driftfleet | [Closed] Met her as the angels parted for her but she only brought me torture-

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[Closed] Met her as the angels parted for her but she only brought me torture-

Who: ~~shate~~ Shiro & Kate
Broadcast: No
Action: From the Blameless to The Melting Pot
When: Beginning of December

[Well. That happened.

Friends have been rescued, people have been helped, bad guys have been beaten - good! Ship has been repaired, food has been restocked - extra good. Saving the universe is great and all, but Shiro couldn't be happier to leave this quiznaking planet behind and never think about it again.

Easier said than done, of course. All the fighting (the killing, the channeling of the damn ring combats) hasn't left him in a good state of mind. Not that it was good before, but you know. Got a bit worse now, sleeping is coming a little less and the visits to the punching bag at space 4am are increasing a little more.

There's one thing he's grateful for, though, one thing that helps him stay grounded, and that's going back to his routine with Kate. They had that heartbreaking conversation exactly before they arrived to the cannibal planet and he never had time to process it. But here they are now, doing their usual morning yoga, and Shiro thinks they've reached a comfortable silence, not an awkward one.

It could also be the fact they're too concentrated on not slipping on the new floors (thanks, Atroma, what a pal) while exercising, but he likes his own reasoning better, thank you. In fact, when they're done, Shiro's mood has improved a bit. Enough to dare to make a simple and maybe dumb (but still meaningful for him) question.]

It's been a while since we had breakfast, hasn't it? [Technically they still do, but he's sure she'll understand what he means. He just doesn't want to say "just the two of us" after that conversation.] How about you take a break from cooking today and we go to the Iskaulit? My treat.

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...I guess it has been, yeah.

[ kate smiles. it's that sort of slow and easy smile that happens between friends -- or so she insists. and although it's genuine and earnest, there lingers always a kind of strange lostness tin each of these moments. as if she fears they've both gone and thrown away the road map, and now they're stuck in one place.

frozen, kinda.

towel in hand, she mops at her forehead. the yoga sessions have a way of creeping up on her and it's not until afterward that she begins to feel the burn and pleasant tiredness in her muscles. the drip of sweat down her spine. ] Let me jump in the shower real quick? I doubt Jarvis wants me stinking up his joint with post-yoga BO.

[ she laughs it off, curling a bit of damp hair behind her ear. ]

[There was a second during The Talk when he thought he would lose it all - lose this deep bond he's developed with someone outside the Voltron group (which is a big deal) - lose her, to put it simply. But here they are now, and she's smiling at him like that and-- sure, there probably is something awkward going underneath after all. It's easier for him to ignore it than it's for her, though, because he accepted some time ago that this is all he can have.

So as long as she keeps smiling at him like that, he'll be fine.

Chuckling at the comment, he nods.] The poor man has been through enough last month. [Including Keith's birthday. Bless Jarvis' soul.] Go, I'll take one quickly too after you.

[Of course, having updated the bathroom to the top level means now they have two shower heads with their own rooms but hey! No need to make things even more awkward, right?]

Jarvis is more resilient than you might think. [ kate puffs her cheeks -- tossing the towel over her shoulder and busying herself with the work of rolling her yoga mat into a tidy little burrito. ] Or -- the one back home is. I guess I can't speak for this one. He's...younger.

Less portly.

[Oh! Now that's an interesting bit of information. Shiro raises both eyebrows at her in surprise.]

I didn't know Jarvis was from your world too - or a version of it, anyway. But he isn't a superhero, is he?

[BECAUSE IF HE IS, HE HIDES IT PRETTY DAMN WELL.]

Mmhm. [ she's learned how to speak casually about these things: the similarities and the differences both. they're easier to accept, these days. but maybe that's just because billy's here, now, and providing a more secure anchor-hold than any other familiar face did before. clint included. ]

-- I mean, he's a super guy. And I think being the butler at Avengers' tower comes with all kinds of heroics. But, no, he's not a hero per se.

When you put it like that, you make me think of Coran, the princess' adviser. He isn't a butler, but he's-- [A smile mixed with fondness, amusement - a bit of exasperation too.] --that kind of support. Our "super guy". I suppose every team saving the world needs one of those, huh?

I mean. He is Tony Stark's butler -- back home. Here, I take it he's Stark's father's butler. It's not the weirdest change I've encountered.

[ she tucks her mat under her arm. ]

I didn't spend a lot of time at Avengers Tower. A few social functions -- one time to steal back my gear. But Clint always spoke favorably of Jarvis.

A change of generations - makes enough sense.

[For what passes as "sense" in this multiverse anyway. When she has her mat ready, he starts making their way to their rooms to pick fresh clothes, keeping his eyes half time on her, half time on the hallway. He knows the Blameless like the back of his hand by now...

And that little bit deserves an amused look and an arched eyebrow.]

To steal back your gear?

Clint took it...

[ kate complains, in that tone of voice suggestive that there is far more to the story than what she's trying to sell. kate pauses by the door to the captain's room, leaning her shoulder against the hatch-frame. ]

[Oh yes, he can tell there's way more. A chuckle.]

I want the full story during breakfast. I wouldn't want to co-captain with a gear thief.

[Just teasing, obviously. To his room he goes!]

He's the thief! Like, literally -- that's how he started...

[ but she trails off. because shiro's right, this is really more of an over pancakes kind of discussion. so kate grabs her toiletries bag and a broad towel and she sets about scrubbing. it's a short shower -- targeted and efficient, just like her work.

kate settles on something casual but not too casual, minus the bow. and although she could wait in the cargo bay, she decides to wait just outside the communal washrooms. she leans her shoulder against the wall -- attention fixed on her communicator. ]

[His chuckle becomes full laughter when he hears her ranting, and he can't help thinking: she's cute. So cute.

Shiro takes short showers too, especially if someone is waiting for him, and he comes out of the bathroom all ready to go (purple watch always on his wrist, of course). And while he knows Kate likes looking good, he doesn't expect finding her in those very nice clothes (forget cute, more like beautiful) just for breakfast, even if it's at Jarvis' place.]

You're making me feel a bit under-dressed. [He goes for his best teasing tone, but there's a bit of red on his cheeks.] Should I beam us up or you feel like flying?

[ these are the details that, once upon a time, she would have easily ignored: the way his eyes catch and his cheeks redden. as details go, they're confusing now because he for certain suggested he wasn't interested in that kind of relationship.

so kate tries to ignore them. instead? she smiles and lifts herself up from the wall. a moment later and her device is pocketed. ignored, too, in favour of better things. ]

Flying. [ she tosses her hair over her shoulder and falls into an easy stroll. ] The answer is always yes to flying.

Excellent choice.

[He says as his smile grows and his eyes beam. Sure, beaming is super practical and all, but Shiro loves flying, and any excuse to do it is welcome. Especially when the company is this good.

He takes her to one of the shuttles, where he takes his seat as a pilot with ease, like he belongs there (because he does) and shoots Kate a grin as they take off.]

So, how much of a hurry are you in for breakfast?

[ she wastes no time in making herself at home in the passenger seat. contrary to good graces and decorum, kate props her feet up on the 'dash' and leans back into the chair -- pillowing her arms behind her head. she's easy and casual about her posture, but that doesn't make it seem any less practiced at its heart. trying hard to look as though you're not trying hard at all is a favoured pastime of the affluent youth. she comes by it (dis)honestly. ]

Depends, [ kate turns to watch him while he pulls the shuttle out of the bay, ] what kind of diversion do you have in mind?

[He should tell her not to put her feet on the dash, but she's so comfortable, so ready to let him take control of the trip and just enjoy it, he can't bring himself to. Which should be a big sign of how he behaves around her, thank goodness his team isn't here.]

I just haven't flied for fun in a while. [Cannibal planet and all. It's some thing he always misses, even back home, when it's hard to take Black for a ride in the middle of a war.] Did you go air-diving back in Mafik?

[Because that was fun, and even without an ocean, he wouldn't mind feeling that thrill again. He may not be Keith, but he also has a bit of daredevil in him.]

[ and how pleasantly surprised she is to find herself not chided or scolded for her liberties taken. it widens kate's smile, and she settles comfortably in the seat while they get to flying. or -- while shiro gets to flying. kate, by contrast, enjoys the ride. ]

I didn't. [ a beat. ] I'm guessing you're about to tell me I missed out?

If you like that kind of thrill then yeah, you did. We don't have an ocean here, but I think I can improvise.

[He falls silence after that, concentrating on his surroundings - he doesn't pilot these shuttles often, and they aren't exactly the smoothest or most advanced ride. But he'll take it, he just needs to put all his skills into it.

And up they go, upupupup, gaining more and more speed with each mile. Shiro doesn't stop until they reach that point where the Marsiva's "gravity" and then it's not actually stopping, just a pause that barely lasts a second before Shiro steers and they're going down now, downdowdown--

Well, if it can be called that anyway. It's not like there really is "up" or "down" in space.

They're approaching the Iskaulit at high speed, and it isn't until the last second before a potential crash that Shiro steers again and circles the other ship with a grin on his face.

....please don't tell Keith about this...]

[ -- damn, what a good time.

she's strapped in, she's holding on, and when they hit the apex of their trajectory she even drops her heels back onto the shuttle floor -- looking for a dash of stability as the thrill unwinds all around them. the fake gravity inside the shuttle jostles its contents just a little. and kate feels a pleasant knot in her stomach. like being on a roller-coaster.

or the first time clint let her pilot a quinjet.

she exhales, afterward, and collapses back in the passenger seat. ]

Okay. That was cool. A hundred kinds of reckless, I'm sure, but very very cool.

[His eyes are on the "road" ahead of them, so he can't watch her every reaction, but he does hear the sound of her feet falling off the dash, and it pleases him. So much. Not because of him not wanting feet on the dash, but because of the effect this is having on her. He's always happy to show anyone how good and exhilarating flying can be, and it's extra satisfying when it's her that he can show a good time to.

His grin grows when he finally looks at her and notices her collapsing. Shiro isn't one to be cocky, but he knows he's a great pilot, and he's proud of his abilities.]

It was as reckless as, let's say, you shooting at an apple on top of my head.

[Some teasing, but also commenting on how much they trust their own skills... and each other's.]

[ kate has known good pilots. she's known excellent ones. and it's easily done to slot shiro in among those numbers -- although there will always be a bit of shine and awe around the heroes of her youth.

she scrubs a hand through her hair and returns his smile. ]

An apple would be too easy. You'd have to give me a smaller target. [ ... ] A grape, maybe.

[A chuckle.] Or a pea?

[They arrive to the Iskaulit in seconds, and Shiro jumps off the shuttle in one smooth movement to then quickly reach her side. He considers for a second offering his hand to help her out, like he did that day in calibrations, but decides against it. So his hands go to his pockets instead.]

It's hard to tell this place was shot at by the Vizieri too, isn't it?

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[Closed] Met her as the angels parted for her but she only brought me torture-

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