#and all around them are photos of the young team voltron - all much younger than lance is

[ashkazora]

Me: *reading about Five! Lance* me: But wait does Lance have a Delor- *shot*

oH NOO ANON WHY.

But since this is a Five!Lance AU, consider Lance having either:

A mini Kalternacker plush that he takes everywhere. and I mean everywhere. The team has never seen it leave his side, even in missions. It’s threadbare and with red-and-black fur, and vaguely a biohazard after Lance revealed it was originally white. 

OR he actually has a Dolores mannequin that he somehow took with him back in time. Most of the team finds out about her after they stumble across Lance one night, very drunk and half-asleep in the castle observatory snuggling up to a random mannequin with the name ‘Karen’ written in permanent marker. It’s a weird sight to say the least.

Just like Five Lance has been alone for so long out in space, trying to right the wrongs of the war and only lets himself get attached to an intimate object after too many of his friends die. 

Thank you for this very cursed ask anon, and I’m sorry you were shot for saying the most valid things :,)

#now I have this image in my mind: older lance alone in a junk space craft with Karen/his Dolores + them sitting on the floor having a drink #and all around them are photos of the young team voltron - all much younger than lance is #okay that's enough angst for tonight YEET #thank you SO MUCH for this ask anon #it is truly cursed and I love it. 10/10 IGN #five!lance au #ask #anon #vld #voltron

[shirophantomvox]

Lotor's Nanny

Hello y’all! I am back yet again with another Voltron short fiction! I got this prompt from @vld-prompts and this one is great! Some dialogue in this are mixed quotes from the show. The prompt is: “Dayak comes to Galra HQ unexpectedly.” The link shows the reference I used in this story. Its somewhat the same, I changed some elements and dialogue. I mentioned the Code of Ethics because some companies do not allow in-dating. That means you cannot date one of your coworkers. This story has been on my mind for a while and it came out better than I expected! I hope you all like it. Be sure to follow me for more writing content!

Team Voltron slowly walked across the bridge of Galra HQ formerly known as Zarkon’s ship. Chills ran down their spines as they approached the now Emperor Lotor and his staff. Right above them were tapestries filled with light purple, white, and yellow; the same colors the paladins of old had. The expression on Lotor’s face was the complete opposite of his new comrades. The paladins had been through enough; their lives could end at this very moment and to think they blindly walked into Galra HQ? Thank God, Lotor didn’t have any tricks up his sleeve...or did he?

Lotor approached the Paladins with open arms aimed at Princess Allura; hoping she’d give him a hug and not leave him looking like a fool. Reluctantly, she embraced him softly, barely placing her arms fully around his back. That was good enough, for now. She backed up quite smoothly, lifted her head, and looked at the tapestries that hung above her head. They all gasped and at the beauty and detail of them. The yellow had thin lines of dark yellow as the outline. They glistened in the spotlights because of the white glitter that was in its place. Lotor smiled large, folded his arms, and lifted his head. This was his time to shine and he was ready to do so.

“The colors you see before you are the same ones that our fathers used while battling. These colors represent friendship, leadership, and an emphasis on an unbreakable bond. Although the unbreakable bond didn’t workout well the first time, I’m certain it will now.”

Lotor’s smile slowly faded as he glanced directly in between Allura and Shiro. “Lover Boy” Lance McClain came storming between the two, stood toe to toe with him, and pointed his lengthy index finger in his face.

“Lance, that’s rude! What are you doing?!” Allura’s tone wasn’t her usual sweet, calm reflection but instead more like an irritated mother. She had been used to Lance’s irrational fears but this was TOO FAR for her. She developed feelings for Lotor, she is one of the leaders of Voltron, and having him misbehave insulted her leadership skills.

“Don’t worry, princess. I just want to make sure he doesn’t have any tricks up his sleeve.”

Lotor arrogantly chuckled quietly to himself. Although Lance appeared to be the airhead surfer boy, he took his role as paladin and valued his team seriously. They had been ambushed several times by Zarkon, his father. They have every right to be paranoid even if Allura didn’t think so. One thing that irked the team was her sense of trustworthiness. She hated Lotor simply because he was truly a threat and was Zarkon’s son but once she found out he was half Altean, it appeared as if she did anything he said. She fell for him; hard and that isn’t always good.

“I assure you, I am not here to play games or have any “tricks up my sleeve”. Trust me, if I did, you would know about it already. I am more skilled than you. There’s no need to lie.”

“As much as I would love to believe you Lotor, the Galra aren’t the ones to ‘turn the other cheek’. They keep fighting and fighting until they die.” Hunk began to sweat a little as his nerves began to run amuck.

“Hunk has a point. Why all of a sudden are we teaming up with Zarkon’s son to fight against his own empire that your the head of? It doesn’t sound right.”

“If Pidge agrees with me, it must be a set up.” Lance turned around and allied himself with the rest of the team. They were not pleased at all. Could it be a possibility that they were being paranoid? Is it wrong that they haven’t given him a chance to prove himself? Lotor released an irritated sigh, closed his eyes, and opened them again.

“I assure you, I have nothing to hide.” He snapped his fingers and two robots came at his side quickly. “If you all don’t mind, we are going to HQ and we will have a chat about what our next steps are going to be.”

The centurions led the way to HQ. On the way there, it was quiet and awkward; the only ones that were talking were Allura and Lotor. He had a large binder open with pages and pages of scientific research that Honerva had been using to figure out information regarding the creatures from the rift. Both were so intrigued by the findings that they began to pick up speed next to the centurions, leaving the team a bit behind. Allura took hold of the binder to find something specifically related to Oriande relating to “life givers”. Lotor began to close the space between the two placing his arm around her waist and gently placing his hand around her thigh. Lance was about to blow his fuse! Pidge and Hunk reassured him that Allura has stated several times before that she is not interested in dating him. It would be unprofessional; Lotor and Allura were considered to be allies. If they dated they’d be violating the Code of Ethics...somewhere.

“If she wouldn’t be interested in dating him, why isn’t she throwing his arm off her?”

“Lance, I haven’t dated yet but I know something about girls.” She pushed her glasses closer to her face and pointed in the air. “Some girls just entertain the behavior in the moment so the guy doesn’t flip out. They also do it so the man’s ego won’t get hurt. Both reasons are stupid and unhealthy but that is why. I have no idea why a man’s ego is so easily destroyed just because a girl rejected his passes.”

“Good question. It makes the good guys look bad.” Hunk stuck his finger in the air and smiled. “I’ll always treat my woman like a queen!”

The team had finally reached HQ. Lotor suddenly became quiet and stood still. He squinted his eyes, frowned, and slowly moved away from them. Once he approached his subject, his eyes widened. There was a tall woman dressed in long black clothing, her head covered, with her back turned. She had two blue binders that said “memories” on the binding side and an old cloth blanket. The emperor face palmed himself quietly backing away instructing the team to leave HQ quickly without making a sound. As soon as the robots began to move, the woman turned around, gasped and yelled his name.

“Lotor!”

“Goodness gracious,” he replied quickly under his breath.

The woman came walking towards him with a smile of endearment. He could now see the front of the binders and nearly lost his mind. He blushed at the sight and glanced back at her. She laughed, assuring him that she was moving his belongings to another part of the ship.

“Oh, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Embarrassed about what?”

Lotor changed his expression and turned around. Still blushing, he managed to smile.

“This is Dayak, my governess. She raised me when I was a child, trained me, and helped me become the man I am today.”

“Barely,” Lance blurted out. He snapped his head and smiled oddly at Lotor. Lance was able to put two and two together and realized what he was embarrassed about.

“Wait, wait, wait. She raised you from a child? As in your nanny?!”

“Governess!” The emperor face palmed again, not able to look in Allura’s direction.

Why would ANYONE want their old photos to be shown to anyone they liked?!

“Oh boy, you had a nanny! Oh my goodness, I didn’t have one!”

“That’s why you're lacking in so many areas. Can’t you tell?” He began to flex his arm, showing the implied muscles through his shirt.

“That’s all you’ve got? At least mine are real!”

“Mine are too! You look like you’ve been using steroids!”

“Steroids? How do you know what those are? You’re an alien.”

“Ok, Lance, that’s enough. Dayak was going to speak,” Shiro said, somehow not irritated. Given the chaotic life he has, this was nothing but pure entertainment.

“Thank you. True enough I am this young emperor’s governess and I did far more than nanny duties. Lotor underwent intense training at the age of 6 years old. Many doubted his abilities but I knew he had it in him.”

“Thank you, Dayak.”

“Lotor, don’t hate me for this. Dayak, what are in the books that you are holding?” Hunk was generally curious and had no ill intent in asking unlike Lance. Still, Lotor was pained to see what was in those books. His style would have definitely been cramped.

“I’ll show you if it’s ok with the emperor.”

Lotor sighed heavily and threw his hand in the air.

“Yes, it's ok.”

Everyone gathered around his governess as she opened one of the books. The font read “Memorable Moments” and God knows what was in them. The team released a number of “awws”, “wows”, and “oohs” . Dayak, the nanny--governess, smiled as she turned each page remembering how cute the emperor looked in his formal clothing and how hot she looked when she was younger. This stage in his life would have happened matter what; Honerva would have done the same thing.

“This picture was taken after Lotor learned the Galran alphabet, vowel sounds, and numbers.”

“Wow! Lotor used to take a stuffed animal to class?” Hunk laughed. “Ha!”

“I was afraid, ok? I was all by myself.”

“And no one is shaming you for it buddy! Well, maybe Lance, but we aren’t.”

“This picture was taken during PE class. He loved to play buckets. I thought he was going to pursue somewhat of an athletic career!”

“I have to admit, he gets his muscles from Zarkon.”

“Aw. Thank you Princess.”

“That’s not a compliment dude.”

The emperor realized that the old photos of him weren’t so bad after all. They were milestones; it showed how well he has progressed and how he will continue. These were his allies after all. It was important for them to see him during his softer moments to know that they could talk to him about anything.

#voltron #voltron legendary defender #vld #keith kogane #lance mcclain #allura #shiro #lotor #pidge #hunk #vld lance #voltron fan fiction #vld prompts #my writing #prince lotor #zarkon #vld haggar #takashi shirogane #voltron season 5 #dayak

[icypantherwrites]

New Fic: The Pledge of an Older Sibling

One of the monthly awarded snippets to Patreon patrons of my Peppermint Hot Chocolate/ Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Tiers. Slots are still open in these tiers if you’d like your own! Otherwise you can subscribe to the page for just $1/month and get early access and previews along with exclusive fanfictions designed by you! Check it out and support an author ♥

Request was for Matt and Veronica reflecting on their younger siblings fighting in a war. If you enjoyed it please leave a comment ♥ It’s also posted under Battlefield on Archive of Our Own.

Also quick reminder! Only one week left to order my Langst zine or a copy of The Purity of Sin! Links at the bottom of the post!

The Pledge of an Older Sibling

Summary:  War is an age old concept. But it’s one that children should not have to know so well. Both Matt and Veronica can’t help but feel a combination of worry and pride as they look at their siblings, so brave, so strong, so young, and know that this war is not yet done with any of them.

xxx

“Quite the sight, huh?”

Veronica let out a soft hum of agreement as Matt Holt took a seat next to her on the large, flat boulder overlooking the Arizona desert landscape.

And despite the flaming sunset that was postcard perfect she knew it was not the sight he was looking at.

That distinction belonged to the two figures scrambling all about the Green Lion like it was some jungle gym, their words indistinguishable from this distance but their laughter and playful shrieks telling enough. The bucket and polish they had been using earlier to clean the giant ship had been abandoned in favor of their game.

“They make me feel old,” the young man sighed, propping his chin in his hand on a drawn up knee. He let out a hoarse chuckle. “Doesn’t help Katie went and got herself caught in a time loop for three years. Now I’m really her big brother.”

Despite the severity of the statement there was a note of amusement in his voice and Veronica cast a side-eye towards him. She had never really known Matt Holt before, well, before, but she’d never forgotten the photo the news outlets had played when he’d gone missing. Comparing that bespectacled wide-eyed boy to the one sitting before her now she too felt old.

Old and worried.

“He’s going to break his neck,” she remarked, watching as Lance dangled precariously upside down from the Green Lion’s mouth, only one leg hooked inside, and clearly taunting his companion.

“Katie would kill him before she let that happen,” Matt smirked. “Don’t you worry about him.”

But if the other sentence had been lighthearted this one carried a weight.

Veronica traced Matt’s gaze to where his sister, Pidge or Katie she wasn’t quite sure now, was climbing up the Green Lion’s front, a green cord swinging, and Lance was scrambling up and around the Lion’s head with a yelp.

There was something heavy in his eyes.

Something sad.

“All older siblings worry,” she said softly. “Don’t we?”

“Practically a full time job.”

The words were again at odds with the tone.

They looked on in silence as Lance appeared on the other side of the Lion, sliding down one of its front legs and Pidge gave chase a few steps behind.

“They’re like little kids,” Matt said.

“They are little kids,” Veronica corrected. Lance would always be her baby brother no matter how much he might protest, and given the strange time loop phenomena it was even more true now.

“Little kids fighting in a war.”

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There was no missing the bitterness then and Veronica pulled her eyes away from the playful scene to focus on the auburn-haired young man.

“Katie’s involved because of me,” he said quietly, still looking forward. “Me and Dad. And because of me, because of Katie, your brother got involved. All those kids did.”

He let out a soft sigh just as Pidge’s victorious shout wrent the air and Lance’s panicked yelp as she tackled him from behind.

“It’s not that they can’t handle themselves. I’ve seen them,” he turned then, a small grin tugging up his face and highlighting the scar carved on his cheek. “They’re amazing. My sister. Your brother. It’s just… I’ve seen what’s out there too. And I just… I know this isn’t over. Not by a longshot.”

Veronica felt an icy tingle down her spine at odds with the dry heat.

She knew it too.

They may have freed Earth but the Paladins of Voltron weren’t bound to one planet.

Her brother was going back out there and while she had not seen space she had seen war. She too knew this was only the beginning and Lance was going to be caught up in the thick of it.

She knew Lance was capable, more than most gave him credit for. She knew he had a team watching his back just as he would watch theirs.

She still worried.

Her family had just gotten him back. They couldn’t lose him again.

Veronica knew that this time… this time they would not be able to pull themselves back up.

“But hey,” Matt’s voice was brighter again, stronger, and Veronica found herself straightening up as well. “They’ve got each other out there. And,” dark honey eyes met Veronica’s icy blue, “they’ve got us too. And while we older siblings may be champion worriers, we’re also champion ass-kickers to anyone who so much as looks at them funny.”

Veronica’s lips twitched into a smile at that. “Isn’t that the truth?”

“Sure is.” Matt rose from the boulder and held out a hand to her. “Come on, debriefs about to start.”

Veronica accepted it, glancing over her shoulder one last time towards the Green Lion. Lance and Pidge had finished their playing and were also en route towards the main building for the debrief. But…

Pidge was riding piggyback and Lance was running and their laughter was still audible.

They were kids.

They were adults.

They were Paladins.

And she and Matt…

They were older siblings.

They were worriers.

They were ass-kickers.

And no matter who they had to fight to protect their younger siblings they would do so.

Always.

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#Voltron #VLD #Fanfiction #Fanfic #IcyPanther #icypantherwrites #Veronica #Matt Holt #Lance #Pidge #Siblings #Older siblings #Angst #Child soldiers #War #Platonic Plance #The Pledge of an Older Sibling #Battlefield #Voltron fanfiction #Voltron fanfic #Patreon #Snippet fic

[awkwardedgygirl]

Stay For A While Chapter 12

Hi! I am back again with another chapter. I wanted to write this yesterday but honestly I am in the part of America that is being hit with tornados. My town is okay but so many towns around me aren’t also I can’t use my tap water. Anyways this chapter is amazing and cute and I love it. It is the family dinner and there is a bit of Spanish but most of it is explained? Except for one but I can translate it at the end. Oh also I don’t speak Spanish (I dropped out of it freshman year) so I used google translate. If anybody want to correct me please feel free to do so. Oh I will also share the link to what I based Lance’s house off of. Please enjoy I am nearing the end!

                                              ------------------

Lance stops his car in front of a house. Keith looks at it from the passenger window and he thinks how the house is smaller than he imagined. Keith was imagining a huge house with all the people he saw at the game running around. Instead he sees a single story white house surrounded by trees and has a big front window. Two young boys are playing football out front and a girl who looks to be a few years younger than Keith and Lance is sitting on the porch scrolling through her phone.

Lance takes Keith’s hand and squeezes it, “You ready?”

A part of Keith wants to say no. He wants to tell Lance to turn around and take him back, his anxiety is screaming at him to do that. Then he looks into Lance’s blue eyes he sees his excitement, “Yeah.” Keith says sounding as sure as he can. Lance’s smile widens and je lets go of Keith’s hand and gets out of the car. Keith takes a deep breath and follows shortly behind him.

“Lance!” the youngest boy yells running up to Lance who leans down picking up the little boy, “Hi Marco how was school today!”

Marco smiles, “Good I won a race at recess!”

Lance bounces him in his arms, “That’s great Marco!”

“Yeah well I beat everybody at basketball in gym!” The older boy adds in trying to get Lance’s attention.

Lance smiles just as wide, “That is great Luis.”

Luis nods excitedly, “The teacher told me I should try out for the middle school team next year.”

Keith likes watching Lance with the boys, he seems genuinely excited about what they are telling him and he finds it very cute.

Marco looks behind Lance to see Keith standing there his eyes widen and he whispers something in Lance’s ear. Lance laughs and says, “His name is Keith.”

Marco hides his face in Lance’s shoulder but the other boy, Luis, Keith fills in, walks up to him, “Hi Keith my name is Luis, I remember you from the football game when Pidge brought you over do you remember me?”

Keith doesn’t remember him at all, “I uh-”

“Of course he doesn’t remember you Luis, you were hiding behind me.” Keith turns to the new voice seeing the girl who was sitting on the porch.

Luis crosses his arms, “I wasn’t hiding Veronica.”

“Uh uh sure.” Veronica says rolling her eyes.

Veronica then walks up to Keith and puts out her hand for him to shake, “Hi Keith, My name is Veronica. I am in eighth grade so I will be at Voltron High next year.”

Keith shakes Veronica’s hand confused, “Uh hi.”

Lance looks at her, “Tori you are weirding him out.”

Veronica glares at Lance, “I am not.”

Lance rolls his eyes and Keith chuckles at their interaction, he wonders if this is how all siblings act.

“Lance will you play ball with us!” Luis shouts excitedly.

Marco lifts his head out of hiding on Lance’s shoulder, “Yes Lance please!” At the end the request turns into a whine.

Lance laughs, “I wish I could but I have to take Keith inside to meet Mami. Maybe after cena ya?”

Rather sadly the boys nod in agreement but Marco gets out of Lance’s arms and they go back to playing, Veronica looks between Keith and Lance and gives Lance a look that Keith can’t decifier, Lance gives her a look back and she rolls her eyes and turns to Keith, “It was great to meet you Keith, really you have no idea.”

Keith is completely confused now, “Uh thanks?”

Veronica smiles at him one more time before walking off seeming to join the boys at football.

Keith looks to Lance, “So that was.. Interesting?”

“Yeah sorry my siblings can get a bit weird. They mean well” Lance looks fondly at them playing in the yard. Keith sees the light in Lance’s eyes as his siblings play football. Keith thinks it is very sweet.

He turns to Keith, the light not dying down, “Ready to go inside?”

Keith feels his heart beat a little faster, “I guess so.”

Lance grabs his hand again, Keith knows that he was the one who started the hand holding but Lance has done it twice now and every time he does Keith feels himself calm down. Lance gives his hand a squeeze, “Then let's go.”

“Mami estoy en casa!” Lance yells as soon as he walks in. Keith watches Lance take off his shoes and does the same thing.

“Estoy en la cocina cariño!” someone yells.

Lance smiles, “Come on she is in the kitchen.”

Keith nods following behind Lance, who still hasn’t let go of his hand. As Lance leads him to the kitchen Keith takes in the house. They entered in the living that has a very lived in feel to it, there are pictures all over the wall of different family events with Lance at all different ages. On the fireplace Keith sees only one picture and a flag that he wants to get a closer look at later. The couch looks incredibly comfortable and toys are littered all over. They enter the kitchen and see the small woman from the football game, standing over the stove cooking something that smells absolutely amazing.

She smiles when they walk in and Lance sadly lets go of Keith hand to walk up to her and give her a kiss on the cheek, “Hola mami, coma estas?”

She puts her hand on Lance’s cheek fondly, “Bueno Leandro, how was football?”

“Good mami, I brought a guest.”

Keith still reeling about Lance’s real name being Leandro that he is surprised when the attention is suddenly on him and Lance’s mom is walking over to Keith, “Ah yes Keith we met at the game.” Her accent is strong.

Keith wants this to go well, “It is great to see you again Ms. Sanchez.” He tries to put his hand for her to shake but she grabs him in a hug which is just as warm as Keith remembers. She back away and Keith really gets to look at her, she is a small plump woman with kind eyes like Lance’s but they are brown instead of blue, she is looking at him too but Keith knows it isn’t in a judging way, “Dios you are so skinny! I am going to make some extra tamales!”

“Mami!” Lance whines and it makes Keith laugh.

“It smells amazing Ms. Sanchez.”

She gives Keith’s arm a loving squeeze and heads back over to the stove, “Cena will be ready soon papito, why don’t you give Keith a tour.” She turns to him pointing tongs in his face, “But no closing doors Leandro.”

Lance blushes and groans, “Aye Mami!”

Keith laughs again, he likes watching Lance with her.

Lance pulls him out of the kitchen and gives him a tour of the house. Lance takes him down to the basement where they have set up a little home theatre with movies for all ages and more video games than Keith has ever seen in his life. On the other side of the room there is a treadmill against the wall that Keith sees Lance using regularly. After a few minutes they head back upstairs Lance being called into the kitchen to help leaving Keith in the living room. He takes this as an opportunity to get a closer look at the pictures. He sees so many weddings and school pictures hanging all over the walls. Some have a young Lance with braces and of him holding babies who Keith assumes are his siblings. He walks over and sees a family picture, Marco is still a baby and there is a man standing in it. Keith doesn’t know who it is but wow he looks so much like Lance. He walks a little farther stopping at the fireplace and sees the picture that caught his attention earlier, it is the same man from the family picture but this time he is wearing a army uniform. Keith takes a closer look at him and he does look a lot like Lance. His nose is the same and he even has blue eyes like Lance.

“That’s Papi.” A small voice says from behind him.

Keith turns around and looks down to see Marco looking up at the photo, “I don’t remember him but Lance says that he was off fighting bad guys and got really hurt.”

Keith turns back to the photo, “Is he okay?”

Marco nods, “Mhm Mami said he went with God so he doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Keith’s face softens, he didn’t know this about Lance. Keith honestly thought that maybe Lance’s dad wasn’t in the picture, not that he was a soldier who died in battle. It explains a few things.

Keith leans down putting his hands on Marco’s shoulders, “Thank you for telling me.”

Marco grins at him his two front teeth missing and it is the most adorable thing Keith has ever seen.

Dinner is ready soon after and everybody sits down at the dinner table, Marco and Luis sit next to each other and Keith sits next to Veronica. At the head of the table is Ms. Sanchez and Lance, rather reluctantly sits at the other head of the table. Keith can tell he usually doesn’t sit there and doesn’t completely want to. Keith squeezes his knee assuringly and he feels Lance’s muscles relax in his hand.

“So Keith.” Veronica says to the side of him, “Tell us about yourself.”

Keith turns to her, “What do you want to know?”

“How did you meet Lance?” She asks

“Pidge introduced us.”

Luis lights up, “Pidge is so cool! They always make cool robots for us to play with.”

Keith smiles, “Yeah they are pretty cool.”

Marco decides it is his turn, “Do you play football?”

Keith shakes his head, Marco continues, “So what do you like to do?”

Keith thinks about that question, he doesn’t think he has been asked that before, “Well I like to paint.”

“Ah pintor!” Ms. Sanchez ask, “ Que pintas?”

Keith turns to Lance slightly confused, Lance swallows the food in his mouth, “She wants to know what you paint.”

“Oh.” Keith says turning back to her. “Nothing specific really. Usually just what I am feeling.”

“Ah a pintor with pasion, Leandro veo por que te gusta.”

Lance blushes furiously and Veronica next to him chokes on the food she was eating. Keith doesn’t think Lance will translate that one.

The continue to eat dinner each taking turns talking about their day. It gets a little loud at times but in the best kind of way, Keith listens to them and he gets the warm feeling again and Keith decides family dinners aren’t that bad after all.

They finish off dinner and have a delicious dessert that looks like a pastry. Everybody at the table watches Keith take a bite his eyes lighting up because it is so good like how has he never had this before it is amazing.

Ms. Sanchez smiles at him, “Glad you like it mijo.” She says fondly.

They finish up dessert Lance offering to do the dishes but being shooed away by his mom and she makes Veronica do them, Lance takes Keith back down to the basement to play video games, “What do you want to play?” Lance asks.

“Oh um-” Keith stammers, I don’t really play video games.”

“What!” Lance turns to him dumbstruck, “What do you mean you ‘don’t play video games.’?”

Keith shrugs, “I don’t know I never really had them before. Or I would have to share with a lot of people and never really got into them.”

Lance has a look on his face that Keith can’t decipher, “Well we are changing that right now.” He goes back looking for the perfect game, “Ah! Here we go.” Lance puts the game in and sits down next to Keith on the couch. He hands Keith the controller and leans back his side touching Keith’s side, he thinks Lance feels very warm.

“Super Mario?” Keith asks reading the screen.

Lance turns to Keith, “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Mario.”

Keith turns to Lance and wow he is close, “I’ve heard of Mario.”

Lance looks at him somewhat dis-believing. “Uh huh sure.”

Keith turns away in annoyance, and because he can’t look at Lance this close for to much longer without conbusting, “Whatever start the game.”

Lance complies and hits play.

----

“I can’t believe you beat me!” Lance yells standing up.

Keith laughs, “What? It was easy.”

Lance points an accusatory finger at Keith, “You said you never played before! I call b.s.!”

Keith crosses his arms, “Well I have never played before it’s not my fault you aren’t good.”

“Excuse you I am the best player in this house!”

Keith raises an eyebrow, “Oh yeah who do you play with?”

Lance shrugs, “Marco.”

Keith laughs, “So you win against a five year old?”

Lance crosses his arms mumbling something about how Marco is six. Keith laughs and gets up to stand in front of Lance, “I’m sorry I beat you at Mario.” sounding as genuine as he can.

Lance looks him up and down, “No you aren’t.”

Keith laughs again, “You’re right I’m not.”

Lance huffs and Keith finds it adorable, standing right in front of Lance can’t help but look at his face, his eyes are still an amazing blue that he wants to stare at for hours and he notices some freckles dusting his nose, Keith doesn’t know how long he has been staring but when he comes back to reality he notices that Lance is staring at him too.

“You’re eyes are purple.” Lance blurts out. Keith can tell he didn’t mean to by the blush forming on his cheeks.

Keith lifts his eyebrow, “Is that a bad thing?”

Lance shakes his head vehemently, “No I like them.”

Keith feels himself blushing as well but before he loses his nerve he says, “Well your eyes,” He puts his hand on Lance’s cheek rubbing his thumb against his cheekbone, “Are the most beautiful blue I have ever seen in my life.”

Keith sees shock in the eyes he called beautiful and how they are slowly moving closer and then closing. Keith’s heart is beating and he feels frozen in place, he closes his eyes and-

“Lance!” The boys jump away from each other, and see Luis and Marco running down the stairs “You said you would play ball with us after dinner.”

Lance clears his throat, “I did didn’t I. Ok go outside I will be right out.”

The boys nod excitedly and run back upstairs leaving Keith and Lance alone again. Keith feels a little shaken after what happened, or almost happened he corrects himself, “We should uh, we should go up there.” Keith says to fill the silence.

“Yeah.” Lance nods grabbing Keith hand again, “Lets go.” Pulling Keith along, he heads upstairs and Keith realises he would let Lance pull him anywhere.

---

Keith sits on the porch and watches Lance play. He has seen Lance play football before and knows he is really good but he is letting his brothers catch him and tackle him. He feels someone sit down next to him, he turns to see Veronica, “Hey.” She says.

Keith nods in greeting and goes back to watching Lance play.

She leans closer to him, “I read his diary you know, he think you have a cute butt and your hair is fancy.”

Keith blushes putting his hand up his hair that is still in a beanie, “He thinks it’s fancy?”

Veronica nods and takes out her phone showing that the conversation is over.

Keith goes back to watching them play but after about ten minutes Ms. Sanchez comes out informing the boys it is time to get ready for bed. They groan and hug Lance saying good night and run up to the porch to hug Veronica and they stop at Keith, “I liked having you over Keith.” Luis says, “Will you come over again?”

Keith smiles, “I think that is up to Lance.”

Both boys turn to Lance standing behind them Luis speaking, “Lance can Keith come over again?”

Lance leans down to meet their eyes, “Keith can come over as much as he wants.” His eyes move to Keith after he says it.

Luis smiles and runs to hug Keith good night, Keith is shocked at first but eventually wrap his arms around him. Marco runs up to him next with more force than Keith was expecting, “I like you Keith,” he says with child determination, “I hope you come over again soon.”

Keith hugs Marco a little tighter, “I will.” He looks up to Lance.

The boys run off to bed and Veronica goes inside to help them get ready. Ms. Sanchez stays outside with Lance and Keith, “Keith, carino come here.”

Keith stands up to face Ms. Sanchez she cups Keith face in her hands, “You are a sweet boy and always welcome.”

Keith puts one of his hand over hers, “Thank you.”

She kisses the top of his forehead and whispers, “Thank you for protecting my son.”

Keith looks her in the eyes, “Of course.”

-------

The kids going to bed meant that Lance had to drive Keith back to his house. The car ride is pretty silent but not in an awkward way. Keith is watching the houses go by and there is gentle spanish music playing on the radio. Lance is quietly singing along and Keith starts watching him, Lance notices this and turns it up so he can sing a little louder. It sounds like a pop song and Lance is now belting the lyrics making Keith laugh.

Far to soon they are pulling up to Shiro and Allura’s and Keith doesn’t want to get out of the car. He turns to Lance, “I had a great time.” Keith says instead of leaving.

Lance smiles, “So did I. My family seemed to like you.”

“They are amazing.” Keith means it.

“Yeah.” Lance smiles, “They really are.”

A bit of silence, Lance fills it, “Listen about what happened down in the basement, I’m sorry about that.”

Keith’s heart drops a little, “Why are you sorry?”

Lance’s eyes widen, “No wait that came out wrong I-” Lance runs his hands over his face, “I didn’t mean like I’m sorry for trying to kiss you I am sorry because it was in my Mami basement!”

Keith opens his mouth to say something but Lance continues, “I want our first kiss to be somewhere good. Like at a football game or on a date that I planned-”

“Lance.” Keith says.

He doesn’t hear him, “But my families basement seriously? Like what am I some freshman!”

While Lance is still rambling but Keith unbuckles his seatbelt and pulls Lance into a kiss. It was impulsive and crazy but so amazing. Lance’s lips were so soft and he smelled like the ocean breeze, not that Keith had ever been to the ocean but he thinks it would smell like Lance. He feels Lance begin to kiss him back and Keith feels like he is melting. Keith’s pulls away shortly after and the look in Lance’s eyes makes him want to kiss him all over again, “I’ll see you at school tomorrow okay?” He says instead.

Lance swallows and nods seeming to be at a loss for words. Keith chuckles and kisses him one more time before leaving the car and walking inside.

He closes the door behind him and walks up to his room with the biggest smile on his face.

                                              --------- Hi ok so the thing Lance didn’t translate was “I see why you like him.” 

Here is the link the house is based of off https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/554-Rosemary-Cir_Media_PA_19063_M35375-18855?view=qv#photo2 Oh and I know that the Lilo and Stitch reference was completely uneeded but it was so funny I had to.

#voltron #Voltron fanfiction #Voltron legendary defender #voltron fanfic #klance fanfic #klance fanfiction #lance'sfamily #familydinner #highschoolau #they kiss #lilo and stitch reference #artistkeith #footballplayerlance #spanish speaking lance

[unoriginaltoast]

Mini Place Oneshot

Okay I had no idea what to write, so I just made this. I’ve never written Place before and I hope it’s alright! Dedicated to @cultofpokeshipping who asked me for this and I was happy to oblidge (and bored at work).

I’ll take any and all requests :)

The house on 23 Stearns Road seemed just as normal as every other house in the neighborhood. Like the others, it was two stories tall with an abundance of clear windows and a short green front lawn. A driveway sloped down to a garage and the house was painted an inviting shade of light beige. It was a completely unassuming house in an unassuming neighborhood owned by, what their neighbors thought, was an unassuming young couple.

Lance McClain and Katie (or Pidge as she was known to her friends) Holt had moved into the charming suburban house just a few months before. While Pidge was more apt to keep to herself, Lance quickly became the favorite of the neighborhood kids. On summer nights after work, he could be found on the street with them playing soccer or basketball or hockey and keeping an eye out for slow moving cars.

It was one such evening on a warm day in August. While Lance played kickball with the neighbor kids, Pidge worked in her home laboratory working on a robot for the local high school’s robotics club. Her shoulder-length orange hair was swept up in a messy tangled bun and she had to scrunch up her face to keep her glasses on her nose. Pidge wasn’t exactly sure how she had gotten pulled into helping the robotics club except that one of the neighbor girls all but begged for her help a few weeks ago. And now here she was, building a square robot with a chainsaw attached that was honestly better made than it had any right to be.

“I better get a box of Girl Scout cookies for this,” she muttered, though a smile lingered on her lips. She was sure she could convince the girl to spare her a box of Peanut Butter Patties when spring rolled around.

The front door opened and closed with a loud thud and she knew Lance was home. Pidge checked over the work she had done to be sure everything would be alright if she left for the night and then walked upstairs from her basement lab.

As she rounded the corner from the stairs and made her way to the living room, Pidge found Lance on the couch chugging water from a glass. Sweat glistened on his brow and he looked completely exhausted. “Looks like those kids gave you a run for your money,” the woman quipped as Lance set the glass down on the end table.

He smiled over at her and stood, coming around to wrap his wife in a big hug. Briefly, Pidge thought about pushing his sweaty body away from her, but she figured she could just stick her cold feet on his legs when they were in bed later that night.

“Hey, honey!” Lance smiled, a white toothy grin that reached both sides of his face. “You would not believe how insane those kids are! If there was a kickball national championship, they would all take first place, easy-peasy!”

“And you?”

“Better than first place! What can I say, Pidge? I’m the man!” He whipped around and headed for the kitchen. “What do you say I make tacos for dinner?”

“Like last night?” Pidge questioned as she followed him. “And the night before? Oh, and the night before that. Hey, and the night before--”

“Alright, alright, I get it!”

Pidge smiled as she stopped next to him in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek; his lower cheek that is. Although she had grown taller around seventeen, she still was only just past Lance’s shoulder in terms of height. “Tacos are fine. Better than anything I can cook.” She sighed. “Oh, if only Hunk were here.”

“If Hunk were here, you’d be sad because you wouldn’t have the most awesome tacos in the world.”

“No, but he’s a renowned chef and he makes some of the best food in the whole galaxy,” Pidge pointed out. “I wouldn’t have tacos, but I’d have… something else.”

Lance stuck his tongue out as he went to the fridge to gather supplies. “You and Hunk can have your fancy-smancy alien food, but I’m gonna be over here with my good-ass American-Earth food!”

“Aren’t tacos technically--”

“Good. Ass. American-Earth. Food.”

Pidge smirked and turned on her heel to the living room. She enjoyed pushing Lance’s buttons, probably just as much as he enjoyed pushing hers. As she walked to the couch, her eyes glanced over a picture in a frame on the bookshelf. Seven people stood smiling back at her, all lined up and in uniform. Coran, the bright-orange haired man stood in the back next to a beautiful white-haired Princess Allura. The other five were lined up and dressed in stark colors. Pidge was there in green next to Hunk, who wore Yellow. Keith and Lance, wearing red and blue respectively, were on the other side. And then there was Shiro, their leader in black in the middle of the group. The picture brought back memories that felt like they happened a lifetime ago, but Pidge could remember the exact moment they took that very picture.

She glanced at Lance in the kitchen and then at the younger version of himself in the kitchen. Seventeen-year-old Lance had no hair on his chin and the hair on his head was a little shorter. He also looked so youthful and confident, something that hadn't changed. But, although Lance still kept his childish sense of wonder, he had grown wiser over the years.

Pidge also looked to the younger version of herself. Her hair had grown out again, but she never let it get to the length it was before she disguised herself. There was something about the old Katie that needed to stay in her memories. Old Katie deserved the comfort of a full family and a life without worry. But, she was also no longer the Katie that had become a Paladin of Voltron. She too had grown up since then. So, she grew her hair. And took a husband.

She’d always had a crush on Lance, but there were more pressing matters to attend to when they first joined Voltron. Over the years, though, as the war dragged on and then came to a close, they grew closer. They fell in love. And, when it was over and everyone went their separate ways, they got married.

And so they moved to this idyllic little town in the quiet suburb of a generic big city. However, when she looked at that photo, Pidge couldn’t help but miss the times they had as a team.

A beeping pager pulled her from her thoughts and she was grateful since she had a habit of getting lost in herself. She plucked the pager off the coffee table and read the message. Her heart began to beat and her palms became sweaty as she realized exactly what the text was saying.

Pidge ran to the kitchen, sliding across the wood floors in her socks as she rounded the corner. “Lance!”

“What?” he turned around, worried something was wrong. She thrust the pager towards him and he grabbed it, knowing by the look on her face that this was serious. He read the words, then looked at her, and then read the text one more time.

“Oh my god.”

“I know!”

“Pidge…”

“We have to!”

Lance looked at her and broke into a huge smile. He walked over and wrapped her up in a giant hug, lifting her off the floor.

“You’re excited?” Pidge asked. “I thought you loved it here.”

“I do. But I miss it, you know? I love living here and having a normal life, but I don’t know if we’re supposed to live a normal life, you know?”

“Yeah,” she breathed. “I do. I miss it so much.”

The pager rang and Pidge pressed the button to answer. A holographic depiction of Shiro appeared in their kitchen.

“Hey, dude, you’re just in time for tacos,” Lance joked.

“Might have to give you a rain check on that,” Shiro replied. “So? What do you say? Want to come back to the old team?”

Pidge looked up at her husband who looked back at her with an excited smile. She glanced back to Shiro and stuck both of her thumbs up. “We’ll see you in a few dobashes!”

#plance #pidgance #flirtyrobot #lance x pidge #pidge x lance #voltron #shipping #fanfic #oneshot #kat's writing

[some-cookie-crumbz]

Crumbles’ Big Dump of Upcoming Fics

Happy New Year, everybody! I certainly hope that so far things are going well for you all. I had been meaning to make this post a while back but things got kinda… delayed. Between a lot of really painful personal tragedies – including the death of my dad – and a stressful schedule with work and school, I’ve been a little all over the place. 2017 has been, by far, the cruelest and loneliest year of my life. My dad’s death has shattered me in a lot of different ways, but it had a huge impact on my ability to write, which crippled my usual coping mechanism. He was always really invested in the original stories that I work on as well and was also so supportive of my works. It made writing – something that I have always relied on as a stress relief and outlet for my negative emotions – painful and challenging and it, in turn, made me bitter and resentful at myself and at him. I’ll make another post about where I’ve been in my own mind fully just to get it all out eventually, but for now I just want to offer up an abridged version.

Most days I didn’t – and, honestly, there are still days where I don’t – feel like myself at all. But I feel that, at this point, not writing would be a disservice to his memory.

In the last few weeks I’ve felt a bit more clarity and I’ve been able to find my voice again. I don’t want to stop writing and I have no intention of doing it. In fact, my imagination has kinda jump-started back to near-normal capacity and I have a lot of ideas I’m really excited to share. This post is about the ideas I have in mind and when I intend to upload what. I want to put myself on a schedule because I feel like setting goals for myself will be a good way to get me back in the swing of things.

In preparation for this, I’ve actually gone ahead and made myself an AO3 account – which can be found [here] - because the ideas under the “Read More” are all going to be multi-chapter projects. I’ll still make posts here on tumblr when any updates go live (and should have schedules for when each fic will be updated), I just don’t want to post full chapters here, since I tend to write long chapters. I am also adding the disclaimer here that one-shots (with some exceptions)/ requests/ and other things of that ilk will not be listed here because those have no real schedule in mind.

Ships to Expect: SasuSaku (Naruto), SoMa (Soul Eater), Hance (Voltron), and a whole mess of Kidge (Voltron) because I have no control.

The Shrink Treatment 3: Voltron (Kidge): I am almost done with this one and, surprise to no one, there’ll be one more part after that to just wrap it all up. Regardless, though, I should be able to finish this short series up before the end of the month! Release Date: January 11th/12th, 2018 Update Schedule: Once (Part 4 will hopefully be done within two weeks from whichever day I upload Part 3)

Request 5: Voltron (Kidge): Leaving this vague, because I still want it to be a surprise, but the final of a list of requests I received a few months ago! This, much like The Shrink Treatment, ended up getting away from me. I relaly loved the idea and it’s taking me a while to get it finished. Release Date: February 14th, 2018 Update Schedule: Once (Valentine’s Special)

Like Treading Water: Voltron (Kidge): Love isn’t exactly an emotion that is easy to explain or acknowledge if you aren’t actively looking for it. Little nuances will stick out as something irregular and strange, but can be easily shrugged off when a mind applies logic or sound reasoning to it. You can blind yourself to something that is so obvious to those around you simply by virtue of coming up with other explanations. This is a chronology of how each Paladin realized that Keith Kogane and Pidge Gunderson were falling for each other; including the two Paladins themselves. Note: I started working on this back in October of 2015, shortly after I watched the first season and became Voltron trash. As such, I’m currently having to re-read what I’ve written so far to assure that it falls in line with the canon of the series thus far. Release Date: February 14th, 2018 Update Schedule: Once (Valentine’s Special)

Keidge Month: Not a multi-chapter story, but I just want to say I have every intention of participating in Keidge Month in March; in fact, I’ve already started to work on some of my prompt fills. I’ll post all my prompt fills to both here and AO3, just so that people can choose to read it on whichever outlet is more comfortable for them. It’s my number one ship and it happens to take place during my birthday month, so what kind of smuck would I be to not participate? ;3c Release Date: March 1st, 2018 Update Schedule: Daily (Month Long Event)

Cherry Bomb: Naruto (SasuSaku) – After an accident in the facility that she is interning at, Sakura Haruno gains super strength and an accelerated healing element. With the help of her role model, Dr. Tsunade Senju, she learns how to control and harness this power to help protect the denizens of the city. She is thrust into stopping a plot by other humans with genetic mutations to take control of the city using intimidation and force while also trying to keep her secret identity hidden from her photo-journalist boyfriend, Sasuke Uchiha. Note: I’ve been planning this project for roughly three – Hell, almost four – years now. This is going to be my final Naruto project – excluding any requests I get – and I want it to be something really special and significant to not just anyone who reads it, but also to my own growth as a writer. Naruto has been one of the longest fandoms I’ve been in and SasuSaku was one of my first really big ships; I want this to be a final love letter worth my time to write and worth everyone’s time to read. Release Date: March 2nd, 2018 Update Schedule: Bi-Weekly

Kidge Week: Again, not a multi-chapter thing but I really needed to say I have every intention of participating in this as well! My goal is to finish as many of my prompt fills for Keidge month before the prompts for Kidge Week drop in February as possible so that I can start working on that ASAP. Release Date: April 15th, 2018 Update Schedule: Daily (Week Long Event)

Hance Month: What do you know, I had way more things to list as non-multi-chapter fics for the first half of the year than I thought! Another extended event I have every intention of participating in because I really want to produce more content for Hance. It’s really such an great, under-rated ship that deserves more love! Release Date: May 1st, 2018 Update Schedule: Daily (Month Long Event)

Lance McClain vs. The World: After getting involved with a charming young engineering student named Hunk Garrett after meeting at a bar, Lance McClain finds himself getting dragged into a series of events that seem to be ripped right out of a comic book. He is given a warning from the leader of something called “Team Voltron”; a group of Hunk’s ex-lovers and close personal friends, dedicated to determining the worthiness of Hunk’s suitors through various competitive means. Never one to back down from a challenge, Lance agrees to the terms and is forced to learn various new skills and talents in order to compete with the roster of powerful opponents he faces. Note: The fact that there aren’t more Scott Pilgrim AUs in any of the fandoms I like is really disappointing, so I decided that I’d fix that problem myself. While I’ll be following the basic formula set up by the source material, I intend to take a very different approach and keep it fresh with some ideas of my own. So if you’ve actually seen Scott Pilgrim? This’ll be of a different flavor, so don’t assume you know what I have up my sleeve. ;3 Release Date: May 10th, 2018 Update Schedule: Weekly or Bi-Weekly.

Bodyguard AU (Title TBD): Voltron (Kidge): After publically calling out the shady business practices of Galra Tech, acclaimed actor Keith Kogane finds himself the subject of both an attempted assassination and threat of blackmail. Undeterred, he feels no fear at the prospect of making an enemy of the powerful conglomerate. Worried about his safety, both physically and his privacy being violated, his agent, Allura LeAltea, calls upon the help of an old charm school friend of hers. Enter Katie Holt; renowned tech prodigy and secret hacker known as Pidge Gunderson, hired on to be Keith’s personal bodyguard. The only catch? The two must pretend to be dating to assure that Katie can tag along with him wherever he goes without cueing Galra Tech into knowing their threats have had an effect. Note: I love Bodyguard AUs. I love Fake Dating AUs. I love deviating from the expectation. On top of that, an amazing Bodyguard AU one-shot has already been written by the talented Camphalfgalra on AO3, in which Keith is the bodyguard and Pidge is his client, so I decided to flip the roles for my own version of the trope. Release Date: June 15th, 2018 Update Schedule: Weekly or Bi-Weekly

Twilight: Voltron (Kidge): One night, Matthew Holt disappeared from his room without a trace. In the time that he’d been gone, his younger sister, Katie Holt, has been frantically pushing for more action to be taken in bringing her brother home; believing he has been whisked away to the deadly mystery of the forest around their small village of Kerberos. With her brother missing, her mother’s health rocky in her grief, and her father away to help a neighboring village with a fast-spreading illness, she is struggling to maintain not only all effort to bring her brother home alive, but also keep the family farm up to its normal functionality. The Head of the Village Guard, Thace Kogane, insists that she accept the help of his two children, Keith and Allura, to assist her with the farm. Initially cold and distant, Katie slowly warms up to the duo and finds that they may be able to offer her more help in finding her brother, as well as unraveling the mysteries of the dark forest just outside the fences of their small village. Note: I basically just threw the Voltron cast into the universe of one of my own stories – The Tragedy of Helena and Jeremiah – and went with it. Pidge is a pseudo-replacement for Helena and Keith is a pseudo-replacement for Jeremiah, though they have drastically different personalities from my own characters, and as such the story goes in a much different direction. I also borrowed some elements from another project of mine - Sweet Tooth - which The Tragedy of Helena and Jeremiah is a prequel to. Release Date: August 17th, 2018 Update Schedule: Bi-Weekly or Monthly

SingleParent!AU (Title TBD): Soul Eater (SoMa): Soul Evans has been struggling with life as a single father for roughly three years now; working two jobs and odd hours to support himself and his precious daughter, Harmony. Upon the announcement of his older brother, Wes, getting married, he is begged to return home to help with preparing for the ceremony and to be his brother’s Best Man. Feeling that he’ll have better opportunities with his family’s support and more time to spend with Harmony, Soul agrees to moving back to Death City. Through fate and circumstance, Soul meets Maka Albarn, the writer of his daughter’s favorite series of children’s books and intended Maid of Honor to Liz Thompson, Wes’ fiancée, and the two get along pretty well. And, perhaps from there, more will develop between them. Note: Bodyguard, Fake Dating, and Single Parent AUs are my fucking weakness. On top of that, I really want to write something that kinda messes with the typical tropes of Single Parent AUs that I’ve read. Hopefully it’ll be a fun ride for everyone! Release Date: September 28st, 2018 Update Schedule: Bi-Weekly

#crumbles grumbles #wow now that I look at it I have a lot of fics planned this year #and this isn't even all of them but just the ones I want to work on the most #might make another later with some other ideas #info dump about my fics

[tarantula-hawk-wasp]

Bat Paladin Chapter 3

Voltron / batfam /dc comics crossover

chapter 1

chapter 2 Shiro is Bruce Wayne’s adopted son and part of the batfam AU created by me (I was the anon) and @newtsckamander Chapter 3/ ~10 Word count 3.8k I’m sorry formatting is messy, I posted from mobile

******* In general, things get easier with repetition. Stage actors recite lines over and over until they’re engrained in memory. Athletes develop muscles through use. Accuracy is learned by doing the same shot a thousand times.

Bruce wished grief and loss operated by this principle.

He was no stranger to death. From that fateful night in his childhood when he lost his parents, to friends and young partners, he had buried many people. He had mourned and struggled to move on and coped with so much loss.

And yet, a vast majority of those people he had grieved for had come back. Jason had come back. Stephanie had actually survived. Clark and perhaps half the league had been considered dead at some point. Statistically, Bruce should be skeptical of the validity of any presumed death.

Experience now left him in a rather precarious position. A bit like schrodinger’s cat, Shiro was presumed dead but had a chance of being alive. The question now was which did Bruce focus on. Mourning him under the assumption he was dead like his parents and most of the population, while harbouring the slight and fated-to-be-slowly-crushed hope that presumptions were wrong and he was alive? Or to expect him to be alive and have reality wear down on him with each day of uncertain absence? Either one could destroy him in the long run.

And how long did he search? How far into space until Shiro was truly beyond any hope of finding? Did he continue like a one-track record while his friends agreed to search to his face and then plotted interventions behind his back? And what approach did he take with the rest of the family? Would it be healthier for them to mourn without doubt? Or to harbour hope that he would be found?

Instead of lessening his conundrum, investigation only exacerbated it.

A Justice League investigation of the icy moon had found no evidence of the spaceship crashing. In fact, the vehicle was completely intact. Shiro and the Holts had made it safely to Kerberos and had left their ship in their excursion suits with all the planned equipment.

The first experiment site however, told a darker tale.

Every part of the Kerberos mission was expertly planned. GPS and previous probes had plotted down to the meter where the work was to be conducted.

That exact location was decimated. Something powerful had wrought a swath of destruction that had shredded the ice and rock surface and left only mangled fragments of the metal drill tripod.

The part that left the most questions was the lack of evidence of the crew. No fragments of spacesuits. No helmet shards. No fabric fibers. No bodies. No charred carbon. They were simply gone.

The worst case scenario was that they were dead in some way that left no evidence, but no other matter was missing from the area. Re-arranged, yes, but unaccounted for? No.

Until the Green Lanterns returned from meeting with the Guardians, there was no way to identify any residual alien energy or microparticles they might have found.

Bruce’s desperate hope for his son was alien abduction.

****** A telescope was added to the memorial case.

It looked as out of place as it felt - a mundane object flanked by costume-clad mannequin torsos and propped weaponry. It had been the first gift Bruce had given Shiro. A settling-in present after he’d lived with him for a month and offhandedly mentioned over dinner how many more stars he could see from the Wayne property than the city. So Bruce had bought him a telescope.

It was moderately sized, nothing huge but big enough that Shiro could see some of the fainter and more delicate nebulae.

Shiro had been enamored with it. Astronomy became his nightly activity when he wasn’t helping man the batcomputer, allowing him to be on a schedule more compatible with the family.

Bruce remembered many times when he’d come up from the batcave after patrol to find Shiro clothed but asleep in a chair with a star chart open in his lap, and when woken, he’d drag Bruce to the telescope he’d left outside to show him some Messier object.

It became accepted fact that if there was any sort of high profile event at an observatory or space exhibit, Bruce Wayne would be accompanying his middle son there.

Recently, the observatory had invited Bruce for the first use of a new lens the Wayne family had donated money for a year ago. Bruce declined to attend. The observatory said they understood and expressed their empathy. The tabloids understood his absence too.

One of the truly worst things about a civilian identity was the public relations of when things like this happened. Even if he had a search underway for what really happened to Shiro’s, he still had to deal with the civilian side of things.

When Jason had died it had been easier to keep things low key and although the family had celebrity status then, not there was a whole decade more of notoriety. Shiro had been a public figure as an adult in his own right. And the mere fact he was an adult added levels of complexity.

Like lawyers, and wills.

Shiro’s last will and testament was a harsh, physical reminder that his son was a decade older than Jason had been. Shiro had an impeccable will, drawn up by a Wayne recommended firm.

He left a few sums to various funds, plans for a new charity, and items for his brothers and sisters and for his oft-spoken-of friend Keith.

***

Shiro’s death was public knowledge and scandal, on the news for weeks and then months as the Garrison investigation into the incident continued.

There were three memorials Bruce had felt obligated to attend.

The private one that the Justice League attended, with friends whose raw glances of sympathy were the only ones Bruce found tolerable. They had known Shiro for the decade since his adoption and were also feeling his loss keenly.

There was the public memorial held in Gotham where a crowd turned out and lay flowers and ribbons for one of the city’s famous sons. Gotham had been proud to have famously from her embark on a historic space mission. Shiro’s publicity tour before the mission had been well received. Bruce hadn’t minded saying a few words to the crowd there as much as he feared he would.

Then there was the Garrison memorial attended by both those graduated and attending there.

Shiro’s training team and close friends were sitting in their own section next to the one for families of the team. There was a variety of twenty-somethings and one younger teen that Bruce recognized as Keith.

Bruce had never actually meet Keith. He had heard much about Keith. Shiro had called and told him many stories about Keith, including on the day they had met. Bruce had seen many photos and short videos of Keith. But Bruce had never met Keith in person.

And a memorial was a hard place to start.

After the Garrison speech that waxed poetic on his son’s talents and love of his job and a touching note about how his contributions to science would not be forgotten, Bruce exchanged sympathy with the Holts and intended to introduce himself to the boy. But by then Keith had left. ****** Hal Jordan was standing in his usual civilian clothes and jacket in front of the memorial case staring at the telescope with wet tracks on his face.

Bruce put his coffee mug down on the nearest flat surface.

“I just got back from Oa… Diana told me…” he didn’t turn to look at Bruce. Bruce grunted noncommittally. “I didn’t know… I waved at Pluto as I passed…”

“He would have appreciated that.” Bruce eventually said.

“I’m heading back out. I’ll scan everything. I just- I needed to come here first.” Hal finally faced Bruce, eyes searching. “I keep picturing when he was a kid and he’d follow me around the watchtower asking questions. Every flight back to Earth I’d spend preparing what stories I’d tell him. I was so proud when he aced piloting and when he was selected for this mission, but now I can’t help but fear this was all somehow because of my influence. Piloting… space…”

“Hal… Shiro loved space since long before even I knew him. As much as you’re his favorite Uncle, he was determined on this path since childhood. You can’t blame yourself any more than I can for letting him go to that school.” They were standing next to each other, shoulder to shoulder facing the case again. Hal nodded silently but grateful.

“I’m going to search Kerberos for any clues. Then I’ll go back to Oa to research. If he’s out there, I won’t give up until I’ve found him or the truth.” Hal declared, voice heavy, and then flew out the cave entrance.

* * * * * In the past decade or so, Bruce’s social persona had become more bearable. “Brucie” had transitioned from “ditzy but well-meaning playboy” to “ditzy but well-meaning playboy and father”. His public persona had to appear responsible enough for no one to question his custody of half a dozen youths.

Bruce had found the easiest way to accomplish this was to cultivate a new hobby of showing off his kids at any opportunity. He had a wallet packed with school photos, albums of pics and videos on his phone, and a wealth of stories he could share in any conversation.

Instead of having to convince people that “Brucie” had suddenly become an extremely responsible adult, he could simply start bragging.

“My Cassie is doing triple pirouettes in ballet, I have a video of it right here that you simply must see”

“Look at Damian and his science project! I don’t think our carpets will ever be the same.”

“Shiro sent me this pic from the flight simulator at his astronaut school. He’s top of his class and set a school record for highest score”

It was far more satisfying than bumbling and flirting had been in his younger years. He still winked at the ladies and broke a few wine glasses every now and then, but mostly he blathered about his brood. This had the added benefit of boring and discouraging gold-diggers and those arrogant people who disapproved of the bloodlines of most of his family. Bruce was proud that there was so much to boast about.

Of course now his public reputation as a family-man and celebrity status meant that he had to address what happened on multiple television shows, and magazine interviews, and online forums.

It was a seemingly unending slur of similar statements.

“Shiro knew the risks, it’s like I said in the Kent interview for the Daily Planet, Shiro talked it over with the family, he felt that any danger was worth it and even in his will he reminded us that this was what he wanted to dedicate his life to, however much time that would be.”

“I think - and I’d hope I’d know as his adoptive father - that what Shiro would want for the future of space exploration would be for it to continue. Learn from his mission, make it so the next one is a success. Go beyond Kerberos someday. Meet some aliens.”

“It’s hard on all of us, but we’re trying to get through it as a family, to remember the better times.”

“No, I don’t blame the Garrison, like I’ve said, Shiro accepted the risks and chose that job. Now we have to accept what Shiro wanted. I’ve always said I encourage the kids’ interests and respect their decisions, I can’t stop doing that just because I don’t like the outcome.”

“What do I have to say to the parents of kids who want to be astronauts? Encourage them. Buy them a telescope, watch their eyes light up at night. In fact, that’s why I’m creating the Shiro Space Foundation, to help fund and organize the formation of astronomy clubs in schools. Because that’s what my son would want.”

Slowly the media ran out of similar questions and sympathy statements to use the Wayne name with, but Bruce knew that each release of new info about the mission would only restart the onslaught.

***** Dick and Cass went to collect a few of Shiro’s things and some gifts and cards from the Garrison.

They also were checking in on Keith, something requested in Shiro’s will.

Dick reported back that he was seeing the facilities counselor for required visits and that a few upperclassmen who had been friends with Shiro were keeping an eye on him.

Cass told Bruce that she read the boy as taking it hard and blaming authority.

Jason came back from a second visit laughing bitterly. Apparently Keith knew of him from stories as “Jay”, Shiro’s brother who hated the media and therefore hid from it. Jason then made a bittersweet observation.

“He’s an angry at the world black haired orphan. Apparently your taste in trainee is a family trait. That’s probably why he never brought him home here, Alfred would have given him a room thinking he was one of yours.”

Bruce tried to focus on how proud he was of Shiro for taking someone under his wing. That kind of compassion was an excellent trait to have.

*******

Batman hesitated before emerging from the shadows on the rooftop. Around the corner of the structure housing the roof-exit access Spoiler and Red Hood were supposed to be waiting for him. But he heard a third, female voice that was not Black Bat. It was Catwoman, but her tone was serious.

“-y’know him, he’s getting a little antsy,definitely plotting, but the rest of us can keep him distracted for a few more weeks at least.”

“Even the time you’ve given us so far has helped. I don’t know if he’s noticed but-” Red Hood was the one to reply.

“-Not that we couldn’t have handled it without him, but he’d take control of everything.” Spoiler interjected with a hint of defensiveness. Batman could picture her crossed arms and cocked jaw.

“I know. And if something does happen, I’m not the only one willing to help you this time.” Catwoman reassured. “The Rogues respect Batman enough to give him time to mourn, plus, you heroes hit harder when you’re upset.”

Batman felt a cold wash percolate down his spine at the vague reminder of what had happened. He aggressively ignored that to digest the new information. Retrospectively, the past few weeks had been quiet, with no capers by the usual miscreants, only mundane petty criminal violence.

The past month had left him so busy with his civilian life that he hadn’t had time to dwell on why things had been so quiet after hours. Suddenly a number of recent events made far more sense in the lense of the Rogues knowing something.

The flowers on his patrol route being unseasonably lush with their blooms open a little longer past dusk than natural.

Harleen Quinzel saluting him with a solemn expression while walking her hyenas in pajamas at five in the morning.

Bank robbers found trying to thaw out their getaway car’s frozen engine.

Batman was brought back to the conversation by Red Hood speaking again.

“What exactly did you tell them? Because it’s not like they ever saw-… It’s not like when it was me and they noticed the lack of Robin.”

“I kept it vague,” Catwoman paused, voice tired, “Just that Batman had an adult civilian son and he…”Her voice choked off. “That was enough for them to understand. Enough of them have civilian relatives themselves.”

“Thank you.” Spoiler reiterated.

“Of course. And how are you kids handling it. I know I’m no counselor but Batman is an emotional brick. If you need to talk…” Catwoman offered.

“It’s hard but we’re all working through it together.” Spoiler answered slowly.

“Yeah, helps that there’s no hard feelings and no blame… just grief. He was… he was close to each of us in a different way and that’s something we all have in common.”

“There are a lot of good times to remember and talk about.”

“I’m rather relieved you’re coping well. I didn’t know him as well as you, but from our limited encounters, I am grateful I knew him.”

Catwoman was gone when Batman showed up on the rooftop to confer with his silently waiting partners. *****

Bruce had loved the night for years. He spent most of his time out in the dark and, in between the moments of staccato sensation of fighting, there was the peace and calm. The lights of Gotham danced in the streets below him, a distant world of nightly reverie he watched and protected.

Thirty years ago, before the ordinances and bulb replacement projects he had heavily backed, the light pollution from the street lights and skyscrapers had drowned out all but the brightest of stars from the sky. Now it was greatly lessened and entire constellations were visible in the breaks in the clouds.

Bruce could remember driving out to the countryside with his parents as a small boy, lying out on a blanket on a grassy hill, and marvelling at the constellations while his parents spun the tales of the myths that those celestial patterns told.

Now, the stars were mocking points of light - too literal spots of hope on the inky darkness of reality. The night sky held Bruce’s hopes and fears.

If he felt embittered by the sky from Gotham, it was nothing to time on the Watchtower. He did not let himself shirk monitor duties there, no matter how many offers of coverage he was given by every other member of the League. Instead he would carry out his shift, sitting in a silence more stony than previous, resolutely focusing on the computers and monitors, not the expansive viewports.

He still freshly remembered the first time Shiro had come to the watchtower. He had left Gotham to Dick, Jason, and Barbara and taken Shiro to the nearly empty space station. Shiro hadn’t asked to see the Watchtower after he had found out that the league had a headquarters in orbit, he had still been too hesitant with his role in his new family and afraid of pushing a limit to request that. He had, however, asked a slew of questions about the station and the brightness in his eyes had allayed any reservations Bruce may have had about taking a “civilian” there.

Shiro had been fourteen and a set of long, coltish limbs restraining trembles of excitement. His arms had been clinging to a stack of books - homework and an astronomy book - and his eyes had been wide behind the rudimentary domino mask Bruce had deemed necessary.

Diana had smiled at his enthusiasm on her way out.

Bruce had picked a night where the only league members present were ones who already knew his identity, Shiro’s wasn’t one he was willing to risk haphazardly. The less people who knew about his connection to Batman, the safer both the family’s identities and Shiro himself were.

He had given Shiro a tour, showing and explaining much of the systems that ran the watchtower and lingering at viewports on each side. Then they had returned to the monitors and Shiro had spent the rest of the evening staring out the windows and telling Bruce his observations.

In his early teen years Shiro became a fixture of Bruce’s shifts there. He went with him every opportunity he was allowed. Bruce also liked that it let Shiro meet his “coworkers” without having Shiro anywhere near real combat or inviting more people to the batcave.

Even as he aged, Bruce had given him clearance to come to the watchtower to visit during weekends off from the school campus.

He associated the watchtower nearly as much with Shiro as associated it with the Justice League. It was a hard place to be.

**** It was the middle of the afternoon when Bruce’s phone pinged. His personal cellphone that was linked with the bat computer.

Damian was at work with him today, rocking in a swivel chair with a textbook balanced on his knees, and he lunged for the device before Bruce could.

“I know what phone this is. Is there some attack or something happening?” He read the notification with a furrowed brow, textbook readily abandoned and shoved to the floor.

Bruce reached over and snatched the device out of his hands. It was a series of symbols and code words sent to him by an automated monitoring system linked to the batcomputer. He opened his laptop, inserted a black bat-logo’d flash drive, and interfaced with the cave computer.

“Someone’s hacking a specific part of the Garrison computer.” Bruce said to fill Damian in. His son had moved to hover around his right side to watch the screen over his shoulder.

“Why would they do that? Is someone trying to launch a rocket?”

“No, they’re accessing probe and transmission records from a secure file. What I’m trying to figure out is who’s doing it.” Bruce explained, fingers moving quickly and gaze focused.

“Is it foreign? Wasn’t Luthor mad that space exploration privatized?” Damian speculated. Bruce grunted and frowned, pausing. He was secretly keeping tabs on anything related to the Garrison Kerberos mission. He had minor alerts for new or changed information in them, copies of all deleted files, and notifications when certain people accessed them. This was the first time a compromise alert had come in.

“The hacking coming from inside an office at the Garrison headquarters. But the computer is marking it as an intrusion.”

“Maybe the guy just forgot his password.” Damian was obviously disappointed at the anticlimactic answer.

“Ah. Whomever is doing this is using outdated security passwords for minor things. Passwords that weren’t flagged immediately as incorrect.” Bruce’s brow uncreased.

“Why? Shouldn’t a facility like that have at least some cyber security?”

“They do. Their computer didn’t automatically classify this as an attack because the codes used were those of Sam Holt.”

“Oh.” Damian became quiet, almost cautious, the way that was becoming typical with anything regarding Shiro. Bruce appreciated that Damian, who often frankly expressed his opinions of people, had been keeping quiet about Shiro and what happened around his siblings. Damian was very hit or miss for his interactions with people and only then in the long run. Bruce, despite mental efforts otherwise, found himself wondering at the lost potential of what Shiro and Damian’s relationship would have been.

The results of a cursory look at the Garrison indoor security cameras proved Bruce’s hypothesis of the identity of the hacker correct. He closed his laptop. It would be hypocritical to deny access to her when she had as much right to those files and the truth as he did and for the same reasons.

#Shiro #Bruce Wayne #voltron #batfam #shiro is a batkid au

[polandspringz]

Voltron Legendary Defender Season 2 Review (SPOILERS)

I would like to begin by saying that I was FLOORED by the final battle of the season. THAT WAS A FINAL BATTLE. Although I was worried a lot throughout the fight they were going to end it on some cliffhanger(which they sort of did), it was nothing as intense as last season, but that does not mean the stakes are not high, if not higher than they were at the end of season one. 

First off, I would like to note some of the improvements this season made before transitioning into its flaws. I thought the comedy this time around was spot on. Last season, the show was experimenting with its audience, and while it was enjoyable to older members, it still had a younger, less mature sense of comedy and style. Additionally, season one had a more “edgy” shaky feel to it at certain times, and for first time watchers its fine. However, over a couple of months reflecting on it, and especially in comparison to the new episodes, the previous season does look a bit unstable. Season two managed to fix most of that, the comedic style was varied, with most of the jokes being made by Hunk having the punchline of being overly explained for younger audiences who can appreciate those jokes in succession while the other characters strayed from wisecracks and made genuine jokes that worked within their characterization. The one that made me completely lose it was Pidge’s “Spores Code”, particularly for its delivery. It was made with no eye movement or anything to signify her thinking of it beforehand, and the way she followed its use by a delayed “HAH!” before the scene cut just worked with how the audience processed it, as they would be catching up with the dialogue right alongside Pidge’s realization. (And forewarning, I will be referring to Pidge as “she” throughout the review, but I will get to that later, so I hope that won’t deter you too much).

Secondly, the action scenes in themselves were very well done. The way the art shifted to have those lines across the images during intense scenes (not entirely sure how to categorize them) were seen in season one as well, but they were much more prominent this time. They were used gradually throughout the show, with the monochrome beige and red background and line art being utilized in the most drastic moments helped stress the emotion. Especially in the final fight, I felt like I was watching something from Gainax or Trigger. Also, this is where I talk about the show being less “edgy”. This season’s battles were very high stake, everything was on the line, but the show’s balance of comedy and action drama was so perfect that it let things flow better. I think this is also do to the way the world felt more fleshed out overall. I remember seeing in either an interview transcript or an interview on youtube the creators talking about how in season one, they really enjoyed the Altean language and cultural jokes the show pushed, and that really stuck out in this season. The creators had a whole segment on Pidge studying the Altean language to later on come back to haunt the other paladins when she began to use idioms and jokes unfamiliar to them and there was also the whole way the plot of the “Slipperies” fit into Coran’s small character development. Most of all, the foundations set to give all the new aliens and groups unique comedic personalities stuck out, with the viewer even being given multiple scenes showing Zarkon’s desperation and Haggar’s disapproval. I keep using the same transitional phrases, but overall, I truly do believe that this is what made this season such a treat to watch. The creators stopped keeping the villains to just villains and the aliens to just aliens and made the leap to do simple things like have characters like Slav act quirky and anxious or the security guard who dreamed of being like Zarkon. It just helped world build and immerse the viewer much better than the first season which had this wall of mystique and edge that kept it feeling a bit empty and kid oriented.

Now, onto some of the flaws.

Episode 1, 5, and 13 were my top three episodes from this season, with Space Mall fitting somewhere in between them. Episode one was a good transition between the seasons, it jumped between the different scenes well, had good comedic timing, and built up suspense about Shiro without overshadowing or contradicting too much of the mood of the other scenes. Space Mall had a bit of problems balancing this, because I liked all the subplots in the episode separately, but Shiro and his Black Lion’s arc just did not flow well with the rest of the scenes. Standing alone, it’s amazing,for I had the suspicion from the beginning that they never actually left the castle and the way Zarkon and Shiro had to fight one another with their minds was well done. Yet, the jump into the “mindscape”, as I’ll call it, was very sudden and confusing with Zarkon saying how if they died here they would die for real. (Leaving me to shout at my phone, “IF YOU DIE IN THE GAME YOU DIE IN REAL LIFE”) Generally, my main issue was how we would go from very jocular, joke-riddled and driven scene to one so dramatic that I felt Shiro’s arc should have been placed in another episode. 

Also, this was the season of Shiro. Keith did get a lot of growth with most of the fandom’s theories being confirmed about him, the way the knife tied into it all and such, but from the way the final episode ended, anyone could tell this season was about Shiro. (And the next will probably be Keith’s). One of my favorite things I liked about Shiro’s growth in the show was that he stepped out of the “Dad” parameters set up around him and seemed like another young guy, not quite on the same level as the other paladins, but he became flawed. After he kept repeating to Keith about patience and keeping calm, I was so excited when Slav appeared because it was so clever to have Shiro develop backwards, in a sense. Rather than having him overcome any flaws for growth, the writers gave him a setting in which he could develop flaws. We can see Shiro get seriously angry when given the right circumstances, and the irony in his statements to Keith help bring this to life even more so. On a side note, I would like the bring up something that might upset the Sheith fans a bit. I feel like this season really established that Keith sees Shiro in a fatherly view, as not only did the animators have the “hologram” Shiro transform into Keith’s dad, but we also saw how similar they designed their eyes and other features (Scar on nose vs. scar on forehead). I was a little worried going into this season because about a week before I had heard some news about one of the creators liking a “Sheith” photo on twitter and everyone blew up about it. I really do not want to see any romance happen in this show, not only for personal reasons but also because I feel like it would not only destroy the fanbase but ruin a lot of the integrity and style the show has just now started to build correctly. To be fair on both sides, the elevator scene with Keith and Lance did make me chuckle (”GIRLS DON’T WANT A VOLTRON SEASON 2 GIRLS WANT A VOLTRON BEACH EPISODE” and I also yelled, “TWO BROS CHILLIN’ IN A HOT TUB, FIVE FEET AWAY...”) but I felt like Keith and Lance’s dynamic wasn’t well established this scene. For me personally, Lance almost came close to be destroyed as a character for me. The elevator scene felt like a bone was thrown to the Klance shippers, and I felt like it contradicted anything we had witness between the two before. Sure, they had a mild spat back and forth, and we got another clip where Lance tells Keith to back off his Lion in a bathrobe and face mask, but then we also got a scene where they “had each other’s backs” and it felt like the writers were just constantly fluctuating their opinions on one another depending on the scene and the tempo of the other characters or for plot advancement purposes without taking time to really delve into how these two characters actually feel about one another as paladins.

Lance’s character problems for me also tie into Pidge’s for this season, as it felt very repetitive in episode two and four for me. I could accept Lance and Hunk’s adventure, but once we got the mermaids in the picture I felt like I was watching Hunk and Shay except with Lance and mermaids. Of course they had different purposes in the story, but when we suddenly got Pidge going to a planet about technology, I immediately felt like the writers were trying to check boxes off character arcs as quickly as possible. Back to Lance though, the one thing I could sort of accept and by pass was the scene with him and Laika (the yupper) where Lance suddenly starts to question his worth on the team. This was a bit random, but I also understand how someone could easily start to overthink things about what others think about them when left pretty much alone, so it worked, especially when Lance proved his abilities later. This was not done for Pidge. Pidge’s planet arc really bothered me only at the end of the episode when she learned her Lion’s true potential. When she first got to the planet, she made a statement about her brother Matt. Later on, when she’s about to activate the Lion’s power, we see her struggling to connect with her Lion and hearing the voice’s of her friends saying how they need her and that helps her focus. This worked with Lance, because Lance had self-doubt before Shiro fixed it by saying “That’s why we bring our sharpshooter.” With Pidge, it was like we had the development with nothing to develop from. If before they had landed on the planet, we had had a moment where Pidge talks about her technology or something or had done something and was mildly brushed off by the other characters, the same effect in Lance’s case would have occurred. We, as the audience, would not have had to been given a whole episode of the paladins being disappointed in Pidge but rather we would just have needed a little nudge about something with how they react to her, like how they react to her using technological or Altean terms. If we had been given a set up in the beginning of the episode to show her being somewhat annoyed, the moment where she hears her friends voices would have been more meaningful as we would have made the connections ourselves. Pidge’s line later at the end of the episode talking about how technology has always been important to her felt empty to. Considering the mention of Matt at the start of the episode, it seemed like they could have used this line to have her elaborate or at least have the audience be shown a flashback or something with Matt that would make her love of technology in the present that much more important or valuable rather than just a quirky aspect of her personality.

Now, I’m almost done, but I haven’t addressed the last part of Pidge’s character.

The bathroom scene.

I’m not here to call this a flaw despite it succeeding my list of flaws with this season. I thought the bathroom scene was well executed for something done for a kid’s show. It really wasn’t concrete clear and offered two interpretations so people could take from it what they will before the writers decide to clarify anything. We are given a scene displaying two bathrooms, both with unfamiliar symbols, but one colored pink, the other blue. Pidge glances between them, and we see a non-identifiable alien emerge, and Pidge says she will “hold it”. I know the majority of the fanbase is jumping on this to show that the writers are saying Pidge is non-binary or genderfluid or trans or such. I personally do not see Pidge as transgender. The reasons behind her posing as a boy at the Garrison are still unclear, as girls are obviously allowed to enroll, and she only raises more suspicion around the people who knew her brother by looking more like them. In my opinion, I saw Pidge dressing like her brother as a coping mechanism for the loss. Looking like him would be a constant reminder to her of what was either lost so she doesn’t forget her mission or it was just a way of making her feel like he was still with her. But, back to bathrooms. I had seen this gif online as a spoiler at first when I took a break between episodes. I was worried they were laying down any definite statements about these characters without fleshing them out, but the bathroom scene also provides two interpretations. If you look at the first half, with the two symbols alone, it makes sense that people can use this to support the Pidge’s gender argument as although the symbols are vague, the colors should be enough to tell her which one is for men or women. Hell, the later scene when Keith walks out of the blue one shows that at least one other Paladin “knows” which one to go in. (I personally could just see Keith saying screw it and taking a chance) However, the thing afterwards, where we see an non-identifiable alien emerge from the “ladies” room, the show also could be saying that Pidge is still confused on which bathroom is which and not which one she feels she should go in. It is easy to also interpret the scene that the colors aren’t enough for her to distinguish, which I think works well for children who are watching the show and wouldn’t fully pick up on all the little things yet. (It’s like that scene in Spongebob where they are in the trench city or whatever?) Regardless of what you view Pidge as, the way the writers portrayed this scene allowing a double meaning was a good choice, as it gave the fans what they wanted while also easing the children and those who are less likely to agree with the gender debate something they could stomach. And hey, if you think that kids should be fully exposed to this early on, consider this scene something they can watch when older and realize the full connotations of if they so choose.

All in all, I’d give Voltron Legendary Defender an 8/10 with the first season at a 7/10.

#how does one even rate things #on a scale of 1 to 10 #its hard #voltron legendary defender #vld #vld season 2 #voltron legendary defender season 2 #poland reviews