#paladin secret santa 2018

[nooowestayandgetcaught]

Free To Be You And Me

AO3 or FFN

~1k, Shance, E-rating, Post-Series AU, for the @paladinsecretsanta2k18 event and for @miaoujones

Summary: Cuba seems exactly the same as Lance left it. The glimmer of turquoise-blue waters. Hot sand. The delighted faces of his family. He persuades Shiro to come out with him once they've returned to Earth for good, teaching him to surf, basking in Shiro’s happiness.

[rueitae]

Writing Roundup 2020

This is a writing reflection I’ve been doing for myself every year for the last four years. Its a positive boost to myself see how far I’ve come and look back on my progress for the past year and look forward to the new year. 

Everyone is welcome to use this same format if they’d like to do the same! 

~~~~~~~

Stats:

Words written:

330,000, which is nearly half of all the words I’ve written on Ao3 in the last three years. 

One Shots Posted (all fics plance unless otherwise stated):

In the Arms of the Ever(pink?) Tree (4463 words)

For the Plance Secret Santa exchange. Post s8 date/not date on a snowy moon. Love confession. 

Birthday Treats (2129 words)

For Pidge’s birthday this year! Domestic family fluff, breakfast in bed, plance kids.

Begin Again (Together) (4805 words)

Canon divergence from before episode one! Pidge and Lance are established dating when alien intervention brings them to where they are supposed to be: with the Blue Lion. Just a brief look into what the AU would look like. 

Common Ground (4521 words)

A treat for my friends who introduced me to Magic Knight Rayearth and pointed out some fun character parallels. There is this beautiful art Arya made to go with it because we’re all trash for both series. Plance meet up with Fuu and Ferio post series for both couples. 

Bonded To You (1808 words)

For the Langstron Halloween Exchange! Established plance with a baby Lance is trying to keep safe from a witch who would take advantage of the child’s heritage. 

It Tasted Good (6785 words)

Pikelavar for Pikelavar Month! The premise is crack, but it's mostly treated seriously. Pike ate the Jewel of Jitan by accident and doesn’t realize it until Haggar finds them. Meklavar gets Protective.

The Remainder of Days (3188 words)

Part of my Bad Things Happen Bingo. Fantasy AU where Pidge is a minor forest goddess and Lance is her neighbor mortal farmer. 

I Love You a Lily More Each Day (3232 words)

Another of the Bad Things Happen Bingo. Canon compliant where Lance is undercover at a flower shop and knee deep in an illegal smuggling operation. 

Lease on Life (4978 words)

This one was also part of Bad Things Happen Bingo and was an experiment. It’s POV of an oldest plance kid, canon verse. Her parents’ Paladin days come back to haunt them one night. Some cute family stuff too in there. 

Ready to Dance (4135 words)

For the Valentine’s Day exchange! Post series. Lance tries to get back into the party scene and Pidge rescues him from a disastrous night. 

Loopholes (5476 words)

Technically I didn’t write this fic this year, but a very kind reader asked if I would post this to Ao3, so it was my first fic of the year on Ao3. It’s Lotura! Originally a gift for a dear friend I’ve had since elementary school. It’s a fantasy AU where Lotor stumbles into Allura’s kingdom needing help. 

Next to Me (7311 words)

Also for Bad Things Happen Bingo, this is probably one of my favorite fics of the year. This is the canon verse AU that went all wrong in s7, and Sendak succeeds in destroying Earth. Lance and Pidge end up not only his prisoners, but also two of the last humans in the universe. Ends open ended, but it became a series in the end!

Into Me (14248 words)

The sequel to the above fic. There are two versions, this and the one below. The title tells all. Lance and Pidge come to terms with their new life aboard Sendak’s flagship and do their best to keep the other comforted.

Into Me (non-explicit version) (7228 words)

Exactly the same as the fic above, only this one is SFW

Sunshine (3831 words)

A Bad Things Happen Bingo! One of my favorite concepts. Canon verse. Pidge gets sick while she and Lance are on a scientific mission. 

Showoff (635 words)

A really short fic for a friend on their birthday, featuring their plance kids!

Respite of the Heart (4181 words)

A fic I have been wanting to write for a very long time. I love the concept of Pidge as a Disney Princess in the sense she has the forest guardian theme and all these animals love her. So there’s some play on that as the Paladins stop for lunch on their journey back to Earth in early s7. Lance comes to a realization and they have a chat surrounded by the animal friends. @anchoredtetherart did a phenomenal piece to accompany it. Please look at it in awe here.

The Hardest Part (3960 words)

For Bad Things Happen Bingo! An AU of the episode The Reunion where Pidge doesn’t return when she’s supposed to. 

A Planned Sacrifice (4988 words)

Another Bad Things Happen Bingo. Canon verse. Pidge assumes that being a sacrifice for the ‘forest god’ is strictly ceremonial and at worst a wild animal. It’s actually Sendak, who no one has seen since Shiro shot him out of the Castle. He remembers Pidge and is far too pleased to see her again, tied up on a silver platter. 

Almost Forgotten, but Not Gone (3946 words)

Bad Things Happen Bingo. AU sometime in s1 where Haxus isn’t as dead as Pidge thought. 

Touch (7519 words)

Written for the Lance Goes Boom bang! It was inspired by @fenixseraph ‘s amazing art here! It’s a different take on The Way Forward, where Pidge and Lance are separated from the rest of the team and placed in their own cell. And the Red Lion causes issues. 

Chaptered Fics started/added to:

Wolf In Thieves’ Clothing (4516 words)

An AU of The Castle of Cagliostro from Lupin the Third series. Lee, you have my thanks forever for making me watch this finally. Pidge is a literal princess whose kingdom is in the middle of an internal coup. Lance is a gentleman thief who rides with his best buds Hunk and Matt. Their paths are destined to cross again when Lance goes back to the castle he used to call home. 

Game of Love (4593 words)

The most crack of the bunch. AU of Fall the of the Castle of Lions where Sendak and Haxus get away with it all. Pidge and Lance are prisoners on Haxus’ new ship, and Lance finds an opportunity for eventual escape when he learns that Haxus has a crush on his second in command. Operation matchmaker begins. (happy ending planned for all)

What Tides May Bring (20704 words)

Collab with the fantastic @anchoredtetherart for MerMay! Established plance as mermaids and guardians of their elements with adorable mer child. Then angst because they are all captured by a ‘research’ institute. 

Seasons of Magic (16546 words)

I actually added a chapter this year! Ongoing collection of one-shots with mage Pidge who lives in the country and cultivates her plant magic and makes potions with the assistance of her dragon familiar, Lance. Mostly domestic fluff. 

Too Soon and Not Soon Enough (11438 words)

Added another chapter this year to my Keith-centric AU. It’s basically VLD but five years early and they’re all literally child Paladins. Keith gets to meet Krolia earlier and its fun to go into tween friendships as they try and navigate the reality of their situation. 

Seeds (48833 words)

Added a ton earlier this year. A collection of plance fics all or mostly under 500 words. All meant to be adopted by others if interest strikes. Covers many genres.

Chaptered Fics Finished:

Resolve to Fly (75799 words)

Written for the Pidge Angst Bang. My artist @alchemie0 did an outstanding job capturing the feel of the fic. Look at the art here! Canon verse AU where Pidge encounters Haxus, who has crashed on Earth. She helps him repair his ship in excitement and good faith, which he pays back by kidnapping her. For two years she survives as little more than a housepet on Sendak’s ship. Gen.

Who's Protecting Who? (28989 words)

Also technically not written this yeah, but posted. A collab with Hush waaaay back in 2018. It's a plance Altean AU with Pidge as distant royalty and Lance as a bodyguard.

A Dish Served Cold (21533 words)

Finally finished this one! Canon verse in which Pidge accidentally runs into Sendak on an isolated planet. Sendak takes advantage of this encounter and tries to return to the Empire with her in tow. Much Pidge whump. Gen

Reflections: 

Best title 

I still really really love Too Soon and Not Soon Enough (11438 words). Because it's too soon for the Paladins to be Paladins, and for Keith it's not nearly soon enough for Krolia to return. It just feels like it has a lot of heart to it. I hope I can keep it going, but my ideas are incredibly scattered for it. 

Worst title 

Touch (7519 words). Yeah it’s a play on ‘Don’t you touch her’ but it feels soooo dry. 

Best/worst last line

Best: This was really, really hard choice this year, but ultimately, making up for the terrible title, its Touch (7519 words) 

“It feels good to escape the ship with all of his teammates, secure in the knowledge that he has a way forward not just as a Paladin, but also with Pidge.” 

- Not only did I manage to fit the title of the episode in there, it's got that hopeful tinge to it and reflects on personal growth both internally and with Pidge. 

Worst: This one isn’t necessarily bad from Begin Again (Together) (4805 words), but it could be better. It didn’t get quite the epic sense I was hoping to pull from it.

“Okay,” he smirks, hand firmly on the throttle. “Operation save Earth starts now.”

Looking back, did you write more fics than you thought you would this year, less than you thought, or about what you predicted?

Definitely wrote way more. Even with posting two fic that are essentially the exact same, I still ended up writing nearly half of my total Ao3 word count this year. (330,000/670,000). Doing Bad Things Happen Bingo was a bit part of that - I was very inspired at the beginning of this year - but also there were many events I participated in (8 total!!) on top of my personal projects. 

What’s your favorite story this year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you the happiest.

A really hard decision this year, because there are several that make me really happy. I think oddly enough though, it’s Game of Love (4593 words) because of its potential and how much crack it is. It has such whacky rom-com energy to it but also that underlying angst of the situation I can fall back on. My favorite trope to explore is what happens to the characters when they’re captured. I just really enjoy the concept and the challenge to make such a concept believable with minimal suspension of belief. 

Okay, NOW your most popular story.

Using kudos as my gauge (and not counting the chapter fics), the winner is: 

Respite of the Heart (4181 words)

Not surprising because Ivy’s art is STUNNING.

Story most underappreciated by the universe?

I think that’s It Tasted Good (6785 words), the pikelavar fic. Pikelavar is underappreciated in general

Story that could have been better?

For all I was excited to write Sunshine (3831 words), it didn’t quite fall the way I had imagined in my mind. I don’t know if it was the structure or I was running out of steam or what. All i know is that I wanted more but all I could concentrate on was that scene where he’s caring for her in bed. Maybe I was just too ambitious.

Sexiest story?

No brainer it's Into Me (14248 words). Literally. Which really shocked me that it happened. Didn’t think I’d write any smut at all, let alone this year. This particular fic just kinda called out for it 

Saddest story?

The prequel to the above fic: Next to Me (7311 words). How much more sad can you get than Earth being destroyed, being Sendak’s prisoners all while trying to tell each other ‘i love you’ without seeming weird because you’re the last humans in the universe. 

Most fun?

I think it's Ready to Dance (4135 words). Just Valentine’s fluff and impromptu slow dancing in the park at night. 

Story with single sweetest moment?

I’m picking What Tides May Bring (20704 words). Listen, mer Lance and mer Pidge playing with their mer baby in their domestic paradise is probably one of my favorite things I’ve ever written. Dad Lance has my heart. 

Hardest story to write?

The last chapter of A Dish Served Cold (21533 words) was like pulling teeth. I’m pretty happy with it in the end but at the time man it was so hard. 

Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?

I wrote smut. It was...weird? But also strangely calming. I wrote more for another fic but it's still a WIP. I definitely need to be in the mood to write it. 

Proudest Achievement:

The Pidge Angst Bang. Resolve to Fly (75799 words). Look at that word count. I only wanted something under 3k at first, so it was just going to be Pidge meeting Haxus. But by the time I finished that part it was already 10k. So even though I was going through a rough part of my life, I just kept going and it ended up being my therapy. I’m really proud of the fic and I love my artists’ pieces. It really lifted my spirits. (You should all really go check out the Ao3 collection of all the bang stories and art they are AMAZING you won’t regret. If you love Pidge angst they are all must reads.)

What are your fic writing goals for next year?

I’d like to finish my Bad Things Happen Bingo card and then focus on my current WIP, that includes the Seeds collection. There are days I still feel a bit overwhelmed, and I’m still trying to find a routine after moving. I’d like to do more events too, but I think I need to be more selective about which ones I do. I don’t want to burn myself out. 

Apart from that, I’d really like to try and give back to the community more. I’d like to start consciously writing fics for others without an event to go by. 

Past Years:

2017

2018

2019

[ao3feed-keithshiro]

I Put A Spell On You

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QXjtzZ

by MikelaArts

After realizing the horrors of the Galra army Shiro goes looking for a new job. He ends up as the bodyguard to the half sorcerer, half necromancer young Mafia boss Keith Kogane. Shiro, being only a human, has his work cut out for him.

Words: 11382, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Keith's Father (Voltron), Kolivan (Voltron), Voltron Paladins

Relationships: Keith/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Sheith Secret Santa 2018, Mafia AU, Fantasy AU, Human!Bodyguard!Shiro, Necromancer!Sorcerer!Keith, Keiths dad is Heith, Everyone Is Alive, side pairings, Happy Ending

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QXjtzZ

[ao3-feedshance]

Better Than Hallmark

by RazzleDazzleDrabbles

Following up on the Voltron Paladins a year after the war for Earth, Shiro and Lance realize just how much they've become to mean to each other.

Words: 2580, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Lance (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Keith (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron)

Relationships: Lance/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Shance Secret Santa 2018, shance, Fluff, Fix-it fic

source http://archiveofourown.org/works/17157089

[ao3feed-klance]

Christmas icing

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FcBIQA

by BloodthirstyMerc

“Cookies. I was thinking we could decorate some for Christmas.” Lance says as he gets the tray out. Keith looks over the cookies as they bypass him. They looked good.

“Christmas isn’t until next week. And we’re going to your mums.” Keith points out. Lance shrugs.

“Yeah I know, early Christmas cookies, just for us.” Lance offers as he turns back to Keith once the cookies are on a rack to cool. “Y’know, do something cute like a gross couple would.”

 Paladin Secret Santa gift for nikfehu on Tumblr

Words: 2128, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron)

Additional Tags: klance, Voltron, vld, voltron legendary defenders - Freeform, Secret Santa, paladin secret santa 2018, Christmas, Christmas Fluff, Christmas Cookies, Cookies, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, boyfriends being saps, Established Relationship

read it on AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FcBIQA

[ao3feed-keitor]

The Sound of Silence

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2PW9SJe

by alisayamin (sh_04e)

Keith can't remember what it was like to not hear that noise in his head. Lotor would gladly silence it for him.

Words: 4151, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Lotor (Voltron), Keith (Voltron), Mentions of - Character, Shiro (Voltron), Voltron Paladins, The Blade of Marmora

Relationships: Keith/Lotor (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, for the galras, Canon Universe, Sensory Overload, Omega Keith (Voltron), Alpha Lotor (Voltron), Hugs, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Hurt Keith (Voltron), Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Keith (Voltron) is a Mess, Non-Sexual Submission, Dom/sub Undertones, Lotor is a gentleman, Gentling, Touch-Starved, Cuddling & Snuggling, Protective Lotor, Keitor Secret Santa 2018

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2PW9SJe

[ao3feed-safeklance]

Christmas icing

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FcBIQA

by BloodthirstyMerc

“Cookies. I was thinking we could decorate some for Christmas.” Lance says as he gets the tray out. Keith looks over the cookies as they bypass him. They looked good.

“Christmas isn’t until next week. And we’re going to your mums.” Keith points out. Lance shrugs.

“Yeah I know, early Christmas cookies, just for us.” Lance offers as he turns back to Keith once the cookies are on a rack to cool. “Y’know, do something cute like a gross couple would.”

 Paladin Secret Santa gift for nikfehu on Tumblr

Words: 2128, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron)

Additional Tags: klance, Voltron, vld, voltron legendary defenders - Freeform, Secret Santa, paladin secret santa 2018, Christmas, Christmas Fluff, Christmas Cookies, Cookies, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, boyfriends being saps, Established Relationship

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2FcBIQA

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

winter's eve

read it on the AO3 at winter's eve

by shaerrah

Calling her a great beauty did not do her justice. Lotor could hardly recognize the young woman standing before him. Gone was the demonic child he remembered and in her place stood a goddess...

or Zarkon invites the Paladins for Daibazaal's Winter Solstice celebration and Lotor sees Allura for the first time in over a decade...AU.

Words: 2527, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M

Characters: Allura, Lotor, honerva, Zarkon (Voltron), Alfor (Voltron), Original Paladins

Relationships: Allura/Lotor (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Fluff, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Background Relationships, Winter Celebrations, Love at First Sight, Brief Mentions of Childhood, Lotura Secret Santa 2018

read it on the AO3 at winter's eve

[miaoujones]

22, 21, 12 ❤

ohh~ nice ones! thank you for this ask! ❤

22. events you participated in this year

Chocolate Box - Round 3 (You Like Me - Voltron)

Interhigh 2018 (People With Families - Daiya no A)

Paladin Secret Santa (Voltron, not yet posted...)

Shiro Loves Men Secret Santa (Voltron, not yet posted...)

Trick or Treat 2018 (The One You Hold the Deepest - Voltron)

Yuletide 2018 (anonymous fic...)

Sheith Prompt Bang (ongoing)

Voltron Polybang (ongoing)

(in which “not yet posted” does indeed mean “miaou get your butt in gear”...)

21. most memorable comment/review

i got some AMAZING comments this year! 

@iskabee gave incredible and incredibly encouraging on the soumako stuff i posted this year, both here and on ao3. in fact, that feedback is at least 90% of why i’m still working on holding hadns and intend to finish next year!

@aarglebaargle has consistenly given the most insightful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking analyses across fandoms. honestly, i can’t even call them mere “comments.” 

and then someone whose name i don’t know on tumblr, if they even have a tumblr, left me a beautiful comment on And We Can Touch the Sun (Voltron, Keith/Shiro) --- even though the comment was accidentally left on the wrong fic, we got it sorted out and had some great conversation along the way, and i treasure that comment so dearly because it made me feel understood.

oh! and someone just wrote a poem and a haiku (two separate ones) for The Only Way Out Is Through (Hetalia, America/Japan, America/England, America/England/Japan)!! that’s never happened before! :D

honestly, there were a lot more truly and astonighingly wonderful comments. i am woefully and shamefully behind on commenting (i am currently 497 days behind the oldest comment... i am the worst), but i value every single one.

12. favorite character to write about this year

mew mew! i think this is not going to be the answer most people reading this will expect (and i’m not just saying ths becaue of the fandoms of you who asked, this is genuine):

makoto --- but very specifically, makoto through the eyes of sousuke. so in a way, it’s sousuke i enjoyed writing about (specifically how his relationship to himself develops as his relationship with makoto does...)

[send me fanfic end of year asks!, if you like!

[maychorian]

Weekly Voltron Fic Recs #56

We’re hitting the busy season at my job tomorrow, so I’m not sure when the next list will be. Happy New Year, anyway!

Rules: You can find past weekly rec lists here, and non-list recs in my general fic rec tag. Also follow @maychorianrecs for individually tagged posts, the easier to search and reblog. This is stuff I like, and I have a huge bias toward Lance, hurt/comfort, and general fluff, in that order. Gen unless otherwise noted. Please comment on the fics if you read and enjoy them!

Disaster Hearts by lieutenantshirogane Words: 719 Author’s Summary: After a mission goes wrong, Coran struggles to let go. Luckily, Kolivan is there to help. My Comments: Not a combo I had considered before, but it’s so good that I just had to read and rec this one. So good.

Bushel and a Peck by isabeau25 Words: 5,158 Author’s Summary: It’s not Hunk’s first job interview, but it might just be his favorite. Series Part 3 of The Five Lions Cafe My Comments: We’re coming up on the busy season at my job, and I was grateful for this spot of pre-emptive stress relief. It’s so lovely and relaxing. Read the whole series.

Cream Waterfalls and Violet Stars and All The Broken ThingsbyMashpotatoeQueen5 Words: 3,185 Author’s Summary: Coran had children once. (A fic about before and after, and the family that our favorite Space Uncle might have lost in his ten thousand years of slumber. Sad… but hopeful ending?) My Comments: Beautiful and haunting vision of Coran’s lost family and how he sees them in the new children he deals with every day. I love the idea of Coran as a family man, and this is a great exploration of that concept.

Shopping for Disaster by Engineer104 Words: 6,108 Author’s Summary: Allura just wanted something sparkly, and Pidge just wanted to get her ears pierced. And they will, after a mishap involving a kid, a Druid, and a Galra ship. My Comments: Bonding time with Pidge and Allura turns into an action/adventure with plenty of badassery from both. Very fun read.

Children of the Empire by foxysquid for Meteorysh Words: 10,147 Author’s Summary: Those who find themselves without parents can turn to Emperor Zarkon for parental guidance instead—but Thace would rather not. Shuttled off to a school for orphaned children, he has to adapt to a strange place, with no one to rely on. Fortunately, he may not be as alone as he thinks he is. Written for Galra Secret Santa, as a gift for meterorysh! There are also some accompanying illustrations, which you can find here. My Comments: Absolutely stunning. Achy and touching, fantastic worldbuilding and characterization. I felt so bad for tiny Thace, losing his parents and shipped off to a school where he had to guard himself every second of every day for fear of being outed as a traitor. The friendship with Ulaz and eventual conclusion were extremely satisfying. This read like the beginning of an original novel, one that I would gladly devour in like a day at a most.

Words of Good Cheer by BossToaster (ChaoticReactions) Words: 31,364 Author’s Summary: 12 days of Advent fics for the winter season 1) The gang gets stuck in their cabin on vacation (Modern AU) 2) The lights and noise of the holiday party prove to be overwhelming for Shiro 3) Ryou and Lance attempt to make Hunk a treat. 4) Shatt - Shiro and Matt get their Christmas snuggle on 5) Shallura - Shiro shows Allura how to make snow angels 6) Sheith - Shiro falls through the ice on a snowy planet and needs to be warmed up 7) Alone at the Garrison over break, Keith and Shiro work together to ignore the holiday 8) Shunkeith - Sweet Tooth AU, Hunk has to stay over when they’re snowed in 9) Baby’s Ryou’s first Christmas 10) Old Friend’s Senior Sanctuary AU - Lance convinced Shiro to help make a 2018 calendar for charity 11) Ryou disappears on an ice planet and Shiro fears the worst 12) Smol!Shiro worries how Santa will find the castle My Comments: Each of these little fics is absolutely adorable and worth reading on their own, and we get twelve for the price of one! Four are shipfics, Shatt, Shallura, and Sheith, plus Shunkeith, but the chapters are labeled so you can easily skip them and stick to the gen if you want.

Vasish by ElementKitsune for AstroPhantom Words: 2,255 Author’s Summary: Sometimes, you just wake up and go see a storm with your favourite princess. (Coran and Allura go stormwatching) My Comments: Sweet Allura and Coran interaction before the fall of Altea. It’s cute, and a little sad, but mostly heartwarming.

Stranger Danger (2) by YukiSetsu Words: 2,076 Author’s Summary: Sequel to Stranger Danger (part 5 of Whumpmas series). After the last incident, Lance didn’t think he’d run into David again anytime soon. He was wrong. My Comments: Sequel to a previously recced fic, and just as good as that one. The realism of this is what hikes up to true levels of disturbing. Great protectiveness from the others.

Epoxy to the World by buckysbears (DrZebra) Words: 2,245 Author’s Summary: Shiro, Pidge, and Keith are forced into a Galra gladiator arena. The two younger paladins see a side of Shiro that he desperately wishes they hadn’t. My Comments: Very intense and emotional. This is pretty much Shiro’s worst nightmare. I don’t blame him for losing himself a little bit along the way.

What’s In A Name? by bouquetofwhoopsiedaisies Words: 1,532 Author’s Summary: “What is ‘Keith’?” Kolivan asked one evening. Keith looked up, blinking in confusion. “I’m Keith.” “Yes, but what is ‘Keith’?” Kolivan pressed.“Well, as far as I know, mostly human, and some Galra.” He really thought Kolivan already knew this. He had been there when Keith’s knife changed form, indicating that he had Galra blood. How much, none of them knew. Kolivan huffed, looking impatient. “The word. ‘Keith’. What does it mean, in your language?” (The Blades get curious about the name of their smallest member. Pidge does some hacking to find out the surprising answer) My Comments: Cute, fluffy, and funny. I like the little bit of Galra culture, too, and Blades being protective and teasing of Keith is always a plus.

Castle Glitch by YukiSetsu Words: 2,394 Author’s Summary: When a bug from Pidge’s laptop accidentally infects the Castle, Lance ends up having to face an extreme gladiator bot without a weapon and armor. As expected, things get dangerous really quick. My Comments: Excellent whump, excellent protective team. I don’t know how many ways to say that I’m enjoying everything this author is doing, but here it is again.

Sick Day by FanaticFangirl2602 for RandomDragonDoodles Words: 2,727 Author’s Summary: Keith should have seen it coming. Actually, he did see it coming. The little voice in the back of his mind had been scolding him for going so hard for the past month, but all he’d done was push it aside and ignore it. A dumb decision. My Comments: Nice little Keith-centric sickfic in a college AU. Hits the spot.

All Swallowed in their Coats by yet_intrepid for stover Words: 2,317 Author’s Summary: Shiro and his new roommate, Matt, would tell you that they are nothing alike: Shiro is an overwhelmed grad student, while Matt is a dropout and avid science youtuber. But then there’s a blizzard, and maybe things change. My Comments: Great modern AU with Shiro and Matt realizing that they have much more in common than they think. Past abuse.

Fruit Loops by SerenePhenix Words: 3,571 Author’s Summary: Shiro never stood a chance. My Comments: Wonderful team-as-family feels in a modern roommate AU. So cute and fluffy and sweet.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas by WinterSky101 Words: 2,510 Author’s Summary: In which Pidge is a Christmas elf. ‘Tis the season, after all. My Comments: Cute and sweet and fluffy, with just a touch of angst at the end. 'Tis the season!

If Only In My Dreams by yet_intrepid Words: 5,918 Author’s Summary: The team agrees that Space Christmas isn’t that great with Keith off on missions with the Blade of Marmora. But it’s a lot, lot worse with Keith held hostage by the Galra. My Comments: Awesome whump fic, very snappy pace and intense emotions, and the Christmas theme just heightened the whole thing to the rafters.

In Stitches by A_Zap Words: 6,118 Author’s Summary: With every stitch, a bigger picture can be seen. And each one is made with love.In which everyone on Team Voltron learns more about Lance as he knits the day away. And maybe he learns something too. My Comments: It’s been a while since I’ve read a fic with Lance as a knitter. This was very warm and soft and fluffy, lots of great bonding and sweetness. Very satisfying.

Tradition… Tradition by imperiality Words: 6,802 Author’s Summary: It’s bright! It’s loud! It’s festive! It’s everything Shiro hasn’t really had for Christmas, and it’s wonderful. Then the night winds down. And it’s down to 3. They talk about traditions. Some are lonelier than others. My Comments: The entire team has a lovely Christmas, but the ending conversation between Shiro, Matt, and Keith was the most emotional and heartwarming thing in the fic. Little bit of angst and emotional hurt comfort for lonely boys who miss their homes, but mostly they’re just happy to count their blessings where they are.

One by One by LitDragonWagon Words: 8,512 Author’s Summary: Shiro remains in a state of Not Surprised about all the people who join him in his bed. (Just a cute fic about the paladins platonically sleeping together due to nightmares, and healing.) My Comments: Paladin cuddle puddle to the max. This was very relaxing to read. Brief mention of Klance.

Previously Recced Fics That Updated:

Little Crystals (19627 words) As Color Fades Away (243019 words) This May Sting (6856 words) Gate Keeper (122883 words) Young Blood (9761 words) The Purity of Sin (47036 words) The Sea In Between (81074 words) Beacon (25201 words) Shadows of Stars (95789 words)

[ao3feed--sheith]

I Put A Spell On You

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QXjtzZ

by MikelaArts

After realizing the horrors of the Galra army Shiro goes looking for a new job. He ends up as the bodyguard to the half sorcerer, half necromancer young Mafia boss Keith Kogane. Shiro, being only a human, has his work cut out for him.

Words: 11382, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Keith's Father (Voltron), Kolivan (Voltron), Voltron Paladins

Relationships: Keith/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Sheith Secret Santa 2018, Mafia AU, Fantasy AU, Human!Bodyguard!Shiro, Necromancer!Sorcerer!Keith, Keiths dad is Heith, Everyone Is Alive, side pairings, Happy Ending

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QXjtzZ

[ao3feed-keithshiro]

We’re Gonna Be Alright

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QojQDk

by Val_Creative

Keith doesn’t represent Voltron anymore. Which is why this is a mistake. He witnesses through the crackle of blaster-fire and rising, smoking ashes as Shiro gets clipped by an energy-bolt, forcing him to his knees and groaning, before he’s swarmed in an attack. Keith now carries Shiro to the med-bay, trembling and covered in Shiro’s blood.

Words: 1340, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Voltron Paladins, Coran (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Original Alien Character(s)

Relationships: Keith/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Early in Canon, Heavy Angst, Blood, Violence, No Smut, Blade of Marmora Keith (Voltron), Hurt Shiro (Voltron), Major Character Injury, Emotional, Romance, Keith (Voltron) is a Mess, Canon Gay Character, Sheith Secret Santa 2018

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2QojQDk

[ao3feed-keithshiro]

Lune

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2LE9YEA

by Astrals (Evoxine)

For Christmas this year, Keith decides to give a very special present to a very special someone.

For Sheith Secret Santa 2018.

Words: 8677, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Voltron Paladins, Lotor (Voltron), Romelle (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Harry Potter Setting, Mutual Pining, Romantic Fluff, Gay Disaster Shiro (Voltron), Gay Disaster Keith (Voltron), Idiots in Love, Friends to Lovers

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2LE9YEA

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

Melted Hope

read it on the AO3 at Melted Hope

by Galrafloofandlove

A mission going wrong meant one of two things happened- they had been given incorrect information, or somebody had messed up along the way.

They were prepared for those situations. They had the rebels on standby to assist if plans went awry, and lookouts within the base. The lions also had a pretty good track record with alerting their paladin if they sensed danger.

They could handle a few extra sentries, they could handle the occasional redirect or changing of plans.

Not even Pidge expected this.

Words: 2005, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

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

Relationships: Lance/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Minor Injuries, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, Shance Secret Santa 2018, Insecure Lance (Voltron), Missions Gone Wrong

read it on the AO3 at Melted Hope

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

I Put A Spell On You

read it on the AO3 at I Put A Spell On You

by MikelaArts

After realizing the horrors of the Galra army Shiro goes looking for a new job. He ends up as the bodyguard to the half sorcerer, half necromancer young Mafia boss Keith Kogane. Shiro, being only a human, has his work cut out for him.

Words: 11382, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Keith's Father (Voltron), Kolivan (Voltron), Voltron Paladins

Relationships: Keith/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Sheith Secret Santa 2018, Mafia AU, Fantasy AU, Human!Bodyguard!Shiro, Necromancer!Sorcerer!Keith, Keiths dad is Heith, Everyone Is Alive, side pairings, Happy Ending

read it on the AO3 at I Put A Spell On You

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

Merry Mishaps

read it on the AO3 at Merry Mishaps

by JadenGrace1

“Do you have anything with, um, red berries?”

“Berries? What kind of berries?”

“Uh…” Keith racks his brain for any other significant detail. “Red ones?”

The salesman (salesperson? salesalien?) gives him a look. “We’ve got at least twenty-seven different types of flora based on that description, kid. You’re gonna have to be more specific than that.”

Well. Keith isn't sure what to say. Green leaves with red berries is the extent of his knowledge on mistletoe. "Uh..." He fiddles with the loose cloth on his left elbow. "Whatever's on sale?"

~

Merry Mishaps: aka the one where Keith tries to find an alien version of mistletoe so he can kiss Hunk underneath it, but it ends up being a lot harder than he originally planned.

Also, he is absolutely head over heels for the team's resident yellow paladin and has Lots of Feelings about it.

Words: 3066, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Lance (Voltron)

Relationships: Hunk/Keith (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Heith Secret Santa 2018, Fluff, Romantic Fluff, Kissing, Boys Kissing, Mistletoe, Declarations Of Love, Rated T for language, Cuddling & Snuggling, Established Relationship

read it on the AO3 at Merry Mishaps