Keith's pov

I didn't go back to Shiro's house for a week after that. I slept outside in parks and sometimes I would find a treehouse in someone's yard to sleep in. I got food from Pidge. He would leave food outside on the balcony and when it was night time I would come and get it. We would talk a bit and then I would leave again. I didn't mind the cold breeze or the hard surfaces I slept on. I just had to clear my head for a few days. Shiro lying to me was like him beating me but worse. It hurt me so much more than physical pain. It left me heartbroken and numb, each day getting harder and harder.

"I-I don't know w-want to do, Pidge... Shiro is my best friend but... he-he lied to me. He p-promised he wouldn't lie." I said softly as we sat on Pidge's bed. I was curled up in a ball, staring at the wall as tears formed in my eyes.

"Maybe that was the only way to protect you, Keith. You've told me how much Shiro cares about you." Pidge said, resting his hand on my shoulder.

"H-how?" I sniffled, curling into a tighter ball.

"He decorated your room for you, he feeds you, keeps you safe, he hid you from the cops, he did background checks for the people you would stay with, you looks after you. He's like a father figure, he does all of that stuff because he cares."

I sniffled and nodded, wiping my tears away with my sleeve before shakily sitting up. More tears coming as I began to sob, hiding my face in my hands. Arms wrapping around me making me flinch and look up in confusion. Pidge smiling at me reassuringly making me relax and press my face into his chest. Letting all of my emotions out as I cried, clinging to him tightly.
~~~~~

"Keith, hey, you gotta wake up, Allura is on a cleaning spree, she'll be in here soon." Pidge said, shaking me gently. I blinked rapidly, sitting up and looked around in confusion.

"What the-"

"You uh... cried yourself to sleep last night in my arms, I didn't want to wake you so I left you in my bed and slept in the other one. But you really have to go before she gets in here." Pidge said, looking at the door nervously.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled as I stood up and walked over to the window, looking down at me feet.

"Keith?"

"Y-yeah?" I said, turning around and had to step back when Pidge hugging me tightly, I was taken aback by this but hugged him back anyways.

"Come and see me again, okay?" He said softly.

"I will, I hope your brother can get those papers signed." I said, smiling when he nodded and smiled back at me.

"Me too, now go before you get caught." He said before I opened the window and climbed out, carefully climbing down the side of the house, landing on my feet before running to the fence and jumped over it.

I ran until I reached my safe place, slowing down as I nearer the path. Smiling slightly I walked down the path, coming to the pond soon after and sitting in my favorite spot, a small hollow where I could see all around the pond. It had a few berry bushes next to it and a spot with a small flower patch that was out of bloom because it was getting cold.

Sitting down I took in my surroundings, laying on my back as I stared up at the sky. The birds chirping softly around me and as time went on I began to think back to what Pidge said. He is right, Shiro cares about me. Well... at least I hope he does. He has taken care of me for this long, that's got to mean something. I felt hesitant about going back to his home. What would be said? Should I tell him I'm sorry for going through this stuff and leaving? What if he's mad at me? What if he kicks me out?

My anxiety spiked as I kept thinking the worst possible scenario. The outcomes to very one of my thoughts ended terrible and just made me more upset. I couldn't just ignore all of this forever. I need a shower and clean cloths, well, thanks to Pidge I had clean boxers. I wanted to sleep in a warm bed and eat breakfast with Shiro in the morning and just relax and read. But the fear that Shiro hating me kept me from doing any of that.

Sighing to myself I sat up, pulling my knees up to my chest and rested my head on them as I stared at the pond. My heart aching for everything to go back to the way it was before I walked into that stupid office. That little voice in the back of my head reminding me that Shiro lied to me. That voice kept repeating itself over and over again making me frustrated now.

"Stupid Blue Lion." I grumbled, wishing that the guy would just get captured already so I wouldn't have to worry about Shiro getting killed.

"Keith?!" I heard someone calling my name from a distance. I froze up before ducking in the small hollow I sat in, listening closely. "Keith!? Please!"

It was Shiro!

I watched as Shiro made it down the path and stood near the pond looking around. From my spot I could see him but he couldn't see me. He kept calling my name, looking around the pond but came up empty handed when he didn't find me.

"Please, Keith, I'm sorry, I'm so worried about you. I've been searching for you ever single day. I know I didn't tell you the truth but it was so you wouldn't worry. I shouldn't have lied to you though and I'm so sorry I did. If I could I would take it all back." He said, his voice sounding broken and hurt.

I bit my lip, watching him as he looked around a bit more before sighing sadly and turned to leave. I climbed out of the hollow and silently followed him down the path until we were at his car. He finally decided to look back, his eyes widening when he saw me.

"Keith!" He said, hurrying over to me, hugging me so tightly I could barely breath and I wasn't touching the ground anymore. I hugged him back, pressing my face against his chest. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me."

"It's okay." I mumbled against his chest, clinging to him tightly. Our hug lasting awhile before Shiro pulled away

"Do you wanna come home?" He asked softly. My heart squeezing in my chest when he said that. I nodded, getting into his car and he did the same, driving to his house. "How about you go take a shower and I'll make us lunch?"

I nodded again, walking up the stairs and into my room. I got clean cloths before heading into the bathroom, getting into the shower happily. I washed myself with my favorite soap, it smelled like cupcakes and vanilla, the pink and blue soap was also a gift from Shiro, all the stuff I have here is from him. Everything besides what's in my backpack.

Once I was washed I dried myself off and got dressed, towel drying my hair a bit before brushing my teeth and looking at myself in the mirror. I frowned at what I saw but ignored that sinking feeling in my stomach and trotted down the stairs, smelling something that smelled amazing and had my stomach rumbling loudly.

"There you are, do you wanna help me cut some vegetables up?" He asked as he stopped using the mixer. I nodded, seeing the cutting board all set up and began to cut some green peppers. We cooked in silence, once I was done with that I sat down at the table and watched Shiro do the rest. I felt awkward being here again, trying to find a way around how I felt I opened my mouth to speak but quickly closed it. "So... where did you stay?" I knew that was coming.

"Uh... some tree houses, outside..." I shrugged, looking at my hands rested on my lap.

"What did you eat?"

"A kid at the group home... he helped me a bit." I shrugged again.

"Is he a friend of yours?" Shiro stopped what he was doing and looked up at me.

"Y-yeah... Pidge is nice and uh... he helped me the other night a lot." I mumbled, shrinking under his gaze.

"I'd like to meet him, he sounds like a good kid." Shiro said with a smile.

Shiro set a pizza down on the table 30 minuets after that, both of us digging in. My stomach appreciating the food a lot and so did I. It tasted so good and from the lack of feed these past few days I felt like this was the first meal I've had in forever.

"Is it good?"

"Yeah, it's really good." I said around my mouthful, taking another big bite.

"For how small you are you sure can eat." Shiro chuckled and I smiled at that, liking how things felt okay again. The little voice in the back of my head was silenced for now as we just enjoyed the meal and each other's company. "You'll make yourself sick if you keep eating like that."

"'M fine." I said, stuffing more pizza into my mouth.

"You gotta start eating more, Keith, I know you don't eat much but please as least try to eat two meals a day." Here is fatherly Shiro. "You're practically skin and bones. And, Keith?"

"Yeah?"

"I promise you, I'll never lie to you again, okay? I'll do anything to make it up to you as well. I was so afraid you'd never come back I got some of the squads at the base to go out and look for you. I took the next few days off too, I called when you were in the shower. I'll make it up to you." Shiro said, smiling at me warmly. I smiled back, feeling my heart squeeze again. This whole week has been so emotional for me it has worn me out.

"C-can we maybe just stay in a-and just hang out?" I asked softly.

"If that's what you want than of course."

I smiled even wider, going back to eating my last slice before pushing my plate away.
~~~~~

"Shiro, you don't have to tuck me in, I'm not a baby." I giggled as he tucked me into bed

"But being all tucked in and cozy will help you sleep." He chuckled, ruffling my hair. "You know I care about you a lot, Keith, you're like a brother to me."

"I know... I care about you too." I said, watching as he stood and stretched.

"Tomorrow will be fun, goodnight, Keith."

"Night." I said, watching him turn the lights off and shut the door. The nightlight instantly turning on when it was dark. Sighing I closed my eyes and stopped myself from thinking about anything at the moment. I just need to sleep and regain my energy. This whole week has worn me out, emotionally and physically.