Keith's pov

"Shiro, I don't like this..." I mumbled, hiding behind him as my case worker pulled into the driveway. "Please, Shiro, I don't want to go with them."

"Keith, I know but... I can't do anything." He sighed, turning to me and frowned. "I've tried everything I can. You'll be 18 soon and when you are I promise you'll come live with me."

Anger flared up in me as I bit my lip in frustration. I hate all of these people and I don't understand why Shiro can't just take me. I'm almost an adult and I can think for myself. Don't I have a say in any of this?

"I'm not going." I stated, the women knocking on the door just then.

"Keith, you have to."

"No." I stated, pulling my backpack onto my shoulder and straightened my jacket.

"They'll only call the cops again, Keith, please just go with them." Shiro now begged and went to open the door. Before the door was open I was gone, running out the backdoor.

Climbing over the fence I saw Shiro and the case working standing at the door. They called for me but I jumped down on the other side of the fence. Running down the alleyway I made it to the road and began my escape.
~~~~~

"Please tell me where you've been staying, Keith. I need to make sure you're safe." Shiro said following me around the kitchen as I made myself something to eat.

"Around." I shrugged, taking a bite of my sandwich. My empty stomach appreciating the food.

"Keith." Shiro said in a stern voice making me shrink back. It hate it when he uses that voice with me.

"Outside."

"What?" He asked in confusion. My chest tightening when I opened my mouth to say more but I couldn't fit a moment. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as he just kept staring at me.

"I-I've been s-sleeping under the o-overpass just a few blocks away." I finally said, seeing Shiro's frown grow even more.

"You haven't had a thing to eat after you saw me last, have you?" He asked softly as I sniffed and tried to hold back my tears.

Shaking my head I felt his arms wrapped around me tightly. A silent sob raking through me as I began to cry. I hate all of this. I hate the fact that people that I don't know make me live with them. I hate how I can't just live with Shiro already, and I hate the fact that I can't stop crying right now.

"It's okay, Keith." Shiro soothed, holding me close.

"I-I hate this, Shiro... I-I-"

A knock at the door made me freeze up and gap. Shiro's body stiffening as he looked down at me and then in the direction of the door. He gestured for me to be silent and he pointed to the pantry. I understood what he meant so I got up and went into the small space, closing the door behind me and found a spot I could hide in, pulling my knees against my chest.

"Hey, Shiro, it's bossed orders. They haven't found Keith yet and his case worker is on our tails about it." I heard Hunk's muffled voice.

"I'm worried about him too." Shiro said, their voices getting fainter as Hunk searched his home.

"Well, if you see him just give us a call." Hunk said before everything went silent again. I was still crying when Shiro opened the panty door and helped me to my feet.

"I'm going to fix this, Keith, I'll try to help again. But for today I want you to eat, take a shower, clean your cloths, and relax." He said, hugging me tightly.

He let me cry into his chest until I couldn't cry anymore. My eyes kinda burned and I was extremely hungry.

Eating the rest of my sandwich I put my cloths into the wash before going into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. My head against the cold tile wall as I let the water wash over me. The foggy air and hot water made my muscles relax as I took deep breaths to calm down. 

Shiro will figure this all out. Won't he?

"Keith? You okay?" Shiro called.

"Yeah." I called back, finishing up inside the bathroom and wrapped a large towel around myself. My cloths weren't done being washed so I pulled on the ones I was wearing before. Towel drying my hair after brushing my teeth with the toothbrush I had here.

"Shiro?" I called from the kitchen, tilting my head to the side when I didn't hear a response. "Shiro?!"

Looking around the home I couldn't find him anywhere. My heart instantly dropping when I saw a note on the counter.

My work called me, there was a code red and I had to leave. Please don't leave while I'm gone and I'll be back as soon as I can. Read the note, a little star was drawn on the top left corner.

Sighing I sat at the kitchen table and waited for my cloths to be done. My mood only getting worse as I waited for Shiro to get back already. I wish his job wasn't so busy and I knew a code red meant something really bad must've happened. What if it's raiders or Galra? Shiro could be seriously hurt but he would've told me if those were the cases.

I guess I'll just sleep, the bed here is better than the ground I was sleeping on before. It was worth the cold night if it meant I didn't have to go with those people. No more hurting, no more pain.
~~~~~~

"Keith, run faster, Keith!"

"Mom, wait!" I called as I ran in the direction I could hear her voice.

"Keith, they're coming!"

"Mom! Where are you!" I yelled, stopped in the muddy trail. The wind blowing around me, the smell of rain thick in the air. "Mom?!"

"You didn't save her." A man said, stepped out from the tree line.

"Where's mom?" I asked, the man only staring at me. His eye vacant of any emotion.

"She's dead because of you, Keith. You did this."

"What did I do? Where is she?!"

"Keith!" Mom yelled.

"She's dead, Keith."

"No she's not." I snapped, looking around in confusion.

I'm in an empty room now. The walls padded with one white light, flickering silently on the ceiling.

"You need to wake up now, Keith." A voice said, it felt like it was coming from everywhere.

"What?" I asked in confusion. "I am awake... where am I?"

"You're mother is waiting for you, Keith."

"Where's mom?" I asked, looking around but nothing seemed to change. There was no door, no way out. "Let me see her."

"She's dead."

"Let me out!" I yelled, kicking the wall as hard as I could, pain shooting up my leg making me cry out.

Opening my eyes I whimpered, holding my foot as pain throbbed through it. I accidentally kicked the wall in my sleep. It was all just a dream?

My heart was racing in my chest and my hair stuck to my forehead, the thin layer of sweat making me really uncomfortable. My mind still fuzzy with tiredness. All I wanted to do is sleep without having weird dreams that made my chest feel like it was being crushed.

Closing my eyes I willed myself to fall asleep but no matter what I did I just couldn't. My stomach giving a lurch when I kept thinking about my mom yelling for me. She's dead... I never knew my parents but they can't be dead...

Or could they?