Accidental Intentions

9 • Frustration

Keith was not expecting this from Shiro.

Once everyone left, Shiro turned on him. But instead of delivering the lecture Keith expected, he fired up his mechanical hand and took a swipe at him.

Keith jumped back, only narrowly escaping being slashed across his bare chest. He had only just processed what had happened when Shiro came at him again. This time, he caught Shiro's arm, attempting to use his momentum to throw him to the ground.

But Shiro was ready for him. Using the inhuman strength in his arm, he whipped it back towards him. Keith didn't have time to let go, causing him to be caught off balance. As he came crashing towards his opponent, Shiro side-stepped out of the way. Keith was only just able to find his footing before he smashed into the floor.

And then Shiro came at him again. And again. And again.

Each time, he caught Keith off guard, but backing down from a follow-up blow. Like he was toying with him. This made Keith's anger, already at dangerous heights, explode. He charged head on, attacking with all his might, but every time, Shiro redirected his punches.

"Focus, Keith."

Keith took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before springing forward again.

"Too slow. Think."

Keith vocalized his frustrations in the form of a animalistic snarl.

"You're charging straight ahead every time. Try something different," Shiro hinted.

Immediately, Keith remembered how he called Lance an idiot for attacking the enemy head-on. And here he was doing the same thing. Repeatedly. But failing. Repeatedly.

I'm the idiot, he thought.

Keith closed his eyes and took another deep breath. Shiro had stopped initiating the attacks a while ago, opting instead to wait for Keith to come at him.

He tried to think back to the previous clashes. Every time, Shiro defended with his right arm. His mechanical arm.

Keith was moving before he had opened his eyes fully, circling in from Shiro's left. He ducked under the Black Paladin's guard, positioning his foot behind Shiro's and sweeping back as he pushed through with his arm and shoulder, throwing the senior officer to the ground.

Shiro looked surprised and then smiled. "Good."
But before Keith could feel good about himself, Shiro was back on the offensive.

He only managed to out-smart Shiro a few more times before he fell to the floor, utterly spent. Shiro too, was leaning his palms on his knees, breathing heavy.

"You did well. It's been a while since we last sparred like that," Shiro praised.

"You didn't have that infernal arm last time," Keith pointed out.

Shiro brought his hand up to his face and bunched it into a fist, watching the mechanisms fit into place with a gentle whir. "Yes, well..."

Keith let loose a relaxed chuckle. Not that anything was funny. No, he just loved these moments with Shiro. The easy atmosphere, the feeling of someone looking out for him. Not a parent exactly, more like an older brother.

"Do you feel better?"

Keith nodded. He felt much better.

"Go get cleaned up before dinner, then."
lu
Keith looked at the clock, amazed how much time had passed. "'Kay."

"Don't kill anyone."

"'Kay."