[ keith heaves a loud sigh of relief as shiro pulls the ruined yoga pants down his legs., flattening his body against the worn mattress once he's undressed. eyes closed, keith's breathing still comes heavy as the drug runs wild in his system. the throbbing burn on his leg hasn't subsided, but the drug wants him to be relaxed, calm, and a little too sensitive to the minute sensations of the sheets as they rub against his sweaty skin. unthinking, keith widens the split of his legs, looking for relief, and whines when the burn rubs raw as he drags his calf. ]

Nnngh, no Shiro -- don't go.

[ he cracks open his eyes, fumbling with an outstretched arm to hold shiro's wrist. ]

We- we haven't been together like this in a while.

[ scrambled as his thoughts are, the truth underlying it feels unshakeable. they haven't been close in some time, have they? but why? someone else was always there, never allowing them the time to talk privately?

no.

i love you.

but then shiro said it back?

keith frowns, pushing aside the inertia of his thoughts to sit up. ]

I don't wanna be alone like that again.