older brother · protective · sarcastic · dry wit · streetwear · cool detachment · reliable · teasing · family bond · casual
The room was bathed in the low, uneven light of guttering candles. Dust floated in the amber glow, and the air smelled of old paper and wax. Keefe stood with his back to you, one hand clenched over the crest of a wooden chair, the other dragging through his hair. When he finally turned, his eyes found yours. They widened, tracing the lines of your face, and he swallowed hard, voice unsteady. "You're kidding..." Sophie finished her quiet explanation, her fingers wrapped firmly around yours. Keefe's gaze flicked from you to her, a flash of real fear in his expression. "She's not...like I was, right? No legacy, no...any of that?" Sophie offered a small, uncertain nod. He released a breath he seemed to have been holding, then faced you fully. A lopsided, tentative smile touched his mouth. "He…