-Natasha-
I hear a door open as I'm swinging the katana at the dummy as it tries to block my attacks.
"You've definitely improved your hand to hand," Keith says as he studies my movements
I stop as I look back at him, bring my bayard back to my hip.
"Kind of have to when I was pretty much fighting for life out there." I laugh "Besides, Lotor didn't give me a choice."
"Is Lotor the one you were working for?" Keith asks
"Yeah," I say as I look at the ground
"How about we don't bring him up anymore." He says as he walks over
"What are you even doing in here? Thought you guys were planning things." I start
"I thought I'd come over and update you on the plans." He says "Besides, you should probably let your body rest. You've had a rough few days."
I look down at my hands as they are slightly shaking from lack of sleep and I slowly start to nod.
"You're right. Besides, I know I'm safe here." I say
He smiles as I start to walk out of the room into the hall. He catches up with me as we walk in a comfortable silence towards my room.
"I'm glad you're back." He says out of the blue
"I should've come back sooner," I say
"You get drawn to them." He says "Just like Lance was drawn to his lion."
I laugh as I look at Keith.
"Did you just use Lance as an example?" I ask
"Hey, we've gotten better at getting along." He defends
"But it's Cargo Lance!" I laugh
"We're all a team now. We have to get along." He says "Besides, he's not that bad."
"Bull crap." I laugh again "Lance is such a hopeless romantic it's kind of funny."
Keith laughs as we stop outside of my room and stand by the door. He looks at me as he slowly reaches for my hand and firmly grabs it.
"I know I've said it before. But Nat, you don't need to be so closed off. We care about you here. We all have different ways of showing it." He says
"Keith, I know. You know better than anybody what happened when I was with the Galra, you're the only one I've really explained it to." I start as I watch out hands "Eventually I'll be ready to be more open, until then, just bare with me. Please."
He sighs as he nods before letting go of my hand.
"I should get some rest. I am the one who has to pilot tomorrow." He says
"I'll be awake on time to come with," I say with a smile
He gives me a small smile as he walks down the hall before disappearing into his room. I open my door and start to get ready for bed.
-~-
I'm laying in bed when I hear grunting from somewhere in my room. I peek my eye open and see three figures trying to navigate through my room without being too loud. I slowly move my hands to my eyes as I rub the sleep out of my eyes before I realize that the three figures in my room are Ezor, Narti, and Zethrid. I look around and see my bayard across the room.
I slowly start to stand up as I keep my eyes on them.
I won't make it.
I look at them as they keep whispering between themselves.
"Whatever you're looking for, it won't be in here with me." I start
"Oh! Natasha! You're awake?" Ezor asks
"Yeah. Kind of hard to sleep when I have an oaf and her friend in my room trying to find something that probably isn't even in my room." I start
"What did you just say?" Zethrid growls
"Nothing offense towards Ezor." I laugh
Zethrid growls as she stalks over and grabs me by the throat as I just look at her, grabbing at her hand.
"I know you're looking for the battery." I laugh
"So you do know where it is?" She asks as she slams me into the wall, knocking even more air out of me
"Nope. I told Allura and the others to hide it from me for just in case this happens." I gasp out
Zethrid yells as she looks at me before pulling me away from the wall
I hear the alarms start to go off and red lights start to flash around the hall and the room.
"Looks like you've been caught." I laugh as I pick up my other hand to show her a button
"They gave you something to trigger the alarm?" Ezor says "They trust you that much?"
"They're my family." I laugh
Zethrid brings me back a bit before deciding to throw me through my doorway. I growl as I try to stand up before Ezor wraps her tendril around my waist and pulls me back towards Zethrid.
"I think I know a way we can get out of here without any harm," Zethrid says as she looks back at the other two
"Just because you have me, doesn't mean they won't hurt you," I say as I look at them
"It will if we are threatening your life," Zethrid says
"Do we have to threaten her life? She never did anything to us." Ezor starts
"If we want out of here in one piece then yes," Zethrid says
"You guys are just wasting your time if you continue to stand here," I say as I roll my eyes
Zethrid looks at me before throwing me over her shoulder as starts to run towards one of the exits.
"Who sounded the alarm?" Pidge asks
"Wait, where's Nat?" Lance asks "She's part of the team, she should be here when you make us get out of bed."
"Yo dummy, she's the one who sounded the alarm!" Keith says
I hear running footsteps as I try to lift my head and I see Shiro running when he finally spots Narti's tail. I try to lift my leg to wrap it around Zethrid's neck but she sees my move before I can even make it and grabs my leg as she tightens her grip.
"Guys, I found them!" Shiro yells
I feel the running come to a halt before I'm thrown to the ground, immediately being picked up by Narti's tail. I pick up my hands and try to fight against her tail.
I watch as the others show up and they study the group in front of them before they look at me then point their weapons at the generals.
"Do you want to watch your friend die?" Zethrid asks
I watch as Narti gets Ezor's attention and points towards Shiro then at me. I watch Ezor make the connection the steps up next to Zethrid.
"Zethrid, look at the black paladin." Ezor whispers
"What about him?" She asks
"Narti pointed out how similar they look." She says
"That must be the brother she talked about in her sleep." Zethrid says as she looks back at Shiro "Wait a minute, he's the Champion."
I look at Zethrid as I try to pull free from Narti as Shiro looks at them in confusion.
"Just put Natasha down and you guys can walk free." Keith starts
"That's all we have to do?" Zethrid says
"Honestly, yes. We don't know how you got in here undetected but just put our friend down and you can leave." Hunk says
Narti looks towards the other two when Zethrid nods and Narti throws me towards the others as I collide with the floor and they runoff.
I push myself off the floor as I watch them.
"Lance let me see your gun real quick," I say
He slowly hands me his gun as it takes the form of a laser sniper and I aim it towards Zethrid's back and take a shot, barely missing her as they leave the castle.
"How did they even find us?" Pidge asks
"I don't know. But I may have an idea." I say as I hand Lance his bayard back
"Nat, why didn't you fight against them?" Keith asks
"Well when I figured out who was in my room, I couldn't really access my bayard as they had my path blocked," I say as I look at them as I go to walk towards the Lions' dens
"Tashie, where are you going?" Lance asks
"I want to see if I can find the tracker they might have used to find us." I say "Pidge, Hunk, think you guys could help?"
"We can do our best," Hunk says
"That's all I can ask," I say