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[Being core members of the Voltron coalition meant that sometimes the team had to spread their forces thin in order to take care of everything that required their attention. Sure, they had other allies who could hold their own -the Blade of Mamora for example- but it had a little more impact if the paladins themselves saved a colony or planet, as opposed to more Galra.

In other words: politics.]

I mean, I understand what Coran was saying but I still think it's kinda dumb, right Keith? [Undeterred by Keith's noncommital 'uh huh's and 'yeah's, Hunk continues on as he follows Keith's lead and slows down his approach. They're going to have to try and sneak up on this installation or risk the Galra retaliating against the captured techs for calling for help.] They've been around way longer than we have, and fighting for way longer too! It kinda feels like we're shoving them out of the way to get all the glory. Not that that's what we're doing, but it sure feels like that's what we're doing. I guess in the end it doesn't really matter who gets the job done so long as the people are saved, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Right? Do you have a bad taste in your mouth too, Keith?

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[Hunk blows out a breath, nodding. Regardless of what they find, they have to get in there...and if Keith's determined, then they'll make it that far, at least.] ...hey, how's the leg? Tape-stitches holding okay?

It's -- [His immediate reaction is to say "It's fine". But it's not, and Hunk deserves better than that from him after all this. He's exhausted and hurting, he's fighting to stay upright while he's standing still, he's got no idea they're doing the right thing, but it's the only thing he can think of instead of waiting for their friends to get hit with this thing too.]

It's still pretty bad off. And we could probably stand to redo these, but I think it can wait until we figure out what's going on.

[OKAY SO, HE WANTED THE TRUTH BUT MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED] Maybe you should, um, hang back...? A little bit?

[Okay, no, he's not about that. His hand tightens on Hunk's shoulder and his expression hardens.]

We need to figure out what's down there so we can warn the other when they get in range of our comms.

I'm not saying don't go at all! I'm just saying, right now you're the only one we've got who can actually make the Black Lion move! [please stop glaring] This is no disrespect to Shiro but if he can't figure out what to do, they're gonna need you.

[Oh.

His face softens a little, more confusion while he thinks that through. God. He's bad at this.]

..I don't know, Hunk. [He knows Hunk is right. He just hates to admit it because it means not being in front and taking the hits. This is all his fault though.]

You think you can do it? [A genuine question. He just wants to get a read on how Hunk's feeling first.]

We're a little low on options. At least my bayard still works! [That's him, Mr. Look On The Bright Side...sure...]

[Okay, that does get a smile from him, and a little pat on the shoulder.]

It sure does. If you think you're ready, then let's go.

[You can tell him he can't do it! Really, you can tell him he's not ready and that he'll fail and they can just give it up!

........no they can't, but a guy can dream.

Hunk lets out a shuddering sigh before wrapping an arm around Keith's back and side so he can help him back down the slope. It's still slow going, but heading down is significantly less painful than it was to climb up, so by the time they reach the foot and the furrow Yellow left in the ground, Hunk isn't in nearly as bad shape as he was last night.] Soooo we're expecting to get followed, right? Can you walk okay?

Probably. [To the being followed. He managed to get down but only with Hunk's help. And not without focusing a little too much on Hunk's hand against his side and how warm his arm feels against his back and now is not the time. He's fairly sure if Hunk got bored of it, he could just pick Keith up and toss him down, but he doesn't and they get there. And That's all that matters about it. They made it. Not how nice that felt or how he doesn't. Exactly want to pull away from him.

He clears his throat and looks around, really surveying the scene now.]

I'll have to, we don't have much choice. C'mon. [He'll just. Untangle himself and start picking his way across the landscape. He can do this.]

[Reluctantly letting Keith slip away, though he'd been taking comfort in his closeness, Hunk readies his bayard and just gets his chain gun ready to go. It's heavy and difficult to lug around, but the hum of it makes him feel a little safer as they press on into the jungle towards the base.

The hike is grueling and tense, silent save for their footsteps and the sounds of wildlife. Hunk confirms the croaking he'd heard really was some harmless space toad, and feels a little silly for almost shooting it into a smear on a log.] Sorry little guy, [Hunk calls after the toad as it hops away frantically.] Keith I am fffffreaking out. Where's all the patrols? How come we haven't even heard anything yet?

[Keith follows after him. It's hard, letting Hunk take the lead, but it's what he needs to do. Even when he almost shoots a harmless frog and instead watches it scamper away. Keith does almost stumble a couple of times, catches himself before he slams into Hunk and scares him more.

The place is so quiet though... If not for the situation, Keith would like it here.]

I don't know. If everything inside were drones like I saw, maybe they don't even realize we're here. Like -- [Oh man he's onto something.] maybe what happened was just automated or something.

...automated...like on a timer, or some kind of sensor more likely. Yeah- yeah, of course, they wouldn't want to risk anybody getting obsessed like Zarkon did, so of course it'd just be drones, so-

[Hunk spins with a grin, clapping a hand to Keith's shoulder excitedly.] Keith, you genius! You know what this means?

[Hunk spins on him and Keith freezes but. He's happy Hunk is happy?]

That Lance owes me a lot of money?

Wh- nevermind. [Points in the direction of the base] It means whatever the powersource is, tear or not, is already sealed. We don't have to close it or destroy it! We just have to disable the mechanism that allows it to fire, and then we can call for help!

[Hey! He helped solve this weapon puzzle! He smiles a little more, Hunk's enthusiasm ever contagious.]

And since the base is this big, we'd have to get a strong signal out to the others. It has to work.

[Hugs, but is gentle about it] Ah jeez, Keith, I'm so glad you're here...! I'd be such a wreck without you. And I never would've thought of that, I would've just spazzed out somewhere and hid! Gah, I could kiss you.

[Oh.

Oh jeez, his face is so obviously red in this brighter light.] Uh.

Heh. Maybe later. Let's uh- Work on getting there and doing this first?

[Totally. Yep. Not at all thinking about that now or how close their faces are with Hunk hugging him.]

[Slllowly extracts self, peering down at Keith. Is that an uncomfortable 'heh' or an embarrassed 'heh'? Even with his face red, it's hard to tell.]

Right! Yeah, of course. [Only now he's gonna be thinking about it, even as he hefts his gun again and restarts their march.]

Yeah. Of course. [Keith just sort of parrots Hunk's words back at him, not. Really able to think too too clearly with how slowly Hunk pulls away, Keith's hand trailing along his arm until the big guy goes to get his gun again.

Right. Mission first. Feelings later. That's something he understands.]

So...

[He trails off immediately. He was going to ask something but maybe now isn't the right time. Jungle nastiness and all.

Oh god he started talking with no idea what he wanted to say. This is why he doesn't do small talk. He clenches his fist around his bayard handle while he trudges along, wishing he could keep his mouth shut for a single syllable. Maybe Hunk won't notice. Maybe he'll think it was just some noise in the wild out here.]

[Oh no he heard that, as clearly as he felt Keith's hand linger on his arm as he pulled away. The awkwardness of it makes him snicker, though he tries to swallow it when he remembers how hurt Keith had been before.]

Okay, the goal is to make it out of all this alive so we can have our first kiss! That's it, that's the goal.

Uh. [God, how is Hunk good at that? Reading his mind. God, he should figure out how to not be predictable.

That'll never happen but he nods and follows after him. He wants this to work. He wants to be able to say he has at least one nice, selfish thing in his life that didn't fall apart around him. Even as they get into view of the base, Keith is still thinking about it.]

Can't take the same entrance as last time, so. Guess we can take the front of the back door.

Are there really 'front' or 'back' doors in a circular structure? [It's a legitimate question that deserves pondering] Okay, uh, lets just go for the closest door, maybe? We're both already kind of tired. How about I just go in, gun blazing, take out anything moving right from the get go? [That's a Keith thing to do right, that'll probably work out]

Right.

[Keith looks at the base again, weighing options he doesn't have a lot of forethought about. He's so bad at this. But he definitely doesn't think Hunk should go in guns blazing.]

I get the feeling that may be a bad idea. Let's try to be smart about it. [That's what Shiro would say right?] Sticking together, since you can do more with the gun, I can keep a shield up for us while we go in.

Great. Better plan, I like that plan. I'm trying to do the hotshot thing, it's not a good idea, I'm not hotshot material. I like being shielded, good plan. [pls portect him, small fite teammate]