Wren

Part 17

(next morning)

"Are you sure you're ready for this? We can wait if it's too much stress--"

"No," Wren interrupted Leo. "I'm ready."

Leo nodded reluctantly and Matteo leaned forward to pick Wren up. They'd been arguing all morning whether or not this was a good idea. Dace didn't have an opinion on the matter, Leo said it was medically okay but thought the stress might be too much, Matteo wanted Wren to be with him but didn't want to influence his answer, and Wren was ready to get out of the room. He was starting to get claustrophobic being stuck in the small infirmary bed.

He couldn't help but flinch as Matteo scooped him up. They'd stayed up late last night and talked more, working things out, but it was hardwired in Wren to be afraid of people getting too close or touching him. He glanced up at Matteo with apologetic eyes, and Matteo just smiled gently at him. He seemed preoccupied.

Matteo was busy thinking about how light Wren was. He needed to feed the kid. He was practically weightless in his arms--

"--you doing?" Leo interrupted his worried thoughts.

"What?" Matteo snapped back into reality.

"I said, what are you doing? you just gonna stand there and hold him all day?"

"No, no. Let's go." 

Matteo led the way with Wren bundled in a blanket in his arms, Leo following behind them. He wanted to make sure that Wren was properly taken care of before he left them. They were moving back into Matteo's room today.

Wren had slowly grown to trust them, even Matteo, but he couldn't quite shake the uneasiness growing in his stomach as they neared the room. What would happen when he was alone with Matteo?

He didn't have time to think deeper because they'd reached the door. Leo reached around and opened it for them. Matteo paused in the doorway when he felt Wren start to tremble in his arms despite the fluffy blanket wrapped around him. 

"You okay?" He whispered into his ear, not willing to move forward until he was ready.

"Yeah, its just. . . I'm scared. . ." 

"Of what?" Matteo asked, taking a few hesitant steps past the threshold.

"I'm not sure, I just keep having memories. Being hurt in here--and the fire--" He squeezed the blanket tighter around himself and buried his face in Matteo's chest.

Matteo felt yet another wave of horrible feelings wash over him, but knew he had to push them away. Wren needed him to be strong right now. "I know, puppy. I'm so sorry. But I promise there's nothing to be afraid of. I'll keep you safe."

Wren slowly stopped trembling as Matteo sat on his huge bed, still holding him tight. Wren peeked up and glanced past the broad shoulders to his corner. His chain was gone, the wall painted over. Like it was never there.

Matteo noticed where Wren's eye were locked onto, and kissed the top of his head apologetically. He couldn't take back what he'd done, but he could damn well set the future. A future where Wren was treated like royalty.

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An hour or so later, Leo was finally satisfied that Matteo was a capable caretaker. But that didn't stop him from worrying. 

"He can't walk, so if he needs to go to the bathroom, you have to carry him. I know he doesn't like help, but don't let him put weight on his legs yet. I've gone over the med dosages and times, but I feel like I'm forgetting something. . . Just make sure he eats soon, okay? If he vomits or the pain is too bad, just call me--" 

Matteo ushered him out the door, closing it on his rambles. He chuckled as he turned back to Wren. He was a small lump sitting on the edge of the bed, bundled up in his blanket with his bandaged legs hanging out.

He walked back over and stood in front of him, stroking his hair. "Alright, puppy. Doc says you need to eat." He rooted through the bag of 'good' foods Leo had left, seeing things like applesauce, bread, and bananas. Gentle food good for a queasy stomach.

He pulled out a gatorade and two pieces of pre-toasted bread Leo had made and put in sandwich bags. He opened it and pulled out the first piece of toast, holding it to Wren's mouth.

"Geez, look at all this. He's like a mother hen."

Wren giggled a little as he nibbled the corner of the toast, some crumbs clinging to his lips. Matteo smiled and brushed them away. He fed him until the toast was gone and the bottle was half empty. He started to clean up from the snack, throwing away the bag and brushing crumbs.

"Could I-- Is there any way to take a bath?" Wren asked hesitantly, almost like he was afraid to be too much trouble.

"Of course! I'll have to help you, and we can't get your legs wet, but I'm sure you wanna clean up. You haven't had a proper bath since you got here." Matteo grimaced, cursing himself as he remembered how he'd thrown Wren into an icy shower after he'd wet himself the first night. His fault again. 

He carried Wren to the bathroom, setting him on the counter by the sink and gently began to remove his clothes, gingerly sliding his pants over the bandages so as not to disturb the burns. Then he pulled the shirt over Wren's head, tossing it along with the pants to the floor. He left Wren sitting there in his boxers to go run the bath water.

Wren fidgeted, stuck on the counter. He hated not being able to do things himself. Wasn't this too much trouble? Would Matteo get mad that he wouldn't have the free time he used to since he had to take care of him now? 

Matteo glanced back, noticing how Wren's eyebrows were knitted together. He wiped his wet hand on a nearby towel and went to retrieve the boy. "You can just sit sideways, with your legs hanging over the edge. Yeah, like that." 

Wren got situated in the warm water, feeling his tense body relax. Matteo cupped water over his head, then began to wash his hair. He was humming. Wren felt his eyes get heavy, feeling like he was finally able to get some real rest. He'd just close his eyes for a moment while Matteo finished up. . .

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Fire engulfed the room, burning Wren's skin. He fought and screamed, trying to brush it off, but it was too much. A dark figure stood in the flames, getting closer and standing over him menacingly. Matteo's laughter filled the fiery room as the figure turned and disappeared, leaving Wren in the blaze. He screamed again, reaching out, clawing through the flames--

Wren's eyes flew open, his heart pounding in his chest. Fiery images crashed through his mind, and he panicked and sat upright. Matteo sat up next to him, alarmed.

"Wren? Are you okay?"

They were in the huge bed, the new curtains drawn to block out the orange afternoon sun. He'd been tucked under Matteo's arm. He nodded and caught his breath as Matteo wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"You fell asleep in the bath, and didn't even wake up when I got you out. The water got cold." Matteo pulled him back down, wrapping the blanket around him. "Was it a nightmare?"

Wren nodded. Matteo got the hint that he didn't want to talk about it. He played with Wren's hair, feeling the boy relax in his arms. He sang the lullaby from before, and after a while, Wren slowly drifted off into dreamless sleep.

                Part Eighteen Coming Soon