[ part of the reason keith hadn't wanted to be leader is the fact that he's never been gifted with words. he can't be trusted to come up with motivational speeches on the fly or recite anything to drump up the will to fight against impossible odds. of course, he meant what he said sincerely, but even so he's still not sure if shiro is so easily reassured.

the press of lips to his forehead at least eases some of that uncertainty in keith's head, but it also makes him laugh inadvertently. who's soothing who? unbelievable. he peeks up, shifting until they're back to seeing eye to eye literally, like that might accomplish the same metaphorically. ]

Hey. You can tell me you're not convinced. I can take it. I'm a big boy, you know.

[ he grins, this time leaning in to press their foreheads together, hand firm on shiro's back. ]

I just... I know there's nothing I can say that'll really take your mind off of everything going on in your head. All I want is for you to know that you really don't have to be alone in it. It's like you said, we're a team. Voltron or not, even if it's just the two of us, we're together.