[Open]

[spaceforged]

Who: Shiro and you.
Where: Shelter, medical area
When: Hours after rescuing the King.
Rating Pg
What: Shiro comes back battered and wounded from the rescue mission. Keith swears a lot.



He runs his hands over the bandages around his ribs with a wince. He’d gotten so used to being able to shake off bullets and arrows. He has been mostly indestructible. He should have known better. Shiro slips from the small area laid out to treat his injuries as gingerly as he can manage. Cracked ribs are no joke.

He hisses through his teeth as the pain radiates out from his chest and side. He regrets a lot of things. He had charged at a pack of guards confident he would perfectly fine. “Crack goes the Lion.” He mutters as he pulls his duffel bag closer with a foot and fights not to breathe in.

Every breath hurts. They have a surplus of healers this time. The distraction team will all get back on their feet in less time than they would have otherwise. But until then he can just deal with it.

Comments

[spaceforged]

Keith had turned to present his left side and lifted his arm. With the bandages around his middle, he can guess where it probably is. Missed vitals but he's still bringing his eyebrows down with disapproval. "If it doesn't hurt you're in shock. Take the pills, Keith. I can restock at the temple."

He won't give on this. Shiro pulls back on the anger curling in his chest. Not at Keith, at their situation. They don't have the medical equipment he'd want to have. "We don't have the resources here we'd have in space." He says as he pulls his pillow up, shoving it up against the wall so he can sit up for a while.

"You're going to need sleep whether you let yourself be healed or not. Pain makes that a lot harder." He stretches his legs back out and takes a moment to let himself settle. "The first night is always the hardest, remember?"

[lonered]

"I'm not in shock, I'm in denial," he provides. But he also sighs. Sometimes arguing with Shiro isn't worth it. It's never easy, and the older man has a way of relying on things like reason and logic that Keith has little actual ammunition against. So he'll go to retrieve the pills and some water, setting himself to a seat on the edge of Shiro's bed and opening them up.

He glances over at the other man now, frowning. "How are you feeling? Do you need these while I have them out?"

Because Shiro is right. "You still need your rest too."

He leans heavily on his unstabbed side, hand braced to the mattress, wincing just faintly. "I remember. Guess we got a little spoiled by healing pods, huh?"

[a_sharp_wit]

At that Elizabeth gives him a thankful smile. "I would certainly welcome it, though I do not boast of what my cooking upon said firepit might be like."

She is such a beginner at it all, honest she is. Millis left her with a good foundation and an idea of basics but she can in no way boast the sort of skill the grandmotherly older woman had possessed.

[spaceforged]

"I used one on accident then tried it again. Using the lasers still takes a lot more time than the original Black Lion's firing rate. I miscalculated. They evaluated me as a threat too big to ignore and took their shot." It had been a very nasty lesson. Next time he won't let something being familiar make him think he has the upper hand.

"And I'm only saying I can still fight if it comes to it. That's a hypothetical. It's far more likely I won't have to." He meets Waver's eyes calmly and without any reaction to the flat tone. "The question for all of us is what happens next. Even with scouting checkings that takes time. In short, we have a small measure of breathing room." However long it lasts is the mystery.

[spaceforged]

"...yeah, we did." They got used to needing only a little time before they were back up on their feet. He reaches out to steady Keith with a hand on his uninjured side. "And yes, I could use another dose." He's about as he expected, slightly cranky and achy. Shiro covers his own injured side with his Galra hand and drops it back onto the bed.

"You know what this means. I'd like you to stay closer to the Arena. Or not fight at all. There's a lot of tasks to be completed back here." In the past, he'd have urged Keith to help in the infirmary. But he trusts him. "We needed a scout sticking closer to our encampment as it is."

[teratias]

"....Shiro," Waver moans, smacking a hand to his own forehead. That was some Rider level dumb shit, and it absolutely deserved the kind of reaction Rider would be rewarded with if he was around.

At least talking about what's next is easier. (Sort of.) "I'm expecting the what next to happen soon. Like, by sunset tomorrow soon, you know? This kind of energy isn't really something that gets tamed or remains unused."

[spaceforged]

“I wouldn’t call breathing room as tamed. We did cause them quite a bit of damage at the heart of their seat of power. They have to regroup. An offensive on their part would be a huge mistake when they know we have only fielded a small force to do that damage.” Shiro points out as he finishes the water.

“And I know. I made a pretty damning mistake. I won’t do it again. Either way they were sick of me and intending to take me down. I have been harassing their snipers for weeks.”

[spaceforged]

“Everyone starts somewhere.” He sits up a little and winces. His hand covers his side as he breathes through the twinge. “Learning now prevents it from being a problem any other time. Not that we have a shortage of people who probably know more.” His smile turns wry. “I can do the job just it will be basic.”

Very basic. But he can feed himself and that’s all that matters. “Anyway.” He slowly pushes himself up out of the chair with a low hiss. It hurts. It hurts like hell but he only turns pale instead of making any other noise. “I should...go rest.”

[a_sharp_wit]

Elizabeth looks a touch mollified at that. She had near put the thought of injuries from her mind and now feels somewhat sorry for it as she listens to the man hiss against his pain.

"Of course. If you should change your mind when it comes to healing, you are welcome to let me know day or night."

[lonered]

"Yeah, I know. I'm not quite grounded, but I'll stick close." As much as possible anyway. Even Keith has to admit that he's at the limit of how useful he can be at the moment. Circumstances could change, and he could be launching himself back into the fray without a second thought if it comes to it. But for now, Shiro is right. "Last thing I need is to wind up a liability."

And without getting a chance to heal up, he's in danger of being just that if he pushes too hard. He takes a moment to swallow a couple of the pills before passing Shiro a dose as well. They've been in worse shape before, the both of them, more than once, but both of them being injured at the same time is far from ideal. To put it mildly.

"But first... I really need a nap." He's worn out, between the blood loss and the fighting, and the short painful flight back. Shiro is right. He really shouldn't fly when he's injured. The strain of it nearly took him straight out of the air. And now he knows.

[spaceforged]

He grins at him, relief in his grey eyes. All evidence pointed towards Keith not taking more reckless actions but, in the past, he'd have been stubborn about it. He slowly reaches around his back and grips him in a one-armed hug. "Make sure you let the healers work on you when you get up. We need trained scouts right now, Keith. Don't put yourself on the lower priority list."

He'll let them work on him too. Shiro lets him go and swallows his dose of pills. Any later and the old dose will wear off and the edge will come back. "You can crash here, the bed is big enough for both of us." And he can keep a sharp eye on him.

He knows they've been hurt worse before. But that was when they had healing pods and he has been alone for a while. Having Keith close is important to him.

[teratias]

"...Yeah, harassing snipers will do that."

Waver just...tries to take that one in stride. Because really, what else can you say to someone who's going out and fighting snipers to begin with? Nothing, at least as far as he can tell. Slowly, Waver rubs the bridge of his nose, taking in the rest of what Shiro has said.

"Okay, but how stupid are they to do the opposite of what you just said because of pride?"

[spaceforged]

He had almost forgotten about the cut on his face. He swipes his thumb over the bandage and smiles sheepishly. "I'll let the minor things heal naturally. But you'll see me around. I'd like to have another chat in the future if you don't mind it."

He quite likes every talk they have. They're a nice change of pace, for he hopes, the both of them.

[a_sharp_wit]

She would give him a doleful looking, knowing full well that isn't his only injury, but she decides it's best not to persist.

Instead she laughs a little. "However shall I bear the strife of a repeat performance! And yet you do ask me to engage in my most dearly loved activity so I will happily acquiesce to your wishes."

[lonered]

It isn't lost on Keith, that look of relief, and it takes him a moment to figure out what it's for, to realize that Shiro was braced for him putting up a fight about this. And thinking about it, he's sure he might have not all that long ago.

He's still considering this as he leans into Shiro, carefully, because they're both in a state.

"I will. As long as they've got a free hand." He'll see about trying to get himself mended. But that goes for Shiro too. Honestly, that goes for Shiro first if he's being honest. Keith will feel better once Shiro is back on his feet anyway.

For now though, he offers a grateful smile, nodding and moving to settle very very gingerly on the bed. "Thanks. Kick me out if I bother your side, okay?"

[spaceforged]

"Keith. It will be fine." He shifts to make room for him and adjusts the pillow so they can both use part of it. "Take the side closest to the wall," Shiro instructs as he lays back down and pulls the small lamp on the table closer. "..and wake me immediately if I'm bothering your side."

They'll be warm enough to sleep without blankets. Still, he sits back up to snag them from where he'd shoved them down. Keith might want them. "Blankets or no? I don't mind. We'll be fine without." He wants them both to get sleep as soon as possible.

"And don't worry, I'll have them work on me in the morning too. I won't stay down for long."

[lonered]

"Got it," Keith moves to settle himself against the wall, back to it, facing Shiro. He blinks when his own words get turned right back around on him and heaves a sigh of sighs at that. "It'll be fine, Shiro." He parrots back, with a smile.

His wound aches, but less so as he settles, and honestly, settling in to sleep this close to Shiro is kind of nice, reassuring in a way that he didn't expect it to be.

"I'm good without the blankets," Keith agrees as he sets his head on the pillow. No guarantee he won't gravitate towards the other source of warmth in the bed, but it's a chance to be taken.

"Good. Get some rest, Shiro..." Keith manages to get the words out before he trails off into a yawn.

[spaceforged]

He lays back, leaving the blankets where they were. They won't need them. He rolls onto his side, back to Keith and head on the other side of the pillow. Hearing someone he trusts breathing nearby has become a source of comfort lately. Shiro blows out the lamp and the room is plunged into darkness.

"Sleep well, Keith." Knowing Keith is right here beside him is nice in a way he had never expected it to be. They can shield one another if trouble occurs and he knows exactly where he is. He shoves his thoughts aside and shuts his eyes, letting himself drift and finally, fall back asleep.

[lonered]

Keith is asleep almost immediately. It's one of his talents, honestly. He can drop to sleep in an instant. Staying is sometimes harder. But for now, he's out like a light, especially after the sort of day that he's had, and especially safe and sound and close. At some point as he sleeps, Keith gravitates closer, and then closer.

Shiro is warm and Keith is drawn straight to him, moth to a flame. By the time the older man wakes up, he'll find himself with company closer than before. Keith is tucked up against him, head settled between his shoulders, one arm draped over him.

Honestly it's the best Keith can remember sleeping in a very long time.

[spaceforged]

Sometime during the night, he'd leaned back into the warmth tucked up against him. He hasn't slept so soundly since his days in the Garrison. The hustle and bustle of the Shelter waking up and people moving through the halls doesn't rouse him. He'd have slept past his usual wake up time if he hadn't programmed an alarm into his watch.

The shrill sound cuts through the lull. Shiro opens his eyes and shuts it off. His eyes drift to the water and pills on the table. Had they...not put those away? He puts his hand on the bed and starts to rise only to stop.

Soft breathing, a warm body against his back...Shiro looks over his shoulder and his expression turns warm. He settles back down. He'll let Keith sleep.

[lonered]

Normally the sound of an alarm, or any sound really, would be enough to jerk Keith straight out of whatever sleep he may be in, no matter how deep. But. Maybe he's too warm or too content, or maybe the fact that he can feel the rise and fall of Shiro's chest as he breathes, he only buries his face more securely where he's got it tucked up against the other's back as if in denial of morning.

Except.

He does feel movement and slowly one violet eye cracks open to find himself pressed quite close up against a familiar, strong, broad back and oh. He definitely didn't start out this close last night.

Huh. He half wonders if he ought to move away, play it off, if he should be embarrassed that apparently he got clingy in his sleep. But there isn't a single cell in his body that wants to move at all that right now. So instead he shuts his eyes again and mumbles a sleepy, "'Morning, Shiro..."

[spaceforged]

“Morning...” He yawns and shifts just enough to snag the pills and water. They both need another dose. “Looks like we slept just fine.” He tosses a small smile over his shoulder at Keith. It’s not their usual closeness but he doesn’t mind it. Probably what kept them warm all night. “How’s your side?” His own is starting to twinge. The pain killers are wearing off.

It’s going to suck waiting for the new dose to kick in. He stretches a hair and resettles. He should get up and see what the healers can do. But Keith is really warm and his still sleep fogged mind is content to do nothing. Except maybe fall back asleep.

[spaceforged]

He crosses his arms over his chest and thinks that one over. “Really stupid. Pride can blind you but this general whoever they are has been smart enough until now to keep to the back. They have only fielded new recruits for the city slaughter. Then we made his best look ridiculous.

He has no idea what powers we have and we have the king who has great power of his own. That would mean dealing with us and the king they restricted and cut off...at the same time.” He wouldn’t do it. No way in hell. That is too much risk. “We should have watch shifts and scouts just in case. If they’re dumb enough to make that mistake. We’ll deal with it.”

[spaceforged]

His ribs will take more than one healing to mend and he knows it. He meets her look with a slow shrug of his shoulders. Not right now. Now he needs sleep first or any healing might be horribly taxing. He laughs. “Hopefully it won’t be too long until next time. We’ll both be here at the arena.”

And he’ll be passed the hell out a lot but. Details.

[lonered]

Keith peeks up just in time to catch that smile, and the embarrassment that he'd been determined not to feel creeps up on him. Damn it. But he still doesn't back off, stubborn as ever. Looks like we slept just fine. Shiro says. And the truth is, Keith is quite sure he's slept better than he probably should have, than he has in as far back as he can remember.

He hesitates at the question, before well, giving an answer that Shiro and his sense of humor ought to be proud of, "My side's great. So long as I don't move. Or breathe. Or stay still."

But fussing aside he adds. "It's not bad. I'm fine. What about you? How bad is the pain? You're breathing all right." The last part Keith knows because he's spent the night lulled to sleep by the sound of it. He's made no attempt to move either, to put any distance between them. Part of it is that he meant what he said. Moving hurts. But the majority is more due to how warm and comfortable he is. And the chance to actually keep Shiro in bed and resting is one that Keith doesn't think he can pass up.