Chapter Text
There were not many positives to being an insomniac—-not many that the average person would view as positives anyways. In her view, there were plenty. The world was silent and non pestering which was something Agatha was more than content. There was nothing between herself, the tv marathon, and whatever the latest collection of studying there might be.
The other would be who needed the use of a clock when there were far easier methods to tell what time it was. Such as right now, in which there was a loud thud against the wall which distinctly mirrored the exact noise an alarm clock would make when being thrown halfway across the room. Followed by a groggy mumbled curse. If she was lucky and felt like straining ears, she’d get the honors of being the only one to hear the sleep-slurred ‘pedazo de mierda’ sworn at the offending object as well. Which all in all meant it was six o’clock in the morning. Shaking her head, recentering her focus on rereading the paragraph that had yet to be understood entirely. Followed up right one cue was another thud, which meant easily thirteen minutes had passed and Rio had actually made it out of bed.
By the time Rio truly surfaced, five minutes to seven, that is, Agatha had already completed all the bunny care, coffee, and was sitting cross legged in the chair writing out the list of her days’ tasks.
“Sleeping beauty lives.” she mused, looking up, elbow on the table as she rested her chin on her hand, watching the other make an instant beeline for the steaming mug on the counter.
“For now. Perhaps not later. Too much.” Rio hummed, speaking more into the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mug than anything.
“At the current rate you’re going to run out of places for alarm clocks. You hit the snooze button, not throw it.”
Silence was all that was received except for the narrowed gaze over the rim of the mug, the look only gaining a quirked brow instead. “You know I’m right.”
“Two things can be true at the same time you know.” Rio retorted with a click of tongue, more awake yet clear having the look of somebody who scalded their mouth but refused to admit it. “You want to talk about my habits, I can easily start up with yours. Like the fact you aren’t going to sleep.” she casually commented, setting the drained mug in the sink, changing focus to looking through the cabinets.
“We aren’t talking about me.”
“Aren’t we?” the cheshire grin and she tilted her heads backwards, the amusement only growing at the audible huff received.
She should have never been in the nice mood to make the extra mug, Agatha concluded. If this was the type of thanks she received? Cruel.
“Anyways, bigger things to question. What’s happening for the holiday?” came questioned aloud, unable to see the look of confusion that flash over the other.
“What does that mean?”
“Means exactly what I said.”
“I know what you said, I don’t see how it relates in the slightest.”
“If I was doing my thing, you do yours, we do something. I have zero idea—bingo.” Rio made a delighted noise in victory as she found the prize stashed away. One powdered donut that had enough confectioners sugar on it to make one's mouth look positively unhinged. Which did not help with the fact that's exactly what she did, allowing hands free mode as she changed direction to the fridge.
It was as if too many atrocious were happening at once cause Agath’s head to glitch as she watched the balancing act unfold in front of her. Impressively there was no sugar in the fridge handle as Rio held the world's worst breakfast in one hand, a can in the other, and proceeded to shut the fridge door with her knee. At the same time it gave the practically perfect subject change.
“You cannot just have that, coffee, and an energy drink as your breakfast.”
“Breakfast of champions m’lady. Now, you think about it while I have a lab I need to set up.” punctuationing the sentence with a sugar-sweetened kiss, “Te veo.”
Just like that her head went and short circuited once more, not even fully registering the door closing.
****
One would have thought the world was against her at this rate because why was it so hard for the day to actually go as planned. Granted, maybe things weren’t the most functional at times, but was it necessary for everything to derail?
First, the professor just flat out did not arrive until right at the tail end of the time limit before it was considered a free no class pass. Second, was the workbook of prep work assigned for over break, with the warning of ensuring its completion otherwise facing a loss of points. Third, would be the buzzing of her phone, which on any other day would be perfectly fine except for today when Agatha was already at wits end.
Reading the source of the buzzing only added to the level of ire that if she did not have the need for the electronic it would be broken and dropped in the nearest trash can. That was out of the question as phones are expensive and she had priorities which mainly focused on rabbit treats.
All in all the series of events resulted in her seat in the ‘W’ aisle of the library, knees tucked against her chest as she glared at the afronting text messages. Typed message, delete, new typed message, delete, typed emoji, delete again. Exhaling deeply, tilted her head back against the bookshelf as she debated. There had to be a better way, because there was no way she was about to give satisfaction to anybody with such ease. The game was obvious, an attempt at checkers but she much preferred playing chess. The question was where to move the rook instead of the pawn. A loud bang interrupted her thoughts as some idiot carelessly deposited a stack of reading in one of the study cubbies.
“Nuisance.” she muttered under her breath before the light bulb clicked, the perfect concept coming to life as she got to her feet. Now it was for the next play, the knight.
It took longer than she would be proud to be adamant for how long it took to find Rio. Granted the fault was on herself for not looking in the most obvious spot. Back of the cafeteria, near the window, laying claim over one and a half tables and the bench. It was almost impressive with the construction of balance, despite papers scattered and books open and shingled on top of each other.
“Four, really.” the statement more than a question, Agatha sliding over one of the brick of a book as she took a seat on the edge of the table. Receiving an eye roll at first as the latter leaned over to shift the disarray to make space, pulling the fig bar from between teeth to articulate.
“One for caffeine. One for water. One in case the first ran out. The last because Alice lost a bet. Did you come here just to judge my choice of actions because I don’t think you want to open that deck m’lady.” Rio drawled lazily, gaze faltering away from the computer screen to look at her properly.
“You need a caffeine detox.”
“You need an attitude adjustment.”
“I do not!”
“Heresay.”
“Incredibly rude is what you are.” Agatha muttered, folding her arms over her chest in a measly attempt of a sulk, ignoring the side glances of the bypassers.
“I can be whatever you want me to be, all you have to do is ask nicely.” Rio mused, smug at the scowl received, gesturing one hand at the computer, “Now while I enjoy our little banter sessions, I need to finish this within the next fifty-two minutes.”
“The project you received three months ago—you’re just doing it now.”
“What can I say? I’m like a piece of coal, perfection under pressure.”
“That’s not how that works.”
“That’s how it works now.”
A noise of annoyance as Agatha threw her hands in the air, waving off the conversation. “Now, back to the topic at hand before you distracted me–”
“Happy to be a distraction.”
“Shut up—as I was saying. You asked me what to do when it came to the holiday. I have the perfect answer. We are going to pay my mother a visit.”
Silence ensued, an array of emotions dancing over Rio’s face as the gears turned at processing the words. Surprise, confusion, disbelief, followed up by questioning.
“What type of genetically identical replica are you in front of me and how did you come to be?”
“Ha ha, so hilarious you should become a comedian.” Agatha retorted, sarcasm dripping in her words.
“Forgive me,” Rio raised both hands in innocence, “But last I checked that woman is the equivalent of a vulture tearing away at a rotting carcass that has been sitting in the sun for a week. Since when would you willingly want to see her?”
“Since she invited me home for the holiday.”
“Oh? No catch?” accented with the perfect head tilt and scrunched nose like that of a confused puppy.
“Obviously there’s a catch. If anything it's to showcase how terrible I am at everything. However, this time I am one step ahead, which just so happens to be you.”
“One of a kind, just for you.’
“Cute, that’s not what I meant.”
“What do you mean then?”
“I mean, you, my love, get the honors to annoy and antagonize the everlasting shit out of her.”