whatsacactus | (no subject)

[Shiro's right, of course. Allura would be thrilled to have this available to her.]

And Hunk would like the garden here.

The universe has plenty of gardens.

[He closes his eyes briefly. Then,]

We can take some of the things here with us when we leave, but I don't see any reason to tell them where the planet is unless it becomes strategically necessary. Agreed?

[Something sort of lights up in his eyes when he hears Shiro suggest that. It's what he wanted, but didn't sound like the conversation was going. Keith nods with a little smile.]

Works for me.

[Playfully--]

You always say that about my plans.

[He shrugs, stuffing a bite into his mouth.]

Your plans always do.

[It helps that Keith rarely ever has his own plans, so it's easy to work with Shiro's.]

Mm.

[He stands - favouring that right leg yet - and takes his bowl. He gestures for Keith to set his down on top.]

We should give it a name. This place.

[Keith watches him before carefully placing the bowl on top.]

Us name it, huh. So you'd want to stay here too?

[He's always honest, but there's a part of him that's always used it as a shield. He lies by omission when he has to, to protect others. So that they don't worry about him, or worse.

Keith has earned more than that from him. There are things that are between them they both need to approach unflinching.

So Shiro takes a breath, expecting that Keith will follow him as he heads back towards the kitchen. He steps carefully around Shadow.]

I don't know. It's beautiful here, but-- how many things that once belonged to Zarkon can I ['should I'] make my own?

...I don't know.

[And it's a genuine ignorance. He won't deign to speak for Shiro on what he should want. But the fact is... This place is free.]

He chose to leave this place. So that's really up to you, isn't it?

[He huffs a soft little breath as he sets the bowls down in the sink, runs water over them. Contrary to what he said earlier, he's perfectly assured in his competence at washing dishes.]

I could never stay somewhere like this unless the fight really was over. Maybe-- maybe after we're done. Everything. And we can truly set Voltron aside.

[That has Keith's attention immediately. He watches Shiro carefully before getting up to lean against the doorframe. There's the tiniest bit of confusion, a breath of hope in his voice.]

..."We"?

You don't think I'd make that sort of decision without you, do you?

[He gives Keith a sideways glance. He can't-- give him what he wants, but Shiro will always love him. He wants to make that clear, but he can't promise more than just-- being there for him.]

Wherever I end up, there'll be a place for you. You're eighteen. I don't want you to have to think about doing this until you die. I've done that. I gotta say, I really don't recommend it.

Wouldn't dream of it, but--

[His expression flattens a little.]

Shiro, I'm twenty-one.

[okay he actually looks slightly taken aback at that. Actually, to put it bluntly, he looks like Keith just smacked him on the nose with a newspaper like a rather unruly dog.]

Right.

[It doesn't even seem real. He still looks at Keith sometimes and sees that kid that just needed a friend, not the man he's turned into. Keith's older now than Shiro was when they first met.]

Right-- sorry. I forgot about the rift. I guess I'm behind on our birthday dinners, huh?

[It used to be something of a ritual, back during his time at the Garrison.]

[The sigh Keith exhales is all fondness. It's hard to be mad at Shiro, really.]

Then this counts as one. Only missing another.

[He comes over to grab a towel and dry what dishes Shiro cleans.]

This absolutely does not count as one. They have to be at the diner or it's a no-go. Jeeze, Keith.

[JEEZE.

He cleans the bowl as best he can, trapping it against the edge of the sink so that he can wipe it out and rinse it, and then he hands it to Keith.]

It's all about the apple pie with the birthday candles, you know that.

[He smirks a little more at that.]

If you wait until we get to the diner, you'll build up a couple more birthdays you owe me.

I think I can live with that.

[In fact, it sounds nice. That's been the one difficult thing with Voltron-- not having time for each other one-on-one like they used to.]

If Auntie's still there, she's going to make all kinds of comments on how much you've grown. You're almost as tall as I am, now.

[He'll just turn to put that dish on another counter so Shiro doesn't see his face turn some kind of color. Almost as tall as him... Keith hadn't had the chance to notice or recognize it.]

Y-yeah, I guess so. Auntie'll lose her mind seeing us after we disappeared.

We'll bring her flowers. She always did love carnations.

[Shiro finishes up the washing slowly, and then... gives Keith a sideways look.]

I'm sorry for what happened. I know it-- goes without saying, but if I'd had any way to send word to you after Kerberos... I would have.

[They've never really talked about what Keith did in that time, but Shiro knew he would have done everything possible to try and uncover the truth. He was smart, driven. He's just-- he hurts, that Keith would have been doing it all alone, missing the one person who swore he'd always be there.]

[He's quiet for a long moment. Those first few months were the hardest, and the year after was trying to ignore that pain left behind in Shiro's absence. That was when he'd started realizing he felt more than just admiration for Shiro.

He lowers his head level with his shoulders, letting his hair hide his expression.]

I know. I knew you were alive, and you must've been caught up in something.

And I knew you'd never give up on me.

[That much had persisted. It helped, even in the worst of times aboard the Galra ship, knowing that. Winning in the arena became a matter of-- just. Not letting Keith down. And if he died, he wanted to at least leave a legacy that he could be proud of.]

Didn't even consider it.

[Though he'd let himself be lost for a while. He let the anger roll through him at first, then let it out in the desert. He'd lost everything. Father, childhood home, Shiro, all his prospects he'd worked hard for... He huffs out a breath and stretches his neck.]

For what it's worth... I'm glad you made it.

I know.

[He rests his hand briefly against Keith's shoulder.]

Knowing you were out there was one of the things that kept me going. I couldn't let you down.

[Just have to hope I'm worth it. He knows Shiro believes in him something fierce, even when he doesn't really deserve it. If Shiro knew how he was after he left for Kerberos, he may not be so proud.]

Thanks, Shiro. I'm-- [Conflicted.] Glad I was there when you landed.

[He clears his throat, looking around and finally seeing Shadow waiting for him.]

You probably wanna be let out a while, huh. Shiro, did you wanna go back out with me?