Wings of Home II: Wings of Change

Hand Dealt

"This is entirely your fault."

He honestly didn't feel good, but honestly who would feel alright if they were in his current situation of someone having stabbed him and tied him up so they might use him for leverage against Shiro of all people. Lance telling him, no, blaming him for something he somehow, for once knew wasn't his fault didn't at all help how Keith felt, but his eyes felt heavy.

"Seriously. You're going to go there?"

"Well, it is your fault."

"Should I remind you of the fact you're the one who came up with whatever plan you had going on?"

"I'm not the one who has a Galra after me, but somehow I got drug into your crap."

"You got drug into his crap because you let yourself be manipulated because you're jealous of him." The Galra spoke from a distant corner of the room. Keith turned his head, watching the man – alien, carefully. Said Galra rolled their eyes, indicating they found Lance's complaining annoying, but he stood there with his arms crossed. In fact, Lance wasn't intended to be a part of this whole scenario.

Lance almost ended up dead, but then the Galra discovered Keith could be manipulated into coming with him willingly simply because Keith was all about doing the right thing. In the back of his mind, he remembered it was his brother who drove that into his head – to always do the right thing, so he wondered how Shiro would feel that they were in this mess because of his advice. "He'd be proud." Keith brushed away the thought as himself lying to himself and instead turned his head slightly. "Lance..."

"What?"

"I think you should keep in mind the only reason you're alive right now."

"Oh, because you rescued me? For your information, I didn't need you to rescue me. I got ninja skills."

"Um, no – you do not." Keith let out a deep sigh. "I'm talking about the fact he's more than willing to kill you now that he doesn't have any use for you, so you might want to tone the complaints down."

"Oh, he's somewhat right." The Galra pushed himself away from the wall. "I am definitely annoyed with all of the talking, but I do have a use for you in that it keeps this one in check and makes sure he doesn't do anything funny. But that doesn't mean I can't do something else."

"Okay. Shutting up now so I don't face bodily harm."

"I was thinking more of gagging you." Keith now couldn't see the Galra, now could he see what said Galra was doing to Lance meaning he didn't know whether said Galra was simply gagging Lance, or killing him. Well, there wasn't a scream, so Lance must be alive. He sucked in his breath. "Shiro won't trade."

"Oh. You're saying you're not someone precious to him."

"No. I'm saying Shiro will do the right thing and not turn Voltron over to the Galra."

"You think too highly of him, but then I guess he's also where you get your stupid morals from."

"They're not stupid!"

"Because of what? The kid who bullied you constantly is alive? I'd think you of all people would be grateful that he's..." The Galra paused, listening to the sound of something muffled try to protest what he was saying. Keith was sure it was Lance, gagged as he was, trying to argue he'd never bullied Keith. "Well, I'd think you'd be grateful for him being dead, right? Then all of your problems would, in fact, be gone."

"They wouldn't, but if that's the Galra's solution to everything..."

"You wouldn't be in this situation if you took out your opponents as the Galra do."

"First off, they're not opponents. Second, I've been in plenty of fights where I licked the guy, and no- it didn't' do me any good."

"Well, perhaps that's because human society is barbaric compared to the Galra and doesn't see the benefit from taking out your opponents, those who would hold you back or outright take your rank."

Of course, that didn't seem right, yet Keith couldn't place why this didn't seem right to him. He only wished Shiro would show up and save him, but then the Galra said something which sent a shiver down Keith's spine.

"Oh, now you're wanting him to save you despite saying he wouldn't turn Voltron over to anyone. I'd like to see him try."

"Shiro is amazing." Keith heard Lance mutter from behind him in agreement. Despite feeling like a burden to Shiro, he knew Shiro shouldn't be underestimated. His head felt dizzy, his heart pounding, his shoulder throbbing in pain, yet he quite clearly knew Shiro to be a force to be reckoned with, having seen his older brother sparring with some of the higher-ups at the garrison. He now found himself glaring defiantly at the Galra in front of him.

Said Galra smacked him across the face which in turn made the chair he was on tilt over. He hit the ground with a smash, the breath leaving his lungs while his vision went fuzzy for a few minutes. Glancing up, he saw Lance looking down at him, his blue eyes indicating he was worried, which felt strange given how antagonistic Lance tended to be.

Keith let out a sigh, resting his head on his shoulder. "What he's worried about is himself and the fact he might not get out of this situation. Even if Shiro does something, neither one of us might get out. I wish..." The thought perplexed him. "I wish Ryo actually cared if something happened to me. I know Shiro does, but the fact Ryo..."

His eyes widened, remembering Ryo's behavior recently. He did, in fact, act as he cared, yet in the back of Keith's mind, he struggled with believing this true despite the fact he wanted it to be true. He let out a sigh, his mind drifting to Allura, unsure of why he felt she'd definitely be bothered with something happening to him despite the fact he kept telling himself this was wishful thoughts on his part for both Ryo and Shiro.