Fifth Glow [Legendary Seekers Video]

[heartofalioness]

[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?

Comments

[heartofalioness]

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.]

[tempredmental]

[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.]

[heartofalioness]

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...

[tempredmental]

[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.