Melody of Storms… (Nate Autumn Special) (Patreon)

Writing Prompts 

- A rainstorm

- Blood pumping through veins

- A piano

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Nate slams his fingers onto the keys, but the haunting melody is still not loud enough to drown out the battering of the rainstorm outside. The living room windows almost seem to buckle beneath the howling winds, the panes shaking with fear as lightning streaks across the sky, as though the gods themselves are angered.

But the tune plays on. Nate scowls down at the white and black keys as they're almost hidden in the night’s darkness. He’s so focused that he doesn’t hear the door creak open or notice the Detective step inside and watch him with a worried frown.

Only hiding the sound of the storm matters.

But it’s still not working.

“Nate…”

The music stops. And the sound of his name whispered by a familiar voice has the hammering of his heart calming to a pace that once again allows him to breathe.

He glances up to the Detective as they come to stand beside him on the piano stool. They don’t say anything, already knowing why his skin is shining with a film of perspiration and his hands are balled in his lap.

They brush their hand over his forehead, and Nate almost melts into the soothing touch. 

“It’s all right, Nate,” they mutter, and Nate focuses on their voice, letting it block out the crash of thunder which threatens to have the fear consume him.

Nate leans forward with a long breath, resting his head against the Detective’s chest. Exhaustion bites at every limb, his blood pumping with ferocity through every nerve, that he almost falls asleep the moment he hears the calming beat of the Detective’s heart.

They smooth a hand over his hair, humming a tune to drown out the raging storm, and Nate’s eyes flutter closed.

And for the first time, the nightmares ebb away.