[ … ow. guess he deserved that one, huh? a rebuttal feels necessary. he was brain-jacked and ruined by mold, his inability to reciprocate keith’s confession comes with an asterisk. so he should say something. he can’t let such a ridiculous notion sit without shiro arguing how it makes so little sense for keith to reach that conclusion. but it’s like his energy has already been expended, down to the very last drop, and he no longer has the fight left in him. he’ll allow keith that arguably cheap shot; afterall, does shiro truly want to defend his ability to care with something along the lines of, hearing it made me stop my attempted murder and settle for maiming instead, so of course i cared.
so he sits through the beat of silence as keith oscillates on where to look, feeling a crushing sense of hopelessness the longer keith seems focused on his right arm. he shouldn’t have completed the embrace. he should have kept that thing away from him. though… as much as he’s been thinking of his prosthetic as the danger here, it’s all of shiro, really. the arm wrapped around keith’s shoulders? maybe that’s its own kind of weapon too. whatever happened in the living-room, however shiro reached inside keith… that can’t happen again, right? that was a cursed affliction of the mold, wasn’t it?
he’s been deluding himself for weeks now and he’s mostly convinced, but –
but of course i love you.
he exhales a breath he didn’t fully comprehend as being held and while the next breath is heavy, it’s somehow easier than a few moments ago. he’s – relieved? yes. that’s the emotion taking hold of him in rapid fashion. keith has been far too giving toward shiro for far too long now, so shiro didn’t actually think keith would deny him this request, but still. it hits home and it hits hard.
shiro straightens up a little more, wanting to see keith fully, needing to see him fully, to replace the image in his head of keith struggling beneath him, gaze full of absolute terror. having just thought about keeping his galra hand away from keith, it’s almost comical how easily shiro forgets in his rush to get those eyes back on him. he takes keith by the chin and – gently – forces his face toward him. a little nervous, a little sheepish, keith is far from the ideal, but it’s so much better than what shiro had before and instantly, shiro relaxes, throat once again feeling tight.
relief has his breath tumbling on a laugh. short. light. not more than a hiccup. and then he’s pushing keith’s wet bangs back. ]
I love you too.
[ that’s been true for a really long time too. forehead adequately cleared, shiro leans in and presses a kiss to keith’s skin, right there dead center, holding, holding, hold–… three seconds spent and he backs off, fervently promising: ]
I’m going to take better care of you from here on out. [ and. ] We’re gonna get through this.
no subject
so he sits through the beat of silence as keith oscillates on where to look, feeling a crushing sense of hopelessness the longer keith seems focused on his right arm. he shouldn’t have completed the embrace. he should have kept that thing away from him. though… as much as he’s been thinking of his prosthetic as the danger here, it’s all of shiro, really. the arm wrapped around keith’s shoulders? maybe that’s its own kind of weapon too. whatever happened in the living-room, however shiro reached inside keith… that can’t happen again, right? that was a cursed affliction of the mold, wasn’t it?
he’s been deluding himself for weeks now and he’s mostly convinced, but –
but of course i love you.
he exhales a breath he didn’t fully comprehend as being held and while the next breath is heavy, it’s somehow easier than a few moments ago. he’s – relieved? yes. that’s the emotion taking hold of him in rapid fashion. keith has been far too giving toward shiro for far too long now, so shiro didn’t actually think keith would deny him this request, but still. it hits home and it hits hard.
shiro straightens up a little more, wanting to see keith fully, needing to see him fully, to replace the image in his head of keith struggling beneath him, gaze full of absolute terror. having just thought about keeping his galra hand away from keith, it’s almost comical how easily shiro forgets in his rush to get those eyes back on him. he takes keith by the chin and – gently – forces his face toward him. a little nervous, a little sheepish, keith is far from the ideal, but it’s so much better than what shiro had before and instantly, shiro relaxes, throat once again feeling tight.
relief has his breath tumbling on a laugh. short. light. not more than a hiccup. and then he’s pushing keith’s wet bangs back. ]
I love you too.
[ that’s been true for a really long time too. forehead adequately cleared, shiro leans in and presses a kiss to keith’s skin, right there dead center, holding, holding, hold–… three seconds spent and he backs off, fervently promising: ]
I’m going to take better care of you from here on out. [ and. ] We’re gonna get through this.