Where are you now? (Keith x Reader) [discontinued]

20|| The Mission

I was in my room suiting up when I heard a knock on my door.

"Just a minute!" I said, finished getting my armor on, and opened the door. Shiro was there.

"Jade, may I speak to you?"

I nodded and stepped aside for Shiro to come in.

"Jade... Keith is on a mission with the Blade right now, and I can't pilot the Black Lion," he started. "Would you-"

"Lead for him? No," I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I already know I'm not meant for the Black lion. My role in this war is to take down Zarkon's witch or die trying. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Have you even tried?"

"Have YOU even tried?"

Shiro sighed, irritated at my sass. I crossed my arms.

"I can try if you want, but I'm not a leader, you of all people should know that."

"Fine. You don't have to lead. But I do want to ask you one more thing."

He stopped, looking slightly embarrassed. I looked at him to continue. He sighed.

"Jade, did you feel any.... different after you were abducted? Like you weren't always in control of yourself?"

"What do you think, Shiro? I had someone else's soul wrongfully merged with my own. Of course I did. There were times that I couldn't control what I said or did, and you experienced some of those times."

Shiro nodded. "How did you deal with it?"

"'We never truly defeat our demons, we simply learn to live above them,'((YES I JUST QUOTED THE DR. STRANGE MOVIE, LET ME BE A NERD))" I quoted. "It's not easy, but you have to learn to control your emotions, and in my case, unstable spirits. However, that doesn't mean you'll always be able to control yourself. Some things are just meant to happen, but we'll have to let fate decide what happens with us."

"Thanks," Shiro said. "I-I should probably get ready for our mission. Thank you for the advice."

I nodded, and he left. I didn't want to ask him, but this conversation confirmed something had happened to him when he was abducted. I noticed he had been quieter, more serious, but I had just assumed that the impact of change in the war had struck him. Before I could ponder more, Allura called everyone to the bridge, where we went over the plan one more time.

"Voltron will be heading to these planets here to liberate them from Zarkon's reign," Allura said, pointing at several planets. "Jade will be there as back-up, just in case the Galra are more powerful than we anticipated. Jared and Kekini will head to the remaining planets in the sector. Because Keith isn't here to lead Voltron, the remaining lions will have to fight alone. Coran will come with those two just in case they need defense. Any questions?"

I stepped forward. "Why the hell isn't Keith here? He of all people should be here!"

"I told you before Jade, he's on a mission," Shiro said, then sighed. "But I do agree, he needs to be here."

"Can I go look for my brother?" Pidge piped up suddenly. I was a little taken aback, as she had been very quiet these last few months, usually staying in her room or working on a new gadget. "If we can't Voltron, what's one less lion? Besides, we have Jade. I think this would be a good opportunity to go find my brother."

"Not you too Pidge," Lance shook his head. "We need all hands on deck. Finding Matt will have to come after. Besides, if he's still alive like Jade says he is, he can probably look out for himself."

Pidge sighed. "Lance is right," Shiro said. "We'll be too vulnerable as it is, what we're doing is very risky and could possibly risk our chance of winning at all."