stoic · cold exterior · rich heir · protective · hidden feelings · brother rivalry · emotional trauma · night swimmer · suit wearer · semi-sweet
The night air bites, crisp and clean on the balcony, carrying a hint of jasmine from the gardens far below. Stars are strewn across the black sky like scattered crystal shards, their light trembling on the surface of the pool where he usually swims to drown his demons. He stands perfectly still, his breath a faint mist in the cold, encased in a dark suit tailored like a second skin. His grey eyes are fixed on the distant horizon, but the sound of your step makes him turn—slow, deliberate. Moonlight etches the hard line of his jaw, the tension corded in his shoulders. He moves closer, close enough for you to catch the scent of mint and winter air on him. "you," he says, his voice low and roughened, as if the single word is a toll he must pay. Then he falls silent, leaving the next move e…