Green - Voltron Fanfiction - 1215

6

Eventually, as I walked, I got to a clearing in the city where no one was. No soldiers, no slaves, minimal destruction. It was just me, alone again. When Krigi came to Earth and took me back with her to the Blade of Marmora, I thought I'd gotten lucky. I'd been saved, I could start a new life and learn to be happier, because I had a destiny and wasn't born to be damned.
What a lie. She never told me how hard it was to live as a descendant of the person who's killed millions. No matter where I go, people want me to leave them alone. They give me these weird, annoyed looks. And if not even Voltron really wanted me around... Why did my mother give birth to me? Why didn't she keep me on the ship with her and dad?
I shook my head, raising my hands to grip the sides of my head. Think about something else. Anything else!
Kate?
No! Not her!
Pidge?
Just- "Shut up!" I screamed, "Just leave me alone!"

I stayed there in the city, just on the outskirts of where everyone was fighting. When the battle was won and the Galra troops retreated, I covered my ears as the cheers spread all the way to me. Moments later, a scratchy voice came through to comp, and then the fizz focused on Shiro's voice.
"Vrokta, we're ready to head back to the ship! Where are you?"
I hesitated, and quickly pulled my hood back up, "I'll meet you where you are! Just give me a couple minutes!"
"Alright."
"Hurry!" I heard Hunk yell, "I'm starving!"
I clenched my teeth as I stood, forcing myself to run through the pain of the cramp on my side. I ran to meet up with Voltron even though I didn't want to. Why didn't they just leave, like everyone else?
I came up from behind the lions, slipping through the Olkari who looked at them with awe, happy and crying tears of relief. As I stepped up beside Shiro, I noticed the Olkari that saw my face about twenty feet away. He wasn't smiling like the others. He was glaring at me, studying me, wondering if he should say something. I felt a freezing cold run up my back, my hands shook. If he came out and told everyone I was the enemy, what would happen?
He didn't say anything. Shiro led me onto the lion first and sat with a sigh in the main seat.
"Are you alright?" He asked, the ship rumbling as it took off.
"What?"
He turned to look back at me, concerned, "Why were you so far away?"
"Um... I just... got caught up with giving first aid on the outskirts of the crowd, that's all."
He took a moment to think about what I said, "You sure? You can take off the mask now."
"I'm fine."
He looked back at me again, unimpressed.
"It-it's cold in here, okay?!"
Shiro sighed, turning back to the front as we flew into Allura's ship, the lion landing with a small thump in its hangar. I went to leave first, but he grabbed my wrist.
"Take off the mask, Vrokta."
"What the hell?" I scoffed a laugh, "Are you threatening me?"
"If we're going to work together, you need to be able to be honest with me. I expect everyone on this team to tell the truth. Lies tear people apart, you know."
I huffed, ripping my arm out of his grip. I slipped off my hood and the mask faded off, and even though I tried to turn away from him, he still saw it.
"What happened to your face?! I thought the mask was a protective helmet-"
"It is." I quickly said, frowning, "I... I fell down this ledge thing, and it knocked my hood off. My mask came down and I couldn't..." I sighed, "One of the Olkari saw me. I-I tried to talk to him but-but he... He hit me. Told me to leave."
"Vrokta." He spoke gently now, resting a hand on my shoulder. I quickly shook it off, "Wait. Are you injured anywhere else?"
"I'm fine." I growled, "I'm going to my room."
Shiro followed close behind me as I bounded out of the mouth of the lion and towards the exit, "I'm sure Allura won't have a problem offering a healing pod to help."
"I-I don't need a healing pod for my face."
"You're injured elsewhere. I can tell. You're walking slower than usual."
"Why are you watching how fast I'm walking?! That's creepy!"
He ran a hand down his face, "Vrokta, please. Let us help you."
No.
"I'll treat the wounds myself. It's just a bruise." I whispered, "But thanks for your concern."

After an hour in the bath, and putting some ointment on the bruise and ice on my face, I wandered over to where the team usually had their debriefings. I figured by now, all of them had showered and eaten, so they'd be gathering there. I guess I'd join, since I had nothing better to do.
When I got there, everyone was already there. The debriefing was coming to an end, and Shiro congratulated Pidge on his advancements with his lion during the battle. I stood just before the door on the other side of the wall so they couldn't see me.
"You know, it's weird. I've always been a tech junkie, that's how I connected with the world. But for the first time, I feel connected to everything. I guess it's like Ryner said. We're all made of the same cosmic dust."
My stomach twisted. How unfair.
I turned and left, walking back down the hall. Just as I passed my room, an alarm went off, blasting red lights through the halls. I scowled, pushing my ears down.
I hate this stupid ship. If they don't find out how Zarkon is tracking them soon, I'm going to personally ask him to kill me.
"Vrokta!" Allura's voice screeched through the intercom, "Where are you?!"
I rolled my eyes, "I'm going to my room!" I yelled back to the hall, and somehow she heard. She was probably watching me through the security system, "I didn't give away your location, so screw off!"
She didn't respond, and I sighed, continuing down the hall. Hopefully they figure this shit out themselves, because I'm going on an adventure through this castle.
The ship shook as Zarkon opened fire and I yelped, falling right over onto my side. I sighed, loud and annoyed, before getting back up slowly and continuing on my way. The ship did a loop a second later, speeding up to swerve the amount of fighters probably on their tail right now, but it sent me into a wall, which did not help the pain I was already suffering from.
I groaned. I need to get somewhere where I can sit still. But even if I went back to the main room where everyone else was right now, there wouldn't be a seat for me. I thought for a second, and then took off for the green lions hangar. Pidge had a huge desk in there, I could hide under it. Just as I neared the entrance to the hangar, the ship swerved to the side again and I squealed, flailing my arms as I slid to the other wall. Holding onto it, I walked carefully the rest of the way and quickly put in the code I memorized watching Pidge do it yesterday. I sprung inside and ran to the desk, dropping to slide under it. I tucked myself into the far corner just as Allura opened a wormhole. I hugged my stomach and pulled my knees up, groaning through the flood of nausea.
I hate wormhole jumping.
About thirty seconds later, it ended. I gasped in relief and rested my limbs, leaning my head against the back wall of the desk. I waited, and waited, but the ship was finally sitting still. I crept out carefully, ready for any sudden movements. I got on my knees and reached up, putting my hands on the edge of the desk, I peaked above to look around at the computers and other junk lying around. Despite being the smartest person around, and making it look awfully easy to decode alien encryptions and analyze alien material, Pidge was extremely messy.
I pulled myself up to a stand, looking down at the mess around me. From far away enough, it looked organized. But from up close, it looked like a trash heap. I suppose it would be organized for him, though.
I ran my fingers along the desk and walked its length, looking around for anything that might make sense to me. Something that would help get my mind off everything else. One of the computers was from Earth, and when I tapped the mouse pad it lit up. It had a password. Dammit.
I didn't even bother trying to guess, moving on to something behind it. I yanked on the device, it was an old iPod, headphones tangled into a horrifying knot. I sat back down on the ground cross legged and got to work to untangle it, tongue sticking out of the corner of my mouth.
After about ten minutes, I was able to fully unravel the wires. I grinned and held it up, laughing as I boasted to myself. Bet Pidge never even tried, he'll probably be super impressed when he sees this.
I lowered my arms and held the wire loosely in my hands. It was old, starting to tear at the ends. I picked up the iPod and looked at my reflection on the black screen. There was a small crescent mark of a bruise on my cheek bone from the smack. When I thought too much about it, it throbbed.
No one had seen my face yet except Shiro. I didn't want anyone to see, though. Even though part of me wanted to be coddled, the other, much bigger part would rather jump out into space and drift away into nothing to avoid it.
I sighed, plugging in the headphones to the iPod, I turned it on. No password. Thank god. I pulled open the music app, which seemed to be the only thing working on here. I scrolled through the playlists, some of these were even podcasts about science. How dreadful.
Doesn't he have any other hobbies?
My thumb accidentally pressed down on a song as I scrolled, and I yelled out in fear as the music blared at full volume through my ears. Ripping the headphones out, I hissed in annoyance and pouted, before reaching for it again. I put the headphones back in my ears and stood up, walking off to the side as I made sure the volume was turned down, I played another song.
I blinked in shock, pulling the iPod closer to my eyes to make sure I read the name right. Kate and I used to listen to this song constantly. It was... it was our song. I couldn't listen to this after what happened without either crying, or feeling a surge of frustration. I regretted telling her everything every time I heard these lyrics, I regretted every hug I gave her, every penny I spent on her. Did she use me for convenience? To make herself look better? Maybe because her brother told her she'd be a loner unless she agreed to hang out with me. I over thought it so much. Too much.
I unravelled these headphones and turned this music on because I wanted a distraction. Why... Why is this on here? Why did I have to hit this one, out of all the other ones?
"What are you doing?"
"AH!" I jumped back, holding my arms out, headphones still in and iPod in my hand. Pidge stood there, looking back at me with wide, concerned eyes.
"Uh..." he cleared his throat, "Why are you in here?"
"I came in here when everyone was going crazy with Zarkon." I explained, quickly fixing myself up straight and rolling my shoulders back, "I was... uh... just looking around at your stuff, and found this."
He narrowed his eyes, "You know how to use it?"
"Duh. Who doesn't know how to use an iPod?"
"You know what it's called? Galra have iPods?"
I took a moment, and then realized I'd really fucked up. He saw it in my face and breathed a laugh, "I can't believe it." He began, "You're half human! I was wondering- because I could tell you were a half breed, but it wasn't entirely clear, you know? Obviously the yellow eyes give away the Galra genes, but your ears are more... how do I put this, more cat-like than some of the other Galra I've seen. Most purebred Galra just have a bit bigger, pointier ears, somewhat like Allura's but purple, of course. And your skin isn't entirely purple, just pale, you know? And your hair is black instead of white- or, do Galra's even have a specific hair colour relevant to their species?"
"Wow. Okay, um... let's not talk about that right now."
"Yeah, that would be way too time consuming." He hummed, "Oh! But then, how did you get to Earth? Do you guys visit often? But Galra can't shapeshift like Altean's, can they?"
Terrified he'd go off again on another ridiculous tangent, I quickly blurted out the truth, "I was raised on Earth, actually."
His eyes widened, "No way! That makes so much sense! Oh my gosh, why didn't you say something? How did you get to the Blade, then?"
"Uh... long story?"
"Right, right, fair." He nodded, blinking tiredly, "I was kinda blabbering on, huh? I need to get some rest."
I pursed my lips, "It's alright, I guess. Um, if you wanted to rest, why did you come here?"
"I dunno. My room is kinda empty, and something about this room just makes me feel more safe, you know?"
"In your element." I suggested.
"Yeah." He agreed, smiling lightly. He was... kind of pretty, "Oh! Right. I almost forgot what I came here for."
I rose a brow and he grabbed some random flash drive, I think, and then headed back for the exit, "Where are you going?" I asked.
"I'm going to the training room to see if the AI has any Altean language lessons. I wanna try to learn to read it!"
I blinked. He wants... to attempt to learn a language only two people in the entire universe can read? He'd be much better off learning the language of the Galra.
"Uh... wanna come?" He asked.
"No." I replied.
I paused, my shoulders slumped, and I followed him out the door.