[ so they do revert back to normal. normal, right. daddy is normal. the more abnormal piece here, though, is that sorry. as though an apology is appropriately needed when that orgasm draws out, giving shiro extra moments of a blissed out, feeling-so-fucking-good keith. that’s one of his favorite keiths, actually, so shiro is certainly making no complaints. okay, to be fair, even exhaustion muddled shiro recognizes that’s more jest than serious, which explains the lack of reassurance, shiro only managing a soft hum and smile, basking in those last few seconds of being filled.

a sigh, a kiss, and a string of words that have shiro feeling giddy and warm. it’s amazing. they’re barely a minute past a frenzied mashing of their body parts, when keith was daddy and fucking shiro into delirium, and now, suddenly, keith is sheepish as he babbles nonsensical things about songs and connections and –

love you.

how does he do that? how does he switch so effortlessly into this earnest and so very charming boy, something indescribably innocent about him despite his cock still being buried deep inside? he weaves his fingers back in keith’s hair and cups the back of his head when his boy leans in for a kiss. he’s smiling and humming, again, wanting to draw it out, but feeling too satisfied in his exhaustion to fight it when their lips part on a soft sound.

i– i love you.

there’s something different to it this time. it’s more than the stutter; there’s an anxiousness to that otherwise lovely voice. fucked so thoroughly, shiro hasn’t quite regathered his wits, at least not to his usual attentiveness that has him ever sensitive to the subtle shifts in keith’s confidence. some part of him hears it and subconsciously, he curls his fingers to rub some soothing caresses at the base of his skull. the part of his brain that is more suited for reassuring words is blissfully silent, leaving shiro to the shallows with a far more simple: ]

I love you, too.

[ unlike keith, there is no call of desperation here; not in his face, not in his voice, not in his head. he’s as relaxed as he has been, completely unaware that there will come a time when he will recognize the fog in his head as it slowly, yet surely dissipates. for now, he keeps his smile and laughs kindly. ]

You’re right. It does feel amazing to say that.

[ adding pressure, shiro leads keith back down to his chest, encouraging him to rest his head there. happily, he sighs out a breath and lets his eyelids grow heavy for a close, the last bit of tension loosening throughout his body as he relaxes further into the bedding. ]

We’ll have to make it a habit of saying it every day.