"Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick" For The PicFic Tuesday Challenge 1-20-18

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

The prompt:



Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

Napoleon rolled over in his bed, staring at the alarm clock on the night table. He couldn’t fall asleep no matter what he tried; counting sheep, relaxing his body from his toes up to his face. He counted backwards from two-hundred, but absolutely nothing worked.

Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

He looked over at his partner who was snoring, sound asleep.

“Not fair,” he mumbled.”

Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

“Awww come on!”

Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

It had to be thad damn alarm clock that was keeping him awake. Napoleon covered his head with his pillow, hoping that would help.

Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

“Dammit!” He cursed under his breath.

He reached over, grabbing the alarm clock, intending to throw it across the room, but he stopped himself. They needed it to make sure they were up in time to catch their flight back to New York. This was a seedy cheap hotel, with no such thing as a wakeup call service.

Before turning in for the night, they had stopped in a Woolworth’s after eating at a local diner, and picked up the alarm clock just to be on the safe side.

Dinner left much to be desired. The steaks were over cooked, the baked potatoes were under cooked, the string beans were...bleh. Even Illya didn’t finish his food and that said a lot.

The only thing that was good in this greasy spoon of a place was the coffee. Napoleon had a couple of cups along with a slice of apple pie that was merely okay.  Illya opted for just a cup of tea, and a piece of pie as well.

That was the end night for them; they were both tired and slightly beat up, but at least they could sleep soundly knowing their mission had been a success.

“Yeah right,” Napoleon thought.

Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

He sat up, and reaching for his pillow he lobbed it at Illya, startling the Russian awake.

Kuryakin sat up immediately, having pulled his gun from beneath his pillow in one fluid motion; it was action that had come with not only training but plenty of practice.

He blinked several times, trying to adjust his eyes in the dark. He saw and heard nothing other than the Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick of the alarm clock.

Turning on the light on the nightstand between the two beds, he quickly surveyed the room. Nothing, no one, except Napoleon’s pillow lying on the floor next to the Russian’s bed.

He looked over at his partner, seeing him curled up with a smile on his lips.

“Why did you throw your pillow at me?” Illya hissed.

One of Solo’s eyes popped open. “Because I can’t sleep.”

“Ahhh, so I see. You cannot sleep, so therefore I am not permitted to do so either?”

“That pretty well sums it up. That damn clock ticking away was keeping me away.”

“Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…”

“Or perhaps it was all that coffee you drank at the diner?”

“Maybe.”

“Tsk.”

Kuryakin reached down and picked up his partner’s pillow and tucked it with his. “I am going back to sleep. I suggest you try to do so as well.”

“Could I have my pillow back?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Payment for waking me up.” Illya turned off the light.” Good night Napoleon.”

“Fine,” Solo grinned.” He crossed his fingers together, letting his head rest on his hands.  He started singing the Star Spangled banner in his usually off key style.

He barely got to the second line when his pillow was flung back at him.

“Thank you.” Napoleon heard his partner get up and go into the bathroom.

Illya emerged several minutes later and got back into bed, not saying a word.

Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick…

He reached over and grabbed the clock and sent it flying across the room where it hit the wall and broke into dozens of pieces, though it didn’t die a silent death as the bell rang for thirty seconds.

When all was quiet, Napoleon finally spoke.”Happy?”

“Immensely, now good night.”

“Isn’t there the possibility that we’ll now oversleep?” Solo asked. He heard Illya sigh in the dark.

“I rescheduled our flight home for this evening. Now good night Napoleon.”

“Good night tovarisch.”

Comments

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

This is precisely why I can't stand to have a ticking clock in the bedroom. I always end up fixating on the sound of it. Excellent story as always, Cuz. Though, IK could have mentioned the rescheduled flight earlier, LOL.


ETA - I am working on something for this challenge, but things have been a bit busy. I fully intend to have it posted by the end of the week.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Though Illya didn't make the flight change until he went into the loo; that's where he made the call.

I started a Short Affair too but the days have just gotten away from me, especially with the upcoming holiday.

A local shop called "Sears" is going out of business so I've been watching their discounts as I want to get a new pair of walking shoes. Skechers are really comfortable for me as I need a wider shoe, esp. up around the toes. Need wiggling room because of neuropathy in my feet. Skechers aren't cheap, so I'm hoping they'll be half price on Friday...and hope they still have my size too.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

That's what I get for trying to multi-task; I missed a pertinent detail.

Crossing everything (fingers, toes, eyes) that you'll be successful in your shoe search :-)