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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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[ Shiro's in a similar state, blissed out in the chair. He's still aware of the others in the room, and the exits, but for once, he's letting himself well and truly stop being so stiff all the time. No one knows they're here and there's only one way in and out. He can breathe. ]

Mmnn.

[ He doesn't really need his hand for anything, which is how he rations out not pulling away when he should. ]

Sometimes. Usually I was on guard duty. Later into the peace, we were allowed to let our guard down, a little.

Right, you were.... her bodyguard. [He almost sounds disappointed by that reminder. He still holds tight to Shiro's hand all the same. This is more than he wanted. And he plans to cling to it while Shiro allows him to.]

I'm glad you were able to. I can't picture you stressed like that all the time. [He can. He just doesn't want to.]

[ That tone sounds -- off, but he's not quite sure why. He thinks to ask but then considers maybe it's just his mind playing tricks on him, over-analyzing everything that's said because of something so silly as a crush. Besides, it's easy enough to hold conversation about his duties back then, and a little of now. ]

Ugh, it's terrible. I used to be -- much worse. Much more stern and by the books and... [ He releases Keith's hand to flap his own dismissively, his other hand still being worked on. ] I was unbearable.

I don't-- [Oh, there goes Shiro's hand out of his. Keith watches it, but then manages to get himself to refocus on Shiro's face.] I don't think that's possible. You being unbearable.

You'd be just doing your job. Right?

Flattering, but you should talk to the Princess if you ever doubt how awful it was when I was younger.

[ Well, now he can't just put it back so he settles it in his lap instead, awkward. ]

Sure, but it's...there's different ways of handling things. I had a lot of growing up to do, back then.

[With his hand free, they're ready to start putting the color on his nails. They begin to brush a bright Altean blue while Keith watches.]

Maybe... It sounds like you were both trying your best though. That's important. [He has no way to know or understand any of the details or intricacies they had to deal with in their positions, but he's sure if they made it this far this successfully, they did it well.]

...Can I um. Ask you something?

[ He's pushed and pulled various ways while they do their best to fix his hair; there's nothing wrong with it to begin with, but he knows that parts are uneven, and they're tidying it up. It's not like they've had much time to let him go anywhere and have it professionally tended to and despite Coran's offers, he wasn't coming near the other Altean with shears. ]

Yes, of course.

[ He can't quite look over with them brushing his damp hair into his eyes and cutting it, but he tries. ]

Were you--

[God, now they start in on the cuticles on his other hand while they work. It's distracting while they start doing color to the tips of his hair.]

I was told.. You had an arranged marriage before. But you gave it up. Is that true?

[ Oh, there's something he didn't expect to be asked.

Shiro's quiet a few moments, not sure how much Allura was okay with him telling before figuring, well, he could just look the records up anyway, right? ]

It's...complicated. The princess was engaged to a prince from another planet who had resources we could have used, but she didn't want to get married. We briefly talked about the idea of the two of us eloping, just to save her from it. I was married to my work, and she was going to do whatever was right for the planet and herself. If both parties knew about affairs, it wasn't much of a scandal. Then we realized it might be better to try and marry someone else in. She didn't have any siblings and King Alfor had no other family; between that and my promotion to commander along with diplomat, it was enough that they could offer me instead without it being a slight.

[ He lifts one shoulder in a shrug, blinking when hair falls in his eyes again. ]

It didn't take, obviously.

Oh. [That's a lot of information quickly and he doesn't really get the correlation of most of it. But he does understand one thing: Shiro wasn't heavily emotionally invested. At least not at the time.

Whatever chemicals they use to color the hair sets a lot faster than what he remembers using at the House; before he thinks too much, they're leaning him back to rinse.]

I'm glad it didn't. I don't really get a lot of that, but it sounds like you wouldn't have been happy.

Politics.

[ It's a deep sigh as they finish trimming his hair and then start dying it, putting on the last touches here and there. Whatever they've put in his hair makes it ridiculously soft once it's done; he reaches a hand up to touch and blinks when it feels almost...silky. Then there's Keith, getting colors in his hair - Shiro doesn't think he could manage that, white fringe or not. ]

Happy wasn't-- isn't a consideration. The Princess and I need to be thinking about what's best for our people. For the universe.

[He's pulled up straight to dry his hair, the ends an iridescent blue and purple sheen when they're done. They're still working to dry the polish on his other hand that had held Shiro's so long.]

Maybe. But I think. I think it's important to consider both of your feelings too. You're part of your people.

[Shiro's hair looks so nice... He's fighting the urge to reach over and run his hand through it himself.]

[ It catches his eye, because of course it does. It's distracting even if Keith weren't distracting all on his own, but it's a good look. It fits him, just like everything else seems to; Shiro's starting to accept his own bias. ]

I'm always going to be married to my work. Logistically, it makes the most sense because outside of the Princess, I'm the only other Altean that could be married off in an alliance and have it somewhat worthwhile.

[ As far as they know, they're the only Alteans, but some part of him thinks that maybe maybe there are more, there are others out there. ]

[He doesn't understand that. Keith doesn't get why it has to happen at all. Or why they have to be married off to form alliances to begin with. One thing he does know is they probably shouldn't be talking Altean politics in a salon.

Keith ends up only shaking his head and turning to watch them finish his nails and motion for him to stand up.]

Maybe it won't have to be like that some day. [Unfortunately, the other thing he's hearing is that Shiro isn't interested. At all.]

[ He passes over a handful of credits and waves away her hand when she tells him it's too much, he's overpaid. As far as he's concerned, just an hour or two of quiet and relaxing was well worth it. Better- when he looks in the mirror, he looks less haggard. His hair frames his face a little better, the line of his jaw, the spots of Altean markings on his cheeks. He could have just shapeshifted to fix it, but it'd never been a concern when the fighting started.

Now, there's no need to shift.

He waits for Keith to grab everything and then, foolishly, doesn't think when he reaches out to stroke his fingers over the iridescent colors at the tips of his hair. ]

I like it.

[Shiro looks so much younger like this. It takes Keith's breath away to look at him. The attendants have to hand him the last of their things because he's so distracted watching Shiro's movements, even the hand into his hair. He holds his breath.]

Y-yeah? I wasn't sure. But it's-- It's different. [Maybe if Shiro stays focused on the hair, he won't see how red Keith's face is. God, and after he just understood Shiro isn't interested too. He feels like such a jerk.]

[ Abruptly, he seems to realize he'd let his hand linger too long. Shiro pulls back with an apologetic smile and then squeezes Keith's shoulder, instead. ]

It's a good different. Come on, did you want to check out the shops around here?

[Right. Shoulder is platonic. Completely free. He nods, adjusting their things on his shoulder and heads for the exit. Not the time to watch Shiro now. No, he has his eyes pointedly on the door.]

If you still wanted to.

[ Behind them, there's a deep, heavy sigh. Shiro glances back and they gesture to where Keith's heading for the exit, so rather than wait, he shrugs at them a little helplessly and follows Keith out into the sun of this planet. ]

I have nothing but time, for better or worse. We can try the food stalls first, if you like.

[Ever since that night Shiro was shown him as a peace offering, Keith keeps getting his hopes up. And he isn't sure why because he knows the answer every time. He's focused now on where he's walking, making sure not to trip on the unfamiliar terrain but stops when Shiro suggests food. Unfortunately, when he's focused, it always looks like he's angry even when he's not. Right now, he's just upset at himself. Getting the wrong ideas, again.]

Guess it has been a while since breakfast. Probably a good idea.

[ Yeah, Shiro's not touching their old thread of conversation for love or money, thanks. He doesn't know what's so bad about it, but he can hazard a guess - Shiro's complaining about arranged marriages when Keith had to deal with years of arranged everything under the sun. Great, sticking both feet in his mouth.

He'll apologize over dinner, and hopefully it won't go to shit. Right now, though, he tugs at Keith's arm to get him to turn down an alley and they're instantly hit with the scent of cooking meats, vegetables and everything else. It seems to go on forever and Shiro's stomach rumbles in response. ]

Most efficient way we ever tackled this was splitting 40 gac and visiting stalls that we thought looked the best, and then bringing all of it back to eat together.

[He tenses a little when he's tugged away into the alley. The food just ahead smells so good, and he's ready to run see it. And not think about how stupid he is for falling for the princess' bodyguard.]

40 gac, huh. And-- You'd really still want to eat together?

[Keith was sure he'd fucked up somehow at the salon.]

Mmn. You get to try a variety of things, like a whole meal of appetizers. Then you can figure out what you want to eat the rest of the days.

[ Also good if you just like finger food like Shiro does. He takes a peek at the first stall and eyes something that looks a little bit like roasted meat on a stick with some kind of sauce. Reaching into a back pocket, he pulls out a handful of credits and gives Keith half of them. The question gives him pause, though. ]

...Did you not want to- I mean, if you'd like to eat alone, that's entirely fine.

I- [He looks at the credits in his hands now, then back up to Shiro. He can't see the way the light plays against the sheen of highlights in his hair. No, he keeps wanting to run fingers through Shiro's hair now that it looks so, so soft.]

I wasn't sure if you'd still want to. I want to.

[ Wait, what? He mentally plays over everything that's happened so far and can't figure out why Keith thinks he wouldn't want to. This is something they'll have to discuss later, then. ]

We'll talk further about this later -- but for right now, know that I don't...have a lot of free time. You've seen that. Trust me when I say that after so many years, I don't actively spend time with people who I don't want to unless it's to benefit the Coalition or Princess.