Keith was feeling overwhelmed. He had never been one for standing up to defend himself. He had learned early on that defending yourself from verbal confrontations never worked in your favor. There had been times before where the situation got even worse if he said anything. He honestly didn't care what others thought of him.
He had been called enough names that he wasn't affected much anymore. He was an orphan, had been for a long time now, and that usually meant being called things and picked on. Keith never really cared one way or another.
But when it was his family -the only people he's ever seen and let himself get attached to- it hurt more than Keith could admit. Allura hated him to the point where she avoided him and vis versa. She ignored him, and when he actually chose to speak, she glared at him like he were Zarkon himself. Keith considered her one of the sisters he had never had before. So it killed him when she acted like he was something bad and not necessarily someone bad. He didn't know if he needed to give her space or eventually talk to her.
He sighed as he wiped a sweaty palm over his face...he wasn't going to cry...he told himself he wasn't.
Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Coran noticeably didn't react too much to the news. He knew they were undoubtedly surprised and slightly hurt that he hadn't said anything, but Keith hadn't known until the trials were over. He was supposed to go to the Wemblem to get more scultrite with Hunk, but he wasn't sure if he could manage the questions that were going to be aimed at him.
He quickly pulled his chestplate over his head in one solid motion before stuffing his helmet on. He shuffled out to Yellow's hangar to wait with the others. They all gathered at the same time, and Shiro came near.
"Keith," he smiled softly before his grin dropped the slightest, "Are you okay?"
"I..." Keith glanced at the others with a worried gleam, and the Black Paladin seemed to understand what he needed. Gently pulling the younger man away from the crowd, Keith almost sighed in relief as they stood about ten feet away from the others. Before he could comprehend exactly what was going on, a black-gloved hand was stretched out to him. Without thinking -on instinct and past remembrance- he fondly took hold of the hand. Twisting their hands between the two and throwing the other hand over each other's shoulders, they moved into a warm hug.
And Keith didn't realize that this is what he needed at that moment. He tucked his head near the other man's shoulder as hot breath coated his left ear. If he could, Keith would stay here for hours more. To feel safe and at home and accepted for who he was and what ran through his veins.
He didn't know how Shiro could accept him so easily. Part of Keith's race had been the ones to hold him prisoner for a whole year. The same ones who forced him to barely survive. The same ones who ripped Shiro's flesh arm from his body and replaced it with a Galran one. And Shiro was being just as -if not more- supportive of Keith. It made all the more reason why Keith cared so deeply about Shiro. The man never gave up on him.
"It's going to be okay," the whisper tickled his ear as Keith shifted his head to the side just enough to look into hazel grey eyes, "You're still you. You're still the Keith I met at the Garrison, and you're still my best friend."
Keith let out a tiny sigh as a small grin lit his face. How had he ever been worthy of knowing this understanding man before him?
"It doesn't matter that you're part Galra," Keith could feel the white fringe of hair fall onto his own locks as they stood there, "You've saved me multiple times, and I'd save you no matter what. Don't let them get to you. The others -even the princess- will come around. Stay safe? And remember-"
"Patience yields focus," Keith grinned softly as he let his breath out slowly, "Thanks, Shiro."
"That really did stick with you," the man sent him one of the warmest glances he had ever seen as his voice softened just like when they were on the planet alone after the wormhole crisis.
"Well, you've always given me good advice," he grinned as he pulled back from the embrace, "And I've always listened to you."
They shared a peek into each other eyes before carefully pulling away. Keith happened to caught the princess watching them, and sighed inwardly when she turned away as if she were disgusted. Eyes downcast, he tried not to walk away too quickly as he boarded Yellow. He didn't bother waving back at them as his eyes stared down. With his back turned to them, the others couldn't see his reaction anyway.
Like Shiro had said...It was going to be okay. The Altean may not like him and the others may be wary, but someday, things would hopefully be okay. It might not be that day, but it would. Keith had absolute faith in Shiro, and if he believed it, Keith could too.
He just had to...deal with it while it happened. He glanced at Hunk as he piloted the lion. Standing with his arms crossed and leaning back, he almost missed when the yellow-clad man started talking.
"Patience yields focus," echoed in his head the rest of the mission.
