The Lion's Pride Chapter 2: Lions, a voltron: legendary defender fanfic

Voltron || ShiKeiLan || Voltron || The Lion's Pride || Voltron || ShiKeiLan || Voltron

Title: The Lion's Pride – The Kitten's Needs

Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Disclaimer: All rights to the remake reserved to DreamWorks, Lauren Montgomery and Joaquim Dos Santos, and for the original to Toei Animation. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Warnings: shounen-ai, moresome, aliens, ABO-verse, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, knotting, past abuse, hurt/comfort

Main Pairing: Shiro/Keith/Lance

Summary: When Pidge confesses to the team that she's a female alpha and explains why she hid her true gender, the team catches on that Pidge isn't the only one covering up her status – they realize Lance is a male omega. They don't want to confront him, because they want him to be comfortable enough to tell them on his own, so the team makes an extra-effort to make Lance feel cherished. What they don't know is that being an omega isn't the only secret he has...

The Lion's Pride

The Kitten's Needs

Chapter 1: Lions

Keith nearly choked on his gasp as Shiro pinned him against their door once it closed. They had been secretly going at it for a little while now, unsure about telling the others before the two of them even knew where what they were doing was leading them. They were both alphas, which was not very uncommon, but often was complicated due to the dominant nature. As proven by Keith who was growling darkly, nails digging into Shiro's neck, trying to make the other alpha submit. Shiro looked mainly amused by that, before he kissed Keith harshly and deeply.

"O—Omega", whispered Keith, longing evident in his voice.

"Hng", grunted Shiro, feeling himself harden at the thought too.

"H—He's so lanky and those lo—ong legs", growled Keith, thrusting his hips forward to cause friction between their clothed cocks, making both alphas moan. "And he so doesn't have muscles. It explains why I always beat him so easily. He's not an alpha. Explains so much."

"Don't", growled Shiro in his authoritative voice, one hand close to Keith's throat to pin the other by the chest. "Don't try to explain your attraction to him with him being an omega. Don't try to pretend that you'd not be interested in him if he was a beta or an alpha."

Keith gritted his teeth. It was why he loved Shiro. The older alpha knew Keith better than Keith knew himself and Shiro was not having Keith's evasive attempts to avoid feelings and such. Keith just, he was from a very cold family where feelings and tenderness was not exactly the number one priority. But Shiro wouldn't let Keith get away with dodging his own feelings.

"Yes", sighed Keith in defeat. "But it makes so much more sense that he's an omega. Look at him."

"Looked at him", grunted Shiro, nibbling Keith's neck. "And you're right. He's a gorgeous omega."

"He'd be a feisty omega", groaned Keith as he threw his head back, banging it against the door as he started shamelessly rubbing himself against Shiro's crotch, making both moan. "Feisty, little omega. Wonder if he's as loud in bed as he's during missions? Moaning, whining... whimpering? He's a whiner already. He'd probably whine in bed too, make cute, loud sounds..."

Shiro growled at the mental image, eyes closed tight as he thrust against Keith's hardness, rubbing their crotches against one another feverishly. "He'd be eager. Is always eager to please."

Keith's fingers dug so deep into Shiro's shoulder, he was sure to leave bruises. The more they urged each other on, the more they fantasized about how Lance would be in the bedroom, the closer they both came to their orgasms until they both came, ruining their pants and not caring. They stumbled over to Shiro's bed and collapsed on it, curling together and panting softly. It was just too much. They had contemplated the idea before. Had wondered about including Lance and how he'd fit into this mess of a relationship. Had fantasized about Lance with them in their bed.

"He needs to be ours", growled Keith, not even bothering to phrase it as a question.

There was no question. Both of them wanted – craved – Lance. The idea that Lance wasn't another alpha, which had been the main reason they hadn't approached Lance so far, but an omega, it was perfect. Relationships between two alphas could be complicated, but between three alphas, they were downright impossible to maintain. It wasn't rare for same-status couples to add a third of the opposite status – two omegas adding an alpha or two alphas adding an omega – to even their relationship out. Now that they knew Lance was an omega, it was the perfect match. There was nothing more fitting, neither of them could imagine something else, really. This 'whatever it was' that Keith and Shiro had; it would be beautiful and it would be complete if they'd add an omega – no, not just any omega, if they'd add their omega, if they'd add Lance.

"Yes", agreed Shiro, kissing the top of Keith's head. "Yes. He'll be ours. Our omega. But first... first we need to make sure he will be comfortable in our pack. He needs to be comfortable being an omega before we can court him, Kei. Okay? We need to show him that we... value him."

Keith grunted in agreement, burying his face in Shiro's neck. "I love you."

Shiro froze for a moment, before he smiled brightly. This was the first time Keith had said those words. They really hadn't been sure where their relationship was heading. There was always that fear it would fall apart due to their dominant personalities, but the prospect of bringing an omega into their relationship solidified the hope that they could make it work. They would make it work.

/break\

Lance took a shaky breath as he slid down the door of his lion's cockpit. He had barely made it to the hangar with his labored breathing and shaky legs. She made a comforting humming sound that sent waves of soothing mental images through his brain, making him calm down very slowly. His fingers pressed against the metal so hard, his knuckles were white. She gave him a sense of stability and support and he was grateful for that, trying to convey his gratitude by pressing against the cold metal of her cockpit-door. There was a buzzing sound in the back of his mind, nearly like the crooning of a mother lioness tending to her cub. Lance's breath slowed down a little more.

"I can't tell them. I can't tell them. I can't tell them", chanted Lance to himself, eyes closed.

He couldn't tell them. He really couldn't. If he'd tell them he was an omega, he'd have to tell them what else he was hiding and he couldn't tell them. Not that. Never that. The soft voice of his abuela rang through his mind, assuring him that omegas could be anything they wanted to be, that being an omega would not bring harm to him. Most of the time, he believed it. But there was – and would always be – a nagging voice in the back of his head that told him no, this family was an exception, they loved him but others wouldn't, he'd end up being pushed around and degraded for being an omega. The rational part of his brain told him his team – his pack – would not judge him. They hadn't judged Pidge for being a female alpha either, right? They wouldn't treat him different. They'd accept him. The instinctive part of his brain told him to protect himself from possible harm and that being an omega would put him into harm's way – that telling them he was an omega was dangerous.

And then there was the other secret, the real secret. The one he couldn't tell them – because he didn't want to tell them. Telling them meant reliving it. Meant accepting it was true. But he didn't want it to be true. He wanted to be Lance, a Paladin of Voltron, a respected alpha and part of this park. Nothing else. This was a new life, a new chance. This was the life he had chosen and he couldn't jeopardize it by bringing up the past. He didn't want to remember the past.

"Oh, pequeño, you can not change the past, nor can you forget it, for the past is what brought you to where you are now and made you who you are", rang his abuela's voice in his head.

"Easier said than done, abuela", whispered Lance softly as the memory flashed past him.

His eyes were tightly closed, but he could still feel the prickle of tears in their corners. He missed his family on Earth so much. They loved him, so much. And now he might never see them again. A sob wrecked his body. He could really use his abuela's advise right about now. Really. She'd know what to say, she'd know what he should do next. Slowly, he curled together on the floor of his lion and fell asleep to the comforting hum of his metallic partner.

/break\

"Morning, Lance. How are you feeling?", asked Pidge in a chipper voice.

Lance frowned doubtfully as he looked up with sleepy eyes. Hunk, Allura and Shiro were also all smiling at him. The table was already set with everyone seemingly waiting for him. Keith wasn't smiling, but damn his eyes were burning. It always made Lance uncomfortable anyway, the intense way Keith would look at him, but somehow, this morning it felt even stronger. Lance blamed the fact that Keith's element was fire for how intense Keith's glares were. And he blamed the fact that he has had a rough night for how intense they felt today in particular.

"Tired and cranky", huffed Lance as he collapsed between Shiro and Hunk on a chair.

Crossing his arms on the table, Lance buried his face between them, adjusting to sit more comfortable, with his calves pulled up under his thighs and himself curled together some.

"Bad night?", asked Allura compassionately.

"Eh. Spent the night inside Azul", muttered Lance, craning his neck to look up at her.

"Dude, that sounded so wrong. Who in the world is Azul?", asked Hunk, looking really stunned.

Lance slowly sat upright again, both eyebrows raised. "Bro. No. Azul's my lion. I slept inside her cockpit last night. It was uncomfortable. And you're an idiot."

"Oh. You named your lion?", asked Hunk, blinking a few times. "And it's a she?"

The pack slowly started digging into the green goo while watching Lance. "Dude, they're all shes. Have you ever been to a zoo? Male lions are the ones with the fancy hair. All our lions are females. Or prematurely bald, I dunno about yours, but Azul is definitely a lady lion."

"Never really thought about that", hummed Pidge curiously. "It was just always... an it. A machine."

"They communicate with us", pointed Lance out, one eyebrow raised high. "They're sentient. They're more than just machines. They're our partners."

"And why did you name her Azul?", asked Hunk curiously, leaning forward some.

Lance rolled his eyes, cheeks just a little pink. "It's not really a name. And not really creative. It's just Spanish for 'blue'. But it kind of still feels... more personal than calling her Blue all the time."

"I think the name suits her", smiled Shiro gently, clasping a hand onto Lance's shoulder.

Lance's blush intensified as he looked at the gentle smile on his Alpha's face. The breath got stuck in his throat. Damn. He hated how much Shiro brought out Lance's nature. A praising word from the Alpha weighted more than those of any other alpha. He was a true 'Alpha of alphas'; the pack leader and the one who demanded respect and a certain degree of submission from all of his pack-members. It just weighed heavier on Lance, regardless of how much he suppressed his omega-nature with chemicals and will-power. A single command from Shiro would be able to make Lance drop onto his knees and bare his neck in willing submission. Sighing, he relaxed some in the safe hold of his Alpha. His Alpha; not his alpha. A very distinguished difference. Leader, not mate.

/break\

It was the next day that the Paladins were having a practice race – not for fun, but to improve everyone's individual flying-skills, had Allura declared repeatedly. Lance was having the time of his life, making crazy turns and rushing away to escape Keith, who was hot on his heels. There was something a bit primal to the chase. It sent thrills of arousal through the omega to have a strong, competitive alpha like Keith chasing after him like that. Sure, Shiro, Pidge and Hunk were in the race too, but in the end, Lance and Keith often managed to make such races and training about them, turn it into a competition and private battle of sorts. As much as Lance desired Shiro in other aspects, this particular one was Keith's alone. Shiro was kind and gentle, not competitive. But Keith? Keith didn't back down when Lance challenged him, always ready to fight until he'd have his opponent ready to submit. Regardless of what the challenge was. And that was what gave the chase its special kind of thrill. Keith managed to make a training race feel primal.

"Come on, Azul, we're not gonna let Keith win, right?", called Lance out, laughter lacing his voice.

"Hey", growled Keith displeased through the intercom.

"Dudes, we're still here too, you know?", huffed Hunk, sounding like he was pouting. "Just you wait, Melemele and I are going to leave you in our dust."

"If you're not too busy puking all over her", snickered Pidge.

"Melemele?", echoed Lance distracted, nearly missing how Keith caught up to him.

Lance evaded him and elegantly went further ahead, leaving Keith to curse beneath his breath while Hunk laughed happily. "Yeah. What you said yesterday. Got me thinking. I went to spend some time with my lion and... I dunno, I guess I was more open to the idea of her being... more than just a machine? And I could feel it. Guess I'm not very creative either and I liked your idea, so I named her Melemele – it's Hawaiian for yellow. I think she likes it."

"Aw", cooed Lance, inwardly very happy. "You big copycat. Heh."

"Dumb pun", deadpanned Keith and Lance could hear the eye-roll.

"I'm not the only one!", defended Hunk.

"Oh? Really?", asked Lance slyly.

"Yeah! Keith named his Grass-knee", blurted Hunk out right away.

"Krasnaya. Krasnaya, not grass-knee. And I only did it because all of you did", grunted Keith.

"Well, when Hunk came back from the hangar last night and said he decided to call his lion Melemele, we thought it would be the right thing to give them all names", elaborated Shiro. "I named mine Kuro; Japanese for black."

"Mine's called Grønn, it's Norwegian for green. My... father's parents, they came from Norway and grandpa used to talk to my dad in Norwegian every now and again. I'm not fluent, but I still remember some words", replied Pidge, voice soft.

Lance hummed curiously. Considering that Shiro's name was Takashi Shirogane, it was not really a surprise that their leader spoke Japanese. Hunk was his best friend, so Lance knew that the other was actually from Honolulu and had left Hawaii to join the Garrison. That Pidge was willing to share about her past was nice, it showed she really was more comfortable in their pack.

"And what about grass-knee?", asked Lance teasingly.

"Krasnaya, for fuck's sake", grunted Keith, muttering some choice curse-words in another language beneath his breath. "It's Russian. Means red, in case someone was still missing the theme."

"Russian?", asked Lance a bit surprised.

"My mother's from Saint Petersburg", was the only answer he got from Keith.

That was a bit of a surprise. Keith didn't talk about his family at all. Or anything private, really. Lance had always figured there must have been a reason he lived all alone in a shack in the middle of the desert after leaving the Garrison and that guess had always led Lance to Keith's family. Lance knew Keith spoke Korean; knew Keith's father was Korean. The fact that he'd rather choose his mother's tongue over his father's spoke silent volumes that Lance tried not to dwell on. Everyone had their rights to their own secrets – Lance knew that very well.

/break\

Dinner was ready and everyone aside from Lance was there. The team was half-worried. Food wasn't great, but they still all attended. What if something somehow had happened to Lance? It wouldn't be the first time danger would manage to sneak into their castle – or that said danger would lead to a hurt and unconscious Lance. Shiro had been rigid and nervous the entire time they searched for Lance, plagued by the memory of a limb, broken Lance, until he finally found the younger Paladin. Shiro instantly relaxed when he saw Lance, a smile spreading over his lips before he tapped his communicator, relief flooding Shiro's entire system.

"Found him. He's outside, with Azul", stated Shiro.

"Seriously? Still doing repairs?", asked Keith irritated. "Then why's he not answering?"

"He's... not repairing", whispered Shiro amused. "Just get out here and see for yourself."

Within moments, Keith appeared next to Shiro, followed by Pidge, Hunk, Allura and Coran. Allura made a high-pitched sound of endearment while Pidge snickered and took a photo for blackmail. Keith made a sound in the back of his throat as he leaned against Shiro's arm and watched. Azul stood there, parked – Lance had said something about working on her and wanting natural light instead of the fake one in the hangar. But instead of working, Lance was laying on top of Azul's right paw, curled together like a young kitten snuggling up to its mother.

"Should we... like... wake him?", asked Hunk unsure.

"Are you crazy? He's calm and well-behaved for once", huffed Keith, earning himself an elbow to the ribs from Shiro. "Ouch. Okay, so... let him rest, this morning's battle had been exhausting."

"True", groaned Pidge, rubbing her still sore neck. "But he's like a cat. All curled together. Heh."

"Let's head back inside and let him sleep", declared Shiro firmly.

"I'm... not very hungry", stated Keith, voice low. "I think I'll eat later."

Hunk and Coran wanted to protest, but Shiro just smiled and hoarded the others back inside. He knew his mate wanted to make sure the sleeping omega would be safe and protected. Keith froze as he felt a menacing aura from the Blue Lion. Did... Did Azul really feel offended by that?

"I... just want to make sure he's alright", grunted Keith softly, both hands lifted up high.

He felt already awkward enough talking to his own lion, but they at least had a connection. He didn't have a connection to the blue lion. The intimidating aura seemed to ease off a bit and Keith took it as his cue to approach further. Once he was standing at the paw, he leaned against it, arms crossed on top of it so he could lean in and watch Lance closely. The way he was curled together, one would think he really was as boneless as a cat. Keith had to smile a little as he saw how serene and relaxed Lance looked. Carefully, he reached out to caress the brown, short hair. It was surprisingly soft and Keith found himself repeating the motion over and over, until... until there was a sound. A strange, rumbling sound, coming from Lance. It reminded him of a kitten's purring.

"So cute, kotik moy", whispered Keith softly. "Why are you doing this to me? Why do you make me feel this way...? All those... fluffy feelings... Argh, you drive me insane." [trans: my kitten]

Groaning, he hit his head against the metal of Azul's paw, right next to Lance. The other grunted and jumped slightly, dark-blue eyes blinking startled at Keith as though he was trying to comprehend what was going on around him. Keith had to bite his lips to keep from making any appreciating sounds, because if sleeping Lance had been cute, sleepy Lance was a whole new level. Honestly, Keith just wanted to scoop the omega up in his arms and hold him until the other would be fully awake. Which was basically kind of like cuddling and Keith didn't do cuddles.

"Wha... Keith...?", mumbled Lance confused. "What are you doing in my room...?"

"...This isn't your room", pointed Keith out and stepped aside, pointing at the castle. "You fell asleep on Azul. I... came to get you for dinner, moron."

"Why am I a moron for falling asleep?", yelled Lance offended and sat up.

"Because for one, you fell asleep in the middle of noonday heat and that could easily lead to a heat stroke, you moron. And the other reason being that all of us were searching for you and the others were worried that something might have happened when you didn't answer your com", growled Keith, the picture of an alpha who was upset with their omega.

Lance had to fight every instinct in his body that told him to bare his neck to his alpha and whine and beg his forgiveness. Not just because Keith was a alpha, but because – no, not thinking about how much it turned him on whenever Keith had him pinned during training, not thinking about how much of a turn-on it was whenever Keith growled at him. Lance shook his head.

"Oh please. The other day, neither of us could reach you and Shiro because you two were too busy fucking in the shower to even realize you were running late", snarled Lance instead.

He felt very pleased by the way Keith went rigid and even red in the face. If Lance was being completely honest, he didn't really understand it. Two alphas? Together? He had never seen it before. It did hurt a little – lot – to see the two alphas that made his head feel all light and dumb be happy together, without Lance. Before he could dwell on that ache, he rushed inside, exclaiming he'd get the bigger portion of the dinner leftovers.

Author's note: I've had this headcanon that Keith is Russian ever since I first saw a picture of him... But recently, it came to my attention that his voice-actors is Korean and perhaps that means he's supposed to be Korean. So, let's meet in the middle - he's half-Russian-half-Korean. Also headcanon that Hunk is Hawaiian and Lance is a Latino.

Next chapter is going to have Shiro and Keith being cute for Lance and the pack trying to make Lance feel comfortable. Which, much to Lance's dismay, is actually working and bringing forth his omega instincts ^^