We'll Meet Again

Chapter Six: Black Coffee

The alarm jangled violently to life far too soon for Vox's taste. He silenced it quickly, pulled on just his pants, and padded down the stairs. He was pleased to find the house still dark and quiet. He opened the refrigerator and took out the eggs they had picked up the day before and some bacon. There were not a lot of things Vox was confident in his ability to cook well but he could handle breakfast. He hummed a tune to himself and took his time to get everything right. Alastor woke to the smell of cooking bacon. It was disorienting at first. There was a brief moment where he felt like a child again, waking to smell his mother making Sunday breakfast. He gathered himself and got dressed for the day. He had a lot to remember today, a list would probably be appropriate. He grabbed the notepad he kept by his bed and made a quick To-Do list for the day. He headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Alastor was surprised to see Vox busily cooking, and more surprised to see him doing it without a shirt on. Vox turned from his cooking and started at the sight of Alastor standing in the doorway.

"Holy shit! I didn't even hear you coming down the stairs."

Alastor tried to turn on the effortless charm he considered so useful, but he was having a hard time for some reason he couldn't pin down.

"Sorry, my mother used to say I moved through a room like a cat. Quiet and vigilant."

Vox chuckled and wiped his hand on a hand towel he had pulled through one belt loop.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. I made breakfast, thought it might be nice to have a good meal before you leave."

Alastor smiled a little, touched by the kind gesture.

"It smells wonderful, do you need help?"

Vox moved towards Alastor and looked him over briefly before curling a finger under his chin and lifting his head. Alastor had not even realized he was not making eye contact. No wonder the charm was not coming easy. Vox was smirking, it made him look smug.

"My eyes are up here. Also, no, I got it. Go sit and I'll bring it in."

Alastor bristled, annoyed. He felt like a child being chastised, he was not sure if he was upset that he did something or if he was just upset to be caught. He snorted derisively and turned to leave the room. This was a ridiculous way to be acting. Vox waited until Alastor was well into the dining room before his composure broke. He felt like he was going to hyperventilate. He wondered, not for the first time, how Alastor did things like that so effortlessly. Moving back to the stove he quickly popped a couple of thick slices of bread down in the leftover bacon grease and toasted both sides before placing them next to the sunny-side-up eggs and crispy bacon on both of their plates. He grabbed both plates in one hand and the pot of coffee he had brewed in the other and headed for the dining room. The load was awkward but he was pretty proud of himself when he deposited it all on the table without spilling anything to the floor. Alastor looked over the plate of food seeming impressed. When Vox sat a mug in front of him and poured steaming black coffee to the brim he looked positively delighted.

"Be careful Vox. At this rate, I might not let you leave."

He smiled at the comment and sat across from Alastor. They both dug into the meal before them. Alastor did not speak until after having tried everything.

"This is excellent, you may well have missed your calling as a housewife."

Vox promptly choked on his coffee. His face turned a bright shade of red and he seemed to be work-shopping a comeback. Alastor grinned, pleased to have set things back to their proper order. Vox was still hoarse from choking when he shot back.

"Screw you, ya prick. I'll let you make your own breakfast next time."

Alastor chuckled and sipped his coffee.