[ keith's purring never loses its novelty. shiro called it soothing the first time – and has revisited the sentiment the few times since that keith has been relaxed enough to have the sound to kick up in his chest. he’s of the same mind here, instantly soothed and relaxing further into a sense of security that overwhelms the longer the noise rumbles on. as long as they’re together here, no one will harm them or take away their happiness; that’s the vow keith gave him before, his self-proclaimed happy noise extending as the backdrop. that of course poses the question of what happens when one of them leaves or both of them leave; what then of their safety and happiness? shiro has yet to give it much thought, far more focused on the proceeding step of finishing their lists to even unpack what going back to voltron actually means for the two of them. and he doesn’t analyze it here, either. he simple smiles, exhaling a soft puff of amusement as keith shifts positions, never straying from hoarding his space.

yes. yes he does know. shiro came into this with experience and has acquired quite a bit more since, so he supposes that gives him some authority on discerning what good sex feels like. this is good sex. even as he thinks it though, he decides that falls so insultingly short of what this actually is. this is much more than mashing bodyparts together and letting hormones run wild. this isn’t about getting off as quickly as possible or using the other person to find a mutual high that’s both intense and fleeting. if anything, this feels a lot closer to something he used to have, with profound trust and affection, the other person’s pleasure just as, if not more important than his own.

he’s had that with keith for years now: trust and affection. so shiro has to wonder, when did things shift and broaden beyond friendship? here, in prison, of course that’s the answer, but the potential has been there, all the way back in his own reality, simply waiting for him to notice. so could he have this there, too? is it already there, just hidden due to his absentminded awareness for it? does he even want it there? because his keith isn’t this keith and… god, he’s not even sure that’s true anymore. this keith is his keith, now. he wants this keith, he adores this keith, which carries both a sense of elation and betrayal in one.

so guess he is thinking about it. briefly. faintly. it’s inner turmoil to wrestle with later, when he doesn’t have keith sounding coy right in front of him. slowly, shiro’s lips curl further, making the whole of his expression honey-sweet, whole body warmed with the affection that thrums through it, seemingly growing stronger with every beat-beat in his chest. ]

Not yet… [ he gets a hand to keith’s face, because he can’t not touch him. thumb swipes at his cheekbone, palm laid across the burn of his cheek. ] But that’s what we’re doing next… after a short intermission of recuperation, of course.

[ for both of them…? it’s been difficult to tell through the door and even the few times they tried a bed together – not counting the exceptional coupling of his galra form – but shiro suspects that keith has a much quicker turnaround than he himself possesses. youth, has been his explanation, as well as a smug congratulatory that he’s just that good that anonymous couldn’t help being so massively turned on. he supposes he’ll find out soon enough. ]

So what would you like me to do with my mouth in the meantime? [ he drops his hand slightly, now pressing his thumb to one of those fangs once more returning to his lip. he tests the point and coaxes it loose. ]

Tell you all about how wonderful you are? Or would you like me to kiss you all over… [ he leans in for a kiss, pressure soft over that pinched bottom lip. his other hand sweeps around keith in the pause, brushing featherlight at the split of his cheeks. ] … maybe even down here, too.