Chapter Text
“Where the hell is it!” Keith slammed his hand down onto the map and let out a frustrated sigh. He started to pace the office. He threw an old chalice towards the door, just as his first mate, Shiro, opened it.
“What did that thing ever do to you?” He let out a small chuckle and shut the door behind him. Keith didn’t give a response other than the frustrated eye roll, he stepped aside to show Shiro the map. As Shiro studied the red and blue pins that littered the paper he wrinkled his brows in confusion.
“We’re not even close to finding out its location.” Keith ran a hand through his hair and resumed his pacing. Shiro bit his lip as he examined the map. Keith was right, they still had no idea where it was.
Shiro didn’t even know what it was.
Keith glanced at him, debating if he should know. Shiro lost an arm in a search he doesn’t even know exists. Him- and Keith's entire crew for that matter- were completely loyal to him. It scared Keith.
His thoughts raced through his mind at the speed of light. Just as he was about to confide in Shiro about what they were looking for, he felt the ship shake beneath his feet. He grasped at the desk and Shiro collapsed.
“Shit!” He seethed and grabbed his foot, having bent it on the way down. Keith looked around in a haste. Was it a storm? A raid? Or worse?
“Captain!” Pidge burst through the door, breathless. Her sword was gripped tightly in her hand. Her knuckles were white and her voice shook. “We’re being attacked.”
Keith stood straight up at that. He knew who it was with a single glance at her face. The way her chest heaved as if trapped, and the sweat that lined her forehead. The blood on her lip from her own teeth and the terror trapped in her eyes were only caused by the second biggest pirate crew in the sea.
“The Greed of Killers” Shiro's whisper cut through the tension that hung in the air. Without a second thought, Keith bundled his hair into a small ponytail, grabbed his sword, and strapped the gun the red, silk cloth wrapped around his waist.
He flew up the stairs to witness the havoc. The madness and violence made him flinch, fear for his crew filled him. At least until his feet were swept out from under him. He looked up to see the culprit.
Acxa. Lotor’s first mate. Keith quickly rolled to the side to dodge the sword coming down on him. He gripped the swords handle and swung. As the metal clashed he tried his hardest to block out the screams and cheers of his crewmate.
Yet- one very specific person seemed to be missing.
Lotor.
“The Night Raiders will soon belong to us,” Acxa growled as Keith deflected another blow. “So why not just give up.” He dodged to the side and pinned her to the ground, quickly drawing his gun.
“I don’t think so.” He seethed and held the pistol to her head. Moments of silence ensued between the two as Keith froze. He couldn’t do it, he couldn’t pull the trigger.
Acxa realized this and gave a small laugh. “My, my,” she purred as she quickly climbed to her feet. “The all might captain Logan’s can’t even kill to save a life.” Her arms snaked around his neck as the playful smile she wore quickly dropped.
“Remember,” she whispered. “You has your chance, and you couldn’t pull the trigger.” She knocked Keith down and disappeared, to fuck knows where. He sighed and stood up, there was no time to feel guilty, he needed to be a captain.
“Man the cannons!” He cried out into the crowd. He could see hunk, pidge, Allura, Shay, and Coran rush to the cannons. They loaded them up and readied the fire.
“Ready!” He thrust his finger towards The Greed of Killers.
“Aim!” He grew more determined to drive the scoundrels away.
“Fire!” Just as the cannons were lit, he heard a painful shriek emit from his office.
“Shiro!” He raced into the captains quarters to find Acxa with the map tucked under her arm, and Shiro lying on the ground. His shoulder was covered in thick, red syrup. It decorated his face as well.
“You should’ve taken the shot.” Her words rattled in his head as watched her dart away. He could hear the sound of retreat above the deck, as the crewmates went about tending to their wounds.
“I’m so sorry,” Keith said in a panicked rush as he grabbed some whiskey and quickly called over Romelle, the ship surgeon. “God- I’m so sorry.”
Shiro rested his arm on Keith's shoulder and smiled. He gave a small nod, nothing much, but enough to let Keith know it wasn’t his fault.
“I’m sorry,” Romelle spoke up. “But I’m going to have to cut his shirt off, so... could you leave?” Keith gave a nod and pat on the back to Romelle before walking out. He moped around the ship and watched the crewmates clean the deck and drink the booze, as they celebrated another victory.
But was it truly a victory?
Soon, Lotor would know Keith /can’t/ kill. People would change their tales of the dastardly Kogane, to the cowardly Kogane. People would no longer shiver and weep at the mere sight of him. Instead, they would laugh and ridicule him.
“Captain!” Kolivan cried out from the lookout point atop the ship. Keith turned his head up against the glaring sun, as the wind picked up, his hair flew in his face, and the too-big too-loose shirt fluttered in the wind. “Cargo ship ahead!”
Finally, a light of hope in Keith’s despair. He gathered up the men and pointed to the cargo ship.
“That ship is a chance for better health,” he heard the cheers erupt before he even finished the sentence. “For full stomachs,” at the mention of food, Keith's own stomach rumbled. With the food shortage, he wanted to make sure his men ate before anything else, and if he had to skip a few days food, so be it. “And alcohol!” At the sound of their precious, the men cheered and readied the boat for invasion. Preparing to attack.
Keith could feel his luck turning around.