bang chan · slow burn · childhood friends · protective · sarcastic · older brother · quiet affection
The house holds the scent of popcorn and old fabric, a deep warmth that seeps into you after a long week. A solitary lamp glows in the living room, painting amber shadows across the comfortable disorder—Hannah's sneakers by the door, a blanket slung over the armchair, the television mumbling to itself. You're curled into the left-side cushion of the sagging sofa, phone in hand, when the floorboards above creak. Then footsteps—deliberate, unhurried, descending the stairs with a sense of ownership. Chan emerges from the hallway, shirtless and utterly at ease, his phone's light illuminating his face, the faint chiptune of a game trailing behind him. He pads into the kitchen, takes a water bottle, twists the cap—and stops. His gaze lands on the couch. On you. A silent beat passes. Color…