#pidge never did sports. hunk and keith would always sit out of it

[ashkazora]

Love that all paladins are great runners, Hunk runs away from danger, Keith runs into danger, Pidge ran away from home, Shiro runs away from his trauma into nearest certain death, Lance won track race competitions in elementary and middle school and decided that's his personality now

You can't tell me Lance wasn't that dude in middle school who would always win the 100 metre sprints at school sports day, and be super cocky about it. He was the dude who signed up for every running event and won easily, and was a smug bastard about it. King was short, scrawny, but held the power of god, anime, and school popularity in his hands just by being naturally good at running.

Also anon, this is genuinely the funniest fuckin ask I've ever received LMFAOOO. I see no lie whatsoever.

[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.

[somekindoftuber]

vld YouTuber AU (klance, part 8)

(content warning for this chapter: medical stuff, surgery, hospitals)

part one | part two | part three | part four | part five | part six | part seven

(full disclosure that I am not a medical professional! I did some research but some things might be off but it’s fiction so just, uh. go with it)

-----

Waiting had never been so hard.

Lance had given the nurses as much info as he could before he was asked to move his car into the parking lot. He barely remembered doing so, quickly returning to the ER waiting room to sit in a chair and try not to break down. He’d called Shiro eight times. No response. He’d call Allura if he had her number, but he didn’t. No one was picking up at the Holt household, either - they were probably at work. Lance sent a frantic “call me asap!!” text to Shiro and then hung his head. He didn’t know how long he was sitting there when his phone buzzed in his hand.

Hunk hey man everything okay? the stream was supposed to start almost an hour ago

Oh god. The stream. Lance had forgotten all about it. He opened twitter to see his notifications blowing up, so many comments that he couldn’t even read them all. It didn’t matter, because they were all some variation of “where is the stream??” and Lance absolutely did not have it in him to do damage control right now.

Lance! @lanceylance stream cancelled due to emergency

Then he closed twitter, dropped his phone into his lap, and put his head in his hands. This had to be a nightmare. He’d stressed himself out over Keith’s visit and was just having a bad dream. Wake up, please wake up.

His phone vibrated. Lance snatched it up - the screen read Hunk’s number. Hunk was calling him. He almost dropped his phone in his haste to answer.

“Lance,” Hunk’s voice came through the speaker at his ear, tinny and distant. “What’s going on? What emergency? Why did you cancel the stream?”

“Hunk.” Lance felt his eyes sting as tears welled up in them, blurring his vision. “It’s Keith. He - he was fine and then he suddenly looked like he was dying, I brought him to the ER, I had to carry him in --” he cut off with a sob. So much for not crying in public.

“Which hospital?”

Lance sniffled loudly. “S-saint Joseph’s, the one on Candler street.”

“Stay there,” Hunk commanded. “I’m on my way.”

Lance could only whimper a confirmation before hanging up.

Someone called his name at some point. He had no idea how long he’d been sitting there, staring at the floor, his face itchy with drying tears. Lance looked up to find a nurse walking straight towards him, and immediately stood.

“Lance McClain?” she asked. “You brought in Keith Kogane, right?”

“Yes,” Lance’s throat went tight and he struggled not to panic. “Is he gonna be okay?”

“Have you been able to contact his family?”

God, why couldn’t she just answer his question? “Not- not yet. I’ve been trying to reach his brother.”

She nodded, looking at the chart on her clipboard. “Your friend’s appendix burst. He’s being prepped for surgery now.”

“Oh my god,” it came out as an exhale. Lance felt hot tears sliding down his cheeks.

The nurse gave him a little smile. “Easy, he’s going to be fine. You got him here quickly, so the danger of sepsis has been minimized.”

Going to be fine. Keith was going to be fine. Lance heaved a breath and sat back down.

He spent the next hour twirling his phone in his sweaty hands. He was hungry and thirsty and the shitty ER waiting room chair was making his ass fall asleep, but he didn’t want to move. He wanted to see Keith, see with his own eyes that he was alive. But Keith was in surgery. A burst appendix, that was - that was really bad, wasn’t it? You could die from that, couldn’t you? No, she said Keith would be fine. They wouldn’t just lie to him, would they?

“Lance!”

He looked up to see Hunk rounding a corner, heading straight for him. Lance leaped to his feet and let Hunk wrap him up in a warm hug, sinking into his friend.

“I gotcha, buddy,” Hunk murmured into his hair. “I gotcha.”

“His appendix burst,” Lance told him, his voice wavering and cracking. “He’s in surgery.”

Hunk guided him back to a chair and sat beside him. “Breathe, Lance, breathe. He’s in good hands, this is one of the best hospitals in the state.” Hunk was rubbing a hand up and down Lance’s spine. “He’ll be fine.”

Lance nodded. Hunk always knew exactly what to say, what to do, how to keep anyone calm in a crisis. He led Lance to the bathrooms so he could wash his face, then bought him a sports drink and a bag of granola bites from a vending machine. Lance couldn’t stand the thought of eating, but managed to choke down some of it anyway.

“Better?” Hunk asked, taking the half empty drink from Lance’s hands and capping it.

“Yeah.”

Lance sat in silence as exhaustion began to set in. He heard Hunk call Pidge and explain what happened, but she was four hours away at a conference. Hunk was promising to take care of Lance for her. Was he really that pitiful?

Yeah. Yeah he was.

His heart went into overdrive when his phone rang, Shiro’s name on the screen.

“Lance,” Shiro sounded even more panicked than Hunk had. “What’s wrong?”

He was so tired, the drop off of adrenaline leaving Lance woozy as he explained what happened to Shiro. On the other end of the line, Shiro let out a long breath.

“I’m coming up,” he said, his voice hard. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Keep me posted.”

Lance sat in the chair with Hunk for another hour. Other people in the waiting room came and went, the setting sun that streamed through the windows painting the carpet gold. Lance could have passed out where he sat, if it wasn’t for the swift steps coming his way.

A tall man in scrubs with his hair covered by a surgeon’s cap was coming towards them. Lance stood so quickly that his phone and sports drink hit the floor.

“Keith?” Lance asked, the only word he could get out.

The surgeon nodded. “He’s out of surgery. Everything looks good, he should make a full recovery.”

Hunk had to reach out and catch Lance as he swayed, his knees threatening to give out.

“Have you been able to reach any of his family?”

Hunk answered for Lance, who probably wouldn’t have been able to speak if he tried. “His brother is on the way, but he lives on the other side of the state, so it’s gonna be a few more hours until he gets here.”

After they both gave detailed contact info to the receptionist, Hunk convinced Lance to go home and rest. He’d wanted to see Keith, but Lance wasn’t family, so he was denied. Hunk sent detailed texts to Shiro and Pidge about what happened, then loaded Lance into his car and drove them back to the apartment. Lance’s car would just have to sit in the hospital parking lot for a while.

Once home, Hunk had him shower and change his clothes, then practically dragged Lance to the couch, arranging him so that Lance’s head rested in Hunk’s lap. Lance fell asleep quickly as Hunk combed fingers through his hair.

He didn’t dream of anything, and before he even realized he was asleep, Hunk was shaking him awake.

“Hey, Shiro is almost here. I told him to meet us at the hospital.”

Hunk drove them back, street lights flashing over Lance’s face as they went, the sky now pitch black. They were in the ER waiting room for all of ten minutes before Shiro came bursting in like a tornado, going straight for the reception desk and asking about Keith.

“Shiro!” Hunk and Lance ran up to him. Shiro turned to them and he looked like hell, his eyes bloodshot and lined with dark circles. He didn’t say anything before reaching out and pulling Lance into a tight hug. Lance just hugged back.

With Shiro present, they were allowed to see Keith, and Lance’s heart was once again in his throat as a nurse led him and Shiro down a long hallway. Hunk offered to stay behind. They found a room and Lance gasped, because there was Keith. Dressed in a hospital gown, propped up on pillows, an oxygen tube in his nose and several cords sticking out of the collar of the flimsy garment. An IV was dripping into a needle stuck in the back of his hand, a paper bracelet on his wrist. A heart monitor next to him was beeping steadily as his chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm.

Shiro was already at the side of the bed, so Lance numbly followed. Keith’s skin was ashen, dark circles under his eyes, his hair tangled and dull.

“Keith?” Shiro called softly, setting a hand on his shoulder. “Keith, can you hear me?”

Keith’s eyelids fluttered before opening, drawing a lazy path to his brother’s face. “Sh...shir..o?” His voice was shredded.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

Blinking, Keith seemed to wake up a little more, looking around the room. His eyes landed on Lance and lingered, and Lance smiled at him.

“Hey there, good lookin’.”

The corners of Keith’s mouth turned upward, just a tiny bit.

“Hi.”

Lance let Shiro talk to Keith, who was still pretty out of it - he was probably on some pretty strong pain meds. Reaching out, Lance indulged himself in petting Keith’s hair, smoothing it away from his temple. The roaring hot fever was gone, and Lance breathed a heavy sigh.

Keith nodded off again in the middle of a sentence. Shiro just laughed.

By then it was well past midnight. After talking with the doctors, Lance rode with Shiro back to his apartment while Hunk drove his own car. It wasn’t the setup he’d planned, but the pullout couch was ready with clean sheets, so Shiro brought in the tiny bookbag he’d packed and got ready for bed. Hunk went for Pidge’s room, apparently having already asked her permission. Lance collapsed into his bed, having barely managing to brush his teeth before passing out.

-----

Lance’s alarm went off at seven as it always did, and he snorted awake, groggy and disoriented. He stumbled into the living room, and it wasn’t until he saw Shiro asleep on the sofa bed that he remembered what happened.

Keith was in the hospital. His chest ached as he made a pot of coffee. It was enough to wake up Shiro, who sat up and rubbed at his eyes. Hunk came out of Pidge’s room a few minutes later, and went straight for the kitchen and found the waffle iron.

After blueberry waffles and coffee, Lance let Shiro shower first so he and Hunk could return Keith’s rental car. Shiro had apparently borrowed Mrs Holt’s sedan for the five hour drive, and Lance couldn’t blame him. He’d been in Shiro’s old truck, the shocks were almost non-existent.

Lance showered and dressed, then went to the hospital. He was directed to a different waiting room this time, so he texted Shiro and Hunk to let them know where to go. Hunk had to get back home as soon as he could, so he stayed just long enough to give Lance a tight hug, then he was gone. Shiro and Lance were led to another room where Keith was staying for the next few days to recover from surgery. He was awake this time, though groggy.

They chatted a little, then Shiro left to use the restroom - or at least that’s what he said, but given how he’d shot Lance a knowing smile, it was probably a pretense. Lance went to Keith’s bedside and leaned his face into his hair. He wanted so much to hug him, but he was still hooked up to all sorts of machines, wires and cords everywhere.

Keith patted his arm. “Sorry about the stream.”

Laughing, Lance snuggled his nose against Keith’s scalp. He smelled like sweat and plastic and hospital antiseptic, but he didn’t care. Keith was okay.

“It’s fine.” He frowned. “I mean, I think. I haven’t checked twitter since yesterday.”

Keith laughed softly. “Your followers are probably pissed.”

“I should probably tweet something.” Lance took out his phone. “What should I say? I won’t tell the internet what happened if you don’t want me to.”

Keith shrugged, a dopey smile on his face. “I don’t care. Post a photo of me all wired up if you want.”

“You sure that’s not the pain meds talking?”

Keith laughed again, then put a hand over his stomach, wincing. “Probably.”

As carefully as he could, Lance sat next to Keith and put an arm around his shoulder, then opened his photo app and set it to the front-facing camera. He leaned into Keith’s hair, smiling when Keith leaned back and gave a weak peace sign with the hand that had the IV and heart monitor cuff.

Lance snapped the photo, then showed Keith, who smiled and leaned back on his pillows. “Tell twitter I said ‘I lived, bitch.’”

It was hard not to laugh as Lance carefully composed the tweet, attaching the photo of himself and Keith.

Lance! @LanceyLance Hey everyone, sorry for the cancelled stream yesterday. About an hour before we were going to start, Keith’s appendix decided to go out in a blaze of glory, so we ended up in the ER instead. He’s out of surgery and on the mend! He wants me to tell you all: “I lived, bitch.”

Lance hit ‘tweet,’ then pocketed his phone.

-----

Keith spent another two days in the hospital.

Lance and Shiro visited several times a day. Keith became more lucid, though as the pain meds were tapered off, he looked more uncomfortable. Once he learned the details of Keith’s surgery, Lance understood how serious it was - they really had to slice into him to clean out where his appendix had burst. It would take a month to heal completely.

When Keith was discharged, he was carefully loaded into the back of Lance’s car and driven back to the apartment. He wasn’t cleared for long distance travel yet, so he’d be hanging out here for another three days. He could barely walk on his own, still stitched up and sore, so it took both Lance and Shiro to get him into the apartment and to Lance’s room. They carefully hoisted Keith onto Lance’s bed and propped him up on the pile of pillows that was prepared for him.

“I’ll get you some water,” Shiro said, then left.

In the quiet of the bedroom, Lance carefully sat on the edge of the bed and observed Keith. Some of the color had returned to his cheeks, though his eyes were still lined with dark circles. His hair was visibly oily, as was his skin - major surgery meant no showering. Lance had been there once.

“You’re staring.”

Lance snapped out of his trance to find Keith’s barely-open eyes trained on him, a tiny smile on his lips.

“Sorry,” Lance laughed softly. “You just… kinda gave me a scare.”

“Didn’t mean to.”

Reaching out, Lance took one of Keith’s hands and gave it a little squeeze. “Sorry this weekend turned sour.”

Keith shook his head, resting his other hand on his stomach, over the place where the surgery bandages still sat. “It’s not your fault. I’m pretty sure my appendix would still have exploded if I’d stayed home.”

Lance frowned. “I still feel bad.”

“Don’t.”

“But--”

Keith opened his eyes, tugging on where their hands were laced together. “Lance.” He kept pulling until Lance was forced to lean forward, planting his other hand on the mattress to support his weight. Keith’s other hand came up to cradle Lance’s cheek, pulling him in, and--

Keith kissed him.

It was soft and slow and Keith was kissing him, just a gentle press of lips, and Lance couldn’t even care that Keith hadn’t showered in days because his lips were soft and warm. Inhaling through his nose, Lance leaned into it, letting Keith hold him in place.

When they broke apart with a tiny smack, Lance hovered, lightheaded. Keith just grinned at him and settled back in his pillow nest with a sigh.

Lance’s heart was about to burst out of his chest. “Oh,” he breathed, stopping to lick his lips. “That’s not fair.”

“Sorry, I know I’m kinda gross right now,” Keith said, not opening his eyes. “But in my defense, I was planning on doing that this weekend anyway. I just got delayed.”

Straightening his spine, Lance raised an eyebrow. “Oh, were you now?”

“Mm-hmm.” Keith shifted in place a bit. “Now get over here and sit with me.”

Lance obeyed, climbing up to curl against the side of the pillow nest, reaching for the TV remote. He was intensely glad to have a queen sized bed, flicking on the TV and finding the Disney Channel. He had a shift at work tomorrow, but Shiro was staying to take care of Keith.

-----

Three days later, Keith was loaded into Colleen Holt’s borrowed sedan, finally cleared to make the five hour drive home.

It had been a very, very strange three days. Keith had pretty much lived in Lance’s bed, rarely moving. Shiro had to help him to the bathroom, help him take little psuedo-baths (he couldn’t shower for another week until the stitches healed) and change his clothes, and Keith could only eat soup and soft things. But overall, he seemed in high spirits, asking Lance to bring in his laptop and play Overwatch so Keith could spectate. Pidge came home from her conference, giving Lance one of the most intense hugs he’d ever had.

Keith had complained about feeling gross, especially his hair, so Lance had run to the pharmacy to grab a can of unscented dry shampoo. Although he was skeptical, Keith let Lance use it on him, spraying his scalp and combing it through his now thoroughly greasy hair. It worked a fair amount, and it gave Lance an excuse to play with Keith’s hair.

Now that it was over and Keith was heading home, Lance was going to miss him. A lot. He’d gotten used to having him close at all times, and he enjoyed sleeping next to Keith in the same bed more than he was willing to admit. Lance gave a fleeting thought to the Springdale Community College enrollment website and smiled.

“Have a safe drive,” Lance said, leaning into the car where Keith was buckled into the passenger seat and giving him a little peck on the lips.

Keith grinned. “Thanks, I’ll text you when we’re home.”

As they drove off, Lance put his hand to his chest and let out a long breath, watching it turn into a puff of white in the freezing early December air.

.

TO BE CONTINUED!!

[otterknowbynow]

Altean Home Economics (10/?)

Goo is great, but Hunk sure would feel better if they had kitchen access.

all chapters in this tag | ao3 link in reblogs

It’s been quiet on the bridge for nearly an hour now, and Shiro wonders if there’s something else he should have said, if he should have made his position clear more gently. It doesn’t make any sense to delay their arrival at the Blade headquarters, of course, but if he were in her position -- he’d want to know, he realizes. Of course he’d want to know. That doesn’t mean they can afford the delay or the distraction, but if there’s a way to reassure her they can come back, sometime, when things are less pressing.

“Allura,” he starts, turning to where she’s taken Coran’s place at the helm, but she raises a hand to cut him off. 

“I’ve set a course for Entuk, so we should be alright leaving it on auto-pilot for a while,” she says, finishing a quick set of keystrokes before she backs up from Coran’s station. Her tone is brisk and businesslike, though he guesses that’s the result of training in diplomacy her entire life so far rather than a reflection of her actual level of calm. “I suppose when we get there we’ll arrange everything to take us the rest of the way to Ulaz’s coordinates.” The way she says Ulaz’s name sounds wary, at least to Shiro, and he’s pretty sure she could input the entire course right now if she really wanted to. He’s reminded again how little she seems willing to trust Ulaz -- by extension, to trust him. He sighs. 

“Alright,” he says, trying not to let defeat bleed into his voice. “I’ll leave that to you and Coran, then.” She nods, but doesn’t say anything more, and the bridge slips back into silence apart from the quiet intermittent beeps of the navigation system.

--

The lab, unlike the bridge, is humming with activity, though none of it verbal. When Keith walks in, he sees Pidge absolutely in her element. She’s surrounded by the tiny containers she brought in from the kitchen, and her eyes are bright with interest. The containers are arrayed around her in a semi-circle, and she’s using a bunch of tiny spoons of some kind to scoop bits of them into equally tiny glass capsules. Behind her are several machines on another table, all blinking with various lights and buzzing, apparently warming up. To Keith, they mostly look like variations on a microwave, though he’s not about to tell Pidge that. 

“Making progress?” he asks lightly, putting the stack of matching containers he’s carrying onto the desk between them. He’s carefully labeled each one with the button combination that produces it from the querlay, and under that the output the screen showed him, which he assumes must be the name of whatever grain or pudding-type thing he’s collected there. Pidge raises her eyebrows seeing all the Altean markings in his small precise script. 

“Well, I’ll be making more now! Where did all these come from?” Only Pidge, Keith thinks, could be this excited about a bunch of weird unidentified bits of stuff. He explains as best he can, repeating the pieces of Coran’s technobabble he remembers and watching her face as subtly as possible to make sure he’s making some sense. When he finishes, she nods, eyebrows knit together. 

“So, we know these are staple ingredients for Alteans, and I’m sure I can even figure out the common names for what they are given how you’ve labeled them -- thanks for that, by the way.” She looks up at him at this. 

“No problem.” 

“-- but the main thing we need to figure out, really, is if we can eat them and not die.” 

“That does seem to be the goal, yeah.” She frowns for a second before nodding firmly. 

“Okay, let’s get to work.” 

Once Pidge walks Keith through her procedure for collecting the samples, the lab slips into a routine, the hum of the machines, the click of opening and closing the containers, and the flipping of pages as Pidge looks up Altean words the only sounds. 

--

The kitchen is the quietest it’s been since they first arrived. Hunk’s various dough mixtures line the edges of the counter in the pantry, and he and Coran have settled onto a couple of stools at the opposite end of the main kitchen island from where Lance continues to sleep. 

“Ira was the one who taught me most of what I know about baking, really,” Coran is saying over a mug of what Hunk has figured out is some kind of Altean tea. “He was technically my mum’s second cousin, but I don’t know that we ever got that technical about it. Unlike baking, which of course, he was very technical about -- Ira could talk about fat-flour-liquid ratios for vargas at a time! Fascinating man.” Hunk nods over his own mug, which is full of just hot water. He’s not sure Altean tea would agree with his digestive system, and if he’s going to take the risk of alien food poisoning again, it’ll at least be for something more exciting than tea. 

“He sounds a lot like my mom,” he says. “‘She always says -- said -- says that the mark of a good baker is that they could make a pound cake in a kitchen on the other side of the world with nothing labeled in English, and that she absolutely could, even without a scale or balance or anything.” 

“Seems like you take after her,” says Coran. 

“Guess so.” He says. “Well, I hope so anyway -- she’s a great person to take after, you know?” He’s a bit surprised, but not terribly, that his eyes are tearing up. Missing his family is never exactly a difficult emotion to achieve. “Wow, it must be getting late if it’s time for this level of homesickness, huh?” 

“Ah, well,” Coran says, standing up and stretching. “Perhaps it’s time to let sleep take the lead, eh? Keep us from slipping too far into the world of nostalgia.” 

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” 

--

On Entuk, the outpost is less than quiet, but not as loud as might be expected during more active parts of the day. There’s the usual hum of early morning, as the market sector is starting to fill with vendors. Councilor Yeskia is the only member to have arrived in the chambers yet, although she figures the others will get there soon enough. They’ve got several issues on their shoulders these days, and without clear solutions to any of them she hasn’t been sleeping much. 

The marketplace sounds from outside the chambers might be more reassuring if she weren’t so aware of the absence of some of the usual ones -- no rumbling of the eatery querlays or screams of youngsters out for early sports practice. There will still be the gatherings, of course, but this sun cycle is a strange one, that much she has to admit. 

Yeskia takes a deep breath and stands up from her spot at the councilors’ table -- she can’t sit for the last few moments before the others arrive. She needs to think.

[calligraphist-artemisia]

I’m Not Calling it a Date

Kidgeweek 2019 - Day 1: High School or College AU . 

Summary: Pidge really needed to learn how to say ‘no’ to Allura’s plans, especially when it’s something she doesn’t fully feel comfortable with. But maybe, just that once, it could lead to something good.

Also posted on AO3 and fanfiction.net (under the username kishirokitsune)

I'm Not Calling it a Date

“I had the most brilliant idea,” Allura gushed as she sat down at a table across from Pidge.

Pidge lifted her eyes from her notes without moving her head, raising an eyebrow as Lance plopped down as well, looking much less pleased than Allura. “Am I going to like this idea?”

“No, because it's an awful idea,” Lance grumbled, glaring at Allura.

Allura rolled her eyes. “You're the only one who feels that way. Even Hunk thinks it's a good idea and he never thinks things like this are a good idea!”

Pidge marked where she was in her notes and then set her notebook aside, more interested in finding out what her friends were plotting than continuing to study. The fact that Hunk thought something was a good idea, but Lance didn't was bound to be entertaining.

“Pidge,” Allura began, taking her friend's hands with both of her own. “How would you feel about going on a double date with me and Shiro?”

Scratch that.

Not entertaining.

Pidge was with Lance, for once. It sounded like an awful idea.

“Don't say 'no' yet!” Allura begged.

“Maybe you've forgotten, but I'm not dating anyone and there isn't anyone I'm interested in either. I don't know if either of you remember the last time you tried to set me up on a blind date at Nadia's suggestion, but it didn't end well,” Pidge reminded them. “I'm sorry, Allura, but-”

“Shiro approves of him!” Allura blurted out in a desperate last attempt.

Pidge snapped her mouth shut and narrowed her eyes. “Shiro knows about this plan and approves of it?”

“Well... I wouldn't say he approves exactly, but he did say that he thought it would be nice if you two could meet and be friends,” Allura said. “You don't have to think of this as a date, if you don't want to. Just four friends seeing a movie and getting dinner.”

Curse Allura for being so difficult to say no to.

Pidge swallowed her inclination to agree to Allura's plan and looked to Lance instead, hoping that he would be able to offer her the perfect excuse to stay home. “So why are you against this, Lance?”

“Because Keith's a jerk!”

Allura rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I don't understand what your problem is with him. You just up and decided that he is your rival and haven't bothered to give him a chance beyond that!”

“Wait, rival? You mean the mullet guy he's always ranting about?” Pidge asked, her gaze drifting back to Allura.

That was interesting. She'd always been a little curious about the person Lance ranted on about from time to time. Hearing that Allura wanted to set her up with the mystery rival only increased that curiosity and it was for that reason that she found herself agreeing to a movie and dinner on Friday night.

“But it's not a date! Like you said, it'll just be four friends having fun.”

Allura squealed in delight. “You won't regret it, Pidge! This is going to be great!”

Lance quietly moaned in defeat, disappointed that no one else wanted to listen to him.

Pidge doubted she'd really have as much fun as Allura seemed to think, but it made her friend happy and she could hardly back out a minute after agreeing. She changed the subject before Allura could continue on, and they all sat around and talked for a while longer before Allura had to head off to class, and Lance to meet Nadia for a late lunch. Pidge stuck around to try and get a little more studying done, but found it hard to concentrate and packed up to head home to the apartment she shared with her brother, Matt.

He was friends with Shiro; maybe he could tell her more about Keith.

Sadly, Matt was nowhere to be found when she got home. After poking around in search of him, Pidge settled in at the desk in her room, leaving her bedroom door open so she could hear when he returned.

She lost herself to several rounds of solitaire on her computer, giving her brain an extended break from her studies. It wasn't like she could focus anyway.

At around four o'clock, as if guided by some unseen force, Pidge looked out her window to the park below. She could see children running around, screaming in glee. There was the old man who fed birdseed to the pigeons every Tuesday. A number of couples strolling along, hand-in-hand. An attractive man with dark hair, running with his massive wolf-like dog.

Pidge took a moment to admire him, as she always did. She wasn't sure what it was that drew her to him; if it was his carefully maintained schedule or just the way his dog stood out from all of the others.

“You know, I'm starting to think you have a crush.”

Pidge jumped and flailed her arms before spectacularly falling out of her chair. She glared up at her brother as he laughed. “It's not funny! And I do not!”

“Uh huh,” Matt responded, holding out a hand to help her up. “I brought pizza home, unless you'd rather sit in here and keep watching him.”

Pidge grumbled at him as she accepted his help, but didn't take the bait he dangled in front of her. Instead, she resisted the urge to take one last look and marched out of her room to their tiny kitchen. “Did you bring me any bread sticks?”

“Of course,” Matt said, still sounded amused.

Pidge happily gathered her food, elbowing Matt when she tried to steal a bread stick, and tried to cast aside all thoughts of double dates and attractive joggers. It didn't work very well when Matt kept casting her amused glances.

She finished off the crust of her first slice of pizza and contemplated the best way to distract him. Unfortunately, the only answer she could come up with was one that would lead to another unwanted conversation.

Although, she didn't have to tell him why she was asking about Keith. She could get her answers without revealing that Allura was trying to set her up on a date.

Pidge chomped down on a bread stick as she debated the best way to begin. “You know most of Shiro's friends, right?”

“Some of them,” Matt said as he stopped to take a drink before his next slice. “Why?”

“Allura invited me to hang out with her and Shiro on Friday and apparently Shiro's bringing a friend too. Keith, I think,” Pidge said.

Matt took too deep of a gulp and sputtered as he tried to collect himself. He covered his mouth and cleared his throat a few times, but that wasn't enough to hide the massive grin he was sporting.

Pidge groaned. “You're in on it too!”

“I have no idea what you're talking about,” Matt said, and while he sounded sincere, his grin said otherwise. “I'm just surprised Keith agreed is all. He's more of a social recluse than you are, if you can believe that.”

She didn't fully trust that was the reason for his amusement, but as long as he didn't tease her for her potential date, she'd ignore his shifty behavior. And though she didn't find out anything about Keith, she didn't try to ask about him any more. She was tired and frustrated with herself, and more than a little nervous about Friday night, and didn't want to deal with whatever Matt was keeping secret.

Noticing that she was done with that particular topic, Matt redirected the conversation to classes and the insanity that was trying to follow Professor Slav's lessons, which was always a hot topic in their apartment.

Over the next few days, Pidge tried to find out more about Keith from Lance (which was a Bad Choice), Hunk (who twittered on a bit about how cute they'd be), and Nadia (who didn't personally know Keith, but was fully on board with it). She found nothing but frustration from them, and Allura was especially unhelpful, as she insisted that Pidge find out first hand.

She arrived at the theater with every intention to grill Shiro for information, only to stop short when she saw who was standing with him and Allura. It took her a moment to recognize him without his dog, but he was unmistakably the man she'd spent the past year admiring from her bedroom window.

Suddenly, Matt's amusement made perfect sense.

Allura spotted her through the crowd and waved her over. Pidge lifted a hand to weakly wave back and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Praying that her cheeks weren't turning bright red, she slowly made her way over to them.

It was certainly an interesting turn of events.

But she still wasn't calling it a date.

[sasuhinasno1fan]

My sleepy stressed baby

Thank god I finished this early because I'm busy all day. I also really like this because it's fluffy. Enjoy. High School

End him. Just end him. Shiro would complain about his college classes killing him, but all that was doing was making Keith dreed college. I mean, yay for the fact he was going with his friends but he didn’t know if he’d survive to get their first. Senior year of high school was torture. Captain of football team, head of at least 2 clubs, not even adding in the fact that he was in almost all AP classes. Why did he let Shiro talk him into that? Screw the scholarships it secured for him since he was not planning on playing sports in college, this wasn’t worth it. Finals were approaching for them and he’d finally be able to relax but god, he wanted death.

He sat at the usual table outside the school near the tree Lance had been climbing when he first met him. the thought of his boyfriend made him smile slightly. They met when they were freshmen. Keith keeping to himself in his nerves of being in high school and living up to the weight of his brother had been broken out of that when Lance’s shoe fell off while he was up in the tree. Keith got it for him and after that, they were always bumping into each other until Lance found Keith eating lunch alone in a corner and invited him to sit with his friends. He and Pidge bonded immediately and Hunk was a god send with his culinary creations that he fed to their group. Lance had joined the cheerleading squad as their only male member, so Keith would often wait for his dad to come get him and Shiro with Lance who’d wait for whichever family member was free since their practises ended around the same time.

When Keith got his bike in his Sophomore year, he started driving Lance home, which started to be later when they’d stop at the nearby dinner for something to eat and sometimes even later than that if they did something else after eating. One of those times was when they went ice skating, all because Lance mentioned how much he missed doing it. He was stopping Keith from stumbling when Keith took one look at him and asked, “Are we dating?”

“I mean, I guess. I did order that huge food platter and didn’t share but you still paid for everything.”

“I never asked you. Do you want to go out with me?”

“Of course I do.” Lance said, seconds before Keith fell to the floor, pulling Lance with him. “Ok, I might change my mind now. Ow.”

“Too bad, your stuck with me.” Keith said, starting to get up.

That had been that. They dated ever since, a few minor fights but nothing that made Keith doubt how he felt for Lance. Keith, even for all his aversion of being the centre of attention, got the cheerleading team to help him ask Lance to prom. The tears had been worth it.

But back to the utter want to die. He had so many projects to do for his classes as well as the last big events their clubs were doing. It felt like he had no energy left. He literally pulled an all nightery to finish a project for his English class. He had no sleep or breakfast and a whole lot of stress. There was still time before class, so maybe it would be ok…if he just…passed out…right here.

Keith’s head was on the table top by the time he finished that thought.

That’s how his friends found him when they finally arrived, coffee and doughnuts in hand.

“Is he alive?” Pidge asked, looking at the unmoving person.

Lance put his stuff down on the grass and slid next to his boyfriend. “He’s alive don’t worry. He’s been working on a ton of projects and studying. The AP exams are coming up.”

“Oh yeah. How did he end up taking them again?” Hunk asked.

“Shiro thought it would be good for him. I love Shiro, but somethings he thinks are good for Keith usually aren’t. My baby gets stressed and then locks himself in a ball to deal with it himself.” Lance pouted taking in his boyfriend’s sleeping face. He’d been trying to get Keith to come over to his house so he could get him to just this, sleep, relax, take a load off. Lance was lucky, he took a lot of the harder necessary classes so he had a free period and a student aid job, when he wasn’t tutoring students in Spanish.

“Has he eaten anything?” Hunk asked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t.” Lance said. “Also, I’d look away if I were you.”

While Hunk looked confused, Pidge rolled their eyes. Lance leaned closer, nuzzling against Keith’s ear, slightly blowing in it.

“Baby wake up.” He started pressing kisses to Keith’s neck, causing him to start squirming, eventually waking up.

“Stop.” He slurred, his tiredness not giving him a chance to pull away.

Lance continued to press kisses to the side of his face and his neck before turning his head to kiss him. “Morning sleepyhead.”

Keith whined, dropping his head onto Lance’s shoulder, hiding his face in his neck and leaning heavily on him.

“Oh, my poor baby. Did you even sleep last night?”

“Just take me out.”

“Sniper or date?”

“You memes.” Pidge called from where they started on a doughnut.

“Ignore them. Can you at least eat something before you pass out?”

“Feed me.” Keith tiredly demanded.

Laughing at him, Lance pulled the box closer to him and grabbed a doughnut and fed it to Keith as he continued to lean on him. he was still tired by the time the bell rang, leaning on Lance the whole time he was walked to class. Lance got him to his seat, crouching nearby as Keith dropped his head on his desk.

“I walk you to class.” Keith said tiredly.

“You need some spoiling. Don’t worry, it’s almost over. I’ll come get you after class kay?”

“Hmm, best boyfriend ever.”

“Yes, I am.” Lance boasted, pressing a kiss to Keith’s head. He was already planning on how to work Keith’s time so this didn’t happen again. Though, he wouldn’t say no to a very cuddly boyfriend again.

[chancellormatt]

Voltron Rewrite Episode Ten - Defenders of Earth

Hunk tentatively walks up to where Keith stands, on the field outside the Garrison base. The Paladin of the Black Lion has his back to Hunk, as he is currently overseeing the transport of the Balmeran crystals.

"Hey man." Hunk says, stepping up beside him.

"Hey Hunk. You talk to Sanda?"

"Yeah I...wait how'd you know?"

Keith shrugs, smiling.

"Dang you're getting good at this stuff...so you aren't mad?"

"No." Keith shakes his head. "I already got that out of my system, and besides, it wouldn't really be fair to you. It doesn't help anyone trying to keep someone here if they don't want to be."

Hunk nods slowly. He lets out a long breath. He glances down at the line of Lions beside them.

"Gonna miss it?" Keith asks.

"Yeah. A lot of it, I think. Maybe more than I expected."

"Well if it's any consolation, you'll be missed too. We'll never forget-"

"Hey I'm not dying!" Hunk objects.

"All right, all right." Keith chuckles. "But whatever you do after this, I guarantee it won't be as fun as being in Voltron."

"Sure, just as long as almost being blow up every other day your kind of fun..."

"What other kind of fun is there?"

They share a long laugh at that.

***

Admiral Sanda stands besides Shiro, Matt, and Sam, watching the large balmeran crystals be transported via large transport vehicles. One was being taken inside the base, while the other was moving to the partially build Castle of Lions.

"And you're certain that one of these crystals will be able to power it?" Sanda asks.

"I did all the math. I'm sure." Sam nods.

"What's wrong Sanda? Don't trust us?" Matt says with a coy smile.

Shiro shoots him an exasperated look, but Sanda ignores the comment. As the second crystal finishes being loaded onto the transport, Keith approaches the group.

"Alright, that about wraps up our side of things with the crystals, your guys should be able to take care of the rest."

"I appreciate it." Sanda said simply.

The rest of them star at her. After a moment, Sanda sighs.

"...very well. As thanks for your efforts, I will show you all something. It's about time you saw it anyway..."

***

Sanda, Shiro, Matt, Sam and Keith stand inside a descending elevator.

"Gonna show us all the bodies you got hidden down here?" Matt asks jokingly.

"No but I'm considering leaving yours." Sanda replies, deadpan.

Matt smirks at the comment and Shiro lets out a sigh.

The elevator returns to silence until it finally reaches its destination. THere is a ping, and the doors pull open. The occupants step out, getting a good look at the place the now stand inside.

It is huge warehouse, but different from the one that the Castle preparations were done in. This warehouse is actually taller than it is wide, which is to admit it's primary subject: A gigantic mecha suit, easily twice as tall as Voltron, and then some. The mecha has white and yellow armor, with a solid and thick frame. Workers and instruments surround the mecha on various levels of scaffolding.

"Woah." Matt says with awe. "That's one big robot."

"Did you think I was going to make a small one?" Sam says with a self satisfied smile. "It might not be Voltron, but it'll sure give the galra a run for their money."

"The Atlas, is for use in the defense of earth." Sanda says curtly. "Ideally it won't ever have to be used."

"Really showing that space explorer spirit Sanda." Matt prods.

She ignores the jab.

"...who's going to pilot it?" Shiro eventually asks. "I assume you've already got someone picked out?"

"I do." Sanda nods. "You."

Shiro's eyes widen in surprise. "Me?"

"Oh get that look off your face, lieutenant. You were one of our best pilots before you got kidnapped by aliens and became leader of another giant robot. You are quite simply the most qualified person in the Garrison to pilot this thing."

"I'm...gonna have to side with the admiral on this one." Keith says, looking up at Shiro hopefully.

Shiro looks hesitant. "...and my arm? Dunno how well I can pilot a robot with only one."

"I think we both know that will hardly be an issue." Sanda says flatly.

"I...don't know. I just need some time to think on it. Not sure I'm ready to just jump right back into all this..."

Keith looks at Shiro concerned. His former mentor does not meet his gaze.

"Take your time..." Sanda stares up at the giant robot looming over them. "...just not too much time. That's something we're in awfully short supply of lately."

***

Sparks of light flicker off the dark goggles on Hunk's face, from the plasma torch he uses. The large engineer is sitting at a work table welding something metal. Two separate plates are seated together by the concentrated flame. Hunk turns off the torch, and pulls off his goggles.

"Done?" Pidge askes, peeking over his shoulder.

"Yep, I think that should do it." Hunk nods, looking satisfied.

"Great! Thanks for the help, I pack it up, and let Keith know."

Hunk nods and gets up from his seat. "Alright, just make sure you let me know when he's going to get it. I wanna see the look on his face. See you then."

"You got somewhere to be?" Pidge asks, curious.

"Uh, yeah...I'm gonna oversee those new test pilots. To see if any can pilot the Yellow Lion."

"...oh. Right."

Silence hangs between them at that. Both get distant looks, and shift uncomfortably.

"...you know I'll always be your friend, right" Hunk says eventually.

"Yeah." Pidge says, not meeting his eyes. She instead looks at the device Hunk just finished working on.

After a moment Hunk turns to go.

"For what it's worth." Pidge says, before he has a chance to leave. "No matter how good those pilots are, I don't think there's anyone that would be a better Paladin for the Yellow Lion than you."

Hunk hesitates, but doesn't reply. Instead he continues and walks out the door.

***

The Yellow Lion sits inside the Garrison warehouse. A small crowd of young cadets stand lined up in rows, in front of the Lion. Hunk walks in, eyes lowered as he moved to stand between the Lion and the prospective pilots. He looks up at the Yellow Lion, and looks torn. He continues to stare for several long moments. Then, finally, he closes his eyes and sighs.

Hunk turns around to face the cadets. "Who's first?"

***

Prince Lotor stalks down a hallway with two alteans just a step behind. They are both tall blond alteans with green eyes. Their faces are identical, only differentiated by the direction they part their hair.

"Lagmor, Dramor, you two are among the most skilled of the altean pilots we have." The Prince says, not slowing in his march.

"Thank you sir!" They say in unison.

"As such, I've decided that the pair of you would be the perfect choice for the pilots of my mother's newest robeast models. The power of these ones should dwarf the abilities of the machines you are used to. As soon as you are accustomed to the new robeasts you will be sent out to battle, along with an three standard robeasts, and an accompaniment of galra warships."

"...sir, might I ask who we are to be fighting?" One of the twins asks.

"The enemy's Voltron, Lagmor. You will be taking this fight to those pretender's homeworld. You will crush their defenses, then raze the world until there is nothing left."

"We will not fail." The other one, says.

"Overconfident Dramor?" Prince Lotor asks.

"No. Just determined. I lost...a friend after the last robeast that were sent out."

"Then I will trust that you can avenge them. All of your fellow fallen alteans."

"We will!" The twins say.

Lotor nods curtly. The hallway ends in a doorway that opens at the trio's approach. Inside is the robeast factory. Honerva stands on the platform, in front of two new robeasts.

These robeast feature shiny black armor, rather than the usual silver. They also sport long curved swords hanging from their waists, instead of the usual staff weapons.

"Are they ready?" Lotor asks.

"Yes." Honvera turns to face her son. "I am still unsure that this attack is wise. Even with these new suits, If it fails..."

"It will not." Lotor replies quickly.

She studies him for a moment, then nods. "I see. You may begin, then."

The Prince turns back to the twins. "Do not stop until the fight is one. You fight for me, you fight for your fallen comrades, you fight for ourselves, but you also fight for the altean as a people. Do not let your ancestors down on this day. Do not let their sacrifices be for nothing. When you meet that false Voltron on the fields of war, destroy them, leaving no trace."

"Yes sir!" They both salute.

The Prince looks down, nodding. "Go then. Take the power you've earned..."

***

A cadet sits in the cockpit of the Yellow Lion, pumping the throttles forward and back straining. After a moment he sits back and sighs.

"It ain't happening." The cadet says over the radio.

"Roger that, come back out then." Hunk says with a nod. "Next!"

The previous cadet exits the Lion, and another steps up to try. Hunk waits in anticipation.

"...not working sir." That cadet says finally.

"Understood." Hunk says sighing. "Next!"

"Careful there Hunk. If I squint you start to look a little like Ol' Iverson." A voice says from behind.

Hunk spins around to see Lance standing there with a smirk.

"Iverson?" Hunk shivers. "Lance you're too cruel."

"Not as cruel as you leaving us without your awesome cooling skills."

"Hey I said no matter what happens I'd make you guys tasty stuff no matter what and I meant it!"

Alright, alright." Lance says chuckling.

They watch another cadet walk up to try their hands as the Lion.

"Sure brings back memories doesn't it?" Lance says nodding to the group of cadets.

"Yep." Hunk smiles. "You me and Pidge. We were quite the trio huh?"

"Well...when someone wasn't throwing up in the gearbox."

"I seem to remember a certain 'tailor' crashing the simulator."

"Nope, not ringing any bells..."

Hunk only smiles and shakes his head. Another cadet signals their failure, and leaves the Lion. Yet another takes their place. Hunk frowns.

"...do you really have to go?" Lance asks after a moment.

"I think so." Hunk says with a sigh.

"We'll miss you buddy."

"I know..." Hunk watches another cadet leave the Lion. "...thanks."

Lance shrugs.

Both of their comms begin to ping. They share a look and both answer them.

"Guys this is Keith. I'm outside, near the Lions. I need to talk about Shiro..."

***

Shiro walks across the cracked ground, approaching the group of Paladins standing along a ridge. They turn to see Shiro walking up.

"What's going on guys? If this is a strategy meeting, you know we should bring the other members of the Coalition."

"That's not it." Keith shakes his head. He holds a long box under one arm. Shiro notes it but doesn't ask.

"You remember this place?" Keith asks, nodding down to the bottom of the ridge, where there is a crater.

"Is that..."

"The place where you crashed back down to earth, two years ago." Keith nods. "The place where we all found you."

"Wow." Shiro says, staring down at the crater.

"Feels like ages ago."

"A lifetime in some ways..." Shiro says distantly.

"A lot's changed." Keith agrees. "But I hope you know we still count on you to this day, for a lot of things Shiro."

Shiro winces. "Is this about the Atlas?"

"Kind of. I think Sanda's right. You should be the pilot."

Shiro shifts uncomfortably. "I dunno Keith, there's a lot to consider. For one there's my arm-"

"Funny you should mention that." Keith hands Shiro the box he'd been holding.

Shiro takes it. curious.

"Open it." Keith prods.

Shiro does so, and his eyes widen. Inside the box is a metal arm. It is very similar to the one he had up until recently. Shiro swallows hard.

"It seemed like you were missing having two arms." Keith smirks. "So I asked Pidge to take care of that."

"Ohhh!" Lance says with realization. "That's what you were working on."

Pidge shrugs. "Hunk helped too."

"What!? You knew about this too Hunk?" Lance says with surprise.

"Yeah I guess so." Hunk confirms.

"Wait, so the only people that didn't know about the secret robot arm thing are me and Allura!?"

"Actually..." Allura says, hesitantly. "...keith sort of let it slip..."

"What!? So literally just me? Man this is finding out Pidge is a girl all over again..."

Shiro chuckles at the display. He looks back down at the arm, uncertain.

"We could really use you back up there." Keith says suddenly. "I know you probably feel like we don't need you anymore, but that isn't true. We do need you Shiro, and not just here on Earth, but up there in the middle of it. When we finally go to take on Darktron again, I want you there, by our side."

Shiro stares at his former protege for several long moments. Finally, with a smile he says: "I guess I've got no excuses left, then. Now someone show me how to put this dang thing on."

Pidge walks over and takes the arm from him. "Here, you just put it up to your stump and it should affix..."

The base of the arm suddenly clamps down on Shiro's stump arm.

"Ow!" He jumps.

"...like so." Pidge finishes.

Shiro gives her a look, but then glances down at his arm. Slowly, carefully he lifts his new hand upwards, the robot arm, responding fluidly. Shiro flexes the fingers experimentally, then balls the hand into a fist and throws a experimental punch. He seems to be satisfied with the results.

"Try focusing on the wrist." Pidge advises.

Shiro squints down at the arm. Suddenly a glowing green blade slides out from the arm's wrist.

"Woah."

"I took some inspiration from the bayards." Pidge says adjusting her glasses. "It's got a few other modes too. Should be an even better weapon than your old one."

"Good work Pidge. Real good work." Shiro says smiling. "Now how much weight can this thing support..."

Hunk smiles as he watches Shiro try out his new arm. But after a moment his face falls. He turns and starts to walk away from the group. Focused on Shiro as the group is, Hunk manages to slip away, unnoticed.

***

The Twins fly their new black robeasts in orbit above the colony. They are not alone. They are joined by three other robeasts, of the standard class. The entire group flies up to large group of galra cruisers and fighters.

"Attention galra fighters!" Lagmor bellows. "Identify your commander."

"...this is Commander A'nok." A reluctant voice says over the comm.

"I am Lagmor."

"And I am Dramor."

"We are leading this assault on the enemy, so you will respect our authority." Lagmor says.

"And you will follow our every command, of swift punishment will be executed!" Dramor continues.

"Is that understood!?" They ask in unison.

"...yes." The galra commander replies, not sounding particularly pleased.

"Then onward to Earth we go..."

***

Admiral Sanda walks inside the warehouse where Hunk is conducting the testing for the Yellow Lion.

"Next!" He yells out.

"How are things progressing?" Sand asks, stepping up beside him.

"Honestly? They aren't. So far no one's managed to get ol' Yellow to power up."

"I see..." Sanda says thoughtfully. "Well, there's no shortage where those ones come from. We can always bring in more cadets."

"I guess so..." Hunk sighs. "I just didn't think it would take this long."

Another cadet leaves the Yellow Lion, looking defeated.

"Alright guys, that's enough for now! Lunch break, then we're back at it!"

***

Hunk strolls through the mess hall with a plate of food, looking for a place to sit. He spots Allura sitting across from Coran a few tables over. He hesitates at first, but walks over.

"This seat taken?" Hunk asks.

"Not at all." Allura motions to the seat beside her.

Hunk nods gratefully and sits down. He looks at his food, but doesn't start eating.

"Is....everything alright Hunk?" Allura asks carefully.

"Yeah it's not like you to turn down a free meal." Coran points out.

Allura shoots him a glare, but he only shrugs.

Hunk takes several moments to respond. "...Yellow Lion hasn't accepted any other pilots yet. Part of me wants to think that's just because the right one hasn't come along yet. But deep down, I think the big guy hasn't let go of me yet."

He let's that sit for a long moment. Allura doesn't look certain about how to reply.

"...do you think I'm doing the right thing?" He finally asks. "I know how much Voltron and duty means to you. Do you think I'm dishonoring your people, and all your father's work by leaving Voltron? Am I just being a coward?"

Allura considers his words. "...if you'd asked me that question when we first met, I'd probably have said yes. I'd probably be offended that anyone would turn down such a great honor as being a Paladin of Voltron. But Hunk, having come to know you, I am certain of one thing: You are no coward. I've come to realize what a burden it can be, to be a Paladin of Voltron. I don't think I could ever hold it against you to just want to finally be done with this war, done with all the fighting. I think you've only done what you feel is right, and that's all anyone can ask."

Hunk smiles slightly. "I don't know if I deserve that, but thanks."

"Thank you Hunk." Allura replies. "For being a Paladins for as long as you were. For helping to defeat by Zarkon and Lotor. You've done plenty."

He nods, but still seems unconvinced. Suddenly a ping comes from Hunk's communicator. He answers it and his mother's voice immediately crackles over the communicator.

"Hunk, dearie, aren't you coming for lunch?"

"Well to save time, and get back to work, I was actually just going to have lunch here in the mess-"

"Oh nonsense! I'm making a feast over here, so you better come around right this moment young man!"

"Alright alright." Hunk chuckles. "See you guys, duty calls."

Allura and Coran nod, and watch him go.

***

Prince Lotor swings the staff against Luca's. There is a clang as the two metal rods meet, and Luca is forced back.

"Do not meet my blows, deflect them." Lotor orders. "You're smaller than me, so you have to conserve your energy as much as you can."

"Understood!" Luca replies, pulling her staff back up into a guard position.

Lotor advances throwing a series of strikes against her. Rather than directly block them, Luca shaves the blows to either side of her, before replying with her own swing. Lotor blocks and dances back, nodding with approval.

"Very good, now attack."

Luca does so, throwing a hesitant thrust. Lotor knocks it aside with such force that she is thrown off balance. Lotor steps in swinging his staff, and stopping it just an inch from her neck.

Luca sighs and steps back, accepting his victory.

"You did not commit enough to your attack. It was easy for me to capitalize on your hesitance."

"Understood." She nods. "I know I could never beat you...but I at least hope I can start to last a while longer before losing."

"Give it time. You'll get there."

"Thank you for these lessons. I feel that my skills as a robeast improve as well after sparring with you."

"It's the duty of any commander to ensure his soldiers are properly trained." Lotor says dismissively. "Besides, sparring has a way of getting the mind off certain things."

"...are you worried about the attack on the enemy's homeworld?" Luca asks.

Lotor hesitates. "...yes I suppose I am."

"The Twins are the very best we have. I am sure they will prove victorious."

"Perhaps. But they face Voltron..." He pauses. "A false one of course, but it's power is still significant."

"Are they really so strong? You were able to beat them, were you not?"

"I suppose. But you still fear a wolf even if it is not as strong as a Lion."

"I see."

"At the end of the day, I suppose I simply must hope that this time I committed enough to my attack."

"Well whatever may happen, you will win in the end. Of that we are all certain."

"I suppose." Lotor shrugs. "...but how much is it going to cost me?" He adds the last to himself, in a voice quiet enough that Luca does not hear.

***

"Alright everyone, I think we've done enough for today. We'll try again tomorrow." Hunk says, dismissing the cadets.

The group breaks up and they begin to shuffle out of the room. Hunk stays for a while, staring up at the Yellow Lion.

"What do I do big guy?"

The Lion does not reply. Hunk sighs and turns, walking out of the room. He does not get far before running into Shiro.

"Hey Hunk, been working with the fresh cadets?"

"Yeah. Bunch of no goes today. But maybe we'll have more luck tomorrow."

Shiro studies Hunk for what seems like a very long time. "...you really intend to leave Voltron." It comes out more as a statement than a question.

"Yeah I guess so...it's just...I don't think I can do it forever."

Shiro nods. "And you talked to everyone else?"

"Yeah."

"And what'd they all say?"

"They were really supportive, actually. They all pretty much said they understood if that I wanted to leave, and wouldn't hold it against me." Hunk smiles wistfully.

"Yeah." Shiro says, also smiling. "They've grown a lot. Seems like they all learned how to respect each other's choices, and not take this personally. Good on them. It'll help their teamwork. But technically I'm no longer part of the team. I'm not the leader of Voltron anymore. So, for once, I think I can be blunt: I think you're making a mistake, in leaving Voltron. I think you're abandoning your friends, and unfortunately, they care about you too much to see it."

Hunk looks taken aback. "But I-"

"But what Hunk? You're tired of fighting? Who isn't? You wish this would all be over so you can be with your family? Some of your teammates don't have much family left because of this war. We all want this to be over. But it doesn't work like that. The world doesn't stop spinning just because you need a moment to catch your breath. The universe doesn't stop burning because you don't want to feel the flames. You're the leg Hunk, you hold up the team. But if you fail at that job...the whole body falls."

"I..." Hunk looks lost. "...I just don't want to die out in space, and leave everyone I love alone. Is that so wrong? Is that so selfish? Even if it is, I think I've earned it a little! I went through a lot as a Paladin, and you know what I don't regret it, but I didn't sign up for this space war! I didn't sign up to see that look in my mom's eye every time I barely make it back to Earth with my life!"

Hunk pauses as if realizing how loud he'd been shouting. If it bothers Shiro, he doesn't show.

"...I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad Hunk. I understand your decision, I really do. Probably better than anyone else here. To be honest..." Shiro looks down at his new robotic arm and flexes the fingertips. "...I almost made the same choice."

"You...what?" Hunk says, with disbelief.

Shiro smiles but there is little mirth in it. "Hunk I've had just about everything you can do to someone be done to me. I lost friends. Lost my arm. Got torn apart and stitched back together. Had to fight for my life, to entertain my own captors. Then to top it all off, I pretty much died, only to have my soul torn out and put back into the body of my evil clone..."

Hunk's expression falls with each word.

"...so when we finally got back to Earth, I was finished with all of this on pretty much every level. The universe had chewed me up and spit me out, and I wasn't exactly eager to go back for more. With you guys managing Voltron without me, It seemed like the perfect time for me to step back. I could still help you, but back down here, out of the action, away from all the madness I had to go through. I used lots of excuses like my arm, or that I could do more down here, but really I was just scared. Scared to go back."

"What...what made you change your mind?" Hunk asks hesitantly.

Shiro closes his robotic hand into a fist.

"...because I realized that you're all still fighting. Sam, Matt, Coran, Kolivan and the blades, and of course, Keith, Pidge, Lance, Allura and you. I've been through a lot, suffered a lot, but so has everyone else. Maybe no one would blame me if I gave up. Maybe I'm right to want to leave all this behind. But...well I'm just not sure I'd be able to sleep at night if I gave up now. There's still people out there, Hunk. People suffering from this war. People that I could help."

Hunk doesn't say anything to that. Shiro sighs.

"But like I said, I'm not your leader anymore. Not your teammate, either. All I am is a friend, here to ask you a question: can you really leave all this behind knowing the work isn't done yet? If you truly think that you're done, and you can't go on any further, then I won't hold it against you. Really I won't. But to be honest, If you really were that kind of man...I don't think you ever would have stepped inside the Yellow Lion."

"...I don't...know." Hunk finally admits.

Shiro nods understandingly. "I get it. Sorry for being so harsh."

Hunk shakes his head. "You were just being honest. Really didn't pull any punches though..."

Shiro smiles slightly. "I'm afraid that's all i know how to fight. Have a good night Hunk."

"Yeah...you too."

Shiro walks away, leaving Hunk to stand alone in the hallway. He glances back the way he came for a moment. He turns, and walks back inside the hangar. He walks right up to the Yellow Lion and puts his hand up to the surface. His hand hovers there, almost but not quite touching the metal.

Then, the hand drops back down to his side. Hunk sighs, then turns around and leaves.

***

The next morning, Shiro walks down a corridor, with Matt by his side.

"Ready to fire the big thing up?" Matt asks.

"Did...Sanda give you permission to be here for this?" Shiro asks, as they reach the end of the hall, and step inside the elevator.

"Hm? Oh no of course not. That's why I didn't ask." The elevator closes and begins to decend.

"Of course..." Shiro sighs. "Well regardless, I guess it'll be good to have a top grade science officer nearby. Who knows what an experimental mecha like this one will do? And with a pilot that's rusty at best too..."

"Oh stop worrying. You're leagues better a pilot than any of the guys around here, it'll be fine."

"Maybe." Shiro says unconvinced. He opens and closes his new robotic hand, unconsciously.

"I'm still surprised you thought they'd choose someone else to do it? I mean who else is there? Iverson? Now that would have been a good laugh. Maybe if Sanda were a decade younger she'd want to do it herself..."

"Actually Matt, when I was first told about all this, I thought that the best person for the job would be you."

Matt blinks. "...come again?"

"You're a good pilot, and one of the few that knows their way around both earth, and alien tech. Not to mention your father built the dang thing, so out of all the people here, you'd probably know how to work it better than anyone save him."

"Shiro, I happen to think you're pretty smart most of the time."

"I'm sensing a but-"

"-but you say the dumbest things sometimes!" Matt lets out a chuckle. "As if Sanda would let me anywhere near that thing's controls."

"You know if you weren't antagonizing her all the time, she might actually be more agreeable."

"Now where's the fun in that?"

The elevator slides open, to reveal the deep hangar that houses the Atlas. Matt whistles. "That sure don't get old."

Shiro only shakes his head and starts walking. After taking a lift up several levels of scaffolding, they finally reached the level holding the access hatch on the back of the neck. The hatch is big enough to drive a car through.

They step through, onto the bridge of the Atlas.

The bridge is lined by seats for engineers and science officers, and other operators. The far end of the bridge is covered by a massive display screen, showing what the Atlas 'sees.'

In the exact middle of the room, there is a framework hanging from the ceiling, that looks as if it it's meant to wrap around the human body.

"Guessing that's where the pilot goes..." Shiro says.

"Sure is." Iverson says, stepping onto the bridge next to them. "Whole dang robot is supposed to mirror the pilot's movements."

"What were they planning to do before I got the new arm?"

"They'd have figured somethin' out." Iverson shrugs. "Matt." He nods.

"Iverson." Matt nods back.

"You supposed to be here?"

"Probably not."

"Ha! Well I'm not gonna be the one to tell the Admiral." He walks past to take a seat at one of the operator chairs. Several of the other operators turn to look at Shiro. He returns their stares with a reassuring look. However, his expression goes uncertain after his gaze shifts to the pilot's framework.

"Here we go..." He mutters to himself, walking over to the framework. After a moment of looking it over he slips into the framework, putting it on like a jacket.

"Alright. Let's start this baby out." He says projecting confidence.

"Begin power up sequence!" Iverson order. The crew of the bridge begin working animatedly on their displays.

An image of Admiral Sanda's face appears in the top left corner of the bridge's display.

"Lieutenant Shirogane, i see you're getting acquainted with the Atlas."

"Well nothing's blow up so far."

"That must be a new record for you." She replies deadpan.

Another image appears on the opposite side of the display, this one of Sam Holt. "Be careful with the Atlas Shiro, it's my finest work."

"We'll be careful." Shiro smiles.

"Yeah and don't worry, just in case we got another Holt onboard to keep things running!" Matt pipes in.

Sanda's eyes narrow at that. "...am I getting senile or is that Matt Holt onboard the Atlas?"

"Who me?" Matt replies coyly. "Don't mind me, I'm just a stowaway."

"I'd have you thrown out if I didn't want this all to get started already. Just sit there and don't cause any trouble. You touch anything and I'll have you court martialed."

"I'm not Garrison anymore, you can't court martial me, remember?"

Sanda, to Matt's discomfort, smiles. "Well then I guess we'll have to treat you like a hostile invader, caught trespassing on a classified vehicle, and toss you down the darkest cell we have."

Matt swallows, and shuffles away from the nearest crewman's chair.

"Good. You may proceed Lieutenant."

"Understood." Shiro says, narrowing his eyes. The atlas begins to emit an electric hum.

"Engines at ten percent, sir." The chief science officer reports.

"I think that should be sufficient for a test drive." Shiro nods. "Iverson?"

"Scaffolding has been retracted, and the checklist is complete. We're good to go."

Shiro glances down at the framework. On the side of the handpiece there is a small blue button. He presses down on it.

The framework lights up. Slowly, Shiro begins to raise his arms. Outside, the atlas' massive robotic arms follow the motion. Shiro brings his arms all the way up, curling his hands into fists. Again the Atlas mirrors. Then Shiro steps forward and throws a punch. There is a loud thump as the Atlas' foot moves and and mechanical whine as its immense arm is swung in a near-perfect replica of Shiro's own punch.

"...oh yeah, this'll do just fine." Shiro says, grinning.

***

Hunk watches as the last in a long line of cadets steps out of the Yellow Lion, having failed to make it work.

"Alright guys...take five...or ten." Hunk eventually says, looking worn down.

The cadets disperse, leaving Hunk to stand alone. He chews on the insides of his lip, thinking. He looks up and starts moving towards the Yellow Lion. He hesitates, but steps inside, and crawls up to the pilot's seat, where he sits down. He stares at the controls for what seems like an eternity. Then slowly he reaches out and wraps his fingers around them. Hunk pushes the throttles forward.

Nothing happens.

Hunk sits back stunned. Then slowly, he releases the throttles, and sits back.

"I'm no good anymore huh? I guess...I guess I deserve that." Hunk gets up from the seat, and leaves the Yellow Lion.

Hunk is surprised to see his mother standing outside.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Oh I was just going to ask you what you wanted for lunch, and i was nearby so I figured I'd drop in and see how you're doing."

"I'm..." Hunk doesn't finish the sentence.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, just...let's walk alright? I'm a little tired of this room."

"Oh okay...on we go then!"

***

Hunk and his mother step outside the Garrison base, and begin to walk across the field there. His mother stares at him, evidently waiting for him to speak. He does not.

"So...how's your day been?" She asks eventually.

"Not great." Hunk admits.

"Oh. Is this about that Voltron thing?"

Hunk looks up at the sky. "...Mom you never wanted me joining the Galaxy Garrison did you?"

"...no. I don't suppose I did." She admits. "Even before all this space war nonsense, it still seemed way too dangerous. It's space Hunk! Terrible, dark, cold scary space."

"It's also really beautiful sometimes..." He says more to himself than her.

"Well, I for one think it's much better down here on Earth. Where it's safe."

"Maybe you're right." Hunk sighs. "I just-"

Hunk is cut off when his communicator squaks to life. "Everyone, we have trouble." Ryner says. "Our scanners just picked up galra activity, headed towards our location."

Hunk immediately replies. "This is Hunk, you wanna run that by me again?"

"The galra." she repeats. "They're coming here. To Earth. And fast."

Hunk steps back as if struck. "...hey mom?"

"Y-yes?" She says, voice trembling.

"I think we better head inside."

They start to run.

"The galra are what?" Sanda exclaims over the comms.

"About to attack us, here on Earth." Keith says quickly.

Sanda swears. "I should have never let you make base here!"

Hunk and his mother dash inside the Garrison base as alarms begin to ring through the halls.

"Well it's too late now! Instead of arguing we need to work together to stop these guys. Everyone head to their Lion! Hunk, I know you're trying to find a new pilot but right now-"

"I can't." Hunk cuts in.

"But-"

"I tried earlier today. The Yellow Lion doesn't work for me anymore. I...I'm sorry."

There is silence on the line.

"...are you telling me that your enemies are bringing their forces to bear on our planet, and you can't for the one weapon that's been known to stop them?"

The lack of reply is the only answer Sand needs.

"...Shiro?" She asks carefully.

"We've barely got this thing walking." He objects.

"Well it's going to need to do a whole lot more than that. Get that weapon in the air. If Voltron isn't coming to save us, Earth will just have to protect itself."

"...understood." Shiro says reluctantly.

"The rest of your...I don't know make yourself useful. Those Lions ought to be good for something besides turning into a giant robot."

"...alright guys you heard her." Keith says after a pause. "To your Lions, we'll do our best to support the Atlas."

"What about me?" hunk says stopping up short.

"...get to safety with the other non-essential personnel."

Hunk looks struck by the words. His mother begins to tug on his arm.

"Hunk we've got to get to the bunkers!" She urges.

"...roger that." Hunk says over the comm. eventually."I'll...get to safety."

***

The massive bay doors above the Atlas pull open, and sunlight begins to stream down into the hangar.

"Alright now how do we get this quiznaking thing off the ground?" Shiro demands.

"Working on it now sir! It'll be a moment before the boosters can start." An officer reports.

"We've got to bring engines up to one hundred percent first, which is a little hazy to put it generously." Iverson explains.

The hum of the Atlas' engines grows in noise as the power levels continue to rise. The hum turns into a wine as the energy levels reach their peak.

"All full!" Iverson reports.

Shiro takes a breath. "...fire boosters."

The boosters on the Atlas' back begin to glow, then sputter. There is a shudder throughout the mecha.

"Is it supposed to do that?" Shiro asks.

"She's just clearing her throat..." Iverson reassures. "...I hope."

The boosters seem to get past the sputtering, and fire in full. A jet of blue flame erupt from them, and the Atlas suddenly lurches into the air.

Everyone on the bridge is nearly thrown from their seat from the sudden motion. Matt has to cling to a display table so he isn't thrown across the room.

The Atlas continues to jet upwards, easily clearing the top of the hangar.

"Reduce thrust a bit, I don't want us to end up on mars before we can gain our bearings." Shiro instructs.

The booster power is reduced and the atlas' ascent slows.

"Bring it down some more." Shiro says, altering the mecha's trajectory, with movements of his body. The boosters reduce more until the atlas is hovering over the Garrison base.

"Good. Now we just have to-"

"Sir! Enemy fighters Incoming!"

Looking up Shiro watches as the skies above the Garrison base, the skies of Earth, begin to fill with Galra fighters.

"What kind of weapons do we got on this thing?" Shiro demands.

"We have a particle beam that can fire from the arms-"

"Engage!" Shiro orders throwing up both of the Atlas' arms.

The particle beams fire. And explosion of light bursts from arms of the Atlas. The entire machine nearly crashes back to the ground from the force of the blast, with Shiro only barely managing to stabilize the flights in time.

"Sorry sir! The compensators weren't calibrated right!" An engineer calls out.

"Get those right, and let's see what we actually did..." After he rights the Atlas' flight Shiro looks up to see the damage the Atlas did on the enemy.

Two gaping holes, rimmed by explosions, have opened up in the enemy's swarm, where the enemy fighters were completely obliterated.

"Well at least we're doing fine on power." Shiro remarks.

"New enemies incoming sir! And they aren't fighters!" The science officer calls out.

The display magnified to show five robeasts approaching, two of which are of a deep black color and are carrying long, curved swords.

"Five of them..." Shiro says barely masking his concern. He raises the Atlas' fists in preparation.

Suddenly stream of Coalition fighters fly out to meet the Galra fighters, engaging them in dogfighting. Cruisers on the Coalition also ride up to meet their galra equivalent that are beginning to descend into the atmosphere.

Finally the Black, Red, Green and Blue Lions fly up besides the Atlas.

"You'll have to take point on this one, with those robeasts, Shiro." Keith says. "We'll back you up."

"Fine by me." Shiro says allowing a slim smile. "Let's show them what Earth is made of."

With that, the Atlas and the Lions burst forward to meet the opposing robeasts.

***

Hunk and his mother dash down the halls of the base, with dozens of other personnel running alongside them. As he runs, Hunk holds up his communicator, listening to the sounds of explosions and battle.

"Watch your six you've got a fighter tailing you!"

"I can' shake-"

There is the sound of an explosion. Hunk cringes.

"Hunk turn that off we've got to focus on getting to the bunkers!" His mother urges.

Hunk continues to run but does not turn off the comm. Their group runs down a hallway, coming to an intersection. As they do, the group meets another group of personnel. In that group, Hunk sees his father.

"Dad!" Hunk calls over.

His father runs over to meet them.

"Hunk Maria, thank God!"

"Glad to see you safe too Dad, but we really gotta get to the bunkers!"

"Right you are son!"

The three of them continue running. In Hunk's hand the communicator continues to squak out the sounds of battle. Hunk's eyes' continue to flicker down to it, looking pained.

***

The twin black robeast surge forward each swinging with their curved blades. The Atlas tries to dodge, but is not fast enough and each glowing sword slices across it's chest. The Atlas is fling backwards, to slam down into the ground. A crater is torn up into the hardened earth where the Atlas hits.

"St...status?" Shiro manages to get out, shaking off the shock of the hit."

"Armor holding for now, but I don't know how many of hits like those we can take!" Iverson calls out.

"Incoming!" An officer shouts.

The two robeasts advance on the fallen Atlas.

The Lions dash forward, firing their mouth cannons full force. The robeasts shrug off the blasts, and crash into Lions scattering them.

The Atlas pushes itself back to its feet, and throws forward both arms, particle beams erupting. A flash of blinding white light seems to engulf the two robeasts.

Shiro looks on hopefully as the light dies down, and they regain visuals. He is met with the unwelcome sight of the two black robeasts, unharmed. Both hold out their sword in defensive grips, the blades glowing more brightly now.

"They...blocked it." The science officer says, shocked.

Before any of them can react, the Atlas is struck from behind. Two of the other robeasts, had used the commotion to sneak behind and blast the larger robot with their chest beams.

The Atlas falls to its knees just in time to be struck by the twins' blades. The Atlas tumbles across the ground, smashing a trail into the earth as it does. Explosions rock the inside of the Atlas, and the science officer is thrown from his chair. The rest of the crew only barely managed to stay in their seats even with their restraints.

Shiro groans, shaking off the effects of the blast. "...someone wanna check on that guy?"

"I got him." Matt says, climbing over to where the man fell. He checks the man over. "Unconscious."

Shiron nods, then takes a look at the empty seat. "Go on then."

Matt looks up. "Huh?"

"That was our chief science officer. Sit down Matt. That's an order."

"Sanda's gonna kill me..." Reluctantly Matt walks over and takes a seat.

Shiro smiles and nods. Then, he pushes the Atlas back up to its feet.

The five robeasts surround it. The Lions swoop in, blasting with everything they have. Allura hits the two black robeasts stunning them. Keith blasts past those two, slicing them with his jaw blades. Pidge blasts two other of the robeasts, causing vines to grow around them. Lance erupts a blast of fire at the remaining one.

The distraction gives the Atlas to jump forward, body slamming the two black robeast. The larger Atlas sends the two flying through the air. Before they can right themselves the Atlas throws up both arms and blasts the two in mid air. The robeasts crash back down to the Earth, and lay there for a moment.

The Atlas tries to push the attack, but the other three robeast break free from the Lion's assaults and attack the Atlas with their blades. The Lions try to intervene but are unable to dissuade the much larger machines.

"Dad!" Matt calls out.

"Yes!?" His father replies over the viewport.

"Is this thing's armor enhanced by particle barrier technology?"

"Of course! What are you-"

Matt's fingers turn into a blur as he types furiously on his keypad.

"Whatever you're doing-" The Atlas is rocked by another blow. "-Do it fast."

Matt makes one fine keystroke, and smiles. "Chew on this!"

The armor on the Atlas begins to glow, then suddenly, a wave of energy bursts out from it, hitting the robeasts, and sending them flying.

"Yeah! How do you like an overcharged reversed shield!"

"Nice work Matt!" Shiro commends.

"Yeah! We...we uh can't do that again, by the way. Burned up too much energy."

"Understood." Shiro narrows his eyes, and brings the Atlas' fists up.

The two black robeast rise up from where they fell. The other robeasts also recover and start to move in but are halted when the twins each raise one arm.

"Stop." One says over open comms.

"Attack what they are defending." The other adds, pointing.

"No..." Shiro says.

The three standard robeast turn and race towards the Garrison base, and begin to open fire.

***

Hunk, his parents, and the rest of the group are running down the halls, when the blast begin to hit. There is the sound of explosions, followed by the entire base trembling. Dust begins to fall from the ceiling.

"Guys! Look out in there, they're starting to attack the base!" Keith yells over the comm.

Hunk glances up as a tremor causes more dust to fall from cracks in the ceiling.

"Yeah...I kinda figured..."

"We'll...buy you as much time as possible."

There is the sound of explosions over the comm, followed by cries of pain. Hunk's hands tighten into fists. He keeps running.

The group comes to an open industrial sized elevator.

"This will take us down to the bunker! Everyone inside!" Hunk calls out, ushering the other in.

His parents are the last in. Hunk lingers outside, listening to the Paladins fight without him. His mother looks confused.

"Hunk?"

He ignores her.

"Pidge try to use you're vines!" Keith yells over the comm.

"I'm trying but they just-AH!"

"Pidge!" Lance yells out.

More explosions, followed by the sound of Blue's sonar blast.

"I...can only...hold them...so...long-"

There is another blast, followed by more shaking in the base.

"Hunk!" His mother cries out more urgently.

He keeps listening, but the comm seems to have gone mostly silent besides the sound of the occasional explosion. Then, a ragged, but determined sounding, Keith speaks:

"...I...will not...let you hurt them!"

Hunk's eyes widen.

"HUNK!" His mother shouts.

Hunk looks at her for several seconds. Then, he turns around, and starts sprinting back the way he came.

***

Keith in the Black Lion stands alone against the three robeasts. The other Lions are down, trying to recover. For the moment, he is the only one still in the air, a blade in the jaws of his Lion.

"...I...will not...let you hurt them!" Keith drives both throttles forward, with all his power. The booster wings erupt from the Lion's back, and it rockets forward with blinding speed. The robeasts try to hit him, but Keith's Lion is a blur. It swirls around the robeast, slicing them with precise blade strikes. He hits the joints, heads, lower chests and backs. The robeast are struck from every angle and struggle to resist the onslaught.

One of them, however manages to break away, and flies upward, until a good distance away. Then, it's chest component opens and a ball of energy starts to form there. It takes aim at the Garrison base.

Keith straining to keep up his speed, looks between his two targets. The one preparing the devastating blast, and the two he is keeping on the defensive. Keith only hesitates a moment, before turning his Lion up, and blasting for the lone robeast. The robeast is and instant away from firing.

Keith is faster. He zooms up right in front of the robeasts chest, and fires his mouth blast full force into the open panel. The gathering energy releases through the rest of the machine, and the robeast explodes. An escape pod flies off as the shards of armor fall down to the earth.

"Heh." got one." Keith says, looking exhausted.

The other two robeasts blast him out of the sky.

***

Hunk dashes down the hall, looking determined. He rounds a corner, but finds the rest of the hallway collapsed under fallen rubble. He curses then doubles back and takes an alternate route.

"Hunk!" A voice calls from behind.

Hunk looks over his shoulder to see his parents running after him.

"What are you doing?Get to the bunker guys!"

"I should say the same to you! What are you doing Hunk!?"

"Getting to the Yellow Lion!"

"I thought you said that wasn't working anymore!"

"I know..." Hunk grits his teeth. "But I've got to try!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"Just get back to the bunker guys, I'm serious!"

Hunk runs through a doorway, into the hangar. The Yellow Lion sits in the middle. Hunk runs up, but hesitates before touching it.

Hunk's parents run into the room. "Hunk, that's enough, we need to-"

There is another explosion, but this one is much closer. Part of the roof collapses. The part that Hunk's parents are standing under.

"MOM! DAD!"

Two sections smash together, trapping them under the stones. THey aren't crushed, but neither can they get out. The pieces of rubble do look stable.

Hunk dashes over, trying to reach under the rubble.

"Guys take my hand!"

"I...can't reach!" Hunk's mother exclaimes.

"Me either." Hunk's father shakes his head.

Hunk gets a grip on the rubble and tries to lift it.

"It's too heavy Hunk!" His mother says with panic.

"I've...got...to try!" Hunk says, lifting even harder.

The rubble doesn't budge.

"...hunk. You've got to go." Hunk's mother says in a much quieter voice.

"Wh...what?" Hunk says, faltering.

"She's right." Hunk's father says, sadly. "It's too heavy. The rest of this roof will come down in a minute anyway. Go on Hunk. Get to safety."

"No! I can't leave you!"

"Go Hunk!" His mother urges. "We don't want to see you die!"

"...and you think I want to!?" Hunk starts pushing against the rubble again, trying with all his might to move the rubble. "I don't wanna see you guys die either! I don't want to see anyone die! And I'm not going to just run and hide and hope I stay safe! I'm not going to stop fighting, Mom, Dad! Not ever!"

Hunk's parents look shocked. Hunk continues to Push, summoning the last vestiges of strength.

Shockingly, the rubble begins to move upwards, the n is lifted entirely off the floor, into the air.

Hunk blinks, looking up. There, he sees the yellow Lion, holding the piece of rubble in its jaws.

Hunk grins. "Thanks Yellow."

The Lion tosses the piece of rubble aside. Hunk moves over to his parents, and helps them up. He brings the two of them into an embrace. Then, he steps away and turns around.

The Yellow Lion leans down, so Hunk can enter.

"Hunk..." His mother reaches out towards him. "...please we should go."

Hunk shakes his head. "I'm sorry Mom, but that's not the kind of man I am. I don't think it ever was."

With that, Hunk steps back inside the Yellow Lion.

***

All of the Paladins lay in their Lions, groaning. Unimpeded, the robeasts fire upon the Garrison base.

"...we've got to...get up." Keith says, trying to push the Black Lion back up.

"Tr...trying." Lance replies.

Keith manages to get his Lion onto its feet. He looks up to see a robeast hovering above him. It has it's spear out, held to strike down. Keith tries to dodge, but he's too beat up.

The spear falls. The Yellow Lion crashes into robeast, throwing it off balance. With the robeast, stumbling, the Yellow Lion opens its mouth and blows it's mouth blast, point blank, forcing the robeast back.

"Hey guys...sorry it took so long." Hunk's voice comes over the comm.

"HUNK!" The other Paladins collectively cry out.

Keith grins. "Just glad you're here...everyone? Can you get up?"

In answer, one by one, the Lions rise into the air. Keith's grin widens.

"Everyone...form Voltron!"

The Lions fly in in formation, then combine.

Voltron, stands against the two robeasts.

"You guys are in trouble now!" Lance warns.

Voltron tears out it's sword, and launches forward. The robeasts try to attack, but are met with a flurry of sword strikes. They try to split up and attack Voltron on either side, but Allura slams in her bayard, shooting out a harpoon, spearing one. Voltron then pivolts, slamming the speared robeast into the other. As soon as they hit the ground, Pidge activates her bayard ability, and the two are blasted by an arm cannon, driving the two further into the dirt.

Just as the two are beginning to rise Voltron slams into one again, driving it down with both feet, and raising the sword to plunge downward. The other robeast dashes forward, thrusting with it's spear. Pidge throws up the shield, diverting the spearblade, while Lance drives the sword home.

The robeast's head shears off. An escape pod flies out as the armor goes dead. The remaining robeast, apparently infuriated, breaks it's weapon into two blades and launches itself at Voltron.

"I've got this one guys!" Hunk says, activating his bayard ability.

The moment before the robeast can strike home, the shoulder cannon appears and fires.

***

The Atlas is getting hit from both sides, with the two black robeasts hitting the mecha between them. The two move as if mirrored, attacking at the same time, in the same move, on either side of the Atlas.

Shiro can only divert some of the force of the blow, unable to dodge or retreat.

"Give me something guys!" Shiro yells.

"Maybe if we bypassed the- nope that just broke!" Matt says shaking his head.

"We need a miracle." Shiro says. "We need-"

One of the twin robeasts is suddenly struck, when one of the standard robeast smashes into it, flung there by an energy blast.

Shiro turns to see Voltron standing there. He grins.

"It's about time."

"We uh...had an issue." Hunk admits.

"I take it that's taken care of?" Shiro asks.

"Sure is. For good, this time."

"Good." Shiro nods.

The other black robeast moves to strike, but Voltron starts peppering it with energy shots, so it is distracted long enough to pull back.

Voltron and the Atlas pull up side by side. Both black robeast stand up together, the third standard one, a step behind.

"Stay back for now." One of the twins orders, waving off the standard robeast.

"Strike only when you can get a clear hit. Besides that, we will handle these two." The other adds.

"I think we'll be a bit harder to 'handle' than you think." Keith says.

"We shall see..."

The Black robeasts spin their blades, in challenge. Voltron and the Atlas burst forward.

Voltron tears out it's sword, locking blades with it's robeast. The two spin their swords in wide arcs, clashing blades again and again in a lighting quick duel between giant robots.

The Altas takes a much more bruteish approach, running up and trying to punch the other robeast in the face. The robeast is too quick, dancing out of the way, then stepping back in to take a slice out of the Atlas' armor. A chunk of metal flies off.

"Matt, tell me you got a plan." Shiro says, hopefully.

"Working on it, keep him busy." Matt says, typing furiously.

"Easier said than done!"

Despite this, Shiro takes another swing, which of course, is far too slow for the robeast. The Atlas takes another slice for the effort. Shiro tries blasing the machine again, but the robeast diverts the Atlas' hand, and delivers a thrust to it's chest. The Atlas stumbles back, reeling from the blow.

"Alright done!" Matt says.

"What'd you do?" Shiro ask.

"Watch."

The robeast starts to move. On the display, a transparent double of the robeast appears, showing it dodging a phantom punch from the Atlas, then striking home with it's sword. Shiro smiles.

The robeast does exactly as the double showed, dodging, the Atlas' apparent punch. But Shiro pulls back, the punch being a feint, and hits with his true attack, a kick to the beast's midsection.

Frustrated, the robeast tries to attack again. Once again it's transparent double shows it's every future move, and Shiro is able to counter, and smash it to the ground with a punch.

"Worked out the thing's fight patterns." Matt explains. "Doesn't matter how fast he is if we can see what he's gonna do."

"Nice work Matt." Shiro nods. "Forgot how fun being on a crew with you is."

"Well, I do have a reputation to uphold..."

Meanwhile, Voltron continue duel the other black robeast, neither seeming to gain the upperhand. But then the robeast manages to duck beneath one of Voltron's sword swings and moves in to gut the other machine. But Voltorn is ready for this, and has the arm cannon out, to blast the robeast back.

Both of the black robeasts, struggle to rise back up.

"These two are quite strong." One twin notes.

"Very."

"Shall we show them what these suits are really for?"

"Indeed."

Suddenly the two robeasts fly towards each other. Voltron and the Atlas try to stop them but are too slow. The robeast meet hands, and there is a flash of light. The two robeasts begin to disassemble, then reassemble. When it is over, the two machines have melded into one, their two swords, joined into one massive, wickedly curved one.

You will now feel the justice of our Midknight!" the twins say in unison."

"So...guess they can combine too huh?" Lance says.

The Midknight bursts forward, swinging it's wicked blade. Voltron throws up it's shield, in vain. The blade shears the two shield halves apart, slicing Voltron across the chest, in a burst of violet light.

As Voltron is flung backwards, the Atlas steps in, swinging. The Midknight knocks the blow aside with a swing of it's blade, slicing away the armor it contacts. It follows up with flurry of attacks, that are seen as more of a blur than anything else. The Atlas falls to the ground.

"Matt?"

"This thing's way faster and it's fightin completely different! I can't track it!"

"Good thing they aren't the only fast one, then!" Keith says.

Voltron launches itself back up, and activates its wings, and sword. The mechas, fly towards each other, each becoming glowing blurs. There are flashes of energy as their swords meet at incredible speeds. The clashes continue, increasing in speed. The clashes finally meet in one great flash and both machines fall back down to the each, in crouches.

"Can't...hold that up...for long." Keith pants out.

"Looks like they can't either." Shiro notes, nodding to the Midknight, which has yet to rise from it's crouch.

Suddenly the other, standar robeast rises up into the air, a ball of energy charging up at it's chest.

"Stand down!" The twins order.

But the robeast continues to charge. It seems to look back and forth between Voltron and the twins. Then it fires.

It fires at the Midknight. The twins throw up the machine's sword, absorbing the energy. The blast continues, growing even brighter. Then it stops.

The robeast drops from the sky, completely devoid of energy. It crashes into the ground. Dead. No escape pod flies out.

The twins are silent for a long moment. Their sword is held downward, blazing bright with the energy absorbed.

"...thank you." One says. "Your sacrifice..."

"...will not be in vain." The other finishes.

The Midknight turns, raising it's blazing sword. Shiro throws the Atlas forward, trying to get the jump on the other mecha.

No one sees the sword move. There is simply a flash of light, and the Atlas goes flying in one direction, one of it's arm flying in the other.

"Shiro!" Keith cries out.

The Midknight turns to Voltron, sword still blazing. Keith swallows, staring down that violet blade. "Guys..."

"Pidge!" Hunk calls out. "Use your shield!"

"What? Theres not way it'll-"

"Just do it!" Hunk says, looking down at his glowing bayard port.

The Midknight rips through the air, blade swinging. Cursing, Pidge throws up the shield. Hunk slams in his bayard.

The shield, doubles in size, and glowings a bright light. The sword it's. The two forces meet in a clash of violet and blue light. For a moment the two forces seem equal.

"We will have our vengeance!" The twins cry out, throwing all their force into their throttles. The Midkight pushes it's blade harder onto the shield and then...

It breaks.

In an explosion of glowing shards the sword is obliterated, blowing all that energy back onto the Midknight. The mecha itself is torn in two, with boths halves crumbling, and two escape pods flying off.

Voltron deactivates it's shield.

"...good to have you back Hunk." Keith says eventually,

"I never should have tried to leave." Hunk replies.

***

Admiral Sanda marches up to where the Paladins stand outside their Lions. With the robeasts destroyed the Galra forces have all retreated. This does not seem to improve her mood at all.

"This has gone far enough!" She shouts. "You have brought enemies to our doorstep, half of my base is in ruins, and the Atlas is in desperate need of repairs! You all-"

"We what!? Defended your base? " Hunk cuts in. "Gave you all the technology you needed to defend yourselves from the Galra? Offered you chance after chance to join the coalition!? Look around you Sanda! This fight is here now! YOu can't run from it, you can't hide from it, and you shouldn't want to!"

Everyone stares at him. Hunk seems to realize what he said and shrinks back a little, but does not give up his ground completely.

"You brought them here..." Sanda says weakly.

"With respect," Keith says. "You knew that was a risk when you took us in. You can stand here all day blaming us, but the fact is, you're a part of this war now. So what are you going to do? Sit here and try to hide?"

"Or Stand up and fight?" Hunk asks.

Sanda looks down. "The council..."

"You tell the council whatever the need to hear." Hunk says. "Earth is in danger now, my home is in danger now. They only way to protect it is to stop Zarkon. For good."

Slowly, Sanda begins to nos. "I'll...do it. God help me, but I'll find a way to convince them."

Keith nods to Hunk in appreciation. "Alright them. As far as I'm concerned, as of today, Earth now Joins the coalition. Welcome aboard Sanda. " Keith offers his hand.

Reluctantly, Sanda takes it.

Author's Note: Wow did this one take a while to finish. Sorry guys, I have been extremely short on time lately, and as a result have had little time to work on this story. Life stuff, original works, and even a D&D campaign I started for some reason, all contributed. I have no idea if that will change, but I will at least, try to get the next one out quicker. Thanks all for reading, see ya next time.

[halspur]

Disaster gay Shiro sparring with Keith, who figures out why Shiro is so flustered and teases him about it?

sparring sheith is classic vintage and chic all in one god we are so powerful. also rip kinkade i loved u

remember when i said i’d keep these under 1k? funny times

rated: t | words: 2.4k | post s7

The Garrison training room was painfully unaltered since Keith’s expulsion ��� orange and gray trim with rolled mats stacked against the wall, and except for the slight wear to some of the punching bags strewn up in the corner – the pleather edges peeled off in chips – even the smell of rubber and antiseptic was the same.

He was sure James would claim half the equipment’s wear be his own, though Keith seemed to be running into Ryan more frequently than anyone else during his free time – both of them exchanging a small nod before rotating around the gym in mutual silence.

Keith easily considered it a friendship.

Admittedly, he did miss the castleship’s gladiator bot – it was difficult to find a suitable obstacle to use his bayard against for practice, and he wasn’t about to coerce another pilot into sparring with him.

He almost texted Hunk, asking if he had some free time, when he heard the door slide open.

Like always, there was only one person he really wanted to see enter the room.Even in a white tank and Garrison-issued sweatpants, Keith had to bite his lip as he met the pair of polished gray eyes walking towards him. “Hey,” said Shiro, grinning. “They cleared me for recreation hours.”

Keith was stretching, and saw Ryan glance over briefly before going back to his weights, earphones in.

“That’s great, Shiro.”

Shiro grinned wider, his head tilting. Since his prosthetic had been attached, and after his fight with Sendak, Sam agreed with the medics that Shiro needed at least a week of rest before he could safely use his arm again, restricting his schedule to council meetings and brief publicity shoots, along with physical checkups every morning and afternoon.

I’m so bored. Shiro text him once, presumably in the middle of an exam.

Keith was eating lunch with Pidge, and held back a smile. It’s for your own good, you know.

Yeah, Keith could see the smirk on Shiro’s face. You saved my ass, I guess I should take care of it. See you at the next mission debriefing?

Keith’s palm itched. He missed alone time with Shiro more than anything, but he wasn’t selfish enough to complain. He’d take what he could get. Save me a seat.

You don’t have to ask :)

Keith felt himself pale as he stepped into the boardroom with Pidge – they’re the last ones there, and Shiro gestures to the seat beside him.

As he’s lowering himself into the chair, he notices something on the tabletop – a single place card laid in front of him.

K. Kogane

“They put you beside me,” Shiro’s voice was in his ear, low enough that Iverson didn’t look up from his notes. Keith kept his eyes trained on Shiro’s new arm, pinching the edges of Keith’s name card. “I guess they already knew.”

Keith tried not to think about the heavy hand Shiro had placed on Keith’s shoulder during the meeting – needlessly praising his flying abilities and special qualifications to lead the mission to the point that James coughed loudly, earning a kick from Nadia.

Keith may be the leader of Voltron, but it only took a touch from Shiro to knock him out of commission.

He was giving him that same look now, and Keith felt too self-conscious to continue doing calf stretches, instead standing to awkwardly accept a pat on the back as Shiro passed him, going for the stack of mats against the wall.

“Want to help test out this upgrade? Allura and Pidge just programmed it.”Shiro kicked the bundle until it unfolded, a large mat meant for tumbling.

Keith tried to ignore the jump in his pulse, shrugging. “Sure. But I should be able to use my bayard, to be fair.”

Considering it, Shiro gave a nod to the door, crossing his arms. “I’ll wait.”

“No need,” Keith felt overly smug as the handle formed in his fingers, feeling a swell in his stomach as Shiro’s eyebrows raised.

He quickly looked down, and Keith swore he saw a dusting of pink across his nose before Shiro began adjusting the straps on his gloved hand. His voice was velvet. “You never stop finding ways to impress me, Keith.”

Keith blanked.

You know that look Lance and Allura get when they look at each other? Hunk had said to him once while they were walking through the Garrison’s garages. The puppy eyes and soft smiles?

I guess so. Keith had replied, but he was mostly focused on locating where their assigned cruiser was, testing the locks on several vehicles.

That obviously wasn’t the answer Hunk wanted. Yeah, well, I bet you’ve seen that look before.

He thought Hunk was insane – he’d never had someone like him before, let alone give him the sappy treatment the princess and Lance reserved for each other.

But it was almost like reading a dictionary when Shiro met his eyes again, cheeks warm, with Hunk’s words echoing in his mind.

Shaking it off, Keith took his stance on the edge of the mat. “I learned from the best.”

That made Shiro laugh. “Ready?”

“Always.”

Shiro leaped first – a quick dive that had Keith rolling in a tuck already, his bayard forming a sword as he stood. His knee popped, and he almost cursed himself for being too embarrassed to do a couple lunges in front of Shiro.

The next rounds were calculated, mixed techniques of old Garrison maneuvers with varied motions earned from the field.

Neither of them really wanted to think about how they got those skills – if anything, they wanted this simple leisure to remain at the same value as it always had: two friends, brawling for sport.

You’re the first emo jock I’ve ever met. Lance had said, phrasing it as a half-compliment.

Keith almost forgot how easy it was to spar with Shiro, how mindless and instinctual the movements came to him. They could feel each other’s breath as they clashed, locked, and rebounded, the room echoing every step for them.He lived for the hint of a smile on Shiro’s face, searching earnestly for a thread of weakness he could shock him with.

But it was more difficult to keep up with his new arm than Keith would like to admit, even with Shiro being generous and only using it within a realistic range of attack.

He managed to push Keith on his back, his head spacing for a moment before he dodged a chest blow.

Man, I miss Allura. Keith remembered Lance laying on a sofa this past week, forlornly sharing a bag of chips with Hunk. Keith sat across from them with Romelle, who was watching a movie on Pidge’s laptop, both their legs propped up on the table.

She’s working, Lance. Hunk said between crunches, rolling his eyes. Geez, you don’t see Keith complaining about Shiro having a busy schedule.

Why would I? Keith growled, feet hitting the floor, and he immediately sensed the defensive tone that had Lance snorting.

Whatever. At least I don’t have it as bad as him, Lance jerked a thumb at Keith, and Hunk shook his head. At least I’m self-aware.

Was he not?

Keith knew he loved Shiro – knew it as well as he trusted him right now, both of them hurtling deadly blows at each other with extreme caution in mind.

He also knew he’d never push it, never ask for Shiro to be anything more than family to him. It wouldn’t be fair – especially now that Keith had his mother, the Blade, and friends.

He didn’t want him to be alone, not ever again.

Correct me if I’m wrong, Allura said at breakfast, which had begun to be one of her favorite phrases on Earth, but shouldn’t Keith and Shiro be living together?

Both Pidge and Lance had sputtered on their drinks, and Keith felt the onset of a headache.

I mean, Allura quickly amended, seeing Keith’s reaction, the rest of the paladins are living with their families, and I thought you two –

It’s different. Keith said flatly, and left it at that. He wasn’t upset. He wasn’t. He just wanted to eat his eggs and leave.

It was different. When Keith was a cadet, his biggest daydream was to have Shiro move into his dad’s old shack with him, both of them flying as copilots for the rest of their lives.

He didn’t see any flaw in that line of thinking until years later. You didn’t want to live with your brother forever, didn’t want to share every aspect of your life with him.

Sometimes, Shiro said, still recovering in Black – the night before Pidge had offered up a space in the Green Lion for him – they were sitting, propped up against the healing pod on the floor. His voice was raspy, and Keith knew he was still groggy from the sedation. I daydream about saving you, so we’d be even. Isn’t that cruel?

What Keith wanted most was to touch him, play off a caress to his head as medical concern. Instead, he dug his nails into his palm. Shiro, you saved me first. I can’t repay you for that.

He knew Shiro didn’t see it that way. He knew no amount of arguing would change that, but he was content with Shiro sighing – whether emotionally or physically exhausted – and laying his head on Keith’s shoulder.

He was stupid enough to zone out for so long, letting Shiro catch the front of his shoulder, sending him tumbling backwards. Shiro followed, loosely trapping Keith in a brace.

A complaint rose up to Keith’s mouth – stop going easy on me, Shiro – until he noticed the same flush across Shiro’s cheekbones, too deep-set to be from exertion.

Keith felt his eyes widen involuntarily.

He noticed Shiro’s stare lagging – his eyes took the long way to Keith’s face, working up his chest and neck - flicking briefly to his mouth - before finally meeting his pupils.

Oh.

Oh.

Did Shiro have it worse than him?

Keith wanted to laugh – sharp, bitter. He wanted to ask Hunk How did you know.

Instead, Keith wiggled loosely, elbowing lightly at Shiro’s side, wedging his legs apart with his knee, pulling a fraction of a groan out of Shiro.

He would have teased him more if he didn’t love him.

So Shiro’s nerves left him with room to spare – Keith immediately felt a way out of his grip, sliding out of his arms with minimal blocking, and was able to escape another pin by kicking out his legs, forcing Shiro to jump back or get hit in the shins.

“Fuck your long legs,” Shiro grunted, though it came out in an exhale as he blinked sweat from his eye.

Keith grinned, swallowing. “Can’t pin me anymore?”

The flare in Shiro’s eyes as he charged Keith was worth the taunt – the next time he managed to pin Keith, it was in a standing headlock, Keith twisting enough that Shiro couldn’t get a proper grip through his flails without pressing them together.

And he wouldn’t do that, Keith quickly learned.

Another escape had each of them circling, dying for a breath. Keith’s eyes passively jumped to the space behind Shiro, where he saw the blur of Ryan leaving through the door – not sparing even a glance in their direction.

Part of Keith wished he could apologize for whatever this was, and that he was a witness to it.

Shiro noticed his gaze, the distraction, and gave a swipe at his sternum. “Focus, Keith.”

It was too late – Keith felt Shiro’s new arm strike his wrist, and in shock, watched his bayard skitter across the floor. Before Keith could concentrate on summoning it again, Shiro was attempting to pin his entire torso, and he had to roll, making Shiro stumble.

Without planning an attack, Keith threw himself onto Shiro’s back as he tried to stand, forcing both of them onto the mat with a thud.

Shiro groaned as Keith scrambled for purchase on Shiro’s back, thanking luck that he managed to get Shiro’s prosthetic underneath him, wedged.

He bent over Shiro’s shoulder to look at his face, Keith’s smirk digging into his cheek as he watched Shiro’s blush soak into his skin, a shade of red prettier than it should be.

“Give up?”

“I could flip your legs with mine,” Shiro managed, though his voice was muddled, eyes now trained on some point on the wall in front of him, avoiding looking up at Keith’s voice. They were both panting, sweating enough that their skin was sticking uncomfortably, though Keith oddly didn’t mind.

Without commenting, Keith calmly shifted his hold - drawing up one of his legs to brace next to Shiro’s hip while he laid his other knee across the backs of Shiro’s thighs.

“How about now?”

It took Shiro a moment to gather himself, speaking in a mumble. Keith could tell from the vein on his neck that he was clenching his jaw hard enough to crack a molar, but he chose not to taunt him about it. “I could free my arm.”

Keith lowered himself against Shiro’s back, forcing his cheek into the floor. “That’s cheating, commander.”

Shiro snapped, his hair falling in his eyes. “I’m not the one playing dirty.”

Keith didn’t expect the clarity in Shiro’s voice, nor the blatant accusation.

It was twisted flirting, and Keith felt his nerves fray at the thought of it.

Slowly, Keith leaned down to speak into Shiro’s ear, watching him shut his eyes against Keith’s voice. “You can just tell me when you’re not feeling up for it, Shiro,” Keith shifted above him, making Shiro bite his bottom lip. “I won’t hold it against you if you can’t give it your all.”

“Keith –” Shiro started, but his breath was pushed out of him as Keith jumped off his back, retrieving his bayard from the ground.

He crossed his arms as Shiro gave him a confused look. “Come on. We could keep this up for hours, or we could go talk about it in Black.”

Shiro sat up, dazed, hair curled, and tank askew. But as Keith reached for his arm to pull him up, he broke into a smile, laughing, and buried his face in his hands.

“Was it that obvious?”

—–

They’re walking out of the showers into the hallway together - hair still dripping onto Keith’s shoulders - when Shiro speaks, clearing his throat.

“Hey, thanks for not teasing me too much.”

They both jump as their hands skirt each other in passing, both too shy to acknowledge it further than a blush. Keith smiled to himself – it was fine, they had a long time to work up to holding hands.

Noticing Nadia pass with Ina in tow, he almost waved, before he watched the former bend to whisper something in the latter’s ear, who’s eyes widened at the sight of Shiro and Keith, matching wet towels still draped over their arms.

“Actually,” Keith sighed, “I have a feeling everyone else will do that for us.”

[polarishpd]

All Of The Stars Chapter 1: The Greatest Show

The Figure Skating Plance AU that I hope a lot of you wanted and didn’t know you needed ;-)

Summary: Katie Holt loves to skate. Simple as that. So when her brother Matt leaves their legendary ice dancing duo to pursue his studies, she doesn't let that stop her from becoming one of the world's top ladies' figure skaters.Castle Rink has always been her home, home to her ice, her best friends, and every part of her skating life. So it's more than surprising when a brand new coach turns up, wanting to set in roots and find a home too.It's even more surprising when that new coach turns out to be Lance McClain.

Word Count: 4102

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15378726 (HunterWizard, All Of The Stars)

"And now, we welcome one of the most anticipated skaters in this final group standing at second after a phenomenal short program. Only a few years into his senior debut and already a three time national champion in his hometown of Cuba and a two time Worlds and Grand Prix Finals medalist! Everyone, welcome to the ice...Lance McClain!"

Without missing a beat, Lance glides smoothly on the ice, greeted by an immensely loud cheer and applause. He's dressed in a simple outfit, comparatively gentler to his short program outfit (which, with its low v neck and fiery reds, was the talk of the town).  Black pants, a dark blue jacket edged with bright blue on the buttons and sleeves. The audience goes wild, waving posters and banners with his name, his face painted on them, girls screaming, guys screaming. Everybody loves Lance McClain.

He's ready for this. Lance knows he can make up those three points that Lotor has on him  from the short with no problem. If one thing is for sure, it's that PCS is his strength. PCS is his strength.

Starting pose. Simple, feet in a V, head looking down, hands behind his back. The crowd goes quiet, excited, anticipating the performance to come.

And the music begins.

Soft, quiet notes quickly evolve to a sharp, controlled tango.

Adios Nonino. He did always love the piece. Another warhorse, but no matter.

"McClain comes from a very small fed, so it's remarkable, what he's done. And such maturity for his age...you can see how even the first few transitions of the program have so much thought put into them. Remarkable."

He smoothly glides across, his crossovers perfectly matching the ascending music. Three turn, three turn...up in the air, land with bent knee, swing knee back, up in the air again.

"A splendid quadruple toe-triple toe!"

Without missing a beat, Lance skates faster again to pick up with the music, using a complicated entry into his favorite quadruple salchow.

Lance launches into a flying camel spin, the cheers from his jump barely finished. Instead, they grow, as he does his signature sit spin position, pulling up into an upright spin and exiting with a pivot.

Lance lets a little smile show, for his second-favourite portion of the program is about to begin. For sake of points, he kept majority of his jumps in the second half, bridging the gap with his infamous step sequence.

"McClain is famous and very much loved for his expressive step sequences-"

A rocker, timed with the music. His arms dip along with his choctaw-mohawk-counter, eyes raising to the sky while he kicks up his leg and moves into a smooth-as-silk twizzle.

"-He always achieves his Level 4, and honestly would get a Level 5 if such a thing would exist, haha...-"

The music builds, and Lance ends his step sequence with an illusion, rocker-counter-loop turn combo right at the side of the rink.

Onto the jumps again...

"That's a very high quad sal-triple toe, just inside the second half!"

Lance allows himself to let out a sigh of relief.Thank god. He always was weak at that combo.

"His final quad, the quad toe coming up..."

Difficult entry. With an irrepressible grin, he impulsively throws his hands up, clasping them together as he turns in the air. His last quad needs to be beautiful.  And he lands it, as solidly as the first, the crowd going wild with his little surprise.

"Quad toe with the hands above the head! Beautiful!"

Lance smirks.

Lotor wouldn't stop him. So what if he had a quad lutz? So what if he had the best technical content in the world? It doesn't matter. Because Lance lives, breathes, loves skating, with all his heart. It would take something big to stop him-

Thud,

Suddenly, his head spins, shutting down. Lance's limbs stop co-operating, turning to jelly, his brain spinning incomprehensible thoughts, none of which were focused on skating.

What's happening? Why can't I move? Why can't I feel anything? Come on! Wake up! Lance, wake up, not now-

His feet slip out from under him.

Thud,

Lance's head hits the ice.

Thud.

Everyone goes silent, the music quieting.

Adios Nonino has never sounded more ominous than now. The commentators don't even say anything, too stunned, too shocked.

Lance lies pitifully in the center of the rink, slumped on his side, blood trickling down the side of his face. Paramedics shout, flooding the rink, the whole crowd suddenly breaking into screams  and yells and shouts, howling in pain for their favourite Lance McClain, screaming in anger, the ruckus creating a cacophony of sound in the echo-filled stadium.

The only part of Lance left on the ice is a trail of blood.

~2 YEARS LATER~

"Pidge!"

Castle Rink bustles with the usual crowd of kids, teenagers, a few kids practicing for their upcoming tests. But among the childish amateurs was a girl, back arched gracefully, just spinning, and spinning...and spinning....

"PIDGE!"

The voice startles her, Pidge tripping out of her spin and nearly landing on her face. She can hear Keith snickering on the side.

"What the hell is it, Allura?!"

"I've got news! A new coach!" Allura, standing at the edge, yells from across. Pidge skates over quickly, relaxing beside her on the edge.

"A new coach coming?" Pidge echoes, leaning on the side of the rink, sipping from her sports bottle. "He any good?"

"One of the best, apparently," Allura chirps, gracefully loop-turning around her. "I watched him while he was still competitive. Very artistic. You could use some of that!"

Pidge glares at her, pouting childishly, rubbing her eyes and slipping her glasses back on.

Meditatively, Pidge drinks in the ASMR-esque scratching, the slightly-wet-but-not-too-wet ice that became her favorite, the little sandwich place that Hunk works part-time at, the mix of rock and pop music always blaring, everything has been there for years. Castle Rink is the most homely place for any kind of skater, whether a first-timer or an international class figure/hockey skater. So a new coach? That would shake things up considerably.

There was always Shiro, hockey and figure skating coach. He also used to coach Pidge more often until Allura came. Allura, ex-competitive figure skater who was extremely successful in her time, and one of Pidge's favourite coaches. Coran, retired speed skater who loves to teach children and beginners, and is amazingly good at getting people started. Hunk and Keith, who (together) were two of the best young hockey coaches for the little league that she had ever seen. And there's Pidge herself! Ever since she was legally old enough, she'd started coaching along with her competitive skating. She wasn't amazing, but she was good for her age. So having a new coach would be...strange. New. Pidge's train of detailed thought is mercilessly interrupted by-

"-Why the fucking hell is Hunk wearing a tutu?" Keith yells, loud enough for Hunk to hear him from the other side.

"Keith! Mind your fucking language!"

Pidge snorts.

"Shiro? The hell bruv?" Hunk makes a face of horror, clasping his hands over a small child's ears. "And by the way, it's called, "I'm not restricted by notions of toxic masculinity", and one of the little boys felt sad because no one else was wearing a tutu!" Hunk yells from the side, turning back to his class. Pidge giggles.

"Keith, maybe you should throw one of those shits on. Maybe then you'd actually look cute. How about a tiara?"

"Oooh, burn..." Keith rolls his eyes. Suddenly, he plops on the ice, spreading his arms out and snow angeling, his hand snatching out and pulling Pidge down beside him. "I need ice so badly for it!"

Cue two giggling teenagers lying on the very-cold ice, a bemused tutu-touting coach, two face-palming coaches, and a host of judgmental skaters looking at the crew with raised eyebrows.

How the holy hell she's a coach, Pidge still doesn't know.

Speaking of coaching, the more-buff-than-average-skater  Shiro swoops from Allura over to Pidge on the ice, smiling down at her with a mockingly patronizing look. Ugh. Pidge can hear the swoons of a bunch of teenage girls and the sound of one of them falling on their ass.

Wait.

Oh crap.

Class.

Jump class.

"You ready for class? Hope your flip is good today."

Pidge slouches over, skating a quick lap and ending in the center.

"...sure."

~~~

Pidge thanks whatever gods are out there that the doors of Castle Rink are automated. Somehow, Shiro had managed to even make her arms ache.

Ahh...

The air's cooler now, as per the months changing to the fall season. No problem. Pidge's spring green tights, leather jacket, wool-knit sweater and boots are admittedly more than necessary for the weather.

As always, the walk home is boring. Lonesome. None of the gang live anywhere near her, so she's lived alone for so long, just to train at Castle Rink. Her only friend is her trusty skate bag, clanging at her side. That reminds her, she's really got to buy a Zuca bag at some point for the sake of her shoulders.

If only Matt had stayed...

Curses. Pidge shakes the thought out of her head angrily, stomping into the apartment. It's anything but bare, since Pidge has lived here for so long; Hoarder Pidge had collected all kinds of knick-knacks, a lot of which were posters of her favorite shows, some of her old inventions, and gifts from fans at competitions. Ever since that one time she mentioned a love for power rangers and anime, that was all she was getting.

Whoosh.

Off goes her jacket, off goes her sweater. She's left in tights and a tank top.

Pidge falls back on the bed with considerable force, her hair tickling her rough pillow. Carelessly, her phone flops out of her hand and on the small nightstand, glasses following soon after. Quiet night air seeps in through the window, tickling her face. Dammit, Pidge is too goddamn lazy to go close it. Besides, the cold never bothered her anyway, right?

She just wants her eyelids to fall shut, for her brain to go right into the dreamworld. After all, she does really need it.

"Not enough knee bend!"

"GODDDAMN IT, SHIRO, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME TRIPLE LUTZ LIKE TEN TIMES IN A ROW!"

"Now, now, who says I can't?"

That goddamn sunshine smile hides so, so much ruthlessness. Pidge scowls.

She's not able to sleep.

Why can't she sleep?

Ding!

New Message From: Allura

Groaning, Pidge rolls up and puts on her glasses again, her back sliding up to the backboard of the bed, tank top riding up. Grumpily, she reads the message.

Allura: I've just locked up, but new coach is in the rink trying it out! He's cute ;)

Pidge rolls her eyes, laughing a little. Allura did try to set her up a couple times, but picky, analytical, practical Pidge had never really considered any of them a possibility.

Pidge: Can't possibly be cuter than you, Allura.

Allura: You flatter me. You might like this one!

Pidge thinks:

1) She can't sleep.

2) She's restless

3) New coach. New coach. New coach!

Maybe she'll ask for some lessons. Or maybe she'll learn some things from him to coach. Or maybe he'll be a completely inextricable douchebag. So many possiblities, and Pidge didn't know what to expect. Allura was definitely withholding his name on purpose.  

Pidge doesn't like knowing. She's used to knowing. And Pidge is undeniably, undeniably excited

Well...it wouldn't hurt to walk back to the rink now, would it?

Pidge can almost see Allura laughing at her already.

~~~

Hmm...

So this is Castle Rink, huh?

Nice sign. Hmm...unlock the door...wow, automated doors! Very clean, light blue and teal themed, minimalist decor...not bad. Holy shit, is that an in-house burger bar?!

Upon reading the signs and Allura's multiple apologetic text messages about not being able to come, Lance figures out where everything is with ease. It would be nice to settle in.

It's been so long since he's had a rink to call home. There was always something wrong with each rink, and they'd always found something wrong with him.

"You're not worth the trouble!" said the head coach in a rink in Cuba. Actually, multiple coaches in Cuba had said so. His students were sad to see him leave, but the coaches certainly weren't. Being casual was apparently bad, who knew?

"All you are is a skater. You'll never be a great coach." said Iverson, the first head coach he'd come to know (and hate. A lot) in America after moving, pulled in by his few memories from Skate America, the burgers, the pizza, and the new atmosphere. Maybe he'd be liked more here, he had thought.

Lol.

Many coaches were old, and traditional, and stuffy, and very prideful. Lance was literally everything but; so his "Wassup, amigo!" greetings and suggestions of new techniques had not gone over well. Heh. They sure were jealous of his talent, right! Talent for actually making the kids like him, for getting to kids to understand and listen.

Maybe here would be different. Lance sure has higher hopes for Castle Rink. Especially...especially because of a certain skater. She's athletic, has great spins and a quirky style on the ice...one Katie Holt. Not exactly America's sweetheart, but more of a dark horse in the ladies' field, winning a few surprise international medals. She's a unique story too, what with being American Junior Champion in ice dance with her brother Matt, breakout stars, and suddenly switching to singles the season after.

He plops his bag down, sitting down on one of the benches, quickly lacing up his skates with his strong, learned and lean fingers, tightening them enough to squeeze every little bit of life out of his feet, much like himself as a whole.

Even in the darkness, the rink looks abundantly beautiful, the light shimmer just reflecting flecks of ice on the edges of the rink. Fresh ice! Great!

Lance hops over to where the music controller is...supposed to be? He's not great at this. He peeks down at his phone again.

Allura: Careful, the music system is easy to damage if you're not careful. And it's on the right, don't forget!

Shit, okay then...Lance plugs in his phone, scrolling through his music list with a fast-moving thumb. What to play, what to play...

Oh.

He stops scrolling.

Hmm.

Click.

Lance has tried not to listen to this song as much as possible since...the accident. But something about Castle Rink makes him want to revisit this, to try it again. The poetic irony of the lyrics nearly makes him break out into painful laughter. Maybe his song choice doomed him! Who knows!

Lance slips on his gloves, pulls off his legendary light-up blade guards (that the kids had loved, the media had...questioned, and his fans had adored) and skates onto the rink. A great sensation.

A new rink, a new beginning...

A new program.

The first notes of the song begin, and Lance lets himself be whirled away.

 ~~~  

This is the worst idea Pidge has ever had. The fucking worst. And she's had her fair share of bad ideas.

1) She didn't bring food, and she's suddenly starving, and there's an unfortunate lack of convenience stores near the rink,

2) She only threw on her sweater and abandoned the jacket, and it suddenly decided to turn colder than the fucking ice. What the hell?!

3) For all she knows, this coach could be a pedo, an idiot, a creep...and she's about to meet with him alone! Shit!

No no no no. Pidge eliminates the last one. Allura handpicked him. Coran met with him, right?

What if he's actually cute?

Slightly out of breath, she stumbles through the automatic doors, annoyed that he'd left it unlocked and unsafe, but somehow also grateful that he'd left them unlocked so she could stumble in with the gracefulness of a freaking elephant. Fuck, the cold really is getting to her...

Warm.

Who knew that would be a word to describe an ice rink?

It's quiet at first, but as Pidge walks through the front, passing the counter and rentals, gentle notes of nearly ominous sounding music echo, become striking as the song progresses.

Pidge walks forward.

Step.

Step.

Scratches of skates. Amazingly deep edges that Pidge can even hear. And they're smooth as day, the flow never truly stopping.

Pidge starts to run, pressing herself to the edge of the rink.

There he is.

Is it...no....way...

Lance McClain?!

With the grace of an angel, speed of a Maglev bullet train, he glides across the ice. Crossover, turns, all executed with perfection, arm movements just hitting every little beat in the music.

I was the one who had it all I was the master of my fate  

He looks so serene. How is he still skating? Wasn't he injured? What happened to Lance McClain, why is he only a coach?!

I'll never shake away the pain I close my eyes but she's still there I let her steal into my melancholy heart It's more than I can bear

In all of her competitive years, she only ever got to see Lance McClain skate live once, once only...and she never forgot it. His arms swing above his head dramatically, opening slowly as he does multiple three turns.

Now I know she'll never leave me

He turns right into a perfect triple loop. Amazing. Landed right on time. Height, distance, flow...a little less than what she's seen, but fucking gorgeous still, especially considering everything.

And be with me for evermore

A camel spin. His signature sit spin. Gorgeous position, pulling into a haircutter and exiting. One of the only men in the field to do layback positions. One of the things the people loved him for. Pidge would never admit it, but she had copied that very spin combination a lot when she was younger.

It's not idolatry, Jesus!

I rage against the trials of love

I curse the fading of the light

Though she's already flown so far beyond my reach

She's never out of sight

Step sequence. Who the hell choreographed this program? He never skated this in his career, not that she can remember. His unfortunately short career. He skips a couple jumps, replacing them with a little toe tap to landing position which Pidge guesses should have been quads. No non-competitive skater maintains quads or the stamina to skate a full program like this.

Now I know she'll never leave me

Even as she fades from view

She will still inspire me

Be a part of everything I do  

His skating is too honest, too expressive to be faked. The pain on his face is not an act. It is so raw that Pidge can nearly feel the longing, the adoration...the regret. Lance never liked serious, deep programs...Pidge's eyes can only widen with wonder. What does this mean? He is so beautiful...wait, what the fuck?

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

Another spin, even faster than the last. The music builds, and builds, and so does Lance's speed with back crossovers. No way. He's not done with the jumps? So late in the program, and he wants to jump?! Shitting hell, what's wrong with this guy?! And as the long, long nights begin, Three turn... I'll think of all that might have been,

His knee bends...

Waiting here for evermore! ...one...two...three...

He doesn't land.

...four?!

Pidge thinks he's going to make it, he's so close to making it...but suddenly, he loosens his body after the four rotations as if losing concentration, crashing to the ground with an awfully, painfully loud thud.

The skater slumps on the ice, resembling a dead corpse. Bad analogy.

No. No. No.

He doesn't move for a moment.

Pidge waits. And waits.

Still no sound.

Shit.

Pidge drops her phone and dashes onto the ice as fast as she humanly can.

"Hey, Lance? Lance?!" she grabs his shoulder, shaking hard. "Lance! Hey, come on, wake up! We kind of hired you as a coach, pretty bad form to faint before your first day!"

Quiet.

Still no sound.

"Dammit!"

Pidge turns away, almost ready to speed off the ice and to her phone, when out of nowhere a hand grabs her wrist and pulls her with unexpected strength.

"What the-"

Lance McClain is sitting up, smiling, those captivating blue eyes staring right into her own. Pidge gapes for a second, and another, and another. There's barely any distance between them, Pidge kneeling and still shorter, her face tilted upwards slightly. She can almost count every freckle...

"Katie Holt, isn't it? Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Pidge doesn't answer. This isn't exactly the meeting she'd hoped for.

Wait!

Suddenly, her eyebrows knit, eyes narrowing and mouth pinching in. She breaks her hand out of his grip and moves away,  his face falling slightly.

"Were you faking it back there? Falling? Injury?!"

The moment dissipates in a flash. Lance chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck and looking down, before fixing Pidge with a charming, mischievous smirk.

"I'm not only a figure skater, I'm also an amazing actor, didn't you know?"

"You-you saw me?! Watching you?!"

"Yes, I've got eyes..." Lance studies her face, teasingly flicking her glasses. "Probably better ones than you, judging by these. And I think you liked my skating, no? I know I'm charming, but I didn't know I was so good-"

"Oh, shut up."

Pidge gets up, turning away in a far-fetched effort to hide her deepening blush. This...is definitely not what she expected. Pidge runs off the rink, grabbing her phone and starting to run out. Lance skates off, faster, not even bothering to throw on his bladeguards.

"Hey, wait!"

Lance pants.

"Wait!"

Pidge doesn't stop, nearly managing to hurtle out of the doors when she feels a familiar grip encircling her wrist again.

"Ugh, stop that, seriously!" she berates. "Ever heard of personal space?"

Lance doesn't apologise, flashing another smile.

"It's kind of late, you look like you haven't eaten-"

"-how the hell did you know?"

"-I'm magical, that's how. How about I treat you to supper? You pick the place, I'm new to here."

Pidge shakes her head, much to Lance's surprise. That usually works. Of course, how could expect the same things to work on Katie Holt that would work on normal girls?

"You just scared the shit out of me there. Not exactly the best first impression, McClain," she scolds, one eyebrow raised judgmentally.

"Uh, well, sorry, thought it would be a fun way to...break the ice?"

"Not funny."

"Aww, not appreciating my puns?"

"I'm leaving-"

"-Hey, come on, I'm sorry! I need someone to take me around, I only know my apartment and this rink in this area. I need a tour. Pleaseee Katie?"

Pidge pauses, staring at Lance, thinking. He wants a tour at midnight? Weird guy. But she was hungry. And he is treating. And this would be the perfect opportunity to get in with this guy before Hunk and Keith, as well as ask all the questions she's been burning to ask. Why did he retire so early? Why is he coaching here of all places? Why was he a dick and faked a serious injury just to tease her?!

He puts on puppy eyes, pouting like a little kid.

What the hell.

"Fine."

He breaks into a grin, bounding up and running to the changing room, changing out of his skates faster than Pidge has ever seen anyone do, zipping back right in front of her with his bag slung on his shoulder.

"Oh wow, we have the same bag."

"Really? That's nice."

"I hate my bag."

"...oh."

As they walk out the doors, Pidge stops and turn to face Lance, who's too tall for comfort.

"Hey, for the record, don't call me Katie."

"The hell am I supposed to call you then?"

She smiles, jolting Lance. She sticks out her hand, which he takes, shaking it firmly.

"Call me Pidge."

I hope you enjoyed! Check my blog for the next chapter soon :)

[kallura-icedcoffee]

never again

Snippets. Brief thoughts, headcannons, wips I never intend to finish…or maybe I will…

A/N: I was going to take a break from writing until the dust had settled after s8 but just thinking about it has me in my feelings so…

Keith turned the corner and strode into a common break room of the Garrison in his civilian clothes ready to enjoy a much needed day off to see everyone sitting there, solemn, quietly muttering among themselves. He could’ve cut the tension with a knife.

“Who died” he quipped and immediately regretted making such a joke. Sendak may have been dead but they were still in a war so someone being here one day and not the next was actually a very real possibility.

“They found the last large piece of wreckage from that mystery mech we fought” Shiro spoke with his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. He had a distant gaze, staring at the floor or perhaps past it.

“There was an Altean inside” Hunk finished the thought, chewing his bottom lip as he sat wringing his hands.

Keith did a double take, feeling his heart seize in his chest as if someone grabbed it and squeezed. He looked over at Coran who was hugging a very distraught Romelle.

“Where is Allura?” was the first words that tumbled out of his mouth.

“Gym, but…Keith wait!” Pidge called out but he was already gone.

He felt his whole body getting hot as he sprinted out the door and across the courtyard, down a long hallway until he stood in the doorway of a large room that doubled as a gymnasium and training area. She was in a black sports bra and shorts hammering away at a punching bag, pounding it with her fists, swinging up her leg to thwack it with her foot. She was dripping sweat. Her soaked ponytail stuck to her skin. He’d previously wondered why no one was comforting her but he could see now anyone who tried to touch her risked their life and limbs. There was pure rage in her face.

“Allura.” He approached cautiously.

She stopped and kept her back to him, letting her wrapped hands fall at her sides.

“I heard…about the mech.” He dared not mention the “A” word.

“It’s not enough that they took my father, my home…she took my people once and now she’s doing it again.” Her voice cracked, a mix of anger and grief.

Keith stepped forward a little closer.

“I can never get back what the Galra, what that family stole from me, but I swore after I woke up that I would never let another planet suffer the same fate as Altea. Never again.” she spat out, clenching her fist.

Keith was now close enough to slowly, gently take that fist in his hand. She didn’t pull away, at least not yet.

“I promised the legacy, the spirit of the Altea of old that I would one day bring peace to the universe and I will not stop until I do so. And it begins with bringing that witch Haggar to her knees!”

She yanked herself from Keith’s grip and swung with a roar at the punching bag, eyes and cheek marks burning blue and white as she disregarded the restraint she showed earlier, giving it her full strength. The force snapped the chain and sent the bag hurtling across the room, slamming into a wall and instantly bursting into a hail of sand.

Keith flinched. Sometimes he’d forgotten just how physically strong she was.

“I’m sorry…” she said softly after catching her breath. The soft tendrils of quintessence that pulsed from her eventually faded. “You probably think I’m being too rash.”

Keith’s face softened as he came up and embraced her from behind.

“I’m the last person who should scold you about being rash.”

She chuckled and quickly wiped the few tears she allowed to escape before turning herself around in his arms, hugging him tightly as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. She remembered the first time they hugged, awkward and unsure, full of feelings they weren’t ready to be completely honest about. This time was much different.

“This is much easier now that you’re taller” she laughed a bit between sniffles.

“I did it for you” he joked.

“Oh hush.”

He gently stroked her hair, sticky and wet but still soft.

“Allura…we’re gonna stop her. We’re all with you.”

She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent, feeling his warmth. She’d lost so much but she’d always be grateful for the things she gained, grateful for him, for the others, her new family. She ran her fingers up his back and dug in.

“I know.”

[fragmented-connections]

Day 3- Sunset-  @plancekalluraweek2018 - 

                                       Sunset Conversations 

The sounds of cheers in the streets filled the air, the warmth of the fireworks exploding above, flooded everyones senses; the war was finally over. 

Lance, Pidge and Hunk stood on the Garrisons rooftop taking it all in. 

“I can't believe its finally over,” said hunk “like finally, finally. We saved the universe from all evil, like at the source, we actually did it guys. ”

“you know, there still could be evil lurking out there.” Pidge said with a mivschevoisu grin “The universe is massive, I wouldn't be surprised if there was another evil galra-like race somewhere deep in the corners of the universe, waiting to conquer us all.” 

“Annnnd now I'm leaving” Hunk quickly replied, leaving the rooftop “lance you coming? or are you going to sit here and listen to more of Pidge’s psychopathic mind theories.” 

“Im good,” lance said looking over at Pidge “ besides, I'm used to her mind by now.”

“Bold of you to stay Mc Clain, you haven't even heard my worst theory yet.” Pidge eyeing Lance, still sporting her mischievous stare. 

“I think I can manage” Lance replying with one of his own. 

Hunk eyed the two. “Well, while you guys do that, I'm going to head down and check out the rest of the festivities; I hear theres a killer buffet.” 

“we’ll check in with you soon, were going to stay her for a bit” pidge replied nonchalantly. 

As soon as Hunk left the rooftop, Lance turned to pidge, “so why are staying up here again?” 

Her face instantly warmed at the realization that she had  spoken for the both of them. She quickly regained her composure. “I mean you could go if you want,  “pidge replied, eyes forward “I just thought, perhaps you would like to see the sunset from up here; you know don't you like that sort of thing?” 

Lance gave her a puzzled look “It is, Im just surprised that you actually remembered” lance sat down beside her. 

“Well I am the smartest one of the bunch,” Pidge looked at Lance replying coyly.  

“That you are.” Lance replied. They way he said it, without any hesitation, made the butterflies in her stomach swirl out of control. She quickly looked back at the horizon. 

 “I just thought I’d give it a chance, you know? Pidge looked at him with a soft glance. 

 It was lances turn to fidget. “uh, yeah.” he looked down at his watch. “we still have about an hour ‘till sunset though; any ideas on how to kill time?”

“lets just sit here.” pidge said, “and you know, talk?” 

And thats what they did. Pidge and Lance sat there on the garrison rooftop talking about all the adventures and trials they went through since encountering each other on this very same rooftop all those years ago. 

“hahaha!” Their laughters mingled as they recalled their last funny encounter as the garrison trio. Pidge wiped the tears from her eyes “Gosh I can't believe Hunk survived space!” 

“ I KNOW RIGHT!?” Lance tried to catch his breath, “We’ve all come a long way haven't we? Hunk conquered his fears, you’re not a secretive introvert anymore -pidge gave him a look at that- “ and I’m not an egoistical player” 

“well I'm not so sure about the last one” 

“Hey” Lance jabbed her playfully. “But Hunks right” Pidge said, her voice taking a serious tone. “it’s really over now isn't it? no more wars, no more struggles.. we really did it lance.”  Lance looked at her “We did.”  After that, both of them just sat quietly, enjoying the silence, and each others company.  

Suddenly Pidge pointed toward the skyline. “Look! the suns about to set” The two of them sat there watching the sun set. However, Lance wasn't paying any mind to the sun; he realized he was more focused on Pidge. 

The glow of the sun showered her in this ethereal light and Lance realized then and there, that he’s never really looked at Pidge, at least never like this. He never realized how rosy her cheeks were, or how she has a set of freckles dusted along the bridge of her nose connecting like stars. Or how her eyes shined in the light like melted honey. Her rose bud lips began to form into a smile and it makes lance catch his breath. 

He continues to stare at her mystified, until Pidge jolted him from his thoughts.

“you know?..you’re right Lance.”

 It takes him a minute to come to his senses. “..about what?” 

“about sunsets..” she sighs and places her hand on her cheek “…I guess I just really never noticed it before.” She gave Lance a soft smile “I’m glad I gave her a chance” Pidge looked back at the horizon “The sun really outdid her self..she really is beautiful.”  

“Yeah..” lance stated, eyes never leaving her- “ ..She really is..”

Lance decide that he never wanted the sun to set. He wanted to stay in this moment with her for as long as possible. He wanted to spend the rest of his sunsets with Katie holt. And lance decided he wasn't going to hesitate anymore. 

“Pidge, theres something I need to tell you...” 

Allura looked over the balcony- onto the masses of people all staring at her; waiting for her to finish her speech. 

“I would like to reiterate my gratitude to the Aursin people; not only did they honor the Alteans by bestowing us a new home, they also offered a safe haven to all of the universe by allowing us to make this the base of the coalition!” the crowd continued to cheer. “With planet Aurus as our stronghold, the coalition will continue to become the sovereign protectors of the universe and all of its  peoples!”

The cheers flooded Alluras senses. She looked up at the sky. “Father,” she placed her hand on her heart. “We finally did it.” 

Deep within the crowd, a figure looked up at her with utmost awe. He started at his princess, a smile on his face. “she finally did it.”

“Coran” Allura looked around at the sea of people in new castle of lions. “I thought you said it was going to be a small gathering of people. not the whole universe.” 

“This is not only a celebration of your coronation princess, but also a celebration for the aursians, as well as the universe! so it makes sense for everyone to be invited!” Coran replied ecstatically. He did have a point Allura thought. After months and months of searching they finally found a home for the Alteans, as well as a base for the coalition. It was joyous occasion.

“I do understand that reason Coran, but I don't understand is why you invited them.” Allura whispered while pointing to the heard of “eligible” princes and leaders of different planets. 

“Well you see princess your now a queen, and as a queen you can venture out and make alliances with different planets.” Coran chimed “and in doing so this would help maintain the peace!” I might not be your royal advisor anymore, but I can still be your royal matchmaker!” 

Allura gave him a look “We already have the cloatiion for that Coran, I don't need to get married to maintain the peace of the universe.” If she knew this what would become of him, she would make Romelle give him back his old job. 

After Coran’s heavy pestering, Allura decided to give a chance. At first, she went around talking to everyone. A genuine smile on her face. However as the evening progressed, the genuine smile began to turn into her more diplomatic one. Her feet began to ache, and the head piece she was wearing was so heavy it made her head pound. Allura was pretty sure couldn't feel her neck anymore. 

Allura tuned back to what Prince Astrolobor was saying. “..that is why your highness, I believe that an alliance between planet Globlor and planet Aurus would be the most fitting” 

“yes you are right prince Astrolobor, that is why we are glad that your planet has joined the universal coalition” Allura replied cooly, taking a sip of her drink. 

“Yes..but I had a more personal alliance in mind.”The prince gave a Allura what she supposed was to be a smoldering look. She almost gagged out loud. 

“If you could excuse me kind sir, I need to refill my drink.”  Allura didn't wait for him to reply and pushed passed him, but not much to her luck, another swarm of people quickly surrounded her again. 

Suddenly Romelle pushed through the crowd, grabbing Allura. “I am terribly sorry your excellencies, but Queen Allura is needed for a very important call in the next room. So if you could excuse us.” 

Romelle quickly dragged Allura all the way towards the end of ballroom, until they were out of sight. 

“Who’s the important call form Romelle?” Allura asked her. 

 “Oh, theres no call, I just saw your face in there and knew I had to get you out.” Romelle responded. 

Allura signed in relief. “This is why you are my right hand.” 

Romellle beamed “you know I'm always here for you- also your highness! You should go take a rest in your quarters!” Romelle began to push her towards the stairs. “Don't worry, I will try to keep them away.” 

With words of gratitude, Allura rushed towards her room, she entered so quickly she didn't realize that she didn't close the door all the way. 

“Peace at last” she sighed as she began to remove her headpiece. Allura then opened her large window, sitting on the edge to it. The Aursian evening air rushed through her, filling her with a sense of bliss. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting the last few strands from her up do lose. She breathed in the warm summer air. 

It was moments like these where Allura thought of him. She wondered what he was doing, and where he was in the universe, as if it were small intimate secret that she kept to herself. It has been almost two years since she last saw Keith. 

Alllura looked back at her shelf. On it, was a beautifully decorated card, that held two of her dearest friend’s names. It was Pidge and Lance’s wedding invitation. 

Allura wondered if she would see Keith there. She knew he wasn't on earth. Ever since the war finished, Allura, Romelle and Coran stayed with the rest of the Alteans searching for a new home. And while the rest of the team went back to earth, Keith stayed in space- but not with her. He said he wanted to explore as much as he could; to see everything out there. But he must have heard about the wedding, he will likely turn up, wouldn't he? 

Allura turned back to the window view and beautiful breeze. She didn't want to dwell on it. Wherever Keith was, she hoped him happiness. She only wished he could be a part of hers. 

Keith never really liked parties; especially very crowded ones like the one he found himself in right now. He couldn't believe that he was still here in this first place. His plan was to just pop in really quickly and silently to witness Allura’s coronation and leave right after the ceremony. But as soon they were going to leave, Kosom found the space mice which in turn lead them to Romelle. And she manhandled him into to coming to the party. She said Allura would be so glad to see him. He doubted that though. It been years since he last saw her, she probably didn't even think about him. When Keith saw her speaking from the crowd, a warm feeling erupted from inside of him, he was content just by watching her from the crowds. Although apart of him wanted to be up there-with her. 

“ugh” Kieth sighed deeply as he downed the drink in his hand. He scanned the room for a glittery headpiece but couldn't spot her. She was probably talking to another space prince. Not that he cared, Keith told himself. She was a queen now, so of course he league just got even higher. But when Keith caught a glimpse of her earlier from afar, he could tell that her smile was meek. It looked like they were all boring her to death. Keith couldn't help but feel smug. 

But now, she was no where in sight, so he might as well go. Keith was about to whistle for Kosomo when a hand grabbed him from behind. 

“Keith! come with me.” Romelle dragged him out of the ballroom. 

“Hey were are you-”  “Listen” Romelle interrupted him. “Go up the stairs and down the hall, the room on the right is Allura’s room.”  

Keith looked at her mortified, “Why would I go into her room?!” 

“You came here to see her didn't you?” Romelle’s question, stopped him. 

“I did yeah but going to her room is different, I don't want to impose on her..does she even know I'm here?”

“Oh stop it!” Romelle thew him up until he was almost on top of the stairs. Curse these Altean girls and their super strength. “thats why it will be a surprise silly!” 

Keith looked behind him- hesitating. 

“Go on! she’s waiting for you!” Romelle sang as she went back into the party. 

Keith began to walk down the hallway. He just hoped that Allura would be happy to see him. The door that Romelle described as Allura’s was open. Did she know he was coming? Keith edged closer, wanting to knock, but the sight that he saw almost made his knees give out. 

Sitting on the edge of a grand window sat Allura. The breeze gently ruffling her long hair; eyes closed, a soft smile on her face. 

Keith stared at her. Skies, she was breathtaking. he thought. 

Keith remembered where he was and gave the door a soft knock.

“Coran before you begin lecturing me about my duties as a leader and diplomat, I can assure you I understand” Still not realizing it was Keith, Allura began to collect the lose strands of her hair, turning away from the window. “I just wanted a moment of peace thats al-” Allura froze as she made eye contact with Him.

 “...keith?” she breathed. 

Allura thought she was dreaming, or hallucinating. But surely she wasn't because the hallucination just said “Hi, Allura.” 

Standing right there in her room, was Keith. And my was he handsome. A blush erupted all over her face as she looked over at him. He looked much older, more rugged. Allura hated that word but looking over his physique- especially his broader shoulders and arms, she couldn't find a better word to describe him, and plus the look he was giving her, Allura felt her knees would give out any second.

“How are you here? a-and how are you?” she stammered, grabbing the wall.  

“I stopped by for the ceremony,” Keith began to explain “ and Romelle spotted me, and one thing led to another and she basically threw me up here to see you.”  Keith gulped “I hope its alright that I'm here-in your room I mean.”  

“oh of course!” Allura realized how loud she answered and remembered to control herself. “Of course- its not problem at all.”  She made a mental note to thank Romelle later. 

“I was just taking a moment for myself, to watch the sunset,” Allura pointed to the window. “Besides Coran will probably realize I'm missing-” a loud voice came from the hallway. “-any minute now.” Allura said with a defeated look. “So you see I must get back.”  

The voices were getting louder. Keith looked at the tired look on her face, then out the window, at the setting sun. “Do you want to get out of here?” 

Allura looked at him wide eyed. “I-”

Coran’s voice, which was getting closer and closer to the room, erupted “ALLURA I FOUND A SUTOIR FOR YOU! AND THIS TIME HE HAS TEETH!” 

Allura looked at Keith “Yes please.” 

All too quickly, Keith shortened the distance between them, grabbing Allura by the waist. Her breath hitched. Allura looked up at him, a smirk forming on his lips. “You might wanna hold on.” Keith let out a sharp whistle. Out of nowhere Kosmo appeared in front of them, then the three disappeared. 

When Allura opened her eyes, she found herself on one of the hills of planet Aurus. The view in front of her was breathtaking; the beautiful arusian sun was about to embrace the horizon. “Its wonderful.” Allura breathed. 

“It is” Keith replied. Allura looked up to find her arms were still around his neck and his arms were still holding her waist. Allura quickly detangled herself from the embrace. “Thank you for this Keith.” She said, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Anytime.” his gaze still soft. “Do you think you'll get in trouble though?” 

Allura sat down on the grass. “oh no, they can mange without me for a little while. And besides,” grinning she looked at him over her shoulder “ I am the queen; how much trouble can I be in?”  Keith smiled and sat down next to her. “I guess your right.” 

For a while, the two just sat there enjoying the beautiful sunset. Every once an a while, Kosomo would come over and set some flowers on Alluras lap. “Such a handsome fellow, you are Kosom. and so big!” She looked at Keith.  “what have  you two been up to these past years?”

 Keith told Allura about his travels. About all the different planets and galaxies he visited. “I tired to keep a low profile, but people seem to recognize me almost everywhere.”

“Well you are one of the universe’s heroes.” Allura chimed. 

“I guess,” Keith looked out onto the horizon. “I honestly never expected it to turn out that way.” 

“I as well.” Allura looked out with him. “Team Voltron’s come a long way, haven't we?” Allura said softly. She then quickly raised her voice, turning to Keith “Did you hear the news about Pidge and Lance?!”

 Keith smiled at her excitement “Yes, it didn't take Pidge too long to track me down, plus I ran into Matt a couple of months ago and he told me he was going back for the wedding.” 

“Will you be attending?” Allura asked. “Yeah,” He responded to her relief. “Plus, I probably don't have a choice. Pidge said that I'm banned from earth if I don't show up.”  

The sound of Alluras laughter was so healing. Keith wanted to always hear it. 

“Will you be attending?” He asked her.

 “Yes of course! I wouldn't miss it for anything..I'm so happy for them.” 

“Its about time too” Keith suddenly said “I thought lance was going to be dense about his feelings forever.”

“Oh, so your saying that you knew?”

“Yeah I knew they would get together, probably before they even did” Keith said proudly. 

Allura smiled. Playfully she said “Then I guess you have a gift.”  

“I guess I do.” he answered, matching her tone.  

Their peaceful evening continued. Kosom came to rest, placing his head on Alluras lap. She began to place the flowers on his fur. “So Keith, what are your plans after this? Will you continue to travel?” 

Keith dared himself and went for it. “That depends…” He began “...I need something to convince me to stay put.”

Peeking behind her lashes, Allura asked “Any ideas to what that might be?”

Keith watched Allura play with Ksomo; the last light from the setting sun washed over her, making her glow. The longing that he felt in his chest for the past year began to rapidly close.

Allura looked up to see a smile begin to form on his lips. She warmed at the sight.

 Keith looked at her with same warmth his eyes.

 “I think I might of just found it.”

Katie Holt looked into the mirror. This was it. Her wedding day. She looked out the window and noticed the sun beginning to set. She let out a soft chuckle at her husband-to be’s antics. He’s such a dork, she thought.  Lance swore that they will get married right at sunset. 

“Its almost time” Pidge said to herself. 

Suddenly a small knock came from the door. “Its us!” Romelle and Allura came into the room both dressed in their brides-maids gowns; the perfect shade of light blue. 

“Oh Pidge, you look absolutely lovely!” Allura gushed. “Thank you! But I’m so nervous I think I’m going to puke. I can’t believe I’m nervous to see Lance!” Pidge exclaimed “Also, I just can’t get this thing to stay on my head.” Pidge touched the white flowers that connected to her veil.

“I can help with that.” Romelle went to adjust the position of her veil. “ Thank you Romelle. Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you, how are things with hunk?” 

Romelle blushed thinking about her beau. “Well, it hasn’t been the easiest time with me in Aurus and Hunk on earth, but we make it work. I think he might propose soon!” But enough about me, Pidge you should ask Allura who has been coming to visit her regularly on Aurs.”  Romelle said with a playful tone. 

“What!?” Pidged gasped looking at Allura “No way! Is it Keith?!” “Yes!” Romelle continued to gush to Pidge, both girls ignoring Allura’s serious blushing. “Every once or twice a month he drops by and the two of them head out on escapades and no one knows where!” The girls continued to squeal, ignoring Allura protests for them to hush.  

“no offense Allura,” Pidge began, “but Keith needs to get off his ass and ask you already.” 

“Agreed” Romelle nodded “Isn't he aware that it is a capital offense to let a queen wait.”

“Oh girls, I’m not going to rush Keith, he will ask me when its time; when fate has written it.” Allura said. 

“I don’t care,” Pidge still adamant. “one of you girls need to catch my bouquet.” 

“Why would we need to catch your bouquet of flowers?” Allura asked puzzled. 

Romelle quickly explained “On earth weddings, the bride throws her bouquet, and whichever maiden catches it, becomes the next bride!” The girls gave her a stunned look. “What? I did my research.” Romelle replied triumphantly. 

“Ok so that settles it!” Pidge exclaimed, standing up from her chair “I’m going to be aiming this bad boy at one of you, and whoever catches it, needs to go straight to her man and propose to Him!” Pointing at them with her bouquet of lilies. Romelle was ecstatic and Allura was slightly horrified. 

The girls finished helping Pidge get ready. Allura brought down Pidges veil. She took a hold of her hands, squeezing them in hers. “Im so happy and proud of you Pidge; you’ve blossomed into a beautiful women and I am immensely grateful to share this moment with you.” 

Tears began to form in Pidge’s eyes, Romelle’s  “oh no don’t cry you will ruin your make up!”- made her laugh. 

“Thank you so much Allura.” She squeezed her hands back “I have you to thank, for bringing He and I together.”  Pidge inched closer to Allura “And I can’t wait to share your special day- with Keith.” Allura blushed softly. 

Suddenly, Pidges mom peeked into the room, “Honey we’re ready for you.” Pidge took a deep breath; It’s time. 

Lance stared out onto the horizon. He couldn’t believe that the big day was finally here; his wedding day. The suns position was just right. His beautiful Pidge would walk down the aisle soon. 

All of a sudden, two figures stood by him; His best men. Keith and Hunk. 

“Can you actually believe that Lance is the first of us to settle down!?” Hunk exclaimed. “If you told me that a couple of years ago I would have died laughing” Hunk smacked Lance across the back.

“Hey- give some time, when you find your soulmate nothing will stop you.” Lance said.

Keith looked at the horizon longingly. “Yeah, that true.” He whispered under his breath. 

“And besides aren’t you and Romelle getting serious?” Lance teased “when are you going to ask her?” 

Hunk blushed thinking about her “I’m planning to soon.” But the one you really should be asking is our boy Keith here.”  

The two boys eyed their dark haired friend. 

“Your absolutely right hunk” chirped Lance “Keith When are you finally gonna get off your ass and confess to Allura?” 

Keith’s face warmed at Allura’s mention. “I need you guys to leave me alone.” 

“Oh no we won't.” Hunk said “you cant keep her waiting; she’s a queen you know, I’m pretty sure thats illegal.” 

“You know what? I have a wager.” Lance said suddenly “Which ever girl catches Pidge’s bouquet, the guy needs to propose!” 

Keith’s- “what!?” And Hunks “oh yeah!” made Lance laugh. Before Keith could object any further, the music started to play. 

The nerves Lance was feeling earlier, came back full force. He took his place at the front of the aisle. Lance caught the first glimpse of his bride. 

Pidge seemed to float down the aisle. Through her veil, Lance could see the beaming expression on her face. This was it, Lance thought. The beginning of forever with her; the beginning of a thousand more Sunsets. 

The ceremony was perfect, they exchanged vows, making everyone cry. Lance didnt even wait for the cue as he carried his bride and embraced her in front of everyone. In the heat of the moment Pidge threw her bouquet into the crowd. 

Allura saw the bouquet of lilies flying towards her, she extend her hands ever so slightly; and there it flew, right into them.  

Out of instinct, Allluras eyes found his. She looked upon Keith’s bewildered expression, sporting one of her own. The cheers erupted around her. 

Lance and Pidge were ecstatic. “HAHA ITS YOUR TURN NOW MULLET!” 

The duo blushed ferociously as they stole shy glances at each other. 

Keith stared to walk towards Allura. Her radiance outshining the golden sunset. Lance was right; It was time. 

He made his soulmate wait long enough. 

[itscaeya]

Talking

Summary:

Just one of many coping mechanisms for dark thoughts.

Talking.

For as long as Lance could remember, talking in of itself had always been his coping mechanism.

Despite his devilishly good looks and charm and his ever-present cheerful demeanor, Lance had the tendency to fall into the dark endless pits in his mind where dark thoughts would overcome him and fill him with doubts and an overall sadness. For example, his family back on Earth always expressed love through their actions as well as through words. They would give warm hugs, spend time to comfort each other when one was feeling down, tease, and share words of encouragement. However, there were some days where Lance would lose himself to dark thoughts of “they don’t love me” and “they don’t care.” He would stare blankly as his mom would rush past him, busy with household chores and mind rampant with thoughts of his sister’s upcoming dance competition or his brother’s sports team going against that one well-known team in the local area. The dark thoughts would latch onto him as he opened his mouth to tell his mother about something that was bothering him only to be brushed off with a “not now, Lance!” The dark thoughts would dissipate after a while. He would shrug it off and think of the good memories where his mother found time to comfort him in all the chaos that was their family. When he found himself feeling down, Lance would often find someone—anyone—in his family to just simply talk to if they had the time for him. Even if they weren’t listening completely to his words, Lance found comfort in just talking.

In space, it had gotten worse. The silence was unsettling. Lance never felt more alone. He would often find himself sitting, staring out at the stars as he talked to himself to fill the quiet and provide some sort of comfort for himself. Then, he found solace in talking with the animals in the Castle. Kaltenecker was a sweetheart. As she chewed on her food, Lance would chat with her—one-sidedly—and milk her in order to make milkshakes for the other residents of the Castle. He would spill his doubts to her, lips pulling up into a sad smile and eyes sliding half-way closed. She would never reply or say anything to cheer him up (as to be expected), but just by being there for Lance to lay out his troubles was enough for him to feel slightly better. There were also the mice. They were comforting to talk to about his problems until he found out that they spilled some to Allura. He ceased to confide in them about the heavier material after that.

“Stupid. You’re just a nuisance to Pidge and Hunk. They don’t need you. They’re Team Punk. And you? You’re just the third wheel.”

“Allura? She doesn’t need you. She has Lotor. Third wheel, Lance. You’re just the unnecessary third wheel.”

“They hate you.”

“Do you hear them make fun of you? It’s the truth you know. Every word. You’re just a goofball.”

There were some days where Lance would spend some time drowning in dark thoughts that clawed at his mind, opening old wounds and creating new, deeper cuts. He’d isolate himself to the pain, letting it wash over him. He’d take that hurt, and then he would bury it deep inside of him and lock it up to deal with in the future. From there, he’d paste on a bright smile and face his team.

“Keith left. It should’ve been you. One paladin too many…Lance, you’re that extra unnecessary weight. They should’ve lost you a long time ago when Keith drove off that cliff. Extra baggage…Unnecessary weight.”

“Blue doesn’t care about you. She never did. You don’t even hold any semblance of a past connection. She ignores you. The Blue Lion knows you’re worthless.”

“You’re family thinks you’re dead.”

“Iverson was right.”

“You’re just a replacement.”

“Red doesn’t care about you. You’re just a temporary place-holder until Keith can return to his rightful place. On team Voltron. Where he belongs. Where you don’t.”

“Shiro snapped at you. He doesn’t think you can provide any useful ideas. You’re just a stupid nobody.”

“Keith ignored you when he came back. And you wonder why it hurts so much? Because now you know the truth: nobody—nobody—cares about you out here in space. Hell, you’re family back on Earth probably doesn’t waste a second of their lives thinking about you.”

“You died. Nobody cares.”

“Nobody sees you.”

“Nobody cares.”

“You’re invisible.”

“You died.”

“Worthless.”

And life would go on.

[wertdifferenz]

KlanceWeek2018 - Day 1: Fake Relationship

The punch came out of nowhere.

Sure, Lance had always known that Derek was an asshole, but never thought that he would sink so low. To punch someone with no reason and without even preparing the other for it was just a huge dick-move.

So, Lance had a very good reason to be pissed. His whole face hurt, he would sport a blue eye for the next week or two, and even worse: Everyone at the party had seen how this idiot had went up to Lance and had taken him down with one swing of his fist.

Okay, maybe the last point was a good thing, because not even two seconds after Lance’s butt had touched the ground, Hunk had already tackled that dick to the ground and held him down while Allura gave him hell. Seriously, who knows how much more damage that idiot would have done if not for his quick and hella protective friends.

Lance was currently sitting in one of the empty bedrooms on the ground floor of Allura’s house, the deafening volume of the music muted by the thick walls and closed door. He was thankful for that relative quietness. With the lack of adrenalin rushing through his body, he could feel the beginning of a bad headache.

Allura, Pidge and Shiro were somewhere outside, taking care of Derek, while Hunk was looking through the freezer for something that would help against the swelling. Lance just hoped he would also remember to look for some painkillers, because the pain made him feel sick and dizzy already.

The music got louder as someone came inside, and Lance hissed at the sudden waves of pain in his head

“Hey,” he said without looking up, expecting no one else but Hunk to care for him right now. “Did you find some painkillers?”

“Uhm, no.” Instead of Hunk, Lance heard Keith’s voice and his head shot up. He quickly regretted that action.

“What are you doing here?” he hissed out, more of pain than from actual anger.

Keith winced at Lance’s question. “Hunk told me to bring you this.” He held out a package with frozen peas, and even though Lance didn’t want Keith to be near him right now, he beckoned him closer and grabbed the package as it got into reach.

Lance didn’t thank him, because he was pretty sure that this whole ordeal was Keith’s fault anyway. And not his fault as in ‘You-are-my-rival-and-anything-is-always-your-fault’, but as in ‘Your-ex-boyfriend-just-punched-me-and-I’m-sure-you’re-the-reason-this-shit-happened’-fault. They had dropped that rivalry-thing too long ago for Lance to pick it up again.

Keith stood in front of him for a few more moments before letting out a big sigh and sitting himself next to Lance on the guest bed. From the corner of his not-swollen eye, Lance watched him play with the hem of his shirt, a nervous tick Keith had when he wanted to say something but didn’t know how.

Lance just had to wait a minute or two and let him organize his thoughts before Keith would eventually speak up like he always did.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, but he sounded sincere. That meant two things: he really was sorry, and it really was his fault.

Lance let out a huge sigh, anger leaving his body with it. He couldn’t stay mad at Keith, even if he wanted to. “What did you do to get me punched?” Lance asked with a playful grin instead. He meant to be funny, but quickly realized that Keith wasn’t in the mood for his jokes.

Keith didn’t respond immediately. Instead he looked around the room, hands still fiddling with his shirt. Lance was sure he didn’t even realize that he was doing it, so he put his hand on Keith’s before he could tear up his shirt. Keith eyed his hand for a few moments, before he confessed with a timid voice. “I told him that we were dating.”

Oh, wow. Lance really had not suspected that. But as he watched Keith’s hunched figure, he understood what had happened before. “To get him jealous?” It was more of a clarification than a question.

Keith finally looked up, but his eyes were filled with regret. “I panicked, okay? I didn’t know he would come to Allura’s party, and then I saw him and I just…didn’t want to look like I was still hung up on him.” He almost whispered the last sentence, as if he didn’t want Lance to know what he felt like.

“Are you? Still hung up on him, I mean?” Lance knew Keith didn’t want to think about it, even less talk about it, but that mindset had brought them here, and Lance really didn’t want a repetition of that.

Keith snorted at his question. “He cheated, remember?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“… I don’t want to get back together with him,” Keith said after a moment. He looked like he knew himself how unsure he sounded.

Lance nudged his shoulder. “That wasn’t the question.”

“Come on, Lance.” Keith jumped up from the bed and paced through the small room. He let out a frustrated huff before facing Lance again. “What do you want to hear from me?”

Lance looked at him, really looked at him. He didn’t pick up his voice when he answered sincerely. “I just want to know if you’re okay.”

Keith visibly deflated after hearing that. He seemed to understand that Lance didn’t want to tease him or make him feel bad about what had happened. Lance only wanted to help him. He sat himself back on the bed after realizing that, thinking for a while before speaking up again.

“It hurts,” he finally said. Lance hummed understanding, telling Keith like this to keep going. “He was there with the guy I caught him with.”

Keith slumped down with every word, until he was bent forward, arms resting on his knees. “I think they are together.” He paused, taking a deep breath before sighing out the last words. “It sucks.”

Lance knew that was all Keith would share with him. “Come here.” Before Keith could object, he gathered him in his arms and hugged him tightly. Keith relaxed into his hold pretty quickly, even going as far as wrapping his arms loosely around Lance’s waist.

They just stayed like this for a while, almost forgetting where they were. They both flinched at a sudden knock. Hunk opened the door, one hand holding a glass of water, the other covering his eyes, so he didn’t see anything he didn’t want to see.

“Hey guys, can I come in?” he asked with a slightly panicked voice. “You’re not doing anything nasty, right?”

“Oh my god, Hunk!” Lance quickly hid his blush behind his hands while Keith tried to subtly move away from him. With a brush of his fingers on the bruise, Lance was quickly reminded why Hunk was here in the first place. “Did you find some painkillers?”

Thankfully, he did. Hunk gave him two tablets and a glass of water which Lance accepted with grabby hands. After taking the water from him, Hunk pressed the frozen peas back on his face and told Lance how Allura and Pidge had taken care of that idiot outside.

He only stopped his explicit narration when Lance fell off the bed from his laughter and his stomach started to hurt. Even Keith couldn’t hide a smile after hearing the story, but it looked more like relief then amusement.

Thanks to the frozen peas and the combination of painkillers and Hunk’s cooking the following few days, the swelling plus headache subsided pretty quickly, as well as Lance’s bad mood. The bruises were a bit challenging to cover up, even with makeup, but his sister gave him a few tips after laughing her ass off as he retold he the whole story.

Lance had forgotten the incident after about two weeks, and so did the rest of the group.

It had gotten pretty warm outside, and since the semester was almost over, most students enjoyed the afternoon sun in one of the parks on the campus. Hunk had the idea to make a picknick and after offering to do the cooking everyone happily chimed in.

Keith’s classroom was on the way to the park, so Lance decided to pick him up and help him carry the lemonade he offered to buy for the group earlier. He was just around the corner when he could hear Keith speak angrily with someone.

Lance picked up his speed; it sounded like Keith was just about to explode, and Lance didn’t want him to miss out on their picnic for starting a fight (again). But before he could think of anything to say to calm Keith down, he discovered why he was angry: Derek.

Keith was agitated and furious, but his ex-boyfriend didn’t seem to mind his hostile demeanor and kept approaching him. Díos, that guy really didn’t know when to stop. As Keith’s voice grew impossibly angrier and he started to clench his fists, Lance quickly made a decision.

With his most charming smile, he stepped up beside Keith, put an arm around his waist and prayed that the raven would play along.

“Hey babe.” He addressed Keith directly before moving his gaze towards Derek. “What are you doing here?”

Keith’s face was hilarious, a mixture of shock, the fading anger and a quick spreading blush. Lance quickly made a note to himself to tease him later for that; but now was not the time.

Derek quickly glanced between Keith and him, hesitance clearly in his eyes, but also anger. Lance wasn’t so keen on getting hit again, but this time he was at least prepared, and he was pretty sure Keith would step in between them if something were to happen.

With those things in mind, Lance kept up his challenging gaze, easy smile still on his lips but his eyes clearly telling the other to step down.

Derek finally chickened out and backed up, but not before glancing one final time at Keith. The raven almost stepped back, only held in place by Lance’s arm, who pulled him a bit closer.

“Just think about it, okay?” Derek said while walking a few steps backwards.

Keith scoffed, and moved closer to Lance. “I won’t. Don’t talk to me again.”

“Keith…”

“You heard him.” If looks could kill, Lance would have to plan his funeral, but with Keith beside him, he felt nothing but amusement by the way Derek looked at him. “Bye, asshole,” Lance said quietly when he got out of earshot.

Keith didn’t push him away for a while, so Lance and he just stayed like this until it got kind of awkward. But instead of pulling off completely, Lance moved his hand from Keith’s waist to his back. “You okay?”

“Yeah… uhm…” Keith was blushing like crazy. “Thanks for helping me out.”

“No problem, dude.” Lance let his gaze wander around their surroundings, keeping an eye on the retreating figure of Keith’s stupid ex. Derek looked around from time to time, as if trying to see behind Lance and Keith’s act. “You know, we should probably keep this up for a bit, in case he lingers around.”

Keith’s eyes fell on Derek, too. “You don’t have to do this,” he said with a frown towards the brunet.

“Yeah, but I want to,” Lance reassured him. He gave Keith a bright smile and stretched out his free hand. “Now, give me the bag and let’s go. I bet the others are waiting already.”

Keith eyed him for a second before reluctantly giving him the plastic bag with the drinks he bought. He pulled away, already missing the touch of Lance’s hand on his back, but Lance surprised him by quickly taking his hand and intertwining their fingers. Before Keith could question it, he was already pulled away by the other.

From the corner of his eye, Lance could see the blush on Keith’s cheek growing, even the tips of his ears were red. He suppressed a chuckle but couldn’t fight the grin on his lips. He had never paid it too much mind, but now he realized that Keith looked pretty cute like this.

Even when he was sure that Derek wasn’t around anymore, he didn’t let go of Keith’s hand. Lance decided that he might as well keep up the act for a bit longer, you know, just to be sure.

Just to be sure, he thought to himself while already knowing that there was a bit more behind it.    

[sohotthateveryonedied]

Hey I saw you support trans keith! Right on you, mate! Got any headcanons for us?

bOY DO I HAVE HEADCANONS (though disclaimer: I myself am cis, so if anything I say is wrong please tell me; I really don’t want to offend anyone so don’t be afraid to speak out if I say something wrong okay? okay now let’s go)(also I apologize in advance this is way longer than I thought it would be)

•When Keith was at the Garrison and then living alone in the desert, he would act as masculine as possible because when he was in foster care his families always insisted on him taking part in more “feminine” activities, so you can bet Keith did stuff like work on his bike and get all grimy and let it stain his clothes and later buy ten different colognes and wear all of them at once. Why do you think he loves swords and sword fighting so much? It makes him feel masculine!! Honestly any stereotypical ‘manly’ activities make him feel so much better, he just enjoys them so much

•People ask him sometimes why the long hair but guess what!! He doesn’t need to have short hair to be a man, he’s already a man and he likes his greasy mullet so stay in your own lane dude he’s happy with his long hair and having it doesn’t make him any less manly

•When he started hormones, every day he would practice talking as deeply as he could. Once he found a lizard sitting on a rock and recited the entire Bee Movie script to it in his deepest voice possible

•For most of the time during his time at the Garrison he’d just wear two sports bras instead of a binder because he didn’t really know how to get one and was too scared to ask. Plus he had like four dollars at most on a good day so how could he possibly buy a binder? He started resorting to ace bandages which oh no Keithy boy that’s not how you bind you’re gonna mess up your ribcage sTOP

• But don’t worry, Shiro the Hero™️ is here to help. Back at the Garrison, Shiro was the only person besides the teachers who knew Keith was a trans boy. And lemme just say Shiro is the most supportive human, he did as much research as he could and always stood by Keith whenever people were being jerks (and beat them up when he had to because Keith gets into enough fights as it is, he’s already gotten too many strikes so he’s not allowed to get into more fights or else risk getting expelled and it kills him when he can’t punch someone out for bullying him but guess what Shiro has no problem with that he’s the teacher’s pet anyway he’s not worried about getting in trouble) So when he found out Keith was binding with ace bandages he was like “okay first of all no, I don’t know much but I know for a fact that’s gonna destroy your ribs come on man I’ll go with you we need to buy you some binders”

• When Keith first got to space, one of the things he worried about the most was the fact that he only had the binder he was wearing and that was all, and he was terrified because what if something happened to it and he couldn’t find anything else to bind with oh no

•But never fear, Coran is here!! He asked Coran about it one night because he trusts him and turns out that plenty of Alteans are trans too!! However, they didn’t exactly use binders because they could simply shapeshift to fit their ideal body expectations, but Coran is amazing so he used Keith’s binder as a reference and made a ton of new binders out of this great alien material that stretches in a way that makes them safe to fight in too!! So hooray for Keith not having to worry about breaking a rib during a fight anymore

•And the hormone situation turned out to be easily remedied as well. When Keith realized he couldn’t go much longer without his hormone treatments he worked up the courage to ask Pidge for help, who managed to come up with an alien substitute that worked about the same as his regular hormones from earth so yay!! Now he can get his hormones without any trouble!!

•And at this point Shiro, Coran, and Pidge all know, so Keith figures that he might as well come out to the rest of the team since half of them know already and he may as well get it over with now, since telling them is easier than them all finding out through some accident. And it goes roughly the same way it had when Pidge revealed she was a girl.

•Keith walks into the dining hall one day where everyone is eating breakfast and he kind of just announces “hey by the way I’m trans, guys” and plops down to eat his food goo. (Shiro doesn’t even look up from his book and says “hi Trans, I’m Shiro”) and Hunk is like “oh rad, dude. I mean I kind of suspected but I wasn’t sure and didn’t know how to ask but this is awesome! So what pronouns are you okay with then?” “He/him, thanks” “Okay, cool cool cool” *goes back to eating* And after they explain what the term “transgender” means, Allura says “Oh, we have that on Altea too. For a moment there I thought trans was another alien species and you were admitting you were more than just galra but this is much better” “Thanks..? I guess?”

•And then you have Lance. It takes him a little longer to catch up to speed, but once it sinks in he’s like “but wait what about that time I called you Dolly Parton because of your mullet and when you said y’all oH MY GOD I MISGENDERED YOU IM SO SORRY” “seriously dude it’s fine, chill” “AHHH BUT WHAT IF ITS NOT” It takes him a long time to stop walking on eggshells, and pretty soon Keith being trans is just another fact of life, same as Pidge being a girl and Keith being galra and Shiro being a closeted Taylor Swift fan

•Keith: “I’m trans” Lotor: “I thought you were galra”

•When Keith starts growing facial hair oh my gosh he gets so excited. He starts strutting around so proudly, showing off the hair on his chin and when he walks into a room Hunk is like “heyyy nice beard dude, super manly” *thumbs up* Though the first time Keith tried to shave he cut himself like five times because he did it with his BOM knife, so that didn’t work out too well. Luckily, Lance decided to take pity on him and educate this poor boy on face management and helped him shave properly to avoid future fiascos

•Shiro: “Keith you can’t bind while you’re training, stop ignoring me you’re gonna kill yourself” Keith, firing up his bayard and already turning on the training bot: “What was that I can’t hear you” Shiro: *disapproving Dad Glare™️*

•Keith is an irresponsible boy so he leaves his binder on for like ten hours at a time (which!! please don’t ever do!! this will kill your ribcage please bind safely don’t be like keith!!) After so long of this routine of reminding Keith over and over again to take a break with his binder off and him blatantly ignoring it, Pidge modified the training deck so whenever Keith is in there training for hours at a time he will get alerts to take his binder off which thank god for that because he always either forgets or doesn’t care enough to

•Because he’s not fully transitioned, Keith still gets periods which really sucks. That’s usually when the dysphoria is at its worst so not only does he have to deal with stupid cramps but now he also has dang dysphoria to make him feel even crappier. When that happens, everyone on the ship makes an effort to take every opportunity to use masculine pronouns when talking to him and comfort him when he’s feeling Bad. (It’s a good thing Keith has his awesome boyfriend Lance who is so sweet and always supportive and will cuddle on the couch with him for hours as they eat snacks and watch earth movies for hours on end)

•Once he breaks three ribs during a fight and Allura tells him that he can’t wear his binder for a while otherwise it’ll just make the injury worse but like. Keith is so scared to go around without binding, he doesn’t want anyone to see him so he stays in his room for most of the time but on the occasions in which he does leave his room, he gets so worked up because “shit shit sHIT they’re gonna see me without my binder oh no I can’t do this” but. Nobody really notices? At all? It’s like there’s nothing different. He meets up with everyone for dinner and he’s sweating bullets he’s so nervous but it’s like no one even sees he’s not wearing a binder. So that was quite the experience, and after that Keith gets more comfortable with wearing his binder less often because the reason he always wore it too long was because he didn’t want anyone to see and judge him, but turns out it doesn’t matter in the least to them whether he’s binding or not, so he’s more confident being around them without a binder on days when he’s feeling comfortable enough to go without it.

•Keith has definitely taken an Axe Body Spray shower before this isn’t even a debate

•Shiro takes every opportunity to call Keith his brother not only because wow gotta love that wonderful honorary siblings broganes bond, but also hell yeah calling Keith masculine names.

•Shiro, introducing the paladins: “—and this guy over here is my brother Keith” Keith: *beams*

•Keith: “Zarkon is transphobic” Lance: “why” Keith: “Because I’m trans and he annoys me”

[paladinspride]

30 Day OTP Challenge Day 23: Arguing/ Day 24: Making Up. 

I had this drawn days ago but I have been slowly working on this G/PG drabble to go with it: 

Keith was hoping to get some rest before he returned with Kolivan to the BOM base and was looking forward to a night in his old bed in the Castle of Lions. However, one thing stood between him and some much needed sleep.

Lance.

Lance stood before him with his hands on his hips sporting the best look of authority he could muster.

“I think you should come back to the team.” Lance said.

“Why would I do that? Shiro is the Black Paladin again and you’re the Red Paladin now. What would I do exactly?” Keith crossed his arms and stared back. 

“I don’t know, but I do know the BOM is making you reckless. I don’t think it is good for you,” Lance lamented. 

“I have always been reckless, remember?” Keith mumbled, attempting to brush Lance’s concerns off.

“Maybe,” Lance conceded, “But you can’t just go throwing yourself at every dangerous situation, like you mean nothing,” Lance scolded.

Keith was tired. Shiro and Allura had already given him similar lectures. He didn’t need one from Lance too.

Besides, Keith didn’t get it. As far as he was concerned, he wasn’t throwing himself at anything besides not his new role with the BOM maybe. And this was war and they all knew sometimes sacrifices had to made. They were all taking risks for the greater good, weren’t they. Why was everyone so concerned about him all of a sudden?  

“There are things at play that are bigger than us, Lance.  I am not going to sit back and let Zarkon and his witch, destroy entire civilizations. I have to do my part.”

“And you’re sure your part is with the Blades of Mamora?”

“It makes the most sense for me now, so yes, I think it’s for the best I am with the BOM.” Keith averted his gaze. 

“You are sure you’re not just running away?”

“What?” Keith swallowed.

“It feels like you are running away.”

Lance’s brow furrowed, tears threatened to spill but he held them back. He drove his pointer finger into Keith’s shoulder.

“You just left! You put your obsession with Lotor ahead of the needs of Voltron! Did you even stop to think about how any of us on the team would feel about you being gone or are you too selfish to even consider that we might need you here?”

Keith felt his anger rise into his throat. He swatted Lance’s hand away and began pointing his own finger.  

“You of all people need to miss me with this selfish bit. If I was selfish, I would have taken back the red lion and kept myself in the one place that made me feel like I had a purpose, the first place in a long time I considered home!”

A silent pause fell between them.

Lance stepped closer.

“Then why did you leave?”

Keith raised his eyes but kept his head bowed, “You said yourself, ‘you want the best men on the team’ and that is not me. We all know, Shiro is the rightful leader of Voltron. Pidge and Hunk are the tech geniuses, Allura is turning into one of the best pilots on the team and unlocking new abilities right, left and centre. And you were right, you are the team sharp shooter. I have seen what you can do. You also hold this team together. You know what to say to bring out the best in everyone.”

“Except you, obviously,” Lance grunted with disbelief. 

“No, especially me,” Keith replied. We made a good team. I could not have led Voltron without you. But Shiro deserves the black lion and you deserve Red. Forgive me for trying to find my place.”

Keith dug his fingernails into his bicep and looked away.

Lance sighed.

“Look, Keith. I’m sorry. Maybe you weren’t being selfish. Maybe I’m the one bein selfish.”

“What are you talking about?”

Lance crossed his arms.

“Part of me was relieved you didn’t want Red back, but we both know you two have a bond I am not sure I’ll ever have with Red. Plus, you are a gifted pilot. I don’t want to give up being a paladin, but I will if it means you won’t go back to the BOM.”

“Why would you do that?” Keith threw up his hands in exasperation.  

Lance mirrored him.

“You were going to drive your ship in those Galra shields!”

“I had to. Someone had too. It was my life for countless others in this quadrant!”

“I know. But I don’t love countless others in this quadrant!”

Lance gasped and tears escaped from his eyes.

Keith put his hands on Lance’s upper arms and softened his voice. Tears of his own fell.

“Lance, look at me. If Haggar would have went through with her plan, I would have been lost anyways, plus you and the team, and an entire galaxy would have been lost too and I could not let that happen. Voltron and this mission is bigger than us.”

Lance looked away and the pain on his face broke Keith’s heart.

“and, and, for what it’s worth, you’re important to me too.”

Keith wanted to say, “I love you too,” but for so many reasons he couldn’t even if it was true. He knew his words were painfully inadequate. Keith sniffled, wiped his nose on the back of his hand and let out an awkward laugh.

Lance gave a weak smile and wrapped his arms around him.

“Come home, Keith.”

Keith stiffened then let himself bury his face in the nape of Lance’s neck.

“You need me to keep you from pulling dumb ass stunts and without you I'm just a seventh wheel. Allura, Coran and Shiro are always talking about strategy and diplomatic stuff and they don’t really take me seriously at all. Pidge, Hunk and Matt are always talking techy stuff and building things and I’m sort of lost. I never thought I’d say this in a million years, but at some point you have become my person.”

Keith squeezed Lance tighter.

“At some point you became mine.”

[dark-unimaginably-stupid-kids]

Hallura Draft

FUCK IT. Have a Hallura bit because I actually kinda had to re-read the first part of it to get back to writing the rest. Members of the old BKE have read /pretty much all of this/ so like. why not.

To the anon who requested this? I’msososorryI’mamess.I’lldobetter! Ihope... ;A;

In which Hunk and Allura have a bit of conversation over milkshakes one night.

It was one of those nights where the weight of the universe was too heavy for five pairs of shoulders.

Hunk knew this because he wasn’t the only one still up. He’d initially gone to look for Lance, but when he knocked on his bedroom door Lance didn’t answer. He knew he was awake because the music was too loud for Lance to be asleep, but given how the day had gone, Hunk figured Lance might have wanted to be alone.

He didn’t bother knocking on the next door, Keith was away with the blade still and Hunk had it on good authority that Keith no longer slept as easily as he used to claim either.

Pidge was awake too of course, but she was always awake. She was in the green hangar where she usually was with two laptops and her tablet thrumming through information at computer speeds like the Brainiac child she was.

He’d run into Coran shuffling around aimlessly, mumbling about how he should have been sleeping and how he was going back to his quarters to try again.

He briefly considered checking on Shiro but decided that of all the inhabitants of the castle ship, Shiro was probably the only one of them who might manage to sleep tonight. It has been an odd turn of events, but if he had travelled down the hall to Shiro’s room he would have found he’d been right and that Shiro was knocked out, entirely unaware of the nerves buzzing around keeping his teammates up.

And finally, he wasn’t going to look for Allura. Because Allura was a princess who should not be bothered and who’s room Hunk had never tried to locate in the massive ship because what business did he have to ever look for said room?

He wished Matt was on board. The guy was fun and distracting and when Lance was in one of his moods (Hunk swore, just because Lance had inherited Keith’s Lion did not mean he had to inherit the stand off-ish attitude as well) Hunk could almost find some solace in the older Holt sibling. But alas, he wasn’t there, and Lance’s music was a bad sign, and Pidge was distracted, and Keith was gone, and Shiro was asleep, and Allura was still just so many eons away from him really—

So he went to the kitchen. Maybe he could figure out something fun to cook for his frazzled team in the morning. It would at least be a helpful use of his time. Except, someone else already had this idea.

“P-princess!”

“Hunk!” Allura shrieked and her knee slipped on the cabinets she’d just been climbing on to reach something on the higher levels. She lurched forward and very nearly smashed her head into the bottom of said cabinet had Hunk not rushed forward, snaking an arm around her waist and holding her steady.

“Whew!” He breathed in relief while she made a smaller surprised noise, her eyes wide and staring at the offending kitchen fixture.

“You okay?” He asked finally, slowly loosening his hold as she carefully regained her balance.

She looked a little embarrassed but otherwise unharmed. She shook her head and smiled one of her “I’m clearly a princess and thus absolutely perfect” smiles at him as he backed away.

Ah god, he held her. That was going to take a while to get over. Her waist was tiny and dipped beneath his hand and she was warm and her slim back felt nice against his chest and her hair smelled nice.

Of course everything about her was perfect that way. She was a goddamn space princess. She was bloody cosmic royalty. Maybe Hunk was being ridiculous but despite being on the same team with her, Hell, both of them being support players on Team Voltron, he always had it in his head: she’s a princess. Like a real life asleep for ten thousand years crown and castle princess and she was way too good for him.

N-not that she was ever intended to be for him, he wasn’t interested in her like that. That’s neither here nor there that’s— Okay.

Back up.

Scratch that.

Scratch all of that.

She was a princess. That made her infinitely better than the common folk. That was all. Sure, she was cool and a little dorky at times and she never held herself above anyone despite how easily she could. Really, technically, given that her parents were dead, she should by all intents and purposes be considered a Queen, not a princess. So, she was even higher in station than he’d initially thought, really.

Oh boy.

She was looking at him as if she’d said something.

He must have missed it while he was panicking. “Sorry?”

She laughed, the kind of laugh that feels like feathers in your stomach and she motioned for the cabinet. “I was looking for that machine you used the other day, the blender? I can’t seem to locate it.”

He blinked at her, considering for a moment, “... the blender? Do you even know how to use a blender?”

Just because Hunk was common folk who couldn’t exactly marry the princess in the fairytale did not mean he couldn’t question her at every turn. ‘Twas the right of the citizen to question their monarch!

She looked sheepish again, “Ah. Well. You see... I was hoping I’d figure it out.”

He rolled his eyes and shuffled his way into one of the lower cabinets, pulling out the machine he’d acquired from one of their trips to the space mall.

“You’re trying to make yourself a milkshake, aren’t you princess?”

She went pink.

“Even knowing where the milk comes from.”

She went pale.

It was pretty funny how fast and how clear her reactions were. He wondered if he was ever that see-through. Probably not. He was pretty good about remaining aloof about most things.

“W-well Pidge assured me it was a perfectly normal human practice to... milk a... cow. So. I figured... what’s the harm! Right?” She smiled again, making his chest feel a little lighter while he released a long puff of air as if he was reprimanding her when he really just couldn’t handle how adorable she could be. Finally, he turned around and walked over to the fridge to retrieve the ingredients, including the offensive milk itself.

“I’ll make it for you, I can’t sleep anyway.”

She beamed at him and clasped her hands together next to her cheek, “Thank you Hunk! I do appreciate it. If you need a hand with anything, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”

Hunk scoffed.

Help making a milkshake. Sure princess.

He waved her off and she took an extremely attentive seat at the table. Honestly, she might as well have been taking notes the way she watched him so closely. When he was done she’d probably be able to make it herself. She reminded him of himself, watching his moms dance around their kitchen.

“I used to do it too.” He mumbled idly.

She blinked and leaned across the table, “do what Hunk?”

“Watch, study, like you are now. My moms are excellent cooks. They taught me everything I know.” He nodded.

She opened her mouth to respond but he held up a hand to hold her back as he started the blender. It was quieter than the one back home but it was still loud enough it would have made hearing her respond a bit difficult. When it was done he got to work on setting them nicely while Allura spoke.

“Moms? Did you not have a father?”

Hunk shrugged, “nah, didn’t need one. Besides, Ma had a few uncles who would teach me how to play sports and junk. It’s really not a big deal.”

Allura raised a brow at this but simply leaned back on her stool, her legs tightening to keep her in place. He wondered how she could keep her balance so nicely. “I understand you humans have a sort of… small family organization. We Altean, we’re more like the saying... where multiple people from different places come together to raise the young.”

“It takes a village?” Hunk offered.

Allura nodded, “yes, that’s the phrase. I was seen to by my mother, family associates, Coran, and of course my father.”

Hunk blinked at her for a long moment, unsure if he wanted to ask if she was sure that was all Altean or just her, given the whole “princess” status. Instead he decided on a different question but she continued before he could ask. “I simply can’t imagine growing up without a father.”

At that, Hunk rolled his eyes, about to come back with “and I can’t imagine how anyone survives without a second mom” (because his parents were perfect and he never ever understood his classmates yelling about their psycho moms. Hell, Lance came in to class once bitching about how his mom had thrown some small island sized fit over Veronica’s being out late and it had utterly astounded Hunk that someone could even have the gall to be annoyed by a mom. Moms are just perfect okay?)

But once again, decided against it, knowing Allura meant no harm and she was just missing her father as she had a tendency of doing. So he steered the conversation away, “were you not that close to your mother?”

Allura blinked, almost as if she had no idea how to answer that question. He handed her the finished milkshake and she stared down at it with wide confused eyes. “I... well... honestly? If I didn’t look so much like her I might not even remember her face.”

That…was probably the saddest thing he’d ever heard. And he’d attended public school for most of his life.

“Allura…”

“But it’s alright, why don’t you tell me about your mother?”

----

annnnnnnnnnnnd that’s it. That’s what I’ve been sitting on FOREVER. Go ahead and bop me I deserve it.