The Dryad's Loyalty

Chapter 21: Rescue Incoming

The following morning, Hazel woke up with Bowser still keeping them close.
The king had tossed and turned a little in his sleep, but luckily he hadn't rolled on top of them. That would've certainly been... unfavorable, especially given how much heavier Bowser was compared to them- he would've squished the dryad like a pancake if that happened!
Luckily though, he'd ended up sleeping on his side, with Hazel tightly pressed against his body.

The dryad couldn't help but notice how pleasantly warm he felt, though that was to be expected since Bowser literally breathed fire.

They smiled, their cheeks pink as they glanced up at his sleeping face... he looked so adorable, they almost wanted to cup his muzzle in their hands and gently squish it.
Key word being 'almost'; they were sure if they ever did that the king would've gotten angry at them. Hazel could imagine him yelling at them something on the lines of 'What do you take me for? An oversized plush?!'

Yes.
They thought. He really did fit the bill for that: big, comfy, warm... cute...

Their thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the big koopa shifting a bit and then slowly opening his eyes and immediately looking down at Hazel, a surprised expression on his face. "You... you're still here?"

"G-good morning to you" they jokingly replied, their cheeks going pink as their eyes met "Yes, I mean, couldn't have left even if I wanted to... I can't move a muscle here" the dryad chuckled.

The king blushed as well, looking to the side and loosening his grip on Hazel so they could scoot away. He couldn't believe he'd really kept them by his side the whole night, and what was worse was that last night he'd slept better than ever!
He took a deep breath and sat up, before glancing back at them. He wanted to say something, ask them so many questions: why they'd accepted in the first place, if they seriously felt comfortable throughout the night, if they thought it was weird- but nothing would come out, so he just found himself fidgeting with his hands until Hazel, noticing his awkwardness, broke the silence.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Wha- oh! Uh... yeah, all good" he replied, soon changing the topic and tapping the crystal ball, wanting to see if Peach and Luigi had made any progress through the night, though it looked like they'd only set up camp and were still asleep.

Hazel noticed the crystal ball showing something and immediately went and looked for themselves "Hm... can you tell where they are now?"

"Probably close to the woods, nowhere near the castle just yet" Bowser explained, pointing at the various trees behind the rescuers' tent.

The dryad widened their eyes "Near the woods you say? Then I must hurry there! Lakitu and the piranha plants could need my help at any moment!"

"D-do you really have to?" he asked, glancing over at them.

"Of course I have to! I'm the only one who can heal them, I need to be there for them!" Hazel tried to reason with the koopa king. 
"Why are you so against it anyway? Do you think I can't hold my ground?"

"N-no of course not! It's just..."

"What? What is it?" they interrupted him, crossing their arms.

"I..." Bowser fell silent. Truth was... he didn't want them getting hurt again, but NO WAY he'd admit that was the reason he'd been keeping them from battling.
He sighed, clenching his fists "Fine, you can go..." he finally said, toughening his expression so that Hazel wouldn't be able to guess what was going on in his mind.

The dryad knew there was something Bowser wasn't telling them, but chose not to pry for the moment since he'd finally agreed on letting them go.
"Thanks... I'll be back soon, I promise!" they said with a smile, quickly hugging the big koopa before running out of the king's room and to the warp pipes.