Chapter 12:

Mouse In A Lion's House

PSW AU: The Amazon's Dream


Suzanna slept curled up in her bed. The bed looked massive in comparison to her. The door to her modestly sized room opened and a hulking figure standing 2.18 m stepped inside and walked over to her. The figure extended its massive hand and lightly tapped two fingers on her small head. She sat up with her bushy hair covering her face. Her head turned towards the figure whom she reached out to grab,

“Cuddle…” She said in a high, prepubescent voice, hugging her uncle's arm. He lifted that same arm as she clung to it like a tree sloth, wearing a loose grey shirt and brown shorts. She was no bigger than the average 4 or 5-year-old. She crawled up his arm and wrapped her arms around his thick neck. He patted her on the back,

“Time to wake up, Suzanna,” His voice was deep and powerful. The very vibration of his throat was enough to stir her to consciousness. She blinked and shook her head,

“Uncle?” She let go of his neck as he grabbed her under the armpits and gently placed her on the ground. She rubbed her eyes,

"Oh… Was I doing it again? Sorry…"

He knelt down and ruffled her already messy hair,

"It's alright," He stood up and headed for the door, "Come. You have a big day ahead of you, remember?"

"I do…" She said, solemnly, "But do I really have to leave?"

"I need you to experience the world, Suzanna. I have sheltered you for too long and I can't be here to take care of you,"

"But… why?" She ran, with great difficulty, towards him and weakly grabbed his dark blue shorts, "Y-You still haven't told me why? Tomorrow’s my birthday and we won’t be together,"

Esiral lowered his head, but did not look at her, "I know…"

"Are you in trouble?"

He raised his head, then looked at her with a smile, “Go on, the water will get cold,”

She slowly nodded and went to the bathroom. In the shower cubicle was a green bucket which she climbed into after undressing. It felt humiliating to have to do this every day, but it was the only safe way for her to bathe by herself. She almost drowned in the bathtub and Esiral refused to let her use the shower.

She finished as quickly as she could and tried to get out, tripping over the bucket. The moment she smacked the tiles Esiral burst through the door with a hand over his eyes,

"Suzanna! Are you hurt?"

(Yes. Everything hurts.)

"No, Uncle…" She said, failing to fight back tears.

He sighed and walked, still closing his eyes. He grabbed the towel off the rack, wrapped her in it, picked her up and dried her off.

She blushed and frowned,

"U-Uncle, I can do this myself,"

"I know…" He continued until she was dry, before tying the towel for her, at which point he opened his eyes and led her out, back to her room.

"Come to the dining room when you're done," He said on his way, "I made your favourite,"

"Okay,"

She entered the dining room wearing red pants and a blue long-sleeved shirt. The smell of flapjacks lifted her spirits exponentially. He sat her down on the chair, with some books to elevate her and placed the plate of soft, warm, doughy disks in front of her. The flapjacks were perfectly sliced into small triangles that she could chew easily. He also poured her a cup of orange juice,

She gobbles them eagerly, kicking her feet with delight.

"Don't eat too fast, Suzanna," He said while setting down his own plate of pancakes,

"Showwy," She said with a mouth full of food.

"Or  talk with your mouth full," He said, sitting down.

She nodded. They ate in comfortable silence, and then the doorbell rang. Esiral went to answer it.

He opened the door to see Sarah, who was sporting twin-tail braids, a wine-coloured jacket over a pink crop-top, dark blue jeans, black boots and an energised smile,

"Morning Mr Lee'aja!"

Suzanna stopped eating and looked at the door,

"Sarah, this is early even for you,"

She laughed, "Babbo always told me if you're on time, you're ten minutes late. Pluuuus I was really excited and rushed over,"

"I see, well come in, we were just having breakfast," He stepped aside, allowing her to pass, "You can join us if you want?"

"Thank you, but I'm currently on a diet for an upcoming match and I tend to enjoy your food a little too much,"

Esiral chuckled, 

"Very well. By the way, Suzanna told me about your scholarship. I didn't get to congratulate you. Your father must be proud,”

Suzanna, still chewing, turned in her seat and waved at Sarah, who waved back, 

“He was doing back flips down the stairs when I got the letter,”

She walked over to Suzanna just as she finished her flapjacks and swallowed the last of them picked her up and gave her a noogie. Esiral headed for Suzanna’s room,

“Morning, Little Suzy! Ready to be roomies?”

“Aaah, I told you not to call me that!” Suzanna weakly tried to push away the offending hand,

“Sorry, can’t help it,” She grinned, then began to give her a slightly more fierce noogie, 

“You didn’t answer my question,”

“Gaah, yes! Yes, I’m ready to be your roommate! Please put me down, I’m going to throw up,”

“Okay. Okay,”

She let her down and Suzanna had to fight to keep the flapjacks down. After that, she was panting. Sarah gave her thumbs up,

“Great job! You managed to keep it in this time,”

Suzanna looked up at her with an exasperated frown, 

“Why do you always have to manhandle me?”

Sarah rubbed the back of her head, “Again, can’t help it. You’re just so cute,”

Suzanna hummed in irritation. Sarah knelt down,

“Don’t worry, I promise not to pick on you while we’re living together,”

“Really?” She was hopeful but sceptical. Scepticism won when Sarah booped her on the nose and smiled mischievously, 

"Too much,"

She sighed and they hugged,

"Glad to see you getting along," Esiral said with two large carry-on bags and a pair of small white shoes. Sarah took the shoes and handed them to Suzanna before taking one of the bags and heading outside with Esiral following. Suzanna put on the shoes and followed them. Sarah put the bags in the trunk of her car, as Esiral walked over to Suzanna and knelt down. She hugged him as tightly as she could,

“You’re going to be okay, right?”

He chuckled and hugged her back, but he did not verbally respond.

“I’ll miss you,”

“I’ll miss you too,” He patted her on the back, and kissed her forehead, “I’ll call you tomorrow,” He stood up and turned to Sarah, “Take care of my niece, Sarah. She’s all I truly have,”

Sarah nodded with a serious expression on her face. Esiral nodded back and gave Suzanna a final pat on the head before going back inside. She stared at the closed door of her house wistfully. She suddenly felt Sarah’s middle knuckles tapping the top of her head,

“Oi. Quit slumping your shoulders, you’re short enough as is,”

“... Sorry,”

Sarah turned and walked back to her car, “Your uncle’s a total badass. He’ll be fine,”

Suzanna looked back at the house, before following. Sarah smiled radiantly and opened the back door,

“Alright then, hop in!”

Suzanna slanted her eyes, “Seriously?

She was looking at a children’s car seat. Sarah laughed,

“Relax, I’m just dropping this off at my brother’s place. Come on,”

Suzanna sighed again.

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