It can be a rather scary experience when the power goes out, especially at night. Not just because it’s completely dark, but also because there are usually precipitating weather conditions outside that are less than agreeable, typically lots of thunder and wind and driving rain.. things clashing against the house and trees bending over so far they look like they’re going to snap like toothpicks, lightening clashing in the sky so brightly it puts the sun to shame.
And it was one such night that the power went out during an evening at home with Niall. You’d been trying to drown out the noise of the violent storm outside with the television, and Niall had been strumming away on his guitar on the other side of the room, scratching down lyrics from some song bopping around in his head. You couldn’t understand how in the midst of it all he was able to concentrate long enough to write a song, but regardless, there he sat, humming to himself and chewing on a pencil.
But then the house had gone completely dark and you’d frozen, shivers running up your spine from the eerie whine of the tv when it’d shut off without warning. Niall’s strumming had stopped and he’d stifled a bit of a laugh, already sensing your immediate panic.
“Babe, don’t freak out.” he’d calmly said, but you could hear the laugh in his voice.
“Niall..” you’d responded tersely at first, then with more pleading. “Niall—”
“Okay, okay, hold on. I’ll get a torch.” He’d cut you off and chuckled, moving towards the kitchen. After a moment you’d heard a loud thump, making you flinch, followed by a muffled groan.
“Are you okay? Niall? Niall??” You’d called, the darkness making you more paranoid than usual.
“Agh, I’m FINE. Just stubbed me toe, hold on.” he’d responded, his voice frustrated with pain.
A few minutes later he’d returned with the light and you’d grabbed it from him faster than the lightening outside, making him laugh.
“You nutter.” He’d chuckled, plopping on the couch next to you and allowing you to crawl into his arms, as you always did. No matter his amusement, he knew your legitimate fear and curled his arms around you, securing you in his grasp and letting you flop your face in his shoulder.
“What if the roof gets blown off?!” you’d moaned, making him shake his head.
“The roof ain’t going ta blow off.” he’d assured you and kissed the top of your head. “Now quit your whining and tell me about your day.”
And he’d always know just how to make you forget about the storm outside, forcing you to think about other things or make you fall asleep to the sound of his guitar or burst into giggles from kisses all over your face. So the power going out wouldn’t be nearly as frightening with Niall around, and honestly he’d find it all just as amusing as everything else in his life because he’d just love having you need him, having you want to be with him and want him to protect you and want him to laugh at your silly moans about the thunder because it made it seem less scary. Because it really didn’t matter what you were doing, he just loved being around you and having you there tucked up underneath his arm, whimpering or not.
