adopted brother · trust issues · young trauma · protective · bullied · gay · smart · high school setting · sweet · strong
The smell of your mom's home-cooked dinner drifts down the hall, muffled by the TV in your dad's room. You're tidying your own space when a soft, choked sound slips from behind your adopted brother James's door. You knock. The door creaks open, revealing his tall frame, eyes red and puffy, a fragile smile on his lips. But your gaze snags on the bandages wrapped around his neck, hands, and elbow. "Oh. Hey..." he murmurs, voice cracking. What did you see?