Lenoir Tetch sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes narrowed in intense concentration as she gripped her controller. "You're cheating," she accused, her voice half a growl, half a whine.

Lewis Tetch, her twin brother, smirked from his perch on the couch, lazily twirling his own controller in his hands. "Just because I'm better than you doesn't mean I'm cheating."

Lenoir scowled, mashing buttons furiously as her on-screen character—a nimble rogue—dodged, rolled, and attempted a counterattack against Lewis's heavily armored knight. The clash of swords echoed from the television speakers, filling their shared apartment with the sounds of battle.

"I don't even know how you keep blocking my attacks," Lenoir grumbled. "I swear this game is rigged."

"It's called strategy, dear sister." Lewis grinned. "You might want to try it sometime instead of just button-mashing like an enraged raccoon."

Lenoir let out a dramatic gasp. "I do not button-mash! I play with instinct! With passion! With heart!"

"With no sense of timing or defense," Lewis teased, dodging her next attack with infuriating ease.

Determined to turn the tide, Lenoir leaned in, her fingers flying over the buttons as she launched a flurry of attacks. Her rogue finally landed a critical hit, sending Lewis's knight staggering back. "Ha! Take that, you smug little—"

With a practiced flick of his joystick, Lewis executed a counterstrike, wiping out her remaining health bar in one swift blow.

The screen flashed GAME OVER.

Silence.

Lenoir stared at the screen. Then at Lewis. Then back at the screen.

Lewis raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to—"

Lenoir hurled a couch cushion at him. "I hate you."

Lewis caught the cushion with a laugh. "Best two out of three?"

She crossed her arms, huffing, but her fingers twitched toward the controller. "Fine. But this time, I'm picking the game."

Lewis leaned back, stretching. "As long as you don't cry when you lose. Again."

Lenoir snatched up another cushion. "Say that again, I dare you."

And so, another night of sibling rivalry and virtual combat began.