Snow's Savior (Keith Kogane x Reader)

It took a few seconds to realize that you were running, only after you almost tripped on your own two feet from your haste. Every step you took reverberated through your legs. Your body screamed at you to stop or slow down, but you couldn't. Not after what you heard.

His scream was unlike anything you ever heard before. He was not one to yell; when he did, it was sharp and intense, full of anger. But that was the most raw pain you've ever heard in his voice. Despite the years of knowing him, and knowing all the struggles he's been through, this was the worst of it. It was something you never wanted to hear again.

"Keith! Where are you?" You held the comm close to your ear, trying to hear for any sort of noise on his part. It was hard to, however, when the shouts of the other paladins were making their way through instead.

"What the hell happened?" Pidge's voice was high in worry. "I didn't get any signs of Galra entities around. The area should have been clear."

"Well, apparently it wasn't," Hunk yelped. "Keith, buddy, hold on. We're coming to get you."

A couple of curses came through before Lance started talking into the comm. "Shiro and I landed closest to him. We'll scope it out."

You felt a bit of relief knowing that Lance and Shiro were going out to look for him, but that didn't stop you from running. Nothing was going to stop you from getting to your boyfriend.

You arrived back at that field, the warm light of the sun hitting you where the tall skeletal structures you were hiding in couldn't. Past the pod you had abandoned to help Allura and the aliens hide, you saw the lions standing farther than you would have liked them to be. You knew that in other different circumstances, you would have taken the time to marvel at the giant lions all standing nearby. But now was not the time.

Behind you, you heard someone call out your name. Allura was right behind you, and she had managed to catch up to you even in that long dress of hers. You didn't bother to turn around.

It was way too sunny outside. The bright light of the sun and the blue sky were blinding you, and you thought with a trace of bitterness in your mouth that the pleasant weather was absolutely not the time. The weather was too beautiful for this moment. It was like the world was mocking you, turning your situation into a poetic scene for its own amusement. All you could think about was how the ground beneath your boots was too uneven for you to run as fast as you wanted, and that each moment you almost tripped on the grass felt like you were adding hours until you reached Keith.

You could feel the burn in your legs practically slow you down, and so you tried to push yourself even more to not lose your pace. Sweat was starting to drip down your face and back. You didn't know why that was where your brain went when you were so set on trying to reach Keith, but the itchy feeling of the clothes on your back pulling on your skin due to your sweat was starting to piss you off.

A little crackle came through the comm, causing you to pause in your run and glance at it. There was nothing else after that, and that was enough to make your mind start running again. Was that Keith? Maybe he was trying to reach the rest of you?

The lions were getting closer and closer with each step you took, but it still wasn't fast enough. What's more, your heart was starting to pound painfully hard in your chest. It wasn't like you could do much exercise on that ship. Slowing down, your heavy breathing was starting to dry out your throat. You coughed and leaned forward with your hands on your knees, aware of Allura coming up to your side.

"Are you alright?" Allura put a hand on your shoulder as you caught your breath. "Pace yourself. You will not be able to reach Keith if you push yourself this hard. He needs you right now."