Chapter Text
Carrying a bag of their belongings, Milo snuck out of the Garrison. There was nothing left for them there. Shiro had gone missing months ago on the Kerberos Mission, and their best friend had gotten kicked out for fighting their boyfriend, Cain. Milo hadn't talked to their best friend in a month. They were sure he hated them. After all, they were the reason he got kicked out of the Garrison. And Cain -- Well, Cain was only interested in maintaining his reputation, even if it was at Milo's expense. They had to be the perfect partner: subservient, attentive, tidy -- everything Milo wasn't. Cain wasted no time telling them that in whatever means he found necessary.
They took a couple of buses into town, but soon realized that they had nowhere to go. They didn't have enough money for a hotel room, and they had no family to retreat to. So there they were, sitting at a bus station in the pouring rain, thumbing through the contacts on their phone. They landed on one number, staring at the contact photo of the two of them sitting in the flight simulator. They hadn't contacted him in a month. Cain wouldn't let them. Pressing the contact, the phone rang a couple of times before it was answered.
"Milo?" He asked.
"I didn't know who else to call." Their lip quivered as they held back sobs.
"Where are you?" He spoke gruffly, shuffling around as he grabbed his gear.
"It's stupid -- sorry. Never mind." They went to hang up, hovering their finger over the 'end call' button.
"Milo! Don't you dare hang up on me." He scolded them loud enough for them to hear him, even though the phone wasn't pressed against their ear. "Lo, come on. Where are you?"
They lifted the phone back up to their ear. "I'm at the bus stop on Ninth."
"I'm coming. Just wait there." He started his engine, and the revving echoed through the phone.
"Okay..."
Milo let their face fall into their hands, resting their elbows on their knees. They were so naïve -- so incredibly naïve. Maybe they shouldn't have left. Sure, Cain was a bit intense sometimes, but that's because they egged him on. If they were a better partner, maybe he'd calm down. They'd start cleaning up more often, be less impulsive, and listen when he was talking. It was such a simple thing. Why couldn't they do it? No wonder Cain was so angry all the time. He was so good to them, and they couldn't even do what he asked.
The longer they sat there, the more they regretted calling their best friend. He would think they were using him. Who wouldn't? They were a terrible person. They left a perfect boyfriend, a full scholarship at the Garrison, and why? Because they were too fickle. They were the reason he got kicked out; he was going to hate them.
The last bus had already passed. Maybe Keith could give them a ride back to the Garrison. He probably wouldn't. They didn't deserve it. It would take a couple of hours to walk back to the Garrison. They'd probably get a detention and a thorough scolding from Cain, but at least they were back, right?
A hoverbike stopped in front of the bus stop, and their best friend hopped off, shoving his hands in his pockets and sitting next to them. He wrapped an arm around their side, and they leaned into him. They started to sniffle, wiping their nose with the cuff of their sleeve. The two of them sat there for a bit in silence. He wasn't much for words, and Milo wasn't sure they'd be able to speak without breaking into sobs. Eventually, he turned to them, taking a good look at their face.
"What happened?" He muttered, brushing his thumb over Milo's busted lip.
"Nothing I didn't deserve." They chuckled sardonically, a rogue tear trailing down their cheek.
"He hit you, didn't he?" His jaw locked as he stared intently at the injury on their lip.
"It was my fault." They shook their head. "It's okay, really."
"No, it's really not." He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You're a fool if you think that's okay."
Tears now freely fell down their cheeks as they broke into sobs. "I'm sorry."
He held them as they cried, rubbing their back until their sobs dissipiated into hiccups and sniffles. Milo's eyes were puffy, and their cheeks flushed from the intense weeping. They sighed into his shoulder before breathing in his scent. He smelt of motor oil and desert air. They wouldn't be surprised if he were rolling around on the ground fixing up his hoverbike earlier that day.
"C'mon. It's late." He pulled Milo to their feet and dragged them to his bike. With a gentle touch, he placed his spare helmet on their head and tightened the chin strap. He took their bag and put it in the storage area on his bike. "You're coming home with me."
"I should go back to the Garrison." They sniffled.
"You're not going back there." He scoffed, helping them onto the bike. "You're staying at my place."
"Are you sure?" They asked warily, watching as he hopped on the bike after them and revved the engine.
"If I weren't planning to take you back with me, I wouldn't have brought an extra helmet." He winked at them through his visor before driving out of town and back towards the open desert.
When they reached his house, he helped them off his bike. He helped Milo take the helmet off, undoing the strap and lifting it off their head. He ruffled their short hair with a tender smile. Then he took the time to take off his helmet.
Eyes tired, Milo let him lead them into the small desert shack. He guided them to the couch, his arm wrapped around their shoulders. They sat down, sinking into the worn-down sofa with a tired sigh. He reached around the couch, wrapping a soft blanket around their shoulders.
"Coffee?" He walked into the small kitchenette.
"It's midnight." Milo laughed wearily, snuggling their face into the blanket.
"That's never stopped you before." He quirked a brow, already starting the coffee machine.
"What if I'm up all night?" They quipped weakly, much too tired for wit.
"I once watched you down two energy drinks, then take a four-hour nap." He rolled his eyes fondly, watching as the machine poured hot coffee into an old, slightly chipped ceramic mug.
"Right." Milo shook their head, letting their bangs fall into their face. "I'm sorry I didn't keep in contact."
He handed them a steaming cup of coffee and sat beside them. "It's fine. You're here now."
They sighed, sipping their coffee and leaning on his shoulder. "You're the best, Keith."
"I know."