WEP owns everything except the voices in my head... I'm just messing with their stuff a bit...
cubbieBlueMako - There are more surprises coming before the end... I don't wanna spoil too much for you though...
Sunshineleo - Most of Keith's experience with insomnia in this story comes from my own personal battle with the condition. I often have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. I can't really take anything to help either because then I end up groggy. One adult dose of Nyquil will put me out, but then I am totally foggy and can't think straight for 3 days. Everyone who struggles with insomnia has a different experience, so mileage may vary, but Keith's experience is what I go through. As far as the title... That will explain itself in chapter 5 I think...
Paulina Ann - Hmmm... No matter how much sleep it's not enough? I might have that too... Or maybe I've never paid back my sleep debt from childhood? I don't ever remember (or know what it feels like) to not be tired, even right after I wake up. My mom says I have had trouble sleeping since infancy so I could just be years behind...
KittyLynne - I really had no intention of writing about sleep issues originally, but the scene of Lance saying something offhanded/intentionally and Keith just going over the edge into blind, paralyzing, rage just popped into my head one day at work so I wrote it out. Then I sat on it for a while trying to figure out what to do with it since it just seemed like Keith was going completely overboard in an out of character way. It wasn't until I started writing chapter 2, as my own current insomnia cycle started kicking my behind, that I decided Keith might have a really good reason for being on such a hair trigger...
Keith rolls onto his back and stretches before slowly opening his eyes. He stifles a yawn as he looks around trying to remember where he is and why he is there. Groaning, he closes his eyes and rubs his hands across his face. A sigh escapes his lips as he sits up and untangles himself from the pink blanket that he doesn't recall being there when he fell asleep. He rolls his neck around in an attempt to relieve muscles that have stiffened while he napped. Catching sight of the clock on the wall, he mentally calculates how long he's been asleep. "Hmmm… About two hours. Almost as much as I got all of last night…"
Propping his elbows on his knees, he rubs his temples in an attempt to stave off the headache that is threatening to form inside his skull. After taking a deep breath, he stands up and makes his way to the door. Exiting the lounge, he slowly walks back to his own room.
Entering his quarters, Keith closes the door behind him and makes sure that the lock is engaged. He then turns and heads to his bathroom, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he goes. He fills a cup with water from the tap and uses it to swallow a couple of aspirins. Looking into the container, he counts the few remaining pills. Frowning, he makes a mental note to get some more before he runs out. Placing the glass back down on the sink, he looks up at his reflection in the mirror. The man staring back at him looks beaten and exhausted. He splashes some water on his face and runs his hands through his hair. Giving up any attempt to control the messy waves falling past his shoulders, he sighs and shakes his head, a wry smile on his face. "Someday maybe I'll just cut it all off and be done with it."
Turning away from the mirror, he leaves the bathroom and strides to his bed. He lies down on top of the blankets, closing his eyes in an attempt to court sleep. However, he finds himself unable to relax and clear his mind. After tossing and turning for thirty minutes, he opens his eyes and looks at the clock in disgust. Rolling off the bed, he bites his lower lip, sighs, and heads out the door. He decides to find Lance and apologize for overreacting earlier.
On planet Doom, Haggar stands in her laboratory gazing into her crystal ball. Within the orb, there is a view of the captain of the Voltron Force tossing and turning sleeplessly on his bed. A wicked smile spreads across her shadowed face as she strokes the blue cat nestled in her arms. "The spell seems to be working perfectly, Kitty. It was fortunate that we were able to find out about Captain Keith's history of insomnia in order to exploit it. Let's see just how long he can go without sleep…" Her cackle echoes around the room.
Keith wanders the hallways of the castle aimlessly, eventually finding himself standing outside the team's favored lounge. Inhaling deeply, he closes his eyes before slowly releasing the air in his lungs through pursed lips. Slowly re-opening his eyes, he reaches up and lightly touches the button to open the door. As the panel slides to one side, the rest of the team looks up. Their conversation abandoned, they turn as one to face the intruder to their sanctuary.
"I take it from the sudden silence that you were all discussing my trouble sleeping lately?" Keith's tone is harsh as he practically spits out the words. Looking from person to person, he catches and releases each gaze with his own icy glare.
"It's just because we're worried about you, Keith. Why didn't you say anything? Maybe we can help…" Allura looks at him sympathetically, her concern evident in her wide eyed expression.
"Because it's nothing, Princess. I'll get through it. I always do." His words come out in a deep snarl. The captain reaches up and pinches the bridge of his nose. Keith stands motionless, breathing deeply with his eyes closed for a minute before releasing his grip and letting his hand fall to his side once more.
Allura looks at Keith and raises one eyebrow at him questioningly. "That certainly doesn't look like nothing to me. You look like you're in pain." Her voice is gentle as she tries to sooth his acerbic manner.
"It's just a headache. I took some aspirin but it hasn't kicked in yet. I'll be fine." His words come more harshly than he intended. He closes his eyes and breathes deeply a few more times in an effort to compose himself again before returning her gaze contritely. "Honest, Allura, I'm fine," he repeats much more softly this time.
Lance, Pidge, and Hunk quietly exchange worried glances as Keith's mood rapidly fluctuates before them as he speaks with the princess.
"Keith, you need to get some sleep. How have you even been able to keep functioning like this?" The princess's voice grows softer as she steps closer to the captain, her arm outstretched. She closes the gap between them and places her hand on his shoulder. Tilting her head, she catches his eye again, mentally pleading with him to heed her advice and try to get some rest.
"It's really no big deal; aspirins get rid of the headaches and caffeine helps make up for the lack of sleep. Eventually, it will sort itself out and I'll start sleeping normally again." He shrugs and looks around the room. "In the meantime, can we drop the subject, please?" His glowering expression and commanding tone indicate that this is an order, not a request.
Allura narrows her eyes and studies her captain's face taking in his haggard expression. Softening her gaze, she offers him a gentle smile and nods. "Alright, we'll drop it… for now. But if you aren't able to sleep again soon, you really should see Dr. Gorma about it." She takes her hand from his shoulder and slowly lowers it back to her side. She looks like there is more that she wants to say, but she hesitates and swallows any further words before he notices.
Keith chooses not to respond to the princess's request and instead turns to face his second. Lance's expression becomes guarded as he steels himself for a continuation of their prior confrontation. "Lance, the reason I came in here was actually to apologize to you. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that earlier. I'm sorry."
Eyeing his commander warily, the brown haired man relaxes a bit, surprised by the statement. "It's OK, Keith. I shouldn't have said what I did either. Truce?" He offers a lopsided grin to his friend as he reaches out his hand. Keith grasps it and the two men shake hands, the acts of a few hours before now forgiven. His errand complete, Keith turns and exits the room wordlessly.
Glancing at his teammates, the expression on the Red Lion pilot's face indicates his growing concern over his friend's erratic mood swings.