The moments like this with Akito were rare and far between; the moments when she would recline against him and rest her head back against his shoulder, allow herself to close her eyes and enjoy the company and attention of her protective zodiac dragon. Nestled together on the tatami floor, Hatori leaned back against the wall, his breathing just now beginning to steady and slow.
There had been a fight, of course, there was usually an argument during her check-ups. This one had ended rather nastily; she tugged at his hair and screamed, he struggled to pin her down to the floor just to stop the abuse. Somehow, he had managed to hug her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and tugging her down onto the floor with him. Holding her flat back against his chest, her struggling became more and more sparse, before she finally just went limp, and he leaned back against the wall, tired and sore.
His knees were bent on either side of the tiny God, her little fingers now lazily picking lint off his slacks as they moved to rest together, his much larger body spooned around her and letting her rise and fall gently with his own chest as he breathed. There was a heavy, stagnant silence settled between them, nothing but their mixed breaths in the air. These were the moments he craved, the ones he lived for- the calm after the storm. When all her fight had been exerted and she was finally worn out enough to be compliant. Like a tired, sleepy little child, she just needed to get that energy out before she could settle.
Nuzzling his nose into her hair, the dragon sighed happily and closed his eyes. "It's alright, Akito," Hatori whispered, attempting to comfort the one he loved most.
"I'm here. It's alright. I'm right here…"
The physician pressed his lips gently to the shell of her ear, placing a silent, inaudible kiss to the sensitive skin; her ears were still flushed from her earlier outburst. He sighed once more, nuzzling again into those inky, messy locks of hers. "We love you. I love you. You are safe as long as you are right here."