[closed] Colour in my sheltered mind

[galrad]

Who: Shiro and Keith
When: Before the full moon
Where: The Coven and other
What: Boys bonding
Warnings: Feelings. Dumb boys being dumb. Will update as necessary!

[ The full moon is coming; they both knew it. Keith wondered if Shiro could sense it, too. Keith certainly could- his magic itching beneath his skin, more volatile and unpredictable than he had ever known it to be. He'd already been lighting one too many things on fire. The last thing Keith wanted was to hurt someone- to hurt Kosmo, or to harm the home that he and Hiccup were building.

Despite knowing what the answer to mend this matter was, that he knew Shiro would say yes- Keith still felt... awkward about asking. Perhaps childishly shy. It wasn't as if they hadn't done bonding exercises before; it wasn't as if back in the Castle of Lions Coran hadn't guided them through meditative exercises designed to get into one another's heads. It's no big deal- it shouldn't be. He was just thinking too much on it, that was all...

Still, he'd felt like an idiot when he'd asked. 'Do you want to form a bond? Officially?' he'd asked, and it was all he could do not to blush. At least Shiro had said yes. At least Keith hadn't had to immediately die upon the spot, retreat deeper into the woods where no one would ever find him, and never return.

So now... there they were. Meeting outside of the Coven in order to make it official, Keith feeling anxious about it despite himself. ]

You know, it isn't too late to back out. [ He was trying to sound jovial about it; trying to play it off as a joke. Trying to ignore how sweaty his palms were, how his throat felt tight and his heart rate wouldn't slow down. Stupid, to be nervous like this. It was just a bond... no big deal, right? ]

Comments

[galrad]

[ Shiro's hand on his back made Keith's skin burn- a comfortable warmth that he tried to refuse from alighting on his cheeks, too. He moved forward, not quite sure what to do with his own hands- wanting to put them on Shiro, wanting to tell him again and again that this was right, that this was what he wanted-

Well, actions would speak just as loudly, he knew. So he walked forward confidently, walking towards the witch who would oversee them, explaining that they were there for the bonding ceremony- briefly casting a fond, familiar smile to Shiro, his heart racing with anticipation.

The next thing Keith knew they had been lead into a circle; were facing each other, guided to hold hands. ]

You know, this feels a little like a wedding. [ Keith said off-handedly, blushing now despite himself even as he smiled, laughed softly, unable to quite meet Shiro's eyes as he said it- but finally bringing them up to look at Shiro. ]

[baeyard]

[ Shiro lets his hand fall objectively to his side, following just an inch behind Keith as they move in. Shiro, always formal and warm, greets and shakes the hand of their overseer with a warm thank you and appreciation. Even if it was a standard procedure, it mattered. Shiro returns the smile, a little larger, a little warmer, and playfully bumps his shoulder into Keith before any more instructions come. Keith still looks unseasonably nervous. He mirrors Keith as they're given each instruction to start the ritual, his eyes on the witch at many parts. He needs less guidance than Keith does, willfully taking both hands in his own as if all of this was right in its place. It felt easy and natural, as he had expected from the beginning. His eyes are on the witch, waiting for further instruction before he hears Keith's voice.

"Feels like a wedding..." Out of Keith's sight, his expression changes ever so slightly, as if the thought had never occurred to him. It does, doesn't it? Old memories bubble up; never a proposal, but certainly talk of marriage. Moments that felt just right. Flustered but comfortable words shared between two best friends. The memories of Adam feel like those of another lifetime; and no different than memories had that long ago, they're lost again as this new memory replaces them.

The warm glow suits him, Shiro thinks as his eyes search Keith's countenance. He's rather handsome; certainly not the first time Shiro has come to that conclusion. His hands feel soft; that or he's convinced himself that they are. He knows his own have always felt rough; but unbeknownst to him, his tender grip on Keith's hand is no different than the strength Shiro feels in his own.

When he looks up at the same time as Keith, he wonders if his friend had seen him staring. His now yellow eyes grow round and wide, nearly as black as they had been before Aefenglom had changed him. ] It does, doesn't it? [ He whispers. Even in the warm light, he realizes how red Keith's cheeks have become and all at once, it hits him.

It makes sense now why Keith was so nervous outside.

Abruptly, Shiro's heart pounds. An indescribable shift in his expression marks the moment the lightbulb bursts. It's like the first string on the gordian knot tied their red strings together had finally been tugged at and Shiro is staring down at the depths of an ocean he had only intended to boat across. The witch continues her rhetoric, but Shiro hears nothing. His eyes, his mind, his heart are untangling and he's left raw. At the mention of vows, he makes no motion. Of all the people in all the universes... him and Keith? ]

[galrad]

[ Once, Keith had thought that he would guard his feelings against the world for the rest of his life. Once he had been committed to the act of walling himself off from everyone and everything, lashing out at anyone who tried to push too close, to get to know him. It all felt like a lifetime ago, now. A lifetime since that fateful day when the Garrison had showed up at his school, looking for the next round of talented recruits. Keith had known he could blow them all away- but he also knew they'd never take a hopeless case like him.

He'd been right, when he'd overheard his own teachers talking about how surely they wanted someone more like Griffin- someone who wasn't half such a problem as Keith was. So Keith had done what he'd always done in those kinds of situations until then- and he'd set himself to self-destruct. To fail himself, before they could fail him.

And even though he'd stolen Shiro's car- even though he didn't know Keith from a hole in the ground, Shiro had reached out to him. Bailed him out. Given him hope. Seen something in him that not even Keith had been willing to admit he had.

Is it any surprise that... somewhere along the way Keith had fallen for him? Fallen for that?

And oh, how he had tried to deny it. Had tried to keep it wrapped up and buried deep. Shiro had other things on his mind- they both did. But now? Here? Every day it was harder and harder to keep his own emotions from spilling over. From doing something foolish, like spilling his heart. Shiro didn't need that... not when he had so much on his plate already.

Bonding would change things, or at least... That's what he'd been told. But he could handle it, right? Even with both of their emotions shared, their thoughts too to some extent- surely Keith could still repress it enough not to unintentionally push Shiro away. Or maybe it would drive a wedge between them.

Keith didn't know.

There was only one way to find out.

He was only peripherally listening to the witch, his heart pounding even as he softly squeezed Shiro's hands in his own, gave a gentle, reassuring smile as the witch asked if there was anything they would like to say. ]

Cat got your tongue? [ Keith asked, voice soft as he teased the other, would have nudged him with his elbow if they were side by side. Instead squeezed Shiro's hands. ] I can go first, if you want.

[baeyard]

[ Keith's voice brings him back. ]

Er, yeah, I'd like that.

[ Still, he feels a bit guilty. Even if he understands how Keith feels, he'd have to sort himself out first. Things have always been complex between them, but the paths between them were well-traversed. Even if these are threads and layers he'd never considered before, Keith is his best friend. They'd make it out fine, one way or another. ]