[ keith's hand slips up along his neck and jaw just as he manages to swallow around a knot in his throat. there is another shudder, but this one has considerably less to do with their topic of conversation than the first had. ]

What are we supposed to do? [ they aren't a complete team, and if they're caught snooping around, who knows how that might affect those of them that are still asleep. more and more, keith's idea to remain here &mdasg; where he's truly beginning to feel cut off from the rest, truly hidden from prying eyes and piqued ears — is sounding really, really tempting. ]

We can't leave Allura. [ right, right... despite how it feels in this moment, how that strange bottom light seems to highlight the two fot hem, just the two of them — it would be remiss of them both to think it's really all that simple. ] And the mice... and our friends...

[ he looks around, quietly leaning into the hand at his jaw. ]

But we could come back here... Whenever we need to — talk. [ or you know... whatever else they might happen to do... ]