Quark wasn’t sure where his apartment was. He would have to find it eventually, of course, but for now, well—there was space in Kyle’s. And he probably wouldn’t have used the bed space tonight, anyway. He could stay awake and read, or study, or play a game, and Quark could sleep on the couch, or the bed, or the floor if he had to. And they could find his apartment in the morning.
He was halfway through the third chapter of the night, and beginning to get distracted, when Quark rolled over, making a small sort of noise in his throat, and Kyle turned. Was he alright? No, his eyebrows were drawn together in that way that meant he was unhappy, and his nose was crinkled, and his shoulders were shaking, just a little. Kyle stood up, and dropped the book on the desk as loudly as he could. Then he jingled the bells on his robe a little, hoping that would work. Then he said, “Quark? Wake up. Are you alright?" in a loud sort of voice.
Quark jumped a little, and his eyes opened. “Are you alright?" Kyle repeated.
Quark looked up, and then down, and said, “Um." And then he paused. He continued, “Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Kyle." Behind the mask, the man smiled, just a little.