(WARNING: Thick Scottish slang because of my one Scottish OC :D)

(A/N: I really need to write more about Ally being a good father figure like in this situation. Eheh..)

The drops of the beating rain pounded against Azami's window, keeping Azami locked inside of her room. Nothing was going to get her outside, absolutely nothing as long as it was raining. The rain was accompanied by an occasional thunder clap, causing Azami to yelp and clench her pillow tighter with each loud boom. She was hungry, definitely, but there was no way she could go out, not when there was thunder and lightning.

Azami had been thankful that for the entire time at Hope’s Peak Asylum, there hadn't been any storms outside. Azami was terrified of thunder and lightning, and she didn't want the others to know about her ridiculous fear. She had thought that she would be able to get away with nobody knowing too, if it hadn't started raining. She wondered whether anyone would come to her room to check on her, to make sure she hadn't gotten killed. She got lost in her thoughts for a moment, but was interrupted by a loud thunderclap, making her scream in terror. She whimpered under the blanket on her bed, her legs and arms wrapped around her pillow.

Knock, knock, knock

Azami let out a soft squeak, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden sound. The door opens, and in walks Alastair with an... axe?

"Azami, sorry tae fash ye, bit we wur worried aboot ye. Thay sent me tae check oan ye," Alastair rambled. He then closed the door, setting the axe against the wall. "Monokuma gave me that axe wance ah wis at th' cafe. Ah... dinnae ken whit tae actually dae wi' it sae ah juist brought it alang wi' me ," Alastair explained offhandedly.

Azami sat on her bed, frozen in place. She was worried about whether the SHSL Parent would try to harm her (which he will never ever do cause he’s been nothing but nice to everyone), about the thunder storm, and about what she would do if she reacted to the thunder negatively in front of Alastair.

"Azami?" Alastair cried out in surprise, looking at Azami with wide eyes. "Ur you...crying?"

Azami brought her hands to her face, and indeed, her cheeks were wet. She looks at Alastair, and nodded sullenly. "Och, does me bein' 'ere fash ye that muckle? Ah will leave if ye want, A'm sor-"

Alastair didn't get to finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a loud roll of thunder, and Azami letting out a sharp scream. Azami clutched her pillow, crying in shame. Alastair stood in the room awkwardly, unsure what to do.

"Um... Azami?" Alastair asked uncertainly, taking a step towards Azami. Azami shook and trembled with each breath, sobbing into the pillow. Alastair awkwardly sat next to Azami and wrapped an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder. Azami shook and sobbed, and Alastair didn't know what to do.

A flash of lightning from outside illuminated the room, and the next thing Alastair knew was Azami was clinging to him like her life depended on it. He was certain that if he weren't wearing his jacket, there would be nail marks on his skin, and blood would be oozing from underneath Azami's fingers. Alastair gently rubbed the back of Azami's head, remembered the same thing once happened to his little girl. Internally, Azami was ashamed of herself, clutching onto this adult because of some thunderstorm. Whines and squeaks pitifully slipped from Azami's lips, and tears soaked Alastair's clothes.

"Sshhhh..." Alastair whispered, wrapping his other arm around Azami. Azami screamed and cried with each roll of thunder and flash of lightning, and each time Alastair was unsure what to do other than comfort her and ignore the uncomfortable wetness of his shirt. He had a feeling it was going to be covered in tears afterwards, and it would be a pain to wash.

The storm raged outside, and Azami and Alastair sat inside hugging awkwardly. Soon, Azami's howls and sobs died down, and so did the storm outside. The pain on Alastair's skin slowly subsided, and Azami's crying became a soft whimper. Soon, even that became an occasional sniffle.

After a few awkward minutes of Alastair brushing his fingers through Azami's hair and his fingers painting patterns on Azami's back, she pulled away.

"Please don't tell the others," she begged with bloodshot eyes. Alastair nodded in agreement and then looked down at his shirt and weakly smiled at Azami.

"As lang as it gives ye comfort, ah will keep it a secret." Alastair placed his hand over her hair, ruffling it with a smirk playing at the edges of his lips. Azami sniffed, wiping her cheeks with her hands.

"You uh, may want to be on your way," Azami gestured at the clock on her wall, and Alastair nodded.

"Aye, see you...some ither time?"

"Some other time." Azami nodded briskly, not quite meeting Alastair's eyes. He picked up his axe from her wall and then walked out the door.

“Ally!”

“Aye?”

“T-Thank you... for making me feel safe.”

“Heh, isnae that whit maist parents wid dae whin thair bairn needs thaim th' maist?” he then smiles at the girl.

“Parents?”

"Have a nice rest of the day, Azami!"

"Yeah, you too." And Alastair was gone, and Azami was alone with her thoughts.

(A/N: Just a little piece of information, Taiga may be small but he actually has the strength of 10 men so, carrying Azami is not problem to him. There’s a reason why I call him muscle baby fox lol.)

Taiga didn’t really know how this scene happened. All he could see was what looked like a fatigued Azami lying on the floor, unconscious. Her face was red as if she was sick. Taiga gave a small smirk. Poor girl must’ve tired herself out. He hesitated for a moment, wondering what he should do about this. Perhaps he should just walk away? Azami probably wouldn’t want his company anyway. But then again… He could take this situation as an opportunity to tease his girlfriend. 

So Taiga chose the latter and picked her up bridal style, holding her close. Today was the day he’d show that he could be trusted by looking after her until she felt better. With a determined sparkle in eyes he hurried back to his dorm with the sleeping Azami in his arms. The boy was somewhat worried as he realized that the girl was hotter than usual. Did the girl have a temperature? The fluffy haired boy sighed and squeezed the girl gently as if he was reassuring her. Once he arrived at the dorm he placed Azami on his bed and rushed off to get a cold towel.

When he returned he saw the girl had turned over onto her side. Taiga couldn’t help but smile at the girl lying there. She looked so helpless and vulnerable. And it was cute. His delicate hands balanced the towel on her forehead and ruffled the girl’s hair.

“Oh my… It must be my lucky day. Seeing Azami like this is a blessing.” Taiga purred as his fingers ran along the other’s cheek. Taiga blushed when Azami murmured angrily in her sleep. A playful grin played on his features, wanting to tease Azami more. He felt a little daring.

The boy’s hand stroked over Azami’s shoulders and thigh, jabbing his fingers into the girl’s sides, tickling her gently. When Azami shivered he couldn’t help but chuckle and push on a little more. Taiga shifted a little so he was looming over the sleeping girl. The shorter one leaned down to cover Azami’s cheeks, and forehead with feather light kisses. Azami groaned and tried to bat Taiga away but Taiga held the girl’s wrist, guiding her arm back down again. Taiga felt like he should keep taking things further by running his tongue along the girl’s jawline and neck. Every now and again he’d nibble at the her earlobes, which had now become a delightful shade of pink. Was Azami blushing because of the teasing or because of this illness? It didn’t matter. Taiga was treasuring every moment of this…

He hesitated. The room was hot. And Taiga was sweating, not sure if he was warm or just nervous. Taiga hummed and buried his nose into the girl’s neck, nuzzling into her carefully when suddenly, he felt the girl under him stir after about an hour of teasing.

“Taigaaa… Stop sc… Screwing about…” Azami made a pouty face at Taiga. This time he was certain that Azami was genuinely blushing and it wasn’t just a fever. A chuckle emerged from the boy looming over her.

“Oh, but Azami, how could I resist~?” Taiga hummed softly, caressing the girl’s cheek. Azami tried to sit up but he gently pushed the girl down again. “Don’t try to move… You’re sick… Rest.” He adjusted the damp towel on Azami’s forehead.

Azami grumbled and pouted up at the boy above him, his arms crossed. She tried to get up once more but ended up collapsing back on the bed, which earned a laugh from Taiga. The assassin lay down behind her, spooning Azami.

“I’ll join you. Sleep, Azami.” Taiga’s voice was in a hushed and somewhat perverted tone as he pulled Azami’s body close to his, exchanging their body heat. He saw the blush spread to Azami’s ears once again and his heart fluttered.

Before sleep overcame his senses he had pressed a tender kiss to the other’s cheek.