Thunder and Nightmares

Grey jumped as another clap of thunder rang out, it had been like this all night and she just couldn't take it anymore. She had been trying to go to sleep for at least two hours but couldn't because the thunder just kept scaring her. She wasn't usually scared of thunderstorms but when it was near constant, it set her anxiety on edge. She quickly hurried out of bed, with her heavy blanket wrapped around her, she made her way to the safest place she could think of; Gauches room. After walking a few feet she softly knocked on his door, hoping he was still awake.

" G-Gauche? Are you awake?" She called softly after a moment. She heard a small shuffling on the other side before Gauche opened the door, his hair messy and his eyes barely open.

" I am now. What's up?" He asked tiredly, rubbing some sleep from his eye. Grey couldn't help but blush, even when he was sleepy he still looked handsome. She quickly pulled the blanket up and covered her face.

" C-Can I stay here tonight?" She asked him shyly, she peaked over the blanket and noticed the slightly confused look on his face. " The T-Thunder. I can't sleep with it being so l-loud!" She added as another loud roll of thunder sounded, she jumped and made a squeaking noise before wrapping her arms around Gauche's middle and burying her face in his shirt.

Gauche's face may've looked annoyed by this, but in actuality, it warmed his heart very much that the first person Grey ran to when she was scared was him. He sighed before wrapping an arm around her and rubbing it up and down her back, trying to comfort her.

" Fine. You can take the bed and I'll sleep on the floor." He said before moving to let her inside, she hurried in and turned to face him as he closed the door. She shook her head as she watched him grab a pillow and throw it on the floor.

" N-No! This is your room, you take the bed I don't mi-." She started to argue before Gauche cut her off, a stern look on his face.

" What kind of boyfriend would let his girlfriend sleep on the floor?" He asked before pulling a spare blanket out of his trunk and setting it on top of his sleeping bag he had pulled out. " Unless you want to share the bed?" He asked.

Grey's face turned an even brighter red than what it was, her heart was beating so fast she thought it might try and burst out of her chest. Gauche laughed softly before walking over and patting her head gently.

" I'm only kidding. There's another pillow in that trunk over there if you need it, ok?" He asked before placing a soft kiss on top of her head. She nodded quickly as a small smile graced her features. Gauche walked over to his sleeping bag and laid down as Grey walked over to his bed and climbed into it.

" Goodnight Grey."

" G-Goodnight Gauche."

——-

Grey had maybe been asleep for a few minutes before another loud crack of thunder woke her, she jumped up and looked around. She had almost forgotten she went to Gauche's room to sleep, this was one of the only places she ever felt safe, where she felt she could be herself, it was her comfort space. She suddenly frowned when she heard slight moaning and the rustling of sheets. She looked over the edge of the bed to see Gauche thrashing around, muttering something about Marie, his parents, and she even heard her own name, Grey watched him for a few moments.

'Should I wake him up? O-Or is it bad if you wake someone while they're having a nightmare?' She thought to herself, she couldn't keep watching him go through this hell that he was. So Grey gritted her teeth, summoned up all the courage she had, and she gently shook him awake. When Gauche didn't wake up she shook him again, but much more forcefully.

" G-Gauche, wake up!" She whispered as she shook him again, when he still didn't stir she spoke a little louder. " Gauche!"

He suddenly bolted up right with a small gasp, causing Grey to let out a surprised squeak as she jumped back herself. He looked around wildly, probably to see who woke him up, and when his eyes landed on hers she was surprised by what she saw; fear. They were wide like she had only seen maybe a couple of times, whatever he was dreaming about had him afraid. He sighed before rubbing his face.

" G-Grey, is everything ok?" Gauche asked, his voice sounding somewhat hoarse. She nodded quickly before moving to lean against the wall to allow him to sit on the bed, which he did. His breathing was still laboured as though he had just run a mile, sweat was pouring down his back and on his face. Grey pulled her blanket up to her face.

" Are...are you ok Gauche?" She asked him softly, they both knew he wasn't, and Gauche surprised her when he shook his head to acknowledge that no, he was not ok. " D-Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

Gauche shook his head, his hands gripping the edge of his mattress so tightly that his knuckles began to turn white. He didn't want to worry her, to frighten her while she was already frightened by the storm, he would try to tell her about it tomorrow. A part of him hoped he would forget the horrible nightmare by then, but he had an inkling he wouldn't.

" Hey Grey, what helps comfort you the most when you're scared?" He suddenly asked, Grey jumped slightly and shuffled her feet nervously under the blanket.

" You holding me, telling me it's going to be ok, even if it's not. Just knowing that you've got me and won't let anything bad happen to me, that's what comforts me the most. You always give the best hugs." Grey told him softly and with a small laugh, she thought she saw a small smile grace his lips but it quickly disappeared.

" Can you just please hold me?" It was barely above a whisper but Grey still heard it, her eyes widened in shock. That wasn't what she was expecting him to ask, it was so unlike it. Whatever he had dreamt about, really scared him. Grey nodded and moved forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, she rested her chin on his shoulder.

" It's going to be ok Gauche, I-I promise." She whispered, Gauche made a small 'hmph' noise and his small smile returned before he leaned back into her embrace. His breathing had begun to steady and he wasn't sweating anymore, Grey hoped that meant she was helping.

" C'mon lets get some sleep." Gauche told her before leaning over and laying down on his bed, Grey's blush returned but she nodded and moved her arms from around his shoulders and wrapped them around his torso. He held her hands in his and rubbed small circles on the back of them.

It was funny, but Gauche felt just as safe in Grey's arms as she did in his.