His tiny hostage [G/T]

V - Pillow Fort

The next day, Bluebelle found herself outside with the boys. They were taking turns tossing her into the air and catching her. Luca, however, just passed her to his brothers rather than throwing her. She couldn't say she was having a good time; she felt like a substitute for the lost ball. The game took a dangerous turn when Koa threw her so high that it seemed impossible for him to catch her. She shrieked as she plummeted towards the ground, but then she heard a voice.

"Really, boys, you must be much more careful with the human," Otis said sternly.

He caught her just in time, and she found herself sitting in his open palm.

"Fine, we won't throw your wife," Ezra replied snappily.

Otis's hand twitched under her, growing hot. "For the last time, she's not my wife," he snapped back.

"Whatever you say, brother," they teased, running away and leaving them alone.

"Don't leave me with her!" Otis screamed after them.

"Do you not like me?" Bluebelle asked almost silently, her voice trembling.

Otis hesitated. "I, uh..."

Why should he say he wanted her to stay? She was a prisoner here. Just because she wasn't a hostage didn't mean he couldn't trap her.

"I don't go to your cell," he said, trying to sound tough. He clutched her tightly and walked briskly toward the cell. She seemed to be shaking, tears streaming down her face. He sped up, but her sobs grew louder, her tears falling into his palm. Seeing her in such a state was unnerving. He tried to block out her sniffles, but it was hard.

When they reached the cell, he placed her inside and tried to walk away. As he did, he heard her mutter, "I want to go home." The words struck his heart. Her father had refused to give up the land, and keeping her seemed pointless now. His heart throbbed. He couldn't let himself get attached to a human. Not again.

"He just left you here after we ran?" Koa and Ezra yelled, shocked. The boys were trying to comfort her, sitting in a triangle and taking turns to pass her around and rub her head. It was working, to some extent.

"Let's get revenge on him," Ezra suggested.

"It's fine, boys. I didn't expect him to answer yes to that stupid question," she said, trying to assure them. But they weren't listening. Before she could resist, they stuffed her into a massive pillow fort. She landed softly, but from a significant height, and shrieked at the fall.

She tried to climb out to stop the boys, but the door on the other side of the room slammed, knocking her down. The fort had a roof made of pink bedsheets, casting a pink glow over everything. She contemplated leaving but realized there was nowhere to go and no one to talk to. She found a comfortable corner and napped.

An hour later, she was startled awake by the ground shaking. She ran to the middle of the fort, trying to locate the noise. A thump and light flooded the fort as the entrance opened. A black silhouette fell in, causing the fort to shake but remain stable. She was nearly crushed but managed to avoid it. Otis lay there, out of breath, his eyes closed as he breathed through his mouth.

His eyes snapped open when she got closer, reflecting her pale face.

"Otis, where are you?" a voice called out. Otis looked petrified and held her to his chest. He sat against the entrance, which was lifted up.

"He's not in here," someone said. "Let's go find him."

They were now stuck in the dimly lit pink fort full of pillows. She tried to crawl off his hand, but his grip tightened around her. He shifted, laying on his back, and placed her on his stomach, rubbing between her shoulders. She tried to scurry away but failed. He pushed her down gently until she went limp.

When he realized she had given up trying to escape, he put both hands behind her to ensure she didn't. "It's fine, human. Just wait for them to leave. It's their bedtime soon anyway, so they're bound to be tired." He yawned, and she felt his body relax beneath her. She curled up in a ball and soon fell asleep on the giant's chest.