-Keith-
"Guys, we have an issue," Coran says as he comes running into the command center
"What are all these alarms about?" Lance asks as he looks around the room
"We have an intruder." He says
"How do you know?" I ask
"Because of this." He says
I watch as he pulls up a camera feed and I see a cloaked figure outside of the castle. I see them look back at the camera as her hood is knocked off.
"Natasha?!" Lance yells
"That can't be her! She wouldn't do something like this." I argue
"This could've been where she's been the past month," Hunk says
"Nat wouldn't betray us," Pidge says
"It could be a clone..." Shiro says
"But they wouldn't have that much detail," Allura argues
"You would be surprised by what the Galra are capable of," Shiro says
"How would we be able to tell if it's really her?" Lance asks
I look down at my arm and see a little black outline poking out from under my sleeve.
"They would have to know about everything to make a clone right?" I ask
"Yeah. If they don't know about a certain trait, they wouldn't be able to put in onto the clone." Shiro says
"Coran, can you zoom in on her wrist?" I ask
"Sure." He says
Shiro looks at me then I shake my head.
"Why her wrist?" Shiro asks
"Cause she has a tattoo that no one knows about," I say
"If no one knows about it, then how do you?" Lance asks
"Cause I have the same one." I hiss
"You guys got matching tattoos?" Lance asks
"She was scared to get it so I went with her and we got the same one," I explain
"Like I believe that." Lance laughs
I roll my eyes as I watch Coran zoom the camera in on her wrist and that's when I see the little black mark.
"It's her!" I yell
I grab my bayard then go running out towards where the camera spotted her.
I see a cloak waving in the wind and I see her dark black hair flying as she is running towards the forest.
"Nat!" I yell
She freezes and slowly starts to turn around to look at me. I look into her grey eyes as she looks into mine. I see the brokenness and confusion in her eyes as she bites her lips.
"Why are you doing this?" I ask
"It's what I need to do. I didn't belong here with you guys." She says
"So you're working with the enemy?!" I yell
"I'm not working with Zarkon. I'm working with somebody else." She tries to explain
"Like that's any better!" I yell
I hear running footsteps behind me but don't pay much attention to it.
"You left us for them!" I yell
"I left? You guys abandoned me! You guys didn't try to come back for me!" She yells
"Who told you that? Cause I know for a fact that I haven't given up on finding you. You were my first priority whenever we got to a new planet." I say "I was always asking around or scanning through Galra tech to try and find anything on you."
She looks at me as she licks her lips and looks at the ground.
"I don't trust her." She whispers "I don't know why. But where I am now, I know I can trust them to tell me the truth. She lied to us about the Purple Lion."
"She had her reasons. You can still come back with us." I start
I start to walk towards her as she just watches me. I watch as she hesitates then steps towards me. I reach out and gently grab her hand as she stays looking at the ground.
I tilt her head up to make her look at me when she shakes her head and pushes her lips against mine. I feel one hand go to her side as she leans in close enough that I can feel the wetness of her tears.
"I'm sorry." She cries as she pulls away
I feel the ground shake as the Purple Lion lands and opens its jaw for her to run in.
"Don't follow me." She says as the jaw closes as she flies away
I hear the others finally catch up with us as I just stand there staring at the spot the Lion was just at.
"What happened?" Shiro asks
"I don't want to talk about it," I say as I turn around and walk back towards the castle
"Keith!" Allura yells after me
"I'll talk to you guys when I'm ready!" I yell back
"Did she reject him?" Lance asks
"Lance..." Shiro warns
I roll my eyes as I walk into the castle and head towards the training room.
You can't just kiss me and leave!
-~-
I look around the desert as I watch Shiro and Nat as they race the two bikes before we are supposed to head back towards the city. I look out towards the distance and that's when I see long black hair flying in the wind from underneath a helmet. I smile as I start to cheer Nat on when I see Shiro quickly gaining on her.
I watch as she looks back and sees her brother and tries to speed the bike up without success. I laugh softly as her brother passes her and just barely beats her.
He gets off of the bike and he starts to take the helmet off as he is laughing.
"Dang it! I'm going to beat you one day Shiro." She says as she takes her helmet off
I laugh at her as I take her helmet from her and set it onto the bike's seat before she just glares at me.
"We need to start heading back soon," Shiro says
"You're right. Keith and I have morning lessons tomorrow." She says
Shiro smiles as he shakes his head at us as he climbs onto his bike.
"Keith, are you driving with Nat on the back or am I?" He asks
"Is that even a question Shiro. I'm going to get away from you when I can." She laughs
Shiro rolls his eyes as he takes off towards the city on his bike.
I turn towards Nat as she looks at me while propping an eyebrow up.
"What are you thinking?" She asks
"This," I reply as I place a soft kiss to her lips
"We really should tell Shiro." She laughs as she pulls away
"We will. Eventually." I say "Maybe not when he's preparing for a mission."
"Fair point." She laughs
We climb onto the bike, she wraps her arms around my waist and lays her cheek against my back as I start to drive towards the city.
-~-
I walk into the lounge, my hands in my pockets as everybody looks over at me.
"You ready to talk?" Allura asks
"Allura..." Shiro starts
"She's fine. I shouldn't have reacted like that." I start "Just a lot happened before you guys showed up."
"You want to tell us about it?" Shiro asks
"I have to. You guys are my team. She's now the enemy. I can't keep her secrets anymore." I say
"She's working with Zarkon?" Pidge asks
"Not exactly. She told me she's working with somebody else." I say "She didn't give me a name."
"That's weird. Even for her." Lance says "Did she say anything else?"
"She doesn't trust Allura," I say with a shrug
"Do you know why?" Coran asks
"She didn't say, but she did mention that who she's working with, she can trust them to tell her the truth," I explain
"She's mad that I didn't tell you guys about the Purple Lion," Allura says
I start to nod as I lean against the wall and look at the ground.
"She kissed you didn't she Keith?" Shiro asks
"W-what? How did you know?" I ask, looking up in shock
"I know you two both very well and I've known that you guys have had a history and that this encounter wouldn't have gone very well including if my suspicions were correct." He starts "She kissed you to apologize for everything that is going to happen in the future."
"I know. And the bad part is, I can't seem to hate her." I say as I look at the others "I can't fight against her if it comes to it."
They all look at me then look at the ground before Pidge speaks up.
"Neither can I. Natasha is like a sister to me. I can't get myself to even think about hurting her." She says
"I'm with Pidge." Shiro starts "But I also know what it is like to not follow through with what you have to, so if I have to be the one who brings her in, so be it."
I look at them then nod in agreement.
"What did she even steal?" Hunk asks
We all look over at Allura and Coran as they look at each other.
"The helmet to the original suit of armor for the Purple Lion," Allura says
"Why wasn't it with the rest of it?" Lance asks
"Because the original purple paladin lost it and we picked it up," Allura explains
Coran looks at the computer then clears his throat as he looks back at us.
"We've been asked for some help protecting a piece of a weapon." He says
"Wait, what weapon?" I ask
"It's a weapon that can be used to destroy Voltron and it's Paladins." Allura says "At least that's if it's the weapon I'm thinking of."
"Wait, where are the other pieces?" Lance asks
"They've already been taken." Coran answers "Can anyone guess who?"
"I'm going to take one wild guess and say that it's Natasha," I say
Everybody looks at me as I push myself off the wall.
"That's what they've heard. They've heard whoever is the paladin of the Purple Lion has been the one behind everything." Coran says
"Does she know what that weapon is capable of?" Hunk asks
"We're about to find out," Lance says
"Let's get to this planet and help them and hopefully beat my sister," Shiro says
Everybody agrees as we head towards our seats before we jump.