[ the trouble with the two of them seems to be just that, though: all this time, they'd been trying to do things their own separate way, when they should have found a way that they call theirs together. ]

I never said I wanted to break up with you. [ he looks befuddled at the thought. ] When you said you weren't ready... I thought that's what you were saying you wanted.

[ he deflates a little — not out of defeat, but out of exhaustion. some of his most passionate moments in his life were when he would butt heads with keith. back then, it had propelled him forward, encouraged him to do better, be better. even if it were just out of some vague competition in his head, it had worked out for him. for them both.

but now the fights were personal, cutting deeper than just pride and dignity. ]

I know that's not what you meant now. [ he waves a hand, ready to rebuff another keith flare up. it always takes them a while, but they do get to the same page eventually. he definitely wishes they were faster about it at times. ]

When I mentioned all those things about not knowing when I was gonna see you again, I was just stating the facts. I am gonna gone. But Pidge is gone. And Shiro is gone. But neither of them mean any less to you for it, right? We don't have to break up if neither of us want to. We don't have to do anything if neither of us want to.