[The sounds Shiro makes in answer is stifled. He's always known Keith would make a good leader. For all his impulsiveness, he sees the big picture and he will defend his team to the death without a thought. He's young and is - was inexperienced but - they all learned on the fly. No matter what instructors tried to tell you, you didn't learn leadership until you were doing it. Shiro is proud of Keith for stepping up, maybe more than most, because he knows, completely the burden he was asking the younger paladin to shoulder when he gave it.
...
and deep in his heart of hearts...
Shiro wants his team back.
Its selfish because they give him a reason to keep going every day, give him a reason to fight harder, to push himself further. They give him meaning, they give him a place. And no matter how willing he will be to step aside if someone else better for them comes along, if they've decided to follow Keith instead because he's their peer - deep down in the darkness of him that he doesn't share, he wants his team back under his wings. He wants to lead them again.
Which he isn't about to share at the moment, no matter how much Keith's words make his heart lift in hope in his chest and swell almost painfully. That - his position is still there for him, his place hasn't been taken, he's still wanted and needed. But there's too much still up in the air, too much going on he isn't aware of, so much he's missed and he doesn't even know how long he's been missing or what the team has become while he's been gone.
Whether Black is still his or not...
Later. He'll deal with it all later. At the moment the only priority is getting out of here and he can already feel his body trying to betray him, his steps starting to lose their ability to land and support weight. Only the promise of his team - and Keith's grip on him the way his friend anchors his mind as well - keep him stubbornly going.
the hanger door is taking forever to open. Or it isn't. It just feels that way. Buy time. Shiro needs to buy them time, those last few precious seconds. Trusting Keith to steer, and be aware of in front, Shiro twists. It's incredibly painful and the sound chokes out of him but it lets him slip his arm off Keith's shoulders, aim the gun back down the hall while leaning against the other paladin and fire off a steady round of shots.
His aim is atrocious and even though he was never the best shot in his class, even the worst was better than him currently. But it peppers down the entire hallway, sends sparks and smoke and electric everywhere. And, often enough, manages to hit either the airlock door or close enough to it that the raiders inside stop trying to lose their limbs and possible lives with his erratic shots and don't get it pried open any further.
It also takes the last of his energy and he sags, gun dropping, wave of vertigo and nausea washing over him. The raiders wouldn't stay cowed for long. Just - hopefully long enough. The joke comes out weak.]
Cargo temporarily secured. Ready for lift-off, captain.
I like rambly!
...
and deep in his heart of hearts...
Shiro wants his team back.
Its selfish because they give him a reason to keep going every day, give him a reason to fight harder, to push himself further. They give him meaning, they give him a place. And no matter how willing he will be to step aside if someone else better for them comes along, if they've decided to follow Keith instead because he's their peer - deep down in the darkness of him that he doesn't share, he wants his team back under his wings. He wants to lead them again.
Which he isn't about to share at the moment, no matter how much Keith's words make his heart lift in hope in his chest and swell almost painfully. That - his position is still there for him, his place hasn't been taken, he's still wanted and needed. But there's too much still up in the air, too much going on he isn't aware of, so much he's missed and he doesn't even know how long he's been missing or what the team has become while he's been gone.
Whether Black is still his or not...
Later. He'll deal with it all later. At the moment the only priority is getting out of here and he can already feel his body trying to betray him, his steps starting to lose their ability to land and support weight. Only the promise of his team - and Keith's grip on him the way his friend anchors his mind as well - keep him stubbornly going.
the hanger door is taking forever to open. Or it isn't. It just feels that way. Buy time. Shiro needs to buy them time, those last few precious seconds. Trusting Keith to steer, and be aware of in front, Shiro twists. It's incredibly painful and the sound chokes out of him but it lets him slip his arm off Keith's shoulders, aim the gun back down the hall while leaning against the other paladin and fire off a steady round of shots.
His aim is atrocious and even though he was never the best shot in his class, even the worst was better than him currently. But it peppers down the entire hallway, sends sparks and smoke and electric everywhere. And, often enough, manages to hit either the airlock door or close enough to it that the raiders inside stop trying to lose their limbs and possible lives with his erratic shots and don't get it pried open any further.
It also takes the last of his energy and he sags, gun dropping, wave of vertigo and nausea washing over him. The raiders wouldn't stay cowed for long. Just - hopefully long enough. The joke comes out weak.]
Cargo temporarily secured. Ready for lift-off, captain.