Continued Reality: A Voltron Fanfiction

INCREDIBLE NEWS

     "So, um, I guess we need to update you on the mission since you're coming along," Pidge says, also taking note of the look Veronica gave Keith. She knows that look, knows it too well. It is the very same one she now gives Keith when he isn't paying attention.

Does Veronica have a thing for Keith?

"Yes please," Veronica says. She turns to her brother. "Tell me what's going on, stat!"

Lance rolls his eyes. "You may be my sister, but that doesn't mean you get to boss me around."

Veronica chuckles. "Oh Lancey, that's exactly why I get to boss you around!"

Begrudgingly, Lance begins to fill her in on the mission they're going on. He tells her about Shiro's message, and the mystery coordinates they'll head for. Pidge and Hunk help fill in the rest.

"So first, we're headed for Altea," Pidge says. "We're hoping their technology will help us get to the coordinates faster."

"Altea, huh?" Veronica says, glancing at her brother. "You okay with this?"

Lance nods. "I'll be fine," he replies. "Altea is amazing! And I'm sure I'll feel closer to Allura there."

To Pidge's surprise, Lance actually smiles at this thought. A genuine, excited smile. Not the typical fake half smile he usually has when talking about Allura or Altea. And what's with him suddenly covering his Altean markings with his hands?

"Uh, whatcha doin' there Lance?" Pidge asks.

"What do you mean?" Lance asks, not moving his hands from his face.

"Yeah, why are you covering your markings?" Veronica asks, also taking notice. "Did we say something wrong?"

"What? No!" Lance replies. "I just... feel like putting my hands on my face. Is that a crime?"

"Feel like putting your hands on your face?" Keith repeats, turning around in his chair. "That's really the best you've got?"

Lance looks around at the faces of his friends, all staring at him questioningly. He sighs, defeated, and removes his hands from his face to reveal his glowing markings.

"Whoa!" Hunk exclaims. "That's amazing!"

"Since when do they do that?" Veronica asks.

"Recently, I guess," Lance replies.

"Why were you trying to hide them?" Pidge asks.

Lance shrugs. "No reason, really. Just didn't wanna freak anyone out or anything."

But Pidge can tell he's still hiding something. He knows exactly why his markings are glowing, he just doesn't want to say.

"Have they done this before?" Pidge asks.

"What's with the twenty questions, Pidge?" Lance says.

So that's a yes... she thinks. While the others continue to discuss the mission ahead, she racks her genius brain trying to figure this out:

Lance used to become uncomfortable when anyone talked about Allura or Altea, she reasons. Suddenly his Altean markings begin to glow, making him uncomfortable but fine with talking about going to Altea. They glowed once before, when the lions of Voltron left. The lions were connected to Allura. Lance's markings were given to him by Allura. I caught Lance having a conversation with himself earlier. Could he actually be connected to Allura somehow?

"Lance, can I talk to you?" Pidge says. "Alone?"

Lance seems confused, but he gets up from his chair and follows Pidge to the back of the ship, out of earshot from the others.

"What's up?" He asks. "Got any more secrets you want to share?"

"No, but I think I figured out yours," she replies.

Lance stares at her for a few ticks. "I don't have a secret," he says.

"I know that's a lie," Pidge says. "Just listen to me. I think your markings are glowing because you have some sort of connection with Allura, right?"

Lance stares down at the floor. Finally he nods.

"So that means... Allura is still alive?!" Pidge has to keep from shouting in her excitement.

"Keep it down, will ya?" Lance says, covering Pidge's mouth with his hand. "I'm not sure Allura wants everyone knowing yet."

Pidge pries his hand off of her mouth. "But why not?" She asks. "This is huge!"

"I'm still not completely sure that 'alive' is an accurate statement here," Lance says. "She's on some higher plane of existence. She's still getting used to being... whatever it is that she is."

"How do you know so much about her situation?" Pidge asks. "It's almost like you've talked to her or something."

Lance smiles. "In a way, I have. When you caught me talking to myself? Yeah, I wasn't talking to myself. Allura puts her thoughts into my head. I can't hear her, but I know what she's thinking and she can hear me."

Pidge is amazed. Allura is still (sort of) alive? And Lance can communicate with her?! This kind of thing is unheard of! "So lemme guess... When she's 'talking' with you, your markings glow?"

Lance nods.

"That's incredible!" Pidge exclaims. In her excitement she hugs Lance. He chuckles and pats her on the head.

"Now don't get too carried away," he says. "You have to keep this a secret for now."

Pidge nods in agreement. "So, you know a secret of mine and I know a secret of yours."

"Yeah. Funny how things work, isn't it?"

Pidge is suddenly reminded of something. "I have a question..."

"I might have an answer," Lance says.

"I kind of thought I saw Veronica give Keith... a certain look," Pidge says, pushing up her glasses. "Does she...?"

"Have an interest in Keith? Yeah," Lance says with a groan. "Seriously, what is it about that guy?!"

Pidge feels like her heart has dropped into her stomach. Lance seems to take notice of the worry on her face.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Lance says, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Keith's so clueless, I doubt he notices either of you!"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

Lance begins to laugh. For a moment Pidge is slightly offended, but eventually she can't help laughing with him.