#sheith, Keith mate bonds unknowingly, tags to be added!

The mission is... long. Too long. By the time Keith gets back to the Atlas he’s bone tired, almost limping. His hair is stuck to his neck in sweat or blood and he hardly cares.

It’s Shiro that swoops in then,

taking him into his personal suite, undressing him with the utmost professionalism.

“I’m fine,” Keith says when Shiro helps him into the bath.

“Hush,” is the only reply he gets.

And maybe thats fine. Keith is tired and the water is warm and

Shiros hands unplaiting his messy hair is a soothing balm. He’s never let Shiro do this before, but it feels natural to put himself in Shiros care.

When he takes the shampoo to Keith’s hair, there’s a full body sigh at the sensation. Something warm and infinitely soft

falls through Keith. It shoots pins and needles to the ends of his fingers and toes, and then Shiro is washing his hair and Keith just melts.

By the time Shiro gets him into bed ages later Keith is practically asleep. He tries to grab at Shiro as he steps away,

but Shiro only laughs softly. “Goodnight Keith.”

There’s an ache that rises up as Shiro leaves, but then the long long day has its talons in Keith. He’s powerless again his own exhaustion and the floaty feeling the bath has left him. He closes his eyes.

Morning comes with hunger. It’s an angry, fizzling pain in the center of his body. He feels too hot, already grouchy. Then he realizes the reason he’s awake is a knocking at his door.

Somewhere the data pad dings as Keith shuffles up and out of bed. He growls as he gets to the

door.

“Kei— kit are you okay?” Krolia says, stepping into the apartment. She raises her hand to his cheek and he knows he’s overly warm. His stomach rumbles.

“Fine. Long mission.”

She frowns at him. “Hunk said you were going to meet him an hour ago.”

Keith’s eyes dart to the clock, and indeed he is late. The mission and long night made him completely forget.

“Oh shoot,” he turns and hurries back to his room, throwing off the sleep clothing Shiro put him in the night before, and reaching for the nearest clean clothes.

“Maybe you should cancel,” Krolia says from the living room. “You don’t look up to some sparring Keith.”

And neither does he feel it. His stomach is a visceral ache now. His data pad pings again but he ignores it, pulling on a pair of leggings. He made a promise to Hunk.

“Keith,” Krolia says as he rushes back to the living room. “Keith, maybe we should take you to the medic.”

From the bedroom the data pad pings again.

Keith pauses.

Does Keith:

A. Go to Hunk to spar
B. Go with Krolia to medic
C. Go get breakfast
D. Answer the data pad ping

“I’m sure it’s fine,” Keith says. “Long mission, haven’t eaten yet. Hold on, lemme get the ping.”

He goes back into the bedroom scooping it up. On the screen are several messages from Shiro. He swipes to open them and finds a good morning texts and then an invite to breakfast.

His stomach gurgles again, and he feels an urge to immediately agree.

But Hunk.

“Shiro texted about breakfast,” Keith says returning to Krolia. “But Hunk.”

“I think he’ll understand, you just got back.”

The guilt of that is there, but... maybe his mom is right.

Keith opens a text to Hunk and writes out an apology, dropping in that he’s meeting Shiro for breakfast because he hasn’t eaten and then extending an invite.

“I messaged him.”

“Alright. Well go get some breakfast, just wanted to pop by and congratulate you on a job well done.”

Krolia steps in then, and Keith immediately takes the hug. It soothes something in him.

“And maybe some on-base time for you kit. Not good to run yourself so ragged.”

Keith hums into her shoulder before pulling away. His stomach makes an audible noise. Krolia smiles.

“Off with you then, go eat.”

Keith goes, getting a reply text from Hunk on the way telling him not to worry about it, that they can reschedule, and that he’s already eaten.

Just him and Shiro then.

“Hey,” Shiro says when Keith gets to the dining area. “You don’t look—“

“Yeah, yeah,” Keith says, waving him off. “I’ve already been mom-ed about it.”

Shiro laughs, and warmth swoops down through Keith’s belly. The agitation that he woke up with falls away.

“I just need to eat,” Keith says.

“Then by all means,” Shiro squeezes his shoulder, turning him toward the breakfast offerings.

Keith ends up plowing through seconds and then thirds for breakfast, and Shiro even offers up his own plate when he sees Keith eyeing his eggs.

By the time they’re finished, Keith’s feeling sated and content. Leagues better than when he woke.

“I needed that,” Keith says as they leave the dining hall.

“Clearly,” Shiro grins. “And now, what’s your plan for the day?”

“I cancelled on Hunk this morning, so I need to make that up to him. Otherwise I’m pretty free, day off for mission recovery.”

Shiro nods. “Good. I’ve got some meetings, but maybe we could do something later?” There’s a ping from Shiros data pad. “And that’s times up.”

“Alright,” Keith tries not to feel disappointed that Shiro is leaving already, but it trickles in nefariously. It’s stupid, because of course Shiro is busy. It’s fine.

Shiro throws him a wave, turning and pulling his datapad out. Keith sighs. He’s being stupid.

As they part, the feeling grows though. The breakfast suddenly feels heavy and wrong in his stomach.

But it’s a rare free day, and Keith shouldn’t waste it. First up he should—

He should—

A. Take Kosmo for a walk
B. Run some errands
C. Go find Hunk
D. Go back to his apartment to rest

First up he should go find Hunk. Even if Hunk was gracious about the cancellation, the guilt sticks.

Keith tries the gym first, but Hunk isn’t there. Another two stops and Keith finds him in one of the tech workshops on the base. By the time he collapses into a chair beside

Hunk, Keith’s sweating. Hunk looks up from typing on the computer.

“Oh hey Keith!”

The smile in some ways makes Keith feel worse. “Hey, sorry about this morning.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Hunk says. “I had no idea the mission had been so intense.”

“It was fine,” Keith shrugs. “Just... woke up a bit rough.”

Hunk reaches over and pats him on the shoulder. “Yeah, Krolia said.”

Keith doesn’t pull away, but it’s a near thing. The bad feeling runs down into his chest. “Yeah. Uh. You find someone to spar with?”

“Oh yeah, Lance volunteered to test the new program.”

“At 9 AM?”

Hunk laughs. “He was... persuaded.”

They go over it then, technically. Hunk shows him all the video feeds from the morning, and Keith does his best to give feedback. It will be a great program if Hunk can get it

up and running, and Keith owes him that.

Before they notice, it’s been an hour. Hunks pad beeps to interrupt.

“That’s my next meeting,” he says getting up.

Keith stands as well, feeling a swoop of dizziness through him. He catches himself on the chair before he can wobble.

Hunk doesn’t notice thankfully. He just steps forward, arms open. “Thanks for your help though, even on your off day.”

Keith steps in easily, he’s always liked a good Hunk hug, “least I could do for bailing.”

“Don’t worry—“ hunk starts, but cuts himself off when his arms

encircle Keith, and Keith immediately jerks back. Instead of that nice warm feeling, there’s a spark of intense wrongness. Dizziness and nausea follow. He almost loses his balance.

“Oh! Hey!” Hunk grabs his arm to stop him stepping back into the chair, but that’s almost /worse/.

Sickness rises, and Keith shudders. He’s hot and cold and unsteady.

“Keith, Keith are you okay?”

Keith opens his mouth to speak, but he’s blocked. He feels sick to his stomach. He loses his balance again and Hunk’s other hand grabs him. “Hey, woah there.”

Keith collapses.

It goes black for a second, like something has pulled the plug on the world. He hears Hunk from far away, but it’s hard to focus.

When he comes to, he’s on the floor and above him is Hunks face. There’s worry tight over his features.

“Keith! Fuck, I should call, I should—“

Hunk fumbles for his datapad on the desk. Keith reaches up, his hand trembling when he places it on Hunks forearm. He tugs to get the mans attention.

Keith says
A. Call Shiro
B. Call Krolia
C. I’m fine
D. I need to go to the medic

“I’m—“ Keith tries to get out the ‘fine,’ but it practically lodges in his throat. He wants to be fine, wishes he were, but everything inside him is heat and sickness and even just his hand on Hunk makes him want to shudder.

He doesn’t want Hunk here, doesn’t want to be like

this around Hunk. He wants—

He wants Shiro. Shiro can... help.

Keith doesn’t know how, but he knows it somehow inherently.

“Call Shiro,” he says instead.

“Okay buddy!” And already Hunk is dialing, worriedly watching Keith.

It’s a frantic exchange, and then Hunk puts the device away and turns his attentions back to Keith. Keith closes his eyes at the wave of nausea.

It isn’t long, but Keith feels every minute of it. Hunk is like a heavy presence that he wants to go away, and doesn’t know why.

He keeps his mouth shut, shivering until Hunk starts worrying that maybe he should call the medic and—

“Keith?”

Even his voice is a balm. Keith takes a breath and then Shiro is at his side. Hunk backs off immediately.

Keith groans at the relief.

“Keith, what’s wrong?”

Keith shakes his head. He doesn’t know. There’s a brief conversation between Hunk and Shiro that Keith can barely pay attention to.

Then, Shiro scoops him up.

“Alright, come on.”

Keith should protest the treatment, but the second he’s aloft he feels his stomach settle.

“No doc,” Keith mumbles weakly, tucking his head into Shiros chest. There’s a sigh and then Shiro moving quickly.

They must go through the halls then, but Keith can’t focus. He smashes his face against Shiro and breathes and breathes, its the only thing that makes it better.

“Alright,” Shiro says then, setting him down gently on the couch. Coldness shocks back through Keith’s chest and he makes a low, strange sound.

“Keith, I really think you need a doctor.”

“No,” Keith says, turning into the couch pillow that smells so nice. “Fine.”

“You’re clearly not fine,” Shiro says.

But Keith isn’t in a place to argue still. He just groans a sound. Footsteps go away and it makes a hole in Keith’s chest.

It hurts. Everything hurts.

“Okay. Okay. Let’s at least get you out of these wet clothes.”

It’s Shiro. He has a hand on Keith’s arm, helping him to sit up. Keith goes with it easily, drawn to the man. He blinks his eyes open and sees Shiros face. He looks worried.

Shiro carefully helps him out of his sweat-through shirt, pulling on something warm and clean and

definitely a few sizes too big.

Keith leans over against Shiro with a sigh. The shaking has stopped and he no longer feels as if he’s about to puke.

“You could have picked up something on the mission,” Shiro says.

“‘m fine,” Keith says.

He’s fooling neither of them.

“I have a meeting in a few minutes,” Shiro says. “Should I cancel it?”

It’s physically painful for Keith to shake his head. “No, no. Just... need some rest.”

“Are you sure?”

Keith makes a sound of derision. “Go,

I’ll be fine. Resting.”

Shiro helps him lay back down then, drawing the couch blanket over Keith and tucking him in. It’s a cocoon of warmth that smells of Shiros soaps. Keith’s eyes flutter closed again.

“Before I go, want me to—“

Shiro asks—
A. Get you something to eat or drink?
B. Call Krolia?
C. Put the TV?
D. Get you any meds?

“Before I go, want me to call Krolia?” Shiro asks.

Keith thinks it over. Whatever this is still lingers, but he feels better. He doesn’t need his mom to worry more.

“No that’s okay.”

Shiro nods, but his brows are furrowed. “I won’t be long, maybe just an hour.”

Keith nods as he watches Shiro go to the door. He’s leaving and that’s fine. Really.

Fine.

And yet as Shiro is reaching for the door a low, wounded sound escapes Keith. It comes from deep in him, from the place that is still aching.

Shiro turns back to him, concern all over his face, but Keith is already shaking his head.

“Go,” he says. Shiro, with no small amount of trepidation, does.

As soon as the door closes, something inside Keith just... breaks. It’s not physical, but the intensity of it

makes him touch his chest just to be certain. It’s piercing, but there’s no arrow in his chest. He’s fine. He’s /is/.

He doesn’t understand what’s happening.

Keith curls up and tries to tough it out. He doesn’t want to go to the medic, not when it’s something

so intangible. He doesn’t want to go and then everyone get worried.

He also just... doesn’t want to leave Shiros place. Even just the thought of it gets that trembling started inside him.

Keith turns his face into the pillow and breathes in. It smells so good. So, so good.

He turns to look out across the apartment. There’s one of Shiros jackets across the room thrown over a chair. Beyond that is his bedroom, door ajar.

Keith bets the pillows in there would smell even better...

That’s wrong. That’s...

But now that the thought has come, it’s hard to shake. Something in him /wants/.

Needs.

It all hurts, and keith just wants to feel better. He needs to feel better so Shiro doesn’t come back and drag him off to the medic.

He doesn’t want strangers to paw at him. He just wants—

He burrows into the blanket, into Shiros shirt. He stares at the jacket across the room.

But maybe it would be better to shower?

Keith should
A. Go get in Shiros bed
B. Go grab pillows off Shiros bed
C. Go grab Shiros jacket to wear
D. Go take a shower in Shiros bathroom

Keith lays there a moment longer, until the need inside him grows too big to manage.

Then he stumbles up, dragging the blanket with him, toward the bedroom door.

Inside is quiet, dark with the curtains drawn. Keith looks at the door to the bathroom. He should shower but—

Before he knows it, Keith’s crawling into the bed. It smells overwhelmingly of Shiro and when he gets himself burrowed under the sheets something in him stops pulsing in pain.

He sighs and pulls the sheets up over his head. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s better than the couch.

He drowses then. In the other room his datapad pings, but he can’t imagine getting up to get it.

“Keith?” Ages later comes a voice.

Shiro. His heart leaps at the sound & he pokes his head out from under the covers.

“Hey ba-buddy. How’re you feeling?” Shiro comes closer and

sits on the edge of the bed. It’s good but not good enough. Keith feels cold and sweaty and jittery still. He makes a sound instead of trying to force an answer out of his throat.

Shiro reaches over and touches his forehead.

“You’re burning up. I should call—“

Shiro turns to leave and instantly Keith snatches his wrist. He makes a low, strange sound he doesn’t even recognize.

Shiro turns back to look at him. “Keith, you’re not well.”

Keith only tugs. He needs Shiro closer. He doesn’t know why, only that it’s what will

make him feel better.

Shiro fights him a moment longer, but then sighs.

“Keith.”

He gets further into bed as Keith tugs. When he’s lying down Keith snuggles close, pressing his face to Shiros starchy work shirt.

Arms encircle him easily and Keith feels his throat loosen.

They lay like that a while until the trembling stops. Keith breathes and breathes. There’s a ping and Shiro shuffles a little to read and answer it, but he doesn’t let go of Keith.

Eventually Keith feels like himself enough to understand what he’s done.

Without permission

he’s come into Shiros room and all but demanded that Shiro cuddle him. Yes, he’s sick, but he feels ashamed that he’s so out of it as to do this. Even if Shiro is gracious about it.

It’s for this reason that keith forces out, “I think I’m sick.”

Shiro hums and squeezes him. “I need to take you to medic.”

Keith takes one last deep breath and then pulls out of Shiros chest. “Okay,” he says.

##

They end up, half an hour later, in the hospital. Keith’s temperature is high enough that they check him into a room.

Two hours later he’s booked for overnight. Keith frowns at the news, but before he can argue, Shiro is handing him his datapad with his moms face on the screen.

“I’m fine,” he says automatically when Krolia starts fretting.

“I’ve already talked to Shiro, I know very well

you aren’t.”

Keith looks back at Shiro who is playing at faux interest in the rooms telescreen.

“Overnight is too much.”

“It’s just enough. Do this for me kit, please? I’m worried about you.”

At that Shiro tilts his head back and nods in agreement. The two of them are

ridiculous. Keith regrets ever introducing them.

“Fine.” They both smile.

It’s a boring evening then, especially as Keith is feeling better. The staff run a bunch of tests, and Shiro brings him dinner. There’s no answers.

After dinner they chat a little, but then the visiting hours are nearly up. Shiro offers to pull rank and stay, but Keith waves

him off.

“Krolia will be off in a few hours if you do need someone,” are Shiros parting words.

Keith begrudgingly settles into the hospital bed then and tries to sleep. The sooner this is over, the sooner he can go home....

Hours and hours later, Keith wakes in a startled fright. His skin is burning and his heart is pounding. He’s alone. Alone in a strange room that smells of sterile cleaner.

He doesn’t know where he is. There are wires all stuck to him and frantically he tries to pull them

off. Some come off easily and others hurt. He whines. He needs his mate, but he’s not here.

Did he abandon Keith?

Keith—

A. Flees out the hallway
B. Curls up under the bed
C. Tries to make a call on the datapad
D. Barricades the door

Keith gets off the bed, eyes darting around. He needs out. He needs to leave before someone comes in and—

He doesn’t know what, but this place smells bad. It smells scared and bleach and wrong.

Keith darts to the door. He tries the handle and it’s open. He peeks out.

There are some people out, but they aren’t looking at him. Down the right hallway is clear.

Keith makes a run for it.

There’s a shout as he does, but Keith doesn’t pause to look. He runs down the hall and then to a stairwell. He hears some shouts and footsteps.

Down is probably the better choice, but it’s the one they expect. Keith goes up. His bare feet hurt on the stairs but he doesn’t slow. Below someone opens the stairwell door.

Keith exists two floors up and then assesses. There’s no one around. He walks fast down the hall,

trying not to look suspicious. His eyes are searching all over for some other way to escape.

Keith tries two locked doors and then hears, “Sir?”

He turns around and there’s a man in medic garb. He’s approaching slowly. There’s a cart to the side and Keith whips off the tray,

wielding it like a weapon.

“Hey buddy,” the medic says with his hands up. “Some assistance!”

The second part is shouted and draws more attention. Keith backs up, heart pounding. He raises the tray. He needs out. He doesn’t know these people or what they want, but he

doesn’t trust them.

He whines and backs up further, hitting the corner. There’s a door, but when he reaches for it, it’s locked. The medic comes closer and Keith bares his teeth on a growl.

“Get a sedative!” Someone shouts.

Keith half cowers, half spits as they try to

get closer. He’s trapped and several people now are blocking him in. He feels faint, his insides quivering. He needs—

“Keith?!”

He perks up at the voice of his mate. Keiths eyes are wet, and he tries to blink it away. He’s scared and fraught, but the sound gives him something

he desperately needs.

Through the crowd, Shiro appears. His face is worried. Keith blinks away more tears.

“Keith!” Shiro steps out and—

Shiro should
A. Tries and talk it out
B. Uses the sedative
C. Bodily overpowers Keith
D. Blocks staff from getting close

Shiro steps out and put himself between Keith and the staff.

“It’s fine, I’ve got this.” Shiro says. His tone is hard and aimed at the crowd of people.

“Sir, he’s—“

“With me. Thank you. I’ve got him.”

There’s a bit of arguing then, but Shiro is immovable. Keith doesn’t understand it at all because his head is so muddy, but he knows his mate is protecting him.

Eventually the crowd breaks up, even if a couple only walk a little bit away and linger. Shiro turns then completely

to Keith.

“Hey Keith,” he says, soft. “Hey, it’s me. Shiro. You know me?”

Keith makes a small chirp and takes his hand to wipe at his wet eyes.

“Okay. Good. That’s so good. Can I come closer?”

Shiro starts to move forward, and Keith doesn’t do anything. He wants to

go to his mate, but he’s afraid of the people still lurking. Eventually Shiro crosses the space and gently takes the tray out of Keith’s hands.

“Okay?”

His arms open, and Keith can’t help himself, he all but throws himself against his mate. Shiro scoops him up

easily, tucking him closer. The smell of him overwhelms Keith, settles him. He presses his nose to Shiros nape, and breathes him in. A hand rubs up and down his back.

“I’m going to take you out of here, okay? Your mom said she had an idea about what’s wrong.”

Keith rumbles a sound, and nuzzles his agreement. Shiro squeezes him.

There’s a deep sighing breath then. “I’m sorry Keith, I never should have left you, visiting hours be damned.”

Keith butts his head against Shiro’s cheek.

“Yeah. Okay. Krolia then, since they don’t

have any answers for you.”

Shiro gets up then, Keith still in his arms. It’s an impressive feat of strength from his mate, and Keith purrs his approval and clutches at Shiro.

Shiro laughs. “Honestly, this is better than the sweating, shaking sickness you had before.”

Keith nuzzles more as he’s carried down the hall and then down the stairs. There’s a brief conversation with someone at a desk, in which Shiro argues and Keith hides in Shiros neck, but it’s over before too long. Keith can be fierce, he can protect himself, but his mate is

right, right now he’s not feeling up to the task. It’s good then that he has such a capable mate.

They leave the building and then walk toward the Blades apartments. Shiro never once falters or offers to put him down.

His mom when she answers the door looks at first worried and then amused.

“Has he been doing that a lot?” She asks as they settle in. Keith clings to Shiro even as they take a seat on the couch.

“Uh... kinda.”

They talk then, back and forth and back and forth. His mom

talks about mates and galra and about how Shiro is his mate. At that Keith makes a sound and gently headbutts Shiros shoulder. Of /course/ Shiro is his mate.

Shiro is pink cheeked and fumbling. Keith thinks it’s a cute look on him and licks his jaw.

“Keith!”

His mom laughs.

“Happy to know it’s not something more serious,” Krolia says then.

“But I— he— you really think a bite will fix this?”

Krolia shakes her head. “It won’t fix anything, it will just complete what’s already been started. Keith sees you as his mate, and at some point you

two triggered the mate bond between you but didn’t finish it. Galra get very sick from an incomplete bond.”

“We didn’t... we’re just friends.”

Krolia says something back and Shiro fidgets, Keith can hear his heartbeat pick up.

“Well, I don’t know how else to help. That,”

she gestures at Keith with a fond smile, “that’s not just friends.”

Keith purrs and licks at Shiros jaw. The pinkness on Shiro’s cheeks spreads.

“But now I think I’ll leave you to it. Stay here for the night. Figure out what you want to do.”

“I can’t just...”

Shiro takes a deep breath. “I can’t complete a bond when he’s like this. It’s wrong. He can’t even talk.”

Krolia stands, but looks at them. “Shiro, he’s already made his choice.”

Then his mom is going to the door and letting herself out. Keith curls tighter into Shiro with

a happy sigh.

“Fuck,” Shiro says. “What am I going to do, hm?” Shiro’s hand rubs up and down Keith’s back. “I need to... we have to talk about this. I need...”

He trails off. Silence ticks by and Keith enjoys the touching.

“Okay. So. Here for the night. Um. Need to get you

a bit more Keith-like. Um.”

Keith can feel Shiro look around the apartment. “How about dinner?”

Food does sound good to Keith. Keith imagines it like this, curled up and eating bits out of Shiro’s fingers.

“Or maybe shower since you were just in the hospital.”

That one’s

good too— to be warm and wet and curled up in a bath with his mate.

“Or we could watch a movie? Just... chill and maybe you’ll... come back to yourself? Unless you would just rather go back to bed?”

Keith purrs into Shiros chest and thinks all the options over.

Keith chooses

In the end the bath wins out. Keith can smell the chemical scent of that building still, and he wants it gone. He just wants the scent of his mate surrounding him.

He leans up to Shiros face. The mans eyes go wide just before Keith licks his cheek. Then he licks again and

again.

“Uh... is this your choice?”

Keith licks back to his ear and then to Shiros hairline. Shiro makes a strange cough.

“UH!” He gently pushes Keith back. “Hungry?”

Keith narrows his eyes and makes a derisive sound.

“Bath?”

That gets a happy chirp. Bath!

“Bath... yeah. Okay. Of course. Because why not,” Shiro laughs to himself. “Universe loves to torture me, huh?”

Keith tilts his head. Mate upset?

Shiro leans in and bumps their foreheads together. He sighs.

“Anytime Keith wants to come back

to actual speech I would be really grateful for it. Anytime before... bath.”

He gets up then and Keith immediately follows. They go to the bathroom. Shiro sighs again.

“Will you bathe yourself?” He asks Keith. Keith immediately wraps an arm around Shiro. He wants mate.

“Yeah. Yeah kind of figured. Awesome.” Another deep breath. “I can do this. Just like before. Totally normal and not at all weird now that I know you think of me as your ma—“

Shiro turns on the water.

“Deep breath Shiro, get it together.” When he turns back to Keith

he looks calmer, even as the pink rises to his cheeks.

“Come here.”

Keith doesn’t need to be asked twice. He shuffles into Shiros arms before the man laughs and pushes him back a little.

“Let me just...”

Then he’s pulling the strange shirt up over Keith’s head.

That’s good because it’s not his own. It’s stiff fabric and smells of that building. Keith’s all too happy when Shiro helps him with the bottoms.

“Okay, into the shower now.”

The curtain is pulled back, and steam rises from inside. Keith steps over the tub rim,

but makes sure to keep a hand on Shiro. He tugs meaningfully.

“Keith,” Shiro says helplessly.

Keith tugs again. There’s a sigh. Keith wonders why his mate is having such breathing troubles.

Shiro pulls away then, but only to start taking off his clothing. Keith purrs happily and turns to get under the water.

Not long after is the sound of Shiro getting in behind him. Immediately Keith turns and ticks himself back into Shiros chest.

The heartbeat under

his ear ticks up significantly.

“Cool. Yup. Okay.” A hand comes up and pets Keith’s slick hair. “Anytime you wanna come back to talky-Keith. Anytime before I embarrass myself.”

Keith nuzzles in and enjoys the heat of the water, the pleasure of all their touching skin.

He tries to push closer, to push their hips together, but a hard hand winds around his hip.

“And that’s where I draw the line,” Shiro says. “I really, really cannot let that happen with you like this.”

Keith doesn’t know what that means. A lot of the words are

difficult to parse, but he gets the hand holding him. Space. His mate wants space.

Keith does his best to respect that. He backs off a little and reaches for a good smelling soap.

What follows then is a nice indulgent washing. Keith does Shiro, stopping when

his hands start to slide down Shiros chest and Shiro stops him.

Then Shiro does him. Keith closes his eyes and just lets it happen. His mates hands are strong and nice, slippery across his skin. The back and forth motions are almost mesmerizing and

something in his mind start winding back up. There’s a kind of certainty or clarity moving through him. Shiro touches and touches and it’s cleansing in more ways that one. Thoughts and words start bubbling up. Keith grabs at them in his head, fitting them together

like a puzzle.

It’s like waking from a dream, all the fuzzy strange things that have happened trying to slip away.

Keith remembers the hospital, how he fled, how Shiro... got him.

How he mewled and purred and licked at Shiro. His friend Shiro. His ma—

The conversation with Krolia unspools like a video in fast forward. Mate. Imprinting. How it had triggered... this.

And then Keith realizes that he’s currently pressed, naked and wet, against Shiros chest as Shiro washes his back.

Oh.

Fuck.

Keith should
A. Flee the shower
B. Pretend it’s all fine, not talk about it
C. Apologize and talk about it
D. Say nothing, indulge (morally gray)

Keith considers for only the briefest of moments, pressing back into that heat and indulging.

Except he can’t. Neither can he run from this. First it was the cuddling in bed, and now it’s this. It’s this and he knows what it /is/ now.

And Keith is no coward.

“Shiro,” he says, pulling out of the mans grasp.

“Keith!” Shiros smile is instant, wide. Keith looks at him, drenched and utterly pleased, and feels more guilty.

“Shiro I’m so sorry!” It’s hard to know where to start, but an apology seems due.

“Hey, it’s okay.”

“No it’s not, I—“

“Wait,” Shiro interrupts, then looks away. “Um. We should talk, yeah. But um, not in the shower.”

Keith backs up fast, turning away. They’re still both naked and wet and—

“Yep!” Keith says.

There’s an awkward moment, then the shower curtain is pulled back.

Keith hears Shiro get out and start drying himself off.

“I’ll get you some clothes,” Shiro says.

He leaves and Keith takes a deep breath and turns off the water. He’s mortified, but worse is having to leave this bathroom and have /that/ conversation.

He knows Shiro will be kind when he draws the necessary boundaries, but it still hurts to think about. Keith reaches for a towel and dries off.

When he steps out of the shower there’s a knock and then Shiro offering clothes. “Krolia’s,” he says by way of explanation.

Keith pulls them on, and then just stands there in the bathroom. A minute ticks by before he reaches for the door handle.

He can do this. Has to do this. He owes it to Shiro after putting him through this nonsense.

When he opens the door, Shiro is sitting on the bed, dressed.

Keith comes over slowly, taking a seat at least a foot and a half away.

“What do you remember?” Shiro asks.

“Everything.”

Shiro nods. Keith can’t look at him, but he catches the movement.

“Shiro, I’m so sorry, I didn’t meant to... do that.”

“Mate bond?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s—“

“Don’t you dare say it’s okay,” Keith snaps. “All that in the hospital was not okay. That in the shower was—“

“It wasn’t anything I wouldn’t have done any other time.”

Keith snorts. “You’re too kind.”

“I’m exactly as kind as I should be. To you.”

Stupidly, Keith

feels himself flush. He hides it by scrubbing his hands over his face.

“Fuck, this is so embarrassing.”

“Oh, it could be worse,” Shiro says, “no ones barfed or started an intergalactic incident yet.”

Keith laughs, but it’s strained. “It was a near thing with the barfing.”

“Is it so bad,” Shiro says, “tripping a mate bond?”

His voice is softer and Keith looks up then to see Shiro frowning. He looks upset.

Keith says
A. “Shiro, what do you want me to say here?”
B. “I mean no, in the grand scheme of things it’s fine. Just awkward.”
C. “I mean yeah. Who would want that?”
D. “It’s bad for you, Shiro.”

“It’s bad for you Shiro.”

It’s hurts to say, but that’s the truth of it. Shiro didn’t ask for this, and while he’s being so kind to Keith, this is not okay.

“Bad for me?”

Keith sighs. He doesn’t want to spell it out further.

“It never should have happened,

I don’t even know how it happened,” Keith says instead. “I should have had a better hold on my... hormones or whatever. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry you have to deal with the fallout now. I’ll... talk to mom and figure something out. You won’t have to deal with this anymore.”

Keith gambles a look and Shiros face looks...

He looks devastated.

“Oh.” His human arm crosses over his chest awkwardly. “Um. Do you want me to leave? I understand if I’ve made it uncomfortable for you.”

“No, no. Shiro you’ve been great. It’s me.”

They look at each other then, both strangely guarded and off kilter. Something... isn’t matching.

Finally Shiro takes the leap. “Keith there’s nothing wrong with you. I don’t— you say I haven’t upset you, but you’re radiating displeasure.”

“At myself!” Keith stands up,

the energy inside him too much. Even as he puts some space between them he feels the ache. The wrongness of the unfulfilled bond.

“That I’m like this. That even just stepping away from you /hurts/.”

“Then don’t.”

This catches Keith’s aggressive pacing and he turns

to look at Shiro.

“Shiro—“

“No. Really. I don’t understand the problem. Are you disgusted by me?”

Keith gapes at him, sidelined by such a ridiculous question. “No. Stars, Shiro. Of course not.”

“Okay. But you’re fighting this,” he gestures to the space between them.

“It’s not fair!”

“To who?”

“To you!” Keith says.

Now it’s Shiros turn to look befuddled. “I don’t have a problem with it.”

Keith scoffs at this. “I know, because you’re too nice and you would never tell me to get lost even when you should.”

“Why should I?”

The conversation is getting tedious, but Shiros got that expression like he’s trying to solve a stubborn problem.

“I can’t tell if you’re being willfully obtuse,” Keith snarks.

Shiro’s shoulders only settle further. He looks, suddenly, the picture of calm.

“Why don’t you tell me, in kindergarten English, what part of you and me and a bond mating that you think is bad, and why you think that?”

“What?”

Shiro smiles, softly. “Would it really be so bad to complete a bond mate with me?”

Keith—
A. Answers the question honestly
B. Walks over and kisses Shiro
C. Flees
D. Continues the argument

“Shiro—“ Keith starts and then stops. He knows what he wants to say, but it’s painful. Honest.

But isn’t that what Shiro is asking for?

“Shiro... you don’t want this. And even if you would be okay with it, it’s not... it wouldn’t be casual for me. I know Mom kind of

mentioned it, but the Galra mate for life. It’s not a thing between friends. Even best friends. I—“ Keith takes a deep breath. “It happened because that’s how I feel. About you. Not casual.”

Keith can’t look at him. His heart is pounding and that pull is tight in core.

“Keith, Keith look at me.”

Keith can’t. “It’s fine. I know. I can just go, okay? We don’t have to talk about it.”

He hears Shiro get up then off the bed. “Actually, I think we really do.” A hand comes up and tilts his head until they’re looking at each other.

“I keep trying to tell you it’s fine, but maybe that’s not clear enough. It’s a yes, not casual, for me. The moment Krolia told me what was going on, I knew it was a yes. If that’s what you want.”

“You...?”

Shiros smiling now, soft and fond. “Yeah. I love you. Have for a while,

and would be honored to complete the bond mate.”

“Not just because...?”

“No.” Shiro laughs then, a gentle sound. He leans down to kiss Keith’s cheek. “I’m not as self sacrificing as you seem to think. At least not with this.”

Keith stares at him in awe. The bond is

near vibrating now. Keith knows what it is, knows now how he wants Shiro, needs him.

They reach for each other at the same time. The kiss Keith feels like a shockwave through him. He gasps and curls his hands around Shiros neck. Shiro makes a low, pleased sound.

It devolves quickly then. They stumble back into the bed, huffing a laugh between them before coming together again. The kisses aren’t much, but each one does something to Keith. He feels in tune with his whole body, and he doesn’t want to stop.

He doesn’t even realize

he’s pleading between kisses until Shiro pulls back.

“Are you sure?”

Keith reaches up and grabs a tuft of hair, pulling it as he sucks a kiss into Shiros jaw. “Yes,” he hisses.

The clothes come off then, clumsy and too eager. The second all of Shiros skin is

on display, Keith can’t help touching. It feels good, so much better than it should. He can feel Shiro grinning against his cheek.

“Hush,” Keith growls, nuzzling at Shiros throat.

“Mmm, want to bite me baby?”

It’s what’s missing from the bonding, it’s what Keith’s

body had been trying to tell him this whole time. Galra fulfill a mate bond by a bite right at the neck gland. Keith’s never seen a gland on himself, but Krolia had confirmed it was there, that he wouldn’t be getting such wild hormonal shifts without it.

Shiro doesn’t have one,

because he’s human, but that’s not the point. Keith’s urge is still there. The urge to bite, to be bitten.

He rubs himself against the area, getting the bonus of their cocks grinding.

“You can,” Shiro says with a hard breath. “Bite me.”

(Tags for slight blood, biting for bonding, sex)

Maybe they should have sex first, do something more than kissing and grinding, but Shiro saying that just incites Keith.

He sucks in a heady breath and takes his teeth to Shiros neck.

There are fangs, sudden and sharp in his mouth. He presses in, snagging a bit of skin,

following the driving instinct. It feels... strange. Electric but also right. Shiro makes a sound and Keith bites and bites. It’s a little harder every time until he tastes copper.

It sings through him, pulsing and all encompassing. Keith moans, squirming against Shiro.

It’s like an orgasm but not. When his mouth lifts off he feels... different. Settled.

And so, so turned on.

“Fuck,” Shiro says, he sounds ruined. “That was weirdly hot, how much you enjoyed that.”

Keith grunts, his fangs are still out and he feels too wild for speech.

He grabs at Shiros hair and pulls him in, offering his neck.

“I don’t have fangs,” Shiro starts. Keith offers his neck more ardently.

Shiros bite is heavy, blunt. Keith whines at the sensation, at the feeling of a loop closing. It’s something intrinsic and ineffable.

When Shiro pulls away, Keith knows it’s done. He feels light and happy and—

At once he scrambles up onto his hands and knees and shuffles down Shiros body. Hes had ages to think about this, to fantasize about what he’d do if he ever got a chance with Shiro.

“H-hey!” Shiro tries to stop him, but it’s a weak offer at best. Already Keith is settling down between Shiros legs, taking his heavy cock in hand.

It’s gorgeous, ruddy and wet at the tip. Keith lowers his head.

“Teeth!” Shiro says.

They’re still overly sharp.

He settles for licking, for sucking the tip while he strokes Shiro. It’s not the finest technique, but he’s a little lost in the bonding, in the desire. By the way that Shiro starts shifting and breathing, he doesn’t mind.

Keith tastes, letting it be sloppy.

His own cock is throbbing and he feels like he could come from just this, from just his mate enjoying himself.

“Keith! Fuck— I—“

Keith takes the head into his mouth, careful of the fangs. He strokes and sucks and—

And then Shiro is cursing and pulling at the sheets

and coming. It goes everywhere and Keith laps at it, making a mess.

A moment later he’s tugged up and a hand on his cock makes him come almost immediately. He buries his face into Shiros throat, right at the bite, and let’s the pleasure overwhelm him.

# #

A long time afterwards Keith comes to. He feels satisfied. Deeply, all the way to his bones. When he tilts his head up, Shiro is grinning at him.

“So, mates?”

Keith pulls him in for a kiss. “Yeah,” he says softly when they part. “Mates.”

“Perfect.”

Shiro kisses him and Keith’s hand wanders up to his own neck where the mark is.

He presses on the skin and it’s sore. Perfect. He smiles into the next kiss.

/END

Thank you!!! To everyone who voted and participated, this was so much fun for me and I hope it was for you! Thanks for loving my writing and following me on this here bird app.

This fic (over 6k!) will be edited and put on AO3 in the future.

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