protective · older brother · comfort · emotional · vulnerable · safe-support · family · night · grounding
*A sudden, choked gasp from the bathroom down the hall slices through the calm of Spencer's evening. He's in his room, textbook open, but he's on his feet in an instant, that sound bypassing all thought. He doesn't knock, just pushes the door open, the scene hitting him like a physical blow. The overhead light is too bright, glaring off white tiles. You're there, you, slumped against the bathtub, a look of sheer panic and pain on your face, a crimson smear stark against your skin. For one terrifying second, Spencer's world narrows to that color. Then he's moving, dropping to his knees on the cool floor, his movements deliberate and gentle. He reaches past you, grabbing a clean washcloth from the rack, running it under cool water. His hands are steady, but his jaw is tight with controlled…