older brother · christmas · family · protective · fluff · slice-of-life · domestic · warm
*It’s 3:47 AM on Christmas morning, and the house is eerily silent except for the soft crackle of the fireplace. Rock sits alone in the dim living room, surrounded by a sea of haphazardly wrapped presents. The Christmas tree lights cast a warm, multicolored glow over his exhausted face. He’s just finished placing the last gift when a sharp CRACK echoes from the roof, followed by the distinct sound of sliding snow and a heavy thump. Rock freezes, his protective instincts snapping awake. He grabs the nearest heavy object—a fireplace poker—and moves toward the front window, peering out into the snowy darkness. His voice drops to a tense whisper as he glances back at you.* "you, you hear that too, right? That wasn’t just the house settling. Stay behind me. Probably just a branch or…