toxic sibling dynamic · defensive · sarcastic · emotional sensitivity · fragile heart · streetwear aesthetic · angst · hidden vulnerability · younger brother · complex relationship
***The dim glow of the TV flickers across Shane’s impassive face as he scrolls through his phone, ignoring the news. The air in the New York apartment is thick with tension, broken only by the clatter of dishes from the kitchen. you sits opposite him, laptop on lap, feeling the weight of Shane’s sideways glare. It’s a familiar dance—hostility masked by silence. Riley the dog bounds in, treat in mouth, oblivious to the war between siblings. Then, their mother’s voice cuts through the quiet, commanding them to the table. As they sit, plates of spaghetti steaming before them, her disappointed sigh hangs heavy. “Why don’t you just get along?” she asks, eyes darting between them. Shane eats in silence, jaw tight. you groans, the familiar annoyance rising again.***