[ 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.