A wild artist appears

There was a pause that made his worries come back in an instant. “If both the lion and the suit are working alright worst case is he could get a cold from this entire thing.” Coran finally stated though he seemed absent like reading over something while talking.

Hunk had pulled an emergency landing after taking an unlucky shot in the last battle. As far as could tell he bad been fine, with just Yellow needing a moment to get back on track. He had been on contact for the entire time and when it had become obvious he had to be picked up from there had told them that there was no need to worry he could wait.

The focus one the battle had been needed with now just the four of them having to out-flight and fight an entire fleet. Just that afterwards they hadn’t been able to make contact to him. Lance had followed the coordinates first getting there as soon as he could.

Now that he was standing in front of Yellow he couldn’t help but feel the aching anxiousness creep back under his skin. The lion looked like he was out of energy. To be fair Lance knew that technically wasn’t possible. That the lions at most could be on lock-down. But the lack of any visible energy combined with the dead landscape of a planet just an idea too far away from the sun to support life: it was freaking him out.

Stepping closer he knocked letting out a relieved breath when he heard a soft clicking noise of the door unlocking. The inside was dimmed, Yellow apparently used most of the energy to stabilize temperature and oxygen in the cockpit. Taking off his helmet after he was sure the door was closed again it only took him a short moment to find him. Hunk sat on the ground next to an opened up distributor. The realization hit Lance full force. Now he was by no means an Engineer. All he knew about engineering was that no Engineer would ever call themselves that because it was just too broad of a description and some stuff about CAD that had stuck with him for some reason. Both these things he had learned while helping Hunk study. Hunk must have tried to reconnect the wires in a way that took the energy from the emergency systems to transfer them somewhere else. Maybe to strengthen his signal. Maybe to power up Yellow enough to get away from the planet. And given by how cold it was in here he had at least gotten the first part right.

Hurrying over Lance fell on his knees next to Hunk trying to shake him awake. It took too long he noted. He was cold under his touch breath coming slow. Eventually though he groaned softly opening his eyes and blinking confused at Lance a few times pupils too wide for the light surrounding them, his lips violet, almost blue. “Hunk!” Lance called in open relief, now that he was sure he had his attention taking his face into his hands half to help him keep the attention fixed on him half to calm himself down. “Oh geez, you’re freezing! How are you feeling? Why did you try to get off here alone? We told you we would come as soon as we could!”

Hunk winced under the sudden storm of questions shaking his head slightly in attempt to get Lance to shut up for a moment or at least slow down. He wasn’t gonna lie but the way his best friend acted reminded him of someone being woken up too suddenly after a night of drinking. “You were in trouble. Couldn’t just sit that out and sit that out.” he mumbled sounding dangerously passive about the entire situation. Rather like commenting on an okay movie than explaining a life threatening decision.

Lance took a shaky breath nodding slightly. “Well, now I’m here. Let’s get you to Red and then back to the castle we go. How does that sound, big guy?” He asked giving him a reassuring smile that missed the mark sincere by miles given by how scared he was.

There was a moment of silence before Hunk shook his head slightly. “I’d rather stay here. Your plans usually end in trouble.” He admitted sounding tired.

Don’t panic. Lance gulped a knot building painfully in his throat. “What are you talking about bud?” He asked trying to sound calm but noticed his voice was too high pitched to not give him away, “Name one time that happened!”

“Mermaids.” The answer came without hesitation and really if the entire situation hadn’t been scary as heck it would have made him laugh out of surprise alone.

Noticing Hunk was about to drift off again Lance rubbed his cheeks slightly to give him a sensation to focus on. “Okay no mermaids this time, we’re just going home promised!” He tried again. “Just out of Yellow and to Red then I promise I won’t try talking you round into stuff you don’t want to do ever again. Not even 20 meters, please!”

Hunk kept his gaze up seemingly thinking about the offer. When it took to long Lance added. “I won’t shut up until you say yes. You can do me this small, tiny favor or I’ll just keep babbling and poking you until Shiro gets here and can carry you somewhere safe.”

The threat worked. Hunk let out a sigh before trying to push himself up Lance doing his best to help him balance himself out. Helping him into his helmet and activating it so they both could breathe once they stepped out Lance started to get them walking.  It worked well enough all things considered they were terribly slow Lance having to pull and convince Hunk to almost every step to take but eventually they had some kind of rhythm behind it.

About halfway to Red Lance noticed Hunk looked like he was about to say something, brows furrowed like he had to focus on sorting his thoughts. “You were lying…” before Lance could ask what he meant though Hunk added. “You always say you won’t try talking me into things again and then you do it anyways.”

Lance tightened his grip around his shoulder letting out a humorless laugh. “Well after this you can officially call me out on it if I ever try it again. How does that sound?”

Turning around he stepped back to give her a better view on the holo-monitor, side-eyeing her carefully. She didn't look any better than she ha this morning, her skin having an unhealthy gray undertone, sweaty and shaky. It had taken the team one gaze to get up and talk her round to get back to bed and rest before the flu would hit her full force. Of course today Lotor decided it was a good idea for a surprise attack to not let them stabilize too much. Yet Kuron couldn't help but note she tried to carry herself. Tried to stand with straightened back. Tried to keep up with the high expectations the universe had always thrown at her.

Letting out a deep sign he shook his head. “As well as they can with four Lions.” He admitted pulling out the statistics. She gave a tight nod. “Maybe we should call them back and get out of here Lotor's too dangerous to take on if we're not at full strength.” She looked like she was about to say more but a heavy coughing fit interrupted her leaving her heaving in trying to catch her breath.

He weighted the option of agreeing with her for a moment but ultimately decided against it. Nobody would be helped if a half-finished portal tore the entire castle including the lions apart. “There isn't much you can do now, Princess.” He tried to argue. Before he could do as much as add an explanation he noticed the words had hit her harder than he had intended.

“Oh- so I'm supposed to do just nothing?” She demanded her voice thick with frustration and anger. “I can't pilot Blue like this and now I'm not even allowed to help from here...”

Starring at her completely baffled for a moment Kuron realized what seemed so off. Allura sounded like she was about to cry. Not a tone he had ever expected to hear from her. “We'll manage until you're well enough to join back with us.”

The answer seemed to make to make her anger crumple away, as she sank down on the stairs pulling her night coat closer around her shoulders. “I know you mean well...” She admitted sounding defeated the almost crying still thickening her voice. She seemed smaller than usual, not just in a matter of speech but he was almost certain she had knowingly or not shrunk herself a bit. “But I can't expect you to do all the work- This is my castle after all I should be there with them,” she made a frustrated gesture at the entire bridge. “Not hiding here because of a simple cold. This war expects more from any of us including myself...”

He listened unsure if she wanted an answer or if this was a frustration rant she needed off her chest. Eventually thought he sat down next to her shaking his head. “I know nobody expecting more from yourself than you do.” He admitted.

“I know the Red Lion expected more of me!” She blurred out curling into herself like saying it out loud caused her physical pain. “I just wanted to share that with him- not his memories not changing the past, just stepping in his footsteps... Apparently I haven't even earned myself that!” They had all known it had hurt her, being rejected by the Lion her father used to pilot. Yet at some point they all had started to assume Allura was over it.

There was a strange ache at the edge of his stomach. He knew it was mainly the fever talking out of her, knew that she would have never shown herself that raw otherwise. The Galra hadn't prepared him for this. Technically this was a situation to take advantage off. He could pitch her against Lance over Red. Could forget about forming Voltron if he worked well enough. Instead he put his arm around her shoulder. Allura tensed for only a moment under the unexpected touch. Then she went limp under the touch burying her face in his shoulder crying softly completely trusting.

His mission was to undermine and eventually take Voltron. He knew that had known it since the moment his thoughts had the time to settle. It should be laughable easy just turning how much they trusted Shiro against them. Yet he didn't do anything. Instead starting to murmur words of comfort assuring her over and over that she did more than enough. As time passed her breath evened out leaving her exhausted and half asleep still leaning full weight against his shoulder.