Hey, chapter two is here! Could we maybe get two reviews? Maybe?
Summary: Shiro and Lotor are not the best of friends, would friends even be the word to describe their relationship? Either way, they do have one thing in common; they are both pawns in an ugly war.
Rating: K+, PTSD and panic attacks. No cursing or sensual topics.
Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender.
Lotor was a proud individual, he never believed himself to be humble or compassionate, but he was understanding. Lotor was sure that. However, at this particular moment, he could not very well understand.
The Black Paladin was on the floor, shaking. Mumbling under his breath, sweating, and his face in his hands. Was he sick? Were humans particularly acceptable to illness?
The paladin had not noticed him yet; he started speaking louder. "No… no, I'll fight, I'll fight. Don't hurt them…I'll fight." His eyes were glazed over, and arm was beginning to glow.
Ah, yes, Lotor thought, he was the Champion, the champion of the arena that he had heard so much about.
"Paladin," Lotor called, and his head jerked to the side.
"No!" He shouted, crawling around like a feral animal, panic on his face. "Don't take me back; I can't go back." The Paladin crawled into a corner, his Galra arm ready.
Lotor was surprised, to say the least, he had seen what the arena could do to creatures. From all different backgrounds, rank, species, gender. It stripped them of dignity and turned them into animals, into beasts. However, this human did an incredibly good job of hiding what the arena had done to him. What Lotor's father had done to him. He cringed.
"You're not going back, Paladin."
"Don't lie to me." He growled, Lotor felt something he had not in a long time, a string of pity ran through him. But he quickly dashed it aside and maintained his composure.
"You're not in the arena anymore; you are a Paladin of Voltron." Something happened to the Paladin then, and his arm dimmed.
"But you're one of them; you're going to take me there. Make me fight!" Anger and fear shined in his eyes.
Lotor wondered how long the Paladin had been in the captivity of the Galra before he had escaped. He had heard talk of a Champion for a long time before the rumors of his escape or death began circling the universe.
Perhaps a year, maybe more, the Paladin had survived. Lotor smirked a bit; he was a survivor, he had to be, to be cast out by his Father, to be shamed by his people. He survived, and so had this Paladin. It required strength, and he respected that. He respected the man before him, for not giving into the power of the Galra. But right now, this man before him needed help, and he needed a friend.
"I am not the Galra; I am not your enemy. I am your ally; I am with you in the fight against Zarkon – who is now dead by my hands. You gave me your blade so that I could fight him. You got the earthling Sam Holt back, and he was reunited with his children – Matt and Katie, you know her also by the name Pidge." The Paladin began to calm down, and remembrance seemed to strike him.
"They're safe?" The Paladin asked, Shiro, Lotor corrected himself. His name was Shiro.
"They are safe, and so are you, Shiro." That was what it took, the man relaxed completely and came back to himself.
He ran his flesh hand through his hair, and Lotor noticed the scar that ran across his nose more vividly. It was the scar from a muzzle; he must have been an uncomely prisoner. Lotor cringed.
Shiro tried to take a deep breath, and Lotor let him have his space. Undoubtedly, he would be ashamed and embarrassed that he had allowed his composure slip. In front of an ally on a purely professional basis. Lotor might not know much about this man, but he knew he was a man of appearances. Just like himself. He respected that too.
After several moments, Shiro looked at him. His face flushed, his bangs sweaty, his breath slowly returning to normal. Almost begrudgingly, Shiro nodded to him, in thanks. Lotor nodded back; it was silent, it was simple. It didn't need to be anything more. Lotor recognized that, and so without another word, Lotor turned away, walking to go and meet with the Princess Allura. He knew they would have much to discuss. But their discussion wouldn't share a word of what had happened, because like it or not, Shiro had earned his respect.
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