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"BoM Sleepover"
"A gathering?" Keith was slightly confused for a moment before he realized what the Blade was talking about. "You mean a sleepover?"
"Is that what humans call it?" the Blade asked.
"Yes."
"So, would you like to come, kit?"
"Sure." Keith smiled. He was reminded of the time he spent the night at Shiro's and Adam's apartment before the Kerberos Mission. "When is it?"
"Now. Follow me, kit."
Keith followed the young adult Blade to a larger room filled with blankets, pillows, and other young adult Blades. Keith settled near a large group of Blades. They were happy to see the organization's kit join them. It was going to be a good night.
%%%
Keith was not having a good night. He was tired and wanted to go to sleep but couldn't fall asleep and was frustrated. He couldn't help but whimper. The whimpering drew the attention of one of the Blades, Va'nol, a tailed Blade with long very pale lavender fur that was almost white. He turned towards Keith. "What's wrong, kit?"
Keith paused before whimpering again. "I...can't fall asleep."
Va'nol almost face palmed. Of course the kit couldn't sleep. He needed his pack to sleep since he was such a young kit. It was something that some of the Blades forgot, especially the ones who had been on missions with him or had trained with him. "Have you ever fallen asleep without your pack nearby?"
Keith paused and thought. He was about to say that he did at the castle but realized that the Paladins were a pack (and had taken to all falling asleep in a nest he built in the lounge). Keith looked down, not able to look the other Blade in the face. He whimpered again. "No. Sorry."
Va'nol used his tail to gently lift Keith's head. "No, kit. You have no reason to be sorry. I'll take you back to your pack's nest room." He escorted Keith out of the room started leading him down the corridor. "It was nice to spend time with you outside of missions, Keith."
"I liked it too. Could we do it again?"
"It would be a pleasure, kit. Ah, here's your nest room." Va'nol knocked on the door.
%%%
The four highest ranking Blades were settling in for an unusual night as their kit was at headquarters but not sleeping with them for the night. As much as they were pleased that he was spending time with other Blades, they missed having him in the nest. So, when there was a knock on their door, they were confused.
Thace got up and answered the door. Of all the scenarios he pictured, a sad Keith being escorted by another Blade was not one of them. "Kit? What happened?"
Keith whimpered and tucked himself under Thace's chin. He stroked Keith's hair and looked at Va'nol, who answered the question for Keith. "He's not used to sleeping away from his pack, so I accompanied him here." He caressed one of Keith's cheeks, the one that wasn't buried. "I'll see you later, kit. Get some sleep."
Va'nol left the leaders' nest room, and Thace gently led Keith into their room and further into their nest. Keith remained tucked under Thace's chin, even as the other three members of his pack came closer. Antok's tail wrapped itself around Keith's waist, Kolivan rubbed up and down Keith's back, and Ulaz started grooming his hair. Even though he was being doted upon, Keith still let out a small whimper.
The three other pack members had heard the conversation at the door, so they knew the situation. Kolivan was the one to speak. "You are all right, kit. No one is upset at you. It is natural for a kit as young as you are to only get sleep with their pack or in your case, packs."
Thace softly rumbled to the kit ensconced on his lap. "You're okay, kit. Just get some sleep. Everyone will be here when you wake up."
Keith let his eyes slide closed and snuggled into Thace a bit more, getting more comfortable. His whimpers had stopped when Kolivan had assured him that no one was angry at him. He found himself drifting off to sleep relatively quickly.
The Blades were not surprised to hear Keith purr after he closed his eyes. They knew he was tired but was reluctant to sleep until he was sure no one was upset with or at him. No one in the entire organization could truly be angry at the kit for following his instincts.
Fin