Shiro drifted alongside Keith, smiling and enjoying his presence in the water beside him. It felt strangely intimate, like inviting someone into his dwelling for the first time and he felt almost nervous about it. He could also sense Keith's nerves coursing through him and leaking out into the water around him, so Shiro stayed close, hoping that this would help to reassure Keith.

[i]"Heh.. fuck, I'm actually-"[/i] Shiro stopped and looked at Keith, confused. Was he dreaming? Or had he just understood what Keith said? He looked around for any other presence around them and saw nothing, before Keith began to bolt. Shiro bristled again and dove beneath the surface, searching out whatever could have gone after Keith, terrified that it was something or someone belonging to Zarkon. It couldn't have been - Shiro hadn't broken any rules - but he couldn't risk letting Zarkon anywhere near his Keith. He swam out a ways, looking for anything that could be hunting or taunting Keith, before turning back and meeting Keith back at the beach. He slid into the tiny waves where the beach met the ocean and pushed himself onto the sand, dragging himself out of the water completely.

Keith was terrified. Shiro could smell it and he wanted to reassure him that he was safe. Keith was staring between his legs and Shiro, so something must have grabbed at them or brushed past them. It could have just been weed or old trash floating by. Keith was incredibly nervous if not brave throughout the entire experience, so small things like that had every right to spook him. Shiro settled beside Keith and curled his tail around Keith like a barrier between him and the sea. He then placed a hand gently on Keith's leg and stroked it softly, checking for any marks or wounds but when he found none, he looked to Keith's eyes and squeezed just below his knee reassuringly. He wanted the man words to say that Keith was okay so badly, but instead he relied on only his presence and expression to tell Keith that it was okay, he was okay, he didn't need to be scared anymore.