Heat (Voltron Smut)

Lightheaded...

[A/N: This is a safe chapter. There's no smut, just the premise.]

"Keith," Pidge shouted through her helmet, "what are you doing?!"
"S-sorry guys," he shook his head in an attempt to get his thoughts together. "My mind went fuzzy for a second."
"That's fine, just focus," Shiro commanded. "Alright, team. Time to try and form Voltron again."

The paladins all walked back into the castle in complete silence. They all decontaminated and removed their armor without speaking, until Lance threw his helmet on the floor, making echoed cracking noise. "Lance," Allura shouted at him, "be careful with your equipment!"
"You know what? No!" He put his foot down. "Every time I screw up, I get lectured. But when Mr. Perfect over here keeps us from forming Voltron, nobody says anything!"
"Lance," Hunk approached his friend slowly and carefully, "try to chill out some." He smiled in an attempt to comfort the blue paladin. "You want me to try and make some garlic knots?"
"Yes, but I'm not done yet!" He stomped over to Keith, who had been in deep thought since the last failure. "Listen here, Keithy-boy." Lance's finger pierced Keith's chest. "You need to get it together. We can only do so much to make up for your quiznaking around!"
Keith stayed in thought for a few tics, which somehow felt like hours. He finally looked up at Lance, still avoiding eye contact with his head hung, and simply let out a somber "okay."
Everyone was shocked, especially Lance. They expected Keith to snap and lose his cool, since that's what usually happens when Lance gets in his face. "What was that?" Lance leaned in, feeling a bit sorry, but he continued to tease. "I couldn't hear you over the sound of your failure."
"I said okay," the red paladin repeated. "I'm sorry I screwed up. I wasn't focused, and I let the team down." The area was silent for a few more tics, with Keith wallowing in self-disappointment and the rest in complete and utter shock. "I'll be in the training deck." He left after that statement.
After several more moments of utter disbelief, the group all went off to do separate tasks, most by themselves. Even after the time passing, they all felt somewhat guilty, mostly Lance for yelling at Keith in such a state and Shiro for simply letting it happen.

Hours passed and dinnertime came. Pidge and Coran set the table while Lance helped Hunk make their meal. "Smells great, guys," Shiro entered the room with his nose held up in the air to smell better. "The table looks great too. Is this a special occasion?"
Coran placed a hand on his hip and raised a finger to the air. "A clean environment leads to a clean mind." He made a smug face and continued, "this will help your thought processes. Hopefully, this lovely setting will help you all calm down as a team. Number five suggested the color scheme as well."
Pidge shrugged. "Pastels are really soothing."
"It looks great, you two. Thanks." Shiro sat down at the head of the table with his black plate in front of him. Lance brought him food and bowed, as if he were a waiter. Shiro laughed in response saying "compliments to the chef."
Hunk turned around and flicked his wrist. "Stop, you're too kind," he said playfully.
Allura then entered the room and sat down at her spot at the table, in front of her pink plate next to the yellow. She then noticed something missing. "Has anyone seen Keith?"
Hunk looked up from the soup that was boiling stovetop. "Not since our whole incident... thing..."
Shiro stood up quickly. "I'm gonna go look for him." He knew exactly where to look: the training deck, since Keith always went there or his room whenever he was angry. Shiro hurried there and was shocked when he opened the door to find Keith passed out on the floor. "Keith," he shouted, picking the red paladin up bridal style.
Pidge ran into the room to check on them. "Oh my god, is he okay?"
"He'll be fine." The black paladin remained calm. "I'm just gonna bring him to bed. Tell the others he needs to rest up a bit and someone needs to bring him food." Even though the worry wasn't on his face, Pidge could feel his concern through the air. It encouraged her to make haste, getting a plate for Keith and grabbing Shiro's food as well, since she knew he wouldn't leave his side due to loyalty.

Shiro sat in a chair, spoon feeding Keith a bowl of soup. "C'mon, Keith. Open."
"Shiro, I told you. I'm full," he said weakly.
"You barely had half the bowl."
"My appetite is gone, Shiro," he debated. "I don't wanna eat."
"I'm not letting you starve to death. I could tell you haven't been eating much already." Shiro got a new spoonful of soup and held it up. "Hunk worked hard on dinner tonight, so please eat." Keith sighed and opened his mouth, allowing Shiro to give him another spoonful. A hesitant-sounding knock came to the door. "Come in," Shiro slightly shouted.
"Allura sent me in to give him these." Lance walked in slowly with a couple of fresh pillows. "How is he feeling?"
"I'm awake, Lance. You can ask me directly."
Shiro placed the bowl on the desk across the room from Keith's bed. "I'll leave you two to talk alone." The room was silent until Shiro shut the door behind him and his footsteps faded away.
"Hey man," Lance walked over and sat down in the chair next to Keith. "Listen, I-"
"Lance," Keith interrupted. "It's okay. You sound like you're going to, but you don't have to apologize."
"I really am sorry though." Lance hid his face in his hands. "For yelling at you earlier. You looked like you were pretty out of it, but I didn't even think about-"
"Lance, I promise it's okay. You didn't know." Keith stared at the wall. "I'm not really sure what's wrong with me either. I just feel really lightheaded. Maybe it's just a fever. I'll be fine."