The Nights We Stay Awake (TemperancexReader)

59. "Power outage"

Temperance pov

We're curled up on the couch, watching a movie when the power suddenly flickers and dies. The screen goes black, and for a moment, the only sound is the quiet hum of the wind outside. I sit up, glancing around as the room is swallowed by darkness.

"Great," Y/n mutters, her voice breaking the silence. "Did the whole block go out?"

"I think so", i say, standing and moving towards the window. Outside, everything is blanketed in winter's chill, the snow falling lightly against the darkened sky. The street lamps are out, and the neighbouring buildings are just as dark.

Y/n sighs, getting up as well. "Well, that's just perfect."

I can't help but smile as i move around, lighting a few candles we had scattered throughout the apartment. The soft, flickering glow immediately fills the room, casting long shadows on the walls. The dim light makes the space feel warmth, cosier, despite the cold creeping in from outside.

"We'll make do," I say, picking up a lantern from the kitchen and placing it on the coffee table.

Y/n's eyes gleam in the soft light as she settles back onto the couch, pulling a blanket over her legs. "Looks like it's gonna be one of those nights."

I chuckle, grabbing a few more blankets from the hallway closet before sitting back beside her. "We could read," i suggest. "Books don't require electricity."

She laughs softly, puling a face. "You're always thinking of reading. But alright, let's go with it." She reaches for the book she'd been reading earlier, flipping it open.

For a while, we sit in comfortable silence, the sound of the wind outside and the soft flicker of candlelight filling the space. I get lost in the pages of my book, but after a few minutes, i notice Y/n shifting next to me. She winces slightly as she adjusts her position, the strain from her injuries still evident.

I glance over a her. "Are you okay?"

She looks up, giving me a tired smile. "Yeah, just a little sore still."

I close my book and set it down, watching her. "Maybe we should move to the bedroom. It's getting colder in here, and you need to rest."

Y/n looks thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Besides," she adds with a smirk, "more blankets."

Together, we head to the bedroom, where i immediately pile the blankets onto the bed. The winter chill has started to seep through the walls, but with the thick blankets and the promise of body heat, i'm sure we'll manage.

Y/n grabs her pyjamas from the dresser, and i do the same, slipping into something warm and comfortable. We climb into bed, wrapping ourselves in the blankets, and within minutes, the warmth starts to spread between us. I pull her close, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her breath as she nestles into me.

"Much better," she murmurs, her voice soft in the quiet room. "You know, as much as i love our movie nights, this is pretty nice too."

I smile, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It is. Peaceful."

We lie there in the dim light of the lanterns and candles, the outside world fading away. Y/n reaches out and turns on the small battery-powered radio by the bed, tuning it to a soft music station. The gentle sound of classical music fills the room, and i can feel the tension from the day begin to melt away.

For a while, we don't talk, just holding each other, listening to the music and the wind howling outside. The chill in the air is barely noticeable now, our warmth combined with the thick layers of blankets keeping us comfortable.