Horror movies.
Ingrid had seen it coming.
Not at first -because at first, Mapi had been entirely unaffected. She had lounged back against the couch, one arm stretched lazily behind Ingrid’s head, the other tucked into a bowl of popcorn as the movie played. Every now and then, she’d make a low noise of amusement, muttering things beneath her breath in Spanish.
At one point, when the main character had decided to investigate a strange noise outside (because, of course, they had), Mapi had scoffed. “Estúpido,” she muttered, shoving another handful of popcorn into her mouth. “Se merece morir.”
Ingrid had hummed in amusement, stretching her legs out over Mapi’s lap. “So cold, cariño.”
Mapi smirked. “Es la verdad.”
The whole movie had been like that. Ingrid, watching with mild interest, occasionally shifting when Mapi moved. Mapi, as confident as ever, entirely unfazed by the jumpscares or the ominous music or the increasingly gruesome deaths. When the credits rolled, she simply stretched, turned off the TV, and said, “Bed?” as if they’d just finished watching a lighthearted romcom.
Ingrid had nodded, following her down the hall with a sleepy yawn. She should’ve known. Should’ve recognized the warning signs. Because it always went the same way -Mapi would act completely unaffected, too cool to be scared, and then, as soon as the lights were off, all bets were off.
The first sign came when Ingrid moved toward the bathroom, only to have Mapi immediately latch onto her arm.
“Where are you going?”
Ingrid raised an eyebrow. “The bathroom?”
Mapi hesitated, gripping her arm a little tighter. “I will come.”
Ingrid barely contained her smirk. “You will come? To the bathroom?”
Mapi nodded, completely serious. “Sí.”
Ingrid chuckled. “Cariño, I don’t think I need company while I pee.”
Mapi frowned. “What if something happens?”
Ingrid gave her an amused look. “What is going to happen, María?”
Mapi narrowed her eyes. “No sé. You could disappear.”
Ingrid bit back a laugh, cupping Mapi’s face in her hands. “I promise I won’t disappear.”
Mapi didn’t look convinced, but she let go anyway, watching Ingrid like a hawk as she went into the bathroom. The moment Ingrid stepped back out, Mapi was at her side again, arms winding around her waist as they walked to the bedroom.
Once they were under the covers, Ingrid reached over to turn off the lamp, only for Mapi to grab her wrist.
“No.”
Ingrid blinked. “No?”
“Light stays.”
Ingrid tilted her head, barely able to hide her grin. “I thought you weren’t scared?”
“I’m not,” Mapi said quickly, stubborn as ever. “I just… don’t want to sleep in the dark.”
Ingrid hummed, amused but not unkind, and let go of the lamp. “Alright, light stays.”
Mapi sighed in relief, curling up close to Ingrid’s side. For a while, everything was fine. Ingrid traced slow circles along Mapi’s spine, her breathing growing deeper and slower as she drifted toward sleep. Just as Ingrid was about to let herself relax, a sudden noise from outside made Mapi go rigid.
Ingrid barely had time to react before Mapi was clinging to her, face burying into her neck.
“What was that?” Mapi whispered, voice small.
Ingrid listened for a moment, hearing only the distant rustling of tree branches. “The wind,” she said gently, rubbing Mapi’s back. “Nothing else.”
Mapi shook her head against Ingrid’s shoulder. “No. No, it was something.”
Ingrid kissed the top of her head. “Mi amor, we live on the fourth floor.”
“So?”
“So, unless a ghost climbed up the side of the building just to haunt us, I think we’re safe.”
Mapi huffed, burrowing impossibly closer. “You don’t know that.”
Ingrid chuckled, wrapping her arms securely around her. “I do. I promise.”
Mapi didn’t respond, just let Ingrid hold her, her grip tight and desperate. After a few minutes, her breathing started to slow again, her body finally relaxing.
Then another noise. Mapi tensed so hard it startled Ingrid.
“That was not wind.”
Ingrid sighed, sitting up slightly so she could look down at her girlfriend. “Baby, it’s probably just a cat or something.”
“No,” Mapi whispered, eyes darting toward the window. “No es un gato.”
Ingrid followed her gaze, seeing nothing but the softly swaying trees outside. “Do you want me to check?”
Mapi hesitated, then nodded quickly.
With a sigh, Ingrid got up, padding toward the window. She peered out, scanning the quiet street below. Nothing. When she turned back to Mapi, the Spaniard was practically trembling.
Ingrid’s amusement softened into something gentler. She walked back over, climbing into bed and immediately pulling Mapi into her arms.
“You’re safe, mi amor,” she whispered, kissing her forehead. “I’ve got you.”
Mapi sighed against her, finally allowing herself to relax as she nuzzles her face into the crook of Ingrid’s neck.
“I hate horror movies,” she mumbled.
Ingrid smirked. “Next time, maybe we watch something less terrifying?”
Mapi grumbled, already drifting off. “Shut up, princesa.”
Ingrid just smiled, holding her close.