Blue Flowers

Chapter 1

A/N: Hello friends! This is a one-shot of a blot bunny that struck me while I was reading. So hopefully you enjoy it!

It was ridiculous

They were supposed to be looking for survivors, which was a rather sad case. But yet here Keith was, staring at a pale blue flower.

It shouldn't have meant anything; it was just a common flower. One of which was in large quantities. Yet, there was something about this flower that had caught his dark-iris eyes. And caused his mind to fill with rapid images of enjoyment, though those were the simpler times.

Things had gotten a lot more complicated

Which was one of the reasons why Keith was wondering how he had managed to catch such a rare sight. There was destruction around them, bodies had littered the ground, people were crying, but the flower had survived against all the odds.

That was his life story, stored in a flower that was indestructible to its surroundings.

Keith never fit in very well, that he would've admitted any day. Even when he was a child, everyone seemed to see him as a heavy burden. It had hurt him in more ways than one, as though he had nothing to reach for except letting everyone down.

Again

It was a monotonous cycle, never-ending with pain and misery for himself. And himself only. It never seemed to hurt his foster parents, or the people in charge of him, when they would scorn Keith for things he didn't have control over. But it wasn't anything new.

His mother had left him

His dad had left him – unintentionally– he might add

And everyone else who had ever given a care about him, had also left in a span of a second

Maybe that's why he clung to Shiro, because Shiro was the only person left that hadn't left him behind. Or maybe it was because Keith was scared.

He was scared of many things, but he wouldn't have ever said that aloud. If Keith wasn't tough, then he got left behind. That was something he had learned to adapt in his life from birth.

But it was just a flower

A reminiscent part of nature

Left behind to burn and crumble due to outside forces

And to be forgotten, as if it never existed

That couldn't have been a far coincidence, even if time had managed to mess with Keith from time to time, it still gave moments of reflection. This was one of those sacred moments.

Keith gave a small glance back to make sure that the rest of the paladins weren't watching him. When the coast was clear, he quickly walked towards the flower.

It felt as if time had stopped, as a sudden memory popped into his head.

*flashback*

Keith was around five years old, with the same trademark smile and his raven-colored hair. He was sitting in the living room when his father called him.

"Coming dad!" Keith had yelled, as he got up to walk towards the door.

He started to walk, and eventually it turned into a run

"I'm almost there!"

*Ends*

'I'm almost there' One step, two steps, three steps

Keith arrived at his destination; the flower stuck out against the dark brown dirt. The roots were strong, as the flower didn't move with the wind.

He bent down to examine the flower as another memory popped into his head.

*Flashback*

"Dad look at his!" A young Keith pointed out, bending down to admire the ladybug on the dark green leaf. Fascination filled his blank mind, his feet were grounded, and everything seemed so simple.

His father walked over and looked at the small ladybug. "It's beautiful son. Though there's something else I could show you if you wanted me too."

Keith nodded.

"Ladybugs, or our very friendly critters always adapt to their surroundings. Take in for example," His father shook the leaf gently. "The ladybug will stay on this leaf, even if I'm shaking it lightly. This is because its body had adapted to the environment around it."

As true as it would be, the ladybug stayed on the leaf with immense power. Keith stared at his father with wide eyes, and a curios mind.

"I can't believe it," The young child said with much excitement

*Ends*

"I can't believe it," Keith muttered as his fingers lingered over the flower. As his previous fathers words had echoed throughout his mind. It hadn't been just animals that his father had been talking about, but rather all stages of life.

Even himself

That meant a little more than it should've, but it had hit a nerve.

Keith didn't know who he was meant to be, but nor did everyone. He was still learning, still adapting to the life around him. And just like the flower, he could grow strong if he wanted too.

The singular flower was a stark reminder of that

But before he got up, something in his mind went back to another time.

*Flashback*

It was a nice sunny day, as Keith's father had seen it fit to have a small picnic in their backyard. Different foods littered the tablecloth, drinks of different flavors were set aside for another time.

Keith had been playing in the grass, but stopped once he noticed a small pale blue flower sitting up against the grass.

"Father, is that a weed?" The young boy had asked with pure innocence.

His father gave a small chuckle before he went to sit down next to his son. "No, my son, that's a flower."

"A flower?"

"Yes. Flowers are not weeds, far from it. Though just like weeds, flowers are everywhere in the world. There are many different kinds, although this one is my favorite."

Keith was about to pluck it before his father stopped him

"No, my son, do not pick it. If it gets plucked, it will wither faster. Instead, lets look at its beauty from here."

"Yes father."

*Ends*

That memory had been a small one, as they had only admired the flower for a few minutes before Keith had gotten bored.

But it was a good one nevertheless

And it was one that certainly remained on the front of his mind since that very fateful day

Though when Keith looked back on that memory, something struck him dumb. The flower that his father had been admiring, even admitting that it was his favorite, was the same one that Keith was looking at now.

"Father?" He whispered.

There wasn't an answer, but the silence said everything

His father was still watching over him from above. And although it was only a small flower to get him to know that valuable information.

It reminded Keith that sometimes the smallest things always matter

Life wasn't always about the large battles, or wars

But rather the small daily reminders