"I'll see you later, okay?"

Jiwoo smiled. "Okay. I love you."

"I love you too." Sooyoung kissed the top of Jiwoo's head and waved as she walked out the door.

Maybe Jiwoo's face had gone nuclear. Maybe it hadn't.

Small smile still playing on her lips, Jiwoo snuggled into her way-too-huge blue sweater, which fit just about as well as a circus tent. It was Sooyoung's sweater, meaning it went down to just above Jiwoo's ankles and gave her some serious sweater paws. Sooyoung always bought sweaters four sizes bigger than her size and Jiwoo was significantly smaller than she was. 

Hugging a pillow, she turned on the TV. 

Of course, the first thing that came up was the weather, which Jiwoo would usually skip had she not caught the word "rainstorm." Taking a sharp breath, she turned up the volume.

"... rainstorm will ravage the northern part. We advise you not to go flying any kites today, because that lightning is not going to be very forgiving!"

Jiwoo was already breathing hard. Come on. Slow breaths. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Maybe Sooyoung would be back before the storm started. She had to be back. If she wasn't... well, Jiwoo didn't want to think about spending time alone in a thunderstorm. Especially not if the power went out. She might be able to handle a storm if she could block out all the thunder, but with the dark? No way.

Jiwoo shivered.

She couldn't deal with the uselessness of sitting there, unable to stop the noises, the water, the destruction.

She couldn't cope with the loss of control over her own situation.

Turning on Sherlock, she let herself become immersed in how Johnlock hadn't sailed yet and tried so, so hard not to think about the upcoming rain.

Maybe if she didn't think about it, it wouldn't happen.

*

"... finish the project by next week. See you then!" Sooyoung lifted her hand from her cheek. Finally, it was over. Meetings were never fun.

Hearing the rain pounding on the windows outside, Sooyoung collected her things and shoved them all into her bag. Had to make sure nothing got wet. Quickly shedding her work jacket, she threw on a sweatshirt and headed outside.

When she exited the door, she ran to her car, shrieking and laughing. Her short hair was completely soaked, but her phone was safe when she got into her car. She made sure to drive a little slower as she made her way back home so as not to crash on the slippery, wet streets.

Spinning around in the rain, Sooyoung relished the sounds of nature as she unlocked her front door.

"Hi, Jiwoo! I'm back!" Sooyoung called out.

No answer. Huh, strange.

"Jiwoo?"

And then suddenly with the force of a charging little brother, she remembered.

Oh no.

Oh crap.

Oh no no no no no.

Hastily throwing her coat on the floor, Sooyoung raced up the stairs. Screaming Jiwoo's name, she searched all around the house, which didn't take too long considering the size of their house - the bedroom, the bathroom, the living room, the kitchen, the music room, and under the stairs.

Severely worried now, Sooyoung ran back up to the bedroom.

"Jiwoo! Where are you?"

A tiny whimper came from the other side of the bed. Listening closely, Sooyoung could make out tears. Of course. The closet.

Dashing to the closet, Sooyoung flung open the door.

Jiwoo had never looked smaller. She was balled up, arms and Sooyoung's old sweater around her legs. Shivers racked her body partnering with terrified sobs to make Jiwoo heave and shake. Her face was blotched and red. Every time thunder struck, she jumped and cried a little louder.

As gently as possible, Sooyoung practically flew down, taking the smaller girl into her arms. Jiwoo gladly complied, sinking herself further into Sooyoung's shoulder. Sooyoung could feel every shiver, every hiccup, every tear. She cursed herself for getting home so late.

She pulled Jiwoo closer.

And then the lights went out.

Jiwoo screamed a tiny scream into Sooyoung's shirt every time the sound of thunder echoed throughout the house. Jiwoo's desperate, frightened sobs made Sooyoung swallow her own tears.

Sooyoung pulled Jiwoo closer and closer until they were so impossibly close that almost nothing could fit between them. When Jiwoo's voice tapered off into a rasp, Sooyoung traced small patterns, circles and dots, on Jiwoo's shoulder.

"S-Sooyoung u-unnie," Jiwoo whispered, words nearly indecipherable at how hard they trembled.

"Yes?" Sooyoung's volume matched Jiwoo's.

"I-I'm sorry."

Sooyoung pulled Jiwoo on to her lap. Jiwoo jumped and sobbed when the sounds of the storm got louder outside. Sooyoung wrapped Jiwoo in her arms.

"Don't be."

"N-no I-I'm g-getting your sh-shirt w-wet and..." Jiwoo mumbled something under her breath.

"I didn't catch that last part, love."

Sooyoung could practically feel Jiwoo's cheeks redden.

"I-It's s-stupid th-that I'm still a-afraid of s-stor-" Jiwoo squeaked and hid in Sooyoung's sweatshirt when the sky rumbled. Sooyoung silently begged the sky to stop being angry so Jiwoo would stop crying. Her hysterical weeping made Sooyoung want to cry. Her heart clenched.

"No, it's not." Sooyoung wasn't sure she could hold Jiwoo tighter.

"B-but-"

"You're beautiful and amazing and I love you, okay? I love you. It doesn't matter if you like the rain or not because I'll love you either way, alright?" Sooyoung voice rose to a strained squeak. She was on the verge of tears, but the lump in her throat didn't get any smaller when she giggled from the sheer foolishness of it.

"O-o-okay." Sooyoung felt Jiwoo's smile against her shoulder.

Sooyoung carded through Jiwoo's hair. Jiwoo's breathing slowed, even though it was still uneven, as the heavy rain out the window did the same. Jiwoo's hiccups and sharp gasps as she gulped in air became quieter and quieter.

She sighed and settled on Sooyoung's lap. Soon enough, she had cried herself to sleep. Sooyoung kept stroking her hair.

"I love you."

*

This is my pathetic apology. For not updating my book. Which I'm supposed to be updating more often.

Hahahhah sorry I'm mean.

Anyways, to anyone that didn't get my announcement, just sayin that I won't be updating as often anymore because of that stupid book that I haven't updated on in ages. 

So yeah.

Luv u all, I'm still taking requests, and thx for readingggg :)