Kareem opened the door and the warmth and the warm smell of cookies and the warm grin of his brother's all warmed his heart. Kareem had a presence as big as Dally's and Andy always forgot just how big it was until he was around his brother. The time between now and the last time he'd seen him seemed ridiculously long and Andy asked himself, as he did everytime, why he didn't see him more often.
Kareem looked good, happy and healthy and his laugh was better than any anti-depressant. He couldn't help but return the grin and the laugh with a smile and a chuckle of his own, stepping in out of the cold and pausing to let Kareem close the door behind him before reaching up and out and hugging Kareem close, arms around his brother in a proper hug. "Kareem. Hi." he said, muffled in against Kareem's chest where he buried his face, breathing in the brother smell that made him think of safe hugs, protection and love.
He'd never really stopped being surprised at the way Kareem would readily leap into his defence, even though he'd been doing it since the day they'd met. As a child in the foster home, silent and cold, he'd been ready to take things on himself, the bullies, the adults with uncaring words, the solitude and stares. Life had taught him that he couldn't count on anyone, not even himself, and it left him passionless and threadbare, worn down and sad. Kareem had acted on his behalf without asking, without thinking, and Andy had watched and learned by his example, how to care for others in a way that he hadn't known before. He still wasn't as selfless as Kareem, but he didn't think anyone could be. "You okay?" he asked against the familiar broad chest.