Hey guys, another chapter is here and I hope you enjoy it! Review, it really does make my day to see what the readers think of my hard work!
"In what is being called the coldest weather front to ever transgress across the Western United States in recorded history, it is now quickly making it's way towards the city of Los Angeles. With a high of eight degree's and a low of negative twenty-one predicted for the city, many stores are preparing for the worst. Stores all across the state are now stocking up on supplies for what is being called the storm of the century, other stores preparing in Oregon and Washington as well. Citizens across the country are unsure of what to expect from this freak storm system as people take to the stores for food and supplies. Many are blaming this harsh winter on climate change as snow continues to pile up on the Eastern Seaboard and the Midwest. Power companies are urging people to stock up on blankets and modes to keep warm in the event of power outages. This has been Kelly Kline with the National Weather Association, stay warm and stay safe."
Hiro couldn't help but scoff at the TV, looking outside the window as he stood up from the couch and walked over. Pushing aside a part of the curtains, he watched as gray clouds moved in from the mountains in the far distance. Small flurries could be seen drifting down, barely noticeable against the backdrop of tall skyscrapers. Walking back through the living room, he walked up to a nearby shelf as he tried to reach a blanket his brother had folded and put there earlier. Standing on his tip toes, Hiro grunted in extreme aggravation at not being able to still reach the blanket. He had to be short he thought, could have been cursed with anything else but it had to be short. He blinked away some of the water collecting at his eyes, knowing he wasn't good with dealing with emotion or words like other people.
"Need a little help there?" came a familiar voice as a hand reached above him, grabbing the blanket and setting it into Hiro's reach. Turning around, he could see Tadashi smiling at him with genuine love and concern.
"We move away from home only to get pummeled by a massive snow storm. . .lovely." Hiro muttered, his voice barely a whisper as Tadashi just chuckled before ruffling the black, unkempt mess that was Hiro's hair.
"It'll be okay little bro, Tadashi's here." the older teen said, Hiro just blushing to himself before wrapping the blanket around his shoulders and wandering off down the hallway. Tadashi turned as he watched the door to their room close, turning his attention back to the window as bigger puffs of snow began to fall.
The Next Night
Tadashi sat there in the living room, a pencil in his hand as he marked off a few words to a crossword puzzle. Peering up momentarily, he could see Jack and his boyfriend Hiccup curled up on the couch as they shared headphones while watching a movie together on their iPad. The sound of the wind echoed throughout the apartment complex, the snow growing more intense outside as Tadashi glanced over as Ethan peered outside from the window.
"Los Angeles has never gotten this much snow. . .it's beautiful yet haunting at the same time." the older male said, Benny typing away at his laptop from the dining room. Tadashi suddenly looked up as a loud bang sounded off from outside, the lights and TV suddenly going out.
"Son of a bitch!" Duncan hollered out from his bedroom, Tadashi sitting in near darkness as the light from the window cast shadows across the room. He could hear a soft cry emit from his own bedroom, standing up and running down the hall before opening the door to his room. He could tell that with the curtains having been closed, the outage had left Hiro in absolute darkness as he caught sight of his baby brother whimpering in the corner. In a few quick strides, he was Hiro's side and holding him close as he rubbed one of his big hands up and down his brothers back. He could only feel a pang of guilt, knowing that Hiro was absolutely terrified of the dark as Hiro cried into his neck.
"Shh, niisan is here. Don't cry Hiro." he whispered, the younger teen's cries eventually drawing out into long sniffles before he had calmed himself down.
"I. . .didn't think. . .that the power would go out. . .so I closed the curtains and was. . .trying to. . .work on a schematic for a battle bot." Hiro admitted between sniffles, Tadashi reaching over Hiro's bed and throwing one of the black out curtains he had bought for his brother open. The city could no longer be seen as snow pounded ferociously outside, and without power Tadashi knew that the temperature inside the apartment would begin to steadily decline.
"It's okay Hiro, I've got ya." the older brother admitted, rubbing a small groove into Hiro's shirt as he traced his fingers across his back in a small circle. Without further thinking, Tadashi did the only thing he knew could possibly help right now.
"Come stop your crying, it will be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you, I will be here, don't you cry. For one so small, you seem so strong, my arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us. . .can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry." he sang softly, the minutes passing by as Hiro slowly moved his head side to side in rhythm with the song. Tadashi knew that it was Hiro's favorite lullaby and song, having caught the teen watching the movie Tarzan a thousand times and singing along with it.
"It's going to get cold isn't it?" Hiro asked after another few long moments, his voice nonchalant and laced with a dose of sarcasm now as Tadashi chuckled to himself.
"I'd imagine so Hiro. . .your brain is at least good for something now." he teased, Hiro swatting at him in the shoulder playfully as he pushed away and stuck out his tongue.
"I'm going to go help the others light up the apartment, you good now?" he asked with newly replaced concern, brushing a hand across Hiro's cheek as Hiro gave a slight nod before a slight tinge of pink blushed at his cheeks.
"Just come get me if you need anything, I'm not sure how long the power will be out so try and stay warm. I'll be back, love ya Hiro." Tadashi whispered, knowing that Hiro would never let anyone else but him see this side of him.
"Love you too Tadashi, I'll be okay now." he muttered back, his words a jumble of stutters and pauses, everyone who was anyone knowing that Hiro was not good with expressing emotion. After a quick ruffle of his brother's hair, Tadashi got up and walked back out. He could already see the others lighting candles as they placed them around and about the apartment in prime locations.
Later That Night
Tadashi laid there, the bundles and bundles of blankets piled on top as he tossed and turned in bed. Beyond the constant and furious pounding of the snow outside, he could now hear Hiro's teeth chattering together consistently. Feeling bad for Hiro, he threw the covers aside as he got up and stretched his arms. He could only be glad that the floors were carpeted, knowing his feet would have probably frozen if they had been anything else. Walking across the room, dodging some of the tools and spare parts that Hiro had littered the floor with, he came up next to Hiro's bedside. Looking down he could see that the teen was curled up into a tight ball, the covers bunched up around him in a tight mess. Leaning down, he scooped his hands under the teen's lanky and frail body before picking him up and carrying him back to his own bed. He laid Hiro into the soft bundle of blankets, turning back as he gathered the rest of Hiro's pillows and covers before throwing them onto his own bed for added warmth. Piling himself into the bed and throwing the covers back over them both, he smiled to himself as he felt Hiro's body slowly begin to come down from it's shivering hysteria. He pulled him into his body, knowing that he himself gave off heat like a furnace. Tadashi nuzzled his arm around his nimble waist and placed a soft and tender kiss to Hiro's hair before resting his head back down onto the pillow. He began to hum the lullaby from earlier to himself, his fingers slowly scratching at a small piece of Hiro's skin softly. Soon, his own voice had died away as the warmth between the two dulled his senses down. What once was a scary reminder of the storm, the sound of the snow outside had turned into a lullaby of it's own as Tadashi lulled himself to sleep to the sound of the falling snow and his brother's soft breathing.
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