The Champion

[herdingspacecats]

The Champion has returned.

He has a mission this time. He isn't merely for sport, fighting for entertainment. He's a soldier now, an assassin, designed to fight and to destroy Voltron. Enhanced further with Galra witchcraft and a hint of quintessence, whatever past the Champion has no longer exists. His life as a human, as a paladin, as a fighter pilot on Earth, it's all gone, replaced by the need to serve and fulfill his existence. He is a weapon and nothing more.

A few well-placed rumors ensure that Voltron will come to him. It's not his plan, of course. The Champion is no general. He is valued for his strength and the appearance that apparently is so tantalizing to Voltron, and nothing more. They will try to trick him, he's told. They will tell him he is one of them, that since he is human he must also be a paladin, but it is a lie. Killing them is his objective.

They are weak when they leave their lions. The Champion waits, watching the paladins foolishly land and exit. How stupid of them. They're defenseless without the Lions, and he knows this fight will go quickly.

He straightens from his hiding place. They come for him, crying out a name that means nothing to him. He does not smile. He does not move.

He waits.

Comments

[herdingspacecats]

It's an intriguing question, and frankly, he hadn't even thought about it. He knew that he had earned it, but the actual details of that first victory and defeating the previous Champion... It's not just fuzzy, it's downright missing. As far as he can remember, he's always been the Champion.

There's a long pause before he answers. "No."

[tookashirototheknee]

"You and I had been captured by the Galra Empire and made into slaves. We were sent to the Gladiator Arena." He keeps rubbing his wrists. "I was chosen to go first, but you..." He takes a breath. "You pushed me out of the way and slashed my knee, and then went out and defeated the whoever it was out there." He rolls up his right pant leg to show him a nasty scar just under his knee. "You saved me, Takashi. You saved me and they took you away."

[herdingspacecats]

As Matt talks, something strange is happening to the Champion. He's...remembering. Just little bits and pieces, images flashing in his mind's eye. That scar, telling Matt to be safe nd to find Dr. Holt...

He spits out a curse and hunches forward, pressing both hands to his temples. His breathing is ragged, fingers digging into his skin as though trying to rip it away.

"I...I remember." His voice is halting and shaky. He doesn't understand what is happening here, but...Matt...

[tookashirototheknee]

"You remember now? I've been trying to find you for so long, Takashi. Please. Let me help you remember who you are."

Tentatively, he reaches out his hands and gently puts them on Shiro's arms. "Talk to me. Tell me what you remember, and I'll help put the pieces together."

[herdingspacecats]

He jumps at the touch, eyes widening and a sharp gasp escaping him. Whatever it is that Matt has done to him, he's clearly struggling with it.

"I don't...I remember you. Hurting you, and you looked so scared." He licks his lips, shaking his head. "It's like trying to hold water in your hands. I can't keep it for long."

[tookashirototheknee]

"I was scared. We were so close and had been for quite a while, and then you turned on me." He sighs, pulling his hands back and putting them in his lap. "And then you told me to take care of Dad, and got pulled away, looking a bit scared yourself."

He closes his eyes. "It was worse thinking you'd actually turned on me than the actual wound, really."

[herdingspacecats]

He shakes his head slowly, looking confused and swallowing hard. He remembers that, knows what Matt is talking about.

And then the name comes to him. "Matt." It comes out softly, an exhale, almost a whisper.

"...What happened to me?"

[tookashirototheknee]

"You remember me now?" Matt's face lights up, and he reaches out to take Shiro's hand.

"I don't know what they did to you, but we're going to find a way to get you better, ok? I promise. Can you tell me what you do remember and we can go from there?"

He wants so badly to crawl in his lap and hug him tightly, but he holds back for now.

[herdingspacecats]

That smile tugs at his heartstrings in a way that he's not familiar with, and Shiro swallows, looking away. This is all a lot to handle at once and he's still not entirely sure what's happening.

"It's hard to think about." He chews his lip. "I can't hold on to it."

[tookashirototheknee]

"That's aright. Hold on to me, ok? I'm not leaving. I'm staying with you no matter what." He takes a breath. "Although, I'm not sure where to go. I don't know what's safe. I could try to contact my people, but it might be better if people think I'm dead."

[herdingspacecats]

He nods slowly. "I certainly can't go back. This ship...we need to ditch it. They can track it, I'm sure."

He leans forward to rub at his temples again. All of this change and stress...he's got a terrible headache.

[tookashirototheknee]

"Ok. So we need to figure out where we can find another ship. I'm thinking we could try to disappear into the next fairly populated planet that we find."

Matt reaches out and cups Shiro's cheek. "Have you been with them the entire time?" Somehow, it's so odd, thinking that it's now him and Shiro together against the entire universe. Matt actually doesn't think he minds.

[herdingspacecats]

He starts slightly at the touch, still unused to it, but it feels...good. Matt's hand isn't exactly soft, but he leans into it all the same, closing his eyes and letting out a soft exhale. This feels familiar. He's sure they've done this before.

"I don't know. I don't think so."

[tookashirototheknee]

"Alright. We'll go slow, ok?" Matt takes a breath, moving just a bit. "Can... Can I hug you? I really miss that."

A million things are racing through his head at the moment, trying to figure out what the next step should be.

[herdingspacecats]

A hug. That sounds...like it might actually be nice. Shiro chews his bottom lip again for a moment before giving Matt a jerky nod.

"Yeah. Just uh...no sudden moves, please."

[tookashirototheknee]

"Of course." Carefully, Matt gets up, and reaches out, wrapping his arms around Shiro and hugging tightly. Slowly, he climbs into his friend's lap, ready to leave if necessary.

[herdingspacecats]

Shiro stays very still, not exactly resisting, but not entirely relaxing either, at least not initially. Then he inhales and catches a whiff of Matt, and it breaks down that wall instantly.

He shivers, arms wrapping around him and holding on tightly. Years of friendship and love and affection hits him like a wrecking ball, and he presses his face into Matt's shoulder.

"Matt..."

[tookashirototheknee]

"'Kashi." In that moment, it's almost as if everything is falling into place again. Reaching up, he puts his hand on the back of Shiro's head, holding him close. "I found you. You're here. And you know me now. Everything's going to be ok, love. Remember when we were in school, and said that if we were together we could do anything? That's how it is now. I promise."

Matt takes a shaky breath, trying not to cry. Someone has to have it together right now.

[herdingspacecats]

He shivers at that old nickname, clinging to Matt. While the other man is managing to keep it together, Shiro's certainly not, burying his face in Matt's shoulder and his shoulders shaking as he tries not to cry and fails terribly.

It's a hundred emotions hitting him at once. Relief, guilt, love, regret... He's so glad Matt's here but he can't believe he's forgotten someone so important.

[tookashirototheknee]

"Let it out, Takashi. I've got you. It's alright." Matt tightens his grip around his boyfriend just a bit, holding him close. "You remember now, and we'll figure this out together, ok? You're Takashi Shirogane, the best pilot I know and I love you so very much." He takes a deep breath, and a few tears fall on Shiro's shoulder.

[herdingspacecats]

Shiro shakes in his arms, fingers curling into fabric and clutching tight. A choked sob slips out and he presses his face in to muffle the sound, biting at his lip.

"I'm s-so sorry. I can't..." He can't believe he's forgotten any of this. It must have hurt Matt so bad...

[tookashirototheknee]

"Don't apologize. It's alright, Takashi. I love you." It's such a rush to be able to say that again, to hold Shiro tight. "We're together." He runs his hand through Shiro's hair again, just letting him cry.

[herdingspacecats]

"Matt..." His voice cracks, body shaking. It's several long minutes before he starts to calm down, and no doubt Matt will be able to feel that wet spot on his shoulder from Shiro's tears. He's breathing again, shaky and unsteady but finally in control of himself again.

He lets out a long exhalation and just...presses close.

[tookashirototheknee]

It's so good to just hold him again, to be so close to him, even though he's letting all of his emotions out. Matt falls silent, rubbing Shiro's back, holding him close, and pressing back against him when he does.

There's no need for words, just the two of them together.

[herdingspacecats]

The touch is soothing, and Shiro relaxes, closing his eyes and just breathing in the moment. It's been so long and this feels so good again.

"...Thanks."