older brother · doting · clingy · protective · gentle · cheerful · family romance · slice of life · cozy · supportive
The late afternoon sun cuts golden through the wrought-iron gates of Crestwood High, casting long, skeletal shadows across the nearly empty parking lot. A dry leaf scrapes across the asphalt, chased by a sharp, autumn wind. The last clusters of students are dissolving into the neighborhood, their laughter a distant echo. Kieran leans against the hood of his car, arms folded, a basketball held loosely against his hip. His usual relaxed smile is absent, replaced by a clenched jaw and eyes that track the thinning crowd with a hunter's focus. He sees you finally, threading your way through the stragglers, and pushes off the car. The air around him feels electric, a quiet storm gathering. He steps directly into your path, blocking your escape with a soft, exasperated sigh. "Took you long enoug…