#text speak

           Keith stared down at his phone. It was late, but he couldn’t sleep. The day’s events were churning in his mind without anything to stop them. Had all of that actually just happened? It felt absurd, honestly. He’d just been having a normal day, then suddenly his bonded finally shows up,  he immediately fucked up with Nikolai and the babies, and then she started making a DnD character. It was oddly smooth. Smooth and gentle, not at all what he’d pictured all these years: no old fart dragging him away, no weird dullness in his mind, minimal screaming given his friend group, no immediate adoptions and being shipped off with a stranger within just a day, nothing. They’d met, had some ups and downs, and built characters together. It didn’t feel real.

           He’d doubt it’d ever happened if not for the faint feeling of warmth, contentment, and fog… was this what sleep felt like to people who weren’t asleep? Keith chuckled quietly at the thought. How would you even measure something like that?  Would anyone else even understand what he was talking about? Maybe other Chains?

           Keith’s eyes flicked to the Coral snoring barely a foot away from him. Would Hux understand?

           … no. He wouldn’t. And he’d hate the very mention. It was better not to mention it. Just because they were bonded didn’t mean he had to change his life much, right? Just have her over for DnD once a week, that was more than enough… right?

           Keith had heard what other Chains said, talking about how happy their bondmate made them, but they were usually so much younger. Did they know any better? What kind of lamia wouldn’t love who they were living with (so long as they weren’t abusive, of course)?

Keith started quietly slithering the halls, trying not to disturb the lamia who’d decided to crash on the floor. Not that it’d do much, most were so used to other lamia they’d probably just sleep through it. Keith definitely had before; Hux seemed to consider him the best bed in the house. What would he do without this? Without a scaly body pressed against his in the middle of the night? Without occasionally being woken by a kid in his face or bones tangled in his ribcage? Sure it was aggravating, but it was home. He was too old to start over, too settled here, he’d just be the DnD guy for Nikolai and the rest, and no one else would ever come get him because he wasn’t theirs.

Things didn’t have to change. His bones felt heavy, was it his own tiredness or hers? They didn’t. He could work with this, juggle it. If he closed his eyes too long the lingering colors almost made outlines of someone else’s dream. Do both. Everything could just be the same. He felt like he’d been relieved of some pain he’d not been fully aware of. So who cared if there was something friendly, warm, familiar alien attached to him now? He already had a life. Was it enough? Could he go back to thinking it was?

His phone buzzed in his jacket pocket, bringing him out of his thoughts. A smile quirked his face.

 Nik: Are you doing alright?

Nik: I meant to ask earlier, but Maia was having some issues. She’s sleeping soundly now though.

Keith: >-> Are you psychic?

Nik: Not that I’m aware of?

Keith: lol, jk. I’m just… thinking. You texted at a good time m’dude.

Nik: As I said, I meant to check on you earlier, but Maia needed a little extra help today.

Keith: Dude, no worries. I’m all grown up n shit, y’know? Take care of your person. <3

Nik: Thank you, but really, I meant to stay for a while. How are you feeling? I know you’ve had some doubts about soul bonds, but it seemed like you were getting along with her.

             Keith stared blankly at the phone: 11:43 P.M. Seven hours since his life turned itself on its head. At least supposedly. Maybe it was a fluke, just his soul reaching out blindly for anyone. Was that how it worked? It felt like he’d have found someone long before then if that was the case. Was it truly fate? Soulmates? He wasn’t sure how he felt about that either. It’d just mean that something outside of his control had decided him and some other person would be inexorably linked forever. It was never in his hands. He’d heard some good things about soul-bonds, but why would they ever tell them about the bad things? Surely they existed, right? But they’d never tell them because they wouldn’t want Chains worried about having a bond.

No one would want a Chain like him. That thought didn’t make him as proud as it used to.

           His phone buzzed again and Keith wiped the tears welling from his eyes.

             Nik: Keith? Did you miss the ringer again?

           Keith: Nah. Nah. Just trying to get my head on straight. I… I really dunno how I feel right now, honestly? I guess it just, like, snuck up on me. Got all caught up in it before I knew what was happening and now I’m trying to figure out how to feel about it.

           Nik: I understand.

           Keith: Do you though? I must be the only Chain who doesn’t immediately light up to feel his soul bond, huh. Heh.

           Nik: It’s a big event. Having complicated feelings about it is natural. <3

           Keith: How are you??? This good at this???

           Nik: Practice and love <3

           Keith: How are you??? This pure??? This ain’t fair m’dude. Who gave you a permit to have this much mom energy?

           Nik: Maia, probably.

           Keith: Heh. Maybe I could see her sometime? Would that be okay?

           Nik: I’ll have to ask her about it, see how she’s feeling. Not tonight.

           Keith: Nah, not tonight.

           Keith: I kinda wanna ask if we should talk tomorrow, ‘cause all this feels like an in-person chat kinda thing, but also, idk if I could sleep like this.

           Keith: I just hope she isn’t having to deal with all my BS, and it’s kinda scary ‘cause I don’t know why I care.

           Nik: You care because you’re a good person. I won’t pretend the bond is irrelevant, but you care because you’re *you*.

           Keith: Aw, shucks. Thanks m’dude.

           Nik: No problem. <3

           Nik: Why don’t we take this slow? Just spend some time with her and everyone else, get a feel for things. It doesn’t have to be immediate.

           Keith: Guess you’ve got a point. No reason to rush. I’ll see you tomorrow, alright? I’mma try to sleep.

           Nik: Alright. Hope you sleep well, I think I’m about to turn in with the others. Love you.

           Keith: You too, *Mom.*

           Nik: Make sure to clean behind your ears

           Keith: >:/

           Nik: I’m joking, I’m joking. We don’t have ears. Sleep well <3

           Keith: You too. Night dude.

           Nik: Goodnight <3

             Keith put down the phone and took a deep breath. Just a day at a time… He wandered back to Hux easily, the dude snored like he was trying to out-snarl a bear. Most people couldn’t sleep through it, but Keith just rolled his eyes and focused on the noise until it drowned out all the messy thoughts, bones rattling ever so slightly from the sheer strength of snores.