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

34|| Keith's return

"See what?"

"Jared! He spoke!"

"WHAT?!" I sprint out of the room, Lance right behind me. My footsteps echo through the corridors, but I only hear the sound of my heart beat. He's recovering. He's going to be alright.

I'm running so fast I almost fall over when I try to stop in front of his door. I knock. No answer, but I'm used to it by now. I force the door open and see Jared staring at me. He says only one word, but to me it meant the world.

"Jade."

I run over to him and attack him with a hug, and I feel him nuzzle his face into the crook of my neck. "Jade."

"I'm right here," I said, rubbing his back. I could feel my eyes getting misty. I had almost lost hope, I was so sure that he wouldn't make a full recovery... but this, just hearing him say my name... it gave me one thing that I thought I had lost for good: hope. 

***

Most days I stayed with Jared, helping him recover. He seemed to be getting better, or maybe it was just my imagination.

Today however, I was overseeing Allura and Lotor's work on new ships. Lotor didn't make it very clear what he was using them for, simply for "the good of the universe." I figured he meant stopping the rest of the rebellious Galra, including Sendak and Haggar. I trusted him, but I still didn't want him alone with Allura. 

Those two had started acting more and more friendly to each other, and I didn't like that idea of what they might do. My excuse to be there was making sure everything was stable as Allura used her magic.

"Jade, everything seems to be in order, I think you should go help Shiro, or relax," Lotor said. I raised an eyebrow.

"None of the Paladins are doing anything today. We don't have anything to plan, so the others are doing God knows what," I said, "besides, I'd rather be working on something. You know I can't stand being bored."

"Well, we're pretty much done here anyway," Allura said. "Just a few more tweaks. Go on ahead, we'll catch up with you."

"Fine." I walked out of the room, letting them be alone. I swear if they do anything... 

My thoughts were interrupted by alarms beeping. I run to the bridge, where Coran and Shiro were standing. I hear a few others rush in after me.

"There's an unidentified pod near the castle, and it's Altean!" Coran exclaimed. "That's an old model as well. Altean pod, identify yourself!"

A com link opens up, and Keith is sitting there. "It's Keith. Open up, we have something important to discuss."

"I'm opening the hatch now," Coran says. Lance, who was right behind me, pointed up at the screen.

"Is it just me, or does Keith look... bigger."

As soon as he pointed it out, I saw what me meant. Keith looked taller and older. His hair was at his shoulders now, and his eyes seemed... wiser.

Everyone runs back to the landing deck, just in time to see the pod land. The door opens, and Keith jumps out. Lance steps forward.

"How do we know you're the real Keith, and not his bigger, cooler, grizzled older brother?"

Keith walked past him without even looking at him. "I don't have time for this Lance."

I didn't try to talk to him since it was obvious something was wrong. Keith looked at the team, then at me. He didn't talk to me, rather the team in general.

"Lotor is evil," Keith said bluntly. "He's been harvesting Altean quintessence for the past generations."

I gasped, stepping forward. "Where's your proof?" Keith just sighed.

"I figured you wouldn't believe me. Romelle, could you please come out here?"

This time, a woman exits the pod, along with another Galran lady and a.... cosmic wolf? How odd. Romelle seemed fairly normal... except... she was Altean! This couldn't be good. Was there something Lotor was hiding?

Romelle looked at us all. She started to explain how not all the Alteans died, how Lotor kept them in a safe haven. She told us about her brother, who was sent to a second colony, only to come back to her dead. I growled. This was exactly the kind of thing Lotor would do. As long as he got what he wanted, the lives of a few endangered Alteans was fine by him.

"I don't believe it," a quiet voice said. I whirled around, and Jared was standing there, shaking with anger. "That bastard. How could he?! How dare he!"

"Jared!" I exclaimed. "What are you doing out here? I thought you were asleep!"

"Sleep while you guys have all the fun? No thanks," Jared grinned darkly. "Jade, I've been meaning to tell you something. When I went into a state of 'depression' it wasn't actually depression. Lotor had said he wanted to run a few tests on me, but now everything makes so much more sense, thanks to Romelle. He was harnessing my life force for his empire. Had you not come along, I would've died."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?! And how are you well enough to be here?!"

"I soon figured out what he was doing. He said if I told anyone, he'd kill them. Anyway, we don't have time for this. He could be harnessing Allura's quintessence at this very moment."

Keith looked shocked. "Then we need to go get him now. Is Allura with him?"

I nodded. "I left them to come ba- oh no." Was he using her now? This wasn't good at all.

"Before we deal with Lotor, you have some explaining to do," Lance said. "You come back with an Altean, a random Galra lady, and a space wolf?"

Keith glared at Lance, as if scolding him for wasting time. "This 'Galra lady' is actually my mother. As for the wolf, we met him along the way."

I was speechless. Jared was clearly getting impatient. "Can we stop fucking around and get Lotor? He's caused thousands of Altean deaths, and what's worse, he kept it from us. He's manipulated and lied to us. Damn snake."

I nodded. "Jared's right. He and Keith can explain everything later. We need to go now."

<><><>

KEITH'S BACK HOME 

That's all I wanted to say x3

Bye!