Keith wasn't very good with people, in some ways. He was quiet and could be somewhat remote, but that didn't mean he wasn't an incredibly compassionate person. He was, and so when Tanner blushed and stammered, Keith didn't laugh. He didn't do anything that would cause the slightest attention to be called to it. Oh, he was curious why the young man was embrassed, but, at the same time, his curiousity had to take a backseat to how uncomfortable it would likely make Tanner to speak more about it. So he just smiled and nodded, accepting the younger man's explanation without comment. To laugh would be incredibly cruel, so he didn't, even though Tanner was absolutely delightful and adorable.
He did, however, smile appreciately at Tanner's self-deprecating little joke, and gestured for him to continue. He was sure that Tanner's story wouldn't be boring, and he was absolutely correct on that matter. Some things made even Keith, who was incredibly peaceful, angry, and he had to breathe deeply to keep from letting that show. He didn't want Tanner to think he was angry with him, after all. So he just listened sympathetically, nodding every so often to encourage the young man to go on, and kept his thoughts to himself for now. He wanted, after all, to hear the whole story, and he had a bit of time to compose himself, to pull himself back together, when Tanner left to go to the washroom.
When the young man came back, Keith didn't even think about the propriety of his actions. He just reached over and took Tanner's hand in his, squeezing it gently. He didn't even try to say that he knew how it was, because he obviously didn't, but at least he could be here now. He continued to hold his hand through the rest of the recitation, though, typically for him, he continued to stay silent, as well. Finally, when Tanner was done, Keith spoke very gently. "You are an incredible young man, and I see why Dean Alden brought you here. I already thought I was lucky to have you as a roommate - now I know for sure."
But the conversation was turned back to him, and Keith bit his bottom lip. He absolutely hated talking about himself, but then, it was really only fair, wasn't it? After all, Tanner had just poured out a great deal of information, and Keith felt like the least he could do was to return that as best he could. "In some ways, you and I are similiar. Not all, definitely, but I was always far too busy studying to date much." He paused, wondering exactly how to go into this next part without freaking the younger man out, especially considering Keith was still holding his hand on the table. He frowned, and then shrugged. It wasn't like it was something he was ashamed of, after all. "There were girls interested, but... I wasn't interested in them. In girls at all, really." There, that was pretty clear, wasn't it?