"Go. Be with the ones you love."

And with those final words, the room was dismissed. Keith watched as everyone in the room cleared out, ready to follow Shiro's advice and be with their friends and loved ones one final time before they head out to stop Honerva. His eyes were particularly trained on a certain Red paladin, whom for some reason looked a bit more nervous than usual as he and Hunk were the last ones to walk out the room.

The black paladin can't remember how long it's been since he and Lance last talked. He honestly thought that as soon as they landed back on Earth. they would've been able to continue their short-lived conversation on that random planet they were on after defeating Lotor. But instead, the two of them, along with the rest of their team, were caught up in another hectic battle as they had to fight Zendak and force his troops off of the planet. That, and the fact that all of them almost got themselves killed in the process and spent most of their time in hospital beds. That couldn't have been more than at least a month ago, a fact that makes the now 20-year-old paladin cringe.

"Keith? Everything alright?"Keith turned his head to look at Shiro, who was looking at him with concern and confusion as he held some documents. He didn't realize just how long he had been standing and possibly staring at the doorway until he heard him speak.

"Um, yeah. I just...had-"

"Had?" Shiro asked again, a hint of a small smirk on his face.

"Have a lot on my mind." Keith replied. He walked towards the front of the table where Shiro was and sat down at the first chair with a heavy sigh. Shiro, sensing the slight distress in his brother, set down his documents and grabbed a chair, pulling it towards the black paladin.

"Well, I'm here now. You know you can tell me anything."

"I don't want to take up your time or anything. You've been pretty busy. You know, being the new captain and all." Shiro sent him a chuckle and placed a hand on Keith's shoulder.

"I've always got time for you, bud. Talk to me." Keith smiled. Even after everything that happened with them and the clone, it was as if nothing had changed between them. Though he doesn't like to admit, the half-Galran was worried that his relationship with Shiro would change after he found out that he was in the astral plane. A part of him continued to blame himself for how quick he was to believe that the Shiro he saved from the space craft was actually a clone. How he could've spared the team so much grief if he had figured it out before he left. How he could've saved him during their battle with Zarkon. But as soon as Shiro woke up, he made sure to let him know that he wasn't to blame, resulting in a tight hug and various "I missed yous" and "I love yous." Keith let out another sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well, it kinda has something to do with Lance." he confessed. Shiro's brows began to furrow as he let out somewhat of a disappointed sigh.

"Don't tell me you guys are at each other's throats again." Shiro whined.

"No! No, it's not like that. At least not this time. It has to do with Lance, but mainly to do with me? It's complicated." Keith bowed his head and clasped his hands. Shiro leaned forward in concern, crossing his arms over his knees as he waited for him to continue.

"When we were on that one planet, after Allura brought you back. Me and Lance were talking for a bit. It sounded like he wanted to tell me something important. But before he could say anything, we had to leave. I honestly thought that once we came back home, we could talk again. But then we had Ezor and Zethrid and that stupid game show. And then we found out that Earth was already invaded. Then the fight with Sendak and me and the team almost dying. And then us recovering and getting ready now to face Honerva. And even with all of this, the only thing I could think about was- WHY THE HELL IS THIS BOTHERING ME SO MUCH?!" Keith screamed in anger, falling back hard against the seat.

Shiro looked at him for a moment.

"Are you sure you don't know? Because I think you just said it yourself." Shiro responded. Keith looked at his brother, eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and exhaustion. He was so busy ranting that he didn't realize exactly what he said. He honestly didn't expect to be so affected by an unfinished conversation.

"It's just...when Lance and I talked, I really felt like he was trying to tell me something important. Something that involved...me. And I couldn't help but feel like I did something to him. But I think I know. I didn't just abandon the team. I abandoned him. I just up and left him to handle one disaster after another. Hell! He died, Shiro! If it wasn't for Allura, he would've-"

"But he didn't. He's okay." Shiro grasped his shoulder and shook Keith gently.

"He's going to be okay."

"Yeah. Because of Allura." Keith said quite darkly. Both his and Shiro's eyes widened. He honestly didn't mean to say the Altean's name so bitterly, but for some reason it came out that way. Keith quickly stood from his chair, looking down at Shiro in worry.

"I-I didn't mean to say it like that! I swear, I just mean-" he started, only for Shiro to rise with him, placing his hands in front of him and moving them in a soothing motion.

"It's okay. It's okay. I know you didn't mean it-"

"But I did! Just not like that." Keith finished. He walked past his brother as he began to explain.

"Look, I'm not trashing Allura. I know she wouldn't intentionally hurt Lance. But for some reason I just can't get over the fact that she was actually liking Lotor knowing how he felt about him. How he felt about her. And I know that people are allowed to move on with other people and it may be easy for some and hard for others. If Allura feels like moving on with Lance, so be it. And if Lance is willing, so be it. It's his choice."

"But?" Keith stood in place, head hung low probably in shame.

"Keith, you can say it."

"I just don't want him to feel like a placeholder. I don't want Allura to be with him just because Lotor's gone. I want her to be with him because she wants to. I'm just worried that should they get together and then down the line she wants to drop out, Lance will be...He's gonna be-"

"A rebound." Shiro finished for him.

"Yeah. I'm horrible, aren't I? My friend might get the girl of his dreams, and I'm demolishing it when he's not even here. How fucked up is that?" Keith placed his head in his hand, shaking back and forth in regret. Shiro walked up and pulled him into a comforting side hug.

"Keith, you're not horrible. If anything, you're being responsible. You want to make sure Lance comes out okay. You want him to be happy. You don't want him to get hurt. Keith let out another heavy sigh.

"It's more than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Did my mom tell you when we were stranded on that space whale?"

"The same one where you found Kosmo and aged two years? Yeah. She mentioned something about flashes?"

"Yeah. Every now and then, there would be these big flashes of light in front of us. We would end up seeing the past and the future. That's how I saw my fight against-" Keith stopped. He didn't really like bringing up the clone situation around Shiro, given the sensitivity (and he's currently residing in the clone's body spiritually). But Shiro being Shiro is understanding of it, despite always saying that he's come to terms with it.

"You don't have to explain. I get it." Keith chuckled, grateful for having someone so understanding and empathetic for a brother.

"Thanks. But there was a moment where I got caught in the flash. It was the future. I saw me and Lance. And-" Shiro cocked an eyebrow.

"And?" he asked. He watched as Keith turned his head and looked down. His eyes were focused on a section of the floor and the older of the two could've sworn he saw a faint blush. And Keith almost never blushed. Shiro stared at him a moment longer as realization began to dawn upon his white floof and eventually his head.

"OH." Shiro finally replied.

"Yeah. We had...gotten closer. And at first I couldn't understand it. I just kept thinking 'Why Lance? Of all people?' But then, everything just made sense. All this time, while me and Lance were becoming less of rivals and more of friends. And now, I want more than that." Keith stated somberly.

"And now you feel like you can't because he's going after Allura." Shiro finished. Keith finally raised his head looking at the ceiling somberly.

"Yeah." he replied, voice cracking. Shiro gripped him closer towards him. He knew this feeling all too well. When he was younger and more reckless, he thought he didn't have a chance with Adam. Even though they had shared the same classes, were in the same units, and shared the same dorm, he had felt like he wouldn't be able to reach him. Shiro was carefree, open, and hated being restricted. Adam was reserved, slightly ajar to others, and was fairly restrained. Yet despite all this, they brought out the best in each other and was quite the shock when people found out they were friends. He loved Adam, but so did everybody else. Guys and girls alike coming up to him to shoot their shot. Until one day he decided to just bite the bullet and confess. Instead of a rejection, he got a sigh of relief, a smile, and a "What took you so long?" Down the line, they were dating for four years, with Shiro proposing around Adam's birthday. And were only engaged for one year till everything came crashing down. And even though the former black paladin would give anything to go back in time and change the outcome of their future, he wouldn't change their journey for the world.

Shiro hated seeing his brother go through this. He was there to see the beginning of Keith and Lance's dynamic. He saw them fight with each other but he also saw them fight for each other. He saw them laugh together and celebrate victories together. Even when he was within Black, he sensed the two paladins become closer than ever. There was even a moment in time where he thought that eventually there could be something forming between them that was beyond the bonds of friendship. But he remembered Allura. And how infatuated Lance was for her. And he sensed how hurt he was when she started getting closer with Lotor. He didn't know all of the details and frankly he didn't want to for he felt that he knew enough. But he did know that if anything, Lance and Keith need to continue that conversation they had earlier before things got more complicated.

"I'm going to try to talk to him. But I'm not gonna tell him what I just told you." Keith spoke firmly. Shiro looked down at him, but eventually sighed.

"If that's what you want to do, I won't stop you. I just want you to be happy. Whether it's with Lance or not. Okay?" Keith finally looked at him, eyes slightly glistening and a slight smile on his face.

"Okay. Thanks, brother. I love you." Keith turned and gave Shiro a tight frontal hug, with Shiro responding by holding him tightly, his new Garrison arm stroking his now long hair.

"Love you too, little brother." Shiro replied. They pulled away after a minute or two. Keith gave him one last smile as he turned to walk towards the door. He then stopped and turned around.

"I'm heading out to find Kosmo and chill for a bit. Want to join me?" Shiro smiled.

"I'd love to, but Iverson wants me to check these documents first. I'll come find you later." Keith nodded and headed out. Shiro sat down and looked at the documents, but didn't focus on the words. He sighed and looked at the ceiling, giving a short laugh.

Adam, please help our kid. I'm getting too old for this.

Hi everyone! Sorry if I made you wait too long! But since we're all in quarantine, might as well keep on writing, right? I hope you guys enjoyed part 2 of Void! More chapters will be coming soon. :)