because he's preparing Keith, even when Keith isn't aware of it. After the attack by Haggar, Shiro's hit the realization. He might not always be around. And if he's not - he meant it. He can't think of anyone better to lead them, to pull them together, to push them and shelter them, to bring out the best in them and to need them, the way Keith will. And that starts with Keith thinking of them as 'his' team even if he doesn't think of it as his. It's not fair. Keith has too much on his shoulders already but -
if Shiro falls he needs to know that it won't destroy the team. That he'll have put everything in place that he possibly can to give them what they need to keep going, to win. Without him if necessary. And Keith is his ace in the hole for that, because he thinks Keith understands both the large picture, and his teammates, better than he gives himself credit for or lets himself experience.
It's still not fair. It's not fair to Keith at all. Shiro gives the arm around the younger paladin's shoulders a gentle squeeze and hums low in his chest where he knows Keith will feel it.]
Its possible. Parents always tell themselves they'll admit to things 'when he's older'. It's not the kind of thing you can just tell a small child and not expect them to repeat innocently and for all the people that would have passed it off as fantasy - there might have been people listening that wouldn't have. There's no way of knowing. I'd like to think he meant to, one day. [Shiro pauses, debates. And then continues:] It would have been an interesting story. Your mother must have been impressive when you consider all she would have had to do as a Galra on Earth to escape detection and fall in love.
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because he's preparing Keith, even when Keith isn't aware of it. After the attack by Haggar, Shiro's hit the realization. He might not always be around. And if he's not - he meant it. He can't think of anyone better to lead them, to pull them together, to push them and shelter them, to bring out the best in them and to need them, the way Keith will. And that starts with Keith thinking of them as 'his' team even if he doesn't think of it as his. It's not fair. Keith has too much on his shoulders already but -
if Shiro falls he needs to know that it won't destroy the team. That he'll have put everything in place that he possibly can to give them what they need to keep going, to win. Without him if necessary. And Keith is his ace in the hole for that, because he thinks Keith understands both the large picture, and his teammates, better than he gives himself credit for or lets himself experience.
It's still not fair. It's not fair to Keith at all. Shiro gives the arm around the younger paladin's shoulders a gentle squeeze and hums low in his chest where he knows Keith will feel it.]
Its possible. Parents always tell themselves they'll admit to things 'when he's older'. It's not the kind of thing you can just tell a small child and not expect them to repeat innocently and for all the people that would have passed it off as fantasy - there might have been people listening that wouldn't have. There's no way of knowing. I'd like to think he meant to, one day. [Shiro pauses, debates. And then continues:] It would have been an interesting story. Your mother must have been impressive when you consider all she would have had to do as a Galra on Earth to escape detection and fall in love.