Queen's note: Post rage and drama cuddles. Fear the fluff.

Garnets

Chapter Thirty One:

Sleep Safely

The nightmare was coming back, this time when she was in that in-between state of true sleep and waking up. Lily jerked awake against the feeling of massive, slender, and black clawed fingers reaching for her. For a good long few moments she was confused, definitely was stuck under something large and heavy. For just a second scared that the large hand did get a hold of her.

Two things grabbed her attention though. Lily realized that she did not have the CPAP on… and it was surprisingly warm.

Even with blankets Lily got used to the Fortress being on the cooler side, so it was odd to wake up next to something radiating heat. Those differences helped to ground her back into reality.

It was completely dark, so it took a second for Lily to realize she was wedged not beside a pillow and the wall again. Her back was too warm for that. Close to a wall as she could reach out with her right arm and touch it. She still had on the loose clothes she used when working in the greenhouse. Fingers felt over what was looped around her like a metal band.

All at once, Lily realized she was firmly yet not uncomfortably wedged between her giant guardian and his left arm. She became aware of the steady breathing at her back, slow and deep. Hinting that if he was not asleep then the Demigod was definitely in a state of rest or calm.

Memories were fitting back into place. The young woman remembered sitting on the bank of one of the garden streams, not unlike that first time. Finishing her dinner and waiting until the Slayer came to sit beside her with his back to the water.

She remembered lazily kicking her feet in the water before daring to lean on John's left arm. Just sitting quietly with him as the garden's lights started to turn on. Despite having a good nap after coming back from earth, Lily was only now really getting tired. She had looked up to stare at the bicep that was likely larger than her head. She reached up to touch the orange line that was a new scar where that open cut had been last time.

John hummed as the light touch finally got his attention. Tilting his head to look over his shoulder.

Taking that as good a sign as any, Lily nudged the big arm until he lifted it and let her duck under. The young woman shifted until she could fold her arms on the gray covered thigh and rest her head on her arms. John had held his arm over her, surprised and confused until Lily signed and reached up to pull his hand down to rest on her head.

It had only taken twice guiding his hand before John had started to move on his own. The calloused hand smoothing over Lily's head and down to her back in a slow, hesitant movement at first before it started to become steady. Lily remembered reaching up to grasp his other hand as it moved closer.

The demigod stilled, staring down at the smaller hand grasping his thumb as he turned his right hand palm up with her forearm partly on the palm. As if really seeing the size difference between them for the first time. His left hand had stayed over her neck and shoulder, before the right slowly closed around her hand.

John carefully, so carefully started to pet her hair again, staring intently as Lily's face stayed calm with closed eyes.

Just when it seemed like she had fallen asleep, Lily's voice spoke up. She remembered saying, "Thank you."

The big guy had paused again, humming a confused note. "Hm?"

"Thank you, for saving them." Lily had said as she dosed despite the solid muscle she was leaning on. He had made an interesting sound, staring at her before John pulled Lily into his lap. He curled over her as a living wall against the world again, lifted the human for a bit to press his head against her own.

She had fallen asleep against his lower chest and right arm. Remembering holding his left hand in both of hers as John gave that low, deep note of his neutral sound.

Now here she was, stuck again but not minding as after a long while from waking up, Lily found herself dosing. Her own arms now wrapped around the bigger one.

John smelled of heat, some sort of spicy-spice and faintly the disinfect chemicals… and… not the human scent on his skin, but oddly like…

Petrichor?

So nearly like that. Earthy and if possible an echo of heat like power with the slight acidity of hot wet rocks or pavement. Like the sun heated docks of the platform before an evening shower.

And the Demigod was warm.

An oddly comforting heat now that seemed to not just radiate off him but also squishing Lily just a little bit with each breath he took. Yet she made no move to try and wiggle free. Lily was happy and warm, plus she did not know why in her half asleep state, but it was oddly easier to breathe, or seemed to be despite the squish.

She was able to faintly see shapes now in the room. Realizing that they were not in her room but the craft area she had made. John likely had pulled one of the beds over to the back empty wall so he could actually fit.

It was an odd but meaningful gesture, that he was respecting 'her' space still.

John grumbled something in his not quite sleeping state. Shifting his arm but not removing it, the man's arm just lay limp on Lily to trap her. Lily just pulled her legs up a bit, able to press her toes and the balls of her feet on the wall to help regulate her temperature. As there was no need for blankets right then.

Lily shifted as she tried to get a little more comfortable given the solid muscles. Finally going back to sleep as it felt like the heat was seeping into her back and curling around her chest. Lily was not sure about it, but it seemed like the Slayer was chuckling as she finally relaxed again.

He was, it was soft, low and had affection. Revealed that it was a calm sleep Lily was back into as he shifted his arm.

The Demigod reached over with his free hand. Ever so gently, running a callused hand over the soft, short hair. Feeling that now familiar warmth of faith spread in his gut. It was what really woke him up, both out of the trance before and just now. Carefully the Demigod rolled over, so as not to wake his human, or roll on her. John let out a low rumbling sound, happy to let his bulk keep the nightmares away.

The Slayer settled on his side, Lily tucked firmly against him. One arm supporting the human, the other draped over it to add another layer of living shield. He was and was not tired anymore, the not quite human may not doze off again into that healing sleep, but he was happy to stay put.

In the dark room glowing blue eyes stared at the sleeping human for a while. He used his free hand to carefully run his thumb over the back of her hand. Able to feel where the delicate bones were inside. Even if there was light his face was unreadable. Maybe at most John seemed to be fascinated at what he was seeing.

John was not quite sure what to think of the other humans now, after the fact. He at least had seen his mark on the armor of the Argenta men and women, a few had it tattooed on an arm as well. If he remembered correctly, it was a bigger group he sent to look for resources. He appreciated that Lily had done what she could to make them comfortable with the medical drones.

The demigod closed his eyes, his right hand resting over the smaller one.

A selfish part of him almost wished they had not found the survivors for a bit. Not sure if he could be 'John' to more than two people. For a few minutes the Demigod wanted things to stay like this. Being able to be close to his human and remember slowly what it was like being human.

But.

He did miss the companionship of the Night Sentinels. Other than at first, once the Slayer was out of the pits, some had made an effort to get him out of the rage state he had let himself be stuck in when trapped in hell.

Lily made a small sound in her sleep, drawing John's attention away from broken memories and into the present. He hesitated before curling to press his head against Lily and started to humm. The sound was not so broken anymore, and seemed to help her settle.

It took some time but John did have to roll backwards to lay on his back. It was just more comfortable like that, letting his back stretch out into normal ranges after healing.

He closed his eyes for now and relaxed into the feeling of being trusted. Of a now familiar soul next to him, with just enough of his energy threaded in to make it easier for Lily to breathe in her sleep.

It was so strange that the hours did not seem to pass by. Yet eventually the peaceful moment had to change, though later Lily would be grateful for the half day's sleep. She squeaked in a yawn as the first sign of being awake, and then stretching.

Lily blinked, trying to look around before pushing at the big arm. The demigod grunted behind her, and shifted just enough that Lily could just barely sit up right with her legs crossed underneath the arm she pushed at again, "Big guy… I need to get up."

John snorted as he opened his eyes to glance at where Lily was sitting. Though not tired per say anymore, he was definitely lazy and it showed. He did chuckle when Lily pulled her legs up and scooted down, it was a funny thing to do.

Until she used her position to leverage against his side, using her stronger legs to push against the wall. John grunted as he slid on the thin mattress thanks to the blanket-like sheet just being loose. He lifted his head and his arm a fraction and it let Lily sit up fully. Realizing that she could not see nearly as well as he could in the dark room he reached to grasp her side. Pulling the girl over top him to the other side, and then tapped her arm to get attention, pointing her arm at the door.

Carefully scooting over that way as Lily got over to the door and opened it. Looking about as pleased with the sudden light as John felt. He snorted again and rolled over onto his front on the mattress, as if debating on laying there for another long time. Eyes half closed as the door remained open. Listening to the soundtrack and actual sounds in the garden area.

After a little while, Lily poked her head in. "John, big guy get up."

There was a low, deep snort.

Lily rolled her eyes, padding back in and ever so gracefully flopped to sit on the Demigod's back. She poked the back of his head as the first action got no response. "Joooooohn… uppies."

John grumbled as he tilted his head, one eerie blue, glowing eye looking back over his shoulder. "Mmmph."

Lily shamelessly flopped over his back, her arms loosely crossed behind his neck. "If you get up we can have a treat before everyone wakes up from stasis."

"...hmm?" There was a shift of muscles under Lily, the Demigod's attention caught, but not convinced from his lazy state as his eye was closing again.

"Do you remember omelets?" Lily asked, and felt the big guy shift as he woke up at that.

Oddly, he did remember omelets. John had kept trying and failing to make them when with the Night Sentinels. He opened his eyes and looked back properly over his shoulder at Lily. "Mm?"

"The place you found the boy and the chickens? They had a lot of eggs. And we found out the store in the building next door was a shop they originally got dry and frozen food from." Lily smiled as she tilted a bit to her left with him to look back at the awake eye. "So… want to have an omelette?"

Eggs came from chickens? That was why Vega said they were valuable?

The demigod gave a deep snort, and then pushed himself up. Smirking as Lily yipped, and then laughed as she was lifted too. Not minding as arms wrapped around his neck from behind, and then the human braced on his back. Once upright he rolled his shoulders but it only had Lily holding on tighter. Brat.

"Plplpl," Lily responded as she looked down at then ground, and then her eyes widening as she saw the doorframe getting far too close. Almost dropping off before John ducked far lower then he normally needed to so not to clothesline his human off. "Oy!"

Brat. John signed again as he looked around the garden, pausing as he noticed a whole section had small thread thin sprouts.

"Giant ass jerk." Lily chirped back, even as she flung an arm out to point at something.

Small Problem child. John looked over, taking the two step detour to grab Lily's mask this time. Made sure she had balance as he walked towards the kitchen area a floor up.

"Well, yes," Lily took that one with no shame. She felt more rested than ever as she took the mask to put over her neck. Not sure if it was just getting solid sleep. Or the fact that she was not alone anymore with just Valen and John. The new birds set up on the other section of the garden.

Or maybe just all of the above.

She felt good today, and John seemed back to his semi normal. "Where's… dad?"

Sleeping. John huffed as he motioned in the general direction of his work area. He considered something and added. Over fed him demons.

"Is that…actually a thing for living swords?"

Oops, he maybe should not have mentioned that. John automatically spelled out 'crucible' to buy him a moment to think, not that he came up with much after all. Yes, no? Both?

"Complicated?" Lily asked, getting a nod back, "Then that question might be post food eh?"

John nodded again as he already made it to the hall just out of the dinning room like space of the mess. Lily perked up at seeing a familiar form back out of his armor and dressed in blue.

"Good morning Valen! Look!" Lilly almost lost her balance but solved that by leaning over John's right shoulder. "I'm Tall."

It took a second before Valen snorted and gave a lopsided smile. He said and then added as someone poked their head around the open door. "That you are girl, at least you were."

The Demigod reached up, snagging Lily by her own shoulders and pulled her down over his and into his arms. He snorted at the protest, lifting the girl to mock snarl against the side of her head and being rewarded with a small scream. Not loud or really a true distressed sound, Valen at least knew what that was now. Lily tried to kick out, succeeding in only clunking the side of John's head with a knee. Judging by how he only grinned and her knee now hurt it was far from effective.

If anything, John just shifted his hold with a play growl as he squeezed his arms together. Carefully but still getting a now familiar squeak as he firmly trapped his human against his chest. Walking in after Valen and eyeing the three awkward Argenta standing inside.

"Plplpl…plp." Was Lily's opinion where she was stuck, unable to see the Argenta.

The tallest, a woman tilted her head and really took a look at who their King was holding. Blinking at how… small the person was. Noting the more lazy predator expression that was on the Slayer. The Argenta woman shifted to salute, the motion showed his mark on her right forearm, as she was still too stiff to kneel then. "My Lord. I'm sorry it took so long for us to find you again."

The demigod squinted happily as he flashed a wide grin. Freeing his right hand to sign the Argenta word. Mine.

"Still yours my Lord." The woman agreed, watching as the slightly shorter Slayer swung who he held down to the ground, her copper eyes widened. Taking in the lean… almost tiny form compared to those present.

Mine. The demigod signed and pointed to Lily. My small flower. You will protect.

Lily looked up after getting her balance, stepping back into the bulk of a man in surprise at seeing the three new people upright. "Uhh… hi?"

Reviews!

Red Viy: I do have a plan that touches on some of your thoughts there! And there is a plan for Lily and John/the Slayer's interactions that will have some feels and self hatred before it gets better. As for him being the sol reason for Lily being targeted, well its not and but it may seem like that for a while because no one really knows WHO or WHERE the mortal child of the Gorgon is XD

Also going to run with a few misconceptions for some characters and it's going to be great