Keith had enough of it. This place just wasn't for him. The only thing keeping him here was his boyfriends, Lance and Shiro, who at the moment didn't even notice that Keith wasn't eating his meals.

He felt it sting at first, and then worried he cut too deep when he put a cloth over tight and it didn't stop bleeding. But it didn't really matter. It'd be over soon, and he'd finally have escaped this harsh reality, once and for all without ever having to look back. He removed the small towel he'd been holding there and growled, It stopped bleeding.

He shook his head, not even having the energy to try again, and pulled his sleeve down. He sighed as he trudged through his depression on his way out of the bathroom, leaving it a mess for the others to find and take care of. He collapsed on the couch and felt his new wound tingle, but he didn't examine it. His two boyfriends would be home soon--Lance from hanging out with friends, Shiro from his workplace--and he didn't need to have to explain to them why he's picking at his sleeve again.

So he just sat there and closed his eyes. They'll be here soon.

-

When Lance got home, Keith was waiting on the couch. But something seemed odd about his behavior.

"Babe, you okay?" Lance asked, sitting next to his boyfriend on the living room couch. Keith's eyes were sunken, his hair messy, and there was an odd smell emitting from his shirt.

"Mhm," Keith replied without looking at Lance.

"No," Lance put his arms around Keith, "you're not."

Keith turns his head with a tear in his left eye, "I said I am."

"Keith, talk to me. I'm your boyfriend, I'm here for you," Lance told him, rubbing his arm gently.

"I..." Keith faltered. How does one explain that they've hurt themselves to their lover? On purpose?

Keith sighed, giving up on trying to figure out how, even though giving up kills him even more, "Just... I don't know."

Lance holds Keith tight in a warm, hug-like embrace. He kisses the top of Keith's head, and Keith wipes his eyes to make sure he's not crying.

They stayed like that for a long time, up until Shiro got home.

Lance, out of concern, told Shiro what was going on immediately, "Shiro, something's wrong with Keith and he won't tell me."

Shiro took off his work jacket and sat down next to the two boys, "Keith. We're here for you."

"No one is here for me!" Keith shouted, a tear slipped.

Lance hugged the boy tighter, and Shiro wiped the tear away after overcoming a bit of surprise, "We are both here for you and only you right now."

"Right now! But not when it's important!" Keith cried.

Shiro sighed, "We are always here for you, but we're only human too. We only know something is wrong if you make it obvious."

"What, like earlier?!" Keith snapped.

"What do you mean, Keith?" Lance questions, running his fingers through Keith's messy hair.

Shiro puts a hand on Keith's knee for reassurance, and Keith holds his breath as he lifts his sleeve. Shiro covers his mouth, and Lance gasps and starts to cry angrily.

"Keith, how could you? Why?" Lance asked.

"Keith," Shiro starts, "Please talk to us. What happened?"

"I'm just so... tired." Keith explained. That's all he said.

Shiro nodded, and Lance buried his face into Keith's shirt.

"Did you clean it?" Shiro asked. Keith nodded, though it wasn't necessarily true.

"Okay, good," Shiro replied. "Now, I want you to listen to me very carefully."

Keith let out a tired sob.

"Keith," Shiro began. "You are so loved. If you're unhappy, then tell us, so we can help make you happy again. You don't even have to say anything verbally, just find a way to let us know without hurting yourself, okay? When you die, you're not ending your pain, you're passing it on to your loved ones. You want to escape? Then please don't die, baby. Wait, because you'll be happy. Truly happy. Truly relieved."

Keith was a sobbing mess by now, and Lance had composed himself a little bit. Shiro had a couple tears trekking his cheeks, but was for the most part was steady.

"Keith, you understand and believe me, right?" Shiro asked.

"I'm trying to," Keith finally put a hand to cover his face and he closed his eyes.

"It's going to be okay, you're going to be all right," Shiro assured.

Lance pulled back enough just to kiss the tears on Keith's cheeks.

"We promise," Lance said, wiping his eyes with his shoulders. "We love and care about you."

Keith took some deep breaths to try and calm down. He nodded.

Shiro pulled both his boyfriends into a tight embrace. They stayed like that, sharing kisses now and then, until they were all asleep.

The next day, Shiro took the day off to stay home with Keith and keep him safe and comfortable. He also cleaned the bathroom when he found it covered in blood. Lance called a therapist, who was willing to take Keith that week.

It took a long, long time, a few years... but thanks to his family, he truly got better. Of course, sometimes a few symptoms pop up, but he wouldn't trade his life for anything.

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