Guardian of Air (oc x Shiro)

Changing of the Guard

I smiled at the man sitting next to me. Shiro had his arm around my waist as I looked over to my sisters and parents who were sitting at the campfire. Amy was complaining to Janice about her marshmallow and I chuckled at the two year old.

"So were both leaving soon." Shiro spoke softly and I looked over to the male.
"Yeah, we are." I replied softly as I felt Shiro entwine our hands.
Shiro pulled us up and I trailed along behind him down to the dock, the stars shining high above us, and the moon casting its light over us. Shiro knelt down squeezing my hand as he dropped it.

"Iris Dallas, I love you more than anything. You've made these past couple years of my life the best, and I know you'll continue to do that for the rest of my life.
Will you do the honours of making the rest of my life better.
Iris will you marry me?" Shiro asked opening the ring box as he smiled at me. I smiled as I felt tears escape my eyes.
"Yes." I spoke in a feathery tone as Shiro slipped the ring on my finger and I pulled him up pressing my lips against his. Shiro kissed back his arms tightening around my waist and I wrapped my arms around his neck, Shiro rocking us back an forth.
We broke off a minute later and I looked up to Shiro rubbing my thumb over his cheek where one of my tears had fallen.
"I love you Irene."
"I love you too Takashi." Shiro smiled pressing his lips against mine and I kissed back closing my eyes. Shiro's hands tightened on my waist and I smiled into the kiss, the silver engagement ring and diamond sparkling in the moonlight.

"Keith I don't think he would be out here. We've been searching for quite some time now." I spoke to the red Paladin as the two of us scavenged through parts from the battle.
"There's nothing out here."
"I'm sorry you two." Coran replied as Keith sighed.
"I'm coming home." Keith replied as he turned around and started to head back, and I followed after.

We headed back to the castle and I changed out of my armour pulling on Shiro's sweater, accompanied by my other clothes.
It still smells like his cologne that he used, kind of fruity, a underlying citrus scent with the stronger smell of firewood. I held the sweater a bit tighter around me just needing something to hold onto for a second.

I headed to the lounge and flopped onto a couch as the others smiled looking in a much better state than me, save Keith who was sitting with his arms crossed and staring at the floor.
"They haven't figured out their flatbread situation yet, but what they do with those centipedes is just out of this world." Hunk spoke as I looked to Lance who had been running his gloved fingers through my hair.
"And they're totally ready to join the fight against the Galra." Lance smiled.
"That's good."
"We brought back a few of their leaders to join the coalition." Hunk spoke and I nodded.
"That's splendid, excellent work!" Allura smiled clasping her hands together.
"You know, I gotta say, this is what it's all about... freein' the people, lovin' the ladies, then bombin' down the road again looking for adventure, Voltron style."
"Which brings up a little issue. They all want to see Voltron, only we don't really have Voltron anymore." Hunk spoke eyebrows narrowing slightly.
"We don't have Shiro anymore, either. Everyone seems to have forgotten that."
"It may be difficult for us all to accept, but it is time to think about finding a new pilot for the Black LIon." Allura spoke and we all look over the others surprised and I fully knowing that it would probably come to this point.
"No! I'm gonna find him! Shiro is the one person who never gave up on me, I won't give up on him." Keith spoke before storming out, leaving the rest of us to process what had happened, and me to comprehend his words.
Like I didn't exist, like I'd let him down. Well I guess I had when I left to go on the Kerberos mission. Forget everything that me and Shiro had done with him.
Like I didn't exist, to him, just as Haggar had said I would.

We all left on our own accords, me and Pidge to go change seeing as we actually had to go do diplomatic things for once.
All of us sat to one side, Allura at the head of the table, while the aliens sat across from us, and Kolivan sitting across from Allura closest to me.
Allura does her formal chit chat before Hunk comes over with some food he's made for our guests.
And then Kolivan picked up the talking.

"The Blade of Marmora has gathered this intelligence. As you can see, the Galra Empire is still the most massive ruling force the universe has ever seen. The sheer size of it is almost incomprehensible. It seems like it could rule another 10,000 years." He spoke and I noticed a little man shaking in fear, as I stared at the hologram he was showing.
"however we are beginning to see increase in rebel activity throughout the Empire." He continued on as rebel locations began to light up.
"We have a strategy to bring these forces together, free more planets, grow our numbers and accumulate an army than can defeat the Galra in major battles-" Allura speaks as the hologram fades.
"but without your help it will impossible." She finished off.

"The forces will all fight behind Voltron, right?" A purple alien asked in a robotic voice and I looked over to Allura.
"Yes, where is Voltron?"
"Th-the people you see before you are in the Paladins of Voltron. Together, they pilot the mighty lions that form the great warrior." She spoke as I looked down to my knees where Sakura was giving a thumbs up.
"Excellent! Can they form Voltron now?" The puig man asked and me and Allura shared a concerned glance.
"Well..."
"We can't form Voltron okay?! We can fly the lions, but Voltron is not happening." Keith spoke in a voice that was close to a yell.
"What he means is that right now they can't do it but -" Allura spoke seeing as our words seemed to have very little effect.
"But nothng. Shiro is gone. He was the Black Lion. And until we find him, there is no Voltron." I bit my tongue back as I looked to the disheartened faces of the aliens.
"The Lions are still a substanial fighting forces and this castle is also a considerable weapon. The Blade of Marmora can lead you." Kolivan spoke.
"My people have been enslaved for centuries by soldiers who look exactly like you." The purple alien spoke with her robotic voice.
"Yes! Our people have heard the legend of Voltron, how he defeated Zarkon. That is what gave them hope. What are we suppose to tell them now?" The puig man asked looking to us as if we had the answer.
I almost jumped as Keith slammed his hands on the table getting to his feet.
"Tell them to stand up and fight for themselves! Voltron is gone!" And with that he left the door being my only signal he was gone, as it opened and closed.
"Pizza roll? Pig in a blanket?" Hunk chuckled weakly offering up a plate.

The six of us talked after the representatives left, I not being bothered to figure out how it went. And our first thought was we need Keith to talk our situation over, in the most calm way we could.

Of course he was standing by the black lion after we had all changed.
We all shared a look, towards Lance who took the hint and stepped up towards him.
"Hey man...listen. We all miss Shiro. I remember what a thrill it was just to meet him for the first time when the two of us carried him out of that Garrison hospital."
"I grew up with my dad and Matt telling me stories about him. He was a legend at our house."
"The guy taught me everything I know about being a pilot! Which isn't much. But that's more on me."
"He was one of the only people who cared for me, and I don't think I'd be here, or alive without him." My voice was quieter than the others as I held my engagement ring tighter in my clasped hands, refusing to take it off.

"You're not the only one hurting, man. We're all right there with you. But you know that he would be the first one to tell us that we have to move on." Lance assured as he gazed at Keith, who looked over with a stern gaze.
"Keith, I know exactly how you feel. But our mission is bigger than any one individual. Even those who are complete irreplaceable." Allura spoke.
"I know you're right. It's time to figure out how to reform Voltron."