𝐏𝐔𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒 | ✍︎︎

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟯

I'm awakened by my ears popping again, which isn't pleasent. It sounds like everything is muffled.

"We're here, Clailea." I hear someone tell me. Through my sleepy state, I flinch and guard my head with my arms, waiting for impact.

"Shh, it's Zara, you're safe, no one will hurt you here." Zara explains, moving the hair out of my face. He quickly extracts his hand, making me frown without thinking. I quite liked that.

I sigh, flinching at how loud it is in my ears.

"Your ears will probably be weird for a while, I couldn't tell you if I'm screaming or whispering right now." Zara chuckles. I hear shuffling but don't move at all.

"Come on Clailea, wake up," Zara sings. I groan, holding Puddles closer to me.

After a while of silence, I huff. Weighing my options, I open my arms for Zara, signalling for him to hold me.

He didn't seem to be mad at the fact I held his hand. He also talked to me the whole time until I fell asleep, toward the end of Beauty and the Beast. I'm starting to trust him.

"Are you sure, Clailea?" I groan at him, just wanting him to hold me.

He chuckles, gently lifting me into his arms. I find it strange how he holds me like the babies I've seen on TV, but I'm not complaining. I've never felt this safe and secure.

I swing my feet lightly, yawning. Then, I realize that man, I can just fall asleep again.

The thump thump of Zaras heart is not helping me stay awake, along with the fact he let me keep Puddles.

"We're just getting in the car now, I can't hold you in there. I trust our driver greatly, but I'm not taking any chances." I huff, snuggling into him more to soak up all the time I have with him. When we get to the house with all my other brothers, he's sure to change his attitude.

Feeling him slide into the car, I prepare myself to be thrown into the seat. Instead, he sets me down gently next to him. I slouch into him, letting him buckle me again.

I could get used to this.

I'm in and out of sleep at this point, but any time I would wake up Zara would shush me and lull me back into my sleep state.

When we finally arrive at the house, Zara carries me again, although I'm awake this time.

I pretend to sleep though, wanting nothing more than this to last longer.

Safety.

Oh, how I thrive for it.

And for the first time I can remember, I feel safe.

Zara walks through the door with me, a series of voices are heard. I flinch slightly, my sleepy state completly broken.

"Shhh, it's okay, you're okay." Zara whispers, slightly rocking me. I can practically feel the glare emitting from his eyes.