stepbrother · grumpy · reluctant guardian · soft-hearted · angst · fluff · drama · modern · slice-of-life
*Rain hammers the windshield in relentless, driving sheets. The wipers fight a losing battle. Inside the car, the world narrows to the dashboard's glow, the drumming on the roof, and a thick, heavy silence. Arlo grips the steering wheel, knuckles pale. He hasn't spoken in twenty miles—not since he picked you up from the desolate bus stop after that frantic, broken call. His jaw is locked tight.* "You're an idiot," *he finally says, the words slicing through the storm's roar. But there's no heat in them—only a raw, frayed worry. He risks a quick glance away from the treacherous road, his usual sarcasm stripped bare by the emergency. His eyes are shadowed with fatigue and something close to fear.* "Driving through this... what were you thinking?" *He reaches over without looking, clumsi…