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The sound of faint whimpers came from underneath your bed as another clap of thunder rattled the house. Leon was terrified, and unfortunately for him, the weather forecast estimated it would be another hour until the storm passed.
“Leon, it’s okay! I’m here,” you said, getting on your hands and knees and lightly tugging at the pleather collar around his neck. Leon sniffed your hand, his canine instincts kicking in as he eyed you suspiciously and scuffled back. He hid his tail between his thighs, and his ears drooped apprehensively.
“I hate storms…” he grumbled.
You couldn’t help but pity him as you remembered the time he told you his last owner left him out in the heavy rain. It was cruel and caused Leon so much distress that he developed a disdain for storms. It was only recently that you found something that truly comforted him outside of your presence: a blanket you had crocheted for him that read RPD. You stood up, retrieving his blanket from the armoire, sliding down to the floor shortly after as you handed him the blanket.
“Here, would this help?”
“My blanket…” he murmured.
Leon’s cheeks flushed as he smiled at the kind gesture. He wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and nuzzled into the soft fabric.
“You know… I used to be terrified of storms too.”
Leon lifted his head, forgetting he was still hidden.
“You did?”
A loud thud reverberated through the room as Leon’s head hit against the wooden bed frame.
“Ow…”
You giggled at your clumsy pup as he rubbed the back of his newly formed lump. Sometimes, Leon had no spatial awareness and forgot about the little details. At times, he almost seemed completely helpless.
“Yeah, I used to hide too… It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned to appreciate them.”
“How did you get over the fear?”
“I don’t know… I guess I grew out of it?”
Leon huffed.
“I’m a grown man who’s gotten mutant guts in his mouth, and yet I can’t handle a bit of rain? How pathetic,” he grumbled.
“No need to beat yourself up over it. We all have something.”
“And you? What’s your biggest fear?”
You paused for a moment, exhaling a breath.
“I’m afraid of being alone.”
Leon shuffled, crawling out from underneath the bed and resting his hands on your thigh.
“Why? You’ve got me,” he said, furrowing his brows and cocking his head to look at you.
You felt his head rest against your lap, his hot breath tickling your skin.
“Leon… You’ve made everything a little less lonely.”
“I know, and I will for however long you need me to.”