Chapter Text
The first think that Keith was aware of was that he was choking.
Or at least it felt like he was choking-something was stuck in his throat. Sounds were coming in and out, but he couldn't focus on them. He just needed to breathe.
He sputtered and gagged as they pulled something out of his throat. They placed something over his face and he was able to breathe a little easier, though his throat hurt. He could feel someone holding his hand tightly. And...someone was crying? But he was too tired.
The next time he woke up, things were quieter. He could hear the beat of a heart monitor. His throat still hurt. His whole body felt heavy. He just laid there for a minute, trying to get his thoughts to work. Where was he? Why did he feel this way? He tried to remember.
Someone hand his hand again, rubbing it. He wanted to say something, to ask them what was happening, but he wasn't sure if he could. He tried to open his eyes. They felt as if they were glued shut. He moved his fingers.
"Keith?"
He knew that voice. It was his mother's. He tried to answer her, but all that came out was some sort of tired groan.
"Keith," she whispered, again, and he could feel her hand on his face. He tried to open his eyes again. It took every amount of effort he had in him, but he did it. Sort of. Everything was bright and fuzzy. "How do you turn the lights down?" his mother hissed, and there was some fumbling, and the lights dimmed a bit. He tried to look at her again. He blinked several times as she came into view. She was smiling, tears falling from her eyes.
"Hey," she whispered. "Welcome back."
And suddenly, Keith remembered.
The robeast.
The explosion.
Being stuck in some strange world of memories.
Shiro.
Was it all over? Had he really made it back?
"Mom?" Keith croaked, and his throat hurt, and his voice sounded awful.
"Shhhh," she said, brushing his hair back. "You don't have to talk. Just rest. Everything is going to be okay now."
Resting sounded nice. He closed his eyes.
Shiro woke up to the sun coming up through the window. He sat up groggily, and was startled to see Allura sitting there next to him, a small smile on her face.
"Sorry," she said apologetically. "Pidge said that you might wake up a little out of it, so I thought I would keep an eye on you."
He blinked, trying to will his brain to move. For a moment he completely forgot why he was in a hospital bed and not his own- and then he remembered Keith. Keith.
"Is-is he-?" Shiro stammered, trying to shake the sleep off. "Did it work?"
Allura's smile grew. "I think so."
"What-is he awake?"
"Not currently," she said. "A couple hours ago, they removed the tube from this throat. It was quite frightening, actually. You'd been a bit restless in your sleep, and then he began choking...." Allura shuddered. "I thought...but then the doctor said it was a good thing. Because it meant he was breathing on his own and fighting the machine. He woke up about an hour after that, but only for a few moments. The doctors are saying it's a miracle."
Shiro tried to process her words. "So...so....it worked? He- he'll be okay?"
She nodded. "I suppose it did work. That, or it was a crazy coincidence." She chuckled. "But I don't believe in coincidences. He'll need to spend some time recovering, and the doctors still need to run some more tests. But he recognized Krolia when he saw her. So I think...I think he's going to be okay."
Shiro breathed a sigh of relief. He was going to be okay. He'd woken up. Their plan had worked.
Shiro swung his legs out of bed and pulled Allura into a hug. He seemed to have startled her, but she relaxed and hugged him back. "Thank you for helping me," he whispered.
"It was nothing, really," she said, patting his back. "I think we all need to remind each other every once and a while of how much we mean to one another."
Shiro pulled away. "I'm going to go see him."
"You should," she said, wiping her eyes. "We all stayed with him throughout the night, so I think that it's time for us to get our rest."
"Yes, please do," Shiro said, getting to his feet. He could still feel the effects of the drugs, but the were fading. He knew he probably looked a mess, but he didn't want to wait to see Keith any longer. He opened the door to Keith's room. It was full of people. Hunk, Lance and Pidge were all huddled on the floor together, asleep on one another's shoulders. Coran was leaning against the wall, nodding off. Romelle sat on one chair, awake but looking very tired. And Krolia sat with Keith's hand in hers, a small smile on her face.
And there was Keith. He no longer had tubes down his throat, and it looked like he had a bit more color in his cheeks. He looked so much more alive than he had just hours ago.
"Shiro!" Romelle said brightly when she saw him, causing the others to perk up. Coran straightened up. Lance and Pidge both started awake, and Lance elbowed Hunk until he woke up as well with a big "Ow." Krolia looked around at him and smiled at him with so much love. She stood up and walked right up to him, pulling him into his arms.
"You saved him," she said, her voice shaking with her tears. "You brought him back."
"You did it, Shiro!" Lance said excitedly, and as soon as Krolia let him go, the Paladins were on him, hugging him tightly.
"It wasn't just me," he said, his heart warm. "It was all of us. We all saved him together."
After a few more rounds of hugs, tears and smiles, the Paladins and Alteans left, until it was just Krolia and Shiro left. Shiro took over Romelle's seat, scooting the chair in close and kissing Keith's forehead softly. It almost felt surreal. The last couple days had been the longest, most exhausting days of Shiro's life. From the moment he pulled Keith out of the Black Lion, to finding Keith in his dreams. Shiro realized how terrified he had been. He realized how close he had come to losing Keith.
"You love him," Krolia said, watching him, her small smile still there.
Shiro looked up at her, wiping his eyes. "Yes," he said, his heart fluttering.
Krolia reached over and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad. I couldn't ask for anyone better to love my son."
Her words meant so much to him. Shiro wasn't even sure how to tell her. But he could tell she knew. There was a knowing look in her eye. She stood up. "I'm going to go lay down for a little while. I'll be back. I trust he's in good hands with you."
"Of course," he said. "A-and thank you. For your help, and...for...everything."
"That's what mothers are for," she said softly, and with one last smile, she left the room, leaving Shiro and Keith alone.
The room was quiet, except for the familiar, comforting beat of the heart monitor. Shiro sat there silently, waiting. Patience yields focus.
He still wasn’t sure of exactly how he’d been able to find Keith- or how Keith had gotten there. And Shiro wasn’t sure what it would mean for Keith. Would Keith remember? Would Shiro alone carry the memories of what they went through? Some parts of him hoped that Keith didn’t remember. Because whatever Keith had experienced in that strange world had been enough for him to lose his hope. At the same time, Shiro hoped he did remember. Because the words that had been spoken to Keith from the people that he loved had been the truth, and he wanted Keith to know how much he was loved, and needed.
Their life had been anything but easy. On the contrary, the universe seemed keen on trying to rip them apart every chance it got. But if anything, it made Shiro love Keith even more. And Shiro was even more determined that they find their happy ending together. Because with everything that happened between the two of them, from being seperated, to journeying to the far corners of death and consciousness, Shiro wanted nothing more than to live the rest of his days in some sort of peace, with Keith by his side.
Hopefully, soon, the war would be over, and they could live a peaceful, simple life.
Shiro was startled out of his thoughts by a quiet, raspy, “Hey.” He jumped, realizing that Keith was awake, watching him.
Shiro smiled, tears of joy escaping his eyes. “Hey,” he replied, kissing the top of Keith’s hand.
“You found me,” Keith whispered, with a hint of a smile.
”Of course I did,” Shiro replied, stroking Keith’s hair. “ You...you remember, then?”
Keith gave a small nod, wincing slightly. “I...remember everything.”
Shiro sighed. “I wish I could have brought you back sooner.”
Keith smiled, closing his eyes for a moment. “ It’s okay,” he whispered. He looked at Shiro again. “I’m...I’m sorry. That I...I almost didn’t....”
”Hey.” Shiro shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. You made it back to us, and that’s what matters. Though I would be happier if I never had to face fear like that again. There’s nothing that scares me more than...the thought of losing you.”
”I feel the same,” Keith said with a sad smile. “That’s why we always save each other. I’ll save you again and again if I have to.”
”As many times as it takes,” Shiro whispered.
“As many times,” Keith agreed, his eyelids fluttering with fatigue.
Shiro leaned in and kissed him softly. “Sleep,” he said. “I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
”I love you,” Keith said, his eyes closing.
“I love you,” Shiro replied as Keith drifted off to sleep.
No matter what happened, they would always save one another.
That’s what it meant to love someone.