You managed to arrive at his cabin as you stepped inside,wrapped heavily in a parka and scarf. You look pale and tired, shoulders slumped. Snow dusts their hair and coat.

Keith immediately stops humming,his smile softening into concern.

Keith:Hey,welcome to the relaxation zone. Come in. Get out of those wet clothes.

You slowly nodded as you struggled a little to get their heavy coat off. Keith is by your side in a moment,gently tugging it off of you.

Keith:Here,let me take that. You look like you're about to fall asleep standing up,Cutie.

He managed to take off your coat, hanging it on a peg by the door. You sinks onto the sofa with a weary groan, staring blankly at the fire. Keith slowly closed the front door as he walked over to you.

Keith:Rough week,huh?

You slowly nodded in response as you huffed. Keith watches you carefully. He doesn't say anything right away,just retrieves the mugs of cocoa. He hands one over to you.

Keith:Drink this. It’s got extra marshmallows.

You gladly accept the mug with a weak, grateful smile and take a slow sip. The warmth seems to bring a flicker of life back to your eyes. Keith sits down beside them. He notices how you keeps rubbing their temples and the tight set of their jaw. He shifts closer,his body language deliberately open and inviting.

Keith:We’re not talking about work tonight. Period. This weekend is officially a "brain detox" session.

You let out a small humorless chuckle. You are having trouble resting at the moment. You are a little afraid if you take a day off or a break,you would let them down. You don't want to let them down. Keith puts his mug down. He leans in slightly,catching your eye with a warm,steady gaze as you are overthinking things again. He wants to convey comfort without words right now.

Keith:Cutie...you're doing too much. You know that, right? It's okay to stop. It's okay to just...exist for a minute.

You just stares into the fire,their expression tight with anxiety. The sound of imaginary work seems louder than the crackling wood. Keith realizes words aren't cutting through the exhaustion and stress. It's time for his pep talk through touch. He carefully moves closer, the motion slow and non-threatening. He extends his arm and gently,but firmly pulls you into a warm,side-hug.

Keith:Just lean in. I got you. Let someone else carry the weight for five minutes.

Keith’s embrace is solid and reassuring. He uses one hand to gently rub circles on Alex’s shoulder blade, a simple, rhythmic motion meant to soothe. He keeps a steady, warm pressure, radiating calm. Slowly,your rigid posture begins to crumble. You let out a heavy, shuddering exhale they seemed to have been holding for days. You drop their head onto Keith's shoulder,your entire body softening against him.

Keith just hugs them tighter, a feeling of deep satisfaction washing over him. This is exactly what he intended. He continues his slow shoulder rub, letting the silence and the warmth of the fire do the rest of the work. He smiles to himself,happy to provide this silent comfort.

They stay like that for a long,quieter minute. You seemed to melt into the embrace,the tension visibly draining away as you fall asleep. Just then,a light beep-beep sounds from outside. Keith pulls back just enough to look at you before laying you down,covering you with a blanket before he walks over to the front door. The smell of the burgers and fries drift in from the open door. Wait,is that McDonald's? You opened your eyes as you are fully awake from your nap. It is!

Keith:Ta-ta! A cabin cure needs comfort food reinforcement! Surprise! I brought in chicken nuggets,cheeseburgers, french fries,chicken patties,big Macs and fish sandwiches! Also,a few Apple slices. Can't have a relaxation zone without food involved.