Keith's POV:

Surviving what I did shouldn't have been possible.

I should have definitely died, but thanks to the healing pod and no thanks to Lance, I'm alive.

But let's just say being alive wasn't exactly an upgrade from death.
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Keith's POV:

The soft whoosh of the pod filled my ears as I opened my eyes.

Blinking, I quickly stepped out of the pod shakily, wanting to get out as soon as possible.

My vision was slightly blurred and my legs didn't quite want to work yet.

I stumbled around a little trying to find balance as my vision regained clarity.

I cursed inwardly for a few moments as I stumbled around like some kind of drunk.

After a few moments all my senses were working again and I saw Lance and Pidge staring at me.

"What are you looking at?", I asked annoyed staring back at their stunned faces.

Why did people have to stare at me like that?

Pidge just hugged me in response, wrapping her arms around and burying her head on my chest.

I stood there a little shocked and stared at the girl who had me in a tight embrace.

"Pidge, you know I really don't do hugs.", I told her wriggling uncomfortably.

Pidge said something but it was muffled in my healing pod suit.

"Huh? I can't understand you.", I said confused.

"She said,", Lance translated, "'That you're just going to have to suck it up and deal with it.'"

I stared down Lance, "Are you telling me you really understood what a word of what she said?"

Lance nodded, "Yup, so suck it up mullet."

I groaned and wriggled a little more, trying to get Pidge to release me from her hold.

Pidge tightened her grip on me as Lance suddenly joined in the hug, trapping me even further.

"Guys... I'm fine...", I breathed as Lance looked straight into my eyes, his gaze deep and intense making me trail off.

"I-I thought I lost you Mullet! I thought you were a goner!! Don't EVER do that to me me again!!", Lance suddenly exploded angrily as I felt Pidge look up at Lance in surprise.

I blinked.

Lance was staring at me in a way I couldn't break away from.

Concern and anger both poured out of his eyes while some guilt seemed to swell in his blue irises.

"L-Lance I..."

"Bum bum bum!!", Lance interrupted waving his hand in my face, "No excuses! No ever doing anything that reckless ever again, you hear? EVER AGAIN."

Pidge then kicked me in the shin, "Yeah! No more stupid stuff Keith!", she yelled joining in.

I backed away from them, "Ow Pidge, geez... do you guys really think I meant to get beat up by that guy?"

Before anyone could respond the whoosh of the entry doors caught our attention.

"Hey Lance, I know you've been in here for a while so I decided to bring you a snack. I know, I know, I know you said you don't really have an appetite, but I won't take no for an answer so you're just going to have...", Hunk said entering the room holding a bowl of assorted treats.

He then stared at me and dropped the tray, running toward me full steam his arms out for a big hug.

"You're okay Keith! Oh I'm so happy right now!!!", Hunk gushed as he grabbed as I tried to duck out of his embrace.

He squeezed me lovingly and then grabbed my shoulders, "Wait- how are you alive? That doesn't matter I suppose. Oh gosh- How long have you been out of that pod? Are you feeling good? Do you need any food, are you hungry for anything in particular?", he asked me.

"Uhhhhh..."

"He's been out for only a few minutes Hunk and Keith's all good!", Lance answered intervening for me, "Give him a little space. And I'm pretty sure Keith is starving, am I right?", he asked me while smiling.

Pidge adjusted her glasses, "He just came back from the dead... I don't know if he's gonna be hungry."

"Nonsense! That Mullet needs food in his belly after nearly having it spill out of him!", Lance countered.

I raised an eyebrow, "That was blood Lance."

"Your point?"

"My point is I lost a lot of blood, not food...", I stated as Lance raised his eyebrow instead.

"But you lost nutrients and y'know... forget it.", he said throwing his hands in the air, "We're all going to eat now, like, right now!"

"Yeah!", Hunk said wrapping his arm around my neck.

"You're suffocating me Hunk!", I said as I was dragged into the dining room under his strong muscled arm.

The group pulled me to the table and Lance sat me down into the chair as Pidge ran off and to grab the others.

I put my face into my palms.

"This really isn't necessary guys, I'm fine.", I tried as Hunk and Lance practically fussed over me, "I feel great."

That failed.

In fact that only egged them on. But what was I expecting? This was Lance we were talking about.

"There is no way you feel fine! Not until Princess Allura says you do!", Lance said as Hunk put a plate in front of me, "She'll know if you really are okay or not!"

"Don't you think you're overreacting?", I asked annoyed as Lance shoved some green space goop into my mouth.

"Not at all.", Lance answered as he shoved another spoonful into my mouth as I tried to protest.

I shoved back from the seat and stood up, holding up a butter knife warningly at the two as they rushed at me.

"Enough already! Stop toting me around, freaking out and shoving space goo at me! You're only frustrating me!!", I yelled as I pointed it at them so they wouldn't force me to do who-knows-what.

Ok, to be honest, I didn't like taking that extreme with them.

But I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Just... can you just... guys just give some space.", I said lowering the knife and sighing, "I'm glad you care but you're suffocating me. I'm fine Ok?"

Lance nodded, "Sorry..."

"Thank you.", I breathed as I heard Allura and Coran yell from the next room.

"My god... What now??", I groaned as the two Alteans rushed in with Shiro close on their heels.

"Keith!!!", Shiro yelled pushing past Allura and Coran, nearly mowing the Alteans down.

His face was a mix of disbelief as he rushed over and grabbed me in a hug, his body shaking as I felt his tears of relief and happiness.

"I almost... y-you don't even know...", Shiro's sobbed into my shoulder as he pulled away to get a look at me, "God, you're alive!"

He smiled at me even through the misery and sadness that showed on his face.

I felt my heart twang a little seeing Shiro like that-

I had only seen like this once ever... when Adam, Shiro's X-boyfriend, broke up with him.

"Now he's got the spirit of a yalmore!!", Coran chipped in, impressed.

"Do you compare everything to a yalmore?", Pidge asked him annoyed as she crossed her arms.

Coran pulled on the edge of his mustache while gazing up at the ceiling for a moment, "Why, now I think of it... it seems I do compare yalmores don't I? Well, I mean who wouldn't? Such a strong admirable species..."

Pidge sighed and rolled her eyes as Hunk just looked confused.

"Keith, how are you feeling?", Princess Allura asked me pushing past Coran and Pidge.

I took a deep breath, "I'm fine alright? I'm here guys!", I addressed to them all hoping that I wouldn't be smothered by anyone else; questions or otherwise, "I'm not going anywhere."

"You're sure as heck right about that.", Shiro said assuming his stern space-dad voice, "The only place you're going is bed."

I groaned.

"You may have survived Keith but I still want you to rest up- I don't want to take any chances with you.", Shiro explained as he led me to my room, "Just take it easy for a while..."

"It's what's best for you man.", Lance agreed nodding as I grimaced.

Hunk patted me in the back, "We just want you to make a full healthy recovery Keith. You'll be running around doing more missions in no time!"

"You guys know it isn't like me to just wait around...", I said annoyed, "Besides... I did all my recovery time in the healing pod."

I stood my ground as everyone gave what I suppose were very valid reasons why as I should go and rest.

Crossing my arms, I stared the room down, "I'm FINE."

Allura threw her hands up in the air, "I've had it! You're going to rest Keith and you're going to like it!!", she said aggressively.

Then before anyone could react she had her palms on my head and the world went dark.

And that's when strange dreams claimed me, forever changing the person who I was-