Stand By Me [Active]

[nun_with_guns]

Characters: Rosette and Chrno
Content: After a week of separation and straight hell, a weakened Rosette and a worried Chrno finally get a chance to catch up and talk.
Setting: Actua Are [N9]
Time: Midafternoon
Warnings: None so far.

Most of what had happened for the past day was a blur to Rosette. She remembered Chrno carrying her to the hotel,

Comments

[fallenfromeden]

Chrno's sleeping had been unproductive, mainly for worry of Rosette's safety. If he dozed, his body would snap awake, alerted by some sound which his ears took as a threat, even if it was just a creaked floorboard or a tree branch scraping against the window.

He was more concerned in keeping Rosette protected, having lost her twice already.

Having given up sleeping, Chrno instead watched over Rosette as she slept, sitting on the bed but not too close so he would not disturb her, watching and listening to make sure nothing happened. And if it did? He would be prepared for it.

When he heard his voice, he turned head to look down at her, smiling widely. "Rosette." Her name was spoken with relief, almost mixed in with a soft sigh.

"How are you feeling?"

[nun_with_guns]

He was here. The knowledge dropped a load of worry from Rosette's mind. Chrno was here, and everything would be okay. "Better than I was yesterday," she managed with a slight smile, a bare shadow of her normal robust grin. "I think I'll be fine." She hoped she'd be fine. That lingering doubt and worry wasn't something Chrno needed to know about, though - he was worried enough about her as it was. She could see it.

"What about you?" she asked softly, reaching her hand out towards him. "Are you doing alright?"

[fallenfromeden]

The smile was enough to let a small one form on Chrno's face, which was a great change from the worry that had been creasing it endlessly since her disappearance. "That's good." And he meant it, too. Having Rosette back, even a tired weary one, was better than no Rosette at all.

He reached out to her hand, and gently took it in his own, glancing down briefly before looking back at her. "I'm fine, too." Now, but that was left unsaid.

"Do you need anything?"

[nun_with_guns]

"I..." Suddenly her hand was clamped tightly around his. "I need you to stay with me." The words were out almost before she knew it. She didn't want this constant fear, didn't want it to get the better of her, but there it was and she couldn't control it. "I just...Chrno..." Her voice shook slightly, and she forced herself to breathe, to calm down. She didn't need to panic. Chrno was here. He would take care of her, she knew it.

"I'm scared they'll come back," she finally managed, the quiet admission taking more out of her than anything else today had. She didn't want to be this scared - she hated it, hated it more than anything else. She just didn't know what else to do.

[fallenfromeden]

Chrno blinked, but managed to give her a gentle squeeze despite the tight grip on his hand. With his other, he reached up and gently moved aside her hair, allowing his gloved finger tips to brush lightly against her cheek before removing from her face.

"I won't leave you, Rosette." It was a promise that he'd repeat forever, and one that he had for several years. It wasn't much, but at least if he could stay by her side.. "I'll do everything I can to keep you safe, but you need to rest, Rosette.. I'll watch over you."

[nun_with_guns]

Rosette simply clung to Chrno's hand as though she'd lose herself again if she let go, still caught in the throes of the fear that had overtaken her. "Chrno, I- I don't-" She shivered and mentally cursed. Why couldn't she get ahold of herself?

"I just..." she finally managed after several long minutes of half-successful attempts to calm herself down. "I...Chrno...what will we do if they show up again?" She met his eyes - just because her fear was a bit more controlled and put into words didn't mean it was gone. They'd taken her right in front of him, and she sure hadn't forgotten it.

[fallenfromeden]

It pained Chrno so much to know that Rosette was so frightened, and he couldn't do anything to keep her safe. Not even what he did when they were in their world, dealing with exorcising missions and destroying expensive property of the Order, but this place was so much different and so much more... frightening. Beyond his control.

Not that he missed having his horns, but they would be so much more useful in protecting her.

He straightened up a bit and gently reached over to grasp her arms and pull her close against him, holding her tightly in both a comforting and an embrace of protection.

"Try not to think about that, Rosette." He said quietly, a bit saddened by the fact that he could not be more reassuring. "If they come back, I will do all I can to protect you, but for now... you need rest."

[nun_with_guns]

Rosette paused for a fraction of a second, quietly surprised at Chrno's actions, before she found herself in his arms and simply lost it. She wrapped her arms around him and clung tightly, burying her face in his shoulder and trying unsuccessfully to fight back tears. Damn it, she didn't want to be scared like this! She hated it! Why couldn't she shake this fear?

Because she really was scared it would happen again. That wasn't going to change anytime soon, and she knew it.

So she clung to Chrno and cried, trying to calm herself down.