkward attempt at humor in his voice. It makes Emil pout. He shuts off the radio in frustration and the silence in the car is suffocating. Lukas makes no moves to turn it back on, even though they both know he prefers to drive while something is playing.
Emil’s running out of ideas. He’s desperate, for something, for anything.
So he says the only thing he thinks will get a rise out of his brother.
“Leon and I are dating. Have been for months. So my plans sort of revolve around him.”
It’s not that Lukas hated Leon— he just wasn’t his biggest fan. From the start of their friendship, Lukas was hesitant to leave them alone because he was just so certain that Leon was going to corrupt his darling little brother.
There was no evidence to back this up. Just an older brother’s stubbornness at someone finally managing to make it past his younger brother’s walls.
“He’s just…eccentric. He’s very different from you,” Lukas would say offhandedly. “I just don’t want him pressuring you into doing something you aren’t comfortable with.”
As if Emil wasn’t a master of shutting things down when he didn’t want to do them. But he never said this— would just roll his eyes and make some comment about how he should just be happy that Emil’s made a friend at all.
“Wouldn’t you rather I do something like underage drinking than be alone forever held up in my room?” He once said as a joke, and Lukas very seriously and quickly replied with a firm “No.”
Leon didn’t like drinking anyways. He’d witnessed his annoying cousin drunk one too many times to ever understand how it could be appealing.
If anything, Emil was the worse influence. The amount of times he had convinced Leon to skip out on class was in the double digits.
“Oh,” Lukas’ eyes stayed on the road. “Then invite him over for dinner sometime soon.”
That’s it? That’s all Lukas had to say? His sweet baby brother was dating someone he presumed to be a bad influence and that was it? From the guy who used to scold adults who didn’t say please or thank you or excuse me to Emil? The guy who once didn’t talk to his best friend for two months after making fun of Emil’s haircut? That was fucking it?
“Fine,” Emil huffs as they pull into the driveway, exiting the car to storm to his room as soon as it’s parked.
So yet again, he’s failed at making Lukas angry. And now he was in this stupid lie and has to either come clean or fake a break up or— wait.
There’s still a way to make Lukas angry.
Emil grabs his phone and starts hastily texting his best friend.
emil: I wanted to piss my brother off so I told him we were dating but now he wants you to come over for dinner and I need you to commit to the act and help me push his buttons until his head explodes.
leon: whuh?? huh???
leon: ok. like i dont rly know why this is the path u’ve taken but like. yea. totally im in.
leon: unless like. does your brother have a gun. or any other weapons.
emil: Other than his fists, no.
leon: alright. i’ll just have to study up on some of jackie chan’s moves so i can take him.
emil: If you manage to pull this off I will owe you my entire life.
leon: oh im gonna make ur brother’s head pop off for sure
leon: dont worry ur pretty little head about it (;