(I am so sorry this is so short and I am so sorry this is a day late! I'll be attempting to post three chapters today: one for yesterday, one for today, and one for tomorrow!)

Chapter Eleven

Keith and Hunk stare at Laith like he's crazy, blinking some. "What... Do... you mean 'if he's the real Shiro?'"

Laith sighs as he rubs his neck, "Well... You don't find the real Shiro until after Pa and Dad are dating, when Dad is nineteen and Pa is eighteen. Even then, you don't find him until maybe... After June? If I'm remembering what Uncle Shiro told me properly, then... You don't find him until then."

Hunk looks horrified, while Keith looks at Laith, "Where do we find him?" He asks, and Laith looks away, "I... don't know. You... You don't tell me that part of the story. You say that it's really really really bad."

Keith looks to be on edge now, and he leans in, whispering to Laith, "Then... Who is here? Posing as Shiro? I mean... He looks just like Shiro. How do we know he isn't the real Shiro?"

Laith whispers back, "He's a clone. Made by the Galra to infiltrate Voltron and tear you apart limb by limb. Dad is to be the first that the clone is supposed to try and tear away from us."

Keith's eyes widen and he pulls back suddenly, loudly exclaiming, "What!" Hunk shushes him, and Keith takes a deep breath.

Hunk looks at Laith, "What does... the clone do?" He asks, and Laith sighs, "He uses Dad's insecurities and homesickness, and makes Dad want to go home bad enough that he packs up and has Allura open a worm hole. Though... Pa..." Laith looks at Keith, and he smiles kindly, "Tells Dad he loves him. That to him, Lance is family, and he doesn't want Lance to leave him."

Keith blinks, before flushing when Hunk gives Keith a smug grin, "Stop it." He says, glaring at Hunk. Hunk laughs, and looks at Laith, "Who knew Keith could be a softie."

Laith grins, "Pa did always say that he changed for the better because of Dad. That Dad made him realise he was a much better person than he thought he was."

Hunk coos and looks at Keith, who is red faced and glaring at the yellow paladin. "Hunk... Shut up." He says.

Laith grins playfully, "Hey, Pa." He asks, and Keith looks at Laith, "Yes?" He asks.

"Why don't you go talk to Pa, and Uncle Hunk can show me around to the rest of the Paladins?" He asks, and Hunk grins. "Yeah! I'll introduce you to Pidge next!"

Keith looks unsure, before he nods, "Okay... Do you know what to tell everyone else?" He asks Hunk, and Hunk nods, "Yep."

Keith looks hesitant, mostly because he doesn't want to talk to Lance out of anxiety of what the Cuban boy will say or do, but... He knew he should.

Getting up and heading to the rooms, he thinks of what to talk about the entire way to Lance's door. Knocking softly on the metal, he calls out, "Lance? May I come in?"

Shuffling is heard, and the door opens. Lance is very obviously trying not to appear like he was upset, "Uh, Keith. Hi." He says, and Keith feels his entire monologue he wrote in his mind evaporate.

"Lance, can we-!" Keith finds himself silenced by a hand on his mouth, his eyes wide as Lance looks at him.

"Keith, I... I'm not exactly ready to talk about this. I care about you, and I might even like like you, but... The... kid..." He looks at the ground, and Keith feels himself ache.

"I love you too, Lance." He says, and Lance flinches, weakly looking up at Keith with wide eyes.

"Does being around me bother you?" Keith asks, pulling away from Lance with a sigh.

"No! Just..." Lance says, sighing as he doesn't look up from the floor, "I... I need time to think about everything. Don't freak out, I won't run from this, and I do want to talk about us, but,... I don't want some kid from the future telling me what will come of my future. I... Just want to be sure of myself. Not of what I think I might feel."

Keith blinks, before starting to feel agony wrench at him. Lance, who had looked up somewhere in between his small rant, smiles faintly at Keith. He presses a hand into his cheek, "I... am pretty sure I like you, Keith. I don't doubt that. Just... let me think this through, okay? I won't make you wait long. I promise." He says, softly.

Keith blinks, before smiling softly, and he grabs Lance's hood, and pulls him down, kissing him. "I hope you keep your promise, Sharpshooter." Keith says after pulling away, and Lance blinks, before nodding.

"I will, Keith. Swear it." Lance says, slowly leaning in and pressing a kiss against Keith's lips softly.