Hello little lovies! I'm so sorry about last update, loves, but it had to be done! Now, however, I can do something new!

I AM GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN! I AM GONNA LOVE LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN! YOU ARE GONNA LIVE LIKE YOU USED TO DREAM! THIS IS YOUR NEW SONG! -shout out to Rainboots for being the best person in the world and allowing me to listen to my new favorite song "Don't Get Comfortable" by Brandon Heath.

Honestly, Brandon Heath is the only person I want to listen to right now, and this ENTIRE chapter was sort of put to "Don't Get Comfortable" by him... so... yeah. It's hopeful and cute, and you might wanna give it a listen as you read. Just a thought...

Carlos Garcia stared up at the ceiling, Logan curled into his waist and trembling as he slept. He had one arm draped over the taller boy's shoulders, and the other propping up his head. His thoughts drifted from James to Kendall to Logan and back to Jame as the clock read 3:42am. He rolled over to face Kendall's empty bunk. Worry rushed through his veins, and he eyed the door warily. It was late. Kendall should be home, but he wasn't.

Because he was a monster.

Carlos didn't understand that. That's what Kendall had said he was, and James seemed to agree completely. Logan, however... well, Logan just seemed scared of him. All those things seemed to add up right, but it refused to click as the truth in Carlos's brain. He couldn't just give up on Kendall, even when everyone else had. It was like that time when everyone but Logan, even himself, had decided he couldn't pass geometry, or when everyone but James thought he wouldn't get a date to their freshman Homecoming, or when everyone but Kendall figured he'd never be able to block a goal that one hockey season. There was something about Kendall that made Carlos believe he wasn't the monster he thought he was. They had been through too much for him to truly believe that.

Carlos slipped his arm out from under Logan, and crawled out of his bed. He paused in the door frame as he left the room, looking back and feeling guilty about abandoning his terrified friend, but he had a feeling Kendall needed him just as much as Logan did. Cool air hit his face as he walked out onto the roof. He wasn't sure why he had been drawn up there, but howling from the other side of the air conditioner box told him he was in the right place. His feet crunched on the gravel coating the top of the building, a full moon set low in the sky. He rounded his way to Kendall, unsurprised to see his tear-stained cheeks.

"Hey, buddy," he said quietly, sitting down and letting out a little 'oof' when Kendall pounced onto him, squeezing the air out of his lungs with a tight hug. Carlos patted his back. "You're not a monster," he whispered, "you were just broken by one." Kendall let out a cry, but his tail shook happily. He had really needed a friend, and Carlos was happy to be one for him. The blond spoke choppily.

"He... He hates me... It's all my-my fault... I can't..." he looked up at him in a way that scared Carlos, in a desperate way, "What can I do?" The Latino floundered for a minute, not sure of what to say and watching as the hope was sucked from Kendall's eyes. He wasn't a leader. He wasn't good with words. He wasn't- no. Suddenly, everything Carlos knew about himself was washed away, and an overwhelming sense of, not so much determination, but love washed over him. Here was Kendall, wrapped up in his arms needing... something, and Carlos wasn't going to let him crumble because he couldn't find the right things to say. Kendall didn't have anyone but him right now, and Carlos was going to be all he needed, for as long as he needed.

"Kendy," he said, grabbing his shoulders as he had started to turn away, "He doesn't hate you. He's just... he's really scared, but you don't have to worry, okay?" he asked, Kendall eyeing him uncertainly. Carlos pinched his sides. "Oh, come on. Logan knows he can trust you, you just have to wait for him to realize it. I'll admit, he does have a good reason to be this freaked out, but he loves you just as much as I do, man. He won't leave you hanging." Kendall shook his head and pushed him away. For a minute, Carlos thought he didn't believe him, but then Kendall spoke.

"I was talking about James," he said, and the Latino's heart fell. He didn't exactly know how to reassure him on that note without it being an obvious lie. James was quick to get worked up or emotional about small things. I mean, he called the FBI over his hair falling a bit flat. So, when big stuff happened, he was definitely one to hold a furious grudge. It's not like he was mean or bitter, just... passionate. Kendall himself could understand that, Carlos knew, but recently fights and feelings were far more serious than they used to be. He sighed and wrapped an arm around Kendall's shoulder, thinking and watching absently as the moon let the sun take over, pink filling the sky. He rubbed his eyes wearily.

"He'll come around," he said eventually, doubting it's truth. The look Kendall gave him said he was thinking the same thing. Carlos just laughed and pulled him into a nuggie, letting out one of those little chatter-giggles he had going on. Kendall growled playfully, tail wagging fast. He squirmed and knocked Carlos to the ground, panting happily, despite not needing to. Carlos chittered again and wiggled away. He yawned and remembered how tired he was. "I think it's time we went to sleep," he suggested, heading inside and listening to the rocks crunching behind him as Kendall followed.

James woke up to Logan staring at him. He was kneeled next to his bed, cat eyes unblinking in the dark. James squinted at the clock and bit back a groan as he realized it was about four in the morning. James was as happy with being up right now as he would be after gouging out his eyes and swallowing glass, but he didn't care about that, when he realized how scared Logan looked. "What's wrong, Loges?" he asked, and he batted at his sheets.

"Can I sleep with you?" he questioned, his voice gravelly from disuse. He hadn't said anything since... well, probably since he had choked out "Kendall" between sobs as he cradled his shredded arm what felt like ages ago. James nodded, lifting up the covers. He let out a satisfied snort when Logan circled, tail brushing his face, and tucking up into a ball by his side. A thought struck him, and his voice broke through Logan's contented purring.

"Why'd you have to ask?" he wondered; the paler boy, but not by much since James had went a month without sunlight, stirred by his side. The whites of his eyes were bright green, his pupils like slits. It was unnatural on his face, but then... not much about them was natural anymore anyway. Logan's face twisted up, and he definitely took his good time in answering. James fought sleep, his head dipping as he tried to stay awake for his friend. Eventually, he sat up and rolled Logan over,e, and kept himself awake by massaging all the tension in his muscles away. "Come on, Logie. What's going on?" The shorter boy let out a throaty noise under his touch.

"I thought you might be mad at me..." he trailed off, his face looking relaxed for the first time in ages as James worked on his shoulders. His hands faltered due to the shock accompanying the statement, but he shook it off quickly. His eyebrows knit together as he tried to piece together what could have possibly made Logan think that, but gave up.

"Why?" he asked, using his elbow to dig into a particularly bad knot between his shoulder blades. Logan purred happily, despite their conversation, and arched his back up towards him, a smile splayed across his face. It was definitely a welcome sight to James, having missed seeing Logan not quite so... terrified, as he had been lately.

"Because you're mad at Kendall and I thought-"

"Stop right there," James told him, thumbs circling into his back. "Logan, the only thing that me being mad at Kendall has to do with you, is that he was the one to start it by hurting you. The only person who's done anything wrong here is Kendall, who literally tore you apart. That's not okay, and it's not redeemable, but the last thing I want for you to do is feel like I don't love you as much as I do because of it. Kendall ate you, man. Don't be scared because I've got you, buddy, but I don't want you to let yourself get hurt by that monster," he spat, somehow allowing what was supposed to be a reassuring talk turn into a rant about how much he couldn't stand that beast he used to call his leader.

"James, I don't think-" Logan started, but was cut off when a smiling Carlos and Kendall walked through the door, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders. Awkwardness settled between them as they noticed their semi-compromising position. Logan looked incredulous after realizing Carlos ditched him for Kendall and shaking in the presence of the blonde. Carlos seemed sheepish over leaving and jealous of James taking over for him. Kendall just appeared beyond scared of both James and Logan, understandable knowing their pasts. James, meanwhile, couldn't hide the sheer fury burning inside of him and glared at Kendall, if looks could kill, ghost Kendall would already be searching for some duck tape to put his body back together after James's stare went nuclear on him.

Reluctantly, the two just entering boys took to their beds, each squirming in guilt. Kendall from what he had done, and Carlos from the long-since grown cold empty spot on his bed next to him.

Rather slashy, but... whatever. This took me forever. Boxing, God stuff, How To Train Your Dragon... my life feels very busy.

Hehe. I was reading a Teen Titan fic as I wrote this (I'm aware that didn't help the speed of this being posted, but it was SO good!) and it was crazy going back and forth.

FACT: Snails have teeth!