AN: Still a long chapter but not as lengthy as the last.
SH
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"Any word yet?"
Shiro kept his helmet off to in case they needed more water but the comms were loud enough that he didn't have to be wearing it to hear. He eyed Allura's prone body. Her head was feeling worse. Sitting or standing wasn't helping her so they suggested she lie down. By how quiet she's been he took it to mean that was the better option.
"Nothing," Shiro murmured.
Keith sighed. "This isn't good. Maybe we -"
The Black Paladin paused as he heard his wolf's teleportation followed by feeling a sudden weight on his back. If Keith wasn't used to Kosmo popping out of nowhere he might have attacked. He grunted as Kosmo's massive paws hung over his shoulders as he whimpered and licked his ear. Then he was forced onto his knees as the wolf tried getting his face.
"Alright, alright," Keith chuckled as he scratched his head. "I missed you too buddy."
Shiro smiled in relief. Allura slowly tilted her head from her spot on the ground to see their new visitor. Her head was a massive pounding sensation. But the sight of Keith being smothered by a space wolf drew out a smile.
"Pidge must have woken up," she quietly murmured.
"Yeah. Now we can teleport back." Keith frowned as he looked at her paler face. "Do you think you'll be fine?"
"I'm not certain," she tiredly answered. "But we do not have any other options."
Shiro put a hand on her shoulder then looked back to Keith.
"How do we do this? I've not seen Kosmo teleport multiple people."
"At his current size there is a mass limit he can teleport at a time." Keith patted Kosmo's side, earning him another face lick." He couldn't teleport Krolia and myself but Allura's smaller than my mom."
"The Galra are a rather tall race." Allura cracked a very small grin. "Krolia must have been shocked by your height."
Keith gave her a half hearted glare.
"We can talk about Keith's height later." Shiro smiled before going back to business mode. "It'll be two trips then. I'll go first and make sure the way's clear for you two."
"If I remember right, there was a large rock formation right by the Garrison gates." Keith transformed his bayard into the sword to draw in the dirt. "With the fortified barrier I don't think Kosmo should teleport us directly to the other side. The distance, plus the added weight, plus the increased power to the barrier might interfere with his ability."
"Stopping outside the gates," Shiro lowered his voice, "would also allow us to assess what we're going into."
Keith and Shiro looked over at Allura then back at each other. The Garrison had tried attacking her. They couldn't forget that fact.
"Good call," Keith murmured.
"I can hear you two," Allura mumbled.
"Then you're feeling better already," Shiro lightly replied.
She softly harrumphed but said nothing else. She lifted her hand to her thigh, calling her bayard. She looked at it for a tick before holding it out.
"Take it Shiro. I'm not in any shape to wield it."
"I've never handled a whip."
"It'll take the form you need it to be," she replied.
He took it. It lit up and transformed into a blaster.
"I thought about a blade," Shiro curiously turned it about, "but figured long range would work better."
Keith looked at it with a smile. "You never did get a chance to use your bayard."
Shiro shrugged. "Didn't really need one with a weaponized arm."
"Can you use that left handed?"
"Do I have a choice?" Shiro looked down the scope. "It can rapid fire so aim isn't as important."
"Good point. Again." Keith half grinned. "Allura's not the only one feeling better."
"My mind does feel less hazy."
"Your essence absorption must be nearly completed," Allura quietly murmured.
"We should get going."
Keith turned to Kosmo and looked over at Shiro. The wolf walked to Shiro and then they disappeared. Keith knelt over by Allura to help her sit up.
"We don't need to stand but I don't think it'll be a good idea to be lying down."
"Certainly not a safe idea," she half groaned as she let her head drop back on Keith's shoulder. "Will this impede you too much?"
Keith shifted his bayard so it wouldn't touch her.
"Not at all. Though I might have to run off in a split tick."
Her eyes half drooped. "I'll take that chance."
Kosmo reappeared.
"Ready?"
She let out a hum. He reached out for the wolf and they teleported. Shiro was in front of them with his back to them and the blaster propped on a rock for support. Allura's eyes were closed shut as she was hit with a strong dizziness.
"I don't see any guards on the other side of the barrier but there's a vehicle coming up," Shiro murmured and then looked back at them. "How's Allura?"
Keith frowned at her. "You think you can make one more jump?"
"A short one," she managed out.
"Shiro."
"I'll meet with whoever's in the vehicle first. Then send Kosmo."
"Ok."
They disappeared. Allura slowly breathed as they waited. Each second was putting Keith on edge. He was about to ask Allura to try the comms in her earrings when Kosmo reappeared.
"Brace yourself," he warned.
Allura felt his arm around her shoulders and then they teleported. Her head spun with the motion. She wanted to throw up. She kept her eyes closed as Keith tried to get her on her feet. There were voices asking if she was ok but the added sounds just made it worse. She turned away from Keith in time.
There was nothing in her stomach but bile.
She gagged again as the smell made her sick. She felt a hand along her back. She cracked an eye open to see Keith holding her up and Shiro trying to comfort her. She still didn't feel her inner fire. But this was one of those moments that made her reaffirm that she'd do anything to protect her family.
No matter what it was.
"I found a bottle in the car," a familiar female voice sounded out.
Allura leaned on Shiro as Keith shifted to uncap the bottle. She took it with a butchered version of "thank you." She rinsed her mouth out as their leader addressed the dark skinned female from the MFEs. Her name escaped her recollection. To be fair she'd doubt she'd recall how to say her own name in this state.
"Thanks," Keith started but then halted halfway, "uh..."
"Nadia Rizavi," the MFE pointed to the blonde, "that's Ina Leifsdottir. But we go by last name while on duty. Like I told Officer Shirogane we're here to escort you to Admiral Sanda."
"Which is fine," Shiro spoke up when Keith made to complain, "as long as we can drop Allura off in the med bay."
"I have no issue with that," Rizavi agreed.
They both looked to Keith. He sighed but then nodded. This is getting old real quick. No wonder even Golden Boy Shiro used to escape out into the desert every once in a while back in their Garrison days.
"We need to move," Leifs said. "It's not safe to linger by the barrier."
Rizavi frowned as she looked at Allura. "Is she ok to get in the car?"
"'m fine," Allura got out.
Keith quirked a brow but helped her get in. Shiro got in the other side of Allura so there'd be two people supporting her. Kosmo squeezed himself in between the two front seats. From the passenger seat Leifs curiously looked at the wolf's markings. Riz withheld the strong urge to pet him, choosing instead to do her job and drive. Leifs handed over a first aid kit. Shiro took it with gratitude and handed it to Keith. The Black Paladin dematerialized his bayard to open it.
"Her head's warm," Shiro murmured.
Keith dug out an ice pack, broke it to activate it, and then gave it to Shiro. He maneuvered her head more on Keith's shoulder so the pack would stay on her forehead. She mumbled a sound of thanks. Rizavi looked up into the rearview mirror.
"So your wolf teleports?"
"Short distances," Keith replied.
"That's cool." Riz turned on the a/c. The wolf's eyes closed as he leaned into the artificial wind. Now she had to pet him. Even Leifs reached out to feel a furry ear. His fluffy tail wagged. "So I don't want to make things awkward but I don't know what the Garrison guards were told to do after...well, you know."
Shiro shifted the ice pack before it slid off.
"We'll deal with it when it comes."
"...Sure."
Keith looked away from the window. "How's Pidge?"
"I don't know the details but she's not in mortal danger."
Leifs lightly frowned as she looked ahead. She stopped petting the wolf to tap the side of her visor to zoom in to the upcoming Garrison building.
"Rizavi."
Nadia took in Leifs' expression. She didn't have to guess what the problem was.
"How many?"
"Five at least. Hard to count from this distance."
"Five what?" Shiro voiced out.
"Some Garrison guards up ahead."
Keith darkly muttered, "We could always just teleport into the building."
Shiro looked down at Allura. "Even if she was in the condition to teleport it would only make the problem worse. We need to resolve this immediately. A team divided is already conquered by the enemy."
"Where do you get these sayings?" Keith amusedly murmured.
Shiro mimicked his crooked grin. "Fortune cookies."
"I'm eating the wrong sweets."
Rizavi slowed down the vehicle. "Leifs and I can deal with them first."
All humor was tucked away. "No," Shiro frowned into the mirror. "I'll talk to them."
She eyed the weapon by his feet.
"Talk with words or..."
"I'll do what's needed," Shiro calmly murmured as he dematerialized the blue bayard into his suit, "in all of our best interests."
"Shiro's the most diplomatic," Allura attempted to console.
"Right after you," Shiro grabbed the door handle.
She softly scoffed. "Not always."
"She has a point." Keith crossed his arms. "Remember Ulaz?"
"Remember Slav?" came Shiro's wry tone.
"A draw," Allura tiredly laughed.
Shiro gave her a grin. "I'll be back." With a more serious expression he added, "Don't come out until it's safe."
Keith narrowed his eyes. Allura didn't acknowledge hearing it. Shiro sighed.
"Rizavi, Leifsdottir. I need support."
They already had their rifles slung around their shoulders.
"Copy that."
Keith sat back. "We'll wait."
"Great idea," Shiro breezily replied before exiting the vehicle.
Griffin and Kinkade took Lance and Hunk to the Admiral's office.
Sam insisted on seeing her directly. The guard saw no reasons to argue against it. The doors to the control room hadn't even closed before Commander Holt started talking.
"I thought you couldn't get any more extreme Admiral," Sam half hissed out as his guard quickly trailed behind him, "but oh, this just takes the cake."
A couple of the analysts and techs near the bridge turned around. Admiral Sanda turned away from the screens showing the refortified barrier and a cruiser headed out to the edge, undoubtedly the MFEs. The early morning dawn made everything a dusty color. The rim of the Admiral's hat shadowed her eyes but Sam didn't have to see them to know she was angry. At this point he didn't care.
He was pissed.
"Watch your tone commander," Sanda sharply bit out, "or I'll throw you in the brig now rather than later."
"You can throw me to the Galra but I will be heard," Sam spat out, "Your guard nearly killed my daughter."
"...Clear the room," the Admiral commanded.
There was immediate motion.
Shiro told the MFEs to stay ten feet behind, weapons down.
He walked straight to the group of guards. "I don't have time to waste and neither do you," Shiro bluntly got to the point. "One of the paladins needs medical attention."
"As long as that paladin is human, you may proceed," the middle guard intoned. "No aliens are to re-enter the Garrison."
Shiro probably should have answered more eloquently but after all they've been through and then to have the guard say that...He threw his head back and laughed. It was completely mirthless and hollow.
It was the sound of a man well past the end of his rope.
Behind him, Riz and Leifs felt uncomfortable chills hearing it. The guards in front of Shiro must have felt the same for they shifted on their feet. The middle guard, the leader of this group, frowned as Shiro's laughter died down and his head bent forward so he could pinch the bridge of his nose.
"I don't see the humor in this," the leader dared to voice out.
Shiro's eyes opened suddenly. Even in the early dawn light the leader could see the slitted dark pupils staring back at him. He took a step back. Then Takashi Shirogane's voice sounded out. All of their eyes were fixed on the sharp canines that peeked out as he spoke with almost no inflections.
"The three of us," Shiro dryly drawled, "are not human."
The officers quickly filed out of the control room except for Sam's guard.
He was a higher rank than the others and had been given orders to keep an eye on the scientist. He did keep his distance though. He was glad for it as the Admiral fully turned to face Sam Holt.
"I made no orders against your daughter," she calmly intoned. The admiral lifted her head. Her eyes were deadly ice. "How dare you accuse me of that."
"She blocked a lethal shot," Sam continued on, "meant for Princess Allura." His voice raised in volume without his control. "The princess isn't just a paladin. The Lions are tied to her life force." He felt his fisted hands shake. "What in the hell were you thinking?"
"Tied?" The admiral frowned. "What does that mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to delve that to you," he grounded out, "and even if I was, I still wouldn't say. It doesn't change the fact that you've lost it." He stepped closer to her than what was appropriate. "You're so sucked into your fear you're no longer making rational decisions!" His eyes were lightning as he rumbled out, "You're no longer fit to lead the Garrison."
Admiral Sanda looked at him with cold fire. It was clear to her she'd been going too easy. She looked over Sam's shoulder. "Get this fool out of my sight. A day in the brig might do him some good."
The guard cuffed his hands behind his back.
"After this is over," Sam yelled out as the guard dragged him away, "you'll have to answer for all the decisions you've made Admiral! Every. Single. One."
"Make it three days," she icily ordered. "And only water."
The door slid closed. She fisted her hands on a desk and then turned on a comm.
"Get me the Head of the Garrison Guards."
There was a long pause on the line. "Officer Konson is dealing with the remaining paladins at the front of the buil-"
There was a muffled explosion outside. The comm went offline. The lights flashed on and off as well as the orange screens before stabilizing. Admiral Sanda stared wide eyed as the main security screens showed outside around the Garrison buildings.
The particle barrier flickered.
"Shit..."
"Weapons please."
Lance crossed his arms. James sighed.
"You can't honestly think I can leave you two armed before meeting Admiral Sanda."
"We didn't ask to meet with her," Hunk grunted. "So that's not our problem."
"You'll get them back," Kinkade voiced out.
"I'll lock them in my room," Griffin offered, "I've got a hidden lockbox in there."
Lance tapped his forefinger along his arm guard as he weighed their options.
"We'll want them right back."
Kinkade and Griffin stared as they materialized them from their suits.
"Where did - how -?"
"Cool Paladin gear." Lance grinned. "Maybe Pidge and Coran can make you guys cool MFE gear."
Kinkade hummed as he took Lance's bayard. It was hard to tell what Kinkade was thinking but all three of them could see the way his eyes lit up at the prospect.
"That would be great," Griffin chuckled.
They were going into the Admiral's office when the alarms went off. Lance and Hunk froze as an automated voice told civilians to go down to the emergency bunkers. Kinkade and Griffin were tuning into their helmets' comms before they shared a grim look.
"Griffin," Lance frowned. "What happened?"
"You're an abomination," Officer Konson spat out.
"I've been called worse." Shiro's face was oddly calm. His pupils were back to normal. "But it doesn't change the facts. You need Voltron to get rid of Sendak. And you need all five paladins to form Voltron. We'll need to get through to save the Blue Paladin."
Shiro ventured a step forward. Out of instinct Officer Konson lifted his rifle up. Shiro tiredly sighed.
"I'm sorry for my manner but we've been hiding from the Galra all night. I wanted to be up front with you so you'd trust us. We're here to save Earth. And then we'll go back into space to continue fighting the Galra."
The Head of the Guards kept his rifle up.
"My soul is still human and my body is...mostly human. The other paladin is half human. Allura's Altean, the tech from the people whose particle barrier has kept you safe this entire time. We are allies, we're not the danger."
Some of the guards looked to each other. But their leader did not stay his hand.
"We just need the Lions, not the paladins."
"Sendak's a warmonger who only believes in strength. Anything he sees as weak will be cut down." Shiro bitterly scoffed. "Hand over the Lions and it's like trusting Hitler to keep his word."
"Officer Konson -" one of the guards voiced out.
"Quiet."
"This situation is dire," Shiro murmured in an understanding tone. "I'm afraid too, officer. We've had this fear of the Galra for years. Earth is not alone." Shiro's eyes narrowed. "But don't let that fear blind you."
"...I'd take my chances, alien."
Shiro's patience snapped. A man like this was loyal and dutiful but also hardheaded. He was a man of action. Being cooped up behind the particle barrier for months was not good for this type of man.
"If you need something to shoot," Shiro stepped up right in line with his rifle. "Go ahead. Take your frustration out on me." His gray eyes fiercely fixed onto Officer Konson's black visor where his eyes should be. "But don't you dare take it out on my team."
"Officer Shirogane -"
"Konson sir, please -"
"Let's talk about this -"
Shiro heard the MFEs' footsteps behind. He lifted his hand up in a halting gesture without looking away from Officer Konson. He didn't hear them approach any closer.
"Take your shot soldier," Shiro grimly commanded.
Officer Konson fired.
"A particle barrier generator exploded. The added power must have been too much. The barrier's still up but..." Griffin and Kinkade gave their bayards back. James pointed down the hall. "You guys need to go to the bunkers. Just follow the flashing lights."
"Wait where are you two going?" Hunk asked.
"Our techs will need the Galra distracted to fix the generator. We're lucky they haven't noticed yet but it's only a matter of time." Griffin reached into his shirt and slipped a chain off. "I need you to take this just in case."
Kinkade yanked off his chain and tossed it to Hunk. Lance stared hard at James' dog tags. He held it out back to him with a deep frown.
"You're coming back."
James didn't grab it but gave a tired smile. "I always hope so."
The MFEs ran off.
Hunk fisted Kinkade's dog tags with watery eyes. He wasn't self centered. But he hadn't considered what the MFEs went through being the only fighters for Earth. All the other Garrison fighters were useless against the Galra. The wall of names made that very clear.
"Lance -"
"Let's go," Lance rasped out.
The MFEs had annoyed the crap out of him when they first met but none of that mattered now. They ran the way the MFEs went but then went back down the hallway leading to the med bay.
It was going to take a crazy Altean and super genius to fix the particle barrier.
Personnel were back in the control room.
"Send out guards to put out that fire and our best engineers!" Iverson yelled out. "Turn off all alarms outside. We don't want to alert the Galra."
"Iverson, call the MFEs," Admiral Sanda turned him. "We need as much cover for as long as possible."
A tech turned on the comms for Iverson.
"MFE Ares fighters, report to the hangar for a Level Zero immediately." Iverson turned back to the Admiral. "We should get Sam up here too."
"That won't be necessary. We can patch a generator."
Iverson frowned at that.
Keith was out of the vehicle the second he heard the rifle.
"Shiro!"
Rizavi grabbed his arm. He could have shrugged her off but he had the sense to halt himself. No one moved after that. It was complete silence as they stared at the scorching mark. Shiro slid his gaze down to the ground a foot away from him. Keith's bayard transformed out of its sword form back to its resting form.
Officer Konson stepped back.
The guards came forward as Shiro walked back to the car. Keith made to walk back but Rizavi's words halted him.
"They're helping."
Sure enough, one of them opened the car and the other offered a hand out to Allura. She was wobbly on her feet. Shiro took over, getting her arm around his shoulders and his arm around her waist. Kosmo trailed behind them but stopped next to Keith as the rest got inside the Garrison.
The yellow tint in Keith's eyes faded away.
Leifsdottir tilted her head. "Your eyes change during dire situations. Elevated blood pressure and heartrate are most likely the chemical triggers your body senses and results in your transformation."
"I've been told," Keith murmured.
"Officer Shirogane suggested you are half human."
"I am."
Rizavi chimed in. "You know what the other half is?"
He quirked a brow at her blunt question. "I see you're not shy about asking anything."
"Nope."
He started walking towards the building. "I do know."
Nadia lightly pouted when that was all he said. She and Leifs followed him. She opened her mouth to prod some more when an explosion rumbled behind them. Quickly they turned to see one of the generators on fire.
The barrier flickered before becoming solid again. Alarms immediately sounded out from the Garrison. Leifsdottir tuned into her comms. Rizavi followed suit. They looked to each other and nodded.
"Oh no," Keith breathed out.
"We need to borrow your wolf," Rizavi firmly stepped up.
Keith frowned as his mind quickly made connections.
"I don't know that any of Sendak's fleet will care about four fighters causing trouble."
"Give us more credit than that," Rizavi put a hand on her hip, "Sendak's wanted our heads for months."
"He issued a 'kill on sight' order with the promise of a promotion," Leifsdottir added.
"...We'll look after the Garrison." Keith looked at them solemnly. "Plan for a long run, not short term. We don't know how long it'll take to fix the barrier."
Rizavi and Leifsdottir put their hands on Kosmo.
"So what, do I tell him where -?"
"Picture the hangar. Just one of you."
Keith got Kosmo's attention and pointed to Rizavi. The wolf looked at her and then his eyes glowed. They disappeared. Keith closed his eyes for a moment.
Good luck.
By the time Lance and Hunk made it to the med bay Pidge was already up.
"What needs fixing?" Pidge asked before anyone could talk.
Lance and Hunk hugged her head.
"I don't know if it's conceited that you thought we needed you," Hunk laughed, "but we do so I don't really care right now."
"Stay stuck up Pidgeon," Lance gushed.
"Yeah yeah. I'm awesome. Now let's go."
"In your hospital gown?"
"I don't want the under armor rubbing my back. I got the pants on so who cares?"
Coran squatted down. "I'll carry you over."
"..."
"Your short little legs and injured back will slow us down," Lance pointed out.
"Shut up," Pidge groused as she got on Coran's back. "Or I'll tell Keith you're growing a mullet too."
Lance fisted his hands. "A guy misses one haircut and everyone's on his case!"
Pidge winced as Coran stood up.
"You ok?" Hunk stepped up to her.
"Painkillers should be kicking in. I'll be fine. Just go."
"Hey where's your guard?" Lance looked around.
"He took off once the alarms sounded," Coran said as he adjusted Pidge's hold. "We insisted in staying here until you returned."
"Took your sweet time though," Pidge hedged.
"You're being such a sour puss but I'm just so happy right now," Hunk grinned.
They took off running.
Shiro looked through the window of Allura's hospital room as the doctor ran tests.
She passed out shortly after they carried her in. The fact that her heart monitor was still going was the only thing keeping him calm. Head injuries were never something to mess around with. He only wished he insisted she'd get checked out back when he first brought Pidge in. He wished he realized her state of mind sooner. Clearly she need them to look out for her right now.
He clenched his hand tightly.
"After these tests," one of the guards murmured on the other side of the hallway, "we'll need to relocate her and you to the bunkers."
"Alright."
"Sir, about what happened outside...Did you want Officer Konson to shoot you?"
The corner of Shiro's mouth twitched. He didn't look away from the window.
"...I think...a part of me did."
The guard looked back to his fellow guard. He lifted his helmet up, revealing a young man with his orange hair in a crew cut. The guard next to him revealed a woman with dark sandy hair in a short ponytail.
"You're still human to most of us," the guy voiced out. "If that's any consolation, Shirogane sir."
Shiro looked at them. His small smile was enough but his words made them feel even better about the situation.
"Thank you."
Keith knew his team.
That's why he stayed outside with Kosmo. They exclaimed upon seeing him but he was quick to cut them off.
"There's not much time. Hunk will go first. Then Pidge and Coran. Lance, you'll teleport with me."
Kosmo went to Hunk. When it was Pidge and Coran's turn Pidge offered a mock salute before they teleported. Keith raised a brow at that.
"I think her meds finally kicked in," Lance shrugged.
Keith rolled his eyes fondly. He wouldn't trade his team for anyone else.
James quietly led them to their target.
The most they figured it was some sort of communication tower. Whatever it was it was one of the Galra's works in progress that was almost completed. Destroying this wouldn't do much in the grand scheme of things but if Sendak was like most beings he'd be pissed off about having to redo something that was almost finished.
"Alright team you know the plan. Set your bomb then disperse up into the upper atmosphere. Use minimal fire as possible. They drain the fighters too much."
"Plan for the long run," Rizavi added in.
"Exactly Rizavi. That's a good way to put it."
She laughed a little on the comms, getting a kick out of getting credit for Keith's words. Leifsdottir shook her head while Kinkade shrugged it off as nerves.
"Ok..." James muttered before refocusing. "On my mark we detonate. Go!"
The fighters flew off to each corner of the tower.
Pidge and Coran pushed aside the techs.
"Go fortify the other ones," Pidge impatiently waved. "The loss of a generator's putting stress on the other ones around it. We can't have another explosion."
Hunk looked at the mechanical side. "This is bad. I'll need to replace practically the whole thing. Lance, I need a hand."
"Whoa, I don't know a thing -"
"No I literally need hands. Just hold the metal lid up while I disconnect stuff."
"Oh ok. That I can do."
Keith and Kosmo kept an eye out in the skies. Other Garrison guards were around doing the same thing. An explosion sounded out. For a second he feared it was another generator but then he saw a tall metal tower fall down. He could feel the vibrations in the Earth as it made contact with the ground. He could see what he assumed were the MFEs fighters shoot up into the clouds.
Not even a full minute later several purple lasers filled the skies.
The MFEs shot out of the clouds. Keith's brows furrowed as each MFE had a whole swarm of Galra fighters on their tails. Guess they weren't exaggerating about Sendak's kill order. He acutely watched as they maneuvered flawlessly. Galra fighters crashed into each other, causing explosions in the sky. The longer Keith watched the MFE flight patterns the more familiar it seemed to him.
"Hey," he called out to a guard. "Who taught them to fly?"
"Commander Holt."
"Who was their instructor?" Keith reiterated.
The guard consulted with another guard. Lance looked over at Keith but made sure not to move his hands. Their leader was being oddly persistent about this.
"Keith, why are you -"
"Senior Officer Williams."
Lance felt his throat tightened. Keith looked back to the skies.
"Adam," he murmured.
The barrier generators were fixed but the MFEs had yet to return.
Pidge and Allura were in the same room. Keith and Shiro stayed with them while Lance and Hunk checked in with the McClains and the Holts. While the guards reassured Shiro that most of the Garrison trusted them, he knew how dangerous the rest could be. Kosmo laid on Pidge's bed as she was the smallest of the two. Keith's bayard was out in its sword form while Shiro had Allura's bayard in its blaster form along his lap.
"Shiro."
"Yeah?"
"The MFEs are using yours and Adam's flight tactics from your fighter days."
"Oh. Well I'm glad Adam insisted on recording all of that."
"...Shiro." Pause. "He mentored them."
For a moment, Shiro forgot to breathe. It made sense, now that he thought about it. If he had been considered the best in the Garrison then that made Adam the next best. They had been partnered for a reason...But having it told to him so bluntly was bringing up all sorts of mixed emotions. He couldn't pin one feeling down if he tried.
"...Oh."
Another breath passed and then Shiro stood up.
"I'll be back," he lowly murmured.
Keith felt his expression soften. "Ok."
It was pitch black when someone spotted the MFEs.
Their fighters had seen better days. There were scorch marks from Galra lasers and their windshields were covered in bugs and grime and other stuff James would rather not think about. He groaned as he pulled himself out of the fighter. His eyes hurt. His back was killing him. His hands were sore from gripping the controls so long and so tight.
"Now I really need the bathroom," Rizavi whined.
Their technicians helped them down. James carelessly dropped his helmet to the ground. He couldn't hold onto it if he tried.
"We made it," Kinkade murmured.
Leifsdottir's eyes were tired but she managed a rare smile. It was so miniscule and faint but it made James smile back.
"Yeah. We did."
They slowly walked towards the hangar doors. Someone in the olive green uniform was standing there, waiting. James blinked as he recognized the silver hair.
"Officer Shirogane? What -"
Shiro didn't say anything except step up and extend a hand. He looked down at it and took it. Shiro smiled as he adjusted his grip.
"In space we clasps the forearms."
"Oh."
James changed it. Then yelped when Shiro pulled him in for a hug. James' face reddened. Veronica had hugged him weeks ago. But Shirogane's embrace was even more engulfing despite missing an arm. He hadn't been hugged like this since he was a kid.
"Good work," Shiro murmured. "Now rest."
James closed his eyes as he let Shiro support his weight.
"Alright," he quietly said.
Shiro did this for each of them, even the silent Kinkade.
SH
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AN: So it's been on my mind for a while to have Adam as having been the MFEs mentor. I just hadn't found a place for it yet until this chapter.
I know people really want to see the Paladins showing off their stuff but I thought it would only be fair that the MFEs get their recognition too.
More bonding to come and of course what the heck is going on with the Garrison. Some of you don't care but I do. XD Story wise, of course.
