tomás stirred at the soft weight of ren slipping into the bed beside him, her body trembling slightly as it pressed against his. even before he fully woke, he could feel her heartbeat, fast & unsettled against his chest. the night had clearly shaken her, the remnants of fear still clinging to her breath as she tried to find solace in his warmth. he didn’t need to open his eyes to know it was her; the familiar scent of her skin, the way she always tucked herself just beneath his arm, seeking comfort like a flower leaning toward the sun—it was all uniquely her.
his arm moved instinctively, wrapping around her without hesitation, pulling her closer to him. he shifted slightly, letting her fit snugly against his chest, his fingers tracing slow, lazy patterns down the length of her back. his body, still heavy with sleep, began to stir fully awake as he felt her breathing start to steady. but he didn’t rush her. he knew this rhythm too well—the unspoken language of her needing him in the aftermath of whatever nightmares had dragged her from sleep.
for a moment, he kept his eyes closed, simply letting her presence fill the space between them. he felt the coolness of her fingertips on his chest, right over his heart, her delicate touch grounding him just as much as his warmth was soothing her. the tension she carried with her, the shivering quiet of her fear, started to fade as he held her.
❛ of course, ❜ he whispered, his voice still rough with sleep but soft, tender, meant just for her. he turned his head slightly, brushing his lips gently against the top of her head, feeling her curls tickle his skin. his heart clenched at the thought of her wandering the house alone, scared & searching for him. he wished he could chase away those nightmares for good, but he knew she needed him in these moments, needed to find her way back to safety in her own time, in her own way.
his hand continued its slow, soothing path down her back, the rhythm as steady as his breathing. he could feel her start to relax more, the tightness in her muscles unwinding with each stroke of his fingers. she wasn’t trembling as much now, her breath no longer catching with fear. her presence filled the dark, quiet room, pushing away whatever shadows had followed her.
❛ stay as long as you need, my baby, ❜ he murmured, voice a little clearer now as he adjusted, pulling her even closer, tucking her head beneath his chin. he shifted slightly, letting her nestle more comfortably against him, his chest rising & falling in time with her breathing. his other hand came up, fingers threading gently through her hair, cradling the back of her head as if she were something precious, fragile.
he knew about her past—the wounds that still festered in her dreams, the fear that lingered in the corners of her mind. she didn’t talk about it much, but he didn’t need her to. he felt it in moments like this, the way she came to him in the dead of night, vulnerable in a way she never let herself be during the day. it was in the way she sought him out without a word, how she let herself fall apart only when she was close enough to know he’d catch her.
his breath was a soft whisper against her hair, the warmth of his body surrounding her like a shield. ❛ i’ve got you, ❜ he promised, his voice low & soothing, each word meant to wrap around her like a blanket. she was safe here, he’d make sure of that. no matter what had happened in her nightmares, no matter what memories tried to drag her down, they couldn’t reach her while she was in his arms.
as she settled against him, her breathing finally evening out, he shifted just enough to press a kiss against her temple, lingering there for a moment as if he could imprint the reassurance into her skin. he felt her relax further, her fingers still resting over his heart, & he covered her hand with his own, squeezing gently.
❛ you’re safe, ❜ he repeated, his voice a little firmer now, a quiet conviction lacing his words. ❛ i’m right here. i’m not going anywhere. ❜
for a long time, he just lay there, holding her, listening to the sound of her breathing as it grew softer, more peaceful. he didn’t sleep, not yet. he didn’t want to. he wanted to be awake for this, to keep watch over her for as long as she needed. his grip tightened slightly around her, a silent promise that no matter what haunted her dreams, she was safe now. he’d be here for her, always.
& as the night stretched on, his fingers still gently brushing through her hair, he pressed one more kiss to her head, whispering into the quiet, ❛ my sweet little birdie. ❜