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Freebooter Bay was a hole in the wall that looked like shit and stank like piss, but the rum was good and the beer was free, so when Captain Kolivan docked for a meeting, Keith decided to go with him.

The pub was dark and dank and smokey, and raucous laughter spilled into the streets as Keith and the Captain sauntered through its doors. Uncaring of games and gambling, Keith aimed straight for the bar and left Kolivan to his business.

The beer might have been free, but Keith knew from experience it tasted like slop, so he downed several shots of rum, then grabbed a pitcher for their table. When he rejoined Kolivan, the man had company.

This was a pirate Keith had never seen before. Shrouded in a big black hat with a long white feather, Keith couldn’t see much of him past that shark’s smile, but his clothes were fine and velvet black, and the hoops in his ears were true silver. A long tail snaked down his back, a black mirror to Kolivan’s own pale hair.

Unsure of his welcome, Keith set down the pitcher, poured himself a glass and turned to leave before the stranger’s voice stopped him mid step.

“Oh, please don’t go,” came a warm, deep voice. “You’re the prettiest thing I’ve seen in all my life.”

Keith turned slowly in smug disbelief and met the gaze of the unknown pirate. His face was broad and handsome, and cut with a silver scar on his nose. His eyes were a rainy stormtossed grey and his smile was as sharp as a knife.

“I suppose I’ll do you the favor then, seeing as you’ll miss me when I’m gone,” said Keith as he moved to straddle the bench.

When Kolivan didn’t tell him to leave, he laid his chin in his gloved right hand and stared across at the stranger.

“Captain Shirogane,” he said with a smile. “But pretty boys can call me Shiro.”

“Suppose it’s not too special then, if you let every pretty boy call you that,” said Keith, taking a sip of his beer.

“Oh, sweetheart, you’ve got a mouth on you,” said Captain Shirogane. “I’d beg to listen to you all day.”

Then Kolivan said, “Shirogane, stop flirting with my cabin boy. You and I have business and unlike you, I don’t have all day.”

“Alright, Kolivan, don’t get your panties all in a twist,” Shirogane said, gaze flicking quickly back to Keith. “You can be quiet can’t you, baby?”

Raising a brow, Keith said, “Only if you ask nicely.”

Shirogane smiled, soft and dangerous. Then he said, “Pretty boy, pretty please, keep that pretty mouth shut so I can gamble with your pissy captain.”

Keith barely managed to hold back his snort and raised his glass in cheers. True to his word, he did not say a single thing. Not as the bet pile grew. Not as the pitcher dwindled and was replaced by another. Not as the Liar’s Dice rolled higher and higher. Not until the game was over and Shirogane said, “You told me I could name my prize if I bled you dry.”

Kolivan was seething, but there was honor to his name. “Name it, Shirogane,” he said, “and then be out of my sight.”

The white shark smile came back in full force as the Captain drew a breath. His eyes swung slowly back to Keith, and he said, “Pretty boy, now you’re mine.”

“Fuck you,” Keith hissed. “You don’t own me.” And he shot up from his bench, glaring down at the grinning Captain as the man let out a deep laugh.

“Yes, I do,” Shirogane said. “Your Captain swore on pain of death that I could name my prize. The second that I saw your eyes, I knew that I would choose you.”

“You dishonorable sack of shit,” Keith growled. “I’m not your fucking pet.”

Shirogane merely smiled and said, “Now, kitten, that isn’t very polite. Ask your Captain if you will, but a deal struck is a deal dealt. Unless you want your Captain hung, you’ll gladly come with me.”

Lifting his chin, Keith sneered down his nose. “You may have struck a bargain,” he said, “but you struck it with him and not with me. Six months I’ll give you willingly and then you’ll bring me back.”

“Six months?” Shirogane scoffed. “That’s paltry. Have a care. Two years you’ll stay with me, not one day less.”

“Eight months, fuckface, or I’ll brand you a slaver,” said Keith.

“One year and a half,” said Shirogane, crossing his arms.

“Ten months, dickhead” said Keith.

They stared at each other, Captain Kolivan all but forgotten. “One year,” Shirogane said at last. “One year, to the day.”

Keith glared across the table, then sat back down across. “Your single year begins today,” Keith said. “And you’ll bring me back here when our time is through.”

Shirogane nodded. “One year and then I’ll bring you back.”

“Unharmed,” Keith said. “You won’t let any harm come to me.”

Shirogane gave him a pitying smile. “I can’t control everything, kitten. But if it’s within my power to keep you from harm, I will.”

Never with such passion had Keith hated anyone before, but he reached across the table and said, “One year from today and not a day more. You’ll protect me while I’m with you, and when we’re done, you’ll bring me here. We are agreed.”

Shirogane smiled, sharp and bright, and reached to clasp Keith’s hand. “We are agreed, my pretty boy. Now best say your goodbyes.”

“What about my stuff?” Keith said. “Aboard Marmora’s Blade?”

“I’ll buy you anything you need,” he said. “Now let’s be off. I’d like to show my pretty toy off to all my crew.”

Keith did not deign to look at him as he rose from his own bench. Just stepped right up to Kolivan and wrapped his arms round tight.

“I’m sorry, kit,” said Kolivan, whispered in his ear.

Keith said, “I’ll make it. But don’t forget, he’ll free me in a year.”

“I’ll come for you, don’t worry,” Kolivan swore in a vow. “Do not doubt that I will miss you. You’ll be missed by us all.”

Keith breathed in one last deep breath and slipped from his mentor’s arms. Took one last look, then turned to start a penance he had not earned.

Shirogane did not gloat or crow his own great victory. He merely strode out of the bar, cocksure and arrogant enough to assume Keith would follow. And follow he did. Down the main road, onto side streets and into alleys, sloping downward and forever to the sea.

In a secluded nook, Keith made his move, lunging for Shirogane’s back and yanking his dagger from its sheath.

His blade was just a hair away when Shirogane spun around. He caught Keith’s wrist and squeezed it until the knife clattered to the ground.

Keith growled, jerking up his knee, which Shirogane swatted like a fly before drawing Keith flush to his chest.

“Oh kitten,” Shirogane said, batting his lashes down at Keith, his voice not angry but strangely tender. “You’ll have to try harder than that if you want to sneak up on me.”

The words lit a blaze within Keith, and as he stared up at Shirogane, he made a vow. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

Shirogane smiled back. “Oh, I will love to watch you try.”

-

Behind a mountain of crates and barrels in the belly of the ship, Keith crouched in wait for Shirogane. After his first disastrous attempt at killing the man, he’d decided that what he needed was an even sneakier sneak attack, so after spending his first night aboard exploring Shirogane’s ship, the Black Lion, he’d hunkered down in the cargo hold to await the Captain.

It had been a long time since then, several hours of slow anticipation, and he’d taken turns massaging each of his legs in an attempt to get some blood flow going. Keith fucking hated pins and needles, but this had to be worth it. Shirogane had to check on his wares at some point. Right? Kolivan always did.

It was possible, of course, that Shirogane’s habits were nothing like Kolivan’s, but as Kolivan was the only other Captain he had to go on, Keith was sticking to it. He would give this up if and only if he could no longer wiggle his toes, and last time he checked, they were still working.

Stakeouts were uncomfortable. Stakeouts were boring. Stakeouts were long hours of hunger and pain in his limbs. But for all that, Keith was good at them. Keith was good at winning, too. All he needed was for his opponent to arrive.

When heavy footfalls sounded above, Keith tilted his head to listen, and grinned when the door to the stores swung open. There was a good chance it wasn’t Shirogane, but Keith was hopeful, and as he peered out from the shadows, his hope was rewarded, for there he was, dressed to kill, or as Keith saw it, dressed to die.

A bit of a shame, really. Shirogane wore such nice clothes, and Keith was planning on ruining them with blood. A bit of a shame, indeed, but not enough to make Keith care, nor to make him stop what he’d begun. A vow had been sworn, and Keith was no oathbreaker. The man would die at Keith’s hand, or Keith would die trying.

As Shirogane approached the shadows where Keith hid, he readied his blade and wiggled his toes for good measure to make sure they still worked. They did, and when Shirogane leaned in to inspect the crates for holes, Keith sprung.

Eyes widening, Shirogane stepped back, but it was no use. Keith crashed into him, knocking them both to the ground and plunged his blade toward the man’s throat.

But quick as an asp, just like before, Shirogane’s hand shot out and wrapped around Keith’s wrist, halting the blade mere inches from his throat.

Keith growled, bearing down with all his weight and all his strength, and though Shirogane’s arms shook, he did not budge.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Keith snarled.

Shirogane merely grinned beneath him. “You’re fast, kitten, but I’m faster.”

Keith swore several blood vessels popped in his eyes as he glared down at Shirogane in red and righteous fury. About to spit on the man’s face, he did not notice that Shirogane was moving until it was too late, and Keith screamed as Shirogane rolled Keith off and then rolled his own body over top, pinning Keith to the ground.

Prying the blade from Keith’s fingers, he tossed it away before settling his head on Keith’s chest, unbothered and unflinching even as Keith rained down punches on his back and banged up his shins in his struggles to escape Shirogane’s hold.

After half a minute of this, Shirogane evidently got annoyed enough to trap Keith’s hands in his own, crossing them over his chest before laying back down, effectively stripping Keith of his claws.

It made Keith see red, and he kicked even harder, but Shirogane just wrapped his own legs around Keith’s, prying them slightly apart so that his hips settled into the cradle of Keith’s thighs.

Now, try as he might, Keith could barely move at all, his only leverage in his neck and hips. He was furious, barely aware of the fact that he’d been growling throughout the entire struggle, and when he tilted his head back to scream his frustration, the sound was guttural and wild.

And Shirogane had the fucking audacity to laugh.

Keith glared down at him, feeling his pwn pupils slit as he snarled, “Rot in hell you pigfucking cocksucker! I’ll fucking kill you!”

Shirogane only laughed harder and Keith’s eyebrow began to twitch. Tilting his head on Keith’s chest, he grinned up at him, looking fond and smitten and fucking crazy, because no one should look so happy after surviving a murder attempt.

“Kitten, you’re adorable,” he said, his voice so warm.

Unsure of why his chest was heaving, as he hadn’t done shit, Keith panted, “How the fuck did you block my knife?”

Smirking, Shirogane said, “Maybe you didn’t notice, but I have a metal arm.” He did not unpin Keith’s hands in order to show him.

Keith rolled his eyes. “Guess you won’t care to tell me when you take that thing off?”

The man huffed a laugh. “I usually take it off when I’m sleeping. I could show you, if you ever decide you want to share my bed.”

“I would eat you raw,” Keith said, glaring. “I would claw you and bite you and then I would stab you for good measure.”

That got Shirogane laughing again, true and deep. “Yes, baby, I can tell you want to stick your blade in me. You eating me though, that’s new. I’d be very interested to see what that mouth can do when you’re not cursing me with it.”

Not bothering to respond to that wanton request, Keith made one of his own. “Do you think you could deign to get your lard ass body off me? This floor is disgusting.”

“Lard ass?” Shirogane snorted. “I’m two hundred pounds of solid muscle, and I think you like it.” Then he moved one of his hands to poke Keith’s side, causing Keith to let out a surprised chirp as he flinched, then glared at Shirogane again.

“I don’t like anything about you,” he said slowly. “In fact, I fucking hate you, and I want you to die, if that wasn’t fucking clear by the way I keep trying to kill you.

Shaking his head with a smile, Shirogane said, “Mm, nope, I think attempted murder is your way of flirting with me.”

Keith blinked, stared, felt his face do something funny. Then he simply closed his eyes and dropped his head down on the wooden floor. “You’re insane,” he said. “I’m ignoring you.”

“I have you pinned to the floor and cradled in my arms, I don’t think it’s possible for you to ignore me.”

“Still ignoring,” said Keith, and Shirogane laughed again.

“You’re funny,” said Shirogane.

“And you’re annoying,” Keith said back.

“Oh, I don’t think so, baby. What would you do all day if your attention wasn’t glued to me, planning your next attempt on my life? I think you’d be bored. I entertain you, and you love it.”

Keith’s nose twitched. He couldn’t deny any of it. Well, except the love part. The only part he loved about Shirogane was his ability to bleed.

“You infuriate me,” he said. “And when I kill you, I’ll finally be able to fucking relax.”

“You’re relaxing now,” Shirogane pointed out. “With the best weighted blanket on the entire planet.”

“I’m not relaxing. I’m biding my time.”

Shirogane snorted again. “Biding your time for what?”

“Biding my time until I get the opportunity to stab you again.”

“Okay, kitten,” Shirogane said. “You take all the time you need. I’ll be waiting.” And then he lapsed into silence.

At last able to ignore the man, Keith relaxed his limbs as the long silence blanketed the room, as Shirogane’s firm chest rose and fell against his own, as imagined fingers began to wind and unwind a single strand of his hair.

He must have dozed, because when he came to, he was being rocked, no carried, through a dark hallway. His fingers flew up, gripping firm muscle, but a tender voice said “Shhh, we’re almost there,” and to his own surprise, Keith relaxed, half dozing again before he was laid down on his cot.

Keith was drifting back into sleep when he felt fingers on his forehead, brushing his hair away to make room for the press of lips and a whispered, “Goodnight, kitten.”

But when Keith slept, the memories faded along with his dreams.

-

When Keith awoke, it was with a vengeance, and all week he pretended to be docile as he observed the crew rotation. Pidge was tiny but feral, and Keith respected that. She was out. Matt was smart, so that wouldn’t work either.

He was fairly certain Allura could kick his ass, and Hunk was as large as Shirogane, so that wouldn’t do either. But Lance. Lance was stupid. He could take Lance. So when Shirogane’s back was turned, Keith made his move.

It was laughably easy, and he jumped up the stairs so fast the guy couldn’t even scream before Keith had his forearm pressed to his windpipe, silencing him before tapping a few pressure points that had the man sinking limp to the ground.

Then Keith swung their stern to the wind, watching with delight as Shirogane turned, as his eyes lit with shock when he saw Keith, paying no attention the boom swinging toward him.

It connected with a smack and Shirogane toppled overboard. Grinning wide, Keith tilted his head back and laughed.

But his pleasure was short lived, because when he looked back down, Hunk and Allura had cornered him, and try as he might to evade them, he could not, and they dragged him struggling to the gunwale and dumped him over the side after Shirogane.

He landed face first and came up snarling, shaking drops from his eyes and treading water. Opening his mouth to scream at the offending crew members, he flinched as a stream of water hit the side of his face, the curse dying in his throat.

He turned to see Shirogane treading water and grinning before ducking down to take another gulp of water and spraying that at Keith’s face too.

Keith growled and launched himself toward Shirogane, but the man dodged with surprising alacrity, spraying Keith every chance he got until Keith was spitting mad.

Shirogane was laughing so hard he could barely breathe, and he choked out between gasps, “You look like a wet cat.”

“I’m going to fucking strangle you, Shirogane,” Keith growled, but it only made Shirogane laugh harder.

“That’s the first time you’ve used my name, you know. Before you’ve only ever called me lard ass or dickhead or fuckface or-“

“ASSHOLE!” Keith screamed, drowning out the same word passing from Shirogane’s lips.

His smile looked like it would split his face, and his pearly white teeth gleamed in the sun, long hair plastered to his back, white bangs half hanging into his eyes.

“You are, by far, the most fun I have ever had,” Shirogane said.

Keith thought he was close to a fucking aneurysm, and the rope flying past his head likely saved him from bursting another blood vessel from screaming.

Shirogane caught the rope, and his crew hauled on it, towing him towards Keith.

“Don’t,” Keith said, raising his hands, but it was too late. Shirogane’s arm snaked around his waist, pulling Keith flush to his chest right before they lifted out of the water.

Keith’s hands closed around Shirogane’s shoulders and only Shirogane’s whispered, “Claw me and I’ll drop you,” saved the man from a bloody chest.

He pouted the entire way up, and the second he stood on the deck once more, he shook his head like a dog, spraying Shirogane in vengeance for all the times he spat seawater at Keith.

“I see you’d like to get me wet, kitten,” Shirogane said, grinning.

And as Keith glared back, his traitorous eyes slid down over the man’s wet torso, carved muscles outlined in sopping white linen. His nostrils flared and he turned on his heel and marched away. Shirogane had fucking won, again, and Keith fucking hated him.

-

The fourth time Keith tried to kill Captain Shirogane, he was swabbing the deck with a mop that was old before Kolivan was even born. The slop in the bucket looked like shit, and stank like it too, and Keith was several hours into having his nostrils scorched into numbness. With every passing hour, his murderous desire grew.

Captain Shirogane was dressed to the nines in a black and white coat and epaulets that made him look like a military dickhead. He was drilling with his sword on the deck, and Keith watched with the rage of intent as the blade flashed like quicksilver, dreaming of the moment when his own blade would sink into the Captain’s flesh and silence his smartass mouth once and for all.

The Captain’s survival instincts must have been shit, because despite Keith’s attempts to kill him a week before, he had let him keep his blade after personally sliding it back into the sheath at Keith’s waist and giving his hips a squeeze that made Keith see red. Upon being met with Keith’s hiss of rage, Shirogane had merely said, Cute, and kept walking. And since then, Keith had dreamed up at least a hundred plans for committing murder. Of which he had acted on exactly none.

After three defeats, Keith was biding his time, learning how Shirogane moved, memorizing the map of his muscles and the best places to stick his blade, when Shirogane inevitably stripped down to his trousers each day that the heat was too much to drill with his coat on.

It was quite clear that Shirogane had been stabbed before, that heavily muscled torso covered in old scars from old wounds, all unfortunately unsuccessful in the task of killing him. Scratch that. It would definitely be fortunate when Keith got the satisfaction of killing the man himself.

The thought had him salivating. Dreaming of it. Of the smooth way his blade would sink into Shirogane’s flesh, rough and wet and deep. Of the sounds the man might make as he fell bleeding to his knees before Keith. Would he gasp? Groan?

Perhaps Keith would stab him again, just to make sure. Perhaps his rage would turn his vision red, blinding him to the world and taking his sanity with it. Perhaps Keith would do it again and again and again, sinking his blade in and out and in once more, the wet slap of his knife buried in flesh mixing with the moans of the man beneath him. A bloodred symphony that he craved.

He was so lost in fantasies of murder that he barely noticed when Shirogane began to stare back until he said, “Enjoying the view, kitten? I knew you liked me more than you let on.”

Keith scowled, images of Shirogane on his knees evaporating like so much dust. “I’d enjoy it more if you were bleeding at my feet.”

Shirogane grinned, sharp and sharklike. “Oh? You admitting that you wanna stick your blade inside me, sweetheart?”

Keith glared as he growled, “That’s exactly what I want, you cockguzzling incestuous cumslut.”

A deep laugh rushed out of Shirogane as he tilted his head back, broad chest heaving with the movement before he angled his head, smiling down at Keith once again. “I love your mouth. And except for the incestuous part-“

Keith cut him off, swinging the shitstained mop in an arc and smashing it toward Shirogane’s face. But his satisfaction was premature. The man twisted away at the last second, avoiding the full impact but still getting a face full of wet, stinking yarn.

He swung his metal arm up in a violent motion, gripping the mop head and shoving it away from his eyes. That handsome face emerged glaring and covered in brown muck and Keith grinned. It was not an injury but it was a victory and he purred his hatred and satisfaction.

“That’s disgusting,” Shirogane spat, wiping at his face with his flesh hand.

“Your face is disgusting,” Keith smirked, slamming the mop back down and spraying both of them with more of the crap in the bucket. Keith’s clothes weren’t worth anything, but Shirogane’s were, and Keith grinned even wider at the newly brown stains on his grey trousers.

“Kitten,” Shirogane said in the tone of someone chastising an unruly pet. “We both know that’s not true.” Then he reached out, too fast for Keith to dodge, and gripped his shirt, yanking him against Shirogane’s front.

Hissing and raging, Keith struggled with all he had, digging his nails into Shirogane’s chest and leaving angry trails on the plush muscle, but the man didn’t even flinch. He simply bent down to wipe his face off with Keith’s shirt.

“ASSHOLE!” Keith screamed. “I WILL PISS IN YOUR RUM!”

Shirogane merely dropped Keith and beamed like the sun. “That’s okay, kitten,” he said. “As long as you let me watch.”

-

After two failed stabbing attempts, a dunk in the ocean, and the debacle with the mop, Keith knew he had to change tactics, which was how he ended up lugging several cannonballs up the rigging at the ass crack of dawn with the aim of dropping them on Shirogane’s fat fucking head.

He’d managed to snag four from the armory. A feat Keith was proud of, as the armory was guarded, and Keith could only carry two balls at a time, which meant he’d had to sneak in not once but twice. But the guard was drunk, and Keith was born a sneak, so it hadn’t really been all that hard.

No, the hardest part turned out to be lugging the things up the rigging and into the crow’s nest, a far climb that Keith undertook four times. His chest was heaving by the time he dragged the last of the cannonballs up into the nest, and he flopped on the ground like a rag doll when he finished.

But the work was done, and Keith smirked as soon as he had the energy to raise his head. He had ammo. Enough for four attempts on Shirogane’s life. One of them had to do the job.

Hauling himself up against the wall of the nest, he let himself imagine it. The wet crunch the cannonball would make as it made contact with Shirogane’s skull. The screams of the crew as they saw their Captain’s body. This attempt, of course, would ruin Shirogane’s pretty face. Sort of a shame really, but Keith wouldn’t let that stop him. The man had kidnapped him, and Keith would have his revenge one way or another.

He hadn’t really considered what he would do after killing Shirogane. Perhaps the crew would kill him for it, but Keith found the thought didn’t upset him too much. If he died, he would die satisfied.

As prepared as he could be, Keith let himself doze until the sounds of the morning crew drifted upward like the chatter of gulls. Twisting around, he peered over the side of the nest. This high up, the crew looked like ants, but Keith knew he’d be able to spot Shirogane when he emerged.

He would know Shirogane anywhere, he thought. Would know him by the way his own heart began to race as the very sound of the man’s footsteps sent gooseflesh trailing over his skin, by the flush of hatred and the hot thumping of his blood that meant the man was near. Everything about him made Keith feel absolutely feral with rage, and it could not be borne. Shirogane had to die.

A pang of longing went through him, and he thought that maybe he might miss trying to kill Shirogane when all this was over. But even a love for the game could not stop him from chasing his own victory.

And there he was, the very man on whom Keith’s dreams now hinged, placed like an offering before Keith, moving toward the very spot Keith marked as his place to die. Wasting no time, Keith rolled the first cannonball over the side of the nest, and the rest right after.

This was his only chance. All or nothing.

Face tipped over the wall, he watched as his ammo fanned out like a murder of crows, bearing down black death over Shirogane’s head. Watched as some horrible sixth sense had the man stepping backward just before Keith’s flock smashed through where he’d been standing.

Keith screamed his rage, barely audible above the crash of splintered wood as a massive hole was ripped in the deck beneath falling iron. His only remaining hope was that the shrapnel had done Shirogane in, but no. There he was at the edge of the hole, glaring skyward as the dust cleared.

No hiding now. Shirogane had seen him, and Keith let all of his burning rage roughen his voice as he screamed down, “FUCK YOU!” before scrambling onto the rigging.

Shirogane was already moving, and Keith did not want to be up here when the man caught him. He had to get down before Shirogane could get up.

The net swayed beneath him, shockwaves from his own desperate flight clashing with Shirogane’s furious ascent. But Keith had the advantage of height, and he managed to shimmy onto the yard and tiptoe his way toward the starboard side.

It was slow going, but Keith was slim and light on his feet, and Shirogane was fucking huge. There was no way he’d be able to follow.

Except that he did.

A tremor shot through the yard beneath his feet, and Keith looked back in disbelief to see that Shirogane was moving along behind him.

“Are you fucking insane?” Keith spat. “You’ll kill us both.”

“Hmm, no, I don’t think so, kitten,” he said, far too casual for someone balancing seventy feet in the air. “You’re too capable for your own good, but your problem is that you continue to underestimate me. I can’t believe you fucked up my deck.”

Keith turned back around, concentrating on his own flight down the yard. “I was trying to fuck up your head,” he growled.

“I know, sweetheart,” said Shirogane behind him. “I don’t know whether to be impressed or furious. A little thing like you dragging all that lead up here? And breaking into my armory to boot. I think it’s time to start planning our wedding.”

Keith glared back over his shoulder in disbelief. A stupid decision in their current situation, but he couldn’t help it. “I’m not fucking marrying you, the fuck? This is my fifth failed fucking attempt at killing you.”

Shirogane smiled, bright and happy, and Keith nearly stumbled at the sight of him, handsome, beaming in a flowing white shirt, long hair blowing in the dangerous wind. “I love when you talk dirty to me,” he said.

Keith’s eyebrow began to twitch. “Do you have a fucking death wish? I’ll bite your dick off.”

Shirogane shrugged, that pretty smile never faltering. “What can I say? Beautiful, bloodthirsty boys turn me on.”

Shaking his head, Keith turned back around in favor of focusing on his feet, and not Shirogane’s ugly ass smile. “You really are insane,” he said.

“Baby, I’m a pirate,” Shirogane said. “What did you expect?”

“I expect you to fucking die.”

Shirogane snorted. “You’re even more perfect than I thought you’d be.”

Keith didn’t bother replying, having reached the end of the yard. Instead he hurled himself onto the sail beneath, shooting down it as if it were a slide, and landing on the yard below, his momentum sending him stumbling a few horrifying steps toward the mast before he teetered back to balance.

No way Shirogane could follow him now. He was so big, he’d probably rip a hole in the sail if he tried to do what Keith had just done.

And Keith was partially right. Shirogane did not try to use the sail. Instead, he lowered himself from the yard, hanging by his fingertips, and then dropped like a stone to land behind Keith, shaking the entire beam and sending Keith racing forward in an attempt not to lose his footing.

What. The actual. Fuck. The only person Keith knew who could pull of a feat like that was Kolivan, and for the first time, Keith wondered if maybe, just maybe, he was in over his head in trying to kill a man like that.

But there was no time to think about it. Keith had reached the mast again, and he hurled himself for the rigging. But not fast enough.

A hand closed over the back of his neck, a second around his hip, whipping him around so that his back was to the mast before Shirogane pressed his body against Keith’s, caging him in.

Keith bared his teeth, but froze even though he hated to do so. He was caught. Beaten. Any struggle could send them both falling to the deck below, forty feet to their deaths. Burning with hatred and rage and frustration, he glared up and Shirogane and growled, “You can rot in hell, you bootkissing ass licker.”

Shirogane had the gall to laugh, and it made Keith so furious he thought his eyes would explode. “You’re cute, kitten, but you’re getting on my nerves. Do you know how much it’ll cost me to get that hole fixed?”

“I literally could not care less,” Keith said.

Shirogane tutted, moving his hand from the back of Keith’s neck to stroke his thumb over Keith’s cheekbone, making him shudder, nearly screaming at the feeling. “I’m going to have to punish you, sweetheart.”

“I’m not fucking scared of you,” Keith spat, lifting his chin. “Do your worst.”

The man’s eyes seemed to burn, and he tilted his face toward Keith’s, and Keith, with nowhere to go, could only growl as Shirogane softly, so softly, brushed his nose against his own.

“Dinner with me,” he said, gazing into Keith’s eyes. “Tomorrow night.”

Keith’s eyebrow began to twitch again as he glared back. “I’ll have dinner with you when hell freezes over.”

The man huffed a laugh. “You’ll come willingly or I’ll drag you there myself. And let’s face it, we both know you can’t hide from me.”

Keith opened his mouth to refuse again, and then he thought about it. It had been so long since he’d had a good meal he could barely remember it. So here were Keith’s choices.

He was caught. If by some miracle, Shirogane let him go after this, he could try to hide, but after the spectacular chase they’d just had between the sails, Keith didn’t doubt him anymore when Shirogane said he could catch Keith again and drag him screaming to dinner. He’d proven that he could.

The other choice was to simply go willingly. And who knew? Perhaps Keith would get the opportunity to put a fork through the man’s eyeball.

With Shirogane’s face so close to his, there was nowhere to hide, and he knew Shirogane knew he was considering it. So he gave him his best glare as he said, “I want two entire roast chickens all to myself.”

Shirogane laughed, so close Keith could feel his body huffing with the movement, and his hot breath against his own lips. “You’ve got a deal, kitten. Be at my door at six or I’ll come looking for you.”

Then, all at once, he let go of Keith, stepping backward and taking the heat of his body with him. Keith didn’t waste a single second, scrambling onto the rigging and climbing down with all the speed he could muster. It seemed that Keith had found a worthy opponent, but if Shirogane knew anything, he had to know this. Keith was never one to go down without a fight.

-

Five failed murder attempts, four heavy cannonballs, three weeks in Captain Shirogane’s infuriating company, and two thwarted stabbings made for one pissy Keith. But at least there was going to be food, Keith reminded himself for the tenth time as he stared at the clothes Shirogane had sent him along with a note reading, Wear this or you only get one chicken, along with a drawn heart underneath beside Shirogane’s name.

Glancing up at the clock, Keith saw that he only had fifteen minutes until Shirogane came looking for him, so he tossed the note into a drawer and tugged on the clothes.

At the first whisper of the shirt over his skin, Keith let out a contented sigh, unable to help himself. It was butter soft and expensive, and the finest thing Keith had ever worn by a long shot. His joy was short lived, however, for when he moved to lace up his shirt he found that there was no tie.

Keith sighed again, in exasperation this time. The shirt hung open nearly to his navel, exposing the long line of his throat and half his chest. “That motherfucker,” he grumbled, moving to tug on the pants, which turned out to be just as fine, and just as revealing as the shirt.

Made of the softest leather he’d ever touched, they had to be lambskin, and they fit him like a glove, moulding tight around his legs and ass. He considered leaving the shirt untucked just to deny Shirogane the view, but that would have looked rather ridiculous, so he tucked it in and laced the pants up to the bottom of his ribcage.

The final part of the outfit was thigh high black boots, and Keith rolled his eyes as he sat down on the cot to yank them on. “Fucking dramatic.”

But when he stood in front of the mirror, he had to admit, grudgingly, that Shirogane had taste. The deep red looked pretty against his pale skin and dark hair, and the high waisted pants and thigh high boots made his waist look tiny and his legs look a mile long. He didn’t know why he was surprised by the fine clothes. Shirogane always looked good. Figured he’d send Keith something just as nice.

Satisfied, Keith turned away and rummaged through the box just to make sure he’d found everything, and it was good that he did, because his fingers brushed against something cold and delicate, and he pulled it out to find a single earring with a teardrop shaped amethyst dangling from a silver chain.

Shirogane’s words echoed in his ears, dredged up without his permission. The second that I saw your eyes, I knew that I would choose you.

“Asshole,” Keith muttered, swatting the thought away and threading the jewelry though his ear. Finished with Shirogane’s demands, he wrapped his weapons belt around his waist and strode from his room.

No sooner did he reach Shirogane’s quarters than the door swung open, revealing the man himself. That shark’s grin spread slow across his face as his eyes swept down over Keith’s body and Keith felt his face heat as he bared his teeth.

“Oh kitten,” Shirogane said. “You’re even prettier than I dreamed.”

A flutter rose in Keith’s chest, and he rolled his eyes quickly in dismissal. “I never gave you permission to fantasize about me, dickhead.”

“Don’t need your permission, baby,” Shirogane said, still smiling. “You belong to me.”

The words sent a hot flush over Keith’s skin, making his blood boil with rage, but before he could curse Shirogane again, the man continued speaking. “I dressed you to match me, didn’t you notice, sweetheart?”

Keith blinked, and unable to help himself, looked down at Shirogane’s clothes. He did indeed match Keith, dressed in a fine black overcoat with wine red detailing, white trousers, and tall boots like Keith. His long, two toned hair was tied back in a red ribbon, and the matching amethyst earring swung from his ear.

Unflinching, Keith brought his gaze up to meet Shirogane’s and said, “I wear it better.”

Shirogane laughed, and Keith noticed for the first time how his eyes crinkled in the corners as that stormy grey gaze lit up with delight. Keith scowled, and Shirogane said, “I think so too, but we make a pretty pair, don’t we sweetheart?”

Rolling his eyes, Keith shoved past Shirogane into his quarters, tossing, “I’m not your sweetheart,” over his shoulder.

He barely had a second to himself before Shirogane’s arms wrapped around his waist as he whispered into Keith’s ear, “Alright, maybe you don’t have a sweet heart, but you do have a sweet ass.”

Gripping Shirogane’s left arm, he dug his nails in as hard as he could before the man hissed and let go. Keith whipped around to find him pouting. It was definitely not cute at all.

“So prickly, baby,” he said. “After I went to the trouble of making you dinner.”

Keith scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “As if you actually cooked this.”

Head cocked, Shirogane raised a brow and said, “Actually, I did.”

Keith frowned. “Is this an elaborate plot to poison me?”

Shirogane had the gall to actually look affronted. “Kitten, we made a deal. I will do anything in my power to protect you. You’re safe with me.”

It almost sounded like he meant it. But Keith had to be sure. “Swear on your honor that it’s not poisoned.”

Those grey eyes were imploring, and he stepped forward, causing Keith to step away only to have his back come up against a wall. His entire body was primed to run, to fight, but Shirogane only grabbed Keith’s hand and pressed a kiss to his palm, making Keith jerk, hard.

But Shirogane didn’t let go. He stayed there, unmoving and coming no closer until Keith’s flighty gaze slid back to his own. Only then did he speak.

“I swear on my honor, on my ship, and on my grandfather’s grave that I did not make this meal to poison you, nor do I have any plans to hurt you tonight or ever.”

Keith’s eyes shuttered in a slow blink. “You can’t be serious.”

Shirogane raised a brow. “Why wouldn’t I be serious?”

Incredulous, Keith said, “I’ve tried to kill you five times. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to do the same?”

But the man only gave him a fond smile. “Kitten, when will you realize that I actually like you?” Then he dropped Keith’s hand and stepped away, leaving Keith reeling.

What the fuck kind of game was he playing? Shaking off his daze, Keith approached the table, taking in a spread richer than any he’d ever seen in his life. Potatoes covered in butter and spices, glazed carrots, boiled eggs, blocks of cheese, actual bread, as well as the roast chickens Keith had demanded.

“You cooked all this?” Keith said, wondering, and then flinched because he hadn’t meant to say it aloud.

Shirogane smiled. “I’m a man of many talents.” Then he pulled out a chair with a flourish and said, “Please, sit.”

Keith frowned, but when Shirogane made no move, Keith crept toward him warily, hand hovering over his knife before sitting down in the chair, which Shirogane pushed in for him. Then the man sat down diagonal from Keith at the head of the table and lifted a bottle. “Wine?” he said.

Keith nodded, and Shirogane proceeded to pour, and then gave the glass an odd swirl before passing it to Keith. The question must have been visible on Keith’s face because he said, “Swirling it like that lets the wine breathe. Makes it taste better.”

“Huh,” Keith said before lifting the glass to his nose and taking a sniff. If it was poisoned, it was nothing with an odor, so Keith thought, fuck it, and began to chug.

At least until Shirogane sputtered, “Wait, wait!” and Keith lowered the now half empty glass from his lips.

“What?” he said.

Shirogane smiled again, looking a little surprised and a lot endeared. The look made Keith feel entirely disarmed and he fucking hated it.

“You’re supposed to sip it,” Shirogane said. “To taste it.”

Attempting to recover his wits, Keith raised a brow and said, “Why would I want to taste the alcohol? Alcohol tastes like crap. The only reason to drink it is to get drunk.”

The Captain smiled again and fuck, Keith thought, the man smiled a lot.

“I suppose with most alcohol, that is the point,” he said. “But this isn’t the cheap stuff. This is the good stuff. Try it again, slowly this time. You’ll see what I mean.”

Skeptical, but never one to turn down a dare, Keith slowly raised the glass to his lips again and took a sip, holding it in his mouth instead of swallowing immediately.

Surprisingly, it was good, and Keith swallowed before taking another slow sip. When he looked up, Shirogane looked proud and Keith quickly looked away, feeling his face flush.

“I guess you’re right,” he said, trying to mask his embarrassment. He didn’t even know why he felt embarrassed, but he did, and it was horribly uncomfortable, and Keith hated being uncomfortable.

Without even knowing what he was doing, he set down the glass, picked up a fork, and stabbed Shirogane in the leg.

There was a bump and a clatter as the man’s leg jerked, hitting the underside of the table and rattling the dishes. He glared at Keith, and for the first time, he actually appeared angry as he said, “What the fuck?”

Biting his lip, Keith looked away, shame swirling in his gut. After a long silence, Shirogane reached out, prying Keith’s fingers off the fork and yanking it from his thigh. Blood blossomed on his white pant leg, and Keith lost his battle with his mouth.

“I-,” he stuttered. Choked out, “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that.” He couldn’t bring himself to meet Shirogane’s eyes as he said it. “I should go,” and he made to push back from the table, but a hand landed on his shoulder, the weight heavy but the touch light.

Gripping tight to all his bravery, Keith looked up and met grey eyes.

“I want you to stay,” Shirogane said.

“Why?” Keith asked in a small voice.

“I told you,” Shirogane said, squeezing his shoulder. “I like you. Even if you do want to kill me. You’re funny and unexpected, and you know how to keep up with me.”

Everything in Keith screamed to look away, but he was paralyzed, trapped in Shirogane’s stormy gaze. He could not speak.

Shirogane smiled at him again, removed his hand and said, “Try the chicken.”

Excuse granted, Keith tore his eyes away, grateful for the reprieve. He hated Shirogane. Shirogane had kidnapped him. Shirogane wasn’t supposed to make him laugh. Shirogane wasn’t supposed to be nice. He couldn’t understand it and he didn’t want to. He dragged the plate of chicken toward him and barely spoke for the rest of the evening.

Hours later, he stood above Shirogane’s sleeping form, blade clutched in his hand. Now, finally, he had him where he wanted him. Prone, helpless, unknowing that he breathed his last breaths.

Shirogane was not allowed to embarrass him. Shirogane was not allowed to be nice. Shirogane was not allowed to make him feel. He plunged the knife toward the man’s heart.

Only to have Shirogane’s arm strike out like a snake, wrapping around his wrist and then yanking Keith off his feet, sending him tumbling down onto Shirogane’s chest.

Keith fought, but it was no use. Shirogane rolled, putting them both on their sides as he pried the knife from Keith’s fingers and dropped it over the side of the bed before wrapping Keith in his arms and tucking Keith’s head beneath his chin. “Sweet dreams, my murderous little meow meow,” he whispered.

Too shocked to even struggle, Keith lay there, dazed, until Shirogane’s breath evened out. He could feel the man’s pulse against his ear, calm and steady, like the creak of a ship rocking on the waves. Keith didn’t remember falling asleep.

-

When Keith awoke, he was shrouded in warmth, safety and comfort blanketing his limbs in a contentment he knew he had never felt before. His eyes snapped open in a panic, and before he knew what he was doing, he surged up, grabbed a pillow, and smashed it over Shirogane’s sleeping face.

He would suffocate him. He would end him, right here, right now.

Except, he was not pressing very hard. In fact, he was barely using any of his weight, and none of his strength. He was simply holding it, and he put up no resistance at all when Shirogane lightly shoved the pillow off his face to gaze up at Keith where he kelt on the bed, utterly confused.

“What’s wrong, kitten?” Shirogane said.

And Keith didn’t know.

He stared at Shirogane, gaze imploring. He didn’t know.

“Oh, kitten,” Shirogane said, opening his arms. “Come here.”

And Keith went.

He placed his cheek on Shirogane’s chest, so soft, and Shirogane’s arms came up to wrap around him, so warm. His body shook in Shirogane’s embrace, and he said, “You kidnapped me. I should want to kill you. I should.”

Shirogane said nothing, leaving an open, quiet space for Keith to talk. For a long while, he said nothing. Shirogane’s hand began to stroke his hair.

“I don’t want to kill you anymore,” Keith said with finality. And then, desperately, “Why don’t I want to kill you?”

“Shhh,” Shirogane cooed, pressing his face to Keith’s hair. “I told you I like you, kitten. Is it so terrible if you like me, too?”

“Yes,” said Keith, petulant. “You kidnapped me.”

Shirogane shifted, pillowing Keith’s chin on his chest so they could look at each other.

“I just wanted to get to know you,” he said. “If you really hate me that much, I’ll set sail to bring you back today.”

Squinting his disbelief, Keith said, “I don’t believe you. And even if I did, Kolivan wouldn’t know. I’d be stuck on that shithole of an island.”

Shirogane laughed. “I would take you, if you wanted me to. And don’t worry about Kolivan. If I put the word out that I brought you back, he’d be back for you within a month, tops.”

For a long time, Keith merely looked at him. At those high cheekbones and sculpted lips; at that face that was too symmetrical to be real; at that long, two toned hair, softly tickling Keith’s chest through his open shirt; into those lambent grey eyes.

He didn’t have any reasons to believe Shirogane. He had a hundred reasons to disbelieve him.

“I don’t believe you,” Keith whispered. “But I want to.”

Shirogane’s whole face brightened like a puppy looking at his favorite human. “Would it help if I told you my name?”

“Your name?” Keith said, raising a brow.

Shirogane nodded. “My real name. Well, my first name, anyway.”

“First name? You mean Shirogane is actually your real last name?”

“It is,” Shirogane nodded.

“Huh,” Keith said. “I figured it was made up.”

“No,” Shirogane said, voice warm. “It’s my real name. My first name is Takashi.”

Tossing the name around in his head, Keith said nothing. He knew that if he said his name, that things would be different, and he was not ready for things to be different.

He nodded, extracting himself from Shirogane’s arms and rising from the bed. “Alright,” he said. “Thank you. Just so you know, I don’t hate you anymore. But I accept your offer. I want you to take me back.”

Shirogane’s face fell, but he hid it well, and Keith pretended not to notice.

“Oh. Yeah, alright,” he said. “I’ll put in the order to change course as soon as I get on deck.”

Keith was already turning away. “Good, thanks. I guess I’ll see you later.” He did not look back.

-

Despite being at sea for nearly a month, it only took them three days to return to Freebooter Bay, during which time Keith barely spoke to Captain Shirogane. He did not try to kill him even once.

Likely, Keith would miss the excitement of it all, but soon it would fade to a distant memory. A short chapter in a life that Keith was eager to get back to normal. That’s what he kept telling himself.

Standing on the deck, he watched as the island rose into view, looming nearer and nearer until they were at the docks, the lines tossed and tied, and the gangplank lowered.

Keith sped toward it, but Shirogane beat him to it, striding down the gangplank first and then raising a hand in an offering to guide Keith down.

He didn’t need it. He had excellent balance, and he’d walked down a gangplank a thousand times before. He took it anyway, and when Shirogane guided him down to the dock, he looked up into the man’s face.

“You brought me back after all,” he said. “Suppose you do have honor.”

Shirogane smirked. “Now you know for next time.”

Keith snorted. “I will never gamble with you, and you know Kolivan never will again, but thank you.”

Shirogane’s eyes swirled with some unknown emotion, but that smirk remained and he nodded. “Maybe I’ll see you around, kitten.”

The old nickname drew up a flutter in Keith’s chest, but he pushed it down and nodded back. “Yeah. Maybe so.” And then, before the silence could become awkward, he muttered, “Bye,” and turned away.

And Shirogane let him go.

-

Freebooter Bay was the same as it had always been - a dank trash heap with the beguiling aroma of fish and piss. An utterly shitty place to wait for Kolivan, but Keith would deal. He always did.

After securing a room at an inn, he flopped down onto the bed, shutting his eyes in an attempt to sleep. And sleep he did. It was a sleep rich with dreams of a bright laugh and a deep voice. Of eyes, grey as the sky, and a smile like the sun.

And when Keith woke, try as he might, he could not banish the images. His mind was trapped in a dream that would not fade. It could not be borne. He was done with Captain Shirogane. Done with sky-high chases, and wrestling with knives, and all the banter that came with it. Pocketing some coins, he left to find a distraction.

It found him first.

“Kogane, back already? I heard you were sworn into servitude to Shirogane for a year?”

Keith rolled his eyes. Even in this, Shirogane was impossible to escape, and Keith hated it. “I got outta that deal pretty quick.”

“Care to tell me about it?” said James.

No, he didn’t. Shirogane was the last thing Keith wanted to think about. Because Keith was stuck on Freebooter Bay, and Shirogane was long gone.

Scoffing, Keith sidled up to him. “You know I like it better when you don’t talk." And he pulled James’s head down to kiss him.

They’d done this before, and they stumbled blind into the pub where James kept his room, not needing to see to know where to go. Keith knew by feel that they were almost to the stairs when James’s mouth was wrenched violently from his own and Keith blinked his eyes open to see none other than Shirogane.

The sight made Keith’s heart thunder in his chest. The Captain swatted James away like one would a bug and said, “Find somewhere else to be.”

James didn’t need to be told twice, and Keith didn’t even watch him go before glaring up at Shirogane, even as heat blossomed over his skin and sent his blood racing. He was angry. Why was he angry?

“What?” he said, crossing his arms. “Can’t a guy let laid? I’ve been dry for weeks cus of you. You jealous or something?”

The man stepped forward, towering over Keith and heating his blood to a boil. “I can fuck you better than anyone else ever has and ever will, kitten.”

A thrill went chasing down Keith’s spine at the challenge and he lifted his chin, glaring up at him. “Oh yeah?” he spat. “Prove it.”

Those grey eyes promised a storm as that shark tooth smile split across Shirogane’s face. “You’ll never forget me, kitten. I’ll ruin you for anyone else.”

Then his hands were on Keith’s hips, snaking around to grip his ass as he lifted Keith against him and crashed their lips together.

Keith growled even as his own legs wrapped around Shirogane’s hips. As he bit down on Shirogane’s bottom lip.

The man groaned, opening his mouth to Keith and meeting Keith’s tongue with his own. He could feel the movement of Shirogane’s hips as he carried Keith up the stairs, and the knowledge made him groan.

Shirogane was big and Keith was small, and Shirogane was carrying him like he weighed nothing, hands on his ass, tongue in his mouth, walking them up the stairs in a crowded bar for all to see, for all to know that Keith was probably about to get the dicking of his life, if Shirogane’s word was anything to go by, and Keith knew that it was.

He ground his hips, feeling the hardness of Shirogane’s abs against his rapidly growing arousal, and Shirogane groaned into his mouth, tightening his big hands on Keith’s ass in encouragement.

He felt like a man possessed. He hated Shirogane. Didn’t he? Shirogane who made Keith scream in anger, who made his brows twitch, and his skin heat and his heart race. Shirogane, who made Keith laugh even if it was only inside his own head. Shirogane, who shouldn’t even be here. Shirogane, who should have been long gone, leaving Keith alone.

The sound of a door banging open against the wall echoed in Keith’s ears, and goosebumps raced over his skin at the new privacy and what it meant. That there was a bed, and a door between them and the rest of the world, and that Keith was going to come, even if this was the only time they would ever have.

“I didn’t think I’d see you again,” Shirogane whispered, kissing down his neck. “I was prepared to miss you for the rest of my life.”

“Miss me?” Keith shuddered beneath the rough and tender kisses at his throat. “Why would you miss me?”

“You know why,” Shirogane growled.

But that was the thing. Keith didn’t know. He didn’t know what this feeling was that fluttered in his chest every time Shirogane called him kitten; didn’t understand the warmth in his blood when Shirogane laughed at Keith’s curses.

It didn’t matter what Shirogane thought he knew. He didn’t. And if Shirogane didn’t wish to tell him, Keith wouldn’t argue. Because this he did understand. The play of lips and teeth, the grind of hips and the hush of breath. He could play this game, even if he didn’t know the rules.

So he said, “Take me to bed, Shirogane. You made me a promise, and I intend to see if you can make good on it.”

The man emerged, face flushed and grey eyes bright. “Oh, baby,” he said, squeezing Keith’s ass again. “I’ll make good on it. I’ll make you feel so good you scream my name.”

Kicking the door shut behind them, Shirogane didn’t take his eyes off Keith as he carried him to the bed, and Keith, never one to back down from a challenge, held his gaze.

He did not close his eyes even once. Not as Shirogane slipped the shirt from Keith’s back, not as he kissed down Keith’s chest, sucking marks into Keith’s skin that made him moan.

When he began to tug Keith’s pants off, Keith barked out an order that Shirogane remove his own shirt too, and he did so, smirking down at Keith with a low, “See? I knew you liked me, kitten.”

When Shirogane’s lips at last wrapped around him, Keith keened, digging his nails into the man’s shoulders and making him groan before he popped his mouth off Keith and said, “I always hoped you’d leave your marks on me when I finally fucked you.”

Keith had merely told him to, “Get on with it, dickhead,” making Shirogane laugh with a cheeky, “Yes, sir,” before he began sucking Keith in earnest.

And when he finally pressed inside him, Keith purred into the mattress, nails scratching at the sheets and screaming as Shirogane held nothing back, plastering himself to Keith’s back, weaving his fingers between Keith’s as he fucked deep inside him.

“Kitten,” Shirogane groaned into his ear, and Keith was so far gone he whispered back, “Keith. Call me, Keith.”

Shirogane’s hips stuttered even harder at that, and he moaned helplessly into Keith’s shoulder. “Keith, Keith,” he gasped. “Oh, Keith. Say my name too, please.”

And how could Keith deny him? He moaned out, “Takashi,” as he came, as his vision whited out and his body shuddered through the best orgasm of his life.

And Shirogane followed right after, thrusting deep and crying, “Keith, Keith, Keith,” into his ear as he emptied himself inside.

Shirogane did not let go of him, and after, as their bodies lay cooling, tucked against one another, Keith turned to look over his shoulder and said, “This is what you wanted right? Something to remember me by, before you leave?”

Shirogane blinked. “To remember you by?”

Keith nodded. “You’re leaving tomorrow, right? Leaving me here?”

Rolling Keith to face him, Shirogane’s big hands came up, cradling Keith’s face and stroking his cheeks. “I don’t want to leave you, Keith. I want you to come with me.”

Moisture flooded Keith’s eyes and he blinked it back. “Why?” he whispered.

Those grey eyes softened and he said, wondering, “You really don’t know?”

Keith shook his head, and Shirogane pressed in close, trailing his nose against Keith’s, leaving Keith with nowhere to hide.

“Keith,” he whispered. “My sweet Keith. My pretty boy. Baby, sweetheart, kitten. I think I love you.”

Oh. Was that what this feeling was? The flutter in his chest, the racing of his heart, the warmth in his blood, was that love?

“I’ve never been in love before,” Keith said. “Is that what this is?”

Shirogane smiled, bright as the sun. “I think we can find out together. What do you say, baby? Wanna be co-captains?”

“As long as you let me keep pretending to kill you, I’m in.”

Shirogane laughed, then he surged forward and kissed Keith’s nose, and Keith felt his entire face flush.

“Of course, kitten. I’m not sure you even know how to flirt without a knife in your hand. And I told you before, I do love beautiful, bloodthirsty boys.”

Now it was Keith’s turn to laugh, and as he leaned in close, he whispered against Shirogane’s lips, “I’m going to fucking kiss you.”