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[bigbrained]

[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?

Comments

[bigbrained]

You did! You did, you did tell me. That's definitely a thing you've said, like, so many times, not your fault I'm- it's just a lot. But not a bad lot, a good lot. [Keeps rubbing his back since that seems to work well] And I'm totally just playing this by ear too because like- this is first time I've liked anybody who liked me back? Isn't that cool?

[whatsacactus]

[God......... It's hard to stay upset around Hunk. His enthusiasm is always so contagious and Keith finds himself smiling a little self-consciously.]

Yeah, it- it is for me too. First time, that situation. I mean.

[He clears his throat looks back at the fire, then back at Hunk.]

Wait who didn't like you back before?

[ WHO IS HE FIGHTING.]

[bigbrained]

[oops] Oh, uh, it was middle school, long time ago, don't worry about it. [she broke his heart and he cried for a week]

What I'm saying is, I'm- I'm definitely completely down for this. For trying to...date, I guess. Going out. Being a thing. I wanna do that.

[whatsacactus]

[It's ok Hunk, Keith's always gonna be a little hung up over Shiro but. He's happy with this, in the way he sort of stills under Hunk's hand now that they've figured this out for the most part.]

... Me too. [This. Feels like a moment when he should do something. He's just not sure what.

He's very bad at social cues sometimes. So he reaches his arm under Hunk's to wrap around his back. That's fine, right? Totally casual. Boyfriend thing to do.]

Hunk? ... Thanks.

[bigbrained]

[This is a thing that they do and have done as friends so yeah, safe bet that it's for sure okay now too.] Thanks for what? For liking you?

[whatsacactus]

No, for cooking dinner. [You goof.]

[bigbrained]

Oh, for that! That old thing. Psh. Pff. [that was lifetimes ago] Was it good? Too much seasoning, I think, probably only need to use half a seed instead of the full one, maybe dilute it with water...

[whatsacactus]

Hunk- [Christ there he goes. Keith is still smiling though, gives him a couple pats on the back.]

Hunk, it was fine. Seriously, we're in the middle of nowhere with barely a survival kit. It was fine. Just... Thanks for doing it. [It's not like Keith would've bothered fixing anything. He probably would've just laid up somewhere and died without doing anything.]

[bigbrained]

[That's a nice look on Keith's face. And now Hunk doesn't have to feel awkward or guilty for looking too long, not with them...approaching boyfriendhood? Something like that.] Well...you're welcome. It was kind of fun, if I'm honest.

[whatsacactus]

...Seriously. Camping sometime, you and me.

[He looks up at the sky, still not able to tell what time of day or night it is or how long it's been.]

You should try to rest some more. I'll keep an eye out this time.

[bigbrained]

I...am gonna take you up on that. For sure. [Keith keeps dozing off which is really worrying, but Hunk's head is starting to throb a little again and he would really like to curl up and be stationary for a little while after that hike. Or a long while, y'know, he's not picky.

So he curls up on his side, right next to Keith because he's not ashamed of cuddling out of fear (or any cuddling at all) and it's nice by his friend and by the fire. As nice as sleeping on the ground can be, anyway.]

Wake me up when we get heroically rescued, okay?

[whatsacactus]

You got it. [It's just quiet fondness in his voice now as he watches Hunk get comfortable against him. He reaches over, but his hand hesitates over Hunk's hair, almost trembling before he pulls it back. No. Not there yet.

All in all, it's quiet while the hours pass. Keith wants to let him sleep as long as he can, even as he's fighting exhaustion himself. Hunk needs way more sleep than he does right now. He does eventually compromise with himself; he doesn't pet his hair or pat his head, but Keith does just. One little stroke of a finger against his hair and feels that's successful for now. A step forward in this...boyfriendhood thing they're starting.

When the fire's almost burned out, he carefully gives his shoulder a little shake.]

Hey... Probably better wake up.

[bigbrained]

[Hunk kinda felt that almost-touch there, but he doesn't want to scare Keith off so he doesn't do anything about it. Even if it was a little bit weird, but also a lot nervewracking. Was he gonna pet his hair? WAS HE GONNA STROKE HIS HAIR ALL ROMANTICALLY???? DAMN, KEITH

Hunk doesn't get to wonder much more than that because despite that close call in epic teen romance, he's really fuckin' tired and exhaustion kicks the ass of everything else until he basically just passes out. He sleeps solid, without waking even once, until Keith gently shakes him awake.] Whumuh. 'm sleep'n... [Hunk rubs at his eyes and takes a moment to get his bearings.] Nuh...Keith? Need to sleep?

[whatsacactus]

[NO AND HUNK CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING!!! But he's watching around them because okay, some of those noises were legit throughout the night and he's been listening to them get gradually closer. Not enough to be immediate danger, but enough that they should get a move on.]

No. We should move. [At some point, he moved their supplies closer, just in case, but nothing came of it.] Can't stay in one place for too long.

[bigbrained]

Ugh...what about Yellow? [Hunk still pushes himself to his feet, swaying a bit before picking up the supplies bag.] We can't leave him behind, he can't even make a forcefield.

[whatsacactus]

I know. [He does know. He hates the thought of leaving Yellow here alone. But there's not much they can do; they don't really know how the lions work. He watches Hunk get up, stays where he is seated on the ground. God he's tired.]

I just don't know what we can do from here.

[bigbrained]

...you don't think that generator is emitting some kind of- some kind of field or something, do you? [It's okay Keith, he doesn't expect you to answer.] The lions always recover so quickly, it's almost crazy that Yellow's been down for so long. Maybe that second blast wasn't a blast after all, maybe that was some kind of suppression field?

[whatsacactus]

I... don't know.

[Yeah, it's more on the clueless "I don't know what you said" tone than anything. But Hunk's got the supply bag, so Keith uses the rock he was leaning against to push himself back to his feet and oh god he can tell the painkiller wore off. He's sore and just... ready to be home. He wishes there was some way to beacon over to the others from their suits.]

Did you wanna check it out?

[Wait why can't their suits do that?]

[bigbrained]

[welp now they know what the new suit upgrade is gonna be

Hunk, honestly, does not want to check it out. He doesn't want to go into danger, he doesn't want to risk getting hurt worse because Keith is so bad off that he couldn't help Hunk anywhere. He doesn't want to take risks; he just wants to hide until someone comes to save them, guns blazing.

But then there's Yellow, dark and unresponsive, laying on his side in a trench in the forest.]

...yeah, [Hunk finally answers.] If it's something that can knock lions offline permanently, we need to dismantle it before the others get here. [Paladins are replaceable, after all. Voltron isn't.]

[whatsacactus]

[Keith nods, one hand on his side to make sure the binding is still in place before he stands up straight.]

That's what I was thinking [It so was not. He was remembering that old parental advice "If you get lost, find a landmark and stay there" that his dad used to tell him. The others knew they were coming to investigate that thing, so surely that's the first place they'd go looking.

But Hunk's sounded better.]

Lets go then.

[bigbrained]

Haha! Yup, let's go. Let's just...get up and go. [Keith, you are an amazing person. Can you teach Hunk how not to fear for your own life to the point of paralysis?]

[whatsacactus]

[He's an idiot, don't aspire to be like him, Hunk. Someone's got to give a shit about them as they go back into that place.

He stops when he gets to the edge of the cliff though, still not entirely trusting his own leg to get down with.]

So we know it can hit with physical force, it's loud, and it did something to the lions. What else?

[bigbrained]

[Okay but first, mf pills. Load up, buddy; if they're gonna die today then their deaths better damn well be painless.] I can't be positive because I only saw the readings for a second, but the Fraunhofer line of that pulse looked almost identical to Voltron's...which means it's probably a quintessence-based weapon. I don't know how they managed to refine it to make it like an EMP but that's the only explanation I can think of.

[whatsacactus]

[Keith listens. Really tries to, even when he takes one of the pills from Hunk. But it just goes in one ear and out the other, no matter how hard he tries to make sense of what he's talking about. He's glad there are other paladins on this team that know what they're doing. He sure doesn't a lot of the time.]

....So basically, go in, figure out where the power source is, break it if we can. Right?

[Forgive him, Hunk. Be the smart one of this team.]

[bigbrained]

[Hunk is of the opinion that the team needs people Keith just as desperately as smart people who do the science. It's why they're a team.]

Ideally: yes. Realistically: ...I've been thinking. [Hunk laboriously lowers himself to his knees and grabs a stick, clearing leaves away from the ground before he begins sketching out the vague shape of the base they'd attacked.] Remember when we were looking at the schematics, and thought they looked weird? About how it was circular, and how it seemed like the entire structure was built around the generator? [Glances up at Keith and doesn't wait for an answer, knowing Keith will probably just wave him on to continue anyway.] The only reason they'd go to the trouble to build a base around a generator is if it can't be dismantled and moved. [Do you get what he's saying? Because Hunk kinda doesn't want to say it aloud in case it sounds as crazy in real life as it does in his head, but...]