Shiro's pov

Keith's been acting weird these past few days. He wouldn't eat, he talked less, and I knew he wasn't sleeping. Dark circles forming under his tired eyes. He looked half asleep now as we watched tv together in the living room. His head lulling to the side every few minutes before he jolted awake again.

His leg bouncing as he looked around anxiously. Restlessness and paranoia, two signs of sleep deprivation. His hand balled up in a fist as his thumb rubbed over his knuckles, self comfort. There has to be something wrong but he wouldn't answer me.

"Keith, I think it's time to go to bed." I said softly making him flinch. His eyes blinking slowly as he stared up at me with a frown.

"I'm not tired." He said, obviously holding back a yawn.

"Keith... you know you can tell me anything, right? I know everything has been hard for you lately but I'm here for you." I said, kneeling down in front of him as I took his hands into my own.

"I-I... I know." He mumbled, his eyes casted down. "W-where do you think my-my parents are?" He asked softly.

I was taken aback by this question. We've never talked about Keith's really parents before. I did look up to see if I could find anyone with his same last name a few times but came up with nothing. He never really seemed too bothered that he didn't know his biological parents but I would wonder too if I was him.

"I'm not sure... maybe in another galaxy." I said, his sad sigh making me concerned.

"I had a-a nightmare about my mom... this guy kept telling me that... that my mom was dead because of me. It was terrible, Shiro, I can't sleep without seeing him... he just keeps yelling at me." Keith whimpered, bottom lip wobbling.

"Oh Keith, I'm so sorry. I know they're out there somewhere." I assured, squeezing his hands gently. "Now, I have something that will help you sleep if you want it. You really need the rest, buddy."

He only nodded and let me lead him up to the bedroom he was staying in. His legs shaking from exhaustion as he sat down. I grabbed the small bottle of sleep aids I had in the bathroom and gave him one.

"They'll help you sleep and you won't have any dreams. I want you to get some rest, tomorrow will be better." I said, watching him take the pill and drink his water.

"Thanks, Shiro." He mumbled, laying down as it took effect. The pills were designed by some alien in a different galaxy and once Earth doctors found out they began using them. They were completely safe and had no side effects, the world had come far in the medical field.

Keith was already fast asleep so I pulled the blankets up around him and closed the door behind me. Walking into my office I began to do paperwork that I've been putting off all week.
~~~~~

"Keith, I'm so sorry, it'll only be a month." I said, watching the social worker get Keith's backpack. He  was seated in the backseat of their car.

"I-I don't wanna go, Shiro." He whimpered, pleading to me with wide, fearful eyes.

"I know but I did  my own background checks on these people. They're okay and I read the women had a miscarriage awhile back and wants to be a mother to really whoever she can. Her husband is a teacher and works with kindergarteners. You'll be able to call me if anything happens and they live closer to here than the last ones." I assured, hugging him tightly.

Keith just sighed sadly and hugged me back before the women told me to step away from the car. She got in and drove away, Keith staring at me through the car window. He looked so sad and heartbroken I felt my own heart break.

He's like a little brother to me and I would do anything for him. He's a nice kid and he didn't deserve any of the shit he's been through. I should've been more careful so they wouldn't have found him.

I let him sit outside with me on the front deck when his social worker pulled up and said that if he didn't come with her everything would just be worse so he went. I saw he wanted to put up a fight and run but when she threatened me he instantly gave in. I felt so bad and now that he's out of my sight I began to worry.
~~~~~

"She's really clingy, Shiro." Keith said on the other end of the phone.

"What does she do?" I asked in amusement.

"She's always babying me... she cuts my food up for me, she wiped my face, she reads to me... I don't really mind the reading part but she's so touchy." He whined as I tried to hold back a laugh.

"She's the motherly type, Keith, let her baby you." I chuckled making him whine even more.

"She won't even let me out of the house by myself. She makes me stay like a foot off of the deck and she reminds me to use the railing for the stairs every single time."

"Don't complain about it, Keith. She's a nice lady and her husband is nice too." I pointed out, hearing him sigh softly.

"At least they don't hurt me..." He mumbled softly, my heart dropping when he said that. I knew a few couples were abusing to him both mentally and physically but the last ones were the worst so far. They're behind bars now, most of them at least. All doing time for child abuse and child endangerment.

"Three more weeks and you'll be free."

"I've been counting the days until I don't have to be in the system for ten years now. I know exactly when I'll be free." Keith said, his voice more cheerful again.

"That reminds me, what's your favorite color again?" I asked, tapping my pen on a notebook.

"Black... and red. Why do you asked?"

"I just wanted to know... What do you like?"

"Books and nature." He said, I could just imagine him shrugging like he normally does. "Plants are nice."

I nodded and wrote some stuff down. Asking him a few more questions before he had to hang up because dinner was done.

I looked down at my list and smiled. I'm going to get a room for him all set up so when he is a free adult he can just instantly move in with me. I'll be repainting the room, get a bookshelf and some books, and do a lot of other things before it's perfect but I will make his room a safe place for him to go and relax in. He needs that in his life, somewhere that'll make him feel calm.

Three more weeks, Keith, you can do it.