The intended Chapter 35 or whatever # it is, is taking too long so I wrote this to post something
College AU
Keith's shoulders tensed as soon as you rested your hands on them.
You knew it was just reflex, you were sitting behind him after all so he didn't know it was coming, but you still felt bad. So much so you almost pulled away apologetically, wanting to wince at how close he was to flinching at your touch. You stopped yourself however, instead moving your hands closer to the dip of his collarbone, rubbing into the muscle with your thumbs as you did so.
Keith was extremely stressed. That was obvious to you even though he wouldn't talk about it.
Actually, he wouldn't talk about anything:
Your roommate let him in and he just stormed into your dorm room, slammed the door shut before sitting on your bed and opening his laptop to work on his term paper.
No 'Hi', no 'Can I stay with you?', and most definitely no 'I'm really stressed and I just want to be with you'.
It was like he just expected you to understand what he was feeling. Or maybe he just wanted to be in your presence and that was enough for him: How were you supposed to know? Either way, you were trying your best to care for your boyfriend with what he was giving you, which was next to nothing.
Keith kept his vow of silence as you started to massage his shoulders, slowly working your way down his back. He was still responsive though as you tried to ease him, adjusting his posture as you went. It was obvious as time progress that he was slowly warming up to the wordless comfort, leaning more into your hands as they traveled up and down his spine.
But still, despite his reciprocation, he remained silent.
You hesitate when Keith drops his head lower as you rub your thumbs into his neck, wary of his possible response, before pressing your lips to the expose skin. You drop your hands down and splay your fingers out against the small of Keith's back as you do so, hoping it feels comforting to him as you kiss his neck.
For the first time Keith's typing falters, the pitter pattering of keys falling off for a moment before unsteadily picking back up. Despite his reaction, Keith doesn't pull away from your lips. On the contrary he drops his head lower, eyes probably falling to his keyboard.
For the first time since Keith barged into your room, you felt reassured in what you were doing.
Keeping your lips pressed affectionately against his neck, you glide a hand off Keith's back and onto his arm, continuing to trail up his forearm as your palm cups to his goosebump covered skin.
Keith actually freezes this time, typing cutting off abruptly as you aligned your hand ontop of his, intertwining your fingers with the calloused ones beneath yours.
Letting yourself lean against Keith's back, some of your weight shifting to him, you pull your lips away from his neck and instead rest your head on his shoulder. You could see Keith's gaze from their, like how it had moved onto your entwined hands, term paper forgotten.
Keith's presence felt different now than when he first came into your room, like he had allowed his walls to fall.
Gingerly, with much care, Keith untangled your fingers and flipped his hand under yours, making it so you were now both palm-to-palm before twining your fingers together again. You smiled a small smile at the sight, internally grateful that he was lowering his defenses and letting you back in.
You squeeze Keith's hand gently, running your thumb over a knuckle as you do so, as a sign of reassurance. Keith takes a few moments before squeezing back, harder than you did, like your hand was a safety. You smile smally to yourself.
When you wrap your other arm around him, moving it from his back to wrap tightly around his lower abdomen, and feel no objection, you lean yourself back on the bed and pull Keith with you. He follows without resistance, not even letting out so much as a grunt as he lands on your chest.
Instead he shifts against you, bringing your intertwined hands up and around himself like both arms were holding him before going still. His head was essentially inbetween your breasts when he settled, but you didn't mind; You were comfortable and so it appeared was Keith.
"You okay?"
It was only two words, but right then and there, they were worth plenty.
You can feel Keith breathe in a slow, but deep, breath.
"Yeah..."
The calloused, but warm, hand around yours squeezes again.
"Yeah, I'm alright."
