[ that actually takes the wind right out of keith's sails. he looks away quickly, looking thoroughly chastised as he swallows. i wanna know we're okay. i wanna know you're okay with me. if they both want the same fucking thing, then why do they have to resort to being irritable about it? keith sucks in a deep breath and holds it for three long seconds. does it make him feel better? not exactly. it doesn't calm him per se, either. but it does give him the willpower to look up at shiro with a faltering expression. ]

I thought we were okay!

[ the unsaid but is deafening as keith mangles his lower lip for a beat. how does he even begin to unpack whether they're okay or not? when does he unpack it from? since that day on the couch when shiro tried to kill him and then avoided him for weeks? or does it wrap back around to the turkey testicle fetival when they kissed and things between them felt right .... until they woke up the next day and shiro didn't remember a goddamn thing and left keith feeling like he has to carry a secret? keith holds eye contact for as long as he can bear before there's a prickling feeling at the corners of his eyes that forces him to drop his head and draw tighter into hinself. ]

I thought -- [ voice cracking slightly, keith grits his teeth and clears his throat. ] But you weren't in your right mind for one thing and you don't even remember the other. So I don't know, okay? I want us to be okay. It's the only thing I want.