hey oooo

Atalanta looked up from the book in the small living area she shared with Rin as she heard the bedroom door open. She threw a glance at Berserker who had been dozing outside Rin's door perk up. More often than not, Atalanta would find him in his smaller size settling down to sleep either on Rin's actually bed or if he got there after Rin was already tucked in; just flopping outside the child's door. Secretly she thought that Berserker liked the delight on Rin's face in the morning when she saw him. Not that she would ever say it aloud. Some things were better left unspoken. But there standing in over sized cat covered pajamas was Rin - who was rubbing her eyes.

Rin was normally a heavy sleeper. The kind where you could drag her out of bed and she would still be dozing peacefully. Needless to say, getting her up in the morning was more a chore in itself. Didn't matter who tried to wake her up. Rin slept like the dead. But as of late, she had been waking up more and more in the middle of the night. Often mumbling, sometimes confused and as of late either holding or rubbing the sides of her head. Suppressing a frown, Atalanta set aside her book and asked. "Trouble sleeping?"

"...I had a weird dream.." Rin said slowly as the young magus was still half asleep. A beat later she nodded solemnly in response to the question. Her eyes brightened slightly as the sight of Berserker who had padded over to her feet. Reaching down, she petted him softly. "….I'm not sure it was.." she trailed off uncertain how to phrase her words.

Raising an eyebrow Atalanta threw a look to Berserker who nodded in return.

"..Do you want to talk about it?" Atalanta said gently as she stood and walked over to the child. Rin looked up with wide eyes still clearly thinking about her dream. Too distraught and sluggish to fully form the right words to express her thoughts. Seeing Rin's bleak expression, Atalanta lifted her into her arms and walked back to the couch. Picking up the book again, Atalanta began reading aloud softly as Rin cuddled in her lap. The young child's grip firm on the young heroine as if afraid to let go.

At times, like this Atalanta couldn't help but wonder. Rin didn't have anyone back home. Not like this. No one to soothe her and keep the bad things at bay. Real and imagined. Even for a independent child like Rin, she needed someone. Perhaps that's why Rin liked to stay up late. Or when she let Atalanta baby her to no end. Even throwing herself into mage craft. Out of habit and perhaps the sheer fear of being faced with the fact that at the end of the day Rin was utterly alone. And that just pained Atalanta's heart.

Rin sighed softly as the warmth of Atlanta's melodic voice washed over her. A sense of being safe slowly lulling her back to slumber. Even as she fought to stay awake, her eyes were dropping against her will. Slowly, her breath slowed and evened out. At this, Atlanta purred softly into Rin's ear.

"...It's late. Come, little one. Let's get you back into bed."

If had been in any state to Rin pay attention, she would have noticed Berserker following them back to her bedroom. But more important she would have seen him trace runes in the air as she settled back into the bed. Rin rubbed her eyes sleepily as Berserker jumped onto the bed and nuzzled her neck before settling down next to her head. Ever so softly, he whispered into her ear.

".. Rest now. I'll guard your dreams tonight."

I hadn't planned on Berserker taking such a big role but so cute! I'm half inclined to do an offshoot fic "Adventures of Smol Rin and Puppy"

byeeee