Nights were always restless for her. She could never sleep. In the miraculous event that she did sleep, it was plagued with nightmares and tossing and turning. After all, how could she sleep soundly while her sisters were buried six feet under ground? The thought used to drive her insane and led her to sleepless nights— a few nights turned into weeks and then a few weeks turned into a few months. Sleep deprivation and insomnia were just new normals for her.
Bubbles let her laptop sit on her untouched bed as she hugged her knees and sat on the balcony. The air lowered her body temperature and gave her goosebumps but she didn't care.
The clock inside her room read 4:36 am, but Bubbles was wide awake.
Her encounter with Butch was enough to let her mind wander for the night.
His resemblance to Buttercup shook Bubbles to her core; how he fought and spoke, how he was eager to fight and blunt with his words…
But he wasn't Buttercup. She knew this. And maybe this was why he left such a bitter taste in her mouth.
She wanted to hear her voice and watch her sister fight— it was one of her favorite things in the world, watching her fight with such determination and strength. She wanted to see her sister smirk and laugh, even if it was at Bubbles' own expense. God, she would let Buttercup taunt her endlessly if it just meant seeing her again.
But Buttercup was gone, and Bubbles was stuck with Butch.
Bubbles felt her stomach drop and she exhaled sharply while she looked up at the cloudy night sky. A cluster of stars glimmered in the distance, and Bubbles was transported to the endless nights she used to spend wishing on the stars. She remembered stargazing on the clouds with her sisters when they were young and bored on patrol. She remembered wishing on the stars when the Professor left and she was still hopeful and naive. She remembered all those times she could be young and hopeful, and suddenly a swell of desperation rose in her.
And for the third time that day, she let herself be vulnerable again as she looked straight at the stars and let her voice drop to a small whisper.
"I need you."
A/N: This is a really random upload, but I really felt the urge to post this. Take it as you wish- favorite, follow, or review.
