Shiro's mother was a small woman, a head taller than her son on his knees. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She reached out, hesitant, as if Shiro would disappear before her eyes.
"Takashi?" she whispered again, tripping over the syllables. Shiro bowed his head.
Mother embraced son, and Allura suddenly felt like an intruder. Shiro mumbled something in the other language that sounded like a confession.
Allura flushed. Nearly a year, and she had never heard him speak like that. Not just the unfamiliar language, but the raw feeling in his voice was beyond any understanding she had had of him, or any of the other paladins. It shook her to the core.
She was startled back to awareness when Shiro's mother abruptly switched to English.
"No." Mrs. Shirogane kneeled, grabbing her son's hands. She didn't flinch at the cool metal. "You did nothing."
Shiro looked down again.
"Mama, I-"
"Did you choose?" They locked eyes. "Did you choose to leave?" Shiro shook his head violently. Mrs. Shirogane nodded with finality. "You are here. That is the only thing that matters."
Shiro nodded and stood. Allura was struck by the resemblance between the two of them. Not just their features, but the way they held themselves exuded reserved strength. It was the quality that made Shiro an excellent leader and companion to the Black Lion.
Allura shifted slightly, and Shiro seemed to remember that she was there. He practically leaped to her side.
"Mama, this is Princess Allura." Shiro introduced. Allura noticed Mrs. Shirogane's eyes widen imperceptibly. "She…" he faltered, clearly trying to decide how much to say. "She's why we're still alive."
Allura cheeks tinted pink, but she stepped forward, giving a slight bow.
"It is an honor to meet you," Allura said warmly. The slight woman returned the bow.
"Come in, come in." The woman introduced herself as Atsuko Shirogane as they entered the apartment.
It felt… empty. There were all of the necessary furnishings, but all seemed to be dull with age. Allura's eyes were drawn to the one spot of color in the room. A table in the corner had two picture frames: one showed a serious, elderly man wearing a dark suit. The other- was that Shiro?
All of his hair was deep black, and his mouth was quirked up in a soft smile. He wore what appeared to be a military uniform. Below the frame was a silver medal in a box and a puffy, white flower.
Allura stole a look at Shiro, who was staring at the pictures for a different reason.
Mrs. Shirogane put a hand on his shoulder. "He passed five months after you… left."
Shiro nodded solemnly. He'd known it was likely. His oji-san had been sick for a long time. Hadn't stopped him from teaching two boys how to be men.
Mrs. Shirogane began to busy herself in the small kitchen, pulling out three cups. Allura reached out, brushing up against Shiro's side. His fingers skimmed over her wrist.
They sat at the stark table and Shiro began to ask his mother about the neighborhood. Two or three questions and Mrs. Shirogane began to happily gossip about Mrs. so-and-so's restaurant, and how Mr. something-or-other's grandmother was still in Japan, and all of the things that didn't really matter unless nothing important was happening.
Nearly a half hour later, when all three had cups of tea in their hands and smiles on their faces, Mrs. Shirogane settled back in her chair and sighed.
"What is it?" Shiro asked. She pursed her lips.
"I wish I had a way to let Keith know you are home." Shiro and Allura glanced at each other, eyebrows furrowed.
"He was distraught. We all were, but he's always been so passionate. You two were so close. He took a semester off, you know. Tried his best to help your grandfather and I cope. He went back for the spring. He made it two months. Keith called me on your birthday, apologizing over and over. For what, I didn't know, until a week later, when that kind woman, Professor Montgomery, called to check up on him." she shook her head sadly. "He'd been expelled. I haven't heard from him since."
By this point, Allura had her hand over her mouth, horrified. Shiro leaned back, shaking his head.
"I'm going to kill him."
"Takashi!" Mrs. Shirogane admonished. "We thought you were dead."
Shiro stood up, completely blown away by the utter pig-headedness of his little brother.
"Mama-"
"I don't even know if he's okay, Takashi."
"Mama-"
"He could be hurt, or-"
"Mama!"
Atsuko Shirogane pulled up short. She blinked at her son, who had started to pace.
"I cannot BELIEVE him," Shiro mumbled.
Allura found this series of events much easier to swallow than Shiro apparently did.
"You have to admit," she offered, "It is a very Keith thing to do."
The Black paladin swiveled to face her, eyes accusing.
"You know Keith?" Atsuko Shirogane asked
Allura and Shiro fell silent, glancing from each other to the increasingly agitated Mrs. Shirogane.
Allura chose her next words very carefully.
"Perhaps it would be time for an explanation of the past several phoebs."
Atsuko Shirogane's eyebrow rose, bemused. Shiro sat back down.
"Don't worry, it's not English" he reassured his mother. He mulled everything over in his head for a moment, deciding what to tell and where to start. Well, the starting point was pretty easy.
"Keith," he said very pointedly. "Has known I was alive for about ten months. Because he's been with me." Mrs. Shirogane froze, reeling. "Do you remember, about ten months ago, those cadets that disappeared from the Garrison?" Shiro asked.
Atsuko nodded, and Shiro launched into the story that eventually would become the stuff of legend. His crash, the finding of the Blue Lion, meeting Allura and Coran. Voltron. Mrs. Shirogane took it all very well, up into the introduction of the Galra. The existence of an alien warrior race that her son had been at war with would be a bit of a shock for anyone. The hand covering her mouth began to shake.
Shiro stopped his story immediately. "The rest doesn't matter." he leaned forward, grabbing her hands. "I'm home. We're home. That's the end of it."
Mrs. Shirogane nodded weakly.
"Is Keith here?" she asked, voice trembling. Shiro nodded, face drawn.
"He volunteered for guard duty at the castle," Allura explained gently. "I can call him if you'd like."
Mrs. Shirogane murmured assent, and Allura left the room to call Keith.
And that's all folks! Next up: Keith! Time to watch his vlog 800 times while I cry. Please enjoy and review, and virtual Christmas cookies to anyone who can send me some good Hunk-centric fics.
Special thanks to dragoscilvio, dynared21, Frostbite1664, and nigil1017 for your lovely reviews.
Merry Christmas! (Happy Holidays!)