Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Movie Night •|| MIALOTTE ||•

Prompt: Charlotte and Mia decide to have a movie night. Mia picks a horror movie.

It was a Friday night, the kind that Charlotte had been looking forward to all week. She and Mia had decided to spend the evening together, away from the chaos of their daily lives. After a long week at the nursery, all Charlotte wanted was to relax and unwind with some popcorn, cozy blankets, and, of course, Mia by her side. They'd been talking about having a movie night for days, and tonight was finally the night.

Mia, of course, had already chosen the movie. Charlotte, who wasn't really into horror, had reluctantly agreed to whatever Mia picked. It was supposed to be just fun, a little bit of spooky thrill to liven up the evening. But as Mia set up the movie, Charlotte couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She was the type to jump at the smallest sound, and horror movies were... well, they were not her thing.

Mia, grinning from ear to ear, started the movie. It was one of those slasher films with a lot of jumpscares—just the kind of movie Mia loved to watch when she wanted a good scare. Charlotte tried to settle in, trying to act brave, but as the first eerie music played and the camera panned through a dark forest, her grip on the blanket tightened.

Then, bam—a loud noise, and the screen flashed with a terrifying face. Charlotte yelped, her body jolting. Without thinking, she leaned in closer to Mia, burying her face in Mia's shoulder.

Mia's laugh echoed through the room, soft and teasing. "You're not even halfway through, and you're already clinging to me, sweetheart," she teased, her voice warm.

Charlotte, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, tried to pull back, but the movie was relentless. Another jump-scare—another loud crash—and Charlotte was back, practically half in Mia's lap, her arms wrapping around her for comfort.

Mia chuckled again, but this time, there was something gentler in her tone. She ran a hand through Charlotte's hair, brushing the strands from her face. "It's okay," Mia soothed, voice soft and reassuring, "I've got you."

Charlotte buried her face deeper, grateful for Mia's comforting presence. With every scare, Mia just held her closer, her hand steady on Charlotte's back, her warmth calming the rapid beating of Charlotte's heart. The fear was still there, but Mia's touch made it easier to bear.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Mia asked, her voice filled with affection as she looked down at Charlotte, whose wide eyes were glued to the screen, even though her body was very much tucked into Mia's side.

"I—I'm fine," Charlotte mumbled, though it was clear she wasn't. She was barely watching the movie now, too focused on the sensation of being held.

Mia smirked, her hand gently rubbing Charlotte's back as the movie played on. The jumpscares came in waves, and each time, Charlotte would flinch and burrow into Mia even more. After the fourth or fifth scare, Charlotte finally stopped trying to hide it and just leaned into Mia with a sigh. "Okay, I'm terrified. There, I said it."

Mia chuckled and wrapped her arms around Charlotte's shoulders, her voice teasing but tender. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm here. You're safe with me."

As the movie came to an end, the final credits rolling, Charlotte didn't move. She stayed nestled against Mia, her eyes still wide, her body trembling slightly from the tension. Mia could feel her shivering and smiled to herself, still holding her close.

Charlotte finally pulled back, reluctantly, but only to wrap her arms around Mia even tighter, her face still red. "I don't think I can go to bed after that," she admitted, voice a little shaky.

Mia raised an eyebrow, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "You want to stay up all night?"

Charlotte nodded, but her exhaustion was clear in her eyes. It was just the lingering fear from the movie that was keeping her from wanting to sleep alone. Without saying anything, Mia stood up, still holding Charlotte's hand.

"Alright, come on then," Mia said softly, lifting Charlotte up with ease. Charlotte wrapped her arms around Mia's neck instinctively, her legs dangling slightly as Mia carried her toward the bedroom.

"Thank you," Charlotte whispered, resting her head on Mia's shoulder as they entered the room.

Mia smiled, brushing her lips against Charlotte's forehead. "Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime."

As Mia tucked Charlotte into bed, she stayed beside her, a comforting presence. Charlotte, feeling safe in Mia's arms, finally let go of the fear, her body relaxing as sleep started to take over. Mia, ever the protector, stayed close, her fingers lightly brushing through Charlotte's hair until the soft sound of Charlotte's breathing signaled she'd drifted off.

Mia stayed awake a little longer, smiling softly at the peaceful sight of Charlotte sleeping soundly. "I'll always be here," she whispered to herself, her heart full as she settled in beside her.

[A/N: Pretty sure it's obvious that I am simply writing these to get away from studying.]