[ the retaliatory pinch earns shiro a wrinkling of keith's nose, though even that half hearted gesture of protest is fleeting. how could it not be when his best friend is being a cheesy dork about spending time together? sure, there's a morbid element to it these days, but that's been a factor for years, hasn't it? they days when they could simply sneak out of the garrison compound and ride off into the arizona dessert without a care in the world are bygone days, their friendship now more recently characterized as moments of reprieve between battles and diplomatic meetings.

it's messed up beyond reason to think that pron prison of all places is somehow arguably a break from a grueling war when it's been an endless assault imposition on their freedoms, but here they are. undeterred by the pinching, keith brushes his palm up shiro's thigh and gives that a gentle squeezing as well. wondering if they'll ever manage to exist together when there isn't some fuckery going on threatens to be bittersweet though, so keith instead focuses on the here and now, and the next bite being offered to him.

of course, if shiro wants to paint a nice picture of himself in a rocker with a crossword puzzle in his lap, keith is going to huff a little before accepting his bite. ]

Maybe if I get a reward for helping. [ chew, chew, chew, frown, chew, swallow. ] I miiiight be convinced if I get a reward that's four letters ending in s.