A Sacrifice for Understanding.

Chapter 6

"We did it! We saved the universe!" Pidge exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.

Hunk let out a long, relieved sigh as they made their way back to the castle. Keith nodded, acknowledging the cheers but keeping his focus. "Now, we can focus on finding Shiro," he said, his tone steady but firm.

The other paladins groaned in frustration, the tension from the past battles still fresh. Hunk, shaking his head, grumbled, "But we just saved the universe. Doesn't that deserve a break? Maybe we could head to Earth for a while, just for a little—"

"Shiro's out there. We can't afford to wait any longer," Keith cut him off, his voice sharper than usual.

Amid the argument, the paladins failed to notice that the Red Lion had already rushed ahead, its massive form resting silently in the hangar. Lance, having heard the conversation, silently made his way toward a pod. As he did, a voice broke through the tension.

"Want me to open a wormhole for you?" Coran asked, a strange, grim smile tugging at his lips.

Lance paused, turning to face the older man. His eyes, filled with a quiet resolve, met Coran's. "Yeah... that would be helpful."

"Heading back to Earth, I assume?" Coran asked, his voice softer now.

Lance gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. Coran walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder with gentle understanding. "I'll miss you, Lance. But I know this is what you need."

Without another word, Coran opened a wormhole to Earth. The pod slipped through the swirling vortex, disappearing into the distance.

Keith, still in the midst of arguing with the others, turned toward the hangar and noticed the portal closing. His heart dropped. "What the hell? Who just went through that wormhole?" His voice was tight with confusion and rising anger.

Coran met Keith's furious gaze, unflinching as if waiting for the inevitable. The look on his face was one of quiet resignation as if to say, You know the answer.

Keith stormed toward Coran, grabbing him by the collar with enough force to rattle the older man. "Why didn't he say anything? Why did he just leave without telling any of us?" His voice trembled with the weight of unsaid words, but mostly, with frustration.

Coran didn't flinch or struggle. His expression was calm, almost too calm. He met Keith's furious stare without breaking. After a moment, he simply shrugged and said, "He didn't need to. You knew he was leaving."

Keith stood there for a long, tense moment, his grip on Coran's collar slowly loosening. The words of anger died in his throat, replaced by a sudden, crushing emptiness. Keith released Coran and began pacing the room, his mind a whirlwind of emotions he wasn't prepared to deal with.

Abandoned.

Left behind.

The words circled in his mind, making his chest feel tighter with each passing second. He felt the guilt, sharp and bitter. He hadn't realized it until now, but Lance's departure... felt like a rejection. Lance had said he couldn't stay in the castle, and yet Keith had thought he'd just been angry. He thought Lance would come around, that he would stay and fight with them.

But now, it was clear Lance was gone—leaving him behind, in a way.

I pushed him too hard, Keith thought, his mind going back to every moment when he'd snapped at Lance, belittled him, or ignored his concerns. I hurt him, and now he's gone.

Keith couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of abandonment, the realization that he had let someone important slip away. He wanted to yell. To do something to fix it, but he didn't know how. All he could do was stand there in silence, feeling more alone than ever.