Last two of requests for this ask game I've wrote for adults, so let's go with toddler in this one. It turned out more of Sasha comfort honestly but Cole gets his bedtime story so I would say we're good. I know it's comfort prompt but it still turned out tooth - rooting sweet so be warned haha.
Some context: Happening in this AU. Sasha meet the twins when they were three years old already (he didn't know about them earlier), and he spent only a few days with them before deciding to take them in, so there was an adjustment period during which the twins were nervous and a bit confused, and during which Sasha was definitely terrified.
Sasha was laying in the motel room, the twins were sleeping on the other bed.
Today was alright, Sasha thought looking at them. They've started warming up to him, well at least that's what he hoped for - they both were a little more talkative, Vi even hugged him a few times, but they were still quite nervous around him, especially Cole.
Sasha closed his eyes. He was trying his best, he really was, but honestly what the hell was he thinking? He has no idea what's he's doing, he's on the road all the time and his job... Fuck, he knows nothing about kids, and it feels like they don't like him, they're probably scared of him... - but what else was he supposed to do? Leave them there?
He must have fallen asleep at some point, a loud thunder woke him up. Sasha blinked and then he felt something tugging his blanket, there was also a strange sound coming from beside his bed, it took Sasha a second to recognized it as the child crying.
He sat up and saw Cole trying to get up on his bed. The boy was clutching his blanket and the tears were streaming down his face.
Sasha quickly glanced at the other bed to check on Vi, but she was still sleeping soundly, hugging her plushie.
"Hey there, did the thunder scare you?" Sasha asked reaching to him, Cole took a step back.
"No, no, no, hey, wait, it's okay." Sasha said and picked him up. "Come here little one. It's just a storm, everything's alright."
Not sure what else to do Sasha sat him down on his bed, Cole hugged his blanket closer and looked at him with the huge eyes.
Another lightning stroke and the kid jumped up, Sasha put a hand on his head, trying to think of a way to calm him down, without accidentally scaring him even more.
His eyes set on one of the children's books, he has bought for them, well might as well try it.
"Look, what I have here, we're going to read for a bit, alright?" Cole looked at the book curiously, so Sasha opened it and started reading, turning the book to the boy, every new page, to show him the pictures.
After a little while Cole moved closer, sitting right beside him and looking over Sasha's shoulder. Sasha smiled at him and continued reading, soon enough Cole lied down, curling up on a pillow.
Sasha got to the end of the book, and moved to put it down-
"More?" Cole asked quietly, and Sasha smiled at him again.
"Sure" He answered and picked another book. Sasha leaned on the pillows and straightened up his legs.
After a while Sasha felt Cole nuzzling up to his side, Sasha put his arm around the boy's back and Cole wriggled up a little, getting even closer, laying with his head on Sasha's chest.
Sasha brushed away the boy's hair, and couldn't help but smile, he kept reading for a little longer, until the kid has fallen asleep.
Sasha shifted a bit and moved the child, so now he was sleeping with his head on Sasha's shoulder. Sasha put the book down and hugged him. Cole buried his face in the crook of Sasha's neck, he smiled and kissed the top of the child's head
Maybe they're really are warming up to him.