#love that song its so clone shiro and keith to me

[holysheithyall]

“The stars collide when you and I intertwine”

[anarchistbitch]

well it's not like according to tradition I replied in a timely manner lmao dont worry about it

sfjkfjsdk me too, i dont usually make playlists, i just leave everything in my liked and shuffle it and let it be what the universe dictates but idk i felt like getting them into one playlist

well if you add pepa pig id burst out laughing in the middle of a call probably and one of my work friends would probably shout "send her to sleep" bc thats what we say when we send clients back bc we cant do anything from our end so it would be funny and we would just ultimately skip it lmao

im looking forward to whatever songs you add, the playlist is long as fuck already tbh so it might take a while for the oli london song to come on

SFGDSJKFGDS well in my defense I had to ask bc i didnt know how long youve been on tumblr so yeah (shiro's cloning and the episode about it and the fight with keith)

anyways i motherfucking hated that they exploded adam and then tried to console us with curtis but anywaaaaaaay the fanfic is dirty laundry which if you were in the fandom i doubt you didnt end up hearing of it or at least the discourse around it but anyway it got deleted but i had it downloaded so have a google drive link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwU9LMiUJoN7RjFWSGZVUlJQd1U/view?

yeah, the whole not enrolling classes in uni is a mess and i try not to think about it too much rn (i am seeing a therapist and i hope that by next year i have figured out what i want to do) but i like my job, we(my team)'re actually planning to rent a house and stay there a weekend very soon to celebrate our supervisor's bday :'3

making choices that will greatly impact our futures is seriously so hard, and i also not qualified for any career advice but manifesting that whatever you choose in the end allows you to be happy

just last night it started raining hard so i got up to turn off the fan but then like two minutes later i got up to turn it on again bc even tho it was raining it is still so fucking hot, seriously hate the weather rn

god mountains are so preetty, specially when the weather is cool and they get all foggy

atsv is a masterpiece and it continues from itsv so damn well, i really do love it and i hope hollywood gets up it's ass and pays their workers what they're owed so we can see it soon

KJSDFJKSDFHJS i am still seeing so many miguel o hara edits everywhere for real, i gotta say tho im in love with hobie and pavitr

JKSHFJS i used to do something similar with fob, i had a lot of them printed out and would put them on my binder cover so that i could memorize the lyrics so i was all day everyday singing them until i memorized it and the changed it for another song

idk how id rank fob albums, its so hard when theyre soo good but i really do love so much for stardust, aside from that one i think my favs are save rock and roll and american beauty american pyscho, mania was the first album i was a fan of them when it came out so it has a special place in my heart as well

my special lyric is part time soulmates full time problem, ive always been a fan of soulmate aus and hhhhhhhh just makes my brain smooth, also we started off as shiny dimes but we got flipped too many times, we did it for futures that never came and for pasts that we're never going to change 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

cheers to us and our interesting meeting jdfshjf

love you and i hope you have a good week :3 get plenty of rest and fun and water!!

-M

i feel like if we had a competition on late replies i would emerge victorious😎(crying inside)

honestly fall is prolly the best time to make playlists[not that im gonna, but sure is a nice time yk] but ahhhh anyway!!!! havent added anything but u will know when i add it <3

check hello tumblr user nonbinarymikaela pls provide access to the drive check [i checked out of any fandom drama cause i had so many exams that yr lmao. only time the edu system saved me]

[this is me actually hi]

honestly idek if i like my degree rn, like i really wanted to go for a history degree a couple years back before i changed my stream[its a whole educational system thats actually fucking fucked in india i hope it dies soon💜] but on the flip side - it was pretty hard to get a spot in my uni anyway so now im just in a whirlpool of smth. bleh

thinking of how next year is so close is like skewering me and roasting me like a kebab😭😭😭😭[but like dont keep a strict timeline yk, ur like seriously cool and i think any decision you take will be the best as along as your the one taking it ] [i wish i had answered this earlier so i couldve wish you good time on ur retreat but i hope it was good anyway💜💜💜💜💜💜💜]

man i need to like seriously cope up with my decisions cause i need to take an exam for my career which is seriously sooo..... but yea thats how its going

omg its raining here too and my college[which is seriously just a reformated jungle] turned into a swamp ish and they STILL didnt cancel classes. and i forgot my umbrella. i came back home like a sad wet cat .

gotta love that near-to-the-equator ass weather with climate change [i need to kill billionaires rn]

hope the strikes come to a fruitful end soon[for saf-aftra & iatse !!! fuck the amptp!!] but also i wouldnt mind waiting a couple years for btsv if the animators need that time to like animate in a safe and healthy manner yk

OH wait also im on my halloween movies watch rn!! just finished the addams family and watching paranorman rn [i need a gomez man btw. need him to be silly and obsessed and intense.and mwah]

[also if u wanna watch an indian series made in heaven is pretty cool(its okay-ish in terms of writing but it covers some very important social issues + the main leads are hot and dubious. what more do i need to watch a show)]

hobie kinda scratched a very specific itch in my brain like i want to be him AND kiss him , pavitr is so slay, and o'hara needs like a massage session thing where they unlock the trauma in ur knees or like a stamlo 50mg.

me & my friends fav fob lyrics was the 'how the mighty fall' cause we would do that "fall out...boi" intro everytime lol

i dont think i have a fave lyric but i think immortals was a top contender for reasons[i like big hero 6 :3]

Song rec: nothings new by rio romeo (saw it in a reels animatic and .. yea)

to many more yrs of late asks 🥂(appy juice cause i dont like the taste of alcohol)

my love and hopes to u💜💜💜 and also an umbrella for this weather☔

p.s. drink water/soup/iced tea + i care for u+ W in the chats

[gigili-jiggly]

can you list your favorite klance fics ://

(i’m not sure how to respond to your ‘ :// ‘ emoji, but i’ll take any excuse to gush about fics lol)

I have so many favorite fics, so I’ll just list some oneshots for now so that this list doesn’t become too long 

(I might post a list of more oneshots and ongoing fics if anyone is interested!)

SFW Oneshots: 

you’re lucky that’s what i like by @zenstrike

Lance rescues a hamster from certain doom.

or, Lance has Keith wrapped around his little finger and doesn’t even realize it.

This is literally the cutest and softest klance series I’ve read in a long time!! It gives me lots of feelings and feeds my need for lovestruck Keith ladfajdifjdsklf

hey, mom, i met a boy by @mothpoem

“Sweetheart,” says Lance, his hair longer, his shoulders broader, the slope of his nose uneven now where it didn’t used to be, “you don’t know the half of it.”

LISTEN. This fic owns my ass, it’s so good. It has all my favorite tropes (marriage proposals, visions of the future, love realizations, etc.) and every moment between Lance and Keith is so sweet and full of love hnnngh. 

i know what you did last summer by seventies

Saving angry, mysterious damsels in distress multiple times weren’t in the job description of being a lifeguard. It would have been slightly bearable if only everyone would stop asking Lance if he remembered what he did last summer. What really happened, anyway? AU

Pining Keith? Oblivious Lance? A little bit of Memory Loss? Heck yeah!!! This fic also made me laugh a lot, so I always reread this when I need a pick-me-up

this, our town of halloween by @tobiologist

“Yeah, well, it’s written all over both of your faces,” Lance hisses. “It’s not a big deal.”

Pidge taps her chin. “Oh, you mean Keith, the local introvert and your ex-rival, creeping out of his cave to go to a huge Halloween celebration with you and your little niece and nephew? Of course that’s not a big deal. Silly me!”

Or: Lance invites Keith to Disneyland on Halloween and glimpses an entirely new side of the boy he has a stupidly massive crush on.

Lately, I’ve been loving tropes where people go on a ‘date’, insist that it’s not a date and then finally realize it’s a date. Also, pining Lance is good shit. 

Smell as Sweet by ultimateparadox

Coffee and love, Lance thinks, are the only universal constants.

Established relationship!!! Marriage proposals!!! Becoming a family!!! Everything here is amazing!!!

Bastion by Foxcote

In a healing universe, Keith and Lance await the arrival of their daughter.

I am a sucker for klance as parents, and one scene in particular between Keith and Krolia really captured my heart

In every reality, I reach for you by @enlacinglineswrites

Stories inspired the Klance AU month prompts.

I love drabble series and this one right here has so many interesting and wonderful aus! I read it time and time again like a morning newspaper lol. 

Somewhere a Clock is Ticking by @emphasis-all-mine

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

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

Literally the fic that made me warm up to James! I’ve always loved time travel stories and the characterizations in this fic is so fun and enjoyable, I hold it very close to my heart! Also, klance family aldjofiadjfdf

5 + 1 times: lance and the search for keith’s boyfriend by @starwar 

Who could it be?!

Lance tried to convince himself it wasn’t jealousy… it was just friendly concern. He had to ensure that whoever Keith was with treated him well, not that Keith needed Lance to look after him, but still, Keith deserved the world and Lance wanted to make sure whoever he was with gave that to him.

Just buddy-buddy concerns.

or alternatively; 5 + 1 times lance doesn’t realise he’s keith’s boyfriend

Oblivious Lance who doesn’t know he’s Keith’s boyfriend? Bet your ass I’m gonna read that!!

chaser of fate by freshia

Where Lance thinks everyone else is really frickin’ weird, the others spend copious amounts of time trying to get him to just remember, and Keith just wants to (re?)live his life.

(Modern Reincarnation AU where the biggest threat to face, is the looming deadlines for essays.)

One of the first klance fics I’ve read and one that I absolutely consider a classic. I love me some reincarnation au’s, and I love how this one is nice and not too angsty! 

Save the Date by @thathopelessromantic 

They had gotten married in the middle of a war, on an alien spaceship, both boasting major injuries. It was rushed and short and the team was thrust into battle almost immediately after “I do.” But afterwards, after some insistent questioning from Keith, Lance admitted to things he had let himself imagine for their wedding, were they to have had one on Earth.

Cute established and married klance celebrating their anniversary, what more can a girl want? 

Speak for the Stars by @speakswords 

All Lance has ever wanted is to prove his worth. So, maybe it’s fitting that the Black Lion picked him right when Lotor betrayed them and Shiro’s clone went rogue. Right when the team was at its lowest and closest to failing.

The desire for glory that Lance grew up with—that drove him to join the Garrison and pursue fighter class, that drove him into his one-sided rivalry with Keith, that drove him after Keith in the Sonoran Desert and into Blue’s cockpit and into space and into the war in the first place—it’s a relic of the past for him now. All he wants these days is to keep his friends alive and the Coalition afloat, and he tries his best, despite the pervasive fear that he isn’t the right person for this monumental task. Despite the growing certainty that Black picked the wrong guy.

This fear will be put to the ultimate test when the mess that ensnares the team after the clone disaster turns out to be a labyrinth more winding than any of them were prepared for. Because Lance might just be the only person equipped to lead them through this maze and into the light.

I love those tropes where peeps get stuck in their own dreams and someone has to help them snap out of it. This fic does this wonderfully with Lance and I loved Keith’s dream in here, it was so sweet

in every reality, we meet by ULTIOcean

Small one-shots about our favorite team, taken from a prompt list on tumblr for the October Writting Challenge, in which i’ll write 31 short stories, unrelated to each other, each insipred by the prompt of the day.

i adore this drabble series, each chapter is such a unique take on the prompt! 

you’ve got a hand for the taking (i’m about to take it to the moon) by seabear

“I think,” Lance says, squinting, “he’s a vampire.”

one of my comfort fics to be honest. i really really like their interactions here and the confession scene makes me very happy

where & how we’ll land by @ephemelody 

The first time Keith meets Lance is also the first time they kiss. It all goes downhill for him from there.

looking for a childhood klance fic that is so so good? this one is a classic!!!

Complete Mature/Explicit Oneshots: 

assemble by groovystars

‘there was an idea- katie and hunk know about it- called the voltron initiative. the plan was-is, god, it is- to bring together a group of remarkable people, and see if together they could become something more. to fight the battles we never could. i wasn’t sure though. just knew that katie and hunk could do it, maybe lance if he wasn’t knee-deep in cover work. but now that cap’s used to the century and keith kogane turned up from the dead, and we have a literal god on our hands… now- now i think we can do that. i think we can believe in heroes.’

aka the marvel au that’s probably already been done

As a huge Marvel fan, this is an amazing superhero au!! It has klance and shatt, as well as lotor and allura in a thor and loki dynamic! 

i like me better when i’m with you by @reader115 

His mother’s advice when the war is over? That he should ask for what he wants.

Keith joins Lance and his family on their farm, and Lance wishes for a never ending visit.

i’ve read so many post-canon fics when vld ended and this one is one of my absolute favorites. It’s because of this fic that i started associating the song with klance, haha! I love the characterizations and the overall sweetness/lovey dovey feeling the fic has and aldoifjaidfd I just love reading this over and over again

there are worse things i could do by @peachgrdn 

His chest went tight when he recalled Keith’s face. What did it have to mean? They’d never been lovers; that much was clear.

When Lance goes out to buy himself a gift for his own pleasure, it comes with a little emotional baggage. Only just as he thinks he can manage it, Keith throws himself into the mix, and Lance realizes he must come to terms with buried feelings.

honestly, i consider lyssy the queen for fluffy and feely smut lol. I love her humor in this one as well as the many feels it gives me…just aldkjodfa i love this fic a lot okay?

kiss me (like it hurts) by mottainai

Purple light streamed through his kitchen window from the neon sign across the street, getting tangled in Keith’s hair and painted on the planes of his shoulders. He held his breath, afraid to disturb the moment. Keith’s eyes were on his, too soft to be coming from a dangerous man. Lance could see himself becoming caught in the gap in his teeth, pressed into the groves of his calloused hands, inked across his ribs. It should terrify him, the kind of terror of one looking into the belly of the beast.

But it didn’t.

Or: Keith and Lance, told through arguments and resolutions

i’m such a sucker for gangster keith stuff and this fic here has one of my favorite takes on it. perfect for rereading again and again! 

lure by chaeriee 

Becoming indebted to Keith Kogane was not a part of Lance’s future plans. Falling for him, even less so.

another gangster keith fic and it has almost all of my guilty pleasures in it uwu. i love those /person A needs to pay off a debt and works for person B while unknowingly becoming the most important one to them’ storylines haha! 

 Alpha Affairs by marizousbooty

Keith and Lance take a romantic vacation to the mountains for a snowy weekend getaway.

vampire lance and werewolf keith….doing it….good stuff

Heaven in hiding by i_write_shakespeare_not_disney

Keith finds something interesting in Lance’s drawer and it leads to one of the most amazing nights of his life.

insecure lance in lingerie and keith helping him become comfortable with it? sexy. 

Beast of Burden by melancholymango

“Keith, no, we can’t go again.” Lance pleads fall on deaf ears. Keith is honed in on him now like predator to prey. He’s fighting a losing battle and they both know it. He sees it in the way Keith is raking his eyes over him, sizing him up. “We’ll be so late getting to the bar.”

“Just one more.” Keith insists, herding Lance toward the counter with a stubbornness that is innately wolf. Lance pouts, but he doesn’t have anywhere else to go but backward.

“That’s what you said last time! And the time before that!”

–

The week leading up to a supermoon, as told by the world’s best werewolf boyfriend, Lance McClain. The good, the bad, and the horny.

I read this on Halloween and I’m not even ashamed of how much I enjoyed this. This fic made me very very biased towards werewolf keith lol. 

[a-spoopy-bird]

Glowing Eyes

Sorry ubt immean take this langst as tribute for my absence!

We all are stranger creatures than when we all started out as kids. Culture forbid.

The paladins were going to stay on Earth for a while, learning about this new Altean. This gave time for them to chill. Sure, they’d train, and they would strengthen diplomatic connections, but it seems like the Galran threat was gone.

They mourned the lost, and honor ceremonies were given to them, awards and medals for their bravery. Lance let his little relatives put on the badges, laughing as they went around, pretending to use a blaster. He remembered being that young, only five or six, and he would also play games like that, his dad looking on and laughing. His grin widened. These guys were the best.

“Lance, what’s this?” Joseph asked, picking up Lance’s bayard. He hadn’t explained it yet, because, after all, there had been a lot going on with ceremonies and recovering.

“This, is my bayard.” Lance said with a flair of drama. “It’s my weapon. It’s different for everybody.”

“Cool! How does it work?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. Something about Altean alchemy. You’d have to ask Coran. It might take a few minutes to get an answer though.” Lance grinned.

“What does it do?” He asked, looking at it.

“It’s different for everyone. Some people, like me,” He grinned, “have several bayard forms. It doesn’t matter which bayard you use, it’ll take the same shape.”

“How do you know?”

“I originally piloted the Blue Lion. She’s pretty great, but Keith left Red to Black, so I got a promotion. Allura took Blue, so I passed on the bayard.” He explained.

“What are your bayards?” Marco asked.

Lance grinned. “I have a blaster, sniper rifle, and I got a sword.”

The was a chorus of woahs and wows. “Show us!”

“Maybe later. I don’t think the nurses would like it very much if I just started activating my bayard.”

They pouted, but then moved on. “Tell us space stories!”

Lance smiled. It was good to be home, however different it was.

We have romantic fantasies about what dying truly is. Fall off the grid.

“You died?” Veronica gasped. Lance was in the middle of telling her a story.

“Yeah, it’s nothing compared to what Shiro went through. He died, was cloned, then his soul was forced into his clone.” Lance said hotly.

“Now you’re just lying.”

“I am not! Anyway, Allura saved me with her crazy Altean magic.”

“A lot seems to happen with you and Allura.” Veronica said. Lance felt the nudge to open up.

“You’re getting sloppy, I felt that one a mile away.” He snorted.

Veronica shrugged. “Worth a shot. Are you two dating or…?”

Lance blushed instantly. “Wh- what, no, we’re just friends. Besides, she just got over Lotor.”

“Space prince?”

Lance’s shoulders tensed ever so slightly. “Yeah. He had us all. He was bad, being Zarkon’s son, then he was on our side, then he went insane from quintessence, like Haggar and Zarkon did. It was hard on Allura. She was in love with him, the version he told us.” Lance’s shoulders fell. “Honestly, I didn’t trust him, but I thought it was just my jealousy. He got so close to Allura so quickly, and I had been with her for several months and made less progress. But, my gut was right. He lied to us all, and that put the universe in jeopardy.” He shrugged. “We left him in the quintessence field.”

“That must’ve been rough.”

Lance laughed. “Understatement of the year.”

Veronica studied Lance, noticing how he didn’t laugh as long, he didn’t make as many jokes. He looked like the same Lance, but the Galra had hardened him into someone almost completely different.

We live for the night’s décor, it reveals what we dream of.

Lance missed looking up at a night sky. After so many nights and days of being in one, it looked so much better being on the ground. The stars, familiar constellations blinked down at him, a comfort from his childhood.

“Lance? Are you down there?” Keith’s voice floated over the little ledge that was washed out by the sea.

Slightly confused, Lance called back, “Yeah, there’s a slight lip.” He watched as Keith got down and sat beside him. “What’s up?”

“I needed to get away from the Garrison and Griffin. He’s such an asshole.”

Lance smirked. “Didn’t you guys fight all the time?”

“Still do.” Keith grunted, looking at the moonlight that bounced off the waves.

Lance looked up at the stars. “I wonder how many of these are planets we visited.” He wondered aloud.

Keith looked at Lance, then the sky. “I don’t know.”

Lance fell silent. He stared at the stars, expression content and a bit sad too. He thought of the countless battles, and of how often he wanted to come home, just too look at his stars again. Slowly, he relaxed, leaning into the embankment, letting out a soft sigh. This was his reward for making it through the war.

He didn’t notice Keith looking at him, wondering why Lance wasn’t trying to pick a fight.

I know there’s someone at the door. They come for help of this I’m sure.

“You wanna talk about it?” Lance heard Keith ask. He had fallen asleep at the embankment and had just jolted awake. He knew instinctively he was pale and clammy. It happened every time he had a nightmare.

The image of Galran sentries bearing down on him flashed through his mind. He suppressed a shudder. “No, it’s fine. I should get home. Don’t want them to think I disappeared again,” Lance joked, grin obviously forced.

Keith watched as Lance got up and left him alone under the stars on Veradero beach.

But do I want to say goodbye to all the glowing eyes?

Lance walked to his hiding spot. He wasn’t even sure if it was there anymore, but it remained intact. Just a tree with a platform in its branches. It was about fifteen feet up, but he had made a small ladder up.

Curling around his knees, he let out a quiet, dry sob. Was he ever going to be free from the Galra? He let the tension slowly leave his body. It’d be fine, he was finally home. He could chill sometimes, not fearing an attack any second.

I’m holding onto what I know, and what I know I must let go.

Having Keith back after a month of him being gone was weird. Lance didn’t really know what to do. Half of him wanted to fight with him, but the other half wanted to drop it. This resulted in some very mixed signals.

“Your hair needs cut,” Mrs. Holt said one day as they chilled in the Garrison lounge.

“I’ve been saying that for months.” Lance snorted.

Keith fingered his hair. “I don’t know, I kinda like it long.”

It doesn’t look half bad. Lance thought, but he didn’t know how to say that. “It’s more of a mullet this way. It’s better.”

Keith glared.

“But it’s so long, just a trim,” Mrs. Holt continued. “It’d be so much easier to manage.”

“Thanks for the offer, Mrs. Holt, but I think I’ll keep it for now.” Keith said politely but continued to glare at Lance.

But I would rather sing a song, for the eyes to sing along.

Lance was getting used to waking up in his own sweat, visions of towering sentries and cruisers and fighters burnt onto his eyelids. He would silently sneak out of his house, or the Garrison, or where ever he had fell asleep at, and go to his hideout, his guitar in a waterproof case. He’d pull it out and sing softly, relaxing into the music.

For now, he would be safe.

We all know somebody who knows somebody’s who’s doing great.

Lance sat politely as Hunk and Pidge talked about how good it was to be on Earth again, even if they didn’t have as advanced of technology. They compared notes as he sat in the background, half listening. They didn’t seem to be haunted by the war.

We all know people who know people who are flying straight.

“Paladins, we have to continue training with out lions.” Allura said. “We can’t let our bonds grow stale.”

Lance climbed into Red, feeling his impatient and violent nature, but also feeling his protectiveness and fierce love for the other paladins. Especially his paladin, Lance.

Lance missed Blue, for sure, but Red was also great. Red wasn’t as chill as Blue. Red wanted Lance to be the best he could be, and so did Blue, but Blue was more maternal about it. Red let Lance make mistakes. When it got out of hand he stepped in. Or fell onto.

They did drills for hours. Red responded well, even occasionally giving Lance tips about his flying form. Red was speedy, so Lance had to take it down a notch. But Red was also temperamental, so when the team got slightly heated at him, Red bristled. Lance soothed him. It was fine. He was fine.

He felt Red questioning how firm his belief was. He knew Red knew he was lying. Red had a direct link with his mind, of course he knew. He knew about the nightmares and the panic attacks and the absolutely, mind numbing, body freezing fear that took him over.

But I’ll kindly enter into rooms of depression, while ceiling fans and idle hands will take my life again.

By this time, Lance knew he should confide in someone besides his giant mechanical cat. It wasn’t getting better on its own, as Lance had hoped. He thought about Hunk or Pidge or Shiro, but none of them seemed right. He wanted to go to his family, but he’s been gone for so long and he didn’t know if they’d be awake right now. It was… three in the morning.

He huffed. This isn’t what he had planned for when they finally came home. Then again, he hadn’t planned on being in some sort of stasis for three years. He sighed, just staring at the ceiling. Shark stickers that glow in the dark dotted his ceiling. He remembered naming them when he got them, but by now he forgot the names. All he knew is that one was Hunk, for his best friend.

He heard a soft knock on his door. Who the hell was awake? He considered grabbing his bayard and snatched it from his dresser. He slowly opened the door, bayard up, but not activated.

“Jesus, Lance, I’m not here to kill you.” Veronica whispered, entering his room. “Why are you up?”

“I could ask the same thing,” he whispered back, putting down the weapon.

“I asked you first.” She said, falling into the familiar pattern of their talks.

“What is this, middle school?” Lance scoffed quietly. “I just couldn’t sleep.”

“Bullshit.” She answered. Lance looked up, ready to defend his claim. “You didn’t sleep at all last night either. When I came in to check, you weren’t even here.” She accused. It was true. He had snuck out to his hideout again.

“I don’t really want to talk about it.” He muttered, looking down. “You should get some rest.”

“I’m not going to bed until you tell me what’s up.”

Lance sat there tired and exasperated. Veronica knew he valued his family’s needs over his own personal ones. He also knew she had his best interest at heart. But he really, really didn’t want to talk about it.

“You know, you don’t have to be Red Paladin, you can just be Lance.” She said, her voice concerned and honest.

He felt his shoulders slump. Those words crashed down on him. He suspected Veronica saw through him, and maybe Keith. “Fine. It just seems silly to me. It just a few bad dreams.”

“Every night?”

“Most nights. So, I leave with my guitar and just softly play. It’s not really a big deal.”

Veronica wasn’t really convinced. “Okay. Try to get some sleep, okay?” Lance nodded, and she left.

Lance bit his lip. He wanted to tell Veronica everything, like they were kids again. Instead, he found himself texting Keith to meet him at the embankment. He snuck out his window, knowing Veronica wasn’t asleep yet, and crept off.

The tide was in, and the water was a few feet below Lance’s feet. He figured it would be a few hours until Keith showed up. After all, it was four in the morning.

We live for the night’s décor, it reveals what we dream of.

“Lance?” Keith called. Lance blinked and sat up. Keith jumped off the embankment and sat down. “It’s four in the morning, why are you up?” Lance felt Keith studying his reaction.

Lance chose his words very carefully. “I just- uh, I haven’t been sleeping well, and you’re the team leader, plus, Pidge and Hunk are busy with Garrison tech things, so I-” He broke off, knowing he had started to ramble.

“Nightmares?” Keith asked quietly.

Lance bit his lip and nodded. “How’d you know?”

“I had the same problem. When the Blade showed up and showed their symbol, I realized I might be part Galra, and I was terrified. I had nightmares about it. It made me moodier and more irritable.” Keith said.

Lance hung his head. “I don’t really hate your mullet.” He muttered.

Keith raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I don’t actually hate your mullet.” He said a little louder, head almost between his knees. He felt his face heat up. “I hated how you were better. I was kind of jealous. Griffin was your rival, not me.”

“I was always confused about why you’d make fun of my hair and purposely press my buttons.”

Lance looked up at the now waning moon. It was funny how the night air and sky seemed to strip you away until you were left naked, nothing left but your true self. “Yeah I was just extremely jealous. You could fly great, you never had to study, you picked fights when I probably would have cried.”

Keith looked at Lance, obviously confused as to why Lance was opening up to him.  “I didn’t like getting into fights. People just said the wrong stuff.” He paused. “Those people were assholes.” Keith didn’t like how sad it was getting. Lance was the happy-go-lucky guy on the team, being sad didn’t look right on him.

Lance laughed half-heartedly, then looked at Keith. “I want to show you something.” He decided, getting up. He went down the beach until he found his gnarled tree.

I know there’s someone at the door they come for help of this I’m sure.

But do I want to say goodbye to all the glowing eyes?

Lance heaved up onto the platform, waiting for Keith.

“What is this?”

“This,” Lance said with a flair of pride and drama, “is my Quiet Place. When I come here, I just chill. It’s not exactly a panic room, but it’s close.”

“Why are you showing me this?” Keith asked, looking at the carvings on the trunks and the floor.

“Well, you’re our leader, and there’s really no one else right now…” Lance bit his tongue. He wasn’t thinking when he brought Keith here.

I’m holding onto what I know and what I know I must let go.

But I would rather sing a song for the eyes to sing along.

“Lance?” Keith asked softly. “Do you- do you want to talk about it?”

Lance shrugged, rubbing his arm. He sat down, motioning for Keith to do the same. It was kind of cramped, but Lance got out his guitar. “So, when I come up here, I just sort of play until lyrics come to me.” He tuned it. “And since we’ve been home, I’ve written all of these.” Lance brought out a stack of sheet music. “This is seven songs, and it takes a few days, generally, to write one. They aren’t very good.” He added, watching Keith as he read them.

Lance started to play one of his favorites.

This room is far too dark for us to stay around.

Redemption’s not that far and darkness is going down.

Keith listened to the minor key cords and the lyrics that seemed to come effortlessly. The more he listened, the better he understood what Lance was going through. Almost impeccably, it molds into a different song. It was slightly more depressing, Lance strumming harder and more passionately. Keith listened, Lance’s singing just as soft as before, barely escalating over the guitar.

This room is far too dark for us to stay around.

Redemption’s not that far and darkness is going down.

Keith wanted to interrupt but wanted to hear the rest of the song.  Lance didn’t seem to remember Keith was there as he kept playing, getting louder and more passionate, until he stopped, with a slow, sad strum.

Lance didn’t look up.

“Lance, do you- you want to talk?” He asked softly.

Lance shook his head no. He slowly put the guitar away then hugged himself, refusing to look up. He took a shuddering breath. “I- I don’t understand,” He started, voice congested and full of sorrow. “I don’t understand why after- after everything we’ve done, I breakdown when we’re safe.”

“Lance-”

“And it’s not like I’m scared!” Lance said, voice stronger, fueled by anger at his own weakness. “I don’t understand it! I don’t feel scared, I know I’m safe, but there’s still this lingering paranoia and I’m just so, tired, of being afraid.” He ended it with a contained sob.

“After how long in space, it’s okay to feel like this.” Keith said without knowing what he was saying. “How many times were we woken up by the alarms blaring, or a rattling explosion when Coran forgot the proximity alarms? We’ve been through so much. You more. I spent two years on the back of a space whale bonding with my mom.” Keith knew Lance knew the stab at humor was weak. Lance hardly laughed. He just sort of jerked, a weak chuckle that sounded more like a sigh. “You aren’t going to be alright right away. Just give it time.”

“But- what if we don’t have time?” Lance chocked out. “There could be an attack from any of the Galra who are fighting for power.”

“If you keep focusing on the bad, you lose sight of the good.”

Lance’s head bobbed, but his lips quivered, holding back tears.

I’m holding onto what I know and what I know I must let go.

But I would rather sing a song for the eyes to sing along.

They sat in silence. Lance wished Keith would say something to get rid of the despair still welling up inside of him, but he knew that wouldn’t happen. He had to take action. But he was scared. What would happen? Would he start to sob? Get thrown into another panic attack? Even at the thought he felt his chest constricting. He didn’t want to vanish inside a panicked shell in front of Keith.

In front of anyone.

La di da da, la di da di da,

La di da da, la di da di da,

La di da da, la di da da, la di da da, la di da.

Time passes. It’s natural. But other things don’t. Lance didn’t recover. He just got better at hiding it. He got worse. Nothing was alright anymore. He just wanted to leave and never come back, or to be in Blue’s cockpit one last time. He missed her but respected her decision to block him out. She was, after all, a wise Lion of Voltron, and he was just a silly human trying to keep it together.

For the eyes to sing along.

“Lance!” They were calling out his name. He had vanished from the Garrison overnight, leaving a note.

Make them stop.

Lance quivered and shook in his tree house, too tired and panicked to play. He bit his lip so hard it bled. His hands were gripped in his hair, tugging at his scalp. They were too loud, they called so, so loud, he couldn’t ignore the truths.

Make them stop.

“Lance!” Hunk was near tears. Pidge was on his shoulders, hoping to see any sign of him. Keith had gone off on his own. Hunk had lost track of where Allura, Coran, and Veronica had gone. When had this happened? Hours ago? Hunk was going to breakdown.

Pidge realized that. She hopped down from his back. “Hunk look at me.” She said. He didn’t. “Hunk.” She said again, quieter. “We’re going to find him, okay?”

Hunk nodded. Still too close to tears for Pidge to feel safe on his shoulders.

Keith had stalked off on his own. He had a suspicion of where Lance was but didn’t want to tell the others. That was Lance’s call.

Still. Sneaking out at night, while he did it regularly, wasn’t good. He had left a note, which really wasn’t good. The shaky writing and the panicked message was hard to read, but they went out anyways.

Lance quivered. They had passed right in front of his tree. He felt like he was being chocked. He couldn’t breathe. He was sliding out of control. He couldn’t control his body, oh God, he was drowning. His hands were fists, but he couldn’t feel his fingers. He strangled out a gasp, desperate for air.

Make them stop.

Keith stood a bit away from the tree. He could hear Lance strangled breathing. He swallowed. He went forward cautiously.

“Lance?” Lance heard his name from far, far away. He couldn’t look up, he could feel his hand or feet, he was going to throw up, God, this isn’t good God, please-

Suddenly there was a hand on his back. He flinched. He felt someone wipe the tears off his face. The touch was so unexpected, Lance tried to scoot back, his brain yelling to stop but his body continuing.

His hand slid off the edge of the platform. He strangled a gasp, new, fresh fear washing through him. Arms were around him, keeping him on the platform. He struggled to leave. The arms held fast.

The arms of the enemy. He thought, lungs being crushed. He wasn’t getting enough air. He was going to die. He was going to vomit. He was going to die here in the arms of what he’s been running from with its smells of man shampoo and leather in his nose.

Men’s shampoo and leather? Lance took a shuddering sniff. And sweat? Who smelt like th-

Keith.

Lance froze. He couldn’t breathe for a different reason now.

Make them stop.

Keith locked his arms around Lance. If he wasn’t careful, Lance would end up taking both of them out of the tree. He made small shushing noises, no knowing what to do, or what was wrong. Lance kept pushing away, trying to escape, struggling for breath. He pulled him as close as possible, forming a cage with his arms.

Lance froze. Keith hesitantly released some of the tension in his arms. “Lance?”

Lance said something against his chest that Keith couldn’t hear. “What?”

“I’m sorry.” His voice was thick. Keith saw how pale he was. This wasn’t the Lance that he went up to space with. This was a scared teenager needing comfort.

“Why are you sorry?” Keith asked, shifted so that Lance could be in less danger of falling off.

“Because I’m weak, and pathetic, and I’m just-”

“You’re just brave, and funny, and a good friend.” Keith cut in.

“How can you say that? You hardly hang around me.” His voice was thick and muffled by his shirt, but Keith clearly heard the pain in it.

“Just because I don’t hang out with you doesn’t mean that stuff isn’t true.” Keith said, confused about where all this was coming from.  “Just look at you and Hunk. You guys are always there for each other.”

“Yeah, but he has Pidge now. They have technical junk to work on.” Lance sniffed. “I’d just be a third wheel.”

“Lance, they enjoy your company. Both of them are out trying to find you.”

“Oh, man, I just made them worry more, we should go.” Lance pulled back, wiping tears off his face.

“Slow down, don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine.” Keith said. He didn’t want Lance to get worked up. Keith could tell he was tired from the panic attack, and no doubt running from the Garrison base to the tree.

“Keith, just- please. I don’t want to talk about it.” Lance looked away. He could barely think straight. His gay panic and an actual panic attack hadn’t been good on his energy, which was already low form countless nights not sleeping. He just wanted to sleep until he didn’t like Keith.

Lance could feel Keith trying to sort out what to do. He almost heard the click of the last piece, the decision, falling into place.

“When I was with Krolia on the space whale, we had a big blow up.” Keith started. “We were getting a little stir crazy, and there was a really small thing that had escalated far too quickly. We both said some hurtful things. It ended with me yelling that I wished I hadn’t found her and storming off with Kosmo.” Lance looked at Keith. He was looking into his lap. “I could tell Kosmo didn’t like it. I didn’t even like it. But I was too stubborn to walk back to my mom and tell her I was sorry. I didn’t see the moment was right for me to apologize and did it far too late.” Keith looked up. The starts of tears were in his eyes. “I feel like you might be the same way. You apologize way too often, for stuff that isn’t even your fault.”

Lance shook his head. “Keith, I’m just- so, tired, please,” He looked up. It felt like his bones weighed too much for him to support. “I just want to sleep.”

Keith paused forever. Lance was terrified he was going to refuse. Then he nodded. “Where?”

The question caught him off guard. “What?”

“Where do you want to sleep? Here, the Garrison, your house?”

Lance was caught off guard by how considerate Keith was being. “I don’t want to move.” Lance said. “Is it okay if I just, sorta…” He trailed off, too tired to form the sentence. He leaned forward and practically collapsed onto Keith.

Keith rubbed Lance’s back, not knowing what to do. Lance sighed, relaxing until he was in the familiar space between awake and asleep. He was half aware of Keith humming, then singing.

“Make them stop.”

[rhinocio]

Voltron Fic Recommendations

Unsurprisingly, I’ve hooked my attention onto a new fandom of space gays, and boy oh boy has this series turned up some phenomenal stories. 

Back With A Madness (Champion) by Mytay (Keith/Lance, Shiro/Matt -- Action/Adventure)

Lance gets himself mixed up in an underground fight club tournament in a bid to protect a local family and one by one draws the rest of the team into the fray, leading to extensive anxiety, battle practice, espionage and rigging, and way too many cryopod visits for a growing boy.

Has the most unique romantic confession scene I’ve ever seen in fanfiction, a healthy heaping of platonic affection between all characters, fun OCs, and an intreguing subplot involving Shiro and a clone.

The Dreaming Dark by Pterodotyl (Keith/Lance -- Thriller/Adventure)

The Garrison Trio comprise a deep sea explorative team tasked with diving 14,000 metres into the Kraydah Trench in search of answers as to what happened to the Kerberos Mission, and in doing so discover something a little more... monsterous.

By far the most well-researched story I have ever read. The author is a sweetheart and crafts amazingly cinematic scenes, and there’s a curious political subplot simmering in the background. The character interactions are gold, and things shift between fine and terrible so quick you can’t put the fic down. Lance has the voice of a chipmunk for two chapters. A close second on my Coolest Story Ever list.

Goodnight, Travel Well by Europa_report (Keith/Lance, Shiro/Allura -- Horror/Thriller)

The team discover a silent planet with a terrifying history, and awaken something with a very deep-seated grudge. Caught in a 400 day countdown until certain doom and with their leader missing, the paladins are stuck desperately searching for a way to defeat all-encompassing evil while handling undead invaders, an ancient curse, uncontrollable wormholing, and a baby. 

Witty, wildly inventive, harrowing and so absolutely endearing in the character affection department that each new chapter makes me cry at least once. Tops my Coolest Story Ever list for its absolute complexity and complete deviation from the fanfiction norm. Cinematic to a fault. Heartbreakingly romantic and sweat-inducing terrifying. This is not a fic to pass by.

Ghost of The Future and Shadow of The Past by Wittyy_name and Zizzani (Keith/Lance -- Adventure/Romance)

In a freak ancient tech accident, Lance is launched exactly a year back in time... and his past self is launched a year forward. These two fics run concurrently, and between all the avoidance of “spoilers” by each team and the standard run of missions with one very out of place paladin, it becomes very obvious that doing the time warp is not good for a person, especially when you do it again.

I’m a sucker for loop distortion anyway, but these two stories really stretch the concept by creating two parallel event sequences that effect each other in real time. The romance is heavy, the paradoxes mind-bending, and the these fics get bonus points for being the final push I needed to start learning Spanish.

Homesick At Space Camp by Kobot (Keith/Lance -- Drama/Romance)

After realizing that Lance’s antagonism has been keeping Keith from really connecting with the team, he makes it his solemn duty to be the Best Possible Teammate, even if that means sticking his foot halfway down his throat and roping them into pretending to be lovers for the sake of avoiding Keith’s engagement to an alien.

Absolutely hilarious chapter titles, solid characterization, and a play on the fake relationship trope that’s quite grounded and realistic. Charming and sweet. Lots of dancing, an epic final battle worthy of the Jak series, and an exceptional butt-ton of all over gay.

Nothing’s Quite As Sweet by Dimpleforyourthoughts (Keith/Lance, Shiro/Allura -- Drama/Romance)

Keith works at a the world’s worst cafe due to debt and a simple lack of anything going on in his life; Lance works four different jobs and also across the street. Cats ensue.

Honestly this is the perfect coffee shop AU, no challenge. Have you been having a shitty day? Do you like soft non-sexual romance stories? Are you the opposite of a dog person? Look no further. Side effects include great need to snugglebum it up with gourmet lattes and overwhelming sense of hope for your own potential to change someone’s world.

Never Saw You Coming by Dimpleforyourthoughts (Keith/Lance -- Biography/Drama)

Keith has always been ready to run, to reach the stars, and to die, more or less in that order. Lance Fucking McClain repeatedly throws wrenches into all three of those ideas. 

Repeat contender DFYT is back again because my dudes I couldn’t show you the soft fic without its bookender. Part Keith exposition and part romance story, this one is heartaching to a fault and pulls no punches. The rough and tumble idiot boys in love poem you’ve been hunting for.

Hearts Don’t Break Around Here by Klancekorner (Keith/Lance -- Drama/Romance)

They’ve been wheeling around each other since first grade, always with one foot in the other’s orbit, no matter the fights or fears or losses. Keith realizes he’s fallen in the same way the moon would if it arced too close to the Earth -- quickly, irreparably, and ending in disaster.

This seems to be an AU that already has a reputation, and for good reason. The song I Found by Amber Run encapsulates its core emotion, by which I mean the scenes are well-suited to a prime-time YA drama, and that at its heart this fic is daringly romantic. The author builds characters from the ground up and fleshes them out so fully that they might as well have called the entire cast OCs with canon name tags. I got weepy, I admit it.

The Purity of Sin by IcyPanther (Platonic Keith/Lance -- Action/Drama)

Being kept away from their lions and trapped on a hostile desert planet of short, angry cat-people would be difficult enough had they not gotten Lance wrapped up in sacrificial cult magic with a three day countdown. Thankfully, Keith is nothing if not determined to keep them both alive, no matter the cost or consequences.

Talk about a whump fic, but one with some solid worldbuilding, good characterization, and a satisfying, fit-for-TV climax. Great for those times you want affection and care between your characters but none of the romance. Allura cosplays as a cat.

[no-i-didnt-notice-im-short]

Candy Apples

Ao3 

Holing himself in his room became a force of habit after some time. He stopped needing human interaction in any way, shape or form. He was perfectly comfortable the way he is.

He was the Loner after all.

Keith didn’t realise at first that he re-adapted this mannerism after going back to Earth. His mother tried so hard to break his bad habits, succeeding with some of them, but his anti-socialness was something carved into him from years of experience.

He sat alone silently watching from the window. Lance and Hunk appeared a few times driving the Garrison issued car to and from the city. He knew how much everyone else missed their home planet with its sense of familiarity, but Keith couldn’t bring himself to relate. All he knew was pain and loneliness; I guess they are the same thing sometimes, Keith thought to himself.

The ex-Red Paladin was so deep in thought he didn’t notice another figure standing behind him. Shiro placed his hand on his shoulder, startling the younger male have to death.

“Shit!”

His Luxite blade was aim on Shiro’s neck in a matter of seconds. His steady hand faithful to his heart which was beating a million miles an hour.

“Woah! Don’t startle the zoned out Galra… Got it.” Shiro smiled as Keith brought his knife down and sat back down shifting to the side to give Shiro some space.

“Do I even have to ask?”

“I was thinking…”

“About?”

Keith thought for a few minutes before having the courage to answer. “My dad…”

There must’ve been something in his voice to sober the older male up. He sat straighter and turned to give Keith his undivided attention.

“I just remembered something we used to do together every year.” When Shiro didn’t interrupt, Keith took this as a sign to keep going with his memory. “There was this carnival every year, a few states over… it would take us literal hours to a day to get there, but we still would pack our stuff at the same date every year and get in his truck to go. It a tradition.”

“Was it the Colour Festival they have every year? The one with the big roller-coaster?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“I went there with Adam a few times… The last date we ever went on outside of Garrison was there.” He remembered Adam’s laugh at him when a clown came from behind him to tickle his side and Shiro jumped up so high and shrieked so loud, he scared the crap out of the nearby children. Shiro’s fear of clowns was Adam’s Eternal Entertainment as he used to put it.

“We would go through all the shooting games moving to the roller coasters then ending at the hall of mirrors.” His eyes glazed over, he wasn’t present anymore. He was at the carnival eating candy apples and cotton candy. “Dad would save all year for this one day at the carnival; we would spend money like crazy, without any worries. God... I loved those Candy Apples.

“I really do miss him. I know I don’t… talk about what happened before we met that day for the orientation.”

“I never pushed you because it was none of my business, Keith. Of course I know you miss your father. He’s your father.”

“Yeah… I used to hear the other kids said about me and what they thought my relationship with my father actually was. I heard some of them call him abusive or a drunk. I never understood why… he never drank, he was always so nice and caring and loving. He would tuck me to bed every night after watching the stars. He used to say that looking at the stars reminded him of my mother.” He chuckled at that. “I never knew he meant that so literal.”

“He sounds like a great man.”

“He really was.”

They stayed quiet for a few minutes before Shiro once again disrupted it.

“How long have you been sitting here?”

“I don’t know. I think right after the mission.”

“That was four hours ago…”

“Huh, guess four hours then.”

The fact that Keith didn’t think that four hours was a disturbingly long amount of time to spend alone was concerning. Shiro knew Keith was different but as his closest friend he really wanted to try and get him out of the bubble he always seemed to curl himself into. He knew it was a defence mechanism. He wasn’t blind; he saw what the boy went through.

Lance, Hunk and Pidge were a gift in disguise. They were such a diverse group, bringing out the best and the worst in each other, making sure they all remained grounded and humane; reminding everyone where they came from. The trio adopting Keith into their little group took time but overall it was the best thing that could’ve happened to him in space, besides finding his mother of course.

Shiro dying changed everything. It forced a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of shifting dynamics, shaking the foundation of the team. Lance and Keith got significantly closer each other, Hunk and Pidge to each other and Allura became a Paladin. The clone came and more changes happened though for the worse this time.

Keith pushed himself so far away from the team, he left it entirely. Lance became too quiet and subdued, Hunk and Pidge forgot other people existed in the castle and the Alteans were busy with Lotor. The whole final showdown happened but still things were extremely sensitive between the ex-castle residents.

Shiro tried so hard to pinpoint a reason why everything was so... different, to try and fix it, but nothing became clear for a long time that by then, the damage was done.

After spending a few weeks on Earth now, Lance bounced back – not with the same possible enthusiasm as before – after reuniting with his family. Pidge and Hunk too. But not Keith.

Krolia had to leave for a few months to help the Blade after losing so many members and to get the word out to the allies that Voltron is still alive, leaving Keith again. He stayed quiet after her ship departed not making eye contact with anyone.

Days passed fast and Shiro couldn’t pinpoint a moment Keith had joined the team outside of missions.

Keith ruffled with Kosmo’s hair as he sat on his lap on the bed. Shiro left him a while ago after getting a call, saying it was from Iverson and that it was important.

“Go, He needs you.”

“Come with me…”

“Nah... I’ll be fine; I want to play with Kosmo.”

“…Fine but we’ll talk later, okay? “

“Yeah okay, General Shiro.”

“I hate you.”

“I know!! Goo.”

Keith was contemplating getting up and getting something to eat or to just leave it for the next morning when a knock rapped on his door.

“KEEEEEEEEEEEEITH”

Lance’s maniac voice came booming from outside the door. it had a hint of sing-song to it. Keith can’t remember the last time he has heard Lance this excited about anything.

He gently moved Kosmo and made his way to the door.

“I think you parents in Cuba heard you.”

“Good. They miss me and would love to hear my voice.”

He rolled his eyes at the Cuban and crossed his arms.

“Shiro left a few minutes ago.”

“Actually, Shiro left 2 hours ago and we’ll touch on that later.” Ignoring Keith objections. “And I came for you, by the way. Pidge and Hunk created this insane gladiator bot they want you to try out.”

“Is that what’s making you this happy?”

“I miss training and if you give it the thumbs up then it’s perfect.” Lance said with a shrug.

“Fine, lead the way.”

“Great!”

The walk was comfortable. Lance’s good mood was infectious and Keith couldn’t help but have a small smile on his face as they walked through the halls.

His mind wandered subconsciously on how things have been lately. He missed his mother way more than he would like to admit after spending every waking hour with her for two years. He missed the rush of Adrenaline he would get on missions with the Paladins or the Blade. Threats on Earth were never to the same scale as before, which was actually a good thing but it still left a shred of disappointment in Keith.

Lance stopped as they reached a closed door.

“I don’t have my knife or Bayard with me.” Keith remembered.

“It’s okay there are weapons inside.” Lance shrugged. “Can you open the door; I think I pissed Pidge off and I am afraid she programmed the thing to bite my head of at my mere sight.”

Keith chuckled and stepped forward to open the door.

The minute the door opened, a burst of sound and light erupted from the other side sending him into sensory overload. After the initial shock cleared and calmed down, he took a better look at what’s infront of him.

Hunk stood in the middle of the room with the biggest cake Keith had ever seen. It was so colourful and beautifully designed, he almost felt bad that they might have to eat it. Pidge was next to him to the right holding a cardboard banner that said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH” in a way that showed she definitely misjudged the space she was given and had to rush a few letters around each other.

Veronica, James and the rest of MFE pilots stood at the back holding gifts all in different sizes and shapes, wrapped in mismatching gift-wrapping paper. Allura, Romelle and Coran, who had the biggest smiles on their faces, were standing behind a table with plates upon plates filled with all kinds of food and pastries and candies.

And finally Shiro stood the closest to the door, right in front of him. In his hands he held a tray with a candy apple placed upside down in the middle. He was looking at him with a soft fond smile. An arm  snaked its way around his and gently pushed him further inside the room. Lance had unshed tears sparkling in his eyes as they made eye contact.

“We missed you.”

Happy Birthday to my Red Spicy Boi. I love you

[lynfantasy]

Lotor?

(For this character ask challenge)OOF. Alright, prepare yourself for salt, because I absolutely love this character no matter what, and that is precisely why I am very mad at the official crew about him. (Though I swear this isn’t ALL salt.)

The last time I did this ask challenge, I answered these questions for Lotor here, but that was before season 5 even came out. Now…

(Putting this under a read-more because this is LONG – there’s two long playlists under the “song” section, and I added a ton of screenshots at the end.)

Favorite thing about them: I loved how complex and out-of-the-ordinary he was. He wasn’t a hero, he wasn’t a villain, and he wasn’t even a traditional antihero. He wasn’t good, but he was altruistic; he wasn’t bad, but he was willing to do things that no one else would. He was neutral, and he didn’t need to be redeemed into goodness. He certainly didn’t seem to have any reason to fall or rise – he already knew what he wanted and how he was going to get it, and both his motives and means were shockingly pure.And then…Least favorite thing about them: Season 6 just completely ruined him. That colony thing?? I’ve vented to many friends about this, and there’s a post I have half-written that I might put up sometime, but it just doesn’t make sense to me. The creators of the show said that they wanted him to be a morally gray character, but then they had had him commit a truly evil act? And he doesn’t even seem repentant for it? I just can’t forgive them for doing this to him. This wasn’t some “cool plot twist.” I’m not sitting here, thinking, “Wow, I really fell for that, didn’t I?” I don’t feel like Lotor betrayed me. I feel like the writers betrayed him and did him a disservice.Favorite line: “All I ask is that you judge me by my actions rather than your preconceptions of my race.” This line was just… wow.Also: “My father’s blood is not just in my veins. It’s also on my sword.” Damn.I also still very much love his opening speech in season 3, and a special shout-out goes to his speech in the beginning of season 6 until Sendak interrupted it.BrOTP: Mmmm, well, Team Sincline forever. In a better universe, they’re all still getting up to their own shenanigans together.I also still wish that Lotor and Keith had gotten a chance to bond. It could have been great.But let’s all take a moment to acknowledge what a great and supportive friendship Lotor and Shiro had in season 5. That was good. Good on you, (clone) Shiro.OTP: Lancelot. I can’t really explain why, but this is my favorite ship. In a close second place comes Polycline, the ship of Lotor and his generals all together in a romantic sense, which just warms my polyam-loving heart.As for what I would like to see in canon, well, I was pretty happy with Lotura, and I’m still holding out hope that they might have some dramatic redemptive reconciliation.NoTP: Eh, I don’t really do NoTPs. I can’t say I’m fond of Lotor/Throk, though.Random headcanon: I think Lotor’s ships are perfectly capable of making it through the Quantum Rift without being subjected to the time dilation effects. I also think that, on more than one occasion, Lotor has purposefully turned down the protection against time dilation because he can’t afford to take time off but he really needs a break, and what better way to accomplish that than to take a trip that will give him weeks or months to himself but will only cause him to miss about a week in regular time?Unpopular opinion:

FANWORK CONTENT CREATORS CAN STILL MAKE CONTENT WITH A SOFT CHARACTERIZATION FOR LOTOR. SHIPPERS CAN STILL SHIP LOTOR/PALADIN SHIPS. CANON SHOULD NEVER LIMIT CREATIVITY.

Song i associate with them: Hoo boy, I have not one but two playlists for him… Instead of linking a playlist, I’ll just list the songs for you all to find at your leisure, since everyone uses different music services (and honestly, I just pirate off of YouTube 99% of the time).

My “canon” playlist, in chronological order, is:

Natural by Imagine Dragons – I’m so glad this came out recently, because if there’s any singular theme song that fits Lotor in every canonical aspect, this is it.

Who We Are by Imagine Dragons – Team Sincline. Need I say more?

Best Day of My Life (minor key) by Chase Holfelder – If you only know this song in its major form, you might very well be wondering why it’s here, but Chase Holfelder’s minor key version has a very different tone to it, and I think it fits Lotor quite well for season 3.

Gold by Imagine Dragons – This works for his rise to power in season 3 and fall in season 4, as well as hinting at his eventual rise and fall again in 5 & 6 and that final snap at the end of 6. It could honestly go at the end, but I thought it fit best here, as the season 4 song.

Icarus by Bastille – I associate this song with both Keith and Lotor in seasons 3 & 4. Honestly, if you listen to the chorus, it sounds like them both at the end of season 4. Icarus (Lotor) is flying too close to the sun… Icarus (Keith) is flying towards an early grave.

Blame by Bastille – This isn’t a perfect fit, but it reminds me of Lotor’s pleading with the Paladins at the beginning of season 5 to not hand him over to Zarkon. Honestly, I sort of picture Lance as the one singing the scathing verses. There’s no room for you here.

I’m So Sorry by Imagine Dragons – This could also go anywhere, but I can picture this as a backdrop to Lotor’s final confrontation with Zarkon. It’s so scathing and sarcastic, except for the bridge. I imagine the bridge as being addressed to Lotor’s generals.

White Blank Page by Mumford and Sons – Canon Lotura. Just… just listen to it. It’s so tragic and fits them so well for season 6.

This Is Gospel -> Emperor’s New Clothes by Panic! At the Disco – Initially, I was going to put just Emperor’s New Clothes on here for Lotor’s breakdown in season 6, but I listened to these two back-to-back, and I thought that This is Gospel fits in a tragic way if you think of it as the sane part of Lotor’s mind trying to warn Allura, knowing that he cannot fight the corruption of Quintessence.

Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing by Set It Off – …I mean, in light of season 6, how could I not include this one. The bridge is basically a summary of that final confrontation.

Viva La Vida by Coldplay – Initially, I had this as a song for season 4, but I couldn’t leave this playlist on such a bitter note. I like to picture that Lotor will eventually come out of the Quintessence field and, alone and without resources, will have to hide out somewhere and rethink a lot of things, and this song is perfect for that.

I’ll Be Good by Jaymes Young – Following the thread of an eventual redemption from the previous song, I think this would suit a redeemed, post-s6 Lotor very well. It’s also simply a very bittersweet and beautiful song to end off on, and it stands in very strong contrast against Natural, the first song on the playlist.

My other playlist is for miscellaneous songs that don’t fit into the canon timeline and for ship songs. In no particular order:

Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea by Fall Out Boy – This is such a Lotor song, but it technically doesn’t fit canon, since he did become emperor. However, I’ve got an AU story that this fits perfectly, and I think it suits a lot of other Lotor-centric AUs I’ve seen. Besides, thematically, it really does fit Lotor pre-s5.

Broken Crown by Mumford & Sons – The meaning of this song is ambiguous, but if you interpret the “crown” here as literal, it could suit Lotor pretty well, especially in an AU where he refuses to rule.

Therapy by All Time Low – I think this would fit a human AU best, but it could work for any version of Lotor who is introspective about his own flaws and problems.

Battlefield (Meet Me on the Battlefield) by SVRCINA – I’m a little iffy on this one, but someone else recommended it to me as a Lotor ship song, and I do think it could fit a few different Lotor ships quite nicely. The song is primarily about revolution and altruism, both of which fit Lotor, and the romantic aspects would work well for a Lotor/paladin ship.

I Walk the Line by Halsey & Walking the Wire by Imagine Dragons – These two songs work well as two sides of the same coin. I particularly imagine them for Lancelot. Lotor sings I Walk the Line, talking about the difficulty of maintaining a balance between his relationship and his loyalties in the war but declaring that he will be true to Lance above all, and Lance sings the far more optimistic Walking the Wire, saying that although this balancing act is difficult, they will come out on top, together. It could theoretically work for another Lotor ship, but Walking the Wire is such a Lance song that I really picture it for the two of them.

Hold Me Tight or Don’t by Fall Out Boy – Funny story, I pictured this as a Sheith song first, but then @noirsongbird recommended it to me as a Lancelot song, and… yeah, it fits. It also specifically fits one of her (very good!) fanfics, so that’s cool.

King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men – Technically, this could sort of work for any Lotor/paladin ship, but I think it would work better for Keitor, Shotor, or Lancelot. It was recommended to me by @noirsongbird as a Lancelot song, and I have to agree that it fits them very well.

I Don’t Know Why by Imagine Dragons – Again, this could work for multiple Lotor/paladin ships, but I picture it for Lancelot. It’s a great forbidden love song, so it would suit a secret romance across battle lines quite nicely.

So… yeah. A lot of music. Sorry? I’m sure this isn’t even everything, haha.

Favorite picture of them: Oh gosh, how could I choose…

Like… damn.

But also…

He’s so cute and pretty??

I mean, just look at him.

For favorite fanworks, I’ve got to put this one up, of course (and please follow this link to the post for it and give it a like!):

This was a gift to me for my very recent 20th birthday by my amazing friend @honestlyprettychill (thank you again babe)!!

There’s a lot of other really good Lotor fanart out there. Check out @itsnotdoneyet and @invidiaesc for some great stuff.

Annnnd that’s it! Sorry this took so long. I hope I answered the questions to everyone’s satisfaction! I have an ask for Keith that I’ll work on next, but I don’t have any after that yet, so please feel free to send in more!

[justifiedthehomicide]

SOME THINGS I NOTICED IN SEASON 6

its that time again

-SPOILERS FOR VOLTRON SEASON 6-

(obviously)

-first of all *insert high pitched screeching for twenty minutes*

-now that we’ve got that over with

-this was the best season yet, change my mind oh wait you cANT

-where was my homeboi Matt tho

-is lotor reALLY dead? is he rEALLY?

-WAS IT JUST ME OR DID KEITH LOOK REALLY GALRAISH FOR A MINUTE OR SO DURING HIS FIGHT WITH THAT JERK KURON

-SPEAKING OF THAT JERK KURON

-CLONE THEORY CONFIRMED x100, THE WHOLE FANDOM IS SCREAMING “I TOLD YOU SO”

-Keith: shows up to team Voltron fifteen minutes late with abs, his mom, an altean, and a dog

-I want a wolf from a time-warping quantum abyss. I love him he’s so cute and precious ahhhhhhhhh

-lotor is such a meme tbh. freaks out seeing his nanny, literally jumps into the nearest glowing void cuz his girlfriend broke up with him

-is. is shiro gonna try to pilot the black lion again. I feel like my son Keith really established himself as the new leader what is Shiro gonna do wha

-white-haired Shiro is beautiful. beautiful I tell you

-what the heck are the side affects of yknow. dying??? is he gonna be weaker, is he gonna get a new hand, will he still fight with Voltron or will he stay on earth

-Monsters and Mana. what can I say. I’m speechless. The breathe has been taken from my lungs. I can feel nothing but joy upon watching that episode over and over and over and over and

-PIDGE IS SO TALENTED IM SO PROUD OF THEM

-wtheck are the Galra Girls gonna do now?????? imma assumeeee they’re not going back to Hagar. they’re definitely not gonna try and save lotor. but I don’t think they’d wanna go to Voltron either????

-maybe Keith and Axca are finally gonna actually talk to each other cuz they’re either saving each other’s lives or trying to kill each other voltron e x p l a i n t h e m

-what is Texas Kogane’s name. what is it. tell us u cowards

-THE FRICKINGGG,,,, ANIMATION OMIGOSH ITS BEAUTIFUL ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL

-Hunk. Just. Hunk

-CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR LANCE LETS GOOOOOOO MY BOY DESERVES IT even if he’s sad oh no now I’m crying

-THEYREGOINGBACKTOEARTH

-hmmmmmmmmmm

-THAT MEANS HOLT FAMIMY REUNION OMIGOSH

-AND LANCE CAN SEE HIS FAMILY AND RAIN AND THE BEACHHHHH

-AND HUNK GETS TO SEE HIS FAM AGAINNNNNNNN

-SHIRO CAN PROVE HE’S ALIVEEEEEE

-is Keith gonna show Krolia his dads grave

-oh no now I’m crying again

-imagine Iverson’s reaction tho. To Shiro and Voltron and the Alteans and,,, everything,,, even tho technically he knows the full story cuz of the great Sam Holt

-allura’s magic is,,,, best

-ALL OF THE REFERENCES TO OG VOLTRON DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE LIKE “I’m shiro’s twin brother”

-ROMELLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE AND SHE LOOKS LIKE OG ALLURAAAAA

-FRICK JUST LOTS OF ALTEANS IN GENERAL

-can we talk about how keith and krolia were on that creature’s back for tWO FRICKIN YEARS LIKE PARDON mE

-yo what if they go back to Arus that would be cool

-sooooooo it wasn’t a Galra mark after all the thing on Keith’s face is a fricking scAR from that fake jerk kURON oMG

-he looks hella hot with it nonetheless so im okay with it

-keitH’S EYES TURNED YELLOW AND HE HAD MEGA FANGS WHEN HE WAS GETTING THE SCAR AND IM FRICKIN S H OO K

-alotta people predicted lotor going crazy for quintessence but nO ONE predicted lotor murdering Alteans for it and I caNNOT gET oVEr tHiS dang show writers always manage to pull one over on us

-IM JUST A BOY FROM CUBAAAAAAAA

-heck man the entire Keith VS Kuron fight. the whole thing. the wh o l e t hi ng everything about it omigosh

-is haggar finally gonna step it up and become the main antagonist she was set up to be or what

-who else cried real tears when the castle of lions died

-rip lotura 2k18. I’ve never seen a ship lose so many fans in so short an amount of time

-yea we saw Sendak like once????? conspiracy

-I like how the black lion didn’t even hesitate to let Keith in. She as like “finally!!! not that awful clone!!!” and just opened right up

-WE FINALLY GOT THE FLASHBACKS WE DESERVE IM SO HAPPY

-BABY KEITH BABY KEITH BABYKEIRHWKBSIBSUSBSISH

-will we see the other paladins as baby children ¿¿!¿

-what hurt me so mych was that in Keith’s flashbacks,,,, we see Mr. Kogane wore the clothes that Shiro wears later on prolly meanign the Keith frickin kEPT HIS DAD’S OLD CLOTHES IM HURT

-is Krolia leaving the BOM???? Im assuming Keith’s staying as a paladin, and Krolia seems very against ever leaving him ever soooooo

-finally ready for team Voltron to be the family they need again like geez louise it’s taken too long. blame kuron

-honestly, when in doubt, always blame kuron

-hey McDonald’s can I get one uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh death please cuz this season murdered me

-welp

-that’s all folks

-for now

-*voltron theme song*

-sayonara my friends

[the-fandom-newsletter]

September 28th 2018

Today is Friday, September 28, and welcome to Fandom Newsletter! You’re provider for all things fandom! Let’s get started! 

Writers: Atlas, Fyne, Blackpurrl, YoursTruly

Editors: Fyne and YoursTruly

“We are bound by only the limits of our imaginations.” -Misha Collins

First to YoursTruly, with the Musicals, Horror, Tim Burton, and Marvel fandoms- 

Musicals: The classic book “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be coming to Broadway as a musical! The musical is set to come out some time next year. 

Horror: Fans are hyped for the new Halloween movie. Jamie Lee Curtis’s long awaited return to the big screen has finally arrived! Many fans are going to see their favorite serial killer back in action. The movie promises to be one of the best in the franchise, but I guess we’ll have to judge for ourselves. 

Tim Burton: The Burtonists are preparing for the Halloween season with some classics- Sleepy Hollow, Beetlejuice, The Corpse Bride, all of which were directed by the icon himself, Tim Burton. 

Marvel: Marvel fans are analyzing the newly released Captain Marvel trailer. Many fans can’t get over the iconic “her” to “hero” transition. This movie will be the first Marvel movie to center entirely around a female protagonist. 

Now to Fyne with the Supernatural, Sherlock, and Gaming fandoms- 

Supernatural - Is it possible that Bela wasn’t actually killed by hellhounds? The loved con artist Bela initially started her career as a villain of sorts (a character we loved to hate and hated to love) but she grew a conscience and helped the Winchesters on multiple occasions. However, she’d already made a deal with a crossroads demon. At the end of her ten-year deadline, Bela was killed by hellhounds. Or was she? A theory posits Bela wasn’t actually killed by hellhounds. Since the beasts were after her soul, what if Bela (who was incredibly sneaky and had tons of forethought) prepared for the occasion? What if she had an artifact that either cursed her soul (possibly transforming it into a monster soul?) or removed her soul from her body? Either case would result in the hellhounds stopping their hunt for her. She’d have to wait until the last possible second, because she wouldn’t want to risk losing her soul and likely didn’t know how to reverse such a process. Is it possible that Bela will be returning in some future season? I’m not sure about you, but I sure as heck hope so. 

Sherlock - Though we have had the explanation of Redbeard as Sherlock’s beloved childhood pet in His Last Vow, many think there is more to come with the dog, as his name was written in Mycroft’s notebook. One Reddit user suggested the heartbreaking idea that perhaps Sherlock was somehow responsible for Redbeard’s death. The theory goes that the dog was Sherlock’s only friend as a boy but, due to his reckless nature and interest in science, an experiment or game he was playing with Redbeard had hurt the dog which meant it had to be put down. This would have caused Sherlock to retreat from his emotions and never get attached to anyone again. Excuse me, I’ve just got something in my eye…

Gaming - It's been promised for years, but Microsoft will finally start rolling out mouse and keyboard support for its Xbox One devices next month. Razer will be responsible for officially licensed Xbox mice and keyboards, even though "most wired or wireless USB keyboards and mice" will be supported. Also, Life Is Strange 2 is finally released on September 28th! Fans are patiently awaiting the story line, “After an apparent supernatural incident leaves a cop dead, brothers Sean, 16, and Daniel Diaz, 9, go on the run and travel from Seattle to their home in Puerto Lobos, Mexico.” Fans are also eagerly awaiting their favorite youtubers and their gameplays. So excited!

Next to Blackpurrl with the Percy Jackson and Harry Potter fandoms, and World News- 

Harry Potter: Fans are going insane over the new Fantastic Beasts trailer! Be warned, it includes some huge spoilers!

Percy Jackson: October is just next week! Get ready for Rick Riordan’s newest books! 

World News:

Tourists Invade Funeral in Northern Norway

Cruise ship tourists crowded into a funeral in a Norwegian town at the start of this month, traipsing around the graveyard, and filming and taking pictures of the mourners as they left the church.

Lastly to Atlas with the Musicals, Voltron and Animation fandoms- 

Voltron: Season 7 Theory: If Shiro was dying, but is now a clone, does he still have his disease?

Musicals: Janice in Mean Girls is Veronica in Heathers Amazing.

Animation: Top 3 animators on YouTube as of right now are Wolfychu, SweetoTOONS, and Odd1sOut

And back to Atlas with the weekly quiz and trivia fact- 

TRVIA FACT: Did you know: The voice actor for Keith Kogane in the Coltron Fandom is Glenn from the Walking Dead

Which Voltron Character are you? 

Question 1: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A.) Listen to Music 

B.) Karate 

C.) Make Jokes 

D.) Use Technology 

E.) Cook 

Question 2: Favorite Color? 

A.) Red 

B.) Black 

C.) Blue 

D.) Green 

E.) Yellow 

Question 3: Pick a Song 

A.) Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance 

B.) Eye of the Tiger – Survivor 

C.) Sexyback – Justin Timberlake 

D.) Blurry face – Twenty One Pilots 

E.) The Pants Song – Be More Chill Musical 

Question 4: Pet Peeve? 

A.) People 

B.) No Peace and Quiet 

C.) Loneliness 

D.) English 

E.) Starving 

Mostly A’s – Keith Kogane (You’re sooooo Emo. XD) 

Mostly B’s – Takashi Shirogane (You’re a good leader) 

Mostly C’s – Lance McClain (You’re a flirt and a class clown)

Mostly D’s – Pidge Gunderson -Katie Holt (You’re a Tech Wiz)

Mostly E’s – Hunk -Last Name?- (You’re a good Chef)

And back to Fyne with your good news for the day- 

New Edition: Positive News - A school replaced their practice of detentions with meditation. Students whom break rules are sent to a meditation class where they practice meditation. And what do you know?! The results are very positive and good. The school has been sharing its successes and other schools might be taking ides. Should we be hopeful for a future without harsh detentions? 

That’s all for this week, we’ll see you next week with another Fandom Newsletter! 

Signing off,

Atlas, Fyne, Blackpurrl, YoursTruly

[supacutiepie]

Tango Through Thick Air

Based off of one of @theprojectava​‘s fanarts for Luro. I literally couldn’t resist.

https://theprojectava.tumblr.com/post/161253925438/luro-sketch-dump-time-3-okay-i-kinda-went-from

Kuro convinces Lance to teach him how to dance- neither expected where it would go from there...

(I’ll be honest its straight stream of thought. Fast paced. and I’m happy with it.Roxanne de Tango is absolutely the ending song)

Admittedly...this was the greatest idea to ever be conceived.

It started weeks ago. With an offhanded comment that just happened to settle in the air a little too long.

“Work on my moves?” Lance read over the datapad that Shiro and Allura had put together, a long and determinedly obtuse list of practice: feint,parry,grapple,dodge,yadda yadda yadda big words from Allura...

While Lance was eyeing up what seemed to be a still growing list, Kuro was sitting cross legged in the floor half paying attention while he fiddled with a colorful puzzle box the green paladin had given him- he had at least two days to solve it or he’d be confined to “practical field testing” with Pidge. That only sounded nice when you excluded the fact it meant a lot of scans and prodding at delicate bits..

“What? Can’t handle it?” Kuro looked up and grinned mischievously, hands still rapidly working around the box’s complicated locking system. Lance’s focused zeroed in on the movement for a minute before he shook himself out of it with a faint tinge to his cheeks and an even larger grin on the clones face.

He scoffed, “Can’t handle it? Bro, my moves are out of this world!” he began a series of sporadic and jerky moves as to showcase his “moves”. Kuro dropped the cube in his lap and laughed, doubling over as Lance began waving his arms in sync.

“Oh yeah!” he swiped at his eye with a clawed hand to feign removing moisture, “Sure got moves babe~” he winked and that tinge became a full flush on Lance’s face.

“Pffft, as if!” Lance crossed his arms indignantly, “Seriously though- I grew up in a dancing family, I guarantee if I wanted to I could sweep my way across this floor in seconds.”

Now, after a few months (and god did kuro actual hate that word..months they had been all together to fight the Galran empire...so long out in no where...too many nights he needed to console Lance…) after a few months, it was obvious to Kuro when his friend was bluffing.

So it was that genuine seriousness, the  lack of playful boast in his tone- that made Kuro perk up, all attention now towards the other. “That so?”

Lance hesitated for a second “Well, uh, yeah? I mean maybe not seconds but like...see it’s kind hard to tell but yeah it’s all pretty fast paced and…”

“Show me,” Kuro leant forward hyper-focused now. The words seem to alarm Lance some. “Show me, I wanna see you dance… please?” Kuro smiled genuinely, hoping he would get the chance to see this if it was really something so naturally ingrained in his..friend…kinda best friend? Almost more?? Change of subject.

Lance shifted around on his feet clearly torn about something. He looked down a little lost in thought before sighing and shrugging, “Look. Honestly I would, but I kinda only really know partner dancing? I can’t just DO IT.I have to have someone who can keep up...its weird to just waltz around with thin air…”

Kuro cocked his head to the side,”Partner dancing? How does that even work?”

Lance shrugged again- but there was a slowly growing twinkle in his eyes.

“Waltz, ,Hustle, Swing…” he swayed a little with an imagined melody, “Things like...the cha cha and my Mamma’s favorite the Argentine tango!” he beamed and Kuro felt a warmth fill his chest a little. “Some of them are really fast! My sisters are crazy good at the newer stuff. Isabella was in a national competition for her swing dancing! I was never the best at those, always preferred the Tango and what my dad knew about Waltz.,” he could remember being little and watching his parents wedding video- demanding they teach him how to dance just like that...his dad admitted that it took numerous late nights to perfect it..

Well! I can do it too! I’ll stay up with you papi!

The memories made his heart swell. But they also felt hollow…

“That..what? Argentine Tango- you said that was your mom’s favorite?” Kuro pulled his knees up to rest his chin, watching Lance get lost for a minute before pulling him back. “You learned that for her didn’t you/”

Lance nodded a little bit sheepishly, purposefully avoiding to look at that all too sweet smile aimed at him. “For her birthday, when I was like eight- I taught me and my younger sister- you remember Mari? - I taught us how to do the dance… we set it all up for her in the backyard, string lights, handmade stage, dad and grandpa playing the music Everything. I think we may have become her favorite kids that day..” he laughed and felt his eyes sting a little. That was a really good night. His feet hurt like hell but good...and far away..and maybe he should do that when he gets back? If...no...maybe?

“You should teach me.”

Kuro liked (he’d admit it, loved) how Lance’s face would shift entirely when talking about his Mother. He didn’t like at all how the happy memories would taunt him however, and when he heard that Lance could teach it the idea was to much to pass up. He sprang to his feet and put both hands on Lance’s shoulders, repeating himself, “Teach me how.”

Obviously startled, the younger man blinked owlishly up at him, “What?”

Kuro smiled, once again a very rare smile reserved specifically for all things the color blue- “Well. You’re supposed to work on moves right? And it obviously makes you happy...and god knows I’ve never gotten the chance the learn any dancing...teach me how to do it. Show me those moves little blue.”

Lance floundered for a bit, mind tracking too much at once: warms hand, warm smile, caring, teach??? Smile...tooth..smile! Teach??!

“Uhm..right...yeah? I mean I can but I’m serious buddy it’s hard as hell to teach. Not saying I can’t! Or that you would be terrible at it I mean look at you? Wait- no ignore that...I mean..”

As the face grew redder Kuro grew bolder, he pressed a finger against others lips and shushed him, “Deal then! We can start now even!” he tapped at a red cheek and spun away to prepare himself. Lance was left with half raised hands and eyes as wide as saucers, momentarily short circuit until he snapped back into the moment. “Whoa hang on! I need to set up some kind of music if you’re serious, and I have to teach you everything! This is going to take all day I swear…”

All day, and partially into the night.

Kuro was natural when it came to following a basic direction, he could pose just fine. But actual movement and he would get this funny twisted look on his face and fumbled. Lance thought it was adorable, Kuro thought it was frustrating as hell because well-

Goooood, Lance...he really could move.

Bad enough that Lance had made up his mind about who would assume which role- arguing soundly that he was smaller and more capable of the feminine twist and turns and that Kuro would be better suited to the masculine role as a whole (seriously...LOOK AT HIM), but neither had fully comprehended that in order to actually do this correctly there would be a lot of physical contact.

Which...wasn’t exactly odd between them. In context they were already fond of affectionate touch...but this was a whole new level.

That evening (after Keith had kicked them out of the training room with a glare and “not sure what took you so long and god you’re both gross looking”) Lance made it clear that if he was gonna do this, teach his most treasure dance- they were gonna do it right dammit.

Which was hard as hell to do when saving the universe. And dealing with other paladins and god damn diplomacy and chaos every twenty minutes. When ever they had a chance they would meet up in either the training room or the conveniently highlighted ballroom (someone sneaked that map detail onto Lance’s datapad but he still couldn’t tell who knew)

A month of practice, maybe more due to constant interruptions. Not that they didn’t impede their own work enough with joking around and awkwardly batting around each other. Lance very quickly grew to appreciate the sight of Kuro in a firm stance, thoroughly soaked in sweat and a fierce determination to hold the pose up- and vice versa, Kuro becoming addicted to the sight of Lance twisting around in in sharp but inspiring angles… each new practice and they got a little more flush with each other. The other members definitely noticed, never quite sure where the change was occurring, but promoted it nonetheless.

Especially those nights. When a dream turned for the worst and the adrenaline was too much. Either both would be awake and head in, or one would find the other dancing around the wide and ornate room with a phantom partner.

Kuro learned that Lance actually could Waltz through thin air, and that he could move in the dark with as much grace and precision as he did on the battlefield. Calculated, endeared...born for it.

But he was a fast learner too. Picking up on the complicated moves and adhering them to his memory.

Lance wouldn’t forget the night he found Kuro practicing a particularly complicated step process, the look of complete and total focus that blissfully chased away the nightmares that had plagued him. He wouldn’t forget that the steps seemed design to always include another person...faster, closer…

Too many ideas started and flourished in that room.

After all that time they had it down. Could complete it in one fell swoop that left both breathless and more than a little dizzy. So attuned to each movement that being held so close was becoming natural…

There was a moment of hesitation then, something that suddenly collided into their chests and had them waiting. Casting glances at lips and dilated pupils but neither sure enough to move. Not until Lance smiled and pressed a tender kiss to the apple of Kuro’s cheek, and pulling himself away in a flourish. “Gotta admit, I’m pretty impressed.”

Kuro watched, dismayed, elated? Plotting. “Well...you’re pretty impressive?”

Lance laughed him out of the room that night, plotting and ready for the next time.

His plan came together one night after everyone had gone to bed. He’d been in and out all day gathering things for finishing touches to a two day setup. It’d been a week of stand still between him and Lance and both were so high strung with tension that innocent nicknames gave them goosebumps and the rooms almost caught fire with the looks sent when no one was looking.

“Kitchen?” Lance guessed for the fifth time incorrectly where he was being led to, a hand covering his eyes and another guiding him. He’d been about to sleep when Kuro had come in and claimed he had a surprise for him.

Kuro stifled his laugh, “Nope! You’re just gonna wait to see, so stop guessing” he nudge them forward and opened the door to the ballroom, careful to keep Lance’s vision obscured.

“Ready? Aaand we’re almost there...ok…” he backed away with his hands held up and a wide mirthful grin on his face. Lance looked around rapidly, expecting an obvious answer but finding a dark room and a spotlight on them.

“What?” he spun around and eyed the clone suspiciously, Yellow eyes glowing in the dim light with a wicked gleam. “Well...what did you do?” his smile almost matched the others but it lacked that toothy quality that made Kuro look more predator than man at the moment. That, and the gaze trained on his every move…

Every move, everything Kuro was doing set Lance’s hair on end and gooseflesh across his skin. Never looking away Kuro reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a remote, slow and methodical and driving Lance mad- he either wanted to back away or reach further and he couldn’t make up his mind if either was good.

Then with a press of the button, the room lit up.

Marbled floor was seeped in dark red, the walls glistening in the carnation hue and everything had an otherworldly presence around the edges where the room was still dark. The effect of candles on the edge, and the notes of a familiar melody being poured in from every angle.

Kuro tossed the remote, Lance didn’t look away to see where. Not when they clawed hand reached out towards him slowly.

Fight or flight Lance...this one might eat you alive…

Lance straightened his back, reaching out with a slightly delicate air. Accepting the grasp and being tugged closer into the starting pose.Already he knew this time was different- could feel the weight of it. Kuro was bold,pulling Lance flush against him and securing a breath taking hold on the smaller male. But Lance refused to back down, surging forward into his movements, kicking his feet up and even improvising to see what Kuro would do. The music rolled around them...

Delight flashed across a fanged smile, Kuro rolling with the new moves effortlessly and leading them into an entirely new dance. One that weeped with months of unasked questions and unattended fantasies. Spinning around a blood red room with ferocity.

What should have been a dance became a battle, pushing and pulling each other into new and thrilling spaces.The music picking up pace, their feet already aching to keep up. Caught up in the heat of sharing such close air, Lance’s hair sticking to the side of his face and a noticeable pant to Kuro’s breathing.

“Why?” Lance choose a moment when they were an arms length apart, a moment to breath and ease the constant thrumming of his pulse. He was swept back in and twirled around, Kuro even adding in a pick up that the other didn’t expect and led to Lance being pressed back flush to chest with his arms trapped.

“As a thank you, “ was purred into his ear. Hot breath that made him gasp quietly and spin away as quickly as he could break free. His arm was caught, and he was being led into a smooth glide on one foot.” You let me see this side of you, let me show you what I could be..” the music was rushing into its climax and both hearts were racing along side it.

A flourish of kicks, shimmying and snaking around with limbs. “Lance…” a breathless word that made the mentioned swoon into a tender grasp and a low dip,”You...you’ve changed me ...a lot of me?” Kuro held them there, bent across Lance’s waist and holding him inches above the floor, “You deserve a treat,” he smiled and pulled them up expecting one thing and getting another has Lance hiked his leg up high on Kuro’s waist, tucking his ankle around the other’s back, the position forcing Kuro to secure a hold on his lower back and neck.

“Only because you deserved a chance…” Lance was speaking in barely a whisper, hip to hip with his best friend, a man who he’d fight tooth and nail for.Who he knew would do the same for him…

Kuro brushed his thumb through the damp hair on Lance’s neck, pulling him closer but still keeping a small distance between them…

They both took a moment to catalogue every detail, that dark skin turned into a deep crimson, blown out pupils that soaked in the red light. Heavy breath, a tongue swiping across worry-worn lips…yellow eyes that still held their glow in the heavy lighting. The sweat that threatened to fall across the older man’s temple.

“Lance…” he felt the other’s hand come up to wrap around his flesh bicep, his own clawed hand slightly digging into the meat of his back.

“Kuro?” Lance breathed back, he would sway if not otherwise tangled so completely with Kuro. He pressed his leg tighter against Kuro’s waist, pressing them closer in challenge.

Kuro didn’t back down, a truly feral grin splitting his face.In between the lull of music they’d spoken, and as the crescendo came crashing down he surged forward to capture Lance’s lips against own, gripping onto thick brown locks to hold the paladin firmly against him.

Lance meet him fully, with as much if not more passion. Eyes drawn tight and a hand gripping desperately to the back of Kuro’s neck.

They kissed until the room spun around them, parting with panting breath and chests pressed impossibly close, Kuro having doubled over some to clutch at Lance.They pulled away enough to clear their own heads, that predatory gleam back on Kuro’s face as he watched Lance struggle for breath.

He pulled his hand through the other’s hair, resting it against his cheek and stroking a thumb tenderly over a heavily flushed cheek. Leaning into his dance partners space to rest his forehead on a shivering shoulder, Kuro felt a hand card through is short hair and was pulled into a slower, somehow even more intimate cascade around the room,,, 

Admittedly...this was the greatest idea to ever be conceived.