Until I See You Again: War Of The White Lion

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Keith's POV

"Hey, Shiro?" I ask suddenly.

The Lion radio chat died down a long time ago. Allura suggested that we all take a stop on Titan(Saturn's biggest moon) for twelve Vargas so we could get some much needed sleep. So now, Shiro and I are free to talk in privacy again. Thank God! Before we stopped, Coran and Allura were going on and on about all the things they wanted to do on Earth.

"Yeah, Keith?"

"You and Adam...you two were engaged?"

Shiro doesn't talk for a few seconds as he turns away.

"Yes. We were, but I'm not so sure anymore." He says quietly.

"Why? How long has it been since we left Earth?"

"I'm not sure but I think we've been gone long enough for Adam and my family to think I'm dead, grieve for me and move on with someone new. Or about four years."

"Where is your family?"

"Back in Miyagi, Japan. My dad is probably helping his brother train a bunch of kids to play volleyball.
*hah! See what I did there?*
"And my mom..."

His voice trials off. I don't prod at him anymore about his mom but I want to know more about Adam.

"You and Adam were so close. I think he knows that you're coming back. I'm sure he's waiting for you."

"Yeah, but the Garrison reporter that the Kerberos mission was lost. Adam believes everything the Garrison has to say. He probably thinks I'm dead."

Shiro's voice cracked when he said that Adam thinks that he's dead.
I over my shoulder to see Shiro leaning against the wall in the far right corner, shrouded in shadow.
His shoulders are slumped forward.
For the first time, he doesn't look confident anymore. He doesn't look like a brave leader. The stress and aging process has affected him heavily and it's evident now just how fatigued Shiro has become.
Then something happens. Something a little scary, a little rare, but completely understandable.
Shiro begins to cry.
It's quiet and subtle, but you could hear the defeat in his voice.
Keith could only imagine what pain Shiro was going through.
I get up and go to him and put my arm on his shoulder. I'm not that great with comforting others but I think I'm doing okay.

"That doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that you are alive. Adam will be happy to see you again. When we get home, he will be the first person we see. Okay?"

Just then the Lion Radios picked up again. I give Shiro's shoulder an awkward pat and go back to the pilot seat.

Allura: "Hey everyone! Had a good rest?"

Lance: "Yeah."

Hunk: "Can we head back to Earth now?"

Coran: "Easy there. We still have a ways to go. If we stay at cruising speed we'll get to Earth in about fifteen Vargas."

Lance: "But what about if we travel at more than cruising speed?"

Pidge: "If my calculations are accurate, we'll be home in almost seven If we go at racing speed. And no, that is not an invitation for you guys to start racing!"

Lance and Hunk: "Fine!"

Keith: "We need to address another matter."

Lance: "What? Think I'm might beat you home?"

Keith: "No. We may be going home but where is that? I mean, we live in different parts of the world. Lance lives in Cuba. Pidge, you live in California. Hunk, you live in Hawaii. Coran, Allura, who knows where you two are going and Shiro...well...he has someone he needs to see at the Garrison."

Allura: "And who might that be?"

Coran: "Shiro, I thought you were from Japan."

Keith: "Um, uh, I-"

Shiro: "Adam. I need to see Adam as soon as I can. If things haven't changed, he will still be at the Garrison Dormitories."

Allura: "How about this. We all get to go home and see our families for a week. Then we report to the Garrison."

Shiro, Keith, Pidge, Lance, Hunk: sounds like a plan.

It's funny that I'm agreeing to this.