victory_road | Fifth Glow [Legendary Seekers Video]

Entry tags:

Fifth Glow [Legendary Seekers Video]

[The camera... doesn't pick up much light at first. Looks like someone is underground, possibly in one of those new, definitely unstable tunnels.]

All right, it's fine, Allura. Just keep going with Water Pulse, keep a map, and you can get out. You have plenty of rations for just such a scenario...

[Chumirra the Azumarill takes a second from Water Pulsing with Tirlan the Quaquaval to give Allura a quick nuzzle. Echolocation can wait, it's important to give Trainer emotional support. Allura gives a soft sigh, but also a smile a a light ruffle between the blue ears.]

We'll be all right. Although I have sharp words for Shiro after this... [Another deep breath.] At least we aren't trapped, just... turned around.

[Aaand then she notices the light on the top of her gear is blinking.]

Is this broadcasting? [She'd tried at the start; maybe they have a good enough signal now.] Hello? Can anyone hear us?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Having pocketed the moss for the Seekers, Keith was grumpy as they started to make their way back to the exit.]

I'll wait for you outside.

[Though, really, with her Escape Rope and his limp, she'd probably get there first...]

[And here comes Shiro right behind, clasping a hand on his shoulder.]

She's just trying to be a good partner.

[Even if he's getting bossed around too.]

[Okay good. Now Allura pulls out the Escape Rope and activates it, and within seconds, she's standing outside the entrance to the tunnel, waiting for the both of them.]

[Keith huffed a tiny sigh through his nose and then nodded, the grumpiness softening slightly.]

Yeah, I know.

[He couldn't really blame her. He'd be just as stubborn if the situation was reversed. And he knew she'd be just as stubborn as he was being, too. They were an awful lot alike sometimes.

He was quiet the rest of the climb back out, moving quickly to give her a hug once they were outside.]

You sure you're okay? [Keith quickly looked Allura over, taking a surface level assessment.]

[It's the most uneventful climb out. He's privately a little disappointed - it'd be fun! Battling underground. Maybe. But that's internal monologue Shiro, who doesn't get a say.]

[And he just kind of waves. With his good hand. Once they're out.]

[Allura returns the hug eagerly, nuzzling Keith's cheek a bit before pulling back to look at him.]

I am now. [A very brief peck to the corner of his mouth before she reaches out a hand to Shiro.] And you two are as well?

[Keith nodded quickly, though he was likely going to feel this later and need to ice that ankle.]

Yeah, I'm okay.

[He held her hand firmly, trying to mentally bring himself down from that rush of anxiety now that they were reunited.]

Yep. No harm done.

[And hey, mission successful. He found some kind of fancy feather!]

Good.

[A soft sigh... and she tries to keep the Look she throws at both of them soft too.]

If either of you decide to aggravate significant injuries in a non-emergency situation like that again, I will have our heaviest Pokémon sit on you for a week. I know that you were trying to protect us, Keith- which I knew would happen, which is why I didn't want Shiro to go down there- but what the quiznak were YOU thinking, Shiro?

[Oof... Lecture time... Keith just lowered his head a bit. He hated being lectured. But then he shifted his gaze towards Shiro when Allura singled him out.

Hm... good point. Just what had he been thinking?]

That I had two good legs, one good arm, and a lot of strong pokemon with me - look. It's fine.

Can we not do this?

[It all ended up all right, they don't need to be so darned concerned.]

[More. Looks. ... But then Allura relents.]

For now. [A soft sigh.] And I will try to be more careful as well.

[Keith took a breath and then it out in a small sigh.]

Yeah. I'll try, too.

[He was quiet for a moment, and then reached into his bag and pulled out a PokeBall. When it popped open, the giant Wyrdeer Keith had inherited from Thace came out.]

Either of you want a ride?

[Prex was large enough to carry a second person.]

[It's still grating. After all this time, being fussed over for "his health" is still grating.]

No, I'm good. I've got Kuro.

[And a walk will help cool his head.]

[Ah... she wonders if she pressed to far, curling in a bit even as she gives Keith a soft smile. Best to give Shiro some space then.]

I'm fine as well, but I'd love your company, husband.

[Wyrdeer for two, then.]

[Keith took a deep breath and then reached over to put his hand on Shiro's good shoulder.]

You'd do the same for us.

[He gave him a tiny smile and then got up on Prex's back. He reached down to offer Allura a hand up.]

[It's his problem - it's not something he wants to foist off on them. He'll deal with it. Walk it off, figure it out. It's... it's going to be fine. He'll work it out.]

Yeah, yeah. See you guys at home?

[Kuro, at least, has the decency to throw an apologetic look over Shiro's shoulder at the other two. Sorry his Trainer is like this.]

[A nod to Shiro, and then she takes Keith's hand to hoist herself up, wrapping her arms around his waist as soon as she was settled.]

I wasn't too hard on either of you, was I? I was just worried...

[Keith helped pull, and then gave a somewhat concerned, and maybe a little rejected, look towards Shiro. He nodded.]

Yeah. See ya there.

[He nudged Prex to start moving. Once they were away a bit, he shrugged a little at Allura's question.]

I dunno. I've uh... Well, I've never been great with being lectured. [He was definitely aware of that.] And, I guess, in some ways, Shiro and I are kind of alike in some stuff. That's probably one of them. [Though, Keith was feeling a bit off in regards to some other things about Shiro...]

I know. [She sighs into his shoulder.] I tried not to go overboard, but… I just don’t know how else to say “that was dangerous, please don’t do that again.”

[It also doesn’t help that Shiro has been off-balance for the past few months, but getting either “-gane” brother to talk about emotions is like pulling teeth.]

[Keith frowned a bit in thought.]

He gets kind of frustrated when people... I don't know how to really say it. [But he remembered what had happened back home with Adam.] He just hates people thinking he's... delicate? [Keith sighed.] I don't know how much he'd be willing to let me tell you.

[After all, Keith had to practically pry the information out of Shiro himself, and they were practically brothers.]

But, it's kind of a sensitive thing for him. And, when people... fuss, I guess, he gets kind of defensive about it... like he has to prove he's strong enough and capable.

[Though, mostly... this kind of insight was something Keith had figured out later on in life. And, it bothered him when Shiro tried to push him off like this about these things because Keith was so sensitive to rejection. That was why Keith was upset at the moment... not so much Allura's lecture, but the fact that he felt like Shiro was kneejerk shoving him away again. And he hated being pushed away, most of all by Shiro.]

I can understand somewhat.

[Allura guarded her emotional pain dearly when she first met the paladins after all.]

It would have been different if he wasn't injured, or even if he had someone go with him. And I knew you would go after him instantly, and you're still healing as well. Of course I know you two can handle situations like this, but alone and injured like this? ... Although clearly it was a bad idea for me to go alone as well...

[Keith took a breath and then nodded.]

I mean, I do appreciate you going after him because I do worry. [He pinched some of Prex's fur between his fingers, rolling it absently as the Wyrdeer made his way back to the house.]

He's important to me, and I've come so close to losing him before. It's... a lot. [He let out a sigh that was loaded with emotion. Yes, Keith had been lucky in that he'd gotten back two of the people he'd lost in his life... Shiro being one of them, and Keith had lost him and got him back a few times. But he'd also not gotten back the other two, and that still hurt.]

It does bother me, though... when he does this. Like, keeps people away. I know he doesn't mean to hurt anyone with it and he has his reasons, but he wanted so bad for me not to keep him at arm's length, it feels... weird... when he does it back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fifth Glow [Legendary Seekers Video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject