[ push, pull, shiro wants to interrupt keith as much as he doesn’t. keith volunteers his vulnerabilities far more than shiro ever does, but it’s still such a precious privilege to be given a glimpse into the inner workings of keith’s mind, no, into his soul, that shiro has an automatic reaction to shut up and listen. the problem here, though, is that he hears the thing keith hasn’t said yet. but. there is going to be a but in the conclusion of this outpouring of affirmation and love, and shiro doesn’t want to reach that point.
but they do, because shiro can’t bring himself to shush keith. he’s a glutton for things like you’re the most important thing that’s ever happened to me and i’ll always be yours and i got to call you mine. got to? get to. the warning bells grow a little louder in the wake of that, but he still can’t stop him, simply sitting there as he waits for the other shoe to drop.
and it does.
funnily enough, keith has it wrong. i think you know i’m no good for you.funnily enough, shiro is one of the few who has never thought that. he’s been warned many times, though. the facility of a junior high years ago when he showed interest. the disciplinary office personnel when he vouched yet again. a certain commander of galaxy garrison when he started toeing the line of mentorship. a cadet speaking far too candidly when shiro began to fail at curbing his favoritism. a neglected fiancé when he returned from yet another hoverbike outing. even a few paladins have grumbled in the aftermath of a disagreement. but shiro? no. never. shiro has never been able to be convinced away from keith by anyone and he isn’t about to start listening about his apparent blindspot, even when the warnings come from keith directly.
it may have worked in the beginning of their captivity, when shiro was looking for support and reason to keep distance. see, he tried to stay away here at prison, not due to believing keith to be no good for him, but because he’s too good. too precious. too essential to shiro’s stability and happiness as a whole, that he’s been afraid to damage any part of their friendship.
but they’re beyond that now. if anything, parting now, under these circumstances, would ensure what shiro has tried to avoid: the destruction of their friendship.
that’s why you kept your distance, right? to protect yourself?
he’s begun shaking his head, slowly at first with a disbelief that keeps him unblinking and staring.
i can’t run. i can’t fight.
the shaking picks up.
let me just take the fall.
this absolute imbecile. shock stills his tongue, but horror shakes him loose, right onto a spike in exasperation that leaves him frustrated and panicked, two emotions that loosen his tongue. he’s one breath away from calling this idiot boy exactly that, but as impeccable timing goes, it’s at that precise moment that there’s a crash downstairs, followed by the unmistakable clatter of mechanical parts lugging around. it seems their time has run out. ]
Fuck. [ he squeezes hard at keith’s hands, momentarily defeated by their inevitable discovery and so, helplessly trying to siphon off as much strength as he can off of their connection. he composes himself as best he can and then shakes his head, drawing a breath before pulling his hands from keith’s to cup his face, encouraging him to look at him. ]
I am not abandoning you. [ it’s said firmly, nothing in his tone allowing for an argument. ] It’s you and me ‘til the end.
[ and then he steals a kiss. one, two, and suddenly, there’s a flash of light in the room. adrenaline has him ripping away from keith and standing up, turned and already poised for a fight when his gaze lands on – ]
Holy shit, am I glad to see you.
[ the space wolf is standing there, eyes swiveling from shiro to keith, and once there, they don’t stray again as the animal immediately clamors closer, nearly knocking shiro out of the way as he hops up on the bed. keith has told him time and time again that the space wolf is an intelligent being. admittedly, shiro has witnessed the intelligence himself, but here is the first time that he really sees how meticulous and understanding the animal is as he carefully moves around keith, sniffing and looking him over, as if cataloguing everything that is different about his friend. ]
He’s been drugged. We need to get him out of here. [ that doesn’t make the space wolf move any faster, not when those yellowed eyes are now on the burn of keith’s leg. shiro grimaces and then shrinks under the gaze that snaps up, settling on him. ] I know, I’m sorry… but please, you can take him somewhere safe.
it's been three years of hating that word. i continue to hate it.
but they do, because shiro can’t bring himself to shush keith. he’s a glutton for things like you’re the most important thing that’s ever happened to me and i’ll always be yours and i got to call you mine. got to? get to. the warning bells grow a little louder in the wake of that, but he still can’t stop him, simply sitting there as he waits for the other shoe to drop.
and it does.
funnily enough, keith has it wrong. i think you know i’m no good for you. funnily enough, shiro is one of the few who has never thought that. he’s been warned many times, though. the facility of a junior high years ago when he showed interest. the disciplinary office personnel when he vouched yet again. a certain commander of galaxy garrison when he started toeing the line of mentorship. a cadet speaking far too candidly when shiro began to fail at curbing his favoritism. a neglected fiancé when he returned from yet another hoverbike outing. even a few paladins have grumbled in the aftermath of a disagreement. but shiro? no. never. shiro has never been able to be convinced away from keith by anyone and he isn’t about to start listening about his apparent blindspot, even when the warnings come from keith directly.
it may have worked in the beginning of their captivity, when shiro was looking for support and reason to keep distance. see, he tried to stay away here at prison, not due to believing keith to be no good for him, but because he’s too good. too precious. too essential to shiro’s stability and happiness as a whole, that he’s been afraid to damage any part of their friendship.
but they’re beyond that now. if anything, parting now, under these circumstances, would ensure what shiro has tried to avoid: the destruction of their friendship.
that’s why you kept your distance, right?
to protect yourself?
he’s begun shaking his head, slowly at first with a disbelief that keeps him unblinking and staring.
i can’t run.
i can’t fight.
the shaking picks up.
let me just take the fall.
this absolute imbecile. shock stills his tongue, but horror shakes him loose, right onto a spike in exasperation that leaves him frustrated and panicked, two emotions that loosen his tongue. he’s one breath away from calling this idiot boy exactly that, but as impeccable timing goes, it’s at that precise moment that there’s a crash downstairs, followed by the unmistakable clatter of mechanical parts lugging around. it seems their time has run out. ]
Fuck. [ he squeezes hard at keith’s hands, momentarily defeated by their inevitable discovery and so, helplessly trying to siphon off as much strength as he can off of their connection. he composes himself as best he can and then shakes his head, drawing a breath before pulling his hands from keith’s to cup his face, encouraging him to look at him. ]
I am not abandoning you. [ it’s said firmly, nothing in his tone allowing for an argument. ] It’s you and me ‘til the end.
[ and then he steals a kiss. one, two, and suddenly, there’s a flash of light in the room. adrenaline has him ripping away from keith and standing up, turned and already poised for a fight when his gaze lands on – ]
Holy shit, am I glad to see you.
[ the space wolf is standing there, eyes swiveling from shiro to keith, and once there, they don’t stray again as the animal immediately clamors closer, nearly knocking shiro out of the way as he hops up on the bed. keith has told him time and time again that the space wolf is an intelligent being. admittedly, shiro has witnessed the intelligence himself, but here is the first time that he really sees how meticulous and understanding the animal is as he carefully moves around keith, sniffing and looking him over, as if cataloguing everything that is different about his friend. ]
He’s been drugged. We need to get him out of here. [ that doesn’t make the space wolf move any faster, not when those yellowed eyes are now on the burn of keith’s leg. shiro grimaces and then shrinks under the gaze that snaps up, settling on him. ] I know, I’m sorry… but please, you can take him somewhere safe.