Chapter Text
Keith quit Voltron.
He stopped being a paladin, and joined some Galra gang. Okay, the Blade of Marmora was an important ally and extremely helpful organization to restore peace and harmony, whatever. They didn’t have any giant metal animals, so they weren’t that cool.
Lance was smashing ‘a’ on his controller, leaning forward, and gritting his teeth. He was going to beat this level. If he could defend the universe, he could get to freaking level five of this dumb video game Pidge programed. Pidge had started it up, and then immediately set off to track down someone who knew someone who knew something about her brother, Matt.
Lance wasn’t going to be seeing his family anytime soon. And he certainly would not be quitting Voltron.
Waaa waaaa, the screen faded to black, and a skull and cross bones appeared.
He didn’t beat the level.
Lance pulled himself up and threw down his controller with a huff. He didn’t even like this game anyway. It was an annoying game, that always pissed him off, and started fights, and he was glad to be done with it. He gave the controller a small kick for good measure, and left to go find someone to hang out with.
- - -
“Hey! Pidge is back!” Hunk exclaimed.
Lance watched the green lion approach with Hunk, Coran, Allura, and Shiro. Pidge stepped out of her lion, grinning down at the mice that had rushed to see her, and then gestured to the man behind her, “Hey everybody. This is my brother, Matt.”
“Hey everybody,” Matt spoke, with a hopeful smile.
Lance could feel shock exuding from his teammates. After all this time, Pidge did it. As the realization sank in, the excitement grew. Allura and Coran kept looking from Matt to Pidge, noting the similarities between them. Shiro was grinning like a child on Christmas, and Hunk was tearing up. Lance felt like he was about to bounce off the walls. He was so happy for Pidge, he wished there was an emergency confetti canon on the ship. An intergalactic family reunion called for confetti.
“Matt, this is Lance, Hunk, Coran, Allura, and of course, Shiro. You, uh, know him.”
Shiro was at Matt’s side in an instant, pulling him in for a hug. “It’s good to see you, Holt.” Shiro gave him a squeeze. Matt closed his eyes, remembering all those times he’d dreamed of exactly this. Of course, in his dreams he’d reunited with Shiro and his family on Earth, but a space palace was just fine. They pulled apart, and Matt grinned.
“I can’t believe my sister found you before finding me,” Matt joked, and Shiro put an arm on his shoulder and laughed.
Pidge interjected, “Technically, Keith found Shiro.”
“And so did I,” Lance spoke up.
“Technically, you found Keith,” Pidge smirked. Lance let it slide, because this was a happy, family moment, and because hearing someone mention Keith sort of felt like talking about a ghost.
“It’s a pleasure to meet the brother of Pidge,” Allura stepped forward, beaming. “Allow me to welcome you to the castle.”
Matt did a doubletake. He physically looked at Allura, looked back at Shiro, and then swerved his head back to look at Allura again. He instantly saw a frame of roses and glitter form around her beautiful face, and heard the distinct saxophone melody of Careless Whisper start to play.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Matt considered going down on one knee right then and there, but she was obviously alien so she probably wouldn’t understand an Earth marriage proposal.
Lance felt a flare of frustration, like he’d just died on the last level of a video game but hadn’t saved since level two. He glared at Matt, furiously.
Allura’s cheeks turned pinker than usual, and she gave an amused laugh. Shiro glanced at his long lost friend, equally amused. Hunk just snorted. The only paladin Lance liked at the moment was Pidge, who rolled her eyes and slapped Matt’s arm.
“You’re embarrassing me in front of my co-workers,” she yanked him toward the hallway, “C’mon, I want to give you a tour!”
- - - -
A varga later, Lance was waiting at the kitchen table, sipping his milkshake patiently. He would not let brain freeze affect him (again). Suddenly, Pidge and Matt strolled into the dining room, obviously another stop of their tour.
“And this is where we eat and stuff,” Pidge gestured, “and this is Lance, again. He’s the old blue paladin, and the new red paladin. It’s complicated.”
“So you’re like the purple paladin,” Matt nodded at Lance, appreciatively, “because you can pilot either-“
“I’m going to stop you right there, Pidge’s brother,” Lance stood and pushed in his chair. Matt shut his mouth and quirked his eyebrows at Pidge. Before she could speak, Lance continued, “I’m totally onto your little scheme. I know your game plan. I can see the gears whirling away in your think tank.”
Pidge nodded, “Yeah, this is about an average amount of Lance’s ridiculousness. You’ll build up tolerance, soon enough. The rest of us are immune by now.”
“He knows what I’m talking about,” Lance narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger gun at Matt. “He’s planning to make some moves on Princess Allura. Well, I won’t stand for it.”
Matt choked on a laugh, while Pidge choked on her disgust.
“I’m sorry,” Matt tried to match Lance’s seriousness, “are you two together?”
“Yes,” Lance firmly nodded.
“No!” Pidge scrunched up her face, “Gross. Matt, I want to show you my room.”
“Lead the way, Pidge,” Matt smiled down at his sister, and Lance felt his own heart swell. He could feel the familial love radiating off the pair, and it made smile despite himself. Pidge grabbed Matt’s arm and started walking toward her room. Lance was going to let them go, but Matt called over his shoulder,
“We’ll finish this conversation, later, Pidge’s friend.”
- - - - -
Dinner with Matt on the ship had been a new experience. Lately, Lance felt like he’d been monologuing at the table, while occasionally Hunk laughed. But by bringing home Matt, Pidge had also brought home hope.
“Shiro was such a teacher’s pet,” Matt dished, and Lance internally decided to call a truce until he could confront the girlfriend stealer after dinner.
“That is such a lie,” Shiro seemed revived with energy and smiles, “Holt, you were top of the class.”
“There’s a difference between being the smartest, and being the teacher’s pet,” Matt smirked. He turned toward his thoroughly entertained audience, “Shiro brought an apple to every teacher on the first day of school. And he used to babysit Professor Throne’s kids once a month. For free.”
Shiro flushed, but his smiled never wavered, “It’s called respecting your elders. Maybe you could give it a try.”
“Being two years older than me does not make you my elder,” Matt wagged his finger at Shiro, “However going to bed every night at 9, and actually liking bran muffins, that does.”
“A week of this goo, and you’ll be dreaming of bran muffins,” Hunk warned Matt, who laughed.
“As long as you’re making milkshakes, I’m not worried,” Matt assured him. “Hey, is there a chicken on this ship? Cause, if we had eggs, and made a flour substitute,”
“The possibilities would be endless,” Hunk finished his sentence, slowly nodding, “Dude. I love the way you think.”
“Dad used to make the best muffins,” Matt looked to Pidge for confirmation.
“We’ll get all the ingredients ready now, and then when we find him, we can celebrate with baking!” Pidge planned excitedly.
Matt glanced back at Shiro, “They’re banana, not bran. So don’t get your hopes up.”
“Are muffins an Earth delicacy?” Allura inquired.
“Muffins aren’t, but I most certainly am,” Matt shot her a love struck smile. Flowers sprung up around her face, and he started hearing the first few notes of Careless Whisper again, until Lance’s voice blurted,
“Right in front of my salad?” Lance looked personally victimized by Matt. Why’d he have to flirt with Allura, and ruin the most fun family dinner they’d had in a while?
Matt, Shiro, and Allura all looked confused, while Pidge and Hunk tried to stifle their laughter.
“Is this supposed to be the salad?” Matt squinted at Lance’s goo.
“No, Matt, it’s a meme,” Pidge clarified.
Matt looked over Lance with a new appreciation, “You know memes?”
Lance straightened up his shoulders and puffed out his chest, “Of course. Do you?”
“I may have missed a few recent ones while being lost in space,” Matt allowed, “But back at the Garrison, I was a meme king.”
Hunk fist pumped the air, “Yes! A fellow meme connoisseur.”
“Are memes an Earth delicacy?” Allura titled her head slightly.
“Yes,” Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Matt answered in perfect unison.