Don't Ask About My Demons

An Unlikely Ally

Keith sat up, hunger was eating away at his insides. He hugged his aching stomach, looking down at arms that had not yet begun to change back. At this point, Keith was trying to accept the idea that he would never change back. His ears perked up at the sound of a lunch bag being crumpled up. His eyes snapped up to the prison guard who watched his cell day in and day out. He licked his dry lips.

The Galra soldier turned to Keith with a gleam in his eye. "Oh, hungry, are you?" He asked with a mouth full of food.

Keith didn't respond. Instead, he kept his eyes trained on the sandwich.

The soldier laughed and dragged a piece of meat out from between the slices of bread. He then waved it around in front of Keith's face. When he made a grab for the food, a wave of electricity shot through him. Keith grimaced and bit his tongue. "Can't reach it? What a shame." The soldier stuffed the meat into his mouth.

Keith glared at him.

"Don't give me that look or I'll shock you again!"

Keith felt another wave of electricity surge through him. Keith bit his lip. He didn't want to give the prison guard the satisfaction of seeing him in pain. Keith rose to his feet and paced while clenching and unclenching his fists. Over time, he found that this was the best way to combat the after effects of the electrical shocks.

"Must you constantly taunt the prisoner?" A Galra soldier said from his position against the far wall.

"Oh get lost, Thace! Can't an old prison guard have his fun?" He stuffed the last few bites of the sandwich into his mouth.

"If you're looking for fun, why don't you open his cell?" The soldier called Thace replied, stepping closer. "I'm sure that will curb your boredom."

"I--well-- I can't just let him out! It would defeat the purpose of being a prison guard!"

"Clearly," Thace muttered. He turned to Keith, watching him pace the cell like a wild animal. "How long has it been since he's eaten?"

"I dunno... two... three days. Why?"

"Figures." Thace reached into his pocket to pull out a small container of rations. Keith perked up and watched Thace closely. Thace opened the tin and picked up a slice of meat with delicate fingers before reaching through the bars to hold it out to him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the prison guard warned. "The boy's a wild one. Bite your hand right off of you're not careful."

Keith took a cautious step forward. "That's it," Thace coaxed. "Here, take it." Keith snatched the food from his hand. In an instant, he gulped down the slimy morsel and looked to Thace for more.

"Looks like you've got yourself a pet, Thace." The old guard laughed. "Mind watching the beast for a bit while I take a break?" He sat up and stretched. "I've been sitting here for five hours straight."

Thace handed another morsel of food to Keith. "Don't they have someone to take over your shift?" He asked the guard.

"Not anymore. He was relocated."

"Ah. Right. What a shame."

"I know right? What I wouldn't give to retire but you know how it is... HEY WATCH OUT!"