When Barnaby woke up, he was alone. Even in his sleep-muddled mind, that wasn't right. Sitting up, he scanned in confusion his empty bedroom, expecting to see Kotetsu.

What?
Shock kicked his brain into gear.

The events of last night rushed to memory, Kotetsu on his doorstep, breaking the walls around his heart, his hand ruffling his hair, on his neck, him sleeping beside him-

So where was he? Had it all been as he feared, nothing but a-a dream, a mere manifestation of his hidden desires? Was he even able to imagine such things-?

Still sitting up, one knee raised while the other stayed down, both hands pressed to the mattress to support him, he dropped his head. He didn't notice the superfluous covers and pillows littering the floor, the suddenly pyjama-free chair in the corner, so wrapped as he was in never-ending circles of confusion.

The ghost sensations of arms wrapped around him, the phantom heartbeat pounding against his own, the familiar scent permeating his pillow, sheets and covers now filling his senses, the feverish feeling of a hand caressing his hair, of skin touching his, heat seeping through clothes to melt away his fears-
They weren't figments of his imagination. There was no way he could have fantasized this emotion screaming home that coursed through his limbs, mind and core.

Suddenly relieved by the knowledge that he wasn't going mad, the slowly growing warmth envelopping him was smothered by the weight of deception, resulting in irremediable sadness, dropping in his stomach.

The idiot hadn't stayed. Barnaby scowled, anger battling his heavy heart into submission, the latter quickly gaining dominance again as his next thought finished to anihilate hope.

He didn't understand.

Barnaby had assumed that Kotetsu had understood what he had meant, had understood him. Apparently he hadn't. Otherwise, he would have been on his right, waking him up by complaining about his hair, again-

"Oh, you're up already?" Laughter boomed into the silence, "You're such a sleepyhead that I usually have to wake you up."

Bunny snapped his head up, afraid to see nothing in the doorway-

And there he was, wearing his white top and grey bottoms, adorning the worst bed-hair ever, honey-brown eyes sparkling, a fond and contented smile lighting up his unshaven face. Barnaby was dumbfounded, relief and glee exploding in his gut, chasing all worries and doubts from his mind.

Everything was alright. They were alright. And that was all that mattered.

A small, blissful smile slowly made its way to his lips, up to his green eyes as he uttered his first words on the sunrise of their new start - he wasn't alone anymore and never would have to be again because he was there, by his side -

"Good morning, Kotetsu."