The Half-Galra Anatomy (Voltron: Legendary Defender)

Prologue

 "We all have a task to do. Keith, Hunk, you'll be in charge of getting the scaultrite. If any one of us fails, the entire plan fails," Coran had said, ignoring the elephant in the room and carrying on as usual. I mean, he had a point since we have to stop Zarkon and all, but, I don't know, maybe it's an adult thing that makes things easier for Keith.

Hunk and my rival had already left the Castle of Lions in search of the weblum, but I felt a little unsettled. Not just from the fact that I had kissed a space mouse in another failed flirting attempt with Allura before she headed towards the Balmera.

Everyone, and I mean everyone (the Blade of Marmora members, paladins, Coran, the mice, even Pidge's space floof friends), had noticed the princess's frigid silent treatment toward Keith. And just at the fact that he was half-Galra. It isn't like he hid it from them intentionally either. He couldn't have known, so it wasn't exactly a betrayal of trust either.

I get that the Galra are bloodthirsty, cruel monsters that destroyed her planet and everyone she loved, but that wasn't Keith. He isn't like that. I've known him since the Garrison, and the only time he's ever shown hostility is when he's provoked. I definitely didn't like him much then, but James definitely can be a total arse. The mullet-head is basically family at this point. I certainly thought that Allura considered all of us paladins-including Keith-family after all that team bonding and everything we've been through so far. There's no way he isn't part of that family. But straight-up ghosting from a family member? That hurts like hell.

I once embarrassed Veronica at school in front of a girl she had a crush on when we were in middle school. They were just friends at the time, and she was coming to terms with her orientation. I didn't really understand how bad it was at the time, but I was just so unreasonably mad about her accidentally breaking my favorite Space Explorers mug that morning that I yelled, "Andrea wouldn't even be friends with you if she knew you like-liked her!" right in the middle of the quad. Veronica wouldn't speak to me for three whole months. I got punished with a lecture from la chancla and a long grounding when I got home, but nothing was worse than how my big sister acted like I was air. She'd avoid me at all costs and sit as far away as possible at the small table despite our fairly large family. She wouldn't even ask me to pass the garlic knots when they were right in front of me in favor of one of my other siblings getting it for her. When I couldn't take it anymore, it took me crying and clinging to her legs right when we got home for her to forgive me. She told me she missed me and couldn't stand it anymore either as I cried in her arms. I've learned my mistakes since then, and my family was really more than forgiving, but that was absolutely the most terrible thing that has ever happened in my family.

If this thing with Keith and Allura was anything like that, Keith had to be suffering right now, the anguish in his expression as he left with Hunk being a major clue-in. Maybe even more so than what happened with Veronica and me because his Galra bloodline really wasn't his fault. A family doesn't just ignore each other no matter how bad things can get. No matter what each one of us is. I understand what the beef may be for Allura, but Keith is nothing like the other Galra. Hell, Ulaz and the other Blades were nothing like the Galra we knew. Ulaz gave his quiznaking life to save us.

I don't really see why Allura has such a big problem with Keith because he himself didn't massacre her planet. He wasn't Zarkon, for goodness's sake. But they were family, and forgiveness would come in at some point. This wouldn't last forever. It wouldn't.

"Beta Traz is in range," Shiro says.

"We get in, get Slav, get out, and hopefully without any Galra interference. Simple as that," Pidge states, turning on her program from her watch.

I nod.

Shiro looks at me in concern. "Lance, are you feeling alright? You've been awfully quiet."

I wave away any unsettlement in my mind and grin as usual. "Just hyping myself up, as usual."

Pidge slaps my back. "Well, it's time to get yourself together, Tailor."

"No problem, Shortie."

I erase my mind of all things regarding Keith to focus on recovering Slav. I can't mess up here if I wanna live another day, can I? I allow one last thought about the difference Keith's Galra side makes to leave my mind before piloting Blue down to the prison.