“Aw, look at you. It’d be a shame if something was to happen to that pretty face.” With Keith, naturally. :)
Yay thanks so much for the prompt @justheretobreakthings !! <3 <3 Sorry it took so long for me to get around to writing this! It's been a crazy week!
Here you go :)
Prompt: Aw, look at you. It’d be a shame if something was to happen to that pretty face.
Well. This was the last time Keith let Coran rope him into getting something from a black market on some planet he couldn't even pronounce the name of. Coran had wanted him to acquire some ancient Altean delicacy while he himself was working on repairs in the Castle. Hunk, upon hearing the word "delicacy", had eagerly volunteered to join Keith on this delicacy-gathering mission.
He was probably regretting that decision now. Wherever he was. Keith fervently hoped Hunk had escaped and was safe.
They'd come to the planet by shuttle, dressed in casual clothes so as not to draw attention to themselves, which in hindsight probably wasn't the smartest move considering they were now both Lion-less and armor-less. At least they'd brought their bayards – and Keith's blade, of course – for all the good that had done them.
They'd only just started browsing a few of the stalls, when the market had been raided. All Keith really remembered was an explosion followed by sudden chaos and tall aliens in dark suits flooding the market square before he'd blacked out.
And now he was here, on his knees in the cargo bay of what appeared to be a massive ship. Aliens were lined up on either side of him – one of them he recognized as the guy who'd tried to rip Hunk off by trying to sell him fake gem stones.
Keith's wrists were restrained behind his back, and he felt strangely light-headed. He wondered if he'd been hit with some kind of tranquilizer dart – it would explain how he'd blacked out so suddenly and why there was a gap in his memory.
Four humanoid aliens with small horns adorning their faces had blasters trained on the prisoners lined up before them. They were tall and broad with wide, egg-shaped heads and greenish skin. Keith didn’t recognize the species, but they looked pretty imposing, decked out in heavy protective gear.
Keith hoped they were some kind of security force sent to shut down the illegal market, because then he might be able to reason with them, let them know he was a Paladin of Voltron.
An alien who looked to be among the biggest of them all approached the line of prisoners. He was clearly important, judging by the way he held himself and the way some of the other aliens deferred to him. Flanking him were a guard and a smaller alien with an electronic device in hand. They moved down the line, pausing to eye each of them critically.
"Mines," the large alien said as he walked past the first prisoner – a stocky Kiliri male.
"Yes, General," the smaller alien with the pad said as it took notes.
"Household," the 'General' declared as he inspected another prisoner.
Keith sucked in a breath when he realized—
This was no security force. These people were selecting slaves!
The realization hit Keith like a freight train, and the blood drained from his face. He'd been captured by a slaver!
"Entertainment."
"Breeding."
Keith's mouth went dry. No. No no no no. This was bad! This was bad!
"Mines."
The General paused in front of the alien lined up next to Keith – a frail-looking alien half Keith's size.
"We have no use for this one. Dispose of it."
Keith's heart pounded in his ears.
"No! No, please!" the little alien squeaked as it was dragged off.
"No, wait!" Keith lurched forward, but a blaster was shoved in his face before he could do anything.
The General stopped in front of Keith. "What do we have here? A Terran?"
"Yes, General, a male specimen, I believe," the smaller alien said. "Quite rare in these parts."
"Interesting."
"I'm a Paladin of Voltron," Keith said, raising his chin.
"Of course you are," the General replied, clearly unconvinced. He reached out to touch Keith's cheek, but Keith jerked his head away.
Immediately, the guard accompanying the General fisted his hand in Keith's hair, holding him steady. When the General reached for his face again, Keith scowled and snapped his teeth at his fingers.
"Aw, look at you," the General said with a half-smile and a gleam in his eyes. "So fiery!"
The guard with his fist painfully wrapped in Keith's hair raised his other hand as if to slap Keith, but the General intervened before the hit could land. "Do not damage him. It’d be a shame if something was to happen to that pretty face." He turned to the alien still taking notes beside him.
"Have this one brought to my personal quarters."
