It takes Shiro pulling rank to even get them to be able to take the mission on their own. He just wants to get some fresh air and spend some time alone with his best friend, is that really so much to ask?
They take Black down to the surface of the uninhabited planet. Shiro can feel the weight lifting off his shoulders as they pull away from the Atlas.
When Keith cuts off an overzealous officer's security briefing without ceremony, Shiro can't help but snort.
When Keith cuts off an overzealous officer's security briefing without ceremony, Shiro can't help but snort.
They are laughing and trading shoves and good natured barbs as they disembark.
Shiro stops when their boots sink into the soft blue grass and tips his face towards the alien sun.
"Missed this, huh?" Keith says quietly.
Shiro stops when their boots sink into the soft blue grass and tips his face towards the alien sun.
"Missed this, huh?" Keith says quietly.
"Yeah." He turns to look at his best friend, the love of his life. "Missed you, too, you know."
More and more Keith has been called away on Blades missions that he can't tell Shiro about, that Shiro can't contact him on.
More and more Keith has been called away on Blades missions that he can't tell Shiro about, that Shiro can't contact him on.
He just got Keith back after being out of touch for five weeks and he's missed him fiercely. It's why he insisted on stealing him for this mission.
Keith smiles, that small private thing that Shiro likes to think only he sees. "Missed you too."
Keith smiles, that small private thing that Shiro likes to think only he sees. "Missed you too."
Pleasure and contentment curl through Shiro's veins. He tries not to put much stock in his alpha instincts, but he can't deny that he likes knowing that his presence is welcomed and wanted.
"Let's get the readings they asked for and then we can see how long we can get away with staying on-planet," Shiro says.
"Sounds like a plan, Captain," Keith says, knocking their shoulders together. "You got the tools?"
"Sounds like a plan, Captain," Keith says, knocking their shoulders together. "You got the tools?"
Shiro nods mutely and hands over one of the meters the science team had sent with them.
"I'll get the plant samples," Keith says. "There should be a stream over that way for water samples. You have the vials, right?"
"I do. Meet back here in fifteen?"
"I'll get the plant samples," Keith says. "There should be a stream over that way for water samples. You have the vials, right?"
"I do. Meet back here in fifteen?"
"Sounds good." Keith checks the meter in his hand and then took off his helmet, shaking out his hair so that his braid hangs down his back.
"Keith..."
"Air's breathable," Keith says, anticipating Shiro's scold. "It's fine, Shiro. Promise."
"Keith..."
"Air's breathable," Keith says, anticipating Shiro's scold. "It's fine, Shiro. Promise."
"Just be careful, okay?" Shiro knows Keith would bristle at anyone else telling him such a thing, but from Shiro it just gets a fond eyeroll.
"Of course. You too. Fifteen minutes or I'm coming to find you."
"I would expect nothing less."
"Of course. You too. Fifteen minutes or I'm coming to find you."
"I would expect nothing less."
With that they part ways. Shiro finds the stream about a five minute walk away and quickly gathers a few water samples and clips a few plant samples just to be thorough.
He tucks everything away in his bag and starts the trek back to Black and Keith.
He tucks everything away in his bag and starts the trek back to Black and Keith.
When he reaches their meeting spot, Keith is nowhere to be seen.
Shiro calls out for him and gets no response. He tries their comms and gets nothing but static.
Worry pressing on his chest, Shiro takes off at a trot towards the grove of trees Keith had walked into.
Shiro calls out for him and gets no response. He tries their comms and gets nothing but static.
Worry pressing on his chest, Shiro takes off at a trot towards the grove of trees Keith had walked into.
Three minutes feel like an eternity as he searches the wooded area, eyes peeled for the red accents on his armor. He's starting to truly panic when he spots Keith finally.
He's curled up with his knees to his chest and his back to a tree, head pressed to his knees.
He's curled up with his knees to his chest and his back to a tree, head pressed to his knees.
"Keith!" Shiro calls out, rushing over and dropping to his knees next to him. "What's wrong?"
Keith groans and tightens his hold on his legs.
"Keith, are you hurt?"
He can't see any injuries but that means nothing.
Keith groans and tightens his hold on his legs.
"Keith, are you hurt?"
He can't see any injuries but that means nothing.
Shiro carefully brushes his knuckles, the metal ones that can take quick medical readings in a pinch, against Keith's cheek.
Keith whimpers.
It's a plaintive sound, one Shiro's never heard from his friend before. It sends a primal heat rushing through him.
Keith whimpers.
It's a plaintive sound, one Shiro's never heard from his friend before. It sends a primal heat rushing through him.
The readings from his touch come in and Shiro registers the raised temperature and heartbeat as well as some other anomalies that he doesn't recognize.
"Keith, can you look at me? Tell me what happened?"
Keith shakes his head.
"Keith, can you look at me? Tell me what happened?"
Keith shakes his head.
"Keith." The authoritative tone comes out on accident, born from worry. He never uses anything close to his alpha voice on anyone, much less his best friend who had only revealed the truth of his secondary gender to after years of knowing each other.
Keith whines. He rolls his neck so that his cheek is on his knees and he's looking at Shiro.
His pupils are blown wide and his face is flushed.
A traitorous part of Shiro's brain whispers /beautiful/ and /mine/.
He shuts that down quickly.
His pupils are blown wide and his face is flushed.
A traitorous part of Shiro's brain whispers /beautiful/ and /mine/.
He shuts that down quickly.
"Keith, can you tell me what happened?" Shiro asks, infinitely more gentle this time.
Keith draws in a shaky breath. "Was getting plant samples. One of them," he pauses for another breath, "one of them sprayed me in the face with pollen or something."
Keith draws in a shaky breath. "Was getting plant samples. One of them," he pauses for another breath, "one of them sprayed me in the face with pollen or something."
There's a look of fear on Keith's face as he watches Shiro for a reaction. It takes a second for him to parse the reason.
He'd told Keith to keep his helmet on and he hadn't. If he'd listened, the pollen would've done nothing.
He'd told Keith to keep his helmet on and he hadn't. If he'd listened, the pollen would've done nothing.
"Okay, you're doing good," Shiro tells him, wanting to ease his fear. "Thank you for telling me."
He reaches out again and lays a hand on Keith's shoulder -- safe, grounding contact for them both.
"You're not mad?"
He reaches out again and lays a hand on Keith's shoulder -- safe, grounding contact for them both.
"You're not mad?"
Shiro's never heard Keith like this before, like he's been stripped of his plethora of emotional defenses and left raw and exposed to the world. His eyes are swimming with emotion that Keith usually never let's see the light of day.
"I'm not mad," he confirms.
"I'm not mad," he confirms.
Some of the tension leaves Keith's shoulders, but he still doesnt unfurl himself.
"Can you tell me how you're feeling?" Shiro asks. "Are you hurt?"
"Feels like everything is too much," Keith says after a moment.
"Can you tell me how you're feeling?" Shiro asks. "Are you hurt?"
"Feels like everything is too much," Keith says after a moment.
He looks like he's fighting the urge to bury his face back in his knees.
"Bright. Armor feels too tight. Too many smells." He gives in and the last words are muffled. "Don't feel safe."
Which explains why he's curled in as much of a protective position as he could manage.
"Bright. Armor feels too tight. Too many smells." He gives in and the last words are muffled. "Don't feel safe."
Which explains why he's curled in as much of a protective position as he could manage.
"Let me help?" Shiro asks. "We'll get you back to Black and then back to the Atlas and figure out how to make you feel better." His brain is already ten steps ahead, thinking how the med team will want the sample of whatever is affecting Keith and if theyll quarantine him.
"Do you still have the sample?"
Keith nods.
"Good," Shiro praises. He noticed that the praise relaxed Keith earlier and it does the same now. "Do you think you can walk back to Black?"
Keith nods.
"Good," Shiro praises. He noticed that the praise relaxed Keith earlier and it does the same now. "Do you think you can walk back to Black?"
Keith shakes his head. "Tried. Didn't get very far."
Shiro doesn't know if Keith is feeling physically weak from whatever's poisoned him or if his inability stems from the symptoms he's already described, from feeling unsafe.
"Would you be alright with me carrying you?"
Shiro doesn't know if Keith is feeling physically weak from whatever's poisoned him or if his inability stems from the symptoms he's already described, from feeling unsafe.
"Would you be alright with me carrying you?"
Keith turns his head to look at Shiro. He nods.
"Okay, I'm going to need you to put your helmet back on for me, first. That way we don't have to carry it." And hopefully it'll filter out some of the smells at the very least."
"Okay, I'm going to need you to put your helmet back on for me, first. That way we don't have to carry it." And hopefully it'll filter out some of the smells at the very least."
Keith does as he's told, grimacing at the tight feel of the helmet.
"Good," Shiro says quietly. "I'm going to pick you up now. I want you to put your arms around my neck, alright?"
He gets a nod in response.
"Good," Shiro says quietly. "I'm going to pick you up now. I want you to put your arms around my neck, alright?"
He gets a nod in response.
He slips an arm under Keith's knees and the other across his back and lifts. Keith's arms go around his neck instantly.
Keith tucks his face into the crook of his shoulder like he's trying to scent Shiro, despite the barrier of helmet and armor.
Keith tucks his face into the crook of his shoulder like he's trying to scent Shiro, despite the barrier of helmet and armor.
The thought almost makes Shiro stumble.
Keith's always kept his status as an omega carefully under wraps, more than happy to let everyone assume he's a beta as he made use of the available scent-blockers and suppresants.
Even when he unexpectedly found himself in space, he'd inquired after such things from Coran.
Even when he unexpectedly found himself in space, he'd inquired after such things from Coran.
Shiro still vividly remembers the night Keith knocked on his door, two weeks into their stay on the Castle. He'd been antsy, nervous, so Shiro invited him into his small room.
Keith had relaxed just a bit and finally, at Shiro's worried questions, admitted that he was an omega,
Keith had relaxed just a bit and finally, at Shiro's worried questions, admitted that he was an omega,
and that Coran wouldn't have the pills ready for him for a few days still.
He'd looked at Shiro from underneath long lashes, from across the room, searching for a negative reaction he wasnt going to get.
It was the first and only time Shiro caught his scent.
He'd looked at Shiro from underneath long lashes, from across the room, searching for a negative reaction he wasnt going to get.
It was the first and only time Shiro caught his scent.
He's never forgotten it. Smoke and desert rain and something spiced.
He'd catalogued it almost absently as Keith explained that he'd just needed to be somewhere that smelled safe and his own room was sterile and contained only traces of himself.
He'd catalogued it almost absently as Keith explained that he'd just needed to be somewhere that smelled safe and his own room was sterile and contained only traces of himself.
Shiro had barely managed not to puff up at being someone safe for Keith. His protective instincts always ran strong.
Keith just sat in his room talking strategy with him until his eyes started to grow heavy and the tension had fully left him.
Shiro almost asked if scenting would help until Coran finished synthesizing his pills, but the wary look that he'd seen on Keith's face when he showed
Shiro almost asked if scenting would help until Coran finished synthesizing his pills, but the wary look that he'd seen on Keith's face when he showed
up at the door stopped him. He didnt want to lose his status as Keith's safe person just to assuage his own loneliness.
Instead, he fished the shirt he wore the day before out of the laundry and offered it to Keith.
Keith took it without hesitation.
Shiro never got it back.
Instead, he fished the shirt he wore the day before out of the laundry and offered it to Keith.
Keith took it without hesitation.
Shiro never got it back.
The point being, Shiro thinks as he focuses on walking and not dropping Keith, is that Keith has /never/ done this before.
At least, not outside of Shiro's increasingly sappy daydreams and heated nighttime dreams.
At least, not outside of Shiro's increasingly sappy daydreams and heated nighttime dreams.
"Doing okay?" Shiro asks. Black is in sight now.
"Same," Keith mutters. He pushes his head against Shiro harder, like the pressure with make the barriers disappear.
Shiro picks up his pace.
Black rumbles in the back of his mind as he steps into the cockpit.
"Same," Keith mutters. He pushes his head against Shiro harder, like the pressure with make the barriers disappear.
Shiro picks up his pace.
Black rumbles in the back of his mind as he steps into the cockpit.
Her worry is evident and she easily complies with Shiro's request to take them back to the Atlas.
Shiro doesn't put Keith down as he calls the medical team and tells them to prepare a bed for Keith and a quick rundown as to what happened.
Shiro doesn't put Keith down as he calls the medical team and tells them to prepare a bed for Keith and a quick rundown as to what happened.
(He tries to set Keith down in the pilot's seat once but Keith whines and clings to him, something desperate in the sound. Shiro holds onto him after that, soothing him with soft words until he stops shaking)
Black sets down gently right as Shiro relays orders to the bridge that no one is to go down to the surface until he gives the OK.
A med team and a runner from the lab are waiting when Shiro steps out, Keith still in his arms, face tucked into his neck.
A med team and a runner from the lab are waiting when Shiro steps out, Keith still in his arms, face tucked into his neck.
"Keith, where's the sample of the plant that sprayed you?"
"Right hip pouch. It's the goldish one."
Shiro shifts Keith's weight to his metal arm and quickly opens the pouch. He pulls out four sample bags.
The lab tech takes them all, putting the gold colored one on top.
"Right hip pouch. It's the goldish one."
Shiro shifts Keith's weight to his metal arm and quickly opens the pouch. He pulls out four sample bags.
The lab tech takes them all, putting the gold colored one on top.
They don't say anything before taking off down the hall but Shiro expects that out of the non-Holt scientists these days.
He turns his attention to the med team and the stretcher they have waiting for Keith.
He turns his attention to the med team and the stretcher they have waiting for Keith.
"Sir, we can take him from here," the doctor - Paulding, Shiro thinks - says.
His grip on Keith tightens instinctively.
His grip on Keith tightens instinctively.
He forces himself to relax. "Can I put you down on the stretcher, Keith?" He asks this time, not wanting to startle him like he did in Black.
Keith's grip tightens this time. "Don't leave."
"Not going to," Shiro promises. "Even if I put you down, I'm not leaving."
Keith's grip tightens this time. "Don't leave."
"Not going to," Shiro promises. "Even if I put you down, I'm not leaving."
A hard look dares the med team to argue.
"Don't want to let go either," Keith admits. "Feel safer here."
"Okay, buddy." He bites back the endearment that almost slips off his tongue. He turns back to the doctor. "I'll carry him. Lead the way."
"Don't want to let go either," Keith admits. "Feel safer here."
"Okay, buddy." He bites back the endearment that almost slips off his tongue. He turns back to the doctor. "I'll carry him. Lead the way."
Doctor Paulding doesnt look happy with the situation but she nods and leads the way down the corridor at a brisk pace.
Shiro ignores the looks passing crewmembers give him and tries to shield Keith as much as possible, even if his armor gives his identity away at a glance.
Shiro ignores the looks passing crewmembers give him and tries to shield Keith as much as possible, even if his armor gives his identity away at a glance.
They finally make it to the medbay and the doctor herds them straight into an isolation room as he'd predicted.
"Please put him down," she says, waving at the table. "We need to decontaminate both of you and then we can get started."
"Please put him down," she says, waving at the table. "We need to decontaminate both of you and then we can get started."
"Decontamination shower in the next room?" Shiro asks, flicking his gaze at the second door in the room. He still hasn't put Keith down.
"Yes. There is clothing in there to change into as well," one of the nurses, a kindly looking Altean, says.
"Yes. There is clothing in there to change into as well," one of the nurses, a kindly looking Altean, says.
"Okay, we'll be back in about fifteen minutes" Shiro says, striding towards the door.
"That's not acceptable," Paulding snaps. "Only one person in the showers at once, especially when one party is a compromised omega."
"That's not acceptable," Paulding snaps. "Only one person in the showers at once, especially when one party is a compromised omega."
Shiro turns cold eyes on her. "I would never harm Keith," he says lowly, barely keeping the growl from his voice. "I'm going with him because he doesn't feel safe when I put him down right now. Making sure he is safe and calm is my priority."
"MY priority--"
"I don't care," Shiro interrupts. "I want the physician Keith usually sees here to oversee his treatment as well by the time we get back. A trusted face will be helpful."
He ignores the spluttering and half a protest as he steps into the decontamination room.
"I don't care," Shiro interrupts. "I want the physician Keith usually sees here to oversee his treatment as well by the time we get back. A trusted face will be helpful."
He ignores the spluttering and half a protest as he steps into the decontamination room.
Shiro locks the door and then looks around. There's a single shower stall behind a small partition and two sets of clothes laid out on a table. A quick check of the shower yields a small stool to go with the chair at the table.
"Keith, I need to put you down so we can go through decontamination."
Keith's hold on him tightens.
"I know," he soothes. "But I'm not going anywhere, remember? And it's just the two of us in here. Door's locked. You're safe, I promise."
Keith's hold on him tightens.
"I know," he soothes. "But I'm not going anywhere, remember? And it's just the two of us in here. Door's locked. You're safe, I promise."
"Promise?"
"I promise," Shiro repeats. "You're doing so good."
Keith takes a deep and pulls his face away from Shiro's neck. His eyes are wide under his helmet and his cheeks flushed.
"Okay, you can put me down."
"I promise," Shiro repeats. "You're doing so good."
Keith takes a deep and pulls his face away from Shiro's neck. His eyes are wide under his helmet and his cheeks flushed.
"Okay, you can put me down."
"Do you think you can stand or do you want the chair?"
Keith considers for a moment. "Chair," he says. "Rather not fall on my face right now."
Shiro snorts and bends down to set Keith gently on the chair. He crouches down in front of him as he settles. "Okay?"
Keith considers for a moment. "Chair," he says. "Rather not fall on my face right now."
Shiro snorts and bends down to set Keith gently on the chair. He crouches down in front of him as he settles. "Okay?"
"Yeah," Keith says.
Shiro reaches for Keith's helmet slowly, making sure Keith sees the movement. "Gotta get you armor off for the shower," he says.
"Good," Keith murmurs. He's already said that it feels too tight right now.
Shiro reaches for Keith's helmet slowly, making sure Keith sees the movement. "Gotta get you armor off for the shower," he says.
"Good," Keith murmurs. He's already said that it feels too tight right now.
"How are you feeling?" Shiro asks as he methodically strips off the familiar paladin armor.
"Better now that it's just you," Keith admits. "Room smells... sterile. Blank." He wrinkles his nose.
"Better now that it's just you," Keith admits. "Room smells... sterile. Blank." He wrinkles his nose.
"Medical rooms always do," Shiro reminds him. "We need to get the undersuit off of you too. Want me to unzip and you can take it off in the shower?"
"That works," Keith answers quietly. "You going to take your flight suit off too?"
"Yeah, gotta go through decontamination too."
"That works," Keith answers quietly. "You going to take your flight suit off too?"
"Yeah, gotta go through decontamination too."
"Can I help? I want to help."
Keith's eyes are suddenly bright and focused as he reaches for the fastenings of Shiro's flightsuit.
"Woah, easy," Shiro soothes, twisting away from Keith's fingers. "Let's get you under the water first, then worry about me."
Keith's eyes are suddenly bright and focused as he reaches for the fastenings of Shiro's flightsuit.
"Woah, easy," Shiro soothes, twisting away from Keith's fingers. "Let's get you under the water first, then worry about me."
Keith's lower lip wobbles as his eyes fill with hurt. "You don't want my help? Did I..."
Shiro hears the worry that Keith's not enough, that he's not doing something right, unvoicedbthough it remains.
"Hey, none of that," he says. "You're so good, ba- ... Keith."
Shiro hears the worry that Keith's not enough, that he's not doing something right, unvoicedbthough it remains.
"Hey, none of that," he says. "You're so good, ba- ... Keith."
"We just have to do this in order, okay? It'll keep me safe if you get in the shower before I strip down. That's good, right?"
Keith's always been protective of Shiro, and now with his instincts taking over, Shiro feels like this is the best way to get through to him
Keith's always been protective of Shiro, and now with his instincts taking over, Shiro feels like this is the best way to get through to him
Keith stares at him for a second before shakily getting to his feet and turning his back to Shiro. "Unzip?" he asks.
Shiro carefully pushes Keith's braid over his shoulder and carefully pulls the zipper down to the base of Keith's spine.
Shiro carefully pushes Keith's braid over his shoulder and carefully pulls the zipper down to the base of Keith's spine.
He tries not to stare at the exposed skin, at the hint of purple stripes that seem to end at his spine. He's never seen them, wonders if they curve around Keith's hips and ribs, wonders when they appeared.
"All done," he manages to say. Keith is trusting him right now, he needs to focus on that, not the torch he's been carrying for his best friend.
"Shower now?" Keith asks.
"Yeah. Think you can get it started on your own?"
Keith nods and starts towards the partitioned area with shaky steps.
"You're doing great," Shiro assures him.
"Yeah. Think you can get it started on your own?"
Keith nods and starts towards the partitioned area with shaky steps.
"You're doing great," Shiro assures him.
He waits until he hears the water start and the rustle of Keith's undersuit hitting the floor before he takes off his helmet.
The room smells like Keith, like the elusive scent Shiro caught that one time but magnified a hundred-fold and threaded through with something sweet.
The room smells like Keith, like the elusive scent Shiro caught that one time but magnified a hundred-fold and threaded through with something sweet.
Keith yelps when the water hits him. Shiro gathers his scattered thoughts and breathes through his mouth as he quickly sheds his flightsuit.
The suit is hanging off his hips when Keith suddenly reappears, dripping wet and still unclothed. Shiro keeps his eyes on his face.
The suit is hanging off his hips when Keith suddenly reappears, dripping wet and still unclothed. Shiro keeps his eyes on his face.
Keith's eyes are wide, almost wild.
Shiro takes a step forward, automatically wanting to comfort, to soothe. "Keith? What's wrong?"
Keith opens his mouth, closes it again, before managing to speak. "Nothing's wrong."
Shiro gives him a skeptical look.
Shiro takes a step forward, automatically wanting to comfort, to soothe. "Keith? What's wrong?"
Keith opens his mouth, closes it again, before managing to speak. "Nothing's wrong."
Shiro gives him a skeptical look.
"Not wrong," Keith insists. "I... I can smell you now."
Ah. Now that he'd stripped most of the way, the flightsuit layers weren't muting his scent. "Is that okay? Would you prefer for me to leave or put the suit back on?"
"No!"
Ah. Now that he'd stripped most of the way, the flightsuit layers weren't muting his scent. "Is that okay? Would you prefer for me to leave or put the suit back on?"
"No!"
Shiro is startled by the quick and /loud/ response.
Keith ducks his head. "No," he repeats. "Don't leave. I, um, I like it? Being able to smell you. Feel safer."
"Okay," Shiro says. "That's good."
Keith bites his bottom lip then turns abruptly to return to the shower.
Keith ducks his head. "No," he repeats. "Don't leave. I, um, I like it? Being able to smell you. Feel safer."
"Okay," Shiro says. "That's good."
Keith bites his bottom lip then turns abruptly to return to the shower.
Shiro's eyes drop back to the stripes curving around Keith's hips without his permission. His cheeks are burning red by the time Keith is back out of sight.
Shiro takes a deep breath, remembering to breathe through his mouth and moves to finish undressing. He balls up his flightsuit and looks for wherever he's supposed to drop it for decontamination.
There's a receptacle in the wall. He drops his suit and Keith's armor in.
There's a receptacle in the wall. He drops his suit and Keith's armor in.
"Hey Keith? Could you kick your suit out this way?"
Keith doesn't answer verbally, but the wet suit does come sliding out from behind the partition. Shiro deposits it with their other clothes then stares at the partition separating him and Keith.
Keith doesn't answer verbally, but the wet suit does come sliding out from behind the partition. Shiro deposits it with their other clothes then stares at the partition separating him and Keith.
He's out of excuses to not join Keith under the shower spray.
"Keith? Is it okay if I come over there?" Shiro asks. "Or do you want me to wait until you're done?"
"You can come here," Keith says, voice barely louder than the quiet roar of water.
Keith is sitting under the spray, knees pulled to his chest again.
"You can come here," Keith says, voice barely louder than the quiet roar of water.
Keith is sitting under the spray, knees pulled to his chest again.
He looks up at Shiro, cheek resting on his knees, and smiles. "Sitting felt like a better idea after a bit."
"You're okay, though?"
"Better with you here."
Shiro can feel his cheeks heating up again at the words.
"You're okay, though?"
"Better with you here."
Shiro can feel his cheeks heating up again at the words.
"That doesn't actually answer the question."
"I'm fine, Shiro. Just a little shaky. This room is better than out there. Feels safer. Sitting helps. You being here and smelling like that helps."
"I'm fine, Shiro. Just a little shaky. This room is better than out there. Feels safer. Sitting helps. You being here and smelling like that helps."
'Like what?' Shiro thinks but doesn't say.
He steps under the water and lets the lukewarm spray take the blame for his ever-deepening blush. He tries not to think too much about the fact that neither of them are clothed.
He steps under the water and lets the lukewarm spray take the blame for his ever-deepening blush. He tries not to think too much about the fact that neither of them are clothed.
Keith looks almost blissful, sitting there with his eyes closed and soaked through. His braid is plastered to his spine.
The water is doing nothing to dampen his scent and Shiro almost feels lightheaded with the smoke and spice and petrichor curling around him.
The water is doing nothing to dampen his scent and Shiro almost feels lightheaded with the smoke and spice and petrichor curling around him.
He keeps reminding himself to breathe through his mouth, but he swears he can almost Taste it with how thick it is.
It's overwhelming after years of not being able to catch even a hint of Keith's scent. He wants to bury his face in the crook of Keith's shoulder and just inhale.
It's overwhelming after years of not being able to catch even a hint of Keith's scent. He wants to bury his face in the crook of Keith's shoulder and just inhale.
But he won't. He can't. Keith is at his most vulnerable, has had so many of his defenses stripped from him without his consent and he is /trusting/ Shiro to keep him safe.
He washes himself down quickly, no stranger to decontamination showers, then turns back towards Keith.
He washes himself down quickly, no stranger to decontamination showers, then turns back towards Keith.
He's still sitting there, eyes closed, that little content smile on his face.
Shiro crouches down next to him. "Hey, we should probably rinse out your hair better."
"Mmm, probably," Keith slurs, like he's half asleep. "Have at, if you want."
Shiro crouches down next to him. "Hey, we should probably rinse out your hair better."
"Mmm, probably," Keith slurs, like he's half asleep. "Have at, if you want."
Shiro's heart is hammering away as he reaches for Keith's braid and pulls of the elastic keeping it bound. He puts it around his wrist and then starts unraveling Keith's braid.
He's dreamed about this. It's featured in the soft, warm domestic fantasies and the ones he only allows himself on the loneliest nights or mid-rut.
The silk of Keith's hair is softer than he ever imagined, than what he remembers from the times he'd ruffled said hair in the past.
The silk of Keith's hair is softer than he ever imagined, than what he remembers from the times he'd ruffled said hair in the past.
He wonders if the texture changed at some point, maybe around the time that Keith gained his stripes.
He fingercombs the wet hair, working the water all the way through and watching the weight of it flatten the waves leftover from the braid.
Keith leans into his touch.
He fingercombs the wet hair, working the water all the way through and watching the weight of it flatten the waves leftover from the braid.
Keith leans into his touch.
He also whines, high and mildly distressed when Shiro's hands leave his hair.
"Shh, it's alright. Just getting the soap. Gotta make sure everything's clean, even if you're just going to complain about what it does to your hair."
"Shh, it's alright. Just getting the soap. Gotta make sure everything's clean, even if you're just going to complain about what it does to your hair."
"There's a reason I buy the fancy shit," Keith grumbles, but he visibly relaxes as Shiro starts working soap into his hair. "It's unmanageable otherwise."
"I'll help you fix it when this is over," Shiro promises before he thinks about it.
"I'll help you fix it when this is over," Shiro promises before he thinks about it.
