Chapter Text
Nick and Sean had gotten into a routine as of late. This was spurred on by Nick finding out his boyfriend had never seen any of his favorite movies. Every Friday they stayed up later than usual to binge a few movies. Nick loved seeing how amazed Sean was at the most simple special effects, or some particularly good acting. He loved Friday nights. But nothing good ever seems to last for the Grimm and the 'biest.
Nick can't even remember what movie it was they were watching. But something happened. He heard the other's breath hitch before he exscuses himself hastily. Nick knew something was wrong. He paused the movie and waited a few minutes for Sean to come back. He didn't. Nick got up and went to the closed bathroom door. When he got closer he could hear hitched, fast, breathing. Without a second thought he went in, thinking the other to be hurt since sounds like that were beyond uncharacteristic of the man.
Nick was met with Sean curled up in the tub, tears running down his face. He looked scared. Nick could see that the other was trembling quite badly. Sean was just shy of hyperventilating.
Nick slowly walked up to him and kneeled down next to him. "Sean, what's wrong? Are you hurt? Why are you crying?"
Sean flinched at Nick's voice, and wiped at his tears aggressively. "Sorry, 'm sorry! Will st-st-op crying. Didn' mean to!"
Nick was taken aback by many things. First of all, Sean just openly apologized. Second of all, he was stuttering. And third, the man sounded scared for his life.
Nick spoke softer. "Hey, hey, darling. It's okay. You're okay. Just calm down, alright?"
Sean looked confused, if not still scared. "Not gonna punish-sh me?"
Nick was so confused, but he needed to make sure Sean was safe. "Of course not sweetheart. Can you get out of the tub for me?"
Sean nodded with a quick 'yessir'. He stepped out of the tub quickly and stood in front of Nick with his hands behind his back. He was still trembling.
Nick stood up. "Relax buddy. Let's go sit down and you can tell me what made you so upset, alright?"
Sean blinked at him a few times, but followed him into the living room. Nick turned off the TV and sat down. Sean was quick to follow. He still looked on the edge of crying.
Nick opened his arms. "Do you need a hug?" Sean was never a huggy person, but he looked like he needed one in this moment.
Sean scooted back, "not-t gonna fall for that-t. Is a trap. Papa taught me."
Nick was worried. He hoped he was wrong in assuming how his family 'taught' him things, but it sounded like he might be right.
" It's not a trap, I promise. I would never hurt you. Not ever." He hoped Sean picked up on the sincerity of his words.
Sean seems to just that, though still cautious. He slowly leaned into Nick. His love put his arms around the teary-eyed man. Sean flinched at first, then relaxed. He sniffled a few times before he started sobbing. He wrapped his arms around Nick and clung to him. Nick held him close to his chest and rubbed his back in smoothing circles.
Nick wasn't keeping track of the time, but it felt as if it had been hours before the other sobbed himself to sleep in his arms. Nick was worried about him. He could not carry the larger man upstairs, so he decided they would be sleeping on the sofa for the night. He layed down slowly to not wake the other on top of him. Because of his worry, it took him quite a long time to fall asleep.
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Nick woke up to Sean stirring awake. Sean groaned and looked around, then down at the Grimm. He seemed confused, and startled for a second. Nick wrapped his arms tighter around the Zauberbiest.
"What happened last night Sean?" Nick spoke softly.
Sean looked away and didn't say anything. Nick was paitent. He waited while rubbing the other's back.
"I... The movie upset me.. beyond that... I am unsure." He was still not looking at Nick.
"You cried yourself to sleep Sean... I'm worried about you. I've never heard you stutter before." Nick kept a loose hold on his lover.
Sean berried his face in Nick's chest. His whole demeanour changed as he did. He curled up on the other more and made a small whimpers sound. Nick moved his hand to pet his hair.
" It's okay sweetheart. You're safe now. I won't hurt you." Nick was observent, he could see that he was acting similarly to how he was the night prior.
Sean made a small nod into Nick's chest. He cling onto him tightly. Nick wrapped both arms around him securely. Nick sat them up slowly. Sean whimpered at the moment before settling down again. When they were sat up, Sean was on Nick's lap. Sean flinched and pushed away from Nick and went to the other side of the couch.
Sean's eyes were wide. "Don't-t make me please. Don't want lap-p time. Don make me wike papa does." His eyes teared up.
Nick froze. Anger flashed through him at the mere thought of what Sean must have meant. He needed to rain himself in though as to not scare Sean.
"I won't make you do anything Sean. It's okay. I'm not like your papa. I promise." He kept his distance from Sean still to not spook him more.
Sean seemed to relax a bit at this. Nick had no clue what was going on. All he knew was that Sean was scared, and that Nick himself wanted to rip Sean's father to shreds. He kept his anger at bay. He'd deal with his anger later. He needed to focus on Sean right now. When Nick looked over to Sean, his thumb was in his mouth. He was acting like a child. That part of this finally clicked in the Grimm's head.
"Sean buddy, how old are you?" Sean responded by holding up the hand not in his mouth, with his thumb down. So four. Nick was flashed with rage once again. Sean was this scared at only four. What all did his family do to him? Nick shook his head. Anger for later, Sean is the priority. Thankfully as a detective, nick knew how to handle scared children.
"How about I put something nice on TV for you buddy, and get you a soft blanket?" He picked up the remote after he got a small nod from the other.
Nick searched the channels until coming up on paw patrol. Sean should like this. He got up slowly. He opened a chest behind the couch to get out a blanket for the other, who was currently already observed in the show. He didn't want to surprise Sean, so he walked in front of him and wrapped the blanket around him.
"Thank you sir." Sean smiled for the first time that day.
Nick was grateful for that smile. He would look into this more later, for now he will watch Paw Patrol with Sean, sitting next to him to keep an eye on him.