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[It's been almost a year since Shiro got him out of the ring he'd found Keith in, bought him and brought him with the Alteans. There were some unsavory remarks at first, but they've since gotten used to this half-Galra former-prostitute being here, even found him useful when he showed he could hold his own in fights.

But even Allura could tell Keith had fallen hard for Shiro. And there wasn't anything happening there. While it's some good gossip to be sure, it's also irritating watching them go around each other so much without anything. So, she told Keith she needed him to take care of something for her, it may take a week or so at a specific location. Even when he protested, she explained Shiro was on a much needed vacation.

So he gets to the planet and realizes it's....... An alien hot springs.

He thinks he knows what's happening. And only seeing the guest sign in confirms it: Shiro's name, a line or two above his own now. He finds out pretty quickly they don't share a room, but they are next to each other; Allura had requested it arranged that way. Great.

He decides this doesn't have to mean anything. Go with it. Dresses down to the boxers and robe provided and moves to stand out on his room's balcony and look over the small resort.]

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[He listens. Keith is genuinely interested in going, he wants to see places like this without being on the clock. That he doesn't have to be playing a part. He can just be himself, even if he isn't sure who that is yet still. And seeing it with Shiro would be so great.]

I'd-- I think I'll definitely have time tomorrow.

[What else is he gonna do at this resort? Get massages?]

[ He drains the rest of his cup and rises up enough to refill it, glancing over at Keith's glasses to try and see if he needs a refill as well. ]

You should. You're not supposed to be working any more than I am, I assume.

[ Though, they're both absolute shit at this whole 'not working' thing, he figures. Keith's been determined and single-minded regarding everything he's been picking up. ]

No, she was pretty clear that I shouldn't be working.

[He kept working on what they were training him for. He wants to be ready any time they need him; they haven't yet, but he's ready for when they do. Keith takes another sip of his drink, barely touched since they started talking.]

So when you both came here before, what other kinds of things did you do?

[ Sounds about right. He also suspects she wants that because she's trying to be sneaky - or her version of it, which is about as subtle as a fist to the face. ]

Mmmm, we would go into town to shop; one of the guards she had with her loved to cook, so we would grab things from the market to prepare that night.

[ A pause, and he gives Keith a lazy smile, eyes lidded with contentment. ]

Don't expect that from me, by the way. I'm probably still banned from the kitchens here for burning water. We'd bring things to trade, too. Sometimes we would visit the shelter; I'm not certain if it still exists but it houses some of the animals they domesticated here. Once, the Princess took all of us to get our nails painted and tidied up like she does. It's actually...nice.

[He hums to himself over his drink, taking in those options. He was never allowed to cook, so he definitely doesn't know anything about that. And he doesn't have anything to trade either - not beyond the obvious. And he's sure Shiro would object to that... The shelter sounds nice, but Keith visibly perks up at the last. A salon is something he's done a lot, and he enjoyed it a lot too. He had to keep up a lot of maintenance for clients.]

There would be a salon here... Do they do anything with paints? [Polish.] Or hand working? [Hand massages.]

[ Well, that's two things to add to the list, if they still exist. He hopes they do; the cat-like creatures that are on the planet are cute enough. The salon itself was relaxing, once he'd gotten over the dubiousness of letting someone poke and prod at his hands. ]

They did, as far as I remember, regarding the paints. [ He pauses after a moment, trying to figure out the latter. ] Hand working?

You know, like--

[Fuck. Keith sets his drink down on the stone behind him and motions for Shiro's hand. It makes sense in his head what it's called, but he can't explain it. He has to show it.]

[ He doesn't quite grasp what Keith wants at first but then it clicks. Shiro gently puts his flesh and blood hand into Keith's, watching him with a small, bemused smile. ]

I thought we were here so we wouldn't work.

It's not working.

[But he smirks and starts carefully massaging Shiro's palm, trailing down light pressure along his fingers. Keith is trying not to think about Shiro's hand in his, about how warm his skin is or how well kept it is, despite the roughness from all his fighting. Just focus on the hand-working.]

Hand working. Like this.

Hand working isn't working?

[ He's just being a shit, now, watching Keith with that same lazy contentment from earlier. It's a far cry from how he is normally, ramrod straight and always at his best on the deck, watching Allura, training those who need it, or any other number of tasks that require that same military discipline.

His eyes wander from Keith's down to the man's smaller hands held around his, fingers gently running over them. Whatever this is, it's nice. Not unlike the massages they give where they're staying, but he's never felt that sort of tingling reaction to any of the masseuses.

Damnit, Allura. He won't be rude and jerk back, but after a few moments he does pull away. He doesn't need to guess where Keith learned it, and he doesn't want Keith to feel obligated. At least he can phrase it like he's not chastising him, necessarily. ]

It's nice. Work, though, which you aren't supposed to be doing. You take care of everyone, Keith, let yourself relax.

[Shiro jokes about it being work, but it's clear on Keith's face that he was easily relaxing doing it. It's what he knows, something he's good at. And the continuous motion is genuinely relaxing for him. Keith seems to come back to himself when he feels Shiro's hand tugging away and he stops. Lets him take it away. Tries not to linger on how that felt, how his skin feels hotter than the springs.

More than anything, Keith is relieved and enjoying seeing Shiro unwind. Shiro's always been kind and calm around him, but he didn't realize how tightly wound he kept himself until seeing him loosen up now.

With his hands free, he tucks them around his glass again, taking a long drink to empty it.]

I guess, if you think about it that way. But do they have things like that?

[ Thankfully, Keith doesn't seem hurt by his withdrawing, and Shiro's grateful for that. The last thing he wants is for Keith to feel like Shiro was avoiding the contact, which, while it was a little true, wouldn't be for the reasons he'd probably think. This close, though, he sees that he can do something useful and tops off Keith's drink before wading back to settle in his spot. ]

I think so, while they use the paints. If not, I know you can request certain work done here if there are areas that need it.

[ He's not quite sure how to address the arm, but so long as they don't recognize it as Galra, it ought to be fine. ]

[What if I ask you to. He wouldn't ask in a million years, but he wants to. Thinks it very hard as he takes the drink back. Keith almost looks disappointed.]

I'll ask about it. [Being pampered was honestly the only thing he liked about his work. He always had to look good, have good skin, properly cared hair... He's a bit at a loss now without the guidance. He never got specific names of anything or procedures and he definitely doesn't look as well kept as he did when Shiro first met him.]

... I always liked this sort of thing. Back then, I mean.

[ Well, at least this sort of talk makes it easy to fish out little things about Keith that he never knew before. Shiro tugs damp hair back into the loose knot on top of his head from where it'd fallen and yawns, rolling his head from side to side to loosen his neck. ]

Well, tomorrow we can have you describe it to the workers and see if they can duplicate anything. It shouldn't be that difficult; this place is meant for relaxing and if it is close enough I think it should be alright.

I don't- We don't have to go that far. I want to try what they do here.

[Yeah, he isn't about to go out of his way to make things complicated for people actually working. Plus he isn't sure he could explain his experience without the work coming up either. Not the way he'd be able to word it anyway.]

[ He doesn't push for the time being, but does make a note to remember it when they go get massages here, or down at the salon. ]

What sorts of things did you have done that you liked, earlier?

[ Now, he has to tread carefully. Shiro pauses a moment, weighing his words and then continues. ]

Before I told them I wasn't -- I couldn't take what they were offering, they gave me a sheet with all sorts of things on it that I could choose as additions. Some of them I recognized, but others I didn't.

[Ah. Those... He'd only glanced at one once. He'd been doing it so long he never gave much thought to how it might look to outsiders. He thinks over the things he has had done. What things he liked, what things he felt a little shaky when he was told they'd be happening for the next client.]

I didn't mind some of the piercings. The one that were in the ears or the nose. And... [God he really has to to think. He's never thought that much about it.] I liked some of the paints. Not just on my fingers, but sometimes on my face and body. They looked nice.

[There are so many worse things on that list that he's trying not to think about. Doesn't want to. And it's clear he's holding back some because of it.]

Piercings.

[ He repeats the word like he can't quite believe it. He'd only skimmed the offerings when they made the initial suggestion and had handed it back in a rush. Things like oils and treatments had been listed, but he hadn't dare read the entirety of it. Now, he's grateful he did.

To safer territory, then. Something that wouldn't be quite so...this. ]

What colors did you prefer?

[Shiro sounds uncomfortable with that. Keith is pretty sure he shouldn't elaborate on anything else about the piercings, but he feels his skin itching recalling some of them, phantom pains of some being ripped out while working.

No, the paint colors are safer.]

I... Liked reds. And sometimes the light blue. Like the markings you and the Princess have.

[Keith doesn't dare tell him a couple clients had him made up like Altean royalty. He may not be the brightest, but he knows that wouldn't go over well.]

Red fits you.

[ He'd gotten his nails painted to match his markings once, but for the most part kept to the clear colors because those tended to be the least flashy. Keith has lovely hands, though; the idea of him wearing colors on the ends of his fingers isn't a bad one.

That thought process needs stopped right where it is, though. He doesn't need to mentally wax poetic about how much he likes Keith's hands. Before anything else is said, the little bell inside rings and Shiro's ears twitch. ]

That sounds like it's for us, for dinner. Unless you wanted to stay longer?

[Keith looks up towards the building when he hears the bell too. He should go in, should eat.]

I.. Think I'll stay a little longer.

[Not cling to Shiro's side the entire time, not smother him. Shiro probably wants time to himself too while he's here.]

Save some for me?

[ He'd asked without really expecting that Keith would want to stay longer, but the moment that Keith says the opposite, he chastises himself for thinking that. It's not as if Keith owes him any more time than he's given already and that he's making these choices on his own is good. There's no reason for him to feel somehow slighted or disappointed as if he's owed something by Keith. ]

I'll have them keep something warm for you and bring it by your room when you're ready.

[ Nudity isn't a concern and hasn't been for ages; Shiro takes the steps out of the pool and pads naked to the small bundles of towels next to the springs, winding one around his waist. ]

I'll see you after dinner, maybe.

[Nudity may not be a problem, but it's certainly an eye opener. Shiro's backside is a treasure to watch walk away from him, and Keith looks back at the water as Shiro's turning so he isn't caught eyeing him.]

Definitely. You- You definitely will. [He can say it's the alcohol or the springs making his face so red.]

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they're both ~ thirsty

they really are and it's sad as hell

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