#bladeburnd

"Yeah?" He presents his answer as a question towards the red paladin, "I mean, I can scoot away if you want." He'll admit, he was taken aback by his words. Though, he should have expected it after all, it was Keith.

Hunk scoots away from him, "Is that better?" Hunk asks Keith, not out of anger or annoyance. But wanted to give him the space he wants.

"Hey, Keith! What's this--?" Hunk happily accepted the paper with a curious expression, reading over the recipe and doing a quick check to see if he could get his hands on the proper ingredients before looking at the other man with a smile.

"Sure, I think I can manage this! Looks like I have all the necessary ingredients, so it won't be a problem. Besides, this is a cookout that focuses on all sorts of different foods! But I have one condition: I'll need you to be my taster for this dish and make sure I'm getting it right."

"Just because something is true, does not make it right." Crest's voice rumbled deep in his throat as he repositioned himself beside the back of the couch. His frill trembling for a moment as he smelled the tea, though he was quick to regain focus soon after. "I would say the same to any of the paladins, if they were anywhere near as reckless as yourself."

"But aren't I always?" she teased a fond expression on her face. She'd more than count this as a miniature victory; he was always infamously stubborn when it came to taking care of his own physical needs so any minimal argument was a win in her eyes.

"I understand you are restless Keith, believe me I know; but pushing your body when it needs rest will get you nowhere," Madylin chastised gently, making her way over to loop a supporting arm underneath his own.

Assisting him back to his room she sighed softly making sure he was settled down in a position that wouldn't aggravate his injuries.

@bladeburnd ○ 𝕜𝕖𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕜 ○

       ⤷  『  💋  』

There was something incredibly satisfying in watching the young paladin submit to him like this. Their capture had been difficult despite their youth and Sendak had been rewarded generously and given the half-breed. He would have preferred Champion but well, he was the Emperor's prize and he was certainly satisfied with this one.

He had been feisty but also very easy to manipulate, se desperate for praise and affection. Sendak had an idea of how the boy had grown up, which made those things no surprise. Though the Galra were known to most of the universe, it wasn't always obvious a kit had the ancestry though and in those cases their behaviour was often met with confusion and discipline for things the kits were simply naturally inclined towards. It made them so very easy to use.

Keith had been no different in that regard and Sendak had taken full advantage. The kit was still feisty, but that was because Sendak allowed him to fight and was training him to be a soldier. On the side though…

He smirked as he watched those pleading eyes, silently begging for his master's attention. Sendak was in a good mood, hand brushing over a naked side before he leaned in and kissed Keith roughly, teeth nipping and drawing blood as his much larger tongue invaded the other's mouth, relishing in the noises it caused from his little pet project. Good, he would crave more soon enough.

❝ ... i don't really see why you care, ❞  he responded, coming out as somewhat of a sneer.  ❝ if looking right in the face of death and letting it swallow me whole is what it takes to save the universe, then so be it.  ... not like you'd know what that feels like. ❞  

Lotor had admittedly made his remark in a dry, matter of fact tone. It was just an observation, but he made it out of some semblance of concern. He had seen the signs a million times. More. Galra throwing their lives away impulsively, foolishly. Nobly? Sometimes. But more often than not it was simply a tragic waste.

He’d expected pushback. But Keith’s response was still... unexpected.

Lotor’s eyes widened almost imperatively, staring at something far away for a moment. Another time, and place, when he’d had the opportunity Keith spoke of. The chance to, as he put it, allow death to swallow him, and save the universe by doing so.

His failure in that moment still stung, all these millennia later. He lowered his gaze, wincing at the memories, fresh as if they’d happened yesterday.