#after the leave the math to pidge you can really see

[izlaria]

Someone you like (part 1)

This work is inspired by the animatic called Someone you like by honestlyprettychill. I don’t know if I’ll have the energy to do all of the povs showcased in the video, but I just really loved the idea that Lance would eventually come to like Pidge, a romance born from  years of friendship. Friends to lovers is my jam.

I’m posting this on tumblr in case I never finish it, because I just wanted to share what I’ve written so far. I might upload the whole thing to AO3 later.

I made some changes to the video’s initial idea, because I wanted to follow canon ages and I didn’t want a 14-year-old to fall for a 12-year-old. At that time, it’s a pretty big difference in development. So I wanted to establish the basis for Lance to eventually romanticize their first encounter, despite not having been attracted to young Katie.

Spanish to English translations at the end.

14 years old

The truth was that Lance went to Space Camp because Veronica could be a little pest. She knew their parents wouldn’t let her go alone and so had enticed her younger brother with the promise of travel and foreign girls and no parental supervision.

Veronica had obviously left out the fact that they were essentially going to school on steroids for a month, smack in the middle of their summer break. Cool as Miami might seem, Lance wasn’t exactly excited for all the extra work the camp would entail.

“No es un acampamiento,” his sister repeated for what felt like the thousandth time. He wasn’t listening anymore. “Tú sabes que el campo de explotación espacial no está muy desenvuelto en Cuba. Si realmente quieres trabajar con eso, entonces simplemente cállate y no insultes a nadie.”

“¿Cuando he insultado a alguien?” he shot back, defensive. Veronica didn’t dignify that with an answer.

As much as Lance might like to think himself very smooth, there were still times when he stumbled over his words, especially in English. More than once he’d meant to pay someone a compliment and had accidentally started an argument of some kind.

Veronica looked impatiently at her watch. “Mira, tengo una reunión con mi orientador. Y tú tienes por lo menos dos artículos para leer para las clases de mañana, ¿por qué no vas a la biblioteca para trabajar un poco? Prometo comprarte una hamburguesa después.”

Lance pouted at her, arms crossed over his chest. “Me debes más que una hamburguesa y lo sabes, Ronie.”

His sister snickered, but it was as much of an acknowledgement as he was going to get. Veronica pressed a quick kiss to his hair, already turning to go into the main building.

“¡Gracias, hermanito! ¡No te arrepentirás!”

In all honesty, Lance wasn’t as irritated as he made Veronica believe. He knew that a summer program in Miami was a really good opportunity, especially if he wanted to get into the Garrison in the following years. It was just difficult.

He was diligent and studious, but not as naturally gifted as some of the other kids. Besides, he hadn’t been to the US in a couple years, since his parents had mostly settled down in the family farm, which meant he still had to fall back into his English, a task made even more frustrating by the xenophobic comments from one of the boys in his AP geometry class.

The teacher had put an end to it right away, but the words stuck with Lance, for some reason.

With how much humanity had progressed in terms of technology, one would think they would be able to get past petty rivalry between nationalities and usually that was true, but the influx of foreigners following the establishment of the Galaxy Garrison in the US desert still annoyed some people, despite its existence as a multinational center for space exploration. It irritated Lance to no end, especially when so many of these scientific advances came from international collaboration.

If only he could shrug off the inadequacy that now grew in his chest.

Straight ahead, there was a path that led to a green area in the middle of the campus. The other students had taken to calling it the Woods, though it was more of a middle-sized park, with benches and picnic tables where anyone from the Institute could go to relax. That’s where Lance went, mind too full to really focus on homework.

He wondered if people would react that same way if he ever made it into the Garrison. He didn’t know how Veronica dealt with it all, especially when she was alone in Arizona most of the time. Barely a week had passed and Lance already missed his parents, the tenderness of home-cooked food and well-intended lectures.

No, he had to believe that Billy Underwood was an exception. The other kids hadn’t joined in on his taunts, even if no one had moved to defend Lance. It was still too early to make conclusions on his colleagues, especially when everyone had seemed so charmed by him before then.

Lance was so lost in thought that he didn’t realize he had been standing in front of one of the benches until a new voice broke through the peace of the park.

“Are you just gonna stand there?”

The words were somewhat harsh, but when Lance lowered his eyes to their source the girl winced, grimacing. She seemed to have spoken impulsively.

“Hmm, yeah.” Lance blinked at her for a moment, before finally sitting down on the bench. He made sure to leave space between him and the girl, not wanting to make the situation even more awkward.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you,” the girl said after a moment of silence. She looked at him sideways and her brown eyes seemed almost golden in the sunlight. There were freckles spread across the bridge of her nose and across her cheeks, and the green ribbon in her hair swayed in the wind. It was a soft sight, a contrast to the steeliness of her posture and gaze.

“It’s fine,” Lance hurried to assure her. She looked young, but so did he, and talking to complete strangers never failed to make him nervous. “Nothing like a little girl yelling at me to bring me back to earth.”

He gave her his best grin, the one reserved for first impressions and fancy parties. It was supposed to project confidence and kindness, even though Luis said he ended up looking a bit smug.

“I didn’t yell,” the girl pointed out with a light frown. Then her eyes shifted into a more calculating look. “You’re a bit of a goofball, aren’t you?”

“I prefer the term good-humored,” he replied jokingly.

She continued to stare. Lance got the feeling that the girl did this a lot. She had an untamed intelligence to her that Lance couldn’t completely understand. It was the sort of air that teachers sometimes carried, as if they could see something deeper in you if they looked long enough.

“It didn’t seem like you were feeling all that good-humored just now.” She tilted her head to the side, letting the words hang between them.

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true,” Lance found himself saying.

“Do you… want to talk about it?” She looked so doubtful that it almost made Lance laugh. The feeling, however, was overcome by the relief of finally having someone who would listen.

He had spent the week trying and failing to explain to Veronica what was truly making him feel down. She was too busy or too happy for Lance to tell her the truth, especially when it left him so vulnerable. After all, Veronica had taken to her work on the Institute like a fish to water. Lance was supposed to be more adaptable than this.

With the rest of his family away in Cuba, he felt unbearably lonely.

“Yes! Thank you!” Lance shifted in the bench to face the girl. She was taken aback by his enthusiasm, but didn’t move away. “There’s this cabrón in my class, who thought it was a good idea to mess with me, just ‘cause I said fábrica instead of factory in our first day here. He hasn’t really left me alone since…” he whined. “I speak two languages but somehow I’m the uneducated ass here!”

The girl nodded, eyes downcast. “I know what you mean.”

“You do?” He eyed the fairness of her skin and the almost ginger of her hair. “Sorry, but you look white.”

Lance’s comment must have taken her by surprise, because she actually laughed.

“I am white. I’m also Italian.” She rolled her eyes, but there was amusement in the tug of her lips. “I can be both.”

“That’s true.” Lance grinned sheepishly. It was good that she wasn’t offended by his lack of filter. “You don’t have much of an accent, though.”

“Neither do you,” the girl bit back, no real animosity in her tone.

He shrugged. “My family spent a lot of time in the US when I was younger. It used to be second nature to me. Now, I keep feeling like I have to hold back the instinct to roll my R’s.”

“I get that. My parents moved here right after I was born, but we used to speak Italian in the house.” There was a pause here, something that she couldn’t bring herself to say. “I think it’s cool that you can speak Spanish. It’s useful.”

“Yeah?” Lance sat up straight, feeling suddenly boastful.

“Sure!” she continued, encouraged by his interest. “The Bouman Aeronautics Research Institute really values multiculturalism! It is a hob of different nationalities and perspectives, created to foster new minds from around the world! Or that’s what my brother says, at least, and he is rarely wrong.” She gave him a smirk that quickly shifted into a grimace. “Don’t tell him I said that or he will never let me forget it.”

“Older brother?” At her nod, Lance smiled. “I got older siblings too. Sort of the reason I’m here in the first place, actually. One of them was accepted as a researcher and she tricked me into applying too.”

“Same, actually.” She seemed startled for a moment, pulling out her cellphone. “Freak, I have to go! I completely lost track of time while reading.” She got up to go, collecting the book she’d apparently put down to talk to him. It was a thick volume with numbers on the cover, but it didn’t look like math.

Another green ribbon fluttered to the ground, having escaped the pages of the book. Lance bent down to pick it up.

“Here.” He stretched it out to the girl. “Wouldn’t want to lose its pair,” he said with a wink.

“Thanks for reminding me!” She grabbed the ribbon hurriedly, then paused, turning back to Lance. “And for the conversation, I guess.”

Lance grinned at her. She was a little awkward but in an endearing way, like she wasn’t used to having the attention of others on her. Given she empathized with his circumstances in the Institute, it wasn’t that big of a leap to assume that she had trouble making friends.

“Bye bye, Italian girl.” He waved, glad that he could spend these few minutes with her.

“Farewell, Spanish boy.”

Lance meant to correct her about his nationality, but she took out running, clearly late for something. He laughed at the way she stumbled across the uneven ground, careless like a little kid. It was a strange juxtaposition: the thoughtfulness of her earlier words and the childishness of her smile now.

He settled back into the bench, feeling much more content than he’d been earlier. It was nice to talk to people outside of class, for a change.

And, well, Italian girl was pretty. A bit young-looking for him, but he thought guys her age should be tripping over their feet for a chance to talk to her.

“Hey, you’re Lance, right?” A boy had approached while Lance observed the girl disappear from sight. He was tall and robust, with shortly cropped hair, but his expression was friendly. “You’re in my Analytics class.”

It took Lance a second to place him. Analytics was one of the classes Lance struggled with the most, so he hadn’t had as much opportunity to joke around there.

“And you’re Hunk!” Lance snapped his fingers, smiling. “Sit down, man! What can I do for ya?”

Translations:

“No es un acampamiento.Tú sabes que el campo de explotación espacial no está muy desenvuelto en Cuba. Si realmente quieres trabajar con eso, entonces simplemente cállate y no insultes a nadie.” - “It’s not a camp. You know that the field of space exploration is not very well developped in Cuba. If you really do want to work in this area, then simply shut up and don’t insult anyone.”

“¿Cuando he insultado a alguien?” - “When have I insulted anyone?”

“Mira, tengo una reunión con mi orientador. Y tú tienes por lo menos dos artículos para leer para las clases de mañana, ¿por qué no vas a la biblioteca para trabajar un poco? Prometo comprarte una hamburguesa después.” - “Look, I have a meeting with my coordinator. And you have at least two articles to read for tomorrow’s classes. Why don’t you go work for a bit in the library? I promise to buy you a burger later.”

“Me debes más que una hamburguesa y lo sabes, Ronie.” - “You owe me more than a burger and you know it, Ronie.”

“¡Gracias, hermanito! ¡No te arrepentirás!” - “Thank you, little brother! You won’t regret it!”

Cabrón - Bastard

[fangirlauthor]

A Rip in Time Chapter 2

Hello again! Like I said, there’s a link to this work on ao3 if you’d like to read it on there. Check the masterpost to find it. 

Assuming, that is, that future Matt Holt ever stopped eating. It didn’t seem like he would - he was currently shovelling an insane number of donuts into his mouth at high speeds; he was clearly one of two things: extremely hungry, or excited about donuts. The reality was both. Not only was (future) Matt Holt hungry, it had also been a long time since he’d seen a donut, much less had one. 

“Are ye done yet, kid? We’ve got questions.” Commander Iverson glared at the kid - well, at Matt; kid didn’t really fit anymore. 

“Almost,” said future Matt Holt through a mouthful of donuts. “And I’m sure I’ve got answers, Commander.” Swallowing, Matt added, “There’s a lot to go through, so I’m going to need the devices I brought with me.”

“You aren’t getting those until we figure out what they are.”

“They’re databases that I’ve stored visual aids on, Commander. Nothing dangerous, basically the alien equivalent of a stored powerpoint.” 

Iverson shook his head. “Still need to get them cleared first.”

“Then I guess I’ll be eating donuts until you do.”

Iverson practically growled at that. Other Matt, Sam, and Shiro - watching from behind a two-way mirror - glanced at each other and did their best to hold in their laughter. It wasn’t a joke, and if it had been it wouldn’t’ve been a funny one, but confusion has an interesting effect on one’s sense of humor. 

Two hours later, someone managed to stop by with the devices future Matt Holt had brought with him. At that point, Iverson escorted future Matt to the debriefing room where several people - including the members of the Kerberos mission (and Adam, Katie, and Colleen Holt) were already waiting. 

“Alright, kid. What’s this all about?” asked Iverson. “We’d like the short version, please.”

“Of course, Commander. That’s why I needed my trusty visual aids to keep me on track.”

Taking a deep breath, Matt tapped the Altean device, triggering a holographic image of Kerberos to appear. “Everything you think you know is about to change. There’s an entire universe out there - and there’s more to it than we could ever have imagined. Years ago - for me, anyway - Kerberos was the farthest a human had ever traveled. The mission was supposed to be an embodiment of everything we had achieved, of how far humanity had advanced. Instead, it turned into a showing of how little we really knew.” A breath as everyone in the room waited for him to continue. “The Kerberos mission was successful up until a single point - and it was a big one.” 

Matt tapped the device projecting an image of Kerberos, and a video feed began to play. It was the video recorded during the Kerberos mission, the one that had proved to Katie Holt that the Galaxy Garrison was lying to everyone about what had really happened on Kerberos. After it played, Matt had the transmission the Galaxy Garrison had picked up play as well. 

The room was full of shocked faces, Sam, Matt and Shiro most of all - Adam, standing slightly behind and away from Shiro, reached out as if to touch Shiro on the shoulder, stopping at the last moment. 

“What-” Iverson began, but (future) Matt cut him off with a wave of his hand. 

“I’m not quite finished yet, Commander.” He smiled, but it was thin and very clearly fake. Old memories are painful to remember at the best of times, and this most certainly could not be considered the best of times. 

“Once the Galaxy Garrison caught that video and transmission, they told the public a lie - they claimed the Kerberos mission had crashed due to pilot error, and left it at that. A military funeral - closed casket because there weren’t any bodies - was held, during which the,” - here his voice broke slightly - “family members and loved ones were allowed to say goodbye. For the next few years, the world believed that Takashi Shirogane, Matt Holt, and Sam Holt were dead. Some people had suspicions that the Galaxy Garrison wasn’t telling the truth, but most of them kept quiet. My sister was not one of them - in a sense, anyway. She illegally hacked into the Galaxy Garrison’s computers and managed to see that footage before she was caught and banned from the premises. An amount of time later, she ran away and - also illegally - enrolled in the Galaxy Garrison as Pidge Gunderson, and cut her hair to add to the illusion. 

“Another amount of time later - sorry for not knowing the specifics, I was busy trying not to die on an alien ship - Shiro escaped from the aliens that had captured us, the ones known as the Galra. He crashed on Earth, near the Galaxy Garrison. The Garrison wanted him sedated and quarantined, but he had an urgent message and begged them to listen to him. They didn’t but before they could completely sedate him, former Garrison cadet Keith Kogane broke into the Galaxy Garrison and, with help from a few other cadets - including my sister - got him out and safely away from pursuing Garrison forces. 

“There they discovered a secret cavern and an alien ship - the Blue Lion. Shiro, Pidge, Lance, Hunk, and Keith ended up leaving the planet on the ship once it activated for Lance. At that point, they accidentally traveled through a wormhole and discovered what Voltron was. I’m not going to go into specifics of how, exactly, they managed to get there, but know that they did. And the universe is in a much better place because of it. 

“Voltron is a superweapon, and the universe’s only hope. It is made of five mechanical lions, piloted by the five paladins. Because of some strange - we’ll call it magic - known as Altean Alchemy, the lions are practically sentient beings; they choose their paladins, and they activate only for those they choose to. Working as a team, the five paladins - and the lions they are in - can fight separately or form Voltron. The current paladins are as follows: in the black lion, Keith, in the red lion, Lance, in the green lion, Pidge, in the yellow lion, Hunk, and in the blue lion, Allura, who is an alien and not someone you’d know.” Here (future) Matt paused for another breath, ignoring the stunned faces around him. “Don’t worry, Commander, I’ll make this last part quick. 

“Together, the paladins have worked together to save the universe an impressive number of times. They’ve faced robeasts, fleets of starships, and have adapted at an incredible speed for people who were thrown into this world without warning. I’m not going to go into detail about each battle they’ve fought because there’s not enough time, but know this; each of the paladins has proven time and time again that they are willing to do whatever it takes - and I mean whatever it takes - to save the universe. They are heroes, and they are a symbol of hope to the entire universe. 

“Right now, a time slip is occurring - people from my time are going to start appearing here, where you are. This includes some less-than-friendly aliens, but also allies as well. Some chaotically accurate math informed us that I’d be the first here - so, as I have done, I was to inform you generally of what has occurred in the future. I’m also supposed to - and plan on - helping bolster the defenses on this planet so we’ll be a little more prepared when the bad guys start arriving. I’m going to need your full cooperation for this, though - can I expect that, or am I going to have to go rogue again?”

Everyone stared at him, shock coating their features. “I’ll, uh, give you a moment,” (future) Matt said awkwardly, deactivating the device still projecting photos of the five paladins (and Shiro). 

Several moments later, Sam said, “So the first time we encountered alien lifeforms, they were hostile?”

(Future) Matt nodded. “The Galra Empire goes through the universe and colonizes - or destroys - plants and their inhabitants are usually forced to work for the empire. There is a small group of galra known as the Blade of Marmora that the Voltron Coalition works closely with. They’re on our side. Heck, one of their members is a paladin.”

Iverson asked a more pragmatic question. “And there are hostile aliens coming here? Because of this time slip?”

(Future) Matt nodded. “They’re coming, but so are the paladins and the Atlas. There’s not a lot we’ll be able to do to prepare before they get here - assuming Slav’s math is correct - but we’ll do what we can. I’ll do what we can.”

“Alright,” said Iverson. “What do we need to do?”

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt.15

“Lance, it’s Keith. Are you in there?”

Hours. Lance had spent hours staring at his ceiling. He’d climbed into his wardrobe, grabbed his box of death soil, and cried himself to sleep. When he’d woken, he’d crawled over to his bed, his box of death soil sitting on his chest with his left hand resting on it as he stared upwards, simply laying there pretending the world outside didn’t exist

“Pidge called the home phone, she saw you’d left your car in town... I don’t know if you want to arrange a pick up, but it’s there”.

Keith being nice didn’t feel right. He didn’t like it all. He appreciated honesty and and Keith honestly hated him. Him being nice meant he was lying through his teeth

“Lance?”

Answering Keith felt like too much effort. So his car was in town, then that meant all he had to do was go pick it up. He could do that. That would mean he wouldn’t have to be home with “Keith the Liar”... That wasn’t being fair. Keith hadn’t... he was making an effort. He was doing the best he could under the circumstances. Keith had human emotions, so trying to get on fell within that range, but if you care for someone that makes killing them all that harder to do. Lance didn’t want to burden Keith with his death, nor did he want to burden Shiro the same way... This was why mixing with humans just wasn’t a done thing.

Climbing to his feet, Lance walked over to window, undoing the latch, a strong breeze filtered over his face as he looked downwards. Fuck it. Going out the front door wasn’t an option, so jumping out the window it was. It’d hurt, but he’d heal. The walk into town would give him space to breathe

“Lance?”

Yep. Fuck it.

Rolling his right ankle, Lance had barely limped around the side of his house and onto his drive before his escape was interrupted. Night was starting to fall, the air growing moister as the cicadas chirped away. Walking at night had never lost its charms when it came to thinking. He didn’t believe that vampires some how gained mystical powers from the moon like werewolves did, but it definitely gave him a pleasant buzz enough kind of buzz

“What the hell?!”

Jogging up along side him, Keith sounded annoyed

“Go back to the house, Keith”

“Did you jump out your window to avoid me?”

Talk about being sprung, Lance pushed down the discomfort of his ankle, speeding up his step, which Keith annoyingly kept up with

“Why would you jump out the window?”

“Why does anyone go around jumping out windows?”

“You could have come down the stairs”

Lance huffed, wondering if Keith intended to walk the 10 kilometres to town with him

“Then jumping out the window to avoid you would have been ruined... a bit like this”

Picking his pace up again, Keith jogged forward, standing in front of Lance

“Why are you being like this?”

“Like what?”

“This! What did I do now?”

Lance rolled his eyes

“Why do you think this has to do with you?”

“Because we’re the only two people in the house. If you’re upset, it has to be because of me”

Fuck. What was he supposed to do with that?

“And if I say it’s not you, it’s me, will you listen?”

“You’re acting weird and I don’t understand”

“You haven’t known me long enough to know when I’m acting weird”

“I heard you on the phone this morning, then you were crying, and now you’re jumping out of windows. I don’t understand it”

“Even vampires have shit days. You humans don’t have the monotony on that”

“That was more than a bad day...”

“You’re not being... you’re not acting right”

“Oh, please tell me how I act? Could it be that you have no fucking idea what’s going on in my life and insist that you’re some goddamn vampire that I apparently sired? No eres un vampiro! Non sei un vampiro! I don’t know how many other ways I can fucking say it, but you’re a human. You’re a human I’m sending back to stay in town!”

Keith clenched his fists, Lance not sure if he was going to cry, or if the hunter was going to punch him in the face

“That’s not what you said last night”

Lance waved his hand dismissively

“Blame it on fatigue or whatever excuse you need. You’re here to kill me. Don’t go blurring that line any more than you already have”

“You’re the one blurring lines! I don’t understand any of this!”

“Welcome to the club, sorry, we’re fresh out of jackets and medals, but I might be able to swing a free set of steak knives in used condition”

“Fuck you! You don’t know me, you don’t know the shit I’ve been through! You weren’t there when Adam...”

Keith shook his head

“I don’t owe you anything. I can’t believe I was thinking there was more to vampires than what I’d see, but you’re all a bunch of dicks. Go die in a ditch for all I care”

Shit.

“Keith...”

“Save it Lance. You don’t want to help me. You don’t want to explain anything you don’t want to talk about. You’re not the one going through changes. You’re not the one having nightmares and waking up in a cold sweat with your body aching. You’re not the one getting headaches and you’re not the one stuck feeling the changes I’m going through. No. You’re the one who lies to my face. Your just like every other selfish undead fucker who can’t keep their promises”

“You’ve been sick because you poisoned yourself. You clearly have some kind of trauma thanks to Shiro’s partner Adam”

Keith couldn’t hide the surprise on his face

“What the fuck do you know about Adam?”

“What Shiro told me”

Not much at all. He’d done the math and now he was getting to the answer. Adam was Shiro’s partner that’d been killed, and for reason Keith felt guilty for whatever happened... maybe not guilt... maybe anger with anything less than human that’d do whatever had been done to Adam

“If you know about Adam, you should understand”

Lance had the feeling if he said he didn’t know anything, Keith would clam up and leave him in peace. But being a grade A arsehole to Keith took up too much energy. He didn’t want to know Shiro’s secrets, but he did. He didn’t want to know Shiro’s secrets because Shiro had dropped the “Matt bombshell” on him, but he did

“I’ve heard it from Shiro’s perspective, not yours”

“It’s the same thing”

It definitely wasn’t the same thing unless they were into that kind of a relationship

“Shiro was in love. You weren’t”

“What does that matter?! They fucking turned him! Shiro nearly lost his goddamn arm because Adam didn’t show his true colours! Shiro said he was... he was dead before he even got back... he dealt with it”

Keith’s repeated paranoia made sense now. Adam hadn’t been “noticeably” turned. Shiro had thought he was human, not knowing that Adam was no longer than man he’d once been. Keith was scared that he’d been turned and that he was headed down the same path as Adam. He was scared that he was going to lose his brother, and what would happen if his brother lost him

“You’re not to blame for what they did”

“I didn’t...”

“You can’t be superman, Keith. You can’t be in a million places at once. You didn’t know. You couldn’t have known. If Adam was already turned by the time Shiro returned, death would have been a release. We vampires have egos. That’s why we don’t last. That’s why our kind goes insane. You live to watch everyone you love die. You form bonds, only to have to break them because you don’t want the people around you to think you’ve lied to them the whole time, to think none of it was real. It’s not fun and games being like this. We never forget. We remember turning. We remember every single second of it. Your brother lost his lover and you want someone to pay. You want to kill everything you can, because you want to spare others that pain. Well guess what, you’re in pain too. You carry those deaths. You’ve seen shit you never thought possible and you’ve seen the fucking worst of it. That’s why you’ve got a chip on your shoulder, because they hurt your family. I don’t know if Shiro lied to you. I don’t know if Adam really was alive, but if they starved him after the turn, the fact your brother is still alive is something amazing. This life fucking sucks, and for your sake, I hope you find your way out of it. I live in penance for my sins, the sin of being this thing. I try to help as many kids as possible not feel even one scrap of what I did when I was a kid. Ever since you crashed into my life I’ve been going crazy. I feel like I’ve been turned over again, because you’re the first person I’ve ever drank from, and if you weren’t dying, I wouldn’t have done that. I can see right now you want to deck me, so if it makes you feel better, throw that punch”

“Don’t talk at me like you know my life!”

“I don’t and I don’t want to! When you move on, I’m the one who’s going to be stuck here wondering you’re still alive! In 50 years I’m still going to be wondering because I can’t get you out of my head! You’re going to end up dead, Keith. Long before your time of you keep throwing yourself into things head first!”

Keith took half a step back, looking down to the gravel beneath their feet. Adam was a sore topic for the man, and he didn’t know what kind of parents just let their kid run off and do dumb shit like becoming a hunter, but Keith seemed the kind whose home life seemed rocky at best. Raising his head, the hunter locked his eyes on his

“Then teach me”

What the what now?

“Huh?”

“Teach me! You’re a vampire! Teach me!”

Lance was the most unvampire vampire he knew

“Teach you what?”

“How to be stronger”

The what now? Keith was already physically strong, it was the mental side of things he needed to work out. He needed to clear the fog of anger when he fought and to think about the bigger picture

“I can’t teach you”

“Bullshit!”

“I can’t teach you”

“I have to be stronger. I have to get stronger! I’m all Shiro has and you have to help me”

“Then for Shiro’s sake, I’m going to recommend therapy. Your body isn’t the weak, it’s your mind”

“Then fucking teach me!”

“I can’t teach you!”

Lance didn’t get his rocks off working out. Training and teaching seemed like so much damn effort. He was old. He wanted to potter around in his garden and enjoy naps in the sun with his cat. He was starting to get another headache all over again, and for some unknown reason his heart felt like it was racing with the desire to do something

“Then fight me! Right here!”

“I don’t want to”

“Why?! Why are you being like this?!”

“Because I’m not to blame for your trauma. You have shit to work out in that thick head of yours. You’re so filled with anger that you’re going to get yourself dead. I doubt that’s the kind of life Adam would have wanted for you. I doubt Shiro wants to bury his brother because you let your anger get you killed”

“I have to become better! I have to protect him!”

“You can’t protect anyone if you can’t protect yourself first”

“That’s why you have to teach me!”

Lance shook his head

“I don’t have to do anything, other than to get my car that your brother decided he couldn’t be bothered returning”

“Shiro would have left it there so he wouldn’t be followed back to you!”

“Then maybe you both should have left when I told you to. Now get out of my way”

“No”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Either you fight me now, or you agree to train me”

“I’m not doing either. I’m going to get my car, then I’m going to drop your idiot arse off back in town”

“Fine! I don’t need you, I don’t need anyone!”

Lance sighed at Keith. What he needed was for someone to reach out and take his hand... but that someone couldn’t be him

“Keith, everybody needs somebody. That’s how life works. You need someone who will lift you up and support you, like Shiro. You need someone who isn’t me. I’m nothing more than a vampire”

“That’s why... that’s why I need you to help me. I need to be better”

“Idiot. You’re already good enough. Try making some friends and you’ll see. Bonds and attachments hurt, but good things come too. Having friends is fun. It’s okay to rely on other people”

“Like you rely on Hunk and Pidge. You haven’t even told them the truth”

“Because the truth would put them in danger. My time with them isn’t a lie. I never thought I’d find two friends like them, no matter how long I lived. But our time as friends has a limit and until then I want to enjoy myself with them as long as possible. Go back to the house and cool your head”

“But... I...”

Lance wanted to reach out and ruffle Keith’s silky black hair. He wanted to do something to take away the heaviness of his words. But Keith forming some kind of attachment would only hurt both of them. It was better to sever the tie before it even began

“I’ll see you later”

*

Pidge and Hunk were waiting in his car for him. They’d set themselves up in the back, playing uno and getting crumbs from their snacks everywhere. Noticing him first, Pidge threw her hand down, clambering out the back to throw her arms around him

“You fucking afk jerk! Where were you?!”

“Busy. You know it is, just another fun filled day being a lawyer”

“I tried calling you!”

“I broke my phone. I’m okay now”

“Good! You scared me. You didn’t even like call me back”

Lance wrapped his arms around Pidge, resting his chin on the top of her head. He wasn’t sure how much trouble he could have gotten himself in the last 20 hours, but he’d obviously scared her

“I’m sorry Pidgeon. I see you and Hunk let yourselves into my car”

“What kind of idiot leaves his keys on the front tyre? That’s like asking for it be stolen”

“I know. I’m the biggest idiot around”

“You are. Now, where’s Keith?”

Pidge stepped out of Lance’s hold to peer around him

“Keith’s back at the house”

“Why?”

“Because I had a few things to do in town? He’s stuck waiting until his brother can come pick him up”

“Soooo, he’s like free tonight?”

Lance groaned

“Pidge, noooo”

She was definitely scheming something he wasn’t up for

“I think you mean, “Pidge, yes!””

“Nope. I definitely said no. Whatever it is, no”

Pidge crossed her arms with a huff

“You haven’t even heard what I’m about to say”

“That’s because I know you’re always scheming in that evil genius brain of yours”

“I am not! But anyway, you know how they let us use the visitors centre... well, apparently someone saw an actual ghost there today! They called me and asked if we can come back”

Lance looked past Pidge to where Hunk was now shuffling the uno cards

“Did she tell you?”

“Yep”

“And did you say no?”

“Yep”

“And she didn’t take no for an answer, did she?”

“Nope”

“Piiiiiidge. You’re going to give him nightmares again”

“It’ll be worth if it we can capture it on film! Anyway, so, like, we’ll go back to your house, pick Keith up, then come back and get my stuff, then we’re all going to go film a ghost!”

Because seeing Keith so soon wasn’t going to be awkward as fuck...

“I don’t think Keith will be interested”

“Of course he will be! He might as well have “I want to believe” tattooed across his forehead”

Keith did believe... it kind of went with the territory

“Pidge...”

“Ah, ah, ah, nope. This is your punishment for making Hunk and I worry about you. And I’m totally driving”

“Not in this life time. God... you really want to do this, don’t you?”

“Yep”

“And Keith has to come?”

“Yep”

“And you’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

Pidge beamed, knowing Lance was such a pushover that she could basically ask him for anything her mischievous little brain thought of

“Nope”

“Fine. Fine. Tonight, only. If we don’t catch a ghost, you’re in trouble, missy”

Pidge threw her arms around Lance again

“You’re the best! Let’s go get Keith!”

Ugh... Nope... Lance hoped that whoever was keeping track of his cosmic record was noting down that this was under pressure and he thought it’d be best to leave Keith alone. He’d told Keith to go find some friends, but now it seemed his friends we’re pretty set on making friends with Keith, taking away the whole “finding” part. Personally Lance couldn’t provide Hunk and Pidge with any higher recommendations that didn’t sound really fucking creepy, bordering on obsessive, and stalkery, he knew the best points of both of them, and their not so best ones, but he didn’t want to go recommending them to Keith because they were supposed to be his friends, and he was supposed to be getting rid of Keith... Fucking humans made things so damn complicated.

[voltrontranscript]

VLD S3E6: Tailing a Comet

Season 3 Episode 6: Tailing a Comet

Transcript by @dragonofyang

Episode summary: Now that Shiro has returned, tension rises between Shiro and Keith’s methods of leadership as the team tracks Lotor to the Ulippa System, where his generals are found trying to steal a piece of the massive teludav.

[Google Doc]

Lance: Alright, team, I’ve got my eye on the targets. I’ll cover you from up he--Hey, Keith! I had that guy!

Hunk: They’re still coming!

Lance: Well, that was awesome!

Hunk: Pidge, could you maybe hurry it up a little?

Pidge: Almost… There!

Keith: Great job, Pidge.

Pidge: That’s the last outpost in this quadrant.

Keith: Call the Blade of Marmora. Let them know this base is cleared.

[Scene change to a hallway in the Castle of Lions.]

Shiro: I don’t know. The last thing I remember was Zarkon trying to overtake the Black Lion. It told me to use my bayard. Then, just nothing. I woke up, and I was back on a Galra ship.

Keith: Well, you’d just unlocked the Black Lion’s ability to teleport. Could it have teleported you? Maybe it was trying to save you.

Shiro: By teleporting me into the hands of the Galra?

Keith: Maybe Zarkon forced it to. I mean, he was trying to control the Black Lion up until the very last moment, right?

Shiro: Yeah, maybe.

Keith: Well, if you’re feeling up to it, the rest of the team would be thrilled to see you up and around again. They need you, you know.

Shiro: Yeah, I’ll try.

Keith: Okay, we’ll be on the bridge.

Shiro: Hey, Keith?

Keith: Yeah.

Shiro: How many times are you gonna have to save me before this is over?

Keith: As many times as it takes.

Shiro: Great job out there, everyone. You’ve really turned the tide in this war. I’m glad you never lost sight of the mission while I was gone.

Lance: You’re looking better. How are you feeling?

Shiro: Good. Just trying to get rid of this weird headache.

Pidge: Guys, I think I have something here! So I downloaded intel from the Galra base we just defeated. I untied the quantum-folded encryption, and I found something on Lotor.

Lance: Do you know where he is?

Pidge: Well, not exactly, no, but the last three sightings of his command ship have been in the Va’Kar quadrant.

Shiro: Nice work, Pidge. Although, those quadrants are massive. How will we pinpoint his location?

Hunk: Hey, that comet is made from the same material as Voltron. Maybe I can scan the emission spectrum for Fraunhofer lines, like when I found the Blue Lion!

Pidge: But you know those emissions are subject to free induction decay. Those are exponential drop-offs.

Hunk: Yeah, but if you could find a way to amplify the sensors--No, there’d be way too much interference. What if, instead, we increase the SA magnitude?

Pidge: The spires of the Castle!

Hunk: Genius!

Lance: I have no idea what either of them just said.

Shiro: Let’s set a course for the Va’Kar quadrant while they get started on that detector. We need to work fast. Who knows what Lotor has planned for that comet?

[Scene change to Keith’s quarters.]

Keith: Yeah?

Lance: Hey, man. I just wanted to talk with you because… Well, because I’ve been worrying about something.

Keith: Must really be bothering you if you’re coming to talk to me.

Lance: Well, I mean, you’re the leader now, right?

Keith: I guess.

Lance: I’ve been doing some math. With Shiro back, that makes six paladins, but there are only five lions, and if I’m right, that’s one paladin too many.

Keith: Solid math.

Lance: Look, when Shiro takes over the Black Lion, you’re going to want your Red Lion back. If I get a lion, that means I’d have to take Blue from Allura, but she’s progressed a lot faster than any of us did. She might even be able to unlock powers we don’t know of.

Keith: That’s true.

Lance: So, maybe the best thing I can do for the team is step aside.

Keith: What are you talking about?

Lance: This isn’t a participation game. This is war. And you want your best soldiers on the front lines.

Keith: Stop worrying about who flies what and just focus on your missions. Things will work themselves out.

Lance: Okay. Thanks.

Keith: And Lance… Leave the math to Pidge.

[Scene change to the Castle’s bridge.]

Hunk: Thanks for hooking me into the system. I would’ve never been able to reach back there.

[Mouse squeaking]

Hunk: Sorry, I know you got all dirty. I owe you guys a little mouse shower now, okay? I’m gonna get to work on that right after we find Lotor.

Pidge: Hey, can we fire this up and see if it works?

Hunk: Uh… Maybe we didn’t adjust the polarity correctly.

Hunk: Uh, guys! I found the comet, but it’s booking it away from us! Coran? Allura? Can someone Altean come move this castle?

Allura: Well done. We’re on our way.

Hunk: Okay, we’re gaining on it.

Shiro: Make sure we stay far back enough to be undetected.

Pidge: Looks like the signal stopped in the Ulippa System. Activating long-range scanners.

Keith: That’s not Lotor’s ship.

Hunk: But the comet is in there.

Shiro: Okay, team, we need to get that--

Keith: Here’s the plan, everyone. Oh, I’m sorry. Go ahead, Shiro.

Shiro: We need to get that comet. They must be transporting it to that base. It’ll be vulnerable during the transfer. That’s the best time to strike.

Lance: Who the heck are these guys?

Shiro: I don’t think they’re moving the comet to that base. We need more information.

Keith: You’re right. You take the Black Lion. I’ll stay with Coran in the Castle and provide support.

Shiro: Keith, are you sure?

Keith: I’m sure.

Lance: Shiro, where are you? We need you right now!

Shiro: Keith, I’m gonna need you to lead this mission.

Keith: What? What is it? What’s wrong?

Shiro: The Black Lion isn’t responding to me. It looks like you’re its true paladin now.

Keith: I’m coming down.

[Scene change to security feed of the Galra base.]

Throk: This may be the worst post in the Galra Empire, but it’s my post! Victory or death!

[Scene change to outside the Galra base.]

Shiro: The most important thing is for you to get eyes on that comet. Second is figuring out who we’re dealing with.

[Scene change to inside the Galra base.]

Throk: You! Lotor sent you to finish off what he started?

[Scene change to outside the Galra base.]

Keith: Shiro, we’ve just boarded the ship. There’s no crew in sight. Moving forward with the search.

[Scene change to inside the Galra base.]

Zethrid: Let me finish him off!

Acxa: No, you know the plan!

Throk: My life doesn’t matter. All that matters is the empire!

Narti: [indistinct whispering]

Throk: Shutting down security.

[Transition to the Galra ship.]

Keith: Sounds like the fight next door is over. Let’s hurry.

[Transition to Galra base.]

Throk: Retracting roof.

[Transition to the Castle bridge.]

Shiro: Coran, give me a closer look at that. Is that...

Coran: The teludav! What, in the name of King Groggery the Infirm, is going on?

[Scene change to inside the Galra ship.]

Hunk: The comet should be in here. Like, right here.

Lance: Where’s the comet? Is it in that ship?

Hunk: I think the ship is the comet.

Allura: No, it can’t be! He’s already made a ship from the comet’s core?

Lance: Oh, this is bad.

Pidge: More like horrible.

Shiro: Guys… There’s a piece of the teludav inside the Galra base.

Lance: The one we used to wormhole Zarkon’s ship?

Allura: But they would never be able to operate it without an Altean--[gasps] Zarkon’s witch! She had Altean markings.

Hunk: Is anyone else kind of freaking out?

Lance: Yep, mark me down for one freak-out.

Keith: Lotor must be nearby. We need to find him and take him out for good.

Shiro: Team, you cannot let Lotor get that ship. You need to get back to your lions. You need Voltron!

Keith: Why take out one ship when we can stop all of this by taking out Lotor himself? We can’t let him keep outsmarting us.

Shiro: That’s exactly why we can’t risk letting Lotor have that ship. This is too important.

Allura: Keith, I want to stop Lotor just as badly as you, but Shiro has a point.

Keith: Okay, you guys go back to the lions. I’m gonna search the ship for Lotor.

Shiro: Keith, you need to stick together.

Lance: Yeah, I’m with Shiro on this one.

Allura: As am I.

Pidge: Me, too.

Hunk: Yeah, man.

Keith: Fine. Let’s move.

Allura: Huh?

Zethrid: Yah!

Lance: I gotcha, buddy!

Ezor: Huh?

Hunk: Pidge! A little help?

Zethrid: [sighs] It’s been a long time since I’ve faced a worthy opponent. I’m going to enjoy crushing you.

Keith: We don’t have time for this. We need to get to the lions.

Lance: Good idea.

Acxa: Zethrid, stop!

Zethrid: Come on! This is our chance to destroy them!

Acxa: We have what we came for. Stick to the plan.

[Scene change to outside the Galra base.]

Lance: Okay, seriously, what is going on? I mean, who were they?

Keith: I’ve met one of them before, in the weblum. She stole some of the scaultrite.

Hunk: Allura, you said they had an Altean? They must be trying to build a teludav so they can make wormholes.

Allura: If Lotor has turned the comet into a ship, we have much bigger concerns.

Pidge: I thought Lotor took over for Zarkon. Why is he attacking a Galra base?

Keith: I don’t know. That’s why we have to stop him here and now.

Shiro: We have to stop that cargo ship.

Coran: On it.

Coran: That must be the ship made from the comet.

Shiro: Then let’s be careful. Raise particle barrier. Fire Castle defenses.

Coran: A quick little bugger, isn’t it?

Shiro: I’ve never seen something that size move that fast.

Coran: That blast cut right through the particle barrier!

Shiro: Team, where are you?

Coran: We can’t take another hit like that!

[Transition to Voltron.]

Keith: Form sword!

[Transition to Sincline ship.]

Lotor: Keep Voltron engaged until the cargo ship is out of range.

Lotor: Do not be drawn in. The sword strike is his most deadly blow.

[Transition to Voltron.]

Keith: It’s too quick!

Shiro: Guys, the cargo ship is escaping with the teludav inside of it.

Keith: I thought taking down the ship made from the comet was the most important thing.

Shiro: We still can’t let Lotor get away with the teludav.

Allura: Shiro’s right. We need to destroy it.

Keith: But the comet is right here! We need to take it down!

Shiro: Keith, the cargo ship is getting away!

[Transition to Sincline.]

Lotor: We have them right where we want them. They can either defend, or go after the teludav and leave themselves vulnerable.

Hunk: Guys, the teludav’s getting away.

Lance: Keith, what should we do?

Shiro: You’re going to have to lower your shield, shoot the cargo ship, and deal with the consequences.

Keith: We can beat this ship first, and then get the cargo ship.

Shiro: There’s not enough time. You need to make a decision!

Keith: Hunk, get your bayard ready. On my cue, we’re gonna lower the shield and shoot the cargo ship. Ready?

Paladins: Ready!

Lotor: They’re going to attack the cargo ship. Prepare to fire as soon as the shield goes down.

Keith: Go!

Lotor: Fire now!

Lotor: Fire again!

Lotor: Your failure is most disappointing. Return before more Galra ships converge on your location.

Lance: So, Lotor was attacking the Galra base and trying to steal the teludav? None of this makes any sense.

Pidge: We can talk about this later. They’re getting away!

Keith: We need to go after them.

Shiro: No. Get back to the Castle. Something strange is going on here, and we need to figure it out.

[Scene change to an unspecified room of the Castle.]

Shiro: I’m sorry I had to step in back there.

Keith: I thought I had it under control.

Shiro: You need to learn to pick your battles. Sometimes, you have to make hard choices.

Keith: I’m no good at this.

Shiro: Yes, you are. It was your quick thinking that prevented Lotor from getting away with the teludav. You’re gonna get there. The Black Lion has chosen you. I’m proud of you, Keith.

[Scene change to Galra HQ.]

Throk: I can’t remember anything, except that whoever it was had the correct landing codes. I swear! You must believe me!

Haggar: I believe you, but you still must pay for your failure.

Throk: [screaming]

End.

[fascinationsublime]

So...

Watching the end of Voltron and rewatching season 6 (part 1 + 2) of Teen Wolf lead me to notice some things:

1. The show starts off much more lighthearted than the later seasons are. -Teen Wolf starts out kind of Twilight-esque. -Voltron was intended to be a kids show -The amount of violence and horror in Teen Wolf in the later seasons is not something found in dumb teen movies -Voltron in the later seasons attempts to address (I’m not saying they do a good job) the mature themes of loss, the horrors of war, mental illness (Keith is maybe suicidal, Lance is dealing with low self esteem, Shiro has PTSD) and sacrifice (Allura obviously but also almost Keith)

2. The plot gets convoluted and there’s too many villains. -Alpha Pack, Theo and the Dread Doctors, Evil Stiles, The Wild Hunt -Who is the main bad guy after Zarkon dies? -While watching Teen Wolf I feel like I should have a list of who leaves and where they go. Did they die or did they just fuck off to Europe I don’t remember

3. QUEER BAITING -I have nothing to say...Jeremy I trusted you!! We had a bonding moment my ass -Honestly Tyler and Dylan were literally on a ship. They were literally cuddling on a ship. Are you telling me that’s not queer baiting? I’m so angry NEXT

4. Kinda representation but not really. UGH you thought I was done? I’m not done.

-I will concede that Teen Wolf does a better job of this but to be fair Teen Wolf is supposed to exist in a world without homophobia. SO! What is Jackson’s sexuality? How the fuck did Jackson and Ethan become a couple? What was up with Liam and Theo in the elevator (also in the last season in general)? Is Stiles Bi? He never answered that woman’s (Katlin’s?) question. Does Derek have to shove Stiles up against walls? -I don’t even have questions to ask because there’s basically no representation. Adam could have been Shiro’s roommate. You wouldn’t even have to change anything. We literally know nothing about the man Shiro ends up marrying and everything we do get is in the last 30 seconds like they slapped it on to keep us from rioting

And the most frustrating part is we know at least some of the animators and directors and creators aren’t afraid of LGBT representation because these are the people who worked on legend of Korra and these are the people that said the show exists in a world without homophobia UGH ANYWAY!

5. For very different shows they have very similar endings. You kinda know where the characters are going in life but there’s still questions unanswered. -What is Theo doing in the tunnels? Scott’s voiceover says he’s an ally but last we saw we didn’t trust him also he was homeless so where is he living? Is he going to stay in Beacon Hills? I’m probably the only one who cares what Theo is doing so let’s move on. Alec. He’s joining the pack so? Is he moving to Beacon Hills? Where’s he gonna live? Are we just trusting Liam with strange werewolves that we adopt? Did Malia ever go to Paris? Did Scott go to college? And is Stiles in the FBI? Or is Monroe more important? Are Lydia and Stiles dating? Is Derek going to move back to Beacon Hills? Is Derek ever going to have a permanent residence? What happened to Danny? That’s not even really about the ending he just disappeared and I have questions! -We never get reunion hugs and I’m mad about it. Lance’s homesickness is a major topic and we never get to see him run slow-mo into his mother’s arms. Ridiculous. Lance just mourns his girlfriend forever? Are you kidding me they were dating for like 5 minutes. What is Coran doing? What about Romelle? And Keith is...alone? Forever? Idk I’ll be honest it was hard to read the postcards through ALL OF MY TEARS ABOUT KLANCE NOT BEING CANON

let’s talk about that

If you haven’t already, put those shipper goggles on because we’re going to talk about Sterek and Klance!

So...Derek and Keith are kinda the same person...and Stiles and Lance are kinda the same person...They got us twice! With the same ship! In all seriousness though I know that Derek and Keith, and Stiles and Lance are not the same people but they’re pretty similar and we’re here to talk about similarities.

D/K: brooding, good in a fight, does not talk about emotions

S/L: will not stop talking, probs bi with a crush on D/K and relentlessly flirts with the girl of their dreams that they have no chance with

And if you look at the course of their relationships they’re basically identical:

Starts off good. S/L knows D/K. (Stiles tells Scott Dereks whole background and Lance can recognize Keith by the back of his head at night with 100% confidence and accuracy) S/L almost immediately accuses D/K of something (Derek of murder and Keith of always trying to one up Lance) Definitely some sexual tension.

A brief interlude for some moments: Bonding Moment™️. We did it. We are a good team. Hey Lance I got your lion back. Leave the math to Pidge. Hey man we all miss Shiro. Pool Scene. (I meant pool scene in reference to Sterek but klance has one too. You see what I mean??) I think you two make a pretty good pair (everyone say thanks Matt). Start the car or I’m going to rip your throat out with my teeth. Sourwolf (yeah we’re gonna take that and run)

Literally save each other’s lives. Would probably die for the other.

Then one of them fucks off (and I scream “WHERE IS D/K I LOVE HIM” for the next 20 episodes)

S/L gets the girl that they’ve been pining over for forever who previously showed literally no interest in him

And then they have a reunion and you think maybe cause the keep having meaningful interactions but NO

Stiles does a spit take when he sees shirtless Derek running through the woods and then he says he got a little excited. Lance checks the hell out of Keith when he comes back 2 years older. Idk what’s real about the FBI op scene (I assume something in between probably closer to Derek’s version) but Stiles went on a dangerous op to save Derek’s ass and then I assume they drove back to Beacon Hills together in Stiles’ shitty Jeep (someone please give me a road trip fic). Keith and Lance have that rooftop scene. They literally watch the sunset together.

So yeah...I don’t know what to do with this information I have found. But it’s interesting.

[stuffandnosense]

Harvest in Fire - Plance

Description: The inhabitants of a small trading village take it upon themselves to punish Lance and Pidge for Voltron’s disappearance.

Warnings: Violence, blood, etc

***

“Hey, what are you doing!”

Lance cries out as an unseen hand yanks him back by his hood, pulling hair as they yank it down from his head to expose his face. Other rough hands are reaching for his arms, reaching for Pidge, locking them in the center of the quickly-forming mob. He blinks in the fine drizzle of rain his eyes are now subject to.

There was a reaction as soon as the word ‘Voltron’ fell from his lips. He should have kept his mouth shut. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?

“You’re paladins of Voltron!”

The stall owner’s sharp cry brought eyes from across the market. His hands snapped to Pidge’s arm, ready to drag her away, but they were surrounded too quickly. Angry pedestrians and some kind of local law enforcement.

Why didn’t they bring their bayards? Why did he have to open his quiznaking mouth? They could have found what they needed cheaper somewhere else without him trying to—

“Watch it!” Pidge snarls, yanking her leg up as if someone stepped on her foot.

“Let her go!” Lance demands. Does he think they’ll really listen? Not really...but…

“Let HIM go,” Pidge retorts.

“You’re throwing off my groove, Pidge.” But for a moment the guilt tying a knot in his chest loosens. Pidge rolling her eyes at him is almost a relief; it comes with a certain fondness.

“It’d probably be a good idea to say something ELSE now!” she says.

Lance pulls back at the hands trapping his arms and only gains the butt of some kind of staff to face to show for it. “OW! Hey, what’s going on! We’re here to help!”

There’s so much shouting he can scarcely make any of it out. It’s hardly more than noise. But he can tell they’re angry as they drag him and Pidge toward the center of the small village.

Someone else—more than one someone else, he thinks—snatches at his jacket again, pulling it entirely free from his body so violently his shoulders wrench. “Ahhhh...hey, give that back!” He shouts, trying to cover the cry of pain. He glares at the smirking alien who has it now. “Wouldn’t look good on you, anyway!”

The crowd is so thick he doesn’t see the wide tree stump until the hands pulling at him spin him around and shove him forward to all but slam into it. About stomach-height, it knocks the breath out of him for a moment—long enough for his wrists to be secured in one of the sets of thick metal manacles fixed to the stump by steaks driven through the short chains.

“Lance!”

Across from him are wide honey eyes, eyebrows pushed high above them as Pidge yanks at her own chains. The stump is nearly chest high for her.

Lance is coughing, trying to get his breath back enough to protest. “What…!” Another cough. “What are you doing!” he demands.

His gaze jumps around the crowd surrounding them, looking for a sympathetic face, but he finds none. At least they finally have a little space now. The people are pulling back, clearing an area around the stump.

Voices finally start to stick out from the noise as it starts to die—as many go quiet as if anticipating something.

“Our lives are miserable thanks to you!”

“With no Voltron, what’s left of the Galra raid our villages!”

“We can barely feed our families!”

There’s more—accusation after accusation—but Lance almost stops hearing them for the buzzing in his ears. He feels almost lightheaded.

The angry mob begins to look less like a mob and more like a crowd of desperate families. Just people, trying to survive. Parents and children. Shop owners. Farmers like his parents.

“Lance...” Pidge says again. This time it’s a gasp, and when he catches her eyes, they’re damp. He can see what he’s thinking in her eyes.

What if this IS our fault?

The thick circle around them parts for a middle-aged-looking purple alien wearing some sort of colorful vest; everyone seems to defer to him. They look to him and the shouting goes silent.

“What should we do with them, Magistrate?”

The alien in the vest narrows his eyes, and Lance’s stomach drops. If there’s going to be a time to speak up…

“We didn’t mean to be gone for so long! There was an accident...weird...w-weird science stuff; we lost time. We couldn’t get back sooner. We didn’t mean to—”

“Silence!”

“He’s telling the truth!” Pidge speaks up. “The time dilation was caused by—”

“Speak out of turn again, and I will have one of you killed where you stand!”

Pidge closes her mouth. Her eyes are wide again, and Lance holds a breath. Surely they don’t mean that...but…

Oh god, maybe they do. And he can’t risk it. Not with Pidge.

The crowd is just as silent. The magistrate circles them and the stump, coming to a stop at a wooden rack of instruments at the edge of the cobblestone square surrounding the stump, before the roads become thatch and mud beyond it.

Two aliens stand beside it, waiting.

The magistrate reaches for what looks like a whip made of woven blades of thick grass; not quite rope, but somehow stiffer like leather would be. Some kind of native plant or something…a stiff handle wrapped tightly in some sort of burlap-like fabric for grip gives ways to several short tails embedded with what looks like bits of rocks and glass at the ends.

Lance presses his knees into the stump to hide them nearly giving way beneath him; his heart is beating so hard his chest hurts. Across, from him, the stump isn’t so wide he can’t hear Pidge’s breaths start to come shorter and more shallow.

The magistrate hands over the whip to one of the two aliens waiting beside the rack, and the other picks up a second.

“Thirty for each of them and then into the cellars until I decide what to do with them.”

No. His breath catches, and Lance can’t let this happen. He can’t. Not to Pidge. Not when this is his fault.

“Wait…!” he croaks. If they kill anyone just for him speaking, maybe it will at least be him. “Don’t hurt her!” he says in a rush, before they can decide to. “I’ll-I’ll take hers, I’ll—!”

“Lance, shut up!” Pidge hisses. The chains are just long enough for her to reach his hands and clasp at them. “You can’t do that; you’ll die!”

He throws her a glance, apologetic but not backing down. “Wouldn’t be the first time,” he mumbles.

“Lance…!”

“J-just let her go and you can do what you want with me!”

Pidge growls. “Ignore him; he’s an idiot!”

He knows she doesn’t mean it—or he hopes she doesn’t—but Lance winces anyway. The magistrate, at least, is focusing on him now, crossing to him and pushing into his face until he almost has to lean backward.

His breath stutters in his chest, but he holds the alien’s gaze. If it’s some sort of test, he can only hope he’s passing.

When the magistrate pulls abruptly away, he huffs. “If you are content to die, then very well,”

He motions sharply to Lance as he backs off, giving the go ahead. Pidge is shouting in protest and for a moment there is the thrill of victory even as his stomach sinks to his feet and something in him begins to tremble.

All of him. It’s all of him trembling.

“We will not hurt her, but we will not let her go,” the magistrate adds.

“What?” Lance gasps. The burly aliens with the whips are closing in on him and he can’t breathe anymore. There are hands at his back, and the cool flat of a knife blade sends a shiver up his spine; his shirt is cut open and up the arms and everything from his waist up is left bare. “W-w-wait, no, let her go!”

“I’ll take mine!” Pidge shouts, but no one is listening anymore. Her fingernails are biting into his hands as she squeezes them.

Lance squeezes back because he has no other way to brace himself other than his knees already pressing back into the stump. The crowd is pressing closer but not too close, eager for the spectacle as the aliens with the whips take positions on either side of him.

Pidge is too close. Too close if they leave her there. Lance fights through the panic stealing his air as he pushes back against her hands gripping his to reach through her fingers, up for her face, beckoning. Begging.

“Pidge, get down! Pidge!” It comes out like a sob; he’s relatively certain that’s the only thing that gets her attention.

When she catches his gaze, there are already angry, frightened tears in her eyes. “No...!”

“Pidge, please…!”

It’s probably only reflex that makes her do it, in the end, but when she ducks down to hide her face against the top of the stump Lance seizes the chance to drop down, to cover her with his own head and arms—as far as he can go before the chains stop him.

Just in time before the first lash falls across his back like clawing fire.

***

Pidge doesn’t mean to duck. She catches the swing of the whip from the corner of her eyes and ducks automatically.

Immediate regret churns her stomach when a shocked shriek from Lance echoes near her ears as he drops over her head and arms.

“Lance…!” she gasps.

His breath shudders above her, maybe in pain and maybe anticipation of the second blow she hasn’t heard yet.

One hand he pulled free when she ducked, to wrap an arm around her head and shoulders, but the fingers of his other hand are still clutched between hers, trapped against the top of the stump beneath her chest now. They flinch when that next blow falls, Lance’s scream trailing off into a dry, shaking sob that ends in a whimper.

“Oh god,” he breathes. Beyond him the crowd is shouting, jeering...

Pidge chokes back a sob of her own.

That was only two. Oh quiznak, that was only two…

The next few seem to come at uneven intervals, surely on purpose, the waiting only there to make the anxiety worse. Both of them scarcely breathe between unless it’s to gasp out a sob. She knows hers aren’t dry, and before much longer her neck is damp from Lance’s tears. She squeezes his fingers tighter to let him know she’s there in the only way she can with her tongue tied in her mouth.

Her heart beats overtime as her mind runs over itself calculating, desperate to find some way the math comes out that Lance might survive this if the others don’t get to them in time.

On Earth the Romans could once kill someone with 40 lashes or less, but their whips were leather and these don’t seem as stiff. There are fewer tails...particulates are still tied into it—it will still be tearing flesh, but the pieces aren’t large, but...but the aliens are a little larger than the typical human. Probably stronger…

The data goes back and forth through her mind half a dozen times in a moment, but it never comes out any better.

Lance is going to die. Protecting her.

“Lance,” she whispers, between blows. “Lance…” Quiet enough no one else can hear but hopefully loud enough that he can. If he still has enough presence of mind to listen.

“You don’t have to do this,” she chokes quietly. “Don’t let them kill you…!”

His breath catches as he tries to answer her. “I...t’s my fault...my...”

Pidge doesn’t have time to say anything else before he stiffens over her with the next crack of the whip and a strangled cry pierces her aching ears. The blows are coming faster now.

“That doesn’t mean you have to die!”

Lance doesn’t answer, and when he starts to slip away from her she pulls back to clutch at his arm as he collapses, searching for his face as he slips to his knees against the stump. His arm slips through her grasp, but she catches his hand and holds on to both of them again.

“Lance!”

The edges of the wood on either side of his body are already damp with the blood dripping down his sides. Pidge doesn’t know why it’s the first thing she really sees when her head is free, but her heart stutters in her chest.

His hands squeeze around hers, his only lifeline, bleary, wet eyes seizing hers.

“Hang on,” she cries. What else is she supposed to say? Don’t die?

She can’t see his back, really, but she recoils at the movement of the next lash falling across it. She sees the force with which it falls for the first time rather than merely hearing it—the tails curling around to grip into his side and the way his body jerks when the alien yanks the whip away again, bringing skin and bits of flesh with it. She can’t quite tell, but the ends of them could be reaching as far around him as his chest and stomach. The rocks and glass could be raking all of it.

Is that why Lance can’t seem to be able to breathe well anymore? It isn’t just pain, is it? His hair is already plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his chest heaves in shallow, rapid breaths that only seem to make everything worse.

“Pidge…” His eyes snap shut briefly with the next blow, a sobbing cry wracking his shoulders. “‘M…’m sorry,” he gasps. He opens his eyes again only for one of the tails of the whip to catch his cheek on the next strike.

“Keep your head down…!”

Lance is already dropping it, burying his face against a lacerated arm. His wails are muffled there, but it doesn’t help.

It doesn’t help at all. Pidge is shaking as much as he is.

How many strikes? How many left? She meant to be counting, but she lost it long ago. She doesn’t know. She can’t even guess. Too many. When his sobbing trails away to silence and his hands go limp in hers she panics, lurching forward over the stump, whips be quiznaked.

“Lance! Lance!”

The aliens stop. Thank god, they stop. One of them moves in to drag his head up by his hair, but it’s clear Lance is unconscious and it’s going to take more than that to rouse him. His breaths are still coming short and shallow, but there’s no response.

Pidge is hoping they’ll stop. At least for now. Something. But the alien draws back as if to hit him.

“Don’t!” she cries. “Don’t wake him up! You don’t have to wake him up! Just let me do it! I’ll take the rest, please!”

They just stare at her at first, but the magistrate at least appears to be listening.

The idea that they might actually listen to her gives her more air in her chest—the ache eases, just a little—but what’s going to happen if they do sets her shivering harder than before. “Y-you’ll kill him...please...please d-d-don’t kill him. I’ll ta-take them, please…”

She can scarcely see the magistrate anymore, really, for the tears in her eyes, but she can see him shrug, finally...finally. Pidge gasps in anxious relief; everything in her tenses in fear, but she allows herself the moment of victory.

Lance isn’t going to die. At least...not right now.

A blade catches the collar of her shirt, and maybe out of some semblance of decency, the alien behind her stops the cut halfway or so down her back. The severed sides of the top of her shirt are roughly pushed out to expose most of her back, but her arms and chest are still covered. Somewhat protected.

Lance isn’t awake to help her brace herself, but she squeezes his hands anyway. If he hasn’t woken by now, that surely won’t wake him. And it’s all she has.

Pidge hears herself screaming almost before she really feels the first blow. It isn’t just stinging and biting; it’s fire ripping across her skin, cutting into her flesh. It’s as excruciating as she was sure it had to be, after what it did to Lance, and it’s somehow so much worse at the same time.

When the second blow falls, Lance’s fingers twitch in her tightening grip when she shrieks.

“Wh…” A deep groan as he stirs, but she can’t really see him.

It hurts. It hurts it hurts it—

Pidge screams through a sob as a third strike claws into her, and a fourth quickly after it from the other side. She thinks she hears a panicked, breathless call of her name, but it’s weak. She isn’t sure if she imagined it, but she can’t be imagining the sudden flash of light. Her ears are ringing, strangely enough, but not so much she can’t make out the whine of charging weapons and the voice that echoes through the square.

“Drop them! Drop them now!”

Keith.

She sobs again, but this time in relief.

Hunk, Krolia, and Keith’s growling wolf are keeping the crowd at bay and, Pidge presumes, the aliens behind her away. Clattering sounds make her think they listened and dropped the whips and any other weapons.

She doesn’t know what alerted their friends—they were miles away collecting water; they aren't even in armor—but she has never been so glad to see them.

Allura is with them too, glaring down the aliens as Keiths cuts the chains between their manacles...and Pidge has never seen Keith so furious as the look on his face when he leans close enough to cut hers. She’s never seen Allura so clearly shaking with rage as she is now, once she glances down to take in their wounds.

“How could you do this?” the princess snaps, hot and accusing.

“You allowed the Galra to ruin everything we have worked for!” the magistrate growls.

“And doing things like this makes you any better than them?”

“You will never understand—!”

“The Galra destroyed my PLANET! When they’ve reduced yours to rubble, then speak to me about how you believe you have the right to atrocities like this.”

Keith gingerly pulls one of Pidge’s arms around his shoulders and slips one around her still-covered lower back to help her up; it isn’t until then—until he helps her around the stump to join the rest of the group—that she can see what they’ve done to Lance. Really see. The blood-covered cobblestones around him and all.

Already dizzy and nauseous from pain, she gags, and Keith’s arms are the only things keeping her upright as she wretches onto the ground.

Allura and Krolia haul Lance up, carefully, and maybe he was somewhat awake again for a moment, but he passes out again when they move him. Hunk’s blaster, thankfully, is intimidating enough to keep the aliens at bay until they’ve all grabbed onto Keith's wolf.

A flash later, and the village square has been replaced by the interior of the black lion.

“I need to heal Lance, quickly,” Allura says immediately. Her voice shakes, though only slightly. “There is no way to know how much blood he has lost.”

His sides are just as torn and bloodied as his back, and just as Pidge feared, the damage even extends around to patches of his chest and stomach, out to his arms...in the few ticks since they teleported, blood has already dripped to the deck.

“Unless your abilities will compensate for particulates left inside of him, we should be sure nothing is embedded,” Krolia adds.

Coran, who only seems to have paused for a moment when they materialized, to take it the extent of what’s happened, is already all business. “The full body scanner in the stasis pod we have will help us find those more quickly.”

Allura swallows. “I...of course, and we...I should see to his chest first, I think. If his ribs or...or lungs, or any other internal organs are damaged that should be the priority…”

Keith helps Pidge find the edge of a crate to rest on, but he doesn’t seem to know what to say as he crouches beside her.

“Pidge…?”

She swallows, still trying to catch her breath. “I-I’ll be okay,” she gasps, swiping at her cheeks with shaking hands. “Lance is...Lance is worse. Just…”

“Keith!” Krolia calls. Lance may not be heavy, but the others need more help to get him up onto the stasis pod’s bed without hurting him too much. Coran has already covered it with a thick blanket.

A new hand rests on Pidge’s arm. “Romelle and I’ve got her,” a quiet voice says. Shiro. Keith exchanges a thankful glance with him before going to help the others with Lance.

“I’ll um...I’ll get rags. And some water,” Romelle says quickly. “We can do what we can until um...right.”

Then, for the moment, Pidge is left with only Shiro. But she doesn’t mind that so much. His arm moves around her shoulders, high and against her neck to avoid any of the stinging wounds and warm through what’s left of her shirt. Even sitting down, things are spinning.

“Easy...deep breaths...breathe, Katie...”

“I can’t...oh god...Shiro...they almost killed him…”

A wail cuts through the black lion’s cargo hold. Lance, awake again and panicking. They have him sitting on the bed of the stasis pod, Hunk and Keith holding his arms to support him in a sitting position so Allura can get to his chest.

Lance is in too much pain to know what’s happening. At least...that’s the way it looks to Pidge.

Her breath catches, and Shiro clings to her shoulders a little more tightly. “He’ll be all right,” he says. But even Pidge can hear the strain in his voice. When she glances up his gaze is caught across the room, eyes haunted like he’s really somewhere else.

Pidge doesn’t really want to know where else that might be. She wishes she could help, but she doesn’t know how.

“Lance, buddy, i-it’s okay, it’s just us,” Hunk is saying.

Allura has his face in her hands, trying to soothe him. “Lance, I know you are hurting...I know. You’re also having trouble breathing, and I need to see to that before anything else so it isn’t a danger to you. Please, calm down, please, it’s all right…”

Coran reaches in to press something to his neck—an injection. Pidge hopes it’s a painkiller.

Romelle returns with rags and basins of water for both the group huddled around Lance, and for her and Shiro. She settles on the crate behind Pidge and asks quietly if it’s all right to clean the wounds. Pidge nods absently, because what else is she supposed to say?

Across the cargo hold Allura and Hunk are finally succeeding in calming Lance enough for the princess to reach for his chest to begin healing it. He’s still crying, but at least the keen edge of distress has leached from the sound and his shallow breathing has slowed. Something in Pidge relaxes, too, even though she winces when Romelle presses one of the damp rags to her back.

The pain lessens when Coran breaks off from the others long enough to come give her an injection, too, and thank quiznak for Altean drugs.

At some point, it all still seems to become too much for Hunk. He gently hands off his side to Coran and comes to Pidge instead. Carefully hugging her from the front, just around her neck, he clings for a little while. She can’t blame him. She clings back, really, what’s left of the chains heavy around her wrists.

Hunk notices them when he pulls back, swiping at his eyes. “Oh, uh…” He catches one of her arms to study the manacle and its’ trailing, cut chain. “Right, I can...let me get something to get these off.”

Pidge only nods in answer; she doesn’t say anything to take away his excuse to leave the black lion for a while.

“Are we safe here?” Pidge asks, as she watches him go. “Where we landed...a-are we far enough away…?”

“We should be,” Shiro answers, quiet. “We’ll keep a watch through the night just in case.”

Hunk comes back with both a laser cutter and her bayard, holding up the laser cutter first. “I grabbed this, and then I realized you could probably just get them off yourself easier and then...yeah. I don’t know.”

“It’s okay,” she says. She holds out an arm to let him do it, only picking up her bayard when he’s gotten both of the metal bands off. “I can get Lance’s.”

“Uhm, yeah. Okay. I mean…”

“Are you sure you’re all right to get up?” Shiro asks.

Pidge pushes herself to her feet, five hands reaching out to steady her, but though she’s still a little dizzy it’s better than it was. More than wanting to stay still, she aches to get to Lance.

He’s calmer now, lying on his healed stomach as Allura alternately works at healing his back and sides, and uses the scanner to help her and Coran pinpoint any bits of rock and glass that need to be removed from his wounds. Still...she needs to get to him. She needs to know he’s really...still here. That he’ll really be all right.

It’s a relief to hear Lance breathing more deeply. The painkillers Coran gave them don’t seem to have done as much for him as they did for her—no surprise there, really, to see him still clearly in pain, even if it’s less—but he’s resting, only moving or wincing when Allura or Coran have to pick at the wounds that are left. He doesn’t open his eyes until Pidge has cut off both of his cuffs, but they’re clearer than they looked from across the room earlier.

He’s trying to smile at her. “Hey…”

“Hey…” Her stomach flips over and pressure builds in her throat all over again as she squeezes his hand, rubbing gently at the chafed skin around his wrist.

“You know I’d have killed you myself if you’d died, right?” she teases weakly.

Lance makes a face. “Yeah.”

Something nudges at the back of her legs, and Pidge finds Shiro and Romelle sliding a smaller crate up behind her for her to sit on. Glancing back to be sure she sits in the right place, she misses whatever makes Lance cry out but she feels him move.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Allura murmurs.

Pidge sits quickly, leaning closer and still clutching his hand as he tense and groans.

“I’m sorry, my boy,” Coran says. His hand rests for a moment at the back of Lance’s head. “Not too much longer now, I should think.”

Lance goes still again, panting quietly. Tears that seem borne of exhaustion more than anything else at this point are trailing silently down his cheeks. Pidge swallows and swipes gently at them, leaning closer to rest her forehead against his. She just needs to be close. And he doesn’t seem to mind.

“Are you okay?” he asks. “They...you…I’m so sorry, I—”

“I’ll be okay. It’s okay. Don’t worry about it…”

At least he seems too tired to contradict her.

***

Hours later, Pidge has been healed, too, and nearly everyone is in pajamas after bathing in the stream just outside their campsite. Their clothes and the blankets and rags hang drying from being washed, on makeshift stands around the fire.

But Lance is nowhere to be seen, and he hasn’t been since Pidge came back from the stream with Romelle.

“He’s...I guess he’s okay?” Hunk told her. “Ish. I mean...he said he was going to rest, but I think he just really wanted to be alone.”

“Did he at least eat something?”

“A little. I wasn’t really gonna push it right now…”

Pidge can’t make herself eat much, either, and after sitting quietly around the fire for a while, wedged comfortably between Hunk and Shiro, no one stops her when she retreats from the group to find Lance.

She hasn’t seen him since Allura finished healing him. He reached for her when they helped him sit up; he was still shaky, but he got an arm around her neck the way Hunk had and Pidge was content to let him hold onto her that way for as long as he wanted to. Even with the drying blood that hadn’t been washed away yet, she returned the embrace as tightly as she could.

When he released her Hunk helped him down from the stasis pod bed and out of the black lion, toward the stream to get cleaned off. After that he never joined the rest of them around the fire.

Not that she can blame him. Even sitting there, she didn’t feel much like talking.

“Lance?” She calls up Red’s ramp, but gets no answer. He may be sleeping, but she doesn’t think he’ll mind if she checks.

His back is to her when she tiptoes through the open door to the cargo hold. “Lance?”

He shifts, turning over in his bed to look at her in the dimness. “Pidge?”

Even in the low light, she can tell his face is red and irritated from crying, and her chest clenches.

“A-are you okay?” he asks. “Allura…?”

“Yeah. I’m fine…”

Lance is clean and in his pajamas too, now, and if it weren’t for the exhaustion written on his face under the redness she could almost pretend nothing happened.

But she can’t. She could never. Not after that. She doesn't know if she’ll ever be able to forget what he looked like, or forget how he screamed.

“Pidge…?” Lance is moving as if to get up, his eyebrows rising on his forehead. She doesn’t realize until then that her fists have clenches and her breaths have sped up.

She crosses the room because she can’t not, her bare feet picking up speed on the deck until she all but barrels into him. Lance catches her with an on ‘oof’ and falls back onto the edge of the bed.

“You’re an idiot!” she sobs.

With her face buried against his neck, she feels him swallow. “Come on, you don’t really think that…”

“Yes I do! I mean...no. Yes. You’re not STUPID, Lance, you’re just an IDIOT.” Her fist falls against his chest for emphasis.

“Thanks for the clarification…?”

Pidge huffs out a breath in frustration and pulls back to look him in the eyes, her knee braced on the bed against him. “I thought you were going to die like that! For me! Did you think I wanted to live with that?”

His mouth opens and closes once or twice before he can answer. “I...I just didn’t want them to hurt you because I couldn’t keep my quiznaking mouth shut, Pidge. I…”

“Come on, Lance; they probably would have figured out who we were anyway.”

“I’m sorry…” His head ducks against her as if in shame, and no, that’s not what she wanted.

“No, no, I didn’t mean…” Maybe she did want him to apologize. But why? Because she’s never been more terrified in her life? How is that his fault? She pulls him closer again. “Sorry, I was just...scared,” she whispers. “I’m sorry it...happened. At all. Quiznak—”

She cuts off to choke back a soft sob, and Lance squeezes back, tugging down a bit until she lets her knees fold up. She means to come down beside him on the edge of the bed, but he pulls her into his lap instead.

When Pidge pulls back to see his face again, his cheeks are red for an entirely different reason as she glances from his face, down to the fact that she’s now sitting on his legs, and up again with a raised eyebrow.

“S-sorry,” he stammers.

His arms twitch around her waist, pulling back to let go, but she catches one to keep them there. “It’s okay…”

Her thumb presses gently into his cheek, caressing the side of his face the whip had caught. The gash there is gone now, thank goodness, but she finds faint marks behind his ears and down the back of his neck that linger. Small dents in his flesh that she almost wouldn’t have noticed if she weren’t looking, most of them half hidden under his hairline.

“Allura said there were some places there was just...too much missing, or something,” Lance says quietly, while he lets her look. “She couldn’t smooth it over.”

She missed that. Before. She was there until Allura was done but the painkillers were wearing thin by then. She remembers Lance hugging her briefly, but not all of what happened is clear.

“Your back…?”

“Yeah...there’s some bigger ones there. Hunk uh...he said it’s not too bad, or anything…” He trails off tightly anyway. He looks away like he’s ashamed, and why should he be? No no no, he can’t—

Pidge pulls his chin back and presses her lips to his before she can think about what she’s really doing. What she’s giving away. Lance pulls in a breath through his nose and rocks back in surprise, but she follows him and he doesn't stop her. In a moment he’s responding to the kiss, and his arms tighten pleasantly around her waist again.

They nearly fall backward entirely by the time they stop, Lance shooting an arm back to steady himself as Pidge slides off his lap and onto the mattress. Pidge is laughing. She thinks Lance is until she sees the tears on his face.

“Lance…! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay!” he says quickly. It comes out frustrated, but not at her—the kind of tone that makes it clear he’s more frustrated with himself, and now he IS laughing. He’s also still crying. “I just...I’m sorry, I...a few hours ago I thought I’d never get the chance to do that.”

What?

Lance is trembling as he says it, and Pidge doesn’t have time to process that. She winces as she urges him back against the head of the bed and his pillows. She lays beside him and wraps herself around him, trailing fingers gently through his hairs until he calms. The faint tremors last longer, but after what happened to him she isn’t surprised.

“Will you stay?” he asks into the dimness. “Sorry I’m a mess…”

Pidge snorts quietly and presses a kiss into his hair. “And I’m not? Just in general?” Lance laughs at that, and her chest warms with the victory. “Anyway...I’ll stay.”

[justheretobreakthings]

Remember Me - Chapter 17

(First Chapter) (Previous Chapter) (Next Chapter)

Word Count: 3,270 (Total Word Count: 67,717) Read on AO3

Story Summary:

It was strange enough for the paladins of Voltron to have found another human this far from home, locked in a Galra prison. But it was stranger still when this human insisted that he knew them, and even that he was the former red paladin of Voltron.

That couldn’t possibly be true, could it? After all, if this Keith was actually a part of the Voltron team, then why does nobody remember him?

Chapter Preview:

“Hey there, Red,” Lance said as he settled down onto the Lion’s paw, nestling into the joint with his back against the pastern. “Long time no chit-chat, huh?”

Red was silent, and Lance let out a sigh, stretching his legs out to fold in front of him. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, you’re probably a little annoyed with me. Sorry about that. It’s not like I’ve been avoiding spending time with you or anything, I’ve just been busy lately. There’s a lot going on in the castle.”

This time he got a response, a hint of a rumble in the back of his mind, accompanied by a brief mental picture of a formless white glow. “The quintessence stuff is part of it, yeah,” he answered. “That’s actually part of why I’m here. My bayard’s been a little out of whack lately, and Allura and Coran think that maybe being around unstable quintessence might have caused some weirdness in it. And in you, actually.”

Red’s response was more energy than image in his mind this time, and something about the vibes she was sending his way, seemed accusatory. Lance grimaced. “Well, no, wait, that’s not the only reason I came by today, Red! I did just wanna spend some time with you too! You’re my girl, Red, I love being with you. I’m just saying, getting everything back in order is a bonus of me hanging with you. You get that, right?”

“ - so while your Green Paladin was certainly correct in her assessment of this particular sample of quintessence being ‘unstable’, the fluctuations don’t seem to be at risk of creating energy emittences that would pose any danger beyond that of the strains we’ve studied up to this point, nor have we detected any sign of decay.”

Lance paused in his tracks as the door to the bridge hissed closed behind him. He hadn’t meant to interrupt anything, he was just looking to talk to Allura, and while he had been correct in assuming this was where he would be able to find her, he hadn’t realized she would be deep in conversation with Ryner on the holoscreen, Pidge in the seat next to Allura, nestled into the chair and her hands on her chin. Even from the back, Lance could tell she had her thinking face on in full gear.

Allura glanced black toward him, and he gave a sheepish wave. “Sorry,” he said softly, and Pidge spun in her chair to face the intruder. “Didn’t realize I was interrupting anything.”

“Nothing to worry about,” Allura said. “This wasn’t classified information or anything, Ryner was just updating us on her team’s research of the quintessence sample. We’re nearly finished.”

“Learn anything good?” Lance asked.

“Nothing definitive,” Ryner answered him. “We’ve been analyzing the structure of the quintessence sample we were sent and were able to detect differences between it and the records of quintessence structure that my team’s been using for their secondhand research, but we’ve yet to determine both the causes and the consequences for this difference, nor whether the structural change and the energy fluctuations are causative or simply concurrent.”

Lance blinked. “So, um, that means…”

“The quintessence is shaped weird,” Pidge explained, “But we don’t know yet whether or how that matters.”

“Ah,” Lance said with a nod. “Well, um, good work, math people. Keep it up.”

“Thank you,” said Ryner. “We had no intentions to stop.”

“Well, no, I just meant - ”

“By the by, Princess, your many-legged friend Slav has been in contact with me regarding some of his own current research regarding an incident of a location vanishing? He has some very interesting theories on the topic of alchemical versus quantum mechanical definitions on the concept of existence, although apparently his theories are still very much in the embryonic stage. I wish you had told me earlier that you had Slav working with you on the matter of your guest’s predicament, we could have started collaborating on research sooner.”

Allura furrowed her brow. “I… hadn’t realized Slav was even doing that research?”

“Really?” Ryner said. “He told me that Coran had requested it himself.”

“Yes, he had contacted Slav, but I hadn’t realized Slav had agreed. I didn’t think Coran had even gotten a chance to explain what wanted him to look into.”

“It’s Slav,” Pidge said. “He probably figured it out by Coran’s body language or saw a prophecy about it in his dinner or something. Don’t attempt to understand how his brain works, you’ll injure yourself.”

Ryner gave a small smile. “Whatever the case, if there’s any relevancy of his research to our own, we will update you. And you will let us know if you learn anything from the Blade’s examination of their sample?”

“Of course,” Allura said with a nod. “Hopefully we’ll be hearing from them soon.”

“We’ll work with what we have in the meantime,” Ryner said. “Signing off.”

The holoscreen went dark. Pidge stood from the chair, stretching her back out with a yawn. “Well,” she said, “Not much new stuff to work with here, not ‘til they get a working theory going on that whole quintessence structure deal. I’m gonna go help Coran sort through those reports the rebel scouts sent in.”

“Go ahead, he’ll appreciate the assistance,” Allura said, dismissing her with a nod before turning back to Lance. “So, you wanted to speak with me?”

“Yeah,” Lance said. “About - ”

“About your bayard, I assume?”

Lance nodded. “Coran said he passed it on to you to look over?”

“He did, yes. Come along with me to fetch it. I brought it with me over to crystal utility room to see if their quintessential energy could help amplify any irregularities with your bayard so I could identify them.”

“And did they?” Lance asked as he traipsed behind her into the hall.

Allura shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. Or at least, there weren’t any irregularities to detect. Sorry, Lance, but as far as I can tell, your bayard is in perfect working order.”

Lance frowned. “If that’s the case, then why has it been getting wonky on me in training?”

“I do have a hypothesis on that,” Allura answered. “Although nothing to confirm it. The bayards have an inherent connection to their respective Lions, so perhaps if there’s something causing problem with the bayard, the root cause is actually an irregularity in the Red Lion. It would make sense, I suppose. You were the one that carried Keith’s damaged cruiser back to the castle, so the Red Lion was holding the unstable quintessence samples right in her mouth. It’s probably even more likely that the exposure would leave some lingering effects on the Lion than on the bayard.”

“So, if something’s up with Red, what do I do about it?”

“I’ve asked Pidge and Coran to run a maintenance check on the Red Lion, so we’ll see if they spot anything. In the meantime, you could try to work with your lion bond a bit to see if there’s anything going on. Is she detects something amiss herself, she would probably communicate it to you. Have you been in the hangar with her much since your bayard started malfunctioning?”

“Um…” Lance furrowed his brow. Come to think of it, he actually couldn’t recall having spent any time with Red since their last mission. It wasn’t as if he had been avoiding it, it had just completely slipped his mind, what with training and traveling and the issues with his bayard. Immediately his gut twinged with guilt; he suddenly felt like a neglectful pet owner. “Shit,” he sighed. “No, I haven’t. Do you think maybe she’s messing with my bayard because she’s annoyed with me?’

“Mm, doubtful,” Allura said. “We’ve all been busy as of late, so the Lions would certainly be understanding of that. Besides, the Lions are many things, but petty is not one of them. Although, I suppose if any of the Lion were to be a little spiteful, the Red Lion would probably be the most likely candidate. Your bayard,” she added, as they had reached the utility room. She picked it up off a low metal table and handed it to Lance.

“Thanks,” Lance said as he took it.

“I really wouldn’t worry too much about this little anomaly. I’m certain it’s nothing that cannot be dealt with.” She offered him a small smile before continuing, “If you would like something to actually worry about, getting the quintessence samples sent out and the locations from that transport log scouted out has made it clear that the Voltron Coalition is going to need to be focussing on getting more vehicular capital and forming alliances with more planets that host hubs of interplanetary transit.”

Lance furrowed his brow. “Wait, why would that worry me?”

“Because,” Allura answered, “Coran has already started scheduling more airshows, parades, and dinner parties for Voltron.”

Lance let out a long groan. “Wonderful. You know, the first three million PR events were actually fun to do. The ten million after, it really started to lose its charm.”

“Well, it appears the current count is now up to thirteen million and four. Have fun dreading them.”

“I’ll try. Thanks.”

He made his exit, bayard in hand. It seemed his next task would be getting a little one-on-one time in with Red. Not a problem. The fact that he hadn’t thought to do so of his own accord lately honestly shook him.

No one liked to be neglected. Not even giant robotic lions.

He set out toward the hangars, passing by the living quarters along his way, all quiet as everyone in the castle went about their own tasks. The only other sign of life he came across was in passing the training deck; the lights were on and Lance could hear the clangs of metal-on-metal sounding through the deck, a clear sign that someone was in there, probably locked in combat with a bot.

He stopped to peer inside, curious. The team had already had a training session this morning, and Lance’s muscles were still a little sore from it. Additional training today seemed simply unnecessary.

One glance onto the deck later after sliding open the door, and Lance realized he probably should have guessed who the occupant was. Keith was in the middle of the deck, his day clothes soaked through with sweat, practice sword in hand and spinning to fight two gladiators, one on either side of him, and all the three of the participants in this fight giving it all they had. Keith managed a slice through one of the gladiators in what would be the neck had the bot been a person, and it evaporated and left him to focus on the other bot for another half a minute before managing to run it through, leaving it dissipating as well.

“Exercise complete,” a computerised voice said from overhead. “Completion time: eight doboshes, twenty-one ticks.”

“Dammit,” Keith spat as he bent to put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. “Dammit, dammit.”

“What’s wrong?” said another voice. Lance nearly jumped, not having noticed Shiro standing on the sideline, watch Keith fight. The black paladin strode to join Keith in the middle of the deck. “I thought that one was really solid. Your footwork was steadier.”

“It was nine ticks slower than the last round,” Keith replied. “And half a dobosh over my usual time from… from before.” He sighed and straightened up. “I’m still rusty.”

“Hm,” Shiro said. “If this is ‘rusty’, remind me never to get into a fight with you when you’re at the top of your game.” Shiro was facing away from Lance, so the latter couldn’t see his face, but he could hear the joking smile in his voice.

Keith, however, didn’t return it. He just sighed and set the tip of his practice sword onto the floor to lean against the handle. “Might be the weapon having something to do with it,” he said. “It’s - I’m not used to - to just using any old sword, you know? The bayards and my Marmora blade, they would always specifically change and mold to fit me just right, be exactly the weight and shape that was best for me. Then again, I’ve still been able to use other weapons before and all… I dunno, maybe it’s not the sword. Maybe it’s just me.”

“Keith, you don’t need to beat yourself up over not getting the greatest time on a training exercise,” Shiro said. “It makes sense for you to be rusty. After all, you’ve just gotten back into weapons training after so long without it. And Coran says you’re still a little underweight - ”

“Yeah, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary,” Keith said with a shrug. “That’s always been the case. But I was faster before - before everything…” He looked down at his sword. “Or, at least, I remember being faster… I guess maybe that was… those memories were…” He took a slow, deep breath. “Fuck, this whole thing’s a mess, isn’t it. Here I am just trying to get back to normal, and the ‘normal’ isn’t even real. The only standard I have to measure myself by doesn’t even exist.”

“Hey, hey, Keith, it’s all right,” Shiro said. “Here, let’s get you some water, okay?”

He turned, and his brows shot up in surprise. “Lance! How long have you been here?” Keith’s head shot up too, and he immediately straightened up to stand tall, schooling his face back to neutral as if he hadn’t just been caught in the middle of a mini existential crisis.

“Uh, not long,” Lance answered hesitantly.

“Do you need the training deck?” Keith asked. “I was just finishing up.”

“No, no, I was just peeking in, wondering who was in here,” Lance answered. He scratched the back of his neck, uncertain, before slowly adding, “You, uh, you were doing a good job, you know.” Because as much as he was loath to admit it, and as much as this guy had been managing to sneak his way under his skin ever since he had shown up and turned Voltron’s world and daily life on its head, it was true. Keith was, if nothing else, a hell of a swordsman. “Especially considering, you know, all the - all the shit, with everything,” Lance finished lamely.

Shiro smiled gratefully at Lance before saying, “He’s right, you know, Keith. Heck, even in the short time you’ve been training with the team, you’ve been making improvements.”

“Mm.” Keith offered them another little shrug before making his way to the store of water pouches and getting himself a drink.

With a raised brow, Shiro moved toward him, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, don’t discount the little things, Keith. You really have been doing a remarkable job. Not just with the training, but… with everything. Adjusting to being out of that Galra prison, settling into the castle, working with all of us. I know this hasn’t been easy for you, and it’s understandable to be frustrated with the whole situation, but considering just what that situation is, well, you’re doing remarkably.” He pulled Keith closer into a bit of a one-armed hug. “You should be proud.”

Lance’s eyes stayed locked on Shiro’s arm, the way it wrapped around Keith’s shoulders, the hand moving up and down Keith’s biceps in a comforting, soothing gesture before falling away. An easy, familiar motion, as if Shiro was accustomed to it, as if he had been around to walk Keith through sour moods for ages.

He was like that, Shiro was. Always the big brother to his teammates. To everyone. Nothing particularly exceptional about it.

So Keith really didn’t need to make such a show of relaxing and leaning into the touch, closing his eyes as he sipped at his water and rolling his shoulder as Shiro released it like he was absorbing the lingering contact.

God, Keith was so extra.

“Thanks,” Keith said. He took another gulp of his water before capping the pouch and turning to Lance. “Hey, uh, while we’re on the topic of improving, any chance you’re up for a rematch of our little sparring session? I’ve gotten protein lately - I think I could probably take you.”

He sent Lance a cocky grin, and the latter shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Maybe some other time.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. You’re already worn out from your own training. It would just be unfair to you, you know? I would feel guilty pummeling you if I’ve got that much of an advantage.”

“All right,” Keith said. “Rain check, then.”

“Right. Rain check.”

“Hey there, Red,” Lance said as he settled down onto the Lion’s paw, nestling into the joint with his back against the pastern. “Long time no chit-chat, huh?”

Red was silent, and Lance let out a sigh, stretching his legs out to fold in front of him. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, you’re probably a little annoyed with me. Sorry about that. It’s not like I’ve been avoiding spending time with you or anything, I’ve just been busy lately. There’s a lot going on in the castle.”

This time he got a response, a hint of a rumble in the back of his mind, accompanied by a brief mental picture of a formless white glow. “The quintessence stuff is part of it, yeah,” he answered. “That’s actually part of why I’m here. My bayard’s been a little out of whack lately, and Allura and Coran think that maybe being around unstable quintessence might have caused some weirdness in it. And in you, actually.”

Red’s response was more energy than image in his mind this time, and something about the vibes she was sending his way, seemed accusatory. Lance grimaced. “Well, no, wait, that’s not the only reason I came by today, Red! I did just wanna spend some time with you too! You’re my girl, Red, I love being with you. I’m just saying, getting everything back in order is a bonus of me hanging with you. You get that, right?”

The agreement she sent him was reluctant, and Lance couldn’t help but laugh a little bit. “Damn, you’d think after ten thousand years, you’d have outgrown that sort of petty impatience. It’s beneath you, Red.” He stretched out his arms before tucking them behind his head and leaning back into Red’s ankle. “All right, let’s see, updates for you. Coran’s got some more airshows scheduled, so be prepared for those.”

A low rumble. “Oh, shut up, you know you love them. You were born to show off. Such a cat. Uh, other updates. Hunk said they finished fixing up that cruiser Keith smashed, so now he’s gonna have more time for baking again, which is a relief because I have been craving cookies the last few days. I had stored a couple of the last batch in my room for emergencies but they disappeared. Allura swears up and down that the mice didn’t take it, but they looked so smug when I asked about it. I’m pretty sure she’s covering for them.”

Red sent an image his way, a memory of Keith’s cruiser crashing into the side of that cargo ship, with a questioning tone overlaying it. “Yeah, that’s the one,” Lance said with a nod. “He banged it up real good. We’ve got Keith training with the team now, actually. Isn’t that something, he wrecks a cruiser and basically gets rewarded for it.”

The vibes she seemed to send this time seemed a little scolding, accompanied by the mental image of flames and sparks. “Yeah, yeah, okay, I wasn’t meaning to insult him,” Lance said, rolling his eyes. “Just saying. And, okay, sure, he’s a real spitfire in a fight, is that what you’re trying to say?”

A little purr at the back of his mind. “Well, whatever. He’s keeping up. Hopefully he’ll hold himself together a bit better next time he’s along for a mission. You don’t need to be using up all your time scooping him up out of the sky after crazy stunts, right, Red? You’ve got better things to do.” He grinned up at her. “Like, say, focus on me? Your favorite man in the world?”

Her grumpy agreement had his grin broadening, and he nodded in response to her questioning rumble. “I know, two-way street. I’ll focus more on you too, I swear. And hey, you gotta help me out with the bayard thing, okay? We’ll make a deal: I get my shit together for your sake, you get your shit together for mine. Sound good?”

“And I don’t need any sass from you,” he added when Red broadcast to his mind something halfway between a purr and a growl. “None of the other Lions backtalk their paladins like this.” He sighed and gave her little smile. “You’re still a good kitty though, Red. Love you.”

The little surge of warmth that Red sent to his gut seemed to say that that had appeased her.

[papersynth]

The Feud breakdown theory

TLDR: Its basically one big Klance-centric episode, this whole theory’s probably a reach but its nice lol. Reposted from my twitter. More under the cut!

Lets start off this thread by pointing out one of the glaring things that immediately hit me once I started watching this episode when it aired: the title sequence. I'm not particularly old but my parents have always loved gameshows and reality television.

They would watch it in the living room and so one of the things that stuck out to me the most was how the logo for Garfle Warfle Snick is visually similar to "The Dating Game" which was a 60's TV show centered around a bachelorette picking out a guy to take out on a date.

Even the dang flowers.....

It was at this moment I thought "well, after being basically deprived of any Klance scenes for 3 seasons, you'd think S7 would bring you some of that and boy oh boy I've been fed so well. I think its strange for them to visually replicate a DATING GAMESHOW logo. We know for a fact that they were going for a family feud esque style, so why didn't they just replicate the Family feud logo instead? The vibe of the entire episode would change because it'll be a glaring reference.

Going back to Kaplan's tweet about how things aren't what they seem, the Feud really, like, obviously lets you know, that things really aren't what they seem. The story shifts in focus and tone and so do the characters.

My theory is that this episode foreshadows events to come that even the paladins never knew were even challenges themselves.

I believe this sort of aids the Klance fight theory (graciously written by Ca HERE) because that altean colony which they believe was a win for them to discover, could possibly be their next challenge (their garfle, becomes a warfle)

We also know that it isn't new for Voltron to use the "it was an altean all along!" as shock value for their enemies but at this point, I think Allura's starting to learn that her race is equally capable of evil.

This adds to the idea that during the 3 year gap, there's a possibility that the altean colony and Haggar/Galra have been working together to develop new technology (Hunk: I've never seen the Galra use weapons like these before) because clearly it isn’t the olkari helping them.

Time for my biggest reach yet, how the fuck is that a chopstick lance. You can recognise a mullet for a hundred feet away but you can't recognise a sword at point blank. Strange considering Keith drew out the sword pretty quickly, so there's no way Lance saw chopsticks.

NOTHING in this image screams chopsticks. I even went and printed out this god forsaken screencap and tilted it to see if it looked like chopsticks from a far angle and nope, still looks like a blade. This one's a reach but, chopsticks are insinuate a "yin-yang" dynamic.

Chopsticks is a strange pick because it doesn't LOOK anything like a chopstick. It would have made more sense to call it a shovel, paper fan, knife, surfboard etc. Go off. Chopsticks have always been used as a pair, one cannot exist without the other, which brings me to voltron's wings. I like the idea of Voltron being similar to Darling in the Franxx because of their mecha designs kinda taking reference from Evangelion. This is a reach definitely, but its cute whatever, eat this up. There's a mythical bird called "Jian" and it only has one wing.

The bird can only exist with another of its kind, where together, they can fly and soar. Wings and duality are symbols that have ALWAYS gone hand in hand, simply because there are two. Chopsticks being Lance's stupid fucking word choice is so damn specific its hurting me.

HERE'S ANOTHER REACH Y'ALL, the reason why chopsticks are thicker and circular at the top but thinner and squared at the bottom is because they represent the heaven and the earth. WHERE'D THEY COME FROM Y'ALL. WHERE DID THE PALADINS GO? UH? BACK TO EARTH YEA?

And once again, Keith draws this one very quickly so it does show that Lance can make a good guess immediately. I can see why he would say Dog here. SO WHY COULDN'T YOU SEE A BLADE AT FIRST LANCE? EXPLAIN YOURSELF. MOVING ON FROM THE DAMN DRAWING GAME.

I think these two screenshots speak for themselves. Earlier this morning I wrote a theory about how the Klance dynamic is all over the place because Lance has grown as a person in his absence and he's confused as to how he's supposed to behave towards "new keith".

He takes a jab at Keith throughout the start of this whole episode

"Not my fault keith can't draw!"

"I'm not a mind reader!"

So once again, its the usual bickering coming from Lance, but we see that shift later in the episode, I'll get to that later.

The next game with bii boh bi. Funny to me how the game's called "The Garflator" when we've already established that "Garfle" means to "win". The monster isn't the Garflator as they've misleaded, its the tank.

If you don't believe me, here's the subtitles literally calling the monster the "Warflator". Strange isn't it? You miss these things when you watch it the first time. Bob wasn't joking when Warfle and Garfle were interchangeable.

I don't really want to analyse how Bii Boh Bi acts throughout the whole segment mainly because I think that's reaching a little too far, and it was likely comedic the entire time, but I can't help but notice that his tone throughout suggests a "fill in the blanks" situation.

My theory is that this situation foreshadows the possibility that someone will help Lance fill in the blanks, and guess what the answer is in the GARFLator. He might even really be running out of time so again, stick it out till the last episode of S8.

Bonus: Seems like its pretty nice isn't it. Our crops are watered and his skin is cleared. Joking of course, but overall the whole Garflator/Warflator situation keeps getting mixed up together that's why I think this theory's reaching but I digress.

Time for the scene that made all of us Klancers scream into the depths of hell. We all already know that they didn't have to vote for each other if it was meaningless, but after seeing the recent surplus of Lance being hurt by Keith leaving, I've got a solid theory.

Lets look at the scene first, mainly at Hunk and Pidge's faces. We know Hunk is emotionally observant while Pidge behaves logically, so I think when we're speaking logically: Lance picking Keith seems HIGHLY illogical to pidge.

Lance "hates" Keith. Why pick him to survive? THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP. On the other hand, Hunk's facial expression here seems more....worried? Not confused. There's been substantial evidence that Lance was hurt by Keith leaving, and if he spoke to anyone about it, it'd be hunk.

I think Pidge is surprised to hear these things come out of Lance's mouth and seeing Keith pick him. Remember when they all picked someone to help Lance? The braniest of the team? I think honestly Pidge might be the first to pick up on their possible affections towards each other.

This sort of parallels the earlier scene where Lance was the last one to figure out Pidge was a girl, but maybe that's reaching a little too hard (Curse these short arms!)

Earlier this morning I wrote a thread about how Lance picking Keith to leave here is probably the nail in the coffin that he deeply cares about Keith. Remember, this situation would probably be the third time that Keith has left Lance.

Read the linked thread, I won't reiterate it here but basically Lance grows in Keith's absence, stepping up when he needs to, but its not really what he wants. Losing Keith again might be devastating, but that only heightens why this scene is so affectionate. He makes this choice himself.

He calls Keith the future because he has faith in his skills (he's our leader) and him as a person (plus he's half galra). That Keith HAS a future. This is SIGNIFICANT because the only other person that has said that they have faith in Keith, was Shiro.

Shiro is VALUABLE to Keith, he's the most important person in his life. Having people believe in him has always been difficult and I think where Lance says (although cryptically) that he believes in Keith, is really where their new dynamic takes off.

THAT's why Keith behaves somewhat coldly in S7, because its never gonna be easy for him to suddenly accept a new person in his life. He’s not sure how he should react to another person caring for him. Both of them know their dynamic isn't what it used to be, they can't joke and jab anymore. We're back to square one, but its different this time.

One last thing about this episode (that isn't Klance related) is Luxia's kingdom, just a fun quick thought that maybe the Baku might be back, i mean he never really was defeated, just trapped. ;)

Uhhh that's it! Can't think of anything else haha. Thanks for the wild ride friends, I hope these feed your optimism for today~ Again, they're all just theories but I hope S8 is a good experience for everyone! Have a great day :)

One last thing: I would love it if Klance happens and the theories prove true, and if it doesn't its okay! Sure I'll be disappointed, but its fine if I'm wrong about a fictional TV show lol.

[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.

[lovelyladydarling]

task 001. dig a little deeper: lady darling edition

BASIC INFORMATION.

What is your character’s full name ? patricia elizabeth darling How is it pronounced ? puh-trih-shuh uh-liz-uh-bith dar-ling Is there a meaning behind it ? patricia means “noble” and is the female version of “patrick,” but it was a family name her mother gave her. lady was just something sweet they called her when she was younger and it stuck as a nickname over “pat” “patty” or “trish.”  Does your character have any nicknames ? lady, pidge (from tramp) When and where were they born ? december 24, 1993 in san francisco, california  What’s their zodiac sign and what traits do they most relate to ? capricorn. lady is very hardworking and responsible, but she’s aware she can be a bit distant at times when it comes to her more intimate relationships. she holds family very close to her--especially the family she’s made in carthay herself. she’s very stubborn, holds her own, and can definitely get a bit hot-headed at times.  What’s their nationality ? american. What’s their occupation ? jewelry model.  What gender do they identify themselves as ? cisgender female // she/her

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

What’s their eye color ? brown Do they wear glasses or contacts ? reading glasses, but not prescription Hair color ? caramel brown Have they ever dyed their hair or wanted to ? she gets highlights pretty often or goes darker, but never strays from brunette.  Height ? 5′6″ // 167.64 cm Body build ? tall & lean Do they have any birthmarks ? she has a small birthmark above her left hipbone. Do they have any piercings or tattoos ? ear piercings // no If not, do they want to get some ? she’s recently been wanting to get a small tattoo somewhere, but she’s not sure where.  Do they have a healthy life style ? she works out pretty frequently and tries to eat well, but carbs tempt her back every time she goes for a salad.  How easy do they get sick ? she catches colds pretty easily, but doesn’t often get really sick.  Any marks on their body ( injuries, … ) ? no permanent scars or injuries to speak of! she broke her arm once when she was 8 playing with the neighborhood kids, but that’s the only major injury she’s sustained throughout her 25 years.  What’s their personal style/how do they like to dress ? lady likes to dress in a sort of girly business casual style most of the time and will occasionally go for a more “laid back” look if she’s just out and about. she frequents sundresses when the weather is nice and switches her footwear between sandals, heels, or a classic pair of KED sneakers. she tries to dress comfortably but still keep everything chic enough to be photographed in, just in case.  What is their favorite and least favorite feature about themselves ? her favorite feature is her eyes and her least favorite would have to be her shape. she often feels like her body is too straight and narrow and wishes she had a few more curves. 

PERSONALITY.

Positive traits ? fun-loving, caring, loyal Negative traits ? jealous, stubborn, hot-headed What do they consider to be the best and the worst part of their personality ? lady considers her loyalty to her friends to be her greatest strength and has a hard time choosing between her extremely jealous nature and stubbornness as her worst. she’ll overtly deny her jealousy to people if they ask because she doesn’t want others to notice such a negative trait in her, but she knows it’s a big fault of hers.  Are they more extroverted or introverted ? lady is definitely an ambivert--she’s a bit of both. extroverted with her friends, introverted with strangers. she can’t strike up a conversation with anyone and prefers to keep to herself when out in public, but has no problem approaching a friend in a room full of strangers to talk.  Any talents ? lady is very good at painting, but doesn’t often share that with people.  What are their fears ? lady is terrified of ending up alone or not being enough for the people around her.  Do they have any phobias ? claustrophobia (small spaces) What is their soft spot ? lady has a huge soft spot for anyone that will bring her dinner and just sit and be with her, anyone who remembers small details she tells them, and puppies.  List 3 pet-peeves they can’t stand ? excuses for bad behavior, bailing on plans last minute, and calling people out via social media. 

EDUCATION.

How far did they go in school ? Are they still studying ? lady completed high school and went to study studio art in college, but ended up leaving after 2 years when her modeling career took off.  Do/Did they like school ? she really enjoyed college and would love to go back, or even just take a few classes for fun. high school was a take it or leave it thing for her--she didn’t mind it, but she wouldn’t choose to go back.  What type of student are/were they ? she’s always been a good student. she doesn’t cause trouble, she shows up on time, leaves on time, and turns in her assignments. she maintained a b+ to a average in high school and really threw herself into her college courses. she practically slept at the arts annex during portfolio review.  What is/was their favorite subject ? art was always her favorite subject, but she enjoyed history and english as well.  And their least favorite ? any sort of advanced math--trigonometry, calculus, etc.  What were they/would they have been voted as “most likely to…” in the yearbook ? lady was actually voted most likely to sell a painting by age 25, which was oddly specific to her but she wasn’t particularly close to many people in high school so she figured it was the best they could come up with. 

FAMILY.

Who are your character’s parents ? jim and ruth darling.  How would your character describe them ? lady hasn’t seen her parents in a while, as she was sent to live with her aunt sarah when she was 14 years old due to an incident with her younger brother. she loved her parents dearly and would drop anything she was doing to help them, even now. they were incredibly caring and protective of her and her brother, so she doesn’t fault them for doing what was best for him by sending her away.  Do they have any siblings ? one younger brother, 13 years her junior: noah darling. Are they close with their family ? she used to be, but now rarely hears from them save for a card on her birthday. she would still do anything for them if they needed her. 

ROMANCE & SEXUALITY.

What’s their romantic and sexual orientation ? heterosexual Are they seeing anyone right now ? james sullivan, for publicity sake.  Have they ever been in an relationship ? as long as hers and sulley’s counts, yes! otherwise, she doesn’t know if she’d consider any of her previous relationships as counting.  Have they ever been in love ? yes.  How easy do they fall for someone ? it takes a lot of work to really get lady to fall for someone. though she desperately wants a family of her own after hers imploded due to her carelessness, she’s very guarded because of it as well.  In their view, why didn’t any past relationships work out ? she’s been caught up in someone else.  What do they look for in someone ? she wants someone to put in even half the effort she knows she could give. she wants passion alongside the comfortable moments and the moments of “i can’t believe this part of my life.”  Do they believe in love at first sight ? or fate ? no, not particularly love at first sight...fate, perhaps. though she believes one can control their own fate if they so choose.  What’s their views on romance ? Do they go after it or avoid it ? lady loves the idea of romance, but she’s not sure on the logistics or how to get it. she doesn’t particularly like how her heart and her brain tell her different things.  Did they have their first time already ? How was it in their point of view ? yes and somewhat disappointing--some guy she dated in her first year of college for about 6 months that she grew tired of and broke things off with. she thought she loved him at the time, but realized it was only an infatuation.  What is their view on sex ? it’s fun, but she’s started thinking of it as something more as she’s gotten a little older. she’s not trying to save herself (that’s over & done with) but she does prefer to save sex for people she’s truly connected with and feels a deep love for.  What are their turn ons and turn offs ? turn ons, she prefers someone else taking control, longer hair, and breathy words. turn offs, she’s not a fan of someone grossly inexperienced, with poor hygiene, or a messy room (or wherever the sex is happening, honestly.)  Were they ever cheated on or have they cheated on someone ? to her knowledge, she’s never been cheated on. she may have kissed some other boy in high school while “dating” another boy, but she couldn’t have been more than 15. she’s never cheated in her adult “relationships.”  Do they want to get married in the future ? absolutely.  Have kids ? definitely. 

QUIRKS.

Are they right or left handed ? right handed.  What’s a word that’s always on their lips ? serendipity.  Is there a saying they keep on repeating ? don’t judge a book by its cover.  Do they curse ? when she’s particularly angry, yes.  What’s their worst habit ? jealousy.  Do they drink or smoke ? How frequently ? both occasionally, moreso when she’s left alone and doesn’t know how to handle what she’s feeling without being inebriated. that’s very rare, however, and she usually reserves her vices to a glass or two of red wine.  Are they an early bird or a night owl ? early bird.  How tidy is their room ? immaculate. lady loves having a place for all of her things. there’s hardly a shoelace out of place in her room.  How long to they usually take getting ready in the morning ? depends on what her plans are for the day, but her average routine takes about 25-30 minutes. it’ll go a bit longer if she has something planned with james, especially a nighttime outing. 

FAVORITES.

What’s their favorite color ? tiffany blue.  Favorite movie ? 10 things i hate about  you.  Music Genre ? pop? Food ? italian.  Book ? currently, meddling kids by edgar cantero Favorite non-alcoholic drink ? iced dirty chai latte Ice Cream Flavor ? neopolitan  Indoors or outdoors ? a bit of both. 

[silvurgalaxies]

Things that really Butter my Klance Croissant

Reminder: I would love if it became canon but I am totally supportive of the show’s creators and their decisions! Whether these scenes are completely taken out of context as just friend scenes is totally fine! It’s just some things I still can’t get off my mind when we’re talking Klance. Their relationship as friends and equals has grown so much and I’m so happy for them. Platonic or romantic Klance is great. 

- The bonding moment where they held hands and stared at each other while smiling for a good solid few minutes while Shiro helped Pidge up. “We are a good team” can be just a simple ‘we’re becoming bros!’ line but the staring at each other for a few minutes just really butters my croissant 

- The fact that Lance denied this moment to see Keith’s reaction, or just to mess with him, and how offended Keith was that Lance “Forgot”. Also don’t forget that Keith waited anxiously for Lance to wake up in that same episode. 

- Same episode as the bonding moment: Lance flying his lion on that one planet and there’s the bisexual flag colors in the background and THATS TEA. 

- The fact that when Lance was like “can u come and unchain me” Keith wanted to mess with him back because Lance didn’t remember the bonding moment, spurring a “I thought we bonded!” retort from Lance 

- The fact that Lance puts Keith on a pedestal as something to strive to be like in seasons 1-2. By the end, Lance sees himself as an equal to Keith, giving the boy better self-esteem, regardless if Keith helped with that or not, either way,  that makes me happy. 

- The whole pool scene where they’re both shirtless and stuck in the elevator. “You stay on one side of the pool, and I’ll stay on the other”. “You aren’t shoving hard enough!” 

- Lance recognizes Keith by his hair in the first episode. 

- Lance did not give a single care about the fact that Keith was part-Galra, while the rest of the team had their fears about it. Especially Allura.

- Lance was the first one to step up and support Keith as the new black lion pilot after Shiro vanished, and became his impulse control in season 3, and Keith helped Lance realize his full potential and rise to the spot of “Right hand man” being the pilot of red. 

- “Hey man”

- Lance talking to Keith about the fact he feels he doesn’t or isn’t useful to the team and Keith having to talk him out of a tree. 

- “Leave the math to Pidge” that was so smooth thank you Keith 

- Lance was so excited when Keith returned to the team. 

- “Bigger, cooler, grizzled, older brother.” Thank you Loverboy Lance

- The game show in season 7 where I quote Lance, “I think, he’s like, the future!” followed by a warm smile from Lance. Keith picks Lance, and he’s a bit colder about it but, out of the WHOLE TEAM, he picked Lance. “I just don’t want to be stuck here for an eternity with Lance” alright m8 sure whatever u say

- “look I’m glad we’re all making fun of lance” 

- “heh, like that?” 

-The official art for season 8 has got me shook, like, are they holding hands or what?? 

These things just really butter my croissant idk I needed to write them down feel free to add on if you want. 

[izlaria]

Someone you like (part 1, updated)

After uploading the first part of my plance fic here, I ended up writing more on that same period of time. It’s not much, but I thought I would add it anyway.

This fic is based on the “Someone you like” animatic by honestlyprettychill. Their work is super bomb, so I ask you guys to go check it out and give the artist some love. With this update, I’m hoping to have wrapped up on the pre-Garrison time period, and I have already started writing Pidge’s pov of their time as students, so you’ll have that to look foward to, if you end up enjoying this fic. My other post has more disclaimers, so you can find it here. This story is also available on AO3.

The part I added comes after the -- that I used as a page break.

Thanks to everyone who has liked and reblogged this verse. Feel free to add comments in the tags or to straight up come talk to me. I love feedback.

Spanish to English translations at the end.

14 and 12 years old

The truth was that Lance went to Space Camp because Veronica could be a little pest. She knew their parents wouldn’t let her go alone and so had enticed her younger brother with the promise of travel and foreign girls and no parental supervision.

Veronica had obviously left out the fact that they were essentially going to school on steroids for a month, smack in the middle of their summer break. Cool as Miami might seem, Lance wasn’t exactly excited for all the extra work the camp would entail.

“No es un acampamiento,” his sister repeated for what felt like the thousandth time. He wasn’t listening anymore. “Tú sabes que el campo de explotación espacial no está muy desenvuelto en Cuba. Si realmente quieres trabajar con eso, entonces simplemente cállate y no insultes a nadie.”

“¿Cuando he insultado a alguien?” he shot back, defensive. Veronica didn’t dignify that with an answer.

As much as Lance might like to think himself very smooth, there were still times when he stumbled over his words, especially in English. More than once he’d meant to pay someone a compliment and had accidentally started an argument of some kind.

Veronica looked impatiently at her watch. “Mira, tengo una reunión con mi orientador. Y tú tienes por lo menos dos artículos para leer para las clases de mañana, ¿por qué no vas a la biblioteca para trabajar un poco? Prometo comprarte una hamburguesa después.”

Lance pouted at her, arms crossed over his chest. “Me debes más que una hamburguesa y lo sabes, Ronie.”

His sister snickered, but it was as much of an acknowledgement as he was going to get. Veronica pressed a quick kiss to his hair, already turning to go into the main building.

“¡Gracias, hermanito! ¡No te arrepentirás!”

In all honesty, Lance wasn’t as irritated as he made Veronica believe. He knew that a summer program in Miami was a really good opportunity, especially if he wanted to get into the Garrison in the following years. It was just difficult.

He was diligent and studious, but not as naturally gifted as some of the other kids. Besides, he hadn’t been to the US in a couple years, since his parents had mostly settled down in the family farm, which meant he still had to fall back into his English, a task made even more frustrating by the xenophobic comments from one of the boys in his AP geometry class.

The teacher had put an end to it right away, but the words stuck with Lance, for some reason.

With how much humanity had progressed in terms of technology, one would think they would be able to get past petty rivalry between nationalities and usually that was true, but the influx of foreigners following the establishment of the Galaxy Garrison in the US desert still annoyed some people, despite its existence as a multinational center for space exploration. It irritated Lance to no end, especially when so many of these scientific advances came from international collaboration.

If only he could shrug off the inadequacy that now grew in his chest.

Straight ahead, there was a path that led to a green area in the middle of the campus. The other students had taken to calling it the Woods, though it was more of a middle-sized park, with benches and picnic tables where anyone from the Institute could go to relax. That’s where Lance went, mind too full to really focus on homework.

He wondered if people would react that same way if he ever made it into the Garrison. He didn’t know how Veronica dealt with it all, especially when she was alone in Arizona most of the time. Barely a week had passed and Lance already missed his parents, the tenderness of home-cooked food and well-intended lectures.

No, he had to believe that Billy Underwood was an exception. The other kids hadn’t joined in on his taunts, even if no one had moved to defend Lance. It was still too early to make conclusions on his colleagues, especially when everyone had seemed so charmed by him before then.

Lance was so lost in thought that he didn’t realize he had been standing in front of one of the benches until a new voice broke through the peace of the park.

“Are you just gonna stand there?”

The words were somewhat harsh, but when Lance lowered his eyes to their source the girl winced, grimacing. She seemed to have spoken impulsively.

“Hmm, yeah.” Lance blinked at her for a moment, before finally sitting down on the bench. He made sure to leave space between him and the girl, not wanting to make the situation even more awkward.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you,” the girl said after a moment of silence. She looked at him sideways and her brown eyes seemed almost golden in the sunlight. There were freckles spread across the bridge of her nose and across her cheeks, and the green ribbon in her hair swayed in the wind. It was a soft sight, a contrast to the steeliness of her posture and gaze.

“It’s fine,” Lance hurried to assure her. She looked young, but so did he, and talking to complete strangers never failed to make him nervous. “Nothing like a little girl yelling at me to bring me back to earth.”

He gave her his best grin, the one reserved for first impressions and fancy parties. It was supposed to project confidence and kindness, even though Luis said he ended up looking a bit smug.

“I didn’t yell,” the girl pointed out with a light frown. Then her eyes shifted into a more calculating look. “You’re a bit of a goofball, aren’t you?”

“I prefer the term good-humored,” he replied jokingly.

She continued to stare. Lance got the feeling that the girl did this a lot. She had an untamed intelligence to her that Lance couldn’t completely understand. It was the sort of air that teachers sometimes carried, as if they could see something deeper in you if they looked long enough.

“It didn’t seem like you were feeling all that good-humored just now.” She tilted her head to the side, letting the words hang between them.

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true,” Lance found himself saying.

“Do you… want to talk about it?” She looked so doubtful that it almost made Lance laugh. The feeling, however, was overcome by the relief of finally having someone who would listen.

He had spent the week trying and failing to explain to Veronica what was truly making him feel down. She was too busy or too happy for Lance to tell her the truth, especially when it left him so vulnerable. After all, Veronica had taken to her work on the Institute like a fish to water. Lance was supposed to be more adaptable than this.

With the rest of his family away in Cuba, he felt unbearably lonely.

“Yes! Thank you!” Lance shifted in the bench to face the girl. She was taken aback by his enthusiasm, but didn’t move away. “There’s this cabrón in my class, who thought it was a good idea to mess with me, just ‘cause I said fábrica instead of factory in our first day here. He hasn’t really left me alone since…” he whined. “I speak two languages but somehow I’m the uneducated ass here!”

The girl nodded, eyes downcast. “I know what you mean.”

“You do?” He eyed the fairness of her skin and the almost ginger of her hair. “Sorry, but you look white.”

Lance’s comment must have taken her by surprise, because she actually laughed.

“I am white. I’m also Italian.” She rolled her eyes, but there was amusement in the tug of her lips. “I can be both.”

“That’s true.” Lance grinned sheepishly. It was good that she wasn’t offended by his lack of filter. “You don’t have much of an accent, though.”

“Neither do you,” the girl bit back, no real animosity in her tone.

He shrugged. “My family spent a lot of time in the US when I was younger. It used to be second nature to me. Now, I keep feeling like I have to hold back the instinct to roll my R’s.”

“I get that. My parents moved here right after I was born, but we used to speak Italian in the house.” There was a pause here, something that she couldn’t bring herself to say. “I think it’s cool that you can speak Spanish. It’s useful.”

“Yeah?” Lance sat up straight, feeling suddenly boastful.

“Sure!” she continued, encouraged by his interest. “The Bouman Aeronautics Research Institute really values multiculturalism! It is a hob of different nationalities and perspectives, created to foster new minds from around the world! Or that’s what my brother says, at least, and he is rarely wrong.” She gave him a smirk that quickly shifted into a grimace. “Don’t tell him I said that or he will never let me forget it.”

“Older brother?” At her nod, Lance smiled. “I got older siblings too. Sort of the reason I’m here in the first place, actually. One of them was accepted as a researcher and she tricked me into applying too.”

“Same, actually.” She seemed startled for a moment, pulling out her cellphone. “Freak, I have to go! I completely lost track of time while reading.” She got up to go, collecting the book she’d apparently put down to talk to him. It was a thick volume with numbers on the cover, but it didn’t look like math.

Another green ribbon fluttered to the ground, having escaped the pages of the book. Lance bent down to pick it up.

“Here.” He stretched it out to the girl. “Wouldn’t want to lose its pair,” he said with a wink.

“Thanks for reminding me!” She grabbed the ribbon hurriedly, then paused, turning back to Lance. “And for the conversation, I guess.”

Lance grinned at her. She was a little awkward but in an endearing way, like she wasn’t used to having the attention of others on her. Given she empathized with his circumstances in the Institute, it wasn’t that big of a leap to assume that she had trouble making friends.

“Bye bye, Italian girl.” He waved, glad that he could spend these few minutes with her.

“Farewell, Spanish boy.”

Lance meant to correct her about his nationality, but she took out running, clearly late for something. He laughed at the way she stumbled across the uneven ground, careless like a little kid. It was a strange juxtaposition: the thoughtfulness of her earlier words and the childishness of her smile now.

He settled back into the bench, feeling much more content than he’d been earlier. It was nice to talk to people outside of class, for a change.

And, well, Italian girl was pretty. A bit young-looking for him, but he thought guys her age should be tripping over their feet for a chance to talk to her.

“Hey, you’re Lance, right?” A boy had approached while Lance observed the girl disappear from sight. He was tall and robust, with shortly cropped hair, but his expression was friendly. “You’re in my Analytics class.”

It took Lance a second to place him. Analytics was one of the classes Lance struggled with the most, so he hadn’t had as much opportunity to joke around there.

“And you’re Hunk!” Lance snapped his fingers, smiling. “Sit down, man! What can I do for ya?”

--

“No, I promise you, she’s a cutie!” Lance exclaimed, hands waving around in the air. Hunk chuckled at his exuberance.

“I believe you, Lance.” His friend’s tone was fond and amused, which brought a smile to Lance’s face. “You’ve told me about Italian girl a hundred times already. Why don’t you just approach her again? You said you saw her on campus.”

It was true, he had seen her: running across the woods with her arms full of books; sitting by the big windows in the cafeteria, papers spread across the nearby seats; standing under an oak tree with her face turned towards the wind, her long hair escaping from where she’d tied it back.

Lance pouted at Hunk. “She hasn’t spoken to me since…” he mumbled.

“Well,” Hunk scrunched up his brows in thought, “you did say she seemed younger than us. She’s probably just embarrassed about venting to a stranger out of nowhere.”

Lance threw himself onto his bed so that Hunk wouldn’t see his face contort in a grimace. He hadn’t meant to twist the story so badly, but he had already started talking about Italian girl before he realized he didn’t want to share his insecurities with the other boy. Hunk was almost excessively easy to talk to, but they’d known each other for too short a time.

“She didn’t seem like the shy type,” he retorted, arms spread over his head. “Too snipy.”

Hunk had gotten up from his place at the desk and moved to sit on the bed, shaking his head at Lance. He had kind eyes, something that Lance hadn’t really noticed on that first week in the Institute. Some things just got lost amid the noise, he reasoned.

“For someone who feels no shame hitting on random girls, you sure are hung up on this one.” Hunk poked him on the ribs and Lance recoiled, twisting away.

“It’s not like that!” Even as he said it, Lance could feel his neck grow warm. He wasn’t really attracted to the girl, but there was something pleasant about her that did leave him faltering. “Seriously, dude, she’s probably the same age as my little sister!”

Hunk hummed in acceptance. “If you say that’s not it, then I believe you. You just talk about her a lot for someone who you only met once.”

Lance sat up to look Hunk in the eyes. It was true that his mind kept drifting back towards that girl, but he didn’t think the emotion she awakened in him was romantic.

“I’ve just never clicked with anyone like that,” he confessed, bringing his knees up to his chest. “And maybe that’s also why I haven’t talked to her again. ‘Cause what if it was a hoax?”

“So you don’t want to ruin the memory of it?” Hunk put a finger to his chin in a considering motion. “That’s fair.”

There was more to it, but Lance didn’t feel like explaining himself further. Several times he had gone by Italian girl in the library, even stopped to look at her, considering, but whenever she raised those amber eyes to meet his, Lance froze. He blushed and blustered and eventually left.

It was nice to see her smiling, though, even if it was at his expense. She was always alone when Lance saw her and it reminded him of how isolated he’d felt before befriending Hunk.

Italian girl was clearly smart, probably smarter than almost anyone in the institute, given how fast she went through those complicated-looking books. She also spent a lot of time in the library, because it was where Lance most ran into her. It was always her and her astronomy books and her ribbons.

Maybe he was projecting. Luis said he did this a lot.

“I just hope she found a friend here,” he said, more to himself than to Hunk, “someone who will also end up a little late just because they want to hear her out.”

Hunk studied his face, making Lance shift his position in discomfort.

“Who could have known?” the boy started teasingly. “You’re actually a good guy behind all that arrogance.”

Lance used his elbow to push Hunk off the bed, complaining more dramatically than was truly warranted. His friend laughed as he got up, only to throw himself back onto Lance to mess up his hair.

“What the hell, dude? Going for my hairdo?” He tried to free himself from Hunk’s arm around his neck. “Friendship over! We are no longer rooming when we get to the Garrison!”

Hunk didn’t let up and the two continued to laugh well into the afternoon.

Their time in the Institute would end in a little over a week, and Italian girl would drift to the back of Lance’s mind to become a lovely memory, just the afterimage of someone who could have meant more to him.

Translations:

“No es un acampamiento.Tú sabes que el campo de explotación espacial no está muy desenvuelto en Cuba. Si realmente quieres trabajar con eso, entonces simplemente cállate y no insultes a nadie.” - “It’s not a camp. You know that the field of space exploration is not very well developped in Cuba. If you really do want to work in this area, then simply shut up and don’t insult anyone.”

“¿Cuando he insultado a alguien?” - “When have I insulted anyone?”

“Mira, tengo una reunión con mi orientador. Y tú tienes por lo menos dos artículos para leer para las clases de mañana, ¿por qué no vas a la biblioteca para trabajar un poco? Prometo comprarte una hamburguesa después.” - “Look, I have a meeting with my coordinator. And you have at least two articles to read for tomorrow’s classes. Why don’t you go work for a bit in the library? I promise to buy you a burger later.”

“Me debes más que una hamburguesa y lo sabes, Ronie.” - “You owe me more than a burger and you know it, Ronie.”

“¡Gracias, hermanito! ¡No te arrepentirás!” - “Thank you, little brother! You won’t regret it!”

Cabrón - Bastard

[langstwhynot]

Formers (part 1)

(i had to repost it bc i accidentally deleted the original. It also gave me the chance to correct some of my grammar mistakes, so if you didn't understand the original part 1, you can read that instead) (you can ask me what happened in this part if u still didn't understand my shitty writing, don't be shy!)

The fic is based on a dream I had. Thanks brain.

Warnings for this chapter: grammar mistakes, passing out.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

The squashed paper flew in the air and met the corner of the two walls, falling down into the garbage can.

“Score!” Lance shouted and pushed his legs down from the table, making his chair turn in it’s place, thanks for it having wheels. Hunk pulled down the book he was reading and gave Lance a disappointed look.

After the chair finally stopped turning and Lance’s vision focused on the now-not-spinning room, he noticed Hunk’s glare.

“Oh come on Hunk!” Lance threw his arms in the air with a hurtful look. “You know I can’t focus with that shit, it’s soooo boring!!” Hunk sighed and pulled the book up in front of his face. “I know buddy, but we gotta pass this test. It’s important.”

Lance grunted. “Why do we need to learn math anyway?” He mumbled under his breath and turned back to his desk. He faced down the book, and glared on the opened notebook next to it.

So many numbers.

“Nope.” He turned the chair around and got up, walking out of the room. “Where are you going?” Hunk pulled the book down once again, leaning forward to look out into the hallway, searching for any sign of Lance. “I’m going to get me a coffee!!” He heard Lance speak loudly from the kitchen. Hunk flinched.

“W-wait! What about me!! Hold on I’m coming!!” Hunk threw the book backward on to the couch he got up from and grabbed his jacket hanging on the one door to the room, putting it on while he ran in the hallways of the house.

He got exactly on time when Lance opened the main door. Hunk jumped out of the apartment and Lance locked the door behind them, throwing Hunk the keys.

As they were walking down the street over to that one cafe place where all their group meets up sometimes, Lance smiled at the pile of snow filling the sides of the closet road.

He loved the winter.

Of course, he loved the summer too, when he could go to the beach and swim with his little siblings, or go for a little hike into the woods with his older sister. He chuckled at the memory of the two gossiping about people from school up at the mountain behind the neighborhood.

And his birthday! The only day focused just about him.

But there was something about the winter that made his heart race when he stared at the white snow. The white, cold snow, who made him feel safe and somehow warm from all the pain and darkness out there in the real world where no one is there for you or can reach for you if you’re deep down in the mess you made and you keep drowning when you realize you can’t sto-

“Lance?”

He flinched and turned his head over to Hunk, who seemed worried. “Yeah, dude?” He said, slowly his mind was getting back to reality. Hunk raised an eyebrow. “You look pale, are you cold? Do I need to give you my jacket?”

Lance stared at Hunk for a few seconds without saying or doing anything, but then shook his head and laughed. “No! I’m fine! Just had some… deep thoughts! Haha.” He smiled, ignoring the headache he felt building itself in his forehead. Hunk smiled back.

Then the two kept walking.

When they entered the cafe, the warmth of the inside doors and the heaters work really kicked away all the coldness from outside. Lance sighed happily and took down his coat, leaving on his blue scarf and black knitted hat (idk have mercy). He tied it around his hips and turned over to Hunk. “What do you want to drink, big guy?”

Hunk hummed and looked at the big menu hanging above the bar. “I’ll take vanilla.” He looked back at Lance and smiled. Lance nodded and turned around, walking over to the bar.

A young woman stood there and gritted him with a “Hey” when he reached his destination. She had red hair tied in a ponytail, and green forest eyes. He smiled and waved. “One Vanilla and One Mocha please.”

She nodded and typed the computer next to her, then turned around and started to work on the coffees he just ordered.

Lance looked at her working when a wave of tiredness hit him, and his eyelashes felt heavier.

He closed his eyes, letting his mind focus on the sounds of the coffee machines and the talking behind him. He heard laughers and people sipping their hot tea, or coffee. He heard the buttons of the keyboards being pressed, by some laptop owners that brought their work down to the shop. In the background of all of that was a nice calm song Lance couldn’t remember it’s name, and the bell of the front door calling with it’s rings every time someone entered or got out.

Lance opened his eyes and find the coffee girl still working.

And suddenly, just like that, his vision got blurred. The girl splitter into two versions of her and his eyes hurt with the pressure of being open for too long.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to make it go away, but he made his headache stronger, and to the room spin around.

Then Lance started to panic.

No, not now, not after months of it not happening. It hurts, it burns, but it’s freezing and so cold. But what exactly was it? He couldn’t tell, every time it happened it felt worse and worse with the days and whatever he did, he couldn’t stop it.

How can he stop it?

“Sir?” The girl asked, holding a cap in each hand and looking at him with a confused worried face. “I…I-!” Lance gasped. The girl seemed to understand and she put the two caps down on the bar, running around it to reach Lance, who just fell to the ground.

“Sir?!” She didn’t know his name, but she hoped she spoke loud enough to draw someone’s attention to notice.

Hunk noticed.

“Lance?! Oh god, what happened??” He ran over to his friend and lifted his head from the floor, putting it on his lap. “L-Lance?!” It was so sudden, Hunk didn’t know what to do. Hunk didn’t know what happened! He was scared and worried, shaking Lance’s body by his shoulders and trying to make him wake up.

People began crowding around the two, some tried to help, some just stared, but the girl from the counter was already gone. Disappeared from view. Not like Hunk really looked for her.

Soon an ambulance came and took Lance away, Hunk wasn’t allowed to drive with him. He watched as the ambulance drove down the road and stared at it, hopeless.

He snapped around and looked at the same road behind him, jumping and waving for the taxi coming closer. It stopped by Hunk and he got in. “Drive after that ambulance, NOW!” Hunk pointed on the ambulance through the windshield.

The driver just pulled up his shoulders and started driving.

~~~

When Lance woke up, he got blinded by the light of the hospital room hanging above his bed. It took his eyes a few minutes to get used to it as he blinked in confusion. He turned his head to lay on it’s another side and noticed the window to his left.

The lights and shining dots from the city spread underneath the black sky filled with white stars. Lance sighed and drifted off to sleep again.

~~~

The second time when Lance woke up, it was mostly because of the noise in the room.

He opened his eyes and blinked, but not too many times, because now he didn’t have the lights from the night before shining down on his face, someone must have turned it off because of the daylight. He was thankful for that. He let his mind focus on the faces of the people who sat around his bed and their conversation that was at first a bit blurred to be heard. Then he coughed, making them all go silent as they turned their heads to look at him.

“Lance!” Hunk’s voice filled the quiet room.

Immediately two big arms warped around Lance’s neck, but not so strong so they won’t choke him. “Hey buddy.” Lance spoke calmly and looked over Hunk’s shoulder to see that the others were alerted too on what happened, otherwise they wouldn't be in the room right now.

“How are you doing Lance?” Shiro asked, his black hair being pushed by the wind coming from the open window. Allura instantly went to close it when she noticed Lance eyeing to it.

Hunk let go of Lance and stood back, looking down at him with a worried look on his face. He kept one hand on his shoulder.

Lance took a deep breath to process what hurts and how to tell them without making them worry. He looked up to Shiro again and smiled weakly. “I feel great.”

A laugh came from his right side. Lance turned his head slowly to noticed Pidge sitting on a chair with a laptop on her crossed legs. “I’m sure you feel great due to a headache and aching bones you have.” She glared at him and Lance laughed silently from shame. “Don’t lie to us Lance, we talked to the doctors. We know what’s going on.” She continues, with a more serious face.

“That’s a lie. We don’t know exactly what’s going on.” Keith, who stood next to Shiro with his crossed arms looked over to Pidge with an eyebrow raised. Lance turned to him. “What do you mean?”

Keith sighed.

“She meant that we know what symptoms you have, but we don’t know what exactly made you pass out. The doctors don’t know either.” His face softened as he turned his gaze to Lance. Lance face fell.

“But hey! Don’t worry about it! I’m sure they’re working the hardest they can on that case.” Allura came and sat by Lance’s hospital bed, and Lance gave her a tiny sad smile. She returned it.

They kept talking and laughing, mostly his friends, Lance almost didn’t talk, but that was fine. They assumed he was tired or something and after two hours when Lance yawned, Shiro suggested they should let him rest.

“No Lance, I insist. You have to get some sleep to be able to stay awake for tomorrow’s meeting with the doctors.” Shiro said as he held the door, ready to close it behind him and the others that already stood outside.

“Alright, thank you guys for coming.” Lance sighed and smiled.

“Of course.” Shiro Gave him a nod and waved for goodbye, closing, as he walked out, the door.

Now Lance was alone again.

He let his head fall to it’s side and look at the closed window. He knew it was winter, but Lance really wanted to feel the little warmth the sun gave them in this coldest season, dancing on his tan skin, and the beams of the light that escaped through the cloudy ceiling of the sky just teased him to feel that specific warmth again.

He hissed and sat up, grunting from the pain as shivers ran through his whole body. He wrapped himself in his blue hospital blanket and turned around, to let his legs fall out of the bed, down to the floor.

Then he put all his body weight on his weak jelly legs. He stumbled his way to the wall and leaned against it, sliding over to the window.

When he reached the closed window he pulled his head closer to look out of it. Lance felt like the green trees covered in white snow that fell from them as the wind brushed it off almost called for him and rang in his ears. He had to open the window.

So Lance let go of hugging the blanket around him and got his arms out, letting the blanket rest heavily on his shoulders as it slowly slipped down to the floor. Lance put his hands in the handle of the window and tried to push the window up.

Sadly, he was too weak to do it.

And after the third time he tried but it ended without success, he let go. Just then he realized he was holding his breath during his work. Now his head felt even dizzier and the room spun around. He let himself lean his side on the wall and slid down to sit on the cold floor, the blanket halfway down his body.

The door was opened slowly and a gasp followed not long after. “Damn, dude!”

Lance couldn’t see exactly who was the owner of the voice, and what was pulling him up by his shoulders, he just wanted to open the window.

“W…window…” He almost whispered as he was put back on the bed and sat there facing the white wall, not even being aware of that. “I’ll open the window, you just lie down ok?” The person said, and steps were heard walking away. Then the “woosh” of the window being pulled up.

Lance smiled to himself as the cold air met his heated skin. He lay back on his pillow, not bothering to grab the blanket up to cover his body and not just his left hip and two legs.

The person sighed and a sound of a chair being dragged came closer to Lance’s ears. “So how you doing man?” They asked. Lance hummed and gave a little nod. “Now better.” He mumbled. The person scoffed.

Then it was silence for a few more minutes before Lance opened his eyes again when he felt like his head calmed down a bit. He turned his head to the person sitting in a chair next to his bed, who had their arms crossed and stared blankly down at their legs.

“What the hell.” He whispered, drawing the person’s attention. They waved with a grin. “Do I know you?”

The person scoffed again.

“Aw, don’t you remember me?” They talked in a childish and like sad tune. Lance sat up and was about to speak when the person got up and pushed him to lay back down.

Lance struggled to get up, but it was mostly him fighting himself. “Woah! Hey! You shouldn’t be fighting it! It will only make it worse!” They yelled quietly, not wanting to be heard by the people outside and get arrested for whatever they will come up with now.

Lance stopped, he was breathing fast and sweat came down his forehead. He looked into the person’s eyes with a confused look. The person didn’t move.

“Wait a minute… aren’t you…?”

“Yep.” The girl smirked and let Lance go, by this time he didn’t try to get up, he just looked at her sitting back down in her chair.

“You’re the cashier from the café!” He yelled and was thrown into a coughing pit. She just stared at him and waited for him to finish.

“W-“ he coughed a few more times. “What are you doing here?”

“Well.” She straightened her back on the chair and looked around to room, avoiding eye contact. “I don’t know you, and I don’t really care either, but I’m such a good person, so I came here to help.” When she finished, she finally looked over at the confused “offended” Lance.

“Well I don’t know you either, and last time I checked, you’re a cashier, not a doctor. So sorry but I don’t think you can help.” He talked aggressively. “Except opening a window, you’re lucky I’m too weak to do that myself.” He said when he felt the wind blowing his hair to the side once more.

“Oh trust me, I know more than these losers.” She scoffed and leaned backwards on the chair, raising an eyebrow with a grin on her face. Lance rolled his eyes.

“Fine.” She said and got up, walking over to the door, around the bed, as Lance’s eyes followed her walking with a confused look on his face. “I know what pain you must feel, but if you don’t want my help then I guess I should go…” she said and opened the door when she heard him speak again.

“Wait!”

She turned around.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“What do you mean what do I mean?” She smirked and Lance rolled his eyes again.

“You said you know what pain I feel, how?” He slapped the annoyance out of his face to put serious back on track. She closed the door and turned to look at Lance with her arms crossed.

“Well I think I know what you feel, I read about it.”

Lance was so confused. “You read about it? What? Where?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “Oh my friend Lance, you have no idea what you’re getting into aren’t you?”

Lance kicked the blanket down to the floor and got up, drawing the attention back to him. She saw Lance standing up straight, realizing how tall he really is. He looked serious when he stepped closer to the girl and was almost chest to chest with her. “I just want answers.” He whispered. “I’m going through this pain for so long, I need, answers.”

“And there’s no way you’re getting out of here without telling me what you know.” He said, and when the girl looked into his eyes she smirked as she saw the light flashes in his eyeballs.

[miss-rosie]

-The Klance Post-

-Disclaimer: this post is in no way intending to hate on any other ships, especially Allurance. It is simply me talking about my opinions on who will be the endgame couple. Everyone is free to ship whatever they want, I am not in any way saying that my ship is the only good one.-

So, this is it I guess. In a few hours, the final season of Voltron will drop and finally we will find out whether Klance will become canon or not. It’s been a crazy ride with this show, but honestly I couldn’t be more grateful. I have so many happy memories from this show and I’ve learned from and related so much to the characters, as well as met my best friend and so many wonderful people through the fandom. As you may know, Klance is kind of my life and I am very optimistic that they will become canon in the next few hours. However, even if they don’t, this ship has made me smile, and laugh, and cry, and I will never stop loving it regardless. 

I’ve been working on this post for almost 2 months now, and finally, a few hours before the last season drops, I’m finally posting it. This is basically just all the evidence I’ve compiled that makes me believe so strongly that Klance will be the canon endgame. I basically restored my own faith in Klance while writing this. So if you’re looking for some hope in these last moments, just keep reading... 

________________________________________________________________

Ok guys, to start off, I want to talk about this live stream done by Jeremy Shada. (the voice of Lance)

In the live stream, a fan asks Jeremy if he can elaborate on Lance’s endgame. Obviously, he can’t tell them the answer, or say too much at all, because that would spoil the ending of the show, but what he does say gives some solid evidence for why the endgame will be Klance. Allow me to break it down for you. 

The main thing I want to focus on is when he says that some people will think "oh this thing came out of nowhere!"

I think it's safe to say that most of the people who watch this show, but aren't really in the online fandom, would naturally assume that Allurance is the endgame. If you think about it, Lance has been flirting with Allura since the first episode, and they had that scene in season 7 where they blushed at each other which obviously would be seen as very romantically coded to anyone with eyes. Therefore, to most casual viewers, there wouldn’t really even be a question as to who the endgame couple will be, as Lance has only ever actually admitted out loud to liking Allura. So my point here is that Allurance isn’t really the a ship that would seem “out of nowhere” to most of the viewers. Even people who don’t ship Allurance, including myself, can see that so far the only explicitly proven romantic scenes have been with them. However, Jeremy clearly states that the romance endgame in the show will seem to come out of nowhere to some people. Well, of the only two endgames that seem to really be options at this point, Klance or Allurance, which one do you think would probably seem to come as a surprise to most casual viewers? The one where the boy has been pining after the girl since the first episode, and has spoken many times throughout the show about his crush on her. Or the rivals who couldn’t even speak to each other for the first season or two without getting into an argument? Yeah, that’s what I thought. 

I think we can all agree that most casual viewers would think Klance totally came out of nowhere, not Allurance. Since these people had never even considered the two of them could ever develop a strong loving relationship, they will likely have not realized that over the course of the show, Lance and Keith have in fact had the most developed relationship of all the characters. They go from rivals, to colleagues, to friends, to something so much more. They have gone through so much together and have grown and matured so much both individually, and in their relationship, that if those viewers had payed attention to the two of them and how the way they interact and view each other throughout the show continued to change and develop, they really wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them end up in a relationship. 

Another thing important thing Jeremy says in the live stream that is that "the creators put little things throughout the series in ways to kind of make it as a whole make sense.” 

By saying this, Jeremy continues to support the point I was making earlier, that if one were to simply pay attention to how the creators have developed Lance and Keith’s relationship in small ways from the very beginning, the endgame would easily make sense as a whole.  

There is so much foreshadowing, so many parallels, so many unnecessarily soft looks towards each other, to possibly ignore that Keith and Lance are written as a pair. Just as Hunk and Pidge are portrayed as the tech genius pals and Shiro and Allura as the strong selfless leaders, Lance and Keith are constantly portrayed as a set, although the exact definition of their relationship continues to change. If you were to watch the show over again and count every time Lance and Keith are standing right beside each other, that alone would be enough to prove that the two are clearly set up to have some sort of significant relationship, whatever that relationship may be. 

I could go on, but there just isn’t enough room in this post to have a picture of every time these two are together, and I think you get the point. 

Now enough about the livestream. There’s a lot more evidence still to get into. 

In a panel for the show, Josh Keaton (voice of Shiro) encouraged fans asking about the endgame relationship to be patient (true to character as always) as the endgame is set up as a slow-burn. 

Although Lance has flirted with Allura since episode one, Allurance is in no way a slow-burn relationship. A relationship requires effort from both sides. Their relationship has in no way developed at all until the end of season 6, when Allura finally begins to acknowledge Lance’s presence, although only viewing him as a friend, as she was in love with Lotor at the time. So, while Lance has been putting in the effort from the beginning, Allura has never once shown anything but annoyance or at best indifference towards his advances until after she is betrayed by Lotor in the second to last season. Then she suddenly develops a crush on him in the span of half a season. 

On the other hand, Klance is the perfect example of what a slow-burn relationship looks like. These two boys start out with a lot of tension, caused by Lance’s one-sided rivalry with Keith (one that he created out of jealousy that Keith was always “better than him” instead of actual hatred towards him). It takes them time, but slowly they begin to argue less and work together better as they spend more and more time together. After Shiro disappears and Keith is forced to take his place as the leader, Lance finally matures about their relationship and lets go of the “rivalry” he created with Keith as he steps up to become his right-hand man. It’s after the pressure to maintain this image of hating Keith is finally gone, and Lance allows himself to become openly friends with Keith, that the two quickly become very close. Lance becomes Keith’s support as he struggles to lead the team and deal with the loss of Shiro. Throughout the show, their relationship turns from barely-able-to-say-a-word-to-each-other-without-causing-an-argument to a solid relationship built off of mutual trust and genuine care for the other.

Of the two options, it is clear which one fits Josh’s description better. Klance is a slowburn, Allurance is not. Those are just the facts. 

Now I would like to get into more detail about some of the many parallels the creators put into the show that prove Klance will be the endgame couple. 

First off, there’s the scene where Krolia and Texas found the blue lion together which very similarly resembles the scene when Keith and Lance found her. 

Although the entire team was there when they found Blue, Keith and Lance are the only two that step up in front of her, just like Krolia and Texas did. (Yes, we are calling Keith’s dad Texas in this post, fight me)

There’s also the scene where Keith’s angry expression while Lance was injured perfectly mirrored Krolia’s when Texas was injured. 

In both cases, Keith and Krolia’s love interest was severely injured and they can do nothing but wait while they recover. They both stare to the side and brood with their arms crossed, as their way of dealing with the genuine concern they’re feeling.

^^

(he’s not wrong)

Then there’s the parallel where the creators lowkey made the scene when Texas meets Krolia almost identical to the scene where Keith meets Lance.

In both scenes, there is an explosion in which Krolia and Keith make their entrances, followed by their love interests Texas and Lance discovering them. 

Assuming that this parallel was not just some crazy accidental coincidence, what could possibly be the reason to mirror Lance and Keith’s meeting with Texas and Krolia’s if Lance and Keith were not eventually going to end up in a relationship just like the other couple? Solid math, I know. 

Then we have the parallel when Keith finds out that Krolia left earth so that he would be safe, just like Keith left the team so that Lance could keep his spot in the red lion. 

While Keith doesn’t explicitly say his reason for leaving the team, it’s clear that Lance questioning his place on the team is what made him decide to step aside. Both him and Krolia make a selfless decision to leave the one they love, in order to protect them. 

Then we have my personal favorite... this perfectly identical parallel between Keith/Lance and Allura/Lotor.

Both scenes start off with Lance and Allura having a special moment together, only to be interrupted by their respective love interests and then proceed to direct all their attention to that person. Allura’s face when Lotor calls her is exactly the same as Lance’s when Keith calls.  

Basically, throughout the show, there are many parallels comparing Lance and Keith to characters like Krolia/Texas and Allura/Lotor, both of whom are in (or previously were in) confirmed romantic relationships. 

In an interview, when asked about the significance of parallels in the show, (specifically the one where Texas/Krolia and Keith/Lance find the blue lion in similar ways) Jeremy Shada confirmed that those parallels are very much intentional. 

Here are some clips from his answer to the question. (The answer was very long so I only included the parts that have to do with the parallels and their importance. However none of these clips are taken out of context or edited to seem to mean different then the original answer. These are Jeremy’s exact words.) You can find the entire unedited answer here: 

“Anytime you can have parallels I think, as a viewer, um, there’s just that kind of… uh, unspoken kind of symbolism behind the scenes when it, when you know, there’s a parallel with an earlier scene too and it kind of has that emotional resonance and weight to it. ”

“And so I think those are always intentional. I don’t think, usually I don’t think those are coincidental because especially, if you’re writing something and you write it and you have seasons that are airing when they’re you know, farther through the show, um, you’re kind of going back and going, ‘oh yeah! we did that!’ ”

“And so I don’t think those are usually unintentional, I think those are usually pretty, um, pretty intentional when the team puts those in there.”

Basically, the creators continuously parallel Keith and Lance’s interactions with those of other couples, proving that in the future, the pair will likely become a couple too. 

Still not convinced? Don’t worry, I’m not nearly done yet.

In order to further continue, we first need to talk a little about Keith’s character arc. 

Each of the main character’s in Voltron have an individual arc. Keith’s is all about allowing himself to open up to people and get rid of his fear of loving people and being loved. 

Growing up, Keith was a kid who’s mom left him as a baby, and who’s dad died when he was fairly young. His tragic past had a serious effect on how he handles relationships when he’s older. Keith starts out in the beginning of the show as the “loner”. He is afraid of growing close to people and allowing them to see him vulnerable for fear that they’ll end up leaving, just like his mom did. So to avoid getting even more hurt, he keeps himself closed up, hidden behind so many walls, so that people won’t get close to him. He keeps his feelings locked inside instead of opening up and risking being rejected. 

Now, over the course of the show, Keith has grown and matured so much, and has really overcome this constant need to appear indifferent to people who care about him. An instrumental part of his arc is when he finally finds his mom, and spends those two years on the space whale with her. All that time, seeing each other’s memories, finally understanding why she left him, growing closer together, forming a bond. It’s in those two years that Keith finally realizes that it’s ok to let people love him and to love them back. 

Keith’s arc is about him finding 4 different kinds of love.

The first kind of love, is brotherly love. 

Shiro is the only person who Keith is visibly close to before going to space. He took Keith in when he was a just a problem child to everyone else, jumping from one foster home to the next, and never stopped encouraging him to make something of himself. Despite Shiro never once giving up on him his entire childhood, Keith still hesitates to express how much he cares about him because of his built in fear of rejection. 

In the episode in season 2, where Shiro and Keith meet with the Blade of Marmora for the first time, Keith tells Shiro that he’s like a brother to him. Here, he already loves Shiro, but he’s hesitant to show too much of his emotions for fear that, even after everything Shiro has done to prove that he truly cares about Keith, he might still not feel the same way. 

Compare that scene, to the one where Keith finally says “I love you” for the first time. This is after he’s come to peace with his mom, and with himself, and learned how to let people into his life. The hesitation is gone. Shiro is no longer like a brother to him. He is his brother. 

In this scene we really see how much Keith has grown in the show, as he finally lets himself be vulnerable and say how he feels now that he’s dealt with the trauma caused by his mother leaving. 

Which brings us to the next kind of love Keith will find in the show, motherly love. 

After his entire life of questioning who his mother was and why she left him, Keith finally understands that she did it to protect him and can begin to heal from all the hurt it caused him. In their two years together in the quantum abyss, Keith develops a strong bond with his mom and comes out much more confident because he knows now that she loves him, and he’s finally allowing himself to love her back. 

The third kind of love Keith will find, is the love of a friend. 

Since the beginning of the show, Keith always closed himself off from the rest of the paladins. He would usually stand in the corner when they were having fun together and stay to himself. He never felt like he could fit in and he was always afraid of getting to close to them, again, because he had this huge fear of being rejected. In season 7, when the paladins are lost in space without their lions, they all start to talk very honestly about their feelings and can’t seem to hold back anything they’re thinking, even if it’s hurtful. (almost like they’re drunk, in a way) When Hunk tries to keep him from leaving, Keith snaps and once again falls back into his habit of distancing himself from the people who care about him. When he’s not in a right state of mind, Keith’s insecurity about whether or not the paladins are his friends comes out. 

However, later in the season, when Hunk is struggling with not knowing where his family is, Keith is the one to step up to comfort him, something he never would have had the confidence to do before, because he has learned that Hunk and the rest of the paladins really do care for him as their friend, not just their fellow soldier or leader. 

Finally, Keith realizes that it’s better to let people in, and he is finally able to be a real friend to Hunk and experience the love of friendship. 

Now the final kind of love Keith will experience is the only one that hasn’t had it’s conclusion yet. That is romantic love. Obviously, the only person this could happen with is Lance as Keith has never shown any interest in anyone else. Everything that’s happened to Keith up until this point in his personal journey has been building up to this. Finally allowing himself to be in love with Lance will be the final piece of Keith’s character arc. 

The creators have confirmed that when the same facial expression is used more than once for a certain character, it's because they were intentionally making a connection between the scenes and the emotions that character is feeling. When Keith is talking to someone he deeply cares about, he makes a certain face. He makes it with each of the three people I talked about in regard to his character arc, and also one other time. That time is when he is talking to Lance.

Keith’s talking to Shiro (his brother): 

Keith talking to Krolia (his mother):

Keith talking to Hunk (his friend):

Then there’s Keith talking to Lance (his love interest): 

Still need more proof? Say no more, I got you. 

There is one episode in season 7 that is just packed full of Klance content: The Feud. This also so happens to be an episode which the creators say has a ton of foreshadowing. Everything in this episode just screams KICK. 

Seriously, we can’t even get past the title of the game show without some serious evidence. 

Let’s take a look at the logo for Garfle Warfle Snick. 

Obviously, it’s not written in English, but that is the least important detail. What is worthy of noting is that this logo is an exact copy of the logo for the 1970′s show, The Dating Game, a game show in which couples had to choose their date based off questions they were asked. Take a look. 

Identical right? Although the letters for Garfle Warfle Snick are not written in Engish, the symbols appear to be written in the same font. Then, we also have the way the words fit together, which is perfectly identical. Not to mention, the little flower shapes which were basically copy/pasted from The Dating Game’s logo. 

Now it is important to realize that in animation, every detail is intentional, as it has to be drawn into the scene by the animators. These two logos are so similar, that there is no possible way the creators didn’t purposely make the logo for Garfle Warfle Snick so similar to the logo of The Dating Game. Therefore, there must have been a deliberate reason for the similarity. 

So, remember how I said in The Dating Game couples would have to choose someone to be their date? Yeah, well if we look back to The Feud, who were the only two of the paladins to choose each other to get to leave Garfle Warfle Snick? That’s right. Keith and Lance. 

Now it honestly was a bit of a surprise when Lance chose Keith to leave out of all the paladins. Given his past with making advances towards Allura in order to gain her affection, this would have been the perfect opportunity for Lance to prove to just how serious he was about liking her by giving her his vote. But he didn’t choose Allura. He chose Keith. What does that tell you about how important Keith is to Lance?

Really though, there’s honestly no need to even speculate about Lance’s intentions when he made his choice. His soft, love-sick, face says it all. 

That fucking eyebrow crinkle. That is the face of a man in love. 

Also.. Lance calls Keith “the future”. Despite being just downright romantic as fuck, this is also a nod to this scene from way back in season 2. 

Look at that. Lance started out the show looking for his future Mrs. Blue Lion in any single cute girl he could find in space. Now, 5 seasons later, he finally realizes that Keith has been his future the entire time. 

It’s called, character development. 

And this is not even the first time we’ve seen Lance with that same exact love-sick look while talking about Keith. He makes the same face when gushing about how cool Keith is to Laika.  

Now, while Lance’s reason for choosing Keith has us all in our feels, Keith’s response when he was asked by Bob why he chose Lance was not so romantic, and has a lot of people upset, calling Keith an asshole for being so rude to Lance.

Ok, so I know Keith’s response sounded very rude, but if you think about it for a second, his logic really doesn’t make any sense. Keith knows how important team Voltron is to the universe. If only one of them can get out to continue the mission, Keith knows the weight that decision holds. I find it hard to believe that he would really waste his vote for the sole purpose of getting rid of someone annoying so he could spend the rest of eternity in peace.

Keith spent two years on the space whale in the Quantum Abyss seeing probably hundreds of visions of the past and future. It’s possible that in one of those visions Keith saw Allura and Lance during one of their bonding moments and assumed that she finally started to reciprocate his feelings and that they were together. Seeing Lance choose someone else probably hurt him a lot and because Keith’s instinct when he’s hurt by someone is to retract into himself instead of talking to them about it to keep himself from being hurt anymore, he pushes Lance away. This would explain why, after all the time that Keith had been gone from the team, despite him and Lance having become friends before he left, he totally blew Lance off when he got back. He’s doing what he’s always done. He’s “pushing people away before they reject him”. Instead of allowing himself to keep having the feelings he has for Lance, he completely closes himself up to try and keep his heart from getting broken. He tries to push Lance away and act like he doesn’t care.

What he says about not wanting to spend an eternity with Lance is completely fake. Keith is just pretending he doesn’t have feelings for him because that would leave him vulnerable to be rejected.

Remember, Keith doesn’t get emotional when he’s hurting, his first instinct is to get angry and immediately put up all his walls. Take a look at his body language. He has his arms tightly crossed and he looks very angry. It reminds me a lot of when he went to talk to Hunk.

He’s trying to help Hunk but he’s afraid of opening up too much and possibly getting rejected.  

Keith uses this body language when he is holding himself back from showing his emotions. He doesn’t actually hate Lance, he’s just trying to act like he doesn’t care as much as he does.

He can’t even bring himself to make eye contact with Lance, probably because he knows his facade would crumble the second he did. His anger is directed more towards Bob for putting him in this situation in the first place.

In the end, we can’t take what Keith said to mean that he doesn’t love Lance anymore. He’s just trying to cope with the fact that Lance and Allura are supposedly together in the only way he knows how.

*Also side note, can we all take a moment to appreciate Pidge’s face when this is all going down. Poor thing is so goddamn confused.

Has nothing to do with Klance, but I just love this precious child so much...

Anyway, back to the point... Amazingly, there is still more Klance evidence The Feud has to offer.

When Bob tells Lance that his team is starting to lose faith in him, his excuse for why he is failing at the game is that he’s “just not real good with names”.

While that is an understandable excuse, it brings up a question from way back in season 1. Lets go back to the scene where Keith breaks in to save Shiro in the first episode. Remember how Lance was the first one to immediately recognize Keith, without even being able to see his face?

He instantly knows who he is just by looking at his hair. For someone who’s “not good with names”, that’s pretty unusual I would say. As we know that Lance is not the type to remember the names of people who do not hold some sort of significance to him, Keith must have been pretty important to Lance, seeing as he was able to identify Keith from only his mullet, at such a distance.

(Not saying that young garrison Lance would spend entire classes staring at Keith’s hair from behind, attempting to convince himself that his gay crush was in fact just very intense feelings of hate, but that’s exactly what I’m saying.)

Also, notice how Pidge seems to have no idea who Keith is.

However, as soon as Lance says the name, Hunk immediately reacts, probably because in his time at the Garrison, he’s been on the receiving end of many angry rants about the guy’s “stupid mullet” from a very jealous and flustered Lance.

With this information, I think it’s reasonable to to believe that Lance’s obsession with Keith (whether or not he understood his feelings at the time) began way back before the show even started when the two were still at the garrison together.

Now... another thing I want to mention is the famous “You are deserving of respect” picture drawn by producer, Lauren Montgomery. 

Now yes, this poster could really not mean anything and could have just been a sweet message where the paladins were chosen at random to hold up their signs. However, notice how both Hunk and Keith, and Pidge and Allura have had small arcs dedicated to the topic of the signs they are holding. 

In season 1, Allura talks to Pidge about her gender, and how she was pretending to be a boy. 

In season 2, Hunk talks to Keith about him being galra. 

Both those two pairs had the words on their signs translate into real plots in the show. 

Seeing that signs for "gender" and "race" turned out to have a direct connection to the canon storyline, with the people holding them, it's only logical that Shiro and Lance will have their own miniature arc based of the "lgbt" sign. We already know that Shiro is gay, as well as being Lance’s “hero. Therefore, it's very possible that lance will go to him for advice on his feelings for Keith, and Shiro will help him as he has experienced the same thing. 

Another thing I want to touch on is the “relationship” between Keith and Acxa. For those who are concerned about Acxa becoming a romantic interest for Keith, allow me to ease your mind. 

While it is white possible that the reason Zethrid and Ezor continuously tease Acxa about liking Keith is that Acxa may actually have feelings for Keith, is is also very likely that Zethrid and Ezor were simply messing with her to throw her off and distract her from the battle. However, regardless of Acxa’s feelings for Keith, I can assure you, Keith does not have feelings for her. 

Keith is very gay. This boy has never shown any romantic interest in any women in the entire show. 

Just look at his reaction to just the idea of being in a relationship with a woman. 

The poor guy just wants to fight like normal people without having to be shipped with the girl he’s trying to save out of common decency. 

Then there’s the scene where Keith catches Allura sneaking into the pod, and she falls into his arms. Allura immediately gets flustered and blushes uncomfortably. However, Keith doesn’t even flinch and seems totally indifferent to the fact that he’s carrying the princess in his arms. 

*Quick reminder that the last time he carried someone in his arms (Lance) he made it a very big deal. 

But to the point, Keith’s reaction to catching the princess in his arms is not the reaction a guy who likes girls would have. 

Not to mention the time he low-key checked out the hot alien dude who’s crashed ship they were fixing. 

Have I made my point? This boy is not straight. 

If that’s not enough evidence, Bex Taylor-Claus (voice of Pidge) themself confirmed in a livestream that Keith and Acxa are not going to be a couple, refering to them as “kindred spirits”. 

So fear not, Keith is still very gay and is most certainly not in love with Acxa. 

This scene is most likely just Acxa either wanting to thank Keith for saving her life (like a decent person, or alien I guess) or possibly she is related to him or Krolia in some way, and that will be touched on in season 8. Either way it has been confirmed that Kacxa will not be a thing, so there’s no need to stress about it.

Now, there’s one more thing I want to talk about before wrapping this up, and that is the infamous “stay safe out there” scene that basically confirmed Allurance...right?

Lmao you really underestimated me if you thought I wouldn’t find a way to bring Klance into the most Allurance themed scene in the entire show. 

Notice Lance's reaction when Veronica mentions the princess liking him. He doesn't get excited or cocky about it like he normally would have at hearing that kind of news. In fact, he actually denies that Allura even has feelings for him, saying that she just cares about everyone. That really doesn't seem like the reaction Lance would have to finding out Allura likes him earlier in the show. Last time someone told lance Allura liked him back, he had a very different reaction.

If we already know that Lance is never shy when it comes to the princess, why is his reaction to different in season 7? He constantly acted like the princess liked him even when she clearly didn't. Why would he act like she doesn’t when she clearly does if there wasn't something inside him that changed? Maybe he's not so certain about his feelings for Allura anymore huh? 

This is just reminding you not to lose hope just because of this one scene. One scene against an entire show of built up evidence, is not the end of the world, or in this case, the end of Klance.

My prediction is that in season 8, Allura will be very open about liking Lance, and he will try to go with it at first, but as we started to see in that scene, there will be something off for him and he will realize that he has moved on and loves Keith.

Now, it’s about 3 hours until the final season drops, and I have to post this now or never. Just remember, Klance has a serious chance guys, but even if it doesn’t become canon, everyone be kind and remember that it’s ok to not have everything go just how we wanted it to go. There’s no need to hate on Allurance if it becomes canon. Klance will always live on in our art, our writing, the friendships we’ve made because of them, and in our hearts. (I know, cheesy as fuck, but Voltron is almost over and I’m emotional) 

It’s been an honor flying with you all. And one last time...

KICK 

[azeher]

On Queerbaiting, Bad Voltron Bad, and Adashi

I finally found the time and patience to bring you this post. Take it however you want. Unfollow me, love me, fall in love with Ryan Renolds... Just take your pick.

The only disclaimer I’ll make is that the Voltron crew and the marketing team of DreamWorks are very capable of queerbaiting. I’ve accused them of doing exactly that before, but I was just getting ahead of myself. I just don’t think they’re queerbaiting us after all, not on purpose (the voltron crew at least. The marketing team can go eat a spoiled banana). But at the end this is like the Schrödinger’s Cat, we won’t know until we get to see the very last episode of the final season. I mean, korrasami was queerbait until the very last seconds before the credits rolled.

BUT, the crew has made quite the mistakes along the years, and I’m gonna make a list of them:

1- Opening their mouths. Just really, they should have stayed quiet, taken the initial praising and shown gratitude and that’s it. The very first and biggest mistake they made was thinking it was a good idea to talk about the show to the fandom. Not only they never knew how to handle it, sometimes they forced themselves to lie. By creating such an narrow relationship with the fandom they allowed them to ask them for things they wanted into the show. They allowed them to ask them questions they didn’t know how to answer and sometimes they had to be purposely misleading to avoid spoilers.

2- Believing their own misleading answers. And this is how I know they’re not queerbaiting on purpose. Because they tend to get passionate when promoting the show, they’ve said things in ways that could be misinterpreted by the audience. They think they’re saying something harmless, that the small difference between what they say would happen and what actually happens will translate well, but it’s never the case.

3- Not trying to know their fandom. This isn’t entirely their fault. It’s obvious the fandom they got wasn’t the fandom they were supposed to get. I.e., the fandom should be made up of grown ups that loved the 80s Voltron and came back out of nostalgia, and of little kids looking for cool space battles, and of teens that like action and humor mixed together. Because that was their target audience. Rather they got a fandom pertaining to an entirely different genre. They got people who don’t really care for the plot (don’t even try to argue with this. The hundreds of posts I’ve seen the last three years claiming smt along the lines of “Voltron would have to pay me to watch the show for the plot” prove me right) because it bores them, and are only focused on the one thing the show openly isn’t about: Romance.

4- The writing. Legend of Korra didn’t have perfect writing. Voltron doesn’t either. This studio puts all of its effort and talent out there, you can tell, but they still have a long way to go. Still, what they do is not bad, despite what spiteful people want to make others believe. This studio has some of the most beautiful animation out there and their strengths rely on art, humor, fight sequences, music and very dramatic scenes. Those are the five things they’ve mastered. But their writing and character focus are lacking. This is not something they can’t fix. Instead of trying to drag them down and boycott these amazing and talented artists and writers who are also human beings, we could give them the support they need to improve and keep delivering stories and characters we can fall in love with. I mean, we fell in love with these characters even when the writing wasn’t perfect. This season, whether some of you want to admit it or not, had the best writing they’ve offered so far but to dissect this statement would mean making yet another long post and just no.

5- The characters’ arcs. We’ve already established they don’t know how to write characters or romance. They’re good with other sorts of relationships but romance is the thing they’re worst at. And they also suck at being constant with characters’ arcs. The biggest proof? I didn’t know the fucking protagonist of Voltron was indeed Keith until like season 4, and I only found out cuz I watched some episodes of 80’s Voltron around that time and was struck with the realization. It was impossible to tell because so far all the focus of the story had gone back and forth between Shiro and Pidge. Then Keith and eventually Allura got their own arcs. So, how about Pidge makes that math cuz it doesn’t add up? How was acceptable for them to be unclear about who the central figure in the show was? Keith was introduced as the fourth character. And they even formatted the first half of the first episode so it looked like Lance was the protagonist. The second half they were already giving up on him and turning him into a joke and Shiro finally emerged as the central figure.

6- Romance. So they completely suck at romance and they made a good decision about leaving it out. But did they really? Cuz the show says yes, but the crew’s comments and awkward writing say otherwise. And this is what takes us to the next and saddest mistake:

7- ADASHI. I know you all read this far only to get to this point. I’m gonna include Ezor and Zethrid here as well because they’re also consequence from the previous point. Shiro is an amazing character and him being gay IS indeed a big triumph. We will forever know such a great and important Asian character is canonly gay. But the writers made all the rookie mistakes they could make surrounding his sexuality, AND Ezor and Zethrid’s relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I for once don’t mind these lesbians being on the dark side because they were still pretty badass and cool even though they were villains, but they took their ambiguous villainess too far, which wouldn’t have been a bad thing wasn’t it because they were the only lesbian couple in the show. So rookie mistake number one: Picking the wrong characters to be your representation when you’re gonna be so limited with representation. They also killed them off, which, well, they kinda deserved, but again, they were the ONLY lesbian couple, so how about give them the chance to redeem themselves (and your own writers)?

They introduced Adam and established he and Shiro simply didn’t work together but then killed off Adam without allowing us to get to know him, and without allowing him and Shiro to get some kinda closure. But the crew, again, didn’t know how to handle the way to go about hyping the show, and were yet again misleading by letting us believe we’d spend some time with Adam. They genuinely thought there was nothing wrong with killing him because he was no longer part of Shiro’s life and because war’s like that. So rookie mistake number two: Not being honest about the fate of one of the two confirmed queer characters in the show. When you have so few queer characters, and you really think you had to kill one of them, don’t treat it like a spoiler, BE honest, so the public knows what to expect. Soften the blow. Maybe they could have said he wouldn’t be in the show too long, and we would have made our guesses. Rookie mistake number three: Pick him as one of the casualties. I understand the intention of this was to make Shiro lose someone because of the war, but did it really need to happen? Did Shiro really need to lose someone? I’m sure no big plot point in the story would have changed if Adam had lived. Rookie mistake number four: Kill him before we got to know him and before he talked to Shiro again. If the purpose of his death was to impact Shiro or us, it would have had a much bigger effect if they had had time to interact again.

Now, could Voltron as a whole fix all of these mistakes? Yes. Yes they could. For starters, they should start talking with the truth. That would actually help to heal the fandom a lot. At this point, being quiet won’t serve of any purpose. Now it’s their real time to talk, but honestly.

Second, it all depends on how they wrap season eight. If they’re really planning on making a healthy queer relationship canon and explicit, that could be their salvation. They’d have to do it right, and it is possible, but fairly hard, especially with romance not being their strength.

Third. Adashi. Yes. Again Adashi. Remember when I said I had complicated feelings about what they did to it? Well, aside from what I already said, there’s this extra bit. And it is that they truly could have had a good reason to kill off Adam. I know that it makes you angry, but this is a possibility. Maybe the point is to let Shiro move on, find love again. He’s healthy now, not fearing about dying anytime soon and he’s matured. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes. And there are not reasons to believe Adam won’t be featured in another future flashback that could deliver that sense of closure we and Shiro need. So, in short, the reason I’m not as angry as I should be, is because this can still be addressed in the show.

It’s easy to be pessimistic and not to trust the ending. For all we know, eighth season might be just 13 episodes of quiznak writing and the mice founding their own theme park, but until the box gets opened we won’t know if the cat is dead.

[sol1056]

What do u think of Shiro flying Blue in s8 as per theories? Since only Allura can create wormholes w Atlas,lion bonds are gone, nostalgia rules, they changed Blue to supporting wheels lion (smh) instead of Water/versatility/The Hearts lion which is an even bigger insult to Shiro than to Lance/Blue/Allura hence possible.But also they'll leave earth in s8 for the altean story but Atlas protects Earth so it cant leave? EPs would def leave Shiro behind.Or Allura to make space 4 smth Altean 4 Keith?

Training wheels lion. You can’t hear the disgust in my voice, but if you could, that should probably say it all, in terms of that potential plot line. 

Y’know, the EPs sure like to talk a game about rep but when it comes to gender relationships, they have some really fucked-up ideas about motherhood and nurturing. But since that’s not really the point here, I’m just going to set aside that complaint and say: the problem once again is the lion swap. 

Or more precisely, the fact that we never really got a clear reason why Blue shut Lance out, so we don’t know what would reconcile things. And that means another lion swap just reinforces the arbitrary nature of it all. I know it’s nigh impossible for the EPs to see anything but nostalgia anymore, but there still has to be a reason in this version of the story for that swap to happen. 

And there isn’t one, as far as I can see. 

But there could be, if we just went back and retconned a few things. So why not, I’m feeling lazy and this is as good a way to avoid doing laundry as any other. Behind the cut, as usual. 

Start of S3. Skip the inappropriate humor of everyone fighting over the Black Lion. Have Keith let slip about Shiro’s words, then refuse to try. Have Lance offer to go with Keith, so Keith’s not the only one. Allura joins them, a little reluctant since this was Zarkon’s lion. But they draw straws or play rock-paper-scissors or whatever. Lance goes first, then Keith, then Allura. 

Let it be Lance’s midpoint to speak to Black, privately. Off with the helmet so we know he’s not overheard. Let this be where Lance has the option to grab what he’s wanted… and then realizes it’s not what he really needs. That being that leader-role, all the time, one thing, feels too much like being put in a box. That he likes the freedom he has with Blue. 

Show he paid attention to Shiro, but has finally realized the best way to emulate his hero isn’t by trying to be that person, but by being himself, ‘cause that’s what Shiro would’ve wanted for him. So, he thanks Black, and says he’s fine where he is. 

Keith steps in, and Black responds, same as current version. 

Then a scene where we get Keith asking Red to wait for him, that for now, someone’s got to fly Black. Give us closure on that part of the lion swap, and a scene where (finally) we can see Keith and Allura starting to reconcile after their awkward pre-battle truce in S2. Keith offers Red to Allura…

And have Allura refuse. This was her father’s lion, sure, but it’s the lion her father flew to his battle with Zarkon. And Red stood by and did nothing as her father was killed. So Alfor was betrayed twice: once, by someone he’d once called friend, and again, by his own lion. Allura wants nothing to do with a lion who might someday do the same to her. 

Make that secondary lion swap intentional. Make it Lance’s choice. That instead of taking on Red because he’s just yet another second-choice, make it Lance who begins everything. 

Show him talking to Blue, explaining that Allura’s beating herself up between her father’s death still being pretty fresh (and taking Shiro’s death as hard as Keith, since it brings up loss all over again), but that they need Voltron. And… would Blue be willing to accept Allura, instead, and help Lance convince Red to allow the switch. 

So he calls Allura down to Blue’s hangar, and hands over the bayard, and says Blue is willing to have Allura become her paladin. This isn’t the moment where Lance is shut out and stuck taking seconds; this is Lance’s willing sacrifice of the place he’s earned, because that’s what he does for the team. 

When Allura balks, Lance can say, it’s okay, Red should be… and then Red roars, and Lance says, that’s my cue, see you on the flip side. Allura is left with Blue, and Blue wakes up and greets Allura. 

From there on, all you’d have to do for another lion swap is give a good reason — not physically up to the strain of Black, or needing a last-minute pilot when someone is injured — and the switch is no longer arbitrary. There’d be a loophole where before it was Chosen Ones; now it’s Chosen Ones who can actively choose a substitute if the situation requires. And that they work with their lion, active collaborators, to welcome that substitute. 

And then Lance is no longer stuck, as he is now, in permanent second-place to someone else. Instead, it’d be his choice between the place he loves, and the place he knows he needs to be, for the team’s sake. It should be a hard choice for him, but one he has agency to make. 

That would alter Lance’s offer to give Red back, too. Instead of just doing the math, he’d talk to Red, and Red would be ready to take Keith back. But we’d need to have seen that Lance works with Red differently (not better, just differently) enough to believe Keith when he sees both Allura and Lance doing well with their respective lions, and not wanting to deprive either. 

(And that would be when Keith might contact Kolivan, asking about working with the Blades. Good time to drop hint that Kolivan had mentioned knowing the original owner of Keith’s blade, but not willing to tell an outsider. So, if Keith were to join the Blades formally, would he find out, then?) 

The story could roll around to S7 and Shiro recovering from his return + injuries defending Pidge/Green, and the need for Allura to manage the teludav. But Shiro’s not up to the strain of Black, despite Keith’s offer, and Lance steps in to talk to Blue, and ask Blue to help Shiro, too. 

Remember that bit about, oh no you don’t, I’m saving Shiro? That would be how Lance would do it: to ease Shiro’s healing so he’s not hurt all over again. To actively work with Blue, to give Shiro a temporary place, just for a little while. And if Shiro returned with the lesson that he needs to have more and stronger connections, then working with Blue — the one who connects all of them — would very much be a valuable lesson for him. 

To reverse all that? Simple, come up with a point where what they face will require the best use of each lion, with someone at the helm who can maneuver in that environment. Like Red in the asteroid field, and then each can switch back. As long as it started as a result of an active, willing, explicit choice, it can end that way, too.