[ keith is quiet, straining to listen for signs of danger as the two of them walk back to the tunnel's entrance. staying focused on potential threats is what keith chooses to ground himself with, but leaving behind unanswered questions and an unknown enemy easily starts nagging at his conscience.
perhaps it's nothing more than a consequence of being reminded of the fucking druids and their orchestrated massacre of the blades, but it's hard not to feel guilt. no individual comes before the mission. it's the single mantra that kolivan and the others had tried to beat into his head for months that keith had never managed to internalize.
here and now, he isn't part of a group with some organized mission, but all the same, walking away from the promise of intel feels jarring too. perhaps like another mistake in the making? but whatever that anxiety is, it can't possibly be more important than the need to get shiro to safety. something out here is trying to kill them as always, and neither of them are in the correct state of mind to tackle this.
a point that's easily reinforced by the way keit very nearly jumps when something behind them smashes and shatters, his free hand rounding behind his back to grab for his knife. breathing hard, keith first looks to shiro, releasing the knife handle to keep his best friend steady on his feet, before taking a quick look behind them.
nothing.
another deep breath and this time keith catches a strong whiff of something flowery in the air. nose wrinkling,, keith once again looks to shiro as if to ask do you smell that? before coming to pause in lockstep with his best friend. the fact that the confusion is ebbing away ought to be concerning in and of itself, but his racing thoughts start to slow. shiro speaks, and the unexpected commentary on his leadership scatters all else to the wind. ]
... You think that about me?
[ it's a bizarre time to be getting sidetracked. honestly keith doesn't even know what to make of that opinion. his leadership of voltron had always been a point of tension, largely characterized by criticism and resentment, both fair and unfair. his attractiveness as leader, however, is an entirely different angle . shiro doesn't give him much time to process that before swiftly taking his arm hostage.
keith blinks, momentarily owl-eyed in his surprise. embracing his vulnerability and actually leaning on keith isn't like shiro at all, but that awareness is fleeting, easily washed away in a high tide of affection as keith puts his arm around shiro's waist. ]
I never want you to leave them either.
[ they've had a variant of this conversation before, but shiro had batted that aside with a reminder of the white-haired shiro waiting back in his reality. but perhaps that doesn't matter either. right now, this shiro wants to feel safe and so, keith coaxes strong arms around his neck, then bends to scoop his boyfriend up. ]
We;ll go back to your cube, just like this and you can hold on as tight as you want.
[ with a lean and seemingly zero concern for the fact that they're still in hostile territory, keith presses a soft kiss to shiro's forehead. ]
distressing...
perhaps it's nothing more than a consequence of being reminded of the fucking druids and their orchestrated massacre of the blades, but it's hard not to feel guilt. no individual comes before the mission. it's the single mantra that kolivan and the others had tried to beat into his head for months that keith had never managed to internalize.
here and now, he isn't part of a group with some organized mission, but all the same, walking away from the promise of intel feels jarring too. perhaps like another mistake in the making? but whatever that anxiety is, it can't possibly be more important than the need to get shiro to safety. something out here is trying to kill them as always, and neither of them are in the correct state of mind to tackle this.
a point that's easily reinforced by the way keit very nearly jumps when something behind them smashes and shatters, his free hand rounding behind his back to grab for his knife. breathing hard, keith first looks to shiro, releasing the knife handle to keep his best friend steady on his feet, before taking a quick look behind them.
nothing.
another deep breath and this time keith catches a strong whiff of something flowery in the air. nose wrinkling,, keith once again looks to shiro as if to ask do you smell that? before coming to pause in lockstep with his best friend. the fact that the confusion is ebbing away ought to be concerning in and of itself, but his racing thoughts start to slow. shiro speaks, and the unexpected commentary on his leadership scatters all else to the wind. ]
... You think that about me?
[ it's a bizarre time to be getting sidetracked. honestly keith doesn't even know what to make of that opinion. his leadership of voltron had always been a point of tension, largely characterized by criticism and resentment, both fair and unfair. his attractiveness as leader, however, is an entirely different angle . shiro doesn't give him much time to process that before swiftly taking his arm hostage.
keith blinks, momentarily owl-eyed in his surprise. embracing his vulnerability and actually leaning on keith isn't like shiro at all, but that awareness is fleeting, easily washed away in a high tide of affection as keith puts his arm around shiro's waist. ]
I never want you to leave them either.
[ they've had a variant of this conversation before, but shiro had batted that aside with a reminder of the white-haired shiro waiting back in his reality. but perhaps that doesn't matter either. right now, this shiro wants to feel safe and so, keith coaxes strong arms around his neck, then bends to scoop his boyfriend up. ]
We;ll go back to your cube, just like this and you can hold on as tight as you want.
[ with a lean and seemingly zero concern for the fact that they're still in hostile territory, keith presses a soft kiss to shiro's forehead. ]
Sound good, big guy?