Sofia the First Ship Appreciation Week 2022
Summary: Aqua's Shipping Week 2022 Prompts
Disclaimer: I don't own StF. Any OCs you see in here belong to me except Nana and Tanya, who belong to MarionetteJ2X.
A/N: Wow, I haven't written for Gnarlie and Grotta in YEARS. No real specific time frame for this one, just because they tend to do their own thing apart from others. So, you can head canon this whenever you wish! 😊
Chapter 4: Gratitude (Gnartta)
Gnarlie sighed and rolled over on his side, careful not to awaken the fliegel sleeping soundly next to him. He smiled, reaching down and brushing some of her hair out of her face.
He and Grotta had been close for many years. They were best friends, of course, but some others even questioned if they were a couple. Strange pairing, right? A troll and a fliegel… Obviously, there would be adoption involved if they ever wanted kids, but…
He blushed a bit as he willed away those thoughts. Despite the rumors or inquiries, he and Grotta had never proclaimed any relationship other than friendship. Did he love her? Absolutely. He cared about her more than anyone else, and he had protected her when needed: during those cold months when she needed some warmth, from questionable characters who had tried to fliegel-nap her, and even when she had a nightmare or night terror (as was the case right now). She'd been sleeping next to him the last few nights for her own peace of mind. Her night terrors had gotten extreme, but she'd never tell him what they were about.
Gnarlie let his fingers trail from his friend's hair to her wings, the thin and nearly transparent texture so delicate under his touch. Hearing a small sigh from Grotta, he decided to tread a little more safely and instead settled his hand on her back, gently caressing it every now and then.
Grotta groaned a bit as she opened her eyes, blearily blinking those royal purple orbs and settling on her friend's face. She smiled tiredly but hummed pleasantly as she felt his hand brushing against her back and hair. "Thanks for letting me stay with you again tonight, Gnarlie," she mumbled, her head resting against his chest. "I know I can be a pest sometimes, but you always seem to make me feel better, even if I annoy you."
"You don't annoy me," he responded automatically, yawning, used to this mini conversation. She was always so worried he'd grow tired of her and have her kicked out of the cave, but he never did and never would. For some reason, she seemed to be believe that, sooner or later, they were destined to part. Constantly reassuring her worked to a degree, but eventually, he needed a more permanent way of proving his words. "Any nightmares or anything tonight?"
She shook her head, smiling. "Not when I'm with you…" The clear gratitude on her features spoke volumes. With Gnarlie, she'd always been better and felt better. He was her best friend. Everything was better when he was there with her. "So, I guess… Maybe that helped, and now I can try to sleep on my own the rest of the night, and from… From here on…"
Gnarlie noticed her hesitation and half shrugged, considering his current situation. "You could, or…" He smiled lazily as she blinked at him. "You could stay the rest of the night. You're welcome here as long as you want… And as much as you need to be…"
The fliegel snuggled closer to him, batting her lashes up at him. "You're almost too good to be true, Gnarlie. I just love you."
He didn't panic when he heard those words. This was a pretty common saying between them now; after all, they were very close friends, so this interaction was totally normal and expected. "I love you too, Grotta." He nuzzled her hair with his nose and chin, enjoying the fragrant scent it held. "Get some sleep."
Grotta didn't push or argue with him. Instead, she could tell that her eyes were getting heavier, along with the gravitational pull of her body back to the ground (and next to Gnarlie, she noticed). Right now, there was nowhere she'd rather be.
The end
Next Prompt: Picnic (Corbana)