(VLD) Memories Embedded in Skin (Keithtober Day 16)
Prompt: Scars
Rating: T
Summary/Preview:
Keith hates most of his scars. The jagged lines in his skin, running through. The raised marks, the scars that have darkened and will never fade. Keith hates that scars are permanent, hates how they remind him of the past, of the things that hurt him, even if they fade.
He also hates the scars that everyone else carries. They remind him of what they had to go through, about the things their trauma made him feel, how it hurt him.
But, there are two scars that Keith doesn’t hate. In fact, Keith loves these two scars of his own. Keith loves his scars from his top surgery.
Read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21064886
When I wrote this I noticed I didn't put a lot of interaction between just Shiro and Matt but I felt like I couldn't fit it into the story so I hope the flashback stuff works. Aslo, this was had been my inspiration for Allura’s first dress and this was my idea of what Allura’s wedding dress would look like. I’m sorry, but fireflypath dresses look amazing and totally fit what I sometimes imagine Allura in.
Royalty
Matt slowly woke up at the feeling of someone shaking him awake. It must be Prince Shiro. He would open his eyes to see his kind prince, his lord, standing over him. Then his prince would press a kiss against his forehead, reminding him that if the King found him sleeping on the job, it would be bad. He blinked open his eyes and stared up at the Princess of Altea.
Wait.
“Your majesty!” Matt shot up, standing in front of the princess and bowed to her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep in your library. You must think I’m so lazy.”
Delicate fingers touched his chin making him raise his head to look at the princess. She looked stunning in her lavender dress, looking like an elven princess, her white hair making her look other worldly.
“You’re perfectly alright. Your Prince told me he allowed you to come in here so I know I can trust you to keep this place in prefect order.” Matt felt so stiff as he felt the princess brush her finger under his eye. “I can see why you fell asleep though. Other than this being the perfect hide away spot, you have such dark circles under your eyes. You’ve been working hard.”
“Oh well, with the wedding coming up.” Matt said.
“Still no reason why you shouldn’t take care of yourself. I’m meeting Shiro here until it’s time for dinner. You can go rest and I’ll send Lance to come get you before we head to dinner.”
“Oh, no I couldn’t.”
Allura gave him a look telling him not to argue, “I insist. Go on.”
Deciding not to tempt fate again, he left the library and went back to the Prince’s quarters. Soon, his prince would be living with the Princess. They were getting married and while it should be a happy time, things were going to be different.
Matt would deny it to everyone that he had feelings for his prince. His father worked in the castle with the records keeper and his sister surprisingly got a job with the blacksmith which left him helping around the house with his mother. Then his father got sick and it kept him bedridden making Matt go out and look for work. The records keeper had offered Matt his father’s job but on his way to his first day, he found Prince Takashi Shirogane trying to sneak out of the castle. It led him to getting caught and in a fit of not knowing what to even do with his son, Matt was given the job of being a glorified babysitter by the king. Matt couldn’t complain when he saw the pay he brought home. It didn’t take very long to understand why Shiro would try sneaking out of the castle. The pressure his father put on him was intense. He had to be the perfect prince and while many of the kingdom citizens agreed that the prince was perfect, his father never saw that.
“It’s because of my younger brother.” Shiro said.
Matt knew the story. The younger twin brother of the Prince had died saving his older brother when they had been kidnapped during a hunting session.
“He says if I were truly perfect, Ryou wouldn’t have had to save me.” Shiro said with a sad smile on his face.
It was then Matt decided he’d do whatever possible to keep a smile, a true happy smile, on the prince’s face. He hadn’t expected with all the time they spent together that feelings would develop. It was like a strange twist a fate the time he realised this, the same group that had kidnapped the kid princes tried doing the same with him and Shiro. This time, Shiro fought against them, more worried about Matt’s life than his own.
“I didn’t want to lose you.” Shiro said when Matt asked when they had returned to the castle, bruised and a bit beaten but still very much alive. That’s when Shiro first pressed his lips against Matt’s forehead. It was downhill from there. Matt had fallen and he made no move to get himself out.
Then it was announced that Shiro would marry Princess Allura. The prince would live in Altea as the two kingdoms joined since the princess’ own was larger. When he heard this, Shiro asked him if he’d consider leaving his family and coming with him to continue on as his servant. Logic told him he should have said no to get away from the feelings, but the urge to always keep him happy made him say yes.
Then he met the princess. Princess Allura was enthralling to look at. White hair from birth, there had been rumours that she was a demon in disguise but if she was a demon, then he’d gladly fall under her spell. Just know at the library wasn’t the only time the interacted. Her father wanted her and Shiro to get along before they married so many excursions and dates happened. Allura never treated him like a servant, not even her own personal one Lance, who spent quiet a lot of time not paying attention to Allura in favour of the captain of the guard’s son.
“Lance has liked Keith since he came into my service. My father won’t allow him to date anyone while I was unwed in order for him not to lose focus of helping me, but I think he’s counting down the days more than I am.” Allura had explained once to both him and Shiro when Lance took off to go chat up the Captain’s son. Most royals wouldn’t allow their servants to go running off to go and flirt, not how often Lance did it. Allura never complained, instead asking Lance about Keith whenever she could. She cared.
Next thing he knew, he realised he had fallen for the princess as well.
Matt wasn’t sure how this even happened or how he was going to deal with this. All he knew was that come next week, things were going to be much harder. But the idea of staying near them and seeing them happy, that made it worth it. He didn’t even go to his attached room to rest, he just collapsed on Shiro’s bed and was asleep before he knew it. He had a dream that Shiro came into the room and pressed a kiss to his cheek, pulling the covers over him. He didn’t remember pulling the covers over him when he went to sleep though.
________
“I’m supposed to bring these sheets to the Princess’ room for the first night together but Keith approached me. Please, can you do this for me?” Lance begged.
Matt looked at the white sheets Lance had in his hand. The sounds of the wedding party leaked into the hidden hallway they stood in.
“I thought that the Princess didn’t have her…you know. Apparently, it broke during a horse riding accident?”
“Well, actually she does. She and your Prince discovered that not that long ago.”
Wait, his lord, Prince Shiro actually took Princess Allura’s maidenhood? He felt slightly jealous, but he beat that down. Of course Shiro would have her maidenhood. They were married, it wasn’t like there was a chance he could be there. With them. Between them. Under them.
Matt quickly shook his head. No, not thinking about that now!
“So what do they plan to do with these?” Matt asked.
“Replace them with ones they actually stained. Since our kingdom isn’t really into the whole, watch as your newly wed couple has their first night, the bride has to be seen given the white sheets, they have to see Allura with them.”
“Can’t you give them to her before you leave?”
“No, the person has to go with the couple to lay the sheets down before leaving the couple. Matt, please! I’ve been waiting to get a chance to court Keith since he first arrived here but I couldn’t because I’m Allura’s personal servant and the king didn’t want me distracted. Please do this.”
Matt sighed and took the sheets. “You two had better be engaged in a few weeks, a month at least.”
Lance squealed in delight, pulling Matt into a big hug. “Thank you! I owe you.”
“You really do. Go.” He ordered, ready to get this over. He was sure that the less time he spent around the prince and princess during the celebration, the easier it would be to ignore the feelings he felt for the royals but now hearing the extra stuff he had to do with them, he could see this wasn’t going to be easy.
He entered the hall again, moving around the celebrating guests to reach where he could see his prince and the princess dancing. They both looked amazing. The pale blue of the princess dress complimented the dark robes of his prince. The smiles they shared with each other made his heart clench. He wouldn’t be part of that and he had to accept it. When the two stopped moving, he watched Shiro press a kiss to Allura’s hand, seeing Allura blush.
In order to distract himself from his heart clenching anymore, he approached the princess with the sheets in hand. When Allura accepted them, the room exploded in cheers, a few explicit comments from the more drunk guests. Allura took him by the arm and pulled him closer so she could whisper into his ear.
“I don’t know if Lance remembered to light candles in my room before he disappeared with Keith. Can you go and check? I’ll explain to others you’re checking to make sure everything is ready.”
Matt nodded and quickly left the hall, taking a few deep breaths. To have the princess so close to him, the sweet smells from her long bath for her wedding, it was doing things to him.
“Gods how is a man meant to move on when I’m surrounded like this?” he asked himself, trying to calm his heart.
Why was this so hard to forget his feelings? Anyone who looked at Allura and Shiro could tell the genuinely liked each other. He couldn’t try and force himself into that. When was he going to learn?
He quickly went to the princess’ quarters and opened the door. Candles sat on ledges and on stands but unlit. Given the size of the princess’ room there was a fair number of candles, so Matt grabbed the lighting stick and got started. He was happy when the wicks decided to actually cooperate with him and take the flame, so by the time the princess came in, he was almost done. Strangely, his prince hadn’t followed her.
“Where’s the Prince?”
“He had to send a letter to his father to let him know the wedding went well. He forgot to have it written before so he rushed off to get it done. As I’m sure Lance told you, it’s not exactly necessary for us have a proper first night together.”
Matt felt his face get hot. “Yes, he told me. There we go, all done.” He said, quickly changing the subject as he blew out the flame.
“Thank you, Matt. I know you must have been on your feet all day.”
“It’s no problem your majesty. You and the Prince looked happy. It makes it worth it.”
The blue-purple eyes looked softly at Matt. “Shiro has told me so much about you and how you’ve been a guiding light when dealing with his father.”
“Oh, I really wouldn’t say that.”
“I disagree. I feel like it’s only been recently he’s been able to feel as relaxed around me as he is around you. I know I feel very comfortable with you.”
“Oh well. I’m glad you feel that way.”
Matt let his eyes slid away from the princess but they moved back to her when she took his face in her hands. From just over her shoulder, he saw Shiro entering.
“Being around you is easy and one of the best things to happen, other than meeting Shiro. I hope you can never doubt how much it means to me to have you here.”
Unable to say anything to the emotion filled words, he was left stunned when Allura pulled him down to press her lips against his.
Oh. This was nice. Really nice. He didn’t have much experience with kisses but he knew this was an amazing one. He almost wished he had the guts to plant one on Shiro
Shiro. Who had just married Princess Allura. Who he was kissing!
Matt pulled away, his hand covering his mouth, his eyes on Shiro. Who was smiling at him. Why was he smiling at him? He should be furious.
“Matt I can see you panicking over there. It’s alright.” Shiro said, walking around his wife to gently take Matt by the shoulders.
“How can it be alright?”
“Matt, as smart as you are, I’m surprised you never figured it out. We’re both very fond of you. I loved for a long time. When we were attacked by the same men that had killed my brother, I knew I couldn’t let you fall to the same fate. It made me realise how much you meant to me.”
They were both fond of him? Him? why? How?
“Matt, when I was told I would marry Shiro, I didn’t know what to think but it was thanks to you and your kind words I knew I could be happy with him. Of course as I spent time with you as well, I started having feelings for you as well. Many of our conversations involved you. Wanting you to stay with us. Unfortunately, before we could explain all of this to you, I got a bit over eager. I’m sorry I scared you.” The princess apologized.
Matt couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He wanted to not believe it, but he saw the truth in Shiro’s eyes. He saw the affection in Allura’s. Gods, how had he been so blind? So sure he could never have a chance, he was going to ignore his feelings for the two people who loved him.
“Why don’t you sit down?” Allura suggested, taking Matt’s hand and squeezing it. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Summary: It's Lance's birthday and no one seems to remember that little fact. What is shaping up to be his worst day every gets an unexpected twist when a message is left for him by the Blade of Marmora that only he is allowed to see.
Rating: K+
Pairings: Background Klance
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1,344
A/N: I know this is a little late, but better late than never right? I hope you appreciate this short little thing I wrote for Lance's birthday. This was just a little idea I had while working on my next chapter for my Youtube AU. Hopefully my next chapter for that will be out by the end of the month.
Tag List: @annikathesith
Lance groaned as he hit the floor for the fifth time during his training session. As the training sequence ended, he gace a sigh as he stood up. Today had just not been Lance’s day. He knew that time moved a little differently where they were than on Earth - he had gotten Pidge to explain it to him - and if her math was correct then this was shaping up to be his worst birthday to date.
He understood that there was a lot going on and they were all trying to save the universe and make the coalition bigger, but it would be nice if at least one person would remember it was his birthday. Hunk hadn’t even come and given him a crushing bear hug like he always did. At least when he was around Lance that is.
Lance shook his head as he tried to knock his thoughts loose. This was just him overthinking things again.
He had almost made it to the showers when he ran into Pidge in the corridor.
“Lance! Glad I found you. A comm came in a few minutes ago,” she said.
“Was it anything important? I was in the training room so I didn’t hear it.”
“I have no idea. Allura said it was held on a portable recording device that some of The Blades dropped off earlier today. Apparently they very explicitly said that the only one that was allowed to view it was you, Lance.”
“The Marmorites were here? Was Kei - wait. They said only I could look at it?” Lance’s head was reeling. What could the Marmorites possibley have to say to just him? He tried not to get his hopes up too much that a certain someone with the Blades had come to help deliver it.
“Yeah, I just put it in your room while I was trying to find you. I mean I could go and listen to it for myself. Or just make sure I’m there to overhear it.” Pidge gave Lance her mischievous grin. Lance knew her well enough now to be able to tell that she was only (mostly) joking.
“Well I suppose I better go check this out. Though I have no idea whhy they would send a message for only me.”
Pidge smirked, “Maybe it’s a reprimand for the last mission we had with them?”
“Why would they do that?! They haven’t had problems with it in the past!”
Pidge simply shrugged, a smirk firmly plastered on her face, as she started heading back towards the hangar with the lions. Lance waited until Pidge had rounded the corner before rushing the opposite way down the hall toward his room. The shower would have to wait.
As soon as Lance had gotten into his room, he locked the door behind him before searching the room for the comm device. Lance double-checke dthat the door was locked before settling down onto his bed. His heart hammered. It was so loud he was afraid the others would be able to hear it in the hall. Lance’s fingers shook as they hovered over the play button. He wasn’t sure why he hesitated, but he did. Lance stayed that way for several minutes before he finally got the nerve to start it.
A holographic screen popped up and Lance almost threw the device across the room. He thought it was just going to be audio. Not some kind of video. Lance stared intently at the projection trying to see if he had pressed the right button. There was some muttering in the background of the feed for several minutes. In the background he could make out some of the details of one of the Marmorites’ ships. At least those were signs that the video was playing.
His thoughts had just begun to drift when they were interrupted by the sound of a ship door closing and footsteps shuffling back toward the camera. Lance could feel the blood rush to his face as he saw who it was.
It was Keith.
He was wearing the same suit that the rest of the Blades wore, but how did he look so much better than all the rest of them? The suit hugged his body in all the right places. And the hood he was wearing made him look so adorable that it should have been illegal. The only thing that Lance didn’t about it was that he wasn’t able to see Keith’s mullet very well. Okay, so yes he liked Keith’s mullet. Though that thought was never going to come out of his mouth. Especially to Keith. Lance tried to hide his blush behind his own hood even though he knew Keith couldn’t see him. Keith shuffled awkwardly in front of the camera before clearing his throat and finally starting.
“Um, hi Lance. I’m sorry about all that. Kolivan wasn’t sure about letting me do this but I managed to talk him around with some stipulations. But, um, you don’t need to worry about all that.” Keith was refusing to look at the camera. Which was a shame since Lance loved looking into his purple-grey eyes. He had never seen any other eyes quite like Keith’s.
“Anyways,” Keith continued. His eyes shifted to look at the other side of the camera, he still refused to look at where Lance was. “Um Pidge and Hunk told me before I actually left to come join the Blades that your birthday was coming up. If this calendar thing that Pidge made is correct and I timed this right, then that should be today.”
Keith paused for another minute looking down toward the ground. He seemed to be steeling his nerves for something. Lance felt his face continue to heat up. At this point Lance was sure he was as red as the red lion. Keith knew it was his birthday. Not only that, but he had done his best to make sure Lance got this on his actual birthday. That was more than enough of a birthday present for Lance.
“Anyway, I can’t believe I’m actually going to say this, but I wish I could be there to celebrate with you.” Keith finally looked straight at the camera. Lance gasped . Keith’s eyes were so vibrant and he had a beautiful half smirk. But what really made this the most beautiful look Lance had seen on Keith, was the light blush dotting his cheeks. It took Lance’s breath away. So much so that he almost missed what Keith said next.
“Happy birthday Lance. I hope you have a great day even if I can’t be there. I lo-” Keith’s face went bright red and he cut himself off. Lance couldn’t stop grinning and couldn’t help but hope about what Keith had been about to say.
The video ended shortly after that and Lance just leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. He didn’t want anything to ruin this moment.
“Lance open up! You need to come with me!”
Lance sighed. The moment was gone.
He pushed himself off his bed and opened the door. “What do you want Pidge?”
“I need you to come with me.”
“Why would I do that? I have this top secret video that you told me I need to watch.”
“Oh that birthday message for you from Keith?” Pidge smirked. “You’ve finished that by now judging by that look on your face. Now you need to come with me to the party we planned for you.”
“You guys planned a party for me?!?”
Pidge groaned. “Yes. We did. It was supposed to be a surprise party. So when we get in there you need to act surprised or Hunk will never let me live it down.”
Lance grinned down at Pidge. Ever since her gender reveal, they had decided to not keep secrets unless absolutely necessary. There were more than a few slipped secrets bewtween the two of them.
“I think I can manage that Pidge,” Lance said as the two of them made their way toward the lounge room.
The post got five likes so here we go, (fair warning it just stops abruptly but yeah)
Another completed mission, another planet freed from Galran influence. It had been one of the longer, more demanding battles Voltron was forced to fight, and was one that lead to the paladins calling for reinforcements. Commander Matthew Holt happened to be the reinforcements and with the help of his rebels the Galra fleet was quickly overpowered and forced to retreat. Then after a few hours of recovery and formalities between the leaders of the planet Riko’v and the Paladins, a celebration was in order.
It turned out that Riko’v was one of the most beautiful planets Matt had ever seen. The Riko’vians, a dragonfly-like people, were expert landscapers and their cities were covered in beautiful flora. It lined their rivers (which were their form of transportation), grew out from their buildings, and in some cases were their buildings, as dozens of trees were artistically woven to create walls and archways. The governess of one such city owned a garden Martt imagined as the size of an earth football stadium and this is where she invited the leaders of the coalition to celebrate Riko’vs independence.
Matt was in awe at the incredible amount of flowers and lights and fountains covering the garden from corner to corner. In the center there was a great open area of violet grass where people danced to enchanting music played by Riko’vian musicians on a mossy stone stage behind them. The dance floor was bordered by a small stream littered with water lilies and what reminded Matt of fireflies except with closer inspection they were plant spores instead of insects. There were two bridges woven together from streamside trees that allowed the party-goers to cross the stream and leave the dance floor. Across from one bridge was an area filled with tables and chairs, where Matt found himself sitting.
The tables seem to be the only thing there made from wood that had been purposely cut and reshaped for furniture. The chairs however, were huge pink flowers woven and deliberately shaped. As delicate as they looked they held Matt’s weight as he sat, as they were not simply flowers but were covered and preserved in glass. The whole place truly was incredible.
Matt was pulled from his thoughts by the voice of Lance, walking up to him with an arm linked with Keith’s. “There you are!” He called cheerfully. “Shiro was looking for you.”
“Really? Where is he?”
“He’s over by the bar.” Keith pointed behind him.
“Thanks,” Matt said, standing to leave.
The “bar” they mentioned, happened to be a large gazebo with stools set up around it and a green-skinned Riko’vian in the center making custom drinks with an enthusiasm Matt didn’t know a bartender was capable of. Shiro was sat on the far right side, talking with another Riko’vian. This one with pink shades and deep blue antenna. Matt plopped himself down beside him.
“You had better not be flirting with the natives, starshine.”
Shiro jumped slightly, then turned to him with a look of irritation “Matt you know better than anyone that I’m about as straight as a cooked noodle.”
Before Matt could snip back, the Riko’vian, who was indeed a girl, chuckled. “Oh we were not flirting, I was simply thanking the Black Paladin. He saved my family from the battle’s crossfire. However I understand you and your rebels are to thank for our victory today, so…” She stood up and took Matt’s hand in her own. “Thank you, commander. If not for you, my family may have…” She shook her head. “No, they are safe thanks to you. That’s all that matters. I am in your debt.”
Matt felt warmth spreading over his face at the girl’s sincerity and soft touch and he sputtered out a simple, “O-of course.”
The girl didn't seem to notice or care, however, and released his hand with a smile. “I’ll take my leave now, thank you both again.”
Matt watched her go, before a nudge to the shoulder had him turning back to Shiro.
“Very smooth.”
“Shut up. She was cute and I’m weak.”
Shiro just laughed softly and waved over the bartender. “So I was thinking we could have a drink together, I haven’t seen much of you recently.”
“I’d love that.” Matt responded, as the older man ordered. He looked back towards the party and caught sight of the other paladins enjoying themselves. Pidge and Hunk were talking with a gardener in one corner, no doubt about the mechanics of growing the incredible Riko’vian plant structures. Lance and Keith were hip to hip on the dance floor, the party lights splashing them with the softest colors. It made Matt smile.
“They grow up so fast…” He sighed.
Shiro blinked at him. “What?”
“Our children!” Matt pointed. “Look at them. All muscly and stuff.” Shiro followed Matt’s gaze to the dance floor where the blue paladin spun Keith around like a doll, but they both were grinning like children.
Shiro chuckled. “You’re so weird.”
“Yeah? like you’ve never thought of yourself as “Space Dad”. I know Lance calls you that.”
“Lance no. I’m only 26...” He muttered.
“So? It’s figurative. We’re the space dads, Alurra is space mom, Coran is space Uncle, and they’re all our space kids!”
Shiro just sighed, a fond smile on his lips. “Whatever you say.”
The bartender then handed them both colorful drinks. Matt held his up to his nose. It smelled vaguely like pineapple but with a hint of spice and mint. It’s peach color shimmered in the party lights as Matt stirred it with his wrist.
Shiro raised his drink. “Well, to our little space family, then.”
“To our space family.”
The boys sat at the bar for a while, sipping their drinks and chatting. Matt thought his drink was quite pleasant, almost like a margarita with an extra minty tang. However, there was a bitter after taste that he could have done without. A side effect of drinking alien booze he supposed.
After a while Matt was itching to move. He glanced at the dance floor, which had cleared a bit as a few party goers were heading home for the night. Matt grabbed Shiro’s hand and tugged softly. “Takashi, let’s go dance!!”
Shiro looked at him in surprise but moved to stand up. “Really? Alright.”
“Yeah! When’s the last time we’ve danced together?” He responded, pulling Shiro along.
***
The two of them reached a spot in the field where they had room to move and began to jump and twist to the beat. Shiro, for being such a beautiful, perfect man, did not know how to dance for the life of him. Matt loved it anyway. He wanted nothing more than to dance the night away with his lover by his side. They danced separately, simply enjoying each others’ presence and the thrill of the music. Matt felt warm all over and the lights around him seemed to be spinning and twisting around them. It was thrilling. After a few songs went by, Matt glanced up at Shiro’s face and saw such pure joy on his face that his heart skipped a beat and the next thing he knew he was grabbing his boyfriend’s arms and spinning him around like Lance had done with Keith.
Unfortunately they didn’t even make it three turns before Matt had to let go and grab onto Shiro’s shoulder for support while his head stopped spinning.
“Oh jeez,” Matt huffed, closing his eyes for a moment. “Lance made it look so easy.”
Shiro reach down to support under his arm. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m just dizzy. I’ll be fine.” After a few deep breaths, Matt dared to open his eyes revealing Shiro’s worried face. He realized the lights from before weren't the only things spinning now. Everything from a foot or so in front of him was tipping dangerously and he swallowed around a wave of nausea. “Oh fuck..”
“Let’s go sit down.” Shiro began to help him out of the crowd.
“No, Shiro I’m fine, really…” Matt protested softly as he was led away from the party. His shaky limbs gave him away however, and he was struggling to walk in a straight line. “I wanna dance…” He whined.
“Matt, you’re drunk sweetheart.” Shiro responded softly, as he helped the boy sit on one of the benches on the outskirts of the garden.
“No I…” Matt trailed off. That couldn’t be right. The only drink he’d had that night was the one with Shiro. Hardly enough to get him more than tipsy. Also, he didn’t feel drunk. He’d been drunk before. This felt distinctly wrong but he couldn’t place why. He opened his mouth to say as much to Shiro, but was interrupted by another wave of nausea, this time he doubled over and let out a wet burp into the grass below him.
“Oh no, ok…” Shiro sighed. “Let’s get you back to the castle actually. I don’t think Riko’vian drinks agree with you.”
Matt shot him a You think?? glare, but didn’t respond. He just allowed the black paladin to lead him out the gate and towards the castle, which was parked a little ways behind the governess's estate.
The pair only made it to the edge of the garden’s outer wall before shiro slowed his steps to a halt. The castle was still about a hundred yards away and Matt glanced up at his partner in confusion.
Shiro had one hand around Matt’s waist to support him, while his other was braced against the brick wall on his left. His face had gone pale and a few drops of sweat were beginning to drip down his forehead.
“Shiro…?” Matt said softly.
“I’m ah, not feeling so great now either, actually.”
There was a moment of silence between them, the two of them processing exactly what that meant. They could both have ended up sick from the drink, but Matt swore he saw Lance sipping his own earlier and last Matt saw he was still living it up on the dance floor. No, these symptoms were too precise, to well timed, and as Matt’s legs gave out and Shiro tipped sideways to catched his weight, the two exchanged a knowing, fearful look.
They’d been drugged.
Shiro Immediately reached for his com, but with a cold dread he remembered that they were not in their armor. There wasn’t anyone else outside the garden to call to either. They were alone.
“Matt.” He started, looking over at his partner. “We need to get back to the others. Now.”
Matt’s only response was a flutter of his eyelids and a small groan. The drugs, or poison Shiro thought with a panic, was already deep in his system and he was losing consciousness fast. Shiro felt his own thoughts becoming foggy as well, the longer they stood there.
Shit shit shit.
Shiro pushed off from the wall, determined to get them to castle before it was too late, however he was quickly overcome by vertigo and he lost his balance, sending them both toppling to the ground. Matt groaned beside him and Shiro fought to get his bearings before they both passed out.
He tried to push back off the ground, but darkness was starting to creep into the edges of his vision. His limbs felt like lead and wouldn’t respond to his commands. With a rising panic Shiro realized they weren't going anywhere soon. With his last few moments of wakefulness he called out desperately to the Black Lion, but received no answer but the muffled sound of the party and the crunch of approaching footsteps on the gravel.
***
His arms ached. So did his head. In fact it felt to Shiro like he’d been hit by a bus. With a groan he peeled his eyelids apart, expecting to see the ceiling of his castle bedroom through the dark of his eyelashes, but instead was met with a deep violet, mostly empty room. Purple... Why did that color cause his heart to spike in fear? He was too groggy to remember. As his vision focused he noticed a blurry figure standing against the opposite wall. No, hanging from the wall, their arms locked above their head and bare toes just brushing the floor. It was Matt.
Shiro’s eyes snapped open. His first instinct was to get to his partner, but he quickly discovered the cause of his cramped arms. His wrists were locked above him, same as Matt’s, and all his weight was being held by the manacles. The two of them were dressed in Galran prisoner uniforms and Shiro let out a shaky laugh. They had been drugged and captured. Of course they had. The black paladin twisted his head up to look at his prosthetic and his heart sank when he saw a power canceling clamp attached just above the elbow. No help there. They were stuck.
A small moan drifted from the other side of the cell and Shiro saw Matt’s figure shift.
“Matt! Thank goodness, you’re ok.” He sighed.
Matt’s head turned side to side, taking in his surroundings. He wore what looked like a light purple visor, stretching across his eyes and over his ears. The boy pulled weakly at his wrists and when they didn't budge, Shiro saw the boy’s breath start to quicken in panic. “Oh god…” He groaned.
“Matt,” Shiro called again, “It’s ok, I’m here. We’re ok.”
“S-shiro?”
“Yeah sunshine, it’s me.”
“Shiro? Pidge?” Matt continued, still straining against his bonds. “Hello?”
“Matt? I’m right here, look at me.”
The burnet continued calling out, giving no indication he had heard his boyfriend speak. That’s when Shiro realized what was going on.
“He can’t hear you.” A voice cut through Shiro’s thoughts and he snapped his head around to the cell door which was now opening to reveal a high ranking galra general, flanked by two sentries. “But by all means, continue to call to him.”
“Fuck…” Matt whimpered. Making Shiro turn again. “Is anyone there? I can’t.. Dammit, I can’t see!”
“What the hell is this.” Shiro growled. He swallowed his growing panic, whatever was about to happen to them he needed to stay strong for Matt.
“Isn't it obvious?” The Galra gestured around. “It’s a prison cell.”
“Don’t patronize me.” Shiro snapped. “What are you planning to do with us?”
“Do with you? Oh I’m going to torture you of course. You see I have some questions that need answered, and it’s not every day we get our hands on a Paladin of Voltron.”
Shiro swallowed his panic and forced out a response. His voice came out a lot tougher than he felt. “I’ve been through this before.” Shiro growled. “You won’t get anything out of me.”
“No, I suppose not. You’re far too stubborn I’ve heard.” The Galra sighed. “Physical torture is overrated anyway.” He paused, before shooting Shiro the most sickening grin. “But what about emotional?” He turned away, walking to the other side of the cell. Walking towards…
Shiro’s blood ran cold. No. Not Matt…
“You know, we originally only planned on capturing you,” The galra all but purred. “However, when you ordered a second drink for your… sunshine, it only made sense to drug you both. So really it’s your fault that he’s here.”
One of the sentries handed the Galra a long, serrated dagger as he examined the terrified burnet. “He can’t hear or see a single thing. He has no idea what’s about to happen.” He smiled, trailing the knife over Matt’s body, not quite touching, not yet. “You may not be inclined to talk when the pain is yours, but I wonder how long you’ll last if we make him bleed…”
No no no no N O
without warning, he plunged the knife deep into Matt’s shoulder.
Am I trying to get rid of all the drafts on my files??? You ask????
....Nooooo.....Yes.
Coran yelps in surprise when a tanned hand slaps him on the top of his own and the small yellow circle falls from his grasp.
“Coran!” Lance scolds, green face mask already in place as he glares down at the altean, “What did we say about eating our beauty material?”
Coran hums, tilting his head to the side in fake innocence. “Uh...to sneak in during the night so Number Two wouldn’t catch us?”
Lance opens his mouth before he closes it and then he shrugs. “Yeah, okay, to avoid a certain death with Hunk for stealing his creations, but after that?”
The mustached man chuckles, raising both hands up in surrender. “Not to eat the beauty material because it’s important for your baby butt skin.”
Lance nods proudly, handling Coran a pair of new small eye patches. “No eating. These beauties will help to ease the dark bags under your eyes. Believe me, they have done wonders to Pidge, in the few times that I had been able to catch her.”
Coran frowns as he eyes both circles intensely. “Okay, but are you sure they are not for eating? Because these look strangely alike of our dinner from two night ago.”
Lance stays quiet for a few ticks before -
“So okay, they might also work as food.”
“Ah-HA! I knew it!”
“Shiro, I swear to King Alfor that if you try to scratch your face and ruin my beautiful work one more time I will actually kick that round butt of yours with only a small spark of guilt.”
“Ew.” Keith deadpans, still laying on the edge of the bed upside down, his own face mask still in place along with purple eye patches, “TMI, I don’t need to know how round Shiro’s butt is, thanks.”
Lance sends him an unimpressed glare before he turns to his leader.
“It itches!” Shiro whines, fingers twitching with anticipation, hovering right above his right cheek, “This is torture, you said this was relaxing.”
“It would be, if you would stop whining. Your skin is so dry that it takes time to settle down and accept the nutrients from the face goo mask.”
“Oh, jeez, I’m so sorry that I didn’t kept up with moisturizing my face back in the Galra Arena.”
Lance doesn’t look impressed and only narrows his eyes in warning when Shiro’s prosthetic gets closer to his cheek. “Put that hand down, Mister Dove.”
Shiro shots him his own mean glare at the nickname. “Stop calling me like the soap brand, Lance.”
“You rejected ‘Mister White Bunny Butt’, man! There are only a few left before I run out of nicknames.”
“I like Mister Schunk.”
“Shut the quiznak up, Keith.”
“Hunk, the purpose of your headband is to keep the goo out of your hair, buddy, not to smear it completely on your entire lion mane.” Lance chuckles shaking his head in amusement, hands still working skillfully on Pidge’s hair as he watches the older teen pulls a face while lifting up one of his goo covered bangs.
“I didn’t think this thing was going to be so hard to handle!” Hunk huffs, gagging one or two times as he removes the rest of the goo from his hair, “Do I really need the goo mask, Lance?”
Lance rolls his eyes. “Fine, you big toddler, you can use other option. There’s a small plain disc on the left corner of my sink. Pick that one up, soak it with water and rubs it against your face for twenty ticks before rinsing and repeating two more times.”
“That’s sounds like a great idea.” Hunk nods, standing up from the floor and heading to the bathroom, yellow robe from his pj’s set left behind on the ground.
Lance chuckles before he turns to Pidge when the young girl hums to catch his attention.
“You do realize that he’s going to notice that those ‘small plain discs’ are his precious cookies, right?” She asks, computer on her lap, typing lazily as Lance continues to braid her hair.
Lance snorts. “Psh, as if! He’s never going to notice -”
There’s a shout followed by a cry of indignation coming from the bathroom and then both teens on the bed freeze.
“Lance!” Hunk calls from behind the bathroom’s door, “Are those my cookies from this morning¡?”
“...No.”
“And then, then the General has the audacity to wave his hand at me as if my input wasn't important and he says the total opposite of what the meeting was trying to archive!” Allura scoffs, one hand in the air to express her frustration and mumbling a quick apology when the hand Lance is nail-painting moves the slightest from his lap, “Can you believe that? Even the King looked bewildered by the unnecessary input from his own General! We had to have a second meeting without him to finally come to an agreement and a peace treaty.”
Lance whistles, eyes still on Allura’s nails as he passes the pink brush over them. “Jeez, that sounds exhausting, ‘Llura.”
“Ugh, it was!” Allura whines, throwing her head back before sighing and dropping it on Lance’s shoulder, “Come with me next time, please? This is the last time I let you miss a diplomatic meeting just to have a date with Keith.”
Lance chuckles, blowing on her nails for a tick before he hums and drops her hand. “Sure, no problem, and by the way, Keith told me to tell you ‘thank you’, he really appreciated having some free time.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Allura waves her hand with a small teasing smile before she coos at the sight of her nails, “Oh, Lance! Is this a new color?”
Lance winks. “Yup! I found it today at the mall, but that’s not the best thing, put them under the light and move it slowly.”
Allura does as told and gasps when small sparkly points start appearing over the nail polish. “Oh my gosh, Lance!”
The brunet laughs when the princess launches at him, wrapping his arms around her to return the hug. “You know I don’t come from the mall without something sparkly from you, Princess!”
“Thank you, honestly!” Allura sighs contently, pushing back the hug to look down at her hand again, gaze fond and warm before she raises her head, “Okay, now is your turn!”
Lance raises his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, but if you paint my nails neon pink again, I won’t let you choose the color ever again!”
Keith: SHIRO. Do not, under any circumstances, make me the godparent to your spawn.
Shiro: Is this some kind of reverse psychology? Because it makes no sense.
Keith: NO! DO NOT DESIGNATE ME AS ANY KIND OF SURROGATE GUARDIAN FIGURE TO YOUR OFFSPRING. Because I've seen this movie and the minute the beloved elder brother figure does that, he dies tragically leaving his grieving barely-prepared-for-adulthood younger brother TO RAISE HIS CHILD. I AM NOT PREPARED TO RAISE YOUR CHILD, SHIRO. I'M NOT 100% SURE I'M CAPABLE OF BEING AN ADULT UNDER MY OWN POWER, DO NOT MAKE ME RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER LIFE.
Lance: Okay, can someone please switch Keith to decaf?
Pidge: Someone is clearly not over that time Shiro left him in charge...
