whatsacactus | (no subject)

[He is absolutely 100 percent, just-short-of-snoring asleep when Keith comes back, though he startles back to wakefulness at the words. Shadow-- right. He didn't actually know if the creature ate anything at all. Cosmic wolves are a new territory for him, but he supposes it makes sense.]

Okay.

[Let him reboot, Keith. He sits up fully as well, rubbing his hand across his eyes.]

We should be able to hunt with the bayard. If I've learned anything, it's that where there's a garden there's usually small animals that feed off it.

Probably.

[He lets the towel hang around his shoulders and finally looks at Shiro again. He hadn't exactly meant to wake him up, but guess there was no helping it. Shiro needed rest as much as he does.]

Saw some animals coming into the garden already, but it was weird.

Weird how?

[He swings his legs to the edge of the bed, looking askance at Keith.]

Weird like... They're all coming. Like something's happening.

[He'd seen it sometimes, rarely, in the desert. Something bad moving in, all the animals out there moving elsewhere temporarily.]

Like they're scared.

[That gets him moving, up and on his feet. The local fauna would have the lay of the land, so to speak. If they're spooked, there's a reason. Shiro heads to the window, where he glances out over a rapidly blackening horizon. It's a storm-- and it looks massive, blotting out anything visible on the horizon. But why would the animals congregate here? Unless--]

There must be a reason. Let's forget the rest for now, that storm looks like it could flatten anything in its path. We should see if the animals will come inside.

[Whatever Black brought them here for, they're still Paladins first, and their job is the protection of the universe. No matter who or what they're defending.]

[Good. Something to do, and something he was concerned about already. Keith watches one more time, then starts heading to the stairs.

Once outside, it's clear the animals have definitely done this a lot. They all seemingly have their own places to lay low in the dirt, in the storeroom, in the hedges. And there are so many more than just the creatures that brought them offerings: small rodent like creatures as big as Keith's palm. Some flighty, leather-and-feather things. Many-legged hooved animals that blink their four eyes at him when they get close.]

It's the weather. It must be bad if they're all coming in like this.

[Shiro is, meanwhile, crouched down with his hand held out to see if one of the little four-legged creatures with a sleek feathered ruff will come over to him.]

When you interfaced with the house, was there a particle barrier protocol? If they're coming here, that must mean these storms are a regular occurrence. And that they're safe here. If these plants can grow and flourish--

[Maybe that was why everything looked so desolate outside of this great green expanse. It could be that something's protecting it. Has been, for thousands of years. That's plenty of time for it to be added to a migratory pattern for all the little creatures they see now. Some are burrowing into the dirt. Some, like the one currently using his fingers to preen its feathers, seem less bothered altogether. Some are obvious predators and others are evidently prey. At least Shadow will have something to eat. Every planet has a foodchain.

He glances back towards the canyon, where he can feel the steady, emanating presence of the lion. She doesn't seem alert or wary, but--]

Hopefully Black's got her barrier up.

[Keith watches, checking on some of what looked like more fragile flora, but looks around at the question.]

There may've been something. I didn't look too deep at it. [Was trying to stay at least half-conscious at the time.] But there's probably something in place.

[He sighs a little and sits next to Shiro, watching the little animal.]

She probably does... I wonder if she knew.

This storm is electrical.

[You can feel the thrum of it in the air like a current on the skin. It sets the nerves alight. The little creature continues its inspection of his hand, grabbing onto it with stubby forepaws that are an odd contrast to its four elegant legs. It's making a warbling sounds almost like purring, and Shiro's smiling at it as it gnaws tentatively on his thumb. It seems to know instinctively not to hurt him.]

My guess is her sensors would have picked up on it.

[Maybe this is what she wanted them to see? Hard to say. He's not going to dwell on it. In a minute or two, he'll insist they get up and check the house protocols. If the garden is protected, they don't need to worry about bringing any of the creatures inside to weather the storm. Instead--]

Here, give me your hand. This one's friendly.

What?

[He blinks a little but. Leans over and holds his hand out for him.]

It's... Kinda cute.

[Shiro takes his hand, and introduces Keith slowly to the creature. It transfers its attention to him almost immediately, and within moments is making its keening warble while attempting to get Keith to scratch that point between its tiny wings. They don't seem to be for flight - too small - but it does ruffle them up and stretch them out.

Shiro sits back on his haunches and just smiles at the both of them.]

Making friends already.

Through someone's intervention.

[He's not taking credit for making an animal friend, as cute as it is. Shiro's always done that - tried to help him make more positive connections. It just didn't seem to work with humans as well as this. He smiles down at it, rubbing and sniffing and nipping at his fingertips.]

Wish it was this easy for everyone.

[For Shiro, it always has been. Being friendly was as natural as breathing but he never really had many friends. He kept his distance.

But not from Keith. Never him. He was the one person that needed Shiro's absolute devotion more than Shiro needed that distance, and against all odds it's lead them here.

He lets go of Keith's hand and shakes his head.]

Don't sell yourself short, Keith. You've always been worth knowing. If other people couldn't see that, it's on them. Not you.

[He only minutely notes the change when Shiro pulls his hand away. He was trying not to dwell, but its absence is almost in his face.

The words don't quite sink in, not as deeply as they might have a few days before. He can't acknowledge it right now. Keith carefully picks the little creature up, balancing it on one hand and letting it still hold his other.]

I wonder how bad this storm will get.

[It must be bad, if they're all crowding here to get away from it. Enough that everything looked... almost dead out there. Keith sort of leans when one of the larger hooved creatures comes to butt against his shoulder. He's almost amassing a small crowd.]

Guess there's nothing for it but to wait and see.

[He loved storms as a child. Before he knew what they could do to someone. The crash of thunder, the bright noonday flashes of light. It always seemed so... intense. It was one of the things that made him love the sky. That drew him to the stars. Flight wasn't in his blood but it was surely in his soul.

He stands up, dusts his hand against his thigh. At the newest animal arrival he outright chuckles. A quiet sound.]

If I'd known you were a Disney princess I'd've worked on my curtsy.

[Keith looks put out for just a second. Before he even says anything, Keith hears the first sign: a loud, cracking thunder further out. Some of the more skittish creatures duck and run, finding safe places to bunk down.]

It's moving in fast.

[He looks around them trying to take stock of everything. If there really is a particle barrier to help protect this place, then they should be fine. They shouldn't have to do anything outside. But if not...

He waits, letting the storm roll in. It's like a carefully choreographed dance, the first drop of rainfall five feet away from the property and the particle barrier hums to life, rising up from the garden's edges and enclosing them in a dome. It's only seconds later that the rain hits against it, splashing bright blues above and around them.]

[He doesn't quite sigh in relief, but he does glance towards the scattered animals. As skittish as they are, none have struck him as outright wild. He nods towards the storage building and raises his voice above the sound of the rain.]

I'll go check and make sure they're all okay if you're good to hold the fort out here.

Oh-- Uh. Sure.

[The animals all seem okay with his presence here - and by extension, Shiro too. Not a bad thing necessarily. Just feel worse when he has to kill any of them for meat later. But he won't think about it now.

For now, he'll watch Shiro go into the store room. Look up at the roof of the barrier, following it down to where it meets the earth. Curious, he gets up to see. He starts with the ground, seeing where the barrier actually goes into the ground, supposedly making it a sphere rather than just a dome. Then the lines up, each time the weather hits the barrier, a blue impact light rippling out against a purple-red sky beyond.

It's beautiful really. When he started really taking part in his studies, actually doing well in the sim tests, this is what he thought about. Seeing things like this in the universe.]

Wow...

[He checks on what animals don't seem too skittish - some are nestled into corners, under tables. Others are already fast asleep, tucked together in little balls of fur and fluff. Shiro makes sure that none of them seem to be in any especial distress, stopping to offer calming words (it's all about tone, with animals, never the words. he tells one about article 18a on page 109 of the Garrison's basic flight manual, which pertains to personal grooming) to the ones that seem upset or anxious, but honestly-- it seems like they've all been through this before, regularly enough that it's become rote.

By the time he ventures back out to where Keith is, the sky is awash with light. Brilliant flashes of violet cut starkly across the sky, arcing into the barrier where it explodes with energy. Some rain does penetrate, but it's sluiced into a fine mist. Probably intentional, since the barrier very well could keep things out, or maybe it's the age. Either way, it's almost pleasant and Shiro tips his head back towards the sky, eyes closed. Just listening for the thunder, the build and swell of its crescendo crash.

He can feel the pulse of electricity in the air just before it impacts the barrier. Even with his eyes closed, the bright light of the flare is obvious, and the echoing thunder a resounding denouement.

He's smiling by the time he opens his eyes, and when he looks over at Keith--

The world stands still. A little. He's still got the small griffon-like creature tucked in against his chest, and he's obviously keeping it calm. The one with the hooves has seen fit to lay down and tuck itself against him, butting up against his knees. And Keith looks--

Shiro's seen him happy. Seen him absolutely livid. He's seen him upset and grieving, and suspicious and determined and hurting so bad he can barely breathe, but he hasn't ever seen him look content. Not like this. Not ever before.

It's one of those moments he knows he'll remember forever. One where he wishes he were an artist, just to capture it.

Instead, he makes his way over to where he's standing, and ends up standing a whisper away, shoulder-to-shoulder, watching the sky.]

[The small sounds of the rain hitting is hypnotic. Just the right sound that puts his running mind at ease. He scratches under the little griffon's chin, content to stand there and watch. The pulses before the lightning has his hair standing on end, but he smiles a little.

Even more when he feels Shiro there next to him.]

Never would've seen something like this on Earth.

[The desert had its fair share of marvels, but nothing quite like this.]

It really is amazing.

[His leg is aching, and he's not sure he wants to keep standing so after a moment's consideration he just eases himself down to the ground. The creature with the hooves gives him a little questioning bleat but doesn't actually protest his proximity, and Shiro's careful to stay clear of its feet. Docile or not, he doesn't want to take any chances with his safety or Keith's wellbeing.]

You know... when they chose me for the mission on Kerberos, this was the sort of thing I hoped I'd see. It's really something, that we've come this far and seen-- ['survived'] so much.

Mm. You really were interested in seeing other planets more than anything else.

[Being a pilot is skill, instinct, but also that sense of adventure. The wanting to see new, unknown things. It was something Keith had in him too. He looks down at the larger creature against his legs, whispering a little calming nothing to it.

This is everything. Peace and calm, nature all around them, sharing a view like this with Shiro... Maybe Black knew what she was doing after all.]

Wish it all could've been like this.

[There was a telescope in the house he grew up with. He and his grandfather always had made time for meteor showers. Shiro has spent his entire life looking skyward. Other planets-- it used to be a kid's dream. Now it's an adult's reality.

(He died up there. Amidst the stars. The black of space. Surrounded by friends. This body breathes, its heart beats, but the mind remembers. Not the worst way to go. Not the worst way to come back.)

Soft,]

I don't. Good or bad, we're here.

[He nods.] We are.

[He looks from the barrier to the animals around him, to Shiro.]

If I had to be stuck here, I'm glad it's with you.

[Even after he messed up before. Even if he's part-Galra, that did everything they could against Shiro and their sort-of-Paladin-family. Even if he's probably just a kid brother to him.]

Not anyone else I would've wanted to be here with.

[I love you. But he'd taken Shiro's distance the same thing he's always taken what Shiro tells him - quiet acceptance. The only thing Keith ever tried to change his mind on was his own worth, and that one Shiro always fought him on.

He still does it. Not as badly as he used to. Progress.

Shiro smiles a bit, reaches out to pat the side of that hoofed beast.]

Likewise.

[It's gently said, and he doesn't speak again for several seconds. When he does, that smile has turned into an impish grin.]

Although if Hunk wanted to turn up and turn all this produce into some kind of gourmet entree, you know-- I probably wouldn't protest too much. Just saying.