Chapter Text
When Saiko Metori had transferred into PK Academy, it had barely registered for Kusuke. Of course, he kept tabs on any new students coming into Kusuo’s school, that was basic security maintenance. He wouldn’t want the secret services sniffing around Kusuo again, so he’d taken upon himself to run background checks on any person even slightly crossing his brother’s path.
Rich daddy’s boy, a bit daft and hot-tempered, but not threatening. If he remembered correctly, Kusuke had actually filled one or two contracts for the Saiko family, helping to add fortune to their huge empire. In short, he’d completely overlooked the teenager, thinking Kusuo wouldn’t even be on his radar.
And yet.
Through his various surveillance measures, he’d soon realized that Saiko had taken an interest in Kusuo and his little ragtag group. He wasn’t quite sure why, but now the boy seemed to be at every corner, either scheming to buy Kusuo’s friends or showing off his wealth.
Why the fuck was he trying so hard to impress his baby brother, exactly? Kusuke hadn’t had one ounce of hesitation before breaching into the Saiko’s personal security system to know what was happening in their mansion after Kusuo’s first visit there. Nothing much, thankfully. Kusuo wasn’t one to be won over by prideful displays of wealth.
If he really wanted to, Kusuo could have been richer than a king, after all. And besides, Kusuke himself kept on showering his sweet baby brother with everything he could desire. Being the most reputable scientist of their century had its uses.
Nonetheless, when the next day the Saiko heir started a redecoration project of such importance that the security system was down for a few hours, he took notice. He sent a drone over the area just in case the teenager was trying to do something nefarious of any sort. From what he gathered, there was no hidden goal except creating a huge attraction park in his mansion.
A waste of money if you’d asked him; maybe enough to impress Kusuo’s friends but again, nothing to worry about. He kept an on-screen feed when the internal system went back up just in case it could prove useful, and did not linger any more on the thought. He had more important things to do, such as deliver a new android for submarine rescue to one of the Pacific nations.
And then the next day Kusuo was invited again. And hours went by before he came out.
When the scientist realized exactly how much time had elapsed since his brother and his friends had entered the mansion, he dropped everything he had been doing to frantically log into every visual access point he could reach.
Alright, Kusuo was still fine, nothing untoward had happened. However, to see that he had been defeated by a room made of sweets and assorted pastries… His little darling could have gone to Kusuke to be treated to some delicacies. He didn’t need to give in to that little prick’s money.
Through the camera lens, Kusuke observed the satisfied smirk on Saiko’s face. As if he thought he had won over his baby’s affection with that wasteful spending.
Kusuke could do way better than that. Time to get to work.
A few weeks later, as Kusuo and his usual group were leaving the Saiko mansion, their rowdy conversation was interrupted by an unexpected voice.
“Kusuo!” Said teenager turned his head when he heard his brother’s singsong tone calling him. Kuboyasu and Saiko stopped their argument over what was better, plebes movies or a private home cinema.
I didn’t hear him come … why is he wearing his telepathic canceler?
He raised an inquisitive eyebrow in the elder’s direction, ignoring his friends’ inane chatter. Kusuke obviously saw it yet did not acknowledge his silent inquiry, turning instead his smile to the surprised chorus behind Kusuo.
“Hello everyone, thank you for taking care of my little brother today! I hope you got along well.” He reached Kusuo and fondly patted his head, dismissing the annoyed look Kusuo sent him.
Good grief. Don’t do that, they’ll think it’s okay to touch me.
“Nice to see you again Kaidou-kun, Nendo-kun, I see you got home safe from your London trip?” His smile turned devilish when both teenagers blanched at the reminder of what he’d done to them when they had met a few months ago.
“What… What are you doing here?” Stuttered out Kaido, hiding behind the bulk of Kuboyasu and Nendo.
“Oh, Kusuo didn’t tell you? I finished my studies at Cambridge, so I’m now back in Japan.” His brother’s grin widened again, before he added. “I hope we’ll have the occasion to see each other more.”
Kusuo tugged on his sleeve to get his attention back. What are you doing here? We didn’t plan to meet today.
Kusuke looked down at him, and his smile softened to show the first genuine expression since he’d arrived. “I prepared something for you, and thought that there was no time like the present! You’re free now, right?” As he finished his sentence, he turned back towards the group of teenagers, eyes narrowed.
“We were going to get ramen with our buddy!” loudly said Nendo, with his usual dumb grin and incapacity to read the room.
Kusuke grabbed Kusuo’s waist and pulled it towards his side. Hey! I told you not to manhandle me like that.
“Too bad, but don’t you think his plans with his dear older brother he has missed for years take precedence? You do, right? Perfect.” And that being said, the scientist dragged Kusuo away, waving amicably to the dumbstruck teenagers.
In the distance, Kusuo heard his friends’ thoughts on the scene. “So that’s Kusuo’s brother…? He’s a bit strange, isn’t he?” commented Kuboyasu. ‘A total fucking weirdo yeah—what was that thing on his head?’
“He’s some kind of rich scientist, he invited us to see him and Kusuo in London just for a hide and seek game in the city before sending us back the next day,” added Kaido, ‘And he’s scary, too.’
Kusuo, however, held onto Saiko’s thoughts, which were a bit different than the rest. ‘Isn’t that the guy my father subcontracted some time ago for our military agreement …? I wouldn’t have guessed Saiki had such a dangerous person in his family. Maybe I should be more careful around him.’
That was… A bit worrying. Kusuo turned back to his brother, who was still merrily pulling him along to his car. How bothersome. This will cause unnecessary problems. He jabbed Kusuke’s side resentfully.
He was pleased to see him wince, before the elder let him go in to open the passenger door for him. “I know you’re annoyed right now Kusuo, but come with me? I swear the surprise will be worth it.”
He took the hand Kusuo had used to poke him and guided it to his lips, pressing a kiss on the knuckles. “I hope you’ll like it.” Another one of his stunning smiles. Kusuo felt his cheek pinken and shrugged him off.
Alright, but it better be worth it.
Soon enough, they arrived at his apartment complex. They both removed their outerwear, and Kusuke gently led him downstairs to his makeshift lab. He had just gotten back to Japan, so this was a bit of a temporary settling, but that had done the trick for what he wanted to create.
He opened the door for Kusuo and preceded him into the room. His little brother sent him a wary look. “I promise you’ll like it, nothing nefarious.” Kusuo frowned, refusing to be tugged forward. He peered inquisitively at Kusuke’s telepathic headband.
The scientist understood in a second what the matter was. He had, after all, forgone the habit of using his shield around Kusuo once they had started their relationship. The fact that he was wearing it now, added to his impromptu visit, let Kusuo think that this was one of his usual games to experiment with his brother’s powers.
Despite the new development between them, he had indeed not renounced his favorite hobby of testing his baby brother. “I’m sorry Kusuo, I can’t take it off right now, but I promise you’ll understand in a minute why.” He went back on his steps and gently kissed Kusuo’s cheek. “Please trust me?” His voice was pleading.
He saw on the teenager’s face the hesitation leaving place for agreement. Kusuo came in, and Kusuke closed the door behind him. Instantly, his brother whipped back towards him, wonder etched in his features: “I … can’t hear anything.”
Kusuke grinned and started to explain, “I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Since you found out about that germanium ring, I’ve been meaning to make a sort of safe room for you. I know that your escapades with the ring were always a bit lacking either because of people’s unpredictability scaring you, or because what you wanted to experience was still ruined in a way or another.”
He gestured to the space around them. “So, I’ve reinforced my whole lab with germanium metal plates. You know I would never let anything happen to you, so this is the safest place on Earth. And I’ve stocked it with all you could desire to enjoy your time off.”
The scientist dragged Kusuo towards a nook where he had set up a resting room equipped with a bed, TV, desk and shelves full of books, movies and other games. “Of course I’ve also added some snacks for you, but since you spent the afternoon eating in that brat’s edible room, I suppose you won’t need them.”
He frowned, not liking the reminder. “Anyway, I’ve made this specifically for you to have the possibility not to be on guard all the time. I’ll stay here with you, so if there’s anything I’ll be the one to deal with it. You can simply … rest.” Kusuke tapped his telepathic shield, “That’s why I’m keeping this—I don’t want to encroach on your silence either.”
The scientist twirled back to Kusuo, grinning brightly. “So? Aren’t I the best —” He was promptly cut off by the other grabbing at his lapels to drag him down into a kiss.
“Thank you. I like it very much.” Kusuo speaking voice was very soft.
Kusuke smiled softly at his baby brother, placing a quick kiss on his temple. “I’m glad to hear that.” He let go and stepped away. “Alright, I’ll be working in this corner, please make yourself home!”
The scientist then went to his desk in order to advance on some papers he’d been behind on. Spending all his time on this room had been more than worth it if only for the thank you kiss he’d received, but he had to make up for it at some point. His time was, after all, very costly.
He smiled to himself as he put on his glasses and started relaunching the software he needed on his various screens. Giving his baby brother peace of mind, however, was priceless.
Nothing this little prick of an heir could hope to achieve, even with all the money in the world. The scientist smirked—unless the kid used it to pay for his own services.
Take that, Saiko scion.