[Open]

[padadin]

Who: Shiro and you
Broadcast: Yes
Action: If you want, he's on the Blameless
When: Saturday evening

[Text closed to Keith - Friday night]

We've arrived to the new system. How are you feeling?

[He doesn't know about the planet bringing back the sensations of the dreams yet, but he worries.]

-----

[Video - Saturday evening]

[When the feed starts, an armor wearing Shiro is sitting down and taking off his helmet as the light blue lights of his suit go off.]

This is Shiro, co-captain of S.S. Blameless.

[His face is serious, and his tone of voice means business.]

Last month, certain members of the fleet had visions about the planet we were visiting and the incident that happened after. But there are certain dreams that didn't find their match there, and it seems this new system has brought those sensations back. So early today, I went down with a teammate that had those dreams to investigate. [He frowns a bit, obviously not pleased with the result.] There are some small towns, inhabited by the orange-skinned people we usually encounter. They're heavily armed, too, because of a group called the Vieziri. They're dangerous, deadly hunters that have made the locals live in constant fear.

[His hold on his helmet tightens - it's frustrating, not having his lion, being limited in what he can help with. But he continues, the natural leader in him shining through.]

I know we can't stay in our ships forever. So if you go down there, please, don't do it alone. The bigger the group, the better. Bring a weapon with you, if you aren't the powered or magical kind. The locals are willing to sell theirs, too. Keep your communicators safe and close at all times, check the GPS function that our fellow fleet members were offering some time ago. Captains, it would be wise of you to know where your crew is at all times.

[He pauses. There isn't much more he can say other than be careful. So how to end such a feed?]

If a situation like Lyuku's must happen again, I can only hope we're better prepared this time. [ #famouslastwords ]

Comments

[padadin]

[Don't feel bad, Keith. Shiro doesn't like seeing his buddy all down and worried, but it'll always be hard for him to turn down late night texting. It provides a distraction from his own mind.]

I did. Are you getting nightmares again? Or just the nagging feeling still going after you?

[tempredmental]

its just the stupid feeling

i cant shake it

[He frowned.]

should i come over to the blameless tomorrow to meet you?

[Because there was no quiznaking way he wasn't going down there on that exploratory trip now.]

[padadin]

[It's so frustrating, reading Keith like this and not being able to do anything about it.]

Sorry, buddy. I wish I could take the feeling away from you, but from now we'll have to work with it. They helped us with Lyuku, so let's just hope that your late hours pay off later here too.

Sure. We'll take a shuttle. Do you think going down there will help you?

[tempredmental]

ok

[There was a delay before Keith sent another message.]

mind if i just come over now?

[padadin]

You're welcome here any time, Keith, you don't even have to ask.

[When Keith arrives, Shiro is in his room... doing push-ups in his pajamas.]

text -> action

[tempredmental]

thx

[It didn't take him long, and Keith was also in what he used for pajamas... sweatpants and a t-shirt... He knocked first.]

Shiro?

[padadin]

Coming! [It takes him just a second to stand up and open the door, stepping back to give Keith space. His eyes are full of sympathy.] Hey, buddy. Come in, get comfortable.

[Shiro's room is tidy, just it was at the Castle and the Garrison - some things never change. And Keith can see he printed the pictures from the wedding, all the ones he took with his team, plus him walking Luna down the aisle and the one with Kate that Pidge sent him.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith rubbed his hands on his thighs as he walked in. Yeah... those pictures again. Lance had a similar wall. He noted the one with Kate was still there, even after the 'incident' when Shiro freaked out at them.

He kept quiet. Even if he'd love to have something else to talk about, it wasn't why he was here and Shiro wasn't comfortable with the topic, so he didn't bring it up. Instead, he sat on the foot of Shiro's bed, kicking off his shoes and pulling his legs up underneath himself.]

Sorry to bug you...

[padadin]

You aren't bugging me, Keith. I told you to call me or come if you needed it. I was awake anyway.

[And even if he hadn't been, it would've been okay anyway. Because he'll always be there for a friend. Shiro sits on the bed next to Keith, close but still not touching, always giving Keith the space he usually wants until he needs more.]

Did the "stupid feeling" make its way into your dreams?

[tempredmental]

Sort of? I mean... I feel like getting hit with those feelings all over again just brought the dream back. I didn't actually have the full on dream again... not like the first time where it felt real. But just... you know, like a memory... seeing it again.

[He sighed.]

And, well... you had asked if I thought going down there would help? It might. It might make things worse. But I won't really know until I do, and maybe I'll find something or get some information we need to figure this out. So, either way... if it helps or makes things worse, it'll probably be worth it in the end.

At least, I hope it will be.

[padadin]

Yeah, I understand what you mean.

[More than Keith may realize. That feeling of an echo of something that was once real in his head describes pretty closely his memories trying to come back, nagging him at the back of his mind.]

Even if it makes things worse, you need to know. I get it. [Oh yes, he gets it alright.] If you want to come, then I'll take you. The sooner we tackle this problem, the sooner it'll go away.

[Or like Keith said, at least he hopes that's what happens.]

Meanwhile, you can stay here if you want.

[tempredmental]

[Keith gave Shiro a grateful look and then nodded.]

Yeah. I'll go with you. And I think I'd feel a little better staying here for a bit.

[He could feel the edges of that anxiety creeping in on him, and Shiro was a calming influence on him. He could use that presence right now.]

[padadin]

As long as you want, buddy. [Hearing that he needs to feel better, Shiro decides that this time he can wait a little less for Keith to start it and start it himself, moving to rub the boy's back.] I can't remember the last time we spent the night together - was it in the Garrison? Sleepover with the others doesn't count. [He smiles a bit, ready to tease and try to "lighten the mood" as he often puts it.] We better catch up or I'll get jealous of Lance.

[tempredmental]

[Keith chuckled a little.] It has been a whi- wait. You know about Lance?!

[Oops.]

[padadin]

[That... isn't the kind of answer he was expecting. He arches an eyebrow, now even more curious about how the two of them have been getting along.]

"About Lance"? I didn't know you had something to "know about him", Keith. [Yeah, keeping the poker face here but Keith can recognize the old Shiro that liked to tease the hell out of him like a good brother back at the Garrison. You're screwed, dude.]

[tempredmental]

I don't!

[Did his voice just crack? Quiznak. He was pretty sure it did.]

There is absolutely... nothing... going on... between me and Lance.

[padadin]

[Yep, it totally did. He's been expecting a bit of irritation for his teasing ways at most, but this is... wow, bro. Shiro's eyebrows go up pretty quickly. Interesting.]

I didn't say there was. I'm just wondering what there is "to know" besides some napping. Both of you are really weird about this subject - just because you're rivals doesn't mean you can't nap together.

[This is a 100% innocent man right here.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith blinked, still feeling defensive, but Shiro's words seemed to placate that a little. He huffed, straightening up and crossing his arms, slightly indignant.]

That's right. It doesn't. So there's nothing going on. We're just... napping together...

[That was it... completely and totally it.]

[padadin]

So there shouldn't be anything for you to feel defensive over either, right?

[Shiro really doesn't want to jump to conclusions right now, but he can't help thinking - does Lance have a chance after all?]

I think it's nice that you're connecting with the team this team in these ways. I was only joking about the jealousy.

[tempredmental]

Right. Exactly. I'm not defensive at all. It's fine. Just fine. Everything's fine.

[He was babbling. Keith clamped his mouth shut, his jaw visibly tightening against saying anything else about it. He nodded at the comment about connecting, but jealousy...]

Well, good. Because there's nothing to get jealous about. See? Nothing at all.

[padadin]

[There's so much he can comment on right now, he doesn't know where to begin. Especially if he wants this conversation to move forward and not make Keith want to close himself off and drop the subject.]

And if there was something, Keith, I wouldn't get jealous. It'd be perfectly fine. Connecting with the others is good for you.

[Just... trying to be reassuring here, see if that makes the boy soften up a bit from this defensiveness.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith shifted a little uncomfortably, sighing just a bit as he studied Shiro for a moment, like he was trying to figure out just how much Shiro knew.]

So, uh... what did Lance tell you?

[Because, honestly? Keith hadn't been planning on saying anything. But he really didn't want to give away more than Lance might have already put out there.]

[padadin]

[Uh-oh, that shifting is awkward and Shiro worries for a second that he may've lost the conversation... but Keith makes a question. Alright, he does want to talk. Good.]

Both times the same story: that you were hanging out and fell asleep together. He freaked out a bit the first time, though. As if I caught him in the middle of the walk of shame.

[tempredmental]

Yeah.

[Keith shrugged again.]

Well, that's what happened. I don't see the big deal.

[Nope. Not a big deal at all. Definitely not.]

[padadin]

I do. [It's said with honesty and pride, no teasing this time. Because regardless of any romantic possibilities that may or may no be happening, this is important.] As I said, it's good to see you bond with your teammates like this. You've come a long way, Keith.