whatsacactus | (no subject)

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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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[Keith's playing a bit with his napkin, tearing the corner off but not looking at Shiro.]

Just. Still surprised sometimes that I'm here. Like, out here. It's been a while now, but it still catches me sometimes.

And I have you to thank for it.

[ Oh, boy, that's the heavy kind of talk that he hasn't quite addressed and truthfully doesn't know how to. That's....going to be fun. ]

You don't need to thank me. I'm just-- really glad that you're alright. That you're able to go anywhere or do anything you want to.

Well. As much as a half... me can. [He's still wary of just announcing he's half-Galra. He isn't so naive to think there isn't that stigma even out here.

But he does smile at Shiro and reaches to touch his fingertips to Shiro's hand.]

And I still just want to go with you. If you let me.

Keith.

[ He's gentle about it, but he does give Keith a look, not annoyed, but gently chiding. He's still Keith. Half whatever, half whatever, it doesn't matter. The hand on his, the fingertips to the top of his hand get Shiro to smile in response and he turns his hand up, squeezing it gently. ]

You're welcome to do whatever you can and want. We made that clear, right?

[Shit. He thought for sure he'd get brushed off. But his face is red and he is not going to cry, he won't let himself, not out here. Keith squeezes Shiro's hand in turn, looking down instead so it isn't so obvious.]

I know. I remember.

Hey.

[ Oh, no. He thinks he's misstepped and gently scoots over until he can wind his arm around Keith's shoulders, tugging him in against Keith's chest. Gently, he squeezes him in and then withdraws, letting his hand linger a moment longer than friendly. ]

Come on. This is supposed to be some kind of fun. We can talk about that when we're back.

[Oh no. Shiro's big and warm and Hugging him. Not for the first time in these months, Keith finds himself feeling confused about what Shiro's intending, what he's wanting. Keith wishes he could just ask so he could give it to Shiro, whatever it is. At least he'd stop feeling so much whiplash from him.]

R-right. When we get back. Sure. [If he doesn't crawl back into a training-shaped hole and never comes out again.] Did you wanna head back to the hotel? Or...

[ Yeah, they're going to have to talk about this, for sure. Shiro doesn't push for the moment, but he does smile thinly and gather up everything to be tossed. When that's done, he nods his head down another alley. ]

Come on, let's check out a few of the shops.

What? Oh-- [Oh they're still going. That's- Okay, that's fine. He shovels what he didn't eat into a bag because he's not wasting anything and watches Shiro to make sure he saw that right.]

Ssssooooo, what kind of shops?

[ He notes the bag but doesn't ask; far be it from him to mention anyone keeping food when he knows that it can be hard to remember that it's available for you at any time when you're out of whatever bad situation. ]

All kinds. We'll head from one to the next and if you see anything you want, let me know.

[If Keith knew what a date was, he'd remark that this is almost exactly like a date. Instead, he follows with Shiro to look at the first few booths. And there really is a lot of stuff!]

You're sure? This all looks pretty expensive. [Nevermind how he has to crowd against Shiro in some places because of crowds trying to look at the same stall. It's fine. This is fine.]

Keith.

[ He's gently chiding now, not irritated but terribly fond as he presses a hand to the small of Keith's back to guide him through the crush of the crowd. ]

Trust me when I say that ten thousand years of Altean items resurfacing means that we're sitting on the antique shop equivalent of hundreds of thousands of GAC. I don't think we could spend all of it in our lifetime even if we tried.

Okay! Okay, I just wanted to be sure. [He still doesn't get that but if Shiro says it's fine, then he'll believe it. Shiro's hand against his back helps ease that thought too. It's so warm...]

Just never used to being able to.

[ They're a flying antique shop at this point. He thumbs over one of the rings he's wearing, something that he'd never given any thought to but now, supposedly is worth a ridiculous amount of money all because it's so old. He's still not quite sure how he feels about that. ]

I figured. Trust me; I wouldn't tell you that you could do something if it weren't the truth.

[Keith is so hyperaware of Shiro; he looks down at the ring, then back in front of them again. He leans back a little into his hand instinctively, letting some of his weight rest there.]

I trust you. Believe me.

[ This is...too close. Too much like a couple thing, but he's not stopping himself because he's weak and Keith tucked against his side is --

He needs not to think about it. He pulls them to a stall which has a bunch of glass ornaments for decorations. ]

Maybe we could get you something for your room?

[And they're moving again. Keith is like putty in Shiro's hand moving with him so easily when they get to the stand.]

Um. Like these, huh. [Keith looks them over, before landing on something. It's tucked away in a corner behind other things, but he carefully reaches to pull out a glass cat. He isn't sure what it is but. He likes it.]

Or, something.

[ Anything. Shiro watches him tug something out and squints at it, tilting his head to the side. It looks familiar, but not close enough to one of the animals on Altea for him to name it with surety. ]

It's cute.

[It's like someone had taken a still of a cat mid-stretch, paws out in front and hind high in the air. Keith feels drawn to it somehow.]

It is... I like it. [It's going to be near impossible for anyone to pry that little figure from him.]

[ Shiro's already reaching for the little pouch containing spare GAC and eyes the price a moment before counting out the appropriate amount for the vendor. He gets a little box in return and passes it to Keith. ]

So it doesn't break.

[Oh. He smiles a little and carefully fits it into the box. This is fine. More than enough.]

See anything you want?

[ If Keith thinks he's getting out of this without more stuff, he's sorely mistaken. Shiro gives the vendor's options another long look and then shakes his head. ]

Not yet, but I'll keep looking.

[ Before he can stop himself: ]

Do you want a pet? At the castle?

A pet?

[Shiro definitely has his attention now. His eyes are a little wide at the thought. A pet...]

If you think it wouldn't cause too much trouble.

A pet.

[ He moves onto the next stall and eyes the handwoven shirts and long pullovers, thumbing over the fabric idly on a piece that's a deep red trimmed with gold. ]

The Princess has the mice. I don't see why not.

Then yeah. Yeah, definitely.

[Let him be responsible and take care of something. He feels weird not doing anything for anyone but himself. At least with a pet, he could be fulfilling that a little. He eyes the same shirt, but moves on, a long sleeve a blue-ish silver with metallic threading on the edges.]

What kind do you think?