[ the words themselves paint a rather mediocre picture but in that tone, whatever small encouraging thought that could have been gleaned from keith’s loyalty to the cause is marred. what shiro is getting from this is keith saying, more or less, that he’s one-hundred percent all in for this war, because he has nothing else. well isn’t that a wonderful thought. shiro knows better than to argue keith on it though. career aspirations down the drain with the garrison fallout too severe to rectify and with no friends or family to speak of -- yeah, what does keith have waiting for him on earth? what does shiro? their situation is practically the same and while it doesn’t weigh too heavily on shiro when it’s applied to himself, realizing that keith can hyperfocus on the war due to severed ties to earth, pains him to no end.

the soft, protective parts of shiro want better for keith. he doesn’t want keith to become jaded -- moreso than he already is -- and become an instrument of war, just as shiro has. shiro needs him focused, of course, but keith needs to keep his humanity too, to have something waiting at the end of all of this, so he knows there’s more to him than just his identity in this fight.

but the more pragmatic side of him realizes that wanting better for keith is a luxury he can’t afford. can’t for any of the paladins, really, but keith is special in that he’s shiro’s second in command. they’re all going to come out of this damaged, if they come out of it at all. shiro only hopes that the pieces of themselves aren’t too jagged or too many for them to put back together. so while the next part is gentle, it lacks the sugar-coated sympathy that could give room to soothing that harsh perception keith has of his value to anyone on earth. ]

Whether we win or we lose, I’m sure he’d be proud of you anyway, for putting your all into this. [ he knows next to nothing about keith’s father. it’s not exactly a go-to topic for them. however, he doesn’t think that’s too presumptuous of him to say. it is remarkable what keith is doing, both in the skill required for it and in the things he’s giving up to do it. either way, shiro can at least confidently say -- ] I am.

[ proud. very proud. probably an age-old sentiment by now though, huh? disappointments come and go, sure, but overall, shiro’s never quite stopped being amazed with how keith’s grown from that disgruntled thing all those years ago. ]

You’re essential to the team, Keith, and not only because the Red Lion has deemed you its pilot. I don’t think we’d be nearly as successful against the Galra without you there. [ a beat and then he stresses: ] I wouldn’t be as successful without you there.

[ and he doesn’t just mean the planet with the purple reptile monsters; obviously, since he still hasn’t told keith about that. ]