As Cold as Fire [VOLTRON Keith X OC]

The Fall of the Castle of Lions (Part 2)

Author's note: There's violence and blood and stuff in this chapter, so if you read and you don't like that kind of stuff, it's on you (jkjk)

"What happened?" A voice I couldn't register asked. He felt so far away, so distant that I didn't want to bother opening my eyes.

"Ugh... I'm not sure," another voice replied. I wondered what day it was, Tuesday maybe? I'm going to be late for school...

I took a deep breath, only to inhale smoke and let out a series of coughs that rattled my ribs. When the smoke seemed to have cleared, I heard another voice, more distinguishable now.

"The Crystal!"

Allura? The hell is she doing in my bedroom? And what crystal...? The memories hit me like a slap in the face, and my eyes immediately shot open.

"Lance! Riley!"

I finally registered what was going on. The bomb had exploded, the crystal was destroyed, I could barely move, and Lance, he... Lance.

I turned around, seeing his unconscious body lying on the floor at a weird angle. He had bruises patterned all over his body, and with a jolt I realised I did too.

"Lance?" I whispered hoarsely, wincing at my own voice. Shiro ran forward, looking at us with panic in his eyes, before bending down to feel Lance.

"Lance...? Lance!" He turned to me, "Are you alright Riley?"

I opened my mouth to reply but found I couldn't. Instead I looked at Lance again, "He jumped in front of me." This was all my fault. The others were standing a few metres away, staring at us in concern. Allura ran forward, wrapping her arm around my waist to pull me up. I flinched at the touch and she instantly withdrew. My muscles stiffened.

Instead, she asked, "Can you stand?"

I hesitated, I was still trying to ignore the ringing in my ears and the jarring pain at the back of my head. My hand instinctively reached, and came back warm. My eyes widened as I realised it was blood, smeared on my palm and leaking through my fingers.

I nodded slowly. The paladins frowned.

"We have to get them both to an infirmary, now," Pidge said urgently.

"Huh? I'm f-fine," I slurred. Keith stepped forward, crossing his arms.

"No you're not." He held out his hand and I hesitantly took it, swaying a little and not meeting Allura's eyes. He let me lean into him for support. His mullet's so soft... Focus Riley!

Allura bit her lip, "Without the Crystal, the Castle has no power."

"He doesn't look good..." Shiro murmured, before glancing at me, "and you are not 'fine', Riley." 

I heard someone enter the room. "Lion warriors, our village is under attack! We need help!" The Arusian king pleaded.

"Let's get to the Lions!" Keith prompted.

"You can't," Allura said, "They're sealed in their hangars. There's no way to get them out. We're defenceless." The king gasped.

"Will you not help us?"

"We will," I insisted, "we just-" My voice broke as another headache hit me, almost making me stumble. A small whimper escaped my lips before I could stop myself. Keith's hand tightened around my arm, before he realised and loosened again. The king frowned at me and I realised I had never felt so helpless.

Lance suddenly let out a groan of pain. Hunk let out a deep breath, "This is bad."

"We have to get a new Crystal to get the Castle working again," Coran explained, still holding onto Hunk, "But, to get a new Crystal, we need a ship."