It was a simple mission: sneak in, plug a thumb drive into a console, have Pidge extract data, and sneak out. They'd done it a thousand times.
So why, this time, had it all gone so wrong?
Keith grunted with exertion as he sliced another drone in half, sweat dripping off his raven-black hair and splashing into his eyes. He blinked it away tirelessly. Since it was such a straightforward mission, Pidge was back at the castle with her computer, claiming it was easier to extract information with all her tools. Shiro was with Hunk at the Balmera, helping to excavate a crystal needed to power the castle's healing pods. And Allura was racing the castle to the battle scene, but Keith knew in his heart; she wouldn't make it.
That left himself, and one blue-armored paladin, and too many Galra drones to count.
Even though Keith knew that the lions weren't far away, they'd never make it if they retreated. Exposing their backs for a moment would result in certain death. They were up against a wall, Lance shooting the sentries that were out of range of Keith's blade, and Keith in turn destroying any that got close. They werea good team, but it wasn't going to last. Keith could hear the panting breaths of the boy beside him, signaling he was getting as tired as he felt himself. Regardless, they both kept going; because they had no choice.
Lance yelped as a beam of light surged past his face, leaving a cut across his cheek. Sweat poured into the wound and mixed with the blood beginning to trickle down his face. Keith gritted his teeth. This was getting way too close. He had to do something, and fast. His joints ached with the strain he was putting on them, but he kept going. His mind was racing with an escape plan, with a strategy, anything that could get them out in one piece. His mind was so scattered, that it failed to notice a drone clambering up on a console for a better vantage point. He didn't notice it take aim, and he certainly didn't hear it pull the trigger.
All he felt was pressure in his shoulder as he crashed to the ground. He gasped, trying to breath, and tried to stagger back to his feet. There was a weight on top of him, and he realized a head of brown, dirty hair was pressed against his chest. Horror welled up inside him. What had just happened? The army had advanced with both paladins seemingly incapacitated. Lance was hauled off of him, his head lolling across his chest. As Keith was roughly pulled to his feet, he inspected his teammate closely, and realization crashed into him like an ocean.
Lance's entire chest was coated in fresh blood. HIS blood. Keith couldn't tell where the wound was, but the red substance was dripping down his body, covering his armor and leaving a slick trail of liquid as the Galra dragged him to their ship like a sack of potatoes. Keith knew in an instant what had transpired on the battlefield. As his helmet was ripped off and a blow to his head sent him grasping to maintain consciousness, he squeezed his eyes shut at the pain that was mysteriously in his gut instead of his head.
That shot was meant for him.