Alpha: Part 1 of 2 drabbles back then that motivated me to do the Averian Rose Story.

Disclaimer: same as the first ya'll.

Many Worlds One Shot Collection

The Sin of Comfort (Theme is a little Mature)

He was short and lithe for his stature. But she supposed it is to be expected from a child— no, not a child but a growing young man of fourteen. Though Lightning bemused herself with the thought that her newest addition to her working staff could do well with putting on a few pounds. If he was to be any use like he adamantly claims he is to work in the fields, he was going to need some toughening up.

As it stands, Lightning was less than thrilled that the lad couldn't even hold a simple cutting axe correctly without coming close to hurting himself or others around him. She did not have the patience to be coddling and pacifying the help.

The Lady of the house had been close to kicking the child out on his behind to fend for himself in the harsh uncaring streets of Bodhum since he was proving to be incompetent for doing the tasks she gave him. The boy was just very lucky to still have a place to rest his head and warm food to eat by the constant insistence of her younger sister Serah.

It was a quiet kept fact that Lightning bended over backwards for her sibling. Not wanting to seem overly heartless in Serah's eyes…she was not a truly cold and ruthless person.

She just did not have the patience to deal with inept individuals and Hope was a weak link she didn't want or need to deal with. But his tenacity and stubborn will to not give up no matter how much he failed; sparked her interests and so she continues to keep him around her manor.

But when she learned from her sister of the boy's plight, she had a change of heart. She now knew why he was not cut out for harsh labor. It still didn't make her any less angry when she demanded for him to explain why he lied to her.

"I didn't want to be used as your service doll!"

Dolls…It was a pet name to put it lightly for those, mainly young adolescents unlucky to find themselves sold to those for the sole duty of being their personal servant…and that was putting it lightly. But it was not hard to guess that this boy had the misfortune of learning the ways of sexual intimacy with his prior owner or owners well before maturity.

"You did all of this, just so you wouldn't be subjugated to being my plaything?"

He never once backed down, looking her in the eye with such determination, "Yes Ma'am."

"What do you take me for?" She yelled, slamming a fist onto the dark cherry wood mantel piece of her living room, "I should have you kicked out of my house on your ass for such accusations!"

He nearly flinched at her behavior but did not stop himself from staring at her or cowering away. He watched the older woman begin to pace about in her living room quarters.

"I am not that kind of woman and neither is Serah!"

For how long he's been allowed to stay with Miss Farron and her sister, that had proven to be a truthful fact. They were the first women of a higher social standing then he that had no taste for using him to please their feminine prowess. If anything, Lightning barely gave him the time of day and the kind Mrs. Villiers was happily in love and married to a man that her sister did not approve of in the least.

"Just because I'm still unmarried," she had spat that last word with disdain, deep loathing, and spite. She also had a deep frown on her face, "Doesn't mean I'm desperate!"

She said all of that vehemently at the thought of using a child in such a way…she sees him as one. A gentle pup that, instead of being frightened and backing away from her like everyone else except Serah, followed her wherever she went. Without even giving it much thought, he had wormed his way to be attached at her hip and now it was at the point that if he was not around her it felt odd.

Yes, Lightning swore her word to Hope that he had nothing to fear. She would never beckon for his attentions in such a way. She didn't have to but she always made sure to reassure him of her disdain for those types of actions.

So why was just allowing him the tiny comfort of holding him close to her bosom made it feel like some taboo was being broken? There was nothing wrong about comforting the boy. It was he who had initiated the entire ordeal! Not she!

After knowing of his predicament, Lightning had decided to task him with light house duties or making the boy run errands for her and Serah. He took to his chores vigorously and was useful for something after all.

Again over time, he just sort of stuck to her and she allowed it without argument.

On this night of all nights, she allowed permission for the silver haired youth to enter her bed chambers and read to her at his request. Reading a few chapters a night only to pick back up where he stopped the night before. This time when he finished, he didn't make a move to leave her with her thoughts.

He looked melancholy, he had been for days. Something within her kept her from snapping at him to go away, so she crossed her arms sitting on her bed, waiting for him to begin talking.

And talk he did. He spoke mostly and very fondly of his late mother, spoke little of his father, and of a young woman by the name Vanille with whom he got separated from during an incident that happens a few months prior to meeting her.

Without warning he hugged her, it caught her off guard but Lightning didn't move to push him away or reciprocate the action. She was the one who gave him this impression that it was okay to hug her as he pleased since it was she who hugged him once in a small display of affection.

She inwardly sighed, breathing deeply and wrapping her arms around his back. She saw his face. Young and enviously adorable take on a look of sleepiness. She was beginning to see how his looks were the cause of his plight with other debutantes. He was amazingly cute and sweet and not to mention very eager to please.

She ended the hug, shifting blankets around to settle herself for sleep and without thinking much about it offered to share her bed.

"Get in."

Hope looked at her startled for a second. Now alert than tired, staring at Lightning with apprehension. She had moved over, giving plenty of space for him to sleep next to her without the need to touch.

She sighed, furrowing her eyebrows with that look of annoyance, "Either get in or get out, I don't have time for this."

Seeing that the woman was really staying true to her word, he slipped underneath the warmth of the blankets, next to her. Finally settled in, he looked over to her, she didn't make a move to touch him at all, instead turning away to face the windows on her left, her back facing him.

"Um…my lady?" he was beginning to feel a little awkward and just a wee bit put off. He couldn't explain it, but he wanted her to touch him again…nothing bordering on sexual of course, just holding him.

"Go to sleep, that's an order," she muttered from her side of the king sized bed, still unmoving from her spot.

"But I can't sleep," he whispered, green eyes looking to the top of the canopy part of the bed, "My lady…could I hug you again?"

He heard a very un-lady like snort come from the female next to him in bed, "Oh now you're asking for my permission?" She was amused with this boy, now turning around to face him.

He had the good grace to blush brightly from embarrassment and realizing his impulsive mistake to touch his mistress without her consent. "S–sorry about that my lady—"

She ceased his ramblings with a small flick to his forehead, "Lightning."

He stared at her questioningly, she rolled her eyes and shook her head, "I won't allow you to just always do what you like and definitely not with you calling me my lady."

She wrapped her arms around him, bringing him closer to her warmth as she closed her eyes with a sigh of exasperation, "Just call me Lightning," she whispered.

She felt rather than saw him nod his head, "Okay…miss Lightning." They'll have to work on that another time, silly boy was falling fast asleep.

Lucky him, she however could not. A small part of her was rather enjoying the feel of his nimble and small frame against her own. It felt…very nice. The boy didn't make things better by having the need to cuddle into her more, his head full of silver locks was nestled in her breasts.

If only she knew that was going to become his very special spot to rest his head for many days to come. She should have just told him to go away. If she had done that, she wouldn't be feeling some form of guilt, liking the way they felt close to each other just by holding each other….the boy had somehow managed to wrap her around his little fingers and she didn't mind it at all.

Lightning decided she would deal with this ordeal at another time. She could lay down ground rules for this night being the first and last night she would indulge this boy. He would listen to her, he had to, she was his mistress. She knew she could, but she wouldn't. As long as it was he who had the courage to ask her of small things like this she would give in.

It was fine to indulge him as long as he initiated these situations between them and not her. She already felt like she was crossing the line and breaking her promise to him, but cuddling was fine and it was all Lightning will allow.

At least, that's what she keeps telling herself.

Alpha: so…a part of me hopes this can tie ya'll over for just a bit while I fervishly work on the next five chapters to Averian Rose…yes? No?