Theron's workshop was a war zone of tangled wires, glowing screens, and discarded parts. In the middle of it, the gnome himself was perched on a stool, muttering calculations and swiping at holographic displays with an intensity that suggested he was solving world hunger—or creating another catastrophe.
Theron's focus on his device had reached an obsessive level. Hours turned into a blur, leaving him oblivious to time and his appearance. His hair was disheveled, his clothes stained with oil and cooling fluid, and his workspace looked like a tornado had hit it. His wild hair stuck up in every direction, smeared with something suspiciously glittery, and his oversized goggles hung lopsided over his face.
Kael found him like this, after having stormed through the academy looking for him. The lycan prince was already irritated, having had to explain Theron's absence to their teachers—a task made worse by the gnome's reputation for disappearing into his projects. When Kael finally pushed open the door, his annoyance boiled over into outright exasperation.
"Theron," Kael barked, startling the gnome so badly he almost fell off his stool.
Theron blinked up at him, eyes wide behind his goggles. "Kael! What are you doing here?"
Kael crossed his arms, towering over the much shorter Theron making full use of the height difference to glare down at him.
"What am I doing here? Oh, I don't know, maybe trying to figure out why someone here decided to skip class, again, and lock himself in this fire hazard of a room!"
Theron waved a dismissive hand, smudging his face further with grease. "I was working on something important. Time just... got away from me."
Kael gestured dramatically at the chaos surrounding them. "Important? This? You look like you've been wrestling with a pack of gremlins and losing!"
Theron frowned, pushing his goggles up to his forehead. "I'm fine, Kael. You're overreacting."
"Overreacting?" Kael took a step closer, pointing at the empty food wrappers and energy drink cans littering the floor. "You haven't eaten properly. You haven't slept. And I'm pretty sure that's coolant in your hair!"
Theron reached up to touch his hair, grimacing when his fingers came away sticky. "Okay, maybe I'm a little messy, but I'm almost done!"
"No," Kael said firmly, grabbing Theron by the waist and hoisting him into the air as if he weighed nothing.
"Kael! Put me down!" Theron squirmed, his legs kicking uselessly a foot off the ground. "This is undignified!"
"You're like 4 feet". You've been undignified since birth," Kael shot back, carrying him out of the workshop with ease.
Theron huffed, crossing his arms as he dangled in Kael's grasp. "This is unnecessary. I can walk, you know."
"Not fast enough to escape me," Kael replied, his voice laced with dry humor.
Kael carried him straight to the bathroom, kicking the door open with enough force to make it slam against the wall. "You're taking a bath. Now."
Theron raised an eyebrow. "I don't smell that bad."
Kael leaned in, sniffed theatrically, and recoiled with an exaggerated grimace. "You smell like burnt circuits and regret. If you don't clean yourself, I will do it for you."
Theron's face turned bright red. "You wouldn't dare."
Kael's grin was wolfish. "Try me."
With a groan of defeat, Theron wriggled until Kael set him down. "Fine, fine! I'll do it myself. But you're overreacting."
Kael leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Ten minutes. If you're not out by then, I'm coming in."
Theron shot him a glare before slamming the door. True to his word, ten minutes later, he emerged—clean, in fresh clothes, but still grumbling under his breath. His damp hair stuck to his forehead in wet curls, and Kael snorted at the sight.
"Better," Kael said, grabbing a towel and gesturing for Theron to sit on the edge of the bed.
Theron sighed, plopping down with exaggerated drama. "You're like a mother hen, you know that?"
"Someone has to be," Kael retorted, roughly toweling Theron's hair dry.
"Ow! Watch it! I need my brain intact!"
"Trust me, your brain's fine. It's your common sense that's missing," Kael replied, smirking.
Once satisfied that Theron was dry and less likely to combust spontaneously, Kael scooped him up again.
"Kael! I can walk!"
"Not risking it. You'll just sneak back to your workshop."
Theron groaned but didn't struggle this time. Kael deposited him onto the bed and pulled the covers over him with a flourish.
"Sleep," Kael commanded.
Theron rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the yawn that escaped him. "Fine. But only because I'm tired."
Kael chuckled, ruffling Theron's hair one last time. "Goodnight, genius."
As Kael turned to leave, Theron's quiet voice stopped him. "Thanks, Kael. For, you know, looking out for me."
Kael glanced back, his expression softening. "Always."
As Theron settled under the covers, exhaustion quickly began to overtake him. His eyelids drooped, and for once, he didn't argue or resist sleep. Kael lingered by the doorway, watching to ensure the gnome actually rested.
The room was quiet except for Theron's steady breathing. Kael allowed himself a small smile, shaking his head at his friend's stubbornness. He muttered softly, "You're impossible, you know that?"
Turning off the lights, Kael closed the door halfway, leaving just enough light to check in later. He had a feeling he'd need to babysit this genius again soon.