The building's structural integrity was compromised.

Hunk didn't need his wrist computer to tell him that, it was obvious. The enormous stone pillars that were holding the ruins up were about to collapse, the once magnificent dome crumbling away into nothing above him.

He had his gaze up to the ceiling, bits of rubble pelting his face and helmet. They weren't big enough to hurt, but given a few years, maybe even weeks, and this entire structure would come down.

Hunk glanced over at Lance, who was running his hand carefully over a large square pillar in the center of the room. He whistled lowly, looking at the faded images of clearly an ancient alien battle that was waged here. The inhabitants of this planet (a race called Albi that Allura was almost desperate to gain an alliance with as their weapons were superior to almost all others, including the ancient Altean weapons, and she did not want that to fall into the Galra hands. Unfortunately, they were known to be cowardly and side with whoever would offer them the most protection) all looked at Hunk as he admired their old temple.

The Albi were human-like in body-shape, only their skin was maroon, and they had four arms, two from each side. Their ears were long and pointed and they had been very proud to point out that their hearing was superior to anyone else's in the galaxy.

Lance put his and on his hips, turning to the Albi. "Impressive," he said and Hunk could tell from his best friend's tone that he was being honest.

The Albi Chief - a slightly more maroon one than the others named Upta - looked a bit smug as he moved to stand next to Lance. "Indeed. Our ancestors fought hard to liberate this place. It is only fitting we discuss the terms of our alliance here."

"Of course," Hunk said with a gracious smile.

"Voltron and the Galra have both made generous offers," Upta said and Hunk was careful to mask the horror that piled in his gut. So the Galra had already made attempts at an 'alliance' with the Albi. They must have known Team Voltron would try to strike one of their own. "How can we be so sure that your conditions are what you say they are?"

Lance, to Hunk's surprise, was the one who stepped forward. While he had complete faith in his friend's social skills, Allura had been the one to almost insist that Hunk take the reigns of this mission and do all the talking. The implications of it had made Hunk a tad bit upset on Lance's behalf, but he knew better than to argue with Allura.

Especially with this new Shiro calling the shots.

Lance produced a small white communication device from his pocket. It was the same one Allura gave to every single one of the planets that joined the Coalition and flashed a dazzling smile.

"This will allow you to contact us whenever you need it," he said, showing it to the Albi. They tilted their heads curiously - almost like cats - as Lance showed it off. "It'll send a distress beacon straight to the Castle of Lions and Voltron will be there as soon as possible."

"I see…" Upta said, taking the communication device and turning it over in one of his many hands. "The Galra have offered us something similar and have even promised an entire fleet in our orbit to defend from outsiders." He paused, sounding almost hopeful . "Will you offer a similar promise?"

Hunk winced at the same time Lance did. It did not go unnoticed by Upta. While the coalition had soldiers and funds to spare, it did not have time to be orbiting a planet on the outskirts of a galaxy. Most coalition members spent their time shepherding supplies from planet to planet and going on undercover intel missions. Hunk tried to imagine Pidge's brother almost babysitting an entire race of people too cowardly to defend themselves with their own god-like weapons and had to stop himself from smiling uncontrollably.

Matt would hate that.

"That's a question that would be better answered by Princess Allura," Lance spoke, smoothly deflecting the question. "I'm sorry, Upta." Lance glanced subtly at Hunk, giving him a clear look. He was being too quiet for it to be comfortable for the Albi anymore.

"Yes," Hunk agreed almost too quickly. "We're just messengers. We're not sure of all the fine details."

That was apparently the wrong thing to say, judging by the way Upta's expression darkened. "Then why would this...Princess Allura not come to meet us herself?"

Hunk winced. "Uh…"

"She's currently negotiating the other coalition members to get supplies to your planet," Lance said, smooth and confident as ever. Hunk felt his chest swell with pride at the Blue Paladin's quick thinking. They'd have to deliver on that promise, but he was sure Allura wouldn't mind if it scored them another ally in the coming fight against the Galra. "She was hoping we would be able to convince you to allow us to…" Lance paused. He glanced helplessly at Hunk, out of ideas.

"To land the Castle of Lions," Hunk finished. "That way, we would be able to discuss terms over dinner served there." Upta's expression lightened considerably, though he was clearly more uncomfortable than when they had first landed in their lions. This was going downhill fast.

Upta cast a glance to the stone pillar Lance was still idling by. "I see. Well...it appears the Galra and Voltron have many things in common with their terms of alliance…" He paused almost deliberating his next words. Hunk found himself following Upta's gaze to the pillar. There was something embedded in there that he hadn't noticed before. A strange black shape lodged in between the large crack in the center of the pole.

What was that?

Hunk suddenly felt very cold. Something wasn't right here.

"Yes, well," Lance continued to speak, unaware of how wrong everything suddenly felt. "We are fighting for the freedom of all the known universe. The Galra are playing you and won't live up to their promises." Hesitation flashed in Upta's face for a split second and Lance's pleasant peacemaking smile stretched a little bit wider.

Maybe he had noticed something amiss...but thought he could amend it through words. Like Allura wanted. But the strange black box embedded in the pillar said otherwise, as did Hunk's writhing instincts.

They had to get out. Now, now, now.

"It's been great," Hunk said suddenly, unable to stop his tongue now. "But we should really get going and relay the rest of your terms to the Princess-"

"There is...one thing," Upta interrupted Hunk, crystalline eyes fixing upon the Yellow Paladin. Something was definitely wrong with that gaze now. Hunk tensed. "One thing that the Galra need in order for us to solidify our alliance."

Lance's smile faded. Hunk's stomach turned into spaghetti.

"What's that?" Lance asked, his hand drifting to his side. His finger twitched as Hunk went to do the same, holding his hand out to summon his bayard if needed.

This was all wrong.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Upta smiled wryly, withdrawing a thin black controller from the depths of his pocket. He held it in both hands, using another arm to hover above the almost comically large red button in the center. Hunk and Lance tensed, both afraid they had misread the situation and were about to ruin their chances of getting this alliance, but honestly, when were they going to get it in the first place?

"The Galra want…" Upta paused. For dramatic effect or because he was hesitating, Hunk wasn't sure anymore. "Our protection...for the lives of the Paladins of Voltron."

There was a flash of yellow and blue and both bayards burst into existence. The Albi all screeched, cowering back. Upta, to his credit, held strong through the obvious fear.

"I'm sorry," he said, and he sounded genuine. "But the Galra have made a better case...and I must preserve the legacy of my people."

The next moments seemed to happen in slow motion. Lance and Hunk both burst into movement as one of Upta's many thumbs came down on top of the button. It was pressed with a breathtaking air of finality, and Hunk felt like he was back on a war-torn battlefield, with a bomb in between him and Keith.

Upta threw the controller and turned on his spindly heel. He sprinted down the corridor, the Albi all dashing in his wake. Lance screamed something - in Spanish or English Hunk wasn't sure - as the tiny black box in the pillar exploded.

Granted, it wasn't as intense as an explosion as back then, but the heat seared Hunk's back. He turned around, glancing at Lance for what he hoped wasn't the last time because they could get out of this, they could, they could, they could-

The building began to crumble around them, enormous chunks of rubble smashing into the ground and shattering upon impact. Lance's expression shifted, looking at something beyond Hunk, and then set into a fine line. He sprinted forward, towards Hunk, his long body colliding with the larger one and knocking him sideways.

"Look out!"

Hunk hit the ground, his helmet smashing against the rubble first. He screamed, desperation clawing up his throat as he turned. "Lance!"

But Lance was gone.

In his place was an enormous pile of rubble, one that would have crushed Hunk were it not for Lance. He let out a cry, trying to search when rubble began raining around him. One smashed hard into his back and he threw his head forward, the glass of his visor shattering as he hit the ground. He let out a cry of pain, armor splintering as the rocks continued raining around him. His mind whirled, guilt festering in his gut as he tried to claw his way where Lance had just been.

But Lance was gone.

And Hunk gave into the darkness.

Hunk's head was pounding.

He felt like he had been put through the wringer, with every bone in his body aching in protest as he tried to move. He let out a low moan of pain as the world spun as he opened his eyes. The building had thankfully stopped shaking and was now just a ruin, a few walls still standing. Hunk didn't have time to wonder where Upta or the rest of the Albi had fled to. He had to find Lance.

Lance was gone.

No, he's not, Hunk thought firmly, trying to banish the thought through his pounding headache. He raised his head, supporting himself on his thankfully still intact forearms, and squinted around.

The room was dark, air filled with the remnants of dust and debris from the collapse of the building. Enormous boulders obscured any sort of exit, but Hunk didn't find himself caring about that. There were more important things at the moment. More importantly, how long was he out? And where was Lance?

Hunk dragged himself forwards, dislodging the rocks that had been pressing against his back. He moaned lowly in the back of his throat, freeing his legs next. He didn't want to chance standing, not while the world was spinning so violently that he felt like throwing up. Instead, he pulled himself across the floor, trying not to think about the shattered leg armor that was digging into his calves, or the crack in the yellow wrist piece.

He pulled himself to where he'd last seen Lance, reaching out to brush a few pieces of rock away. Desperation bubbled in his stomach, as he kept searching, using all of his diminished strength to push aside rocks that got increasingly harder to move.

"Come on," he murmured, voice low and gravelly. Broken in a way that an ancient building falling on your head could only bring out. "Where are you?"

Hunk shoved aside another rock, using both hands and his trembling shoulder to push it aside. It groaned as it slid across the floor, trailing marks until it rolled over with a thud. Hunk turned his attention back to the pile to see what the rock had uncovered, and felt his stomach bottom out.

Lance's armor.

It was just half of his arm, sticking out from underneath the worst of the rubble, but it was better than nothing. Hunk reached for it, whimpering in pain as his muscles stretched and pulled. He wouldn't be able to dig Lance out in this state, they'd just have to hold out until the team was able to receive the distress signal their armor automatically gave off upon being damaged.

"L-Lance…" Hunk's fingers brushed the Blue Paladin's. They did not so much as twitch. "Hermano…"

Hermano. Brother. It had been one of the first words Lance had taught Hunk to say in Spanish. It had become Lance unofficial nickname, something Hunk only used to really calm Lance down when he was getting particularly homesick.

Hunk turned Lance's wrist over. He was sickened at how it went without protest, his elbow turning in a way it wasn't supposed to. He fumbled for the armor, fingers clicking away the blue wrist piece. It fell away with a soft thud and Hunk wasted no time in pressing his finger to the inside of Lance's wrist.

There was nothing.

Hunk sobbed, dust lodging itself in his throat and making him choke. "Lance…"

Lance did not stir.

So many horrible scenarios popped into Hunk's head at what could have happened. Lance's neck could have been snapped upon first impact. His spine could have broken, leaving him to be slowly crushed over the hours Hunk had been unconscious. He could have died on the first impact, a boulder smashing itself into the side of his head.

Hunk hated it because he didn't know. He didn't know what had killed his best friend. He didn't know that the building was crumbling above him, about to crush his whole body, and he regretted not noticing - not being there - sooner.

Lance was dead.

Hunk sobbed again, his finger still pressed hard into Lance's glove. Hope flickered weakly in his chest. Maybe the flight suit was muffling the quiet heartbeat that showed that Lance was still alive, but he knew how unlikely that was. He didn't know how long he'd been unconscious for.

He pressed his hand to the back of his helmet, activating his comms. A wash of static greeted him, intermingled with panicked voices. Hunk whimpered as he heard Shiro and Pidge's voices, both calling words Hunk couldn't understand.

Hunk wished he'd died along with Lance. That way, he wouldn't have felt the crushing pain that now developed him, settling on his chest and slowly suffocating him. He could hardly breathe, the reminder that Lance was gone and wasn't coming back hurt so so badly.

"Lance…" he said again, as if saying his friend's name would bring him back. "L-Lance... por favor…Lance. You can't be...p-please...your family... your family…" Hunk's next gasp of air was shaky and laced with pain. His ribs burned. "Please you can't... you can't…"

Static buzzed in Hunk's ears. He heard Pidge say something incomprehensible, possibly an order or a status update, but he heard his name through it.

"Hang...coming... Hunk."

Hunk sobbed. "Lance."

He tightened his grip around Lance's limp hand, his finger almost crushing the Blue Paladin's wrist. He drew in a ragged breath, dust and debris cascading down his windpipe, and tried not to full on break down into horrified sobs.

Thump-thump.

Hunk gasped. He fumbled for Lance's wrist with both hands, pressing his thumbs into the skin. He paused, holding his breath, waiting for the next tell-tale sign of life.

Thump-thump.

A heartbeat. There, against Lance's wrist. Weak, too slow for it to be comfortable, but there. Lance was alive.

Hunk let out a watery cry of relief. He pulled himself upwards, ignoring the way the world lurched dangerously to the left. His legs trembled, blood seeping from the gashes made by his armor. He bit his lip to mask his cry of pain and placed both hands on the large boulder that was blocking his path. He pressed with all his weight and it groaned, shifting sideways.

A rush of air above him on his next push made Hunk glance up. The Green Lion was soaring above him through the star-speckled sky. It was a glorious sight, one that Hunk had almost been dreading a few minutes ago because that had meant that he had to break the news that Lance was dead.

But he wasn't now.

Hunk had been so close - too close - to losing his one anchor to home. To the Earth both he and Lance craved to see again so badly. To see their families, envelop their little siblings in bone-crushing hugs and just live again.

Hunk didn't realize how much he needed Lance. He needed his bright smiles, his dumb jokes, the awful pick-up lines he threw at Allura. Lance was one of a kind, and Hunk needed every minute he could with him.

The boulder groaned, shifting and rolling off of Lance's prone body. Hunk almost collapsed on top of it, favoring instead to drop to his knees next to the mangled mess of blue armor. Green landed next to the destroyed building, Shiro and Pidge sprinting out of her open maw. Hunk leaned forward, rolling Lance over.

His shoulder was sagging strangely, both of his legs twisted in ways that they shouldn't have. He'd likely almost broken every bone in his body, but the crushed armor around his neck had spared his neck and spine from being completely crushed. Hunk pulled Lance into his lap, letting out a cry of relief.

Lance was alive.

It was evident from the soft, small breaths Lance breathed against his face. From the way his heart beat against his chest, pumping oxygen and blood all through his system.

Lance was alive.

Hunk felt like he was in a daze as Shiro and Pidge arrived. Shiro wasted no time in gathering Lance into his arms, deftly ignoring the way Lance's long limbs hung in ways they shouldn't, and ran back to Green. Pidge helped Hunk stand, her small hand planted on his back.

Hunk all but collapsed in the cockpit, sitting with Lance's head in his lap. He looked so small and battered, blood staining his face from a cut just above his eyebrow and matting in his hair. But he was alive.

Hunk supposed that was what mattered when it came to them all. Every day it was a deadly dance for their lives, as they set out to accomplish what others had failed, what only they could do. They may have gotten grievously injured, but they had still come out on top against all odds. They survived far more than they should have, fought in a war that wasn't fair, and despite being nothing but children, they lived. They came through together. As a family.

They were all still alive.

And that was what really mattered.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I '

I completely slipped that it was Friday and didn't post the chapter until I realized lmfao but it's here! The chapter is here, I promise! Thank you all so much for reading this whumpy series - it was a gift to write up until the very end.

Rehabilitated Sith: OKAY LOOK I WANT TO WRITE A FIX-IT FOR THAT EXACT EPISODE BECAUSE GOD DAMMIT KEITH YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT- Don't get me wrong, I love VLD and the show and all of its characters but there was so much that was left unsaid. Keith's suicide attempt, Lance's broadsword, the aftermath of the Keith v. Shiro fight, a resolution between Keith and James Griffin, Shiro genuinely mourning Adam, I could keep going. I do plan to write fix-it fics for all of these at some point, and maybe an alternate ending to s8 because god that whole season just rubbed me the wrong way. Didn't help that Shiro and Keith hardly even acknowledged each other's existence? GTYHUJ Thank god for fix-it fics, honestly. I love love love the show, and I adore every single character and I loved all of their developments (aside from Lance's but that is a whole different can of worms lmao) but I digress and I'm rambling haha! Thank you so much for reading! 3