Chapter two: Paralytic Thoughts

Keith sat alone in the room, his tears had long been dried on his face. Though the stinging pain from them still pierced his heart. The blue shield that now surrounded his friend was all he focused on. The blips on the screen next to him signifying Shiro's life still living, heart still beating; despite the poor condition he was in. Though on the outside he looked fine, the inside was most certainly a different story... and Keith knew it. And he couldn't stop thinking about it too. His seemed numb to anything and everything other than Shiro lying there, his mind no longer one with his body. And for how long?... no one had a clue. All that they knew was that Shiro might possibly wake up... and hopefully be able to live as before. Keith held desperately onto that small strand of hope; wanting to believe with every ounce of his being that it was. Though he could also feel a strand of doubt latching itself onto him, like a parasite to suck away any shred of hope he had. That small flicker of hope struggling to stay lit, like a candle running out of fuel. The yarn-like fibers of that single strand of hope being the only thing he could hold onto, he feared that if it slipped through his fingers... he would slip away with it. The sharp tentacles of guilt, pain, and fear knocked at his door, but he was refusing to let it in. Instead he was trying to pile as many things in front of that door to keep them from getting in. Covering up any possible place they could squeeze through to get him. He felt like a little kid afraid of the dark all over again; frantically trying to get away from his fear however way he could. Terrified that it would overpower his efforts and get him anyway; but still he stayed knelt on the floor. Terrified to move for fear of what might happen, though he wasn't, at all, superstitious.

The team stood along the walls of the lounge, each leaning against the wall a different way. None of them speaking, none of them moving. The only sound amongst them; was the occasional clearing of throats and awkwardly, bored sighs. Not one of them knew what to say, neither did they know what to do. All they could think about was Shiro's near-death, and Keith's violent reaction to it. Those memories were now stamped into their brains, and they could not get them out. And just when they'd try to think about something else... they'd end up thinking about it once again. Each of them, at different times, would open their mouths to speak. But the words died in their throat, and they stopped.

"We need to stop this." Allura said, finally bringing herself to break the silence. "We can't just sit here while the Galra still have control of the universe." She went on, the other Paladins fully focused on her. "We don't know when Shiro will wake up; but Zarkon has been defeated, and be must start freeing planets and gaining allies. Or the Galra will continue to dominate us."

"But what do you suggest we do?" Lance wondered intensely. "Without Shiro, we can't form Voltron to take out bases to free planets. Seems like we're kinda stuck, if you ask me."

"Well we didn't ask you, Lance. So can't you just lay off!" Pidge snapped.

"Guys! Enough." Hunk stepped in. "This isn't gonna work if we sit here and argue with each other. I mean come on, if we've gotten this far there's gotta be something that we can do." The Yellow Paladin thought for a moment. "Right?"

"You're right, Hunk." Lance agreed sheepishly, turning to the Green Paladin. "I'm sorry, Pidge."

"Yeah, me too." Pidge replied, putting a hand to her chest. Lance stepped closer to her and held a hand up to the girl, who clasped it firmly in forgiveness.

The darkness was accompanied by a gentle purple glow, the long transparencies from which this glow originated connected the decapitated Galra warlord to a life-giving source, which only one fully knew of. That one in question stood at his side, looking on as the bubbling purple liquid flowed in and out of his body. Her yellow eyes unable to show emotion, but yet her mind was full of them. Some unfamiliar, yet, familiar in a way; ones she knew not where it came from, but was still there nonetheless. Pushing away these thoughts, she turned on her heel and floated silently away. When the door opened a Galra commander stood awaiting her command, to which she blankly obliged.

"Summon Prince Lotor." She commanded, in a sinister tone.

The team stood in front of a door. All of them knowing what, or more importantly, who was on the other side of it... Each one of them hesitating to go in. Pidge approached the door, her hand reaching toward it. Her hand suddenly stopped; just barely touching the metal. Her heart leapt into her throat and she turned to walk away.

"Pidge!" Lance gasped, catching her by the arm. Feeling the tension on her arm and the hand that gripped it, she stopped to stare back at him.

Keith had finally stood up. All he could do, was stare down at the distant-minded Black Paladin on the other side of the glassy force field that preserved his life; as of now. Keith's focus ran in circles, his mind a giant roundabout of oncoming thoughts. One after the other, but he felt as though none of them were useful. He pressed hand a little bit firmer to the glass, his tears long gone; but his heart still bleeding with a remorseful fire within his chest. His ribs stabbed knives into his sides, as he took a deep breath. The pain shooting through his body; and up his back from there. The painful pressure strangling him, both in the neck and the upper body. At this point, Shiro was the only thing keeping him from leaving this place and never looking back. Because, to him, life wasn't worth living without Shiro there with him. Keith could recall many fond memories of Shiro.. more than he'd had of anyone... even his own father. In fact there was a time not long ago that he'd spent with Shiro, a short time before he left for Kerberos, that he'd never forget...

The sunshine pigmented the evening sky all shades of pink, purple and orange. Some spots looked as though someone had painted liquid gold across the panorama of the infinite sky, as the stars began to poke through the fleeing light. The sun sank lower into the horizon, as though it were being planted into the ground like a seed to a garden. But when it grows, it will emerge from the other side and be planted in the same spot all over again. Shiro and Keith beheld the beauty of the dry desert-like landscape dappled by elongated shadows from the golden sun's progressive absence.

"Shiro, why is this mission so important to you?" Keith asked, deverting his attention from the display before them; to he older man sitting beside him with his arm casually draped over his upright knee. "Of all the missions you've been apart off, this one seems to be extra important to you." Shiro searched his face thoughtfully for a moment; their eyes locking, when Shiro broke it with a sigh and closing his eyes. His chin dropping, as he searched for the words.

"I guess it's just that my.. problems have me at a bridge that's about to crumble." Shiro stated, keeping his gaze downcast; then lifting it to the sunset, as the darkness ensued upon the earth. "And if I don't get to the other side,.. I'll fall into the deep pit with it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Keith questioned crossing his arms. "You're gonna be fine. Nothing's gonna happen to you, as long as you stick to the plan. You've done this for years, and the Garrison are still backing you. Even if they aren't too thrilled about this mission."

"I guess," the man shrugged. "But, at times,.. it seems like they're playing against me too." Shiro protested sarcastically.

"Cause they don't agree with you." Keith insisted gently. "They think their way is better... and nothing can change that. But I know you'll get through it." He paused, as they both looked into the darkening sky. The twinkling stars now sparkling above them. "I mean... you got me this far. I think you can do anything you set your mind to." Shiro lightly chuckled, a bit flattered by the young man's statement.

"As could you." He responded simply. Keith's eyes widened slightly at his response, but he remained silent as a shooting star streaked across the sky. Both Keith and Shiro marveling at it's beauty as it blazed over their heads, and disappeared off to their left...

Keith's deep blue eyes glazed over, no tears emerging from them. But his mind still fully engaged in thoughts much like this one. As Keith continued to look as Shiro; so deeply immersed in his thoughts, he couldn't help but notice a whispering sound in his ears. The noise slightly growing and fading back and forth, like the uneven waves of water on a crisp, cool lake. Suddenly through that whisper a growl echoed in his ears, when he felt a strange source of warmth like a body standing behind him. A presence in the room.. besides him.

"Keith," a very slight almost nonexistent voice whispered. A warm breath on his neck made his hair stand on end and he thrust himself around... Only to find nothing?!

Hey guys, Phew!! Finally got another chapter done with this. I kinda got majorly stuck on this one; So I apologize for that!! But I hope it's worth it; because I kinda have an idea of where I'm gonna go with it now. But if you every have any ideas for me PLEASE don't hesitate to share!! I welcome ideas. Though as far as new stories go, I'm not really taking requests because I have sooo many stories going. Anyways, hope you like it, and can't wait to see what you guys think of what's to come! Thx!!