The morning began gently, like most rare peaceful days in the mansion did.
Leah was already dressed, smoothing down her coat as she checked her phone one last time.
Clara Grimshaw was waiting for her.
A planned day out between the two of them—something they hadn't done properly in a while.
Behind her, Zarek was unusually quiet.
That alone was suspicious.
"Mama go?" he asked, standing close to Izana instead of running around like usual.
Leah smiled softly.
"Yes, just for today."
Zarek frowned slightly.
Then turned to Izana as if this required confirmation from a higher authority.
Izana stood nearby, already composed.
"He's staying with me," Izana said simply.
Zarek immediately relaxed.
"Otay."
Leah crouched in front of him, brushing his hair back.
"I'll be back soon, okay?"
Zarek nodded.
Then reached for Izana's hand.
As if the decision was already settled.
Leah smiled at that.
She stood, gave Zarek one last kiss on the forehead, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Izana's mouth before leaving.
The door closed behind her.
And the mansion felt slightly different.
Quieter.
But not empty.
Izana adjusted his coat slightly and looked down at Zarek.
"Breakfast?"
Zarek nodded.
"Breakfast."
The morning passed calmly.
Izana worked at his desk while Zarek sat nearby with his lion plush and teddy bear, occasionally narrating his own thoughts out loud.
"Lion sit."
"Yes."
"Teddy sit."
"Yes."
"Me sit."
"Yes."
Dante passed through briefly, took one look at the situation, and left again without a word.
Which, in Dante's opinion, was the correct survival strategy.
After a while, Zarek climbed onto the sofa and stared at Izana.
"Play?"
Izana didn't look up from his document.
"What kind of play?"
Zarek thought seriously.
Then pointed upward.
"Outside."
A pause.
Izana finally set the paper down.
"…Alright."
Zarek immediately lit up.
"Yay!"
The garden was peaceful when they stepped outside.
The air was fresh.
The sky soft and clear.
And the familiar stretch of white roses and forget-me-nots Leah and Izana had planted years ago still bloomed along the pathways.
Zarek immediately ran ahead.
"Big garden!"
Izana didn't rush him.
He simply followed at a steady pace until he reached a large tree near the center of the garden.
Then sat down beneath it.
Watching.
Zarek explored freely.
Crouching near flowers.
Pointing at insects.
Talking to himself.
"Bug."
"Yes."
"Fly."
"Yes."
"Fast fly."
"Yes."
Izana's gaze never left him for long.
But he didn't interrupt either.
After a while, Zarek returned.
Both hands full of flowers.
White roses.
Small forget-me-nots.
Carefully held as if they were extremely important.
He walked straight up to Izana and stopped between his legs.
"Make someting."
Izana looked down at him.
"Something?"
Zarek nodded firmly.
"From flowers."
There was no hesitation in Izana's expression.
He understood immediately.
Slowly, he adjusted Zarek's position.
"Turn around."
Zarek obeyed without question and sat with his back against Izana's chest.
Comfortable.
Secure.
Izana began working carefully with the flowers.
His movements were precise.
Controlled.
Familiar.
And as he worked, something shifted in his expression.
Not outwardly.
But inwardly.
Because he remembered.
Leah.
Years ago.
Standing right here in this garden.
Showing him how to weave flowers together.
Laughing softly when he did it wrong.
Guiding his hands without making it feel like instruction.
He hadn't thought about it in a long time.
Not like this.
Zarek shifted slightly.
"Da-da?"
Izana blinked once.
"…I'm here."
Then continued.
A few minutes later, the flower crown was finished.
Izana gently lifted it and placed it on Zarek's head.
Zarek immediately reached up.
"Pretty."
"It is."
Zarek grinned.
Then, as if nothing serious had just happened, jumped up.
"Play more!"
And ran off again.
Izana watched him go.
Just for a second longer than necessary.
Then stood.
It happened fast.
Too fast.
Zarek was running along the garden path when his foot caught uneven ground.
He stumbled.
Fell forward.
Palms hit first.
Then knees.
A dull scrape sound against stone and dirt.
Mud clung to his hands immediately.
For a moment—
silence.
Then—
"Da-da!"
Crying followed instantly.
Sharp.
Real.
Zarek sat up, trembling, hands dirty and scraped.
"Hurt…"
Izana was already moving.
He reached him in seconds and knelt.
"Stay still."
Zarek sniffled hard.
"It hurts…"
Izana examined his hands and knees quickly.
Scrapes.
Not deep.
But enough.
"It's alright," Izana said calmly.
Though his voice had sharpened slightly.
Focused.
Controlled urgency.
He lifted Zarek carefully into his arms.
Zarek immediately clung to him, muddy fingers gripping his shirt.
"Sorry…"
Izana paused briefly.
Then said:
"You don't need to apologize."
Zarek buried his face slightly into him.
Still shaking.
Still upset.
Izana carried him back through the garden.
Step by step.
Steady.
Zarek didn't let go.
"I've got you," Izana said quietly.
That alone seemed to calm him a little.
Inside the mansion, Izana didn't call for anyone.
He went straight upstairs.
Into their bedroom.
And then into the ensuite bathroom.
The room was warm and quiet.
Izana set Zarek carefully on the counter, keeping a steady hand on him so he wouldn't slip.
Zarek sniffled again.
Izana turned on the water.
Warm.
Not rushed.
Controlled.
Then took a soft cloth and gently began cleaning the mud from Zarek's hands.
Zarek watched him closely.
Still upset.
But calmer now.
Izana worked slowly, washing each hand with care.
Then his knees.
Zarek flinched slightly once.
Izana paused immediately.
"Does it hurt too much?"
Zarek shook his head.
"…No."
Izana continued more gently.
The flower crown was still on Zarek's head.
Slightly crooked.
Izana didn't remove it.
After a moment, Zarek whispered:
"Da-da… hurt."
Izana paused.
Then answered softly:
"No."
A beat.
Then, quieter:
"You're safe."
Zarek leaned forward slightly, resting against him.
The last of the crying faded.
Only small sniffles remained.
Izana continued cleaning his hands until they were no longer muddy.
The bathroom was quiet except for running water.
And for a moment—
there was nothing else in the world except this.
A child being cared for.
A father who didn't hesitate.
And a promise that didn't need to be spoken out loud anymore.
That he was there.
And he wasn't going anywhere.