((Happy Pride Month everyone!!!))

Keith was making breakfast when he heard a knock on his front door. Confused, he checked the time, and it was too early for it to be mail. He froze on the spot, realizing it could only be one person.

Mother.

"Keith Kogane." She sat across from him on the couch after intruding into the house in silence. She sat up straight and her face was stern. "Have you any idea of what you've done? Here I thought I was finally okay with you living with a lover, but then I get a call from the blade that you've gone and poofed him invisible!" She waved her arms around and her eyes rained furious.

"It was an accident–"

"Accident my ass Kogane" how she loved to spit out his father's name, "I've told you time and time again, something would happen, someone would mess you up, and guess what. He did." Keith felt himself light up, "Don't bring Lance into this. It was my mistake." His voice was strict, giving no passageway to argument, but his mother always found a way. "It was your mistake to have a boyfriend. If I had just kept you shut out from the word we wouldn't be having this problem. Your father is an idiot for letting you out." She crossed her arms and laid back into the couch.

Keith paid no mind to her insult, she was raised on the blade, so she'll think like the blade. "I'm fixing the problem, Mom. I didn't ruin my job." She looked to him, before sighing and slouching more, the atmosphere still tense, "You worry me Keith." She seemed sincere and Keith lowered his head. "I know." Her eyes flicked to him, then to the empty coffee table in front of her.

"Antok said he's letting you off the job." Her words struck Keith hard but before he could say anything she continued, "For a month, he said, he's giving you a month to figure it out." "What if I don't figure it out by then?" Keith could see his mother tense in her seat. "He'll be forced to fire you, if he can't convince the rest of the blade to give you an extension." Keith froze, taking in her words, stepping away from the counter to try and ground himself. This job had been his life up until this point, his only source of income to help pay for his life with Lance. He can not lose this.

"I started running tests already, I should be able to get him back to normal soon," not entirely a lie, but the small few tests he did run showed no results of helping so far. Krolia seemed content with his answer, and got up to leave. Before she was out the door, she turned towards him, "Call me, if you need help." Keith knew she was trying her best to reach out, but he wasn't going to take her help. "I will." With that his mother left, Keith locking the door after her with a sigh.

"You're losing your job?" Lance's voice made him jump and he looked without realizing there was no one to be seen. With a quick sigh he moves back to the counter to finish off breakfast for the two of them. "No blue, just a small misstep that all", in which he would have given his boyfriend a reassuring kiss, he paused.

It had been one whole week without seeing Lance. Keith thought it wouldn't be much of a bother, but after living with him for so long, he had gotten used to seeing his face every morning, or during lunch, or from whatever else they were doing together that day. Any surprise hug or kiss in the last week would set Keith into a slump, his world derealizing before him for a few moments as he searched for his lover. Lance hasn't reached out since two days ago, after realizing how much this must be affecting him.

Keith placed the plates for eating, but refused to look at the slowly disappearing food in front of him as he ate. He made a favorite, like he did every week. Eating made him feel as if nothing had changed really, which much hasn't. He tried to convince himself that he must be overreacting over this whole situation. Just a few more tests and he'll find the problem, he's sure of it.

"I was wondering," his boyfriend's voice came nervous and Keith tried to look calm as he listened. "If we could possibly watch a movie together later today," Lance finished. Keith considered, they've watched every CD in the house at least twice, so there was nothing new that could possibly take his mind off of things. But he wouldn't mind a re-watch if it made Lance content. "Sure blue, what movie you thinking?"

. . .

"Road to El Dorado? Seriously?," Keith said, holding the plastic case. "It's a classic," Lance's short and sweet response as the other put the CD in the black DVD player. A small hum came from the box as the movie loaded onto the tv screen. Upbeat music plays as a fishing hook is thrown into water, slowly revealing the dreamworks logo. Keith layed further into the couch, letting the moving pictures sooth him. The seat next to him dips and a body curls up next to him. He smiles knowing how cuddly his boyfriend is when watching a movie and moves closer to meet his demands.

The movie flashes in a blur, even with Lance's little comments, Keith still falls asleep halfway through. He doesn't hear the end credits abruptly stopping, or feel his weight going light while arms wrap around him. His mind stirs when his body sinks into a new surface, one he can recognize as a mattress, his mattress. A kiss is placed at his temple, a soft rush through his body follows and he smiles.

He peeks his eyes open with contentment and is left with an empty room. His body shifts, he turns quickly hoping to find someone on the other side, even reaching out his hand, but all found was a cold and empty bed. Arms wrap around him from behind in comfort, but the warmth of the body behind him only broke him further, as he curled up with silent tears falling from his face.

"Shh, I'm right here love, I'm right here." The arms around him tighten, pulling him closer. His face felt hot, but even with the extra heat behind him, he couldn't push away. He let himself unfold, knowing in this comfort there was no judgment to drown himself in.

"Lance," His voice broke but the other paid no mind to it as they answered. "Yes?"

"Don't leave." Keith knew his boyfriend had no reason to leave, but the clarification was crucial to stop him from overthinking. "I won't leave, promise," A kiss came with his words, and Keith closed his eyes once more, letting his body relax and mind drift away.