[Shiro watches him without turning his head, letting him try to get out what's inside and doing his best to not just understand it - because he understands it just fine - but to figure out what will help Keith the most to hear.
After a minute, he inhales and then lets it out slow. And he goes with the truth.]
I know. I know that being different can be frightening. You think you know who you are and then you realize there are pieces of yourself you didn't know about before. What if those pieces change you, what if they've been changing you and you never realized it. What if those pieces take over or react in ways you don't expect and betray you. [Shiro lifts his metal hand, flexes the fingers, slowly lets it sink to rest on his thigh again. And he looks back at Keith.] All you can do is the best you can. Each day doing the best you can. And then doing it again the next day. You may have to adjust. Some days you might fail. But you have to keep going. Because that's how you win in the end. That's how you make sure you stay or become, the you that you're determined to be.
[Reaching out Shiro lightly pressed his human knuckles against Keith's chest, right in the center of his rib cage and he pushes, just enough to put pressure there.]
You decide who you are. And then you make it happen. And you keep making it happen every day. Whoever your mother was, whatever she did or didn't do, whatever blood runs through your veins - you decide what that means. And you don't let anyone else take that away from you.
no subject
After a minute, he inhales and then lets it out slow. And he goes with the truth.]
I know. I know that being different can be frightening. You think you know who you are and then you realize there are pieces of yourself you didn't know about before. What if those pieces change you, what if they've been changing you and you never realized it. What if those pieces take over or react in ways you don't expect and betray you. [Shiro lifts his metal hand, flexes the fingers, slowly lets it sink to rest on his thigh again. And he looks back at Keith.] All you can do is the best you can. Each day doing the best you can. And then doing it again the next day. You may have to adjust. Some days you might fail. But you have to keep going. Because that's how you win in the end. That's how you make sure you stay or become, the you that you're determined to be.
[Reaching out Shiro lightly pressed his human knuckles against Keith's chest, right in the center of his rib cage and he pushes, just enough to put pressure there.]
You decide who you are. And then you make it happen. And you keep making it happen every day. Whoever your mother was, whatever she did or didn't do, whatever blood runs through your veins - you decide what that means. And you don't let anyone else take that away from you.