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Keith

I looked around the busy backstage in shocked wonder. There was a show going on at that moment, so performers were bustling about, stretching, muttering reminders to themselves, putting on costumes and so forth. Ahead of me, MR. Shirogane was talking to a grinning, muscled teenager, probably only a few years younger than me.

As I approached them, Takashi- or, rather Shiro, as he insisted on being called- turned towards me and held out a hand. "Keith, I would like to meet Hunk. Hunk, this is Keith, my overcompensated apprentice."

I shook Hunk's hand and corrected, "Business partner." Shiro rolled his eyes.

"It's nice to meet you... sir." Hunk seemed uncertain with the title as we were close in age. His chocolate brown eyes were soft and kind and I felt peaceful just standing with him.

"Please, just call me Keith," I said, smiling. Hunk looked relieved as he nodded. Back here, it was a different world. The people were lively and relaxed, nothing like the stoic, silent backstage of my plays. As much as I hated to admit it, the atmosphere was... refreshing.

Shiro patted my back. "Let's go see who's performing." He pulled me to a small staircase that led up to the wings, the sound of the cheering audience growing louder and louder. I pushed through the thick velvet curtains and stepped out onto the balcony.

Just as I did, my eyes were immediately drawn to a figure, flying through the air over the crowd, his legs hooked around a trapeze. I felt my hand reach to my head, pulling off my hat as I stepped forward. The trapeze carried the figure upwards in its pendulum-like swing, and suddenly, we were face to face.

His eyes were the first thing I noticed. Bright, piercing blue against his tawny skin, which was dusted with tiny freckles. Dark brown hair swept across his forehead and a small, tentative and curious smile had found its way to his lips. One arm was swept out to his side, but the other reached in front of him, towards me. I felt my jaw go slack.

And then, all too soon, time restarted and momentum took over. The boy swung back down, away from me and the cheering crowd returned to my ears. "Who's that?" I asked aloud. I turned back to look at Shiro, who was looking at me with an "I-told-you-you'd-like-it" expression.

...

The show had ended and the boy was still on my mind. Shiro led me back downstairs and through the crowd of performers. I offered congratulations and encouragement to those who we passed, but my throat went tight when we approached two particular performers.

"Allura, Lance, I want to introduce my newest hire, Keith Kogane."

The boy was even more stunning up close. His sparkling blue eyes held a reserved, glorious air of confidence and mischief that I couldn't quite read, but they flashed in recognition when they landed on me. He was adjusting one of the detached sleeves of his costume, which also consisted of a royal purple leotard with gold hems, the neckline plunging down his chest to his ribs, and a coiffed cotton-candy-pink wig.

Beside him stood a woman- Allura, I guessed. She wore a matching purple outfit and had the same russet skin and high cheekbones as Lance, but her hair was a stunningly bright white as opposed to the dark brown of Lance's.

I held out my hand to her, and she shook it, smiling as she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I nodded. "Pleasure."

I turned to Lance, but his head was tipped to the side with a teasing smile. "And what is your act, Mr. Kogane?"

I felt my cheeks heat up and fumbled for words. "I don't... have an act."

"Everyone's got an act," Lance said knowingly, nodded to Shiro, and then walked past me, his eyes holding mine until he disappeared into the crowd. I exhaled slowly, then turned back to Allura. Her eyes had shifted from friendly to judgemental, one of her eyebrows quirked at my pink cheeks.

"Mr. Shirogane!" two women appeared in front of us, breathing heavily. One was nearly as big and muscled as Hunk, her hair slicked up into messy space buns, the other shorter and slim, pink cornrows leading down her back.

"Ezor, Zethrid. What's wrong?" Shiro asked worriedly.

"You're going to want to see this."

Shiro and I set off, following the women's brisk pace as they led us out back. I could hear the shouts of the riot before Ezor even opened the door. The crowd was small, maybe 20 or so strong, but they were loud and they weren't afraid.

I read over some of the signs: 'Stop Shirogane', 'No More Freak Show', 'Go Home, Freaks'. They held burning torches and shouted slurs at the sight of Shiro. He looked concerned but didn't seem too worried yet.

I bit my lip. My first day at the circus and... this is the greeting the public gives me.

...

Shiro

'Shirogane Circus Sparks Protest' read the morning headline, written by a critic by the name of Lotor Princeton. I sat backstage with the performers, relaxing before our evening show. I began to read aloud, "'Shame of the city. The protests amend Mr. Shirogane's reputation as a purveyor of the offensive and indecent."

"'Offensive and indecent?'" Hunk scoffed. "Mr. Princeton, I'm blushing."

I pressed my lips tightly together, worried. It was okay if the critics came after me, but not my performers. They'd been dealing with that their whole lives and I didn't want to make it worse.

"Why do you care what Princeton thinks, hm?" Adam asked me, leaning his head on my shoulder.

"He's a prig," Veronica sniffed.

"And a snob," Pidge added, fiddling with some spare parts.

"Yeah, and all the snobs at the Garrison read him," I added, sighing. "He does their thinking for them."

Lance looked up. "Whatever happened to thriving off controversy?"

I shrugged and was about to say something else when I saw Keith walk in, looking as rich and fancy as usual. I rolled my eyes. He worked at a circus now- did he really need to wear a suit and tie everywhere?

I stood, showing Keith the paper. "Any thoughts on this?"

Keith barely glanced at it before nodding. "As a matter of fact, I do." He held out a paper of his own, this one a large white envelope with the... royal seal on it? I opened the envelope slowly and mumbled under my breath.

"...invite Takashi Shirogane and his theatrical group to a reception at... the President's Annual Garrison Ball?" I looked up at Keith in disbelief.

Adam read over my shoulder. "The President Alfor Altea?" He looked up at Keith too. "Is this real?"

Keith nodded modestly. "I had to pull a few strings... Besides, if you want society to accept you, you may as well start at the very, very top." He tapped the top of his hat with a small smile.

I caught Lance and Allura shoot each other a mirrored look of discomfort. Lance stood and fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "Are we all invited?" he asked Keith in a soft voice.

I felt my heart hurt a little- there were large rumors that the Garrison Ball was funded by a racist society that didn't permit people of color. Lance had clearly told me when he and Allura had auditioned that he didn't want to cause any controversy for me because the two of them were Cuban. Of course, I had assured him that they were safe here and that I didn't allow any sort of racist behavior in the vicinity of the show, but I could now see how he could be worried.

Heads turned towards Lance and Allura, who stood together now. Keith's eyes were soft and understanding as he looked at Lance. "I guess I'll just have to tell the President that either all of us go or none of us will."

Lance nodded respectfully at Keith and offered him a sincere smile, hugging Allura tightly. The performers erupted into cheers and Pidge pulled Matt into an overly dramatic waltz, yodeling about how we were going to a ball, for god's sake.

I think I was the only one to catch Lance's shy, happy eyes catch Keith's and his grin in return.