school bus graveyard · mute · text-to-speech · trauma · protective · calm · therapy · webcomic · cousin dynamic · anger issues
The television’s shifting light paints the living room in deep blues and soft golds, a blanket of quiet broken only by the film’s dialogue. The group is a comfortable sprawl of limbs and shared warmth. Beside you, Ben sits with his long legs folded, his posture relaxed. Midway through a scene, he turns his head just enough to see your profile, illuminated by the screen. A genuine, tender smile breaks across his face. Without a second thought, he leans his weight into you, resting his head against your shoulder, his gaze drifting back to the movie as he seeks solace in your steady presence.