aftermath

[marmoron]

[It seems like an eternity ago that Shiro had promised the crowd at Earth that they would return triumphant. Technically, it's a promise they've managed to keep with the combined strengths of all the people in the Coalition, but the victory doesn't feel like triumph.

Keith turns away from Cosmo to look at the sunset. This had been how he chose to spend his last night on Earth before the mission -- lots of different feelings about their upcoming battle against Honerva and her fleet of komar infused Robeast. Back then, he could only believe they'd win because losing wasn't an option. It's bittersweet that losing, in some messed up sense of it, was ultimately their only option.

Itt'd been easier to look Lance in the eye back then when his biggest problem was this date he had with Allura. The way things are now, he wonders if things really will be okay. Then again.... it's probably the wrong way of looking at it.]

You know, Lance. Maybe it goes without saying but... [A beat.] You know I've always got your back, too.

[So if he needs to talk about things, he can.]

Comments

[spazzed]

( maybe, initially, he never would have thought to find himself yielding as much as he has to the leadership of the other; he'd fought it at first, yeah, not only because it had seemed so unlikely but it was clear keith didn't want it either — and now he can't possibly think of himself as anything other than his right-hand man, standing next to him instead of trying to get ahead of him.

things change, and while they've both been through their fair share of garbage a lot of their recent changes have been … for the better. for the positive. he might not know what he's supposed to do with himself now, but having the other sitting next to him, telling him all of these positive things when he doesn't know which way he's supposed to turn, it. it makes him feel better.

but then the bit about having his lion stolen has him blanching — never gonna let that go, are you! — and at a time they've both left way, way in the past, he would have reacted with the sort of flailing embarrassment that had carried him through a lot of those new experiences, but now.

he just. laughs. because he's right. ) Guy gets his lion stolen one time … and he never hears the end of it. ( but wow does he sound kind of fond. maybe a bit nostalgic.

he takes in a breath, lets it out slowly, drums his fingers against his leg out of some weird habit of fidgeting without realizing, and when he turns to look at keith outright, he's smiling. it's genuine, yes, but still a little small. but it's there. ) If I start talking, I'm going to end up babbling, and it's not going to be pretty. ( he laughs, but it's really more of a … huff? maybe? something along those lines. ) But I'll keep it in mind. ( a beat. ) Same goes for you, you know.

[marmoron]

How will we know how far we've come if we forget the little things, huh?

[So yep, never letting that go, indeed. But likewise, it's said with a sort of nostalgic fondness. It isn't a barbed comment -- or at least it's not intended to be one. It's just a reminder that Lance has come a long way since those days and that he ought to hold his head high for becoming the person he is today. Even if that may be difficult at the moment because of everything that's happened and the loss that they've all endured. Keetese at its finest, really.

While he could continue to prod and ask when is Lance ever not babbling, he doesn't do that. Instead he turns his face back towards the sunset and stares out over the horizon.]

I'm pretty sure your babbling's a whole lot prettier to see than your head exploding, Lance.

[Again, his tone's soft. Tacit acknowledgement that he understands that the offer to listen is there. He appreciates it, even though he doesn't really think he can bring himself to be maudlin about how everything ended with the guy who cherished Allura more than the rest of them.]

[spazzed]

You can totally forget that one little thing and it won't make a difference. ( but yeah … again, he's still holding on to that small smile, because he's finally gotten it back and he's not about to let go of it, because … he feels like he's holding on to it with just the tips of his fingers and if he wavers, it'll fall out of his hands again.

and. maybe he's gotten a little more fluent in keetese here lately — within the last little while, because he thinks he understands. knows what he means even if he speaks not in riddles, but the kind of teasing that seems to have gotten a heck of a lot more gentle lately. it's the sort of thing he can handle, the sort of thing he's been slowly getting used to, and while he feels so uncertain about a lot of things, that seems to be one he can count on to stay constant.

keith, a constant among variables. who knew?

he exhales a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, almost deflating with it. ) I guess it would mean less brain matter splatter, huh? ( he didn't mean to rhyme, but it makes him chuckle a bit, and then he shifts like he's just short of picking up on old fidgeting habits, but stops himself.

his knee bounces, just a little though. that sort of thing is never going to stop. ) I wish we'd had more time. Like, not just me and Allura, because that's selfish, and I don't wanna be. But. All of us together, because we were so busy saving the universe to just be. Friends. Hang out. Do stuff.