Don't Ask About My Demons

Sometimes Voltron Needs Saving

"LANCE!" Matt burst into the dining room.

Lance jumped in his seat. "Matt, don't scare me like that."

"It's Red! You need to see this."

"I know. Wait. What were you doing in the hangar?"

"I--"

"--it doesn't matter. How's Red?"

"Wild. Burning hot to the touch. Overall berserk."

Lance sat up. "Who's down there?"

"Uh... everyone... except you and me.
How is it possible that Red could be acting this way unless..." Matt's eyes widened and turned to Lance.

Lance blinked. "Okay, dude. I know you're pausing for dramatic effect and all but I really have no clue."

"Lance, there were more than just two possibilities here. One, Keith answered leading us to the knowledge that he is, without a shadow of a doubt, alive. Two, Keith didn't answer leading us all to presume that he died."

"Yeah? It makes sense."

"But what if he couldn't answer? Or, stranger still, what if he did answer, and he swore you to secrecy?"

Lance swallowed. "Why would he do that?"

"Well, here's the thing..." he pointed to Lance then hesitated. "Quiznak, I don't know the thing." Matt ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Lance rose to his feet and began to walk away. "Well that was disappo--"

Matt snatched his wrist and pulled him back. "WAIT! What if he was forced to?"

Lance cocked his head. "I really can't figure out what you're trying to get at, here," Lance replied but sat down anyway.

"Okay, imagine this. Keith was captured mere ticks before you called. If he answered, he told you to keep his current condition a secret. Maybe for our own safety or maybe because he was forced to say it. Either way, you were sworn to say nothing."

Lance's brows furrowed. "If--if he is alive." He was silence for a moment, considering his next question carefully. "Not saying that I know or not, how likely is it that he was captured by the Galra?"

"I'd say that it's more than likely. If he isn't dead, I'm almost certain that he ended up with them. Do you know what they could possibly want with him?"

"Sometimes I forget that you're Pidge's brother."

"What? Am I right?" Matt asked.

Lance gave Matt a stern look and crossed his arms over the table. "I can't say. But he's been captured before. This time, it may be worse than we could ever imagine." He rested his head on his arms. "What I wouldn't give to see him again uh... if he's alive. Hypothetically, I need to know that he's okay."

Matt couldn't meet Lance's gaze. "I'm not gonna lie, most don't make it through the first week after they're captured by the Galra." He risked a glance in Lance's direction. "But maybe Keith can. I've seen him fight, Lance. I'm sure you have too. You don't need to worry. If he was captured, I think he has a good chance of surviving this."

"Right. Still... if he was alive. And if I knew--not saying that I do, how would one go about getting him out of there? The Galra would have definitely upped their security after last time."

"Of course." He risked a curious glance at Lance. "You guys seem to get into a lot of trouble don't you?"

Lance shrugged. "Occupational hazard. Sometimes Voltron needs saving too." Lance paused. "Hey. What if we... spread the word?"

"Now the people are gonna save Voltron? Isn't that a bit... Counterintuitive?"

"In a way. I mean IF Keith's alive, of course."

"Oh yes, of course." Matt nodded, going along with it. "But I'm not as good with technology as I am with people."

"I'll get Pidge. Stay right there!"

"What?" Matt seemed legitimately surprised. "You don't need me?"

"Oh yes I do! You're not just some passenger, Matt. You climbed aboard this ship. You eat food goo with us. Like it or not, you're a part of Voltron now. Welcome to the family." With that, Lance bolted out of the room to find Pidge.