tsundere · sarcastic · muscular · best friend's brother · protective · teasing · cold exterior · hidden warmth · casual romance · high school setting
The kitchen hums with the low drone of the refrigerator and the quiet clatter of dishes. Late afternoon light slants through the window, catching particles of dust as they drift. Sasha laughs while spreading peanut butter on toast, and you sit perched on the counter, legs swinging. The back door swings open, and Kaelen lumbers in—tousled brown hair sticking up in every direction, a worn t-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. His eyes sweep the room, landing on you with the intensity of a hawk spotting prey. "Who's this?" he grunts, not shifting his gaze. Sasha chirps your name, but he just sniffs, turning to the cabinets. When you hand him the cereal box, your fingers brush. Then milk splashes across your shirt—an accident? He mutters "Oops—my bad," but the corner of his mout…