Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: For Soft Keith Week 2019! Day 1: Loyalty/Abandonment @softkeithweek
Read on AO3
It takes everything in Shiro to not start pacing the length of his room, resisting the urge to channel his restless energy into something productive. For all his energy, though, time feels like it’s been going at a snail’s pace. The third time he checks the clock it tells him that only a few minutes have elapsed since the last time he checked.
He can’t help himself though. He hadn’t quite been able to rein himself in since he found himself missing Keith and realized just what it meant to ache with the absence of his smile and his presence by his side. What it means to look around and be reminded of him constantly. What it means to miss the way it feels to hold him in his arms, to miss all the little things about him.
He flops down onto the bed with a sigh. Keith has been off-world for a few weeks and it feels like Shiro has been counting down one monotonous day after another—a blur of meetings and paperwork and peacekeeping—waiting for him to return. He already feels himself smiling at the thought of spending time with Keith again, of kicking up sand with their hoverbikes and sitting under the stars together. He wants to take Keith to the new restaurant that opened up in town recently—the one that serves the really good almost-lasagna. He wants to teach Keith how to play monsters and mana so that maybe they can plan their characters together for the game the others are planning. It feels like Keith’s been gone so long that Shiro could make a list of all the things he’s been waiting to do with him.
Shiro’s already burned through his work for the day, leaving him with nothing to do to distract himself. His thoughts are a mess of excitement and nerves. He’s giddy at the thought of Keith returning today, but he can’t help but wonder if it’s really a good idea to tell Keith how he feels. He can’t quite convince himself it’ll go as well as Matt and Pidge seem to think it will go.
He shakes his head. He can do this.
Maybe he should’ve gotten something, like some flowers, but a ping on his datapad interrupts his train of thought. He sees Keith’s name attached to the message and nothing else matters. He’s upright in what feels like an instant, feet already carrying him towards the hangars. He’s not running, he’s not.
He reaches the hangar and his excitement and nerves both jump up.
“Keith!”
Shiro knows that in some way, he must’ve acknowledged that Keith was easy on the eyes, but it’s different seeing him now—now that he’s figured out who Keith is to him, how much he means to him. It’s different now, knowing that he’s in love with him, been in love with him, for longer than he realized.
Keith turns around and he’s everything, the world narrowing until all that’s left is Keith and his gorgeous smile that warms Shiro to his bones. Until all that’s left is the sound of Shiro’s name in Keith’s voice and the rapidly closing distance between them.
And then Keith is in his arms, warm and familiar, and Shiro missed this. Missed him.
“It’s good to have you back,” Shiro murmurs. And it’s true. Video calls and messages have nothing on the way it feels see Keith in person, to reach out and be able to touch. Video calls and messages could never ease how much Shiro missed him.
Keith breathes out a laugh against Shiro’s shoulder and squeezes tight before pulling back.
“It’s good to be back.”
There’s so much Shiro wants to say, so much he wants to do. He had a whole spiel prepared for when Keith returned.
Instead he looks at Keith, helplessly enamoured with his everything, and he says, “I’m so in love with you.”
“What?”
Shiro holds his breath, unsure of what to make of the confusion that’s made its home on Keith’s face. Still, the truth is out and there’s nothing left, but to see it through to the end.
“I’m in love with you.”
Keith looks at him and Shiro tries not to squirm under his gaze.
Keith’s voice is quiet when he asks “do you mean it?”
Shiro nods and offers a smile. With every time that he says it, the more right it feels, like he knows more and more how true it is. “Every word.”
Finally Keith smiles again, something small and soft and hopeful. Something just for him. He tucks himself back in Shiro’s arms.
“I love you,” Keith says, muffled against Shiro’s shoulder. Shiro basks in his excitement, his elation. He can’t help but laugh. It seems almost silly now, how nervous he was. All those worries are so far away now.
“What’s so funny?” Keith asks.
“Nothing.” Shiro shakes his head. “I was just— I was so worried that you’d turn me down.”
Keith pulls back again just to shoot Shiro the most adorable look of confusion. “Why would I ever turn you down?”
“Lot’s of reasons?” Shiro can think of more than a few. Keith shakes his head.
“I can’t think of a single one,” Keith says, insistent and uncompromising. His tone goes soft, a flush rising to his cheeks as he drops his gaze, embarrassed. “You’re it for me, Shiro. There’s nobody else I’d rather be with.”
Shiro is almost overwhelmed by the fondness that crashes through him. Happiness washes over him like a wave and he clutches Keith close.
He knows that this is just a small part of what he loves about Keith. His stubborn encouragement, his steadfast loyalty, his honest affection. He loves the rush of pride he feels when he sees Keith achieving all great things he knew he was capable of. He loves that, like he has never given up on Keith, Keith has proven over and over that the sentiment is very mutual.
Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: For Soft Keith Week 2019! Day 3: Hand-Holding/First Relationship
@softkeithweek
Read on AO3
Things have been going well, Shiro thinks. Work is busy, but it’s fulfilling. And at the end of the day, when everyone has more or less wrapped up their duties, he gets to see Keith. In truth, that isn’t very new. Not much has changed; theirs is a relationship built on years of already existing mutual love, support, and trust. But it still feels like it’s new, all of their interactions tinted rose-coloured. Every little thing feels cast in a slightly different light, like the light of Keith’s smile and the warmth in his eyes whenever Shiro draws near. It’s different from pining from afar for a friend. He’s allowed to hold and touch and love Keith and there’s a lot he yearns to do.
Still, there’s no rush. Every day that he can spend with Keith is a good one, he doesn’t mind taking it slow. They can push past the boundaries of their friendship into this new territory slowly, together. He wants Keith to be happy.
It’s on one of Shiro’s rare days off that his feet carry him to Keith’s door. It’s still early in the day, but he’s spent half the morning preparing the perfect picnic basket. He’s feeling confident, partially at his success, and partially because Hunk had left meticulous Shiro-proof instructions for literally everything. Shiro may still be a novice in the kitchen, but he’s mastered the art of following necessary directions.
He raps on Keith’s door and he’d be sorry about the sight that greets him if he weren’t so endeared. When the door slides open Keith is behind it, sleep rumpled and soft. Shiro offers him an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
Keith yawns, mouth wide, and there’s no reason that should be attractive, yet it is.
“It’s fine.” He says. “What’s that?” It’s only then that Shiro remembers his lovingly packed picnic basket, so distracted by the sight before him. Almost sheepishly, he holds it up.
“I thought maybe we could go on a picnic.”
“A date?”
“Only if you want to. I understand if you’d rather go back to sl—”
“I want to!” Keith cuts him off. “Go on a date, I mean,” he amends, face warm, smile approaching something Shiro could describe as bashful. He loves him so much.
“I’ll wait here while you get changed,” Shiro offers. They both look down at Keith’s attire, one big baggy shirt, and Shiro has to snap his gaze back up when his eyes move lower and are met with bare thigh.
“Good idea.”
Keith disappears behind the door again and Shiro waits, not imagining Keith in his shirts. Definitely not thinking of Keith in his shirts and nothing else.
The door slides open again and, while sleep-rumpled Keith is adorable, Keith getting ready for a date is just as good. It’s clear that Keith had tried to put in some effort, to dress nicely and tame his bedhead. Not that it was necessary. Shiro knows that, at this point, any way that Keith presents himself will always be some shade of attractive to him. Still, it’s cute to see how much Keith cares about impressing him.
Not that he’s one to talk. He’d spent more time in front of the mirror picking his outfit this morning than he has all year before finally settling for the nicest pair of jeans he owns and the shirt that Matt says make his chest look good.
“You look good,” Shiro tells Keith, and tries not to trip over himself when Keith tucks a stray lock of hair behind his ear and ducks his head to hide his blush.
“So where to, Admiral?” Keith asks. Shiro groans.
“None of that. We’re off duty!”
“Yes, Sir.”
Wholesome. Thoughts.
“Keith.”
Keith laughs and it’s infectious; Shiro can’t help but grin.
They make their way down the hall, and head outside, the picnic basket between them.
They walk and talk about everything and nothing, but once in a while Shiro will notice Keith glancing down at the basket, then up and away.
“I’m 90 percent sure everything in here is edible” Shiro promises, holding the basket up.
Keith looks at him, surprised, and then raises an eyebrow. “Should I be worried about the remaining ten percent or that they’re just edible at best?” He teases.
“Both,” Shiro responds seriously before breaking into a smile. “But really, nothing is burnt so I promise you don’t need to keep worrying.”
Keith laughs as he admits, “I wasn’t even thinking about that until now.”
“Really?” Shiro asks, surprised. “You kept looking at the basket. I thought you were concerned.”
For some reason, Keith flushes. “Oh. No, I was just…” he trails off and looks away, as if he’ll find the words he’s looking for on the ground beneath their feet. His brows furrow in that way they always seem to when Keith wants something, but can’t bring himself to ask. It doesn’t make sense until finally, it clicks.
He pauses and shifts the basket to his other side and holds his-now free hand out to Keith.
“Do you want to hold hands?” he asks. Apparently he hit the nail right on the head because Keith lights up like the sun. He takes Keith’s hand into his own and squeezes. It’s small compared to his own hand and Shiro is sure that any other time he might fixate upon that, but there’s something more pressing at hand. “It’s okay to ask for things like this,” Shiro says softly.
Keith’s responding smile is a gentle, precious thing, a little embarrassed, but happy. “Okay.”
Shiro would do anything to protect that smile. He brings Keith’s hand up and presses a chaste kiss to his knuckles just to remind him how much he is loved. Keith’s cheeks flush a little darker and Shiro is wholly and completely enamoured.
He intertwines their fingers when they resume their walk, swinging their joined hands between them. It’s a beautiful day, but the feeling of Keith’s hand in his warms him more than the sun shining above them ever could.
Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: For Soft Keith Week 2019! Day 4: First Date/First Kiss
@softkeithweek
Read on AO3
Exploring all the new aspects of his and Shiro’s relationship is a slow process. Some days Keith still can’t bring himself to ask for all the things he wants, even though rationally he knows there’s no reason to hesitate.
But god does he want.
He’s not unhappy with where they’re at. He loves the feeling of their fingers intertwined and he privately enjoys Shiro’s warmth against him when he cuddles Keith at the end of the day. Shiro is generous with his touches, never pushing, but generous all the same. It makes Keith feel a little bolder, a little more courageous. Every brush of lips across his knuckles, every press of lips to his forehead, makes Keith thinking about drawing Shiro in and showing him where he really wants to be kissed.
It’s not as if he’s lacking opportunities either. Every night that they meet is a good one, where they both feel happy and relaxed and it would be so easy. Everything with Shiro feels easy. He could just lean into Shiro’s arms and tilt his head up, slotting their lips together just like that.
He’s been working himself up to it. When Shiro leans into to press chastes kisses to his crown he doesn’t shy away like he used to. When he nuzzles into Shiro’s embrace he allows his lips to drag across the skin where his neck meets his shoulder, not quite a kiss, but the ghost of one, just to see what Shiro does. As it turns out, SHiro is a patient man, but that isn’t a surprise. He has always been patient with Keith.
Unsurprisingly, that makes Keith want to kiss him more.
It’s at a banquet that Keith finds himself contemplating these thoughts again. It’s as much a party as it is a diplomatic endeavor, another new planet to recruit into the coalition. The others are around, somewhere, and so is Shiro, because at this point, joining the coalition is nearly synonymous with throwing your lot in with Earth. Shiro’s been wrapped up in duty, and Keith had been too, until he’d gotten sick of dancing with strangers and escaped out onto an empty balcony. The night air is nice cool and he takes a moment to just breathe, away from the suffocating crowds. He vastly prefers the glow of the stars to the light that spills out from inside.
He wants Shiro to see these stars too. He wants to kiss Shiro under these stars.
There are footsteps behind Keith and he tenses before forcing himself to relax. It’s just another guest, one native to this planet, though Keith can’t remember his name.
“We are having gorgeous weather tonight,” the alien says by way of greeting. “The moons are shining so beautifully.”
Keith hums and looks back to the sky. He’s right. He thinks Shiro would appreciate the view too, if he were here.
“There are many pictures in the stars.” The alien moves closer, lifting one of his four arms to point at the sky. He seems to trace something out, as if connecting the dots, explaining the shapes and what they represent. “Have you any on your planet Earth?”
“We call them constellations,” Keith says. He gives the barest of explanations as he looks skyward, trying to pick out and remember the ones the alien had pointed out so that he can find them again later, with Shiro. Eventually they fall silent. It’s not uncomfortable, but it’s not the same as the ones Keith shares with Shiro. It lacks the ease they have in each others presence.
“So what is one as important and lovely as yourself, doing out here all alone?” The alien finally asks. Keith can’t help but feel flustered, caught shirking his duties, regardless of how frivolous they seem.
“There’s no reason,” Keith says. It’s better than admitting that he wanted time away to breathe a little and think about his boyfriend in peace.
“Truly?” The alien quirks a brow and shifts closer. “Were you not waiting for someone to keep you company on this lonely night?”
Shiro doesn’t come to mind, if only because he was already in Keith’s thoughts to begin with, and he flushes. Maybe he’d been hoping to steal Shiro away, just for a little. He wonders if he’s so easy to read.
“Thank you for telling me about your pictures in the sky,” Keith says, sincerely, attempting to deflect. The alien seems to blush, but given that Keith isn’t even sure if they can blush, he chalks it up to his imagination.
The alien touches his arm. “I could—”
There’s the sudden sound of footsteps behind them and Keith turns instinctively towards the sound. He feels himself light up.
“Shiro!”
The alien’s arm drops as Keith moves away, into the arms that Shiro holds open in greeting.
“Hey, Sweetheart, I was looking for you,” Shiro says warmly, hooking his arms around Keith’s waist. “I see you’ve made a . . . friend.”
“This is . . . um.” Keith sheepishly looks to the alien who visibly deflates and introduces himself again. Keith turns back to Shiro. “Weren’t you busy?”
“I could ask the same of you,” Shiro teases. “Just wanted to recharge a little. I missed you.” he squeezes Keith gently.
Keith can’t help, but huff a laugh.
“I wasn’t far. Also you saw me earlier,” he points out.
Shiro nuzzles his hair.
“Missed you,” he insists.
“I will just be going now,” The alien says.
“You do that,” Shiro replies, curt. It’s almost awkward as the alien shuffles off.
“What was that about,” Keith asks, quirking a brow.
“Nothing.” Shiro pouts.
“Shiro.” Keith presses. He reaches up to smooth out the furrow between Shiro’s brows. Shiro sighs.
“I didn’t appreciate him flirting with my boyfriend, so I let him know it.”
“Flirting?” This time it’s Keith who knits his brows.
“Baby, don’t tell me you didn’t notice,” Shiro says, almost laughs, the tension flowing out of him all at once. Keith flushes, burying his face in Shiro’s chest with a groan.
Shiro does laugh this time, a small, relieved sound. “I was jealous,” Shiro admits.
“Why?” Keith peers back up at him, confused as ever. “What reason would you have to be jealous?”
“I can’t tell if you’re being serious right now,” Shiro says, smiling. “I’m very aware that my boyfriend is as beautiful as he is kind, of course I would be jealous if i saw some alien trying to take him away from me,”
Keith feels the warmth behind his cheeks like a furnace, but he shakes his head. “You still wouldn’t have to be jealous,” Keith says. “Why would you? Nobody could compare to you.”
“This is why,” Shiro says, tone warmed by Keith’s sincerity. “Because I know how amazing you are. I wouldn’t want to lose you to someone else.”
Keith is in love with a wonderful, incredible, ridiculous man. As if he would ever love anybody else.
He hooks his arms around Shiro’s neck and pulls him in, their lips slotting with less grace than Keith had hoped for, but it’s perfect all the same.
“You aren’t going to lose me,” Keith says, bumping their foreheads. “Not to anyone.”
Shiro leans back in to kiss him again and it’s everything Keith had imagined, and more.
Notes: Pinch hit gift for @silverfanart for the @sheithsecretsanta !
Read on AO3
Summary:
“I think Shiro and Keith might be dating,” Hunk stage whispers to Pidge once he’s returned with food for the both of them.
She doesn’t look up when she replies, “yup.”
It's hard to keep secrets from a team when you see them every day and occupy the same spaces.
Shiro and Keith aren't really hiding anyway.
Or, all the times the team realized that Shiro and Keith might just be a little closer than they'd initially believed.
It isn’t as if Pidge is surprised, all things considered. In fact, this is a revelation that she kind of saw coming.
It’s after a long battle that the paladins disperse, off to find their own ways to calm down. She’s wandering the halls, hands fiddling with some of the smaller pieces of her latest project, just a little too restless to sit still comfortably. The fact that her feet carry her in the direction of the healing pods is something different altogether.
Peering inside, she’s not at all shocked that Shiro is still standing in front of the sole occupied pod. He’s probably the only one who hadn’t moved from the room since they’d returned, opting to keep a watchful eye over Keith. They’re worried, but Allura had said, for her own benefit as much as theirs, Keith would be okay.
As the others announced where they would be, mostly so that it would be easy to find them once Keith awoke, Shiro had claimed that he would stay.
“Someone’s going to have to keep him company,” he’d said, smile small and tinged with concealed worry. Nobody had questioned it as it’s typical behaviour for Shiro and Keith.
Pidge turns on her feet and heads for the kitchen where she remembers Hunk said he would be. If he’s stress baking, then maybe she can take something to the healing pods for Shiro to snack on. And for Keith, when he wakes.
It’s with cookies in hand—new and improved compared to the scaltrite cookies Hunk had attempted before—that she heads back down. She’s about to announce her presence as the door slides open, but stops herself. Shiro has Keith pulled into a tight hug, whispering something too low for Pidge to hear. She thinks she can guess the gist of it, however, as they pull apart and Shiro takes one of Keith’s pale hands into his own. Shiro droops forward to rest his forehead against Keith’s and she watches the way Keith smiles, tired and fond and relieved.
It really tells her everything she needs to know, and no, she isn’t surprised. They’ve always been close, it’s not hard to imagine that they had a relationship of this nature.
Not really wanting to intrude, she leaves the cookies on the ground where she hopes they’ll notice them and retreats in the direction of her hangar. She’ll wait for them to come get her later, when they’re done having their moment.
Hunk’s stomach grumbles in protest as he makes to pick up his tools. He’s been working with Pidge on their latest contraption, Rover 2.0, for the past few hours, so he figures he’ll give in and get himself some much needed nourishment. Pidge hums her acknowledgement as he announces he’s going to take a break and he wanders out of the hangar.
He’s still contemplating what to grab, for both himself and for Pidge, who he’s sure will get so wrapped up in their work that she’ll forget to grab something, by the time he arrives at the kitchen. There are voice within, floating faintly out into the corridor. He recognizes it to be Shiro and Keith, and goes to greet them as he enters the room. Shiro and Keith turn to him as he enters, a cheery hello just having rolled off his tongue.
It’s a peculiar sight that Hunk has just walked into, hand still raised in a wave. Shiro is gently holding onto the handle of the spoon poking out from between Keith’s lips. In Keith’s right hand, he grasps his own perfectly good spoon. It’s almost cute, in it’s own right, and Hunk feels a little bad for having interrupted.
Keith recovers first, taking the spoon from Shiro and swallowing.
“Hi,” he says as Shiro echoes him. Both of their cheeks are just barely flushed from what might be embarrassment. It’s not a look Hunk had expected to see on either of their faces in this lifetime, but here they are.
“I was thinking of cooking up a little snack,” Hunk says, in an attempt to get back on track. “You guys want anything?”
“We just ate, actually,” Shiro says, shaking his head. “Thanks, Hunk.”
He doesn’t miss the proximity between them as they surrender the kitchen to him, nor does he miss the way their pinkies link as Keith follows Shiro out of the room.
“I think Shiro and Keith might be dating,” Hunk stage whispers to Pidge once he’s returned with food for the both of them.
She doesn’t look up when she replies, “yup.”
She doesn’t really know the paladins very well yet, Allura thinks. She knows some things by now, like how Hunk, in addition to his apparent skill in the kitchen, is quite possibly a certifiable genius. She knows that Pidge has more or less laid claim to the unofficial title of the castleships resident tech expert. Lance apparently can be reliable—sometimes.
However, there are still a lot of gaps in her knowledge that leave much to be desired where her new comrades are concerned. Shiro and Keith are as mysterious as they come and, while she’s not sure what she’s hoping to learn, she hopes that she’ll at least learn something about them.
She hadn’t been sure how to go about finding them, the ship is quite big, being part castle and all, but the assistance of their lions as well as the mice had certainly helped.
They were correct about Shiro and Keith being on the observation deck, though she loathes to intrude as soon as she catches sight of them. Maybe it’s the mood surrounding them or the way Shiro looks down at Keith and is surprised to find Keith already looking back at him, but she’s stumbled upon a moment that just screams intimacy.
There’s something poetic about the way Shiro seems to smile down at Keith, like how it’s brighter than the stars they must have come to watch. The smile grows and she can only guess that Keith must be smiling at Shiro with much of the same fondness painted in Shiro’s expression.
She can only catch bits and pieces of their conversation, not quite whispers, but neither are they loud proclamations.
“I thought we came up to look at the stars?”
“But I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
She doesn’t linger any longer, leaving them to their privacy. After all, she’s accomplished her mission. She walks back down the hall feeling like she understands them both a little better.
It’s after a grueling day of training that the paladins drop heavily onto the sofas in the lounge. Lance is feeling pretty sore after all that moving around and he honestly can’t wait until the princess dismisses them for whatever passes as night time out in space.
He’s going through the list of things he’ll treat himself to once he’s in the comfort of his own room; a long shower, a face mask, some music, and rest.
In front of him, Shiro droops onto Keith’s shoulder. Now, okay, Shiro and Keith have always been close, but have they always been that close? Literally, what?
Keith doesn’t seem to notice Lance’s evident confusion as his own head droops onto Shiro’s sleepily. Lance can only grimace at how much Shiro’s side is going to hurt, bending that way.
“What the cheese?” Lance asks, flailing an arm towards the sleeping pair. Pidge raises a tired brow at him and, yes, maybe he’s being a little dramatic, but this is news. Why is nobody talking about it? Are they not seeing this? He flails his arm in their direction a bit more, as if it’ll open their eyes.
‘I don’t mean to alarm you,” Hunk says, “But people like to snuggle when they’re dating. Or even when they’re not. But I’m pretty sure they’re dating.”
Et tu, Hunk?
Lance proceeds to do his best fish impression, up until the doors slide open and the princess joins them. She takes in the scene and seems to stifle a laugh when she spots the sleeping paladins. It’s Pidge who shakes them both awake as soon as the princess dismisses them. The pair stumbles sleepily out of the room and the others make for the door. Lance can’t shake the vague sense of betrayal.
Characters: Keith, Shiro, Mentions of others
Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: My gift for @sourwoif for the @sheithlentines exchange!!
Read on AO3
Summary:
Only one other groomsman arrives around the same time as he does and Keith is ready to blame the irregularity of the hour for him noticing at all. In reality, it’s more than likely to do with the fact that the man is gorgeous. Dressed dashingly in a well tailored suit, tie perfectly straight and posture prim, he’s picture perfect. Keith recognizes him, vaguely, from the bachelor party and the rehearsal, but now that he has time to actually look he can’t help but notice the way he smiles at some of the others who happen to be around, the way it crinkles the corners of his eyes. His teeth are pearly white and his smile is infectious and it’s only when Keith realizes his own lip is threatening to quirk upwards that he tears his gaze away.
There aren’t many people in Keith’s life that he can’t say no to—the fact that he doesn’t have many people in his life to begin with notwithstanding. He knows how to turn people down when necessary and how not to feel guilty about it later. Allura just happens to fall within the short list of people he’ll probably never be able to say no to, and he resigns himself to giving in to whatever she and her partner have come to him for. This is how he finds himself dressed to the nines as a groomsman at their wedding.
It’s been hectic in the days leading up to the ceremony. From helping arrange the bachelor party to attending the wedding rehearsal, Keith feels like he hasn’t had a chance to relax at all since he’d agreed to help out. He arrives early, as is expected of him, and checks in with the best man. He’ll admit that he’s even earlier than he necessarily needs to be, but he doesn’t mind. He’d rather be here early than chance being late due to some unforeseen circumstance and let Allura down.
Only one other groomsman arrives around the same time as he does and Keith is ready to blame the irregularity of the hour for him noticing at all. In reality, it’s more than likely to do with the fact that the man is gorgeous. Dressed dashingly in a well tailored suit, tie perfectly straight and posture prim, he’s picture perfect. Keith recognizes him, vaguely, from the bachelor party and the rehearsal, but now that he has time to actually look he can’t help but notice the way he smiles at some of the others who happen to be around, the way it crinkles the corners of his eyes. His teeth are pearly white and his smile is infectious and it’s only when Keith realizes his own lip is threatening to quirk upwards that he tears his gaze away.
He doesn’t get the chance to look again because the following few hours are a blur of final preparations and seating guests as they start to arrive.
It’s not all bad, he supposes. The food promises to live up to the happy occasion—which is to be expected, considering they hired Hunk to cater the entire event and Hunk is about as meticulous about his cooking as Allura had been planning the whole occasion. Everything is just about perfect, from the tasteful decorations right down to the beautiful weather. If Keith didn’t know any better he’d have thought the sun had been anticipating the celebration.
A slightly familiar broad back, stands nearby at the head of the aisle and he only manages to look away when the bridesmaids start to walk the aisle, followed by the flower girl scattering petals. Then Allura is there, arm linked with her uncle Coran as he leads her down the aisle. She’s stunning, and her partner is dressed just as smartly where they wait at the altar.
Somehow, he manages not to get distracted by the handsome man with the salt and pepper hair for the entirety of the ceremony, distracting as the man is. He’s appropriately moved when vows and rings are exchanged, and tears up when the happy couple seals the deal with a kiss. He’ll deny that last part if anyone asks him, though. All in all, it’s a touching experience and yes, he’s glad he got to be a part of it.
The reception is set to take place at the same venue, so dinner starts almost as soon as the ceremony ends, the air filled with cheers and chatter as people go to congratulate the newlyweds and talk animatedly amongst themselves.
Keith was right. The food tastes as good as it looks.
He’s not expecting to have any company as he eats, but that’s when the Handsome Man approaches him with a charming smile that looks almost . . . sheepish. Keith glances over his shoulder before he can stop himself, just to check.
“Hi! Keith, right?”
And Keith almost feels a bit bad for not remembering Handsome Man’s name.
“Yeah, uh . . .”
“Takashi Shirogane, but you can just call me Shiro. Everyone does,” Handsome Man—Shiro—says, taking Keith’s lapse in memory in stride. “The food’s pretty good, huh?”
“Yeah.” And Keith isn’t good at this, at small talk, but he tries his best. “Hunk really outdid himself, he’s amazing.”
“I should keep that in mind for if I ever get married,” Shiro mumbles around a bite of food.
“If?” Keith says.
Shiro shrugs and smiles before taking a sip of his drink. “I’m single,” he admits and Keith is . . . surprised, to say the least.
“Me too.” It’s not a shameful thing, no matter how many times his friends give him looks. “Have been for a while.”
Shiro seems to look him over then, before glancing away and then back, cheeks flushing lightly. “How attached are you to that streak?”
Keith’s brain stalls. Hunk had once told Keith that watching him try to flirt was a painful experience. Keith had contested that statement at the time, but he thinks he may have to privately concede as he fumbles for a response.
“Not very,” he says at last. Because if this is going where he thinks he’s going . . .
Shiro seems to brighten and Keith wonders if it’s the love goggles that make him feel like it suddenly got that little bit sunnier.
“I know this place—” Shiro begins. He’s cut off before he can finish as people begin clearing the makeshift dance floor for the first dance. They don’t speak for it, neither wanting to talk over the music, but Keith enjoys having Shiro standing next to him in quiet company as they both tear up, watching Allura spin around the dance floor, skirt billowing, as she dances with her partner.
The reception continues on as the cake is cut and served. It’s a grand thing that’s just as impressively decorated, and tastes just as good as it looks. Shiro gets some icing on his cheek, Keith notices, and Shiro dons the most charming sheepish expression when Keith points it out.
He hadn’t expected to enjoy himself this much, but Shiro is a good conversationalist and doesn’t mind that Keith is on the quieter side. It’s more comfortable than Keith would have ever anticipated.
“There was something you were saying earlier,” Keith says later. Because he hasn’t been able to shake it from his mind.
“Oh!” Shiro flushes and Keith tries not to get too transfixed. “I just thought—well—I know this place where we could get some good coffee and a bite to eat, if you wanted.”
Even if Keith had an inkling of what Shiro had been getting at, it doesn’t stop him from being surprised and he’s almost certain his own cheeks are warm too, now.
Shiro’s smile, just a bit shy, seems to falter a bit the longer Keith stares and it’s then that he manages to blurt out a response.
“I’d love to.”
People are starting to crowd not far off as Allura and her partner address them, but Keith is distracted by the thousand watt grin Shiro aims his way. In short order, Keith has plugged his number into Shiro’s phone and he pulls out his own to stare at the smiley face Shiro had texted him. He raises a brow and opens his mouth to comment, but doesn’t get the chance because something comes flying in his direction in his peripheral.
His reflexes are thankfully good enough to avoid getting whacked in the face and he stares at the bouquet now clutched in his hand, the paper around the stems crinkling beneath his fingers. It takes him a minute before he fully realizes the significance of the bouquet in his hands, but there’s a lot of excited shouting nearby that helps.
He thinks it should be awkward, maybe, but Shiro snorts beside him and Keith can’t help but laugh a little himself.
“Nice catch,” Shiro says, and when Keith looks back over at him, he can’t help but agree.
Something like a wedding is too soon to even consider within the realm of possibility, but at least he can look forward to a new start of his own. Only one other groomsman arrives around the same time as he does and Keith is ready to blame the irregularity of the hour for him noticing at all. In reality, it’s more than likely to do with the fact that the man is gorgeous. Dressed dashingly in a well tailored suit, tie perfectly straight and posture prim, he’s picture perfect. Keith recognizes him, vaguely, from the bachelor party and the rehearsal, but now that he has time to actually look he can’t help but notice the way he smiles at some of the others who happen to be around, the way it crinkles the corners of his eyes. His teeth are pearly white and his smile is infectious and it’s only when Keith realizes his own lip is threatening to quirk upwards that he tears his gaze away.
Characters: Keith and Shiro
Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: We’re allowed to post these now so here’s the piece i wrote for @aphelionzine !!
Read on AO3
Summary:
As Autumn makes way for Winter and the weather shifts for colder temperatures, Shiro and Keith find warmth in the form of hot chocolate, many colourful blankets and each other's arms.
After all, snow days are better spent together.
And who ever said Spring was the only season for new beginnings?
By the time Shiro makes his way back into the living room, Keith has appropriated all of the blankets they had dragged out to the couch, legs folded beneath him as he sits sideways and stares out the window. Outside, snow obscures the ground and every rooftop in sight as it falls from the sky. It hasn’t ceased since they’d woken up—not that it’s been long since then—but the snowflakes continue to dance with the wind with no sign of stopping anytime soon. The clouds hanging overhead paint the sky a muted grey, their edges lined with light as they hold the sun captive. Keith turns away from the window, blinking as his eyes readjust to the lighting.
“Did you feel like going outside?” Shiro asks, sitting down and setting the two mugs of hot chocolate onto the coffee table. Keith gives him a look that would be dry enough to wither gardens—if they weren’t already snowed over.
“No way,” he says, burrowing deeper into the blankets. “It’s cold out there. What would we even do?”
“We could shovel the driveway?” Keith face adopts an unimpressed look that Shiro can’t help but laugh at. “Or we could make snowmen and snow forts. I think you’d enjoy snowball fights— if you can beat me.”
“I know what you’re doing, Shiro, and it’s not going to work.”
“Darn. I thought I had you with that,” Shiro says, smiling widely as he shifts closer. “If you don’t want to battle, we could just lie down and make snow angels.”
“Wouldn’t that make us colder?”
“I guess, but it might be fun.”
“No thanks.” Keith shakes his head. “The snow-soaked pants won’t be worth it.”
“You might be right about that,” Shiro concedes. “Well, that’s okay. I’ve got my very own snow angel right here.”
Shiro watches the way confusion morphs into understanding before Keith brings a hand up to his face in a poor attempt to cover his blush.
“You didn’t just say that.”
“I’m afraid I did, Sugar Plum,” Shiro says with false solemnity, pulling his legs up and crossing them as he turns himself to face Keith better. He can see the way Keith tries to keep his face from breaking into a smile, biting back a laugh behind his fingers.
“God. Shiro.”
“I was only telling the truth, Sweet Pea. You’re my snow angel.”
“ Takashi. ” Shiro laughs as Keith uncovers his face to swat at him.
“There you are,” Shiro says, traces of mirth lingering on the corners of his lips, still upturned, as he brings a hand up to cup Keith’s face. He slides his thumb over reddened cheeks and drops a kiss onto Keith’s nose before pulling back. “I know what’ll warm you up.”
“Besides all of these blankets, you mean?” Keith quirks a brow. “What?”
“Hot chocolate, though you’re sweet enough without it. By now it might not be scalding.” Keith rolls his eyes at him, cheeks still flushed pink in a way that Shiro never fails to find charming. Nevertheless, Keith unwraps the covers around himself just enough to hold onto his mug properly, a single blanket still draped over his shoulders as the rest fall around his hips.
“I feel like that should be my line,” Keith says between sips. “What with how you’re always sweet-talking me.”
“You love it.” Shiro says, smiling.
“I love you ,” Keith corrects, quiet but firm.
“I love you too,” Shiro responds without missing a beat. He says it with all the conviction of a man who has known exactly what he has wanted for much too long.
Now that he has it—has had it for a few years—he has no problem expressing his contentment. He has no problem telling Keith, whenever he may need or want to hear it, how happy he is to have fallen in love with him.
He has no problem saying it to Keith even when he doesn’t need the reminder, though.
Keith licks the milk-moustache off his upper lip and smiles at the words Shiro has left unsaid, implied in the weight of his four-word confession.
The hot chocolate settling in Shiro’s belly, as well as something else, something fond, makes Shiro feel warmer in spite of the cold room.
It’s an incredible sort of spot they’ve found themselves in. Knowing each other so well that they can anticipate the words the other wants to say and know just what the other means. They’ve had so much time together to practice. It would be nice, Shiro thinks, to have so much more of that time together.
His thoughts are interrupted when Keith asks, “are your parents still asleep?”
Checking the time tells Shiro that it’s still incredibly early. He isn’t sure what compelled the two of them to get up at such an hour—the winter chill certainly calls for lazy days best spent sleeping in or snuggling in bed—but Shiro’s willing to admit he’s enjoying the peace. It’s quiet, for one, and he knows Keith likes that too. It’s just the two of them. The world outside is still—apart from the snow drifting down from the sky and the occasional car of an unfortunate soul who has somewhere to be.
“They’ll probably be asleep for a little while.”
It’s so easy to imagine a life just like this. Together in their own home, getting cozy on their own couch, watching out the window on early mornings as the world continues to snooze on.
“I like when we visit them,” Keith confesses. Shiro smiles at that, recalling the first time he’d invited Keith to visit with him, earlier in their relationship. He remembers the initial trepidation and the nervousness Keith had displayed in that way that’s subtle to everyone except for Shiro. He remembers reassuring Keith that he had nothing to worry about.
“What if they don’t like me?” Keith had asked in a rare display of vulnerability that Shiro had known was not unfounded, the memory of Keith telling him of bad foster families and similarly disappointing experiences lingering in the back of his mind. It had been shared in a display of utmost trust and Shiro knows it hadn’t changed a single thing about how he felt—that such experiences didn’t define Keith.
“They’ll love you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
There had been a lot of things that Shiro had wanted to say in response, but eventually he’d settled on one honest truth.
“Sweetheart, you’re not as difficult to love as you think you are.”
Shiro knows that the notion still rings true. After all, between then and now, that love has only grown stronger for him.
“I’m glad,” Shiro says. “They love having you over here. I think they might have even considered calling the guest room your room instead if you didn’t share my room every night.”
Keith hums, a content little sound, and they fall into a comfortable silence. The clock on the wall ticks methodically and Shiro finds himself entranced by the way Keith’s eyes catch the light as he looks back out the window. Shiro believes there are far worse things he could be lost in. Keith’s gaze shifts back to him and Shiro smiles, caught staring.
“You’re making me cold just looking at you,” Keith comments, rather than addressing Shiro’s blatant staring. It is neither uncomfortable, nor is it an uncommon occurrence.
“Then maybe you should share some of those blankets with me,” Shiro retorts, taking Keith’s mug when he hands it to him. Keith huffs in response as Shiro places it next to his own empty mug on the coffee table. His feet unfold from beneath him to land back on the hardwood in the process and he’s grateful for the fact that he can’t feel the cold of the floor through his socks.
Before Shiro can turn back, he finds himself with a lap full of blankets and grumpy boyfriend. Keith is pointedly not looking at his face, cheeks tinged pink once again, as he drapes the blankets over Shiro’s shoulders too, tucking them between Shiro’s body and the couch. Not bothered by this change in position whatsoever, Shiro automatically settles his hands on Keith’s hips, hiking the hem of Keith’s shirt up just a bit. His thumb rubs circles into Keith’s skin, but he doesn’t do much more beyond that, content to just hold Keith in his arms and revel in their shared warmth.
“Better?” Keith asks, just slightly snarky in a way Shiro knows doesn’t actually hold any bite. He nods, tugging Keith closer so that he may kiss him, capturing his warm mouth in a lip-lock that tastes like hot chocolate and the barest traces of mint toothpaste from when they’d brushed away their morning breath together. It’s another image that Shiro keeps in the back of his mind. It fits perfectly into the potential future he’s built within the confines of his mind; bed hair and brushing teeth and elbowing each other playfully by the sink in their bathroom, stealing kisses once they’ve both cleaned up and spending lazy mornings just like this together.
“Perfect,” Shiro confirms, pressing another kiss, quicker than the last, to Keith’s lips. He can’t help the way his hands automatically move from Keith’s hips to circle around him in a loose embrace. Keith drops his head onto Shiro’s shoulder and Shiro thinks there is something inexplicably cute about the way Keith nuzzles into his neck, breath warm and fanning out in even puffs over his skin.
It would be so easy to nap like this—to lean his head back and close his eyes and just hold Keith, so pliant and sleepy and warm, against him in their little blanket cocoon. They fall quiet again and Shiro thinks Keith might actually be asleep; he knows he’s well on his way to that point too. Unfortunately, his stomach doesn’t quite get the memo and growls unhappily at him.
“We should eat breakfast before we fall asleep here,” Shiro murmurs. The statement is punctuated by another grumble from his stomach and Keith groans against his neck.
“Don’t wanna,” he mumbles. It’s adorable and childish in a way Keith usually isn’t and, if he weren’t getting so hungry, he would probably let Keith have his way by virtue of being cute and snuggly. Shiro will admit, he’s reluctant to let go of Keith’s warmth and the feeling of holding him in his arms, but—
“Baby, I’m hungry. Aren’t you?”
“Even if I was, you can’t cook anyways.” Keith retorts, tone bordering on grumpy.
Shiro protests, feigning hurt in a way that makes Keith snort at him. He doesn’t deny it, however, because both of them know it’s true. He’d figured that they’d work something out. Besides, Keith is a decent cook and Shiro is learning so, between the two of them, they’d probably be able to figure out something as simple as breakfast.
Shiro has half a mind to just carry Keith, blankets and all, into the kitchen, but then he remembers the treat he’d bought with Keith in mind—specifically, Keith’s affinity for sugar—and figures that might make his job easier.
“It’s not breakfast, but what if I said we had a gingerbread house to assemble?”
There’s a pause before Keith groans again.
“You’re fighting dirty.”
“Is it working?”
“Unfortunately . ” A smile makes its way onto Shiro’s face, unbidden, as Keith slides off of his lap. His boyfriend has always had such a sweet tooth.
Keith isn’t the only one feeling eager, though, as they enter the kitchen. Shiro hasn’t assembled a gingerbread house in such a long time and he can feel that little bit of childish excitement bubbling up and wiping away the remnants of sleep hanging over him.
It goes like this:
Keith commandeers the icing and Shiro is responsible for decorating.
Keith puts a very liberal amount of icing onto the roof, very seriously insisting that it’s snow, for realism’s sake, and Shiro laughs, fond and amused.
Keith makes a gingerbread man that looks vaguely like Shiro and Shiro creates one that looks vaguely like Keith.
Keith swats at Shiro when he uses the pieces of chocolate to spell out ‘T + K’ on the roof of the house.
Gingerbread Keith ends up holding gingerbread Shiro’s hand.
The house isn’t stunning by any means, it’s actually quite messy, but it’s perfect for eating all the same.
“It looks awful,” Keith comments as he swipes some icing off of his cheek with his finger. How it got there is its own mystery.
“Tastes sweeter than real snow does, though,” Shiro says, kissing some leftover icing off the corner of Keith’s lips.
“Know that from experience, do you?”
“Maybe,” Shiro says, laughing when Keith shoots him a bewildered sort of look. “I was a kid!” He defends, wrapping an arm around Keith’s waist and tugging him close to his side. Keith rolls his eyes at him.
“Well, at least our gingerbread selves are living the life. Icing for snow and all.”
“They’ve even got their own house to pay bills for and a gingerbread lawn to tend to. A sweet domestic life indeed,” Shiro jokes, plucking a piece of candy off the roof and popping it into his mouth. He can’t help but think about how sweet a real domestic life with Keith would be and his mind supplies him with the thought that this is something he wants—forever if possible. He thinks about building gingerbread houses together in their own kitchen as the snow falls outside. He thinks about chastising each other for eating the candy or icing or cookies before the house is complete. He thinks about how right it feels, to envision a future where Keith is right there beside him, just like their gingerbread counterparts.
“My gingerbread-self probably proposed with a ring pop,” Shiro says, basking in the warmth that Keith’s laugh sends erupting within him.
“How sweet ,” Keith responds, adorably amused and smiling so bright and genuine that Shiro would swear he puts the sun to shame.
The thoughts about a future with Keith aren’t new by any means, becoming more and more frequent with every moment they spend in each other’s company.
What is new is how ready he feels to finally act on behalf of those thoughts, recognizing the opportunity for what it is. He knows there will be other opportunities, that there is no need to rush, but he feels like he’s ready to finally take that first step forward. He gathers all of his convictions, the thoughts he’s entertained—wanted to act on—for so long, and borrows a page from Keith’s book. He takes the plunge.
“I don’t know… A ring pop is nice, I guess, but I can do better.” Keith’s gaze snaps from the house to Shiro’s face and he swallows around the small bit of nervousness he’s feeling.
“And how would you do that?” Keith asks. Shiro wonders if that’s hope in Keith’s eyes or if it’s his own wishful thinking. Nonetheless, he pushes on, determined to see this through.
“We could go and take a look at some rings,” Shiro begins, “and they’d be perfect because they’d be rings we chose together. Rings that both of us like.”
“That does sound better,” Keith says, soft and quiet.
“I’d tell you how excited I am—how happy I am—because I don’t want to imagine a future without you right there with me.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Shiro affirms. “And I’d tell you how important you are to me and how much I love you because, God, Keith, I am so in love with you and I fall deeper in love with you all the time. I’d tell you about every time I felt myself fall, like when you first told me you loved me back or even the days like today, spending early morning snow days together, just us two, that make me realize how much I want this.”
“You always were such a sap,” Keith says, voice wet and eyes glistening. Shiro takes a deep breath.
Home stretch.
“I love you and I want to take all these dreams for the future and share them with you. To make all these fantasies a reality, if you want them too.”
The rhythmic ticking of the clock, the sound of the wind blowing outside... All of it melts away until all that’s left is Shiro’s own heartbeat resonating in his ears and the intensity of Keith’s eyes boring into him. Then there are warm lips on his and this time the kiss tastes even sweeter than before. Shiro thinks idly that the icing is only partially to blame, melting into the touch as Keith pours every ounce of emotion into it.
“Yes! God—Takashi— Yes! ” He doesn’t know if Keith says it aloud for the sake of propriety or just because he wants to, but Shiro supposes it doesn’t matter as he pulls Keith close. A laugh bubbles out of him as Keith reaches up to wipe at his eyes and he doesn’t even know when they started to fill with tears. He wants to pick Keith up and swing him around, to pull him close and never let go. He instead settles for kissing Keith again and the smile he gets when he pulls away is enough to cause a flurry of emotion within him.
In spite of the cold outside, Shiro feels warm as he holds Keith tight in his arms, indulging in the sheer delight overtaking him.
Characters: Keith and Shiro
Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: My gift for @taydrawrs for the @sheithsecretsanta !!
Read on AO3
Summary:
Unpacking is a pain, but he gets this. He gets Shiro calling him 'Baby' and a room for them to share in the apartment they both moved into together. He gets Shiro waking him up in the mornings and he gets slightly burnt toast and misshapen eggs for breakfast. Maybe it’s the effect of the holidays, but he feels like he’s just been given the greatest gift.
Or, the one where Shiro and Keith move in together and gear up for the holidays.
Keith stares at the mess of boxes around him and regrets all the life decisions that led him to this moment.
Well.
Not all of them, he supposes, placing the picture of him and Shiro on the nightstand.
Still, living out of the boxes had seemed like a good idea when they’d first moved in. They’d figured that they’d eventually get around to unpacking everything properly some other time.
Apparently, that “other time” was now.
He’s still sifting through boxes when the faint sound of Shiro’s voice down the hall floats in. Shiro’s singing is always a delight, not because he’s particularly good at it, but he’s so enthusiastic it’s infectious. And Shiro knows how to laugh at himself.
From the bits and pieces of the singing Keith can hear, he discerns that Shiro’s making his way down the list of all the obnoxious—“classic, Keith, they’re classic ”—Christmas carols. He seems to forget what happens to Frosty the Snowman after the first verse though, stalling before starting up a completely different song. It makes Keith snort as he rifles through their belongings.
“Babe?” Shiro calls, cutting off mid-song. A shame since he’d just gotten to Keith’s favourite and Keith will admit that he was listening more than he was unpacking. Keith wanders out of their bedroom— their bedroom—feeling just a bit giddy over the whole situation. Unpacking is a pain, but he gets this. He gets Shiro calling him 'Baby' and a room for them to share in the apartment they both moved into together. He gets Shiro waking him up in the mornings and he gets slightly burnt toast and misshapen eggs for breakfast. Maybe it’s the effect of the holidays, but he feels like he’s just been given the greatest gift. All they really have left to do is make it official with rings and a wedding.
He’s starting to think he’s ready for that when he peers into the kitchen and sees Shiro, singing so joyfully and half-dancing in place. Boxes are strewn about and Keith avoids them as he steps into the room.
“What is it?” Keith asks.
“Which drawer are we putting utensils in?” Shiro asks by way of response, hands on the handles of each drawer as he idly slides them open and closed. It’s about time they stopped relying on plastic utensils and paper plates.
Keith considers this for a moment and answers, “left?” just as Shiro muses, “it’s gotta be right, huh?”
They stare at each other before Keith makes his way over and slides the right drawer shut. “Left.”
Shiro slides it open again.
This continues until the corner of Shiro’s lips quirk up, in that way it always does when he’s about to try something sneaky, and he leans down and kisses Keith quickly. He manages to kiss Keith hard on the corner of his mouth, while dropping the utensils messily into the right drawer. Keith tries to scowl, but ends up smiling at the sheer domesticity of having nonsensical arguments over things like bed sheet colours and where to put the forks and spoons.
“If you want right so badly then you’re gonna have to do better than that.”
Shiro, not one to disappoint, leans back in and presses their lips together properly, loving and lingering and saccharine sweet. “Better?” Shiro asks, still hovering in Keith’s space.
Keith hums. And then, “the new bedsheets are gonna be red.”
Shiro laughs and agrees and the sight of his smile is almost burned into Keith’s brain.
Once most of the mess is dealt with—and the rest small enough to hide out of sight—they allow themselves to go about the fun part of their evening. Shiro shuffles into the room carrying boxes laden with tinsel and lights and other various decorations just as Keith finishes assembling their tree. He’s still spreading the artificial branches of it out when Shiro comes up behind him, placing warms hands on his hips and a soft kiss to the crown of his head.
“Looks great,” Shiro says.
“It isn’t even decorated yet.”
“I didn’t mean the tree,” Shiro says with a laugh.
“Oh,” Keith says uselessly, cheeks warm.
“But there’ll be enough time for that once the party is over,” Shiro says, reaching up with one hand to help Keith spread the last few branches.
“Maybe even before the party, if we get the decorations up fast enough,” Keith adds. “And the gifts wrapped.”
“Exciting.”
“Why did we volunteer to host again?”
Shiro laughs into his ear. “We didn’t volunteer so much as we were volunteered.”
“Figures,” Keith mutters, sagging against Shiro.
“Let’s get to it, yeah?”
They decorate the tree together and Shiro resumes his caroling, laying tinsel over the branches while Keith untangles the lights. Candy canes and bells and bows and balls soon adorn the branches and a star balances high up top. Keith would like to think that they’d done a good job, though he can’t say the same for the gift-wrapping. He’s frowning down at the uneven folds and the slight crinkles in the wrapping paper when Shiro reaches for it.
“So,” Shiro says, writing out a name onto the gifts tag before sticking it one top. “If you could have anything for Christmas, what would it be?”
Keith quirks a brow, leaning back against the sofa and stretching his legs out over the carpet beneath the coffee table.
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
“Well, I did get you something, but I also want to make sure you get what you really want this Christmas.”
“Just this Christmas?”
“Every Christmas.”
“That’s not necessary,” Keith says, unable to help the grin that tugs at his lips.
“It is!” Shiro insists. He opens his mouth to say more but Keith pulls his legs back in to rise to his knees, leaning over the coffee table to cup Shiro’s face and kiss him.
“It’s not necessary,” Keith repeats, “because I already have it. Have you.”
Something seems to settle in Shiro then, and he pulls Keith back in for more kisses.
“You’ll always have me”
The next morning when Keith wakes up, he’s feeling a bit exhausted from the party, it appears to be just after noon, and there’s a box with his name on it in the space where Shiro usually sleeps.
Shiro returns from the bathroom in time to wipe Keith’s tears, press a kiss to his watery smile, and slide the ring into his finger.
Characters: Keith and Shiro
Pairing(s): Shiro/Keith
Warnings: None
Notes: My gift for @izzy-the-baka for the sheith birthday exchange being hosted over at @vldexchange !!
Read on AO3
Summary:
When Shiro asks Keith if there’s anything he wants to do for his birthday, he expects the answer he gets, though it doesn’t make his plans any easier.
“I don’t need anything. I already have you.”
Keith rarely wants for much and he asks for such wants even less, so trying to get a straight answer for a good birthday gift is difficult.
Shiro keeps it simple.
When Shiro asks Keith if there’s anything he wants to do for his birthday, he expects the answer he gets, though it doesn’t make his plans any easier.
“I don’t need anything. I already have you.”
It had been sweet and straightforward, the way Keith always is, and Shiro is a little floored by the reminder that Keith trusts him enough to be so honest and open with his feelings. That Keith is comfortable enough with him to wear his love, his devotion, on his sleeve, even when that honesty can embarrass him.
And it’s because Keith loves him, and because he loves Keith just as much, that Shiro wants to make Keith’s birthday special. It’s no secret between them that birthdays just hadn’t been things to look forward to for a large chunk of Keith’s life. Between the people who would forget and the ones who just didn’t give a damn, the happy occasion had been tainted with the kind of sorrow that bone-deep loneliness brings.
But Keith’s birthday is special—something worth celebrating.
A long time ago, back when they’d first met, Shiro had been determined to remember . Remember Keith, his birthday, anything, everything, storing tidbits of information in the back of his mind. Keith likes apple scented products, his favorite colour is red, he takes his coffee sweeter and his penmanship is neater than one might expect.
Even after all this time, nothing has hampered Shiro’s desire to show Keith just how grateful he is that Keith was born. Because really, that’s what this is all about. Shiro can’t change the past. He can’t erase the bad experiences, the people who looked at Keith and thought he was a mistake, the people who told him the world would have been better off. What he can do, the only thing he can do, is build enough happy memories so that one day they might balance out.
So that, one day, they might overpower.
Keith rarely wants for much and he asks for such wants even less, so trying to get a straight answer for a good birthday gift is difficult.
Shiro keeps it simple.
On the day of Keith’s birthday, Keith allows Shiro to lead him out the door by the hand, quirking an amused eyebrow at him. By now, Keith knows to expect that Shiro will have something planned for them to do, he just doesn’t know what. It’s never been anything grandiose, but they don’t need impressive plans to make good memories—they never have.
They stroll down the sidewalk, fingers linked loosely between them. Their destination is not very far and there’s something soothing about the fresh air, the tapping of feet against concrete, the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional chirping birds. The day is young; they go slow.
Shiro swings their arms slightly and Keith laughs, indulgent. Shiro’s steps stutter as he tries to match Keith’s strides and Keith laughs again.
“What are you doing ?”
“Nothing.”
“What—you . . . if you keep that up, you’re going to trip over yourself and fall.” Keith’s smile is bright, though, because he knows exactly what Shiro is doing and Shiro knows that he knows.
“I’d fall for you every time if I could.”
Keith bumps him with his shoulder, gently.
“You’re such a dork.”
“Only for you.” Shiro presses a kiss to Keith’s temple and smiles at the sideways glance Keith gives him. “Because I love you, you know?”
“I know.”
It’s slightly cool inside the nearby Dairy Queen, but Shiro’s grateful to be inside again. Fallen leaves had kicked up and danced along the concrete as the wind picked up and Shiro warms the chilled fingers of his left hand in Keith’s.
“Ice cream?” Keith asks, quirking a brow at Shiro. He doesn’t sound disappointed, just surprised. “Kind of cold for it, don’t you think?”
Shiro can’t help his responding smile, dropping Keith’s hand to poke at his side. Keith yelps and jerks away. “As if the cold could stop us.”
“Point,” Keith replies, hand curled protectively over his side even as he concedes.
“Whatever you want, my treat,” Shiro says, taking Keith’s hand once more, tugging him further in until they can both look up at the menu options. Shiro’s still in the middle of considering his own order when Keith tugs gently on his arm, grabbing his attention.
“Banana Split,” Keith says. “Let’s share it.”
Shiro idly thinks that it’s incredibly like Keith to request something they can both share when Shiro tries to treat him. It’s stupidly endearing and Shiro presses a quick kiss to Keith’s cheek.
“Find us a table?”
Keith nods and disappears behind the divider between the queue and the seating area while Shiro steps up to the counter.
He gets them some burgers and fries for good measure, just because he wants to spoil Keith.
Keith doesn’t complain about the extra food when Shiro sets the tray down on the table, a booth tucked in the corner away from the noisier groups, but he does level Shiro with a pointed look that causes the corner of Shiro’s mouth to quirk upward in response.
Sliding into the booth, the first thing that Shiro does is nudge Keith’s feet beneath the table. Keith nudges back and the brief tussle that ensues ends with Shiro’s ankles locked around Keith’s. He’s about to hand over a plastic spoon before he pauses and picks of the french fries instead. Keith observes him with a look of clear confusion, brows furrowed and lips pinched in a puzzled pout, that doesn’t fade as Shiro pushes three fries into the ice cream so that they stand upright.
“We don’t have any candles and this isn’t a cake, but you can make a wish on the fries if you want,” Shiro says, finally handing over a spoon. Keith rolls his eyes fondly and smiles.
“Make a wish on the fries?” he mimics around a laugh. Shiro grins at the obviously delighted sound of it. “Should I blow them out?”
“Only if you want to.”
Instead, Keith plucks a fry out of the icy treat and pops it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.
“No need,” he decides. His eyes dart away before slowly dragging back to level Shiro with a meaningful gaze. “I think I’ve already got everything I’ve ever wanted.”
The rush of sheer fondness that courses through Shiro then is not new, but it overwhelms him anyways because he loves Keith. He truly loves him.
“It makes me very happy that I can be that for you, give that to you,” Shiro says, not quite able to tamp down the force of his affection. He reaches for Keith’s hand across the table and rubs his thumb over pale knuckles and he thinks about pressing kisses to each one.
The way Keith’s cheeks warm at the honest confession is something that Shiro never fails to be completely charmed by. He squeezes Keith’s hand and quietly delights in the way Keith squeezes back.
“I love you too,” Keith says, almost bashful, but his voice is unwavering. He digs into the ice cream then, perhaps to give himself something to do rather than sit still and wait for the reply, even if he knows what it’s going to be. There’s a small bit of ice cream lingering on Keith’s upper lip and it’s adorable, but Shiro doesn’t let it distract him.
Keith has always been more for expressing his affection through action, but Shiro knows he’s also the type who doesn’t make a point to say things he doesn’t mean. For them, it’s more than I love you . It’s so much more packed into three small words. It’s thanks and love and longing and all the things they’ve never really had to say because they’ve learned to read between the lines. It’s why the words carry so much warmth it’s almost tangible, almost makes Shiro worry that their banana split will melt where it sits on the table between them. It’s why the words are always special no matter how many times they exchange them.
“I love you too,” Shiro responds easily.
The kiss they trade, leaning over the table to meet halfway, is a bit sticky and sugar-sweet and perfect.
