Richard felt calm. It was the kind of calm before the storm. It felt like he would soon end up bubbling everything out. But so far he had stared with a blank expression and look at his lion. Even after it was for sure now more than 30 minutes.

The fuzzy feeling of him barely holding himself together and slipping into his mindset was making him know that he could slip. Not something that would be a good thing. There was just no way that he could show this side to anyone.

Not even Wally and the only reason Romelle knew that he regressed was with her knowing him by now a bit more than a year. The wolf was curled on his side and head on top of his legs as he petted it absentmindedly. It soothed him slightly and helped him to ground him a bit.

His stomach felt sick at the thought of Shiro never waking up. He could just pray and hope that it would go well. Hope that Shiro would wake up. His mind was occupied with his thought that not even hearing the footstep approach and not even when someone plopped themself next to him.

It was until that an arm wrapped around him and pulled him closer that he realized that there was now someone. His body flinched at the sudden touch but when seeing that it was Wally; that he curled himself into the side and soaking the comfort the other gave him. Soon a hand going soothingly through his hair and making him relax more.

There was silence for at least one to two minutes and he knew that his best friend wants to say something. It made him really anxious and he felt the fuzziness grow. With this, Richard knew that he would so end up regress soon.

"Wait aren't you the same age then I am now with the entire fiasco of Romelle's planet?" The tone was a bit silly and he couldn't help himself but giggle now.

"Well maybe..." He shrugged and the other gave him a look and puffed his cheeks out.

"Wow you do not even remotely care, do you?" The tone was mock seriousness and he snickered at this.

"Of course not. Why would it? Age is just number after all." He shrugged and the other snorted and once again there was a silence. His mood was a bit better but not much with how everything was still going to shit.

"But even with you being my age you're still looking younger and adorable." The tone was teasing and he flushed and he felt the shift. Leading him to fall into his mindset.

"Not adorable." He childishly grumbled and the other grinned at this and making him pout as knowing that the other had done this intentionally.

"Sorry couldn't resist teasing you. But all teasing aside how are you doing? And please don't even try to hide your real well-being." The tone was soothing and he knew that he could not lie to Wally. His bestie knows him after all.

His breath hitched and this was needed for him that something in him snapped. It was as if the dam was broken by these words. He felt the tears build up, even without him wanting to and he turned his head towards the stomach and hiding.

The shame of him breaking down wasn't wanting him to make the other see that he cries. Even when they know each other since their childhood he just couldn't. Not with what he had done. He was an accomplice with what Lotor had caused even when he had been forced to do these horrific things.

An arm wrapped around him soon as pulling him into the lap of the other. it made his body shudder and more tears fell with this. There was no way that he could stop now that he was crying his heart out.

All the sorrow, anger, frustration, and guilt that he had bottled up, was making this unbearable for him. It was now that Lotor was not there anymore that he really could break down. It was also the relief that was mixed in these emotions.

"Guess you did bottle this up that much, did you?" the tone was softly said and his breath shuddered at this. Because his best friend knew this and it was not making this easy.

The hand continued going soothing through his hair. As well as reassuring words whispering to him. God, he missed his bestie so much and this was exactly why he loved the other a lot. But he also feared that he would be rejected and hoped that he wouldn't.

Calming down took a lot of him and when he was calm enough he snuggled into the comfortable warmth. Muttering comfy and falling asleep on the other feeling content into the protective hold of the male that meant the world to him.

When his consciousness starting to drift into this half-awake state was when someone nudges him. It was making him flinch at first but also groaning not wanting to wake up. This was comfortable and he wouldn't want to leave the warmth that was still engulfing him. So that he snuggled into this.

"Come on sleepy head you really should wake up." Wally's voice was making him puff his cheeks out and pouting. No way was he going to stay awake.

He was comfy, sleepy, and relaxed.

"Don't you want to greet Shiro?"

This woke him up and cracked his eyes open. The look was both amusement but also some concern was also seen. It was clear that it had to do with his breakdown and all he could do was giving the other a reassuring look. Even when he was not fine but he would be.

He was not alone anymore after all.

There was also his smile that mirrored the emotion but as soon as giving that reassuring look he looked a bit calmer but there was also something knowing seen. Either way, the smile made his heart flutter and his stomach have butterflies fluttering around.

That lead to his cheeks feeling heating up and a shyness creeped out. A squeak was escaping him at the other picking up and giving him a fond look. As it was not something new that the other done out of impatience. It took less than a minute for them to be inside of the blue lion and he could feel his nervousness grow once again.

Like the last time, Shiro was conscious he had been helping Lotor but he also knew that this had not been his Shi-Shi. Slowly he was put down and as opening his mouth to ask them about what took them so long he decided against it. This was just a strange weirdness and he wasn't going to question it.

As everyone's eyes were on him he could feel his shyness grow. So much that he shuffled closer to Wally and shyly waving, but not managing to get anything out.

"I heard that you are now the blue pilot. Knew that you were special." The tone was cheerful but he could also see that Shiro was tired.

Shiro mentioning this and saying that he was special made his cheeks heat up more. He wasn't sure how to react to this. It was also not helping that he gave him a fatherly look. The kind of which were soft and kindness adding to it. Making him shrug and realizing how much he had missed Shiro.

He also realized that this look remind him of his Tati and this made him miss his family even more now.

"Dunno see why though." He mumbled as shuffling around. The others clearly found this adorable his reaction and cooed and were not helping his shyness. It was almost enough and he was pretty sure that this could lead him to slip slightly into his child's mindset.

Which he could feel slightly have this fuzzy feeling. Not the best thing with that many people there.

"Ey he was awesome and perfect for blue. Not even Allura was that good like he is. We even had no issues forming Voltron even with him having trust issues. It was badass and should have seen Dickie." Lance blabbered excitedly and this was why he ended up using subconsciously using his invisibility ability.

'Oh shit, I am so screwed...' Were his thoughts as seeing that others looked around trying to find him. God he messed badly up and this led to him feel himself slipping more.

"Did forget to tell you guys about his ability my bad." Shiro sheepishly with a chuckle added this and he turned it off. Hiding now entirely behind Wally, as playing with his sleeves. It was just that he felt really anxious not sure how this will end up.

"So-Sorry um....can't control it yet..." His voice quivered and softness was also heard. He could feel eyes on him as he peaked out with an anxious look. There was also something innocent in his reaction.

His best friend turned his head to him and there was a blank look for a moment. Almost as if he was trying to figure out what to do or say or react. But soon he was pulled into a hug by his bestie. He flinched at first waiting for pain but soon he relaxed as gripping the fabric that the other was wearing right now.

"Well, my cute boyfriend isn't just a badass acrobat but also can turn invisible. When this isn't a jackpot then I don't know what else is?" The tone was chipper and it was clear that Wally was finding this genuine cool.

It made him feel his cheeks heat up more. This was clear that the other was liking that he could do this and for him, it was enough to know that at least he had two people who accepted him.

"But I do have to wonder. Yo Dickie Bird how did you end up with an ability? Don't tell me you hid this from me?" The tone was teasing and even with his childish mindset, he knew his bestie long enough to know he meant nothing bad about this. So he stuck his tongue out and giving the other a deadpan look.

"Sorry, but I rather not want to say how it happened." His voice was barely audible but he was sure that at least Wally heard. It was a topic that he did not like talking about and both his sister figure, Shiro, Keith, Lance, and Wally had a knowing look. They could probably guess what had happened.

"It's fine. Surely they understand it." Shiro's voice was warningly and authority and he shivered not liking this tone. It was reminding him too much of Lotor. Meaning that he swallowed and pressing a bit closer to Wally out of anxiousness.

The entire group agreed not to ask more questions and it helped to soothe his worries a bit. The hug was soon afterward left but his boyfriend was continue holding his hands. His thoughts were on the tone that Shiro had used and a sense of deja vu was also hitting him.

There had been someone that had used this but who it was he just couldn't remember. His memory was as fuzzy about his past on earth. It was frustrating for him but there was nothing that he could do.

"Shiro you remind me on his Bruce's Dad tone, whenever Dickie birds brothers are arguing or doing something that they shouldn't do." Wally gave the other a grin and he blinked owlishly as furrowing his brows. It was such a thing that he felt like had happened but even now he could just not remember. Wally gave him a concerned look at this and he shrugged not really knowing what else to say.

"Come on I am not a Dad," Shiro grumbled out and he puffed his cheeks out being offended now.

"But you kind of are." He sounded both offended yet also puzzled that this. The others were amused at this and Shiro let out a sigh soon.

"I never said anything about you being the Dad but I am sure that everyone agrees on this." It was said teasingly by Wally and it was then that everyone agreed and Shiro gave up arguing soon. Then the conversation shifted about starting their journey but he rather wanted to wait another one or two days.

He was tired, his lion was, and surely the others too.

"Could we not at least wait for another day or two before flying? Like I barely can function with how tired I am. Space Dad surely needs also rest and blue would surely appreciate it and actually pretty sure all of our lions." His voice was softly suggestion and his lion thanked him making him feel proud.

But sadly no one had heard him really who was too occupied with arguing who was going with who. It was hurting him a lot and in his child's mindset, it was not helping him with how he had been ignored by Lotor and everyone else at his timing with the Galra.

He knew it would take a year and 6 months but two more days surely can't hurt. Their lions could gather their energy and they could use it. There would be sure attacks and their ships had almost none anymore. His words were not even getting through with the mix of people talking. It was frustrating and it wasn't just him. Lance also was over-talked.

But the male seemed to be used to this and also could see the hurt flash through the other's eyes. It made him feel a twinge of pain too. Both eyes met and he couldn't help but give the other an apologetic look. This was really not helping him and he could feel his emotion bubble more up.

"I swear-"

"Can you listen-"

"Ey let us talk!" Both started to yell at the end and he swallowed as feeling bad that he had talked over Lance too. He apologized to Lance instantly but it was making him feel like the worst human being right now. It was that bad that the tears starting to build up.

His emotions were everywhere and the guilt, as well as the sadness washing over him, made him burst into tears. Everyone froze. Shiro looked as guilty as Wally did. Keith was unsure how to react and the others looked as unsure how to handle his breakdown.

Lance tsked as giving everyone other than him a glare, pulling him into a hug, and picking him up. By now he could not care about anything. His head buried into the neck of the other, as sobs wracked through him.

"You all should be ashamed. I don't care that you ignore me but don't ignore someone who has been ignored his the entirety of the captivity. I am the most ashamed in you two Wally and Keith. You two should have not ignored him." The tone was sharp and anger laced. It made him whimper as feeling like he was the one that angered the other.

Then he could feel the other move and his body tremored with more sobs and hiccups escaping out of him as tears continued to flow. The other weirdly enough rocked him like someone would do when they were children. It made him slowly calm down.

It was now that he was calmer that he realized that he was clinging onto the other and that he heard him say some reassuring words. He sniffled and feeling exhaustion get to him. It was a lot happening for him and his psyche just couldn't handle this. Maybe this was why he snuggled into the arms and falling asleep.
.

.

.

When waking up he was feeling refreshed and it seemed that it was decided that they would stay for at least a day. He was not caring as he was right now comfy cuddled into the arms of Lance. His mind was even feeling littler than usual meaning that he was way younger.

Lance seemed to know what it is and acted more like he was a little kid. It helped to ease his worries about being rejected. The other even made sure that none entered the red lion and they stayed in there for the entire time.

He made sure to watch over him and playing some silly games. Either way, he felt relaxed. Then the next day came and he was horrified about him ending up acting this way. Yet Lance brushed it off and telling him that it was fine and that he had younger siblings.

The other also explained that he was not minding and it made him smile shyly. When they left the ship, Wally instantly gave him a tight hug, apologized. He knew that Wally had not intentionally done this and the same was with Keith and Shiro. They both gave him a hug and apologized.

That Keith hugged him made him know how much the other was feeling guilty. The others were apologizing. The one who gave him also a hug was Hunk who apologized for more than once. He had to tell the other that he accepted it.

Pidge was more reversed about this and Romelle added a kiss on his temples as apologizes. But also as a greeting. She liked to do this whenever they woke up. A kiss on his temples, cheeks, and a hug was always given. The female was affectionate and he loved the affection of her a lot.

Then it was time to choose who would go where and he could feel the dread.