Matt Holt (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tookashirototheknee) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
mazeofrelationships2018-12-31 10:00 pm
tookashirototheknee) wrote in mazeofrelationships2018-12-31 10:00 pm
Entry tags:
Red Paladin AU
A post for an AU of Matt as the Red Paladin!
[He's still reeling. Even knowing this is what Shiro wanted, he can't deal with it; to him, Black's choice is just another stone in the bucket and the bucket's about to fall apart as it is. If Black chose me, that means Shiro's gone but he CAN'T be gone, I can't give up on him, I know he's out there he HAS to be out there-!
Lance's acceptance of Black's choice only makes it worse. Everyone else called him out on being immature over the whole thing earlier, but Keith would have gladly let Lance be the leader if it worked that way.
And who's going to fly Red? Allura is heartbroken after he rejected her, she'd so wanted to fly her father's Lion. Lance, Hunk, and Pidge can still access their own just fine.
But who's left, then? Coran can handle the castle, but-
His train of thought is cut off by a familiar voice yelling out, and he immediately runs towards the hangar.]
Matt?!
Lance's acceptance of Black's choice only makes it worse. Everyone else called him out on being immature over the whole thing earlier, but Keith would have gladly let Lance be the leader if it worked that way.
And who's going to fly Red? Allura is heartbroken after he rejected her, she'd so wanted to fly her father's Lion. Lance, Hunk, and Pidge can still access their own just fine.
But who's left, then? Coran can handle the castle, but-
His train of thought is cut off by a familiar voice yelling out, and he immediately runs towards the hangar.]
Matt?!
[Matt has been mostly hanging around the Castle, fixing things that need to be fixed, and being moral support for Keith and Pidge when Shiro disappeared. He can't really think of it any other way. There was no body, thus, Shiro disappeared, not died.
He couldn't help but have a proud smile when Black chose Keith. He's proud of his boyfriend, and it shows on his face. As everyone disperses to their lions, and people try their hand in Red, he gets a bit concerned. What's going to happen to Voltron now?
Before he can worry too much about it, he feels oddly compelled to wander down the hall to Red's hangar. As soon as he steps into the room, there's an almost cheerful purr in the back of his head, and Red leans down, literally eating him up. He lets out a shriek, calling for Keith. What even is going on? Why is he suddenly in the cockpit of a lion? Why is this lion lighting up and roaring? This is absolutely not what is supposed to happen.]
He couldn't help but have a proud smile when Black chose Keith. He's proud of his boyfriend, and it shows on his face. As everyone disperses to their lions, and people try their hand in Red, he gets a bit concerned. What's going to happen to Voltron now?
Before he can worry too much about it, he feels oddly compelled to wander down the hall to Red's hangar. As soon as he steps into the room, there's an almost cheerful purr in the back of his head, and Red leans down, literally eating him up. He lets out a shriek, calling for Keith. What even is going on? Why is he suddenly in the cockpit of a lion? Why is this lion lighting up and roaring? This is absolutely not what is supposed to happen.]
[Keith hurries down to the hangar just in time to find Matt inside his former Lion. Of course. He feels stupid for not considering this possibility, but Matt's never expressed interest in flying, period. And from the tone of his screams he's not the least bit happy about this development.
He approaches the Lion's "eyes," not sure of what to say.]
Well...looks like Red really likes you, huh.
He approaches the Lion's "eyes," not sure of what to say.]
Well...looks like Red really likes you, huh.
Why me? I can't fly for shit! Ask anyone who was with me at the Garrison!
[Matt's sitting in the cockpit, staring at all of the controls around him, and realizing that he instinctively knows how to use them. He's already got his communications going. Red almost seems smug at her choice.]
And... I'm not a Paladin! I'm just... I'm the mechanic!
[Matt's sitting in the cockpit, staring at all of the controls around him, and realizing that he instinctively knows how to use them. He's already got his communications going. Red almost seems smug at her choice.]
And... I'm not a Paladin! I'm just... I'm the mechanic!
[Keith's not sure how to feel. On one hand, the loss of Red doubled the pain of Black choosing him. He remembers the day he found Red, how Allura had outlined their similarities; that bond is gone now.
And Red's chosen his boyfriend.
As he looks at Matt, sitting there, Red lighting up and functional, Keith forces all of his grief and doubt to a dark corner of his mind. Shiro is gone. Black chose me, I'm the leader, and Matt's terrified. I can't be selfish right now.
With a small smile, he brings his gaze to meet Matt's eyes.]
I don't think Red cares.
Congratulations, Matt.
And Red's chosen his boyfriend.
As he looks at Matt, sitting there, Red lighting up and functional, Keith forces all of his grief and doubt to a dark corner of his mind. Shiro is gone. Black chose me, I'm the leader, and Matt's terrified. I can't be selfish right now.
With a small smile, he brings his gaze to meet Matt's eyes.]
I don't think Red cares.
Congratulations, Matt.
[They might not have been together long in the grand scheme of things, but Matt knows his boyfriend well. As much as he's putting on a brave face, Matt's sure that Keith's as conflicted as he is.
After a moment, he pulls himself out of the cockpit, and Red kneels down so Matt can leave the lion. For now.]
Hey. Are you alright? Do you want to talk?
After a moment, he pulls himself out of the cockpit, and Red kneels down so Matt can leave the lion. For now.]
Hey. Are you alright? Do you want to talk?
What? No...no, I'm fine. I'm as surprised as you are, but...
[He smiles a little more, helping Matt out of the lion]
I'm also proud of you. I know, you weren't a great pilot and this isn't what you wanted to do, but you're smart, and you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. And I can teach you everything I know about flying.
[Like Shiro did for him.]
[He smiles a little more, helping Matt out of the lion]
I'm also proud of you. I know, you weren't a great pilot and this isn't what you wanted to do, but you're smart, and you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. And I can teach you everything I know about flying.
[Like Shiro did for him.]
I just... I don't even know, to be honest. I can't fight like you all do, I'm just... the dude who figures out how people can talk to each other across distances. Or the dude doing experiments on ice.
[He sighs, leaning back against Red.]
Can't I just... say no? Allura wants it bad. I'm sure as hell not in her league.
[He sighs, leaning back against Red.]
Can't I just... say no? Allura wants it bad. I'm sure as hell not in her league.
It's the Lion's choice. If Allura were meant to fly Red, she would have picked her.
[He presses the red bayard into Matt's hand.]
I'll teach you how to fight. I have my Marmora blade, so I don't need this anymore. It's yours now.
[He presses the red bayard into Matt's hand.]
I'll teach you how to fight. I have my Marmora blade, so I don't need this anymore. It's yours now.
[He takes the bayard, more out of instinct than actual desire to take it. As he takes it, it flashes, turning into a long staff. Matt blinks at it for a moment, tightening his grip.]
... well, that's interesting. Probably better not to give me a gun.
... well, that's interesting. Probably better not to give me a gun.
[Part of Keith is relieved; while he believes Matt is stronger than he thinks he is, someone with zero fighting experience probably shouldn't handle something like a gun or a sword.]
Even the bayard knows your potential strengths. And you will draw them out, probably even faster than you think. You're smart, and you catch onto things fast.
Even the bayard knows your potential strengths. And you will draw them out, probably even faster than you think. You're smart, and you catch onto things fast.
Yeah. Um. I really hope I don't drag you guys down.
[He sighs, gripping the staff a bit tighter. For once, someone chose him. He's not just an afterthought. Sure, he wasn't Red's first choice, but he is her choice now, and that does mean something. A tiny smirk plays at his lips as he looks over at Keith.]
Well, now you can at least say that the Holts are... handy to have around.
[Someone stop this boy.]
[He sighs, gripping the staff a bit tighter. For once, someone chose him. He's not just an afterthought. Sure, he wasn't Red's first choice, but he is her choice now, and that does mean something. A tiny smirk plays at his lips as he looks over at Keith.]
Well, now you can at least say that the Holts are... handy to have around.
[Someone stop this boy.]
[For the first time since Shiro disappeared, Keith laughs. It was a lame pun, yeah, but it's classic Matt, and he's needed it.
And he needs this chance to be someone's mentor. Granted, Matt's likely to pick up on things pretty fast, but he'll need moral support. And having his boyfriend on the team might make being a leader hurt less.]
Congratulations, Matt. It'll be an honor fighting beside you.
And he needs this chance to be someone's mentor. Granted, Matt's likely to pick up on things pretty fast, but he'll need moral support. And having his boyfriend on the team might make being a leader hurt less.]
Congratulations, Matt. It'll be an honor fighting beside you.
Thanks. I'm... still not exactly sure about it all, but I'm going to try. Voltron shouldn't be let down because of one weak link.
[He takes a breath. It's obvious that he's trying to convince himself that things are ok. It's not working very well.]
... I just hope that no one's mad that it's me.
[He takes a breath. It's obvious that he's trying to convince himself that things are ok. It's not working very well.]
... I just hope that no one's mad that it's me.
[And Keith pulls Matt into a hug, because he can't predict how the others will react except maybe Pidge, and Matt's obviously terrified. Being a Paladin is a big deal.
But he believes in Matt, and he'll do everything he can to help him believe in himself.]
But he believes in Matt, and he'll do everything he can to help him believe in himself.]
[Matt just clings to Keith for a long moment, burying his face in his boyfriend's shoulder. He's not sure what to do with this, but he'll do what he can to not eff this up.]
Thanks.
Thanks.
It'll be okay, Matt. No matter what anyone else says, I've got your back.
[He strokes Matt's hair.]
Want to go to our room and relax after we tell the others? Unless you wanna wait on that.
[He strokes Matt's hair.]
Want to go to our room and relax after we tell the others? Unless you wanna wait on that.
No, we should tell people in case something happens and we have to... go.
[He doesn't like the thought, but they are in the middle of a war.]
Probably best to get it over with.
[He doesn't like the thought, but they are in the middle of a war.]
Probably best to get it over with.
Rip off the bandaid, then?
[He nods, reluctantly letting go of Matt.]
[He nods, reluctantly letting go of Matt.]
Yeah. I know Pidge'll have my back, but, I'm still worried.
[Matt takes a deep breath, reaching over to take his hand.]
Right. Let's go.
[Matt takes a deep breath, reaching over to take his hand.]
Right. Let's go.
[Keith squeezes Matt's hand before they head up to the bridge, where everyone's waiting. If anyone does give Matt a bad time, even accidentally, Keith will give them a good calling-out.]
[Pidge about tackles her brother in an excited hug when they tell the group. The rest of the Paladins are startled, but other than a slight wistful smile from Allura, everyone is quite encouraging. Matt can't help but be pleasantly surprised. He does stay by Keith's side, thought, and looks more than a bit nervous.]
Edited 2019-01-02 16:58 (UTC)
[Red is the right arm of Voltron, the way Keith always has been for Shiro. Perhaps Red sensed that right now, Keith needs your support more than ever, Allura explains. And she knows you'll give it your all.
Typical Red. Even when she's not his lion anymore, she's still looking out for Keith.]
And I appreciate that a lot.
Typical Red. Even when she's not his lion anymore, she's still looking out for Keith.]
And I appreciate that a lot.
Edited 2019-01-02 23:12 (UTC)
Well... yeah. I'm going to put everything into this, of course.
[Matt takes a deep breath, squeezing Keith's hand.]
I'll probably need a crap ton of training. I'm much more of an analyst than a fighter, sorry.
[Matt takes a deep breath, squeezing Keith's hand.]
I'll probably need a crap ton of training. I'm much more of an analyst than a fighter, sorry.
[Yes, and I imagine Keith has already volunteered for that, Allura says with a smile. We will aid you to the best of our abilities as well, Matt.
Keith squeezes back, sighing with relief that everyone seems on board with this. Pidge grins, Lance gives a thumbs-up, Coran pats him on the shoulder, and finally Hunk grabs him up in a bear hug. Welcome to the team!]
Keith squeezes back, sighing with relief that everyone seems on board with this. Pidge grins, Lance gives a thumbs-up, Coran pats him on the shoulder, and finally Hunk grabs him up in a bear hug. Welcome to the team!]
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