#sendakweek2018

Sendak hissed as he applied dermal regenerator over the scars on his neck and glared at Gnov from the reflection on the mirror.

“Must you scratch me so hard?” he protested with a slight pout.

“I seem to recall that you told me the opposite last night. Begged for it, even.” Gnov didn’t even look up from her holoscreen, so Sendak swallowed his indignation and finished cleaning up. Once done, he padded quietly back to the nest bed, still bare, and wrapped his arm around her.

“Someone’s cuddly this early”, Gnov teased, her fingers lightly scritching the spot behind his ear.

“I’m making up for lost time”, Sendak returned with a chuckle, his hand cupping one of her breast and toying with her nipple.

Life as Zarkon’s right hand and trusted advisor was always busy, not to mention that they were assigned at different sectors. While Sendak rarely had business at the Central Command, too busy he was with conquering new worlds, Gnov rarely left it as her duty was to manage the Central Command when Emperor Zarkon couldn’t.

Yet somehow, they always managed. Fraternization was heavily frowned upon, but both their positions, so close to the Emperor’s side, allowed some leeway. It wasn’t like they would announce their companionship to the whole known universe — their intimacy mostly happened behind closed door.

“Mmm… I have a meeting in one varga”, Gnov protested, but it sounded too weak in Sendak’s ears.

“I can be quick”, Sendak kissed the ridge above her mound. When she placed her hand on the top of his head, he knew that it wouldn’t be too hard to convince her.

“Get on it, then.”

Very few people were allowed to enter the inner sanctum of Emperor Zarkon’s personal quarters and Sendak was proud to claim that he was one of them.

Or, he used to. He wasn’t that surprised to find the sentries suddenly blocking his path, their mechanical eyes glowing dangerously behind their faceplate. After his failure to deliver Voltron to the Emperor, he wasn’t surprised that Zarkon would revoke the privilege from him. He was gone for nearly a dralsa, after all. Things changed.

Still, it stung a little bit.

“Let him in”, Emperor Zarkon’s voice boomed from inside, causing Sendak to flinch in surprise. The sentries stood in attention and stepped aside, giving way for him to enter. The gate opened and Sendak felt rare fear churning in his gut.

The Emperor awaited for him, surrounded by machineries that pumped a large amount of quintessence into his body. Briefly, Sendak could see tubes sticking out of his casual robe that flowed around him and draped on the lavish couch the Emperor was sitting on.

His Emperor was dying after battling Voltron. His Emperor was dying because he failed to capture Voltron.

“Your Sublimity…” Sendak fell to his knees, with his head bowing down, unable to meet the Emperor’s gaze.

“So you’ve returned”, Zarkon cut him off. Sendak bowed deeper. “Alive, despite your failure.”

“I have no excuses to offer and no forgiveness to beg from you”, Sendak said, hating the way his voice trembling slightly. “I will accept whatever punishment you have in store for me.”

His Emperor sighed but the silence that followed after stretched far too uncomfortably. He could hear rustles of fabric and soft footsteps, before a large shadow fell upon him.

“The mistake is also mine”, Zarkon said unexpectedly. The softness of his voice was unexpected also. “I overestimated your abilities. It seems that your training is still lacking in the face of Voltron’s might. I should have known better than assigning you for the task when I understood fully what Voltron is capable of. When Haggar informed me of your disappearance, I feared that I have lost you for good.”

Relief washed over Sendak like tidal wave and Sendak dared himself to look up. Zarkon’s face was unreadable as always, but in his eyes was a hint of… sadness?

“Then train me”, Sendak blurted out before he could stop himself. Zarkon’s eyes widened in surprise, but he was not angry. Good. “Train me so I can be worthy to fight by your side again.”

So I can be worthy to be claimed as yours again again.

Sendak saw a small smile curving on Zarkon’s lips and felt a hand gently scratched the side of his face. He couldn’t help but purr from the attention.

“Za’adiri vakdu”, Zarkon rumbled softly.

My bright pupil.