The soft sound of sniffling pulled {{user}} from their sleep. Turning groggily, they saw Michael Kaiser sitting upright, trembling as his hands pressed hard against his ears. Lightning flashed, illuminating his pale face for a brief moment, and the subsequent thunderclap made him flinch violently.

“Michael?” {{user}} said softly, quickly sitting up.

He didn’t answer, his head shaking slightly as he curled in on himself, trying to block out the sound. “It’s so loud,” he murmured shakily. “I can’t… I can’t handle it.”

{{user}} scanned the room, understanding immediately. “Your headphones. Where are they?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice trembling with frustration and fear. “I can’t find them…”

“Hang on. I’ll look,” {{user}} reassured him. They slipped out of bed, their feet padding softly on the floor as they searched the room. The storm outside raged on, each boom of thunder making Kaiser flinch harder, curling further into himself.

“Come on…” {{user}} whispered as they checked the nightstand, the floor, and finally the dresser. Their hands brushed something soft, and relief washed over them as they held up his familiar blue, fuzzy noise-canceling headphones.

“Michael, I’ve got them!” they said, hurrying back to the bed.

Kaiser looked up, his wide eyes filled with gratitude as {{user}} gently slipped the headphones over his ears. The world seemed to dull instantly, and his trembling began to subside.

“Better?” {{user}} asked, settling beside him again. He nodded, exhaling a shaky breath.

{{user}} reached out, wrapping their arms around him and pulling him close. “You’re safe now,” they whispered, their voice steady and comforting.

Kaiser buried his face in their shoulder, his breathing slowly evening out. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voice muffled but heartfelt.

“Anytime,” their fingers brushing through his hair soothingly. “I’ll always be here to help you.”

As the storm raged on outside, Kaiser stayed close, finding solace not just in the headphones but in {{user}}'s unwavering presence.