𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 ☀︎ 𝐁. 𝐊𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐙

28. Safe and sound

Your hand held Bills tightly, leading him through the forest as he followed you mindlessly, staring into the distance. You still couldn't quite understand everything that had happened. it had all been so scary, so upsetting. You wanted to forget it ever happened and go on with your life, but you still felt Zander's hands on your bare skin, as if his touch had burned ugly marks all over your body, to stay there as a reminder of his unwanted caressing and groping. You felt sick just thinking about it. Bill had been enraged, he'd literally killed a man for harming you. He hadn't really said a word since he pushed Zander off the treehouse. He had stood staring down at his limp body in silence for ages, taking everything in. he would have stayed there for hours, even days, if you hadn't come to him and lead him away. 

it felt bizarre. he had taken someone's life. he should feel distraught and guilty, and never forget it for the rest of his life. but Zander had hurt you. he had done disgusting things to you, and god, he couldn't bear to think about what Zander would have done to you if he hadn't come looking for you, if Georg hadn't shot him down, and if he hadn't pushed him to his death. Zander truly deserved it. he was a runaway criminal, he must have done countless other inhuman things in the past, if anything, he deserved to lose his life. but Bill still felt weird. he had the blood of another human being on his hands. 

Bill remained silent and lost in his thoughts, letting you pull him into the water of the moon pool. You didn't force him to speak to you, or to look at you. You left him in his thoughts to process everything, you understood that was what he needed. You washed the blood off of his hands, kissing his finger tips and holding his hand close to your heart to soothe him. Your touch was gentle, washing all his wounds with care, washing away all the blood. Bill's eyes finally looked up to meet yours. You offered him a comforting smile, taking both his hands in yours. He tried and failed to smile, tears rolling down his cheeks instead.

 He felt so upset. You had gone through so much, you had been stalked and threatened and groped, yet you were the one looking after him. You were the one smiling at him, trying to comfort and reassure him. You pulled him into a hug, rubbing soothing circles on his back as he hid his head in the crook of your neck, crying. "I killed someone" he sobbed, letting himself fall apart in your comforting embrace. "I know" you whispered, hugging him closer. "You saved me, Bill. again" 

"I'll always save you Y/N. always" he inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm himself, only to sob out again, unable to stop the tears from coming. His body wracked with sobs, his tears soaking your skin. "I would sacrifice my life for you" Your heart soared and broke at the same time. his words touched you, but you were so heartbroken to see him in such a state. "I love you Bill, so so terribly much that it hurts. I can't live without you" You confessed, pulling back and cupping his face, wiping away his tears and pressing a loving kiss to his lips. "I'd protect you from anything, even a shark" Bill couldn't help but chuckle at the statement despite his crying. You kissed away his tears, caressing the side of his face affectionately. He gazed into your eyes, nothing but immense love and admiration for you. "God, I love you so much" he breathed, his head falling onto your shoulder. Your arms slid up his back, hugging him close. 

"I know how much you like exploring the reef... Why don't we go for a swim?" you suggested, gently massaging his back as you pressed kisses to his shoulder, your touch soothing him and comforting him. He gave a small nod, reluctantly pulling away from the comfort of your body. You took his hand, leading him out of the water. 

.ೃ࿐

The boat rocked gently on the small waves, the sun descending in the sky. You combed your fingers through Bill's hair, watching the glittering water as the golden glow of the nearing sunset coloured the world in its light. Bill lifted his head off your chest, intertwining his fingers with yours as he sat kneeling on the floor of the boat. He nodded his head towards the water, silently asking you if you wanted to go in. You smiled, sitting up and getting to your feet. You looked at each other with a grin before jumping from the boat, diving down into the water. 

Bill's hand never left yours, the two of you swimming happily over the reef. You swam with the schools of brightly coloured fish, went looking for sea turtles, and hunting for treasures on the seafloor. The bright beams of the sun shone through the water, dousing the reef in its golden light. You swam hand in hand, exploring the small underwater caves and trying to see who could hold their breath for the longest, swimming above the seafloor and trailing your fingers in the sand. You and Bill watched the sweet little clownfish in their sea Anemone home, a happy smile on Bill's face. he was fond of the little clownfish. You showed Bill how to tame the Friendly seahorses, a whole family of them hooked onto your fingers. He eventually managed to make friends with one of them, the small seahorse twisting its tail around his pinky finger. Bill grinned, staring in disbelief at the seahorse hugging his finger. 

As night fell on the surface above, the reef stayed alive and awake, lit by the silvery glow of the moonlight. You swam alongside Bill, neither of you wanting to leave the peace and beauty of the reef, though you both knew you had to return to the surface eventually, and back home to the others. they would worry if you didn't return soon. You squeezed Bill's hand, glancing up at the surface. He nodded, swiftly pulling you into his arms. He hugged you close, holding your hands tightly as the two of you floated back up to the surface. 

*ೃ༄

Your Pa sat in silence at the dining table, a grave expression on his face as he stared down at his barely touched Bowl of leftover soup. All the blood and destruction had been cleaned away, giving the impression that nothing had ever happened. You glanced at Pa, your heart aching for him. You knew how guilty he felt for putting you and the boys in such a dangerous situation, how enraged he was at Zander and his men for hurting you teenagers, and how especially enraged he was at Zander for everything he had done to you. he felt so angry at himself for being fooled in such a way. He didn't speak or acknowledge anyone, not for awhile. 

You snuggled down into the comforts of your bed as Bill tucked you in, covering you in the sheets. He leaned down to kiss your lips goodnight, blowing out the candles. Just as he was about to slide into Bed himself, Georg appeared at the doorway. Bill walked over to him, the two boys having a conversation in hushed tones. You watched from the bed, awaiting for Bill to join you. Georg told Bill everything that had happened whilst you two were gone. The bodies of Zander and his brothers had been taken care of, tossed to the sharks in the waters of the north of the island. As for their Boat, Tom and Gustav had raided it and brought back many useful things before sinking it. he explained Your Pa had been distraught, severely overcome with shock when he returned to the treehouse shortly after you and Bill had gone to the moon pool.

Bill and Georg Briefly hugged, Georg whispering a Goodnight to you both as he left the room, climbing up the tree to his own bed. Bill walked over to you, getting into Bed. You shuffled close to him, laying your head on his warm chest as he wrapped his arms around you, playing mindlessly with strands of your hair as he twisted them around his finger and braided them. You listened to his steady heartbeat, feeling your eyes flutter shut as you began to drift to sleep, feeling content and safe with Bill at your side. You slept peacefully, knowing you no longer had anything to be afraid of.