#📁.emfics

[iamafalseprophet]

nothing’s gonna hurt you baby · alex jones/barry milland x reader

a/n: this is platonic only, don’t worry, i’m well aware alex has the mental capacity of a child. don’t be weird with him, i’m writing this fic because i want him to just be happy and safe :,) i’m gonna refer to alex as barry in this since that’s what he goes by after being found, his birth name. also it’s almost 5am and i did not proofread im tired sorry

summary: during the aftermath of the kidnapping case, you take care of alex/barry for the night.

warnings/notes: mentions of past trauma/abuse/kidnapping, comfort mostly, gender neutral reader, platonic relationship, past childhood friends, reader takes care of him

word count: 2,100

ao3 link

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

“Are you leaving soon?… I’ll be over, I’m on my way now… Okay, bye.”

You hung up your phone, grabbing your keys and pulling on a jacket as you filed out of the door of your apartment and into your car. It was early January now, and it’s been about a month since Barry Milland had been found living as Alex Jones with an abductor posing as his aunt. You two were friends many years ago in childhood growing up together, and though it was awhile ago, you still missed him. While you were overjoyed that he’d finally been found, you nearly broke down upon hearing what torture he went through for a week.

You were driving right now to where he was staying, with his actual family. They had to travel out of state and couldn’t bring Barry with, and had entrusted you to care for him. You had reunited with Barry a few times since he’d been found, and he had remembered you at least a little bit from when you were kids. You were happy to be caring for him.

It wasn’t too long of a drive. You pulled into the driveway, knocking on the front door where you were met with Barry’s parents. “Thank you so much for coming to do this. Oh, he’s in his room right now,” his mother said to you, both parents with coats on ready to go. You smiled at them, nodding. “Of course, I’m here anytime. We’ll have fun today, you guys don’t have to worry about anything.” You reassured, before the Millands exited their home once they’d gathered their bags, leaving you to call out something along the lines of ‘have a safe trip’.

You unzipped your thick jacket, laying it on the back of a recliner. Once you’d gotten your shoes off too, you made your way to Barry’s room, knocking lightly in hopes to not startle him. “Hey, It’s just me. We’re gonna be hanging out for a little.” You prompted first, seeing Barry watching cartoons on a TV he had in his room. He almost smiled a little first seeing you. “Whatcha doing?” You hummed, walking a little closer and asking first, “Can I sit down?” He waited for a moment, then nodded, to which you then sat down near him.

Barry still wasn’t super verbal yet, healing from what had happened to him in the past months, let alone past couple decades. Though, he didn’t seem to be entirely untrusting of you, seeing as you knew each other once before & his parents trusted you. Barry pointed to the TV, which had Courage the Cowardly Dog playing. He looked at you for a moment, then speaking softly, “Watch it with me?”Your lips curved upward into a smile, and you nodded back. “Sure. We can do whatever we want in the house today, okay?” You told him, and you could’ve sworn you saw his eyes light up right then. Barry needed a friend again, and he had one.

After watching cartoons for around an hour, you heard a growling noise coming from Barry’s stomach, making you sit up a bit. “Do you want me to make some food?” You asked, him replying with a “Yeah.” It was probably time to eat dinner now anyway, almost six. You pulled yourself up. “Okay, c’mon.” You said, getting up from the bed, Barry closely following behind.

The two of you made your way to the kitchen, looking through what was there to make. “What do you want to eat?” You had asked him, awaiting a response. Barry thought for a moment, fixing his glasses that slid down the bridge of his nose. “Can I have a grilled cheese?” He asked, a nod coming from you. “Mmhm. Do you want to help with it or no?” Barry hummed back in response, grabbing the loaf of bread there. “Thank you.” You murmured cheerfully. He went in the fridge, getting cheese as well. “Could you grab the butter too, please?” You said, and he happily followed your request.

The grilled cheeses were nearly done, and they hadn’t really taken long. It was simple enough to where you didn’t mess it up. As you slid two sandwiches onto a plate, you felt a tap on your shoulder which prompted you to turn around. Barry held a box of cookie mix, shaking it inquisitively. “You want to make cookies?” He nodded. You smiled at the boy. “Okay, but you gotta eat dinner before anything sweet. Your food’s done.” You told him, exchanging the cookie mix for the plate, Barry walking to the dining table to sit down as you began to get out the supplies for cookies.

After a little while, Barry had finished his food and you both returned to watching cartoons when the cookies were put in the oven. The house was filled with a the sweet scent of them baking, which was comforting for the both of you at least. Barry showed you a couple of hot wheels he had, shyly asking if you’d play with him. You held a small red car in your hand, tracing over the bed with in and around Barry, which made him laugh a little bit, making your heart swell. It was really nice to see him at least a little happy.

“Are you having fun?” You asked him, a smile hesitantly forming on Barry’s lips. “Mmhm.” He said, shaking his head ‘yes’ slightly. At that, a ding from the timer you had set was heard in the kitchen, causing you to jump up slightly, gently grabbing Barry’s hand. “The cookies are done,” You entered the kitchen once again, carefully removing the tray with an oven mitt Barry found for you. “Wait for them to cool a minute.” You warned, then soon handing him a chocolate chip cookie. He stood there for a moment, and you wondered why you could see his lip tremble. He gave you a sort of sad look.

“Barry? What’s wrong, did I do something?” You felt worried, not anticipating this. He shook his head no, slowly stepping toward you and sort of reluctantly wrapping his arms around you in a hug. It seems like he’d been really happy to actually have a friend, have someone to play with and laugh with again after being in pain for so long. He was confused as to why you were so nice. While hoping you hadn’t overwhelmed him, you heard him sniffle, and it occurred to you that you’d just been standing there thinking. At that thought you quickly hugged him back, resting your head on his shoulder as you did so.

“Am I safe?”

His voice cracked, and you replied in a soft tone, your eyes shut, after a couple moments. “Yes, you’re safe, I promise. Nothing’s gonna hurt you.” You swore, standing there in the kitchen in a hug with him for awhile. After a little bit, he sniffed and you both pulled away, you putting your thumb up to his face to wipe away a rolling tear.

“It’s okay, Barry. Now come on, look what’s here for you.” You said sweetly, mentioning the cookies to which he picked one up, you doing the same. You lightly pulled him over to the couch with the plate of cookies, offering him the remote to pick a movie with. With your previous hug, he found himself a little more comfortable with being close. You sat shoulder to shoulder on the couch, sharing a blanket and cookies. He had picked something to watch, and you happily sat there to watch it with him. And another after that.

Once you both were noticeably feeling a little tired. You started to get up, a small hum of protest coming from Barry as he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He was fine right there, really. “Do you have to take a bath?” You asked, a nod coming from him. Showers had still frightened him since his torture, so he really preferred baths (which you’d been told).

He stood up with you, making his way to the bathroom next to his room hesitantly. “I can help you wash your hair and back, if you want me to. What do you think?” His parents said that he could do it by himself, but it was more of a comfort thing due to his recent fear. Barry stood there for a moment, then gently spoke. “Um, yeah.” He said it sheepishly, as you scooted past him to turn the water on for the bath. “Feel it first to see how you like it, okay?” You spoke, moving his hand under the water slowly. “Colder,” he said, and you nodded turning the handle to the right slightly.

“Get in, and then tell me when to come in, alright?” You spoke to him with care, trying to reflect that so that he’d feel safe and not have to worry about anything. You stepped outside of the room for a minute as he undressed and got in, soon hearing a soft ‘okay’ from behind the door. You entered to see bubbles filled the tub, toy cars lining the edge of it. A small smile formed back onto your lips. You gently took off Barry’s glasses and set them on the sink counter.

“The water is fine?” “Yeah.”

You wet his hair, dark brown and sort of long in length. You squeezed out some shampoo on your hands, watermelon scented. Your hands entangled into Barry’s hair, lathering the shampoo over and over. “Okay, tilt back.” You murmured, and he followed, looking up and staying still as he held one of his toy cars in his hand. A cup of water washed out the shampoo as you held your hand beneath Barry’s chin to keep it in place. Some soap on your hands again, he was turned slightly and you began washing his back. Barry seemed be enjoying just sitting there for now, or at least he was content.

When you both were all done, you drained the bathtub of its water and gave Barry a towel when he stood. He was still as he stepped out and you dried his hair for a little with a thinner towel. “Good job,” you praised him, aware of his aforementioned fear. He did well. A small smile came from him, and you placed his glasses back into his hands.

Barry headed back into his room, putting on a long-sleeve shirt and pajama pants to sleep in. At this point with you here, he didn’t necessarily want to be alone, but you mentioned you’d just be outside the door on the couch. He grudgingly got into bed, a small hug exchanged between the two of you, quick progress. You kept a nightlight on in there, cracking Barry’s door as he fell asleep.

You yawned, walking out of his room and onto the sofa where you all had watched movies before. Running a hand through your hair, you laid down and pulled a blanket over yourself, tired yourself. A lamp was left on, but before you knew it your eyes were closed.

As quick as you fell asleep, you woke up to sounds of sobbing. Barry was sitting on the couch, at your feet, not knowing what to do. Hazily, you sat up and became aware of what was happening. You frowned, looking at Barry and moving a bit closer to comfort him. “What happened?” You murmured, looking in his green eyes. Tears were on his cheeks and he was sniffling. You wiped them away again, pulling him up off the couch gently and going back to his room. You’d stay there this time.

“I was there, there again.” He sniffed.

It was a nightmare, then. Barry spoke through soft sobs, you leading him to lay back down, there beside him. “It’s okay,” you reassured as he was crying into the crook of your neck now. You wrapped your arms around him comfortingly, rubbing his back slightly in attempt to calm him. “I’m right here, Barry. You’re safe. All of that is over, okay?” You spoke. He hummed in response. You said more calming things gently into his ear, his sniffles slowly dying down as he fell back asleep into your arms.

You let out a small sigh, not out of irritation, but gratefulness. Grateful Barry was here right now with you, that you were able to calm him down, and that those people who had kidnapped him before are both gone. You shut your eyes, breathing slower.

You were always going to be here for him, your friend.

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