I'll never let you go [Closed]

[spaceforged]

Who: [OU] Takashi Shirogane, [OU] Hunk, the crew signed up to retrieve them.
When: August 15th and 16th
Where: Dream width and then airship
What: Two of Team Voltron got canon updated and now must be retrieved.
Warnings/Notes: Spoilers for season 6, swearing, violence, aaand idefk I'll add more if we need it.



The signal beeps in a steady rhythm like a heart monitor assuring all the patient is still alive. After vanishing a week ago, Takashi Shirogane's mark on the readouts gives no sign what's ahead.

Nor will Hunk's a day later. What does? The memory nebulas swirling with light and color. Just like any other retrieval.

Comments

[balancingedge]

[Keith's gaze meets Shiro's and he nods.]

Already set an alarm.

[He says, shifting slightly to lay down beside him. Forget moving any farther at the moment.] It's still Castor's shift. I'll take the next one.

[Because someone has to keep an eye on the monitors.]

[thegoofball]

[Oh, guess this is...happening.

But he's not going to say no to his leaders. He doesn't quite snuggle into Shiro's pillowy chest, but he does make himself comfortable.]

Don't wear yourself out, Keith.

[And he'll just...close his eyes, and let himself rest.]

[spaceforged]

[He lays down and isn't surprised when Lance settles up against him. He wraps his arm around Keith when he lays down.]

Alright. Keep me updated on what you detect. I can take over console monitoring when I'm awake. [He is the licensed pilot. He could do that one handed just fine.]

[balancingedge]

[And if there was any argument about that arm wrapped around him (there isn't), he doesn't say it. Mostly because other than a quiet:] I will.

[...He settles, and falls asleep.]

[thegoofball]

[...

Lance shifts, bumping his chin against Shiro's chest. He doesn't say anything until he's sure Keith is asleep, but...]

He's going to keep pushing himself too far.

[Mrgph.]

This might be the first time he's slept since you disappeared.

[spaceforged]

[He glances at Keith molded to his side. Lance's words sink in as he runs his hand up and down his back. He wants to be surprised but there's a jumble of memories in his head. He sighs.]

We can spread shifts out between the five of us. Once Hunk is back, we can spread it out to six. We'll all get some sleep.

[He can bet Lance had some issues with sleeping too.]

It will be alright, Lance.

[thegoofball]

[He doesn't want to disagree with Shiro, but...]

He needs more than some.

[He's not...going to say anything about the back rubbing. For now, at least.]

I'm still worried about him. You. Everyone.

[Why did he open his big, dumb mouth again? Yikes.]

[spaceforged]

I know. [His hand rests in the middle of Keith's back as he looks down at Lance.]

I know you're looking out for all of us. We'll handle it together.

[Shiro smiles and it lights up his eyes.]

You've held each other up this long. We'll guard his back, yours, mine. Everyone's. There's a reason there are five Paladins and not just one.

[balancingedge]

...slept four hours a night minimum, Lance.

[Oh. He heard you two. He buries his face back into Shiro's side and goes back to sleep.]

[thegoofball]

[Oh.

Keith heard him.

Lance blushes, flustered, and curls in on himself. Keith...wasn't supposed to hear that.]

...I guess that's all we can do.

[Aha...ha.]

[spaceforged]

[Shiro grins like a Cheshire cat. He knew Keith would have heard it. He settles his hand on Keith's hip.]

I was going to warn you he sleeps as light as I do. [He relaxes and shuts his eyes. He's so tired.]

...but you did good, Lance. Let yourself sleep for a little while. We're okay.

[thegoofball]

[Wow, Shiro. Fondling Keith in front of him?

That's bold.]

We're okay for now.

[Ugh. He doesn't...want to talk about this now. Or ever. Getting it all out there in front of the two of them...

He shakes his head.]

It's fine. It's nothing. I'm sure it won't matter because you're back, now.

[spaceforged]

Lance. [His tone is commanding but gentle. If only he had both his arms. He'll fix that later. Shiro sighs.]

We'll talk about it when we get up. Let yourself relax and sleep. You sound like you need it too.

[His right stub of a limb moves as if he were going to move his right hand.]

We'll need you at your best too.

[thegoofball]

[His best isn't good enough. He's not sure if his best ever will be good enough, so sleep deprivation might not make as big of a difference as Shiro thinks.

But, all he does instead is sigh, and settle back down. He wants to pull away, but if Keith was woken up by him simply speaking...]

Okay, Shiro.

[And he closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. His mind is going a mile a minute, but it won't take him very long to fall asleep.]

[balancingedge]

[Keith says nothing. Mostly because everything he would have added has already been said. So instead, all he does is nuzzle into Shiro's side and rest a hand on Lance's shoulder. A quiet promise that he won't say a word about hearing him having a concern again. Will he remember it? Of course, but not another word.

Besides. He's been lowkey worrying about Lance and Pidge all week. You're his team.]

Leave the worrying to our pilots for now.

[And go the quiznak to sleep.]

[spaceforged]

[He rubs Keith's side and murmurs a soft goodnight to both of them. His hand settles once more on Keith's hip. It feels like it belongs there.]