Love is Weak

Chapter 23 - Code of Honour

Keith

When I got back to the Castle of Lions, I landed my pod in the bay and walked to the bridge.

"Guys, I—"

Everyone was glaring at me. Shiro was in full Paladin armour, and I knew he had reconnected.

I continued, looking away from their angry faces. This was on me. "I heard what happened. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."

"You keep saying you're sorry, but your actions say otherwise. Do you realise that your absence put the team in jeopardy?" Allura asked.

"And not just the team, but the refugees as well!" Lance agreed.

"Matter of fact, the entire quadrant was in danger," Pidge noted.

"This is not the way I wanted this to happen," I said. I felt guilt, horrible guilt. And shame. "But, if there's a bright side to any of this, it's that my absence allowed Shiro to reestablish his bond with the Black Lion."

Their faces no longer held anger. Mostly shock.

"He can finally be the leader I was unable to be. I'm not meant to pilot the Black Lion." I looked down. The floor was very interesting at the moment.

"Is that why you've been pulling away from us?" Allura asked.

"Yeah, I suppose that's part of it."

And not to mention that Lillian's at the Blades, and the Marmoran's are the only connection I have to my mother.

"Part of it?" Hunk asked. "What's the other part?"

Why does anyone even care?

"The Blades have been making real headway tracking the source of this new quintessence," I said. Most of it had been done while Lillian was recovering.

"They've been able to piece together a large network of hidden supply lines that have been secretly transporting it for who knows how long. And there's good reason to believe it could lead us directly to Lotor. A mission is being planned to infiltrate the supply line. It could take weeks, maybe months to pull off, but..if there is a chance...we have...I have to take it. I need to be on that mission," I said. All of it was true. These were feelings I was talking about. But this was Voltron. We were a family. That's why they cared.

"Shiro, you are the rightful leader of this team. And you proved it today by reconnecting with the Black Lion. It was always meant to be yours," I said.

Shiro moved toward me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Keith, if this is what you feel is right, then we won't try to stop you. But just know that we're here for you whenever you need us."

I smiled. "I know you are. And I can't tell you how much that means to me."

And then we hugged. But I was okay with it. Shiro was like my brother.

"I can't be left out of this!" Hunk said, crying, and then the rest of the team hugged me too.

I could only smile. I had never realised how much they had actually been there for me.

"We're really gonna miss you," Pidge said.

I grinned at her. I knew they would.

"Yeah, who am I gonna make fun of?" Lance asked.

Only him.

He's the only one that would think to care about our long-lasting rivalry.

"I know you'll make us proud," Allura smiled.