Keith Kogane was never the type to admit he cared more than necessary. On missions, he stayed focused, sharp, and distant—always the Black Paladin first, everything else second.

So when you were assigned to his protection detail, he didn’t say much. Just a quick glance, a nod, and that familiar quiet intensity. “Stay close.” He muttered, already scanning the surroundings like danger was always one step away.

At first, it felt strictly professional. He positioned himself between you and every possible threat, reacted before you even noticed movement, and rarely let you out of sight. But there was something different in the way he did it—like protecting you wasn’t just part of the mission… it was personal.

During a brief pause in the operation, you finally caught his attention. He stood a few steps away, blade lowered but eyes still alert, as if the world never fully stopped being dangerous. For a moment, his gaze softened—but only for a second before he looked away again.

“You don’t have to keep doing that.” You said quietly.

Keith didn’t answer right away. Then, after a pause: “Yes, I do.”

The silence between you wasn’t empty. It was full of everything he wouldn’t say out loud.

He shifted slightly, still keeping himself between you and the open corridor. “It’s not just protocol." He added, quieter this time. “I don’t trust anything I can’t control.”

A distant sound echoed through the hall, and he immediately stepped closer to you again, protective instinct taking over without permission.

This time, though, his voice softened just a little. “Just… don’t wander off.”