x
As Color Fades Away
Chapter Seventy-Eight
"I still can't go in the kitchen."
Lance's quiet admission echoed about the large hall and he felt Blue send a wave of reassurance to him, wrapping him up like he was in a blanket.
"It's pathetic," he sniffled, rubbing a hand across his face where sticky tears clung. "Even Pidge is helping and I… I just… I feel useless, Blue. They're all working to fix the castle and I just… sit in the infirmary."
It's not that he couldn't do work. He had been fully healed and the only new scar had been the one from Coran healing his left hand and restoring it to full functionality. His body was as good as it was going to get. And yet…
In his defense coming out of the pod had not been pleasant. The Lions had come back online while he was healing and as soon as he had returned to his own consciousness they had been in his head and so, so loud. He didn't remember much except the sensation of falling and his screams and the panicked shouting of Pidge.
His head had felt like it was going to explode; a tumult of water and fire and pressure and growth and the vacuum of space. He had not even been able to summon words in the face of such agony and it was only Allura's interference, a calming pink cloud descending, had allowed him to draw a breath.
It had still hurt.
They had given him a sedative he found out later and put him into a forced sleep for his own quintessence levels to rebound and give him a better chance at combating the Lions' power.
Apparently he'd been kept knocked out for the majority of the day as when he had awoken Shiro had been out of his pod and snoring lightly on the other couch. Allura had been there within seconds, asking quiet permission to connect to him, and after his nod she had taken his face in her hands and pressed their foreheads together.
She pushed away most of the ache that had begun again, blanketing it with her own quintessence. For now she said she would continue to do so until they could find such time to address what the Lions had done as at the moment the safety of the castle was taking precedence. Lance understood and thanks to Allura he was alone in his own mind again, except now when he had ventured to see Blue and had been beyond relieved when her voice had not pained him.
He had clung to Pidge once he had awoken for the second time, whispering apologies to her that she had refuted, insisting once again that none of this had been his fault. And he knew that, Allura having cemented the idea for the final time, but he still felt awful that it had happened. That he'd come so close to losing her. That he had ultimately been the reason why Haggar had attacked them and Pidge had been caught up in that explosion.
No one was talking much about what had happened in their individual battles. There seemed to be some silent consensus to wait until everyone was out of the pods for a full debrief unless someone really wanted to talk about something.
That was fine with Lance. Just knowing they were all safe, that Haggar and Theodek were dead and not coming after them ever again, was enough for him right now. He wasn't even sure where to begin. He had tried that first time with Shiro in the bathroom about Theodek but even the thought of what had happened in those final moments made his throat close up.
Did he start with trying to talk Theodek down? How he had failed to take a shot and nearly gotten Hunk killed? About Theodek's death? Haggar? The Astral Plane? The Lions?
It was too much.
They deserved to know.
He just… couldn't. Not yet.
He'd learned little details from them though, even if they weren't very specific. Like how Pidge had rescued Keith from the exploded ship after he had saved her life. How Shiro and Pidge had faced down Haggar at the end and Shiro had killed her, although he knew nothing more than that.
Some things were spoken about a bit more freely. Coran's new healing abilities, the mice and their role in prolonging Allura's life. The little creatures had been getting a lot of extra love from the entire group, even if all they really had to offer was food goo and what remained of Allura's candy stash.
Coran had quietly speculated that the mice had likely cut their life force in half, but he had no idea as to how long a space mouse who had bonded with an Altean over a ten thousand year period was supposed to live anyway. The mice were not upset with their decision and were as cheerful as ever, putting on little shows to Allura's immense delight and other than their new paler tones none the different for what they had done.
But mainly they had been focusing on looking forward. And that had meant repairing and cleaning up the castle.
Lance had tried to help.
By the time he had awoken from the sedative induced sleep Pidge had quietly relayed to him that both Haggar and Theodek's bodies had been collected – Allura and Shiro, respectively – and they had been thrown into the exhaust incinerator. Lance had been beyond relieved as he had no desire to see either one ever again. He didn't need that sort of closure of gazing at their dead bodies.
Upon learning of that, he had gone with Pidge in the direction of the kitchen, thinking it would be all right and he could help prepare something light to eat because apparently no one else had attempted cooking and they had been eating candies and raisins as their new food groups. Besides, Hunk always said something hot to eat and drink was comforting and since Hunk wasn't here to do it… Lance would just have to step up in his place.
In hindsight they should have told Allura and Shiro their plans to do so, only holding it back as they wanted to surprise them with something good after the two had returned to the infirmary, a hollow sort of resolution in their eyes from disposing of the bodies.
Because they discovered upon their jaunt that the kitchen had not been cleaned yet of the blood and gore.
Lance had frozen on the threshold as his eyes had been drawn to the dark spot where Hunk had collapsed, the stain nearly dried at this point but stretching out in a large pool as though to indicate how close he had come to bleeding out.
They'd tracked then to the knife, still embedded deep in the floor, and he had heard Theodek's cruel laugh and felt phantom pain burn his hand as he stared at it, recalling twisting and writhing as the Galran had taunted him and proceeded to break apart his right hand.
Lance had vomited, nothing much to throw up at least, and collapsed in the doorframe. Pidge had dragged him backwards, so much stronger than him, he recalled thinking, and practically curled atop his lap as she hugged him, whispering that it was all right. It was only her butchered use of estás bean instead of bien that had given him the jolt from the sick memory and he had clung to her, not able to move.
Shiro had found them nearly twenty minutes later when, as after they hadn't returned from what he thought had been a bathroom trip he had grown worried, and had carried Lance back to the infirmary, cradled like a child.
Lance felt like one.
They hadn't actually forbidden him from going to the kitchen then, but it had been a strong suggestion he avoid it until it had been cleaned and Lance hadn't argued.
He'd been terrified though of another memory being triggered by other locations of the castle that he had hunkered down in the medical wing and hadn't left the vicinity of it since except now when he had finally gone to great hall so he could talk to Blue. It was pathetic and he felt awful about it, even though they had assured him it was all right and someone needed to keep watch on the pods (even though both Pidge and Coran had tablets with the status, but Lance appreciated them trying to make him feel better and tried not to look at it as pity).
Perhaps he'd have felt physically better and then more capable of helping had the Lions not taking up such a strong residence in his mind, as even with Allura's interference they were still there and causing an ache, sometimes colors flashing in front of his eyes that had him groaning aloud and tipping over as his balance was disrupted.
But he couldn't blame the Lions. Not really. It was his own memories and fears holding him back, not the Lions' power.
The most he had been able to assist with was tidying up the infirmary in the mornings as everyone has taken to sleeping there rather than going to their own rooms. As comfortable as the couches were Lance actually preferred the blanket nest as he could wrap himself fully up in it and he'd been relieved and grateful when Pidge had said the same and he'd found her curled up against him each evening.
He'd also spent more time than should be allowed cuddling against Shiro, sensing when he had grown tired or a memory was pushing in on him and had merely sat with him, sometimes holding tight to the prosthetic and other times wrapping Shiro up in a side hug as much as he could. Shiro hadn't wanted to talk, but he had held onto Lance too.
Coran had been extremely tired and lethargic, not surprising Allura had noted given he had nearly drained his quintessence twice in a matter of hours, and his body was taking extra time to recuperate. Still, Coran even in that state was more useful than a fully healed and functioning Lance, as he had been running shield diagnostics from the cot, working with Pidge on how to best shore up the damaged exterior walls of the castle, and of course keeping watch on the pods.
All Lance had been able to do was keep him company, sitting with him and letting Coran regale him with stories of the Paladins of old; nothing so recent that it would set off any memory. Coran had seemed more than happy to tell his tales and Lance had appreciated the distraction, although he had fallen asleep in the middle of one story leaning on Coran's shoulder. He felt bad about it but Coran had seemed touched rather than upset his audience had conked out and had simply pressed a kiss to the top of his head when Lance had awoken and tried to apologize.
Lance was better with those. He still didn't do so well with touches to his face, but the gentle kisses that Shiro and Coran had taken to placing on his crown and then Pidge's tentative fingers carding through brown locks when he had curled up, head on her lap, as they watched Hercules again, had been soothing. He had felt her smile and joy and had returned the favor later, playing with her hair and twisting it into little braids to pass away some of the downtime. The fact that he was capable of doing so still amazed him and he found himself glancing particularly at his right hand, flexing fingers that a few days ago had been incapable of doing anything. He just… he hated that it was Haggar who had restored it.
Allura had seen his braiding skills and had demanded with airs of both Altean royalty and a playfulness that made him go pink that he do hers as well. Besides, she had argued, it would be good practice for his hand as despite the healing it was still slightly stiff, and she had a lot of hair for him to work with. The mice too had gotten in on the fun and Plachu had shown surprising actual skill.
It had become their routine each evening for him to pull her hair into twists and braids and all of the other designs his sisters had made him learn. He had such nice hands, Rosie had always argued, he may as well put them to good use. Lance didn't mind. He loved spending time with his sisters and given how much he loved his own hair carded he understood.
And in that quiet time Allura had spoken gently to him of stories of Altea. Of the Lions and their lore, to try and better help him understand the presences that had taken residence in his head. She told him about her own experiences in bonding with them, in learning to control and manage the link, and with Blue's assistance she would help him do the same.
Lance treasured this time with the princess. A few weeks ago he would never have thought honestly the two of them could have such an intimate conversation or have been so physically close; Allura poised between his outstretched legs and oftentimes leaning back to use him as a pillow after he had finished, without it being awkward or stiff and yet here they were. He found a smile rising to his face every time he thought about it.
He felt closer to all of his teammates, his family, now, and he was certain they felt the same.
He just wished he could do more for them. The kitchen was a no-go, the engineering and tech talk went over his head, and he got dizzy so quickly and suddenly from the Lions when Allura's cloud started to wear off that he had been given restricted access to only the current floor as they could not trust him on stairs. As soon as everyone was up and about Allura had promised she would help him temper back the Lions, but for now he had to wait. Lance had tried on his own but any attempts only made his head ache more.
They were going on the end of the fourth day now since the morning of the attack and Coran had happily reported that both Hunk and Keith would be ready to pop out by that evening; Keith around dinner hour and Hunk likely right before they retired for the night.
However, four days had not been kind to their uniforms. They should have suspected as such as Lance's clothes had barely held up after one day. Four had been pushing it.
Keith was still in what remained of his armor as Pidge had not had the time to take it off of him, but otherwise he wore nothing, while Hunk only had on his utility belt at this point. Coran had rigged blankets around the lower half of the pods to preserve their modesty and they had blankets thick and waiting on standby for when they emerged, with Pidge and Allura already having agreed to exit and give them some space.
Coran had already cautioned that both were going to be beyond exhausted, reminding them once again that the pods could not restore the sleep cycle, so once they were both settled and out of the pods it would be straight to bed and they could talk all together in the morning. Lance actually liked that plan and had his own plans to snuggle against Hunk and never let him go while apologizing for all of the stupid errors he had made intermingled with thank you for saving his life several times over until he ran out of breath.
It was approaching towards dinner hour and Lance was going to head back soon so he would be there when Keith awoke, but for now he had found a small measure of comfort in talking to Blue. Her presence was like a gentle spring rain and it soothed away some of the hurt from the other Lions.
He had felt her guilt that their actions had caused and were still causing him such pain, but he had assured her she had nothing to feel sorry for. He had gone around to each of the Lions in the hall, petting large feet and quietly thanking them for what they had done for him. The resulting purrs and mental responses had been both soothing and painful in his mind. It came to a halt when Black had projected a giant black hole with the feeling of STOP, so loud that Lance had cried at the pulse, but the other Lions had somewhat withdrawn behind Allura's quintessence then; still there but no longer quite as strong. Lance had sent Black a quiet thank you and received a more gentle caress and an image of soft starlight.
Not pathetic Blue cut into his thoughts of all he had told her. My Paladin not useless. My Paladin help others very much.
Lance snorted self-deprecatingly, leaning back against her leg from his seat on her paw. "I don't think you heard what I just said, Blue."
Lion heard she rumbled. My Paladin great comfort. My Paladin heart. Heart heals Paladins.
For Blue had seen what her Paladin could not still seem to grasp; how his love and compassion healed the others. His very presence was a soothing balm to them, a reminder of love and light and laughter.
She pushed such thoughts back to him, replaying his role that he had told her about in comforting his family. My cub help family she told him, shoving at his quintessence with her own to get her point across. My cub heart of family.
Blue sensed the moment her feelings were finally fully accepted, the brightening of her Paladin's quintessence around her, and she nuzzled it and then bent her actual head and nuzzled him with her nose, earning a squawk of laughter and "that's cold!" She did it again just because, laughing with her own delight when her Paladin turned the tables and rubbed his face against her nose.
"Thanks, beautiful," he whispered, placing a soft kiss on the cold metal. "You know me." And was that ever the understatement of the year. He sighed. "I just…"
My Paladin need talk with Paladins she told him. No more silence.
"You're right. And I will. We're… we're having the debrief tomorrow morning. But I'm…" he trailed off and Blue waited patiently. "I'm scared," he said quietly. "I messed up so much, Blue. I don't… I don't want Hunk to hate me. If I'd just taken the shot he wouldn't have been… he wouldn't have almost…"
Blue snorted at that. Yellow's Paladin loves my Paladin. Never hate. My Paladin knows this. My Paladin need not fear. She wrapped her quintessence about his again. All will be well.
Lance's eyes welled with tears at the sheer love and reassurance Blue was flooding him with and he managed a nod. He knew that. He did. It was… it was just harder than he thought to shake off those feelings of doubt that had plagued him for so, so long.
Red's Paladin no hate either Blue added as she sensed her Paladin's thoughts drift. All will be well, my cub. No fear.
He patted her paw and Blue felt the last of the dark tendrils slip away. Good.
"I should get going," he said. "Keith'll be out soon."
Go to Red's Paladin Blue said, giving him a mental nudge as he still made no move to get up. Lion see my Paladin later.
"Okay," he whispered. "Thanks, Blue." He paused still, then quietly added, "I love you."
Lion loves my Paladin she responded back, giving his quintessence one last caress, filling him with all of the love and pride she had for him and feeling his own returned in kind.
He gave her paw one last rub and then slid down with a soft thump to the floor before he hurried out of the main hall and back towards the medical wing.
Pidge and Allura and the mice were sitting on the floor outside the door when he arrived and all sent him matching grins.
"Coran said in the next few minutes," Pidge told him. She looked beyond giddy and Lance couldn't blame her. The waiting had been brutal on them all but Pidge in particular had been chomping at the bit for Keith to awaken, rivaling even Shiro's eagerness.
"See you in a few then," Lance smiled, trying to quell the sudden nausea taking root in his stomach.
Listen to Blue, he told himself as he entered the infirmary. Keith wasn't going to blame him for the trap. For almost dying.
At least…
He really, really hoped so.
"There you are," Coran draped an arm about Lance's shoulders and steered him towards the pod where Keith was now fully visible. "Just another couple dobashes." As he spoke there was a sudden beep and Coran's smile widened. "And a dobash now. Number One, ready?"
"Ready," Shiro said, looking how Lance felt; a mixture of excitement mixed with a faint green tint. Coran had assured them that there was no lasting damage and Keith had escaped with only a few faint scars; a patterning across his lower back from the explosion and a thin line on his calf where the worst of the wound had been – his skin was very durable for a human, Coran had remarked. Still, there was that lingering fear that could only be reassured by Keith actually waking up.
In Shiro's hands was a large blanket, easily double the size of the Altean towels. Coran had said it was very important to warm Keith up, especially given the amount of exposed skin, and it would act as both that and a cover until he was able to get dressed in something other than plates of armor. A pile of clothing was waiting on standby for such a purpose.
The pod gave a hiss and the door opened, icy air making Lance shiver even in his own hooded jacket. Keith tipped bonelessly out and Shiro caught him within the blanket, making quick work of wrapping it about him and clutching the hard-edged bundle of Keith and his armor to him.
He was completely still.
Lance's heart leapt into his throat. He'd been told he had been the same way when he had emerged following his rescue, but to see Keith like this...
"Keith, lad," Coran lightly tapped the cold cheek as Shiro rubbed his hands up and down Keith's shoulders to generate friction. "Time to wake up."
A moment later a pair of hazy amethyst eyes blinked open. Lance hugged his arms about himself, nearly shaking with relief.
"Keith," Shiro whispered, voice thick.
But Keith didn't seem to be aware of them yet. Instead there was a wild, desperate fear taking the place of the tiredness and he twisted and turned in Shiro's arms, ensconced hands scrabbling against Shiro's chest and a low keen being torn from his throat.
Coran had warned this could happen. Keith could very well come back to where he had left off and given what had happened and what they knew that would place him directly in the middle of an explosion screaming out for Pidge.
"Hey, hey," Shiro murmured, taking point. He tipped his head down, pressing his forehead against Keith's. "Keith, buddy. It's okay. You're okay."
Keith headbutted him.
Shiro gamely held on even though stars were bursting in front of his eyes.
"Keith, lad," Coran tried, but Keith snapped his head back, clipping the Altean's jaw.
"Pidge is safe!" Lance blurted out.
Keith stilled. Shiro and Coran held their breaths.
"Pidge is safe," Lance repeated, approaching carefully and placing a hand on the blanket covered shoulder. "You saved her. She's okay. You're okay."
Keith blinked again and this time there was a beginning state of clarity in those dark orbs. "Pidge is…" he rasped, "safe?"
"Yeah, buddy. You saved her," Shiro murmured. "She's okay. We all are."
"All…?"
Keith's gaze was clearing more and more and he looked at Shiro, a whisper of his name on his lips. He turned his head then and Lance gave him a weak smile, Coran behind him and his hands resting on Lance's shoulders.
Tears were beginning to brighten his eyes and his lip was quivering in a way that Lance had only seen the one time before on Keith.
"You're okay," he whispered. "You're all okay."
"We are," Shiro pressed a kiss to Keith's forehead. "Promise."
"Wh-where's…?"
"Hunk's still in a pod. Pidge and Allura are in the hall," Shiro said quietly. "To give you a little privacy."
Keith frowned. "Privacy?"
"Yeah," Lance chimed in, keeping his tone light although right now all he felt like was near crying himself, relief warring with guilt and still that tinge of fear. "Let's just say the pods don't like clothes."
"Don't like…"
Keith's face turned cherry.
"Not to worry, my boy," Coran clapped a hand on Keith's back. "As you can see by Number Two's pod your modesty was indeed preserved."
The flush vanished almost instantly as Keith's gaze was directed to Hunk's pod, focusing not on the affixed blanket but the unconscious figure inside. "Hunk is…?"
"He will be just fine, coming out a little later today," Coran assured. "Now let us get you warmed up and dressed, hm? There are a few lovely ladies waiting to see you."
Shiro hovered like a large mother hen the entire time as Keith changed, waving off offers to assist, relenting when Shiro's face had fallen and allowed him to help unclasp pieces of the armor.
Coran had stood by waving his scanner and humming below his breath with the readings. Lance had stepped back out of the way, feeling like he was intruding as Shiro grasped the back of Keith's neck and pulled their foreheads together. Neither said anything but slowly the tension had drained from Shiro's frame and Keith's had softened until he was wrapped back up in Shiro's arms.
A loud banging noise outside the infirmary had Lance jumping and the others' heads swiveling over. "Hey!" came Pidge's muffled shout. "What are you doing in there? We want in!"
Shiro chuckled and Coran called out for just another dobash while Keith's entire face had lit up with a soft smile at hearing Pidge's voice, demanding as it was.
She really was okay. He remembered very little and no one had yet (understandably) filled him in but he had never felt such fear as he had when he realized it was indeed a trap.
However...
"The aliens?" he asked quietly as he pulled his jacket on. "Did they make it?"
Shiro bowed his head and Coran uttered a soft, "No, my boy, I am afraid they did not."
Haggar's last two victims. Although… she had nearly had several more. Her bait had been perfect and they had fallen for it, compassion winning out over caution.
He glanced then to Lance, who was holding his arms about himself and looking smaller than he should. Keith desperately wanted to see Pidge but he had something that needed done first.
In a few short steps he'd crossed the distance between the two of them and after only a second of hesitation wrapped his arms tightly about Lance's middle and pulled him into a hug.
"K-Keith?"
"It's not your fault," Keith said hotly and based on Lance's sharp inhale he had called it. "And I'd do it again. We're Paladins of Voltron. We save people."
"Keith…"
Slender arms tightened about him then with more force than Keith had honestly been expecting.
"Lo siento," Lance whispered.
"No apologizing," Keith mumbled into Lance's shoulder.
A wet sounding chuckle. "Gracias. I…"
Another loud thump sounded. "I went undercover as a boy for months!" Pidge near bellowed, patience having run out. "I have seen it all and I am coming the fuck in!"
Lance gave Keith one more squeeze and released him, just as the infirmary door slammed open, revealing Pidge, eyes bright.
She practically launched herself across the room and Keith caught her, only to overbalance at the force and both of them crashed to the floor. Neither seemed to care as Pidge latched her hands into the front of his shirt and he hugged her tight.
No thanks were needed between the two of them. Keith had no doubts he was only alive because of Pidge, fuzzily recalling her screaming at him to get up and shoving him into a cryo-pod. He clutched her tighter.
"Keith."
Allura's soft accented tones cut into the air and he felt her hand descend on his shoulder. He picked his head up from where he'd buried it in Pidge's hair to look at her.
Her eyes were swimming with guilt, agony painted on her face. She had made the final call to authorize the rescue even though he had been against it. She had nearly sent him to his death.
Keith found he didn't blame her at all.
"I already told Lance," he said, voice hoarse. "It's not your fault either. We save people. If… if we don't, who will?"
Allura made a little choking noise and Keith found himself sandwiched between her and Pidge. That was apparently the cue for a group hug because they were suddenly all there and rather than feeling smothered by all of the attention Keith soaked it in, unable to stop his tears even though he was smiling.
"All right, all right, break it up now," Coran said after a few moments. "We discussed this. Number Four needs to eat and then rest. Four days in a pod is no easy feat on the body."
Based on the low groans from around him but the removal of hands and arms where they had latched onto his jacket it was indeed something they had previously discussed. Keith found himself swaying though as all of the support disappeared, head suddenly heavy.
Four days?
God. They must have been so worried.
Strong hands caught him and he found himself being propped up against Shiro. "I've got you," he murmured.
Eating was apparently a constitution of food goo – "none of us can cook alien food, all right?" Pidge had explained vehemently when Keith's nose had wrinkled – but a welcome cup of tea. Lance quietly informed him as he ate that Shiro had attempted to volunteer but had been vetoed down within the second.
Keith laughed probably harder than the comment warranted but it felt so good to do so.
Once he was finished eating Shiro had scooped him up, ignoring Keith's half-hearted protests that he could walk even if the room was going hazy around the edges, and deposited him on a couch that had made it back to the infirmary. He'd been tucked in with a series of blankets including one of Lance's quilts.
Coran had told him he was likely to sleep through until the morning hours as his body was running on near fumes. Keith had hummed, already nearly asleep in his cocoon. The last thing he recalled was Shiro pressing a kiss to his forehead and then welcome darkness.
xxx
It was nearing 2200 hours, or midnight in castle standard time, but despite the late hour everyone in the infirmary was still awake save Keith, who true to Coran's prediction had fallen into a deep sleep that no outside noise was affecting.
Some were more awake than others though. Pidge was nodding off, propped up against Lance's back and Lance too was slumping forward more and more. Allura and Coran were faring the best, not needing as much sleep as the humans, while Shiro had taken to pacing around the room.
A sharp beep had tired heads jerking up and Lance breathed, "Hunk," surging so fast to his feet that Pidge toppled over behind him with a yelp.
"Out we go," Allura said, offering a hand up to Pidge who took it with a quiet thank you. The two exited to once more await until Hunk was decent, the mice perched between both their shoulders.
Coran was armed with the blanket this time. Lance wished it was him as he wanted to be the first to hug Hunk, but he was well aware that even with both hands working again he was not strong enough to hold up Hunk's full weight and he wasn't so selfish as to have Hunk's first movement out of the pod be a faceplant.
The door slid open with another cold burst of air and Coran neatly caught Hunk with a strength Lance severely envied, a large blanket identical to the one Keith had been enshrouded in wrapped tightly all about him. Coran nodded his head at Lance then and he had pressed himself up to Hunk's side, hugging him from around while Coran kept him steady.
"Hunk?" Lance called, his voice thicker than he'd planned upon. Shiro's hand descended on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "H-hunk? Hermano? Despierta. Por favor."
Honey eyes half-lidded with sleep raised and Lance called out to him again. Hunk turned his head slowly in his direction, blinking.
"Lance?" Hunk mumbled.
"Hunk," Lance repeated, pressing his face against Hunk's blanket clad shoulder. "Hunk."
"Lance," and Hunk sounded more awake now. "L-Lance!"
"Easy, easy," Coran soothed as he felt Hunk's heart thud against his hand as he continued to rub heat back into the large boy. "Everything is all right."
"Th-Theodek," Hunk gasped, eyes darting about the room in search of the alien. "He…"
But he was no longer in the kitchen. He was not lying on the ground, summoning every last bit of strength to him to form his bayard as Lance's broken screams sounded above cruel laughter while every breath sent agony racing through him.
It was over.
And Lance was…
Lance was right here. Alive. Whole. Safe.
Hunk let out a sob and somehow Lance was suddenly in his arms and Coran was behind him and offering support. Hunk was grateful as without it he'd have been on the floor.
"You're okay," Hunk choked out, squeezing Lance to him and eliciting a sob that matched his own. "You're okay. You're okay." It was as much a reassurance as it was a plea.
Lance buried his face in the crook of Hunk's neck in answer, trembling just as much. Hunk just hugged him tighter, never planning to let go.
Hunk hadn't known if he was going to survive his wound, knowing without a doubt it was fatal And more than that, he wasn't sure if Lance was going to be there when he did, and that hurt more than all of the axes in the world.
He had no idea if his last shot had connected as he'd passed out just as he heard the cannon go off. He didn't remember anything after that until just now.
What had happened after?
His gaze lifted from the top of Lance's head to see Shiro next to him, one of the heavy hands also rubbing against his arm. Coran he knew was behind him. And lying on the couch directly across…
"Keith," he whispered, staring.
How…?
"We're all okay," Shiro told him quietly, pressing a kiss to the top of Hunk's head. "Keith and Pidge too. They survived the blast."
Hunk felt his knees give and rather than try to hold him up Coran guided him gently to the ground. Lance went with him like a clinging koala bear.
Speaking of…
"Where's Pidge?" Hunk asked, "and Allura?"
"Just outside the hall until you get dressed," Shiro told him, sinking down to his haunches so he wasn't towering over. "You up to doing so or need a few more minutes?"
Hunk opted to wait a few minutes, cuddling Lance to him and breathing in the faint scent of spice from Lance's hair and willing his heart rate to calm down, which had spiked when Coran had revealed he'd been in the pod for just shy of four and a half days.
"You're really okay?" Hunk asked Lance quietly.
"I should be asking you that," Lance mumbled against his shoulder. A sob shook him. "I'm so sorry."
Hunk immediately knew to what Lance was referring to. "No," he said gently but firmly. "No. Don't apologize for that. I wouldn't expect you to be any other way, hermano."
"But you almost died," Lance said, voice small. "If I'd just taken the shot…"
"We don't know what would have happened," Hunk said quietly. There were too many variables involved. Maybe the shot had killed Thedoek and Hunk had remained uninjured. Then, if they had crossed paths with Haggar, perhaps she'd have struck him down in an instant as he was in her way. There was no way of knowing and Hunk had no desire to run the numbers and predictions. "Let's just… focus on now. Okay?" He squeezed Lance. "Te quiero, hermano. I'm glad you're all right."
"Te quiero," Lance whispered back.
Only once Lance had stopped trembling and Hunk felt the barest bit of strength and balance returning did he move to getting dressed, not as proud as Keith to not accept assistance as his limbs still felt like a tub of food goo.
Once he was snug in his own comfy clothes and sitting back down in an apparent nest of blankets with Lance pressed up to his side did Shiro go to open the infirmary door.
Pidge raced in, Allura following quickly but more demurely behind, and crashed into him and Lance and Hunk found himself with a lap full of Pidge a moment later, her arms hooked about his neck like the koala he had likened Lance to just a moment ago.
"I'm okay," he repeated for her benefit. "You're okay?"
"I am now," she whispered, voice thick. Hunk cuddled her and Lance both a little closer.
"Hunk," Allura placed a hand atop his head, ruffling his hair. Hunk freed one of his hands and moved it to hold Allura's with a gentle squeeze, saying more than words could. Allura tightly squeezed it back.
There was a gentle quiet then, the peace they had all been fully waiting for… And then it was broken as a loud yawn split the air from Pidge and Hunk found himself mimicking it and then Lance.
"Contagious," Shiro yawned himself and there was a note of alarm from Coran at this revelation. Shiro was quick to assure him it was a human myth.
Although, as they all let out another round of yawns Shiro did wonder if there was truth to it.
Coran tried to press a bowl of food goo upon Hunk but sleep was calling stronger. He honestly felt like he could sleep for a week. Allura offered to move him to the other couch or the cot, but Hunk had mumbled that he was fine right here, already lying down in the mess of pillows and blankets, Lance curled up nearly on top of him and using his stomach as a pillow. Hunk had no plans to move him.
Pidge snuggled herself into the spot between Lance's torso and Hunk's legs, using Lance as her own pillow. All three were sound asleep within the minute, a lightness to their expressions and a faint, soft smile on Lance's lips.
"They look like a pile of beroti puppies," Coran remarked fondly.
Allura shook her head with a small smirk. "You forget, Coran. Beroti litters are a minimum of seven pups."
He caught her eye with a twinkle. "Then we shall have to correct this. Number One—"
"Already ahead of you," Shiro cut in, crossing over to them with Keith draped in his arms. The smaller boy didn't so much as stir as Shiro arranged him on Lance's other side and then settled down himself, angling his body so his head bumped Hunk's and his legs extended to rest along Lance's back.
"This is quite an excellent team bonding exercise," Allura remarked, lying down next to Keith and using his stomach for her own pillow, although after a second of trying to make it more comfortable, Keith completely unaware of her, she grabbed one of the many pillows and propped it atop him. The mice raced off the princess and burrowed themselves into folds of blankets all about with delighted little squeaks.
"You are mistaken, Allura," Coran said, draping a blanket over her and then placing one over Shiro and arranging a few as best he could over the others, made difficult due to them all lying about one another. He nearly smothered Chuchule who gave him a chirrup of faked indignation and then pointedly curled up in Keith's hair and pulled the locks about her like her own blanket.
"Coran's right," Shiro chimed in sleepily. "Not a team exercise."
She let out a soft laugh of delight as Coran completed their pile, propping a pillow atop Hunk's legs and curling himself about Pidge and Lance from the bottom.
"Family," Allura murmured, the word both heavy and light at the same time.
"Family," Coran echoed with the most tender of smiles.
"The best family," Shiro said quietly, propping himself up on an elbow to survey their pile.
And as it should be, Lance was firmly in the middle.
Their heart.
The one who had brought them all together and shown them that they were more than just a team.
Shiro smiled.
A family indeed.
xxx
Author's Notes:
Baljdkfjakflafafak This was supposed to be the last chapter (minus the epilogue) but it ran away with me. Gosh dang it! (I'm just not ready to be done, you know?). Anyways, I blame my desire to have a cuddle pile. I have never written a full one (had five out of seven in a small cuddle pile back in If the World Should Freeze) but nothing quite so elaborate and gosh dang it, this fic calls for a cuddle pile. That, and plenty of time to process and come together and I can't rush anything to save my life.
As always, please leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter! I'd love to hear from you! Talk about your favorite section, line, overall comment, etc. Please give the author the warm fuzzies just as this cuddle pile has hopefully done for you.