Our Little Secret ||Historical Lams Oneshots||

the Storm Chapter™️

i literally could not think of another name, deal with it
CLICHÉ TIME

Thunder boomed from outside the cabin Alexander and I were staying in. Lighting flashed and illuminated the dim room through the windows. The glass was nearly opaque with the rain that fell mercilessly outside.

Alex sat at his desk, writing as per usual. I watched as he started scratching more rapidly with his quill after every thunderclap. He bit his lip so hard beads of blood began to form.

I walked up to him and laid my hands on his shoulders. "Alexander, come to bed," I whispered. "You're stressed."

"I'm not stressed!" he said, jumping slightly as another lightning strike lit the room.

His quill nearly snapped in his hand and he muttered a curse under his breath.

"You're stressed." I deadpanned.

"I am not stressed."

"Well something is bothering you," I said. "What is the matter, dear boy?"

Alex didn't respond, but I got my answer when he winced—almost unnoticeably—at a loud rumble of thunder.

"It's the storm, isn't it?" I asked as the realization dawned. He blushed and nodded. I let out a soft aw and knelt beside his chair, lifting his hand to my lips and pressing a gentle kiss to it. "Hey, it's okay," I brushed a curl behind his ear and rested my hand on the side of his face. "You're okay."

He looked at me and smiled softly. "I love you, John," he said. "I'm sorry about,"—he flinches at another thunder crash— "this."

"You've no need to apologize," I assured him. "I love you too, Alexander," A slight color rose in his cheeks as he turned back to his writing. "Which is why I'm telling you to come lie in bed with me right now. You're too jumpy to focus."

Alex frowned. "I need to—"

"—Finish, I know," I interrupted. "Certainly you can complete those in the morning, yes?"

He nods sheepishly. "I suppose I could," he says. I planted a lingering kiss on his cheek. Alex sighs as I move away. "Alright," he agrees reluctantly. "I'll come." Before he stood, however, he squeezed his eyes shut at another flash of lightning.

I took his hand and pulled him to my side as he stands. He puts an arm around my back. "I'm sorry," Alexander says, tightening his hold on me. "This is embarrassing."

I kiss the top of his head. "It's not embarrassing," I told him. "We're all afraid of something."

"No, no, I'm not exactly afraid, per se, but I-" Alex broke off and pulled me down onto the bed, curling up against me. "Storms trigger memories I'd rather leave shut out."

I ran my hand down his back. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He started shaking his head, but sighed, looking up at me. His big blue eyes glistened. "You already know I'm from the Caribbean," I nod. "And you already know how I... how I lost... everyone..." Alex trailed off. He looked like he was about to cry and I held him close.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, I don't want to pry where I'm not welcome—"

"No, I-I want you to know," Alexander's voice cracked as he spoke, but he pretended he didn't notice. "It happened when I was seventeen. Towards the end of August, I'll never forget it. Th-there was a hurricane that hit my island unannounced. It was short, but, God, it was terrifying," He swallowed and blinked. "I watched people die that day. Innocent people who'd never done anything to deserve it," I watched his eyes fill with tears, but he was determined not to let them fall. "And I... I couldn't die. Not when I got sick, not even when a hurricane almost leveled the entire town," Alexander inhaled deeply. "I never knew—I still don't know—why I, of all people, survived."

I almost saw the weight being lifted off his shoulders as he told the story. It was clearly something that had been eating him up inside, and yet, he still wasn't allowing himself to break. "You're allowed to cry," I whispered. "You don't have to be so strong all the time."

Alex buried his face in my chest, trembling slightly. I continued to gently stroke down his back. "I'm s-sorry," My heart ached with the vulnerability in his voice. "I've j-just learned not t-to expose myself."

I held him tighter. "It's okay to be exposed," I brushed my fingers through his auburn curls. "You shouldn't have to hold all this in."

Alex's shoulders shook. "B-but every time I've ever l-let my guard d-down, s-something b-bad happened."

Thunder rumbled across the sky and he pulled himself closer to me.

"Nothing bad will happen to you this time, I'm here to protect you now."

I felt Alexander shiver. "John?" he asks softly, his voice clearer. He lifts his tearstained face so his eyes—still shining—meet mine.

I gently caressed the side of his face, rubbing away the last drops in his eyes. "Yes, my dear boy?"

He looked at me with an expression mixed with anxiety and hopefulness both showing. "Promise me you'll never leave."

I inhale sharply.

"I promise."

these just keep progressively getting shorter don't they

also yes i knOW i kind of strayed away from the "storm" concept but does it look like i care  *zoom into me crying in the corner because i strayed away from the "storm" concept*