𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄, doctor strange.

Morning's Mysteries

                        Ana sat at the table in Steven's kitchen, an empty plate with the remnants of eggs and bacon in front of her as she swallowed the remaining orange juice in her glass cup. Steven was upstairs, not yet awake, and Ana had not been able to sleep last night because of the meeting the day before. She shuddered at the thought and set her fork down on her plate with a clatter when she heard the bacon on the stove pop, and she hurriedly rushed over to it as the oil bubbled and splattered onto the dark red bacon cooking. At that moment, she heard Steven's footsteps creak down the stairs, and she could feel his confused gaze on her back as he stopped in the doorway to the kitchen.

               Ana glanced over her shoulder at Steven, who furrowed his brows at her, his mouth in a grimace, rubbing his eyes with a sleeve of his blue robe over his black ensemble of pajama pants and a tee shirt. " Morning," she said enthusiastically, putting the finished bacon on a plate beside two runny yolk eggs that still were blowing off steam. Steven allowed himself a smile, plopping down in the seat across from Ana's previous one, glancing around suspiciously at the ingredients set neatly on the kitchen counter. " Are you making breakfast?" Steven said curiously, directing his glance at Ana, who nodded with a grin, setting his plate and fork over his shoulder and in front of him, and he grinned wildly, looking down at the steaming food. " Thank... you," he said tentatively, picking up his fork and biting into his egg. Ana clicked the stove off and dumped her empty plate into the sink, washing it off quickly before drying her hands and retreating into the living room, where she plopped onto the couch in a small ball, her maroon robe thrown over her navy ensemble of pajama shorts and tee shirt. 

             Steven shuffled into the living room, taking a seat beside her, his feet folded beneath him. She smirked at his slight childish behavior, and he shot her a playful glare as she switched the television on, the news popping up about some break-in down at the bank, where nothing was stolen. Ana scowled boringly, switching the channel to some mystery show, and nodded her head, entertained. These shows always got her adrenaline going, somehow reminding her of her own life. Steven glanced with a raised eyebrow at her incredulously, and she raised her hands in mock surrender. " There is nothing better than a good old mystery to get someone's adrenaline going in the morning," she said with a laugh, and Steven snorted, shaking his head, but watching the ongoing drama, anyhow.

             The show ended thirty minutes later, and as the next one was in between commercial, Ana smiled softly, a memory forming in her mind. " I saw my picture was hung on your fridge," she said quietly to Steven, who wrinkled his nose, and nodded, his gaze still glued on the television. " You have an amazing talent," he said, trying to keep his voice steady,  and he cautiously glanced over at Ana, who was staring at him with a blank expression. He furrowed his brows, smirking. " What?" he said with a chuckle, and Ana simply shrugged, smiling softly. " It's not everyday you see one of your drawings displayed like true art, even on a fridge." Her voice was hinted in amusement, and gratefulness, and Steven was glad he caught the latter. " Why wouldn't I? It's true art," he said, shrugging matter-of-factually. Ana grinned madly, but hung her head low as for Steven not to see, and she turned back to the television, enveloping herself in the madness.

                   They binge-watched mystery shows until late that night, where they finally fell asleep on the couch, Ana's head leaning on Steven's shoulder, a small grin on her face, the same expression on Steven's.