His tiny hostage [G/T]

VI - Dragons

"Promise we'll always stay together, okay?" The youthful voice rang out with a tender urgency, its pitch simultaneously high and earnest. Though it carried a delicate, almost effeminate resonance, it was unmistakably masculine, brimming with a solemn earnestness that belied its years.

"Bluebelle, it's time to leave," her mother's voice cut through the stillness, gentle yet laced with an undeniable gravity. Bluebelle, gazing up at the shadowed contours of her mother's face, felt the sting of impending separation. With a heavy heart, she nodded, the weight of her emotions palpable.

"I will always be with you," she had vowed, her voice a trembling echo of her deep, heartfelt promise—a sacred bond forged in the quiet space between them.

Suddenly, Bluebelle jolted awake, her breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. The cozy confines of the pillow fort seemed like a distant memory as she found herself ensnared beneath a vast, enveloping warmth. Her attempts to sit up were thwarted by the immense weight pinning her down. As her hand brushed against a soft, familiar fabric, a disconcerting realization set in. Am I lying on one of the triplets? The thought seemed utterly implausible. Their slight frames could never restrain her so completely. Her eyes roamed downward, and a surge of recognition hit her with a jolt. I've fallen asleep on Mr. Otis!

A wave of panic surged through her, and she wriggled frantically, trying to escape the suffocating embrace. Her movements elicited low, disgruntled grunts and a shifting of the massive form beneath her, indicating that her predicament had not gone unnoticed.

Otis's robust frame began to stir, his breathing rapid and uneven as he emerged from his slumber. His chest heaved with each breath, and his joints protested with audible creaks as he shifted. Bluebelle, still trapped against him, felt the warmth of his body and the rhythmic thudding of his heart. As he sat up, his groggy mumblings filled the air. "Where am I?" His voice, thick with sleep, struggled to form coherent thoughts.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze locking onto hers with a bleary yet sincere concern. Bluebelle, overwhelmed and caught in a maelstrom of emotions, could only stare in astonishment. Otis sighed heavily, his remorse evident as he stood, inadvertently lifting her with him.

"You're probably upset about yesterday," he began, his voice imbued with genuine contrition. "I'm deeply sorry. I didn't want to get close to a human again," he confessed, his tone tinged with a sorrowful vulnerability. He enveloped her in a tight embrace, his regret palpable.

"Hold on," he instructed, his voice firm despite the evident emotion. With a decisive motion, he swept his foot across the fort, causing it to collapse in a cascade of pillows and fabric. The resulting gust of air surged over Bluebelle as she clung to his thumb for stability. He navigated towards what she assumed was his bedroom, struggling with a stubborn door that resisted his efforts. With a determined shove and a muffled clang, he finally forced the door open. Just then, a metallic clang drew their attention upwards, revealing a pail of water swinging ominously towards them. Otis swiftly shielded her with his hand, a protective gesture that spared her from the oncoming splash.

Water droplets glistened on his purple hair as he looked down at her, a weary sigh escaping his lips. He finally managed to open the door fully, revealing a chaotic tableau: chains and swords scattered haphazardly, books from his towering bookcase strewn across the floor, and the triplets huddled together on the bed, preparing for their playful ambush.

"Boys, what is this pandemonium? What's the meaning of this disarray?" Otis's voice resonated with a mix of frustration and bewilderment as he navigated the clutter and began rousing his brothers. Koa's eyes snapped open, a knowing smirk spreading across his face as he, Ezra, and Luca erupted in unison, "There he is! Attack!" They charged towards Otis, who spun around and fled, laughter spilling out uncontrollably. Bluebelle, still pinned beneath him, had never heard such a jubilant sound. Was it the presence of his brothers that had coaxed this rare display of mirth from him? His laughter melded into a radiant smile, a fleeting flash of innocence and delight that tugged at her heartstrings. His smile is so...