Upon feeling the hand on his shoulder, Keith smiled a touch wider, squeezing his arm as a nod, a silent 'you don't need to thank me'. Once tension calmed down once more like things initially were after he finished fixing the boat for the day, Keith laid back on the sand. His raven hair was like a halo surrounding his head, and he took a deep breath. Usually, he spent nights like this alone. On the sand, scared off by his own thoughts, but now he felt the familiar heat of another person. Radiating off him, a presence wanting to make itself known. He missed that. Company. Especially from someone as gentle and curious as Shiro, who was anything less than a human yet still humane more than most humans he knew. 

Shiro knew what humanity was more than men he'd watch taunt animals and steal shark teeth. He knew kindness more than violent women thrashing their children around like objects, shaping them like mold. Shiro knew curiosity that was harmless, not like a scientist so devoid of humanity that he's willing to destroy people just to test a theory. Shiro was more human than humans, and if Keith wasn't careful, he could lose himself. Latch onto him and never let go. Maybe he could go as far as to say he had a new reason to live, to stick around. And it was all because of a deadly sea creature that wasn't as deadly as he looked. 

He was beautiful. Strong. Careful, curious, intelligent, and Keith knew he needed to know more still. He wasn't going anywhere. 

The man turned his head a little to look at the merman beside him, for a moment confused at what he gestured to, before it sunk in. Oh. He was asking about his necklace. Keith knew he couldn't hide that for long. While he usually never entertained the thought of letting anyone touch his precious possession, when it came to the merman, he found himself trusting him with it completely. It was like a wave washing over him, a decision made. So, with a small smile, he unwrapped it off his neck and carefully handed it to Shiro, a metaphor of sorts. 

"Gift from mother," he simply said. He wondered if he understood those words, but it didn't matter. He looked curious enough about it to inspect for himself.