Helpless (gxg)

XI- Comfort

I swallowed heavily. Her words echoed in the empty cavern that was suddenly my mind. I promise, Willa. The only promises Sir ever made were the ones that resulted in my broken on the floor beneith his boots. But with Tessa, the difference could not be more clear. I was beginning to think that Sir never loved me, even if he said it over and over until I had no choice but to believe him despite his actions.

Tessa moved slightly, leaning forward towards me, her weight causing the bed to shift. My eyes shot to her, to the arm that was streched for me. I didn't move, frozen between the want to get away and the need to touch. Her hand took mine and I stared at the contact, my breath coming in short, quick gasps. But she didn't move, simply resting her fingers upon my upturned palm until I was once again breathing in a relatively normal pattern.

"May I hold you?" I lifted my head to look at her face, but I refused to meet her eyes. I didn't speak either, just curling my hand into a fist around her fingers.

In a moment, I was in her arms, straddling her lap in some form of a laying-down hug. My legs wrapped around her waist, my arms thrown around her neck and my head buried in her shoulder. She gently wrapped me in her embrace, allowing me to cry against her.

"I wish I didn't have to save you. But I'm glad that I did." I didn't know how to respond, so I just held on tighter. "I'm going to move, lay us down and pull the blanket up. Ready?"

My tiny nod must have been enough for her to notice because I felt the world slowly tilt around me until she was gently prying my legs out from beneath her, instead laying them out on top of hers. One of her hands slid up my back to stroke my hair, carefully avoiding the skin of my neck and light enough that I didn't feel trapped. She caressed my head, letting my much smaller body lay atop her like a dead weight, just holding me close. It was everything I never knew I wanted and never thought I'd have. She began to hum, a song that started high in her throat and grew down into her chest, the gentle rumbling coaxing me to sleep.

When I awoke in the morning, Tessa was still there, beneath me. She was awake, her breath was too measured for her to be asleep. I was afraid to move, not wanting to disturb her from whatever she was thinking of. I had, of course, moved during the night, ending up streached out across the bed with my head upon her chest. I think she knew that I was not going to do anything, as her words were gentle.

"Are you awake, little one?" I nearly squeaked at the sound of her voice, the sound of crunching snow from the last winter storm, too many feelings swirling in my chest.

"Y-Yes, Tessa." I was tempted to turn to face her, to snuggle into her warmth, but then my training took hold. "Would you like me to make you breakfast? Or um... coffee?" I wanted to ask more questions, to know if she liked just eggs and toast or if a full meal of sausage and steak and bagels would be more apt for someone as powerful as her. She didn't give me a chance.

"If you want to cook, you're going to have to make something for yourself as well." Her words edged between serious and humorous, a tease that was meant to... what? Keep me in line? Keep me healthy? I didn't know. Either way, it made me shiver.

"I uh... I could make us both a sandwich, Tessa. It would have a lightly cooked egg, taylor ham, and cheese on a bagel. Would you like that?" I awaited her response, truly wanting to know if that would make her happy.

"If that's what you want, my angel, then that is what we shall have. But I do believe we have to get up first." She moved a hand beneith my head and gently lifted, supporting me as I sat up. "That's better. I just need to make a call, but I will be out to join you in a moment."

I nodded. "Yes, Tessa." I stood on slightly shakey legs and shivered, moving towards the door.

"Willa?"

My heart froze. What had I done wrong? "Y-Yes, Tessa?"

"If you'd like, take my slippers next to the bed. The floors can be cold in the morning. Oh, and there's a robe right inside the bathroom."

There it was again. The teasing yet serious tone. But this time, the meaning was clear. She wanted me to be safe and comfortable. She wanted to protect me. My words caught in my throat as I hurried to put on the slippers, pulling the robe on carefully and noting how they both fit me perfectly. There was no way that these belonged to her.

I ignored the burning question of why? as I left the room, closing the door gently behind me. The kitchen was to my right, everything clean and polished. But it was, I noticed as I pulled out a pan, well-used. It only gave me more questions as I moved about the room, familiarizing myself with what each cabinet held and collecting what I needed. I felt at peace, in my element, as the bagels popped up out of the toaster and I whisked past, placing them onto the plates before layering the taylor ham, egg, and cheese before closing it up. As I poured two glasses of orange juice, I heard Tessa's bedroom door open and she stepped into the kitchen. I turned to greet her and faltered.

Her face betrayed a strange emotion, something I hadn't seen before. I stepped back, putting the island between us. If she ran for me, I would have a moment to run the other way. If I was fast enough, I could maybe make it back to her bedroom and lock the door before she got me. Then it was just a matter of getting the window open and jum-

"You made all of this?" She cut through my thoughts, stopping them in their tracks.

"I- " I clenched my jaw. "Yes, Tessa. I-If you'd rather something else, I'm sure I could make it."

"No. This is perfect. It's just that... well, I barely got the chance to taste your cooking, before. I was just remembering how good it smelled and, well, how good you smell."