Chapter Text
Lance was in a daze as he made his way back to the hangar. He walked down the long hallway back to the stairwell, letting what had just happened fester in his mind.
He'd kissed Keith Kogane. Keith Kogane had kissed him back. And now Keith Kogane was in his arms, his head leaning against Lance’s chest. He almost thought he must be dreaming, that something like this could never happen. Yet, here he was, in enemy territory with the boy of his dreams.
“Lance!” Keith spoke, trying to bring Lance out of his daze. “You good?” Lance just now realized that he'd stopped short of the stairs, still trapped in his thoughts.
“Yeah, just thinking,” He replied, starting up the stairs.
“What about?”
“You,” Lance said, a cheesy grin spreading across his face.
“Sap,” Keith snickered, giving Lance a light punch on the arm. Lance took a left four floors up, retracing his steps with the instructions Pidge had given him. As he was about to make the right turn back to the hangar, he heard voices coming from around the corner. His heart skipped a beat. He froze, gently setting Keith down so he could take care of the Galra that lurked around the corner.
“Stay here,” he said, taking out his bayard.
“Not like I can go anywhere,” Keith muttered.
Lance pressed himself against the wall, hearing several voices engaged in a conversation.
“-he's no good to us dead, we just have to keep trying.”
“If he hasn't broken yet, he won't break now. The Paladins are strong.”
“We can't just give up! Let's just try something different!”
“We've tried everything! Electrocution, the silver room, just beating him up! Nothing's working!”
Lance’s eyes went wide with shock. They'd done all of that to Keith, and he hadn't given them anything? He looked down at him, wondering if he'd heard. Keith was running his hands through his hair, his knees scrunched up to his chest. He stared at the wall opposite him, obviously deep in thought.
“Alright. We'll have the Paladin dead by tomorrow. You'd think he'd be broken by now with all the stuff we did to him.”
“Hey, maybe we'll get him right before he goes. After all, everyone breaks when they know they've lost.”
Rage burned in Lance’s gut, working its way up to his throat. Keith had a way of hiding his emotions from people. He never talked about his family, never opened up about anything, but if he thought no one was watching, he'd let his feelings overtake him. Pidge had told Lance about a time they'd seen Keith sobbing. He almost didn't believe it. Keith Kogane didn't feel pain, and he definitely didn't cry. They'd continued, telling Lance how they were curled up in the corner on their laptop, as they were every night, when they'd heard small, choked off sobs from down the hall. Pidge, being the curious little shit they were, followed the sound to find Keith in the training deck, obviously exhausted, leaning against a punching bag with his head in his hands. At the time, Lance couldn't imagine what would cause Keith to cry like a baby, but the more he thought about it, the more he figured out.
Keith is an orphan, kicked out of Garrison, who'd been sent into space to fight in an intergalactic war. Lance and Hunk and Pidge at least had some had family back home on Earth, even if it wasn't a lot. They'd all spoken about how they're all probably worried sick, laying awake thinking about how their children are missing and could be dead. And then there's Keith. He has no one that misses him. He was alone. Alone from a young age, alone at the Garrison, alone in the desert, and even alone here in space. Lance remembered how Keith's eyes had lit up when he realized that someone was here to save him. How for those moment in that cell it seemed as if he wasn't hiding anything. After that, Lance wasn't sure. On the outside he seemed calm, almost content.
He could be shattered on the inside and Lance didn't even know.
He released the rage pent up inside him, running around the corner at the two Galra that stood there. With a tearful, anger filled yell, he whacked one upside the head with his blaster, then shot the other. The first one charged at him, but Lance was ready. He fired at him what seemed like hundreds of times, not caring that he was dead by the second. There wasn't enough pain in the world he could inflict that would make up for what they did to Keith. Lance felt responsible for Keith’s pain, thinking that he should've gone back for him during the ambush. He started sobbing big, racking sobs, still firing at the Galra that lay dead on the floor. Suddenly, Lance felt something wrap around his waist and press into his back. Somehow, Keith had managed to hobble to where Lance was, and was squeezing the leftover bits of rage right out of him.
“It's not worth it, Lance.” He whispered, leaning into him. Lance dropped his blaster and sunk down to his knees, letting Keith pull him into a hug. He knew this had to be hurting Keith, which only made him cry more.
Keith wasn't very good at comforting people, but he'd seen what Hunk did when Pidge got worked up. He'd squish them in a big bear hug and reassure them that everything was alright. Keith was trying his best, but it's hard to give someone who's sobbing their eyes out a bear hug and tell them everything's alright when you're half dead in an enemy base, but it somehow seemed to be working.
“Hey hey, it's okay Lance, everything's okay.” Keith whispered, rubbing his hand up and down Lance’s back.
“I'm- I’m so sorry Keith,” Lance whimpered between sobs, “I never should've- This is all my fault-”
“Shhh, come on this isn't your fault,” Keith cooed, “You didn't make me get captured or be interrogated by Galra, so stop beating yourself up over this.”
Lance shut his eyes and nodded, tightening his grip around Keith. “Okay.”
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Keith and Lance squished into the pilot seat of the pod, their arms slung around each other. It was a tight fit, and they'd tried in vain to find some way to sit comfortably without resorting to sitting on each other's laps. They ended up with Keith practically sitting on Lance, which even thought they'd kissed moments before still made him uncomfortable. Lance’s eyes were still puffy and red from crying so much, and he was stiff sniffling a bit.
“You gonna be okay?” He asked gently.
Lance avoided his eyes, “Y-yeah, I just… If you don't mind me asking,” he locked eyes with Keith, “What did they- What happened to you?”
Keith froze. He didn't know what to say to that. He knew Lance only wanted to help him, and part of him really did want to open up to him, but what happened to Keith after he was captured was, well,
Terrifyingly painful. The memories came flooding back like water from a broken dam. The flurry of emotions he'd felt swirled in his brain. Nevertheless, he knew that telling Lance might help him in some way; he remembered Shiro saying something about that.
“I...um, well…” Keith, stuttered, not knowing what to say.
“It's okay, take your time,” Lance spoke gently.
“Well,” Keith started, finding ways to keep the terror of what happened from poisoning his thoughts. “I was being reckless. My- my form was sloppy and I guess I just made too many mistakes. Then before I knew it, I was out cold and being dragged into a Galra scout ship. When I came to, I was in an interrogation room. They… They asked me where the Castleship was going next, what our next move was. I resisted, since I'd never give any of you away. But they kept at it and then they-” He paused, trying to force the words out of his throat without bursting into tears. “They… They just tried to destroy me,” Keith broke, tears spilling out of his violet eyes. Eyes that had once been bright and hopeful, now broken and full of sadness. “Physically and emotionally. They would use everything they had to try and get me to talk, every weapon in their armory. But what was worse was they'd threaten all of you. They kept talking about all the ways they'd kill the Paladins. When they got to you, I- I almost broke!” Keith's voice wavered as more tears fell down his face. He buried his head in his hands, trying to mask his racking sobs. Lance pulled Keith into a hug, his head buried in Lance’s shoulder.
He wasn't sure what to do after that. Keith was obviously in pain inside and out, and he wanted help but he didn't know how. Suddenly, he remembered a piece of equipment that became very important at that moment. He took the music player out of his pocket, fumbling, and pressed play. He didn't care what song came on, any of them would do. He just needed something that would take Keith's mind off of the pain he had endured.
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free, take a chance on me
Keith looked up at Lance, confused. Until he realized what Lance was doing.
Keith remembered when Lance had first gotten his music player. He was feeling really homesick for a couple days, and music was how he'd cope with it. The bad part was, Pidge didn't make him headphones, so the music would blast out of the surprisingly small speakers and echo throughout the entire castle. Keith had first heard it when he was training, and Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” isn't exactly the best music for intense sword fighting. Nevertheless, Lance had continued to play his music, much to the dismay and delight of Keith. Lance’s voice was okay at best, but he was an incredible dancer. Keith had watched him dance to “Hips Don't Lie” one time in the kitchen, and he'd considered it a religious experience. In fact, Keith actually made an attempt to memorize some of Lance’s favorites, which was mostly Abba. He actually liked most of them, but he would never tell Lance that.
Well maybe later he would, but now, he would have fun playing along.
“Oh my godddd, Lance whyyyyyyyyyy?” He groaned, trying in vain to keep a smile off his face. Lance grinned, knowing he'd succeeded in making Keith forget his torture, even for a second. He gleefully sang along.
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you got no place to go, if you're feeling down.
Lance jumped up from his seat and began dancing around the ship, swinging his hips and arms expertly.
“Really Lance? Of all things to dance to, you picked Abba?” Keith said, his breathing becoming less shaky.
“Oh come on! You know you love it!” Lance shouted, twirling around so much Keith was sure he was gonna vomit. Lance suddenly stumbled, falling on his ass. Keith suddenly found himself in a fit of laughter, doubling over as the song slowly faded out.
“Thanks for that, I didn't know I needed it,” Keith spoke, still recovering from Lance’s pratfall.
“What can I say? Music makes everything better,” Lance replied as the next song began. Keith recognized it immediately, a rush of emotions washing over him. This was his favorite song, why was it on Lance’s music player? When he looked up at him he saw that Lance’s face was engulfed in red.
“Help me up.”
“W-what?”
“I want to dance with you, help me up.” Lance pulled Keith out of the pilot seat, both his arms supporting his waist. Keith, forgetting all his inhibitions, began to sing.
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank god I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
What Keith lacked in dancing skills, he made up for with his singing. His voice is like liquid diamond, it's smooth and beautiful, filling the room every time it rings out. This was the first time Keith had ever sang in front of anyone intentionally, so he kept his eyes down, unaware of the red creeping up his neck. He winced as he attempted to step back, actually trying to slow dance with Lance. He gently pulled Keith closer to him, content with just standing there with his arms around him, and Keith's arms around his neck. Lance carefully moved his hand to lift Keith's chin to meet his eyes, as both blushing boys belted out the chorus.
I love you baby, and if it's quite alright
I need you baby to warm the lonely nights
I love you baby, trust in me when I say
Oh pretty baby, don't bring me down I pray
Oh pretty baby, now that I've found you, stay
And let me love you, baby, let me love you
Lance pressed a kiss to Keith's forehead, happy that Keith had calmed down and was comfortable here in his arms.
“That's my favorite song, what's it doing on your music player?” Keith questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Lance’s face suddenly turned bright red, and he became interested in the floor of the pod. “Well I… Um I guess I was watching you train and uh… I heard you singing it so I thought, heh y'know, maybe you liked it and I could… Um…”
“Oh my god you fucking sap!” Keith cackled, almost falling over.
Lance went from embarrassed to completely flustered in no time flat. “Babe! Come on! I was just thinking that you might need it sometime!”
“Wait, did you just call me babe?”
“Oh my god are we like a thing now?! Are we dating is this what's happening?!” Lance as both boys plopped back down into the pilot seat.
“Well, if you wanted to, I guess we could.”
“Y'know, I think that'd be nice.”
Keith curled into Lance as the music player continued to send its music throughout the small pod, allowing the red and blue Paladins just a small moment of peace in their lives that had been taken over with Voltron and Galra and saving the universe. Now that they had each other, they just might make it through.
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Pidge had turned of the microphone on their communicator so Lance wouldn't be able to hear their howling laughter. They'd heard everything, but when Lance started singing goddamn Abba, they just had to start recording it. It's blackmail gold.
“Oh my god, Hunk is gonna love this!”