[ it would probably be a bad move to shrug his shoulders right about now. no sense in looking more like a fool, yeah? because that’s how shiro feels: foolish. he’s twenty-five years old and feels like he’s forty with how much growing up he’s had to do in the past couple of years. one would think, for how mature and put together he presents himself as, he’d realize that open communication is a necessity to any relationship. it’s what he’s always encouraging his team of having, isn’t it? be honest, be open, be willing to support one another. unresolved disagreements and faulty assumptions lead to chaos, and voltron can’t operate if any one of them is feeling misaligned from the group.

amazing. shiro’s been trying to preserve the team by not getting involved and yet, he’s made a mess of his strongest bond. quite a feat to pull off; congratulations, shirogane.

still, even with all this self-chastising, keith’s frustration gives rise to shiro’s own and while he doesn’t hit the same level as keith, he does wrinkle his nose, slam down his brow and huff back: ]

I didn’t make you do anything.

[ hurled one after the other, the amount of questions are seemingly endless. the last one rubs wrong the most, but one, two beats and the frustrated spike lulls into a feeling more manageable. he sighs heavily. ]

I wasn’t trying to hurt you or whatever you think it is I was doing. [ he still hasn’t moved from the cot, still sitting there, still hoping keith will come back on his own accord. ] I thought staying away would be better for us in the long run.