I'm Not Leaving You (Keith Kogane x Reader)

VI

We all stared at Lance, who had now been in the healing pod for about a day.
"I can't tell if he looks healthy or... not." Said Hunk.
Pidge pressed her nose up against the glass, "I think he's breathing weird."
Keith angrily sighed and tapped the pod, "Oh, come on!"
"Keith not yet!" I scolded.
Allura nodded her head, "Only a few more ticks."
"How much better do you think he's gonna get in a few more ticks?" He asked crossing his arms.
"And what exactly is a tick?" Asked Pidge.
Allura smiled, "You know. A time slice."
"Like a second?" Asked Shiro cockily.
"What is a... second?"
Pidge pulled out a timer, "Like this."
Allura stared at the timer, "I'm not sure. I think ticks are bigger. Coran, do you have a ticker?"
"Right here, Princess." He said turning away from checking Lance's vitals.
We all stared at the ticker and compared.
I pursed my lips, "I think ticks are a little slower."
"I can't tell," Started Pidge, "We have to start them at the same time."
"Okay," Said Coran, "Ready, go!"
"Yes! I think we're winning!" Exclaimed Hunk.
Keith rolled his eyes, "Winning what? The intergalactic time-measuring competition?"
I glared at him, "Yes."
Suddenly I heard a voice come up from behind me, "You guys having a clock party?"
I looked up to see Lance.
"Aw, Lance, you just ruined it. Hey, Lance!" Said Hunk pulling him into a hug.
Lance rubbed his eyes, "What happened?"
Allura smiled, "We can tell you all about it while you get something to eat. Are you able to walk?"
"Talking? Eating? Are you asking me out on a date?"
We all rolled our eyes and sighed, "Yep, he's okay. Classic."

***

Lance fed the mice while Allura continued explaining what happened, "Shiro and Y/N would be Sendak's prisoners right now if not for Pidge."
Pidge smiled, "Well... you wouldn't have survived the explosion if Hunk and Coran hadn't gotten a new crystal."
"Wow." Laughed Lance, "Thanks, everybody. Sounds like the mice did more than you, though."
Keith scowled, "I punched Sendak!"
"And Shiro and I practically sacrificed ourselves to stop you from being killed by him!" I yelled.
Lance smirked, "Yeah, apparently after I emerged from a coma and shot his arm off."
Keith stared at him wide-eyed, "We had a bonding moment. I cradled you in my arms!"
"Nope. Don't remember, didn't happen. So what happened to Sendak?"
I looked over to Keith who now had a look of defeat on his face and put a hand on his shoulder, "It's okay. I remember the bonding moment."
"He's frozen in a cryo-pod," Continued Allura, "We're keeping him here in the Castle."
Lance pursed his lips, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"He's too dangerous to be set free. Besides, we might be able to get some information about Zarkon from him."
"So... what's the plan now?"
Hunk quickly started talking before anyone else could, "We have to get back to the Balmera and save Shay and her people."
"Wow!" Exclaimed Lance, "You are really hung up on this lady."
"No, it's not like that. Guys, when you see how Zarkon has treated these people and destroyed their home— They've been under his thumb for so long, they don't even know what it is to be free. It's up to us to set this right. This is what being a paladin of Voltron is all about. It's time to man up, or... lady up for Y/N's sake."
Shiro nodded, "Then let's get moving. Time to go defend the universe."
We all stood up and started to walk out of the dining room, but Pidge stopped us, "Wait, I have something to say first. I need to come clean. And, I'm afraid this may change the way you all think about me." She took a deep breath, "Just so there are no secrets between us anymore, I can't 'man up' either. I'm a girl. I mean, I can 'man up' because that's just a figure of speech. I don't have to actually be a man to 'man up.' I just have to be tough. But what I'm saying—"
Lance shook his head, "Wha...? You're a girl? How?!"
Allura smiled, "I've known for some time, but I'm glad you've shared it with everyone."
"I thought you were a girl the first time I saw you." I added.
Hunk nodded his head, "Yeah, I figured."
"Oh, yeah, me too." Said Keith in agreement.
Coran put a hand on Allura's shoulder, "Wait, we were supposed to think you were a boy?"
"Pidge," Started Shiro, "Owning who you are is going to make you a better paladin."
She sighed in relief, "It's good to get that off my chest. Now, let's launch this Castle-ship!"