[Keith refers to Acxa, his fellow blade, as his partner. Shiro gets the wrong idea.]
“Acxa’s your… partner, now,” Shiro echoes, trying to keep his voice neutral.
She’s pretty, Shiro supposes. And strong. Her sense of humour is— Well. Maybe Keith finds it charming.
“Yeah,” Keith confirms, and any hope of having misheard over the video call dissipates.
“Since when?” Shiro asks.
Keith shrugs. “Few months?”
“I see,” Shiro says. He tries not to sound bitter when he says, “Well, congratulations.”
He has no right to be hurt. Keith was never his. Shiro had thought they’d had… something, but they’d never talked about it, never given it a name.
“Uh… thanks?” Keith says.
“I’m happy for you, Keith,” Shiro says. “Really. I am.”
Keith sees through him; he always does. He frowns. “Is everything okay, Shiro?”
“…Okay,” Keith says, though he clearly doesn’t believe him.
“Krolia approves of you two being together, I’m assuming?” Shiro says.
“Of course,” Keith says. “She trusts Acxa. Kolivan too.”
“Good,” Shiro says. “That’s good.” He shouldn’t be thinking the opposite.
“Do you trust her?” Keith asks.
Shiro pauses. His instinctive response is “no.” But that’s probably just because he doesn’t like her. And he only doesn’t like her because he’s jealous.
“I trust you to know what you’re getting into,” Shiro says.
“…Are you worried about me?”
‘Worried’ isn’t the word Shiro would use. Concerned, maybe. Heartbroken, definitely. But he’s not worried.
Acxa is devoted to Keith. She won’t hurt him.
“No,” Shiro says. “I’m not.”
His voice must come out more terse than he’d hoped, because Keith’s frown is back.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” Keith asks.
Shiro tries for a smile. “Yeah. Of course. I—“
He’s interrupted by a knock on Keith’s end of the video call.
“One sec,” Keith says, getting up.
It’s Acxa at the door. Of course it’s Acxa at the door.
She leans in close, whispers something in Keith’s ear. Keith nods and returns to the screen.
“Sorry, Shiro,” Keith says. “We—“
“It’s fine,” Shiro says. “I understand.” Keith has priorities.
“I gotta go, but Acxa and I are headed to Earth in a few weeks,” Keith says. “See you soon, okay?”
“Great,” Shiro says, unable to help how hollow his voice sounds. “See you then.”
It’s been months since Shiro’s seen Keith in person. He’s as beautiful as ever.
“Shiro!” Keith comes bounding down the ramp of the ship and flings his arms around him. “I’ve missed you,” he says, breath warm on Shiro’s neck.
“I’ve missed you too,” Shiro breathes.
He catches Acxa’s eye as she steps off the ship.
“Shiro,” she says, with a curt nod, as she walks past.
He wonders if she’s affectionate with Keith. Maybe in private.
Or maybe Keith doesn’t want overt affection. Maybe that’s what Shiro did wrong.
“How’s Earth been while I’ve been away?” Keith asks.
Lonely, Shiro doesn’t say. “Nothing too exciting,” he opts for. “You and Acxa are doing well, I take it?”
“Yeah,” Keith says. “We were on a pretty tough mission, but we got out okay.”
“Glad to hear it,” Shiro says.
“Yeah,” Keith says. “I was in a bit of a tight spot, but Acxa helped me out of it. …Again. She’s a good partner.”
Acxa actually helps Keith—unlike Shiro, who just needs saving over and over again.
“I’m glad she can help you,” Shiro says. “It sounds like you’re a good fit for each other. That’s good.” His voice rings hollow.
Keith studies him, concerned. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing,” Shiro says, looking away. “I’m fine.”
“Talk to me,” Keith says, fingertips skittering across Shiro’s jaw to turn his face back to him.
Shiro swallows. “It’s nothing important, Keith. Really.”
Keith’s brow pinches as he traces the bags under Shiro’s eyes. “You haven’t been sleeping well. Let’s go take a nap.”
“Yeah?” Keith says. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“I do,” Shiro says, quickly. “I just… What about Acxa?”
“What about her?” Keith asks.
And Shiro supposes she shouldn’t mind—things like this between him and Keith are platonic and always were platonic.
It never meant anything more. Shiro had just been reading into things.
“Never mind,” Shiro says.
Keith takes his hand and squeezes. “C’mon.”
He leads Shiro to his room, where he shrugs off his uniform and flops onto the mattress. He pats the space beside him, inviting Shiro to join.
As soon as Shiro gets into bed, Keith’s arms find their way around his waist.
Shiro wonders if Acxa enjoys his touch as much as Shiro does.
Shiro would give anything—anything—to wake up like this every day.
“What are you thinking about?” Keith murmurs, nuzzling Shiro’s neck.
“Uh huh,” Keith says, disbelieving. “C’mon. Tell me.”
Reluctantly, Shiro admits, “I— I was just thinking about you and Acxa.”
“What about us?” Keith asks.
“I was just wondering if… if she appreciates you,” Shiro says. “The way I do.”
“As my partner?” Keith asks.
He feels Keith shrug. “We work well together. I have her back, she has mine.”
“And you— you love her?” Shiro whispers.
“Do you love her,” Shiro asks. That’s all he needs to know, and then he’ll never speak another word.
“Where is this coming from?” Keith asks.
“I— I just— I need to know, Keith.”
“We’ve only really gotten to know each other the past few months,” Keith says, “So… no? Not yet? Seriously, Shiro, what’s this all about? Do you still not trust her?”
“I— I trust her, it’s just… I…” Shiro swallows. “I’m in love with you.”
Keith peeks up at him from beneath those long, dark lashes. “I love you too, Shiro,” he says, softly. “But I don’t see what Acxa has to do with all this.”
“Acxa— Acxa’s your partner,” Shiro says.
“Yeah,” Keith says. “She’s my partner on Blade missions.”
Keith pulls Shiro in closer. “Yeah. Just missions. Did you think we were…”
Shiro nods against Keith’s collarbone.
“Oh,” Keith breathes. “Shiro, no. No. It’s only ever been you.”
Shiro captures his lips in a desperate kiss. He’s needy, clingy, and Keith indulges him.
“I’m sorry for acting so weird,” Shiro says.
Keith’s lips quirk up. “You were acting pretty weird.”
“I-I was jealous,” Shiro says. “…I wanted to be your partner.”
Keith cradles his face. “I get it. I want you to be mine, too, Shiro. Not my mission partner, but my…”
“Partner-partner?” Shiro offers.
Keith smiles. “I was thinking life partner. Shiro, will you be my life partner?”
Shiro pulls Keith in for another kiss under the blankets.
