[Skeetzybug]

FEBRUARY QUEST - BAIAN SWAMP
[OUT OF UNIVERSE - VOLTRON]

“Why’s it have to be a swamp? Why is it never, like, a meadow?"

"Lance."

"I could go for a nice meadow right about now.”

“Lance.”

“What, you gonna argue with me, mullet?”

It took all of Keith’s patience, limited a resource it might be, to not do exactly that. He let out a sigh from between his teeth, shaking his head in the dim light of the swamp. Lance’s complaints had been crackling through the communications for awhile now, and he found himself wishing that it had been more than just the two of them sent down to this sector.

[1]

[Skeetzybug]

It was nothing against Lance, but someone with so much to say, did all of it have to be whining? The sweltering dampness of the environment wasn’t the most pleasant, sure, but that much was obvious. He didn’t get the point of stating it over and over. (To be frank, he didn’t get a lot of things Lance did.)

“You’re acting like this is the worst mission we’ve been on,” he said, eyes glancing over his helmet readouts as he paced through the stagnant water. His foot squelched into deep mud, algae floating around his knees, and he found himself grateful that their suits filtered out the smell along with the air.

[2]

[Skeetzybug]

“It’s close.” Keith couldn’t help the snort he let out.

“Close to what?” he asked, though there was some humor to his tone now. “The planet where the natives called us rainbow demons and tried to sacrifice Hunk to their goddess? Or where Pidge got accidentally adopted by those weird centaurs?” It had certainly been a wild last few phoebs. “Maybe the one with all the lava?”

“Oh don’t act like you didn’t love the lava, Mr. Guardian Spirit of Fire!”

[3]

[Skeetzybug]

“Correction, Red loved the lava,” Keith retorted, carefully stepping over some weaving roots at his feet. “I am, in fact, still capable of melting.”

“...okay fair.”

They fell into companionable silence after that, much to Keith’s relief. Most of the time he enjoyed Lance’s chatter - not that he would ever admit that to the other boy - but the stress of the environment was already bearing down on him, leaving him craving quiet and stillness. He counted himself thankful for the thick canopy above, at least keeping him out of the blazing light of the planet. Three suns was just excessive, if you asked him.

[4]

[Skeetzybug]

The mission itself wasn’t that complicated. They were running low on a component for their medical supplies, some kind of salve they used for basic scratches and bruises not severe enough for a healing pod. Apparently, this specific herb could only be found deep in these swamps, away from wind and direct sunlight. There were no hostile natives or Galra scouts - it was only the swamp itself that was proving a difficulty.

Keith snapped out a curse as his foot sank into mud again, thick and sticky and making every step a challenge. He gave his foot a tug, finding it currently stuck fast. Wonderful.

[5]

[Skeetzybug]

“Keith? What’s wrong man?” Lance’s voice crackled into his ears again, concern evident in his tone. “I could hear you swearing so clearly I thought you were next to me. Get in a fight with some local flora?” Well he coouldn’t have been too worried if he could still crack jokes, and Keith was not going to admit he was being detained by mud. He decided that ignoring Lance was the best move. Clenching his teeth, he focused on freeing himself, reaching up and using a low-hanging branch as leverage.

[6]

[Skeetzybug]

“You didn’t get bitten by anything, did you?” Okay, pretending he didn’t hear was clearly not working, as Lance sounded even more worried now. ”Pidge said the things here could do some weird shit.” He made a strangled noise, voice rising a pitch as he continued to ramble. “Oh man, you’re not like, suddenly so smitten by my voice that you can’t speak, are you? She mentioned there were these bugs that did that, I mean, l can’t blame you, my voice is an absolute melody-“

[7]

[Skeetzybug]

“I’m fine, Lance,” Keith ground out. “Just difficult terrain.” A loud sigh echoed through his helmet.

”Well why didn’t you say so sooner?? Jeez, mullet, you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Oh no, you’ve seen through my insidious plans,” Keith teased, delivery as flat as possible. “Whatever will I do?” He couldn’t help the slight quirk of his lips as Lance sputtered in indignation across the line. For someone who was supposed to be water, so calm and collected, he sure was easy to rile up.

[8]

[Skeetzybug]

”Oh I see how it is! Well you just watch out, Keith, cause I’m onto you!”

“I’m sure you are,” Keith replied, unable to keep the humor from his voice this time. Lance merely grumbled again, going on about some half-baked ‘revenge’ under his breath. Keith shook his head, stepping over some thick roots as he pushed farther into the swamp. They’d been planetside for awhile - at least three vargas. “Hey, any luck on your side?”

”Huh?”

[9]

[Skeetzybug]

“The herb,” Keith clarified. “You found any yet?”

”Oh! Yeah, no, nadda.” Keith gave a dissatisfied grunt, pausing in his foray to take mental tabs on their progress - which, so far, was proving to be a big zero. ”You?”

“Ditto,” he admitted, pulling up the display on the arm of his Paladin armor with a tap. He could make out the little blips on the map of himself and Lance, and according to their bioreadings, they should be in the right areas. “The scans show there should be plenty around, though.”

[10!]