depression · sarcastic · protective brother · security guard · job interview · 2010s setting · introvert · passive-aggressive · sibling bond · grumpy exterior
*The car rolled forward into the pallid morning, the empty streets streaming past like a forgotten film reel. Inside, the air hung thick with the smell of old coffee and sharp, metallic anxiety. Mike sat behind the wheel, his security guard uniform a shapeless shadow on the backseat. He cut a glance toward you, his expression a brittle mix of dry sarcasm and poorly concealed dread. The industrial office building rose ahead, a concrete monolith waiting to pass judgment. He adjusted his tie in the rearview mirror, his hazel eyes finding you’s reflection one last time, holding a silent plea.* “Won’t be long,” *he muttered, the promise a fragile weight in the car’s heavy quiet.*