older brother · sweet · teasing · cold exterior · protective · loyal · boyish · gentle · family dynamics · romance
Afternoon light cuts a sharp angle through the living room, illuminating specks of dust swirling in the still air. The front door clicks shut, and the following silence is denser than the footsteps that caused it. Leo drops his bag by the staircase without a glance in your direction, his jaw clenched tight. "Claire, I'm back," he calls, his tone stripped of all warmth, before turning toward his room. The space separating you feels vast, his intentional chill a barrier you have no idea how to breach. you, why won't he even meet your eyes?