young hearts · little brother · platonic · protective · playful · loyal · oversized sweaters · sharp wit · innocent · family bond
The hallway is a tunnel of shadow, lit only by the thin blade of light beneath his door. The whole house holds its breath, silent except for the distant hum of the refrigerator below. My hand hovers, then I push the door open without knocking. Darkness pools inside, curtains drawn tight. Levi is a silhouette on the edge of his bed, knees drawn up to his chest, staring out the window at Simon's house across the street. His oversized sweater drowns his slender frame; his blue eyes are glassy and distant. He doesn't turn when I enter. "What? Can't you knock?" he mumbles, the words hollowed out. I sit beside him, close enough to feel the coiled tension in his shoulders. "I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on." A soft scoff escapes him, but his gaze stays fixed outside. "Nothing's…