100 Themes 21

100 Themes
#21
“It Hurts...”

Liam felt himself tense as he awoke. There was another presence beside him, one that certainly hadn't been there when he'd turned in for the night. The professor briefly toyed with the idea of summoning his spear, should anything unfriendly surface. However, he quickly disregarded it. In all logic, if whoever or whatever it was had intended to hurt him, they would have done so long ago. He would have been an easy target while he was sleeping peacefully and unaware of what was going on around him.

Curiously, the man shifted the blankets away from his company. He had hardly been expecting to see her here. Last he'd checked, she'd been over turning about restlessly in her own bed. Sighing to himself, he allowed the covers to settle back over the younger mage.

“Ruby?” he asked, giving her a small prod.

The girl blinked her eyes sleepily and glanced at him. “What time is it?” she asked tiredly.

“It's three thirty in the morning,” he responded, “What are you doing in my bed?”

The teen shrunk back a bit, seemingly embarrassed by his inquiry. “I-I was,” she paused, “sleeping.”

The man ran a hand through his brown hair and grumbled to himself a bit. He'd been sleeping well and wished that he hadn't woken up so early. “I know that,” he said, “But why?”

Ruby clutched the sheet nervously, looking at him with what could only be described as a 'puppy dog' face. “U-um...” she stammered, “I had a bad dream...”

The professor stared at her for a moment. She'd had a bad dream? Was that really the reason? Something so simple? His gaze seemed to make the girl a bit uncomfortable. She shifted a bit, as if debating whether or not she should return to her own bed.

“I'll leave if you want,” she offered, “I didn't mean to--”

Liam silenced her by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close to him once again. Surely she didn't think that he was cold enough to toss a frightened child out of his bed. Or at least, he hoped that she didn't think he was that cold.

“Ruby,” he said, “Go to sleep.”

Ruby seemed surprised, but quickly relaxed. The girl snuggled close to him, resting her head against his chest. Her eyes quickly began to close as she began to drift back to sleep.

“Prof?” she mumbled sleepily.

“Yes?” he asked, “What is it?”

“I'm scared,” she said quietly.

Liam's gaze softened more as stroked her back gently. “Shh now,” he said, “None of that. It's just a dream. You'll be fine.”

The young mage relaxed, seeming content with his, for once, comforting approach. “Prof?” she muttered again.

“Yes?” he asked, “What now?”

“Are we gonna make it home alright?” she asked.

“We'll wait a while,” he replied, “They'll still be looking for us, but if we play our cards out right, we'll be just fine.”

“Alright,” she said, barely above a whisper as she finally started to drift off to sleep. She looked so content. Nothing was frightening. Nothing was going to hurt her. Not while he was here. She was completely relaxed. Her expression. Her heartbeat, which had returned to a reasonable rate.

Thump... Thump... Thump...

Thump.

Liam cradled his companion in his arms, her head resting on his chest. His gaze was soft and comforting as he ran his hand over her back, stroking her gently.

The girl was tense, her heart raced and her brown eyes stared at him, wide with fright. “P-prof,” she stammered, “P-please, I'm scared.” Her voice trembled with fright and was choked with poorly restrained tears.

The stench of blood surrounded him, entering his nose and making him want to gag, but he had to be calm. He had to be gentle and reassuring. He wasn't used to it. He wasn't used to the feeling of comforting those around him, but he'd try. He'd succeed. He'd do it for her.

“Shh now,” he said, “None of that. You'll be fine.”

Ruby gripped his shirt tightly in her trembling fist. “D-do you promise?” she asked.

The words hit hard, but he knew what he had to do. It was an empty promise, but the alternative was even worse. He couldn't deny it to her, that one sliver of hope that she might be alright. With much difficulty, he managed to force the words from his mouth. “I... I promise.”

The younger mage seemed to relax slightly, though the pain reflected in her face remained the same. “A-are we gonna make it home alright?” she asked.

The man offered a rather forced smile. “We'll be just fine.”

Ruby closed her eyes tightly, the tears she'd been fighting off finally surfacing. “P-prof, I can't--! I-it hurts!”
“Ruby,” he said, his voice becoming slightly shaky, “Go... to sleep.”

The teen in his arms tightened her grip on his shirt, snuggling closer to him and closing her eyes. If not for the pain, she would have looked content. So completely content. Nothing was going to hurt her anymore. Not while he was there. He guarded her. He was her protector, and he would continue to protect her until the end. She was relaxed. As relaxed as she could be. Her expression. Her heartbeat, which was returning to a reasonable rate. And it slowed, and slowed.

Thump... Thump...

Thump...

.........