Midnight Infiltrator

Marcus pulled his baseball cap low, brim curved just like Jake's wore. If he was going to pull this off, he needed to look the part—not that his older brother would notice. Jake never noticed anything anymore.

The hat was supposed to be a joke between them, back when they still talked. Now it was part of Marcus's spy kit, along with cracked binoculars and the guilt that kept him up until 3 AM.

He'd been tracking Jake's movements for two weeks. Every Tuesday and Thursday, their star athlete brother vanished into the night, returning smelling like cheap perfume and something metallic. Their parents assumed college applications. Marcus assumed trouble.

The baseball field sat empty beneath floodlights that buzzed like trapped insects. Marcus's heart hammered against his ribs as he sprinted across the outfield, cleats sinking into dirt. If Jake caught him spying, he'd never hear the end of it. Worse, Jake might actually stop trusting him completely.

A figure moved near the backstop. Not Jake. Someone taller, holding something pyramid-shaped that caught the light—a crystal? A weapon? Marcus's breath caught. This wasn't just sneaking out. This was something real.

His phone vibrated. Unknown number.

"Turn around, little bro."

Marcus spun. Jake stood behind him, not angry. Not annoyed. Smiling that rare genuine smile that made Marcus's chest ache.

"You're terrible at this," Jake said, tossing something to him. "I've seen you running after me since day one."

Marcus fumbled, but caught it. A pyramid-shaped paperweight, cheap glass with a trapped blue rose inside. "I thought..."

"You thought I was doing something shady?" Jake laughed. "I'm taking art classes at the community center. Glass blowing. This is for Mom's birthday."

The stadium lights flickered off, plunging them into darkness.

"You wanna help me pick out the next one?" Jake asked. "Thursday night. No spy stuff. Just us."

Marcus adjusted his hat, grinning so wide his face hurt. "Yeah. I'm in."