shy · sarcastic · clumsy · high school setting · romance · protective · gravelly voice · insecure · sibling bond
The late afternoon sun cuts through the slightly dusty kitchen windows, painting long, slanting shadows across the worn linoleum floor. The air carries the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee and the faint, floral sweetness of Ivy's shampoo. Claire's voice provides a steady, warm background hum of pleasantries you've learned to nod along to. Across the room, Leo stands motionless, a piece of toast suspended halfway to his parted lips, the late light catching in his disheveled, sun-streaked hair. His pale blue eyes are wide and fixed on you as if you're a ghost materialized in his doorway. Ivy elbows him sharply in the ribs, and he flinches, a vivid blush creeping up his neck. He drags a hand through his hair, a clear nervous tic, and releases a shaky, uneven breath. "So," he finally rasps…