gentlesavior.
to say he’s surprised by the embrace of the smaller girl is an understatement – he’s frozen, feeling her tight grasp around his neck, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, and breath hot against his neck where she’s hidden her face against him. he’d expected her to run away the moment her grasp had ripped from his own; he was afraid it’d have to be a forceful act to save her, one that’d leave her distrusting of him for the foreseeable future. it’d been a risk he’d been willing to take – one he’s more than happily surprised to not have to see come forward.
he’s quick, however, to wrap his own arms around her shaking form, keeping her close to him, one hand firm under her knees and the other gentle on her back. he groans under his breath softly as he stands with her in his arms, not used to carrying the weight of another human since april – he nods at the other two men in the room silently as he passes them, signaling he’ll report back to them once he’s sorted out the situation quite literally in his hands. he keeps his head down as he moves through the loud bustle of the sanctuary, hand subconsciously coming up to keep charlotte hidden against him. the last thing he needs is comments from any of the lesser character of men around them. he only lets one hand go from her back for a moment once they get to the mess hall; he’s quick to grab two oranges, stowed in his pocket, and a bowl of lukewarm rice. he offers the woman behind the kitchen’s meals that day a quick smile, hoping that it’s enough of a thank you that she won’t ask any questions.
he doesn’t stop until he gets to the higher floor of the sanctuary, finding a quiet corner in a less populated hallway to sit down in. as much as he wants to take her back to his sleeping quarters, where he knows he’ll get at least a few moments of silence, they are communal – he can’t afford to be so protective when he’s still trying to gain charlotte’s trust. his attention has to be focused on her – and her alone. he sets down the food gently next to him before sitting slowly, charlotte curled up on his lap. “alright, miss charlotte. i really appreciate the hug but you’ll have to let go if you want to see the surprise i got you.” his voice is gentle, hand slow as it moves up and down her back. he hasn’t had to do this in months – he’s out of practice. he can only hope it doesn’t show.
“i’ll be right here the whole time. promise.”
with her arms hooked around the back of his neck and face buried in alden’s shoulder, charlotte shut out the rest of the world. it was a surprisingly easy thing to do when terror and panic gave way to an overwhelmingly crushing need to be held. to be cared for. to be safe. with strong arms lifting her up and holding her close, like a wall of limbs sheltering her from anything that might try and snatch her away, charlotte allowed herself to relax.
she didn’t look up when they left the room full of strangers. she didn’t peek when she smelled cooking food or heard the low clamor of voices. she didn’t flinch when she felt alden shift his grip, but if she tightened her hold a smidge then alden was her only witness. footfalls on heavy stone changed to rattling clangs as metal creaked below, then returned to the same heavy stone. charlotte hadn’t liked the feeling of the stone, polished smooth like the surface of a frozen lake. it had been cold too, like shadows the sun never quite managed to burn away. charlotte was thankful she was up in alden’s arms instead of still huddled on the cold floor.
but soon alden slowed and came to a stop, settling down somewhere that was quieter than before. thankfully, he maneuvered himself in such a way that kept charlotte still tucked against him and away from the stone she had just moments ago decided she was never sitting on again. with alden’s gentle prompting, charlotte slowly unwound one arm, then two, scrubbing at an eye with a dirt caked hand. “ good or bad? ” surprises, in charlotte’s experience, were more often than not... bad. blue eyes darted around the room faster than minnows in a creak in search of what must be the surprise, good or bad, when her gaze settled on something orange. In fact, two somethings. slowly, charlotte leaned forward. she didn’t reach for them, didn’t ask for them, but it was clear in every aching fiber of charlotte’s being that she wanted one of those oranges.
