[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

[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.

[tempredmental]

[Keith's eyebrows scrunched together a bit in response to Shiro being that older brother... and he managed a somewhat sheepish smile.]

I guess...

[padadin]

[Aww, look at that cute little smile. This is progress.]

You only "guess". Why? Having any doubts there, buddy?

[tempredmental]

[Keith shrugged a little.]

I don't know. Sometimes I don't feel like I have.

[padadin]

What makes you feel that? We wouldn't be able to form Voltron if we hadn't bonded like a true family.

[If true families fought against robeasts together, sure.]

[tempredmental]

I guess.

[He sighed.]

I mean, it's not like I'm not close to them, but I just... I'm the loner, you know?

[padadin]

You are. But just because you need more me-time than the others doesn't mean the bonds aren't real. Pidge has her moments too, doesn't she? And you and me, after all this time, even after I was a year away - still going strong.

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded.]

Yeah.

[He shrugged a little.]

I mean, it's home now. The Castle. Everyone. And it's better than it was, you know?

[Sigh.

He leaned his head on Shiro's shoulder, closing his eyes.]

I guess... it's just something I still need to figure out.

[padadin]

You're right, it is home. And I'm glad that things got better for you, even in the middle of war. Something good came out of it.

[He smiles softly, and pets Keith's hair.]

Figuring things out can be hard some times. [Oh, he knows.] Take your time, and know I'm here to talk when you need it. Now rest, Keith. We'll have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

[tempredmental]

[Keith sighed a little.

Yeah... long day. A long day figuring out what his weird feelings meant, tapping into something he was uncomfortable and unfamiliar with... something that set him apart from the others. Was this 'instinct' something he had because of his mixed heritage? He didn't want to think about it. But, if it meant helping the team and the fleet... well, he would just have to suck it up and deal.

He nodded.]

Yeah.

[He rubbed his face, finally feeling a bit sleepy again anyway. He sat up.]

You wanna lie down?

[padadin]

[Such a simple question, but so difficult to answer. He'd love to nap with Keith, it's be a comforting presence, but he's afraid he'll hurt him when the nightmares come. Not a thought he wants to express though...

Mmmh. Maybe he could lie down and wait for Keith to fall asleep before moving. Simple enough.]

Sure. [He pats Keith's thigh.] Shoes off first, buddy.

[HE KNOWS YOU! Ok, standing up to fix the sheets and pillows.]

[tempredmental]

Yeah, I know.

[He pushed each one off using his toes on the opposite foot, and then moved so Shiro could do what he needed to do first. Once it was okay, Keith settled in easily enough. But, Shiro wasn't going to get away with moving that easily, either. Keith descended into sleep slowly, not really going into a deep sleep for quite some time, and, by then, he had managed to snuggle in and position himself in a way that was going to make it awfully hard for Shiro to get up without waking him.]

[padadin]

[Once a kitten, forever a kitten, huh? Shiro is a patient man, so he waits and waits... at first. Even he has his limits, and eventually he falls asleep, not matter how hard he tries not to.

It doesn't last long.

Nightmares soon come back, and Shiro starts moving and mumbling - words of fear, suffering, pain. Watch out, Keith, because there's a leg in the process of kicking you right now.]

[tempredmental]

[The mumbling and restlessness pushed its way into Keith's sleeping brain, setting off enough alarms of concern that it started to wake him a bit... just in time to be quite literally kicked out of bed.

He let out a pained yelp, more startled than anything else, and hit the floor with a loud thud.]

[padadin]

[The thud and yelping just becomes part of the noises in his nightmare, where he's the one causing them too. He's back on the ring, forced to fight, and among the bodies of innocent aliens, there's the occasional familiar face from the castle.

Shiro keeps thrashing about, begging for mercy, asking invisible people not to make him do this.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith eased himself up, almost cautiously, as he attempted to figure out what to do next. He moved next to the bed, and then called to Shiro, hoping to get through to him.]

Shiro! Hey, wake up! You're on the Blameless. It's me, Keith. You're having a nightmare!