#matt holt whump

[scattered-winter]

eclipse (a companion piece to quintenary stars)

(part 1 of 3)

If his injury started to slow him down, they’d just take him out back and shoot him like a stray dog. That’s what they did to the oldest, the weakest, the slowest. Matt was, once again, grateful that his father wasn’t there. Samuel Holt was an older man, and though he’d biked and hiked when he was younger, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with this intense workload for long. Of course, Matt had no way of knowing if Sam was anywhere better. Or if he was even alive. Matt exhaled, forcing thoughts of his crew away as he slowly stretched out his aching muscles. He couldn’t afford to think about them. Not when all of his focus went toward staying alive. Part of him wondered why he even bothered. He’d never see his home or family again. He was in deep space, in the middle of an alien work camp. Escape was unlikely. Rescue was even more unlikely. The quickest way to get out of this would be death—quick, painless; a burst of heat from one of their guns, and then blissful nothing. But Matt was a Holt. He wouldn’t give up that easily. He refused to. ____ eclipse (noun): a cosmic event that occurs when the moon crosses in front of the sun, casting the Earth into shadow. without the sun, there is no warmth, no light. to experience an eclipse is to experience a taste of permanent night.

febuwhump day 2: solitary confinement

#winter writes #ITS HEEEERRREEEEEEEEEEE #voltron #quintenary stars series #matt holt #matt holt whump #febuwhump #febuwhump2024 #febuwhumpday2

[whumperstorm]

Repostober day 17 with my all-time favorite whump piece I've ever done!! You know I had to feature it.

This is from A brainwashed!Matt Holt Voltron AU that only ever lived in my head. (Still does, even though I'm not into Voltron anymore)

#repostober #my posts #my art #another actual whump piece? its more likely than you think #matt holt whump #brainwashing #Keith's fine hes just resting #voltron whump #keith whump #betrayal whump

[icypantherwrites]

Fic Roundup: September 4 - September 10

A compilation of all of my most recently updated fanfictions. Enjoy ♥

Found, Chapter Four

Summary: Lance is alive. He’s been alive this whole time as not just a prisoner of the Galra Empire… but as their assassin. Shiro’s head aches with his own press of memories as to what Lance must have suffered, how he’d been tortured, to become a cold-blooded killer that goes against every value Lance held dear. But while there’s nothing they can do to change the past they have a way to change the future and now it’s time to find Lance and bring him home.

—

Sniper is confused. He shouldn’t know those people, he doesn’t know those people and yet… yet there’s a whisper of familiarity that makes his chest ache and his hand pause on the trigger. But Mistress’ whispers are even louder and his screams as she forces him to forget them and replace them with only the faces and feelings of enemies are the loudest of them all.

Sword and Shield, Chapter Five

Summary: The Blade mission is dangerous but Keith is confident that between himself and Lance, who along with the Red Lion is integral to the success of it, they’ll be fine. However, as the mission progresses Keith is finding it harder and harder to ignore the fact that Lance keeps making himself a human shield and sacrificing his own safety for Keith’s and it's reminding him far too much of his own decision on Naxzela and what he almost did to keep the others safe.

But now that horrific pattern of self-sacrifice has come to a head as Lance is injured protecting Keith. And it's not just a terrible wound: Lance is poisoned and slowly, painfully dying before Keith's eyes. Unlike Naxzela where he could at least do something (even if it would have cost him everything) there's nothing he can do to save Lance. Except... this time Keith isn't alone. And help is coming... if he can keep Lance alive that long.

Not a Joking Matter, Chapter Two

[Sequel to A Mind of His Own] Matt’s plans to hang out with Katie at the Castle of the Lions is interrupted by an urgent, but quick, Rebel mission. The mission, to Matt’s relief, goes exactly as planned.

But the being abducted and strapped down on a table for medical experimentation part? Not so much.

xxx

Some stories/updates are also on my AO3 at the time of this posting. All links in fic roundups and updates on Tumblr now default to Patreon as that is where all of my works are now originally published. If you'd like to join my Patreon check it out here. $5 and $10 tiers grant early release access to all of my currently publishing works :)

#voltron #vld #fanfiction #fic rec #fic recommendation #lance #langst #matt holt #icypanther #weekly update #matt holt whump #whump #hurt comfort #sniper lance #sniper #assassin #hurt lance #lance whump #keith #keith kogane #keith angst #protective keith

[ao3feedsheith]

Baby I'll Be Here For You

Baby, I'll Be Here For You https://archiveofourown.org/works/46675492 by Levyscript Shiro and Matt are bringing Keith home from the hospital after his motorcycle accident. Shiro goes through multiple emotions but is happy he can be here for Keith like Keith was for him. Words: 1316, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Matt Holt, Ulaz (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Keith (Voltron) Relationships: Keith/Shiro (Voltron) Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Keith on pain meds is possessive of Shiro, Whump, Keith was in a motor accident, Sheith are roommates with Matt, Kosmo is best boy, Ulaz helps Shiro through his panic via AO3 works tagged 'Keith/Shiro (Voltron)' https://archiveofourown.org April 22, 2023 at 04:02PM

#IFTTT #sheith

[the-feral-gremlin]

#bakugou katsuki #keith kogane #matt holt #oliver queen #my hero academia #voltron legendary defender #arrowverse

[vldkatt]

Lazerus: Breaking

by Ryanthementallyunstable

Keith hits the shield, Haggar picks him up, and he gets a Bucky Barnes Arc. Or:

How Many Marvel References Can Ryan Make?

Words: 2595, Chapters: 4/?, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of Tired and Angry Edgelord With Issues (Keith Kogane.)

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: Multi

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Haggar (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron), Kuron (Voltron), The Blade of Marmora, Thace (Voltron), Antok (Voltron), Ulaz (Voltron), Original Galran Character(s), Matt Holt, Pidge | Katie Holt, Shiro (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Coran (Voltron)

Relationships: Haggar & Keith (Voltron), Keith & Lotor (Voltron), Keith & Kuron (Voltron), Keith & The Blade of Marmora, Keith & Kolivan (Voltron), Keith & Thace (Voltron), Acxa & Keith & Regris (Voltron), Keith & Voltron Paladins, Matt Holt & Keith & Pidge | Katie Holt & Shiro, Hunk/Pidge | Katie Holt, Matt Holt/Keith

Additional Tags: Body Horror, Implied/Referenced Torture, Torture, Blood and Gore, Mind Control, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Whump, Keith (Voltron) Whump, Galra Keith (Voltron), Dads of Marmora (Voltron), Blade of Marmora Keith (Voltron), Keith (Voltron) has PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kuron is Shiro (Voltron)'s Clone, Shiro (Voltron) Has a Clone, Operation Kuron (Voltron), Naxzela (Voltron), I Whumped Keith A Little Too Hard, Don’t Worry He’ll Be Fine, Maybe - Freeform

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/rkQY9Uq

#IFTTT #katt #voltron #fic

[illegal-wall-dragons]

An overview of all my reacurring tags cause there's a lot.

non fandom specific

original post reblog mood my art art suff art ref whump neurodivergency writing stuff drabble i love my cat activism roe versus wade oc

Voltron

incorrect voltron quotes they sibs

keith kogane pidge holt takashi shirogane lance mcclain hunk garret princess allura vld coran

krolia kolivan antok matt holt adam voltron colleen holt 

broganes adashi klance antolivan holt siblings

wings of fire

the owl house

lord of the rings

mistborn

httyd

marvel

bucky barnes steve rogers stucky

#coran

[ao3-feed-shadam]

About the Wolf and the Lion

by La_____Luna

Dois dias antes do lançamento da Missão Kerberos, uma nave espacial Galra pousa na Terra e leva Keith para longe da sua cabana no deserto, da Patrulha, de seus amigos e... e de Shiro. Roubado de tudo o que tinha e conhecia, prisioneiro numa nave alienígena repleta de criaturas impiedosas, Keith vê-se confrontado com uma solidão absoluta e uma escolha: render-se a ela ou erguer-se e lutar, tanto pelo bem do universo como daqueles que deixou para trás.

Ou

A história em que aliens roxos levam Keith para longe do alcance de Shiro, quase lhe tirando a vida no processo, e ele encontra no deserto um leão azul robótico que pode ser a sua única esperança de encontrá-lo e trazê-lo de volta.

Words: 7164, Chapters: 1/?, Language: Português brasileiro

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M, Multi

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Hunk (Voltron), Matt Holt, Allura's Mices, Kolivan (Voltron), Thace (Voltron), Antok (Voltron), Original Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Adam (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith & Shiro (Voltron), Adam/Shiro (Voltron), Keith/Shiro (Voltron), Keith & The Blade of Marmora, Shiro & Voltron Paladins

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Kerberos Mission, Quintessence-Sensitive Keith (Voltron), Kidnapping, Alien Abduction? I guess?, Keith (Voltron) Whump, Canon-Typical Violence, and more - Freeform, Torture, Heavy Angst, Hurt No Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, Keith (Voltron) has PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Team as Family, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, I mean really really worse, But everything is gonna be fine in the end I promise, Also Adam/Shiro won't last trust me, Eventual Feelings Realization, For both of them because they're dumb(TM), Shiro Saves Keith (Voltron), Slow Burn, Slow Build, Eventual Happy Ending

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48021442

#adashi #shadam #voltron #vld #voltron legendary defender #ao3feed #fanfic

[velkynkarma]

Happy April Fools!! For a prompt, I hope you don't mind a classic whump trope: Shiro throwing himself in front of one of the others (Matt or Keith?) to take a hit for them. Hope that's not too vague. Thanks for still writing, you're amazing!!

I really liked this prompt anon, so I went a little overboard and this is a whole fic lol. I picked Matt because I haven’t had enough chances to write him. Kind of a sequel to Break Even. Set in some handwavey time in S4, but it’s up to you if this is Kuron or some AU where Shiro came back on his own. Hope you enjoy :)

——

“I wish that noise would stop already,” Matt snaps in frustration, as he plugs his mini computer into the security panel next to the door. 

The alarm screams through the whole Galra ship angrily, blaring over and over just above their heads from one of the intercoms set into the walls and half a dozen others in their hallway alone. It’s loud and thoroughly distracting, but for Matt, it also reminds him of his escape feebs ago. The anxiety of wondering if the enemy will thunder around the corner at any moment is just as strong now as it was then, and sends his heart hammering. 

It doesn’t matter how many times Matt has done this, or how often he’s trained for it. He’s never going to forget feeling completely and utterly helpless when he hears that sound.

“I don’t think it’s going to any time soon,” Shiro says, next to him. “Just do what you can.” His tone is authoritative, but he offers Matt a brief, sympathetic look in the middle of scanning the hallways for danger. 

That does calm Matt down. A little, at least. If anybody knows what it’s like, it’s going to be Shiro. 

Their mission today was simple in theory, but more complex in execution. A Galra fleet had been responsible for utilizing a new, more powerful ion cannon against the rebels, wiping out an entire hidden base in the process. They needed to destroy the weapon itself, while simultaneously stealing any information they could about it, so they could be countered in the future.

The rebels had reached out to Voltron for assistance, and Voltron had been only too happy to help. While the rebels fought the cloud of swarming ships outside—with the assistance of Allura and the Blue Lion, as a decoy to draw their attention—the rest of the team had snuck into the ship itself to get to work. Pidge, Hunk and Lance were Team Weapon, responsible for finding it and figuring out a way to disable it. Matt had volunteered to go in on foot as the rebel representative to hack the data, and Shiro agreed to go with him for backup.

Pidge had been a little upset that she couldn’t go with Matt. It hadn’t been too long since they had reunited, after all, and Matt had to admit it would be both fun and exciting to work in tandem with his amazing little sister. But Shiro made a fair point that they needed a hacker on either team, and Pidge and Matt were by far the most efficient at the task. 

Pidge had grudgingly agreed, warned Matt to not die after all the work she put into finding him, and dropped them off from the camouflaged Green Lion on the other side of the ship when the mission began.

And it had gone smoothly. At first. They’d gone undetected on the ship for a while, with the Galra and their sentries so focused on the battle outside. But somebody—Matt still wasn’t sure if it was him and Shiro, or Team Weapon—had tripped some sort of alarm, and it had begun screeching for all it was worth about intruders and danger. 

Things had been more difficult after that. Shiro’s armor was scratched from numerous close encounters, and the energy shield mounted on his wrist flickered every once and a while, like it was damaged. Matt’s cloak had several laser rifle burns in it, and he had a new shallow gash on his arm from a too-close encounter with a sentry’s clawed hands. 

Worst of all, his leg throbbed at the left knee, aching and uncomfortable. The wound Shiro had given him more than a decafeeb ago to get him out of the gladiator arena didn’t like being pushed too hard with no rest, and it was protesting vehemently. 

Matt could fight—the rebels had ensured he could—but he couldn’t do it for huge stretches of time like some of the others could. That was why they’d stuck him at a listening outpost, and utilized his intelligence and stealth more than his combative skills. If he did fight, it was usually in a ship, where he was a decent pilot and a better gunner—and could sit the whole time. 

Maybe he shouldn’t have volunteered to do some codebreaking on the ground.

But they needed him. This had to be fast. That new weapon was dangerous, and if they didn’t understand how it worked or where they were being manufactured, millions of people could die. He’s the best hacker they have, after Pidge. He can deal with his leg killing him for a little while if it means a fast and efficient victory.

Of course, efficiency also depended on his equipment. The rebels had some decent tech, but it was nothing compared to Pidge’s nifty little wrist-mounted computer, built into the paladin armor. The technology in even ten thousand year old armor was efficient and elegant in a way that absolutely did not make Matt in any way jealous that his sister had better toys than he did, no, not at all. 

Okay, maybe a little bit. 

Matt’s mini computer does the job okay, though. He types rapidly on it as he says, “Their encryption is pretty good, and with the alarms going, the security’s beefed up a couple notches. I can get through, but it’s going to take me a little longer than before.”

“Not too much longer, I hope,” Shiro says, frowning. “We’re sitting ducks here. No cover if anyone comes around the corner.” 

“I’ll do what I can, but I’m working with pieced together equipment here. Unless…” Matt considers. “Shiro, let me borrow your arm.”

Shiro raises an eyebrow. “I thought the alarms would freeze me out of unlocking doors with my prosthetic arm?” 

“Nah,” Matt says. “I don’t want the Galra tech, I want your Voltron tech.” 

“Oh.” Shiro bemusedly extends his right arm to the side for Matt to work with, while keeping his body turned awkwardly so he can still keep an eye on the hallways. It’s a bit odd, but it does work, once Shiro brings up the displays with the internalized mental commands attuned to himself and the Black Lion and grants Matt access. 

“Much better,” Matt says, as he brings up the interfaces on the holographic screen that hovers over Shiro’s right wrist. He loved his little rebel minicomputer, but was so much faster than any tech he had access to. “I’ve got to get one of these.”

“I’m sure Allura wouldn’t mind sharing, if it means beating the Galra empire,” Shiro says, scanning the hallways over the top of Matt’s bowed head. 

“You think? This is incredible,” Matt says, as he rapidly eats his way through the Galra security with the bolstered Voltron computer. Pidge already had a number of protocols installed that made hacking the Galra security easy; just a few minor modifications here, an adjustment of code there, and he can smash through the walls like they’re made of paper. “The rebels could really use more sophisticated work like this. A lot of what they have is put together from whatever they can find, the Galra have a lockdown on supplies almost everywhere, and—”

“Look out!”

Shiro’s flickering energy shield snaps up by Matt’s head just in time to deflect a burst of energy from burning a hole in his temple. Matt freezes for just a moment, startled. 

There are three sentries pacing towards them down the hallway, energy rifles raised. Matt hadn’t even heard them coming over the blare of the alarm. 

Another fires, and the shot deflects off of Shiro’s energy shield again, which flickers alarmingly. Shiro himself has to twist awkwardly in front of Matt and extend his arm outward to provide any shielding at all, while still keeping his right arm within reach of Matt’s hacking job. 

Matt swears, and reaches down for his collapsible staff. But Shiro orders sharply, “No, keep working! We can’t hit them from here anyway.”

Matt swears again, but Shiro has a point. If they can just get through this door, they might have a breather. In an open hallway without any firearms or cover, they’re screwed. “Right, right. On it.” His heart beats so hard it hurts, and his leg throbs in time, but his hands and his voice are shockingly still and calm as he works. 

He’s almost through when another blast ricochets off Shiro’s energy field, and with a staticky shattering noise, it finally cuts out and vanishes.

Matt’s heart stops. For one horrified moment, he looks up from his work to meet Shiro’s eyes, as Shiro turns back to check his progress.

“Almost—” Matt says desperately, frantically swiping at the holographic keys over Shiro’s wrist. Almost, almost, almostalmostalmost—

The sentries fire again. Shiro moves, twisting around to raise his free arm defensively as he puts himself solidly between the shots and Matt. There’s an awful thud-crack-hiss of energy blasts on armor, and an even worse smell of burning flesh and blood. 

Shiro gasps in agony almost right in Matt’s ear, and Shiro’s weight slumps against him suddenly. It’s almost too heavy for Matt to bear so unexpectedly, and his bad leg nearly gives out on him, but he braces at the last moment and manages to hold. Shiro’s helmet clunks painfully against Matt’s skull, and his left gauntlet claws weakly at Matt’s cloak as he struggles for balance. 

“No, no, no,” Matt yelps frantically, terrified and angry all at the same time. “No, you do not get to do this again. Not again, Shiro, you hear me?” 

Shiro’s only answer is a muted groan, as he struggles to get upright again and fails. 

Shiro’s right arm had gone as limp and uncoordinated as the rest of him—his Galra arm is a terrible miracle of science, but in many ways it acts a lot like a normal limb and is just as subject to shock as the rest of the person it’s attached to. But luckily the screens from the Voltron armor had all remained active. Matt snatches his wrist, drags it close, and with a final swipe, keys in the last code. 

The door hisses open. 

Matt doesn’t have the time to really survey what’s on the other side. The sentries are coming closer, and raising their weapons to fire again. He’ll just have to hope they aren’t locking themselves in with something worse. 

He awkwardly manages to grab Shiro’s left wrist and get an arm around his waist, and winces when Shiro gasps again in agony at his touch. With Shiro more or less flopped awkwardly over his doubled-forward back, rather than in anything resembling an efficient fireman’s carry, Matt manages to drag him through the open door and slap the button to close it. 

“Sorry Shiro, I gotta—” Matt says frantically, as he drags Shiro to the panel on the door. With Shiro still balanced precariously against him, he manages to use the paladin wrist computer to seal the door shut with his and Pidge’s own controls. It won’t hold the sentries forever, but it will buy them time.

Immediate threat taken care of, for the next five doboshes at least, Matt turns his attention to Shiro. He sets his friend down against the computer banks on the far wall, and Shiro gasps again as he’s moved. 

Now that Matt can see the damage, he can understand why. The paladin armor is incredibly durable, but today it seems to have hit its limit. The jetpack set into the back is shattered, and the armor around Shiro’s back, side, and just under his arm is cracked and burned. Several of the pieces cut into the undersuit and skin beneath, drawing blood. 

But the worst injury is the shot to Shiro’s side, just above his hip, which hadn’t even been protected by armor to begin with. That is an awful, bloody hole already leaking red, with tattered burned edges and frayed bits of undersuit melted to the skin.

“What the hell, Shiro?” Matt asks, frantic. He whips off the thick cloak of his rebel uniform and hastily wraps it around Shiro’s waist and back, hoping to stem the bleeding long enough to get help. “Why did you do that?”

Shiro groans at the movement, and the pressure on his injuries, but he doesn’t complain or try to fend Matt off. Instead, he says weakly, “You had to open the door.”

“You can’t—you can’t do that,” Matt hisses, gritting his teeth. He’s trying hard not to be...something, he’s not sure what. Terrified. Overwhelmed. Distraught. His throat feels tight and his eyes prickle painfully, but mostly what it all comes out as is anger. “You can’t do that again, Shiro, not to me. Not for me. Okay?” 

He tugs the cloak possibly a little tighter than is strictly necessary in his haste to wrap the wounds properly. Shiro can’t bleed out. Not here, not now, and that wound is bad. He needs a pod as soon as possible. 

Shiro gasps, and his fingers twitch reflexively towards the wound at his side. But his eyes meet Matt’s, and they’re full of confusion. “Do what?” he asks, voice hoarse. 

“Keep saving me,” Matt says. His throat is tight as he forces the words out, and he still isn’t sure if it’s with dismay or guilt or anger. “Keep taking the hits for me. Trying to get yourself killed to get me out of trouble. You can’t—you can’t do that again, okay. You already sacrificed yourself to save me once, enough is enough.”

“Matt,” Shiro says, slowly. It’s horse and shaky, edged with pain, but he still manages to maintain some degree of calm. “I didn’t die in the arena.”

“I thought you did!” Matt says, as he finishes wrapping the wounds and ties it off as best as he can. “I thought you died in my place. I told myself nobody was ever going to die for me again, and now you’re doing it all over—”

“Matt,” Shiro repeats, with a wince. “I’m not dead yet. Calm down.” 

Shiro was like that. He was frustratingly like that, able to stay calm somehow even in the worst situations. 

Matt still remembers that day in the arena, disgustingly crystal clear. He can still smell the sawdust and old blood and stale sweat, see the blinding arena lights, feel that raw terror, knowing he was going to die. I’m not going to make it. I’ll never see my family again. And he remember’s Shiro’s answer, his quick thinking in the face of certain death. You can do this. Take care of your father. 

Matt was stronger now than he had been back then. He’d seen combat, and he’d thought his way out of hopeless situations, survived against the impossible. He was braver and smarter and more self-sufficient than that naive young kid that went all the way to Kerberos for ice samples and the thought of meeting aliens. But he’d done it all because of that very real fear that still lived in his heart, that other people would have to die for him again because he was too weak to handle it, too scared, too useless, and he never wanted that to happen again. 

And yet here they are again, Shiro facing down death in Matt’s place and Matt panicking, and maybe he never really learned anything at all.

No, he tells himself. You’re better than that. You’ve gotten stronger. Nobody ever dies for you again. 

He takes a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth, and lets it carry away his useless panic with it. 

You can handle this. 

“You’re right,” Matt agrees. “And this time I’m going to make sure we keep you that way.”

Shiro smiles, although the expression is weak. “No argument there.”

Matt nods. His makeshift bandage looks awkward and uncomfortable, but at least it will hold long enough to get Shiro out of there. He stands, presses a finger to the rebel communicator in his ear tuned to the Voltron frequency, and opens communications. “This is Matt. Shiro’s hurt—we’re going to need an extraction, fast.”

“I can’t get to you,” Allura says, from outside. There’s a sharp grunt on her end, no doubt from an impact in the Blue Lion, and several distant blasts. “There are too many fighters. I can try to clear the area for an extraction, but there are too many on me at the moment.” 

“Same here,” Olia reports. “This warship is heavily defended. All our ships are engaged.” 

“We can get to you,” Pidge says. “If you can hang on for fifteen doboshes. Are you okay?” There’s no mistaking the worry in her tone, and Matt winces a little at that.

“I’m fine. Mostly. It’s just Shiro—”

“I’m okay,” Shiro interrupts.

“You don’t sound okay,” Lance argues immediately. “How bad are you hurt? We’re coming.” 

“Not bad enough that I can’t last fifteen doboshes,” Shiro says immediately. His voice is shaky still, and he can’t help but hiss mid-sentence in what’s obviously pain, but Matt can see how hard he fights to maintain as much normalcy as possible.

“Get there in ten, got it,” Hunk says. “On our way.” 

Shiro makes an exasperated noise in his throat, and then winces again, hand automatically coming up to press against the cloak-turned-bandage and the wound underneath. “Not like I...haven’t done this before,” he mutters, but his breath hitches painfully. “Why do they always get me in this spot?”

That sounds like a story, but for later. Matt frankly couldn’t care less right now. “Are you okay?”

“I can hang on,” Shiro says, although he finally makes a concession to his injury by tipping his head back against the computer banks, and resting wearily. 

From the door comes the first metallic bang of a sentry fist on the other side. It’s so loud even the still-blaring alarms seem quiet by comparison. 

Matt and Shiro both watch the door with growing expressions of alarm. “Can they get through?” Shiro asks slowly, after a heavy moment of silence.

Another bang from outside. “Not easily,” Matt says. “I messed with the entry codes. But that won’t stop them from physically breaking through.” 

Shiro winces. “Any other way out of here?” he asks, rolling his head tiredly to one side.

Matt glances around, but he doesn’t see any other doors. On the one hand, that’s good; it means no surprise attacks from anywhere else in the room. On the other hand, it means they’re trapped in a box, waiting for the enemy to come through the door after them, guns blazing. 

“No,” Matt says, after a moment. Then, “Hang on...” 

There’s a vent up by the ceiling. One of the large ones, probably leading to an interior maintenance route. It would be ideal for Pidge to squirrel through, but Matt could probably squeeze into it in a pinch if he had to. He’s always been skinny and small for his age, and not even a decafeeb of training alongside the rebels has done much to change that. 

But Shiro would never make it. Even if he was fully healthy, he probably couldn’t; Shiro had way too much bulk and weight, between his metal arm, paladin armor, and an unfairly huge muscles, to ever squeeze his way into that. Wounded as he is, he’d never get up there at all. 

Shiro follows his gaze, and his brows furrow. He must be coming to the same conclusions as Matt, but he doesn’t say anything about it for now. Instead, he takes a shuddering, heavy breath, and then groans, “Can you...get the data?”

The data. The mission. The reason they’re in this trap to begin with. Matt glances at the computer banks, wincing slightly at another loud, heavy bang on the other side. “Probably.”

“Do it,” Shiro orders. “If we’re stuck here, we may as well get what we came for.” 

Matt can’t really argue with that. There’s nothing to fortify with, and no way to prepare for the inevitable attack. If the doors hold long enough, though, his sister and the other paladins might get here in time, and they’ll need to make a fast exit. Shiro’s life is on the line, but so are millions of others. 

“Right,” he says, and gets to work.

He doesn’t have Shiro’s paladin gauntlet computer to work with anymore. Shiro is a little too busy cupping his wound with both hands, and Matt’s not sure if he can stand on his own for long enough to play computer for the hack. But Matt still has his little minicomputer, and he plugs it in quickly.

It takes him only five doboshes to break in and sweep the data into storage on his computer. Pidge could have managed in one and a half, with paladin tech, but five is still nothing to shake a stick at for cracking high-tech Galra software on lockdown. Especially with that anxiety-inducing alarm still blaring loudly through the whole place. When he has everything he needs, he leaves behind a few nasty surprises—viruses that will wipe out the data and everything else. The facilities will still have the blueprints, but at least this fleet won’t have access to them anymore.

“How you holding up, Shiro?” Matt asks, as he unplugs his computer and glances at the door. The bangs on the other side are getting progressively louder, and the door is starting to look a little dented. Not good.

Shiro is also not good. Five doboshes hasn’t done him any favors. His forehead is covered in a thin sheen of sweat now, and his breathing has started getting more labored. His legs are now flopped out in front of him, like he can’t hold them up. Frankly, Matt thinks the only thing holding the rest of Shiro up is the computer console he’s propped against.

“Never better,” Shiro answers immediately. His voice is a little slurred, now, like his tongue is a little too big for his mouth. 

Another bang sounds, but this time it’s followed by the unmistakable click-hiss-roar of a torch. The outline of the door starts to glow red as the sentries on the other side take the direct approach, and start cutting their way through.

They are out of time...and still with at least ten doboshes before help is supposed to get there. Five, if Team Weapon rushes, like Hunk had maybe-not-so-jokingly implied. 

Matt swallows. How many sentries are out there now? Can he take them all? Shiro’s in no condition to fight; he can’t even sit up under his own power. Can he stall, somehow? 

But there’s nothing to block the door with. No explosives or ranged weaponry or even smoke bombs he can use to help. They’re cornered in a box with no way out and no time left.

“Matt...take the data and run.”

Matt whips around to stare at Shiro. “What? No!”

“Millions of lives ride on that data,” Shiro gasps softly. “It’s not worth one. Go out the vent...you can meet up with Pidge and the others…”

“No,” Matt says, and that raw anguish-terror-anger is back. “No. I’m not gonna abandon you to die. Never again.”

“Again?” Shiro slurs. “You didn’t last time, Matt. I made that call. I’m making it now too. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay!” Matt snaps. “It’s not—I promised myself nobody was ever going to die for me again, not because I couldn’t handle it. I’m not leaving.”

“I gave you an order—”

“You’re not my superior officer anymore,” Matt cuts him off. “You’re a paladin of Voltron, and I’m a rebel agent. This is a rebel mission. My call. And I’m not leaving you helpless to die or be captured again. No.” 

Shiro looks shocked, even despite his growing weakness. Maybe it is surprising. Even after Matt had been reunited with Pidge and Shiro, and met the paladins, he’d always treated Shiro with the deference due a superior officer. He’d never been the aggressive sort before, never been the kind to deliberately disobey orders so blatantly. He’d cowered next to Shiro when the Galra took them last time and knew he was already going to die before he ever went to the arena. He never fought back. 

There’s a little willingness to bend the rules for what’s right in him now, though. After all, he is a rebel. Rebelliousness is literally in the name.

He glances at the door. They’re halfway through now; he only has a few ticks left to spare. He has to move fast. So he slides his hands under Shiro’s arms and hauls him to the far corner, hopefully as far out of the way as possible from stray gunfire, and partially shielded behind the corner of the computer banks. 

Shiro frowns, and does his best to haul himself to his feet to help or protest or something. Whatever he’d had in mind, Matt’s not sure, because he gasps in agony and digs his fingers into the makeshift cloak-bandages over his wound, and immediately sinks. “Matt,” he finally chokes out, when he’s able to breathe again, “don’t do this—”

Matt settles him into the corner, as upright and as shielded as possible. “Hang tight,” he says, ignoring Shiro’s gasping attempt at an order. “We’re both going to make it. We’re both going to see our families again. They’re coming right now.”

“Matt—” Shiro coughs. It’s a disturbingly wet sound, which might mean there’s internal bleeding at work. He needs to get out of here. “You need to run.” 

“No,” Matt says, as he draws his collapsible staff from the holster on his leg. “This time, I’m going to be the one to protect you.”

And he takes his place to the side of the door, staff at the ready, watching the gleaming red lines on the outside of the door grow steadily longer.

It’s almost funny. He should be terrified. He remembers so intimately what it was like to face down certain death. And yet, although his heart thuds in his chest and his palms sweat beneath his gloves and his bad leg protests angrily, he’s focused. He’s ready for what comes, and he’s fueled by knowing he’s doing the right thing.

He wonders if this is how Shiro felt, right before he’d charged the sentry, cut Matt out of the gladiator matches, and faced down Myzax. If it was, Matt can understand a little better just how Shiro had managed to do any of that, despite facing down certain death of his own.

The sentries on the other side finish cutting through the door, and a shrieking, scraping noise assaults Matt’s ears as the now useless hunk of metal is shoved out of alignment and smashes inward to the ground. The first of the sentries steps through, gun raised.

And Matt, out of sight to the side of the door, brings one of the weighted ends of his staff swinging down at the vulnerable point at its neck.

That was the thing about building any kind of robot in the image of a humanoid: they might be more durable, made of metal, but they still had mostly the same external weak points. Joints were fair game. So were the thinner points where the frame of the robotic skull attached so it could pivot. A weighted metal staff would do a lot of damage to even a robot, applied correctly.

This robot is no exception. The skull caves alarmingly, metal screeching and tearing, before the whole thing snaps clean off. The metal head pings to the ground and rolls off with a clatter farther into the computer room, and the rest of the body starts to sag, rifle dropping from its metal fingers.

Matt doesn’t let it hit the ground. He spins the staff, catches the broken sentry at its slim waist, and uses the miracle of leverage to hurl the thing right back out into its companions.

The resulting mess is pure chaos. Metal clatters violently as the sentries thud into each other. Stray gunfire peppers the walls inside the computer room, sending sparks flying over the console, and out in the hallway as the robots fire reflexively. Two of the sentries are knocked completely over, and a third—a third, the one that must have brought the torch to cut into the room—steps back, ducking away from its weaponized companion but off balance in its haste.

Matt hurtles through the broken doorway with an angry yell into the chaos.

The upright sentry is the first to have to go. It tries to regain its footing while raising its rifle, firing its first shot at Matt. Matt ducks low, twirls the staff in his hands, and spins it out at the sentry’s ankles. His bad leg protests painfully at the sudden drop and brace, but the trick works; there’s enough force and weight in the blow for him to sweep the sentry off its feet. 

The gun goes clattering out of its hands, and Matt presses the attack, whirling the staff into an upright position and stabbing the weighted end down on the sentry’s head like a spear. The casing shatters, and the sentry twitches once or twice before falling still.

Two down. Two to go.

The two sentries left manage to shove the broken one off of themselves. One tries to rise to its feet, while the second decides to try and shoot Matt from the ground instead, providing cover for its remaining operating companion. 

Not good. He needs to control the fight better; he’s not sure he can handle a two-on-one fight for long, with the two actually cooperating. He swipes with his staff, but the narrow hallway doesn’t give him too much room to operate with such a long weapon, and he’s not close enough to connect.

Cause more chaos. Disrupt the ordered programming the AI is coded to use by doing the unexpected. Sentries are highly efficient machines, with a shockingly impressive artificial intelligence that Matt would have been foaming at the mouth to study just a few years ago on Earth. But they are still machines, and their reactions are limited. 

So he uses his staff like a pole vault, and hurtles himself at the rising sentry.

He connects with his heels as he cannons into the robot, and his old wound screams in agony. He hits the ground hard, rolling, and for a moment he’s actually scared he won’t be getting to his feet again. But he manages, somehow, and staggers to his feet, staff at the ready. 

The sentry he’d hit isn’t so lucky. Matt’s vaulted kick had hit it squarely in the chest, and sent its weapon clattering out of reach down the hallway, while it had collapsed a second time. It’s already pushing itself to its feet, reaching for Matt with one hand full of gleaming claws. But Matt bats the hand aside with his whirling staff, and brings the other end crashing down on the robot’s head. It smashes back down to the floor in a mess of parts and goes still. 

Three down.

Matt’s panting hard, now, and his leg protests angrily. His knee trembles, and he knows he won’t be standing much longer if he doesn’t finish this.

The final sentry fires at him as it hauls itself to its feet.

Matt curses, and ducks aside, trying to get back to the gouged open doorway for cover. The blasts take a chunk out of his left arm and burn several holes in his clothes, and he gasps in pain, but he keeps running. Almost there, and then he can—

His left knee buckles beneath him.

Matt yelps as he goes down, crashing to the floor and slamming hard into one of the downed sentries. He scrambles to get to his feet, but his knee sends a shock of brilliant pain through him, and he collapses again. Damn it, not now! 

The sentry raises its rifle, taking aim. So Matt does the only thing left he can do—he throws his staff at it.

It misses, which isn’t surprising. Staves aren’t exactly easy to throw well, especially in a narrow hallway like this. But it does cause the sentry to be distracted, twisting to shoot at the projectile hastily. 

That gives Matt enough time to make a scrambling dive for one of the other discarded firearms, snatch it up, and shoot in the sentry’s direction.

Guns were never really his forte. He’d trained in them at the Garrison, of course, because it was required, but he’d never liked it as much as the science and engineering aspects. He’d trained in firearms with the rebels, too, when they’d taken him on, but he’d still never really liked them.

That doesn’t mean he’s useless with them. He can certainly hit a target that close, even with a heavy sentry rifle. He fires frantically, and the sentry jerks once, twice, three times as it’s hit point blank and collapses.

Matt pants, breaths harsh and ragged. He hurts in more places than one, and he’s gonna have bruises for days. His leg is screaming for relief. 

But he’d done it. He won. 

Nobody had to die for him.

His relief is short lived. He barely manages to force his leg to take his weight—just a little more, please just a little more—when several more shots ping off the walls near him. He glances up, and down the hall are half a dozen more sentries, stomping their way unrelentingly forward with their rifles at the ready.

Matt curses, staggers along the hallway to the fallen sentry and his staff, and manages to snatch it up as he hobble-runs for the computer room where Shiro is still stashed. He leans heavily on the staff like a walking stick, and keeps the stolen rifle in his other hand. He might be able to hold them off for a little while with the gun. Maybe. 

Shiro is still conscious when he ducks inside to temporary safety, but barely. His face has gone an ashen gray color, and his eyes are only half lidded. His hands are still pressed weakly to the makeshift bandages at his side, but Matt can see the brown fabric starting to stain a darker, wetter color.

They’re out of time, in more ways than one.

“Y’r hurt,” Shiro slurs, blinking blearily at the way Matt limps over to him.

“Not as bad as you,” Matt says. “Hang tight—there are more coming.” And I know I can’t fight them all off.

“Run,” Shiro orders tiredly.

“I told you already, I’m not doing that. If we can just hold…”

Shiro hums at that. Matt has a feeling he knows how truly screwed they are, though, and it’s not a comforting thought.

The clank of sentry feet gets closer, and every metallic thud is like a death knell, underscored by the screaming alarms. Matt is scared now, but if he leaves Shiro’s chances drop to nothing. He can’t do that. Shiro’s his best friend, and had risked everything to give him a chance to see his family again. He won’t leave now. He won’t leave ever. 

So although it literally, physically pains him, he takes up a position by the door again. His leg screams in protest, and he’s shaking from a mix of pain, fear and pure adrenaline. But he holds. 

The first sentry comes into view. It raises its firearm, aiming squarely at Matt. Matt prepares to charge, spinning his staff into a ready position.

The sentry goes down in a blaze of yellow energy that cannons into it from the other side of the hallway. And fainter, but growing louder by the second, Matt can hear the unmistakable, angry-panic yell of protest as Hunk lays down cover fire and demolishes the oncoming robots. 

“Shiro! Matt!” Lance hollers over the coms, and Matt is deliriously relieved to find he can hear it in real time, too. “Escort’s here!”

“Thank goodness,” Matt pants back, lowering his staff from a combat stance to lean on it heavily again like a walking stick. “I need your help to get Shiro out of here. He can’t walk.”

“Can,” Shiro murmurs sleepily. He makes a valiant effort to rise to his feet, or at least, Matt thinks that’s what he does. His legs barely twitch, but he still groans at the effort. 

“I’m guessing whatever that was didn’t work,” Lance yells. “Hunk, I’ll cover you if more show up—grab Shiro.”

“On it!”

“Where’s Pidge?” Matt asks, worried. “She’s okay?”

“I’m guarding the rear exit with the Green Lion,” Pidge says. “We’re in camo, and your ride out.”

“Just two hallways away,” Lance adds. A blue streak of flight flashes past the doorway as Lance snipes something on the other side. “Not far, once we get you guys.”

“Good,” Matt says, relieved. He’s not sure he could run very far. Or even walk. He’s never pushed himself quite this hard before. 

He doesn’t regret doing it for a second, though.

Hunk appears around the doorway, dispelling his bayard as he steps in on the collapsed door. He winces sympathetically at Matt, and then follows Matt’s gesture towards Shiro in the corner. “Oooh,” Hunk mutters. “Is that blood? I hate blood.”

“Sorry,” Shiro mumbles. By now, he’s barely coherent.

“Don’t worry about it,” Hunk says, as he heads over to Shiro. “If I throw up, I’ll try not to do it on you.”

“Thanks.” Shiro blinks dazedly. “I think.”

“You’re welcome.”

Hunk tries to sling Shiro’s arm over his shoulder at first to help him walk, but Shiro can’t stay on his feet. In the end, he hefts Shiro into a fireman’s carry slung across his shoulders, mindful of the wound in his side. Shiro groans in protest, but goes frighteningly limp after a few moments, and Matt realizes he’s finally passed out. Matt’s honestly impressed it took so long.

“You good?” Hunk asks, gesturing to Matt and his staff-turned-walking-stick with concern.

“I can keep up,” Matt promises. “Let’s go.”

By some miracle, they manage to make it to their exit point. Pidge had kept the Green Lion in camo, while using her bayard to slice a hole into the Galra ship’s hull. It makes an unpredictable exit, which means the sentries aren’t guarding it like they are all the bay doors. That’s his brilliant little sister, always thinking outside the box.

Getting Shiro through the hole is a process, and requires Hunk to hand him through to Lance and Pidge on the other side as carefully as possible. Matt getting through is less of a process, but no less painful, and by the time he’s in the Lion’s cabin his leg has decided on no uncertain terms that it is not working any more today, thank you very much. 

But they’ve escaped, so he can live with that. For now. 

“Mission accomplished,” he radios over the coms. “Everyone, let’s get out of here.”

They do.

———

It takes Shiro almost a full day to get out of the healing pods, and everyone is waiting to greet him when he does. 

Everyone knows the story by now—Matt hadn’t been shy about sharing it—and Shiro is treated to a number of lectures and exaggerated threats about what will happen next time he tries to almost get himself killed. Even Keith, still working with the Blade of Marmora, calls back to give Shiro hell, after learning what had happened through the Blade’s impressive information network. 

Shiro accepts the threats and lectures without too much complaint, at least. He knows exactly how much he’d scared everyone, and he damn well should. 

Eventually everyone gets tired of telling Shiro off, though, and Hunk announces he has dinner waiting. Most people who leave the pods are hungry—something about the accelerated healing requiring nutrients to compensate—and it’s habit by now to at least have a bowl of food goo ready to go.

“Sounds great,” Shiro says. “Can I get a sec with Matt, though?”

“Of course,” Allura says. “We’ll be in the dining hall when you are ready.”

Everyone files out, other than Matt, who waits patiently where he’s sitting on the steps. Shiro joins him, sitting down next to him. After a moment he asks, “How’re you doing?”

Matt shrugs. “I’m okay. I used one of the pods a little bit myself, but mostly to patch up a few laser grazes and bruises.” 

Shiro nods slowly, and then gestures to Matt’s left leg, stretched out in front of him down the steps. “And how’s your knee?”

“Better than it was yesterday,” Matt says truthfully. The pods didn’t really help with healing the old wound—it had been too long—but they did help relieve some of the inflammation and strain, which let him at least walk on it again without wanting to scream. 

Shiro’s got that look again, so Matt cuts him off quickly. “We already talked about this. No apologies. I’ll take living with a chronic injury over having died over a year ago.”

Shiro sighs. “Right. Of course.” 

They fall into a companionable silence for a little while. Matt likes talking with friends, but on the months-long journey to Kerberos there had been a lot of friendly silence too, and he’s just as comfortable with that around Shiro. There’s no real rush to go anywhere, and sitting is nice. 

But eventually Shiro asks, “What was that all about, back on the ship? Why didn’t you run?” A pause. “It’s not because of that life-debt you think you owe me, right? Because I told you, you don’t owe me anything.” 

Matt snorts. “Yeah, you were pretty clear on that. But that’s not why I stayed. I mean...not the only reason.” He stares at his feet. “I told you before, I just...I can’t let people die for me anymore. I have to be better than that. I can’t just watch that happen and stand by and do nothing anymore.”

“It was a bad situation, Matt. And you would have been protecting millions of lives. I would never have blamed you if you did run.”

“Well, I would have blamed me,” Matt says. “For the rest of my life, for being cowardly enough to abandon my friend to his death again.” 

“I already said that wasn’t your fault either, Matt,” Shiro says, a little helplessly.

Matt shakes his head. Sighs. “I wasn’t ready back then,” he says. “For all this. I wanted to meet aliens, but I figured they’d be the friendly sort, y’know? ‘We come in peace.’ I wasn’t ready and you and dad ended up paying the price.” He narrows his eyes. “I couldn’t have been ready then, but I can be ready now. And I’m not gonna be that person ever again.” 

“Matt,” Shiro says, frowning at him. “There was nothing wrong with that version of you either. None of us could have seen the Galra coming.”

“You still handled it,” Matt says, with a sad smile. “You stood up for me and dad. You took my place in a deathmatch.”  

“Maybe, but that’s just because we’re different people,” Shiro says with a shrug. “I didn’t know anything about ice samples back then. Still don’t, honestly. I just drove you there, you and Commander Holt were doing all the important science stuff.” 

“Somehow, I don’t think ice samples are going to make much of a difference now,” Matt says wryly. “Other things matter more.”

“Well, you made a difference today,” Shiro says. “So thanks for that. I really mean it—I’d be dead if you weren’t as stubborn as your sister about staying behind.” He grins.

Matt smirks. “Yeah...that runs in the family.”

“I know,” Shiro says. “Three sentries on your own in crowded conditions, huh?”

“Four,” Matt says. “It’s no Myzax, but even so…”

“Still impressive. Don’t ever discount yourself, Matt. You’re a lot stronger than you think.” Shiro smiles. “And don’t discount the old Matt, either. He had that Holt stubbornness, too. That’s how you got this far.” 

Matt blinks, but then smiles softly. “Yeah. Maybe.”

“No ‘maybe,’” Shiro says, as he heaves himself to his feet off the steps. “It’s absolutely true. Anyway, we should probably get going, before Hunk hunts us down and drags us to the dinner table. You ready?” He holds out a hand.

Matt takes it, and lets Shiro help him to his feet. His left leg takes his weight stiffly, but it holds, and that’s what matters.

“Yeah. Thanks, Shiro.”

#Velkynkarma writes #April Fools 2020 #Voltron #Shiro #Matt Holt #blood #injury #whump #Anonymous

[greenteafiend]

With the bingo thing...how about "I have your loved one" someone's taken Pidge and is taunting matt? Idk if that makes sense but I love your writing!!!!

Crosses are done, and I think just about everything has been requested now, thanks!! I’ve also started posting all these snippets on Ao3 which you can find here.

@badthingshappenbingo

Thanks for the request anon :)

When Lotor and the Paladins of Voltron were not seen for weeks, rumors flew that they had destroyed each other.

Matt never accepted it for one second. He knew his brilliant, brave, intelligent little sister was still out there, and he had complete confidence in her ability to return to him. The women in his family were notoriously stubborn. Matt’s mother was the strongest, most formidable person he knew, and Pidge was nothing if not their mother’s daughter. In contrast, Matt had definitely taken after their father in the temperament department. Where Pidge had inherited their mother’s fierceness, Matt had inherited their father’s mellow, easy-going, demeanor.

So it didn’t take him by surprise at all to see Pidge alive. What took him him completely off guard, like a sucker punch to the gut, was where he saw her.

Matt himself was in the high command center of the rebel forces, standing on Olia’s right side, staring at the open communication screen connected to Sendak’s flagship.

Sendak himself had hailed them, and demanded that they surrender their base on Olkari. Naturally, Olia had laughed in his face. Olkari was a good defensive position, there was no way Sendak’s forces could take it from them.

“Bring out our little Paladin,” said Sendak, a cruel smile twisting his harsh features into something grotesque.

Two Galra dragged out a tiny figure with a familiar mop of light brown hair. Matt’s breath caught in his chest as everything inside him screeched to a halt. His blood roared in his ears as every fiber of his being rejected what he was seeing. That couldn’t be his little sister, so far beyond his reach and in so much danger.

And then the figure looked up.

“M-Matt?” Unmistakably, heartbreakingly, Pidge, saying his name. She sounded young and scared, and there was blood on her face, trickling down one side of her face.

She stared at him with a slightly dazed look on her face, looking for all the world like the only thing keeping her from floating away, and off into space, was the bruising grip of the Galra by her sides.

It forcibly reminded Matt of a time when they were small children and she’d fallen out of their treehouse, hitting her head hard enough for a nasty concussion. Her eyes had been unfocused, her expression slightly confused, brow furrowed like understanding what was going on was hard, just like she was now. Matt had cried like a baby even though he was older, and not the one who got hurt.

The pain of watching her be hurt was worse than anything he could experience for himself, and in that moment, he felt equally as distraught and powerless as he had at eleven.

“Look after your sister for me, okay Matt?” those were his father’s parting words to him before he left. How would Matt ever be able to face either of his parents again if something happened to her?

Matt didn’t realize that he’d broken formation, that he’d started to march forward like he could leap right through the holoscreen and snatch Pidge, haul her back to safety and crush her to his chest where he could keep her safe, until Ryner and Nyma grabbed him, holding him back.

Sendak’s gaze alighted on him with interest, and Matt’s hands clenched into fists so tightly that his short blunt nails were in danger of making his palms bleed.

“Let her go,” he snarled, sounding nothing at all like himself.

Sendak laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant sound, it set Matt’s nerves on edge.

“Who is that boy to you, little paladin?”

There was still some defiance left in her because Pidge didn’t reply, she just glared at Sendak hatefully.

Sendak nodded at the guards, and one of them backhanded her hard enough that the only thing that stopped her from being thrown across the room was the grip of the other.

“He asked you a question,” snapped the guard.

“M-my sister! I’m her brother, she’s my sist–” blurted Matt, desperate to stop them hurting her, before getting cut off by someone clamping a hand over his mouth.

“Interesting…” remarked Sendak.

“I’m willing to spare her life in exchange for your surrender,” he continued.

Matt looked to Olia, who stared back at him sorrowfully.

No!

He tried to yell, but he could only make muffled sounds of protest against the hand covering his mouth, struggling in vain against all the arms holding him back.  

“We will not surrender the base,” said Olia firmly, turning away from Matt to face Sendak once more.

“That is a shame,” said Sendak, motioning to his guards once more. This time they hit Pidge in the gut, hard enough that she doubled over and fell to her knees.    

Tears gathered in Matt’s eyes, and he struggled even harder.

Sendak walked over and fisted a hand in the back of Pidge’s head, forcing her to look up at them.

“Look at him, little Paladin,” he said. Pidge’s eyes found Matt’s. There was a clam acceptance in her gaze that turned Matt’s blood into ice.

“Say his name for me,” Sendak ordered.

She pressed her lips together, remaining stubbornly silent.

Sendak yanked her head back even harder, making tears squeeze out at the corners of her eyes with how hard he was pulled her hair.

“Say. His. Name.”

Suddenly, one of the guards holding Pidge crumpled to the ground.

Sendak abruptly let go of Pidge in order to bring up his hulking fake arm in time to avoid having his face split open by a sword, shifting backwards out of their plane of view.

Lance. Matt recognized him. He didn’t recognize the gleaming broadsword he was wielding, however.

Keith came into view next, dispatching the other guard with ease. Before their eyes, Lance’s sword transformed into the gun Matt was familiar with, and he shot at something out of their view.

Then Hunk bound into view, dematerializing his bayard so he could scoop Pidge into his arms.

“I got her, c’mon, let’s go!” he yelled, and as quickly as they had appeared, Keith, Lance, and Hunk disappeared with Pidge. A split second later the connection between them was cut and the holoscreen went blank.

“Matt?” said Olia quietly, breaking the stunned silence that had descended over the room.

Matt shook off the arms of the people holding onto him, and this time they let him go.

“Excuse me,” he muttered roughly, striding from the room.

No one tried to stop him, wisely giving him space.

When the Lions of Voltron showed up a few days later on Olkari, Matt hugged Pidge so hard and for so long that she laughed at him and wriggled out of his grasp when it became clear that he wasn’t going to let go until she pulled away.

He hugged Lance, Hunk, and Keith too for good measure. Lance accepted his hug with good humor, Hunk accepted his with warmth and enthusiasm, while poor Keith froze, as stiff as a statue at the attention, awkwardly patting Matt on the back like he wasn’t sure what to do with his arms.

“Thank you so much,” he told them, quiet and sincere while Pidge was distracted greeting beezer.

“She’s like a sister to us too, man,” said Hunk simply.

Not for the first time, Matt was glad at the company Pidge had found herself up here with. They were lucky to have her, she was lucky to have them, and Matt was lucky they had each other.

#bag things happen bingo #vld #voltron #I have your loved one #answered ask #my writing #vldgen #matt holt #pidge #whump

[whumperstorm]

Anon asked for Keith getting stabbed and honestly? So did I.

This is a redraw of an AU that I’ve never gone anywhere with, feat. Brainwashed! Matt Holt. Enjoy!

#happy holidays btw #and blessed yule :) #keith whump #stabbing #whump #Voltron whump #blood #violence #my art #keith voltron #vld #voltron legendary defender #voltron #vld whump #matt holt #matt whump #matt voltron #whump prompt #I spent way too long on this but im so proud of it too #mayhaps this'll convince me to make this AU into something

[icypantherwrites]

Fic Roundup: October 30 - November 19

A compilation of all of my most recently updated fanfictions. Enjoy ♥

Worth(less), Chapter One

Summary: On their journey to Earth, Voltron makes a stop at a planet for supplies and are pleasantly surprised to find that its inhabitants are not only incredibly generous but incredibly powerful and they would make strong allies for their upcoming fight against Sendak. In order to secure the alliance, the king assigns a member of his high council to observe each Paladin and judge their worth of character.

Lance is delighted to find out his evaluator is the king’s own son, Prince Barin, who is a formidable fighter, pilot, and obviously someone of high importance and he’s determined to prove himself worthy and make Voltron proud, especially following the horrible game show experience with Bob.

Except the prince isn’t interested in evaluating Lance’s worth as a Paladin. His only interest is in Lance’s body and what it can offer him. And for the sake of the alliance, for the sake of the universe… Lance knows what his answer has to be.

Missing, Chapter One

Summary: Lance isn’t sure he’s ever felt this tired before. It’s not just from the lack of sleep (even though he’s getting plenty of it every night). It’s not just because of the near endless list of chores he does because everyone else has far more important things to do and he should try to pull his weight where he can. And it’s not entirely from the heavy disappointment that seems to emanate from Shiro every time he looks at Lance and has to be reminded of how much Lance doesn’t measure up to Keith when he was the Red Paladin while he struggles to be a Paladin worthy of the title. But all of those things together (although is he missing one? He’s so tired, it’s hard to focus)? They’re heavy and exhausting and Lance is so tired.

So, so tired.

Not a Joking Matter, Chapter Six

Summary: [Sequel to A Mind of His Own] Matt’s plans to hang out with Katie at the Castle of the Lions is interrupted by an urgent, but quick, Rebel mission. The mission, to Matt’s relief, goes exactly as planned.

But the being abducted and strapped down on a table for medical experimentation part? Not so much.

The Deadliest of Sins, Chapter Six

Summary: (Police/Detective AU) There’s a serial killer haunting the streets of Garrison City. Detective Lance Esposito is assigned the case, trying to solve the killer’s motive and identity before another victim shows up in a week. He can tell there’s something very personal to the killer about these crime scenes and kills. But even Lance had no idea how personal this case is about to become.

Found, Chapter Eight

Summary: Lance is alive. He’s been alive this whole time as not just a prisoner of the Galra Empire… but as their assassin. Shiro’s head aches with his own press of memories as to what Lance must have suffered, how he’d been tortured, to become a cold-blooded killer that goes against every value Lance held dear. But while there’s nothing they can do to change the past they have a way to change the future and now it’s time to find Lance and bring him home.

—

Sniper is confused. He shouldn’t know those people, he doesn’t know those people and yet… yet there’s a whisper of familiarity that makes his chest ache and his hand pause on the trigger. But Mistress’ whispers are even louder and his screams as she forces him to forget them and replace them with only the faces and feelings of enemies are the loudest of them all.

Sword and Shield, Chapter Seven [FINAL]

Summary: The Blade mission is dangerous but Keith is confident that between himself and Lance, who along with the Red Lion is integral to the success of it, they’ll be fine. However, as the mission progresses Keith is finding it harder and harder to ignore the fact that Lance keeps making himself a human shield and sacrificing his own safety for Keith’s and it's reminding him far too much of his own decision on Naxzela and what he almost did to keep the others safe.

But now that horrific pattern of self-sacrifice has come to a head as Lance is injured protecting Keith. And it's not just a terrible wound: Lance is poisoned and slowly, painfully dying before Keith's eyes. Unlike Naxzela where he could at least do something (even if it would have cost him everything) there's nothing he can do to save Lance. Except... this time Keith isn't alone. And help is coming.. if he can keep Lance alive that long.

xxx

Some stories/updates are also on my AO3 at the time of this posting. All links in fic roundups and updates on Tumblr default to Patreon as that is where all of my works are now originally published. If you'd like to join my Patreon check it out here. $5 and $10 tiers grant early release access to all of my currently publishing works :)

#voltron #vld #fanfiction #fanfic #whump #angst #hurt/comfort #langst #icypanther #icypantherwrites #fanfiction rec #fic rec #fic rec list #lance vld #keith kogane #keith vld #matt holt #shiro

[camachameleon]

Cam’s Voltron Fic Rec 6/∞

VLD Rec Lists:  [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Here’s a Fic Masterlist for my other fandoms. ( ** =  favorites )

  lacerate by againstmygreeleaf

Word count:  26,012 (6/6)

Summary: A collection of one-shots for Voltron Whump Week!

1: Fever- Wherein Hunk's nausea is not caused by his anxiety.

2: Hypothermia- Wherein Keith gets a taste of the Blue Lion's element.

3: Near Death and/or Blood Loss- Wherein Pidge and Hunk find themselves in a tight spot.

4: Torture- Wherein Allura is set up and pays the price.

5: Insomnia and/or Mental Illness- Prompt modified to be Mental Torment, essentially. Wherein Shiro perceives a series of particularly unfortunate events and much more.

6: Poison- Wherein it's Pidge vs Nature.

Comments:  Whump for everyone! Some of it is pretty graphic so watch out.

  i fall, i fall, i falter by theshoutingslytherin

Word count:  5,265 (1/3)

Summary:  Lance’s hand pressed more firmly. “Seriously, dude. You’ll be fine, I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you.”

Keith’s breath caught.

It was that look again. Lance’s eyes held the type of promise only seen in B-rated romance movies— and yet it didn’t look cheesy on him. If anything, Lance looked intense— like he was so focused on Keith that he wouldn’t even notice if the world burned down around them.

Comments:  Pining Klance, featuring Keith as the Damsel in Distress. These two are both so bullheaded and it frustrates me so much.

  In Love out Loud by evaunito

Word count:  1,293 (1/1)

Summary:  The gang overhears something said a little too loudly (read: enthusiastically). | Written for Sheith Quote Week Day 1: Shiro loves you baby.

Comments:  This is so fluffy and adorable and I love it so much. Sheith obv.

  **Capsaicin by phoenixyfriend

Word count:  6,237 (1/1)

Summary:  Lance was captured by the Galra. He was more useful alive than dead, but was notorious for being difficult to interrogate, so the Galra turned to poison.

It was... less than successful.

Comments:  This is probably the funniest fic I have ever read in my life. And luckily for us, it is Part 1 in the series Altea May Have Been Space Australia, But Humans are the Weird Ones, so there’s even more! This one is also a good Hunk & Lance friendship fic.

  bench press me by eggboi

Word count:  1,683 (1/1)

Summary:  “The hell are you doing?” Keith grumbles out, body mid-push up. There’s a snicker behind him, too close to his ears, though Keith can’t really understand what would be so amusing about this. Then again, he’s not really sure why Lance is lying on him while he’s doing push ups either. Other than to be, of course, annoying.

“Nothing.” Lance finally says. Keith hears the grin in his voice, which only proves to irritate him a little more. ‘Nothing’ his ass. “Continue with what you’re doing, Mr. ‘I’m-Too-Good-For-Socialization’.”

(Lance, as always, tries to annoy Keith by making his exercise harder. It doesn’t work. At all.)

Comments:  Adorable and goofy Klance.

  **Maybe If the Stars Align by cozypancakes

Word count:  8,223 (2/2)

Summary:  The date and location of when you'll meet your soulmate appears on your body on January 1st of the year it will happen. When Keith's appears, he knows the universe hates him. Keith doesn't believe it will be possible to find his soulmate in a crowd of thousands. But no worries, his friends have a plan. And it is definitely illegal.

Inspired by Tumblr user unblockingwritersblock's writing prompt: "My time says 11:59, New Year's Eve, Times Square. Fuck."

Comments:  Sheith Soulmates AU. Pidge and Hunk are so good to Keith, real friends break laws to help you find your soulmate!

  same cosmic dust by theGALRAempire

Word count:  16,336 (4/?)

Summary:  “...He should not exist.”

“No, he should not. But he does.”

When Kolivan meets the gaze of Keith again, the stars are reflected brilliantly in the glossy orbs as he stares forward in curious wonder. He looks away.

He should not be alive. But he is.

Or: The Dads of Marmora don't know how to raise a kid---a human one, no less, but they make the best with what they have.

He has always been destined for great things.

Comments:  BOM raised Keith, featuring the Thulaz dads. Lots of Galra OCs and I love them all bc basically the whole base takes part in helping raise/babysit Keith, its great. Part 1 of the dads of marmora series.

  VLD Rec Lists:  [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Here’s a Fic Masterlist for my other fandoms.

#Voltron Fic Recs #klance fic #sheith fic #soulmate au #galra keith #whump #sickfic #fic rec masterlist #voltron gen fic #Cam's fic rec #paladins #keith kogane #lance mcclain #takashi shirogane #pidge gunderson #katie holt #matt holt #allura #coran #sam holt #VLD #mine #vfr #5+1 things #fanfiction #in your orbit #oneshot #slowburn #castle of lions

[ao3feedsheith]

About the Wolf and the Lion

About the Wolf and the Lion https://archiveofourown.org/works/48020500 by La_____Luna Two days before the launch of Kerberos Mission, a Galra spaceship lands on Earth and takes Keith away from his shack in the desert, the Garrison, his friends, and... and Shiro. Robbed of everything he had and knew, prisoner on an alien ship filled with ruthless creatures, Keith is faced with absolute loneliness and a choice: surrender to it or rise up and fight, both for the good of the universe and of those he left behind. Or The story where purple aliens take Keith far away from Shiro's reach, almost taking his life in the process, and he finds in the desert a robotic blue lion that may be his only hope of finding him and bringing him back. Words: 7122, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: M/M, Multi Characters: Keith (Voltron), Shiro (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Allura (Voltron), Coran (Voltron), Kolivan (Voltron), Thace (Voltron), Antok (Voltron), Original Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Adam (Voltron), Matt Holt Relationships: Keith & Shiro (Voltron), Adam/Shiro (Voltron), Keith/Shiro (Voltron), Keith & The Blade of Marmora, Shiro & Voltron Paladins Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Kerberos Mission, Kidnapping, Alien Abduction? I guess?, Keith (Voltron) Whump, Quintessence-Sensitive Keith (Voltron), Torture, Canon-Typical Violence, and more - Freeform, Captive keith, Keith (Voltron) has PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Heavy Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Team as Family, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, I mean really really worse, But everything is gonna be fine I promise, Also Adam/Shiro won't last trust me, Eventual Feelings Realization, For both of them because they're dumb(TM), Shiro Saves Keith (Voltron), Eventual Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Slow Build via AO3 works tagged 'Keith/Shiro (Voltron)' https://archiveofourown.org June 20, 2023 at 04:19PM

#IFTTT #sheith

[this-iswhywefight]

That martek pov was amazing!! How about b3 (maybe shiro can give Matt his coat or something 👀👀) if youre up to it?

B3: Shivering long after everyone else has stopped. (This might turn into fluff real easily so…. bear with me for that)

There are a lot of things about life in space that Matt just kind of accepts at face value these days. Things like how Martek and Pidge becoming friends was inevitable, and how much time they spend keeping up a steady correspondence, even starting projects together. How Shiro is always going to blush when Leilani takes his face in their hands and peppers kisses to his cheeks no matter how many times they do it, and how no matter what he does, or what he tries to do to prevent it, if Matt gets cold, it lingers with him for fucking days. It’s something he first noticed in prison, especially after his dad was taken. Cold nights seeped into his bones and left behind a chill that he couldn’t quite shake. Matt never thought much of it. He was miserable there, crippled and injured and lonely. The cold seemed immaterial, he even thought it might’ve been psychosomatic at one point, the cold more of a representation of his isoaltion before the rebellion. But it didn’t stop after the rebellion, or when he joined the Coalition. Any cold he felt then was from actual temperature, but it lingered all the same. It took a long time for Matt to realize what it was, but after he pieced things together, he couldn’t have felt more stupid. 

His legs. Of course it was his legs. 

Matt studied biochemistry, and a big part of that was biology, so the fact that he didn’t think once that his metal legs might contribute to how easily he got cold and how long he stayed cold is a little embarrassing. So much of a human’s temperature is affected by their feet, and the blood vessels that run through their legs, and here he is, walking around with high tech tin cans that hold on to the cold and let it seep into his body from where they’re fused to him. 

Like he needed another reason to hate the damn Witch. It was easy to try and manage it once he figured it all out. Just a few little adjustments in his life, like getting a secondary heater and extra blankets for his quarters, and keeping the Hub a little warmer than standard base temperature later on in the day.

But there are things that are outside his control. Like the freezing rain storm that poured down on them all moments after landing for a meeting of allies on some planet in the Deltora Nine system.

Matt shifts in his chair, fighting to keep his face impassive, jaw clenched tight to stop his teeth from chattering. It’s been hours since they all retreated inside and got dried off and changed. Everyone else is clearly comfortable, having warmed up pretty quickly, but Matt still feels like he’s standing out in the rain. Martek keeps shooting him these little looks of concern, no matter how many times Matt waves him off. He’s subtle enough with it that it’s even slipping Zarra’s notice for the moment, which is good. She has enough on her plate dealing with Ambassador Filea’s persistent flirtations for her to worry about Matt right now. Under the table he rubs at his legs, right at the seam where metal meets skin. It’s icy to the touch, the skin sensitive and almost sore. Just a few more hours, he thinks to himself. It’ll be over soon and then he can just head to bed early with—

A hand covers one of his own. It’s big and warm and familiar, and the fingers that curl around and slot between his are rough and callused in all the best ways. Matt smiles in spite of himself. Shiro. “You okay?” Shiro murmurs, leaning over in his chair to press closer to Matt while Allura starts to speak to the Deltoran delegation at large. Even through his clothes Matt can feel the warmth Shiro radiates, and he can’t quite suppress the slight shiver that trips down his spine. “I’m good.” Matt flips his hand over so he can properly take Shiro’s hand. “You’ve been kind of quiet.” Shiro’s thumb traces over the back of Matt’s hand. “And I know how much you dislike Filea.”“I’m not allowed to tell him off after the last time I threatened him, so what’s the point?” Matt mutters, shooting a quick and dirty glare to the sleazy Ambassador. Shiro laughs softly. “I can see where you’re coming from. I’m not much a fan of him either. But he is an ally so…” Shiro shrugs a shoulder and squeezes Matt’s hand. “Don’t remind me,” Matt murmurs, shaking his head, just as another wave chilly iciness shakes its way through his body. He can’t quell the shiver, violent enough that it’s physical this time, and any hope he has about it going unnoticed goes out the windows when Shiro’s eyes spark with concern. “Matt?”“I’m fine.” Matt grits his teeth, not out of annoyance, but an effort to stop them from chattering. “Are you… are you still cold?” Shiro glances away for a moment, to the talking heads all around the table. They’re engaged enough for the moment, so no one has noticed the two of them and their little sidebar just yet. Doesn’t mean they won’t. “I’m fine,” Matt insists. “Seriously Shiro I–”“You’re not.” Shiro frowns. “Matt…”Matt wants to close his eyes and just go to sleep, buried under about a million miles of blankets and just try to warm up, even a little bit. His free hand rubs at the seam of his pants again, where fabric and metal overlap, where skin and metal join. A soft breath rushes out of Shiro all at once.“It happens to you too?” He breathes, almost too soft to be heard, and Matt can’t help the way his eyes snap to his lover’s face.“What?”“I…” Shiro falters for a moment, glancing around the table again before leaning closer to Matt, hand tightening again. “The prosthesis. Yours get cold, don’t they? And they take awhile to warm back up.”Matt would gape if they were alone. “How did you–”All Shiro has to do is give a little wave of the fingers of his free hand, his right hand. His prosthetic hand. Oh.Oh!

Shiro smiles and rests his hand over their clasped ones. “It always take me a little longer to really feel warm again,” he murmurs. “Hunk took a look and said it’s because it’s fused with me, not just hooked in to a port or something. After an hour or two I warm up and then it’s not a problem anymore, but it happens more than I’d like to admit.”“Yeah,” Matt breathes. “I… yeah. It takes a while…”“It’s been a few hours now,” Shiro notes quietly. “It stopped bothering me right before the meeting started. But you’re still cold…” His frown deepens at Matt’s nod, and after a moment longer he’s letting go of Matt’s hand.“Shiro?” Matt blinks at him. “Hold on.” Shiro shifts in his chair, undoing the buttons on the dark jacket of his diplomatic ensemble, and shrugs it off. “Here, put this on.”Matt’s heart just melts in his chest. He feels like a silly teenager again, with his boyfriend handing over his letterman jacket. Hell, he feels like he did the first time Shiro gave him a hoodie back when they first started dating. You trying to claim me, Shirogane? he’d teased, grinning up at Shiro and immediately putting the hoodie on. It was about two sizes too big for Matt, the sleeves falling over his hands like and flopping around like they were unoccupied. Shiro had just shrugged and smiled. Maybe. I like the way you look in my clothes… He’d blushed something fierce, bright red all the way to the tips of his ears. Matt kissed him silly and never gave the hoodie back.This isn’t that. That was sweet and silly and drenched in the newness of a relationship being shaped from a friendship. This is a much different Shiro, older and tired and worn, trying to take care of him. It’s something so small, so inconsequential to all that’s on their plate and all that’s waiting just around the corner for them both, because war never stops and they’ve become key players on the board, and yet it means so much. 

Matt takes the jacket. “Thanks,” he murmurs, fingers curling in the stupidly soft fabric. He slips it on and immediately sighs when he’s wrapped up in warmth that’s definitely more Shiro than just the fabric alone. There’s the faintest scent in his nose now, sharp and spicy. It’s one of Matt’s favorite smells, one he wishes he woke up to more often. “It smells like you.”“I hope that’s a good thing,” Shiro chuckles, taking Matt’s hand again, tucked out of sight of the table. “Definitely a good thing.” Matt squeezes Shiro’s hand, raising it so he can press a kiss to his boyfriend’s knuckles. It’s the closest he can get to kissing him for the moment, and it’s no where near enough, but it will have to do. The jacket is warm around him, Shiro’s hand warmer still. He’s still cold, the chills sunk deep in his veins for the moment still, but a fire burns in his chest for his love, one stoked by the spread of Shiro’s smile and the warmth in his eyes. “The best thing.”

#Anonymous #holt #shiro #shatt #matt holt #whump #fluff #definitely more fluff

[vldkatt]

Lazerus: Breaking

by Ryanthementallyunstable

Keith hits the shield, Haggar picks him up, and he gets a Bucky Barnes Arc. Or:

How Many Marvel References Can Ryan Make?

Words: 1668, Chapters: 3/?, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of Tired and Angry Edgelord With Issues (Keith Kogane.)

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: Multi

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Haggar (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron), Kuron (Voltron), The Blade of Marmora, Thace (Voltron), Antok (Voltron), Ulaz (Voltron), Original Galran Character(s), Matt Holt, Pidge | Katie Holt, Shiro (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Coran (Voltron)

Relationships: Haggar & Keith (Voltron), Keith & Lotor (Voltron), Keith & Kuron (Voltron), Keith & The Blade of Marmora, Keith & Kolivan (Voltron), Keith & Thace (Voltron), Acxa & Keith & Regris (Voltron), Keith & Voltron Paladins, Matt Holt & Keith & Pidge | Katie Holt & Shiro, Hunk/Pidge | Katie Holt, Matt Holt/Keith

Additional Tags: Body Horror, Implied/Referenced Torture, Torture, Blood and Gore, Mind Control, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Whump, Keith (Voltron) Whump, Galra Keith (Voltron), Dads of Marmora (Voltron), Blade of Marmora Keith (Voltron), Keith (Voltron) has PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kuron is Shiro (Voltron)'s Clone, Shiro (Voltron) Has a Clone, Operation Kuron (Voltron), Naxzela (Voltron), I Whumped Keith A Little Too Hard, Don’t Worry He’ll Be Fine, Maybe - Freeform

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/EVbazcT

#IFTTT #katt #voltron #fic