Slowly I woke from my deep sleep and drifted into a nearly-awake-state. I kept my eyes closed and it took me a few minutes to realise that I'm awake at all.

But what woke me anyway? Even with my eyes closed I could tell it was still pitch-dark.

A bright light illuminated the room, closely followed by deafening thunder.

Well, that would be an explanation.

Stupid thunder storm! It was about to deprive me of the little bit of sleep I managed to get. Isn't it enough that I couldn't sleep till late night 'cause of Horo?

My thoughts were interrupted by another lightning. The thunder followed even faster than before. But there was an additional noise I couldn't quite put. It was very quiet … but I was sure I've heard something.

Curiously I pricked up my ears and waited for the next lightning. It didn't take long and the following thunder gave even me slight creeps – not that I'd ever admit this to anybody!

But more importantly: There was again this other more quiet noise. It almost sounded like…an outcry or a whimper or something like that. But…this couldn't be…?

Finally I opened my eyes, even though it didn't change much as dark as it was…

While the next noisy thunder deafened out everything else, I rolled over and was so able to look at Horo. His futon was just a few inches away from my own. In this complete darkness I couldn't see him clearly nonetheless.

This time the next lightning took a long time to strike again. But I kept staring at the position I assumed Horohoro was lying at. I was seriously curious. Somehow I couldn't believe what my head wanted to suppose.

Suddenly the room was lightened for a short moment. I have seen exactly what I was guessing for though. He was holing up under his blanket and gave a picture of pure misery.

So this whimper-what-ever-sound was really him?! I had nerver expected that someone like Horo would be afraid of something simple as a thunder storm.

During the next lightning and thunder I realized that he was shaking quite badly, too. Almost whithout thinking about I rose switly.

Careful I crawled the few steps to his futon and kneeled next to it. Without hesitating I threw his blanket away from his head. Appalled and surprised he rose his head and saw straight into my face…as well as this was possible in this damn darkness.

"Horo, you don't have to be afraid. It's just a thunder storm."

His view lowered a little and mumbling he replied: "I…I know…"

I sighted lightly. He certainly would keep me off getting some well deserved sleep again, wouldn't he? Although it's not on purpose this time.

Outside a severe storm rioted. The rain slashed against the windows and the lightning-thunder-combo was getting even stronger.

"Ren…?"

I turned around to Horo and gazed hat him interrogatively.

"Could you…uhh would you…I mean…do you … do you help me…please?"

I couldn't remember ever heard him like that before. His voice sounded so frightened and desperate for help, it didn't sound like him anymore.

I just nodded silently. What else should I answer? I was awake anyway and besides…I had somehow an inner impulse to help Horo. Seeing him like this I almost got afraid, too. But only almost!

Horohoro rose into a sitting position and cringed again as another thunder ripped through the air. He breathed shakily and didn't dare to lift his gaze and fully look at me.

After it was quite again he sat there in front of me - not very straight but at least sitting at all - and remained like this. I started to wonder what he wanted to achieve of this.

Didn't he want me to help him? He should hurry and finally tell me how exactly I was supposed to help.

I just continued watching him questioningly – one eyebrow raised and arms crossed - and he finally returned the eye contact. Though, Horohoro seemed more like he was thinking about something than truly looking at me. As if he couldn't decide to do whatever he was thinking about.

I was getting more and more annoyed and snapped at him accordingly.

"So what?!"

He cringed at that and I couldn't help the rising confusion. Did this thunder storm really put him off that much? To be scared about something like that? I mean it's an everyday thing that he gets on my nerves and I react in annoyance…

I sighted in defeat.

"Gods, tell me already how I can help you. Seeing you like this even I feel sympathy…"

This time I had spoken as calm as possible and it seemed to work. He smiled slightly, as if he wanted to say thanks. His smile was anything but successful though.

All of a sudden lightning illuminated the room again - almost instantly accompanied by deafening thunder and rumbling.

Barely I noticed Horo's eyes going wide.

The next moment everything was dark again and an almost depressing silence followed. Horohoro had clung to me in an (almost) death grip and due to that I realized just how much he was shivering.

Without thinking much about I placed my arms carefully around him and moved my hands over his back soothingly.

He just tightened his grip – if possible - and pressed his face into my shirt.

Tomorrow I really have to ask him why he is that frightened of thunder storms. I never expected that being afraid in such an extent was even possible. Especially with him!

Outside the rain lessened and silence started to stretch again. One distant lightning shined through the windows. The thunder took a long time to reach our ears and was way quieter. As suddenly as this storm had arrived it now faded away. In this welcome silence my tiredness came back slowly. And also there was Horo's warmth embracing me.

Without realizing it fully I felt asleep again - my head lying down on Horo's - still holding him in my arms.

Re-reading and correcting this was so SO awkward and kind of embarrassing tbh xD

Seriously, my language skills were so low when I first wrote this, it's ridiculous!

I'm not really in this fandom anymore, but it was really important o me once and it just didn't feel right to simply delete this story. So I went for correction it instead and well. It's probably still not up to my current writing, but a lot better than before. :)

Thanks for reading! :D