Chapter eleven: Trust me

Lance, Coran, Hunk, Pidge, Romelle, and Stats stood in the clearing, waiting with endless breath. It felt like hours since Shiro went off in search of Keith as he pursued Haggar. They saw the cloud of noxious miasma that the sinister witch had unleashed and could only pray that their two friends survived.

Suddenly, they appeared: Shiro walked alongside Keith, holding him against his side. The half-daemon's violet eyes were glossed over and distant with bitterness. His black t-shirt was in tatters and Shiro holding his dagger. His head drooped and they could see a newly formed bloody spot on his t-shirt.

"What happened?" Lance asked. "Where's Haggar?"

"She got away," Shiro answered. "Keith opened up his wounds again...I'm taking him back to Aurs so he can heal."

"Wait," Keith said. "Before we go, there's something you guys should know."

"What is it?" Pidge asked.

"...I think I know how we can identify Haggar," said Keith. "I managed to tear off her cloak...and I saw a giant burn scar in the shape of a spider on her back."

"A spider on his back?" Coran repeated.

"the criminal Orenda or rather Haggar has a scar in the shape of a spider!" Keith said.

"A spider on the back," Lance said. "That will prove as Haggar's mark." He then looked down at his right hand. "This will make it easier to identify her, no matter what form she may take."

"If you can find her!" Sendak said in the Distance. "Haggar will only appear when she wants to be!" before disappearing into a cloud of smoke that he Summon, Together with Adam, blocking everyone by the dust and in confusion.

"They're Gone!" Shiro said.

"Don't worry we'll be back!" Keith said "And this time will be ready for them!

Soon, The group turned around and saw the beast suddenly awakens. The lizard-like monster charged its chest cannon, while everyone got ready to fight back. But before waited for the right moment when the ground started to shake. Everyone gasped in shock as crystals started to rise out of the crust of the soil, encasing the beast entirely.

"What the heck does happen!" Hunk gaped.

"I guess this my way to returning the favor". Sokka said, appearing to the group.

"Sokka...I'm sorry, but Keith...I was too focused on him for training!" Shiro said.

"Well, that explains everything!" Sokka said, he then turns to Romelle. "But that still doesn't explain that you went to something there was forbidden...but I'll let it slide for now!" then he reaches out to his robe to repeal a book. "I believe this one is yours!" he told Romelle who in turn grab the book.

"Thank you!" Romelle said.

"So now what!" Lance said.

"I believe you have a different way of ending this beast!" Sokka said.

"Don't worry we're not leaving it like this?" Keith asked as he prepared to engage him, but then Shiro held out his arm. "Wait, Keith!" he said. "Don't! You're still hurt!"

"He is right!" Sokka said. "The creature is mobilized!"

"Stats!" Stats said, relieved.

"And Besides" Coran said, "The creature has a crystal shard Implanted in it!"

"Hmm," Shiro said as he cautiously approached the beast. "Let me see if I can pull that shard out for it."

"Wait, Shiro!" Romelle cried.

"Don't do anything rash!" Keith shouted. "He could lash out!"

Regardless of their warnings, Shiro reached up and searched through the skin on the beast's chest...and that's when he saw it: the crystal shard, practically embedded in the beast's Laser pointer with vessels pulsing around it.

"Wow," Shiro said. "No wonder it's powerful." he then reached into the beast's chest...and plucked the shard out with little to no effort. "There!"

Suddenly, the beast powered down, leaving nothing but a frozen husk of a monster,

"He removed it!" Sokka exclaimed. "Like it was nothing!"

Then Sokka summons a piece of magic and the beast disappeared without a trace. "well, that's the end of that!"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Keith called after him. "Get back here!"

"Hold it, Keith!" Lance shouted. "Remember, that thing is frozen. It would be no reason for more fighting."

"...Grr, fine," Keith scoffed...but then he grunted in pain as he clutched his stomach, causing Shiro and the others to gasp as they ran up to him.

"Keith!" Shiro cried. "Take it easy..."

"Ugh..." Keith groaned. "S...Shiro..."

"Let's get you back to Aurs, Keith," Coran said. "You can rest there."

After a while, as the sun began to set, the group congregated back at Aurs, where Coran and Romelle put Keith put into a healing pod, as the others watched.

"After a day here, he should be fully healed". Romelle informed the rest.

Sokka then turned to Shiro. "I believe you have other things to focus on!"

"I guess you're right but I hope I can start training with you again if I want to!" Shiro said.

"Of course, I believe you are destined for greatness!" Sokka said. "For you and your friends!" he then teleports a puff of black aura.

"So do you think no ones gonna attack us anymore?" Hunk asked.

"For now, Hunk," Shiro answered. "This isn't the last we've heard of Haggar or Zarkon, that much I'm sure of. Until that time comes, we can take this time to rest."

"Phew!" Hunk sighed in relief. "Good. I've had enough of surprise attacks for one day."

And speaking of Sendak and Adam, they went back into their base to compensate for their next move, with the latter being very irritated Ever since then Shiro choose Keith over him, he never wanted to leave him alone, He's gonna make sure of that, he going to him back! And time, he never loses him! he will bring over to his side.

The next day, Romelle notified Shiro and the others that Keith would be out of the healing pod soon. So everyone made their way down to the medical bay, where Keith stood motionless in one of the pods.

"I can't tell if he looks healthy... or not." Hunk said, ticking his head to the side as the group was crowned around the pod that held their friend.

"I think he's breathing weird," Pidge announced, her face up against the pod.

"Oh, come on!" Lance raised his hand to open the pod, but Romelle stopped him.

"Not yet! A few more ticks." Romelle chided

Lance raised eyebrows, "How much better do you think he's gonna get in a few more tricks!"

"Who knows? But we have to let the pod do its job". Romelle replied.

"Romelle is right, Anyway, we have to figure out what we're going to do next", Shiro said.

"You got a point there, With all our recent 'history' with the Galra, I fear the worst aspect of the present is here to come!" Coran added.

"Yeah, don't remind me!" Romelle shook her head, "There is gonna be a time in point that the galra will attack us!"

The others did have to agree with Romelle on the aspect of war. There will come a time in point that the galra will attack, Yesterday was The latest example of that.

Coran closes his eyes, "Look I understand but I am not turned Aurs into a war zone!"

"Who turned Aurs into a war zone!"

"Not now Keith we're having an- Keith!"

Coran quickly hugged his friend as did Hunk. Everyone was shocked. They didn't notice Keith even exit his pod as they had been so enwrapped in their conversation. But they were all glad that he was alright.

"What happened?" Keith groaned, holding his head.

"We can tell you all about it while you get something to eat. Are you able to walk?" Shiro inquired.

"Where, to fight back against our enemies!" Keith demanded, much to Shiro's dismay.

"Classic". Lance said.

"Yep. There he is." Hunk said.

"Yep, he's okay," Pidge said

"Stats!" Stats said.

The group made their way to the dining room Before Shiro led Keith to his room so he could get changed. Once Keith was done, they arrived in the dining room as Romelle presented him with some green goo. Keith ate while also feeding some to Stats. They caught him up on what had transpired while he was unconscious.

"Good thing that the pod was able to fill up some of the eternal damage!" Coran informed his tone light. "But the rest has to be healed on its own, so Keith, from now on, no more rash decisions until you have completely healed. Understood?"

"Yeah, yeah..." Keith muttered.

"he means it, Keith," Shiro said. "Don't push yourself, anymore!"

"All right, I hear you!" Keith argued. "Sheesh, you don't gotta chew my ear off." he turned to the group. "Hey," causing the others to turn their attention to him. "Is it all right if I...talk to Shiro? ...Alone?"

Hunk, Lance, Pidge, and Coran both glanced at each other, then got up and walked out...but Romelle and Stats were the only ones who remained behind, glaring at Keith suspiciously.

"What is it, Romelle?" Shiro asked.

"You're not gonna try and send Shiro away, again, are you?" Romelle asked, which caused the pair to laugh.

"Trust me, Romelle," Keith began, "I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"Hmm...okay," Romelle nodded before she headed out with Stats.

"Oh, Romelle," Shiro said with a fond smile before he looked at Keith...who looked down at the floor. "Keith? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Shiro," he said.

"Huh?" Shiro muttered.

"I'm sorry for pushing you away," Keith replied. "I know that I said that I did it to protect you...but really...I did it protect myself."

"I understand," Shiro said as he put his arms around his shoulders and leaned against him. "You just didn't want anything to happen to me."

"...It's more than that, though," Keith said. "What if...what if Haggar's right?"

"Huh?" Shiro muttered in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"What if you turn on me, too?" Keith asked. "Just like Allura did?"

Shiro gaped at him...but then he raised his hand and punched him in the face.

"OW!!" he cried as he held his cheek. "What the hell did you do that for?!"

"To knock some sense into you!" Shiro shouted. "How could you even think something like that?!"

"Because, what if Haggar's right?" Keith asked. "What if Allura didn't really care about me? What if she really did see me as just a means to an end?"

He looked away from Shiro. "She wanted me to become human, so I live together with Takashi, but, I'm starting to wonder if she only used me to escape from her duties as a priestess." He looked at Shiro, again. "And you might turn against me, too."

Shiro felt his heart sink. Now he regretted punched him across the face like that. He knew that what Haggar said might have gotten to him, but he didn't realize just how badly her words stung him.

Despite all his bravado...Keith was still a lonely and insecure boy who felt like he had no place in this world.

"Oh, Keith," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around him. "I'm sorry I punch you...but you have to know something. Just because I was reincarnated from parts of Allura, it doesn't mean that I'm her. I won't ever turn on you."

"How do you know that?" Keith asked. "How do you know that you won't turn against me, eventually?"

"I just do," Shiro replied as he squeezed him tighter. "Keith, please, don't ever think that I'd betray you. I promise you that, okay?"

Keith didn't answer...but instead, he wrapped his arms around Shiro and held him tightly.

"Shiro, I'm glad that you came back to me". Keith said. "But I was still scared that you were in danger!"

"I know but dangerous is all I'm good at!" Shiro smiled. "But I'm still scared...but having you here makes me feel better."

"Me too," Keith said. "I think I like it better when you're here with me, so Shiro, please don't leave me, not again."

"I'm not going anywhere," Shiro whispered as he looked up at him with hooded eyes...and soon, he kissed Keith on the forehead, causing him to close his eyes as he returned his kiss.

For now...it was just these two and them alone.

That day, everyone continued their own personal day, Romelle had her handmaiden duties, together with Stats. Lance and Hunk practice their gunshots at the training deck, Coran and Pidge work together to make technology for the group's Journey, as, for Shiro, he breathed quietly as he lied on the couch in the lounge...with Keith nestled in his arms.

As everyone else continues on their merry way, Keith opened his eyes and looked down at Shiro, who remained in a peaceful slumber, a soft, sweet smile on his face. He lightly brushed the back of his hand against his face, being careful not to awake him. However...there seemed to be a bit of sadness in his eyes.

"Shiro's not Allura. I know that and I'm so happy that he's here with me, again." Keith through. He heaved a small sigh. "But I can't stop thinking about Allura!"

Later, after their nap, Shiro and Keith went to the Courtyard where Romelle sat on a blanket that she had spread out on the grass, staring up at the clear, blue sky. Sparrows chirped as they flitted about in the air before stopping to rest on the branches of the trees. It was certainly a nice, peaceful day...although the quiet was soon interrupted by the loud, boorish eating by that was coming from the three next to her.

Lance, Hunk, and Pidge loudly gobbled up the food that Romelle made. It felt like a long time since Romelle, Shiro and Stats got back from the trip back from the swamp and the group's fateful encounter with the nefarious Haggar, seem like a distant memory.

Since then, Keith had decided to heed Coran's advice and rested up to completely recover from his fight with Sendak.

Soon, Lance had polished off his sandwich and let out a noisy belch, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and sighed in satisfaction as he put his hands over his full belly.

"Man, I'm stuffed," he muttered, causing Hunk and Pidge to roll their eyes.

"Well, Nothing gets past you!" Hunk said as he turned to see Keith and Shiro. "Hey guys, we save you a seat!" Of course, the moment Keith sees the food on Romelle's blanket, he soon started gorging himself sick.

"Man, I'm starving!" Keith said, causing Shiro to roll her eyes.

"Now I know you must be feeling better," Shiro quipped. "You've got your appetite back."

"Can you blame me?" Keith asked. "I haven't eaten in a while."

Shiro could only chuckle as he looked up at the sky, again, while Keith let out a lazy yawn and scratched his chest.

"We can stay here until tomorrow," said Shiro. "We gotta get back on the road if we're gonna find the rest of the quintessence crystal shards before Haggar and Zarkon does."

"Yeah, I know," Keith replied. "but Please, you know that my body's built differently than you weak humans."

"Oh, I know, I know," Shiro nodded with a soft smile of amusement.

Keith snorted before he put his hands behind his back and closed his eyes, preparing to relax. As for Shiro, he glanced over at him while hugging his knees to his chest. He smiled a bit at how peaceful Keith looked, come to think of it, this is the 1st time to see Keith been like this that it was rare for him to rest on his back while his front was exposed. He usually hides away from everyone, Yet, when he was near Shiro, he acted like he didn't have to be on his guard, so much, and took this relaxing posture.

"I guess it's because he's come to trust me so much," Shiro thought...and that's when her eyes fell on the mark around Keith's arm as he snoozes.

In the Shrine library that day, Coran dropped another toppling stack of books, sending clouds of dust and lose pages everywhere.

"There we go!" he said.

"Hey, Coran!" asked a voice behind him, he turned and found Shiro at the library's entrance, a look of a person usually looks apparent on his normally serious face.

"Yes, what is it, what is it!" Coran said. "What do you need!"

Shiro traded a comfortable look, in his Decision to find some way to remove the mark that connected him and Keith together.

Shiro stood, cleared his throat, and said, "Coran, I need your help!" Coran's face turned confused, That was an interesting question he heard all day.

Keith yawned and stretched his arms as he finally woke up from his nap. He groaned as he sat up and scratched the back of his head and sleepily smacked his lips. As he scratched at his hand, however, his eyes slowly widened as he realized something was missing, and as he looked down, he saw that the mark was gone!

"W-what the hell?!" Keith questioned. "Where are the-?!"

"Looking for something?"

Keith looked up and saw Shiro and Coran...the latter holding a vial of purple and white liquid, He gaped in disbelief before he put his hand over his hand again, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Hell, he even pinched one of his faces, which caused him to yell in pain before he looked...and saw that the vial was still in Coran's fingers.

"Okay, I'm awake," Keith said. "C...Coran...did you...?!"

"Take the mark off?" Coran asked. "Yes, yes, I did."

"But how...you...how," Keith asked.

"Because I ask him!" Shiro answered.

"But...but...WHY?!!" Keith questioned.

"Well, I've been thinking," Shiro said. "I don't say patience anymore," she noticed that Keith had braced himself on instinct when he said "patience", "so I figured that you don't need it anymore."

"you're seriously taking it off?" Keith asked.

"Mm-hmm," Shiro nodded. "So you don't have to worry about me saying patience anymore, okay? I trust you." he then stood up on her feet and walked away from the ground. "I'll be right back, okay? I got find Romelle, I am supposed to get more supplied with her" With that, he turned and walked away, heading for the town square of Aurs.

"he...he trusts me...?' he thought. "he trusts me?"

"Keith!" Coran called out.

"He trusts me!" Keith said

"Who trusts who!"

Keith turned to see Lance approaching with Pidge, Hunk, and Stats who sitting on his shoulder.

"There you are," said Lance. "We were looking for you. Where's Shiro?"

"He's with Romelle" Keith replied. "he said he had to get more supplies for our journey."

"Ah, I see," Lance nodded. "Good to have some supplies for the journey."

"I hope he brings back some Aurs candy," Hunk said...until he noticed Keith's bare Arm. "Huh? Hey, Keith! What happened to your mark?"

"Oh, I took it off!" Coran told him.

"you took it off?" Lance asked. "Why?"

"Because Shiro told him!" Keith answered. "he said I don't need the mark, anymore,"

"It's true, Shiro asks me about the mark and how to take it up!" Coran said.

Pidge and Hunk and Lance and Stats blinked in surprise before they glanced at each other.

"So...does that mean he won't sit you, anymore?" Pidge asked. "Especially when you do something bad, like attacking people with no reason!"

"She got a point!" Hunk said. "I meant You do have a habit of doing that!"

"What I don't have a habit of doing that!" Keith said. "Hey, if anything, people deserve to have a punch in the face or a kick in the head!"

Pidge pause for a moment, then Lance said, "Hey, violence doesn't solve everything!"

"Oh, wait!" Keith exclaimed. "If Shiro is with Romelle, I gotta tell him to find some Raman!"

"Ooh!" Hunk chirped. "I hope they find cupcakes!"

"Uh...I'll have to see what he says about that," Keith replied. "he can only carry so much, you know!"

"You just don't wanna ask him..." Hunk said with a pout as Keith turned and walked

away, heading in the direction Shiro left in.

It took a while, but Keith managed to reach the Market place, he knew about Shiro's energy all the way here, so it wasn't a problem. As Keith walked...he suddenly stopped at a tree that reminded him of the great tree in the middle of Arus's forests, where he visualized a bare spot in the trunk's bark...a scar, more or less.

Keith froze as he approached the tree and reached up toward the spot where he had been sealed.

"How many days that I felt when I was with Shiro! how I met him, It felt like an eternity!" Keith thought.

For a brief moment, he thought back to when Shiro released him from his seal...and the first thing he did after he destroyed Mistress Centipeede was attack him to get the Quintessence crystal, and then Shiro put that mark on him to control him, to keep him in check, but Shiro hardy did that, Instead he gave him patience and compassion that no one gave him.

Had he truly come to trust him, that much?

"Hey, Keith!" Romelle's voice coming next to him.

"Oh, Romelle!" Keith said as he turned to Shiro and Romelle with the latter had gathered up some supplies such as some extra bandages, medicine, extra food, water, etc. "Ugh...this thing's heavy," Shiro groaned before he noticed Keith. "Huh? Keith, what are you-"

"Shiro!" Keith cried as he walking towards him and Romelle with the feelings of trust and friendship for the rest of day.