Chapter Text
It had been such a long day. Greyson was exhausted. He loved his friends and activities, he really did, but sometimes he just needed some rest and time for himself. Today in particular had give him a massive headache. Practice had gone to 8:30 pm and the drive home wasn’t very short. He clutched his head and groaned silently, hopping the ending announcements would wrap up soon so he could leave. Kenna took sight of this, and gently placed her hand on his thigh. “Are you okay?” She whispered, her voice glazed with some concern. “Yeah, js headec…” he mumbled, hands remaining on his temple.
Kenna offered to drive him home again. Driving with a migraine would not do Greyson any good, and heaven forbid he got hurt before the big production. Normally Greyson would be rambling the whole way back, but he only sat and looked out the window silently.
“You look pitiful.” Kenna stated bluntly. “Knew we should’ve had a feelings circle earlier.” She laughed quietly at her own remark. Normally this would get Greyson to at least smile, (it was extremely easy to make him laugh), but he continued to frown and stay quiet. Kenna took a few glances at her rear view mirror, hoping she would see him perk up, however, nothing had changed. “Hey, make sure to go to sleep when you get back ok?” Kenna spoke gently. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” Greyson grumbled into his hoodie. His tone hinted some snarkieness, which was highly unusual. They remained in silence for the rest of the drive, Greyson fixated in his poise of pity. It wasn’t till Kenna looked in the mirror once more and saw the 17 year old shaking. “Hey Greyson, bud, cmon,” she hesitantly stammered. Then came the sniffles. Now something really was up, perhaps he was feeling sick? She sighed but made no comment at first. He looked up suddenly when the car made an unexpected turn. “T-this isn’t my street-“ Greyson half whispered. “I’m aware,” Kenna replied without looking back. “I’m gonna get you some medicine before you go home. I know you’ll forget to if I leave you alone.” He wanted to protest, but he just slumped into the seat and shut his eyes, head still pounding.
“It still hurts.” Greyson complained to Kenna as if it was her fault. “I know hun, just give it a minute.” He flushed suddenly when she began using the nicknames. Oh please keep talking to me. He wanted to say. These dumb little pet names made him feel so safe and calm if he was honest. He tossed and turned to face her, seemingly pouting, but still scared and sad. She set down the book she was reading to come sit next to him on the couch. “Let me feel your head” she said softly. Then a smooth, cool hand was pressed to Greyson’s sweaty forehead, and Kenna simply took in his rosy features. She moved her thumb slowly to wipe away a tear that had begun to swell up. Against his will, a measly little whine slipped from his throat, and Kenna’s heart melted for him. “Oh goodness,” she sighed affectionately, gazing at the poor boy next to her. Greyson’s plumped lips began to quiver, regardless of how much he tried to stop it. “I don feel good-“ he whined as tears built and fell from his eyes relentlessly.
“Come here, sweet boy” Kenna spoke to him with an impossible softness. She gathered him up in her arms and positioned his head to be nestled in the crook of her neck. Greyson was overwhelmed with the contact and wanted to stop crying in front of Kenna but he just couldn’t. Something about how gentle and lovingly she held him only made him and his emotions melt more into her embrace.
“Shh, shh…you’ll feel better soon, I promise”
He knew it would go away, but he felt awful in the moment and it was all just too much. “I- I Kenna I n-need-“ he shook so much as he stifled hot tears, both from discomfort and sheer embarrassment. “What do you need baby boy?” She asked him, voice so soft and condoling. It felt better to cry, he didn’t want to, yet it just wouldn’t stop. Somehow Kenna’s words were making him weep harder.
He didn’t know what he needed really, all he could do was sniffle and clutch her shirt in his fists as if she would float away if he let go.
“You poor thing, it’s okay to cry little one.”
His thoughts became hazy as she began to adjust his position. Kenna quickly propped a pillow behind her, still allowing Greyson to hold onto her. She slid her hand to cup his face for a moment, receiving a small “mmpfh” from the sniveling boy. Kenna gestured to him to come closer, but she could tell that he was still hesitant about the sudden change in personal boundaries. However, it was his sad longingly gaze that assured Kenna exactly what he wanted. “It’s okay,” she whispered, “just let me hold you for a bit.” His eyes grew big and watery, his muscles tensed causing himself to shake again. Kenna gently pushed the small of his back downwards and guided his head to her upper chest. “You just lie down right here for me sweetheart,” she brushed away some of his curly dirty blonde hair from his forehead in order to kiss him softly there. Greyson shivered in response as more tears gathered in his eyes. She eventually had him completely laying on top of her, Kenna cradling his 6 foot form.
Greyson had quieted himself for now, but he felt so bad for now drenching his friend’s shirt with his tears. Strangely enough, Kenna didn’t mind one bit. Every time he looked at her through the corner of his eye, he only saw compassion radiating from her expression. He felt so nice though now, even though his migraine still persisted. His thoughts had come to a halt and he wasn’t worried about school anymore. All he focused on was how warm and soft everything felt. He concluded that it couldn’t get any better in the moment, until he felt massages being rubbed into his temple. He sighed silently, and allowed Kenna’s delicate motions fill his senses. She applied the perfect amount of pressure through his curly locks to ease the pain he felt. Greyson allowed his eyes to droop, whilst relief and carefulness flooded every crevice of his mind. A small smile pulled at his lips. “That’s my good boy…” Kenna murmured as she moved one hand to caress his freckled cheek.
She managed to soothe his cries to nothing more than the occasional hiccup and sniffle. Greyson was snugly on top of his good friend, listening to the comforting sound of her heartbeat.
“kenny?” He mumbled against her chest.
“What is it grey?”
He paused for a moment and attempted to snuggle even closer to her. “I feel…I feel small.” Greyson stammered before trying to hide his face on the side of the couch.
“You feel tiny?” Kenna restated, but no judgement whatsoever could be heard in her tone. “I do…I don feel like I’m big…” he began to quake again. “I- I don’t know why im tiny and I’m scared…”
Kenna felt something inside of her shatter at how puny his tone of voice had grown. “Oh my sweet baby, you don’t need to be scared. I’m right here with you, it’s okay to be small around me. I want to help you when you’re a tiny boy, okay?” He didn’t understand why she was so calm, he didn’t understand why he let himself sink so deep in his head, but all he could do was stare at her with big blue teary eyes, unable to express the gratitude he felt. She kissed him right on top of his button nose, leaving him red as a tomato promptly. “I love you so much little one, you always work so hard to be there for others, so let me be here for you. Let me take care of you, just be mommy’s sweet baby boy, alright?”
His mouth fell slightly open as he continued to beam at her.
“Mommy…?”