Voltron

6. The Hero -Homecoming/A Heros Welcome

Doing something for kids in his family or little cousins and being seen as a hero. Where dream to help people come from.

Risking himself to save some alien kids. Kith and others getting angry a his need to be a hero. But equally loving it.

Lance missing and stuck for a while. Instead of falling to dispair the other arrive to find that Lance has helped save everyone and is coming back soon. Super warming heartdelt reuinion.

-From the perspective of a child hostage/slave. Eith a half Galra or some other kind of alien race. Talking about the the Galra hold them and are using them. If half galra have them seperated from the others. When being rescued the other ailens leave behind. Get strength to cry out.

-Talk about sounds of battle thinks all is lost. Here that the place is going to blow up/selfdestruct.

-Last minet Lance rushing back, rescuing kid as blue lion. Fighting their way out. Almost not making it and getting trapped and Lance reassuring them.

-Calling on the blue lion to move and rescue them like Red Did. Getting there just in time but Lance needed medical attention.

-Getting back to the others and the others being so happy he's alive but also angry. The kid is confused - thinks that the red paladin is going to attack new saviour so stands in front to defend him.

-Gets Lance to confort them again and reassure them. Keith calms down - Hey there my little Hero. No need for that.

-Falling asleep through the meds given and hearing the rest of the conversation between Lance and Keith. Kind of allude to Klance. Keith mentioning no one more of a Hero than Lance.

They were rapidly running out of time. The whole team was running aorund frantically. Shots being fired every which way. Hunk was desperatly directing the prisoners into the yellow and black lions. Shiro and Keith were holding the line of advancing drones back. Pidge was in the control deck, trying to frantcally hack into the mainframe. Lance stood outside the room. Listening to the com with growing impatience. Heart hammering in his ribcage at every cry, grunt and crackle of gunsire he heard through his head piece. Every so often a drone would round the corridor to be quickly dispatched with a shot to the head from his rifle. It didnt feel like near enough. He neeeded to be down there! Where the real fight was.

'Pidge!?' Lance cried out.

'A few more minuets! I need a few more minuets' came the cry back from within the room. Pidges voice sounding tight and impatient itself.

Lance bit his bottom lip, jumping on his toes. Itching to move. Still he couldnt abandon his post. Someone needed to defend Pidge if she was to be allowed to cncentrate fully on hacking itno the system of such a large prison ship. There was a sudden crackle through the com, the Castle tuning in. It didnt sound good.

'Paladins!' cried Allura, sounding breathless. 'You need to return. The castle is taking heavy fire.' There was sudden boom from across the speakings, the noise whiting out into static. Lance felt his breath hitch for a moment the silence stretching onwards. His sweat coalecing on his brow.

'Particale barrier at 34%!' shouted Coren. Lance breath left him in a woosh. Glad they were alright.

'We're on our way Princess. Hunk, are the prisoners loaded?' Shiro panted, no doubt still fighting.

'I dont know! I checked all the main cells but didnt manage a final sweep. Yellow cant take many more though.'

'Okay, Hunk get back to the castle. Keith go with him and then defend the castle.'

'But…!' cames Kieth immidet response, no doubt not happy with the orders to retreat and leave shiro behind.

'Thats an order!' shiros shout shut down any objections. 'Get moving you two. Ill handle here. Pidge, Lance how long?'

'Just a few more ticks. Hang on for a bit. I thik I might be able to close the blast doors. It should stop anyone else getting to you' said Pidge in response. Fingers tap tap tapping away.

'Good. Do so. Then get back to the hanger. We need to leave.'

'Wait! What about the rest of the prisoners? Hunk said there could be some left!'

'We dont have time Lance!' came Shiros shouted reply.

'Got it! Closing blast doors now. Self destruct set for twenty dobashes' hollard Pidge. Emerging from the control room and almost running itno Lance. He grabed her by her armour and was quick to swing her around without a word. Shoving her hard to get her stumbling down the corridor. His feat already turning in the other direction. Lance caught a glimpse of Pidges wide hazel eyes as he did so and tried to smirk. Hoping it came off as confident and cocky. He didnt want her to worry. He would be fine.

'We need to check! We cant just leave them. Pidge and you should get out. Ill do a quick sweep and then leave. Wont be more than 10 dobashes.' Lance was already running full tilt. Rifle out incase he ran itno any resistance. He remebered the map of the ship he had been shown before hand. Set out in much the same way any Glara vessel was and was sure it wouldnt take him more than a dobash to get to where the prisoners were being held. That would give him five dobashes to do a sweep, check no one had been left behind and then a few left over to get to blue. All with ten dobashes to spare on getting the hell out of dodge before the place went sky high. Plenty of time.

'Lance! Get back here!' cried Shiro eveidently not agreeing. It soudned like his fight was wrapping up. The sound of lazor fire much more intermitent. The Black Paladin must have made quick work of finishing off any Glara in the hanger once the blast doors were closed.

'You need to get the prisoners in Black to safely and pidge has the data. Theres no other choice. I can do this!'

'Im on my way down Shiro. ETA three dobashes' panted Pidge over the com. Making a mad dash down to the hangers. Lance skidded round a corner and raised his bayard. Blasting through the elevtator doors and jumping into the shaft. Letting his jet pack do the work of slowing him as he decended the levels at a frightening pace. Was it the sixth or the fifth cargo bay Hunk said the prisoners were on?

'God damn it! 10 dobashes, no more. You hear me Lance!' cursed Shiro. Knowing that he didnt have the time to convince Lance otherwise. The boy was far to stubborn.

'Load and clear boss man. Now get moving. Im at the prisoner decks.' Lance fired his jet pack to full power, just about slowing his decent long enough to catch the lip on the side of the shaft to the fifth floor. Firing once again with his rifle to dent the doors he dragged them open with a grunt of effort. Tumbling itno the passageway beyond he raised his rifle. Eagle eyes scanning for any movement. Nothing emerged from the gloom, the dark purple lightening casting everything itno dark shadows.

'Attention! This is Voltron! If anyone is there make a noise. We are here to rescue you!' he cried after a heartbeat. Getting to his feet and running forward. On either side of the corridor he could see open cells. Evidently Hunk had already been down here. Still the place was huge, a bigger prisoner ship than they had ever hit before. It was more than possible for poeple to be left nehind.

'Attention! This is the Blue Paladin of Voltron. If anyone is there please speak!' Lance continued to shout his manatra as he stormed through the base. Luckily not encountering any resistance. Charging down corridors at random he flung open the door of any closed cell he found. Still there was no one to be seen. How many dobashes had that been? Two? Three? Lance shouted as loud as he could and tried to quiet his breathing. Halting his footsteps for a moment and straining his ears to listen for any reply. There was no way he had the tim to check every cell. He could only hope that if anyone was left they would hear him and cry out.

For ten torturouse heart beats he held his breath and listened for the slightest shuffle. The slightest squeack of a noise. The time stretched on in front of him as his lungs burned for air and the sweat dripped down into his eyeslashes. Impatiently he blinked it away. Nothing. Breathing out and sucking in huge lungfulls of air again Lance spun. Determined to check the floor below. He found the stairs before he got to the elevator and sprinted down them without hesitation. Taking them four at a time.

'We're out! Lance, move your ass' shouted Shiro into the com. Almost giving Lance a heart attack. The six cargo floor looked to be where Hunk and the others had initially met some resistance. Robot parts lay slices and diced all over the palce and Lance immidetly picked up on the slick sheen of blood on the walls. He really hoped it wasnt any of the team. Still prison door shung wide open, emptry of their occupents. The shadows were darker here. Many of the lights having been damaged in the fight. Lance didnt have the time to be cautious. As Pidge was quick to remind him.

'Fifteen dobashes until detonation begins. Lance you need to get out of there!' she cried across the com. Fury and worry in equal parts colouring her voice. Noeither her nor Shiro had the time to keep scolding him though. Immidetly cuaght up in the fire fight that was going on outside. The red lions zooming back and fourth to try and keep the fighters from aiming at the castle. Keith doing his best to bait them into firing on him instead and dodging at the last mmoment. A dangerous game of cat a mouse for the lest defensivly minded of the Voltrons Lions. One good hit would be all they needed to catch up and surround him. Pidges timly intervention couldnt have come soon enough. The green lion slipping between the fighters to take a shot aimed for reds flank on their sheild. Shirp raced on to get the prisoners unloaded. Eager to join the fight and defend his family. All to aware of the timer counting down for one of them.

Lance was aware of it to and pushed his legs and lungs faster. It was taking longer than he had wanted to sweep the decks. 'Atention! This is Voltron. If you need help please respond! There isnt much time!' once again he charged, crying out all the while. Feeling the passing of the ticks as vividly as he felt the sweat sliding down his back or the strain of his lungs to take in air. 'If anyone is there we need to leave now! This place is rigged to blow! Please respond!' of course it was possible that he as risking his neck for nothing. That the res tof the team had managed to get all the prisoners out in the first place. Still though there was a fizzing in Lances gut. An urgency built not from the ticking coutndown to selfdestruct but from the clear feeling that something wasnt right. His gut was telling him something was hear. That there was something he needed to do, and do quickly. He had been feeling it ever since Hunk said he couldnt be sure to have all the prisoners. The gut feeling that they had missed something. Someone.

Lance rounded another corridor. The cells hung open. Two dead galra lay at the end of it. Lance rushed to them and kicked them over, his rifle lifted just in case. Definetly dead. They appeared to have come from some sort of office. Maybe the guards on duty when Voltron struck or the prison warden. It didnt matter. Lance ran past and down another corridor. Crying out one last time.

'Anyone! Please respond! This place is going to blow!' Lance halted for the last time. Knowing he couldnt be here any longer. It had to be reaching ten dobashes. If he didnt leave soon there was no way he would be able to outfly the blast radius. He would be risking hismelf and Blue being caught up in the blast. In the worst case he would be risking all of Voltron and everything they had worked for these last two years. For what? A gut feeling?

Lance held his breath, urging his feet to move. Tyring to think through the pounding of his heart. The fizzling feeling of something missing in his spine. He needed to move. What he was doing was rediculous. Obviously Hunk and the others had got every prisoner out already. There was no reaosn for him to be here. He should have just listen to Shiro and retreated with him and pidge. Still his feet did not move for one long second. The time stretched out. Lance breathed out and remainded still. Trying to effect the calm he felt while he was snipping. Trying to convince himself to move. That nothing was wrong. He felt the warm thrilling prescence of blue in his chest. To Lance it always felt like she was speaking to him from somethwere close behind his heart. Close to his spine. Her purrs and growls sending energy wizzing down his spine to fill his head with corage and his limbs with vigor.

Now her presence was quiet, muted. Waiting. Just as he was. The oment broke. Lance released his breath and spun. Ready to sprint back to the hanger. Blue there to guide him like a compase in the right direction. He took two bounding steps. Blood pumping in his veins and wooshing through his ears.

The slightest noise. A sniffled cry. A squeck more than a word. Lance feet spun before his mind caught up. Moving him automatically back the way he came deeper itno the ship. Thoughts of timers and safety and explosions thrown to the back of his mind. His entire body thrummed and his ears strained. Honing in on the quiet high pitched cry.

His feet led him back to where the glars ley dead. Into the wardens office where he had not previously checked. Blue eyes glanced around the room hurridly. Not seeing anyone. Narrowing in suspicion. Lance focused in on a alrge metal box sitting to the side of the room. He recognised the look of the thing. Having liberated many from Galra supply ships in his time as the Blue Paladin of Voltron. It was a supply crate. The glowing lock and automatic barcode only proving it so. Strangly though this one had small holes and slits cut into the top. Normally they were designed to be air tight. So as to survive th vaccume of space if need be and keep all supplies perfectly safe during transit.

There was another noise. This one sounded like a sniffle. Like a sop. Lance moved towards the crate. Taing all this in in an instant. Senses ushed to their haights through the pumping of the adrenaline in his veins. He placed his rifle to the lock of the crate. Powering up a blast. Feeling the build of the plasma start to heat the metal. When he judged it right Lance fired. The kick back of his rifle against the metal brusing his hands in the all to familier way. There was a flash of light at the plasma discharged at so close a range. Lance could feel the heat of it through his armour. Wihtout a moment to pare he grabed the dented portieon of the grate. Pushing his fingers into the ehated metal and just hoping that the under suit could protect him from the heat well enough for a few seconds. Releasing his bayard to free moth hands Lance heaved. Straiing against the grav locks on the lid.

Miracously after several tense milliseconds it gave. The powr shorting out and the top flying off with the sudden release. Lance stumbling to leave halfway over the crate at the sudden release of resistance. The lid clattering to the floor with a deafening sound. Lance looked down, blue eyes wide with suprise. Three pairs of yellow eyes gazed back. Just as wide. Swimming with fright.

'Oh Quiznak' breathed Lance. This was not what he had been expecting but there was not time to think. He needed to get hiself and them out of here. 'Hay. Its alright. Im here to help you. But we needed to go. Otherwise we wont get out in time. This whol place is going to blow. We need to leave. Do you understand me?' he rushed out hurridly. Practically shaking from the effort of not just reaching out, grabbing the kids and running.

The seemingly eldest of the Glara kids looked up at him. Big fluffy ears pinned to his head and shaking slightly. With aching slowness he nodded his head. Gripping the younger Glara close to them. 'Well then. Sorry but we need to leave. Now!' said Lance. Having run out of patience he simply reached forwad and grab the kid. Getting a cry of alarm in response. In one hand he scopped the eldest Glara up, hauling them up roughly by the back of the shabby jumpsuit they were in. The kid looked to maybe be around the size of a seven to eight year old. Though Lance had no idea how old that might make them as a Glara. The other two made sries of alarm and theeldest Glara immidetly started to struggle.

'Stop that!' snapped Lance. Anger making his voice deep and his eyes sharp. 'If we dont hurry we are all going to die! We need to go!' Manovering with diffulculty he managed to grap the other two smaller children ad balance them on his hip before uncerimonously throwing the eldest of his shoulder. It took some seconds of akward shuffling but once Lance was sure he wasnt going to drop the children he spun and set off. Hopping over the fallen glara and sprinting as fast as he could towards where Blue was calling him. The bond was starting to flood with feelings or unrgency and worry. Causing a fizzing popping snesation to rush through him. Lance grit is teath, bent forward and sprinted harder. Determined to make it.

The Glara he was carrying bounced around against his armour. If he had the time to Lance would worry about them hitting their heads on the hard metal but such concerns would have to wait until later. Maybe they picked up on is urgency, maybe they were just afraid to be dropped but small furry hands gripped tightly to him. Small claws leaving sctarched in his chest plate and neck guard. He could hear them squeaking in distress.

Lance changed forward. How long did he have left? It had to have been ten dobashes now. Doubling back and opening the crate seemed to ahve taken forever. As if to answer his questions his coms crackled to life once again. Shiro deep voice bellowing out. Sounding alarmed.

'Lance! You have less than ten dobashes. Where are you!?'

'Shiro I found more prisoners! Im on my way to the hanger now!' Lance panted back. His words coming out inbetween his ragged breathing. The act of talking seemed to sap his energy more than anythign as Lance continued his dead sprint through the prison ship.

'Wait! Lances still on the ship!? Lance! Get out of there!' came Keiths startled suprise. Cutting into the com channel without warning. If Lance had the energy he would have laughed. Trust keith to state the obviouse.

'Im trying Samuri! The castle?' he snapped, rounding a corner and amost smacking into the opposite wall with the speed he was going. There was squal from one of the Glara as they were banged around but Lance didnt have the time to stop.

'All secure and ready to depart. Fighters are taken care of' reported Hunk. The whole team now waiting with baited breath for the emergence of the Blue lion. Listening in on the com.

'Lance there will be no time to regroup. I will form a wormhole beween us and the base. Aim for it!' snapped Allura in her most commanding tones.

'Will do princess' said Lance. Beyond greatful for her quick thinking.

'Eight dobashes until seldestruct begins. Move your ass!' cried Pidge, watching as the timer she set on her helmet ticked down. The seconds trickling away.

Lance didnt respond. All his energy concentrated on running even just a little faster. He had already acended two floors. Blue was crying out like a waterfal in his mind. Loud and booming with her urge to hurry. To amke it back to her. Lance wasn;t about to let her down by wasting precious oxygen on quips. The taste or iron in his throat, the burning of his legs, the weight of the Glara chldren pressing down on him. None of it mattered. All that he could think of was responding to the BLue lions calling. Almost there.

In front of the blast doors Lance had stupidly fergot Pidge closed stood a Galra soilder and two drones. They had evidently been trying to cut there way through when Lance appeared but his less than quiet charge had warned them of his arrival. Lance only had a second for his eyes to widen before the lazors closed him. He threw hismelf to the ground. Instincts born of countless battles and will to survive saving him from having his face lazors off by milimeters. Lance hugged the three crying glara close to him and rolled across the wide access bay. Sheild rising just in time to take the econd volly of shots.

Pushing the kids behind him he brought fourth his bayard. Trusty rifle forming in his hand. He couldnt use it though. If he released the sheild for even a moment he would be shot. Dodging would leave the kids open to enamy fire and was not an option. Instead Lnace had to try and hold is heavy rifle one handed and akqardly send out a sprey of return fire. His usual accuracy lost. Through eyes half closed against the flashing brilliance of the lazors splashing against his sheild Lance watched one lucky shot clip a drone in the side. Sending it staggering but not down. No good. He needed a head or chest shot if he wasnt ed to take them out properly.

Lance wasnt prone to cursing. His mother had drilled the lesson about little ears into him just a bit to well. If there was ever a time to start though it would be now. 'Damn, damn, damn!' he muttered as he left off another barage of shots. He needed to move! The time was running out.

'Opening wormhole!' came Alluras cry. Five doboshes until detonation. Maybe a few seconds more if it took the engins a little to heat up and go criticle. He had do somethin! Lance blocked out the sound of his teammates. All of them crying out his name in worry. Demandin he get out of there. Blue was practically wailing. Her voice like thunder in his mind. Vibrating his spine and pounding through his skull.

A shot to the leg and one of the drones went down. Dropping their gun as it did so. Lance would have celebrated if he wasn't suddeny and brutally reminded that in his rush to stop the lazor fire he had lost sight of the Glara solider. A rookies mistake he never would have usually made if he wasnt so concentrated on the slow countdown to the self destruct. Living Glara soliders were by far more dangerous opponents than the drones, which really only had numbers on their side to make them treatening. At leadt to the now verteren Paladins of Voltron.

Lance managed to turn his sheild to catch the falling sword at the last moment. Risking a shot to the side as he did so but unwilling to move. Behind his crouched form the kid scrabbled against his chest plate. Trying to grip on this their stubby claws and pressing their face close to his back. They were crying. Hiccupy squecky noises instead of stirdent wiling like a human. Still, tears fell from their yellow eyes, matting the short fur on their cheeks none the less.

The sword blow left his arms shaking from the force of it and shattered his sheild. Lance grabbed his rifle in both hands, bringing it up to catch the second swing and try and trow it to the side. A rifle wasn;t exactly the best eapon to parry with though and Lance found hismelf pushed back by the Glaras overhwelming strength. Being forced down towards the floor. Above him the Glara glared, teath bared in a vicious grin. Sure of their vistory and delighting in his suffering.

'Paladin! I will kill you!' thy shouted. Lance getting a very close up view of their molars as they did so. He could feel his arms straining, shaking against the force of the Glarsa push. The blade edge getting closer and closer to his face. Lance practically crossing his eyes to watch its decent. The drone had stopped shooting, not being able to risk hitting a Galra solider. Still it didnt matter. Lance was too much at a disadvantage. He couldnt run and protect the kid at the same time. The best case would be to survive long enough to be caught in the blast of the base as it blew. Better that than dying by Glara blade.

Huffing and panting, the growling of the Galra was the only sound he could hear. The shine of the blade aiming for his neck the only thing he could hear. His death drawing close. Lance could only hope Blue would have the intelligence to get out of there before it was to late. Thinking of her he practically forced the thought down the bond. Telling her to flee through the wormhole. That he wouldnt be making it. She was only behind a single sheet of metal but it may of well been lightyears. There was no way Lance could get to her.

Whtin himself Lance felt hoeless well up. Hopelessness and sorrow. Not just for himself but for the child clinging and crying behinnd him. Neither of them would be getting out of this. Neither of them would get to see their families again. Lost to a small corner of the universe. Just another casualtie on the Glaras long list. Poor kid, they were so young.

A rush of energy burst forth from his chest. Filling his limbs with energy and his mind with clarity. Pumping through him like his flesh was simply a mould to be filled with the energy of the blue lion. Lance heard her roar, felt it vibrate the ground around him. Suddenly he knew exactly what Blue was planning. Could practically feel the charge of the energy within his mouth. Could see the door to be blasted apart. The offending thing serperating her and her paladin. The rush of power and defience forcing both of them to move.

The roar startled the galra. Enought to have them let up on their push against Lance just the slightest amount. Lance capatlised on their suprise. Surging forward wtith a sudden burst of strength. In one smooth move he pushed upwards with his rifle. Throwing the sword off for a moment. Releasing his bayard to its resting form Lance reached forward. Grabbing the glara soliders by their outstretched arm and pulling with all his might. Taking them by suprise and toppling them forward. The galra fell onto Lance, crying out his own curse as he did so. The sword cutting through the metal of the floor and becoming stuck as he did so. The kid let out a sharp cry of suprise at its appearence.

Lance rolled backwards, crushing the chid beneath him and against the floor and the wall. Wrapping his legsa round the sider and rolling him on top of himself. Blocking out the light and everything else. Lance looked into the glowering golden yellow eyes. The puils lost wihtin. The teath bared and sharp, the reptilian like purple skin. The galra was so close Lance could pick out the pores on their flat nose. Could see the fine hairs on their neck. The short stubby eyelashes. The heatred and bloodthirst of the soiler. Lance roled the glara to the side. So it was between Lance and the blast doors.

The world lit up.

The light of Blues plasma blast ripped through the blast doors. Evaporating them and the drone still hoovering nearby in an instant. It silowhetted the glars solider in brilliant luminescence. Lance watched the widening of their eyes. The suprise giving way to pain in an instant. He pulled them closer as they screamed out in pain. Their back and flesh being evaportated from the heat. A second later Lance closed his eyes, gritting his teath as he continued to hld on tightly. He could feel part sof his own flesh start to sizzle where he wasnt covered entierly. The armour on his feet melting away and burning his flesh. He drew them closer, using the glara as a sheild. He couldnt bare to keep watching.

As soon as it started it was over. The light faded, leaving black dots dancing around in Lances Glara stopped screaming. The back of his head melted and sizzling. His blood boiled in his skin. Dead. Lance coughed, chocked slightly on the smell but forced the bile down and the dead glars body upwards. Freeing hismelf.

Stumbling to his feet, mind numb and ears ringing Lance graped his bayard n=in one hand and the kid in the other. Scopping them up under his arm and running for the door. The pain in his feet was a distant thing, numbed by adrenaline. Lance could only hear his own panting breaths as he stumbled into the hanger and up the ramp of the blue lion. The moment he had taken those first few steps Blue was swallowing him up. Sending Lance the galra child tumbling down into the cockpit.

Blue turned on one foot, nimble as a dancer and shot off into the blackness of open space. Heading for the bright blue glow of the open wormhole. Getting his breath back from where it had been punched out of him in the fall Lance dragged himself into the pilot seat. Setting the kid, clinging tightly to his front with constant hiccupping crys in his lap. Lance pushed on the thrusters, urging blue to go faster. How much did they have left?

Blue rushed forward as fast as she could. Closing in on the worm hold. Seconds before they could go through the base lit up. The engins overheating and going critcle. The blast rippled outwards terrifyingly fast. The heat and the nergy rippling forth. Lance felt it as it slammed itno blue from behind. Trowing them forward with a terrible lurch. Streight through the wormhole. A milisecond after they went through it winked out. Behind them the heat and fire of the exlosion billowed outwards. Engulphing the area and erradicating everything around it.

Blue shot out the wormholes, tumbling and turning widly from the blast. Lance curled hismelf around the kid in his lap and cripped the arms of the chair. Trying to ride it out. Opening his eyes into narrow slits he rached forwad. Fighting against the g-force of the fall and grabbed one of Blues steering sticks. With great effort he pulled, trying to bring her level. Fring up the thrusters. It took time and was by no means pretty but eventually he slowed Blue momentum. Panting and heaving as he left her to float in space. Needing a moment to get his breath back.

With one hand Lance patted the kid on the back. Slowly smoothing down their fluffy hair. Petting between their down turned ears. Lance could feel his heart pounding against his rib cage. The taste of iron thick in his mouth from where he had bitten his lip. The sweat rapidly cooling on his brow. Blue let out a tired and relived purr. Vibrating all around him. Lance smoothed a hand across the dash. Sending her his love and thanks. Overcome himself with relife.

Adrenaline slowly fading Lance curled hismelf around the crying child. Hugging them close. Soothing noises fell from his cracked lips. An automatic response.

'Shuussh, shuussh. Its alright. We're alright. Its all over now. Its over. Your alright' and so on. Slowly the kids squecky cried faded. Though they remained curled against his chest. Pressing their face to his chest plate. Lance didn tthink the armour could be too comfortable but the small galra showed no signs of moving. They really were very fluffy. Like realyl fluffy, with stripped patterns all over their fur. Lance didnt think he had ever seen such a fluffy galra, not even sandeck or Kolivan came close.

They sniffled. Gently Lance reached down ad tilted up their chin. Looking itno their teary eyes and smeared cheeks. They gazed back hesitantly. Evidently not knowing what to think. 'Hay there' he cooed, trying to dry their cheeks slightly with his tumb. 'Its all olay now. Yours safe. I'm Lance by the way. Blue Paladin of Voltron.'

They didnt respond but Lance watched their paws clench and unclench on his chest plate. Little claws squeeking across the surface. Like a cat kneeding. There was a small rumble. Enough to have them squeeking and burrowing close to him again. 'Hay its alright. Its just Blue. She's saying hello. There no need to worry, she's very freindly.'

With a sniffle they raised their head once again. Glancing over to the glowing blue dash. Eyes getting caught on the expanse of space stretching before them. Nebulas and stars lighting it up with all the colours of the rainbows. Lance watched the wonder wash over thir face and reathed a final sight of relife. It was over.

A few peacful seconds pas as the final bit of adrenalin fadded from Lances system. He breathed deeply. Holding the kid on his lap loosely and petting their hair when they sniggled down again. Pressing their tiny wet face to his neck. Lance had learned through his years of Voltron how to cope with adrenalin crash but it nerver made the feeling any more pleasent.

The com crackled as it came to life. 'Lance? Lance! Come in Lance.'

'Pick up assehole!' came Shiro and Keith respectivly. Lance let out a short rasping laugh. Eleation washing through him at the sound of their voice.

'Cool your jets samarai, im here.'

There was a sigh of relife over the come, supposedly Shiro. Lance couldnt be sure as Keith immidetly launched into a tirade. Lance grinned tiredly, closing his eyes and tilting his head back. So glad to hear his voice. No matter the scoulding he was getting.

'God damn it Lance! Why do you do this!? Do you know how close you cut that? Do you!? Answer me you asshole!' screamed Keith. Getting more and more incensed at Lances continued silence. HIs smile only stretched larger. Joy bubbling up, tinged with relife.

'Lance. We are close to your location. Sending you cordienates' there was beep as Allura patched through the map of the sector they were now in. A dot marking the castle inr elation to the blue lion. They really were close. Not a few minuets of flight. Lance nudges Blue into activity, swinging her round. Feeling her own want to return home and rest after their near miss.

'Ill be there in a few princess' Lance said warmly. Ignoring Keiths continue cursing. Eventually the red paladin was cut from the com channel. Probabaly by Shiro. Lance was a little dissapointed.

Touching down at the castle Lance settles Blue in hr hanger. Feeling the tingly bubble of the deep satisfied sigh she let out in his lower gut as he did so. Standing, kid set comfortably on his hip lance gave her a fond pat. Preparing to leave. 'Good work beutiful. Have a good nap.' She responded in kind. Warm love saturating the bond.

Lance limped downthe ramp. His left foot felt numb. Like he had sat on it for to long. Heavy and useless. It slepped against the ground as he walked, not really responding to his commands. Lance had avoided looking at it. Sure it wouldnt be pretty and almost glad he couldnt feel it anymore. The searing pain while his armour was metled in Blues plasma had been intense enouggh for him to be very glad it didnt linger. He should probably be more worried about it but right then he just wanted to get back to the team and see their faces.

The doors to the bridge wooshed open and immidetly Lance was set upon. Keith braking from the hold Shirp had him in and charging forwards. He came to stop not inches from lances face, standing nn his tip toes to make up the inch of height. Thick brows furrowed and eyes like a thunderstorm. Lance drank in the sight of him. Unwilling to look away for even a moment.

Seemignly blind to the galra child on his hips Keithcontinued shouting from where he had previously left off. 'You fucking over dreamatic recklass asshole! What did you think you were doing!? Pidge had already set the place to blow. Why did you go back?!' Keith all but screamed in Lances face. Hands bunched by his sides and shoulders drawn up to his ears. The man looked like he was going to pounce. Lance could see the others of the team standing back. Looking worried themselevs but willing to let this play out. By now they had learnt it was generally best not to come between Lance and Keith during these moments and instead let them scream it out.

'Hay I got away okay, didnt I? And dont go on about me being reckless mr kettle. You've got no right. I was just doing my job. We cant leave any of the prisoners behind. And look! I foudn one!' defended Lance, gesturing to the kid still firmly in his arms. His argument didnt seem to sway Keith however. He mearly blinked at the kid, as if only just noticing him before his scowl returned.

'That dosent matter! You could have died!'

'I could always die! Everytime we go on a mission we almost all die!'

'Well you wouldnt have almost died if you didnt isist on throwing your life away and playing hero!'

'I was doing my job! I saved their life!' snapped back Lance. Now actually hurt.

'Your job is flying the blue lion and guarding pidge. Not rescuing the prisoners! Stop putting yourself in uneccessary danger.'

'Or what?'

'Or I'll make you' growled Keith, talking half a step closer. Teath bared in a snarl of his own. Lance felt his own mouth turning down into a scowl and his own exshusted muscles tense. Ready to trown down if needed. Like keith had any right to lecture him about being reckless in the face of danger.

'Stop it!' cried out a unfamiler voice. Startling Lance and keith both enough to have them jump appart. Lance looke dat the glar in his arms in suprise. So did everyone else. They bared their own small fangs at Keith, ears pushed back but fur puffed right up. Like an angry cat. Yellow eyes narrowed. Lance could feel his little paws gripping tightly to the coller of his paladin cuit in fear but their stare never wavoured. It might have been frightening if it wasnt so adorable. They were so fluffy!

'Stop it, stop it! Leave him alone! Dont you touch him! You, you horrible pink alien stupid!' prehaps realising that they had gained all the attention in the room the little glara rather lost their steam. Beginning to tremble in Lances grasp. They drew back, hair de-fluffing in the process. Meek again they pressed their face back into Lances throat, seeking out the warmth.

Lance pressed his lips together. Taking in Keiths gobsmacked face. He tried not to laugh. Both from the look on Keiths face and the tickly feeling of the glaras fur on this throat. Slowly he reached over and petted their trembling head. Stroking along one overly large ear. 'There, there little hero. Its alright. He didnt mean it' Lance cooed. Glancing at Keith Lance tried not to let to smug a smile curle over his face. 'Isnt that right mr pink stupid alien?'

Keith closed his mouth with a snap. Huffing, he corssed his arms and looked away. A pout forming on his lips. Lance tried not to laugh. What a drama queen.

'No he didnt' said Shiro. Stepping forwad and gently guiding Kieth out of the way with a nudge and a significant look. 'Thats not to say though that he didnt make some very good points.' Lance opened his mouth, more than willing to keep arguing but Shiro was quick to raise a hand. Stalling him as he continued, 'Howeber, you were right in this case. So lets leave all that for later.'

'Good idea. This little chap loooks like he might have had a rough time. And you too, number three. Best us get you checked out before anything else' broken in Coren. Shuffling Lance forward. Lance tried to put the Galra on the floor but they very much insisted on holding on to him. Lance huffed and made his way over to his seat on the bridge under everyones watchful eyes. Relaxing back itno it with a sigh and stretching his legs out.

There was a short high pitched scream. Lance started up right only to turn and find Hunk looking at him in horror. Or more specifically his feet. 'Lance! What happened to you!' he cried, rshing forwad and alarting everyone else. The little glara drew back at the yellow paladins approach. Lance patted them soothingly. Reluctantly he turned to look at his feet.

The metal of his armour was twisted and mishapen. Its had trickled and solidified n some areas and completely come apart in others. Resolidifying into an unbalanced and lumpy mess. Where the white metal had been melted off Lance could see the slick black fabric of the paladin suit. There was something about it. The look of the thing. SOmething…wet. Strangly Lance felt a rising sense of nausea and panic though he couldnt think why.

Slowly, Pidge reached forward. Her hands coming away red. 'Your bleeding!' she exclaimed. Looking up to Lance in alarm and generating panic all around. Ah, that would be why then.

There was an immident and sudden rush all around. Lance suddenly not feeling to good. The child Galra was gently but persistantly pried from his side. Much to their distress. Hunk and Shiro rushed off to get a stretcher. Coren speedily hurried off to the pod room to get everything prep. Allura and Pidge set about very carefully trying to remove the armour from Lances legs. Which left Keith the task of keeping Lance distracted and not passing out.

Maybe not the best use of the Reds Paladins skill set. Lance leaned back in his chair. Very carefully not looking a what was going on around his feet. Keith knelt beside him looking harried and worried and about five seconds away from hitting something. Lance didnt worry to much about the last one. Keith always looked about five seconds away from hitting someone. Normally Lance. He should probabaly worry more about the fact he found it cute.

'Hay samarai, dont looked so worried. I'm not going to go dying from this' he huffed. Offering a crooked grin.

Keith reached forwad and grabbed his hand firmly. Gripping tight enough to crush. Lance returned the favour and caught his eye. Both of them unwilling to elt go. 'Idiot. Why did you say anything? Why did you walk here from the hanger!'

'The adrenalin I guess. Didnt even notice. Everythings kind of…numb from the knee down.' Keith did not look at all reasured.

'Are you dying!?' piped in a small voice. Two fluffy hands coming to grip his arm on his other side. Lance glanced at the little Glara and tried to offer them a reasuring smile. Keeping his voice soft as he replied.

'No, no. Dont you worry. Ill be fine. You'll see. The castle magic. It'll fix me right up.'

'You wouldnt need fixing up if you didnt insist on being a hero all the time' muttered Keith, eybrows scrunched.

'You've got no room to talk Mullet. You always rush in without thinking.'

'Pricisely. Thats ment to be my job. Not yours. You cant…you cant do this Lance. What if you hadnt…?' Keith bit his lips hard, looking away.

Lance gave his hand a squeeze and raised it to his lips. It was a pity the red paladin was still in his suit but Lance kissed the back of his knuckles anyway. Eyes locked with keiths deep purple gaze.

'Hay know, no what ifs. I made it. A little worse for wear but nnothing the pod cant fix. Dont go getting all down on me now' he sadi softly. Lowering the hand once again and wincing as Allura resorted to cracking the armour herself. Apologising under her breath as she did so. Lance smoothed out the pain as best he could seeing Keith watching intently. He smmirked crookedly. 'Besides, you love it when I go all hero on you.'

'I love it when you dont get hurt more' said Keith, with feeling. Still he managed a small fluttering smile back. Lance figured that was good enough for now.

Hunka dn Shiro burst back itno the room with the stretcher and Lance was loaded up. Keith took to holding the small Galra back from the shoulders when they tried to ride with. Akwardly patting them on the back and telling them it would be alright as they followed allong. Coren had the pod already and he a Shiro made quick work of the rest of Lances armour and slowly got him into the pod suit. Lance had to look away and take some very quick deep breaths when he got a small glance of his feet. He really, really hoped the pod would be able to fix them. It wasnt in the least bit pretty.

Lance was loaded up and Coren got ready to hit the sequence button. Lance always hated this bit. The few seconds before unconciousness where he had to sit in a small narrow tube, knowing it was going to close and freeze him. Keith stepped forward, instantly capturing Lances attention an distracting him. Darting forward the red paladin pressed a fleeting chaste kiss to his boyfriends lips. Sending tingles down Lances spin none the less.

'See you soon hero' Keith breathed. A great blush spreading voer his nose, shy. Lances soppy grin was then caught and frozen in place as the pod closed and forsted over. Sending him into a deep restful sleep.

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