intrepidity

Chapter 10

"I'll change the sheets," Marcus grumbled, already yanking the blankets away.

"I'll grab some fresh clothes," Antonio muttered, disappearing out the door.

Atlas sighed, holding her a little tighter before finally shifting, letting Alec scoop her into his arms. "Come on, darling," Alec murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Let's get you cleaned up, and then we'll cuddle, yeah?"

Aurora peeked up at him, hesitating. "...All of you?"

That was all it took.

"We're not going anywhere, baby," Elias reassured, ruffling her hair.

"Obviously," Antonio huffed from the doorway, holding a set of fluffy pajamas.

"You're stuck with us," Marcus grumbled.

Atlas poked her nose, making her giggle. "For life, love."

The warm bath that Roman set up helped. Alec sat by the tub, gently washing her hair with soothing lavender shampoo. "You're safe, sweetheart," he murmured, massaging her scalp. "I promise."

Roman waited outside, fresh towel in hand, ready to wrap her up like a burrito.

Marcus and Antonio had already finished replacing the sheets. "See? This took, like, five minutes," Antonio muttered. "Nothing to be embarrassed about."

Elias dried her hair with gentle hands, then helped her into her fresh pajamas. "There's my baby girl," he hummed. "Good as new."

Atlas took her hand. "Movie night?"

A soft smile finally broke through. "And cuddles."

The siblings were sprawled out in the living room, tangled in blankets and pillows, the remnants of their late-night snack—popcorn bowls, half-empty mugs of hot chocolate, and a few cookie crumbs—scattered across the coffee table.

They had just finished forcing Aiden to watch Finding Nemo, though, in reality, it hadn't taken much convincing. All it had really taken was Aurora looking up at him with those wide, pleading eyes and softly whispering, "Please, Aiden?"

That was it.

The great Aiden Valenti, feared by most and respected by all, had sighed in defeat, sat back on the couch, and endured the entire movie with his siblings grinning at him the whole time.

Marcus had snickered when he saw Aiden's unimpressed face during the opening scene. Antonio nudged him every time something remotely emotional happened, smirking when Aiden scowled. Elias, always the observant one, had caught the way Aiden's gaze lingered on Marlin when he was desperately searching for his child.

Overprotective dad energy, Elias had mused internally. Fitting.

Roman had been quietly enjoying the movie, and Alec had been chuckling at Aurora's reactions more than anything else. Atlas, ever the dramatic one, had been quoting some of the lines under his breath before they were even spoken.

But none of them had been as engrossed as Aurora.

She had been curled up between Elias and Alec, clutching Thumper tightly to her chest, eyes shining with wonder as she watched the story unfold. Her little gasps and giggles were enough to make Aiden ignore the ridiculousness of the movie entirely.

By the time the credits rolled, Aurora had dozed off, her head resting against Elias's shoulder.

Atlas stretched with a yawn, cracking his back. "That wasn't so bad, huh, boss?"

Aiden gave him a flat look. "I tolerated it."

Marcus scoffed. "You were watching it, don't even lie."

Antonio smirked. "He definitely related to the overprotective dad fish."

Aiden rolled his eyes, but the lack of a retort was enough of an answer.

Elias chuckled. "Aurora liked it, so that's all that matters."

Said little girl was now curled up in the middle of the giant sectional couch, tucked against Elias's chest, Atlas resting his head on her shoulder. Roman sat by her feet, rubbing gentle circles into her ankle, while Antonio and Marcus leaned against the armrests.

Aiden—ever the observer—took the armchair nearby, watching over them with quiet authority.

Elias pressed a kiss to Aurora's forehead. "How about a story, baby?"

She nodded sleepily.

"Alright," he hummed. "Once upon a time, there was a little girl who had seven overprotective big brothers..."

Aurora giggled, eyes fluttering shut.

Elias smirked. "And these brothers? Oh, they were scary. They ran the city. No one dared to mess with them, because they could make problems disappear overnight."

Atlas chuckled. "But their baby sister? She had them wrapped around her tiny little finger."

Antonio scoffed. "Damn right she did."

Alec grinned. "And they would do anything for her."

Aurora, warm and safe, snuggled deeper into Elias's hold. "I like this story..."

Roman chuckled. "It's a true one."

But just as her eyes were about to close, Atlas suddenly lifted her stuffed bunny, Thumper, and made his voice high-pitched and dramatic.

"Princess Aurora," he announced, shaking Thumper's little paw. "I have come to request a bedtime dance."

Aurora let out a sleepy giggle as Atlas wiggled Thumper's ears.

"A dance?" Atlas gasped in Thumper's 'voice.' "How rude! I shall tell the King—" He turned the bunny toward Aiden, who merely raised an unimpressed brow. "—that his precious baby refuses my request!"

Marcus rolled his eyes. "You're ridiculous."

Antonio smirked. "But she's laughing."

Atlas grinned, tapping Thumper's little paw against her nose. "That's all that matters."

Aurora yawned, finally resting her head against Elias's chest. "Thumper's silly..."

Aiden smirked slightly, standing up to drape another blanket over all of them. "He's a reflection of the person holding him."

Atlas gasped dramatically, while the others chuckled.

But Aurora, warm, safe, and surrounded by her family, finally let her eyes close.

And this time, when she dreamed, there were no nightmares—

Only laughter, warmth, and the soft sound of her brothers' voices.

author's note - thought i should update now cause i might be a bit busy during the weekend :)

enjoyy and tell me what u think so far :)

love u guys <3