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Ohmigawd, new story! I've been working on this one for a LONG time, And it's been a lot of fun. This one, surprisingly, is yiff-free, although it does include some language and the word "erection."

P.S. Yes, I notice there's some inconsistencies in the story here and there, and they're actually made on purpose! You'll find out why in the later chapters. ;) Just letting you know so I don't get a bunch of comments on the presence of those "errors."

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Void Within

by Nathaniel Nocturne

Stepping into place, a row of black-cloaked figures stood along the cliff, waiting. The hoods of several subtly turned to the right, a movement that was nearly inperceptable. The figure farthest to the right slowly nodded, and, in perfect syncronization, they all fell forward off the cliff, the sun just rising above the distant horizon. The wind whipped around their cloaks, and the hood of one slipped off, revealing the face of a wolf, an older teen bearing violet eyes, his untidy black hair whipping in the wind. He slowly smiled, the ground coming closer at an alarming rate. The male's eyes glowed, and he slowed to a dead stop in a second, not more than six feet off the ground. He let himself down, and proceded to smooth out his robes and his wind-swept hair.

"There's better ways to do it, you know." A weasel approached him, his pair of magnificent white wings fading from view as he spoke.

"Yeah, but I like the rush. And it's keeping me from hitting the ground and killing myself, so what's the harm?" The wolf spoke, smiling.

"Well, I guess...See you back on campus." The weasel made an elaborate gesture, murmuring a phrase under his breath, and the wings returned. They spread powerfully, beating the air and carrying him up and out of the trees.

[YOU actually used a recited incantation in the cliff fall? And you thought I would have problems? You're the one that'll slip up, Rumo.] The feeling of laughter carried in his mind-words.

[Oh, shut up. Are you trying to make me jealous, Bradon? So you're telekinetic...never mind, see you.] Despite the sour words, Bradon caught the hint of a smile. It was all in fun.

[Yeah...see ya.] And he cut the mind-link. Bradon sighed, and leaned against a rock, staring up through the trees at the colors in the sky.

About 16, Bradon had been at the academy for three years, ever since he'd been discovered. He had potential, and was gifted in forms of telepathy and magic. That's what the academy specialized in, essentially: training and educating those that could do the extraordinary. Society had been set back in the manner of progress since Armageddon, but after the exstensive rebuilding period, everything had nearly caught up with itself. Radiation had seeped into faulty shelters, and those that hadn't succumbed to radiation sickness or died of cancer had been mutated. Not really in a freakish manner, but genes had been modified here and there, sometimes causing permanent spikes in brain activity in the lucky ones. Those were usually the telekinetics. Conversely, magic had been in always existence, and its practice began before recorded history. However, despite their archaic roots, the academy still devoted much of their studies to older practices and ways to refine them.

Bradon found a large, flat rock and focused, feeling it lift beneath him. He loved doing this. Beginning at a young age, Bradon had loved to experiment with what he could do, always trying to test his limits and find something new. He began his ascention slowly, then picked up speed as he felt more comfortable with the boulder beneath him. Even if he were to fall off, Bradon would be able to alter the air beneath him to slow his fall. The rock felt like an extension of himself, and he soared around, above the cliff edge, in the growing morning. Bradon slowed to a stop and let the rock down gently, stepping off. Turning to take a last glance at the sunrise, he turned and began walking back to campus.

Bradon became lost in thought as he walked the stone path, beneath the trees. He rarely took his talents for granted; the wolf knew how desirable telekinesis was. Naturally, he also excelled at academics in any field. Yet, despite it all, he didn't let his advanced condition control him. He was always very friendly; very seldom did he let things get to him.

However, something had been bothering Bradon for a while. It hurt, at times, because he didn't know what to do or who to talk to. Almost without thinking, Bradon extended his focus towards the small creek that flowed through the woods and isolated a small quantity of water. He half-watched it flow around his hands, only just leaving tiny dew drops in his fur. It slowly shifted, the tendrils centralizing between his palms, creating a tiny sphere. Bradon often did this. It had once been an exercise to reach a higher level of focus, but it eventually became something that relaxed him instead of being a chore. It was really difficult to create a flawless sphere, but Bradon wasn't worried about that.

Sighing, he dismissed the water; it flowed calmly back to the creek. It hadn't helped. Bradon felt it getting worse over time. A single tear fell, gracing his cheek before disappearing into the pebbles beneath his feet, leaving only a tiny dark circle that no one would ever see. This was the Bradon that was hidden from the world, a Bradon that was uncertain, isolated, and depressed. It was quite unlike the public Bradon, the Bradon that was confident and outgoing, the Bradon that he used to be before...

Suddenly, he needed company. He needed someone to talk to, someone to be with, someone to...Bradon shook the thought out of his head. What Bradon needed, and that was within reach of the current circumstances, was something that took effort. He paused, and reached at the air around him, and began to feel a weight building beneath him. The molecules gathered, making a denser presence, just enough to lift him off of the ground by an inch or two. Bradon strained, raising about a foot further. Suddenly, he lost it, falling to the dirt with a thump.

"Ah..." The impact had hurt a little. Sweat dripped from his brow as he stood up, brushing himself off. There was still a lot of dirt on him. "Well, I guess it's an excuse to take a shower..."

* * *

Armageddon had occured around 2503 A.D., after hostilities between the world superpowers had escalated to a climax, putting the Cold War to shame. Before the nuclear holocaust, technology had reached levels previously undreamed about. Genetic ciences had reached the point at which a person's genes could be actively manipulated, and altering an embryo had come to be considered a common science. Thus, the full realization of anthromorphs had come into being. Initial testing had reared disastrous results, but as scientists refined their practices, the first success came to fruition. A man had had his genes integrated with those of a fox, resulting in a humanoid, plantigrade red fox. More and more people underwent the procedures, and, the furries, as they had come to be called, became a fully legitimate part of society. After enough time had passed, it was found that two fur parents could have a naturally born child.

Eventually, the number of humans and furries in the world became relatively equal. However, a radical group of humans, beginning in the southern regon of old America, began denouncing the world, claiming it had been tainted in the eyes of God. Country after country blamed each other for this and that, and then serious political confrontations broke out, including mass demonstrations, violent coups, and eventually all-out warfare. One of the radicals was head-of-state in the country that was once the United Kingdom, and ordered the deployment of nuclear weapons. The warheads went up, and came back down again, bringing an almost certain death of heat and radiation.

Massive underground colonies, built many years before for cautionary and experimental purposes, survived and waited, for what turned into a couple hundred years. Sick of underground life, the common citizens of the colonies sought the help of the magic-users. They had long been aloof to the rest of society, rejecting technology for the most part. Only the threat of utter extermination drove them into the subterranean cities; they still kept to themselves in isolated wings of the colonies. They, too missed the natural world, possibly more than the others, and, over time, came to integrate themselves into the rest of society.

Combining technology and the paranormal, the colonists ventured from the underground. The mages, equipped with protective suits, managed to shift the fallout and compress it. Through an arduous and time-consuming process, they cleansed the air of the poison, removing the impure particles. The water supply followed, and the soil became safe for farming once again. The number of ferals (wildlife) in the world was drastically reduced, both in population and number of species, but programs in the underground brought back as much as they could.

Bradon had been born in the year 439 F.A., "Following Armageddon." After the effort of resettlement, progress had brought overworld society back on track. However, the extent of current technology was only available in so many areas, much of it remaining underground. A lot of people scrounged and repaired relics from the past, be they microwave ovens or ancient computer modules. The world was on the mend, and, learning from past mistakes, people were running it far better than ever before.

* * *

Removing his shirt, Bradon sat on his bed, already feeling tired, despite the fact that it was only about 9:30 in the morning. 'Well, I did have to get up early...' he thought. The wolf stood up, and walked to the bathroom. That was some special treatment Bradon didn't mind: a private bathroom. After turning on the water in the shower, he finished removing in his clothing, standing nude. His mind wandered as he entered the steamy water. He felt proud of his body; slimly built, but not weak. Bradon appreciated not having to use the more 'public' showers on campus. Sure, some had stalls, but they were always taken quickly, leaving only the group area open. Before his elevated status at the academy, he had had to use those showers. He had always turned and showered in the corner, not daring to risk being seen with an embarassing erection.

Bradon could relax here, completely comfortable in the privacy of his own shower. The warm water flowed through his fur, dripping from the fingers of his limp hands hanging at his sides. He closed his eyes and began manipulating the water running off of him, forming a quickly expanding ball of fluid. He shaped the water into fluid, muscular arms, ending in large, comforting hands. With a silent command, the arms wrapped around his shoulders, running across his chest, flowing down to--

With a dismayed cry, Bradon lost his focus, and the water splashed to the floor of the shower stall. He slumped down to the floor, sobbing quietly. It was getting worse.

'Why do I keep doing this to myself?! There's no one there... Why...Oh, gods, it hurts...' Bradon curled up, rocking slowly. His tears were lost in the still-running water, swirling down the drain.

* * *

After drying off, Bradon dressed in some casual clothing. He didn't have any lessons for a couple hours, so he neglected the robe. He really only had to wear it for the more formal classes, anyway. The wolf walked over to his desk and selected a CD from the rack, smiling as he did so. CDs were considered ancient, but he had salvaged a stereo that he found and listened to them quite often. Almost none of the discs exceeded the year 2012, so Bradon guessed that they'd been phased out long before Armageddon had even taken place. He was astounded that most of them actually worked flawlessly. Besides, the music was great, so why not put them to some good use?

Bradon stretched across the bed, letting the lyrics fill his head. Abrupt rapping at the door broke him away from relaxation, and he got up quickly, hurrying to the door.

"Yes, wha-- Oh, hey!" Bradon gave a genuine smile.

"Hi, Bradon." Another wolf stood in the doorway, of a darker color. His dark, red eyes seemed to smoulder as he smiled back at Bradon.

"Hi, Kaj. So..."

"Oh, right! Morridan wanted to talk to you about something later. Did you get in trouble for something?"

"No, it's probably about...never mind. You want to come in?"

"Sure, I got a few minutes." Kaj followed him in. Bradon and Kaj had been extremely close friends since Bradon had arrived at the academy, about five years ago. He had been the new kid, and Kaj, about the same age as him, had been kind and sat with him during lunch break. They often spent their free time with each other, practicing their skills or simply hanging out. Kaj was first and foremost an elemental mage trainee, but he and Bradon practiced some of the more basic alchemy arts together on the side. The wolf was also had just enough skill in telepathy to instigate mental conversations with Bradon, but, as a mage, he was one of the best at the academy. Kaj was always of a gentler nature, especially with Bradon, but he handled himself well; Kaj was a natural leader.

"Playing CDs again?" Kaj laughed.

"You know it! Come on, You gotta admit that Shiny Toy Guns were a great group. You admitted it!"

"Yeah...there's not a single fur in the bunch, though. But yeah, I like 'em."

"Mm-hmm..." Bradon felt anxious. He had kept his mind closed for a quite a while, limiting the amount of mental connection between the two. They had usually left their minds open, even allowing the other to know what they were thinking. Bradon had ended that, and for a reason...

"There was something else I wanted to talk about, Bradon. You've been shielding for a long time. I respect the fact that you want your privacy, but could I at least ask why?"

"Kaj..." Bradon could feel it welling up. The sadness was returning. He needed this. "I...yeah..." He stumbled. "I guess...I've needed to talk to someone. To you. I..." He felt his hands shaking.

"Sure! You can tell me anything, Bradon." Kaj smiled.

"It's been getting me down...for a long time. I..." Bradon lowered his shields slightly to Kaj, for the first time in a long time. Kaj felt the mental shift, silently cheering that his friend was opening up again.

[I...I don't like girls, Kaj. I'm...different...I'm gay.] Bradon shook, two tears rolling down his nose and onto the floor, his head hanging between his shoulders. [It's been ripping me apart. I thought of you, Kaj. I was hoping you'd understand...I need your help...or I'll...] The wolf found it easier to think than to talk, but even mind-speech was near-impossible. Bradon was crying quietly, his face in his hands. [Please...Kaj...]

Kaj sat in silence. He bit his lip, taking in this revelation about Bradon. It simply wouldn't process. Kaj was at a loss for words.

"I..." Kaj started, but couldn't continue.

"K-Kaj?" Bradon stuttered. [He hates me...]

"Bradon I..." Kaj turned to face him, and their eyes made a momentary contact. A dripping apprehension poured from Kaj's aura. "I just...need some time to think..." Kaj muttered, and he strode to the door. The door moaned, then shut, leaving Bradon alone again.

"Kaj..." Bradon whispered, drop after drop of salty fluid burning his eyes and staining his cheeks. "Fuck...fuck..." He felt absolutely crushed. The sobs returned, wracking his body as he curled up under his bedsheets. He felt so cold...

* * *

Kaj, in his own dorm, slumped against the wall, shaking. [He's...gay...] Kaj shook his head. [And he thinks I hate him...FUCK!!!] He slammed his fist against the floor, feeling pain. Kaj cradled his hand, suddenly thinking that it hadn't been such a bright idea. [Why the hell did I run out on him? I don't care at all!] Another voice spoke: [Then why did you leave him?]

The red-haired wolf remained there for what felt like an eternity, contemplating what he'd done. [I...I just don't know...]

* * *

Bradon had managed to drag himself out of his lethargic misery just enough to find himself seated alone in a classroom, waiting for his instructor. Morridan was late. He sat, slouched at the table, resting his head on crossed arms, now feeling like a husk. Resentment clung to him like a foul odor, permeating his attitude.

[Fuck...some friend you are, Kaj...] He was supposed to be doing his remote levitation drills, but any exertion, be it mental or physical, sounded positively hellish to him. Bradon stared at his pencil, eyes glowing, his focus centered at the midpoint of the wood. the pencil bent ever so slightly before snapping in half with a delightful crack. Just then, with a quiet creaking, the door swung open, admitting a large dragon with dark green scales.

"Breaking pencils, Bradon? I don't recall that being a part of your exercises." Morridan regarded Bradon with piercing emerald eyes. Professor Slate was Bradon's telepathic mentor, instructing the young wolf how to hone and properly use his mental powers. Morridan was quite tall, and, despite being in his forties, kept himself in remarkable condition. People often saw him as stern and intimidating; however, those that knew him well had seen how gentle and nurturing he really was.

Bradon merely replied with a low grunt. He rose up slowly to lean against the backrest, meeting his teacher's gaze. [Gods, I don't want to do anything right now...]

"Anyway, I was demonstrating self-levitation last week, was I not?"

"Yeah." Bradon replied simply. What Bradon didn't comment upon was the strangeness of a dragon needing to hover. They did have wings, after all.

"Mm-hmm...and the key is FOCUS, Bradon. You have to center that thought in your mind and let nothing else distract you. Observe." Morridan lowered himself to the floor, crossing his legs. "It's easier to start from a sitting position, did I mention that?"

"Nope."

"Well, it is." A small smile tugged at Morridan's lips. The two had been working together for quite some time, and they'd grown fairly close. To Bradon, Morridan was a sort of father figure, something he hadn't grown up with.

Morridan slowed his breathing, and concentrated his mental strength upon the action of lifting from the ground. Slowly, his body left the floor, and the dragon slowly gained altitude. After reaching about a six-foot height, he opened his eyes. Morridan exetended his legs, and touched down, delicately and silently. Bradon usually was awed by this, but today he showed only a detached interest, and Morridan noticed.

"Bradon? Something's on your mind. What's up?"

"Um...yeah, there is..." Bradon knew he couldn't lie to his teacher.

"I know there's something bothering you, and you won't get anything done if it's going to weigh you down like that. Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know if I can...It's, well, really complicated, and I don't know if I should..." Bradon bit his lip. He could feel the familiar frost chilling his insides.

"If you really don't want to talk about it, that's fine, but there's something really getting you, and I know that it'll drag you down if you don't. That is, unless you have another way to resolve it?" He cared for Bradon, and didn't want him to have to deal with any unnecessary stress. Gods knew that the young wolf had enough on his plate, being one of the top psychic students at the academy.

"I guess you're right, Morridan. It's just that...this needs to stay confidential, alright?"

"Of course, Bradon. You can trust me." Morridan drew an X across his chest with his finger. "So, what's been troubling you?"

"It'll take a while to explain..."

"You don't need to hurry. We've got plenty of time." Morridan had taken a seat across from Bradon. He placed a hand on Bradon's shoulder and smiled slightly.

After seeing his mentor's comforting expression, Bradon lowered his gaze and stared at the table's surface. "It...It's a lot of things, actually. I...Well, I'm gay." Bradon tenatively looked up at Morridan, waiting for a response.

Nodding slightly, the dragon answered, "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Bradon. It really isn't." Seeing the wolf's hand on the table, Morridan patted it with his own.

"I know..." Bradon was shaking, a single tear dribbled down his cheek. "I know that, Morridan, and I'm not. But..."

"That's not really it, is it?"

"Sort of...I mean, being stuck in the closet's been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do...but..."

"But...?"

"I feel totally alone...It's worse than just being closet. I feel like there's no one I can talk to about it...it hurts a lot..." He wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, Bradon. And-" Morridan wasn't quite sure he should say it, but he figured it would be for the better. "I understand exactly what you're going through. There's more gays around here than just you." Morridan smiled, clasping Bradon's shoulder. Bradon's head lifted, meeting Morridan's eyes again. There was suddenly that much more hope in the teen's eyes, but Morridan sensed that Bradon hadn't mentioned the heart of the matter.

"Oh...really?" Morridan nodded. "I guess...I never pictured anyone else at the academy being gay."

"There's still an unfortunate stigma on it here; it's really sad." The dragon sighed, old pains resurfacing. He quickly shooed them away; Bradon's pain had a far greater need than his own.

"Yeah...but there's still something else...I...I came out to my best friend, Kaj. And he pretty much walked out on me...I think he hates me..." More tears dripped to the table as he felt again the pain from earlier. "He just left, mumbling something...If I lost him because of that...God, I don't know..." Bradon kept shaking, his face buried in his arms. [I need a hug so bad...it hurts so much...]

[Bradon...] A voice responded. Morridan had caught that last thought. [His barriers must be so beaten down right now...poor guy's been dealing with so much pain and confusion.] He thought to himself as he got up and walked around to the other side of the table. Leaning down, he gently picked up Bradon and sat down again, lovingly hugging the wolf in his lap.

"It's alright, Bradon." The dragon whispered. Bradon wrapped his arms around his mentor's torso tightly, trying to lose the world in the embrace. "I'm sure he doesn't hate you. I know Kaj, he's an openminded-kid...and you two are so close, too. Besides..." Morridan paused, pondering if he should tell Bradon.

"What?" Bradon asked, his voice muffled.

Morridan lifted his student's chin. "I think he's gay too." Bradon's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm...I've caught his mental thread a few times in the past...and even when he's shielded, Kaj has set off my gaydar more than a couple times."

"But...then why would he have walked out on me like that?"

"He might just be afraid."

"But why would he possibly be afraid of me? I'm his best...friend..." It suddenly hit Bradon. "Oh..."

"He might be worried that it would ruin the great friendship that you already have. I went through something similar years ago. And honestly, things really didn't work out between us." Morridan winced; Bradon looked even more worried than before. "But neither of us handled things maturely, and I know that you're too smart to be childish, like I was." His fingers gently ran through Bradon's hair. "It'll be okay. Just give him some time." He hugged Bradon again.

"Thank you, Morridan...But I've never noticed a thing that would say that he's gay. I mean, either he shields some things really well, or he never thinks about it, or...maybe he doesn't know it himself...But then that wouldn't explain how you've caught some of those thoughts...And I'm just thinking out loud, aren't I?"

Morridan nodded. "Yes, you are." He gave a low chuckle. "Personally, I think that he's either in denial about it, or he's so afraid of what his peers will think that he's buried it deep inside, and it's a part of this thoughts that he's never let anyone else access. Knowing Kaj, though, the second one seems right. Judging by how well I know him, he doesn't seem to be the kind of person that would really loathe himself." Morridan kissed Bradon on the forehead, and let him down from his lap. "Between you and me, Bradon, we're not going to get anything accomplished today, so you can leave early. I think you've got some more pressing matters to sort out right now." The dragon winked, and patted the wolf's shoulder.

Smiling hesitantly, Bradon gathered his things and turned to leave. "Morridan...?" The dragon turned to look at Bradon. "Thank you."

"Any time." The door creaked, then fell silent, leaving Morridan in silence. A smile crept across his lips as he in turn repacked his bag. "I guess that was my good deed for the day."

* * *

Bradon stood outside Kaj's dorm, his mind feeling positively empty of things to say. His lip found its way between his teeth again as he contemplated whether or not to knock. [Fuck...I...I'll talk to him tomorrow. Maybe I'll have a better idea about what to say to him...] The wolf had already made his way five doors down the hallway, and he instantly regretted his decision. [I know I should talk to him now, but...shit, I just...damn...] The cold crept across his extremities again, though not as severe as before. His very existence centered around him walking, the hallway and other students around him reduced to a blur. He eventually found himself at his own door, and slowly let himself in. The clock read 6:42 p.m., and he suddenly felt unbelievably tired. [No more...if there's anything to do aside from sleeping, screw it.] He stripped down, and stood naked for a moment before slipping beneath the covers of his welcoming bed. His last thoughts, before falling asleep, were of Kaj, wondering if he felt as lonely as he did.

* * *

Days passed, and neither of the two seemed willing to open up to the other. Moreso than that, Bradon and Kaj seemed to be completely ignoring each other. Their schedules, being significantly tailored to their talents and powers, rarely overlapped, so they saw little of each other during the day under normal circumstances anyway. Now, they didn't even attempt to speak in the lunch hall. Their lunch hour had always been their main time to hang out during a normal class-day. They passed each other in the halls a couple times, and all that passed between them were a couple of nervous glances. Each awkward encounter only doubled the agony Bradon felt, and each night he cried himself to sleep, fearing that their friendship was dead forever. One night in particular tormented him. It had been five days since the incident.

"Why? Why? I miss you so much... Kaj... Kaj..." Bradon sobbed into his pillow, his tears soaking the fabric. His breath broke from his lungs in starkly erratic bursts, wavering with each inhalation. "I just...I just want..." His whispers gave way to his crying, and he slowly faded into a lonely slumber, his dreams tormenting him in his pain. He felt like ice, and he pleaded for his friend's help, but Kaj only mocked him in his sorrow, insulting him. Bradon couldn't break free, a slave to his own subconscious imagination...

* * *

Kaj lay awake, feeling just as rotten, guilt swallowing him whole. A few tears streaked down his cheeks, wetting his fur. He missed Bradon, he couldn't stand them being apart this long. He was afraid; would Bradon forgive him, after what he'd done? He'd blatantly turned his back on him, left his friend to his lonely misery. Kaj felt cold, even beneath his blankets. Kaj felt lonely.

"I shouldn't have done that to him... After all, I...I know what he's dealing with... I'm such an asshole." Kaj sniffed, staring into the darkness. "I need to end this... I need...him..." Kaj sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, touching his feet to the floor. The cold tile sent a wave of goosebumps beneath his fur, making him shiver. He was already dressed, so he slunk across the room and slowly opened the door, feeling a sudden resoluteness take hold. Things had gone wrong for long enough.

* * *

In the dark of the night, there was nobody to hear the quiet padding of a wolf sneaking down the hallway. With no moon to illuminate his way, the canid found his way by memory and the dimmest of silhouettes. The lights were killed in the dorm hallways to conserve energy; a totally renewable source of electricity was still in the works for the academy.

[...And here's the sixth door.] Reaching into his pocket, the wolf drew out a key. He quietly unlocked the door and slid in, taking care not to let it creak. The wolf tip-toed over to the bed, familiar with the layout of the room. In the light of the digital clock's harsh green numbers, the intruder gazed down at the face of a young wolf, one that he loved dearly.

"Bradon..." Kaj whispered as he stroked his friend's untidy hair. Conflicting emotions still raged inside the red-eyed wolf, but he felt a driving need to talk to his friend, to be close to him. [Damn...I've never had so much trouble sleeping before...I still don't know what I'll do for sure, but I need to talk to him so bad...] "Bradon..." Kaj bent down and whispered into his friend's ear. "Hey, wake up a little." His fingers trembled; despite feeling unnerved, he continued to run his hand through Bradon's hair. With a moan, the sleeping teen shifted, slowly finding his way out of the labyrinth of sleep. "Bradon?" Kaj whispered again.

"Mmm...Kaj...?" Bradon opened his eyes only to find darkness. He felt a gentle hand running down his cheek, and heard a familiar voice whispering his name. "Kaj? Is that you?" He felt a seated form shift on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah...I couldn't sleep." Kaj suddenly shivered, both from trepidation and from feeling cold. He'd forgotten how chilly the dorms could get; the heating system didn't always work well. He suddenly regretted wearing only a T-shirt. "I, uh...um, I'm kind of cold. Do you mind if I, uh...join you?" Kaj felt himself blushing profusely.

"No, not at all." Bradon yawned, and propped himself up a bit. "Mind if I leave the lights off? The dark is kind of comforting for me." Bradon felt no anger. He was just overjoyed that Kaj hadn't completely forsaken him.

"Okay..." Kaj slipped beneath the blankets, greeted by a comforting warmth. He lay on his back, resting his head on his hands.

"So...what made you come around?" Bradon tried not to sound resentful.

"I..." Kaj took a deep breath. "Bradon, I'm so sorry for walking out on you. It was a lot to take in, I felt sort of overwhelmed...If you want the truth, Bradon...I'm gay, too." He waited. Suddenly, a hand pulled his arm away from his head, grasping his own.

"I had a hunch." Bradon whispered. "I know, it's hard, it's confusing, it's overwhelming. I know..."

"I guess...I was afraid that...I didn't want to screw up the friendship that we already have. I could never lose you...I've never had a friend like you, and I've never had a family, really, same as you... You're my best friend, you're my brother. I love you, Bradon, more than I've ever loved anyone in my life." Kaj sqeezed Bradon's hand, tears stinging his eyes. Kaj had never opened up so much.

Bradon was at a loss for words. [Oh my god...He...he really feels that way? Wow...] "I...I don't know what to say, Kaj...I..." He slid over and covered Kaj, hugging him tightly. He felt arms encircle him, warming Bradon's very heart. His ear was pressed to Kaj's chest, and he could feel a comforting warmth radiate from his friend's torso with every heartbeat. "I love you, too, Kaj. You...I've never been closer to anyone else, ever...I..." Now looking into Kaj's eyes, in the light of the ancient clock radio, he leaned forward and met Kaj's lips with his own. Bradon wept quietly; never had he felt so complete and fulfilled. The kiss led on, gently progressing from brushing lips to tongues meeting. Bradon felt fingers running through his hair; his arms remained as they were, keeping Kaj in a tight embrace.

[...Thank you...so much... I love you...]

[I love you too...]

Ever so slowly, their muzzles parted. Bradon nuzzled Kaj on the cheek before settling into a comfortable position, his head reasting on Kaj's shoulder, his arms still draped around his friend. The fog of sleep, empowered by their mutual comfort, overtook the two, and Bradon, before falling asleep, could never remember being happier.