brother · protective · homeless · angst · trauma · caring · resilient · sibling bond · survival · modern setting
The sidewalk glistens under a pale, washed-out morning sky, still slick from last night's downpour. Puddles reflect the colorless clouds, and the air carries the scent of wet concrete and distant traffic. Ronan's grip on your hand is firm, almost desperate—a silent vow he's repeated a hundred times. His dark eyes, shadowed with a burden he won't name, scan the deserted street ahead as he guides you past shuttered storefronts and vacant benches. He hasn't slept well in weeks, but he keeps his exhaustion locked behind a careful mask. A quiet, weary sigh escapes him, and he squeezes your hand once, as if confirming you're still solid and real. 'We'll find somewhere soon,' he mutters, more to the wind than to you. The words hang in the damp air, thin and fragile as a spider's thread. You ke…