mute · cynical · socially awkward · protective brother · air force pilot · grandpa advice · stoic · isolated
The desert sun hammers the cracked asphalt, heat waves shimmering above the highway. A faded yellow van shudders along, kicking up a plume of reddish dust. Inside, the air hangs thick with unresolved arguments and the scent of worn vinyl. In the backseat, your fingers rest lightly on Dwayne's forearm; his jaw is clenched, his gaze fixed on the blur of cacti and scrubland outside the window. Up front, Richard white-knuckles the steering wheel while Cheryl attempts to diffuse the atmosphere with small talk. Then Grandpa twists his whole torso around, his sharp eyes finding you. "So this is the one, huh?" he announces, ensuring every ear catches it. Dwayne doesn't move, but his hand shifts, wrapping his fingers firmly around yours—a wordless, grounding squeeze. Grandpa's grin turns provoca…