Chapter fourteen: it's all about love

Lance and the others looked up at the sky as they watched the barrier disappear. They saw the Soul Collectors fly off into the night...carrying with them a maiden dressed in white and blue robes. Stats gasped, instantly recognizing her face as he hopped off Lance's shoulder.

"Stats!" Stats exclaimed.

"What, the priestess that once guarded the Quintessence crystal?" Lance asked, "And the daemons are carrying her off!!"

"Stats!" Stats answered.

"Do you think she's being captured by them?" asked Hunk.

"No," Lance said. "Something tells me that she was the one behind all this."

"Huh?" Hunk muttered in confusion, but before he could ask any further questions, there was the sound of rustling leaves and footsteps approaching. As the group looked up, they gasped upon seeing Keith and Shiro, with Shiro holding Keith close to him with his arms wrapped around his shoulders.

He looked so small compared to him...and it almost felt as if he was shielding him from something. As they got closer, Lance noticed the dull-eyed look in Keith's eyes while Shiro's were as wide as a pair of saucers.

"Keith! Shiro" cried Hunk, worriedly. "Is everything okay?!"

"You look like you saw a ghost!!" Pidge said.

"What happened in there?" asked Lance.

"Allura happened!" Keith answered. "The demons stealing the souls of dead women...Allura was the one behind it."

The group gasped in shock.

"You can't be serious!" Pidge exclaimed. "Why would she do that?!"

"Allura's body is no longer one of mortal flesh," Keith explained. "Because of that...she needs the souls of the dead to survive."

"So she's been stealing the wayward souls of dead maidens," Lance said before he sighed and closed his eyes. "How awful."

"That's not all," Shiro said. "She tried to kill Keith."

"Stats!" Stats questioned.

"It's true," Keith said. "Allura tried to drag me into Hell with her...but it's thanks to Shiro that I escape with my life."

Shiro glances away dejectedly "Oh is that it!" Pidge said as she glanced at Shiro and Keith, who looks uncomfortable, causing her to glance down at them in concern. "It's why you look so frightened, both of you!"

"I...I think is best that we return to Aurs!" Keith said.

"What!" Lance questioned. "But we just started this Journey!"

"Lance, it's okay!" Shiro assured. "We're not giving up on finding the crystal shards....just a little while, okay? I just need a bit of a break at all".

"But...I...!" Lance stammered. "Ok, we'll do what we have to do!"

"Thank you, Lance," Shiro said before he looked at Stats, who looked at him with wet eyes. "Now Stats, don't look at me like that...I'm okay now!"

"Stats!" Stats asked.

"I promise, I'm all right now!" Shiro smiled as he gently stroked the top of his head and planted a small kiss on his crown. "And if you're good, I let you pick out your favorite candy

"Stats!" Stats inquired.

"Mm-hmm," Shiro nodded.

"Let go, everyone!" Keith said as they start walking together all the way back to Aurs, but the reason isn't leaving Lance, Hunk, and Pidge to watch Shiro and Keith as they walked right beside each other.

"Shiro must've been terrified," Pidge said.

"I think Shiro will be fine," Lance assured. "It's Keith who worries me."

"Why?" Hunk asked.

"I think something happened that he wasn't prepared for," Lance answered, grimly.

At Aurs, Coran himself was just about to bed, down for the night...when suddenly, at the doorsteps of the shrine of Lions.

"Coran..."

Coran stopped in his tracks...only to gasp upon seeing Allura.

"A...Allura?" he asked.

"What's the matter, Coran? Are you afraid of your own friends?" Allura answered.

"N-no… Since the day you fell from the cliff!" Coran said. "What brings you here?"

"I just thought that I'd come and see you," Allura said with a small, gentle smile. "Come...let us sit for a while."

"Of course!" Coran nodded, though hesitantly. After a while, Coran sat within the lounge of the shrine with Allura, with him sitting on one side of the lounge and Allura sat on the other.

"What's wrong, Coran?" Allura asked. "I thought you fear me!"

"No of course not, I already told you!" Coran said as he hesitantly looked Allura in the eye. "But are you truly..."

"Dead..." Allura added. "Yes, I am a dead woman. But I guess I still long for this world."

"I see! Romelle and Keith told me everything!" said Coran. "Do you still seek Keith's life?"

"Funny you should mention him," Allura said. "I just met Keith moments ago. And I barely missed killing him". She did not miss the small, startled gasp that her now elderly friend made.

"Tell me, Coran. Tell me everything you know about this Zarkon's witch," she said.

"O...of course," Coran replied, even if it will not rewiring anything, Coran knows that Allura needs to know the answers to her death!

Soon, Coran conveyed to Allura of Haggar's deceiving...as the crippled bandit, Orenda!"

"...I see," Allura said. "So that bandit that I tended to...She was Haggar, All this time?"

"Aye, Allura," Coran affirmed. "Everything started from the evil designs of Zarkon. Haggar Infiltrate our home So the galra can attack us!" he then looked up at Allura. "Allura...I'm not sure if this will change your mind...but Keith, himself, was also deeply scarred by Haggar's web of deceit...so-"

"I've heard enough," Allura said as she stood up and walked out. "I only wanted to know the reason behind why I died." Just as she was about to leave...she stopped right in front of the doorway. "By the way, Keith has changed. His face had a softness. Back then, he trusted no one…his eyes were cold."

"Shiro is a strange man. he has been able to slowly heal Keith's heart." Coran replied.

"I see," Allura said with a smirk. "That Man again…he's the one who changed him. No surprise there I knew a certain man who did the exact same thing to him!" With that, he walked out of the lounge, but Coran got up and followed after her.

"Wait, Allura!" Coran called. "Are you not able to break away from the past?"

"We shall meet again," Allura whispered as she walked away, her Soul Collectors flying off after her...and all Coran could do was sigh in disappointment.

"How long will you linger… Allura?" he thought.

In the Daytime, Shiro, Keith, and the others walk towards Aurs's Market place where Romelle hummed a small tune to herself while doing some grocery shopping, get some rice in a bowl, because, for the day, she was having grilled chicken breast sprinkled with salt (not too much salt for workout reasons!) bowls of rice, and simmered beans.

Romelle was so preoccupied, she didn't even notice when Stats flying around her.

"Stats!" Stats asked, eager to see her again.

Romelle turned around to him, "Oh, Stats!" she asked as she looked around again...and imagine her surprise when she saw that it was Shiro and the gang with the former-Shiro with his arm draped over the latter-Keith.

"Hi, Romelle," Keith said in a small, weak voice.

"Oh, Shiro, Oh, Keith!" Romelle asked as she went up to her, gently placing her hands on Keith's cheeks. "Are you all right?!... You look like you suffered something big!" She then put her hand on Keith's forehead while holding her other hand against her own. "There's no fever..." She then placed both hands on Keith's shoulders. "Keith, are you hurt?"

"...No, Romelle,...I'm just tired". Keith replied.

"You don't want anything else?" Romelle asked.

"I don't think I can stomach anything, right now," Keith said.

"...All right," Romelle nodded before Keith's head for the shrine of lions for a self good rest. She then glanced at Shiro, who looked away from her. He had this...guilty look in his eyes and his head was tilted back. It was almost as if he was expecting to get yelled at.

"Shiro...?" Romelle asked, prompting him to glance up at her. "Welcome back!"

"...Oh...Well...It's good to be back!" Shiro asked.

"Me too! To be honest it was kind of boring without you guys around!" Romelle answered, and though Shiro still had a bit of hesitation...He joined Romelle and just like Keith, it seemed that he didn't want to do anything! which was why he also turned away from Lance, Hunk, and Pidge.

Lance wanted to ask Shiro and Keith about their encounter with Allura, Hunk wanted to bake something because baking clears his head and even Pidge wanted to know why Keith came walking in, acting so solemn. She even looked like she was about to accuse Shiro of causing her change in mood, but Lance quickly reprimanded her.

"I think we should save the questions for another time," Lance told them. "In the meantime will spend our time here!" he then turned to flirt with some Altean girls.

"But Lance," Hunk started.

"No buts," Lance interjected. "Let's just leave it be."

"Well Ok", Pidge said, "I'm starting to wonder if Shiro and Keith are gonna be Ok after that! I mean that the two look like they suffering from a variety of different ways from an attack, both emotionally and physically!"

"Wow, that's deep!" Hunk said. "I know you mean well...but that was deep but I think that Shiro and Keith are friends, I wouldn't be bothered anything to hurt them, and even if wouldn't do it intentionally."

"How do you know that, Hunk?" Pidge asked.

"I just do," Hunk answered. "Is just intuition."

At back at the shrine of lions, Keith had finished getting out of the shower and was dressed in his pajamas. As he dried off his hair with a towel, he walked up to his bedroom door and opened it...and inside, he found Shiro, standing in the middle of the room with his eyes closed. He was taking in deep inhales through his nose before he let out a soft sigh.

"Shiro!" Keith asked.

"D'OH!!" Shiro cried with a blushing face. "I-I'm sorry, it's just...well..." He scratched the back of his head. "I practice my magic through my energy!"

"...I see," Shiro said before he closed the door behind him, then turned off the lights, the only thing illuminating the room being the neon lights surrounding the Room. Then, Keith began to climb into bed...but Shiro just stood there in the middle, confused as to what to do. "You're just gonna stand there?"

Keith just looked around, then down at the floor before he sat down next to Keith, with him being under the covers with his dagger right next to his pillows.

"You're gonna sleep on the floor?" Keith asked.

"Well, I was gonna go to my Room!" Shiro replied.

"...Get in," Keith said.

"Huh?" Shiro muttered.

"Get in my bed," Keith told him. "Come on."

Shiro's eyes went wide in surprise. Keith never ceased to surprise him since the day they met. he was actually willing to share his bed with him!

"Of, course!" Shiro said and before he even knew what was happening...Shiro stood up and sat down on the bed with Keith, who sat up on her knees as he climbed onto the mattress which was very soft and not being springy...and surprisingly comfortable, like lots of the shrine's beds.

As Shiro slowly eased back, Keith climbed into his arms and rested his head on his chest, prompting him to wrap his arms around him, once more.

"...Are you okay?" Keith asked...and not long after, Shiro's eyes began to sting with the tears she had been holding back for quite some time.

"No," he whispered. "I was...I was so scared...!" he sniffled as he buried her face in the curtain of black hair. "I...I thought she was gonna kill you...!!"

"...Shiro..." Keith whispered as he held him close. "It's okay...I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

Shiro let out a shuddering breath as he fisted Keith's shirt in his hands, and though it was subtle, he could feel his chest purring softly.

"...Are you...purring?" Shiro asked.

"Huh?" Keith muttered. "Oh, uh...yeah, kind of. But it's not a threatening thing. It's something that I can do to comfort others...at least that's what I figure."

"Oh..." Shiro murmured.

"I can stop if you want," Keith said.

"N-no, no," Shiro answered. "It's fine..."

"Okay," Keith whispered as Shiro continues to hold Keith, in his chest.

"Keith?" Shiro asked. "What about you?"

"Are you okay?" Shiro asked, causing his eyes to widen.

"O-of course, I'm okay," he answered. "I'm just fine."

"You blockhead!" Shiro said.

"What?" Keith asked. "What are you talkin' about, blockhead? I ain't lying!"

"Keith, don't try and fool me," Shiro told him. "You can't even fool yourself." he then looked up at him with gray eyes softening. "Keith...you're hurting, too, aren't you?"

Keith's eyes widened even more if that was even possible.

"...Allura wanted you to be dragged down to the neverworld with her..." Shiro said. "All because she didn't believe in you, Doesn't that make you even a little angry? She was your...friend, That's why I yelled at you to wake up. Don't you see, Keith? If she loved you, she'd never say those things about you, would she?!"

Keith cast his eyes to the wall to his left...then he heaved a small sigh.

"I was upset, I admit that" he admitted. "I was just, more worried about you."

"She called you, disgusting," Shiro said, bitterly. "She told me about that herself!"

"Yeah, she did," Keith repeated, "and maybe I am disgusting." He closed his eyes. "Maybe...I don't deserve to be happy."

"Stop it!" Shiro spat, causing his eyes to go wide. "Don't ever say that! I can't believe you'd even think that way!"

"But I can't as much as I want to I can't be happy or...be in love". Keith started.

"But it isn't true!" Shiro said. "You deserve love and happiness too, and Allura, if she blinded by her hatred to see the best part of you, then that's her fault, not yours!!"

"...Shiro...!" Keith whispered.

"...I care about you," Shiro said as she hugged him, tightly. "I want you to know that...No matter what happens I'm always gonna be by your side!"

And as if he wanted to prove it further...he cupped Keith's face in her hands...and practically crashed his lips over his.

Keith's eyes went wide...but then he slowly wrapped his arms around Shiro's head...a small tear forming in the corner of his eye. This man is unbelievably kind and supportive to him. Ever since they met, it was like suddenly, his life turned around again for the first time in forever, he found someone that he can rely on.

What is the name of the gods had he ever done to deserve someone so...wonderful?

"Shiro...Think you!"

In the next hours, Keith woke up the following later, in a panic. Instead of lying against the warm fabric of Shiro's t-shirt, he found herself lying against the cool, smooth surface of her pillow, and instead of his powerful yet gentle arms swaddling him, he found herself being covered by the thick light-blue blanket. His eyes darted about the room, but he found hide nor cloth nor person dressed in black.

Where did Shiro go?

"Did he wake up before me! And without me!" he thought before he looked for any evidence that showed him doing so, yet found none. He then opened the door and look down the hallway, Interesting He could smell of cooking, somehow a meal, he blushed a bit in embarrassment when he felt his stomach growl.

Keith sighed before he headed down the dining area to eat dinner.

"Maybe I dream the whole thing!" Keith thought as he headed to the dining area...only to gasp as he saw Shiro sitting at the table with Pidge, Lance, Hunk, Romelle, Kiaion, and Stats while Coran was setting up the table.

"There you are," said Coran before he looked up and saw Keith. "Do you have a good nap!"

"Yeah, I did!" Keith said before he looked at Shiro and the others. "So were you guys doing!"

"I gave the staff the night off so it could be just us!" Coran said. "Come and sit down, Keith, I've been making this something did I know you will like!"

"Something special, huh!" Keith asked as she came and sat down next to Shiro. "What's the special occasion!"

Coran decided that today was special enough," Romelle said. "He did give the staff the night off!"

"I thought you were gone," Shiro said as he looked to Keith, who blinked at him.

"Did...did you want me to be?" he asked.

"No," Keith replied with a smile, causing him to smile back at him (albeit a bit awkwardly). Coran catching this out of the corner of his eye, only chuckled lightly as he setting down the plate. "I hope you like it, l prepared an authentic ancient dinner!"

Coran removed the plate's covering, revealing a green blob that had a yellow tube-like thing coming out of it. But that wasn't the worst part, the worst part was how it smelled.

Lance gagged, "Oh, god. It smells like a landfill covered in vomit!"

"Coran, you can't be serious eating the stuff!" Romelle added reel back at the smells.

Hunk, Pidge, Shiro, and Keith are also all reel back at the smell and back, it wasn't the most pleasant one in all the land. Hunk deadpan looked at the orange-haired Altean.

"Coran, you just got me hooked on the goo and now you're switching it up?" Hunk said.

"This is packed with nutrients," Coran added.

"Oh, it smells disgusting!" Hunk said.

"I know! That's how you know it's healthy!" Coran explained.

Everybody looked at each other, thinking the same thing, no way in hell was going into bodies. At least not willingly.

"Coran, we're on a land with fresh herbs, spices, and whatever this thing is. A tuber? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head back to the kitchen and spice things up." Hunk proclaimed as he raced off into the kitchen.

"I help you!" Romelle Shouted as she wants to get out of there and went into the kitchen.

"So, Keith," Coran said, "do you think you're feeling all right now?"

"Yeah, I think so," Keith said. "and besides, Shiro needs to stock up on a few supplies while we are here, anyway." he noticed that Stats was on his lap, trying to get away from the smell coming from Coran's food.

"How long are you going to be staying?" Coran asked.

"Oh...just today and tomorrow," Shiro replied before he looked to Keith, "That's...that's okay with you, right, Keith? I know you still want to look for the crystal shards and all-"

"You can stay here as long as you need to," Keith interjected, causing Shiro to blink at him in disbelief.

"Err...are you sure?" Shiro asked. "I don't have to stay."

"It's fine!" Keith said. "We could take a break from traveling Altea!"

Shiro stared at the half-daemon, who glanced down at the floor...but then he smiled.

"I'll tell you when I'm ready to head back, okay?" he asked.

"Works for me," Keith answered

"Now Open the hatch. Food lion coming in!!" Coran said as tried to feel some of the green glob to Shiro who just refused to take it. "No. Just... no."

"You don't know what you're missing!" Coran said.

After leaving the dining hall, Hunk and Romelle from the kitchen with plates containing some alien dishes they had cooked up using what was needed a dinner. They set it down on the table in Keith, Lance, Shiro, Pidge, and Stats, whose mouths watered at the site. Everyone immediately dug into their meals, not letting a single piece of food go to waste as they stuffed their faces.

Hunk and Romelle stood proud and content on this special occasion.

"I don't want to talk about it." Coran turned away, jealous that Hunk and Romelle's food was obviously better.

After finishing dinner, Shiro did his exercise for the night and later he took a shower, then went to his bed for the night, but after a few hours later, Shiro was unable to go to sleep, No surprise there, He did took a nap with Keith.

So Shiro shook his head when realized that he wasn't back to bed, It was something that always stuck with him, no matter where he was, Shiro figured that much. The twenty-four-year-old had gotten up early, during his time at the Galaxy Garrison and honestly, even before that.

His body always ticks to woke him up just past the crack of dawn. Even if he was in another world. Shiro shook again his head. This was his life at the moment.

"Adam always used to complain about how I always got up so early." Shiro thought "Saying that he couldn't sleep without me next to him!"

It was that thought that made Shiro really stop for a minute. After all that, Adam has chosen the Galra over him, Instead of going with him, that went further as he realized that he kissed Keith on the lips but that's not even the worst part, Shiro and Adam had a life back on Earth and they left behind without any warning.

The people they were once close to, they were all probably grieving about them, losing someone they loved. The thought brought him back to about a week before he arrived on Altea.

"Sam and Matt probably found another Pilot take them to Kerberos!" Shiro thought. "That will probably make Adam happy!"

"So am I, since HOW important am I to you?". Adam's voice in Shiro's mind, the young man shook his head again, wanting the memory to go away. That is not what he needed to think about right now. Shiro threw off his bed sheets before making his way to the Kitchen, taking a midnight snack.

He thought about taking another shower but decided to get in some training beforehand. Changing from his pajamas into his normal outfit along with grabbing an extra towel, Shiro made his way towards the training deck.

Getting there within two minutes, Shiro quickly activated the Gladiator. Setting it to a relatively easy level, Shiro and the robotic warrior started to spar. Shiro also did his best to try his training from the tree and put it into his fighting style as sparingly as possible.

After about thirty minutes, Shiro decided that is enough for the day. "End training sequence!"

The shrine's system recognized the command and the Gladiator shuts off before being placed in its storage space.

Shiro grabbed his towel, wiping his face before draping it over his shoulders. He made his way towards his room when he felt how dry his throat was. Deciding to get some water, Shiro made a beeline for the kitchen.

However, as he came upon his destination, Shiro could see someone in the shadows of the kitchen light, deciding that its worthwhile to investigate upon, Shiro peeking his head into the room. There, he saw Coran standing at one of the counters with a glass of a steaming liquid as he was looking at a picture, all sad like. He was dressed in his blue pajamas and his hair messily. Shiro guessed that he must have just gotten up.

The taller man had to admit that Coran was in deep thought. And even though he couldn't understand on why he was thinking about it, Shiro surmised that Coran was thinking about was his own personal business and he had no involvement in it.

Coran soon put the picture down as he brought the cup to his lips, blowing on it to cool it down, and took a sip. Shiro took this as his chance to enter.

"So you cannot sleep either!" Coran said.

Surprisingly, Shiro paused as he wasn't expecting that Coran didn't notice him around.

"How did you know I coming!" Shiro said, slightly flustered.

"I own this place, the shrine of lions is holy ground!" Coran added. "Or it was!" he then looked at the picture which was featuring Coran as a man in his late 20s, alongside Allura, back she was alive and Keith, before he was sealed to the great tree.

"I'm sorry, but I...Can I join you!" Shiro smiled. He joined him at the counter but still kept a respectable distance.

Coran looked down, saddened. "Oh, please, I know what you gonna ask me about and It's not an easy thing to talk about!"

"Talk about, about what!" Shiro raised an eyebrow.

"About Allura!" Coran shared, a hint of sadness was in his voice.

"You miss her, don't you!" Shiro asked.

"I do but I need to tell you something!" Coran added. "last night, Allura came to me!"

"She what, she came back here, right after she attempted to kill Keith!" Shiro said.

"Yes, to know about her death!" Coran said.

"I see!" Shiro said.

"Did you just come back from training?" Coran said, Trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, just did some sparring with the Gladiator". Shiro confirmed, readjustment the towel on his shoulders. "I feel like I'm getting a lot stronger, Even better than I was before!"

"Hmm...I'm so glad to hear it I need someone to protect Aurs!" Coran grinned.

"I do not doubt that, but I don't know that we will win against Haggar and Zarkon". Shiro inquired.

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure out something! You have Keith and the others by your side!" Coran said.

"Yeah, I guess I do!" Shiro said.

A few hours later, Keith and the others woke up. Romelle did her usual routine of her chores with the staff all the while, Keith, Hunk, Pidge, and Stats soon found themselves in the kitchen as Hunk prepared breakfast for them.

"Where's Lance and Shiro? Are they still asleep?" Keith asked.

"I heard the water running when I passed his room, so I would guess he's taking a shower," Pidge replied.

"And Shiro!" Keith said.

"Stats!" Stats answered.

"He just went back to bed!" Keith said.

Hunk chuckled, "Well then, no need to make them any food!"

Pidge also let out a small laugh leaving both Keith and Stats confused.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Keith questioned.

"Lance was notorious for taking super long showers when way back before ever he met you guys!. I had to set my alarm at least two hours earlier to use the bathroom first!" Hunk ranted.

"Veronica says that he was like back at home too". Pidge added.

"Veronica?" Keith raised an eyebrow. "Is that his girlfriend!"

Hunk and Pidge just started at Keith before bursting into a fit of uncontrolled laughter. Keith looked at his friends dumbfounded before turning to Stats, who looked as confused as he was.

"Yeah, like Lance could actually have a girlfriend. Especially a girl like Veronica". Pidge wheezing out.

"The guy's too high maintenance even for his family". Hunk laughed.

Keith ticked his head to the side, "Family?"

"Veronica's his big sister". Hunk clarified. "I have met her a few times, and boy, does she know how to push his buttons!"

"Who knows how to push my buttons?"

The group of four turned to the Kitchen entrance to see Lance standing there, dressed in his casual attire.

"Stats!" Stats told Lance

"It means to annoy". Keith whispered to Stats, who nodded in understanding.

"Well?!" I am not high maintenance! And I could have a girlfriend if I wanted!" Lance defended.

"Yes, you are". Hunk said, still trying to fight back laughter. "Dude, you need at least an hour in the bathroom and that's only for showering! Let's not forget your extensive skin care routine".

"Skin care routine?" Keith incredulously asked.

"And for the girlfriend thing, Lance, you've asked out nearly all of the land. And they've all turned you down. Plus, you haven't even had a serious relationship yet". Pidge tagged on.

"Who told you that!?" Lance freaked.

Pidge smirked "Hunk?!"

"Hunk!? Seriously" Lance grumbled.

"Stats!" Stats said.

"I know the pushing buttons thing!" Keith realized, with Stats nodded along.

Hunk then came from around the corner and tackled Lance in a bear hug.

"Awe, don't worry. You're still a big shot with us!"

Lance just looked at his big friend with a stale face, before breaking out into a smile.

"Yeah, Yeah. I know".

Hunk then let go of Lance and went back to work on cooking. Lance then took his in-between Keith and Pidge at the counter, waiting to be served. Keith could tell when just happened was a common occurrence for the three of them have. It really showed how deep their bond was.

No matter how much they made fun of each other, they always had each other's back. They gave each other unconditional support. Keith thought back, realizing that the only ones he was truly close in the past were Takashi, Coran, and Allura. But he did wanna think about her now.

Soon, Hunk finished and served them breakfast before getting a plate for himself. It was crazy to think that Hunk had an amazing palette how to make such delicious combinations. The quintet chowed down on their meal.

And after finishing breakfast, Pidge and Lance left the kitchen and Hunk scrubbed the dishes with Stats, he was doing them, he noticed Keith staring out of space, watching the others leave. Hunk couldn't help but see that he had a bit of a lonely expression in his eyes, which caused him to smile at him.

"Keith?" Hunk called, prompting Keith to turn to face him. "Can you help me wash the dishes, please?"

Keith breaks out of his own personal world, but he saw that Lance and Pidge were already gone. Deciding that he had nothing else to do, he went over to Hunk's side and began to help him wash the dishes. He had to tie back his sleeves, though, to keep them from getting wet. It took him a minute, but Hunk helped him not to scrub too or use too much dish soap.

"Thanks, Keith," Hunk said as he dried off the last of the dishes and put it away in the cupboard. "You know...you're quite a fast learner, aren't you?"

"Uh...I am?" Keith asked, causing him to chuckle warmly as he put a hand on his arm, causing him to tense up a bit. "Err...w-what are you doing?"

"Nothing I just want to give you a good job done!" Hunk said, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Come and sit down with me, Keith," said as he led him to the lounge.

"Uh...okay," Keith replied.

"What's he doing!" he thought

Soon, they were sitting on the couch while Romelle was sat down to the couch on one side to them, reading her book, Keith sat with his arms crossed, feel nervous, while Hunk set next to him.

"Now then-" Hunk started.

"What did I do wrong!" Keith cried, startling both him and Romelle.

"What?" Hunk asked.

"What?" Keith asked. "...Oh...uh...sorry, I guess I got nervous."

"Oh, it's fine, I want to talk to you!" Hunk said, "about Shiro and you!"

"...Yeah," Keith replied, although he averted his eyes, trying to avoid looking into his.

"Hey, don't worry about that, but I do need to know about what happened to you guys!" Hunk said, "When we met you guys in the forest, you acting like you had seen a ghost?"

Keith swallowed the lump in his throat while Hunk smiled at him, gently and patiently. He reached over and put a hand on his, causing practically every hair on his body stand up on end...and yet, seeing that patient, reassuring look in this boy's eyes made him calm down rather quickly. He didn't know why, but...it almost felt like he was looking in the eyes of Takashi, again.

"Well?" Hunk asked, causing Keith to sigh as he gathered whatever courage he could.

"...Well...it's not something I'd actually like to remember," Keith began. "But I spoke the truth to Allura and all my words were real."

"What did you mean!" Romelle said.

"I mean before...We discover those daemons! Allura and I Used to be friends, the first friend I ever had!" Keith said.

"You sound like treasure your friendship!" Hunk pointed out.

"In a way I did!" Keith said. "But back then, I met him!"

"Met him, Do you mean Shiro!" Hunk said.

"No, this is before I met Shiro!" Keith said. "back then I...I met Takashi...and I fell in love with him."

"Is that so?" Romelle asked.

"Yeah," Keith replied. "At first, we were enemies. I wanted to beat him, but he stopped me every time...but then, before I knew it, I started being around him, more. I followed him pretty much everywhere...and I could see that he was sad and lonely, like me. Being a samurai, he was loved by the people...but he felt like he couldn't really be himself."

"Ah, I see..." Hunk said.

"Then, one day," Keith began, "Allura came to me and said that...she could use the Quintessence crystal to turn me human. After that-"

"Wait, wait, stop," Hunk interjected. "I...I'm sorry for interrupted, Keith, but...she wanted to make you...human? That doesn't make any sense"

"Yeah, you told me this story before even I can't find any sense in it" Romelle added.

"Well!" Keith replied. "I thought that Allura figures it out that I was in love with Takashi and want to become human so I can be with him!...and the only way she could do that was make the Crystal disappear."

"Ah, I see," Romelle said. "The Quintessence crystal is neither good nor evil. It reflects the heart of its owner. If one were to make the only correct wish upon the crystal, it would disappear from existence."

"...And...she wanted you to become human," Keith said, "so the Crystal would disappear? Why?"

"...Allura was tasked with guarding the crystal," Keith answered. "She figured that...if there was no crystal, she didn't have to be a priestess anymore."

"...So...she used you," Hunk surmised.

"Huh?" Keith muttered.

"Sorry, I wasn't in my place in into". Hunk began "But why...Did you even ask Takashi if he wants you to become human, to begin with and If Allura really care about that, she would've left you the way you are? Instead, she asks you to become human for her...just so she won't have to guard some gem that she was actually tasked with protecting? Keith, I hate to say this, but...I don't think Allura care about you at all".

Keith didn't reply. He only stared at Hunk and Romelle with sad, almost bitter eyes...causing him to gasp quietly.

"I'm sorry so sorry!" Hunk whispered. "You knew...didn't you?"

Keith looked down at the floor and nodded his head.

"...If Allura really cares for me," he said, "then...she wouldn't have pinned me to a tree with an arrow. I was asleep for years...until Shiro came to our world and freed me."

"And...what about Allura?" asked Hunk.

"...Allura actually died after she sealed me," Keith said.

"Then the grim reaper, Urasue brought back Allura to life!" Romelle said. "However...she came back...wrong."

"Wrong?" Hunk repeated. "Wrong, how?"

"Allura died with a lot of bitterness and hatred in her heart," Keith said. "She was convinced that I betrayed her, but really as you all know, It was Haggar who tricked us! And obviously know the rest!"

Both Hunk and Romelle pause at that!

"That explains the Barrier after you went to find Allura! we encounter a barrier that separates us from the soul collectors!" Hunk said. "We tried to get in but Shiro was the only one then managed to get in!"

"That would explain that Shiro was there!" Keith

began "but then...Allura attempted to drag me into the neverworld with her!"

"My word!" Hunk cried.

"And then...that's when I heard something I wasn't prepared to hear," Keith said. "Shiro asked Allura if she really did love me...and Allura looked him dead in the eye...and she said that I was a disgusting half-daemon."

"...Oh, my...!" Romelle whispered in shock.

"Then...Shiro got angry," Keith said. "I don't know what he did, but...when he yelled at Allura, she suddenly grew weak. That's when we got out of there...but Allura fled, too."

"She really said that about you?" asked Romelle.

"...Yeah...she did..." Keith said...his voice small and almost broken. "She really didn't care about me...All she wanted..." He closed his eyes. "Not one bit..."

"Oh, Keith," Romelle whispered before she wrapped her arms around him, causing his eyes to go wide. "I'm so sorry, Keith"

"I can't believe how cruel someone could really be," Hunk said, sadly. "That why you decide to return to Aurs! because you thought it would help you feel better, but the pain is still there!"

"...Yeah..." Keith whispered. "I was hurting. I should've realized, sooner...Allura never cares about what I wanted. She wanted me to be human because she thought it would help me when really, she just wanted to get away from her own responsibilities."

"Then she's a fool," Romelle said as she pulled away. "You deserve better friends than her, One that respects your decisions!"

"Yeah, like us! like Shiro" Hunk said.

"Shiro?" Keith repeated as his face suddenly turned pink. "Uh...well...at first, I thought that he hated me, too...but then, I started to get to know him. he's a lot different from Allura and Takashi."

"Different how?" Hunk asked although he had this knowing look in his eyes and a warm smile on his face.

"First of all, he is amazing and he's never gives up on me, not once, even he asked me if I wanted to become a samurai! That's something that Takashi never asked me to do and you guys started to trust me even know you all know that I'm a half-daemon, With open arms!" Keith began as an awkward smile appeared on his face. "Your energy makes me feel calm...and glad that I am part of a team with you, Romelle, Lance, Pidge, Stats, Kiaion, and Shiro...Around him, I feel safe and happy for the first time in my life."

"I see," Hunk smiled.

"...We...we even kissed a few times," Keith said.

"Oh, did you?" Hunk asked with a playful smirk on his face " So you did...?"

"No, No, we didn't do that!" Keith said "Takashi and I...we never kissed...in fact, Takashi barely even touched me. Shiro...he kissed me and touched me and...he hugged me."

"Keith?" asked Romelle.

"Yes?" Keith asked.

"...Would you go so far as to say that...you love Shiro?" Hunk inquired, causing the half-daemon's blush to turn three shades of red. Hell, even the tips of his ears turned red.

"L...love him?" Keith asked. "Uh...well..."

A pause...but then Hunk laughed, causing him to look at her. Even Romelle started to laugh, causing him to growl in irritation.

"What's so funny?!" Keith questioned.

"Nothing is great!" Hunk said before he put his hand on his shoulder. "Just give it time...you'll see. I think Shiro feels the same about you, too."

Keith blinked at his new friend, who smiled at him...which caused him to smile, too. It might take some time to admit their feelings for each other and they might have ups and down's but they will get through it like any couple.