"Where are you disappearing to"

"Getting tired and the couch is uncomfortable"

"Uh huh. Well have fun 'Sleeping'"

He raised an eyebrow and left the room.

He opened the door to the bathroom and stilled. Allura's hair was down and Axca's arms were wrapped around her. She froze and stared back. He snorted into his fist.

"Did no one teach you how to lock doors?"

"Shut the fuck up Keith"

He smirked and backed out of the room. He heard whispers through the door.

"I swear I locked it."

"It's not that big of a deal"

"He's gonna tease me forever now"

He chuckled and walked away.

"Hey"

He choked and dropped the book.

"Uh- Sorry. Um, why.. What.?"

He smiled

"Movie ended"

"Oh, right"

He tucked his hands under his legs and stared at the wall next to him. He huffed and stepped into the room.

"What were you looking at?"

He picked up the book and turned it over. 'Sketchbook'.

"Oh"

He flicked his eyes up and Lance was already looking at him. His mouth tipped up slightly.

He sat down next to him and nudged his shoulder.

"Where you find this?"

"Sorry. I was.. I dunno.."

He tapped the book against his arm.

"It's fine. I really don't care about you going through my stuff. I don't think anything is off-limits"

He turned it over in his hand

"Haven't seen this for ages"

"It was over there. On your desk, just open"

He smiled and held it out

"You can keep looking if you want"

He caught it automatically then frowned at it.

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"You're pretty good"

He blinked and glanced up at his face

"Thanks?"

He laughed and wrapped an arm around him.

"I mean it. You're a good artist"

He looked down at the open page and frowned.

"I remember what it's supposed to look like"

He ran his thumb over the edge of the page.

"But, like, I don't think the glasses are good at picking up flat things. It just looks like a bunch of graphite now"

"Technically, it is just a bunch of graphite"

He scoffed and Lance chuckled. He sighed into his shoulder.

"Axca and Allura were kissing before.."

He jolted away

"What!?"

"Hmm?"

"What did you say?"

He looked at his face. He tilted his head to the side and smiled.

"I said you're hot"

"You did not"

He laughed and fell back on the mattress. He put the sketchbook on the dresser and laid down next to him. He turned his head and the glasses smushed against his face.

"You're gonna ruin them if you do that"

He leaned on his elbows and took the glasses off his face. He sucked in a breath and his hand twitched.

Lance interlocked their fingers.

"Sorry"

He shut his eyes

"Could have warned me, but it's fine"

He cupped his face and pressed a kiss to his forehead. His eyelids fluttered closed and he pressed his face into his chest.

He whined and opened his eyes. He sucked in a breath.

"I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine."

He pressed his hands against his eyes and his body shook. Lance's arms tightened around him and he groaned. He pressed his fingers to his temple and rubbed it. His breath was coming in uneven short bursts.

"Keith-"

He jolted and sat up. He frowned, still dazed with sleep. He pushed himself up and placed a hand on his back.

"Are you okay?"

He shuddered and shook his head.

He rubbed his fingers over his back.

"What's 3 things you can smell"

"The sun. Coffee. Dust"

"3 you can hear"

"Birds, you, uh, talking"

"3 you can-"

He cleared his throat

"What are 3 you can feel"

"You, the bed, the floor"

He sucked in a couple deep breaths and dropped his hands into his lap. He reached over and traced his fingers through his hair. His eyes fell shut and he leaned into him. His hands felt numb.

"I forgot.."

"Hmm?"

"I wasn't supposed to be able to see"

He hugged him closer

"The drinking and the glasses probably wasn't the best combo. But.. The glasses could break at any point. It's a very temporary sight thing and based on how much they reacted about the price I don't think a replacement is an option."

A shiver shot down his spine.

"I've got a headache and I'm not sure if it's a hangover type of headache or glass in my eye type of headache."

He pulled back

"What?? Is that bad?"

He glanced at him and then furrowed his eyebrows

"Oh, right. No it's- mostly it happens when the nightmares are gonna get bad. It feels like I'm still there, its not actually.. Its not a real pain. Just the memory"

"Sounds bad"

He hummed

"It just happens sometimes"

"You sure there's no glass there?"

He rubbed his thumb around his temple.

"Yeah it's been checked by the doctors. The first couple times this happened mum and Axca panicked. But it's been watched and checked multiple times. They got it all out the first time"

He sighed and leaned back on his hands.

"It's cold"

"Is it?"

"Maybe I'm just always cold"

"We should get breakfast then"

"I'm not really hungry. Besides, I'd rather stay with you anyway"

"I was gonna stay with you no matter but, but point noted."

He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him closer. He chuckled and hugged his waist. He sighed into his chest.

"Is there.. Anything else?"

"Dad showing up the other day kinda.. It shocked me a lot. And when I was conciously thinking, I was just worried about you."

He paused

"How's your family doing?"

"Oh, yeah. I don't actually know. I should probably go home sometime today and check."

"You could have left if you needed to.."

"No- I wasn't gonna leave until I knew you were okay. And then we talked and kinda just ended up falling asleep. It's not like I wanted to go home anyway"

He huffed and rubbed his fingers down his spine. His breath stuttered and his fingers twitched. He cleared his throat and his voice came out strained when he spoke.

"You said something last night"

"What was it?"

"I dunno. I didn't quite hear you and when I asked you to repeat it you said something else. I can't remember what either of them were."

He chuckled and pulled his head back slightly.

"Well the second one was 'you're hot'."

He scoffed and Keith smiled, resting his knuckles along his cheek. The skin was warm under his hand. He struggled to find words, and they came out as a sort of squeaky whisper.

"Do you remember what the first one was."

He chuckled and shook his head.

"I do. But I don't think it's my place to say. I don't know if it was a one time thing or not."

"Okay"

He rested his head on his shoulder and rubbed his thumb against his cheek.

"You're really warm, and we haven't even kissed yet"

A shiver shot through his body when his warm breath landed on his neck.

"Was it something I said?"

"Fuck-"

He pressed his lips to the skin below his ear and his breath escaped his lungs. He pulled back slightly and held his cheek in his palm.

"Is this okay?"

"Uh-"

He held his eyes shut. His heartbeat was so loud. He couldn't think of any words and he was trying to remember to breathe. He leaned back a bit more and Lance caught his elbow.

"Don't- Just.."

He gasped out a 'yeah' and Keith chuckled, rubbing his thumb across his jaw. He kissed his cheek then turned Lance's head slightly. He bit down a whine. He pressed his lips hard into the soft skin just below his ear. He drew back very slightly and held his face still as he peppered a line of kisses along his jaw. He pulled back and hesitated. He could hear his uneven breathing.

Lance rubbed his thumb over his elbow and he smiled. He sat up on his knees and hooked his fingers under his chin and tilted it up. His breath hitched and he pressed their lips together. Lance stilled for a second then pushed against him. It caused them to rock slightly and Keith smiled. He barely brushed his tongue over his bottom lip and a shuddery breath escaped his mouth. The heat in his stomach twisted and he pulled back to breathe. Keith closed to gap quickly and pressed his thumb into the base of his spine to hold him close. He gasped and jerked forward. 

Keith slipped backwards slightly. He clenched his eyes to keep them shut and tried to get his ragged breathing under control. His face burned under his fingers and he rubbed his thumb over his jaw. He braced both his arms on his shoulders.

"Ah- Sorry. It was just, a lot.."

He giggled and brushed their foreheads together.

"I'm sorry too. I know you get overwhelmed easily"

He scoffed

"It was good though"

He cringed at himself

"Ugh, that was so embarrassing"

He laughed and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

"You're really warm. You should probably get some water or something"

"Yeah, maybe."

He blinked to clear his vision and smiled at him. He stretched and his shirt pulled up a little. His eyes snapped to the bit of skin peaking out along his sides. He chuckled and loosely folded his arms over his chest.

"Do you always stare at me, or do you only do it when I can see you looking"

His gaze flicked up to his eyes and he turned away. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"All the time"

He seemed surprised that he said it and frowned.

"You're pretty to look at"

"Yeah well you're hot"

His eyes snapped back to him

"No I'm not"

He laughed

"You are"

"If anyone here is hot it'd be you"

"I know"

"Wow, you're modest"

He threw a pillow at his face and he caught it.

"If you didn't look good what makes you think I'd like you?"

"You couldn't see me when we started talking"

"When we started talking I thought you were a bit of a snob"

He scoffed

"And what do you think now?"

"That you're hot"

"You're shallow"

He hit his head with the pillow.

"Says the one that was staring"

He laughed.

"So"

She glanced up and frowned at him.

"Enjoy your makeout session?"

She shoved him away and he grinned.

"Enjoy yours?"

"Didn't have one"

"Bullshit. You and Lance disappear for the night and you're telling me you didn't kiss once"

His jaw locked shut.

"Yeah, that's what I thought"

He sat down and spun on the kitchen stool.

"Is it anything serious?"

"I dunno."

"Bet you ran away. Coward."

"I did not-"

He scoffed

"Okay fine. I've been avoiding her all morning. Couldn't tell you anything"

He hummed and stood up

"You know where she is now?"

She caught his arm

"Don't be a dick"

He hummed and smirked

"Guess I'll find her myself"

"Keith-"

He poked his finger into her neck

"Nice hickey"

She slammed a hand over it and glared at him. He spun on his heel

"Fuck you!"

He flipped her off.

He leaned his elbows on the couch. She was picking up cups and bottles from the previous night.

"For reasons that I couldn't guess.."

She glanced up

"Axca tells me she's avoiding you"

She chuckled and shook her head and went back to tidying up.

"Is it serious?"

"Dunno, haven't exactly had the chance to talk to her yet"

He laughed

"Fair"

"I saw Lance's hickey. Well, the start of one anyway"

She tapped her finger just below her ear and he straightened slightly.

"Yeah I saw Axca's"

He poked his finger into the middle of his neck. She laughed and raised her hands in mock surrender.

"She's in the kitchen, so go 'put away the trash'"

She scoffed

"I don't mind helping clean up"

"Yeah yeah, there'll be more later if you like it that much. Go talk to her"

She huffed and stood up

"I doubt you'll let me get away with not talking to her"

"Nope. Don't make me use force"

She laughed and placed her hand on her hip.

"As if you'd be able to move me"

"May I remind you that I won the arm wrestle"

She rolled her eyes

"And if that's the worst case, I'd easily pick up Axca and bring her to you"

"Oh, you never know. Maybe I'd disappear as soon as you went to go get her"

He scoffed and shook his head

"Just go"

She laughed and left the room. A small smile stayed on his face.

"Hey"

He jumped and looked over his shoulder.

"Hey"

"You're up late"

"You're up early"

He scoffed and leaned against the couch. He glanced at him and Keith frowned.

"What"

"Somethings up"

He sighed and glared at the floor.

"You know too much"

"What is it?"

He shot him a look. He grinned in response.

"Oh let me guess, you're pregnant?"

"No but your mum is"

He rapped his fist against his arm

"That's the worst type of joke"

He gave a weak smile but it quickly fell. He crossed his ankles.

"Got a headache"

"A real one this time?"

"Yeah. And I'm not sure if it's a hangover or because of nightmares"

"Oh shit"

"And I don't remember having a nightmare from whenever I went to sleep but, I woke up and.. I forgot I couldn't see and it was like I was back in the hospital. Had a mild panic attack about it."

He pulled him to his side.

"I talked to Lance a bit. But he's still in the dark with most of this. I know I should be grateful but the glasses are too temporary. There's so many ways it could get broken and a replacement is off the table. I just wish there was a more permanent solution but it'd probably cost money we don't have"

"The fact that you're talking to Lance is progress"

He frowned. He moved in front of him and rubbed his thumbs under his eyes.

"I'm serious. Even just last year you were barely talking to me. And when I asked questions you'd shut me out. You don't have to tell him everything. You don't even have to tell him anything. The fact that you are, and even starting talking without much prompt, is huge. You should be proud"

He grabbed his wrists.

"Yeah"

He smiled

"You don't believe me"

"Well the words make sense, just separately"

He laughed and his mouth twitched.

"I'm proud of you, Red Dwarf. You're talking to people now"

He stared up at him, his mouth trying to fumble for words.

"I'm not that short anymore"

He chuckled

"Yeah but you still have to look up when talking to me"

He scoffed and kicked his shin.

"You keep kicking me when I'm right. And, I meant in the star way"

"Yeah, but it always had a second meaning"

"Come on Superstar. Don't be like that"

He pulled a face

"So cheesy"

"I got a bunch more. Space-nerd. We made lots together, but there's some I didn't say then because they were really stupid or sappy"

"What makes you think you're brave enough to say them now?"

"Because I care less about what you think"

His eyebrows furrowed

"Uh- that came out way worse than I meant it. I can't embarrass myself around you any more"

He rolled his eyes

"I'm sure you'd find a way"

"Yeah, sure Moonpie"

He scrunched up his face

"Ew, no"

"Emo-Ray"

"You're so weird"

"Scarless Zuko"

"Scarless Zuko!?"

He laughed and brought his face close to Keith's.

"Hey, guess what sweetheart?"

He raised an eyebrow and huffed

"What"

He smiled and rubbed his thumbs over his cheeks.

"Got the world in my hands"

He groaned and shut his eyes. He laughed.

"That's so bad"

He hummed

"I'm not blind Superstar. And your face is so much worse at lying than your mouth"

His mouth pressed shut.

"Stop looking at me like that"

He smiled and tilted his head to the side

"Like what?"

"Like I'm your everything. Or whatever I do is amazing. Or whatever I say is gold"

"What if you are?"

He sucked in a breath and stood frozen. His hands tightened slightly.

"I can't be"

He hummed and rubbed his thumbs over his skin. He pushed the edges of his mouth up. He pulled his hands away and James blinked at him

"Please- I can't be. I don't deserve it"

 "Why."

He shook his head and held his hands tight.

"Keith. Don't do this. Don't push me away again"

A sob cracked from his lips. He pulled his hands out from his grip. He placed them on Keith's shoulders.

"Look, I don't want to leave you. But if you really need me to I will. You just have to tell me"