Nyle POV

We were helping escort some rebels in the Fimm System. Keith was nowhere to be seen. He had recently joined the Blade of Marmora about three months ago and he's been skipping out on our missions or joining late. And all of us had started to get sick of it.

I dug my lion's claws into one of the ships, not enough to damage it badly though, and started to follow behind everyone else. Keith came flying by and grabbed the last ship, flying with us.

"Well, look who decided to show up," Pidge said, sarcasm in her voice.

"Yeah, are you even taking this seriously?" Lance piped in.

"Sorry I'm late," Keith responded.

I only sighed and kept going. We eventually landed our lions and the ships at the drop point and we all headed towards the castle after to discuss coalition plans.

"Okay, everybody, today we'll be heading to Reiphod," Coran started. "A planet recently liberated from Galra forces."

"This is embarrassing," Keith spoke. "We're basically the grand marshal of a parade."

"Not a parade," Coran says. "A show of arms!"

"Whatever it is," Pidge started. "This is the second one of these we've done just this week."

"I know it's not exactly battling the Galra," Allura pipes in. "But believe it or not, this helps us boost morale and strengthen alliances."

"Right, right, strongholds, blah-dy, blah-dy, blah. Now, I say we go over our lion choreography one more time," Lance says. "I don't want a repeat of what happened last time, Hunk."

"I thought my lion had more room," Hunk replied, holding his arm.

Then Kolivan's voice brought us out of our minds. "Shiro, my apologies for interrupting, but this is an urgent matter. A Galra supply ship has been spotted passing through Quadrant Omega-Raylar-Six."

"What is it doing that far from the supply routes?" I asked, trying to look through where it fled off from on my wrist hologram.

"We can't be certain but taken together with the fact that Lotor hasn't been seen in quite some time and the emergence of this new form of quintessence, we feel compelled to investigate," Kolivan replied. "Normally, we would wait for better intel, but I believe we should act on this now."

"I'll send Voltron to intercept," Shiro responded.

"An infiltration mission makes more sense," Kolivan quickly responded. "We can plant a tracker and see just how far the supply route extends. With all the Galra activity as of late, my agents are spread thin."

"Not anymore. Count me in," Keith said as we all turned to look at him. 

"Hey, what about our performance?" Lance asked. "We can't razzle-dazzle the crowd with just five lions."

"This mission is more important than a show of arms," Keith says as he turns to the front. "Shiro?"

"How long will it take?" Shiro asked.

"Not long," Kolivan says. "But we must act fast, or we risk the ship jumping into hyperspace."

Shiro turned back to Keith. "Go. But when you're done, meet us on Reiphod."

Keith left to go meet with Kolivan before the rest of us headed towards Reiphod for the show.

We got to the planet and listened to Coran talk to the people for our cue to go on. 

"Citizens of Reiphod, on this day, we honor you for your perseverance," Coran started. "Your refusal to bow down in the face of such adversity is a testament to the fighting spirit of your people. You've put aside your differences and united to dispel the oppressive Galra regime, bringing freedom to all! We thank you for joining the coalition and continuing the fight against the Galra that began with the reemergence of the six lions of Voltron."

'That's our cue.' We all quickly flew out with a crop-dust-like trail behind us in the color of our lions.

We flew up into the air before doing some curves before Coran spoke again. "Right, uh, five lions."

"I thought Keith said he was gonna be here," Lance started. "He's going to ruin our show!"

"Lance, calm down. It's not the end of the world," I spoke.

"Lance, this isn't just about putting on a good show," Allura spoke. "It's about uniting people and bringing them to the coalition to help in the fight against Zarkon."

Lance sighed before speaking. "Fine. I don't even know why I try."

We continued to put on a show for the people while Coran kept talking. "By joining the Voltron Alliance, you are joining up with the Defenders of the Universe, who will do whatever it takes to spread peace and freedom to every galaxy."

We flew across the arena before flying straight into the air. "They're loving us! Razzle-dazzle!" Lance shouted. 

We did about a few more flips and flew into the sky. "And just as Voltron as shown what can be done when six individuals combine their powers together, so, too, can we combine our powers with those on planet Reiphod and grow even stronger. For it is the individual willing to take up arms that strengthens the whole. And with that strength, we will be unstoppable!"

We all just floated there because the team was supposed to form Voltron with me right above them but, we didn't have Keith so we just sat there. 

We all saw Coran panic for a minute before trying to fix things. "Uh, well, when he's together, he's like a big man. Like this," Coran said while putting his arm in the air and getting on his tippy toes. "But you have to imagine it with a sword and a big laser cannon. Look out, Zarkon! I'm Voltron, and I'm the biggest, baddest robot around! No, he actually doesn't talk like that, but I- that's what I imagined him saying if he did." 

I facepalmed and sighed, shaking my head. The show ended and we all went back to the castle. 

I went to the lounge after changing from my armor where Shiro was with Mereida. He looked up and hums softly. "Hey. I saw her in here playing by herself so I just thought I'd stay with her."

I smiled at him and sat down next to Shiro, watching Mereida playing on the floor with some of her toys. "That's fine. I had gone to change and left her for a minute so I could. Thanks for staying with her."

He smiled at me. "Don't mention it. I like being around her. Helps me not lose any sanity I have left."

I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head. "I guess so huh? She's grown up so much. She's gonna be a year old next month. April 11th."

Mereida looked over and smiled before slowly getting up, waddling over after a little struggle. I smiled and picked her up before holding her close.

"When did she start walking? I missed that," Shiro says.

I laughed some and kissed her head. "About a month ago. Keith was, leaving after getting a message while he was spending time with her and she got up to go after him."

I frowned some, leaning back because he left before he could see it. 

"What's the matter?" Shiro asked

I shake my head and looked at Mereida. "He missed it. I tried to tell him to turn around but, he said he had to go. He missed her first steps. I'm fairly upset because of it."

"He missed her walking for the first time? What? Really?" He asked, a little shocked. 

"Yeah, he did. And he's barely been with her ever since he joined the Marmora. I'm not mad that he did, I'm just upset that he's almost never here," I responded. 

"I'd probably be a little upset too. Maybe you should talk to him."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "He'd probably tell me that he needs to be with them because of how much they're finding out. He wouldn't listen to a damn word I say."

Shiro sighed as he got up. "Well, you should still try. You're probably the only person he'd listen to."

"Sure. I'll talk to him next time he stays longer than five minutes," I spoke as Shiro left.

I stayed there for a while, sitting with Mereida before going back to my room with her after grabbing all of her things.

Over the next couple of days, we helped more refugees and tended to them so they could try and restart. Every time I tried to talk to Keith though, he was never there long enough for me to get the point. So I just stopped trying.

There was one day we were all on the bridge, without Keith when a bunch of alarms sounded. 

"What's going on?" Allura asked.

"We've received a distress signal," Coran says. "Once of our convoys has been ambushed by a squadron of Galra cruisers."

"Our medical supply ships," Shiro added. "We can't allow the Galra to get them."

"We must leave immediately," Allura says. "Voltron can keep those cruisers occupied long enough for the supply ship to make their escape."

"Actually, Voltron can't," Pidge starts. "Keith is gone."

"They're probably on a mission," Shiro says. "I knew this would happen sooner or later. You'll have to go without Keith. The convoy needs you immediately. I'll send him to help as soon as I find him."

All of us ran to our hangers to get to our lions before heading towards where the convoy was, seeing them being shot at and one of them in a tractor beam.

"We gotta get that ship out of the tractor beam," Lance says.

"I'll try to ram it out. Cover me!" Hunk said, flying over towards the ship before a bunch of fighters came, having made Hunk needing to dodge them. "Never mind! There's too many! I can't ram that many!"

We all flew back to give us some distance before more ships appeared in front of us. 

"Shit, someone called for backup!" I yelled, turning on my shield generator.

We kept trying to keep away and dodge anything they threw at us. "They're everywhere!" Lance yells.

"There are more fighters than we've ever seen!" Pidge exclaimed.

"Allura, I need your help! I got two on my tail!" Lance shouted.

"I'm sorry, I can't get to you!" Allura replied. "They're all over me!"

"Guys I'm cornered! I got nowhere to go! I need help!" I shouted.

I got shot at and I managed to get a couple down before being almost completely surrounded. 

"I take one out, but two more replace it!" Hunk shouted.

"The supply shit is almost captured," Allura reminds. "Can anyone get to it?"

"I'm trying!" Lance shouted.

"Where are these guys all coming from?" I questioned.

"Watch out behind you!" Pidge shouted.

"Do the rebel ships have a shot?" Allura asked.

"I have a visual on them," Lance replied. "They're dead in the water."

"We can't do this without Voltron!" Allura yelled.

"Where the hell is Keith?!" I shouted.

Everytime I moved, I was getting hit. I took a look at my shield generator and noticed it was getting lower than I wanted.

"There's no way we can beat all these fighters with only five lions!" Hunk adds.

"You don't have to!" Shiro's voice came through.

"Shiro!" We all yelled in relief.

"No way!" Hunk says.

The Black Lion came flying through, destroying a bunch of fighters. "Converge on me. It's time to form Voltron! Nyle, hold them off as long as you can."

"Yes sir!" I shouted before using my jaw blade to get close enough to take some out as the team took off.

After a few moments, Voltron came down and swooped down. It started destryoing all the fighters and ships. I watched one of the ships explode and Voltron fly down away from it.

Voltron alternated from the sword and the shoulder cannon to destroy the fleets. I did whatever I could with my cannons.

Once all the rebel ships were safe and the fleet was destroyed, we flew close to the convoy.

"Rebel craft, you're safe," Shiro says. "We'll escort you the rest of the way to Olkarion."

We managed to get the convoy there safely and headed back to the castle. We all stood in the bridge when Keith came in, all of us giving disapproving looks. I'm not gonna lie, I was fairly upset at the moment.

"Guys, I..." He trailed off seeing us look at him. "I heard what happened. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."

"You keep saying you're sorry, but your actions say otherwise," Allura says. "Do you realize that your absence put the team in jeopardy?"

"And not just the team, the refugees as well," Lance adds.

"Matter of fact, the entire quadrant was in danger," Pidge points out.

"This is not the way I wanted this to happen," Keith started. "But, if there's a bright side to any of this, it's that my absence allowed Shiro to reestablish his bond with the Black Lion. He can finally be the leader I was unable to be. I'm not meant to pilot the Black Lion."

I furrowed my eyebrows and frowned. "Is that the reason you've been so distant with everyone?"

"Yeah," Keith replied. "I guess that's part of it."

"Part of it?" Hunk asked. "What's the other part?"

"The Blade have been making headway tracking the source of this new quintessence. They've been able to piece together a large network of hidden supply lines that have been secretly transporting it for who knows how long," Keith explained. "There's good reason to believe it could lead us directly to Lotor. A mission is being planned to infiltrate the supply line. It could take weeks, maybe months to pull off, but if there is a chance, we have...I have to take it. I need to be on that mission. Shiro, you are the rightful leader of this team. And you proved it today by reconnecting with the Black Lion. It was always meant to be yours."

Shiro walked up to Keith and put a hand on his shoulder. "Keith...if this is what you feel is right, then we won't try to stop you. But just know that we're here for you whenever you need us."

Keith smiled at Shiro. "I know you are. And I can't tell you how much that means to me."

The clasped their hands together and hugged. I sighed quietly and only looked away, my mind running everywhere as I tried to keep my tears in before I looked up on hearing Hunk shouting.

"I can't be left out of this," He said as everyone rushed over to give Keith a big group hug, crying. 

I stayed to the sighed and pursed my lips before shaking my head, looking away.

"We're really gonna miss you," Pidge says. 

"Yeah, who am I gonna make fun of?" Lance said sarcastically.

"I know you'll make us proud," Allura says.

They all pulled apart and I looked back up, seeing Keith staring at me. I frowned a little while taking a deep breath as tears started pooling in my eyes and pulled my hair out of the bun it was in.

He walked over to me and opened his mouth to say something before I stopped him, putting my hand up. "Stop, I know...I know what you're gonna say. You don't need to say it. Y-you, have no idea, h-how upset I am." I stuttered at the end because of the will power it took to keep myself from crying.

Keith sighed and looked at me. "Nyle I, I'm sorry I haven't been around recently. And that was wrong of me, I know that. I just, I didn't...I didn't know how to..." He trailed off, trying to find the right words.

I sniffled and hugged him tightly, leaning my head on him. "You better come back in one piece you hear me?"

"I will, don't worry," He said, hugging back.

I choked out a small sob and felt him hold me tighter. "I love you, dumbass."

I heard him let out a quiet chuckle. "I love you too, idiot."

I smiled a little and looked up at him, kissing him. He quickly returned it.

We pulled apart after a few moments and I hugged him again. "I'm gonna miss you Keith."

"I'm gonna miss you too. And I'll miss Mereida," He replied.

I heard her cooing so I looked over, smiling on seeing her getting up and waddling over to us. I looked at Keith to see his reaction and he was just staring in amazement before he smiled widely, picking her up. 

"Hey, look at you. You're walking," He said as she laughed, grabbing his nose.

"Dada, dada!" She babbled, causing me to laugh. 

"She's been walking for a bit," I spoke. 

"Has she? I, I missed it?" He asked, disappointment in his voice.

"Yeah, but, there'll be more time to see her do it when you come back right?" I questioned. 

He slowly nods and hugs Mereida tightly, kissing her head. "I love you Mere, be good for mama and take care of her while I'm gone."

I smiled as he handed her to me and placed a quick peck on my cheek. "I promise I will come back."

"I'll hold it to you Kogane," I replied.

He smiled at me before walking out, leaving us there in the bridge. 

I sighed a little and hum, looking at Mereida as she looked at the door. "Daddy?"

I smiled as I kissed her cheek. "Daddy's gone bye-bye ok? He's, he's gonna come back."