Work Text:
Yosano tip-toed down the sterile hallway, frowning at the cold tile on her bare feet. She smirked when she reached the door she was looking for and pulled out the keycard she'd stolen from one of the scientists. After unlocking the door, she slowly stepped inside, being careful not to make any noise when she closed the door.
Once she was inside, she focused her attention on the small boy curled up in the corner of the room. She took a calming breath before smiling softly and walking over to him. She sat down in front of him and crossed her legs. "Firefly?"
He looked up at her slowly, fighting back a sob when he saw her. "Sunbiwd?" He slurred the word slightly, fighting back another sob.
Yosano held out a hand to him. "Can you hold my hand, Chuuya?"
He stared at her hand for a few seconds before taking it. "I, I do- I ca-" He sighed in frustration, his other tiny hand reaching up to pull on his short, auburn hair.
She slowly reached up to take his other hand. "You're scared."
Chuuya gave her a puzzled look, leaning towards her slightly.
"Well, my mommy and daddy said it was different for everyone, but that's what I think is going on. I know for me it's like all my hairs are standing up. It's like I can feel everything. And it feels like I can't breathe as well. Sometimes, I think my heart is gonna explode out my chest. It doesn't, though."
Chuuya nodded, unfurling more. "It means?"
Yosano wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into her lap. She let go of his hands to start playing with his hair. "That you don't want to be here. That you don't want them to hurt you anymore. I don't really know what it means, but I know that it's something you feel. I'm scared too."
Chuuya looked up at her, confused. "You?"
She nodded, holding a hand up to point at herself. "Yep. I think everyone here is scared. We're all just scared kids who want to go home."
He shook his head. "No. No home."
She pulled him tighter against her. "I know. But it's okay. You're my little firefly. We can be each other's home. And if they let us go, you can come with me. We can be a family. Like in the stories I tell you."
One of his lips curled upwards in a tiny, half-smile. "Story?"
She nodded. "We're almost at my favorite part. It's when the prince saves the princess with a kiss. The last thing that happened was her getting poisoned with the apple, right?"
Chuuya nodded and moved, so he was lying down in her lap. She continued to play with his hair while she told him the story, lulling him to sleep.