Not your Fault
“Well, everyone meet; Kolivan, Antok.”Keith pointed to the Galrans as he said their respective names, “And my mother, Krolia.” Keith looked down at his feet. He didn’t want to see anyones reaction to him being half-galra. “Wait, so your part is alien?” Hunk asked innocently, Keith nodded. Silence. “Anyway!” Lance loudly interrupted, “These guys are part of a rebel group fighting against Zarkon. They’re pretty cool.” Lance crossed his arm and put all his weight onto one of his hips while smiling brightly. “You're a Galran rebel group? Fighting against the Galra? Am I getting this right?” Shiro asked, rubbing his temple. “Yes, that is correct. The blade of Marmora has been around for almost 10,000 years, secretly disrupting the Galran empire. We have rebels on the inside of all Galran operations.” Kolivan took a step forward, his voice still stern. “It sounds like you could be a very important and helpful ally. That is if you are up for some discussions. However, how do we know we can trust you?” Shiro took a small step closer to Kolivan. “Keith has proved himself to be trustworthy, if he believes you are trustworthy then we shall trust you.” Kolivan says blankly. Shiro turned to Keith, “When they found us they interrogated us because of my dagger.” Keith reached into his holster and pulled out his dagger, “They said I had to prove that I was trustworthy. Although once we discovered that I’m half-Galra and a paladin they kinda trusted me, I couldn’t say the same about Lance though.” Keith was now standing next to Kolivan, the height difference was comical and Pidge had to stifle their laugh. “They tried to get closer to Lance but I blocked him and well…” Keith fell silent.
“He almost stabbed me in the head because his dagger kinda just swooshed and it was then a sword.” Lance spoke with his hands and dramatically acted out Keith's dagger changing into a sword, the rest of team Voltron looked confused so Keith held out his blade and activated it so it would morph into a sword. “Only those with Galra blood can activate these swords.” Kolivan stated. “So do I need to start cooking so we can discuss a allyship over dinner?” Hunk asked innocently, Lance nodded quickly. “Yes please! I’ve missed your cooking buddy, sure smoked snifflack is pretty good but man do i miss your cooking!” Lance walked over to Hunk and pulled at his arm. “I’m not sure we have the time to finish this conversation today.” Allura sternly interjected, “Or ever” she whispered loud enough that only she could hear it. “We are very busy, and with the return of the blue paladin we really must get back to helping the universe.” Allura bit back from insulting the Galrans in her castle. “Awe, come on Allura, we just met some new allies. Keith has recently reunited with his mother, plus I don't know about you but I am rather hungry.” Lance whined, Shiro walked up to Allura. “Lance is right, we could all use a break. It’s been tough for us all, I’m sure both Lance and Keith are wanting some proper sleep as well.” Shiro sounded sympathetic, everyone turned to look at Allura. “Very well, Hunk you can cook dinner for an alliance meeting.” Allura said slightly begrudgingly. “Oh, joder si (fuck yeah)! My buddy's cooking is the bomb!” Lance called out excitedly looking at his friend.
“Is the blue one always this… puppy-like?” Krolia whispered to Keith. Keith giggled slightly, “Uhm, yeah actually he is. He’s kinda the team's mood booster, somehow he’s always happy.” Keith giggled at the comparison of Lance and a small excitable puppy. Hunk and Coran disappeared to the kitchen, Antok and Kolivan talked to Shiro, Pidge and Lance were catching up on all gossip that Lance had missed out on, Keith continued to talk with his mother and Allura stood at the control panel of the bridge that Coran is always standing at. Keith could feel someone looking at him, he turned to see Allura quickly turn away from him, this happened several times until the dinner had finished cooking. “So, Keith? If you don’t mind, how did my husband die?” Krolia spoke softly, she had always been stern and strong willed but she found that when her husband was involved she would smile and become more easily swayed by her emotions. “A hero.” Keith said softly. “What?” Krolia had heard Keith but she wanted to hear it again, it felt comforting. “He died a hero. The entire town knew him before he passed and I don’t think a single person hated him. He was a firefighter, he went back into a house that was on fire and about to collapse to rescue the family's baby.” Keith’s hand automatically raised to his dagger. “He managed to save the baby's life, but the effects of the smoke of his body were too severe. He died a week later in hospital.” Keith’s voice was quiet, almost regretful. “I’m sorry, I wish I was there with you. Unfortunately sometimes, in order to protect the ones you love you need to leave them. As much as it hurts to do so.” Krolia grabbed Keith’s hand and gave him a soft smile.
“Dinner is served!” Coran called out happily in his thick accent, Coran led everyone into the dinning area. “Tonight’s dinner is seared gairin steak with mashed flooplar and topped off with an Altean red wine infused honey sauce. I hope you enjoy it.” Hunk said in a happy professional tone, Kolivan, Krolia and Antok bowed their heads in thanks. Lance and Keith situated themselves in their usual seats next to each other, somehow Krolia ended up sitting next to Lance and opposite Shiro. “So Lance, Keith, how was being stranded on this planet?” Shiro asked curiously. “Well I mean it sucked being separated from you guys but I can’t deny it wasn’t pretty cool. We even got jobs! And we found the alien equivalent of coffee which has been so helpful, especially for me. Also- If anyone knows a space chiropractor, let me know.” Lance giggled, “Why do you need a chiropractor, you're like what? 17?” Shiro asked, “Well, yes. I mean trust me I love my lion but sleeping on the chair in the cockpit for an entire month is less than ideal.” Lance stretched his back until he heard a pop, Shiro was surprised when heard the pop as well. “Did you not have a bed?” Shiro asked after finishing his bite of food. “We did, but Lance insisted I used the only bed because of my injury.” Keith shrugged before shovelling food into his mouth. “I’m sorry you're injured?” Shiro raised an eyebrow. “Uhhh, no-” Keith lied, it was an obvious lie. “Keith.” Shiro had that condescending tone in his voice. “They’ve always been like this, it’s quite funny actually.” Lance leaned slightly towards Krolia and instaged a conversation while Keith and Shiro argued. “I hope it doesn’t sound too rude, but Shiro is like the dad Keith didn’t have growing up. Well i guess they act more like siblings but If you ever want to know more about Keith as a child. Ask Shiro, he practically took Keith in and has taken care of him since.” Lance gave Krolia a soft smile, Krolia was shocked at how calm Lance was while talking to her even though they had only met that day and given the stigma around the Galran population.
“I hate to disrupt this lovely dinner prepared by our lovely yellow paladin but I would like to move on to discussing our alliance.” Allura stood from where she sat, Kolivan nodded. “I agree, whilst this dinner was very pleasant and it was greatly enjoyed I do believe an alliance would benefit us both. I have been communicating with Shiro while dinner has been prepared and we have revised a plan. We thank you for your welcomeness today but my colleagues and myself should be off now. “Please contact us if you make a decision.” Kolivan, Krolia and Antok stood and bowed in thanks, “I will try to keep in contact with you.” Kolia gave Keith a hug before she left, “Thank you, it’s nice to finally have met you.” Keith tightened his grip slightly, after the hug Krollia ruffled Keith's already messy hair. “Take care of yourself.” Krolia said quietly, “You too.” Keith smiled slightly. “She reminds me of you quite a lot.” Lance said as he stood next to Keith. “Ah! What the fuck! Lance, stop sneaking up on me.” Keith screeched just when Lance suddenly appeared next to him. Korlia briefly looked back at her son and his puppy-like ‘friend’ and smiled, it looked all too familiar. “I didn’t sneak up on you but ok. Now I know you guys are related, you are quite similar despite not being around each other for 17 years.” Keith rolled his eyes. “Keith.” Shiro said in his ‘dad’ voice, Keith flinched. “Are you going back to your room?” Keith turned slowly to face Shiro. “Shiro, I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me.” Keith complained, Shiro looked at Lance. “Lance, do you think Keith should heal from his injuries in an Altean pod?” Lance shrugged, “I mean yeah, probably. He hasn’t really had any medical attention apart from my pestering and I only know so much about taking care of stitches. I was also going to go in one, at least for one night. I was hoping it would help with my back from sleeping on the chair for a month.” Keith threw his arms up in defeat. “You were supposed to help me.” Keith complained, “I did help you thank you very much. I saved you from bleeding out in the cockpit of the blue lion. I saved you from infections to the wound, I found painkillers for you. Plus the Altean pod is gonna help a lot.” Lance retorted.
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“Lance, do you mind if I speak to you before you go into the pods?” Allura stopped Lance before he entered the healing pod, Lance looked at Keith who begrudgingly prepared his pod. “Yeah, what’s up?” Allura sighed and pulled Lance further away from Keith. “What are you doing?” Allura whispered angrily, “What do you mean?” Lance asked, he was seriously confused about how Allura was acting. “Why are you acting like you trust Keith and those Galrans?” Allura seemed like she was taking her anger out on Lance. “Because I do? What is going on with you? Those Galran’s aren’t like Zarkons soldiers.” Lance furrowed his eyebrows, Allura let out a loud irritated groan. “They are Galran, we can't trust them! These people destroyed my planet. My people. Do you not care about what they did to me, they took my father away from me! And atop all of that how long have they been around? And yet they haven’t made any progress.” Allura took a step towards Lance, she was intimidating. “Yes, of course I care about you and what they did to your people. But would they lie about fighting Zarkon? All of Zarkons soldiers that we have met have all believed in Zarkons legacy or wanted to take over Zarkon. Not one of the Galrans we met today made any movement to hurt us.” Lance sighed heavily, “Do you really believe there isn’t good Galran’s?” Lance squeezed Allura’s upper arms lightly but she shrugged his hands off. “What about Keith then? Do you trust him? Do you really believe that he hasn’t been coercing with the empire?” Allura almost pushed Lance to the floor from her anger, “Are you fucking kidding me?” Lance scoffed loudly. “Are you really saying that you think Keith has been in contact with Zarkon this entire time?” Lance laughed at Allura.
“Keith only just found out that he was part-galra today! And you think he’s been talking with Zarkon. Keith wants to stab the guy to death.” Lance laughed a little louder this time. “I appreciate that Zarkon has hurt your family and eradicated your people but you can’t truly believe that there aren’t Galrans fighting for the right cause. Plus it’s keith! The hot headed, talented, would kill any Galran soldier that tried to hurt him or any of his friends Keith. He’s still Keith, the only difference is he now knows who his family is.” Lance gave Allura a look of disappointment before he walked back to the healing pod he was preparing earlier. Lance ignored Allura’s presence in the room as he prepared the pod, “Keith? Why haven’t you gotten in the pod yet?” Lance asked as he noticed Keith walking towards him, “Why did you do that?” Keith gave no context to what he was talking about. “What the hell are you saying?” Lance asked, “Why did you defend me like that? She has every right to be mad at me based on what she was saying.” Keith crossed his arms defensively. “What are you talking about? No she doesn’t! Nothing has changed about you, you didn't just turn part Galra. You’ve always been part Galra but you didn’t know until now. It’s not fair for her to disrespect you because of something you couldn’t even control. Besides, she's trusted you for so long now, almost 4 years. It’s wrong that she’s just stopped trusting you when you’ve done nothing wrong.” Lance spoke with a little more force than he had wanted to but he felt that Keith needed to know that he was being serious. It might have been delusions from lack of sleep but Lance thought he saw Keith relax his shoulders and even smile a little. Keith scoffed out a laugh and gave Lance a friendly punch in the arm, “Thanks for defending me.” with another huffed out laugh Keith spoke again. “Goodnight Lance.” Lance smiled, “Night, mullet man.” Keith laughed loudly. “Keep commenting on my hair and I might think you like my hair.” Lance laughed gently, “Night, Keith.”