Mommy Dearest - Peter Pan x Reader

7. Butterflies

Butterflies

You sat by the fire beside Pan, gazing into its embers. The rest of the boys had gone to bed or passed out on the ground hours ago; you and the leader were the only ones awake.

It was strange how a campfire was comforting when a hut on fire sent you into a panic attack.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

You shrugged tiredly. "Alright, I suppose."

"Your hut will be done soon," he promised. "I mean... unless you'd rather stay with Felix..."

You chewed your lip. Felix had been kind enough to take you in while you were hut-less, but he didn't provide the comfort you subconsciously sought. He was friendly and warm, but your chest didn't flutter when he held you, like it fluttered now as you sat close enough to feel the heat radiating from Pan.

"Felix is nice," you said softly. "But I fell off the bed last time I stayed with him."

He let out a soft chuckle. "He's a bed hog, huh?"

You nodded. "I imagine he's not used to sharing."

"You could always... choose someone else."

You pretended to think about it. Most of the boys you saw as younger brothers, so that would be rather awkward. A few of them had childish crushes on you, so you didn't really want to give them any ideas. That left Felix and Pan...

"Who would you suggest?"

He blew out a breath. "Devin practically worships you."

"A little too much," you countered. "I don't want to think about where that might go."

He cringed. "You'd be safe with one of the younger boys."

"That would be like sharing a bed with a little brother. I'd probably get kicked in the face."

He hesitated. "You could stay with me."

You slowly looked up at him. "Peter Pan is offering to share his bed?"

He snorted. "Only as a last resort."

"That's... kind of you."

The fire began dying out, fading into smoke and ashes. You shivered against the cold wind of Neverland, the heat of the flame now diminished.

Pan stood beside you and extended his hand. "Do you want a place to stay or not?"

You nodded, hesitantly placing your hand in his and letting him pull you to your feet. Butterflies pounded in your belly as your skin touched, and you had no idea how strong a spark shot through Pan's body at the same time.

He led you to his hut, the biggest one at the far end of the island. It was close enough to be reached in emergency, but far enough that none of the boys would bother him unless they had to.

He pushed open the curtain door and gestured for you to go in. You entered slowly, feeling unfamiliar in the leader's private room. You stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, lacing and unlacing your fingers.

"You can sit," Pan commented, gesturing to the bed. You nodded and slowly sat down, your butterflies growing as you tried to get comfortable.

He sat beside you. "You seem nervous."

"I haven't shared a bed with anyone besides Felix... ever," you replied. "I'm not used to being in someone else's room."

"I don't bite," he chuckled, moving to lie down. He kicked off his shoes and you followed suit, moving to lie down beside him. He stretched an arm out for you to use as a pillow and you complied, your face burning as he pulled you to his side. Your hand rested lightly on his torso and your head was on his shoulder. You could breathe in his woodsy musk and it seemed to lull you to sleep.

"Goodnight," Pan murmured, and you swore you felt his lips on your head before you slipped under.

The next morning, you awoke comfortable and well-rested. Your arms were wrapped around something warm, and when you opened your eyes and looked beside you, you found a still sleeping Pan holding you tightly. A blush stained your cheeks as you thought back to last night. He had been uncharacteristically kind to you... Why? And why was he holding you like you were a nightmare-fighting teddy bear?

You adjusted and tried to sit up, but sleeping Pan had other ideas. He tightened his hold and pulled you closer, nuzzling his nose into your hair. Butterflies erupted in your belly as you laid there in shock. You reasoned with yourself that he was, in fact, asleep, and had no idea what he was doing or who he was doing it with. But a tiny part of you, deep inside where the butterflies were dancing, hoped that he remembered that you were in his bed and that he was pulling you closer on purpose.

You didn't have long to ponder his intentions before a sigh left his lips and his eyes fluttered open. He seemed content with his hold on you before his eyes widened and he looked down to realize what exactly he was doing. He quickly let go, and you felt cold without his arms around you.

"Morning," you murmured.

"Morning," he replied, his brows furrowing as he tried to assess what he'd done. He sat up, leaving you completely cuddle-less.

"Sorry," he said flatly.

"What for?" you inquired softly.

He hesitated before replying, "That."

Your heart fell. He hadn't meant it. "Oh, sure. It was better than trying to sleep with Felix."

He nodded. "We should get up. I'll get the boys back on building your hut."

Before you could respond, he stood and pulled on his boots. He disappeared to the other side of the curtain and headed out to gather the boys.

You let out a sigh as you tied your shoes and followed his path, ignoring the gasps and murmurs from the boys at you coming out of the leader's tent.

"What happened last night?" Felix asked with a smirk as you began preparing breakfast.

"Absolutely nothing," you replied with a soft sigh, your gaze wandering over to where Pan was watching the boys. Your eyes met briefly before he quickly looked away, as though he were ashamed of the position he'd been caught in just a few moments ago. Your heart broke at the rejection and you decided to focus on your duties rather than your emotions.