The kitten is mewling again. Soft whimpering pleas that he can't breathe. Kuro can't help but smile at the sound. Stroking the outside of the container he's keeping him in. The discovery that the bench seats in the back of the shuttle lifted up to reveal tiny compartment meant for luggage had been the best thing that happened to him all day.

The one he'd selected for Kitten had just barely been big enough for his small body. Kuro had had to twist his arm until he cried out, then forcibly fold him down into a kneeling bow, forehead nearly touching the floor, to make him fit. There is so little room in there, he likes to imagine Kitten's arm is still stuck behind him inside the compartment.

Like a cherry on top of a Sunday, he found that laying down on top of the seat lets him hear all the little noises the kitten makes in his fear. When he'd first put him in, he'd stayed and listened while the poor thing had hyperventilated himself to unconsciousness. Kitten had never been scared of enclosed spaces before, but the inability to even squirm without pressing against cold metal walls was too enclosed even for him.

He'd almost canceled his 'shopping' trip to stick around to hear the panic when Kitten woke up, but sorting through the bags of supplies and goodies he's acquired to the sounds of tiny breathless whines assures him he made the right choice in going. Even if he had been forced to kill the merchant before he could help Kuro find everything he wanted instead of after.

Damn Paladins had sent out a wanted poster for him in this solar system, and the alien had seen the thing about halfway through filling his cart. Truly annoying, and if it happened again he'd probably have to skip over to a place a little less friendly to Voltron to keep this game going.

Still, he'd found what he was looking for. Ropes, food, accessories for the kitten, and oh, best of all, a little square recorder, so he could take pictures and video of Kitten to reflect on once he put him away for the night. Mmmm, he'll have to find a way to securely send these back to his weaker self. Spread the joy of fear in Kitten's big purple eyes. Maybe he could figure out how to make an actual video call without leading directly to his location. He could make it two way, except instead of video of himself, he'd send the images he curated to Shiro's screen. Then he could see the look of horror and impotent rage on his face, as he realized what he couldn't stop Kuro from doing. Ooo, the idea made him positively shiver with excitement. He had to make sure it became a reality, but first, he would need to make some videos.

Carefully selecting a few choice items, Kuro stored the rest of his groceries out of the way. Now was the time to let the sweet kitten out to play.

Note:

If things work out right, the cat and mouse game between Kuro taunting and the paladins hunting him down will be a subplot throughout this story. Also, Keith is going to have a hell of a lot of new phobias by the time he's rescued.

By the way, this story will most likely never go past sexualized violence. There is exactly one dirty wrong sex scene I like that I've written (What If), and I don't want to ruin my rating for something I wouldn't be satisfied with. So just know, just because it isn't being shown, does not mean that somewhere between scenes Keith isn't trapped in his little box listening to Kuro masturbate to videos of tormenting him :D