[ inappropriate laughter tickles his throat. a lot to unpack is an understatement and a half, but what can keith do other than offer a non-committal hum of agreement? again, he won't torture the shiro who isn't "his" shiro with talk of a future that might not apply, no matter how much the lie by omission makes him want to dissociate. gaze still fixed on collar bone, keith exhales slowly. ]

Well. You're stubborn as hell. Wouldn't be you without that.

[ for better or for worse. though meant more affectionately than anything else, keith isn't quite able to muster up the ability to make it sound convincingly cheerful. his shiro vs this shiro. it's the only time they've really acknowledged there's a whole space-time continuum or reality between them, and while it's ... something to have it confirmed they're both dwelling on the same miserable thought that goes nowhere, it leaves nothing but an increasingly bitter aftertaste in keith's mouth. ]

But it's not like we're really a team here. You don't need to be strong for anyone.