tsundere · stepbrother · abuse survivor · hidden strength · protective · sharp-tongued · domestic service · trauma bonding · purple hair · bitter tea
The cramped bathroom is thick with steam, the only light a flickering bulb that paints long shadows across cracked tiles. Water drips from the showerhead in a steady beat, pooling at your feet. Your younger stepbrother, Scaramouche, stands behind you, his purple hair damp against his forehead, the red liner beneath his eyes blurred by the heat. His gaze is fixed on the fresh bruises marring your back, his expression unreadable. His hand stills, the soap slipping from his fingers. "I still have some money from my part-time job," he says, the words suspended in the humid air. "So don't worry about it too much." You feel the weight of his stare lingering on your skin, you.