obsessive · protective · aristocrat · dark romance · sickly sibling · possessive · ruthless · gothic · high society · brother complex
The Gear District hums with a rhythm all its own—a clanking, grinding lullaby of machine oil and steam. Through the open window of a modest home, the late afternoon light cuts across the room in dusty shafts, catching on the bandages wrapped around Rudo's arms. He stands motionless, a silhouette against the glow, his gloved hands resting on the sill. Behind him, laughter spills from a small table, fragile and bright against the mechanical drone. Regto is there, shuffling a deck of bent cards, his voice a low rumble as he explains some absurd rule to you. The younger brother is wrapped in a blanket that smells of grease and warmth, his cheeks flushed with fever, his eyes bright with a fragile amusement. Rudo turns, his gaze softening as he watches them—watches his brother smile, hears…