Chapter four- Insomnia.
Buttercup laid awake that night, unable to escape a massive horde of rushing thoughts. Everything she should be not thinking about at that precise moment in time, she thought about. The grandfather clock chimed loudly from downstairs. She tossed and turned restlessly.
Skipping dinner had been a mistake. Every time she started drifting off, she was harshly awakened by the reminder that she hadn't eaten anything. She groaned into the utter darkness blanketing her.
This is hopeless! She inwardly seethed. I'll be a zombie tomorrow, no doubt about it.
She tossed the blankets aside and stood up. She didn't even bother throwing on pants, but just stepped outside, into the hall, wearing only a black t-shirt with her favorite band's logo and plain white panties. She stumbled a few steps before smartly using the wall for support. There was no way she could stand up straight without crashing right back down.
The dark haired girl made her way to the kitchen, suddenly feeling a bit parched. She quickly decided she'd grab something to eat also. Something with limited sugar. Something that would help her sleep.
She'd barely got to the sink before she heard a bout of whispering cusses. It was a singular voice. She sighed and rolled her eyes as Butch stumbled into the room. Buttercup hadn't bothered to turn the lights on since she had eyes like a cat. Unfortunately, Butch didn't. This just meant Butch had stubbed his toe in the darkness.
He flicked the switch on irritably. He gritted his teeth at his female counterpart and shook his head. "Women are weird," he snuffed her gender.
She just rolled her eyes again and gave him a certain little finger. He returned the gesture politely. Buttercup beamed brightly and walked over to the dining room table without so much as looking back at him.
He growled and followed after her, further annoying her with his presence across from her. "What are you doing up this late anyway?" He interrogated. His cheek rested attentively on a perched up arm, letting her know he was really listening- or just really good at faking it.
"I could ask you the same thing," she pointed out. She didn't feel like answering questions tonight. What she wanted to do was grab a handful of sedatIves and use them all on herself. She'd be very wake up again after that.
Butch shrugged. "You woke me up. You sounded just like an elephant going down the hall."
Buttercup's eyes narrowed as the simile. She wasn't so sure she liked the comparison. "And you'd know how exactly?"
He rubbed his face and explained himself. "You wouldn't believe the type of things Boomer has brought into this house. He's partial to animals, and yes; there has been an elephant here before. That's how I know."
Buttercup bit back a smile. He sounds just like Bubbles, she mused happily before that joy turned swiftly to bitterness. "Sounded" would be more accurate. I'm an orphan now. I've got to remember that. I can't depend upon anybody except myself.
A brief collage of Bubbles flashed into her mind. She found herself smiling in spite of herself. Her sister just had that effect on people. "I can beat that," she told Butch confidently. "You said your brother brought a elephant into this house? Well, my sister brought a blue whale into my house...well... old house."
His eyes just about threatened to pop out of his head. Buttercup suddenly wished she had some popcorn with her. And no, not for entertainment purposes. She just wished she'd have something to throw into the gap that was his mouth.
He regained from his surprise and shook his head in wonder. "Wow. You're right. I'm beat."
She laughed. "Yep. I thought as much."
It was a civil conversation, you'd have to give them that. And at least they weren't trying to punch each other in the face, so that's a step up. A while ago, they wouldn't be able to even stay in the same room without someone on standby just in case. But Buttercup found herself almost enjoying his company.
"Well, you told me the craziest thing your sister's ever done. But what about you?" She raised an eyebrow at his inquiry. "What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" He asked.
Buttercup had to think about it for a moment. "I used to take the teeth of the villains I beat up so I could get money from the Toothfairy."
He winced. "Yeah, I remember that. Thanks for that, by the way. I didn't need that molar anyway," he snapped sarcastically.
She stood up warily, using the table for support. "I was five!" She protested.
"And that's an excuse? It's pathetically weak, if you ask me."
She stood up and stormed off, but not before retorting, "Then I guess it's a good thing I'm not asking."
Butch was left with a mass of angry thoughts. He always got violent when he was angry, but this time he let it go. He was too busy blushing. How long had she been wearing those panties? He was sorry he'd missed noticing it earlier.