.......i keep having a reoccurring intrusive thought about demisexual Keith coming home to his boyfriend (not Shiro, endgame sheith) having sex with someone else in his bed. Heartbroken, he just sits on the couch, listening to every sound as he breaks just a little more.

Am I projecting? Fucking maybe cause I unearthed more unpleasantness and it needs out.

He breaks a little more the longer he sits there. He thought his boyfriend loved him, he thought they had something. Keith poured his heart out and trusted his bf with everything he was.

The person walks out to find Keith sitting there, but Keith doesn't look up. He doesn't say

Anything as his boyfriend comes out next, stammering about the situation. Keith simply unhooks his key from his keyring, takes off the promise ring as well, and sets them on the table. He walks out, ignoring the calls for him to come back. It's raining, a downpour as he walks.

Keith doesn't care that he's soaked, doesn't care as he sits on a park bench. He just stares at the ground, hours pass. He's shivering as it gets colder, rains harder, his phone keeps going off, he doesn't realize he's crying-

"Hey, how long have you been out here?"

Keith looks up into silver eyes, a shock of white bangs, and an outstretched gloved hand. He can't find the words to use, he's so numb.

"You don't look well. Here-" the guy uses his umbrella to shield Keith, and gently coaxes him off the bench. "Do you live around here?"

No, not anymore, so Keith slowly shakes his head. The man frowns, sighs, and carefully leads Keith out of the park to an apartment. He sits Keith down on the edge of a tub, turning on the shower and filling the room with warm steam.

"Gotta warm up slowly, ya know?

Looks like you've been in this storm for a while.." the man digs around the cupboard, pulling out a fluffy towel and a wash cloth. "Take your time, ok? I'll see if I have anything that will fit you."

Keith is confused, and shivering, but nods slowly.

He waits for the man to return with a set of clothes before he leaves Keith alone. Keith is still shivering and numb as he undresses and gets under the shower. Now warm, he gets out, dries off, and gets dressed. The clothes hang off him, but their dry and warm.

The man is waiting on the couch, two steaming mugs of what Keith thinks is hot chocolate sitting on the coffee table.

"Oh, you're done." The man stands, gently taking Keith's soaked cloths and tossing them in his washer. "Come sit, you must be exhausted."

Keith does, keeping his distance because he did just let a stranger bring him home. But this guy seems genuine, especially when he slowly slides one of the mugs towards Keith.

"It's nothing fancy, but I have more marshmallows if you want them."

Keith holds the mug in his still freezing hands, bottom lip trembling as everything starts to hit him. He sets the mug down and pulls his knees to his chest, wailing into them. The man doesn't come closer, just offers silent support as Keith cries.

A large, fluffy black cat jumps up onto the couch next to Keith, making little noises until he lets it in his lap.

"Ah geez, Black come on don't bother him." The man sighs, rubbing the back of his head. "She likes to cheer people up, I'm sorry."

Keith shakes his head, sniffling and running his fingers through the cats fur. "....what...what breed is she...?"

"Maine coon." The man smiles. "Also known as overgrown baby. Huh, Black?"

The cat just purrs louder, looking up at Keith before bumping her head against his face.

Keith just keeps petting her, sniffling again and trying to keep the cat from drowning him in fur. "I...thank you, for the shower. I uh, hope I'm not imposition..."

"Nah, I was just coming home from work, saw you sitting there. I'm Takashi Shirogane, but you can call me Shiro."

Shiro frowns a little, looking him over. "If you don't mind me asking...what were you doing out there in this weather? You'll get sick."

"I'm...Keith, Keith Kogane..." He swallows, trying not to cry again. "Came home to my boyfriend fucking someone in my bed..."

"Oh, ouch..." Shiro grimaces, but Keith keeps going.

"I don't know what I did wrong...I don't look at anyone else like I look at him, I thought- I fucking told him everything, he was my everything and now I-" he starts to cry again, holding onto Black.

"This is what I get for letting someone that close..."

"Hey, no. You don't deserve that, no one does." Shiro scoots a little closer. "He doesn't deserve you."

"......" Keith hiccups, looking up at Shiro finally. "I can't go back..."

"You can stay here." Shiro says, before

Squeaking and raising his hands. "O-only if you want to! I have a second bedroom, and if you need a place to stay- oh geez, I promise I'm not creepy!"

Keith blinks slowly, a little smile and a chuckle have Shiro pausing. "I can, stay, a few nights..."

A few nights turned into a few weeks, which turned into a few months. Shiro loved having Keith around, and even let him bring Kosmo back from his parents to stay with them. They did everything together. Dinner, movies, shopping. Shiro would visit Keith at the cafe he worked at,

And sometimes Keith would surprise Shiro at the mechanics shop after his shift.

Keith eventually told Shiro about his ex over tubs of ice cream after his ex harassed him at the cafe, begging Keith to come back. Keith refused, of course. He couldn't deal with that again.

It happened in the middle of a shitty horror movie Shiro found on Net//flix, he just leaned over and kissed Keith so gently it didn't even register until Keith pushed Shiro away. Shiro looked hurt, stammering about how he was sorry, he just read the room wrong.

Keith blinked, his heart feeling like it would explode, and slowly leaned forward to kiss Shiro again. It felt, right. They fit so perfectly against one another, and Keith made a wounded sound when Shiro pulled away.

"Is...is this ok..?" Shiro sounded shy, unsure, scared.

Keith felt himself moving closer, sitting in Shiro's lap and kissing him again.

"I...think I love you, Shiro...but I.."

"I love you too, and we can go as slow as you want." Shiro chuckled, blushing a bright pink. "I uh, think you're it for me, Keith. I'll wait for you."

Keith bit his lip, and smiled, nodding before he kissed Shiro again and again.

He never thought that 5 years later, on a cool fall day, he would find himself on one knee in front of Shiro, asking for his name.

Only for the love of his life to say yes.

~Fin~