Protector

Growing Concern

Author's Note:

I'm back, baby! The story's past chapters are all edited and new ones are ready to be posted. Thank you all for being so patient with me and for sticking around. I appreciate it. Also, if you have the time, look back at the previous chapters to enjoy all my hard work.

~Enjoy~

•Y/N: Your Name
•H/L: Hair Length

Author's POV:

Loud, joyful laughter sounds from outside a house as rays of sunlight shine down on the two figures playing in the shimmering, white snow that blankets the lawn. The cold substance crunches loudly beneath the boots of both the girl and the angel in disguise as they run around throwing snowballs at each other. Y/N can't seem to land any of hers, for Laurence skillfully dodges each one, while she couldn't escape his. A sudden shout escapes the teens lips as her left foot slides on a thin sheet of ice, causing her to fall onto her back with a loud thud. Silver orbs widen in surprise as Laurence rushes to her side with concern written on his flawless features.

"Y/N, are you-" the male silences himself as soft giggles escape the teen, while she moves her arms and legs to make a snow angel. A smile forms on his lips as his head tilts some. Her arms then shoot up and wave around towards the angel as a motion for him to grab them.

"A little help?"

Chuckling softly, he grabs ahold of both of Y/N's hands before pulling her to her feet. The two then look down at the shape made in the snow.

"Your turn." Without warning, the girl pushes the male's chest, but, instead of falling back into the snow, he doesn't budge an inch. Determined, Y/N continues to push at the angel in hopes to send him falling into the white mass only for her feet to slide back.

'It's no use; he's too strong.' Groaning in frustration, she looks up at the smiling man while continuing to shove. "Oh, come on." She pouts, causing him to laugh and grab onto her arms to remove them from his chest. The next thing she knows, the both of them have fallen into the snow with her landing on top. She yelped in surprise before turning over to lie beside the creature while laughing.

Laurence begins to move his arms and legs to make his own angel, which makes Y/N smile happily. She starts to make another beside him as dark blue eyes watch the two from the kitchen window. Catherine cautiously sips her hot chocolate with whipped cream, being careful not to burn her mouth as her gaze follows the white-haired boy playing in the snow with her sister. Darin had made her the hot beverage earlier, claiming it was "made with love". Her father currently sits adjacent to the brunette at the kitchen table, sipping at his own drink while munching on soft, ginger cookies.

"Dad?"

Darin jolts upon hearing his daughter call for him, for it's an uncommon occurrence. She rarely every speaks to anyone unless she needs to, so he was happy that she decided to finally speak to him.

"Yes?" His smile falters some when he notices Catherine's intense stare. She's still watching the two teens playing outside.

"Who's that kid Y/N's with? I've never seen him before."

"Oh, that's Laurence." Darin can't help but laugh at the look of shock that appeared on Catherine's face when he said the angel's name. It was the same look he made when the boy knocked on the door and introduced himself earlier before asking if Y/N could come out to play in the snow. "All this time, I was worried she was making him up, but I think she might've just been pretending he was with her here because of a crush. She always had been silly like that. I was so relieved when he showed up. I was starting to think she was losing it or something. He seems like a good kid, though."

Catherine's brows scrunch together in thought as her father devours another one of the cookies. Laurence is what Y/N called her "imaginary friend". This guy can't be the same, can he? However, she can't shake the feeling that something's up with the newcomer. Something that makes her uneasy.

If this is the same person, he's definitely not human. This is something one would normally brush off as nonsense and paranoid overthinking, but Catherine had seen things, impossible things that she can never forget no matter how badly she wants to. If she's right... She fears for her sister. Her gaze returns to the window as she watches the two head for the door with suspicion clear in her orbs. Y/N and Laurence enter the house, the girl giggling as they unlace their boots and remove their coats. The scent of fresh baked cookies and chocolate reaches her nose, so she follows it to the kitchen with the angel traveling behind. There, they find Catherine and Darin sitting at the table with mugs of hot chocolates. The father greets them with a smile.

"Hey, kids. I see you had fun out there," he comments upon seeing the flakes of snow trapped in their hair. Y/N gives a light laugh while dusting off her H/L locks before removing her white gloves.

"We got a little carried away with the snowball fight. We also made a bunch of snow angels," she explains happily, making Laurence smile.

"Well, I hope you're hungry. I just made cookies and hot chocolate, so help yourselves." Since he's finished his drink, Darin puts his cup in the sink before heading to the bathroom attached to his bedroom to take a shower.

"Thanks!" Y/N shouts to the male before turning to her white-haired companion. "Laurence can you make a cup for me? I gotta go to the bathroom real quick."

"Sure thing." The angel gives a sweet smile, which she returns before heading for the second bathroom in the house. His gaze lingers in the girl before he walks over to the kitchen counter, where a plate of cookies lie. On the stove is a pot of hot chocolate, which he uses to fill a mug that he grabbed from the cabinet. He also prepares a small plate of cookies for his human companion, but makes nothing for himself, since he doesn't necessarily need to eat. He likes the smells, though. All the while, Catherine's eyes stare at the back of the angel's head. He acted like she wasn't even in the room, never said hi or anything. Not that she'd say hello back, but she found it odd that he didn't even look her way. After much thought, the young lady stands from her seat and waits for Laurence to turn around. He stops with a full mug and a plate of cookies in his hands when he meets Catherine's glare, his expression, blank, aside from the hint of annoyance swimming in his silver orbs.

"What the f*** are you?"