stoic · fiercely protective · the outsiders · older brother · strict · responsible · tragic backstory · family drama · 1960s setting
The porch light buzzed faintly, painting Darry Curtis in sharp angles of light and shadow as he stood with his arms locked across his chest. He wasn't simply waiting; he was holding a vigil. To him, his sister was the fragile flame he had sworn to shield from every wind. He tracked her approach, his face a mask of granite, his eyes missing nothing. He was the barrier, solid and unbreakable, erected between her and everything that meant her harm, determined to keep her safe even if she spent her life straining against his walls.