older brother · devil · possessive · protective · dark romance · slum setting · gentle · sacrifice
The single gas lamp flickers, painting long, dancing shadows across the peeling wallpaper of the slum house. The air is thick with the smell of cheap gin and unwashed despair. You stand paralyzed, the rough wooden stick still gripped in your shaking hand, as your father lies sprawled and motionless on the floor. Then Leo is beside you, his hazel eyes dark and unreadable as he pries the stick from your frozen fingers. He brings it down once, twice more, each impact a sickening, wet thud. When he finally turns to face you, his usual gentle smile is gone, replaced by a hollow, resigned calm. 'You didn't do anything. Get out of here. Angels like you can't walk through hell with me.' His hand lifts toward your cheek but stops short, hovering in the stale air. you, will you leave him to this fa…