Work Text:
A rather violent storm had been raging on outside, heavy rainfall assaulting the apartment, and Rocky... was not having a good time.
Honestly that may be a bit of an understatement, all things considered. For the last hour the tabby had been sat upright in bed, flinching hard at every flash of lighting and loud clap of thunder that boomed outside, with the blankets held tight in an iron grip as he desperately tried to not start crying. God he hated this. He hated storms so much.
He'd never been good with them and he never really understood why. They just terrified him. Back when he was still a kit he'd have full blown panic attacks during any nights when the weather got too bad, and often he'd end up needing to be comforted by his cousin just to get through it. Just thinking about it even now made him feel pathetic.
'I really was pitiful huh?' He thought 'I'd need to be calmed down by FRECKLE of all people? He's always been a big ball of nerves and yet he had to protect me? I'm the big brother here! It should have been the other way around!'
...
'Well technically bigger cousin and not brother but still!'
Another boom of thunder caused him to flinch hard, and a quiet "Fuck!" ecaped his lips. He got angry at himself as he started to feel tears prick at the corners of his eyes. 'Nothing's changed with you, has it? You're a grown man and yet here you are getting scared over a little rain. You're fucking pathetic. What'll they say when they get here and see you cowering like a child?'
At least he had some sort of warning, he supposes. Before he'd left the Lackadaisy, Freckle pulled him aside told him a bad storm would end up hitting St. Louis tonight. He'd felt dread start to pool in his guts immediately. Freckle tried to assure him that he'd be fine to come over, that surely he could convince Nina to let him stay for the night until it blows over and he wouldn't need to ride it out alone in his car. Rocky had turned the offer down and tried to convince his cousin he'd be fine, even if he himself didn't even believe it. And besides, he hadn't needed to sleep in his car for a good while now, not that anyone else in the crew knew that.
He took a deep breath hoping to calm himself. Suddenly there was another flash, and everything went black. The power was out.
The power was out.
"N-no... No no no PLEASE NO-" He started to hyperventilate. This was the absolute last thing he wanted to happen right now. He'd blindly felt around on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Come on, come on..." When he'd found nothing he'd checked it's drawer, hoping to find a flashlight, a box of matches, something!
He couldn't see a damn thing but he could feel his tears now falling freely down his face. Another loud crash of thunder rang out and he'd felt it in his bones. He screamed and pulled the covers over his head as he curled in on himself, slamming his hands over his ears and letting out quiet sobs. he couldn't handle this. He just wanted it to stop.
Between the rain, the thunder, and his own crying, Rocky almost didn't hear the voice outside the room, which spoke with an irritated huff.
"Just as i feared, The power's gone out."
another voice chuckled right after "Aww, what is it Cher? you fraid o' de dark?"
"Hardly. I just find it inconvenient is all."
Rocky froze. They were home. He'd immediately sat up, desperately trying and failing to stop his crying before they walked in and saw the sorry state he had been in. God what would they say if they found out?
'Would they berate me and yell at me like Nina used too? What if they laugh at me for it?'
another thought entered his mind and fear gripped his heart
'...Hell what if they think i'm too sorry to be around and break up with me over this?'
No, they wouldn't... They wouldn't! He hopes not. He wouldn't be able to handle it otherwise...
The door to the bedroom opened and he tried to swallow down his anxiety. He didn't want them to see him like this but at the same time he desperately needed them. He'd be alone like this for an hour now and he just couldn't stand it anymore. He called into the dark
"...Mordecai? N-Nico?" He hated how weak and broken his voice sounded.
"Rocky?" Mordecai's voice called back, sounding full of concern.
Rocky stuck his arms out trying to feel for him "P-please..."
Eventually he'd felt Mordecai's arms brush against his, the tuxedo cat gently taking his hands. He felt the space on the bed shift next to him as Mordecai sat down.
"Rocky, are you alright? You sound upset."
Before he could answer, footsteps accompanied by a soft orange glow entered the room next. Nico held a lighter in his hands, his face sporting that same grin that Rocky had come to love. However, as it illuminated the room and let them all see each other, his grin dropped and his expression changed to one of concern matching Mordecai. They both looked at him, eyes wide as they saw his shaking frame and tear stained face.
"Cher... What's wrong?"
"That's what I'd like to know too." Mordecai spoke, placing a hand on Rocky's cheek. His brow creased. "Did Viktor hurt you again? Oh I swear to God I'm going to-"
"No no, it- nothing happened with Viktor today. A-and nothing's wrong, I'm alright, I promise."
Nico sat on the bed, taking the side opposite Mordecai. They glanced at one another before looking back at him.
"Rocky, you cryin'. That don' really make us wanna believe you."
"I promise I am! I-I just..."
'Come on, say something you idiot. You can think of one believable lie, can't you?'
Just as Rocky opened his mouth to try to come up with a reasonable excuse for his tears, another thunder clap boomed much louder than before. He cried out and started sobbing all over again.
"God..." he hiccuped "God fucking damn it!"
Mordecai looked taken aback. Realization dawned on Nico's face as Rocky cried
"It's de weather ain't it? You scared o' storms ain't you, Cher?"
Rocky didn't trust himself to speak without breaking down even further. He knew he couldn't lie about it after that, so he just nodded sadly. He lowered head and shut his eyes tight, preparing himself for the inevitable laughter and ridicule that was coming.
He hadn't been expecting to feel a thumb run under one of his eyes and wipe his tears away. He looked up to see Mordecai gently fretting over him.
The tuxedo spoke softly "How long? Is this something you've always dealt with?"
"I..." he hiccuped again "Y-yeah. Since I was a kit, really..."
"Dear, why not say something earlier? We could have figured something out so one of us could have been with you or-" Mordecai sucked in hair through his teeth as he realized something "This storm's been going for a while now. Have you just been in here alone and terrified this whole time?"
Rocky nodded again
Nico scooted closer to him on the bed "Cher, why you ain't call us? You got de hotel's number. We woulda come runnin'!"
Mordecai nodded with a hum "Right. Had we known you'd been suffering like this we'd have come home with no hesitation."
'...What?' Rocky blinked. He almost didn't believe what he was hearing
"You mean... y-you don't think lesser of me for this?" he asked "You- you don't think that i'm weak, or pathetic, or a coward? ...You're not gonna leave me?"
Mordecai and Nico both looked mortified at his words
"Leave you? Cher, what-"
"Just because you have a fear of storms? Of course we aren't going to leave you! Why would you even think that?"
He sat there in disbelief. Rather than give them an answer, he grabbed onto them both and hugged them tight. For the first time that night he cried tears of relief rather than fear.
"I love you guys... I love you both so much! I'm- I'm so lucky to have you..."
They hugged him back
"We love you too."
"Yeah. More than anythin', amour. Don' you go forgettin' dat."
After staying that way for about a minute, Mordecai began to slowly remove himself from the group hug much to Rocky's dismay. "Nico, hand me the lighter, please. I'd like to lie down now and I'd rather not do so in a rain damp suit."
"And why you need de lighter fo' dat?"
"What, do you expect me to find my clothes and change in the dark?"
Nico snorted at the sass and handed over the lighter. Mordecai ran a hand through Rocky's hair before leaving. As darkness took over again, Nico got up as well. Rocky let out a quiet whine as he was suddenly alone in the bed again.
"I'm here Cher, I'm still here. Don' worry."
A few moments later he heard the sound of Nico's clothes hitting the floor and felt him slide back into the bed. "Hey... You ain't really tink we was gonna jus' leave you, right? Over somethin' so small?"
"Well I just figured... maybe a little? Either that or you'd just laugh at me. Or maybe yell at me and make me feel stupid for it like my aunt would."
Nico made a face, not that Rocky could see it in the dark. Rocky had already told him and Mordecai about Nina a few times since they've been together. "Have I ever told you I don' like dat lady? Feel like I did but I'm gonna say it again, I don' like her."
Rocky actually managed a laugh at that and the bigger cat smiled, until the thunder roared again making jerk him curl in on himself. Nico felt it, pulled him into his chest and held him close, rubbing slow circles on his back "It's alright, you alright. You gonna be fine. We not gonna let no big bad storm get you. Promise." He kissed Rocky's forehead.
Mordecai walked back in, lighting up the room once more. He was now wearing pajamas as opposed to his wet work clothing. He waisted no time getting in bed on the other side of Rocky and giving the tabby a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, we've got you, alright? We're not going to let anything happen to you."
A wobbly smile made it's way onto Rocky's face and he let out a wet laugh. "I know I said it already, but God I'm so lucky to have you both."
He felt Nico caress his cheek "We be feelin de same, trust me. You tink you might wanna try an' get some sleep, Cher?"
Rocky looked at both of them, seeing their reassuring smiles and feeling their hands in his. It made a warm feeling bloom in his chest 'I really am loved aren't I?'
"Yeah... I-I'm starting to feel better with the two of you here and all this crying's got me tired out anyway."
Mordecai put the lighter out "Would pancakes in the morning be good?"
Truly man After his own heart. "Heh, yeah, I'd love that. Goodnight you two."
"Goodnight Rocky, Nico."
Rocky felt both their arms wrap around him, and a kiss on both cheeks.
"Night Chers~"
The storm continued but for once it wasn't all that bad. As Rocky lay there in the arms of his boyfriends, sleep had came easier than he thought it would. He'd be fine. Everything was going to be just fine.