Work Text:
The scent of it wakes up Riz, and he climbs out of bed, wiping his eyes as he yawns. He’ll brush his teeth and wash his face after breakfast – there’s the all-important matter of coffee to attend to, first. He pulls himself onto a kitchen chair and looks over at his mom’s back as she stands before the coffee maker, carafe in one hand and mug in the other, pouring out their lifeblood.
“Morning, Mom,” he mumbles, eyes half-lidded.
“Good morning, sweetie,” she replies jovially, but even then she sounds lethargic and a yawn escapes her as she finishes pouring the coffee. She turns around and places the mug on the table in front of Riz. On it are the words “Worlds #1 Detective” hand-painted in immaculate calligraphy – a Moonar Yulenear present from Fabian, of course. Riz muzzily smiles and pulls the mug close to him, wrapping his hands around the hot ceramic.
“Thanks.”
“Of course.” She leans over and kisses the top of his head before turning back to the machine to fill up her own mug (“Cops do it undercover!”). She takes a few sips from her mug and then tops it off before sitting down across from Riz. “How did you sleep?” she asks.
“Pretty well. I got-” he squints over at the clock on the microwave “-about five hours of sleep.”
Sklonda smiles. “I’m so glad you’re getting more sleep now that you’re a senior. You made me so worried last year with all your running around!”
He ducks his head down in a bashful apology as he sips at his own mug. “Yeah, sorry about that. Just trying to save the world and get into college. You know how it goes.”
She frowns sternly. “No, I don’t, really. Not the whole ‘saving the world’ part, at least. Now, you promised me that you’d tell me if there was any sort of imminent threat that’s interfering with your studies. I’m holding you to that.”
Riz cracks a smile as he feels himself waking up. “Yeah, I promised and I meant it. We’re good. Honest.”
She looks over at him, skeptically. “I trust you, but you have this bad habit of hiding anything bad from me, mister.”
“Serously, mom! I promise I will tell you the instant something sinister comes up!”
A sigh. “I know. I just worry about you. So, how about some toast and peanut butter for breakfast?”
“Sure!” He hops off the chair and heads to the cupboard. “I’ll make it, since you prepared the coffee!”
“Thanks, sweetie.”