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If Allura had to hear the word Mullet one more time she was going to bash her head into a table. How could one even begin to explain the fight Lance started with Keith for the fifth time today? Allura thought back to five minutes ago. Something about being irresponsible with the lions which Allura thought was a perfectly reasonable argument when it comes to bringing a girl into the blue lion and then almost getting the poor thing stolen. Something about Keith and Rolo and Allura felt a migraine coming on.The whole mission had been close to a disaster and Allura knew exactly what this argument called for and that was a team strategy meeting well except for Keith. “Enough of this, Paladins please meet me in the board room,” Allura said and as Keith moved to walk over to the room happy to get out of being yelled at by Lance. Allura stopped him putting a hand up and noding to the corner of the room.“Why does he get a one-on-one with the princess?” Lance asked in exasperation and Shiro just rolled his eyes dragging the hopeless flirt into the board room.“What do you need to talk to me about?” Keith asked curious but guard up, arms crossed, and fingers twitching with an instinct to grab the nearest weapon in case this turned south.“I may have neglected some important information,” Allura started and Keith nodded at her to go on so she splayed her fingers through the air pulling up a screen with his lion on it. “Passion controls the Red Lion she has in the past been hard for men to work with because of her temperament. The Blue Lion is her balance and without bonding with the blue paladin I fear that Voltron will never be truly powerful. In every previous iteration of history with the Lions Blue always falls deeply for Red whether that be in love or a strong friendship it is a bond meant to last a lifetime. Now Lance is… difficult to be around for long periods of time and I understand you’re trying in your own way but for the sake of the universe try to open up to him more about your feelings,” Allura finished and Keith just stared at the past piolets in shock most photos of the piolets hugging, smiling, kissing. Keith flushed red.“Sure, I’ll uh be training unless you need me in that board room meeting,” Keith offered. Allura cracked her knuckles and gave him a wink “I think I’ve got those meatheads figured out.” Keith walked down the hall to the training deck hearing his heartbeat in his ears and blood rise to the top of his head about to explode. Did he and Lance really need to get along THAT well in order for Voltron to reach its highest power? Would it really be bad though if they did? Keith shook his head and stood in front of Red sighing. “What have you gotten me into?” Lance sat next to Shiro twiddling his thumbs until a very irritated princess barged through the door. “You,” she seethed at Lance who looked up and pointed to himself mouthing a pathetic “me?” which made Allura facepalm. “You are standing in the way of fate and Voltron must become stronger.”“No offense princess but how is Lance of all people standing in the way of anything it’s pretty easy to walk around him,” Pidge said raising their hand.“Pidge what the quiznak?” Lance shouted and Pidge just shrugged their shoulders thinking it was a funny joke.“Allura is right Lance arguing with Keith is making it so that Voltron cannot perform at its highest capability. You two got along for a while but after the last mission it is very obvious that the two of you have some issues,” Coran said and Allura went wide-eyed praying he didn’t mention the prophecy of Red and Blue.“I have a challenge for all of you, yes even you Shiro,” Allura said looking at her table of Paladins. “I need each of you to give a compliment to Keith a day starting today. The Red Paladin is built on love and trust. What is the match for the anger and fire it takes to get Red going, obviously, the passion it takes to work with the Lion. I understand that not everyone was friends from where you all originated but now is the time for a new beginning.” Allura smiled and let out a deep sigh at the hands raised around the table. “Yes, Hunk?” Allura asked thinking his question would be the most well handled.“First off I want to say great speech but Keith doesn’t seem like he wants attention how are we supposed to work with someone who won’t let us in?” Hunk asked and Allura smiled at the genuine concern for Keith’s comfort.“I have told him that for the sake of the mission he needs to be more open to talking with you all rather than just Shiro,” Allura responded thinking that would answer everyone’s questions but Lance was waving his hand in the air demanding attention. Allura nodded at him.“So like we just give him a compliment how are we supposed to make this easier for us?” Lance asked and Allura tilted her head like a confused puppy was it really that hard for Lance to give his so-called “rival” a compliment? “Maybe we could turn it into a point system. The person who gives Keith the most compliments that get a positive reaction by the end of the week doesn’t have to do training for a day or something like that?” Pidge suggested and Lance was immediately on board with the idea.“One rule then and this is specifically for Lance, no flirting,” Shiro said eyes narrowing.“Oh please like he’d actually be receptive of that,” Lance said batting a hand at the idea.“Ok then the round starts tomorrow morning after breakfast, we should at least give Keith some time to wake up before we do anything stupid,” Hunk said and Shiro hit his head on the table. Pidge took out a tablet and shared a file called “The Keith Game” with a simple sentence that said tally your points here. With that they dispersed and passed Keith in the hallway catching him going to his room they all shared a look that said game on.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Now when Allura had mentioned being nicer to the Blue Paladin Keith had thought long and hard about what could possibly make the insufferable bumbling idiot happier and make their “bond” or whatever stronger Keith however, hadn’t expected his entire team to start telling him how they "liked how his hair looked this morning” or “wow 25 levels of Allura’s hardest training regiment was that a new record” or “wow Kieth your ass looks great in those pants” or “wow Keith your ass looks great in uniform” or “wow Keith your ass looks great… can you see the dilemma? Clearly, Lance was just trying to fuck with him and Keith was not in the mood to be tossed around like a plaything. Keith rounded the corner lost in thought only to bump into the very source of his problems. “Heeeeeey Keith did I mention your…” Keith shoved Lance out of the way walking briskly past him and to the main dock finding the princess standing still, eyes closed, clearly lost in thought.“Allura,” Keith started and Allura turned to look at him smiling taking his shoulders in her hands comforting.“How has your progress with Lance gone so far?” Allura asked eyes beaming with the prospect of hope. Their conversation was just the previous night how fast did Allura think friendships formed?“Well, he won’t stop commenting about how nice my butt looks in various forms of clothing so I guess we’re making progress,” Keith said cheeks burning as he willed the feeling away because how embarrassing is this to be talking to a princess about how a stupid blue boy won’t stop commenting about his butt of all things. He watched Allura’s eyes go from interested, shocked, disappointed, to teasing and she started laughing hysterically at him.“It’s not funny,” Keith said sitting on the floor watching as Allura wiped tears from her eyes.“It kind of is,” Allura started holding up a hand to let Keith know she would be continuing and he would hear her out. “So Lance has gone from not talking to you to talking about your behind? Don’t you think that’s a slight step in the right direction?” Allura asked making Keith roll his eyes looking down.“He’s gone from making fun of me to making fun of me. I don’t see any improvement here Allura,” Keith said and Allura’s eyes softened sitting down next to him wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “I’m pretty sure all of the reds have felt the way you have. Lance means well I know he does. You just have to give him another chance to be better. We both know he can be better he hasn’t realized the power he holds yet and that responsibility you have what a wonderful thing. Maybe offer to help him train,” Keith let out a noise of protest which Allura sh’d “You know you can help him right you have the practical skills and he has the raw talent maybe it’ll help you bond more?” Allura offered and Keith huffed getting up and walking towards the door before turning to look at her.“I’ll think about it,” Keith said walking out.“For everyone’s sake, I hope you do.” “I just don’t see what I’m doing wrong,” Lance said staring at the whiteboard placed in the kitchen with everyone’s names written with various tally marks underneath Pidge having two, Shiro having three, Hunk having five, and Lance having a whopping zero. “You do know there are other interesting things about him aren't his ass right?” Shiro asked making sure Lance wasn’t braindead.“Maybe,” Lance responded resulting in a smack to the back of the head from Pidge who sat down with some weird type of goo and a spoon. “If you took the time to get to know him like the rest of us have been this morning you would know that he actually cares about the rest of us like that time he held you when Sendak attacked, he actually has a conscience and cares as weird as that might be for you to wrap your head around,” Pidge said before scooping some goo into their mouth.“Why do we have to have the tallies in the kitchen of all places?” Lance asked still looking at his spotless number spot.“Because someone was lying about his score in order to win no training,” Hunk said narrowing his eyes at Lance. “This way it will be easier for all of us to keep track for eachother, which by the way Lance I am in charge or keeping track of your tallies and you are reporting Shiro’s maybe you can learn how to be nice to Keith from someone who actually knows him,” Hunk said smiling to himself. Lance rolled his eyes sinking his head down into the table. There had to be something he could do to make Keith actually receptive of his compliments. So Keith’s ass was a no go that should have been obvious, what about his hair? No, Keith would never believe that Lance would compliment his mullet. His fighting skills? Maybe but he would have to bring it up subtly. It was so bad it might just work. But what was Lance supposed to say, “Hey Keith I know I’ve always teased you and stuff like that but I think you’re really cool, you don’t need a skincare routine like I do cause you just always look great, you kick every bad guy’s ass with your flying skills, you don’t fall for anything, and I could stare into your eyes for hours trying to figure out where that little bit of purple came from.” Lance lifted his head from the table to see Shiro blinking slowly at him, goo falling off of Pidge’s spoon, and Hunk’s jaw practically on the floor. “I said that out loud didn’t I?” Lance asked feeling heat crawl up his neck.“You totally just did,” Pidge smiled elbowing him. “At least we know you know how to give a compliment now and that you’re totally in love with Keith which I can’t say is a huge surprise but I totally wasn’t seeing you revealing that until Keith was like dying or something,” Pidge said scooping up more goo and plopping it in their mouth chewing happily.“Hahaha no. I totally don’t have a crush on Keith and none of you use those lines those are Lance originals and you all have to come up with your own material,” Lance said pointing to each member of the room glaring them down.“Yeah ok buddy,” Shiro said getting up and patting him on the back on the way out the door.“Where are you going?” Lance asked getting up too following Shiro who was laughing at Lance’s sudden love declaration for his younger brother. “Going to find Keith, he’s probably super stressed out by now,” Shiro said walking down the hall and Lance shoved his hands in his pockets following slightly behind Shiro who walked chest puffed out like he owned the ship and the rest of the paladins had nothing on him. This was going to be interesting to say the least. Seeing Shiro in action talking to Keith in a way that wasn’t the condescending talks that Lance gave the red paladin. Keith sneezed for the umpteenth time in training wondering if he had come down with a serious illness of if the rumors about someone talking about you when you’re not in the room were true. Keith flipped to the side dodging an attack before rebounding with one of his own ending the 17th training level. Keith smiled to himself as more bots appeared and he ran forward ready to attack when the door opened and the bots disappeared. Keith ran a hand though his hair grabbing his towel and shaking his hair out from the sweat that collected there knowing that only Shiro would be brave enough to end a training session without fearing for his life. “Looking good Keith,” Shiro called out and Keith huffed in response.“Would have been better if I wasn’t… why is Lance hiding behind you?” Keith asked looking at Lance trying desperately not to be noticed which Shiro just ignored.“Have you eaten yet today?” Shiro asked crossing the room over to Keith looking at the paler teen eyebrows raised in confrontation. “I think we both know the answer to that one mom,” Keith said teasing looking past Shiro over to Lance at the door looking anywhere but at Keith.“No more training until you get some food in your stomach now get out of here before we get called to actually do something productive like look for Zarkon again,” Shiro said ruffling Keith’s hair making the shorter boy huff and grab his bag walking over towards Lance and the door.“Sure thing mom,” Keith said making quick eye contact with Lance before shaking his head and walking out the door. He only walked a couple of steps before hearing that someone was trying to walk in step with him looking over to his left he saw Lance with his hands tucked deep in his jacket pockets looking away from Keith still.“Soooo…” Lance started and Keith pushed him against the wall of the hallway forearm against Lance’s neck.“Make another comment on my ass and I’ll kick yours into the ground,” Keith said glaring at the taller who frowned in response trying to tilt his head in question but it was a bit difficult with the shorter’s arm pressing into his throat.“Got it.” Lance was let go and Keith made a move to keep walking and Lance joined him again. “I was going to ask how training was and how you do all of that with absolutely no nutrients whatsoever but I guess we can just walk in silence and I can remain silently impressed,” Lance said and Keith stopped looking at Lance incredulously feeling heat rise through his cheeks and Lance looked back at him spotting his blush grinning to himself. “Care to discuss it on the way to the kitchen?” Lance asked eyebrow perked up in question and arm out offering an invitation that he thought was too good to pass up but Keith pushed his arm down walking past him. Lance sighed going to bang his head into the wall before Keith looked back at him.“You do know that you have to walk with someone to hear what they’re saying unless you have superhearing or something you didn’t tell the team about?” Keith questioned and Lance felt a smile creeping up his lips as he stepped back in with Keith both looked at eachother before back to their feet and then straight forward. “It’s not really as hard as it looks you just have to practice a lot I mean the people we’re fighting aren’t going to wait for us to get a full meal before they attack. I’m just preparing for the worst,” Keith said shrugging and Lance looked at him in shock.“I guess that makes sense,” Lance responded and Keith scrunched up his eyebrows looking back at him like he was clueless.“What do you mean you guess it makes perfect sense dork.”“I mean you just catastrophize everything I guess that should have been expected when that comes to training too.”“You’re an idiot.”Allura watched through the hall cameras smiling to herself at how cute the two looked walking alone together. If this wasn’t the start of what could be a healthy relationship she didn’t know what she would do. She’s tried everything and since Keith knows what’s on the line she hopes this will move fast. For both of their sakes.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Allura hasn’t ever sprinted this fast in her life but Keith cannot know about that whiteboard in the kitchen it would ruin everything. She had just gotten to the door spotting Keith and Lance coming down the hall before she stepped in and flipped the board and the two walked in the room Keith shoving Lance playfully before looking over at her. “You ok over there Allura?” Keith asked eyebrow cocked in confusion.
“Of course Keith, couldn’t be better,” she responded, doubling over, taking deep breaths and laughing to herself. Lance just looked over at Keith before shrugging his shoulders it had taken a while before he had gotten used to Allura’s antics. Lance put a hand between Keith’s shoulder blades guiding him to sit down at the table which made a shiver come up the other’s spine looking at the other with parted lips and confusion. What was going on today everyone was acting so weird? Maybe he could weasel it out of Allura before he went to sleep. Hunk looked at Keith then back to Lance then back to Keith before smirking and turning around grabbing both a plate of food. They still hadn’t quite found a good replacement for Earth food but this was about as good as they were gonna get for the time being.
“So Keith how was training this morning, I assume you’re still the best out of all of us I mean you just work so hard it shouldn’t be a surprise,” Hunk said patting Keith on the back on the way past him with his plate. Keith smiled to himself while one could consider him the best they all had their assets they just needed to hone them better.
“You guys just need to train more and you’ll learn how to properly use the weapons you have it’s honestly pretty great once you get used to it. Maybe I could help you one day in the training room Hunk?” Keith offered and Hunk stood still for a moment before facing Keith to smile.
“That sounds good Keith how about tonight?” Hunk asked before looking over to an angry Lance who clearly had plans to woo the Red Paladin that night.
“Sounds like a plan,” Keith said before digging into his plate of food admittedly exhausted.
“You better plan on extending that offer to everyone at the table Mr. Big and Stong,” Pidge teased sitting on the table next to Keith making him snort and roll his eyes.
“Sure Pidge we can work something out,” Keith said shoving more food into his mouth. Lance glared at his fellow Paladins who just stuck their tongues out teasingly and Allura made her silent escape.
Coran watched through the cameras in interest. Allura came into the room sighing and sitting down laying her head on the table in front of her. “What’s wrong Princess?” Coran asked sitting next to her.
“This is going to take a lot more work than I had previously planned. It’s so obvious that Lance likes Keith and the prophecy is working out but Keith is just too blind to see anything happening at all. It’s so obvious Lance is jealous of the others spending time with Keith but he just offers to help them anyways are Earth men always this dense?” Allura asked exasperated.
“Unfortunately it seems that way Princess they have been behaving this way since they first boarded the ship. We’ll have to teach them how it’s done around here but hopefully we can just let fate take her course and they’ll end up together by the end of the day,” Coran suggested and Allura looked up at her older counterpart smiling.
“We can only hope,” Allura said looking back at the camera to see that Keith was gone and the three left in the kitchen were clearly arguing about something having to do with the Red Paladin. “They really are one of a kind.” Allura’s thought process was cut off by an alarm going off and the ship flashing red.
Keith stood in the hallway panicking a little as the alarms went off before taking off running in the direction of his lion hearing her call for him. Lance soon caught up with him. “What do you think is attacking this time?” Lance asked looking Keith up and down.
“Nothing we can’t handle I just hope it isn’t Zarkon or any of his minions we dealt with them enough last time they were here which you clearly don’t remember that well,” Keith said flashing a small glare at Lance who flushed red. Yeah so maybe he actually did remember their “bonding moment” but it was fun to see Keith so worked up about things especially when it came to him and the possibility of post-battle snuggles but it totally wasn’t a crush or anything like that.
“Right, yeah,” Lance said before splitting off to get to Blue. It totally wasn’t a crush that would be ridiculous. He sat in Blue’s cockpit and could practically hear her disappointment in him. “Blue what’s wrong?” Lance asked and Lance felt anger and betrayal fuming off of her.
You hurt red I will not help you in this battle until you make things right with her.
“I hurt Red? How?” Lance asked confused.
You have hurt her by hurting her Paladin. I will help you this one time only to keep Red safe but if you hurt her again I will not move until you make things right.
Ok what the fuck was that about Lance thought to himself how could he make things right with Red if Red was so unwilling to help him out with the Paladin. Everything he’s tried has led him nowhere. Being nice, flirting with him, teasing him, nothing gave him an edge. This was so stupid.
“What took you so long Lance?” Shiro asked confused and slightly upset dodging attacks with speed and skill.
“Blue was upset about something it’s nothing I can’t handle after this is over though,” Lance said and he could hear Pidge laughing through the communicators.
“Obviously blue is pissed about something with you what did you do this time?” Pidge asked laughing to themself letting out a blast as a ship watching it blow up giggling with glee.
“I did something stupid it doesn’t matter right now I can figure it out later let’s just focus on this right now so I can worry about this problem outside of battle,” Lance said shooting a ship of his own. Keith was oddly silent not putting in any of his own teasing like maybe about the fact that Blue had gotten kidnapped and probably resented Lance for that.
Keith sat quietly in his lion trying to silence Red’s comforting thoughts about how he was enough and Lance was stupid for not seeing that. Keith was so confused were the lions problems connected and how could they fix this? They had to stay focused on the battle sure but this was becoming ridiculous how is a person supposed to fight with all this unwanted emotion put into it. Keith hit the last ship holding his head as he passed out.
RED!
Lance felt Blue yell and he zoomed over to where the Red lion sat. “Keith?” Lance questioned staring at the Red lion waiting to hear him say something about how stupid Lance was for checking up on him and that he could take care of himself. Shiro and Black joined him sitting there waiting for a response.
“We’ll have to carry him back to the hanger and see what’s going on,” Shiro said getting behind Red and grabbing on motioning for Lance to do the same. As soon as they set Red down she growled at anyone coming near her except for Lance who got in the lion and saw Keith on the floor of the cockpit. Lance rushed over to him scooping him up in his arms and running out of the lion and over to Allura and Coran who had gathered down with the paladins worried.
“Get him over to the medical sector I’ll be right behind you,” Coran said and Lance took off running behind sure to support Keith’s head with his upper arm. Just this morning the two of them had started getting along maybe this was the boding moment they needed to finally start getting along not that Keith would ever admit that Lance cradled him in his arms… sweet Jesus this is exactly how Keith must have felt. Lance laid him down and Coran grabbed Keith under the armpits dragging him to a healing pod.
“Do you know what’s wrong with him?” Lance asked biting his nail in curiosity
“Nothing a good varga can’t fix he’ll be right by then,” Coran said before walking off and Lance couldn’t help but stare at Keith in the pod head tilted slightly forward hair falling in his face, eyelashes dark against his way too pale cheeks, lips slightly parted as if waiting for Lance to just swoop in and… noooooooo not going there. Lance turned around face beating and cheeks on fire.
“How is he?” Shiro asked from the corner of the room with a concerned older brother look on his face.
“Coran said he should be ok in an hour. Won’t tell me why he’s like this though,” Lance said nail back in his mouth.
“I’m sure Keith won’t tell us when he wakes up but I think it has something to do with the lions did you figure out why Blue was so upset?” Shiro asked and Lance felt fear crawl up his spine. Was this all his fault? Lance never meant to hurt anyone. Have a bit of fun? Sure. Hurt Keith and Red? Absolutely not.
“Blue said I hurt Red and I don’t quite get it. Blue said something about hurting the Paladin made Red hurt but I haven’t even touched Keith how could I have hurt him?” Lance asked hands up in defense. Shiro groaned in physical pain because of how ignorant the Blue Paladin was acting.
“You didn’t physically hurt Keith. You hurt him emotionally which I don’t know what’s worse. It takes a lot to get under Keith’s skin,” Shiro said looking at Keith who slept blissfully unaware of the conversation about him happening right under his nose. “Maybe, and hear me out, tell Keith what you told us you thought of him this morning and if Keith punches you consider it even,” Shiro suggested.
“He will lay me out and not in a good way Shiro he hates me there is no way that I can tell him anything I told you this morning. He will kill me and then that will make Blue hate me even more. I can’t do it and it’s not because I’m a chicken it’s because I will get sent to that big spaceship in the sky,” Lance said sitting down head in his hands.
“Keith won’t kill you, did you ever consider that maybe Keith might like you back?” Shiro asked and Lance looked at him like he had grown three more heads.
“Why would he do that?” Lance asked genuinely confused.
“Keith has a type believe it or not. Tall, stupid, and oblivious and you perfectly fit that mold Lance at least you would if you didn’t get your head out of your ass and make a move already,” Shiro sat next to him placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Well, I’d hate to be an idiot,” Lance said looking over at Shiro silently thanking him.
“I’ll leave you here just think about it ok Lance?” Shiro stood up and walked out. Lance turned his head back to Keith staring intently at him and the glass doors of the pod opened and Keith put an arm up catching himself from falling out of the pod. Lance rushed over to meet him, hands securely holding him up by the hips and Keith rested his on Lance’s shoulders. Lance led him to the seat he was just sitting in. Keith disconnected from Lance breathing slowly taking in the fresh oxygen.
“Lance? What happened?” Keith asked looking up at him.
“We found you passed out in Red, we were all worried Keith what happened?” Lance asked bending down and running a hand over Keith’s cheek raising his face up to meet his eyes holding under his chin.
“Red was worried about me it was overwhelming. She thinks I’m hurt or something. I think she was just trying to protect me but I don’t know what from,” Keith said blinking slowly looking into Lance’s eyes carefully dissecting him. Lance felt a twinge of heat crawl up his neck willing it down staring back at Keith whose eyebrows lowered staring through Lance’s soul. Lance felt his hand move on its own from Keith’s chin to the side of his jaw fingers going into his messy hair thumb stranded by the front of his ear other hand placed carefully on Keith’s knee. Keith blinked fast feeling a lump form in his throat as Lance’s face started getting a lot closer to him. His hands moved up to Lance’s shoulders from his sides resting on his collarbones thumbs feeling the protruding bone and his other fingers feeling the muscle of his shoulder blades careful and ready to push. Keith felt his lips part as Lance got closer still eyes fluttering closed all was silent.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Keith pushed at Lance’s shoulders hands shaking in anxiety blinking slowly as Lance’s eyes shot open. “For once Lance can you stop playing with my emotions,” Keith whispered looking down at the floor.
“Keith no, that’s not what’s happening here please just hear me out,” Lance said fingers moving back to Keith’s chin trying to get him to just look at him goddamn it.
“I don’t want to hear it, Lance. I just don’t understand I thought even you wouldn’t stoop this low. I know you hate me but this is taking it to an extreme,” Keith said finally looking up and pushing Lance’s invading hand off his face and getting up. “Just leave me the fuck alone.” Keith walked out of the room his voice cracking feeling tears trickle down his face building up into uncontrollable sobs. He had to find someone before this got worse. “Shiro!” Keith called out wincing at how broken he sounded running through the halls. He stood by the kitchen door hearing Pidge laugh walking out the other door he slipped in to try and catch them leaving but was too late. Keith sat in his seat staring straight ahead for a second then feeling his eyes drift left to the giant whiteboard-like display which showed four names with tallies underneath with big bold words on top “The Keith Game”. He stared at Shiro’s name and then at Lance’s standing up to walk over before feeling himself trip over his feet. Keith needed to get out of here he pushed the kitchen door open running down the hallway to his lion passing Hunk on the way who just said a quick hi as he passed.
Keith sat in his lion knees tucked into his chest hands running through his hair as he sobbed feeling his lion’s comforting presence.
Who did this to you, Keith?
Red asked wanting to know who could cause this much distress to her poor paladin. “I-I don’t know w-why he did it. He hates me Red. Allura said there was supposed to be a fucking connection! He thinks I’m just something for him to toy with until he gets tired of me. He can go from pretending to be happy to hurting me so fast. H-how?” Keith asked looking up at whatever holier-than-thou presence sat beyond the vast stars and planets of space. His eyes were red and raw from rubbing, his face wet with tears, and his voice raw from coughing and crying.
He has to love you Keith it’s the rules otherwise he isn’t a fit paladin on Voltron. Perhaps Blue got it wrong.
Keith could hear a whimper from Blue from the comfort of the inside of his own lion. Blue really did love Red, didn’t she? “I need a break Red, let’s go for a flight,” Keith said and Red perked up getting ready to depart to Balmera.
Let’s cheer you up little Red.
Lance sat on the floor one knee holding up his chin hugged close to his face long and lanky. He wouldn’t cry. Not after seeing Keith’s distraught face because somehow Keith thought Lance didn’t love him and dear God did he actually love him is this what it was? How did Lance think asking Keith to hear him out would go? The other had always been so headstrong there was no way Lance would be able to get a word out before Keith dismissed him. What could he have done? Dragged him back and kissed him? Sure but that’s a surefire way to get slapped but then Keith would have asked him why he did it and then a perfect explanation for all of this would stumble its way out of his mouth. Maybe. Hopefully.
Lance heard the sound of the door opening perking up hoping Keith had forgotten something but instead, it was Hunk who came and sat down next to him.
“Now based on the fact that I saw Keith definitely crying and running towards his lion I’m gonna guess you said something stupid,” Hunk said staring at the same wall Lance had been for the past five minutes.
“I didn’t even get to say anything,” Lance said and Hunk looked over at him in surprise before nudging him gently.
“That’s pretty brave of you but I'm guessing Keith didn’t appreciate being smooched after coming out of the healing pod?” Hunk suggested.
“See that’s where you’re wrong Hunk, he was giving me the eyes of either he just woke up or he totally wanted a piece of this sharpshooter but he ran off before I could even lay one on him and get out this super long confession with the ending of a promise that I MIGHT have feelings for him,” Lance said and Hunk facepalmed letting out a sigh of severe disappointment.
“See Lance saying you might have feelings for someone you’re about to kiss might not be the best option you either have those feelings or you don’t and maybe just maybe him just waking up had something to do with his mood. You have to admit you’ve been being a dick to him since before we even got here. So he ignored you once in the Garrison you started the feud with someone who just didn’t feel like talking and carried it out all the way here to space where we are probably going to either die or save the universe and this whole thing is so much bigger than us so can you at least say, before we all die in a fiery explosion, that you want to kiss Keith cause you definitely have feelings for him before I shove you off into deep space without a lion,” Hunk rushed out taking deep breathes and Lance just stared at him blinking twice before shaking his head and feeling that telltale heat crawl up his neck and over his entire face.
“Well Jesus Hunk maybe you’re right about this,” Lance said feeling shock take over.
“Maybe?” Hunk seethed through his teeth eyes glaring into his.
“Ok ok fine I like him, I want to hold his hand, kiss him, go on dates, don’t want anyone else to have him, hell maybe I’d like to tongue punch his fart box Jesus Christ Hunk let me have a moment of shock here,” Lance held his head in his hands feeling his blush warm significantly.
“For both of our sakes I’m gonna ignore that last one,” Hunk said shaking his head in disgust.
“Good idea,” Lance sighed laughing a little. “I really fucked up huh?” Lance asked looking at his friend.
“Majorly but it’s nothing we can’t fix, we both know where Keith is so it shouldn’t be a problem going over to apologize to him just like keep the personal details to a minimum don’t tell him you want to eat him out like the patty from the buns of a Filet-O-Fish even he doesn’t need to hear that yet."
Allura was on her fourth head hit to the table when Pidge came in sipping some sort of juice box and a quirked eyebrow. “Lance is an idiot,” Allura said deadpan making Pidge giggle for a second before approaching.
“You just found that out Princess and you’ve known him for about a month now?” Pidge asked smiling a bit before taking in the Pirncess’ serious stare and worried eyes. “What did Lance do now? Did he cut our oxygen supply? Did he kill a lion? Are we gonna die!?” Pidge asked so fast it spun Allura in circles.
“We might as well be dead without the bond of Blue and it doesn’t matter. Keith has left and we have no clue where he is we can only assume he is in the Balmera and that the other lions don’t know what Red’s plan was before leaving trying to protect her paladin from Lance’s bullshit excuse for a confession of feelings for Keith. Who in their quiznaking mind thinks the way to a confession is smushing your faces together only Lance that’s who!” Allura shouted beginning to pace.
“Actually that’s what a lot of movies have shown as a basic confession on television for the past about twenty years. Sure it’s a bit ya know out there but a lot of people have thought that's a perfectly acceptable way to confess feelings for someone. It’s kind of stupid when you think about the consent for a kiss could ruin your life…” Allura looked and Pidge with confusion and impatience. “Right finding Keith. I’ll go talk to Green see if she saw anything.” Pidge ran out of the room.
“I hope for all of our sakes you’re safe Keith.” Allura sat back down running a hand through her ivory hair and picking through tangles with nervousness.
Keith sat next to Red’s paw leaning up against her feeling a rumble come off of her and he leaned even further into the comfort. He heard a laugh from a distance perking his head upright and saw a very familiar purple alien. “Hey there Red,” Rolo called out and Keith felt his body destress knowing it was the weird alien man-child who had stolen blue and not some actually dangerous criminal or worse the Galra.
“Is something wrong Rolo?” Keith asked and the alien just smirked.
“The only thing wrong is how beautiful my name sounds coming out of your…” Rolo started but Keith had already started walking around Rolo to stare up into the sky. “Something the matter Red?” Rolo turned around worried about the Paladin only to see a giant Galra ship in the distance. “Ok yeah that’s something to worry about alright.” Rolo took off running and Keith hopped into the cockpit of Red praying that something would get him out of this long enough to get the rest of Voltron or anyone from his team even Lance to get here for backup.
“This is Keith I’m on Balmera the Galra are here if anyone could respond…” Keith was cut off by a blast to his side letting out a groan.
“Keith! Are you ok?” Allura shouted at him concerned for his well-being staring at him through the communication hub.
“I will be just give me a second,” Keith righted himself before getting hit again much harder this time making everything fade to black.
All he could hear was heavy footsteps, he was being dragged somewhere, he slowly blinked his eyes open and saw Zarkon himself sitting in front of him with a shit-eating grin. “It’s always little red that gets taken now isn’t it? Just sit back and relax the show is about to begin,” Zarkon said before laughing to himself and Keith felt his body tingle and hit the floor vision blackening again. This probably wasn't going to be good.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Everything was quiet as Lance stared ahead, he could barely feel the panic crawl up his throat. His hand raised to his cheeks wiping a tear from his face. This is all my fault was streamlined through his conscious. “We need to figure out where he is.” Allura was standing over Lance who didn’t even know how he got back to the floor hugging both knees into the crown of his head. He peeked up from his spot seeing Shiro’s angry eyes boring a hole into his head.
“You managed to screw up so bad Lance. I mean how does someone even let it get this bad,” Coran started before going wide-eyed at Allura cutting him off with a slight frown on her face. A loud bang broke the group out of their thoughts all of them perking up.
“That came from the hanger.” Pidge said staring at the others before taking off running.
“Maybe Keith got away from Zarkon!” Lance yelled taking off after them.
“Keith!” Shiro shouted feet banging against the floor.
Keith opened his eyes slowly looking around before panic settled deep in his stomach pooling deeply as he realized his arms and legs were chained to the floor and he was looking up at Zarkon. “How funny it is you down there and me up here. I don’t even need to be a paladin in order for me to be better than you. Your lion doesn’t even care for you, so she ran at the first sign of trouble.” Keith’s eyes widened heart pounding.
Red ran away. Red is safe.
“They will find a replacement for you. Pathetic creature.”
“At least he’s pretty.” Keith’s ears perked up at the familiar voice face snarling. “Come on Red you knew I’d sell you out the second you turned down my advances. Not like you can help it you only go down on your knees for blue?” Rolo teased getting in Keith’s face.
“You’re not my type did that hurt your precious ego? Even your own girlfriend was pawing at him, that’s gotta hurt your pride.” Keith said a shit-eating grin across his face before getting smacked blood pooing at his lip, teeth getting caught before the slap.
“Enough,” Zarkon said aiming a weapon at Rolo making the man stand up straight. “Your princess did not tell you of all the bonds, did she? Red and Blue have a bond often romantic in nature Black has a bond with Red in a similar way. It has never been reciprocated in the history of the paladins but you can ask Alfor how well it went when Blaytz took him to bed and I caught wind… well you can’t anymore they’re both dead and their planets with them.” Zarkon stared at Keith studying his reaction mortification crossing the red paladin’s face. “Alfor chose death rather than me. His mistake.”
“I thought that you…” Keith was slammed to the floor by Zarkon’s foot against his back knocking the wind from his lungs.
“You thought wrong,” Zarkon said voice low before looking over at Rolo. “You want what belongs to the Black paladin?” Rolo shook his head. “Then get your pathetic being away from me before you regret it.” Rolo scampered off and Zarkon took the pressure off Keith’s back.
“So what now? I’m not Alfor and you’re not the black paladin?” Keith asked looking up at Zarkon.
“While that may be true, you are special I can sense something in you. A fight that doesn’t need to end with you dying unless you see death as the only option. The Galra could use a soldier like you.”
“Fat chance. Not happening. Nope.” Keith slood back perching on the balls of his feet getting ready to kick out at Zarkon the moment he came closer.
“So be it then.” Zarkon motioned for someone behind Keith to approach.
Coward
. Keith turned his head seeing a purple tall figure with armor across his chest and white hair approach. Keith spun his foot out attempting to trip the man who jumped over his leg. Keith swung his arms out crossing them and flinging the chains at him as his feet returned to the floor successfully tripping him before standing up and pulling the chains with as much strength as he had out of the floor. The vent below him that his chains were attached to was loose Keith noted as his feet adjusted to the grate. The man stood back up and Keith kicked the back of the vent bending the metal down before jumping in the vent and pulling on the chains bringing then entire vent with him. Keith fell about 20 feet before taking off running down the hallway vent behind him.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuckfuck.
Lance stared up at Red who roared for the tenth time baring her teeth at him. Blue was not happy with him either berating him in his head.
We have lost the paladin. He is gone and it is your doing you need to make this right with red. Another red lost to the black paladin. I will not have this.
“Blue what do you mean another red lost to the black paladin?” Lance asked outloud knowing that Allura’s dad was the last red paladin.
Black protects Red not as much as we love her though. The last paladin mistook that need for protection with a need to own.
“Shit.” Lance said looking at the others. “We need to get Keith back like a day ago. He’s going to become Zarkon’s property. The Black paladin wants to posess the Red paladin and although he may not be the black paladin anymore he is going to be after Keith specifically because of his connection to Red.
“Red wouldn’t just leave Keith though. She would be there to protect him. Why are you here Red?” Pidge asked looking at Green for translation. “He needs Voltron to save him.” Pidge looked around the room.
“We can’t form Voltron without him.” Hunk said looking defeated already before looking startled. “Allura,” Hunk started looking over at the princess. “Red says she’ll let you use her to help find Keith.” Allura looked over at Red before approaching her.
“Coran we will need you to help us find the way to Zarkon’s ship and once Keith is no longer in danger and back in control of Red we will approach the castle of Lions again.” Coran looked like he wanted to argue but the other paladins were running towards their lions.
“Let’s do this for Keith guys we can do this.” Shiro said charging Black out of the castle the other lions in tow Allura sitting back in Red letting her take control.
“For Keith.” Allura whispered.
“That was embarrassing. Almost as much as the stories you tell me of Alfor father.” Zarkon grumbled looking down at his son.
“Nothing a good hunt can’t fix Lotor. Find him son he will learn to love you. Don’t make the same mistake I did. There is no choice when it comes to love.” Lotor let a smile slip across his face thinking of a dark skinned white haired princess.
“Not a single choice.”