The weather across Hyrule was less than desirable that evening.

The sky had blackened with thick storm clouds, blotting out every scrap of clear sky which was usually littered with stars with a pure white moon hanging over the lands, bathing it in soft white light. There was none of that tonight as the rumble of thunder drew closer in and the heavens opened into heavy rain.

Jonas and Serenity had luckily had the sense to take shelter quickly in the Hyrule Blossom Inn, although it seemed most of the travelers and peddlers in town had the same plan in mind but the pair managed to secure one room between them. Sharing for one night was not so much of an issue.

Although, the Faierikin had something weighing on her mind.

Serenity gazed anxiously out their window at the storm clouds hanging over Castle Town , the rumble of close thunder made her stomach jolt. She involuntarily began nibbling on her bottom lip as the young woman watched the rain pounding against the glass. Truly she was trying to stay as calm as possible but her resolve was constantly being shattered every time a new rumble of thunder reached her ears. Something told her that tonight was not going to be a pleasant one…

‘Are the Goddesses against me?’

The Faierikin glanced over at Jonas Lans who was sat comfortably in the armchair beside the bed, completely absorbed in the book resting in his lap, green eyes scanning the words on the page. He was completely unaffected by the sounds outside and seemingly as neutral about it as he was with most things. Jonas felt Serenity’s eyes resting on him and glanced up from his book, blue and green gazes locking. There was a moment of silence when the young man looked coolly at Serenity but the Faierikin suddenly found herself on the defensive. She crossed her arms firmly over her chest looked away from the young man sitting across the room from her.

“What?”

Serenity snapped, tearing her gaze away from his. Suppressing the urge to hide in the oak wardrobe in the far corner.

Dark, Safe.

Somewhere she could squeeze her eyes tight shut and put her hands over here tapered ears, she could pretend it wasn’t happening.

But she couldn’t do that now. Not with Jonas here.

The Ex Necromancer raised an eyebrow at Serenity’s unusually short fuse and shut his book with a snap.


“I’m trying to fathom why you are snapping at me for simply looking at you.”

He replied with a slight shrug of the shoulders, Jonas did not really see it to be his business if Serenity was having one of her ‘moments’ as he privately dubbed them but none the less stayed outwardly calm as he always seemed to, not taking his eyes off the young woman sitting a short distance from him. Something seemed wrong tonight although the young Mage couldn’t place exactly what it was.

“Maybe I don’t like being stared at! Did you think about that?”

The Faierikin shot back in retaliation, both delicate hands clenched into white knuckled fists are her sides. She already felt tense and didn’t want Jonas trying to pick her brain right at this moment.

“I was not thinking anything, if I am not mistaken you were looking at me. I simply returned the favor.”

Jonas opened the book again and began reading again, another close rumble of thunder made Serenity’s knees tremble but none the less she crossed the room to Jonas and removed the book from his grasp.

“Why do you always need to have the last word?”

She snapped, feeling her hands tremble to the point of almost dropping the book. Instead she put it roughly down on the bedside table and looked back to Jonas who looked as impassive as always except for a twitch in the corner of his mouth. Only those who knew him well could tell when he was starting to feel angry or pressured.

“I do not wish to start an argument with you, Serenity. What’s the matter?”

“You…you…You need to pay attention to the people around you! Can you really be so blind?”

That was a comment that Jonas had not been expecting, true surprise momentarily flashed in his eyes. He stood up from his place in the armchair, his jaw tensed. He didn’t understand where this had suddenly risen from, earlier today Serenity had behaved as she always did. What could have changed so suddenly?

“What?”

‘Come on Jonas! I want you to understand!’

But Serenity’s thoughts did not pass her lips, instead it was like watching another girl, standing in her place, snapping at the confused and obviously agitated young man. She wanted to stop but she couldn’t, so long as she kept talking she wouldn’t have to think about the storm.

“You! You don’t listen or look because you don’t care!”

That was a stinging blow to Jonas, the confusion which had crossed his face was gone. He had once again closed himself off. His eyes outwardly blank he walked past Serenity to grab one of the provided towels from the dresser drawers. He clutched the rough fabric in both hands and opened their door.

“I’m going for a bath.”

“Go on then! Just walk away! Like you always do! Go on!”

The young man did as he was told and disappeared off down the corridor to the bathroom, leaving Serenity alone in the room with her own thoughts and a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The first fork of Lightning flashed across the sky, the crashing sound sent Serenity onto her knees, and the momentary white light illuminated the room, making creatures of the furniture’s silhouettes and hands from the branches of the tree outside. Before the next explosion of thunder and crashing lightning could send her into a blind panic, the young woman scrambled to the oak wardrobe and shut herself inside the small dark space, nestled in the heavy folds of Jonas’ cloak.

Serenity clamped both hands over her tapered ears as another crash of lightning could be heard, she tried to shut out the noise and let out an involuntary whimper. Trying to pretend it was all alright, just like she had always dealt with it.

‘Someone please…’

The thought drifted to the forefront of her mind as she trembled inside the small space, not knowing when it would stop.

Jonas surfaced from under the water and glanced out of the window at the crashing lightning, the rumors had been right. This was probably one of the largest storms of the year. He felt calmer now, the hot water and lavender that was supplied for the use of the guests had calmed his nerves since Serenity had decided to try and start an argument with him. He couldn’t guess what must have been going through her head but he kept replaying what she had said to him.

“You…you…You need to pay attention to the people around you! Can you really be so blind?”

What had she meant by that?

The young man drained the water and toweled himself dry, ever deep in thought as he redressed in his light linen undershirt and a pair of trousers, pulling back his slightly damp hair into his customary ponytail although slightly less neat then usual.
He decided he would try and speak to her if she had calmed down by now. Although when Jonas opened the room door, Serenity was nowhere in sight.

Another crash of lightning illuminated the small room and Jonas wondered if in her mood, Serenity had decided to run off. It wouldn’t hurt to check, he reached for his boots that sat beside the oak wardrobe but stopped as he heard a faint whimper from the inside.

“Serenity?”

Another crash of lightning and a louder whimper was his answer before a small, trembling voice replied.

“I’m just…you know, reorganizing things.”

Jonas tried to open the door but she held it shut, this carried on for a moment until he let it drop. Both arms hung limply by his sides…suddenly he understood. Serenity was afraid of storms.

“You! You don’t listen or look because you don’t care!”

She had been angry with him because he hadn’t guessed how petrified she was…but how was he supposed to know if she simply gave off hints? How? If she just got angry with him for not understanding if she didn’t give him a chance to understand…

“How do you expect me to care if you do not tell me? Am I supposed to pick up hints? Talk to me!”

Jonas felt a flash of frustration inside him and he pulled once again on the door, this time Serenity wasn’t ready and it opened. Any anger that was within him dissipated at the pathetic sight of Serenity curled up in the fabric of his cloak, both hands over her ears.

“How am I supposed to know…if you do not tell me?”

The young man asked again, another flash of lightning illuminated the room and sent a crash across the town. In fear Serenity leapt forward and clung to Jonas, burying her face in his chest and both hands gripping the linen of his undershirt while she trembled, trying not to cry. The young man’s eyes widened at first, but none the less he wrapped both arms around her trembling form, holding her close to him while he bent his head closer to Serenity’s.

“I…I…I wish…that I could have known.”

Serenity’s grip tightened on Jonas’ shirt and he stroked the back of her head. From now on he would try to watch her… pick up the things she wanted to say but never did. Although he would never really voice it, he tried…

“It’s alright, I’m here.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alright, I know what you're thinking, and the answer is yes. That pose is taken from a screen shot. I have my reasoning, even if you don't want to hear it, I'm gonna say it anyway, so HA!

Yeah okay, so if any of you have ever watched Ouran High School Host Club you'll remember this scene. I was watching it the other day 'for about the gazillionth time, and yes gazilion is a number in my world! XD' and something started stirring in my brain. I mentioned off-handedly to and she agreed with me, and we developed a drawing/story to go along with our insane idea.

This is post- PV " Pax Versus ' time, Jonas and Serenity stuck in an inn. Serenity is petrified of storms. Poor thing, I know how that feels first-hand D:

Anyway, I'm rambling now, obviously. So yeah, I wanted this to look like a screen taken from an anime, so that was part of my reasoning for using the shot as a ref. The other part is I just plain suck at anatomy in positions like this =/ Bleh.

Jonas is owned by Kay

Serenity is owned by me

Pic done by me

Story done by