Cracked But Not Broken

Chapter Six: Déjà vu

My mind wakes before the rest of my body. I'm lying on my back, one arm resting beside my head, while the other is holding something warm close to my chest.

My eyes shoot open once I feel said warm thing nuzzle further into the crook of my neck. My gaze slowly drifts to heavy weight and last nights events come flooding back.

A small smile graces my lips as Keith grabs a fistful on my shirt. I gently brush my fingers against his cheek, tucking a piece of hair behind his ear. I hold my breath when I notice two violet orbs staring back at me.

"Good morning to you." Keith says with a smirk.

"Good morning to you too." I grin. I press my forehead against his, which earns a small giggle from him. It melts my heart.

I just want to freeze this moment in time and stay in it forever.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

But all good things must come to an end.

My eyes widen, my whole body freezing up when I realize what that blaring alarm means.

I hadn't thought about going on a mission. History won't repeat itself, right? It'll be an easy get in, get out mission. No one will get hurt and no one will get caught.

But what if I mess up?  My last mission was supposed to be an easy in easy out, just gather information. I was supposed to stand outside with Keith, while Hunk and Shiro were with Pidge on the other side of the door.

Then hundreds of sentries came pouring from all sides. Working together, we were able to take most of them out. As I continued to fight off the robots, Keith slipped through the door to get help.

And in those few seconds my anxiety flew through the roof. I convinced myself that I wasn't able to do this on my own. That I would fail, and I wouldn't be able to call for help because the damn coms weren't working. That I would get my team killed because I wasn't able to protect them.

While being stuck inside my head I was surrounded. I felt my bayard being ripped from my shaking hands. I watched in my frozen state as the sentry raised my bayard above its head and come crashing against my skull.

"Lance. Lance look at me." His voice grounds me. I look up to see Keith standing in front of me, I'm also standing. I don't remember standing. I shake my head. This is real. Keith is real. This mission will be fine.

But what if it isn't?

"What if I screw up? What if someone gets hurt because of me?" I continue to ramble on and my what if's. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me. I don't want to get caught again. Because if it were to happen, my will to live won't be strong enough.

Two warm hands cup my face. "I won't leave your side this time. I'll be there to protect you. And you will protect me. We'll protect each other, and that's all you need to think about."

I notice he raises to the tips of his toes and before I can register the warm feeling on my lips it's gone again. "We're gonna be fine out there sharpshooter." With that Keith saunters smugly out of my room.

TIME SKIP

It's just like last time.

Keith and I are standing outside a closed door. Inside, Pidge is trying to get information of the Galra plans or where her family's being kept. With them is Shiro and Hunk.

But this time no one will get hurt. This time we'll all get back, together, in one piece.

I hoped Pidge could get some information on their family. I know what it's like to lose the people closest to you. Have them there one second then gone the next.

It's difficult to keep going with after that part of you has been ripped away. Ripped right from your hands before you even realize it's gone.

Having your idol disappear forever. The only one you look up to leave your life forever. I miss papa.

I'm ripped once again from my thoughts. This time by the synchronized marching against the metal floor.

I glance quickly to Keith, his eyes holding a determined look. He gives me a strong smile before pulling out his bayard. I do the same and turn to the noise.

Except, now I don't hear anything. I look to Keith from the corner of my eye, he still looks ready to fight. That means the threat is still coming.

But if the threat's still coming I should be able to hear them. I should be able to hear he stomping get louder not quieter.

Oh no.

My eyes widen when I realize my current situation, but it's too late to tell Keith. Sentries come flooding through the doorway. All I can do is fight and hope for the best.

Hope that I don't get hurt.

Hope that no one calls for me.

Hope that everything goes as smooth as it can go.

But hope doesn't get me very far.

I shoot through the metal and wires and spare a glance at Keith. And what I see isn't what (autocorrected to Walmart WTF??) I hoped for.

He was surrounded his bayard nowhere to be seen. He was fight with his fists now, and yelling for backup. I wish I could've of heard his desperate cries. Damn ears.

I quickly turn my attention back to the enemy, rage fueling my fight. I shoot through the sentries as if it were a simple carnival game.

I see a spot of red on the floor as I fight my way toward Keith. Bayard. I realize with a smirk. I swiftly pick it up from the floor and press the barrel of my gun on he head of a stupid sentry. With a small movement it hits the floor.

Once I make my way to Keith he looks ready to collapse. I don't have time to look him over before I scoop him up and run from the scene.

I don't know if the others have already gotten out. I don't know if they have already made it to the castle. I don't know if they've been yelling at me to hurry up. I don't know if they've been scolding me for ignoring Keith's pleas.

I don't know anything but what's in front of my face right now. And that's a battered and semi-conscious Keith.

I cradle pretty easily in one arm. The other shoot sentries that get too close for comfort.

This will not end like last time.

This time everyone will get out.

This time no one will be left behind.

1134 words biatches!!! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I wanted this and the next chapter (which I'm writing now) to be one thing. But there was just too much I wanted to have in it for it to be one chapter. So this and the next chapter are the climax of the story. Hoped you liked this one!! Until next time, Zoe signing off.