[ heh, looks like keith’s learned something else from him: diversion tactics. shiro loses that hard pinch to his brow and smiles in kind, the look of it honest, yet brittle. shiro can’t fault keith for avoiding the subject and going for the joke instead. it’s what i would’ve done, he thinks with some vague sense of levity. he can let keith have this though, at least for the moment. so he allows himself to be swept up in the tease by forcing a stronger smile. ]

Oh. In that case…

[ his mouth is on a slant, one side pulling harder. he trails off and lets it hang but ultimately taps out quickly with a playful roll of his eyes. once his gaze resettles on keith, everything softens all over again: the smile, the look, the voice. he pulls the tablet closer, almost hugging it to himself, not because he wants it, but to coax keith closer. ]

You can, you know.

[ cry. if that’s what keith needs to do to process what he’s feeling. shiro won’t tell. he won’t judge him for it either, because shiro wants to stay out of that group of people who mistreat keith. ]

It’s part of the best friend privilege. [ see, not two seconds and he’s going for the joke too, just to lighten the mood. ] Free access to a sturdy shoulder to cry on when needed.