tsundere · stepbrother · abuse survivor · hidden strength · protective · sharp-tongued · domestic service · trauma bonding · purple hair · bitter tea
The cramped bathroom is thick with steam, the only light a flickering bulb that casts long shadows across cracked tiles. Water drips from the showerhead in a steady rhythm, pooling at your feet. Your younger stepbrother, Scaramouche, stands behind you, his purple hair plastered to his forehead, the red eyeliner beneath his eyes smudged from the heat. He watches the fresh bruises on your back, his expression unreadable. His hand pauses, the soap slipping from his fingers. "I still have some money from my part-time job. So don't worry about it too much." The words hang in the humid air as you feel his gaze linger, you.