[As this night would have it, Keith is on the observation deck. It's not the same as on the Castle of Lions, but it brings back old memories enough as it is by virtue of what it is: a place he and his best friend would come to think, center oneself, and confide in another.
Now it's only himself that has to, he supposes. Shiro doesn't need to anymore.
Keith has been kept up by more than a few nightmares. He'd thought so many things when Allura helped pull Shiro's soul from the Black Lion, after Shiro had fallen comfortably into his arms, how they'd fallen into even closer step for a while only for Shiro to pull away. As if he didn't want to be near Keith. It hurt. It hurt deeper than the scar on his face, making it hard to smile fully. He wonders if he even has a reason to anymore.]
Hm?
[Someone's on deck behind him and he turns to look.] Romelle?
[ Being separated from each other has done none of the paladins any good, but she sees it most in Keith. It's hard to open up to people and then they just... leave. Romelle understands. First, she lost her family and friends on the Colony. Now, her only other family is scattered across the universe. It's lonely. She sees that loneliness in Keith too.
Romelle turns and smiles. She moves over to his side, a comfortable distance between them. ]
I was looking for you. [ A small, nervous laugh. ] You always seem to appear when I need you.
[Romelle has been a pleasant friend. He hadn't known what to expect when he found the Altean colony on its own, but he's been glad to have met her. She's good company and a good traveling companion, he and Krolia found out.
Before he can respond in kind, Kosmo poofs next to him on his other side, nosing at his hand concerned. He lets out a small breath, then smiles tiredly.]
I guess I'm good for something still. Glad to be here then?
[ Romelle is, if nothing else, very honest about her feelings. Keith, on the other hand, seems to be holding some burden she doesn't understand. Not yet, anyway.
She bites her lip and places her hand on his shoulder. ]
[He lowers his gaze a little, then looks at Romelle again.] Did you want to make a stop at New Altea?
[Maybe seeing more of her people would help her. Not that it would heal old wounds of her brother and the colony she grew up with; he knows that better than anyone. But maybe it could help her loneliness just a little.]
[ Romelle sighs very slightly. New Altea is nice, she's sure, but it's not home. Her people made their decision when they labeled her a traitor. They may welcome her with open arms now, but that rejection and loneliness is part of her now.
She shakes her head. ]
Another time perhaps.
[ She toys with the ends of her sleeves. ] I would rather be with you.
[ With him, with the other paladins, with Krolia and the Cosmic Wolf. For as open-hearted as she is, Romelle isn't sure that she could explain what they all mean to her. ]
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Now it's only himself that has to, he supposes. Shiro doesn't need to anymore.
Keith has been kept up by more than a few nightmares. He'd thought so many things when Allura helped pull Shiro's soul from the Black Lion, after Shiro had fallen comfortably into his arms, how they'd fallen into even closer step for a while only for Shiro to pull away. As if he didn't want to be near Keith. It hurt. It hurt deeper than the scar on his face, making it hard to smile fully. He wonders if he even has a reason to anymore.]
Hm?
[Someone's on deck behind him and he turns to look.] Romelle?
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Romelle turns and smiles. She moves over to his side, a comfortable distance between them. ]
I was looking for you. [ A small, nervous laugh. ] You always seem to appear when I need you.
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Before he can respond in kind, Kosmo poofs next to him on his other side, nosing at his hand concerned. He lets out a small breath, then smiles tiredly.]
I guess I'm good for something still. Glad to be here then?
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[ Romelle is, if nothing else, very honest about her feelings. Keith, on the other hand, seems to be holding some burden she doesn't understand. Not yet, anyway.
She bites her lip and places her hand on his shoulder. ]
What is wrong?
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Just seems a little empty in here, is all.
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I know what you mean.
[ Quietly: ] It feels lonely. Sometimes it even feels lonely when others are around.
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[He lowers his gaze a little, then looks at Romelle again.] Did you want to make a stop at New Altea?
[Maybe seeing more of her people would help her. Not that it would heal old wounds of her brother and the colony she grew up with; he knows that better than anyone. But maybe it could help her loneliness just a little.]
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She shakes her head. ]
Another time perhaps.
[ She toys with the ends of her sleeves. ] I would rather be with you.
[ With him, with the other paladins, with Krolia and the Cosmic Wolf. For as open-hearted as she is, Romelle isn't sure that she could explain what they all mean to her. ]