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The little neon numbers of Jemma’s alarm clock read 3:38. At least that’s what she figured they said, they were a little bit blurry given that it was 3:38 in the morning and she had literally just opened her eyes to look at it. There was just the tiniest bit of light to the sky outside her window, the world a deep purple rather than a rich inky black. For a brief moment, Jemma wondered why she was awake at all given how early in the morning it was, how tired she had been, and how she normally was a reasonably regular sleeper.
Then there came another loud thump from the living room. It became very clear, after that very loud thump, why Jemma had found herself awake at 3:38 in the morning. It also explained why her boyfriend was not in the spot on the bed next to her.
“Oh bloody hell,” she hissed to the darkness. She quickly threw the covers off of herself and slid her feet down to touch the cold hardwood floor. It only took her four long strides to get to the door, but in that time she could hear that whatever was going on outside had escalated. By the time she opened the door the argument had gotten rather heated.
“For fucks sake, Fitz. Stop being a baby and give me my money,” Daisy, her roommate, said, her voice clear as day in the darkness.
Another thump. “I’m working on giving you your stupid money, Daisy. I’m just mortgaging these properties.”
“I’d like it in hundreds please.”
Fitz made a rather rude gesture before turning back to his monopoly money. “I’ll get you back for this,” he muttered.
“I’m sorry? What did you say? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of you counting out the money you owe me.”
“I said,” Fitz said louder, “I’ll get you back for this.”
Daisy flipped her hair off her shoulder and smirked, the light of the living room lamp accentuating her devilish grin. “When? Before or after you land on another one of my hotels?”
“You’ll land on mine first, and you’re in rougher shape than I am.”
“Not with all this lovely money you’re giving me. I’ll be winning this game any minute now!”
“Oh, pfft, really? Wanna bet?”
“I’ll take that bet, especially after you hand me that lovely stack of cash you’re crushing in your hand.”
He handed over the money, his nose scrunching like a child having to share his toy. “Here’s your stupid money. Now roll and land on my hotels.”
During the whole argument, neither one of the two players had noticed Jemma standing just outside her bedroom door, her arms folded and her tired eyes squinting against the lamp light.
“Are you two seriously still playing that game?”
Daisy jumped about a foot when Jemma said it and Fitz actually yelped in fright. Jemma tried to fight a smile as she continued with her reprimand.
“You are aware that it is nearly four in the morning, you two aren’t using inside voices, and we live in an apartment building with people above and below us.”
They looked at one another, comically turning their heads back to her in unison.
“Sorry,” Fitz said.
“We’re almost done,” Daisy said.
Jemma just rolled her eyes, but let her smile slip through her sternness, waving her hand for them to continue.
“Just be quieter, please.”
“Okay,” Daisy said.
“We will, love. We promise,” Fitz said.
As Fitz was talking, Daisy rolled the dice.
“Actually I think we’re done here,” she said, drumming her fingers on the edge of the coffee table they were playing on.
She had rolled right past Fitz’s last remaining hotels, essentially securing her win.
“Well, I’ll be off to bed. Good game, Fitzy. You can pay me the real bucks tomorrow.”
After messing Fitz’s curls, she skipped over to her own room and shut the door without another word .
Fitz stared at the board, his mouth wide open, as he tried to come to grips with what had just happened. Jemma leant down to kiss the top of his head, crooking her finger under his chin to help shut his mouth and turn it towards her. She pressed a soft and sleepy kiss to his lips before rubbing his cheekbone lightly with her thumb.
“I’ll never hear the end of this,” he sighed, the tiredness now obviously sinking in if his voice was any indication.
“No,” Jemma whispered, “you won’t. Now can we please go to bed?”
He gave a little huff, but took the hand she held out to him. “Yeah. We can go to bed. Just--,” he knocked over all of Daisy’s hotels, “There.”
“You feel better?”
He kissed her cheek. “Much.”