By The Lantern-Light (A CherriSnake AU)

IX - Little Sparks Can Still Cause Fires

⬪◁──✿『』✿──▷⬪

I found myself awake before the dawn had opened its fiery orange warmth upon the windmill. The light seeped through in shy rays, but the sun in the window was glaring and bright.

I hopped out of bed with an unusual amount of energy, and sucked in a breath. I could barely contain myself as I threw off my night clothes and pulled on a white shirt and trousers that I didn't mind getting dirty in, then tied up my hair with a piece of cord laying on my nightstand. The star of the morning was just slipping into my room as I made my way to the stairs, and then the kitchen.

Whipping up a quick breakfast for four, I walked to the boys' room to find that they were already awake. We exchanged greetings and I gave them their food.

Easy enough. Now, to get the other one up...

I held two plates in my hands as I stood outside of Miss Bomb's door. Suddenly, that air of giddiness had shriveled into itself to become a gnawing nervousness.

While I had talked to her the past few days, it was nothing more than a 'good morning' from myself and a grumble in response as I handed her breakfast. The other times of day, she decided it was best to simply make her own meals. I hadn't tried to stop her. Admittedly, she was doing better on her leg and had stopped limping by now.

But today was the day we finally had to tackle the magenta abomination that was the aftermath of our most recent 'encounter.'

Together.

I knocked on Miss Bomb's door.

Silence.

I knocked again. "Good morning, Miss Bomb! I brought breakfast!" I tried to sound cheery in an attempt to coax her out of bed, but no noise came from the depths of the guest bedroom.

"Alright, come on," I said with a sigh, "today is not the day to be doing this."

"I'm not helping you clean your fucking shed," came the muffled and groggy reply.

"Workshop."

"Shed."

I rolled my eyes, bashing myself for not thinking of this reaction from her before. "It's time to get up. It's been time to get up, but I let you sleep in."

The rustling of sheets. "Oh, thank you so much, selfless, gracious Sir Pentious. Whoop-de-fuckin'-do, get over yourself."

"I made you breakfast. Please. Just get up."

I waited for another snarky insult, but none came. Instead, I was startled by the sudden opening of the door. Cherri Bomb stood there, with messy hair and dishevelled clothing and a sour expression.

I swallowed hard as I looked down at her, praying that she would not notice the strange heat in my cheeks.

She gestured to the plates in my hands. "Holdin' that to look pretty?"

"Oh, right, here." I handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. Nothing fancy. She took her breakfast and slammed the door, but the sound of drawers being pulled told me she had not just gone back to bed. I nodded, satisfied.

A few minutes later, the boys had finished with their meal and so had I. The three of us were ready to start.

Edgar yawned, and I followed suit. "When is she coming down? I have a drawing to show her," he added.

"You will leave her alone. I mean it. Don't get in her way." I had situated myself at the table and took a sip of water from my cup.

"You should listen to your old man, pipsqueaks," came a loud voice from behind me, and I nearly jumped in my seat. "He knows a thing or two about getting his ass beat."