[ keith blinks. of course, they've all questioned this at some point or another, but shiro's never been the one to give voice to that doubt. as disconcerting as that is, it's also real, isn't it? keith would never say that shiro's pep talks didn't come from a sincere place, but the fact that he's sharing his doubts is oddly reassuring. whether it's appropriate or not, keith actually relaxes, bumping his forehead lightly to shiro's jaw as he lets out a soft: ]
Heh. We can make it through anything.
[ there are plenty of reasons not to think so. after all, his shiro did die at the conclusion of their battle with zarkon. but he also managed to rescue his shiro from within the black lion's consciousness with allura's aid. it's not the most optimistic of motivations, but it does give keith reason to believe that yes, they can make it out. ]
Can't promise we won't get a little more banged up on the way there, but ... we've got each other to keep things going in the right direction. Never giving up on each other, remember?
[ the optimism is expected. of course keith isn’t going to cut shiro down and say no, he doesn’t believe there’s a victory waiting for them at the end of this. that’s not the part that comforts shiro. it’s the way in which keith frames it: never giving up on each other. the strain around his eyes and his mouth relaxes, the whole of his expression softening from the rush of gratitude, hope, affection.
this close, all it takes is a slight angling of his chin and a puff of exhale for his breath to fan across keith’s bangs. pushing his hand up then, he weaves his fingers into keith’s hair, cupping the back of his skull. ]
Yeah. [ and a softer: ] I remember.
[ he’s smiling, though with the angle, it’s solely for himself. that is until he nudges his face closer and pushes that smile to keith’s forehead. the kiss lands on both skin and hair, but shiro is unbothered by his miscalculated aim, lingering for a solid three beats before pulling back with a soft sound. ]
Thanks, Keith. [ it might be a simple, even inadequate response, but it’s heartfelt. ] It’s easier to believe it… hearing you say it.
[ 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.
[ shiro, too, is a Big Boy and as a Big Boy often lies when it comes to doubt and feeling. so no, he will not keep down this road. he took a few baby steps; they felt good and he feels good now too… but he’s done, only allowing himself the comfort of keith’s last reassurances before cutting himself off. hand still cupping the back of keith’s skull, shiro keeps keith close. ]
Yeah. [ he smiles with the word, relief touching his voice. ] We’re together. As a team and… as something else, too.
[ boyfriends comes to mind but such titles feel presumptions. friends with benefits is the next one, but that doesn’t sound right either. they’re somewhere in the middle, undefined. that’s okay though, being their own thing; their relationship has always been unique and unconventional, might as well keep the streak going. he untangles his fingers and smoothes his hand down keith’s nape along his spine. ]
A something that comes with you staying over more often, so we can work on our spooning and kissing, both of which are very important to our something-building.
[ something-building, like team-building, get it? he doesn’t mean to make jokes after a heart-to-heart, it’s just learned deflection. it’s habit. before the moment can settle and start eating away at him for showing his vulnerabilities, he has to change the mood. so excuse him, for smiling and teasing, like he hadn’t been talking about doubting victory and survival three minutes ago.
they’re already close. shiro’s voice continues to drop with each word, eyelids drooping. ]
Actually, we were doing that… [ he angles his face and brushes in. ] … Wanna…?
[ if there’s a response, shiro swallows it up by pressing his mouth to keith’s. that’s how they spend the rest of the evening. trading kisses and kissing more – or deeper, depending on who is asked – both boys have pink, kiss-swollen lips by the time they relax into an easy embrace, both settling in for a good night’s rest. however, they do not, in fact, practice their spooning, which is why keith will wake up to a hand on his ass, fingers clutching one cheek. ]
no subject
Heh. We can make it through anything.
[ there are plenty of reasons not to think so. after all, his shiro did die at the conclusion of their battle with zarkon. but he also managed to rescue his shiro from within the black lion's consciousness with allura's aid. it's not the most optimistic of motivations, but it does give keith reason to believe that yes, they can make it out. ]
Can't promise we won't get a little more banged up on the way there, but ... we've got each other to keep things going in the right direction. Never giving up on each other, remember?
no subject
this close, all it takes is a slight angling of his chin and a puff of exhale for his breath to fan across keith’s bangs. pushing his hand up then, he weaves his fingers into keith’s hair, cupping the back of his skull. ]
Yeah. [ and a softer: ] I remember.
[ he’s smiling, though with the angle, it’s solely for himself. that is until he nudges his face closer and pushes that smile to keith’s forehead. the kiss lands on both skin and hair, but shiro is unbothered by his miscalculated aim, lingering for a solid three beats before pulling back with a soft sound. ]
Thanks, Keith. [ it might be a simple, even inadequate response, but it’s heartfelt. ] It’s easier to believe it… hearing you say it.
no subject
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.
no subject
Yeah. [ he smiles with the word, relief touching his voice. ] We’re together. As a team and… as something else, too.
[ boyfriends comes to mind but such titles feel presumptions. friends with benefits is the next one, but that doesn’t sound right either. they’re somewhere in the middle, undefined. that’s okay though, being their own thing; their relationship has always been unique and unconventional, might as well keep the streak going. he untangles his fingers and smoothes his hand down keith’s nape along his spine. ]
A something that comes with you staying over more often, so we can work on our spooning and kissing, both of which are very important to our something-building.
[ something-building, like team-building, get it? he doesn’t mean to make jokes after a heart-to-heart, it’s just learned deflection. it’s habit. before the moment can settle and start eating away at him for showing his vulnerabilities, he has to change the mood. so excuse him, for smiling and teasing, like he hadn’t been talking about doubting victory and survival three minutes ago.
they’re already close. shiro’s voice continues to drop with each word, eyelids drooping. ]
Actually, we were doing that… [ he angles his face and brushes in. ] … Wanna…?
[ if there’s a response, shiro swallows it up by pressing his mouth to keith’s. that’s how they spend the rest of the evening. trading kisses and kissing more – or deeper, depending on who is asked – both boys have pink, kiss-swollen lips by the time they relax into an easy embrace, both settling in for a good night’s rest. however, they do not, in fact, practice their spooning, which is why keith will wake up to a hand on his ass, fingers clutching one cheek. ]