baby pandas

storm

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for DreamWasKarl !

Thunder + being alone = a bad time

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A crack of thunder rumbles through the sky, followed by a flash of lightning that lights up the room for a split second.

Sapnap whimpers and curls up tighter under Dream's comforter, pulling it closer around himself so just his face is peeking out. He is currently hiding out in the blond's bed, bundled up in one of his hoodies in an attempt to comfort himself.

It's not nearly as nice as being wrapped up in Dream's arms would be, but it will have to do for now because Dream isn't at home.

He and George went out earlier to grab some food together and pick up a couple of things Sapnap requested from the store. But had Sapnap known that the weather would get this bad, he would have come with them, or maybe even convinced them to wait it out.

Alas, he had no idea that a storm would come, and now he is all alone, feeling utterly terrified, and teetering close to slipping even younger than he already has.

Luckily, the door suddenly opens downstairs, which immediately makes Sapnap perk up a little. He listens closely to the sound of feet stepping inside. His friends are back home!

He can hear them laughing quietly in the hall as they presumably take off their coats and shoes. Sapnap watches Dream's closed door intensely, praying that the blond will come walking through it as soon as possible.

Moments later, the door does swing open, and Dream comes in. He visibly jumps a bit when he spots Sapnap in his bed, clearly not expecting to see him there.

"Oh," he says, eyebrows raising slightly in his surprise. "Hey, Pandas."

Sapnap just blinks at him and sniffles under the blanket.

Dream's expression softens and he walks over to the bedside, taking a seat on the mattress right by Sapnap's little cocoon. It really doesn't take a genius to understand that he must be regressed, and by the looks of his wet cheeks, he's pretty upset, too.

He places a hand on the boy's arm, well, on top of the comforter where he thinks his arm is and rubs it softly with his thumb.

"What's going on, huh?"

All he gets in reply is a tiny whimper.

A worried frown appears on Dream's features and he runs a hand through Sapnap's hair. "Hey," he coos. "What's wrong, Pandas?"

Sapnap just shifts closer and buries his face in Dream's leg before letting out a weak sob into the material of his sweatpants.

Dream feels his heart break a little. "Oh, honey. C'mere." He sits the boy up a little so he can hold him in his arms, leaving kisses on the side of his head as Sapnap continues to cry into his chest.

"I'm here now, Sappy. You're okay," Dream says quietly, trying his best to console him for whatever is making him so upset.

They sit like that for a while until he calms down, his sobs reduced to just sniffles and the occasional hiccup. Dream leans back and uses his thumbs to wipe away the old tears from Sapnap's warm cheeks.

He finally manages to meet watery eyes. "Talk to me, Pandas. Are you hurting anywhere?"

Sapnap shakes his head, which makes Dream let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"'M scared," he mumbles, sounding exactly like he described.

Dream adjusts them a bit. "You're scared? What's making you scared, honey?"

He gets no reply. Sapnap doesn't really know how to explain right now, everything feels jumbled.

"Was it something that you saw?" Dream tries again.

Sapnap shakes his head again, a strand of hair falling in his eyes as he does.

A gentle hand brushes it away. "Something you heard, maybe?"

This makes Sapnap look up, meeting green eyes. "Ou'side."

Something seems to click in Dream's brain at that one word. He cups the baby's face with one hand. "Was it the thunder, Pandas? The storm outside?"

Sapnap nods slowly and as he does, he bursts into tears again. Dream is holding him to his chest within a millisecond, voicing reassurances in his ear.

"Aw, my poor baby. I'm sorry you had to be here all by yourself. We didn't know the weather would get this bad."

Sapnap sniffles pitifully into Dream's neck. He really did hate being alone.

"But hey, did it help a little bit to be here in my bed?"

Another nod. "Feel safe in here," Sapnap mumbles shyly.

Dream kisses his head. "That's good, I'm very happy to hear that."

Thunder rolls in the distance again. It's not quite as loud as before but the sudden sound still makes Sapnap tense up in Dream's arms, snuggling closer to him with a weak "no".

"I know, honey, it's okay," Dream coos, rubbing a warm palm over the boy's back. "The thunder we're hearing now is actually moving further and further away from us. Won't be long until it's all gone," he promises.

His words make a wave of relief wash over Sapnap, cooling down his worries significantly. Dream always knows how to do that, always knows just what to say.

"Do you want to stay here together until it passes?" Dream suggests, keeping his voice soft.

Sapnap doesn't need to think twice before nodding. He lifts a fist to rub at his eyes, which are all tired and sore with tears.

"Alright." Dream slides himself closer to the headboard so he is leaning against it, not moving the panda cub in his lap. Sapnap lets himself be shifted around without complaint, pressing his cheek to a warm chest as soon as they are all settled and comfy.

"You know, we got caught in the rain on our way home," Dream pipes up after a minute or two of cuddles. He chuckles, "It got us pretty good."

He raises a hand to touch his hair which Sapnap can tell looks a little darker and curlier than usual. Smiling, he copies Dream and lifts his own fingers to touch it, too. It's all wet with rain!

"Feel that?" Dream grins, gaining a giggly nod from Sapnap

"George got pretty soaked as well," he continues, "He's probably drying off downstairs now—"

At that very moment, George himself appears in the doorway, drawing both of the other boys' attention to him. His hair is all ruffled from his towel drying it, and just like Dream's, it's slightly curly from being damp.

Dream gives Sapnap a little squeeze. "Oh, speak of the devil."

"There you are," George smiles, walking over to them and kneeling on the bed. "Cuddling without me?"

"No," Sapnap giggles.

He watches from his comfy position on Dream's chest as the blond lifts his free arm for George to settle under, not missing the little kiss that gets pressed to the brunet's cheek.

Sapnap lets out a content sigh. No thunder can reach him here.

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1149 words

oops i haven't updated this story in a month - sorry!

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