There has to be an After for Us ~ (shadam / klance)

Chapter 3 - A Warning

"Why are we outside?" asked Hunk. "I thought séances were supposed to happen inside, like in a bedroom or a living room or a basement or an abandoned building or a cemetery? Wait, that last one is outside, but I don't like that one. So is this a good spot for this?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," said Allura. The Paladins kept using that word séance, which they'd explained meant spirit summoning. Really this was meant to be more of a spirit meeting on neutral ground, but it's not like there was a proper word for that even in Altean. "Shiro had the dreams in his bedroom and on one hand, it would make sense to use the space where the Passed," she used the Altean PC term for dead, "made contact, however, Adam and Shiro had no connection to that particular room in his living days as the dorms we're in are newly built. So I decided it was best to do this outside near the Lions."

The Lions sat in a circle around the group on the tarmac. Hunk was setting up the candles he'd brought in a circle and lighting them. Pidge was inside of the circle, drawing with a piece of chalk. The rest were looking on.

"When we've entered the astral plane before it's been inside the cockpits of our Lions," continued Allura.

"Haha cockpit," muttered Lance.

"Are you twelve?" asked Keith.

"When we merge our quintessence with the Lions," said Allura, "we're able to use them as a conduit to transport our spirits to the astral plane."

"Then shouldn't we be inside the Lions?" asked Keith.

"But there's no Lion for Shiro and he doesn't believe he can connect with the Black Lion anymore in order to use it to enter the astral plane," explained Allura. "However, we have managed to access our Lions powers from outside them before in ways we never before imagined. If we wish to carry Shiro with us as a passenger to the astral plane, I believe this is the best position."

"Alright, let's get this bibbidi bobbidi booing rolling," said Lance, going to sit down inside the circle of candles.

"Shiro?" asked Keith. Shiro had been oddly stoic. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to. We can go inside. Forget this night ever happened."

Shiro looked at Keith. Something about his wording seemed off and his concern for Keith was nagging at him. "Do you not want to?"

"I want what you want," said Keith, vaguely.

Shiro stepped into the circle. What's the worst that could happen? This didn't work and they all went to bed disappointed?

Shiro sat down and Keith sat next to him. He noticed Keith was wearing his red jacket again though it did look snug on him now. "Your jacket," commented Shiro.

"It's cold," said Keith, simply, knowing full well that's not what Shiro was surprised about.

Lance slid over so he was sitting right next to Keith. "I'm the jacket hero," said Lance, giving Shiro a nod. Shiro looked at Lance with his usual confused look.

Allura sat down beside Shiro as Pidge and Hunk took spots near her to complete the circle.

"Um, Pidge," said Allura, looking down at the pavement. "What's this you've drawn here?"

"A pentagram," said Pidge with a wicked smile. "I figured 'cause it's all hocus pocus anyway, we might as well go full on The Craft."

"I don't know what that means, but please erase it," said Allura.

Pidge groaned.

"Nice try, Sabrina," said Lance.

Pidge smudged out the pentagram with her sleeve then slumped back down beside Lance. "Alright. Let's get this the quiznak over with."