A/n: A slightly longer chapter, but not by too much, sorry. Not gonna say much else now so I can say a lot in the update on the rest of the fic after ;)

Shiro

He couldn't believe it.

The war was over, and they'd won. It should be a happy occasion but the big question always ruined it.

The war was over, and they'd won, but at what cost?

There was always a cost, one that always seemed too high, too big. He'd seen it happen so many times, winning then mourning, winning and finally being able to rest and take a break and a breath of fresh free air until you remember everyone you lost along the way.

He'd just never thought it'd be Allura.

He'd always felt an affinity for the young Altean, felt protective over her just like he did with all the others. While he could admit his priorities had usually been the others and Keith over her, that was mainly because she had Coran to look out for her while the others only had him. Being one of two only adults was hard work, but it never felt like a chore. Not when it came to protecting his wards, human or Altean.

Either way, he'd failed because she was gone.

After the fight was over, they'd manoeuvred the Atlas to pick up the empty Lion without Keith having to ask them to. There'd been a heavy silence throughout, even when the other lions came onto the large ship too which he and Keith had decided was best for now.

It was only after they'd all met up again that they remembered Coran and realised that one of them would have to tell him what had happened. They'd had a quiet discussion, debating about who it should be. None of them had wanted to do it but they all knew one of them had to. Coran deserved that much.

In the end, Shiro himself volunteered. Adult to adult made sense, otherwise it'd be Lance since they were the two closest to Allura but one look at the poor boy was all it took to exempt him from the responsibility. Lance had been silent and staring off into space ever since they'd gotten back to the ship, the young paladin in some state of shock so they'd let him be.

A few minutes after they'd settled on the decision, they'd been told that Coran and the Balmera along with the Galra ships had arrived. As a group, the paladins and him headed to the hangar to meet them.

When they got there, he saw that Coran had a look on his face that told them he already knew somehow, but was waiting for someone to confirm his fears, hoping it wasn't true. The Altean's eyes flickered to Lance, and Shiro saw the moment he gave up hope, his mind knowing but his heart staying strong as if it was only irreversible until someone said it. Until Shiro said it.

He kept going over it in his head. How was he supposed to tell Coran she was gone? Coran, who was like a father figure to Allura, who considered her his daughter, family. Coran, the only other Altean they each thought existed who he'd probably known since her birth. Coran, who would be absolutely heartbroken for who knew how long, maybe even forever.

Shiro started to speak, and as soon as he did, Coran stiffened. He could see the fear, the dread in the Altean's eyes. The whole room was silent, waiting, and it just made it so much worse even if it wasn't completely silent because there were still people from the ships and the Balmera conversing quietly a little ways away but they still seemed like they were in another universe.

He tried to move his mouth, but no sound came out. He couldn't do it. He didn't have the heart to tell Coran, to watch as his world shattered because he kept thinking about if he'd lost Keith instead. He didn't want to be the one to deliver what was probably going to be the worst news in the man's life.

So when he stayed silent, someone else spoke up. The very boy he'd been thinking about losing, who only glanced at him once before addressing the Altean.

When Keith said it, his voice was steady. It wasn't exactly emotionless, but it wasn't said slowly and softly either. He just said it, and Shiro thinks he might have been the only one to hear the strain behind it, the force of holding back any emotion, that it was actually costing Keith to keep his voice from wavering.

His focus wasn't on Keith for long though, because as soon as he'd spoken, the words were out there and now Shiro was forced to watch the emotions play out on Coran's face. The dread giving way to shock. Then horror. Knowing. Until it settled onto a deep sense of sadness and grief. Shiro had to look away when the tears started to spill.

Pidge shifted behind him and he didn't have to turn to know Lance had started crying too, Keith's words making it real for him too. He couldn't imagine what the boy was going through… No, wait, he could. He'd lost Adam hadn't he? Maybe not at that young an age and in a different situation but it was losing the one he loved nonetheless.

Suddenly just like that, his heart ached even more for the boy after finding the common thread between them and being reminded of his own loss. He stopped himself from turning around, because if he did, he'd have to see the young paladin crying, Pidge probably starting to tear up as well, Hunk being sad, but if he looked forward then he'd see Coran so he'd start crying too and he couldn't do that because there was still so much to do.

Instead, he looked at Keith who remained more or less stone-faced, only emotion on his face being discomfort, likely at seeing Coran - an adult - cry.

Eventually, Hunk led Coran out and Pidge led Lance to Veronica by the door who took over most likely so Pidge could head off to find her dad. Around the same time, Keith had spotted Krolia and Shiro watched as the two headed towards each other.

Wordlessly, Krolia hugged him, Keith leaning into it. Krolia met Shiro's eyes over her son's shoulder, seeming to understand everything from that one look.

When the two separated, Shiro saw that despite his moment of vulnerability, Keith's face hadn't changed. He didn't even have to wipe away any tears and to anyone else it'd seem like Keith was heartless, but Shiro knew the boy well enough to pick up on the subtle signs that the loss was hitting him just as hard as anyone. Keith was just strong enough to not let it show - the cruel result of the cruel lesson taught by his father's death and likely Shiro's own 'death' on the Kerberos mission too. The emotions would probably show later, but for now Keith knew as well as he that they had work to do.

Coran was in no state to help, so instead, Shiro turned to Krolia and Kolivan as well as the other Alteans to figure out what happened with Altea.

For the next while, he and Keith threw themselves into the work. They worked to analyse the new planet that had appeared, and work to spread the word of the Galra threat ending. The Coalition was a great help, as were the Blades and the Alteans and Balmerans. Losing Allura still hurt and would for a while, but one loss, no matter how hard it hit, wasn't enough to risk the whole universe going to chaos.

The war might be over, but the work was not. They'd lost people, and it was still fresh, but now they couldn't pass up the opportunity to prevent any more loss.

Voltron may have lost one paladin, with most of the others in mourning, but that didn't mean Voltron stopped being a symbol, one everyone was looking to now even when the battle was over.

So Shiro and Keith kept working tirelessly, to uphold that image so the others could take their time and mourn, a spot open for them to help when they were ready.

No matter how long it might take for them to be ready.

A/n: So, I think now would be a good time to give you a bit of an update on the rest of the story: I have actually finished the rest of it yay. It's at 9/10 chapters, which sounds like a lot, but the longest one is about 2,700 words whereas the rest are actually pretty short. I would tentatively say this whole story should be finished and posted around August 2nd or 3rd (just in case you prefer to read it all in one go, or just like to know dates) with one chapter posted daily assuming all goes well.

As for this chapter, very much Space Dad Shiro, to all of them but especially Keith. The next chapter is the second last (I think) pov of this scene before we see a little more of what happens after so not done with this moment just yet but I promise these are people's views you want to see during this.

With that being said, next chapter will be up tomorrow, so stay safe and see ya soon.

- CrowofArcadiaOaks