Chapter Text
The Holts had done more for Keith than anyone else in his life. Even with having his own place Keith was almost always over for dinner. They were the only people he could talk about Shiro with, and they were always happy to listen. Matt teased him over it as if it was just a normal romance.
Everyone compared the sketch in the book to how Keith actually looked like, Katie poking fun at the fact the eyes looked like the most worked on part...and they looked softer then Keith’s ever did. To be fair Keith had never been as soft as he was with Shiro. He liked to think that’s how he would look at him.
But them finding out that the ‘Friendship 7’ capsule was on display at the Smithsonian and then funding his trip there? That is what really meant the most to him. He hadn’t agreed to it originally. It was the thing that got Shiro killed and it came with bitter and heavy emotions for him, but Keith also remembered that it was also what allowed Shiro to see space. Knowing him he must have been in complete awe over the view from up there in orbit.
Keith didn’t go in the early hours, waiting for a slow weekday an hour before closing. He wanted privacy, sure that he wouldn’t be able to hold back some tears. It really flagged itself as a good idea as he got closer to the space travel exhibit, legs shaking and stomach twisting with each step. The place was just about empty, most people scattered around some other parts of the museum. Keith really thanked the powers for that.
Nothing could prepare him for seeing ‘Friendship 7’ in person.
It was on display along in an area called ‘The Sacrifices of Discovery’ which also included the Apollo 1 command module, relics left from Challenger as well as Columbia, and it continued all the way to modern space travel. Every spacecraft lost included a plaque of who died.
It was hard to look at even if they forwarded space travel. None were as hard as the first. Just like the Apollo 1 module, the ‘Friendship 7’ had its door open to show the damage done on the inside, Keith’s gut twisting to the point he thought he’d be sick. What was left of Shiro had been removed, of course, but that didn’t make this any easier.
Keith knew it wasn’t his fault. Matt was sure to drill that into him. But the guilt was still there in some ways. “I’m sorry…” Keith hugged himself, eyes fixed on the bronze plate with shiro’s name and image engraved into it. “I’m so sorry. I lied about so much, Shiro. We would've never met. I wasted Marilyn’s time with how hard she tried to find me after you died.” He closed his eyes tightly, taking in a shaky breath. “I knew what was going to happen. I knew you wouldn’t survive re-entry and I said nothing. If I loved you so much why did I not just...tell you? What could that of really changed in the timeline? Why would you living be bad? I listened to Matt, but maybe I should have told you…” Keith trailed off, not even bothering to stop his tears from falling. He didn’t blame Matt, but he was mad at himself for listening.
He kept his head down, standing in front of the capsule with quiet sobs leaving him. Keith didn’t even notice the lights flicker. He didn’t notice how the air cooled or how there was a faint sound of groaning metal. He was too lost in his own thoughts. Or..he was until he thought he heard someone.
Keith quickly wiped his eyes on his jacket sleeve, turning to see who had walked into the area -- to find it empty. Not only that, it seemed like some of the display lights had burnt out. His brows furrowed, having sworn he heard a voice...though maybe he was just tired.
That thought lasted for only a moment before a whisper of his name had Keith jolt, turning back around towards the capsule. Again no one was there. Or...he thought so. Keith caught his reflection in the glass housing the ‘Friendship 7’ along with the movement of another shadow. Not a second later another light in the room blew out, Keith stumbling back a bit as the lights in the glass case went out as well. Only a few of the overhead lights remained, Keith about ready to bolt out of whatever the hell this place was doing.
But he heard his name again.
Clearer. It was unmistakable. “Who’s there?” Keith called, eyes glancing around the room as he pulled his jacket close. “I know someone is here...what do you want?” He tried to sound more irritated, but the sudden touch to his arm almost had Keith jump out of his boots.
And it only seemed to startle him more when he looked over and there was just a washed out shadow...a figure…
Holy shit he was not seeing ghosts now…
But Keith didn’t run like his body was screaming at him to do. Because something...wouldn’t let him. Something was telling him to stay.
Another two lights blew out, this time Keith didn’t turn to look at them, keeping his eyes on the figure as it slowly became more clear. A man...wearing some shiny silver jumpsuit covered in straps. And a NASA patch he couldn’t stop looking at, because this suit looked like…
“Keith?”
He sucked in a breath at the clear voice, wide eyes finally trailing all the way up to the man’s face. There was no way. “S-Shiro?”
The figure now looked just like any other person, minus the strange outfit and his legs fading into transparency. It was Shiro there was no doubt about that. “Keith!” He gasped, hands quickly reaching to grab Keith’s arms.
The touch was ice cold, even through his jacket, but it wasn’t enough to pull Keith’s attention from the fact that Shiro was here? Touching him? Or a...ghost of Shiro? His damn brain was being fried, shocked eyes still locked on Shiro’s face. “You’re....here..?”
“I...yes? Kinda? I feel weird and...not all here but…” Shiro glanced around, looking as confused as Keith. “I don’t know where here is.” He looked towards the glass case housing the all too familiar craft he had flown in, blinking slowly as his gaze fell towards the plaque. Keith didn’t try to stop him from doing so, already too focused on the fact he was being touched by definetly Shiro. “Oh...that's right. T-The orbit…”
Keith took in a shaky breath, stepping forward to get closer, even if Shiro’s touch felt like ice. “You didn’t keep your promise.” He replied softly, shocked eyes turning to a more sad expression.
“You knew I wouldn’t be able to. I heard you crying, apologizing. It woke me up and...I guess that’s why I’m here.” Shiro looked back to Keith, a gentle smile on his face. “I haunted it without even realizing it, I guess. Maybe because of that promise.”
“I’m sorry--” Keith cut himself off when Shiro brought a hand to his cheek.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, but be right about NASA’s lack of testing. I should've fought with them more than I did. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that.” Even with Shiro talking it was obvious he was taking any time he had to look over Keith’s face. “I finally get to see you.”
That had Keith smile a bit himself, laughing softly as he turned his head and nuzzled the palm of Shiro’s hand. “Your drawing was pretty close, huh?”
“H-How…how do you know what my drawing looked like?”
“Marilyn put it in the last book of yours. With a note to me.” Keith loved hearing Shiro laugh. It was so much better in person.
“She really liked what we have. I’m glad she found a way to talk to you.” Shiro looked back up and around the now dimly lit room, the images of the different lost spacecraft pulling a look of child-like awe out of him. “So you really did talk to me from the future…”
“Almost 160 years in the future.” Keith admitted, following Shiro’s gaze. “I wish I could tell you everything we know now. People go into space all the time now, you know?” He hummed. “We have people around Jupiter, we have discovered microbial life on Europa, we have pictures of the universe you couldn't even imagine back in the 1960s. All the way back to the beginning of the formation of galaxies.”
Keith looked back to Shiro, his smile widening as the awed expression of Shiro’s grew.
“160 years? I’m an old man then.” He joked, pulling Keith against him with a laugh. “But I guess in my time you’re the old man.”
“Neither of us are old, shut up Shiro.” Keith gently hit his chest, his laugh fading into silence. “I...never thought I’d see you.”
“I didn’t either. I know for different reasons, but...when I noticed the inside was getting too hot for me to survive I knew what was going to happen. I atleast don’t remember what happened or how I felt, but I know all I could think about was you and how I would never get to see what you look like. Or hold you...do anything I promised…”
Keith cut in softly. “But even if you lived…”
“I know that now, but at least I would still have been there to talk to you. You have to live through that loss too. Me being from the past doesn’t change how it hurt you.” Shiro explained, a hand reaching to card fingers through Keith’s hair.
“You would have continued to talk to me? Even knowing the truth?” Keith asked, leaning into the touch.
“Of course I would have. I’m sure we could have found ways to make things better. I mean...you already were able to contact me.” Shiro leaned forward a bit. “From a New Mexico town in 1961 or from the far future...it doesn’t matter. I still love you, Keith.”
“I love you too…” Keith was who leaned up the rest of the way, pressing their lips together as he wrapped his arms tightly around Shiro’s neck. He didn’t know how long they had like this, but damn it he was going to kiss Shiro.
Something Shiro was happy with, giving a happy hum as he pressed into the kiss with his head tilted enough to slide their lips together. It was hard to say how long they stood there kissing, but Keith was sure if he didn’t have to breathe they wouldn't have ever separated.
“So that’s what it feels like.” Shiro laughed softly, brushing Keith’s hair from his face. “To kiss someone you love.”
“I would show you what more feels like if I could.” Keith teased, the blush on Shiro’s cheeks only making him brighten up further. “Your spirit really did stay here all this time just for me to show up, didn’t it?”
Shiro nuzzled against the top of Keith’s head. “I guess it did.” He looked to the lights as more fizzled out, the room around them slowly growing darker. “I think I have until all the lights go out. And...I want to be sad. I am sad. But I’m also happy?” Shiro refused to pull away. He couldn’t. “I got to see you. I got to touch you and kiss you and tell you I love you in person. This is all I wanted to be able to do. At least once before I died.”
Keith tightened his arms, wanting to stay as close to Shiro as he could for as long as he could. “I think I feel the same. Losing you was and is hard, but...having this moment makes it easier. Like...loose ends were tied up.” This wasn’t something he ever thought he would get to do. This small gift...this moment...it meant everything to Keith.
Even as he felt Shiro become less and less solid he did his best to hold on, looking up at the man he loved.
Keith was met with a loving smile, their eyes locked in a strong gaze.
“I know you’ll always love me, but I want you to know I’ll be happy to see you live your life, okay? Just like how Marilyn supported me. Don’t hold yourself back from others.” Shiro watched as his hand was no longer able to touch Keith. It simply phased through his cheek. “I know we never did anything official, but I’d be happy if you thought of me as your late husband. Marilyn would have loved to have planned that wedding.”
“S-Shiro…” At least Keith wasn’t the only one crying this time. Shiro’s words lifted so much weight from his shoulders, and the addition of seeing him as a husband from just their short time knowing each other only pushed down the sadness. He was happy. He really was. “Before you go I...I want you to know that in my time same sex couples are normal. They have all the rights hetero couples had in your time. I thought it was something that’ll make you happy.”
“It does. It really does.” Shiro sighed. “Hey...we’ll meet again okay? I know we will. Maybe some time in the far future we will find each other.”
“Go to space together?” Keith teased lightly. “See the universe?”
“Yeah. Nothing will be able to keep us apart.” Shiro held up his hand, pinky up. “Promise we will see the universe together in another life? Promise to find me?”
Keith smiled, hooking his pinky around Shiro’s. “Promise.”
As Shiro’s spirit faded away Keith smiled, holding his hand to his chest as he took a last look at the ‘Friendship 7’ before turning to leave.
“We will find each other."