He prods at the healing skin occasionally, when he thinks no one is looking.  

Subtle, careful fingers test the still tender flesh -- It hadn’t bled at all, skin SEARED like a brand from the heat of it.  Sometimes, he can’t tell if it hurts, or if his mind just wants him to think it does.  As though equating the physical sensation might somehow lessen the strain on his heart.  He doesn’t think that’s how it works, but perhaps it makes him feel better to entertain the idea that it might.

He realizes belatedly that there are in fact a pair of eyes locked on him; Keith meets Lance’s gaze across the empty space of the Lion’s pit and blinks.  " It doesn’t bother me. “  He blurts without giving the Red Paladin any time to even question it, and realizes belatedly once more that it might be a strange way to approach it -- Keith’s gaze shies away from him, clearly embarrassed.  “ Er-- everyone’s been asking about it is all. “  

Which is no lie; though all in all, every one has given him a considerably wide berth and avoided harrowing questions.  Keith has been riding a knife - edge of tension since his return, wears it in his shoulders and the tightly closed expression.  If he’s aware of how he chases the others off, he doesn’t let on.

but then the boredom settled in,  and that was almost  worse.  once he’d regained enough energy,  no doctor,  nurse,  or mother-figure  could keep him in his room.  he couldn’t go far,  but he’d heard that lance and pidge were nearby,  and figured they were about as bored as he was. 

he was wrong. when he’d gone to see pidge,  she’d been using a food tray as a makeshift work surface for some mess of wires and circuitry,  and shoo’d him out when he started picking up pieces.  maybe he’d have better luck with lance.

unannounced,  keith pushed his way into the room,  shoving the door open with his hips.  he was staring down at the bulky,  black,  box-like console in his arms,  trying to balance the controllers and cartridges perched precariously on top.  

‘ hey,  pidge said you’d know how to hook this thing up.

  apparently this super smash bros game is for two players—? ’

‘        . .    lance ,     shut  up .       it’s   3      fucking       am   and   we   all   wanna   sleep !          ’         a   pillow   was      thrown  ,         keith   curling   more   towards    shiro                         sneakily       of   course    &     cursing     under   own   breath   at   the       CONTINUING      questions   of   the   blue   paladin .         although    the   raven   had   to   admit                     that   one       made   sense .       ‘         i   know   you   have   troubles    WITH  FALLING  ASLEEP  . .          we  all  have .           bunking   with  everyone  isn’t   the  nicest   way   to   spend   our   night   after   all   that   happened   with   lotor .                             at   least    try   to      not   run      your   mouth  . .     ’          hearing   pidge   mumble   a         ‘ yes  ,   please ‘       the    paladin   yawned  ,      jaw      cracking       and   closed   indigo   again .