Keith wished Shiro could understand. What made him so terrified. He wouldn't get it just by gestures and mere expressions. So, he sighed in disappointment, frowning as he watched the creature's tail act as a protective barrier between him and the water. It was a sweet gesture, but still, out of miscommunication. Water wasn't supposed to feel that way. When he just dangled his feet in them the night before, when he washes his hands. He never feels what he just felt, and it scared him.

It was like someone was sewing his legs together, not surrounded by a gleam of light like fantasy stories. It was like someone literally grabbed a sewing kit, sunk down right beneath Keith's legs and began to pierce his skin. He looked down at his feet again, testing if he still had feeling in his toes. Shiro's touch came after, and the boy couldn't resist looking up at the merman once more.

So careful, gentle, like he was treating flawless glass. Keith wasn't. He had all the flaws in the world, but he was still being handled carefully. It felt so good coming out of Shiro. If it were someone else, Keith absolutely would have fought back, but now he was just speechless. Frozen. Letting his skin touch his own soft one. It felt like an animal caring for their little ones, and the concept left Keith docile. 

"I'm sorry.." he murmured, moving his legs a bit and hugging them closer to his chest, like he was afraid to lose them, then looked back at the merman. Immediately he was taken aback by how close he was in comparison to the night before. He could see the wounds more clearly, the cuts and his heart tugged. He wanted to return the kindness. 

"Can I?" He asked, a gentle expression on his face as he gave a brief touch at some of his wounds, then gently stroked his own hand like he was saying 'can I try healing your cuts?' but he doubted Shiro would understand with words. Maybe his gestures would be clear enough?