victory_road | video;

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-- okay. We're ready. Step back.

[That's Shiro's voice, from a black screen. A purplish-black screen. Which abruptly turns to a real video recording as Haunter the Gengar hops backward. Back to a pile of Pokemon -- namely, all of Shiro's main roster. Plus Luna the Meowth. And a new Aron, perched up on Kuro's big Aggron head.]

[Shiro himself is in the middle of this group, all of them settled on the sand in front of the Sevii Island house like it's a football team photo. He's wearing a plastic hard-hat, of all things. Like the kind little kids wear in costumes.]

[He's also beaming.]

So... we're a few days early. More than a few. But I couldn't hold it in anymore. None of us could. One way or another, the secret was going to come out.

Here it is.

In a few days, I'll have been here two years. There's... been a lot of things to get used to. A lot of hurdles and setbacks, but -- we're still here. And I'm pretty sure this place behind us has a lot to do with that.

That's why... you're looking at a guy who just bought a house.

[And that's when the Pokemon, on what looks like Haunter's signal, gesture to the house behind them. Even Shiro busts out a little ta-daaaa motion.]

Got it all worked out. No matter what happens, no matter who comes or goes, as long as someone lives in this house, they won't have to worry about a place to stay. And, no matter how many familiar faces show up, we can always add more space. Without worrying about if we have room for someone important to us.

[There's a pause, as the new Aron -- it's Hunk's KJ -- to roll into his new trainer's lap. And roll over for some chin scratches.]

It's meant a lot to me. It's done a lot for me. This house, and everyone in it.

And now, this place will be here, for anyone and everyone, in this weird team of ours. Consider it a thank you.

For all of you -- who know who you are.

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[Ouch. Ouch. But he's got to laugh. It's not wrong.]

Then someone's got to make sure no one adds too many features to the roomba. Right?

[He doesn't resist. Short of leaning into him a little more. There are so many reasons why he never thought this would happen. But they seem less important, right now.]

You did? Here? Man, you should've told me...

True. Pidge and I haven't made anything together in ages.

[He shakes his head, and blushes, shrugging slightly.]

We're all so comfortable here, that being alone seems awkward somehow. I love what we have, Shiro. And on top of that... I get you. I can't think of anything better.

Hah -- we do need a way to clean up the cat hair around here... She'd probably like that.

[He tightens his arms around him.]

I -- I love it too. I love you. You're... You mean the world to me.

You put up with so much. [So much more than he figures Matt should have to.] But you're still here. You're still with me and I...

[He doesn't know what to say except to kiss him.]

We do collect a lot of cat hair, don't we?

[Matt laughs a bit, relaxing even more into Shiro's arms.]

There's no putting up with. I love you, and I want to be with you. You're everything to me, 'Kashi.

[He kisses back, not finishing his thought. Everything just felt so lost after they were separated, and he honestly didn't know what to do.]

Yeah. We do.

[He's quiet a moment or two, just holding him. Just... letting the thoughts run through his brain. Chasing them around a little longer.]

No, there is. There has been. But you're still here. Matt, listen... I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with. I know I've got issues, with a lot of things.

I know I need to be better at a lot of things.

[He pulls back, a bit. After the kiss, but not away. Not completely.]

That you're still here gives me a reason to be. Even more of one.

I have issues too, you know. I'm still somewhat antisocial, I still have nightmares, and sometimes I just panic myself into a corner. I'm pretty much useless at anything that isn't space, and I run my mouth too much for anyone's comfort.

[He sighs, then turns to Shiro, worried.]

What is it that you think you need to be better at, love? What're you worried about?

But look at you. You still come out with us. You still settled in... you're leading the observatory. I'm so proud of you.

[He is, truly. He'd never lie about that.]

Thinking, I guess. Balancing. I feel like I keep dragging you out of work to deal with my messes. And I don't think that's fair to you.

Hey. What I'm doing isn't so hard that I can't come help. You're a huge part of my life, Shiro. I want to be there when things go pear-shaped. The observatory can run itself for a bit.

[He shakes his head.]

I really don't care. You're more important.

I know, and that means so much to me. I'm so grateful for that... but the same is true for you. For me. I don't ever want you to feel like you're not supported, too.

[He wants to do this right. Make sure they stay on the same page together. He looks back to the house, for a moment.]

... this is the most permanent thing I've... ever had. You're part of it. You and every little domestic chore.

I want that. And you.

Me too.

[Matt smiles happily, closing his eyes as he leans back against Shiro.]

Before the mission and everything went to hell, I'd had thoughts about just... having a nice apartment somewhere and teaching science. Yeah, sure, I'd love to go on more missions, but I could still be a teacher and do that. Remember how I tweeted from space?

But half of it is just coming home to the little domestic things, and now... I can't imagine that without you there.

[Me too]

[It does, really, seem less daunting when he hears that. He'd done all of this for them. For these people who kept him going. All these people who deserve it.]

[He ends up with his head resting on Matt's shoulder.]

Yeah, yeah, I remember that. Your dad had to field the angry Garrison response.

I trust you -- but I just... want you to promise we'll talk, if it ever gets too much. If I'm ever not supporting you, too.

Because now... it's hard to picture those things without you.

They let me in the end, though, remember? All the kids who responded were just awesome. I think at one point I got Saturn's Rings trending or something like that.

[He laughs a bit, then shakes his head.]

I promise, Shiro. I'm not leaving no matter what. And if I ever feel like it's getting so bad that I want to, I'll talk to you. I promise. That's what a relationship is.

Yeah. Because you're incredible -- inspiring people like that. And brave.

[You'll pry that assessment out of his cold dead hands.]

Then... same. I promise that, too. To talk to you, work it out. Be here for you. That's -- I promise that's what I'll do for you.

[Sometime in all this conversation, in all this talk of houses and domesticity, it started to sound more serious than he'd originally thought to make it sound. But... he finds he's all right with this.]

I just want kids to know that space is awesome. It's not just all pilots and colonization. There's still wonder out there, still things to discover.

[For the first time since they left Earth, Matt's really starting to sound like his old self, the eternal space fanboy.]

[If it is more serious than either of them intended, Matt doesn't seem to mind either. He nods, smiling just a tiny bit.]

Yeah. I'll do all of that for you too. I'll support you and work out whatever tries to come between us. I promise.

And look at you. You're doing it here.

[He has to look at him for a long moment, smiling at him. All but beaming. It's really good to hear that tone of voice. See that look on his face.]

[He loves him. So much.]

Then it's a deal. And... now we work on doing each others' laundry... Maybe.

I try to.

[Matt looks over at him as well, grinning, then leans over and kisses him deeply for a moment before pulling back with a smirk.]

You do realize I've been doing a significant chunk of your laundry since I got here, right?

You're doing great.

[And he means that. Absolutely. Leaning in to return that kiss in kind, slow and lingering.]

You -- [You can basically hear the mental brakes slam on.] You have?

[Now Matt's laughing, shaking his head, totally amused.]

What? Did you think that your clothes just... magically got clean when you weren't around? It's no big deal to just... throw both of our things in together, really.

I thought it was Haunter.

[He legitimately thought it was his ghost. That Haunter had learned how to do laundry -- or--]

Or Lance was doing his chore wheel.

[Matt pauses for a moment, and then cracks up laughing. Oh, Shiro. He loves you so much.]

... you honestly thought your ghost was doing your laundry? Shiro... I don't even know what to say to that.

I'm an idiot. You can say that.

... But only you.

[Because he loves you, too. He loves you a ridiculous amount.]

I love you so much, you nerd.

[Matt leans up and kisses Shiro, still laughing.]

Guess I'll just keep doing the laundry.

I love you, too...

[He trails off, though, winding his arms around him, pulling him in closer for that kiss.]

Going to have to do a lot of laundry tonight -- [Because, while laughing like an idiot, he just flops over backward in the sand, still holding him.]

[He kisses him back a bit fiercely, falling over on top of him when he flops backwards.]

Nah. You don't have to. I did it all yesterday when you were out.

[That's a huge smirk right there.]

[If he minds the enthusiasm in the kiss, he's not saying so. In fact, he's returning it. Just as much.]

You woke up to do my laundry. Wow... No wonder I only had shorts when I talked to the landlady...

[He's... also more than fine with Matt on top of him like this. Who knew?]

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