Cold Calmness
“Shiro! Come on, please! He’s my brother and he was your friend, please let me find him.” Pidge begged Shiro to let them go on a solo mission to find their brother. A week or so prior Pidge had found security footage of their brother and have been dedicated to finding the whereabouts of him ever since. “Fine, but please let someone come with you. Please?” Shiro tried negotiating with Pidge but as usual it failed. “No, this is my mission. I need to do this alone. If I really need help I’ll call for help. I promise.” Shiro caved, he allowed Pidge to go on the solo mission to find their brother. “Thank you!” Pidge tightly squeezed Shiro in a hug. “Coran, what’s the status of the others?” Shiro asked as Pidge ran out the room. Zarkon hasn’t pulled any major attacks recently so Voltron focused on small solo missions that would help them in the long run, Keith had started going on more missions with the blade when time allowed for it. “Ah yes. Well number 5 has just left to find their brother, Hunk is on his way back from providing a recently freed planet with food, Keith just spoke with me and he’s on his way back and Lance…” Coran looked through a few more data files before speaking again. “Lance hasn’t communicated with us for two weeks. His mission was to provide first aid to a damaged town, he said that there weren't many injured. Do you think something could’ve happened?” Coran asked as he pulled up the data on Lance's solo mission.
“Coran, open a hailing frequency for the Blue Lion. Let’s hope he’s just forgotten.” Shiro walked beside Coran. “Hey Shiro, Coran. What’s up?” Lance asked, he answered the hailing frequency but didn’t face the video. “We’re just checking in, we haven’t heard from you in almost 2 weeks. Is everything ok? Do you need help?” Lance finished bandaging a small child's arms and encouraged him to follow his mother before responding, “Uhm, if you guys want me to finish this mission soon. I shouldn’t need anything. But people are coming here thinking this is a first aid refugee which is why i've been stuck here longer than planned. Next!” Lance looked concerned as he spoke, “Let me look at you.” Lance said quietly to a child that walked up to him, Lance held a kind and welcoming smile on his face. “Oh, looks like you’ve scraped your arm pretty badly. Let me help you, this is going to hurt ok. Do you think you can be brave for me?” Lance asked gently, Lance waited until he cleaned and bandaged the small child’s wound before speaking again. “I think we need to make a permanent first aid refuge. It’s becoming too dangerous, I've even had to help members of the blade.” Shiro froze, “How many blade members?” Shiro asked urgently. “At least 20. Keith included…” Shiro shared a concerned look with Coran. “Keith had to go to our temporary first aid shelter? That’s unlike Keith to even ask for help, how bad was the wound?” Shiro asked, which led Lance to let out a heavy sigh. “He dislocated his shoulder… and got a small stab wound to his lower back.” Lance sighed heavily again, “He was the one with the least severe injuries out of most of the blade members I've treated while here.” Lance was solemn, Keith was an amazing fighter so for him to have one of the less severe wounds is greatly concerning.
“Ok, keep treating everyone you can. Coran and myself will organise with some of the rebel groups to create a permanent first aid refugee-” Shiro spoke calmly. “Help! Someone please help! My brother! He’s dying! I need help please!” a young girl's voice was heard yelling through the hailing frequency, Shiro and Coran stood frozen as a young boy was being carried on a stretcher in the background. His arm mangled, skin torn and blood pooling heavily everywhere. Before either Shiro or Coran could process the extreme severity of the wound Lance was running. He sprinted to the boy and urged the people carrying him to bring him back to where Lance was treating his other patients, Lance didn’t bother closing the hailing frequency. He had no time, luckily his lion closed the call because if he didn’t act now the boy would be dead before Lance could say his family's name. “Everyone out, except you.” Lance pointed to the alien that had aided him with some of his previous patients. Lance quickly put some gloves and a mask on and started to clean the large wound, the boy suffered from deep thin gashes all over both arms. It looked as if he got caught in a wire trap and tried to pull himself free but caused the wire to cut through his arm. “I need you to clean and tightly bandage his other arm. I will stitch up this arm then move to his other one when I'm done.” Lance said as he began stitching the left arm. The balmarian nodded and quickly got to work, Lance and the balmarian worked as quickly as they could while still being effective. After 5 minutes Lance finished stitching the boy's first arm, “Lance.” The familiar voice started Lance and he knew his lion had accepted a hailing frequency from the Castle of Lions.
“What is it Keith, I’m kind of busy right now!” Lance was frustrated, he was halfway through stitching the second arm and his line of patients was quickly getting longer. “Hey, can you get started on the other patients? I can finish this myself.” Lance quickly looked at the balmaran who nodded and moved to the other patients. “Holy shit! What happened!?” Keith yelled in surprise when Lance moved his back out of the view of the video to reveal the young boy Lance was working on. “Take a guess, hot shot. The fucking Galra, they’re getting more bold. Someone who brought him in said someone from the blade rescued him from the arena.” Lance sighed, hiding his tears. Lance tied off the last stitch and cleaned the wound before looking pitiful at the boy “He’s 7 Keith. Only 7 and forced to fight for his life for the Galra’s entertainment. He’s the same age as my brother.” Lance paused to take a deep breath before he continued to help the boy. “Lance…” Keith whispered gently, “I’m so sorry.” Keith continued to whisper. “Hey, don’t apologise. It’s not your fault, it's just really sad. Also, have you been checking your stitches like I told you to?” Keith faltered, he hadn’t listened to Lance. “Oh. My. God. Keith!” Lance scolded, “Do you ever listen to anyone? And don’t answer that, I already know the answer.” Keith laughed softly, Lance had grown to understand Ketih on a level that only Shiro had managed to do before. How this happened Keith wasn’t sure but he didn’t complain. It made him feel special. Keith told himself it was because someone recognized that he wasn’t a walking problem, just that he was misunderstood. Keith tried to force out the thought that it was because it was Lance, that it felt special. “Lance, how is that young boy doing?” Coran asked politely as he stood next to Keith. “Better, but I want to bring him back to the castle and put him in one of the pods. I would also need to bring his sister with him. Recon I could do that?” Lance asked. “Go ahead, bring him and his sister back as soon as you can. I’ll get Shiro off your back for you.” Keith interjected before Coran could say anything. “Thanks, Keith.” Lance’s voice was gentle and it soothed most of Keiths worries.
“Keith! You're not the leader, why did you agree to that? They would have followed him!” Shiro chastised, “So what if he was, we could fight them off! Pidge is on their way back now and with Lance Back we would’ve been able to form voltron!” Keith yelled back. “That’s not the point Keith.” Shiro sighed, “Ok, so what is the point?” Keith argued. “Excuse me? Are you guys the one who saved my brother?” A young alien girl asked quietly, Shiro and Keith looked down at the small child. “I’m sorry, we’re not. But I can help you find the person who did. Would you like that?” Keith kneeled down next to the girl, he had no clue what he was doing. Keith could only think ‘what would Lance do?’ and Lance would help, he always did. The girl nodded and reached for Keith’s hand, Keith led the girl to the healing pods. Luckily he found Lance sitting and leaning against the healing pod the girl's brother was in, “Want to see something funny?” Keith asked quietly, the girl nodded. “Ok, but we’ve got to be quiet.” Keith raised a finger to his lips. Once Keith and the small girl stood close to Lance Keith reached forward and stole the marker in Lance’s hand. Keith smiled at Lance, even though he was asleep and so completely unaware of everything. Keith took the cap of the marker and brought it to Lance’s face, his pinky resting on Lance's cheek to stabilise his hand. Keith proceeded to colour a small circle on Lance's nose and add a few lines on Lance’s cheek as if they were whiskers. “Cute!” The girl squeals not very quietly, “Yeah, it’s pretty cute isn’t it?” Keith whispered more to himself than the girl.
“Paladins! Get ready for an attack!” Allura said loudly through the intercoms of the castle. Keith jerked back in surprise when Lance woke up and screamed. “Fuck, Keith don’t stand so close to a person sleeping!” Lance huffed out, “Uhh, you might want to clean your face before you get to your lion…” and with that Keith ran off leaving the girl alone with Lance. “What have you done…” Lance whispered to himself, “Ok, let's get you somewhere safe.” Lance gently held the little girl's hand and led her to his bedroom. Lance almost yelled when he saw his face in the mirror but managed to refrain. Lance explained that the girl had to remain inside his room while he was gone while he washed his face. “What about my brother? Will he be ok?” the girl asked innocently, Lance Kneeled in front of the girl sitting on his bed. “Yes, he is safe. I promise to keep you and your brother safe but you have to stay here while I'm gone so I can do that.” The girl nodded and embraced Lance tightly.
“PALADINS TO YOUR LIONS IMMEDIATELY!” Allura was frantic, after giving the girl a small smile Lance ran out of the room to his lion. As soon as Lance left his hanger in the red lion he was attacked with heavy fire. Keith flew past in the black lion and shot down the fighter jets that were attacking Lance and Hunk. “Thanks Keith!” Hunk called out. Shiro was flying with Pidge, he couldn’t risk trying to pilot the black lion after destroying Zarkons connection so recently. “Pidge, 10 o’clock!” Allura yelled from the blue lion, “Got it! Thanks princess!” Pidge turned quickly to react to the oncoming attackers. “Hunk, Pidge and Allura get those plates back into position! Lance and I will get the fighter jets off your back!” Keith instructed and quickly sped up to destroy an oncoming battle cruiser, “Right behind you Keith.” Lance followed Keith towards the oncoming attackers, Coran helped to defend Hunk, Pidge and Allura while they reconnected the plates of a force field that protected a Glaran base and planet. “Uhh, guys I don’t think we’re going to be able to get them back in place in time. Plus we still need to join them properly.” Hunk called out in a panic. “Allura secure the plates that are in place with your ice, I have the fastest lion so i’ll get the last plate then weld them together.” Lance called back. “Coran. Help Keith he’s going to get slammed when I leave to get the plate.” Lance called out as he destroyed 5 fighter jets. “You got it number 3!” Coran called out proudly. “Hurry it up Lance! We only have 50 ticks left until the radiation band!” Pidge yelled out as they tried to hack into the Galran system. “You got it, Pidge, on my way.” Lance sped to the last plate.
Lance managed to retrieve the plate quickly and put his full boosters on to get it back in time, “Allura, I need you to freeze the plates. Can you do that?” Lance asked as he arrived with the last plate. “Yes, Lance.” Allura responded politely. “Pidge, Shiro. You guys better be ready! I’m welding the plates now!” Lance spoke as his lion started shooting flames at the ice and eventually the metal. “Shiro, get your hand ready.” Pidge said calmly, “Yeah, I'm all good. Lance, how are we looking?” Shiro asked as he placed his glowing hand on the control pad. “Done! And just in time by the looks of things!” The plates started to glow and they had power, “Shiro!” Pidge yelled as Shiro passed out and his hand fell off the control panel. The shields lost power and the radiation band was only getting closer, Pidge managed to pull Shiro back to the control panel with the help of their jetpack. “Allura, no!” Lance yelled as he saw a flicker of energy shoot out from the plates he shoved Allura and the blue lion out of the way just in time to avoid a large dangerous electrical surge. Lance let out an ear piercing scream of pain. “Lance! No!” Allura tried to fly to Lance but was stopped by Keith and his Lion. “Allura, you go there now. You will die, the radiation band is about to pass over. Lance is within the shield but the other Galra aren’t.” Keith said through gritted teeth, he wanted to scold Lance for his impulsive decisions that could’ve endangered his life. Yet the urge to make sure he was ok was far greater. “Lance? Do you copy?” Keith spoke calmly after the radiation band came over the shield. The band had destroyed most of the Galran ships and the rest retreated on order from Sendak. “Lance, do you copy?” Keith asked once more, his panic growing and becoming obvious.
It was quiet… and so very calm. No one was screaming, no one was panicking, no one was fighting. In fact no one was anywhere… Where was he? “Hello?” Lance called out but he wasn’t sure if he had made any sound, “Hello? Is anyone here? Where am I?” Lance called out once more, still not trusting his own voice. “Lance?” A voice whispered, “Yes, that's me. Who’s there?” Lance spun in a circle trying to find the voice. “My brother… Is that you.” the voice whispered and there she was. “Veronica!” Lance and his sister embraced tightly, they both started to cry. “Lance-” Veronica whispered through tears, “I’ve missed you. Where have you been? Our family is so worried about you.” Veronica pulled out of the hug and cupped her older brother's cheeks, wiping his tears. “I never meant to leave! I promise I didn’t want to. B-but i’m a paladin now. I help fight to protect the universe, to protect our family.” Lance openly cried in front of his sister. There was always a sense of vulnerability that Lance knew he wouldn’t get judged for when he was with his sister and he missed it dearly. “I believe you, but you need to come back home soon. People are starting to forget you, I don’t want that to happen.” Lance looked up to see his baby sister crying with a sad smile. “You wouldn’t let them forget me… Would you?” Lance pleaded quietly, “No, of course not.” Veronica lifted Lance’s face slightly and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. “I can’t help anymore. Get back to earth and protect her for me.” Veronica’s figure began to fade. “Wait! Take care of who! Don’t go! I don’t want to leave you again.” Lance yelled in sadness as his sister disappeared. Lance cried, he cried loudly and for a long time.
“No…” Lance whimpered and fell to his knees crying, he punched the ground as hard as he could. He wanted to break something, he wanted to feel something. He wanted to feel pain. He had left his family, he had left his sister. He was no more than a reject from his own family, and who was he supposed to protect when he got home. Why couldn’t Veronica help make his family remember him? Lance was left with so many questions yet no answers. “Lance.” A voice whispered gently. “Veronica!?” Lance shot up and looked around for his sister. Nothing. “Lance, thank you.” the voice spoke again. “I-i wha- what’s happening?” Lance fell to the floor again, “Hey, hey. Everythings going to be ok.” a gentle hand was placed on Lance’s shoulder. Looking up, Lance immediately recognized the kind alien in front of him. He recognized every single alien in front of him, there weren't many but he remembered everything. Each patient. Each story. Each different account of suffering. Each death. There, stood before him stood the aliens he didn’t have the skill or equipment to help recover or save. “You saved us Lance. And we couldn’t be more thankful.” the oldest of the group spoke, “No I didn’t. I couldn’t even save you, you all died because of me.” Lance removed the gentle hand from his shoulder and started to walk away from the aliens. “You’re wrong. The Glara killed us, but you tried and tried to save us. You made us all feel like we were worth something. You made us feel comfort in our death and for that we are forever grateful.” All the aliens smiled at lance, some cried. Some smiled but they all looked happy. And the reason was because of Lance. “You guys were all worth something! Everyone has a purpose, everyone is worth something!” Lance argued. A young alien walked towards Lance and held his hand. “Then it’s time you start believing that for yourself.” the small alien smiled and faded away, one alien after the other. The small group of aliens faded and Lance was left alone once more… Lance was left in silence.
“Lance?” There was a familiar voice, “Lance?” there it was again, this time there was a warm feeling in his chest. “Lance, come on. Please” It was Allura, the princess was talking to him. But why? “Lance. Wake up, please.” Lance groaned, adjusting in his seat. Wait, his seat? What happened to the white abyss he was just in. Where was his sister? Where were his patients? “Ugh, I'm here. What happened?” Lance groaned in pain as he spoke, “Oh my, I thought we lost you. Well, I mean we did lose you. For almost a full two doboshes (2 minutes). But I got you back! My powers brought you back! I didn’t even think that was possible!” Allura was rambling, Lance was silently crying. Lance felt like he had truly seen his sister, he felt like what those aliens said was true. Now Allura is saying Lance was imagining it? “Are you saying… I died?” Lance whispered almost too quietly to hear. “You-” Lance had to take a deep breath before he began to speak again, “You should get back to your Lion. I’m sure we’re due at the Castle of Lions soon.” Allura nodded and walked off as if nothing had just happened. Once Lance was back at the Castle he avoided the other Paladins. While everyone went to the bridge to discuss the mission and the two aliens that Lance had brought back from his mission, Lance went elsewhere. “Hey, little girl. How are you?” Hunk asked politely as he opened Lance’s bedroom door, Both Keith and Hunk instantly noticed that Lance was missing. Their worries started to grow, “Hey, Hunk? Can you take care of her while I find Lance? I’m not much of a child person…” Keith asked sheepishly, Hunk agreed. But where was Keith even going to look, it’s not exactly like he was friends with Lance. I mean sure they had gotten a lot closer since being stranded but still, they weren't officially friends. Were they?
“Ugh!” Lance yelled through his furious tears as he shot a training droid dead centre in the chest. “Lance?” Keith entered the training deck when he heard someone shooting the bots down. Lance didn’t hear Keith. “Stop training sequence.” Keith said loud enough for Lance to acknowledge his presence, “Keith!?” Lance was surprised and a little annoyed. “Is everything ok?” Keith cautiously walked closer to Lance, “I- uh. Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired” Lance lied, Keith was cautious of how Lance tightly gripped his activated bayard. “Are you really ok?” Keith asked gently as he placed a hand on Lance's and lowered the weapon. His bayard deactivated and fell with a loud thud, “no.” Lance cried, he couldn’t hold back his tears. “I couldn’t save them Keith! I saw them, the patients I couldn’t save. I saw them. They died, and I died but I got to Live again. It’s not fair.” Lance cried heavily, he was embarrassed. Why was he crying? And in front of Keith no less. “Calm down. It’s ok, you did what you could and that’s what matters. The fact you tried to keep them alive probably means the world to them. Now it’s time for you to rest.” Keith embraced Lance, it felt awkward to initiate but it felt so comfortable. Even though Lance was a wreck, Keith felt so calm and safe in Lance's arms. Lance cried for almost an hour in Keith’s arms but Keith never made any indication of leaving.