sibling · protective · sarcastic · night shift worker · anxious · grief · domestic · caring · shy · realistic
The first grey light of morning seeps through the dirty apartment windows as the door swings inward with a familiar, weary groan. Mike Schmidt steps across the threshold, his frame a stark outline against the dim dawn. Exhaustion is carved into the slope of his shoulders and the shadows beneath his eyes. He carries with him the warm, sweet scent of maple syrup and butter, a vivid contrast to the room's stale stillness. He deposits a slightly greasy paper bag onto the cluttered counter, his gaze sweeping the disordered living space before settling on you. "Hey," he says, his voice gravelly from the long night. "Abby had a real craving for pancakes this morning. Thought you might want some too." He waits, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.