Chapter Text
In this reality of the world, people are born with what is called 'voltron' or a 'talent', which is a capacity specific to an individual ; what makes them special, what makes them shine. In old fairy tales and in sweet imagination, people used to say that it was caused by shooting stars actually falling on earth and being called by our hearts - and they were the reason why the night are so beautiful here-. It's poetic and very cute but it actually feels a bit overrated. All Lance ever saw were capacities like reading multiple books at once or being able to see the sounds - yeah it's beautiful and it can sometimes come in handy or just makes your life a little lighter but honestly ? Fucking stars falls on the ground and they just make able to read all the volumes of your book series faster ? Hell, just sounds like you get bored and frustrated faster.
When he was a little, Lance liked to read these fairy tales and mangas about real special talent, real voltron. The kind that would be amazing to look at, like a thousand purple-nuanced fireworks exploding at the same time. Like super heroes ; really cool people who would get everybody mesmerized by them and saves the day and help everyone and stuff. Super shooting star dust doing super things. It would be amazing to be special like that.
So little Lance daydreamed about the day he would become a special star ; he believed really hard that he would make it, that if it was him he would do it - it's a thing so pure how kids can believe so strongly in their dreams ; so pure and at the same time, so heart breaking… He waited for so many years (everyday feeling like a day in December) that when it manifested in the form of 'being loved and understood by animals' little Lance couldn't help but to feel deceived. So that was his thing huh ? And what would he be able to do with that ? Adding that with these pride-crisis children come through when they start growing up, it was enough to break little Lance's dream.
But even if he was now faced towards harsh reality - about how only special people got to be special and to shine naturally like a real shooting star and how other had to stay in the dark of the sky, behind them and invisible to others - Lance couldn't help but keep on watching the beautiful starry night and believing. Which gave him the strength and motivation to actually work hard on himself ; even though he was no genius he worked and tried hard at studies, often staying inside with books, while other kids were outside playing. It was hard but if Lance didn't work that much, he wouldn't be in the higher half of his class and would be more far away from special. But being instructed isn't all ; Lance always thought about how stars were special in every one of their branch, so he put a lot on pressure on him to work hard on all of his aspect. Which involved having that perfect glow on a clear skin, shining hair and teeth, perfectly healthy body, a workout routine, nice smiles to throw now and then, beautiful catch phrase to attract people. Actually, it was all about attracting people ; Lance dreamed about someone who would look at him with stars in their eyes. Being loved was all he was asking while working hard like that.
But still, it was hard to work to be on top when you were feeling like you were nothing special. Like, shouldn't you shine in your own eyes before expecting to shine in someone else's ? Otherwise it's kinda stupid and sad ; well this is actually what Pidge told him. She added that he was trying too hard and that he was more pitiful acting like that. It was actually the first thing she said to him, and it caused them to fight and ending in detention. Of course, they became friends after that because, making someone mad and fighting you is the best way to understand them better and thus creating strong bonds. Pidge's voltron was technology by the way ; she was a real genius with her brain and her hands ; there was so many things she could build ! Lance was mesmerized each time he saw one her inventions ; but at the same time he couldn't help but feel his stomach tighten. Being told that you were trying too hard by someone who didn't even have to try hard before creating piece of metal art was kinda frustrating.
On the other side, Hunk told Lance that everybody was special and unique no matter what. And that was the thing with Hunk ; he was an absolute sweet heart. His sweet like candy personality went beautifully well with his voltron : "cooking food that warmed your inside". Honestly, falling upon a friend like Hunk was Lance's salvation. He was just like these big teddy bear that were all big, fluffy and smelled all pastries. Hunk always recomforted Lance and always made sure that his friend would feel good, may it be by using his words or his cookies. It was sweet but in the same feeling as with Pidge, bitter. Hunk was amazing in all aspect and he could always manage to get everyone warm but Lance would sometimes wonder bitterly if he deserved to be treated so kindly and if he could even help Hunk as much as he helped him ? Man, anxiety was so vicious.
And each day, anxiety, bitter sweet dreams and hard work would mix together inside of Lance's heart. It wasn't perfect and sometimes it really felt too heavy, but knowing his efforts made him his family pride made it feel more bearable. Seeing his mom smiles each time he would bring school's test he worked hard for was his best feeling ; if only Lance could see that these smiles were directed at his hard work and not at the red mark.
He liked to feel like he was his small family's hero ; how his baby siblings would look up to him and how he could help them.
It was actually what made his voltron more bearable ; even though he was reluctant at assuming it at first, since he was kinda good at using it, his family was living a worry-less life, as the government gave money to kids who were good at using their voltron.
At least his voltron actually worth something. Even though it wasn't special, it was helpful for the one he cared about.
But of course, it wasn't what special voltron could get. Actually, if one was really good at wielding it or caught eyes (or if you just got money to spend) you could aim for the Olympus Academy ; a place full of prodigious and special voltrons and super elitist school with lot of demands. To Lance, it appeared as a very sparkling place, like a star cluster, where stars would gather because they all shined. Being a Olympus student, that would mean something, being special and helping him cope with his low self-esteem, Lance was sure. Secretly, he would work extra harder in order to get accepted into his dream nebula.
But was it even possible for someone average with no special talent to actually succeed ? Thinking that it was, definitely helped Lance a lot, but it was still a lot of work and time spent home alone. It made his mother starts to worry though. Her son was still young but didn't look like he was enjoying life as he should at his age. Even though for some people, work only made them glow ; she was sure that Lance's best glow needed something else or someone else.
"You don't have to cook for the twins tonight, I already prepared everything." Angela (Lance's mother) smiled, to what Lance twisted his mouth into an embarrassed wince.
"You don't have to, I usually do it."
"Seeing you working so hard, I felt like it. Don't you think coming home to a sweet already cooked diner feels best than coming to an empty house ? Don't you feel alone Lance ?"
The embarrassed face wouldn't go off from Lance's. "Mama, working isn't about feeling alone or not. Don't worry about me." Lance hated when he got his mother worried about him, he felt like he was failing somehow.
But Angela didn't understand her son that way. She came closer to Lance, who was sitting at his desk, trying to work (but physics was really hard for him to get into, so he was actually daydreaming about being awesome and good at everything and having shiny hair and teeth.)
"But you spend so much time alone, mijo." Angela pouted, it was kinda funny since she was an adult and pouted like a kid, and Lance tried hard to not let a smile show. But he was caught off-guard so he just offered his mother a sorry-but-don't-worry smile.
"Well at least you can still smile." Angela smiled sadly too before putting softly her arms around her son's neck and torso. The contact was so soft and so warm, they both closed their eyes.
"You're always so warm mama…" Lance hummed.
"It's important to give people some warmth." she hummed back. "It helps both tenants…"
Angela opened her eyes and started to gaze into the distance while reflecting on what she just said. It remembered her of something she thought before.
"Love and care is important, and if you give love it helps you too…"
Lance was half listening half relaxing from his mother's touch so he didn't notice her change of tone.
"And you have so much love and care in you Lance. You're… You're a very sweet person."
"Yeah… ? Thank you mama." Lance finally opened his eyes, a bit taken aback by this sweet but sudden declaration.
"And this is the special thing about you. It's… perfect ! Really."
Lance raised his eyebrows in confusion as he turned his face toward his mother. Their nose bopped and he could see her eyes shining from very close. She was such a kid.
"What do you think Lance ? About giving a black cat some love ?"
"…. What ?" Now his face was entirely twisted in utter confusion.
"A small black cat, he's always lying near the station. He seems so alone and he has deadly eyes, once I tried to talk with him and to give him pastry but he just scratched me and threw it violently on the floor. I keep thinking about him."
Her eyes were glittering much more now ; and Lance's confusion was now twisted in a where the fuck are you going with that typa face.
"What do you think ?"
"He's violent, stop going near him."
"But he's so lonely."
"Yeah, I guess he is." Lance answered sarcastically.
"Just like you. Don't you think it might be nice to give love like that ? And… it's your voltron isn't it ? If it's you, everything will end up lovely."
Lance lost his gaze into his mother's deep eyes ; they could be so convincing, just what you'd expect from a mother's.
"A black cat huh…"
"Sí, a cute little black kitty... If I brought him home, would you be happy Lance ? If I brought back a friend for you ?"
Lost in thoughts, Lance didn't even notice he nodded his head.
After that discussion, he would often lose himself in thought again. A black cat huh… Don't they say it brings bad luck or something like that ? Lance didn't know if he actually believed these stories or not ; he was actually more pre occupied with the fact of having to take care of an animal. Sure, his voltron was about being understood and loved by animals but it didn't mean he was actually good at taking care about animals. It just meant that they understood each other and that they wouldn't hurt him on purpose. But what happened at gran' ma's farm shown that it didn't prevent accidents…
Lance's heart tightened at these memories, as he looked at moon by his window, night thinking and lost in thought.
But no matter how apprehending he was, he sure wasn't expecting this.
"Ehh... who are you ?"
That day, Angela went to finally look for the cat she talked about. So when the door opened, Lance couldn't help but to be quite surprised : in front of him was a boy. An inch or two smaller, he seemed to be the same age as him. But when Lance's eyes fell into his, he didn't see the eyes of someone that young. These eyes were full of hatred, exhaustion and something else, something that Lance couldn't really put on word on ; there was something dancing in these eyes, burning, aching… Ready to explode kinda… It was mesmerizing somehow. And a bit intimidating. Those purple eyes were the only expressive thing about the kid. Something about his traits seemed like he wasn't from here, he seemed foreign. His hair was dark, messy and a bit long. He was wearing an oversized black hoodie with flames on the sleeves, which hided halfway baggy shorts ; it made him look even more leaner and fragile than he was. He looked so frail and fragile, which contrasted with his violent eyes.
"His name is Keith !" Angela chanted, while wrapping her arms around the boy's shoulders. She was smiling really happily. "Starting today, he will be a new inhabitant of this house. Say hello to him Lance."
For a few seconds, Lance was wordless, eyebrow raised and mouth wide open. But he regained his consciousness.
"But... But he's not a cat ! He's not even a pet nor an animal, just a ... ?" Lance advanced his hand toward the boy, as if he was asking him what the heck he was.
"I decided to keep him home, so basically I should say 'be nice to your new brother'. " She said, frowning her eyebrow softly.
"My new... W-What ?!"
Lance's loud shout ended up rounding up Andrea and Gabin, his littler twin brother and sister. They used to be all excited from the idea of having a cat and they still were after seeing the new boy.
"What did you say mama ? A new brother ??"
"Weren't you supposed to bring a kitty black cat ? Does that mean that he's a cat-werewolf and will turn into a kitty at night ??"
"Will he sleep in the garden or inside the house then ?"
"Can I show him to my friends ?"
"Does he have a voltron then ?"
"Maybe his voltron is the fact that he can turn into a cat !"
"WOah, that's cool !"
The kids were all jumping with excitement around the new boy, who seemed to be very annoyed by all this noise and commotion around him.
"What do you mean 'new brother' ? I thought you were supposed to bring back a 'black small kitty' ?" Lance quoted.
"Yeah I know, but… Don't you think he looks just like a kitty ? I think he is just like a black baby cat. I couldn't let him like that."
"You what..." Lance sighed in confusion : he couldn't believe that. Did his mother really compared adopting a pet to adopting a human ?
"Also... I think this boy needs a family more than a pet would...." she added, spacing out for a few seconds, petting the boy's hair.
Lance was still looking at the boy, who hadn't moved an inch since the beginning. Angela stopped petting his hair and started asking questions like what did he want to eat, if he wanted to visit around, if he wanted to make cookies and so... At the mention of cookies, the twins jumped even higher and it was decided that the McClain would have a cookie party today. Lance was looking from outside at this family's painting, he felt kinda left apart. He didn't like not being part of the group's feelings. He felt as if his feelings had been overlooked. No one asked for his opinion or feelings and he wasn't really accustomed to this lack of interest towards his person. He decided he didn't like Keith and that this kid should stop playing all high and mighty just because some people were paying him attention.
While Angela and the twin were going towards the kitchen, Lance blocked Keith's path with his arm, tackling his hand on the wall, just in front of Keith's face. Keith lifted nonchalantly his gaze towards Lance's ; his penetrating and deep eyes made Lance feel a bit uneasy, but he managed to not let it show on his face.
" 'Hadn't the pleasure to introduce myself ; the name's Lance." He said forcing a full-of-himself smug. "I'm an amazing and very capable guy ; talk to me before doing anything... 'Cause in the end, you're just a little lost kitty right ? A street cat my mom picked up and now, it is my role to educate you." he said all highly.
Keith's gaze hadn't moved an inch after Lance's speech, it was still penetrating but there was something that started to agitate and intensify in his eyes.
In less than a second, in a very fast and neat movement, the Keith boy grabbed Lance's collar to pull him at the same height, his eyes always penetrating Lance's as their noses were almost touching.
"Don't fuck with me."
Keith boy continued to look through Lance's eyes for a few seconds, then released his grip and continued to advance, putting his hands in his pockets. Lance stayed still, still not very sure what had just happened. Then his cheeks started blushing violently and he became a strange mix of embarrassed and angry.
"What the- Hey ! Who do you think you are ?! You were supposed to be my pet, stop acting all high and mighty !" He shouted in Keith direction, but the black haired boy didn't even bother noticing. Still boiling, Lance went to grip Keith's shoulder but in an instant, he felt himself being pushed on the floor.
"What is happening ??" Angela exclaimed, followed by the twin. She found Keith on top of Lance, lying on the floor.
"He just bite me !" Lance shouted, while trying to pull away Keith's face. "What's wrong with you ?!"
"Nothing", Keith raised his head to put his deep eyes inside Lance's, " I'm just a street cat your mother picked up."
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