it's been so long between the words we spoke {OPEN}

[shiro2hero]

Who: Shiro or Shadowmaru & YOU
Where: Various
When: During the Basculegion Swarm
Summary: Open log for Shiro and Shadowmaru's encounters with the Ghost Generating Fish
Rating: PG13 - will update if necessary


Log:

> SHIRO'S THREAD

> SHADOWMARU'S THREAD

If you'd like a custom starter, let me know! PM or redfirelight

Comments

[shiro2hero]

Yes, sir. Old habits.

[Plus, you know, sign of respect. And this man definitely deserves said respect, all things deeply considered.]

I'm glad to meet you - though I really wish it were in different circumstances.

[For Allura's sake - though that goes unsaid.]

[heartofalioness]

[He knows, and nods.] As do I.

[Only slightly better than the corrupted AI, but they should be meeting without ten thousand years between them and a war he failed to prevent thrust on their shoulders. On his daughter's shoulders, long before she was ready.]

Father...

[shiro2hero]

[Whatever else he wanted to say here, Shiro cuts it off. Looking to Allura instead. His hand rests on her shoulder.]

Do you want some time with him? One on one?

[He'll leave, if she does. Give them space, time. Do whatever he can do.]

[heartofalioness]

No, it's... it's fine, Shiro.

[Not just because she trusts him, but because she really doesn't want to leave Shiro alone again in case he gets haunted again. And... well, she got plenty of time alone with her father's AI, and now she kind of regrets that none of the others got to know him. Sharing him won't hurt not this time.]

[shiro2hero]

All right.

[His hand stays on her shoulder, and he stays at her side. He's here, he's not going anywhere while she might need someone. There's nowhere else he'd go. Or needs to be. Or wants to be.]

I'm with you.

[heartofalioness]

[A soft smile.]

You always are. [She turns to Alfor.] Shiro and Keith have both been wonderful Black Paladins. They've done much to honor Voltron's legacy. And Shiro has always been a steady friend.

[shiro2hero]

And it's an honor to be.

[Completely serious. Finding her, finding the cause, it had given him a new purpose, honestly. And for that, he won't ever be able to thank her.]

We're proud to be chosen to fly the Lions. For as long as they'll have us.

[heartofalioness]

And I am glad worthy Paladins found their way to them. You and my daughter both chose wisely.

[Ah... she often downplays it, but... she did sense which human would best suit which Lion to start, right?]

Thank you, Father. I... I wish you had been there to see it.

[Alfor's face falls a little.]

As do I, Allura. As do I...

[shiro2hero]

We couldn't have even started without her. If it wasn't for Allura, we'd be lost in every way possible.

[Sorry, sir. He's still going to praise Allura's involvement until he's blue in the face. It's just how he sees it.]

[How he'll probably always see it.]

Maybe there's some world where you did. Some other universe. [He gives her shoulder a little squeeze in support when he suggests it. Since, you know, they're in a whole new universe right now.]

[heartofalioness]

Maybe... [She leans into Shiro's squeeze.] From how I remember it, however, you were the ones who helped me first.

[It's true. Without them, she and Coran would have stayed asleep, almost literally dead to the universe as Zarkon's empire kept expanding its reach. The humans woke them up, and even though she had no choice, though they had little enough... they chose to stay and keep fighting instead of just running off. She owes them far more than they will ever owe her.]

[shiro2hero]

We're definitely never going to agree on that, are we?

[But there's no real argument in the tone. Just sort of a fond, weary acceptance. Frankly, he doesn't know if he can really accept how much of a role he'd played. His whole worldview, self view, everything, was little more than garbage at that point.]

[Easier to put someone important to you up on the proverbial pedestal, in that moment.]

[heartofalioness]

[A soft chuckle.]

Agree to disagree, at least.