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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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[The room feels familiar in the sense that he's seen something similar. He remembers he didn't like it, whatever it was. It smells too clean, too sterile and his nerves are more on edge here than they were during the meal.]

Shiro-- [Keith looks him over again in an attempt to make sure he's all right. Keith knows Shiro does that thing where he pretends to be okay and make jokes at his own expense.] ...You got your hands dirty.

[He takes it as a slight to his own job. He was there with him to make sure Shiro didn't have to do anything like that. His hand is shaking in Shiro's, this whole room setting him on edge.]

Hey, hey, no, I'm right here, just-- don't move, okay?

[ There was so much blood. He doesn't know what the limits are for a human/galra to lose, doesn't know a lot about Keith that he's realizing, only now. Now, when he could have lost him. The guilt is awful, but the anger is worse. ]

I know, I'm sorry. I'll -- let me wash them, okay?

[ Of course, the moment he lets go of Keith's hand, the doctors are ushering him back out of the way and telling him to go clean up, leading to a series of whispered arguments that Shiro loses, because Keith's the priority. He comes back close enough to look down at him, and doesn't dare touch his face and risk getting blood on it. ]

I need to go rinse off so I don't-- contaminate this place, okay? I'm just going to be a few minutes and then I'll be back.

W-wait. Shiro.

[It hits him a moment too late that Shiro has to leave to do that and he's out the door. He's only been on a table like this, surrounded by doctors in coats a few sparse times and each time was bad. He doesn't stay awake long, though. Keith falls under with whatever they inject him, some all-purpose sedative. It works faster than they expect at least.

No matter what, they agree they have to check him over more closely and remove the bullets. Starting with pulling a contraption down over the table to get a look inside and make sure there wasn't any internal damage too bad to handle. They mutter amongst themselves a bit about some of the organs they don't understand, but ultimately it doesn't look too bad inside. The real challenge is digging the bullets out while Keith is still sedated.]

[ They're insistent and Shiro doesn't want to risk hurting Keith on accident, so he doesn't stop. He leaves the room and goes to the one they've given him, tossing his clothes into a corner in the bathroom. He washes as quickly as he can, and changes into a fresh set of clothes.

After a beat, he grabs Keith fresh ones too and starts his update to Allura. It's quick, just the basics with the assurance that Keith should be okay, once they get him out of the immediate danger. He turns off his comms directly after, except for emergencies. He can't take questions right now.

They won't let him back into the room until surgery is finished, and it feels like it takes ages. He gives talks to all the other diplomats and goes over what he can to feel useful and finally, finally they let him back in. He may not wake up any time soon, he's warned, but he doesn't care. He settles Keith's clothes off to the side and drags a chair over, gently taking Keith's hand, pressing it to his forehead. ]

You're going to be fine. You have to be fine.

[It's a short while before he wakes up, almost a varga. They've given them some privacy now that the most pressing issues were dealt with.

Keith cracks his eyes open and watches Shiro quietly. Focusing on trying to breathe and make sense of what he's seeing, where he is. The last day just seems blurred. Happened too fast to be real.]

...Hey.

[ Shiro's never been good at waiting.

That hasn't changed. He listens to Keith's soft in-out breathing and feels his heart clench any time he thinks he hears any sort of hesitation. Keith's always been a little paler, but he looks pale, washed out against the starkness of the medical room.

When he finally wakes, and says hey Shiro scoots closer and presses his lips to Keith's knuckles, lingering. ]

Hey. Don't move, alright? I need you to stay still.

[Something about that makes him feel nervous. Or, would if his reactions didn't feel so slow. The room is too dark a shade of blue to be their bedroom, and too small to be the other rooms on the Castle. He can't pinpoint where he is, just that it has his thoughts on as much of an edge as they can be.

His brows knot together watching Shiro.]

Shiro? [Anything else he wants to ask is caught in his throat. The last few vargas catch up - the dinner, the sniper, that sudden wave of pain that knocked him off his feet. This room. He hates these rooms. Keith shifts a little, unable to follow that simple request just ticks after Shiro made it.]

What's wrong? [Something must be if Shiro's telling him to stay still.]

[ Of course he moves. Shiro rises up and presses a hand at his collarbone, careful to avoid any of the injuries bandaged. ]

I'm here, and everyone else is alright. You need to stay still or you'll hurt yourself, alright?

[ He stays standing after saying it, though, not trusting Keith to actually stay still. The galra hand stays where it is, but his other one lifts, cupping Keith's face, thumb skimming over his jaw gently. ]

You took hits meant for me, but the medical team got to you in time. Now you need to rest, so we can get you back on the ship and into a healing pod.

[Shiro telling him to stay still is somehow even more wrong. Keith tries to sit up against his hand, but he can't; he's too tired, too weak. He hates this.]

Why-- [Words are always so hard, but especially now. He rests back trying to force his breathing steady.] Why aren't I already in one?