“ Feel free to belittle my machinations once you have value greater than that of a negligible pawn, Lotor. “ There is no trace of respect in the tone that hums silently through the air between them; no ounce of loyalty to the prince or his father’s feckless Empire, and mostly certainly not even a breath of concern for the other’s growing agitation. Even if his mind still swam with words of betrayal and vicious intent; now hidden away from the prince’s grasp, Kova dismissed them with the same ease he tossed aside every wayward scream and whisper that constantly flooded his innards (his powers were impressive, but never did they sleep, and, now, never did the feline that caged them did either).
Inhuman, but not quite humble enough to be entirely animalistic either, lips pulled downward with far too much awareness for the little, eerie monster to possess, when the prince tossed out the weak insult; hardly impressed by the pettiness the young ruler was displaying (not that Kova was acting in a higher fashion). “ How childish “ he cooed with equal spitefulness; acute, sharp eyes almost appearing as if they had rolled about within his skull as the comment slipped through his raging mind. “But I suppose, with you being a child, you couldn’t be capable of anything more. “
Had he been capable of groaning, he would have when that dreaded curiosity had wiggled its way into the prince’s words. /his fur prickles and a low hiss (that is almost more akin to a growl) begins to vibrate in the very pit of his dry throat. “I wasn’t aware there was even a single reason to like your father. “ His claws extend outwards; fangs slowly appearing beneath marred flesh as his jaw pulls back. “ If you’re going to waste my time by trying to pry into a time you do not belong to, perhaps it would be best for me to allow this traitor to remove you. “ Kova was not one to speak so freely about the past or its events, and it showed; hostility had crept into his intense gaze and seeped all the way down to the marrow of his bones.
“ I couldn’t care less about your ignorant father’s pitiful Empire, “ The growl that had been isolated to his throat had crawled into his mouth to rattle against his tongue. His lips pulling so far back that the rotten interior of his age-old mouth was visible, and his fur bristling so clearly that it made his bony frame look alive. And at the sound of the name that rolled off of the prince’s tongue like a prize to be won, the feline’s yellow eyes turned red with the rage that trembled throughout his small, twisted body; sparks beginning to ignite upon his mangy fur.
“ You understand nothing, brat. ” But still the anger seemed to die down, even as the words slipped through his mind because this child knew nothing. “ You may not like the answer I can give you, but your stupidity is tiresome. “ He wrinkles his nose at the newfound closeness of the prince, but doesn’t take a step back (if the prince angers him again, though, he might find himself with one less eye in that empty skull of his). “ Hagger was once an Altean alchemist, back then, I knew her as Honerva. Zarkon had once been an ally of Altea, and when a comet crashed into his home planet, she had been sent there to study it. I was simply a stray cat that made a home in her lab. “ He eases back onto his haunches, eyes remaining fixed on Lotor as he allows the memories to take the form of thoughts the other could understand.
“But she took me in. As time went on, she discovered a new source of energy from the crater the comet had caused, and she believed she could harness it. You know that energy as Quintessence, and I was her first test subject. “ Light shines from his eyes, as bright and blindly as it had been when he had allowed Lotor witness to the thoughts that flood his ship, but instead of words, an image is formed; one of a young woman on a long lost planet with a charming smile and life in her eyes. “ Zarkon was an eyesore even then, he fell in love with Honerva, and the two married. But Honerva become obsessed with her work, and the constant exposure to this energy source drained her. She should have perished, but your wretched father lead that damnable Voltron into the crater to save her; poisoning the both of them with over-exposure to Quintessence and corrupting their minds because he was too much a coward to let her die. ”
He blinks, bringing to an end the images he had displayed for the prince. “ Hagger should have died long ago, but your worthless father cursed her to an eternity of endless suffering because he was selfish. If you did not trust me before, know now that my desire is to free my master from the poison that man brought upon her. I will take her life myself, boy, but not before I see your father perish. “
A child. Oh, how Kova sounded like his accursed master (or was that former master, Lotor was still so unsure), but the insult rankled him. His lip twisted in a one-sided grimace-- how, how did this horrible beast manage to raise his ire so easily? “I am no child. I am the leader of this Empire, and I am more than capable of it-- if I was not, you would not be here, begging favours by way of paltry information, cat.” How the lies tripped so easily off his tongue, almost saccharine as he tried to find some way to stem the uncertainty that followed the visions, the possibilities, and the Faustian Pact that he had entered into..
Curiosity took him back, no questions asked, as Kova divulged this history of the Witch, pale brows furrowing in interest as he listened (finally silent and ignorant to the constant admonishing) while he assimilated the information- and all in-between. ‘Life in her eyes,’ so, the feline truly did care for Haggar, and Lotor knew it would be his only bargaining chip n their exchange.. But an advantage none the less. The images, they had returned, a different woman to the one he knew, and somewhere, deep inside, and long since barricaded, felt a slight twinge of emotion- he too knew what it was to become something else at the hands of his Father.
Lotor did not balk this time (perhaps it had to do with the dull ache, reminding him of his last jump from the shared consciousness, perhaps not), instead he let the scene play in his head, like a slow capture of a flower wilting, before he cleared his throat softly. Finally, they had found an accord. “I believe you.”
They would end Zarkon’s reign together.
No, it was not a welcome agreement, but a necessity none the less. Lotor shifted backward, raising his own pale gaze to meet with the felines piercing one, resting on his haunches as his teeth dragged across his bottom lip in silent consideration. “I imagine we can come to some form of arrangement, and, loathe as I may be, I will allow you to deal my Father,” the word was twisted with animosity again, “The final blow, if it means that I will gain all I desire.” ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend,’ he thought idly. “However, we both know this will be no simple task.”
With the quirk of one eyebrow, Lotor continued, “Haggar is always watching. Damned as she may be, for as little as I assume she knows, she is still devoted to my Father. She will continue to be so. This cannot be some bullish, unassuming assassination. But then.. what is why you have come to me..” His sharp features were split with a wicked smile, “You know I understand the workings of the Galra, without their leader, their forethought can be.. questionable. Battle, honour. That is what they know.. and that, is the kind of attempt she would expect,” there was a moment where his stomach churned at the prospect of entering into such a dangerous entreaty with the damnable beast, “I know better.”
gummygunk
jimmyeatworldofficial
blakekathryn
pixelskylines
