"Shiro...I'm not like you. They won't let a bird like me fly missions like you... My wingspan is weird. Other cadets have normal wings. You hear what everyone says - they say I'm extra. As in, extraterrestrial. Alien. Different."
"Extraterrestrial? That must mean these wings are meant for something else, Keith. Don't give up on them. Don't give up on yourself."
Gentronweek Day 2: Wing au | Adopting a pet together
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Shiro, a prince suffering an incurable illness, hears a rumour of a beautiful young woman with long hair that has magical properties.
If he can only find this young woman, maybe Shiro could be cured?
Gentronweek Day 5: Fairy tale/fantasy | Defending the other's honour
(short fic continued below)
Though questioning his own true intentions, Shiro decides to hold a ball.
Is he selfish? Wanting to meet this person for the sake of possibly finding healing for himself? For the condition he's been trying to hide, that causes his muscles to degenerate and is weakening him more and more noticeably now?
Maybe he is selfish. He doesn't know how long he can pretend there is nothing wrong with him, however.
Before anything drastic happens, he's expected to at least try find a bride. Have children to continue the royal bloodline.
Though Shiro is not particularly interested in marriage, it's sort of an obligation. And who knows? Maybe this woman he seeks may show up at the ball....
Otherwise it'll be up to his younger brother to continue the royal bloodline.
Shiro doesn't realistically have much time.
~~~~
Keith doesn't know about Shiro's condition. There's no way he could, as a commoner.
But what he does hear about are the rumours that the Prince believes - that somewhere in the kingdom, there is a young woman with magical long hair.
As soon as he hears the rumours, Keith cuts his hair. It's not enough to disguise him though, so he cuts it even shorter.
At least now he won't be as recognisable or easily mistaken for the young woman in those rumours....
...even though the one they speak about is actually him.
He doesn't know why he has magical hair. He just does. Maybe his mother was an alien or something.
Cutting his hair is all well and good until he runs into the Prince out in the countryside one day.
They run into each other by chance again later on, at a marketplace.
And again, by the river.
Somehow they become friends. Keith becomes quite close to the Prince. As time goes on, Keith learns more about Shiro.
With time, he also learns about Shiro's condition.
He sees Shiro's health deteriorating.
He hears about Shiro's hope for finding the young woman with the magical hair.
Keith hesitates a long time. Wondering if he should tell Shiro, and how. If Shiro would take him seriously or think he's pulling a sick prank. If Shiro would accept Keith's magical hair or regard him as a freakish... something else.
Afraid, Keith stays silent.
~~~
The night of the ball comes. Goes.
Shiro does not find the young woman with the magical long hair.
The Prince cries. At his own pathetic wanting to meet someone solely for the selfish reason of feeling better, of living longer.
Keith finds him so.
Keith tells him.
About his hair, and the mysterious magical power his hair seems to possess.
That there is no young woman with magical hair, only Keith.
That those rumours weren't true, but neither were they entirely false.
....that he is willing to try to help Shiro, if Shiro allows it.
So Keith uses his magical hair to heal Shiro.
And while it does not heal Shiro completely, it restores to him a quality of health and rest that he has not experienced in a long time. It slows down the deterioration. It alleviates some of the extent of pain the condition brings.
Shiro doesn't speak of this to anyone. His recovery is deemed a miracle from above, and Shiro is content to leave it at that, for Keith's safety.
Keith stays by his side. A commoner promoted to royal guard.
Shiro trusts Keith with his life, and Keith trusts Shiro with his.
And such is the story of the legendary friendship between Prince Shiro and his royal guard Keith - one that is known across many alternate universes (like this one).