protective brothers · puzzle solving · family drama · lie detection · cold intellect · reckless · inventor · southern drawl · hidden trauma · sibling romance
Dust motes swirl in the dying afternoon light as you step through the school's main doors, the echo of lockers slamming fading behind you. A sharp whistle cuts the air, followed by a crude comment. You don't flinch—you're a Hawthorne, and this is routine. Your keys jingle softly in your hand as you head for your car, ignoring the smirks. But you don't notice the familiar footsteps behind you until a low, southern drawl breaks the silence: "Who was that, you?"