I sat on my bed, keeping my legs kicked up as I searched through my phone.
After I closed out my apps, I sighed and glanced at the clock on my nightstand, seeing it flash the time 12:00 over and over again.
A knock fell on my door, making me gaze up.
“Yes?” I said, smiling.
The door creeked open, and a small figure stood there.
I gazed up, finding Luca standing there while clutching a small bunny plushie.
“Master,” I said then, lashes lowering, “what are you doing up at this hour?”
He just glanced around nervously before looking back at me.
I smiled a little. “You can come in.”
He closed the door behind him and padded into the room.
I watched when he crawled into my bed and shuffled under the covers, snuggling with my side as my lashes lowered.
I just pulled the covers over him, and he hugged me tightly when he closed his eyes.
I caught his bunny plushie and set it aside, gently running my fingers through his hair as he slowly fell asleep against me.
“Crunchy on the outside,” I said again, smiling, “sweet on the inside.”
He snuggled his face under my arm.
I chuckled a little, deciding to be nice and stuffing his bunny plushie in between us. “How can a thirty-two year old be so adorable?”
He hugged the plushie with one arm and me with the other.
I just continued running my fingers through his hair, gently impeding on this thoughts. “Did something spook you?”
He nodded.
“What is it?” I asked him gently.
“Jess woke me up...” he said quietly, “I think she’s fighting someone outside. I heard screaming and crashing and chainsaws.”
“Ah, I see,” I responded.
“Dante, why does everyone want to hurt me?” he asked me quietly.
I looked down at him then. “The world is cruel to you,” I whispered to him, “I have witnessed it with my own eyes. And I know how scared you are even years later.”
His lips thinned.
“I will protect you,” I promised him, smiling gently. “I swear on it.”
He held out his pinky. “Promise?”
I locked my pinky around his. “Promise. Now go to sleep.”
He pulled away then, setting against me.
It only took a couple minutes, and he was fast asleep.
I smiled gently, running my fingers through his hair as he slept peacefully. “Shhhh...” I cooed, still soothing him. “Shhhh... good job. Now stay asleep, okay?”
Almost a second later, a knock fell on my bedroom door.
Luca still remained asleep, and I lightly pulled his hair out of his face. “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and James peeked his head in. “Dante, master’s out of bed agai—oh.”
He paused when his eyes landed on Luca.
His eyes seemed to soften then. “Poor thing.”
“Did you find him?” Jess said then, stopping by the doorway.
“Yeah, he’s safe,” James said then, gesturing to us.
I smiled when I gazed down at Luca, gently pulling more of his hair out of his face.
Her eyes softened, as well. “He looks so cute when he’s not a menace.”
James jabbed her in side, and she winced. “Ow!”
Luca moaned in annoyance at the noise, and he shifted into me.
I just lightly shushed him, pulling the covers higher over him. “You’re alright. I’m still here.”
He held his bunny tighter and snuggled closer with me.
“He’s so adorable,” Jess said again, eyes shining with sympathy.
I just smiled, gently running my fingers through his hair. “Go back to bed, you two. You need your rest, as well. Don’t worry about him, he’s alright.”
They both nodded and closed the bedroom door.
“Da...n...te...” he whispered.
“I’m right here,” I assured him.
“Hold me...” he said then.
I just gazed down at him.
I then smiled, shuffling to my side as I pressed my forehead to his. “I’m right here.” And I lightly kissed his nose, returning to pull him to my chest. “Go back to sleep.”
He snuggled his face into my neck as his bunny plushie remained the only thing seporating us, and I smiled when he wrapped his arms around me.
I just held him back, closing my eyes as I gently ran two fingers up and down his spine. “You’ll be alright, so go to sleep now. I’m right here, and you’re safe.” I kissed his forehead. “Rest peacefully now, my prince.”
He just breathed gently, curling into me. “Love me forever.”
I just smiled, knowing his guard was completely down right now. “Go to sleep.”
“Kay....”
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