Night settled quietly over the mansion.
No movement in the halls.
No voices.
Just stillness.
Soft.
Contained.
The bedroom lights were dim.
Curtains drawn.
Everything outside shut away.
Leah was asleep.
Finally.
Properly.
Her breathing slow.
Even.
One hand resting loosely over the blanket.
She hadn't moved in a while.
Exhaustion had taken her completely.
Izana was awake.
Sitting beside the bed.
Zarek in his arms.
He hadn't moved for a long time.
Just watching.
Memorising.
Zarek shifted slightly.
A small sound followed.
Soft.
But enough.
Izana's eyes dropped immediately.
His hand adjusted under him.
Careful.
Instinctive now.
"…Hey."
Quiet.
Low.
Different from before.
Zarek made another small sound.
A little more restless.
Izana leaned slightly closer.
"…I know."
His thumb brushed lightly over Zarek's back.
Slow.
Steady.
"…It's alright."
Zarek let out a soft, uneven cry.
Izana didn't tense.
Didn't rush.
He stood smoothly.
Keeping Zarek close to his chest.
"…Shh…"
Gentle.
Barely above a whisper.
"…I'm here."
Zarek's cry wavered.
Still there.
But softer.
Izana adjusted his hold again.
One hand supporting his head.
The other resting protectively along his back.
"…You're okay."
He began to walk.
Slow.
Measured steps across the room.
Not pacing.
Just movement.
Grounding.
"…I've got you."
Zarek made another sound.
Izana tilted his head slightly toward him.
Closer.
"…Yeah… I hear you."
Another soft cry.
Izana's voice softened further.
"…Shh…"
His thumb moved in slow circles over Zarek's back.
"…You don't have to cry."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…I'm right here."
Zarek's breathing started to shift.
Not steady yet.
But easing.
Izana noticed immediately.
His steps slowed.
Adjusted.
"…That's it."
Encouraging.
Gentle.
"…Stay with me."
Zarek shifted faintly.
Then quieter.
Izana stopped near the window.
Looked down at him.
"…You're safe."
A pause.
Then softer—
"…No one's going to hurt you."
Zarek's fingers moved slightly against the blanket.
Izana's hand covered them lightly.
Warm.
Protective.
"…I won't let anything happen to you."
The words came without hesitation.
Without second thought.
Just truth.
Zarek made one last small sound.
Then—
stillness.
His breathing evened out.
Izana watched carefully.
Didn't trust it immediately.
"…Good."
A faint exhale left him.
"…That's better."
He resumed walking.
Slower now.
Gentler.
Zarek stayed calm.
Settled.
Izana adjusted him slightly closer to his chest.
"…You like this, don't you."
No response.
But Zarek didn't move.
Izana's expression softened faintly.
"…Yeah."
After a moment—
he sat back down beside the bed.
Careful.
Controlled.
Zarek rested against his chest.
Warm.
Still.
Izana didn't move.
His hand stayed over his back.
Feeling every breath.
Matching it without thinking.
Leah stirred.
Just slightly.
Her head shifted against the pillow.
Eyes still closed.
But not fully asleep anymore.
She exhaled softly.
"…Iz…"
He glanced at her briefly.
Then back to Zarek.
"…I'm here."
Her eyes opened slowly.
Heavy.
Tired.
Her gaze found him.
Then Zarek.
Her expression softened immediately.
"…You're still awake."
"…Yes."
Her voice stayed quiet.
"…How long."
"…Long enough."
Leah studied him.
"…You didn't sleep."
"…No."
She shifted slightly.
Wincing faintly.
"…You should."
Izana shook his head slightly.
"…He needed me."
Leah looked at Zarek.
Then back at him.
"…And now?"
Izana's hand moved lightly over Zarek's back.
"…He's calm."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…Because of you."
Izana didn't respond.
Just adjusted his hold slightly.
Leah watched him quietly.
"…You figured it out quickly."
"…He listens."
Leah raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…Already?"
"…Yes."
"…That sounds very confident."
Izana glanced at her.
"…He trusts me."
That made her pause.
Then soften.
"…Yeah."
A quiet moment passed.
Leah shifted slightly toward them.
"…Come closer."
Izana hesitated only briefly.
Then moved.
Sat at the edge of the bed.
Closer now.
Leah leaned slightly to look at Zarek.
"…He's quite big."
Izana's hand adjusted slightly.
"…Not to me."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…Of course not."
Her fingers hovered for a moment.
Then gently touched the blanket.
"…He's warm."
"…Yes."
Leah looked at him.
"…You're holding him like you're afraid he'll disappear."
Izana didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Leah's voice softened.
"…You can relax a little."
"…No."
That made her smile.
"…I thought so."
Zarek shifted slightly.
A faint sound escaped him.
Izana immediately leaned closer.
"…Shh…"
Soft.
Immediate.
"…It's okay."
His hand moved again.
Slow circles.
"…I'm here."
Zarek settled almost instantly.
Leah noticed.
Her eyes softened further.
"…He really does listen to you."
Izana didn't look away from him.
"…I told you."
Leah let out a quiet breath.
"…You did."
A pause.
Then she added softly—
"…You're good at this."
Izana glanced at her briefly.
"…I'm learning."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…Still counts."
Zarek's fingers shifted under the blanket again.
Izana gently covered them.
Careful.
Protective.
"…Rest."
Barely a whisper.
Zarek didn't move after that.
Leah watched them both.
Quiet.
Present.
"…You're not going to put him down, are you."
Izana shook his head slightly.
"…No."
"…Even if he sleeps."
"…No."
Leah gave a faint laugh.
"…You're going to spoil him."
"…I don't care."
That made her pause.
Then smile.
"…Yeah."
She leaned back slightly into the pillows.
Still watching.
"…Stay close."
Izana didn't hesitate.
"…Always."
Leah's eyes softened.
Then slowly closed again.
Sleep returning.
Faster this time.
Izana stayed where he was.
Zarek resting against him.
Warm.
Safe.
His hand still moving faintly over his back.
Not stopping.
Not needing to.
"…I've got you," he whispered.
And this time—
Zarek didn't move at all.