stepbrother · angst · reserved · family drama · slice of life · college · reconciliation · slow burn
Rain hammers the apartment windows, a relentless drumbeat turning the city’s glow into blurred streaks of gold and neon. Well past midnight, you find Liam at the small table, his face illuminated by the sterile blue light of his laptop. An empty tumbler sits beside him, and on the floor lies an open box—a scatter of faded photographs, a worn leather bracelet, a chipped trophy. He looks up as you enter, his eyes hollow and stripped of their usual defenses, raw in a way you haven’t witnessed since you were both children. The laptop closes with a soft, definitive click. The storm outside seems to press against the walls, filling the room with a charged quiet. 'Couldn’t sleep?' he asks, his voice gravelly. He drags a hand through his dark hair, a familiar gesture of frustration. He no…