#Sheith

Galra Shiro who ever since he lost his arm in a BOM mission, has had it difficult to find a proper rut partner. His fellow Blades don't need to say it out loud, because he can see it clearly in their eyes: they pity him.

He had been destined for greatness. Being the largest and strongest of their group, many a times he had been told that he was meant to take Kolivan's place in the future. And while Kolivan assured him that his physical condition didn't change things--

that he was still one of the most capable and efficient men under his command--he noticed a clear decline in the number and the quality of the missions he was assigned to.

He was no longer held in high esteem among their group. He was damaged, scarred. And he was no longer suitable for mating, let alone sharing a nest.

He didn't ask for much. He merely sought to curl around the warmth of a partner that wouldn't look down on him. That would let him feel needed, that would let him feel like an equal. That would help ignite that lost spark within him, and go back to what he used to be.

But every time he asked that of any fellow Blades, he was faced with rejection.

He had glimpsed a small hope at being acknowledged for what he –still- was, when Kolivan had called him to train their newest apprentice. The Blades’ leader would not assign just anyone to guide a trainee through the Marmora trials, would he?

And yet, that little hope had vanished the moment he had been presented to this so-called apprentice: a human.

It was the first time Shiro had heard of this species, let alone seen one.

This ‘human’ was much smaller than him, so that Shiro had to tilt his head down to look at him. He seemed slightly fit, but he didn’t have any visible claws or fangs, and even lacked proper fur. How did this creature survive low temperatures at all?

Shiro couldn’t help the heavy sigh that escaped him. This…Kolivan was making fun of him, wasn’t he? Was he, strong and capable Shiro of the Blades of Marmora, supposed to be this little human’s babysitter…?

He huffed, closing his only fist, letting his fangs show. He hated to be treated this way, he hated the disdain from his peers, and right now—Right now, he hated the look on this human’s face, who stared at him with his mouth hanging open, raising one questioning eyebrow.

“What are you looking at?” he growled, but he didn’t need an answer. He knew what this little human saw: a cripple, a poor excuse for a Galra and a Blade, and--

“--Big.”

Shiro blinked, the human’s word catching him off guard. “...What?”

“You’re...-big-…”

He couldn’t look at his own face, but it must be very twisted for the human quickly waved his hands in front of him, babbling “A-ah I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…It’s just…” The human motioned at the rest of the Blades minding their businesses, then stared back at Shiro, as if to

make a point. “You are…way larger than them.”

Of all things that could have ever crossed his mind, Shiro didn’t expect his ‘size’ to be the first matter of discussion between him and the human. There was, curiously enough, something to say about the unquestionable admiration in

the little creature’s purple eyes.

It was true. He was larger than the average Galra, but only about two or three feet larger. Humans, as Shiro was able to see for himself at this moment, were a species rather small in comparison. Shiro could then understand this human’s

surprise in that regard.

“What’s your name?” Shiro asked at last, voice now tinted with interest.

The human straightened himself up at the question, as if already responding to a command. Shiro found that he liked that.

“I’m Keith…-sir-.”

Shiro chuckled lowly at the title. “Call me Shiro,” he offered, amused.

Keith nodded, gaze fixed on him. Shiro would have to give it to this human, to this… ‘Keith’. There was fire in his eyes, full of determination, as he raised a hand at him.

“…I will be in your care, then,” he paused, hesitant for a brief moment. “Shiro.”

Shiro fought back a growl at the sound of his name in the human’s voice. He didn’t know what it was, but it sparked something within him, and he hesitated as he looked at the human’s hand.

He figured this must be some sort of greeting amongst Keith’s species, and he didn’t understand until Keith’s smaller hand took his.

The touch was electric, the little human’s boldness sealing their partnership.

* * *

Training Keith was a task Shiro had not been very fond of at the beginning. He had believed Kolivan was simply humouring him, but also, he couldn’t understand why a non-Galra was to join their ranks in the first place.

He later found out it was because the human was, well, not entirely human. Keith was half Galra, but as he retained, from a first perspective, most of the lesser species’ traits, Shiro couldn’t yet fathom the reason Kolivan would take interest in letting Keith into the trials of

the Marmoras.

As time passed, and despite his initial displeasure, Shiro was able to see why.

Keith’s rapid growth as Shiro walked the human through the ways of the BOM was quite admirable. Shiro was strict, he knew that, but no matter the challenges or tasks he imposed on Keith, the little human was capable enough to complete them, through evident hard-work.

Keith always trailed after Shiro, eager to listen, to learn. But Shiro discovered Keith was also a very proud creature. He would fire up whenever they sparred, and even when Shiro would win most times, Keith would stand back up, acknowledging his defeat, but hoping for a rematch.

It was enjoyable to train Keith. Most of all, however, his company was enjoyable.

And he would be a fool to believe Keith didn’t feel the same. He could see it in the way Keith interacted with other Blades. Distant, surly. He seemed always on the defensive, but his face would light up upon seeing Shiro, and Shiro took pride in that.

He was much too selfish. The Galra in him wanted to keep Keith for himself. The Blade in him hoped Keith would get along with his peers.

Sadly, duty came first.

He approached Keith during their midquintant meal, having spotted him sitting by himself, like every time Shiro wasn’t around.

“I see you haven’t made any friends yet,” he stated, as matter of fact.

“Ah, hi Shiro”, Keith said, blinking as Shiro sat in front of him with his own tray. “…I don’t need other friends,” he added sourly, looking down at his untouched food.

‘Other friends’. Did that mean Shiro was his only friend? The thought did things to Shiro’s heart, but he had to quell those feelings.

He cleared his throat. “Friends or not…If you want to be a Blade, you should get along with your peers. You never know when you might need their help in a mission.”

He knew he was a hypocrite. It wasn’t like he was very much friendly with his peers either. Not since he had lost his arm. And that was because he hated feeling any less than them. But Shiro had seen first hand what Keith was capable of, how talented he was.

“I heard them,Shiro. They seem to look down on me for being human,” Keith confessed,a note of anger in his words.

“Half-human,” Shiro corrected him. “Half-Galra.”

Keith frowned. “It doesn’t matter to them.” His purple eyes faced Shiro. “You thought the same before,didn’t you?”

Shiro hated that he couldn’t deny it. And it seemed to hurt Keith, the way he looked back down at his plate. He had to fix that.

“You’re right. I did. But hey,” he said, trying a warmer tone. Keith’s gaze set on him once more. “You proved me wrong, Keith. I see how talented you are, and I know you’re destined for something greater. Don’t let anyone take that from you.”

Shiro was grateful Keith gifted him one of his rare honest smiles at that moment.

He pushed his tray aside. “I’m not really hungry…How about we hit the training facilities?” Shiro offered with a smirk. Keith was always eager to spar, and this time was not different.

The human nodded in response, a cocky look on his face now.

“I would love that.”

Shiro stood up quickly, but groaned when a sudden headache struck him, bringing his one hand to his head.

“Shiro!? What’s wrong!?”

Keith caught him before he could fell on top of their table and make a mess. Shiro felt dizzy, and also felt himself growing hot in his chest, but he was still conscious enough to wonder at Keith’s strength, holding him almost upright despite Shiro being much larger and heavier.

Shiro huffed, now also conscious of where they were. He could feel yellow eyes fixed on them, on –him-, and it was sickening. He put his arm around Keith, gripping tightly.

“Get…get me out of here,” he let out with a thread of a voice.

Keith nodded immediately, looking pale with worry, and was very careful as he helped Shiro out of the dining hall, and into a corridor. Shiro was glad there was no one there, and he gestured at Keith to let him lean against the wall for support.

“That’s enough, Keith. I’ll…take it from here.” He tried a smile to quell Keith’s obvious concern. “…Sorry, guess there will be no sparring today.”

“Nevermind that Shiro, but…You’re sick, aren’t you?” Keith was only able to reach his forehead with his hand because Shiro was slightly bent down, and the touch made him shiver. “You’re burning up!”

He was, but for an entirely different reason. He clenched his teeth—It was embarrassing to admit it, and he had to turn his face away from Keith. He should have seen it coming—and he did, in a way. He had just mildly hoped it didn’t strike him this way.

“Shiro!”

…And not when he was standing so close to Keith.

“I’m not sick,” he said, now looking at Keith, beautiful Keith. Oh gods, it had really started.

“What do you mean you’re not sick?! You look like you’re having a fever and—“

“I’m not sick,” he repeated gravely, with a low growl. “It’s not that. This is not a fever, this is…”

“…W-What is it, Shiro?”

Keith looked so beautiful. So inviting. The only thing keeping him from pulling Keith toward him was his own self control.

“Shiro!”

Shiro let out a heavy breath. Perhaps it was fine to admit it to Keith. He wouldn’t judge…He would never do that. Shiro knew it in his heart.

“I’m…” he started, finding it harder to say than expected. “Ah, I’ve…just…been too long without a rut partner…”

Keith blinked twice. “…Oh.”

Shiro sighed, unable to face Keith. Keith wasn’t laughing at him, which was a good, but… but he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Don’t…Don’t mind me,” he said at last, doing his best to keep a better balance of himself, and make a point. “I’ll go back to my room now. Don’t worry,

I will be fine.”

Shiro needed to get out of there quick. Maybe if he buried himself in a nest, it would go away. Albeit momentarily. He needed just a bit of time, away from everyone, away from Keith, before he did something he might regret.

“Shiro, wait!” Keith took grasp of his one arm. “I will…I will be your rut partner!”

[[Uh, guess I should tag #a/b/o]]

It was scary how ready his alpha hindbrain felt to give in, & accept Keith’s well intended offer. But even while sick with need, Shiro was still conscious enough to know Keith might not actually mean what he said.

“You…You don’t know what you’re saying, Keith.”

“It’s…a galra thing, isn’t it? That’s okay.” Keith strengthened his grip on Shiro’s arm. “Shiro, I want to do it. I want to learn.”

Shiro wouldn’t give it a second thought if it were another galra. Taking, giving into instincts, was something that the galra did, something even expected of their species, especially during galra heats and ruts.

Humans, from what Shiro had gathered in the time he had been tutoring Keith (and the copious amounts of research he had carried out to better understand him), didn’t have a second biology. As such, they seemed to value reason and interpersonal relationships.

Not that galra didn’t—But it was different.

Keith was different.

It was only because Shiro was desperately trying to cling onto that limited edge of reason that he managed to reject Keith a second time:

“It’s not ‘just a galra thing’, it’s… It’s mating, Keith. Mating. I need to mate. I don’t believe this is how you humans—or…half humans— go through it. But I’ve been long enough without a partner, and I don’t know what I might do. I might…might hurt you. And I can’t, Keith, I

can’t do that to you, I don’t –want- to do that to you.”

The mere thought horrified him. He didn’t actually think it could happen—This would merely be the second rut he spent on his own. Last time he had nearly lost his mind, invaded by a deep feeling of worthlessness as he

paced around his quarters, without a mate to look after, without a mate with whom to share affection and warmth, but he had more or less managed to overcome it.

Rut aids and toys to knot had been his brief salvation at the worst of times.

He had it under control for now, but he didn’t know what would happen if he were to spend his rut with someone other than a galra, with someone like Keith. It could… go wrong, and he didn’t think

Keith was ready—would ever be ready for that intensity.

And he would never forgive himself if he hurt kind, beautiful, and sweet scenting Keith.

Keith, whose shock and concern was palpable on his face. It seemed Shiro’s words were finally knocking some sense into him, because it took the human a moment to speak again. “…So what will you do?”

Shiro sighed. “I will just…lock myself in my quarters, and take some rut aids. Spending a rut alone for us galra is not ideal, but I will… deal with it the same way I did last time. So you don’t have to worry.”

Keith ducked his head, biting his lower lip. Shiro felt a pang of regret when Keith’s grip started to set itself loose, and Shiro had to convince himself that this was for the best, the best for Keith, and the best for both,

because he knew this could cause a great strain in their relationship, and—

“Let’s… Let’s do it, Shiro.”

“What?”

After all Shiro had said…Keith still wanted to go through this? It didn’t make sense, but Keith looked at him now with burning determination in those purple eyes, and for a scant second, Shiro thought he saw yellow on his sclera.

“Shiro, please. You shouldn’t…I-I mean, I still don’t understand it much, but I don’t think you should…deal with this on your own. So please. Let’s do it.”

They had met not very much long ago. Shiro was his tutor, and whilst he would risk calling Keith his friend at this point, their relationship didn’t have to extend this far. Keith didn’t need to feel that obligation. So why did Keith insist this much?

“I’ve been depending on you ever since I got here, Shiro,” Keith said, and only then Shiro realized he may have spoken out loud. “You… You can depend on me for this. So please. Please, let me help you…!”

…This man was going to be the end of him.

If it wasn’t because Shiro could feel his own heartbeat in the strong hold Keith kept of his arm right now, he would think his addled mind was playing tricks on him, that this was some sort of fantasy perpetrated by his alpha hindbrain, eager to mate, eager to knot.

But Keith was here, selflessly offering himself to Shiro, willingly putting Shiro’s needs above all else.

Shiro still couldn’t make sense of Keith’s reasons for going to such lengths for him, but he was too overwhelmed by his own rut building up, and Keith’s words and the desperate look on his face to refuse him anymore.

He wanted Keith.

The realization washed over him, clearer in his head.

He spoke with a breathy voice.

“Alright.”

The next moment they were in Shiro’s quarters, sitting on the edge of his bedding. Keith was still keeping a hold of his arm, as if making sure Shiro kept the end of his bargain and didn’t escape this.

Not that Shiro would.

No, Keith had actually convinced him. Which didn’t mean that a small corner of his brain wasn’t screaming at him that this was a –very- bad idea—Because it was. Sheer self-control was the one thing keeping him from pushing Keith down the bed, pressing onto

him, caging his much smaller frame.

Shiro –needed-. But his rut was still building up, and it hadn’t struck him strong enough to go completely primal yet. He could control it, and he would do it. For Keith.

“So…How are we doing this?” Keith asked shyly, breaking the awkward silence that had invaded them. “I’m not…I…don’t know anything about…you know.”

Oh Gods, was he going to be Keith’s first? A perfect immaculate mate… The idea was so appealing to his galra –and- alpha brain that he couldn’t stop the growl that escaped him, raising his tail involuntarily and—

No. No, he had a plan, and he would stick to it.

Shiro cleared his throat. “We are…We’re not mating, Keith.”

The human frowned. Keith looked so disappointed, it did things to Shiro. “…What? Why? Shiro, I said I—”

“Let me finish.” He shushed Keith with a finger to his pretty mouth, and then sighed. “We…We don’t have to mate. I’m building up still. That means I’m…not desperate for release yet. So merely holding somebody close, somebody you…trust,” he deliberately avoided the word ‘mate’,

“just… feeling their warmth, may be enough to quell the urge.”

“…‘May’?”

Shiro didn’t want to confess he had never tried, because he hadn’t found his chosen mate yet. The easy way had always been straightforward copulation, and for that, it didn’t really matter with whom he

did it. He hadn’t had any shortage of alphas or omegas who would want to spend his rut with him, but it had always been just that, a physical relationship to sate a primal urge.

He had never needed a proper ‘mate’, someone he felt devoted to protect, to share a nest with, to share a life with. His rut partners had always been just that, ‘partners’ for the sake of the moment.

Of course, now that –he- was a broken alpha, things had changed. And now he had neither partner nor mate.

And yet. Yet, he dared hope… maybe, he had Keith now?

“Shiro?”

Shiro blinked, realizing he may have been too lost in his thoughts, too lost in those beautiful purple irises that somehow watched him with devotion, with loyalty and, now, with concern.

Keith appealed more to his human side, without a second biology. Neither alpha nor omega. And Shiro found that it didn’t matter.

He knew Keith would be a perfect mate.

It was Shiro who now rested his hand on top of Keith’s. “It will work,” he told him with newly found resolution.

Keith bit his bottom lip, as if not entirely convinced, but ended up nodding his head.

Shiro smiled at him, grateful for the trust Keith put in him. He stood up, & pulled himself out of his outer garments, leaving only the undersuit on. Keith did the same, & then Shiro lay down on his side, sliding to the back of the bedding, and patted the empty space next to him.

“Come here.”

Keith did as he was told, and Shiro found his obedience pleasing. He took a moment to observe Keith silently. Here he was, a human willing to do more for Shiro than any other galra he could have once considered his friends, his peers.

Keith was giving more to Shiro than anyone ever had, and it all had happened in a span of a few phoebs. He couldn’t be any more grateful to have met this loyal, pure, gorgeous little human.

But Keith was far too precious to be ruined by Shiro’s primal urges.

“…Shiro?” asked Keith, bringing Shiro back from his musing a second time. The human was raising one eyebrow at him, cheeks slightly flushed. It appeared that Shiro’s silent scrutiny made him uncomfortable.

It was endearing.

Shiro’s one hand then came to rest on Keith’s shoulder, drawing him slightly closer but not enough for their fronts to touch. This was enough, Shiro could manage. He ached to have his chosen mate closer, to envelop his smaller frame with his arm and body,

to protect him.

But no, this was enough. He couldn’t push Keith into doing more, into being his mate. Shiro didn’t deserve him, a broken alpha didn’t deserve Keith. So this scant closeness was all he would allow himself during this rut he was, unexpectedly, spending with Keith.

This distance was enough. Shiro repeated the words like a mantra in his head. Then he closed his eyes,attempting to sleep with the mere knowledge that his chosen mate was safe with just a hand on his small shoulder.

Except he couldn’t sleep.He itched all over, both in and out.

“Shiro…Is this okay?” Keith asked in a worried tone, but Shiro didn’t open his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t…usually sleep with my undersuit on,” he confessed, slightly embarrassed.

“Then take it off. Here, let me help you.”

He wasn’t prepared to be washed over by a direct wave of Keith’s flowery scent, and Shiro opened his eyes to Keith’s head under his chin, his smaller arms moving under his armpits and sliding up, his tiny fingers brushing over the zipper behind Shiro’s neck.

Shiro didn’t move—Couldn’t move as Keith pulled the zipper down ever so slowly, too stunned by the unexpected boldness of the human. Shiro only reacted when Keith’s hands reached his waist, and Shiro had to force his own to leave Keith’s shoulder and enclose his wrist instead.

“That’s…that’s enough, Keith.”

Keith frowned, and Shiro thought for a moment that Keith might as well be fine with Shiro being naked. But Shiro knew this boldness came from Keith’s innocence alone, and he would never take advantage of that.

Yet, his rut brain still wished to satisfy his chosen mate in some way, so he complied, but merely. He pulled slightly away to bite at the sleeve of his only arm, and Keith hastily helped him get the undersuit completely out of his torso.

“Shiro, would…skin to skin contact be better?” Keith asked, after a short moment of contemplation.

Shiro didn’t want to lie to Keith. He would never lie to Keith.

“…Yes.”

Keith flushed but there wasn’t much room for hesitation as he moved slightly away, raising both arms behind his head to reach for the zipper at the back of his neck. He pulled the undersuit smoothly down up to his waist, revealing his smooth, furless torso.

And fuck…He was beautiful. Shiro couldn’t stop his hand from reaching out to Keith’s fine chest, relishing on the soft, alien skin under his palm. Keith whimpered under his touch, and that elicited a low growl from Shiro.

“Shiro…”

The throaty voice that left Keith’s mouth should have come as a warning, but Shiro was taken by surprise yet again as Keith finally closed the distance between them, his smaller hands now sliding up to his back, their naked torsos pressed against one another.

The flowery scent hit him stronger than before, and Shiro felt compelled to embrace Keith with his one arm. Gods, it felt so good to have Keith tucked next to his larger body, as if it was made to fit Keith’s frame. As if Keith belonged in there, as if Shiro belonged in Keith.

He didn’t—They –shouldn’t- be doing this. Keith wasn’t his mate, and it wasn’t right for Shiro to be allowing himself this kind of contact with his ‘apprentice’. But he was struck by something new, a new feeling of satisfaction, far different than what he had experienced in

previous ruts with unimportant partners.

No, this was much more, and he could feel himself drowning in Keith’s soothing presence under his arm. His mate was secured, and the feeling of contentment that invaded him was far better than anything he had ever felt before.

Keith’s sudden snigger took him by surprise. Keith was…enjoying this, too?

“Your fur is so soft, Shiro,” Keith said, nuzzling his face onto the short fur of Shiro’s chest. “Feels like I’m…hugging one giant plushie."

Shiro didn’t understand what Keith meant, but he took it as a compliment. “Yours is soft too,” he returned.

“…I don’t have fur.”

“Exactly.”

It made Keith laugh, and the soft rumble on his chest filled Shiro with such contentment he couldn’t help the purr that escaped him.

“Sh-Shiro!?” Keith asked in a small panic. “Are you…are you doing that? Are you purring?”

“Yes…”, Shiro sighed, embarrassed, but still grateful Keith wasn’t letting go. “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I’ll try to tone it down.”

“No no, I was just…surprised.” Keith sniggered a second time. “Does that mean this is good?”

Shiro tightened his grip on Keith, pulling him impossibly closer.

“…It means this is –very- good.”

***

Keith drifted into consciousness comfortably tucked in warmth that smelled like Shiro. He smiled at that, content as he reached out to try and bring Shiro and his pleasant warmth closer—Except that what his hands caught was not soft fur, but cloth.

He opened his eyes then, squinting soon after at the dim light coming from the lamp next to the bedding. He turned from the blinding light, blinking at the sight of Shiro just… pacing about the room. Keith rubbed his eyes first before sitting up, trying to make sense of what

Shiro was doing. The big Galra seemed so absorbed in his pacing, back and forth, like a sentinel.

“Shiro?”

The Galra’s ears twitched in Keith’s direction first, then his head followed, his yellow eyes wide.

“Keith!”

In less than a blink, Shiro had climbed up the bed and crawled towards Keith. Shiro’s breath was warm against his face, and Keith had to pull slightly away, overwhelmed by the sudden closeness.

“Are you thirsty? Are you hungry? Do you want a bath? Or maybe you want to keep resting? Do you need anything? Keith, what do you need?”

Shiro showered him with so many questions, one after another. Keith could hardly answer any, especially for the way Shiro looked at him as he

voiced them, as if desperate to please, eyes wide and focused solely on Keith.

The attention stunned him. Shiro was nothing but kind to him on a daily basis. He was his tutor, yes, but their relationship had developed more into one of mutual camaraderie with the time they’d

spent together, so Keith could tell then that Shiro was not his usual self right now.

It was…too much. Keith found he couldn’t hold his gaze much longer, and ducked his head to the side.

“I’m…I’m fine, Shiro. What were you doing just now?”

“Keeping watch.”

Keith was forced to look back at him. “What? Why? Did something happen?”

Shiro shook his head. “My mate was resting. I must guard my mate.”

“Oo…kay…” Keith had to avoid Shiro’s intense look a second time, feeling his face flushing. Shiro was definitely not himself right now, not when he called Keith his…mate. Keith wasn’t stupid. He knew how important that sort of bond were to Galra. A partner for life.

And Shiro had just…called him that? Did this mean Shiro had chosen him, a human, to be his mate?

An indescribable joy filled him, but it was quickly pushed aside in his mind. Keith had been longing for this for a long time, but Shiro was just…going through this thing called

a ‘rut’. This must be it, the reason behind Shiro’s behaviour. It was just a temporary thing. And right now, he was just helping Shiro out. He wasn’t supposed to be getting his hopes up.

Shiro growled in front of him, calling Keith’s gaze back to him. “Who is upsetting you?”

“What?” Keith could feel Shiro’s anger seeping from him, his fangs on display. Those fangs could rip his flesh in one bite, if Shiro wanted to.

But Keith knew that anger wasn’t directed at him. “N-No, Shiro. It’s nothing.”

He saw Shiro relax, but the intense gaze was there all over again. In avoiding it, Keith noticed then—their bedding had changed. It was strikingly different than before, with rolled up garments on

the edges, giving it a plushy feel. Keith realized he was laying on various pieces of clothing—very large ones, at that.

These were…Yes. These were all Shiro’s clothes. No wonder he had woken up to his smell.

“Shiro, you… you did this?”

“Yes! A nest for you. Do you like it?”

All around him, it was Shiro. All was Shiro. Keith very much liked that. “…Yes,” he confessed lowly.

Shiro beamed next to him, but then Keith’s stomach growled and Keith wished the earth would swallow him there for interrupting their moment like that. Except that they were on a ship, so that couldn’t save him from the embarrassment.

“You’re hungry,” Shiro said, as a matter of fact.

“Uh, yeah...How long have I been aslee—Whoa, what’s all this!?”

Keith wasn’t sure of the moment Shiro had fetched a large tray brimming with all types of food wrapped up nicely, and presented it to Keith.

“Five vargas,” Shiro answered, now sitting next to Keith, and raising the tray towards him. “And this is food. Eat.”

Keith wasn’t sure how to respond. He hadn’t expected this sort of attention from Shiro. Had he really requested this tray to be delivered while he slept?

What other things had he prepared for Keith?

“Or do you want me to feed you? I’ll feed you.”

“Feed me? No Shiro, wait—”

He took the tray off Shiro’s hands—Because he wanted Shiro to stop for a moment, let Keith process all that was happening, all that Shiro was doing, why he was doing it—Keith just wanted to try and make sense of it all. But then Keith felt like the most horrible person in the

world when looking at the Galra’s face turn into that of a kicked puppy, his ears dropping down, his tail hanging low.

“Let me feed you, Keith,” Shiro repeated, like a plea.

Of course he couldn’t say no to that face. Keith gave up the tray.

Shiro beamed as he took the tray back, placing it on top of his folded legs. He unwrapped it as quickly as his teeth and one hand allowed him, and picked up a big ration of food with the tool that looked like a fork. He brought it close to Keith, but Shiro seemed to notice much

too quickly Keith’s hesitation at the size of the mouthful—very much fit for a Galra’s bigger mouth, not a human’s. Shiro dropped a bit of food on the tray before bringing the fork back to Keith. Keith took a bite of the now regular sized portion, and saw himself chewing fast,

self-conscious under Shiro’s scrutiny.

“Shiro, you’re…doing this because of your rut, right?” Keith said, once he swallowed.

Shiro tilted his head, as if confused by Keith’s statement. “I’m providing for my mate.”

So it was the rut, yeah. Shiro brought another mouthful of food to Keith’s face. Keith frowned.

“You have to eat too.”

“No.” Shiro pushed the fork lightly to Keith’s mouth, and Keith purposely pulled away. Shiro dropped his ears down again. “You don’t like the food?”

Keith made his best not to be affected by Shiro’s sad puppy face at that moment. “I do. But I want you to eat too.”

“But I’m not the one who will be carrying our pups.”

“W-what?” It was a good thing Keith wasn’t chewing anything at that moment, or he would have spit all the food in his mouth. “Pups?”

Shiro dropped the fork on the tray, and put his hand on Keith’s very much flat belly. “Yes. A healthy diet will give us healthy pups.”

Yes, yes, the rut, this must still be the rut talking. Normal Shiro wouldn’t be spouting this nonsense about ‘pups’—He definitely wouldn’t. Especially when Normal Shiro must know it was impossible for Keith to conceive.

…Or was it? He was part-Galra after all. So what if…

He quickly shook his head. No, that wasn’t the time to be thinking about that kind of thing. And yet, it was crazy how willing he felt, to want to do this much for Shiro. He was resolute then, when Shiro said he needed to mate, and was resolute now.

Keith would do anything Shiro asked of him.

But it pained him to know that it wasn’t the same for Shiro. Shiro was only behaving this way, treating him as his chosen mate, because of this Galra rut thing. Keith knew that, Shiro had warned him of it, & Keith still agreed. But Keith wasn’t prepared for it to be this painful.

“Keith!” He didn’t know his eyes had watered until Shiro’s big thumb had tenderly brushed a tear. “What’s wrong!?”

Before he could give any sort of answer, Shiro had pulled him into his broad chest, his one arm being large enough to encase Keith’s lithe form. It felt amazing to be pressed up to the huge Galra, warm and secure. His own small arms circled Shiro, but they still strained to meet.

“Who hurt you?” Shiro growled, and Keith felt guilty pleasure in the way Shiro’s voice rumbled in his chest. The Galra rubbed his chin and cheek to Keith’s head, and Keith realized Shiro must do this because his arm was too occupied pressing Keith towards him.

That was…Keith loved that. He must be really going crazy. He knew people would question them, -him-. His entire life, he had felt as if he was never enough—Not human enough, not Galra enough. But God, he wanted Shiro so much. And he was probably being selfish, but right now, he

didn’t care.

He decided then he would enjoy this. He would now be the mate Shiro wanted him to be. Even if it was temporary.

“Shiro.”

Keith reluctantly pulled away, and already regretted it as Shiro loosened his grip according to his unspoken wish. Then Keith gripped the fork on the tray, and picked up a good portion before looking straight at Shiro. “I won’t eat if you don’t.”

Shiro blinked his yellow eyes, tilting his head. “…Is that why you were crying?”

“Yes.”

Keith chuckled as Shiro took an instant bite of the food offered to him. Shiro was much too eager to please, and while overwhelming at first, Keith didn’t find the energy to refuse him any longer. And as such, he let Shiro keep feeding him to his heart’s content, not without

Keith forcing him to eat too after every two or three forkfuls.

Once they had finished eating, Shiro put the tray away on the nightstand.

“So I slept five vargas, huh,” Keith said, not letting silence settling in between them. “It must still be pretty late, then. We’ve

probably fucked up our schedule.”

“Doesn’t matter. I requested time off for rut, for both of us. We stay here.”

Shiro said it as if it were the most natural thing to do. And probably it was, it just so happened that Keith wasn’t (entirely) Galra,

so he still didn’t quite understand what this ‘rut’ thing was all about.

His train of thought was interrupted when he felt Shiro suddenly sniff at him, his nose tickling down his neck, on the expanse of his chest and slightly below. Keith held his own breath as much as he could, feeling himself grow red and warm, until he couldn’t take it any longer:

“S-Shiro. Do I…Do I smell?”

Shiro turned to him. There was something in his eyes, dark and predatory, hidden behind the reflected shine of the dim light of the room.

“Yes,” he answered at last, in a low growl. “You smell very good.”

Keith swallowed. He was paralyzed under Shiro’s gaze, feeling as if the Galra’s eyes saw through his very soul, and the only option was to give in, let himself be at Shiro’s mercy.

And, truth be told, that didn’t sound like a very bad idea.

Shiro’s spell mildly dissipated as he blinked, giving Keith a second look over before turning now with a curious gaze.

“But I do not sense any slick from you,” Shiro said then, casually. “Are you humans all beta?”

Keith had no idea what Shiro was talking about, and by the position he was in, lying down on his back since Shiro had started smelling him, he didn’t feel inclined to respond at all.

“Maybe you’ll present later,” Shiro added then, as a hope.

He pulled away, and Keith felt as if Shiro was releasing him—of what, exactly, he had no idea. But it gave Keith the chance to prop up again on a sitting position on the bedding, until Shiro presented a bottle of water to his face.

“I still think you should drink something.”

It wasn’t like before—There wasn’t that intense, predatory aura around Shiro anymore, and his words felt like a suggestion, not a command. But Keith didn’t feel inclined to protest, so he grabbed the bottle without a question, and took a generous sip.

“Thank you,” Keith said, and he meant it, as he ran the back of his hand over his mouth. He handed it over to Shiro, but Shiro’s attention was still focused on him. For some reason he felt Shiro was going to ask what he needed, again, so Keith beat him to it:

“I’m…I think I need a bath.”

He had gotten self-conscious about not smelling very well, even if Shiro had stated the contrary. And yet, a large hand on his right shoulder prevented him to move out of the nest—

followed by a wet, slightly rough tongue running across his entire cheek and up his temple, that stopped him dead on his tracks.

Shiro…Shiro had just licked his face.