whatsacactus | (no subject)

[He nods, sort of mesmerized by how the flame color is tinted through the small barrier field. It's interesting.]

It's quiet... can wake up, know what needs done. All the plants, and these creatures...

[He can just barely picture himself having a place similar to this. But only if they keep the universe safe, only if they retire Voltron, only if he survives that long, if ifif. There are so many factors.]

[He inhales. Holds it a moment. Then,]

Maybe once we're done.

[It's not the promise he wants to make, but it's the one he has. They have responsibilities. The universe needs them, and there's no saying how long that tenure will be for. Shiro would love to say that they've done their part, that they could be finished tomorrow, that they can take all the time in the world to be together, to just... to just live. He can't. But-- he can give Keith hope. It's what he's always done, and it's not a difficult instinct to reach for now.]

If we're ever done.

[He isn't pinning everything on a hope. He knows if he wants that sort of life, he'll have to fight for it. And whatever happens with Shiro, he knows he wants Shiro to be happy too, no matter what. He'd do anything to make sure they can all be happy when everything is over.]

At least it's something to work for.

[Shiro just leans against him quietly, slouching just enough that he can rest his head against Keith's shoulder.]

No fight goes on forever. We've already come so far.

[A benefit of having grown some, now he's tall enough for Shiro to be able to do this.]

Yeah, we have. I know we'll finish it.

[With that, he carefully reaches for Shiro's hand, holding it against his leg. The flames burn for a while longer. Keith doesn't want to get up and leave it, not until he knows he can put the barrier generator back to rights. ]

...Where you found the speedster, did you see any tools?

Edited 2018-07-01 21:14 (UTC)

[He squeezes Keith's hand a little. Just... letting him know he's there.]

Not that I saw. Nothing useable. I think the damage is fairly recent, it looks like one of the animals chewed through the wiring harness.

[He hums to himself and thinks that over. He's sure he can find something to work with to fix it. They've managed to figure out everything else here.

He sits with Shiro while the last of the body burns. Makes sure everything is set back to rights between the ashes and the generator. Once he's done, he dusts his hands off and smiles at Shiro.]

Okay. Let's take a look at the speedster.

[He heads back to where they originally left it by the house and pulls over chair to sit on while he looks it over. He can't do much without some tools to get the panels open but--]

Definitely the wiring. Wonder how they even got in there.

[Shiro isn't especially religious, it was just... never a large component of his life. But he says a prayer for the creature as the last of its ashes blow away, and hopes that it can find peace.

Then it's just a matter of following Keith. It's always nice to see him with a purpose, and it helps take his mind of everything else that's happened. He's content just to watch, smiling faintly as Keith looks the speeder over.]

I guess they got bored after ten thousand years.

Mm. Probably.

[He manages to get one panel off so he can dig in and get a better look. Most of the wires at least had a covering on them, but yeah there's one bitten clean through.]

Can't say I blame them. At least I can probably get this up and running again. Gotta be some pliers somewhere.

[He fiddles with a couple other things he can see, smiling a little.]

Did you want a ride if I can get it going?

[Absentmindedly, he summons the bayard and then waves it a bit to get Keith's attention.]

If you ask it really nicely, I bet you could get it to turn into a set of pliers.

[He tosses it to Keith in an easy throw, and then lifts one shoulder in a shrug.]

You kidding? I'd love one. Too bad there isn't another one, we could have a real race.

[You know....... he hadn't considered using the very rare, kind of special powerful weapon of the universe as pliers. But Shiro's right. He catches it and squints, focusing on the bayard until the tell-tale light of it changing. Thank god that works.

With that, he dives back in, focusing on that first and carefully reconnecting the broken wires.]

Maybe if we get back to Earth, we can grab my speeder from the shack. I did kind of leave it there.

[He huffs a quiet laugh.]

We have some good memories with that old thing, huh? Yeah. I'd like that. One more thing on the list.

Then we'll do that.

[He finishes connecting what he thinks are all of the problem wires and moves to sit on it, dust be damned. An experimental turn of the key, hand on the grip to rev and..... Nothing.

Normally this means more work. Keith is positively beaming.]

Not so simple huh.

[A project.]

[That smile is like a balm, bright as the sun. Shiro all but basks in it. No matter why Black really brought them here, this moment makes it all worth it.

Shiro goes over to him, kisses his cheek playfully.]

I'm gonna go make dinner. Any special requests? We've got bugs, bugs-- more bugs, and I think there's still some berries left.

[The kiss has Keith blinking back to himself and watching Shiro.]

There should be some more of the [He waves his hand vaguely] potato looking stuff I mashed up last time.

[It came out the texture between rice and mashed potatoes. It tasted really starchy and wasn't half bad. He looks out at the edge of the garden where most of the creatures are still settled.]

We'll have to hunt one of them down soon for meat.

Edited (one single word, gosh dang it) 2018-07-01 22:01 (UTC)

[Ever the practical one. Being alone for two years on a space whale probably... intensified Keith's already astounding levels of pragmatism. Shiro just shakes his head.]

We'll be fine. There's enough protein in what we're getting.

[He's hardly a vegetarian, but he's so, so tired of killing that the idea of eating an animal that's only in proximity to them for shelter is abhorrent to him. He just wants peace. No blood, nothing dying, just-- quiet, and the two of them.]

...If you say so.

[He can guess the reasons. He's sympathetic, but he knows if this storm keeps up much longer, they'll have to do it. And if Keith has to be the one to make that decision ultimately, then he will.]

I'll be in in a few ticks. All right?

Mm. Take your time.

[This time, Shiro kisses the crown of his hair, and then heads back inside. The house feels...

Different, somehow. As if the dark cloud over it's been excised. Maybe it's all in his head, but it doesn't bother him as much as it did at first. Keith's right-- maybe they are making it theirs.

He scrounges up enough to make a decent meal. Ends up reducing the berries on the stove until they're half a syrup, which he uses to pour over slabs of the bug meat. It ends up with an interesting flavour - edible, at least - and he can probably credit Hunk with the idea.

By the time he's setting the table, Keith is coming back inside, and Shiro waves him over.]

I made extra for Shadow, whenever she shows up.

[He only heads back in when he's exhausted everything he can think of for the speeder without tools. He may head down into the basement again to see what he can find there.

Until then, he sits, rubs at his face (and doesn't notice the bits of oil and grease he smears there) before smiling at Shiro. This is almost cute, and it's only ruined when Shadow poofs next to them at hearing her name.]

I think she's gotten used to being called that now.

[Keith you look like a mess. Shiro's expression is faintly, helplessly, hopelessly amused as he leans down to give Shadow a good scratch. Then he sets a plate of food down on the ground for her as well, and once she's started wolfing (ha, ha) it down, he comes over to Keith.]

Last time I checked, you were supposed to fix these things with your hands, not your face.

[He smudges at one of the oily streaks with his thumb.]

[He blinks, looking at Shiro's hand when it pulls away, then at his hands.]

Sometimes you have to dig in.

[He thinks for (not the first time) a moment that it could be like this. It could always be like this after the war. It's a calming thought.]

You ever tried just using your hands? Gets boring being so easy. Gotta dig your face in sometimes.

Edited 2018-07-01 22:31 (UTC)

[He. Really doesn't think it's intended as an innuendo, but Shiro sort of coughs anyway, and then wipes his hand off on a towel.]

I'll take your word for it. I just drive the things.

[It's a safe bet. Keith doesn't ever intentionally make innuendos. It'll hit him later what he said.]

Drive them pretty well from what I remember. Always was fun riding with you.

[He sits down at Keith's left so they're within distance to touch hands, and picks up his fork.]

Well, that's just a pilot thing.

[But they did have some good memories. Shiro was ... always a little bit of a daredevil, when it came to going fast. He had to temper himself as he got older. A few crashes as a teenager helped him on the way to moderation, but he's always loved speed.]

You think so?

[Was it any wonder Keith ended up friends with Shiro? He only had one crash at the start, but ever since he started relying on his instincts more. It hasn't failed him since. He eats this plate more slowly, trying to savor this down time while they have it.]

I think ... I'll have to go down and find tools. So I can sort through things while I'm at it.

[Still wanting to make sure Shiro doesn't have to go back down there.]