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Shiro

I had to admit it, my hopes were a little crushed upon revisiting the remnants of the circus, picking through the ashes for anything we could use in the rebuild. I didn't have the money to build a new building and the bank certainly wasn't going to give me a loan after the shit I pulled with the collateral, but I kept on hoping that a miracle would come around to help us.

I couldn't just promise what I had in the bar just to have it never come to fruition. Looking out over the performers, their determined faces turned down towards the ashes, I knew I'd do anything to give them their home back.

Suddenly, Hunk cried out in excited surprise, shouting, "Keith!" My head jerked up and, sure enough, there was Mr. Kogane himself walking towards the group, hand-in-hand with Lance. He still had a few bandages on his body, but he'd changed into a crisp new shirt and slacks, looking every bit the pretty rich boy the performers knew and loved.

Shiro smiled gently at the two, stepped forward to greet them. "It's good to see you on your feet again, Kogane."

Keith grinned at me, holding out his free hand to shake. "It's good to be back, old man." His eyes scanned the wreckage that lay before us and he let out a low whistle, running a hand through his hair. "The bank said no to another loan?"

I nodded gravely, putting my hands on my hips. "Repeatedly." I raised my voice to announce to the rest of the performers, "I'm really sorry, guys, but this time, I don't think I can pull this off." Hunk's crestfallen face was enough to break my heart.

"Don't worry," Hunk tried gently, forcing himself to smile, "we'll find a way."

I didn't have the heart to tell him that I didn't think there was a way. This... could very well be the end of the Shirogane Circus.

Keith stepped forward, standing in front of me and making me meet his eyes, even though I was afraid that he was one of the people I'd hurt the most throughout this whole ordeal. I'd loaded so much pressure with so little preparation onto his young shoulders and he'd risked his life because of my mistake.

"Shiro, when I first met you, I had an inheritance, claim, and an invitation to every party in town. And now, thanks to you, that's all gone." I winced, but he continued, his face unreadable (not that it was readable in the first place, he hid his emotions terrifyingly well). He turned towards the performers, his friends, his family. "All that's left now is friendship, love, and work that I adore."

"Keith..." I started, feeling saltwater prick my eyes. The performers had all gone silent to listen to his words.

"You brought joy into my life, and that's something I'll never be able to thank you enough for."

"Joy can't pay the bills, though," I whispered, my hands shaking in my pockets.

Keith shrugged. "No, but my 10% of profits from the show can." My eyes widened slowly in recognition but he didn't stop there. "Knowing who I was working for, I had the good sense to take my cut weekly."

"Keith, no, I can't let you gamble it on me..." that was the only money he had, now that his family had disowned him and he'd chosen the circus and me over his own life.

"Sure you can," Lance laughed from beside Keith. "Don't turn all sensible on us now, Shiro."

Keith put a hand on my shoulder, a small smile creeping over his lips. "What do you say? Partners. 50/50."

How could I say no? I shook Keith's hand, grinning as I did, and the performers, my family, cheered, laughing and hugging each other, happy tears streaking down their cheeks. My heart was about to burst from happiness and I couldn't relay my gratitude to Keith enough through a handshake, hoping that he understood nevertheless.

Keith looked at the ashes beneath our feet worriedly. "The only thing is, I'm not sure how we're gonna afford a whole new building."

I nodded gravely. "Right..." Think, Shiro, think. "But, we don't need a building." The idea sparked, and this time, the flames it brought were good. "I mean, honestly, this building was way too expensive anyway. I can get land past the Garrison for almost nothing."

I turned to look at Keith with excitement growing in my eyes. "Keith, all we need is a tent."

...

It was opening night and, if I did say so myself, the crowd that had shown up was bigger than any group we'd ever seen at our previous building. And, of course, that was added to the fact that tonight, there wasn't a rioter in sight, just pure, innocent excitement, rolling out away from the billowing white tent in waves.

It was a perfect summer night, the grass fresh and vibrant beneath the patron's feet, the breeze ruffling the edges of the canvas tent as it invited everyone inside. Everything was in place. Everything was set, checked, double-checked, on standby, ready to go.

It wasn't just the patrons who thrummed with anticipation- all of the performers were too, their costumes shimmering and sparkling in the dim backstage light, bright smiles glowing on their faces.

"Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for,

Been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor,

And buried in your bones there's an ache that you can't ignore,

Taking your breath, stealing your mind,

And all that was real is left behind."

Acrobats on the backs of white stallions, galloping in rings around the circular stage, the elephants looming in the back with Allura and Lance atop them, their twin smiles shining outward. Fire-breathers and contortionists and strongmen and every size, shape, and color performer, each one putting their whole heart into their performance.

"Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya,

It's only this moment, don't care what comes after,

Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer,

Just surrender 'cause you feel the feeling taking over."

The crowd was cheering so loudly I could hear them over the music that blared from the speakers, and their laughter and whoops of pure joy reverberated in my heart. This was what I had been searching for my whole life. Not money, not riches, not fame. No, this was something different.

"It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open,

It's a preacher in the pulpit and you'll find devotion,

There's something breaking at the brick of every wall, it's holding,

All that you know."

This was finding a family, not your own but one you chose, and striving as one for a singular, beautiful goal. This was finding love and friendship and community in something you'd never experienced before. This was a celebration of humanity.

"So tell me, do you wanna go?Where it's covered in all the colored lights,

Where the runaways are running the night,

Impossible comes true, it's taking over you,

Oh, this is the greatest show."

I caught the eye of Hunk, of Pidge and Matt, Acxa and Veronica and Allura and Lance, taking my time to make sure that each member of this gorgeous family knew that they had helped me get to this point, that they were the reason why we were granted this happiness, that they were the reason why my life now had purpose.

"We light it up, we won't come down,

And the sun can't stop us now,

Watching it come true, it's taking over you,

Oh, this is the greatest show."

I caught Keith's eye last. He was standing by the bleachers, his eyes on Lance, a smile wide on his lips. I hopped out of the ring as Coran was finishing up his act with the Lions and jogged over to Keith, grinning.

"Mr. Shirogane," he teased, straightening the lapels of his crimson jacket.

"Mr. Kogane," I countered with the same light tone, "this is for you." Reaching up to my head, I pulled off my hat. My famous ringmaster hat.

Keith stared at the hat in my hands, his own palms open but pulled in towards his chest, like he wanted to reach for the hat but couldn't. "Shiro, no, I couldn't possibly..."

"Take it, Kogane."

Slowly, and with his smile spreading wider, Keith took the hat from my hands and placed it atop his own head, shaking his head awe. "And where will you be?"

I glanced across the tent to the opposite side's bleachers and gestured to Adam sitting there with little Amelia bouncing on his lap excitedly. "Right over there, watching my daughter grow and spending time with my husband. I have the time and money to do that now, thanks to you."

Keith nodded. "I'll do my best." I handed him my baton as well.

"I know. And, by the way, Kogane: you're a godfather. The show must go on!" I left him with that because he didn't have time to say anything- there was his cue. Keith sprinted to the center ring, finishing the final act with all of the other performers, a huge dance that never failed to earn us a standing ovation.

I should have known he'd put his own twist on the finale. As the last chord struck and the crowd erupted in cheers, Keith slid his arms around Lance and dipped him backward, kissing the brunette softly as the applause swelled around them.

"It's everything you ever want,

It's everything you ever need,

And it's here right in front of you,

This is where you wanna be."

...

the end