Keith

I smiled and waved politely as the crowd surged out of the theater, laughing and talking amongst themselves as they flooded out of the theater. I was happy to see so many smiles on their faces- I knew that some people didn't like the circus in town, but these people had seen Shiro's dream in this run-down museum and had come back for more. Their support and happiness lifted my spirits considerably.

I sighed, offering my goodbyes as the last few patrons trickled out into the night before walking back out to the ring. I knew they were waiting for me, but I'd hoped that there wouldn't be too many of them. But when I looked to the bleachers, my hopes were denied.

A group of 10 or so men sat on the stairs, lounging about like they owned the place. I recognized the man in front to be one of the loudest protesters we had and my face fell from it's plastered smile. I steeled my nerves before walking over to them, inhaling slowly.

"Gentlemen, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

The man in front scowled at me, standing and stalking over to me. "Oh yeah? Well, we live here and we want you to leave with your freaks."

I heard someone walk up to stand beside me and I turned to see Allura glaring at the men, arms crossed. The brute who seemed to lead the group of rioters licked his lips in a disgustingly sexual way at Allura, who recoiled but clenched her fists. "Aw, baby, you're too pretty to be with these freaks," the lead man crooned, sneering.

With a fluid, almost graceful motion, Allura's clenched fist met the man's jaw. He stumbled back, swearing loudly, before looking up at Allura and me with rage in his small, black eyes. I didn't falter. As soon as the rioters came towards me, their fists raised, daring me, avenging their coward of a leader, I was ready.

I couldn't fight well- I had never had the need to, as I was taught at home via tutors and never interacted much with kids my age. But I'd gained some muscle from working at the circus these past few months, all the hauling equipment and gear, all the running up and down flights to breathlessly inform performers of their cue, all the blood, sweat, and tears I had poured into this building and it's contents.

Plus, we only had to hold off the rioters for a few moments before I heard the fearsome cry of Hunk and the other performers stampeding to aid us from backstage. Men were thrown from me as the performers divided into one-on-one fists against skin with the angry men who ridiculed us.

My fists and feet pummeled and struggled, desperate to escape but eager for more.

I was pure, surging adrenaline.

I lost my mind.

It was the smoke, suddenly billowing in through the curtains, that broke me from my trance and helped me regain it.

...

Shiro

I was looking for Adam through the windows of the train before I even got off. My suitcase in hand, I gently pushed past the crowd of reuniting families and couples until I saw him. My heart ached at the sight of him, standing there with a swaddled Amelia cradled gently in his arms, secured to his chest with a pouch-like sling. Adam had cut his hair but there was rough stubble on his chin, a sign of distraction.

When he spotted me, a look of happiness and a hint of relief flooded over his features. As we met in the middle, I was careful not to hug him too tightly, kissing his forehead before leaning down to do the same to the infant sleeping in his arms. Her eyes were closed and her face was turned into Adam's chest, curled into his warmth.

"Hello, beautiful," I cooed softly, my heart hurting at the guilt that I'd been away for her first few weeks as a Shirogane. But, I was here now. I wouldn't leave her and I wouldn't leave Adam.

Adam fixed me with a stare that I assumed was supposed to be reprimanding. "Why are you home so soon? I thought you had a few more stops?"

I shook my head, wrapping my arm around his waist and leading him down the sidewalk. I would tell him about what happened later, but not now. I wanted to go home, to relax after the tour and the whole Curtis fiasco... So, I simply said, "Because I missed you." I looked down at Amelia and grinned. "And you, too, darling," I murmured to her.

Suddenly, to my right on the street, the sound of fire engines broke through the quiet city night's calm atmosphere. Adam and I stared in vague discomfort as the sirens passed us, our minds barely straying to the questions of where they were going.

That is until I heard someone shout, "Look! It's coming from the circus!"

And then we were running, my hand in Adam's as he whispered apologies to Amelia, who was abruptly woken from her sleep with the jostling of our steps down the sidewalk. I knew the circus was close. I could see the smoke darkening the fading light in the sky, blocking out the stars as it billowed out over the city.

It didn't really hit me that my circus was burning until we actually saw it. In the center of Main Street, blazing in an ugly, glorious display for the whole crowd who'd gathered before it to see, Shirogane's Circus was on display. People were running, coughing, clinging to each other and coated in ash. I swallowed hard, unable to move for a few moments.

But then, Adam dropped my hand and shook his head. "I don't want to get any closer with her. I'm worried about the smoke." I inhaled shakily, tasting it on my tongue and nodding to his decision. Suddenly, Keith was running up to me, Allura and Hunk in tow, along with a few other performers.

"Keith! Is everyone out?" My voice was verging on hysterical but everything was moving so fast and if I didn't do anything, then who would? "Are the animals out?"

Ezor grabbed my arm. Her usually slick and pristine ponytail was no longer intact, leaving her hair frizzed around her face, which was smeared with ash. "We set the animals free, what else were we supposed to do?"

Keith looked around frantically, but he looked just as hopeless as I did. I tried to count each of the performers, but they were swaying and crying and coughing like flames themselves. Suddenly, Keith spoke up, anxiety rising in his voice. "Lance? Allura, where's Lance?!"

I looked around, trying to spot his tuft of brown hair, his blue eyes and tanned skin- anything- but Keith was right, he wasn't with the crowd. Before I could say anything, Keith was running towards the flames, shucking off his coat and flinging it to the side before lunging through the flames. The crowd gasped in collective and my nails dug into my palms, biting into my skin in terror.

Allura's eyes grew to the size of saucers and she tried to run forward too, but a fireman grabbed her arm gently, guiding her back to our group as she shook with fear, teeth chattering but not from the cold.

Suddenly, from the side of the building, a figure emerged, coughing as they ran from the smoke and the flames. As they drew closer, I recognized the figure as Lance. He stumbled forward from the flames, half-running, half-staggering to the crowd. Allura met him halfway, throwing her arms around his shoulders and sobbing into his chest.

I looked back to the circus, where Keith was now searching in vain. The crowd was shouting, screaming, calling his name. Lance's eyes lit up in heartbroken recognition as he realized the situation. I knew what I had to do, but that didn't make it any less daunting. I turned to Adam, and his face showed that he knew what I was thinking.

Adam's eyes were wells of despair. Don't you dare, he tried to threaten, but his lashes fluttered and the well of tears escaped his lids.

I have to, I replied with my own eyes, trying to smile for his sake.

Don't leave me, he pleaded, arms wrapped around Amelia protectively. Don't leave us. I can't raise her on my own.

Deep down in my heart, I felt a part of myself break.

I turned away and ran into the building, the flames licking my legs eagerly, searching for its new meal as it's smoke snaked around me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't even attempt to muster the strength to call out for Keith in the burning rubble.

I could hear Adam's shrill voice calling my name. I didn't turn back.

All around me, flames. They crept up the structures of the circus that I could barely recognize now, consuming my work, my pride, my hope in all but a few minutes.

Behind me, a deafening crash that had my ears ringing. I couldn't hear anything as I was thrown forward, the wind knocked out of me as falling debris surrounded me. For a moment, I contemplated just laying there in the scorching sand, letting my last breath be one swallowed by the smoke around me...

But then, I realized that I could see. Down here, on the ground, the smoke wasn't quite so thick. I thought of Keith's pleading eyes. The stubborn jut of his chin as we tried to compromise. His gentle smile that addressed the performers with sincere consideration.

Coughing shallowly, I dragged my torso up onto my arm, army-crawling across the ring to the bleachers, where I could see a glint of metal. The button's on Keith's jacket. Kneeling before him, I didn't have time to check if he was breathing before I staggered to my feet, my one arm struggling to hold his weight as I hefted him to my shoulders, slung around my neck like some sort of prize animal.

My vision went blurry after a few steps and my lungs were screaming for air by the time I made it out of the building, but I did, somehow. Somehow, I made it to the crowd, who lifted Keith from me and placed him on the ground, his form nearly lifeless. In a haze, I pressed my ear to his chest. "He's alive," I choked in a strangled voice, my mouth dry and my throat shredded from the smoke.

As the paramedics carried Keith away on the stretcher, Lance trailing beside him anxiously, the elephants implored me with sad eyes, as if I couldn't see the damage I had done. I had caused this. I had neglected the circus. I had neglected the performers. That was on me now. And I had no clue what the hell I was going to do to make up for it.