Chapter Text
Everything was foggy, like opening his eyes underwater. A woman sat at the bedside next to him, her warm eyes and soft smile brought a feeling of peace and safety to his addled brain. “Mom?” He slurred out, gaze unfocused.
“Keith,” she breathed more than said, with a sigh of relief.
Keith the name felt familiar, but he couldn’t recall who it was. Is that… me? He was too tired to think on it any longer. The large man that had been sitting in the corner stood and walked towards the bed. His hand was huge and warm as it landed gently on Keith’s leg on top of the blankets. It felt paternal in a way he couldn’t place. “Shiro will want to know he’s awake.” The man said quietly, turning towards the woman.
“Shiro…” That name felt familiar too. He had a thousand questions as what he assumed to be his parents turned towards him. “Who…?” Was all he managed before slipping out of consciousness again.
..
Things were clearer, though not by much, the next time he awoke. His head still buzzed with uncertainty. As the room slowly shifted into focus, he saw his mother's smile again. “Shiro is on his way.” She assured, patting his hand comfortingly.
He nodded. It was a mistake, his vision swam again and it took another few blinks to clear. “Who… is Shiro?” Keith managed to say quietly.
Krolia’s eyes widened a little. “He's your…” she trailed off, not sure how to answer.
She didn't get the chance to find the words before the door opened. “Keith!”
Oh was all Keith managed to think before Shiro’s arms were around him. The thrum of the electric field stabilizing his detached and floating prosthetic felt more than a little strange against his back. The hug was comforting and the smell of Shiro’s cologne soothed him even if he couldn’t remember what it was; it smelled like home.
Shiro pulled away, left hand resting gently on Keith’s right shoulder and the huge, floating prosthetic still firm against his back. The visual was a little disconcerting. “I’m so glad you’re awake.”
“Me too.” Keith answered after a brief pause. Shiro’s eyes roved over his face, his jaw flexing like he was trying to come up with more to say. The urge to lean in and press their lips together, to smooth the harsh lines between Shiro’s brows and kiss away his frown overwhelmed him, so he gave in.
It was a ghost of a kiss, the barest brush of lips, but Shiro pulled back with flaming red cheeks and wide eyes. Keith’s brows furrowed, the impulse felt like it was something he’d done a thousand times, but Shiro’s shocked expression filled him with doubt. Suddenly he was dizzy again.
“Keith! You… your mom’s here!” Shiro whispered harshly.
Krolia laughed and shook her head. “We will... give you boys a moment.” She turned to Kolivan, still perched in the corner, and motioned for him to follow her as she left the room. He shut the door behind him.
Shiro ran his hand down his face and looked back at Keith. “What…?”
Keith blinked away the black spots in his eyes. “Sorry, I’m… I think something’s wrong with my head.” The color drained from Shiro’s face and he leaned in as Keith cradled his head in his hands. “I can’t remember very much.”
“It’s ok, take it slow. What do you remember?” Shiro asked, gently taking Keith’s hands in his own.
Keith looked down at their joined hands instead of up at Shiro’s face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “My mom, and… a ship? I have a ship. I think, I crashed?”
Shiro nodded. “Can you tell me your mom’s name?” He asked quietly.
Keith shook his head.
“What about my name?”
Keith looked up at him. “Shiro.” Shiro smiled softly, and Keith felt guilty. “My mom said you were coming, though.”
His smile wavered a little. “So you don’t… you don’t remember anyone?”
Keith shook his head again, blinking as another wave of vertigo washed over him. “Sorry, I’m kind of a shitty boyfriend I guess.” He said with a laugh, leaning back against the pillows in the hopes that the room would stop spinning soon. Shiro’s face flushed again. “Unless… we’re not…?”
“You’re the best boyfriend in the entire universe.” Shiro interrupted, squeezing Keith’s hands and smiling back.
“M’the tiredest… boyfriend… universe…” Keith murmured, blinking heavily as he smiled.
Shiro brushed his bangs away from the bandages around his head. “Get some rest, have someone call me when you wake up.” Keith nodded once and let his eyes slide shut, squeezing Shiro’s prosthetic gently before falling asleep.
Shiro rearranged the blankets around him, stalling for time as he tried to figure out what to tell Kolivan and Krolia. The Blades knew him too well, he’d never be able to pass off a lie. He leaned in and pressed his lips softly to Keith’s forehead, blushing again at the way Keith’s lips ticked up into a small smile.
Walking back out into the hallway, he closed the door behind him quietly. “We… need to talk about Keith.” Shiro said, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible. Kolivan and Krolia looked between each other, having a wordless conversation. Before either of them could ask what he meant, Shiro added, “Meet me in the briefing room, I should get the others, too.”
They both frowned, but nodded, turning to head down the hallway.
..
Assembling the full team was much harder in the sprawling Garrison than it had been in the Castle, but Shiro managed to find them all in relatively short order. Everyone sat around the briefing room table impatiently as Shiro stood nervously at the front of the room. “Thank you for coming, everyone.”
A few murmurs and grumbles of interrupted video games and baking spread throughout the group. He waited for them to die down, aided with a harsh look from Kolivan, before continuing. “Keith woke up for a while today.”
Excited chattering broke out among the small group. “But!” Shiro interjected, before the conversations could spiral and people started heading to Keith’s room. “He’s having some trouble remembering… anything.” Shiro said sadly, a stunned silence filled the room. He cleared his throat before continuing, hoping his embarrassment didn’t show on his face. “He remembered Krolia was his mother, but not her name. And he… thinks I’m his boyfriend.”
Pidge and Matt’s joint barking laughter seemed to echo and spurred on several other snickers. Lance looked around with furrowed brows. “Wait, you… aren’t you his boyfriend?” He asked incredulously.
Shiro pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
“What!?” Lance exclaimed loudly. “But… you know he’s like super in love with you, right?”
Gritting his teeth and gripping the table tightly, Shiro took a deep breath before responding. “I’m… aware.”
“So why didn’t-” Lance started.
Pidge quickly cut him off. “Shut up, Lance. That’s the Slav face. Abort mission.” She hissed out quietly.
The damage was already done. “Sorry, Lance. I figured leading a ragtag group of teenagers through an intergalactic war was a little bit more pressing than flirting. Guess I should refocus my priorities, right?” Shiro growled out sarcastically.
Hunk stood up and held his hands out. “Look, this is a stressful situation and we’re all worried about Keith. We don’t wanna freak him out, and it’s not like they’re gonna act any differently, so we can all just play along until Keith gets better.” He addressed the group at large. Shiro was slightly annoyed at his choice of words, but the group seemed placated by the suggestion.
Kolivan frowned and looked up at Shiro. “He’ll be displeased when he discovers the ruse.”
Shiro sighed, his outburst of indignation quelled for the moment. “I know, and that’s on me. He made a joke about being a bad boyfriend because he couldn’t remember my name and… I just went with it.” He shook his head. “I can tell him the truth if you’re all uncomfortable with this.”
“Ah, the follies of youth. I remember when I was your age.” Matt said with another laugh, leaning back in his chair and crossing his ankles on the table.
Shiro glared and tossed his arm across the room, knocking the chair and its occupant to the ground. “You’re older than me now, we get it. Thank you, Matt, for your endless wisdom.”
“No… problem… buddy…” Matt groaned, rubbing his sore elbow as he righted the chair and sat back down.
“Does anyone else have anything helpful to add?” Shiro asked, feeling his blood pressure rising again.
Krolia stood and surveyed the group. “I think Hunk is right. Head injuries can be difficult, we do not want to add unnecessary stress to Keith while he is healing.” She turned back to Shiro with a soft, playful smile. “And you do already act like a couple.” She teased.
Shiro hung his head and took another deep breath. “Is everyone alright with that?”
No one raised any objections, so Krolia and Kolivan left to go alert Keith’s doctors to the situation. Allura stayed behind as the rest of the group filtered out. She approached quietly as he stood, seemingly glued to his spot at the table, and put her arms gently around his shoulders. “I’m sorry everyone is treating this as a joke. I’m sure it’s difficult for you.”
Shiro looked up at her and smiled gratefully. “Thank you,” he replied quietly, “I just… want Keith to be ok.”
She nodded sadly and lowered her arms. “He’ll be alright. I’m sure something from Oriande can help if his physicians cannot.” Allura reassured with a tight-lipped smile before leaving him to have a much needed moment alone.
Shiro watched her walk out of the room and finally relaxed his aching fingers from where they gripped the edge of the table. He closed his eyes and breathed in through his mouth and out through his nose, collecting himself for several long moments before following her.