Author's note: I do not own Trinity Blood or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list alpha. Theme 30: Click.
Guardian of Sleep
Caterina's bare feet made little sound against the floor. She didn't bother to click on the light as she slipped into the room and shut the door behind her. Abel simply waited until she climbed under the covers and curled up next to him. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her up against his chest. It wasn't uncommon for Caterina to seek him out like this.
"Caterina?" he asked softly.
She sniffled. "Can I stay with you tonight?"
She always asked even though the answer was always yes. He kissed the top of her golden head.
"Of course."
Quite honestly, it was a comfort for them both. Her presence chased his nightmares just as his presence chased away hers. It was not easy for her. Caterina was extremely young to be in her current position. At sixteen she was already a political power with far more responsibility than most teenagers. And it wasn't like her family was giving her any support. There were times when Abel wished that he had never brought her to her uncle. Alfonso d'Este had not done a good job of taking care of any of the children under his care in Abel's mind. And there was no sibling affection for Caterina from Francesco. Alessandro clearly loved his sister, but the young boy really wasn't up to supporting himself let alone his sister. Abel was pretty much her only ally right now.
Caterina shifted in his arms, pressing her face against his shoulder. Abel just smiled. She trusted him to guard her sleep. He had not expected the girl he'd rescued that night to become his best friend. Abel was often surprised by just how well Caterina knew him. She could not replace Lilith or Seth, or even Cain, but Caterina had found her own place in his heart, and it was really Caterina that had brought him out of his mind numbing grief and back to the world. She gave him hope, and she safeguarded it for him. With a soft sigh, Abel closed his eyes. Eventually, sleep came to them both.