Not So Different | Keith Kogane x Alien!Reader

Part One

“Alright, Keith! This is your first solo mission as the official Black Paladin. While you have been improving greatly as a leader and a teammate, you still need to work on your diplomatic skills.” Allura chastised Keith over the coms. 

Keith sighed. Being the Black Paladin was hard work. All the meetings with the other alien species, plus trying to locate Shiro, made him irritable most of the time. He may or may not have scared one or two or seven royal alien consorts with his attitude. Thankfully, the princess knew how to adhere to their wants and was able to get them to join the movement nonetheless.

Allura let out a small sigh herself, “I know you’re upset, Keith. I apologize if I’m being a little harsh. I would have sent someone with you, but we have to clean up the mess up here.”

Keith gave a quiet, “It’s alright.” There was a mishap with the goo machine when it exploded in the interior of the castle. Coran said it was due to a flummexation in the departix or something... Keith shuddered at the thought of all the slime on the walls. He could still hear Hunk's cries of agony echoing in his brain. If anything, this was way better than having to try and clean up that mess. 

"If anything goes wrong, be sure to contact us. I have Lance on stand-by to come and retrieve you in a case of emergency. Do not be hesitant to contact your team, Keith."

Keith flushed, remembering his brash actions as the Red Paladin. Trying to fight a tiny alien who posed no threat, not telling his friends before heading straight into battle, and not to mention TRYING TO FIGHT ZARKON BY HIMSELF.

"You got it, Princess," he responded, pushing on the controls a little more. The Black Lion purred and sped up as they entered the planet's atmosphere. "Alright, girl. Let's do this!"

The planet he was visiting was called Bolomil. It was common knowledge to those living at that time that the Sieryls, Bolomil's native species, was once a very large trade partner with the Galran. That was until Daibazaal was destroyed and Zarkon founded the Galra Empire. They ended their trade partnership soon after. Well, that's what Coran told him. Keith didn't actually know if he was pronouncing any of these words correctly.

Before he could crash on the surface of the planet, the Black Paladin pulled back his controls, ensuring a safe landing. Jumping out of his seat, Keith exits his lion, stepping out onto the snow covered ground. "Woah..."

"Princess, you didn't mention there was snow on this planet?"

"That's because there shouldn't be any... Keith, please send us a visual using your headset."

While waiting for her response, Keith took a full turn to take in all of sights. To the right of his lion was something that looked vaguely like an abandoned town. There seemed to be houses and stone buildings that had been knocked down or burnt to a crisp. To the left was tall gray mountains, towering even his lion. There was no one in sight.

Keith heard a gasp from the coms. "Allura? What's wrong?" The princess seemed to take a moment to recollect herself.

"Something is most definitely wrong! Bolomil is known far and wide for its beautiful scenery and colorful nature but now there isn't anything!"

Keith turns to the ruined village nearby and lets the distressed Altean know he was going to look for any sign of life. Walking through the icy terrain, he leaves footprints in the snow as Allura tells him to be cautious. Keith nears a semi-knocked over stone tower and checks the surrounding rubble for anything of interest.

"Sorry, Allura, but there's nothing here. No people either."

"It's alright, Keith. I just can't wrap my head around what might have happened... Head back to your lion and fly back up here. We'll plan our next course of action as soon as you get back."