Cookie Run Kingdom Oneshots [x reader]

Storm Buddies [Herb x Reader]

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Herb x Reader Fluff

Cookie Run is dying and so am I but guess what it's a short Herb story.

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Rainstorms were the worst. The burst of rain would give an insufficient amount of time to grab at everything and make a run inside. The last time you got caught out, you were on a picnic, it had just started, and by the time everything gathered their stuff and ran in, the food was ruined. It was awkward to sit around soaking wet with gross sandwiches and cake. It's safe to say you don't like them too much.

But Thunderstorms? Those were even worse...

"Hurry up Herb!" You called out. It was rather coincidental that you had been shopping at Herb's small flower store when it started to rain. He didn't want his flowers getting flooded and dying, so he asked you to help run them inside. In your arms were 5 potted flowers, and he ran in with 6 more. You shuffled in the door, holding it open with just your foot while balancing the potted plants in your arms.

He sighed as he set the last of his outdoor flora on the counter. The door had been slammed shut, and you fix your set of plants on the same counter. Then he looked to you with a smile.

"Thank you for helping Y/n. The last time it rained like this, I ended up getting soaked before I could get all my plants inside." He said, whilst arranging his inventory. You smiled back.

You begin to make your way back to the door, careful not to bump into him, not wanting to distract him from his job, "It's no problem! I should probably head out before it gets too bad out there, I was-"

Before you could finish, a bright flash of light came from the window, and shortly after you heard one of the most dreadful sounds. A crack of thunder, one powerful enough to give the building a little shake. It sent shivers down your back, the kind that made your blood run cold and drummed up your fight or flight response. You stumbled forward, with a look of fright, bringing yourself away from the door.

Herb seemed to take notice, a slight chill ran around his arms, and gave him a nervous feeling.

"You can stay here for a while, just until it stops thundering. I can uhm..." he paused, looking around his small shop. Behind his counter, on a very messy shelf, he spotted a few blankets neatly stacked. He often used those over the outside greenhouses when it got cold, but they were clean enough to be used as an actual blanket.

While you still stood in the entrance, in shock, and waiting for Herb to finish his sentence, he gave a slight jog over to grab them. He smiled to himself, softly, and pulled them from the shelf.

"We can build a blanket fort. I only have a few decorative pillows on that couch there, but it will be comfy. Won't that be some fun?" He commented, walking over to you and grabbing your hand. You can feel him shaking too, as he dragged you over to the center of his shop, next to the dark green couch.

2 blankets were needed for the roof, leaving just 1 left for you. He set it over your shoulders, while you were sitting on the floor, next to 1 pillow with shiny sequins in the shape of a heart. You leaned against the frame of the couch, before seeing another smaller flash of light, and feeling the dreaded rolls of thunder after. It caused Herb to sort of fall forward into the fort, knocking over a few pillows.

You recognize that scared look on his face, but he quickly replaced that with a smile.

"So, it's cozy, isn't it? I can get you some snacks if you-" you grabbed his arm as he went to stand up. He abruptly stopped talking.

"No wait, not yet, please." You motioned for him to sit next to you, to which he obliged. This left you both in this silence, aside from the harsh rain pounding on the roof from outside, and the smaller sequences of thunder.

A moment later, Herb started, "Y'know, my mother used to tell me I shouldn't be afraid of those storms, that they were nothing. But she's afraid of things too, maybe afraid of different things but, they all seem rational to her." You weren't too sure where he was going with this.

He looked towards you, his hair still damp and his face pale, but he still smiled, "Maybe it just seems rational to you, and perhaps me too." The last words were said with a small giggle. You couldn't help but smile back at him. Even with the terrible fear, the sounds from outside sent through your body you couldn't help but feel better.

Without saying anything, you brought the other half of the blanket over his shoulders, sharing it with him. It did warm your face a little bit, not a noticeable amount. He seemed to flush a little bit of color back into his face too.

And as if on cue, more thunderstruck out again, making you both to pull the blanket taut, bringing yourselves closer to one another. You both looked at each other at the same time, before giving a small laugh at how close you two ended up.

And eventually, the rain would stop, and the clouds would disperse, leaving the only signs of a bad storm being your completely disheveled state, and the wet grass and trees outside.

You took that as your leave, buying a few packets of pretty flowers as thanks. It was a little embarrassing to end up stuck in the shop for so long, so close to someone else but, you kind of enjoyed it.

"Hey, Y/n!" Herb called out as you began your trek back home, just a couple yards away from the store. You turned your head back to look at him, standing there waving his arms.

"Feel free to come back any time to make more forts, but maybe next time without the big heavy storms, we can do something a little more fun!" He exclaimed, before giving a final wave, and closing his door, the sign conveniently flipping to the 'closed' side.

A smile broke out onto your face, yeah, that would be nice.