As Cold as Fire [VOLTRON Keith X OC]

"Okay, look." Shiro stepped forward to face us. He had a steely and confident look as he eyed us each in turn. "I now know for certain that Zarkon is tracking us through the Black Lion. We have to find some way to stop him."

We had our doubts at first, but when the paladins went on a mission yesterday, Allura and Keith left us in order to eliminate other possibilities. While Allura claimed it was due to her magic or something to do with her Altean powers, Keith gave us no reason, much to our annoyance. Neither Lance, or I, were very happy with their plan.

***

"It appears that one of the pods launched in the middle of the night," Coran had announced. We had realised quickly Allura and Keith were nowhere to be found.

"Wait a minute, Keith and Allura?" Lance asked. "In the middle of the night? You don't think they're... sitting in a tree?"

I knew how the rhyme went, and I wasn't exactly glad either. "Only... one pod?" I asked. "Why did they take off in one pod? Why not two separate pods? What are they doing in one pod?!"

Shiro tried to ignore our ramblings. "Contact that pod," he ordered.

"Yes, contact that pod!" Lance and I exclaimed at the same time.

***

It had been a terrible idea of theirs, but we did learn that Zarkon was tracking us through the black lion as he was still able to get to us.

Allura hummed thoughtfully. "We've never had this situation before. Two paladins battling for the same lion."

"To be fair, we haven't had that many paladins," I pointed out with a shrug.

Allura nodded. "True."

"Hold on," Hunk said with over dramatic exaggeration. "Just give me a moment. Seeing you two talk normally makes me a little light headed and I need a second to remind myself that I'm not dreaming." Pidge laughed with him. Allura and I rolled our eyes.

Shiro smiled. "Guys, focus. Unless we want Zarkon taking control of Voltron every time we get close, I'll have to forge a new bond with my lion. One that's stronger than his."

"Well, while you're working on that, the rest of us need to find some new teludav lenses otherwise we won't be able to travel via wormhole," Coran explained.

Keith asked, "Does anyone even make those anymore?"

Allura and I glanced at each other. "Honestly, I doubt it," I admitted. "Barely any Alteans needed them ten thousand years ago, so the chances of finding them now are really rare."

Coran grinned. "I think I may know where we can get some."

"NO!" Allura and I exclaimed.

"Coran! You're not suggesting going to one of those filthy swap moons!" Allura chided. "The last time you went, those space pirates took you for everything you had."

"You returned with no money, no jewellery, dismantled clothes and only half a shoe," I reminded.

"I told you," Coran replied defensively, "the ruby was worth 'one and a half shoes'. Who could refuse that?"

"Wait- space pirates?" Lance raised an eyebrow.

"The Unilu were traders and pirates that roamed the galaxies and dealt in black market goods. Umvy spice, by-tor water, little bottles of infinity vapour. Of course, you had to bargain-" Coran looked into the distance almost dreamily, "-No one could bargain like the Unilu."