Matt and Keith: Garrison Years

[tookashirototheknee]

Matt has always said that the biggest reason he's actually at the Garrison is that they needed to inflate their academic numbers. He realizes that isn't entirely true, but he'll go with that for now.

His first couple years, he was mostly just That Nerd who took every science class he was allowed to take, avoiding the practical piloting classes like the plague. He also had a secret that he was trying to keep: That he was Commander Sam Holt's son. He'd rather do things on his own merits (or lack thereof) and not because he's his father's kid. Mostly it worked. Iverson still hated him, but he tried not to care.

Now, though, a couple years on, his secret was out, and he'd made some good friends. This particular night, he is in his room, working on some reading for a biochem project that he'd really rather not be doing. His door's always open, though, for people to come in and bother him, or ask for help. Matt never minds helping people with their work.

Comments

[whatsacactus]

[Keith tenses; it's not the kind of crying out he likes hearing from Matt. But it'll be better in the long run. At least he wasn't woken up from it. As soon as it runs, Keith quickly starts trying to mop up some of the blood.]

I'm sorry-- I'm sorry, Matt, shh. [He's keeping his voice low for now, working fast but gentle, far gentler than he's been with anything in a long time. He doesn't notice Kolivan standing just at the edge of the door watching him bandage Matt's side up.]

[tookashirototheknee]

It's alright. I know you're just doing what you have to.

[Matt has noticed Kolivan, but doesnt' say anything in particular, simply moving to try to give Keith a bit of an easier time getting him wrapped up.]

Thanks. Really.

[There are some times that he just really loves his soulmate.]

[whatsacactus]

[Once Keith finishes bandaging his side, he leans in to rest his face against Matt's hair. He hates hearing Matt in pain, hates being the one to make it worse even if it's to help. Keith gives his arm a little squeeze before taking a shaky breath and moving to look at his leg.]

Don't thank me yet.

[Yep, he'll just. Focus on that, getting a look at his leg.]

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt takes a breath and pulls his pants up to show his knee and leg. It seems that he's taken some kind of wound directly on a rather nasty scar below his knee. It's not particularly pretty, and he's lost a decent amount of blood, but there doesn't seem to be any bone damage.

He takes a breath, trying not to watch Keith's face. He knows what his soulmate's expressions are and mean, and he doesn't want to see him in that much emotional pain.]

[whatsacactus]

[Keith keeps his expression stern, focused. He's refusing to let Matt see any of the worry, the fear he has that he hadn't even noticed this wound on the way. No, he keeps his head down and focuses his shaking hands to do what he needs them to do. Pouring the antiseptic onto it, cleaning the blood away. Bandaging it slowly and methodically.]

[tookashirototheknee]

[Matt reaches out and puts a hand on Keith's shoulder, steadying the both of them.]

It's alright, Keith. I'm going to be alright. You know how stubborn I am. Don't worry, ok? Or, well, try not to.

[He knows Keith. he knows what the subtle shake in his hands means, and his determinedly stern expression. Really, all Matt wants to do at the moment is curl up in a corner and let Keith hold him, but that's likely not in the cards at this particular moment.]

[whatsacactus]

[Keith stills under his hand, really trying to listen to the words; everything had been fading out to white noise, but Matt grounds him. Brings him back to himself. He takes a breath and steadies his hand.]

I know.

[But he still worries. He can't not worry, not with how much blood he's cleaning up, or feeling Kolivan's unending gaze on the back of his head. He ties the bandage off and sits on his heels for a second. Then leans forward and rests his head on Matt's shoulder.]

[tookashirototheknee]

Hey. I've got you.

[Reaching out, he wraps his arms around Keith and holds him close. He's still in pain and barely hanging on to consciousness, but it's alright.

He glances up at Kolivan and raises an eyebrow. You might be dad Galra, dude, but Matt actually knows and understands Keith.]

Don't think I'm moving anywhere any time soon, so I'll just... be with you.

[whatsacactus]

[The adrenaline is gone, leaving only exhaustion in his bones. But this is wrong. He knows it. Keith makes a noise in his throat and shifts carefully to wrap an arm around Matt's back to pull him closer. He's scared, he's worried, he's tired, but it's nothing compared to Matt's situation. He should be propping him up on pillows and bedrest, not almost breaking down on him.

He takes a slow breath and lets it out by Matt's ear, nuzzling into his hair. He only tenses when Kolivan finally steps closer to them again, glaring up at him.]

Rest. I'm not going anywhere.

[Take that, Kolivan.]

[tookashirototheknee]

I think I'm going to sleep some, Keith.

[Matt smiles, leaning over to kiss his cheek. Everything's spinning, nothing feels right, and he's pretty sure he's lost more blood than is good for him. However, he moves so that he's mostly in Keith's lap and closes his eyes, head on his shoulder.]

We'll be ok. Promise.

[whatsacactus]

You will be.

[It's a promise, even as he's moving Matt to sit in his lap and getting blood all over his shirt, he doesn't care. He's keeping him here, as Kolivan moves to sit next to them and watch. He recognizes Matt from the Trials vision, knows what he means to Keith. The larger Galra sighs through his nose and settles where he is with Keith.]

[tookashirototheknee]

I'm getting you messy.

[He doesn't move, though, just stays comfortably in Keith's lap.]

It's ok, mister large grumpy goodguy Galra. I'm not going to keep him from what you need him to do.