The sea it swells like a sore head and the night is aching.
"Electrical Storm", U2
The cacophonous cannonade of thunder rolled and rumbled above and around her. She winced when a particularly loud one boomed next to her, announcing its arrival by way of a blinding white light. Gou didn't realise she had been whimpering until the quite overcame the room and she had a moment to catch her breath. The rain had begun a couple of hours ago and did not seem intent on relenting. It was, she supposed, one of the lesser perks of living in the coast – thunderstorms could be pretty fucking scary. It hadn't always been like that, only – only since that night, years ago, when she lost her father to the ocean's might and wrath. It was so beautiful, it had been easy to forget how deadly it was. But years later, on nights like this, Gou would remember.
The sound boomed around the house and this time, she was not prepared for it. The glass of water she had poured herself earlier slipped from her fingers before she could think to wrap them tight around it and she raised her hands to her ears, covering them poorly against the explosion. That one time, she almost cried. Gou stumbled to her knees, making a poor job of picking up the pieces of broken glass, muttering how silly she'd been, how childish.
"It's just thunder," she murmured under her breath.
Behind her, the door opened softly.
"Gou?"
Squeaking, Gou turned around to find Sousuke, still sleepy and clad in loose gray pajama bottoms and a muscle shirt. He turned on the light, kneeling to help her clean up her mess despite her protests that it was unnecessary.
"I was on my way to the kitchen. I'll bring you something."
He left before she had a chance to tell him no. When he came back a couple of minutes later, he was carrying a steaming mug in his hand and the smell of chamomile filled her nostrils.
"You didn't have to," she murmured softly, but Sousuke only shrugged.
"I thought it might help you sleep."
She mumbled her thanks, bringing the mug to her lips. It wasn't that she expected him to stay, but when Sousuke moved towards the door Gou almost choked on her tea. "Don't leave!" she gasped. "Please, Sou-kun."
Sousuke turned heavy-lidded teal eyes towards her and hesitated only a second before setting his glass of water on her night stand.
"I'll be back."
He did come back, eventually. He was also carrying a thin futon and a sheet thrown over his shoulder. Hesitating still, he set the futon by her bed and sat down, his broad back to the wall while Gou watched him intently, drinking the last of her tea. He closed his eyes, heaving a sigh because, on the next room, Rin had been almost as fretful as Gou was. He had made him some tea, too, and had only left his room after he made sure Rin was already fast asleep. He yawned, and started slightly when he caught Gou staring. It was surprising to him how those two could be so different and so alike.
"I'm sorry for making you stay," she spoke quietly, hugging a pillow to her chest. Sousuke only shook his head. "The storm - it won't stop."
The thunder roared above them and Souske slid further down the wall until he was horizontal on the futon. He stuffed a pillow under his head and looked at the ceiling of Gou's bedroom. When he peered a look at her, she was looking at him intently, vermillion gaze fixed on his profile. Her hand was hanging limply next to him and in a bold move, he took it beween his fingers and squeezed once.
"I'm here," he said. "I'm not going to leave."
She squeezed hard in response and they looked at each other until her eyes were heavy, and then she saw no more. She slept, despite the rumbling thunder and the inclement rain and the pouding ache in her chest. But her fingers never went slack in his and he never moved, despite how uncomfortable he had to have been. It was just one of those things about Sousuke; she could always count on him when she needed him.