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For a good ten minutes Lance was on an all time high.
He was weaving between lasers next to his hero and together they were fighting against the forces of evil. The infamous Mission Impossible theme song played in his head in a never ending loop of danger and excitement.
The Black Lion was the decoy while the Blue Lion zapped the big guns of the enemy ships. The Black Lion would then swoop in with its jaw blade and finish dismantling the ship. Black may be the biggest lion but that didn't seem to deter its dexterity much. Shiro always flew around as if there were air currents in the void of space that only he could find.
"Good job Lance," Shiro's voice sounded over the comm. "We're almost done."
Lance let loose a goofy grin. "We so got this."
He shot out his ice laser, half freezing a fighter ship. I'm the Lion Tailor. Defender of the innocents and overall heart throb of the universe. After this, maybe Shiro would count on him more often - maybe he'd be the new Boy Wonder. "Time for some sawing action Blue." He materialized the jaw blade.
"Wait, don't -"
He already threw it out in an arc. The blade sliced through ice and metal easily, propelling it - His eyes widened suddenly as he spotted where the wing would go.
"Crap!"
The theme song flew out of his mind.
Quickly he shot forward towards the craft to try to bite the flying wing of the ship. In his haste he only succeeded in bumping into the rest of the ship. The Black Lion couldn't dart over due to the lasers. Lance felt his heart in his throat as he quickly opened a link to Green.
"Pidge!"
But the wing already collided with her. He helplessly watched the Green Lion struggle to right herself before the rest of the ship was about to collide - A red blur cut in front. The Red Lion roared as it crashed into the ship, simultaneously altering the course away from Pidge but also getting stuck against it.
Shiro grunted over the comms. "Lance, I need you to take care of these guns!"
"Keith's stuck. I-I'm so sorry Shiro, I didn't see -"
"Focus. I'll get him."
"But then I'll be handling these guys alone," Lance quietly murmured as his earlier confidence waned. "I'm not -" Keith, the right hand, the better pilot, the cooler fighter - better at everything...
"Lance."
It was just his name but the way Shiro said it so calmly with so much resolve and faith - Lance gripped his controls tighter as he lifted his bowed head, feeling his second wind.
"I got this."
"That a boy."
The Black Lion quickly swirled around a fighter, leaving it up to Lance.
Allura was already tracking Keith's Lion before the chatter on the comms increased.
"Shiro, Red can't get out!"
"Hang on buddy. I'm coming."
"Wait what's going on guys?" Hunk's worried voice made Allura's brows furrowed. "What's wrong with Keith's Lion?"
"I knocked a ship into him," Lance answered with a grunt. "Man these guys are relentless."
"Hunk what's your status?"
"Ah, maybe like eighty percent loaded Shiro."
"Good, keep going. Once all personnel are off head into the Castle of Lions."
"Allura, can you cover me?" Pidge's voice sounded over the comms.
"Coran and I are assisting Lance." The princess eyed Coran's back as he worked the castle's defense lasers at the control panel. "Pidge, you need to cover Hunk."
"But Keith -"
"Hunk needs you more," came Shiro's voice.
There was a tired sigh from the Green Lion's comms. "He jumped in for me."
"He knew what he was doing."
"...Yeah. I guess."
Allura looked at the holo-screen showing the comms. The Black Lion was opening a separate line with only the castle. She muted the shared line before accepting Shiro's call.
"How far out is Keith?"
She divided the screens so she could look at the Black Lion's location. "At that speed you'll reach him in twelve ticks." The screen tracking the Red Lion blared out in a red outline. She quickly pulled it to the front, her eyes widening as she saw what was in his path. "The Red Lion's in a collision course with a refueling station."
The Black Lion started speeding up immediately.
"You need to gain more speed."
"How about now?"
"You're still too far out," some worry leaked into her voice.
"Come on Black," Shiro grounded out.
"In another eight ticks Keith will -" she cut herself off abruptly, unable to say it. "Shiro."
"I won't make it," Shiro said in a rush, "Shoot him at an angle."
"What?"
"Keith," Shiro voiced out on the shared line, "Brace for impact!"
"Ok," came Keith's response, no questions asked.
Allura locked onto the Red Lion.
"Princess is this really -" Coran started to question.
"Fire, Coran!"
The royal advisor hit the laser. They all watched as the castle's blue beam struck out in the distance. Allura watched the screens intensely, looking for any explosion to indicate that the Red Lion collided with the refueling station. The laser should have altered his course but it might not have been in time...Another couple of ticks passed and there was no explosion.
"Number Four," Coran spoke up, "what's your condition?"
There was nothing but static from the Red Lion.
"Shiro...?" came Pidge's quiet voice.
"I see Red. She's banged up but still intact."
"The force must have knocked him out," Coran speculated out loud. "I'll ready a cryopod."
There was a long groan. Then, "What the hell hit me?"
"Keith!"
"Alright man!"
"Don't move. I'm grabbing your lion."
Allura released her breath. "Thank heavens."
In the med bay Keith hissed as Coran put some salmute on his cheek cut.
"It's not that bad."
"That stuff stings like shit," Keith nearly growled.
He wasn't hurt enough for a cryopod but he was sure he was going to find plenty of bruises.
"Keith," Shiro sighed nearby, "What did I tell you about language?"
The Red Paladin eyed the cotton swab with distaste. "No one likes hearing it."
"Especially from a runt," Lance grinned.
"Keep talking." Keith switched his glare to the Blue Paladin. "I dare you."
The sliding door opened, revealing Hunk and Pidge. The latter had a hand along Hunk's arm to help ease the weight off her healing left ankle.
"We hooked up Red," Hunk smiled. "She'll be charged in the morning. Or what constitutes as 'morning' in space, I guess."
"Thanks Hunk."
Coran straightened up. "I've done what I can." He turned to Hunk. "Number Two, I'll need your cooking skills for our guests."
"We'll come out with you," Shiro looked over at Lance.
The Blue Paladin got up from leaning against the medical cot. "Get better man."
Shiro placed a hand on Keith's shoulder. The teen looked up to see Shiro's smile. Keith felt a small smile crack on his face. His body was in a crappy situation but at least he regained some ground with Shiro.
Pidge was the only one left. "That was pretty stupid and reckless."
Keith gave her a flat look as she plopped down next to him.
"You have a funny way of showing gratitude."
"Eh, not really." She took off her glasses to blow off an eyelash. "Every family has their quirks."
"..."
"I know you've not really been in one," Pidge put her glasses on, "but I'll try to ease up until you're accustomed to it."
Keith stared at her quietly. Then he lifted his hand to lightly push her head forward.
"Dweeb."
She gave his shoulder a weak punch. "Jerk-wad."
Their blue skinned, dark eyed guests looked at the head of the table.
Allura stood at the head with Shiro on her right and Coran on her left. The other paladins - except for Keith and Pidge - were lined up on either side. They were still in their armor and Allura in her space suit.
"The Paladins of Voltron and I, Princess Allura of Altea, will escort you home."
There was a murmuring amongst the people of planet Yolyn. Unsure if it was a concerned unrest or something else, Shiro spoke up.
"We've made contact with your other ships. They are fine and will lead us straight to your planet." He gave a small smile. "You'll be home soon so please, eat and rest."
The murmurings quieted as eyes laid on Shiro.
"Voltron," one of the older Yolynians voiced out, "so the rumors are true."
"Yes," Allura straightened her shoulders in unmasked pride. "It is about time Zarkon's terror was put to an end."
The same elder shook his head. "It is easier to proclaim that than to follow through."
"We are aware," she shared a look with Shiro before turning back to the table, "It is not without its risks."
Another Yolynian stood up with a cup raised.
"To Voltron's success."
The others raised their glasses, echoing the sentiment with solemnity.
It was late when Shiro heard his door slide open.
"You really shouldn't be in here."
He didn't know what they'd do or say if one of their guests happened to see the Princess of Altea in the Black Paladin's room. However...He found that he was already making room for her. He was on his side with his back to the door. He heard Allura's nightgown softly rustle as she moved, felt the cot dip as she got on it. She didn't slip under the covers this time, choosing to be on top of it like he was. He felt her arm around his torso before feeling the rest of her against his back.
"I do not care." Her eyes closed as she smelled the herbal soap from his hair. "That was riskier than I expected it to be."
"Taking down a ten thousand year old empire has its risks." Shiro hummed. "I thought we were already aware of it."
"I am serious Shiro."
In the low light of his room he felt for her hand. "I didn't say that to undermine the seriousness." Pause. "We could have lost Keith."
Her face pressed against the back of his neck.
"You as well, if the refueling station had exploded."
"I've faced death several times," he murmured absentmindedly, "but Keith - "
"You were still at risk," she said with some sharpness, "do not push that fact aside."
"...Allura." He gave her hand a squeeze. "You shouldn't show favoritism."
"And you do not?"
"I'm not the head of the Castle of Lions," he pointed out. "Isn't it a rule for monarchs to be impassive?"
"That is not something you need to be concerned with," she muttered, "I'll do as I please for I -"
"Am royalty," he finished with a half cocked smile she couldn't see. He let out a grunt when he felt a sharp pinch on his neck. "Did you just bite me?"
"For impertinence."
He didn't care to trace how they got to this playful mood. After all that happened today he could allow himself a switch in tone.
"What gets me a kiss?"
"Nothing," she murmured.
He was about to comment on her unfair rulings when he felt something soft brush the back of his neck.
"You do not need to gain," she lightly kissed his nape again, "what is freely given."
"Bold words," he half teased, half warned. "I'd use them carefully."
"I told you," her nose ran along the spine of his nape, "I finish what I start."
His eyes closed as her other hand went into his hair.
"To what end?"
She didn't pause in kissing his neck. "We'll see when we get there."
Dangerous game. He shook his head.
"I'm not turning around."
She kissed the edge of his jawline before giving it a small bite.
"Then don't."
Her hand slipped from his. He felt a strong shiver as her hand trailed down his stomach.
"I'm almost sure a Princess doesn't act like this towards a Paladin."
She peppered languid kisses along the junction of his shoulder and neck.
"I am certain a Paladin should not question their monarch as much as you do."
He chuckled at that. "You weren't drawn to me for my quiet obedience."
She softly scoffed but did not refute it. Her hand found the edge of his sleepshirt. Her fingertips started to brush bare skin, taking their time to trace up to the beginning of his ribs -
He gently grabbed her hand and brought it up to his mouth. She felt the brief brush of lips before he put their hands down on the cot. As much as he wanted to continue this, he knew there was something he needed to address.
"Earlier today...I felt a block."
Her mouth paused in a kiss along the back of his ear. He turned his head towards her though he couldn't see her expression.
"During the mission?"
"Yes," he quietly answered. "I wanted Black to go faster but she wouldn't." She felt his hand tighten a little in frustration. "Not that she couldn't do it. After all this time, I don't understand why - But maybe she needed the bayard," he sighed, turning his face back towards the wall. "Or I was just imagining things."
"...Perhaps," she slowly murmured after a moment of silence, "we should look into building a replacement bayard."
"Could we?"
"I'll have to consult with Coran. He might know where my father kept the plans."
"That would be a great asset," Shiro sighed in relief.
"It might not be possible," she softly warned.
"Maybe not. But we can try."
"After all you've gone through," she rubbed her face against his shoulder, "you always carry so much hope."
"Funny. I think that about you."
She lifted her head up as he turned towards her. Her lashes fluttered half closed as she leaned in. He softly chuckled at her assumption but answered her call. They kissed once, then parted their mouths more for the second kiss. Her hands gripped his sleepshirt as new sensations rippled along her body. He pulled away a little for air, feeling his bottom lip linger in between hers before it was returned to him.
"You don't seem new to this," he amusedly commented.
"I am a quick study," she primly tilted her chin up. "Coran's told me for deca-phoebs."
He let out a low laugh. "Don't ever say that in this context."
She grew red upon realizing what it sounded like. "Why do humans misinterpret everything?" she hotly scolded.
He laughed louder.
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AN: Ok... you knew this was the calm before the storm. Next chapter should be the next episode, "Collection and Extraction." Da da duuummm! ...about time, right? XD
Side note: I still can't believe season seven's coming out soon. 0_0