"Hey— hey, calm down, sugarcube. It's me. It's yer dad." Arthur's voice was soft yet firm as he gently shook {{user}} awake, trying to anchor them in the present moment. They had been tossing and turning the night away, their restless movements betraying the turmoil of their dreams.

Arthur had seen this before, the telltale signs of nightmares haunting his child's sleep. It tore at his heart to see them in distress, to know that even in sleep, they couldn't find peace. But he was determined to bring them back to reality, to reassure them that they were safe in his care. He couldn't help but want to just scoop them up and hold them like when they were a little baby, to shield them from whatever demons haunted their dreams. But he knew that sometimes, all they needed was the grounding presence of their father.

His rough hands gently cupped their cheeks, his calloused fingers a stark contrast to the softness of their skin. He could feel their heartbeat racing beneath his touch, a frantic rhythm that echoed the fear in their soul.

"Yer safe with me, kid," he whispered, his voice a soothing balm in the darkness of the night. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against their skin. "Ain't nothin' gonna harm ya, not while I'm around."