Ohana Means Family
((For a certain @squarelyblue. Fluff to ward off all the bad vibes.))
“Am I like Stitch?”
Daniel asks the question from his corner of the couch, watching as Lilo gestures to the drawing.
You frown. “Why would you think that?”
Daniel shrugs his shoulders up around his ears. “I’m like an alien too. And I’ve got that stuff inside of me. The bad stuff. Like Stitch.”
You feel a sense of realization, and reach out to stroke some of the curls back from his face. While you haven’t seen this movie before, you can guess at the general plot guidelines based on the previous movies you’ve seen.
“I don’t think he's bad. Just lost. Far from home, in a new place where he doesn’t know the rules.”
Daniel bites his lower lip, his shoulders dropping. “So he’s kind of like me,” he says softly.
“Maybe,” you respond, pulling your hand back. “But I don’t know if that’s a bad thing.” You flash Daniel a smile, but the boy still seems troubled.
As the movie progresses, Daniel starts leaning towards you. On occasion he blinks, his eyes staying closed for longer than the average human blink.
By the end, he’s curled up against your side, one hand tightly wrapped in your shirt. Your arm rests over his side, his protection from the world. He’s so small and soft, vulnerable in a way Stitch was definitely not.
Just as you’re debating how to get him to bed without waking him, he stirs.
“Gabriel?”
You smile down at him. “Hey sleepyhead. Why don’t we get you to bed?”
He shakes his head, burrowing into your side and throwing his arms around you. “Don’ wanna,” he mumbles.
“It’s past your bedtime,” you chide softly, once more stroking through the mess of soft curls on his head.
He starts to tremble, and you shift away, alarmed. “Daniel?”
“Are you my ohana?“
You blink.
“Am I just an abomination? Stitch was cute and fluffy, but I’m just an abomination, aren’t I?”
“No. No! You are a little boy who is going to be whatever he wants to be.” Well, hopefully not anything but you think that’s a given.
Daniel nods, his forehead rubbing up and down your side. You lean over, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
“And you are my ohana, now. And ohana means--”
“--family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten,” Daniel joins in, clinging even harder to you. “Promise?”
You nod. “Promise.”
Rather than disturb him, you continue to stroke his hair and rub his back. Soon enough his breathing slows as he falls asleep again.
You intend to carry him to bed, but you figure one more minute won’t hurt.
Soon after, two figures slumber peacefully on the couch.