Keith makes his way back to his room and sits down on the bed, taking off his boots and skinny jeans, and sliding under the blankets.
His arm had started to hurt even more after Lance had bumped it, and he just wants to try and get some sleep, wishing for some painless hours.
Keith has broken bones before – his left wrist, in his first year at the Garrison, three ribs after a fight with a senior who was bullying him, a leg, right before he was expelled – but he doesn't remember any of those times hurting this bad. It has been two days and he hasn't had a decent night of sleep since then. And as much as Shiro insists that wearing the sling is necessary for the bone to heal fast, it really doesn't feel like it.
He shifts in the mattress, trying to find a comfortable position. With a groan, he sits up, frees his broken arm and throws the sling against the wall, lying back down again.
It works – he doesn't feel so uncomfortable or restricted anymore, and he's finally able to lay on his side, his usual sleeping position. He is snoring in a matter of minutes.
"It's hurting more, isn't it?'" Shiro stands behind the sofa in front of Keith, his tone cold and accusatory.
When Keith had shown up for lunch without the sling, Shiro had decided not to bother him about it. He knew bringing up the issue would just make Keith irritable again, and he would rather not raise tensions again. And if he was to be honest, Keith did look more comfortable with his arm free.
Keith was very much relieved when Shiro didn't say anything. He had been afraid of another fight, which was pretty much the last thing he wanted at the moment.
Waking up from his nap before lunch, his arm felt a lot better – apparently getting it free from the sling had relieved some tension, and his shoulder and back didn't ache as much anymore. When Shiro didn't say anything, Keith wanted to believe that Shiro was just being over protective, but finally realized Keith was able to take care of himself.
Because, all of those times Keith had broken a bone, he had been looked after – twice by Shiro. And while he trusted him enough in what concerned medical issues, Keith was pretty sure Shiro had exaggerated this time.
However, in the afternoon, the pain came back gradually, only a dull ache at first, but quickly escalating to the throbbing pain he had felt earlier, and after dinner it was only worse. Worse to the point that everyone could see Keith wasn't okay, especially Shiro, who was already keeping a close eye on him.
Keith was about to go to bed when Lance stopped him, asking why he wouldn't stay in the lounge with the rest of them. And Keith, not wanting to raise any more suspicions, had accepted.
It didn't take long for him to start shifting in his seat, with a frown on his face, as he tried to cope with the pain, and it didn't take much longer for everyone to realize he was even quieter than normal and didn't look too good.
"It's fine," he tells Shiro, trying to look relaxed, but unable to hide the annoyance in his voice.
"Doesn't look like it."
Shiro wasn't usually like this. Keith remembers well. Coming back home, from the Garrison's infirmary with a broken wrist, when he was fifteen. He missed classes the next day, and Shiro stayed with him. It was different at the time, perhaps because Shiro didn't trust himself as much to deal with medical things. "Alright," he had said with reluctance, when Keith refused the painkillers, arguing they made him dizzy and nauseous, "but if the pain gets too bad, you're taking them."
This time is different though. Keith isn't fifteen anymore, and can take care of himself just fine. Shiro isn't twenty-one anymore, and has gone through things that made him become much more of a leader. These two things, however, were highly conflicting. Because now Keith is angry at Shiro's excessive protection (as well at the fact Shiro was right), and Shiro is too worried to be nice about this.
Keith balls his good fist, trying to remain calm.
"Would you stop it, Shiro?"
"Stop what?" Shiro's voice gets louder, and Keith visibly flinches. "Stop doing what I think it's best for you?! For the team?! Stop caring?!"
The other paladins exchange worried glances, worried about a very possible, actual fight. Keith may have a hot temper, but Shiro definitely looks scary when he's angry.
"I know what's best for me! I'm almost eighteen!" Keith gets up, and raises his voice as well. "You think you can just boss me around like you're some kind of father?! I don't need anyone's help, and I certainly don't need you!"
The others watch as Keith turns on his heels and leaves. They also see Shiro's eyes, heavy with sadness, as he too slowly gets up to leave.