"You've been pulling away from us." Allura said, failing to keep the accusing tone from her voice. Keith clenched his jaw and balled his hands into fists, nails biting into palms.

"I'm done." He whispered softly to himself.

"What did you say?" Shiro asked, having been unable to hear the words that had been spoken.

"I'M! DONE!" Keith shouted. He pulled his bayard from his hip and flung it down. The weapon skittered across the polished floors, stopping as it impacted Shiro's feet.

"I'm done. I'm done! I QUIT!" Keith raged, "Find a new paladin for the Black Lion. I'm leaving."

"Keith..." Hunk began.

"You can't just leave," Pidge cut in.

"What will you do?" Keith asked in a low voice as he looked at everyone in turn, "Lock me up? Chain me to the lion?"His voice was rising in pitch and volume.

"Force me at gun point to form Voltron?" He was frenzied, downright hysterical. His breath came out in short pants, sweat clung to his reddened face and neck, every muscle in his body was tense. He was a cornered animal, poised to fight, to pounce, to bite and claw and scratch his way out.

"Keith," Shiro said softly, tenderly. Keith relaxed slightly, no longer in a primal state of mind.

"I'll pack my things and be gone by morning." Keith said turning on his heel. Lance caught his arm.

"You can't leave. We're the universe's only hope-"

"I don't want to be their hope!" Keith bit out.

"I don't want them to be hopeful! I want them to panic; I want them to feel the same fear I do. You sit there and wait for everyone else to fight your war." Keith wet his lips.

"While you guys were prancing about like show ponies, we were out there, fighting, dying, just to get a shot at bringing down the Empire." Lance took a step back. Keith took a shuddering breath.

"So braid your manes and paint your hooves, but don't lecture me about the war; you haven't fought in it." There were fierce tears welling up in Keith's eyes, frustration and sorrow mingling in salted waters, as he left.

He left.

He left.

And he didn't look back.