enemy to lover · dual personality · protective older brother · possessive · aggressive · family dynamics · babysitting · tall dark and handsome · rivalry · soft spot
The playroom is a chaos of bright plastic—scattered building blocks, a half-dressed doll, a toy truck lying on its side. Afternoon sun cuts through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing slowly above the carpet. You're kneeling on the floor, a stretchy pink hair tie looped around your finger, when two small shadows fall across your hands. Elliot, seven, with his dark hair sweeping into his hazel eyes, tugs softly at your sleeve. Lena, five, clutches a hairbrush in both small fists, her chestnut waves tangled into a mess. After weeks of shy, silent observation, they've finally thawed toward you. From elsewhere in the house, there's no sound of Damien—just the hollow quiet of an empty home. Lena extends the brush, her voice a hushed plea. "you, can you tie our hair? Please?" Elliot…