For the briefest moment, Darin can't even begin to hide the admiration he holds for this man. For him to go through all of this just to bring him back safely...it defied logic. He had no frame of reference for what Voltron or what any of the lions looked like, but seeing this...he could swear they were something straight out a legend.

He stares at the lion, and takes a few cautious steps towards it. Finally, he looks to Shiro, then to the lion, reaching out warily to place its hand upon the beast's muzzle.

He lowers his head. This really didn't make any sense at all. He had resigned himself to this stalemate for the sake of his family but...if there was even a glimmer of hope...dare he reach out to it?

Finally, he lifts his gaze towards Shiro and gives the man a bit of a smug grin. He wished he could be an ounce of the hero that this man was.

"And just how long have you been waiting to say such a corny line?"