in the midnight hour I can feel your power

[notreadytocomply]

(Prompt: 02 • HUNGER. Your stomach is growling and it just won't stop. Or perhaps your throat is so dry you could cough up a tumbleweed? Well, you've gone to the kitchen to remedy this and hey, that was a pan that just dropped on the floor. It was loud enough to wake the dead! Oops.)

---

If Bucky were being honest with himself, the reason he's still awake would be the memories come to gather at the window of his mind in dark, foggy silhouettes against a backdrop of screams. Luckily he's lying to himself and blaming his rumbling stomach -- which is true, but not the real reason for the season.

Sleeping never comes easily for him when not induced behind glass sparkling with cryogenic mist, and tonight is no exception.

So Bucky shuffles off to the kitchen at 2:14 a.m. in pursuit of a midnight snack. The shitty apartment is eerily quiet, no sirens in the distance for once. For a moment it feels too out of place, as if Bucky were looking at the scene from afar--

But then he comes back to himself just as his hip bumps the handle of a pan sitting on the edge of the sink -- of all places, why couldn't the culprit (Bucky) just put it two inches farther into the sink? -- and

CLANG!

Bucky sets his jaw, ready for the inevitable oncoming reaction waiting to burst through the door in a flurry of fifteen-year-old spunk.

Comments

[notreadytocomply]

He leans his head back against the back of the couch, counting the holes and water stains in the ceiling.

"Doesn't count if I was asleep during most of it," he blinks, still not feeling the drag of sleepy eyes. "I understand that life is too short for his kind of disrespect. Hmph."

He sits back up, arm secure around her.

"Got anymore of those brownies?"

[witchplz]

"Maybe its time to live it up," is what she says gently instead. Isn't that what she's been saying this entire time? Way to repeat yourself, Rahzel.

She hums.

"Yeah, but I'm too comfortable to be an agreeable host. And besides, we're already roomies."

[notreadytocomply]

"Living it up...yeah."

He laughs, a little bitterly.

"Much easier said than done, especially for a squirt like you. Yeah, roomies. What an honor." He grins.

[witchplz]

She grins right back at him, fingers pulling at his cheek.

"That's why I'm going to make you regret in your bones how miserable you're stuck on being."

[notreadytocomply]

"Pfft, me, miserable?"

Bucky stands suddenly, bringing her to plop onto his shoulders, as if she were a two-year-old.

"You're gonna make me regret it by making the greatest brownies ever? Ooh. Super effective. Not."

[witchplz]

Giggling, she pats him atop the head, settles her fingers in soft locks.

"The most miserable. But you won't stay that way for long, not with Rahzel-sama on the case. You'll be dust before that happens."

A harrumph.

"Obviously that and an asskicking or five."

[notreadytocomply]

"I'm sure you'll have me seeing rainbows and singing songs by the end of your case."

He laughs, then walks them into the kitchen.

"We have another box, right? Why don't you let Bucky try to make the brownies this time, Rahzel-sama?"

[witchplz]

A harrumph, then. A gently sifting of hair.

"Just because I don't want you miserable doesn't mean I want you miserably cheerful."

Which doesn't make sense but shut up, it's early. Late. Whatever. Rahzel screws up that button nose of hers, hums.

"We do....and I trust you. Have you ever baked before?"

[notreadytocomply]

He sighs a little and lets the ghost of a smile touch his face. Having someone touch his hair was like petting a cat.

"You probably shouldn't trust me," his voice is somber as he doesn't mean the brownies, "but I'm going to do my best."

[witchplz]

This isn't a matter of baking sweet goods, is it. Her smile softens and she taps his head a little harder with the tips of her fingers.

"Always try your best. And remember, it's my choice. My choice to trust you, my power over myself. And your power over yourself."

[notreadytocomply]

He scratched the top of his head, batting her hands away playfully.

"I'm trying and it's getting easier, but..."

He shook his head. "Anyway, your choice and my choice. I like the sound of that. Careful, kid, you might just teach me a thing or two."

[witchplz]

"That was the plan. You can't be an old dog forever," Rahzel announces with glee.