Caelum looks at Aerglo, who is still curled up and fast asleep. He takes a peak under the bandages and notices that although the wound is still open, the black oozing has stopped and the veins have almost completely faded. Without the poison inhibiting the healing process, Aerglo will be able to recuperate in a matter of days.

And Caelum tries hard not to feel sad about that. He's become attached to the alien, there is no how or why. It simply happened. The nights he spent curled up against Aerglo and feeling xyrs warmth, the times he let himself vent out to someone else and show his vulnerability are engrained in his mind. The feel of the alien and xyr kindness, xyr gratitude, are something Caelum has craved and he never even noticed. But he also knows that Aerglo has to go. Xe needs to go back home, needs to find a cure for the poison and needs to help end the war between xyrs kind and the Atabilefens.

Caelum knows this, yet it still doesn't stop hurting because in the end he'll be alone again.

Carefully, he covers the alien and tiptoes out of his room. The door closes behind him softly and he makes his way toward the kitchen where he snatches some toast and a bottle of water. He's finding it harder and harder to eat nowadays, the insomnia getting bad as his thoughts keep him up at night.

With a small sigh he heads out the door. It's another day and he needs to go to school even if he wants to fall asleep in his warm bed and doze off.

He's really out of it.

He barely pays attention to his surroundings and idioticly crosses the street without noticing the light.

"Caelum!"

A warm hand wraps around his and yanks him back just as a car zooms by, honking angrily at him. He stares wide eyed, heart racing in his chest at the prospect of nearly dying. He looks up and finds Aerglo panting softly, chest heaving, and eyes panicked.

"Aerglo," he breathes.

"Are you alright?" Xe asks.

"Yeah, thank you," he sighs, briefly closing his eyes.

Aerglo soon begins dragging him away, away from the street and away from his destination.

"Aerglo? Wher-"

"Home, room, bed," Aerglo says, "you're exhausted."

"Aerglo I can't go back home, I need to go to school."

The alien doesn't respond, simply tightens xyrs hold on Caelum's hand and pulls him along.

Caelum halfheartedly fights back, but lets himself be dragged back home.

"Sleep," xe orders once they're in his room.

Caelum looks at the alien then at his bed, inviting and warm.

It isn't hard to give in with how exhausted he feels.

He takes off his shoes and slips into his bed, forgoing changing his clothes for something more comfortable. Immediately his eyes begin to droop, breathing becoming even.

The bed dips with Aerglo's weight as the alien joins him. He curls up next to xem, stealing xyrs warmth. He feels an arm wrap around him, their legs tangling under the sheets.

And he falls asleep.

He manages to have a dreamless sleep, no nightmares keeping him up.

No insomnia, just blissful sleep.

He falls into a sense of security and safety, until the door downstairs is opened.

The sound of it slamming against the wall wakes him up hours later.

He jerks in Aerglo's arms, still groggy but awake he hears an angry shout, "Where the hell are you, you little bastard!"

Caelum looks at the time and his heart sinks.

He struggles to get out of bed, a soft whine of displeasure falling from Aerglo's parted lips as he stumbles out the room and closes the door behind him.

His step-father is already at the end of the hallway looking red faced.

"You little brat, you like testing me don't ya? I warned you what would happen if you disobeyed me again. You thought I was joking, didn't ya you little bitch."

"No! I meant to go to school, I did! But I-" Caelum can't even finish his sentence.

And in his mind he hopes Aerglo doesn't hear, doesn't step in. The last thing he needs is his step father seeing a complete stranger in his home.

Please, please don't come out, he begs silently, even as tears roll down his cheeks and sting the scratch etched into his skin.

"You stupid brat!"

"I'm sorry!" Caelum screams, sobbing.

Aerglo clenches xyr hands into fists on the other side of the door. A strong desire to go protect the defenseless terrified human fills xyrs chest. But xe hears Caelum's fear filled wishes and xe holds xemself back.

"Hold on, eno elttil,"