Warning: mentions of past abuse and injuries

Coriolanus grabbed her face worriedly; he examined her features, offering a soft smile to the girl who held his heart and brought her into his arms. Noelle cradled into his arms; weak little sobs escaping her lips as She thought more and more about the fact that Casca knew about her home life and did nothing to help. 

"Darling. Let's go sit down, okay?" He whispered, cupping her face in his hands, offering a gentle smile as she sniffled with her lip quivering and barely nodded. Coriolanus grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket, dried under her nose, a kind look forming on his features as he continued to clean her face with his handkerchief. 

They sat in Noelle's room; the brunette was curled into Coriolanus' arms, fiddling with her teddy bear as she started to begin to calm down. The blonde couldn't begin to imagine how hard this was for her, the brunette gave a small little smile as Coriolanus rested a gentle kiss on the side of her forehead, it was chaste and comforting. It was something that showed his respect that was for the girl; Noelle glanced at Coriolanus while resting her chin on his chest, he brushed some hair behind her ear and inhaled her scent as he caught the whiff of her perfume. 

"I just can't believe that he knew about it. I mean he knows my dad and he knew that he was hurting me and he just allowed it to happen. He could've done something, I wouldn't have needed to go through all that pain! Maybe if he had done something I wouldn't have received those broken bones from when he pushed me down the fucking stairs after I refused to shoot a fucking rabbit because I didn't want to kill an animal!" Noelle pushed herself to her feet, grabbing at her hair, the previously sorrowful tears became hot angry tears of frustration and anger. 

Coriolanus grabbed the bear off the floor, and carefully rested it against her pillow, watching the girl cautiously and worried about the extent of her potentially worsening breakdown that she had been holding in for years.  

"Maybe if fucking Casca Highbottom wasn't high on morphling or drinking his life away- I wouldn't have been sent to the hospital severely malnourished and dehydrated. Or- or maybe- I wouldn't be so scared of every damn noise because I'm so broken that I get triggered by a door being closed too harshly." Noelle's hand slapped against her legs as she dropped them to her side, Coriolanus couldn't do anything but watch the girl spiral further into her emotions. 

"Corio... he's- he's an educator, it's his responsibility to make sure students are safe and not getting fucking beaten around by their father!" Coriolanus pushed himself to his feet, approaching Noelle as if she were a scared animal, the brunette sniffled as his touch seemed to trigger the switch to turn her anger into sadness again. 

"Corio... why didn't he say anything?" The innocence and purity in her broken words made his heart shatter, he rested his hands on the sides of her face and gave the sweetest look to do his best to offer some kind of support. 

"I don't know, darling, I wish I knew. You obviously know that there are bad people in this world. I wish I could protect you from all of them; I wish that someone as kindheartedly beautiful as you didn't receive all this shit in the world. I know that if you had only been taken away from all that sooner you wouldn't be as scared of loud noises or scared to be around other people. Noelle... I know it may not be the right thing to say but you're here now and you're safe. This is a safe place." Noelle grabbed his hands, breathed out a smile and dropped her tense shoulders as he hugged her. 

"Thank you." He hummed, taking her to sit down on her bed, Noelle laid down and a tired smile formed on her lips as he laid down facing her. Noelle rested her head on his shoulder, the girl already settling in as Coriolanus' hand rested against her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin Noelle had her arm underneath his and her thumb delicately ran across his wrist. Coriolanus didn't want to mention whatever it was that she spoke about with Casca and if this was something that got brought up, he couldn't imagine what else was brought up. 

"I'm sorry you're always fixing my problems." 

"No need to apologise. Darling, I am here for you until the end." 

"Until the end." Noelle liked their little saying, it made her feel giddy inside to know it was their thing. The brunette kissed his shoulder, moving to lay her head on the bed instead of his shoulder, he draped an arm across her waist, effectively bringing her closer to him and allowing his softly spoken words to fill the space in the room. 

"Just close your eyes. Take some deep breaths. That bastard will never hurt you again. You are safe, you're in a safe home. Sure, the food isn't great-" Noelle giggled slightly at his words, causing Coriolanus to smile at the sweet sound and freeze in his movements of caressing her cheek. 

"Okay... where was I?" He knew where he was in his mentally planned speech; the blonde just wanted to hear Noelle's voice and the delightful sound of her continued laughter. 

"The food isn't great." She informed, humming against Coriolanus' lips as he thanked her with a gentle kiss. 

"Ah, yes. Thank you, my darling. Yes, so the food isn't great... but this place is safe for you and you are appreciated here. Tigris adores you; Grandma'am appreciates all that you've done here and I-" Noelle opened her eyes, watching him curiously, wanting to know what he had to say about her and blushed as he rested his fingers against her jaw and pulled the girl closer to him to rest his lips upon hers. The kiss was tender, Coriolanus lingered for a moment before he moved his head back and allowed Noelle to make herself comfortable again. 

"I think you are the sweetest-" He rested a kiss on her lips, smiling as she giggled and kissed him back. 

"Kindest-" A kiss on her forehead.

"Empathetic-" Then her left cheek. 

"Intelligent." On her right cheek. 

"Loyal." A kiss on the tip of her nose. Noelle was flustered, she could feel the butterflies swarming around her her stomach, a hopeful look in her eyes as she waited to hear what else would escape from his lips as she could tell that there was more to come. 

"You, my darling, are the essence of pure and innocence. I admire your strength and your bravery. I will always want you to be happy and to be feeling comfortable. So, if you are ever not feeling safe and comfortable, let me know and I'll help you. I promise you." With that, he rested a final kiss on her lips, taking his time and letting the tenderness build up into something more.