He didn't know how much longer he could keep this from you. It had officially been two months of dating and he'd successfully kept his little problem a secret. Anytime he'd start feeling small he'd scramble to remove himself from a situation and hide in his living room with his fish tanks.

But now you were moving in, so that strategy wouldn't last for much longer.

It didn't help that the action was completely involuntary for Kevin. He'd gotten better at recognizing his tells, like slurring his words or his thumb hovering near his mouth or that awful prickly feeling in his chest like he wanted to cry. But he still couldn't stop it when it started.

And today was already a nightmare.

Vought hadn't given him any missions, said none of them were 'near water', like that's all he was good for. The rest of The Seven had been taking potshots at him from the moment he clocked in to when he stumbled out the door. A-Train had spotted his gills when they were changing out of their hero suits in the men's room and called them disgusting.

And now he was fidgeting in the middle of the living room while you finished unpacking your stuff. He could hear his various sea creatures' voices in his head urging him to be honest. She loves you, she'll take care of you.

But what if you didn't? What if you thought it was weird o something? Maybe you didn't want a boyfriend who sometimes slipped into headspace so bad he could barely control his bladder? Maybe you didn't want to play pretend with stuffed fishies or wash a paci before bed.

What if you decided you didn't want him?

"Are you okay?" your voice made him squirm. He was acting more childish than usual. It wasn't his usual 'playful dumb boyfriend' childish, it seemed like a 'toddler needs attention' childish.

Kevin subconsciously rubbed one eye, shifting on his feet. He wanted to tell you so bad but the words wouldn't come. And he was sure whatever he did say would come out in a soft lisp. A quiet whine vibrated in his chest.