mazeofrelationships | Matt and Keith Pre Kerberos PSL

Exactly.

[Somewhat without thinking, Matt starts running his fingers through Keith's hair, smiling.

Colleen and Sam give each other a bit of a knowing look, and big smiles. Colleen lets up on Keith just a bit, looking down at him. How about we leave you with Matt? He can get you cocoa or something if you need that.]

[Keith's more or less calm now, his tears stopped and his breathing even. He sniffles, rubbing his nose on his pajama sleeve.]

Thanks, guys...and yeah, some cocoa would be nice. I dunno if I feel like going back to sleep yet. [He shifts to lean more into Matt again, smiling a little. Maybe it's just his imagination but did Katie just wink at them?]

That's ok. I'm pretty awake too. We can talk, or I can get a movie on or something.

[He wraps an arm around Keith, pulling him close. Smiling, Colleen gets up. I'll bring you both some cocoa. Katie, back to bed with you.]

Thanks. [He smiles at Colleen, nestling against Matt. Katie hugs him once more before scampering back to her room, Keith hears her scolding the dog for taking over her bed.] Maybe a movie...as long as it's not Disney. [For a company that does all those sugar-sweet comfort films they have a high concentration of dead parents.] Something dumb and cheesy. I could use the grins.

Yeah, no. Nothing like that. Hm. [Matt pulls back from him, just enough to get up and grab about five movies he knows Keith likes and hold them up.]

How about one of these?

[Keith's smile grows as he spots just the right one.]

Suburban Commando. It's so dumb it just might help take my mind off that dream.

Works for me.

[Matt starts putting the movie in, while Colleen returns with two cups of cocoa, then leans over and kisses Keith on the forehead. Now, promise me you two will get some sleep. Sam'll cover for you both at school tomorrow, so sleep as much as you need to.]

[A day off for having a nightmare? Keith feels a little funny getting this kind of treatment, time was he'd go to school with the sniffles just to avoid being a pain.

But that forehead kiss reminds him he's not at the orphanage anymore, and that it's okay to need some coddling now and then. He can still work his hardest and do his best, but it's not the end of the world if he needs a rest.

He accepts the cup gratefully, smiling.]

Thank you.

[Of course, dear. Colleen smiles at him, then disappears, leaving Matt and Keith alone together.

Matt reaches over and wraps his arms around Keith, pulling him close.]

Hey. Just us now. Sure you're ok? Or at least better?

Better, yeah. [He sips his drink, snuggling into Matt's side.] But I still don't wanna go back to sleep. I hate that dream, every time I think I've stopped having it it comes back.

That's ok. We don't have to sleep. I'm pretty wired now anyway.

[From worrying about him, to be honest.]

You can't really control what your dreams do, unfortunately. We're not going anywhere, though. I promise.

[Keith nods, taking another long sip of his drink.]

I know. I've heard some people can control their dreams, like lucid dreaming, but that's pretty rare. And...I know you'll always be here. I believe you, even if I get scared easily.

True, but I have no clue how you can go about doing that. It feels like a lot of fuss over nothing.

And... I know that you like protecting me, but let me do that a bit, ok? Just here, when it's only us.

Mm... [Keith sets his drink down on the nightstand, curling more into Matt's embrace.] All right. I...I like when you hold me, anyway. [He blushes as he says this] You're so warm.

I like holding you. It's... comfy, and just feels right.

[Matt's a bit pink as well, pulling Keith closer.]

I'm so glad we met.

Me too, Matt. If it hadn't snowed so hard or if those guys let me hang out with them, I wouldn't have met you and I wouldn't have a family.

[Or you. After Shiro, you've become the most important person to me...no, you're tied with him now. He breathes deeply, savoring Matt's warmth...

...and then something ridiculous happens in the movie, Keith knows that scene without having to turn around, and he stifles a laugh]

[Gently, Matt runs his fingers through Keith's hair, smiling softly. In a way, it's amazing how close they've gotten in such a short amount of time. At this point, he can't imagine anything without Keith around.

He's about to say something with Keith laughs, so he just grins.]

Don't worry. Laugh if you want. I think you need it. No one's going to care.

[It's like they were meant to be friends. He's grown to love all of the Holts, but Matt's special. Maybe it's having a friend near his age at the Garrison, or Matt reaching out to him and believing the best in him when most people have done the opposite.

He lets himself laugh as the antics continue on-screen.]

He can't act. It's like Michael Jordan in Space Jam, he's just so bad and I wish they still made these awful cash-grab movies with athletes. It's the best kind of bad.

I know. There's some athletes that I would love to see try to act their way out of a paper bag.

[He grins, glancing down to watch Keith. There's something amazing and powerful about him when he's happy that just makes something in his heart dance madly.]

The funny thing is that wrestling is basically acting anyway these days.

[He laughs again, this time at Christopher Lloyd's character. Dad comes to mind, this time a happier memory of him explaining a gag in some old show to Keith. See, you and I know what they're saying, but Jim here? Too much wacky weed burned his brain.]

Oh, yeah. I've never gotten into wrestling, really. It's just... violent. You know me. Can't even box in phys ed.

[Matt shrugs, still watching Keith and his reactions, and holding him close.]

And I'm all for hitting people I don't like, but I'd rather do it as myself, not some showoff in tight spandex.

[Yeah, Keith still has some James issues. But he won't have to deal with him tomorrow, at least. He takes his drink and sips it again, comforted by the stupidity of the movie and by Matt's warmth]

I dunno. There's always been a part of me that's wanted to be a superhero.

[Matt smirks just a bit, losing himself in thought for a moment.]

I wouldn't do the underwear-on-the-outside thing, though. Maybe more like... Iron Man.

That's the one thing I don't get about the classic superheroes. Dad had all these comics, and I kept wondering why they'd wear underwear outside their pants. Iron Man got it right, and Captain America looked pretty cool. And the Winter Soldier.

[Keith's never been big on superheroes, but he did see a few of the Marvel movies with Shiro, and they weren't too bad.]

Heck if I know, But... yeah. Iron Man, Batman, Even Hawkeye. I could look badass with a bow. Or... a staff, maybe.

[Matt laughs, shaking his head.]

Actually, more likely I'd be your sidekick. Support you in whatever you get up to.

Matt and Keith Pre Kerberos PSL

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