The sound of rain fell against umbrellas. People walking home from work, kids coming home from school. Ryan, however, was walking home drenched in the rain. Lightning and thunder would strike, frightening Ryan once and awhile. As the rain fell harder, Ryan ran into his apartment, trying to find somewhere dry and warm. The lobby was dry, but warm? Not so much. Ryan sighed, as he rode the elevator for his floor, faint thunder could still be heard. He fumbled with his keys, trying to open his front door. He immediately turned on the light and went straight to the heater, his dog wagging her tail behind him.
"Hey Dottie," Ryan said, bending down to pet the dog. All of a sudden the heater turned off, and the room became pitch black, "Oh crap," Ryan muttered, looking outside the window. Street lights turning off. "Black out." He sat down against the heater, and let Dottie sit on his lap. Thunder and lightning struck, causing Ryan to jump, and the rain to fall harder.
"It's okay Dottie," Ryan muttered, "It'll all be over soon." Lightning struck again. "Nope, I'm out." Ryan said, taking Dottie into his arms and grabbing his keys. "I'm not going to be alone right now." He walked out of his apartment, the hallway pitch black. His neighbors were outside, but he didn't exactly know any of them. Except for Brendon. They had a short conversation while getting mail every other week. He could go to Brendon, right? Well, whether Brendon likes it or not, he's getting visitors.
He walked down the hall, holding Dottie close to his chest. He approached the door, hesitant to knock. Lightning struck again. Ryan knocked on the door desperately, not wanting to be in the dark hallway anymore.
"Hello," Brendon said, opening the door and leaning against the frame.
"Hi," Ryan said.
"So, why are you here?" Brendon asked, one of his dog came running up to his legs.
"Oh, um," Ryan blushed, Dottie started to struggle in Ryan's arms, Brendon's dog barking at her. Dottie ended up getting out of Ryan's arms, and running to play with the other dog.
"Well, looks like they like each other," Brendon laughed, "why don't you come in, they could play together." Ryan entered Brendon's apartment, a bunch of candles were lit, and there was another dog sitting his couch. "That's Bogart," Brendon said signaling to the dog on the couch.
"You know, I'm more worried that you're actually going to set your apartment on fire than anything else right now," Ryan joked, sitting down on the couch.
"Well, I'd rather have light and heat, than cold and darkness," Brendon laughed, "Hey, I have some ice cream that's probably melting to its death, wanna eat it?"
"Yeah, sure," Ryan said, "Just don't get too hyper and knock over the candles"
"I promise," Brendon smiled, sticking out his pinky. Ryan smiled, looping his finger with Brendon.
"Yeah, I'm going to give that promise about fifteen minutes."
"Whatever," Brendon rolled his eyes, taking his spoon, and smearing the half melted ice cream in it on Ryan's cheek. Ryan laughed and smeared some on Brendon's forehead. "So, why did you come here in the first place?" Brendon asked, shoveling his face with ice cream.
"Oh, um," Ryan muttered, thunder struck, Ryan jumped.
"Scared of the thunder?" Brendon asked.
"No," Ryan lied.
"Don't lie to me," Brendon said, throwing a pillow at Ryan.
"I'm not," Ryan insisted, "look, I'm still cold, do you have a blanket or something?"
"Oh, yeah," Brendon said, getting up from the couch, Ryan immediately missing him, "I'll be right back." Ryan nodded, and tried to focus on anything else except the thunder. Rain, rain is nice, right?
A few minutes later, Brendon came back with a fluffy blanket. He threw the blanket at Ryan.
"For you," Brendon said, sitting down next to Ryan again.
"Thanks," Ryan said, wrapping himself in the blanket.
"So, tell me about yourself," Brendon said.
"Um," Ryan said, "let's see, I have very little talent, two dogs, but one of them is with my friend. And," Thunder and lightning struck again. Ryan jumped and hid under the blanket. "It's not going to hurt you, it's not going to hurt you, it's not going to hurt you," Ryan muttered to himself, squeezing his eyes shut.
"And you're afraid of thunder?" Brendon asked.
"N-no," Ryan stuttered, "it's not going to hurt you, it's not going to hurt you." Ryan's eyes were starting to tear up.
"Hey, Ryan," Brendon said, scooping the bundle of blankets with Ryan in the middle into his arms. "Hey, it's okay, it's okay." Brendon found Ryan in the middle of the blanket and gave him a hug. "You don't have to worry about anything. Nothing at all." Ryan nodded and Brendon hugged him tighter. Brendon kissed Ryan's forehead.
"I'm sorry," Ryan said quietly.
"Hey, look at me," Brendon said, turning Ryan's head to look at him. "You are a normal human being. You get scared, and that's normal."
"You probably think I'm weird now, don't you," Ryan said, turning his head away.
"Hey," Brendon turned Ryan's head to face him again. Ryan looked into Brendon's eyes, Ryan realized those were his favorite eyes. Talks at the mailbox seem to be enough. "Hi." Ryan could feel Brendon's breath against his lips. So close, so so close. Ryan just lean in a little. He leaned in, Brendon's lips were soft compared to Ryan's chapped ones.
"Hi," Ryan whispered, thunder struck again.
"Not so scared anymore, are you?" Brendon asked.
"Nope, I'm still terrified," Ryan laughed.
"I'll always be here for you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This chapter is so close to 1,000 words, but then I would have an extremely long authors note.
I have so many ideas for one shots, but I can't write, soooooo.
Sskksksskskksksksksks I have nothing else to say so thanks for reading it I guess. (also sorry if it's really bad or something)
