Realisation and Freedom (A Voltron and Galra!Keith fanfic)

The Decision

"Yeah, yeah! Just like that. That's great. You're doing great Keith!" Lance cheered me on after a few vargas of trying and failing to hum.

"Thanks Lance."

Lance tells me all about this planet called 'Earth' full of humans like him. I've never heard of it despite being born there. He told me it was pretty great with his family and that if it were possible, he'd show me sometime.

We remain in comfortable silence for awhile. Until Lance breaks it. Again.

"Say Keith? I've got a question?"

"Just ask it. You've never been subtle before."

"True but... Oh you know what, you're right. Keith isn't a very Galra name. It seems quite human to me," Lance inquires.

"You're right," is my simple answer.

"Oh no! You are not doing that again mister! Give me a more in-depth answer," Lance demands.

"Alright. My father was Galra and my other father was human," I say, anger lacing my voice.

"Human? Like me?" Lance says, surprised.

"Yes," I go quiet, thinking about how Lance is the only human I really remember.

"Are you okay Keith?" Lance asks, concern filling his voice.

"Is the Lance worried about little old me?" I taunt and a short laugh escapes me.

"W-well, o-of course I am! You're my friend after all!" Lance says, embarrassed.

"Your friend?" I am taken back by the pure honesty he says this with.

"I-I mean if y-you want t-" Lance starts.

"Of course," I interrupt with a small smile, "I... I've never had a friend before."

"WHAT! You've never had a friend before?"

I stay quiet and hear Lance get up from the floor. I turn to see him by the door looking at me seriously.

"Then I'll be your first friend!" Lance's serious face turns into a grin.

I laugh and nod. It's hard to believe that we became so close so quickly, especially considering the circumstances, but the honest way Lance acts makes it easy to get along with him.

"Hey Keith?"

"Yes Lance?"

"Why do the Galra hate you so much?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have no friends. When we were walking, most either ignored or glared angrily at you. It's obvious the Galra don't like you much."

I stay quiet at that.

"I don't get it though. You're talented, kind, fun and have so many positive qualities that are why I'm glad we're friends."

I blush slightly at that and turn my face slightly away from him to hide it. Does he really think of me like that?

"Is it because you're short?"

It's an honest question that is just so Lance. It's actually part of the reason. Lance doesn't understand how the Galra are. Although, most people are the same and don't understand the Galra either.

I open my mouth to answer when the alarms start blaring. I stand up straight and look down each end of the hallway, partially ignoring how Lance calls, "Hey, get back here! We were having a BONDING MOMENT!" I know immediately that it is Lance's friends who have come to save them; I just didn't expect them so soon. I turn back to Lance and open the cell. He looks at me in shock.

"Uh, Keith, buddy, you accidentally opened the cell door... What are you doing?" he asks, confusion written all over his face.

"You're friends are here. I'm helping you escape," I explain, "Go on."

Lance's mouth closes in understanding and he turns to leave, but stops. He grabs my arm and tries to drag me away, saying, "Keith you're coming with me!"

"Why? I'm Galra!"

"I don't know what you can be here, but I don't care! I'm not leaving you! You're my friend! You're just misunderstood! And you helped me! Zarkon would kill you... and I don't want that. Please Keith. With me, you can finally be part of a team, have friends, a family. Come on please," Lance begs, tugging at my arm.

I think about it for a few ticks. Lance is right. About a lot. Zarkon would kill me. And he knows how lonely I am. It's easy to decide, you would think, but the Galra are all I've ever known. A war raged inside me for a few ticks before the instinct to survive wins. I nod at Lance who's face lights up as a result.

He drags me down the hallways. When I ask him where we're going, he says he doesn't know but can feel where his friends are. I resist the urge to facepalm and just shake my head at Lance. We stop by my quarters, where I grab my few belongings and ignore Lance's look of pity, and a room where Lance's bayard and armour are kept which Lance puts on quickly. Eventually, the sounds of gunfire can be heard and we can see what is probably the majority of soldiers, who can fight on the ship, fighting three figures who seem to be holding their own reasonably well but are tiring. All three are easy to recognise, especially with the armour they wear.