marmoron | [noctium] imbox

[ … ah. so he is making fun of him. having some vague suspicion of this is different than having it confirmed and while he adores a happy keith, being laughed at has that buried embarrassment surfacing in a second. so that bottom lip keith was just thumbing? shiro sticks it out on a pout, only to drop the expression a moment later when there’s a pinch. he flattens his lips together instead and ducks his face, feeling the heat spread across his face from a bizarre mix of want and embarrassment for that want. ]

That’s not… [ … what he meant? he thinks better about finishing that, because he doesn’t want the follow-up question: what did you mean, shiro? some things should not be verbalized. so after a beat, redirects with a sulky: ] I don’t know what I meant.

[ and now to implore to the bits of keith that love and adore shiro. he braves a glance to keith’s face and goes for wide, pleading eyes. ] Can we pretend I didn’t say anything?

[ fortunately for shiro, keith is a boy who knows when to be ruthless and when to be merciful. ... at least some of the time. the laughter gentles into a happy smile that's tinged mischievous around the edges. ]

Do you want me to forget the suggestion or forget you have a fetish for eclairs?

[ he's teasing yes, but there's a fondness baked into his tone. hand sliding back up to curl around shiro's shoulders, he gives what he hopes is a placatingly loving squeeze. ... though, really, squeezing anything is probably not the best course of action at this junction. that's some hindsight for you. ]

[ at least keith isn’t outright laughing at his expense anymore. together, the gentler look and the squeeze that is, thankfully, more comforting than it is distressing -- perhaps only due to the familiarity of it -- draw shiro into a greater sense of security. which is, of course, a mistake, because what keith asked was very much a trap that shiro falls directly into. ]

Both?

[ he’s thinking in terms of simply forgetting this whole incident, from start to finish. but saying both implies that there’s truth to this eclairs fetish thing, doesn’t it? ah, shit. it’s too late, but shiro backtracks anyway, trying to save face with a hasty: ]

Not that I actually have… [ he’s not even through the denial and it’s clear -- he’s only making this worse. abandoning that tactic, shiro ducks his head in and presses his face into keith’s collarbone, part hiding and part trying to smother himself out of existence. ]

Keith. [ don’t be fooled. that may sound suspiciously close to a whine… but it’s not a whine. ] Make it stop. [ the teasing? shiro’s ability to talk? which one is he talking about? both? ugh, not that again. ]

[ there there, shiro. keith isn't able to keep the laugh from bubbling out of him, but it's a soft, tender thing and further watered down with a kiss lovingly dropped on shiro's crown. he doesn't make any attempt to force shiro out of his safe space and instead loosely drapes an arm around his back. ]

Okay, okay. I'm done now.

[ but with shiro's head tucked in, he may miss the way the corners of keith's lips turn up into a crescent moon smile. ]

Still want to watch me de-cream this eclair? Or would you rather I de-creamed that eggplant of yours?

[ is he actually done? shiro huffs but one, two, he’s got a kiss and a draping arm, so call him appeased. enough to come out of hiding? not quite. it’s comfortable here and shiro settles in, even going so far as to nose at that sweater an’ nuzzle up, closer to the line of keith’s throat.

still, affectionate as he may be, the question is off-putting and soon enough, he’s grumbling into the fabric. ]

Leave the eclair alone. [ which translates to: leave me alone. keith said he was done! it’s time to forget this conversation -- no more than that, it’s time to forget eclairs in general. he needs to get rid of that box of twelve and…

he lifts his head to peer over keith’s shoulder, staring at the float box. slowly, he finds himself frowning. ] The eggplant though… -- that’s not some reference to popping it, is it? [ because he needs that float. it was the last one in stock; please don’t hurt it, keith. ]

[ popping it? what fucked up fetish from hell is this? one eyebrow arches up high, before keith turns to follow shiro's line of sight and... ]

Oh. [ brow creased with the slightest of frowns, keith turns back to face shiro. ] It wasn't actually.

[ hmph. well if shiro doesn't want his eggplant de-creamed, guess there's still an eclair in his hand waiting to be eaten. all teasing aside, the lil pastry is actually pretty tasty. ]

Guess I'll just finish this one off then.

[ albeit a pinch less lasciviously this time. he takes a normal nibble off the end of it, looking contemplative. ]

[ why does he feel like he missed something? probably because he has. shiro knows he has. he can tell by the puzzled expression and then, of course, the brush off. keith returns to the eclair but shiro finds little interest in it this time around ( thankfully ). he’s busy rerunning through what keith said and ultimately comes to --

he abruptly sits up from his relaxed lean, jostling keith in his lap. ]

Oh! You meant -- [ he just as quickly cuts off, feeling like putting words to not only his obvious blunder but to what decreaming an eggplant actually means, would be unnecessarily embarrassing for the two of them. he bites his lip, looking pained for one, two, and then tries for a tentatively hopeful: ]

Is that still on the table or did I blow it?

[ is that still on the table.... ah. shiro's being endearingly polite despite his apparent sexual frustration. keith has another bite of eclair, chasing the creamy residue left on his lip with a quick lick. ]

Mmm. [ and here keith makes a production of tugging shiro's phone out of his pants to check the time. whatever air of concern keith tries to put on is largely ruined by a poorly suppressed laugh. ]

I dunno. Don't you have to be getting back soon?

[ keith’s messing with him, again. he thinks? this whole experience has been extremely trying on shiro’s psyche. from kink denial to forever drifting focus for keith’s legs and mouth, shiro has not been utilizing his brain to its full potential. in layman’s terms, he’s a bit stupid from desire. so he doesn’t call keith out on his sudden concern for shiro’s playing hooky. didn’t he just offer to blow him not more than two minutes ago? don’t ask shiro, he can’t seem to remember back that far.

instead, he frowns, contemplating his options. ]

Yeah. [ a good, responsible gembonded guardian would get back asap. actually, that same one never would have taken a clocked break to begin with. he tells himself this, but in the same mental breath, reminds that another five or ten minutes won’t be that big of a deal. if he goes back to work now, he won’t be able to focus his full attention and that’d be worse, wouldn’t it?

he raps his fingers against keith’s hip, one after the other in a continuous wave. ] But you’re quick. Very efficient. And extremely good at making me feel good. [ he’s bargaining, voice going honey-sweet to help entice keith to play along. ] We can be done here in a matter of minutes.

[ though, is reassuring keith that he’ll be a quick study, with a remarkably fast ending how he should be handling this? blatantly ignoring the sense that he’s insulting himself, shiro then changes tactics, going for the challenge. ]

Unless, of course, you don’t think you can break me down that fast.

....

[ keith pauses mid-chew, raising an eyebrow. so shiro's turning this into a challenge now, is he? the gears turn in keith's head and it's almost comical how pavlovian the need to make a point is. keith laughs incredulously, though he's lost sight of it that's at himself or at shiro at this point. ]

Seriously?

[ fuck this eclair, he shoves it in shiro's hand for safekeeping to free up one hand, but just as he's about to just toss the phone onto the far end of the couch, it starts to ring. surprised, keith almost drops the damn thing then and there. half tempted to hit ignore on the call, his thumb hangs over the option, but seeing as the call just might be important..... ]

...Can I hang up on Jacob?

[ of course he gets a call. it’s like the coyotes all over again, but worse, because he can’t throw things until the annoyance removes itself. he can’t blatantly ignore work, unless he wants to answer to bigger consequences later. so he sighs and shakes his head, gently plucking the phone from keith’s hand. ]

Here, let me see that.

[ texts are more friendly in nature; those can be put on the backburner for however long. as for a direct call? means it’s likely something urgent or at the very least, work related. thumbs the green answer symbol and sets it on speaker; might as well clue in keith as well, on what shiro suspects will have him leaving here quickly. ]

Hello?

[ and yeah, five seconds in and it definitely seems like he’s going to be on his way out. nothing life shattering, he suppose; it’s not a hostage situation or a shoot out or anything of the like. it’s a vehicle losing control and barreling into a cafe down on sunflower. he just saw jacob at the donut shop and apparently, he’s fresh enough in his mind for jacob to harass him into assisting with the large-scale statement collecting. fun. busy work somehow makes leaving keith even worse. still of course he gives a -- ]

Yeah, okay. Be right over.

[ he ends the call and stuffs the phone back into his pocket before wrapping that arm around keith to hug him close. shiro buries his face right back into his neck and sighs long an’ slow. they could still do it, he supposes. jacob’s floundering with corralling all the witnesses but what’s five, ten more minutes? the thing is… the mood is spoiled for shiro. he’ll be too busy thinking about fucking jacob and him needing his help for shiro to fully enjoy keith’s attentions. so: ]

Gotta go. Duty calls and all that. [ words are mumbled, somewhat grumpy in nature. he smooths this over by pressing a gentle kiss to the underside of keith’s jaw. ] Raincheck?

[ is it appropriate to sit there listening to jacob's story and be thinking should've hung up the entire time? probably not. putting more selfish thoughts aside though, the accident sounds like it must've spooked a lot of people and it's no wonder shiro had been the go to for reinforcements. calming, steady and reliable, shiro's presence only tends to improve any situation. the thought sits oddly in keith's head like he can't quite place if he's proud or caught up in a weird nostalgia for the ease with which shiro finds himself falling into leadership roles even outside of voltron. even while shiro's haunted by coming out of the astral plane and learning how to be in a living, breathing flesh and blood body again.

but what can keith say? he's not surprised in the slightest. that's the shiro he knows and all. what's newer is how shiro doesn't immediately spring into action, but rounds his shoulders and tucks himself under keith's chin. warming on a missed beat, keith winds both arms around his boy's back to hold him nice and tight, kissing the top of his head. it's probably less a willingness to be vulnerable and needy and more an expression of disappointment on shiro's part, but keith wants to treasure it all the same. ]

Yeah, of course. [ one more smooch for good measure! ] Whenever.

[ a beat of silence, then with one last squeeze, he reluctantly slides off shiro's lap.
in lighter tones, he adds: ]

Turn off your phone next time.

[ whenever, he says. whenever, ha! if only it were that easy. for one reason or another, they attract… obstacles. many ridiculous and downright annoying obstacles and shiro is starting to lose confidence in this universe being kind. ah, well, pouting over it certainly won’t improve anything. so he gets to his feet and manages a smile that’s faint in its playfulness. ]

Yes, sir.

[ and then it’s all about making his way to the door. he drops off the half eaten eclair with the others on the walk by, gaze briefly snagging on the pool toy box before he returns his attention to where he’s going. unlocks the door and pulls it open with a barely repressed sigh. ]

I’ll see you tonight. [ he half turns then, looking back to keith, who still looks every bit as good as he did when shiro first walked in. those legs… -- shiro gives himself a mental shake and after an obvious moment to collect himself, broadens his smile. he nods toward the box. ] Send me a picture of you sitting on the eggplant float if you get a chance.

[ but he doesn’t wait for an answer, half afraid keith will retaliate. instead, he steps out, calling a: ] Love you. Bye babe. [ -- and then he’s gone. ]

[noctium] imbox

that's how you described it. i wanted to make sure i used the correct wording.

/closes eyes i want to leave this reality

need i send you the gif again? the you're-here-forever?

i hate that there are so many things you could be referencing and yet i know exactly what you mean

it's the brain link.

dont like this. :/

what will be the next thought we share...

something cursed i'm certain

maybe if we believe enough, it'll be smth nice. like a shared vision of penguin keith.

why do i suspect it's more likeyl to be about a viargra shitpost

listen. shiro has a serious medical condition. he can't help it that viagra helps manageit.

poor poor shiro....

existence is pain.