Don't Forget About Me (Previously, Keith Isn't Dead)

Chapter 2

Although they expected Haggar to follow them, it was relatively easy for the Paladins to lose the remainder of the ship's fleet.

Once the danger had cleared and there was a moment devoid of important instruction from Shiro, the comms exploded with noise.

Keith had jumped at the noise, not expecting the loud whoops and hollers coming from the team.

Soon, the yellings became comprehensible sounds, and Keith could make out calm, genuine feedback from Shiro, though it was difficult to hear over Lance and Pidge's yelling.

"Did you see the way I blasted through those guys! I took out seven ships in one shot!"

"No you didn't you idiot! Stop trying to show off!"

"I did too! You just don't believe me!"

"Hunk got the most! He took down so many ships!"

"Don't- Pidge! Don't bring me into this!"

Keith turned down his volume, smiling as he listened to the banter. The nostalgia he was feeling soon turned bittersweet as he listened to how well the team flowed. He really wasn't part of it anymore.

The yelling had died down, and Keith turned his volume up again, wondering if he'd missed something.

He tuned back in just in time to catch the tail-end of Lance's apparent pouting.

"-Keith probably believes me, he was right next to me when I shot through all those guys! Right, Keith? Right? C'mon man, tell them you saw!"

Keith just laughed, feeling that bittersweet self-pity ebb away. "Oh yeah, sure. The ships I was shooting down? Yeah, there were about seven, you're right."

He smiled, waiting eagerly to hear what Lance would have to say to that.

At least teasing his friends didn't make him feel so out of place.

Lance made a series of frustrated noises, and to Keith's amusement, didn't press on to defend himself.

*

The rest of the trip was short. Apparently, the castle was parked nearby, which Keith was grateful of. It meant less time for his team to grill him.

But it didn't mean he got to avoid the experience entirely.

"So, Keith," He heard Shiro start, "What's been going on? We never hear from you."

There was a chorus of agreed murmurings, then, the call went quiet. Keith was expected to answer.

He cleared his throat, keeping his eyes on Red as he followed the group through space. "Well," He started, "I've been working with the Blade. Nothing much else. Just, helping them with smaller stuff."

He nodded to himself. That was general enough to fall under the category of answering the question.

"What about you all?" He tried, simply not wanting to talk about himself.

"Oh you know, saving the universe. Being kickass heroes. The yuosh." (shortened form of usual, i just cant spell it, i gotta sound it out bc its not a word.)

"So Lance hasn't changed at all? Shocking." Keith responded, smiling as Lance sputtered and rushed to defend himself.

"What's that supposed to mean? I bet you're just mad because you wanted to say you've been saving the universe with the Blade. Don't act like you're better than me!"

Before Keith could reply,  a new voice joined in on their conversation, and Keith smiled as he recognized Allura. 

"Paladins, you've just entered range, how did the search go?"