Archive of Our Own

Normally, Shiro doesn't make long trips by car.

Traveling to the nearby town for just a dumb investor meeting for his small company is already a pain, but having to drive all the way there is even worse. His muscles stiffen easily, which is not good for his condition, and he gets anxious if the journey is over twenty minutes. He prefers a short train trip because he finds the experience charming, and it's like having a little break from his busy life. Not that he prefers being less busy, others do call him a workaholic for a reason, but he just finds it enjoyable.

But, yes– This time he had to use his car due to urgent matters and available schedules. He’s had a long trip, people trying to tell him what to do with his ideas, and has been running just on caffeine since morning. At least it's five o'clock already and Shiro is finally going home. He hasn't had a very good day.

While he turns off the car radio since it's starting to give him a light headache instead of distracting him from his anxiety, there's a sudden dark blur in the middle of the road and Shiro panics, stepping on the brakes instantly. 

" Oh no. What- ?" 

Confused, Shiro pulls off his seat belt, opens the door and rushes out of his car. He is a bit afraid that he might have hit whatever it was in front of him, but at least there are no other cars near, so he can go and inspect.

And there it is. Not hurt by his car, fortunately, but limping, looking back at Shiro with glowing yellow irises on black eyes. A creature he's never seen before. 

"What are you?" He wonders aloud. 

Technically an animal. A wolf? A coyote? He isn't sure. It has shiny blue fur, a round nose in place of a proper muzzle and neon marks around his eyes. At least it's similar enough to a dog, that's a start. Shiro may not know what kind of animal it is (or if it's even from this planet), but it looks weak, probably hungry. It has clearly seen people before because it doesn't back off when Shiro tries to approach, but jt's scared, and the animal snarls a warning. 

"Hey, it's okay,  I'm not going to hurt you." Shiro gets a knee on the road to put himself down to the animal's level of vision, not caring about his clean working clothes. "Are you lost? Did someone hurt your leg?" 

The dog (or alien looking wolf) tilts its head. Then, it moves a bit closer. 

"That's it. Good boy. Or girl, I’m not really sure. Are you thirsty? I'm sure you are." 

Soft words follow a reaching hand, and the wolf answers with a whine. Slowly, it lets Shiro touch his strange muzzle, and Shiro smiles, amazed at the soft touch of its fur.

By the time he has admired the strange and beautiful creature, he knows that he cannot leave the poor thing there. 

Half an hour later, Shiro is parking in the lot of the first supermarket he saw in a neighborhood he doesn't know. 

It's kind of an emergency (and he really can't show an alien wolf around) so he leaves one of the windows of his car slightly open and rushes inside the building without thinking about anything other than being quick. He doesn't even know if the alien wolf could eat regular dog food, but he has to try. Cans of wet food, treats and plain meat, just in case. There's a lady that comments on the quantity of everything Shiro grabs, amused at how Shiro's pet must have a wondrous appetite. To be honest and for his own well being, he hopes not. He recalls there's a first aid kit at home if that limp leg ends up being something worse, until he figures out what to do. 

Good , he thinks, it saves him a lot of precious time right now. 

Tripping over his own feet, Shiro tries to hurry, taking all his groceries and sprinting back to where he parked. But it's starting to get dark, and the parking lot is empty. He realizes seconds later he can't find it. His car is gone. The alien wolf is gone with it. 

He just got robbed in the worst moment ever. 

.

"What were you thinking?!"

"I– I can explain."

Shiro may not look it, but he is the type of person that gets easily involved in weird situations. Most of them have to do with his prosthetic, the clear scar that crosses his nose bridge and his snow-white hair. Shiro has never been the one causing these situations, but he has had his fair share of awkward conversations regarding his features. 

And yet, none of those can compare to him having to explain why he left an alien wolf in the backseat of his car while shopping, to the person that robbed this same car.

Weirdly enough, the guy came back to yell at him with the car and the wolf because of the imprudency of what Shiro did. He definitely can't explain himself as he would like, but he has to try.

This stranger pulls him out of his thoughts, "He is an animal, not a thing."

The guy, (the alleged car thief) is really mad at him, but the only thing Shiro can think about is how beautiful he is. Maybe because it's the only thing that makes sense to him amidst all this nonsense. He has long, raven hair in a low ponytail, sharp features, fierce dark eyes and a scar that crosses his cheek. Shiro finds himself wondering where he got it, and if his story would be similar to his own.

The guy crosses his arms, his terrible mood evident.

"Sorry! I mean– I didn't mean to do that. I just found the al– the dog , abandoned on a road, outside the city." This is sounding like the poorest excuse ever to Shiro, and the worst thing is that it's nothing but the truth. "I don't have any pets, so I had to buy stuff for… him?" His sudden confusion makes the other guy mirror him as well. "How do you know it's a he ?"

"I wonder why you don't have any pets.” The stranger says, rolling out his eyes. “It's pretty evident, and his name is Kosmo." His straightforward and almost snarky comment puzzles Shiro even more.

"Did you give it a name?"

The dangerous frown the cute car thief gives him makes Shiro raise his hands in an attempt to appease him. He should not be making him more pissed than he is. 

"Okay, give him. Him . Sorry." He already can feel how this stranger's beautiful eyes pierce through him. "Look, if Kosmo is okay, that's what matters to me. He was limping when I picked him up and he doesn't seem to be very fond of humans. I'm relieved you came back with him. I panicked when I couldn't find him. Thank you."

Shiro expects more words about his irresponsibility or the guy not really believing his side of the story, but instead of that, the stranger arches both of his eyebrows.

"...What?" Shiro wonders if he said something weird.

"Why are you thanking me?"

"Because… I was worried about Kosmo but you brought him back and he’s  okay." Shiro simply says, with all the eloquence he can gather.

"I stole your car." The guy states as if it's not obvious enough already from how Shiro saw the thief park the car back where he took it from and stormed out to face him. "You do realize I am the one who stole your car, right?"

"Oh, yeah. That's true."

Definitely this is the weirdest, most awkward conversation he ever had. Over an alien wolf and his stolen car. But Shiro must be getting used to these odd situations that chase him around, because he is not uncomfortable with any of this. Or maybe because this guy is a peculiar person that sparks an interest in Shiro..

"So? Are you not going to call the cops? Your car is expensive, you look like a rich guy. They’ll probably believe whatever you tell them, even if it’s bullshit." the thief asks, and Shiro is shocked to find that it didn't even cross his mind.

"Actually, I wasn't thinking about that.” He looks around, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand in a nervous gesture. “It's true, I was a bit irresponsible. But not many people would come back and risk getting caught just to be rightfully mad about the safety of an animal. I respect that."

The guy falls silent, and since Shiro is not able to read his expression at all, he supposes he does not actually believe him. Well, who would? Maybe all of this is just a fever dream Shiro is having after the long, terrible day he had, crashed on his couch back at home. He finds himself thinking he would hate that, because that would mean he didn't help a wounded animal when it was needed and didn't meet the mysterious beautiful car thief.

"I guess, uh– I guess you aren’t a jerk and really do care for Kosmo. That's okay for me." The raven-haired guy sighs and looks aside, not looking upset anymore, his tone softening. Shiro definitely hopes this is not a dream because the way this guy is so honest and concerned about the wolf makes Shiro's heart clench in his chest.

"Okay, good. You aren’t mad at me and I'm not mad about the car. That settles it." Shiro tries to fight back a small smile. "So, um. Do you need a ride somewhere?"

"What? Seriously?" Dumbfounded, the guy looks at him like Shiro might be too good, too stupid, or maybe too smart and he is setting a trap of some sort and shouldn’t be trusted. 

"I mean, I don't know how you got here, but I don't think you have anything to get back to your place. Not as you planned." Shiro gestures to his car in front of them. "So I guess it's the least I can do. As an apology."

"Trying to apologize to the thief who took your car. You are hella weird," the cute guy with the black hair comments, but he turns his face around and Shiro can't see why. "I don't really have a place to go back to. I was going to spend the night in the car anyway."

Shiro looks at him with wide eyes, but he supposes this shouldn't be as surprising as it feels. This is probably the guy's everyday life, considering he labeled himself as just a thief. That implies more things than Shiro wants to picture right now. He shouldn't judge him.

It's cold, the sky is dark above them and they are illuminated by only a street lamp and the lights from the supermarket. 

"Then stay at my place. Come on, hop in."

He doesn't wait for a response when he walks around the car, leaving the groceries in the trunk and getting into the driver's seat. The guy follows him with his eyes and even tries to get his attention, attempting to stop him, but Shiro just keeps going until he has turned on the electric motor of the vehicle.

"Wait, wait." The thief opens the passenger seat's door and just stares at Shiro from there, not getting in. "Are you listening to me? You can't be serious."

"Why not? You were planning to sleep in my car anyway. My place is bigger than this."

"...Shut up. That was entirely different. And–" The guy inhales sharply and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Are you always like this?"

Again, Shiro tries to fight off a smile.

"Like what?"

"So stupidly stubborn and nice."

"Sometimes. Not always. This is definitely not the first time I have been called stubborn. Are you coming?"

The thief stares as he thinks about it for a second. Shiro thinks he is going to close the door and just walk away, but something in his eyes changes when he hears Kosmo's soft whimper from the backseat, and he finally decides to get in and close the door after him.

Shiro doesn't say anything, but he finally lets a smile slip onto his lips. He grabs the steering wheel and starts to drive them home.

.

"What should I call you?"

Shiro has been meaning to ask for his new friend's name for a while now, but he is beaten to it. The trip has been silent as he drives and they are still far from arriving, but the way the guy has been looking through his window and giving Shiro his back wasn't very inviting to do so.

It's true Shiro somewhat pressured him to accept the offer when the car thief wasn't so sure about the situation, but he also knows that the guy wouldn't have accepted Shiro's pocket money to spend the night somewhere dry and clean either. Something in his bold tone and bravado while he was confronting Shiro before tells him the thief is the type of guy to work for what he thinks he deserves. Or at least use his own means. In the end, Shiro is glad he decided to go with him for this night, at least.

When the car thief is the one who decides to ask first, Shiro can't help but look at him curiously for a second before returning his eyes to the road.

"Oh um. My name is Takashi Shirogane, but all my friends call me Shiro. So– Shiro." He shrugs a shoulder with simplicity. "You?"

"Keith. Just Keith."

" Keith .” Shiro tries it on his tongue. “It suits you."

Shiro can't see him right now but he knows his new friend, Keith, has a reaction to Shiro's remark.

"My dad gave it to me." Keith offers as an explanation, but doesn't let Shiro continue that thread of conversation as he questions him again. "How did you get that?"

Shiro raises his brow, giving Keith another quick inquisitive look.

"What do you mean? My arm or my scar?"

Keith seems to ponder for a second.

"Uh, both?"

Shiro thinks the guy is keen.

"How do you think I got them?". Shiro replies in the form of a little challenge. Keith takes it.

"Okay, let’s see. I'd like to say you got it from a big fight that turned ugly because you look like you could probably take anyone that looks at you in the wrong way." Wait, is Keith talking about his looks? "But you seem like too much of a goodie boy for that, so I'll say– ugly accident."

"Mmh, not bad. I could punch a guy or two, though." Shiro smiles amused, diverting the conversation and not really explaining further, but he frowns again when he doesn't receive the awaited question. "Are you not going to ask what happened?"

The furtive look that Shiro catches Keith giving him makes him shiver in his seat.

"No." He sounds definitive. "You didn't tell me right away, so that means you don't want to talk about it. That's okay with me."

Shiro wonders how this person reads him so well, when Keith doesn't know anything about him.

"Well– Thanks. That's– That's nice of you." He feels his cheeks flush stupidly hot at the consideration. "We can talk about something else. Like Kosmo." Shiro checks on him in the rearview mirror, both to make sure he is still asleep and to also calm himself down. "I don’t know if you noticed, but Kosmo is not a regular dog."

Keith snorts, but he doesn’t sound like he is mocking Shiro. "Of course I noticed. Kosmo is an alien."

There's a prolonged silence in the car. Did Keith just say that as if he’s talking about the weather?

"An alien– How are you so sure?!"

"Because I looked at him? A bright blue dog? Seriously?”

“Hey, someone could have dyed his fur!”

“Oh yeah, I forgot you're actually rich, you eccentric people do that kind of stuff. Anyway, he's too big to be a pet dog or a coyote and there are no wolves around here. Plus, I believe in aliens, that's why I called him Kosmo." Keith thinks he is being eloquent and Shiro squeezes the steering wheel in his hands because this guy is something . "Do you really think we are alone in the Universe?"

"No, but– I certainly wouldn't expect to find an alien dog on the backseat of a car. Or on the roadside. Or anywhere."

"You don't expect a lot of things to happen, but they happen anyway. Why should I worry about expectations?" Keith turns and tries to look at the peaceful Kosmo, obviously interested in him. Shiro thinks that's adorable.

"I suppose you are right," Shiro concludes, with a small defeated sigh."You know,  you called me weird, but I think we may be pretty similar in that. I like it."

"Maybe. Never said being weird was bad. Your weirdness is saving me from sleeping outside tonight." 

Shiro likes the car thief too, like a new friend for real, and he is thankful the trip back home after that awful day turned this… exciting. It's been a long time since he had felt like this.

Twenty minutes later they arrive at Shiro's house and he parks the car in front of the garage, because there's no one out on the boulevard this late so they can probably get Kosmo out of the car without unwanted attention. Shiro goes straight to retrieve the groceries and Keith stays still in front of the house, looking up at it.

"You really live here?"

Keith seems a bit at a loss, his voice quiet but not really expressing anything that Shiro can read as good or bad. He decides to be honest with him in return.

"Yeah, for a few years now." Shiro says, a bit distracted as he opens the door for Kosmo. He doesn't really want to get in depth about that. 

He knows his house is too big for just one man living there. It actually looks more like an accommodated family house than anything else; it has a nice front garden and a private backyard too. Two floors, two spacious bathrooms, a big changing room, a finished basement and more rooms than Shiro needs. It's his home, nonetheless.

Keith remains fixated on it, silently, and Shiro thinks it wouldn't be good if he pushes it and asks what’s on his mind, either. He doesn't want to assume anything that could be on Keith's head now. Instead, Shiro calls for Kosmo, the space wolf too comfortable in the backseat, and wary of his new surroundings to get out on his own. 

"Ok, let me– Come here, big boy." Shiro says as he hears Keith’s steps approaching while Shiro maneuvers to support his groceries on one arm and circles his other one under the wolf's massive body to lift him and carry him outside the car. "Here we go, see? Not scary."

And now, while he doesn’t let go of either Kosmo or the bag, Keith is staring at him, looking like a deer in highlights. Shiro is too busy right now to really give it any attention and so he starts to walk to the front door. 

"Could you get my keys from the car, Keith? It would be a big help."

Keith doesn't answer, not really. He just does as he is told and he gets the keys, closes the car door, and walks to Shiro looking down with half a frown. 

"You okay?"

"Yes. Move." Keith's voice is not severe, but firm. Shiro swears Keith tries to hide his face from him while he unlocks the front door. "Although I could probably open this without your keys."

"After the way my car disappeared, I don't doubt that. You could at least tell me how you did it." Shiro tries, and Keith seems to relax again, with a scoff.

"Yeah, no. Try better next time."

Amused, Shiro enters the threshold first and is quick to put Kosmo down on the couch as gently as he can. He would like for him to stay there because of his leg, but he will let him roam if that's what he needs, or pick a favorite hidden spot to be left alone. Instead of that, the animal looks at him and whines and he knows he should be giving him some food soon.

"What do you think he eats?"

Shiro asks Keith and rushes to the open kitchen that faces the entire immense living room, as the latter is still looking around after closing the door after him. Funnily enough, Keith keeps his hands inside his pockets as if Shiro would rebuke him for touching anything.

"Alien stuff."

"Yeah, I thought as much, smartass." Placing the groceries on the countertop, Shiro teases him naturally. "I don't have that for him, just regular dog food. And meat. I think it's pork."

"If I had any, I'd bet all my money that dog food is a big no. It smells horrible. Who would eat that? Not me."

Keith is distracted checking on Kosmo while talking, although the animal (alien?) still seems a bit wary and tired. Shiro can't help but allow himself spare a moment to admire the scene. At this point he knows Keith only agreed to come because of Kosmo, and surprisingly enough, Shiro is happy about that. Keith must really like dogs. Or, aliens. Or dogs and aliens in this case.

"That's probably true." Shiro sighs with a smile. "Okay then, I'll cook some of this. Are you hungry?"

Keith looks at him with a weird look on his face after staying silent for a while.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Yes," This time Shiro can't help but slip a little laugh. "It's dinner time and if I'm gonna use my apron, I better use it well." He jokes, but the truth is, he was already thinking about inviting Keith to sit down and have dinner with him too. "Honestly, I'm still learning to do this, managing myself on my own. But I won't poison us if that's what you fear."

"No, huh. I just thought– That's too much already."

Keith observes how Shiro gets ready in the kitchen, (taking that apron and rolling up his sleeves, getting some pans, opening his fridge) but he doesn't seem to mind what Keith is trying to tell him, determined as he is to serve them dinner.

"It's no problem, and I told you to come. See it as part of my apology too."

Then Shiro catches it on him. The first half smile Keith gives. The first one that looks somewhat sincere, at least. Keith is too pretty and Shiro shouldn't be thinking those things because he's sure as hell it's not appropriate at all and he will blush. 

He lets that direction of conversation die, for the best of them both.

"So," Keith sits in one of the seats along the kitchen countertop and starts asking again, like he did back in the car trip. "When did your girlfriend leave?"

Shiro chokes on his own spit and almost knocks a pan off the countertop.

"E-excuse me?"

"I'm not dumb. You don't seem to be enough of an eccentric rich guy to live here on your own just to flex." Keith guesses it right and rests his chin on one of his hands, elbow on the countertop surface. "And you just told me you're still learning to manage yourself on your own. So tell me. Did she find out that weird side of yours? The one that makes you pick up alien dogs and car thieves on your way home?"

Of course, Shiro knows he is teasing. Keith isn't trying to start anything more than playful banter on a topic that could make Shiro laugh at best and nervous at worst. Most likely, he is just thinking something ordinary and mundane happened, like they had a big argument over something stupid or one of them cheated on the other. Shiro doesn't blame him.

"Well, uh. It's not what you are probably thinking about." Shiro shrugs, eyes fixed on the food over the heat of the stove. "And it wasn't a girlfriend, it was a husband. An ex-husband now." He can feel how Keith's expression changes and he falls silent. "Nothing really happened between us. I think it was more my fault than his, because after… the ugly accident , I became a very complicated person to live with. So it was better to part ways. That's all."

The oil in the pan boils and it's the only thing that can be heard in the house for a moment.

"You don't seem complicated to me." Keith mutters, looking at him in that sincere way from before.

"Ah,” Shiro chuckles in a self-deprecating way. “Believe me. I really didn’t make it easy for anyone. I still don't."

"Well, so what? I don't like easy things. I'm used to not having it easy anyway."

Keith makes Shiro chuckle again, this time due to that stubbornness of his instead of feeling uncomfortable about his own past mistakes. He likes that. 

"Okay, you win. It's nice to hear that after so long. So… thank you." Shiro feels like it's the first time in years he is really being genuine with someone. "If you are still here tomorrow, maybe I'll tell you more about this."

Keith doesn't comment on if that's fair or not, but he seems to accept it.

"You know? I just don't understand you,” Keith starts again, “Aren't you afraid to let a thief stay at your fancy place? You don't even know me. Don't you think I will steal whatever I can and leave in the middle of the night?" 

If that's a threat, Shiro decides to not take it like one at all.

"It's not too different from letting someone you know crash on your couch. You never know someone well enough." Shiro tries to explain himself, though he doesn't expect Keith to understand why Shiro prefers to see the best in the world. "But if you want me to believe you are a bad person, you won't be very lucky with me, Keith."

Keith presses his lips on a thin line.

"...Why?"

He has that tone on him, the one that says he is hesitant to ask, but needs to know the truth. It makes Shiro hold Keith's questioning look, and everything feels a bit simpler. They are strangers, but having the presence of the other there, their conversation, feels comforting. Shiro doesn't know Keith's story, but he wishes Keith would tell him before he eventually disappears from his life.

"Because I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Even you, car thief."

He teases again, but it is true. He believes in Keith. In his concern for animals. In his almost childlike belief and fascination in aliens. In his way to face the circumstances. Whatever happens, Shiro would feel it was worth it, the right thing to do. The only thing that matters is that he wants to make a difference for Keith for at least one day.

Kosmo's whine breaks the silence between them, and he draws their attention trying to move with his limping leg. Keith jumps in his seat a bit alarmed and his demeanor softens for the animal.

Shiro thinks he is doing the right thing.

"Let's give Kosmo his dinner and then let's eat too."

.

When Shiro wakes up next morning, he is almost sure he won't find anyone downstairs, his house empty once again.

After their shared dinner, Shiro gave some old sleepwear to Keith for him to spend the night in, offered him a room (though Keith insisted on staying on his couch because it was as good as a bed, he said. Shiro thinks it’s because he wanted to stay with Kosmo or maybe to be closer to the front door), and then wished him good night. 

Nothing assured him that Keith would stay, especially when Keith himself warned him about the possibility of leaving in the middle of the night. He told this to himself before falling asleep thinking about Keith, and yet he doesn't understand why he feels so disappointed at the house being so silent.

His living room is an open space. He can see the couch which Keith slept on from the stairs as well as the kitchen and the entrance. Nothing, an empty open space. Not even Kosmo, but that might be the only thing that makes sense, as it was clear Keith would take the wolf with him. Shiro doesn't even bother to see if any of his belongings disappeared too, because he can't get himself to care enough.

Keith was a dream too good to be real. Shiro didn't really expect anything from him, he had just met him, but still his sole presence and his unique personality made Shiro's life brighter since– it doesn't even matter now.

Shiro drags his feet, stepping down from the staircase and lets out a big, defeated sigh, heading to the kitchen. He is definitely going to need a big mug of coffee to face the new, more dull reality.

Except.

There’s a door sliding open, and a voice.

"Oh, you’re awake."

Shiro almost drops the mug on his hands when he turns around and sees Keith there, with his hands on the pockets of his short, waist-length jacket. Kosmo appears behind him.

"Keith– You are still here."

"...Why are you looking at me like that?" Shiro's hopeful tone in his voice makes Keith feel called out, apparently.

"Sorry. I thought–"

"I know.” Keith is quick to cut him off. “I remember what I told you. It wasn't a lie." 

Keith tries to explain himself about his words yesterday. He doesn't look back at Shiro. 

"But when I got up I saw the sun entering from the big window that leads to your backyard and I thought Kosmo would like to get out. The places I usually crash in for the night are either cars or not this big, never mind being this nice. You even have a piano here, you know? So, I went out with him too, and– Oh, his leg is okay. Well, sort of. He has a scar there so the limping is probably because of that? Aside from that, this boy can be pretty fast when he wants to. He still doesn’t let me touch him much though."

Shiro can't say anything, he is at a loss of words. Especially when Keith smiles at Kosmo and the animal makes a sound, like he is starting to recognize his new name. Shiro’s heart skips a beat.

Then Keith realizes Shiro is just still looking at him in complete silence and Keith probably feels even more uncomfortable due to his apparent rambling.

"Forget it."

"No!! No, no. Please." Shiro reacts like a switch being flipped when he is sure Keith is just getting frustrated at himself. "I'm so glad you are here, Keith. It's a relief. I was hoping for that." 

Keith blinks at that confession and he suddenly can't hold Shiro's eyes, so he decides to look at the floor instead. Shiro still thinks he is adorable.

"I'm going to make coffee. Do you like having it for breakfast?"

"...Sure." Keith shrugs, "I usually never have breakfast. It will be nice for once."

And like that, they fall back into one of those curious conversations that seem to be about everything and nothing at once. One of those that Shiro is quickly getting used to.

Shiro doesn't even question why Keith never has breakfasts, or if he is used to skipping meals. Instead, he smiles warmly and openly, "Then it's a perfect occasion for you to find out how you like to have yours."

It's the first time in ages that Shiro has such a pleasant morning. No rush, some nice conversation and he is actually looking forward to his new day with a bit of excitement. He still has to go to work, sure, but it’s not that bad when his mood is this good. Shiro also likes his job.

He is discovering that what he probably likes most is to see Keith eat the premade pancakes Shiro bought as if they were the best ones he ever had. Shiro definitely needs to learn how to make them himself now.

"What work do you do?" Shiro is so distracted by his own thoughts he doesn't realize Keith is asking him until he talks again. "Let me guess, I bet it’s a desk job. Boring, but it suits you."

Keith teases with a smile, like that would stirr up Shiro’s pride. He doesn't know it makes Shiro want to stay with Keith and talk to him for hours.

"You shouldn't bet if you can't pay." Shiro teases back and Keith seems to like that too. "I run a technology company. Not that big of a deal, but it specializes in this." He lifts his polymer robotic-like arm and shows it to Keith. 

"Cool prosthetics?" Keith blinks, not knowing the clear specifications of what that implies. He doesn’t seem impressed about Shiro being the actual CEO, but he guesses the house gave him off already.

"High tech prosthetics. Built with the latest and newest functionality. Mostly for elite athletes right now, but eventually for anyone that needs one, no distinctions. Or at least that's what I try to remind my investors everytime I see them."

Shiro ends up joking on the last part, mostly to himself, because if he doesn't do that, he would be burnt out for a long time due to this aggressive market regulation that he will never understand. 

"Did you make this?" 

"Designed it. It's one of our old prototypes. Our engineers were the ones who made it work of course, along with all the team behind it."

"And you just tried it on yourself?"

"No, it's not like we didn't know what it was capable of doing." Shiro chuckles at the idea. To be fair to Keith, Shiro really seems like the type of person who would actually do that. "When I lost my arm, I realized I was capable of making a change, for the better. And I wanted others to trust in what I do, to let me help them too."

Keith is listening to everything he says. Shiro isn't able to see if Keith understands what he is talking about, what he is referring to. But maybe Keith doesn’t mind. Maybe Keith is okay with just hearing what Shiro has to say, and it’s exactly what Shiro needs.

"You must be a genius or something."

Shiro scoffs at the idea, thankful for the light tone of their exchange.

"I don't think so. You are not a genius for knowing what people need and working a bit hard to be able to give it to them."

"Then you're just a really kind person, which I think is even harder to be." Keith doesn't lift his gaze from his pancakes, he talks like he is thinking about something he doesn't want to bring up. He does anyway. "You can't find that type of people where I come from. Just don't let others mistake you for being too stupid."

Shiro was going to drink from his ridiculous sweet coffee, but he finds the statement heavier than the weight of his conversation and is unable to add something to Keith's words. It makes his understanding of Keith's situation (the one he assumes, Keith still didn't mention anything about himself more than that) hit him harder than last night, and he realizes that this has to mean something big to Keith. Something he doesn't usually see.

"Do you think that about me?"

Keith snorts, still not looking at him. Then he regains some seriousness. 

"Yesterday, yeah. Now, I'm not so sure. You might be a bit too nice, a bit dumb." Then he curls up his lips, lifting the last bits of the pancakes in his fork. "But I'm okay with that. There are too many assholes already, I'm glad you aren't one."

Shiro should be insulted by the sassiness in Keith's voice. Instead, it makes his heart beat fast. How is it possible he likes this punk so much? He wants to know him badly .

"I'm just teasing. Actually–"

"I need to go to work." Shiro suddenly announces and he gets up from his seat. It makes Keith stop in the middle of his sentence and for Kosmo to lift his head and look at him. Now that he has also had breakfast he is resting on Shiro's very expensive sofa.

"Um, hey. I didn't mean to say– you know." Keith looks at him a bit hesitant, his smug aura suddenly disappearing and leaving him with loss of words. Shiro is just gathering all the dirty plates and putting them carefully in his dishwasher, trying to calm down his own heart and listening to Keith trying to explain something that never comes out. 

" Shiro , wait."

For a moment, he believes Keith is tense and his voice falters when he tries to call him. Shiro can actually see it on his face when he turns to look at him. With a strange pull inside of him that wants nothing more than to comfort Keith, Shiro smiles at him even softer than he had before, in the moment when he realized that Keith didn't actually leave. 

"There's a copy of my key in the drawer at the entrance. You can use it if you go out, but I would like you to look out for Kosmo. He will need someone, at least until his leg gets better and we figure out what we should do."

Keith is frozen to his place and he can see Shiro gather his work stuff spread out on the living room table while he explains. 

Shiro has to stop midway to the door because he doesn't receive any confirmation from his guest.

"Keith?"

"You," Keith starts. He still looks disoriented but at least he stands up from where he was sitting, wide eyes staring at Shiro. "You want me here?"

"Yeah. I'm not going to throw you out when you don't have anywhere else to go. I'm taking the car with me, though." He jokes, dingling the keys on his hand "I might be dumb, but I'm not that dumb."

Keith's face seems to flush and he quickly looks away. Shiro thinks Keith has a very cute side to him when he gets embarrassed.

"Please watch Kosmo until I come back. The house is yours."

"Yeah, I’m– okay." Keith tries to shrug nonchalantly, but he refuses to meet Shiro's eyes anymore.

"And don't get in trouble. See you later." 

Shiro chuckles and waves his hand in an informal goodbye before he goes out from the main door. He can't hear Keith's reply, if there is one, Shiro just really hopes he can see him later.

.

Truth is, he went through his day without being able to stop thinking about Keith.

He could be right about Shiro being too stupid for being too nice, but he can't help but do these types of things if he feels it is the right thing to do. Trapping Keith down or booting him would only end up reinforcing whatever bad opinions Keith already has of the world, and he doesn't want that. Keith has had enough of that, probably. And of course, Shiro is the helping type; he won't have a good sleep if he knows he could have done something to help. Even his company bases its foundation on helping and improving others' lives. In the end, it shouldn't be too surprising that Shiro is doing this, but he wonders if Keith has already realized that from their conversations.

Shiro sends his workers home for the weekend faster than most other days, tells his associate Allura to call him if there’s any trouble before Monday, and is fast to get to his car to go back home. No extra hours or revising data for the next prototype project, which makes everyone suspicious because their boss is the rare type where he is the most involved one in the company. Well, he has more things to do than to bury himself in work now, which should be a good thing. But they won't know about this yet, and Shiro finds himself smiling at the prospect of opening the front door of his house, after so long.

There's a possibility Keith got tired and left for good, the moment from this morning being just false hope for Shiro's imminent disappointment. But this time feels different. Shiro can't bring himself down for some reason, and he is sure this can't be a good sign. He won't think about it for now, though.

When he parks his car outside like the previous night, he can see light inside the house. He releases the breath he didn't know he was holding until now, relieved.

"Keith?" Shiro calls him, closing the door behind him. "I'm home." 

Leaving his keys at the little bowl from the entrance, Shiro walks a bit into the living room while taking out his jacket, not finding the other on the first floor. Kosmo is not there either. 

"Are you here?"

There is no response.

"Keith–"

A couple of steps more and there is a weird feeling curdling in his gut already. Then, he sees a messy mop of black hair peek down from the upper floor.

"Here." Kosmo appears behind him, (Shiro still doesn’t know how he does that) and wags his tail looking down at Shiro. "I just took a shower. Didn't hear you arrive."

Shiro can't help but stare at the image. 

Keith's hair is still wet, long bangs falling on his eyes, his low ponytail gone. He is also wearing the spare sleepwear that looks a bit too big on him. And his posture seems relaxed. 

It's just so… domestic. It makes Shiro comfortable, at peace, the horrible feeling in his gut disappearing. He should be ashamed for feeling like this with a stranger (because even if he wants to tell himself Keith is his friend, he just met him yesterday), but he can't help it. After so long, Shiro feels happy.

"Bad day? I guess you guys can have those too." Keith seems to misinterpret Shiro's silence while he folds his arms on top of the upstairs railing. Shiro is quick to correct him.

"Oh, no. Not at all. I just– I wanted to come back soon."

If Keith thinks about making a snarky remark for Shiro's reason to do this, whether it's because he doesn't trust Keith to be alone with his belongings for too long, or being too worried about Kosmo, he doesn't say it, which Shiro thinks is weird. Or maybe not weird, but not Keith's style, as he was pretty smug even this morning.

"Hey, want to see something cool?"

Shiro arches an eyebrow, but he simply waits for it while he starts unbuttoning the collar of his white shirt. Keith is quick to look at Kosmo, and then with a smile, points at Shiro with his head. Shiro doesn't know what the hell just happened because the wolf disappeared from the top of the stairs with blue sparkles around him and just fell on him. He looks happy to see him, or just eager for food.

"What?!" Shiro regains his balance, now cradling this quadruped alien with both his arms. "Did he just–?"

"He can teleport. Pretty sick, huh?" Keith chuckles, proud of his own discovery. "I found out when he teleported inside of the bathroom when I was there. I almost slipped and opened my head, but heh, details."

Shiro is sure Keith doesn’t seem mad at what happened only because it's Kosmo, and it seems like Keith will favor every dog over anything else. Or maybe every alien. Still, very cute. 

"Okay. Glad to hear there were no shower accidents today." Shiro sighs as he puts Kosmo down and pats him, rubbing between his ears. He still stares up at him expectantly. Yeah, it's definitely for food.

"I don't know why he throws himself at you like that, though. He doesn't let me touch him much yet and I've been here all day with him. But you come home and he lets you carry him like that?"

"Oh, are you jealous?" Shiro decides to tease like in those past exchanges with Keith, see if that makes him turn into, what Shiro believes, is his usual self.

"No." A pause, then a frown and sigh. "Well, maybe a bit. I never had a dog before."

And that's weird. Firstly, because Keith sounds more tame than before, and secondly because judging by the way he talked to Shiro yesterday about what Kosmo truly was, he wouldn't be able to tell.

"I thought you knew a lot about dogs." But it's true Keith never said he had pets before, he just stated it was clear Shiro didn't.

"I like them. I have given a dozen baths, patched some wounds. I even slept curled up with some once. But I've never owned one."

He even seems willing to talk about himself, and Shiro is actually quite surprised because this is very different from what he expected. It makes him want to know more, want to know everything about Keith. No, that's wrong, he reminds himself again. Keith is there because Shiro wants to help him and nothing more, he doesn't owe him anything. 

That's why Shiro doesn't push him, and just takes what Keith lets Shiro know about him for now. At that, he feels thankful.

"That's really nice, Keith. Don't worry though, I'm sure Kosmo will realize you are better than me in no time and then he will crush you under his weight too."

Keith chuckles, stepping back from the railing and Shiro forgets what he told himself just seconds ago as he sees Keith walk down the stairs. Damn .

"O-okay, let me change clothes, then we will start making dinner. And let this big boy eat too."

He is so screwed.

There are no more incidents the rest of the evening, fortunately for Shiro's heart at least. They talk about Shiro's day, about Keith finding his way around the house and taking care of Kosmo, about some local news on the forgotten TV while they cook and let Kosmo eat, and then they have dinner on the kitchen countertop again. 

This time, there are no big questions, or conversations that take unexpected turns for both of them. This time, they are more mundane; Keith's age, Shiro’s age (turns out Shiro is a bit older than him, but still close in age), what they like (Shiro doesn't like salty foods and prefers sweetness, his seasonings lean more towards that. Keith is apparently more of a spice kind of guy, but he discovers that cilantro seeds are used in cooking too and he thinks he likes them), what they don't like (Keith can’t stand sodas because of the bubbles, which shocks Shiro. He ends up offering him tea, then. In return, Shiro tells him that he hates protein bars and shakes but Keith doesn’t seem to believe him), and more trivial stuff that doesn’t reveal much about themselves. Not more than just silly anecdotes about themselves, anyways. Shiro finds himself loving that. 

The conversation about food and drinks turns into a conversation about TV programs and how Keith doesn’t know any of them. Shiro can’t blame him because he is more of a reading kind of guy than watching TV’s, but they find a middle ground with Shiro showing Keith a few science fiction series he adores.

“I know this one,” Keith comments, both of them on the couch, with a content Kosmo lying at their feet.

“You do?” Shiro beams looking at him “Well, I shouldn’t be that surprised. You like aliens.”

“It was hard to figure it out, huh?” But Keith doesn’t deny it, like it’s another of the things he actually likes. “I didn’t watch the series either. I recognized the title because I read the book when I was a teen.”

“Seriously? It wasn’t very known back there. It was a really nice adaptation of Oliver Twist if you ask me. But I might be a bit biased because this one happens in space.”

Shiro doesn’t know what part Keith finds funny, but he likes when he chuckles.

“I see. I was only able to read it once at a public library.” Keith doesn’t seem to notice he slips out about himself. Or maybe he does and he doesn’t mind. “Could you, uh– Would you mind if I start to watch the series?”

He expected anything, except that.

“Oh,” He must look very stupid because he is always at a loss of words around Keith, but he is genuily happy to be able to share something with him. Something Keith seems interested in. “If I mind, you ask? I think you don’t know where you got in.”

And Keith finds that amusing again, so he laughs. Shiro loves that.

.

That night watching the Oliver-Twist-In-Space series turns into a whole weekend worth of binge-watching all the episodes. Then the whole weekend turned into a whole week of watching whatever space-related thing that catches their eye each night. 

They fall into a very comfortable routine that neither of them question. Shiro wakes up, has breakfast with Keith while chatting with him, feeds Kosmo and checks on his leg, and then leaves for work. He thinks about the cute car thief and the alien dog for the entire day (He thinks Allura already realized some things changed when Shiro told her about how he rescued an injured animal) and comes back as soon as he can. Then they chat about their day, play with Kosmo, have dinner and crash on the couch to keep watching their series. 

Sometimes Keith goes out on his own, but he always appears at dinner time. Shiro doesn't have the heart to ask him what he really does out there, but since Keith doesn't tell him on his own he is just grateful that he actually comes back home.

Home . 

It really starts to feel like a home because of Keith and Kosmo.

There was one day where Shiro went out to shop for groceries instead of ordering online and asked Keith if he wanted to go with him. They didn’t spend much time outside because they surely didn’t want to leave Kosmo alone (and risk him puffing out of existence only to find him in the car, which happened one morning to Shiro) but it was really nice to have company while doing day-to-day things. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it held meaning for Shiro. It was important, and it felt like, slowly, Keith and him were turning out to be friends. Or acquaintances at least. 

Back at the supermarket Shiro told Keith he could put anything he wanted to eat or try in their cart (Because Keith told him there was a lot of food and brands he didn’t know how they tasted) and there were things Keith had picked up that Shiro was surprised about, and other things that he wasn’t. Like a bottle of hot chili, that wasn’t very surprising at that point, but a pack of dinosaur shaped nuggets had made Shiro think that Keith is even cuter than he seemed before.

One morning when Shiro didn’t have to go to the company, he placed his laptop on the table in his garden and watched Keith give Kosmo a bath. He said Kosmo was still covered in dust and sand from outside the city, so it was time he should be cleaned. Shiro stared at the scene more than he worked, but he didn't mind at all when he saw a soaking wet Keith laugh when Kosmo shook off all the water, tame enough with Keith touching and scrubbing him. He supposed it was karma for laughing at it because Kosmo teleported on top of Shiro and he ended up all soaked as well. It was a fun morning nonetheless.

And just the other day, Keith stubbornly determined to make Kosmo alien doggy treats , which turned out to be little cut sausage parts, but Shiro helped him anyway and they had a very good time together.

Days keep passing by and Keith is still there.

Every morning he sits at the kitchen countertop with a bitter cup of coffee that Shiro despises, but that he loves to see cupped in Keith’s hands, warm and familiar. He makes sure not to think much about if the taste of Keith’s lips would be as bitter as he pictures. 

There's also the fact that Keith still sleeps on the same couch where they sit every night to watch those series that turned into their thing, even when Shiro reminded him that he has a guest room as big as the main dormitory. Keith just rejected it and told him the couch was fine, and Shiro feels stupid because that still makes him feel that lump of anxiety on the pit of his stomach. Of course, Keith will find a better place eventually, or just a better thing to do. Shiro shouldn't feel entitled to Keith's freedom.

And yet, he wants to push the thought at the back of his mind and not think about it, not to ask Keith what he really plans to do. 

The time will come for that to happen, sure. But for now, Shiro will just enjoy those little ephimer but happy moments that he spends with Keith and that he will treasure as memories, once it ends.

"Shiro, look!!" 

Shiro listens to Keith call him from the open space of the living room, mid morning on a saturday. Sitting at the kitchen countertop checking the messages on his phone, he turns around on his seat to look at Keith carrying a massive but happy Kosmo, fluffy tail wagging.

"He let me pick him up!" Keith smiles at him, excited.

Shiro's heart drums inside his chest at this candid and lovely scene and he can't help but smile fondly at them. He will make sure to make this one of the first ones to remember.

"Hey, congrats! See? He just needed a bit of time." Shiro reminds him, forgetting the texts on his phone. Then, a little laugh slips from his lips.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I just think it's cute. It looks like Kosmo's fur swallowed you all from here."

"Oh, I get it. You're calling me short." The little tease on Keith's lips returns. "I don't know if you know this but anyone could be called short if compared to you, big boy ."

If Shiro wouldn't know Keith by now, he would think Keith got offended. Or he's flirting. Good thing he knows Keith, a bit better at least.

"You know I'm not saying that. If anything, I'm calling you strong." He explains while he sees how Keith puts down the alien dog. "Kosmo isn't small by any means. I'm impressed you even managed to do it."

Keith chuckles this time, although his laugh comes a bit breathy by the effort. Then he puts his hands on his hips.

"If you are that impressed, I'm sure I could also pick you up too. Would you like that?"

Shiro has to make a great effort to not choke at the proposition, or at least make sure Keith doesn't notice how that affects him. He is sure he is just teasing (Keith always teases when he is in a good mood) but Shiro doesn't know if he would be able to say no if Keith was stubborn enough about showing off his strength. He doesn't know why that pleases him so much, Keith displaying his strength on him.

The doorbell saves him from choking out a yes.

"Do we expect visits today?" Keith looks towards the entrance, knowing there is no mail on weekends.

"Don't you remember?" After composing himself, Shiro stands up and goes to answer. "I told you a friend of mine would come to check on Kosmo's leg. He's a veterinarian."

"When?" Keith seems to not remember at all.

"A couple days ago, when we were having dinner."

"Ah yeah, sorry. The risotto was so good I don't remember anything else from that day."

Shiro laughs, amused by Keith's honesty, then he opens the door. A man around Keith's age stands there, on the threshold, short brown hair and blue eyes. He has with him a duffel hanging from one of his shoulders and doesn't seem too happy to see Shiro. 

"What's this important thing you wanted me to see that you couldn't bring to my clinic on, you know, a normal working day?"

"Good to see you too, Lance." Shiro greets his friend with a sigh, but in good spirits. That's Lance for you. Still, Shiro really appreciates his unique personality. "Did you have a good trip?"

"C'mon man. You know you don't have to be so polite with me." Lance dismisses it with a hand, and comes inside the house, stopping for a second when he sees Keith there. "Oh, hello."

Keith seems to cringe imperceptibly when Lance outs him, surprised to find him there to begin with. Shiro can see this small shift on him, though.

"You didn't tell me you had a guest."

"This is Keith. He is a… friend of mine. He has been staying at my place lately." Shiro is quick to explain to avoid any type of uncomfortable situation for Keith. Even so, Keith seems to cringe again. "Keith, this is Lance. He is Allura's husband, my associate. Do you–"

"Yeah. You mentioned her." Keith cuts him and crosses his arms. He doesn't seem too interested in the exchange, though. "Hey."

Lance looks at Keith shrugging his introduction, then he looks at Shiro raising an eyebrow. Even if he knows Keith by now, he is not sure what is going on his mind.

"Oookay..." Lance just accepts it "Well– Allura told me you said you picked up an animal some days ago and it was hurt. Where is it?"

"Oh yeah, Kosmo!"

The blue alien dog puffs into existence in front of Shiro when he is called. Lance almost has a heart attack.

"What the–?! What is that thing?!!"

"He is not a thing. His name is Kosmo." Keith kind of growls at him, narrowing his eyes at Lance's reaction. Shiro would even say he is being protective. "Aren't you a vet?"

"Fuck, yes I am. But I treat animals! Not– …Seriously, what are you supposed to be?"

Kosmo lifts his snout, then he sniffles Lance.

"We are not sure, but we believe he is, um… of an alien nature." Shiro rubs a hand into his nape, already knowing Lance's dramatic personality would turn this into a big deal. Not that real aliens aren't a big deal, maybe Shiro is just starting to get too used to Kosmo's presence.

"Alien nature?! Are you telling me he is an alien dog?!"

"And what if he is?" Keith growls at him again, kneeling at Kosmo's side to pet between his ears. Keith's protective side is… cute.

"Okay, okay. Let's calm down." Shiro offers to both of them. "This is why I made you come all the way here, Lance. You are the only one I can trust this with." 

Lance looks at him, his initial shock fading slowly. 

"I don't want people to find out and risk the possibility of him being taken away for experimentation or, who knows. He doesn't deserve that, he's a good boy."

Kosmo makes a sound akin to whimper. When Shiro looks at him, he wags his tail. It makes Shiro smile fondly. He can see Keith looking back at him too, as attentive as Kosmo.

"He still limps on a leg. Looks like he got hurt at some point before I found him at the roadside. He also has a scar. Could you check on him and see if he is okay? Please."

Lance seems a bit overwhelmed with all the information, but after a bit, he sighs, ruffling his own hair.

"This is like, the weirdest thing I experienced, but okay, yeah. I'll do it. I think his structure is similar enough to canids. Let me see what I can do."

Keith may have not liked Lance on their first exchange, but he beams the moment he agrees to help Kosmo.

They let Lance work and give him space while he examines Kosmo and talks to himself in a very energetic way. Shiro doesn't know if he is extremely in awe of things he discovers on Kosmo or if he is just always like this.

"Are you okay?" Shiro asks Keith meanwhile, in a more of a private way.

"I'm fine. Why?"

"You looked a bit uncomfortable before. Lance is a bit intense but he doesn't mean bad."

"It's nothing" Keith crosses his arms again. Shiro already knows he does that when he doesn't want to engage much in the conversation.

"You promise?"

At Shiro's soft tone, Keith directs his gaze to him again.

"I promise what?"

"That you are okay for real and I'm just being stupidly nosy and worrying for nothing." Shiro explains with a self-deprecating smile "I don't need to know if you don't want to tell me. But you don't have to lie, okay? Not to me."

Keith looks like he ponders it for a bit.

"It's just– I was worried about Kosmo. That's all." Keith sighs, pinching between his eyes. "He doesn't like strangers, and I didn't want your friend to be mean to him."

Shiro's heart goes crazy. Keith is so cute when it comes to Kosmo's wellbeing, and Shiro itches to touch Keith, wrapping him in a hug. It's becoming very difficult to ignore this urge.

"I know. But Lance is very professional, trust me. He will keep our secret and he will help Kosmo with his leg, you'll see."

Then, he puts a hand on the small of Keith's back without even realizing. Before he can apologize for it and take it back, Keith leans towards Shiro and his touch.

"Okay. Thank you. …For calling him."

Fuck .

Half an hour later, Lance approaches them again, placing his stethoscope on his shoulder and taking out his gloves.

"Well, though I'm not an expert on alien dog physiology, I can say that Kosmo seems pretty healthy. The scar on leg is old, he just seemed to have hurt his leg in some way or another again, but I'm pretty sure it is just muscular. No bones or nerves." Keith sighs in relief when he sees Kosmo chewing on some treats Lance gave him after the examination. "I don't want to give him any kind of drugs because of reasons, duh. So, I'd advise you to simply massage the leg until he stops limping and watch that he doesn't try to bite the zone. If he keeps doing it, I will come back to see what I can do."

"Thanks a lot, Lance. You are saving us." Shiro smiles at him, feeling grateful. 

Lance seems to blush for a second, but then he puffs his chest with pride, even if he tries to remain humble.

"Well– I guess I did, didn't I? But it's nothing, really. Allura told me you have been different these past weeks. I guess taking care of an alien changes you, huh?"

Shiro blinks, surprised at the remark, "Really?"

"Oh yeah. She told me you looked busier, but she knew it was not work, so she thought something changed at home. She also said you looked happier. I even told her that maybe you were dating someone else finally."

Shiro blushes and his mind is flooded instantly by moments with Keith. Keith though, he seems to misinterpret his reactions because he makes that face he was making while defending Kosmo.

"Leave Shiro alone." Keith talks on his behalf. Lance huffs, frowning at Keith.

"Shiro is my friend too! Geez, you are jumpy." Lance grumbles. He turns towards Shiro. "Where did you meet this guy?"

Shiro is too busy being torn between bringing peace again or melting at Keith's protectiveness on him too.

"Well– We meet when, um–"

"The day he rescued Kosmo. I told him I didn't have a place and he offered to let me stay. I'm staying until I save some money and I find a place."

Keith explains in his place, Shiro raises his eyebrows at this new information. Lance seems a bit weirded out by this situation, but he doesn't question it. Until he speaks.

"So uh… Looks like you also rescued a cat, huh?" Lance jokes on that particular humor he has. Shiro sees Keith not finding it funny.

"That's it. I'm gonna punch you."

"Wow, Keith!!"

If Shiro hadn't stopped him at that moment, he is sure Keith would have punched Lance right there.

.

It was a complicated day thanks to Lance's contribution that morning, but Shiro is happy that they could get Kosmo examined and be sure he is fine. 

Shiro didn't anticipate that Keith and Lance would clash so much when interacting, but to be honest? He is not that surprised. Keith is very headstrong and sometimes inflexible and Lance runs his mouth easily with no ill intentions. Still, he thinks they could be good friends if they could put their differences aside.

Of course, that would be if Keith decides to stay on his life, which it doesn't have to be if Keith doesn't want it that way. Shiro keeps reminding himself that Keith doesn't owe him anything, not even his friendship, and he knows. It just seems that Shiro's broken heart keeps wishing for something. Anything .

Now, far into the night after their dinner, they are both sitting on the sofa, far from each other because Kosmo is all curled up in a big blue fluff in the middle of them.

Keith doesn't seem interested in what they are watching, so he talks instead.

"I lied to you."

Shiro turns to look at him, confused by the sudden confession.

"You told me I don't have to lie to you, but I did." If Keith wants to not show how this thing about himself upsets him, Shiro doesn't think he is doing a good job because he can tell. "I told you I was mad on Kosmo's behalf but– There was another thing."

Shiro forgets completely about the TV and lets the characters talk on the screen. He gives Keith time to express himself, he gives him space.

Keith looks away, a tick on his leg, his lower lip caught between his teeth.

"Why didn't you tell your friends I was staying here?"

Oh . He remembers. It was that, what Keith cringed at when Lance mentioned he didn't know Shiro had guests. He completely misinterpreted Keith's reactions that morning.

"I–"

"You could have told them I'm just an acquaintance from… I don't know, that ridiculous coffee shop you like to go to, or something." Keith shrugs, still refusing to look at Shiro. "If you are embarrassed about me being a thief and how we met, you could have said a million things. Not just–"

"You don't embarrass me, Keith." The solemn and sure tone on Shiro's voice made Keith finally look at him. "Nothing about you embarrasses me. You are– You are perfect the way you are or with the things you did."

Keith holds Shiro's gaze for a moment, then he looks away again, a thin line pressed into his lips. Shiro aches to touch him the way he did that morning. He wants to comfort Keith, but he contains the urge.

"I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable. It wasn't my intention. It's just–" When Shiro can't find the right words, Keith puts his eyes on him again, tentatively. Shiro sighs. "I knew if I told them about you, they'd start to ask questions. Not about how we meet or stuff like that, but questions I don't know I can answer. Questions like what do you do on your day, or what do you plan to do in the future. I didn't want to tell them that I don't actually know, because–"

"...Because it felt like they were asking you about a stranger, right?"

Shiro is not good at hiding his mood from Keith either. He visually pouts at the sad remark.

"I don't think of you as a stranger. You are Keith. You are my friend." Shiro distracts himself by touching Kosmo' fur, making him grumble happily in his sleep. "But because you still sleep on this couch and you didn't tell me where you go when you go out, I didn't know I could answer their questions about you. I wanted to be mindful of you, to not press you into anything you didn't want. Forgive me."

Keith is now staring at him, silent, with full wide eyes. Shiro swears they are violet in this dim light. Still, he doesn't know what is going on in Keith's mind.

"...Okay." Keith begins after a long silence between them two. "What do you want to know?"

Shiro gaps at him, even more confused than before.

"What? Keith, I– You don't owe me anything."

"I want to talk to you about myself." Keith looks so confident now, so determined. Shiro swallows hard at how beautiful he looks with that demeanor. "So what do you want to know?

Again, Shiro is at a loss for words, suddenly a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities.

"Um… Anything you want to tell me?"

Keith groans, thumping his head against the couch's back. "God, why are you always like this? Be a bit selfish from time to time, Shiro."

The endearing tone in his voice makes Shiro chuckle in an apologetic way, less terrified of the situation. He still doesn't know what to ask, though.

Keith's head falls to the side, facing Shiro, and Shiro could swear again that Keith smiles at him with a faint blush.

"Anyway." Keith croaks, looking at the high ceiling of the living room. "Remember when I told you I read that book in a community library once? That was when I was still with my Pa. We didn't have much but we lived in a cozy place and we did a lot of fun things together. I already wanted a dog back then." Keith chuckles, he seems nostalgic.

Shiro's heart already aches.

"But then my Pa fell ill and passed away, and since I never had a mother, I was sent to the home system. But I felt lost, and sad and… you know, nobody wants a problematic kid in their family."

Keith doesn't get into details, but Shiro catches it easily: nobody seemed to understand Keith and his grief.

"So I stayed there until I was of age and after that I was on my own." He shrugs a shoulder and distracts himself by digging his fingers on Kosmo's fur too. "I pawned some of my Pa's stuff to support myself. I was arrested a couple times from pickpocketing, was released others, got into worse stuff than that, got caught again, and tried to work. In honest jobs, really. Thing is, nobody wants a guy with a criminal record either. And I still had to eat."

Hence his way into stealing. He sees Keith touching his scar and Shiro knits his brows together, shifting on his place towards Keith.

"Keith, I'm–"

"You don't have to pity me." He is quick to remind Shiro, his voice not wavering. But he turns soft. "You don't need to apologize either, I don't want you to do that. If I'm here talking to you now it is because– because you are my first real friend, and I don't feel I'm just a charity case for you to check a box. I've never told my story to anyone before."

Shiro can feel how the urge in himself keeps growing bigger, almost unbearable. The one that tells him to wrap his arms around Keith and hug him. He resists.

"You're not that, of course not."

Keith gives him a small smile, but a real one.

"But I still don't understand why, then. If I'm not a stray cat you rescued too, why did you let me stay for so long without knowing anything about me?"

Shiro swallows hard, remembering the name Lance used jokingly about Keith. He is starting to feel a weird upsetting feeling inside of him. If it is because of the situation or Keith's poor opinions about his own worth that neither he deserves, he doesn't know.

"Because you are a person, not a thing that can be thrown away. And you deserve trust."

Keith looks at him like Shiro said the weirdest thing ever.

"I– I did things you would hate me for. And I didn't do anything to gain that trust."

"You don't need to do something in exchange for that. It doesn't work like that." Shiro chuckles, but he is pained to find nobody has shown kindness to Keith before. "I chose to give it to you, and you kept it. You stayed here everyday, we did stuff together and we… we became friends." 

Shiro is not sure he is explaining himself, but he is being damn sincere because at this point, words are what he believes Keith needs the most. 

"And I could never hate you. I told you, everyone deserves a second chance, even you. It's okay if you made bad decisions, if you thought you needed them to survive… The moment you want better things for yourself, it doesn't matter what you did in the past. You deserve them and you deserve a hand to support you." Maybe Shiro is talking too much, but once he puts all his idealistic self out there, it's not easy to stop. At least his company can make good use of this. "These past weeks you made everything better just by being here."

Yeah, he definitely talked too much. Keith is either going to  guess Shiro has more reasons to want Keith there than just being altruist or he is going to see him like this too dumb of  rich guy that believes the world always goes by these inmutable norms and codes. Truth is, Shiro does. But if someone is not convinced they have their own worth, then people like Keith will have to keep surviving instead of just living. And that's not fair.

But Keith doesn't say anything. Instead, that chuckle of his, the one that he does when he is teasing Shiro, is there again. A bit muffled, less amused and more relaxed, but there. Shiro shivers.

"You are too damn kind Shiro. Sometimes it's annoying." And yet, nothing in him says that Keith feels annoyed. He just smiles with a furrowed brow. It makes him look even more attractive. "If I didn't know you by now, I wouldn't believe you. People with so many commodities in their lives don't think like this."

"I didn't always have them." Shiro offers, but he knows that he is not explaining anything about himself with that. Instead, he thinks carefully and reformulates his response." And this– you can have everything in the world, but it won't make you happy. Trust me."

Keith puts all his attention on him, like he already caught on something.

"...You are lonely."

Shiro opens his mouth, then shuts it quickly because he is a bit embarrassed to admit that Keith pretty much nailed it.

"I guess I was." Shiro looks down to his own lap, nervous to not know what to do with his hands. "Before I met you, I hated to come back home after work. It was cold and dark and it didn't feel like a home anymore since– You know."

Keith gives him a comfortable space to talk, just nodding at his words. Shiro is sure that Keith is smart enough to understand what Shiro is implying, but he wants Keith to know about him too, and not just have to guess. Shiro sighs, closing his eyes to mentally prepare himself.

"I had a car accident. That day I was supposed to pick Curtis up too, but I got out late from work so it was just me. Then I was driving back home from work and I don't know, I think I fell asleep for a second. I just remember a car in front of me and that I was very, very tired." Shiro can feel how Keith's shifts on his seat, his eyes piercing through him. "I woke up in the hospital without an arm, with lots of wounds and a nerve lesion that affects a big part of my body, but alive. And I was told I should feel grateful because of surviving, they said it was just an accident, that nobody died, that I would get better with therapy and I could have a normal life again. But I couldn't see their optimism. I felt stupid, and I hated myself."

He knows Keith might not know the reason for such a reaction on Shiro, but he lets Shiro talk. After all, it's not a natural one for an accident survivor. He doesn't expect for Keith to understand either way.

"Everyone treated it like it wasn’t my fault, but it was. It could have been much worse, I could have killed Curtis if he would be there, or someone else, in my stupidity. Curtis told me that I was being too hard on myself because he was fine but it just made me feel worse." 

Shiro still can feel the upsetting and bitter feeling inside him, how Curtis really wanted to help him feel better, make Shiro see that accidents happen and it's nobody's fault, but he didn't know how. 

"I started to snap at him. I started to have horrible dreams and the stress wouldn't let me rest. I hated every kind word spoken to me because I wasn't– I didn't want that. I wanted for someone to tell me I fucked it up. Badly. I didn't know how to live anymore without feeling utterly helpless." Shiro looks up, all limp on the couch, exhausted to even remember all that. "He wasn't at fault, I was just being a jerk. Then, a day came where he told me he was tired of arguing about everything, I agreed, and next thing I knew was that we were getting a divorce."

At the end Shiro looks at Keith, who didn't tear apart his eyes from him while Shiro told him his story. All attentive, eyes shining, his expression unreadable. Shiro feels he fucked up this too.

"So he left, I think it was for the best. The house already felt empty so it wasn't such a change. I remained here, by myself, feeling stupid, feeling–"

"...Lonely." Keith talks, he lifts a hand to touch Shiro's cheek. He doesn't hesitate, but his fingertips are soft. "You were already feeling lonely before he left, weren't you?"

Shiro nods slowly, still shocked by Keith's fond touch he didn't know he longed for.

"I understand." Keith doesn't say he is sorry, that Shiro didn't do anything wrong. Keith says he understands and Shiro feels he could cry. "Yeah, it was an accident, but I understand your frustration. You know you fucked up, you were mad at yourself and nobody could see that. Everyone pitied you."

"...I'm sorry, Keith. I did the same to you."

But Keith shakes his head with that little smile. Then he strokes the curve of Shiro's cheek.

"I understand, okay?" He assures Shiro again, and Shiro leans into his touch. "But as you said, that's in the past. No matter what you did or what happened, you don't deserve to feel miserable and lonely if you don't want that. Even if you think you do. Idiot."

And he thinks Keith really understands. He thinks Keith knows why it was so important for Shiro that he stayed all that time, how he changed everything for the better. He was the best company Shiro could ask for.

Shiro feels the big weight he carried with him since the accident was lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you, Keith."

"Thank you, for trusting me so much." Keith answers in the same soft tine, and his hand slides, cupping under Shiro's ear. He slowly lets go of him, but his tiny smile doesn't disappear.

Shiro's feelings for Keith are overflowing.

"Do you," Shiro croaks, before he doed something stupid. "Do you really plan to find a place for yourself?"

"Oh, yeah. I was thinking about that for some time now. I thought it was a good idea to stop trying to steal cars and sleep in them and I have been taking small odd jobs to save a bit of money. It's still not a stable one, that's more difficult, but it's what I have been doing when I go out."

Shiro can't stop his disappointment from clearly showing on his face. "I see. Well, you could have told me. I can help you find something."

Keith chuckles, and shrugs his shoulders.

"I promised myself that was something I had to do for me. There's something I still have to retrieve, finish some business. I have to do it myself or it won't feel right." Shiro doesn't know what Keith is talking about, but it's something he expected. Mysterious and beautiful Keith, always leaving him wanting to know more, to know everything about him. "I'm sorry, though. I really should have told you."

"You could–" Shiro's tongue slips, and he doesn't know why he is trying to say this. "Even if you finish them and find a job or anything, you could stay."

Keith blinks at him, parted lips that Shiro wants to kiss so badly.

"...We could be housemates."

"Shiro?" Keith questions.

"It's big enough for us both. We could pay the bills together if you want? Or we could find another place if it accommodates you better. Kosmo could stay with us and live happily. We could– you know. We could…"

Shiro thinks that asking Keith to stay sounds too much like living together as a couple, like if he is asking him out directly. But Shiro also feels he is overstepping too many boundaries and he is just overwhelmed by his own one sided feelings for Keith. What an idiot he is, falling in love with the beautiful car thief.

And ultimately, he can't say anything more. He is lost in Keith's violet eyes. On that smile of him that attracts him so much. Keith doesn't look vulnerable, he is always sure of himself, but he looks honest and open and Shiro leans in to him, just as Keith leans in to him too.

If only he could tell him.

Kosmo lifts his head with a whimper and shakes it. Looks like Shiro put one of his hands on his snout. " Oh , sorry Kosmo! I didn't mean to wake you up, buddy."

He has to be the most unlucky guy ever for ruining such a moment with his crush, but at least he hears Keith laughing at how Kosmo seems to answer to Shiro's apology, a bit offended, and maybe Shiro is not that unlucky if he still has Keith there, with him.

.

After that conversation, nothing between them changes much. 

Shiro still keeps waking up in the mornings, finding Keith downstairs and having breakfast with him. He has lunch with him on his free days and the days he has to go out for work, he comes back home, and sometimes waits for Keith to come back, sometimes he is already there. But they cook together, have dinner together, and then they watch something, or talk about anything and everything. They never get tired of talking to each other.

Shiro asks Keith if he keeps looking for a job, Keith says he still didn't give up. Keith then asks Shiro if he is making cool new prosthetics, Shiro laughs, telling him it doesn't work like that. Shiro asks Keith about what type of dog he wanted to have when he was a kid, and Keith tells him the biggest he could find, no offense to Kosmo. Keith asks Shiro what kind of guys are his type, and Shiro chokes and blushes without a proper answer, making Keith laugh. Keith wants to know about Shiro's family. Shiro asks Keith about his dad. They keep asking and asking, and there comes a point where Shiro feels it's like he's known Keith his entire life. 

When Shiro sees Keith laughing, sitting at the kitchen countertop when he comes home, and he observes how Keith turns to him with a little smile and a welcome home , it feels right. It's how a home should feel.

Maybe nothing changed much, but that's good for Shiro. That's more of what he could ask for.

A month after that conversation, there is a particular evening where Keith asks him something that stops Shiro in his tracks, looking back at him with undoubtable curiosity.

"Come again?"

"The piano," Keith repeats, not gazing over Shiro, but touching the instrument with his fingertips. "I was wondering for a while if it was a real one or if you really know how to play. I never saw you."

Shiro tilts his head and looks away for a bit, sheepishly. It kind of embarrasses him, to a certain degree.

"It's real. It was from my grandma, remember when I told you about her? She was a great pianist. She taught me."

Keith hums, distracted, but he listens. His eyes shine with curiosity.

"I only play when I'm feeling down. It cheers me up." He hopes Keith realizes the fact he hasn't heard Shiro play it yet means something good. Means Keith is the reason behind it. "Maybe one day I'll show you."

Like maybe one day he would tell Keith about his true feelings, before Keith decides he is ready to follow his own path.

“Why not now?”

Actually, Shiro thinks about it for a second. He doesn’t know why he is postponing this, as he is doing with everything to do with Keith. Like he wants this peculiar but comfortable break in his boring life to last as long as possible, and if he is too eager about showing how much all of this means to him, the dream will end. Maybe he shouldn’t be waiting for something, anything . Maybe he should start to be selfish for once, like Keith told him.

“You know what? You’re right.” He is sure he catches Keith’s surprised face when he sees Shiro move to sit on the modest bench and lift the lid over the keyboard. 

Shiro looks over his shoulder to give him a small but mischievous smile, like he is about to spill a secret.

"Do you know any piece, Keith?" Shiro pats the empty space on the bench at his side.

Keith snorts, but he goes to sit with him "Why would I? You are the one with a pianist grandma here."

"Okay, fair." He makes Shiro chuckle too. "Let's see… Oh, I still remember my favorite one. She used to sing it to me too, it's like a lullaby. I can't promise it will sound as good as it did with her."

"I think it will sound perfect on you." Keith offers, soft tone to counter Shiro's self-deprecating opinions disguised in humor. Keith already knows him too well.

Shiro bashfully smiles down at the keys, then he feels a heavy weight on his lap and finds Kosmo's head there, looking up at him. Shiro can't help but scratch his head.

"Do you want to listen too, Kosmo? Alright, this is for you then."

Under Keith's attentive gaze, Shiro starts to press the keys. He is a bit rusty but he knows this melody like the palm of his hand, having listened to it for so many times, and practiced it even more. If he closes his eyes, he can still see his grandma's wrinkled hands, small, not as delicate as they were in her time, but still beautiful to Shiro.

"You and me together we'll be

Forever you'll see

We two can be good company

You and me

Yes, together we two"

He knows his voice has anything to do with how sweetly his grandma sang to him, and how she made him rest at ease every night since his parents passed away. When he opens his eyes he sees Kosmo with his ears all perked up to listen, which makes Shiro smile.

"Together, that's you

Forever with me

We'll always be good company

You and me

Yes, together we'll be"

His hands keep moving, pushing on white and black keys and dragging the tips of his fingers to create this simple, but lovable melody that means so much to him. And although Shiro could keep playing and look at Keith at the same time, he can't bring himself to do it. Shiro just wonders what type of expression he might be doing, or what he might be thinking about, listening to the song. His heart aches for Keith so much, this is all he can afford to offer him.

"You and me

Together we'll be

Forever, you'll see

We'll always be good company

You and me

Just wait and see"

Before he can finish, he feels another weight on him just like Kosmo did before. This time, he feels it over his shoulder, and he knows it's Keith. Resting his head there, leaning onto his arm, wrapping timidly a hand around it. Shiro doesn't want to think about what this gesture, this touch, really means, but it makes him feel safe and loved, cherished, like when his grandma tucked him in bed with a Goodnight Takashi and a smile. He feels the same for Keith.

"...Good Company?" After a bit, Keith asks him in a whisper, almost afraid of breaking this moment.

Shiro rests his head on top of Keith's too, his eyes a bit misty.

"Yeah…" With a chuckle, he sighs at the end. " Good Company. "

.

Shiro is in a very good mood. 

It's the trimestral investor meeting all over again, and even if Shiro is not the type of guy to sit on a chair for hours and spend all the time convincing a bunch of people why his ideas are good, this time is pretty different from last one. This time they decided to visit his company for a whole day of "touring". Not like there's much to see, or they have a lot of new prototypes on the beta stage they can see, but just staying in the city makes him immensely grateful.

Of course, if someone would give him the opportunity to repeat that day where he had to drive to the nearby town, rescue Kosmo on his way back and prompt him to meet Keith, he would do it all over again. Shiro wouldn't change anything.

Thanks to that, Shiro is the first one to be able to leave work early that day. Allura chuckled while she told him he deserved it, and that she would take care of the rest (Shiro is now sure she knows what has been going on between him and Keith), so Shiro gets in his car, the world disappearing while he thinks about home and about what he should cook for later.

With a quick stop at the supermarket, Shiro brings home a couple special ingredients for a nice dinner. They don’t really have anything to celebrate but Keith has been trying his best in a new job he found lately, and Shiro wants to give him a good reward. He hasn't told Shiro yet what it is about this time or if it is stable enough, but Shiro doesn’t mind, he trusts Keith will tell him when he is ready, and he is very proud of Keith for wanting to change his situation. 

Shiro arrives quickly and when he unlocks the front door of their house, Shiro turns on the lights to find Kosmo waiting for him.

“Oh, Keith hasn't come back yet? Were you waiting for me? Good boy.”

He approaches the immense alien dog to give him some rubs, chuckling at his wagging tail, and then he goes to prepare himself for the special dinner.

Kosmo trots alongside him, his leg has been doing better even if there are days he still limps a bit. He told Lance about this and he said that as long as he could move easily and he is not suffering, he wouldn’t worry much about Kosmo. Sometimes, dogs as other animals (even humans) experience consequences from past accidents that, even fully healed up, stay on them and turn into different behaviors. This is not bad per se as it doesn’t trouble their lives, so Shiro appreciates Lance making sure that Kosmo is okay, even if he doesn’t know anything about alien biology. 

“Seems you and I aren’t that different, huh?” Shiro tells Kosmo, and he receives a small grumble in response. “Yeah, you will dine first. I promise.”

So Shiro takes a shower and changes into more domestic, comfortable clothes. It’s a bit early and Keith is not home yet so he thinks he has time to start to prepare dinner and not rush it. He has been getting better at it, even if it’s still not his forte, Keith is much better at it than him. It also helped a lot to have him alongside him, proving new things and laughing while some stuff didn’t taste as they planned, but others went really well. 

He always has a lot of fun with him. Keith is smart, reliable and funny, even if his humor falls more into the snarky way. It makes Shiro laugh nonetheless. 

Keith is also surprisingly very resourceful, as he fixed more than once the lighting of the upper hallway, and the connection of the garage door. He told Shiro those are the types of odd jobs he usually does, for humble people he meets along the years on the streets. Shiro has been curious about this too, about what kind of people Keith usually helps, but he decided that was one of the things he likes to still stay in mystery, at least for now.

But above all that, Keith is beautiful.

Shiro always catches himself staring at the swell of Keith’s cheekbones when he is focused reading something, or watching TV on the couch. The way he fixes his hair in that low ponytail when he feels his hair is getting in the way while he cooks. His eyelashes fluttering, his fond smile while wrapping his arms around Kosmo and burying his face into his fur. His playful demeanor and competitiveness in silly games against Shiro.

Shiro is in love.

He is not ashamed of his feelings for Keith. He will eventually, probably, tell him. He is just not sure how or when, but after all those months together, it’s something he has to do. After all, Keith didn’t answer him at the living together idea, so even if it doesn’t go as Shiro would like, it won’t be a problem. He just needs to stop letting things pass, and stop just waiting for something, anything. 

Whatever happens at the end, it will be okay.

A couple hours pass and Shiro has everything ready. Keith didn't come back yet.

He is not worried, it's not the first time this happens. 

Shiro has time to give Kosmo his dinner and massage his leg after playing a bit with him, letting him rummage the backyard even if it's dark. The local news on the TV finished long ago, they usually eat while listening to them.

The dinner is untouched, and it's getting cold. Shiro checks his phone for the time. 

This is a bit weird.

He purses his lips when he realizes Keith's phone is not picking up a signal, or it's dead. Which is not surprising because Keith doesn’t really care about it, he is a bit of a free spirit anyway. But he always comes back, Keith always appears. Every night, since he met Keith, he has been there.

He tries to distract himself by saving the cold food and storing it in the fridge, hopeful Keith will just appear at the door all hungry. He doesn't.

Tonight is different.

Past the hour where they usually sit at the couch to watch whatever has aliens in it, Shiro starts to get a bit nervous.

He remembers the words Keith told him months ago, but that was then, it's in the past. They were strangers and they are friends now, they are something at least. 

If Keith left for real, he would let Shiro know at least, right? He would have taken Kosmo with him, because he loves Kosmo. Keith had always wanted a dog. 

If Keith left for real, Shiro pictured it would be one day after discussing it, Shiro knowing where Keith is going to stay by himself. He could visit him, and they could still hang out together.

If Keith left for real, it wouldn't feel this empty, Shiro would be prepared. But the house feels cold, and dark, and he can't help but cling to the thought that Keith didn't leave, but something happened to him.

Shiro decides to still trust Keith, even if Keith doesn't owe him anything.

He quickly stands up, antsy from waiting and overthinking. Kosmo looks at him from his curled up position on the couch while Shiro gathers his jacket and puts it on quickly, trying to remain calm. It's very difficult.

He stumbles with his own feet while trying to look for his car key, all nervous. He doesn't know where Keith must be. He hardly knows a couple places Keith likes to go to, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be there. He despairs before the idea of not knowing Keith enough, making him unable to help him properly if he's in trouble. He can at least spend all night looking for him across the city, if he has to. 

"Stay here Kosmo, I'm going to look for Keith. I need to find him."

Grabbing the front door's handle he yanks it open.

"I need to–"

And there he is. 

Keith, almost one in the morning, with the spare house key Shiro gave him that turned to be simply Keith's key on his hand, right at the door like he was about to just get in. 

Shiro freezes on the spot.

"Shiro." Keith wheezes. He surely didn't expect to find Shiro there, all ready to go out at that hour, so he is as surprised as Shiro must look. "Shit, Sorry. I know I'm so late. My phone died because I'm an idiot and I couldn't let you know. I'm very sorry about the dinner. I'm–"

Shiro takes a step and cups Keith's cheeks. Without letting Keith finish, he kisses him.

Shiro kisses him and Keith doesn't try to stop him. 

It's just a press of lips, a seek of warmth, a hold. Shiro tries to center himself, convincing himself that Keith came back and he is there and at the same time he cannot worry enough about overstepping on those boundaries he always stopped from crossing.

"Keith, you're here…" Shiro starts, whispering over Keith's breathing lips. Then he realizes what he just did and clumsily tries to give Keith space, flushing from head to toe. "Fuck, I'm– I'm so sorry. I didn't mean– Well maybe I did, but–"

This time, Keith is the one taking a step forward and kissing Shiro, making the words die in his lips. This time, none of them pull apart.

Kissing Keith feels like heaven.

They stumble inside, in that melting and slow lock of their lips, closing the door behind them. Shiro can feel how Keith puts his arms around his shoulders, pressing their chests together. It feels warm and his heart hammers inside him so fast and loudly he is sure Keith is able to feel it too. 

Keith's head tilts and the kiss deepens. Shiro almost whimpers on it, burning. His hands find Keith's waist and he holds him tight, drinking the kiss like it's water on the desert and he is a thirsty man. Keith is even better than that.

They seem lost enough in each other until Keith abandons his lips to look down. Kosmo started to nose him on the leg, like asking Keith where he was and demanding an answer. Keith happily chuckles at that. It sends a shiver across Shiro's spine.

"Hey buddy, were you worried too? I’m sorry. I'm home." Keith's voice is sweet as honey while he pats the alien dog's head. "Be a good boy and stay here."

"Keith–" Shiro tries to call him, only to get an index over his lips.

"Later," Keith husses him soft, heavy lidded eyes looking at him through his inky locks. "Ask me later, and I will tell you anything. Now is for us." 

Keith removes his finger and gives Shiro a tame kiss that may be soft but not innocent. It ignites Shiro completely, to the point of not being able to think of anything else than just to sink on Keith's warmth and scent and let him invade him plenty.

The kiss turns into a couple of them, and then they turn into several more, until Keith slowly takes his hand and guides Shiro upstairs, into Shiro's room.

Into his bed.

They don't talk. They touch, and kiss, and burn deliciously slow and intense, tangled on Shiro's sheets. It's almost like Keith had been aching for this as long as Shiro was, and for once, Shiro chooses to believe this, to think that Keith always wanted him too. For once, Shiro truly feels he is not lonely anymore.

.

When Shiro opens his eyes and turns his head around over his pillow, he can see the time on his digital clock, the only thing illuminating the dark room.

Six in the morning.

When he returns to his original position, he is greeted by a pair of lips and a warm, soft kiss.

"Hey." Keith whispers over Shiro's. He can only make out the naked lines of Keith’s body in the darkness, but he doesn't need his eyes to know Keith is smiling.

"I thought you were sleeping." Shiro confesses, sounding the same content and peaceful. "It's too early yet."

"Mh…" Keith hums as a response, nuzzling on Shiro's neck, tucking his face there. Shiro hugs him tighter, pressing their bodies closer. 

They are still intertwined together after what happened some couple hours ago and Shiro is not thinking about letting Keith go yet.

"I don't want to keep sleeping. Don't want this to be a dream."

Keith is sweet and Shiro's heart sings. He can't help but chuckle. After all, he hopes for the same.

"You can ask me now," Keith says again, all distracted caressing Shiro's chest with his fingertips. "I promised to tell you anything."

Shiro wonders for a bit, still languid, basking in the moment.

"I thought you weren't going to come back. I even thought of going out to search for you." He closes his eyes. "What happened?"

Keith removes from where he was resting, just to be able to look directly at Shiro's eyes. Is a bit hard, but his eyes are getting used now. Keith saddens his face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He assures Shiro, cupping one of his cheeks. "I needed to take care of something. It's a long story."

Instead of leaving his answer as that, Keith intends to really explain it all this time.

"Remember when I told you about that? About how I had to pawn some of my Pa's belongings?" Shiro nods slowly, all his attention on Keith. "Well, I have been tracking them down all this time. It was pretty difficult and I had to do a lot of things in return for favors, but they were important for me and I finally did it."

Shiro is not sure what kind of favors Keith is talking about, but the frown on his face is talking for him. It makes Keith chuckle.

"Don't worry, nothing illegal. I was trying to get them back before they were reselled again. I almost went crazy visiting all the shops around the city before they closed."

And that's why he was late. Not for getting in trouble, or finding a better place away from Shiro. Just Keith trying to get back things that his father left him, that he couldn't find until now, in fear of losing them again.

Shiro is an idiot.

"You could have told me. I could have helped you."

"Yes, I know. I know you." Keith smiles at him, all soft and honest. Shiro wants to think that he looks happy. "You would have bought them for me without a second thought because you are kind and sweet. But I didn't need that. I wanted to do it by myself. You already helped me save all that money to be able to do it."

Shiro can't tell Keith is wrong about this. He would have tried to convince Keith at least, probably. He sighs with a soft pink tint over his cheeks, feeling called out.

"Maybe," Shiro accepts.

"Yeah, not maybe. Definitely ."

Shiro chuckles and Keith goes along with him too. Then, Keith confesses something Shiro never could imagine before.

"I love that about you, though. I love everything about you." 

And with those simple words, Shiro's heart goes crazy. He is sure it doesn't go unnoticed by Keith.

"Um, does this mean…?" Shiro fidgets while Keith hums softly.

He is nervous but Keith keeps smiling at him. There’s nothing more than joy and love in his heart. There’s nothing more than Keith.

"I love you, Keith.” Shiro unexpectedly blurts out, unable to contain himself. “I– I have for a while."

"And I love you, too." Keith looks more relaxed, but he lights up at the confession. He seals his words with another soft press on Shiro’s lips. "But I thought you already knew this. That time on the couch? The time you played the piano for me?"

"Believe me, I'm not the best at these things." Shiro groans, annoyed at himself for not having picked any kind of signal before. It would have been easier, for sure.

"I can tell, but it's part of your charm. Being gorgeous and such a snack and not even realizing it.'' Keith teases, just like Keith always does. 

But he doesn't look like he minds for Shiro to be an oblivious mess and Shiro is happy that this means everything .

"There's one more thing."

Shiro knits his eyebrows together while Keith shifts again. He half climbs on Shiro's chest and folds his arms there, resting his chin on a relaxed posture.

"I didn't lie when I told you I was looking for a stable job. No more delinquent stuff and all that, sure, but it's still really hard. People keep asking about my past, others know I have a record." Keith sighs, but he looks determined, as opposed as he looked like the first time he told Shiro about this. "But I didn't give up, and I found something."

"What?! Keith, that's awesome!!" Shiro exclaims, almost getting on his elbows to throw himself at Keith. He looks very pleased, soft blush coloring his scar, for the genuine excitement on Shiro.

"I didn't tell you anything about it for a reason." And Keith looks like he is going to tell him, but then, he teases again. Shiro can read it in his mischievous smile.

"C'mon, you are just playing with me now."

It's worth it if it means he can hear Keith laughing like that for the rest of his days.

"Turns out, I found your friend's vet clinic. At first it was a crazy idea, thinking I could start doing things the right way. Then I knew for a fact it was a very bad idea to go and ask Lance for any type of formation where I could start with. But I thought about you, and well– I did it anyway. I like animals, and I know I can learn quickly, I already have some knowledge. I just didn't meet anyone until now that could lend me a hand. A second chance. You did that possible." 

Keith reminds him, and Shiro's chest swells in affection.

"So long story short: I was wrong and you were right. Lance is a bit too obnoxious to my patience, but he is a very nice guy and didn't judge me when I was honest with him about my context. He knew I needed money and let me earn a bit by grooming some of the dogs he had there. Turns out too, I am so good at it that he is thinking about adding the service to his clinic and hiring me for that. His wife then found out and both were dying to tell you, but I made them promise that they wouldn't do that."

Shiro is baffled. He can't believe Lance and Allura knew all this and they didn't tell him anything, but he is glad. He is very glad. Keith trusted them and that makes him euphoric as well.

"Why?" Shiro is able to articulate.

"Because I wanted it to be a surprise when it was official. I wanted to tell you myself." A shy answer, Keith looking around a bit nervous. "I wanted to, um… I wanted to make you feel proud."

And the realization hits Shiro. Keith has been thinking about him all the time. Keith has been trying to let aside his own bad opinions of himself and chose to believe Shiro. Believe in his own worth.

Shiro is truly proud of him.

"God. I'm so in love with you, Keith." Shiro groans again, but this time he catches Keith between his arms and attacks him with kisses. Keith laughs delightedly again. "I'm so, so proud of you." 

The bashful but content smile Keith gives him is everything Shiro needs. Now and forever.

"And I want you to know this doesn't have to mean something. I mean– what we feel and what we have. You still owe me nothing at all, but," Shiro stops himself, licking his lips. This is the last step he needs to make. "Would you, um– Would you change your mind? About finding a place."

Shiro holds Keith's gaze, the same way he did while he asked already for this.

"If I ask you to stay here, with me. Would you change your mind and stay?"

Shiro doesn't beg but his voice does this funny thing where it's clear he intends to. Keith chuckles. Then snorts. 

"What type of question is that? After all this time, you're still the kindest idiot I ever met."

Keith had been giving him all kinds of kisses all night, some of them the best ones Shiro had in his entire life. The one Keith is giving him right now can't compare to anything else.

It's pure devotion and love.

"...I wouldn’t be anywhere else."

After all, they'll always be good company.