Shiro spends most of his time asleep, drifting in and out of confusing fever dreams. They're muddled and don't make much sense, but the fear and pain and loneliness are unmistakable. A small part of him wishes one of the others were here with him to help remind him what's real and what's not, but no, what they're doing is far more important. Pidge and Lance and Hunk are busy saving lives and Coran is busy assisting them; Keith and Allura are down on Tryoph trying to find a cure for him, which is already more than he can ask for.

Coran had left him with a tray that held a bowl of some sort of food and a glass filled with some sort of drink – "good for the immune system," he had said before heading back to the bridge to help the others. Shiro doesn't have much of an appetite, but he knows he hasn't eaten since early yesterday morning, so he tries to take a few bites. Soon, though, he's staggering to the bathroom; he can't keep any of it down.

Slowly, Shiro makes his way back to his room. The empty halls of the Castle are unnerving. His shuffling footsteps echo too loudly, each step a reminder that he's alone. It reminds him of the time the Castle turned on them, and panic sweeps over him when he hears Sendak's voice, loud and clear.

Defeated. Broken. Monster.

Horrible words repeat over and over, and Shiro tries to tell himself that they aren't true, it's just the fever, this isn't real, but he can't make it stop.

Do you really think a monster like you could be a Voltron paladin?

He's shaking horribly by the time he makes it back to his room. He drops back to his bed, but he can't find sleep. He lies there shivering, wide awake.

He's already defeated you.

-v-V-v-

Keith watches Allura as she gets friendly with the locals, introducing herself and exchanging pleasantries with practiced charm and grace. He stands off to the side, not wanting to compromise her progress with his lack of social skills. He's impatient, but they need that cure and he knows that diplomacy is their best shot at getting it, so he tries his best to fix his face into a reasonably polite expression and waits.

The city isn't all that far from the jungle they were in, but despite its proximity it's vastly different. It's far from organic, made up of smooth surfaces and harsh edges, the colour palette dominated by onyx black and gunmetal grey. The buildings are tall and spiky, metal spires that shoot up into the sky, and they block all greenery from view. It's impressive and a little eerie.

The citizens wandering the streets look like tall, willowy humans, save for their bluish skin and ruby eyes. Their words are few and far between and they're largely stoic, but Allura seems to be able to connect with them all the same. Though their faces betray little emotion, he can see the curiosity in their eyes when they look at either of them. Allura had told him on their way there that, according to the information she could find, the Tryophians value learning and knowledge above all else. They're nowhere near as advanced as the Altean race was, but their knowledge is impressive for being such a young species, having only been around a few thousand years. Hopefully their desire to learn about another species will motivate them to help.

After a little while, Allura comes over to Keith, and unlike the Tryophians, her emotions are clear on her face, and optimism shimmers in her eyes. She tells him she's been connected with both a reputable pharmacologist and an expert at the local university who studies alien physiology. Together, they may be able to figure out how to help Shiro. Keith lets himself return the smile – while it's not a guarantee, at least there's a chance.

The two of them split up, Allura heading to the hospital to meet with the pharmacologist and Keith seeking out the researcher at the university. Keith's a little worried – diplomacy is not his strong suit – but Allura assures him he'll be fine.

The institution is intimidating, a towering pitch-black structure with few windows. He makes his way to the researcher's office, located on the thirty-third floor of the western-most tower, trying to ignore all the crimson-eyed stares he gets on his way there. They've obviously never seen a human before.

He's a little out of breath by the time he reaches the office, and he does his best to compose himself before he knocks and enters. As soon as the researcher sees him, his red eyes light up. A new specimen! Keith tries his best to hide his discomfort and launches into a prepared speech, but it turns out it doesn't matter. Social skills or not, the researcher is absolutely interested in the opportunity to study a human. Keith's not sure he likes the amount of enthusiasm in the researcher's voice, but whatever – as long as he can help Shiro get better, it's fine.

He connects with Allura, and they're in luck – there is a known Tryophian treatment for the parasite, and she's persuaded the pharmacologist to help. They set up a meeting between the Tryophians and Coran to determine whether or not Shiro will be compatible with the treatment. Allura will stay in the city to facilitate the meeting, but she tells Keith to head back to the Castle – someone should be there with Shiro. Keith doesn't protest, all too happy to be out of there, and besides, he's worried about Shiro.

Keith's worry isn't unfounded. When he arrives back at the Castle and goes to Shiro's room to check on him, he finds Shiro sweating and shaking, delirious and afraid. Keith's at his side in an instant, sitting down beside him and resting a hand on his shoulder. He can feel him trembling.

"Hey," Keith says. "Shiro. You okay?" He's obviously not, but Keith doesn't know what else to say. He wishes he were better at this sort of thing. He wishes one of the others were here to help him out.

Shiro's attention turns to him, eyes wide. "F-fine," he stammers. "I'm fine."

Keith frowns. "Do you know where we are?"

"C-Castle," he says. And then, almost inaudibly, he mumbles something about Sendak.

"Sendak? Sendak's gone," Keith says, letting his weight drop against him. He's uncomfortably warm, but Keith doesn't shy away.

Shiro looks down at his metal arm. "H-he was right," Shiro says quietly. "I am…"

"You are what?" Keith asks when Shiro trails off, but Shiro shakes his head and doesn't continue.

Keith doesn't know how to respond, so he shifts gears. "Have you eaten anything?"

Shiro shakes his head, but before Keith opens his mouth to insist, he mumbles, "Tried. Can't."

Keith frowns. "Okay, well you should at least drink something." He goes to retrieve the glass full of liquid on the tray by his door, but Shiro shakes his head again. Keith has to admit it doesn't look the most appetizing, purple and gloopy. "Water, then. I'm gonna go get you some water. Stay right here."

"Not going anywhere," he murmurs.

By the time Keith comes back, Shiro's a bit calmer, though he seems exhausted. He sidles up beside him and presses the glass into his hands. Shiro's hands still shake a bit, but he manages to take a few sips before handing it back to Keith.

"Lie down," Keith says. "Get some rest." He sets the glass down and takes his human hand in his. "I'll be right here. Promise."

Though Shiro doesn't mean to let it show, relief slides over his face. "Thanks, Keith," he says. He closes his eyes and his trembling subsides.

-v-V-v-

Shiro wakes to the sound of hushed voices, warm and familiar. They slowly come into focus.

"He's been asleep this whole time."

A cool hand comes to rest on his forehead. "Goodness, he's warm."

"Think he'll be up for this?"

"He'll have to be. But he'll be alright. He's strong, and we'll be there."

He stirs and struggles to open his eyes.

"Shiro." Cool fingertips graze his cheek. "How are you feeling?" Allura asks softly.

"Fine," he says automatically. His voice sounds weak. "I'm fine," he tries again, sitting up. He tries very hard not to fall back when the room spins.

"Uh huh," says Keith, and Shiro doesn't have to look at him to see the scepticism on his face.

"Shiro, there may be a cure for your illness, but we don't know if it will work yet," Allura says slowly, her voice rhythmic and soothing. "We're going to bring you to the hospital so they can run some tests first, alright?"

Tests. His eyes go wide, his breath catching.

There's a firm hand on his shoulder. "It's safe. We'll be right there with you," Keith says.

He's frozen, clutching at the blankets. Allura places a hand over his. "You want to get better, don't you?"

He nods stiffly. He does. The last time he was sick…

The memory comes unbidden. He's in the arena. His infected arm throbs, swollen and red, and his blood runs far too hot. He can barely lift his head, let alone fight. He can't see straight. His opponent charges him and strikes, slicing at his ribs, his side, his chest. His vision goes from blurry to dark, but just before she delivers the finishing blow, his sword finds flesh and sinks deep into her abdomen. In his double vision he sees blood pouring from her lips, and he hears her take one last gasping breath before going silent. And then he's falling, unable to stay on his feet, and he sinks to the ground covered in her blood…

"Shiro?"

He snaps out of his flashback, heart racing, breathing uneven. Keith's hand is still on his shoulder; Allura's fingers are still curled over his left hand. He focuses on that, letting them ground him.

"Okay," he eventually chokes out. "We'll go."

-v-V-v-

"Breathe, Shiro," Allura murmurs, her fingers laced in his.

But he can't. Not here, not while these blue-skinned strangers pore over every inch of him as he lies on this cold, metal table. They touch his skin, prod and scan him with unfamiliar instruments…

Keith's grip is too tight on his other hand. Shiro hadn't missed the looks Keith and Allura had exchanged when he'd stripped down to his underwear, their eyes horrified and brimming with anger at the sight of the scars adorning the entirety of his body.

"It's alright," Allura continues to croon, and he almost believes her until one of them approaches with a needle. He freezes and a whimper escapes his lips.

The metal is cold against his back and he struggles but he can't move, arms and legs restrained. The druids inject something into his veins and then he's writhing, every part of him on fire, screaming…

"Focus on me. Focus on the sound of my voice," Allura says, her thumb running over his metal knuckles. "You're safe. You're here with us."

"Drawing blood now," a stranger's voice says.

There's pressure on his left arm - Keith holding his arm down with surprising strength - and then something's inserted into his skin, but it's gone soon, and then it's over.

"Just a few more tests-"

The Tryophian is cut off as a booming voice speaks overhead, echoing throughout the city. "Attention, citizens." Shiro's attention snaps to the small rectangular window in the room. Galra ships loom in the skies. "It has come to the attention of the Galra Empire that there has been a breach in laboratory facility RX-379. You have one thousand ticks to send forth those responsible, or we will open fire. This is your only warning." The transmission ends and Shiro's blood runs cold.

"We need to go," Keith says, and before Shiro can make sense of what's happening, Allura's scooped him up into her arms and they're sprinting back to the pod and speeding towards the Castle.

-v-V-v-

As soon as they reach the hangar, Keith is racing to the Red Lion to draw their fire.

Shiro starts making his way to the Black Lion's hangar, trying to ignore the way the ground tilts around him, but Allura stops him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Isn't it obvious? "The people down there are in danger, and Keith needs backup," Shiro says.

"The castle-ship is providing support as we speak. Coran is already manning the blasters," she says. "You're unwell, Shiro. You're in no shape to go out there."

"I need to try," he says defiantly.

"You can barely walk! You're a liability." Her words are harsh, but she's not wrong.

"I-" He's cut off by an explosion, and Keith cries out over the comm system.

"Keith! Are you alright?" they hear Coran's voice shout frantically from the bridge.

"I-I'm fine, but my Lion's pretty badly damaged. I might be in trouble."

Shiro's heading to the hangar before Allura can protest. He only makes it a few steps, though, before he stumbles. Allura catches him, her arms tight around him. "I have to go," Shiro says firmly.

She meets his eyes. "Alright," she concedes with a nod. "But I'm coming with you."

She helps him to the Black Lion, deftly helping him into his armour, and they fly out together. Shiro sits at the front of the pilot's seat with Allura settled in behind him, her chest pressed against his back and her thighs locked against his, the way two might fit together on a hoverbike. Her chin rests on his shoulder as she looks out from behind him, and her hands fit over his as she steadies him.

Shiro's hands are at the controls and he's the one directly connecting with Black, but Allura guides him, compensating for his slowed reaction time and double vision. She's a good pilot, and he vaguely wonders why she's not a paladin herself. Together, they fly the Black Lion, artfully ducking and weaving around Galra ships, drawing their fire, directing their attention away from the city and away from the Red Lion. He's horribly dizzy, but he fights through it – the citizens below are depending on him, and Keith needs him.

It's all kind of a blur, but they dodge and they fire, and eventually, with the support of the castle-ship and the Red Lion, they manage to destroy the fleet. A calm silence fills the sky.

"We did it!" Allura grins, squeezing his hands and leaning in a little closer. He gives a small smile back.

When they land back in the Castle hangar, Allura helps him out of the Lion. He sways, adrenaline leaving him and struck by vertigo, but she catches him with ease and helps him to walk. When they get to the common area, Keith's already there. His posture is tense.

"Keith, thank goodness you're alright," Shiro says as soon as he sees him. Keith looks at him with utter disbelief.

"You- what were you thinking?" Keith explodes.

Shiro shrugs. "I did what I had to."

"You're sick, Shiro!" he says, stating the obvious. He gestures to Allura, supporting him. "You can barely walk on your own!"

"Does everyone have to point that out?" he sighs. "Look. Allura was there with me. It was fine."

"But you could have-"

"We won, and nobody was hurt," Shiro interjects.

"But-"

"Please, Keith," Shiro says, pinching the bridge of his nose. His head is throbbing and he feels sick to his stomach and he really can't take much more.

Keith quiets down, but his fists clench and his gaze is cast downward. "You shouldn't have been put in that position," he says lowly, anger now cast inward. "I should have-"

Allura reaches out and touches Keith's shoulder, as if to tell him, 'that's enough.' "Keith. You did well, and so did Shiro. We had it under control. It was the right call," Allura says.

Keith still looks unsatisfied. "You can't tell me you wouldn't have done the same," Shiro says, before taking off towards the bathroom.

-v-V-v-

Keith follows Shiro to find him leaning over the toilet, throwing up bile and the few sips of water he'd managed.

Shiro groans inwardly when the red paladin approaches. He really doesn't want to deal with this right now.

Keith waits silently until he's done and his panting subsides, then says from behind him, "You're right. I would have done the same." His voice is quiet. "It's just… I can't lose you again."

Any exasperation or irritation he has dissipates at Keith's words. He looks up. "Sorry if I worried you," he says softly.

Keith's dark eyes close. "I'm just glad you're okay." He kneels down beside Shiro and presses a calloused hand to his forehead. "We should get you back to the hospital, finish up those tests."

Shiro doesn't think he can handle more tests right now. Not today. "Tomorrow?" he asks. He's exhausted and needs sleep.

"Tomorrow," Keith nods, extending a hand and helping him to his feet. He wraps an arm around him, letting him lean against him. "C'mon. Let's get you to bed."

Shiro's eyelids are heavy as Keith leads him to his room and helps him into bed. Keith goes to bring him water and tells him he'll be right back, but Shiro's asleep before he even leaves the room.