whatsacactus | (no subject)

Guess you'd have to try and find out.

[Precisely what Shiro just said they weren't going to do, but Keith is nothing if not stupidly determined to do what he wants. All he needs is a reason.]

You sure you wanna risk that?

[this is a terrible idea.

and yet.]

Come at me, cowboy.

[And yet.

A wide grin spreads across his face. For a couple of seconds, he almost lunges forward to shove Shiro back and climb on. It's only the bruises on Shiro's front that slow him down. Settle into grabbing him by the neck and pulling him in for a hungry kiss, eager and desperate. He isn't testing waters anymore here; he knows what he wants.

He pulls away breathless, tugging at Shiro's bottom lip with his teeth and grins.]

Keep it up, this cowboy'll have to find someone to ride.

[The kiss is sloppy and messy and completely engrossing and Shiro absolutely did not expect him to be that good at it. He finds himself kissing back hungrily, leaning into it open-mouthed. He's panting too, when Keith pulls away.

It's the spoken sentiment that's going to take some getting used to. Just hearing it, the crassness of it all. Shiro - gamely - does not choke this time, though he does turn a little red. Okay, point to Keith. Should he make a comment about bucking? No, probably not. Metaphor taken too far.]

Kissing first.

[He's. Not going to think about the rest right now or it's going to make his pants terrifically uncomfortable.]

Yessir.

[He does let that one out, still smirking and arms around Shiro's neck. He wants to keep him close, feel his warmth, his breath. Shiro turning red is... cute. He never thought anything about Shiro and Aisha those years ago, but now he sort of wonders what all they did. What experience Shiro might have if he's getting this flustered by just words and implications.

Keith pulls him back in, nosing at the scar on Shiro's face gently.]

[He'd expected to have an objection to the sir. But he doesn't, really, which... surprises him. Logically, he knows he was never Keith's direct superior except in rank at the garrison, and while they were paladins-- it couldn't have been more obvious that they were there as equals. Keith was - and is - his strong right hand.

He turns his head and kisses Keith's cheek, working his way along his jaw, back to his neck. He drags his teeth across his jugular, not quite biting but definitely making a show of it, slow but sure.]

[Shiro goes for the neck, and Keith leans his head up, starting to lay back again. He swallows hard, gasping feeling the teeth. There's the hint of a whimper in his throat.]

Please.

[It's soft, a barely there thing. Keith almost never asks for anything. But he wants this, wants to feel Shiro there.]

Edited 2018-06-27 03:56 (UTC)

[It's the pitch of his voice, that soft plea that hits some deep, primal thing somewhere he's never really examined too closely. Shiro draws a sharp breath. He's torn between never wanting to hear Keith begging for anything ever again, (I know you're in there) and wanting to give him exactly what he's asking for.

Different context. It's all different. But Shiro still hesitates, breathing heavily, eyes tightly closed where Keith can't see. All he sees is the galra blade burning that mark onto his cheek and Shiro--

He has to fight it. They're changing what the past means to both of them.

The latter wins out. He does bite at him this time, careful but not especially gentle, (he knows that gentleness isn't what Keith wants right now, and he'll worry about all that later).

He does reach for Keith's hand and twine their fingers together, though, pressing down against the mattress. Holding him there, firm and unyielding as he laves at the skin after the bite. There's a bruise welling up to the surface.]

[Shiro's using his weight to keep him in place as he bites. He feels the skin under his teeth, and there's a noise that comes out of him he's carefully kept to himself even when they were all living in the castle still. He can tell it'll bruise later, even as Shiro is trying to sooth it. He'll probably be caught looking at it (admiring) it later.

Keith squeezes his hand taking deeper breaths. It's hard not to let this get his blood running hot and down below the hips. But respect. Not going further than kissing right now.]

Thanks. Really wanted that.

[Shiro pulls back enough to raise an eyebrow at him. Keith thanking him for-- marking him, essentially. Gently,]

You don't have to thank me.

[Keith watches him from under his own bangs.]

You also didn't have to do it at all.

I wanted to.

[He kisses his cheek gently, and then sits back, just... looking down at Keith for looking's sake.]

[Keith probably looks a mess under him, still bruised and bandages, flushed and breathing hard. Shiro's being kind to him again, making sure he knows that he wants to do this.

It really just makes Keith want to pull him down and wear him out to the bone.]

'm glad you wanted to, then.

[They both look like they've been through hell and come out the other side. But at least they did it together.

He laughs a little, soft and quiet and splays his hand against Keith's stomach, sliding it upward against his sternum, over his heart. That's another thing that makes him hurt for Keith-- thinking that things like simple kindness, the barest whisper of attention paid solely to him is worthy of thanks, or praise, or an expression of gratitude.]

We're in this together, Keith.

...Yeah. We are.

[Keith smiles softly at that. Shiro always making sure he knows they're even. They're working together, neither of them pulling more weight than the other. He moves his hand to Shiro's on his chest, thumbing against the knuckles in small circles. He wishes he could make Shiro feel as good as he does right now. Maybe with enough time. Maybe with enough patience and care, he can help Shiro feel like a person again. He doesn't deign to guess what Shiro feels, but... Sometimes it's not hard.]

Even if this - between us - doesn't work out... I'm still with you. Never give up on you.

I know.

[He doesn't think he could doubt that absolute if he tried. It's a universal constant. Gravity. Oxygen. Keith was always someone worth saving, and would have been even if it didn't blossom into the boundless devotion he's shown to Shiro from the word go.

He catches Keith's hand, brings it up to kiss the knuckles gently.]

But I appreciate your saying so.

[I appreciate you giving me a chance. He keeps it to himself, that thought. Partly because he knows it'll just become another back-and-forth, but also because he knows Shiro doesn't like it when he puts himself down however indirectly. And for whatever it's worth... He knows he doesn't have to know. He knows his worth. It's more than he was told at the Garrison.

There's an especially loud clap of thunder outside and Keith draws in a deep breath.]

Doesn't look like we're going out any time soon. Still wanna just kill time here in bed?

Mmm.

[He is still exhausted, he realizes, and keyed up and on edge and a million different things that culminate in him just not really knowing what he wants to do.

So he just. Flops into a sprawl across Keith, nuzzling down against the crook of his neck.]

You got any better ideas?

Mm. [He tries to wrap one arm around him, hand resting in Shiro's hair.]

Could try reading more of those books... Could explore the house more.

Could let me take care of you.

[He's thirsty and Shiro's the only glass of water in this desert, can't blame him for having a one track mind.]

[His exhalation is a little... wobbly.]

You're real keen on that, huh?

[He sort of holds his breath before letting it out in a long exhale. Not quite a sigh, but...

His voice is quiet, apologetic.]

I can stop.

I didn't say that.

[He pushes himself up with one hand, and then just sort of crosses his arm on Keith's chest (gently) and supports his chin on his forearm to look down at him.]

I just don't want you to feel like your only value comes from what you can do for me. [Soft,] The love's there first.

[Because at the end of the day, Shiro's never really needed the physical.]

[It's confusing to think someone doesn't need physical attention to know they're loved. Words are easy to hear people say. Words don't account for action. Words can easily be forgotten, or twisted, or misunderstood. Action is undeniable.

Action is something he understands more than words. Shiro was just the first one to match words to his actions and mean it.

Keith sighs through his nose, brushing Shiro's forelock out of his face, trailing along his brow until he can cup his cheek.]

Don't know if you ever noticed, but I'm not... Really good at words. Doing things, I'm good at.

['Really good at words' you don't say. But Shiro just tips his head against Keith's palm, kissing his fingertips.]

You aren't good with smalltalk, Keith. And you don't have to be - you've always had the right words when they matter.

[Not just to him, but to everyone. Keith doesn't see himself as a leader, but Shiro does. Always has.]

But if you-- want to show me.

[He wanted to take things slow. For Keith's benefit. For the same reason that Keith was trying to go slow for him. Maybe he should just... let the chips fall where they may. They've never been conventional. Why start now?]

Then you have my permission.

[It's the opportunity he'd been hoping for the last hour or so. But now that it's presented, he has a hard time making himself move forward to do it.

Something about Shiro resting on his chest there is too comfortable to want to disturb.

Not only that, but 'you have my permission'. Something about it rubs him wrong though he can't put his finger on why.

He thumbs along Shiro's lip and watches him.]

I will. When the time's right.