Krem lingered in wakefulness for only a little while afterward, listening to the slow sounds of Thomas's breathing evening out, letting his body get as comfortable as it was going to. There was a familiarity to the aches and pains, something like home, even if the soft bed and the warm body were not. Those were nice and better than home. He fell to a blessedly dreamless sleep curled in against Thomas.

Exhaustion kept him asleep with hours, but he woke to the first hints of light coming in through Thomas's window.

Without opening his eyes, his hand reached out, seeking the water bottle he hadn't finished the night before.