𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑-𝐁𖣠𝐘 . [Rinney]

( . . . 𝟔 )

The thing that woke up Robin, eyes squinting and vision blurry at the sight of the red 6:02 am, was Billy's distant short words.

"Oh? Robin? You're calling for him?" He paused, the tanned boy growing annoyed as he craved for a deep sleep — that's the forfeit of having a roommate who delivers newspaper at 6 a.m. "Ah." He heard, "Yes. I was just about to leave."

He heard a voice on the other side of the black phone's handset, but he couldn't make it up of who it was. Instead, he was jumping to the conclusion that this was a dream and that he's on his way to drift away back to sleep again.

"Oh? Yeah. Uh-huh." Robin surmised that Billy had swiveled his head to look at him from the kitchen entrance, as he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. "You must be pretty busy. Although... He's asleep right now." And he sipped on his coffee, savoring it like he always does.

Robin jolted out of his slumber, groggily turning over and realizing that the person on the other end of the line was inquiring for him, stirring a sudden, slow curiosity as he dragged himself out of bed.

"Oh, looks like he's waking up."

And he rubbed his eyes. "Who's it?"

Billy shrugged, making Robin sigh in nuisance as he got stuck in the white sheets of the bed. "Yeah. Feel free to come over."

Robin heard other muffled words.

He rubbed his fingers against his throat, burning and itching. "Get me some water." He ordered, and the paperboy's eyes sharpened in a glare at him, disappearing in the kitchen.

"No. Yeah. I get it. Hey, I gotta be off in a bit, so... House's free. He doesn't have any plans anyway."

Robin was too exhausted to notice, extending his back, neck, and fingers until they cracked: a bad habit of his. And it troubled Billy all the time.

"Mhm. Bye."He repeated it in his typical polite tone, then hung up the phone and replaced his now-free space in his hand with his cup. "Hey, Robs."

Although the room was illuminated by the faint light of dusk, Billy's silhouette still made its way towards him with the glass of water he had requested, the curtains shielding the window. "Good morning." The sunshine had welcomed him with his usual warmness. "I suggest you to get ready. At least do your hair."

He rubbed his eyes, taking the glass in his hands: cold. That's how he liked his morning water. "Why?" He tried again, nose wrinkling and glance never leaving his best friend's eyes as he sipped.

The smirk that crossed that face made Robin gulp. Not the water, just his own saliva.

For those who don't know, Billy's smirk always hid some mischievous thought behind it. A secret, or something that would entertain him.