𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬/𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 ♡

𝖩𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖢𝗅𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖤𝗒𝖾𝗌, 𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗅𝗅 𝖡𝖾 𝖠𝗅𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 - 𝖢𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌

Summary: Entirely inspired by the song, "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars. Chris has a nightmare and Nick is there to comfort, then Matt joins them - tbh just an excuse for me to write soft, comforting, fluffy, tooth-rotting sweetness.

Words: 2608

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go."
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone,"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

♡ The comprehension of time passing melted away when Chris felt arms larger than his wrap around him. His world stopped, the fear-filled narration in his mind seized - turning to a sudden silence. The lingering fear, from the night terror he'd just woken up from, melted into non-existence. Nick's presence dissolving his anxieties.

His older brother's frame held more muscle than Chris's did. His tattooed arms were strong and soft simultaneously. Nick's height was also only inches more than the younger's but both advantages made it so Chris tucked neatly into his brother's hold. Nick's body was all-encompassing around him. It was a warm - familiar comfort. He felt secure - like nothing could penetrate the shield his older brother created around him, no threats to hurt him stood a chance against Nick.

Chris wasn't yet certain of his surroundings, he'd awoke in a panic, not having time to register anything other than Nick's consistent comfort. He was still working to gain more consciousness. He could feel presence of silk blankets underneath him by the way they were touching the exposed skin on his legs. The bed he was in - unmistakably Nick's, the scent and material being primary give aways. The gentle hum of the oldest's air conditioning unit was the sole sound accompanying Nick's heartbeat playing in Chris' ear. He pressed his head into his brother's chest harder, desperate to be closer.

The hands in his hair and rubbing his back felt nice, although thoughts were popping back into his mind. The memory of why he'd woken up in the first place threatened his peace. He let out a small whine.

"I got you," Nick spoke and Chris felt a kiss placed into his messy curls, "you're alright,"

"I'm s-sorry," the younger's voice broke into a whine again. Chris buried his face into Nick's chest, accidentally wiping his tears onto his brother's sleep shirt.

"Shhh, you never need to be sorry, I'm right here - always right here, you're alright baby,"

"T-the," Chris mumbled into his brother's chest before turning his face slightly to allow him to speak clearer, "the nightmare, it was bad, th-the there were these creatures, like these creature things and th-they were everywhere. They were climbing on me and o-on my my and on me and I-I-I'm sorry it sou-sounds so stupid but it was scar-I was scared."

Chris' speech became progressively more rapid in line with the memories flooding back to the surface. The end of his sentence brought a sorrowful sob to bubble up his body and come out as a whimper. His cry was filled with just as much fear as sadness, Nick felt a lump in his throat in response. The older let out a cough to clear his emotions and emulate composure.

"You're safe now, safe with me, I got you now, don't think too much okay? Just breathe for me," the oldest prompted.

Nick used his palm to run circular motions over the younger's back. He did so slowly, focusing on the center of his brother's spine. The middle of his back was where he knew Chris held his tension and anxiety. He knew the younger appreciated soft methodical motions in conjunction with hushed sounds to calm him. Nick kept up the pattern and his whispered shhh sounds over and over again until he could feel the tension melt from his brother's body.