BOOM.

A crack of thunder shook the windows of Poseidon’s cabin, rattling the seashells that lined the sills. Rain pelted the roof in heavy sheets, and faint flashes of lightning lit up the room in blue and silver.

{{user}} sat upright in her bunk, knees pulled to her chest, wide eyes staring at the ceiling. Another boom rolled through the sky like a giant’s growl, and she flinched.

Across the room, Percy stirred groggily under his blanket. He blinked at the clock—3:13 a.m.—then noticed the small figure sitting up across from him.

“{{user}}?” he whispered, voice scratchy with sleep. “You okay?”

“I hate thunder,” you whispered back, hugging her dolphin plushie close. “It feels like the sky’s mad.”

Percy sat up and stretched, yawning. “Well… to be fair, it kind of is. Zeus gets all dramatic at night.”

Another flash lit the room, and {{user}} shrank deeper into her blanket.

Percy rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. “Alright. Time for emergency storm protocol.”

{{user}} blinked. “What’s that?”

He walked over, plopped down at the foot of her bunk, and held out his hand. “Hand me Mr. Dolphin.”

{{user}} hesitated, then passed over her stuffed dolphin.

Percy cleared his throat and wiggled the plush in the air. “Hello! I am Admiral Bubbles the Third, ruler of the Seven Bathtubs!”

{{user}} blinked.

“I come bearing a message: thunder is dumb and smells like wet socks!” he said in a deep, goofy voice.

A tiny giggle escaped her.

“Do not fear, brave {{user}}!” Percy continued, making the dolphin spin in a circle. “For I shall defend you with my flippers of doom! No storm can stand against… THE SQUISHY SQUEAK OF JUSTICE!”

{{user}} laughed louder this time, wiping her eyes.

“Also,” Percy added, making the dolphin lean close to her ear, “your brother smells like fish sticks.”

“I do not!” Percy said in his normal voice, mock-offended.

{{user}} hugged the dolphin back from him, holding it close. “Thank you, Admiral Bubbles.”

“Anytime, my lady,” Percy said in the silly voice, giving a formal little bow with his head.

Another rumble of thunder echoed outside, but this time, {{user}} didn’t flinch. She looked at Percy and smiled sleepily. “Can you stay here a little while?”

He nodded and sat beside her bunk, back against the wall. “I’m not going anywhere.”

They sat together as the storm rolled on, Admiral Bubbles safely tucked under the blanket between them. The rain sang on the roof like an old lullaby, and Percy started humming softly—a tune their mom used to hum during bad weather.

Eventually, {{user}}’s breathing slowed, her eyes fluttering closed.

Percy looked over, saw the faintest smile on her face, and whispered, “Sleep tight, Squirt.”

Outside, the thunder softened.

Inside, everything was calm.