#it's definitely an AU I fixed the flowers to the ones allura had in her hologram room

[sushisketching]

day 3 - im behind on my schedule as per usual but i am trying ok ;-;

[mereadingandstuff]

Not something I wanted, somthing I need

fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender

words: 1405

summary: This is me being salty about everything that happenend. So I’m here with probably the first Fix-It Fics of many to come. Season 8 Episode 1 AU 

Read on AO3

Since they set the Launch Date for their final mission Lance often found himself alone. Most of the time without him intentionally searching for a quiet place.

With every minute their departure grew closer and closer, inevitable.

He knew he should spend all his remaining time on earth with his family, enjoying their presence as much as possible. He should tease his nephews, spend time with his siblings, help his mother out in the kitchen, all the things he did before he went to the Garrison and disappeared for years.

But being with them just reminded him that he would, again, leave them and his home behind, and this time voluntarily.

He would again leave a immeasurable part of himself behind even if Veronica was joining them this time.

He would have her by his side, could protect her even though he knew she definitely could look after herself but the fierce protectiveness over his family was something he knew he could not shake off.

When he closed his eyes he often tasted sand on his lips, felt wind sweep through his hair, taking him to a back to a time where he almost lost her.

The coffee he was stirring in front of him had grown cold a while ago. Untangling his thoughts had become more and more challenging over the last months.

Over the last months?

He let out a sigh.

No over the last years.

Too much had happened and Lance knew they all did not properly deal with any of it.

He couldn’t even say if anyone besides Allura knew he died on that one mission. But hey, that was a whole other thing for another time.

And that time preferably was never.

“Lance? Lance?”

Blinking a few times to get his eyes to focus on Hunk who suddenly appeared in front of him, Lance looked up from his cup.

“Hey buddy, you okay?”

Lance’s throat constricted. He did want to talk about what had been on his mind the past few weeks but he also knew he could not answer Hunks question truthfully.

Hunk would leave behind as much as he did. A loving family, his home planet, everything they rebuild the past few months here on earth. But even now Hunk knew how much the universe needed them. He was ready to make sacrifices that needed to be made. They all knew how terrified of everything Hunk had been in the beginning and now he was fearlessly going into battle alongside all of them. He grew into the responsibly of the Yellow Paladin of Voltron amazingly over their time together as Voltron.

And Lance was still the homesick boy from Cuba from the beginning.

Lance was always good at keeping things to himself.

“Ohh, is this about the date you were going to ask Allura on? Did you finally ask her?”

Oh.

He did mention that when they got back to earth, trying to get back some sort of familiarity in this now very unfamiliar planet.

Moments of his parents, of his siblings flashed before his eyes. His parents working side by side in their new smaller kitchen, knowing exactly where to be to leave space for the other, working in perfect harmony.

His siblings with their significant others finding light and happiness during earth's dark dark times.

Seeing them, feeling their love so clearly, he understood that this wasn’t what he was looking for in Allura. He quickly forgot about asking her out and hadn’t really thought about it until Hunk’s question threw him completely of track.

“Oh no, you did ask her and she said no. Oh my god, I should have never asked. I am so sorry, Lance. Uhh. Should I make some hot chocolate? Do you want a hug?”

Totally stunned all Lance could say was “I, euhm. I never asked her out.”

Hunk gaped at him. And then went on a rant about how this was their last opportunity and if not now, when then?

Before he even knew what was really happening Hunk was pushing him after Allura after their next meeting. And honestly what should he tell Hunk?

That Allura always was a dream, far away from reality, eternally unreachable for him. A crush on a Princess of an ancient civilisation, without her people, without a home.

That lately when his heart fluttered in this chest it is not at the sight of pink armour and silver hair but of something else entirely?

That if he was totally honest with himself it hadn’t even started that recently but was there for a long time but seemed even more untouchable as the Princess of Altea?

Nope, that was another thing for another time.

So he asked out the Princess, not really expecting her to say yes.

“This was a beautiful place here, once.”

Now though Allura and Lance were surrounded by dead flowers and rotten trees that hadn’t been cared for in years. There was always something more important to do than care for a small park.

Allura sent him a small, sweet smile and stepped towards the tree.

“Maybe now is the time to start healing again.”

Placing her hand on the trunk of the dead tree she closed her eyes. A moment later the marks on Allura’s cheeks began to glow and spreading out from her hand blue vines climbed along the tree.

Leaves started to grow and unravel along the dead branches, grass started to sprout and flowers bloomed all around them. Traces of magic surrounded them.

And Allura stood there, beautiful and eternal as ever, under the glow of her magic.

Another Lance would have fallen for her even more right at this moment.

But this Lance, the Lance that had been through years of war, that travelled through galaxies finding a new family alongside all of it and that just got back to his family.

That Lance stood there, in awe of his friend, of what she could do.

And had that knowledge settle deep, deep inside of him that this was what he and Allura would always be.

Friends.

A family found in the most unusual way.

A smile spread across his face.

Slowly Allura took a step back from the tree her eyes shining in the lights.

“Lance, thank you for inviting me to dinner with your family. And I understand it is part of the courtship traditions of your planet and I feel honored, I really do - ”

Lance stared at the still turned figure in front of him. He was prepared for this. He knew exactly what he wanted to say to her.

“Allura, please. Just listen to me. I saw how much you were working the last months and how lonier you seemed every time the Alteans refused to speak with you. I wanted to give you an evening off and I thought it would be nice to spend it with people that care about you. You deserve a home to come back to after all of this and I just wanted to show you that you can have that here, here with all of us.”

Lance suddenly found himself with arms full of a sobbing Princess. Lance seeing a side of her she wasn’t able to show to anyone for a long time. The scared girl that lost her home.

“Thank you, Lance. You do not know how much your words just mean to me. I could have not asked for better friends to stand beside me in battle. Thank you.”

They stood there together for a while, side by side, taking in the night air, just talking.

After a while Allura wiping away the remaining tear tracks on her face and turned towards him. She send him a wobbly smile full of gratitude.

“I think it is time for me to - how do you say it? -  turn in. And just… If you feel like you need to be with someone else tonight, do it. We can never know what our future holds.”

With that she winked at him and left him standing there underneath the blossoming tree.

Alluras words just now reminded him of Hunks words just earlier that day.

This could be their last quiet night for years to come.

Till this war was over.

So Lance took a deep breath, braced himself, turned away from the tree, walked into the building in front of him and knocked on Keith’s door.

[melodicmermaid]

Simply Keith: Forget Me Not

Day 5: Florist AU

A/N: I know this is supposed to be all about Keith, but I love me a Pidge with a crush.

Prompts by @keithtober2k18

Summary: Keith owns a flower shop. A familiar face comes in for a bouquet.

[Keith/Pidge and minor Lance/Allura]

Read on Ao3

“Be with you in a moment!” Keith shouted from the back of his store. The bell attached to the door lightly swayed back and forth for a few seconds after it had been opened. Keith finished positioning the flower in the bouquet he was working on before removing his  gloves and heading to the front of the store.

The customer was short and wore round glasses that were almost bigger than her head. He hair was short and disheveled and she wore a pale green shirt with overalls and converse. Keith tilted his head, as if he was trying to figure out how he knew this girl. She looked so familiar, but he couldn't place it. Asking her would make it sound like he was about to hit on her. She was definitely really, really pretty, but he wasn't about to scare off a customer. Staring at her this much was probably already rude, so he snapped out of it.

“Sorry to make you wait. How can I help you?” He greeted.

“No worries. I think I found something,” she paused and smiled, turning slightly to point at the flowers on display about three feet from the entrance, “I’m looking for a small bouquet for my brother. He just got a pretty big promotion at his job, so something to say congratulations, but nothing that’s too emotional because ew feelings. I like those pink ones in the front but I’m not sure what would go with them and mean what I’m hoping for. I have about a $30 budget, so I’m not looking for anything huge.”

“The stargazer lilies? Those are good for congratulations. I’ll pull up what I have in stock and see what I can find for you,” he motioned for her to follow him to the front desk, where he pulled out the catalog. He flipped through for a moment before turning it so the girl could look. “These will all get across a good luck, but if you’re looking for something on the simpler side I’d recommend just a bouquet of the lilies and some jasmine to fill the gaps. If you’ll be picking it up yourself it’ll only set you back $20. Delivery will bring it up to $30.”

She nodded, “Perfect! I’ll pick them up when it’s done.”

“Do you need them later today or?”

“Tomorrow, if that’s alright. I’m meeting him for lunch at one.”

“Tomorrow is fine. I’ll make it tomorrow morning then, so it’s fresher.”

She paid the deposit and went on her way, leaving Keith to wonder where he had seen her before.

Keith had finished the girl from yesterday’s bouquet about an hour after he made it to the shop the next morning. He called and left her a message letting her know they were ready to be picked up and mentioned when he’d be closing the shop for lunch. He continued working on his larger commission for his friend’s wedding, and he heard the door slam open, the bell  jingling loudly.

“GOOD MORNING KEITHY, KEITH!” He heard his friend, Lance, shout.

“Could you not break my door every time you walk in here?”

“But then how would you immediately know it’s me?”

“You’re ridiculous. You wanna see the progress?” he asked. He had no idea how this idiot had managed to find someone who wanted to put up with him for the rest of his life, but Keith was happy for him. Although, Allura was a literal saint for being able to not only tolerate Lance, but reel him in when he got a little too wild. They worked well and were good for each other.

“Yes, please!”

Neither Lance nor Allura were nit-picky about the flowers for their wedding. They trusted Keith to give them something that would represent both of them, their love, and be extremely beautiful, of course. Their wedding was a little over a week away, so Keith wanted to make sure he had everything planned out perfectly for them. Lance snapped a few pictures to send to Allura for her input. They returned to the front of the store while waiting for her response, so Keith could jot anything she had to say down in his notebook.

The girl from yesterday walked in, three coffees in hand. “Pidge!” Lance’s face lit up, “A blessing from Starbucks herself.” The girl, Pidge, rolled her eyes and shoved one of the coffees into his hand.

“Lance texted me and told me what to get you. It’s his fault if you don’t like it.”

Keith was lost.

So very, very lost.

“Uh. Thanks?” He took his coffee from her and took a sip. At least Lance had actually told her to get what he liked and not something gross.

“Basic bitch Keith over here needs his pumpkin spice,” Lance teased, sticking his tongue out.

“You two know each other?”

They both look at him.

“Keith. Buddy. My man,” Lance swung his arm around the florist’s shoulders, “You literally know Pidge. Kaite Holt?”

“Uh.”

“I didn’t say anything yesterday because... well, it’s not important. I’m Matt’s sister. He works with Shiro. We’ve met a few times.” Keith was dumbfounded. “Um, but hey, I kinda have to get going. I’m meeting up with Matt soon.”

“Right. Let me get the bouquet for you,” he took the opportunity to run off to the back and take a second to process what had just happened. He searched through his memories, trying to figure out when he possibly could have met her.  

Idiot. Fucking idiot.

He picked up her bouquet and headed back out. The exchange was awkward, to say the least. She thanked him, paid the rest, and headed out.

“Keith.”

“Lance”

“What the fuck? She’s literally a smaller and cuter version of Matt. ”

Keith could only shrug.

“Fix this. She’d never admit it, but she’s upset. She’s like a little sister to me, so help me, if you don’t fix this we will have words. And by words, I mean my foot will be so far up your ass that it might launch you to space. Does that make sense? No. Not at all. I don’t even care, I’m so mad at you right now. Fix this.”

“What?”

“Dude, I know you two barely know each other, but she kinda likes you. She’s interested in you. If I mention you she perks up. Talk to her,” Lance demanded before storming out of the flower shop.

From Keith [1:30 PM]: You’re probably still with Matt

From Keith [1:30 PM]: But I just wanted to say I’m so sorry.

From Keith [1:31 PM]: I’m kinda

From Keith [1:31 PM]: An idiot.

From Keith [1:31 PM]: I would like to see you again, though.

From Keith [1:31 PM]: If you don’t hate me already.

From Keith [1:31 PM]: I made this. For you.

From Keith [1:32 PM]: [IMAGE]

From Pidge [1:50 PM]: Forget Me Nots? Really? Purple roses?  

From Pidge [1:50 PM]: I looked up their meanings. So you’re aware.

From Pidge [1:50 PM]: That’s so cheesey. Ew.

From Pidge [1:50 PM]: You’re taking me out for coffee. Tomorrow. What time do you close?

From Keith [1:51 PM]: 4pm

From Pidge [1:51 PM]: It’s a date.

[icypantherwrites]

Fundraiser Fic List and Statistics

I would like to thank everyone once more for their support of my friend and special shoutouts and love to the individuals who purchased fanfiction commissions from me  through my fundraiser and helped me raise over $300 that went straight to my friend. Thank you!

I have officially finished all of the purchased fundraiser commissions so thought it’d be fun to do a little by the numbers post along with links to all of the fics. For the record I am now taking fic commissions due to the furthered interest (you guys ♥) and you can find details here if you want to commission your own.

The full fic list will be below the keep reading tab as it got a little long. ^^; All right. Here we go.

Total number of fics: 13

Total number of words written: 95,713

Start date of first published fic: March 11, 2018

Finish date of thirteenth published fic: April 10, 2018

Longest fic: So Much to Offer* (10,361 words)

Shortest fic: Poison (2,876 words)

Lance as main/second main character: 13/13 (yup ;p)

Hunk appearances as main/second main: 5/13

Pidge appearances as main/second main: 2/13

Shiro appearances as main/second main: 1/13**

Keith/Coran/Allura appearances as main/second main: 0/13**

*In the Name of Love is technically the longest but that is because I went and added a second chapter. Commissioned wise it is not the longest one. 

**I give Keith two third spots though for his roles in Smile and The Price of Peace, Coran one third spot for Smile and Shiro one third spot for Passing Grade. Allura sadly got passed over for all of these cept for a small role in The Price of Peace. So sorry, hun. I love you though ♥

Most Popular Fics -- Top Two

(deigned by a combination of hits, comments, kudos and bookmarks)

1. The runaway winner was The Cost of Winning with 2,601 hits, 37 comment threads, 356 kudos and 78 bookmarks. This one featured Lance and Pidge captured and forced to fight in the arena. Lots of platonic Plance and some BAMF moments for both. (it has a sequel too for the aftermath which would appreciate some love ♥!)

2. The runner-up was Sounds of Darkness with 1,841 hits, 32 comment threads, 282 kudos and 70 bookmarks.  More Langst abound featuring sensory deprivation but some soft and warm platonic Shance to make you not want to sob in a corner by the end all while making sure you can hear yourself crying. 

Fics that Need More Love -- Bottom Two

(deigned by a combination of hits, comments, kudos and bookmarks)

There is not enough Hunk love in this fandom. Please. Give my ray of sunshine more of it. He deserves all of the happiness... even if both of these involve him in pain. Whoops.

12. Please know that If the World Should Freeze was one of my favorites because it features the best relationship there is in VLD, platonic Hance ♥ The boys find themselves in an icy wasteland with a happy serving of Hunk!whump. Yesss. Rang in with 517 hits, 19 comment threads, 92 kudos and 14 bookmarks. 

13. The other Hunk!whump fic of Strength of Your Word rounds out the bottom here.This is another adventure between him and Lance involving some less than savory weasel aliens and a jewel that everyone wants to get their paws, er, hands on. Totaled in at 483 hits, 22 comment threads, 86 kudos and 13 bookmarks.

And that rounds out the stat lines! You can find all thirteen fics below to peruse at your leisure. Please do be sure to leave a comment on them if you read and enjoyed; I really appreciate them ♥ Thank you and enjoy!

Tumblr Poll!

Last thing before you head off. These stats were all compiled via AO3 (which has taken over as my main platform) but I’d love to hear from the Tumblr audience for an informal poll rather than data stats. Which fic of the thirteen was your favorite? Feel free to comment below or send it via an ask! If majority was my favorite fic of the set I’ll do a little something ♥

Fic List

Posted in order of publish date, oldest first.

Poison

Summary:  Lance is fine. Or, at least he keeps telling himself that. He’s most definitely not a victim of the unknown disease with no cure sweeping through the city. Nope. But now he’s coughing up blood? Maybe… maybe he isn’t so fine after all. / “H-Hunk,” he whispered. “I… I think I’m s-sick.” Hunk let out a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh. “Yeah, Lance. You are.“ Alternate universe, Langst

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

The Cost of Winning

This fic will have a sequel follow-up focusing on a recovery arc. Date TBD. Story is complete as is though.

Summary:  “The Blue and Green Paladins serve no purpose to the Empire,“ the Galran commander smirked at his bound captives. “And as such you have no use except as arena fodder.” He chuckled. “Give us a good show before you die.” / Lance is determined to protect Pidge and save her from the arena. She will not die here. Over his dead body. Hopefully it’s not quite that literal of a promise.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

In the Name of Love

Summary: Lance just wanted to buy a flower. Instead he's now the newest victim of a serial killer who has no plans to release him until he has served his purpose. Lance may be a Paladin but he's got a higher calling in life now. And it starts with his death. / "Do not try and resist again," his captor warned, "You will not like the consequences." Lance's voice cracked. "Like being eaten?" 

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

Passing Grade

Summary:  If Lance stayed in the shower long enough maybe the water would wash everything away. Maybe it would make him forget unwanted hands and the scratchy couch. Maybe… A sob tore through his throat. No. There was no forgetting. But he did have to paste on a smile and try to because no one could find out. Otherwise it was all over. AU - College

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.Net

xxx

Faces of Home

Summary: There were murmured, familiar voices when Lance awoke that quieted almost immediately when he blinked open his eyes. “Easy, easy,” someone soothed as he tried to sit up. Someone familiar. Lance gasped. “Mamá?” Because somehow… somehow he was home. / Lance is injured in a fight against the Galra and wakes to find himself in the care of his family. But… how did he wind up back on Earth? Something wasn’t quite right…

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

Sounds of Darkness

Summary: Lance couldn’t see. Or hear. Or move. The silent darkness was all encompassing and it was pressing in; choking him, drowning him, blinding him. He screamed but it was swallowed whole into the void of nothingness. Lance trembled, pain shaking his limbs, and faintly wondered if he’d even made a sound at all.

Read it on: Ao3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

Smile

Summary:  Lance glanced at the mirror. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as he was remembering. Like, the first glance had freaked him out but it really wasn’t that noticeable. He worried his lip in indecision before finally making his way over to the mirror. He had to know. Just… just a peek. Without further ado Lance gave a tentative smile. And despair crashed down once more.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

Nothing to Be Afraid Of

Summary: Hunk will admit it. He’s afraid of many things and being captured by the Galra alongside Lance ranks at the top. But it’s the Galra who should be afraid. After all, they just unleashed a brilliant engineer and a quick-witted sharpshooter in their base. Better watch out. – “Uh, Hunk, what are you doing?” “Making bombs,” Hunk replied cheerfully. “Oh, okay- bombs?” Lance squeaked.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

So Much to Offer

Summary:  “I suppose though I should see what we’re working with, hm?” the slaver mused. “A pretty face is only part of the package after all.” His dark eyes met Lance’s and he shivered at the absolute depravity that stared back at him. “Let’s see what you have to offer.” / While trying to save his dying team, Lance is captured and sold into the slave trade. Time is running out… for everyone.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

If the World Should Freeze

Summary:   "Lance, st-stop," Hunk moaned, stumbling and splattering crimson upon the snow. "I c-can't…" The rest of his words trailed off as dark spots danced in his vision. "No!" Lance dug his hands into Hunk's vest as though that could keep him upright. "Don't you dare. Keep moving!" / Hunk and Lance are stranded in an icy wasteland but the cold is quickly becoming the least of their problems. Because the huge, hungry creature chasing them? Yeah. They're in trouble.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

The Price of Peace

Summary:  (Sequel to The Cost of Winning) They may have escaped the arena but things back home are far from all right. Keith is struggling. Shiro is hiding. Lance is suffering violent flashbacks and she’s having nightmares too. It’s wrong. It’s all wrong. Pidge hates it. She wants her space family back. Not this broken version of them. It looks like she’s just going to have to fix it. And Lance is going to help.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

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Strength of Your Word

Summary: “Open his mouth,” Hunk heard the order and Lance’s chokes turned to a low moan. “Let’s make him smile nice and red,” came the hiss. And Hunk? He’s had enough. / Lance saves Hunk. Hunk saves Lance. Rinse and repeat. It’s what they do. So when a simple mission turns deadly these two are going to have each other’s backs. No matter the consequences.

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

xxx

Disjointed Soul

Summary: Lance falls victim to a Soul Leecher, a dark spirit that is drawn to disjointed souls to steal them for itself. The Paladins must go into Lance’s very soul to save him, uncovering truths about themselves and Lance in the process. Time is of the essence before Lance is lost forever. Good thing they have such helpful soul guides.

—

“Hi there baby Lance,” Hunk greeted.

“Ohwah,” Lance burbled back. “¡Ohwah!”

“Ohwah?” Pidge repeated.

“I think he’s saying ”hola,’“ Hunk grinned. "You know, "hello” in Spanish. Hola, baby Lance.“

”¡Ohwah! ¡Ohwah!“

Read it on: AO3 Fanfiction.net

[swordandquill]

Cat in the Sun

Summary: Shiro was just out for a jog. He hadn't planned on buying a restaurant. 

Notes: The never any romance ever* coffee shop AU that no one asked for, but is pure indulgence and I'm having a lot of fun with. If you like AO3′s format better you can find it here.

*I reserve the right to thrown in a super crack pairing between two side characters later in the series, because I think the pairing is hysterical, but it will never be the focus of the story, just a peripheral thing.

Shiro bent over, resting his hand on his thigh as he panted for breath. He had lost track of how long he had been running, but the sun was just clearing the treetops, and he was fairly sure it had been dark when he had left his apartment.

He and his counselor had talked about this, about how much a regular exercise schedule helped with his PTSD, and also his tendency to overdo it.  The fact that he wasn’t sure how long he had been running lent itself to the later this morning.

He straightened and looked around, realizing he was in a neighborhood he hadn’t seen before. He had been so focused on running and not thinking about anything else, that he hadn’t paid attention to where he was going.

There was a ‘for sale’ sign hanging on the fence next to him, and he took a curious look at the lot. Through all the weeds and overgrowth, he could see what almost looked like a farmhouse with a wide covered patio on one side.

Curious, Shiro walked along the fence until he came to the gate. It was hanging crooked on its hinges and creaked loudly when he pushed it open. There were overgrown flower beds along the fence, flowers still blooming along with the weeds. The large grassy yard had grown nearly as high as Shiro’s waist and blooming weeds were pushing up through the cement of the walkway.

The building looked peaceful in the early morning light, and Shiro made his way up to the front door. There was a tattered closed sign on the door that indicated this had been some kind of business, and when Shiro used his hand to wipe away the grime on the window next to it, he could see dusty tables in the slanting early morning light. It had been a restaurant then.

Shiro followed the perimeter of the building, pushing the tall grass out of his way and ignoring the burrs that got stuck in his shoelaces and the weeds that scratched at his shins. He made it to the side, where the broad wooden patio jutted out from the building. The tables scattered across it were rotting, some of them tipped over and splintered, but the sun was slanting through the trees, bathing the space in a warm, dappled glow.

Shiro could imagine himself sitting at one of the tables, or maybe on a swinging chair with soft cushions, enjoying a cup of coffee in the warm morning glow, listening to his friends as they chatted about their coming day, the soft sun a pleasant counterpoint to the morning chill.

His day dreaming was interrupted by a rustling of tall grass. He froze, watching tensely for any danger, a feral dog, an angry raccoon, or that more sinister thing that always seemed to lurk at his peripheral.

Instead a black cat strolled out of the tall grass, hopped elegantly up the stairs of the patio, and flopped onto her side in a patch of sunlight. The patio was obviously hers.

“Hey there,” Shiro pushed through the grass to the patio stairs, voice quiet and steps slow.

The cat flicked an ear at him, but other than that, seemed unperturbed.  

“You’ve got a great spot here,” he sat cautiously on the steps, “I wouldn’t mind waking up to a view like this every morning.”

It was a lovely view. Not open or sweeping, but rather a stand of trees completely blocked whatever might have been on the other side of them. It was most likely just a street with more houses. Shiro wasn’t sure what neighborhood he was in, but it was a neighborhood. It felt like being out in the country though, with the sun rising at a leisurely pace and the wind blowing through the leaves like music.

And wouldn’t it be great to wake up to it everyday and maybe share it with others.

The cat trilled at him, giving him warning before rubbing up against his arm. The texture of his prosthetic was apparently not what she was expecting, because she pulled back to sniff at it curiously. Finding nothing amiss, she rubbed her cheek along the edge where it met his flesh, purring contently.

Shiro chuckled, reaching over with his left hand to cautiously scratch the cat’s ears. She pushed up into his hand insistently, then seemed to decide that wasn’t enough either, and stepped into his lap to have better access to his hand. He scratched her under the chin, grinning as she stretched her neck out, giving him more room to pet.

“You know, this would be a great little café,” Shiro murmured.

The cat meowed at him as if in agreement. She rubbed against his arm and around his back, then flopped back down on her side in a beam of sunlight. Shiro laid back as well, his head next to the cat’s paws and stared up at the patio ceiling. It didn’t look too bad structurally, but the paint was peeling and it looked like some of the wiring for the hanging lights had been chewed on.

It wouldn’t be that hard to rewire, and some of the tables looked salvageable. Really, it wouldn’t have taken that much to get it fixed up and back in use, although in the near future, the deck was going to need to be refinished and restained. Not right away though. That could wait. Just a little bit of elbow grease, and he could be drinking coffee here every morning with a friendly cat.

The cat batted lazily at his hair, then pushed against his head. She was soft pawed, not a prick of claw to be felt. Shiro laughed and sat up.

“Want your spot back, do you?” he gave her ears one last scratch and stood up.

A path lead away from the patio and around to the back of the building. Shiro followed it, finding what smust have been an herb garden once, nestled comfortably against the back of the building. The gravel paths between the beds were littered with weeds, but he could spot mint, basil, and sage fighting for footing among the weeds. He plucked off a mint leaf to chew on, and continued down the path.

It lead to the remains of a second garden, bigger, and perhaps for vegetables, though it was hard to tell now. Past that and tucked among the groves of trees were picnic tables and a rundown children’s play area. There was even a hammock strung between two old oaks. Shiro wouldn’t have trusted its fraying ropes with anyone’s weight, but it was a perfect spot for one; not a sign of civilization in sight.

He finally cleared the trees only to find more trees, smaller than the ones he had been walking through and arranged in neat rows. An orchard. There was nothing fruiting, but that’s what it had to be.

Shiro could only stare, feeling like he had stepped into a fairy tale of some kind. The property hadn’t looked anywhere near this big from the road.

The morning sun was warming the air, and insects were beginning to wake up, buzzing pleasantly. The whole world felt hazy and peaceful.

Shiro liked it. He really liked it.

He stood in the soft morning light, just breathing. It felt so right being here, like nothing bad could ever reach him, and he would be safe when all the things that so often tangled up inside him decided to bite. He wanted to stay.

With one last deep breath, he turned and headed back down the path. The black cat was still sunning herself on the patio, as if to prove that he hadn’t just imagined her. He grinned at her, but didn’t stop, continuing back to the gate.

He closed it carefully behind him, trapping everything that was good inside the fence, then went back to the ‘for sale’ sign. Without any hesitation, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number on it.

“Hello, I’d like to make an inquiry about the property on Altea Street.”

“Hey Allura, could I hire you to do a consultation for me?”

“Shiro, I’ve told you before, I don’t mind helping you with your personal finances,” Allura eyed her coffee mug dubiously; her uncle had tried another experiment, something about spices or a cream substitute, and it smelt odd, “you don’t have to pay me for that.”

“It’s not that,” Shiro sounded excited over the line, which was rare for him.

“What is it then?” she took a careful sip of her coffee; it was sour, but not the worst thing Coran had made her.

“I bought a restaurant,” Shiro said happily.

Allura choked on her coffee.

“Allura, are you okay?” Shiro asked.

“I’m fine,” she took a quick gulp of water, “did you just say you bought a restaurant?”

“It’s amazing!” Shiro gushed, “it’s beautiful. There are gardens, and an orchard, and this amazing patio, and a cat.”

“Shiro, honey, I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but I’ve tasted your cooking,” Allura said delicately, “it’s not good.”

“I know,” Shiro seemed unperturbed by that, “I’ll have to hire a cook, but I want to turn it into a café. I could probably outsource pastries to start with, but the kitchen is great. We could definitely make our own pastries and more. At least, once it’s renovated, we could.”

“How much renovation does it need?” Allura asked cautiously.

“A lot,” Shiro seemed unworried by the admittance, “that’s what I need help with. I need to figure out a renovation budget and start putting together a business plan.”

“You just… bought it…” Shiro was usually so prone to over planning things that Allura was having trouble wrapping her head around the idea that he had impulsively bought a business he had no aptitude for.

“You have to come see it, Allie,” Shiro pleaded, “once you see it, you’ll understand.”

“I suppose I could meet you there,” Allura agreed, “would tomorrow afternoon work?”

“Perfect!” the excitement was back in Shiro’s voice, “I’ll make lunch.”

Allura huffed.

“Well, I’ll make coffee and buy lunch,” Shiro amended, “that Japanese place you like that had the take-out bento boxes.”

“That does sound good,” at least she would get a good lunch out of it, even if Shiro did turn out to have lost his marbles, “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“You’re going to love it,” Shiro’s smile came through the line loud and clear.

For Shiro’s sake, Allura certainly hoped so.

The coffee was good. It was really good. Allura hadn’t realized how terrible the coffee she usually drank was, even without Coran’s experimenting.

“You made this?” she asked.

“Yep,” Shiro took a smug sip from his chipped mug.

Shiro had righted and cleaned one of the worn tables on the patio. It looked as if he might have even taken a sander to the top to smooth out all the splinters. Their lunch was spread out on it, and the French press sat between them. Shiro had even picked up sfogliatella from her favorite Italian bakery.

Even without the effort Shiro had put into making their lunch pleasant, Allura thought she could see what Shiro saw. She still thought it had been incredibly impulsive to buy the property without having a plan in place for its management, but there was something almost magical about the light through the trees and the wind blowing through the tall grass. She could understand wanting to keep it.

“It’s amazing,” Allura took an unhurried drink, savoring the flavor; she hadn’t even needed to sweeten it, “I’m glad you’ve found something you can cook without burning or blowing up.”

“That was only the one time,” Shiro laughed, “and it was at least half your fault.”

“Perhaps that was a bit long to microwave it,” Allura admitted with a smile.

“I’ve been researching coffee,” Shiro put down his mug and picked up a pair of chop sticks in his left hand; he was still a bit clumsy with that hand, but he was getting better, and his prosthetic wasn’t quite dexterous enough to handle something so delicate, “brewing it is more like chemistry then anything, and I always did pretty well in chemistry.”

“I’ve heard baking is as well,” Allura offered, opting to start with dessert.

“Not enough, if the fire alarm in my kitchen is to be believed,” Shiro grinned, “the coffee stuff is really fascinating though. Brewing may be a science, but roasting the beans is more like an art. There’s this great local company that does small batch roasting and sources their beans from a couple different South American co-ops. They’ve done some amazing things with blending beans from the different co-ops and working with the co-ops to improve their facilities and cultivate specific specialty beans.”

Allura smiled as she listened to Shiro chatter about the merits of one growing location over another, and the variety of roasting methods, and what went into becoming a master bean roaster. It was good to see him happy. She had been worried about him when he had come back from serving overseas minus an arm and with a head full of things he didn’t want there.

He had been making slow but steady progress since his discharge, but he hadn’t seemed to really be able to find his place or purpose. He worked hard on his recovery, but nothing had excited him or kept his attention.

This place though, he was obviously enamored with.

“At least you’ll be able to make coffee when you open,” she took another appreciative drink from her mug.

“I think I’m going to have to hire a couple baristas to work the coffee bar. This is pretty good,” he held up his robotic prosthetic, wiggling the fingers, “but I don’t think I could manage a bar with it. Plus, I’d be worried about what spilling lots of hot milk or coffee on it would do. It’s water resistant, but definitely not water proof.”

“Maybe you can find someone who can bake and work a coffee bar,” Allura suggested.

“Do you know anyone?” Shiro sounded so hopeful that Allura almost felt bad admitting she didn’t.

“There are lots of people who have been trained as baristas though,” Allura offered.

A demanding meow interrupted them, and Shiro grinned widely at the black cat that sauntered up the patio steps.

“The place even came with a cat,” Shiro dropped his hand down for the cat to rub against.

“Did they charge extra?” Allura teased.

“Nope, threw her in for free,” Shiro pushed back from the table far enough to let the cat jump up on his lap, “I’m thinking about naming her Kona.”

“If you name her, you have to keep her,” Allura reached over to let the cat smell her fingers.

The cat sniffed her hand, then gave it a polite rub, before enthusiastically rubbing against Shiro’s chest and under his chin with an impressively loud purr.

“Oh, I’m definitely keeping her,” Shiro scratched her chin and neck, then covered her ears, “she’s got a vet appointment on Friday, but don’t tell her.”

If Allura didn’t know better, she would say the cat was rolling her eyes at him.

“So at this point you’ve bought a very expensive cat, that came along with a non-working restaurant and very pretty grounds that need a lot of work,” Allura summarized.

“Well,” Shiro looked just the slightest bit sheepish, “it wasn’t just because of the cat. After lunch I can show you the rest of the grounds. They do need a lot of work, but they’re really beautiful, and they have the potential to be something amazing. So does the restaurant.”

Allura could almost see it, through the worn beams of the patio railing and the tangle of tall grass, the sunlight hanging hazy in the afternoon air, and the insects buzzing happily. It was such a risk though.

A second cat appeared suddenly from the grass, sauntering up the stairs of the patio as if it was hers. Her sleek coat was a lovely steely blue grey.

“You got two cat then?” Allura lowered her hand to try to draw the second cat over to her.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen that one,” Shiro had gone still, waiting to see how the black cat would react to the new comer.

She meowed impatiently, clearly unhappy with not being petted. Shiro went back to scratching her ears and chin, continuing to watch the grey cat.

The newcomer pranced up to Allura, rubbing her head into her palm then dragging along it so she scratched her whole back.

“Friendly, aren’t you,” Allura gave the cat’s rump an extra scratch.

The cat purred loudly, stretching her front paws out and leaving her rump in the air as a clear sign she wanted Allura to continue. Allura snorted and obliged.

“Well, at least your new property came with friends,” Allura straightens and reached for another sfogliatella.

She was foiled by the grey cat jumping up on her lap. She gave a startled yelp, but the cat only pushed her head under Allura’s hand, demanding attention. Shiro laughed so hard he had to lean on the table, and the black cat chattered at him under the curve of his body before laying down on his lap with her tail hanging down lazily.

Allura tried to remember the last time she had heard Shiro laugh that way. She suspected it had been the last time he had come home on leave before the attack that had cost him his arm. Maybe there really was something to this place.

“So business plans have to start with goals,” Allura reached down to pull her legal pad out of her bag, and immediately had to hold her pen out of reach of the grey cat, who tried to paw it from her grip, “what is your goal for this place?”

“I want people to like it here as much as I do,” Shiro said without hesitation, “I want to share it.”

“That’s a good goal,” Allura unhooked a grey paw from her pen a second time and scratched the cat’s ears, “let’s figure out how to get there.”

[theoddpocalypse]

so after my youtuber au is completed (or maybe before, depends which ends up getting written first), i’m gonna try my hand at writing a chapter fic again, specifically one that i came up with while talking klance with my girlfriend. it’s a summer camp au, based a lot off my own summer camp experiences. 

basically the premise being that shiro ropes keith into being a camp counselor at the camp that allura (shiro’s girlfriend) is relaunching (it was her father’s camp originally). keith is brought in to not only be a counselor, but to be the head of the nature department, so he would take kids on nature walks and stuff, tell them all the camp stories. 

while scouting out the different areas before the camp opens, he finds this small shack in the woods and decides that in his down time, he’s going to fix it up. it’s something that he does for himself, to make him feel like his time at the camp is worthwhile (before he realizes that it’s been worthwhile the whole time).

one day lance follows keith because he keeps disappearing and its weird and he ends up helping keith fix up the shack. they bond over it.

keith - 24 - nature director - counselor to the red cabin. lone wolf. half brother of shiro (different fathers). was asked by his brother to come to the camp for the first summer to fill the needed spot. has a knack for randomly disappearing to the woods for weeks at a time, which is why shiro asked him to come on as they needed a nature director as well as a counselor. doesn’t really want to be there, but doesn’t want to let shiro down. falls for lance in what he refers to as “against his will.”

lance - 24 - lifeguard - counselor to the blue cabin. recommended by hunk (his best friend, they grew up together) for the lifeguard position, considering he’d done it in the past. is super excited to work at the camp. is great with kids. starts up a rivalry with keith for fun, but secretly thinks he’s really attractive. not that he would say it to his face or anything. 

hunk - 24 - camp cook - counselor of the yellow cabin. was interviewed by allura, brought tons of samples of different foods that would be easy to make in large quantities. was basically hired on the spot because the food was great and he was such a joy to be around. has a crush on shay. lance is very supportive and encouraging about it.

pidge - 21 - IT director - counselor of the green cabin. was hired by coran for her incredible technical skills. she works to keep all of the camp running technically, and she sets up the tech for camp events, such as movie nights and dances. she playfully picks on keith, lance, and hunk for all their respective crushes, but loves them like brothers.

matt - 25 - sports director - counselor of the orange cabin. was initially hired to help out coran, but proved to be a bit of a wild card when it came to power tools, so was put in charge of the sports department. was the one who recommended his sister for the IT position. 

shay - 24 - arts and crafts director - counselor of the pink cabin. hired by allura. actual ray of sunshine. completely decorates the arts and crafts cabin with flowers and bright colors, with plenty of space for campers’ works. definitely has a crush on hunk and loves helping him out in the kitchen when she can.

plaxum - 25 - camp nurse - counselor of the purple cabin. was hired by allura and shiro. goes by plax (she used to hate her name, but has grown to love it). she has a positive outlook and a nursing degree. has a small crush on lance, but it’s nothing serious, they become good friends. 

shiro - 30 - camp co-director. allura’s boyfriend. super supportive of her decision to reopen her father’s camp, and wants nothing more than to see it succeed. goes around with allura and coran during the school year to get people interested in coming to the camp. also feels like he has to take care of keith, which is partly why he invites keith to come work there the first summer (and if all goes well, hopes he’ll want to come back).

allura - 28 - camp co-director. feels that reopening her father’s summer camp, where she had some of her best childhood memories, is her life’s work. she’s excited that shiro is behind her and willing to help and is even more excited when it all comes together. she becomes close with everyone in different ways, feeling they all become a part of her family.

coran - 50 - camp handyman. the kooky uncle of everyone at the camp. always there to fix an issue whenever it’s needy, and always a shoulder to cry on if need be. basically a second father to allura, he was part of the original camp and is so proud of what’s she done for it now. won’t admit this out loud, but lance is definitely his favorite counselor.

i spent too much time on this, but honestly, i became really attached to this au. it’s been in my head for months now and i really hope it translates well. i’m also really hoping no one like steals all of this, that would break my heart. but yeah, hopefully i can get that started pretty soon and i hope it will be worth the amount of work i just put into this little character rundown (i hope too much blah sorry).

[maychorian]

Weekly Voltron Fic Recs #21

Rules: You can find past rec lists here. This is stuff I like, and I have a huge bias toward Lance, hurt/comfort, and general fluff, in that order. Gen unless otherwise noted. Please comment on the fics if you read and enjoy them!

Days of Gladiator Love by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 3,589 Author’s Summary: Turns out, there was a fair bit of merchandising involved with the Gladiator battles, especially with their more famous fighters.Apparently, this includes romance novels. My Comments: Warning for an explicit description of...something. This fic is hilarious, and I could see it playing out in my head all too clearly. It could be an episode, except for the aforementioned...something.

Remember Me For Centuries by 0bviousLeigh Words: 38,045 Author’s Summary: Every legend starts with someone who has no idea what they’re about to get into. My Comments: This is a Pokemon AU, and it an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. I was so very, very pleasantly surprised! I barely know Pokemon at all, so I was hesitant at first, but this fic is one hundred percent worth taking a risk on, I guarantee it. Especially if you love Lance. The worldbuilding is so careful and delicately balanced that you really don’t need to know Pokemon much, though I’m sure it helps. I had to keep googling ones I’d never heard of so I could properly imagine the story, haha. But yeah. This fic is incredible. And it just finished. Parts of it made me tear up, I am not kidding. Everyone is absolutely fantastic and SO worth the effort, ahhh, I love this fic.

Let It Haunt You by Emerald_Ashes Words: 2,785 Author’s Summary: Keith is a little worse for wear upon his return from the Blade of Marmora’s base. Both mentally and physically. My Comments: Another really lovely missing scene. WHY DIDN’T WE GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN CANON WHY. Ah, but all the interpretations from fandom have been lovely, so I really shouldn’t complain. Lance is a good kid in this one, too.

Loyal to the Bone by Shenzuul Words: 1,392 Author’s Summary: Shiro has been recaptured by the Galra. As he fights off paralyzing terror, Lance’s voice in his ear is a thin lifeline against sinking into despair. My Comments: Can be read as romantic or platonic. I’m a big fan of these two together, as my own fic testifies, and this is a very sharp and vivid portrayal of them. Love Lance doing everything he can to help Shiro hold on. It’s too short, though.

Tricky Shopping by earthstar Words: 5,293 Author’s Summary: Ever since Keith was reunited with Shiro, he finds he likes having him around and Keith is determined to prove he can take care of himself. My Comments: Sequel to an earlier recced fic where Keith is slightly younger, slightly more abandoned, and subsequently slightly more adopted by both the red lion and Shiro. I adore this series so much. I hope there will be much more.

Silver Lining by HeIsSoBlue Words: 7,664 (WIP 4/?) Author’s Summary: Being captured by the Galra was probably one of the worst things Lance could imagine. Yet, even the worst situations can come with a silver lining. My Comments: Another one of those fics where Lance is captured by the Galra, but this one has a twist I don’t want to spoil. It also feels a little more on the realistic side than some others I’ve read. Anyway, I know I have followers who like these fics, so here ya go. Subscribe! Kudos! Comment!

Where The Lions Roam by Mytay Words: 6,980 Author’s Summary: " ... tell me why Blue is making the moves on Keith.”Pidge stared at him, a touch incredulous. “You really haven’t figured it out?” “Pidge. I am very intelligent, but I am not a genius,” Lance said patiently. “Spell it out for me.” “Well, you just sort of answered your own question,” Pidge said, snorting. “Your Lion is making the moves on Keith — and by ‘moves’ I mean responding to your abject terror whenever Keith is in danger.” My Comments: Oh, look, it’s the Klance hurt/comfort for this week. This one is super good. Post Season Two and all about that insecurity, yo. The part at the end made me so hurty, and Shiro and the others just going NO made my heart sing.

cough syrup by EmmaLuLuChu Words: 4,493 (WIP 3/?) Author’s Summary: Just another morning at the Galaxy Garrison, save for one tiny problem Shiro realizes. *MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2* My Comments: You know that theory that maybe Shiro got zapped to an alternate universe? WELL PREPARE YOURSELF FOR PAIN. I really want to know what happened here and how things went so wrong for everyone, gah, it’s tearing me up to see them like this. But Shiro is determined to fix it, and, you know. I believe Shiro can save the world.

Varadero Beach is 1976 Years Old by DizzyBunnies Words: 2,217 Author’s Summary: When invited to a party to celebrate their alliance with the Arusians, the team decide to get a little...intoxicated--well, specifically Hunk and Lance. Or: Hunk and Lance get drunk for the first time together and won't shut up about random shit. My Comments: Huuuunnnk. Laaannnccee. Oh, my sweet boys. It’s nice to see them hanging out. This is funny and a little bittersweet, as serves them well.

Flower For Your Thoughts by BrOwNiEfOx Words: 3,070 Author’s Summary: Soulmate AU: when you get hurt your soulmates blooms flowers. The Paladins are meant to be together and their connection is deeper than just friendship. My Comments: Short, sweet platonic soulmate AU with just the right amount of pain to make it all come together.

Bad Diagnosis by ElfGrove Words: 11,483 Author’s Summary: Pidge has been having bad headaches for nearly a week straight, so she decides to see if the infirmary has some sort of Altean Advil. The actual news is not so great. My Comments: I avoided this fic for awhile, because the tags are scary, but it’s definitely worth it. Everyone tries so hard, and it’s incredibly painful, but also good. Pidge’s family loves her to death.

His Red-Stained Footsteps by CoranCoranTheGorgeousMan Words: 4,620 Author’s Summary: Standing facing their newly constructed teludav, crucial to their newest, most desperate measure yet, Coran tells her softly, “Your father would be proud of the leader that you’ve become.” She thinks about that, and isn't sure. My Comments: Really gorgeous background for Allura and Coran. Painful, but it all came together really well. Feels like canon all the way through.

Momentary Meltdown by Nandireya Words: 4,384 Author’s Summary: In the wake of Shiro's disappearance the team have to come to terms with their loss and what it means to their future. One in particular is not handling it well... My Comments: I really enjoyed this look at Keith and Allura and the way their relationship is having to evolve after the events of Season Two. Keith deserves a meltdown, honestly.

The Arms of Voltron by squireofgeekdom for rimahadley Words: 2,001 Author’s Summary: The developing friendship of Pidge and Keith over the first and second seasons, and afterward. The arms of Voltron will hold them all together. My Comments: I love stories about these two developing a friendship. They have so many similarities and so many differences, it’s always fun to watch.

Giggle at a Funeral by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 2,375 Author’s Summary: Stranded and wounded on a planet, Shiro is bleeding out. Luckily, he can still contact his team. Unluckily, he's well enough to talk at them. My Comments: Shiro’s sense of humor is the WORST. It’s BossToaster, of course this fic is amazing and you should read it.

Previously Recced Fics That Updated:

Where No One Goes by earthstar  A Couple of Ticks by easternCriminal Just What You Want by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) (now complete) Love and Other Questions by squirenonny (this last chapter made me cry so hard, oh Lance you beautiful child let me hug you) Here Stands a Man by awkwardCerberus Aid by Haurvatat One Week to Say Goodbye by squirenonny Bromances in Space by ptw30 Mini Lions by earthstar Hunk and Lance's Excellent Adventures by kiaella_v Worth of A Paladin by Rururinchan Someplace Like Home by squirenonny