Maybe my words should be taken with a shaker of salt, being as I am wholeheartedly a Keith x Natani 'shipper, but I agree with B_Dog. To add to the excellent analysis, the sidelong glance and the uncertain turns of their mouths also indicate the tension between them. I wouldn't say they're canon yet, but their relationship is teetering on the brink. They could be pushed either direction, into a romantic relationship, or just into friendship (though considering those two, it'd probably be a gently antagonistic friendship).
For Keith, Natani has taken Flora's place as the character providing sexual tension in his life; if he were to end up with more "now I need a cold shower" dreams (Why the heck does he always need to check? I have never figured out why he wouldn't just
know.), Natani would almost certainly be the central figure in them. This suits the story better anyway, since neither Keith's personal code of honor nor Tom's plot really make any sort of sexual tension between Flora and Keith possible. (Trace is more or less Keith's best friend outside of Alaric, and Keith is not about to get involved with his friend's girl).
We have no idea what Natani's history is like, but we can guess it's entirely devoid of romantic affection. That there is a man who is paying attention to her, offering her compliments, and even noting that she's attractive is confusing new ground. She wants to embrace the possibilities Keith promises, but her psychology and her way of life hold her back. While she is currently very jealous and she looks sad to see Keith with Laura, she's still in the position where she could write the whole thing off as a hormonal imbalance complicated by him knowing her secret, and move on. If Keith were to choose to be with Laura, Natani would probably just internalize the hurt (as she has been doing with a good part of her emotions for years now) rather than try to steal him away. She's competitive, yes, but she has to admit to herself that she's competing, and what the prize is, before she'll get involved. Zen should be a big help to her in this, in his own, "annoying older brother" way. :P
casterclass wrote:
You know they way they are standing it makes me think they are confronting someone or that they are being confronted and the looks they are giving each other are *are you ready to beat the crap outta these guys?*
I've always thought, "Why Don't You And I" was a great song for Keith and Natani. Particularly the line: "Why don't you and I get together; take on the world and be together forever?" :D
ARGH, now I've got Zen stuck in my head, offering Natani pointers, uh, during. Eugh, I hope he's not into voyeurism.