Work Text:
BEEEEEEEEP
Shrill sounds came from the living room radio.
Weather alert. Tornado warning from 3:50 through 7:30 in areas…
Jimmy pulled a blanket over his head and covered his ears. This lasted all but fifteen seconds before Joel burst into the room. “Timmy. We’re headed downstairs. Get your things.”
He whimpered quietly, still hearing the ring of the alarm. “Too loud.”
“Get up. We don’t have time for this.” Joel ripped the blanket out of the way, and Jimmy curled up further at the light beaming into his face. He tried to keep from crying. Bad Boys didn’t cry.
“Come on, boys,” Grian said as he scrambled into the room. “Dad’s already downstairs. Got to get going. I got the Switch already. We shouldn’t get bored.”
“Timmy won’t get up. We don’t have time for this.” Joel gave a frustrated look at Jimmy, as if it were his fault the storm was here.
But it was loud. And the thunder was rumbling. And the house would shake and collapse on itself. And they’d all get trapped in the basement.
“Joel,” Grian shot him a firm look, “Go downstairs and make sure we got everything. Bring Tim’s toys with you.” He dumped a few stuffed animals and cars into a bucket and plopped the bucket into Joel’s arms. “I’ll handle him.”
Joel ran off, doing as commanded, though usually he’d put up more of a fight.
“Hey, Jimmy.” Grian crouched down next to him. “I’m gonna turn down the light. And then I’ll need you to get up, get you something to wear for bed, and come downstairs with me.” He didn’t wait for Jimmy to respond before dimming the lights. “Come on. You can do it.”
He pried Jimmy off the bed. “It’s loud .”
“Tons of loud sounds, yep. But it’s okay. We’re not going to get hurt.” He pulled out some jammies.
“It’s not bedtime, though.” It wasn’t even afternoon. Even if it was incredibly stormy out, Jimmy knew that much.
“You’re gonna need it. Come on. Just get something and bring your blanket.”
Jimmy followed along, pressing his hands against his ears in a precaution against any thunder. Every so often he couldn’t help but whine quietly. “Shush. It’s okay.” Grian grabbed onto his hand and led him downstairs.
Jimmy never liked going to the basement. It might’ve not been actually scary, but they always went there when something bad was happening. “When’s Mama getting home?”
“She can’t drive back until after the storm. But she’ll be safe.”
Somehow they made it to the bottom of the staircase in one piece.
“But’s she’s not here.”
“I promise. Everyone’s safe.” Grian set down the blanket he’d ended up carrying. “Come on. Get changed. We’re going to build us a blanket fort and sleep through this whole storm. Can’t get us if we’re safe in our house. A house inside a house is like, extra protection.”
“It is?”
“Of course it is! More area we’re protected by!”
It was enough to convince Jimmy to get into said bedtime clothes: a pair of pants with superheroes all over them and a blue oversized t-shirt Joel had outgrown. He’d pretty much forgotten about the storm he was supposed to be afraid of, getting busy with little tasks Grian gave him. He then had to visit all his stuffed animals Joel had brought to make sure they were all safe, while Grian built them a place to stay.
The blanket fort was put up as Jimmy acquired said stuffies, along with his blanket and pillow. “Come on. It’s all set up.”
“It’s not that big. How’s Joel gonna fit? Gotta protect Joel too!”
“He’ll be fine. He’s with Dad. And Dad can fight off the storm.”
In reality, they both knew that their dad was too busy playing video games with Joel to stop any storm. Jimmy didn’t correct Grian on this, accepting his words and hiding away in the fort.
When they were situated properly, Grian closed off their fort, leaving no way in or out (until one pushed aside the blankets). “We’re pretty fort -ified in here, don’t you think?”
Jimmy frowned at his joke.
“Bad time? Too in-tents for a pun?”
Jimmy fought a smile, growling in an attempt to do so.
“Ok, I’ll stop. I’ll stop.”
Jimmy gave a long look before accepting that Grian was serious.
After a moment of quiet, Jimmy noticed the house shaking, making weird settling sounds every few seconds. And distantly he could hear the storm's deep, angry rumbles.
“The house isn’t going to collapse, is it?”
“No. It’s not going to tip over. Promise.” Jimmy gave a worried look and in seconds Grian scooped him up in his arms. “The storm’ll go away. It always does.” He rocked Jimmy in place, making small hushing noises before Jimmy actually started crying.
“But it’s really loud. And really mean.”
“But we’re meaner than the storm.”
“Cause we’re Bad Boys?”
“Exactly.” Grian booped him on the nose, getting a surprised laugh from Jimmy. “That storm will run and cower if it sees us. But you mister, need to help your stuffies get to sleep. Because they’re still afraid of the storm.”
Jimmy cuddled up against his chest. “But you’ve gotta protect me.”
Grian, with his arms tightly wrapped around Jimmy, fell backward onto the thin mattress, taking Jimmy with him. “Well maybe we can do both at the same time. How ‘bout that?”
Jimmy nodded, pulling the creatures up to his chest, as Grian did the same to him.
“It’ll be over in no time.”
After all the mental toll of anxiety, Jimmy fell to sleep really quickly. He always did find naptime to come easily. Grian, though laying down, stood guard. Until he didn’t. And both he and Jimmy were asleep, ruining their sleep schedule for later.
But it didn’t matter, so long as they survived the storm.