[ the run to their old stomping grounds is uneventful. well, as uneventful as streaking can be. it’s uncomfortable, too. nothing quite like free-balling and struggling to keep focus as too many people focus on him racing by, a barely coherent bundle of preciousness secured in his arms. he tries his best to be as inconspicuous as he can given the circumstances; taking the long way around that has them off the main drag and entering from the back of the house. stupid, really, because they’re both wearing ankle monitors and all it’ll take is a bit of typing for those in charge to locate either one of them for further punishment.

this isn’t necessarily about not being found, though. it’s about buying time to clear their systems and to fortify their defenses, because yeah, when they do come for them, shiro will have an easier time picking them off when they have to come through an entrance shiro has the advantage on.

so up the stairs they go and then shiro’s turning into the master suite, a very familiar bed coming into view. it’s as shabby as ever, with its dusty, mostly ripped drapes at the four corners of those canopy pillars, but at least the mattress is soft, to which he makes use of by laying keith down on it. ]

Whatever they pumped you full of needs time to work itself out of your system. So you stay here and let it do that, okay?

[ of all the times shiro’s been to this house, he’s never rifled through the dressers or the closets. it used to be someone’s residence, though, so there is the possibility that he might find clothing that’ll fit him. slim, perhaps, but he can hope. ]

I’m gonna try to find some pants and then keep watch.

[ standing there beside the bed, he hesitates, and then bends down, gently laying his left palm over the top of keith’s head in what is meant to be a stabilizing, as well as comforting gesture. ]

Everything’s gonna be fine. I’m not giving up on you, either. I’m going to keep you safe, no matter what.