#oughghg keith my beloved

[excaive]

of course, i can’t pass on a chance for keith lore !!could i maybe get an uhh 💔 for them? 👀

SORRY IT TOOK A HOT MINUTE TO RESPOND I LOVE U MY NUMBER ONE KEITH FAN <3333

💔 BROKEN HEART - what could their partner do that would absolutely break their heart?

This is a little tricky to answer plainly. You must have the Context about Keith's major relationship and I will gladly infodump <3

Because of a past relationship, Keith hardly opens up emotionally Ever, but they still ended up dating Jaquoya (Jaquoya asked them out)

((also here's Jaq bc I hardly talk about her so u have some visuals LOL))

They met thru Void Bliss, a night club that Jaquoya owns and she holds a lot of dance challenges there, which is the main thing that people come to the club for bc it's rly fun and people are good sports with the dance offs because it ultimately is just a fun activity with silly prizes or drinks as rewards. AND it's a great way to make new friends :]

They became friends bc Keith began coming by frequently and was getting attention bc they're a pretty good dancer and they just also quickly improved a lot bc they visited so often - and they were bold enough to challenge Jaquoya to a dance off at some point. It became less competititive because they just ended up dancing WITH each other than against it each other. Cute stuff.

Keith said yes to dating her whenever she asked bc they didn't want to keep being mopey about the past and they did also like Jaq. She's a very patient person and also very different from Keith's ex, so they felt safe with her :] It was also a romantic relationship bc Jaq is ace and Keith felt more inclined to be open about themself because Jaq wouldn't hurt them in the same way as they were hurt in the past. (it would just be another flavor of hurt lol)

Anyway, things were lovely and delightful and Keith had a bit more of their energized self back - but when Keith ended up dipping real low, they made it very difficult for Jaq to be there for them bc they just shut off emotionally and that's how they cope with overwhelming feelings, but it's not a very good strategy.

AND THEN KEITH DISAPPEARS FOR A YEAR. and then they come back, now infected with Kqo'twec the Parasite God, and Jaq is the first person they seek out. And there's A Lot to talk about but they first try to get the gang back together (bc Black Orbit kind of fell apart when Keith disappeared) but Keith does talk to her and apologizes bc they didn't tell her a lot of things when they were struggling and left things in very poor taste. Keith wasn't actually expecting they'd be around anymore to deal with the consequences of their actions, but they got a second chance because of Kqo'twec and Keith wanted to do better because Jaq deserves better than what they gave them.

They make up and like 'officially' break up bc Keith isn't in a place to handle a relationship and Jaq is still a very good friend (also they wanna focus on getting back the gang's footing in Sunjin.) yada yada, story goes on, they might be developing feelings for each other again bc lots have happened and Keith is more open and honest and generally more confident than in the past and the two of them might be getting close again but WHOOP who would've thought, Keith STILL struggles when things go sour and they're too afraid to tell Jaq things because being honest and confiding is what hurt them badly in the past and they still haven't completely worked that out. At least this time, Keith is able to tell her that they ARE afraid to tell her some things and they shouldn't act further on how they feel about each other. Which is still a huge improvement. Jaq is patient and if Keith ever feels like telling her, she'll be around because they're still very good friends :]

ANYWAY TO ACTUALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION

Jaq could very easily break Keith's heart by just deciding she doesn't want to be involved with them anymore and leave them and the gang - and Keith is by no means an easy person to deal with because they don't ask for help or support when they're struggling with something personal. But Jaq is a very patient and understanding person and even if Keith is frustrating as a friend (and especially as a partner), she cares about them and so does the rest of the gang. Honestly I think Keith would prefer that she would actually just break their heart and leave them so they can validate self destructive feelings and isolate more because they honestly don't feel good enough to be worth the effort to deal with their behavior.

And even when Jaq actually gets Mad at them and loses her chill a bit and yells at Keith and tells them they need a Time Out from being the leader (Jaq is 2nd in command) because they're not being honest with the gang - she's not mad because Keith is keeping secrets but because those secrets are actively harming them more and just. [shakes Keith] stop being a self-destructive bastard damn you!!!

This obviously hurts Keith a lot bc Jaq hasn't ever snapped at them, but what hurts the most is that she isn't giving up on them. (She is however creating breathing room by putting Keith in Time Out and taking command while Keith goes to sort out their shit with themself before they're allowed to come back to the gang bc Jaq also needs a damn breather bc ngl Keith can be so frustrating and if they won't let her help, then another approach is needed to get them to work on their issues)

Breaking Keith's heart would be a mercy instead of inflicting them with the Pain and Suffering of being Cared About despite their flaws, squeezing their poor heart so hard - that shit hurted ✌️😔 [Hits Keith with a beam infused with The Power of Friendship]

This is spoilers for their relationship, but not that plot relevant - they settle with being (best) friends. It's bittersweet bc they both do like each other, but being partners is just too draining for both and channeling those feelings as friends work better. This fact doesn't reaalllyy change much, it just like. lifts the contraints that the concept of being partners have and it makes their friendship work very well :] also post-story they aren't hanging out as much bc Things Happen and Keith is spending a lot of time travelling and work thru stuff that happened in The Plot, but they still keep in touch.