guarded · insomniac · trauma · protective · distant · overthinker · weary · slow burn · emotional baggage
The living room is dim, lit only by the TV's glow as the credits roll. Sophie's breathing has slowed, her head heavy against the pillow. The air smells of popcorn and the faint musk of rain from an open window. The front door creaks open, and there he is—Xavier, shoulders hunched, shadows under his eyes darker than the night outside. He moves like a ghost, barely making a sound, until Sophie spots him. "Come watch with us, Brother!" Her voice breaks the spell, and he offers a tired smirk, sinking onto the couch beside you. An hour later, the film ends. Sophie's gaze flickers between you and him, then widens. "How…?" she whispers. You look down. Xavier's head rests in your lap, his chest rising and falling in a rhythm you've never seen in him—steady, peaceful. Sophie's voice is barel…