The mousy brown haired girl, almost swallowed by the pillows and blankets of her bed, observes with red, puffy eyes the man standing next to her mother. Her mother clears her throat and sits on the edge of her bed. "Thea, this is Alfred Jones. He will be your caretaker for the time being." The girl says nothing. "Thea" She leans back further into her pillows as her mother attempts to pull her into a hug.
"How long?" She mutters as she eyes the man who's observing her room with interest. "How long is 'for the time being' mother?" Thea asks, venom in her voice. The woman sighs and gets up from the bed.
"I don't know Thea." She moves to exit the room and pauses at the door giving her daughter a sorrowful look. "Treat Alfred respectfully Thea." The woman leaves as Thea turns placing her back towards the door.
The young man is quiet as Thea quietly cries underneath her covers. He feels a pang of grief in his heart as a picture of her and her brother turns into one of him and Artie. Alfred hesitantly sits on the bed and starts to fiddle with the glasses he pulled off. "I'm s-"
"Don't." He raises his head to meet Thea's glaring eyes as she sits up. "Don't you dare say 'I'm sorry for your loss' because you have no idea how I'm feeling." She hisses viciously. "I just lost my brother and my dad and I am sick of people coming up to me and telling me how sorry they are, so just- just don't." Her glare falters as she devolves into tears and bows her head. "Don't pretend like you actually care and know how I feel."
"But I do know how you feel." She whips her head up to yell at the man, but freezes as he pulls her into a hug. "I was only a little older than you when I lost my brother and father figure as well." She feels him shaking with restrained sobs. "I know exactly how you're feeling Thea, so please- please just let me take care of you." He squeezes her a little tighter to himself.
'Almost too tight.' Thea thinks absentmindedly as she wraps her own small arms around him. She doesn't know why, but there's a pull to this young man, like he'll protect her from any harm that'll come her way. They remain in this embrace for a little longer before he pulls back, eyes a little shiny.
"Thea, let me be your hero. No one was there for me, so please, let me be there for you." Thea silently nods and gives a wobbly smile at the large grin he gives as he pulls the tissue box off of her nightstand. "After that little crying fest I think we deserve a treat." He leans into her face in a mock whisper. "Thea have you ever been to Big Belly Burger?"
Hetalia