[ is keith self-soothing? or is he trying to comfort shiro? it’s gonna be okay. is it? is it actually going to be okay? shiro’s naked, keith’s exposed, shiro’s humiliated, keith’s burned – the both of them together are traumatized, neither of who are fully in control of their own minds and bodies. they need to get out of here. they need time and space to regroup. they need –
love you.
it catches shiro off guard. shiro’s been spinning lies to himself for the past week that they weren’t themselves when they said those words. so much so that he almost has himself believing it. this is what happened last time, though. they were heavily influenced with some sort of drug. shiro isn’t nearly as compromised as he was that first time – or even what he was twenty minutes ago – but it happens anyway: his heart double-times on what has to be a flutter and then he’s slipping. slipping past reservations and self-denial, shiro stares down at keith for an extended beat of wonder and then…? he swallows hard to muzzle the guilt and breathes out: ]
Love you, too.
[ the potency of the drug is fading, has been fading, and so, it doesn’t take long for the second guessing to start. thankfully, it isn’t detrimental enough to distract him from his current task. refocusing on that helps in a number of ways, actually, to which shiro frowns and shakes his head, gaze back to keith’s leg. ]
We need to get out of here. Then we’ll talk. [ he reactivates his right hand. ] I’m going to cut it now. Stay still.
[ he is, indeed, very careful this time. as soon as he cuts through the two straps holding keith’s shins, he lets the power drain from his arm. he’s quicker now, in helping keith sit up and get off. he tugs his pants up for him because it’s faster and then – ]
Come on… I…
[ and that’s when he realizes he’s stark naked. or at least, that’s when he realizes he will remain as such, because where are his clothes? they aren’t anywhere on the stage. did the sentries take them? where would they store them? ]
Fuck, I dunno where… [ they need to get out of here, he tells himself again. keith’s safety is far more important and well – ] Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna get you somewhere safe.
[ wasting even more time isn’t an option, especially not to look for clothes. they’ve already lingered too long due to shiro’s blunder; more sentries are certain to come any second now. so shiro scoops keith up without another word, making the executive decision that keith’s burn prevents him from using that leg. logical? perhaps not, but shiro is committed, already jumping off the stage to start running. ]
you expect me to scroll???
love you.
it catches shiro off guard. shiro’s been spinning lies to himself for the past week that they weren’t themselves when they said those words. so much so that he almost has himself believing it. this is what happened last time, though. they were heavily influenced with some sort of drug. shiro isn’t nearly as compromised as he was that first time – or even what he was twenty minutes ago – but it happens anyway: his heart double-times on what has to be a flutter and then he’s slipping. slipping past reservations and self-denial, shiro stares down at keith for an extended beat of wonder and then…? he swallows hard to muzzle the guilt and breathes out: ]
Love you, too.
[ the potency of the drug is fading, has been fading, and so, it doesn’t take long for the second guessing to start. thankfully, it isn’t detrimental enough to distract him from his current task. refocusing on that helps in a number of ways, actually, to which shiro frowns and shakes his head, gaze back to keith’s leg. ]
We need to get out of here. Then we’ll talk. [ he reactivates his right hand. ] I’m going to cut it now. Stay still.
[ he is, indeed, very careful this time. as soon as he cuts through the two straps holding keith’s shins, he lets the power drain from his arm. he’s quicker now, in helping keith sit up and get off. he tugs his pants up for him because it’s faster and then – ]
Come on… I…
[ and that’s when he realizes he’s stark naked. or at least, that’s when he realizes he will remain as such, because where are his clothes? they aren’t anywhere on the stage. did the sentries take them? where would they store them? ]
Fuck, I dunno where… [ they need to get out of here, he tells himself again. keith’s safety is far more important and well – ] Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna get you somewhere safe.
[ wasting even more time isn’t an option, especially not to look for clothes. they’ve already lingered too long due to shiro’s blunder; more sentries are certain to come any second now. so shiro scoops keith up without another word, making the executive decision that keith’s burn prevents him from using that leg. logical? perhaps not, but shiro is committed, already jumping off the stage to start running. ]