Chapter Text
You looked defiantly at the masked man’s raised hand your cheek smarting from the earlier slap when light poured into the room as the door opened. The man growled displeased by the interruption and turned to look at the intruder when he froze. You squinted unused to the light to see who had startled your kidnapper.
“You- what have you-!” the man roared in anger as he rose from where he had been squatting next to you.
His words were cut short with a loud bang as he fell to the ground like a ragdoll. Your heart was racing as you lifted your head to look at the killer. No, your protector.
He was tall and dressed in an imposing uniform but you would know him anywhere. “Caleb.” you whispered.
The tension in his shoulders disappeared and he quickly made his way over to you stepping over your kidnapper’s body carelessly.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry I took so long.” he said worriedly as he reached to untie your bound hands before undoing the knots on the rope around your feet.
You immediately fell forward into his arms and buried your face into the crook of his neck. He immediately wrapped his arms around you pulling you tight against his chest. Wrapped in his warm embrace, you felt safe and all your bravado faded away.
“I’m sorry.” he whispered as you clung to him feeling like that little girl who sought comfort in her brother on a rainy night. “It’s okay.” you mumbled as you leaned back to look at him.
His brow was furrowed with concern and his cheek was stained red with blood. It should have disturbed you but instead a part of you felt vicious satisfaction as you imagined the way Caleb mercilessly killed the people who had taken you.
“How many were there?” you asked. He hummed as he seemed to think about it.
“Maybe 10 but that wasn’t a problem.” he said dismissively as he grabbed your hand so he could finger the bracelet he gifted you a while back that encircled your wrist.
A thought occurred to you as he gently touched the bracelet. You were kidnapped so suddenly, there was no way he could have found you so quickly. You estimate that you had only been gone a couple hours at maximum. He shouldn’t even have noticed you were gone.
“Caleb, did you put a tracker in the bracelet?” you asked lowly, he stiffened ever so slightly at your pointed question. Most people would have missed it but not you. You knew him too well.
You weren’t surprised that he had put a tracker in it. You had suspected it when he had been so insistent on you wearing the gift. In fact, you were about to undo the clasp and throw it away when you had been grabbed by the masked men. But you suppose that you should be grateful you didn’t because if he hadn’t put the tracker on you, you would have remained trapped here.
He knew he was caught and apologised immediately as he let go of your bracelet. “I’m sorry, I know you think you can protect yourself but I couldn’t just let you go off on your own. People are starting to notice you and let’s just say being the colonel doesn’t come without its shortages of enemies.”
You should have been more angry but a part of you couldn’t bring yourself to be mad. You were tired and glad that he had found you. Besides, it would have been more than a little hypocritical for you to get mad since you did put a tracker in his necklace that is still currently active despite being on better terms.
“It’s okay. Thank you.” you said finally as you shook your head. Caleb’s face softened and he helped you to your feet. “Come on, let’s go home.”
Caleb brought you back to his place as he usually did he referred to ‘home’ but you found you didn’t mind as much as you normally would.
“Can I get you anything?” he asked as you slumped down on the sofa. You shook your head numbly. It had only been a couple hours but you’ve never felt so helpless before. You always had something. A plan. They caught you so off guard that you didn’t even have time to react.
Caleb watched you quietly with pain in his eyes. “Come on, you should get a shower. You’ll feel much better.” he said as he helped you up.
After the shower, Caleb was waiting for you. He had changed out of his colonel uniform and was dressed in a simple blue shirt. Without the hard lines of the stiff uniform he wore so often these days, he looked so much like the boy you grew up with. Your heart ached at the sight.
You gave him a small smile until you realised there was still some blood on him. A reminder that he wasn’t who you thought he was. That he was now a brutal colonel who wouldn’t hesitate to kill. He caught your gaze and sheepishly tried to wipe the dried blood away as much as he could with his hand.
“Sorry, I wanted to be out here for you as soon as I could so I didn’t have time to really wash up.” he mumbled and you wordlessly moved aside so he could wash the blood off in the sink. Once he was done, he gives you a lopsided smile which you return reluctantly.
He might have washed the blood off but the image of him covered in blood was difficult to forget.
He reached for towel before he took you by the hand to bring you back to the sofa so he could dry your hair. “Caleb, I’m fine. I’m not a little kid anymore. You don’t have to help me dry my hair.” you protested as he gently pushed you down on the sofa before reaching for a towel.
He ignored you as he squeezed your wet strands of hair with the towel. His familiar touch felt comforting and honestly you could use all the comfort you could get right now so you gave in and let him do it.
It felt nice and you could almost sink into the feeling and let sleep take you. Allow him to take care of you but something kept nagging at you.
“How many people have you killed?” you asked as you wondered how he could be so comfortable having someone else’s blood on him to the point he was willing to forgo cleaning up just so he could be there for you. He didn’t respond for a moment as he quietly continued his ministrations.
“I do my job.” he said finally. “What about those men earlier?” you pointed out. You didn’t know why you were being so harsh on him. After all, it’s thanks to him you got out.
“I do my job.” he repeated firmly.
“I’m not your job anymore. I don’t need your protection.” you said irritably. “Don’t you?” he asked sharply in response.
You couldn’t help but flinch at his tone and he immediately softened his voice, a look of regret passing over his face.
“If I didn’t look out for you, who knows what would have happened.”
You refused to look at him furious at yourself for reacting that way. You’ve faced worse before, you’d been kidnapped from The Nest though Sylus had saved you. You fought Wanderers and nearly died countless times why was this time different?
“Did they hurt you?” Caleb asked as he brought your chin up so he could examine you. You shrugged as you thought back to it. Physically you were alright. Mentally you weren’t doing so well. It shook your confidence. You had always insisted that you were fine and could take care of yourself. Now a seed of doubt had been planted in you. You were worried Caleb was right. That you did need him.
You were shaken out of your thoughts as Caleb got up. You grabbed his hand without thinking. “Where are you going?” you blurted out.
“I’m just going to make you your favourite chamomile tea.” he said and you let go of him in embarrassment. When did you become so clingy? You thought you had outgrown it.
You listen to the sounds of him preparing your drink in the kitchen. It brought up warm fuzzy feelings of nostalgia of the many times he would take care of you through the years that it could bring you to tears.
“Here you go, one cup of tea-“ you grabbed the mug from him and downed it quickly. You always felt better after you drank it. You didn’t know what Caleb did but there was always something special about his tea. It calmed you down and made it easier for you to sleep even on the days when anxiety about an upcoming exams seemed to consume you.
You had asked him about it once years ago and he merely gave you a wink and told you it was a secret in response.
“Sorry, I’m really thirsty.” you said sheepishly as you noticed the way Caleb stared at you in surprise. He laughed and ruffled your hair. “Don’t worry about it pipsqueak.” he said affectionately as he sat down next to you.
You put the mug on the table and couldn’t resist resting your head on his shoulder as you used to do so many times before he had ‘died’. Caleb wrapped his arm around your shoulder in response, playing with your now mostly dried but still damp hair.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. “No, just don’t leave me. Please, not again.” you murmured and his hold around you tightened as if he was making a promise.
“I’m scared.” you mumbled as you suddenly began to feel drowsy. Huh? You weren’t sleepy just a few minutes ago. The weight of the day’s events must finally be taking its toll on you. “What if I do need you?”
“Is that so bad? You’ll always have me.”
“What if you left me again?”
“I won’t. And even if I do I’ll always find my way back to you.”
Later after you fall asleep on him. He continued to gently stroke your hair and hold you close to him. “I’m so sorry.” he whispered again and again not wanting to wake you.
“Nothing will ever happen again. I won’t let you out of my sight.” he kissed your hair in a featherlight touch as if he was afraid to break you.
“No one will touch you again.” He had no intention on letting you leave again. No matter how much you protest or cry. Even if you hated him. He would keep you safe here. With him.