Author's Notes:

Hi! Welcome to the thunderdome:)

So I wrote this during my AP exam, and I've publishing these chapters on AO3, but I though that it would be fun to post stuff here also- you all have been really nice about "Vinic Ways", so… here!

Shockingly, I don't own anything from Voltron. It's also not beta read- any mistakes are my own. Feel free to call me out:D

Chapter 1- Not Safe

Not for the first time, Shiro really missed being alive.

Wait. Wait. That sounded morbid.

He was alive, in a sense. But it wasn't the state of being he needed to be in. Sure, he could move, talk, think, whatever the hell else his heart desired.

Well, almost anything.

The last thing Shiro remembered was a bright light, then nothing. Silence. Nothing about it was familiar, yet he knew he was safe. There was a gentle humming in the back of his mind. A purr. He'd smiled gently, knowing that sound anywhere.

It hadn't taken long from there to figure out where he was. Black had, in a desperate attempt to not lose a second paladin, forced Shiro into her Astral Plane. She'd noted, not without a hint of pride, that she'd managed to save his physical body too. Shiro didn't bother asking how. He'd ask Pidge or Allura when he got out.

That plan hit the proverbial wall (the astral plane was an endless space of emptiness and haunting purple that was just blue enough to not be… you know…) when Black admitted she couldn't let him out. Not safe, she'd growled. Stay safe, then go back.

Whatever the hell that meant.

God, Pidge would so be on him for using language like this. She had a repertoire of words to impress a sailor that he tried to repress in her. She was fifteen for goodness' sake! If he couldn't save her innocence from the war, he'd damn well make sure that she kept what little modesty she still kept a hold of.

She didn't always share the sentiment.

Just thinking of Pidge made him think of the team, and his heart clenched in worry.

He'd promised himself he'd keep them safe. He was their leader; it was his job. What if something happened to them, something he could have prevented, but he hadn't been there?

It had only gotten worse from there. He set up camp in Black's head and found all the same supplies he was used to. He was able to speak with Black anywhere in the Astral Plane, but found it to be clearest when he was near her. The other lions would join the conversation every now and then, saying their greetings and apologies that he was stuck. They spoke fine, but had a fickle relationship with pronouns. Shiro was "Black Paladin", Keith was "Red Paladin", Lance was "Blue Paladin", Hunk was "Yellow Paladin", Pidge was "Green Paladin", Allura "the Altean", and Coran was "the Advisor". "Lion" stood in for "you" or "I". Otherwise, the Lion's referred to each other by their colors.

Blue sounded especially bitter that Black was keeping Shiro hostage.

What do you mean, 'not safe'? she snapped as Black defended herself yet again. Shiro quirked a theoretical eyebrow at his lion, agreeing with Blue.

My Paladin not safe.

Red joined the conversation there. Not safe for all! Paladins need Black Paladin! she hissed. Shiro honestly didn't know if actual lions did hiss. Maybe Hunk knew.

Paladins will be fine! Black asserted, her tone brokering no room for argument. Shiro felt the other lion's anger through the mental link. Yellow entered then, voice gentle.

What about Voltron? Shiro's eyes widened. What about Voltron? They'd need a new black paladin if Black was adamant about keeping Shiro in here. A conversation flitted in Shiro's ears.

"I want you to lead"

Keith. Black wanted Keith to take over instead. Had she lost her mind? Keith wasn't ready! He was grieving, heck, the whole team was! Red caught on that her paladin was being discussed and gave a decisive 'Hell no' that Shiro seconded wholeheartedly.

Red must Black implored. Red shook her head. Shiro put his hands on his hips. "If it isn't safe for me to be your pilot, how is it safe for Keith?"

Black didn't answer.

It isn't, Green accused, understanding lighting her thoughts.

Who is Black to decide their fates? Blue asked. Shiro could feel her hackles raise.

Red Paladin will take over, Black finalized, and Shiro's fists clenched at his sides. Of course Keith would do it. He was loyal and stubborn like that. And Shiro knew he'd be great.

But he also knew that Keith wouldn't want to. Keith wouldn't want to be a leader. "You can't force him to do this," Shiro said, noting that he sounded much more confident than he thought he was. "It's not fair."

The others echoed his sentiments. "Besides," he said, leaning against the pilot's seat he'd come to view as a second home, "who would pilot Red?"

Blue Paladin.

"Lance?!" Shiro yelped. The Blue Lion's consciousness surged forward, nearly knocking Shiro over with the force of it.

NO!

I won't do it, Red snapped, supporting Blue. Blue Paladin will never be my pilot. Blue stiffened at that, her anger suddenly directed at the Red Lion.

Why not? Has My Paladin not proven himself? Helped Red pilot through much?

Red scoffed, her pride warring with her sense. Blue Paladin is nowhere near My Paladin's level. Too emotional. No control.

I thought Keith was the emotional one- wasn't that the point of the Red Lion?

Oh really? Blue drawled, and Shiro almost laughed at how much like Lance she sounded. Who is one helping Red Paladin even now? Her attention turned to Shiro. Red Paladin was Black Paladin right hand?

"Yes he was." Shiro didn't miss the quiet purr of pleasure from Red.

Does Black Paladin not see similar thing happening?

"Well, I don't know. Usually those two fight a lot."

Don't see at all, My Paladin, Black said gently. Red's indignance flickered through the connection.

Shiro gasped as the windows in front of him changed, and he could suddenly see the Black Lion's hanger. "What is this?" he asked.

Go and see. For a moment, Shiro thought she'd released him. Then come back. Nope. Nevermind. Shiro slammed a hand against the back of the pilot's seat. "Why are you being so difficult?!"

No answer. Shiro sighed, taking a step out of Black's cockpit.

The feeling of home that hit him the moment he touched the floor of the hanger was almost enough to make him forget his frustration. "I hope you see how ridiculous you're being!" Shiro called back, ignoring the huff of anger sent in his direction. Before he reached the entrance, he turned around, opening his arms in a "see?" gesture. "Look! It's very safe!" he called before walking through the curiously open door.

Walking down the familiar halls, Shiro still wasn't able to shake the feeling of wrong. This wasn't right. He shouldn't be here in spirit, he should be there for real! Keeping his team afloat! Being there for them! But no. He was playing house with an overgrown cat with a protection complex to rival Lance's.

Speaking of Lance…

Now that Shiro thought about it, what Blue and Black were saying made sense. Barring the insanity of Black forcing Keith to be the leader, Lance was the only choice that made sense for the Red Lion. He was strong, dependable. He balanced Keith pretty well, actually. Where Keith was distant, Lance was emotional and immersive.

It dawned on Shiro he'd never once told Lance any of that. None of them had. It'd never crossed his mind.

When he made it to the Paladins, it was chaos. Frankly, Shiro didn't catch much of what was going on, he was too caught up in what he was seeing. His team. Alive. Unharmed. Stressed, sure. But they were okay. Shiro let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. The lions huffed in indignance in the back of his head. He apologized for doubting them with the safety of his team.

After getting over the initial reaction, Shiro realized they were fighting. Arguing. Over what?

Over My Paladin, Black supplied. Shiro started. "Me? Why?"

Voltron needs a leader, Yellow explained.

Voltron has a leader, Red snapped, and Shiro could feel the wrath echoed from Blue. Black Paladin is Voltron leader! Black Paladin should be with Voltron!

Shiro wouldn't pretend to disagree.

"I don't want to be the leader! That's just what Shiro wanted!" Shiro froze, tuning in at Keith's words. Oh buddy… I'm so sorry.

"What are you talking about?" Hunk's words had Shiro regretting everything he had said to Keith on that planet. He wished he could take the words back. Take the responsibility. Pidge, glasses glinting, looked up at the boy (he was so young- they were all so young-)

"Shiro wanted you to be his successor, didn't he?"

Lance, surveying the situation, joined in. Something about his words seemed off. "Well I never heard Shiro say that, and how convenient that you're bringing it up now when Shiro's gone."

Lance what are you doing?

"You want the job so badly? You can have it!"

Shiro missed the rest of the conversation. In a blink he was back in Black's hanger, though he wasn't in the Astral plane yet.

"What are you doing?" he yelled. "They need me in there! They're falling apart!"

Not safe for My Paladin. Wait.

"For what?!" Shiro's flesh hand ran through his hair in frustration. "What could possibly be worth this?!"

Wait.

"Blue? Red? Any thoughts?"

What did Black Paladin see?

"They're falling apart, Blue! They're falling apart and there's nothing I can do!" Shiro stood in front of Black, waving his hands like a maniac. He didn't bother checking his actions; it wasn't like the others could see him. "Are you all satisfied? Do you feel better knowing that you've put my team, your paladins," Shiro spat the phrase, "through this?" There was a beat of silence.

Then: Lions didn't know it had gotten so bad, Black admitted. Not until My Paladin went.

"...Can you guys not see what's happening?"

My Paladin has shut Lion out, Red explained, sounding bitter. Lion only knows what My Paladin wants to admit. Which is nothing.

Shiro would have laughed at the statement had the situation been more laughable. "That sounds like Keith."

Yellow and Green only get flashes from their paladins. Emotions, thoughts. Were also unaware. Black seemed a little concerned, at least. It was better than the cold detachment Shiro had heard before.

"What about you, Blue?"

My Paladin is worried. No surprise there. Misses you, Black Paladin. Shiro's heart hurt at that, but he pushed it aside. That was to be solved later with a long-overdue hug (when was the last time their group had hugged?). "Can you get anything else?" If anyone was going to share, it'd be Lance. Hunk was Shiro's first thought for sharing, but he supposed the Yellow Paladin was self-aware enough to just talk it out with Lance, not bottle or repress it for his lion to access.

Blue thought for a moment, seemingly focusing. My Paladin is blocking Lion. All Lion can see are apologies and concern.

"Oh."

For the Red Paladin.

"Oh." Before Shiro could question that further, voices flooded the hanger. The Paladins. "What are they doing here?"

They've come to see Lion. Before Shiro could snipe back "no shit", it dawned on him what Black was saying.

"They're coming to be your Paladin." The lion's silence was all the confirmation Shiro needed. "Black, please. Don't do this to them. Don't do this to Keith."

Again, all he got was silence.

In the cockpit, Shiro watched with fond eyes as all the paladins sat in the seat, speaking to the Black Lion. He muffled a laugh at Hunk and Pidge's antics. Through the connection to the lions, Shiro could feel that they're hearts weren't in it. They were just participating on principle. He kneeled in front of Allura, trying to get her to understand that she didn't have to do this. She didn't hear. Lance came in, muttering about "his moment". All Shiro could feel, though, was fear. He wasn't sure of what, though. Black and Blue didn't seem to know either. When Lance left, Shiro caught a hint of absolute dread trailing behind.

As with all the others, Shiro let out a breath of relief that Black didn't activate. He knew she wouldn't, but still. They shouldn't even be in this war, let alone be leading it.

Then Keith walked in.

He sat down in the chair heavily, looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. And, Shiro thought guiltily, he supposed he did.

"I know you wanted this for me, Shiro," Keith said softly. Shiro placed a hand on Keith's shoulder. It phased through, and Shiro flinched at the reminder that he wasn't there. "But I'm not you." Well, that hurt. "I can't lead them like you."

"You shouldn't have to," Shiro said softly, knowing that Keith couldn't hear him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Red agreed stiffly. "Black, come on-!" Shiro ended in choked gasp as the lion lit up, screens appearing with statistics and schematics.

"Please, no!" Keith whispered.

"Black, please!" Shiro begged. "Don't make him do this!"

The lion didn't respond. Shiro slammed a hand against the console to his left. Amazingly enough, he didn't phase through. No sound was made, however, so there was no way to tell Keith that he wasn't alone. "I'm sorry, Keith. I'm so sorry." When he looked up, Keith had risen, walking out to meet the others. Shiro looked up. "We're not done," he hissed before following the boy.

Allura was trying to help as best she could, and Shiro felt his heart clench that he couldn't do more. "I'm proud of you, Keith. I wish you were getting the job under better circumstances but congratulations."

"Congratulations, Keith," Pidge chimed in warmly.

"Yeah, ditto." Keith didn't react to their warm remarks, only looking up sternly, eyes flashing.

"No. I don't accept this." The others gasped. Shiro glared at the lion behind him. "Yeah," he said, "you shouldn't have to."

"You must. The Black Lion has chosen you."

"I can't replace Shiro! You guys were right: I'm the loner. I'm not the leader Shiro thought I was."

Before Shiro could process the bombshell that was, Lance stepped forward. "Keith, no one can replace Shiro. But the Black Lion wouldn't choose anybody it didn't feel was worthy to lead Voltron. I respect its choice. And you should too."

"Red," Shiro called, "is this what Blue was talking about?"

Apparently.

"But who's going to fly the red lion?"

Shiro grimaced. This should go over well.

Author's Notes:

Expect me to post all nine chapters that I have tonight. After that… I have no idea how consistent I'll be.

Also- how the heck do I do author's notes on here?! I'm really just typing these onto the doc and hoping for the best. If one of you savvy people could direct this tired highschooler in the ways of this site, please I would owe you forever 3

I'm really only writing this for detail management and to work on staying concise (haha it's going so well already). Also my characterization consistency is absolute trash, so any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

I get that I'm like two years late to the fandom but it's fine- I like it here.

Thanks so much for reading this!

*confetti*

Stay tuned!

Peasant out!