Shiro snarls at the guards who shove him into the cell. Bastards think it's funny to make him kill then lock him away. He's half tempted to attack them despite their better armaments and numbers. See how they like fighting to survive on the whims of others.
They laugh. Know he won't make good on his threat. Punishments not worth the satisfaction, so he watches as they slam the heavy metal of the door closed and go on their way.
"Shiro?" Keith is there, as if appearing from the ether itself. His hands tugging at the hole in his clothes where a claw just barely missed tearing skin, "Are you okay?" Shiro can see the others in the cell taking interest. The Champion, fresh from a fight, allowing himself to be touched without permission. They're zeroing in on Keith, noting him as a potential weakness.
Shiro catches his wrist, holds it away from him, "I'm fine," He is, barely a bruise. They didn't even take him to see the medic before dragging him back to the cell. Keith isn't, though. Shiro zeroes in on the slight swell of Keith's busted lip. That wasn't there when he left. Guards? No, the damage would be more severe. When they hit a prisoner, they were making a point, an object lesson. Must have been one of the prisoners. "Who?" Shiro runs his thumb across the injury.
There is no confusion about what he's talking about. Keith grits his teeth, glares up at him, "I handled it," Keith says, the slightest rumble in his voice. Challenging Shiro, daring him to push things further. This is not the place for this. Too many unfriendly eyes. There is no privacy in the crowded cells, but there are locations that are not center stage.
He strides forward, tows Keith along behind him by the wrist he still hasn't let go. Heads towards the least occupied part of the cell. A look and the current resident of the back corner evacuates. He puts his back to the wall, pulls Keith with him. The implication is clear. This is between the Champion and his mate, go back to your conversations or else.
"Who?" He asks again, just barely above a whisper. He won't ignore someone hurting Keith. He's too precious to him for that.
Keith yanks his wrist out of Shiro's grip, "I can defend myself," Keith hisses back.
"That's not the point," Shiro says, a little too loudly. He can see an nearby alien's ear twitch in interest.
"Then what is the point?" Keith retorts, getting close. There is barely an inch between their faces.
"You shouldn't-" Shiro stops. He doesn't know what comes next. Not in words. He just knows Keith shouldn't have to defend himself from this range of prisoners and criminals. He shouldn't be here, period. The younger alpha should have never seen the inside of Galra cell.
"Exactly," Keith says lowly, "I'm not a child. Don't you dare treat me like one." Shiro clenches his jaws. Digs his nails into his palms, as frustration bubbles up.
"I don't think you're a child," Shiro hisses back, "I just, just…" Shiro spots one of the other prisoner edging closer. Trying to eavesdrop over the noise of everyone else in the cell talking. He growls at the interluding alien. This is his space with his mate. His. If the prisoner knows what's good for them, they'll turn around and go back the way they came.
Keith adds his snarl to Shiro's own and the alien turns tail and flees. Keith seems to deem that the end of the argument. Shiro, despite his churning mind, still can't figure out how to vocalize his reasons to protect in a way that won't insult the other alpha, so when Keith sits down, he follows. The warm press of his mate by his side isn't as comforting as it should be. The sensation is a constant reminder of how wrong this situation is.
One of his few comforts in his last captivity was that at least Keith was safe at home. Now he has dragged his mate into this hell with him. He hasn't been forced to fight yet, but it's only a matter of time until his hands have to be stained with the blood of the innocents too. He hates that he hopes that happens. That the other option, that Keith won't come back the first time he's taken from the cell, is too hard to contemplate.
At some point, the smaller alpha finds his way into Shiro's lap, and nods off snuggled against his chest. He can't follow him, no matter how much he tries. He knows he used to be able to sleep on these hard floors, with potential hostiles all around, but a little time in the safety of the Castle has robbed him of that ability. Every time sleep approaches him, the image of someone sneaking up on them renders him wide awake once again.
It's nightmarish, and also why, when they finally do come for Keith, Shiro is conscious to see them.
Note:
This will likely have one or two sequels.