Felicity

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Opening the door to his house, Keith sighs in relief as the different scents of his family members waft his nose; proof that he's safe from those pesky news reporters.

"Ma, can we talk? Elena's on a small break from her heat and we have some questions." Salvador calls as Keith snaps his neck in the direction of the living room.

The television was paused on himself from earlier in the day, sitting on the couch of the new station during his live interview. "Oh... you saw that? Lance, I thought-..."

"I tried to keep them out of the living room, babe. But Ramon needed his pills and Elena wasn't feeling well enough to help out with him." Lance explains as he sits on one of the couches, calling his omega over. "But I think it's time you explain to them... Ramon and the triplets are asleep."

"Okay, okay... so where should I begin...?" Keith sighs, sitting next to his husband as the brunette grabs his hand for comfort. "I... The first time it happened, I... I was only 14. I was newly presented and was trying to adjust. I had always believed that I was going to be an alpha. I had the attitude and strength of one. Your godfather Sal, James, was the first person I told at the orphanage we were in."

"You were in an orphanage? What about Grandma?" Elena buds in as Keith chuckles weakly.

"She was fighting in the Intergalactic Thousand Year War against the Galra and was deemed missing in action. This was before a new Voltron was formed. But anyways, James was invited to a party by some alphas and betas from older classes. I... I originally didn't want to go, but he said it'd be fine. So we went." Keith's voice grows shaky as memories arise from the place where he locked them. "James left almost immediately to hang out with some of the other teens at some ice cream bar, leaving me with the host and his two friends..."

Salvador raises an eyebrow as Keith's breathing grows more shallow. "Um... you don't have to tell us-!"

"No. You deserve to know everything." Keith cuts him off as he shakes his head, smiling weakly. "I haven't even told your father what happened the first time around... but I was slammed against a wall by a beta... he spat some words about how my secondary gender was inferior to those who got into the Garrison. The other beta pulled out a camera, while the alpha took over. Um... the first beta and second one p-pulled down my pants while the alpha ripped my shirt off of me. Within the blink of an eye, I was facing the wall with only the alpha pinning me down. The betas sat back and watched as... as he raped me..."

A gasp escaped from his children as he looked away, a singular tear making its way down his cheek; leaving a light red mark in its wake. "Ma..."

"I said no, I tried to fight him off. But I was frozen and paralyzed by fear. My omega took over and made it more bearable. They handed me some clothes and threatened me shortly after they were finished. I left as soon as the others arrived back and the next day, my omega therapist found out. One of the betas, the first one, apologized and offered to pay for my tuition for the Garrison in exchange for probation and community service."

"That sounds like what happened to Ez..." Salvador whispers in realization before whipping his head in his mother's direction who hangs his head down. "What else...?"

"Um, there was a shower incident that led to a fallout between James and I. It led to me getting expelled from the Garrison, a day before the Kerberos Mission that took Shiro's arm. Fast forward to after Voltron is formed and your dad and I got together... it happened again, but this time... It was only the second beta and alpha. Ezra... was unconscious or playing unconscious while chained to a wall while I was chained to a table... for about an hour or so, I was consistently tortured in a basement." Keith mumbles, shivering. "At the time... I wasn't aware of my pregnancy... Ezra was alluding to the signs being there and we were kidnapped before I could confirm it with the hospital."

Keith bites his lip as he pulls from his husband's comfort, wrapping his arms around himself. "Um... My mental stability wavered for years after the first time. I attempted suicide and was depressed.... Not because of what had happened to me; that took time to process, of course. But I... I was pregnant... with the alpha's child."

"What?" Lance whispers sharply as tears fill Keith's eyes, staring down at the ground. "What?"

"I... my omega was happy with the thought of pregnancy, but I couldn't even fathom the idea myself. My body was at a constant war with itself. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep. I was a living corpse. Ultimately, I... I decided to keep the child..." Keith explains as Lance stares his husband down, trying to process the information.

"What happened to the kid?" Salvador leans in, questioning everything he once knew about his mother as the older ravenette sighs.

"Because my body was lacking nutrients from the months of starvation and sleep deprivation I put it through... the baby ended up being a miscarriage at around 28 weeks or roughly 6 and a half months." Keith smiles weakly, looking up to the sky. "It was a girl... I named her Ashlyn Marie. I had the hospital cover her funeral plans, I had no money or support. So they started a fundraiser to get money for funeral expenses... I didn't attend."

"What? Why?" Elena questions as Keith looks over at his daughter sadly, tears still consistently flowing from his cheeks.

"B-because... I knew... that if I saw my b-baby in a ca-casket, I'd be scared. I was already scared of life, I didn't want to be scared of a future I was forced to live." Keith whispers to Elena, walking around to kiss her forehead. Pulling away, he wipes his eyes as he shakes off the last of his shivers. "Anyways, I've forced these memories away for the most part. I never really had a therapist for trauma, nor have I wanted one. Ms.Wilts has listened to my problems and has helped the best should could."

"Ma..." Salvador mumbles out as Keith shakes his head with a sad chuckle.

"Alright, I think it's time for bed. Sal, you have a few errands to run over at your grandparents. Elena, you need to be rested up for your next wave. I'll see you both in the morning." Keith smiles as his kids share a look of concern. "I'll be fine. I have you guys, your siblings and of course your father. As well as a whole arsenal of family. I'm okay. Promise."

With that, the two elder siblings walk off from the living room as Keith turns to the Cuban who watches his husband with downturned eyes. "Keith..."

"I... I'm s-sorry..." He automatically tears back up, trying and failing to hide his sniffles as Lance pulls him into a hug. Keith's hands claw into the back of his husband's shirt as he sticks his face into his scent gland. His ears flop down as his tail tucks between his legs, signifying his fear.

"I'm s-so s-sorry...."

~•~•~•~•

Well... that was depressing.
Minor changes, etc etc.

Updates every Monday!

~Shadow Out!🫡🌑