BOOM!
 
“Eep!”
 
The cloud house practically shook as thunder boomed overhead. Everyone was safe inside, but still Paint Swirl cowered fearfully in her bed.
 
Right when she thought it was dying down, a flash of lightning illuminated the room and another clap of thunder followed. All she could do was bury her face in her pillow and cry out in terror.
 
“Paint?” She lifted her head to find a familiar figure in her doorway: her older brother, Lightning Bolt.
 
She forced out a smile. “H-hi.”
 
He walked into the room, unfazed by the thunder rolling outside as he leaned on her bed. “Is the storm scaring you?”
 
“Uh huh…”
 
“It was scheduled, we knew about it in advance,” he pointed out bluntly. “We need this storm. It hasn’t rained in awhile.”
 
“I know that—“ she tensed up as the thunder cracked again. “I can’t help being scared!”
 
“Of course you can’t, I’m sorry,” Lightning softened up a bit. “I don’t blame you, honestly. Which is why I brought this.” He held up a pair of blue headphones.
 
“W-what are those for…?” Paint asked shakily.
 
“Music,” he pulled out a portable CD player and put one in. “Whenever I’m stressed out and just…need to block everything out for a bit, I put some on and it drowns it all out. It helps me and I’d like to see if it helps you. Try it.”
 
Paint put on the headphones and let the music fill her ears. She could still hear the storm, but not as loudly. As she focused on the music, she felt herself growing less tense. Storms would always be frightening to her, but now she might dread them a little less.
 
Lightning gestured towards the headphones and mouthed, “Does it help?”
 
She nodded and smiled. Yes, it does help.