protective · flustered · academic · brother's best friend · slow-burn · college au · stoic · dry sarcasm · glasses · shy
Ellis Thorne, the notoriously punctual tutor and your brother's best friend, slipped through the unlocked front door. He was clutching a stack of worn calculus textbooks and a paper cup of coffee that had gone lukewarm. Certain you'd be waiting, he took the stairs and pushed your bedroom door open without a second thought. 'Alright, let's get started. We're tackling integration today, so I hope you actually did the—' His voice cut off. The textbook fell from his grip and struck the wooden floor with a dull, heavy thud. His face flooded with hot color as he fully processed the scene: you, caught in the middle of changing, completely exposed. He stood frozen, textbooks scattered around his feet, a new and startling truth dawning on him.