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Keith settled Black in Zelk's orbit and examined the infamous cloud cover enveloping the planet. The dark clouds shimmered with lightning like glowing embers.
In the copilot seat, Shiro was admiring the spectacle too; the lights were reflecting in his soulful eyes. Keith ached to sit closer to him, to lean on him like when they stargazed together. He loosened his hands from the controls and stretched his arms, getting rid of some of the tension.
"Looks cool, right?"
The right corner of Shiro’s mouth turned up into a lopsided grin. "It's beautiful."
This mission was a bold bet, a last chance. Zelk was inaccessible for half of its solar rotation because of the uninterrupted storms, and the planet's atypical magnetic field interfered with navigation systems.
Yet, the Zelkans needed help now. When the population had revolted, the Empire soldiers had set fire to the food stocks before leaving. The Zelkans were left without any provisions for the storm season. The casualties would be immense without a food delivery.
No usual spaceship could make it—but a Voltron Lion might. Hunk and Pidge had equipped Black with stabilizers, additional thrusters for fine control, and suitable navigation instruments. Two pilots were needed to handle it all. Keith was excited. Teaming up with Shiro felt like they could manage anything—including flying through the worst weather conditions in the known universe.
The Zelk base gave them the go-ahead for landing.
"Ready?" Shiro asked with another devastating smile.
"Let’s rock!"
Keith pushed the control sticks down, his heartbeat accelerating as the Lion gained speed.
As they entered the cloud cover, visibility dropped to zero, the holoscreens displayed error messages, and red alarm light flooded the cockpit. The hull was vibrating loudly. Keith gripped the controls tightly to stay on course. Shiro calculated a trajectory and shared it on a holoscreen. Without visibility or magnetic compass, Keith was thankful to have a path to follow.
The flight was much longer than their usual atmospheric entries. Shiro constantly had to adjust the trajectory. Despite Shiro's help with the thrusters, Keith's hands were numb from clutching the uncooperative control sticks.
A loud crash. A bright flash illuminating the cockpit. A strong scent of ozone.
Shiro's excited laugh startled Keith, who was still struggling to catch his breath.
“Shiro?”
“It's all right. First time you got hit by lightning?"
Keith let out a chuckle. "Yup!"
Lightning was of no danger to flying crafts, but Keith worried Black might be hurt.
“You OK, buddy?” Keith asked, patting the control board. Black replied with a disgruntled growl.
“Keith…”
Something in Shiro’s tone turned Keith’s blood to ice. He followed Shiro's wide-eyed stare and gasped. A tornado was straight ahead.
“Fuck. How did this happen so fast?!”
“I don’t know. But we need to get out of here.”
If Keith hadn't known him so well, he might have missed the panic gathering at the edge of Shiro's voice.
The two threw themselves at the controls, but despite their combined efforts, Black was getting sucked into the funnel cloud.
On top of the winds' deafening noise, heavy thumps resonated against the hull; debris, and hail.
Keith's stomach lodged in his throat as Black plummeted for thousands of feet, before being carried high up again.
For a brief instant, Black stilled. The visibility improved, and the wind fell. Keith's ears popped painfully. He made eye contact with Shiro, realizing it might be their last moments. He searched for the right words. Shiro beat him to it.
"Keith… In case I don't get another chance… I love you. I wanted to tell you for so long, but…"
Black got swept up into the storm again.
"Shiro! I love you too!" Keith yelled desperately, trying to cover the roar.
"I know!" Shiro shouted in response.
The clouds parted just in time for Keith to see jagged, snowy peaks jump towards them. In the following crash, he got jerked out of his pilot seat and slammed against the control panel.
Ignoring the blinding pain, Keith pushed himself up and looked for Shiro. His heart sank when he spotted him lying crumpled on the ground, unmoving.
“Shiro?”
No response. Keith felt bile rising in his throat.
This couldn’t be. After everything he'd been through, Shiro couldn't die like that. Not now. It wasn't fair.
Keith crawled clumsily towards Shiro and peered through his visor. Shiro's eyes were closed, his face pale like that of a ghost. Keith used the med scan to check his vitals. Relief washed over him as it showed Shiro’s heartbeat, strong and stable.
Shiro moaned and opened his eyes. As his gaze focused on Keith, a faint smile stretched his lips.
"Hey."
“Hey. You scared the shit out of me.”
Shiro huffed out a laugh and attempted to get up. Keith shuffled closer to help him into a seated position.
“Careful, you might have a concussion,” Keith warned.
“Hmm. How are you?"
"Fine. Mostly. I think."
Shiro frowned. He pointed his own med scan at Keith.
“I wouldn't call that fine. But you're in no immediate danger, thankfully.”
Keith had to look away. He couldn't believe that even in this state, Shiro would worry for him. The cockpit was dark, but Black’s presence was still nestled in the telepathic bond.
“You OK, Black?”
As if in response, the holoscreens lit up.
“—do you copy?”
The commander’s voice was frantic.
"We hear you, Zelk," Keith answered. "We have… a minor delay."
"We saw you crash! Should we send a rescue party?"
Shiro brought up their position—quite close to their destination.
"We're close enough that Black could run to the base. Easier than flying. Do you feel up for it?"
Keith nodded.
"Zelk base, we're heading for you," Shiro announced. "No need for a rescue party."
“Copy. We'll have a medical team waiting."
"Appreciated."
Keith helped Shiro back into his seat.
"Hang in there. We'll be there soon."
“Don’t worry, Keith," Shiro replied. "I trust you to save me.”
And he fucking winked.