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Rain fell in a steady rhythm, soft yet unrelenting, as the skies stretched low and gray above the farm, each droplet following the next in an endless descent that never grew harsh but never once paused, creating a quiet, persistent atmosphere that seemed certain to last for quite some time.
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Inside the farmhouse, Lomedy and Flame lingered near the doorway, their figures framed by the wooden entrance as they watched the blurred outline of their farm through the curtain of rain, where fences softened into faint lines and the barn faded into the distance, their original plan to transfer the animals to their new cabins already set since morning but now completely halted by the uncooperative weather.
Both of them sighed, their shared disappointment settling into the already heavy air.
“I guess that’s not happening today,” Flame muttered, his arms crossed tightly as a cool gust of wind slipped through the cracks of the house and brushed against his skin, making him shift slightly from the chill.
Lomedy glanced over at him, his expression calm and thoughtful despite the circumstances. “You want potato porridge?”
Flame didn’t hesitate, the idea immediately bringing a sense of warmth to his otherwise restless mood. “Yeah… that actually sounds perfect right now.”
The wind picked up again, cool and breezy, slipping through unseen gaps and carrying a damp chill that lingered in the room, brushing lightly against their clothes and skin even indoors.
Lomedy gave a small nod, already turning slightly toward the kitchen space. “Wanna help?” he asked, his voice steady and grounding against the quiet persistence of the rain.
Flame shrugged lightly, pushing himself away from the wall as he followed. “Sure. Not like we’ve got anything better to do.”
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A few hours later, the rain hadn’t stopped, its steady rhythm continuing without interruption as if it had settled into the day itself.
They sat across from each other at the small wooden table, its worn surface holding two bowls of steaming porridge, thin curls of steam rising into the cool air as the warmth contrasted with the lingering chill that seeped in from outside.
Flame took a bite, the heat spreading through him as he exhaled softly, his shoulders easing just a little. “We could probably reinforce the old barn instead.”
Lomedy looked up from his bowl, his attention shifting fully to Flame. “Instead of moving them?”
“For now,” Flame added quickly, leaning forward slightly as he spoke, his tone more thoughtful than before. “I mean—if this keeps up, the cabins won’t even be dry enough.”
Lomedy hummed quietly, considering the idea as his gaze drifted briefly toward the rain-streaked window. “We could raise the flooring. Less mud, less mess.”
“And maybe add better fencing,” Flame continued, a bit more animated now as he gestured lightly with his hand. “Something sturdier so they don’t wander off if the ground gets too soft.”
Lomedy smiled faintly, a small but genuine expression. “Huh.. you’re actually thinking this through.”
Flame rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of pride beneath the gesture. “Well, yeah—I don’t wanna redo everything again if it fails bro.”
“Mhm.” Lomedy hummed to that
They ate in a comfortable silence for a moment, the soft clink of their spoons blending with the steady sound of rain tapping against the roof and windows, filling the quiet spaces between their thoughts.
“…We’ll figure it out once the rain stops,” Lomedy said, his voice softer now as he glanced toward the window, watching the endless fall of water outside.
Flame nodded, following his gaze as he held his bowl loosely in his hands. “Yeah. Once it stops.”
…But it didn’t.
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Days passed, and the rain never let up, continuing its relentless fall from the gray sky as if the clouds had no intention of clearing.
The ground outside transformed completely, turning into a patchwork of mud and shallow pools, where puddles spread wide and reflected the dull sky above, constantly disturbed by the impact of falling droplets.
Inside, the farmhouse felt smaller, the air carrying a faint dampness as the sound of rain became a constant presence that filled every quiet moment.
Lomedy and Flame grew restless as time stretched on.
“This is getting ridiculous,” Flame groaned one afternoon, pacing near the window as his boots thudded softly against the wooden floor, his reflection faintly visible in the glass distorted by streaks of rain. “We’ve had this plan for how long now?”
Lomedy leaned against the wall, arms folded as he watched Flame with a steady gaze. “We can’t exactly move animals in a flood.”
Flame huffed, running a hand through his hair as frustration settled into his posture, but before he could continue—
The rain stopped.
Both of them froze as the sudden silence settled into the room, unfamiliar after days of constant noise.
“…Wait,” Flame said, his eyes lighting up as he turned toward the window. “It stopped.”
Lomedy straightened, listening carefully as he pushed himself off the wall. “You’re right.”
Without another word, Flame rushed to grab his boots, quickly pulling them on with hurried movements driven by excitement. “I’m checking outside.”
“Hey—at least take—“ The door opened and shut before Lomedy could finish.
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Outside, the air felt lighter and fresher, carrying the scent of soaked earth as the rain paused, leaving behind a quiet stillness that made everything seem calm for a brief moment.
Flame stepped forward carefully, his boots sinking slightly into the softened ground as he glanced up at the gray sky.
“…Finally,” he muttered, relief evident in his voice.
Then a single droplet landed on his shoulder.
He paused briefly before brushing it off. “…Probably just leftover,” he said under his breath.
Then another drop fell.
And another.
And then—
The sky broke open again, the rain returning all at once in a heavier downpour that soaked everything instantly.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME—?!” Flame shouted as water drenched him in seconds, his hair clinging to his face and his clothes growing heavy with moisture.
The farmhouse door creaked open behind him.
Lomedy stepped out with boots on and an umbrella already open above his head, the steady drumming of rain against its surface contrasting with the heavier impact of the downpour around them.
He paused when he saw Flame standing there completely soaked.
“…You didn’t wait for the umbrella,” Lomedy said, trying and failing to hide a small smile.
Flame turned to him, disbelief clear on his face as water dripped from his chin. “It stopped!”
“For like five seconds.”
Flame ran a hand down his face, pushing wet hair back before it fell forward again. “…I hate this weather.”
Lomedy walked closer, holding the umbrella slightly over him despite the rain already having soaked him through. “Come on, you’re gonna get sick.”
Flame hesitated briefly before stepping under the umbrella, still grumbling quietly.
As they stood there, the rain continued to pour around them, but something about the moment felt different.
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The puddles at their feet rippled endlessly, each raindrop sending out small waves that overlapped across the surface, while the mud shifted softly beneath their boots with each slight movement.
Flame glanced down at the ground for a moment before stepping forward into a puddle.
Splash
Water burst outward beneath his boot, scattering droplets toward Lomedy.
Lomedy blinked in surprise. “…Did you just—”
Flame smirked slightly despite the rain dripping from his hair. “What? Already wet anyway.”
There was a brief pause before Lomedy shifted the umbrella slightly to the side and stepped into a puddle himself.
Splash
Water scattered back between them.
Flame let out a short laugh, the sound bright against the steady rainfall. “Oh, so that’s how it is?”
They moved again, boots sinking into the softened ground as each step sent ripples and splashes outward, the rain continuing to fall around them as the tension from the past few days slowly faded into something lighter and easier to carry.
“Guess we’re not getting anything done today either,” Flame said, a grin spreading across his face as water dripped from his hair and sleeves.
Lomedy adjusted the umbrella, though it barely mattered anymore as both of them were already soaked, his shoulders relaxing as he looked at Flame. “Yeah…”
Another splash echoed between them as they stepped forward again, deliberately this time, sending water outward just to watch it scatter.
“…We’ll figure it out eventually.”
The rain kept falling steadily from the gray sky above, unchanged and unending, but the weight it carried seemed to lessen as laughter began to replace the earlier frustration.
Flame let out a quiet, breathy laugh that slipped into a soft giggle as he kicked through another puddle, water splashing up around his boots.
“Bro, we look ridiculous,” Flame said between small laughs, shaking his head as droplets flew from his hair.
Lomedy let out a warm giggle in response, the sound soft but genuine as he tilted the umbrella slightly, barely keeping it above them anymore. “You ran out like it was summer.”
Flame laughed again, louder this time, nudging another puddle with his foot. “It looked like it stopped!”
Lomedy shook his head, still smiling as he stepped forward and splashed lightly again. “Next time, you’re waiting for me.”
Flame grinned, meeting his gaze despite the rain. “Yeah… yeah, I will.”
Their laughter lingered between them, blending with the steady rhythm of the rain as they stood there, boots soaked and mud clinging, still idly splashing at the puddles just to hear the sound.
And for the first time in days, beneath the endless gray sky and the pouring rain, they were simply there—giggling, warm in their own way, and quietly, completely content.
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