It was a heated battle, Voltron against two fleets of Galra ships. The battle had been raging for sometime, they only had a few more ships to go, but they were all wearing down a little. Keith's hands gripped the controls of his lion, hard. He was starting to rethink his life's choices as suddenly an unexpected hit came from the rear. Keith was jostled out of his seat by the force, hitting a wall with a loud crack. Vaguely in the back of his mind he hoped he didn't break his lion as he retried to regain his seat. However the blow had knocked him into the gravitational pull of a planet near them and he was being pulled down into the atmosphere, thus ruining his attempts to reach the chair. He called out to the other paladins as suddenly he blacked out by the g-forces.

"Keith? Keith!!!" Shiro tried to regain contact with the red paladin but to no avail, "Everyone, keep going! Keith is down and I am going to find him"

"Roger that, Shiro! Hunk, go left. Pidge cover me, I'm going in to take out the big one's cannon." Lance replied, taking over temporarily. The black lion manned by Shiro turned around and flew trying to locate the paladin. Keith woke up with a giant pain in his shoulder and a throbbing headache. He winced as he opened his eyes, the bright red lights flashing wildly on the consul. He put a hand to his head as he sat up, trying to stave off the dizzy feeling. "Sh-Shiro?" He croaked, praying that the com was still working.

"Keith? Is that you?" The communication was fuzzy but it came in. Keith breathed out a low sigh as he heard his foster-brother's voice come over the line. "Yeah it's me." He struggled to his feet to reach the pilot's chair, blinking harshly against the lights. "My consuls going crazy, Red's pretty banged up." He said pushing some buttons to turn the lights off and groaning when it didn't work."Where are you? I am coming" Shiro asked concerned for his brother's welfare. It was a Voltron motto to never leave anyone behind."Um..." Keith peered out the window, seeing a dense forest and weird pink glowing trees. "Somewhere on the planet in a jungle. With, really really weird glowing trees." He muttered something under his breath that sounded a bit like, "Only in space."

"Okay... I will try and find you" Shiro whispered to his lion "Find red. Please help me find red"

The Black Lion responded, his eyes glowing as it felt the connections with Shiro and its red counterpart. An image suddenly flooded into Shiro's mind, the downed Lion's covered in broken tree branches that were still glowing. "Thanks. Come on" he pushed the Black lion towards the planet thinking: "Hold on Keith. I am coming" Keith nodded softly, groaning slightly as the dizzy sensation worsened in his cranium. He glanced down at his shoulder, grimacing as blood oozed through his armor, painting red with more red. Shiro tried to find Keith and slowly lands near a patch of trees. "Keith?! Keith?!!!'" He yells.

"Shiro stop yelling." Keith grunted as Shiro bellowed into his ear. "You're still on the coms." Keith shook his head, trying to rid it of the ringing in his ears.

"Sorry brother. I am on my way" Shiro turns off the communication device and yells. "Idiot." Keith grumbled with a fond smile. He tried hard to connect with Red, who weakly gave off the equivalent of a flare to show where they were.

Shiro detected the flare and tries to get closer, breaking vines and foliage with his power arm to get to the paladin. Keith tried to assess what was wrong with his Lion, but engineering wasn't his forte. He huffed and walked to the back of his Lion to open the hatch manually, since Red wasn't in a condition to do anything else.

Shiro continues to follow the signal and carefully makes his way closer and sees a flash of red in the foliage.

"Keith?"

Keith opened the hatch, staring incredulously at the glowing foliage. He activated his bayard , in case there were any wild animals on the planet that weren't friendly. He barely heard Shiro's call in the distance. "Shiro?"

Shiro slowly makes his way closer to the red mark in the trees and activates his arm. Keith stumbled forward and sat down, leaning against Red's paw as he waited for Shiro to get there. "Anyone there?" Shiro asks cautiously and continues forward. "Shiro?" Keith called out, glancing over from where he had been about to doze off. Shiro hears him and rushes further and breaks through the barrier of bushes and sees Keith. He deactivates his power arm and runs over and kneels next to him "Keith"

Keith smiled a little. "Hey. Took you long enough." He grumbled, shifting as he turned to face him better. "Keith, I am so relieved to see you." Shiro looks him up and down "what happened to you? You're bleeding"

Keith shrugged, which really wasn't a good idea, according to his shoulder. He hissed as he lowered his shoulder back down. "Crashed. I think maybe a piece of metal hit my shoulder or something. I hit my head too." He said, pointing to his cracked helmet. "Oh boy. Not good, we need to get you back to the castle for rest and care." Shiro worried, after all, Keith felt like blood to Shiro and he was the leader of the paladins. Shiro racks his brain wondering what to do then he starts the communication again "Lance, Pidge, Hunk? How is it?" A small burst of static came over the com, then an exclamation from Pidge as she was hit. Lance finally answered, sounding irritated and breathless. "Not looking too good, Shiro. Another fleet showed up, we're having a hard time defeating them. How's Keith?"

"Pull back guys. Head back to the hq, Keith and I will meet you there okay and take care of Pidge. We can't have anyone else injured"

"Got it. Over and out." Lance said, ordering the others through a strategic escape to the castle. Meanwhile, Keith was nearly dozing off again, his concussion making it hard to stay awake. Shiro turns it off and looks at Keith "Are you okay? And please Keith, drop the tough boy act. I am your foster-brother" Shiro moves a little closer and talks softly. Keith blinked his eyes back open, leaning towards his brother and resting his head against his shoulder. "My head hurts. And M'tired." He mumbled.

"I see that. Hey Keith, i think you need to come back with me in my lion." He rubs Keith's helmet gently.

Keith nodded slightly, but then looked up at Shiro with worry on his face. "What about Red?" Shiro looks at him "Red will come back after she is healed. Or we can tow her back however it will take longer and you need help soon Keith" Shiro said worriedly. Keith thought about it for a minute, but Red took place over his own health. After all, they could always get a new paladin, but not a new Red Lion. "We can't leave Red here. Have Black carry her back with us." Shiro sighs and nods "okay. Come on, we need to get back to Black" Shiro puts Keith's good arm around his shoulder and props him up. Keith groaned slightly, but tried to keep the pain off his face. He leaned heavily on Shiro, staring at the ground as it spinned.

"It isn't that far. Now I know where I am going." Shiro supports Keith all the way back to the Black lion and they slowly get on board "Sit here and rest okay? We will go get Red" Shiro lets Keith down slowly onto the floor and goes to pilot. Keith nodded, leaning against the wall. "Yeah sure, let's get my Lion." Keith winced slightly as Shiro took off, his shoulder jostling with the movement.

"I will try and be gentle" Shiro tried to move as smoothly as he can but being in a metal lion isn't the gentlest thing. They began to tow Red behind them and they try to leave the planet. "It's fine, Takashi." Keith said, gritting his teeth. "Just get us back to the ship, okay?" Keith leaned his head back, closing his eyes against the light. Shiro nods and they fly smoothly towards the castle ship "Almost here."

There was no answer from Keith as he slumped to the floor, unconscious. Shiro looks behind him at him and he bites his lip flying faster trying to get to safety faster. As they got closer to the castle, they inevitably got closer to the Galran fleets. One of the ships seemed to spot them and advanced towards them. Shiro sees them and thinks "no... no... No!!!" Shiro immediately calls in for help "Paladins! I need backup. Keith is here with me and we have the red lion, but the Galra ships are advancing. Please help" He calls and waits for a response from hq. Allura came over the com. "They're on their way, Shiro. Just take care of Keith while they clear the path." The other paladins hurried to their lions and hurried to the scene.

Shiro begins to come closer to the castle and begins descent when a Galran blast from their cannon flies right past the lion's nose, causing The Black lion to halt. Shiro looks back at Keith, still on the floor, and silently thinks "Sorry buddy. A rough landing is ahead" Lance and Hunk dealt with the first ship together, but more were coming now. Pidge was running cover for the others as they got closer. Another near blast shook the Black Lion and Keith woke with a pained cry. "Sorry Keith. I can't take it easy right now. We are under attack" He apologized backwards but watched the battle around him.

Keith forced himself up to brace against the wall so he wouldn't be caught off guard so easily. "It's fine Shiro." He ground out, masking his face in indifference. Pidge's lion came up and covered the Black lion and they slowly tried to make it to safety and Shiro pipes up on the coms "Thanks guys. Almost there...."

"No problemo, Shiro!" Lance said, grinning from where he was freezing a ship. Hunk agreed, asking Shiro how Keith was. "Keith is in rough shape guys. We get him back to the ship and we all can help him get better" Shiro responded not taking his hands off the controls and his eyes off the landing bay. Keith tried to relax but every attempt was met with a jolt of pain.

Keith rolled his eyes slightly at listening to them talk about him. "I'm fine, guys. You make it sound like I'm dying." He said loudly so Shiro's com would pick it up. "We'll see you back guys. Thanks" Shiro turns off the communication and says back to Keith, "you are in rough shape Keith. I don't care how well you think you are doing I am worried about you. Always am" His tone takes on one of brotherly authority and superiority.

Keith huffed softly, but said back. "I know, I know. It's just kind of disturbing to listen to you guys talk about me."

"Get used to it for the next couple days. Just be careful Keith while you rest up, no strenuous practice sessions in the simulation room" he said gentler and looks behind him slightly. Keith looked pointedly to the floor. "Why? The healing pod will be enough."

"Because it cannot cure everything. Your body needs to recover from shock." Shiro went quiet finally landing the lions. He stands and goes over to Keith and kneels in front of him. "Keith, listen to me. I know you put a face on and tough boy exterior because life isn't easy for you. But I care for you and want you to do well so you have to be healthy. Just listen to me okay?"

Keith watched Shiro as he knelt down in front of him, knowing he was about to get the big brother speech, again. He listened, tensing slightly as Shiro spoke, but overall nodding his consent. "Fine. I'll take a day off." Shiro slightly smiles "Thank you." He helps Keith up and they make their way inside meeting Allura and Caron. Keith looks at Allura and she doesn't look back at him and instead has her nose a little up. Shiro notices, "Allura, this is no time for your problem with Keith being part Galra, he needs help." Allura isn't really moved. Keith sighed softly. "Don't bother, Shiro." He whispered, not caring to go into that subject right then. He straightened his posture a little at Allura's disdainful glare.

Shiro sighed and nods leading him off to the pods. Allura watches them go and looks over to Caron's saddened face. "What is it Caron? Why do you look so sad? Surely it isn't to do with me and Keith." Caron gave Allura a sad, slightly disappointed smile. "Ah, Princess. I have seen you grow up so much since we awake from stasis, but you definitely have much to learn. Such as not all Galra are bad."

"But Coran, they took us over! And they destroy and hurt so much of the universe. What if he still has that desire deep down?" Allura glared slightly at the floor envisioning the terrible things that had happened to the galaxy. She was disappointed in herself since Coran was a second father to her but she couldn't forgive Keith.

"Allura, we have see ourselves that not even all Alteans were good. You cannot judge someone on their race." Coran said, laying a gloved hand on her shoulder. She sighs and gives him a nod "Right Coran." She takes her leave before she can say anything else.

  Down in the healing terminal all the paladins are gathered near Keith. Keith gently pushed Pidge away from where she was trying to take his pulse for the seventh time. "Pidge, stop. I'm fine." He said, beginning to get irritated by everyone pressing around him. Keith never did like crowds, even if they were people he knew.

"Sorry Keith. We are just worried for you" Pidge said pushing her glasses further up her nose, "All it looks like it a cut shoulder and a small concussion" she spoke her diagnosis and they all let out a sigh of relief. Shiro smiles down at Keith now that he felt Keith could get help. "Yeah, I figured." Keith said sarcastically. He brushed his hair back from his face. "Can I just go in a pod now? Please?"

They broke to let him and Shiro towards the pod and Shiro puts him in. Pidge says she is going to go try and fix the red lion and Hunk was going to find something to eat but Lance and Shiro stay back to watch the pod. Lance glanced over at Shiro as they stood there, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You doing okay, Shiro?" He asked carefully, wondering how Shiro was dealing with this. Shiro nods "Yeah. Fine, I wished we could have landed earlier and I could have found Keith quicker but what are you going to do. At least he was conscious when I first found him." He says watching Keith, "Thanks for taking over Lance. Really helped back there".

Lance beamed at the praise. "Of course, Shiro. You can count on me anytime."

Shiro looked over at him and put a hand on his shoulder "Thanks. Now, what are you planning on doing today?"

Lance shrugged slightly. Not much. I told Coran. I'd help him clean the pods again, but that'll wait till Keith is out." Shiro smirked, "I bet that is fun. Just... try not to get caught in them again okay?" he chuckled at the annoyed face Lance made. Lance grimaced and shuddered. "You don't have to tell me twice. I still get nightmares about those things."

"That was a scary time. And all cause we wanted to drain someone's memory. *sigh* I even was subject to it. It was bad Lance" He also shuddered at the painful memory. Lance tentatively placed a hand on his leader's shoulder. "Yeah, it was. But it's over now. In the past. Brighter days are ahead, right?"

"Right. And many days protecting the galaxy." Shiro smiled and walked away with Lance leaving Keith in peace. Keith ended up having to stay in the pod for seven hours, due to brains taking longer to heal than other tissue. Occasionally one of the paladins would peek in but Shiro spent a lot of time in there waiting, often practicing something quietly to keep his brain occupied. By the time the pod was opening, everyone had gathered around, Allura standing near the back. The pod hissed open and Keith stumbled forward. Shiro caught him and smiled "Hey buddy" Keith straightened immediately, "Hey."
"Are you feeling better?" Pidge pipes. Keith nodded, pulling back from Shiro to stand on his own. "Yeah Pidge. I'm fine, thanks." He said giving everyone a small smile.

Everyone looked relieved, even Allura slightly, but they didn't stay long giving Keith resting time. Shiro reminded, "Remember, take the day off today and tomorrow." Keith rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I get it Shiro." He said, turning to leave. "If anyone wants me I'll be in my room." Shiro nods and watches him go before heading out himself to try and find their next fight. Keith entered his room and locked the door, still irritated at Shiro's mother hen routine. While he loved Shiro, he really did worry too much, Keith thought. Keith unsheathes the Galran blade and holds its weight in his hand, still trying to figure it out, how was he part Galran? Why did he get this? Nothing made sense.

Keith sighed, setting the blade under his pillow. He paced back and forth, restless, but unable to use the training room. Keith reasons with himself, "The healing pod healed me completely. What is Shiro so worried about? I can fight just fine. I can do some light training right?" Keith smirked to himself. 'So he said not to use the simulation room... I'll just use mine.' He adjusted the lights in his room, smiling to himself as he started shadow boxing.

Keith fights for a while, getting rid of anger and tries to improve when Pidge passes by with stuff to fix Red, she hears the grunting and gets a little worried. "Keith?" Keith froze, brushing his hair back from his face. "Yeah?" He called, making sure not to sound breathless. "What's up?"

"I thought I heard noises from your room. Everything okay?" She walks closer shifting the stuff in her arms. Keith's eyes roved the room for an excuse, landing on the heavy mattress. "Yeah, I'm good. I was just flipping my mattress over." Pidge makes a face "What would that do? Makes no sense.... need me to come in?" She steps forward.

"No, I'm good. Thanks anyway Pidge." He said, quickly adjusting the lights to their normal settings and sitting down on the bed. "Okay.... see you in a bit. If you want you can help me fix Red. I am off to the hanger now" She offers knowing he must be restless like his lion. Keith brightened a little, deciding he had trained enough for now and could do more later. He hadn't seen Red yet and wanted to know how she was. "Sure, Pidge. Thanks." Keith opened the door, blinking at the stuff she was carrying. "Want some help carrying those?"

"I got it" She smiles brightly and they head off "she isn't in too bad of shape, just some minor things". "Oh good." Keith said with relief. "I thought I broke her." He said with a slight smile. "Nope, our Lions are amazing" She said and lays the tools and hardware down. Keith smiled up at Red. "They sure are." He looked down at the tools and parts. "So what can I do to help?" They spend a few hours tinkering away and soon Red roars to life. Keith grins up at the Lion. "Hey girl Welcome back." He places a hand on her nose as she bends down to greet him. Pidge smiles and gives them a minute. "Thought I lost you Red." Keith says smiling. Red sounds a loud purr vibrating through Keith, who smiles. "I missed you too." He whispered. "Now all we have to do is prove we can fight again. You and I both hate to be sitting ducks huh?" He says still petting the lion. He felt her roar in agreement and he smiled, knocking his forehead against her gently. Keith chuckles, "Yep. We are pretty alike you and I. What a great team" They stay that way for a minute longer, Keith soaking in the comfort of his Lion. Pidge comes back with a smoothie for the both "Hey Keith? You two done?" Keith pulled away with a smile. "Yeah we're good. Thanks."

"Here is something to rejuvenate us, Hunk made it." She hands him the container and they sit to drink. "So.... what happened out there? What made you go down and get cut?" Keith thanked her for the smoothie, taking a sip as she asked. He sighed a little. "I'm not completely sure. I got hit from behind and I think the gravity of the planet just pulled me down. I really have no idea how I got cut, a piece of debris or something maybe?" She nods "I see. Well, we all are happy you are back to fight another day. And... I know you were fighting in your room." She smirked.

Keith nearly spit his drink out. "What? N-No I wasn't!"

"Come on Keith, how dumb do you think I am? I know you well enough to understand that you would do anything to fight. Shiro said no more fighting in simulation so you have your own. I knew you'd be restless" She sends a mischievous smile his way. Keith looked away, slightly embarrassed. But then looked back at her with a quizzical looks. "Wait. If you knew, why didn't you tell Shiro?"

She shrugs "because I know how close you two are and what it could mean for you if he found out. Plus, I understand and I would do the same just.... not with fighting."

Keith chuckled a little. "Thanks Pidge." He said, nudging her side with his elbow. "That's really nice of you." She nudges him back "i am not always the rebellious, strong, and tough paladin you think I am" She chuckles. Keith snorted. "Yeah, well. Thanks for getting Red back online." He said, moving to leave as he finished his smoothie. "No problem. See you around" She says deciding to run a few more diagnostics before leaving but Keith leaves.

Keith went to the kitchen and put his glass away, heading back to his room for some more training. A little bit later on in the evening they all meet for dinner. Keith yawned slightly as he made his way to the dining hall, fixing his hair before entering. "Hey guys. What's for dinner?" They put a plate of goop in front of him and Hunk is already eating. "This is delicious" he says smiling contentedly. Keith raised an eyebrow at the goop. He really really missed Earth food. But he started eating anyway. "Do you think we will ever go home?" Pidge asked the group picking at her plate of disgusting goop as well.

Lance spoke up from where he was feeding the goo to the mice. "Of course we will."

"When? Could we ever visit Allura. Like a vacation?" She asked turning her attention to Allura. "I do not know, Pidge. Maybe once Zarkon is defeated we will." Keith utters a sigh quietly and they all think, "that will be a while." Keith grimaced as he took another bite of the goop, the weird mixture sliding down his throat. He tried to wash the taste away with some water,leaving most of the goop on his plate. "Isn't it great?" Hunk sounded optimistic but the rest of the paladins sent him a look which said otherwise.
Keith usher his plate away and stood up. "I'm not really hungry. I'm going to turn in early. Night." He left quickly. Shiro raises an eyebrow but tries to push the thought from his mind.

Keith sighed on the way to his room, still hungry, but not able to eat that junk. Somehow he ended up at the training room instead of his own. He looks behind him and slides in beginning a sequence. Keith smirked as a droid fell from the ceiling, activating his bayard as he lunged forward. He continues to fight for a while but all of a sudden the sequence shuts down. Soon He looks behind and Shiro is standing by the power. Keith froze, his bayard deactivated. "Busted." He whispered quietly. "Uh, hi, Shiro..."

"Hey there. " He frowns, "what are you doing?"

"Oh... You know, just... Standing here, looking at you...." He said, turning to face Shiro with his bayard behind his back. "But why the simulation room? And why was the power on?" Shiro slowly moves closer. Keith winced, berating himself for getting caught. "Okay, so don't freak out, but I may have been... training, just maybe."

"Hm. Just maybe? Of course you were Keith. You don't think i know you?" He frowns and takes the bayard out of his hands. "Keith, what did I say?" Keith sighed, glaring at Shiro shortly for taking his bayard. "Not to train." He said, semi defiantly, semi sheepishly.

"Exactly. At least I caught you early on." He sighs and hands him back the deactivated bayard. "My guess did you hate dinner?" Keith took the bayard back gratefully. "Really, who could like that stuff?" He said while making a disgusted face. Shiro chuckles "Apparently Hunk. Come on, you need to eat something. I am sure we can find something in the kitchen." He motions for Keith to follow him. Keith sighed, following behind Shiro, knowing that Shiro wouldn't just drop the training mishap completely and he'd probably pay for it later. Shiro is a little disappointed that Keith would disobey him but he thinks possibly he is overreacting, but he had big dreams for Keith. They arrive in the kitchen alone and he pulls something out for Keith and himself. Keith hopped up on the counter, taking the brown fruit that Shiro handed him silently. He started eating, despite the fact it tasted like juicy flour. "Why?" Shiro simply asks Keith waiting for an explanation.

Keith didn't look up from the fruit. "Why what?"

"Why were you training and disobeying my orders?"  

Keith just chewed on the fruit for a minute. "Because training is what I do." 

  "While you were injured?" Shiro sighs and tosses the fruit between his hands. Keith rolled his eyes, looking up at Shiro. "For Quiznak's sake, Shiro! I'm fine! My arm is healed. Magical healing pods, remember?"

"I know Keith. But I don't care... remember what I told you while we were on the plant together about my plans for you?" Shiro says looking Keith dead in the eye with seriousness written all over his face.

"Shiro, we're in space. What plans could you possibly have for me?"

"I said that if anything happened to me I wanted you to take over Voltron. It isn't just because you are my foster-brother, but because I trust you to make good decisions!"

Keith looked at Shiro seriously. "Shiro I swear if you disappear again I will kill you." He said, voice wobbling just slightly, this being a sensitive subject for him.

"I'd do the same Keith." Shiro says with a flicker of sadness in his eyes, "I hate it when you barely get back from a mission. I can't lose you" he says. Keith sighed again, knowing that Shiro really worried a lot. "I know. I'm sorry." Shiro sets down his fruit and goes to hug Keith. He was all the family he had left, even though all the paladins were close Keith was someone who knew Shiro before.

Keith hugged Shiro back immediately, holding onto the back of his shirt tightly. Shiro was the only family that Keith really had, losing him once was hard, but even the thought of losing him again was almost enough to send him to tears.

  Shiro can feel the tension Keith is holding inside and Shiro wishes he could help him out. He was always in support of Keith finding answers but sometimes it led to Keith just skim the surface of extreme injury or death. Keith hugged Shiro tight before pulling away. Even though Shiro was the closest person he had, he still had trouble taking down his walls around him. "Keith," Shiro says quietly "Don't take extreme chances to protect the universe. Please don't do it. And when you need help or anything, sometimes the most manly thing you can do is ask for help." He makes sure he looks Keith right in the face. Keith nodded slowly, storing Shiro's word away in his mind. "Same goes for you too you know." He said quietly, since Shiro didn't always practice what he preached. Shiro sighs "I know but when I do I need someone to take my place."

"Shiro, stop." Keith said fiercely, cutting him off. "Just... don't."

"What? What is the problem Keith?" Shiro is taken slightly a back by the outburst. Keith groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Nevermind. I'm going to bed." He hopped off the counter and shouldered past Shiro. Shiro tries to reach out to Keith but realizes he needs space he stops himself, "what did I say?" He says quietly.

Keith went back to his room, collapsing in his bed as he buried his face in his hands. "Why did he have to talk like that? I hate it when he talks like he may not be here anymore" Keith says to himself. He sighed and turned the lights off, hoping that sleep would come to stop his thoughts. Sadly only while he slept did the thoughts stop plaguing him. The next morning they reappear.

With those thoughts still plaguing his mind, he started to train again instead of cleaning his knife like he usually did. He tries to work all the tension out and slowly he begins to relax. He loves Shiro but he scares Keith sometimes with that talk. "He will stay as head of Voltron... he WILL. If I have anything to say about it." Finally with his thoughts calmed down enough, Keith headed to the kitchen, yawning slightly from the short but intense workout. Shiro isn't there but the rest are there to get food. Keith finds some stringy vegetable that almost taste like ham and starts eating those. "Where is Shiro? Usually he is the first one down." Pidge asks as she slurps her smoothie and everyone looks at each other for answers. Keith shrugged, wondering the same thing. But he didn't engage in conversation, just sitting down to enjoy his breakfast.

Lance, Hunk, and Pidge were going to go play some virtual reality games "Want to come Keith?" Asks Hunk. Keith shook his head. "No thanks guys, I'm going to go see if I can find Shiro."

"Alright. You know where we are if you want to come." They leave him alone. Keith finished his breakfast and went to find Shiro.

Shiro was by his lion trying to reconnect with it and come up with a better connection with Black. However his talk with Keith and Keith's reaction kept breaking his concentration. Keith walked up behind Shiro. "Hey. Missed you at breakfast, everyone was wondering where you were." Shiro jumps slightly "Oh, hey. Yeah wasn't really hungry and wanted to connect with Black more. You know, helps us defeat Zarkon." Keith nodded slightly, but could tell by Shiro's face that something was wrong. "And how's it working?" He shrugs, "not the best"

Keith nodded again. "Maybe if you took a break it would help?" He suggested. "Probably." He sighs and stands up next to Keith. "How are you? Sleep well?"

"Yeah, I slept okay." Keith said, giving Shiro a small smile. "My insomnia didn't find me for once."

"Good. Gotta be well rested right?" Shiro tries to chuckle but they both know there is a wall between them and it was affecting the conversation. Keith awkwardly chuckled with him. "Yeah.."  

  Shiro sighs understanding he needs to address the issue "Keith, what did I say last night to make you go off?" Keith tensed slightly, looking down at the floor. "Can't we just drop it?" Shiro put a hand gently on his shoulder "I wish I could. But our conversation is blocked because I don't know what i did. Just explain and then we can drop it"

Keith leaned into his brother's hand, subconsciously seeking comfort. "I... I don't like it when you talk about the possibility of you leaving again." He said quietly. Shiro nods listening and lets Keith say as much as he needs to.

Keith still avoided looking at Shiro, his thoughts swirling around and spilling out his mouth in a whisper. "It scares me Shiro. You're the closest thing to family I've ever had. When... When I lost you that first time..." He choked slightly, forcing back tears. "I lost everything. I thought the one person who had ever ever cared for me was gone. And I couldn't. I didn't-" He cut himself off a again with a strangled sob as his pent up emotions burst forth. Shiro pulls him closer, hugs him, and rubs his back. "Let it out Keith."

Keith buried his face in Shiro's chest, sobbing silently. His back shook with light suppressed tremors as he cried. Shiro quietly whispers "Don't worry, I am not going anywhere right now" Keith let out a tiny whimper, gripping Shiro tighter than ever and praying that he'd never leave again. Shiro knows it is hard for Keith to let anyone in and feel like this to anyone. Just as a paladin there is no guarantees that they would come back alive. Keith calmed down quickly, sniffling as he pulled away and wiped his eyes. He wrangled his emotions back to their cage and locked them away. "All good?" Shiro asked not removing his hands from his shoulders. Keith nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yeah, I'm good." He said, sounding a bit hoarse.

Shiro smiled warmly "Keith... I am so glad you let me in then. Thank you brother. Really, I know it is tough for you to let anyone in and you did just enough. I cannot guarantee that I will always be here but as long as all paladins do their job then we will all be safe."

Keith stared at Shiro, doubt still lingering behind his eyes. He nodded hesitantly. "Alright, Shiro." Shiro hugged him again not as long, but hugged him all the same and he whispered "I love you brother. Don't ever forget and be safe." Keith hugged back briefly. "R-Right back at you, Takashi."

He chuckled, "I will try Kogane." They separate and Shiro ruffles Keith's hair. Falling into the teasing brotherly banter Keith glared at Shiro. "Hey, don't mess my hair up."

"It is messy anyway, what difference will it make?" Shiro laughs. Keith made a face at him as he brushed it back. Shiro smirked at the face and chuckles "Oh Kogane... what will I do with you?" "Let me train?" He said hopefully, trying to look innocent. Shiro sighs "Should I?" Keith stayed quiet, hoping for a yes. He rakes his hand through his hair and looks sideways at Keith. "......"

Keith sighed, dropping the look. "Fine, I get it. Still grounded." "No, not necessarily. Fine you can train but not as strenuous as usual. Am I understood?" Keith grinned, offering a mock salute. "Yes, Sir!". Shiro smiles and followed Keith out of the hanger, Keith gave Shiro another smile and immediately ran to the training room. Shiro chuckles and lets him be, making a mental note to check on him that night.

Keith trained, though trying to keep it a bit more low key. By nightfall he was pretty worn out as they shuffled in for dinner. Shiro is back in the dining room waiting as everyone comes in, Keith sat down with a slight yawn. "Let me guess. Goo?" "No. Actually something we can identify tonight" Shiro smiles and they all begin to eat, Keith faster than usual since the training. Keith ate happily, Hunk's newest creation, Space Tacos, were probably the best thing they'd had in space so far. Shiro smiles at Keith out of the corner of his eye, excited Keith was happier now that they had the talk. Keith finished dinner first and pushed his plate away, content to listen to everyone converse around him. "So mapped out the next Galra fleet's position yet?" Shiro asked Allura but she shook her head,

"Not necessarily." She answered. "Many of the Galra close to us are two heavily protected. We wouldn't be able to attack without giving ourselves away. And I'm not sure forming Voltron is a good idea until Keith rests after his... fiasco."

"It wasn't a fiasco Allura," Shiro defended, "he was innocently caught off guard by a blast." After he finished Keith uttered something, "I can fight my own battle Shiro." Keith glared at Allura before saying, "I never intended to get hit."

Allura glared back at Keith. "Just like you never intended to tell us you were Galra?" Keith stood up from his chair and practically yelled at her. "I didn't even know! I wanted answers and that was the answer I received. I am not thrilled to be Galran but I take it like I should.. maybe you should too Allura!" Everyone knew Keith didn't speak much unless he had to get his point across and he did, Allura blinked, dumbfounded. "Anything else you want to say on the matter?" Keith asked the table and no one moved or made a sound. Keith stared fiercely at Allura, daring her to speak. When she finally averted her gaze, he smirked slightly and nodded his head. "Good." He said, sitting down with a thump. After a few long moments Shiro finally spoke, "Um *cough* We should just... go to bed. Good night everyone." he stood and everyone follows silently and Keith was the last out.

  Keith glowered at Allura's back as she left, finally getting up to put his plate away. He sighed softly as he stared at the dishwasher of sorts. 'Will she ever truly accept me?' Keith thought to himself, 'I accept her and she is an alien race, I am just half or maybe less Galra and she can't deal with that' he shakes his head to rid his mind of the thought and heads out to his bunk and looks intently at the blade. He undid the wrapping around the hilt to stare at the insignia on it, concentrating for a moment and awakening the blade. He smiled a little, it was getting easier to do that since he had started coming to terms with his heritage. Keith watched the blade and played around with it for a little. "This isn't too bad, I have something after I stop being a paladin." Then he froze, it never occurred to him an end to the fight, the fight he hated and wanted over, however it sent him an adrenaline rush like never before. Little had matched it--ever. What was after the defeat of Zarkon?

Keith groaned slightly. Of course he wanted the war to end. He wanted Zarkon to stop splitting families apart, but Keith didn't have anywhere to go once it was over. The only place he had was that old desert shack of his father's, nothing else. Even Shiro would have a promising career. He hid the blade under his pillow again, laying down with his hands behind his head. 'Great, something new for my insomnia to use against me.' Slowly he tried to sleep but very lightly.

The next morning Shiro struggled awake and changed in his "casual" clothes to train himself after breakfast. Keith yawned as he woke up, heading straight to breakfast. He was met with more food goo. 'I wish Hunk would create pizza already.' He sat down and pushed the goop around with a spoon, watching the others file in. They all sat down and talked about their day and Coran told terrible Altean jokes but Shiro wasn't there again but no one bothered asking where he was.

Keith smiled a little bit as Coran went on and on and Lance encouraged him, laughing at all the stupid jokes and asking questions about any unfamiliar things Coran mentioned. He watched as Hunk helped Pidge work on a new version of Rover between bites of goo. Everyone seemed normal and happy till his eyes landed on Shiro's chair, empty. Keith was puzzled again about the missing paladin but ignored it and watched breakfast unfold. Allura had avoided him all night and that morning after their fight last night and Keith felt relieved, 'more time to rejuvenate, I don't have to deal with her problems' he reasoned internally.

As before, Keith went looking for Shiro after breakfast, heading straight to Blacks hanger. Not seeing Shiro around, Keith sat in front of the lion, waiting for Shiro to come out. He sits for a while but Shiro doesn't come out and the Black lion doesn't move. Keith comes up and shouts up, "Shiro?"

There's no answer, just Blacks eyes shining a deep unending yellow. Keith shouts again, over and over, beginning to panic. He forced himself to calm down, 'There are other places he could be, Keith. Just start looking.' He went all over the place and searched for his brother, unable to find him. "Shiro!" He yells finally panicking, 'He said he wouldn't leave me and now where is he?' He runs to Coran, "Coran, Shiro is gone! Can you try and call him?" He puts both hands on Coran's shoulders.