Boy Trouble GT

Chapter 41

[MASON]

Mason blinked awake to the soft glow of early sunlight creeping in through the curtains. For a few seconds, he just lay there, drowsy, trying to remember where he was. Then it hit him—Kye's bed, again. Warmth enveloped him, his face pressed against the giant's chest like it belonged there, the slow, steady rise and fall of Kye's breathing lulling him into comfort.

His mind kicked into gear, taking in the absurd difference in size. He barely reached Kye's knee when they stood side by side—and yet here he was, tucked into the curve of Kye's arms as if it were the most natural thing. Mason couldn't help a small, private smile. He'd really done it, he thought. He was back here. And he liked it. Liked being close, being held by someone who, for all his towering height, was infinitely gentle in these quiet moments.

Unable to resist, Mason curled closer. Kye stirred, letting out a low, sleepy groan. Slowly, the giant opened his eyes, and his gaze drifted down to meet Mason's. The moment their eyes locked, Mason felt a rush of warmth in his chest, and he greeted Kye with a soft grin.

"Morning," Mason murmured.

Kye mumbled something indistinct, sounding half-confused. He hauled himself upright, bed hair sticking up in odd angles, blinking as though he didn't recognize his own room at first. Mason just watched, amused. As Kye swung his legs over the edge of the mattress, Mason stood on the soft surface, momentarily eye level with him.

"You look like you slept well," Mason teased.

Kye rubbed at his face, a faint pink creeping across his cheeks as he glanced down—realizing he was in nothing but his underwear. "Uh... yeah.," he stammered.

Before Mason could tease him further, Kye stood and, without warning, slipped an arm behind Mason's back. He carefully lifted the tiny human off the bed, placing him on the floor. Mason laughed, steadying himself on the carpet.

"Just let me throw on some pants," Kye muttered, rummaging around for his tracksuit bottoms. He pulled them on hurriedly, still sporting that nervous flush.

Mason folded his arms, grinning. "Ready for breakfast?"

Kye raked a hand through his disheveled hair. "Yeah, let's go," he said, voice uneven but laced with a soft excitement.

They wandered into the kitchen, where the difference in their heights became all the more apparent—Mason barely reaching Kye's knee. Mason hopped onto a chair beside the giant-sized counter, propping his elbows up while Kye fumbled with the kettle.

"You still look half-asleep," Mason teased. "Coffee first?"

Kye nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Definitely coffee," he mumbled, focusing on measuring water. After a few moments, he glanced down at Mason and offered a small, almost bashful smile. "Thanks for... y'know. Staying."

Mason shrugged, heartbeat picking up at the sweetness behind Kye's words. "Anytime, big guy."

And that was it—no big announcements, no deep conversation. Just a quiet morning routine, side by side in their dorm kitchen, already feeling more at home than either could easily admit.

Kye looked like he'd barely slept a wink, which was ridiculous considering how he had woken up—Kye wrapped around Mason and snoring softly. Now, though, in the bright light of the kitchen, he seemed half-lost in his own head, rubbing the heel of his palm against his eyes and yawning so deeply Mason could almost feel the vibration in the floor.

His bleached hair stood at impossible angles, sticking out in tufts that made him look both adorable and comically disheveled. Every few seconds, he blinked blearily as if trying to force himself awake. He'd thrown on some baggy tracksuit pants, the drawstring hanging loose against his pale waist. Above him, the cabinets and shelves sized for his height towered, but right now, he leaned on the counter like it was the only thing holding him upright.

Mason hopped onto one of the human-sized stools near the giant-scaled counter, sipping the coffee he'd made—though, to be honest, Mason had to give him a few tips to keep Kye from overfilling the pot. He seemed so out of it that the measurements almost went haywire.

"So after class," Mason said conversationally, kicking his feet a little, "I'm planning to swing by the library, maybe grab lunch, and then—get abducted by aliens, I guess."

Kye blinked, nodding as though that all made perfect sense. "Cool," he mumbled.

Mason smothered a grin behind his mug. "Then I'll probably learn to juggle chainsaws and audition for the circus, y'know, standard Thursday stuff."

"Mm," Kye hummed, eyes half-lidded, still rubbing at his neck. "That's nice."

That made Mason snort. Kye was so far gone he wasn't even listening. Mason set his coffee down. "Wow, you really are out of it," Mason teased, sliding off the stool. The size difference sent a familiar jolt through Mason: barely reached Kye's knee, but here Mason was, strolling around like he owned the place.

Kye let out another long yawn, blinking down at Mason as if he had just appeared. "Sorry," he said, voice gravelly with sleep. "I'm awake."

"No, you're not," mason said, smug. "At least drink some coffee, or go shower properly so you don't crash halfway through the day."

Kye rubbed a hand over his bleached hair, wincing as he felt the messy spikes. "Ugh, yeah." His gaze drifted around the kitchen, then landed on Mason, and a tiny, sleepy smile tugged at his lips. "Sorry. I'm not ignoring you, just... can't think yet."

Mason shrugged, trying to hide how fond he was of this dopey, half-conscious version of Kye. "S'okay. Not like you ever think when you're fully awake, anyway."

Kye gave Mason a half-hearted glare that lasted all of two seconds before he yawned again. "Hilarious," Kye  grumbled.

For a beat, neither of the two spoke. Kye sipped his coffee—awkwardly holding the mug in his large hand—and Mason marveled at how bizarrely right it felt to be standing there, making small talk with a giant who could probably cradle him in one arm if he really tried. But despite everything, the sight of Kye leaning on the counter, hair a mess and eyes half-closed, warmed something inside Mason.

Mason tapped Kye on the thigh—one of the only spots Mason could reach easily—then turned toward the living area. "Let's go see if you can survive the day without passing out," Mason teased, heading off.

"Sure," Kye murmured, dragging his feet behind him with a yawn. mason just shook his head, smiling to himself, amused by how the big lug could look so fierce one moment and so endearingly clueless the next.

Kye would wake up eventually. Probably. And until then, Mason didn't mind keeping an eye on him—making sure Kye didn't knock anything over or accidentally agree to join a circus. After all, it was just another morning with Mason's very own sleepy giant.