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It was weird how long it'd been since they'd gotten some time to just relax and breathe. Longer still since Keith and Shiro had time to just chat and catch up and Keith hated that fact. So the second they were all good, no danger of being attacked at any second, no people to save, no repairs or injuries or anything else stopping them, the first thing he did was go over to Shiro's room with some of his and the older man's favourite snacks and knock on the door.
"Keith?" Shiro opened the door and looked at him in pleasant surprise. Now that he was actually faced with the older man he considered his brother, Keith didn't actually know what to say. It seemed Shiro had him covered though, since Keith soon found himself in the other man's embrace.
"Hi."
"I was just about to come looking for you," Shiro laughed.
"Can I come in and put this stuff away so I can hug you properly?" Keith asked hesitantly, and Shiro let him go.
"Of course, sorry. Come in." He stepped back to let Keith in and the younger paladin walked inside, dumping the snacks on the first table he saw and then turning and wrapping his arms tightly around Shiro.
"I missed you," he said, as arms wrapped around him again.
"We saw each other every day for the past week but, yeah I get what you mean. These past few years have been crazy huh? Haven't really gotten too much time to just hang out with you anymore."
"Yeah."
They broke apart and stood awkwardly for a few seconds before Shiro led him to the couch. "Wanna watch something while we talk?"
Keith grinned, something that had somehow become so rare for him. Don't think about that now, this is time to have fun and forget.
"Sure."
They talked about everything but Voltron and space so they didn't have to talk about the elephants in the room. Keith finally filled Shiro in on just about everything he'd done after the Kerberos mission had been reported a disaster, and Shiro talked about all the funny things that had happened to him since he'd left Earth, however rare those things had been.
Eventually, they ran out of catching up to do and talked about their favourite things from their space travels, together and alone. The weirdest creatures they'd met, familiar foods, languages, names, planets. Everything.
It was the most the two of them had laughed or smiled in a long while. Too many things had changed, not all of them good.
The conversation inevitably reached a lull, and that's where the tv in the background kept the situation from becoming awkward. Keith pretended not to notice Shiro's glances in his direction, just as he was sure Shiro was ignoring his own subtle looks in the other's direction.
Suddenly Shiro spoke up.
"Hey, I know almost everything that's happened in your life now, but you didn't really explain everything. Like that scar on your face? How'd that happen? Who did this," - Shiro made a small motion with his finger to illustrate - "to you?"
Keith froze. He'd so been hoping that it'd never come up. Ever. He didn't want to talk about that with Shiro, the way the one person he'd cared about most and who had cared about him at a time no one had been twisted and used against him. The one person he trusted with everything now fuelling his nightmares.
"Keith? I mean you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I just assumed there was some cool story behind it that's all."
He hated how Shiro's tone had become hesitant, delicate just like the concerned eyes. He hadn't wanted that to happen. This was supposed to be a fun hang-out to catch up and relax.
"Keith, what's wrong? Who did that to you? Do I need to be worried?"
"No." He turned to look at Shiro, faking a smile. "It's nothing, really. Want something to drink? I know I'm getting a little thirsty- "
"Keith." There was a hint of warning in Shiro's tone, but it was borne of apprehension. Still, Keith hated the way he had to stop himself from flinching.
"Shiro, please. You don't want to know. I don't want to do that to you."
Shiro looked confused now. "What? What are you talking about, that doesn't make sense."
"Just forget it."
"Do I need to talk to someone or…"
"Shiro, just let it be," he pleaded in a whisper, but he could tell that he'd scared Shiro now and the older man was worried, for him, so he wouldn't just drop it.
Shiro's eyes were studying him, likely weighing the options. Finally, the older man sighed.
"Okay."
"What?"
"If you really don't want to tell me then I won't force you. But if there's anything I need to do, anyone I need to take care of then you need to let me know." Shiro held his arms open and Keith leaned into them.
"Just take care of yourself, Shiro. That's all I need," Keith said, finally able to relax.