Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender
Keith hesitated. If he said he was the real Keith, which he is, then they may not believe him, but he cannot answer the question without lying. What can he say so that they believe him?
"It doesn't matter what I say. You already have decided if I was the real Keith or not. If I told you I was Keith, the one who supposedly died ten deca-phoeb's ago, you won't believe me, even though I know I'm telling the truth. All that matters is if I know who I am. I am Keith Kogane." Keith answered. He noticed Allura and Lance looking at each other before Lance turned to Keith.
"Who is the Galra." Lance asked. Keith raised an eyebrow at that question. Didn't Lance hear him when he called her mom?
"Krolia. Her name is Krolia. She's my mother." Keith answered. Lance nodded, it looked as if he didn't care.
"Alright. Finish this for me. When I say Vol, you say Tron. Vol-" Lance smirked. Keith glared at the Paladin.
"It doesn't make any sense!" Keith shouted. "Why do you have to take up all this time to go like that! I don't care if it's a chant; it's a stupid chant! It makes no sense!" Taking a breath to clear his head, Keith bit his lip in order to not go on an hour long rant.
"Alright Keith. Another question. Where did you go after you were expelled?" Allura asked. Keith answered honestly. It wasn't a hard question to answer.
A couple varga went by of this. Lance asking the unimportant questions, Allura asking the serious questions. As the vargas went by, the questions got harder to answer, especially honestly. However, Keith never told a single lie during the questions.
Allura waved Lance over as she started to whisper to him. Keith, despite his great hearing, couldn't hear a word they said. "We have one question for you to answer before we tell you our ruling." Allura said. Keith nodded, wanting to know the question. Allura gestured to Lance.
"What do you think our ruling is?" Lance asked. Keith thought for a moment. These questions must mean something. Why were these the questions they asked?
Whatever I believe won't matter to you. You two have clearly already made up your mind. So, it doesn't matter what I believe. But, if you really want to know, I think you don't believe me." Keith frowned as he stared at his feet.
"Welcome back Keith!" Lance grinned.
The next few minutes went by in a blur for Keith. Lance was the first one up and hugging Keith. He tensed, but soon relaxed as he leaned in towards the hug. It's been years since he's had a proper hug. The one with Allura seemed different from what a hug was; there was a slight distrust in that one. Logically Keith knew that the hug had to end, but he wasn't prepared for the disappointment for when it actually ended.
"I'm glad you're back." Allura smiled as she took Lance's place to hug Keith. He blushed, not used to all the attention he's getting.
"I'm glad to be back." Keith sighed in relief. This meeting has been something he's been dreaming of for the past two deca-phoebs. Keith was about to ask a question when Romelle rushed into the room.
"Your Magesty," Romelle bowed. "The other Paladins have arrived, your husband is with them." Romelle slowly walked towards Allura. She looked directly in Romelle's eyes.
"Thank you Romelle." Allura smiled at Romelle, causing Keith to wonder if anything was going on with those two. "You are dismissed." Romelle kissed Allura's hands before she turned and left. Allura must have sensed Keith's confusion because she turned to face him. "I will explain everything with everyone comes in."
The wait for the Paladins was an awkward and long one. Keith took this time to study Allura and Lance. Allura doesn't look that much older than when he last saw her. Maybe two years older at the most. The aura about her is so much different. Before there was this uncertainty, no confidence, a sort of timidness; she was like a lions cub. Now, there's confidence in her actions, leadership in her voice; she's the lion, king of the jungle.
Just by looking at Lance no one would think he's about 28 years old. He looks 21 at the oldest. He's clean shaven with a bubbly smile, when he shows it. When Keith studied his eyes the truth comes out. Eyes are the window to the soul; his eyes tell years of pain and loss. Eye's making him look as if he was an elderly veteran who fought in several wars. He looks so sad.
A short few dobash's wait felt more like a varga to Keith. The first person to enter was Shiro, wearing the Red Paladin armour for some reason and a head of fully white hair. He bowed to Allura and nodded to Lance then stood next to him. Pidge was the next person to enter. Bowing to Allura and nodding to Lance, and standing next to Shiro. Hunk entered next and followed suit with the bowing and nodding. Keith wondered what happened with all this stuff.
Keith ignored the niceicities between the Paladins, putting the conversation to the back of his mind to remember it for later. He took this time to study the other Paladins.
Shiro looks so much happier than before Keith's journey in the Quantum Abyss. That saddened Keith; Shiro didn't need him to be happy. In fact, it looks like Shiro was happier with out him. Despite Shiro's white hair, he looks much younger than he actually was.
Pidge was the most changed out of everyone. Wearing a ponytail reaching her mid back, she smiled as Lance snuck his way beside her and Hunk. She was the only one in the group who looks like she actually aged ten deca-phoebs. She also looked happy, her eyes shining through cracks of loss.
Hunk was the only one there who looked like he didn't trust Keith. His eyes were full of love; however, only part of it seemed to be directed at Keith. He gave a silent sigh, everyone did so well without him. They don't need him. Hunk proves it. Hunk looks like he's in his early 20's not late 20's. He's having a stress-free life.
Everyone has changed so much and Keith isn't sure where he belongs in it.
Keith wondered who Allura married when Lotor entered the throne room. Lotor smiled as he went up to Allura and kissed her hands. "Hello my Queen." Allura gave Lotor the same smile she gave Romelle.
"Hello my love." Allura said as Lotor stood up and stood beside her.
"Is this the ex-Red and Black Paladin?" Lotor asked Allura as he gestured towards Keith. Trying to get a read on Lotor, Keith tried to remember what he looked like last time he saw him. One glimpse wasn't enough for him to compare to now.
"Yes Lotor, this is Keith." Allura said as Lotor walked towards Keith. He did not expect a hug from the all but a stranger of Lotor. Tensing, Keith looked over to Shiro hoping his brother could help him. Shiro was sniggering. That traitor.
But it's been ten deca-phoebs, maybe Shiro forgot that he hates hugs, especially from strangers. They forgot about him. Forcing the tears to not come, Keith shoved Lotor away from him. "I don't like hugs." He muttered with his face heating up.
"We're all glad you're okay Keith." Shiro stated walking up to him. His wolf growled as he noticed Keith's discomfort. He lowered himself and hugged his wolf.
"It's okay. You don't have to protect me. Their my friends." Keith murmured into wolf's fur knowing that he could hear him. "Unless that changed since I left." He quietly added.
"What happened to you when you were gone?" Shiro asked, probably not knowing that he already told Allura and Lance. Keith sighed. It'll be the second time telling the same story. Krolia stepped out and into the metaphorical spotlight.
"Holy shit!" Pidge shouted, "Where did she come from?" Shiro sent a small glare at her, and Keith knew why. Shiro hates the use of curses.
"Maybe my mom can tell it this time. I just want to sleep." Keith said looking at his mom. Krolia was hidden away in the back of the room, watching everything. "I can help with parts that she wasn't there for."
"Maybe you can start from the start of the mission." Krolia suggested to Kieth. "That's an important part, I wasn't there for it."
Keith told them about the mission to talk to Krolia. He forgot why, but he knew it was important. He met her, well more like she met him, and they finished the mission. Whatever it was.
Krolia took on afterwards telling them about the quintessence and the journey into the quantum abyss. Keith just fell asleep on his wolf.
Keith woke up in a massive bed with his wolf cuddled up beside him. Looking around, Keith saw a note on the bedside table.
Keith,
This can be your room until we leave for Earth. If you can meet us in the dining room, different from the Dining Hall, we can inform you of what you missed. You can ask anyone you see for directions. If they refuse tell them Queen Allura demands you to be in the dining room ASAP.
After two deca-phoebs of near isolation being around all these people must of put your senses into overload causing you to want to leave, and tiring you out. Only three of us will be in the room to explain everything. Shiro, Lance and I will be there. Your mother will be there too; however, she will be there for the same reason as you. To learn about what happened.
Please meet us for Lunch. Be there at 12:15 on the clock. By 12:20 someone should be there to wake and fetch you.
Thank you, Allura
Keith brought his eyes to the clock that Allura was saying about. 12:19. Keith yawned as he got out of bed, his wolf growling at the movement. Keith shook his dog as he heard a knock on the door. 12:20 the clock read.
Keith opened the door to see Lance. "Good morning." Lance grinned as he looked at what Keith was wearing. Keith looked down and saw that he was only in his boxers.
"Um… I just woke up, and I don't know which door opens to clothes. There's like five." Keith opened the door and allowed Lance to enter to help. Straight away Lance went to the closet farthest from the doorway, he opened it and grabbed the first suit he saw.
"We're meeting Queen Allura, so you should wear this." Lance said as he left, closing the door.
A few dobash's later Keith was following Lance to the dining room. His wolf sleepily following him. The walk was silent.
As they enter everyone was there with plates full of untouched food in front of them. "Hello Lance, Keith." Allura smiled after the door was closed. "Don't worry, no one can hear us, feel free to drop the formalities."
"Alright Allura." Lance said as he sat in the chair beside Allura and Shiro. Keith was confused. What was up with the formalities? Why is it okay to not use them now, but must use them earlier?
Shiro must have read Keith's mind because he started to explain. "There are some guards here that will literally kill anyone who doesn't use proper formalities. It doesn't even matter if you're a Paladin of Voltron, if you don't call Allura Queen Allura, they will kill you."
"I've tried to talk to them, but they won't listen." Allura sighed. "They say it's tradition."
"We know you have a ton of questions, but first we can eat, and then we can answer you questions." Lance said as he started to eat. Keith looked at the food. It's the best that he's seen in his entire life.
Mouth watering, Keith took a big bite. It was better than anything he's ever had. It was as sweet as apples, however the textures reminded him of home cooked steak. Keith couldn't describe it, it was perfect.
"It's good, yeah?" Lance grinned. "Hunk made it." Lance sounded as if he was a proud father when saying that, but prouder.
"So when we're done eating you'll explain everything and answer my questions?" Keith asked as he put some more of the meat onto his fork.
"Yes." Allura answered. Keith then started shoving the food down. He was hungry. The food for the past week wasn't the most nutritious. Plus, he wanted answers. He needs to know what happened when he was gone.
He heard Shiro and Lance laugh, but he could care less right now. The food was good and it will lead him to answers.
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A/N: I didn't really like this chapter. I really want to go on a walk to get something for my dad's birthday so it seems rushed. I'll probably edit it later, but whatever. This will be updated 1-2 times a week, unless something's going on in my life, then my tumblr will have all the answers to what's going on in my life.