[ is there a but coming? spun straight back to that question he'd been asking himself, keith glances down at their joint hands, twisting his wrist to interlace their fingers and squeeze. an already stupid question manages to sound even stupider said in shiro's voice.

of course there's no "but." as much as keith tries to keep some information withheld from shiro on account of shiro's well being, affection isn't something he needs to ration and be careful with. not with shiro. if anything, it's his feelings about anonymous that needs to be kept under tighter wraps and closer scrutiny. or perhaps cut off entirely?

you mean a lot to me.

why is he so hung up on what might've just been a throwaway line meant to get him to relax and spread his legs? because it came with a fucking dorky smiley? why is he even thinking about this when anon's feelings towards him are completely unrelated to this moment where he should be happy that shiro is telling him that he cares? keith looks up then, throat tight and shakes his head. ]

There isn't one. [ he manages a huffed almost self-deprecating laugh and smiles. ] I guess...I don't know what I'm doing. I'm nervous? I've never been together-together with anyone and I dunno if I'll be any good at it .. you know. Here.

[ not the cell, but porn prison as a whole. keith gestures vaguely around them just to try and make that a bit clearer. ]

... and I guess I just thought you didn't want to. With me.