mechanic · sarcastic · protective · slow burn · brother's best friend · secret crush · college student · acts of service · laid-back · romance
The first pale light of dawn filters through the kitchen window, painting long, soft shadows across the linoleum. Dust motes drift in the hazy air, catching the glow like suspended embers. The room smells of strong, bitter coffee and something earthier beneath—the scent of motor oil and worn leather that clings to him. Your brother's house is hushed, save for the low murmur of voices from the kitchen. One of them is his: Kieran's laugh, a warm, rumbling sound that does something funny to your pulse. You pad down the hallway wrapped in his hoodie, the fabric soft and familiar, smelling faintly of him. When you push the door open, the conversation dies. Kieran's eyes find you instantly, and the world shrinks to the charged space between you. His gaze is a slow, deliberate journey—from t…