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Gwen's eyes flickered open, adjusting to her surroundings. What caught her attention immediately was that the credits for the movie she had been watching with Kevin were rolling. She made a mental note to rewatch the movie at a later date.
Smiling warmly, Kevin glanced down at her, wrapped securely in his arm, using his shoulder as a headrest. "Feelin' comfy?"
Rubbing her eyes, she sat upright, staring straight ahead. Struggling to maintain her composure, she crossed her arms, tapping her fingers on her elbow. "How long was I out?"
The Osmosian's smile slowly faded, matching her demeanor. "Half an hour or so. Why?"
She looked at him with her peripheral vision, still refusing to address him directly. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Sensing that more was bothering her than the fact she dozed off in the middle of their movie night, he squeezed her body close to his, sheltering her. "What did you dream about?"
The Anodite took comfort in his embrace, her hardened expression melting to reveal her vulnerability underneath, her usual bravado replaced by a newfound timidity. "Was it that obvious?"
"When you've had as many nightmares as I have, you tend to notice things in other people." He moved a comforting hand up and down her back. "C'mon, what happened?"
She exhaled a shaky breath, choking back tears. "Y—You died."
His shoulders dropped. He had clearly underestimated the gravity of the situation but chose not to let it be too obvious. "Who killed me?"
"Some no-name lowlife." She shook her head. "It seemed so real. I saw the color drain from your face. I felt your hand getting cold. I heard your last breath." She gasped for air, trying her hardest to keep herself in check. What was she even worried about? Kevin was right next to her.
Brushing his lips against her silky hair, he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Baby, I ain't going anywhere. I'm here. I'm alive. I'm okay."
Just for a moment, hearing his voice helped calm her nerves. "I can't imagine my life without you, Kevin. We've had so many close calls. If Darkstar hadn't helped us save you after you absorbed the Ultimatrix, you might still be crazy, or— or worse," she swallowed.
"If you weren't there when I first went Anodite, I might've left Earth and forgotten about you. Heck, if Ben hadn't thrown a fit and stormed off to that arcade all those years ago, we wouldn't have even met!" Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Every time we're out there fighting crime, no matter how minor the threat, I get worried that—" She stopped herself short, realizing that she was being irrational. "I sound stupid, don't I? I'm sorry."
He tangled his fingers in her hair. "Hey, c'mon, no!" He guided her head to his shoulder, seeking to provide comfort.
She shut her eyes, relishing their physical closeness. "I don't know what my life would be like without you in it, and I don't wanna know. You mean everything to me. I just... I don't know what I'd do."
Kevin pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "It's normal to worry, but I've survived everything the universe has thrown at me and I don't plan on stopping. I'll always come back to you. I promise."