Accidental Intentions

37 • Interrogation

"I have some questions," Shiro began.

Keith figured that was fair, he had some questions of his own. He leaned back on the door to the docking bay. A bit of an odd place for a private conversation, but Shiro seemed to think the farther Keith was from the Blue Paladin, the faster he would calm down. Keith hated to admit it, but the senior officer was probably right.

"Okay?" He answered in his best just-get-it-over-with-already tone.

Shiro started to knead the space between his eyebrows with his mechanical hand before he realized that it wasn't a good idea. It suprised Keith that he wasn't used to it yet. Sure, it had only been a year, but the way Shiro carried himself gave them all confidence in him. This little slip up made Keith realize just how not perfect -- how human -- Shiro truly was.

"I don't even know where to start," he admitted.

Keith shrugged. "Anywhere?"

"Okay, how about Katie? Where you involved in that at all?" Shiro's eyes grew hard.

"In what, exactly?" Keith questioned. "Last I saw her she was kicking me out of my room because she had to fix the shower right-fucking-now for whatever reason."

"She kicked you out?" Shiro repeated slowly as if confirming his statement in a court of law.

"Duh. It's my room. She all but shoved me out the door and pushed me into Lance's room. And because his stupid door is broken, I was locked in there, trapped with him, until you showed up and busted it down."

Shiro looked like he might jump on the 'duh,' but he clearly had more important things on his mind. He looked conflicted, like he wanted to believe Keith. But that would mean that Katie purposely lied to him and Keith wasn't sure that was a reality the Black Paladin was able to accept. So Shiro focused on another issue.

"So you and Lance..."

"What? Ew no! God Shiro!" Keith protested maybe a little too vehemently.

Shiro shrugged. "I had to ask. I know he does it to push your buttons. But that was a little..."

"Intimate?" Keith volunteered before immediately regretting it.

Shiro nodded. "I was going to say familiar, but yeah, intimate. You know, he would stop of you stopped giving him the reaction he wants."

Keith sucked in a big breath. "I know. Like, I know that. But in the moment it's just so irritating. He just makes me so angry. It's like I stop thinking."

Shiro's eyes melted into his smile as he placed a hand on Keith's arm. "Deep breaths. If it gets too much, come find me."

Just then the door slid open and Keith fell back through the opening.

"Careful there, my boy!" Coran cried out as he motioned to help Keith. "Didn't you see the signs?"

"Signs?" Keith repeated as he glanced at the brightly colored signs that peppered the area around the door. They were written in an alien alphabet. "You mean those?" He asked pointing.

"Yes! All those signs saying 'stay away from moving machinary', they are the ones I was referring to."

Shiro have Keith an affectionate pat on the back as he entered the hall. "I'll leave you to it then. I'll go deal with..." Shiro rolled his eyes meaningfully before leaving.

"Ah, Lancey boy? I heard some sort of ruckus earlier. He was the cause then?"

Keith crossed his arms. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Making mayhem everywhere he goes. Harrassing me in front of people, and he thinks it's funny!"

"Yes, that's Lancey boy for you. How he gets his fun, that one. And we could all use some more fun what with being the only thing between the Galra from taking over the universe and all."

Keith exhaled sharply through his nose in a soundless snort of mirthless annoyance, "Fun for him maybe. And it might have been fun for the others at one point, but not anymore. It's just...I wouldn't mind some fun of my own."

Coran stroked his mustache, "Yes, I see your point. Alright!"-- he clapped his hands, making Keith jump --"I have a proposition for you! Wanna ruin it for him?"

Keith took in the shining eyes and was a bit intimidated at the Altean's enthusiasm. "Okay?"

"Alright! Time to begin Operation Give-Lancey-Boy-A-Taste-Of-His-Own-Medicine!"