Chapter summary: A promise is made under the falling stars.
The young man left to them by Master Zarkon is a quiet soul. Tall, dark and perhaps a bit skittish, Shiro has become a constant shadow in her peripherals as she goes about her daily tasks. Allura doesn't mind really. The Castle of Lions is a grand and awe-inspiring citadel, lofted as one of Altea's crowning feats in engineering, but it can become quite lonely at times and Shiro is never obtrusive, content to observe or merely craving the company of another. His presence is like a balm after witnessing him dormant and still for so long.
She notices him watching her as she practices her forms in the training halls, brows drawn as if he might be remembering something—a piece of his old self maybe, feverishly attempting to resurface. He doesn't speak unless spoken to, and even then his answers are halting and inexorably brief. Allura knows little of what actually goes on in that head of his during the lengthy stretches of silence.
Her father believes him simply in need of space and a chance to heal from his ordeal—whatever said ordeal actually is. Master Zarkon was rather scant on the details, to say the least. Allura finds that worrisome, but her father trusts Zarkon implicitly so she has no other option than to let the matter drop.
It does not take long for new worries to set in once word arrives that they will soon be accepting students. It's high time the castle was once again full of life that only young keywielders can supply and Allura has been preparing for the Mark of Mastery Exam for some time now. Her father proudly submitted her name for the trials himself and Coran boasts her skills are more than up to the task. She likes to pretend Shiro is cheering her on as well.
The idea of being appointed a master and potentially being given responsibility over any of the new students is both daunting and thrilling in equal measure. And beyond that, there is the added expectation that she will be the next keywielder to summon a Lion like her father before her.
Such an achievement would bring about many changes. She's not entirely certain she's ready. Even more concerning, she wonders how Shiro will react to the sudden inclusion of total strangers into what has so recently become his place of sanctuary. Will he get along with the new students? Will she be able to continue keeping an eye on him? What if her new responsibilities call for her to leave? He's been through so much already and she can't help but feel more than a little protective of him.
Perhaps that is why she finds herself here tonight, breathing in the early autumn chill on the lantern lit paths skirting the juniberry gardens and seeking out the most impressive view of the cosmos her home has to offer. After all, tonight is no ordinary night and it would be an utter waste to experience it anywhere else. But as she approaches the overlook on the outer ring of the castle grounds she's surprised to find another has already staked claim to it.
Shiro is perched on the very edge of the overlook, legs dangling over the steep cliffside with his face craned heavenward, entranced, as though soaking up each and every glimmer of stardust that lit the night's canvas.
Were it anyone else Allura would not have intruded. She isn't here to seek out an audience. But seeing Shiro looking so enraptured and more at ease than she's ever witnessed, she finds she's helplessly drawn to his orbit. Like a moth to the flame, she desires to know this side of him as well, so different from the stoic veneer of brittle silence she'd become so accustomed to.
Besides, if the subtle motion of his shoulders climbing up toward his peculiarly blunt ears is any indication, her indecision has already given her away. It would be rude not to announce herself now. "Good evening, Shiro."
He doesn't turn away from the stars, but the tension relaxes from the line of his shoulders and he sounds almost curious when he replies, "…Allura."
It is in all likelihood as close to an invitation as she's going to get, so she seizes it, moving to join him on the ledge. "I did not know you enjoyed stargazing."
They are close enough to the lanterns for Allura to notice the touch of red that blooms across his pale cheeks. The added color almost entirely camouflages the scar that cuts across the bridge of his nose before he glances off to the side. "Yeah… Coran, he... mentioned a meteor shower. Didn't want to miss it."
It's possibly the most words she's heard him string together in a conversation, let alone a single reply. Allura struggles not to let her excitement show too much, in fear of discouraging the sudden change. "As you shouldn't. The Apatid showers are rather uncommon and considered a bad omen should you fail to share a wish with the departing stars."
"Coran said something like that." Shiro finally turns and actually looks at her, his expression pensive. He seems unsure and Allura worries he's about to retreat, to hide beneath the surface of his own skin. But then he continues unbidden, "I used to watch the stars. Back before… They've always been so beautiful, and to think each one represents a whole world with its own people and their own stories. I think that's why I first wanted to become a keyblade wielder. I wanted to see them all."
Incredible. It's as if he's truly awoken for the first time. Allura can't help the bit of awe that slips into her words. "Will that be your wish then?"
"Huh?"
Allura gestures toward the cosmic expanse before them. "To travel all worlds across the galaxy—will that be your wish for the stars?"
Shiro doesn't answer her right away, instead looking back toward the night sky as if he might find the answers he seeks written among the far off constellations. Inevitably perhaps, his eyes regain that appreciative glow. "I'd still like to see them."
"I think it'd make a fine wish."
"Thanks." Shiro smiles, bending his knees to wrap his arms around them, one flesh and blood, the other unforgiving metal. "I guess you must have one already?"
Allura hums, looking away from his mismatched hands.
"It is why you came here, right?" he continues.
She nods. "I wish to become a master and make my father proud. It's my dream—what I've worked toward for so long."
"I don't think you need a bunch of falling stars to make that a reality." Shiro smirks with a mischievous quirk of his lips. The expression appears quite gentle on his features. "You'll do just fine."
And Allura can't help but beam at his show of confidence in her. "All the same, I would not deny any advantage. The coming days will bring many new challenges and unfamiliar faces."
"The new students?" he asks quietly.
"Yes." Allura breaths in and exhales slowly, imagining she's expelling all the negativity in her heart. Worry and fear of responsibility are unbecoming of a soon to be master. "Father will likely ask that I assist with their training. You may be conscripted as well. I for one, could certainly use the help."
"Me?" Shiro points at himself, eyes wide and disbelieving. Allura is sorely tempted to laugh at his bewilderment.
"Don't act so surprised. I've seen you in the training halls. You know all the forms by heart." And he does. Granted, she's only seen him working with the practice swords, but his technique is impeccable.
"I don't know, that sounds like the work of a master and it's not me they're going to see take the Mark of Mastery. I'm not even a candidate."
"Maybe you should be." The words are out of her mouth before she can really consider them, but they ring true to her ears all the same. Still, she wonders if she's expecting too much too soon when Shiro looks away sharply.
She's considering how to gracefully drop the topic when he directs her attention elsewhere. "It's started."
As she looks at him in askance she catches a glimpse of the first flashes of the meteor shower trailing in the distance. They are quickly joined by more; infinitesimal bits of cosmic debris light the night sky as they burn up in the atmosphere. It's a dazzling display.
She glances to Shiro and finds him watching the falling stars attentively, with eyes so dark they reflect the vast void between the worlds, each its own miniature galaxy. What terrors must he have witnessed with those eyes to force his very heart to forget itself?
Does he think on times before, a life as an eager apprentice hungry to prove his worth to his master, before the scars and before the loss of his arm? Does he even know how he came to possess the Sorceress Haggar's invention in its place?
"All right. I'll do it," Shiro announces suddenly.
Allura blinks, confused. "What?"
"If you ever need a hand I'll be there. It's the least I can do after all you've done for me," Shiro continues before Allura can interrupt, tell him he has no need to repay her anything at all, "and if that means I have to become a master… then we'll share the same dream."
"The same dream?" Allura pauses at the thought. She's never shared anything like this before. The thought is not a distasteful one. "I think I rather like the sound of that."
"Then it's a promise." Shiro offers her an easy smile, as if he's just offered her something trivial or of little consequence.
Allura wonders over how such a simple promise can bare the weight of dreams and yet make her feel as though she were lighter than air. It is a most precious gift she decides. "Very well, I'll be counting on you."
"Don't worry." Shiro lies on his back, crossing his arms behind his head as they gaze up to the stars. "I won't let you down."
…
If only their days could have remained like this, peaceful and unburdened. But such was not a fate that would come to pass.
Just a random bit of trivia for anyone interested, meteor showers are named for the constellation that coincides with that region of the sky. The Apatid meteor shower mentioned here is based off the made-up constellation Apate, named for the Greek goddess of trickery and deceit. My reasoning comes from the original Voltron show where the robot was tricked by the witch Haggar making herself appear as a beautiful goddess in space and cursing him to be divided into the five robot lions—because, I'm sure, everyone was really dying to know about that. XD