Chapter Text
Fond touches, smiles, looks. Dark hair and gorgeous eyes that looked at him like he was his whole world. Shiro’s wedding day had gone exactly as planned, his new husband at his side as he thanked his friends and found family for joining him, hands clasped tightly together. Curtis Shirogane was his happiness, the reason he wanted to stay on Earth as Admiral of the Galaxy Garrison and settle down. With Adam it would never have worked, even if he had returned from the Kerberos mission in his original body and they decided to try again at their relationship, he wouldn’t have been happy.
Curtis pulled on his hand, grabbing his attention from the past, before pulling him in for a second celebratory kiss. He melted instantly, returning the soft press of lips with as much fervour as he could without breaking social etiquette. He was happy, he could finally say that now.
He had his new family at his side, watching the happiest day of his life unfold. The Holts were ecstatic for him, Pidge jumping up and down out of her excitement. Hunk looking tearful at his friend becoming a husband. Lance, although still grieving for Allura, was enjoying the festivities, happy for his idol but sad that he’d never be able to have the same with Allura, Coran putting a gentle hand on his shoulder to remind him that he was there for him whilst being as tearful as Hunk.
Keith, although his best man, stayed behind, letting Shiro accept his congratulations and staying out of his way for the most part. Keith was surprised when he brought up the announcement that he and Curtis were engaged, and that he wanted Keith to be his best man. Keith’s eyes, as expressive as they usually were, hid his feelings behind complete stoicness after flashing with some unknown emotion for a moment. He agreed and Shiro carried on with his plans. Keith had been pulling away more and more after that, but still joined him at his wedding.
The reception rolled round and Keith was nowhere to be seen. His seat was empty and the other Paladins had no idea where he went, only that he wanted to get some air.
Excusing himself from his husband’s side, Shiro went to look for him. The speeches started soon and he wanted Keith there to wish him luck, he wanted him by his side like he used to be.
Shiro wandered the halls of the manor they had hired for the reception and bumped into Krolia, who was in her uniform for the Blades. She had joined the wedding party on behalf of the Blades, as Kolivan was busy off planet with the reformation of previously Galra-controlled planets.
“Apologies Shiro, I was deep in thought.”
“It's fine,” he moved out of her way, “have you seen Keith? The speeches are supposed to start soon and he's the best man.”
Krolia looked puzzled, “He didn't tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“He couldn't stay for speeches, he and I had to leave soon after the ceremony for headquarters. He has already taken a shuttle there.”
Shiro looked at his feet, unsure of the uneasy feeling he had brewing inside his breastbone. Keith had been quiet throughout the ceremony, withdrawn even.
“I see.” Why didn't he tell him that he was going on a mission so soon? Did Shiro do something wrong? “When do you think he'll be back? I wanted to thank him again for being my best man and I-”
“I'm not sure if he will be. At least not for a few years.”
“A few years?”
Krolia nodded, she saw everything in the quantum abyss, how her son felt for the man in front of her, everything he did to save him, how Shiro saved him first. She couldn't help but know why Keith had left soon after the ceremony, he did what he was used to when he cared too much.
He was running away.
Shiro was worried. Unbeknownst to him, Keith was running away from what he could never have and all he ever wanted.
“He sends his congratulations, as do the Blades, Shiro. I'm happy for you myself, but I should be going now, the last shuttle is leaving soon. Pass my congratulations to your husband.” Holding a graceful hand out, Krolia smiled as genuinely as she could without showing the remnants of pain that lingers in her heart for her son.
Taking her hand, Shiro thanked her, turning around to return to the reception room with a slightly heavier heart than when he left it.
Spotting him from across the room, Lance bounded over, the Holt's dog BeBe following behind him. “Everything ok Cap? You seem down, where's Keith?”
Shiro scratched BeBe behind the ears absentmindedly, like he would do with the space wolf. He would have left with Keith as well, it would be while before he smelt the smell of ozone and he already missed it. “I'm fine Lance and it's just Shiro now, I retired a month ago remember? Keith had a mission to do so he left early.” He tried to keep the hurt out of his voice, he really tried, but the crack the words left him gave him away.
Lance, not one that likes to see his friends sad, gripped his shoulder and smiled, “Hey, cheer up. It's your wedding day, Keith would have wanted to stay if he could. I guess it means I have to give the best man speech now, right Shiro?”
They began walking towards the front table, the room was decorated in purple accents, Curtis' favourite colour. Purple ribbons adorned the back of the chairs, tied neatly in intricate bows, purple centrepieces on the tables, a purple rosette cake baked by Hunk and Shay.
After being held prisoner by the Galra you'd think Shiro would have had enough of the colour purple. But there was a couple of purple things missing from his happy day with his husband. He had always noticed them from afar, even looked into them with gratitude and had the same look returned. The dark bluey purple of his best friend's eyes. They should be here. But they're travelling elsewhere, in the same stars that were reflected in them.
“Takashi? Are you going to sit down yet honey?”
The calming voice of his husband brought him back to Earth. Where you belong something in his mind reminded him. Where you shouldn't be his heart countered.
Returning his husband's easy smile, he sat next to him, taking his hand and pressing a kiss against his knuckles. A whispered “I love you” and Curtis’ best man stood up, starting the speeches and festivities with a few laughs and digs.
***
“Are you sure about this Keith?” Krolia held her son stroking his hair and softly shushing him, he was near tears at the back of the ceremony and now that she had taken him away from the situation he burst out crying, asking to be brought to headquarters with her.
“I thought about it for a while and I can't do it mom, I can't watch. I tried, I tried so hard to tell him.” He was sniffling, still crying tears he had held for weeks. He had been strong, he had to be for Shiro, but now that it was over and his mother was there for comfort he couldn't hold it in. “I said I'd save him as many times as it took, and if that means him being happy with Curtis I should save him the stress of seeing me.”
“Kit…” Krolia was at a loss, trying to be a calming influence for her son as well as wanting to protect him from his own breaking heart. “Kit look at me,” He lifted his head to look up at his mother, “go to your room, get your things and wait in the shuttle ok? I'll be there soon. I'm going to give my well wishes and we will leave in a couple of hours.”
Still sniffling, Keith nodded and removed himself from his mother's space, pulling his hair from the ponytail it sat in and sending a small smile Krolia's way, he moved out of the room he found to let it out.
Breathing fully for the first time since before the wedding he took off down the hall to the room given to him. Taking off the white suit he was asked to wear, putting it back into the closet for one of the others to pick up, he went to work putting his Blade uniform on, tucking his knife in it's sheath, before packing the few possessions he owned. He never had much anyway, a brush he had picked up for his hair, a picture of himself, as a baby, his mom and dad, as well as a picture of himself and the Paladin’s that Beezer had taken, Shiro's arm around his shoulder, looking his way and smiling a full smile.
Putting the last of his things into his satchel, he called to his space wolf, telling him to go to the shuttle. The smell of ozone entrapped him and then he was in his room on the shuttle, exactly as he had left it.
It had been a week since he'd returned to Earth, but now all he wanted to do was return to his dream, a dream he thought Shiro shared. Shiro's retirement hit him like a punch in the gut never could. They had talked about exploring together after the war, as friends if nothing else, but Shiro retiring at 27 wasn't something Keith thought he would ever do. Shiro chose space over Adam previously, what had changed?
Letting out a sigh, he flopped onto the bed face first. The bed wasn't like the ones in the Garrison and were comfier than the ones on the castle since his mother and Kolivan were joint leaders of the Blades and were given this shuttle as a means of travel for leisure, rather than battle. The space wolf climbed on the bed, being as big as he was now he took up most of it as he tried to wiggle under Keith's chin like he used to as puppy.
“I know buddy, I know.” Keith moved his head to let the wolf see his face. He reached a hand out to pet him and sighed again. “I'll miss him too,” Sitting up, he looked to the small window which showed the sun setting outside. He'll miss the sunsets. He already misses the ones he spent with Shiro. “it'll be worth it though. He's happy now, he doesn't need us anymore.” He tried to blink back the new wave of tears and hugged the wolf to him, the wolf giving small licks to his cheeks, trying to get him to stop crying. Soon he lays on his back, still crying, the wolf having enough sense to just put his front paws and head on his chest as he falls into a saddened sleep.
By the time he woke up, his mom and her crew were on board, already on route back to headquarters that would take about a month to reach.
He had left Earth, and in turn Shiro and his new happiness behind.