You're My Brother

Promises

Weeks went by, and with every passing day, Keith and Shiro grew closer and closer together. Just a few days ago, Shiro had pulled Keith aside to show him the hover bikes the Garrison had for Officer to use. With much pleading from Keith, Shiro gave in and agreed to let Keith take one for a ride.
They had set out around four pm and ended their race around six.
This activity became a favorite of Keith's and with every possible break in the day, he forced Shiro to take him out again.
It was more than just fun. Feeling the wind in his hair as it whipped past his face, made him feel alive. It was the feeling of being free, the idea that nothing could stop him, nothing could hold him back. The feeling Keith longed for since his first days at The Home.
This was where he was meant to be. Out here, far from civilization, racing through the desert, this was where he belonged. Inside the simulator, outside on the bikes. That's what he had been missing his whole life before.
But now that he has the freedom, the life he dreamed of as a child, the young cadet is finally beginning to feel happy.
"I honestly don't understand why you love these silly races so much." Shiro chuckled as he rested against his hover bike.
Keith hopped off the one he had borrowed and took off his glasses, shaking out his hair that had been messed up by the wind. "It's fun!" He told the officer. "The racing, the tricks, all of it. I never had anything like this as a kid..."
Shiro looked out on the horizon, "you really did have a terrible childhood."
The cadet shrugged. "Not all of it... My Pa was around for a good part of it... But yeah. The Home ruined everything."
"But you had foster homes, right?" Shiro asked him. "That must have been nice."
"Those were the worst part." Keith scoffed, shaking his head "one of them killed my dog so—"
"Jesus, that must have sucked." Shiro looked back to Keith with sympathy. "I'm sorry you had to go through so many upsetting incidents."
"Yeah... but I'm here now. And this... This is much better." He slowly smiled, "You having my back helps..."
"Oh, well I'm flattered to hear that, but I'm not that special."
Keith laughed, "are you kidding?! You let me steal bikes and cars and always cover for me!"
"I didn't let you steal my car. You did that on your own." Shiro mounted his bike and rested his hands on his knees. "And for the record, I'm kind of mad at you for that." He adjusted his goggles so they were in place on his face.
"But it was fun." Keith added, sliding his goggles back on, climbing onto 'his' hover bike.
Shiro shook his head and slowly started the engine of his bike. "I will never understand your definition of fun."
"Why? Because I brake the rules and because I'm a bad kid?"
"No," he smirked at Keith, "because I'm a hot shot pilot who's overrated. You said it yourself, didn't you?"
"Maybe...."
"Come on, let's get back to the Garrison before someone realizes how long we've been gone."
And with that, Shiro raced off, Keith following right behind him.
It took them just under half an hour to make it back to the garage and return the bikes.
"You've got an exam tomorrow, don't you?" Shiro asked once they had entered the main building.
"Well... Yeah but I don't need to—"
"No." The Officer cut him off, "You're studying. Go. Stay out of trouble and study for your exam like a good student."
"But I'm not a good student." Keith retorted. "Remember? I'm the discipline case. The bad student."
"Don't care. You're not failing out of any class other than mine." Shiro pushed Keith towards the Cadet rooms. "Go! Study! Or I'll walk you back there myself."
"Fine...." The raven haired boy groaned and marched off towards his room.

***

Keith plopped down on his bed after an hours worth of reading over notes.
He was going to pass his mathematics test no matter what, so studying any more than he already had was pointless. Instead of continuing his studies, he flicked the switch on the lights and turned on the TV.
Keeping the volume low, he found a reasonable channel to watch.
The news.
He grew up watching it and some questionable shows about space travel and the arrival of aliens. His father had some weird obsession with both and often spent nights listening for what Keith called 'alien radio chatter'.
But it wasn't all that bad. As a child, the idea of life outside of their own was breathtaking. The possibility of aliens, that was something crazy. Something inspiring.
He always felt connected to the stars and the sky. Probably because of the silly alien shows he was raised on. Regardless, being a pilot felt natural. If you want to touch the sky, what better way to do it than become a fighter pilot?
A headline on the news caught his attention and he sat up to listen.
"The Galaxy Garrison is sending yet another mission to the red planet, Mars." The reported read from the script, "Of the six man team selected, is famed pilot, Takashi Shirogane and talented scientist, Samuel Holt."
Keith didn't wait to hear any more. He turned it off immediately, bolting out of his room and down the hall to the Teacher's lounge.
He knocked on the door and waited impatiently for an answer.
"Is Shi- Officer Shirogane here?!" He asked as soon as the door had opened.
"Yes," the man in front of Keith answered. "Why?"
"I have to see him. Now!"
"Let him in," Shiro's voice came from inside.
Keith pushed passed the Officer in front of him, and the others in the room. He headed straight for Shiro. "You're leaving?! When?! How long?!"
"Only a year." Shiro said in his calm tone. "I'll be back."
"And you didn't think to tell me?!"
"Hold on," the man who opened the door interjected. "What's going on here? Who is this boy?"
"Sam," Shiro began. "This is Keith. He and I have known each other for some time." He pointed to the other officer. "Keith, this is Samuel Holt. He'll be my scientist on the mission."
"So what?!" Keith snapped. "You're just going to leave me behind?! You made a promise!"
"And I plan on keeping it. I promise I will never give up on you." Shiro barely paused enough to breathe before he added, "But I have to go on this mission."
   "You don't have to do anything!" Keith argued. "You promised me you wouldn't ever leave. Last time you said that, you disappeared for seven years!"
   "This is different, Keith. I'll be back sooner than you think."
   "I don't care! You said you'd be here for me!" The Cadet paused for just a moment, "but I was wrong about you..."
   Shiro didn't quite know what to say. He hung his head low and took a deep breath. "It's important that I go on this mission."
   "No it isn't." Another person's voice challenge Shiro from behind Keith.
   "Adam, you know—"
   "Takashi... Please." Adam was practically begging Shiro to change his mins. "Listen to the kid. It's a long voyage... Too long...."
"It's one year! I've been on hundreds of missions to space an on earth!" Shiro tried to back up his opinions. "What's another year in space going to do?!"
"It'll brake me!" Keith suddenly yelled. "You said it yourself! You're the only one here who cares about me. Without you I'll get kicked out! I can't go back to The Home!"
"I'm not the only one..." Shiro began, motioning to Adam, "I know he'll—"
"Oh just forget it! I You're putting the mission above everything else in the entire universe! If you won't listen to me, at least listen to your stupid boyfriend!"
Shiro extended his left hand, placing it on Keith's shoulder. "Keith... I..."
"Just stop!" The cadet forcefully shoved Shiro's hand off his shoulder "I get it, okay?! You're a famous pilot who lives off of his fans and media interviews. I'm just another loner boy who should just drop out. How could I possibly matter to any of you...?"
Keith had heard enough of Shiro's speech, his meaningless words and his fake apologies. The man was no different than anyone else. If Shiro wanted to go on the mission, fine, see if he cared.