The halls were dark and the atmosphere cold…The sound of bare-footsteps bounced off the thin, hall walls and echoed through the emptiness. Mitsuki glanced around to find the door to a room where his parent would be in, then came to a stop when he found slowly opened the bedroom door and entered a large room in search for his parent. He looked around the area, hoping to find them, then spotted a round bed at the top of a wide staircase.
He tip-toed up the stairs and crawled onto the bed with as much strength as possible. Mitsuki crossed his legs and sat down to gaze at his parent and run his fingers through his long, thin, raven hair that reached down to his waist. The person was laid on their stomach with their face in their pillow, sleeping peacefully. Mitsuki began to lie down beside Orochimaru, and snuggled close to them underneath the blanket. Curling his toes with a shiver and pulling his knees to his chest, Mitsuki tried falling asleep in the cold, but the futon just wasn't enough to keep him warm. A pair of bright yellow eyes opened in the darkness, looking around the room.
"Mitsuki…"
The older one whispered, checking to see if their child was awake. The tired boy instantly sat up with alert and dipped his head.
"I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru! I won't do it again! I didn't think you'd notice; please don't be mad-!"
"What a silly child you are...Why would I be mad?"
Mitsuki was surprised to know that his parent wasn't upset at him sneaking into their bed past midnight.
"I…I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru…I didn't—"
"You don't have to keep calling me that, Mitsuki. Address me as your parent, it's as simple as that…"
They placed one hand on Mitsuki's right cheek, stroking the side of his face with their thumb gently with a smile. Mitsuki set his hand on top of Orochimaru's, blushing at the pleasing warmth of his parent's soft palm that caressed his face.
"Now, then…"
Orochimaru settled themselves comfortably in their king-sized-bed with a quiet yawn.
"I think it's time to go back to sleep…A child your age needs good rest."
They covered Mitsuki's body with the thick blanket and rested his head on the pillows behind him.
"Sleep well, Mitsuki. My child."