Pidge has found Kuro's shuttle and cornered it on the planet. He gives her strict instructions not to engage until he and the others arrive. He won't repeat the mistakes of last time.
When they land, its four cats surrounding one tiny mouse. Kuro doesn't respond to his hails for surrender and turning over Keith. He didn't expect him to accept the terms, but he expected the monster to at least answer their hails so he could taunt them more. The silence worries him. What if-No, he can't let his mind wander down those lanes, not right now.
He leaves Hunk inside his lion, ready to snatch the shuttle out of the air if Kuro tries to take off, as he and Pidge approach the entrance to the ship. Lance is further back covering them. He has strict orders to take the first kill shot he gets with Kuro. They are here to rescue Keith alive, and the best way to do that is to make sure Kuro dies as soon as possible.
The door panel still responds to his authorization codes, seems Kuro didn't know how to change them either or just rightly surmised if they got this close the minor security provided didn't matter anymore. Shiro opens the door and immediately hear the cries for someone to stop.
He moves in on instinct. He'll kill him. He spots Keith kneeling with his back to him in the middle of the room. Long bloody streaks leading down to his bound wrists and broken fingers. He's alone, Kuro's not in this room. Shiro crosses the space to get between Keith and the only area Kuro could be hiding. He won't let him be taken hostage again.
Pidge has caught up. Shiro leaves guarding Keith to her, and sweeps the rest of the ship. Kuro's not here, but he can hear his laughter and Keith's voice getting higher and higher pitched in terror. Doubling back to the room with Keith, he sees the screen. He'd dismissed it as not a threat on first pass, but now he can see that Kuro left them one last recording of his sick games.
Keith's screaming on the video. Pupils blown wide, staring at his forearms in horror. Then he starts to scratch, nails tearing at his own flesh-"Pidge! Turn it off Now!" He bellows. Keith, he needs, he needs to make sure he's okay.
The current Keith is still kneeling exactly where he was when they first came in. He's shaking like a leaf, but hasn't responded to any of the noises they've made crashing through the room. There is something cupping over his ears and what looks like a blindfold over his eyes. "Keith?" Shiro tries, but Keith doesn't behave as if he can hear him. The things on him must be to cut off his sense of hearing then. Shiro needs to get them off. Let him know he doesn't need to be scared anymore. Shiro's finally here to rescue him.
The sound of the video cuts off, as Shiro takes Keith's head gently in his hands. The younger man flinches back, "Don't," Keith whimpers. He thinks he's Kuro, and Shiro isn't certain if he wants to cry or scream at that thought. He holds him still, soft but firm enough that he can get a good look at the clasps. No locks, he doesn't have to hunt down a key or figure out how to physically cut them off without injuring Keith further.
The blindfold unsnaps with a pop, revealing that Keith's eyes are squeezed shut underneath. The smaller man makes a distressed noise, like he thinks he's about to be hurt further. Shiro pets his hair, shushes him, even though he knows he can't hear. He won't let anyone hurt him again. The ear muffs follow the blindfolds to the floor, and finally he can hear.
"Keith?" Shiro whispers, praying that he hasn't gone somewhere he can't reach him.
Keith's whole body stills, pauses before one eye peeks open to look up at him from where he's cringing against Shiro's hands, "Shiro?" Keith whispers back, eggshell weak hope in his voice.
"It's me, baby," Shiro says softly, heart fluttering as both Keith's eyes open to stare at him. Fear draining from his expression, "It's going to be okay. You're safe now."
Note:
Does this count as a breather? Eh I'm going to count it as quiet before storm. Hope you enjoyed the reunion before all the issues from Keith's captivity hits them.
