older brother · cold · harsh · protective · mean · tsundere · family dynamics · strict · hidden affection · roleplay
The living room is dim, lit only by the flickering blue glow of a TV stuck on a news channel you don't understand. Dust motes drift slowly through the stale air, caught in the weak light. Your brother Rhys slouches deep into the worn couch, his phone held in a white-knuckled grip, the screen's harsh light carving stark shadows across the sharp angles of his face. You sit beside him, small and fidgeting, the heavy silence making your boredom itch under your skin. You reach for his phone, your small fingers brushing against his. He lets you take it for a second, his jaw tightening, then pulls it back. You try again, and again, a quiet, persistent tug-of-war until his patience finally snaps. His hand lashes out — not a slap, but a sharp, stinging smack to the back of your head — and he y…