Kaede wanted to listen to their plan but she couldn't keep her eyes off of Aroshik. She was just waiting for the man to go off and make her do some crazy training exercise. But the man never did. He kept all his attention on the conversation.
"Kaede?" Keith asked. The galra girl looked at her brother. "Yes?" she hummed. Kaede had completely forgotten that Keith was beside her to be honest. "You're half galra, yeah." Kaede shook her head yes. "Do you know who your mother is?" he asked. Kaede shook her head no.
"I never met my mother. Kolivan said she had left before I was two." Kaede said looking at Keith. "I don't know my mother either. My father said that she left when I was very young." Keith said looking down. Kaede felt the note in her pocket burning. In the note, she had talked about leaving them behind. Did their mother know what she was doing? Did she know the pain she would cause them?
Kaede looked at Kolivan. She was stupid to think that he was her real father. He had lied to her just like everyone else. Did Kolivan even love her or did he see her as a burden like everyone else?
She was a filthy half breed who didn't deserve to be a Blade member.
Kolivan should have left her on Earth to be tested on. Maybe then she would have been of good use.
"Kaede?" Keith asked placing his hand on her shoulder. She shook her head and looked at him. "Sorry, was thinking." she said. Keith looked her up and down. There was something on his mind. She could see the gears working behind his eyes.
"Hey Keith." she asked. He closed his eyes and then looked at the group. "Yes?"
"What would you have done if you had a sibling?" she asked. Keith chuckled, "I don't know. I don't remember my family that much anyways. I do though," he looked up at her, "have these faint memories of my past." Kaede could feel the excitement building up in her. "What were some of these memories if you don't mind me asking?" she asked moving closer to him.
Keith rolled his eyes. "I remember the blue skies and my father chasing me. I also remember," he looked Kaede in the eyes, "this girl. She gave me this bear that I always carried around, but that's all I remember."
Kaede's heart swelled. That had to be her! There was no way it couldn't be.
"That-"
"KAEDE!" Aroshik yelled. The galra teen jumped at the sound of her name. She turned toward the senior officer. "Yes?" she asked.
"Have you been listening or talking this whole time?" Aroshik asked. Hanging her head Kaede walked over. "Sadly I wasn't." He scoffed at her. "Typical. Two galra half breeds not listening." Aroshik said. Kaede beared her teeth and let out a growl. "Do not talk about him that way. He is a Paladin of Voltron. And he will-"
Before any of them could blink, Aroshik moved and knocked Kaede on her butt. "You will not talk back to a commanding officer." he said holding her by her hair.
Kolivan tried to run up to his daughter, but the other Paladin's beat him to her.
"What the quiznak?" Pidge asked swatting Aroshik's hand away and helping Kaede up.
"How dare you speak to her like that!" Hunk said getting in-between the two of them.
"If you want to fight someone, fight me." Lance said pointing at himself.
Kaede couldn't believe that these three were standing up for her. She had just met them yesterday. They didn't have to do this. None of them did. "Ah. I see we have to have human's stand up for us. Pathetic that you need your other half to stand up for you." he whispered.
"Other half?" Pidge asked.
"AROSHIK BACK DOWN NOW!" Kolivan shouted. Aroshik smiled at Kaede as he turned away. "That will not happen again. Do you understand me." Kolivan demanded as Aroshik stood beside him. "Yes sir."
Kaede could feel tears forming in her eyes for the thousandth time today. All eyes were on her now and she hated it. Aroshik had just given her away and he knew it. She could see it in the way he looked at her. That stupid quiznaking smile! It was like he was wanting her to fight him. Show them that she is actually weak against him.
Turning around, Kaede walked out of the room. She needed some air or whatever was close to it on this ship.
Kaede looked at the stars as the castle moved. The stars looked so beautiful out on this castle. At the Blade headquarters, they seemed so far away and unreachable. Kaede though felt like she could reach out and grab one. If she opened up the window she could float away from all of this. Maybe landing on a random planet where she could live out the rest of her life.
Sighing, she knew she shouldn't let him get to her. He did all of that on purpose. He always has done stuff like that. But he was somewhat right. She was a half breed, which made her weaker. But she made up for it in her speed and agility. But that didn't stop those thoughts from entering her head.
Why did she have to be a stupid half breed?
Why couldn't she have been a normal galra!?
Kicking the wall, Kaede screamed. Sometimes she hated herself. Even though she knew she was better and could take on anyone, Kaede felt weak. She felt worthless. She felt...she felt like she shouldn't have been born.
Continuing to attacking the wall Kaede cried out all the anger she could.
A cough disturbed her tantrum. Turning around, she saw Allura standing there. "Have you come to take a shot too Princess?" Kaede snapped. Allura looked down. "No. The Paladin's told me Arishok." Allura said walking toward her. Her white hair glowing under the starlight. Even though Kaede was in the middle of a breakdown, she couldn't help but admire the princess's beauty.
"It's nothing. Okay. It's just how the galra work." Kaede said rubbing her neck.
The princess took her hand and looked at Kaede. "That isn't right. What he was-is doing is abuse Kaede." she said running her thumb over Kaede's knuckles. The galra teen wiped her eyes with her free hand. "I know that. But, I can't do anything about it Allura. I am just a half breed and galra scum, remember." Kaede said.
Allura tensed at the last bit. "I shouldn't have called you that. I was and still am, dealing with the fact that there are good galra." Allura said.
Kaede looked at the Altean princess. The starlight made her look so vulnerable and beautiful. "Hopefully I can help change that." Kaede said putting her hand on top of Allura's.
"We both have a few things to deal with don't we." she said with a smile. Kaede gave her a soft smile.
"You aren't galra scum and neither is Keith. I am so sorry that I said that. I know that I can't take it back, but hopefully one day you'll forgive me." Allura said. "I don't know princess. You were pretty firey the other day." Kaede teased. Allura pouted as Kaede giggled.
After awhile Allura was giggling too.
What seemed like vargas, Kolivan finally looked at the whole team. "I think we have plan." he said. "It's something that's for sure." Coran said looking at the projection. "It's dangerous, but if it works exactly as planned I think it will work." Shiro said.
"Key work, 'exactly'." Kaede whispered.
"Kaede." Kolivan said looking at his daughter. "I know, but if something goes the slightest bit off one or all of us could die." She turned and looked at Kolivan. Even though this man probably wasn't her father, she still loved him like one. The thought of him dying made Kaede's heartache. Like something was squeezing it so tight she couldn't breathe.
"I don't want any of us to die." she whispered.
Arishok laughed, "There is that other half of you. Remember, we do not fear death. We are the Blade."
Kolivan put a hand on Kaede's shoulder. She looked up at her father. For the first time in years, he actually looked his age. The stress and wrinkles of running the Blade for years were on his face. But his eyes said the same thing Kaede was feeling. Kolivan always hated losing members. Kaede knew he always blamed himself. Now he was putting everyone in the Blade at risk. If they messed up, the Blade could be wiped out.
Kaede and Kolivan could lose the only family they have ever known. Even if most of them were shit head.
"Let's go over the plan one more time." Shiro said. Everyone nodded.
"First," Pidge pushed up her glasses, "we will infect Zarkon's ship with a virus. Made by yours truly."
"Then," Lance pointed at Allura, "Allura will make this extra large wormhole. Then we lead Zarkon inside of it, zapping him like what, a bajillion light-years away." Kaede laughed at the teen. Even when facing a deadly situation, he seemed to be in high spirits.
"To do all that though we need to build a teladuv that Zarkon's ship can go through. So that means we need more scaultrite." Coran said toying with his mustache.
"Well, that on top of other things." Shiro said.
"Well that's easy. Just a simple trip to the space mall again." Hunk said proudly.
"There is a space mall! I must go after this." Kaede giggled. Hunk shook his head yes, "It's pretty amazing actually, we-"
"Silence. Do not indulge Kaede's fantasies. She is a dreamer when she needs to be a warrior." Aroshik said. Hunk glared at the galra man and mumbled, "I so do not like him."
"Sorry Hunk and Kaede, but no space mall. We need a lot more than the space mall can provide." Allura said crossing her arms.
"Which means that you and Keith will be in charge of getting it." Coran said. "Me and Keith! Why me?" Hunk asked. "Because your yellow lion can withstand a Weblum." Coran said.
"While they're gone," Shiro walked up, "Lance, Pidge, and I will go to Beta Traz and rescue Slav."
"Then I will be going to the Balmer to get some more crystals. I would like Kaede to accompany me." Allura said turning toward the teen.
Everyone's eyes grew big at this. "I thought you didn't like Kaede or the galra." Lance said. "Well, I need to start thinking that all galra aren't bad. The Blade," she glared at Aroshik, "has done little to show me they have. By taking Kaede with me, maybe she could ease those fears."
She walked over and put her hand on Kaede's shoulders. "I also need to know that Kaede will be loyal to Voltron." Kaede gave her a nod. "I will do everything in my power to help you and Voltron." Allura smiled at her while Aroshik scoffed.
"Princess you should allow me or Kolivan to assist you on this trip. Kaede only thinks with her emotions. You will more than likely end up dead." he said.
Allura turned around and yelled, "I will not have you talking about Kaede in this manner any longer. She is one of your fellow members and you should be treating her like such. If you want an alliance with Voltron then I suggest you hold your tongue. Let Kaede prove herself."
The room fell silent after Allura finished. Kaede looked over to see the man steaming. She was happy that Allura stood up for her, but she didn't realize what she had done. Sooner or later Kaede was going to feel his wrath.
"Okay then. If everyone does their part things should go perfectly." Coran said. Everyone gave a nod and started to go their own way, but Kaede was stuck in her spot. Her feet felt like they were glued down to the floor and she couldn't move. Once the room was cleared, it was just Kaede and Aroshik. He leaned into Kaede and whispered, "You will not get away with that."
Every muscle in Kaede tensed and her heart raced. Still frozen in place she watched as he walked out of the bridge. Once he disappeared behind the closed door Kaede finally breathed and her muscles relaxed. But she couldn't get rid of the fear that her punishment was coming.
Author's Note:
I feel like after witnessing that Allura would feel bad because she knows deep down no one should be treated that way. So that could lead to them talking more and become friends, but who knows. I am thinking of having them end up together, but idk. I have another girl in my head, but I am waiting for season 8 to make sure what I think is happening doesn't happen.
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