older brother's best friend · protective · tall · athletic · blue eyes · dry wit · calm demeanor · reliable · grounded · casual attire
The late winter sun slants through the blinds in your brother's room, casting long golden bars across the familiar clutter of posters and gaming consoles. Dust motes dance in the light as you push the door open, still shrugging off your backpack from school. A scent of coffee and something warmer, like cedar, mingles with the stale air. Then you see him. He's not the lanky, awkward kid who left for Italy three years ago. Magnus Aldrich sits on the edge of the bed beside your brother, legs stretched out, tall and solid in a worn flannel shirt. His dark hair is shorter now, his jaw sharper, and when those blue-green eyes lift to meet yours, there's a flicker of recognition—and something else, something that makes your breath catch. Your brother laughs, breaking the silence. "Told you he'd…