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[The agreement to go back to Earth had been quickly decided without any argument. Krolia had agreed to ride with Pidge, leaving Shiro and Keith alone in Black with his cosmic wolf.

It's quiet. They're all still recovering from the long fight with Lotor, the exhaustion of the quintessence field, the everything about Shiro once Keith had the time to tell them. He left out a lot (Krolia and Coran's eyes let him know they could tell he left a lot out), but it wasn't their business really.

Keith takes a slow breath, trying not to disturb the wolf lazing next to his seat but he needs to move around. He's ready to be cooped up here for weeks going back to Earth, but after just a couple of days? He's getting cabin fever.

He doesn't get up yet, but squeezes the controls.]

You doing okay back there?

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...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.]

[Keith is endearingly, but sometimes alarmingly transparent. Shiro's knuckles go briefly white against the fork, and then he sets it down.]

Sure. I'll come with you.

[He says it lightly, like it's not any manner of big deal. There's nothing that can't be overcome.]

[He really... didn't want that. He takes another bite to think.]

Don't know when I'll go just yet. [He knows that tone though. That's the rare moment of Shiro being stubborn.]

...how long do you think the storm'll keep up?

[He leans back in his chair to look out the window. It's not as... intense as it was before, but it still doesn't look entirely habitable outside the dome. He's sure Pidge would have a complex algorithm of the likely timeframe, but Shiro just has a guess:]

I'd say another day or two, at the most.

[He nods, looking out the window with him. After a minute, he reaches for Shiro's hand, giving it a little squeeze. He knows once this storm is over, they have to get what they can and leave. With it being this long, he has no idea where the others are. At the very least, being this well rested, he should be able to use the teleport again, if he can find them.]

Make sure we get whatever we can before it stops. Figure out a way to mark this place so we can find it again.

[Listen, he trusts Black. But he also wants to be able to find it on his own.]</small.

[He brings Keith's hand up unselfconsciously, kisses the back of it. Oil, grease and all, since he didn't wash his hands like a dirty heathen, thanks.]

We will.

[It's just them! What does it matter if they aren't sticking hands in need-to-be-washed-places.]

Careful. Someone might think you're romantic.

[Keith might mean it teasingly, but Shiro just... blinks, and then looks down at their hands.]

I am. Guess you never really got to see that side of me before.

..No, I never did.

[Aisha had been kind to him. But that side of Shiro never made an appearance in front of Keith. It's nice to see. He rubs Shiro's knuckles with his thumb, watching their hands too.]

It's not a bad thing.

[That gets a soft laugh.]

Well, just wait until I'm bringing you breakfast in bed at 0800 hours. Your opinion might change quicker than you think.

Oh yeah? Any way I could talk you into 0815?

Maybe if you ask really nicely.

[Oh, who's he kidding, it'd be whatever time Keith wanted it to be. Shiro's always been a soft touch.]

[He grins and squeezes his hand again.]

When have I ever asked for anything nicely.

[Fake question, don't answer that, Shiro. In fact, he goes back to eating, stuffing a larger bite into his mouth so he doesn't have to follow that up. He only realized how it sounded after he said it.]

Is that a trick question?

[Shiro just... raises an eyebrow. Questioningly?? Keithpls. And then he gets up and starts clearing away his plate.]

We should start sorting out samples of the flora to take back with us. That way, at least we're ready when the storm lets up. Unless you have any better ideas?

I don't, not right now.

[Haha he'll just. Breeze on past that, get the last bite in his mouth before Shiro takes the plate. Shadow is staring at Keith when Shiro moves, and Keith stares back at her. Don't look at me, I didn't make him get up.]

We know the juniberries for sure. [He's still unaccustomed to asking for anything for himself but.] What about those dark rose looking flowers. By the fountain.

[He'd forgotten about the fountain, Keith's utter delight at having found it. There's a momentary pang, and he realizes-- if they never come back here, he's going to regret having not taken Keith back to that spot.

Once Keith's done with his food, Shiro takes his plate as well, and after he sets the plate down he twines their fingers together.]

You just reminded me, I wanted to see that place again anyway. Come on. We can worry about the other stuff later.

[He watches Shiro's face trying to figure out what he's thinking. A bad idea, really. Keith nods and stands to head for the door. He won't say no to seeing it again.]

Shadow- Stay here.

[She tilts her head, a moment later stretching and laying on the cool floor. Keith walks them back out, remembering how to find it again and smiles at the archway.]