Limiting Narratives
Keith Goodman!Sky High X Reader
There are more cameras here than you expected from a last minute press conference, more attention than necessary. More than you wanted, but it’s for the good of the city. The good of the citizens. The best thing you can do to play the part, and reach for the role you want—is smile for these cameras. It’s a good thing, to stand side by side with Sky High on screen—the King of Heroes, that’s what he’s called. Which makes you his queen… At least, for the sake of the show.
Smile and wave, bat those eyelashes and blush as he takes your hand—one performance after the next. A podium, costumes that hide their identities, and a relationship. You consider Keith to be a friend, someone you went to head to head with in the ranks. But the public wanted more. They saw the banter and assumed tension, and it snowballed to the CEOs. The company made it a reality, at least for the show.
You smile as the camera flashes, eyes blinded, but the smile begins to slip off your lips. Do they not realize how difficult it is to keep up the charade? Do the CEOs have a plan for how long you will have to play this part? But when he takes your hand, when he smiles at you—it is easy to keep your smile up. You would be a fool to not admit one thing, that Keith is a good guy. He is kind and has been nothing less than that from the moment you met.
You were both the heroes of the sky, competitors, but the healthy kind of competition that doesn’t hurt anyone. It made sense that you both would gravitate towards each other and that the people would see it as more, because your NEXT ability included a pair of wings made of light.
He was Sky High and you were Star Shine, working side by side to conquer the heavens—your throat tightens and you forget that you are supposed to be walking off stage. You would have sat there like an idiot, if it weren’t for Keith’s soft touch on your arm and that green monster begins to creep up on you again. Stronger than you remember. Worse than it’s been. He always did the talking at these events.
“Wonderful Y/N! You were amazing...” Keith starts off loud, but when he sees your body tense, he lowers his voice and settles into a soft smile. “As usual.” He dotes on, those green hands grab your stomach and tighten until you become nauseous.
“You’re the one who is amazing...” You care about him, admire and love who he is as a person. But there is one truth that keeps you at arms length, not wanting to take anything away from him. “I hardly ever know what to say.”
“It’ll get easier.” Before the CEO’s got you into this, you were a fan favorite, but you hardly ever did talk shows or interviews. You were a model, you did ads and commercials, but never interviews. “How about dinner? I can cook?”
You are peeling off the white shimmering gloves, dropping them into your duffle bag as you pause. Swallowing. “I don’t know...” You take off the mask, dropping that into the bag beside the gloves and the rest of your costume. “That might not be a good idea...” Feelings come from things like that, and you don’t want to hurt yourself any more than necessary because while you might be all in—you worry Keith isn’t the type of person to... Friends with feelings, only ever stay friends for so long.
“Please Y/N, we have a lot to talk about.” You nod and smile a little, zipping up the last of your costume save for the shimmering tights and armored top that you’ve hidden under joggers and sweatshirts.
“What the hell. What’s it going to hurt?”
.
.
.
All in all, you find yourself wandering Keith’s modest apartment, smaller than you’d expect from the King of Heroes. Especially one that had been the top performing hero for several seasons in a row.
Your teeth graze the inside of your cheek as he pulls out your chair, too kind. He’s always been kind with you. You lock your eyes on the plate, the potatoes meticulously placed so much so that you can see where it was scraped away.
“We’ve been at this ruse for almost a year, and I don’t think I know anything about you...”
“Keith..” You shake your head. “I really don’t want to talk about that... So what did you want to talk about?”
He sighs, you watch him begin to grow nervous as he runs a hand through his hair and lean back into the chair. “I don’t want it to be a ruse. I like you, quite a bit really...” He nervously laughs, “But I don’t think you like me very much.”
Air hitches in your throat and your lip twitches, “Its not that.” You pause. “Trust me, I really-- Keith, I like you. But you’re not going to like me, or you don’t know me. As me. You know Star Shine.” You pause, not really thinking about your words. Just spitting them out as you try to read his expression, but you can’t do both. “You know who the CEO’s say I am, but I’m not that.”
You aren’t exactly skilled with your words, finding it difficult to even speak, but under the careful eye of Keith—you feel more exposed. Your thoughts finally catch up with your mouth, and you curse, watching his expression grow more perplexed. “Okay. So its not complicated, and I never want to take anything from you. And I’ve learned to be upfront because people tend to misunderstand and I end up getting hurt because of it.” You go to continue, but Keith interrupts you briefly.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” You smile softly at him, messing with the potatoes on your plate using the fork.
“Well that’s because you’re the best.” He is the best… From day one he was both attentive and tender with your feelings, never pushing a boundary or even getting what would be a boundary. A perfect example of poise. “I don’t want sex. Ever. I have no urge and no need, none of it. And that doesn’t mean I like you any less, or think anything less of you. You’re plenty attractive, but yeah.” You say it quick as if its stumbling off your tongue and down the stairs.
You try to read his expression and know what’s happening in his head, watch as he sets his utensils down and you prepare for another one. “Oh so you’re asexual. Thats not a problem.” Just like that, you fall in love with Keith Goodman right there. Its the bare minimum and yet, as he casually accepts you as is—you’ve never felt more seen. For you it was terrifying to tell people, because you didn’t know how to put it into words other than just saying that’s how you feel.
The shock wears off pretty quick and you resume the meal in a comfortable silence, not as squeamish as before—which is nice because the food is delicious. “I may know more about Star Shine than I do you, but Y/N I know enough to know I like you. I know you are confident, have a strong moral compass, and a good heart.” He pauses, finishing of a bite and then continuing. “You rarely smile in outings, except for when kids talk to you. Then you turn into mush.” You raise a brow at the mention of mush, not sure if you should take that as a compliment. “You always focus on alternatives to hurting people, even criminals, and you are loyal to a fault.” You don’t know when, but at some point, you forgot you were supposed to be emotionally restrained. Instead, your eyes are glassy and your hands fidgeting as he speaks confidently. “You are beautiful. Not in looks, but just you. Everything about you.”
Keith climbs to his feet and bridges the gap, as he takes your hand and pulls you to your feet. “You cant possibly know all that…” You can’t be that much good, he sees so much more than you, that you have to give him credit.
“But I do Y/N. Star Shine, or not— I am in awe of you.” Keith smiles, “So thats why I want to do this. To see the real you, and for you to know me, because you don’t always meet good people more than a handful of times.”
Your eyes waiver and you try to find the lies, but you can’t—Keith is an honest man, who honestly seems interested in you. You squeeze his hand, feeling the warmth and feeling safe.
“Okay.”
.
.
.
That night changed a lot for you, more than you expected from just one little word. But it was the best thing that happened in a long time. You feel Keith beside you, a shared bed, the comfort of his presence enough to lull you to sleep. A year has changed so much and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.
You feel your watch buzz and clamber to your feet quickly to see Keith do the same. Taking a moment, he smiles at you: “Good morning, love.” You melt with that simple phrase and begin to dress.
“Crime really doesn’t sleep.” You mutter, “I was enjoying that dream.” He chuckles, tossing you your gloves from the shared dresser.
“How about this? If we get the arrest, we come back and nap?” You quirk your lip, handling your mask in your now gloved palms.
“How about we do that even if we don’t?”
“Deal.”
That was your Sky High, the King of Heroes that made you feel safe. Your Keith. Someone who always had your back, while fighting crime or living your dreams. It was him.
And while many saw you as the Queen. As Star Shine. You were always Y/N to him, first.
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