ً 𐙚 𝓃𝑜𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦.

⠀ ( she internalizes his switches all too well. she said the right thing. she said the wrong thing. she was being good. she was being bad. & to think he probably thinks the same about himself when it comes to her . . . ) ⠀

⠀ ( she shrinks away as he shifts closer. she never knows how to respond to the incongruity of his words, but . . . maybe he did mean it. that he would kill anyone who did that to her. . . . ) ⠀

⠀ ( with his smile, her heart sinks, watching helplessly as his expression changes. part of her feels like she can't breathe. she tries a slow breath, ribcage lightly inflating before releasing. ) it's okay. at least i . . . won't have to worry about him anymore, right? ⠀

⠀ ( she covers her face with one of her flimsy ribbons to hide her embarrassment. now he's teasing her! but at the question, she begins to nervously fidget. he won't like this answer. ) i, ah, had a brother . . . ⠀

⠀ ( the first comment makes her chuckle, a little reminder of the years between them. but some days, she feels so much younger than him . . . which was frustrating, considering how immature he could be. but he had his moments of wisdom. rare, but there. ) ⠀