Day 4 - Kosmo
A boy and his cosmic wolf and a snowy morning.
One moment he'd been standing in the bathroom, staring dully at his reflection in the mirror as he combed his fingers through his hair and the next he was standing, disoriented, in the middle of a mound of snow, soaking his boots and pants up to his calf. Keith bit back a swear, stumbling back, white stuff flying everywhere.
"Kosmo!"
The name had caught on at some point. He wasn't sure when.
Right there, in the middle of the Garrison's Arizona base, one cosmic wolf bounded excitedly around him. He kicked up snow in his wake, paws digging in, bursting out, an eager playfulness that Keith hadn't seen since Kosmo was just a pup. Whatever annoyance he'd felt fled, a grudging smile taking its place as that simple realization kicked in. As far as Keith knew - and he was fairly certain he'd known Kosmo just about all of the wolf's life - it was his first snow. Two years in the Quantum Abyss, adventures on strange planets, on enemy ships, and a simple Earth snowfall was the animal's greatest discovery.
The sharp chill of an Arizona winter stung at his nose, Keith's cheeks flushing red. But Keith set the discomfort aside, the cold muted beneath the rush of adrenaline as he grinned, stooping to pack together a snowball. Kosmo stilled in the snow, tipping his head curiously, white dusting his fur as the wolf tried to puzzle out what his partner was up to.
It didn't take him long to figure it out. The wolf perked up, eyes intently following the path of Keith's hand as he waved the snowball lightly in front of Kosmo, back and forth, backing away slowly. He pulled his arm back and sent the snowball flying right over the wolf's head. Kosmo spun right after it, vanishing in a brilliant burst.
"I just can't get one past you, can I." His tone was warm, the young man already reaching for another to pack together with his bare hands. Kosmo was covered in snow, licking his chops happily, the snowball absolutely demolished in that midair teleport catch.
Keith's laughter filled the courtyard, other people beginning to filter out of the barracks for work or to enjoy their free time. The paladin took no notice of them, pausing only to rub his hands rapidly together, trying to infuse warmth back into them. It had always taken a bit longer for the cold to hit him, something he now knew was likely a Galra trait. It was only after the fourth fifth snowball and one excited wolf diving into a large snowdrift, sending it bursting out all over Keith (Kosmo definitely knew what he was doing), when he started considering heading back in.
Half Galra or not, he couldn't stay out here forever with only his Garrison uniform on. He was just grateful Kosmo had waited until he had his boots on to teleport the two of them out here for the day. His bare hands were already chilled and red from the snow.
Fate chose that moment to drop a warm jacket over his shoulders. Fate, naturally, came in the form of Shiro, his hair white as the snow around them. It was always Shiro, bringing warmth into Keith's life. Sometimes literally. He gave the older man a sheepish smile, recognizing that gentle admonishment on the man's face as he tugged the jacket on, fingers shaking just a little as he tried to work the zipper.
"Keith, it's freezing out."
"Tell that to Kosmo," he said dryly.
Shiro immediately turned his head to find Kosmo staring expectantly at the pair of them, head tilted upwards, ears perked up. "Kosmo, it's freezing out."
The wolf just tipped his head at Shiro. Keith snorted quietly. But his hands fell away as Shiro's working fingers took over, tugging the jacket closed, zipping it firmly right to Keith's chin. Keith's quiet gaze settled on Shiro, flushing washing over his cheeks that was solely due to the cold of course. Shiro wasn't done yet though. Next he tugged a pair of gloves from his pocket - winter gloves, red, grabbed from Keith's closet just like the jacket. He must have stopped by the younger man's dorm on his way out.
He passed the gloves over, nodding in satisfaction as Keith tugged them firmly on. "Better," the man went on, smile just as warm as his hands as he gently took Keith's in his. The younger man could feel the warm of his prosthetic, always humming with energy, even through the woolen fabric.
Snowflakes began to drift down around them, the two of them caught up in the quiet moment, hands gently clasped. Honest, vibrant smiles that were reserved only for each other in whatever spare moment they could find between their hectic schedules and responsibilities.
The moment shattered in a blur, bright light washing out Shiro's face a moment as tranquility crumpled into surprise. Kosmo had managed to port right back against Shiro's legs, suddenly jolting him out of the way and off his feet. The wolf was gone, and Shiro yelped as he went crashing into the snowdrift, sinking in, hand reflexively tightening against Keith's, dragging the paladin down with him.
He landed with a thump right on Shiro's chest, cheeks red, eyes wide. Gray eyes stared into his own, just as startled, the snow only just beginning to settle around them. It was nothing but pure impulse that had Keith leaning in, pressing an eager kiss to Shiro's lips, his own just slightly chapped. Keith's gloved hand found the man's jaw, cradling gently, as an arm wrapped firmly around him, Shiro pressing back. Together, they chased away the cold.
Until Shiro shoved a handful of snow over the back of Keith's head. The young man jerked back, white fluff caught in his dark hair, eyes startled. Shiro merely grinned up at him, a hastily made snowball, ready to fall apart at a moment's notice, at ready. Keith retaliated, smacking that snowball right out of Shiro's hand, eyes shining with a new challenge as he rolled off of the man and smoothly up to his knees, scrambling for more ammunition.
It wasn't long before snowballs filled the air, along with shrieks and laughter. Kosmo sat perched on a snow-covered picnic table, head settled on his paws, watching the action lazily.
His work here was done.