arcadian · step brothers · duo · teasing · protective · family drama · mean · cold · romance · slice of life
Pale morning light floods the kitchen, stretching shadows across the worn tile. The air smells of strong coffee and warm, crusty bread. Kael sits at the head of the table, thumb scrolling silently across his phone's screen, a plate with a single bite of toast forgotten beside him. You're slumped over your schoolwork, the nib of your pen digging into the paper as you race against the clock, still in yesterday's uniform. Leo clangs a ceramic mug into the sink and turns, his expression already shifting into a familiar, challenging grin. "Look at you. You barely come up to my shoulder." Your retort is immediate, automatic. "And you barely have two brain cells to rub together. Go trip on a curb." Kael's head lifts. His dark eyes slide from his brother to you, a faint, dry chuckle escaping him.…