Title: Lessons on Hiding (a.k.a. Five Techniques Haruhi Uses to Hide from Thunderstorms)
Disclaimer: Ouran High School Host Club and its characters are not mine; I'm just playing with them. :3
A/N: First Ouran fic. \o/
1.
It's pure instinct that drives her into small spaces. The smaller and more tight fitting the better. She feels safer with walls pressing against her sides and back, a cold kind of comfort that she's become oddly accustom to. The bed is usually the first place she scrambles for, or a table. She trembles and shakes with uncontrollable fear, tears forming at the corner of her eyes and leaving trails down her cheeks. She presses her hands over her ears, squeezes her eyes closed.
It's not the most effective way to beat the storms. The thunder's loud rumbling still manages to sneak its way into her head, weaving its way through her fingers and echoing through her head. The lightning reaches her often, lighting up the insides of her eyes and making her squeak in protest.
2.
Sometimes she turns the stereo on. It doesn't matter what station plays, she just cranks up the volume to an ear-splitting screech. Every once in a while it works, drowning out the thunder and sounds of rain. By the time the storm has gone, she can hardly hear at all.
But sometimes it doesn't work at all. The lightning is a constant reminder that there is a storm raging outside. And unable to forget it, she can only focus on the sounds of thunder. She can turn the volume up until the knob refuses to turn any more but it doesn't do her any good.
3.
On occasion, she takes refuge in the dark. It may be in a closet, maybe in a spare wardrobe. The blackness that surrounds her once she pulls the doors shut is a silent comfort. The doors and walls help mask the sound of thunder. The same doors and walls hide her from the lightning.
She still can't stop from shaking though, the fear not forgotten. Tears continue to fall accompanied by the soft sobs pulled from her whenever the thunder booms outside her opaque shelter.
4.
She tries wearing headphones. It worked so well when Hikaru had placed his rain-covered ones over her ears that she's sure it will work again. It helps keep the sound of thunder low, almost inaudible. But she can't keep herself from staring at the lightning that flashes outside, like an insect to a bug-zapper, and this reminds her of the thunder.
She tries pressing the headphones tighter against her head. It doesn't work like that one time with Hikaru and eventually she quits attempting this way altogether, reverting back to the more reliable ways of hiding.
5.
The most relief comes from a different kind of comfort, not one given by cold, uncaring surroundings but by something warm, caring. She buries her head in Kaoru's neck, whimpering. Kaoru holds her close so she's almost sitting in his lap while Hikaru sits at their side, massaging the tension from Haruhi's back with slow, steadily moving fingers. She can't hear the thunder over the rapid beating of her own heart. The twins both whisper in her ear, sometimes together, sometimes taking turns but always telling her it's okay, that she'll be alright.
And she believes them.