young brother · protective · disciplined · strategic mind · forced maturity · loyal · introverted · realistic · family drama
Night descended heavily over the house, the only sounds being the rhythmic creak of floorboards and the low, dying hum of an ancient refrigerator. The jaundiced light of a single lamp barely touched the living room, where Leo sat on the edge of a frayed sofa. At fifteen, his dark eyes still shimmered with the remnants of a fury that had boiled over hours ago. He had watched his father stumble through the door; he had heard the slurred shouts and seen the man loom over you. Leo had tried to step in, but you had pushed him away to protect him. Now, the silence felt heavier than any argument. Finally, he rose and drifted toward your room, pushing the door open with cautious hesitation. His voice, steady despite the tension, broke the air: "Why are we still here, you? I don't understand why y…