p id="docs-internal-guid-89a6a51a-4a8d-e034-9894-a813fb8155f5" dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Shiro was nervous. He was spending his first Christmas away from his family, and though it wasn't a big deal since his parents didn't care much for the holiday, he had little time left before his mission and it was his last free time before he came back. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"That was also the reason he couldn't leave to see them. He was determined to spend that day with Keith and maybe finally confess his crush on the younger boy. He wasn't blind, he knew that the cadet was attracted to him, but being attracted and wanting to act on such attraction were different things. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Keith was his close friend, the closest friend he has ever had and he didn't want to ruin their friendship, but lies are better at that than any awkwardness would be. If Keith didn't want to be with him he would back up, and surely after some time away they could move on. But if he did want to be with him, well, he would be counting the days 'til he was back on earth with Keith./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He knocked on the door of the cabain. Why Keith insisted on spending his holiday there was a mystery he hasn't managed to get the answer to yet. It took a long time to gain Keith's trust and he didn't want to pressure him into sharing anything he didn't feel comfortable saying to him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The door opened and his gorgeous boy looked flustered, wearing casual clothes, an apron over it, and oven mitts on his hands./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Sorry, I was cooking and I needed to get the duck out of the oven before it got too dry." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He smiled shyly and it took Shiro all of his control not to kiss him right there. His sweet boy was too endearing for his own good./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is ok, I'm glad our dinner is safe."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Come on in" said Keith, moving away from the door and back into the kitchen. "I hope you like Orange Sauce Duck, 'cause I forgot to ask you and now I'm wondering if it was a bad idea and… "/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I like duck. I've never tried it like that, but I bet it's delicious – I bet anything you cook is delicious."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Keith blushed at the compliment and took off the apron. "Well, dinner is ready… do you want to cut it or should I?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" ***/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"After a lovely dinner, with the most delicious food Shiro has eaten yet, and the loveliest of company, he asked Keith for a walk under the stars in the desert. "Come on, it will help us digest the food. We can clean up later."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Keith didn't put any resistance, and just took him by his arm and lead the way. They walked in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the quiet night and their closeness. After a while, Shiro stopped him and held his hand. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Keith. I know this may not be the most appropriate time to talk about this, but I'm leaving in a few weeks and I just need to tell you. I think you know what I'm going to say, and is ok if you don't feel the same way. I just want to get it off my chest and…"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Shiro, for such a smart guy, sometimes you're quite stupid," said the shorter boy, right before pulling him in for a kiss. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"They just stood there, kissing under the moonlight, for the longest time. They smiled and cuddled on the blanket that Keith has been prepared enough to bring with them./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You know, I actually got you a present. I know we said no presents, but I couldn't resist buying this with the hope that someday we'll get to use them." He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it, showing two simple gold rings./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Shiro… I love you but… " said Keith, looking a bit scared./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, NO, I don't mean now. I know it's too soon. I just wanted to show them to you. I'm gonna bury this one in here, under the place where we first confessed, and in a few years, after I'm back and we're actually ready for this, we're gonna unbury them together and I'm going to ask for real."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Keith smiled again and kissed him deeply "I can't wait."/span/p