Seunghyeon tugged the blanket higher, tucking it around Myungsuk's body. "How's that?"

Myungsuk shifted around before settling. "Better."

"Good," Seunghyeon whispered and sat down on the chair behind the bed, rubbing his hand over his arm. Myungsuk was so small under the large duvet. So vulnerable.

Seunghyeon sighed and leaned back, running his fingers through his hair. Taeyong was right, letting Myungsuk go was a bad idea. The last major meltdown was the morning of the entrance exam and how this a few months later. But Myungsuk had been doing so well, no wonder they all got overly optimistic.

Speaking of optimism. What compelled him to meet up with Sihoo? When did he ever contact his exes? Never, yet somehow he decided to break his own rule.

Staring at the ceiling, Seunghyeon rubbed his wrist, the sting of his aggressive scent still lingering in his mind. Even now he felt paralyzed after three days. If Kwangsun wasn't there, who knows what would've happened.

Kwangsun. Seunghyeon squinted his eyes. He was calm and collected the entire time. Even when Sihoo's scent changed, Kwangsun didn't bother releasing his own. Seunghyeon frowned. "Dammit." He wasn't going to lie, it was kind of cool.

He pulled out his phone and checked his messages. He had sent a simple 'thanks' that night because he wasn't an asshole and didn't want it to linger. There was nothing else he needed to say. Kwangsun helped him out once, there was no need to grovel in thanks. They had other things to discuss. Including the paintings.

Seunghyeon scrolled down to their last exchange.

Huffing at Kwangsun's lame reply, Seunghyeon tilted his head to the side. At least the Sihoo disaster wasn't a complete waste.

"Hyung," Myungsuk muttered.

Seunghyeon sat up, switching all his attention to Myungsuk. "Yeah? I'm here, what's up?"

Myungsuk stayed silent for a moment. "I think Insoo's here."

"Oh." Yesterday Myungsuk asked them to ask Insoo to come to visit. A strange request, but one he insisted would make him feel better. "I don't think he is–"

Seunghyeon's phone buzzed in his hand.

Seunghyeon blinked and cracked a smile. "Look at you," he chuckled. "Do you have a magic eye watching the door or something?"

Myungsuk cracked a smile. "I heard the bell."

"Of course you did," Seunghyeon said and reached over, brushing his fingers against Myungsuk's exposed cheek. "Do you want to see him now?"

Myungsuk gnawed at his bottom lip before nodding. "Yes, please."

Seunghyeon's heart squeezed with pride. "Okay," he said, lifting his phone. "I'll tell Hyung."

–––

A minute later there was a knock on the door and Myungsuk's heart leaped. He curled up tighter and took in a deep breath. He felt Seunghyeon's eyes on him and focused on the space in front of him, nodding. "I'm okay."

Seunghyeon left his field of vision and he heard the door open.

"Is he..." Taeyong said in a hushed whisper. Seunghyeon must have nodded or something because next was shuffling of feet. "If you need anything, let us know. You can use his desk chair to sit," Taeyong continued.

"Thank you," Insoo's voice rang out in Myungsuk's ears. He snuck his nose out from under the duvet and let his eyes close for a moment, taking in the toasty scent that displaced the familiarity of his room, though he welcomed it.

When he opened his eyes again, his pink desk chair was in front of his bed and Insoo sat down.

Glancing up at him, Myungsuk caught his eye for a second before averting his gaze. "Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," Insoo answered, equally quiet, but Myungsuk noticed his warm smile. Wiggling his toes, he watched Insoo look around the room, taking the chance to look at him.

He was wearing a simple polo shirt and jeans, with his pastel throw blanket that was draped over his chair now around his shoulders. He purred into the duvet. Fluffy and pastels suited Insoo.

"Your room is very..."

Pink? Childish? Geeky? Cluttered? Myungsuk pushed his back against the Galactica plushies perched there. He should have hidden those at least.

"Cute," Insoo finally said and Myungsuk deflated. "I like it," he added.

Myungsuk's eyes flicked up. "You do?"

Insoo nodded. "You've got all your Galactica posters lined up neatly and your books in order on your shelf. Though, I like your study area the best," he added with a chuckle.

The bulletin boards above his desk were pinned with his intensive study schedules, printed articles about space, and in the middle was the diagram, pinned up with his special heart-shaped pins.

Myungsuk cracked a smile. "I like looking at it," he admitted. He shifted, hyper-aware of his appearance. "Um, sorry I'm not getting out of bed. I just can't."

"It's okay," Insoo insisted. "I know the feeling. There are some days I can't get out of bed either," he chuckled weakly.

Myungsuk furrowed his brows. He wouldn't find something like that amusing.

Silence settled and Myungsuk gulped, Insoo's eyes were heavy on him. After a moment, Insoo spoke up, his voice gentle and soothing. "Can you tell me what happened that day?"

Myungsuk's chest tightened. He had to tell Insoo. He told himself he would. It wasn't fair to leave Insoo in the dark. And if he was here, it meant there was the smallest chance he'd stick around and that was good enough for Myungsuk.

"Do you know what autism is?"

"A little bit. I think," Insoo said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not really sure."

"Well, I'm autistic," he whispered. "I'm sorry I hid it from you." Myungsuk sniffled, his eyes tearing up.

"Please don't apologize," Insoo stammered as he shuffled closer. "And please, don't cry."

Myungsuk squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the end.

Insoo let the silence hang before picking it back up. "First, thank you for telling me. I know it's very hard for you," he said. "Second, I might not know a lot about autism, but I'm willing to learn more. Especially about how it affects you. So I can be a better friend."

Myungsuk paused. Wiping his eyes against his pillow, he peeked up, searching Insoo's face. "You still... want to be my friend?"

Insoo smiled and nodded. "I do." Insoo placed his hand, palm up on the bed. "You can talk to me if you want."

Myungsuk stared at Insoo's hand, his own tingling to hold it. He balled his hands into fists, instead. Touching him would be too much right now, but the gesture was kind. Insoo didn't seem to mind either.

Feeling himself relax, Myungsuk's mind started building a cohesive explanation.

"It got too much," Myungsuk started. "There were just so many people talking at once then everyone was looking at me up close, and I just–" he shrugged.

"Panicked?"

He nodded. "Yes. It's the worst. My body didn't feel like my own and my brain was filled with static and all of a sudden all the noise felt like needles in my eardrums."

Insoo flinched and brought a hand to his ear at the thought. If he wasn't so drained, Myungsuk would've laughed. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Insoo said, lowering his hand. "You're good at explaining things, I suppose."

Myungsuk smiled and curled his toes. "I try. I'm always asking Taeyong-Hyung and Seunghyeon-Hyung if they understand what I mean."

"Well, I'll try hard to learn more about you," Insoo said, his gaze warm and tingles erupted in the depth of Myungsuk's belly. "I still like you, so I'll try my best."

He nodded and the two went quiet, the silence now welcomed. Though it wasn't silent in Myungsuk's mind. Insoo liked him. He still liked him and he said it out loud!

Myungsuk gazed at his face, admiring him before they caught each other staring and hastily turned away, Myungsuk muffling his giggle.

"Before I forget," Insoo said and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small paper bag. The same one used in the merch store. "I bought this for you."

He opened the bag and pulled out two keychains. Not any two keychains, the Captain Sukki and Giya clipped keychains.

Myungsuk slipped his hand out from under the covers and held them. The two chibi figures were dressed in their spacesuits from season 1 and looked as if they were floating. They were connected by their hands, separating with a satisfying snap. Drawing his knees to his chest, Myungsuk gnawed at his lip.

"Here," he said and handed the Giya keychain back to Insoo.

Insoo blinked at him. "Are you sure?"

Myungsuk nodded. "Isn't that why you got these?" he asked. He couldn't think of anyone else he'd have a pair with.

Insoo smiled and took the keychain with both hands, his cheeks as pink as the blanket. He tucked the keychain back into his pocket and continued to look at him, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I should get going now," Insoo chuckled. "Will you text me when you feel better?"

Myungsuk nodded. "I will," he said and watched Insoo get up, shrugging off the throw and folding it over the back of the chair. "Thank you for coming," he whispered.

"Of course. Thank you for telling me," he said and he paused for a moment. "See you later, Myungsuk."

The words warmed his skin. See you later. Not Goodbye. Myungsuk nodded. "See you later, Insoo."

Myungsuk heard the door click close and he let out a long sigh until there was no air left in his lungs and he had to suck it back up again. As he did, the remnants of Insoo's scent caught his attention and he stared at the blanket.

He reached out, straining until he grabbed the edge of the blanket, tugging it until it was draped over him. Purring loudly, he nuzzled into the warm pheromones. He held the keychain up and ran his thumb over the smooth surface.

Insoo knew him. All of him. And he still liked him.

Myungsuk giggled and took another deep breath and purred. Insoo still liked him.