Kitten: Happy 2018, everybody! I hope you all had an good last year. Now let's make this year beyond amazing!

Kitten: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I loved writing this one! nvm

~Chapter 6-Stormy Nights~

CRACK! ROAR!

Mugman jumped with a small whimper, burying his face even further into his pillow. The poor boy was shaking and trembling, and the constant crackling and rumbling of thunder and lightning wasn't exactly helping.

It was pouring hard in Inkwell Isle that night, harder than the one time when he and Cups were kids. People were rushing into their homes, and nobody, including the cups and their grandpa, could leave until a few days, it was so horrible.

Luckily, though, Kettle had claimed that the rain would settle by the morning. Mugman wasn't so sure.

Heavy rain fell from the sky outside and was hitting the ground like a thousand hooves of horses, galloping away from an unknown danger. Mugs winced as his blue eyes caught another strike of lightning up in the sky, and he gulped nervously, clenching his bed sheets even tighter. He just wished that this night would end already. He wished that he could go to a faraway place, where there's never any thunder storms and he could sleep in peace for once whenever it rained. But since that wasn't possible, all he could do was whimper, watching the terrifying lightning strikes and hearing the roars of thunder outside his window.

Mugs hated his Astraphobia. He's had it every since he was a little kid. When he would hear endless tortured filled cracks of thunder, he would immediately dive into his brother's arms, seeking comfort as he burst into a fit of sobs, and Cuphead would hug his little brother as tight as he could, gazing down at him with a sympathetic frown, rubbing his back in even circles while humming tunes to him, whispering that it was okay and that there was nothing to be scared of, and that he was there, and every now and then kiss his brother's mug shaped head, or his blue nose.

Mug has always depended on Cuphead, but whenever he got scared like that, it was one of those times where he needed his brother the most. Cups didn't mind staying up and comforting his brother. What was important to him was that the younger boy got to sleep peacefully in the end, and he didn't have to be crying all night, terrified.

Not only did Mugman hate his problem, but he was also ashamed of it. He would think as a now 12-year-old mug, he would be over such childish fears. But alas, he wasn't. And that made him feel even more disgusted with himself.

Above him in the top bunk, was Cuphead. The older boy was fast asleep, dressed in his red pajamas, wrapped up tight in his red blanket and white sheets, lying on his side with his gloved hands spread out across each other and balled up into small fists, his chest rising with each inhale and falling with each exhale. His snores were petite and quiet, so much that they barely made a sound. But they still filled the room as the boy slept away.

CRACK!

Mugs let out a small yelp as tears filled his eyes, beyond terrified. His breathing hitched a few notches and he began shaking and trembling all over, and before he knew it, tears were cascading down his face rapidly like a waterfall.

Swallowing, he cautiously looked up at his brother's bunk, the source of the soft snores filling the room.

He was at the crossroads at going up to his brother, and sleeping in the safety of his arms for the rest of the night, or enduring the fear down on his one for the next at least more than 12 hours.

Mug frowned guiltily at the thought of waking Cup up. The red cup deserved the sleep, considering how hard the older boy's been working the past few days. He didn't want Cups to be angry with him. But still…

CRACK!

The blue clad boy jumped one last time and made his decision. He jumped out of bed, almost falling to the ground. He gulped before climbing up the ladder that lead to Cup's bed. Once he was up there, he shook his peacefully sleeping brother.

"Cuphead…" He whimpered. No answer. Tears flooded his eyes and he shook the other boy. "Hey, wake up, Cuppy!" He choked on a sob, "Cuphead, please! Cuphead!"

A pair of crimson eyes shot open at hearing his brother's tearful voice, and he was startled to see Mug up on his bed.

"M-Mugs?" Cups mumbled sleepily and yawned. "What're you doing..-" He paused and his eyes widened at the tears running down the young mug's face. "Wha-hey, Mugsy! What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.

Mug didn't answer, and before he could, another roar of thunder filled the air, causing his adrenaline to run. Cup jumped, startled, and glanced out the window, only to grunt with surprise when he looked back as Mugs catapulted himself against Cup's chest, wrapping his arms around him and sobbed uncontrollably, quivering badly.

"C-Cuppy…I'm scared… *Hic* M-Make it st- *Hic* stop!"

Cup's face softened and he rubbed his brother's back. "Aww, Mugsy…" He sighed. He knew that his poor brother hadn't gotten over his fear just yet. He felt terrible that Mugs had to suffer through this still. It wasn't fair. Mug was so sweet. Too sweet. The mug was even too sweet to be Cup's brother. Mugman was so innocent. So pure. Here Cups was, an empty headed child who risked so many things half the time, mainly his life, while his brother, who depended on him so much, got to be worried sick and scared of losing him.

Cup knew that Mug wouldn't know what to do if anything ever happened to him. Which was why he always tried to be more careful. For Mug's sake. For his, too.

"Hey, shh… it's okay, Mugs. There's nothin' to be scared of. It's alright, I'm here. It's okay, Mugsy…" Cups said gently, holding his brother tightly in the protection of his arms.

Each time there was a roar of thunder outside, Cup hugged him even tighter as Mugs clenched his brother's shirt. The older boy continued comforting the younger, stroking his back and mouthing words of encouragement while wearing a small smile.

"...C-Cup?" Mugs abruptly asked, now calmed down a little bit.

"What's up, Mugs?" Cups riposted swiftly, wondering about what his brother wanted to say.

"...Do… Do you think I'm w-weak?"

Cups gaped, "What? No way, Mugs! You ain't weak! How could you say that?!"

"It's just…" Mug mumbled, leaning forward and burying his face in Cup's shoulder. "I should be over this stupid childhood fear by now. It's dumb of me to be crying over something so little still, especially at our age. It's just plain pathetic…"

"No it ain't, Mugman. There's nothing wrong with being scared still. It's not just a childhood fear, it's astraphobia. And you can't help the fact that you didn't get over it yet. Tons of kids don't get rid of it til' they're as old as Gramps. But you'll beat it soon, Mugsy, I'm sure ya will. Ya just need a little longer then ya thought ya would. But I promise ya, you'll get rid of it soon, and once ya do, you'll be happy that you were patient. Promise."

Mug, with a sniffle and some tears rolling down his face, gradually looked back up at his brother. Cups flashed that goofy, confident yet soothing grin of his and wiped his little brother's tears away, causing Mugs to smile in response after a minute, knowing that Cup was serious.

The blue clad brother snuggled into Cups, his head resting against Cup's chest. Cuphead pulled his red blanket over them, his one arm wrapped around Mugs, and another keeping him close. Mugs sighed in content.

"Thanks, Cup. You're the best." He yawned. "Sorry for wakin' ya up…"

"Eh, it's no sweat, bro. Ya feel better?"

"...Mhmm…."

"Then that's all that matters. Don't worry about things, bro. It'll be just fine."

"Okay." Mug yawned again, burying his head in Cup's shoulder. "Thanks, Cup…"

"No problem, Mug. Love ya."

"I love ya too…"

Mugs then closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, using Cup's chest as he pillow. He couldn't wait to get rid of his astraphobia, but he wasn't in a big rush to at the same time. Because he knew that Cup would always be there for him. And that's one thing that will never change.