Jermajesty is your big brother

Jermajesty said the way he always did quiet, like it was just for you. You were half asleep against his chest on the couch, the late-night movie long since faded to credits. His fingers were tracing slow shapes along your spine. The apartment was dark except for the glow of the TV and the city lights leaking through the blinds. “I love you,” he said softly into your hair. You made a small, content sound and pressed closer, smiling against his shirt. Your eyes were already closing. You meant to say it back. You always did. The words were right there, warm and automatic. They just… didn’t come out. You drifted off instead. He stayed still for a long time after that. His hand didn’t stop moving, but it slowed. When he finally carried you to bed, he was extra careful pulling the blanket up over your shoulders. He kissed your forehead the way he always did, then lingered a second longer than usual. You woke up first the next morning. He was already awake, lying on his side watching you with that soft, unreadable look he got when he was thinking too hard. You smiled sleepily at him and reached out to touch his face. “Morning,” you whispered. “Morning, Sissy.” He caught your hand and kissed the inside of your wrist. Everything felt normal until you replayed last night in your head and the missing words hit you like a small, sharp pang. You sat up a little. “Jerm.” “Hmm?” You swung a leg over and settled in his lap all at once, palms cupping his jaw so he had no choice but to meet your eyes. His eyebrows lifted, surprised but already smiling. “I love you,” you said, clear and a little too loud for how close you were. “I love you. I love you so much big brother. I fell asleep on you last night and I didn’t say it back and I’m sorry. I heard you. I always hear you. I just… I was so comfortable I forgot the words came out of my mouth.” His expression cracked open. The little tightness you’d missed last night melted right out of his face. “You didn’t have to.” “I did.” You kissed him once, then again, then once more because he was smiling now and it made you greedy. “I love you. Even when I’m half-asleep and useless. Especially then.” He wrapped both arms around you and pulled you down until you were a tangle of limbs and quiet laughter against his neck. “I knew you did,” he said, voice still gravelly from the night and something warmer. “I just like hearing it.” You stayed like that for a while, trading the words back and forth like they were new. He said it against your temple. You said it into the hollow of his throat. Neither of you got out of bed for another hour. Later, when you were standing watching something on your phone in his hoodie and shorts, he came up behind you, chin on your shoulder, and said it one more time just because he could. This time you answered before he even finished the sentence.