Waiting For You (A Sheith Story)

Settling In (Chapter 4)

I have time before I go camping so I thought I'd update. Anyway, thanks for reading, feel free to ask questions/leave comments, and hope you enjoy!

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Hours turned into days, and the days eventually grew into the first few weeks Keith was at the Garrison. The Kerberos launch was quickly approaching. It took a little while for Keith to fall into the daily routine, but he was sure to always find Shiro whenever he could.

First was breakfast. The cafeteria echoed in chatter, Keith couldn't hear himself think. He would always grab his food, quickly scarf it down, and hurry out unless he saw Shiro.

If he saw Shiro, then he'd put up with the loud noise and join him at his table.

Shiro would try to talk to him, but with all the noise, Keith would only nod if Shiro looked at him expectantly, or laugh if Shiro laughed. Shiro knew Keith had no idea what he was talking about, but found it cute that the teen would try to play along anyway.

Next, different classes and simulation tests filled the majority of the day, with a few breaks in between.

In the classroom, Keith kinda struggled. He just couldn't sit still or pay attention. Though, he wasn't as bad as Lance, who Keith had the misfortune of sharing a classroom with. They sat on opposite sides of the room, silently agreeing to stay far away from one another. Even from across the room, Keith could tell that Lance was even more restless than he, although Lance only wanted to flirt with the female classmates, while Keith only wanted to leave.

Then when it came time for his class's simulation, they would all suit up. Keith would take his assigned engineer and comm spec in silence, and would wait before it was his turn to step inside.

Each simulation was the same, and Keith would follow the necessary steps, taking a few flips or dives if the engineer didn't fix something properly. After their simulation and a few complimenting or criticizing words from Iverson, which he always ignored or glared at, he'd step back into line, hearing the others talk about him while Lance only glared at him.

"That's the kid who impressed the professors in his introductory test..."

"He's so cool..."

"I heard he illegally races, that's why he can pull off all those stunts--"

"Then why would he pass the background check--?"

"His was really vague--"

"And his eyes? They just scream 'dangerous'. Man, I wouldn't want to fight that guy, I don't think I'd make it out alive..."

"He's quiet too, he only talks to Shirogane..."

Then there was Lance who would always butt in: "Why does everyone care about Keith?! Blah blah blah, he's such a responsible badboy and a prodigy, blah blah blah...!"

Keith mostly ignored them, especially Lance. His eyes were almost always searching for Shiro, even if he already knew Shiro would be nowhere in sight.

Despite this busy and mind-numbing routine that often drained his energy and attention, Keith would occasionally sneak up to the roof, able to finally breathe away from all the attention and drills.

Keith looked up at the stars in silence, the small glowing dots scattered across the sky. He could see hundreds-- no, thousands of stars, with no city lights to chase the celestial orbs away. Lying down, eyes to the stars, he felt like he was just floating in the expansiveness of the universe.

He started to close his eyes, enjoying the silent bliss of the heavens above him, before he heard footsteps. Sensing the visitor sit beside him, Keith cracked an eye open, but tensed when he saw Shiro there.

"S--Shiro," Keith quickly acknowledged, sitting up. Crap, he saw me break the curfew rule, and on my first night! Is he going to rat me out?!

Shiro only smiled and sat next to him.

"So, what do you think of the academy?"

"No offense, but it's rather crappy," Leith muttered. "Iverson's a jerk. I've apparently got a rival that hates my guts, and most of the other kids think to highly of me to be an actual friend. At least I don't have to scrounge for food or parts, but now I have to hide my knife--"

"Knife? What knife?" Shiro interrupted. "Weapons aren't allowed for cadets."

"Geez," Keith sighed irritably. Shit, me and my big mouth... "I have a knife I got from my dad before he died."

"Your parents...?" Shiro recalled. "You never really mentioned them before."

"There was nothing to say," Keith sighed with a shrug as he sat up. "I never knew my mom, and dad didn't talk about her. He died from cancer a few years back, and I've been on my own ever since."

"Not anymore," Shiro smiled. "I got your back, and after the Kerberos missions, I'll help you be the best pilot you can be."

Keith smiled, and found himself throwing his arms around his fellow cadet. Both boys quickly stiffened and Keith retreated and slid away a little.

He could feel his pale skin grow warm, and only hope that Shiro didn't see it in the darkness. Little did Keith know, Shiro had seen it, and shared the exact same thought when his own cheeks had gone red.

They were up there a few more hours in silence, before Keith started nodding off and slumped over against Shirogane's arm.

He looked at Keith peacefully asleep, and couldn't help but crack a smile. What would've happened if Shiro hadn't almost ran the lonesome teen over?

He was here now, and he would make the best of his time with Keith. Shiro gently cradled the teen in his arms, moving slowly as to not wake him. Keith's head rested on Shiro's chest as they snuck back to the barracks.

After a few minutes and more than a few close calls, Shiro crept into Keith's room, setting him down onto the only free bunk and laying the blanket over him before heading off to his own bunk.

Shiro didn't see it, but as the door to Keith's room slid closed behind him, a small smile had rested on Keith's light pink lips, the first he had smiled in a long time.