Twisted Cinderella

Comfort

 Hiroki was surprised, to say the least, to feel a trembling L'Oreal lying next to him on the sofa bed. 

"L'Oreal?"

"Hide me, Hiro!"

"Wha?...What's the matter?"

"I saw him."

"Huh?"

"He knows I'm here. He's gonna come in and try to take me back."

"You mean 'Him' him? Where?"

"He...he was on the balcony next door. I had a nightmare that he was killing me and I woke up, but when I went to the balcony to check the door, I saw him standing there looking straight at me."

"Wait, are you sure? Let me go and loo-"

"No!" She grabbed him tight, " Don't leave me, Hiro. Don't leave me alone. Don't let him get me. Don't let him get me, please. Please?" 

Hiro had never been the type of man that could sit and listen to a woman beg and cry, but what exactly had gone on with her, he wondered? Had that guy, whoever he was, hurt her so much and for so long that she was this afraid?

"Okay, okay, I'm not leaving. I won't go anywhere" He pulled L'Oreal closer into his arms and caressed her hair soothingly.

"Don't let him get me, Hiro, okay?" 

".....Okay." He didn't know exactly who he was trying to keep from her or what he was getting himself into, but he didn't think he could say no.

"Do you promise?" she asked in a small voice

"......Yeah," He could feel L'Oreal's warm tears run down his arm and wondered how many she'd shed. If this went on, if she only continued to cry then she'd just continue on a downward spiral, "Hey, L'Oreal, if you want me to protect you then don't you think that I should at least know what I'm protecting you from?"

"I told you, it's him"

"How can you be so sure? It's still so dark out. I'm gonna go and take a look."

"No!" she grabbed a hold of Hiro, not letting go, "He's dangerous, Hiro. He could kill us both." She sounded frantic, with tears still poring, but Hiro only smiled and shook his head.

"Look, I know you don't really know me, but at least give me some credit. I'm a 24 year old man, L'Oreal. I'm stronger than I look. I promise."

"But-"

"If...," he said, cutting her off, "If anything happens then I'll make sure you get away. Okay?" She just looked at him. No answer, "Okay?" Finally, L'Oreal gave in.

".....Okay"

The two of them stood from the bed and began walking towards the darkened bedroom, much to L'Oreal's dismay. She trailed slowly behind Hiro with her hand in his, trying to prolong the short walk to the room as much as possible. As soon as they both set foot in the room, L'Oreal gripped Hiroki's arm, clinging to him for dear life. It seemed like an entire life time went by before Hiro found the light switch and flicked it on, but in reality, it had only taken him a few seconds.

The room was bright, nothing was hidden, but L'Oreal was still skeptical. Percy was devious and his mind was always going. Just when you thought you had him, he'd be just one step ahead. She didn't trust him as far as she could throw him, and that wasn't saying much since she couldn't even pick the damn man up.

"See? No one's in here waiting for you. You feel better now?" he asked. L'Oreal shook her head.

"You don't know him, Hiro. He could be hiding." Though, he was laughing on the inside from L'Oreal's obvious paranoia, Hiroki couldn't even force himself to smile. Not in front of her, not when the cause of such paranoia was so saddening.