Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and all potential resemblances to real people and events is purely coincidental. This story and the characters in it are owned by me and can not be re-posted or re-used without my consent under copyright law. All characters in this story are over 18 years old.
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Julian was standing in his room, looking at himself in his new Halloween costume. He was going to be Spiderman this year and the costume had finally arrived so he had run right up to his room, bursting with anticipation, unable to wait to try it on.
Now that he was looking at himself in the costume some of the initial excitement had worn off. Despite now being 18, and five weeks, he was still small for a guy his age, a fully grown man who, at least in this costume where the lack of muscles became more obvious, looked like a boy. His body was small and lithe, and his blonde slightly curly hair did nothing to help him look older. He was slightly toned from playing an array of different sports in his life, but he had no real muscle definition. His face was round and soft, and his blue eyes, long lashes and full lips made him look slightly feminine.
Julian had always been small for his age, but it had never really bothered him before. His small stature, combined with the fact that he was a grade behind in school, had always made him feel like he was younger than he really was, at least until he turned 18. For the last five weeks he had really felt his age and for the first time he saw himself as the grown man he really was, that was until he saw himself in this costume. The more he looked at himself, the more defeated he felt. warm tears started prickling in the back of his eyes as he turned away from the mirror and went to sit on the edge of his bed looking out the window at the reddening trees.
Julian contemplated just ditching the big halloween party tomorrow, all the excitement he had felt about the party and his costume was gone and now it just felt like a chore. This was going to be his last high school halloween party. Julian's dad had gotten an opportunity to do some traveling with his work for a year when Julian was younger, and instead of leaving his family behind he decided to take them with him. Julian and his two older brothers, Matthew and Brayden, had been taken out of a school for a year to travel the world, so despite being 18 he was still a senior.
As Julian was sitting on his bed contemplating faking sickness to have an excuse for missing the party he heard his bedroom door creak behind him. He turned around and saw his older brother Brayden leaning in the doorway, looking at him with his head in a slight tilt. Brayden was the middle child, two years younger than Matt and four years older than Julian, and was a senior in college home for the weekend.
"Nice costume." Brayden said, his mouth curling up into a slight grin.
"Thanks..." Julian muttered, unsure if Brayden was being sincere or mocking him.
Brayden was only four years older than Julian, but he looked completely different. Brayden looked the way Julian wished he did. His hair was darker and shorter, and his body much bigger and taller. Their faces resemble each other but Braydens eyebrows were darker and fuller, his nose more pronounced and his jaw sharper. They have the same eyes and lips but everything else was completely different. Brayden hadn't always looked like this, before he left for college he had been a much skinnier, lankier guy, but he had joined a gym in college and had bulked up considerably since then. Now his arms were almost bigger than Julian's thighs, maybe it was hope for Julian anyway, since they technically shared a gene pool. Maybe Braydens transformation would be possible for Julian too?
"What's up kid? not excited for the party anymore?" Brayden asked, the smile still on his lips.
Julian scoffed and turned his body away from him, back towards the window, he was in no mood to talk to his older brother right now.
"I'm not a kid anymore, you know. I'm 18 and a man just like you." Julian said in a tone so whiny that it completely overshadowed the content of his words.
Julian heard his brother stifle a laugh, and then the familiar sound of his door creaking shut. Julian stood up from the bed and walked around it rubbing his face with his eyes closed, he opened them expecting an empty room, but jumped in surprise as he saw that his brother had not left like he thought, but closed the door with him inside of the room.
Brayden was leaning against the back of the door with his arms folded in front of him. He was studying Julian with a look that made Julian feel uncomfortable in his own skin.
"What do you want?" Julian asked, trying to sound tough. For some reason Braydens presence in his room set him on edge. they had never been particularly close, when they were younger Brayden had been a bit of a bully actually, picking on Julian and sometimes hurting him. as they grew older the bullying had stopped and they became friendly, but never close.
"Are you really going to go out like that?" Brayden asked, ignoring his question.
Julian stole a glance at himself in the mirror before looking back over at his brother. "Maybe, what's it to you?" he answered.
Once again Brayden ignored his question, and just continued looking at him.
"You know what's going to happen if you leave the house looking like that, don't you? ha finally said after a long silence.
Julian didn't know what he was talking about but he didn't want to look like an idiot in front of his brother by admitting that so he just shrugged.
"Do you?" Brayden pressed, standing up from the door and taking a step towards Julian.
Julian automatically swallowed and took a step back. Brayden was still looking at him with this intense stare he couldn't quite place. unable to form any words and unsure what those words would be anyway Julian decided to just nod.
"You do?" Brayden said, a hit of surprise in his voice. "Or are you lying to me?" he said with another step towards Julian.
Julian too took another step backwards and felt his legs hit the end of his bed. nowhere left to go. his brother was still slowly stalking towards him, until he was standing right in front of him looking down on Julian, who refused to look him in the eye but kept his head down and his eyes on his feet.
"Answer me!" Brayden commanded with a deep, low voice.