Seeing how she much sleepiness is in her eyes made Tony want to hold her just that much closer by him. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders drawing her close to him without the slightest strength.
"I'm not leaving," he said to her in a whisper as her little head cuddles into his chest. Watching him still with that deliberate carefulness one last time just to make sure he won't be leaving her side when she has fallen asleep.
Under the quilt that covers her over their tired bodies Zetian wraps her arm around his lean waist. The room is so silent with stillness that he could hear her smooth breathing becoming more deeper and deeper within each breath.
Soon within a minute Tony notices that Zetian's adorable little face relaxes into a tranquil expression. He notices a cute smile on her lips almost as though smiling for him in this night just between the two of themselves.
"Don't leave," her soft voice whispers to him still with her eyes closely shut. For a moment this made Tony think that she has woken up. But notices that it was only a sleep talking.
Smiling a little to himself, "I'm always here for you." Kissing her soft red lips that's like the mellowness of marshmallows.
With her consciousness drawn away into the dream land he was able to hear during her sleepiness her mumbling. It was ever so quietly, though he's able to grasp hold of every word that she uttered that night.
After his spiritual powers is raised to his height right now there's simply no need for sleep. Sleep is a treat that he just doesn't need much of, preferring to use that time instead for studying the science and mathematics that he's so caught up in.
Although he couldn't possibly figure out what she's dreaming he was still able to observe through the words that she uttered in her dreaming state. She's mostly mumbling randomness, but oftentimes he would hear his name being called from her lips that would catch his attention especially during the night.
Sometimes he would hear words of terror that is caught upon her lips like she's trying to escape from something horrible that's haunting her dreamscape. During these moments he would hold her ever the tighter. And for some reason upon returning to his embrace like before her nightmares would vanish it is like she's so inextinguishably linked to the outer world to him.
"I would never let anything hurt you darling," he whispers into her ear softly seeing her hand grasping on the fabric of his shirt so tightly on his back. Her eyebrows drawn with fear, like something is deeply troubling her.
Hearing his words Zetian's grasp of his shirt became relaxed as her heartbeat returned to a more rhythm. With a soft smile returning to her face.
Watching her sleep made Tony realized for the first time just how fragile is this soft figure in his arms. How easily breakable she is just by the smallest things in the world. How even the smallest quake could shake and tremble her little world with utter nightmares.
For himself he already forgotten the most of what it means to be happening: the fears, the goals, the desires. He has forgotten until this moment with her how humans would feel with the unforgettable notion of death which always is like a sword above their heads only lightly attached by a thin string.
He couldn't help himself getting curious about this little girl. In his heart he wonders as he watches her sleeping face just what kind of fear does she try to forget behind that smile. What kind of dreams behind those twinkling little eyes that always sparkle for him. So many questions, just like the sand in the dessert, uncountable.
Soon the morning sun wakes up from its sleep, with the sunlight beaming through the window. Softly glancing the ground tiles that's in her room. The little birds that are out there singing their own sweet sounds to each other of goodwill.
Finding the light that darkens the surrounding outside her shut eyelids Zetian opens them to discover once again the outside world. But the girl firstly stretches her hand to the space beside her as though searching for an important part of her heart.
Finding the space next to her side empty without the body of a person her heart became agitated and restless. Opening up her eyes she sits up on the bed finding that her room is empty except a light that shoots down from the window above and high.
Her eyes look down at the place where the sunlight hits with an introspective reflection. Her breathing containing a heaviness to it as she has sourness on her face without the smile in her sleep.
Suddenly she looks up to the noise of the door to her room opening from the outside. In coming is the man she is looking for holding a tray of food in his hand.
Seeing that smile that's always so charming the sourness from before turned into a sweet crescent moon from those lips as she looks upon him.
"Good morning my love," Tony said to her putting down the tray of food. While returning swiftly to close the door of her room shut carefully.
He walked with a gracefulness to his steps over to her bed. Sitting by her side and taking hold of hand as he kissed her lightly on the forehead while combing back her silky black hair that columns down her shoulder.
"What's with the face?" He asked seeing that she is staying so quiet for some reason this time that she sees him. It is with a mixture of relief and also complexity to it. "Did you thought I left you during the night?"
She turns her head away feinting annoyance of him, "If you did, I would totally not forgive you." She had a little blush to her cheeks after hearing Tony guessing her thoughts so correctly.