The Restless and the Caring (Phen)

[Kelly Thompson]

[Back dated to November when Oriel was still unwell]

When Kelly first carried the dozing Phoenix from the art room, he didn't seem too heavy. It wouldn't be hard just to bring him to a dorm, right? Well, it seemed Phen had the same weight logic as backpacks. First pick them up in your arms? Pretty light. Put it on your back at first, it won't be too hard to carry. Continue carrying, and up a flight of stairs? Magically feels like a pile of bricks. But Phoenix wasn't some pile of bricks. He felt warm against Kelly's back, and he could hear the boy's soft breaths.

The door to his dorm posed a bit of a problem when he arrived. The building's entrance could just be kicked open with a free foot, or opened generously by a passerby (which he luckily ran into). The door to room 211 though wasn't so easy. First of all it had a knob, and he was using both hands with a posable thumbs for carrying the boy on his back.

The other problem, it was locked. Meaning his roommates were out (or possibly Lyra just wanted to be left alone…). Carefully, he bent forward, so Phen wouldn't slip off, and grabbed a key from his pocket. Once unlocked, he slipped inside.

Gently, Kelly let Phen down on his bed. His room had a slight scent of acrylic to it, and the walls had several white gaps where designs were missing. Setting the bag of paints down next to the bed, Kelly sat down beside his friend.

[Deleted]

Phen protested to Kelly carrying him at first, but it was weak; he really was exhausted, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it up to his room without passing out in a corner along the way. He was a little embarrassed and self-conscious about it after he finally gave in. Oriel had carried him around before, so it wasn't like he wasn't used to being carted around like a doll, but Kelly was a new person and also... Well, attractive, which made Phen feel even more pathetic and ridiculous. At least, he figured, he wasn't too heavy - not like most people his height. That didn't mean he was light, though, and he thought he could feel Kelly straining by the time they reached the dorms.

He just stayed quiet the entire way, lulled into a half-asleep state by the time they arrived at Kelly's room. Phen barely registered the doors opening and closing and moving around until he was inside, the faint whiff of paint touching his nose. "Mmmmwe here?" he mumbled, blinking blearily. He let out a soft sigh as Kelly put him on the bed, digging himself into the blankets as he tried to open his eyes enough to focus on his friend.

"Thank you," he said softly, flushing a bit now that they were alone again. "You didn't have to d- well, I'm glad you did, though," he murmured. His tears had dried and he felt a little better now that he wasn't alone and was in the comfort of the dorms. "A... Are you tired at all?" he mumbled. It wasn't super late, but Phen wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to keep himself awake now that he was on a bed. His hand instinctually reached out and found Kelly's, wanting to feel the comfort of touching another person.

[Kelly Thompson]

Kelly nodded to his friend. "Mmhmm, welcome to my room, Phoenix." He let the boy curl up in the blankets and get comfortable before sitting down on the bed. He didn't mind if Phen started to doze off. He already did in the art room, and he did look a bit exhausted. Sleep was good for him.

Phen who was now blushing just a bit, and trying to say that Kelly really didn't have to bring him to his room made the Canadian smile. "C'mon. You need some sleep." He stroked a bit of bangs behind Phen's ear. "A little but I'll be alright." His fingers wrapped around the boy's hand as he gripped his own.

"Just relax. I'm right here." He rubbed his thumb on the back of Phoenix's hand.

[Deleted]

"Mm.... S'nice," Phoenix murmured sleepily, gazing around as best he could through bleary eyes. In all honesty, it wasn't much different than his own, but he liked seeing where other people lived, and the smell of paint was a strange, calming scent. He'd have to tell Oriel about this later, but now... He just wanted to doze, or at least relax.

He buried his face into a pillow to hide his blush, mumbling incoherently. He finally pulled back and blinked up at his friend. "I know I do..." he sighed, watching as Kelly brushed back some hair behind his ear. That wasn't helping with the blushing at all. "If you say so..." he mumbled, gripping Kelly's hand weakly. "You're really handsome, y'know that?" he said, his half-asleep state making him more prone to saying things he normally wouldn't.

Phen's eyelids fluttered as Kelly brushed his hand, and he tugged, looking up with puppy eyes. "Can you... Lay here with me?" he asked innocently, scooting back a little to give his friend room. "I... I sleep better... With someone next t'me..." he mumbled. He didn't know if this was too much to ask, but it was out there. Hopefully his friend wouldn't kick him out for being so pathetic and needy.