"Okay, we've got classics," you said, holding the remote towards the television, "and we've got new horror movies from last year. You know, all the movies that no one liked and so they're all free on TV?"
You turned towards your boyfriend, Peter, a smile on your face. He smiled back, fingers already grabbing at cheese popcorn in a big glass bowl. He shrugged and tossed his head back, dropping a handful of kernels in his mouth.
"Your pick, babe," he said. "I really don't care."
It was a Friday night in mid-October and chilly enough to make a night of hot tea and junk food reasonable.
You sighed. "I wish you would care, because I sure don't." You looked back at the TV. "We've already had a Halloween marathon this month. Let's try Lights Out. I heard it sucked."
"Let's find out," Peter said, patting the space on the couch beside him.
You hit play and set the remote down. Before dropping on the couch, you ran over to a lamp and switched it on.
"Just in case one of us happens to get scared," you said.
Peter laughed softly and reached for you. You walked over to him and sat down, head on his shoulder and feet tucked up at the side of the couch. He wrapped an arm around you and kissed you on the head as the movie started.
Forty minutes in, Peter turned his head.
"Well, this movie does suck," he mumbled.
You laughed. "Yeah, it does. I would say it could be better, but..."
Peter chuckled. "Maybe the next movie will be-"
With a buzz and a click, the TV screen went black and the lamp shut off. You jumped, eyes struggling to adjust to the sudden dark.
"Uh... we must have blown a fuse," Peter said.
"We hardly had anything on," you said, a little nervous.
Peter snickered. "I thought you weren't scared of this terrible movie."
"I'm not," you defended, voice bitter. You wanted to pull away from him, but being further in the dark seemed less appealing. "I just don't understand why the power went out-"
"I'm kidding, babe," he said. "Don't worry, alright? I'll protect you." He kissed you on the head. "I'll go find the fuse box and-"
The TV flickered. Bewildered and confused, you and Peter froze.
"Peter-"
"___," he said, suddenly very serious. You couldn't see his face, but it didn't take a genius to know he was panicked. "I need you to go upstairs and-"
Suddenly, with a burst of light, a loud buzz, and the flashing of the light bulbs as they flickered on and off quickly, you gasped. Peter was on his feet, his movements looking hesitant because of the flashes of dark and light. He grabbed you, calling your name loudly, and pulled you close.
Your heart was beating madly. "Peter, what-"
You couldn't understand what was going on. And then, all at once, it made sense as the hooded, blue skinned figure of Electro walked out of the hallway and into the room, his mouth pushed down in a grimace of hatred.
"Oh gosh," you choked, fear making you latch onto Peter.
He pushed you back behind him, one arm out. He backed up slightly. Electro followed, hands curling into fists as he took a step to match Peter.
"How did you find us?" Peter asked.
"It wasn't hard," he said. "It was the easiest thing to do." His eyes flickered to you. "It'll be harder to do what I'm going to do to her. You're a fool for sticking around her, Peter Parker. An absolute fool."
"You're not going to touch her," Peter said, turning more towards Electro as the man walked around the couch. He backed you up towards the hallway.
You knew what to do at once.
"I am sorry," Electro spoke to you, his hands unfurling. "I didn't want to harm you, but I've been watching Peter Parker and it is clear that you mean a lot to him."
Your eyes were wide.
"I was going to kill you when he wasn't here," he said, "but I saw you and I... I saw that you deserved a chance. And so I am giving it to you-"
"Stop talking to her," Peter spat.
"I promise I will make it quick," he whispered, nodding.
You opened your mouth at the same time Peter shot out his wrists and fired webs. "___, go!" he screamed, and you were off towards the hallway, tripping over your feet in the dark.
It was pitch black in every room. You knew Peter was going to struggle as he fought in the dark, especially since he was worrying about you, no doubt.
You needed to get to the basement and turn on the lights. So, brave and blind, you threw open the door, trying to ignore the sounds of breaking glass.
Halfway down the dark stairs, your foot slipped, sending your body tumbling forward, a mess of limbs and random bumps on your head and shoulders and back.
Ow. Ow, ow, ow.
Now get up and go.
You got up off the bottom step and threw yourself forward, feet hitting boxes you'd never unpacked. You pushed through, hands out, thinking that the wall should be right here, right here-
Your fingers brushed it. Gasping with relief, you trailed to the left, fingers catching spider webs and patches of thick dust. You finally rammed your thumb against a metal box. Like moments before opening a birthday gift, your fingers tripped excitedly over the cover.
You fumbled with the lock and then opened the door. It took several seconds to calm your brain enough to remember. Since moving out on your own, you hadn't lost power, but your father did tell you once how to fix it when you've blown a fuse. Of course, without a light, it was bound to be difficult.
"Come on, ___," you whispered to yourself, tears in your eyes.
Peter was up there, fighting blindly for you. For you!
Things were clicking. Your fingers were going in the right places and the lights were going to turn on and Peter would win and then-
"____, don't!"
At the same time Peter screamed, the lights turned on, and a bolt of electricity was sent through your fingertips, up your arms, until it finally smacked you in the chest and sent you flying backwards, head snapping back and eyes jolting shut.
...
You were floating.
A mass of black was around you. It was almost like you were floating in the night air, except there weren't clouds or stars and you were all alone, and also you couldn't remember what stars and clouds looked like.
It wasn't hot and it wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either. It was just scary. But calm.
Nothing made sense, and there was a weird pressure on your chest, pushing you harder and harder down, but instead of worrying about that, you floated.
And then-
"___!"
You jerked, like you recognized the voice and the name. Your chest heaved upwards and you felt a rush of coolness in your throat. It was gone, and then it was back.
More pressure.
"___!"
Finally, some recognition.
Peter.
You were suddenly very warm and weren't floating. You were falling right to the floor, right to the bottom of whatever it was that was below you. It was scary and fast and then there was a rush of cool in your throat again and suddenly, it wasn't scary.
Your eyes shot open and you sucked in, feeling the cool slip right down the rest of your throat and a pair of warm, chapped lips leave your mouth. Three fingers that pinched your chin lifted off and away and then a hand cupped your face.
"___," he sobbed.
"Peter," you breathed, your lungs wheezing. You felt happy. It was Peter that brought you back.
Peter. Your Peter.
"Peter," you said again, all love in your voice this time.
You turned your head tiredly, catching sight of his wet and red face. He was really close and had one hand pressed against your right cheek, his thumb stroking it. His other hand was fumbling around, searching for yours. He found it.
"Oh baby," he cried, "you were gone. You weren't breathing - your heart stopped and I - why would you do it? Surely you knew-"
Maybe you did know. You weren't sure. Your eyes were halfway closed when you answered.
"The lights were out," you told him, "and you needed them on. You were scared."
He shook his head once, a sound of disbelief coming out of his scratchy throat. "I'm more terrified of losing you than I am of losing any fight."
You smiled a little. "I love you too."
He sobbed, dropping his head down until it touched your shoulder. You wanted to caress his hair, but your arms felt like jelly. He kissed you on the side of your neck and looked back up at you, fingers trailing down your face.
"Thanks for bringing me back," you said, gasping between words. "It was hard... it was confusing. But I felt and heard you."
He picked you up off the ground, arms hanging limp as he pulled you halfway onto his lap. He planted kisses all around your face, getting your cheeks wet with his tears.
Oh well. You loved when he kissed you.
"I'm okay," you said, feeling his hand on your heart. He fumbled around to find a pulse on your wrist at the same time. "Peter, I'm fine. Surely you can feel how fast it's beating."
"Is it supposed to be that fast?" he asked, concern in his voice.
You didn't say anything. It was only that fast because he had saved and kissed you all in less than two minutes. You nodded.
"It's working," you said, and he kissed you again.
"I love you," he cried out, lips pushing against yours, against your nose, against your hair. "I love you so much. Don't ever scare me like that again! I need you."
"Okay," you said softly.
He kissed you for the millionth time and your heartbeat grew -impossibly - a million times faster.