Shiro wakes on chilly Tuesday morning with the sudden, overwhelming need to talk to Keith.

His chest is tight with the lingering desperation from a dream that steadily slips away.

He reaches for his pad, dialing Keith's line from memory alone.

Krolia answers instead, 'Good morning, Shiro.'

Shiro's fingers tighten on the pad, 'Is Keith there?'

'I believe he's indisposed this morning.' She tilts her head, 'Are you alright?'

No. No he is NOT alright.

'I just - need to talk to him.' Shiro clears his throat, 'Sorry to wake you, ma'am.'

'Nonsense.' Her features soften, 'You're ahead of schedule.'

The doorbell buzzes.

'Good luck.' Krolia ends the call.

Shiro yanks on pants as the bell buzzes again. He stumbles through his garrison issued apartment, hope swirling in his chest as he wrenches the door open.

It's not Keith, like he was hoping, but a delivery man with a small, unassuming brown box, 'Delivery for Takashi Shirogane?'

Shiro clears his throat, 'That's me.'

'Package for you.' The box hovers between them.

Shiro takes it, 'From?'

'Not from earth.' The guy shrugs, 'Garrison mail said to deliver it today at this time exactly.'

'Thanks.' Shiro retreats back into his apartment.

The box is feather light in his hands, shut with simple clear tape and simple, 'Shiro' written in Keith's gentle hand writing.

Shiro tugs the tape away and parts the flaps.

Revealing a pair of faded and frayed fingerless black gloves.

Shiro drags the tips of his fingers over the old leather, worn often and eagerly every day since Keith turned 16.

Too small for his hands now, Shiro knows.

Shiro catches himself smiling. A soft, wistful feeling catches in his chest at the memory of Keith receiving the gift.

The sun had been low over the desert, wind chilly, dunes kicking up sand.

Shiro inhales sharply, squeezing the glove in his fist.

He knows where to go.

The tiny cottage is still standing.

It smells of mold and dust, makshift furniture dirty from years of disuse and surge of the elements.

The wall of Keith's discoverys are still there, faded with age, but still legible.

But there's a new part drawn in the center of the wall.

A pyramid of the voltron lions, outline in their colors, a messy red circle drawn around the green lion.

Shiro grins, twists around, and heads back to the garrison.

Shiro is half worried it's too early for anyone to be milling about the R & D division.

There's a single light on down the hall. A plaque on the door reading 'K. Holt'.

Shiro knocks once, then opens the door.

Pidge is in their chair, hair tied up, messy from sleep, still in their pajamas.

They're wearing a tired, knowing smile and twirling a tiny balmeran crystal on a chain around their finger.

'Took you long enough.' They toss the crystal at him.

Shiro catches it with his flesh hand, staring down at it.

He knows what it goes to.

'I'm not -.'

'The first set of coordinates are already set.' Pidge says, 'Good luck.'

Shiro sighs, 'What's going on Pidge?'

'I can't really tell you.' Pidge scrunches up their nose, 'Time space continuum and all that.'

Shiro frowns, 'I haven't flown in years.'

'So? It'll be like riding a bike!' Pidge grins.

'A bike. In space.'

'That's the spirit!'

The ship itself is fit for minimal crew, but can be flown by one.

There are rations, a space suit fit for him, and a duffle bag of his own clothes already waiting.

Shiro slips the crystal into the designed slot.

The ship thrums to life around him. It burns, bright and spearing Shiro's soul in a way that reminds him of bonding with Black - with Atlas -

Something soothes the edge of his consciousness, gentle fingers, a warm sunset.

'You may call me Pathfinder.' The ship sings.

She takes him to the Arusian planet.

Where they first discovered the castle of lions.

The Arusian's greet him with a feast, with a dance, with laughter and familiar memories.

They present him with a gift of grey flowers braided in a loop three times.

Shiro returns to Pathfinder with the gift, heart light for the first time in years.

'Take me to the main Blades base.'

Pathfinder trills and they're off again.

Kolivan still cuts an impressive figure even at his age.

Shiro shows him the braided flowers.

A fond, fleeting smile passes over his features before snuffing out with a gruff, 'Frivolous.'

Shiro dines with a new set of Blades that night.

He finds out they were all trained by Keith.

Kolivan pats him on the shoulder once before he leaves.

A bright red cube is placed in his palm.

'What is going on?' Shiro wonders.

'What is going on?' The cube echoes.

New Olkarion is breathtaking.

A brand new technological oasis made from bright green trees and pink pear blossoms imported from earth.

They check on Pathfinder. Engage him in conversation. Give him a place to rest and dream, the smell of dirt and greenery lulling him.

The Olkari who replaced Ryner as head of the clan clasps his hands between her own.

'You honor us with your visit.'

Shiro swallows, 'You honor me with your hospitality.'

Her smile softens as she tucks a hand into her robe and plucks out a single pink flower.

A juneberry.

Allura greets him with a bone crushing hug and nearly lifts him off of his feet.

'Welcome!' She gasps, 'It is so good to see you!'

Shiro laughs, 'It's been a while.'

'Indeed!' She loops her arm through his, 'A tour! This is your first visit to New Altea!'

The meet Romelle and Hunk, who are passing through the quadrant for the annual berry festival on Altea.

Coran is busy running the whole show, but he sends Shiro an exaggerated wink and a jolly, 'Took you long enough!'

'I'm still so confused.' Shiro groans as he sinks into a bench in the palace greenhouse.

Lance's head pops up over the top of a bright orange blossom the size of Shiro's altean fist, 'About?'

'What all of this is for.' Shiro mumbles.

'Are you having fun?' Allura is watering another plant.

Shiro blinks. Studies the two of them.

Allura in her gown, fresh from a meeting. Lance still wearing the ambassador uniform for the garrison.

He missed them. He missed -

'Yes.' Shiro sighs with a smile, 'A lot of fun.'

'Think of it a hunt.' Allura hums.

'A treasure hunt!' Lance spritzes the orange blossom.

'What's at the end?' Shiro asks.

Allura sends him a smile, 'Oh, I think you know that already, don't you?'

The worn leather gloves tucked inside his jacket pocket agree with her.

Shiro and Pathfinder burn through the stars.

The visit old friends. Make new friends. Hear stories. Help refugees.

Each place holds a new clue. Each stop unwinds the twisted knot Shiro never knew he was carrying.

It lasts longer than Shiro expected.

And while he's still unsure of what he'll actually find at the end - he soaks up the adventure.

The thrill of piloting. The vast unknown of the stars. New planets. New discovery.

All things he dreamed of and never thought he'd live to see.

But all journey's have a destination. An end.

When Krolia hands him a little yalmor figure carved from luxite and a slip of paper with a set of unknown numbers - he knows it's the last stop.

Pathfinder guides him through two wormhole jumps. Ever patient and always excited for new destinations.

She sets them on the planets surface.

Facing a cliff and a pair of setting double suns.

On the edge of the cliff is a familiar figure.

His hair is still long.

Shiro's feet crunch under the dirt and grass.

Still braided down the length of his back and standing out against the purple swirls of his blades uniform. Now decorated for Admiral, not merely a Blade any longer.

Shiro's chest hurts. His heart races.

The wind rushes around them, just a little cold, a little dry.

Keith turns when Shiro gets within a foot of where he sits.

The scar on his cheek stands out, eyes wrinkled with a smile, taking Shiro's breath away.

'You found me.'

Whatever was left of Shiro's stress, his worries, the things he couldn't quite let go of, melt away in an instant.

'How? Why?' Shiro croaks, taking a hesitant seat af Keith's side.

'I saw a lot in the quantum abyss. Some of it unclear. Most of it nonsense. But not you. Never you.'

'It sucked to wait for so long.' Keith's voice wavers, 'But I knew you needed time. That you'd find me when you were ready.' A grin now, 'And you always did love a challenge.'

Shiro laughs, helpless and wet with sudden tears.

He can feel Keith's eyes on him. Feel the strength of him as he waits for Shiro to pull himself back together.

'Why would you wait so long for me? Why didn't you give up?'

'We promised, didn't we?' Keith asks, voice soft, 'That we'd never give up on each other.'

He takes a breath, 'I love you, Shiro. I'd wait forever if I had to.'

Shiro drags him in for a hug. Awkward with the way they're sitting on the cliff.

Keith's happy sigh sounds like a thousand weights being lifted. A million dreams coming true.

Shiro kisses his temple, eyes closed, heart bursting.

And knows his next adventure starts now.

Fin