You’d heard whispers about him before he even set foot on the Blade’s base.

The human. Half-Galran. Chosen by Kolivan himself. Apparently used to fly a lion. Which made you wonder what kind of person gets pulled from Voltron into the most secretive network of spies in the galaxy.

So when the doors slide open and you see him—messy hair, scuffed armor, wide eyes trying to take it all in—you’re already watching from the upper level of the base.

He notices.

Your eyes lock for half a second too long. He doesn’t look away.

Later, you’re in the common corridor when you see him again, walking alone, probably still trying to memorize the layout.

You decide to be civil.

“You’re new,” you say simply.

He blinks, startled, then nods. “Yeah. Keith.”

You already knew that. “I know.”

He glances at you, half-suspicious, half-curious. “Do you… work here?”

You raise a brow. “Work here?”

Keith rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry. I just—I don’t know what I’m doing yet. Kolivan gave me this whole welcome speech that wasn’t really a welcome speech and then disappeared.”

“That is his version of a welcome speech.”

Keith cracks a faint smile at that. You gesture for him to follow as you start walking down the hall.

“You’ll get used to the base,” you say. “It feels like a maze until you stop trying to understand it.”

“Great,” he mutters. “Very comforting.”

You glance over at him. “You nervous?”

He hesitates. Then shrugs. “I guess. I’m used to fighting with a team. Now I’m just… here. With people who wear masks and don’t talk much.”

“I talk.”

Keith gives you a look. “Do you?”