The Physical and Metaphorical Sparks (CANCELLED!!!!!)

Rodger hunched over the fragments of evidence he had at his wooden desk at home, the only light in the house coming from the small lamp next to him.

He prioritized investigating why the kitchen exploded before he would get to what that new room really was. Something like that was dangerous, after all.

Vee’s ability to run tapes had been damaged anyway, so he wouldn’t be able to utilize his biggest piece of evidence for a bit.

Rodger felt…dumbfounded. Silently humiliated. None of this added up…and he was supposed to be smart!

Rodger tapped his pencil above his only eye, groaning quietly. 

The house was quiet and darkened, a time when Rodger could sit in reassurance without worrying about noise and danger. Even with his fears of the unknown, he found the dark bringing a sense of peace to his mind…

as long as it was mostly quiet.

Rodger’s grip on the desk tightened when he heard the creaking of floorboards.

He told himself Toodles was awake in his head, the line repeating over and over, but it was of little reassurance. 

He could’ve sworn he saw movement in his peripheral vision, but it was always just shy of being located.

His grip on his pencil was tight, white-knuckled even, hoping that the sharpened lead would be enough to defend himself against whatever posed a threat.

He felt more drawn to the light again. The innate feeling of peace in the darkness never lasted forever. 

He spins his chair around when he hears the creaking only a few feet away from him, to see Toodles’ small silhouette. Rodger sighs with relief, his grip on his pencil loosening again. 

“You should be asleep, Toodles.” Rodger’s head tilts a little.

”I wanna know what you’re working on.” Toodles steps closer, her face coming into vision from the light the small lamp emitted. 

“Nothing too big.” Rodger mumbles, standing up. “Though I’m sure once I’m finished, we can talk all about it.”

Toodles looks up at him in admiration, nodding. 

“But,” Rodger kneels down and lightly pokes Toodles on the forehead. “I can only tell you if you’re well rested. Which means it’s time you and I both go to bed.” 

Toodles runs off back to her room, while Rodger turns off the lamp and travels to his room as well.

All that was was his drowsiness getting to him, or that’s what he told himself. At least he wouldn’t have to defend himself against, in his words, “unjustifiably concerned” toons. 

At least not right now, for all he knew.