[ Keith hadn't really meant it as a joke, no - he just didn't know how else to put it without prying too much into things Shiro clearly didn't want to talk about. He's glad when Shiro seems amused, even if he can't smile, and he's relieved that the dragon doesn't deflect him by being aggressively fine like he tends to. He still says that he's fine, of course, but at least he's admitting that he's tired, which is more than Keith has heard him say to anyone else.

He raises a hand to pat Shiro's nose when the dragon bumps his shoulder with it, characteristically gentle in the motion, and he smiles with an eagerness that's been lacking from his life, lately. ]

I'd like to watch you run the obstacle course. [ Watching Shiro fly and navigate obstacles was always exciting - Matt had liked to tease him about how much he liked watching Shiro follow the same course every day, shaking his head and wondering if Keith would ever get bored of it. Matt preferred to spend his time studying while Shiro was busy, catching up on what scientific journals he could get his hands on, going against the Garrison's insistence on riders and dragons spending all their time together. Both Matt and Shiro had been happier when they didn't try to force themselves into that kind of co-dependence, Keith thought. ]

And, uh, after you're done, maybe we could... race to the shack? I've been working on my hover-bike, she goes really fast now.