#sheithangstdrabbles

Shiro dropped his duffle just inside the doorway of their apartment. “How could you do this to me?”

On the couch, Keith uncrossed his legs and placed his takeout on the coffee table. “Takashi…you’re home early.”

“That’s your excuse? Really?”

Keith shifted and averted his eyes. “It was one night.”

“We made a promise to be faithful, to love and care for one another, and you go and do this!” Shiro gestured to the TV.

Keith sighed. “I only watched one episode of Olkari Nights.”

“We promised we’d watch it together!” 

“Oh, come on, Takashi. I can watch it again, and then – Takashi! Takashi, come on! Don’t slam the bedroom – ”

SLAM!

“ – door.” He debated for a long moment and then relented, “I’ll make mac and cheese.”

The door re-opened.  

End

Shiro wrapped an arm around Keith’s shoulder to draw him close. “I’m sorry, babe. This was not how I wanted to spend our first anniversary.”

Keith rested his head upon his husband’s shoulder with a snort. “You just couldn’t wait, could you?”

“…well, no. I guess not, but I didn’t hear you complaining.”

“I said it was stupid.”

“Not a complaint. More of an observation.”

A door screeched, and the electrical bars gave as a coalition officer entered the cell with Lotor.

The former prince was dressed in jeans and a long jacket, like he’d just come from his and Allura’s quarters.

“You’re welcome,” he said without pretense. “I got the charges dropped.”

Shiro stood with a grimace. “There’s no chance you will forget tonight ever happened, right?”

“Two of my best friends arrested for indecent exposure on their anniversary after having a quickie behind a beat-up diner when their apartment is less than four blocks away?” Lotor looked away, expression thoughtful, before he shook his head. “Nope. Not at all, especially since the Green Paladin was the one who had to hack into the servers here and wipe away the evidence.”

“So what you’re saying is Lance already has pictures, and it’s going to brought up every other holiday?”

“You give us way too much.” Lotor gestured toward the door and then whispered behind them, “Every holiday, my friend. Every holiday.”

(One day, these might actually be angsty. Today is not that day.) 

“No way! That’s disgusting!”

Keith rolled his eyes. “It’s just mustard on nachos.”

“You don’t put mustard on nachos,” Lance replied with a scowl. “It’s against the laws of nature and the universe.”

Keith popped a chip into mouth. “Nope.”

“Shiro, back me up here!”

Keith leaned an elbow on the table and turned to his mate, as if say, “Well?”

Shiro gulped and then replied, “…it is less-than-appetizing.”

Lance cheered while Keith narrowed his eyes. “Who are you, and what you done with my mate?”

Shiro threw up his hands. “Oh, come on, Keith! You’re from the Southwest. You know mustard doesn’t belong on nachos.”

Keith grabbed the plate of nachos, turned to his mate to snap, “You’re on the couch tonight,” and stormed away.

Shiro called after him, “Babe, you know I don’t fit! Keith! Come on!”

Shiro had no reason to be insecure. He knew where he stood with Keith.

They shared an apartment, a bed, a soul. So just because Keith didn’t know today was a Terran holiday to celebrate mates – Valentine’s Day – Shiro didn’t take personally.

And if Shiro wanted to celebrate it, he could have told Keith, and Keith would have made it a priority. But Shiro decided to hold their second wedding date, their first wedding date, and so many other days in higher regard.

So he felt terrible when he returned from a quick meeting with Allura to find a candlelit dinner, a chilling bottle of wine, and Keith in a zip sweater and tight jeans.

“Welcome home, Takashi.”

“Keith.” Stars, how did Keith know? “Babe, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think – I didn’t get you anything.”  

“Get me anything? Why would you?”

Shiro gestured toward the table. “To celebrate Valentine’s Day.”

“Valentine’s Day? No, I just did this for us. It’s been a crazy few weeks.” Panic flashed through his expression. “Was-Was I supposed to get you anything?”

“No!” Shiro gripped Keith’s hands and smiled. “Not at all, babe. The best gift is just being with you.”

“Yeah?”

Shiro ducked to peck Keith’s lips. “Yeah.”

They were in the middle of dinner when Keith cocked an eyebrow and demanded, “So…what’s this Valentine’s Day you forgot about and didn’t get me a present for?”

Shiro choked on his wine. Once he could breathe again, he muttered, “It’s a couple’s holiday. Dinner, presents, things like that.”

“And you didn’t think to celebrate us?”

“We don’t need a special day to celebrate us. I know you love me and I love you.”

“So…you didn’t want to celebrate us?”

“No – I mean, yes, but no. I just…figured it wasn’t a big deal.”

Keith nodded and stabbed his food with his fork. “So…we’re not a big deal…?”

“What! No! Of course we are, babe. I just…” Shiro snatched Keith’s hand and folded their fingers together. “Every day is a celebration with you as a mate.”

Keith snorted and smiled that crooked, charming grin of his. “Good save, Shirogane. Good save.”

Shiro heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Don’t think you’re getting out of putting out tonight, though.”

Shiro smirked. “Again, not seeing how this is different than any other day...”

The End

Keith fumed.

Apparently, the guard at the rebel base had a well-known type, and that type happened to be tall, muscular Terrans. So Allura, the traitor, suggested Shiro charm the guard and gain the Paladins entry. 

Shiro. Keith’s bondmate.

And Keith had to sit in the ship and wait as his bondmate flirted with another man.

The door to the ship opened, and Keith’s head shot up. Shiro was to message them, not return, and yet here his bondmate stood, cradling his cheek.

He looked absolutely miserable, and it didn’t help that Lance almost laughed himself sick when Shiro said, “So…I struck out.”

And now sported a bruise from the guard’s fist.

Hi! I’m going to be writing drabbles over the next month or so, so here’s the prompt list. I’ll update this post with links to all the prompt fills, and each prompt fill will get its own post. I’ll also be cross-posting to Twitter with #SheithAngstDrabbles. 

All will be written in the same universe as You and Me Against the Universe, but you don’t need to read that story to read these drabbles. You just have to know Shiro is the Black Paladin, and Keith is the Red Paladin and has Galran features. 

Hope you enjoy, and here we go! 

Day 1: Bruises

Day 2: Betrayed

Day 3: Jail Cell

Day 4: Kidnapped 

Day 5: Insecurity

Day 6: Brainwashing

Day 7: Guilt | “Don’t move” | Homesickness

Day 8: Scar | Backhand slap | Punctured lung

Day 9: Panic attack | Ghost

Day 10: Paralyzed | Survivor’s guilt

Day 11: Fever | “It’s all my fault” 

Day 12: Grief | Jealousy | Given up

Day 13: Drowning | “No, stop!” | Chest pain

Day 14: Gagged | Slammed into a wall | Blindfolded

Day 15: Outnumbered | Muffled scream | Stitches

Day 16: On their knees | Adrenaline | Unconscious

Day 17: Hypothermia | “I’m a monster” | Friendly fire

Day 18: Shaky hands | Migraine | Depression

Day 19: Secret injury | “Please don’t leave me” | Bandages

Day 20: Abandoned | “I know you’re in there somewhere” | Sore throat

Day 21: Human shield | Showdown | Seizure

Day 22: Hair matted with blood | Torture 

Day 23: Bedridden | Frostbite | Retaliation

Day 24: “I can’t walk” | Hospital | Powerless

Day 25: Blinded | Peer pressure | Amnesia

Day 26: “Where are you?” | Coma | Angry mob

Day 27: Execution | Attacked in their sleep | Heatstroke

Day 28: Loneliness | Possession

Day 29: Dehydration | Rope burns | “Go through me”

Day 30: Tied to a chair | Burning building | Muzzled

Day 31: “Just keep pressure on it” | Empty shell | Ambush

Alternate Prompts:

Two movements – the longest he’d been away from his mate – and Shiro couldn’t wait to get home to take-out and a romp in the sheets.

Instead, he came back to a cold apartment and a note on the counter.

Kidnapped your mate. – R and K

Great, his brothers Ryou and Kuro took Keith out for the night. While he was grateful they kept his mate company while he was away, he was home. Now. Why wasn’t Keith?

Okay, maybe he should told Keith he was coming home instead of trying to surprise him.

Sighing, Shiro grabbed his tablet and typed.

Hey, babe. Hope you’re having a good time. I’m home whenever you get here. See you soon.

For fun, he added, Btw - wearing my Property of the Red Paladin briefs.

Shiro sighed, pulled off his jacket and shirt, and headed toward their bedroom for a quick shower.

The door to their apartment opened and slammed shut. Keith was pressed his back against the door, chest heaving, eyes blown wide. 

“...Keith?” Shiro asked. What was wrong with -  

Keith launched himself at Shiro and dragged him to the bed.

Well, that was certainly a welcome homecoming.

End