[ the disgruntled snuffle from the wolf at least makes keith smile, though its worn thin by the knowledge that he can't actually reach through the bars to give the wolf the attention he deserves. ]
I know, I know...
[ the words are murmured to acknowledge the wolf's presence more so than accept shiro's reassurances, but not for a lack of wanting to be reassured. it's true that shiro and the wold woulf both play guard, but how does one protect against a threat that's yet to have made itself distinctly known? keith isn't sure if the sick claustrophobic feeling is coming from the tiny cell or from within his own head.
doesn't matter. it's only as real as keith allows it to be, and there are beings here that matter far more than whatever his muddled, anxiety riddled brain is coming up with. giving himself a shake, he watches in horror as shiro insists on touching things for science and flinching away. ]
Hey, stop touching things that're burning you!
[ because of course shiro's safety and well being comes before the more pressing question of: ]
Why is this even happening to you? You weren't there -- you didn't take apart that corpse.
[ the realization of what he's said hits a beat late. keith's goes briefly wide eyed before staring miserably at the ramen cup in shiro's metal hand. ]
... I- I didn't thikn that would come back like this.
[ expelling a heavy sigh, keith takes a half step back the door. ]
[ listen. he’s conducting an experiment. it’s important that he know what effects are currently wreaking havoc; not that he learns much from this other than don’t touch things. the how, the why, the when is this going to be over are, of course, unanswerable right now, but this is a start. which works out, really, considering keith throws him off course not more than three seconds later. shiro snaps his gaze up at that, only crossing keith’s gaze for half a beat to see the tail-end of that surprise before keith is looking away.
ah. the slight waver in his voice is telling, as is the look on his face. this is something to tread lightly with.
shiro does his best to be comforting and offers up a smile, one that colors his voice sweet and just the slightest bit playful. ]
This isn’t for me. [ you ridiculous boy. ] I brought this for you.
[ a snout jabs his thigh. oh for the love of – ]
It was the space wolf’s idea.
[ he looks down at the space wolf, who is already looking up at him. whatever. shiro has an easy way to one up him. apparently, these aliens are good at building fences or barriers or doors that keep space wolf hijinxs at bay, but they aren’t well equipped to keep shiro out, at least when it comes to doors. ]
Just – hold on. [ he bends down to put the ramen cup on the ground and then straightens back up, his galra arm lighting up. ] Let me just –
[ the locking mechanism is easy to burn through. it is, possibly, a hasty decision that will demand retribution later, but leaving keith there, clearly scared and miserable, to rot away in a cell in a confinement center that might very well be just as abandoned as everywhere else in this compound, is, frankly, out of the question. of course shiro is going to spring him out.
making sure keith is out of the way, he nudges the door open with his deactivated, metal hand, smiling even though the space wolf bullies in before him. ]
Burn proof. Guess you could say the metal hand comes in, heh, handy.
[ the space wolf isn’t shy in taking over keith’s space and considering the size of the cell, there isn’t much to give. shiro stands in the doorway for now, crouching down to pick up the ramen cup. ]
But… I don’t know, Keith. I don’t know why it’s happening, but I don’t think this place ever needs a reason to mess with us.
[ back to his feet, shiro looks to keith and can’t stop the concern from overtaking his expression, wilting his smile. ]
I heard about the corpse you guys found. I didn’t know you did anything to it. [ a softer: ] Do you wanna talk about it?
[ the ramen is for him. it shouldn't be nearly as touching as it is, but with the food in jail in an even more deplorable state, it's hard not to be immensely touched by the knowledge that the wolf and shiro were looking out for him. teaming up, even, to make sure he's had a bite to eat, and some friendly company.
you guys... is what he starts to say, but shiro's gotten other ideas. seeing the galra hand light up gives the plan away immediately, but it still surprises keith on some level that shiro would be going to these lengths after giving those warnings about not crossing prison personnel. is he complaining or telling shiro to stop, however? no. absolutely not. his stay in solitary this time has been much different to his last one, and a more paranoid part of keith suspects their overlords might have left him to die here.
before he can yet again get too lost down a rabbit hole of grim pessimism, the door creaks open slowly before it's slammed open by a whirlwind of paws and silvery blue fur. the wolf leaps froward, tail wagging furiously as keith lets out a yelp before getting knocked backwards. he braces for a burn that never comes. confused but pleased all the same, keith tkaes an extra second to get his bearings. ]
H-hey, it's good to see you too, buddy.
[ wrestling the wolf until he's up to a seated position, keith laughs and gives the wolf a gentle noogie. [] THank you for bringing Shiro and food.
[ speaking of which, keith looks up then, turning his attention to shiro at the opened doorway, ramen cup back in hand. ]
.... and thank you, too. I -- [ making a face, keith pushes the wolf's snout away to try and properly get to his feet, only to have his hand promptly covered in drool. ] Heh, c'mon, let me up.
[ the wolf assents this time, sitting down like a proper good boy with wide innocent eyes. keith rises, then takes several steps towards shiro. ]
There's not a whole lot to say about it. Lance, Angel and I found a trunk that had a mummified alien body inside. Angel took the body apart, and we found a large capsule inside. It contained a slip of paper with a pattern on it and a ship trinket. We took it, hoping to figure out what it was, but we never did. I just... maybe all of this is because something in the lighthouse wants it back.
[ smile slipping, keith forces it back in place as he leaves just one last step between him and shiro. ]
.. but you're right. This place doesn't need reasons to mess with us. [ tentatively, keith holds up his hand. ] ... Think I could touch you too? [ without getting burned that is. or would that be too generous of whatever curse thing is going on. ]
[ yeah, buddy, enjoy free rein of keith; it won’t last much longer. shiro just needs to be patient, wait for keith to look his way and – there, shiro strengthens his smile. keith steps closer and it feels a little like a victory… until such juvenile delight is squashed under the weight of keith’s words. some of it he knows, some he doesn’t. the big stuff? yeah. it’s the smaller details that he hasn’t gleaned over the months, like angel taking the body apart or there being a piece of paper and amulet, that they kept…? who has those now?
he intends to ask. even if keith is mimicking shiro’s signature move of downplaying, to then gloss over the magnitude of the discovery, shiro realizes that there’s much more to suss out here, especially given keith’s mounting fear.
… but keith’s distracting in other ways, too. he positions himself right in front of shiro, only to circle back to the other dilemma that shiro would very much like to figure out first. the space wolf tilts his head, watching. shiro sees him do it, a little fuzzy on the edge of his vision, there, over keith’s shoulder; shiro’s gaze stays squarely on keith though. ]
Hope so.
[ his voice pitches with a lightness that doesn’t fit the seriousness of the situation. what’s he going to do if they can’t touch without unintentionally inflicting pain on each other? it’s temporary. maybe? hopefully? well, best to run another experiment before he gets too far ahead of himself, yeah?
briefly, he looks to keith’s hand, before catching keith’s gaze again. arms loose at his sides and all of him lax, aside from the continued pinched of his metal fingers around the rim of the ramen cup, shiro drops all semblance of defense in offer. ]
[ considering keith's just admitted to aiding and abetting in defiling a corpse and potentially unleashing something horrible from inside the lighthouse? yeah. shiro's cheerful tone and open arms are definitely a strange tone to be taking on.
but that said? the levity makes keith do a brief double take. maybe the connection between the incidents isn't as clear cut to others as they are in his head? maybe he's tunneled in on some disparate facts that aren't actually related? shiro is right, after all, that this place rarely ever needs a reason to fuck with their heads.
it's unsettling. not only does keith need to second or third guess his own reasoning, he's also just now realizing he has no idea what the bigger picture here is. the mist isn't aphrodisiac, and touching only resulting in the feeling of burning is so nonconducive to the usual sex that's constantly pushed that he feels less and less grounded.
good thing, then, that shiro's right there ready with a smile. it's a potent reminder that even when keith can't quite trust himself, he feels safe trusting shiro. keith swallows, giving shiro an up-down glance before returning a hesitant but warn smile at the invitation. ]
I don't want to hurt you.
[ it shouldn't have to be stated. shiro is always the last person keith wants to hurt, but knowing he's failed his shiro at home by not realizing the clone situation after it was already too late makes the obvious feel important to say out loud. banishing the thought for a moment, keith tries for light hearted with a joking-not joking: ]
Brace yourself.
[ before squeezing his eyes shut and delivering a quick peck to the cheek. the contact lasts barely a second from all of keith's low expectations for touch being pleasant, but he blinks his eyes open a beat later, looking a mixture of sheepish and pleased. ]
...Oh. Heh, I guess nothing bad happened after all.
[ and shiro doesn’t want to hurt keith, either. seems only natural then, to let keith control the experiment: the start, the stop, the where. touching his left hand would be the predictable place to start, but there’s also the uncovered skin of his throat, neck, face, ears – keith could brush his fingers against any and shiro would let him. of course, keith isn’t always predictable. in fact, he rarely is, so is it shiro’s own fault that he’s surprised by the peck to his cheek? yes. just – keith with his minimal care of self-preservation… using the delicate skin of his lips to run a burn test. shiro has the urge to sigh and chide, but he ends up huffing on a laugh instead.
okay, it’s kind of sweet. and given the current disarray of their lives, especially keith’s, they might need a little sweet right now.
so shiro tries for unpredictability as well. leaning down he presses a kiss to keith’s cheek, his lasting a beat longer and ending a bit louder on the pull away. his lips tingle, though that’s not particularly new; there’s always a rush when he kisses keith. ]
Just wanted to be extra sure.
[ his expression is softer; gaze affectionate and smile easy. there’s a low, snuffing sound though and shiro briefly looks away from keith to spy the space wolf watching them. of course he’d be watching them, but catching the wolf’s gaze has shiro clearing his throat. ]
Right. [ he stands straighter. ] Now let’s get some ramen in you before we let your friend there try zapping us out of here.
[ shiro doesn’t doubt the space wolf’s ability to get them back to one of their cubes… much. in the back of his mind, he can’t shake the idea that there is the possibility of something going awry. again. so might as well get keith fed before they embark on what could very well be a long afternoon. so shiro steps to the wall – which is, basically, one step – and goes to sit down, getting as comfortable as he can. ]
It gives us time for you to tell me more about this lighthouse.
[ see, he hasn’t forgotten. he crosses his legs setting the cup of noodles on the floor, in front of his crossed ankles. ]
When did you start feeling like something’s after you? Has anything happened to make you think that?
[ the exaggerated kissy noise makes keith hiccup with involuntary amusement. he's never known his own grandmother so the reference is based purely on media portrayals of grandma kisses, but this qualifies, right? it's a weird thought that only serves to bolster the giddiness that comes with shiro kisses in general. somehow it feels wrong to find any kind of relief in confirming porn prison's bottom line in pushing sex is still very much intact, but who is keith to argue when it means he gets to at least hold his favorite person and wolf without burning?
of course, that raises the question of whether or not the sense of foreboding will also clear with sex, but this time it's a thought that prompts more self chastisement than anything else. as much as sex is a means to an end in this place, shiro is not.
getting caught up on that thought is precisely why keith doesn't stop shiro from entering his cramped cell and getting comfortable. the narrowness of the space and its single exit point still sets off a terrible sense of foreboding, but it's ... at least one that keith is a step closer to dismissing as irrational. it'd been nerve wracking because he was alone and unarmed. with shiro and the wolf here, nothing is getting past, right?
if there's even a something to begin with. expression pinched with uncertainty, keith looks from shiro to the wolf nervously before allowing himself to be coaxed into sitting down across from shiro. the instant he does so, the wolf is by his side, head resting on keith's lap, eyes closed and contented.. fingers comb through silvery blue fur in some half hearted attempt to self soothe as keith murmurs: ]
But I don't think I can feed myself without burning.
[ it's not really meant as a protest. if anything, it's more to stall out on answering what exactly happened at the lighthouse and admitting outright that nothing has actually happened yet. brow pinching, keith looks down at the ramen cup, tentatively fliicking with a finger before the burn makes him jerk back with a wince. ]
Ow. [ blowing our a heavy sifh, keith continues to look pensive. ] ...And I dunno. It's like.. you know those ghost stories about spirits coming back because you disturbed their grave or something? It just feels kinda like that.
[ ....several months after the fact. because apparently this ghost was hibernating for the summer. face falling, keith groans. ]
[ keith can’t feed himself? shiro’s already worked that out in his head: he’ll handle the utensil. it’s only after he’s set the cup down, taken the fork in hand and spun noodles around it that he realizes that, wait no, this doesn’t work. keith will still be touching the fork, just with his mouth instead of his hand. will he still burn? if so… he’s going to have to rethink some upcoming meals. fuck, wait – they can eat, can’t they? or does food itself burn?
shiro’s frown deepens as keith tests the cup and then he’s right onto a wince tied to a sympathetic look. keith starts explaining then and shiro’s listening, all the while slow spinning the fork to slosh the noodles around and around. nothing of what he’s hearing is funny. it’s a serious matter that requires some serious consideration – as well as a failsafe plan if the worst is meant to happen – but lance is brought into it and all of a sudden, the mood shifts, if only for a few moments.
shiro laughs: short and huffy, his mouth twisted up on a grin. ]
Come on, give yourself some credit. You’re not that bad.
[ though, perhaps shiro shouldn’t be cutting keith such slack. this is the same boy who used to hoard those stories of bigfoot and the chupacabra and mothman. if keith swore by those and is now swearing by a vengeful ghost wanting to do a bit of haunting…
it’s difficult though, to dismiss any of this as too far-fetched to be possible. afterall – ]
Look at everything we’ve been through in the past months… and not just here, either. A ghost story come to life isn’t the weirdest thing to happen to us.
[ he lifts the fork and without further ado, feeds it into his own mouth. a touch warm but definitely not burning. good; should be clear for keith, too. he chews through and by the swallow, he reconsiders his current brand of reassurance. once again gathering noodles onto the fork, he eases into a smile that reads more sheepish. ]
… I can’t tell if I’m making you feel better or worse.
[ because, by saying he’s not crazy – or hyper-imaginative like lance – he’s also saying the ghost threat is real. so would keith feel better being crazy or hunted? either way, open up, because shiro lifts the noodle laden fork up in offer. ]
[ shiro has two pairs of eyes watching him for vastly different reasons. keith is admittedly surprised by the break into laughter, his glum expression cracking to give way to tepid curiosity. the wolf on the other hand? the pupper's eyes narrow as shiro eats his initial forkful of noodle, letting out a chiding whuffling noise as if to say hey, that's not for you.
that bit of minor antagonism gets entirely misunderstood by keith who simply assumes the wolf would like more ear skreitching. keith is happy to oblige, of course, though his uptick in mood slowly wanes as shiro begins to ramble. ... not that it's a bad thing exactly, just that keith is equally split on whether he's supposed to feel better or worse about having his anxieties validated.
better, maybe? if only because it makes him feel slightly less crazy, but then wh the hell finds reassurance in being personally haunted by a vengeful ghost and how exactly does one fight them off? one doesn't exactly need to be a ghost aficionado to suspect the usual knives and stabby things don't work on intangibles. so what's he meantt to find? a priest? holy water?
yeah. okay. feeling foolish, keith directs a huff of air up to ruffle his bangs, but before he can say anything there's a forkful of noodles being held up to his mouth. ]
Huh?
[ forgive him. the implication is obvious. open up. keith registers that a fraction late, flushing slightly as he blinks from the noodles to shiro. ]
You're... gonna feed me?
[ the flush spreads further up to his ears. he's reall yon some kind of roll with regards to pointing out the fucking obvious, huh? but still. he looks back at the fork, only to shift his gaze back to shiro. ]
I... [ it's a simple solution and a very simple gesture, but it has the unfortunate side effect of making keith realize tat he's never actually had aanyone offer to feed him this way. .... or at least, the last time he had something fed to him, it was very much not a forkful of noodles. heart racing inexplicably, keith quickly banishes the thought of anon'hard cock with a shy, mumbled: ]
Okay.
[ before leaning forward to accept his mouthful. holding eye contact with shiro during this proves to be a little too embarrassing though, and quickly keith shifts his gaze back down to shiro's .. mouth? no -- his shoulder. yes. very safe.
the noodles are warm -- probably a little too warm like they may be affected by whatever stupid porn prison magic is happening, but they're good and keith's stomach rumbles in approval. the wolf, too, finally stops glaring and resumes his happy nuzzling. unsure of what the hell the feeding protocol is, on whether he should be letting shiro pull the fork out of his mouth or what, keith nervously takes a bite and tries not to think too hard about sucking tihings as he slrups the noodles off the tines. face burning for reasons he's desperately hoping shiro won't ask about, keith murmurs: ]
[ y… es…? is that weird? of the number of things they’ve done together, not just here, but during voltron as well, there are much stranger scenarios in comparison. yet, somehow sitting together with shiro feeding keith seems like a more meaningful task than it actually is. why? because keith is vulnerable in his dependence on shiro? it’s not the first time. as fierce as keith is to endure, shiro’s been keith’s rescuer a few times. so why does this feel… intimate?
shiro mulls it over and comes up empty on explanation, though not on emotion. now that it’s in his head, he sees it from a different lens and rather than it being a simple repetition of fork and offer, he’s paying closer attention to keith’s face. to his mouth.
not the right time, he tells himself.
they’ve got a chaperone, at least, and the continued presence of the wolf is one shiro is entirely aware of. he seems, for the moment, subdued, however, and shiro is more than okay with keith indulging that happy nuzzling to keep the wolf’s dog glare off of him. those ears do perk a moment later, though. because shiro makes the mistake of laughing softly to keith’s thank you, which is, honestly, adorable. shiro’s lips pull hard into a smile and hopeless on the rush of affection, shiro ducks his head to stare into the cup, partly shielding the happy look about him. ]
You’re welcome.
[ he’s got the fork back in the cup, swirling around to line the prongs with noodles, peas, corn and carrots. ]
Hopefully this burning curse doesn’t last too long, otherwise meal times are gonna be pretty interesting from here on out.
[ if keith can chew food without burning, maybe he can handle food himself. if that’s possible, then shiro should try to locate some handheld meals – though, he supposes anything can be handheld if messiness is not a concern. they could test that out here, actually. he could scoop out some noodles and have keith touch them with his fingers. later, he thinks, and keeps on routine of bringing the fork out of the cup, extending in offer.. ]
I don’t mind, of course. It’s kinda fun.
[ … fun? he keeps his smile through the inward cringe. ]
[ keith ought to be chewing and swallowing his mouthful of ramen. instead, he's busy being a little mesmerized by the sight of shiro smiling down at the styrofoam cup, and feeling all the guiltier for ever having entertained the thought of another guy's cock. inadvertently, true, but with the initial fluster slowly wearing away, keith relaxes into the comforting uptilt of shiro's lips.
shiro's happy, the wolf is happy. as uncomfortable as the solitary cell is, in the moment keith likes that the three of them are crowded together in the narrow space, his two favorite beings in the universe both within arms reach to be pulled in for cuddles on demand. stupid because the prison is still a nightmare outside, but he's content in the knowledge that he doesn't have to face any of that alone.
ah, but he was meant to be eating not daydreaming.
shiro carries on, and keith actually snorts at the comment. ]
Fun? [ he swallows hastily, the look on his face playful. ] Y'know. You used to call things like racing out in the desert and cliff diving fun. Now it's feeding me? Next thing I know, you'll be telling me how fun the crossword is, old-timer.
[ he laughs, then obediently opens his mouth to accept his next bite of ramen. now that he's not anticipating a burn from the food, he actually chews, looking contemplative as he reaches across to gently squeeze shiro's knee. ]
... I can't remember the last time someone went out of their way to care for me like this. So I guess I'm glad it's fun.
[ shiro counts himself lucky that fun doesn’t land wrong. it has all the potential to; afterall, there’s something low key unsettling about having fun in a cramped space, when keith is severely hampered and dependent on shiro. that’s what they do though: make due with the terrible lot they’re given. he’s always appreciated that about keith; his ability to endure. he wishes circumstances weren’t so often compromised for keith, for either of them, really, but it’s nice to see that he can still make keith smile and laugh, no, snort, despite there being every reason not to.
still, old-timer? come on.
teeth lined up and occluded, shiro exhales through them for a tch, though, the smile that keeps gives away his amusement. he warms in a way that is near automatic any time he earns himself an intimate touch for keith and that right there, the hand on his knee, has shiro a little fluttery in the belly. not that it dissuades him from catching keith’s wrist between finger and thumb, giving the skin a gentle, retaliatory pinch. ]
Uh huh. I’m glad you're glad and not judging me at all.
[ he does miss that though. the desert and all the freedom that came with their adventures out there. no cliffs around here. no hoverbikes, either. there is a level of freedom here, in that they are allowed to roam the compound as they please – more so now, with it seemingly abandoned – but the activities are set for the most part, as well as the ever daunting knowledge that autonomy is a privilege that comes and goes. he tries not to dwell on it. thinking too deeply about this, any of this, including their current positions of sitting inside a solitary cell that keith’s meant to occupy, will only ruin the pocket of peace they’ve managed to create for each other.
so he forks some more and laughs with his next breath. ]
It’s your fault, anyway. [ he’s looking to the cup again, repeating motions. ] Just… it’s you. It’s easy to find enjoyment in moments spent with you.
[ ready for another mouthful, keith? because here it is. that alone dwarfs the sentimental moment, but shiro takes it a step further by curtailing the sweetness of his voice and twisting it sing-songy with suggestion. ]
So if you’d like to help me with that crossword sometime…
[ the retaliatory pinch earns shiro a wrinkling of keith's nose, though even that half hearted gesture of protest is fleeting. how could it not be when his best friend is being a cheesy dork about spending time together? sure, there's a morbid element to it these days, but that's been a factor for years, hasn't it? they days when they could simply sneak out of the garrison compound and ride off into the arizona dessert without a care in the world are bygone days, their friendship now more recently characterized as moments of reprieve between battles and diplomatic meetings.
it's messed up beyond reason to think that pron prison of all places is somehow arguably a break from a grueling war when it's been an endless assault imposition on their freedoms, but here they are. undeterred by the pinching, keith brushes his palm up shiro's thigh and gives that a gentle squeezing as well. wondering if they'll ever manage to exist together when there isn't some fuckery going on threatens to be bittersweet though, so keith instead focuses on the here and now, and the next bite being offered to him.
of course, if shiro wants to paint a nice picture of himself in a rocker with a crossword puzzle in his lap, keith is going to huff a little before accepting his bite. ]
Maybe if I get a reward for helping. [ chew, chew, chew, frown, chew, swallow. ] I miiiight be convinced if I get a reward that's four letters ending in s.
[ so he has to pay off his sort of, not quite boyfriend to indulge his old-timer fondness for crossword puzzles. what is the world coming to? shiro grins to himself, chin tucked in close and face angled to the cup. swirling the contents, he chuckles through one full twist of the fork but ultimately, doesn’t gather any noodles. instead, he places the cup on the ground. ]
Oh?
[ it’s easy enough to guess, but even easier – and more tempting – to pretend he hasn’t a clue. one, two, he taps his fingers to the rim of the cup and then brings his hands toward his body, resting one on his knee, while the other covers keith’s at his thigh. ]
Let’s see… – cars? [ he knows how fond keith is of cars; fond enough to steal one from shiro once upon a time. the memory pulls a laugh out of him, as well as a fond smile. ] Dogs? [ the space wolf perks at that, both ears flicking and head lifting from the comfortable lounging he’d be doing, cuddled up close to keith’s side. ] Nah, you’ve already got one.
[ the comment is met with a snouty huff. dog. right. the correct terminology is space wolf. does shiro backtrack though? nah. he’s already moving onto – ]
Lips? [ his own spread, gaze drooping to pointedly stare at keith’s. ] Kiss?
[ bingo, right? maybe. probably. but shiro doesn’t let it stand. he squeezes keith’s hand to stave off a response and then he’s sitting up straighter, flexing the line of his shoulders. ]
Oh wait, I know it. Pecs. [ that not so subtle flex? widens the set of his shoulders and broadens the width of his chest, making his pectorals stand out. a little cocky, a little playful, and a lot delighted to peacock for his not boyfriend. ] Is my set a nice enough reward?
[ oh, huh. and here keith thought he'd been pretty lacking in subtlety.
....which is to say , someone misses the cue that his is all pageantry on shiro's part, and is very genuinely spellbound by the show. keith raises an eyebrow, and after propping his elbow up on his knee, rests his chin on his palm with an expectant smile. honestly, it's something to watch shiro's imagination in action. who knew there are so many great four letter words ending in s that keith really appreciates?
he's already grinning wide, not even bothering to be coy about mhis delight by the time shiro gets to guess number three, snouty indignant huff be damned. not that keith can really blame the space wolf for the grump, considering his exposure to earth dogs has been limited to a sample size of one. he absentmindedly gives the wolf a reassuring snout scratch, but his focus stays with shiro.
the pointed staring at his mouth does funny flip-floppy things to his stomach, but before he can shy nod to kiss, shiro's barreled straight ahead to pecs. hhis expression briefly goes wide eyed in his surprise but then of course he's looking at the goods presented. [
I....
[ fuck. there's a lot to like about shiro. it's strange actually being able to look and appreciate for once, rather than crushing inappropriate thoughts before they can get out of hand. what's kind of embarrassing is how obvious he must have been about looking and touching if shiro's noticed. flushing very slightly, keith manages a tiny defiant laugh like he hasn't, in fact, been accurately called out and tries for a very nonchalant: ]
[ the cell is cramped. it’s boxed in with a length to width distance of, maybe, five, six feet. by the looks of it, there isn’t enough distance for keith, with his long, long legs, to comfortably lie down. their location leaves much to be desired, though that’s precisely why shiro doesn’t balk at the suggestion to strip. it’s such a ridiculous thing to suggestion given the circumstances, which downplays the act itself. not that shiro has a problem with pulling off his shirt in front of keith; not anymore, at least. they’ve been to the bathhouse, they’ve been to the beach, they’ve been sleeping together and occasionally changing in front of each other; showing scarred skin and the meeting junction of metal to flesh doesn’t carry the same weight that it used to.
so shiro keeps right on in that playful vein of conversation and grasps the hem of his shirt. it’s plain in make and color, the loose, black tee e a cheap purchase he picked up from the prisoner run market. he may have lived in the same outfit while on the castleship, but shiro is doing his best to avoid that here. ]
Ah. Gotta make sure the goods are worth it… – how very prudent of you.
[ nonetheless, even with repetition and knowledge, there’s always going to be a small, very small twinge of anxiety that comes with pulling his shirt up and off, while eyes are on him. he does it smoothly enough; no obvious pauses or hesitations. he even keeps his smile all the way through, though it softens for a beat of shyness as he drops his shirt on the ground to his right. he pulls in a breath and sets his shoulders again, gaze finding keith’s…
and here he goes.
one flex, two flex, three flex. the first has his right pec jumping higher for one beat. the second follows the same movement, but this time with the left. for the third flex, he has both pecs moving together, distinctly bouncing. he doesn’t keep it up after that, but he could. for now, however, he sits there expectant and eager, grin spreading wide. ]
you say this like most of our threads arent stupid
[ it's precisely because the situation doesn't call for stripping that keith is not adequately prepared for this. actually -- forget adequately. not one iota of keith had sincerely expected any level of indulgency and that much is very plain by the dumbfounded oh of his face when shiro takes off the shirt. it's hardly the first time keith has seen shiro without a shirt on, and all things considered this is still far more dressed than he's previously seen his best friend who he's going steady with. kinda. sorta. maybe. possibly. whatever that means.
keith might have recoevered if that were the end of it. true, there are a lot of vicious scars that criss cross his best friend's skin, but the figure he cuts is so striking all the same that keith can't help the fluttering lurch in his chest every time he's lucky enough to see.
but noooooo. shiro isn't content with just presenting an unobscure view, he has to put on a fucking show. the first jump of his pec actually makes keith half squawk in his surprise, eyes going owlishly round as he stares in sheer disbelief at what he's seeing. another bounce makes it clear that it wasn't some random muscle spasm or a fluke. ]
Woah...
[ a little spell bound, the word slips out of him unconsciously. the wolf looks up then as well, head swiveling from keith to shiro to figure out what the hubbub is about. the wolf doesn't seem to get it at all. shiro flexes for the last time, making the wolf flinch back, like he's expecting some kind of chest burster. keith , on the other hand, is riveted and simulataneously bombarded with a sudden tsunami of questions. questions like when the fuck shiro learned how to do this and why.
he blinks, slow to take his eyes off shiro's chest long after the flexing is over until a strange clarity hits him upside the head. he doesn't care. he doesn't care why shiro decided he was going to master this because the image of shiro practicing in the shower or in his cube while nobody is looking is the most endeared he's felt in a while. chest expanding in a sudden rush of affection, the pressure has nowhere to go but out in a delighted leaugh. ]
Shiro, that's -- pffff
[ he never finishes what that is. he hangs his head in helpless laughter that shakes his whole body, free hand coming up to half heartedly hide one rose flushed cheek. the wolf seems just as taken aback by keith's outpouring of happiness, giving each boy a confused headtilt stare before wagging his tail to show puzzled solidarity. keith meanwhile struggles to catch his breath, wiping at his eyes as he gasps: ]
How are you the most precious dork in the universe?
[ patience yields focus can account for some of this skill’s development. there is no grand story behind it, really; just a younger shiro, who spent a good portion of his day cycling through weight training sets, all with the disease of his body in mind. he hadn’t been big at galaxy garrison, not like a year spent in the gladiator pits and alien experimentation rendered him as, but he’d had decent hypertrophy to his muscles, enough to give him something to work with. and boy, did he work with it. hot on the idea of mastering his deteriorating body and taking it to its full potential, shiro set goals for himself: certain weights to hit for lifts, mostly, but control of his muscles came in another way too. learning how to flex his pecs, to jar the muscles and move them freely had been a silly, yet challenging task. it took him awhile, but inevitably…
adam hadn’t laughed anything like this.
shiro’s grin spreads even wider, the stretch pulling so incessantly that his cheeks ache with it. it’s fine though. it’s good, because right here, right now, for a few very precious moments, everything is right in this fucked up world. is it too cheesy to say keith’s laughter is rejuvenating? fine, shiro won’t say it. he feels it, though. it flutters shiro’s chest with happy, giddy feeling and has him squirming, just a little, in his seat from the onslaught of pride he feels for causing this. this is worth everything: keith carefree and unapologetic in his delight, if only temporary. it’s a good look, one that shiro wishes his best friend kept to far more often.
distance quickly becomes the enemy. shiro huffs and leans forward, one hand bracing to the floor and the other reaching for keith. ]
Me? No. That’s you.
[ he grasps keith’s thigh and pulls, trying to drag keith by the leg closer. it’s a movement that’s only going to happen if keith helps by scooting along. either way, shiro keeps leaning in, already well into keith’s space. ]
You’re the one giggling over dancing pecs. [ adorably goes unsaid. ] And the one who’s so charmed that you’re going to kiss the extremely talented guy with the…
[ the space wolf is growling. it starts suddenly, with the wolf’s ears flattening back. shiro stops short and loses all traces of mirth to instead, shoot the wolf an exasperated look, voice annoyed. ]
Come on. [ the wolf isn’t looking at him though. for a creature who is voicing his disdain for shiro making a move on his favorite person, the wolf is very interested in the wall opposite the door. ] Do you really have a problem with… – huh?
[ there’s movement out of the corner of his eye and then he’s matching the wolf’s stare to the other wall where something simply materializes through it. something, no – someone? she doesn’t look right. she doesn’t feel right. ]
Keith.
[ the wolf is already on that side, up now and sufficiently blocking keith from this new, unwanted presence. shiro lets go of keith’s leg but he’s pushing him to move, to get up and get to the door, to at the very least, put some distance between them all. probably the best course of actin to take, considering the greeting ends up being an ominous: ]
[ it doesn't matter how many times keith's experienced the disorienting whiplash of extremes, each time is jarring and having all levity sucked from the atmosphere takes the air in his lungs with it. keith chokes on the embers of his laughter, eyes round as he looks from his growling wolf to the ghost materializing through the cinderblock wall.
nothing about her is recognizable. the corpse in the trunk had been badly decayed, and any semblance of a face had long been mummified. this ... thing could be that body, it could be fucking anything else for all keith knows, but when it speaks, she speaks with a voice like nails splintering on a chalkboard. keith flinches back, hand reaching for a knife and a bayard that aren't there. panic sets in a moment later when she surveys the three of them with empty sockets and speaks: ]
ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴡʜᴀᴛ's ᴍɪɴᴇ, ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛʜɪᴇғ. ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ.
[ eyes widening in alarm, keith doesn't even bother trying to piece out what it is she's even talking about. the paper? the trinket? the container? all three? right now, that's not a mystery that's important to him. right now, what's important is grabbing hold of shiro's shirt and tugging insistently to keep his best friend from getting any closer to the threat. ]
I don't know what you're talking about!
[ the wolf growls, baring pointy teeth in warning. the ghost shrieks, flailing rotting arms wildly as she pitches forward. ]
[ so this is the something from the lighthouse? it’s the logical conclusion in an illogical situation and with there being little to no time to process the threat before adrenaline kicks in, shiro takes to that jump easily enough. little thief only bolsters the idea, not that having an idea of what is unfolding before them gives shiro any idea on how to handle it. it’s a mess of conflicting actons. keith pulls at him but shiro isn’t cooperating, because he’s busy pushing at keith and together, they’re hindering each other more so than they’re aiding. ]
Keith.
[ again, imploring keith to move and to get behind him, as well as to safety, shiro knocks that hand away to push keith harder. the space wolf is holding the front line and shiro won’t fight him for it, but he does fight keith to get into the next line of defense. he scrambles on his knees, still so vulnerable. he turns though and upon facing the spirit, monster, whatever this cursed thing is, fluorescent purple lights up the lines of his arm. ]
He doesn’t have it!
[ right keith…? it’s only then that shiro realizes keith never said who wound up with the trinket or the paper. something to ponder later when there isn’t a threat screeching and pitching forward.
will his arm work on her? how can he possibly brawl with something that can materialize through solid objects? doubt fuels the panic. as long as he can distract her long enough for keith to gain some distance, if he would simply cooperate…
the space wolf kicks a hind leg back, knocking into shiro. that growling face looks back at him, but shiro’s gaze is immediately pulled to the creature coming forward and coming fast, limbs frantic and face twisted up with a fury that demands violence. breath catches and shiro tries to say keith’s name again, feeling him at his back where shiro is still trying to push him with his other hand.
and then zap. everything changes.
this is how he winds up staring at the wall of his own cube. he only knows it’s his cube once he turns his head, seeing the familiar bed and the little stacks of ramen boxes on the counter. ]
Oh.
[ he looks behind him and there’s keith. or more so, there’s the space wolf, bullying keith by sheer weight to push him down on the ground and lick his face in a show of relief and affection. shiro feels it too; relief. but it’s soured with the knowledge that this is only a temporary fix. he swallows down that unease, trying to keep his voice clear of it. ]
Good thinking. That’ll buy us some time.
[ … hmph. here shiro is, on the rare occasion of complimenting the space wolf, and the space wolf can’t be bothered to acknowledge him. he simply keeps nuzzling keith’s face. guess shiro can't blame him. ]
[ they've dealt with worse than screeching ghosts, but that doesn't answer the question of how to actually make it stop. or no -- there is one way, and that'd involve getting the trinket or whatever it is back to the ghost. the question is -- why does it want that? why did it even take the ghost this long to figure out that it was missing? why now?
it doesn't matter. at least not right now. both the wolf and shiro are standing in front of him and all keith can think is that it's his fault that they're in any danger right now. that he borught this upon the two of them. teeth grit, he doesn't get any further in the plan to try and push shiro out of the way because there's a white flash. next thing he knows, he's on his back with two heavy paws pressing on his chest and a tongue spreading slobber across his chin and neck. the disorientation isn't helped in the slightest by the fact that his view of the ceiling gives him no real indication of where the fuck the wolf teleported him.
or wait-- ]
Shiro!
[ he starts, trying to nudge the wolf's snout away to sit up. the wolf huffs as if to say keith pls. it's a rather unnecessary bit of chiding if only because shiro speaks in the following beat and keith finally gets a more useful view of their bed. only then does keith actually relax a bit, throwing an arm around the wolf to lean against his side. ]
Thanks.
[ the word is murmured against the wolf's fur, relief plainly audible though he isn't optimistic enough to think the danger has actually passed. the feeling that something is out looking for him isn't just a feeling anymore, but some dangerous monster intent on chasing keith down. meaning .... of course, that lance and angel are likely in trouble as well? and as long as he sticks close to shiro and the wolf that those two will be in danger too?
keith glances up, expression exhausted as he calls out to shiro. ]
I... I shouldn't stay here. If that thing is gonna follow me, I can't put you at risk.
[ it probably says something about shiro as leader that in all this time, he hasn’t thought much at all about lance ( or angel for that matter ). even his attempted diversion by telling that cursed being that keith doesn’t have what she’s looking for, carries an implied look elsewhere. meaning? lance or angel. it’s not that shiro doesn’t care. it’s that he plays favorites. it’s unbecoming of a leader, he supposes, but realistic in nature. it’s an impossibility to remain impartial; to remain completely detached from one’s own feelings. shiro tries, of course. he wants to even the playing field and be there in equal amounts to everyone on the team. but the ugly truth of the matter, is that if it comes down to it, keith will always edge out the others.
when was the last time he checked in on lance, pidge, hunk anyway? they certainly don’t operate as a team here. perhaps they aren’t shiro’s responsibility any longer.
there on the floor, shiro watches the space wolf fawn over his sole responsibility and feels oddly inadequate in the moment. he’s failing a lot of people right now, isn’t he? refusing to sit there and wallow in his own shortcomings, shiro pushes himself to his feet instead. shirt or tablet first? the fact that he’s still thinking to delay, even a few seconds, from sending lance a text is another mark against him.
tablet there on the counter, shiro stops before it and starts tapping away with metal fingers. hopefully lance isn’t also suffering from an inability to touch without suffering a burn. ]
And I can’t be expected to sit by while this thing hunts you down.
[ the retort comes easy. shiro doesn’t even look up. text sent, one asking a generalized status report, shiro looks over to keith then, mouth half-tilted and worn. ]
You know I’ll never agree to that, best save your breath.
Edited (best say your breath, keith...) 2022-10-10 02:09 (UTC)
[ there's nothing even remotely surprising about that answer. shiro wouldn't be shiro if he could ever be content to sit back while others are in danger, but... ]
That thing is after me.
[ can keith be said to be keith if he were content to be the one putting others at risk? ]
There's no reason for you to be dragged into this mess, too. Shiro, if you got hurt, I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself, you know?
[ it's an argument that's likely going to fall on deaf ears. as much as keith loves shiro, sometimes arguing with him can be like arguing with a brick wall. giving the wold a gentle pat, keith spares him an apologetic look before brushing him aside to walk the short distance to where shiro is standing. hesitant but determined, keith touches his arm gripping it tight. ]
[ no, the argument isn’t falling on deaf ears. shiro’s listening and he’s turning more fully, his attention with the tablet waning. it’s just – the argument is too easy to pick apart. he’s already in this mess. shiro wouldn’t have it any other way, either. not that he doesn’t understand where keith is coming from. the concern is right in line with shiro’s: if something were to happen to keith, from this ghost or otherwise, shiro would carry that guilt forever. in some part, it has to do with his station as leader, but mostly, it has everything to do with keith being just about the most important aspect in shiro’s life.
keith’s been part of his life for years, even in the gaps that have kept them apart. shiro doesn’t know how he’d be able to function if that stable fixture was ripped away.
so is shiro being more selfless or more selfish in refusing to go? is he doing this more for keith or more for himself? afterall, the more self-preserving option is not, in fact, the one that has shiro running off to safety. ]
Well, I’m not going to let anything hurt you, either. [ he’s certain he’s said more or less the same vow before, but a little reiteration never hurt anyone. he smiles a little more fully, briefly alight with playful vibes. ] Can’t leave now and be a liar.
[ see what he did there? he sobers soon enough, the stretch of his smile once again wearing thin. still, he lets keith clutch at his arm as tight as he likes as he turns more into him, other hand coming around to cup, lightly, at the small of keith’s back. ]
Your problems are my problems, Keith. So I'm gonna be here for you, no matter the risks. We’re in this together, as always.
[ this isn't an argument. barely even a debate, really. shiro was right about saying saving his breath because the discussion's over before it's begun. just ... how is keith supposed to argue against this? they're just going to go in circles about who's more important and in the endd keith supposes it's kinda funny that they'd do this, but that doesn't extinguish his stubbornness. at least, not yet.
he catches the smile on shiro's face and actually does a double take. shiro smiling isn't a rare sight or anything, but the fact that he's able to do so now, like this whole mess isn't a big deal just throws keith off enough that he forgets the script. instead he stares for a beat too long, expression longing before he finally gets it together enough to bump his forehead to shiro's pec.
fuck. maybe this whole situation really is stupid if they''re dodging ghosts with one shirt on between them. ]
Shiro.....
[ the name is whined, but that's it. that's the end of keith's resistance. he doesn't want to argue, he wants to keep shiro safe. not just shiro -- but the wolf, and nlance and angel and --
keith sighs, huffing a deep breath with his face still partly buried. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I know, I know...
[ the words are murmured to acknowledge the wolf's presence more so than accept shiro's reassurances, but not for a lack of wanting to be reassured. it's true that shiro and the wold woulf both play guard, but how does one protect against a threat that's yet to have made itself distinctly known? keith isn't sure if the sick claustrophobic feeling is coming from the tiny cell or from within his own head.
doesn't matter. it's only as real as keith allows it to be, and there are beings here that matter far more than whatever his muddled, anxiety riddled brain is coming up with. giving himself a shake, he watches in horror as shiro insists on touching things for science and flinching away. ]
Hey, stop touching things that're burning you!
[ because of course shiro's safety and well being comes before the more pressing question of: ]
Why is this even happening to you? You weren't there -- you didn't take apart that corpse.
[ the realization of what he's said hits a beat late. keith's goes briefly wide eyed before staring miserably at the ramen cup in shiro's metal hand. ]
... I- I didn't thikn that would come back like this.
[ expelling a heavy sigh, keith takes a half step back the door. ]
I'm... I didn't mean to ruin your lunch.
no subject
ah. the slight waver in his voice is telling, as is the look on his face. this is something to tread lightly with.
shiro does his best to be comforting and offers up a smile, one that colors his voice sweet and just the slightest bit playful. ]
This isn’t for me. [ you ridiculous boy. ] I brought this for you.
[ a snout jabs his thigh. oh for the love of – ]
It was the space wolf’s idea.
[ he looks down at the space wolf, who is already looking up at him. whatever. shiro has an easy way to one up him. apparently, these aliens are good at building fences or barriers or doors that keep space wolf hijinxs at bay, but they aren’t well equipped to keep shiro out, at least when it comes to doors. ]
Just – hold on. [ he bends down to put the ramen cup on the ground and then straightens back up, his galra arm lighting up. ] Let me just –
[ the locking mechanism is easy to burn through. it is, possibly, a hasty decision that will demand retribution later, but leaving keith there, clearly scared and miserable, to rot away in a cell in a confinement center that might very well be just as abandoned as everywhere else in this compound, is, frankly, out of the question. of course shiro is going to spring him out.
making sure keith is out of the way, he nudges the door open with his deactivated, metal hand, smiling even though the space wolf bullies in before him. ]
Burn proof. Guess you could say the metal hand comes in, heh, handy.
[ the space wolf isn’t shy in taking over keith’s space and considering the size of the cell, there isn’t much to give. shiro stands in the doorway for now, crouching down to pick up the ramen cup. ]
But… I don’t know, Keith. I don’t know why it’s happening, but I don’t think this place ever needs a reason to mess with us.
[ back to his feet, shiro looks to keith and can’t stop the concern from overtaking his expression, wilting his smile. ]
I heard about the corpse you guys found. I didn’t know you did anything to it. [ a softer: ] Do you wanna talk about it?
no subject
you guys... is what he starts to say, but shiro's gotten other ideas. seeing the galra hand light up gives the plan away immediately, but it still surprises keith on some level that shiro would be going to these lengths after giving those warnings about not crossing prison personnel. is he complaining or telling shiro to stop, however? no. absolutely not. his stay in solitary this time has been much different to his last one, and a more paranoid part of keith suspects their overlords might have left him to die here.
before he can yet again get too lost down a rabbit hole of grim pessimism, the door creaks open slowly before it's slammed open by a whirlwind of paws and silvery blue fur. the wolf leaps froward, tail wagging furiously as keith lets out a yelp before getting knocked backwards. he braces for a burn that never comes. confused but pleased all the same, keith tkaes an extra second to get his bearings. ]
H-hey, it's good to see you too, buddy.
[ wrestling the wolf until he's up to a seated position, keith laughs and gives the wolf a gentle noogie. [] THank you for bringing Shiro and food.
[ speaking of which, keith looks up then, turning his attention to shiro at the opened doorway, ramen cup back in hand. ]
.... and thank you, too. I -- [ making a face, keith pushes the wolf's snout away to try and properly get to his feet, only to have his hand promptly covered in drool. ] Heh, c'mon, let me up.
[ the wolf assents this time, sitting down like a proper good boy with wide innocent eyes. keith rises, then takes several steps towards shiro. ]
There's not a whole lot to say about it. Lance, Angel and I found a trunk that had a mummified alien body inside. Angel took the body apart, and we found a large capsule inside. It contained a slip of paper with a pattern on it and a ship trinket. We took it, hoping to figure out what it was, but we never did. I just... maybe all of this is because something in the lighthouse wants it back.
[ smile slipping, keith forces it back in place as he leaves just one last step between him and shiro. ]
.. but you're right. This place doesn't need reasons to mess with us. [ tentatively, keith holds up his hand. ] ... Think I could touch you too? [ without getting burned that is. or would that be too generous of whatever curse thing is going on. ]
no subject
he intends to ask. even if keith is mimicking shiro’s signature move of downplaying, to then gloss over the magnitude of the discovery, shiro realizes that there’s much more to suss out here, especially given keith’s mounting fear.
… but keith’s distracting in other ways, too. he positions himself right in front of shiro, only to circle back to the other dilemma that shiro would very much like to figure out first. the space wolf tilts his head, watching. shiro sees him do it, a little fuzzy on the edge of his vision, there, over keith’s shoulder; shiro’s gaze stays squarely on keith though. ]
Hope so.
[ his voice pitches with a lightness that doesn’t fit the seriousness of the situation. what’s he going to do if they can’t touch without unintentionally inflicting pain on each other? it’s temporary. maybe? hopefully? well, best to run another experiment before he gets too far ahead of himself, yeah?
briefly, he looks to keith’s hand, before catching keith’s gaze again. arms loose at his sides and all of him lax, aside from the continued pinched of his metal fingers around the rim of the ramen cup, shiro drops all semblance of defense in offer. ]
However you like. Hit me with it.
no subject
but that said? the levity makes keith do a brief double take. maybe the connection between the incidents isn't as clear cut to others as they are in his head? maybe he's tunneled in on some disparate facts that aren't actually related? shiro is right, after all, that this place rarely ever needs a reason to fuck with their heads.
it's unsettling. not only does keith need to second or third guess his own reasoning, he's also just now realizing he has no idea what the bigger picture here is. the mist isn't aphrodisiac, and touching only resulting in the feeling of burning is so nonconducive to the usual sex that's constantly pushed that he feels less and less grounded.
good thing, then, that shiro's right there ready with a smile. it's a potent reminder that even when keith can't quite trust himself, he feels safe trusting shiro. keith swallows, giving shiro an up-down glance before returning a hesitant but warn smile at the invitation. ]
I don't want to hurt you.
[ it shouldn't have to be stated. shiro is always the last person keith wants to hurt, but knowing he's failed his shiro at home by not realizing the clone situation after it was already too late makes the obvious feel important to say out loud. banishing the thought for a moment, keith tries for light hearted with a joking-not joking: ]
Brace yourself.
[ before squeezing his eyes shut and delivering a quick peck to the cheek. the contact lasts barely a second from all of keith's low expectations for touch being pleasant, but he blinks his eyes open a beat later, looking a mixture of sheepish and pleased. ]
...Oh. Heh, I guess nothing bad happened after all.
no subject
okay, it’s kind of sweet. and given the current disarray of their lives, especially keith’s, they might need a little sweet right now.
so shiro tries for unpredictability as well. leaning down he presses a kiss to keith’s cheek, his lasting a beat longer and ending a bit louder on the pull away. his lips tingle, though that’s not particularly new; there’s always a rush when he kisses keith. ]
Just wanted to be extra sure.
[ his expression is softer; gaze affectionate and smile easy. there’s a low, snuffing sound though and shiro briefly looks away from keith to spy the space wolf watching them. of course he’d be watching them, but catching the wolf’s gaze has shiro clearing his throat. ]
Right. [ he stands straighter. ] Now let’s get some ramen in you before we let your friend there try zapping us out of here.
[ shiro doesn’t doubt the space wolf’s ability to get them back to one of their cubes… much. in the back of his mind, he can’t shake the idea that there is the possibility of something going awry. again. so might as well get keith fed before they embark on what could very well be a long afternoon. so shiro steps to the wall – which is, basically, one step – and goes to sit down, getting as comfortable as he can. ]
It gives us time for you to tell me more about this lighthouse.
[ see, he hasn’t forgotten. he crosses his legs setting the cup of noodles on the floor, in front of his crossed ankles. ]
When did you start feeling like something’s after you? Has anything happened to make you think that?
[ specifically, he means. ]
no subject
of course, that raises the question of whether or not the sense of foreboding will also clear with sex, but this time it's a thought that prompts more self chastisement than anything else. as much as sex is a means to an end in this place, shiro is not.
getting caught up on that thought is precisely why keith doesn't stop shiro from entering his cramped cell and getting comfortable. the narrowness of the space and its single exit point still sets off a terrible sense of foreboding, but it's ... at least one that keith is a step closer to dismissing as irrational. it'd been nerve wracking because he was alone and unarmed. with shiro and the wolf here, nothing is getting past, right?
if there's even a something to begin with. expression pinched with uncertainty, keith looks from shiro to the wolf nervously before allowing himself to be coaxed into sitting down across from shiro. the instant he does so, the wolf is by his side, head resting on keith's lap, eyes closed and contented.. fingers comb through silvery blue fur in some half hearted attempt to self soothe as keith murmurs: ]
But I don't think I can feed myself without burning.
[ it's not really meant as a protest. if anything, it's more to stall out on answering what exactly happened at the lighthouse and admitting outright that nothing has actually happened yet. brow pinching, keith looks down at the ramen cup, tentatively fliicking with a finger before the burn makes him jerk back with a wince. ]
Ow. [ blowing our a heavy sifh, keith continues to look pensive. ] ...And I dunno. It's like.. you know those ghost stories about spirits coming back because you disturbed their grave or something? It just feels kinda like that.
[ ....several months after the fact. because apparently this ghost was hibernating for the summer. face falling, keith groans. ]
.... I'm starting to sound like Lance.
no subject
shiro’s frown deepens as keith tests the cup and then he’s right onto a wince tied to a sympathetic look. keith starts explaining then and shiro’s listening, all the while slow spinning the fork to slosh the noodles around and around. nothing of what he’s hearing is funny. it’s a serious matter that requires some serious consideration – as well as a failsafe plan if the worst is meant to happen – but lance is brought into it and all of a sudden, the mood shifts, if only for a few moments.
shiro laughs: short and huffy, his mouth twisted up on a grin. ]
Come on, give yourself some credit. You’re not that bad.
[ though, perhaps shiro shouldn’t be cutting keith such slack. this is the same boy who used to hoard those stories of bigfoot and the chupacabra and mothman. if keith swore by those and is now swearing by a vengeful ghost wanting to do a bit of haunting…
it’s difficult though, to dismiss any of this as too far-fetched to be possible. afterall – ]
Look at everything we’ve been through in the past months… and not just here, either. A ghost story come to life isn’t the weirdest thing to happen to us.
[ he lifts the fork and without further ado, feeds it into his own mouth. a touch warm but definitely not burning. good; should be clear for keith, too. he chews through and by the swallow, he reconsiders his current brand of reassurance. once again gathering noodles onto the fork, he eases into a smile that reads more sheepish. ]
… I can’t tell if I’m making you feel better or worse.
[ because, by saying he’s not crazy – or hyper-imaginative like lance – he’s also saying the ghost threat is real. so would keith feel better being crazy or hunted? either way, open up, because shiro lifts the noodle laden fork up in offer. ]
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that bit of minor antagonism gets entirely misunderstood by keith who simply assumes the wolf would like more ear skreitching. keith is happy to oblige, of course, though his uptick in mood slowly wanes as shiro begins to ramble. ... not that it's a bad thing exactly, just that keith is equally split on whether he's supposed to feel better or worse about having his anxieties validated.
better, maybe? if only because it makes him feel slightly less crazy, but then wh the hell finds reassurance in being personally haunted by a vengeful ghost and how exactly does one fight them off? one doesn't exactly need to be a ghost aficionado to suspect the usual knives and stabby things don't work on intangibles. so what's he meantt to find? a priest? holy water?
yeah. okay. feeling foolish, keith directs a huff of air up to ruffle his bangs, but before he can say anything there's a forkful of noodles being held up to his mouth. ]
Huh?
[ forgive him. the implication is obvious. open up. keith registers that a fraction late, flushing slightly as he blinks from the noodles to shiro. ]
You're... gonna feed me?
[ the flush spreads further up to his ears. he's reall yon some kind of roll with regards to pointing out the fucking obvious, huh? but still. he looks back at the fork, only to shift his gaze back to shiro. ]
I... [ it's a simple solution and a very simple gesture, but it has the unfortunate side effect of making keith realize tat he's never actually had aanyone offer to feed him this way. .... or at least, the last time he had something fed to him, it was very much not a forkful of noodles. heart racing inexplicably, keith quickly banishes the thought of anon'hard cock with a shy, mumbled: ]
Okay.
[ before leaning forward to accept his mouthful. holding eye contact with shiro during this proves to be a little too embarrassing though, and quickly keith shifts his gaze back down to shiro's .. mouth? no -- his shoulder. yes. very safe.
the noodles are warm -- probably a little too warm like they may be affected by whatever stupid porn prison magic is happening, but they're good and keith's stomach rumbles in approval. the wolf, too, finally stops glaring and resumes his happy nuzzling. unsure of what the hell the feeding protocol is, on whether he should be letting shiro pull the fork out of his mouth or what, keith nervously takes a bite and tries not to think too hard about sucking tihings as he slrups the noodles off the tines. face burning for reasons he's desperately hoping shiro won't ask about, keith murmurs: ]
'Fankyoo.
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shiro mulls it over and comes up empty on explanation, though not on emotion. now that it’s in his head, he sees it from a different lens and rather than it being a simple repetition of fork and offer, he’s paying closer attention to keith’s face. to his mouth.
not the right time, he tells himself.
they’ve got a chaperone, at least, and the continued presence of the wolf is one shiro is entirely aware of. he seems, for the moment, subdued, however, and shiro is more than okay with keith indulging that happy nuzzling to keep the wolf’s dog glare off of him. those ears do perk a moment later, though. because shiro makes the mistake of laughing softly to keith’s thank you, which is, honestly, adorable. shiro’s lips pull hard into a smile and hopeless on the rush of affection, shiro ducks his head to stare into the cup, partly shielding the happy look about him. ]
You’re welcome.
[ he’s got the fork back in the cup, swirling around to line the prongs with noodles, peas, corn and carrots. ]
Hopefully this burning curse doesn’t last too long, otherwise meal times are gonna be pretty interesting from here on out.
[ if keith can chew food without burning, maybe he can handle food himself. if that’s possible, then shiro should try to locate some handheld meals – though, he supposes anything can be handheld if messiness is not a concern. they could test that out here, actually. he could scoop out some noodles and have keith touch them with his fingers. later, he thinks, and keeps on routine of bringing the fork out of the cup, extending in offer.. ]
I don’t mind, of course. It’s kinda fun.
[ … fun? he keeps his smile through the inward cringe. ]
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shiro's happy, the wolf is happy. as uncomfortable as the solitary cell is, in the moment keith likes that the three of them are crowded together in the narrow space, his two favorite beings in the universe both within arms reach to be pulled in for cuddles on demand. stupid because the prison is still a nightmare outside, but he's content in the knowledge that he doesn't have to face any of that alone.
ah, but he was meant to be eating not daydreaming.
shiro carries on, and keith actually snorts at the comment. ]
Fun? [ he swallows hastily, the look on his face playful. ] Y'know. You used to call things like racing out in the desert and cliff diving fun. Now it's feeding me? Next thing I know, you'll be telling me how fun the crossword is, old-timer.
[ he laughs, then obediently opens his mouth to accept his next bite of ramen. now that he's not anticipating a burn from the food, he actually chews, looking contemplative as he reaches across to gently squeeze shiro's knee. ]
... I can't remember the last time someone went out of their way to care for me like this. So I guess I'm glad it's fun.
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still, old-timer? come on.
teeth lined up and occluded, shiro exhales through them for a tch, though, the smile that keeps gives away his amusement. he warms in a way that is near automatic any time he earns himself an intimate touch for keith and that right there, the hand on his knee, has shiro a little fluttery in the belly. not that it dissuades him from catching keith’s wrist between finger and thumb, giving the skin a gentle, retaliatory pinch. ]
Uh huh. I’m glad you're glad and not judging me at all.
[ he does miss that though. the desert and all the freedom that came with their adventures out there. no cliffs around here. no hoverbikes, either. there is a level of freedom here, in that they are allowed to roam the compound as they please – more so now, with it seemingly abandoned – but the activities are set for the most part, as well as the ever daunting knowledge that autonomy is a privilege that comes and goes. he tries not to dwell on it. thinking too deeply about this, any of this, including their current positions of sitting inside a solitary cell that keith’s meant to occupy, will only ruin the pocket of peace they’ve managed to create for each other.
so he forks some more and laughs with his next breath. ]
It’s your fault, anyway. [ he’s looking to the cup again, repeating motions. ] Just… it’s you. It’s easy to find enjoyment in moments spent with you.
[ ready for another mouthful, keith? because here it is. that alone dwarfs the sentimental moment, but shiro takes it a step further by curtailing the sweetness of his voice and twisting it sing-songy with suggestion. ]
So if you’d like to help me with that crossword sometime…
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it's messed up beyond reason to think that pron prison of all places is somehow arguably a break from a grueling war when it's been an endless assault imposition on their freedoms, but here they are. undeterred by the pinching, keith brushes his palm up shiro's thigh and gives that a gentle squeezing as well. wondering if they'll ever manage to exist together when there isn't some fuckery going on threatens to be bittersweet though, so keith instead focuses on the here and now, and the next bite being offered to him.
of course, if shiro wants to paint a nice picture of himself in a rocker with a crossword puzzle in his lap, keith is going to huff a little before accepting his bite. ]
Maybe if I get a reward for helping. [ chew, chew, chew, frown, chew, swallow. ] I miiiight be convinced if I get a reward that's four letters ending in s.
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Oh?
[ it’s easy enough to guess, but even easier – and more tempting – to pretend he hasn’t a clue. one, two, he taps his fingers to the rim of the cup and then brings his hands toward his body, resting one on his knee, while the other covers keith’s at his thigh. ]
Let’s see… – cars? [ he knows how fond keith is of cars; fond enough to steal one from shiro once upon a time. the memory pulls a laugh out of him, as well as a fond smile. ] Dogs? [ the space wolf perks at that, both ears flicking and head lifting from the comfortable lounging he’d be doing, cuddled up close to keith’s side. ] Nah, you’ve already got one.
[ the comment is met with a snouty huff. dog. right. the correct terminology is space wolf. does shiro backtrack though? nah. he’s already moving onto – ]
Lips? [ his own spread, gaze drooping to pointedly stare at keith’s. ] Kiss?
[ bingo, right? maybe. probably. but shiro doesn’t let it stand. he squeezes keith’s hand to stave off a response and then he’s sitting up straighter, flexing the line of his shoulders. ]
Oh wait, I know it. Pecs. [ that not so subtle flex? widens the set of his shoulders and broadens the width of his chest, making his pectorals stand out. a little cocky, a little playful, and a lot delighted to peacock for his not boyfriend. ] Is my set a nice enough reward?
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....which is to say , someone misses the cue that his is all pageantry on shiro's part, and is very genuinely spellbound by the show. keith raises an eyebrow, and after propping his elbow up on his knee, rests his chin on his palm with an expectant smile. honestly, it's something to watch shiro's imagination in action. who knew there are so many great four letter words ending in s that keith really appreciates?
he's already grinning wide, not even bothering to be coy about mhis delight by the time shiro gets to guess number three, snouty indignant huff be damned. not that keith can really blame the space wolf for the grump, considering his exposure to earth dogs has been limited to a sample size of one. he absentmindedly gives the wolf a reassuring snout scratch, but his focus stays with shiro.
the pointed staring at his mouth does funny flip-floppy things to his stomach, but before he can shy nod to kiss, shiro's barreled straight ahead to pecs. hhis expression briefly goes wide eyed in his surprise but then of course he's looking at the goods presented. [
I....
[ fuck. there's a lot to like about shiro. it's strange actually being able to look and appreciate for once, rather than crushing inappropriate thoughts before they can get out of hand. what's kind of embarrassing is how obvious he must have been about looking and touching if shiro's noticed. flushing very slightly, keith manages a tiny defiant laugh like he hasn't, in fact, been accurately called out and tries for a very nonchalant: ]
I dunno. Take off the shirt and lemme see.
ftr, this is so stupid
so shiro keeps right on in that playful vein of conversation and grasps the hem of his shirt. it’s plain in make and color, the loose, black tee e a cheap purchase he picked up from the prisoner run market. he may have lived in the same outfit while on the castleship, but shiro is doing his best to avoid that here. ]
Ah. Gotta make sure the goods are worth it… – how very prudent of you.
[ nonetheless, even with repetition and knowledge, there’s always going to be a small, very small twinge of anxiety that comes with pulling his shirt up and off, while eyes are on him. he does it smoothly enough; no obvious pauses or hesitations. he even keeps his smile all the way through, though it softens for a beat of shyness as he drops his shirt on the ground to his right. he pulls in a breath and sets his shoulders again, gaze finding keith’s…
and here he goes.
one flex, two flex, three flex. the first has his right pec jumping higher for one beat. the second follows the same movement, but this time with the left. for the third flex, he has both pecs moving together, distinctly bouncing. he doesn’t keep it up after that, but he could. for now, however, he sits there expectant and eager, grin spreading wide. ]
you say this like most of our threads arent stupid
keith might have recoevered if that were the end of it. true, there are a lot of vicious scars that criss cross his best friend's skin, but the figure he cuts is so striking all the same that keith can't help the fluttering lurch in his chest every time he's lucky enough to see.
but noooooo. shiro isn't content with just presenting an unobscure view, he has to put on a fucking show. the first jump of his pec actually makes keith half squawk in his surprise, eyes going owlishly round as he stares in sheer disbelief at what he's seeing. another bounce makes it clear that it wasn't some random muscle spasm or a fluke. ]
Woah...
[ a little spell bound, the word slips out of him unconsciously. the wolf looks up then as well, head swiveling from keith to shiro to figure out what the hubbub is about. the wolf doesn't seem to get it at all. shiro flexes for the last time, making the wolf flinch back, like he's expecting some kind of chest burster. keith , on the other hand, is riveted and simulataneously bombarded with a sudden tsunami of questions. questions like when the fuck shiro learned how to do this and why.
he blinks, slow to take his eyes off shiro's chest long after the flexing is over until a strange clarity hits him upside the head. he doesn't care. he doesn't care why shiro decided he was going to master this because the image of shiro practicing in the shower or in his cube while nobody is looking is the most endeared he's felt in a while. chest expanding in a sudden rush of affection, the pressure has nowhere to go but out in a delighted leaugh. ]
Shiro, that's -- pffff
[ he never finishes what that is. he hangs his head in helpless laughter that shakes his whole body, free hand coming up to half heartedly hide one rose flushed cheek. the wolf seems just as taken aback by keith's outpouring of happiness, giving each boy a confused headtilt stare before wagging his tail to show puzzled solidarity. keith meanwhile struggles to catch his breath, wiping at his eyes as he gasps: ]
How are you the most precious dork in the universe?
fair point
adam hadn’t laughed anything like this.
shiro’s grin spreads even wider, the stretch pulling so incessantly that his cheeks ache with it. it’s fine though. it’s good, because right here, right now, for a few very precious moments, everything is right in this fucked up world. is it too cheesy to say keith’s laughter is rejuvenating? fine, shiro won’t say it. he feels it, though. it flutters shiro’s chest with happy, giddy feeling and has him squirming, just a little, in his seat from the onslaught of pride he feels for causing this. this is worth everything: keith carefree and unapologetic in his delight, if only temporary. it’s a good look, one that shiro wishes his best friend kept to far more often.
distance quickly becomes the enemy. shiro huffs and leans forward, one hand bracing to the floor and the other reaching for keith. ]
Me? No. That’s you.
[ he grasps keith’s thigh and pulls, trying to drag keith by the leg closer. it’s a movement that’s only going to happen if keith helps by scooting along. either way, shiro keeps leaning in, already well into keith’s space. ]
You’re the one giggling over dancing pecs. [ adorably goes unsaid. ] And the one who’s so charmed that you’re going to kiss the extremely talented guy with the…
[ the space wolf is growling. it starts suddenly, with the wolf’s ears flattening back. shiro stops short and loses all traces of mirth to instead, shoot the wolf an exasperated look, voice annoyed. ]
Come on. [ the wolf isn’t looking at him though. for a creature who is voicing his disdain for shiro making a move on his favorite person, the wolf is very interested in the wall opposite the door. ] Do you really have a problem with… – huh?
[ there’s movement out of the corner of his eye and then he’s matching the wolf’s stare to the other wall where something simply materializes through it. something, no – someone? she doesn’t look right. she doesn’t feel right. ]
Keith.
[ the wolf is already on that side, up now and sufficiently blocking keith from this new, unwanted presence. shiro lets go of keith’s leg but he’s pushing him to move, to get up and get to the door, to at the very least, put some distance between them all. probably the best course of actin to take, considering the greeting ends up being an ominous: ]
ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ.
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nothing about her is recognizable. the corpse in the trunk had been badly decayed, and any semblance of a face had long been mummified. this ... thing could be that body, it could be fucking anything else for all keith knows, but when it speaks, she speaks with a voice like nails splintering on a chalkboard. keith flinches back, hand reaching for a knife and a bayard that aren't there. panic sets in a moment later when she surveys the three of them with empty sockets and speaks: ]
ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴡʜᴀᴛ's ᴍɪɴᴇ, ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴛʜɪᴇғ. ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ.
[ eyes widening in alarm, keith doesn't even bother trying to piece out what it is she's even talking about. the paper? the trinket? the container? all three? right now, that's not a mystery that's important to him. right now, what's important is grabbing hold of shiro's shirt and tugging insistently to keep his best friend from getting any closer to the threat. ]
I don't know what you're talking about!
[ the wolf growls, baring pointy teeth in warning. the ghost shrieks, flailing rotting arms wildly as she pitches forward. ]
ʟɪᴀʀ!! ʟɪᴀʀ! ʟɪᴀʀ! ʟɪᴀʀ! ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ!!
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Keith.
[ again, imploring keith to move and to get behind him, as well as to safety, shiro knocks that hand away to push keith harder. the space wolf is holding the front line and shiro won’t fight him for it, but he does fight keith to get into the next line of defense. he scrambles on his knees, still so vulnerable. he turns though and upon facing the spirit, monster, whatever this cursed thing is, fluorescent purple lights up the lines of his arm. ]
He doesn’t have it!
[ right keith…? it’s only then that shiro realizes keith never said who wound up with the trinket or the paper. something to ponder later when there isn’t a threat screeching and pitching forward.
will his arm work on her? how can he possibly brawl with something that can materialize through solid objects? doubt fuels the panic. as long as he can distract her long enough for keith to gain some distance, if he would simply cooperate…
the space wolf kicks a hind leg back, knocking into shiro. that growling face looks back at him, but shiro’s gaze is immediately pulled to the creature coming forward and coming fast, limbs frantic and face twisted up with a fury that demands violence. breath catches and shiro tries to say keith’s name again, feeling him at his back where shiro is still trying to push him with his other hand.
and then zap. everything changes.
this is how he winds up staring at the wall of his own cube. he only knows it’s his cube once he turns his head, seeing the familiar bed and the little stacks of ramen boxes on the counter. ]
Oh.
[ he looks behind him and there’s keith. or more so, there’s the space wolf, bullying keith by sheer weight to push him down on the ground and lick his face in a show of relief and affection. shiro feels it too; relief. but it’s soured with the knowledge that this is only a temporary fix. he swallows down that unease, trying to keep his voice clear of it. ]
Good thinking. That’ll buy us some time.
[ … hmph. here shiro is, on the rare occasion of complimenting the space wolf, and the space wolf can’t be bothered to acknowledge him. he simply keeps nuzzling keith’s face. guess shiro can't blame him. ]
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it doesn't matter. at least not right now. both the wolf and shiro are standing in front of him and all keith can think is that it's his fault that they're in any danger right now. that he borught this upon the two of them. teeth grit, he doesn't get any further in the plan to try and push shiro out of the way because there's a white flash. next thing he knows, he's on his back with two heavy paws pressing on his chest and a tongue spreading slobber across his chin and neck. the disorientation isn't helped in the slightest by the fact that his view of the ceiling gives him no real indication of where the fuck the wolf teleported him.
or wait-- ]
Shiro!
[ he starts, trying to nudge the wolf's snout away to sit up. the wolf huffs as if to say keith pls. it's a rather unnecessary bit of chiding if only because shiro speaks in the following beat and keith finally gets a more useful view of their bed. only then does keith actually relax a bit, throwing an arm around the wolf to lean against his side. ]
Thanks.
[ the word is murmured against the wolf's fur, relief plainly audible though he isn't optimistic enough to think the danger has actually passed. the feeling that something is out looking for him isn't just a feeling anymore, but some dangerous monster intent on chasing keith down. meaning .... of course, that lance and angel are likely in trouble as well? and as long as he sticks close to shiro and the wolf that those two will be in danger too?
keith glances up, expression exhausted as he calls out to shiro. ]
I... I shouldn't stay here. If that thing is gonna follow me, I can't put you at risk.
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when was the last time he checked in on lance, pidge, hunk anyway? they certainly don’t operate as a team here. perhaps they aren’t shiro’s responsibility any longer.
there on the floor, shiro watches the space wolf fawn over his sole responsibility and feels oddly inadequate in the moment. he’s failing a lot of people right now, isn’t he? refusing to sit there and wallow in his own shortcomings, shiro pushes himself to his feet instead. shirt or tablet first? the fact that he’s still thinking to delay, even a few seconds, from sending lance a text is another mark against him.
tablet there on the counter, shiro stops before it and starts tapping away with metal fingers. hopefully lance isn’t also suffering from an inability to touch without suffering a burn. ]
And I can’t be expected to sit by while this thing hunts you down.
[ the retort comes easy. shiro doesn’t even look up. text sent, one asking a generalized status report, shiro looks over to keith then, mouth half-tilted and worn. ]
You know I’ll never agree to that, best save your breath.
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That thing is after me.
[ can keith be said to be keith if he were content to be the one putting others at risk? ]
There's no reason for you to be dragged into this mess, too. Shiro, if you got hurt, I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself, you know?
[ it's an argument that's likely going to fall on deaf ears. as much as keith loves shiro, sometimes arguing with him can be like arguing with a brick wall. giving the wold a gentle pat, keith spares him an apologetic look before brushing him aside to walk the short distance to where shiro is standing. hesitant but determined, keith touches his arm gripping it tight. ]
I said I wouldn't let anything hurt you.
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keith’s been part of his life for years, even in the gaps that have kept them apart. shiro doesn’t know how he’d be able to function if that stable fixture was ripped away.
so is shiro being more selfless or more selfish in refusing to go? is he doing this more for keith or more for himself? afterall, the more self-preserving option is not, in fact, the one that has shiro running off to safety. ]
Well, I’m not going to let anything hurt you, either. [ he’s certain he’s said more or less the same vow before, but a little reiteration never hurt anyone. he smiles a little more fully, briefly alight with playful vibes. ] Can’t leave now and be a liar.
[ see what he did there? he sobers soon enough, the stretch of his smile once again wearing thin. still, he lets keith clutch at his arm as tight as he likes as he turns more into him, other hand coming around to cup, lightly, at the small of keith’s back. ]
Your problems are my problems, Keith. So I'm gonna be here for you, no matter the risks. We’re in this together, as always.
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sayingsaving his breath because the discussion's over before it's begun. just ... how is keith supposed to argue against this? they're just going to go in circles about who's more important and in the endd keith supposes it's kinda funny that they'd do this, but that doesn't extinguish his stubbornness. at least, not yet.he catches the smile on shiro's face and actually does a double take. shiro smiling isn't a rare sight or anything, but the fact that he's able to do so now, like this whole mess isn't a big deal just throws keith off enough that he forgets the script. instead he stares for a beat too long, expression longing before he finally gets it together enough to bump his forehead to shiro's pec.
fuck. maybe this whole situation really is stupid if they''re dodging ghosts with one shirt on between them. ]
Shiro.....
[ the name is whined, but that's it. that's the end of keith's resistance. he doesn't want to argue, he wants to keep shiro safe. not just shiro -- but the wolf, and nlance and angel and --
keith sighs, huffing a deep breath with his face still partly buried. ]
I thought we were only kind of together.
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