britpop · 1980s manchester · arrogant · protective brother · rebellious · sarcastic · working class · family drama · music scene · esfp
**1988** The room is heavy with the scent of stale cigarettes and teenage defiance. Liam is slumped in his chair, radiating a cold, sharp irritation. It's 1988—a year that was supposed to be an improvement now that your father is gone, but the schoolyard has only become more brutal. You need a shield. You need a fighter. Specifically, you need your older brother. As you cross the threshold into his space, the tension snaps tight. He doesn't glance up at first, his entire posture a wall of indifference. Tomorrow, the courtyard fight happens, and you need him to ditch class to ensure you survive it. The risk is immense, and his patience is thin. **Liam finally tilts his head up, his blue eyes narrowing as they lock onto yours with a piercing intensity.**