#Hunk and Shay are somewhere in there

[imhereformysciencefriends]

Day 7: Clear Day Fair

Tags: @loturaweek2024 Clear Day, festival/carnival/fairgrounds, background Shiro/Keith, background Hunk/Shay, background Matt/N-7, food and carnival prizes, flirting

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“It’s hard to believe that just four decaphoebes ago, we were all at war,” Allura said, sliding her hand into the crook of Lotor’s elbow and resting her head daintily against his shoulder. No use getting too cozy: they’d resume walking soon. But for the moment she held onto her betrothed, (the talsean chain he’d gifted her burning a hole in her pocket, not quite yet ready to tell the others, and Altean engagements started out private, anyway) and enjoyed the sight of people walking about, smiling, laughing, eating, playing carnival games and riding contraptions.

“It is,” he breathed. Harder to believe for him, than her, some small piece of him, she knew, believing that he would never quite get this far, his father’s empire an endless and unkillable thing.

They stood together in companionable silence a long, long moment. The breeze rustled at the hem of her dress, a scandalous little thing that went down only to her knees, fluffy and ruffled, and left her collarbone and shoulders bare. He’d dressed nice for today, too, still anxious about setting aside his armor, but today was a day of celebration and joy. He was wearing an old Altean tunic Coran had found somewhere in the castleship’s storage, his arms as bare as hers were, and she enjoyed the sight and feel of his unarmored biceps quite nicely.

He turned to her, gently dislodging her from his shoulder, and smiled, just a little bit of fang poking out. “Shall we join in?”

She smiled back, warm and with a little happy twitch to her ears. “I think we shall.”

What to do, what to do though? They were surrounded by so many options, it was a little hard to choose.

Shiro and Keith were at the arcade, racing against one another on a level so high they had a small gaggle of children surrounding the mock pilot chairs, their one token stretching much further than the arcademaster might like. That was well and good for them, but Allura had spent quite enough time piloting the Blue Lion these last few decaphoebes, and Lotor agreed that such activities were more work than pleasure in his mind.

Hunk and Shay were on a slow moving ride, cozied up and cuddling in the lovebird-shaped railcar while they were serenaded by wacky mascots and bright colors. They traded back and forth gentle knocks of their foreheads, Shay guiding Hunk through the motion, and embarrassingly public kisses, Hunk showing Shay how. The cuddling definitely seemed pleasant, but the loud music and very public shows of affection weren’t exactly what the two royals would count as a nice (or romantic, in terms of the mascots) time.

Matt and N-7 were wandering the displays, children’s 4-H projects and adolescents’ experiments and community members’ quilts and crochet and knit works and artistry and sculptures and technological wonders and photography and baked goods and insect collections and mushroom displays and favored livestock all out on display, discussing what looked to be some sort of mechanical puzzle or contraption. That looked fun, also, but felt a bit underwhelming when they were at a fair. Maybe later, Lotor and Allura agreed they wanted to do something a little more fun first.

They began to wander, perusing their options, when Allura stopped him with a sharp tug on his hand. “Oh Lotor, look at that!” she said, pointing at a cute plush toy with giant marble eyes and soft fuzzy fur.

��Would you like it?” Lotor asked, cocking his head at the thing like he wasn’t quite sure what it was.

“That’s a tier three prize right there,” said the carnie, leaned back on their chair, “gotta get thirty points; you a good shot?”

“I am,” Lotor said confidently, walking up to the stall and paying for the game. Allura fluttered a bit to have him so willingly indulging her, and also to see him lift the mock gun with those pretty pretty arms of his.

His first shot went wildly off-mark. “Hm. The balance is off,” he murmured to himself, and corrected. The second was just shy of the center of his target, earning him two points instead of five.

Every shot that followed hit the dead center of their marks, and the carnie whistled, impressed. Allura could feel herself grinning, and extended her hands with a giggle as the carnie handed the stuffed animal to Lotor, who then promptly turned and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” she said sweetly, hugging the toy to her chest.

“Of course,” he said, looking quite pleased with himself, and a little flushed beside. She raised her eyebrows, then ducked her chin into the soft fuzz of her gift.

“And does my paramour enjoy providing me with gifts?” she asked, sweet and cheeky and looking up at him from under her eyelashes, shoulders drawn close to her ears.

At “provide” she actually witnessed his pupils dilate, and he licked his lips briefly before returning, “Only if my dearest enjoys receiving them.”

Giggling, she took his hand in hers again, now having discovered how they would spend their time. She pulled him to the next game with a prize she liked—not far indeed, as there was an abundance of plushies, shining trinkets, cheap plastic jewelry of absolutely no value, and kitschy souvenirs that caught her eye.

The ring toss went fine from the first throw, winning her a long-limbed plush that had magnets sewn in its hands so it could hang around her neck, he had to try twice at the game where he filled a thin tube with water but successfully perched a little plastic tiara on top of her head, making her giggle at having two, he tossed balls into baskets and flicked marbles precise distances, looking more and more smugly pleased with himself each time he handed her whatever it was that she had pointed at. They were burning through their tokens rather quickly, but eh, they could always purchase more, and Allura was certainly not going to stop him from piling her high with stuffed toys and assorted knick-knacks.

He struggled the most at stalls run by Unalu, surprising Allura not at all, but although she insisted that she didn’t need the prize that had drawn her eye, he insisted on victory before they left. It was sweet, and deeply charming, and as Allura’s arms grew more and more full of the prizes he’d won her she found herself gigglier and gigglier.

“Voltron plushies, toss a ring, win a plush,” another Unalu hawked at passerby, and this time Lotor was the one to stop them.

“A… purple lion?” he asked, one eyebrow as arched as she’d ever seen it. “That does not exist.”

Allura bent to observe the lineup closer, the five colors she was used to, yes, but also a pink, white, and purple lion propped up at the end of the line, many more clustered on the wall of the back of the stand.

She looked up at him, just a motion of her eyes, face still close to the purple offender.

“I do want it though,” she said through the fluff of three different plush toys.

Lotor hesitated, then blushed, then looked away. “Well. If the lady wants.”

“Then the lady shall receive! Very good, sir, ten tokens to play!” the Unalu prompted, and tried to hand Lotor a set of rings much smaller than the ones scattered about the display.

“These are not correct,” Lotor said, derisive and with the low tone that made her shiver.

“Of course they are! They just look small in your strong, masculine—hands…”

Lotor loomed over the swindler, scowling impressively.

“You know, I think I did actually hand you the wrong set, here you are sir, enjoy!”

The carnie swapped the rings out for the actual size, and Lotor relaxed. Observed his targets. And made every single toss.

“Woo!” Allura cheered, jumping a little, her hands full.

“Ah. Well. Erm, according to the sign, which is in your line of sight so I wouldn’t ever tell you anything differently, nine successful throws is three small prizes or one large one. So if your lady here wants the purple one, you get two mor—”

“The pink one! The pink and blue ones!” Allura interjected excitedly, and the carnie handed them over.

“This one’s for you,” she said, setting the blue lion on his shoulder like a cat would perch. The pink and purple one she settled beneath her arm, almost immediately losing them in the mass of the other plush gifts.

“Ah—your—”

“My lion, the one that is real, and actually exists. Not these silly fakes,” she teased, smiling up at him.

“Ah,” he said, and oh, she did far too thoroughly enjoy her ability to render this man speechless. It was intoxicating, seeing her beautiful, eloquent Lotor reduced to a pleased smile half hidden by his hand, ears tinged with his blush.

The smell of funnel cake, made of ground tubers instead of grains, as she might have had on Altea, yet still unmistakable, wafted through the air.

“Oh! We must have one!” Allura insisted, dragging him away from the games and into the hall of food vendors, ciders and grilled skewers and breaded pockets of meat and air-puffed ground tubers that also should’ve been grains if this were Altea and sweets and cloudsugar lining them on either side, and Allura joined the first of the lines.

“It’s sweet!” Lotor remarked when they got theirs, a dusting of sugar falling on his chest as he bit into the fried delight.

“Of course!” Allura agreed joyfully.

“It’s good.”

“Do you not often enjoy sweets?”

Lotor snorted, taking another bite. “You might recall that standard Galran fare involves uniquely bland off-beige paste and little else.”

“Well, yes, and we Alteans have our exceedingly green goo, but surely you must eat regular food when you are planetside?”

Lotor gave her a look.

“Lotor. Only eat half of that. We are going to try everything in this aisle.”

He laughed at her sudden seriousness, but Allura was not anywhere even close to joking. He dutifully waited with her in every single line, trying out savory meats and spicy candies and more sweets and buttery tubers at her prompting, eating whatever they’d just purchased while they waited in the next line. They bumped into Pidge, Hunk, and Shay in one of the lines, chatting happily while Lotor gnawed on a well-sauced bone of meat, and Hunk reminded them to hydrate while they were here. When they finished with their final shop (a meat skewer place with crisped alliums and bell peppers that smelled divine) she decided to play another little ploy on her intended, and guided him away from the crowd.

“This is good, as well,” he praised, seeming to enjoy the meat dishes the most out of everything they’d tried.

“Good! Give me a bite,” she said, resettling all her many plush gifts in both hugging arms, so she could not reach out and take it. Instead, when he began to extend the skewer to her, she opened her mouth and leaned forward.

“Allura?” he choked, eyes blown so wide they were nearly all pupil.

For her part, she blinked her eyes as big as they would go and stared up at him innocently. “My hands are full,” she commented, high pitched and sweet, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Won’t you feed me a bite?”

Feeding one’s partner was not quite so scandalous as kissing them in public, but it wasn’t nothing, either. She opened her mouth again, doing her best impression of guileless but probably blushing, herself, and watched her fiance visibly struggle with his composure before feeding her a bite.

“Mm! It is good!” she agreed, smiling for an entirely different reason.

“You are a wicked, devilish woman.”

Allura giggled, grinning wide, and spun on the ball of her foot with a little flounce of her dress.

“That’s me! Now, whatever shall we do next?”

[klanceficatalogue]

omg im so happy ur back!!!! i thought i was over klance but now that ur back ive been reading all the recs 💀 anyways..! can you share ur recent favs?

im so glad!! i would encourage everyone to leave nice comments on the fics they're reading too, even if they were published a long time ago :)

you can read through my favs tag here. here are some fics that have been in my marked for later for Literally 5/6 years LMAO. posting them here as an apology for never getting around to reading them before now.. - k

Soulmate Line by korns (3/3 | 23,523 | General)

Lance moves from a small town where everyone's soulmate lines branch outwards. He never expected his matchmaking abilities to work, especially with there being 7.5 billion people in the world, but moving to university has increased the chances of success more than he anticipated. With Pidge and Hunk's help, he starts a business pairing naïve college students together if their lines connect, and by the time Shiro's cousin, Keith, comes to tour the campus, he already has a reputation. So how can Lance explain who Keith's soulmate is when their lines connect, and yet they're total strangers to one another?

The Master of Disguise by NireYllek (6/6 | 33,569 | Mature)

“Wait, what that doesn’t make any sense.” Hunk protested. Pidge shook her head with a tsk. “It does if one of us is disguised as Allura.” Pidge flashed a smirk in Lance’s direction. “I’m sorry, why are you looking at me?” Lance protested. Something in Keith's brain clicked, he looked at Lance and then at the Princess. Put a little make up on him, a wig, and a dress and he could- OH my god.

//graphic violence //slavery mention

All That Still Matters by StoriesBeyondTheStars (12/12 | 49,274 | Teen and Up)

Everyone was born with a black mark on their wrist called a soulmark. Somewhere in the world, there was a person that had the exact same mark, and when the two people met, their marks would become coloured to show that they had found their missing half. That was how soulmates worked. To Lance, it was a pretty simple and straightforward thing. Until it wasn't.

(hunk/shay)

[aspenmissing]

𝚃𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚊 (𝙿𝚝 𝟷)

In the Bridge of the Castle of Lions, Shiro awakens to Sendak ordering Haxus to find the saboteur who is thwarting their plans.

"Haxus! I want whoever's in this ship found and terminated!" Sendak orders.

"Commander Sendak, I've received a transmission generating from somewhere inside" Haxus says. He plays Team Voltron's communication channel out loud. Allura and Pidge are heard speaking,

"There's not much time before they get the ship running again. You must shut off the particle barrier so we can get in" Y/N shuffles as her eyes open a bit.

"A-Allu-ra?" She mutters. Shiro, hearing her, looks down at her. 

"You got it. Tell me what to do" 

"P-pid-ge?"

"The particle barrier generator is beneath the main hull" Allura says. Y/N tries to move, but groans in pain.

"Y/N? Y/N open your eyes. Come on" He whispers, Y/N opens her eyes and looks up at her brother staring down at her "Oh. Thank god" He sighs in relief.

 "What happened? What's going on?"

"You and Lance were in an explosion. The two of you got knocked out. Lance hasn't woke up yet." Shiro explains as she slowly gets onto her knees. She turns her head to see Lance, gasping.

 "Lance" She gently shakes him "Lance. Your gonna be alright, buddy" 

"Find that room. Kill the Paladin!" Sendak orders. The Galra sentries leave "Repair the engine. Emperor has commanded us to bring him . This ship will rise before day's end" Sendak looks to Y/N "Well. Well. Well, I see the little earthling girl has woken up" Sendak says, smirking at her "How was your sleep?"  

"This is all your fault" Y/N grits her teeth. Sendak chuckles before turning back to the controls. Y/N hears a slight noise and looks up at the vent to see Soul "Soul? Go and get help" She mouths. Soul runs off as Y/N holds Lance closer.

"We're gonna be all right" Shiro mutters. 

==

In the bottom of the mine on the Balmera, two aliens approach Hunk and Coran from the darkness. Hunk raises his cannon Bayard in defence.

"Okay, don't come any closer! I don't know how to use this very well" The aliens step into the lights, they are two local Balmerans. "Wait a minute. You're not Galra." Hunk said when they came into the light. 

"Nor are you" The female Balmeran says. A Galra fighter yet slowly descends the mine.

"A patrol! Shay, we must take leave from these ones, now" The male says, placing his hand on Shay's shoulder.

"Wait, please! We need your help. If the Galra find us, they'll kill us" Coran says.

"Or torture us." Hunk adds

"Or keep us as some sort of creepy pet to play with how they please"

"Not our problem, Hairy Lip. Galra see us near you and they kill both you and us. Shay, exeunt!" 

"No! These many years only Galra have been seen here. I will not turn my back on the skylings." She says,

"...Vex!" Shay and Rax approach the Altean flight pod "Grab a side. In here. Hurry!" Shay and Ray push the flight pod out of sight; Hunk and Coran follow. The Galra patrol passes by without detecting them.

"Thanks for saving us. I'm Hunk"

"Shay. And this one, my brother Rax. How did you fall to us?" 

 "Well, we came looking for something. And you guys might be the right people to help us find it"

==

Pidge is inside the Castle of Lions at the Generator Room: a long hall of energy arcs. Pidge speaks to Allura through the team's communication channel.

"Pidge, have you made it to the generator room?" Allura asks.

 "I'm in. This technology is so advanced, I don't know if I can figure it out"

"Yes, you can. The lives of your fellow paladins are at stake. You can't give up." Allura says. Pidge reflects on her past. 

==Flashback==

In the past, she sat with her family at dinner.

"Hope you enjoy this home-cooked meal, Matt. After our launch to Kerberos tomorrow, we'll be eating freeze-dried peas for the next two months." Sam says.

"Don't lie. I know you love those peas, Dad. Matt jokes.

"It's true. Those Garrison chefs really know how to genetically manufacture a delicious vegetable" Katie sighs.

"I wish I was going up with you guys"

"Just you wait, kiddo. Something tells me that you're going to have your own crew someday. You're going to fly with them to worlds so far away, we can't even imagine. I bet my bottom dollar you're going to be part of something that makes the whole universe sit up and take notice" Holt says. Katie smiles. 

==

Later, she witnesses the news broadcast of the Kerberos Mission Disaster along with her mother.

"The Galaxy Garrison mission to the distant moon of Kerberos is missing, and all crew members are believed to be dead. The Galaxy Garrison has said the crash was presumably caused by pilot error. It is, indeed, a sad day for all humanity." The news anchor woman says.

==

Katie became enraged and hacked into the computers at the Galaxy Garrison. Iverson finds her in his office.

" You again? Get off my computer! How did you get past the guards?" Iverson demands.

"You said the spacecraft went down due to pilot error. I saw the video feeds from your probes. There's no evidence of a crash anywhere on Kerberos!" 

"Those feeds are classified! I could charge you with treason for hacking into them." Iverson says. He grabs Katie and drags her into the hall to a guard.

"Escort Miss Holt off the premises and make sure every guard knows she's never allowed on Garrison property ever again" The guard restrained Katie. 

"You can't keep me out! I'll find the truth! I'll never stop!" Pidge shouts. The Guard escorted her out and throws her onto the ground; walking away, leaving Katie on the ground. 

"Your Katie right? Holts kid" A soft voice says. Katie looks up to see a brown-haired girl, with cognac brown eyes "Sorry. Where are my manners" The girl smiles "Y/N Shirogane, my brother is Takashi Shirogane. He went up with your brother and father" She smiles "Now, let's get you off the ground" Y/N holds out her hand. Katie hesitates before taking her hand. Starting the unbreakable friendship between the two.

==Flashback End==

Pidge speaks to Allura through the communication channel.

"Okay. Talk me through it, Allura" 

"Shutting down the barrier from this room can be dangerous. Remember, the barrier is also a weapon. So, stay away from the energy arcs" Allura warns,

"Don't touch the giant lightning bolts. Got it." A blast was shot at me but rover quickly reacted and pushed me out the way. 

"Now, what I'm going to need you to do is—" Rover shoved Pidge aside just as a Galra Sentry fires lasers at her.

"Pidge! Hello? Are you there?" Pidge flees from the sentries

==

"A Pidge, what's going on?... Wait... the mice. Maybe they can help" Allura focuses and telepathically speaks to the Altean Mice "Friends, I need your help" The Mice are sleeping in Allura's room. They wake up to her talking and scurry off.

==

Pidge is trapped behind a structure in the Generator Room under laser fire; her map shows an exit shaft above her

"My only way out is two floors up? Seriously?" Pidge yells and avoid being shot. She generates a hologram of herself from her armour "Let's try this" The hologram of Pidge runs towards the energy arc.

"There!" A Sentry fires at the hologram, destroying it and hitting the energy arc, causing it to explode and takes out a Sentry. Pidge runs for the exit shaft above, using her grappling hook to reach it.

"Whoa! Can't believe that worked!" The Sentries fire lasers at Pidge; she flees with Rover. One Sentry instruct the others.

"You stay and guard the generator" One Sentry stays behind as two pursue Pidge. Pidge exits the shaft at the Training Deck. The two Sentries attack but Pidge defends with her shield and accesses the invisible maze

"The invisible maze. Let's see them get through this" The Sentries are trapped by the maze; one is destroyed by the maze's shocks. Pidge escapes through another shaft and the remaining Sentry pursues her. Pidge is hit by laser fire and falls down a shaft; she stops herself and drags the Sentry into the shaft with her Bayard. The Sentry falls and explodes, producing shock waves that make Pidge lose her footing. Rover stops Pidge from falling to her death

"Rover! Nice save, buddy" I said.

==

Hunk and Coran sit with Shay and Rax and their Balmeran family around a fire.

"Thank for the delicious soup. Are these potatoes in here?" Hunk asks. Hunk and Coran sip at bowls of soup.

"Grandma's special dish for special visitors" Shay says "Cave-root for the skin. Cave bugs for the soul"

"Oh!" Hunk and Coran retch. Coran tries to remain polite.

"Eheh...Thank you for the bugs" Shay's Grandmother gives Coran more soup. "O-okay, I think that's too many" 

"So, how many of you are down here?" I asked.

 "There are thousands here on Balmera. We worked and live In these mines" Shay's father says.

"We harvest crystals for Zarkon" Shay says.

. "Zarkon... That's so.. sad that he's enslaved an entire planet" 

"Zarkon may rule, but we still have family. That's where true happiness comes from" Rax stands.

"Galra would tear our family asunder if they found these ones. Everyone comes to Balmera and takes, but gives nothing in return" Rax says.

"In the past, those who took the Balmera's crystals would replenish her with energy. It was an equal exchange. But the Galra only take" Shay places her hand on the ground; it glows, and the Balmera is heard "It is no wonder we can feel her suffering" 

"I'm sorry that we put everyone in this situation, but the faster we get the crystal and get out, and the faster everyone is out of danger"

"We're looking for a battleship-class crystal." I said. 

"Battleship-class crystal? Those are most rare. Galra soldiers guard them ceaselessly until their harvest. Your quest is in vain" Shay's father says.

"There is one, found only weeks ago. It is almost excavated" Shay said. 

"Quite! Even if they could steal the crystal from the Galra, battle patrols wait to take down their ship. These ones have no chance of getting out of here alive, with crystal or without" He said. Coran has his arms crossed.

"Okay, so this crystal we need it basically the hardest thing in the universe to get" Hunk says, looking at Coran.

 "I don't know about the hardest. There is the scaultrite mineral found only  in the stomachs of giant weblums. Collecting that stuff's no picnic" Coran says, elbowing Hunk. Hunk looks unamused "Uh- but, yes, this seems very difficult" 

"You may stay here until the Balmera gives another crystal. One that is hidden frim Galra eyes" 

"We don't have that kind of time. I got two injured friends who need to get into a magic healing machine, stat"

"Hunk, you fix the pod" Coran stands "I'm going to do some reconnaissance and see if I can come up with another plan" Coran leaves Hunk with the Balmerans.

==

Pidge exits the shaft into an empty hallway of the Castle of Lions, taking off her helmet and recalls the day she took on the identity as Pidge. 

==Flashback==

In the past, Katie Holt stood before a mirror in a Garrison cadet uniform.

"First day of school. Time for a haircut" Katie took a pair of scissors and cuts off her hair.

==

At the Galaxy Garrison, Lance and Hunk stood before a list of names.

"I made it! I'm a fighter pilot" Lance dances in celebration "Hasta la later, Keith" Lance says"And look, you're my engineer!"

"Cool. Uh, can I do that from the ground?" Hunk asks. Lance frowns.

"And our communications officer is... Who the heck is Pidge Gunderson?" 

"Right here" Lance and Hunk turn to see Pidge.

"Welcome to the team, Gunderson. I'm Lance, your fighter pilot" 

"Hey, I'm hunk" Hunk said and stuck out his hand for me to shake. "

"We got a lot of great times ahead, so we should probably start bonding now. What do say we sneak off campus—"  Pidge overhears Iverson talking to another Garrison officer.

"--just a minute. Security for the Galaxy Garrison's mainframe is our first priority. It's been breached once. And by a little girl, no less. It can not happen again!" Iverson orders. Iverson turns and walks towards Lance, Hunk, and Pidge. Pidge saluts with her left arm to hide her face.

"Wrong arm, cadet" Pidge saluted correctly; Lance and Hunk were startled and salute as well. Iverson walks by without noticing anything amiss. Pidge sighed in relief

"Hello? Pizza? Girls? Astronauts?"

"Sorry, I don't have time to mess around with you guys. See you in the simulator." Pidge walks away.

"What's his problem?" Lance asks. The two leave. Pidge turn to watch them before leaving. She rounds the corner and bumps into someone.

"Woah, you okay kid?!" A voice says.

"Sorry" Pidge continues to look down and walks past the person, only for a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Wait, Katie?" Pidge turns and looks up to see Y/N "Wha- What have you done with your hair?"

"It was the only way to get in without them recognizing me" Katie explains "I'm going by Pidge" Y/N bends down to Pidge.

"Your secret is safe with me" She says, smiling "I better head off to see my team. Talk to you later?" 

"Yeah, sure" Katie says and walks away, leaving a frowning Y/N. 

==Flashback End==

The Flashback ends'; Pidge is frowning.

"You know, Rover, I haven't always been there for my team" Pidge puts on her helmet "But this time, I will be. Come on" Pidge runs off with Rover. The Altean Mice are also infiltrating the Castle

==

Hunk is repairing the Altean flight pod as Shay watches.

"Tell me, what is the sky like?" Shay asks.

"The sky? You seriously have never even seen the sky?"

"No... but, at night, I sneak up as high as I dare" Shay climbs on top of the flight pod "trying to imagine what it is like. Oh, lucky are you to fly in this machine to worlds far from here" 

"Well, it doesn't have to be like this. You can be free, too" Hunk says.

"Free?" Shay asks, jumping down.

"Yeah, free. It means you can go where you want, be what you want, do what you want. No Galra masters to tell you what to do"

"It makes no sense. Zarkon controls everything." I said. 

"Nope. No, things are changing. Have you heard of Voltron?" Hunk asks. 

"A child's tale" 

"It's real. I'm one of the paladins, and Voltron is going to defeat Zarkon"

"You are?" Rax appears.

"Stop filling this one's head with your shadow show! The cavern is our home. This will never change. Come" Shay reluctantly leaves with her brother. Hunk frowns as they leave.

[erithel]

In my own personal opinion I just don’t think romance should have been in Voltron period.

They butchered Allure/Lance, a ship that could have gone somewhere (even if it wasn’t everyone’s personal fav) if the writers actually took the time to develop the relationship earlier in the series, but they decided not to because of plot/story reasons.

Then Lotar/Allure, again, a ship that could have been interesting and took the story into a whole other route, but in the end the writers decided against because because plot/story reasons (and wanting to keep the galra the big bad evil guys)

To me it’s clear the writers were way more focused on getting the story plot out as quick as possible then anything else which could be seen as a whole other controversy.

So I’m actually glad they didn’t listen to the fans and add in ‘klance’ or any other fan loved ship because the writers would probably botch that up too and get the fans upset then no one would be happy. Because to me having a certain ship in place of another isn’t going to ‘fix’ the poorly written romance or the quality of it.

I’m not trying to say you can’t have a romance in a plot/action driven story or whatever but I am saying that the writers that worked on Voltron clearly didn’t know how to include it properly.

You have a lot of good points here that I agree with, which I want to address before getting to my biggest gripe with a romance subplot in VLD.

First and foremost - I agree.

In terms of relationship focus, I think the stronger story would have relied on building the team as a team. A found family. Building up the relationships between all the paladins without throwing in a romance just for the sake of romance.

I think this angle would have made it even more compelling if they still went ahead with the Lotor/Allura subplot - because then Allura could have had people to talk to about it. She wouldn't have been alone trying to sort out all the feelings she was having that hit her out of nowhere.

I think that the caliber of romance that is in VLD canon is the same as can be found in most action movies. And by that I mean, it's just there because the main dude has to "get the girl" in the end. It's not really founded in anything, and it doesn't really add anything to the overall show or movie.

On this same note, I believe this is why so many people actually thought Klance could actually happen. Because they included moments that made a keen-eyed viewer pause and think "wait a minute. Why did they lay so heavily into that?" or "why did they linger on that moment" or even "bro, if my strictly platonic friend called me 'the future' I would start to wonder if they had feelings for me."

I've definitely said it before, but it's worth repeating. People want to see romantic relationships that are founded in something. They want to see romance that makes sense because the characters share something special.

We should be past the point of throwing in a romantic subplot for the sole purpose of simply having one in there.

But - going off on another point you made - this cannot happen if the focus is not on the characters and their relationships to each other. You can't add in any kind of special connection if the only goal is to have Plot and Action.

And here's my biggest gripe with romance in VLD.

They had one they could have built on. It was right there, and as far as I know, it was okay with everyone.

So why in the fuck wasn't the romantic subplot Hunk and Shay?

Seriously. They were adorable, and they actually had something between them. And then it just...never went anywhere. Shay even came back in a later season, and...nothing.

I would have loved to see Hunk and Shay as the romance story of VLD, but I guess a lot of that has to do with how the creative teams viewed him as "not a main character" enough. :(

[nothatsmi]

did you like voltron

do you have any other voltron ships

do you hate allurance

has it ruined you like the rest of us

*bonding moment voice crack noises*

Wow, okay.

Yes I did like Voltron (definitely)

I have other Voltron ships! Shiro and Adam (past), Shiro and Curtis (present/future), I like Hunk and Shay and the lesbian half galras :) (not a heavy shipper but I kinda like Acxa and Veronica as well)

I don't hate allurance, but I don't ship it. I believe Lance has had a crush on Allura for so long he stuck to that idea and took his shot the moment he felt like he could, even if his feelings for her were fading away. He's probably confused and liking Allura brings him confort cause he knows what it feels like (admitting further feelings for Keith would be so much for him to handle). Allura likes him but probably doesn't love him, or clearly not as much as he loves her. I believe it makes sense that they tried but it wouldn't have worked out. (Hope what I say makes sense)

So no it didn't ruin my life, just irked me :')) they destroyed Allura's character in s8 it's insane.. but I manage to bend the canon plot into somewhere klance is real

THEY HAD A BONDING MOMENT (he cradled him in his arms!)

[dawnrider]

For the writing prompt “don’t” - Kidge -

1) don’t listen to them

2) don’t lie to me

3) don’t walk away

❤️💚❤️💚

Hello dear! So I decided to not only use all three prompts, I decided to use all three twice in the same one shot. It's the cheesiest kind of cheesy, but here we are. Enjoy!

Family Dinner

Kidge

Rated T

It was time for another one of their “Family Dinners." The ones they did every year to try to keep the memories of their old lives, their adventures together, alive. To keep Allura’s memory alive for Lance and each other. Keith almost hadn’t made it this year. He was busy most of the time in other parts of the galaxy, using his Blades training to the benefit of the coalition. There were always pirates, bigger planets bullying smaller ones, and vestiges of the Galran empire seeking to regain their former power. They wanted him to start training new recruits this year, though. He was a bit up in the air about the idea. What did he know about teaching?

The reminder popping up on his communicator that it was time to head back to Earth for Family Dinner was a welcome distraction from the decision making process.

He arrived at Lance’s front door, expecting the cacophony that met him but still feeling overwhelmed by it. Voices called out his name, hands clapped him on the back and ushered him inside. He wasn’t even entirely sure who all was greeting him. He smelled food, so he could assume Hunk was working away in the kitchen, and there was a murmur of lively chatter coming from the back patio. He tried to look around and identify where everyone was.

As the paladins had returned to more normal lives on Earth, or elsewhere, the invitees for Family Dinner grew in number. Lance and Veronica were always present, which now meant that Veronica’s husband and two small children were there too. Hunk and Shay made the trip every year and brought Shay’s cousin who had become her planet’s foremost expert in alien cultures. Shiro and Adam only missed the event once and that was strictly because they had been in quarantine with their newly adopted twin girls. Keith was looking forward to seeing the now three-year olds, likely creating a mess somewhere with Veronica’s kids.

Keith was about to look out onto the patio in search of the last paladin, but was redirected into the kitchen where he was nearly crushed by a Hunk Hug. Lance was close behind him, asking all kinds of questions about his last mission. “C’mon man, it can’t all be top secret!” Keith shrugged with a sly smile, leaning against the island in the kitchen as Hunk went back to checking something on the stove.

“Leave him alone, Lance.” Hunk tapped a thermometer on the outside of the oven. “I’m more curious about who he’s been seeing…” A wink was tossed his way and Keith sagged in frustration.

“No one…”

“No one? No one’s jumping at the chance to date an intergalactic savior with a physique like a comic book hero?” Lance nudged him in the ribs. Keith wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be a compliment or not. “You really are on the job too much.” He couldn’t really argue with that.

“Well, that might be changing…”

“Oh?” Lance leaned on the island, dramatically cradling his face in his hands and blinking at him expectantly. “Do tell!”

“They uh… They want me to take over training new recruits.”

There was a lengthy silence. Lance stood slowly and nodded. “Like taking over for Kolivan, training?”

“Uh… Sort of.”

“Isn’t he basically a hermit?” Hunk questioned over his shoulder as he stirred a large pot of what appeared to be gravy of some kind. “Not much of a social life.”

Keith threw up his hands and vaguely waved. “I’m not much of a social person, you know.” Hunk was about to respond when a small gaggle of children came stomping into the kitchen, distracting both Lance and the chef du jour to keep anyone from getting spilled on or opening the oven. The former black paladin extricated himself from the room and sighed at the fresh air hitting his face.

“Don’t listen to them. You should do what you want.” He whirled around in response to the familiar voice, an involuntary grin tugging at his lips.

“Pidge!” The auburn haired engineer grinned up at him, the lightly applied lipstick on her mouth catching his attention. It was a very rare day that Pidge “got fancied up.” He looked around. Had she brought a date?

“Hi Mullet,” she teased, opening her arms to demand a hug and tugging on his ponytail in the process. He swept her up, unable to help the urge to take advantage of the difference in their height and relative strength. She laughed but pushed to be put back on her feet. “How ya been, huh? Hearing from you once a month isn’t enough.” Keith neglected to mention that their once a month communication was far more than anyone else got. He started telling her about how he’d been all over on different missions, then paused.

“You… Did someone come with you?”

Pidge looked around in confusion. “No? Was I supposed to bring someone?” He tried to shrug as nonchalantly as possible and not show how utterly pleased he was.

Ever since they had first returned to Earth, before the war even, Keith had been finding himself drawn to Pidge in a way he couldn’t ignore. It was subtle at first, so he didn’t notice it. Finding her in the common room after lights out, the pair of them curling up to watch B-movie cryptid thrillers and often falling asleep after rousing discussions of the plausibility of the film. Sometimes he wandered into the hangar when he couldn’t sleep, finding Pidge puttering away on some invention or another and draping himself over a chair to watch her work.

After the war though… While physically they were galaxies apart, she wrote to him almost weekly at first. Commenting on the state of the planet, the clean up efforts, and the modifications to the Atlas they were making to better incorporate the Altean tech. She would sprinkle in commentary about how their friends were doing, what her family was up to. Keith appreciated the connection with home far more than he anticipated he would.

The weekly letters turned to monthly eventually as Pidge progressed in her career and had less time, he imagined, to dedicate to an intergalactic penpal. They had switched to video recordings which he preferred on her end because he got to see her face, but hated to do himself because he felt so awkward. “I miss our videos,” he blurted out.

“Don’t lie to me,” Pidge chuckled. “I could tell by your face you hated them.”

“I… didn’t.” He winced at how unconvincing that was. “I liked getting yours anyway.” The blush that lit her cheeks made him blink, watching her bite that red-clad lower lip and avert her eyes.

“Oh. You… uh… Didn’t really say.”

He rubbed the back of his neck subconsciously. “I didn’t want you to feel burdened or whatever.” Pidge turned and started walking the line dividing the two slabs of concrete making up Lance’s patio. He watched her put one foot directly in front of the other as though walking a tightrope. “I liked listening to you tell me about your projects,” he muttered sheepishly. “I had to look up half the stuff you were talking about, but it was… nice.”

She paused halfway down the patio, doing a half turn and brushing her hair away from her face. “Are you going to take the job?” she asked after a moment, watching him with a cautious look in her eye.

“I… I don’t know. It’s not just the Blades that want someone to do their training.”

“The garrison.” She already knew. Why hadn’t she said anything before?

“Yes. I just wasn’t sure if… I wasn’t sure if I was ready to come back to Earth yet. Or if there was a reason for me to.” She nodded slowly, thoughtfully, then turned away again. As she took a step toward the end of the patio, Keith felt like she was stretching away from him into the horizon and he couldn’t… “Don’t walk away,” he breathed. She stopped, head lifting as though she'd only partially heard him. “Don’t walk away, please?” he expanded on his plea.

Pidge turned immediately, her hazel eyes glittering. “I won’t if you don’t.” She took several steps in his direction. He followed suit, meeting her in the middle. “Are you sure about this?” she breathed. “Would you be happy here?”

Keith let out a sigh, the tension he hadn’t really realized he was holding onto melting out of his muscles. “I’ve missed home.” He took a fortifying breath. “I’ve missed you.” Their fingers met between them, twining together naturally. “Can you put up with someone who doesn’t have your smarts? Don’t lie to me,” he warned her. Pidge grinned in response, fingers tightening on his.

“Of course. How do you think I’ve put up with Lance all these years?” Keith couldn’t help the grin that lit his face and the chuckle that bubbled out of him. “If you’re at the garrison, you’ll have to see me almost every day. Are you ok with that?”

He let go of her hand so he could trail his knuckles against her cheek and cupped her chin. "I think I could get used to it."

"Oh my gawd, will you two just kiss already?!" Lance's voice cut through the air, jarring the two of them out of their tender moment. Keith threw a heavy scowl over his shoulder at the small crowd of former paladins lurking at the sliding door off the kitchen. "We've been waiting forever for you to figure it out!"

About to argue, Keith was startled by a pair of small hands gaining purchase of his face to turn it and pull it down. "Don't listen to them," she whispered. "The time is right, now." Her lips met his and his eyes dropped closed to savor the moment.

They managed to ignore the whooping and hollering behind them for a while before finally giving in, blushingly joining their friends inside.

"Family Dinner" soon had a very different weight for Keith Kogane.

[jalapenobee]

Finally I can post some writing

You’re welcome… ma’am?

~record scratch~

You might be wondering why I’m on the ground, crying, with two old people that you probably don’t know. Well, I’ll tell you.

My name is Takashi Shirogane. Former leader of Voltron, black paladin, and currently the captain of the IGX Atlas.

What’s Voltron? A paladin? The Atlas? I’ll tell you. Voltron is a robot made up of five robotic lions, one of them black. Which I flew. The five Voltron paladins are brave, strong people. That’s Pidge, Hunk, Lance, Keith, Allura, and I. And the Atlas is a massive ship-slash-robot that I’m the captain of. 

After saving the universe with Voltron and the Atlas, the people of Earth were finally able to live in peace after years-long war with the Galra. We still have military defenses, of course, and that’s why I was on my way to deliver some supplies with Hunk, one of the paladins I mentioned earlier. 

We were walking through a public space, getting lots of greetings and praise from people passing by. Why were we walking in a public space? Because Hunk insisted it was good for us to get some exercise after sitting around at a meeting all morning. By this time, it was mid-afternoon and the sun hung low in front of us, so we kept our eyes down to avoid being blinded. 

Hunk was talking my ear off about a new recipe that he and Shay, a Balmeran, came up with. I’ve only met Shay a few times. She was really nice, and I’m positive that Hunk has a huge crush on her. 

Don’t tell anyone. He’s nice, but he’ll kill me. And surprisingly, he can talk a lot. Kind of like Lance. Another paladin. 

So we still had another good twenty minutes of walking before we reached base borders. My neck was tired from bending low for the past half hour, so I stretched it up and let it crack a bit. Felt nice, if I'm being honest. 

I moved my head from side to side, trying to loosen up some of my neck muscles. When I looked to the right for a second time, a small scene caught my eye. Two old people, maybe in their early fifties, were standing together. 

Well, not exactly. The man was leaning against the woman, who was bending over agonizingly slow to reach some sort of stick in the grass. I looked closer and saw that it was a cane. This wasn’t safe. 

I had turned to Hunk and told him that I’d be a minute, and he nodded. I set down my two crates next to him and headed for the old couple. Were they a couple? I guess they were, but I don’t want to assume things. Upon my approach, they both looked up and greeted me. I greeted them in return.

We’re getting close to where we are now. Before I say anything else, I’m gonna throw in that these people looked familiar. But I just couldn’t place my finger on it. I figured it out soon enough. Who are they? You’ll find out later. 

After picking up the man’s cane and handing it to him, the woman thanked me and shook my hand weakly, although I’m convinced it was the strongest she could. Her gaze lingered over my face too long. I think she might’ve been… taking in my features? I’m not sure. By then, I knew that I definitely knew these people from somewhere. I managed to return the thank you with the customary phrase, but I was so distracted I came out as more of a question.

“You’re welcome… ma’am?”

And that’s when it hit me. 

~click~

~computer sounds~

Sorry about that. Apparently, Keith thinks it’s funny to make this like the time when he realized Krolia was his mom. Side note-that took way too long. If it were me, I’d know it was her like that. You can’t see me, but I snapped my fingers just now. 

Anyway, that’s when it hit me. These people, they were my parents. My mother and father. My family. The only other Shiroganes in the whole world.

My heart rate was rising. Really high. Oh yeah, and I gasped. Cliche, I know. But wouldn’t you gasp if you saw the parents whom you haven’t seen for years? Assuming you don’t hate them, of course. 

My father pulled out a picture from the pocket of his khaki pants and showed it to my mother. Both their eyes flickered up to me and down to the picture for a good five seconds before my mother uttered three words, just above a whisper.

“It’s… our son.”

And I broke.

I broke down crying, on my knees, and so did they. Because how could I not? These were my parents, the people who I have loved and thought I lost. My mother, old but still so beautiful, and my father, older still and just as handsome. Both their eyes were dancing with joy and sadness and relief and a million other emotions I couldn’t be bothered to name. 

These were my parents. My mother and father. Haruru and Jino. 

As we were all hugging and crying and laughing, millions of thoughts flashed by my mind. Father cutting my hair, Mother making me breakfast in bed when I was sick. I could only imagine what they’ve been through. What had happened to my father's leg? What pain have they endured? 

But with all due respect, I didn’t care. Not about the Galra, the war, the pain. 

Not at that moment. 

Because we’re here now.

Heh. Guess they are a couple.

936 words

[confusedblakex]

Found you

Pairing: Keith Kogane X Reader (GN)

Summary: Keith never cared about soulmates, but now he couldn’t care more

AU: Soulmate AU – Soulmates share emotions

Wordcount: 1663

Warnings: TW – Mentions of torture, Panic attacks, violence, mention of knives

Requested by: @shortshiro​ 

Notes: I imagined reader’s wings to be like Maleficent’s, so they are rather powerful; They/them pronouns for Pidge

Last edited: 15th November 2024 (final edit date)

In the very first moment of a human’s 16th year, they are linked with their soulmate. From that time onward, the two soulmates can feel each other’s emotions. Their souls, their mind and their very being are linked.

At midnight on his 16th birthday, Keith was sitting at his desk in his room at the garrison pouring over the work on his computer. He was tense, shoulders hunched and his eyebrows furrowed as he aggressively typed. Keith didn’t notice his tense state - too focused on his work to notice - until he suddenly relaxed. His mind, body and soul were all instantly at ease. It was only when he saw the time that he realised that this relaxation was his soulmate. This was your doing.

From that moment on, you always used your emotional bond with Keith to help him. Whenever he was angry, he’d feel a wave of calm wash over him. Whenever he was sad, he’d suddenly feel happiness. When he was lonely, he’d feel your love. You only ever ‘sent’ positive emotions and, although Keith didn’t exactly know who you were, he still loved you with all his heart. You never once left him, even through the stressful times of Voltron you would send him the emotions he needed. Shiro had told him that the bond with his soulmate must be really powerful for Keith to still feel the shared emotions so far away from Earth. Pidge had said that his soulmate might not even be human, using Hunk and Shay as an example.

Keith had always wanted to find you, it was just never his top priority because he didn’t know how to. Until one night when he was scared and upset and confused all at once. Suddenly panicking with no idea what to do. Everything became a big messy blur, his breathing sporadic and laboured. Keith hurriedly stumbled over to Shiro’s room, shaky hands barely knocking on the door.

“S-Shiro?!” He called in between breaths, his voice cracking slightly.

“Keith? Keith, what’s wrong?!” The doors opened, and Shiro stepped out, at first confused but then worried.

“My- My soulmate,” he managed to shakily breathe out before grabbing onto the blurry figure that was Shiro to avoid falling to the floor.

It was from that moment Keith realised that he needed to find you, to make sure you were alright, to keep you safe and to protect you. To care for you as you had always cared for him.

In the following two months, panic attacks became more regular for Keith, happening every few days at random times. You had stopped sending positive emotions, which hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Pidge had somehow used regularity of the panic attacks to figure out that it was likely you were on a galra ship somewhere, and Keith had made everyone - even Lance - agree that finding you was one of Voltron’s top priorities. You were always there for him, now he needed to be there for you.

Meanwhile, you were sitting on the floor against the wall of your lovely galra prison cell, your angel-like wings spread out against the wall. You had sacrificed the last of your happiness to your soulmate. You didn’t regret it though, the thought of them, whoever they were, was the only thing keeping you sane. You dreaded to think what you’d been putting them through.

On the day of your capture, you’d forcibly shut your brain down, using the physical pain to knock yourself unconscious in an attempt to lessen the emotional pain you’d cause your soulmate. However, after that, the Galra had learned and made sure to keep you awake during the ‘sessions’ of testing.

It had been 65 days. The absolute chaos outside your cell woke you up from your daydream-like state. Your cell was open, and a human wearing green armor was shouting, trying to assist the crowd of escaping prisoners who were all running down the claustrophobic, sickeningly purple halls. The human was directing everyone in the general direction of the escape pods two halls down, talking in English – one of the human languages. You felt a twinge of hope.

You stood up, planning on running to the escape pods with everyone else, but you stopped with a foot out your cell. Your planet had been destroyed by Zarkon. Even if you were to escape, where would you go?

Another voice rang though the green human’s armour, calling for help and sounding exhausted. When they answered the call for help, you felt a sudden burst of determination and stepped out of your cell. The human looked at you expectantly, so using your limited knowledge of English, you tried talking to them.

“Others?” you said in an attempt to ask if they were with other people, though you only received a small sound of confusion from them, so you tried again.

“You with others?” your speech was heavy with a strange accent, but you hoped they’d understand.

“Umm… yeah, they should be down a couple corridors that way.” They replied, pointing towards a corridor to their left. You nodded and started to run in that direction but stopped and turned around.

“You okay on own?” you asked them, and like last time they seemed to understand.

“I’ll be fine.” And with that, you tucked your wings into your back and ran down the halls. You ran down at least two full-length corridors before you came across a door with some sort of DNA lock, and a galra soldier scanning their hand trying to get through. They had their back to you, and you slowed to a walk, your steps silent thanks to your shoeless feet. You elbowed the unsuspecting galra soldier in the back of the neck, knocking them unconscious before grabbing their gun and walking through the now open door.

You were just starting to question where the rest of the guards were when you turned a corner and saw all of them focusing their fire on a group of people in colourful armour - the same amour as the green human from earlier. These people were the ‘others’ they were with.

You unfurled your wings and used them to boost yourself over the galra and closer to the centre of the fight with the colourful humans. You shot the first few galra you saw and promptly hit the butt of your gun to the head of the galra attempting to sneak up behind you. You felt the humans stare at you as you fought, but didn’t think too much about it until the one dressed in black pulled you behind a wall, out of the fight.

“What are you doing?” he asked, almost shouting so you could hear him over the noise.

“Help.” you replied simply, itching to get back into the fight. You were bristling with nervousness that wasn’t your own. He looked you up and down, and you pulled you wings tighter into your back out of self consciousness.

“You’re one of the Galra’s prisoners, aren’t you?” you nodded in response and his eyebrows knitted with confusion. “You need to go, you need to escape!” He shouted in desperation. Shiro felt responsible for your survival in this fight, that much was obvious from his expression.

“No!” you shouted back, “Have no place to go! I help you!” You gestured to the other colourful humans who were struggling to keep up the fight without you or Shiro.

He looked at you unblinking, trying to test your resolve, to see if you’d back down.

“Fine,” he said after a moment, and immediately turned around to the fight. You grabbed his wrist and tugged him back, just enough for him to be pulled around to face you.

“I get there,” you pointed to the center of the fight, “all you down.”

“Down?” Shiro repeated in confusion.

“Down.” You crouched down in an attempt to show him what you meant. He looked sceptical, and he bit the inside of his cheek in thought.

You steadily rose from your crouch and placed a hand on his shoulder, “Trust me.”

“Okay.”

Shiro ran back into the fight, quickly relaying the plan to his team.

The moment they were all crouched down, you jumped and kicked off the wall. Your wings unfurled and shot forwards as though you were about to fly. The power of the movement created a blast of air as sharp as a thousand knives being thrown around the room. Anyone standing who was caught in the blast was thrown backwards and either heavily injured or unconscious, lying around or against the room’s walls. Shiro was the first to stand up - he did so slowly, as though testing that the air was safe again. Tentatively, the other paladins followed. You had knocked a room full of Galra to the floor with just your wings.

And everything was silent.

“Shiro!” A shout brought you all back to your senses. You released the tension in your shoulders and relaxed your wings, running your hands over the feathers to smooth them down.

“I looked everywhere, I-“ There was a conversation going on behind you, but you weren’t paying enough attention to understand what they were saying. Instead, you decided to focus on smoothing down the ruffled-up feathers. You hadn’t preened in weeks. You turned around when you deemed your wings presentable enough. And everything stopped.

It was him. He was your soulmate. Black hair, red armour and the most enchanting eyes you’d ever seen. A gorgeous shade of violet that pulled you in and never let you out, so easy to get lost in…

For a moment, it was as though time had stopped, and there was only you and him in the entire universe. The instant that time resumed, Keith was in your arms. You held him to you like you were clinging to a lifeline as he buried his face into your neck. Your wings fluttered involuntarily.

I finally found you.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

**Cultivating Love**2**

Lance slept hard until the morning sunlight woke him. The gentle first rays of the morning were always his favourite. He’d spent more than one night sitting on the roof of the palace with Keith, watching the sun rise over the mountains while Shiro slept below them. He’d made up his mind. Space would do both him and his mates some good. Clearly he didn’t contribute enough, and with their words echoing in his mind, he’d never be able to deal with his broke soul while nursing his broken heart.

Packing lightly, he placed his plans into action. Even if his mates found him smelly and useless, he still treasured the time they’d spent together. Eventually they’d notice him gone, and while he was sure they wouldn’t come to find him, he couldn’t help but hope they’d notice sooner rather than later. With gentle hands he’d set the two lotus lanterns he’d carved on the river, anchoring them with enough spell power that by his calculations they should float off on the same night as the festival. Both were crude, and he’d never be a master crafter, but both lanterns were carved with so much love that they twinkled with fragments of his soul’s magic. Keith’s red lantern unintentionally larger than Shiro’s black lantern… but then again, he’d always been that way, letting Shiro handle himself more than he let Keith did.

From the river it was back to the palace. Blue Fang carefully wrapped then tied to his back, with his fox mask slipped into place to complete his look. He’d chosen his blue robes, free from the insignia of the palace, just in case something happened. The last thing he wanted was to bring trouble on their little slice of peace. Plus, his mask would let him walk the palace grounds without drawing attention from anyone else. The last thing he needed was stupid James and his clique to see him leave and start something with Keith. Pidge might have wanted to leave the following day with the merchants headed south for provisions for the festival, but Lance couldn’t stomach the idea of another day being somewhere he no longer belonged. He’d been sorely tempered to seal his rooms, but that’d only alert Shiro or Keith if they came looking for him that he was no longer there.

When all was in place, Lance made his way to Hunk’s rooms. Pidge had her own space, but she preferred to stay with Hunk when they were back at the palace and not off doing their own thing. Hunk’s betrothed was a pretty maid named Shay, and for the big guy it’d been love at first sight. Both Pidge and Hunk had refused taking higher positions within the palace despite their noble deeds, but Lance had always wished they had… then again, that might have been him desperately trying to cling to better days. With Shay having already left to start her morning in the kitchen, Lance let his mischievous side show, his fox mask masking his true form as he lounged on Hunk’s bed in the sexiest spirit bear form he could muster as his best friend bathed. The only thing he couldn’t change was his tail. Bears had such cute little nubs for tails, though he’d learned his lesson when he hadn’t been able to help himself and touched Hunk’s. Much like his, the base of their tails were an eroginous zone for bears too. His poor best friend moaning on the spot. The best he could do was try tuck his tail away, but seeing he was being mischievous, his tail didn’t want to listen.

Coming from the behind the divider, Lance’s hard work soon turned to Hunk laughing. His best friend really had a great laugh, Lance caught red handed with his tail in both hands, and not at all in the sexy pose he’d hoped to tease Hunk with

“I’m flattered, man… but even a bear as pretty as you isn’t much of a bear with a tail like that”

Lance let his tail go, before sliding his fox mask to the side

���Don’t tease me, it’s not my fault my tail never listens. At least you said I’m pretty”

“Mhmm. Sure, bud. What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting you”

Flopping back, Lance sighed as he grabbed Hunk’s pillow

“I decided I want to come with you and Pidge. If we wait another day, I’m afraid I’ll change my mind”

“Something happened with Shiro and Keith last night, didn’t it?”

Stupid Hunk. Couldn’t he accept Lance had said yes without explanation, then again, he wouldn’t be Hunk if he didn’t question him

“Maybe. I over heard them last night. Dumb Shiro didn’t tell Dumb Keith that he didn’t want me working on the festival. Now Keith thinks I’m intentionally slacking. They’re the ones who decided I should stay quiet and cultivate”

“I’m pretty sure Shiro called it keeping you safe. You know he still carries a wound on his heart from that night”

“That was five years ago. And I would have loved to work on the festival if he’d let me. If they’re not going to be honest about the things they say, then I don’t want to talk to them”

Knowing he sounded like a child, Lance wasn’t surprised when Hunk’s hand suddenly landed on his head

“So you’re running away?”

“No. I’m taking back some of my life. We always encouraged each other… and we always stood as equals. I’m tired of being belittled. Keith dared to say I should have passed that matrix by now. If it was that easy, I would have. You know how different we are from usual mates, well, I’m not coming home until I’ve resolved these feelings inside of me. I’m no more selfish than them for wanting to pursue my own path”

“As long as you’re sure this is what you want”

“I am and it is. Time and space to think is what I need. So now you know, what do you think?”

“I think I’ll need to say goodbye to Shay before we depart. Have you organised the horses?”

Lance detected the light steps across the roof, raising his voice to call their friend out before she could launch her secret attack

“Not yet. We haven’t talked to Pidge yet”

A crash came, followed by a groan. Hunk covering his mouth as he laughed. For a cat, Pidge’s steps could be as loud as heard of demon beasts

“Really?”

Huffing, Pidge took four long steps before landing on him

“You and your big mouth. Don’t tell me you’ve taken to seducing Hunk”

“Hunk wishes. I know you heard me. Are you alright with leaving today?”

Pidge flopped her weight on him, as she reached up and poked him on the cheek

“I still think we should teach those two a lesson. They’re both still sleeping in Shiro’s bed”

That sounded about right. Still, it hurt. No one had moved him to Shiro’s bed, nor come to check on him

“Let them sleep. Shiro is so busy with the festival that he needs the rest”

“Okay, but listen, I’ve been working on a new stink spell…”

Lance groaned. Pidge had such a knack for things that stank

“No. Noooo. No. They have meetings all day. Besides, they may stop us should you disturb them”

“Boooo. Fine. But you’ll need to leave your hair ties if you’re coming with us. They’re too distinguished and both Keith and Shiro have embedded spiritual into the jade beads”

Lance had clear forgotten that. Shiro wore his hair long, Keith wore his in a practical plat, while Lance wore two braids under his high pony tail as a small way of feeling close to his mates. They’d both gifted him his hair ties for one birthday. Red jade from Shiro and Green from Keith

“I’ll leave them here, I’m sure Shay won’t let anything happen to them”

“You should seal them up, to be on the safe side. If she’s found with them someone might try to say she’d stolen them or something”

Lance didn’t appreciate the idea of anyone thinking badly of Shay

“Anyone who knows Shay knows how impossible that is”

“I’m just saying, if those boyfriends of yours get all panicked they might act first”

Ah. Pidge had a point there. Keith was known to charge head first. Even if Shay would wed Hunk, Keith would probably blame her without thinking things through

“Fiiine, get off of me already. I’ll use my seal so they know it was me and leave the envelope with Shay for safe keeping, but I’m not leaving my mask behind”

Shoving Pidge, she leapt back spryly with a snicker

“Okay! I totally thought all of this would happen. I’m packed and ready when you guys are”

Both of them looked to Hunk, who’d barely had time to adjust his yellow robes after bathing. Pidge had the right idea, her green bodysuit peeking out from under her robes

“I’m going, I’m going. I can tell when I’m out numbered. Lance, there’s paper and envelopes in the top draw of my desk”

“Thanks, man. An hour, two tops, and we’ll be on our way”

*

No matter who the visitor was, everyone within the palace wore a simple pendant necklace. The board next to the bulletin board was dedicated to housing their necklaces when they left the palace grounds. Unlike the white quartz, predominantly worn by students, Lance’s own pendant was made of turquoise mined from Moon Lake in the North. Shiro had mined the stone and Keith had crafted it. His mates taking the time to make it especially for him. Leaving it behind was a heavy burden. Especially trying to hide it down towards the bottom of the rack anyway from prying eyes. No one could take someone else’s pendant from the rack, well, no one of rank. The student pendants all resonated with the palace, whereas individual ones resonated with the owner. Not having to worry, Pidge and Hunk both hung their together on the top shelf. Their coming and going freely from the palace was a natural part of life. Lance leaving… he didn’t even take it off when he went to collect herbs. To leave it on meant his mates could always find him. Now he definitely didn’t want to be found so soon, meaning it shouldn’t have weighed him down the way it did.

Freeing his tail, that he’d been forced to stuff down the back of his pants, Lance breathed a sigh of relief. There weren’t as many foxes at the palace as there’d once been, so he couldn’t disguise himself as a student and expect to blend in. Taking on a simple non-descript maid attire, he’d been granted anonymity, able to follow Hunk into the kitchen where things were briefly explained to Shay. The kiss she bestowed upon Hunk had him longing for a goodbye kiss of his own, Pidge teasing him heartily all the way through the palace then tacking up their horses.

“Your tail’s all flat”

Rolling his eyes at Pidge’s teasing, Pidge drew level with him. She’d never loved horses, but she’d kept that particular grumble to herself

“And you’re on a horse. We all have to make sacrifices”

“If we’d waited you would have gone running to Shiro and Keith to apologise and then we never would have borrowed you…”

“But if we had, you’d be curled up in a cart right now, thinking of all the shiny things that could be out there”

Pidge snickered as she reached into her robe, Lance’s eyes widened as she drew out Keith’s hair tie

“I’ve got the perfect shiny thing right here. He totally didn’t notice me stealing it. I guess we can be grateful he never wore the one you gave him. This baby has zero residual spirit on it”

“Pidge!”

“Don’t Pidge me. They messed with my best friend”

“Please tell me you didn’t do anything else”

“No, but I was highly tempted. He and Shiro left both their blades out almost begging for me to mess with them”

Oh no…

“Don’t tell me you took Red Dream too!”

“Of course not. I’m not authorised and Keith gave you that. The whole point of this trip is to not be reminded of them”

Lance didn’t have an answer, instead he let the clopping of hooves fill the air. Asking him not to think of his mates was like asking him not to breathe.

Gnawed with guilt, Lance still couldn’t find the words as they approached the palace’s outer gates a good mile or so from the palace village. Once he left it’d be the furtherest away from home he’d been in years. The whole palace and mountain were protected. Anyone wondering into the matrix with less than noble thoughts would find themselves back on the way home with no memory of their visit. Shiro’s rage over that night still haunted Lance. He’d reinforced spell after spell, working himself to the point he’d had to give up or risk corruption.

Drawing his horse to a stop, Lance sucked down a deep breath. Hunk nodding silently to ask if he was okay. Lance was not, but now was not the time to consider it. They’d already come this far, he was being stupid all over again. Nudging her horse, Pidge pulled a face as she walked her horse through the gate. Right. If Pidge could do it, so could he. With a tad too much enthusiasm Lance flicked his reins, the jolt of his horses burst of energy coupled with the sudden static shock of passing through the barrier… when he emerged on the other side his tail and hair had fluffed out. He knew he must look a mess, yet Pidge… Her normally smooth and silky tail had tripled in size and her hair was completely wild. Lance couldn’t help laughing at the sight of him as she hissed, clutching her precious tail to her chest. A painful throb passed through Lance’s chest, him mimicking Pidge only he didn’t have his tail. He didn’t have time to think of his soul when the whole world was now in front of him and he was remembering how much he missed it

“I don’t remember it being that damn strong!”

She only made Lance laugh harder. He could feel Shiro in that barrier and not much of anything else. It was possible the barrier felt stronger to him seeing Shiro had kind of put it up while worrying about his safety

“Oh my gosh, here we are, scared of a barrier. Shiro definitely went overboard!”

“More than overboard! I’m blaming you. Normally it’s a kind of tingly feeling”

“It is possible. Shiro possesses incredible power and he was incredibly angry when he reinforced it”

“Because some dumb arse nearly got himself assassinated”

“That wasn’t my fault. Allura and I were having a lovely talk and some nice peach wine. They completely ruined it… uh, we’ve lost Hunk”

Letting their horses take the head, they’d made some distance between them and the gate. Lance tugging on the reins to bring his mare to a halt. Pidge pulling her own horse then turning to walk back to him

“He’s probably throwing up. He never was one for strong barriers. Which is funny considering the strength of the ones he can throw up”

“I know, right? I’ve got some ginger here, we’ll take a rest once he’s caught up”

Pidge groaned dramatically at him

“Don’t bring that stuff near me. And don’t tell me you’ve brought your medical equipment”

Lance fake being wounded, pouting lightly

“Of course I did. We don’t know what situations we’ll find ourselves in. Someone needs to be prepared”

“And with Hunk’s spiritual energy, he’s more than capable of healing minor inflictions”

“It’ll be more problematic if the wounds are demon inflicted. Unstable emotions in battle leave us open to corruption”

“Can’t you just turn your brain off for a moment? I know you’re stressing over your own matrix, but you’re allowed to take a breather. We all know how hard cultivation can be when it’s not cooperating. No. No more pushing it. We’re here for new experiences and perhaps one of those will help your thoughts?”

Lance snorted out a giggle

“Didn’t you tell me not to think, and now you’re telling me to?”

“You’re hopeless”

“Says you. But you’re right. I have been working on this matrix for some time and I do need to reassess how I approach my problem. I think I may have lost sight of what I want my path to be with all the coddling in the palace”

“You mean your arse getting pampered. I wish I had taken Red Dream now…”

“Don’t go there. Hunk’s approaching. You know, I think bears might have it right when it comes to hibernation”

“You nearly died missing him the first time he did. We’ll be back before the first winter snows, so don’t go making problems before they show themselves”

“You know I love our Hunk. I missed him as much as you did… oh, gods”

Catching up to them, Hunk was pale in his saddle. Sliding off his horse, Lance passed the reins to Pidge before moving over to Hunk’s horse and taking it by the reins. Hunk had passed through the barrier, then thrown up. The poor beast scared by the sudden turn of events. For a band of adventures they’d nearly been taken out by the second hurdle. With his free hand, Lance rubbed the mare’s cheek

“Don’t worry about it for now. You are a brave and noble companion to us. He will recover”

The mare turned her face, nudging into Lance hard enough for him to stumble. All mares bred for the palace had a beautiful temperament. They could be as fast as the wind, and strong as a mountain, and they understood their spirit beast cousins deeply

“Yes, yes. Hunk, shall I walk you for a time? Until your stomach settles?”

Hunk groaned, before sipping from his water skin

“Lance, why are barriers so mean to me. It didn’t feel like that last time”

His poor best friends. He truly had the bestest of friends

“Let me sing to you as we walk. It’ll be good for us and good for the mares. I have some ginger if you’d like?”

“I’ve got some ginger too. A song would be nice, I haven’t heard you sing in so long”

Pidge on the other hand wasn’t quite so keen

“Don’t start him off. You know he won’t shut up if we let him start”

“But Pidge, when’s the last time you heard him sing? Remember how the kids would be drawn to him”

“Me and my tail remember quite well enough”

Lance chuckled. Yeah. Coming to the palace for a lot of students was their first time meeting so many different spirit beasts. Due to their cultivation strength some children came before others, and despite how prickly she acted, Pidge was always popular with the smaller children

“Let me sing. Can you walk my horse please? Or I can lead both?”

“I’ll lead your horse. If I fall asleep, make sure he’s stopped singing before you wake me. Love ballads aren’t my thing”

Setting a slow pace, Lance’s voice filled the space around them. The song it’s self didn’t particularly matter as he let his body slowly synch with those around him to even out their electric flows and calm the racing hearts. So he chose a personal favourite that he’d sing to his mates when they had trouble sleeping.

“I am the demon who rode down through the valley,

I am the demon who drove the grove keeper away,

I am the demon who rode down through the valley,

And I’m here to pledge my oath today!

I have come for the beast that you keep in your garden,

I have come for the beast that you keep out the way,

I have come for your beast in your garden,

And I have come to steal that beast away!

I am the demon who comes to your garden,

I am the demon who comes to take my love away,

I am the demon who comes to your garden,

And by the end of this night I will them away!

I am the one who loves you immortal,

I am the one who’s watched you from far away,

I am the one who loves you immortal,

And on my heart I pledge my love today!

I who have watched you as you were sleeping,

I who have watched you toil your life away,

I am the who has seen you,

I will lift you up today!

No more shall your back ache at the end of the evening,

No more shall your skin burn under the heat of the day,

No more shall back your ache at the end of the evening,

No more shall your life be driven away!

For I am the demon who rode down through the valley,

For I am the demon who drove the grove keeper away,

For I am the who will save you,

For I am the one who will take your pain away!

No more shall you hurt under those who don’t love you,

No more shall you hurt under the pain of the day,

No more shall you hurt because darling I love you,

No more shall you hurt for we soon shall be far away!

Tonight we shall cross through the valley,

Tonight we shall flee far far away,

For my darling I shall love you a plenty,

But should you wish to be free we will part at the end of the day!”

Even Pidge wasn’t immune to the effects of his words. Her horse leading itself to his side, with both her and Hunk asleep in their saddles. The reins to his horse held lax in her hand. He hadn’t meant to sing them to sleep, but repeatedly using the word as a lullaby to soothe his two wolves meant that he couldn’t help the warm and safe emotions released as he sang. Being a true ballad the proper ending of the song came when the two lovers were separated by death, but that was after a long and loving life together.

It’d been a song he hadn’t known where he’d heard it, and he was sure at the time that he hadn’t heard the whole thing. At his first festival on the grounds of the imperial palace he’d heard fragments, running off to find the float in the procession and leaving his confused friends behind. By the time they’d found him he’d made friends with the young lady who’d sung it, even learning the steps to the dance. She’d told him it was about the time before demons had fallen and when being a spirit beast was classed as the same thing. Lance’s poor romantic heart had memorised it on the spot. He was a fox who loved love… much to the humour of the rest of his family. He knew all the steps to all the popular dances, even the ones just for the girls. His mates had used to love when he danced.

Realising he was letting himself fall back into depression, Lance sighed to himself, this would never do. He’d sing until the next village and let it out of his system, then Pidge and Hunk would awake and their adventure would truly begin.

[rosesnvines]

Hi @niazelki!! I’m your Secret Santa!! I did not do this lovely piece of art, I commissioned it from the ever so talented @Nyastyle from DeviantArt, and wrote this short story to go with it. I did post it on DeviantArt as well. Hope you enjoy!! @idyllchatter-plance-and-kallura

Pidge let out a sigh. Beezer came rushing to her and a worried expression appeared on his screen. The two were in Pidge’s room and Pidge was curled up on her bed. 

“Hey Beezer, I’m . . .” She paused. Should she say exactly what was going through her mind or lie? She sighed, Beezer was a robot, but it would be nice to talk to someone. “Beezer, are you recording?” 

Beezer shook his head. 

“Ok, do not record this, I just want to get it off my chest.” Beezer watched her as she took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Lance . . . I like Lance, a lot. I think, I think maybe even love him.” 

Beezer let out an understanding beep. 

“Wait, you knew?” 

Beezer nodded. 

“Really? I didn't think I ever showed an interest in Lance.” She smiled. “But you do know me pretty well. Then you'll understand that I, I wanted . . . I wanted to . . .”. Tears began filling in her eyes. “I wanted to be the girl Lance asked out, not Allura!” The tears fell. “I-I mean, Allura’s great, don't get me wrong, and, everyone should like her, but, but I wanted it to be me!” She placed her head in her lap and sobbed. “I wanted it to be me! But I should have known, I really should have, Lance only notices the pretty girls. I'm just not that pretty.” She chuckled as the tears continued to fall. “I mean, he didn't even know I was a girl until I told him! He can be so dense!” She paused as the tears slowed. She wiped her eyes, sniffled, and then wiped her nose. “Yeah, yeah, he can be really dense, and an idiot, and a show off, but, but he's fun to be around. He’s nice, and caring, a great listener. And he is cute.” She giggled as she blushed. “Those blue eyes of his . . . I always feel like I'm flying, or swimming. I just, I just feel so free when I look into them.” She picked up a mermaid plushie and fiddled with the arms. She looked up at a picture of a sunset. “I just wish he would look at me the way he looks at her.” 

Beezer let out a sad beep. 

Pidge patted his head. “It’s Ok, this is only a relationship. Hey, he could still look at me that way, I just . . . I just need to give him time.” She rubbed her chin. “Hey Beezer, could you go take a picture of them on their date? 

Beezer gave her a surprised beep. 

She chuckled. “I know, I know, I just poured out my whole heart to you, that I want to be the girl going with him to his special place, but, I also want him to be happy. I want them both to be happy. And, I want them to commemorate it. Will you do that for me, please?” 

Beezer gave an affirmative beep as he saluted her. 

“Thank you.” Pidge watched him go before turning back to the picture of the sunset. “Sure, technology’s no sunset, but it has its purpose. It can capture that sunset and give you something to remember it by.” 

...

It had been a few years since they had defeated Honerva, since Voltron was last needed to defeat a great evil, since Lance and Allura broke up. They had spent a good deal of that time trying to bring peace back to the galaxy and help rebuild what had been previously destroyed. Pidge was surprised to see more and more of Lance during that time, but didn’t think much about it outside of enjoying his company. She did note that Hunk and Shay went around doing stuff, so were Keith and Allura, and Shiro was going around with that guy whose name she couldn’t remember. Romelle was helping Coran with the Alteans, the three former generals of Lotor were working with the Galra, and her own brother Matt was off traveling with Rolo and Nyma. Pidge enjoyed every minute that they spent together, but didn’t want to push her luck. Besides, there were other things on her mind. So when Lance suggested a return to Earth for a quick vacation, she jumped at it. A vacation sounded like a good idea. 

After going through the usual check-ins, check-ups, and catch-ups, Lance pulled her to the side. 

“Hey, I, I was wondering if you could come with me somewhere?” 

“Uh, sure, I guess,” Pidge replied with a shrug. 

“Tonight, meet me at Red.” 

Pidge raised an eyebrow. “Uh, Ok . . .” 

“Great!! See you tonight!” He gave her a quick hug before dashing away. She watched him leave, blinking in confusion. Where exactly did he want to go? She shrugged and went about other things before getting ready to go. 

Later that night, Green landed near Red. Lance was lounging against his lion, watching the sun set. He was wearing his old blue and white t-shirt and a pair of jeans, but the way the lighting was, Pidge thought he was the most handsome she had ever seen him. She blushed as butterflies filled her stomach, but quickly got rid of the feeling by the time she exited her lion to meet up with him. 

He smiled at her, and the butterflies returned. “Great, you made it!” 

Pidge scoffed. “I told you I would come.” 

Lance ran his fingers through his hair as he chuckled. “Yeah, you did. Now, um, do you want to follow me, or just come with me in Red?” 

Pidge’s eyebrow went up as she blinked. “Uh, does it matter?” 

Lance shrugged. “No, not really, but, I would prefer it if we just took one Lion, doesn’t make sense to have both.” 

Pidge shrugged. “I mean, you have a point, if anything were to go wrong, we can get back here pretty quick, and I can call on Green.” 

It was Lance’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “Is there really anything wrong going on at the moment?” 

Pidge chuckled. “True, but you never know.” 

He laughed. “Good point. So, what shall it be . . .” 

Pidge blinked at the cutting off mid sentence, but when he didn’t say anything else, she shrugged again. “I guess we can go in Red.” 

He grinned. “Great, come on!” He grabbed her hand and the two dashed into the Lion’s mouth. Lance sat down at the controls and they took off. Pidge let out a soft giggle. Sure, they had done things together while no one else was around before, but this felt different, and she was liking it. 

“So, where are we going?” she asked. 

He smirked. “You’ll see. Just wait.” 

“What? Why can’t you tell me now?” 

“Because it’s a surprise,” was his reply. She pestered him some more, but couldn’t get any more than that out of him. The more she got more grumpy, the more excited he seemed to get. 

Finally, they landed, though it had only been a couple of minutes away from the garrison. Lance grabbed Pidge’s hand and walked like he was on cloud nine. 

“Ok, seriously, where are we going?” asked Pidge with a laugh as she allowed herself to be led around a park. 

He glanced back long enough to shoot her a grin. “You’ll see, just wait!” They walked through a grove of trees before lance came to a stop at the base of the largest one. Pidge raised her eyebrow. This tree looked rather familiar. Where had she seen it before? Lance let out a sigh and pulled out a picture. Then it hit Pidge, this was the same place Lance took Allura out on their first date! The picture was of that moment, Lance and Allura standing in front of the tree. Pidge’s heart went into her throat. Lance sighed. “Yeah, I miss her, and I really wanted her to be the one, but . . . well, as you could tell it didn’t work out.” He looked at Pidge, a sad smile on his face. “I’m really happy for them.” 

Pidge chuckled nervously. “Right. Who knew a TV show caught on that they were best for each other?” 

Lance chuckled. “Yeah, I really should have paid more attention . . . to a lot of things.” His hand went through his hair. Pidge followed it with her eyes, wishing that could have been her hand. “And well, now I realize that she wasn’t the one for me, because there’s this girl who is.” 

Pidge’s heart just about stopped. Who was this girl? “Y-yeah? What’s she like?” 

Lance glanced up at the tree, a soft smile on his face. “She’s really smart, kind, and is very passionate about her work. She puts the needs of others first, and, well, she’s just awesome! And pretty too. I should have noticed before, but I think I let my starry eyed crush get the best of me instead of allowing myself to actually fall in love. Though, in a way, I did fall in love while I had that crush on the Princess, without knowing it.” 

Pidge turned her head to hide her tears. “Then why didn’t you invite her here?” 

“But I did.” Pidge’s head snapped back to Lance, eyes widening. She barely dared to hope, but he was looking at her earnestly. “That’s why I asked you here, Pidge, I, uh, I wanted to ask you out. I mean, sure, this isn’t the same way that I asked Allura out, but, this just felt right, because you’re the right one for me.” He looked back down at the picture. “And, well, to let you know that I have finally let go of Allura.” He stuffed the picture back in his pocket and scratched his head. “Ok, that didn’t quite come out the way I wanted it to, but it also wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.” He grinned sheepishly. “That must have sounded stupid.” 

Pidge laughed as the tears came down. “That’s because you are stupid.” 

“Hey!” 

Pidge ran into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. “But you’re my idiot, and I love you!” 

“I don't know if I should be happy or insulted,” said Lance. 

“Don't be insulted, you just try too hard. You're really not that stupid.” 

Lance scoffed. “Oh, good to know.” But then he chuckled and returned the hug. “But right now, I’m the happiest man alive!” He kissed her.

[quintessenceofdust73]

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

By Quinn73

Summary:

This fic is for the 2020 Plance Secret Santa Event. It features mistletoe shenanigans, karaoke, and a fleet of ships at the Galaxy Garrison Christmas Eve party.

Rockin' around the Christmas tree

At the Christmas party hop

Mistletoe hung where you can see

Every couple tries to stop

Pidge fidgeted nervously as she sat at the large round table her family and friends had reserved near the stage. At the moment, Nadia Rivazi was onstage singing karaoke. Hunk and Shay sat next to her, feeding each other select red-and-green sweets from the refreshment table, and Keith, who had successfully dodged the silent, hovering, mistletoe-bearing miniature drones all evening, had been cornered by by Axca and Veronica under one of them. Pidge saw Voltron’s commander panic for a moment, but before either of his female admirers could pounce on him, the little drone darted away to hover over her parents, who were standing to one side of the entranceway. They were having a casual conversation with some of the Galaxy Garrison’s top brass. Sam had been paying no attention to the drone, but Colleen spotted it right away. She grabbed her husband by his lapels and planted one on him right in front of several of the Garrison’s top senior military officials. Shiro, Curtis, and all of the the assembled dignitaries laughed, applauded, and cheered when her normally stoic father was momentarily flustered by her mother’s public display of affection. Axca and Veronica were distracted by this amusing scene long enough for Keith to sidestep away from them. He was trying to hide in the shadows behind the large Christmas tree several feet away. Pidge giggled at the sight of it all, but the butterflies in her stomach still wouldn’t go away. Her skin began to glisten with a sheen of nervous perspiration.

Why did she let Lance talk her into humiliating herself this way?

Of course if he was here somewhere, he might not recognize her. Pidge was wearing her hair in an elaborate updo which was held in place by sparking green hair bands that matched the thin shoulder straps of her evening gown. With the glimmering gold earrings and necklace, Pidge looked stunning. She was easily among the most beautiful young women in the room, but it seemed she was blissfully unaware of that fact.

Where was Lance? She hoped he was going to show up fashionably late and without a date, or she was definitely going to bail on this gig.

“It’s your turn, Pidge, “ said Nadia.

“But Lance isn’t here yet,” she protested.

“The show must go on, with or without Loverboy. You signed up for this.”

“I can’t!” She hissed. “It’s supposed to be a duet.”

“Sing something else then.”

“No. I’m not ready.”

Nadia sighed and handed the microphone to Ryan Kinkade with an affectionate little pat. Kinkade winked at her and said, “You’re really gonna like this one.”

Read the rest of the story here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27910291

[klanceficatalogue]

Do you have any post season eight ones

sure!! i think these dont necessarily stick strictly to canon though?? idek but fuck voltron canon i dont know her - karri

hey mom, i met a boy by disasteralex (1/1 | 16,501 | Teen And Up)

“Do you think you can love two people at once?”

“I think you can love different people for different reasons but in equal ways. But that doesn’t mean any of those loves are lesser than the rest.”

The war was hard. Its end is even harder. But when Lance breaks, Keith and the others are there to help him heal.

Somewhere along the way, Keith finds his place in the universe, Shiro gets his happy ending, and Lance learns to fall in love again.

//grief & mourning

(curits/shiro, axca/veronica)

you’re always welcome here by Silverine (3/3 | 73,288 | Mature)

An unexpected tragedy that occurs during his work hits Keith harder than expected, and his fellow Blades decide it’s time for their leader to take a well-deserved vacation. However, being sent “home”, he isn’t sure where to go... Or is he? Because, if he's honest to himself, there’s only one place he’d rather be, one person he’d rather see, and one question that doesn’t let him sleep. “Do you have any regrets?” A post-canon story, set 8 years after the series finale.

//near death experiences //nsfw //ptsd

somebody to stay by peachyaslans (1/1 | 3,217 | Teen And Up)

“And I realized, I wanted that with one specific person,” He says the last part quietly that Keith almost doesn’t catch it over the loud rise and fall of the waves. Lance realizes what he’s said but it’s too late now. He’s crossed a line he never thought he would cross and there’s no going back now.

or in which Lance and Keith have a heart to heart back on earth, watching a sunset, leading to hidden feelings to come sprawling out.

(adam/shiro, allura/romelle, hunk/shay)

[bluedemon1995]

31 Resolutions-Happy New Years! Better late then never right? I wrote way too much and then had a killer headache so sorry it's not on time.  To make up for it, I added a bonus! Hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think! Also this one is so long that I’ll add the link if you want to finish reading there!

Pidge was sitting at the table at the NYE gala and for the first time in a long time, feeling unsure. It started off well enough. She was dressed up, wearing a green and black gown that Veronica had assured her was stunning. It hugged her body and yet, didn’t make her feel uncomfortable or self conscious. She wore shiny sandals that reminded her or ivy and some jewelry that some of the Olkarion refugees had made for her. She was even feeling good about her hair and makeup. She felt that she still looked like herself but maybe a more shined up version or even more adult version.

The girl MFE pilots and Romelle all got ready together, having a few pre-drinks and even hiring a driver to take them to the gala. End result, when she arrived at the gala for the first time while attending an event like this, she was feeling happy and relaxed. And while her mom wasn’t happy that she declined a few invitations from some other officers overall she was letting her be because ultimately Colleen was just glad that she was in attendance. But what made today special was that Pidge knew she was getting another opportunity to enjoy her friends and family before everyone dispersed and went back to their own lives.

But that comfort was short lived because over the course of the night, what started as a small look or comment turned into blatant rudeness and what felt like an outright attack on her. Which Pidge was sorely unprepared for. While in school as Katie, she was used to being an outcast and the nerd. But she wasn’t outright bullied because well, no guys were interested in her and she was pretty low on the totem pole. Then at the Garrison she was a guy and while often ignored she wasn’t picked on. Then she found Hunk and Lance and well, no one said shit to her.

But thinking back to when she walked in with the girls and met up with the MFE pilots and the paladins-minus Coran. Everyone greeted each other warmly and introductions of the new people were made. Keith introduced a few new Blades- the males: Linus, Titus and a new female-Amoza. If Pidge thought Acxa was intimidating, Amoza was ten times that. Apparently, they were hoping to see Earth customs firsthand and make a few contacts. They all entered together and grabbed drinks and stood around to mingle. But one of the first things Amoza said to Pidge was inquire why she was so small, if she was a kit.

That comment made Pidge flush and stammer, which probably provided her proof, but she was just unprepared for that comment especially after feeling so mature. Thankfully, Keith interjected, joking that she didn’t want to make that mistake. He gave her a warm look, that made her flush, and when she averted her eyes from his gaze she noticed that Amoza was staring at her. Pidge looked to Veronica but she was arguing with Lance and Hunk and Shay were closely talking. And it didn’t look like she was impressed with her. Getting lost in her thoughts, Pidge lost track of the conversation. Tuning back in, she realized that Amoza had somehow managed to turn everyone so she was on the outskirts of the group. Sighing she glanced around the room looking for an exit strategy.

Spotting her parents, Pidge excused herself to go and say hi to her parents and Krolia. Both Keith and Matt quickly followed however, with Keith asking if everything was ok. She nodded while avoiding his eyes. She didn’t want to seem immature so she just jumped into the conversation. Later, as others mingled she found herself standing with Keith off to the side of the room. As always, she felt herself relax and again feel that strange comfort and familiarity that she often doesn’t find with others. And when Keith asked what she was drinking and she explained it was some new drink that was a version of sake he asked if he could try it. Shyly nodding he took her hand and guided it to his mouth. Pidge felt that his eyes were on hers and she couldn’t break it away. Then the announcement came for everyone find their tables. When she turned she looked up only to find Amoza’s gaze steadfastly on her.

Shaking off that uncomfortable feeling both headed to the table with Keith’s hand in the small of her back. Which was nothing unusual except that her lower back was uncovered due to the dress. As they made their way to the table, Pidge could feel the heat of his hand and that his thumb rhythmically move up and down. As they approached the table of 8, she quickly surmised there was a problem. Sighing she looked around frantically trying to keep her cool. Shiro, Curtis, Hunk, Shay, Lance, Veronica, and Amoza…they were short a seat. As they get to the table, she can feel herself start to panic and she turns looking for a seat close by at a different table.

Keith catches up and quickly sees the problem, frowning, he questions, “Amoza, I thought you were seated with the Blades?”

The young and beautiful alien looks up in surprise. “Oh sorry, I just assumed as your partner, I’d be seated with you. My, um, how do you say, mistake.”

That said she didn’t move. An inch. Pidge had started at the word partner…was Keith in a relationship with the alien? Why didn’t she know about this. But why wouldn’t he? He was single and attractive, and so was she. And tall. Strong.

So many thoughts started flying through her brain that she unintentionally took a step back, slightly twisting her ankle in the unfamiliar heels. She let out a quiet, “Ahh” when Keith’s hand turned into an arm support for her. Adjusting quickly to the added weight he bent his head, murmuring directly in her ear, “Hey no worries, I got you.”

Pidge felt her eyes tear and for a moment everything was blurry. Quickly blinking, she tried to straighten and looked around, “Hey, no problem, I’m fine. I’ll just find another seat. Go ahead and sit Keith.”

She moved away and looked around, right into James’ concerned face. Their eyes met and he stood. “Katie, I’d be honored if you sat at our table. None of us have dates, so we have the room. I mean if, you don’t mind sitting me and a bunch of unruly MFE pilots.” Smiling he reached a hand out to her.

Filled with relief, Pidge nodded, “Sure, thanks James.”

Just as his hand held hers however, Keith interrupted abruptly, “No need Griffin, Amoza should really be with her teammates.” Lacing his fingers with Pidge’s he continues, talking directly to her, “C’mon, like I’d, or um, WE would let you sit anywhere else.” Tugging on her hand he urges her back towards the original table. Now speaking to James-his gaze on the other man standing, “Appreciate the offer but Pidge is ours.”

Pidge starts to move back when she hears James say, “Well, I think she works more with me now so that’s debatable. I’d even go so far to say mine, but sure, you were part of her first team. I understand you have some history there.”

Pidge’s eyes get large and she makes eye contact with Veronica who pretty much spit her wine out all over Lance at that comment. Lance howled, torn between laughing and being bad at getting wine over his suit-loudly, which was a nice distraction. Because Keith had already turned and moved towards Griffin to reply. Pidge quickly pushed Keith towards the table, “Not now! Please.”

He looks down at her and pulls her arm so they are practically embracing. He looks over her head and stares at James, “We can talk about this later Griffin.”

“Looking forward to it, Kogane.”

“Keith, everyone is staring, let’s just sit.”

He nods, turning to the table, “Amoza, do you know where your table is?”

“No, can you show me?”

He nods, “It’s on the perimeter by the entrance doors, two from center.”

Amoza stares at him, then at her. Veronica interjects, “If you’d like I can walk you over now, I just see that Acxa has arrived and I’d love to say hi.” Standing, “Let’s go.”

Amoza finally stands, giving Pidge a look that clearly was not filled with love or New Years cheer. As they sit, she looks down, at her painted nails, thinking, I never stood a chance.

Keith leans close, “Hey, um, sorry did you want to sit with Griffin?”

“Huh?”

“It’s just you look a little sad, I’m sorry if I spoke for you. I, just, you belong here with m-us.”

“No, Keith don’t be dense, of course I want to sit here. I just feel bad that your partner had to leave.”

Lance interjects here, “Yeah, what’s with getting a girlfriend and not even telling us! C’mon you could of sent a message!”

Now it was Keith’s turn to say “Huh?”

Lance rolls his eyes, “Um yeah hot alien who said she was your ‘partner’.”

Keith shakes his head in the negative, “No! We aren’t dating. She’s still new to the language I’m simply training her. And the way it works is during training with the Blades is they are supposed to stay with their trainer. Nothing more, so stop.”

At that reply, Pidge lost track of the conversation but felt so relieved that she took her glass of wine and took a healthy drink. Damn, what was going on with her???

The rest of dinner went by fine but Pidge could swear she could feel the alien’s eyes on her. And she was right because each time she turned or looked, she was staring. And somewhere along the line, Keith had his arm draped across the back of her chair and was pretty attentive to her overall, which was only adding to the confusion on Pidge’s end. Which let to a little too much wine at dinner.

Getting up, she excused her self to the restroom hoping to get a handle on herself. As she was washing her hands, she looked in the mirror. Her face was flushed and her hands were shaking. Sighing she wished things could just be easy. Lately, she had found herself thinking of Keith in very unplatonic ways and their phone calls and messages started to become more frequent. She thought Shiro had said that Keith was thinking of staying on Earth for a while and that led to some pretty fun daydreams on her end. But apparently that information was incorrect and she needed to adjust.

Just as she turned to head for the door, Amoza stalked in. She looked her up and down and stated, “Human, I want to inform you that Keith will be my mate. We are perfectly suited and my father is a very powerful man on my planet. I get want I want.”

Pidge blinked, what the hell?!

Suddenly angry and less self conscious, she replies instantly, “Well, alien, I’m thinking Keith has something to do with this and it’s up to him who he will be with. You may think you are perfectly suited but I know we are. That’s what years of fighting side by side do. And I don’t need my daddy to get me a man. I can do it all on my own so fuck off.”

Pushing forward she storms out of the bathroom, only to see Veronica and Acxa listening at the door. Pissed at herself for losing her temper and pissed at the alien who thought she could push her around Pidge looks at them both. Not sure what to expect she’s surprised when they both grin and Acxa replies, “You stop girl!”

Veronica laughs, “I think you meant, you go girl. And I second that, no one has that right and I’m thinking she’s an alien gold digger or hussy.”

That was enough to make Pidge laugh and readjust her mood. The girls walk with her back to the table. “Didn’t you guys have to go to the bathroom?”

“Nope, just wanted to check on you and be sure you had backup if necessary. Acxa saw Amoza leave right after you. We wanted to be sure she didn’t ambush you but a few people slowed us down.”

Feeling calmer, Pidge nods, “Thanks for the backup.”

The rest of the night progressed similarly with Amoza trying to get alone with Keith or trying to put Pidge down but everyone was quick to stop it. But nonetheless it was exhausting trying to keep up her guard. Pidge finally found Matt, “Hey, I’m gonna go, I got a room up stairs and I need to get out of here.”

Matt nods, “I’ll come too.”

“No, no!! Please stay. Tell everyone good night and I’ll see then at the breakfast buffet.”

Matt nods, kissing her cheek. “Be careful, love you and Happy New Year.”

Pidge strides out of the ballroom, stoping at the stairs to take off her shoes. They are killing her and she just doesn’t care anymore. She goes up one step when she hears her name being called loudly. “Pidge, stop.”

Looking across the hallway she sees Keith jogging up to her. With her on the step they are almost eye to eye. “You are going to miss the countdown.”

“It’s okay. Go find”

“No.”

“Keith.”

Both can hear the yelling and the countdown, when Keith tentatively slides his hands on her hips and slowly around her. Pulling her closer, his one hand is splayed on her lower back and the other is on her neck, all the while maintaining eye contact. “Happy New Year” with those words he lowers his mouth to hers. Foregoing a typically tentative first kiss, this kiss was all heat and passion. Pidge’s mind swam and she automatically opened her mouth to his demand. And demand it did. The kiss stole her breath and made her realize that this was what she was missing from her life. How did she survive without Keith’s kisses??

She heard a moan and absently realized that was her! Pidge has no idea how long they kissed but when they stopped her shoes were on the floor, she was pressed up against the stair railing, somehow Keith’s leg was in between hers and she was essentially riding his leg. Her hands were tangled in his hair and both were breathing heavily.

Keith brushes his nose against hers, “So, my New Years resolution is to stop being afraid of rejection and to reach out to those people I need. I’m going to communicate better. That said, I have come to realize, that I need you Katie, so much. And I’m tired of pretending otherwise, I want more than friendship, a lot more. So, I gave my resignation to the Blades and am opening a mechanic shop. I told Shiro I’d freelance for him and the paperwork just got cleared. So I’m officially a consultant for the Garrison and I’m looking for a house. I was hoping and praying, that maybe you’d like to…well..be mine?”

Pidge’s eyes filled with tears, “Quiznack! Of course. Shit Keith that’s the best New Years resolution and let me say, I will also make that same promise. I have come to realize I’ve had feelings for you too and I was too scared to tell you. But, never again.”

They both smiled and kissed again. Upon hearing a whistle and the comment, “Hey isn’t that the Green and Black paladin?” They both decided to adjourn to Pidge’s room and relax.

Bonus

Next day….

Keith was in the gym going over his mourning routine. He had about 40 minutes before he needed to wake Pidge up for the breakfast. He was hoping to be done in 20 so they could have a little time before meeting up with everyone. He couldn’t wait to tell Shiro the good news even though he figured he already knew.

With that he turned to see his blade team walking in. Acxa smiled, “You look very happy.”

Keith grinned, “Yeah I feel it too.”

She nods, stating quietly, “Just so you know, there will be money exchanging hands. We have quite a large pool of money on the outcome. So there will be many questions at breakfast.”

Keith laughed, “You know what, I don’t even care. I’m that happy right now.”

Amoza walks up to him and states, “When do we leave?”

Keith nods, addressing the whole group. “So, I was going to tell you this later but now is good. I’m not returning, Acxa will be your leader and I’m staying on Earth. But if you ever need anything please don’t hesitate to reach out. And you know what, I’m done for today, so I’ll see you at breakfast. I’ve gotta go see about my girl.”

He leaves before anyone has a chance to say anything.

At breakfast, the room quiets down fast when Amoza storms in and growls, “You should rethink this. I have offered for you. If necessary, I am willing to battle for your hand. You definitely deserve better than that kit.”

Keith frowns, “That is uncalled for. I’ve never considered us anything other than coworkers. What the hell?”

Pidge grins, “I’m game! How do we battle for Keith’s hand? I haven’t really kicked ass in a while.”

Colleen shoots her a frown, hissing, “Do you SEE how big that alien is? I don’t want you hurt!”

Matt laughs, “Seriously mom, you have no worries. Pidgey is totally badass.”

Krolia stands, “There is no need for a battle. Keith, hand me your blade.” Keith passes it over immediately, “Little one, please take this.”

Pidge takes it, holding it in her hand. Krolia continues, “Please say Knowledge or Death and hold the blade in a fighting stance.”

Pidge nods, standing and instantly mirroring Keith’s fighting stance with the blade and says clearly, “Knowledge or Death.”

The blade instantly glows and transforms into Keith’s preferred weapon. But then the blade glows even brighter and slowly transforms into a weapon that is better suited for Pidge, lighter and more balanced for a smaller fighter. As the room is filled with gasps, all of the Blades kneel and with a fist over their hearts reply, “Knowledge or death.”

Pidge looks to Keith who looks just as confused. Krolia speaks up again, “Thank you. You may pass the weapon back to Keith. This is proof that even the blade recognizes you as Keith’s true mate.” She smiles and reaches out to squeeze Pidge’s shoulder.

Pidge sits down, “Wow, that was intense. I wonder how that does it? It actually felt lighter when it changed for me. I wonder if I could“

Keith grins, and kisses her on the mouth, “Later, we have all the time in the world remember?”

[ziezie13]

Fics of the Week

i need someone like you to lighten the load by slowklancing (notanannoyingfangirl), sunnyjolras

Another scrap of parchment shot out of the cup, a fourth scrap of parchment, which made no sense at all, and the Headmaster grabbed it from the air, unrolling it and reading it quietly.

The entirety of the Great Hall remained silent. It was as quiet as a tomb.

“Lance Álvarez?” The Headmaster whispered, and then again, louder. “Lance Álvarez.”

Wait, what?

// Lance and Keith have always been battling it out: on the Quidditch field, in the duelling club, for the best marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Keith always manages to come out in the lead.

Now, the Triwizard Tournament has been announced and Lance knows that Keith is going to beat him for the only open spot, even if he pretends that he thinks otherwise. But it doesn’t quite go the way that Lance expects, and everything changes from there.

Words: 268477, Chapters: 42/42, Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender, Rating: Mature, Last Update: 05 Feb 2020

Relationship(s): Keith/Lance (Voltron), Allura/Romelle (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron), Adam/Shiro (Voltron), Alfor/Coran (Voltron), Ezor/Zethrid (Voltron)

Characters: Lance (Voltron), Keith (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Allura (Voltron), Romelle (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Matt Holt, Coran (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron), Haggar (Voltron), Alfor (Voltron), Sam Holt, Veronica (Voltron), Lance's Family (Voltron), Acxa (Voltron), Ezor (Voltron), Zethrid (Voltron), Narti (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Hogwarts, Triwizard Tournament, Slow Burn, Fluff, Angst, Minor Violence, Keith/Lance (Voltron) Angst, Slow Burn Keith/Lance (Voltron), Hurt Lance (Voltron), Homesick Lance (Voltron), Insecure Lance (Voltron), Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, Hogwarts, Ravenclaw Lance, Gryffindor Keith, Rivals to Friends to Lovers, Friends to Lovers

Homesick at Space Camp by K0bot

Lance realizes he's been an asshole to Keith, and on a diplomatic mission to a key planet for the Voltron alliance he... overcompensates.

Words: 74280, Chapters: 15/15, Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender, Rating: Teen And Up Audiences, Date: 26 Aug 2017

Relationship(s): Keith/Lance (Voltron)

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Shiro (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Coran (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Space Dad is tired, klance, Slow Burn, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Fake/Pretend Relationship, diplomatic mission, Fake Marriage, Canon Compliant, Lance Can Dance, gratuitous ballroom dancing, Political Intrigue, guess I better be real with these tags now, shit does in fact Go Down, Langst, klangst, still mostly fluff tho, tiny bit o' blood, just a little, I swear, Female Pronouns for Pidge | Katie Holt, Action & Romance, Okay I was lying it was a lot of blood, Protective Keith (Voltron), Injured Lance (Voltron), Homesick Lance (Voltron), Panic Attacks

Make Me Your Home by Reader115

“Oh my god, Keeeith,” Lance wheezed. “Keith you’re the best drunk space cadet I’ve ever seen.”

“Space cadet,” Keith mumbled. He repeated the words again although his eyes had zeroed in on Lance’s hands and Lance offered no resistance when Keith picked one of them up and pulled it possessively towards his lap. He began to gently trace over Lance’s fingers, sending shivers up Lance’s arm and down his spine. “You have looong fingers,” Keith murmured after a few moments.

Keith’s face perked up then, as if he’d just had a brilliant idea, and Lance could almost not wait to hear what new obscure thought had entered Keith’s pretty head. He was prepared to laugh, and instead found himself shivering again as Keith leaned far into his personal bubble, lips practically touching Lance’s ear when he spoke next.

“I bet you could reach all kinds of things, Lance.”

Words: 38145, Chapters: 6/6, Series: Part 1 of Home, Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender, Rating: Mature, Last Update: 26 Feb 2017

Relationship(s): Keith/Lance (Voltron)

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Pidge (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Coran (Voltron), Kolivan (Voltron), Antok (Voltron)

Additional Tags: klance, set in season 2, So season 2 spoilers, Galra Keith (Voltron), Keith adjusting to being part Galra, Lance adjusting to his spot on the team, Spooning, Pining Keith (Voltron), Pining Lance (Voltron), space puppies, healing pods are needed sometimes but no graphic injuries, i thought i'd have a little fun with Galra Keith, First Kiss, Sexual Content, Fluff, Some Cursing, Artwork by suitboxers added!, Fermented juniberry juice leads to tipsy paladins

Somewhere a Clock is Ticking by seven league boots (memphis)

This is a story about time travel, lost memories, growing up broken, ukulele lessons, peanut butter banana sandwiches, and a stuffed hippo named Patches.

This is also the story of how James Griffin saved the world, but couldn't stop his parents from falling in love.

Words: 23750, Chapters: 1/1, Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender, Rating: Teen And Up Audiences, Last Update: 20 Aug 2018

Relationship(s) Keith/Lance (Voltron), Adam/Shiro (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron)

Characters: James Griffin (Voltron), Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Keith's Wolf (Voltron), Lance's Family (Voltron), Veronica (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Shay (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Matt Holt, Allura (Voltron), Iverson (Voltron), Minor Characters, Patches the Hippo, Rizavi (Voltron), Romelle (Voltron), Coran (Voltron), Leifsdottir (Voltron), Kinkade (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Domestic Fluff, Time Travel, Kid Fic, lovechild au, Fluff, Humor, Angst, Marriage, Drinking, Alternate Reality, Adam (Voltron) Lives, Blood and Injury, Back to the Future Refs, hangovers, Don't Drink The Tequila, Stuffed Hippos, season 7, Post Season 7 fic, Surrogacy

A Strange Feeling by that_nerd_aesthetic

Keith had not expected many things in his life.

He hadn't expected to find out he was a Galra, or to reunite with his Galra mother.

He hadn't expected to become the saviour of the world alongside his fellow Paladins.

He hadn't expected to survive the explosion of the robo-beast in the battle for Earth's freedom.

He also hadn't expected Lance's pickup lines to Allura to end in blushes and shy glances, instead of the usual hit over the head.

And he definitely hadn't expected to feel... strangely upset... over this.

Words: 6141, Chapters: 3/?, Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender, Rating: Mature, Last Update: 13 Aug 2018

Relationship(s): Keith/Lance (Voltron), Adam/Shiro (Voltron), Allura/Romelle (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron), brief allura/lance

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Romelle (Voltron), Shay (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Krolia (Voltron), Acxa (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Post Season 7, i got so annoyed i have to fix it, Fix-It, shiro is a tired Gay space dad, you better believe Adam isn't dead in my canon, Spoilers for Season 7, ALL THE SPOILERS, literally so many spoilers, Post-Canon, starts off with actual canon ships and then I change Everything, so it begins with allura/lance, and then the Power of Gay happens, Jealous Keith (Voltron), Pining Keith (Voltron), Galra Keith (Voltron), Gay Keith (Voltron), Bisexual Lance (Voltron), Bisexual Allura (Voltron), Lesbian Romelle (Voltron)

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt 211

211

Feeling Lance getting out of bed, Keith felt for his lover, Lance’s hand finding his after he’d half slapped him on the lower back

“Babe?”

“Getting a drink”

“Dun’ be too long”

“I won’t”

Coran was a bad loser. Pidge had annihilated him in Mario. Keith and Lance coming downstairs just as Coran started accusing Pidge of cheating. Five rematches later and Matt had taken the controller off Coran who started on a tangent about everything wrong with the game. To soothe the piece, Hunk suggested they do the cake now that Lance was awake to enjoy it.

Hunk had outdone himself with the cake. Keith had no words for how nicely decorated it was, nor did he have words for how big it was. As they were choosing not to know the sex of their twins, Hunk had used soft pastels to bring colour to the cake with fancy twirly things and edging that he didn’t know the name for. Comprised of three tiers, the top tier had two foot pints made from edible chocolate, coloured purple, circled by “Kogane-McClain Twins”. The second layer read congratulations. The third being just cute pastel icing. Had he not been embarrassed over his lack of baking knowledge, he probably would have asked Lance what all the decorations were properly called. The inside of the cake matched the outside. Pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow, comprising the layers with buttercream frosting between them.

Apparently their Sunshine Hunk couldn’t help himself, Lance crying on Hunk’s shoulder as he thanked him. Hunk crying on Lance’s shoulder as he assured him he knew he was grateful. Taking the top tier for themselves, they shared a plate, knowing there was no way there would be anything left once Matt and Rieva started. Having never eaten a “foot” before, Keith was impressed Hunk had managed to mould white chocolate so well. The man had skills. If he were to open a bakery, Keith’s bank balance wouldn’t be staying in the black very long.

After the cake came the presents. Their twins had to have a set a record for the most blankets and onesies. Lance kept saying they didn’t need anything else, everything making him cry... except for Shiro who would forever be the lamest big brother in history. Someone out there made custom onesies. Keith would like to meet them and strangle them. Four bloody onesies. Four bloody supernatural themed onesies that had passed Curtis’s tick of approval. Two vampire print and two werewolf print. Why did everything Shiro touched always have to come back to that? Curtis earned some point back with him by gifting them a box set of documentaries that he and Lance had watched half of when Curtis lived there.

Coran, now over his loss and perked up with sugar, gifted them herbal teas with a long lecture on which teas were best for which moods. Being tea, it all went through one ear and out the other. Allura’s gift of coffee made it clear she knew what a werewolf needed in his life, especially with the sleepless nights to come.

Krolia... Krolia’s gift was a set of tiny little blades for their twins. Keith confiscating them before his mother could get any ideas about training the twins to be hunters. That wasn’t the life they wanted for their kids. They wanted to watch them grow and explore the world, finding their own passions to chase. Lance politely thanked Krolia, but the look on his face said those blades were to disappear somewhere where their twins would never find them.

Shay had found “emo” baby blankets. Lance found them funny, as they reminded him of Keith. Keith couldn’t deny that they weren’t his favourite gift because they were kind of nifty with their black and white skull patterns and the green one had a really cool dragon pattern on it.

From Matt and Rieva, almost entirely most definitely Rieva’s idea, they were gifted a set of second hand Berenstain Bears books. She’d started secretly collecting when she’d found out Lance was pregnant. Mami gave a little help with the gift choice. Matt’s gift to them was taking Pidge home and spending a couple of days in Platt so they could have more alone time before the birth. Keith had a new favourite present.

Pidge drunkenly praising her skills over “suping up” the pram she’d gifted them. The thing now sporting wheels that “would make Lance’s dumb bronco cry in jealous”. Lance wasn’t sure about it all, but Pidge wouldn’t be dissuaded that the pram wasn’t now at its absolute best. Though no one argued with her directly about it, she was mid-rant when she threw up rather violently onto the rug. Krolia taking her to the bathroom, while Lance excused himself to throw up in the kitchen sink. Now there was two vomiting people, it was a mutual decision to start winding things up. Matt and Rieva in charge of getting a drunk Pidge home. Shay and Hunk also deciding maybe it was best to head off before Pidge came out the bathroom again. Their gremlin very loving and loud about it between throwing up and being soothed by Krolia. Coran and Allura were catching a ride back to Platt with Krolia, and with how green Shiro was looking, Keith sending them home.

Keith didn’t realise until everyone had left, that they’d been left with the mammoth task of cleaning everything up. Still, for all it’s ups and downs, it’d been a good party, though the pair of them did breathe a sigh of relief when silence descended over their home. Chores were done. Dishes washed. The rug scrubbed. Everything else outside could wait for another day as they climbed into bed together, both too sleepy for the night of promised passion. Lance still had moisturiser on his nose as kissed Keith goodnight. Keith smearing it out for him, thinking how lucky he was to have Lance... and how their friends had spent way too much money on them. He didn’t think he’d ever be used to such thoughtful gifts without waiting for a catch.

Dozing off, Lance’s spot was still empty when he woke up again. There were some nights was more out of their bed than in, but Keith couldn’t hear him in the bathroom. Trying not to panic, the werewolf climbed out from the mound of blankets on their bed. Most nights he’d find he’d kicked them off, too hot and too sweaty to sleep peacefully, like Lance did. Jogging over to the bathroom, he found it empty. Vaguely he remembered Lance saying he was his thirsty. If his fiancé’s insomnia had kicked in, then Lance was most probably sitting in the living room watching the TV on mute so Keith could get some sleep.

Sleepy and stumbly, Keith missed the bottom step of the stairs, hand flying out and denting the wall as he felt himself fall. Had the overwhelming scent of blood not been in the air, he might have paused to examine the damage he’d just done to the same spot Lance had repaired at least a dozen times since moving into his house

“Lance?! Babe?!”

Getting no answer from his fiancé, Keith’s heart started to race as his mind went to the worst possible situation. Lance could have slipped. He could be bleeding out. There was so much blood in the air, the werewolf’s stomach felt queasy.

Checking the rooms along the way, Kosmo had made himself at home in Matt’s and Rieva’s room, an interesting fact, though useless because Lance was on his mind. Reaching Lance’s office, the door was slightly open, the space illuminated by his computer screen. Flicking the light on, Lance hissed at him. Keith’s eyes widened in shock at the sight in front of him. Lance covered in blood. His fiancé hadn’t been kidding about being thirsty. Blood ran down his chin, and from his hands down his arms, not caring about how much of a mess he’d made feeding on blood bags he’d torn apart rather popping the cap on them. A quick count came to 8 bags scattered around Lance’s feet.

Watching Lance throw down the blood bag he’d just finished, the vampire tore into the next one, literally. His hands trying to push as much blood from the ripped bag down his throat as he could

“Babe? Babe, you feeling okay?”

Raising his head, Lance’s eyes were blank. That warm spark that always seemed to sparkly that just little bit bright for him was dull

“Babe?”

This couldn’t be good. Lance said he was thirsty. Not that he hadn’t fed in a year and was now making up for it. Keith felt revolted, and guilty for being revolted. His ego shocked into shutting up as they stared

“Baby, I think you’ve had enough blood. Here, let’s go back to bed? How does that sound?”

Lance didn’t reply. Keith forcing himself to slowly edge towards Lance. This was his Lance. His Lance wouldn’t savage him as he’d done with the blood bags. Nope. No. He was totally safe. Yep. Just a normal day in a vampire pregnancy. Nothing to see here

“Babe, come on, you’ve had enough for now”

Lance threw away the bag he’d drained, Keith using his speed to grab the bag he’d been going for out of reach. Watching the bag, Lance bared his bloodied fangs

“Baby, please. I know you’re in there. It’s me. It’s Keith. Come on, babe. Don’t let your ego push you aside”

Oh... oh. He was crying now. Keith didn’t know when that started. Had Lance not eating this much contributed to him feeling so ill? Was this how much blood a pregnant vampire needed in their final weeks of pregnancy? Placing the bag on the desk, Keith shifted the bags on the floor away with his foot, making it to crouching in front of Lance safely.

With shaking hands the werewolf reached out. His left hand going to Lance’s forehead as his right hand cupped his fiancé’s face. Blinking at him, Keith’s touch seemed to “wake” his lover. Warmth and confusion filling Lance’s eyes

“K-Keith?”

Looking down at his bloodied front, Lance’s gaze flicked back up, eyes welling with tears

“Wha... what happened?”

“You got a bit thirsty”

“But... h-how? The... party...?”

“The party ended hours ago, baby. You’re okay. You didn’t hurt anyone”

“I... I don’t remember”

The pain in Lance’s eyes was crushing

“Pidge started throwing up. Matt and Rieva took her home. Are you okay? You don’t feel warm”

“I don’t feel very good...”

“Okay. That’s okay. Do you think you can stand up?”

Lance went to look down his chest again, Keith holding his head up so he forced to look him in the eye

“You’re okay. It’s a just a bit of blood”

“I don’t remember”

“That’s okay. We were both exhausted when we went to bed. Just focus on me, baby. You can do that right?”

“I always focus on you”

Moving a stray lock of hair back, Keith gave Lance the best smile he could manage around his internal freak out

“Yeah, you do. You’re so good to me, babe. Let’s get you cleaned up and back into bed”

Lance nuzzled into his palm

“I’m sleepy”

Normally that much blood would turn Lance into an ego driven wanker

“I bet you are. You had a huge day and our friends are idiots. Let’s wash up, then we’ll snuggle”

Lance closed his eyes, sniffing sadly

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry I don’t remember coming down here...”

“That’s okay, baby. That’s okay. You’re okay”

*

Putting Lance to bed, Keith couldn’t sleep. Lance passed right out, but Keith was worried. Once the scent of blood had finally been cleaned away, a strange scent cling to Lance that left him feeling on edge. He didn’t like. The scent had him all muddled up inside, almost as if it’d given him a dose of adrenaline and he simply couldn’t sit still. Leaving his fiancé sleeping, Keith first headed to the bathroom to fetch Lance’s bloodied shirt and underwear, before heading downstairs. The one night he could have done with someone else there to tell him what to do, their house stood uselessly empty. Cleaning. That was about all he could do.

Crying as he scrubbed at the blood split in Lance’s office, he wondered how the heck he was supposed to deal with this. Lance had climbed into bed without prompting, even skipping getting in one last apology before zonking out. His fiancé needed his sleep, but should he have been waking him and taking him to Coran? Was he overreacting? It wasn’t like Lance had had a bleed, he’d checked when he’d towelled him down. Now that he was back to being himself, he’d been affectionate... but he couldn’t get the image of all that blood out of his head.

The torn bags thrown in the trash with Lance’s clothes, and the clothes from cleaning, the bin then dragged out to the road at Lance’s gateway for collection. Coming back to the house, Keith could hear Lance snoring, yet found himself unable to head upstairs with so much in his head. He needed coffee... and he really needed a fucking hug... Coffee at least was home and never failed at settling him, if he didn’t think about the times it had.

Settling himself on the edge of the sofa, Keith didn’t remember grabbing his phone when he’d left Lance sleeping. Kosmo coming quietly padding into the room, dropping himself to sit beside Keith’s legs with a soft whine

“I know. I’m worried about him too. Should I call Coran? Or am I thinking about this too much?”

He was so damn good at that. At his mind jumping to the worst case scenario. He’d always hate that about himself. He needed Shiro. They’d talked a little over lunch, but right now, Shiro was the only one he felt would understand his stupid fears. He loved Garrison, but the house felt so isolated that he felt truly alone. If the world outside had been destroyed, he’d be the last to know. God. He wanted his brother.

Resting his elbows on his knees, his right palm dug into his right eye as he held his phone with his left. The ringing continuing so long that he thought it’d ring out. It must have been the last ring when the call finally connected, Shiro’s voice groggy

“Keith?”

A fresh wave of tears hit. He’d woken his brother up...

“I’m sorry...”

In the background was the rustling of sheets, he picked up on the sound of the switch on Shiro’s lamp flicking on

“Hey, kiddo. What’s going on?”

What wasn’t going on...

“Keith? Hey... What happened? Is it Lance?”

“Shiro... I don’t know what to do”

Kosmo whined softly at his distress. Keith’s right hand moving to hug his best boy close

“I’m sure it’ll be okay. What happened?”

“I... I walked on him feeding... and there was so much blood. He was covered in blood. He wasn’t even... even aware of it. He didn’t remember coming down. I don’t know if he even remembers the party... I put him back to bed, but I don’t know what to do...”

In the background Curtis asked it was Keith, Shiro covering the bottom of his phone as he replied it was. Now he’d gone and disturbed Curtis too

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called...”

“Hey, no. No. You’re my little brother. I want you to rely on me. When you say you walked in on Lance, was he acting differently?”

“It was like he wasn’t even there. No. It was like I wasn’t there... He was so hungry...”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No. The moment he realised I was there he started panicking because he was covered in blood”

“How much blood are we talking about?”

“I threw out 10 bags... well, the remains of 10 bags. He tore into them as if he hadn’t eaten for ages”

In the background he heard Curtis asking for him to put Keith on speaker phone. He wanted to talk to his brother, not so much Curtis

“Hey, Keith. Does Lance have any other symptoms? Any bleeding? Changes in temperature?”

“No. No, I checked...”

“Okay. That’s a really good sign. Let him sleep for now. If his temperature drops or if he develops a fever, then call Coran”

Right. Curtis had originally been Lance’s babysitter. He didn’t doubt Curtis was lying to soothe him, but the curse would have handy right now

“Okay”

“Good. I know you’re worried about him, but he’s honestly better when you’re with him. I’ll let you get back to talking to Shiro, you don’t need me eavesdropping”

Keith instantly felt bad all over again. Shiro the one to the leave the bedroom, instead of Curtis as he told him to go back to sleep. A few moments passed before Keith heard the sounds of Shiro sitting on the sofa

“Sorry, kiddo. You know how much he likes Lance”

“I’m the one who’s sorry... I woke you up”

“Keith, you’re my brother. I’m glad I can here for you. What are you thinking?”

“That I could really use a hug right now”

“Oh, kiddo. This is Lance, he’ll be okay”

“But what if he’s not? He hasn’t been feeling well”

“I’m sure if it was serious he would have gone to Coran...”

“This him, he doesn’t want a fuss...”

Lance was so stupidly pigheaded about his desires not to be fussed over. He’d been so strong... now he was weakened

“Stop letting your head get the better of you”

“I didn’t say anything”

“I know you, kiddo. If he’s not better by the morning, bring him to Garrison. I know you’re going to worry yourself sick, but being there is the best thing you can do for him and your twins”

“Is... am I enough?”

“Keith, you’ll always be enough. He adores you. I might not have approved to begin with, but Lance has proven time and time again that he loves you. I know it’s tough, kiddo, but soon you’ll be father to your twins. You and Lance are going to get through this”

“God, I hope so...”

“You will. Now, get some rest. Lance is going to worry about you if look shitty in the morning”

“Lance always worries”

“Maybe we should get him a trophy for that?”

Keith gave a wet snort. If they were to do that, they’d constantly be trading the damn thing back and forth..

“Let’s not. Shiro... I’m worried for him”

“I know, kiddo. But this is Lance. He’s stronger than he looks. If he’s not better by morning, follow your gut instincts”

“I don’t know what my instincts are saying”

“They’re saying you’ll make the right call. Try to get some sleep”

“Yeah. I will... thanks, Shiro”

“Anytime, kiddo. Let me know it goes?”

“Yeah. I will”

Ending his call with Shiro, Keith tossed his phone to the other end of the sofa. Kosmo patiently sitting, still hugged close

“What do you think I should do?”

Trying to lick at his face, Kosmo wanted pats, not to be giving out life advice

“Yeah. I guess I’ll try get some sleep. The last two days have been a lot”

Training with Lotor. His talk with his mother. Seeing his father again. His talk with Lance. The party. Lance covered in blood. Yeah. He really should go to bed. If anything happened, he’d be there for Lance... hopefully making the right call in waiting until the morning.

[ellipsesarefun]

daffodils

A/N: did not finish the series but this came out of the blue. some plance. mentions of allurance, sheith, hunkxshay. there’s no continuation of the sort, just self-indulgent stuff and meet again cute plance.

Now in AO3 

----

This is becoming a waste of time. Lance sighs the words out of his mouth, as his brain barely processes the lecture in front of him. If there was one thing he couldn’t get away with when sitting at the very first row, it’s falling asleep. Especially with a prof that whacks you in the head at the first sign of inattention.

He lets out a groan at the squeaky noise the chalk makes against the board. It’s a stark contrast from the advanced and quintessence-based Altean technology he’s witnessed and utilized during his time at the castle. There were touch screens, holographic images the float throughout the entirety of the room for everyone to see. There were people he couldn’t forget, people he couldn’t stay in touch...

People he lost. Or.. a person. A person whom he held close to his heart once.

Fresh out of war and everyone is off to places farther than a human eye can see.. Keith joined forces with the Blade of Marmora but is on vacation with Shiro at a nearby star system. Hunk and Pidge have been venturing to much farther galaxies, combining their engineering prowess for all the universe to applaud. Hunk is spending his sweet time with Shay, as seen from their recent video calls. Pidge, well. He hasn’t heard from her for a month, but that’s typical. Probably brooding mathematical equations he can barely comprehend in a lab somewhere. 

And Lance..? What about Lance..? 

He casts a heavy look at the empty notebook in front of him, his pen untouched and capped. 

He doesn’t know.

The school bell rings. The professor abruptly ends the lecture and the students rush out of the classroom. Typical lunch time. Lance arranges his things, his mind already thinking about what to eat. He shrugs off other intrusive thoughts and leaves the room with his stomach growling. 

He wasn’t sure if there was some cosmic universe who answered at least one question in mind but he spots a pair of round glasses and that awful, thinking pouty face. He knows that thinking pouty face from even a thousand galaxies away. 

“Oi Pidge!” He calls out. Immediately his voice pulls her out of whatever she’s crafting in her head and she turns to him.

“Hey Lance!” She responds with equal enthusiasm, approaching him with the familiarity of a friend. He might be overthinking it, but he hears a tone of affection in that typical Pidge voice. Ah, he must have missed her a lot. 

“It’s been awhile!” He says with a smile, rubbing a neck with his hand, “What brings you here?”

“Came to see my fam. Wanna come with me for a brief catch up?” She offers with a gesture towards the hall to the cafeteria. He doesn’t pause for a second when he accepts her offer, responding with his classic teases that riles her up. She doesn’t huff at him at all like he’d expect her to, and instead rolls her eyes playfully. 

Somehow that jolts his heart to a 100 bpm and he doesn’t know why.

“Come on. Let’s go before my brother orders ahead of me!” She says. And he follows, wondering if this would be the start of something new.