takashi shirogane (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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sheidiocy2023-11-05 10:13 am
earthshine) wrote in sheidiocy2023-11-05 10:13 am
Entry tags:
you gobble on turkey day
[ as much as shiro enjoys flying, he really only enjoys it when he’s in the pilot’s chair. flying coach is four hours of feeling like a sardine. with his salary, he could have sprung for first class and had a far more relaxing “most traveled day of the year” but, well… he’d rather direct that cost toward a second ticket. so maybe coach hadn’t been so terrible. it was pretty amusing to watch keith play with all the buttons, laugh about the barf bag, and excitedly press his nose to the glass. see, shiro deserves extra pumpkin pie this year, because he gave keith the window seat.
a four hour flight puts them down in florida by early evening. by the time they gather their things, flag down grandpa cecotto – who of course insisted on picking them up – and get to the joy of living retirement condominiums, they are cresting eight o’clock. that's not it, though. when all the hugs and introductions and subsequent q&a are done…? bingo. warm milk territory for grandpa cecotto. gramps said they could watch television, because once he takes out his hearing aids, he’s deaf to even the loudest of action flicks. nonetheless, after microwave blasting some bagel bites that grandpa cecotto is just as guilty of eating despite warnings to his health as shiro is, shiro carries them off to his bedroom with keith in tow.
it’s always a trip walking into his bedroom. he left for galaxy garrison when he was fifteen, so his room was decorated by a teenage boy caught between three loves: space, fantasy, and boy bands. specially, the backdoor boys. there’s a large poster of them on the wall opposite the twin bed. shiro is half tempted to tear it down as he passes, but promptly talks himself out of it, not wanting to draw more attention to it. there’s plenty else to nitpick anyway, like the solar system sheets he’s had since he was ten, the d&d figurines on his wall shelf, or the telescope set up by the furthest window.
smiling despite it all, shiro sets the plate of bagel bites on the foot of his bed and then drops his duffle bag. there are clean, freshly folded sheets on the chair in the corner of his room. it’s a fold out. never used, but had seemed like a great idea at the time of purchase. ]
You can drop it anywhere. [ his bag. ] I’ll get you some closet space in a sec.
[ he wants to set this up first. ]
Gotta say… [ he tosses keith a grin as he simultaneously tosses the folded sheets on his bed. ] … you won Grandpa over real quick. He already likes you.
[ rearranging the cushions and pulling out the sleeper, shiro laughs. ]
He doesn’t enlist just anyone to help him with Thanksgiving dinner. He won’t even let me help.
( ooc: reference pictures
condo layout; shiro has a twin bed instead of a queen tho. also, his is the bedroom on the left. also also, the tubs are showers ok, bc showers are superior.
shiro's bed sheets
fold out chair )
a four hour flight puts them down in florida by early evening. by the time they gather their things, flag down grandpa cecotto – who of course insisted on picking them up – and get to the joy of living retirement condominiums, they are cresting eight o’clock. that's not it, though. when all the hugs and introductions and subsequent q&a are done…? bingo. warm milk territory for grandpa cecotto. gramps said they could watch television, because once he takes out his hearing aids, he’s deaf to even the loudest of action flicks. nonetheless, after microwave blasting some bagel bites that grandpa cecotto is just as guilty of eating despite warnings to his health as shiro is, shiro carries them off to his bedroom with keith in tow.
it’s always a trip walking into his bedroom. he left for galaxy garrison when he was fifteen, so his room was decorated by a teenage boy caught between three loves: space, fantasy, and boy bands. specially, the backdoor boys. there’s a large poster of them on the wall opposite the twin bed. shiro is half tempted to tear it down as he passes, but promptly talks himself out of it, not wanting to draw more attention to it. there’s plenty else to nitpick anyway, like the solar system sheets he’s had since he was ten, the d&d figurines on his wall shelf, or the telescope set up by the furthest window.
smiling despite it all, shiro sets the plate of bagel bites on the foot of his bed and then drops his duffle bag. there are clean, freshly folded sheets on the chair in the corner of his room. it’s a fold out. never used, but had seemed like a great idea at the time of purchase. ]
You can drop it anywhere. [ his bag. ] I’ll get you some closet space in a sec.
[ he wants to set this up first. ]
Gotta say… [ he tosses keith a grin as he simultaneously tosses the folded sheets on his bed. ] … you won Grandpa over real quick. He already likes you.
[ rearranging the cushions and pulling out the sleeper, shiro laughs. ]
He doesn’t enlist just anyone to help him with Thanksgiving dinner. He won’t even let me help.
( ooc: reference pictures
condo layout; shiro has a twin bed instead of a queen tho. also, his is the bedroom on the left. also also, the tubs are showers ok, bc showers are superior.
shiro's bed sheets
fold out chair )
no subject
but eventually, the prospect of actually meeting shiro's family starts to become a point of nervousness, and keith is both shy and visibly antsy when they arrive in florida. evidently, being extremely personable is a shirogane gene, and keith's usual awkwardness around new people simply falls away bit by bit as grandpa cecotto jibber jabbers about an escaped turkey chasing a homeless man around the strip mall. surprising himself, keith ends up grinning and laughing, even slyly asking for confirmation of gatornator's allegged escapades. needless to say, keith is a little disappointed when grandpa cecotto decides to go to bed.
still, there's a lot more to look forward to. like getting to look inside shiro's bedroom. while it would be polite not to immediately ogle, keiht forgets civility and drops his duffel bag on the floor to make a beline for the center of the bedroom. ]
Woah...!
[ space-themed bedsheets -- okay, that's adorably on brand for shiro. same with the telescope. but the nerdy little figurines on the bookshelf and the boy band posters? delighted laughter practically bursts out of keith as he goes right up to that signed backdoor boys poster and shoots shiro an amused grin over his shoulder. ]
No way. I'm dreaming right now.
[ keith spins around and gives himself a pinch, laughing at his own joke before zipping across the room to the bookshelf. for the record, he recognizes none of the fantasy figurines on the shelf, but he gives the elf-looking figure a proper glance over and laughs yet again. ]
It's like I'm seeing this whole other side of you, old-timer!
[ boybands?? elf-men??? really?? imagine, a time and place where something other than space held shiro's interests....
the smile goes coy as keith tries to dial back his amusement. ]
Don't tell me you wanted to be in a boy band when you were a kid. I think my head would explode and then I wouldn't be able to help Grandpa Cecotto tomorrow.
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… no, really, he doesn’t mind. see, shiro is, quite plainly, the butt of the joke right now, but he takes it with exceptional grace. the wide smile that he can’t flatten out gives him away in a second, though he does try to downplay it with an exaggerated roll of his eyes, as well as a shake of his head.
shiro doesn’t say it – and he has no plans on revealing it, either – but keith is the only person he feels comfortable letting in like this. adam hasn’t been here and shiro is in no real rush to bring him to his childhood bedroom, either. it’s a little embarrassing being seen like this; as keith puts it, it’s a whole different side to the golden boy, old-timer, respectable junior officer persona shiro maintains at galaxy garrison. for all his smiles and easy going nature, shiro is just like anyone else: he doesn’t enjoy being made fun of. keith’s teasing, though… it rolls right off shiro’s back, his focus moreso on the way keith happily bounces from point to point, absolutely brimming with glee.
it’s a nice change from the downtrodden mood keith has been in for the past week or so. right before shiro invited him to fly cross-country with him.
don’t tell me you wanted to be in a boy band when you were a kid.
shiro finishes laying the cushions out, the sofa chair now transformed into a twin bed that butts up against the windows on the far wall. straightening up, shiro brushes his hands down the front of his shirt to smooth out a wrinkle or two and then… well… a day of travel can do odd things to a person. in shiro’s case, he is clearly too loopy with exhaustion to maintain his usual air of maturity. ]
You’re all I ever wanted. You’re all I ever needed.
[ keith has to recognize the song, right? it used to be all over the airwaves. even with his smile near manic with how amused he is with himself, shiro does a decent job of hitting those notes. pitch fine, voice smooth, and rhythm good, shiro ups the ante of this sudden performance by turning toward keith, hand pressed over his heart as his other outstretches toward the boy. ]
So tell me what to do now. Cause I want you back.
[ and it gets worse. or it gets better? depending on how one looks at it. in the next moment, shiro does a very short, very simple shimmy. with that complete, he immediately bursts into a scoff that just as quickly turns into laughter. ]
You and I both know I would’ve had fleets of fawning fans. [ he snatches the folded sheets off his bed and turns back to the sofa bed, beginning to secure the sheets into place. ] Imagine the kind of bodyguarding you would’ve had to do then.
[ nevermind the fact that they never would have met. but who needs logic right now? ]
no subject
keith isn't necessarily surprised that shiro can hold a tune and do a little shimmy, but the gap between his military mentor with a secret daredevil streak and this wpild-be pop sensation may as well be a planetary chasm.
to his credit, keith recovers quickly with an airy laugh as he strides across the room to playfully punch shiro's arm. ]
Fleets.
[ he repeats the word, putting his hands on his hips to give shiro an appraising up-down glance. ]
Uh-huh. Suuuuuure.
[ keith shakes his head, still grinning. the thing is? there's not a shred of doubt in his mind that if shiro did become some teenage heartthrob pop star, he would have ended up as meteorically popular as he currently is in the garrison.
but of course, what ends up coming out is another bit of teasing. ]
Guess it's kind of a comfort to know you with your head in space is an inevitability of all realities.
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wait. did keith just…? really? ]
… I can’t believe you.
[ having taken to rubbing at his arm in a playful ruse of nursing a nonexistent bruise, shiro drops his hand to his side. grin growing, growing, growing until lips part and teeth show, so generously that his eyes crinkle, shiro fights back a laugh as he starts slow – ]
That was… [ only to give into that laugh in the next moment. he shakes his head, trying to dispel that laughter, eventually acquiescing: ] … actually a good one.
[ the fold out bed is set-up. well, almost. shiro steps by keith now, specifically angling close to just as playfully knock keith’s shoulder with a well-timed nudge of his arm. one, two, his bed is right there, he barely has to travel any distance. ]
Since when did you become such a wisecrack?
[ if keith thought the shoulder nudge was the extent of the retaliation, then he is sorely mistaken. shiro may only have a twin, but he is a fan of pillows. meaning that in a moment's retrieval, he selects one as the spare for keith to use and promptly throws it at him. ]
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but when it comes to shiro, these things stop feeling like mysteries. in fact, keith is hardly thinking of anything because the way shiro struggles to hold in his laughter makes his heart beat just that much faster. he starts laughing himself, submitting to the easy rush of euphoria that comes with the sheer ridiculousness of shiro chucking a pillow at him. keith gets his arms up, just in time to avoid getting smacked around the face, causing the pillow to bounce off harmlessly and land on the fold-out bed. still laughing, keith speaks between breaths; ]
H-hey now! Just cuz your feathers got a lil ruffled doesn't mean you gotta knock the stuffing out of me!
[ does this still count as being a wisecrack? has he meandered into unforgivable territory? doesn't matter. keith snatches up the pillow, holding it up like a shield. ]
What happened to you're all I ever wanted, huh?
no subject
shiro snorts.
he’s tempted to swipe up his remaining pillow and throw it, too, just to watch keith utilize that makeshift shield of his. refraining only because he doesn’t want to weaponize keith with more pillow-ammunition, shiro, instead, plops his ass down on his bed, deescalating the would-be stand-off.
… mostly
he may be taking himself physically out of it, but the grin tightens and turns sly, voice taking on a different note. ]
So you liked that.
[ stated fact, there is no question here. pressing one palm flat to the bedding behind him, he leans into that arm and lounges with obvious smugness. ]
Did my stellar rendition make you swoon a little? [ would keith have been amongst his fleet of fawning fans? he smirks. ] No judgment here, you can tell me.
no subject
Uh...
[ eloquence eludes him, along with every possible wisecrack that would have possibly salvaged being so thoroughly caught off guard. did the singing make him swoon? maybe if he weren't so distracted by the endlessly fascinating view he's getting into shiro's life before the garrison? but even so, the thought of swooning over anyone at all feels strange, even as keith has noticed his indifference towards sexuality slowly beginning to change. not that he's come close to admitting anything like that out loud because it's awkward as hell, but this is already awkward, isn't it?
ignoring the faint flush dusting his cheeks, keith clears his throat and feigns as much nonchalance as possible. ]]
I dunno. I've never had anyone sing for me before.
[ a beat as keith looks down at his feet, and quietly takes a seat on the fold-out bed. of all the people who wouldn't judge him, it'd be shiro, right? still, in some self-soothing gesture, he sets the pillow on his knees and hugs it to his chest before mumbling: ]
Maybe it would be nice? Y'know. If ... [ a breath. ] ..if a nice guy sang me a song.
no subject
two or so months ago, keith opened up about this in a little diner, amongst thrown sugar packs and nudges of their boots. i guess i just hadn’t thought about relationships and things like that much. the conversation had started and ended with a tentative sort of curiosity, but ultimately, never found a solid conclusion. it’s not as though shiro has been expending any amount of thought on keith’s sexuality or interest in experimenting, as most teenagers do, but now that it’s being brought up once more, he can’t help feeling…
what is he feeling? amused, maybe, because what is it? hit sixteen and a flip gets switched for the hormones? this is not the time for teasing, though. he’s almost sorry for his previous comments. in thinking that, shiro makes sure to adjust his position, foregoing that cocky lean to… barely move at all, really. his forearms find his thighs and he leans into them, pitching himself just a little more into the gap between their two beds, but otherwise, he doesn’t get up to step closer.
if there’s one thing he’s learned in abundance with this kid, it’s that patience is king. those defenses are high, even as the vulnerabilities show through, so shiro won’t be crowding him or rushing him. the most he’ll do is smile a gentle, encouraging thing and offer support through attention, voice warm: ]
You wouldn’t have any trouble finding someone to, if that’s what you really wanted.
[ it’s a bit of a nothing-burger comment. true, of course, but still rather simple. it’s a test. a tentative nudge to get keith to keep talking, to keep opening up without too much pressure placed upon him. ]
no subject
You would say that....heh.
[ keith relaxes, still smiling as he hangs his head. shiro's faith is a cherished albeit mysterious force in keith's life, and over time, rather than questioning it, he's decided he wants to be worthy of it. at least in regards to piloting, keith is pretty sure he can make shiro proud, but when it comes to his social skills and beign considered date material? no way.
keith rubs the back of his head, glancing toward shiro's desk where he spots two framed photographs. getting up to his feet, to get a closer look, keith lets out another sy laugh. ]
Maybe if I steal another car.
[ a joke, of course, but keith doesn't get far in clarifying that because the first picture is of a younger shiro proudly straddling a gator. the second is of an even younger shiro standing between a man and a woman, each holding one of shiro's hands. the whiplash from delight over evidence of a young gatornator in action and the void left in the absence of these two figures at the shirogane family thanksgiving leaves keith mentally reeling with a quiet: ]
...Woah.
no subject
it won’t be difficult for someone to love him, shiro thinks. just look at shiro himself. he was set on not entangling his life with the new recruit, only to linger in his dorm and promise sim lessons, as well as shared space missions. gosh, within ten minutes, he’d wrapped himself around this boy’s little finger, without even a conscious effort from keith himself.
… not that shiro has the l-word in his vocabulary in reference to keith. or does he? it’s relatively normal to love your friends, right?
maybe if i steal another car.
shiro huffs. hey now, they talked about that. no more carjacking, keith promised. the tease is slow to come, though, and with keith now stepping away, the words dissipate completely. in an instant, shiro wonders if he chose the right approach. perhaps he should have asked keith a more direct question, because without one, the moment of transparency has seemingly passed. ah well, it’s keith’s decision on whether or not he wants to confide in shiro. if he doesn’t feel the urge to discuss it any more than that, that’s okay. shiro respects that boundary.
he repeats this to himself when he looks beyond keith, noticing for himself what has keith so enraptured. oh. the subject was always bound to come up. a family holiday without the stereotypical family in attendance would inevitably raise questions. shiro doesn’t necessarily owe an explanation, but it would have been kinder of him, he supposes, to at least give keith the heads up that his parents have passed, rather than leave it to be assumed through a minimalistic i’m spending thanksgiving with my grandpa, want to come?
even now, as he pushes up at his thighs, stands up, and walks over, shiro shies away from acknowledging the absence of his parents, instead only focusing on the picture of the gator. ]
See? I told you I’m a proper Floridian.
[ he reaches over to grasp the edge of that picture frame. there is no need to adjust the angle of the photo, tilting it more toward keith; the kid can see it fine, shiro’s certain. but holding onto the frame leaves his hand outstretched, blocking a good portion of the other photo propped up on his desk. ]
Fished her right out of Mrs. Piper’s pool. [ he plucks it up in the next moment and hands it to keith, his jovial expression giving nothing away of any inner turmoil. ] Earned myself a whole dollar and a plateful of cookies.
no subject
but of course, the way his family used to be isn't the way things are for other people, and shiro isn't an exception to that. it's kind of sobering actually, to have that incredible photograph shoved into his hands, but to also feel so much like he's accidentally intruded on something he wasn't supposed to.
in a way, it seems almost invasive to wonder where the two smiling people holding shiro's hands have gone or if they're even around anymore. clearly, shiro doesn't want to talk about it, but surely their relations can't have been strained if he keeps a picture of them on his desk? keith tries to come back into the moment, gaze slowly shifting down to the photo of shiro beaming from ear to ear as he restrains the gator from mrs. piper's pool. keith smiles because, of course, he can't help being instantaneously fond of this brave, ridiculous boy turned astronaut legend. ]
That must've been a pretty great plate of cookies if you were ready to nab a gator for 'em.
[ but try as he may to play along, keith's never been good at moving on. he lifts his gaze from the photograph and looks up to shiro. he hesitates at first but gets the question out after a breath bolster himself. ]
Were they proud? Your parents, I mean.
how they died is so basic and unoriginal. but i figured saying a grizzly ate them would be too much
Dunno.
[ he’s trying not to make it weird, which is, of course, only making things excruciatingly weird. what a way to start a holiday break: welcome keith into his home and then promptly unload a, oh by the way, my parents are dead. if anyone would understand, he supposes that keith is a good bet. they share that in common, afterall. ]
If I had to guess… [ he trails off for a moment, taking that beat to draw a breath. it’s audible and full, something that puffs him up at the shoulders and draws his head a little higher, just enough to steady him through the motion of turning his gaze to the other photo frame.
he’s made peace with their absence. similarly to his own health problems, there’s a point in which he can’t keep agonizing over what can’t be changed. they’re gone, he’s sick, grandpa cecotto might have to bury him too – each bulleted thought makes him ache, but there is nothing to do other than to keep pushing forward. so, even though it hurts to stop long enough to look at them, really look at them and their smiling faces, his included, shiro breathes out and lets himself imagine. ]
Mom would’ve been a mess of nerves and dragged me by the ear right off of that gator. [ a soft huff, his smile slight, but more true. ] Dad would’ve backed her up with a lecture, but the second her back was turned, would’ve given me a thumbs up.
[ see where he gets it? the daredevil streak from his dad and the level-headed, protective nature from his mom. he huffs again, closer to a laugh, but still short of hitting the mark. the smile keeps, even as his gaze goes distant and forlorn, voice matching it. ]
They died a year or so before that. [ he wouldn’t have been living in florida to even take that photo. ] Car crash. Drunk driver.
no subject
even before a single word is uttered, the sad shift in shiro's demeanor as melancholy takes hold makes keith's insides freeze. he ought to have known better than to ask, huh? parents can be a sensitive topic -- a sore spot that can flare up and curdle at the worst of times, so why exactly did he succumb to the callousness of curiosity?
...well. keith doesn't have to ponder that for long. see, the simple truth is that he wants to know more about shiro. being let in and invited into shiro's household is amazing beyond any words keith can muster up, and it seemed like maybe he was allowed to be curious.
but to his surprise, shiro doesn't draw a hard line and tell him to drop the topic. hell, shiro doesn't even do what keith has done so often in the past when someone caught him off guard by lashing out. heh. of course shiro doesn't do any of that, because shiro isn't keith.
shiro is patient and kind, and despite the hurt keith can see in his eyes and body language, actually answers the question with dignity and grace that keith can only admire with wide eyes.
so that's what shiro's life used to be like, huh? a lie filled with a brave doting mom and a dad who encouraged hijinks and fun, both gone in an instant because some asshole couldn't be assed to call a cab home. the unfairness of it is suffocating, but maybe that's just the clog in keith's throat as he struggles to work through words.
the line he'd been fed over and over was that his dad died a real hero. it failed to be any comfort, but at least there was something there that implied his dad's passing had some deeper meaning.
but there isn't a hero in this story, only victims and shitstain, and as keith looks at shiro, he's suddenly overwhelmed by just how strong shiro truly is for never letting tragedy define who he is.
feeling small in shiro's presence, keith feels an age-old instinct to get away start to flare up. stupid, pathetic. chiding himself, keith barrels headfirst to fling his arms around shiro's waist to draw him into a fierce hug, face buried in his side. ]
They better be proud.
[ the words come out with far too much force. keith never intended to sound like he's threatening shiro's parents at all, but delivery has never been his strong suit. ]
I don't even have words for how incredible you are, so -- so. That's what they should feel, too.
no subject
keith is, as usual, a breath of fresh air with his unconventional approach.
the hug, while unexpected from keith, is not breaking any new ground, per say, but those vehement words that dabble close to a threat…? there’s a crack in the tension. shiro feels it shutter right out of him with a rattling in his ribcage. he holds still throughout the span of keith’s words and then, in the aftermath, he relaxes a little more as his breath flows out of him in one, long exhale.
careful in his movements, shiro turns in the circle of those arms – or tries to, at first. that boy has quite the strong grip. the intensity of that hold only eases shiro’s heartache more and then he’s smiling something considerably happier. small, yet genuine, shiro smiles as he tugs at those tight clings, just enough to twist himself around. facing keith now, chest to chest – or chest to face, really – shiro wraps his left arm around keith’s shoulders and gets his right hand to the crown of his head. together, he adds enough pressure to keep keith, anchoring the two of them together. ]
Thanks, keith.
[ voice soft, it still sounds loud in this profound moment they’ve stumbled into. ]
That means a lot coming from you.
[ because quite honestly, he’s not sure if his parents would be proud of his life choices. his diagnosis had begun changing a lot of things. maybe they would have had reservations about him becoming an astronaut. maybe they wouldn’t have taken him to the kennedy space center one weekend as grandpa cecotto did and maybe they wouldn’t have been as supportive when he pulled up galaxy garrison off the internet. too young to fully know or remember his parents, shiro can’t bring himself to confidently believe anything. he does know, though, that there is a lot to be thankful for in having this boy’s approval. from outright hostility to where they are now… maybe he is doing something right. at the very least, his parents would be proud of him for that: for being patient, for being kind, for helping someone who truly needs it. ]</small
no subject
it' strange though -- to hear that something means more because he said it. after all, keith is hardly an expert on anything, but if it means shiro appreciates the sentiment, then: ]
Good. Because I mean it.
[ for all the shit keith gives shiro for being an old-timer or this latest childhood popstar fantasy, there's just no denying that shiro has won keith's utmost admiration. he lifts his head, flashing shiro a small grin. ]
And it's just true. But I bet your grandpa would agree too.
no subject
Oh, definitely.
[ shiro takes a moment to appreciate that little grin reserved solely for him and then matches it as he meets keith’s gaze instead. ]
I’m his favorite grandson.
[ it helps that shiro is his only grandson. the joke may be lost on keith, but shiro makes up for it by laughing about it on his own. soft and brief, he chuckles and grins a little more, hand on keith’s head giving in to one of those hair ruffles that are becoming far more common these days. the ruffling slows and then stops entirely, hand lingering through another breath, before shiro takes the cue of relaxing his hold.
… he’s slow about it, though. there’s an unspoken indulgence in their connection; shiro likes the comfort and warmth of keith’s ever-steady support, the hug merely giving that loyalty, that fondness a more tangible form. keith is a good friend, one that shiro never intended to have, but has swiftly come to cherish to a staggering degree. hands to traps, palms to delts and then, fingers curling over the meat of his shoulders, shiro thinks about how keith feels a little like home away from home. maybe it’s the sentimentality of being surrounded by his childhood memories, juxtaposed with the one outlier in the form of a desert kid, but gosh, it’s like having the best of both worlds: florida roots with a dash of arizona promise. he can practically smell the sun-beaten dirt.
it mellows him further, loosening his tongue and making him sweeter still, compelled to another show of gratitude that is perhaps unnecessary, but entirely genuine. ]
But really, Keith… thanks. Not just for what you said but for coming here. It’s just been gramps and I for a long time and…
[ he finally lets go. boy, that took awhile, huh? seemingly realizing that, his expression goes sheepish, even as he continues to grin. the boyish shrug of one shoulder only adds to it. ]
I’m looking forward to having another person at the table.
[ no. not just another person. you. he settles for something a little less sappy. ]
Especially a punk like you.
no subject
with the extended hug now well and truly over, keith takes a step back, head ducked to look at the picture frame in his hands another time. feeling far lighter than he did the first time he got a look at it, keith huffs and puts gatornator back on the desk with a huge grin. ]
As if I was gonna turn down the chance to see if the legend is real.
[ though that's far too flippant, isn't it? shiro knows damn well that orphan kids don't have families to spend thanksgiving with. if anyone ought to be saying thanks here, it's keith. and they both know it.
thing is... shiro nevr rubs that in his face. griffin and the cadets back in the garrison may always insist that keith is shiro's charity case, but when it's just the two of them together, he feels like so much more than some unfortunate kid who has to be grateful for every scrap of kindness. like something is lifted off his sholders and he can actually be authentically happy and grateful.
but that'd be too much honesty, huh?
keith heaves an exaggerated breath, both hands on his hips as he smirks. ]
Besides. If it's just you and your grandpa, you'd just keep becoming even more of an old-timer.
no subject
–you’d just keep becoming even more of an old-timer.
oh yeah. definitely deserving of that punk comment. good-humored as usual, shiro laughs and rolls his eyes with the utmost exaggeration. he steps away from the desk next, and as he turns toward his closet, he tosses over his shoulder: ]
Yes, please allow some of your youth to rub off on me. Otherwise, next we both know, I’ll be moving into my own condo here.
[ remember he said he’d make room for keith to hang his things? it amounts to sliding the closet door open and then shoving his clothes, hard, to one side of the bar. there are a few hangers free for keith to use if you wants. ]
Not that this would be a bad place to retire to eventually. Wait ‘til you see the pool.
[ which is usually empty aside from the occasional visiting grandchildren. with luck, the retirees will be visiting their families elsewhere, leaving the pool and spa free for them to monopolize. ]
( ooc: google says this pool is from an actual condo, so. i dunno if we'll even do anything w the pool, but y'know me, i like pictures.
pool 1
pool 2
hot tub
also, ftr, i've been to that alligator show)
i am absolutely yeling about this gator show
there's a beat of silent staring before keith finally gets it together and picks up his abandoned duffel bag. casually hefting it up over a shoulder, he walks over to the closet, crouching down to slot the bag next to a pile of shiro's shoes and a large plush. keith grins upon seeing it, but holds back on commenting for the moment. ]
Oh, that's why you told me to bring swim trunks.
[ well, that and florida is known for is beaches, right? getting the zipper on the bag open, he removes a lightweight red crop jacket and stads up to get it on a coat hanger. ]
I wanna see the pool, but....
[ he turns, smile mostly sweet. ]
I dunno. I don't want you becoming too fond of retiring. Somehow it doesn't suit you.
it was v educational
No? I think I'd fit in real well.
[ if only keith knew how well shiro is suited for retirement. he’s certain there’s talk behind the scenes about his health whenever he’s being considered for some kind of launch. he’s required to see his physician, to run the appropriate tests and acquire the most up to date status on his overall physicality. even when he so-call “passes” and gets the green light, his physician reminds him of the stress being put on his body. not just the trek up there, but the transition of coming back, with his muscles having to reacquaint with a little thing called gravity.
if shiro’s lucky, he can squeeze out ten more years before galaxy garrison makes it far too difficult for him to gain any sort of clearance. after that… well, like he said, this complex is pretty nice. ]
I would absolutely dominate the bingo here.
[ despite the running dialogue in his head about his own longevity, shiro gives nothing away in his expression. still grinning, still bubbly, shiro laughs. ]
And those golf carts everyone uses to putt around? Those could be so fun.
[ grandpa cecotto has one. on occasion, he lets shiro drive it around on the designated pathways. shiro, being the exceptional grandson that he is, does not break any of the speed rules; not wanting to get his grandpa in any sort of trouble. all bets are off if it’s just him paying into his residency, though. with that, he takes a chomp of his bagel bite, practically downing the whole thing in that one go. ]
i cannot belieev these things exist. ...
Uh-huh.
[ sweet as pie, keith reaches back. into the closet and grabs the gator plush. shiro gets no warning whatsoever as keith jumps on the twin bed and tackles shiro with the plush. ]
But then you'd have these guys to contend with.
[ he laughs as he covers shiro's face with the gator's belly. ]
And it seems like you're a little rusty.
keith will appreciate them existing
okay, so maybe shiro isn't completely caught off guard.
shiro catches him enough to soften the collision, but not enough to hamper what is clearly meant to be a sneak attack. he manages to gulp down the bagel bite before he does something as embarrassing as choke and so, when he sputters into a laugh, they are both saved from flying bits as well.
eyes clenched and mouth wide, shiro endures the belly suffocation for one beat of laughter and then two, allowing keith that high of victory into a third moment…
time's up.
mindful of where the plate of goodies is, shiro rolls them the other way, stuffing keith and minty below him. keith may have fight but he hasn't hit a growth spurt yet, which dwarfs him considerably to shiro's size. he's not shy about it, either; he immobilizes that boy fast by throwing his mass down onto him, driving home that fact that keith is out of his weightclass. face close, he grins ear to ear, clearly pleased with himself as he drawls: ]
Oh gee, would you look at that? I've still got it.
.... yes, yes he will.
H-hey!
[ he huffs, suppressing a wheeze as he setles down. when actually looking shiro in the eye makes his belly squirmy, keith focuses instead on the plush. ]
Heh. No way you still have it.
[ grabbing the gator plush's arms, keith rakes its felt claws up and down shiro's sides. ]
You got this one belly up and now your arms are bleeding. See? No way you're allowed to retire.
their second platonic date... how nice
literally.
snort executed, shiro now gasps, wincing with such fervor that while it lacks all actual pain, it’s likely a pain to watch such acting chops. ]
Oh no, you’re right. Minty got me.
[ leaning now, he rolls off of plush and boy, flopping onto his back with no shortage of dramatics. he wraps his arms around his torso, holding in his sides so he doesn’t bleed out. ]
It’s all up to you, Keith. Avenge me and wrestle that beast into submission.
[ an audible beat, the wheels turning in his head. opening eyes that he’s clenched shut, he lifts his head from the bed and looks over at keith, momentarily dropping all pretense of his plight. ]
Just be careful about the bagel bites.
[ it’s very important to avoid accidentally rolling onto them. ]
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Oh no...
[ keith snorts, then carefully rolls onto his stomach, pinning minty underneath him. he has no idea whether this is considered proper gator submission technique, but he locks his arms under minty's and lifts the gator plush up to mimic the way shiro held his gator in the photo. ]
I think I got him?
[ a beat. ]
But you're not allowed to die or retire.
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laughing is the appropriate response here and shiro does just that for a long, indulgent moment. smiling wide as well, he never gets back to his stellar acting of pain and despair. instead, he gets his hands to the bed and pushes to sit up. ]
Your demands are bold… [ he can’t die or retire? what’s left then? he huffs an amused sound, ignoring that ever present voice in the depths of his thoughts that acknowledges the shortening timer on his career and his life. ] – buuuuuut I suppose I can stick it out a while longer.
[ looking to minty now, shiro gives his snout a gentle bop, gaze then going to keith. ]
Impressive wrangling by the way. You’re turning out to be the best bodyguard a guy could ask for.
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it's not the first time he's made shiro laugh, of course, but sometimes the effortlessness of just existing around shiro feels kind of miraculous. in some ways, it is a little surreal. who would have guessed that one day Keith would be spending thanksgiving with shiro and his florida grandpa? nobody, that's who.
yet here keith is, grappling shiro's childhood gator, minty, while sitting on his bed surrounded by all his dorky memorabilia. mercifully, shiro gives minty a gentle smack to refocus keith's attention on the present before he gets lost in the improbable nature of their friendship. ]
Heh.
[ head ducked, keith respectfully puts minty back down on the mattress and rolls back to sit on his butt. stretching to the side, he grabs the plate of bagel bites and helps himself to a piece. ]
You better hold on. It's kinda my dream to do a space mission with you and all.
[ which shiro obviously knows, but maybe that's too much honesty? clearing his throat, keith diverts his attention to the bagel bite, giving it a nonchalant blow before adding more casually: ]
Otherwise, I don't know what all this bodyguard business would have been for.
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there are a number of achievements shiro is proud of, but most are self-serving. this one is, too, in a way, because he is just as patiently impatient for a space mission that’ll grant him a front row seat to this boy’s piloting chops, but beyond that – and more importantly – this is a monumental change for keith. this isn’t the same kid who stared bored and withdrawn out the window. neither is it the same boy who deliberately chose a path to sabotage his own future. this is someone who is hopeful, driven, excited about the life he’s building for himself.
and gosh, shiro is so proud of him for all the progress he’s made.
he almost says as much. being overly generous, shiro finds it difficult to not talk fondly whenever keith does or says something noteworthy, which, in shiro’s opinion, is a regular occurrence. but, his friend is just short of fiddling. although true and deserving, compliments can be embarrassing. so he silences the would-be words with a quiet exhale instead, letting keith finish, saying something about bodyguarding. a huff now and shiro focuses more on levity, rather than sentimentality. ]
Hey now. You’re getting plenty of perks in the meantime for your bodyguard services.
[ minty, who is lying on its side, temporarily discarded on the bed, is soon snatched up by shiro. he loosely loops his left arm around its middle, right hand tapping its head, once, twice, before simply resting on it. ]
Bagel bites, vacations, private training sessions, hoverbike rides to the best shakes in the county…
[ and the list goes on. keith is a very expensive bodyguard. ]
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the thought knots up keith's stomach as he keeps his eyes on the plate of bagel bites. it's hard to know what shiro's thinking here, but his intention can't have been anything nefarious, right? right.
all the same, keith misses his immediate cue to bounce back with a prideful boast about being the best and worth it, and continues to be silent and uncertain for an additional one, two, three beats. ]
.... yeah, I guess I can't complain too much, huh.
[ taking a deep breath to re-center, keith looks up and offers the plate out to shiro. ]
But you'll never hear the end of it if we seriously never go on a space mission together. It just wouldn't be the same without you.
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more confidently, shiro picks a bagel bite with the pinch of his fingers and then taps it to keith’s own in a mimic of a toast. ]
We’re going to space together. We made a pact.
[ if all goes well and they keep to a predictable schedule, they should be able to travel to space together at least once. probably more than once, honestly. but as always, the future is never entirely predictable, so only time will tell. shiro will, of course, do everything in his power to make all of this a reality, but in the meantime, the more immediate future is far easier to control. so – ]
But until then, we’ll have to settle for exploring Florida. [ a beat, in which he grins with an expanding casual air about himself. ] Which we can do on Friday. Grandpa is big on doing the whole Black Friday thing by watching QVC all day, so if there is anything you’re dying to check out…
[ another beat. ]
I was thinking a gator show and the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, if that sounds fun to you.
( ooc: the headquarters actually exists. i dunno where they are in relation to it but whatever, it's au, it can be anywhere we say it is. )
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of course, if keith never gives shiro a reason to be disappointed in him, maybe that day won't ever come either. but the truth of the matter is, keith isn't so sure he trusts himself not to fuck up. shiro isn't demanding perfection, but it feels like that's what's owed.
and even then, the math doesn't feel quite right. private sim lessons, a trip to florida, spending a proper thanksgiving with shiro's grandpa all seem like far more than what keith is capable fo giving back.
trying to put that thought out of mind, keith glances up again as the prospect of exploring florida comes up. gator show? his brow unfurrows. skunk ape research headquarters? incredulous yet thoroughly delighted, keith bursts into a happy lagh. ]
There's an actual headquarters?!
[ attention solely on shiro now, keith lets out another disbelieving laugh as he pops the bagel bite in his mouth. the move is a mistake considering the piping hot cheese gives him a nice burn for it, but save for a quick ack and a ridiculous fanning of his hand over his open mouth, keith's positive shift in mood is entirely unstoppable. ]
You didn't tell me that! Oh my god?? [ then realizing talking with his mouth full is probably not the most well mannered thing, keith impainetly chews and swallows. ] And a gator show?? What even is that, like a wrestling arena but with gators? How come all the coolest things are all here?
[ eyes warm, he sets the plate of bagel bites down, and clasps his two hands in front of his chest like that might slow the beatbeatbat of his heart. ]
I swear, if you were making that stuff up, I'm gonna die.
[ and for show, he slumps onto his side, eyes closed. barely a beat passes though, and keith cracks open one eye, half smiling into the sheets. ]
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judging from the excitable way keith talks and chews through a bagel bite, eyes and body alike animated to such a degree that shiro can’t help but laugh along, well… it becomes rather apparent that, at the very least, keith had not expected being spoiled with a day specifically tailored to him. shiro is happy to do it, really. that’s what the holiday is geared toward anyway, right? thanksgiving. thanks giving. giving thanks. keith has been a good mentee and friend these past two or so months. it may seem un-noteworthy, but it means a great deal to shiro, that keith listens and tries, not only for himself, but for shiro, too. so… thanks, yeah. shiro is thankful for this kid.
… this kid who is slow dying on his bed.
one arm looped around minty and the other hand holding a bagel bite, shiro doesn’t have the limbs free to terrorize that ridiculous sight laid out before him, so he settles on laughing instead. ]
Good thing I’m not making it up then.
[ okay, no, he changed his mind. he abandons minty with a push to the side and then he’s shoving the bagel bite in his mouth, devouring it surprisingly fast even with that borderline too-hot cheese. ]
But I’m leaving it at that. [ he flicks keith’s exposed ear, staring at that non-sneaky, cracked open, obviously peeking eye. ] You’ll see Friday.
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A real cryptid research headquarters.... [ he snorts, grinning wider as he reaches for another piece of bagel bite. ] Heh. I always figured the closest thing to one of those existing was just some obscure website.
[ truthfully, part of him still can't fully believe there's an actual place where cryptid enthusiasts get together and compile all their data like it's a real job. simply thinking it makes keith laugh yet again, expression sheepish as he holds shiro's eye. ]
... thanks for inviting me to Florida, Shiro. It means a lot to me.. the whole getting to see your old place and meeting your grandpa. I...I haven't gotten to spend Thanksgiving with family since... well since my dad, you know.
[ he swallows, averting his gaze by rolling onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. ]
It's really nice being here with you. I don't mean to get sappy or anything, but I mean it.
[ and with that, keith draws an audible breath and lets it out with a quiet laugh as he turns his face just enough to catch shiro's eye. ]
Honestly though? More than anything else, I kind of want to see the places that are special to you.
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the expression on keith’s face, the curl of his body, the way he fiddles and laughs, never quite sure of where to look… is it strange that shiro has a sudden sense of protectiveness? it has to be abnormal how much he wants for this boy; to be happy, to be secure, to be right with himself. shiro comes from a home of two missing parents, too, so he understands to an extent. identifies with him, even. is that why he’s so invested in keith’s future? it’s not just because he’s a stellar pilot in the making, but because he’s experienced a rough beginning, as well?
honestly though?
shiro blinks, chasing off the faraway look in his eyes and becoming more present to the gaze staring back at him. the smile comes easy and easier still for it to curl tighter into a lopsided grin, teeth showing and eyes crinkling. ]
Don’t you fret about that. You’re in for a full education on all things Shiro.
[ perhaps not all things, he thinks, as he catches sight of his wristband, hand reaching out to ruffle bangs right into that boy’s face. he can’t help it; he has to touch him and that mop of hair is forever tempting. ]
By the end of this holiday… [ and then he stops, both in words and touch. where is he going with that? ] Well, I mean… we’re already friends.
[ he expels a huffed breath, shaking his head. ]
I guess I’m saying we’ll be even better friends.
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....but a place like that is so deeply personal that it's almost a bit like sharing a fragment of his soul.
that isn't what keith necessarily meant to request, but before he can offer clarification, the warmth of shiro's smile gentles his fluttering stomach. unable to look away, but feeling his heart beating harder, the smashing of hand on hair releases a pressure valve and keith bursts into fresh laughter as he wriggles and captures shiro's wrist.
catching his breath, he grins wide and takes the advantage of the brief lull in shiro's harassment to sit up. ]
Even better friends, huh...
[ despite the cheeky look in his eyes, the idea of being even better friends pulls keith in like an asteroid that's strayed too close to the sun. ]
That mean I can do this right back?
[ not that he waits. keith releases shiro's wirst and immediately goes for a hair ruffle of his own, tangling fingers throguh floof. ]
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he isn’t at all surprised that keith has fast hands. fast, bold, thieving hands. from a captured wrist to a stolen hair ruffle, shiro is bamboozled straight into a laugh that shakes his body from belly to shoulders.
shiro is considerably slower with his own hands, but he does get there eventually, left fighting off keith’s hand with gentle swats. when he manages to chase this daring boy off? he’s still laughing, but a few words find their way in there. ]
Whether you can or not, you did.
[ isn’t that how keith operates, anyway? don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness? not even. shiro realizes that he isn’t supposed to be charmed by that kind of gall. however, against all odds and all reason, there is something so unintentionally endearing about this boy, that shiro can’t help but be won over. so he softens the belting pitch of his laughter and grins hard into a look that has his eyes gleaming with mischief. ]
… But only because we’re sitting. [ for the record? he’s gone right into raking his fingers through his floof, because it is important that he fix the fall of it, despite the looming fact that in a short while, he’ll be snoozing his way right into a terrible tangle of bed head. ] I doubt you can get away with it usually, my dear vertically challenged friend.
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[ aaaand cue the immediate curdling of keith's smile as he fixes shiro with a deadpan look. the fact that keith has always been small for his age doesn't usually bother him much, but... ]
Hmph.
[ pouting ridiculously, keith pops the bagel bite in his mouth and crosses his arms. ]
When I get my growth spurt, you best watch your step, old-timer. My dad was pretty tall you know.
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Right. [ that one syllable snaps with an emphasis on the t, right before his teeth click. The next word is slower, however, the syllable drawn long on a drawl. ] When.
[ not if. definitely not if. having survived a few attacks now, shiro has become wiser. meaning? he doesn’t let that tease land and simmer while he’s well within whacking range. up in the next moment, shiro is off the bed and standing, grinning ear to ear. ]
Was your dad taller than me, though?
[ and yes, shiro will be sure to pose, shoulders square and spine straight. ]
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Maybe?
[ he isn't looking at shiro when he answers. instead, he snatches the plate of bagel bites, holding it close to his chest like a dragon hoarding treasure smirking somewhat, he picks up another bite and chews contemplatively as he looks shiro over another time.. ]
He was like 6'3".
[ not that his dad's height is going to help him much if his mom was super short, but having thought that, keith's enthusiasm visibly dims, gaze back on the plate of food. ]
.... kinda hard to remember. He was always just real tall in my memories.
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fuck.
the tone changes and with it, shiro’s mindframe changes, too. there will be no wisecrack about shiro being 6’3” as well and needing to break it down to millimeters to settle the tie. neither will there be mention of bagel bites being of questionable nutrients for growing boys. instead, there is quiet in the wake of keith’s voice, everything stilling as shiro lets the moment sit, respecting it enough to take that extra pause.
breath in. breath out. and then he starts out gentle. ]
Probably felt like you were flying any time he picked you up, huh?
[ there’s a sudden care in his movements as he steps back to the bed and lowers himself down, taking a seat on the edge with his body turned to see keith better. he smiles gently at him, that ever present fondness more potent in his voice, making it warmer. ]
Maybe that’s why you were made to be in the pilot seat. Your dad had you touching the sky.
[ he looks to the plate then, part tempted to reach out and squeeze those tiny fingers clutching at the rim. he doesn’t. he refrains and looks back up to keith’s face. ]
He’d be real proud of you, too, y’know. [ how far he’s come in such a short time and how far he promises to go… it’s a big deal. an inspiring deal. shiro hopes keith realizes that there is a lot about him to be proud of. ] Maybe he’s hanging out with my parents right now, bragging about you while they brag about me.
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of course, shiro doesn't see it that way.
but even if keith knows that shiro holds him in high regard, he isn't remotely prepared for the way shiro vaults over his defenses and grabs his soul. looking away -- hell, just breathing becomes all but impossible as keith basks in the warmth radiating from his friend. in a matter of seconds, the thudthud of his heart almost starts feeling like too much, and keith blinks, then blinks again when the excess moisture in his eyes persists.
oh. oh fuck. hastily, keith puts the plate down beside him then fiercely rubs at his eyes. ]
I'm not crying. [ because that's obviously not what's happening here. Dumb eyelash.
[ risking the integrity of the lie with a tiniest sniff, keith finishes scrubbing his face and looks up with a watery smile. truthfully, keith isn't sold on the premise of an afterlife, but this one time, he doesn't feel much like challenging it. instead: ]
... but yeah, maybe. He used to talk real highly of the Garrison back in the day.
[ naturally, between the nights spent stargazing and galaxy garrison realistically being the only way to be amongst the stars, a much smaller keith had always wanted to be in the space program. time and circumstance made him forget for a long time, but.... ]
... Wouldn't be here without you though.
[ he breathes out, and holds it for a steady two beats then reaches out to bump his fist to shiro's shoulder. ]
I want to make you proud.
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wouldn’t be here without you though.
time and time again, shiro revisits the same thought: how things have changed. grown. he can hardly believe this is the same boy who outright disrespected him by staring out the window, shunning his presence entirely. there is gratitude now, as well as a humbleness that has keith acknowledging every pulled string and pushed recommendation that shiro has made on his behalf. it’s true, keith wouldn’t be a galaxy garrison cadet at the start of his bright, so very bright career if it weren’t for shiro.
… but keith’s life isn't the only one that changed that day, either.
shiro wouldn’t be here, in this moment, with a plate of bagel bites and minty on his bed while he chatters away with a dear friend if he hadn’t visited that junior high half a year ago. he likely wouldn’t have taken as many rides out into the desert or snuck to the roof quite as often, either, if keith wasn’t around to break him free from his ever busy schedule. so in shiro’s mind, they’re even. square. balanced. shiro does a lot for keith, yes, but keith does plenty for shiro, too.
i want to make you proud.
so that’s easy. his response is immediate, no thought required. ]
You already do. [ the fist to shoulder easily widens his smile, the gentleness of his expression keeping even as he laughs. ] And you’ll continue to if you keep studying hard and applying yourself. [ because of course he has to sneak in a motivational line. ] You’re going to make history, Keith, I just know it.
[ he exudes confidence, his faith in this boy’s ability to rise to the top of the pilots, not just at galaxy garrison, but anywhere, so steadfast that shiro can’t fantom a possibility of it ever wavering.
… but this is getting pretty heavy, isn’t it? the sheen to keith’s eyes hasn’t dissipated completely, the sight of it a sobering reminder to steer the conversation to easier topics. ]
But before all that, you’re going to have fun kicking around these parts with me. So how about we finish these off and get some sleep? [ it's early yet with the time difference, but – ] We’ll need our energy to take on the feast tomorrow.
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but hearing that shiro's pride isn't some abstract goal to work towards, but something keith already has is a revelation all its own. and really, it shouldn't be because there's no way shiro would have brought him all the way to florida to share his thanksgiving if he didn't deem keith worthy enough to introduce him to his grandpa. but that's just the thing: even with how little keith has to offer shiro in return, he's still worthy somehow. keith doesn't understand how this fucking miracle came about when nobody has ever looked at him and thought anything about his potential, let alone make the history books.
he looks up, eyes still shining with the threat of tears, but bursts into a laugh as he hurls himself bodily into shiro's arms for a tight hug. ]
You're always so - [ nice? the inadequacy of the word is so overwhelming that keith actually chokes it back down, and settles instead for burying his face in shiro's shoulder. ]
Sometimes I just can't believe you're real and you're my friend.
[ even better friend? was that the term they were going with? even friend feels inadequate in the moment. there just isn't a simple, easy term for best thing that's ever happened to me, but perhaps that's for the best? after all, that has to be a one-sided overshare of a sentiment. in lieu of saying another word, keith squeezes his arms around shiro's midsection tighter in his impromptu bear hug before letting go with a quiet laugh. ]
Heh.... okay. We can eat and then go to sleep.
[ a beat, then to walk even further away from the threat of tears, keith adds more mischievously: ]
..... But even if you are my friend, I'm still gonna laugh if you wear planet print pajamas to bed, Shiro.
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he’s always so…?
keith reframes it into something sweeter and shiro feels his heart pang in response. he’s touched, yes. happy, too. but in that, there’s a bittersweetness to the effect shiro has on this boy. it takes so little, so very little of shiro’s care to move this boy. keith has been denied his share of common decency, that’s why it’s so easy for shiro to have such a profound impact. shiro is sorry for that, truly. he wishes keith had more people in his corner to support him, but until he manages to find good, worthy people to let into his life, shiro will make up the difference. ]
Backatcha.
[ keith is a bit unreal, too. in the best way, of course. shiro smiles, not thinking twice in hiding it into that mess of hair. together, they cling and fold further into each other, time once again stilling to prolong the moment. shiro breathes in and there’s that whiff of familiarity again. musky, sweet, earthy – shiro’s lungs expand on a deeper inhale and his brain fills with thoughts of home. his other home. because this is home, too, all of it made better by the company of this special boy.
heh… okay.
shiro relaxes his hold at that first shift. keith pulls back and shiro has a smile waiting for him when he looks up. it’s soft and patient and borderline besotted at first, but then there’s mention of planet print pajamas and –
shiro probably shouldn’t admit to that. but. ]
Sad to say but they don't fit me anymore.
[ hands sliding to keith’s shoulders, shiro grips him there again and makes a show of looking keith over. a hum, a haw, and then an over the top, extremely innocent: ]
… They’d probably fit you. Should I get them?
[ because they’re in his dresser, he’s fairly sure, never having gotten around to cleaning out this room after he left it all those years ago, despite his occasional visits. least to say, they don’t immediately get to finishing off those bagel bites. more teasing, more almost, not quite rough housing… it’s a good while longer before the plate is clean and they’re off to brush their teeth. eventually, both are in their pajamas – and no, there is nothing incriminating to shiro’s soft cotton pants and galaxy garrison logo tee. under the covers and lights out, it’s quiet aside from the overhead fan that spins slow. ]
Goodnight, Keith. Sleep tight.
[ the mattress gives as he reaches over the edge, plucking up something that fell off sometime ago. ]
… Don’t let the gators bite.
[ and there goes minty, sailing through the dark to collide with what shiro thinks is keith. it takes awhile longer to settle down after that. ah well, grandpa cecotto has a keurig and coffee pods; they’ll be fine. ]