I'm actually really exited to write this chapter

"Keith?" Shiro called Keith in the morning. Something came in between and he needs to be somewhere else, more specific at Sam's house, he wanted to talk, so Adam will be probably first at Shiro's than Shiro himself.

"Yes, hello? Are you nervous again? I told you not to worry" 

"No, I mean yes, but it's not why I called you. Sam called me and he needs me, so I wanted to asks if you can come over. I think Adam will be here before I'll be back. You can take Lance with you, and Kosmo too, but I think it could be too much for Adam" 

"Eh, okay, I guess. I'll ask Lance" 

"Thank you. The door key will be under the doormat" 

"Okay then. Wait, when do you want me to come there, now?"

"Yes, would be nice"

"Okay will be there then"

The two say their goodbyes and hang up.

It's no big deal for Keith. Since the whole space war thing was over, he didn't really know what to do. Of course he helped here and there, but the adrenaline wasn't there.

He puts on his shoes, takes his phone, leaves Kosmo there, like Shiro said it could be too much for Adam. He walks out and heads over to Lance's house. He doesn't want to be there alone, and it could get awkward between him and Adam. Lance knows how to talk, so that's a good thing for now.

It doesn't take long to Lance's house. Keith still was kind of nervous, for some reason. His hands are sweaty, his heart beats a little bit faster than normal, and it feels like his stomach is doing back-flips.  

He hesitates to ring the doorbell, like said, he was feeling strange,  nervous, scared? He doesn't know.

After maybe two minutes just standing in front of Lance's family house, he rings the doorbell. Someone almost immediately  opens the door.

"You are Keith, right?" says the little one

"Yeah. You are Nadia right?" She nods "Can you get Lance for me?" she nods again and runs off. Then another kid walks to the door, Silvio.

"Hello Keith" he says

"Hi Silvio" Keith smiles at him, awkwardly

"You remember me?" 

"Of course I do" Keith kneels down "You and Nadia have been playing with my hair at the dinner where Lance brought me" 

Silvio smiles "Yeah I remember that, your hair is really soft. Can I touch it again?" 

"Eh y-yeah sure" he says, awkwardly again. He turn around a bit so that Silvio could reach his hair.

"Keith! Your hair is super super soft. Softer than Rachel's, and she has super long hair" he says really exited 

"Well thank you" Keith turns around to him again "You need to tell Lance, he is always complaining about my hair"

Silvio gasps "Whaaaat. Nadia and I will fight him" he crosses his arms. They both stay silent for a second then burst out in laughter

"I got Lance!" Silvio opens the door fully and they both look back. Nadia is dragging Lance by his arm "I got Lance!" she says again

"Hey mullet" Nadia lets go of his arm and stands by his and Silvio's side "What are you doing here. No one died right. Kosmo is okay, right. If not I will die with him" he says jokingly

"No, no, everybody is alright. I wanted to ask if you wanted to go with me to Shiro's. Adam needs to come to his house today, but Shiro got a call and needed to leave" 

"Is Shiro okay that I will be there?" 

Keith nods "Yeah, he said I could bring Kosmo too, but it will be probably too much at once for Adam"

"Yeah I understand. Wait let me grab my phone. Will be back in a minute" Lance leaves Keith alone with Nadia and Silvio

"Is Lance your boyfriend?" Nadia asks 

Keith flushes red and scratches his neck "W-what no. We are just friends" 

Nadia crosses her arms "But Mama said if someone looks like that at another person, they love each other" 

Keith chokes on air 

"Yeah, Mama told me too" Silvio says

These kids know some stuff. But Keith doesn't love Lance, does he now. No that's, no, no. He and Lance are just friends, no strings attached. 

They don't even know each other for that long. Okay that was a lie, they know each other pretty long and good.

Lance is a nice guy, no one can argue with that, and Keith loves his company, maybe a little too much, but t's not a bad thing.

Lance comes back "What did they tell you? You look really red" he looks down at the two "What kind of nonsense did you tell him" he says, jokingly again "Don't mind them" he says to Keith again "Mama I'm out with Keith" he shouts 

"Have fun" she shouts back

Lance walks out and closes the door "Shall we" Keith nods and they start walking to Shiro's.

"So who is this Adam guy?"

"Remember Adam W. from the Garrison?"

"NO WAY that guy?" 

Keith nods "Yeah. Shiro had a past with him. Adam got in an accident in one of the fights with the Galra. He was in the hospital, Garrison, and now they need more space, so they search for people closest to the injured, so they can stay at their place" 

"Understandable"

"Yeah. So how is your family?"

Lance smiles. The thought of his family always gets him to smile "They are alright. after that dinner we had a while ago, with you, Nadia and Silvio couldn't stop talking about you. Mostly it was 'Keith's hair' this and 'Keith's hair' that. It was really funny" that Veronica teased him about liking Keith, he doesn't need to know that part

"Yeah. Silvio asked if he could touch my hair again. At least someone likes my hair" 

Lance crosses his arms "Hey! I never said I didn't like it!" 

"Of course you did. You always complained" Keith shakes his head 

"Maybe I had a reason to complain?!" he looks away from Keith

"Oh really? And what reason was it. This hair is on my head, so I don't know why you would need to complain about it" Keith teases

Lance turns so he's  facing Keith again "Okay I will be honest here with you. I never saw someone looking good with a mullet and you are completely killing it" his cheeks turn a little bit red

"So what you are saying is-"

"Yes you look really hot with your hair" 

Silence. Both of them as red as the red lion.

"Thanks I guess" Keith touches his hair 

"This is so embarrassing" Lance hides his face in his hands

"It indeed is, a little. also watch out for Nadia and Silvio, Silvio said that they will fight you for not liking my hair" Keith laughs

"And you didn't think of stopping them?" he puts his hand on his chest, where his heart is placed "Keith, I'm hurt" he says dramatically 

"Yeah, no perish" Keith laughs "We are here" 

They stop n front of the door. Keith takes the house key out of under the doormat and opens the door.

"Key under doormat, noted. Now I can break in whenever I want" 

"Haha very funny, Lance" Keith rolls his eyes "Do you want something to drink?"

"Coffee?" Keith nods and walks off in the kitchen.

Lance looks around the house. It's really big, the house. And Shiro lives here alone, well not anymore. Even Lance and his family live in a smaller house, not that he is complaining. But doesn't it get boring at times? Okay they aren't that long here again, but still.

Lance sits down on the couch and looks around and sees a picture, of younger Shiro and small Keith, on the coffee table. He picks it up and stares at it, more at Keith.

They both seem happy on this picture, they both for sure changed. He kind of wants to see Keith this happy again.

Of course Keith is happy. He found his mother, has new friends, and they saved the universe, still he seems a little bit tired? Is that how you can describe it? 

Keith comes back with two mugs of coffee and sits down beside Lance. "That was when I only got into the Garrison and Shiro took me in" he says

"You are so small" 

"Aah that again. I'm now taller than you, so shut up" 

"You cheated!"

"How can you even cheat at that?"

"You spend two years on this strange space thing with your mother and Kosmo. No wonder you got taller" Keith rolls his eyes "And look at the picture. Were you born with a mullet?" 

Keith crosses his arms and raises a brow "I thought you like my hair" 

"Shut up, mullet man" they both laugh.

Lance puts the picture down again, picks up his mug and takes a sip "Did Shiro say when he will be back?" 

Keith shakes his head "But I think he will be here in the evening. You can go whenever you want, I'm not holding you here" 

"No, no, I enjoy spending time with you" 

Keith's cheeks turn a light pink "A-ah thanks I guess" he scratches his neck "I do too, like to spend time with you" 

Awkward silence. Both not knowing what to say, but both really happy that the other likes to spend time with them.

"You know" Lance starts "You really cheered me up, that one time on the Black Lion"

"What do you mean?"

"You were there when I needed someone to talk you, and you kind of helped me with figuring our my feelings"

Keith's eyes widen a little "Woah, I did?" he smiles, Lance nods "And? do you figured out if you have feelings for someone else. I know it's personal and you don't need to answer" 

"No, it's alright" should he tell Keith? t could end with more confusion, or rejection. He doesn't know himself if he really has feelings for him, but he knows that there is something.

"Well it's kinda complicated-" 

The doorbell rings and they both look in the direction of the door "You can tell me later" Keith says and then stands up.

He opens the door ans sees two people, Adam and a doctor.

"Hello, is Mr. Shirogane home?" she asks

"He got a call from Commander Holt. He will be home later. I'm Keith, he asked me to be here while he is gone"

"Keith Kogane, like the Paladin?" 

Keith nods "Yeah"

She looks a little bit confused, and maybe worried. She looks at Adam "Is this okay if I leave you with him?" Adam nods "Okay good. Keith" she takes out a small folder and opens it "Sign here please" Keith does so and gives her the pen back "Thank you" She takes out another folder and gives it Keith "Here is all the information Shirogane will need" Keith nods and looks up at her "Well, I will be off" she waves goodbye and leaves.

Keith looks at Adam up and down. He definitely looks exhausted and sad. He is wearing pretty much normal clothes, sweatpants, a withe shirt, and his glasses. Pretty normal if not his legs, well more leg. One is, eh, not there. 

His left leg is, yeah eh, not there. Amputated probably. He's holding crutches.

Keith looks up at Adam "Uh sorry,  I didn't mean to stare, Adam" 

Adam smiles lightly at him "It's alright, Keith. So, can I come in?"

"Yeah, sorry. Come in" he opens the door and steps aside "Lance is also here. He is in the living room" 

They both walk in the living room and Adam sits down.

"Do you want something to drink?" Keith asks

"Coffee?"

Keith nods and walks again in the kitchen.

Lance and Adam sit there in silence. Not really knowing what to say. Lance is nervous that is for sure. Adam was someone cool in Lance's eyes, so no wonder. And on top of that, now he sits alone with him in one room.

"You are Lance right?" Adam leans back

"Y-yeah. You know me?" Lance raise a brow

"I remember you from the Garrison, you were in one of my classes. And Keith couldn't shut up about you back then"

Adam smiles at the thought of the past. When he would stay at Shiro's, Keith would come back from the Garrison, or just wherever he was, and ramble about Lance. Lance this and Lance that. It was somewhat funny.

Adam was kind of sad that Shiro wasn't here. He knows that he will be later here, but he waited so long for him. Since he left for the Kerberos mission, to be specific. Man Adam cried a lot when Shiro left, and then cried more and more when they told him that Shiro is missing. 

He never really believed when people told him that Shiro died. He couldn't believe it and he didn't want to, obviously. And now, afterwards, he was right, Shiro isn't dead.

He never stopped loving him. He was hurt, felt horrible, but his love for Shiro never died. He regrets all the words he aid to him back them. That he shouldn't expect him to be there when he comes back. Breaking up with him. He really regrets it. He just didn't want to lose him.

Well, now he is back, and everything should be alright.

Adam is worried that Shiro will tell him to forget what they had. The thought of that terrifies him.

"Keith talked about me?" 

Adam nods and smiles "A lot" 

Keith comes back with coffee and gives it Adam "What are you talking about?" he sits down beside Lance

"Oh, just how you've been talking about Lance when you were still a kid"

"Keith I'm honored" Lance says.

They all laugh and continue to talk.

Around eight in the evening they hear the door opening "Keith, I'm back" Shiro takes off his jacket and walks in the living room where Lance, Keith, and Adam sat.

Shiro stops walking and looks at Adam, Adam looks back.

"Eh, Lance and I will go then, right" he looks at Lance

"Oh, oh, yeah, we will go now" 

They both stand up and leave "Wanna come to mine? Mama said she will make rice and pork"

Keith smiles "Sure" and they walk to Lance's house.

"Hi Adam" Shiro is still standing in the middle of the living room

"Takashi, sit down. This is your house after all" Adam sighs 

Shiro sits down on the couch, not directly next to Adam, there is still space between them.

Adam breaks the silence "Takashi, I don't want this to be awkward. Listen, I'm sorry for all the stuff I said and I really missed you. I was scared to lose you and didn't know how to handle the situation. I was scared all the time. I just- I don't know- I was broken, terrified, sad, angry. Now I'm here and don't even know how to act"

"I'm sorry I left you"

Adam shakes his head "Maybe if you, Sam, and Matt didn't go, we'd never find out bout the Galra people and we all would be dead by now" 

"I understand. But I just left. You were alone, and didn't know how to handle this. I was a coward and acted like your feelings weren't my problem. I'm sorry" 

They are silent again. This is not the best situation they were in. The mood is down, and Adam doesn't like t at all.

"So" Adams starts "I'm really shocked. You only have one arm left" he smiles

Shiro looks up and at Adam, he smiles too "Well you too lost your leg, you are no one to talk. And also I have something that replaces my arm. I'm automatically cooler than you with this" 

"Oh really, I have more scars than you, and that makes me cooler than you" they both laugh "I really missed you, Takashi" 

"I missed you too. I was scared you want to forget, well" 

"What we had?" Adam finishes his sentence, Shiro nods. "No, I don't want to forget. These where the best days that I had, but I just can't continue like nothing happened either" he explains

"I understand"

"But that doesn't mean I'm not willing to try someday. Just not now" 

Shiro nods. It's practically a second chance, right? Well then he will try not to fuck this up

"Okay now. Takashi, tell me about your short trip to space" Adam says, sarcastically

"Let's start with, oh yeah I know" Shiro smiles "I died in space" 

"TAKASHI!" 

"No, no, it's true" and Shiro starts to explain. How he got captured by the Galra, how he got the scar on his nose-bridge, how Keith, Lance, Pidge, and Hunk found him and rescued him. How they find the blue lion, the Alteans, and afterwards the other lions. Pretty much everything that happened, even the whole 'Space dad' thing, that's just hilarious.

When Shiro told him everything, it was already pretty late.

"You can sleep on my bed, I'll take the couch" Shiro says

"Takashi, no. I will sleep here" 

"No, I insist" 

Adam knows that he can't argue with him "Okay, alright. Do you have clothes I can change into?" Shiro nods and he gives Adam everything he will need. Then they both get ready to sleep.

This was a good day. The finally saw each other again. They kind of thought it would be different. Like int hose romantic, dramatic movies. But it was, well, different. But they are still happy.

They know the other is okay, and they don't need to worry. And they both will for sure try to get closer again. It's one of the things they really want.

In the past they were so happy together, then the whole Kerberos mission thing came in the way and everything changed. But that doesn't mean that they ca't fix the relation between them. 

After all they still love each other.