x
As Color Fades Away
Chapter Twenty
It was very dark here.
Lance blinked against the darkness, straining to see something. Anything.
The faintest glimmer shone in the distance, a light against the dark canvas.
Lance let out a breath... or, well, he might have.
He didn't have a body.
He was just... just there. Somehow.
Where was there? Where was here?
He didn't know this place.
"Hello?" he whispered, unseeing lips sounding out the word.'Hello' echoed over and over in the space until it eventually faded away. "Where am I?" he called out then, 'am I, am I, am I?' repeating into the void.
He didn't think this was his mindscape. His mindscape had been–
Dios.
He remembered.
He'd...
He'd...
Failure stabbed into him, burning and freezing in its intensity.
He'd...
He'd given up. Surrendered.
He'd failed.
He'd failed his family. Failed the universe.
He'd failed himself.
He'd sworn to do whatever it took to protect his family. He had promised himself that he would make sure they did not get hurt because of his weakness and failure.
And yet here he was, broken, in some dark void with Haggar out there and ready to... to steal his quintessence or something like that. He didn't really understand what that was or how it mattered, but he did know it had to be bad and he was allowing her to do it.
He should try and stop her.
Somehow.
But...
But all he ever did was fail.
What did he honestly think he could do?
The light in the distance pulsed and he found his gaze drawn back to it.
What was that?
And although he had no body to speak of he found himself moving towards it.
It shone even brighter up close, discernibly blue now, and flowing about almost like ocean waves.
It was beautiful.
He had the strongest urge to to reach out and touch it, but the lack of a body prevented him from doing so. The light though wrapped about whatever it was he was, cool and warm all at the same time.
He recognized this presence.
"Blue," he whispered, almost hearing the comforting purr as the light continued to envelop him. "Are… are you here?"
No answering roar greeted him, but the pressure, almost now like a hug, increased and he found himself melting into it. There was joy here. Laughter. Smiles. Peace and comfort and hope all bundled up in this light, which he slowly realized must be his quintessence.
He was in his mind now.
There was a sharp prick then against what would be his arm and he glanced down.
There was a dark patch, a blackness, a tear, in his quintessence.
It hurt.
He tried to pull away from it but there were more now, swarming amidst the blue light, and leaving an odd mixture of both comfort and pain as the two clashed.
All of it was his quintessence, he recognized. The dark and the light. His quintessence had broken, just as he had.
He'd...
He'd hurt himself.
He stopped trying to pull away.
It was then he became aware that the quintessence itself was being pulled instead, sucked towards the opposite end of this dark world where only endless blackness resided.
Haggar.
She was trying to take his quintessence.
She was going to hurt his family with it. He didn't know how but he knew that.
He couldn't let her.
He had to protect them.
He couldn't grip anything, but all the same he tugged on the light, feeling it wrap tighter about him.
This was his quintessence. And she couldn't have it.
The blue seemed to glow at the sentiment, a new wash of warmth and love filling him.
Protect it seemed to echo. Fight.
"I'm trying," Lance whispered to it, wincing as a dark patch seared against him. His grip loosened as pain dug into him, dark and cold and biting.
Fight!
He tightened his grip.
He didn't know how long he could hold on for. Even with the comforting blue wrapped about him he could feel the dark pieces growing, digging into him as surely as Haggar's poisonous words.
But he had to.
He had to fight.
He had to protect them.
He couldn't give up now.
He hadn't failed them yet.
The blue glowed brighter, bolstering him.
He could still do this.
Protect, it whispered.
"I will," he said, surprised to find he meant it. "I will," he repeated, wrapping himself more fully in his quintessence. "I'll protect them."
He pulled with all of his might...
And his world exploded in color.
xxx
It was supposed to be a quick stop. Go in, find a strand of hair, and get back to the hanger to start building the DNA scanner. But nothing was ever simple these days and it stood to reason this would not be either.
Oh, Hunk had found the hair without too much effort. Lance had several available strands between his pillow and blankets. That part had been done right off the bat and Hunk had safely secured it in a capsule for transport.
It was leaving the room that was the hard part.
Hunk hadn't set foot in Lance's room since his best friend had been taken from them. He realized that was a mistake to the poor plants Lance had accumulated and frantically ran to the bathroom to fill several cups with water and hydrate the wilting greenery.
He didn't want them to die.
If they died...
Hunk had ended up crying over one of the pots where the leaves had begun to curl in from the neglect.
It was stupid to tie Lance's fate to his plants, but...
But that was where Hunk's mind was. He spent some time pruning them, plucking out the dead leaves and tracing his fingers over soft petals and trying to comfort the greenery in the way he couldn't comfort Lance.
He'd ended up crying again and watering one plant a bit with his tears.
He hoped the salt didn't hurt it.
Hunk had thought it strange the first time Lance had picked up a plant from one of the planets they'd liberated. His friend hated gardening of any sort and he'd witnessed Lance's black thumb on more than one occasion.
His Lion wasn't even the element of the earth or plants (and Pidge most definitely did not have floral arrangements in her room) to say it was his Lion's influence. After the third such plant Lance accumulated though he'd had to ask. And the answer had actually been rather unsurprising.
Lance had spent his entire life surrounded by siblings and caring for them in his own way, even his two older siblings. Even while at the Garrison he often wrote letters, emails and sent off silly gifts and photos on a regular basis. He'd just... needed something to look after here. And besides, he'd smirked, trying to push aside the look of homesickness that had stolen over his features, Allura had kiboshed his plans for any pets so plants it had to be.
He'd even named all of them after his siblings. It made Hunk feel even more guilty that they'd been neglected and promised them all he'd look after them until Lance was up to doing so himself.
Somehow between caring for the plants and plucking the sample hair, Hunk had found himself sitting on Lance's bed and clutching Lance's jacket to him while trying to hold back another wave of tears.
He knew he needed to get back to work. Not only did he have the scanner to work on but he and Pidge were still working on the mapping program they were devising to possibly allow for a quicker exit from the Galra (they were keeping it under wraps though until they could determine it would work because no point in getting hopes up to crush them) and he had to take point on it for now as she was busy with the hologram projector and he really needed to get back but... but he couldn't get himself to move.
He just wanted to close his eyes and when he opened them find out all of this was just a horrible nightmare, some hallucination maybe brought on by some weird space food.
He didn't want this to be real.
Because Lance...
He was so scared.
Hunk was scared of a lot of things and so that feeling on its own was nothing new. But this bone-deep, gut-churning fear that had no end, that nothing could ease, was something different entirely. And nothing would be able to stop it until Lance was back, safe, and cradled in his arms where Hunk was never going to let him go.
He knew it wasn't going to be that simple.
And yet if Lance was here, with him, Hunk knew he could do anything, or at least have the courage to try.
Without Lance...
Without Lance he wouldn't even be here. And Hunk didn't mean necessarily in space (although yes, that too), but he wouldn't have ever become the person he was.
He owed so much to Lance.
Hunk sniffled and held the jacket tighter, pressing his face into the worn but loved cloth. He swore he smelled cinnamon, the scent he had come to associate with Lance's family home.
He remembered the first time he'd stepped foot into the house.
It had been on the day he first met Lance.
He smiled even as he let out a sob at the memory, allowing himself to become lost in that summer afternoon that changed...
Changed everything.
He'd been eight years old and sitting at the base of the huge mesquite tree that resided at the very outskirts of his neighborhood . It was the border, the final marker, before one crossed the street and entered the "shantytown", the nickname for the poorer section of houses there. He liked it though because it was quiet and away from the rest of his uppity neighborhood.
Away from everyone else.
It was a gorgeous summer day and he should have been outside playing rather than reading. Again. He figured at least he was outside though, rather than closed up in the house. His mom had given a soft sigh but had nodded and smiled and agreed.
Hunk knew she was still disappointed.
His parents were concerned about him, he knew, and how he didn't have any friends. Their worry just made him more anxious and the few times he'd found the courage to try and befriend a new kid to the school he had messed it up, stuttering and stumbling over his words and making him look like a bit, fat idiot.
He didn't call himself that. The other kids did. They called him lots of names, their favorites being 'chunky Hunky' and 'Hunky the monkey,' and then make monkey noises at him and pick their noses.
He didn't know why they disliked him so much.
They just did.
Children could be cruel, his mom told him, after he'd come home from school with his knees scraped from being shoved down and his new book on airplane engines ripped to shreds. They didn't always like people who were different from them and Hunk, with his big, beautiful brain, his mom said, trying to tickle a smile out of him with no avail, could be intimidating to them.
Hunk had not been comforted. Not even peanut butter and fluffernutter sandwiches could make it better.
His parents had talked to the school about the bullying issues but things had only gotten worse, the kids becoming better at hiding their aggressions or targeting him on the short walk to and from school.
Hunk had stopped trying, doing all he could to avoid anyone and everyone.
No one wanted to be his friend. That was all there was to it.
Instead he found his solace in his books and cooking with his mom and tinkering on engines at his dad's auto shop. He didn't need anyone else, he told himself.
The lie was bitter but it still hurt less than the teasing and the cruel words of the other kids.
He had been reading a book on combustion engines, the thick tome balanced in his lap, when a sedan had rolled up to a house in shantytown not too far from him, the rattling engine disturbing the otherwise tranquil quiet of the early afternoon. Hunk had of course looked up to see what the commotion was. He loved to know everything going on, even when it sometimes got him in trouble. His mom called it inquisitive and curious. The other children called it being nosy and had nearly broken his nose in their taunting.
So he did not hold out much hope that the new people moving in, even if they did have kids, would want to play with him. No one ever did.
He told himself it didn't matter.
He told himself he was a liar.
Hunk wanted a friend. He wanted a friend so badly it hurt.
He watched a man get out of the backseat, speaking rapid-fire in a language Hunk only vaguely recognized as Spanish as he walked around the front passenger side of the car to help a very pregnant woman out of the seat. Only once she was standing, waving a map in front of her face at the dry Arizona heat, did the man open the backseat door closest to Hunk.
Hunk could only watch in amazement as three, no, four, no, five! children tumbled out all chattering a mile a minute in incredibly loud voices, further breaking the quiet of the afternoon.
He wondered the physics of how all of them plus who he guessed was the dad had fit in such a space.
They were all incredibly thin, wearing an odd combination of clothes that didn't seem to quite fit. The man appeared to order the kids to head for the house, pausing himself to remove two suitcases from the trunk that was otherwise bare. The man went towards the front of the car where another man – Hunk recognized him as Mr. McClain from his church – met him. The two spoke with mostly smiles and nods and clasped hands.
Hunk realized who these people must be. The refugees. His church had been participating in a relocation program for refugees and the family they had sponsored was to be arriving sometime over the next week. Cuba, Hunk thought he remembered.
He turned his attention from the two adult males back to the kids, who were chattering away and swarming about the front yard and small porch, while their mom waved her hands in an exasperation Hunk recognized from his own mom and one of the older children, a girl maybe around twelve?, went to her side and guided her up the steps.
Within the minute all of the children were inside the house and a minute later the dad was too, Mr. McClain getting back in his car and driving off.
Hunk blinked at the lack of noise, his ears still ringing.
He wondered if any of them might want to be his friend. He knew it was a silly hope but something kept him rooted there, telling him not to leave. Hunk figured he had nothing better to do and so he stayed, hoping this feeling wasn't just from eating a tub of raw cookie dough earlier in the morning.
He lingered at the tree for another hour with his book, only half-heartedly reading it as he kept glancing down the street at the house, waiting.
Just as he was about to head home for lunch, his stomach rumbling and his hopes sinking, the door opened and one of the older girls walked out, a boy scampering at her heels. He looked from here to be about Hunk's age and he straightened up, squinting to see better. He was tall, at least for their age, and had a thin build and face, but a toothy grin was widening it.
The girl, who had to be his sister, was walking around the side of the house towards the backyard, calling over her shoulder no doubt for the boy to follow.
The boy looked past his sister and caught Hunk staring straight on. The larger boy blushed and ducked his head at being caught. When he finally had enough courage to look back up both the boy and girl were gone. He sighed, disappointed in himself. Maybe he'd work up the courage to go over there and introduce himself later.
Much later. Most likely never. He was a real coward, afraid of being rejected again.
He stood up and wiped the dry dirt from the seat of his shorts. It was time to go home.
Before he'd made it a step though he heard a shout and the sound of someone running, feet pounding on pavement He turned around and was nearly plowed over by the boy he'd seen a few minutes ago, who somehow managed to hit the brakes and skidded to a stop just inches from Hunk.
He was tall, Hunk thought again. And had no concept of personal space as he leaned forward, white teeth shining against his tan skin.
"¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? Me llamo Lance!" The boy leaned closer, fingers lighting on the book Hunk was clutching protectively in front of him at the close proximity. Last time someone had gotten this close they'd yanked his books from his hands and then knocked him down too."
But this boy didn't seem interested in yanking Hunk's book away, merely seeming to be holding it because he couldn't reach Hunk around it.
Hunk wasn't sure how he felt about that but the boy seemed friendly.
Maybe...?
¿Qué estás leyendo? ¡Ese libro es muy grande!" the boy chattered. He cocked his head to the side and gestured at the house behind him. "¿Quieres jugar a escondite? ¡Estamos explorando nuestra nueva casa!"
He was definitely speaking Spanish at this point. Hunk wondered if this was what he sounded like when he went into his tangents on engineering and his parents just nodded along, listening but not really understanding.
He should say something though. His tongue got lodged in his mouth as he remembered how most first meetings with new kids always went for him. His stomach flipped over and could feel the barest tinge of green overcoming him as nerves got the better of his stomach.
The boy's face was morphing from the wide smile, but it wasn't to disgust.
He looked concerned. "¿Estás bien? Te ves verde."
"Um," Hunk swallowed thickly. "Uh, hi," Hunk said, trying for a smile. "I, uh, don't speak Spanish."
At the word the boy brightened again. "¿No hablas español? Spanish? " the boy asked, trying to clarify. "¿Hablas inglés?
"Inglés is... is English?" Hunk sounded out, earning an exuberant nod. "Yes. I speak English. But not Spanish. Er, español. I'm sorry."
The boy waved away the words, never losing his smile at this complication, and pointed at himself. "Me llamo Lance. Lance. ¿Y tú?"
Lance, Hunk repeated the name in his head. At least he thought that's what the other boy was saying.
"I'm Hunk," Hunk said slowly, gingerly releasing one hand from his book and using it to point at himself. "And you're Lance?"
"¡Sí sí! Hola, Hunk!" Lance held out a hand with a wide smile.
A handshake.
He felt something warm bloom inside his chest.
Hunk stared at it for a moment before hesitantly held out his as well, being treated a second later to an enthusiastic handshake that nearly had him dropping his book.
"Vamos a jugar un juego," Lance smiled. "¿Juega con nosotros, Hunk?"
Hunk had no idea what that meant. He said as such but Lance did not seem deterred in the slightest.
Instead he tugged at their hands, still connected, to pull Hunk towards his house. He used his other hand to cover his eyes and then mimed like he was searching for something, shielding his eyes and looking around. Understanding dawned in Hunk's a second later. "Hide and seek?" he asked.
Lance wanted to play hide and seek with him?
Lance did not answer, but tugged more insistently at Hunk to follow him. Hunk found his feet moving all on their own, leading him down the street into shantytown and up the creaking steps of the porch. Hunk barely had a second to kick off his shoes – his mom had a very firm rule about shoes in the house – before he was being tugged inside while Lance shouted at the top of his lungs in excitement. Within seconds all four of his other children Hunk had witnessed earlier were present.
"Hunk, estos son mis hermanos: Rosie, Carlos, Geoffrey y Maria," Lance said, pointing at each child in turn from apparently oldest to youngest. "Chicos, este es mi amigo nuevo Hunk."
Hunk knew very few Spanish words – the only ones he really got were from Saturday morning cartoons – but he did recognize the word amigo thanks to the three amigos from Disney.
It meant friend.
Lance had called him his friend.
He felt his face heat up at the simple declaration, made mere minutes after meeting Lance. He held up his hand in a little wave to a chorus of "holas."
Maria was apparently tagged as 'it' for their game and Lance grabbed Hunk's hand again, gesturing with a quiet giggle to follow him upstairs to hide. Hunk's own face nearly split because of his grin, and he eagerly followed for his first ever game of hide and seek and the first of his many, many adventures with his new, best friend Lance.
He was jerked out of the memory by a knock on the open doorframe, revealing the princess, who smiled almost sheepishly at him.
Hunk blinked. What was Allura doing here?
"I am sorry to disturb you," she apologized, inclining her head. "I hope I am not intruding."
"Ah, you're fine, Princess. I'm sorry, I got distracted. Did... did you come here looking for me? I'm sorry, you shouldn't be an errand girl. I'll get back to the hangar right away."
Hunk was already on his feet, putting Lance's jacket reverently back atop his pillow, hoping it hid his shaking hands.
It's not that he was scared of Allura, even though she could be pretty intimidating.
It was just...
He didn't really know how to talk to royalty one on one like this. Allura had always been rather distant and while she had seen more of her in the past few days than he thought he had since they'd been launched into space outside of training, they had never really talked.
Well, except for when he yelled at her about abandoning Lance.
He winced at the memory.
In is defense at that point in time Allura had seemingly been more concerned about the fate of the universe over what fate had befallen his best friend, but she had changed her tune after the recording and hearing her explain her conversation they'd heard with Haggar had quelled the lingering fear he'd had that she was still going to decide it was too dangerous, that the needs of many outweighed the needs of a few, and order them to call it off.
Now all he felt was guilt that he'd yelled in the first place. Hunk didn't really yell, not often.
Even the memory of raised voice made his stomach clench although he would not take it back.
"Actually," Allura sounded almost hesitant and Hunk found his eyes drawn to hers. "I... I had hoped the two of us might speak. If you have a moment."
"Um, Y-yeah. Sure."
Hunk's stomach gave another twist.
"I wanted to ask you about Lance."
Hunk blinked.
That... That was not what he had been expecting. And hearing Lance's name from Allura's mouth was still... strange. A good strange but... different.
"Okay..." Hunk said, crossing his arms uncomfortably over his chest. "Um, what about him?"
"You two are close," Allura said, phrasing the question as a statement and Hunk nodded. "I..." she wrung her hands and Hunk blinked again.
Was Allura... nervous?
"I am concerned," she finally settled on. "Before Lance was... taken, I had noticed there was a... disconnect, I suppose, in his actions from previous. He seemed... sad," she said quietly.
Hunk felt his heart clench.
Someone else had noticed too, seen beneath Lance's boisterous and loud personality.
He honestly hadn't expected it to be Allura.
"I cannot claim to know Lance and how he will be affected by what he has suffered with the Galra," Allura continued. "But given what I have previously witnessed I... I am worried. I wish to try and understand who Lance is so I can best help him when he returns. I had hoped you might be able to provide some insight. If... if that is all right."
"Of course it's all right," Hunk said, throat somewhat choked. He swallowed and shot Allura a small smile. "He'd be really touched you're asking, Princess. He really looks up to you."
Allura looked surprised. "He does?"
"Mm. And Shiro. Shiro's his hero and you're... well, you're you." Allura's brow furrowed in confusion. "You're this... this really amazing and powerful and beautiful," Hunk felt himself blush, "princess who is traveling the universe to free it from Zarkon's reign even after all... all you've been through," his voice got quieter in solemn remembrance of all Allura had lost that set her on this path, "and he just... just really admires you. We all do."
"Oh." A light blush was dusting Allura's cheeks.
"It's... it's why Lance can be like that, sometimes. Sad," Hunk clarified, even though that wasn't quite right. "He worries about disappointing you. He... he hasn't always had it easy, Princess." He looked away, digging his fingers into the capsule. "I don't know if I should be telling you this."
"You may share whatever you feel comfortable with, Hunk," Allura said and Hunk gave a start at the sound of his name. "I had just hoped to... understand."
Hunk let out a soft sigh. He may be nosy but he was oftentimes a closet sneak, keeping what he found to himself unless it was important to share. And this wasn't his story to share, but he had a bad feeling that Lance wasn't... wasn't going to be the same when they got him back. He was going to need all of the support and love he could get and if Allura understood him, even just a little bit more, it could make a huge difference.
"Lance is... complicated," Hunk said quietly, keeping his eyes down although he could feel Allura's trained on him. "I know he talks a big game and says a lot of stuff that can come across as annoying or rude or like he's looking for a fight, but he's not. Not really. He's just... Just trying to encourage himself because he... he can get pretty down.
"Lance is smart," Hunk continued. "He's not like me and Pidge but he's not stupid. He got told that though. A lot. English wasn't his first language and he had a lot of trouble learning to speak it fluently, so he got teased a lot at school. And I," Hunk colored, "I got teased a lot too. Lance would stand up for me but he... he never wanted to stand up for himself. I tried a couple times but Lance," Hunk let out a low, sad laugh. "Well, he doesn't like to see people hurt. He hated when I did that."
"Hunk..." Allura placed a slender hand on his arm. Hunk couldn't look at her though.
"It got worse when we went to the Garrison. It started off okay; like I said, Lance isn't stupid, but then he got put into the cargo pilot division and it just... it hurt him. All he'd ever dreamed about was being a fighter pilot and, well... yeah. I could have gone to fighter class as an engineer there but I refused to be on any team but his. He was the only reason I went to the Garrison in the first place.
"Anyways, Lance got moved to fighter when Keith was kicked out. But," Hunk winced, "he spent the entire time always being compared to Keith, being told he wasn't good enough to be there on his own merit, that he wasn't smart enough to make it... It stuck with him, moreso than usual. And then we came up here," Hunk finally looked up, meeting Allura's eyes. "Where Lance can't help but compare himself to everyone else all the time and on a team like Voltron... there's a lot of talent."
Allura pursed her lips. "I am afraid I do not entirely understand. Lance has many talents too and is a valuable member of the team." She met Hunk's eyes. "He is irreplaceable. Both as a Paladin of Voltron and... and as a friend."
Hunk felt a soft smile turn up his lips at Allura's words. "You should tell him those things," Hunk told her quietly. "It would mean a lot to him, especially coming from you."
"Then I shall," she said firmly, nodding so hard her hair bounced. Her expression sobered then. "Thank you, Hunk, for sharing this with me. I hold it in confidence."
Hunk gave her a tender smile, feeling the warmth in his chest grow at her words.
She cocked her head ever so. "What is it?"
"You keep doing that."
She looked puzzled. "Doing what?"
"Using our names. It was almost always Paladin before."
"Ah," she blushed. "If you prefer your title I can—"
"That's not what I meant at all," Hunk interrupted.
She lowered her eyes, a soft sigh echoing in the room.
"I suppose it is appropriate I share something as well," she said, lips twitching up before they fell. "I was brought up in a world of decorum and politics. Outside of my father and Coran it was disrespectful to use anyone's given name, unless their title was placed in front of it. I kept that tradition upon meeting all of you, as was appropriate.
"However... By using your titles instead of your names I never allowed myself the chance to know the person behind the armor. I believe I have been selfish. I... I have lost much, Hunk. I..." her hands moved to clutch above her heart. "I did not wish to open my heart to more loss."
"Allura..."
"It was Haggar who made me realize what you all are to me," she continued. "I hate that it was she who made me do so it but I will not deny the truth I was forced to see when the first transmission was sent. I saw not a Paladin tied to that chair but instead a boy, a child, I drafted into this war. More than that, I realized that I did not wish to lose him. That I could not lose him."
She sniffled and Hunk's eyes widened in alarm.
Was Allura actually about to cry?
He pulled her into a hug, body moving all on its own.
And to his surprise Allura's hands wrapped tightly around him, almost bruisingly. He forgot sometimes how physically strong she actually was.
"And then Haggar today..." Allura's words came out a whisper against his chest. "It was she who made me once more realize that even then I was still distancing myself. By continuing to only call you Paladins, to regulate you still, after all this, to your titles... I have been foolish, Hunk. I know I am princess of Altea and I have a duty to the universe, but I cannot, I will not, sacrifice my family in the process."
She froze then, stiffening in his arms.
"I, I mean–"
"You think of us as family?" Hunk cut her off.
"Yes," came the quiet response. "It has taken me far too long to see it but all of you are my family now. If, that is-"
"You're our family too, Allura," Hunk tested out her name for himself without the title in front of it.
It sounded right.
She let out a sound between a sob and a laugh and hugged him tighter.
Hunk returned it, feeling his own eyes misting and he discretely tried to wipe them on Allura's hair.
"Thank you," she murmured a moment later, head resting on his shoulder.
"Thank you," Hunk echoed, giving her a squeeze before lowering his arms. "I'd... I'd probably better get back. Pidge is gonna be on the warpath."
Allura laughed lightly. "I pray not. But yes, it is probably best we both get back to our tasks."
"Piloting?" Hunk asked, Lance's door sliding shut behind them as they exited into the hall.
"Coran is watching the helm for the moment," Allura said. "I actually am going to speak with the Blue Lion." She looked a tad nervous again and Hunk laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"You're gonna do great, Allura. Blue'll listen." Hunk knew she would. The Blue Lion would do anything to bring Lance home to them too.
Allura inclined her head. "I hope so. Thank you, Hunk. I take my leave then, if you will."
Hunk brought a hand up in a wave and then turned and headed down the corridor in the opposite direction for the Green Lion's hangar where Pidge was set up.
Allura took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and turned to head for the Blue Lion's.
She had no doubt the Blue Lion would wish to help, but whether the Lion would be willing to accept her as a pilot for a second time remained to be seen.
All Lions forged a deep relationship with their Paladins. Given that they practically shared a quintessence there was no other recourse. But even so, the depth to which Lance had bonded with the Blue Lion was something completely different. They spoke to one another, and she had never seen a Lion attempt to mimic their Paladin's chosen speech before.
What the Blue Lion and Lance had though went beyond mere words. Their quintessences were as pure a match as she had ever witnessed of any Paladin and Lion bond; overlapping as surely as ocean waves. Their connection could not really be described, Paladin and Lion seemed far too generic for what the two of them had.
Family? Yes, Allura decided, the word warming her heart. The Blue Lion had as surely adopted Lance as her cub as Lance looked to her for a comfort, a reassurance, that a mother would give her child.
It was beautiful. It showed in their movements; perhaps not as graceful as some but every action was full of joy and love. It was a bond not just forged though by such like quintessences. It was made over time, with love and compassion and care and an understanding and desire to just be together. Allura knew that Lance spent much of his free time in the Blue Lion's hangar. She had found him there on numerous occasions as she took a break from the bridge, sometimes singing, polishing her until she shone, lounging on her paw as though it was the most comfortable bed in the world and one time attempting to teach her some Earth game she had learned was called checkers (with little success it seemed).
She had never intruded on those times, slipping silently away before he could notice her presence. That was a special time, she knew, for the two of them. She should have realized then what a gentle soul Lance truly had, but it was at such odds with the loud, flirtatious and boisterous airs he displayed most other times that it was almost as though there were two people. Thanks to Hunk she now knew which one was the true Lance and such a thought warmed her.
And her heart ached all the more for the Blue Lion. To have her Paladin, her child, ripped away and to be able to do nothing… Allura could imagine nothing more painful. She wondered if that is how her father had felt when he had forced her into cryo-stasis for those ten thousand long years, knowing that it would be the last time he would see her and the last time she would see him.
She would not let that happen to the Blue Lion. She would not allow another family to be torn apart, another parent separated from their child. That she swore as Princess Allura of Altea. No, she corrected herself. That she swore as simply Allura, as family.
She would not let them down.
Author's Notes:
So this chapter actually underwent a bit of a switchup. I had not intended to go to Lance at all, but it felt cruel to leave him hanging their so hopeless. So as you can see he's not giving up yet; he just needed a reminder of who he really is. Thanks, Blue! Also, this is my headcanon for Lance and Hunk's history and that bond of friendship between the two is really going to be something that comes up. So enjoy little baby Hunk and Lance (my sister doublechecked my Spanish so hopefully we're good! Since I don't translate in text, the gist of Lance speaking is introducing himself, commenting on the massive size of Hunk's book, inviting him to play hide and seek to explore the new house and then doing introductions between siblings and Hunk.)
Hope you all enjoyed! I had a lot of fun diving especially into Allura's head and she's quickly becoming one of my favorites to write. Plus I love me some more Blue so look for her actual part in the next chapter.
Muchas gracias to all of the following lovely reviewers who keep me motivated to keep writing: dragoscilvio, LishaChan, luminoslight1313, Wolf of the Demise, galacticgallows, jaymzNshed, Violinworld, Oliviadbell, Guest, wingedflower, Rookblonkorules, KarleighH, Alexa, Guest, TheLastFlyingGrayson3, DoctorMerlinReid, StrawberryFever3, marvel1015, vickydd, dragonrush, Stargirl720, Jadegem02, sally3015, Samansa-chan147, Guest (I really loved your insight and line about how other than Lance's trust and loyalty his other constant is self-doubt; just wanted to comment on that since you're not logged in!), Eeveecat1248, GryffindorkofOz, PaintedWings45, cookiebook322, JustADamFrenchFry, Maluth, SpiritNeigeNouzarAnael, The-Angst-Chronicles, lillyroy321, Lasagna, JinsTales and ColorfulChanges!
As always, I'd love to hear what you thought of the chapter! Lance's revelation, Hunk's flashback, Hunk and Allura's chat... If you have a tick to spare after reading I would really appreciate a comment. Thanks so much everyone and see you next chapter!