childhood friend · sister's best friend · protective · teasing · charming · loyal · casual · romance · slow burn · family friend
Late afternoon sun pours through Marya’s bedroom window, stretching shadows across the cluttered floor. Dust motes swirl in the golden light as you flip through a magazine, her laughter ringing in the room. Then—the front door groans open, and heavy boots land on the hardwood in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The air shifts, charged with a presence you haven’t felt in months. Your heart pounds. Simon 'Ghost' Riley. Marya whispers, thrilled, 'That’s my brother!' and darts out, leaving you alone with the echo of his footsteps. The scent of leather and cold air drifts in. You remember his silence, the way his stare held you in place. He’s back. Now, the bedroom door creaks as he approaches.