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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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[Keith watches him, then steps in to reach and turn on the controls. He's smiling, albeit sadly.]

Probably don't have near enough stuff to make it worth asking. C'mon. [He tries to herd Shiro in with him.]

Maybe not now.

[He lets himself be herded, but he puts his palm down against the wall, effectively caging Keith (at least on one side) against him.]

But you can't live your life like you only expect to make it through the next day, Keith. You never know. Maybe a year from now you'll have a collection of books you'll need some space for. Rocks. Or maybe you'll keep adding to your menagerie. If you want the space, you more than deserve it. Why not ask for it?

[He blinks at Shiro's arm caging him in while the water starts, following it to Shiro's face.

He means well, he knows Shiro does. He wishes with everything he knew for certain they could leave here, get back to the others, and be part of the whole team again. His voice sounds rough, like he's on the edge of something.]

I'll keep it in mind.

[Soft,]

Keith. What's wrong?

Nothing, nothing.

[He shakes his head, carefully reaches for Shiro's to twine their fingers.]

Just some stuff to think about.

Anything I can help you with?

[He kisses at Keith's hand, gently mouthing at the fingers.]

Maybe later. Not in here.

[Christ, Shiro and that mouth of his. It's distracting in the best way.]

All right.

[His brow stays faintly furrowed - he's still worried, but he'll let it go. Because Keith asked.

He rubs at a smudge of oil on Keith's cheek instead, and reaches for the soap. He'll clean him off, and they can discuss the rest later.]

[He smiles a bit more honestly with that, grateful Shiro's letting it drop. Instead of talking, he moves to get at the control panel and request the bench again. It slides out of the back wall in case Shiro needs to sit.]

....Definitely do want a nice shower though.

[Oh, well. Sure. He takes a seat on the bench and gestures for Keith to sit down as well, either beside him or right on the ground of the shower so that Shiro can just. Gently groom him.]

Then let's make it nice.

Sure.

[He smirks and leans down to kiss Shiro's cheek before sitting straight on the shower floor. He figures it's clean enough and Shiro can reach better.]

Could probably take towels to the bed when we're done in here.

Mmm. Sounds like a plan to me.

[It's-- a bit of an odd feeling, having Keith at his feet like this. At least the connotations aren't what he'd implied before, so there's that. Instead, Shiro just leans into his space and fusses over him gently: cleans his hair, the spots where he got oil and dirt all over. It's a simple act of care and he revels in it, being so careful and sweet.]

[Keith knows from experience that blowing him in the shower won't work out well for him; the difficulty breathing is already bad, but adding water? Worse. Hopefully Shiro doesn't ask about it. (He probably already knows, he's probably known about his incidents from the Garrison and is being polite about not asking.)

He sits patiently, letting Shiro fuss over him until he's clean. Then he's up and doing the same back for Shiro, massaging his scalp while he washes.]

...You ever think about growing the hair out?

[He wouldn't ask. Blowjobs mean something drastically different for him than they do for Keith, and Shiro... isn't interested in pushing him into one or making it seem as if he needs to give him one in return.

He's back to being putty in Keith's hands by the time he's scrubbing his hair in return, and he just lists against him with his eyes closed. The question makes him scrunch up his nose.]

No. I don't know if it would really suit me.

[The clone has memories of it being longer. Shoulder-length. It doesn't mean anything good to him.]

Mm.

[He thought it looked good, but he won't push it. He makes sure everything's rinsed off, uses the heat from the shower to help loosen Shiro's shoulders under his hands. He can at least do this.]

What if I grew mine out more?

[He hangs his head down, letting Keith work at the muscle. He groans a little, a deep sound that starts at the bottom of his chest and rumbles its way out.]

Nng-- I think it'd look good. Do you-- do you want to?

Might. Already kind of doing it.

[He didn't realize it until they got here and washed it, but his hair did grow out. It looks shaggier than it was before.]

Couldn't be the worst look I've had. Remember the Garrison making me get the more 'acceptable' hair cut?

[It was all short in the back for ....two months before he started growing it out again. They gave up shortly after.]

[He chuckles a bit.]

I do. But I like it now. I can trim up the ends-

[if you want. He stops himself halfway through. He's functionally ambidextrous, but there's no denying he's better at the finer things with his right hand.

He flexes his left, looking down at it under the water stream. Then,]

Actually, a barber might be better.

Mm. I got used to doing it myself.

[Which likely explains a lot. Keith leans down to kiss his temple, then sits next to him on the bench.]

But if you like it know, I'll keep it.

It's not about whether or not I like it.

[He leans in, kisses the corner of Keith's mouth.]

You're beautiful. I'd like whatever you did.

[He's not sure he can get used to being called 'beautiful'. He blinks at that, then smiles softer.]

Thanks, Shiro.

[Is it weird if he says it here? It probably would be. He's gonna do it anyway. He sounds a little unsure, but:] I love you.

I know.

[Keith doesn't have to say it. Actions over words. He appreciates hearing it, but he'd rather Keith be comfortable.

Shiro stretches a bit, feeling nicely limber after that impromptu massage and the heat of the water, and then he shuts the system down.]

C'mon. I think the bed has our name on it.

Think it does too.

[He grabs a towel to start helping Shiro dry off. It amazes him he never sees or hears the servibots, but they're routinely coming through with clean towels, their clothes, the sheets. This is probably the first time they've had work in ages.]

Sort through everything tomorrow?

Yeah.

[Shiro stifles a yawn, and ends up with a towel draped over his head as he heads back to the bed. He lets himself collapse on top of it, stretched out.]

[Keith smirks and makes sure to grab a couple clean towels before following, climbing up to sit on the bed next to where Shiro's sprawled out.]

Got that tired already? [They've barely done anything since they got out of bed. But then again, he has no frame of reference for time here.]