[ There's no definable timeline on the offer so Shiro doesn't ask for it tonight or any other night. Instead, he enjoys his time with the team, enjoys being back. They run drills, they go on a few missions to disrupt supplies and Shiro starts figuring out how to do everything he can from the Castle so he can help. He learns how to use the Altean systems, downloads everything they have on the flight patterns and presence of Galra. He starts learning how to fly one of the Altean shuttles until they can find a planet to trade a fighter for.
It soothes the discomfort Black's rejection has caused, to a point. Between all of that is just savoring the fact that he exists with the team again; he's safe, he's home as much as he can be. When he gets Keith's text message a week later, there's still a thrill that goes through him, though. Yes. Yes please. ]
Always. Doesn't feel the same, having my feet on the ground all the time. Name a time and place.
[It's not like anyone would stop them, but Keith feels more comfortable doing this while everyone else is asleep. While he doesn't have to field any questions, and maybe--maybe there's a part of him that wonders if Black will decide Shiro's their rightful leader, after all, and give herself back to him tonight.
There's a part of him that hopes for that, and another that doesn't know what he would do now that Lance is with Red. They all have a place, right?
He suits up and heads down to her, waits for Shiro to catch up. Black still looks and feels so much bigger than Red--like she was made for Shiro, not for him.]
[ It takes exactly six minutes and fifty three seconds to get there at a sedate pace which means that Shiro arrives early, of course. He'd timed all of it, not wanting to ever make any mistakes with how much warning all of them needed to get to their lions.
He's in his own armor because despite there being no Galra activity in this sector, it would be stupid to go out unprepared and without protection. Keith's in his own, dwarfed by the size of Red behind him, lingering in the doorway waiting for Shiro. Distantly, he hopes this works; if she doesn't accept him either, even for a ride along -- well. Don't borrow trouble, he supposes. He'll cross that bridge when he comes to it. ]
[Keith never realizes just how many knots twist themselves up in his stomach over Shiro until relief unspools them. Keith sees him, whole and safe and here, and tension loosens reflexively from his shoulders, his spine.
There are nights when he wants to crawl wordlessly into Shiro's bed, wrap himself around him just to make sure he'll still be there in the morning. He thinks if he asks, Shiro wouldn't say no--but what would it say about Keith? What kind of leader can't even manage to sleep alone?
He smiles and shrugs as Shiro approaches, tries to look more casual than he feels.]
I'm okay. Couldn't sleep, and I figured this was better than raiding the kitchen for non-existent hamburgers.
Ready for an adventure?
[Keith rests a hand on her and Black opens up to them, easy. Getting inside isn't the big step, though; it's whether she'll respond once they're both in the cockpit.]
[ The number of times Shiro's intentionally stayed in the common area until the latest of hours just for the idle sounds of someone around - Lance grabbing a glass of water, Pidge tinkering with her machines, Hunk starting a midnight snack - well. It's not embarrassing, but it's indicative of a problem Shiro never actually addressed. ]
Hunk said he's gonna check the next stop if they have a hub. Maybe there'll be something hamburger-y. Hamburger adjacent.
[ Ready for an adventure? Keith asks and Shiro just barely holds back the answer that wants to escape. Instead, he touches his fingertips to Keith's shoulder as they go up the ramp. ]
I'll follow you anywhere.
[ It's a promise he knows he can't keep but he desperately intends to try.
The inside of Black feels more like home than he's expecting. He's missed being in one of the lions but it feels...right, it feels comfortable. The purple of the screens reflects off of Keith's hair, shines in his eyes and Shiro's stomach does a flip before he can focus on the chair. ]
Don't suppose she's mentioned if she's okay with this or not? I can't -- she doesn't talk to me any more.
Never thought I'd feel so much hope about the words "hamburger adjacent."
[Shiro's hand on his shoulder and those next words--I'll follow you anywhere--make something warm curl in his chest, and he can't help but smile as they walk up the ramp together. Keith doesn't know how Shiro somehow makes everything seem okay. Better than okay, even.
And there's something about Black that carries that same comfort, the same strong presence. She still feels like an extension of Shiro, in a way; his connection with her is so different from his connection with Red. Nothing feels off as he moves to sit, awash in violet glow.
If anything, it feels better to be here with Shiro. Feels right.]
She feels fine. I don't think she minds. [Keith knows he hasn't opened to her the way Shiro did, and he's not sure if that will come with time or if it was just--something about Shiro.
But as he grasps the controls, he doesn't feel the usual surge of power through him, the strengthening of their connection. He tries to reach out, to focus his intent--just a ride with the two of them, he's not trying to hand off his responsibilities, it's okay--but it's like trying to connect two puzzle pieces with one edge just slightly off. He frowns, brows knitting as he flexes his fingers.]
This is weird. It's like...it's not bad that you're here. I'm just not doing something right. [He looks back at Shiro, hesitating before he stands and steps aside.] I think you should sit.
[ Walking up the ramp feels like coming home in a different way; the connection to the lions is still muted, barely more than a single thread that hasn't snapped yet instead of the rope it used to be but here with Keith it feels stronger.
Standing in there, behind the pilot's chair feels...odd, but not a bad sort of odd. Keith's worthy. He knew it, and now Black did, too. She made the right choice and he can't begrudge her that but he desperately hopes they get better at working together. It'll take time like all things do.
Keith settles and Shiro braces his forearms on the back of the chair, but -- nothing. No whirr of Black powering up, no thrusters, nothing but the hum of machinery and the feeling of something being off. ]
Sometimes it's-- difficult. [ That's fine, but then Keith rises and Shiro gives him an openly dubious look. ] She chose you.
[ Still, sitting there, even if it won't work -- it'll feel good. Shiro settles back into the chair slowly and then glances at Keith, his hands settling loose over the controls. ] We can't force her into it.
[Shiro looks good in that chair. Shiro looks right in that chair, not out of place the way Keith still feels sometimes.
And Black's nudging him toward this feeling of rightness, like a thrum of excitement in his stomach. He stands to Shiro's side, hand resting lightly on the back of the pilot's seat, and he's prepared to wait a moment, to actually exercise patience, but his fingers twitch with a sudden flash of knowing.
Only it's...weird. Maybe not the weirdest thing either one of them has had to do, but the tug is so strong that Keith feels himself flush under the neck of his suit, lips pursed into a frown.]
I think I know what we need to do, but, um. [He watches the screens instead of Shiro, hoping something will change, before finally dragging his gaze back to him.] Only if you're okay with it. And if I'm wrong, don't laugh.
I think she wants me to sit with you. Not in your lap, but--in front of you. [Between your legs, as if that's better.
And it's not that Keith's not comfortable being close to Shiro, but this is different. The pilot's seat may have changed hands but sitting pressed against each other in Black sounds both illicit and natural, like it's obvious she wouldn't move any other way. He wonders if Shiro feels it at all or if it's just him experiencing that pull, fingers clasped around the back of the chair.]
shiro internally; is now a bad time to mention i sometimes get hard with how cool it is piloting vo-
[ Gradually, he feels a sort of itch in the back of his head that grows the more he pays attention to it. It's Black, he realizes belatedly; Black's slowly creeping down their connection, strengthening it. It's not enough to pilot her, but it's enough he gets flickers, flashes of her intent and what she wants them to do.
Keith must be getting it too, the way he's phrasing all of this. In his mind, there's the slow, steady pulse of satisfaction. Keith's right; this is what she wants and she's able to communicate it to both of them.
What are you trying to do? he asks her and doesn't get a response, which isn't a surprise.
Rather than protest, he presses back into the chair and slides it back a little bit so Keith's legs can fit. ]
She let me in enough to tell me the same thing. Uh. I guess just--
[ Please, god, just let his body not betray him right now. ]
Right. [He gives a short nod even though Shiro doesn't actually finish that sentence, nor is Keith sure what he was going to say. There's an anticipatory buzz in the air, like static, like the thrum they all feel when they synch up with the Lions.
Keith clears his throat, ducks his gaze when he realizes he's staring at the spread of Shiro's legs as he comes around to the front of the chair. In any of the other Lions, they wouldn't be able to comfortably make this work. He'd be on Shiro's lap, squeezed tight into those smaller seats, and that--
That's making him go just about as red as his armor. It's a little ridiculous how stiff he is as he moves to sit, given how natural it usually feels for them to touch. Keith's on the edge of the chair, spine rigid and palms resting on his own thighs even as he feels the warmth of Shiro's beside his.
He should scoot back and relax, probably, so he doesn't fall off as soon as Black gets moving.]
Think this is her idea of a team-building thing? [Keith turns his head just slightly to look at him, then settles back a little more comfortably: not quite leaning back against Shiro's chest, but close enough that their bodies are more or less flush.]
[ Okay, so they're doing this, this is happening. Cool, this is...fine. Shiro's not overthinking everything, not at all, he's entirely chill and he's going to handle this the same as he handles everything else. If it gets him a little flustered then that's alright, too; it's not like anyone sits in his lap actively so he supposes it's easy enough to brush that off.
At least Black's big enough for this to sort of work. It's not pretty, necessarily, but Keith settles in and Shiro wonders if it would have been more comfortable for him to sit on top of his thighs or not. They can always adjust, he supposes, and gingerly settles his hands over top both controls. ]
You're pretty much the only one this would work with, I guess. Lance'd wiggle too much, Pidge is too bony and Hunk wouldn't leave Yellow for love or money.
[ He shifts back in return, trying to make it easier for him to settle, his chin near the side of Keith's head. ]
You should've seen Pidge when she tried to pilot Black. She could barely reach the controls.
[Speaking of. Keith places his hands over top of Shiro's, without really thinking about it--he just knows it's the right thing to do. And that's all it takes to get Black to fully wake up, controls whirring and their skin bathed in purple glow.
His body's awash with pleased relief and the warm thrill that always comes with piloting, fingers flexing over Shiro's. He's forgotten any awkwardness, for the moment; they've piloted Voltron as one, so it's not like working together in one Lion will be any harder.
It's nice, actually, in a way. Shiro's here. He's with him, he's not going anywhere.]
[ He can almost feel Black's -- what is that, approval? It's strange, but he doesn't focus on that too long. When Black rumbles to life underneath him, no, them, he's endlessly relieved. He'd hoped that the lion would react, that Keith would be enough to offset how wrong he was sitting here again and he was right. ]
To go flying? Always.
[ Keith's hands are warm on top of his but instead of flustering him, he's more shocked at how content he is. They've flown tight together before, they've flown a ton of times together, but nothing quite like this. None of the other vessels were anything like a lion. Though, they had an unfair advantage being 10,000+ year old. ]
Did all of you try in here?
[ He's wanted to know for a while now - wondered if they let any of the Blade try, too. ]
[It's not like danger's ever stopped Keith from doing something he needed--or really wanted--to do, but there was something frenetic about flying without Shiro, when half of them were adjusting to new Lions and to each other.
So this, having Shiro at his back, broad hands beneath his palms...it feels safe. It feels like home, somehow.
Keith doesn't answer Shiro's question until they press the controls forward and launch out of the Castle and into the stars, lets the lights and noise of take-off swallow any attempt at conversation before they're just left with the quiet of space around them. This still doesn't feel real, sometimes--the vastness of it all.
And Shiro was almost lost to it.]
Yeah. Us and Allura. [Tough to avoid a question when you're basically on top of the guy who asked it. Keith's shoulders go taut for a moment, tense when he continues.]
I didn't want it, you know. I thought I could deal with it being anyone but me, but I really just--
[The tension releases on a quiet sigh and he tips his chin down, gaze falling on their hands.]
[ Does it make things better or worse that all of them tried? He tries to imagine it but promptly stops because it's bad enough imagining all of them trying to step up into Black but worse to imagine Keith realizing that it's him, even if Shiro always knew it.
You deserve better than this he thinks, but he means it for all of them. All of them should be home, not dealing with this but that's not the hand the universe dealt them and there's nothing they can do but keep pushing forward.
He doesn't quite sigh, but it's a close thing, shifting his hands over Black's controls to push her faster. Underneath him, she rumbles in response and this time, he does. It's just a quick, soft exhale near Keith's ear but it's almost content. ]
I know.
[ It's hard, not seeing his face. ]
You're the best choice. I wish you could believe that.
You never gave yourself enough credit, Keith. Even back then.
[ It's hard to chastise someone when they're in your lap and your best friend, but that's not quite what he's going for, either. Instead, he's gentle about it; he doesn't flinch when Keith digs his fingers in, doesn't react past sighing quietly and lifting his hands to settle Keith's down first and rest his on top. ]
Of course I do.
[ How could he not? Flying the Kerberos mission, that was-- well, it was everything, back then, but this is something else. ]
But I have to - we all have to do what's necessary to keep moving forward. And I can make myself useful on the bridge.
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It soothes the discomfort Black's rejection has caused, to a point. Between all of that is just savoring the fact that he exists with the team again; he's safe, he's home as much as he can be. When he gets Keith's text message a week later, there's still a thrill that goes through him, though. Yes. Yes please. ]
Always. Doesn't feel the same, having my feet on the ground all the time. Name a time and place.
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I'll meet you in the hangar.
[It's not like anyone would stop them, but Keith feels more comfortable doing this while everyone else is asleep. While he doesn't have to field any questions, and maybe--maybe there's a part of him that wonders if Black will decide Shiro's their rightful leader, after all, and give herself back to him tonight.
There's a part of him that hopes for that, and another that doesn't know what he would do now that Lance is with Red. They all have a place, right?
He suits up and heads down to her, waits for Shiro to catch up. Black still looks and feels so much bigger than Red--like she was made for Shiro, not for him.]
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[ It takes exactly six minutes and fifty three seconds to get there at a sedate pace which means that Shiro arrives early, of course. He'd timed all of it, not wanting to ever make any mistakes with how much warning all of them needed to get to their lions.
He's in his own armor because despite there being no Galra activity in this sector, it would be stupid to go out unprepared and without protection. Keith's in his own, dwarfed by the size of Red behind him, lingering in the doorway waiting for Shiro. Distantly, he hopes this works; if she doesn't accept him either, even for a ride along -- well. Don't borrow trouble, he supposes. He'll cross that bridge when he comes to it. ]
How're you doing?
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There are nights when he wants to crawl wordlessly into Shiro's bed, wrap himself around him just to make sure he'll still be there in the morning. He thinks if he asks, Shiro wouldn't say no--but what would it say about Keith? What kind of leader can't even manage to sleep alone?
He smiles and shrugs as Shiro approaches, tries to look more casual than he feels.]
I'm okay. Couldn't sleep, and I figured this was better than raiding the kitchen for non-existent hamburgers.
Ready for an adventure?
[Keith rests a hand on her and Black opens up to them, easy. Getting inside isn't the big step, though; it's whether she'll respond once they're both in the cockpit.]
no subject
Hunk said he's gonna check the next stop if they have a hub. Maybe there'll be something hamburger-y. Hamburger adjacent.
[ Ready for an adventure? Keith asks and Shiro just barely holds back the answer that wants to escape. Instead, he touches his fingertips to Keith's shoulder as they go up the ramp. ]
I'll follow you anywhere.
[ It's a promise he knows he can't keep but he desperately intends to try.
The inside of Black feels more like home than he's expecting. He's missed being in one of the lions but it feels...right, it feels comfortable. The purple of the screens reflects off of Keith's hair, shines in his eyes and Shiro's stomach does a flip before he can focus on the chair. ]
Don't suppose she's mentioned if she's okay with this or not? I can't -- she doesn't talk to me any more.
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[Shiro's hand on his shoulder and those next words--I'll follow you anywhere--make something warm curl in his chest, and he can't help but smile as they walk up the ramp together. Keith doesn't know how Shiro somehow makes everything seem okay. Better than okay, even.
And there's something about Black that carries that same comfort, the same strong presence. She still feels like an extension of Shiro, in a way; his connection with her is so different from his connection with Red. Nothing feels off as he moves to sit, awash in violet glow.
If anything, it feels better to be here with Shiro. Feels right.]
She feels fine. I don't think she minds. [Keith knows he hasn't opened to her the way Shiro did, and he's not sure if that will come with time or if it was just--something about Shiro.
But as he grasps the controls, he doesn't feel the usual surge of power through him, the strengthening of their connection. He tries to reach out, to focus his intent--just a ride with the two of them, he's not trying to hand off his responsibilities, it's okay--but it's like trying to connect two puzzle pieces with one edge just slightly off. He frowns, brows knitting as he flexes his fingers.]
This is weird. It's like...it's not bad that you're here. I'm just not doing something right. [He looks back at Shiro, hesitating before he stands and steps aside.] I think you should sit.
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[ Walking up the ramp feels like coming home in a different way; the connection to the lions is still muted, barely more than a single thread that hasn't snapped yet instead of the rope it used to be but here with Keith it feels stronger.
Standing in there, behind the pilot's chair feels...odd, but not a bad sort of odd. Keith's worthy. He knew it, and now Black did, too. She made the right choice and he can't begrudge her that but he desperately hopes they get better at working together. It'll take time like all things do.
Keith settles and Shiro braces his forearms on the back of the chair, but -- nothing. No whirr of Black powering up, no thrusters, nothing but the hum of machinery and the feeling of something being off. ]
Sometimes it's-- difficult. [ That's fine, but then Keith rises and Shiro gives him an openly dubious look. ] She chose you.
[ Still, sitting there, even if it won't work -- it'll feel good. Shiro settles back into the chair slowly and then glances at Keith, his hands settling loose over the controls. ] We can't force her into it.
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And Black's nudging him toward this feeling of rightness, like a thrum of excitement in his stomach. He stands to Shiro's side, hand resting lightly on the back of the pilot's seat, and he's prepared to wait a moment, to actually exercise patience, but his fingers twitch with a sudden flash of knowing.
Only it's...weird. Maybe not the weirdest thing either one of them has had to do, but the tug is so strong that Keith feels himself flush under the neck of his suit, lips pursed into a frown.]
I think I know what we need to do, but, um. [He watches the screens instead of Shiro, hoping something will change, before finally dragging his gaze back to him.] Only if you're okay with it. And if I'm wrong, don't laugh.
I think she wants me to sit with you. Not in your lap, but--in front of you. [Between your legs, as if that's better.
And it's not that Keith's not comfortable being close to Shiro, but this is different. The pilot's seat may have changed hands but sitting pressed against each other in Black sounds both illicit and natural, like it's obvious she wouldn't move any other way. He wonders if Shiro feels it at all or if it's just him experiencing that pull, fingers clasped around the back of the chair.]
shiro internally; is now a bad time to mention i sometimes get hard with how cool it is piloting vo-
Keith must be getting it too, the way he's phrasing all of this. In his mind, there's the slow, steady pulse of satisfaction. Keith's right; this is what she wants and she's able to communicate it to both of them.
What are you trying to do? he asks her and doesn't get a response, which isn't a surprise.
Rather than protest, he presses back into the chair and slides it back a little bit so Keith's legs can fit. ]
She let me in enough to tell me the same thing. Uh. I guess just--
[ Please, god, just let his body not betray him right now. ]
whispers cover your eyes black
Keith clears his throat, ducks his gaze when he realizes he's staring at the spread of Shiro's legs as he comes around to the front of the chair. In any of the other Lions, they wouldn't be able to comfortably make this work. He'd be on Shiro's lap, squeezed tight into those smaller seats, and that--
That's making him go just about as red as his armor. It's a little ridiculous how stiff he is as he moves to sit, given how natural it usually feels for them to touch. Keith's on the edge of the chair, spine rigid and palms resting on his own thighs even as he feels the warmth of Shiro's beside his.
He should scoot back and relax, probably, so he doesn't fall off as soon as Black gets moving.]
Think this is her idea of a team-building thing? [Keith turns his head just slightly to look at him, then settles back a little more comfortably: not quite leaning back against Shiro's chest, but close enough that their bodies are more or less flush.]
won't someone think of the children
At least Black's big enough for this to sort of work. It's not pretty, necessarily, but Keith settles in and Shiro wonders if it would have been more comfortable for him to sit on top of his thighs or not. They can always adjust, he supposes, and gingerly settles his hands over top both controls. ]
You're pretty much the only one this would work with, I guess. Lance'd wiggle too much, Pidge is too bony and Hunk wouldn't leave Yellow for love or money.
[ He shifts back in return, trying to make it easier for him to settle, his chin near the side of Keith's head. ]
I-- okay.
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[Speaking of. Keith places his hands over top of Shiro's, without really thinking about it--he just knows it's the right thing to do. And that's all it takes to get Black to fully wake up, controls whirring and their skin bathed in purple glow.
His body's awash with pleased relief and the warm thrill that always comes with piloting, fingers flexing over Shiro's. He's forgotten any awkwardness, for the moment; they've piloted Voltron as one, so it's not like working together in one Lion will be any harder.
It's nice, actually, in a way. Shiro's here. He's with him, he's not going anywhere.]
You ready?
no subject
To go flying? Always.
[ Keith's hands are warm on top of his but instead of flustering him, he's more shocked at how content he is. They've flown tight together before, they've flown a ton of times together, but nothing quite like this. None of the other vessels were anything like a lion. Though, they had an unfair advantage being 10,000+ year old. ]
Did all of you try in here?
[ He's wanted to know for a while now - wondered if they let any of the Blade try, too. ]
no subject
So this, having Shiro at his back, broad hands beneath his palms...it feels safe. It feels like home, somehow.
Keith doesn't answer Shiro's question until they press the controls forward and launch out of the Castle and into the stars, lets the lights and noise of take-off swallow any attempt at conversation before they're just left with the quiet of space around them. This still doesn't feel real, sometimes--the vastness of it all.
And Shiro was almost lost to it.]
Yeah. Us and Allura. [Tough to avoid a question when you're basically on top of the guy who asked it. Keith's shoulders go taut for a moment, tense when he continues.]
I didn't want it, you know. I thought I could deal with it being anyone but me, but I really just--
[The tension releases on a quiet sigh and he tips his chin down, gaze falling on their hands.]
I just wanted it to be you.
no subject
You deserve better than this he thinks, but he means it for all of them. All of them should be home, not dealing with this but that's not the hand the universe dealt them and there's nothing they can do but keep pushing forward.
He doesn't quite sigh, but it's a close thing, shifting his hands over Black's controls to push her faster. Underneath him, she rumbles in response and this time, he does. It's just a quick, soft exhale near Keith's ear but it's almost content. ]
I know.
[ It's hard, not seeing his face. ]
You're the best choice. I wish you could believe that.
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[His own vehemence surprises him. Keith realizes he's twined his fingers tight with Shiro's and loosens his grip, skin flushed.]
I don't understand why she didn't take you back. I'm trying, but...
[He feels simultaneously tired and restless, leans back against Shiro's chest without thinking about it, quiet for a moment.]
Do you miss it?
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[ It's hard to chastise someone when they're in your lap and your best friend, but that's not quite what he's going for, either. Instead, he's gentle about it; he doesn't flinch when Keith digs his fingers in, doesn't react past sighing quietly and lifting his hands to settle Keith's down first and rest his on top. ]
Of course I do.
[ How could he not? Flying the Kerberos mission, that was-- well, it was everything, back then, but this is something else. ]
But I have to - we all have to do what's necessary to keep moving forward. And I can make myself useful on the bridge.