x
As Color Fades Away
Chapter Sixty
It hurt. And not like those little twinges he'd been feeling that had been almost immediately soothed away.
Lance winced, a soft moan being pulled from his lips. His head felt like it was going to split down the middle, pressure rising and pulsing inside his skull. It hurt. Oh Dios, it hurt. He felt his hands pressing against the sides, not sure when he'd lifted them, blunt nails digging in as though to relieve the pain.
It did not help.
Colors were dancing in his vision despite his eyes being tightly closed, and with each burst he felt a presence that was so much bigger than himself. The Lions. He shuddered as their full might threatened to undo him.
Red was fire racing along his veins, burning him inside with her passion and fierceness and he whimpered as everything she touched became an inferno.
Green was snaking through him, numbers screaming in his mind of fractions and computations and percentages that flashed at a dizzying speed and his stomach rolled at the nauseating blur.
Yellow was a light so bright she hurt to look at, a weight pressing in that he could tell was supposed to be comforting but it was like being smothered and he gasped, feeling his lungs seizing as they fought for air.
Black pushed and pulled him in every direction, a war within himself as stars exploded and time rushed by in the never ending void of space that seemed to freeze his heart as sure as the frozen rocks of the ruins of the universe.
Blue was the only one that didn't add to the cacophony. Blue flowed through him like water, trying to soothe fire and quell sunlight, push against the blackness and ease the overflowing input, but it was not enough. She was a raindrop against the vast skies and she could not weather the storm.
"Bl-Blue," he choked, not sure if the word actually was spoken or inside his head. Everything was echoing; too loud and too quiet and too bright and too dark all at once and he could not escape it.
Something touched his face then and he flinched, as even in the agony filling him he recognized hands. On his face. He'd have tried to move further away but they held firm, slender and smooth. Thumbs brushed against his cheeks and he whimpered again. No. Please, no.
There was the faintest sound of soothing murmurs, whispers passing over his skin like a gentle breeze. Peace he felt Blue intone, her calm shining for one moment above the tumult before it was dragged back under. He tried to listen. His Lion had never led him wrong before.
The hands remained, cool against his burning skin, and he tried not to pull back as something pressed against his forehead. Not a kiss, he realized. Not lips. Broader, smoother.
Peace washed over him then, a pale and shimmering pink light that blanketed the other colors like a soft cloud and the overwhelming intensity disappeared. Lance was able to draw in a full breath as the cloud continued to roll across, tempering the storm.
My Paladin Blue sounded again, a mixture of fierce pride and concern. All well now. Open eyes.
He carefully, slowly lifted his eyes part way, expecting light to sear them. But it was dim and he more fully opened them.
Allura's eyes smiled back at him, inches from his.
Her hands were the ones resting alongside his face and her forehead was pressed to his own and all he seemed capable of doing was staring. When had she arrived?
"Hello," she whispered.
"'llura?" he asked, tongue feeling thick.
She sat back then, sliding her hands from his face. "How do you feel?"
"Dizzy?" he said after a moment as shifting slightly had the room reeling and only Allura's quick actions kept him from toppling over.
Loud footsteps sounded then and a pair of arms came to rest around his back. Lance leaned into them gratefully, this hold not the crushing weight of his Lion's. "Hunk," he murmured.
"I've got you, hermano."
His eyes drifted closed without his consent as he soaked up the comfort Hunk was projecting. More footsteps sounded and he was aware of the others coming to join them. Apparently they were all here.
"He's okay?" he heard Keith ask quietly and an answering hum from Allura.
Another hand descended on his forehead but he was too tired to pull away, especially when he recognized it as Coran's, and a tongue clucked. "He seems to be running a little warm," Coran murmured. "Understandable given the circumstances."
"Did it work?" Pidge sounded, right next to him and a pair of small hands gripped his arm a moment later.
"Blue?" Allura called.
My Paladin safe came the response that echoed about the room, a weariness to the tone. My Paladin has Pride's protection. A low growl rumbled through her. Witch will not touch my Paladin.
"What is it exactly that you have done?" Coran queried.
And to Lance's surprise he did not hear Blue answer, but images were suddenly flickering through his mind and he gasped aloud at the same time Shiro did.
"Shiro?" Keith called at the same time Hunk called out "Lance?" and both Shiro and Lance in tandem breathed, "Black?"
He forced his eyes open then, catching sight of Shiro pressing a hand to his forehead and if his weren't lying so limply by his sides he might have done the same. The images were coming too fast to interpret and it made his head spin, but Shiro seemed to be having a better go at it.
"Black… she…" Shiro winced. "She connected Lance to… to the Astral Plane through her to the…other Lions. He…"
Charcoal eyes widened. "Lance can sense the Lions. All of them," Shiro finished. He caught Lance's gaze. "You can, can't you?"
Lance managed a nod, wincing as that seemed to jar the pink cloud and everything swirled for a moment before settling.
"They're all in there. In my head. It's… it's a bit much," he admitted, closing his eyes against the onslaught. "But there's this… cloud?"
"That would be my quintessence," Allura said gently. "Blue called for me to assist and I… well, I have an idea of what I did although I am not certain as to the how."
They had been there for about four hours watching Lance glow before anything had changed. During that time he had made small sounds of distress but they were wiped away within the moment by various bursts of color that the Lions possessed. The three younger Paladins had all fallen asleep over the course of the early morning while the adults had remained vigilant, although Shiro had found his eyes closing and then reopening several times.
But at shortly after 0700 Lance had let out a noise that bordered on a wail and they had all snapped to attention, the sound waking the slumbering three as well. It had not stopped and unlike previous times no colors came to soothe it away.
The light around him was changing as well, flickering through all of the colors of the Lions instead of remaining blue. Lance had moved then, more than the little twitches.
He'd been whimpering in clear pain and his hands had shifted to his head, much too reminiscent of when he'd first awoken and had believed the reality to be a trick. His lips had moved but from this far they couldn't hear what he'd try to say.
They had been frozen in indecision as the colors continued to flicker in a whirlwind about Lance. Blue's voice had sounded then. Princess! Go! and her desperation and fear was palpable.
Allura had stumbled to her feet and raced across the room, leaping over Black's tail and skidding to a halt in front of Lance. The colors seemed to lash out and she pulled back at the raw power snapping in the air, but Blue growled. Go! Help my Paladin!
"How?" she'd begged.
Blue's presence had near overwhelmed her then as she roared out Anchor! and Allura immediately understood. It was what she had used Coran for; an anchor to balance the multiple quintessences in the circle. And right now all of those quintessences were battling inside Lance.
She had wasted no further time, reaching out and taking a hold of his face while uttering a silent apology for the breach, but mind to mind was best and she needed him to remain still. He'd jerked in her grasp but settled as Blue's soothing presence rolled over both of them and she had pressed her forehead to his own, willing this to work.
Her own quintessence had risen then, a translucent pink and she had sent it straight into him, not quite sure what she was doing but knowing she needed to calm the other colors before they hurt him anymore. She'd dispersed it as quick as she could, blanketing them until they had dimmed and she had felt Lance relax in her hold, the glow from him fading completely.
She had never tried to use her quintessence in such a way on someone else. She knew how to view other quintessences, could lightly brush against them with her own but so completely dampen them like she had just managed? To dampen the Lions' quintessences, the strongest in the universe?
"You guided me?" she asked Blue, gazing up at the giant Lion who had yet to move from the circle. All around the other Lions had remained but other than Blue and Black their eyes had gone out.
Yes Blue rumbled. Princess need learn. Lion teach.
"You… you wish to teach me?" Allura repeated.
Help the Lion amended. Princess untrained but powerful. Princess need guidance.
"I… I am speechless, Blue. Thank you. That is a generous offer and I shall gladly accept."
Allura felt the rush of acceptance before the Blue Lion's gaze turned towards Lance, still lying near limp in Hunk's arms.
My Paladin all right?
"My head hurts," Lance admitted to her quietly and she could see that for herself, all of her sisters' quintessences taking up lodging. It was similar to what she had sensed in the Princess and her connection to them, but if the Princess' was a stream than her Paladin's was a raging river.
Lion sorry she apologized, nuzzling her quintessence against his own blue and drawing it forth. She saw her Paladin sink into it with relief. My Paladin must learn control it. Too much for body.
"You will need to teach him, Allura," Coran said. "It will be like when you first established a connection with the Lions and the castle. He must learn to dampen it or he will be overwhelmed."
Allura bit her lip, remembering all too well that feeling. Her father had proclaimed her ready, as despite her young age she had shown great aptitude for quintessence, evidenced by her pink color, the element of the sky. A quintessence of the sky and love, her tutors had explained. A cloud meant to soothe and bring peace while spreading wonder and hope.
Her father had helped her to connect with all of the Lions, not to the extent that Lance had just experienced, but enough to sense them. The result had left her sick in bed for over a week, shaky and pale and unable to move for the ache in her head until she had last been able to soothe the voices with her own essence.
Blue quintessence was not as much a dampener as her own, but she supposed it was the next best. Gentle rolling waves and the spirit of laughter and love would be much easier to extend to the others than say Red's fire or Green's inquisitiveness. With Blue's help she was certain they could do this for Lance did not – could not – have all of the Lions constantly turning inside his mind. It would literally drive him insane.
And despite the consequences should they fail to control it, Allura could not refrain from the sheer awe at what had just happened. A human had been bestowed all of the Lions' quintessences, their protection. There was absolutely nothing in the world Haggar could do to touch him now.
He was safe.
"You are safe," she breathed, meeting Lance's eyes with her own. "Haggar… she can no longer…"
Lance and Blue inclined their heads as one. Barrier up now Blue explained, her voice growing fainter. Only Paladins' access now.
Allura frowned at that. "Then how did I…?"
Princess connected to Lions. Lions connected to my Paladin. Circle.
Her lips turned up. "I suppose that does make sense. Thank you Blue, Black," she nodded to the leader of the pride who inclined her large metal head ever so. "For all you have done for our family."
Everyone felt the resulting wave of pleasure and joy that both Lions sent and Shiro smiled wide as Black flickered a picture into his mind of the entire team sitting outside during a lunch break on a training exercise and the easy grins and laughter on everyone's faces. She did not use words but the meaning was clear: family and Black's absolute delight to be included after ten thousand years of being alone.
Lion sorry Blue sounded then. Lion must sleep.
"Sweet dreams, Blue," Lance murmured and everyone could feel the resulting pulse of love from the Lion. A moment later her eyes went dark and Black's followed a few seconds after.
"You're really okay?" Pidge asked after a moment, hand tightening on Lance's arm.
"Mhm. Head hurts though."
"Do you think you can walk?" Shiro asked gently. "It'd be a good idea to get you lying down on an actual bed and some fluids in you"
"I don't think so," Lance whispered after a moment as even turning his head on Hunk's chest left his vision reeling.
"I've got you then," Hunk said and Lance felt himself being shifted and then lifted easily into strong arms, his head tucked up against the Hunk's shoulder. "Lounge?" he asked to the others and received nods with Coran murmuring he was making a quick stop to the kitchen.
Lance sighed and snuggled into the embrace. It had been a while since Hunk had had to carry him, a whole day, in fact, but this didn't feel like a step backwards. It felt right and safe.
The feelings that he knew were the Lions had quieted in his head too; a combination of Allura's quintessence and the fact they had all powered down. Maybe the distance too? After all he could only talk to Blue when he was within a certain space of her. It hurt too much to think on it right now and he pressed his head further against Hunk.
He felt a little cold too and he shivered, wondering where his quilt had gotten to. He peeked his eyes open but he could only see Shiro walking directly in front of them. They reached the lounge a few minutes later and as Hunk settled him gently on one of the long couches, slightly inclined, Pidge approached with his blanket in hand.
"Cold?" she asked, hanging back for the moment and Lance nodded. She flipped the blanket out, not quite as efficiently given her height, but it fell over Lance and he shivered again as it brushed against his bare arms.
Coran was there then with a thick mug that smelled faintly of mint. "It will help with the headache," he said softly.
Lance weakly shifted his left arm out from under the blanket, limb heavy as though made of rock, and carefully took the mug and brought it to rest against his chest to steady it for a moment.
"So," Lance licked his lips as he stared down into the brown tea, "what… what happens now?"
"Training," Allura said. "For both myself and for you."
"What exactly happened to him?" Keith asked, concern and curiosity rolled into one. "Can he use all of our quintessences now too?"
"No, no," nothing like that Allura said. "At least… I do not think so." She looked to Lance. "May I?"
"Fluids first," Hunk interrupted. At Lance's look he raised his hands, "You need them. And it's nice and warm. Just try a sip?"
"Here, mugs for all," Coran said, drawing the attention away from Lance. "Drink up, Paladins."
Lance took a cautious sip, letting the warm beverage sit on his tongue for a moment and tasting the mint and something close to honey. Odd, but not bad. He made himself swallow it then, relieved when it went down as smoothly as the hot chocolate last night.
It didn't quite help his headache, and he shook his head slightly when Coran pulled a Glornack seed from his robe pocket, but it did settle his stomach a bit. Once he'd drained the mug Hunk took it from his hand and Allura settled herself on the edge of the couch.
She held out both of her hands palm up and without hesitation Lance placed his atop them.
"Quiet please," she instructed. "Lance, deep breaths. Relax." She squeezed his hand, feeling the tension in them. "All will be well."
His breath caught and his eyes flew open, staring at her in such a way she felt the heat rise in her face. "What?"
"N-nothing," he said, giving a small shake of his head and closing his eyes again. "Just… Blue said the same. Before," he bobbed their hands.
"I see," she said in understanding. She gave his hands another reassuring squeeze. "I will be careful, I promise."
She sank herself then into her own quintessence, feeling slightly more drained from earlier but otherwise no negative effects. Her eyes lifted to Lance's form and beautiful blue lapped about his frame. She extended her own to lightly brush it and the blue rose to meet it with a joyful laugh. Several dark splashes still remained but they did not seem to be growing. There was a new one though, quivering in a rich indigo that rested right by his head and she brushed it with her own quintessence. She could not read thoughts or minds but she could touch on emotions thanks to her own pink element and at this contact she could feel a question of… self? She soothed the dark spot with her own, assuring it that all was well.
She could not sense any other color, not even a flicker. She let out a tiny sigh of relief. This, at least, she understood. He was just like herself now; bonded with the Lions. Nothing close to the insanity that Keith had wondered on, as though he was Voltron himself. That would have been too much for certain.
Her eyes skimmed to the other Paladins. They were not connected physically to her so she could not see their actual quintessences, but she could detect a color in all of their souls. All was as it should be and she released another breath and then gently surrendered Lance's hands.
"Just blue quintessence," she told him as he opened his eyes. "The connection the Lions made with you did not affect your quintessence at all. You are still you, Lance," and based on the sharp little inhale she had guessed right from the spot she had observed. "Blue is still your Lion and you are her Paladin. None of that has changed.
"From what I can gather," Allura said, "the barrier created has literally connected you to each of the Lions. Myself and Blue will help you learn to control those links so they do not overwhelm you and so you can focus on your own Lion. Not today though. You are exhausted and the Lions have shut off following the barrier, although their powering down should be easing the feedback in your mind. How is it? Does your head still ache?"
"It's better," Lance shared. "Still hurts."
Allura hummed sympathetically. "You did just have the five most powerful beings in the universe inside that small head of yours."
"I think you mean his big head," Pidge teased, a carefulness to it but Lance cracked a smile, relieved that such a comment didn't stir any hurt and that Pidge felt comfortable enough to make it.
"His skull shape is not all that large," Allura frowned. "Is it considered abnormal by human standards?"
At that Keith did snicker and Hunk let out a small laugh.
"It's an expression, Princess," Shiro clarified.
"Ah, I see," she nodded. "In any case what occurred was no small feat." She patted Lance's hand. "Only someone with an incredibly strong spirit could have managed. You amaze me, Lance. Truly."
A warm flush spread across his cheeks and he ducked his head down.
"But what does the barrier do?" Pidge questioned. "Is it going to keep Haggar out?"
"I believe so," Allura said. "It is the same as the barrier I was hoping to create, just using the Lions quintessence rather than your own. If I am correct, it will not allow any outside quintessence interaction not associated within the formed circle. I would imagine there would be a negative consequence if anyone else were to try."
"We should test it," Pidge said, inquisitive eyes more bright without the cover of glasses. "To make sure."
"But," Allura tapped a finger to her lips, "all of us are linked to Lance now. Except for…"
Every head in the room slowly turned to look at Coran, sitting elegantly on one the ottomans and a cup of tea in hand.
"Oh dear," the advisor muttered.
"No," Lance protested, sitting forward. "No." His eyes locked with Coran's. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I do not wish for such either, my boy," Coran said gently, "but Number Five is right. We must know what we are dealing with." He straightened. "I will assist in any way I can."
Allura's brow furrowed. "Coran possesses orange quintessence, the element of light and healing. I do not feel right using such an essence in this way."
"It is all right, Princess," Coran smiled. "Truly. However…" a sheepish expression crossed his face. "I have no idea how to actually use it."
"I can draw up a rune circle," Allura thought aloud, "meant to connect with another's quintessence. It is how I used to practice reaching the Astral Plane before I could center myself. It should take but a few dobashes."
"While you complete that," Shiro rose, "how about I go prepare some breakfast?"
"You?" Hunk asked, hoping the disbelief didn't show in his face and Keith couldn't quite suppress his choke as he recalled the last time Shiro had tried to feed them other than reheating already made proven edible items. He could still taste the sour pear.
"Keith will help me," Shiro grinned.
Hunk immediately relaxed even as Keith tensed, recalling Shiro's words from earlier that morning.
"Something warm please," Pidge requested, while Coran asked for another pot of tea. Lance didn't say anything, eyes already closed and head resting back on the couch arm.
"Up for the challenge of guiding me around the kitchen" Shiro asked, eyes soft with understanding as he'd seen Keith stiffen, "or do you want to close your eyes for a bit too? I know you're tired."
Keith realized he was being given an out if he really didn't want to talk and that knowledge quelled the worst of the butterflies in his stomach. Because just like when they'd first met Shiro was respecting his boundaries and wouldn't push if he really was uncomfortable.
But, he sighed, this wasn't going to go away by ignoring it. And Shiro would understand. He always had.
He clambered to his feet too from where he'd sunk down on the floor. "Fine. I'll make sure we aren't poisoned."
"You're the best, Keith" Hunk called out and it pulled a small smile to his face. Shiro childishly stuck his tongue out at the Yellow Paladin for the jab to himself and Keith felt his shoulders relax even further.
Shiro said nothing as they made their way to the kitchen and remained quiet as Keith directed him to a bowl of pea pods that actually tasted eerily close to raisins when shucked. He went for the pink and green speckled grain that was close to oatmeal and sweetened well with the alien sugar. Hunk had pointed it out to him yesterday on his tour of the kitchen and Keith remembered it because of the odd colors.
Keith set to filling a pot with water and after putting it on the stove turned around to the other side of the counter to help Shiro with the raisin pods.
"What do you want to know?" Keith asked after a few moments, keeping his eyes firmly on his work.
"Whatever you feel comfortable sharing," Shiro answered quietly. "This isn't an interrogation. We don't have to talk at all. I'm just… concerned. By what I saw in the mindmeld."
Keith bowed his head further. Of course Shiro hadn't forgotten that.
"I don't like seeing you in pain, Keith, and if that memory popped up under that kind of stress… then I know it's bothering you. I'd like to help, if you'll let me. I know things have been a little crazy lately but you can talk to me any time. About anything." Sincerity was clear in his voice and Keith sighed.
"It was a long time ago," Keith muttered. "Three years maybe before I met you." He shelled another raisin, watching it drop into the bowl. "First time foster family. Money issues. Thought I'd be the solution."
Shiro didn't interrupt but his expression darkened, running the numbers. That would put Keith at ten, maybe eleven?
"They had twins, few years older than me. They didn't like me much. Thought I was intruding on their family. They…" his hands stilled. "One night they dragged me out of bed and tried to lock me outside in the shed to scare me. In January."
Shiro's current raisin pod was crushed in his prosthetic.
Keith winced and Shiro took a calming breath himself. "I managed to get away," Keith mumbled. "Tried to run back to my room and lock the door. They were faster though and I couldn't keep them out. So I…" he gave an uncomfortable roll of his shoulders. "I pulled my knife on them. Had it hidden under my bed. I just wanted them to back off but I cut one of them when he tried to get the knife. Nothing bad; a scratch on his hand."
Keith hung his head. "They got their dad. You saw that. He…" Keith winced. "Well, he wasn't happy."
"Did he hurt you?" Shiro couldn't stop the question. He'd been involved in getting Keith out of an abusive foster home and while he knew that there was a history there he had never pressed for details of Keith's past and Keith had never offered.
Keith gave another uncomfortable twitch. "Belted me," he finally admitted. His hands clenched at the remembered pain and it was a miracle he hadn't scarred.
"And the agency didn't do anything?"
Keith shook his head. "He was within his rights. And you know my file. I was always the aggressor and… and they never listened." His voice broke on the last word and he blinked rapidly to clear away hot tears.
"Keith…"
"Got sent back to the group home. Never saw them again," Keith finished quickly, hands clenched white on the counter and raisins forgotten. "The end."
Shiro maneuvered himself around the counter and pulled the smaller boy into a gentle hug. "I'm sorry," he murmured, feeling a stifled sob shake Keith's shoulders.
"'s not your fault," came the muffled response.
"I'm sorry you went through that," Shiro clarified gently. "And I know how much you dislike talking about it, so I appreciate you telling me." His embrace tightened. "This past week has opened my eyes to a number of things, but one of the biggest is that it really does help to share if something is hurting you. And I know, as hard as it was, talking with you about the…" he swallowed thickly, "the arena, it did help."
"Really?" Keith sounded unsure and voice still choked.
"Mhm. Lance isn't the only one who is learning to not keep everything bottled up. It's hard to share those things. Believe me, I know. But I feel better, and know I can be a better leader now."
"You're already a great leader."
Shiro chuckled. "I appreciate it. But I still have a lot to learn." He sobered. "A lot to process. I've been avoiding my memories because I'm afraid of what I'll find. Lance has shown me though that I have to face those fears. That I can't let them control me. So… so after everything is resolved with Haggar I'm hoping you can help me start."
Keith's arms reached up then and circled around Shiro's lower back. "Anything," he whispered. "I'm… I'm here for you too, Shiro."
"Thanks, buddy," Shiro whispered, leaning forward slightly and placing a kiss atop the dark head.
A harsh sizzle cut into the air then and Keith practically jumped out of the embrace and to the stove where the pot of water he'd set to boil began to overflow and Keith adjusted the heat before it could anymore.
Shiro watched as normally steady hands shook ever so slightly as they poured some type of mixture into the pot and then stirred vigorously. This wasn't over yet.
"One last question," he said quietly, returning to shucking the remaining raisins. He could only see the back of Keith's head but it inclined ever so slightly.
"Why that memory?"
His eyes landed on the knife that was attached to Keith's belt and as if feeling it Keith gently touched the hilt before turning back around.
"This was my mom's," he said quietly and Shiro's eyes widened. Keith never spoke about his mother, other than to briefly mention once that he had never known her. "My dad gave it to me before…" he trailed off and then shook his head. "I used to keep it hidden because I was afraid it would get taken away since it was a weapon. But it's all I had left. From… from either of them.
"I had to use it though. Not on anyone," Keith quickly clarified, looking up before down again. "Just to scare the kids at the home so they wouldn't come after me."
Shiro gave a slow nod. Keith had been a scrawny kid, still was rather small. He'd have been an easy target for bullies, especially with his own penchant for angering quickly and giving them the rise they wanted.
"Kept it under my pillow," Keith continued, facing the stove again and stirring the mixture. "Trained myself to reach for it first thing. The kids never tattled on it, but after that time the agency confiscated it and I had to steal it back. But it kept the worst of it away."
Shiro took a deep breath, treading carefully. "I understand why you would want to have that back then but… why now?" Why now when the only people who would be trying to wake him were his friends? Shiro understood keeping it close for the comfort its memory likely brought, but to still have such a reaction when he'd been out of the foster home for going on four years now.
"Habit?" Keith shrugged.
"You didn't have it at the Garrison," Shiro pointed out, trying to wrack his memory for such an instance but Keith shook his head.
"I did. But I had my own room and you always knocked. So you wouldn't have known."
And that made sense but it saddened Shiro too that that instinct had not fallen away even with the years of quiet.
"I hate to suggest this, but it might be for the best if you stored it elsewhere while sleeping," Shiro said slowly and Keith's eyes widened in betrayal. "I would never want to deprive you of it," he added quickly. "Especially if it makes you feel safe. But Keith, your reaction is dangerous. Imagine if Hunk or Pidge had come in to wake you earlier instead of me."
And by the sudden whitening of his face Keith had not considered such.
"I know you would never want to hurt them," Shiro continued quietly. "But all it takes is one wrong move. And given from what I've seen you've become closer with the others and they may take that as an invitation to barge in." Shiro knew it happened; Hunk and Lance went in and out of each other's room without even a knock and Lance and even Pidge had become less likely to announce herself when she was excited to share a project with Hunk or a video game attack plan with Lance.
"Maybe under your bed," Shiro suggested, "or on your nightstand. Just… not so easily within reach. No one is going to hurt you here. You know that."
Keith gave a jerky nod. "You're right. You're right." He ran a hand through his hair, gripping the strands tight. "God, what if I'd...?"
"Hey, hey, it's all right. No harm done."
"I could have hurt you," Keith said, voice small.
"But you didn't," Shiro countered, placing a hand on Keith's shoulder and giving it a squeeze. "And now you can take the proper precautions to make sure you never do. Okay?"
"Okay," Keith agreed with an exhale. "Okay."
"So," Shiro smiled brightly, bringing them back to their actual purpose to the kitchen, "are we having oatmeal?"
"Something like it. I thought it would be easy on Lance's stomach."
Shiro's smile widened. "Very thoughtful of you. And… can I hazard a guess that you had a chance to speak with Lance?"
"How'd you know?" Keith looked surprised as although he'd told the team about the food goo incident he had not included his own role in being there.
"You seem happier," Shiro shrugged. "Less tense. A… a little more open."
"He called me his brother," Keith said quietly and this time Shiro's eyes widened. "He… he didn't hate me at all, Shiro. Even after all the things I've said. He just hugged me and… and…"
"I'd say I told you so, but I won't."
"You just did," Keith muttered and Shiro laughed. He sighed. "You were right. Like always."
"Not always," Shiro corrected. "But truly, I'm so glad the two of you had a chance to talk and clear the air." He let out a soft sigh of his own. "I hate everything that had to happen to get us all to this point, to recognize ourselves as a family, but…"
"I know," Keith said in understanding. "I know."
They lapsed into a contemplative silence then, Keith focusing on the oatmeal concoction and Shiro grabbed clean bowls from the cabinet (wary this time of the organization system) and placed them one after the other on the counter next to the drying knifes Hunk had lovingly cleaned following some mishap with a… cucumber gum vegetable?
It was true, as hard as it was to acknowledge. Lance was the heart of their team and it had taken that heart getting ripped out and then stomped on and broken for them to really come together, to realize how much they meant to each other. And that spark only continued to grow as they all healed, drawing them together with a love and laughter that had come so close to going out.
They were no longer just a team. They were a family. Together they were going to get through all of this, no matter what was thrown their way.
And then the alarm shrieked.
xxx
Author's Notes:
Huh. Would you look at that. Stuff is happening. Maybe it's just a false alarm…? (Would I do that? Yes. Did I? …no) But hey, excellent timing all around by the Lions since Lance has an (untested) barrier that will hopefully protect him from Haggar. Also, if you're looking for a bit more of my headcanon for Keith's backstory you can find it in Burning Bright/Shining Strong but otherwise flushed it out pretty well here, as well as over the course of the chapters via various snippets.
Gosh you guys, thank you so much for the love last chapter. It was lovely to see some old returning faces and a bunch of new ones. I really, really appreciate you guys taking the time to leave a comment, no matter how short, to let me know you're here and enjoying the fic. That's all an author really wants. And to those of you who I feel wrote me practically love letters; I love you too.
Lots happening this chapter for sure. I'd love to hear what you thought about it! Please do leave a comment below! You can talk about the whole chapter, your favorite part, freak out with me about what the heck I've just done (you wanted Haggar, remember? You got her!). Please and thank you very much!
Also! I had one amazing reader make me an actual soundtrack for this fic. Blown away. Not sure how to link it here (curse your formatting FF) but you can find it on her YouTube channel of GlitteringConstellations and the entire "track list" and pull outs (not yet on YouTube) on her Tumblr profile of the same name. Give it a listen if you're so inclined! Excellent song choices!