Time | E ? Jaeger

— Chapter 1 : The Fall

"Do you really have to leave again..?" Your quiet voice questioned from behind the doorway, your head peaking out from the side slightly in order to make eye contact with the older male standing before you in the living room.

You desperately wanted him to decline your query, wanting him to wrap you in his arms, pulling you into his tight embrace as he tells you that he was going to stay right here. However, you truly knew deep down that it wouldn't happen. You knew he had to leave for work.

Work. What stupid job could be more important than his spending time with his only child, his pride and joy? What did he have to do so badly for him to leave you alone again? He always felt so out of reach..

"You know I have to, kid" He replied with a sigh, slinging the straps of his worn rucksack over his broad shoulders before crouching down in front of you, to meet your height, his clothed knees soon making contact with the wooden floorboards.

He opened his outstretched arms towards your tiny figure, wanting to pull you into a familiar warmth but you remained hesitant, not daring to move as the thoughts about his departure from you ran free in your head, who were you to beg him to stay?

He took notice upon seeing your hesitance, instantly pulling your small frame close to him, wrapping his arms tightly around you as his chin rested gently on top of your head. "I'll be back before you even know I'm gone.."

Your bottom lip quivered slightly at his words, as you buried your top teeth into the  skin in an attempt to hold back a soft cry out, your [colour] eyes peaking over his shoulder, your gaze concentrating on the floor to try distract yourself.

"B-But, I don't want you to go again.." You stammered.

He felt your body begin to quiver slightly as the sound escaped from you, causing his heart to ache from the current state you were in. If he could, he'd drop everything just to spend the rest of his days making you smile and live without any worries but he was doing all of this for you.

He was doing this so you could live in a fancy home with everything you could ever want. He was doing this so you would never have to worry about where your next meal was coming from. He wanted to spoil you and shower you with all his love so you would never feel alone in this cruel world.

He wanted to give you what he never had.

"Oh, kid.." He whispered to you, releasing you from his grasp and now cupping your face with his large hands as his thumbs gently wiped away your tears.

You let out a soft sniffle, looking up at him as the tears continued to fall down your cheeks. He smiled, gently ruffling your hair in attempt to cheer you up as he didn't understand how he was supposed to react to your emotions.

"I promise, I'll bring you a nice sweater back" He said, removing his hand from the top of your head and standing back up on his feet. "How does that sound?"

You looked up at him, the corners of your lips tugging upwards, causing a small smile to appear upon your faces as you nodded at him, engulfing the older male in a tight hug like he had given you only moments prior to this. "Deal!!"

He chuckled under his breath from your excited cheer, tugging your small arms away from his body before straightening his posture. "Be good whilst I'm gone, alright?"