Here's a snippet from the sheith gift fic requested by @insomnikat-mused, who wanted an extension of the story begun in Intertwined. I haven't decided if I'll just added to Intertwined or make a new fic, so it doesn't have a name yet, but Insomnikat came up with the name "Kingforger" as an epithet for Shiro in the AU, so it's officially the name of the AU, if not the fic.
"Alright, girl. Are you gonna let me ride you?"
Keith stood. She held still, blowing air through her nose and nudging him. He slid around to her side.
She danced away. They repeated the movements until Keith could swipe a hand down her shoulder all the way to her hindquarter. He let her move back over and begin chomping at the oats.
He let out another breath as he tangled his hand in her fiery red mane. And then, with every ounce of his trained agility, he hopped lightly onto her back.
She neighed and danced backward away from the wagon. To his surprise, she didn't kick, but she did twist and turn her body in an attempt to dislodge him.
When that didn't work, she broke into a dead run.
And for the first time since the horrific day before yesterday when his whole world tumbled down around him, Keith laughed. The mare hopped and zig-zagged as she galloped, and the whole time, as he held on for dear life, he talked to her in the same calm tone.
Miraculously, after a few loops around the meadow, she calmed. He tentatively sat up from where he'd plastered himself to her back.
Shiro laughed and called out, "You're a regular horse charmer!"
"Maybe. We'll see if it lasts. Especially with a second rider."
Shiro's eyes widened. "Me?"
"Who else is going to save Black? You know that stubborn horse won't come to me."
Shiro's answering grin was the most beautiful thing Keith had ever seen.
