"He won't stop. He'll keep going even if it means he ends up dead."

"As it been said before, knowledge or death."

Shiro anxiously watched as Keith kept charging through door after door. He wanted more than the universe to stop this. To hold Keith's broken body in his arms, preventing him from harm any further. Shiro's mind stood shakily on pins and needles as Keith threw his saber at the hold the soldiers emerged from and slide through it.

"I guess I wasn't supposed to go through that door," Keith grumbled as he strolled down the hall.

His swayed walked ended as he collapsed to the ground, exhaustion, and pain consuming him. A hologram version of shirt appeared and stood above Keith's limp body.

"What is that? A hologram?"

"His suit can create a virtual minds ape, reflecting its wearer's greatest hopes and fears. And at this moments, your friend desperately wants to see you."

"You did it, Kolivan told me you lasted longer than anyone ever has," the second Shiro with Keith said, helping him off the ground. "You don't have to keep this up."

"Wh-what are you talking about," Keith cradled his slightly bruised arm with the blade in his hand.

"Just give them the knife and let's get out of here."

"Shiro I can't do that. I-I need to know what this means," he lifted his hand with the saber.

"What is it with you and that thing?"

"This is the only thing connecting me and my past. My parents. Who I am."

"You know who you 're a Paladin of Voltron. We are your family. That's all you need."

"Shiro, you're like a brother to me. You will never understand how much love I have for you."

"Then give up the knife and come with me."

Shiro watched in awe as Keith struggled with himself. He's never seen this type of hesitation in him before. His heart froze as tears filled his eyes.

"Shi-shiro I-"

"Just take my hand, Keith. Everything you have ever wanted from me will be yours. Just give me the knife."

The second Shiro stepped closer to Keith placing his hand on his cheek. The tear the filled Keith's eyes spilled over to roll down his cheek, landing on Shiro's thumb.

"Let's go home, Keith."

"You will never understand how much I want you. Bu-but I have to do this," Keith pulled away from Shiro's hand.

"Just give them the knife Keith. You're only thinking of yourself as usual."

"I've made my choice."

"And to think I was ready to love you. You've chosen to be alone."

The holographic Shiro walked away from Keith as more tears rolled down his cheek.

"I would never walk away from him like that."

"Shiro wait!"

Keith started after Shiro before he collapsed to the ground.

"What's happening?"

"His mind is entering a different mindscape."

"You're going to kill him."

"He still has a way out. It appeared that your friend has feelings for you."

"As if you-"

He was interrupted by the Loud crashing sounds from outside.

"The Red Lion is attacking the base," one of the soldiers shouted.

"He knows that Keith is in danger. He won't stop until he gets to him. You have to stop this now."

"That's up to him to decide. Call off your beast."

"You're messing with his mind you're going to kill him."

"Knowledge or death Shiro."

The soft whimpers and groans from Keith on the screen pushed Shiro to the point of no return.

"That's it I'm ending this now."

He stormed toward the exist only to be stopped by the soldiers.

"You will not intrude the ceremony."

A second crashing sound caused the soldiers to slightly stumble, giving Shiro to run toward the door to find Keith. As he ran in search of Keith, his mind replayed images of the hologram, Shiro, touching his face. It angered him that he caused Keith pain. He wanted to fight the hologram for even emotionally hurting Keith the way he did. Abandon him, saving him shattered. He wanted to bring him comfort and lo-

"Wait...does Keith love me? Do I love him?"

He pushed the feelings and thoughts aside as he saw Keith slowly started to stand.

"Keith, are you okay?"

"Stop!" Kolivan shouted.

"Shiro, wh-what's happening?"

"You have failed. You are no blade of mom normal."

The crashing and roaring sound caused Keith to look around the room.

"Re-read." Keith groaned softly.

"Call off your beast!" Kolivan ordered.

"We're leaving now! We came to form an alliance, clearly, it's not going to happen."

"You're not leaving with that blade. That does not belong to you. You have failed to awaken it."

"What does that mean?" Keith shouted.

"Hand over the blade," the soldiers charged toward Keith and Shiro.

Shiro careful moved Keith to the side before raising his bionic hand to strike.

"Enough! Red stop it! Now!"

The bashing sound stopped as a loud roar rang.

"Just take the knife. Stopping Zarkon matters more than finding out who I am. If handing over this knife means we work together to stop him then fine. Just take it. I know who I am."

A soft humming sound came from the knife as the symbol glowed on the side. The glow pulsed emitted a brighter light as the small knife transformed into a more extended, slicker blade.

"He's unlocked the blade."
"That could only happen if he had Garla blood."

"Wh-what?" Keith's eyes stayed glued to the blade in his hand.

"What do you wish to know?"

"Come aboard our ship to discuss this Princess Allura would want to meet you," Shiro said.

"Very well."


Hours passed, and Shiro began looking for Keith. The Blade Marmora left the castle. He didn't see Keith with him, so he started to worry about him. After checking his room, training room, and the lounge, he found him sitting next to his Lion. Red was laying next to him with his head being used to prop Keith up. He had his knee to his chest and head in his hands, the blade laying next to him.

"Keith…."

His head perked up land to Shiro's surprised his eyes are red.

"Have you been c-crying?"

Keith sat there looking at Shiro, not bothering to wipe the tears tracks on his cheek.

"I thought finding out about the blade would give me answers. Now I just have more questions."

"Can I sit with you?"

Red's tail moves from the front of Keith allowing a path.

"Think Red already made the decision."

Shiro walked to him and sat down. He didn't touch Keith since he knew once he did he wasn't going to let go.

"The blade has something to do with my mother. She wasn't there or talked about it. My dad probably knew but not enough."

"It's a step."

"Not big enough. Shiro, I'm Garla."

"I know."

"Allura hates me."

"No she doesn't."

"I'm part of the people who destroyed her planet."

"You're also fighting to stop the Garla."

"Yes, you do. Red chose you for a reason. Maybe you can change her mind on all Garlans."

"You hate me."

"What? Why would I hate you?"

Shiro turned to look at him for the first time since he sat down.

"You hate me and don't trust me," Keith put his head in his head. "I don't know who I can anymore. Not like I had a clue to the beginning with, but now I'm even more confused."

"Keith how could I hate you for something you can't control."

"I even hate me."

Shiro felt a ping in his heart as he swiftly leans in to kiss his cheek. Bracing himself for a slap, he clenched his fists but relaxed when he felt Keith's jaw soften. Still pressing his lips to his face, he moved to his forehead, still kneeling next to him. A small whimper escaped his lips as he placed his hand on Shiro's cheek. He pulled his head away from Shiro's lips before leaning to smash his lips to his. Shiro pulled Keith into his lap as Keith wrapped his arms around his neck. After kissing for several seconds, he pulled away and rested his forehead against Shiro's.

"When did you know?"

"The suit you wore in the headquarters can allow your mind to go to mindscape. I heard and saw everything."

"I-I'm sorry you had to see that."

"You make it seems like it's a bad thing. Keith, I have liked you for a long time. Even when we first met in the Garrison and you were my student. I-I simply couldn't say anything because it went against the rules and you were going through a lot with your father's passing."

"Why didn't you say anything when we got here? Or when I found you?"
"There wasn't a right time."

"Shiro you don't expect me to believe that you couldn't find the time to pull me aside an-"

Shiro held Keith's cheek and kissed him, ending his sentence.

"I didn't know how to explain to you how I felt. Plus we were training and figuring out these lions. That's what I mean by not the right time."

"I'll let that slide. So now I'm like a damsel in distress in your lap. Sitting on the floor next to ion.L All that's left to do is figure what happens now."

"The question becomes if you want to give us a try."

"And-"

"The fact your Garla doesn't bother so kept that sentence away from those lips," Shiro reached his hand to ruffle his raven hair.

"Stop that," he mumbled but didn't move a finger to stop him.

"The point is this; I love you, Keith. Garla or not. I would like to give us a try. Do you want to?"

"I don't like letting people in. It's hard for me. I put up walls. But I want to take them down with you. And not just you, it's with the others. I want to try to take them apart piece by piece. If you want to help. I want that, but i don't know where to-"

Keith was cut off for the third time with a kiss and pushed Shiro away with a soft chuckle.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Because your cute when you're rambling and nervous. And I've wanted to kiss for months. I'm not wasting one single moment."

"Well then…"

And with Keith's final words he kissed Shiro gently as Red poured in content. As if giving Shiro her approval.