The silence that followed the blackout was more terrifying than the thunder.
Brendon stood in the middle of the living room, his eyes straining to adjust. Outside, the rain began to lash against the windows with a sound like gravel.
Then, he heard it. A small, choked gasp from the hallway.
"Kiera?"
He moved toward the sound, his hands outstretched to avoid hitting the furniture.
"Kiera, where are you?"
"I... I can't..." her voice was small, trembling.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the hallway for a split second. Brendon saw her. She was huddled against the wall, her hands over her ears, her eyes wide with terror.
He didn't think. He didn't remember the pact or the rules or the "Ice Queen" mask.
He reached her in three strides.
"It's okay," he said, his voice low and steady. "I'm here."
As his hand touched her shoulder, she flinched violently. He didn't wait for permission; he just pulled her into his arms, turning her around so her face was pressed against his chest and her back was to the terrifying, flashing windows. She was shaking so hard he could feel her teeth chattering.
She didn't push him away. Instead, a choked sob escaped her, and her fingers latched onto his t-shirt, gripping the fabric so tightly her knuckles were white.
"I've got you," he whispered, his chin resting on the top of her head.
He led her back to the sofa, guided by the intermittent flashes of lightning. They sat down, and Kiera immediately curled into his side, refusing to let go.
"Don't leave," she whispered into his chest. "Please, Brendon. Don't leave me in the dark."
The words hit him like a physical blow. She wasn't just talking about the blackout.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise."
He held her for a long time, the storm raging outside. In the darkness, the last year seemed to melt away. They weren't the "Simp" and the "Ice Queen." They were just Brendon and Kiera, two broken pieces that finally fit together again.
Kiera's breathing eventually began to slow. Her grip on his shirt loosened, but she didn't move away. She felt warm against him, her scent of vanilla filling his senses.
Brendon closed his eyes. He knew that when the lights came back on, the walls would go back up. She would remember the hurt, and he would remember the secrets.
But for now, in the dark, he could pretend. He could pretend that he'd never left, and that she'd never stopped loving him.
He tightened his hold on her, and for the first time in a year, Brendon Hampton felt like he could finally breathe.
