Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron and all its characters.
Beta: Thanks again to Dawn! I think she may be having second thoughts...
This is the second installment in my "Chivalry" arc. 1. Chivalry, 2. Lion House Restored
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU in flavor but is AU in some ways.
Chapter Eight
The next three days went normally for the team with practices and schedules. Everyone continued to look through the histories, but no startling new revelations were found.
Keith started practicing more with the bow since he saw a number of people with them in his vision and thought he should be prepared. Surprisingly, it was Allura who was his teacher. Archery was something she had done as a child, and then as a necessity when she and her people were driven below ground.
The two of them were just finishing up a training session as she said, "You're a natural, Keith. In just two days of practice, you have greatly improved your aim. I think in just a few days, when we get your form corrected, you'll be able to move on to shooting while moving." While Keith was good, she was better, and it pleased her to think that there was something she was better at than the Voltron Commander. Then her smile faltered. She shouldn't feel this way; he needed to be the best. If she was better, without having practiced in years, how much better would his competition and adversaries be in a time when the bow was their blaster?
Keith saw her smile falter and jokingly asked, "What's wrong? Afraid that I'm getting too good?" When she didn't answer, he moved around to stand in front of her. She had dropped her chin so he had to lean over to try to look at her face. "Princess, what's up? What's wrong?"
Turning eyes brimming with tears to him, she said, "I'm afraid you won't be good enough."
Pulling her to him in an embrace, he carefully said, "You've been a great teacher. The bow won't be my only weapon, and you've seen that I'm pretty good with most of the era's weapons." He felt her nod against his chest. "Okay, no more tears?" Another nod. Pushing her back a little, he looked into her eyes and saw the tears were drying up. Pulling her back to his chest, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of holding her. He hadn't had any more visions; he hoped they stayed away.
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Two days later, a week since the challenge, and still no more visions came. Keith was beginning to feel a little more relaxed. If he wasn't having visions, then the quest wasn't going to happen yet, and his ribs would have more time to heal. He could already see the improvement in them after a few days of treatment. His other aches and pains were also improving, although his Lotor scars, as he called them, were still pronounced. But then, he expected them to be.
Keith walked briefly to the repair bay where he was to help Hunk with some repairs to Red Lion. Hunk just needed an extra pair of hands, and Keith did like to keep up with what was going on with the lions in terms of mechanics and repairs. Stopping below the open hatch on Red, Keith called up, "I'm here, Hunk! Where do you want me?"
Hunk's head popped out of the hatch and he extended a hand down to Keith. "Come on up, Cap'n, glad to have your help." Between Hunk's strength and Keith's athleticism, Keith was soon pulled up into the belly of the Lion.
Two hours later, they were most of the way through the repair and covered with the oil, lubricants, and fluids that made the lion run smoothly. They were finishing up a section when Hunk pulled on an overhead panel that was stuck. Keith smiled as he heard the big man growl and grunt. Keith was working to seal a panel on the floor when he heard Hunk cry out. A large sparking cable swung quickly down from the panel that Hunk had freed. Keith was just able to duck the cable as it swung over his head. He felt a slight burning sensation on his neck and smelled burnt hair. Next thing he knew, he was prone on his back with Hunk on top of him. Keith wasn't sure there was any breath left in his body as he wheezed out, "I'm… okay, Hunk… please… get… off."
Pushing up quickly, Hunk hurried to contain the sparking cable and then cut the power to the section. Turning back to the commander, he said, "Well, that will take another hour to fix. Are you okay?"
Now that breath was returning to his body and his ribs had stopped screaming at him from Hunk's push to the floor, he sat up gingerly. Taking a careful deep breath that didn't hurt too badly, he said, "I think I'm fine." Reaching around to feel his neck, he noticed two things immediately. One was a slight burn right above his collar, and the second thing was that most of his hair that fell below his shoulders was missing.
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About an hour later, Keith exited his shower and looked at himself in the mirror. He had gone to the barber in the castle after the incident in the lion and had his hair length made uniform across the back. Looking at it now, he knew that when it dried, it would barely touch his shoulders. The only good thing was that the burn stung like crazy, and he didn't remember feeling any pain in the vision when he touched his neck. Therefore, the burn must have healed somewhat.
Exiting the bathroom with a towel around his waist, he barely paused on his way to the dresser when he saw Lance seated in his living area. "So, did Hunk tell you?"
"Did he tell me that you seemed a little out of sorts that your hair was short? Yes. By the way, he wants to console you by letting you know that it WILL grow back." Lance smirked as he said it.
Keith rolled his eyes. "You know it's not the length that bothers me. It's the vision."
"Yeah, I know that's why you're upset. No one else will know though." Leaning forward and speaking earnestly, he said, "Tell 'em, Keith. They need to know."
Pulling on his clothes, Keith stated, "No. I'll tell them after another vision. No need to make them all upset."
"Promise me that you'll tell me if you have another vision." Lance's tone was firm.
Without looking at him, Keith replied. "I promise I'll tell you."
Standing quickly and turning Keith to him, Lance said, "Look me in the eye, Keith, and promise me."
Doing as Lance asked, he said with resignation, "I promise."
Letting out a deep breath, Lance turned to the door, "Thanks, buddy." And before he exited, he said, "You know, the shorter hair looks good on you. Makes you look a little more like me… and that's always a good thing." Smiling, he left the room.
Keith smiled as Lance left. His hair was now just a little shorter than Lance's. Sitting down in the chair that Lance had vacated, he leaned his head back and pondered this strange existence that was now his life.