Staying – Koda

Stormbound Lullaby

The storm his around midnight. Thunder rolled like an avalanche in the distance and rain struck the ground like bullets. Lightning occasionally illuminated the room with its millisecond glow. Aiden's eyes dart to the window upon every flash, unable to keep his attention from being captured.

It was times like these when the man seemed the most awake. Perhaps it was the raging weather. Yet, he could never sleep well in even the most peaceful of settings. Some unbridled restlessness seized his senses upon nightfall. You can't sleep it would say there could be danger.

There wasn't any danger though. Even if there was, he was a light sleeper, if one at all. Now he occupied his mind with the apps on his smartphone, half dozing and half attentive from what he sees.

He was at around level 98 of some mindless candy crushing fame when he heard small, pattering footsteps. They didn't beat as fast as the rain, but instead took small, cautious movements toward him. The man made those assumptions before he directed his attention to the owner.

Lena's approach is halted as soon as she locked eyes with him. She hugged a small lamb doll, blonde hair sticking out in places. Her eyes shot to the ground, lip quivering, wanting to speak but too embarrassed to do so.

Aiden attempted to keep his voice down in the silent house, "Hey, what are you doing up? It's pretty late."

"I…" She began, hugging her toy tighter before continuing, "I'm scared. The storm woke me up."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. It's just rain, it won't hurt you." He replies quietly, bluntly. He wasn't the best at comforting a frightened heart.

She was about to respond when thunder crashed from the heavens. A small squeak escaped as she closes the distance between them and jumped on the couch, giving next to no regard for the little space not occupied by the man.

He grunted at the girl's impact, dropping his phone. Lena settled into a ball beside him, eyes trained at the window. Aiden's waited to recollect himself before shifting gently. He sat up, pulling his niece close, "It's alright. It's just thunder."

"But…but its scary…" the small girl whispered, pulling the blanket he had been using close to her face, "Is…is it mad?"

"Is what mad?"

"The sky! Is the sky mad at us?"

"The sky can't get mad—"

"Yes it can!"

"I don't think it can."

"That's not what Marcus said!"

"Who?"

The girl wiggled so she was looking at him now, green eyes completely serious, "This boy from the middle school! He said that when the sky gets mad, it makes it storm! He said I made it mad so it was going to storm and it did!"

"Oh yeah?" Aiden wondered what kid would lie like that, "Are you going to believe him or me when I say that the sky isn't mad at you?"

She looked at him for a moment, her face brightening instantly when she smiles, "I believe you!"

"Good. Because I'm always right." Aiden responded with a bit of a smirk.

"Lena giggled as he reached down, picking up his phone from the floor. She looked at the LED screen with a curious gaze, tapping it experimentally, "Whatcha going uncle Aiden?"

"Eh, just playing a game." He didn't want to tell her he had been playing the god-forsaken thing for two hours. It wasn't as much that it was fun as it was that he wanted to beat Damien's score. Either his mentor had too much time on his hands or he was really good. One or the other, it was frustratingly difficult to defeat him.

Lena watched him play for several minutes, quiet. Thunder rumbled and she jumped, a small cry escaping her. Aiden glanced down at her, "You're still afraid."

"Y-yeah…" Her voice shook from freight and fatigue.

"Just…close your eyes," He said, "You'll be alright."

She did as she was told, closing her eyes and snuggling up against him. He wrapped an arm around her, feeling her little heart beat fast against him. He looked out at the rain, rivulets streaming down the windowpanes.

"Mom sings to me when I'm scared." Lena's voice was tired as she spoke, "Can you sing?"

Aiden knew he could, but didn't like doing it. Nicole was far more interested in that type of thing. However, he felt the girl shake in his arm. She was afraid; she needed comfort.

With a sigh, he pulled her close, singing softly the only song he knew, "As winter takes me now, of cold and clammy skin, a barren empty womb, as I am born again."

She visually relaxed, pulling the blanket close.

"It's pulling at my hair, crawling all within," He continued, "A gentle, beating heart washed away by sin."

When he paused, he heard and felt a gentle, beating heart. Lena slept calmly in his arms, even when a crack of thunder sounded.

He moved slowly, picking her up carefully. Despite not knowing if she could hear him, he continued, "The monster in your head, won't surface again. Be still, my child, wash away the sin."

He carried Lena to get room, returning her to her bed. He pulled the covers over her as he finished, "And I, as future kings, walk off the edge. Hold me by my name, hold me till the end."

There was a silence other than the pattering rain. The man steps away quietly, nearly out the door before a small voice breaks the monotony of the rain, "Uncle Aiden?"

Aiden turned to her halfway, "Yes?"

She paused before speaking again, "I'm not afraid anymore."

He smiles a little, "You're very brave."

"I want to be like you."

Something hurt Aiden inside, but he couldn't place the feeling. He bit his lip, skipping a response to her comment, "Goodnight, Lena."

"Night…"

The uncle closed his niece's door softly as he left. Paranoia crawled within him, but he pushed it away. It was that fire again, that need to protect. Calmly, he returns to the couch, thunder rolling as he attempted to relax his restless soul.

I usually hate song-fictions. It's pretty lazy to simply portray a character's complex thoughts feelings through a song that happens to match it. For this I'll make an exception, though. Portray the song with Aiden as you will, I have my over-complicated interpretation. Hope you enjoyed it, there is more to come.