earthshine | ⊚ noctium ic contact.

[ There are a lot of words Keith could be using to describe how everything had seemingly found resolution at the end. Anticlimactic comes to mind, as does frustrating and ridiculous. All in all, he shouldn't be complaining because the crisis is over and everyone has reverted back to their original appearance. Sumarlok has definitely seen better days, but this is a far better outcome than the one he'd been braced for, in the end. Doesn't mean that he won't twitch with annoyance every time Malachite gets brought up though.

But today isn't about that or anything else. Today is Shiro's birthday (ish) and now that they've both added one more survived calamity to their belts, it's time to just enjoy one day. The kittens hadn't necessarily gone along with the program, but teeny scratches be damned all ten of them are wearing a little party hat in honor of the occasion. And of course, it's all worth it when he gets to see them all attempting to climb Shiro. The word for this one is much easier to find -- adorable, though nobody is going to find out who Keith is calling adorable here. AHem.

But in any event, when cake has been eaten, an inflatable kiddie pool has been offered up partly in jest, and the babies have all puttered out of energy and have fallen asleep on the couch, it's time to head to the park where Shiro's actual present (and yet another victim of dragon hoarding) is waiting. Emerald Park is quiet at night, pretty even now that the sky isn't blood red and spewing ash. Though Keith wouldn't say he's entirely relaxed, it's close enough. With just a tiny burst of mana, he starts a breeze that makes the nearby tree branches rustle. Laughing a little to himself, he turns to Shiro: ]

Alright. I stashed it in that forest everyone keeps saying is haunted. You're not too scared to go in there, are you?

[ shiro's come to expect very little of his birthday. he's been at a breakneck speed for a couple years now, all the way back to galaxy garrison when he was hellbent on proving himself worthier than his medical file suggested. so with life busy, his focus elsewhere and the actual day of his birth only appearing on a four-year cycle... it's been easy to dwindle the celebration. besides, when there's a ticking time clock on the functionality of his body, celebrating another year closer has a way of missing the mark. he has to admit though -- after today, he can begin to see the appeal.

maybe it's simply because he's died or that he's just come out of surviving a fake apocalypse. both make him appreciate the little things, like slowing down and taking that time for himself. or maybe there's no outstanding reason for his changed perception other than walking into the living-room of their shared space to find ten tiny kittens with equally tiny hats and a sweet faced keith saying happy birthday. in that single moment, he found himself going huh, maybe birthdays aren't all that terribly dull and forgettable afterall. even the unending joke of scales and fish with the kiddie pool couldn't dampen his enjoyment of cake and balls of fur.

that in itself would have been enough, more than enough, really. but keith is far more attentive and kind-hearted than anyone gives him credit for. which is why they find themselves at emerald park.

shiro's been here not all that long ago. if they take a sharp turn to the right and head down that path for four, five minutes, they'll find a lake that shiro is, unfortunately, familiar with. thankfully, they bypass the turn and continue on, only to pause at a line of trees. haunted. right. at this point, nothing would surprise him. though, if there are ghosts in there, he hopes they don't rope them into playing tag.

the branches continue to sway and shiro delays a beat longer just to eye the rustling of leaves before slowly tilting his face for a sideways glance. in lieu of a straight denial, shiro grins small an' crooked, one eyebrow cocking high on a wordless you're kidding right. as for actual words? ]

That's you, isn't it?

[ the not so subtle amethyst wind. one beat and then in the next, shiro is on him. he moves with quick efficiency, enough to get his arm around keith's neck and reel him down an' in for a headlock. his free hand finds keith's head and then there's metal fingers tangled in ebony, ruffling the hair to oblivion. ]

Quit trying to scare me. It's my birthday. You're contractually obligated to be nice to me.

[ The dead giveaway is that the wind stops the nanosecond Shiro splits Keith's attention. Laughter comes before the squirming as he tries to shield himself from further assault. His hair doesn't need more help being an unregulated mess of haphazard curls, thank you very much! ]

I would never. [ Grinning absolutely makes mock indignation more credible, right? Right.
Giving Shiro's side a nudge with an elbow, a different exit strategy pops into mind a moment later. [ But I don't remember signing any contracts. Gonna have to show me some paperwork.

[ And with that, he gives Shiro's ribs a few finger pokes. Time to see if Shiro's impervious to some tickling. ]

[ watch those fingers! luckily, shiro is made of stronger stuff, so a few well aimed prods doesn’t have him falling prey to squirmy laughter. well, not entirely. there’s certainly laughter but he stands strong against the assault, only abandoning keith’s bird’s nest -- otherwise known as hair -- to grab at that hand.

he grins wide. ]

Oral contracts are just as binding! You accepted when you took on the title of best friend.

[ he maintains the headlock, though it’s honestly just for show. it’s loose enough for keith to wriggle out if he wants to and even if it wasn’t, shiro knows keith is just as capable of turning the tables. so maybe keith is abiding by the fabricated rules by playing nice here.

either way -- shiro doesn’t cut him any further slack, instead squeezing at his fingers. ]

How do you not know this?

[ Well fine then. Be resistant to tickles, see if Keith cares. While making a grab at the wrist draped around his neck, he lets out an amused huff. ]

Oh sure -- just keep making stuff up as you go. I can do that, too.

[ Untangling himself from Shiro's headlock, he straightens up and immediately reaches up to muss up that white forelock. ]

I'm pretty sure there's a clause in there about harassment. I'm trying to lead you to your birthday present and you attack me like that. That's low. Maybe you owe me something.

Edited 2021-03-08 02:47 (UTC)

[ not the hair! reflex has shiro squeezing his eyes shut and ducking out, sidestepping to scramble away from those fingers. eyes snap open and he’s grinning wide an’ toothy, his breath caught on a seemingly endless stream of laughter. ]

C’mon, don’t be so dramatic. I barely touched you.

[ he’s not even going to get into the whole he owes keith something. birthday boy shelling out a ( retribution ) gift? blasphemy. he rolls back his shoulders to regain some of his dignity and runs metal fingers through his floof, tugging out the small, barely there knots. here, he turns back to the line of trees and tilts his chin up on some feigned sense of superiority. ]

Besides, it’s not like I can make your hair look worse.

[ ET TU, SHIRO. Keith makes a face, groaning as he gives his hair a quick rake through with fingers and shakes his head to make the bangs fall into place correctly. ]

Don't you dare start getting on my case about mullets.

[ Gosh, if there was one silver lining to having left Voltron, it's leaving behind all the unnecessary commentary from Lance about his goddamn hair. It's not Keith's fault that it likes to grow out in a particular way, ok!! ]

I'll have to seriously reconsider this whole thing if you start.

[ He says ... but starts heading down a dirt path leading into the forest proper. At least it's a toothless lil barb. ]

[ shiro’s actually on keith’s side with the whole hair debate. honestly, he’s had a secret fondness for keith’s hair for a good while now. does that sound weird? probably. he only means… it’s funny. not the style itself, no no, nothing like that. the amusement is due to keith getting away with it. galaxy garrison doesn’t have a strict rule on uniform haircuts. cadets an’ officers alike can style their hair as they see fit, within reason of course. however, there is a general consensus of professionalism. keith with his long, wispy strands and blocky bangs that had been more often than not tangled from bed, from racing…

it was such an unapologetic i do what i want and to this day, shiro is still amused that no one was successful in hassling keith into using a comb. honestly, shiro isn’t sure he owns one even now. ]

Okay, okay. Nothing about the hair, got it.

[ the path is wide enough to walk side by side so it only takes a short jog to catch up and fall into step. he turns his head for a glance and he grins anew, swaying in his stride to gently bump their shoulders. ]

So seeing as we can’t talk about that… can we talk about my present? Like hints, maybe?

[ The nudge and question easily get a huffed laugh out of Keith,. ]

I'll never take anything you ever say about patience seriously again.

[ He gives his head a little shake, though there's a warm smile on his lips as they start heading down the trail. Though... given that he'd had an aerial view of the forest when he'd gone on this particular misadventure, his eyes are on the sky above, rather than on the path ahead. It's been a while since he's had to navigate the desert using the stars like this, but it comes intuitively enough. ... Even if admittedly more cumbersome when also trying to avoid getting smacked in the face by vines and tree branches. ]

No hints. [ A beat. ] But if you wanna guess, I'm curious as to what you think it is.

Edited 2021-03-10 23:09 (UTC)

[ he’s been patient! he’s waited a good half hour before prodding for a hint. credit where credit is due, okay? still, shiro takes the tease in stride, only rolling his eyes at the following refusal. fine. ]

Okay. Let me think…

[ but his focus is split. partly, he mulls over the kind of shops he’s seen around sumarlok and tries to picture what keith would go shopping for. for the rest of his attention? he watches keith out of the corner of his eye, taking note of the slightly tilted head. huh, well, the stars are pretty. ]

It has to be something that can withstand the elements.

[ not that he even knows how long ago keith stashed the present away. for all he knows, it could be a few hours. musing aloud, he returns his gaze to the path. the stretch of it is shrouded in shadow, but with the combination of stars and four moons illuminating from above, shapes easily take on recognizable forms in the dark. ]

Something nothing or no one would think to steal.

[ there’s a fallen branch up a ways. it’s small, something that would take only mild effort to step over but keith’s star-ward and shiro acts without much thought. he touches his hand to the small of keith’s back and slides it to the furthest hip, sidestepping himself to the edge of the path and steers keith along with him. stride never pauses and he continues on, all the while still thinking: noctium astrology book ( not out here ), home gym equipment ( no too big ), sparring gloves ( maybe?? ).

branch bypassed, his hand swings back to his side and without looking to keith, grins through a: ]

If you got me a hideous jacket to match yours, we should turn around now.

[ The grab and side-step gets a quick: ]

Woah-- [ As Keith's attention snaps back down to the forest. They've safely walked past the offending branch, but Keith gives it a lingering displeased look over his shoulder. Would have been kinda embarrassing to faceplant here like that, but the 'thanks' on the tip of his tongue becomes something else entirely as Shiro keeps talking. ]

Hey! [ First the hair and now the jacket. What is this, who made this unwarranted criticism hour anyway. ...Not that he cares if Shiro thinks his hair and jacket are awful. Of course not. ] Just for that --

[ Twisting behind Shiro, he hops up onto his best friend's back, arms looped around his neck. How convenient that this serves as both punishment and clears the way for him to keep staring up hazard free. ]

We're walking like this now.

[ shiro’s fairly certain birthday boys aren’t supposed to be used as mules. the thought carries no ill-will though. there’s only amusement, even as his step wavers immediately following the collide. the hitch levels out in the next beat and he regains his footing easily enough, falling back into his stride as his hands find the underside of each knee. ]

Bossy. [ the grin keeps. ] It’s almost like it’s your birthday, not mine.

[ not that it matters. shiro’s enjoying himself just fine. it’s been over a month now and shiro’s come to expect the changes; keith’s slighter, shorter build is a thing of the past. the tussle on filia had been a big wake-up call, but -- maybe shiro still has some things to rationalize in his mind actually, because he’s still the slightest bit surprised by the weight of keith’s body. it’s nothing shiro can’t handle. it’s merely… interesting.

that growth spurt sure came on fast, huh? on that thought, he hooks his palms at the base of keith’s thighs and hefts him marginally higher on his hips as he weaves back toward the middle of the path. ]

[ Keith laughs, arms wrapping a little tighter as Shiro hefts him up. Honestly, he wouldn't have insisted on this arrangement on account of it being Shiro's birthday, but since they've reached an agreement..... well, it'd be a real waste not to appreciate it, right?

Because there's a lot to appreciate here. Getting to relax with his best friend and mess around has been a scarcity in the last couple of years so naturally, Keith cherishes these moments of closeness all the more. ... And that's not touching the untouchable subject of the powerful body he's pressed up to. All the same, it's hard not to have an opinion on it, even if those opinions can't possibly amount to anything good. ]

Just helping you work off the cake, Shiro. As per the contract.

[ Funny how convenient that thing is proving to be, huh? But while bantering, he looks back up at the sky to properly orient them and points about ten degrees to the left. ]

Down that way. [ Or so he thinks? ] Just gotta follow that star up there for a bit.

[ oh, gee, how thoughtful. such a good friend he is, donating his body weight like this, just to ensure shiro doesn’t pack on a birthday pound. the reasoning is beyond silly and that’s why shiro adores it so much, even if it has him scoffing. the rebuttal never comes though, not when keith’s hand lifts. immediately, shiro adjusts the angle of his feet and he follows the direction of that point. two strides, four, six -- ah. the degree change has them offset from the path that banks slightly to the right. ]

A bit from you could mean a hundred yards to thirty city blocks.

[ shiro’s chock-full of endurance, so he doesn’t worry too much about hauling keith over every square-foot of this park if it comes down to it. though -- in the next moment, when the path deviates and shiro steps into the cluster of leaves piled on the edge, he thinks he might end up burning off more than just the cake if keith’s a bit is the latter.

he adjusts his grip and again, heaves keith up slightly, holding him tighter to him as he steps over some sticks an’ then begins tromping through the undergrowth. ]

How well do you know these stars?

[ because all these weeks, shiro’s been meaning to track down an astronomy book or something similar and yet, has always left it on the backburner. so his own celestial navigation is useless here, when he doesn’t understand the constants and their relations to each other. ]

[ As Shiro walks them off the trail, Keith's gaze stays on the constellations above, though the first comment gets a soft contemplative "hmm." Distance is a little different to gage when he'd been flying -- even more so when his dragon brain had mostly been focused on finding superlatives for a satellite nest. The tallest tree, the greenest patch of forest, the most pristine part of the river.....]

It shouldn't be far. Didn't want to stray too far from the lake.

[ There'd probably been some misplaced sentimental reason for that, now that he's thinking about it. Keith will keep that thought to himself though and give himself a mental shake. ]

I know 'em decently enough, I guess? Spent a little while in the Nova Station trying to figure out where in the universe we were. [ It hadn't helped -- not for that anyway. But at the time, pouring over star charts had been an excellent distraction from the trickier existential questions he'd been dealing with. Keith huffs a laugh, tentatively resting his chin on Shiro's shoulder. It's only after he settles that way that he realizes they're almost pressed cheek to cheek. He wonders for a beat if that's awkward, but the closeness here pales in comparison to what happened on Filia so the thought gets promptly dropped. ]

Can't say I know all of the names the natives have for any of the constellations, but... [ Again, he points skyward. ] See that one there? That's the brightest one. So naturally, it's called Shiro now.

Edited 2021-03-12 04:52 (UTC)

[ underneath that rough exterior, there’s a sweet heart and an idyllic tenderness that few come to know. shiro knows though. when the mood hits just right, keith goes soft and sentimental, and shiro cherishes each moment, hoarding them in his memories. here, it’s just as precious. it makes him more aware of how quiet the forest is around them. that it’s just the two of them, draped together and whispering silly, carefree things. in the light of day, the thought of naming stars may be just as embarrassing as it deserves to be, but now, it’s everything. sweet, kind, amusing, hopeful, cute.

he stares up at that bright light. of course keith thinks shiro would be the brightest one. he can just about feel the ache in the next beat of his heart, but he shoves off that reflexive pull of guilt and chooses to smile instead. it still feels unearned though and he hides it by tucking his chin and pressing his mouth to keith’s forearm criss-crossed just below. one, two, the longer he keeps, the easier it is to smile wider and he doesn’t know if keith can feel it growing, but shiro hopes he can at least hear it when he tilts his head back up. ]

Is that so…

[ a laugh never fully forms but there’s hints of amusement in those three words. he puncuates it next by moving his head to the side, butting his cheek up against keith’s. again, he holds the position for one, two, and then he tilts his head up toward the sky, brushing the side of his face against keith’s in that one motion. ]

Well, if that’s Shiro up there, then its Keith can’t be too far.

[ personally, shiro thinks keith burns brighter. shiro’s been all around the universe and yet, he knows keith is an unmatched, special something, and any namesake star should live up to that kind of rarity. ]

How about that one? Up, to the right -- a little hazy but the color fits. [ he grins. yeah. red. it’s faint, but there is an unmistakable reddish tint to the outer circle. ] Kinda looks like it's watching Shiro Star’s back. Y’know, keeping it safe.

[ seems accurate. ]

Edited (its... it's UGH) 2021-03-13 03:08 (UTC)

[ The brush of Shiro's face against his makes Keith smile. Smile harder, that is. There aren't many people in his life who can get Keith to drop the scowling and relax completely, but Shiro does it so effortlessly -- like he's got some kind of cheat code. Maybe he'd just claim it's part of some hidden clause in that fabled best friend contract.

But if Keith had been on the verge of laughing before, what gets said next makes him go quiet. It's more of their usual playful bantering really, so he shouldn't be reading anything into it and yet.... it's funny how sometimes the way things sound don't properly register until you've heard them echoed back. His focus is on the star with its faint red halo, but his thoughts are decidedly all tied up closer to the ground.

The silence stretches on for another few ticks. Keith should really be saying something, but he doesn't actually have any words for this. He's happy -- speechlessly happy, just to bask in the idea that Shiro would talk about this like it's a given when they're both aware that togetherness isn't a given at all. The bittersweet note of the thought is sobering, but only enough that Keith bumps his cheek against Shiro's one more time in an unspoken I love you. ]

Better do a good job of it.

[ Better than the one Keith had done at home. ]

[ the bump keeps shiro smiling and those following words hit just right too. no full-body laughter, but the amusement carries into his exhale. there’s an unspoken there. shiro doesn’t catch it, not fully, however, there’s history and missed chances between them. death is there too and shiro remembers being locked away but there in black’s cockpit, watching keith’s grief. shiro’s fate has never been keith’s responsibility and yet… he's made it one of his main focuses.

so maybe shiro does hear that unspoken afterall. ]

It will. [ he sounds so confident. the smile holds and really, at this rate it might become a permanent fixture. weaving around a small bush in the next beat, the straightaway clears out again and shiro turns his head, barely, just enough to get a peek out of the corner of his eye. ]

Its namesake does.

[ did before too. back home, keith did the best he could and that means something. a lot more than something. but shiro was always a lost cause. that’s not the focus here though and shiro doesn’t want to dwell on his nonexistent future. so he squeezes at those thighs and half-hops on his next step, jostling keith once again, with far more enthusiasm this time. ]

Though he does torture him with gifts he won’t talk about.

[ back to that -- shiro hasn’t forgotten. now can he have hints? ]

[ there's a dull ache behind his ribs, but the smile stays on keith's face. it'd be so easy to point out the contradiction -- the same old things that've been plaguing him for weeks about shiro's death and the clone, but that's not the point. keith hadn't meant for what he said to sound maudlin, but if shiro's offering up that reassurance and squeeze, he must've messed that up.

rather than risk ruining the mood of the evening, he instead gives shiro's upper bicep a squeeze back and lets out a soft huff of amusement. ]

You're gonna see it soon enough anyway.

[ "Soon enough" meaning about 300 yards further down. Not a long walk, but the forest is a little dense and picking through the foliage on unpaved terrain while wearing a friend backpack isn't necessarily a picnic either. As they get further into the woods, Keith shifts his gaze lower from the stars to the larger trees. Then, when he spots a glimpse of a sturdy metal frame hidden up in a branch, he grabs Shiro's shoulder, giving it a quick jostle. ]

There!

[ He points a large oak tree with large twisting branches. Supported between two branches on the lower third of the oak close to the trunk is a hoverbike that definitely does not belong there. But lest Shiro think he's seeing things, Keith is already climbing off his back with a grin. ]

We're gonna have to get it down, but happy birthday? [ He laughs and takes a running jump to swing up onto the lowest branch. ]

Would be easier if I had the wolf here, but I think we can manage this.

[ he’s already run down a mental list of possible presents. the remaining yards give him time to tack on a few more for only himself to mull over. all in all, none of his guesses come close. as his steps slow and surprise has him stopping altogether, he can only register the slow-dawning thought that he should have anticipated this. well, not the specifics of a hoverbike wedged between branches ( because seriously, what the hell?? ), but the remarkable nature of it. keith is -- unique. and shiro means that in the kindest way possible. of course a gift from him would be far from conventional.

special? does this warrant that descriptor? it’s certainly obtuse and weird. that last one echoes through his head, distracting him further and rendering him absolutely useless as keith squirms off his back. he watches keith run off with a sort of idle fascination, which only compounds after that smooth, very smooth jump-swing onto a branch. it’s not like he ever forgets how agile keith is but no matter how often he sees the other in action, shiro never quite loses that impressed feeling.

anyway -- back to the hoverbike. the hoverbike in a tree.

he gives himself a mental shake and lets himself be drawn closer by the sound of keith’s delighted voice. his steps are much slower than keith’s had been. ]

Okay. [ a beat and a wrinkled knot forms between his brows. wolf? what. ] I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean but that may be because I’m still processing… that.

[ distance closed, he pauses there at the base of the tree, standing slightly offset of keith’s chosen branch. he tilts his head back further and stares at the hoverbike again, hands coming to rest on his hips. ]

Just -- Keith. [ his voice breaks on exasperation but it’s alight and happy and so very amused as laughter weaves into that one, punctuated syllable. ] Why is it even up there?

[ don’t get him wrong, he wants that hoverbike. badly. the hands on his waist are already itching to get on the handles and squeezing now to offset the impatience. but why. or better yet, how are questions that shiro needs answers for. ]

[ shiro doesn't need the light of four moons in the night sky to know that keith is grinning from ear to ear, it's readily audible in the pleased lilt to keith's voice as he casually presses his hand against the tree trunk. he leans a little, shoulders relaxed and comfortable as he takes in shiro's bewilderment. ]

For safekeeping.

[ obviously -- goes unsaid. keith glances up to the next branch up, looking for a solid hand hold. not that the reason for the question is going over his head, but the playful teasing comes easier than trying to make sense of chaotic dragon hoarding. ]

The wolf's a friend I made while I was stuck in the Quantum Abyss for two years. He can teleport. [ hence why this would come in handy!! once keith's got a solid grip on the next branch up, he gives it an experimental tug to test that it'll hold his weight, then pulls himself up higher. ]

You think you could make a tall ice block for me to slide the hoverbike onto? Then you could melt the ice slowly to get it down on the ground.

[ … safekeeping. how is that even an answer? nevermind that anyway, because the rest of it… -- shiro tracks keith’s progress to the next branch, the disconnect broadening between what he’s seeing and what he’s thinking. processing. processing. reboot. processing. connection attempt failed. mental sigh.

a wolf that can teleport and something about two years in the quantum abyss… that deserves more than a five second explanation. but for some reason keith breezes onward with a request for ice. first off, what. and second, what? ]

… Uh.

[ he’s still just standing there. though, the confusion onslaught has his hands dropping and hanging uselessly at his sides once more. one, two, and then he gives himself a swift mental punch, his head giving a shake before he stills to refocus on keith. ]

Hold on. Keith -- come back here. [ stop climbing! forget the hoverbike for one second; shiro needs to mentally catch up. ]

One thing at a time. [ he steps closer to the tree and braces himself against the trunk as he peers up, trying to catch keith’s face up through the leaves. ] What’s this about two years?

Hm?

[ keith pauses, glancing down towards shiro. it's hard to shift gears when he's focused on operation hoverbike, but seeing the confusion, keith does let go of the next branch up. honestly, it'd thrown him off just as much to learn that the paladins thought he'd only been gone a few months, but between lotor, the clone and then suddenly being at noctium, he hasn't unpacked that any further. space-time dilations are, of course, something he's had plenty of personal experience dealing with thanks to the quantum abyss being what it was, but that doesn't make it any more normal for anyone else. hell, keith's not even convinced that any part of the last two years of his life had been "normal" even if he's apparently gotten a little desensitized. ]

It's ... [ keith shifts his weight from one foot to another, looking a little sheepish. it's not a secret, that's for certain, though his brow furrows as he picks his words a little more carefully. ] ...hard to explain, I guess? Time flows differently in the Quantum Abyss. Krolia -- [ ah fuck, krolia. yet another non secret, keith's gonna have to explain to shiro, huh? ] thinks it has to do with the way the cluster of dense neutron stars, dark stars and black holes interact in that area. I was stuck there for two years with Krolia and the wolf, but only a few months had passed for everyone else.

[ that’s still a lot to unpack. it’s better though? slightly? at least, shiro can begin to follow the thread and make some semblance of sense from it. considering the amount of unbelievable things he’s encountered since that fateful day on kerberos, shiro is easily convinced that all of what keith’s is saying is true. besides, neutron stars, dark stars and black holes coinciding together has some plausibility; better than space magic anyway.

he stares up at keith for a long hanging moment and then cocks his head to the side, the beginning hints of understanding softening his expression. ]

So that’s where you were.

[ it’s said more to himself than keith. shiro’s concept of time had been severely compromised while in black. keith disappeared from black’s pilot chair a good while back, he knows that much, but even if keith wasn’t actively part of the paladin team, he was still on the frontlines, a fact that shiro kept tabs on any time the clone opened a video channel with him. but somewhere after the fiasco on feyiv, keith seemed to go radio silent. shiro didn’t think much of it then considering the blades an’ all but, well, guess he has an explanation all the same. ]

Two years though -- wow. I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to be stuck in a place… hm.

[ he cuts himself off with a hum. right. he doesn’t have to imagine; he’s been stuck in places he never dreamed of being stuck in for insufferable amounts of time too. he refuses to let that tone take over though and he shakes it off, forcing on a smile, his eyebrows high an’ knitted together. ]

Hopefully this Krolia person and your wolf friend made good company.

[ ...ah. even while stuck in the black lion, shiro was wondering where keith had gone, huh? the pang hits unexpectedly and unexpectedly hard, as keith shuffles his weight from one foot to another, then finally settles for sitting down on his branch. the way shiro trails off on an uncertain 'hm' has keith swinging his legs a little nervously.

of course he wants to know about shiro's experience in the black lion's consciousness, but a part of him's also afraid to ask. either way, it's definitely not an appropriate conversation to have on shiro's birthday. celebrating his life is what they're meant to do and all. ]

It wasn't as bad as it could've been, I guess. Krolia and I had a lot to catch up on. [ to put it mildly. but he doesn't leave shiro guessing for long. there's a beat, and then: ] Finally met my mom.

[ it's faint, but the fondness is audible in keith's tone. he's never said much about it to anyone, convinced as he had been for most of his life that he doesn't need a mother anyway, but of course her absence had left a void filled with questions. of course, he'd told himself those didn't matter either -- I know who I am and all, but it's settled him more than he thought it would to know more about his own history. why is mother had abandoned him before he could even talk.
why it'd seemed like his entire family had died with his dad when everyone else had hoards of grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins seemingly just to spite him. hell, understanding krolia had even helped him understand his dad better, too. like why he'd sometimes looked melancholy while looking up at the stars at night.

....but that's not the point. keith clears his throat to ensure his voice comes out steady. ]

We talked about you a lot.

[ krolia. a lot to catch up on. met my mom. keith doesn’t quite finish in connecting the dots by outright saying it but shiro hears it all the same. krolia must be mama keith. shiro’s breath catches on surprise and then he softens on the exhale, the whole of him gentling from his expression to the set of his shoulders as he smiles through a: ]

Keith… that’s great.

[ hushed in his happiness, his voice doesn’t carry beyond this closed space of theirs. it’s just -- he doesn’t pretend to know what it must’ve been like to never know one’s own mother or how difficult it had to be growing into your own person without some understanding of one’s own history. he doesn’t even rightly know much of keith’s take on it either: did keith want to know his mother? did he blame her? did he forgive her?

they didn’t talk about it much at all at the garrison. shiro was busy trying to get into keith’s good graces in the beginning and even when he managed to weasel under keith’s defenses, it never seemed right to corner keith into dredging up his past. outright asking hadn’t been shiro’s style back then. he’d focused more on simply assuring keith that he was there to listen and talk any time he wanted, about anything he wanted.

keith never took him up on the offer, at least not about this.

but now they’re here and the fondness is hard to miss, even when keith’s voice changes slightly with a clearing of his throat. makes sense is the immediate justification. shiro came into keith’s life at a critical point and in recent times, he became the catalyst that led to keith in the desert, in the blue lion, and then in space. of course shiro would come up. ]

Yeah? [ he tips his face up a little more, making sure the whole of his grin is on display. ] I hope you told her all about the records of mine that you beat. [ it’s too easy to twist the subject around, to bring the focus back on keith. ] She ought to know her son is a special kind of amazing.

[ the grin keeps for a moment longer and then it weakens in its wide stretch, his expression turning sweetly endeared all over again. ]

But I bet she figured that out pretty quick.

[ as keith watches shiro's expression brighten up from his perch, it's like he's being warmed by the sun. the feeling in his chest is light, fluttery -- then overflows as keith reflects that gentle smile back at shiro. of course, shiro would be happy for keith, even though he's never breathed a word about krolia before. and of course, shiro would think krolia should be proud, even though shiro's also had front row seats to one of the lowest points in his life and -- ]

...heh.

[ just a softly huffed laugh is all keith can manage in the face of that. his throat's gone tight again, some mixture of confusion and heaviness making words harder to come by. his mother's absence hadn't bothered him much when his dad was still around and family felt complete with just the two of them, but after.... after it'd fucking ached every time he opened his eyes and his reality had crashed and burned around a group home of unwanted kids. years of talking to social workers and doctors trying to get demographics and family history had only carved a sore spot deeper and deeper with every "I don't know anything about her!" that'd been forced out of him. made it seem all but obvious that she'd never wanted to know him either. just up and left without a trace.

this really is the first time keith can actually talk about his mother and feel something other than shame in doing so, huh? no need to put on a show of apathy, no flying off the handle to deck unsuspecting cadets across the face just... a faint buzz of ... pride? yeah. yeah, his parents are incredible people. keith stumbles on the thought, holding his breath for an extended beat for the choked up feeling to pass. this is shiro's birthday and the focus should stay on shiro. ]

Yeah, we talked a bit about those records. [ he swallows, smile soft around the edges. ] But mostly, she wanted to know more about what happened after my dad passed away. Who helped me out and all that stuff. [ there's another laugh, this one heavy with fondness. ] ...naturally, I had to tell her you're the best part of my life.

[ honestly, he'd been really excited for krolia to finally meet shiro, but that'd gone beyond abysmally with the clone going rogue minutes afterwards. but he supposes that doesn't matter now. ]

....so thanks for that.

[ this probably isn’t the way a serious conversation should take place. keith high above with feet dangling and shiro here, below an’ straining to put to memory the fondness of keith’s voice an’ the softness of his expression. it’s just… this is a big moment. shiro’s been invested in keith’s accomplishments from the get-go and this feels like one, of course he wants to remember every detail. unfortunately, it’s made difficult given the darkness and made worse by the distance.

suddenly, he wishes keith were closer. he wants to ruffle his hair or grip his shoulder or -- actually, mostly, he just wants to pull him into a hug. tuck him in and squeeze while saying he’s happy for him. that’s he’s proud of him too, not only for finding his mom, but for accepting her back into his life despite the piles of uncertain years. that couldn’t have been easy.

but just as shiro likes tilting the conversation toward keith, keith volleys it back with the spotlight on shiro. oh. so that’s how it’s going to be then. back an’ forth, back an’ forth… it’s almost comical and shiro huffs a laugh. the amusement doesn’t overrule though. the ease of keith’s statement isn’t lost on him and he gentles under the weight of it. you’re the best part of my life. you are. currently? still?

he ducks his head and looks to the trunk in front of him. what is he supposed to do with something like that? every time keith speaks freely about shiro’s importance, shiro has that split second hesitation, half-wanting to downplay himself and gently nudge keith away from any sort of dependence on him. but the other part of him… he thinks he likes it. he certainly likes hearing it here. in fact, he never loses his smile and it keeps as he looks up again. ]

Thanks for letting me be a part of it. [ earnest and sweet in its simplicity, his voice is saturated in gratitude. shiro’s fought more than his fair share of battles and while earning keith’s friendship wasn’t nearly the most difficult, its reward has paid out tenfold. so maybe he shouldn’t fault keith for putting so much emphasis on shiro’s significance in his life, because if the focus is reversed, shiro isn’t certain he can argue against feeling the same. before, maybe, when duty to the cause and his role as a paladin took centerstage. but that was a different life. this life is a chance at something else, he supposes, and when it comes down to it, keith is the best part of his every day here.

even if -- ]

You’ve sure made mine interesting. [ -- and he gives a pointed stare at the hoverbike acting as a tree ornament. ]

[ thanks for letting me be a part of it? there's a blink, but the smile doesn't waver. as far as keith's concerned, there's a distinct directionality for the gratitude and this isn't it. but it hadn't been that long ago that shiro had wanted to be more distanced, and in light of that keith lets the words sink in a little longer. this time, he doesn't deflect with a you don't need to thank me for anything. instead: ]

Wouldn't have it any other way.

[ he laughs then, glancing up at the hoverbike still waiting above. ]

And hey, don't tone down your amazement with words like interesting. I put some real effort into this. [ he gets back up onto his feet, dusting off his hands to grab onto that next branch up. ] So how about that ice?

[ real effort -- okay, so that’s what they’re going with. shiro’s still curious to hear the why and how behind this effort ( and no, safekeeping does not actually count as an explanation, keith ). but he’ll play up his patience and wait until there aren’t branches full of foliage between them. he wouldn’t mind picking up a more in depth conversation about keith’s mother either. krolia, he reminds himself. patience, is the second reminder. there’ll be time, once keith and the hoverbike are back on the ground.

right. that.

he pushes himself off the trunk and back steps until he’s a safe distance away. finds keith again and grins, clapping his hands together. ]

One ridiculously tall ice block coming right up.

[ it’s easier when he has a water source; all he has to do is manipulate what’s already there. starting from scratch requires far more concentration, manna and energy. ah well, if he gets too fatigued, keith can take the hoverbike for its first, official spin back to the apartment. he’s a twice-missed birthday boy too, so shiro doesn’t mind sharing his birthday present.

or if not that, there's always the option of hitting up keith’s hand for a quick pick-me-up instead.

amused at that, despite it being slightly presumptuous, shiro puts a pin in it and then refocuses his attention. arms stretch straight and hands held out. breathe deep. and -- go. it takes some time, so hopefully keith doesn’t mind chillin’ in the tree a couple minutes longer, but inevitably, the steady stream of magic flowing from him builds an’ builds on top of itself, solidifying into ice. inch by inch the block gains height until it’s tall enough to reach the branches cradling the hoverbike. done, he visibly slumps his shoulders and sighs, fixing a smile to his face. ]

How’s that?

[ keith should probably be using the time in which shiro's working his magic to climb up that last bit to get to the hoverbike, but instead he stays put. what's time management and efficiency when keith can watch his best friend pull off something amazing instead? as satisfying as it is to manipulate the air and take flight, there's just something fascinating about shiro working an intangible into existence. keith grins as the first layers of ice begin to mold, then laughs when the block catches up to his branch. quickly, he grabs the next branch up and climbs up to race shiro that last leg up to the bike. who won? it's close, but ask keith and he'd definitely say he won. ]

That's perfect. [ the laugh is still there, bright and cheery in the way he speaks. ] Now I'll just -- [ he grabs the hoverbike up by the front bumper, lifting up and pulling to dislodge and slide onto the ice. it takes a minutte and some maneuvering around, but keith is determined and soon enough, the hoverbike is safely on the ice. keith gives his brow a wipe with the back of his hand, looking satisfied. ]

There. You got enough mana to lower us down?

[ when this whole plan began, shiro hadn’t thought beyond his role. realistically, manhandling a hoverbike off some branches should require more than one person. that is, if that one person isn’t keith. is shiro impressed? yeah. amused too. watching keith work at the hoverbike with that same stubborn determination that sees him through all challenges has shiro smiling a small, private thing to himself.

soon enough -- sooner than shiro would have given keith credit for -- hoverbike and boy are on the ice. already, shiro is calling the magic back to the forefront of his focus, so when the question comes, he’s already nodding. ]

Yeah. Just… careful. It might be an unsteady ride.

[ nevermind the fact that he’s new to these powers and working out the kinks of controlling every facet. beyond that, he’s already fatigued, which makes the range more volatile and the flow shakier. here, it’s not as simple as merely cranking up the temperature and eating away at the ice. he has to keep the main platform intact while melting the bottom layers. the meticulous attention burns more manna and by the end of it all, when he has the ice block mostly disposed of, he doesn’t even bother with finishing off the last two inches of the top shelf. they can drive the hoverbike off that easy.

once he cuts the feed of magic, he buckles over on the initial sense of exhaustion. hands to his knees, he breathes in deep and then exhales heavy, tilting his head up to smile reassuringly. he’s fine. it’s nothing too awful. promise. but -- ]

I might need a hand. [ and that smile goes a little lopsided, boyish an’ amused as he extends his left hand out. fingers wiggle and -- come on, keith. juice him up. ]

Shiro!

[ well if there's ever a need to get keith to drop all levity in about half a second, this is certainly one way of doing it. shiro buckles and keith practically leaps off the ice block to try and stabilize him. the smile is reassuring, but it doesn't put a dent in keith's concern as he grabs that outstretched hand in both of his. of course he shouldn't have pushed shiro to use so much mana or waste all that energy from before carrying him around. stupid. ]

Yeah, of course, I... [ he swallows, biting back some irrelevant commentary. ] We should sit. [ which he does, gently tugging on shiro's hand so that they're both seated on the forest floor. keith lets out a quiet exhale, expression subdued as he mentally looks shiro over. there's just the briefest pause and then he gives shiro's fingers a squeeze: ] Sorry.

[ a deep breath and then he loosens his grip on shiro's hand just a little. settling more comfortably, he pushes the guilt aside to try and focus on synchrony instead. it never takes too much effort for the connection to establish, but the warmth it brings is muted somehow, tinged with worry. ]

[ … just like clockwork. shiro shows the slightest weakness and keith is already at his side. there’s amusement to be found in that, but mostly, shiro’s unsettled by how easy it is to worry him. it pricks at his disdain for hovering and briefly, shiro wonders what part of their history has damaged shiro’s vigor so badly that keith fears a little exhaustion.

dying.
purple monsters.
abduction.
disease.

ah. annoyance ebbs in the face of all that and with defenses down, it’s easy then to let himself be pulled to the ground. synching comes naturally and in the initial, it settles his nerves, eases his aches and gives him a jolt of energy before settling into a calmer, steadier feed of vitality. there’s something out of place though. he can feel it in the bond. it takes him a moment to peel back the more saturated feelings of comfort but when he does separate the outlier, it comes as no surprise. especially with that sorry. ]

Hey, none of that.

[ whereas keith loosened his grip, shiro tightens it here. cross-legged, he taps their joined hands against his knee and makes sure to smile when he looks to keith. ]

I’m fine. I’m still learning is all. I’ll get better at managing my magic with time and practice.

[ whitegrave helped, but a few trial runs and a couple weeks in-between don’t amount to much for a magic novice. overexerting himself and bleeding manna on overcompensation are his biggest hurdles. patience yields focus? he supposes he should start repeating his mantra again. he’ll master this someday.

… assuming they’re here long enough for him to do that. ]

But thanks. [ his voice warms, the gratitude genuine. but the sweetness turns and he goes for the joke instead, again knocking his knee an’ squeezing. ] You make a great battery charger in the meantime.

[ it's weird. shiro isn't fragile and keith knows that. all the same, even in moments like these he doesn't see how his reaction might be sending the opposite message. one day the paradox might be more apparent to him, but for now he settles more comfortably, one leg folded, the other bent up for him to drape his free arm over.a little bit of exhaustion's hardly the worst thing shiro's ever been through and the hoverbike makes going back home much easier, so overall no harm done.... right? right.

the joke makes him laugh in earnestness though -- something that's reflected in the way their connection seems to warm around the sound as well. [ there's something distinctly unamusing about people being used as power sources. lotor has put a permanently sour taste in keith's mouth over the issue, but when synchrony comes down to being a way to help shiro, it doesn't seem so nefarious. ]

Glad to be a cathode to your anode. [ questionble joke gets punctuated with a quick squeeze of shiro's hand. ] For what it's worth, you looked pretty cool doing that magic. Just gotta nail the ending.

hey babe 🍑🍆

[ squint.

doublecheck. triplecheck. quadrupl--okay, enough. the text exists. ]

Hi?

[ There's a several minute delay before Shiro gets another response. Rest assured, Keith spent much of that time willing the planet to swallow him whole. ]

sorry
didn't mean to send that to you

[ oh. haha. autocorrect can be a trickster.
not that shiro can even work out what the original text was supposed to be.
but.

autocorrect must've come into play somehow because keith says he didn’t mean to send that message.

to
him

to him.

-- wait. ]

[ thumbs up a tiny bit so the 🍑🍆 at center.
long stare.

surely not??? ]

I don’t understand.

[ pls explain wtf is happening here. ]

[ Jesus why is there a follow up anything.... ]

what do you need to understand exactly?

[ article four, subsection c of best friend forever contract:
”as the designated bff, must ensure 🍑 and 🍆 emoticons are not used loosely or frivolously”

that’s why. ]

Was that meant for someone else then?

[ Where's Malachite to end the world when you actually want them to do it, huh? What even is the correct answer to this? Surely, it's not the one that makes things awkward, right? ]

does that really matter?

[ Just buying himself a few more seconds to think this over. ]

[ no
yes?
no.

huffs, pausing right there on the sidewalk, inattentive to the way some natives are forced to sidestep around him. ]

I guess not.

[ RELIEF. Keith huffs out a sigh, now that the inquisition is seemingly over. ]

alright

[ Though, reading over the message again.... ]

you're not mad, are you?

Why would I be mad?

[ lookie, shiro’s turn for an evasive question. ]

[ The lack of any kind of tone on text messages is actual murder. Was the weird "I guess not" only weird in his head then?? Slowly but surely, Keith is starting to feel like he's slipping into some bizarro reality. ]

i don't know?
i think i'm just making it weird now
sorry. didn't mean to

[ ping. this is spiraling. it doesn’t take a genius to piece it together. that text was a misfire; meant for someone else. and keith doesn’t want to tell him.

which is fine.
ping.
keith can do whatever he wants. whoever he wants.

ugh.
the thought has him looking up. up ahead, there’s a cloud of -- rainbow? kids are laughing, running amongst a crowd and shiro thinks, huh, so that’s the rag'nbogi hub-bub he’s been hearing about?

ping.

ah, well, attention drops back to the phone on the third text. ]

You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not my business.

[ Keith doesn't reply to this right away. Despite what Shiro's saying, it still feels like this convo took a strange turn somewhere because he hadn't wanted to explain why getting hit with bluepowder had immediately made him send Shiro a mortifying message. His brow furrows, but hearing more cheers headed his way, he decides that the air is probably safer and flies straight up to the nearest rooftop. He takes a seat, letting his legs dangle over the edge. ]

it's just embarrassing is all

[ and what has happened in the timeframe between shiro’s last text and keith finding his way to a nearby rooftop?

green. a lot of green.

shiro coughs on it, rubbing at his eyes and then blinking rapidly to dislodge the powder clinging to his eyelashes. god damn children. if they weren’t already running off to harass their next victim, shiro would…

probably do nothing. because his focus shifts and he has something far more pressing to attend to than disciplining some hooligans. ]

It’s fine.

[ it’s not. he glares at those two words, half-hoping keith reads between the lines. ]

So did you resend it?

[ Ugh. why did he let himself get lulled into thinking they could move on and talk about something else? Keith scrubs his hand down his face. He gives the brick wall a slightly petulant kick. He'll regret doing that in a minute because the thump makes a native gem pop their head out of a window to look up and then mysteriously retreat. ]

you really think that's a good idea?

[ petulant, shiro leaves keith on read. how that’s supposed to punish keith, shiro doesn’t know, but it makes him feel better. as though he has some sort of control here.

in the meantime, he ducks into an alcove of a nearby shop. tiny, makeshift, almost garden area -- the most important detail is that it’s empty. and off the main thoroughfare. ]

Why are you asking me? You thought a booty call was a great idea until a couple minutes ago.

[ Keith reads that message, horrified. It's bad enough that Allura thinks he's flirting with her, he can't handle Shiro assuming this about him anymore. But as he's about to just fess up, the door to the roof slams open from behind him and the kids from downstairs come running up armed with horns and shimmering powder.

Startled, Keith damn near falls off the roof. Maybe that would have been better overall, actually, because there's blue powder being thrown at him. The kids scurry off giggling, while Keith gets the stuff off his face.

Goddamn. He should really just be going home since apparently nowhere is safe, But his mood's taken another twist, another turn and he re-reads the message with a grin. ]

heh. you're right. i guess i shouldn't give up on that so quickly
thanks for the encouragement 😘

Edited 2021-03-11 06:03 (UTC)

[ now shiro’s the one left on read. lips press tight and then he’s pouting, glaring at the little shrub in a square cut-out of grass. another five seconds pass without a ping and shiro loses it, kicking at that shrubbery.

though, when the ping finally comes? the jealousy flares hotter, churning dangerously with frustration, disappointment, sadness…?

yeah. that stings in a way shiro can’t explain when his head is so muddled. ]

Right. Good luck with your guy I guess.

[ send and now he’s half tempted to stomp on the shrub. ]

[ Shiro can't see it obviously, but the response makes Keith laugh. There are bigger priorities here, like getting the fuck off the roof before the kids get bored again or whatever, but he's enjoying this convo a little too much to care. ]

thanks
hope it's not weird that you know my guy pretty well

[ what
the
hell?

he personally knows keith’s booty call? that’s it -- shrub, you’re dead. ]

Clearly not as well as you do.

[ why yes, now shiro is standing on top of the shrub, its tiny branches flattened an’ spread under the weight of his boots. ]

[ This poor shrub did nothing wrong, and Keith is unwittingly encouraging its demise. Oh well. Keith gets to his feet, eyeing the drop down from the roof back to the street below. ]

i don't know about that
you two are pretty close from what i can tell

[ ah fuck. that’s the only bit of warning shiro is allowed when a hoard of terrorizers round into his safe haven. there’s an uproar of hollering, heckling and screeching laughter.

it’s a bloodbath of red.

the wall behind shiro is splattered with powder. the murdered shrub is too. again, shiro breathes too much of it in and ends up coughing on it. he opens his eyes and feels… unbalanced. sweet, yet sour. warm on intent, yet steely cold from jealous disappointment.

he tightens his grip, the phone’s casing giving one ominous creak. ]

No. We aren’t. Anyone who knows me would realize I don’t share.

[ best... friends? there's more to it than that. clearly. shiro doesn't refute it in the moment, although he doesn't label it either. all he knows is keith and him belong together, as friends, as allies, as -- whatever. and whoever this usurper is, needs to gtfo. ]

[ Huh. Okay, that's new. "I don't share: is a pretty far cry from "It's none of my business" and the difference has even Keith, riding high on a whimsical mood as he is, staring at his phone for an extra beat. A light breeze sends an abandoned horn rolling into his ankle and he picks it up almost absent mindedly as he considers the shift in attitude.

Well. Can't say he dislikes it, so that's easy enough. Shiro's been a friend for lots of people, but of course Keith likes to think that what they have goes above and beyond that. A brother? Best friend? Neither of those things sit quite right, though he'll go word hunting later. Right now, there's a bit of tantalizing potential in this that Keith wants to prod at. ]

oh? you want to make me yours?

[ The more he mulls the words over, the more it seems to click neatly into place. He'll have to put a pin in that one. ]

[ it’s like an itch he can’t scratch. no, better yet, it’s like his skin is too tight and he can’t relax. the agitation builds and there isn’t an outlet to expend the energy that has his fingers flexing an’ his feet pacing. back an’ forth, he paces in that cut-out between shops and stares at the tiny screen until the next text comes through.

initially, his feet still and he pauses there, just long enough to drag his voice low on a displeased sound. a growl? if shiro had the capability to be embarrassed by himself, he surely would be, but instead, he’s too distracted on the venehement you’re already mine.

is he though? truly?

shiro picks up his pacing again. no, he’s not. shiro’s been confusing and their unbreakable team dynamic has suffered in the wake. no wonder keith’s gone searching outside their partnership for distraction, attention, companionship. hmph. apparently, shiro’s company isn’t fulfilling enough to sate keith’s baser instincts. ]

Yeah. You’re gonna be mine.

[ the focus of his jealousy twists and it becomes volatile under the strain of frustrated passion. he’s mad suddenly, not at the mysterious rival but at keith himself. how dare he be there when he should be here. ]

When I’m through with you, you’ll forget all about this other guy.

[ It ought to be hilarious that Shiro hasn't worked out who said "other guy" is yet, but the...threat? promise? both?? dilutes the amusement with a curious tingle that runs straight down Keith's spine. The day spent at Filia bubbles back up to surface as it occasionally does when Keith lets his thoughts drift too much at night when there aren't any other distractions around.

In some way, maybe this whole conversation is just following the natural entropy of their relationship. Put that way, it seems absurd to question it. Futile, even. Especially when he believes 100% that Shiro can and would make good on those words. ]

you think so?
i was gonna rendezvous with him at the apartment in a bit but maybe you should come back now so i can introduce you

[ there’s an inconsistency here. keith said shiro knew the other guy. now he’s saying he’ll introduce him? for one, brief shining moment of clarity, shiro pauses in all manners of the word -- feet stilled, mind quiet, emotions banked. but rendezvous with him at the apartment stands out and it buries logic under the far more potent urge to break something.

the device only just barely evades becoming collateral damage. the stone model of a robin sitting on the edge of a bird bath? not so lucky. it fits too easily in the palm of a galra, glowing hand. ]

Do you do that often?

[ he’s mad again. though, that implies he ever stopped being mad. hurt too; borderline betrayed. keith’s been saying for weeks that the apartment is as much shiro’s as it is his and yet-- ]

Bring guys back to our place?

[ Again, this line of questioning ought to be mortifying, except... Keith's finding it a little endearing. ]

all the time

[ He sends that off, then pockets his phone to take a few steps back and then do a running jump off the roof. Y'know. One of those maneuvers that Shiro might have described as "showing off" but what can Keith say? Who gives Keith powers and expects him to use them responsibly? He lets himself free fall for a beat, then another, before the magic kicks in and he lands on his feet as gentle as a feather. There's at least one native gem giving him the stink eye for the stunt on Shiro's behalf, but all Keith does is laugh and sends off a follow up message. ]

just the one guy though 😉

[ if shiro’d seen that showboating, he’d be turned on, even without the red.

but in other news, he’s stomping out of his refuge. actual stomping. he cuts off an older native as he finds his way back on the street, but has some semblance of manners left to say sorry. although, the gruff voice and the sour expression take away from any sincerity.

since when does keith bring a guy back? all the time? shiro isn’t gone that often. how has he not noticed? or crossed paths with him? ]

Must be a special guy.

[ shiro hates him already. ]

[ Huh. And here Keith thought that last message made it more obvious who he's actually talking about. Maybe Shiro's playing a game here or something?? Fishing for compliments?? Keith thinks that one over while heading back to their apartment. Being out and about is a hazard though, with so many folks celebrating with more of that powder. ]

he's the best part of my life

[ There. Have your compliment, you giant glutton. ]

[ oh.

… oh.

reading that has his steps slowing and suddenly, the apartment seems so far away. unattainable in the way that he mind goes what’s the point. three’s a crowd, right? and keith is, apparently, more than happy with his new dude. ]

So it’s serious.

[ the thought of it being more than some fuck around, booty call fun makes it sting so much worse. ]

[ See, this is where he'd be backpedaling and going oh shit because this would imply Shiro doesn't like that it could be serious. Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.

Buuuuuut blue powder is powerful stuff and the reply just gets a raised eyebrow and a huffed laugh. ]

maybe. but i thought you were going to make me forget
just talking big then?

[ all of this comes down to one question: is it worth the fight? yes. of course yes. lying down, rolling over, and letting whoever this challenger is snatch his best friend away is unacceptable. it takes him a few moments to hype that earlier bravado back into existence, but soon, he’s double-timing his stride and beelining it back to the apartment.

he can’t be that great.

it can’t be that serious.

they’ve been here, what, six, seven weeks? people don’t fall head over heels that quickly -- right? ]

I’m on my way. See you in ten.

[ and even if they do, shiro still has his not just big talk shot to take. ]

[ Aha, that's the spirit! Despite looking a little smurfy right now, Keith is feeling pretty pleased with that fire he's lit under Shiro's ass. Maybe it's the fact that he, for once, looks like he's getting on with the program and celebrating like everyone else that's keeping mishchievous ruffians from throwing more powder at him on the way home or maybe that's just coincidence. Either way, Shiro gets another text that's completely oblivious to what he's done here. ]

ok see you soon then 🥰

[ It's not a race, but Keith makes it back to their apartment before Shiro does. Turns out Amethyst speed and the ability to fly over blocked crowds is pretty nifty. Nonetheless a Shiro in motion is no pushover and Keith only gets a few minutes in the bathroom attempting to get a comb through his hair when he hears the door opening. ]

That you, Shiro?

[ Not that anyone else has a key, but habit. ]

Edited 2021-03-12 01:52 (UTC)

[ so. about those crowds -- ten is bordering on sixteen by the time shiro climbs the stairs and gets open the door of keith’s apartment. steps in, nudges the door shut with a back pat of his foot and… great, he’s barely beyond the threshold and the annoyance is spiking. ]

Yeah.

[ thankfully, the call-back is brief enough that it can’t really carry his frustration into the other room. just -- what? who the hell else would it be? did keith have a key cut for his mystery man?

“maybe” serious his ass.

the apartment isn’t made for two people ( and certainly isn’t made for three, hmph ), so it doesn’t take any sort of guess work to figure out where keith is.

shiro’s an absolute mess; his head and hair are a complete mixture of red an’ green, with some streak marks across his eyes, his mouth where he’s clearly brushed his hand. neck, shoulders, upper torso are splattered as well, but the lower portion seemed to have fared much better. his emotions aren’t any less chaotic either. he’s frowning when he steps--barges into the bathroom, saddling up behind keith and eyeing him for one long moment in the reflection before-- ]

What are you doing with that?

[ some day, some way, he might be able to look back on this and find something funny in the absolute scandalous pitch of his voice. but right now, all he can process is: comb. the key was already a big deal, but keith detangling his rat’s nest for this guy coming over?

fuck, maybe shiro doesn’t stand a chance. ]

[ One moment Keith is frowning, fighting his way through a tangle, the next Shiro bursts into the bathroom looking like he's had a brawl with a watermelon. Keith has no right to laugh, considering his look ain't much better, but he blinks a little owlishly at the colorful intrusion. The weirdly hostile question only adds to his confusion, which is why his initial response is exceptionally well spoken. ]

Uh... [ No really, what. Expectation: a playful Shiro, Reality: whatever the fuck this is???? What is this even about? The comb??? That can't be right -- can it? He gestures at it tentatively, clearly expecting to be wrong: ] ... you mean this?

[ .... Wait, no. Rather than have a conversation with Shiro's reflection in the mirror, he twists a little to look behind him, free hand reaching up to brush a splattering of red powder off of Shiro's cheek. ]

Did something bad happen on the way home?

[ … though, on second thought, why is he so concerned about a comb? keith’s blue. meaning he’s not exactly cleaning up for this guy. and look at that, keith abandons whatever meager freshening he’s doing to instead look at shiro and touch shiro’s cheek. ha! shiro: 1. usurper: 0.

the attention settles the rattling in his skull and the aggression tempers. green still colors his emotions, just as red seeps in at the edges, but for the first time in a long while, shiro doesn’t feel like he’s on the brink of losing it. of losing keith, either.

he breathes deep and then exhales slow on a: ]

No.

[ there’s nothing remarkable about the bathroom. the make of it is small with one body, but with two standing inside, it’s cramped, especially when one of those bodies comes with shiro’s wide set of shoulders. it puts them closer to one another. he burns hotter then, knowing there’s so little space between them and thinking in the same breath, that it’s still too much. shoot his shot? he huffs on the reminder and steps forward. ]

Just -- people. Too many people.

[ galra metal goes to the countertop and grips at the lip, flesh hand hooking around keith’s waistline. palm presses to his lower belly and shiro takes another step. two. he bumps his pelvis to keith’s backside and settles in with a slight bend, the whole of him crowding into keith’s space. he drops his face into the mess of black an’ blue, nosing at his ear. ]

Made it harder to get back to you.

[ Whatever altercation has gotten Shiro in a stormy mood obviously hasn't let up, but Keith doesn't get long to dwell on it before Shiro takes a step closer and... oh, that's a hand at his waist and the rest of the space between them gone. Keith may have invited this, but starting off on a spike of confusion had made him think this was going in a very different direction. His breath catches as his heart skip flip skips on a beat. This isn't fair, he thinks, as a puff of warm air tickles his ear. Being wrapped up in Shiro's arms shouldn't be able to make him smile so easily and yet....

He puts the comb down on the counter, abandoning the attempt to make himself a little more presentable. The element of surprise has long gone by now, and if Shiro's reaction was anything to go by, it wasn't the good kind of surprise anyway. Even so Keith relaxes, head angled back with a grin. ]

Hey, you made it. That's all that matters.

[ His hand snakes up higher, grazing through the scrub of Shiro's hair until fingers affectionately card through that now red and green floof. Weird moods aside, Christmas has certainly come early, huh? ]

No more thinking about other people when it's just you and me.

[ yes, all that matters is that he’s here… specifically to remind keith that he doesn’t need anyone else. though, it seems like keith is the one doing the convincing here, because as fingers catch at his floof, shiro thinks this is it. this is all he needs. he’s weak for having his hair played with and he gives into the feeling easily. eyes slipping closed and head tilting to make keith’s reach that much easier, shiro smiles through the overwhelming sense of comfort…

only for it to sour on the next few words. he grunts and cracks open his eyes, glaring over keith’s shoulder at his own reflection. other people -- right. isn’t someone supposed to be showing up soon? to seduce keith away?

he tightens his arm and tucks keith in, full-body pressing as though that will cement the connection an’ fend off any attempt to separate them. ]

What about the other guy?

[ barbed with accusation, shiro’s voice drops low and his gaze shifts, staring down keith’s reflection instead. ]

[ Contentment is a good look on Shiro. Keith admires it, even if it's quick to dissipate in a flash of irritation. His hand stills at the accusation, eyes round with confusion at first, but that fades just as quickly.

Other guy? Pffft. Keith doesn't laugh, but his expression's gone mischievous as the pieces fall into place. This whole time Shiro never worked out Keith was talking about him? Incredible. He doesn't think he was being very subtle, but there's something kinda endearing about this. Something he should know better than to stick poke just that bit more, but he can't deny that he's liking just how tight Shiro's holding onto him. ]

Oh yeah. About that.... hold on.

[ Reluctantly, he takes his hand off the floof to twist around fully. It involves a pinch of grinding now that Shiro's taken the liberty of squeezing them together, but is anyone really complaining? Now facing Shiro properly, Keith's first act is to ... promptly ignore him and reach into his pocket. He pulls out his phone, and pulls up his texts with a playful smile.

If Shiro's looking at the screen, he'll get a preview of what Keith sends out. One way or another, there'll be a ping coming from his pocket along with the message: hey genius 🍆🍑]

[ … seriously, keith? this is not the time to start texting the boy toy. especially in the wake of a grind that has shiro’s stomach looping and toes curling. pay attention to me shiro thinks; only me. but the phone is already in keith’s hand. being forced to watch keith’s face light up on a smile, dumps a canister of fuel on shiro’s ire. pettiness urges him to snatch the phone, to maybe even crush it in a flash of purple light. he’s already murdered a shrub and a bird bath, why not add a phone to that list?

because it’s keith’s.

even annoyed as he is, he’s more bark than bite. he can’t actually bring himself to overstep that boundary and force keith to stop pursuing whatever with whoever.

ten seconds later, it doesn’t matter anyway. a familiar ping comes from his pocket and -- well, if this is the designated time for cells, guess it isn’t wrong of shiro to check his, yeah? he hesitates nonetheless, eyeing the almost self-satisfied look about keith. there’s something distinctly suspicious here but shiro fishes his cell out and opens the notification.

blink. squint. stare.

he drags his gaze up and finds keith’s. slowly, his expression collapses in on itself and he’s frowning then, looking lost, confused. ]

But you said…

[ what had keith said? shiro isn’t sure anymore. but the frown relaxes some, tentative hope seeping in. the line is familiar. it’s just like the first one -- the one that keith hadn’t meant to send to him. but this one he sent with intent and shiro’s beginning to suspect he may have misread the situation. ]

I’m babe?

[ The bewilderment is absolutely precious and Keith decides it's time to put both their phones away. He tugs at Shiro's device, prising it out of his hands and sets both of them on the counter behind him. They're irrelevant now, he's decided. Next, he reaches up to gently cup Shiro's face with both hands. He doesn't move any closer, just wanting to savor looking at Shiro this way. Close, tender, like the world is just the two of them.

A beat passes in silence as Keith carefully traces the bottom edge of the horizontal scarring on Shiro's face. It's the first time he's ever touched it, and maybe he ought to know better than to touch it now, but he does it holding eye contact throughout. No shying away, no flinching, just a warm smile and something of a hopeful expression to mirror Shiro's. ]

I like the sound of "mine" too.

[ keith cups his face and again, the loud rattling of turbulent thoughts abruptly quiets. he can breathe. he can think. actually, no, he takes that back -- he can’t do either. not when keith is looking at him like that. like he’s the beginning and end of his universe. ridiculous, shiro must be seeing things, because that can’t be right.

except, a thumb brushes at his scar, softening those thoughts until he’s preening under the attention. shiro’s never much liked the mark -- or any remnant reminder of his time in galra captivity. to this day, when he notices someone’s gaze drifting to it in the midst of a conversation, he hates it a little more. keith’s attentions are different though. they aren’t fueled by curiosity or pity. and they aren’t given as a juvenile ploy to soothe something that is forever damaged and unable to heal. instead, they’re almost reverent in their sweetness. kind and quietly accepting, because just as shiro adores all parts of keith, keith returns that affection tenfold. all in all, it makes him feel cherished. loved even.

he’s drowsy on the feeling. a slow, mildly distracted lowering of his lashes and -- oh?

he eyes that hopeful smile for an extended beat and then he tilts his chin, lips bumping against the the line of keith’s thumb, where it meets the beginnings of his palm. shiro doesn’t taste skin though. no. of course it’s worn leather. still, shiro presses his smile harder into that glove and makes a point to purse his lips for an unmistakable kiss. ]

In that case...

[ lashes still half-mast. lips still brushing black fabric. shiro’s palms settle on keith’s hips and holds him there. ]

Wanna make it official?

[ It wouldn't be the first time Keith has caught himself praying that Shiro can't actually feel the way his heart is pounding. It's stupidly loud in his own ears, and of course of all the times he'd be stuck in a small space with good acoustics, this really had to be it, huh? At least he isn't facing the mirror and can't see how he's practically melting over just the simplest touch of Shiro's lips to his hand.

Or glove, more accurately. Maybe he should never wear those again. The petulant thought hits Keith in a funny spot when compounded with the way his entire being feels so airy and light. Keith doesn't dare look away from Shiro's gaze, but he discreetly taps his boot on the ground just to make sure he isn't literally floating. Amethyst problems, you know? ]

I ... [ His voice comes out shaky, a little awed. Shiro's always been amazing -- radiant, even, but also always teetering just out of reach. All this time chasing after Shiro for one reason or another, trying to keep him safe, to keep him protected, to bring him back home ... is that where all of this was leading? ]

Of course I want that.

[ It doesn't take much thought to give that answer. One kiss and now he wants to be kissed everywhere else. He leans up onto the tips of his toes, on the verge of a nervous laugh. Shiro's lips are right there -- so... should he? What does he even know about kissing anyway.... ]

[ there’s only the steadying reassurance that he wants this, keith wants this, and they need to be together; when those three thoughts are the centerfold of his consciousness, then it becomes much easier to simply move and feel, rather than think. afterall, thinking is usually what gets him into trouble. he’s definitely never thought about this -- no. never thought for one second how keith would feel against him on a lean up or how much of a dip shiro would need to make to close the gap between their lips as they sway closer, closer.

he’s looking at his mouth. the thought spurs him to catch the swell of his bottom lip between his teeth as a smile slowly grows, spreads, and lopsides to dimple hard to one side. all shiro has to do is meet keith. he wants that; even knows there’s no way to prevent it, because keith throws himself in with abandon in every task he puts his mind to, so keith is going to get everything he wants out of him and that’s… something. see, shiro is much the same. when he’s in, he’s in one-hundred percent. and god, of course he wants to open keith up. to pry open those lips and taste his tongue until both their mouths are bruised and wet and smiling. but there’s that competitive side to him too -- to their friendship -- that even the headiness of compromised senses can’t completely quell. in fact, the fog in his mind twists it ‘round, making it darker on a burning desire to tease, to make keith wait. just until shiro positions him as he likes.

keith is already soft limbed and sweetly open enough to welcome him in, but shiro’s hands find his hamstrings to heft him up. he sets him on the counter’s edge and then brushes his palms to the inseam of those thighs to boldly push them wider, just to feel the ease in which keith’s body can move for him. then, he nudges his own thighs to the edge of the counter. ]

You want a lot of things.

[ shiro can tell. want his words, want his kisses, want his body -- maybe? yes. ] Me too. [ with the jealousy tempered, red burns hotter, churning on need for some sort of outlet. even pressed together like this doesn’t seem to be enough and so he crowds further into keith’s space, forehead nudging keith’s and nose nuzzling in. ]

Baby…

[ he coos and he sighs and he lifts his galra hand to cup the side of that pretty face, gently craning it back to arch that neck an’ have keith tipped fully for him. ]

Can I kiss you?

Edited (i glanced at it and saw a cap'd word. :|) 2021-03-14 02:11 (UTC)

[ Keith lets out a surprised sound as Shiro does the unexpected and hoists him up on the counter. Fuck -- he should've anticipated something like this, seeing how Shiro's all mercurial today, incensed one moment and tender the next. But the switch from exchanging gentle looks to force has Keith more breathless than anything. ]

Shiro....

[ The name comes out on an exhale, his voice languid as that hand comes to tease his thighs apart. Keith obliges without second thought, spreading his legs around Shiro and just as quickly locking his calves behind Shiro's ass to keep them pressed together. His lips part instinctively as Shiro presses in closer, a warm thrum skipping down his spine. And yet, there's still a spark of defiance in him that prompts him to grab a fistful of collar. ]

I just want one thing.

[ This isn't the time to be making pedantic corrections, but Keith has a point to make after that whole misunderstanding from earlier. He sucks in a deep breath, head tipping back. He'd never allow anyone else to do this to him. Spread his legs, expose his neck, tease a kiss -- he'll be damned if Shiro doesn't properly appreciate that. Or maybe he'll just be damned in general. He starts to arch up, intent on claiming those perfect lips hovering above his, but catches himself in the next beat.]

A shower. I want a shower.

[ Jesus. Keith lets go of the shirt immediately, scooting back on instinct. Unfortunately, the graceful maneuver ends with his ass plopping into the sink. ]

Ugh.

[ one moment keith is there and in the next, he’s -- not. shiro’s been wading through the ramifications of emotional whiplash for a good half hour, but up until now, it hasn’t hit quite as hard. here, he inwardly stumbles, the way his brain locks up on a resounding huh physically taking a toll on him. face blanking, hand freezing -- he stands stock still for one, two and then he blinks hard, putting every bit of brainpower into rationalizing how the fuck keith winded up in the sink.

in the end, all he gets is a simple: that’s not right. he shouldn’t be there.

and then his mind jumpstarts on the logical solution. get him out. ]

Hey -- here.

[ palms skirt around; over thighs, around hips and down, under to cup the seat of keith’s ass. somewhere, deep in the part of his mind not fumbling through weighted, foggy thoughts, he realizes there’s something very off about touching keith so casually but currently, he’s more concerned with how off not having keith against him is, so if he has to physically haul him by his cheeks, to bring him back up and press their pelvises flush together? then so be it.

except, he doesn’t drag keith back to his earlier spot. he picks him up, hugs him in and then steps back, setting keith down to stand in front of the counter instead. he’s still very much in keith’s space and one hand stays, pushing with a touch more force to maneuver keith along as shiro turns them both toward the shower stall, all the while tucking keith into his side. ]

We can take a shower.

[ as in together. obviously, that’s what keith meant, right? ]

[ And while Keith is mentally scrambling to try and get his thoughts sorted, those are Shiro's hands on his ass just casually adding another five questions to the bottomless pit. His face starts heating up, autonomic nervous system seemingly quicker on the uptake on how to react than the rest of him, but before long he's back on his feet and being directed towards the shower.

If only his head wasn't giving him garbled radio silence as feedback. On the one hand, he remembers the goddamn texts, on the other hand ther is no way in hell he's about to try and unpack any of the last half hour of his life while Shiro's got him pressed close. Hell, his heart is still pounding hard, though Keith isn't even sure for what reason anymore. ]

...we?

[ His voice comes out quieter and pitched higher than it should. The implications of the "we" don't even register right away, still hung up on the ghost of Shiro's face pressed up close to his, their bodies intertwined. His cheeks get warmer as he's marched right up to the edge of the bath, which all but guarantees he'll be looking at anything but Shiro for the next couple of ticks. Shampoo. Body wash. Yes, good neutral objects to hold his focus.... until: ]

Wait. Together?

[ Keith comes to a stop then, trying to shake off whatever lingering thrum their uh... interactions have left. That's just the powder talking, right? He looks up at Shiro, not startled exactly, but concerned. Yes, he'll just redirect a burgeoning panic into concern for Shiro. That's nice and easy. ]

You sure about that?

Edited (so many dumb typos...) 2021-03-14 08:21 (UTC)

[ why does keith sound so surprised? uncertain, too? this is his suggestion. perhaps he’s trying ( again ) at the whole hard-to-get routine? snerk. shiro muffles the urge to laugh and diverts that amusement, focusing instead on another squeeze that squishes keith to his side that much more. too late for that -- they’re long past the shy, demure scene.

not that shiro is complaining, necessarily. he likes the pinking of his cheeks. at least, in the few spots that aren’t obscured with powder. ]

Yeah.

[ they really should get rid of that blue, huh. shiro’s mildly frustrated by it all of a sudden. he doesn’t much care that he himself is splotched red and green or that there’s that uncomfortable caked feeling that makes moving any which way annoying. but knowing there’s pieces of keith that are marred and hidden due to some dumb powder? travesty. keith is too pretty to cover up. ]

I can help you wash your hair.

[ and he uses that as a self-indulgent cue. he pushes his fingers through the heavy fringe of keith’s bangs and smooths the hair back, catching it underneath his palm there on the top of keith’s head. it opens up a good portion of keith’s face and shiro takes full advantage of the newly revealed skin by leaning down to press a kiss right here between his brows, right where there’s that small, concerned knot. ]

Your back too.

[ he just… won’t leave keith alone. shiro is quite content ( still ) holding keith tight to him and nosing ( now ) at his forehead, up to his hairline. he presses his smirk close and -- yes, the hand at his waist drops slightly, not so subtly moving for what will most definitely be an ass grab. ]

Anything you want.

[ Keith has been through a lot in the last couple of years. He knows how to handle infiltrating an enemy base, how to navigate between two black holes without being crushed to dust. Hell, even an all out alien invasion wouldn't be so daunting. This is not something he's equipped to handle.. Curse being too much of a spitfire to know how to deal with handsiness except by a swift grab and yank maneuver to dispatch a dislocated thumb with surgical efficacy.

But this is Shiro and as messed up as it is, that kiss to his brow spins him a little off kilter, dizzy with mixed feelings that clash, collide and whatever train of thought Keith had just stands no chance of sticking. It's just Shiro in his head. Shiro and his own racing nerves from what ... anxiety? Anticipation?

You want a lot of things. Anything you want.

Fuck. His internal monologue is useless here. Shiro's right -- he does want a lot of things. Contrary, demanding things. Keith swallows hard as Shiro's hand finds his ass, trying to stay focused on the bigger picture: the powder. ]

Okay. [ He breathes out, gently pulling that hand off his backside. ] C'mon, big guy. You're distracting me. Let's get in the shower then. Gotta do something about that Christmas elf hair of yours.

[ Maybe washing the powder off of Shiro will help??? Keith couldn't say if it'd work or not considering he's still caked in powder and he's (mostly???) back to his senses, but a better course of action is eluding him. ]

[ and how about the accents of blue too? shiro is basically a christmas decoration at this point, true, but he’s been dallying too close to keith. when he pulls back to peer down, there’s powdered blue sticking to his smile and blue dusting his nose. thankfully they’re far enough from the mirror that his chances of seeing his own ridiculousness near zero. would he care though? probably not. his focus is set and there’s little that can detour him now.

… except, of course, keith himself. ]

Okay, okay. I get it. You’re in charge. [ he grins lazy and lets his hand be moved. he could try again, he supposes; it would be easy enough to break that gentle hold and go for a cheek. but keith’s determined to get them powder free before they resume their earlier canoodling. that’s what shiro thinks at least? either way, there will be plenty of time to map out keith’s body. shortly, that is.

no splurging of any kind has gone into this single-bathroom. it’s a tub shower hybrid and looking at it now, shiro knows it’s going to be narrow an’ cramped. perfect. he finally, finally lets go of keith completely, his powder-fogged brain whispering encouragements that the sooner they get in the shower, the sooner he can have a wet keith against him instead. he hums low on the thought, grin softening into a smile as he goes about untucking his shirt from his slacks. ]

I liked that by the way. [ bossy keith, yes. but he’s mainly talking about-- ] Big guy.

[ up and over goes his shirt. he pulls the rest of it down his arms and then balls the fabric between his palms. chin tucks lower and he angles a sideways glance to keith, his expression turning sly. ]

Did you like me calling you baby? [ he turns then, takes a step and -- god, not again. watch out keith, shiro wants back in your space. ] Do you want me to keep calling you that?

....

[ In charge of what. What is this thing he is allegedly in charge of? Keith opens his mouth, ready to ask, but thinks better of it and presses his lips together instead. He isn't ready to hear whatever Shiro thinks this is all preamble to, and moreover doesn't want to get sidetracked thinking about it. Maybe when this is over, he will just chuck his phone down the trash chute so he never inadvertently sends another emoji again.

Notably, he hasn't actually started taking off his own clothes, partly out of apprehension and partly because he's busy keeping an eye on Shiro. Gotta make sure he doesn't fly off the handle over something innocuous again, right? That's totally why his eyes linger on those incredible abs. Yeah, he's not getting lost here at all.....

Which is why, he's definitely not startled by the question. Keith eyes snap up -- fuck you, he's not flustered again -- and stares for a beat before almost breaking into a laugh. So is that Shiro's pet name of choice then? ]

Duly noted. [ The words come out twisted around the beginnings of a smirk. Keith ducks under Shiro's arm and comes to stand behind him, both hands pressed squarely on his back. ]

You can call me baby or anything else you want all you like when you've been good, big guy.

[ That's right, He's in charge now. Just don't ask what the hell he's in charge of. Giving Shiro's ass a little nudge with his knee (payback obviously!) he directs Shiro's attention forward again. ]

] I want you clean. You can do that for me, right?

[ keith’s caught up some in the size department. height, muscle mass, air of authority -- all good and all checkpoints on a list shiro didn’t realize he had. still, keith may be big… but shiro is bigger. so it’s funny; that keith is bullying him around and actually succeeding at it. there’s an evade, then a kneecap bumping his ass and shiro laughs softly along...

until the good-humor putters out on the next breath. he pauses, physically, mentally; he takes stock of what he’s looking at. from the showerhead to the assorted bottles to the few feet of standing room in the tub… and then he looks down at the shirt still balled in his right hand. slowly, his brows draw down and he’s not quite glaring but he’s getting closer with every second he’s allowed for a suspicion to grow in his head.

when you’ve been good. i want you clean. you can do that.

he thinks then of how keith hasn’t been making any indication of wanting to undress himself. a glance over his shoulder confirms it. keith said he wanted a shower, didn’t he? this is his idea. though -- maybe it isn’t? now, shiro thinks of how uncertain keith had been when shiro said we.

i to we to you… -- maybe this isn’t about being together. maybe this started off with keith wanting to get away from shiro.

it doesn’t make sense, not when he considers how easily keith’s body molded to his, but that’s the problem -- shiro isn’t thinking about that. no. instead, he’s feeling green and far less charitable as his mind refocuses on that supposed usurper. keith said...! but what if he was lying. maybe there is a guy. and keith needs shiro occupied so he can go be with him. ]

You’re coming too.

[ slowly, he turns around to face keith and he drops his shirt, subtly squaring his shoulders an’ ramrodding his posture, just so he can stare down at keith with a little more force. ]

Why are you still dressed?

[ Ah. Defiant Shiro makes his fated return. At least this time, keith isn't as caught off guard by it, though he does blink before schooling his expression into something more contemplative. Two different colored powders, two different moods -- would explain the Jekyll and Hyde thing going on. ""Explain."" You'd think Keith has gotten resigned to space bullshit, but nope. Still hates it. But that isn't his biggest problem right now. With the levity gone, Keith meets Shiro's eyes head on, taking a deep breath. ]

Because I get distracted looking at you.

[ There's a grain of truth to that at any rate. Shiro is far too easy on the eyes, and as much as Keith would like to touch, he doesn't think he should. Not while Shiro isn't quite in his right mind. Expression faintly wistful, he bends low to undo the laces on his boots and takes them off one after another. Once they're set off to the side, he straightens up again, eyes on Shiro's. ]

Stupid, I know. [ He wonders if just grabbing the shower head and dousing Shiro in cold water might just be the better move, but instead rests his hand on a shoulder. ] You just have that kind of effect on me.

[ if there’s a secret phrase to calm the beast, that must’ve been it, because just like that, the quickly deteriorating situation calms. shiro stops grinding his teeth, stops frowning, stops hating, stops most everything really. the fight drains and he blinks hard, wordlessly staring for… well, however long it takes keith to slip out of his boots. time becomes nothing to him. instead, his awareness starts and stops with keith, and it’s almost comical then, how perplexed he must look when keith cozies into his space.

he thought he’d gotten used to it -- to people looking him up and down -- because as modest as he pretends to be, he’s well aware of the striking figure he presents. which makes him sound vain, right? he never set out to be. see, the sculpting of his body has always, honestly, been an afterthought. the weight-lifting started due to his disease. the bulking continued for survival in the ring and with voltron. and even with the war momentarily put on pause, he’s kept up with the work-outs not only out of habit, but because there’s a permanent weight on his right that’s better stabilized with a strong body. the fact that his combined muscle mass, wide shoulders and trim waistline tend to ping the widely accepted aesthetics of most people is just a happy coincidence and not something he set-out to do for himself. so he’s dealt with it for years. it doesn’t happen quite as often nowadays as it used to when he was the garrison’s new, rising star ( the looks he gets now, he tends to chalk off as curiosity for the facial scar or the metal arm ) but still, it’s been a long time since he’s felt so -- on display.

if it’s keith looking at him like that though…

if someone like keith, who is as beautiful inside as he is out, can so clearly adore what shiro has left to offer, then maybe he doesn’t mind it so much.

he doesn’t preen under the attention. passion doesn’t run rampant. rewarded jealousy doesn’t twist into glee. he blinks slow instead and gives the slightest jolt as keith’s hand touches his shoulder, as though he’s just coming to. his body reacts with a fluttery, looping sensation down low that has him feeling the slightest bit light-headed on possibilities, however, there’s no urgency to it this time. tentative, slow, he repeats stupid, i know and scans that sweetly open expression.

something about it bothers him. he can’t see it. stupid, i know. that? maybe? another self-reprimand; like keith should be ashamed, like he’s alone in this. he isn’t. because -- one, two and then he breathes out. ]

You’re beautiful.

[ his shoulders drop on the exhale, the whole of him growing smaller, softer to lose that harsh stance from before. another blink and the fog clears a little more. he doesn’t understand what is happening. no, wait, that’s not right. he has every necessary memory but he’s missing the driving intent behind the actions. he can’t place why he felt so compelled to strip a moment ago or why he’d been barraging keith so intensely for possibly seeing someone else. someone else? he swallows and nudges that thought away. somehow, the disaster of the last half hour isn’t at the top of his priority list. instead, standing in this spot and looking at keith takes precedence. ]

You know that, don’t you?

[ there’s no red and no green anymore. the timer’s out and whether keith realizes it or not, that sweetly imploring look about shiro, that’s all him. ]

[ The vague hostility fades from Shiro's body language, scowl softening and Keith gives that shoulder a squeeze, hoping to help ease the tension off the rest of the way. He'd be lying if he said he really knows how to navigate the constant mood shifts, but they aren't Shiro's fault and he'd rather his friend .... insert word here .... could just be eased out of whatever confusion the powder is causing.

Compliments, reassurance -- that'd seemed to work before, but they're mortifying to share now and Keith doesn't really know how he's supposed to dig himself out of the things he's saying. Pretend it all meant nothing? Haha, jk bruh? Great.

But then comes Shiro's response and Keith finds he doesn't know what to do with that either. He pauses, dumbfounded for a second that bleeds into another and another. It's odd. Misplaced somehow. Whatever opinions people have about him, the ones he's used to hearing aren't about his physical appearance. Being reckless, recalcitrant and ready to throw down hadn't exactly been conducive to commentary of that kind.

So forget what about he'd called stupid earlier. This current swoop in his stomach and the smile tugging at the corners of his lips? This is stupid because Shiro doesn't mean it. It's just powder talking. But Keith doesn't attempt to hide his sappy smile right away. He holds eye contact for a moment, a little thankful for the reassurance, even if it's coming from a weird place and then: ]

C'mon. Let's get you in the shower.

[ And with that, he drops eye contact, heart somewhere between full and hurting, and starts working on undoing the button on Shiro's pants. ]

[ maybe he shouldn’t have said any of that. it’s just -- keith is honest and shiro hasn’t been. since that rendezvous on the roof, he’s been trying to be more mindful of his selective hearing. when keith opens up, shiro wants to be more apt to respond in kind, just so there aren’t misconstrued perceptions again and that they both know there’s mutual respect, acceptance an’ affection between them. though, is it truly necessary for him to punctuate the fact that hey, they’re both attractive? sounds stupid. it is stupid. not exactly something one casually throws at a best friend.

he can’t even fully blame the powder. that is what has been going on here, right? keith’s blue and shiro remembers how red an’ green his reflection looked. sumarlok is strange to say the least and with the weird things they’ve experienced already, some mind alerting powder isn’t beyond what is, unfortunately, possible. hell, they sure have their work cut out for them. the things keith said, what shiro said, what shiro did --

-- what keith is currently doing…?

shiro shakes free of the seemingly bottomless pit of worries and comes to with a noise dying in his throat. he snatches keith’s wrists, but doesn’t actually yank them away. his body freezes up on shock? horror? both? either way, he can’t will his muscles back into motion, only the few in his fingers to tighten a little more for a squeeze. ]

Uh… no.

[ he clears his throat, hoping to bring it back down to his usual pitch. is the powder still affecting keith? must be. it’s not like keith would be so bold as to take shiro’s pants off for him. ludicrous; that’s what this whole thing is. still, the admonishment doesn’t help much and his cheeks warm nonetheless, adding more to an already red splattered face. ]

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

[ No? Keith flinches reflexively, taking a step back like Shiro's pants have given him a first degree burn. Fuck. Why is he even surprised by another volatile mood change? He folds his arms, looking up sheepishly. ]

Oh.

[ What else is there to say to this? Seeing as Shiro is neither angry or lecherous or some ungodly combination of both, it seems safe to assume the powder has finally worn off, which can only be a good sign, but Keith can't actually bring himself to relax. He ought to be relieved, but he's uncertain and unwilling to let his guard down in case this is prelude to further blindsiding. He looks up uncertain, trying to ignore the way the bathroom somehow has gotten even more cramped now that there's some space between them.

At least going back to wanting the earth to swallow him whole is a familiar enough sentiment. Keith doesn't manage to hold eye contact long at all before the tiles suddenly become very interesting. ]

I was just .... [ trying to coax you into the shower to wash the powder off?? Is that even credible after what he'd just said about finding Shiro a lil mesmerizing? Fuck. How did he even get pushed into having to explain shit when it'd been Shiro that'd insisted on a shower together??

Keith's brow furrows, his own mood shifting with annoyance. Not quite at Shiro, but with this whole ridiculous situation. Of all the things that can force compelled behavior, they have to be fucking wary of powder now? Well shit. Good thing this crap didn't exist back home for the Galra to weaponize?? He looks up frowning, the nervous lilt to this tone now gone entirely. ]

I was trying to get you to wash the red and green stuff off. You didn't seem to want to unless it was together.

[ .... Actually maybe he should just stop fucking talking entirely now that he's kind of pissed. Keith takes another step back, gaze shifting to his boots. He could just grab those and make a beeline for the door. That sounds like a solid plan ]

You can wash up first. I'll leave you to it.

[ … so not influenced by powder. gotcha. he doesn’t even know what to do with that. did it wear off in the span of the two breaths it took shiro to say no? or did it wear off before… -- he puts a thumbtack in that thought and promptly refuses to finish it. of course, the explanation that inevitably comes to justify why nimble fingers were coaxing his pants open makes some semblance of sense. just not a lot. eager as shiro remembers himself being, he thinks he didn’t need the help, but ah well, keith’s always been particularly hands on when he sees a task needing to be done.

… somehow, putting it in those terms doesn’t make him feel any better.

how he feels right now doesn’t matter though, because he knows that look. he has roughly three seconds before keith cuts his losses and turns tail to escape the panic shiro knows is suffocating his thoughts and coaxing out that anger. ]

Keith. Wait.

[ and that’s as far as he gets. he glances to those boots as well and hesitates on a noticeable pause that inevitably breaks on a sigh. gaze finds its way back to keith and now he’s the one frowning, albeit kinder -- more cautious than angry. ]

I want to talk about this. [ the words are out and then he thinks shirt. where is it again? having to even wonder has him agitated and antsy, the nervous energy pushing him to run his fingers through his hair. only to promptly wince when his hand comes back red and green. ]

After. [ a beat. ] Once we’re both clean.

[ of course he wants to talk about it. it likely doesn’t need saying. keith is… just about the most important person to him, here and back home. mind altering powder that makes you say weird things is bad enough, but if shiro damaged the comfortable trust between them by touching keith so freely… ]

Just know that I don’t blame you. [ even if he blames himself for something he, logically, knows isn’t his fault. ] And this doesn’t change anything between us.

[ at least he hopes it doesn’t. right keith? they’re still good, right? ]

[ If it were anyone else telling Keith to wait, there's a strong chance he wouldn't have bothered. Call it being an asshole, but Keith knows himself well enough to realize nothing good comes out of forcing a conversation when he isn't up to having one. Certainly Lance would have gotten a closed door for all of his troubles. But this isn't Lance, this is Shiro and as much as Keith wants to get out and reclaim more space for himself, he bites the inside of his lip and waits.

A stubborn part of him wants to ask what is there to talk about? The more level headed part of him knows to keep his mouth shut. It's obvious what they need to talk about, it's just that the conclusion seems.... predictable? They'll reach some amicable agreement to disregard everything that was said and done, right? Why prolong the awkward when he can just fast forward to the conclusion. Keith stays quiet, shoving aside the more acerbic replies... only to manage a flat: ]

Okay.

[ He picks up his boots, and doesn't meet Shiro's eye as he straightens up and turns around to leave. He ought to say more, but frustration keeps him silent. Nobody here is at fault for anything, it's just part of the reality they're dealing with and... well. That's that. ]

Talk in a bit then.

[ At the very least, he doesn't slam the door. It's just a quick and quiet open, shut, bye. ]

Edited (missing word :/) 2021-03-16 03:29 (UTC)

[ so… is the blue powder more difficult to scrub off or is keith avoiding him? seated there on the couch, shiro glances to the wall clock and falls even deeper into his frown. whereas shiro had been five-minutes-tops quick, keith is pushing twenty minutes. right. shiro’s leaning more toward the latter. if he’s lucky -- which history says he is not -- this will amount to nothing more than a week long avoidance of awkward glances and stilted conversation. they’ll be fine though, right? he twists his lips and drops his gaze from following that slow ticking hand. actually, he’s not convinced that he’ll ever recover the kind of normalcy he had before because holy hell, that revealed a side of him that no one was ready for. except keith. keith had been ready. very willing too. sighing loudly, he squeezes his eyes shut and presses a palm to the gap between his brows, as though trying to physically shove out the memories of keith perched high with his legs spread. now is definitely not the time.

he’s been biding his time, reiterating reassurances that it isn’t his fault. that it’s the powder’s. honestly, it doesn’t comfort him as much as he wishes it would. maybe it’s because he knows the explanation isn’t worthy of keith. he’d manhandled keith around, practically leeched himself to him and spouted off entitlements like keith is his, to hell with anyone who thinks otherwise, keith included. so all that and what -- suddenly it’s okay because it had been the powder? keith is supposed to just shrug it off and forgive him? as though those actions are separate from shiro, so keith has no right to be mad at him?

sighing, he shifts his weight and starts anxiously bouncing his leg, staring out but not really seeing anything beyond his own thoughts. maybe it’s a good thing keith is taking his time; shiro isn’t exactly dying to talk this through either. though, the longer shiro is surrounded by silence, the more his mind runs. all of a sudden, he thinks of the clone. it had lost its mind too and fallen to baser instincts. the two scenarios are on opposite ends of the spectrum and even linking them is a stretch that only shiro can see but just as the first left keith hurt beyond belief, he fears this second slip in control might have damaged the perception that shiro is steady an’ safe.

there’s a meow below and shiro breaks free of his thoughts to glance down, just as the still nameless kitten rubs up against his stationary leg. the comfort is short lived, because just as he’s reaching down to snag behind her ear an’ go for a scratch, the bathroom door opens in the other room. the kitten’s head swivels toward the sound and then she’s off, scampering across the apartment as though she can anticipate the ~~stupidiness~~ seriousness of the impending conversation. traitor.

footsteps sound and when shiro looks to the bedroom door, there’s keith, crossing into the living room. abruptly, shiro forces his leg to stop bouncing and then he’s sitting stock-still, doing his best to appear calm, composed, normal… and ultimately failing. he does manage a friendly smile though, even if it reads a little too forced. start off easy. that’s his plan. ease into the bigger stuff; don’t ambush keith the second he sits down. ]

Looks like you got it all.

[ unlike shiro who found some red after scratching behind his ear a few minutes ago. the smile turns crooked even as nerves have his stomach churning uncomfortably. ] How’s it feel to no longer be an oversized blueberry?

[ The long hot shower helps. Keith isn't really one to bother with those as a form of stress relief when there are so many other things he could think of doing with that time wasted, Hadn't exactly been a habit encouraged by sharing a bathroom with a bunch of other dysfunctional kids at the group home or by the Garrison either. But then again, just about anything is likely to be more relaxing than this talk waiting outside the door, huh?

He tells himself he's not avoiding Shiro exactly, but by the time the running water has stopped staining blue and his skin's gone pruney, he's forced to concede that maybe he is. The thought sits poorly, of course. Shiro is someone he can talk to about anything ... except intimacy specifically between them, apparently. They've been close for a long time. even more literally these days due to synchrony being what it is, but he's starting to realize that lines are getting blurred. Sure, powder is an easy culprit, but he doesn't know what to do with the awareness of what things between them could be like. Seems easier to sweep it all under the rug of stupid, hormonally charged bullshit that isn't ultimately worth ruminating over because that's not how they actually feel about each other. Or maybe the topic will rear its ugly head again simply because life here is fundamentally different from the one he's used to. There aren't any wars, no concrete "bigger picture" to stay focused on -- just some abstract sense of guilt that picks at the corners of his conscience whenever he thinks about the paladins. Krolia. The wolf. Not that he'd asked to wake up in Noctium ... or most of what's happened in his life.

But as much as he could stay in the shower longer until he's sterilized all feeling out of his thoughts, there's inevitably going to be a point where Shiro's concern is going to override his patience. Before that can happen, Keith forces himself out of the shower and out of the bathroom, dressed in a clean black shirt and pants and a towel draped over his wet hair. He catches the kitten darting off to a different corner of the apartment, and his eyes stay on her for a long moment before he finally looks at Shiro seated on the couch.

The lighthearted tone of the question doesn't match the tension in Shiro's body language . Keith doesn't know whether he's grateful for the attempt at levity or annoyed. That's always been Shiro's style -- approach cautiously, ease into harder conversations. At least when leadership wasn't the topic of choice, anyway. But it's so diametrically opposed to Keith's approach in just about everything that the knot in his stomach is tighter for having to feign normalcy first. Taking a deep breath, he folds his arms and shifts his gaze towards a painting on the wall. ]

Better, I guess? [ He takes a tentative step towards Shiro, then decides proximity is probably a bad idea and leans against the doorframe instead. He stays there, quiet for a beat and then: ] Not really my color.

[ It's also pretty obviously not what he wants to say, but if Shiro would rather handle this delicately than with a sledgehammer Keith supposes he can at least match the effort. ]

[ first the extended shower, now a reluctance to fully enter the room. alright. it’s not like shiro didn’t anticipate a heavy dosing of awkward. he understands it, even feels it himself, but rationality only softens the blow so far. it’s fine. shiro’s stubborn. he’s set to see this through with the little dignity he has left, so he resists the urge to resume his leg bouncing and keeps his smile, waiting out keith’s pause.

it’s not even that long. somehow, it seems to drag though and he reminds himself patience right before keith gives in with -- a joke? kind of? shiro thinks it’s meant to be lighthearted and shiro appreciates the attempt of matched levity. except, even well-intentions can hit wrong and here, shiro thinks red and feels himself grimacing despite his best efforts.

there’s no manual on the colors, obviously. but shiro knows the emotions that railroaded him, making it easy enough to guess by process of elimination. green with envy ring any bells? and red is widely accepted for amorous desires. he hasn’t quite figured out what blue has to do with flirtation but well, that’s what he thinks keith had been suffering from?

either way, between flirty and aggressively affectionate: ]

I don’t think you would’ve wanted red.

[ now it’s his turn to shy his gaze. it tips down and he picks at the fabric covering his right knee, smile twisting easily into a frown. ]

[ Well shit, now they're both being awkward and not looking at each other. Not that Keith picks up on that right away because he's guilty of the same thing, but it registers a few ticks later when he steals a furtive glance in Shiro's direction. The knot in his stomach tightens just that much further as he looks away again. ]

Probably not.

[ Why is he always so terrible at finding the right things to say? The familiar years long frustration wells up easily, but that's where axioms like patience yields focus come back to mind. Whether it's helpful is debatable. Not because he doesn't have the heart to be patient with Shiro, but because being patient with himself even though he's somehow actively making the situation worse seems.. undeserved. He sighs, yanking the towel off his head, letting it fall around his shoulders instead as he marches right up to the other side of the coffee table. While it's wet, his hair is distinctly mop-like, and Keith gives his bangs a resigned sweep off his forehead. [

Okay, look. Can we just ... [ He trails off. He thinks he knows what he wants going forward, but id that what Shiro wants? The forcefulness of his tone dissipates some and he ends more awkwardly on: ] ... well what did you want to say?

[ shiro shouldn’t be surprised. between the two of them, he believes keith to be the braver one; a perception that’s driven home with every stomp of those feet. he glances up then, watching keith swipe at his bangs and feeling the slightest distraction for those saturated locks. goodness -- shiro’s seen him countless times with doused hair, but he never quite gets over how bad it looks. like a drowned cat, maybe? it’s endearing in the dumbest way possible and for a moment, he forgets himself, the corner of his mouth twitching, curling…

only for the smile to die under the weight of those forceful words. keith catches himself too and then that demeanor softens. ah, fantastic. the awkwardness is back. he hated the distance before and he thinks he hates the closeness too, or at least, he hates the squirmy feeling that’s gaining ground from sitting useless as keith stands just across the way. should he stand too? no, that’s stupid. he’s not actually at any sort of disadvantage here by having the more submissive position. and even if he is, perhaps that’s deserved.

he draws a breath, taps his fingers on his knee instead and -- nothing. how does he even go about this? he’s had twenty-something minutes to rehearse and now when faced with a point-blank, he hesitates on the lines. there’s so much to unpack and so much to apologize for and… yeah, that’s the best way to start, huh? ]

I wanted to say I’m sorry. [ he’s made sure to look up for that, hoping to come across as genuine as he is remorseful. there’s hardly a pause though, because he knows what the argument is and he’s quick to cut any hint of it off. ] I know, I know -- the powder.

[ like this shitshow is supposed to be forgotten with a single line. it’s similar, he supposes, to the transformations from weeks past. but underneath the strange features, they’d been them, right? minds altered at times, true, but if they focused hard enough, they could come back to themselves. so how is this different? maybe shiro hadn’t tried enough to overcome the colors and their influence. convinced on that, his features harden on self-condemnation. ]

But that doesn’t excuse what I said to you. [ a beat; the smallest of grimaces. ] What I did to you.

[ he makes it sound so terrible, like they did more than groping hands and suggestive words. shiro doesn’t know how to cut himself slack though. to him, it’s disrespect and broken boundaries, and given the history they’ve been mending, shiro isn’t confident that keith’s ability to forgive will always hold strong. ]

So if there’s any of this that’s made you uneasy or if you need more time apart… [ he’ll leave? he doesn’t have much here. he could see if his original apartment is still available; even just temporarily. ] I just want you to be comfortable moving forward.

[ Caught by surprise, Keith blinks, all annoyance vanishing. This isn't where he thought the conversation was going at all, and he very obviously misses a beat and stumbles on the recovery. ]

Huh?

[ I don't blame you -- wasn't that the launching point for all this? That he'd been caught red-handed doing something incriminating that demanded, if not a reprimand then at least some personal responsibility? If it'd just been the powder, then keith might not have been as defensive, but knowing he can't actually wash his hands completely of this stupidity is what'd made him seize up in the first place. Admittedly, that's entirely ridiculous. Like some kid with cookie crumbs around his mouth throwing a stink about how he most definitely did not eat any cookies.

Of course, Keith isn't actually proud of his initial reaction -- he's rarely ever prouod of that, really, but having some time and space to himself had made it abundantly clear that if Shiro wanted to cross examine him, then he had every right to. From the initial texts, the teasing, all the way down to the intention to strip Shiro down to nothing.

keith bites his lip, his initial train of thought now thoroughly derailed. Is that what the coiled tension in Shiro's body language is about then? Some badly suppressed worry that Keith wants him to leave? Keith stares for another moment, sinking down on the coffee table. ]

I... Shiro, no. You don't need to apologize for this planet being stupid, you know that. I know you didn't really mean any of what you said. [ Or did, but Keith isn't willing to dwell on the memory of Shiro's hands on his body. ] It's fine. [ a beat. ] I mean it's not fine that this place can cause things like that to happen that easily, but.....

[ here, he heaves a sigh, looking away briefly before managing to force a small smile. ]

it's just how it is now, I guess. [ Then, more quietly: ] But I'm sorry too.

[ he just barely catches himself from opening his mouth to brush off that apology. afterall, it’s not keith’s fault that the powder got the better of him. but by that logic, why is he blaming himself? the standard isn’t the same and shiro is never as quite fair to himself as he is to others. mouth remaining shut, he works his jaw on the clenching of his teeth and swallows through the garble that won’t come, all the while thinking, it’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine.

no, keith was right on the following part. this is so far from fine and likely, not a one-time thing. malachite loves playing with them. there’s no telling what it will come up with next, only that something will come. best to mentally prepare himself for it, because what else is there to do? put distance between keith and himself? no. just now, shiro had been blocks away. and before, with the transformations, keith tracked him down. no matter what, it seems as though they find their way back to each other and that’s… he doesn’t know. comforting in some sense. troubling in another.

he sighs then, looking to keith perched there on the coffee table and nods faintly. ]

I know. [ to everything: stupid planet, it not being fine, this is how it is ( get used to it ). the small smile settles him, even forced as it is, and while shiro still has that miserable look about him, he doesn’t leave keith alone in this. he tries for a smile of his own. ]

But promise me. If this happens again… shove me in the closet and barricade the door.

[ he’s choosing to ignore the glaring probability that keith will likely be as compromised. but half an hour ago, keith hadn’t been, right? shiro can’t say exactly when keith’s powder effects wore off. he only knows that they did before shiro’s. so next time -- and hell, he’s inwardly cringing at the mere suggestion -- he’d rather keith not indulge shiro’s whims. keith deserves better than having to deal with… that. ]

You’d be doing both of us a favor.

[ when shiro's troubled expression doesn't fade entirely, keith's own smile falters slightly. it doesn't go away entirely, but when the desire to give shiro's shoulder a reassuring squeeze to lift his spirits rises up keith has to wonder whether that's a good idea or not. a beat later, he can't help scowling a little. he's never shied away from reaching out to shiro that way before and he's not going to let some fucking powder start changing that now. ]

Shiro. [ steeled on resolve, his voice comes out with more gravity than intended as he slaps his hand down on one broad shoulder. there. that wasn't so bad, was it? ] If you managed to escape the Galra, I'm not sure how you expect a closet and a chair propped up against the handle to hold you.

[ there's almost a laugh then, though not quite. not that the situation in the bathroom had made keith feel like he was in danger, but there's no denying that part of the reason it'd been easier to try and work with shiro and appease him is because keith doesn't want to fight him while shiro's not himself. there's something in there that probably warrants some psychoanalysis, but you can bet keith will do no such thing. instead he tries to deflect with a forced heh and a squeeze. ]

But in any case... if something happens, it happens I guess.

[ keith doesn't necessarily like that, but he supposes it could have been worse if he'd sent flirty texts to someone else. or if shiro got handsy with a stranger. ...ah, but that's not a thought keith wants to entertain either. he takes his hand off, then refolds his arms. ]

But I'll keep your suggestion in mind.

[ he’d been trying to ignore that too. he hasn’t activated his arm in… when was the last time? the first day in this apartment? keith hasn’t outright said he’s afraid of him, hasn’t even hinted at it, but shiro is hesitant to accept that the fiasco with the clone hasn’t damaged something between them. the arm is a weapon; simple. he knows the clone must’ve used it to overpower keith at that facility. so activating it? low on his list. not that there has been much use for that enhanced strength and power. their enemy -- possible enemy -- is an elusive god and every fight has been of the mental kind.

the closet idea is ludicrous. he understands that. half serious, half joking, he’d been hoping to accomplish… something with it, not that he can even adequately describe what. it’s backfired though. now, he’s faced with the very real scenario of him ripping the closet apart to get out. to get at keith. what is he supposed to do with that knowledge? make another bad joke about how, yes, he’ll punch his way out and hopefully, he’ll take out keith’s trash jacket in the process?

he hates this. he thinks this is the lowest point in his hate that he’s had for this place. right here, right now, so much of this feels like keith doesn’t -- care? like, whatever happens to keith doesn’t matter. the sentiment isn’t new by any means. shiro’s familiar enough with keith’s self-sabotaging and frankly, detached perception for his own well-being.

if something happens, it happens. right.

why isn’t he concerned? why isn’t he angry? twenty minutes ago, shiro had been fretting over the possibility of keith being uncomfortable enough to command shiro to leave and now, he almost wishes keith wouldn’t smile, wouldn’t laugh in that half-stuck, half-engaged way of his. shiro doesn’t want a free-pass. that makes this so much worse.

so if keith refuses to get angry, guess shiro will on his behalf. fuck all, someone needs to. ]

It shouldn’t be that easy. [ staring at the careful fold of keith’s arms, shiro frowns slow, each beat having his features tightening until he’s one stop short of glaring. he wanted this -- he tries to remind himself that he wanted them to be okay. he shouldn’t be prodding deeper and stirring a pot that should be left the fuck alone.

and yet -- he huffs and he’s on his feet, looking down at keith. ]

Why are you…

[ don’t get mad at him. shiro’s the one at fault here. if he looks beyond that statement, all the reasons as to why shiro isn’t the blame are there to examine. but he’s stubborn and he’s mad and he’s… afraid, honestly. he steps away from keith then, shaking his head as he rounds the coffee table. ]

If you end up forcing yourself on me, Shiro, no big deal. [ mocking, that’s the best way to describe his tone. it doesn’t last though and soon he’s just tired from the chaotic tumble of his thoughts. around the table and closer to the television stand against the opposite wall, he briefly covers his face with his hands, rubbing his palms hard, as though to physically dispel the tension. ]

I was thinking things, Keith. [ don’t you get it, is the unspoken part. one last rub and then he drops his hands, gaze to the floor. ] I wanted to do things to you.

[ a great many, unmentionable things that might have come to pass if they’d actually made it into the shower. ]

[ great. powder or no powder, it looks like today is just one of those fucking days where every other thing catches on raw nerves and sets off a goddamn landmine. technically, keith knows better than to fire back with the same simmering resentment. he's let his emotions get the better of him for years, and the fact that he's still got a handle on it when shiro starts on his unfinished accusation is nothing short of remarkable, considering the way it's starting to rattle at his defensiveness.

what really kicks that into overdrive is the sardonic shade that comes right after. keith is up on his feet in an instant, hands balled into fists at his sides and glaring across the room. ]

What the hell. [ the counter accusation is snapped. even considering his shitty wording, is that really the conclusion shiro's drawn here? never mind that shiro's dictating the fucking obvious to him like he's a child who doesn't know what sexual intent is. ]

You think I don't know you have a dick or something?

[ ah, fuck. mayday, mayday. houston, we have a problem. distantly, the warning bells are going off in his head and he knows he should backpedal like his life depends on it before this spirals. it’s a dumb argument to have when there’s no actual solution. but keith’s on his feet. hands balled, glare in place -- there’s the anger shiro needed. keith isn’t the only one with a shit sense of self-preservation. if anything, shiro has a sick fascination with choosing the when and how he goes down in flames. it’s inevitable anyway, right? might as well grab the wheel with both hands and control the crash.

chin dipped, he eyes keith from lowered, narrowed lashes and he scoffs, tipping his head up on the tailend of that sound. he rolls his eyes up toward the ceiling and adopts keith’s earlier stance of grumpy, crossed arms. ]

Right. You figured me out. [ that dismissive tone is back, both bitter and mocking. the whole problem started when keith brushed this off as a nothing. nothing to see here, nothing to think about, what happens, happens. no biggie? now keith makes it worse by dumbing down the argument into a question so idiotic that it’s actually insulting.

if keith doesn’t want to take this concern seriously, then fine, forget it. ] That’s what I think.

[ so this is where they are now, huh? shiro looking down on him -- physically. metaphorically. keith knows that kind of condescension well -- seen it, heard it, hated it from just about every teacher and garrison officer. coming from shiro though, it's a low blow, and one that successfully throws keith off kilter. he doesn't drop eye contact, refusing to cede that tiny bit of ground, but the anger takes on different hues, like vertigo's been thrown into the mix and he doesn't know if he needs to sit down or get the fuck out of the apartment. ]

Why are you trying to make me mad at you? The hell is this accomplishing?

[ but the wheels are turning in his mind as he speaks, and an answer clicks into place. keith narrows his eyes, hands settling on his hips. where there'd been heat to his tone before, it very abruptly takes on the qualities of siberian winter. ]

Oh. I get it. You're trying to goad me into telling you to leave.

[ what else would it be other than this fucking unresolved issue all over again. ]

[ that’s not what this is. he wants to deny it and yet, even in the heat of the moment, he knows keith has him. since when did that kid become so perceptive? is shiro that transparent? sickeningly funny, isn’t it? keith gets all the flack of being a burnout just itching to slam a hand down on the self-destruct and yet here’s shiro, throwing away a good thing over -- what? principle?

maybe he hasn’t changed at all. once upon a time, he had an outlook that refused to bend for compromise. shiro thought, maybe, he outgrew it when duty became more important than shiro’s dreams for himself. for a time, they even aligned. voltron meant something to him; still does. but the team became more important than shiro himself and more specifically, keith took centerfold. here, he thinks the desire to keep keith safe an’ focused on a certain pathway has twisted so much in his head that he’s actually mangled it into something unrecognizable.

perhaps even something cruel.

the fight doesn’t disappear but his expression shutters and then he’s looking to the floor, the slightest drawing in of his shoulders. shame? yeah, the movement holds a lot of that. he knows he’s wrong; has known it since he first stood up. but-- ]

I only want to protect you.

[ from him? and isn’t that fucking rich? he takes it back -- he has changed. now he’s exactly what he hated all those years when he had dreams and a gaze stubbornly set on the stars. so now he’s the person who shelters and smothers and decides what’s best for someone else. who is he even anymore? how long can he blame it on death and being brought back to a body, to a world he feels completely out of depth in?

nonetheless, his voice has a wavering tilt to it -- petulant, partly, and mostly uncertain. not uncertain of wanting the best for keith, no of course not, but hesitating on whether that’s something he’s even allowed to say. ]

[ keith stays quiet. one beat, then two. waiting.

but there isn't further elaboration beyond what shiro's stated, so keith has to stare down the bitter conclusion that he actually had been correct then. shiro isn't giving him anything, no denial, not even plausible deniability now that he can see shiro shrinking into his shoulders and .... ah. the knot in his stomach is gone, but it's replaced by something heavier, a bone deep exhaustion and a nice sprinkling of disappointment to top it off.

the scowling breaks then, but it feels like a whole lot more broke with it. this time, keith doesn't fight the lurch of vertigo and drops himself down on the couch, elbows propped up on his knees, forehead pressed to his palms as fingers briefly dig into his scalp. ]

We're just... never gonna move past this, are we.

[ the words come up unbidden on the back of exasperation. his regret is instant. why the hell did he give that a voice? stupid. keith sucks in a deep breath, then forces himself to look up. ]

Shiro. [ his throat clamps up, forcing a pause and a swallow. ] If that's what you want, maybe you should just be locking me in the closet. You're not the only one here who was affected by powder. Hell, it could have been anyone on the street today that got splashed with red. And I... [ again, he hates just about everything about that, but he's already said as much. sighing, he gets back up on his feet to pace around the coffee table, unable to sit still after the adrenaline spike of their fight. ]

Look. I don't want anything like that to happen because of some stupid powder. But if it has to happen, all I'm saying is that I would prefer that it happened with you.

[ he lets that one hang in the air for a moment, eyes on the floorboards rather than shiro. but given everything that's been said, it's pretty clear that's not a mutual sentiment. rather than give shiro a chance to respond, he presses forward. this time, keith does make eye contact. ]

But none of that's important. If you want to leave, just... go. I want you to stay , but I'm not gonna force you to.

Edited (dumb typo /floppy hand) 2021-03-21 04:19 (UTC)

[ shit. that took a left turn. wait, no, more than that -- a left turn to go barreling straight off a cliff. never going to move past this? fuck.

the pain radiating off of keith is almost palpable. shiro can just about convince himself that he can feel it in the suffocating nature of the room. heck, he can hear it in his voice, see it in that broken hunch -- what shakes the swirling undercurrent of his dismal thoughts is seeing that they’re dragging keith down with him. always hurting him. always causing him pain. somewhere along the way from galaxy garrison to here, shiro stopped being keith’s rock and in turn became his anchor, one destined to pull him down so deep that he drowns with all of shiro’s burdens.

he doesn’t want that. he can’t have that. he refuses to do that to keith. so here he… tries. it takes a swallow and a steadying breath, but he brings himself back enough to formulate a quiet: ]

I don’t know why I keep doing this.

[ admitting it aloud has anxiety spiking and he glances to the door on instinct. his feet stay rooted though and he makes no indication of wanting to move beyond the glance. soon enough, he swallows and shakes his head, looking to keith and then right back to the floor. ]

I’m not… -- I don’t want to go. I want to be with you.

[ here, in their -- home? he’s hesitant to name it that. he keeps thinking this is temporary but now there’s a closet full of clothes, taken hiding spots and a cat. they’re building something here. ]

But I start thinking about what’s happened and what could happen and... [ he curls his fingers into his biceps and hugs himself tighter, knowing that he isn’t explaining any of this with any real justice. he has faith that keith will get it though -- he has a knack for understanding shiro when shiro doesn't even fully understand himself. this time, is it shame that keeps his gaze lowered? no. stubbornness? not that either. actually, it’s a slip in attention and a running of curiosity, because there’s something keith said before. i would prefer that it happened with you. it makes sense considering the world and keith's general disdain for strangers. but… it touches deeper inside him and the whole of him brims with the half-delirious idea of a them. brief, temporary, whatever.

… is that -- good? for them? for what shiro has decided their friendship to be? he doesn’t know and he can’t know, not right now, not when his head is already a mess. so he never quite manages an answer for himself and then he slips in concentration again, instead rounding back to how he needs to give keith something more than indecision and false leads. he thinks maybe he’s pressing his luck. keith doesn’t do patience. he tries when it comes to shiro -- which shiro is both grateful and proud of him for -- however, shiro knows that if he continues to give keith nothing in return, that steady presence will inevitably disappear.

in the end, it’s all for naught. he can’t put words to how he's just as lost to what his own end game is. ]

I don’t know what I’m doing.

[ he reiterates and looks up, peeking at keith. ]

[ keith keeps his eyes on shiro throughout, but doesn't have the foggiest clue what expression he's even pulling at this point. the idea that shiro doesn't know what he's doing seems ... laughable. during the war, he'd always been their leader -- the one everyone turned to for a plan. or maybe that's just the rose tinted glasses keith wears whenever he thinks about shiro's legacy as the head of voltron speaking louder than reality. either way, he finds he doesn't know what to think. the idea that apparently shiro finds keith harder to navigate than a fucking war keeps teetering somewhere between funny and depressing, shifting from one beat to the next.

but then .... it's kinda relatable, isn't it? the war demanded decisiveness, a tacit acceptance of collateral damage and the recognition that inaction was also an action. with that kind of pressure lifted away, it's opened up so much more room to overanalyze every little detail that obscures the bigger picture.

I want to be with you. I love you, too. I'm sorry I made it seem like I'd forgotten.

keith knows all of these things and yet .... he stops looking at shiro then, gaze shifting down to where his hand is clenched tight into a fist. it's disorienting all over again to think that shiro had unwillingly kissed his hand half an hour ago. pushing that thought aside, keith breathes in deeply.

they're a team. always have been, always will be. but like with any team, it's only as strong as the conviction they have in each other. it'd been that way with voltron as well, hadn't it? shiro was as effective as he was because the entire team was there to lift him up. maybe keith isn't doing enough lifting here. maybe shiro would doubt him less if he stopped letting the past unravel the things he knows are true.

he breathes out slowly, letting that resolve saturate. then, he walks over to where shiro is standing. he takes another step into his best friend's personal space, and in the next beat sets his hands on both shoulders. ]

Then trust me a little. You're making this complicated. [ a squeeze and then: ] I meant what I said. I'm going to support you, no matter what tricks these so-called detieis pull.

[ this seems familiar. it carries the same notes of reassurance that keith’s given him before. it always comes in the form of gentle notes and steadfast holds. since reconnecting all those weeks ago, there’s been talk about shiro taking his time, about them being a team, about how keith will always be there for him and never give up on him. knowing that keith has ultimately decided to always have shiro’s back is a comfort, of course it is, but here, it carries jaded undertones of how that loyalty is too freely given.

he does trust keith though, especially when it comes to understanding his own needs and limits.

even so, his lips remain sealed to protest and his gaze unlifted despite the buzzing awareness of keith’s squeeze and palpable desperation for shiro to engage. there’s a slight nodding of his head as the silence settles and then he lifts his hand. no, not one -- he’s going for both. he can silently admit to himself that he still has no idea what he’s doing and that he still doesn’t feel solid footed in the least, but palms brush and then he curls his fingers, wrapping them around the low end of keith’s forearms for two loose clasps.

if he can’t give keith words to hold onto, maybe answering holds will do? honestly, it’s more selfish than that. it’s grounding for shiro and a physical tapping of strength that he draws from keith in order to finally drive his gaze up to peek at the other man. ]

Okay.

[ quiet, yet resolute, at least his voice has strength to it that can be depended on. there’s a pause there, as though the thought isn’t complete and he’s going to clarify something beyond a one word answer. however, the moment lapses and then he obviously changes route by abruptly abandoning the somber air for his shitty defense mechanism. ]

Listen to Keith more and stop being a moron… [ his head is still slightly ducked, as though he hasn’t centered himself enough to fully level it for his usual confidence. a smile touches his lips though and it’s crooked. playful, maybe, albeit slightly strained. ]

The second part might be a bit of a tall order but I think I can manage.

[ keith holds his breath as shiro reaches up to reciprocate the touch. the day's gone all topsy-turvy and inside out, so he doesn't know if the intention is to try and drive him back. it isn't until shiro breaks into a smile that keith allows himself to relax a pinch. the humor is probably a good sign, or at least a cue to take a step back and let the topic go before the conversation takes yet another turn.

but keith isn't actually ready to let this go. shiro had been quick to flare up to anger and keith knows all too well that putting a smile on this quickly doesn't actually mean the issue's been resolved. perhaps that's just how it is. there isn't actually any way for either of them to make the root of the problem go away. but the aftermath and the consequences? that, at least, is something they might actually have some control over. ]

Shiro, I'm serious.

[ and as if to punctuate that, keith slides one hand up to cup shiro's cheek. pay attention to me is what that is. an entirely embarrassing sentiment, all things considered, but keith is determined to make a point. he shaves another half-step from the distance between them, looking shiro dead in the eye from just a little too close. ]

It's not a big deal unless we make it that.

[ and right now, standing like this, with the tip of his nose mere centimeters away from touching shiro's ... this isn't a big deal, is it? ]

[ he’s serious too. didn’t this whole argument start because shiro was taking everything too seriously? maybe forced levity is the answer. misplaced humor is his coping of choice and here, he wants to set the groundwork for a fire-back grin and a conspicuously sly quip. they’ll tease, then they’ll taunt, and then maybe, they’ll prod at each other over how moronic their lives have become until they’re ( uncomfortably ) laughing through the remnants of a lost conversation. no resolution, but shiro doesn’t expect there to be one to this, not anymore.

being irresponsible is supposed to be that easy. but it’s not. of course it’s not. because keith is predictably unpredictable and for how well shiro lets himself believe he knows his best friend, there’s still those moments when he’s irrevocably thrown for a loop. like now.

there’s movement in the form of a cupped cheek and then keith steals more space. shiro blinks up, gazing filling and thoughts flat-lining on a low oh. distantly, he can follow the thread. he sees this for what it is. it’s a power move of taking control of their lives. choice is a luxury that comes and goes here, so in those pockets of reprieve, it’s their chance to decide for themselves. is it truly a choice though? isn’t this all manufactured and forced by the what if that may come tomorrow, next week, next month? or perhaps never.

how is this a good plan?

right. trust keith. that’s the plan, isn’t it? keith acts like he knows what he’s doing. but shiro doesn’t buy it. leaping before looking. acting before thinking. so reckless, not only with himself, but with shiro too. the frustration doesn’t quite manifest into anything substantial though and shiro merely wades through the awareness of it, staring a beat longer before finally dealing with… whatever this is.

he leans in. barely. those last centimeters close and shiro nudges their noses together. a slow, lazy nuzzle follows and shiro pointedly ignores the dizzying circle of his thoughts. warm. smooth. soft. he’s trying to make a point here, one centered on the fact that keith doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing. this is powder round two, except with clear heads -- is this better? does it feel fine? yes. no. no.

he flexes his fingers still wrapped around keith’s forearm -- his other arm having let go of the hand now on his cheek -- squeezing, part keeping keith close and part warning him to back off. ]

This doesn’t feel like a big deal to you?

[ and he tips closer, encroaching an’ domineering. mouth close enough now that he can taste keith’s breath on the next exhale and -- fuck. he started by wanting to teach keith something? that he’s in over his head? that it’s not that simple? this is too weird to even try? he’s lost sight of the plot. all he knows is this is another half-baked, terrible idea… which is why keith should pull away. ]

[ so here they are, seemingly back where the day under powdered dictate was initially hurtling towards, except this time keith actually feels as though he has some semblance of some goddamn control. yes, his pulse has shot up now that shiro edges in that half inch closer and yes, that stupid syncopated rhythm of missed beats starts up again when their faces align and shiro's question is physically tangible on his lips as warm breath.

but the question leaves more than just passive impressions. keith eyes haven't strayed from shiro's and that mocking jab is the catalyst that warps what had been wrongfully sweet and tender in the bathroom into a fucking challenge. you just have that kind of effect on me, was it? fuck that. shiro is toying with him, testing his resolve because he still isn't taking keith seriously.

the disheartening part of that is that it's not even surprising anymore. how many times is keith going to have to say the same fucking thing before it even halfway sticks in shiro's head? ten times? a thousand? will keith even have a voice left over by the end of it?

as much as keith isn't used to anyone, including shiro, encroaching this far into his personal space, keith doesn't flinch away or blush. because if shiro's attitude isn't surprising, you can damn well bet that it's infuriating and that cuts through the bullshit of flustered nerves like an ion cannon. ]

That's what I said, isn't it.

[ as with most things keith, the irritable defiance isn't subtle. his brows knit together, the retort fired back in tones a stone's throw away from being outright growled. the look in his eyes is likewise set with gritty determination, focused, like he's surveying a battlefield rather than an equally defiant shiro.

in the next beat, his gloved hand tightens around the angle of shiro's jaw and keith pushes up to press their lips together in a quick, decisive motion. under a different set of circumstances, he might have pulled back immediately, leaving the kiss fleeting and chaste, but right now whatever part of him that's jittery and nervous about shit like first kisses and first kisses with shiro is overwhelmingly drowned out by something else.

no, this isn't a big deal and he doesn't fucking care how long their lips are going to have to stay glued together for shiro to get the damn point. ]

Edited (catches typo hours later.... ) 2021-03-23 00:21 (UTC)

[ … huh. the world doesn’t end. he may be stockstill, but he can hear it moving all the same, from the scratch of a cat clawing at the carpet to the faint buzz of the fluorescent light left on in the kitchen. so maybe this isn’t the moment to crash and burn. or maybe they simply haven’t hit it yet. amazing, really, that it’s only when keith’s mouth is pressed to his that shiro thinks he may have gone about this the wrong way. still, regret is a heavy label and one not easily taken back. they’ve crossed a line, fine yes, they went there, but now options fan out in his mind and within the timeframe of snapped fingers, he needs to decide.

push him away? weather the inevitable fallout and hope for the best in mending the broken pieces of their friendship?

stay and wait him out? don’t reciprocate but let keith take what he needs before the argument is reiterated and lines are recemented?

or… respond. is that even an option to consider?

the thing is -- the world hasn’t ended, right? their friendship has survived through gossip, separation, expectation, and death. stolen identity and attempted murder is there too, he supposes. so what’s his problem? why would he think that after all that, they would buckle under the strain of intimacy? perhaps because shiro’s out of practice and hesitant of it in a way his tactile nature would never suggest. all this talk about not wanting to make keith uncomfortable -- shiro’s there too. again, his powdered acts come into focus and he thinks they weren’t isolated, fabricated acts. the colors leeched from a bank of repressed feelings. that’s why he’s so wound tight about all of this, because at world’s edge he’d been looking and on the roof he’d been feeling and he doesn’t want to think about the implications of any of it.

two ticks? three. fuck, what’s his decision?

he gives in. unsurprising; he always inevitably does. keith has no idea how much power he has over him, does he? he’s got that magnetic pull to him and a finesse to beat every odd stacked up against him. apparently, being able to entrap the last functioning brain cells of one takashi shirogane is a skill keith has unknowingly mastered by merely being his stubborn, hardheaded, forever infuriating self. fuck, he loves him despite the faults, even this boldness. the anger is there too though and… that’s not what he wants for keith.

his own frustration simmers low and doesn’t rise to meet keith’s. instead, shiro goes in the opposite direction. he softens under the strain and shifts his feet, centering his weight to offset him touching his hand to keith’s waist. it slips around to find the small of his back. the other hand at keith’s forearm skims down his arm and then abandons it altogether to grasp at his nape. he tugs briefly at the flyaway strands that grow too long before flattening his palm, cupping the back of his head.

there. now, about him being out of practice.

the angle is all wrong. noses together and lips mashed too close, it’s aggressive, almost violent, and again, shiro thinks not like this. instead, he thinks soft, gentle, make it good. because if they’re here and set on doing this, then at the very least, they deserve a kiss representative of what they mean to each other. for shiro? keith is a precious someone and he tries to convey that in the tilt of his head an’ sweetening of pressure.

it’s a bit of a disaster, at least the start and this slow rebounding, but shiro is fading fast anyway. keith fills his senses and steals his breath and hell, he forgot how good it could feel to be this close to someone. it’s too much and yet not enough and keith’s mouth -- it’s plush and molded to his and if shiro just parts his own to tease with the barest hint of moist heat, maybe they can try…

he makes a noise in the back of his throat and he draws keith closer with his hand there in the dip of his spine. the gem is there. distantly, he thinks it and then it has him smiling the faintest bit, palm rubbing slow in half-distraction, as though trying to pinpoint it, before finally settling for a hold that has keith pressed close hip to chest. ]

[ keith's dealt with plenty of awkwardness in his life, but there's very little that comes close to rivaling the sheer depth of having his eyes closed and his lips pressed firmly to shiro's only for the reaction to be about as animate as pressing his mouth to a cpr practice dummy. keith's mind swims with confusion, halfway tempted to crack open an eye to see what the hell shiro's expression even is here, but not a beat later he decides against that; he doesn't want to know.

it's downright humiliating, actually. he thought for sure shiro would at least shove him away or get mad. it's here and now that keith realizes that no reaction whatsoever is the worst outcome he should have been braced for. is this really not even worth responding to?? when he tears himself away, is shiro still going to be making that blindingly judgmental face at him? shit. maybe he should just call it quits, but some dogged persistence has his grip tightening slightly around shiro's face. he won't back down from this, and if it's about attrition then fine. anything to change the status quo shiro has dug his heels into.... for better or for worse. it's too late to back down and he won't second guess this now.

luckily, it isn't long before there is a reaction, and the arm circling his waist makes keith freeze. the blink of confusion is purely metaphorical here, but practically tangible all the same. then there's the hand winding down his arm and draping over his neck, the gentle drag of warm lips across his own as shiro... corrects (???) their positioning.

the swoop hits hard and low in his stomach. it's the most delayed of delayed reactions, and keith mentally scrambles with what to do now that shiro's outpaced the plan. ....if this can even be called a plan to begin with... which arguably, it never was. maybe it'd just been a wish all along.

Shiro

he mouths the name wordlessly against shiro's lips, the hand resting on his shoulder now winding up and over to press between shoulder blades. is it okay to want this? keith had caught himself wondering idly, but has never allowed the question to progress further than a quick mental shake and berating. this isn't how they feel about each other, after all. but this is different. this is something they're doing of their own volition, no powder, no malachite, just the two of them in their apartment with the rest of the world a collection of irrelevant noise. but maybe he shouldn't be so quick to be placated here. for all he knows, shiro could take a step back and repeat that same smug question.

This doesn’t feel like a big deal to you?

the part of him that's dizzy, light and tingling from all the places they're touching is a little breathless, high on some kind of rush from the tentative connection they're forging here. the part of him that's still ruffled and irked isn't satisfied. he still doesn't know what the hell, he's doing when it comes to kisses, but that isn't going to deter him from making more of a damn point.

tongues. something about tongues and the french. whatever the hell the french have to do with kissing.

keith parts his lips. is this embarrassing? yes. it still isn't stopping him from experimentally licking shiro's lip though. ]

[ the point has been made. they can touch. they can kiss. they can toss up metaphorical middle fingers to malachite and come out of that recklessness unscathed. there’s no reason to drag this out. well, no reason shiro wants to put voice to. good thing his mouth is otherwise occupied then, huh. still, his mind whispers the truths to him and he doesn’t know how to compartmentalize the growing awareness that he likes this. keith’s hands on him, keith’s mouth on him -- his body molds to his just so and they fit together in a way shiro refuses to overanalyze.

this whole thing is backwards anyway. upside down too. it’s a mess of miscommunication and forced expectations, leaving shiro to feel as though he’s lost what little control he’s held. he may be physically anchoring keith to him, but he doesn’t feel like the leader here. are either of them? maybe not, but shiro still thinks keith has the better of him, because keith’s got him ensnared and trailing, hooked on the taste of his mouth. this all boils down to what keith is doing to him and that’s... sobering. there’s that wait again, but then the warning lapses; there’s too much hazy want feeding into the loop for him to draw himself away.

and then there’s his tongue.

all it takes is one tentative brush. keith’s already taken his mouth and shiro offers the rest of it up freely, lips mildly slack, mildly sloppy on the push an’ drag as he touches his tongue to keith’s. he gathers keith closer next, only in the sense that fingers tighten in hair, teasing the wetness out of strands that for once aren’t a tangled mess. another tilt to change the angle and he exhales heavy into the space between their mouths, tongue pressing, swiping --

he feels warm. it’s there in the flush of his cheeks and color across his nose. his head feels stuffy from it, heady too. in the span of two breaths, he honestly doesn’t know what to do with himself or keith or the situation as a whole. either way, he can’t say puffing out a breathless moan around the wet sound of their mouths is helping him figure it out any faster. ]

Edited (... wow record on edit time) 2021-03-23 22:46 (UTC)

[ the bump of their tongues sends a tiny electric jolt down the length of keith's spine. he isn't sure what he was expecting -- it's wet, it's a little sloppy because he doesn't know what exactly he's supposed to be doing here and by all accounts this should be exactly as weird as the excited gossiping in the garrison bathrooms had made it sound. words like magical, amazing, fireworks all tossed around far too easily by cadets over something as uninteresting as sharing spit in one of the most invasive ways conceivable.

but this doesn't feel invasive at all. if anything, it comes distressingly close to a couple of terrible cliches about firsts that keith refuses to accept he may be a little susceptible to. he's angry -- he hasn't forgotten that despite shiro's machinations, damn it. fingers dig into shiro's back in some show of force as keith leans a little further into the kiss. whether that should be interpreted as a don't let me go or some roundabout way of saying fuck you while his mouth is occupied is up for debate.

you want a lot of things is what shiro had accused him of in the bathroom. keith well and truly doesn't have any rebuttal for that anymore. it's hard to want when you don't know what you're missing and well... whether keith wants to admit it or not, his entire being feels as though it's splitting into contradictory elements: airy but grounded, warm but not warm enough, safe and yet.. kinda terrified of what'll happen when the kissing stops.

at least the short term solution for that last one seems obvious enough: don't stop kissing. of course, that's not an actual solution at all, but his inner cynic abandons ship, thoughts sputtering into radio static when shiro breathes that soft ah into the kiss.

fuck it. if this is potentially the one and only time keith can have this, then he wants to hoard it all. the way shiro tastes, feels and sounds. it's unfair really -- shiro just has to be incredible in so many ways. heart racing, keith kisses in earnest, each movement an unspoken I want you. maybe that should make him madder, huh? pissed off or not, it just doesn't seem to make a difference.

instead here he is, pushing up onto his toes to get a better angle to kiss. whatever limited self awareness that stokes however, disappears when there's an accidental bump of teeth. it isn't painful, but just jarring enough that keith pulls back. ]

Oh. [ cheeks flushing crimson, keith quickly looks away and mumbles: ] My bad.

[ magical and fireworks -- heh. shiro outgrew soft-sentimentals ages ago. sappy descriptions lost their appeal somewhere around month seven of an extended engagement and severed completely when someone refused to wait. he’s not jaded about intimacy but he’s found it easier to live without it. there are bigger things to worry about, namely purple aliens and an expanding empire. death has only made it easier to let go of any lingering wants or needs and weeks into an unasked resurrection, he’s held onto the delusion that he’s better off alone. well… not alone; he tried that and keith wouldn’t let him damn himself in the name of the greater good. guess keith isn’t going to let him be alone in this aspect either.

it isn’t like that. this doesn’t mean that. however, kissing keith is kickstarting the awareness that he isn’t beyond wanting to share himself with someone. it’s been a long thing coming, really. fucking manna. every evening of set aside time to hold hands has become less an’ less of a chore and more of something to enjoy. throw in every hug held longer than necessary and that one night he settled into keith’s bed, for once sleeping through until morning. it’s been -- nice. wonderful, even. having someone to come home to… there’s something incredibly grounding about knowing there’s that solid presence ready to reach out and hold on the moment he starts to falter. so maybe he’s been thinking about it the wrong way. maybe he hasn’t made himself stronger by denying a deeper connection with someone. so maybe he does need someone back in his life. and by someone, perhaps he really means…

that thought is terrifying. here though, the two of them close, breathing the same air, sharing the same warmth -- it has him thinking it’s exhilarating too. it’s almost like driving a hoverbike straight off a cliff. caution to the wind, it’s horrifying on the first drop, when gravity takes over and adrenaline kicks in. but it’s freeing too. all it takes is getting the timing right and then everything comes together just right to have the hoverbike leveling away from disaster. they’re friends. they’ll always be friends. but maybe they could --

except here, it isn’t leveling out at the last second. here, it’s like slamming face first into an explosion of dirt and sand. there’s hardly any pain to it. it’s just a bad angle that clips wrong but keith pulls back and the collateral damage has shiro losing the thread of his thoughts as everything in him immediately turns toward concern. briefly, that is. as soon as he flutters his eyes open and has keith coming into sharp focus, that concern for chipped teeth broadens for the more general oh shit, what did they just finish doing?

forget kissing. he made out with keith. that on top of what he’d just been thinking…

talk about getting caught up in the moment. the excuse doesn’t sit quite right but shiro barrels on before he can analyze every which way it fits wrong. ]

It’s -- fine.

[ the pause in-between doesn’t help his cause. he pulls in a lungful of air, feeling the slightest bit winded -- from kissing, from panic, from surprise… one of those. all of those? either way, he can feel the tension knotting in his shoulders and he tries to expel it with the following exhale. staring at keith’s carefully averted gaze and reddening face is difficult but what’s downright lethal is the way his gaze drops to the fullness of a ruddy mouth that’s a little wet and a little ruined.

ah, fuck.

he forces his gaze toward the ceiling and distracted on trying not to think about the obvious, he tongues at the tooth that suffered the brunt of keith’s miscalculation. two seconds in and he thinks tongue and more specifically, where it had just been. abruptly, he hides his tongue behind his teeth and looks back to keith with a half-hysteric smile that’s only barely winced. ]

No, uh. [ pause. try again. ] No harm done?

[ why the hell is that coming out as a question? and why hasn’t he realized he still has a hand in keith’s hair and a hand around his waist? detangling would be a good idea right about now… if he wasn’t a moron with a slow moving brain, that is. ]

[ it doesn't feel remotely fine actually. especially now that the unsettling flusteredness has finally hit keith upside the head. heat climbs up all the way to the tips of his ears, heart practically tripping over its own erratic rhythm. desperate to find some composure, keith presses his lips together like that might make the residual tingle from the heat of shiro's mouth fade. it doesn't.

god, he botched this one pretty badly huh? but that begs the question of why it should even matter if shiro thinks he's awful at kissing. the obvious, defiant answer is that it doesn't matter in the slightest. the point, insofar that there was ever a point, was to prove shiro wrong and well -- mission accomplished??

keith peeks up very cautiously, ready to look away again if shiro happens to be looking at him. mercifully, shiro seems to be preoccupied with the ceiling, but it dawns on keith a beat later that this skittishness is familiar and not in a good way. shit, all that's missing is some giggling behind hands and he'd fit right in with all the other cadets making goo goo eyes over a crush.

wait, no. no that's not a train of thought he wants to entertain while their arms are still wound around each other like this. but then... he doesn't not want to be bundled up like this either. especially while shiro's smiling in that relatable awkward way and that look he hated so much from before is gone. ]

...oh.

[ the syllable is faint, breathed out on a soft exhale that's almost on the verge of a nervous laugh. he won't giggle, damn it. but as flushed as he still is, he relaxes a little, slowly dragging his hand down from shiro's cheek to press the corner of that smile with his thumb. maybe the embarrassment is alright if it means he gets to look at shiro like this for a little bit. there's more that he should say to this, so much more than he knows how to put words to, but he lowers his gaze, leaning into hide a smile of his own in shiro's shoulder. ]

Good thing you're made of tough stuff then.

[ he doesn’t feel tough. strange, because he knows what he looks like to everyone else. he’s the record-breaking pilot who survived gladiator pits, amputation and experimentation, only to somehow pull himself together to spearhead the resistance and win back the black lion from zarkon’s meddling. not many people would survive that. heh, he didn’t either in the end. still the point stands -- his stubborn will to do what needs to be done is what has carried him through all these years. so is he tough? he supposes. but as it always seems to be the case when keith is involved, shiro’s carefully constructed perceptions tilt and take on different meanings.

give him a physical hurdle to throw himself over or lay out xyz for him to pick apart an’ formulate an attack plan around. that’s easy. mentally, emotionally dragging down his defenses though, he’s never been well-suited for honesty when it comes to himself. this here is about being open to the idea, no the fact that he wants something. something from keith. with keith? hell, he can’t even get the wording right; he’s backpedaling in his own head and it just strengthens the argument that he’s so far from tough in this situation.

unlike keith.

he’s kind of inspiring in that way. the thought holds as shiro relaxes in slow increments and sags more comfortably from the straight-rod fluster a moment ago. his hands keep as they are and he swallows audibly, mentally bolstering some levity so that it -- hopefully -- comes out in his voice. ]

Have to be.

[ it doesn’t quite hit the mark. there’s a hint of emotion in his voice, one that drags the usual, steady timber lower, adding a strained sort of hoarseness to it. keith is just -- he’s the tough one. the brave one. the one who can endure any situation thrown at him, whether that’s by design of an alien empire, a petulant god or shiro’s long trailing baggage. keith’s reckless, sure, but he’s strong in his daring nature and sometimes shiro thinks that somewhere along the way, he stopped being the teacher. more and more, shiro finds himself learning how to be more than the broken soldier he became, all of which is largely due to keith’s guidance and support in his unending campaign rightfully dubbed stop shiro from being a self-destructive moron.

amusement follows that thought. faint as it is, it still helps settle his nerves and he tips his head, resting his cheek on that mop of hair. briefly, he closes his eyes, holding onto the feeling just as he continues to hold onto keith. ]

I’ve gotta keep up with you.

[ better. that comes out lighter. happier. he doesn’t keep clinging to it though. eyes open and head lifts off keith’s. then he gives keith’s lower back a gentle, parting pat before resting his palm loosely at his waist. as for the hand in keith’s hair? it’s found its way to his rear delt, pressure light, neither pushing away nor keeping keith there against him. ]

[ there's probably something about the fact that keith is entirely contented to stay this way that warrants some reflection, but the complacent lull doesn't last long enough for his thoughts to drift towards introspection of that nature.

i've gotta keep up with you. it's stated with such disarming levity that it'd be easy to let it drift past with the current of the conversation, but it sticks out just enough that it gently bumps keith from his more incredulous yet pleased state of mind.

the phrase doesn't sound right at all. from the very start, shiro's always been the one with the accolades, the feats, the golden reputation. the list of incredible things that shiro's accomplished has only grown even more daunting since the day they met. certainly, they've far outstripped the days when shiro could render keith speechless with jaw dropping awe over pulling off a stunt like cliff diving on a hoverbike.

but of course, shiro is far more than what he's able to do or what he's able to give. the person behind it all is ... frustrating, stubborn, exasperating, yes. far more so than keith had previously imagined. all the same, keith huffs in amusement as both hands shift to more loosely cradle shiro's torso. ]

Okay. I'll pump the brakes. Just for you, big guy.

[ he looks up, still smiling on the playful tease. no attempt to pull further apart is made, but there isn't any clinging either. it's weird to hear shiro suggesting he's the one doing the chasing now, but it makes the spot behind his ribs feel just a little fuller. and to think, no stolent cars were involved this time. ]

[ big guy. big. guy. he thinks, maybe, if this were the first time, it wouldn’t amount to anything. just another throwaway tease between friends, right? similar to old-timer or any other title keith hits him with when he’s feeling particularly cocky. but there’s less than an hour of history tied to those two words and shiro abruptly tenses. that loose grip at keith’s waist? not anymore. fingers flex and he holds tighter, although it’s nowhere near anything able to cause pain. that in itself is an obvious tell that keith’s hit something, but the most damning is shiro’s face.

eyes rounding, lips parting -- surprise flickers across his expression and the fluster follows swiftly behind. he’s hardly had any time to recover from the heat that filled him when keith’s mouth was on his, so it doesn’t take much for it to come back full force. again, it touches his cheeks and his nose, the scar etched across standing in bright contrast. self-preservation is always a slow moving thing with him and so, it’s only after a long, pointed delay of staring at keith’s sweet smile an’ tease-lit eyes that shiro remembers himself.

hide would be optimal. he does a half-ass job of it though. he merely ducks his face and inwardly squirms on the fluttery, dumb feeling running rampent somewhere between his chest an’ gut. this is three times now. first, keith had been coaxing him toward a shared shower. second, it had followed a teasing urge to be good. before, shiro said he liked being called it and here, he finds he still likes it, clear-headed an’ all. it makes him wonder -- would keith like the affectionate name shiro gave him back in the bathroom too?

baby. that’s… not something friends say to each other at all.

he’s likely imagining it, but his face feels warmer in the span of one beat to the next. still, even though he’s rivaling the color of keith’s godawful jacket, that fluttery feeling is pleasant in its sweetness. it has him smiling despite all his reservations. soft and even a little shy, the smile stays and shiro glances up, peeking at keith from under lowered lashes. ]

You, willingly slowing down? [ there’s the answering tease in his voice. the beat that follows is punctuated by shiro briefly gnawing on his bottom lip, part out of indecision. you must really like me is the follow-up that’s on the tip of his tongue but… considering what just happened not five minutes ago, that’s… unfitting? insensitive? crossing a line? in the end, it doesn’t matter. instead of shiro’s voice picking up, there’s an annoyed meow from below.

shiro loses his train of thought and the shy expression on a hard blink as he looks to the floor to find the cat. all of a sudden, it seems to dawn on him that they’re standing in the middle of their apartment, hoarding each other’s space with full-body presses and unwavering grips. another meow and an accompanying tug of claws at his boot buckles has shiro finally releasing an’ pulling back from keith. he clears his throat as he goes and settles into a safer smile that reads friendly, rather than… whatever he’d been feeling ten seconds ago. ]

Call me a skeptic. [ detangled and free, he ignores how that airy feeling softens on misplaced disappointment. him crouching down to smooth his hand over the cat’s head helps though. ] But I’ll believe it when I see it.

Edited (missed a cap l:) 2021-03-25 01:38 (UTC)

[ .... oh. oh what the hell is this precious reaction? an eyeroll or a playful shove and retort had been the expectation here, not shiro's metamorphosis into the most adorably flustered guy keith has ever seen. so shiro likes being called that after all, huh? that's a dangerous tug at the lid of pandora's box, now that keith has to wonder if other things said in the bathroom were true, but that's something to mull over in the future.

for now, the smile on his face turns mischievous, though he's torn somewhere between wanting to cup shiro's flushed cheeks and more teasing. either option is easier than addressing how stupidly easily it seems shiro is able to make keith feel just a touch giddy.

but then....

cat.

keith looks down at the grumpy interloper. for a beat, their expressions match damn near perfectly, though it's not like keith can really stay annoyed with the kitten. he steps back, shaking his head. ]

I thought you said the plan was to "listen to Keith and stop being a moron?"

[ he huffs, amused, then turns towards the couch where he takes a seat and pulls out his phone. ]

But maybe the kitten's right. We should all eat something. Let's get something delivered.

[ since uh... going outside again while it's bananas from powder shenanigans? yeah... no. ]

[It's been far too long, and not just because of the time that Allura spent back at home. Since getting back, she put off talking to her friends - Keith was a good first step but she needed to talk to Shiro. The trouble was, as these things go, the longer she put it off, the harder it was to start.

At least she was reasonably sure he knew that she was alive and okay.

Finally, gathering her courage, she sends a message:]

Hello, Shiro. Have you been... well?

[Great. That's a nice and normal way to talk to a friend after you ran out on them after manipulating them to tell you the truth of your father's death!]

[ he wonders when -- or if -- he’ll stop feeling guilt every time he talks to allura. keith’s given him the rundown. allura’s back. she’s still behind but she knows who they are. she’s concerned about him and yes, she’s sore about those months of omitted truth. that should have been his cue to message her but instead, he again let her down by waiting it out and letting her come to him.

he frowns and dismisses such thoughts, refocusing his attention. ]

Yeah. Was worried about you though. [ especially with how things were left. he felt worse about it the next day; so frustrated with himself that he’d returned back to the apartment with keith the night of the bonfire, rather than trying to find allura. he’d thought she’d appreciate some space and time to process. that added with how shiro couldn’t control any sort of filter… he’d taken the easier route of letting keith herd him home.

so yeah. he’s beginning to think he’s set himself up for always feeling some level of shame when it comes to allura. he clears his throat and tries to keep his voice void of such notes though. concerned, yet friendly. ]

How’s it feel to be back?

[Was worried about you. Allura knows this conversation isn't going to be guilt-free although she didn't expect it to hit so suddenly. It's foolish, to avoid Shiro of all people. More than anyone else on the team, she trusted him to keep a level head and approach everything pragmatically. But it's that same admiration that makes it difficult to approach when she feels like she messed up.

She continues, keeping her voice steady, like they've been conversing amicably this whole time,]

It feels. Strange? I didn't have any memories of this place while I was home, but once I returned it all came back rather quickly.

[It's made time management a little bit of a challenge, dealing with several phoebes passing for her while it was only a movement or so for her friends. But it's starting to balance out more.

Sucking in a breath, she meters it out slowly.]

I feel as though I owe you an apology.

[ didn’t have her memories of this place. oh. that’s… not what he wants to hear. it’s not overly common, but there’s enough of a revolving cycle that it’s a well established fact that gembonded come an’ go. at any given point, he can be sent back to their reality. he gets that. fully accepts it. but up until, well, right now, he figured he’d remember his time here. it’s a tough pill to swallow because although going back has always been a necessity in his mind, there’s fear embedded in that responsibility. he’s dead there. he will return to being nothing; just a stray soul locked in purgatory, forced to watch from the sidelines as his friends suffer.

he thought he’d at least have this to remember. but he won’t, which also means… keith won’t. keith, who swears up an’ down that he’ll save shiro somehow, some way. if he doesn’t remember where shiro is though…

doesn’t matter. it was a pipedream. he made peace with his death ages ago, he can do it again. but acxa says... -- but it's difficult to trust that too much. as long as keith escapes the clone fiasco in one piece and manages to get back in time to help the team, then that’s all that really matters. wrapping up such dismal thoughts nice an’ neat like, he saves them for another time and refocuses on the mention of apology.

a beat of misplaced amusement catches him then and he’s weary on it, finding something exasperating, yet humorous about her being the one to apologize. ]

You’re only allowed to apologize if I get to too. [ not that he’s going to let her beat him to the punch. ]

I know I dropped the ball here. [ do alteans use this idiom? excuse shiro, he’s busy sighing. ] And I’m sorry that it turned out the way it did, Princess.

[He laughs and she feels a strange relief twisted in just more anxiety. It's not a conversation either of them want, but it's better now that it's started.]

I don't think any balls were dropped. [Fortunately she doesn't linger here to let anyone giggle about that phrasing, said in total seriousness.] You were making the best choice that you knew to make at the time. I can't say that I would have done anything differently.

[Is the diplomatic answer. One that she's thought a lot about and if her words sound rehearsed it's because they are.]

I can't say that I would have taken it any better had you told me the news outright. [Said with a small, humorless laugh.] But... it was very lonely for a time.

[The words come out without really thinking - honest although conflicted. She understands but that didn't make it easy in the present or in retrospect.]

I should have just asked outright. I knew that Keith was hiding something, I just didn't know what it could be.

[ note to self: do not use earth phrases when conversing with allura. though, the straight, no nonsense answer is endearing, as much of allura so often is. she moves on quickly and shiro is two steps behind, slow to follow because he finds himself stuck on a potent i missed you before he pulls himself back together. she’s being generous. diplomatic. it’s expected and shiro admires that about her; how she can be empathetic and forgiving, even when she has every right to take her punches.

she does manage one though. slight as it may be, shiro feels it all the same and grimaces there by himself, hunched over his device. another apology is heavy on his tongue. he isn’t certain it would improve anything though and he swallows it back as he looks for a different angle. funny: keith so often has shiro’s back. he’s not even here and yet, he’s going to save shiro in a different way.

shiro focuses on the name and runs with it, putting some levity into his voice to help dredge them up from the should haves and would haves. ]

So Keith was the giveaway. He’ll love hearing his poker face is terrible. [ one tick. oh wait. what did he just tell himself not to do? ]

Er. Poker… it’s a card game. [ that… still doesn’t explain the face comment, does it? he exhales. ] Nevermind.

[ a brief pause and then a more tentative: ] But speaking of Keith… he mentioned you might have questions. [ another beat. ] Specifically about me. [ there’s a strengthening of his voice here, conviction and determination having him sound more sure of himself. ]

I don’t want you to feel alone again. Because you’re not. I’m here for you. [ this time. always. he’s so sorry. ] So if you need to ask… it’s okay.

Edited (missing a space. it bothered me l:) 2021-04-27 02:23 (UTC)

[Even if she's not on audio, there's a palpable pause that Shiro can probably imagine Allura tilting her head, making sense of the phrase poker face and deciding that the context that it is a card game does nothing to clear up the confusion. But that's fine. It's comfortingly normal to be endeared and confused by her friends lingo, and it makes it feel as though the space that had been carved between them wasn't so large as it felt. They were all from strange, disjointed points in time, but they were still friends in the end, weren't they?

Then the topic switches to Shiro and she feels an ache in her chest. How strange that he's the one comforting her when the question swirling in her mind is whether or not he's dead in the world she'll return to someday. They're questions she fears, but fears being left in the dark even more.

There's a long pause, before,] Where did you go? After that fight with Zarkon?

[She doesn't say the word dead because she doesn't want to think about that possibility. Not when she could hear Shiro's voice so clearly in her ears right now.]

[ ah. of course. seems like the logical place to start. he suspected as much and yet, even with the heads up from keith, shiro isn’t fully prepared with a rehearsed answer waiting in the wings. he’s been through this once before though and arguably, keith is the tougher, more daunting one out of the two, so…

he closes his eyes, steeling himself and then huffs out a breath, leaning into a slump against the couch. ]

I never left the Black Lion. [ simple. it’s a slight easing into the inevitable, because while allura may not want to say it, shiro has no such qualm in stating facts. ]

I died. [ a beat. and then right back to softening the blow. ] But... Black saved me. I don’t know why but he kept my soul in his consciousness. [ he’s had nothing but time to debate an answer to that. obviously, his connection to black is -- was -- strong enough to have black wanting to shelter him. but there has to be a reason beyond that. is there an end goal? does black know something shiro doesn’t? what’s the point of keeping his spirit alive if there’s no further purpose on the horizon for him?

because so far? he’s been altogether useless to black, to the team and to the universe. ]

I’ve been trying to keep tabs on the team but… my ability to help is pretty limited.

[I died is an answer she was anticipating and yet it hits her like a blow to the gut. Guilt that she'd already considered the possibility, sorrow that she was right. All at once she wishes she would have gone to have this conversation with Shiro in person – although maybe that would be worse. To look him in the eye while he talks so casually, and so bravely about his own death.

(There’s the detail about Black keeping is consciousness that sticks in her mind as something important. For more than just the obvious relief that Shiro is somewhere, somehow alive. It just hasn’t made it the rest of the way around to considering that the same could have happened to her father, or to Zarkon for that matter.)]

I’m sorry. [The words come out awkwardly, like she’s not sure what ones fit best here. A huff of breath as she recollects herself.] I don’t… There are still many mysteries surrounding the lions that even I don’t understand. But when I return. We will find a way to free you. One way or another.

[ no you won’t slips into his thoughts, quiet and brutal. acxa’s reality is a huge question mark, so it’s difficult for shiro to reference it too much for hope; all he knows is that from what he’s seen, no team is looking for him. understandable, he supposes, when there’s something wearing his face and issuing orders in his voice. he hates that there’s resentment every time he thinks of that. the feeling is slight and nothing with any strength to tarnish the way he values everyone of team voltron but… no one noticed. no one saw anything indistinguishable between him and the clone. there had to be something to set them apart. shiro only saw glimpses from black but the erratic leadership should have been more concerning, right?

not their fault. in their shoes, shiro would have likely fallen for the act too. they were scared and stressed, ( briefly ) mourning a loss while shuffling lions around and trying to relearn how to be a team. maybe they didn’t want to see anything wrong in this new shiro, in fear of ushering in more destabilization. ]

I know you’ll try your best. [ and do what they think is right. he opens his eyes and stares up at the ceiling, briefly mulling over the idea of simply telling her. about the clone and about how keith says that thing may have successfully destroyed the team. but the prospect is quickly abandoned. memories from here to there don’t carry over, so what purpose is there in unloading that on her? it’ll only confuse her. sounds a lot like his justification of keeping his identity secret from her the first time around.

nonetheless, he keeps quiet about the clone, having no real desire to talk about it. instead, he settles on a different cautioning. ]

It’s going to be difficult, the coming phoebs in our universe. It’s important that the six of you watch out for each other. [ she won’t remember -- he keeps reminding himself that but maybe some, small part of him hopes at least this will stick somehow. ] Keith takes it especially hard… so promise me you’ll keep an eye on him for me?

Edited (i always forget to use voltron time LOL, prolly smart for him to use that instead of months) 2021-04-28 22:23 (UTC)

[She's not all that good at reading into tone, but she can't help but notice the careful way Shiro walks around agreeing that she'll succeed. And why not, she doesn't exactly have a stellar track record for throwing into situations and coming out successful in the end. On the Galra cruiser, it was Shiro who had to come and fix her mistakes. Even in the fight with Zarkon, they walked away from it one man down.

She was nothing like her father.

But he's moving on and she stamps back the self-effacing feelings, blinking a few times to focus on his words. There's a small laugh on her side, mostly humorless but some of the tension bleeds out of her voice nevertheless.]

I will do my best but I'm not sure that Keith wants me to watch over him. We don't often see eye to eye. I'm afraid he might blame me for... [Your death.] Bringing all of you into this.

[ while shiro's minding his own ~~moose~~ business out in the living room, he'll hear keith's sweet, dulcet voice from the bedroom. ]

HOW TO PREP FOR GAY. ANAL. SEX.

[ ... suffice to say, research is going swimmingly when you're a tengu fighting the good fight against a)handlessness, b)questionable speech-to-text functionality and c) heteronormativity in your search results. and to think keith started this earnest endeavor all discreet whispers... ]

[ today’s already a dumpster fire ok. shiro’s dealing with being a moos--caribou hybrid with marginal success. yelled obscenities from the bedroom do not help the headache he already has from balancing a rack of antlers. ]

-- Keith? [ of course he abandons the uncomfortable, lonely couch. fueled by curiosity and concern, his steps come quicker and… he forgets. he doesn’t shimmy sideways as he has been. he barrels straight for the doorway and then barrels straight into the doorway. or more specifically, the doorframe. the antlers pop, lock and ~~drop~~ wedge, ripping into the wooden frame to prevent shiro from pulling free when he tries a moment later.

another tug. another pull. a huff and his heels dig in with him trying to backtrack out the way he came and… nope. he pauses then and: ]

Uh… Keith? [ help. ]

[ it takes all of one tick for keith to regret letting frustration get the better of him. he just about has a heart attack when he hears shiro's concerned reply and the subsequent patter of footsteps all the while his phone starts loading one incriminating search result after another. ]

Shiro -- [ he starts, but then decides to snatch the pen that he's been using as a substitute pointer finger back up between his teeth to click out of the browser. one frantic jab at the phone screen and then comes the crack of splintering wood.

keith whirls around in a flurry of black and red feathers, making the phone fall into the narrow space between the mattress and the headboard. the pen falls out of his mouth as keith just stares at shiro caught by the antlers. one blink. he shouldn't be laughing. these new monster forms they're in are stupid and inconvenient. and yet.... this exact predicament is a little too ridiculous, even for him. ]

I -- pffft. [ Deep breath, deep breath. Getting up and hobbling towards shiro on his stupid talons!! ] Again?

[ slightly wobbly, he gives shiro a reassuring pat on the arm. ]

[ keith's lucky. shiro’s a little too busy lamenting the downturn in his day to notice anything suspicious going on. in fact, he’s even less inclined to look to keith -- and by extension what he was getting up to -- when there’s a distinct ring of amusement. shiro pouts, bottom lip slightly pushed out as he reaches up to start manually tugging at one, wedged antler.

there’s some clicking but shiro doesn’t look away from his antlers until keith is standing in front of him, patting at his arm... with his fucking wing. right. one more tug and then his shoulders droop, a heavy expelled breath punctuating his defeat. ]

I hate this. [ he’s still pouting. look, it isn’t his fault that the doorways are suddenly too small. if they’re forced to change every month, shouldn’t the buildings inexplicably, magically change too? remodel to fit their new forms? that’s what shiro thinks, hmph. thanks for nothing, malachite. ] I don’t even know what I am. Why antlers?

[ oh no. oh no shiro is pouting and keith has never seen anything so adorable in his life. even if shiro has the antlers for ... whatever reason. weird time to be having a goddamn doki, but he's also part bird so this is just how life be. keith pulls himself together enough to stop outright laughing, but he can't shake the smile. ]

Some kind of moose? [ have another sympathetic feathery pat. ] A reindeer? I dunno. Something horny. [ then without missing a beat: ] Get on your knees.

[ or try to anyway? who knows how firmly wedged in shiro is. ]

[ har de har har -- moose. shiro will continue to pout, thanks. up until keith tosses out a get on your knees, that is. that preceded by horny is an interesting combination that, of course, wreaks havoc on shiro’s brain. his expression slacks with surprise and then colors wonderfully with a beat of shyness. ]

What? Here? [ sure, they talked about progressing the physical aspect of their relationship but shiro thought it was self-implied that they’d wait out these transformations. but if keith’s telling him to get on his knees…

he shifts his feet, placing them wider -- ] Are you sure I’m the one who is horny? [ -- and then tries tugging again, part relieved that the antlers barely give. keith’s beautiful an’ all, even exotic-like as a… bird? but shiro has some reservations about this. ]

[ once again with feeling: shiro is adorable. despite being too awkward to even consider anything lewd with his body the way it is right now, keith can't help huffing in amusement. unthinking he starts reaching up to try and touch shiro's face, then catches himself before he jabs his boyfriend with a faceful of feathers. ]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure. [ a beat. ] I only meant to check if that'd help dislodge you.

[ though that said, keith does little to bolster his claim here by squeezing past shiro to get to the other side of the door. as far as keith is concerned though, the rub of his ass against shiro's thigh is purely incidental, unavoidable even. ]

Looks like you're wedged in pretty good, huh? Gonna have to climb you to help. That okay?

[ crisis averted. no hanky panky is being suggested: good. so why is an ass being dragged over his thigh? shiro presses his lips together tight and exhales heavily through his nose. keith is -- he quietly reminds himself -- a mess of feathers. as much as shiro loves him, there’s no way to sugarcoat that. however, in the same breath, those feathers make it close to impossible for keith to wear anything. in short, shiro is -- unfortunately -- very aware that keith has no pants underneath that baggy tee.

don't think about it, don't think about it, don’t think--

he crosses his arms over his chest and grips at his biceps. ] Yeah, it’s fine. [ or is it? he squints at the wall opposite him. usually, he’d have no qualms about keith latching onto him in whatever way he wants to, but climbing requires hands, which keith is severely lacking. ]

… Except how?

Hm.

[ a running jump would have been keith's first thought, but talons aren't really built for jumping, huh. annoying. but there are still some workarounds, right? though it'll probably be easier to pull off facing shiro. ]

Like this, maybe?

[ excuse him as he squeezes back past and proceeds to wrap his wings around shiro's neck and shoulders and pulls himself in tight. the move is made super dubious by the lack of pants, but neither of them get to dwell on that for long. ]

Just hold on to me okay?

[ the reason for which becomes obvious after keith closes his eyes and begins to change shape. the transformation doesn't take long, but it's bizarre nonetheless to shrink down into ... well. a penguin. a mulleted penguin. ]

Edited (typos detected late for the usual reasons) 2021-06-02 18:23 (UTC)

[ and cue another ass drag. he blows out a breath, uncrosses his arms and wrinkles his nose, not at all displeased but playing it up as keith comes to stand in front of him. shiro doesn’t understand. he’s finding it difficult to follow point a to point b of keith’s plan. nonetheless, palms go to keith’s hips anyway and he grips gently. ]

Okay.

[ the word comes out dubious; between that and the knitting of his brows, it’s clear he’s confused. it only worsens as keith begins to… change. shrink. a handful of seconds and all of a sudden, keith disappears into that borrowed shirt. ] Woah--! What… [ part panicked, he fumbles, briefly, with the bundle, only to pull back the shirt a moment later, letting it fall to the floor as he takes in the sight of… ]

You’re a penguin. [ he stares unblinking, arms outstretched and hands gripping underneath those little, oddly cute flippers. that’s probably not the most comfortable; the thought comes to him and he quickly pulls keith in, cradling him in the crook of his left arm, palm now supporting behind his webbed feet. ]

A penguin. [ he says it again, as though to make sense of this. except, then his breath is catching on a laugh, one that continues to grow the longer he looks at keith. ] -- With hair!

[ keith gives his head a quick bob up down, then a left right shake as the now even baggier shirt comes up over his head. he blinks up at shiro, letting out a super attractive SQUAWK

a beat later, be instinctively tries to bring a flipper up to his beak, but finding that penguins aren't adapted to move their arms that way, sheepishly ends up tucking his face (and alleged hair) under said flipper instead.

a moment later, there's a telepathic groan in a familiar voice.]

I want my hands back.

[ but the question is... does keith realize he's sending telepathic messages? the answer is a big no. ]

[ … okay. was that actually keith’s voice or did shiro imagine that? it seemed distinctly not shiro, but he’s failing to see the connection between telepathy and a penguin. too weird. he’s… been stuck in this doorway for too long. clearly the pressure on his antlers is reverberating down and into his skull, rattling his thoughts to the point that he’s filling in substitutions for that horrific squawk.

yeah. that… makes more sense. which brings him back to the issue at hand: he needs to get unwedged asap. only problem? he doesn’t know what is going on in that bird brain. really wishes keith had told him the plan before penguin-ifying himself.

he sighs and pokes at keith’s flipper with one, metal finger, silently coaxing him to stop hiding. ] Hey, come on now. If you hide away, I’m a lost cause.

Okay, okay.

[ Squirming the poked flipper out of range with another telepathic groan, keith attempts to stand up right. still unaware that he's broadcasting any kind of message, keith flaps to try and convey some kind of point about vertical motion. ]

Just gotta get him to pick me up and put me on those antlers so I can peck a little at the wood. Why did he have to take off the shirt though....

[ tmi? ]

Edited 2021-06-03 20:50 (UTC)

[ so he’s reconsidering his earlier dismissal. that’s way too coherent, way too detailed, way too keith’s voice for shiro to be imagining it. apparently, this bird monster transformation comes with a nice magic trick -- who knew. shiro didn’t, meaning it’s going to be a hard couple of seconds for him to process it as he stares, wide-eyed. ]

Uh. Keith? I can hear you.

[ upside? he now knows the plan, not that he’s following it just yet as he keeps keith tucked into his chest. downside? confusion, so much confusion. ]

[ the ineffectual flapping stops and shiro's getting a head tilt. ]

What now?

[ then in afterthought: another squawk. this one somehow more inquisitive than the first. is that what shiro means? or is it more like: ]

What number am I thinking of from one to ten?

[ now if the answer happens to be nine cuz that's apparently the number shiro's gotten himself stuck with by association, that's not keith's fault. ]

[ alright. perhaps shiro wasn’t as clear as he could have been. use your words: yeah, he should, seeing as he’s the one who can actually put voice to anything. the squawk doesn’t count. definitely doesn’t count.

slow squint. though, if keith wants to do it this way then… ]

… Nine? [ a beat. ] Though, the fact that I’m answering a question you didn’t speak aloud… shouldn’t that be confirmation enough?

Oh....

[ great. so he's broadcasting thoughts. wonderful. this would actually be kind of cool if he knew how to filter properly, but as it stands keith's caught between trying not to think anything in particular out loud (so to speak) and trying to figure out how to respond to that. the one saving grace here just may be that penguins don't emote particularly well so the blush is purely psychosomatic. ]

That's just a lucky guess, right? And not because of... [ fuck, nope nope, nope. no thinking. ] Pick me up?

Edited (birds can't talk i am my own rp poolice) 2021-06-04 05:30 (UTC)

[ nine is a wonderful number. impressive. satisfying. pro… portional? sure. shiro doesn’t put the pieces together right off the bat though. those transmitted thoughts taper off and shiro frowns at the omittance. because of…? because of what? but then keith is telling him to get a move on and shiro goes about obliging. ]

Right. [ adjusting his grip, he gently handles him on both sides of his miniature body and lifts him up. holding high, he steadies him there near the doorframe where one antler has stuck itself into the wood.

one, two, no -- give him four ticks and then: click. ] Oh. You picked nine because… [ he does the exact same thing. one because and he’s trailing off, part amused, part reluctant to spell it out. though, he does laugh soon after. ]

That really made an impression on you, huh. [ voice teasing and his smile a touch sly. look, he’s stuck in a door -- he has to take a win when he can. ]

[ and up keith goes. trying not to squirm around too much, he squints this way and that at the door frame. the four ticks of silence he gets for unimpeded focus are juuuuust enough for him to work out where he ought to peck, but then shiro has to tease, huh? ]

Babe.... [ dismayed, keith kicks webbed feet in protest. ] Don't call me out like that.

[ can he really be blamed for being a little hung up on the topic? hmph. if he weren't a penguin, he'd be grumbling, but as it stands he merely channels his irritation with malachite's impeccable sense of timing into a solid peck at the door frame beneath the wedged antler. on the bright side, it leaves a splintering crack that should make it easier for shiro to yank himself free. on the not so bright side, penguins aren't woodpeckers and the impact feels about as great as you'd imagine. keith flinches back, giving himself a shake.]

Ow.

[ good thing he's used to getting smashed into things face first from being red's paladin, eh? just like old times or something. ]

[ … hell. he should not be so enamored with those webbed feet wiggling about. it’s cute. though, in the same breath, also weird to be called babe by a penguin. by keith, he amends a moment later. not that arguing that his boyfriend is said penguin makes any of this less strange. ]

You’re the one who brought it up. [ he’s on his way to a smile, voice uneven on a laugh that hasn’t fully formed. but he loses all of it when there’s a crack or more specifically, an ow. concern floods his system and then he’s lowering keith down -- quickly. perhaps more quickly than is comfortable. sorry for the slight jostling there, keith. ]

What happened? [okay. he knows what happened, however, it slips out anyway as he looks his face over. frowning, he hefts keith into the crook of his arm again and gently touches the upper bill, not entirely sure if rubbing it works in the same way as it would with a jammed joint or muscle. ]

You okay? [ poor keith, slamming his face into a doorframe and shiro hasn’t even given the slightest appreciation for it by testing the give of his antlers. priorities. ]

[ the sudden drop in altitude gets a startled squawk and ineffectual flapping before shiro manages to cradle keith back in close. keith's experienced plenty of weird things in his life, but somehow getting a beak rub while he's a penguin from his semi-moose boyfriend manages to be some new high or new low. he's not sure what to categorize this as. either way, the contact makes him grimace, though he doesn't move away from the touch. ]

I'm fine... think it's just bruised?

[ which he didn't know was even a thing, but that's how it feels. ]

Can you move yet or do I have to peck some more?

[ uh. is it actually a thing? shiro’s frown deepens. ]

It looks fine right now. No discoloration, but I guess that would come later… if beaks do that. [ in other words, this transformation may become even more fun in an hour or two. if keith stays a penguin, that is. though, they can probably work out some healing synchrony even if one of them is pint-sized and feathered, right? yeah. not that he’s going to let keith make it any worse in the meantime. ]

So no more pecking. You’ve done enough. Just let me… [ he cradles keith in closer, trying to steady him, protect him as shiro’s free hand goes to the doorframe. digs his heels in and leans his weight back, body bowing as he pushes with his arm. ] Should -- just… [ rocks his head, the give starting small and then gaining a little, a little more, and then hitting the angle just right with the compromised wood to have him yanking free.

he stumbles backwards, his feet working overtime to make up the difference. inevitably, he does catch himself in the midst of all that momentum and he comes to a stop.

straightens his height, gives his head a brief shake and then he exhales heavy on a laugh, tipping his face down toward the penguin still tucked in against him. ] You did it!

[ keith buries just that bit tighter into the safe spot between shiro's chest and arm, and doesn't poke his head back out until there's laughter. cautious at first, but he takes one look at the ruined doorway and the bits of wood dusting shiro's head and shoulders and has to laugh as well. ]

That was mostly you. [ penguins don't smile, of course, but it's audible in his voice somehow. ] You're a mess, big guy.

[ never mind what made shiro run for the bedroom in a rush because keith has managed to put that out of mind.

and it will continue to be out of keith's mind because before he can request for shiro to put him down, the door bell rings. now who could that possibly be.....]

[ first babe, now big guy. shiro’s still a huge fan of the affectionate names but he’s gotta admit, they hit much differently when it’s a penguin face staring back at him. he smiles though and he’s just short of a retort when there’s that bell ring. it’s automatic: he pivots and turns his head further, looking to the door. a blink and then it’s back to keith. who…?

he never quite loses his smile, although it softens on the beat of curiosity as he bends down to set those webbed feet on the floor. straightens up and gives a cautionary brush of his hands over his hair, then his shoulders. ]

Hopefully not too much of a mess. [ he says it as he heads to the door. giving himself one last moment to gather some sense of dignity, he unlocks the door and then swings it open.

oh. mail? ] Jamieson -- hey.

Hello Shiro. Got some good ones for you today. [ annnnd taking a stack of junk mail: coupons, real estate magazine, auto parts advertisement -- nice. shiro smiles. ]

Thanks. [ a beat. ] You know you don’t have to hand deliver it. [ it’s been hit or miss. usually shiro isn’t here during the work week. but ever since that time two weeks back, when he’d gone down to grab the mail out of their mailbox and happened to run into mailman jamieson, well… jamieson seems to think he needs to bring it to the door? maybe it’s because sometimes, with the craziness of this world, they forget to clear out their mailbox and it’s been wedged full, so jamieson is trying to help them out? shiro’s been better about trying to check it everyday though. ]

It’s no problem. Besides, it’s always good to see you. Especially now -- nice rack by the way.

[ tips his head and -- oh, he can feel the weight. laughs. ] Right. The antlers.

Yeah. The antlers.

[ feet make contact with the ground again, though looking up at shiro when you're barely two feet tall is a real pain. a literal pain even. it was much more pleasant being held securely in shiro's arms, so whoever this person at their door happens to be? they're already on keith's shitplist.

but dutifully he starts waddling to get to shiro's shirt so he can turn back into a more humanoid bird. never mind the inherent fuckery of the phrase "more humanoid bird" -- normal is relative. for better or for worse though, he's not exactly agile in this form and he manages to awkwardly wobble two steps closer to the shirt when the conversation out in the living room picks up.

wait. an actual conversation and not just a quick hi/bye? keith changes direction and peeks his head out to take a gander at shiro's possible friend. if that's nosy, well... yeah, he's nosy. shut up. double shut up because he has no regrets about snooping.

why the hell is the mailman hand delivering the mail is the first question to come to mind, but that reasonable question is quickly overshadowed by irritation. why's that guy not leaving? why's he smiling at shiro like that?

rack.

fucking. indignant, keith toddles out to the living room like he's competing in the penguin olympics for sprinting. if he was in his normal body, he'd be yelling. as it stands.......]

AAACK! KWA!! KWAAA!

[ by some miracle, keith doesn't actually trip. flippers spread wide, he comes charging forward like a shufflin bullet to position himself between shiro and the interloper yelling what can only be interpreted as fuck you in pengunspeak.

fuck if he's gonna put up with people hitting on his boyfriend under his nose. beak. whatever.

if shiro doesn't grab the bird, jameson's getting a pecked kneecap for all his troubles. ]

Edited 2021-06-06 05:52 (UTC)

[ what… the fuck is that sound? shiro’s part convinced he’s having a stroke, because for the longest time, he can only stare down at the absolute rage in penguin form now standing in front of him. clearly, there’s something wrong with his brain processing if no further reaction is forthcoming. standing at a non-impressive two foot something, keith’s spread flippers and puffed chest could be considered hilarious, cute even, but with shiro just barely remembering his bearings, no smile and no laughter come. instead, he ends up on panicked embarrassment.

oh. my. fucking. god. ]

I’m so sorry! [ he’s talking to jamieson, not keith. he bends down and grasps keith from behind, right there under his flippers. see, he’s managed to survive his mini-stroke and yes, he does realize that he probably shouldn’t leave keith within striking distance. what’s the equivalent of a sucker punch to penguins? pecking the shins? biting the ankles? ]

I don’t know what’s gotten into him. [ he hoists keith up as he straightens and then he has keith tucked into his chest once more, supported along the length of his forearm. he looks down at keith and… he’s not glaring. he doesn’t even look mad, particularly. the wrinkle in his brow and the frown at his mouth are mostly concerned. confused too. what’s wrong…? ]

It’s fine.

[ snaps his gaze back to jamieson, subconsciously loosening the tight hug of that penguin body. ]

No, really, he’s usually not… this. [ a penguin. rude. well, at least to the extent of squawking -- yelling, at strangers who haven’t done anything. maybe it’s a side effect of the transformation? weird penguin, uh… hormones? ]

Shiro, forget about it. I’m sure your pet is as sweet as you are once you get to know him.

[ pet. wait. he thinks keith is his pet bird? great, the stroke is back. talking suddenly seems so difficult, his mind too stuck on repeating what to think to verbalize it and correct things before the assumption sticks.

which is, of course, a mistake, because jamieson leans closer, forearm braced against the door jam in a casual show of familiarity that doesn’t really belong here. ] But actually, I was hoping to get to know you better, so I was thinking… [ and as he starts saying things about dinner and he knows a nice place, shiro can only think oooooh, this is why keith is so mad, isn’t it? ]

[ feet pedal mid-air as shiro plucks keith off the ground, making keith twist around to glare (or at least do his best approximation of glaring) at shiro. but it isn’t until shiro actually apologizes to the homewrecker that keith finds his voice again. ]

What do you mean you’re sorry—

[ thoroughly indignant, keith actually stops wriggling. that is until the words “your pet” come up. that loosening grip coincides exceptionally poorly with another burst of rage as keith swivels forward to face jameson once again.

The only dinner date you’re going on is with my fist!

[ never mind the fact that keith doesn’t actually have fists much less a good plan of attack here. with a thrash, he manages to slip over the lock shiro has around his torso, then kicks off hard from shiro’s chest to launch himself across. with a battlecry squawk, keith scores a peck at jamesons’ thigh then lands with a soft thump on his butt. ]

[ alright. shiro underestimated the striking distance. his bad. more shocked than winded from that webbed kick-off, shiro watches part mesmerized as keith catapults, hits and… does not stick the landing. huh, so he’s just as acrobatic as a penguin. it’s almost impressive, save for the yell it rips from jamieson. ]

-- What the fuck? Stupid bird!

[ he does have a point. physically assaulting someone is stupid, keith, when they’ve done nothing other than shoot their shot at an uninterested party. so shiro may have apologized on keith’s behalf again. may have even offered some currents in compensation for the inconvenience. if jamieson had kept his cool.

but he didn’t. the words are barely out of the mailman’s mouth before his weight redistributes and he swings his leg back, going for the punt. but then shiro’s there, stepped over keith and in front, giving jamieson’s chest a hard, one-handed push. leg still cocked back, jamieson just barely catches himself with a quick fumble of steps, all of which leave him a good couple of feet into the corridor. ]

You should get going.

Shiro -- but --

Stick to the mailbox from now on. [ between the glare and the rejection, jamieson seems to think better of any argument and huffs through the annoyance, turning to limp toward the elevators. shiro watches him go for a few moments and then tips his head over an’ back, looking down at keith. he sighs, only to turn -- carefully, no need to knock his antlers into anything or worse, get stuck again -- and crouch down to keith’s level. ]

You okay?

[ ah, that's a foot coming for his face. this is probably a good argument for why you don't go picking fights with things three times your size, but that hasn't stopped keith before. it won't stop keith even after the kick lands and sends him flying across the room either, truth be told. but that kick never comes because shiro is there to intervene.

almost sheepishly, keith hops back up onto his feet, though he doesn't relax until after jameson disappears inside the elevator. then finally, he lets his head droop and gives his beak a quick rub under a flipper. no regrets for jabbing the guy with a bruised beak though.

straightening right back up, keith starts with an unrepentant: ]

He deserved it. [ which doesn't answer the question, but that's not important. ] Are you okay?

[ shiro's poor rack getting all objectified like that.... ]

[ deserved it, right, of course he deserved maiming for showing interest. shiro’s exasperated, but the ridiculousness isn’t lost on him either. everything about this is ludicrous. the antlers, the penguin, the crush, keith’s fucking squawking to his beak turned weapon… it sounds made up and yet here they are, sitting out the aftermath. shiro hates that a part of him is oddly amused. it helps in softening him, which in turn keeps him from launching into a lecture. no frown, no stern stare, nah, none of that. instead, shiro’s expression is relaxed. ]

I’m fine. [ his concern continues to remain on keith, mainly that beak that’s been getting a beating in the last few minutes. however, he does little other than a visual glance over. satisfied for the immediate moment, his attention returns to the still open door. he’s back on his feet and once they’re both out of the way, he closes the door.

he locks the deadbolt and there, finally, he sighs. ]

You know I would’ve told him no. [ the words lack the tone, the one that is shiro’s patented lecture voice. there’s no real desire to berate keith here. it’s only said as a reminder; a reassurance of sorts. he back steps and once he’s clear for the turn, he pivots back around to face keith, face dipped down toward him. ]

You didn’t have to hurl yourself at him. [ and hurt yourself is the part left unsaid. ]

Yeah because he was totally going to listen.

[ penguins can't roll their eyes, so keith's flat tone is doing the heavy lifting here. that doesn't necessarily diminish shiro's point, of course, but keith is still feeling pretty unapologetic. an undercurrent of territorial drive to protect his "nest" isn't making his judgment any better, mind you, but protective instincts aren't usually impulses keith tends to question. especially when there's a recent run-in with a pushy unicorn in the elevator on the mind that's souring his opinions on people making advances.

with a bit of a disgruntled chirp, keith starts the long wobbly walk back to retrieve his shirt from the bedroom floor. ]

Should've pecked him in the dick.

[ why wouldn’t he listen? jamieson hadn’t given off any creep vibes; surely he would’ve taken a rejection with as much grace as anyone can in that kind of situation. though, on second thought, he did go to kick keith, which in itself is a red flag. so maybe keith has a point? unconvinced, yet unwilling to fight keith on that particular point, shiro merely frowns as keith turns away. picking up the dropped pile of mail, shiro stands up and…

wow, that’s kind of adorable.

keith’s only managed to put about two feet between them when shiro glances to him again. each waddle of his feet have his little, pointed tail-feathers swishing side to side and shiro just barely keeps himself from laughing. least to say, he’s in no rush to pass keith and so, he measures out each step, adopting a very slow, very indulgent pace behind him.

he drops the mail off on the counter as he passes, shaking his head at that last comment that pops into it. ]

I think you’ve abused your beak enough as is. [ he really ought to look at it; he doesn’t quite buy keith’s brush off for his earlier concern. ] Would you really want your mouth anywhere near that?

[ oblivious to his swishing tail feathers getting an ogling, keith keeps up his slow waddling stride, head held high and proud. at least until the question makes him pause to do a whole body shudder. ]

Ok. So maybe I didn't think that one through all the way.

[ reluctant admission is reluctant. once again, the penguin's inability to blush is proving clutch here as keith continues the trek back to the bedroom. it's pretty bad that that's the closest his face has ever been to anyone's crotch, huh. trying not to dwell on that thought, keith sighs. ]

But maybe putting that head out of commission would have made him a better person.

[ maybe? probably not. once he's close enough to the shirt, he flops down onto his belly to pick it up with hia beak and turns to present it to shiro. help him dress, big guy? ]

[ keith talking -- transmitting?? -- about pecking dick had been bad enough, but now he’s putting specifics to it with head. it's just… not something shiro necessarily wants to think about. it has shiro pausing mid-step, grimacing in the form of hunched shoulders and a pinched expression. however, keith plops down and shiro falls right back into step, finishing off his slow trailing to stand a few feet away.

there’s something sweet about keith presenting the shirt to him, wordlessly asking for help. keith doesn’t have hands, so it’s more practical than sweet, he concedes; nonetheless, being able to assist in keith feeling more comfortable has shiro smiling. taking that offered shirt, shiro turns it right and pulls the neckline wide to fit it easily over keith’s penguin head.

he smiles a little wider and adjusts the lay of the fabric, which amounts to nothing in the end. the shirt is far too big and there’s too much fabric for it to look presentable in any way. ]

What would make him a better person in your opinion? [ and now he’s moving on to help keith fit one flipper through the armhole. ] Being uninterested in me? [ his voice pitches, carrying teasing notes as he moves onto the other flipper. ]

[ keith is practically drowning in shiro's shirt, but that's fine. getting limbs in approximately the right place before he changes form again will probably be easier than trying to get dressed when he's more human. there's a happy chirp as keith's head pokes through the shirt, then a quick side to side head shake to unruffle his mullet. ]

That's a start. [ and once his flippers poke through the arm holes, he does an experimental flap and shoulder raise to see if he can lift the fabric off the floor. spoilers: he can't. ]

At the very least, he shouldn't go around being a homewrecker.

[ clearly that's the most important point here, all jokes aside. ]

...Or kicking small animals.

[ it wouldn't be the first time in his life that keith's taken a bad beating, but if birds have hollow bones, keith isn't all that sure how he would have fared. ...if penguins even have hollow bones. who even knows. with that thought in mind, he comes to a resting flop over shiro's thigh, flippers spread in a facsimilie of a hug. ]

[ homewrecker, animal abuser -- when put like that, jamieson does sound like he needs some self-improvement tips. or some negative reinforcement as keith has so helpfully suggested. hopefully, the sore thigh and accompanying limp will be enough to keep the mailman from making apartment visits. shiro’s anticipating a week or two of payback though. he won’t be all that surprised if everyone’s junk mail ends up stuffed into their box for a good while, at least until jamieson is walking normally again.

ah well. a fuller trash bin isn’t that much of a nuisance. there are bigger worries to focus on, such as the splintered wood of this door frame. as adorable as keith is standing there in all his penguin glory, drowning in the shirt, shiro’s attention drifts to the debris that’s sprinkled on the floor around him. ]

You have a point. [ briefly, shiro chances a glance up, however, almost as soon as he settles on the ripped wood, there’s weight on his thigh. reflex has him glancing down and -- oh.

he huffs a soft, amused sound, mouth curving. ] So how long are you planning on staying a small animal? [ keith’s flippers. they’re so… small. they’re already teeny tiny, narrow things, but swallowed up by billowing shirt only dwarfs them further. he bites the inside of his lip to starve off a laugh and then runs his palm over keith’s inexplicable penguin mullet, letting it come to rest keith’s back. ]

I’ll admit… you are pretty cute.

[ one soft lil nuzzle against shiro's thigh later and keith waddles back. giving himself space to transform, keith stays a penguin just long enough to send one last telepathic message. ]

I always have a point.

[ and maybe he's always cute, too. hmph. turning back into a bird-human thing is weirder than the reverse process. keith shoots up in height, arms crossed down his front to keep the end of the shirt tugged low against his body. as some feathers recede and others grow in, he straightens up to his usual height looking about as normal as this monster form allows. he lifts up one leg, opening and closing his talons before setting it back down on the ground. ]

Miss me? Or are you super attached to the penguin thing now?

[ with him nearing half a year here, shiro should be more desensitized to the general oddity that surrounds his life. nonetheless, despite the number of transformations he’s gone through and seen others endure, it’s still a trip to watch keith revert from a tiny penguin to sort of himself. having him become the penguin had almost been less weird, simply because the shirt obscured the brunt of it. now, he has a front-row seat to arms, legs, torso stretching and filling the shirt.

in the end, when keith’s form stabilizes, he doesn’t much look like the boy he’s used to, but the hint of familiarity in it makes it easier for him to smile.

miss him? shiro laughs quiet and brief, pushing himself back to his feet and just barely catching himself from walking forward. right. doorway. not again. instead, he merely stands there at the door, giving his head a slight tilt and softening his expression for a look of fondness. ]

I’m super attached to you, in whatever form you’re in.

[ though, like he said, the penguin-look was pretty dang cute. ]

[ whatever response keith was expecting, the sweetness of this one isn't something he'd been prepared for. it shows plainly in the surprise of his expression before his features soften into a warm smile of his own. forget the fact that he's covered in feathers and shiro has moose antlers growing out of his skull and drooping moose ears, his heart just feels so full.

he takes one step towards shiro and then another until he takes up the space in front of his boyfriend with a gentle lean in and a careful kiss pressed to his neck. ]

You know... I'm really starting to think one of the worst parts about not having hands is not getting to hold you properly.

[ he laughs, drawing back with a sheepish smile. ]

It's only been a couple of days, but.. I miss that. A lot.

[ one of the worst. shiro has to wonder where he stacks up in that list. is not being able to hold him properly below not being able to fix himself a plate of food? is it above not being able to hold his toothbrush? is it dead even with needing assistance in dressing? shiro chuckles right along with that laughter, smiling sweet and oh so amused when keith draws away. the fondness keeps throughout and there’s still that softness about him, especially with talk of missing. he misses that too. of course he does. and that’s why he just as easily draws keith back, arms looping around his middle and tugging him along as shiro takes some backward steps away from that damn door. ]

Me too. A lot, a lot.

[ three steps and he pauses, briefly pulling keith in to press his own kiss -- his considerably higher, at his temple, right below the change to feathers. ]

Just awhile longer. [ then they can compile all those missed chances into one, five-minute long hug. he laughs at his own nonsense and releases his hold. ] We’ll just have to keep ourselves busy in the meantime, make the time seem like it’s going by faster.

[ keith can’t help laughing as shiro backshuffles them away from the doorway, expression helplessly adoring at the gentle kiss. ]

Well…. if you give me about fifteen minutes to try and get some pants on, we can go to the park? Fewer things for you to get stuck in out there.

[ kind of like a combination date and pity party for their bizarre woes. ]

[ a moose and a bird, out on a park play-date… likely not the oddest thing to happen here. he grins, shaking his head slow and brief. ]

Picking our activities on the basis of fewer things for me to get stuck in… how embarrassing. [ wide, open space, nothing can go wrong there, right? he can only hope there’s no low hanging branches. mindful of the antlers here, the back steps further from keith and then turns, walking over to the couch. ]

Good luck with the pants. [ and he seats himself down, getting comfortable on the cushion. ] If you can’t contort yourself enough to get them on, I can help. You just have to bring them out here. [ his gaze briefly skips past keith, eyeing the door over his shoulder, before looking back to keith. ] Where it’s safe.

[ there's an art to getting pants on without having hands. it involves flexibility, dexterity and lying on the bed to make the pants drop down his legs and then pushing into an awkward half back roll to yank the fabric up over his ass and hips with his mouth. extremely elegant stuff, and not exactly a routine keith wants shiro to see. with time and practice, he's gotten this down to less than the predicted fifteen minutes, and saunters out into the living room looking vaguely pleased with himself.

then after asking shiro to open up a window, it's just a simple matter of leaping out of it and opening up his wings to catch a thermal. keith's laughter is clearly audible on the way down as he tells shiro he'll be waiting downstairs. what would have been sensible is if keith had actually bothered to grab his phone before pulling this stunt, but he's left it wedged between the mattress and headboard. if shiro gets stuck at any point between the front door and the entrance to their apartment, he may be relying on neighbors for help. mercifully, it's not too long a wait so the moose antlers can't have been much of a hindrance? he's assuming anyway. the walk to the park is similarly non eventful, though keith occasionally hops into the sky when walking on talons starts getting uncomfortable and avian instincts make him antsy. but there's a lot to be said for being outdoors with a nice sunny sky (and no doorways) that's gotten keith in a better mood after that whole jameson fiasco.

hell, you could even say he's starting to show off a little with some mid air twirls as they head towards a more secluded spot by the emerald park lake. shiro brings up the rear holding two popsicles bought from an ice cream stand near by. as keith settles onto the grass, he grins up happily at shiro. ]

I wonder if I can hold the popsicle stick with my feet. [ an experimental flex of his talons and an even more experimental lean forward before straightening up with a laugh. ] Pretty awkward to watch though. Hope you don't mind holding stuff for me for ... however long this lasts.

[ of course keith would take to the aerial acrobatics. it’s nothing like sitting in a cockpit and taking control of an aircraft, but airborne and free -- that’s what has shiro finding some commonality. there’s always been something special to keith’s flying: impressive from the start and downright mesmerizing by the end. here is much the same. shiro smiles and gawks and doesn’t hide any bit of it, openly watching all the way to the emerald park lake and even from the ice-cream stand. well on their way to summer, the day is warm, only made hotter by an unobscured sun. so a tasty, ice-cold treat? seems like a good idea -- one that will definitely not backfire in any way, shape or form.

right?

the stand only sells one type. it’s a colorful thing. shiro isn’t exactly sure what the flavor is, but he orders two before transferring over the appropriate currents. soon enough, he has one in each hand as he makes his way over to a now settled keith.

he smiles to keith’s antics and can’t help laughing softly right along with him. ] I guess I can help you out. [ the exasperation is feigned, obviously so, especially with the way he hasn’t stopped smiling. what kind of boyfriend would he be if he couldn’t be bothered to hold a popsicle for a few minutes? a bad one, that’s what.

carefully, he lowers himself to the ground in front of keith, flopping down on his bottom with those last few inches. not the most graceful but being without the use of one’s hands will do that to a person. he grins nonetheless and angles his arm, holding the popsicle close enough for keith to reach. ] Just be mindful of the drips, pretty warm out here.

[ keith gives the oddly curved popsicle a quizzical look. did these get partly melted already? the rainbow colors don't make it easy to guess what flavor it's supposed to be either. there's half a tick where he's reminded of all that colorful powder from that festival months ago, but nobody seems to be acting strangely around them so he can afford to be less suspicious about things, right? right. more than anything else though, it's the lil prod that shiro gives about drippage that makes keith shake himself out of speculating wildly based on nothing. tipping his head down, keith parts his lips. ]

Yeah, I'll try not to let any drip on you.

[ that may or may not have been shiro's primary concern, but he gives the red tip a dainty flick with his tongue. ]

Pretty sure red is cherry. [ another swipe, this time licking up from the purple all the way back up the top. ] The bottom one is grape, I think. [ he glances up then, expression suddenly sheepish as he looks away very quickly. ]

It's good when all the flavors mix like that.

[ which is all the preamble shiro gets to keith opening his mouth a little wider to suck down on the popsicle to about the yellow band. see, it'd only occurred to him in retrospect how lewd licking the damn ice lolly must look. surely this has to be an improvement...?? ]

[ shiro’s a planner. looking at a situation from all sides, anticipating all needs, preparing for the worst, yeah, he likes to map things out so he’s never caught wrong-footed. though, considering the last couple of years, no amount of prepping managed to keep him from disaster. so perhaps he should have expected it all to go wrong here. popsicles; of all things popsicles are his undoing. they’re sweet, innocent treats, made more with children in mind and yet, shiro’s smile dims right around the time keith leans forward with lips parted.

… he didn’t think this through.

the first flick has his brain catching on the word wait. the long drag of his tongue up, up, up the length of the popsicle has him moving onto oh. and it’s then that he puts two and two together. the shape, the curve, the general size of the popsicle -- why the fuck does it look like that? he opens his mouth with nothing to say. there’s a start stop, start stop rhythm to his mind and he sits there staring, entirely forgetting about drips, because like hell he’s paying attention to his own popsicle.

he needs to say something though. or blink. anything, really. struck stupid as he is, he does realize he can’t openly gawk without the risk of embarrassing himself.

… which is exactly when keith decides to slide his mouth halfway down the popsicle, swallowing those three colors like it’s completely natural. right. normal -- nothing to see here. except, that’s when a word finally tumbles out of his still open mouth. ]

Woah. [ one tick, two tick, thr-- ] I mean. [ he catches it too late and feels himself warm because of it. that’s the extent of his recovery though. there’s no forthcoming explanation and immediately, he starts fumbling on the inside, trying to put together something that makes sense, other than the embarrassing truth.

he’s still staring. he’s still a little too stupid and a lot too wanting. so he thinks six colors with keith downing three, mumbling a borderline dazed: ] You said you liked all the flavors together.

[ keith blinks up at the woah, one eyebrow raising higher and higher at shiro's apparent speechlessness. so maybe this wasn't the less lewd alternative to licking around the popsicle that keith was hoping for if that's the reception he's getting. if so, he really ought to be spitting the frozen treat out and back pedaling, but......

part of him is undeniably tickled by the way this is getting shiro all dazed and flustered. that may be a little messed up as it were, but sue him. they were talking about finding ways to make the time pass by faster., what's the harm in this if they're in relative private? not that he's particularly keen on gagging on this obnoxiously rainbow colored thing, but he can't help wanting to see shiro a little hot and bothered. he draws back briefly, lips disengaging with a soft pop. ]

Yeah. I did say that. You should try it yourself. Can't have it dripping everywhere.

[ drip drip big guy. but with a grin, keith presses his lips back to the red, opens up and slowly leans into the popsicle, slowing down once he hits yellow. then more cautiously, he inches lower until the feel of ice on the back of his throat elicits a gasp and a shiver. but beyond the shock of cold, it's bearable enough that he goes a little further until he pauses again at the end of the blue band. another shiver, then he looks up at shiro. that glance is entirely deliberate as he takes a little more of the popsicle, then straightens up, panting a little for air. ]

[ drippage. right. he’ll get to it. in a minute? sure. so much for multitasking, because apparently all his brain function is diverted to watching keith slide inch by inch by inch, down the length of the popsicle. the thickness is off. keith has some leeway on that. but the length is… comparable. possibly longer, he thinks with some misplaced annoyance. the takeaway lesson here though, is that keith can swallow down something he shouldn’t be able to swallow down, especially with such ease. it’s got to be nudging down his throat, right? there’s no possible way it’s not.

briefly, shiro tears his gaze away from the stretch of those lips and looks to his throat for some indication, some thickening bulge…? he colors wonderfully, eyes rounding as though scandalized by his own thinking. immediately, he looks back to keith’s face and… that’s not much better, because keith’s looking back and…

direct eye contact with nearly the entire popsicle in keith’s mouth -- shiro makes some sort of sound, throaty and high, his grip on the popsicle stick pinching tighter. fucking hell, it’s been way too long if he’s getting turned on by keith sucking on a popsicle. there’s a distinct throb down low, one that has him inwardly panicking over the fact that he has no free hands to adjust. so if keith doesn’t come up for air soon, shiro’s well on his way to embarrassing himself.

but he does come up. just like that. one moment he has the popsicle down his throat and the next, he’s open mouthed an’ panting, lips slick with rainbow syrup. he stares and finds himself wanting to lick his mouth clean. so he does. he doesn’t even hesitate. the thought comes to him and then he’s ducking in, pushing his mouth against keith’s with no amount of finesse.

the kiss is a mess. a little too eager, a little too rushed, shiro thankfully isn’t all tongue, but he does lave keith’s upper lip and then suck on the bottom, greedily chasing the sweetness there. he’s still holding two, dumbly-shaped popsicles though, making the whole ordeal more difficult than it should be and so, he pulls back, releasing keith’s lip before tonguing at his own. a quick swipe to ensure all the syrup is off and then it’s like a switch flips -- his smile turns shy and he laughs self-consciously, desperately trying to play it off. ]

You’re right. It’s tasty.

[ the wanting look on shiro's face is stunning. if keith had his way, he'd look at it all day -- kiss shiro, slip tongue in his mouth and slide hands down low, lower to squeeze more of those delicious throaty sounds out of him. though as warming as that thought may be, the triple threat of brain freeze, the chill in his throat and a need to breathe work double time at redirecting keith to reality.

numbed as his lips are, he can't quite feel it when shiro presses in, hot and wet, just about in every way the polar opposite of the popsicle to fill his mouth. it's keith's turn to moan then as shiro coaxes heat back into his lips. the idle thought running in the back of his head is that this isn't fair -- shiro's supposed to be the one doing the wanting, damn it. all the same, he's pretty sure that when shiro pulls away, he's the one looking like a dazed, open mouthed mess. keith swallows, wingtips quivering before he holds his arms more rigidly. ]

You... [ another swallow to clear his throat. ] You should give me more then.

[ he wants more, eh? the shyness of his smile eases and he’s getting caught up again. keith makes him want too and it takes nothing at all, just a simple doubling down for shiro to let his thoughts dip low an’ lewd. the sugar is still sweetening his mouth but it’s faint and growing fainter. shiro loathes losing that taste. he has his own, untouched popsicle, one with the exact flavors of syrup candy, but he continues to ignore it, even as the first melted glob drips onto his knuckle. he doesn’t even look. he keeps his gaze on keith’s and lowers his lashes on the next blink, looking sly. ]

Yeah?

[ it’s far more breathy than a situation involving a public park and popsicles calls for. later, perhaps he’ll find his shame, but for now, he slowly tilts his wrist, tipping the popsicle toward keith in offer…

only to swing it right back into its upward position and then further still. he angles it to his own mouth and raises it up, gently bumping the rosy tip to his lips. it rests there for a long moment, the weight of it pressing into the swell of his bottom lip and letting the color seep in. two ticks spent and he pillows his lips, kissing the top and then suckling in a long drag, pulling out as much of the cherry flavor as he can.

and then he moves on. unhurried but predictable after the first two. he goes down the blocks of colors. reddened lips press a kiss to orange. then yellow. then green, blue, purple…

done. he tips the popsicle away and smiles with coated lips, just barely resisting the urge to tongue at the sticky goodness there. with that, he offers up the popsicle for real this time -- no games, no take backs, nothing. ] Okay. [ he tips it to keith but now there’s a second option. which route will keith take, hm? ]

[ keith sits back, watching the bait and switch play out with an amused half smile. crooked cop shiro strikes again, huh? out by the lake, nonetheless. there's something in the way that the inappropriateness of the situation only intensifies the appeal that should be examined, but keith's brain is well and truly occupied by the choices being presented.

popsicle or shiro's syrupy lips. truly, these are the no brainer choices in life that he'd like to be making more often. yet, keith is still recalcitrant enough to look away from the offers being presented to look at the popsicle that's going ignored in shiro's other hand. rolling onto his knees, he scoots closer to shiro, raising one arm to shield them both from scrutiny with black and red feathers.

stopping just as he's started to encorach too far into shiro's persona space, he presses a warm, open-mouthed kiss to shiro's lips, tongue dipping in to taste that rainbow sweetness all blended together. ]

You're delicious. Even if you are a popsicle thief.

[ murmured into the kiss, keith breathes warm air onto cooled lips and pulls away with purple-blue staining his mouth. not that he seems to realize this because he settles back seeming almost smug, ]

You're dripping all over your hand, babe.

[ one puffed breath and now shiro’s the one shivering. keith can be smug all he likes; he’s earned it. because shiro? he’s soft-eyed and lax-mouthed, breathing heavier to steady the way rational thought has gone dizzy an’ slow.

they’re at the park. it’s midday and bright, far too public for them to be doing this. shiro isn’t exactly opposed to a healthy dose of pda in a relationship, although he does think there’s a time and a place and a limit to what should be put on display for other people to see. this is not pda though. this is… messy. suggestive. even with keith’s makeshift shielding in their otherwise secluded spot, they’re not completely free of prying eyes if anyone cares to look their way.

so they should rein it in. should being the key word here. does he though? again, keith reminds him of the dripping and this time, shiro looks. he blinks slow, feeling lazy and disconnected in the moment. he stares then and it takes him a long time to acknowledge the muddled mix of colored syrup sticking to his knuckles an’ dripping further, to roll into the clasped curve of his palm. ]

Oh. [ a beat. a blink. ] Huh. I am.

[ he should do something about that, shouldn’t he? he catches the corner of his bottom lip between his teeth, worrying it back an’ forth and only stops when he thinks maybe. he likes the idea better of someone else doing something about it. in public sounds off somewhere in his brain but he’s quick to dismiss it as he looks back to keith an’ his stained mouth.

he extends his hand, offering up both the untouched popsicle and his syrup-ruined hand. ] Clean me up? [ because see, his own mouth is busy. he makes sure of it by tipping keith’s popsicle back toward himself, flicking his tongue once at the tip. ]

[ fucking incredible. keith's gaze shifts from the extended popsicle and the one shiro's busy licking (his) before he laughs and shakes his head. ]

Oh yeah? But I'm thinking I might have to report a crime first.

[ popsicle larceny. the most unforgivable crime of all. sumarlok's finest are just itching to take on that case, surely. keith licks his lower lip, incidentally cleaning off about half the syrup., then feigns looking around this way and that for one of shiro's coworkers. ]

Wher'es a good cop when you need one, huh?

[ so it’s gonna be like that, eh? he watches keith look about and huffs indignantly, which doesn’t quite hit the mark when he’s smiling. ]

Hey now. There’s no crime here.

[ and excuse you, shiro is a good cop. a very good cop. there’s even murmurings around the station of him being among the candidates being considered for a promotion. comes with a snazzy, private office. wouldn’t that be nice? then he could fully conceal the files of actual crimes by someone. ]

We’re boyfriends. [ he flicks his tongue at the popsicle again, starting at orange and ending on red. and yes, it’s still “keith’s” popsicle. ]

What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.

[ the continued defiance is such a tempting catalyst for some wrestling over control over popsicle ownership. several factor such as keith's continued handslessness, shiro's moose antlers and the fact that they're in the public eye would make this a particularly stupid idea, but he's considering it anyway. if he gets a quick sneak lunge in......

smile turning sly, keith pointedly ignores the untouched popsicle and leans in close enough to lick a hot stripe on the other side of the popsicle held to shiro's lips. ]

That means I won't hear one peep of discontent if I eat up all your cereal tonight right, big guy?

[ don't mind him calling shiro out here, keith's just having a good time. perhaps too much of a good time seeing as they've attracted the attention of one silvery haired unicorn. he comes up behind keith, shaking his head. ]

Pardon me.

[ practically catapulting himself away from shiro and the popsicle, keith winds up about two feet in the air behind shiro, and peering down red faced at their unihorned intruder. ]

I don't mean to be rude, but there are young ones by the lake who needn't see such behavior.

[ then with a pleasant smile for shiro and a wink up at keith: ]

You'll resist the corrupting influence of impurity, won't you?

[ did shiro fail to mention that there’s one, tiny exception to relationship, combined ownership? yeah, cereal isn’t included. shiro supposes that he loves keith enough that he can allow one fistful of his lucky charms. shiro’s stalling on a retort though. not purposefully. keith’s remarkably efficient in rendering him stupid and right now, shiro’s lips are still resting at the tip, slowly recovering from that… whatever the hell that move was.

it will forever be a mystery to him how enjoying some popsicles ( or one, really ) has become so debased. yet, aware as he is that this is entirely inappropriate, he’s tempted to slide his tongue around, down, to retrace the same line keith licked. or maybe wrap his lips around all red and suck, and keep sucking until he’s bleached the color. he doesn’t even know why, just… this has become something and competitive as he is, he feels compelled to keep escalating until he… wins? not that he knows what winning involves. and he’ll continue to not know because they have a visitor.

keith’s up and gone before shiro can fully comprehend what is happening. still sitting there with two popsicles in his hands -- one now smaller, more undefinable in its shape and the other melting all over his fist -- shiro blinks up at the unicorn and then slowly turns his head, glancing up at keith. back to the unicorn, shiro has the decency to look regretful, although he doesn’t dare look in the direction of the lake and said children.

he’s with the unicorn. he agrees… up until he winks at keith. that, coupled with what comes after rubs shiro the wrong way. it’s difficult to maneuver when he has no free hands, but he has enough ab strength and balance, to get his feet under himself and stand up. it puts him in front of keith like a blockade, partly shielding him from the scrutiny -- or appreciation?? -- of this… what? propriety police? ]

No one’s corrupting anyone here. [ they got carried away, sure, shiro’ll give him that. but the way this dude is saying it, makes it sound raunchy. like a throwaway moment of hormones… which is somewhat true. but they love each other? he huffs. ]

But we’ll scale it back. For the kids.

[ between the frown and the dismissive tone, there’s a clear you can leave now implied. ]

[ from behind the safety of shiro's shoulders, keith has gone very quiet all of a sudden. the wink alone would've been annoying if only because keith's inclined to think that was meant for shiro, but the talk of impurity has managed to blindside him. what the actual fuck is that about and why is it unicorns in particular that keep bringing up purity? is this a monster transformation thing? a campaign of targeted harassment? keith schools his perplexed expression into more of a scowl, halfway tempted to demand to know if the guy knows the other unicorn in their apartment complex.

fortunately for the unicorn, shiro beats him to the punch in saying something. not that the unicorn particularly seems to pay shiro much mind. his eyes are still on keith. smile sweet as he cants his head and long silvery locks cascade elegantly over one shoulder. now vaguely reminded of lotor, keith's frowning only intensifies. met with hostility from both boys, the unicorn holds up both hands with a laugh. ]

But of course. I do not wish to agitate. [ and once again, directed at keith: ] Least of all, one such as yourself.

[ this time, keith does snap right back. ]

The hell is that supposed to mean?

[ but the unicorn merely titters in an oh you know sort of fashion, bows politely at the pair and canters off. ]

[ shiro’s seen many odd things in his life. a unicorn on this planet isn’t newsworthy or even strange, but what the hell, this whole exchange gives off the wrong kind of vibes. he opens his mouth, sucks in a sharp breath and he’s about to yell for the unicorn to come back and to explain. however, he hesitates at the last moment and exhales heavy instead. all in all, he’s glad to see the unicorn go. means he won’t have to endure any more of those cryptic threats or that ominous interest.

doesn’t make him much of a fan for emerald park though. part of him suddenly wants to head home. even if he’s at major risk of wedging himself in a doorway again, at least their apartment is unicorn free and keith is safe there from judgment and unwanted attention. seriously, what the fuck was that?

he frowns -- no, straight up glares at the unicorn’s retreating form, echoing a low: ]

Oh you know…?

[ does keith actually know? the unicorn spoke with confidence and maybe even a hint of familiarity, like he knew something about keith. have they met before? was this not a random chance meeting? these questions fire off in his head, each one building off the other until shiro’s stuck on assumption and full of suspicion. he still doesn’t turn to face keith, he’s too busy keeping the unicorn in his sight, even as he canters further an’ further away. ]

What was that about?

[ oh if only keith had hands to clench and throw punches with. not that it'd be a bright idea to start a brawl out in the open, but the thought is cathartic as the unicorn runs off like some prize winning dressage pony. keith doesn't know if he wants to yell or be sick. sucking in a deep breath, he closes his eyes and gently lowers himself back down to the ground. ]

I don't know. [ he exhales grumpily, mussing up his fringe. ] Never seen that weirdo before so I don't know what his problem is.

[ with a huff, he starts to fold his arms, though the position isn't nearly as comfortable when it means he ends up with feathers poking his thighs. le sigh. ]

What's with everyone flirting with you today anyway. [ no, that is not a pout. shut up. ]

[ apparently, the weirdo’s problem is them scarring children. shiro doesn’t fully buy that explanation anymore though. he’s beginning to think the interruption was more a result of envy. or at the very least, the unicorn wanted to get closer to keith specifically. the whole time he was here, the dude could barely look away from keith. annoyed at the reminder and from the fact that he can’t fully figure this out, shiro bids the unicorn one last glance, who is now far, far away, and drops his gaze to his handfuls.

he really needs to do something about these popsicles. however, before he get too far into finding a solution to that, keith throws out that last comment and… hold up, what? his head snaps up and then he pivots his weight, quarter turning to get a look at keith. ]

Flirting with me? [ brow furrows, confusion filling his face. ] He was flirting with you.

[ another short-stop, one that has his frown deepening, almost to the point of him being comically distressed. ] He winked at you!

[ the lil turn in his direction makes the dire state of drooping popsicles hard to miss, but shiro's indignation redirects keith's attention pretty quickly. ]

Was he? [ keith gives shiro a doubtful sort of look. what even are the odds of two unicorns being into him anyway? seems low. especially when there are a plethora of better explanations for this. exhibit a: ] You sure that wasn't just a twitch from the sun being in his eye?

[ assuming that shiro's right about who the winking was even directed at in the first place which doesn't seem likely because... ]

I'm pretty sure the guy was threatening me somehow. [ ... ] Are some people into that?

[ … okay. shiro is no stranger to keith’s lack of social awareness. there’s a gap; no, a gaping hole in keith’s understanding. shiro loves the boy but he has to admit, keith is borderline oblivious, at least in terms of people being interested in him. shiro was there at the garrison too. he saw a little of it firsthand. to this day, shiro is still fairly certain that griffin boy was playing too hard at the if-he’s-mean-to-you-he-likes-you. keith, apparently, only read it as he’s-mean-so-he’s-an-asshole-and-should-be-punched. shiro can’t fault keith for that.

for now, keith will earn himself a flat look for the sun comment. and as for the rest? ]

Probably. [ fucking griffin. he frowns, pursing his lips in thought and then huffing as he tosses a glance the other way, double-checking that the unicorn is very much keeping his distance. ]

Some people have trouble verbalizing their interest. So they tease you… or in this case, threaten you for allowing yourself to be corrupted? [ it sounds so preposterous that he can’t even prevent his voice from pitching higher as a question. still: ] I think he wasn’t a fan of you having a boyfriend.

[ okay. the perplexed expression ain't budging, but shiro obviously has way more experience with the whole flirting and dating scene so keith isn't about to dismiss that offhand. except shiro doesn't even sound all that sure about it either? keith loooks from shiro to the unicorn off in the distance then back to shiro. ]

..and they think making me mad will make me like them more?

[ as crap as he may be at reading people, keith is pretty fucking sure that's not how things work at all, even if the part about difficulty verbalizing feelings is at least relatable. brow furrowed and looking contemplative, keith sprawls out onto the grass.

maybe there's half a kernel of sense somewhere in that. after all, keith was pretty pissed off at shiro when they kissed the first time. unsure what to think about this, he frowns up at the sun,
raising one arm to partly shield his face. ]

I dunno. Maybe it's just a unicorn thing.

[ that's obvioously the safe conclusion to draw here. ]

[ listen. shiro never said it made sense. it is a thing though. supposedly. more so a pubescent thing, he would think, but well, some people never mature beyond fourteen. ]

… Yeah?

[ goddammit. he can’t seem to get rid of that questioning tilt to his answers. frowning at his own inability, shiro swings his gaze back around to keith, just in time to see him flop onto the grass. it almost has him smiling but not quite. his frown does relax slightly, so there is that. soon enough, his attention drifts and he’s back to the popsicles, contemplating what to do with them.

trashcan? shiro doesn’t remember seeing one close by. drop on the ground? probably not. pawn one off on keith? he’s comfortably laid out now. eat them? guess so. ]

Why would it be a unicorn thing? [ it comes out mildly distracted. still, the statement doesn’t make sense to him. why base shitty behavior on one bad experience? in the meantime, shiro will start working on his popsicle, the licking significantly less suggestive, especially when he bites off a portion of red. ]

Uhh....

[ ah fuck, maybe he shouldn't have said that. not that his prior encounter with the apartment unicorn is a secret, but he'd rather have a nice day outside with his boyfriend rather than dwell oon people who think he's into pony play. ]

... no reason?

[ if keith doesn't sound remotely convincing, well... let's just say his bad acting is probably a feature and not a bug. before shiro can ask questions, keith hurriedly tacks on: ]

Do you intentionally piss people off to make them like you?

[ yeah okay. that’s not suspicious at all. shiro narrows his gaze and finishes crunching away at the red portion, however, before he can swallow and get in a counter, keith tries to pivot the conversation. right. that’s really not suspicious.

shiro doesn’t buy it for a second. ]

You know I don’t. [ and he’ll just be padding over now, coming to stand near keith’s hip. stares down at the bird-boy, frown still firmly in place. ]

But I’m not a unicorn and apparently, this is a unicorn thing for reasons that have yet to be explained.

[ in other words: spill. ]

[ keith bites the inside of his lip, trying not to look guilty.... which invariably means he isn't succeeding. gaze shifts lower at the frown on shiro's face before flitting back up to an oddly shaped cloud, chokes on surprise then has to sit up until the coughing subsides. ]

I don't ... [ one sec, he holds up his hand and clears his throat. ] Okay. I don't know if it's actually a unicorn thing, but uh... you haven't noticed that they're kinda hoorny? [ .... ] ...And I don't mean literally.

[ oblivious to the cloud -- and how he’s been dwarfed yet again -- shiro’s features slack on shock, momentarily going stock still before his brain catches up. help him comes quickly but not quickly enough. he’s half a second from dropping down to a knee when there’s an i don’t and then a hand being held up in the equivalent of a dismissal. frowning again, he watches keith closely and…

okay. horny? that was a good one.

he laughs despite the concern; first as an amused huff and then a more fully formed chuckle. ]

Can’t say that I have… [ a smile overtakes the urge to frown and he looks considerably less suspicious as he finally gets around to sitting down on the grass beside keith, still facing toward him. however, it’s all a guise because of course evading shiro isn’t that easy. nice try with the unintentional pun though. ]

… How many horny unicorns have you run into?

[ with shiro no longer scowling from above, this at least feels less like an inquisition? keith sighs, bringing his knees up to rest his chin on. shifting his gaze from shiro's face down to his melting, unbitten popsicle first: ]

Hold that up for me?

[ which isn't an answer to the question, but seeing the way rainbow syrup is dribbling down shiro's hand that matter seemed slightly more pressing. in any case, shiro only has to wait a moment later for an actual answer. ]

But uh... this is the second one. I don't really get it. [ a beat, then frowning: ] Could just be this month, I guess. Can't seem to go anywhere without being reminded of dick.

[ once again, keith is not pouting. so not sulking, in fact, that he leans across, head dipped to lick the top of his popsicle. ]

[ ask and he shall receive: shiro holds the popsicle up, the rest of him useless as he waits out an answer. it doesn’t take long. what takes long is for shiro to come to a decision on how he feels about it. first it’s a pique in annoyance, a feeling only derived from protectiveness, because what? second one? what happened with the first? when, where? all of which only blends into the second: confusion. and then right onto the third: concern.

annoyance, confusion, concern and a dash of uneasiness -- yeah, that’s where he is after all that. he’s just beginning to wonder if this dick on the brain problem has something to do with his inability to satisfy when keith licks the popsicle.

… okay. maybe shiro has dick playing in his mind too much too. that’s not his fault though! keith just said he can’t get away from being reminded of dick and then he licks a very phallic looking popsicle. did he do that on purpose? forcing his attention away, he pulls his own popsicle close and nibbles some off of orange, just to show that he’s not thinking of these things as anything other than a snack. ]

Is this about what we talked about the other night?

[ shiro knows the transformations put a swift end to any plans of addressing the -- more or less -- sexual frustration that’s built between them. but is it bothering keith that much? ]

[ keith straightens up slightly, licking the cherry syrup off his lips. expression sheepish, he doesn’t quite make eye contact. ]

I was thinking more that it’s on everyone’s mind because … [ he raises his arm skyward. he doesn’t have fingers to pinpoint a precise locale, but just generally getting shiro’s attention up towards the great phallus in the sky is probably good enough. you could even call it hard to miss. ]

And you know.

[ the dick popsicle is what he means, but can’t bring himself to actually voice right as he’s trying to eat one. still not making eye contact, he leans in and bites off what remains of the red about half way into the orange.

all that said, yes, of course that talk with shiro hadn’t exactly helped. not like it’d finally spurred keith onto doing some uh.. research. keeping his head bowed, keith hopes shiro misses the light dusting of pink over his cheeks — with any luck maybe shiro’s forgotten all about what had gotten him stuck in the doorway in the first place…. ]

[ oh gee, thanks for pointing that out. head tipped back, shiro stares up at the great dick in the sky and… squints. hard. he supposes they can’t exactly fault weather patterns for dick advertising, unless malachite is fucking with them for the fun of it. as for and you know -- shiro glances back to keith, only to then regard the popsicle. well then, if keith is stuck picturing this as a rainbow, frozen dick ( too ), then shiro is just going to have to put some effort into disassociating the image of keith chomping off a good inch of it.

… on second thought. ]

Wait.

[ he eyes keith, taking note of his bowed head and how he’s been shying his gaze away even before that. was that a barely veiled confession of sorts? sadly, shiro isn’t backtracking far enough to delve into keith’s suspicious yelling earlier this afternoon, but for the last couple of minutes… ]

Were you picturing it as, uh -- not a popsicle when you downed it earlier?

[ afterall, keith is a bit of a show-off with certain things or at the very least, competitive. shiro doesn’t even know what to think of that possibility. ]

....

[ mouth full of bitten off popsicle, keith keeps his head bowed. does he really have to answer this? probably. if only because "no comment" seems like an incriminating answer all onto itself. ]

I mean.... not at first? I thought they were partly melted or something. But then licking it made me feel weird cuz it's all y'know... curved. [ like a dick will go unsaid. ] So I thought sucking on it would look less weird in public?

[ said aloud, it sommehow manages to sound even more ridiculous. flushed, keith speaks a little faster. ]T

hen you started looking at me funny -- [ ah yes. "funny." excellent euphemism for the way shiro'd turned wanting. ] ...And I liked it. So.

[ SO. he concludes the story with another nom of popsicle. ]

[ okay. reaction pending. shiro still doesn’t know what to think of that possibility turned fact. keith more or less blaming shiro for his deepthroating stunt though -- huh, that’s an interesting spin. ]

Oh.

[ dumbly, that’s how it sounds. he’s staring again, but he’s fairly certain he doesn’t look funny, or at the very least, this funny has nothing to do with risqué thoughts. why’d keith dub it that anyway? did shiro actually look funny? weird? sure, becoming flushed an’ bothered over a rainbow popsicle is pathetic in some sense -- in many ways, let’s be real -- but now shiro is wondering what kind of expression he was making.

which is why he turns self-conscious enough to try to explain it. good grief. ]

… It was kinda impressive, is all. [ keith’s nomming away now. it does nothing to tarnish shiro’s snap-shot memory of keith bent over, every color swallowed down to purple. ] You made it seem so effortless. That’s why I looked… funny.

[ okay, keith definitely didn't ask for an explanation, but getting one makes him laugh. sure,, there's a healthy dose of self consciousness sprinkled in, but mostly he's tickled. ]

Wouldn't have called it effortless. Started giving me brain freeze and all.....

[ though now that he's thinking about it removed from the experinece of having basically having a chunk of ice in his throat, maybe it is kinda off that he didn't exactly choke? hm. putting a pin in that thought. ]

Worth it though. [ here he bites the tip of the popsicle stick to reposition shiro's hand so that it's held parallel to the ground. he releases with a teasing smile. ] So if you've got something less cold in mind next time....

[ then, sinking his teeth into the green and blue ice, he bites off the bottom half of the popsicle. ]

[ shiro’s listening, of course he is, but while he registers everything keith is saying, his attention is split. it’s just -- it’s kind of fascinating to watch keith fiddle around with the popsicle. being without hands calls for some hefty improvising; shiro gets that. but, uh, okay? keith’s pretty good with his mouth. shiro’s hopeless and takes the directional hints to reposition the popsicle. by the end of it, a good portion of the popsicle is missing and well… is it weird that he’s somewhat disappointed by that?

of course, with keith’s promise for next time hanging between them… that disappointment is a barely felt thing. his face warms and that’s what has him remembering the melting popsicle in his other hand. he licks at it, just needing something to cool the flush heating from his cheeks to his ears. it doesn’t help much at all. ]

I might have something in mind… [ and judging by the way keith took the popsicle earlier, he can probably handle this certain something. with that thought, he licks again at his popsicle, soon chewing at orange -- getting most of it, but a small portion of it falling to the grass. oops? ]

Do you now....

[ the blush spreading across shiro's face is a delight to see. keith is very easily charmed by it, even if the subject matter is far from pure. actually, the fact that it's not fit for the ears of small children and apparently unicorns drives at least a quarter of the appeal. he laughs when a little chonk of shiro's popsicle falls onto the gras. ]

You're burning up, babe. Do you want to go for a dip in the lake to cool off?

[ etiquette 101: don’t draw attention to someone suffering heat stroke from the inside out. called out as he is though, shiro has to admit there is some saving grace in keith doing him the courtesy of not teasing him directly about the impurity of his thoughts. self-consciously, he chews on the inside of his lip for a beat and then smiles shy. ]

And further traumatize the children? [ he chuckles briefly, ending with a tilt of his head and a half shrug. ] I didn’t think to wear swim trunks.

[ he came as is; more focused on how to successfully get out of the apartment building, rather than anticipating what they’d get up to at the park. nonetheless, the words are barely out before he shifts onto his knees an’ then gets to his feet. he glances down toward the lake, smile widening. ]

But I guess I can put my feet in.

[ keith laughs, shifting up onto his taloned feet. ]

Hey now, I never said anything about you going in naked.

[ but there’s a mischievous glint in his eyes as he gives shiro a quick look over his shoulder. filia doesn’t go mentioned directly, but it’s pretty clear that’s where keith’s mind has gone when: ]

Even if that’d make the view better.

[ that part’s spoken more in hushed tones with a shyer kind of smile. and then keith starts heading off to the waterfront where he stops at few steps from where the lake laps at the ground. the water is pristine, clear as far down as the sunlight illuminates, and full of brightly colored koi fish. it takes all of three seconds for an impulsive idea to take root. ]

I’m going in.

[ announced and then no time is wasted before keith starts shrinking again. within moments, a familiar penguin shaped mass is struggling to get out of a puddle of clothes. ]

[ ah yes. their little skinny dipping adventure. it takes up a good portion of brain real estate in shiro’s head. he can’t say he’s surprised by keith’s approval toward the prospect of seeing some bare skin but it warms shiro anyway. fantastic; go ahead and make shiro’s overheated state worse. the unvoiced joke is promptly forgotten in the wake of seeing keith’s smile turn shy and shiro merely hums, part dreamy, part smitten, as he obediently follows after keith.

halfway to the lake’s edge, he does remember his popsicle and despite the risk of brain freeze, he’s quick to finish off the rest of it. he’ll likely regret it come laundry day, but for now, he stuffs both popsicle sticks in his pocket and then taps into his manna to wet his hands, saturating the drips of syrup, only to clean them completely with a quick wipe at his pants.

shiro slows to a stop beside keith, a good arm’s length between them and he’s just barely begun to scan the landscape of the lake when keith… penguinifies himself. again. shiro can’t help it, he has to laugh. bending down, he helps keith find the hem and then freedom and -- goodness, he really is such a cute little ball of feathers. he runs his palm over that silly, penguin mullet and gently nudges keith toward the water. ]

Have fun. [ and don’t get into too much trouble, is the silent tag-along. with that, he sits himself down and starts working on the buckles of his boots. ] I’ll wait for you here and cool off my toes.

[ once freed, keith chirps happily and stands as tall as he can when shiro ruffles his head. it isn't very tall, mind you, but the effort is made and then he toddles off to the water. one look back just to say: ]

Okay. I'll bring you something nice.

[ not that keith's worked out what that something nice would even be just yet, but he holds up one flipper in some facsimile of waving before plopping bellyfirst into the shallows and paddling away. in contrast to all that waddling around he was doing on land that was all clunky and awkward, being in water is a joy.

he does a drive by swim past shiro, bobbing along the surface before splashing water at him with his feet. shiro might hear some telepathic laughter as keith dives deeper in the water. he chases a school of startled koi, making them scatter in a shower of orange and gold, and then he's off to the bottom of the lake. at some point though, penguin instinct may have kicked in because instead of looking for something shiro may genuinely find cool, like a shark tooth?? -- he comes across a cluster of smooth rocks at the bottom and thinks perfect.

keith takes his sweet time trying to pick one out because of course, it's gotta be the prettiest, shiniest, smoothest rock in all the land. a treasure any penguin would envy. really, he should be questioning that if only because shiro isn't a penguin?? it becomes a bit of an afterthought though because when he finds the pebble to beat all other pebbles, he snatches it up in his beak and swims all the way back up to the surface. ]

Shiro! Shiro, I got it! Hold out your hand and close your eyes.

[ keith makes sure not to come any closer until shiro does as asked. no ruining the surprise, obviously! but with shiro humoring the request, keith paddles up closer and kicks out of the water to carefully deposit the treasure in shiro's extended hand. the black pebble is smooth and held the right way shines an iridescent shade of purples and reds. chest out and again, standing as tall as he can, keith waits for a verdict. ]

Edited (forgot to change the subkect line because i tabbed out so fast.... LOL) 2021-06-27 02:14 (UTC)

[ shiro plays the part of the doting boyfriend extremely well. after folding up keith’s abandoned clothes and setting them safely aside, shiro goes about getting ready for his front row seat of some showboating he knows is coming. boots off, socks off, pant legs rolled up mid-calf and sitting as close to the lake’s edge as he can without water seeping into his pants’ seat, shiro leans back on his palms set behind himself, simply waiting for any glimpse of black an’ white. he smiles as keith bobs on by and gives a scandalized yelp to that splash of water. truthfully, the only casualty is the bottom half of his pants, but even then, it’s mere drops. still, he plays it up by shouting a hey that’s just as soon riddled with laughter.

and then keith is gone… for awhile.

initially, he doesn’t think much of it. keith’s exploring and having fun; shiro wouldn’t even be surprised if he’s racing from one edge of the lake to the other, just to time himself for some arbitrary sense of beating a record. but even as he strains his eyes and scans the surface, he doesn’t see any hint of a mullet anywhere. how long can penguins hold their breath underwater? shocker -- shiro doesn’t know much of anything about penguins. he assumes its got to be for a good chunk of time and yet, the longer he doesn’t see keith or hear him in his head…

he’s just beginning to consider drenching himself to… what? go looking for him? when there’s an excited shiro sounding off. immediately, he feels ridiculous for being even the slightest bit worried, but he sighs in relief anyway, fixing a smile to his face right before keith breaks the surface. ]

Okay, okay… closing them.

[ and look, both closed and left hand extended, just as ordered. it’s right around then that he thinks, oh, he actually meant it about getting him something. shiro thought that was simply a throwaway tease but now there’s something smooth and cool in his palm, and when he opens his eyes, he finds… a rock? he tilts his head and brings his other hand up, twirling the rock between his fingertips. one beat and then he glances over to keith, seeing him puffed up and waiting and… -- oh. getting the drift that he’s supposed to be reacting with more enthusiasm, rather than with a befuddled look on his face, shiro grins and looks again to the very thoughtful and very cool gift. ]

Oh wow. That’s pretty. Look how it catches the light…

[ it isn’t all feigned. it is pretty. and it’s from keith, so rock or not, there’s value in it from that fact alone. wordlessly, he holds out his right hand, wriggling his fingers in a come here, all the while saying: ]

Thank you. I love it.

[ keith holds that theoretically impressive pose -- straight backed and as broad as he can manage un a tiny penguin body. he couldn't really begin to explain to himself why the pebble has to be presented with such formality, but acceptance comes with a very giddying uptick of his mood. effort translating into a smiling shiro? nice. he gives another happy chirp, waddling up to place a flipper in shiro's outstretched hand. ]

Heh. I'm glad you love it, big guy. I wanted you to have the smoothest and prettiest one around.

[ not that shiro's ever made any kind of comment that would lead keith to believe he collects rocks or would find either of those properties important, but... ]

You're the best, so you deserve the best things.

[ flawless logic, obvioously. ]

[ … shiro is an idiot. he really should have been recording keith this whole time. why’d he leave his phone at the apartment? just -- the sweet chirp and the waddling and the tiny flipper in his hand. is it weird to think his boyfriend is absolutely precious as a penguin? he bites the corner of his lip to keep himself from laughing, although it does nothing to keep the wide, very wide smile at bay. gripping keith’s flipper and rubbing his thumb over the end of it for three, four passes and then he huffs an amused sound. ]

Well you did good. I’ve never seen one like it.

[ which is true, but considering he’s never put a lot of stock in geology, that’s not saying much. nonetheless, keith seems particularly proud of this rock, so of course shiro is going to lay on thick his support and interest. ]

Where do you think I should keep it? It’s far too nice to stuff in a drawer.

[ good thing keith is a penguin because it makes it less obvious that he's practically melting in his happiness. he wants... well, it's not unusual that shiro makes him want things, but it hits keith a little harder that he can't interlace their fingers and squeeze shiro's hand.

he probably ought to have done some thinking before becoming a penguin because turning back into hybrid bird form in public is a little too embarrassing to contemplate seriously. not that he'd have hands in that body either, but it at least would have made approximating hugs a little easier? he tries to make do with a contemplative hum as he waddles up to the side of shiro's thighs and whole-body drapes himself over his lap. ]

You should keep it somewhere safe. Don't want other people trying to steal it.

[ other people and their goddamn pebble envy problems, gosh. ]

[ a brief amused sound escapes him once that penguin weight flops onto his thighs and then he’s smiling through the rest of that amusement, hand coming down to cup the back of his head before sliding down. down to smooth out that mullet, down to pet the length of back and down, finally, to flick at that pointed tail. honestly, shiro has no idea why thieving would be a concern. they rarely have anyone over to begin with and even then, why snatch a rock? he rather likes this playfulness on keith’s part though and so, shiro’s willing to humor the joke. ]

You’re right. Precious stones are extremely valuable. [ he laughs a little, amused at himself for that stellar wordplay. see, of course this doesn’t qualify as one of the precious stones but it is precious in another way. so, shiro makes a show of holding the rock closer to his chest, fingers curling in to mostly hide it. can’t be too sure of other park-goers, you know? maybe that unicorn is still watching them and taking note of shiro’s new treasure.

he smoothes keith’s mullet down again and ends mid-back, giving him some gentle scratches. ]

I’ll keep it safe, I promise.

[ cue another happy chirp and a tiny wiggle of tail feathers. bizarre as the preoccupation with thieves may be, keith is all too pebble with shiro holding the pebble close to his chest. it occurs to him that this may be some penguin brain thing going on, but the thought doesn't take further root as shiro gives his head gentle skritches.

careful not to jab shiro with his beak, keith rests his chin comfortably on shiro's leg, looking and sounding like the very definition of contented. ]

Okay. And I promise to keep you safe from low doorways and weird mailmen.

[ promises exchanged, keith concludes on a pleased lil: ]

Love you.

[ at precisely 1425 hrs when keith is out of his afternoon studio class, shiro will be getting a ping. ]

babe i think i made an ass out of myself in class
the prof wanted us to discuss hardships we were facing in our lives that we can channel into art
he made us sit in a fucking circle and everything and

[ deep breath as keith ducks around the corner to avoid a classmate. the rest of the story is delayed by a minute. ]

ok sorry. i had to get away from jeraldine
anyway it was my turn and i was daydreaming about you but obviously i couldn't say
"my biggest problem rn is that my face isn't in my fiance's chest"
so uh
kinda blurted
i'm all out of almonds.

[ shiro is having an uneventful afternoon at the station. specifically his office.
it’s paperwork tuesday and shiro is content with the monotony of it.
he’s making great progress on the workload too, up until his device pings and he derails right into distraction. ]

You daydream about me during class?

[ not the point here, he knows, but he’s crowded around his device, grinning silly. ]

[ okay okay, attempt to comfort his fiancé round two.
tappity tap tap – send. ]

So am I almonds, then?
Was that code for I’m all out of fiancé pecs?

[ okay so.
a) holy hell is that not the point
b) why does reading this make him feel a little better?
conclusion: kdigh ix hopdldxx. ]

i guess you do have a nice pair of nuts on you🤔
also? what kind of question is that?
do you not daydream about me at work? 😨<

[ god, he’s smiling. snickering, even.
his pile of work forgotten as he leans back in his plush chair and kicks his feet up on his desk, one ankle over the other. ]

So my pecs are now known as nuts.
What are we calling my actual nuts?

Of course I daydream about you.
Why do you think I pushed so hard to get this promotion that secured me a private office?

[ fuck, now he's just hiding in some uni stairwell making moony faces at his phone. keith really ought to be getting a grip on himself before someone catches him acting like a lovesick school girl. truly, the most embarrassing way for the former (reluctant) leader of voltron to be seen.... ]

your nuts are also nuts. just a different kind of nut maybe?
like t-nuts.

[ oh no, now he's making dad jokes. ]

ok but now i'm curious
have you ever jerked off in your office

Edited (silence) 2022-07-27 01:07 (UTC)

[ is it possible for him to love keith more at this point? he didn’t think so, and yet, he’s got himself a few bonus points for that joke, so…
heh. to think there was a time he doubted making this boy his. ]

So I’ve got two t-nuts ready to fasten my wood to your workpiece, which I guess is now code for your ass.
I can live with this.

[ this is stupid.
but shiro’s still smiling. ]

I’m not incriminating myself over text.

[ which is… incriminating in itself. ]

[ forget lovesick school girl, clearly horny teenager is more apt of a descriptor. keith was always something of a late bloomer, so maybe it's only fitting that he's going through this phase at the ripe young age of twenty-two. he should really know better, and yet... ]

how ready?
i want to see 😚
since you're being so mysterious about the other thing

[ he just said – !
if the joke is him being unwilling to put his shame in text, then attaching photographic evidence of it should be out of the question as well.
should. ]

Not nearly ready enough to be impressive.
Maybe you should sweet talk me for a bit.
Help me along.
🍆

[ ... oh. and here the only external indication keith gives that he should probably not be doing any of this rihght now is a hunkering of his shoudlers as he crowds the screen with his back, just in case anyone happens to enter the stairwell. ]

asking me to incriminate myself even though i don't have a nice private office like you, i see how it is

[ but maybe that's... also kind of thrilling? fuck. ]

ok. i got all the sweet you need.

[ attachment: workpiece.mp4 ]

[ now, shiro’s got some exhibitionist energy in him; energy that delights in people looking at keith, but only when shiro is there with him, preferably plastered against him in some way.
so reading that text and picturing keith out in the open, drawing stares is… not a pleasant one.
his smile cracks for the first time; not falling completely, no, but… he drags his feet off the desk and sits up, typing out: ]

You could save us both the trouble and come visit me.

[ okay, let him think. what day is it – what is keith's class schedule today? ]

See for yourself what it is I do in here.

[ of course, by the time he’s typed this out and sent it, there’s an attachment waiting for him.
excitement and curiosity kicking up, he opens it.
blink.
stare.
types. ]

Nevermind.
I’m revoking that invite.

[ forgive him, keith is laughing . shiro won't have confirmation of this fact, but let it be known it's happening and keith is maybe 10% sorry. ]

but babe, i'mm all out of almonds!!
practically fucking starving...
and i was just giving you a visual representation of what it is i'd like you to do with your t-nuts.

[ oh.
shiro doesn’t have to hear it to know it.
he knows keith is laughing and grinning and feeling so proud of himself for getting shiro good.

gdit, shiro’s smitten even when he’s the butt of a joke. ]

If you stop being a gremlin, you can have some almond cream tonight.
The t-nuts might even have enough to keep you full tomorrow morning, so you don’t go complaining to your professors about your lack of almonds.

[ ... ah fuck and here he;d just forgotten being mortified about that whole fiasco of blank stares and the awkward "that's nice??" from the professor before moving onto the next person in the circle.

ah well. maybe the only thing that really matters here is that he has a boy who loves him and a family that accept him, stupid flubs and all. keith taps the screen, and takes a picture. it's nothing racy or anything, just one of him blowing shiro a kiss from an empty stairwell which is sent as an attachment called: notgremlin.jpg ]

ok.
but i've got hunger pangs babe so make good on that promise

[ does it need any saying that the attached jpg has shiro smiling? another given is that shiro saves the file, adding it to the keith album that continues to grow, seemingly every day.
his gaze lingers on the purse of keith’s lips for a moment longer and then he swipes his screen back to the text box, checking out the time in the top right corner of his device. ]

Let me get back to my work, so I can finish up and come home earlier tonight.
Until then… Patience ❤️
Love you

[ the centerpiece of studio today is an ornate fruit bowl filled to overflowing like a modern day cornucopia. there are the usual fruits like peaches and figs, along with daintier items like blueberries and gooseberry. of course, there are also the more suggestively shaped fruits like the typical banana alongside some sumarlok native species that his classmate, jocelyn, insists is called a virgin's pearl. seeing keith's raised eyebrow, she'd stated a bit more bluntly: like a clit, keith.

which is to say, keith had genuinely been relieved when the professor walked in, shushed up the class and turned on the television for some ambient noise. why he ever allowed himself to be lulled into the satisfying routine of observing, sketching, observing, shading is a mystery to all considering the start to the day, but drawing has a way of hitting the perfect sweet spot between calming and challenging. it's nice to know that he's getting better at drawing -- at least, his more carttoonish stick figures look a little less childish.

but as the tv goes from reports on government proposals to local news, the mood shifts very abruptly. keith doesn't look up at first when the anchor speaks. ]

In local news, one of Sumarlok's fine police officers had a very eventful morning. Local favorite, Bubbly Sweet Bakeshop owners had a terrible fright when an alligator grabbed their puppy, Charlemagne, and dragged him into the lake behind their property.

[ so far, so good. keith's peach is coming along nicely. ]

As you can see from this extraordinary footage, this police officer who happened to be present, lept right into action and jumped into the lake after the alligator. There was a thirty second period of wrestling whereupon the officer was able to free Charlemagne from the gator's jaws. Incredibly, he managed to do so while keeping what appears to be an eclair clamped between his teeth the entire time.

[ eclair? keith twitches, suddenly having a strange feeling about this whole story. he looks up just in time to see shiro looking a little sheepish, but smiling wide as the reporter holds a microphone by his face. keith physically jumps to his feet, yelping: ]

Shiro!

[ earning himself confused looks from his fellow classmates. without so much as another word, keith ducks out of the class, phone in hand. as he slams the door behind him, he hears the tailend of shiro's response . ]

to lend a hand.

[ if nothing else, the fact that shiro's making horrible puns on national television is every indication that his boy is more than fine, but that bit of reassurance only sinks in when keith pulls up the broadcast on his phone in time to hear the reporter announce: ]

Thankfully, both Officer Shirogane and Charlemagne will be just fine. Officer Shirogane has returned to duty with a very full box of well deserved goodies.

[ heart thudthudthudding, keith pulls up shiro on his message list and types: ]

holy shit?????

[ yes, real specific. ]

Edited 2022-09-27 17:04 (UTC)

[ it’s a bittersweet feeling that finds him in the aftermath. saving the pup from the jaws of death? an adrenaline high that had his heart pumping and body moving with a panic induced focus so strong that, quite honestly, most of the rescue is a blur at this point. victory tasted sweet ( literally, with the éclair he managed to keep clamped between his lips throughout the splashing water and writhing mass ) but after the outpouring of gratitude and the news spot, that sweetness tainted with bitterness.

he’s forgotten what it feels like to be a paladin.

most days he doesn’t think about it. he doesn’t even realize he isn’t thinking about it. voltron used to be at the forefront of his mind, the concept of going back a necessity to carry him through every day spent away. inevitably, he made peace with existing here but even then, he’d kept to the idea that eventually, realities would right themselves and he’d be brought back to his own. now, however…

he neither wants to go back, nor feels obligated to.

today’s felt different though. it’s coming back. the stakes were much smaller, true. not that a puppy’s life is insignificant but compared to saving planets and freeing entire civilizations from slavery or death, one pup and one alligator are significantly less daunting. still – he saved a living creature. all this time as a gembonded guardian and this is the first time he felt even remotely close to his previous calling. that’s why he chose this career to begin with. writing tickets, chasing down hotrod speeders, and playing mediator to public disturbances or domestic disputes doesn’t quite hit the same note though.

the few times that sumarlok has gone to absolute hell, shiro’s abandoned his station and invested all of his attention on keith. the babies. their family.

… and maybe that’s okay. maybe it’s okay that his focus has significantly narrowed and that he isn’t the universe’s protector any longer. he has different responsibilities and they’re good responsibilities to have.

he has to admit though, that it felt rejuvenating to throw himself into the fray, especially in an act not so foreign to him. it’s been a good while since that, too. he’d usually done it in a swimming pool and he’d been significantly smaller both in height and build, but even without a metal hand to take the brunt of snapping jaws, shiro’s alligator wrestling skills had been just as impressive at ten.

so this is how he’s spending the rest of his morning: sitting on a park bench, uniform damp and chaffing, reminiscing about the callings of his youth.

maybe keith’s right. maybe he is an old-timer.

it’s not that exact moment that his phone pings. nah. the news spot was shot sometime earlier, so when his pocket vibrates, shiro is well into his third éclair, pink box open on his lap. fishing it out with one hand and then, upon seeing it’s a notification from keith🍑, shiro gets both hands on it, leaving the éclair to dangle from his mouth.

tap, tap, tap – ]

Strange model?

[ that’s where his mind goes first: keith’s art class. ]

....

[ okay, so keith has no idea what the hell shiro's talking about having catapulted anything about class to the bottom of his priorities. still, for whatever reason he'd expected shiro to just know what's on his mind, and the fact that they've started this off not remotely seeing eye to eye knocks some of the wind out of keith's sails. he fires back a text immediately. ]

what model?
mo forget it
GATOR??

[ it's hard honestly, wanting to shout this at his fiancé, but having only text to channel that into. keith looks up, actually taking in the campus surroundings to figure out where the hell he's going because that sure as hell wasn't a consciously calculated decision. with one hand on the emergency exit door, keith's eyes glance towards the little sign that reads opening this door will set off the fire alarm .... and doesn't immediately take his hand off. ]

Edited (html, my arch nemesis >c) 2022-09-28 01:10 (UTC)

[ oh.

OH.

keith saw that? how did he see that? or did he feel that? even all this time later, synchrony is a bit of a mystery to shiro in frequency and potency. sometimes, across far distances even, a bond so strong can sense emotions or thoughts, but uh…

surely not? surely keith wasn’t following shiro wrestle by roll by pin of that alligator, while comfortably sitting in his art class.

right?

true or not, the thought is humorous nonetheless and shiro chortles around his mouthful, éclair still dangling as he types. ]

Oh that.
Are you impressed?
😉

[ keith blinks, then stares at the words on his screen. there's not a whole lot of alternative meaning to the question and emoji combination other than "shiro is flirting with me" and yet his brain refuses to cooperate with that interpretation.

this can't be all shiro has to say for himself.
but then where are the follow up text messages?

don't worry, he'll wait. and wait.
with his hand still planted on the emergency exit.

a full minute later, curiosity wins out over patience and so: ]

you just
jumped into a lake to save a puppy from an alligator
and now you're winking at me
am i dreaming

[ keith’s waiting. shiro’s waiting. they’re all waiting… which is okay, really, because shiro has an eclair hanging from his mouth when he’d much rather be munching on it.

so he does.

he’s down to a fourth of it when the notification comes up and being the eager boy that he is, he stuffs the whole of it into his mouth, cheeks puffing out. chocolate frosting catches at the corner of his lip and smudges a few finger tips that dirty his phone as he types. ]

It's not that strange!
And not a big deal, either.
The pup needed help. I was there. And I know how to wrestle gators.
Easy.
This one was relatively small, too.

[ strange is relative. relative to the absolute clown show of bizarre magic and cosmological phenomenon that have saturated every facet of their lives since finding the blue lion? yeah, sure. no need to bat an eyelash over someone wrestling a gator.

it's just... ]

you never told me about gator wrestling????

[ WHO. WHAT. WHEN. WHERE. WHY!!!! with the initial shock of seeing his boy on the news fading, keith is suddenly all too keenly aware of this whole past to shiro's life that he was never privy to. calling this betrayal is far too much of an exaggeration, but there's definitely a pout starting to take shape on his face as keith finally takes his hand off the emergency door and grumps at his phone. ]

i wanna hear about this!

[ who: shiro
what: gator wrestling.
when: two decades minus a few years ago.
where: florida.
why: be… cause…? see: florida.

shiro manges to swallow without choking in his greed, tongue poking out to rub at the smudge of chocolate on his lip. ]

You knew I grew up in Florida.

[ in other words? wrestling gators should have occurred to keith…? it’s a known pastime, c’mon babe. ]

I used to help clear out swimming pools.
Especially for the old folks.

[ ... oh.

that is such an unbelievably wholesome image that keith is a pinch embarrassed about ever having conjured up some worldwide wrestling federation style rings with campy outfits and snappy gators. just.. gosh. even as a kid, shiro was always looking out for others, helping out the elderly.

it's hard to imagine shiro as a child because of his large presence and stature now, but keith is damn sure he must've been everyone's favorite even back then. it's comical, really, how quickly the pouting turns into a soft smile, and even more ridiculous that keith hasn't noticed other folks giving him strange looks for just loitering by the fire escape, but in many ways, he really only does have eyes for shiro. ]

heh. you fucking boy scout 😛
i can't believe this never came up!
you know you're gonna have to show me your gator wrestling moves up close later, right?

[ despite his adamant text earlier, shiro can admit it is odd. with space travel, as well as life as a gembonded, keith's experienced an array of situations, creatures and acts that are, for the most part, best described as weird; still, keith's foundation is built on and by earth standards. gators aren't commonplace in arizona.

to keith, wrestling gators is akin to shiro's perception of eating rattlers.

so he appreciates the ease in which keith's acceptance takes. between one text to the next, the read tone changes and shiro, ever taken by keith's ability to roll with the unexpected, dimples on a smile that spreads wide. ]

So you wanna watch.
😉😉😉
The secrets of my technique aren't free, y'know.
But I guess with you being my fiancé, I can let you see.
All you gotta do is point me in the direction of a gator and I'll wrestle it for you, baby.

[ annnnd back to the flirting. ]

[ it's precisely because this is bizarre that keith HAS to see this with his own eyes -- though yes, he will indeed be downloading shiro's filmed heroics to watch whenever he needs a pick me up. what can he say? shiro is amazing and apparently a bottomless well of intrigue.

in truth, keith thinks it might have been his own fault that they haven't talked so much about their childhoods. his was horrible past his dad's passing and shiro's couldn't have been easy, though perhaps less dramatic considering group homes and the threat of juvie likely weren't looming over his young head.

but with a few things shiro, however, it's hard to know just how well the probing will be received. home after all, is a risky subject and if the future is an implicitly banned topic, then who's to say the past will fare any better? keith forwns slightly, not quite taking his eyes off the phone screen as he walks towards the exit.

sure, he's basically cutting class and most of his stuff is still in studio, but "sorry my fiance wrestled a gator and i wanted to check up on him" sounds like a legitimate excuse for an absence.
it takes him a couple of extra seconds to reply, but shiro will see why in a tick.

right. can't go revealing house shirogane's fabled gator techniques
i promise my lips will be sealed.
dunno about pointing you at a gator in a lake but
you should show me on one of these ones
yknow. if you're brave enough.

[ VariantGaytor]

Edited 2022-09-28 15:04 (UTC)

[ he’s three minus a baker’s dozen, meaning he’s got ten to go and a job that he really isn’t supposed to be on break for. saving jizzus and josephine’s puppy from an alligator is admirable, but not exactly grounds for him to take the rest of the morning off. since the television spot, he’s been on this park bench, whittling away time. so, really, maybe he should pack up and get back to the station, see if he has to file some sort of report for acting while in uniform. that would be the responsible thi–

ping.

and all goes out the window once the notification sounds. it takes so very little for him to get lost in the conversation again, mouth once more spread on a smile that beams and holds, even as he picks up his fourth eclair to give it a bite. at least this time, he has enough manners to drop it back into the box as he chews and clicks.

oh, what in the ever-loving fuck?

he laughs, spraying a few pieces of éclair to hit the open lid of his pastry box. it isn’t news that he loves this boy, but… gosh, he loves this boy. ]

You'll be part of the House of Shirogane soon. Best you learn.
I don't know how much you will learn if you're trapped inside that gator though.
Just know, that if that gator has taken you, I will wrestle it to the ground and pry it open.
I’ll pull you free, baby.
Nothing, not even a behemoth gator like that one, can keep me from you.

[ his flirting game is simply embarrassing at this point. ]

[ soon. shiro says it like they've had any meaningful discussion about their engagement, and once again keith wonders if this is all a bizarre dream. the engagement itself is referenced often enough that keith is sure shiro doesn't actually intend on walking it back this time, but plans for a wedding are about as existent as a full bag of snacks anywhere near bitchface's vicinity.

still, soon is a thought that makes keith smile to himself as he starts walking off campus. after all, it looks like he has a gator kigu to obtain before coming home tonight. ]

uh huh. and how soon is soon, exactly?
if you're volunteering to show me a gator wrestle AND extraction procedure, i don't think i can turn that down
i love watching my hero in action 🥰

[ how soon is soon? good question. it’s remarkable how easily time can get away from him. frustrating, too, of course. shiro likes to blame it on the ring. he never got keith an engagement ring. he still hasn’t, truthfully. all that time delaying, to walk back an importune proposal on a beach months ago, because the wording hadn’t been rehearsed enough and the ring not worthy enough, only to blubber his way through a second, sudden proposal in the middle of keith’s art class. shiro was never going to do this proposal right, was he? maybe he’s destined to botch every engagement.

afterall, he and adam had an extended engagement as well, with shiro wanting to wait until after the kerberos mission to tie the knot. look how well waiting went for them.

shiro doesn’t intend to keep keith waiting like that. or much longer in general. he’s blaming the ring, remember? between deciding on it, finding a talented craftsman, and then subsequently waiting for the order to be finished, it’s taken a good chunk of time. he should have the ring by the start of next week, however.

he cheated a little when it came to choosing. he’d emptied his shoebox of treasures to take the source of their penguin engagement and given that up to the craftsman to make a ring from it. just a band. simple, yet solid, he thinks that suits keith better than anything more extravagant.

he’ll be seeing soon, but until then: ]

I get your ring next week. Any time after that.
Maybe we can look into destinations tonight.
After the lesson on gator wrestling of course.

[ the mention of a ring shouldn't actually be a surprise. they're a a part of a traditional engagement and all, but considering the unorthodox nature of their relationship, keith hadn't exactly come to expect one either. or maybe it's less favorable than that. the truth is, keith doesn't like revisiting the morning after shiro's seaweed ring proposal and has blocked out the concept of engagement rings entirely.

besides, that had been fitting in its own right. his dad and krolia had never done anything like exchange rings or get legally married. of course, there were quite the few obstacles in the way of trying to get a marriage license to a literal space alien, but they hadn't done any exchanging of trinkets or gifts.

you were the best gift i could have asked for anyway is what krolia had said about it, which had effectively embarrassed keith into awkward silence. he was only starting to get to know his mother and the idea that a perfect stranger could ever think so fondly of him due to a biological connection had been something he struggled a little to accept . thinking back on her words now, it makes keith laugh a little. wasn't she more or less saying he'd been an unplanned ~~roo~~ mistake?

his vision blurs a little and keith quickly blinks away the mist in his eyes. fuck. just because they don't talk about home doesn't mean he's immune to sudden pangs of homesickness, he breathes out, giving himself a mental shake. he wishes he could tell koolia about this next big step in his life or at least share it with the wolf, but for obvious reasons ... he can't.

or wait, can't he?

the summoning horn is still sitting there unused in his room. but is it even fair to bring the space wolf here? what if the wolf and bitchface and huey and mach five and speed racer don't get along? what if the wolf and shiro don't get along?

or what if he's just overthinking this whole fucking thing? ]

oh....i didn't know you were getting one.
i think i'd like that.
but also ... if it's okay, i also want to talk to you about maybe bringing a friend from home here. you know. the wolf i met in the quantum abyss?
i just ... i want him to be part of our family too.

[ it started with bitchface. within the first month, they’d taken in a kitten ( a couple, actually, though bitchface is the one who bitched her way into adoption ). even then, however, there’d been no expectation for longevity. they were going to go back to their reality; they were merely biding time until they figured out a pathway. but then there was huey. then the twins. an engagement was somewhere in the midst of all that, as well as a move to their own house, rather than the temporary arrangement of a government issued apartment. now, there will be a marriage in a couple weeks, as well as a new addition to their family and…

they’re putting down roots.

they’ve been putting down roots for eons.

he doesn’t know why it catches him flat-footed, struck dumb on how deep they are into this. it’s not like he didn’t know, but making due with what they have here and making it work is different than actively taking something from their original reality. a something that is very much alive and quite possibly doesn’t want to be here.

is this a good idea…?

it’s just that extra step of commitment to this world. just one more indication that they are willingly abandoning their posts as paladins and more or less, turning away from the desire of ever seeing their friends again, as well as the universe they knew. when he breaks it down like that and thinks about it in those terms, is he actually okay with this?

his response time has slowed down considerably. he fills that time by closing the lid of his pastry box and setting it down on the bench space to his right. leg coming up, he hooks the ankle over his opposite knee and hunches over the straight line of his leg, arms resting against himself as he stares at the blank writing box.

what’s more important to him? to him; to takashi shirogane, not to the once famed black paladin. he sighs out slow and once he starts typing, it isn’t all that difficult to finish. ]

If you think being here is the best thing for him and that he’ll get along with the others, then okay.
He can be part of our family.

[ he stares at the sent messages, frowning faintly. It feels incomplete. After another delay, albeit a much shorter one, he tacks on: ]

This is our home now.
I want you to be happy in it.

[ the longer wait is slightly nerve wracking. keith never wavers on his walk towards the shopping district of sumarlok, but he worries all the same. it's approaching two years now since they've been in noctium, and they've seen more than a handful of people come and go. it's something that can still happen to either one of them any day, but over time they've settled into life here and have built up entirely different lives.

neither of them are paladins, neither of them have so much as operated a spacecraft in years. it's a stretch to say that keith's traded in his knife for charcoal and paint, but there's still a flash of validity to that. they're civilians and dads and soon-to-be husbands, all things keith had lost sight of ever being one day back in their own universe.

as difficult as some of that transition had initially been, the more that he's settled into a predominantly peaceful life with shiro, the more he's gotten attached to it.... as well as felt guilty about having this happiness while knowing others back home don't have that at all -- but even that guilt has shifted over time. see, he never asked for noctium, but he's here all the same.

that being the case, he can't help thinking maybe all along he's been selfish in not giving the wolf a chance to experience peace. ever since the wolf was a tiny thing that needed to be saved from predator aliens, the pup's been fighting a life or death battle with only pockets of reprieve and affection to keep him going. doesn't the wolf deserve to meet other wolves? go off into the wild to make new friends? play?

the pings distract from his current train of thought and keith reads eagerly, not quite knowing what to expect. presumably it won't be a set of harsh words -- and they aren't. not by a long stretch. but they aren't enthusiastic either. still unsure what to make of that, keith worries at his lower lip until another message comes in.

this is our home now.

leith can't help staring, coming to a literal pause and earning himself a dirty look from smeone who walks into him on the street. keith barely even notices. he doesn't have words, not really. but he's flooded with the sudden overwhelming need to be with shiro and hold him. keith couldn't even say if it's happy or melancholy, but the idea of shiro calling this place home had felt like an impossibility with shiro's natural orientation towards duty and service.

it's a big step and keith needs to see if shiro is feeling okay, if he's happy because the text sure as fuck isn't providing any clarity. ]

can you sneak away from the station for a bit?
i think i want to talk to you face to face

[ ... and in after thought. ]

and check you over
you know for gator injuries.
😏

[ he loves texting keith. it allows them to stay in contact when they really shouldn’t be. keith obviously taps out replies while in class and shiro has occasionally texted underneath his desk, even as a coworker has been in his office, chattering away. those texts are done blind and usually result in a number of typos that autocorrect either doesn’t catch or does, only to incorrectly pick another word.

keith is pretty good at shiro speak, though. shiro on the other hand? he’s having a hard time deciphering keith speak.

staring at the text won’t manifest an audio clip of keith’s voice. shiro tells himself this, even as he continues to scrutinize those texted lines. he wonders what it is keith is thinking right now. what his mood is. ping, ping; the following texts give off the impression that keith is feeling playful and mischievous, perhaps even wound up for some midday fun, but aside from pulling shiro’s lips into a lopsided smile, shiro doesn’t feel entirely convinced that it’s so straightforward.

doesn’t matter, honestly, that he doesn’t have an in depth read on where keith’s head is at. the fact that keith even asks for this, is reason enough that shiro ought to provide. besides, it’s not like he isn’t already playing hooky with an extended break. ]
.
We’ll need somewhere private if you plan to be thorough.
😜

[ stellar flirting successfully executed, onto the more practical: ]

I’m at the park actually. Not the station. I was digging into my pastry reward of éclairs.

[ it’s only after he presses send that he thinks, maybe he didn’t need to outline it that extensively. ah well. ]

You’re in class, aren’t you?
I can come to you.

[ you know, so keith doesn’t miss too much class. ]

[ despite everything, the message gets keith to laugh. wasn't he just thinking shiro has a natural inclination towards service and responsibility? here his boy is, apparently taking an unauthorized break to stuff some goddamn eclairs into his mouth.

it's always slightly disconcerting to be wrong about shiro, but in this particular case? keith can't help being a little fond. even if the guy's passion for eclairs is... truly out of this world. ]

i left class early actually.
figured "my fianxé wrestled a gator" was a valid enough reason
can you pick me up from the kigu store in 15? gonna get a gator outfit and then we can go somewhere private

[ but if shiro thought he might've gotten off easy on the eclair teasing.... he'll be getting a rude awakening in the next minute. ]

btw
is the rurmor that you were eating eclairs WHILE wrestling the gator true?
i'm guessing it must not be if you're still hungry for those things

[ … shiro doesn’t exactly approve of cutting class. it might not seem so, though, considering that they met with keith ditching school to steal his jeep. funny to think that every time keith plays hooky with class time, he gets a reward from shiro. shiro’s not entirely sure what this reward is panning out to be but if keith is getting a kigu…

wait.

he’s actually getting that gator kigu?

amused but also horrified that he isn’t going to turn down the opportunity to get keith somewhere private, even dressed like that, shiro delays on the reply back to compose himself. mistake on his part it seems, because there’s a btw and then a few lines that have shiro groaning aloud, ]

I was in the middle of eating it!

[ there are so many layers to peel back here. keith knows about the soggy eclair. meaning it had to have been reported? which also means, so many other people know about it. what did the news feature showcase him as? the hero cop who loves to save defenseless puppies almost as much as he loves dining on pastries?

he shoots a glare at the closed box beside him, feeling betrayed. ]

The pup yelped and I moved!
When a gator is involved, you can’t waste a second, not even to put food down.

[ this time at least, keith has no questions whatsoever about shiro's tone of voice. the indignation comes through loud and clear and it makes keith grin wide and toothy at his phone. a passer by forced to walk around him on thr street takes one look at his face and mutters a disgruntled keep moving romeo-- which, just as before, gets wholly ignored.

what does get keith to move again is that unspoken agreement to meet in 15 at the kigu store which means time is ticking. ]

babe have i told you today that i love you?
you're a wonderful hero.
i feel safe knowing you'll never put a fresh eclair first
🥰😚

[ ..yeah, the phrasing is a bit facetious, but teasing aside it's heartfelt. keith really does love this boy, even when he gets into gator wrestling matches with eclairs for assists. ]

[ any and all indignation here is shallow in feeling. he isn’t actually bothered. he isn’t actually betrayed. he’s laughing in soft, quiet puffs of breath, lips twitching into a smile even as he types out those unnecessary explanations. keith’s teasing, of course. there is no real judgment here. so while nothing is required to keep shiro’s mood afloat, he’s more than happy to gobble up those few, sweet lines, heartbeat fluttering despite the cheese and the cringe.

afterall, shiro is a big, big fan of the double-c.

he hums, soft and contented, everything lulling in the moment as he rereads the words. before waking in this world, shiro never would have pinned keith as the type to dabble in sappy texts and ridiculous emojis, but here he is all the same, showcasing a sweetness so sugary that he’d laugh if he wasn’t also so helplessly moony. ]

I love you too, Keith.
I’ll even let you have some of my fresh éclairs.
That’s how much you mean to me.

[ wow. how meaningful. he laughs, this time at himself, and shakes it off to tap out a few more texts. ]

That requires me not dropping this box on the way back to my bike, though.
So I’ll see you in fifteen.
Bye ❤️

⊚ noctium ic contact.

backdated to senpai's birthday

idk who this senpai is

a mystery for the ages....

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text; during the powder festivities

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this is shiro's 'game-on that dick is mine' face

i'm laughing.. shiro pls.....

abort, abort

I can't believe this

i can already see it. this comb thing is going to become a joke, just like the gills

you are entirely correct

GREAT. shiro's existence is pain.

just be glad keith won't be writing a song about it

... sigh. istg that song better not inspire a shiro fanclub.

shiro gunning for that harem

no no. the only play boy here is keith.

excuse you keith has never stripped and given a crowd wood