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There is a peace that comes with the act of doing something the same way, every single day.
A pen, white and chunky. He takes the cap off, the clear see through liquid sits cold there, with no bubbles, no gaps of air. The pen is still usable for at least three more days. 40 clicks is no joke, he has gone through three of these in less than a month.
He will need to buy more before this one ends. That will be expensive.
There is also an annoyance that comes out of it.
Keralis sighs. Better to not think about the cost of silly frivolous things like the pen supposed to keep him alive and healthy. Bubbles threatened him and his beautiful eyes last time he complained about the price of the medication.
He grabs the needle, there is no need to uncap this one, the seal has been ripped and violated five days ago when he first unpacked this one.
The box says he needs a new needle every time he injects himself, but Cub told him that's silly and a waste, and that he can use it at least three times before having to dispose of it and grab a new one.
He clicks his tongue, does math, five days, and huffs, annoyed, he needs to throw this one off, what a shame.
He throws the needle to the side, the little thing rolls over the project he was working on before his night alarm started playing, a ground floor plan for the mansion he was paid to project.
It’s looking- rough. He just started on it, and he is still way too sane and not in enough caffeine and wine to actually be able to do a project in the level of the ones that brought him to his spot of prestige as a competent architect.
He grabs another needle, a new one this time, he pulls the little blue paper cap out of it, and doesn't waste time screwing this one to the pen.
The rest is as simple as it is annoying, he pulls his pants down, enough that he can have a good view of his own right thigh, he spins the pen tip, waiting until it stops in the bold black number that tells him 40 clicks were done.
Keralis takes a deep breath, it's been months since he had to start taking this silly medication, it still doesn't erase the unease of having to stab himself in the leg.
He first feels it, fingers going through his own skin, feeling fat and muscles, trying to find a spot that isn't already bruised from a last night, but that is also solid for the needle to sink. He takes the plastic cap of the needle and turns his eyes away as it stabs into his flesh.
He has to hold a sharp his as it hits more than normal.
“Shit.” He breathes out. It's always a fifth fifth if it will hurt or not. Today's stab in the leg, surprisingly hurts like a stab in the leg. Who would have guessed.
“Bubbles!” He shouts, he has seen his roommate through his open door, he walked somewhere to the left, maybe the bathroom, maybe Tango’s room. It doesn't really matter.
“...Yes?” Tango’s room it is. He can use the information later when there isn't a needle stabbing in his leg.
“I sink-” He doesn't really shout, he talks loudly enough so Bubbles can hear him. His lips curl amused, he starts pushing the tip of his pen, eyes staring at the wall instead of the task in hands- or well leg. “I sink, I stabbed myself the wrong way, can you bring paper- please?”
“WHAT?” He hears a crash, it comes straight from Tango’s room. Keralis hums happily with himself, he takes his time pushing whole 40 clicks of insulin into his body.
Cub is an amazing doctor, but he never taught Keralis how to tell the wrong and right way of using the pens, just where it was safe to put, and how to do it without getting an infection.
Keralis just can tell that today he hit something he shouldn't. It happens, it's not that painful, he just regularly forgets to have something in hand in case he does get the stabbing wrong.
“I AM HERE.” Bdubs stumbles on Keralis’ room almost without air, instead of paper like Keralis asked, he is holding a bundle of white towels, probably grabbed in a rush from the bathroom across Tango’s room.
The pen clicks stop, Keralis has to hold himself to not snort while the needle is still inside his body. He takes the pen off, a thick drop of blood leaves the place of stab, Keralis knows that in no time the drop will become a fine line, and he doesn't feel like staining his clothes with blood again.
“Bubbles.” He now snorts looking at his fellow wide eyed friend. “I know Tango likes red but I don't sink he will like this red on his bath towels.”
“YOU-” Bdubs eyes him, eyes the pen in his hand. He drops the towels, turning around, he leaves for what feels like a single second, because Keralis can barely blink and there is a roll of toilet paper being thrown in his direction. “-are a MORON.”
“Awnn Bubbles-” He grabs the papers, giggling amused by the predictable outburst, he takes a piece of the paper and presses it against his open wound. “-you care.” He coos, not once looking at his leg.
Bdubs freezes on the spot where he was ready to start pacing and ranting. He glares at Keralis who just smiles brighter.
“I care…” He laughs, it's dry and exaggerated. “I am the reason you and Tango don't die on a daily basis.”
“EI!” Tango shouts from somewhere downstairs. How he managed to catch the only part of the entire conversation that wasn't shouted by Bdubs’ part, is a mystery in itself. “I SAVED YOU FROM FAILING DOWNSTAIRS YESTERDAY.””
“YOU STUPID MORON PUSHED ME.” Bdubs shouts back, leaning on the door, back turned to Keralis, trying to look at someone that is one floor down cooking their dinner.
“BUT I SAVED YOU, DIDN'T I?” Keralis can imagine the grin on Tango’s face from here.
Bubbles shakes his head. “Stupid idiot.” Grumbling to himself. “And YOU-” He now points a finger at Keralis. “-STOP CALLING IT STABBING, OR I WILL STAB YOU MYSELF.”
“But Bubbles…” The smile doesn't leave his lips. “If it's sharp, long and pointy, and it enters my body, it's a stab!”
“Stop. stabbing. yourself.” Bubbles grits his teeth, looking at Keralis’ eyes and them down. “And put your pants back for God’s sake! STOP SMILING.”