A soft beeping found its way into his ears, causing light-colored eyes to snap open. Keeler sighed in the darkness, wishing he didn't have to move just yet. His sense of duty however, overrode his want for more sleep. It was his own fault, he thought as he reached out to touch the dismiss button on the alarm. He could've said no to Encke last night- Well, maybe not, but he could've tried to protest more at least. But, what's done is done. He yawned and started to pull himself into a sitting position but a sharp tug on his hair caused him to halt in his tracks. Leaning on one arm, he reached back with his free hand to have his suspicions proven correct. Encke had a habit of sleeping with his head on his arm and his other hand fisted on his toned stomach; as it turned out, Keeler's hair was caught between his arm and the bed. The navigator sighed and tried to pull away again, but his partner's weight was too much. He groaned and let his elbow dig into Encke's ribs, forcing him to startle awake.

He sat up nearly instantly, his muscles tensing for an unknown battle as he looked at Keeler. "What? What's going on?" he pressed, clearing his throat of the usual morning rust.

"You were on my hair." Keeler stated, giving him a dry look as he got up to start his morning routine. He heard rustling a moment later as he shoved a toothbrush in his mouth, keeping it there as he reached for his brush. Warmth spread across his back as his fighter pressed against his back and took it from his loose grasp. Encke pressed a light kiss to his neck as he swept the length of hair to the side before running a heavy hand through it. Keeler tried to keep from smiling as he spit out his toothpaste and straightened up again. But watching Encke's look of concentration as he brushed his hair with a gentleness that one wouldn't normally associate with fighters made his cheeks heat up. They were silent even as the broader male plaited his hair into his usual style; Keeler didn't know where he learned to do it but he was good so he would accept the help whenever they had time. They had done this so many times that when Keeler had to do it himself, it felt strange.

His thoughts were interrupted by another kiss, this time on his temple. Keeler turned to the fighter after feeling the braid and smiled in his sweet way.

"Thank you Encke." He gave him a chaste kiss and then shooed him out of the bathroom so he could finish getting ready for another long day of plotting battles and estimating casualties.