#dev@sdcc

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OMG! OMG! ...please let them be going for Shiro...

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Lotor's generals are women and half-breed. (One is hooded - Theory - Keith's mom? They mostly looked young, though.)

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Psst! SHIRO IS IN THE OPENING CREDITS IN BLACK!

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SHIRO's EYE IN TRAILER! Last frame!!!

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Ficlet: "Cloak and Bayard Meeting"

A/N: @kingkoganes posted earlier this week about how/if the team knew Shiro left the Black Lion and leadership to Keith. In S3E1, everyone seemed to know Shiro made Keith his second-in-command, so King got me thinking - how did the team know about Shiro and Keith’s private conversations?

So here we go! (Thanks for the musing, King!)

Takes place sometime between S2E11 “Stayin’ Alive” and S2E12 “The Best Laid Plans.”

—

“So…yeah, thanks for the invite, Shiro, but why am I here?”

They were gathered in the observation deck at the top of the ship, where Shiro usually spent time when not with the team. He made notes on constellations, learned the Altean language, and mapped out battle strategies - all from this deck. But it was always open for the paladins - no matter what, Shiro wanted the team to come to him in their time of need.

So it warmed Lance to be welcomed to the deck to help Shiro for a change, but why would Shiro want him for a cloak and bayard meeting with Allura and Coran? Wouldn’t Shiro invite Keith?

Shiro ignored his question, instead slotting his fingers together between his parted knees, head dipped below his shoulders.

“We need to discuss the klanmurel in the room.”

Allura tapped her nails upon her knees. “Yes, well, while I feel that a Galra Paladin is not…conducive to our mission, it is far too late in our plans to -”

Shiro cut her off, “I’ve already informed Keith that if anything were to happen to me, I would want him to lead Voltron.”

Lance reeled. How the quiznak did he get invited to this meeting?

Allura immediately straightened, eyes growing dark. “What!”

“I understand your disdain for all things Galra, but I’ve known Keith for a long time. He’s like my little brother. I trust him implicitly, and nothing you can say will change that.”

Lance’s mind went blank as Shiro’s words injected a heavy dose of shock into his gut. Hurt crept up a few moments later, though he quickly batted that away. Keith lived attached to Shiro’s hip, hero-worship and true affection blending with a protective instinct to create a strong, everlasting bond. Lance had only begun to forge such unyielding connections with the duo, so it made sense that Shiro would pick Keith to lead the team.

Plus, Keith never quit in battle, and if he could ever cool his jets, nothing would be able to stop him. He was the perfect choice to succeed Shiro.

But something overwhelmed Lance almost a second later.

Absolutely, unfathomable horror.

Allura huffed, “I know you are fond of Keith, but I urge you to reconsider. In the event that are you are no longer able to fly the Black Lion - ”

“Keith’s Galra heritage has nothing to do with his ability to - ”

How could they even discuss this so calmly? And how could they ignore the most important point? The words flew from his mouth quicker than Lance could stop them.

“What the hell, Shiro? Nothing is going to happen to you!”

Allura looked startled. Coran appeared sympathetic, but Shiro reached out to pat Lance’s knee in what he probably thought to be a soothing gesture.

“Lance, thank you. I’m touched by your concern, but now isn’t the time to ignore the obvious.”

“What’s obvious? You’re our best fighter! You were the Champion!” A fierce panic seized Lance’s entire being at the simple thought of something happening to Shiro. “You’re - You’re our leader.”

“And as leader,” Coran interjected, somberness reigning in his voice, “it is customary for one to choose a second-in-command in the unfortunate event of - ”

“He’s not going anywhere, Coran!”

Shiro came to kneel before Lance, a hand upon each shoulder in a warm embrace. “I am the pilot of the Black Lion. Zarkon’s lion.”

“Your lion.”

Shiro’s tender, gracious smile broke Lance’s heart. “Thank you, Lance. You have no idea how much your confidence means to me, but - ” And Lance was left breathless by the sudden collapse of the usual reserved leader. Before him knelt not the infallible Black Paladin, but Shiro, their concerned and very human big brother.

“ - but Zarkon is gunning for me. And this plan we’ve worked out with the Blade of Marmora puts me right in Zarkon’s path. If anything goes wrong, I need to know you all will be all right.”

Why was Shiro telling him this? “And if something happens, what? You expect Keith to just take over as Black?”

Shiro nodded. “And help finish what we started.”

Rage tightened Lance’s fists on his knees. “Seriously? You’re that cruel? You’ll make him do what you couldn’t.”

The pride in Shiro’s eyes was limitless. “He is so strong, Lance. You all are. You have no idea all of you can accomplish. I’m in awe daily of your talents and perseverance. I have no doubts that with the right push, you can go on in the event of - ”

“Stop,” Lance pleaded, “why are you telling me this? Why not Keith?”

Shiro faltered again. His hands shook on Lance’s shoulders. “In the Blade of Marmora headquarters, Keith went through…trials. He had to face his greatest fear.” This was private, between Keith and Shiro. Shiro shouldn’t be telling him this. Why was he telling Lance this? But he did, voice gutted with emotion. “It’s losing me, Lance. He’s afraid of losing me.”

Shit.

“I’ve already spoken to him about this, but I can’t - I can’t do that to him again.”

“So why are you telling me?”

Shiro’s glistened softened. “Keith may become the decisive head of Voltron, but you are its heart, Lance. You always support us and guide us, and encourage us in ways I can’t even begin to describe.”

Wait. What? “Are we talking about the same person?”

Shiro laughed, though it was humorless and sad. “If something happens to me, Keith will be a capable strategist, but he will be reckless. He’ll need someone to ground him, someone to match his fierce nature with undying empathy. That’s you, Lance.”

Him?

“You and Keith compliment each other so well. I have no doubt that with Keith’s unyielding drive and your endless heart, Voltron will be unstoppable.”

Lance gripped Shiro’s forearms, tears wetting his heated cheeks. “We’re unstoppable because we have you.”

Shiro closed his eyes and pressed his face against Lance’s shoulder. “Promise me you’ll look after them, Lance. Please.”

Lance couldn’t give Shiro an easy out. He couldn’t. “Be here to protect us yourself.”

Shiro’s fingers tightened in Lance’s shirt. “Lance, please…“

Ancients, Shiro begged him.

Lance never could deny any of his family anything they wished, especially solace. And Shiro was always so strong for them. He’d be strong for Shiro.

“I promise.”

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Ficlet: Right Arm

Warning: Spoilers for VLD Season 3 trailer!!!

I couldn’t resist…

Crimson coated the chains. Darkness consumed the cell, and Shiro barely lifted his head when she came in.

Every day, Lotor’s general asked one question; every day, Shiro remained silent. She waited three full minutes before forcing water down his throat and wiping the blood from his face. Then she left.

That was before they threw him back into the arena, before they made him fight again, before he almost lost his remaining human arm.

She met him in the cell immediately after the fight, screaming at the arena’s physicians to save him. He was Lotor’s precious hostage. He needed to remain alive.

The next day, their routine began again, but this time, she asked nothing, just thrust the tube into his mouth and threw water down it. After swiping the cool, wet towel across his face, she leaned close to his ear to whisper, “They are coming for you. The Paladins. I transmitted your location to Kolivan. He will inform your team and bring them to Castle Doom.”

She added after a moment of hesitation, “Tell my brother I love him.”

As she pulled away, Shiro grunted to give chase. “His favorite color is red, of course, but he sometimes wears blue. And it brings out the violet in his eyes. He puts bacon on everything - seriously. Even pineapple…cough.”

With tears shimmering in her eyes, the general lifted the water bottle to Shiro’s lips, and this time, Shiro drank.

“…pineapple pizza,” he continued after swallowing, his voice still hoarse from lack of use. “He likes hover bikes and piloting and iced coffee. And he’s passionate and difficult and fiercely loyal to those he loves. And he desperately wants to meet you.”

Even if Keith didn’t know he had a sister. Perhaps the greatest gift Shiro could ever give Keith was his family.

The general bowed her head, overcome with emotion, and when she eventually raised her head, she wore a tender grin.

“What is…bacon?”

Every day, she had come into his cell, and every day, she had asked only one question.

“Is my brother truly your right arm?”

Today, he answered her. Keith really was.

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But duuuudes - one of Lotor's generals took scultrite. ...why does Lotor need scultrite?

Who does he have who can form wormholes? Can Lotor?

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YES! The one on YouTube is different...

...and is that Shiro we see from behind there?! OMG! I'm going with it!