The sky darkened abruptly, as if someone had yanked a heavy velvet curtain across the entire city. In seconds, deep rumbles rolled over the mansion, vibrating through the walls and rattling the windows. Lightning split the sky, jagged and bright, reflecting sharply on the polished surfaces of the living room. The rain began hammering the windows in heavy sheets, each drop like a tiny drum announcing the storm's arrival. Tina froze mid-step, a dusting of flour still on her cheeks from the day's cookie chaos. Her hands gripped the edge of the couch as the first thunderclap shook the room violently. Her big, round eyes went wide, shimmering with alarm. She whispered to herself, barely audible.
"Whoa… that's loud…"
Her voice trembled despite her attempt at bravado. Andrew, lounging on the sofa with a magazine in hand, barely looked up at first. But when he saw her tense posture, frozen in fear, something inside him shifted. He sighed, the familiar mix of exasperation and reluctant care rising.
"Tina."
He called, trying to sound authoritative but not alarmed.
"it's just a storm. Really. It's—"
Crash. Another thunderclap exploded, louder than before, shaking the floorboards and making Tina yelp and back away instinctively. Without thinking, she bolted toward him and threw herself into his chest with a force that almost knocked him off balance.
"Andrew! Hold me! Don't let the thunder get me!"
She cried, her arms tightening around his torso like vines wrapping around a tree. Andrew froze. Tina, normally a whirlwind of chaotic energy and braveness, was suddenly… small, trembling, vulnerable. His usual sarcastic remark lodged somewhere in his throat. Instead, he draped one arm around her shoulders, patting her back as best he could, feeling the rapid rise and fall of her chest against him.
"Wha—uh, okay. Calm down."
He muttered awkwardly, clearing his throat.
"I'm… I'm here. You're safe. I won't... let the thunder eat you."
Tina blinked up at him, her eyes glistening. She pressed her forehead against his chest, letting herself sink into the warmth radiating from him. Each rapid heartbeat she felt against her cheek seemed to slow the panic inside her own chest. For a moment, she allowed herself to simply exist in the cocoon of his presence. A particularly violent crack of thunder made her shiver, and she pressed closer, fingers clutching at his shirt. Andrew's hand slid lightly over hers, a grounding gesture he wouldn't have admitted was comforting. He shifted slightly so her small body fit more snugly against him, his arm tightening reflexively.
"You're really clinging."
He muttered, a mixture of irritation and something softer in his voice.
"I'm scared."
She whispered, voice trembling.
"It's so loud… I don't like it…"
"You don't have to."
He said, awkward but firm.
"I've got you."
Tina tilted her head slightly, letting herself relax against him a fraction more. Her fingers found his hand and held it loosely, reassured by the steady warmth beneath her touch. Lightning flashed again, and she flinched, instinctively clutching him tighter. Neko Neko squeaked in alarm from across the room. The tiny koala scuttled onto the sofa, pressing against Tina's back and shivering, his whiskers twitching. Tina laughed nervously and kissed the top of his tiny head, holding both him and Andrew close.
"You're okay."
She whispered, again and again, as if saying it enough times could make it true.
"We're okay."
Andrew, meanwhile, muttered something about 'dramatic little tornado' under his breath, though his hand did not move from her shoulder. The storm outside raged, but inside the mansion, Tina felt a rare sense of calm and warmth. The chaos of her usual life seemed distant, replaced by the steady beat of Andrew's heart beneath her ear. She rested her cheek against his chest, inhaling the faint scent of his cologne mixed with the musky warmth of his body. The storm still roared, lightning crackling and thunder rolling, but she was no longer alone in it.
"I'm… okay."
She whispered, eyes closing briefly.
"I'm really okay…"
Andrew's other hand shifted to rest lightly over hers, holding her in place with careful precision. He muttered again about 'ridiculous clinging,' but the tension in his body had eased, and Tina felt it. Safe. Secure. Warm. Neko Neko let out a tiny squeak, wriggling closer and nestling awkwardly between them. Tina laughed softly, a sound so pure it made Andrew glance down at her, momentarily catching the vulnerability in her expression. Another flash of lightning illuminated the room, and Tina shivered again. She instinctively pressed her forehead against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. His hand, resting lightly on her back, never moved away. For the first time since the storm began, Tina felt the fear inside her ease just slightly. She was still tense, still nervous, but the overwhelming warmth and steady presence of Andrew made it bearable. Her tiny body relaxed fractionally into him, clinging, breathing, and finding comfort where she never expected to. The storm only grew worse. Rain pelted the glass with a relentless fury, like thousands of tiny fists trying to punch their way inside. The wind howled against the mansion walls, a haunting chorus that sent fresh shivers down Tina's spine. Another flash of lightning lit the room in stark white, followed by a crack of thunder so violent that the chandelier above trembled. Tina buried her face fully into Andrew's chest, clutching his shirt with both hands.
"I don't like it."
She murmured, muffled against him.
"I really don't like it at all."
Andrew shifted, his arms wrapping around her more firmly now, no longer just half-hearted comfort. He rested his chin lightly against the top of her head, his voice quieter, almost serious.
"I know you don't. But you're not alone, Tina. You've got me. And you've got your ridiculous furball too."
At that, Neko Neko squeaked indignantly and climbed onto Tina's lap, forcing himself between them as if declaring, I am not ridiculous, I am essential. Tina giggled despite her trembling, her small fingers stroking the koala's fluffy head.
"See?"
Andrew said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Even your furball's braver than you."
"That's not fair."
Tina huffed softly, though her voice wavered.
"He's not afraid of thunder because he's too small to understand it."
"Maybe he's just smarter than you."
Andrew teased, though his hand stroked reassuring circles on her back, the rhythm soothing without him realizing it. Tina tilted her head up slightly, peeking at him with wide, damp eyes.
"Do you think I'm silly?"
Andrew froze. Sarcasm rose automatically to his lips — it always did — but something about the fragile way she asked made the words die in his throat. Her trembling lashes, the faint wobble of her lower lip, the way she clung to him as if he were the only steady thing left in the storm…
"…No."
He said finally, voice low.
"I think you're… human."
Tina blinked, taken aback by the rare gentleness. Her heart fluttered wildly, almost drowning out the next rumble of thunder. She pressed her face back against his chest quickly, as though hiding the flush on her cheeks. The storm raged on, lightning spilling across the room again. Tina squeezed her eyes shut and whispered.
"I'm glad you're here."
Andrew's chest tightened strangely at those words. He had no clever comeback this time. He simply held her tighter, one hand threading through her hair absentmindedly, grounding her with touch. Minutes passed like that — thunder, clinging, silence heavy but not uncomfortable. Neko Neko eventually gave up on wedging between them and curled into a fluffy ball against Tina's side, his tiny breaths evening out in the lull of her warmth. Then came the loudest crack yet. The sound was so explosive it seemed to shake the entire foundation of the mansion. Tina squealed, flinching violently, and before Andrew could react, she clambered fully into his lap, straddling him in a panicked attempt to get closer.
"Whoa—Tina—"
He stiffened immediately, heat rushing to his face. His hands hovered awkwardly in the air, unsure where to place them. But Tina's trembling body pressed desperately against him, her face buried in the crook of his neck, her breath hot and uneven.
"Don't let go."
She pleaded, her voice breaking. Andrew exhaled slowly, tension giving way to something else. He lowered his arms, hesitating only for a moment before wrapping them firmly around her, holding her as though shielding her from the storm itself.
"I'm not letting go."
He said quietly, surprising even himself with how steady his voice was. The words sank into Tina like sunlight cutting through dark clouds. She melted against him, every nerve tingling, every heartbeat syncing with his. She clung tighter, her fingers curling into the fabric at his back, refusing to let him slip away. For the first time in years, she wasn't just the bold CEO, the playful daughter, or the chaos tornado her parents teased. She was simply Tina, scared and small, but safe in Andrew's arms. Andrew, for his part, sat stiffly for a while, but as the storm raged on and Tina continued to cling to him, something softened inside him too. He let himself relax, his chin resting lightly atop her head. His hand stroked her hair absentmindedly, and he realized how much he didn't hate this closeness. He realized, maybe for the first time, that Tina's chaos wasn't unbearable when she was quiet like this — when she trusted him enough to show fear, when she whispered that she was glad he was here. Outside, thunder continued to roar. But inside, with Tina pressed so tightly against him and Neko Neko curled beside them, Andrew found that he didn't mind being her anchor. Even if he'd never admit it aloud.The storm slowly began to ease. The violent cracks of thunder softened into distant rumbles, and the rain's furious hammering dulled into a gentler patter. It was as if the world outside had finally exhausted itself, leaving behind a quiet pull that filled the mansion with an almost fragile peace. But inside Andrew's arms, Tina was still clinging. At some point during the long minutes of thunder and lightning, her trembling had quieted. Her breathing, once shallow and uneven, had grown steady, rising and falling against his chest in a slow rhythm. When Andrew tilted his head down, he realized with a jolt that she had fallen asleep. Her lashes fluttered faintly against his shirt, her cheeks still flushed from fear, and her lips parted just slightly as she breathed him in. One hand was balled into the fabric at his side, stubborn even in slumber, while the other rested lightly over his heartbeat. Andrew sat frozen, unsure whether to laugh or panic. He'd never had anyone cling to him like this before — much less fall asleep tangled up in him as if he were some kind of safe haven.
"Unbelievable."
He muttered under his breath, though his voice came out softer than he intended.
"You're really impossible, Tina."
Neko Neko, who had curled into a warm ball on the cushion beside them, let out a soft squeak, as if agreeing. His little paw twitched in his sleep, tail swishing faintly, content in the cocoon of warmth and safety around them. Andrew leaned his head back against the sofa, exhaling slowly. His body was stiff, but not because he wanted to move. No, he realized with growing unease, it was because he didn't want to disturb her. She looked… peaceful. The Tina he knew was chaos incarnate, a whirlwind who barged through his life with no brakes and no apologies. But here, in her sleep, she looked almost fragile. Younger. Softer. Like she'd dropped every shield and mask without meaning to. And for some reason, Andrew couldn't bring himself to shove her off or tease her awake. Instead, he let his arms stay around her, holding her steady even in dreams. Lightning flashed faintly outside, but Tina didn't stir. She sighed softly, curling closer into him. Andrew's throat tightened unexpectedly. He found himself whispering, voice barely audible, as though speaking too loudly would shatter the delicate moment.
"…You're ridiculous."
He said.
"You scare me half to death with your tornado energy every day, and now you've got the nerve to make me…"
He stopped, biting down on the rest. To make him what? To make him soften? To make him care? He glanced down at her again. Her hair tickled his jaw, her warmth soaking into him in a way he hadn't realized he'd craved. She looked so utterly at ease, as though she trusted him completely.
"…Maybe I don't hate this."
He whispered finally, the words almost stolen by the fading rain. Neko Neko squeaked again, shifting in his sleep. Andrew sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm not saying it twice."
The storm passed fully, leaving behind only the quiet drip of water from the gutters and the soft hum of night. Inside, the mansion felt different. Warmer. Calmer. Andrew glanced at the clock — late. Too late to move her, not without waking her. And he couldn't bring himself to do it anyway. So he shifted carefully, pulling the blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over them both. Tina stirred faintly, murmuring something incoherent, before nestling even closer against him. Her nose brushed against the side of his throat, and Andrew's breath hitched. He froze, cheeks burning, but she was already gone again, lost in dreams.
"…Troublemaker."
He whispered, more to himself than to her. But his arms tightened around her instinctively, cradling her through the night. For once, Andrew didn't fight it. He let the quiet wrap around them, let the warmth seep in, let Tina's trust settle into his chest like an anchor he hadn't realized he wanted. And though he'd never admit it in daylight, a part of him thought — just maybe — he could survive this engagement.
Maybe...
Neko Neko's mini theater🐨🐨
Humans. So dramatic.
The sky growls a little, light flashes outside, and suddenly my big human, Tina, forgets she's an Alpha tornado and turns into a trembling koala herself. (No offense, of course. I'm the original, the superior model.)
When the first boom rattled the windows, I did the smart thing: I leapt onto the soft throne — they call it "the sofa" — and pressed against Tina's side. Surely, this would calm her. Surely, she would appreciate her brave Neko Neko!
But what does she do? She ignores me! She leaps straight into Andrew's chest like she's auditioning for a cheesy drama series.
Excuse me? I am right here. With fluff. With courage. With adorable whiskers.
So I did what any self-respecting companion would do — I wedged myself between them. Tried to remind them of my presence. Yes, hello, I am soft. I am important. I am the emotional support koala.
But what happens? Squish. Squash. Ignored again! They clung tighter to each other, and I ended up smushed like a spare pillow. Outrageous.
I squeaked loudly, but apparently thunder is scarier than me. Unbelievable.
Still… I will admit… once the storm got louder, even I tucked myself a little closer. Not because I was scared. Obviously. Just to, you know, comfort Tina more effectively.
She stroked my head with one hand, but her other hand clung to Andrew like he was the last eucalyptus leaf on earth. Tch. I suppose he did hold her steady. His heartbeat was loud and slow, and I admit — even I felt a little calmer with him around.
Later, Tina climbed all the way onto Andrew's lap. I squeaked again, horrified! This was no longer just clinging. This was claiming territory!
And Andrew didn't even shove her off. He just held her. Tight. Like he meant it.
I settled myself on the side of the couch, staring at them with my roundest, most judgmental eyes. They didn't notice. They were too wrapped up in each other, storm forgotten.
Eventually, Tina fell asleep. Her little snores puffed softly against Andrew's chest, and he just sat there, staring at her like she was something fragile. He even pulled a blanket over them. Over them, not me!
Hmph. The betrayal.
But… as the rain softened, I listened to their steady breaths, rising and falling together. And I thought… maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe Andrew wasn't just some cranky outsider after all.
Still, I must make my stance clear. I am watching. Always watching. If Andrew makes her cry, I will bite his shoelaces. Or worse.
For now, though… I curled up at Tina's side, twitching my tail. Warmth. Safety. Maybe even… family.
But again — just to clarify — I am not jealous. Not even a little.
…Okay, maybe a little.