Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“We are the Amazons, killers of men. Only the feeble-headed try their luck with us.” 
― Anne Fortier, The Lost Sisterhood

Chapter 1

Lance McLain gathered her short brown locks unto a small ponytail before she looked both ways to see if anyone had followed her. The streets were empty of her guards, only a few women were still out buying food from the market place and Lance let out a relieved sigh.

Good.

She’d lost her guards then. Her mother would be furious with her but twenty-four hour watch on her was grating on her nerves. Sometimes being a princess sucked. She was just lucky her mother actually allowed her to be trained with the other women, otherwise she’d go crazy with all the meetings that she had to sit through with her mother on a daily basis.

She was supposed to attend another meeting with her mother in another ten minutes to discuss the matters of the recent Galra attack that had occurred just a few days ago but she was just so tired of the non-stop arguing. The meeting would go on for quite a while anyway. Most of the women wanted to retaliate but her mother, the queen, would argue that they should leave the Galra Empire alone.

Lance snorted as she started making her way out of the market place to take the path that led to the forest, which would take her to her secret cave by the ocean. The attack hadn’t lasted very long; she and the rest of the Amazonians had taken down the small fleet of Galra in a matter of minutes. Lance was honestly disappointed, she’d only had to punch them once and they would go down.

Once they’d taken them captive they began the interrogation. According to one of the captive men, they had been ordered to make the Amazonians declare their allegiance to Lord Zarkon or face death.

It hadn’t been the first time the Galra had attacked their small planet Cloyetera. The planet was small and was inhabited by women only so the Galra had assumed they could easily overtake them. They were wrong.

The first time they’d appeared, they’d only sent about five Galra in battle cruisers to make them submit. They managed to set one of their temples on fire before the she and the rest of the Amazonians were on them. The Galra had not survived the battle.

The second time the Galra had attacked, they’d come with masked people wearing long brown robes that concealed most of their bodies and could use their quintessence to strike. Those had been tricky, they had the ability to teleport and they moved fast.

The battle lasted a little longer than the first fight but in the end the Amazonians had been victorious. Lance smiled at the shocked expressions the Druids and the Galra had shown when the Amazonians had summoned lightning bolts from their hands to strike back. Everyone always looked down on them because they were women but seeing their shocked expressions when an Amazonian beat them always brought a smile to her face.

The attack from a few days ago had been the sixth time the Galra attacked; she could very well understand why most of the women there wanted to retaliate but she also knew that there weren’t many Amazonians to take on the Galra Empire by themselves. Thus, it only brought more arguing during the council meetings.

Lance glanced at the tallest building in the center of the city where one of the screes was displaying the recent attack from the Galra with a warning at the bottom informing everyone to be on their toes in case of another attack.

The other screens attached to smaller buildings were displaying news from other planets on how they were faring against the Galra to news from Cloyetera where they were having a sale on face cream.

Lance stopped paying attention to the news and started making her way through the marketplace. She mindlessly pulled her ponytail to cover the half of her face in an attempt to conceal her identity and picked up her pace.

One of the Amazonians glanced her way when she passed and furrowed her delicate blond eyebrows at her.

Cesti, she recalled. The woman may look delicate with her baby face and rosy cheeks but she knew how to throw a punch. Lance knew, she’d been on the receiving end of them more times than she could count. Not only that but just like the rest of the Amazonians, she was almost seven feet tall.

Lance was only 5'4 (probably inherited from her father) but she used her small size to her advantage and was landing more punches than receiving them lately.

Cesti glanced around Lance and frowned when she noticed she was alone. As the blond Amazonian began to open her mouth (probably to ask her about her missing guards) Lance put a finger to her mouth and Cesti hesitated.

Lance put her hands as if in prayer and sent her a pleading look. Cesti narrowed her green eyes at her and Lance pulled out the big guns a.k.a the puppy eyes and Cesti’s eye twitched before she finally finally let out a sigh of defeat and made a shooing motion for her to go.

Lance’s blue eyes gleaned and she smiled before she dashed away and entered the forest.

 The way to her secret cave was a bit of a trek, but she’d been using this path since she was ten and knew it like the back of her hand. Normally she would take Nyx, her griffin, along with her but the poor thing was probably too tired after the Galra attack from a few days ago.

Oh well. Perhaps she’ll ask one of the Mer to give her a few fish for Nyx later.

Speaking of the Mer…they would probably be attending the meeting through live stream since they couldn’t leave their underwater city deep in the ocean. This was their planet too; they would want to discuss what to do about the Galra as well.

Up ahead she could see the firebirds flying along and chirping to each other. A mild breeze kissed her face and she knew she was close.

Lance left behind the rolling green land surrounded in high trees and emerged upon the sandy path leading to the ocean. She took a few steps forward before spreading her arms wide and breathing in deep.

She always loved the smell of the ocean, it reminded her of her time back on earth in Cuba at the Verdugo beach where she had spent some time with her father and five brothers. Thinking about her other family back on earth always made her melancholy.

According to her mom, she had crashed on earth more than forty years ago before her father found her and nursed her back to health. Her mother had been suspicious of him, she didn’t trust males, but he won her heart with all his little jokes and sarcastic attitude.

Back then her mother hadn’t been queen yet and so she remained on earth for at least ten years and gave birth to five beautiful boys and one girl before she finally repaired her ship and was ordered to come back home.

Lance only spent two years on Earth before her mother decided to go back home. Since no males were allowed back on Cloyetera, Lance and her mother had been forced to leave the rest of their family on Earth.

They did visit every few years though but she still missed them terribly.

From then on, Lance was put to train with the rest of the Amazonians, and even though she was half human she was by far the strongest among them. Sure she was the smallest among the rest but she had inherited all of her mothers powers along with a few of her own.

She could easily breath underwater, she had telekinesis, she could summon lightning from her fingertips and she had the ability to heal. Training with the Amazons had sharpened her shooting and combat skills as well so she was pretty bad as if she said so herself.

Finally reaching her cave, she turned back before pushing a few leaves to block the entrance and made her way inside. With a wave of her hand she turned on the light and gazed at her secret hideout.

The cave only consisted of a small bed, a red couch, her tablet and a few snack bars in case she got hungry. With nothing better to do, Lance made her way over to the bed, took of her boots and promptly fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She awoke with a jolt hours later to a feeling of wrongness and hurriedly made her way out the cave before she let out a curse. The sun was already gone and the moon was out; her mother was going to be pissed.

She’d left late in the afternoon everyone must be sleeping by now. Yup, her mom was going to be pissed.

Oh quiznack.

A flashing light caught her attention from the corner of her eye and she whipped her head upwards to see something falling from the sky. Lance narrowed her blue eyes; was it another Galra ship?

No…Galra battle cruisers were usually black and purple. This seemed different.

Lance squinted her eyes as the thing began to fall faster; was that…a lion?

As the unidentified object got closer, Lance could finally see the thing clearly. It was a lion. A giant red robot lion, but a lion nonetheless. As the giant robot crashed in the center of the ocean she was knocked off her feet from the sheer force of it.

Lance quickly shot to her feet and at the sight of the red lion beginning to sink, her instincts kicked in and before she knew it she had dived in to the freezing ocean and hurriedly made her way to the robot to see if anyone needed help.

Lance focused her mind and stilled the red lion from sinking as she made her way to the lion’s mouth. She had to be quick; this thing was too big for her to keep still for a period of time.

“Hello?” she yelled as she banged the red lions head. “Anyone in there?”

No answer.

She could swear the red lion was watching her though. Freaky.

“Hello?” she tried again.

For a while there was absolute silence, but then she heard the low moan of pain and she smiled.

“Don’t worry, I’m going to get you out of there okay? Just hold on!”

Lance put a foot on the lions mouth and lifted herself up, she was pretty sure that the door was around here somewhere.

“Come on, open up! Where’s that darn door?”

The lion began to start sinking again and Lance forced her mind to focus on keeping it still, she was dimly aware of the beat of sweat running down her cheek at the sheer concentration it was taking her to keep the lion from sinking. If she could just find that door…

As if sensing her thoughts, the red lions lit up and started to extend its mouth until a door finally opened and she let out a relieved smile.

Glancing up at the lion, she shouted her thanks and dove right in to the cockpit. She could have sworn she heard the thing purr in her mind but she was probably just imagining things.

The lights were on, but dim. Probably running on backup power. It was when Lance was scanning the small compartment that she noticed the slouched figure. The pilot was slumped in the pilot’s chair and Lance quickly made her way over.

Upon closer inspection she noticed that the pilot was wearing a white and red armor, the helmet was cracked and one of the hands was bended at a weird angle. Probably broken she surmised. Lance slid between the pilot seat and the side console before she lightly crouched and placed her hands on either side of the pilots face to peer closer at the face underneath the helmet.

A second later her eyes widened. The pilot…was a male.

Males weren’t allowed in Cloyetera! Lance bit her lip and peered closer.

Black hair that she was pretty sure was a mullet. She’d seen it on TV back on earth. He had fairly thick eyebrows, and uneven-cut bangs that were swept to the left of his face. If it weren’t for the blood dripping from his temple and the split lip and forming bruise on his cheek, Lance would say he was attractive.

She blinked.

Okay, whom was she kidding? The guy was damn handsome but this was no time to be ogling him, she had to get him out of here and hide him from the rest of the Amazons or they’d probably try to kill him.

Decision made, Lance began to unstrap him before slumping him over her shoulder. With that done she quickly made her way outside, her blue eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of the Amazons. With any luck, the rest hadn’t noticed the red lions fall.

Satisfied that no one was around, Lance let go of her hold of the red lion so she could hover over to her cave. She looked back once at the sinking red lion and frowned.

“Sorry, I’ll get you out later. I need to take care of this guy first.”

She didn’t know why she was speaking to a robot but felt like she needed to say the words. There was another bout of purring in her head and she whipped her head back once more to the red lion but it had already sunk.

Frowning, she reached her cave and started making her way inside before she gently placed the male on her bed. With a wave of her hands the lights turned on and she turned back to the injured guy. For a minute she just stared at him in hesitation before nodding to herself.

She could do this. All she had to do was heal his injuries.

Letting out a loose breath, Lance brought her hands up and hovered them on the guy’s head before slowly making a descent down to his toes.

Okay, the guy definitely had a concussion, a broken hand, three cracked ribs and some slight internal bleeding. Not too bad.

She tightened her ponytail once more before placing her caramel colored skinned hands over his chest and concentrated. A green light emerged from her hands as she focused on healing the worst of the injuries first.

Satisfied that the internal bleeding was taken care of, Lance took another deep breath and focused on the rest of the injuries.

Twenty minutes later she put her aching hands down and wiped at her brow. Done. It looked like the guy was going to make it after all.

Lance slowly got to her feet before placing her hands on the guys helmet before she slowly pried it off.

Oh.

She blinked.

Now that male was no longer in immediate danger, she found that she actually had time to admire him. He was certainly handsome she thought wryly.

Taking a seat at the edge of the bed, she pulled his bangs out of his face and gazed down at her work. His split lip was no longer split, his broken arm was no longer broken, the bruise on his cheek was gone and she had wiped away the blood from his temple.

She’d done a good job if she said so herself.

Another thing she noticed about him was that he was human. He certainly smelled human, but there was another scent to him that she couldn’t quite catch.

She shrugged.

Now all she had to do was wait for him to wake up before she could send him on his way.

But first…she made a face at the bloodied armor the guy was wearing and decided that she didn’t want her bed any more bloodied than it already was and so she began to slowly remove his armor until he was left in only a black t-shirt and black pants.

There. Much better.

Lance got to her feet and immediately held on to the couch next to her before she could fall on her face.

Woah.

Maybe she’d used more power than she thought. Her stomach suddenly let out a growl and she frowned.

“Guess I’m hungry,” she mumbled quietly as she made her way to one of the granola bars that were stashed somewhere in this room.

A quiet moan caught her attention and she immediately ran back to the male in her bed and hovered anxiously over his face as he started to come to.

Blue-grey eyes met her own before the guys eyes widened in alarm and he threw a wild punch, which she easily caught.

“W-what?” the male stuttered as he looked around in alarm, “W-where the hell am I?” he threw another punch in her direction and she caught his punch again before he narrowed his eyes at her in anger, “Who the hell are you?!”

Lance tilted her head. “Your savior.”

Chapter Text

“Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.”

-Stephen Hawking

Chapter 2

Alarms blared in the Red Lions cockpit but neither he nor Red was paying attention. Both of them had their eyes set on that Galra bastard to notice anything else.

Zarkon was right there!

If he could kill that bastard now, he could end the war and all of this would be over.

He couldn’t let this opportunity pass!

A flurry of voices was echoing from the speakers, probably his teammates, but it all sounded like jumbled words that were more distracting than anything.

Keith was too angry to stop his attacks and Reds own fury only encouraged him more.

Together they fired beam after beam from their mounted gun at Zarkon only to curse as that blasted shield that surrounded the Galra ruler deflected every attack they fired.

Keith slammed his fist in anger.

If they could just get rid of that shield…

“Keith!” a voice snapped at him and Keith blinked as Shiro’s face appeared on the corner of the screen. “Fall back! I’ve rescued the princess and taken her back to the castle. We have to go!”

Keith stared at his long time friend in shock and shook his head in frustration. “Zarkon is right there Shiro! We can take him out!”

Shiro narrowed his eyes at him and ran a hand through his short white bangs making the scar across the bridge of his nose more prominent, “There’s too many of them Keith! We only have three lions out there and I’m not much help in this battle cruiser that I stole. We have to fall back!”

“But Shiro-“

“Hey guys?” Pidge said, her image appearing on the right corner of his screen, “We could use some help over here!”

Hunk’s face appeared below Pidge’s face on his screen, his orange strip of cloth tied around his head falling down his face, he looked nervous, “Guys! There’s too many of them!” he pulled at his black hair in fear, “What do we do?!”

“Paladins! Get back to the castle!” the princess commanded. “Keith, I need you to pick up Shiro’s ship, it sustained some damage!”

Keith grunted but changed coarse and steered Red in Shiro’s location, “On it!”

Pidge pushed up her glasses making her brown eyes more visible, “Hunk and I will cover you guys!”

“Thanks!”

Keith passed battle cruiser after battle cruiser until he had a clear path to Shiro. Hunk and Pidge covering him as he made Red grab the smoking ship in her paws before starting to make his way back to the ship.

“I’ve got Shiro guys!”

Two cheers accompanied his statement and he grinned.

“Everyone, return to the castle.” Shiro said, “Coran get ready to put down those shields, we’re coming your way!

Coran’s chipper voice answered them back, “Already on it!

“We’re all ready here,” the princess responded. “As soon as you all get inside, I’ll wormhole us out of here!”

Something suddenly slammed into him and Keith let out a shout as he slammed his head on the console. He was dimly aware of Shiro’s own surprised shout and his friends calling out to them in concern.

Stars danced in his vision and he shook his head to get rid of them. He didn’t notice the blood running down his temple but a swipe at his lower lip let him know he’d split his lip.

“Keith?” Pidge’s voice called.

Hunk’s voice called after her, “Shiro buddy? You okay?”

Keith shook his head a little more and blinked.

“Fine,” he managed to say. “Shiro?”

There was a beat of silence before Shiro’s voice answered back, “I’m fine. Coran, the shields!”

“We’re trying!” Coran answered back, there was a bit of fear in his voice, “It’s not working though! I think the Galra shield is stopping us-“

Pidge’s voice drowned him out, “Wait. Guys look! The shield!”

“Guys?” Hunk asked, a bit of excitement entering his voice, “I don’t know what’s going on but I think we can wormhole out of here now!”

“Princess!” Shiro shouted.

Keith’s head felt like it was throbbing but he steered Red to the wormhole that the princess had just opened. Making sure Shiro’s ship was still clutched in Red’s paws he made a dash to the wormhole and followed in after the green and yellow lion.

Red suddenly started shaking and Keith held on for dear life as the sound of his friends screams echoed around him. Something was wrong.

“Guys, I’m going to throw up!” Hunk cried.

“What the hell is happening?” Pidge screamed back.

“Princess, what’s going on?” Shiro yelled.

The shaking suddenly grew worse and Keith screamed along with his friends as they were thrown in different directions.

Keith’s eyes grew wide in fear as he saw the battle cruiser that Shiro was on slip from Red’s paws and started heading towards the yellow lion.

“Shiro!” he yelled.

“Hunk, grab Shiro!”

“Wait, Pidge what’s going-“

“Paladins!”

“Keith!”

The alarms in Red suddenly grew louder and Keith shouted as something heavy collided on his arm. That arm was definitely broken, or at the very least badly bruised.

And suddenly there was fire.

A burst of searing heat and noise and pain wrapped around him and suddenly he was falling. Falling fast. His own scream was blocked out as the screeching of metal and the sound of alarms grew louder in intensity.

He saw bits of green and- was that an ocean?

Mercifully, he lost consciousness before he hit the ground.

His eyes slowly eased opened and he groaned. Everything hurt. He could feel the blood from his temple gushing down the side of his face and he let out another groan. A look around his surroundings showed him the dim lights of the cockpit and he sat a little straighter before he hissed out in pain as the movement jerked on his arm.

He glanced down at his arm and winced. He was pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to bend that way. Crap. It was definitely broken.

He slumped back in his seat and looked up at the ceiling before his eyes shot open as the previous events suddenly came back.

The others!

Shiro!

Were they okay?

He tapped his helmet and called out to his friends a few times but only static answered him.

A sudden banging from outside caught his attention and he slowly looked behind him to where the door was.

“Hello?” a voice yelled. “Anyone in there?”

“Here,” he wheezed, clutching at the spot where his ribs were located, “I’m here.”

More banging.

“Hello?”

Keith tried to answer back but only managed a moan of pain before the blackness took him and he lost consciousness once again.

Keith moaned as his eyes slowly flickered open and he noticed a rocky ceiling lit in dim lightning.

“W-what?” he stuttered out.

A face suddenly appeared above him and Keith’s instincts kicked in as he threw a wild punch at the person’s face only for it to be caught in the person’s hand. “W-where the hell am I?” he threw another punch and let out a growl of frustration as the person caught his other fist in their hand again.

He blinked his eyes rapidly before they narrowed on the person, no girl in front of him. “Who the hell are you?” he asked angrily.

The girl, still holding both his fists in her own hands tilted her head, “Your savior.”

Keith’s eyebrows furrowed before he looked closer at her. The girl looked about his age with short brown hair, some of the bluest eyes he’d ever seen and was wearing what he could only describe as a toga. The white gown had a shoulder drape, and brown trim on the drape, hem, waist, and neckline that complimented her caramel skin.

She was pretty.

He’d even go so far as to say she was beautiful but for all he knew, she could be a serial killer in pretty clothes. He’d seen enough in the news to know that it was usually the pretty ones that turned out to be killers.

He couldn’t let his guard down though; no matter how cute she looked as her gaze bore into his.

“If I let go of your hands, will you attack me?” she asked him.

Keith startled and tried pulling his hands back to his side. No dice. She wasn’t budging.

“Only if you attack me,” he replied after a third attempt.

The girl nodded and slowly, carefully, loosened her hold on his arms. He immediately brought them back to his side before clutching his right arm to his chest. Hadn’t his arm been broken?

He brought a hand to his temple and noticed there was no blood. No injury. A swipe at his lip confirmed that he didn’t have a split lip anymore either. What the fuck?

“You’re a male.” The girl stated.

Keith frowned as he brought his gaze back to her. She was watching him so intently that he felt the sudden urge to blush. “Y-yeah,” he frowned as looked himself over, “Why, don’t I look like one?”

He knew he wasn’t the most attractive guy out there but it was pretty obvious he was a guy. Right?

The girl shook her head at him and smiled a little. Keith felt himself relax a little. “I’m sorry. I just haven’t seen a man in a very long time. I’d forgotten what you all look like.”

Keith nodded in understanding as he looked around the place. Where they in a cave? If they were it was one of the coolest caves he’d seen in his life. Small lights hovered on the ceiling giving the cave a bit of light. The place looked cozy with its red couch and small bed that he was currently standing on with his dirty boots.

Flushing, he instantly climbed down and mumbled a small apology at the girl before taking a seat at the edge of the bed. He glanced down at the sheets and noticed the red bloodstains on the sheets and he instantly felt even guiltier.

“Is this from me?” he asked as he pointed at the bloodstains that stood out from the white sheets. The girl nodded as she took a seat on the carpet on the floor before crossing her legs and looking him over.

And the guilt continued to pile on.

This girl had saved him, treated his wounds and what had he done to repay her? Tried to punch her in the face.

Awesome.

The girl put her hands under her chin and continued to gaze at him in silence for so long that Keith started fidgeting. Was there something on his face?

“What’s your name?” she asked suddenly.

Keith startled before he narrowed his eyes at her. “Why do you want to know?”

The girl shrugged. “I just wanted something to call you instead of ‘hey you’ but if you don’t want to answer that’s fine too.” She grinned, “I’ll just call you mullet.”

Keith’s jaw dropped and he brought his hands to his hair self-consciously; did it really look like a mullet? “Keith!” he practically shouted. At her raised eyebrow, he lowered his voice. “It’s Keith. And it’s not a mullet.” He felt the need to add.

The girl nodded and flashed him a smile that made his legs quiver, “Nice to meet you Keith. My name is Leah but you can just call me Lance.”

“Lance?” He frowned, “Isn’t that a guys name?”

She shrugged and her smiled turned mischievous, “It’s a nickname that took when I used a bunch of lances to kill the pythons.” She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, “Besides, I kind of like it. It suits me, don’t you think?”

Keith nodded absently, the name Leah sounded like it was suited for someone who was a girly girl but she didn’t strike him as someone that would gush over makeup like most girls.

He pulled a black strand of his hair in his fingertips before asking another question, “Were you the one who healed me?”

Lance nodded.

“I-but how?” At her confused expression, he elaborated, “My arm was broken! I’m pretty sure of that. And not only that but my ribs don’t hurt anymore, I don’t have a bruise on my forehead and there’s no split lip anymore!”

Lance looked like she understood.

“Did you put me in a healing pod? How long was I out? Where’s Red?”

Lance flailed her hands, “Whoa there! One question at a time.” She reached behind her and finally finding what she wanted, thrust granola bar at him. “Eat this. You must be hungry.”

Keith took the offered treat cautiously and sniffed it a few times. Lance rolled her eyes before taking it back, ripped open the wrapper, and bit a small piece off. “See? Not poisoned.”

Keith waited a few seconds then nodded as he took the bar back from her, “Sorry, it’s just-“

She grinned at him. “Better to be safe than sorry right?”

He grinned back and took a bite of the granola bar. “Exactly.”

Lance placed her hands on the floor behind her and leaned back before looking up at the ceiling, “Ok, let’s see. No I did not put you in a healing pod. You were only out about half an hour maybe? And if you mean the Red giant robot, it sunk into the ocean.”

Keith promptly choked on his food and Lance looked at him in worry as he started coughing. She got to her feet and threw a water bottle at him, which he gladly drank.

Satisfied that he was no longer about to choke, he turned back to Lance, his expression panicked. “What do you mean it sunk into the ocean?

Lance looked at him in confusion, “You know, it sunk into the ocean just like Jack did when Rose let go of him in Titanic even though there was plenty of room left in that piece of wood.”

Keith’s mind reeled, “You’ve seen the Titanic?”

“Uh, yeah. It’s a good movie. Sucky ending but good nonetheless.”

Keith blinked at her furiously, “Are we on Earth?”

“Nope. But it’s pretty close to it. We’re on my home planet Cloyetera, home of the Amazons.”

“Amazons?”

Lance nodded.

“Like those women from Wonder Woman who are all fierce and strong and their motto is pretty much ‘no men allowed on our home unless they wanna die’ Amazons?”

“I don’t know what a Wonder Woman is but yeah pretty much.” She scrunched her eyebrows together, “You’ve heard of us?”

Keith nodded as a giddy feeling suddenly took over his senses, “In Greek Mythology! I’ve read books about the Amazons about how fierce and powerful they were! In fact, there are tons and tons of books about you guys! Wonder Woman being one of them!”

Lance blinked at him curiously before the right side of her mouth twitched upwards, “Is that so?”

Keith nodded enthusiastically, “Wait.” He looked her over again like it was the first time and he gripped her legs as he leaned in close to inspect her face, “Are you an Amazon?!”

Lance leaned back a little. Hadn’t this guy ever heard of personal space? Jeez. “Yes?”

Keith reeled back, a smile so wide on his face that it had to hurt, “Holy crap! Holy shit! You’re an Amazon! I’ve met an Amazon!”

“Language,” she lightly scolded him.

Figures that the guy who fell from the sky in a giant red robot lion would be a fanboy.

Keith didn’t seem to hear her as he mumbled to himself, letting out an excited squeal whenever he glanced back at her.

Were all males this weird she wondered. Her father and brothers hadn’t acted this way around her, well only a few times but not to this extend.

“Wait, if Red sunk how are we going to get her out?”

Lance blinked her blue eyes at him. “Her?”

He waved a nonchalant hand in the air. “Yeah, she’s obviously a girl.”

Lance raised an amused eyebrow at him and grinned. “Obviously.”

Satisfied that Lance knew Red was a girl (I mean obviously) he asked her again, “So? How are we going to get her out?”

Lance waved a hand at him. “I can probably get her out with my telekinesis, but it might take me a few tries. She’s bigger than most things I’ve lifted with my mind.”

“Telekinesis?” Keith asked, his mouth twitching upwards yet again.

“Yeah, but only me and my mom have that ability.” She started naming her abilities with her fingers, “I can also throw lightning bolts, I have super strength, I can heal, and I’m a darn good sharpshooter if I say so myself.”

Keith was practically shaking in excitement at this point, “Telekinesis? Lightning bolts? Ability to heal? Holy shit!”

“Language!”

He waved her comment off and frowned, “I need to get in touch with my friends! We were separated in our battle with Zarkon! I have to get back to them and let them know I’m okay!”

Lance’s eyes grew wide as she suddenly got to her feet and gripped his arms, “You fought Zarkon? How are you not dead?”

Keith seemed to take offence to that, “Because I’m a Paladin of Voltron! Me and the others fought Zarkon with our lions!”

“Voltron?”

“Yep.”

“You’re a paladin of Voltron?”

Keith seemed to puff his chest at that, “Damn straight. I’m the red paladin!”

Lance stared at him in complete puzzlement before she put her hands on his head and closed her eyes.

Keith swallowed at the close proximity and looked at the side, “Umm, what are you doing?”

“Checking for head injuries. You obviously still have a concussion.”

Keith batted her hands away from him. “I’m telling you the truth!” he growled back at her.

The looks she was giving him looked a lot like pity and he didn’t like it one bit. “Keith, Voltron is just a bed time story that parents tell their children to get them to sleep. It’s not real.”

Keith seethed, his good mood instantly gone, “How do you explain Red then?”

Lance hesitated and Keith plundered on. “If you help get in contact with my teammates, I’ll prove it to you!” he scratched at his black hair in frustration and groaned, “Well, it’s only three of us right now. Shiro can’t get Black out unless we find the Blue paladin, but I’m sure we’ll find them soon and we’ll be able to form Voltron!”

Lance still looked dubious.

“Please,” he whispered, his voice pleading. “I’m telling the truth. Please believe me.”

Lance gave him a long look before finally nodding, “Okay. I’ll believe you.” Keith sent her a relieved smile and Lance blushed as she turned to the side and crossed her arms, “I’ll still want proof though.” She added stubbornly.

Keith grinned and opened his mouth to say something else to her when Lance suddenly tensed and whipped her head around and tilted her head slightly.

Keith was instantly on his guard and he reached for him Bayard at his belt only to notice it wasn’t there.

“What is it?” he whispered to her. “And where’s my Bayard and sword?”

Lance didn’t say anything for a few seconds to him and just when he thought she wasn’t going to answer him she finally spoke, “Amazons. They’re coming this way.” She bit her nail anxiously. “It was only a matter of time I suppose. You made quite the entrance. As for your weapons, I think they’re still in the Red lion’s cockpit.”

Keith blinked before letting out an annoyed sigh, “And you didn’t bring them with you?”

Lance whipped her head back to him and glared, “I was a little busy saving your life and keeping Red from fully sinking to notice. So no, I didn’t bring them with you.”

Keith groaned but understood. He still didn’t like the feeling of being defenseless but he suppose he could still use his fists if the need arose. “So? What do we do?”

Lance opened her mouth to reply when an alto voice spoke over her, “Lance. We know you’re in there. We have a few questions for you, come out or I’ll beat that pretty little butt of yours.” The voice drawled.

Lance rolled her eyes and Keith felt the urge to snicker but held it in.

Lance sighed and looked back at him, a hand on her hip, “Look I’ll go explain the details to them. They might come and kill you or they might let you live.”

Keith balked, “They’re Amazons! Isn’t it their rule to kill men who trespass on their home?”

Lance hummed, “Well yeah, but I’m hoping I can convince them otherwise.” She shrugged, “You have a fifty-fifty chance.”

Keith scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, “I’d like to live thank you very much.”

“Oh Lance,” the voice outside sang, “I’m getting irritated.”

Lance sighed and started heading out, she turned back to Keith and made a beckoning motion at him and he cautiously followed after her, “Just stay behind me okay? Don’t show your face just yet.”

Keith swallowed but nodded. “Okay.”

Lance turned back to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, “Hey,” she whispered. “Do you trust me?”

Keith stared back at her and found that the answer was yes. He did trust her. Sure he hadn’t known her for very long but in all the time that he’d been in her presence, he hadn’t felt a hint of malice from her.

Keith nodded and placed his hand on top of hers, “Yes.”

She grinned and started heading out, Keith hot on her heels making sure to stay hidden behind her back. It’s a good thing she was a bit taller than him, the thought irked him for some reason but it would keep him hidden from the dangerous women that would pretty much kill him on sight so he pushed the feeling aside.

As they made their way out of the cave, the dim light from the light bulbs was replaced with the light from the moon. The ocean looked very blue. It was beautiful; he’d never seen an ocean so blue and clean.

His father had taken him to the beach when he was younger and he remembered how he hadn’t wanted to take one step inside because of how grayish and brownish it looked like.

But the ocean in Lance’s home planet was nothing compared to this one, he felt the sudden urge to take a swim and just float around as he gazed at the moon. Perhaps Lance would join him.

And cue the blush.

Keith shook his head and Lance shot him a worried glance before turning back to the women standing a few feet away. There were about twelve of them from what he could see and holy shit they were tall.

Taller than him and Lance.

All of them were wearing togas like Lance was but in different styles. Some had it long enough that it covered their legs and feet and others had togas that cut above the knee like the one Lance was wearing.

Swords, shields, and arrows with bows were strapped to their backs.

They were stunning.

They looked like those fashion models that he’d seen on magazines, and even though some of them looked pretty buff, they were still stunning.

Still…

Lance had them beat in the beautiful department.

Keith stood closer to Lance and gulped.

The twelve women suddenly dropped into a kneeling position and Keith startled.

“Princess Lance,” a pretty buff woman with yellow cat like eyes said, “We saw something pretty big fall from the sky. Are you all right?”

Princess? Keith thought.

Lance waved her arm and the women stood in one fluid motion. Lance scratched her nose and cleared her throat, “Right. Um. About that.”

A red head with freckles spread on her cheeks took a step forward, “Do you know what it was Princess?”

Lance fidgeted uncomfortably and Keith pinched her arm, “Keep it together,” he hissed at her.

Lance sighed in defeat, “Okay, first of all don’t get mad and try not to freak out at what I’m about to show you okay?”

The twelve female warriors looked at each other before nodding back at Lance.

Lance took a deep breath and stepped to the side to show Keith.

The woman gasped and one women let out a shriek before promptly fainting.

The next thing Keith knew, he had eleven weapons aimed in his direction and Lance immediately stepped to his side and put an arm out as her other hand pinched her nose in annoyance.

“Wow. You guys never listen do you? You just did what I just told you not to do.”

“Princess,” a blonde with curly hair hissed, “Step back. Let us eliminate this intruder.”

“No can do Cesti, this guy is my guest.” Lance answered back.

“But the rules-“ a woman with green skin and brown hair snarled back as she aimed her arrow at Keith’s head.

“Forget the rules! He can help us fight the Galra!”

Wait. These women were also fighting against Zarkon Keith thought.

“Lies,” the woman with the yellow cat eyes snarled before spitting on the floor and leveling him with a glare, “All men do is lie and seduce women."

Okay. Rude.

Keith rolled his eyes and a woman with blotches of blue on her skin screeched at him, “He looked at me! Now I’m going to end up pregnant!”

The women tensed and took a step forward.

Were these guys serious?

Lance sighed in annoyance, “First of all,” she leveled a glare at the cat eyes lady, “I believe him and he hasn’t tried to seduce me once so there,” she leveled her blue eyes to glare at the woman with blue blotches on her skin, “And second of all, he can’t get you pregnant by just looking at you,” Keith nodded back furiously before Lance continued, “He has to touch you. Then bam! Pregnant.”

The twelve (the one who’d fainted was awake it seems) women paled and took three steps back.

If Keith didn’t have a variety of weapons aimed at his person he would have laughed at the ridiculous lie that Lance had just told. Nonetheless, his lips started twitching upwards and he had to bite the inside of his cheek before he laughed and got himself skewered by one of the Amazons.

“Now then,” Lance clapped her hands together and the women turned their gaze back to her, “I think it’s time to go talk to my mother.”

She looped one arm around Keith’s arm, ignored the scandalized screams from the women, and strode forward towards the forest pulling Keith along with her.

Lance and Keith walked ten steps before Lance turned back to the warriors, “You guys coming or not?”

Keith found it damn amusing when they scrambled after them, some even tripped on their own feet as they hastily followed after them.

“Damn,” Keith said to Lance, “You’re pretty badass.”

Thirteen voices answered him back in annoyance, “Language!”

Chapter Text

“Friendship," said Christopher Robin, "is a very comforting thing to have.” 
― A.A. Milne

Chapter 3

“What’s that?”

“That’s a space moth.”

“What about that glowy thing?”

“That’s a space dragonfly.”

“Oh! What about that?”

“That’s a rock Keith.”

“No way! It’s glowing!”

Lance crossed her arms over chest as she gave him a droll stare. “Then it’s a space rock.”

Keith huffed and looked at her in suspicion. “Are you just adding the word space to everything?”

Lance’s lips twitched. “Maybe.”

Keith huffed and pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest and leveled a glare at Lance. She had the audacity to smirk at him.

“Umm,” a voice nervously said from the back. Keith turned his head to see a girl with black short hair and hazel eyes wringing her hands over the hilt of her sword as his gaze bore into hers. The girl let out a little squeak as she made eye contact and Keith immediately recognized her as the one who had fainted when Lance first revealed him.

Keith raised an eyebrow at her and the girl let out another squeak. “Yeah?”

Two of the Amazons who had red reptile skin and were clearly twins leveled a glare at him before patting the girl on the back in encouragement.

The girl seemed to take reassurance from them and took a deep breath before speaking, “To be f-fair, Lance doesn’t really know the entomology of this place. She’s more interested in poisons and bigger creatures.”

“Adina is totally right of course,” Lance said from beside him, “I’ve absolutely no interest in those slimy creatures.”

Keith deflated and Lance felt a twinge at her chest from the sight. They’ve been walking for a good ten minutes and every insect they passed seemed to catch the black haired boys interest. Perhaps because they were bigger than the ones on Earth. Unfortunately, Lance knew next to nothing about them. She tended to stay away from those creepy crawlies.

Cesti and Reyna knew more about them but when Keith asked them, they’d just glared at him and raised their weapons menacingly in return.

Keith had wisely not asked the rest of the Amazons anything else.

Lance lifted a branch sticking out from a tree before ducking her head under and waited for Keith to duck his head to get under before letting the branch go and promptly hitting Reyna in the face.

Reyna narrowed her yellow cat eyes at her before breaking the branch in two in annoyance. Lance winced and mumbled an apology at her before continuing with their trek.

Lance turned back to Keith and winced. The poor boy looked like someone had taken his favorite toy.

The twittering of birds made her look up and she suddenly grinned as an idea formed in her head.

“Hey Keith,” said boy turned his blue-gray eyes at her and she grinned wider, “Want to see something cool?”

Keith raised an eyebrow at her as he watched in confusion as Lance put both hands to her mouth and made a twittering sound that sounded like a part of a song and waited.

After five seconds had passed (he counted) he was about to ask Lance what that was supposed to do when he heard a soft chirp answer back. At the sound, Keith turned his eyes towards the sky and felt his eyes widen at what he could only describe as a Phoenix flying towards them.

Lance stretched her hand out and Keith watched in amazement as the bird landed on her hand with a small chirp.

“Holy-“Keith began only to promptly close his mouth at the level of glares he received. He coughed, “I mean yeah that’s cool.”

Lance giggled beside him before petting the firebird on its head. The bird let out a little pleased sound and Keith’s eyes almost bugged out as he watched the bird spread its wings as fire suddenly covered its body.

Keith whipped his head back to Lance to check if she was all right but the girl seemed unperturbed as she nuzzled her face onto the birds’ neck.

Keith took a hesitant step forward. “Does that not hurt?”

Lance shook her head. “No. The firebirds have the ability to tell if someone is kindhearted or not. If they sense that you are not pure at heart, their flames will burn you. But if you are, the flames feel warm.” Lance turned away from the bird and stretched her arm out at Keith, “Would you like to try holding it?”

There were a few snorts from the Amazons while others dissolved into giggles.

Reyna pushed back a strand of her violet hair away from her head and gave Keith a haughty look. “The firebird will burn him alive.”

Adina looked worriedly at Keith, “Are you sure you want to try? There’s no shame in saying no,” she mumbled nervously.

Ami and Tami, the twins, looked on in interest as the girl with the blue blotches on her skin was taking bets in the back with the other Amazons.

Keith felt a bubble of irritation at their words but as his eyes went back to the firebird engulfed in flames he hesitated.

The bird went back to normal, it’s fire replaced by orange and yellow feathers.

Lance seemed to sense his hesitation as she put her other hand on his shoulder in encouragement, “Keith.” He looked up from his balled fists and met her eyes, “You can do this. You’re the red paladin right?” At Keith’s hesitant nod Lance smiled and patted his shoulder, “Then you can definitely do this. From what I’ve heard, the red paladin’s element is fire.”

Keith’s eyes widened. How could he have forgotten that? He’d always felt at ease in the desert where the sun was blistering hot and after becoming Red’s pilot, he had found it oddly comforting to be in even hotter places that the universe had to offer.

Lance was right. He could do this.

Keith straightened his shoulders and after giving himself one more pep talk, he stuck out his right hand and waited as Lance stretched her arm with the firebird towards him.

As the firebird looked his way curiously, Keith held his breath as the bird slowly inched its way to Keith’s arm.

Its talons were long and sharp but it didn’t seem to want to hurt him as it gazed at him in curiosity. Releasing another breath, Keith brought his left hand and patted the bird on top of its head and Keith watched as the bird closed its red eyes in contempt before it suddenly engulfed itself in flames.

Keith startled and felt the urge to shake his arm before he got burned but instead of the intense heat he was dreading, all he felt…was warmth.

There were a few shocked gasps from the back and Keith turned his head slightly to see the rest of the Amazons with their jaws open. Adina was the only one who looked relieved among the group but it was Lance’s reaction that he enjoyed the most.

The look she was giving him was so damn proud that he was instantly reminded of Shiro and he felt sudden warmth envelop him.

“I-but-how?” Reyna croaked, while she gestured to him and the bird back and forth. “This-it’s not possible.”

Lance sauntered over and closed the violet haired Amazon’s jaw with an audible click. “See? Even the firebird trusts him. He won’t do us any harm.”

Reyna still looked skeptical but she lowered her sword as she regarded him with newfound respect.

Cesti whistled as she too lowered her weapon. “Well that was awesome. I suppose if the firebird is comfortable with you, then you must not be that bad.”

The rest of the Amazons looked back and forth between Reyna and Cesti to Lance and Keith before finally deciding that he wasn’t much of a threat after all and slowly lowered their weapons.

Adina sheathed her sword to her belt and took a hesitant step forward towards Keith. “Umm, y-you’re not h-hurt right?”

Keith looked at her in surprise for her genuine concern of him but shook his head. Adina sent him a relieved smile as she rubbed the firebirds chin. The bird let out a happy chirp and flapped its wings in joy.

“Aldara! Are you choosing other people over me? Me who feeds and bathes you when you come back all sticky from the swamp?” Lance said, pressing a hand to her chest in mock offence. “You wound me.”

The firebird, Aldara, lifted its head from nuzzling Keith’s cheek and let out a sad little chirp. Lance made a sniffling sound and crossed her arms over her chest as she turned her head to the side, “I see how it is. I understand. Maybe I’ll go make friends with the other birds; perhaps Cronus? He seems nice.”

Aldara let out an angry aquak before she flew over to Lance and starting making cooing sounds at her. The Amazons chuckled and even Keith couldn’t help but smile at her antics. Lance was a good actress.

Aldara landed on Lance’s head and nuzzled the princess’s cheek in what could only be described as an apology before Lance smiled and patted her under her chin. “Well, I suppose I’ll forgive you. For now. Besides, Cronus is a bit of an attention seeker, don’t you think?”

Aldara let out a sound that sounded suspiciously like laughter to Keith’s ears and nodded its head in agreement.

“Good girl,” Lance said, “Now go back to Keith before he starts crying from the lack of attention he’s getting.”

“Hey!”

Aldara nuzzled her cheek one more time before flying over to Keith who stretched his hand out automatically for her to land on.         

The trek through the forest seemed less tense than before and Keith suspected that this was all according to Lance’s plan if the satisfied smirk she was wearing was any indication.

Keith saddled closer to her and mumbled a small thank you to the blue-eyed Amazon but Lance only gave him a puzzled look that didn’t fool him for a minute. Keith bumped shoulders with her and Lance returned the gesture with a grin as Aldara gave a happy little chirp on top of Keith’s head with a flap of her wings that sent both of them into fits of laughter.

It wasn’t until they left the forest and Reyna announced that they were getting close that Keith looked up from playing with Aldara only to let his jaw drop at the sight before him. Three huge mountains enveloped the city and what was even more shocking were the three floating islands above the city itself.

Keith furrowed his eyebrows at a particular island in the sky when he saw movement and he felt his jaw drop. Was that?

Keith pulled Lance’s arm to get her attention, his eyes never once wavering from the creatures that were flying around the island.

“Are those…griffins?” Keith asked, staring at the flying creatures in awe. “Those are…griffins.”

Lance ripped her gaze from Aldara who had perched herself to her shoulder and followed his gaze as she pulled him along and nodded, “Yup, those are indeed griffins. Everyone else calls them Felis Leo but that’s just a fancy word for griffin in my opinion.”

Keith’s mouth opened and closed but he could not for the life of him think of any words to say. He would probably go with holy shit but he’d used that word so many times today that he suspected Lance wanted to give him a dictionary once they made it to their destination.

Actually no, scratch that. Lance had already informed him that she would hand him a dictionary once they arrived.

At the time Keith had glowered at her but now…maybe he did need a dictionary.

Holy shit was just not cutting it anymore.

He got enough glares from the women every time he uttered the word anyway. Perhaps they’d be happier if he learned other words to describe his awe.

The sudden rise of voices snapped Keith’s attention away from the griffons only for him to be met by even more Amazons passing by.

Some looked scared at the sight of him, one woman in particular picked up her daughter and hid her from view, but most of them took out their weapons and aimed it at him.

Lance and the rest of their entourage surrounded him in a protective circle as they raised their own weapons.

They’d reached a giant gate guarded by two Amazons and six archers who had their bows aimed at them.

One of the women guarding the gate turned her stern hazel eyes to them and snarled in anger as she pulled her shield in front of her and aimed her sword in Keith’s direction. She and the rest of the women guarding the gate looked older than Lance and her party who he had discovered were around the ages of seventeen to nineteen.

Keith sighed; he was getting pretty tired of having weapons aimed at him.

“You bring a man to Ecumenopolis?”

The woman next to her turned her light blue eyes to Lance, “Why is he not dead? There are no men allowed in Cloyetera.”

Lance lifted her hands in a placating manner as she spoke, “He brings us no harm. He claims to be a paladin of Voltron. He can help us defeat the Galra.”

The women exchanged glances between each other and even the archers whispered among themselves as they looked at him in curiosity.

The woman with the hazel eyes didn’t lower her weapons as she turned back to Lance, “He lies. Voltron does not exist.”

Cesti spoke up before Lance could, “While I am not sure that Voltron exists, I can however attest to the fact that he will not harm us.”

The older woman lifted her chin at the curly blond and raised a brow, “Oh?”

Reyna licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded, “The firebird did not burn him when he touched it.”

There were several gasps at this declaration and the women all turned to Keith with mixtures of surprise and disbelief.

“Prove it,” one of the archers demanded.

Lance shrugged and motioned for Keith to raise his arm for Aldara. He did so and the bird happily returned to his side before she flapped her wings and engulfed herself in flames. As she did so, Keith scratched the bird under its chin and let out a happy sound, the flames turning brighter at the action.

There were several more gasps and Keith smirked at the gaping women.

For a moment no one said anything and just gawked at him in disbelief until Lance clapped her hands to get their attention.

The Amazon princess was smiling like a maniac and Keith liked her a little more for it, “I assume that’s enough evidence?” the women with the hazel eyes slowly closed her mouth and nodded before letting out a sharp whistle that had the gates opening with a small rumble.

Lance was enjoying herself immensely. Who knew shocking her fellow Amazons could be this fun? The sight of their jaws dropping in shock almost sent her into waves of laughter but she reined herself in.

Seeing Keith skip around and point at everything that looked interesting was so amusing she couldn’t help but smile though. He looked like someone had given five cups of coffee and the sugar high had reached its peak as he started squealing when one of the griffons flew over their heads.

He turned over and tugged her arm as he pointed frantically at the griffon. He was speaking too fast for her to properly follow the conversation so she just nodded when it seemed appropriate.

Lance glanced at her entourage who were shooting Keith worried looks about his behavior and snickered. At least now she wasn’t afraid for Keith’s life. When she’d first revealed him to her friends, she’d been afraid one of the women would skewer him with their swords, probably Reyna, she had a bit of a temper and tempted to act before she thought things through.

Now, instead of keeping her guard up she let herself relax and stand a bit apart as she watched the black haired boy talking with Adina about the giant coliseum where they would have tournaments every year to test their strengths against each other.

Ami and Tami made their way over and said something to him that had him blushing and them laughing at his expense. Adina tried to placate him as she got his attention again and pointed at one of the buildings with a giant statue with a women kneeling before another women with her hands hovering over her in concentration.

The building was called The Healing Chamber; it’s where woman who had a strong affinity for healing would go to study. It’s where they would practice over real life creatures and learn the different methods of healing.

Lance herself still attended whenever she had free time. She needed the practice and reading over the scrolls in the library was fun. She had a knack for healing poison from a body though. There were different kinds of poisons around, if someone was poisoned you had to find out what type of poison it is, what creature or plant it came from, and extract him from the body before they start to heal the rest of the body.

She was getting quite good at it too. She’d even started mixing in different poisons from different creatures to see what she could create, it was fun.

“He’s an odd one,” Reyna commented as she walked beside her and followed Keith with her yellow cat eyes, “Are all males like this?”

Lance shrugged, “My brothers would get like this whenever dad bought them a new game. Maybe it’s a male thing.”

Cyra appeared on Lance’s right as she curled a strand of her red hair around her finger, her emerald eyes boring into her, “Do you think your mother will let us keep him?”

Lance wiggled her eyebrows at her, “Why? You interested in him?”

Cyra flushed and scowled, “N-no. I just feel like testing myself against him in battle, nothing more.”

Reyna and Lance exchanged looks before smirking, “Right.” They said sarcastically.

Cyra flushed and stomped her foot, “Oh shut it you two.”

“Just remember,” Lance said as Keith began to call her over, “I saw him first.”

She didn’t wait to hear their responses as she made her way over to Keith with a smile and a skip to her step.

Okay Keith decided. This was his favorite planet by far. Sure most of the women still looked like they wanted to kill him but with Lance and her friends surrounding him he felt completely at ease. They’d even started talking to him and teasing him like he was an old friend. It was nice.

The buildings looked a lot like those Greek buildings he’d seen in textbooks but with a little more technology. There were screens on a few buildings showing news of the recent Galra attack to commercials about some weapons and face creams.

He’d even seen a giant hologram of an older woman appear at the center of the city where she kept reminding everyone that she was here if they needed to talk.

The three mountains had waterfalls raining down on them but it felt nice. It gave the air a sweet scent.

“Can someone ride a griffon?” he asked as his gaze followed another one of the flying creatures.

Lance answered him with a grin, “Of course. We archers ride them during combat.” She cast him a playful grin, “Why? Do you want to ride one?”

Keith shrugged with a sheepish expression, “Am I that obvious?”

Thirteen voices answered him back. “Yes.”

Keith flushed.

Reyna gave him a playful shove that almost had him falling to the floor on his face and laughed, “If the queen decides to let you stay we would not be opposed to letting you ride one.”

“Unless she decides to have you killed,” Diona said with a sniff as she tucked a blue strand behind her ear making the blue splotches on her skin more prominent.

“Yes. Unless she decides to have you killed.” Dolly, Erie and Echo stated with a nod of their heads.

Harley and Harmony looked excited at the prospect of that idea and Keith made sure to stray away from the two blondes.

Ivy gave him a sympathetic pat on the head before she went back to filing her nails.

Lance smiled and guided them through an archway surrounded by different blue and green flowers until they were at the entrance of the council chamber where she could already hear women talking inside.

“Ready?” Lance asked Keith.

Keith shrugged as he chewed on his lower lip, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Lance put a comforting hand on his shoulder and smiled at him as she said the only thing that could make him feel better, “ I won’t leave you. I’ll be there.”

She said it like she meant it. Keith believed her and felt a surge of gratitude.

At his nod, Reyna and Cesti who were the tallest among them pushed the gate opened and Keith took a deep breath before walking in.

At the sight of him, all chatter stopped. Lance and the rest of her friends walked to the middle of the stage and Keith reluctantly followed after them.

Everyone was seated up in rows of balconies and were openly gawking at him in silence. That only lasted about ten seconds before the room erupted in chatter.

“Is that a male?”

“Why hasn’t anyone killed him yet?”

“He looks so pale.”

“Princess, what is the meaning of this?”

“Enough!” a booming voice said with such authority in her voice that everyone instantly shut their mouths.

A woman wearing a brown dress with a fur coat on his shoulders walked into the room and Keith immediately knew that this was Lance’s mother. The appearance was uncanny. The woman’s hair was longer and black and instead of blue eyes like her daughter she had brown eyes that were staring at him so intently she felt the urge to flee.

A tug on his arm caught his attention and Keith looked down at Lance to see that she had taken a kneeling position. In fact, everyone in the council chamber had taken a kneeling position.

Keith slowly lowered himself to a kneeling position and lowered his head like everyone else.

“All rise,” the queen said.

As soon as everyone was back on their feet, the queen took a seat on her throne, as she looked him over before diverting her attention to Lance.

“Why is there a male in my presence?”

“He fell from the sky,” Lance answered back, “I saved him before he could die.”

The queen arched a delicate eyebrow at her daughter before turning her eyes back to Keith, “I see. Is he not dangerous?”

Adina nervously wrung her hands and answered, “He isn’t dangerous. We all thought he was but then-“ she glanced at the firebird perched on Keith’s shoulder, “Aldara’s flames did not burn him.”

The queen lifted both brows at this as she glanced at Keith with new interest, “Is that so?”

Reyna and the rest of the Amazons who had escorted him and Lance to the council chamber nodded, “It is true your highness.” She gestured to the other women by her side, “We all witnessed this.”

“We can show you if you’d like,” Lance suggested.

 The queen shook her head, “No. That’s all right. None of you have ever lied to me, I trust your word.” The queen gazed at her daughter before she narrowed her eyes at her, “There’s more. What is it?”

For the first time since they began talking, Lance looked nervous, “He…also says that he is a paladin of Voltron and he and his friends are fighting the Galra Empire.”

The queen swiveled her attention back to Keith and she actually looked surprised by this, “But-Voltron is just a bed time story we tell our children. It is not real.”

“With all due respect,” Keith replied, “It’s true. I am the red paladin, if you desire more proof we can go back to where Lance- I mean Princess Lance found me and I can show you the red lion that I pilot.”

There were a few whispers among the rest of the women in the council chamber but Keith kept his attention on the queen as she gazed at him for a long time.

“I have a quicker method to get evidence.” The queen stated.

Lance tensed beside him and Keith sent a worried glance at her before turning his attention back to the queen, “And what is your method if you don’t mind me asking your highness.”

The queen gave him a thin smile as she leaned forward, “I can look through your memories and see if what you claim is true.”

Keith shifted his body slightly at the thought, “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with someone looking through all my memories.” He said honestly.

The queen smiled at this, “You can relax. I shall only look at your most recent memories.”

Okay, that didn’t sound too bad.

The queen continued, “If you try to resist too much, the process…can be painful though.”

Oh.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about that…

Still…

If he let the queen look through his memories, he could show her that he was a paladin of Voltron and perhaps then they’d be able to help him make contact with Shiro and the rest of his teammates.

Decision made, Keith took a deep breath and nodded, “All right. You can look through my memories.”

The queen nodded, “Close your eyes and relax your mind for me. You will feel some slight discomfort but try not to resist.”

Keith did as he told and closed his eyes as he willed his body to relax.

At first he didn’t feel anything but then he felt a slight touch in his mind and Keith gasped at the foreign entity. It didn’t belong there. His body tensed.

“Relax,” the queen mumbled.

Keith tried but at the insistent presence in his mind, his body began to shake.

“Keith,” Lance said, covering Keith’s hand with her own. “Relax. Focus on my hand. Can you do that?”

She gave his hand a light squeeze and slowly, Keith’s body began to relax.

He gave Lance’s hand a squeeze of gratitude before he let out another gasp as the queen dove right in to his mind.

He saw himself at his old shack in the desert where he was trying to find that frequency.

The day Shiro crash landed on Earth as he, Hunk and Pidge rescued him.

Him leading the rest of his friends to the cave where the yellow lion was hidden.

Them finding Allura and Coran, the last Alteans, frozen in the healing pods.

Him, Hunk and Pidge as they became paladins of Voltron.

The queen skimmed through their battles and their search for the blue paladin to the recent events with the battle with Zarkon and the wormhole that separated him from the rest of his teammates.

Him landing in the ocean before blacking out.

And finally to him waking up with Lance anxiously hovering over him.

As the queen left his mind, Keith let out a shuddering breath and tried to calm his beating heart. His other hand was still gripping Lance’s hand with a white knuckled grip but she didn’t seem too concerned about that as she peered at him anxiously.

“You okay mullet?”

Despite himself, Keith let out a huff of laughter as he finally steadied his heart and gave her a playful smirk.

“Shut it Princess Leah.”

Lance pouted and whined, “Ugh, don’t call me that.”

Keith grinned, “Whatever you say…Princess Leah.”

Lance huffed, “You’re terrible.”

“Ahem.”

Keith flushed as he turned back to the queen who was looking at them with barely contained amusement, “If you’re both quite done.”

“For now,” Lance said with a smile.

Keith wanted the ground to swallow him whole at the comment.

The queen leaned back on her throne and placed her hands on her lap, “I have looked through your memories red paladin. What you say is true and from what I could seem, you do not wish to bring us any harm.” The queen got to her feet and placed her hands on the railing as she gazed down at him, “You have my word that we will do everything in our power to get you back to your teammates.” She turned back to the rest of the women in the council who were protesting and raised a challenging eyebrow, “You also have free reign as long as someone is by your side at all times. You also have my word that no one shall attempt to take your life. I welcome you to our home red paladin of Voltron.”

Keith let out the breath he’d been holding and bowed his head, “Thank you, your majesty.”

The queen let out a snort and waved her hand, “Please, call me Lexi.”

Keith smiled before he was suddenly pulled into a tight hug. “Yay! You get to live!” Lance declared as she easily lifted him off his feet and twirled him around.

Keith flushed but he couldn’t help but return the hug with as much enthusiasm.

Chapter Text

“Kings of the land and the sky we are; proud gryphons.”

- Elizabeth Munro, Wingspan

Chapter 4

“Keep your feet planted, sword up.” Reyna said to him two weeks later, as they spent the cool morning training in one of the sparing rings.

Keith adjusted himself accordingly and locked eyes with her own yellow cat eyes lest she remind him again.

Each of the Amazons that were part of Lance’s entourage had taken turns teaching him new things that he could use in battle, new tactics. Things he wouldn’t have thought to even try until they suggested it.

They’d been at it for two weeks- training with anyone who was willing to spar with him, working with Lance on how to shoot an arrow or guns that they apparently seemed to have.

Though they weren’t normal guns that shot bullets, these guns shot beams that were gathered from ones own quintessence. Unsurprisingly, Keith made more progress with the former. He was a better fighter with swords than he was with arrows and guns.

He never seemed to hit the target, his shot would land quite a ways away from the center and then he’d get irritated and throw a tantrum. Lance’s words not his.

It’s not his fault though, okay maybe it was. But in his defense, the arrows that the Amazons used were not normal arrows. At least he was pretty sure they weren’t. Normal arrows didn’t weigh more than fifty pounds last he checked.

Reyna swiped his feet from him and Keith went down with a grunt before the tall violet haired Amazon planted one foot on his chest as she looked down at him.

“Eyes on me. If this were a real battle, you’d be dead.”

Keith wiped the sweat from his brow and took Reyna’s offered hand to get to his feet. They’d been at this for half an hour already, but he kept getting distracted.

Seeming to sense this, Reyna sheathed her sword and offered him a bottle of water. “You seem distracted today. More so than usual.” She took a swig from her bottle before looking down at him. “Something on your mind?”

Keith let out a frustrated sigh, “Its just-it’s been almost two weeks. Two weeks! And we haven’t heard anything from Voltron.” Keith’s eyes turned frantic, “What if something happened to them?”

After the council meeting where the queen had declared that he was not only allowed to live (yay) but was able to stay in Cloyetera as well (double yay), the queen herself and Lance along with their bodyguards had gone back to where Red lay underwater and with a little help from the mermaids, err myr he corrected himself, they were able to bring the red lion back to the city where the science and engineering division was currently fixing her.

“Ah, I see.” Reyna said as she took a seat on the cool grass. She didn’t seem to mind that her toga dress cut a little more as she crossed her legs. “You simply have to be patient.” Keith looked like he wanted to argue, so Reyna continued speaking, “What is that mantra you said your friend told you about?”

Keith sighed and took a seat across from her and crossed his legs or at least tried to but the toga they’d given him didn’t let him so he simply spread his legs out and crossed them at the ankles. If Pidge ever saw him wearing it, he’d never live it down. “Patience yields focus.”

“Yes that. That right there is a good saying. I’m sure your friends are all right. You red lion’s repair are almost done as well; it’s been sending a signal for days I’m sure your friends will notice it.”

Keith sighed but nodded as he finished the whole bottle of water. Reyna regarded him with narrowed eyes before she got to her feet and offered her hand to him. Keith took it and reached for his weapon but Reyna shook her head at him.

“You’re obviously not in it today. Let’s call it a day,” she turned a mischievous grin at him and Keith narrowed his eyes in suspicion, “I know something that will lift your spirits up.”

Keith quirked an eyebrow in challenge. “Is that so?”

Reyna’s smile turned downright devilish. “We’re going to go see Lance.”

Despite himself, Keith’s lips twitched upwards and Reyna’s smirk turned wider. Quickly wiping the expression of his face he tried to look nonchalant as he looked down at his nails like they were the most interesting things in the world. “I thought she was busy with her mother today.”

Reyna checked her wrist where the transparent bracelet that all Amazons were required to wear was and scrolled through a message she had just received. “Nope. According to my darling Adina, the queen just left to finish some last festival details but left with strict instructions for Lance to finish her training for the day. If we hurry, we’ll be able to catch the last few minutes of her training.”

Keith was already walking away and Reyna snickered as she counted down from ten. It was when she was nearing four that he came back with a faint tint to his cheeks.

He coughed awkwardly into his hand as he looked to the side, “I ah-don’t know where she is.” He mumbled.

Reyna threw her head back and laughed before she began pushing him in the right direction. “Males,” she muttered with a shake of her head, “are idiots.”

Despite the early hour, every shop was open as they walked through the city. A few Amazons greeted them as they passed, something Keith had eventually gotten used to since Lance made it a point to always walk through the city where everyone could see them.

The first few times had been awkward, some of the Amazons still raised their weapons at him or glowered at him but Lance would keep him distracted with idle conversation and after a few days of Keith not going berserk like they thought he would the Amazons had adapted and some even talked to him whenever he passed by.

There were a few musicians playing an instrument that looked a lot like bagpipes from Ireland. They sounded pretty good though; Lance’s favorite bakery was open as well and he could already smell the sweet odors as they passed by. One thing that Keith absolutely loved about Cloyetera was the fact that they actually served food very much similar to Earth.

When Keith asked, Lance had told him that she and her mom would bring back food that they really enjoyed from Earth to share with the rest of the Amazons. The Amazons clearly loved it and had done their best to imitate the food that their queen and princess seemed to love.

And boy did they succeed. When food had been served to him the first time he’d almost cried at the sight of bacon. Sure it was purple but the taste was exactly the same so he let it go. Hunk would absolutely love this, he’d tried some other food over his time in Cloyetera and he loved everything that they’d served him.

The crowd seemed to increase the further they went into the city, Amazons coming and going out of coffee shops, others buying weapons from the blacksmiths. There were a few with long white dresses that went all the way down to their feet walking with medical books in their hands; healers probably.

Every now and then a griffon would sail past them and give a cry of greeting and Keith would track their every move until they disappeared. He had still not gotten the chance to ride one yet and he was a bit disappointed but Lance had been busy.

Her friends had offered to take him on a ride with them but he politely refused. Lance had made him a promise and like she kept reminding him; she intended to keep it.

The sound of clashing blades and excited squeals made Keith frown as he and Reyna finally made it to the training ring closest to the ocean where a gathering of women were surrounding the field and cheering on-Lance?

As Keith and Reyna pushed through the crowd, Keith was able to get his first look at his friend since the day before and the sight before him made him shiver. Lance was wearing a black and white toga dress that cut across her knees, as it was her favorite style. Her short brown locks were tied in a loose bun as she parried and clashed swords against five other older Amazons.

Keith had not gotten the chance to see Lance fight yet, but now that he had he felt like having a sparring match of his own. Lance was good. The sparing field was definitely bigger than the one he and Reyna had been using. Lance and the other five she was sparring with were using every space available.

The five Amazons increased by three more and as one they all charged at Lance only for her to flip backwards a good feet away before spreading her legs out and laying a solid punch to the ground that had it crumbling.

The eight Amazons lost their balance and Lance used the opportunity to change weapons from her swords to her bow in one swift move before she started throwing arrow after arrow at the Amazons who were still trying to get up. Some had gotten their legs stuck between an opening in the ground and brought up their shields to protect themselves, the arrows pierced right through the shields mere inches away from their faces, while two Amazons finally regained their balance and went after the princess.

One of the Amazons leaped at Lance and threw a punch at the princess’s face only for Lance to block it with her bow. There was a crack and the bow was split in half just as the Amazon brought out her other fist and struck.

Lance barely had time to block it by crossing her arms in an X motion but the punch still sent her flying before she rolled to a crouch and eyed her opponents with a smirk on her lips.

Two more Amazons suddenly joined the fray and the cheering grew in volume as the now ten Amazons charged at Lance with a battle cry. Keith made as if to help her; ten versus one was cheating wasn’t it? But Reyna reined him in and shook her head at him.

Her yellow cat eyes turned back to the fight and she grinned, “Our princess is strong. Just watch.”

Keith frowned and turned his eyes back to the match.

Lance took a deep breathe and got to her feet before she splayed her arms out and suddenly the Amazons stopped in their tracks as slowly Lance lifted them up with her mind and sent them flying.

The Amazons landed with a grunt but were on their feet in seconds. Shrugging, Lance took out her two swords and twirled them in her hands before running straight for them. Lance blocked, kicked, and tripped the women off their feet with ease until all ten of the Amazons suddenly took out whips and whipped them around Lance’s hands, her feet, her chest until she was spread eagle.

Lance struggled and grunted but the Amazons held firm as they spread themselves out. Lance was starting to sweat; it took a bit of effort but Lance willed her legs to move with some difficulty and started to drag the Amazons toward her while the Amazons themselves planted their feet on the ground but that seemed to be no help whatsoever because Lance was just that strong.

Lance’s eyes glowed a bright blue and suddenly all of them were in the air, the Amazons released cries of surprise as they were now dangling from their whips and with a yell Lance tossed them to the ocean and the whips came loose.

The gathered crowd released a mighty cheer and Lance lowered herself to the ground. As soon as her feet touched the ground she staggered and Keith was suddenly there holding onto her waist so she wouldn’t collapse.

She was shaking he realized.

He cast a worried look over her before gently lowering her to the floor one hand still around her waist while the other was around her shoulder, “You okay?”

Lance released a shuddering breath and nodded, though she was still shaking, “Yes, I’ll be okay. I usually don’t use my powers all that much but I suppose mother is right.” She released a shaky breath, “I do need the practice.”

A hand clamped down on her shoulder and Lance barely managed to turn her head to see Reyna crouched down to her level looking at her with pride. “That was seriously awesome! They way you just threw them into the ocean was so darn hilarious!”

Running feet suddenly headed in their direction and Adina came to a stop as she crouched in front of Lance with a water bottle in her hands. “Here you must be tired, your highness.”

Lance took the bottle and finished the whole thing in one go before she smiled at her friend, “Thanks Adi, but seriously just call me Lance. We’re friends you know.”

Adina blushed and scratched her head in embarrassment, “Sorry, sometimes I forget.”

Reyna placed her hand around the black haired girls shoulder and reeled her to her side before planting a kiss on her cheek, “I think it’s cute.”

Adina giggled and touched her nose with her girlfriends in happiness. Even after seeing them kiss in front of him so many times, the sight still surprised him. Mostly because he couldn’t believe that Reyna was with someone who was so shy and meek, he’d expected her to be with someone as loud as her but as long as she was happy who was he to judge?

Glancing down at Lance he was happy to see that the shaking had mostly seized and slowly helped her to her feet as the crowd surrounded them and congratulated her. Splashing footsteps made their way over to them and Keith saw the ten Amazons that Lance had fought with making their way over to them.

All of them were completely drenched but they all wore matching grins as they neared Lance, at the sight of them the crowd parted slightly and as one the drenched women took a kneeling position.

“Very well done your highness.” One of the Amazons said with a grin, “Next time we’ll add another ten to make this more challenging.”

Lance groaned, “Please don’t.”

Everyone chuckled and with a few more congratulations the crowd slowly began to disperse and went back to doing whatever it was that they were doing before.

Lance stretched arms upwards before turning to Keith, “You’re up early, did you do some sparring of your own?”

Keith nodded and pointed at Reyna, “She was sparing with me.”

Reyna snorted, “More like kicking your butt but whatever you say,” the violet haired Amazon said before she took hold of Adina’s arm and started leading her off somewhere. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a date. Cesti and the other two will take over for us.” And with a last backward wave, the two women disappeared.

Lance turned to Keith and smiled, “I have a gift for you.”

Keith grinned, “Oh?”

Lance nodded and started dragging him by the arm, “Trust me, you’ll love it. Now follow me!”

Now normally Keith would have tried getting out of her hold because he didn’t like being led along like a dog but after Lance kept repeating the motion in all the time he was here he’d given up and just let her lead him to wherever she wanted to.

Lance led him away from the sparing field to a field covered in small flowers before she let go of his wrist and let out a loud whistle.

The flapping of wings gave her secret away and Keith grinned as a griffon landed a few feet away from them.

“This is Nyx, and today you get to ride her.”

Nyx was beautiful.

And tall.

Each of the griffons golden feathers shone like polished metal, the white of her breast looked smooth and bright. As Lance dragged him over, Nyx’s blue eyes went from Lance to Keith in curiosity.

Keith started dancing on his feet, he’d been dreaming of this day since the first time he’d seen a griffon fly over his head.

Red sent him a huff of annoyance in his head and Keith quickly consoled her.

You know you’re still my girl Red.

Keith got a mental image of the red lion swinging her tail in happiness and he smiled.

“I wanted to go for a ride and get this beautiful girl here some more than deserved fish for making her wait for my last visit.”

Nyx puffed her feathers and let out a little squawk before nuzzling Lance’s cheek with its beak.

Lance giggled, patting her neck, “So? Want to join?”

Keith narrowed his eyes at her, “Is that a trick question?”

Lance laughed and reached for one of the pouches hanging of Nyx’s side and pulled out a familiar set of clothes before handing them over to Keith.

“We finally found your clothes,” Lance sent him an apologetic look, “We didn’t mean to lose them and it took us a while but we finally found them.”

Keith took his clothes from her and hugged them to his chest. He thought he’d lost them forever after letting one of the Amazons wash his clothes for him. Thankfully Lance still had his armor so that was something.

Lance politely turned her back when he began to change from the white toga he was wearing to his familiar black shirt and black pants, thankfully he had combat boots with him. Once done, Lance turned around and handed him a hair tie, which he used to tie the back of his hair in a small ponytail though some strands still fell to his face. Lance procured a few clips and tied those back as well before deeming him ready.

Nyx lowered herself to the floor and Lance put the saddle on her before she climbed her side in one fluid motion before she reached down a hand for Keith. Lance hauled him in front of him and Nyx slowly got to her feet. Surprised, Keith gripped Lance’s arm and she laughed as she laid her chin on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall mullet.”

Keith shivered and Lance clicked her tongue and Nyx spread her golden wings and started flapping them as she started to run.

She flapped her wings once.

Twice.

And then Nyx suddenly shot to the sky and Keith will admit it, he screamed. His eyes watered and he felt his stomach go straight up his throat. It’s a good thing he hadn’t eaten anything yet otherwise he would have surely thrown up.

“Holy shit!” he yelled.

Lance laughed behind him and urged the creature to go faster and holy crap they were flying fast. Nyx suddenly did a flip and Keith gripped Lance’s wrists so hard he was sure he left her bruises.

Nyx kept flying up and up and whoa those were clouds! The griffon stopped flapping her wings and then they were falling and was this suppose to happen? Lance just laughed and laughed even as they were falling and just when Keith was sure they were going to plummet into the ocean, Nyx spread her wings wide and angled herself until one wing was dipping the ocean and Keith could feel the droplets of water hit his face instantly cooling his face.

And then Keith was laughing alongside Lance as he slowly ever so slowly spread his arms out towards the sky and let out a whoop of joy. His friend followed his lead and let out a whoop of her own.

“Hold your breath!” Lance yelled over the wind and Keith barely had time to do as she asked before Nyx dove for the ocean and oh crap the water was freezing! The Amazon princess tapped his shoulder and Keith opened his eyes to see underwater. “Look over there!” Lance pointed in the distance. He followed her gaze and his eyes widened as he saw the underwater city of the myr.

It looked bright and from where they were swimming, he could just barely see some of the myr swimming along before Nyx plunged them back to the surface and Keith took a lungful of air.

Keith’s teeth were shattering but that wasn’t enough to wipe the maniac smile from his face. He felt Lance lean her chin on his shoulder and he could feel her smile, “Having fun?”

He was grinning like an idiot and he tried to speak but after opening and closing his mouth and failing to say anything for the third time he just shut it his mouth. Lance seemed to understand what he wanted to say though if the knowing smile she gave him when he turned his head to her was any indication.

Lance felt her heart sore as she gauche Keith’s face from where she was sitting behind him still gripping the saddles so they wouldn’t fall off.

The red paladin hadn’t stopped smiling since they set off on Nyx. The sea breeze from the ocean below them ruffled their hair as Nyx dipped her other wing into the ocean that had Keith letting out a surprised laugh when the droplets splashed them in the face.

“Exhilarating, isn’t it?” she mumbled near his shoulder. Keith slightly turned his head to peer at her and she smiled as she gazed at the rippling crystal clear ocean before them, “When I first rode Nyx I was scared at first, I mean she just jumped off a cliff! I was ten, I was freaking out!” Keith chuckled and she felt the vibrations this close to him, “But then she started soaring high and I let out this shout; I was so excited. And on every ride I’d been on with her, that feeling has not gone away.” She closed her eyes and sighed, “It’s-“

“Exhilarating,” Keith finished for her.

“Yes,” she murmured, “It’s simply exhilarating.”

Nyx dove sharply and Lance wrapped an arm tightly around Keith as both riders braced their thighs as the griffon dipped into the water and sent something hurling into the air. A second later, she easily caught it in her beak.

The thing looked like a fish but was twice as big and with more than two eyes on it.

The thing in her mouth trashed but Nix was not deterred and then there was a crunch as Nyx swallowed the creature in one gulp.

“Whoa,” Keith muttered in front of him. “Just swallowed it one gulp.”

Nyx turned her face towards them and squawked, Keith turned his head toward Lance in confusion.

Lance smiled and patted Nyx on the side, “Sure thing girl. I’m ready whenever you are.”

Keith frowned, “Ready for what?”

Before Lance could answer Nyx dove into the ocean and Keith barely had time to hold his breath before they came out of the water. Nyx threw something into the air before catching it in her beak. Nyx quickly killed the creature and tossed it in the air towards Lance who despite its thick size caught it easily in one hand.

Keith turned halfway to look at what she was doing.

“She likes it a little burnt sometimes so I’m helping her out.” Lance explained.

Keith blinked in understanding and watched as sparks of electricity appeared on her fingertips before covering the fish like thing in blue electricity. It only took a few seconds for Keith to know that the fish was cooked.

It smelled strangely like chicken.

Lance ripped a piece off and threw the rest of the fish to Nyx who ate with a little pleased sound. Lance ripped the piece she was holding in half and offered her friend the other piece.

Keith blinked and stared at the offered piece in horror. That thing had been alive just minutes ago and Nyx and Lance were just eating like nothing. The griffon he could understand but even Lance?

Keith shuddered and Lance laughed.

“You’re going to upset Nyx if you don’t eat it you know.” A teasing gleam appeared in her eyes as she looked at Nyx who had turned her head slightly towards them, “In fact, if you don’t take it she just might drop you off somewhere and never let you ride her again.”

Keith knew she was just teasing him but his eyes darted over to Nyx and he could have sworn the bird narrowed her eyes at him.

He snatched the piece from Lance’s hand and took a delicate sniff.

Still smelled like chicken.

As he brought the piece to his lips to take a bite, he was all too aware of the two sets of eyes looking at him in expectation. He took one last breath, closed his eyes, and took a bite and began to chew.

His eyes flew open.

This…whoa. It definitely tasted like chicken but there was a hint of spiciness to it? That was weird but he was not complaining. He shoved the whole thing in his mouth and let out a moan of appreciation.

Now that was fucking delicious.

He must have said it aloud because Lance lightly smacked him for cursing but she didn’t look too upset. Nyx let out a noise that sounded like an amused laugh as she continued to fly them above the ocean.

“Not that bad right?”

Keith finished chewing and swallowed before he answered, “It was really good. How come you guys don’t serve this?” he asked as he started licking the flavor of his fingers.

Behind him Lance finished her own piece and was licking the remains from her fingers as well before she answered, “Because the griffons really like it. We tried once and a whole herd of them flew over and took them from us.”

Keith laughed and turned to her in disbelief, “Really?”

Lance gave him a serious look that only made him laugh, “Really really.”

Keith’s face was numb with cold by the time Lance steered Nyx to a small hill were the bird lowered herself so its two riders could get off. His limbs were sore and he winced as Lance slowly helped him get down.

The princess grimaced, “Sorry. I forgot that you’re not used to riding, next time I’ll give you better clothing that’s suited for riding.”

Keith spread his arms out and tried to reach his toes to get rid of some of the tension in him. He was definitely going to feel this even more tomorrow.

The sound of flapping wings had Keith turning to the sky to see Cesti, Ivy, and Harley in their own griffons flying a few ways away from them. Noticing his stare, all three of them waved before disappearing into a set of trees.

“Where they watching us the whole time?” he asked Lance as she plopped down on the floor and crossed her ankles.

“Yep, they are my bodyguards after all. They didn’t want to intrude so they kept a few paces behind.” Suddenly remembering something, Lance got to her feet and went over to Nyx who had settled herself near the trees where the sun was shining the brightest, folding her wings tightly and took out two small pieces of bread, a mix of meat and fruits, and leathery pouch that sloshed as she came back and took a seat on the ground beside him.

Keith took out the pins and hair tie and smoothed back his hair from his face. Both of their clothes were still a little damp but with the way the sun felt, they’d probably be dry soon.

Lance passed him some purple and green fruit that was shaped like a pear, beckoning him to eat. Keith began to dig in, grimacing when a sour taste invaded his senses before turning into something sweet at the end and relished the coolness of the fruit as a bit of juice slithered down his jaw.

It wasn’t bad.

“What is this?” he asked the princess as he took another bite.

“The sour kapok, its sour at the beginning but at the end it turns sweet.” She answered, tearing off a piece of bread and passing it to him. He took it with a nod of thanks. “There’s also the star berries that taste a lot like blueberries to me, and the icy blumas that I swear to god taste like vanilla ice cream.”

Keith smiled, “I’d like to try them sometime.”

Lance nodded but her face fell, “Those only bloom during winter though. You’ll be long gone by then.”

Keith stopped his chewing before he slowly nodded. “Yeah, I’d be back with my team looking for the blue paladin and fighting the Galra.”

Lance handed him the leather pouch and took a swig of something sweet and licked his mouth. He cast a sidelong glance at Lance and noticed that she still looked a little down. Not wanting their little trek to end on a sad note he bumped her shoulder until she looked back at him, “I’ll make sure to visit though.”

Lance smiled a little and she narrowed her eyes at him, “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Lance still looked doubtful so Keith lifted his hand and took out his pinkie, “Pinky promise.”

The princess blinked at him in surprise before she snorted and laced her own pinky with his. “This promise is binding Keith,” she said with a smile, “No backing out.”

Keith grinned, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

They fell into silence, eating while the sun began to do down, but it was a comfortable silence. But with Lance, the silence never lasted long before the princess had something witty to say.

It started with a lame pick up line, something along the lines of Are you a campfire? Cause you're hot and I want s'more.

Keith chocked on his drink but Lance just continued.

“I'm not Rapunzel, but I'll still let you pull my hair.”

Keith was shaking his head at her but he was laughing.

Lance leaned into his personal space and made her voice husky, “I know milk does a body good, but baby, how much have you been drinking?”

Oh well look at that. Keith was blushing. Lance laughed good naturedly as Keith tried to calm his raising heart.

Keith didn’t have any pick up lines of his own, nor did he know any good jokes but he was good at something (besides fighting.)

“Do you have a coin?”

Lance checked her pockets and procured a golden coin and handed it to him. Keith showed her the coin and put it on his left hand. Making sure Lance was watching, he pretended to transfer it to his right hand and rotated his right hand.

He closed his right hand and lifted it to Lance, “Blow on it.”

Lance gave him a wry smile and did as she was told.

He frowned, “What’s that?”

Lance looked confused, “What’s what?” she asked while looking around.

Keith brought his left hand up to her ear, making sure his palm was facing away from her face, and switched the coin to his fingertips before gently stirring her hair and procuring the coin from her ear.

“Tada.”

Lance’s jaw dropped as she looked at him, to the coin, to her ear, and so forth. “How did-I thought it was-“

Keith grinned at her and shrugged, “A magician never reveals his secrets.”

Lance blinked furiously before her face took a determined edge, “Again. I shall figure this out.”

Keith laughed, “Whatever you say, princess Leah.”

“Keith, don’t call me that jeez!” 

Chapter Text

“Sometimes it's easy to forget how much you miss people until you see them again.” 
― Colleen Hoover, Ugly Love

Chapter 5

“Found him!” Pidge announced over the wide castle speakers.

Within minutes the rest of team Voltron arrived to the bridge in a brisk run. Shiro arrived first with Allura right on his heels. Hunk and Coran appeared a few minutes later smelling of spices. Probably fixing up some food for everyone.

“Pidge, are you sure it’s him?” Shiro asks as he leans over her chair to look at the monitor in front of her.

Pidge pushed up her glasses and nodded, “Yup, it’s definitely him. The signal is the same as the green and yellow lions.”

Shiro released a sigh of relief. She couldn’t blame him. After they’d wormhole away from Zarkon and his Galra army they’d all been split up. Pidge had ended up in the Trash Nebula where with the help of those colorful space caterpillars, was able to send out a signal back to the castle and been rescued relatively quickly.

Hunk and Shiro had ended up on a deserted, rocky planet where Shiro had been chased by giant reptile creatures until Hunk found him. He’d been in bad shape but Hunk had ministered some first aid kit and it was only three days later that Pidge and the others found them.

Coran and Allura had taken Shiro to a healing pod immediately and after a day he was good as new.

Despite their best efforts though, they had not managed to find Keith yet.

Allura clapped her hands in front of her and smiled, “Oh that’s wonderful. Pidge send those coordinates to me and I’ll wormhole us over there.”

Pidge nods as she leans over her monitor to start typing, “Already on it.”

Behind her, Pidge hears Hunk let out a relieved sigh, “Oh thank god. I hope he’s okay, it’s been two weeks.”

Coran placed a hand on his shoulder, “Bah, Keith is a strong young man. I’m sure he’s perfectly fine. Probably out there intimidating some poor creatures with his glare.”

Shiro raked a hand through his hair and smiled a little, “I just hope he’s not injured. After our last battle against Zarkon…”

Coran stood straighter and twirled the end of his orange mustache, “Right. I’ll go set up a healing pod just in case.”

Hunk fidgeted on his feet before declaring that he was going to fix something up for his friend in case he was hungry.

There was a little ding as the control podium in the center of the Castle ship’s bridge received the coordinates that Pidge sent over before the princess leaned over the screen to view the contents.

Her white silver hair was pulled into a tight bun as she skimmed through the computer screen. “These coordinates are halfway through space. Why did he land so far away?” she muttered.

Pidge shrugged her shoulders as she looked over at the princess who was tapping her chin. Shiro walked over to her and tilted his head, “Can we wormhole over there?”

Slowly the princess nodded, “Yes, we should be able to. I’ve never been to this part of the galaxy so I’m not sure what we’ll encounter so we’d best be on our guard.” She pressed a button on the podium for the castle speakers and spoke, “All right everyone, brace yourselves I’m going to wormhole us as close as I can get us to Keith.”

There were a few affirmatives from the rest of the team as Allura opened up a wormhole and steered the castle towards it. Pidge covered her eyes until the light of the Altean wormhole vanished before she opened her eyes. The space they were now in consisted of a few small planets scattered around.

The swish sound of the door opening alerted Pidge of Hunk and Coran’s presence as they made their way over to look at their new surroundings.

“Is there anything on the scanners?” Hunk asked leaning over the advisor to look at the screen. “Which planet is Keith’s signal coming from?”

Coran frowned as he looked over the readouts he was getting before bringing up the big screen so everyone could see and pointed at a small planet farther than the rest. “That one!” he announced cheerily, “The red lions signal is coming from this planet.”

The rest of the paladins came over and looked at the planet that the advisor was pointing to and their eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before them.

“Is that?” Shiro asked as he peered closer at the blue and green planet, “Is that Earth?” he breathed.

Beside him, Hunk’s expression matched their leaders perfectly, “Whoa.”

Pidge shook her head slowly, “No, its too small to be Earth,” she muttered, “But it looks really close to it.”

Allura hummed to herself before turning to look at her advisor, “Coran, any sign of the Galra?”

Coran jumped in place before leaning over the screen quickly. After a few minutes he slowly shook his head, “No princess. There seems to be no Galra presence.”

Pidge lifted her brown eyes to look over at Coran, “Is it inhabited?”

Coran hummed and nodded, “It seems so. I have no idea if the people there are dangerous or not though. In fact,” he read over some of the readouts and frowned quizzically, “I’m not sure what the name of this planet is either. There’s no mention of it at all.”

The room grew heavy at the words until Shiro took action, “All right team, suit up. We don’t know what we’ll encounter down there but if there’s one thing we know for sure is that Keith is down there and could possibly need our help. I want you to go to your lions and stand by in case we need them.”

Pidge and Hunk nodded and started heading for their lions before Shiro turned to look over at the princess. “Princess, take us down there and put the shields around the castle just in case.” Allura nodded and started typing instructions into the computer, “I’m going to suit up, but I want you all prepared for the worst.”

Allura and Coran nodded as Shiro swiftly made his way to his room to quickly change into his armor in record time before hurrying over to the bridge just as Allura started directing the castle to the small planet.

“I’m in position guys,” Hunk announced through the speakers.

“Ditto,” Pidge announced.

Shiro nodded and placed his hand on the side of his black and white helmet and pressed a button, “Understood. Stand by in case we need you.”

Shiro braced himself as the castle started descending towards the planet. The first thing he noticed was the bright blue sky surrounding them in all directions, as the castle started lowering itself Shiro noticed the sky blue ocean before him and couldn’t help but look on in awe.

It’d been a very long time since he’d seen the ocean nevermind one so clear and clean looking one than compared to the ones he’d seen on Earth.

As the castle kept descending, Allura released a small gasp and he turned his attention to her looking for any sign of danger. Finding none, he peered at her face and followed her stare and let out a gasp of his own.

“Whoa,” Hunk breathed, “Guys? Is that a city underwater? It looks like a city from where I’m looking at.”

“It-it’s definitely a city, and-“Pidge let out a gasp, “Are those mermaids?”

Shiro, Allura and Coran all turned to look at the city underwater and Shiro slowly nodded his head in awe because yes those were definitely mermaids.

“Look everyone!” Coran shouted as he pointed farther, “There’s another city over there!”

Everyone turned away from the underwater city to look at three giant mountains that surrounded a city. There were waterfalls and flying creatures and three hovering islands at the top.

Allura steered the castle towards the city and tried to land the castle on a green spot of land that she found before the castle alarms suddenly sounded and everyone whipped their heads in confusion before they collided against something hard and were thrown off their feet.

“What’s happening?” Shiro asked as he got to his feet.

Allura shook herself and got to her feet before frowning, “It’s a barrier! We can’t get in!”

“Let me try!” Pidge shouted.

The sound of an even louder alarm coming the city startled them all as figures began moving in the city.

A bright red light lighted the sky before beams of light struck the castle and everyone shouted as they made impact.

“Damn it,” Pidge cursed as she furiously typed in her tablet, “Whoever made this barrier is good. I’m trying to crack the code for it but just when I think I got it, it kicks me out!”

“Guys?” Hunk asked nervously, “What do we do?”

Shiro’s eyes went back to the screen where he could see figures moving in the city, flying creatures started heading over their way and even the city’s lights underwater had turned red. “It looks like we’re going to have to fight! Pidge, Hunk, get ready!”

“Right!” they both said.

And suddenly they were flung forward as the barrier surrounding the city disappeared and Allura gave a startled shout before she gripped the handles and tried to steer the castle to a patch of land.

The alarm in the city had turned off and a glance at the other monitor confirmed that the city underwater had turned back to its blue and yellow light from earlier.

Another bright light erupted in the sky; this one white and the weapons stopped hitting them.

What was happening?

A beeping sound alerted his attention back to Coran who frowned at the screen, “We’re getting a message princess.”

Allura frowned but she nodded grimly at her advisor, “Take it.”

Coran nodded and pressed the button before a woman’s voice was heard over the castle’s loud speakers, “Put down your shield, we mean you no harm. If you come out without weapons we will not attack.”

Allura frowned and stepped over so she could reply, “Why the sudden change in attitude?”

There was static on the other end before the woman replied, “Forgive us. We thought it was another Galra attack. Our princess has informed us that you are friends with our guest.”

Shiro leaned over the princess, “Guest? Do you mean Keith? Is he okay? Where is he?”

The woman sighed, “Yes. I believe that is his name. He is safe. Come out peacefully and we shall not attack, you have my word.”

The communication cut off.

“So? Are we going?” Hunk asked.

Shiro frowned before slowly nodding to himself, “Yes, we’re going. They know his name and they stopped attacking but I want you all alert in case they try anything. Hunk and Pidge, you’re both coming with me.”

Allura stepped forward, her face determined, “I’m going too.”

Shiro opened his mouth to argue but Allura cut him off, “Perhaps I can talk to this princess of theirs and get on the same page.”

Shiro frowned but reluctantly nodded.

“There’s a small crowd gathered outside the castle your highness.” Coran informed them.

Allura thanked him as she and Shiro made their way to the castle entrance to greet these new people. Pidge and Hunk met them along the way and followed after them.

“I have to talk to whoever created that barrier,” Pidge muttered, “The security was good, perhaps I could get some pointers.”

Shiro smiled and ruffled her hair; “Perhaps we can ask them once we confirm Keith’s condition.”

Allura looked them over, her index finger hovering over the button to open the doors, ”Everyone ready?”

Three firm nods were all she got before she pressed the button and all of them shielded their eyes at the sudden brightness.

Once used to the light, they put their hands down to see a horde of some very tall women in what Shiro could only describe as togas waiting for them a few feet away.

“Whoa,” Hunk mumbled.

“Why do I feel like I just stepped into the set of Wonder Woman? Pidge whispered.

Shiro’s lips twitched to a smile before he composed himself and took a step forward. The women tensed and Shiro halted and put his hands up in a placating manner. He slowly removed his helmet and the others followed his example.

He opened his mouth to speak but another voice spoke before him.

“Shiro!”

Shiro and the rest of team Voltron turned to the familiar voice and smiled.

 “Lance, to your left!

“Got it! Keith, to your right!”

Keith parried Cesti’s sword with his Bayard before swiping her feet from her causing her to land on her back with a squeal.

Reyna had to take several steps back and brought her spare shield to block Lance’s arrows.

Keith grinned viciously. This was seriously fun. He and Lance shouted instructions to each other, performing as if they’d battled along side each other for a long time. They hadn’t. This was their first joint session and they were performing so well that they were giving Cesti and Reyna trouble.

When one of the Amazons came up behind him, Lance covered for him while he covered for his friend when she had to reload her arrows. They were a sight to behold; they’d gathered quite the crowd already, most cheering them on to Reyna’s annoyance.

He and Lance moved constantly, flowing from one attack to the next with no breaks and no hesitancy. They trusted each other.

Keith hadn’t felt this attuned to anyone in battle besides Shiro and that had required months of training together just for them to properly synch.

But with Lance, it all just came naturally. If he didn’t know any better he’d think Lance was reading his mind. But she couldn’t right?

Keith ducked Reyna’s sword before throwing a kick at her chest. The kick only managed to make her stumble a few steps but it was enough to distract her as Lance moved in front of him and landed a solid punch to her friends jaw sending her flying.

Cesti moved towards them only for Lance to flick her wrist, sending her flying towards Reyna with a groan.

Having a chance to catch his breath, he turned to Lance who hadn’t even broken a sweat, no fair he whined, before wiping his brow and turning to her, “You’re not reading my mind are you?”

Lance blinked at him and mumbled a small no that only made him narrow his eyes at her in suspicion, “Lance?”

Lance frowned and crossed an arm over her middle, “No. I can’t do that just yet. Mother says I can do it with practice but so far I haven’t gotten much luck.”

“Ah, and you don’t think you can do it.” He stated.

Lance scowled but the emotion didn’t last very long in her face before she shrugged. Making sure Reyna and Cesti hadn’t gotten up yet, he put a comforting hand on his friends shoulder, “You’ll get it in to time.”

Lance looked at him skeptically, “You think so?”

He grinned, “I know so.”

Lance smiled, “Thanks Keith.”

“No problem,” he said as he raised his fist at her and she bumped her own fist against his. “Guess we’re just really good at fighting together.”

Reyna’s amused voice interrupted them, “If you two are done flirting with each other perhaps we can continue?”

Lance and Keith blushed and shouted together, “We’re not flirting!”

“It’s not good to lie,” Cesti teased as she got to her feet.

Lance huffed and Keith rolled his eyes, they weren’t flirting they thought. Just friendly chatter among friends.

“Let’s take a break,” Reyna said as she stretched out her arms in front of her as Adina came with a water bottle, which she took gratefully.

The gathered crowd began to move away and Lance pulled Keith to the side where Nyx was perched on the ground with her eyes closed. At their approaching feet, the bird opened her eyes and let out a little sound before closing its eyes and went back to sleep.

Keith put his hand under chin and gave it a good scratch, smiling when Nyx nuzzled his hand. Lance made her way over to one of the pouches on Nyx and took out a small black box, which she handed to Keith.

Keith blinked and took the box, “What is it?”

Lance shrugged and tried to look nonchalant but Keith saw right through her, she was nervous. “A gift. Open it.”

Keith arched an eyebrow, “Another gift?” he teased.

“Just take it, she’s a gift giver!” Reyna shouted from her spot.

Shrugging, Keith slowly opened the box and blinked in surprise. Inside the box were two silver bracelets with a white stone in the middle. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that there was a red lion on one side and on the other side there was a small griffon with blue eyes. Keith’s breath hitched as a caramel colored hand reached for one of the bracelets and he glanced at his friend who was looking at him anxiously.

“These are mood bracelets,” she began to explain, “If you concentrate you’re able to send a bit of quintessence into it to change it. Watch.”

Lance closed her eyes and gripped the bracelet in her hand and as Keith watched, the bracelet glowed before it settled on a picture of a crystal blue ocean. The waves even moved inside the stone, it was pretty cool.

“See?” she said thrusting her palm to him so he could see the bracelet. “Your turn.”

Keith carefully took out the other bracelet and gripped it in his hand before closing his eyes. He felt small warmth and he opened his fist to see that the stone had turned into an active volcano.

“Oh cool,” Lance said peering at the bracelet in his hand. “Now we switch.”

Lance took the bracelet in his hand and Keith took the one in her hand and put in on his right wrist.

“Lance,” his voice cracked, and he had to clear his throat, “This is amazing. Thank you.”

Perhaps it was the way the sun was hitting her, but Keith could have sworn she blushed. His bracelet suddenly changed to a pink color and he glanced from it to Lance and grinned.

“You said these were mood bracelets,” he teased and Lance narrowed her eyes, “So?” he leaned closer to her and grinned wider when she took a step back from him, “What does pink mean?”

Lance turned her head, “I refuse to answer.”

Cesti snickered a few feet away and answered for her, “It means very happy!”

Lance stomped her foot and looked at her friend in betrayal, “Cesti! You traitor!”

Keith snickered as the bracelet turned to an orange and he didn’t have to ask what this one meant. Reyna lifted her head from where was whispering something to Adina’s ear and gasped as she came running to them.

“Lance! You traitor!” she screeched.

Cesti and Keith jumped in surprise.

Lance looked up at her in confusion, “What are you talking about?”

“You gave him a friendship bracelet too?” she lifted her leg and practically shoved her ankle at the three of them, “I thought I was special!”

Keith’s lips twitched as Cesti and Adina face palmed. Lance groaned and put one hand on her hip while she pointed at her friend, “First of all, you took that from my jewelry box and second of all that goes on your wrist not on your ankle.”

Reyna snorted and waved her hand in dismissal, “Details.”

Cesti and Keith laughed while Adina was shaking her head at her girlfriend in mock exasperation. Lance just chuckled at their antics before turning back to Keith, “It’s just a little present to remember your time here. So if you’re ever in trouble,” she held her up her right hand with the bracelet, “I’ll know, and I’ll come running. It kind of has GPS too…” she mumbled sheepishly.

This gift just kept getting better and better Keith thought with a smile. He was secretly pleased though, no one had ever given him such a gift like this. He felt the overwhelming need to cry and hug Lance. She was such a good friend, and he didn’t have that many.

Shiro was his friend sure, but he acted more like a big brother to him. Hunk and Pidge he was starting to talk to more but he wasn’t as close to them as he wanted to be. Coran seemed nice and Allura as well but sometimes they treated him like a kid. Lance was different. He didn’t remember laughing this much in ages and it was nice. He was going to miss her when he left.

“Lance-“ he began only to pause as the four Amazons before him suddenly tensed and shot their gazes up at the sky.

Keith reached for his weapons and followed their gaze, “Is it another Galra attack?”

Reyna answered, “We’re…not sure.”

The silence was heavy as the five kept their gaze at the sky and even Nyx had gotten to her feet searching for whatever it was that was disturbing her rider. For a moment there was nothing but then the clouds parted and something huge began to descend.

Keith squinted. What was that?

He couldn’t see from where he was standing but there was something oddly familiar about the shape.

The sound of an alarm was echoed from the city before a bright red light suddenly lighted the sky and Lance and her friends were moving. “Okay, ladies! To your griffons, we’re under attack!”

“Right!” Reyna, Cesti and Adina shouted as they let out a loud whistle before they began running towards the sound of wings flapping where their griffons were making their way over to them.

Lance grabbed his hand and hauled him on Nyx before she saddled up behind him, she clicked her tongue and Nyx started flying towards the city.

“Is it an enemy?” Keith yelled over the wind, his hair going wild making it hard to see. He should have tied his hair back damn it. From their position he could just start to see beams of light hit the descending object.

Reyna, Cesti, and Adina were a few paces behind them.

“We think so.” Lance answered as she guided Nyx to the city.

Irritated, Keith angrily pushed his hair away from his face and felt his eyes widen as he took in the white object. “Wait! Stop!” He turned to Lance and gripped her wrists, “Tell them to stop!”

Lance startled and Nyx came to stop as she screeched at them in confusion, “What? What’s wrong Keith?”

Keith pointed at the object, his lips turning into a smile, “That’s the castle of lions! Those are my friends!”

Lance’s eyes widened and she glanced at the castle? Before turning back to Keith. “Are you sure?” she yelled over the blaring sounds of the alarm.

“Yes!” he shouted back.

Lance nodded before she brought her left hand up and pushed a thumb on her wrist making the transparent bracelet solidify before she leaned over it and started shouting, “Everyone stop attacking! They’re the lions of Voltron. I repeat, do not attack!”

There was static on the other end as a flurry of voices answered back in confusion, others in anger. Lance continued on, “Keith says they’re his friends. Do not attack. That is an order!”

For a moment there was silence until the queens voice answered back, “Are you sure Leah?”

“I’m sure mother.”

There was another moment of silence before the queen replied, “Very well. You heard my daughter. Put the barrier down, do not attack and send out the cease-fire arrow.”

“Yes, your highness!” multiple voices answered back and Keith and Lance released sighs of relief as the alarms turned off, the shooting ceased and the barrier was taken down as the castle made its way to the east side where it was mostly green fields. A minute later, a bright white light erupted the sky and the castle landed safely.

“I guess its time to go greet your friends,” Lance murmured. “You ready mullet?”

“So ready.” Keith answered with a grin.

She returned the gesture and with a click of her tongue, Nyx changed directions and went straight for the castle.

 The sea of assembled women parted for what Shiro could only describe as a griffon as it descended to the ground and lowered itself so it’s two riders could safely climb down.

“Shiro!” Keith yelled.

His friend had the audacity to smile at him like he hadn’t a care in the world. His black hair was in disarray, like he’d just gotten up from bed and forgot to comb his hair. He looked better than he last saw him-tanner and taller, leaner and more muscular.

Shiro was too stunned to move. He felt as if he did he’d wake up and this would all be a dream and Keith would still be missing.

But then Keith moved and Shiro met him halfway. The gathered women tensed. Some even reached for their weapons.

Shiro threw his arms around his friend and drew him close. The sound of two other sets of footsteps followed after him and suddenly two more pairs of arms went around them and lifted them in a group hug.

Hunk and Pidge laughed as Hunk swung them all around and Shiro would be lying if he didn’t shed a tear or two at the reunion. And then they were all talking at once and laughing once more when they talked over each other.

Keith pulled away as Hunk set them down and studied them all, “God, I thought something had happened to you guys.”

“Us too, kiddo.” Shiro said as he put a hand on his shoulder, “We were looking everywhere for you.”

“We’re so glad you’re okay dude,” Hunk said wiping a tear from his eye.

Pidge lightly punched his arm and sniffed, “Don’t disappear on us again you idiot.”

Keith smiled and ruffled her light brown hair, “Won’t happen again.” He promised.

Allura cleared her throat and everyone turned their eyes to her, “Well, it’s good to have you back Keith,” she sent an anxious look back at the waiting women, “But umm, perhaps you could introduce us to your new friends?”

A few of the women surged forward and Shiro had to crane his neck just to look them in the eye. The tallest among them had half of her violet hair shaved with longs bangs covering the right side of her face with yellow cat eyes and a grin on her face. The women on her left clenching her hand had short black hair and hazel eyes that regarded them warily. And the last woman had curly blonde hair with green eyes looking at them all curiously.

Keith surged back to the crowd and dragged a honey-skinned girl with short brown hair and the bluest eyes he’d ever seen back with him. She seemed to be the shortest among the gathered women here but was an inch taller than Keith and like the rest of the women gathered she was wearing a toga but a cobalt blue one.

Shiro could tell from their body language that they felt close to Keith. The four of them stood protectively around him and Keith seemed totally at ease with them.

Keith said something to the brown haired girl he was still dragging over to them that had her lightly smacking him on the shoulder.

Something gleamed in the girl’s right hand and Shiro turned his head to see a bracelet clamped on her wrist. He frowned and turned to Keith and noticed a similar bracelet on his friends’ own wrist as well.

Very interesting…

Keith introduced the honey-skinned girl as Lance before turning to the violet haired women whose name was Reyna, the one with the black hair was Adina and the curly blonde one was named Cesti.

Shiro and the rest introduced themselves, Hunk gave a peace sign to the women who chuckled in response and Pidge was throwing question after question at the women.

She desperately wanted to know about the barrier around the city.

Lance clasped Shiro’s hand firmly, he had to refrain from wincing, this girl had a grip. “It’s very nice to meet you. I’ve heard about you from mullet over here.”

Pidge’s lips twitched, “Mullet?”

Hunk tapped his chin as he peered at his friend, “You know, now that I think about it, it does look like a mullet. Good eye.”

Lance grinned and Keith groaned.

“Shut it, Princess Leah.” Keith grumbled.

There was a choked laughed as Lance, who was apparently a princess, groaned.

“Princess Leah?” Pidge snickered. “Like from Star Wars?”

Lance err Leah? Frowned, “What’s a Star Wars?”

There was an indignant cry as Hunk shoved his way over to them, “How do you not know about Star Wars?” he cried as he gripped her hands and turned to the green paladin, “Pidge! Can you believe this?”

Pidge gave a sad nod, “I know buddy I know. We have to educate these poor people at once!”

Shiro smiled as Lance looked even more confused before her gaze went past him to where princess Allura was and she gasped. She marched right over to the princess and got down on one knee as she took her hand in hers, “This morning I saw a flower and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen; until I met you.”

The gathered women all groaned and Shiro’s jaw dropped. Princess Allura blushed and giggled into her hand and Shiro was so not okay with that.

Pidge snickered beside him and poked his stomach with her elbow, “Looks like you’ve got some competition there Romeo.” Princess Lance/Leah whispered something into Allura’s ears and the princess turned bright red. “Oh, I like her.” Pidge announced with a grin.

Hunk whistled, “Ditto.”

Keith groaned but smiled fondly at his friend. “Here we go again,” he mumbled.

Lance said something else to the princess that turned her into a giggling mess before she turned over to the gathered women and started giving out directions, “Okay ladies. Tell the rest of Amazons to stand down. Cesti alert the cooks in the kitchen. Tell them to prepare a feast for our gathered guests. And for all that is good, loosen up jeez.”

Most of the gathered women began to disperse until it was just team Voltron, Lance and her two friends. The blonde one, Cesti, had left with the crowd on her griffon.

Pidge pushed up her glasses and tightened her hold on her helmet at her hip, “Did you say Amazons?”

Lance frowned but nodded. “Yup, Amazons.”

Hunk stepped forward on dancing feet, “As in all of you are Amazons?”

Lance tilted her head as she regarded him, “Yes that is correct.” She turned to Keith with a puzzled look, “Are your friends hard of hearing?”

Keith snickered and Shiro’s brows went up. Keith was openly laughing and no one had to force him. Usually he’d be pouting and glaring at everyone from his corner so this new attitude was definitely new but not unwelcome.

Pidge let out a squeal and Shiro winced. “So there are only women here?”

Lance nodded looking confused.

“And you’re all warriors?” Hunk added excitedly.

Reyna and Adina nodded.

Pidge spread her arms wide, “Oh man! This planet is the best! We always need more women in the battlefield!”

“Amen to that,” Reyna smirked, “We’re clearly better.”

Princess Allura giggled and made her way over to them, “Yes, having more women in the battlefield is definitely something we can all agree on.”

“Oh most definitely,” Lance said as she sauntered over to them with a smile, “We need to show these men how things are done!”

“Don’t you agree Shiro?” Allura asked him and he paled as all five women turned to him with expectant looks. Keith looked away and was checking his nails, the traitor, and Hunk was just nodding along furiously. Shiro took a deep breath as a memory of his parents suddenly came back to him.

“Remember Takashi, women are always right. Isn’t that right dear?” his father said.

His mother grinned, “Damn straight. Shiro, listen to your father. He knows what he’s talking about.”

Shiro plastered on a smile and nodded, “Oh yes. We guys need a woman’s touch every now and then.”

All five women said ‘aww’ and Keith snorted beside him.

“How about you let the other person in your team join us?” Reyna said looking up at the castle.

Team Voltron blinked in surprise but Allura nodded and called for Coran through her helmet.  The castle's shields covered the castle and as soon as the advisor came out the women were on him.

“What is this?” Lance exclaimed as she fingered Coran’s mustache.

“Its-its so majestic!” Reyna crooned.

“I didn’t know facial hair could look this good,” Adina exclaimed.

Coran puffed up his chest and twirled the end of his orange mustache, which had the girls squealing, “Why thank you very much ladies. I do try.”

And winked.

Coran winked!

Shiro groaned. Oh man.

Lance clapped her hands together, “How about we start making our way into the city. We’ve much to discuss and my mother wishes to speak with you.”

Pidge turned and tugged Lance’s sleeves, “By the way, is that a griffon?”

Lance grinned.

Chapter Text

“we developed a firm, practical feeling of solidarity, which grew, on the battlefield, into the best thing that the war produced - comradeship in arms.” 
― Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

Chapter 6

Pidge let out another scream that turned into laughter as Reyna urged her griffon to fly faster.

The green paladin spread her arms out as if she was in a roller coaster and let out a whoop of joy, “This is seriously awesome!”

Behind her, one hand around Pidge was Hunk who was looking a little green. He suddenly covered his mouth and moaned, “Oh, I think I’m going to be sick!”

Reyna turned to look at him in horror, “Don’t you dare throw up all over my beautiful Callista!”

Adina flew her griffon beside her and offered the yellow paladin a brown paper bag, which he took with a nod of thanks. Allura and Coran who were riding with Adina looked at him in concern but he waved them off so they turned their attention back to the wondrous city of Cloyetera.

Lance angled Nyx to the left side of Reyna’s griffon and looked at her friend’s passengers with a grin. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked the big boned guy whose name was Hunk.

Hunk made another sound before swallowing back the contents that threatened to escape through his mouth. He gave her a shaky thumps up that wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Keith,” her black haired friend turned to her from his position in front of her and quirked an eyebrow at her, “Take the reins for me.”

Keith let out a surprised shout as Lance let go off the reins and leaned in close to Hunk. Shiro put an arm around her waist when it looked like she was close to falling and held on tight.

“What are you doing?” Shiro asked the Amazon princess as she laid a hand on Hunks stomach.

“Making him feel better,” she shouted over the rushing wind.

Curious, Shiro and the rest of his friends turned to see Lance’s hand glow a soft green over Hunk’s stomach. Hunk let out a surprise shout and Shiro tensed but the yellow paladin relaxed and blinked. The green tint to his cheeks disappeared and he looked back to his normal self.

“Better?” Lance shouted over the wind.

Hunk blinked and felt around his stomach before a wide smile bloomed his face. “Oh man! What did-that was-I feel great!”

“Astounding,” Coran murmured. “Your highness, you can heal?”

Lance nodded shyly, “Yeah, I’m still in training though.”

Keith snorted in front of her, “Please. She’s being modest; you should see the things she can do. She’s a badass.”

“Language!” Adina and Reyna scolded. Shiro smiled and Lance smiled fondly at the red paladin.

Shiro stroked his chin as he regarded the two.

Very interesting indeed.

“Thank you, your highness. I feel so much better.” Hunk said to Lance.

“Please,” she smiled, “Call me Lance. And you’re welcome.”

The Amazons redirected their griffons to a building that had an archway surrounded by blue and green glowing flowers before directing them to the side so they could all climb down.

Once down the three Amazons led the way to the building and Reyna and Adina pushed open the doors. There was a slight rumble before the doors opened fully and as one they all stepped inside.

Most of the Amazons were already gathered up in rows of balconies whispering amongst themselves as Lance steered the group to the stage in the center.

The sound of another door opening had everyone stop their whispering and everyone took a kneeling position, startled the Voltron team followed their example and waited before a woman’s voice spoke over them.

“You may rise.”

Shiro and the rest of his team got to his feet and looked up at the tallest balcony where a woman who was undoubtedly Lance’s mother was perched on a throne. The woman was wearing a white long dress with a light gray fur coat over her shoulders. She had on a golden crown with a blue crystal in the center placed on her long black hair as she regarded them curiously, her brown eyes twinkling.

She spread her arms wide and smiled, “Welcome to Cloyetera, Paladins of Voltron. I’m afraid I have to apologize for our rude welcoming. We believed you were Galra.”

Princess Allura stepped forward and bowed her head respectfully at the queen, “No. It’s quite all right your highness. Our appearance must have caught you by surprise, we should have tried to make contact before attempting to land.”

The queen smiled, “Yes, I suppose you’re right. However, we are also partially to blame for not attempting to contact you all first as well. No harm no foul. Your name dear?”

Allura straightened, her blue eyes rimmed with purple gleamed, “My name is Princess Allura from Altea and this is my fellow advisor Coran. The three beside me are the paladins of Voltron. Shiro, Hunk, and Pidge.” She smiled, “I believe you’ve already met our red paladin Keith.”

The queen turned her eyes towards Keith and Shiro had to do a double take as the queen looked at his friend with affection, “Yes, I believe we’ve met. Quite an interesting fellow, likes to brood in the corners,” she laughed into her hand as her eyes turned to her daughter, “Until my daughter loosened him up. In fact,” she leaned over the balcony and put a hand to the side of her mouth as she pretended to whisper something to them, “I believe I’ve heard him laugh recently, but perhaps those are just rumors.”

Keith blushed as the rest of the Amazons laughed and teased him from their seats up on the balconies.

“Oh, man,” Pidge, whispered to Hunk, “Keith has his own harem.”

Hunk’s lips twitched upwards and Shiro sent them a stern look and they quickly shut their mouths.

Allura giggled into her hand, “Yes, thank you very much taking care of our friend. We spent so long looking for him we almost feared the worst.”

The queen leaned back in her chair and relaxed, “If there’s anyone you should be thanking it’s my daughter Leah. She’s the one who saved him from drowning and even healed his wounds. How dashing.” She giggled as Lance let out a small whine.

Reyna snickered beside her friend and Adina hushed her with a pinch to her hand.

Allura turned to Lance and gave her hand a squeeze, “Thank you very much your highness.”

Lance blushed, “It’s no big deal really.”

Shiro smiled at her fondly, “It is a big deal, you saved our friend. You have my gratitude.”

Pidge and Hunk agreed immediately and Coran placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and smiled.

Allura turned back to the queen and frowned, “Forgive me if I’m being rude, but I heard that you all were having problems with the Galra?”

At the mere mention of them, the Amazons started throwing insults at the name and some scoffed before the queen raised a hand and the room went quiet. “Yes, we’ve been having some trouble with the Galra. However, there is no need for concern. We shall handle this on our own.”

Allura wrung her hands together and stood straighter, “To tell you the truth, we have been fighting with the Galra for a while as well.” She licked her dry lips, “How would you feel about an alliance with Team Voltron?”

At the name of Voltron, the Amazons started whispering to themselves. The queen raised an eyebrow at the Altean princess, “An alliance you say?”

Allura nodded, “Yes your highness. The paladins of Voltron are able to use the lions to form Voltron to defeat Zarkon. It seems to be his only weakness.”

“I see,” the queen murmured. “So that bed time story is true. If I remember the story correctly, there are five lions that are used to form Voltron.”

Hunk started to shuffle his feet.

Allura swallowed, “Yes, that is correct your highness.”

“From the reports we’ve gathered, there have only been mentions of the red, yellow and green lions. No mention of the blue or black lion. Why is that?”

Allura sighed, “I’m afraid we have not located our blue paladin yet and unless we do our leader, Shiro, cannot retrieve the black lion.”

“I see.” The queen said as she folded her hands in front of her, “I’m afraid that without the full set of Voltron, we cannot accept this alliance of yours. Once you’ve assembled all the lions we’ve be more than willing to enter this alliance with you. I’m terribly sorry my dear, but I cannot risk my peoples lives unless you’re all gathered.”

Lance opened her mouth as if to argue and her mother sent her a look that had her closing her mouth.

Allura balled her hands into fists but nodded, “I understand your highness. We will be back.” She said, a determined edge to her voice, “You have my word.”

The queen smiled, “I look forward to it. In the meantime, you’re all in time for the Olympieia Festival that we shall have in another few hours. Please, stay and enjoy the festivities before resuming your journey.”

Allura bowed her head and the rest of her team followed her example, “Thank you very much, your highness. We look forward to the festivities.”

The queen got to her feet and looked over the gathered crowd, “Now then everyone. We have a festival to prepare for, you’re all dismissed.”

The crowd began to disperse and Shiro put a comforting hand on the princess’s shoulder, “Hey it’s okay. She didn’t completely say no to the alliance. We just have to find the blue paladin and she’ll be more than happy to join.”

Lance nodded beside them, “That’s right. Mother wants to get rid of the Galra as much as you do. Just find that blue paladin and we’ll be more than eager to lend our services to you.”

Allura sighed and smiled, “Yes. Thank you both for the encouraging words. Now then, I believe we have a festival to attend.”

“Will there be food?” Hunk shyly asked as he rubbed his stomach.

Keith grinned, “Oh, you’re going to love the food they have here. It’s just like Earth food.”

Hunk’s eyes widened as he started salivating. “Oh man, I can’t wait.”

“A change of clothes first though? Just so you can be more comfortable.” Adina suggested.

“Are you sure?” Allura asked, frowning, “We wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Not at all,” Lance grinned, “We really want to dress up the males in your group,” she said eagerly.

Shiro took a step back and Keith paled. Hunk actually looked interested and Coran was already describing what he wanted to Adina as they began to exit the building. The others began to follow after them talking in excited tones.

“Will I have to wear a dress?” Pidge whined.

Adina looked down at her and grinned, “Oh, yes.”

“Aww man,” Pidge whined.

“The festival will do you all some good, and you’ll even be able to witness our princess here perform.” Reyna said with a grin as she pulled Lance into a one handed hug that lifted the princess of her feet.

Keith turned to his friend with wide eyes, “You’ll be performing? What are you going to do?” he asked stepping up beside her as Reyna put her down.

Lance put her hands behind her back and gave her friend a Cheshire smile, “That’s a surprise.”

Keith frowned but let it go.

“Oh that’s right Keith. Where is the red lion?” Allura asked.

Keith blinked, “Oh, she’s off in the science division while they repair her.”

“Ah, the perhaps we should pick her up first and take her to back to the castle where the repairs will be done much quicker.”

“Science division?” Pidge asked eagerly, “Is that where they developed that barrier that surrounded the city?”

“Yup, why?” Adina asked.

“Oh man, I seriously want to know what type of security they used to block me out. It was good, it kept locking me out when I tried to infiltrate it.”

Lance hummed, “Okay, then let’s do this. Keith, Pidge, and Coran can go to the science division to get the red lion and let Pidge ask her questions to the team there, while the rest of you go with Reyna to get fitted for your clothes. Once the first three are done, you’ll head over with Adina to get your new clothes.”

Keith frowned, “What about you?”

Lance put her hands to her hips and gave her friend a long-suffering sigh, “I have to get ready for my performance. I’ll see you all in a few hours!” she yelled over her shoulder as she climbed on Nyx and flew away.

As soon as she left, Cesti landed on her own griffon and smiled, “I heard some people need a ride?”

Keith shifted uncomfortably on his feet, uncomfortable in his new set of clothes. He was wearing a black shirt rolled up at the sleeves with a dark grey vest on top of it. Every now and then, he would grip the red tie that Adina put around his neck in annoyance. His dark grey slacks matched the vest he was wearing and he’d even had to abandon his combat boots for some black dress shoes.

The sun was already beginning to go down, giving the city a nice view.

Beside him, Shiro and Hunk were wearing the same thing only Shiro’s tie was black and white while Hunks’ was yellow. Coran was wearing the same outfit but his tie was orange, he looked absolutely chipper and ready for the dance floor if the cha-cha he was doing in place was any indication.

A sudden wolf whistle had all four of them turning to see Allura and Pidge making their way over to them. The princess was wearing a light purple dress with a shawl over her shoulders. Her hair was loose and cascaded down her back. She looked regal.

Beside her, Pidge was gripping Allura’s wrist tightly as she tried not to fall as she glared at the low heels that they’d practically forced on her. The long green dressed looked good on her but she was clearly uncomfortable.

Keith understood her pain all too well as he gave his tie another tug. The thing was too tight in his opinion but Adina kept tying it tighter each time she caught him tugging on it.

Allura smiled when she saw them, “My, you all look absolutely dashing. You know how to clean up well.”

Shiro smiled back at her, a small blush on his cheeks, “You look beautiful princess.” He glanced down at Pidge and smiled warmly, “You as well Pidge.”

Pidge huffed but she looked pleased.

Amazons lounged in groups of ten or twenty, talking and laughing while other women were scurrying back and forth with hands full of trays.

A little ways away, a group of griffons were playing around with each other. Firebirds flew overhead, alighting their whole bodies in flames as they passed by. Keith could have sworn he saw Aldara fly by but he wasn’t sure.

Keith glanced up at the three islands hovering above the city and saw the bird like cages that were actually a sort of elevator mechanism bringing down more Amazons to the ground to enjoy the festivities.

Speaking of Adina, the girl was fussing over her violet haired girlfriend as Reyna kept spreading her legs as she sat. She was trying to show her how to cross her legs and sit properly like a lady but Reyna didn’t seem to be listening.

Both of them looked stunning in their matching black dresses. Adina had curled her short black hair and put a touch of makeup making her eyes seem bigger. Reyna kept fidgeting with her long dress, clearly uncomfortable. She was a lot like Lance when it came to clothes; both of them liked their togas cut above the knee so they could have room to move.

The festival was already in full swing and the music that was blaring over the speakers sounded oddly Celtic with a rockfish vibe. It wasn’t bad.

Taking Red back to the castle hadn’t taken too long so he had plenty of time to get his clothes picked by Adina. He was hoping it would take longer, even encouraged Pidge to ask more and more questions to the science division who were more than eager to answer but Adina sent Ivy and Harley to fetch him and Pidge, Coran had practically run to Adina’s to get a new outfit. The weirdo.

He hadn’t seen Lance in the last few hours and wondered where she could be. He glanced at the mood bracelet that she’d given to him as a present earlier and frowned as it changed from orange to yellow before settling on a green-peridot color. She was feeling too many emotions.

Cesti made her way over to where they were standing and beckoned them to follow her. She’d pinned up her short curly blonde hair into a loose bun, her white short dress swaying every time she walked.

She led them to a circular table where a bunch of Amazons sat scattered around in their own tables. There was a giant stage facing them with a set of instruments and chairs below. Keith and his friends all gratefully took their seats. No sooner had they sat before platters of food were placed in front of them all and Hunk released a moan at the smell.

The others looked nostalgic as they dug into their food.

“Oh man!” Hunk moaned over a spoonful of food, “What is this? It tastes like pizza but it doesn’t look like pizza!”

Pidge took a bite of her brown mush that looked like rice and let out a sound of appreciation, “This tastes just like waffles! And this one tastes like fish!”

Shiro took a bite of his own food and Keith swore he saw him shed a tear, “It tastes just like spagettios.”

Allura and Coran let out appreciative noises of their own as they dug into their food.

The crowd suddenly hushed as the queen stepped forward and made a toast before sitting behind them all on a huge table overlooking everything else. Her six guards in formal wear surrounding her as their eyes took everything.

Keith and the others raised their own glasses in the air before taking a sip of their drink. Mmm, not bad.

About a dozen Amazons suddenly emerged from the crowd and as one they all took a seat below the stage before picking up an instrument.

The crowd hushed and looked up at the stage eagerly. Keith’s bracelet turned to blue and he raised his eyes to the stage as the curtain parted and Lance stepped to the center of the stage. She was wearing a long dark green georgette fabric dress with the white and yellow design throughout the sari draped over her right shoulder. Her short brown locks had been curled slightly making the small silver and black crown on her head stand out.

Twelve Amazons in black and dark green dresses made their way over before splitting up. Six pairs on Lance’s right and the other six on her left. The women paired with each other and took each other’s hands as the orchestra began to play.

Keith would forever remember this as the moment that Lance rendered him incapable of speech or movement. He was barely able to think. He mostly just gawked, his mouth open as Lance began to sing in such a beautiful voice as she hit the notes just right.

The women on both sides danced and twirled each other around the princess and the crowd was mesmerized. As the orchestra began to pick up Lance began to sway and twirl around the dancers, her breath not catching in her throat as she moved.

The orchestra slowed and Lance whispered out the next verse before the orchestra picked up again and Lance made her voice louder.

The orchestra took over and Lance danced around the dancers as they all moved around the princess. Despite being the shortest among the group Lance stood out.

As the song grew to a close Lance spread her arms out and sang out the last note before Keith was on his feet clapping like a madman. His face was feeling distinctly warm, he knew he had a flush on his face but he summed it up to the excitement he was feeling for his friend. He was so god damn proud of Lance. The crowd followed his example as they praised Lance with a huge applause. Hunk and Pidge were whistling and even Shiro and Allura wore matching grins as they clapped along with everyone else. Coran’s shouting was practically tuning out the rest of the Amazons cheers.

Lance looked out of breath and flushed but happy as she smiled and took a bow, which had the crowd erupting in applause once more.

A few Amazons threw blue glowing flowers at the princess’s feet while others shouted for an encore.

Lance picked up the flowers and cradled them to her chest before making her way off the stage. Disappointed sighs followed after her but the orchestra began to play something else that seemed to appease the crowd.

A few dozen Amazons crowded around their princess as she emerged and Lance smiled and thanked them for their words but it was clear she wanted to pass. Sensing this, Keith made his way over to his friend to rescue her. He didn’t notice Shiro looking after him in curiosity.

As soon as Lance saw him she smiled and excused herself before making her way over to him. Once she was close enough she looped her arm through his and Keith led them back to the table he and his friends were occupying. “How was I?” she asked him shyly.

Keith let out a whoosh of air and grinned; “Now that was amazing.”

Lance smiled and quirked an eyebrow at him, “Really?”

“Really really.”

Lance smiled before the sound of Keith’s friends calling her name caught her attention. Coran gripped her arms and was exclaiming quite loudly on how much he loved her performance. Hunk said it was the most beautiful thing he’d heard while Pidge nodded vigorously along with him. Allura and Shiro politely praised her and made room for her to sit between Hunk and Pidge.

“Wow, you guys look amazing!” Lance gushed as she took them all in.

All of them seemed pleased by her comment and Coran even curtsied at her.

As soon as she sat down, one of the Amazons placed a silver tray in front of her and Lance thanked her before she slowly opened the tray. The tray suddenly trashed and everyone screamed and backed away. Lance squealed, took out the dagger strapped to her thigh, opened the tray and plunged the dagger into the creature.

Hunk looked like he was going to be sick, Pidge raised her head from where she hid behind him, Keith had drawn his sword out and even Shiro had turned his prosthetic arm into a sword ready for anything. Allura and Coran looked very interested in the princess’s dinner and peered closer as they all took a closer look.

The creature looked like a crab but with four more legs and a blue and yellow tint to it. The creature twitched and Hunk let out a frantic scream before Lance twisted the dagger and the creature stopped moving.

They all watched in horror as Lance ripped a leg out and started chewing. Noticing the stares she was getting she offered them all a piece to which they all shook their heads. Coran took the plunge and took a piece before his eyes lighted up and he reached for another piece. Shrugging, Allura took another leg and bit into it, the paladins of Voltron cringed when they heard some crunching but Allura’s eyes lit up in delight.

The three aliens looked back at the humans and then at each other before grinning broadly and offered them a piece to which they all refused. Oh well, more for them.

As the festival went on, plenty of Amazons had already made their way to the dance floor and were twirling their partners around. Allura had dragged Shiro to the dance floor and after a few tries the black paladin got the hang of it.

Coran was dancing from partner to partner as the woman pulled him along. He didn’t seem to mind though; he looked like he was enjoying himself.

Lance and the queen had every head turning to them as they glided effortlessly through the dance floor. Every now and then they’d hover in the air and dance around the crowd with ease. Pidge swore she saw the queen do the robot but she wasn’t sure.

Keith had moved to a corner and was turning down Amazon after Amazon who asked him to dance. His eyes were on Lance as she switched partners and glided through the room before dipping her partner. The Amazon swooned and Lance twirled her away before switching to another partner.

Shiro shook his head at his friend. He probably had no idea that his eyes kept dragging over to the Amazon princess.

Pidge made her way to woman wearing a lab coat on top of her dress and was in deep conversation. Hunk had found the head chef and was writing down recipes on a small notepad that he had brought with him.

After a while Coran headed back to the castle to check up on the red lion, one of the Amazons giving him a ride back on her griffon as they talked animatedly.

The queen made her way over to Keith and the red paladin tensed. He really hoped that she wasn’t going to ask him to dance because the he’d have to agree. You couldn’t say no to a queen. To his surprise, the queen merely leaned on the wall that he was perched on and looked at the crowd with a smile.

Keith’s shoulders slowly loosened and he crossed his arms before looking back at the crowd.

For a while it was silent between the two until the queen cleared her throat and Keith tensed again.

“I noticed that you and my daughter have matching bracelets,” she started.

Keith looked at the queen from the corner of his eye and nodded cautiously.

“Do you know what they do? The queen asked, sounding genuinely curious.

Keith frowned, “They tell what the other person is feeling by showing a color tuned to that emotion?”

The queen smiled and nodded, “Yes that is true, but it does something else as well.” She turned her eyes toward him, “Do you know?”

Keith slowly shook his head.

“As the bond between the two wearing the bracelet grows, eventually you’ll start to feel each others emotions. Everything you feel, my daughter will feel. And everything she feels, you will feel. Eventually you’ll start to see what they see, you’ll feel their presence close to you at all times.” The queen sighed a wistful smile as she pulled back the sleeve of her dress and showed him her own bracelet, “My husband and I have the same matching bracelets. That’s why I never feel truly alone. He’s always with me.”

Keith openly stared, his mouth parted, but no sound came out. He had no idea.

The queen laughed, a very high and sweet sound, “I’m sure my daughter had no idea they could do that as well. It’ll be fun to see her expression when she finds out, don’t you think?” the queen grinned back at him.

Keith blinked before he let out a snort that would have had Shiro scolding him for making such a sound in front of a queen.

“You’re a good man,” the queen said softly, “I’m glad you were able to become friends with my daughter. I haven’t seen her this happy since they day she discovered ice cream.” Keith laughed and the queen grinned, “You will be missed Keith. You were a delight to have in Cloyetera.”

Keith smiled and respectfully bowed his head, “Thank you for having me. And thank you for letting me stay in your home.” He hesitated and scratched his cheek awkwardly, “I don’t remember my mother much, but I imagine she was a lot like you, so thank you for that too.”

The queen blinked at him in surprise before she smiled softly at him and dragged him to a hug that he returned after a bit of hesitation.

The sound of an alarm going off startled them and the crowd started shouting as the city’s barrier suddenly surrounded the city and a red light lit the sky. The queen tapped her transparent bracelet and after it solidified yelled at it, “What’s going?”

The rest of the Amazons had turned to their bracelets as well, all of them looked tense. There was static on the other end before a woman shouted back, “Your highness, it’s the Galra! The Galra are approaching the city!”

Coran’s own voice was heard as Allura contacted him, “Princess! I’m getting numerous readings vastly approaching! I believe it’s the Galra!”

The queen growled before she turned to the gathered crowd, her eyes seeking her daughters who gave a firm nod before she spoke in a voice loud enough for the crowd and the women on the other end to hear, “The Galra are attacking! This is not a drill, battle stations everyone!”

The women on the other line shouted back, “Your highness! The Galra have brought more than a dozen battle cruisers with them this time! There’s-there’s too many! And what’s more there are these two giant robots with them this time!”

Allura stepped forward, “Your highness, if you help us get back to our castle, we can help with the two giant robots.”

The queen frowned but nodded grimly. “Very well, you will all travel with the second wave, my daughter will clear the way as much as possible for you all.” The queen turned back to her daughter and framed her face in her hands, “Be very careful and don’t do anything dangerous.”

Lance gripped her mothers face in her own before nodding grimly and stepping back, “Archers! You’re with me! To your griffons!”

A dozen women surged forward before they all called out their griffons. The sound of flapping wings announced their approach before Lance tapped her transparent bracelet, pushed a few buttons, and then hovered the bracelet in front of her from head to toe.

Keith and his team watched in awe as a short cobalt blue kimono suddenly replaced the formal dress she was wearing with a black obi on her back. Blue and black-stripped high socks with black boots replaced the heels she was wearing.

The rest of the Amazons repeated her actions and soon enough every Amazon was wearing a short kimono of various colors.

Keith pushed through the crowd just as Lance hauled herself on Nyx and gripped her hand. Startled she looked over at him in confusion.

A myriad of emotions passed over the red paladins face before they settled on steely determination, “Be careful okay. As soon as my team and I get to our lions, we’ll be sure to offer you back up.”

Lance grinned and ruffled his hair to his annoyance before he stepped back as Nyx began to spread her wings, “I’ll clear the way for you guys. Don’t keep me waiting red paladin.”

Keith gave her hand another squeeze and then she and the other archers were gone.

“Shit,” Pidge cursed as she looked up at the sky as she and the rest of team Voltron followed after Reyna and the hordes of battle ready Amazons through the city after the archers, “It’s another one of those Robeasts.”

“Oh man,” Hunk said, “Just trying to take one down was hard enough, but now we have to face two? Last time the Balmera helped us get rid of it, how are we going to get rid of this one?”

“You have us this time,” Reyna said running beside them, “We Amazons are strong. Not only that but both our queen and our princess will be joining this fight as well.”

“Let’s hope so,” Shiro murmured as he ran beside them, “Those things are tough.”

“We can do it,” Keith said fiercely, his eyes raking the sky as he watched the archers a few paces in front of them, “Red wants to tear those things into pieces.”

“If we can get to the castle, we can return fire as well,” Allura said as she took out her Bo staff and whip and gripped them tightly in her hand as she ran with them.

As soon as they made it out of the city and into the green fields where the castle of lions stood, everyone gasped as they finally got a good look at the Galra army that they were about to face.

There were about a hundred battle cruisers in the sky, some shooting the castle as it returned fire. Dozens and dozens of Galra and sentries were on the other side of the field. A soon as they saw the group of women on the opposite side of them they began to charge.

Most of the battle cruisers started heading right for them as Lance and the rest of their archers released a battle cry as they headed right for the battle cruisers.

Keith could only watch in amazement as Lance and the rest of the archers pulled back their bows before letting the arrows fly towards the battle cruisers. Some went down when they made impact while others began to fire back at them.

The archers’ griffons expertly dodged the attacks before all the archers slowly stood to a crouch on their mounts and Keith let out a shout of alarm as Lance and the rest of the archers leaped from their griffons to land on the battle cruisers.

“Holy shit!” Pidge yelled in awe.

Lance and the other archers landed punch after punch on the battle cruisers before punching their way inside. Galra pilots were tossed aside like toys before the archers jumped of the battle cruisers just in time for their griffons to catch them.

They repeated the motion over and over, their griffons releasing bolts of lightning from their mouths at any Galra pilot that was still alive as they were tossed.

“Now that was seriously awesome!” Keith grinned as he looked at his friend-kicking ass.

Battle cries from the other side of the field were heard as the Galra on land began to descend on them. About eight Amazons that Keith recognized as Lance’s friends surrounded him and his friends as they started running towards their enemy.

Red roared angrily in his mind and Keith took out his Bayard and began to cut every enemy that approached him. A glance to his side showed that his fellow paladins had done the same and were engaged in battle.

Pidge and Ivy literally shocked any Galra that came their way. Allura had taken out a whip as she and Harley took down Galra after Galra. Shiro used his Galra enhanced arm to cut down any enemy in his way as Reyna covered his back.

They had to make it to the castle. The two Robeasts were beginning to charge towards them. Coran released the castle’s own weapons on them but it wasn’t doing much damage. The battlefield was pure chaos.

The few Galra unfortunate enough to get in his way, were cut down. Some even moved out of the way only to be cut down by an Amazon.

“Guys! The Robeasts are heading our way!” Hunk cried as he blasted a Galra away from him, Cesti cutting down the three Galra who were trying to strike him down from behind.

Suddenly there was a mighty yell and the two Robeasts were thrown a few feet away. Keith along with everyone else turned to see Queen Lexi herself making her way to the battlefield. She easily cut down any Galra who dared step in her way. Some she flung with a wave with her hand.

The Robeasts shook themselves out of their stupor and started descending on them again and the queen cut down another Galra before looking up at the sky, “Leah!”

Lance looked back from throwing another pilot into the sky before mounting Nyx and making her way over to her mother. Once close enough, Lance jumped of Nyx and the griffon let out a cry as she returned to the skies to help out the rest of the archers.

Lance and her mother shared a look before they nodded, spread their legs out and spread them arms out towards the Galra still blocking the paladins path to the castle.

With a yell, the two Amazons threw the Galra aside making a clear path for Keith and his friends.

“Go!” Lance yelled at them.

Keith and the rest of the paladins didn’t argue as they ran to the castle, Shiro deciding to stay behind to help since he still couldn’t use the black lion.

The castle’s barrier dissolved just in time for Keith and the rest to make it inside before closing over the castle again. Allura ran straight for the bridge where Coran was while Keith, Pidge, and Hunk made a beeline to the lion’s hangers.

Almost there! Red was calling him! She was itching to fight. She wanted to help his new friends fight, but more than anything though, she wanted to help Lance.

Lance who had saved her paladin from dying. Who had helped him when she herself couldn’t. Red liked Lance Keith realized then grinned. Well, at least his lion and he seemed to have good taste in people.

Red huffed but agreed.

Finally making it to the lions hangers, all three of them quickly changed into their armor and stepped inside their own respectful lion.

“We’re in position!” Keith shouted.

“Same here!” Pidge announced.

“Me too!” Hunk answered

“All right Paladins, this is going to be a tough battle, but with the Amazons on our side hopefully we’ll be able to take down those Robeasts.” Allura said through the speakers.

“Opening the hangers!” Coran shouted.

Keith waited impatiently for the hanger doors to open. Did it always take this long? Lance needed his help.

“Come on, come one, come on,” he muttered impatiently as he tapped his fingers on the control panels.

The hanger doors opened and Keith flew Red straight into the sky, Hunk and Pidge in their own lions flying after him.

One of the Robeasts jerked back as the queen sent it back with a wave of her hand before the thing turned to the field where the Amazons and the Galra were still fighting before its glowing purple eyes on its metal face shone and it opened its massive mouth. A beam of red light shot out before incinerating everything in its path.

The Amazons barely managed to dodge but some Galra were not so lucky. All that remained of them was black ashes.

Hunk rammed the yellow lions to the Robeasts side sending it tumbling before Pidge blasted a light of beam after it with her green lion. The other Robeasts just stood still, much too still in Keith’s opinion but after glancing around he found Lance and her mother fighting side by side, deeming that she was fine for the moment Keith steered red to help out its fellow lions.

With a mighty yell Keith made the Red lion throw a laser beam from its mouth, hitting the Robeasts head on. The yellow lion hit it with the laser on its tail while the green lion fired laser after at it. It barely did any damage but it did leave a few scorch marks and kept it properly distracted so the Amazons didn’t have to worry about it firing at them.

The Robeasts eyes glowed before it started shooting beams at them and Keith maneuvered Red to duck whenever its beam came at them. The robeast opened its massive mouth again only for it to freeze mid-motion as a force willed it to halt its actions.

Keith looked out from his screen to see Lance and the queen with their hands extended towards the Robeast. A few amazons were shielding them so as to not be distracted, Shiro being one of the ones guarding them.

The yellow lion used the opportunity to slam its front paws on the Robeasts underside where they had learned was sensitive from their last battle. Lance and the queen made a crushing motion with their hands and everyone watched in awe as the Robeast began to bend unnaturally.

“Holy crap, are Lance and her mom doing this?” Pidge yelled over the coms.

“Astounding,” Coran’s voice murmured through the speakers in their helmets.

“Keep at it guys, it’s almost gone!” Shiro yelled.

“Right!” Hunk answered back.

Together, the three lions hit it with everything they had and with Lance and her mother slowly crushing it, the robeast soon exploded and everyone shouted in victory.

“Woo! We did it guys!” Hunk cheered.

“That was seriously awesome!” Pidge replied.

“You guys did good. I’m very proud of you all.” Shiro said with a proud voice.

Keith grinned when he suddenly heard a scream.

“MOM LOOK OUT!”

Keith turned to the screen only for his eyes to widen as the second Robeast finally began to move and let out a bright red beam towards the queen who was hunched over her knees and panting.

Keith could only watch in horror as Lance pushed her mother out of the way and took a direct hit. Lance screamed as she was tossed far away from everyone before she landed face down and unconscious. A bit of smoke was coming off from her and everyone froze in terror.

“LEAH!” the queen screamed.

The robeast jerked, turned directions and started heading straight for the unconscious princess. Red roared angrily in his mind, filling his body with blazing energy. He was going to destroy that robeast. That thing had hurt Lance!

He steered Red towards the unconscious princess just like the robeast was and let out an angry cry. Nothing else mattered except Lance. He had to get to her. He had to get to her before that thing did.

But even as he pushed Red to full speed, he knew he wasn’t going to make it. He was too far. He wasn’t going to make it.

“Princess! The blue lion its-“ Coran’s voice cut off.

The robeast opened its massive mouth and Keith cried out-

A furious roar sounded before there was a crash as the blue lion flew over and fired a beam of ice towards the robeast sending it flying back a few meters before plantings itself over Lance’s unconscious body.

The blue lion reared its massive head and roared again as it stood defensively over Lance before lowering its head and growling at anyone who dared step any closer.

“My god…”Pidge whispered.

“The blue lion,” Allura breathed, “It’s found its paladin.”

“Lance,” Keith said in awe, “She’s the blue paladin.”

Chapter Text

“I say looking on the bright side of life never killed anybody.” 
― Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Chapter 7

Pain. She was in so much pain. Why? What happened?

She was fighting. At least…that’s what she thought she’d been doing.

What happened?

A roar sheered through the clouds in her mind, yanking her awake. Lance released a gasp that soon turned into a hiss as her injuries made themselves present. She was hurt. How the heck had that happened?

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Lance opened her eyes and noticed that she was laying facedown on the ground. The sound of fighting could be heard in the distance, swords clashing, the sound of wings flapping, shouts and screams from every direction.

And just like that, memories resurfaced to the front of her mind and Lance shot to her feet in one quick motion. Bad idea. She immediately fell to her knees and clutched at her chest. She smelled blood. Her blood. Not only that but she could also smell her own burned flesh. Bits of smoke were still coming out from her clothes and Lance lifted the front of her kimono to peer under her armor.

Or at least tried to. Some of her armor was stuck to her skin, but she saw enough.

Reddened flesh met her eyes with blood still pouring out. Lance’s body shook. She was going into shock she realized. No. Not right now. This couldn’t be happening now. Her friends needed her help, she had to get herself together.

But no matter how much she tried to calm her racing heart, her shaking wouldn’t stop. And then she heard it. The purring. Someone was purring in her mind.

Sensing a presence near her, Lance looked up and up and up, until she saw the blue lion standing over her protectively and gasped. The blue lion shifted and lowered its head until it hung next to her and purred once again.

Something cool and comforting washed over her mind as she openly gawked at two bright, golden eyes. Her shaking ceased. Slowly, Lance lifted her hand and placed it on the lions nose and jumped as the blue lion nuzzled onto her side.

The blue lion purred softly and sent another soothing cold into her heart, easing away her pain. It would only be a temporary fix but it was enough to get her moving.

Ride me.

Lance whipped her head to the blue lion as its gaze bore into her.

Ride me, my paladin.

“Lance!”

Lance tore her gaze away from the blue lion to see the red lion making its way over to her.

“Lance, get inside the blue lion now!” Keith shouted at her from inside.

Blue roared again and opened her mouth for her as she waited for her to climb in. Lance willed her legs to move and launched herself towards her lion.

Hers.

The statement made her smile. As soon as she was safely in, the blue lion snapped her jaws shut and began to stand. Lance stumbled but managed to make her way over to the pilots seat by holding onto the wall for support.

Lance did a quick scan of the control panel before she gripped the control handles and pulled. As soon as she did, the view screen activated and she blinked in surprise as the battlefield was shown to her. The green and yellow lion had engaged the second robeast that had attacked her while the red lion was hovering in front of her.

“Paladins!” princess Allura’s voice shouted over the comms, nearly giving her a heart attack, “Shiro and the black lion are on their way! Now you can form Voltron!”

“All right!” Hunk shouted.

“We could definitely use the help!” Pidge said.

“Lance! Answer me!” Keith’s frantic voice shouted.

Lance fumbled with the controls, how the heck could she talk back? And more importantly how did she get the blue lion to move?

“Umm, blue?” she said hesitantly as she looked around, “I think we should go he-“

She screamed. One second she was fiddling with the controls and trying to make the blue lion move, the next they were launching towards the robeast.

A mighty roar suddenly sounded and Lance turned back to the screen to see the black lion flying towards them. It was huge! Four roars answered back and Lance grinned. Blue sent her a mental image of what buttons did what and Lance nodded before pressing the button on the right side.

Immediately, the other four paladins faces appeared in the corners of her screen and she let out a surprised shout.

“Lance!” Keith shouted as he took her appearance in, “Why weren’t you answering? Are you okay?”

“Oh man, I can see blood. A lot of blood,” Hunk whimpered, as he looked her up and down.

“How are you even awake?” Pidge exclaimed.

“Lance, I know you’re hurt, but we need you in order to form Voltron. Do you think you can hold on until then?” Shiro asked, as he looked both concerned and determined.

Lance cast her eyes downward as she glanced down at her chest. Thanks to Blue numbing the pain for her she couldn’t feel a thing. She didn’t know how long that would last though.

She would have tried healing herself but she needed both hands.

Her eyes went back to her fellow paladins, and she set her jaw as she gave them a firm nod. “I can do it. I’ll help out for as long as I can.”

Keith still looked doubtful as he glanced at her through the screens, “Don’t push yourself too much. Let’s finish this fast and get your wounds treated.”

Shiro gave her a look of gratitude before his face turned stern, “All right team, let’s form Voltron!”

“Yeah!” all five of them said.

“Question: how exactly do we do that?” Hunk asked as the yellow lion dodged a beam intended for him.

He was met with silence.

“You guys don’t know?” Lance exclaimed as she and blue fired an ice beam at the robeast.

“This is our first time doing this!” Pidge answered back with a grunt.

“Paladins!” Allura shouted as her face appeared on their screens, “The Amazons and us will distract the robeast! Use that time to figure out how to form Voltron!”

“Understood! Thank you princess! Everyone, make your way to me!” Shiro shouted.

Lance and blue ducked under the beam that was headed their way and started flying over to where the black lion was.

The three other lions made their way over as the castle started to engage the robeast. Lance glanced down at the field and was glad to see that most of the Galra were already dead, the battle cruisers were all gone, and the griffons and archers were flying around the robeast and launching arrows after it.

Her mother had managed to catch her breath and was doing her best to keep the robeast from moving.

Shiro talking snapped her attention back to him and she just managed to catch the last few sentences of his speech.

“Listen up guys! The only way to succeed is to give it everything you’ve got! This looks bad, but we can do this! Are you with me?”

“Yes!”

“Okay, let’s go!” Shiro shouted.

As one, all five lions shot to the sky, the sound of Allura’s frantic shouting in the background. The Amazon’s were throwing lightning bolts at the metal beast. Some of them even launched themselves on the robeast and were delivering punch after punch.

“This isn’t working!” Keith grunted out.

“Paladins!” Allura shouted at them, “The castles defenses won’t last very long at this rate! You must hurry!”

“We’re trying!” Pidge cried.

The robeast finally managed to get out of the queen’s grip and shook itself until the Amazons that were on it fell with a scream.

“We have to go help them!” Lance screamed.

“Oh, man! I’m definitely panicking guys!” Hunk cried frantically.

“The castles defenses have broken!” Allura screamed.

A glance at the screen showed that everyone was panicking. They were going to fail. Lance let out a sound of frustration. Why wasn’t this working?

Were they way out of their heads?

Shiro looked at all his fellow paladins faces and grimaced. They looked like they’d lost all hope. He narrowed his eyes. Not on his watch.

“We can do this guys! We just have to believe in ourselves!” The other paladins looked up at their leader. “We’re the Universe’s last hope! We can’t fail. We won’t fail! If we work together, we’ll win together!”

“He’s right,” Lance said, she set her jaw and narrowed her eyes, “We can do this!”

What happened after was so fast Lance wasn’t sure she witnessed everything. One minute they were flying in sync together and the next thing she knew, colors emerged and mixed. Thoughts that were not her own mixed together. She could feel Blue’s cool energy wash over the others. Red’s temperamental nature thrumming for action. Yellow grounding them and ready to defend. Green’s inquisitive nature. Black’s calm and collected nature even in the face of danger.

Somehow they were able to form Voltron and Lance couldn’t help but smile along with the rest of the paladins.

“We did it!” Pidge said with a grin.

“Guys! I’m a leg!” Hunk exclaimed.

“How the heck did are we doing this?” Lance asked.

“Who cares? It feels amazing!” Keith shouted, a broad grin on his face.

“All right, team!” Shiro said with a smile, “Let’s take care of that robeast!”

It’s after this that things became a blurring mess to Lance. With the forming of Voltron, Blue had to concentrate her powers on the fight. Lance was all right with that. She understood. But the pain that started coming back the more they fought the robeast was not a pleasant experience.

Her shaking resumed with a vengeance and she swallowed back the gasp of pain that desperately wanted to come out. She would not. She would not distract the others while they were still fighting. Somehow she was able to operate Blue and fight alongside the others even as she started to see black spots on the corners of her eyes.

She was so tired.

It hurt to breathe.

The whole cockpit smelled of her blood.

It wasn’t until the cheers started that Lance finally let go of the thrusters and slumped into her seat.

So tired…

Maybe just a little nap…

Separating from Voltron wasn’t the most pleasant experience. It left them feeling like they were missing something, but with the sheer euphoria they were feeling at the moment they didn’t think too much on it.

“We did it guys!” Hunk’s cried as tears ran down his eyes.

“That was awesome!” Pidge said excitably.

“Nice job, guys.” Keith said with a smile.

“Way to go, guys,” Shiro said looking at them all proudly. “We’ve defeated the Robeast.”

Keith couldn’t help the smile that adorned his face at the praise as he looked at his fellow paladins. They had done it. They’d formed Voltron! And it was all thanks to Lance!

He turned back to the screen and frowned when Lance’s face wasn’t there along with the others.

“Lance?” he called to his friend.

Silence.

“Lance?”

Still nothing.

The others caught on and began to call for the Amazon princess but there was no response. Panic began to seep in and he glanced at the bracelet that Lance had given him what seemed like ages ago. The stone was gray.

Without thinking Keith took off his helmet and ran to the door, Red already had her mouth open, and blinked at the sudden brightness before scanning the field.

Thankfully, Blue was nearby and Keith immediately ran to her.

“Lance!” he yelled as his fist banged on the door. “Lance, open up!”

No response.

Keith growled and looked up at the Blue lions golden gaze and snapped at her in anger. “I’m here to help! Open up!” he growled.

The blue lions eyes glowed before it slowly opened its mouth. Keith dove right in and sprinted along the path, his breathing heavy to his own ears, until he finally found himself in the cockpit.

His eyes landed on Lance who had passed out on her seat, her head tilted to the side as she took shallow breaths.

The very sight of her frightened him more than anything he’d ever experienced.

He willed his legs to move until he was in front of her and gasped. Blood was pooling from her chest, staining her blue kimono to a dark blue. He could see reddened flesh from the burned parts of the kimono.

She looked so pale.

Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, hugging her to him before he slowly picked her up and cradled her to his chest before he started walking out the blue lions mouth.

Lance’s head slumped to the side as she let out a whimper with every step he took but otherwise remained unconscious.

“Keith!”

Keith looked down to see the rest of his friends along with some of the Amazons making their way over. At the sight of Lance’s slumped form in his arms they began to shout at once.

“We need to put her in a healing pod!”

“We can’t! She may have radiation, we can’t put her in a healing pod just yet!”

“Bits of her armor are embedded in her, we need to remove those first!”

“Where are the healers?”

Lance’s next breath caught somewhere inside her and she choked. Blood splattered and dribbled down her chin and Keith tensed before he started pushing everyone away from him. The healing chamber! He had to get to the healing chamber! Despite how scared he was, he had been paying attention to what the others said.

If they couldn’t put her in a healing pod just yet, then a healer had to look at her first. And if the healers weren’t here then he’d go to them.

Lance started to tremble in his arms and Keith started to run. He was dimly aware of running feet following after him and the others shouting his name but none of that mattered.

“Keith?”

“I’m right here,” Keith said, his hold on Lance crushingly tight. “Just breathe!”

“Stay with me?”

Blue eyes opened weakly and Keith glanced down at her in relief, “Lance! Just hold on, okay?”

Lance tried to speak again but only managed to cough out more blood before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she lost consciousness once more.

“Over here!”

Keith looked up and saw three women wearing long dresses with a star shaped pin stitched to the side and sighed in relief.

Healers.

The three women opened the doors for him and gestured for him to place Lance on the table. He did but refused to leave when they tried to usher him out. He gripped Lance’s hand tightly in his own and threw a glare at the woman when they tried to remove him by force.

“Let him be,” a voice with authority said from the doorway.

Keith didn’t have to look up to know that the voice belonged to Queen Lexi. She sounded so very tired but her voice still had the authority that it usually held.

The healers grimly nodded before they got to work.

One of the healers placed herself next to Lance’s head and placed her hands a few inches above the princess’s neck before a shimmering green light started to emanate from her fingertips. Lance’s breathing started to sound somewhat normal again.

The other two began to slowly cut away the kimono and Keith looked away once he saw the severity of his friends’ wounds. Her skin looked completely burned, blood still oozing from certain spots.

“Any radiation?”

“Surprisingly none.”

“These parts of the kimono armor melted onto her skin, we have to pry them off.”

“You three, come over here and hold her down.”

A scurry of feet was heard before three more pairs of arms joined the first three.

“You guys hold her down and we’ll peel them off.”

“On the count of three.”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

Lance screamed and trashed on the table, a few tears trailing down her cheeks. Keith tightened his hold on her arm and grit his teeth as Lance’s screams turned louder.

“Hurry!”

“This one doesn’t want to come off, we’ll have to cut it off!”

The sound of wheels as a cart was pushed to the women side was heard until the woman searched for what she was looking for before her hands closed on a scalpel.

“Got it!”

Lance’s screams returned with a vengeance before she blissfully lost consciousness again.

“This will be too much for us to heal, we’ll have to put her in the Healing Vat so it can restore her skin to how it was.”

A comforting and familiar hand was placed on his shoulder and Keith tore his eyes away from Lance’s face with some effort before looking up at Shiro’s concerned face.

“Keith, they need you to let go. They can’t help her until you let go.”

“I can’t,” his voice cracked and he cleared his throat, “I promised her I’d stay.”

“And you did, you stayed for the worst of it. Now you need to let go of her hand and let the healers put her in the tank.”

“What if something happens to her and I’m not there?”

“We’ll stay with her,” a feminine voice said.

Keith lifted his head to look behind Shiro and saw Reyna, Adina and Cesti standing behind. Bits of their armor were torn and all three wore some bruises of their own but otherwise looked fine.

Reyna walked up to him and placed a hand on his head, “We’ll stay in your place. You should go clean up,” she glanced down at him and frowned, “You’re completely drenched in her blood.”

Keith glance down at his armor and noticed that he was indeed covered in Lance’s blood. He didn’t like it.

“Come on,” Shiro said as he started to steer him to the door where Hunk and Pidge were waiting. He reluctantly let go of Lance’s hand. “We’ll get you showered and a set of clean clothes and then we’ll come back.”

Keith numbly nodded and followed after him but he couldn’t help but glance back at Lance’s prone form one last time.

Instead of taking him to the castle, Shiro brought him to Lance’s house where he’d been staying for the past two weeks. Keith was glad; it was closer to the healing chamber than the castle was. Together they made their way through the open courtyard, past the massive garden that stretched out to the sea and climbed the stairs where two Amazons opened the massive doors to let them in.

It was when they were inside that Shiro hesitated, it was his first time inside the house (more like mansion) so Keith took the lead and walked down the long corridor and passed the dining room, the library, and the weapons room until he found the staircase that led to the second floor.

Once there he passed several rooms before he stopped on an intricate wooden door and reached for the knob. His eyes slid to the door next to his where he and Lance had decorated her door with little designs on the corners.

Lance had drawn a surprisingly good picture of Aldara and Nyx on two corners while Keith had (tried) to paint Red flying. Keith hadn’t been able to sleep that day and had wanted to go out on a walk when he stepped out of his room and saw Lance sitting on the floor with a set of paints next to her.

Curious he had sat next to her and watched her paint until she finally noticed him and asked if he wanted to try. He remembered telling her that he wasn’t a very good drawer but Lance had simply shrugged and said she didn’t mind so Keith had taken the paint and started doodling.

Queen Lexi had found them a few hours later and simply laughed before she coerced them to let her join in as well. She hadn’t been very good but she drew a blue and red flower. At least, she said they were flowers. That had been a good night, the three of them stayed up till the wee hours just talking and laughing as they painted.

Keith glanced away from the door and made his way inside with Shiro close behind him. Once there, he made his way to the restroom while Shiro walked to balcony to wait.

Keith threw of his armor slowly until he was just in his normal clothes. Surprisingly enough, only his armor had been dirtied. He took those off as well and stepped inside the shower to get some of the blood coating his arms away.

It was when he began to shampoo his hair that he felt a flurry of emotions hit him.

Confusion.

Pain.

Exhaustion.

Then it grew quiet for a period of time until colors began to cross his mind.

Mostly colors of blue, bits of red at the edges, followed by a warm happy feeling.

A glance at his wrist showed numerous colors before setting back to the blue sparkling ocean.

Were these Lance’s feelings?

Was she dreaming?

Keith rinsed off his hair and stepped out of the shower before grabbing a towel and drying himself off. When he walked out, Shiro, Hunk and Pidge were waiting for him with a tray of food that they set on the desk.

“How are you feeling, buddy?” Hunk asked him as he took a seat on the green silk bed.

Keith sighed and draped the towel over a chair before settling down on the other side of the bed. Shiro brought the tray over and set it on his lap.

“Eat,” Shiro said. “You’re looking a little pale.”

Keith pouted but picked up the spoon and started eating, he was sure it was delicious but in his current state, the taste didn’t register in his mind.

“She’s going to be fine you know,” Pidge said suddenly.

Keith blinked. “What?”

“Lance. I know I don’t know her as well as you do but from what I’ve seen she’s strong.” Pidge continued, her smile earnest as she regarded him from the floor where she was sitting cross-legged.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Keith said, realizing that he’d been staring off into space. “Lance is strong.” The others grinned and Keith felt his own lips turn into a smile. A small one but it was a smile nonetheless.

Shiro was watching him with an odd expression but Keith didn’t bother questioning him about it as he finished off the last of his meal and got to his feet.

“You’re going back?” Shiro asked.

Keith shifted on his feet but nodded as he made his way back, the others scrambling to follow after him.

“By the way, where are Allura and Coran?” he asked.

Shiro answered, “They went to talk to the queen about an alliance now that the blue paladin has been found. The queen already agreed to it but she said that whether Lance wants to come with us or not is up to her.”

Keith frowned but nodded.

Lance would come.

He wasn’t taking no for an answer.

When he made it back to the Healing Chamber, most of the healers were already back from treating the Amazons that had been injured during the fight. Most offered him a nod of greeting but they all looked tired. They were probably exhausted.

The lights were low and glowed a warm blue. It was a bit chilly but the healers didn’t seem to mind the cold.

Keith was directed to the second floor where he found pods filled with dark green water. Unlike the pods they had in the castle where they were situated vertically, the healing pods here were faced horizontally. Lance was on the third pod submerged in the water. He could barely see her face. The water covered her body.

Two healers were standing beside the pod making notes on their tablets as they checked her over.

“How is she?” he asked once he was close enough.

One of the healers glanced up from her tablet and smiled. She was one of the older women here and although she looked tired, her eyes were alert. “She’s doing quite well,” she said as she glanced back to her tablet. “The healing pod is doing its job, about a third of her skin has returned back to its unblemished self. Perhaps a few more hours and she’ll be completely healed.”

Keith released a sigh of relief as he glanced down at Lance’s sleeping face. She looked peaceful.

“Is it all right if I stay for a while?”

The two healers exchanged glances and shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

Keith nodded and thanked them before he brought a chair and sat down as he watched Lance sleep. There were some freckles across her cheeks that he hadn’t noticed before. Her eyelashes were long and dark.

It was quiet.

He didn’t remember it ever being quiet whenever Lance was around. She always had something to say to fill the silence, usually a joke or a lame pick up line that sent him into fits of laughter. And now, with her submerged in the healing pod, Keith found that he hated the silence.

He missed Lance.

Keith leaned forward, “You’d better wake up, you idiot.”

“She wills, she’s too stubborn to stay still for periods of time.”

Keith quickly moved away and almost knocked over his chair in the process as he turned to see Queen Lexi leaning on the doorway regarding him with a smile.

She’d changed from her armor into simple slacks and a t-shirt. It was the most casual look he’d seen on her since his stay in Cloyetera.

“Your highness, I…I’m sorry, I’ll leave,” Keith said as he scrambled for the door only for the queen to grip is harm before he could leave.

“You don’t have to do that you know. Please. Stay.” She said as her eyes slid to her daughter, “It’s my fault she got hurt anyway.”

“She was just protecting you,” Keith said as he walked back to his seat. The queen dragged over another chair and sat next to him.

The queen sighed as she folded her hands on her lap, “If I’d been paying attention she wouldn’t have had to get hurt.”

Keith considered his words before speaking, “I think she would have done it for anyone really. She’s that kind of person.”

Queen Lexi looked startled but laughed. “That is indeed true. You seem to know her very well.” She teased.

Keith flushed, “Well, we’ve spent some time together. It’s only natural that I picked some things out.”

The queen snickered, “Yes, I suppose that’s true.”

Keith frowned, he had a feeling he was missing something.

“Well then,” the queen got to her feet and stretched, “I still have a few things to do. Will you stay with her until she wakes up? She doesn’t like being alone.”

Keith nodded and the queen gave him a pat on the head before leaving.

Once she was gone, Keith resumed his watch over his friend and got comfortable. It was going to be a long night.

The sound of movement woke Keith up from an uncomfortable sleep and he woke with a start. At first he didn’t know where he was and he looked around in confusion before a tan hand shot out and gripped the edge of the healing tub and Keith shot to his feet as Lance tried to sit up.

Lance lifted her head from the healing tub, her hair wet and clinging to her forehead, before Keith was on her. He pulled her close and hugged her so tight she released a small gasp.

Keith held her close; one hand on her hair while the other went around her waist. She was dripping wet and his clothes were soon drenched but he didn’t care.

Lance was awake.

A warm feeling of happiness seeped into his mind and he didn’t know if the feeling came from him or Lance but it felt nice.

Lance held him just as close, her hands around his neck pulling him towards her.

He was dimly aware of other people entering the chamber but he refused to let go.

And then Lance tensed and he frowned before he began to pull away but Lance clung to him tighter.

“Keith?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you dare move away from here.”

“Umm, okay why?”

“…”

“Lance?”

“Because I have visitors and I seem to be completely naked. The only thing covering me right now is you, so don’t you dare move.”

Keith tensed and that’s when he felt two soft…something’s on his chest before a bright blush covered his face. Oh shit.

Keith averted his eyes as they both stood there in embarrassment.

“Your highness!”

“She’s awake!”

“Umm, do you need some time to yourselves?” Pidge snickered behind him.

Keith glowered at her, “Just get a towel or something!”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” Reyna, said in amusement, “This is kind of funny to watch.”

“Reyna,” Lance whined in his arms as she tried to look behind him. The action only caused Lance to lean more into him and okay yeah Lance needed a towel right now. He wasn’t ready for this. He released a strangled sound and Lance glanced up at his reddened face.

A mischievous gleam took over her features and Keith tensed.

“Jeez Keith, at least take me out to dinner first.”

The others behind him laughed and Pidge wolf whistled at him. Keith groaned.

It was good to have her back.

Chapter Text

“The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” 
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

Chapter 8

Reyna was crushing Lance in a huge hug, tears in her eyes as she babbled. Cesti and Adina were both trying to get in on the action as Queen Lexi was watching with a smile.

Keith was watching Lance closely for any signs of discomfort, berating Reyna when she hugged Lance a little too tightly electing a groan from the princess.

“You little idiot!” Reyna cried, “Don’t scare us like that again!”

“Reyna, calm down!” Lance said between laughs. “I’m fine, you can put me down now.”

Shiro saddled up next to Keith and put an arm around the red paladins shoulder as he grinned at his friend before looking up at Lance. “It’s nice to have you back your highness.”

Lance frowned at him, “Call me Lance, your highness sounds too stuffy.”

Shiro chuckled and smiled, “All right then. Lance it is.”

“If you’re all done,” the healer from earlier said with a glare, “I’d like to check on my patient now.”

Reyna looked sheepish as she put her friend down. They’d finally, to Keith’s relief, found a towel to wrap Lance in until the healer checked her wounds and allowed her to get dressed.

Pidge had started laughing when he and Lance tried to separate without Keith glancing at Lance’s…assets.

Hunk and Shiro had thankfully reined her in before she started filming but Keith was sure he’d heard Hunk and Shiro laugh at his misery.

Reyna put Lance down on the floor and Lance tightened the pink towel around herself a little more before walking over to where the healer had pulled a curtain to do her examination.

Keith had to stop himself from going with them.

He felt the urge to stay close just in case Lance needed him.

He’d seen the wince she tried to hide from the others when Reyna lifter her up.

There was a sudden yelp from behind the curtain and before he knew it, Keith had pulled the curtain and stepped inside to see the pink towel draped over a chair and the healer in front of a very naked Lance with both hands on her stomach.

Keith had never seen Lance so red in the face before, it went all the way to her ears, it was kind of adorable really, but that thought quickly disappeared as she screamed at him to get out and flung him back with a swipe of her hand.

There was laughter from his friends before Shiro helped him to his feet, his lips twitching from the effort it took not to laugh.

And Lance was yelling something in a language that he didn’t understand but from the upraised eyebrows from the Amazons, he was pretty sure Lance was cursing at him.

Keith winced. Okay, he hadn’t thought that through.

“Perhaps we should wait outside?” Shiro suggested.

Keith sent him a glare and the black paladin held both hands out in a pacifying manner.

“Oh man,” Pidge laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes, “This girl is the best.”

Hunk was tucked in a corner, his shoulders shaking, as he tried to muffle the chuckles that threatened to escape.

“Is everything all right with my daughter?” Queen Lexi asked as she peeked through the curtain.

“Hmm, yes everything is fine. The new skin seems to be a tad sensitive though. Nothing to worry about, it should go away in a few days.” The healer said as she stepped out from the curtain and tapped away on her tablet. Her blonde hair was tossed to the side when it cascaded too close to the device. “The internal damage seems to be gone as well. Her breathing sounds normal and there’s no concussion, but keep an eye on her just in case. Don’t let her do anything that involves too much movement for at least a few days.”

“Thank you very much Olwen, I can’t thank you enough.” Queen Lexi said as she gripped the healers’ hands in her own.

Olwen smiled and bowed, “It was my pleasure your majesty. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go check up on my other patients.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you again.”

Olwen bowed one more time before she disappeared to the third floor. There was a shuffling of clothes before Lance pulled back the curtain to walk out. Reyna had brought her a blue long sleeved toga cut above the knee and after much whining the violet haired Amazon brought her friend her boots instead of her sandals.

Keith got to his feet and hovered over her to everyone’s amusement. Lance snorted but let him do as he wished. If their roles were reversed, she’d probably be doing the same thing.

“How is everyone else doing?” Lance asked her mother.

“Everyone is fine. There were no serious injuries besides yours. We defeated the Galra and you and the rest of the paladins finished off the last robeast. As for the clean up,” the queen grinned, “The Myr took care of it.”

Translation: they ate the Galra remains.

Lance shuddered and then blushed as her stomach let out a loud growl.

Hunk was on her immediately, “Food! You need food in your stomach right now! I’ll bring you something!”

“Wait, I can go-“

Hunk ran out the room.

“-Get my own food?” Lance finished lamely as she turned to Keith.

Keith shrugged and Pidge saddled up next to her, “Hunk’s like that. We should probably go after him though, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know the way to the kitchen.”

“Let’s go fetch him then,” the queen said, “We’ve much to discuss.”

At the sight of their princess, many Amazons came up to them to give her a hug or asked if she was okay now. Many of them were out celebrating their recent victory over the Galra and were out drinking. At the sight of the paladins, they raised their glasses in gratitude much to the paladins’ surprise.

In the end they found Hunk walking around aimlessly for search of a kitchen before they dragged him off to the Queen and Lance’s house where Allura and Coran were waiting for them.

As soon as the two Alteans saw her, they enveloped her in a hug before Keith had to pry them off. So they wouldn’t bring any discomfort to Lance’s sensitive skin he said.

After that they all gathered in the dining room where food was brought to them all as they took their seats in the long table.

“Lance,” princess Allura began, “I just wanted to let you know that I’m very happy to see that you’re doing better now, but there’s another matter I wish to discuss with you.”

Lance put down her spoon as she turned her blue eyes to the Altean princess, “It’s about the blue lion right?”

Allura nodded as she clasped her hands together, “Yes, as you know Voltron can only be formed with the union of all five lions. You saw for yourself how powerful Voltron was when you and the others united your lions.”

Lance nodded and smiled, “I can still feel her. The blue lion I mean. Even now she calls for me, she has a very calming presence.”

Allura wrung her hands, “Yes, that’s the bond that forms between a lion and its paladin. The blue lion has chosen you to be its paladin. And we were wondering…well I was hoping really, that you would join us in our quest to defeat Zarkon.”

“Okay.”

“I understand if you don’t wish to-wait. What?”

“I said okay.” Lance said she took another bite of her food, “I’ve been wanting to get back at the Galra for their continuous attacks anyway. So yeah, I don’t mind joining you guys.”

Allura gave her such a beaming smile that Lance had to look away.

“Welcome to the team Lance,” Shiro said across from her.

“Finally, another girl on the team!” Pidge exclaimed.

“I’ll amaze you with my food so much that you’ll be begging to stay!” Hunk excitably said.

Coran beamed, “Oh! I have so many stories to tell you, your highness!”

“Don’t think I’ll go easy on you during training just because you’re a girl,” Keith teased next to her.

Lance snorted, “Please, I can mop the floor with you any day. Bring it mullet.”

“So you’ve decided to go after all,” Queen Lexi murmured.

Lance glanced back at her mom and nodded, “I have.”

The queen sighed but she smiled, “I knew you would, you’d always wanted a life of adventure after all. You’re just like you’re father you know.”

“So I can go?” Lance asked, her mouth lifting up in a smile.

“You’re almost eighteen you know. You don’t have to ask for permission,” the queen said slyly, “All I ask is that you take care of yourself and visit every now and then.”

Lance nodded, a warm smile on her face, “I promise mom.”

Shiro leaned forward as he locked eyes with the queen, “You have my word that Lance will be taken care of your majesty. She’s part of our team now, she’s family to us now.”

Pidge pushed her glasses higher, a mischievous grin on her lips, “Trust us, Keith will take very good care of Lance.”

The rest of team Voltron laughed and Keith frowned. What was so funny? He would take care of Lance. She had the tendency to do something stupid.

Lance pouted and moved her food around her plate, “I can take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.” She muttered.

Keith snorted as he pushed her plate of food closer to her, “Yeah right. And stop playing with your food.”

Lance stuck out her tongue at him and Keith scowled, “Don’t make me force feed you. I’ll do it Lance.”

The rest of the occupants in the room were watching the display with mixtures of amusement and bewilderment.

Keith felt warmth rise in his chest as he and Lance bickered back and forth. It was normal behavior between them and it was nice. He’d missed this. Only Lance could rile him up like this.

Lance narrowed her blue eyes at her friend, “You wouldn’t dare.”

Keith crossed his arms over his chest and arched an eyebrow at her, “Try me.”

Lance squinted and making sure Keith was watching, pushed her plate away. Keith was on his feet seconds after and Lance let out a surprised scream as she shot to her feet and started running.

“Lance!” Keith shouted as he picked up a plate of food and started chasing after his friend.

“I thought you were joking!” she screamed.

The sound of their yelling soon faded and those left in the table erupted in laughter.

“Well then,” Shiro said in between chuckles, “This new addition to the team will certainly make things interesting.”

Pidge snorted, “I’ll say, I haven’t seen Keith act like this in like ever.”

“Oh, man,” Hunk, said he finished of the food in his plate, “They don’t know what they’re missing. This is so good!”

Queen Lexi laughed into her hand, her black hair falling into her face, “You’ll have to forgive my daughter, she tends to be a little childish sometimes. But enough about that, the festival is still going on so I want you all to enjoy the rest of the night before you all leave tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you very much, your highness.” Allura said with a smile.

“Adina will help you get new clothes for the occasion, so once you’re done she’ll meet you outside.”

Lance threw Keith another glare before scooping another spoonful of soup and putting it on her mouth before she chewed once, twice, and swallowed.

“All of it Lance, I don’t want to see anything left in that plate,” Keith warned as he kept a watchful eye on her.

Lance huffed but kept quiet.

Keith couldn’t help feeling a little smug. After Lance had run away from him, Keith had caught her pretty easily before he tickled her sides until she cried uncle.

Unfortunately, once they’d both made their way back to the dining room their plates had already been cleared much to Lance’s amusement.

Fortunately for them, the others informed them that the festival was still going on and that there would be plenty of food being served.

After that, both of them have been steered to Adina’s where she was eagerly waiting to dress them up in formal wear.

This time, Keith and the other guys had been dressed in a black tuxedo that was very stiff in his own opinion. The only color they had was the color of their paladin armor. Allura had been given a blue long dress that looked bedazzled while Pidge was given a dark green dress and even higher heels than last time to her dismay.

Coran looked quite spiffy in his tuxedo with tailcoats at the end, Adina had even found a top hat and a cane for him that he said was absolutely necessary for his image.

Lance had put on a blue cross back lace panel corset dress with no sleeves that seemed easier for her to move in. Once they all made it to the festivities, Lance had tried sneaking past them to ask a blonde Amazon to dance when Keith gripped her wrist and sat her down with three plates in front of her.

His friend had gaped and whined at him but Keith was not deterred. He pushed the plates in front of her again and Lance sighed before she began to eat. She’d claimed that eating solid food was making her nauseous so Keith had brought her some different types of soup.

She was eating them slowly but she was eating and that’s all that mattered.

The rest of his team had already gone their separate ways and were mingling with the rest of the Amazons.

Coran was once again surrounded by a horde of women who were trying to touch his mustache. Shiro and Allura were conversing with the queen at the back table. Pidge had coerced Ami and Tami to give her a ride in their griffons. Hunk was talking animatedly with a few women about the different type of food they had in Cloyetera.

“There,” Lance said pushing the plates away from her, “All done. Can I go dancing now?”

Keith turned his attention back to her and after inspecting the three plates, nodded slowly. “No fancy moves though,” he lightly scolded her, “You’re not suppose to move around too much.”

Lance snorted and got to her feet before stumbling back a step. Keith steadied her with a touch to her back and she grinned at him. “Thanks.”

The sound of the orchestra changing songs caught her attention and Lance immediately walked to the dance floor. A few women walked up to her and immediately asked her to dance.

Lance complied and soon enough she was off dancing with an older brunette. Keith rolled his eyes and walked off to a corner where he could get a good view of everyone before he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Keith was immediately on his guard but when he turned and only saw Cyra he relaxed. The red headed Amazon was curling a strand of her red hair as she looked down on him with a grin.

“Hi Keith,” she said with a wave. “I just wanted to extend my most sincere gratitude in helping us defeat the Galra yesterday.” She batted her eyelashes at him and blushed, “You were quite dashing.”

Keith arched an eyebrow, “Thank you? It was no problem really.”

“I also wanted to let you know that I find you quite handsome, and I was wondering if you’d like to join me on the dance floor?”

Keith blinked owlishly at her and frowned, “Umm, no thanks. I’m not much of a dancer.”

Cyra laughed and saddled closer to him, “That’s fine, I could show you.” Her voice took on a different tone that had Keith on edge before she continued, “I’m quite experienced.”

Keith openly stared and his jaw dropped, but no sound came out. What. The. Hell. Was she…hitting on him?

He wasn’t sure. He’d never been hit on in his life, but the way her tone changed? He didn’t like it. She was looking at him like he was a piece of meat.

“So,” Cyra asked as she pressed into him, “What do you say?”

“I’m afraid he’ll have to decline. He already promised he’d save his first dance for me.” A familiar voice said from behind them.

Keith sighed in relief and turned to see Lance looking at them with a tight smile. “Isn’t that right Keith?”

Those blue eyes turned to regard him and Keith jumped in place. “Y-yeah,” he stuttered out before clearing his throat, “I already promised her. Darn. Sorry Cyra.”

Cyra frowned as she looked back and forth between the two, “Well, what about your second dance?”

Keith’s mind came to a halt as his eyes widened.

Thank god for Lance though.

“Sorry.” Lance said not looking sorry at all, “I’m afraid I’ll be taking all of Keith’s dances for the night. The poor thing doesn’t know how to dance so I’ll be teaching him from the beginning.” Lance glanced at her nails and smiled apologetically at Cyra, “I’m afraid he’s a little slow so we’ll be at it all night.”

Keith had to bite the inside of his cheek from producing the curse that was just on the tip of his tongue and smiled tightly at Cyra, “Lance is right I’m afraid. I’m a bit slow-“

“Very slow,” Lance cut in with a smile.

Keith’s eye twitched, “Very slow.” He gritted out, “So we’ll be practicing all night. Sorry Cyra.”

Cyra wrinkled her nose at them but huffed and walked away.

Keith turned to Lance and scowled, “A little slow?”

Lance grinned. “I believe I said very slow.”

“Lance-“

His blue-eyed friend clapped him on the shoulder and grinned at him, “You’re welcome.”

Keith rolled his eyes and took a step back when Lance offered her hand to him, “Uh, what are you doing?”

Lance looked at him like he was stupid, “Asking you to dance duh.”

Keith glowered at her and crossed his arms, “I don’t dance.”

Lance snorted and nodded her chin to where Cyra was watching them, “You will today.” Keith opened his mouth to argue and Lance rushed ahead, “Unless you want to deal with Cyra. And trust me, she wasn’t talking about dancing.”

Keith made a face and tried for another excuse, “You’re not suppose to be moving too much.”

“Well it’s a good thing you’re very slow huh,” Lance countered.

She stuck out her hand and Keith took it with a sigh of defeat-then mentally archived the feel of Lance’s hand on his own, the softness and warmth it was radiating. He could feel the callouses from working with the bow but it didn’t bother him as she pulled him to the dance floor.

A spark of electricity went through both of their hands but they didn’t let go.

“Whoa,” Lance said as the electricity around their held hands disappeared, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t hurt you right?”

Keith shook his head, “Ah, no. It felt kind of nice actually.”

Lance’s eyebrows shot up, “Really? Most people don’t like being shocked with electricity.”

Keith shrugged, “It didn’t hurt. Like I said, it felt nice.”

“Hmm. Well okay. Now stop trying to distract me and come here. It’s time to dance.”

Keith grimaced and had no choice but to follow her, she was still holding his arm, but was a little relieved when she led them to an area that half hid them from view. He did not have a natural sense of rhythm, and he had not been looking forward to revealing that fact to everyone.

He could still feel Cyra’s presence like a play of electricity on his nerves and he repressed a shudder. Lance said something that Keith missed and he snapped his attention back to her. She was pouting at him and he grimaced and muttered an apology that seemed to appease her because she grinned.

Lance reached out both her hands and Keith took his cue and raised his own hands, which Lance took in her own.

“Okay, the first thing you do is…”

Keith realized quite quickly that Lance was a good teacher. Her directions were easy to follow and she was very patient with him, even after he stepped on her feet for the fourth time in a row, but looking at her directly was another story. Up close he could smell her perfume, something sweet that he secretly liked, and could see the freckles that were usually hidden very clearly. So he stuck to looking down at her feet and endured.

He didn’t know how long they were dancing but no one came to bother them, which he was grateful for.

Every time she praised him he’d feel his own cheeks heat up. Something Lance liked to endlessly tease him about. And even though he was scowling, he was secretly enjoying himself.

The song suddenly changed to something a little more upbeat and Lance picked up the pace and Keith, after some stumbling, managed to mirror her moves with not too much difficulty.

Lance twirled away from him and his mouth went dry. Okay how the heck were her hips moving like that? Moving like that should be illegal!

Lance grinned and danced around him as he stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do. Noticing this, Lance twirled herself back to him and gripped his hands in her own and slowed down her moves so he could follow.

Once he seemed to have some idea on what to do, Lance sped things up and grinned when he followed her moves without missing a beat.

Keith returned the grin and turned his head slightly to see that the other dancers had dipped their partners at a certain part of the song and turned his attention back to Lance as he listened closely.

When the same beat as like time came back again, Keith took a deep breath, spun her out and dipped her.

Lance’s startled laugh had him grinning back in victory and he puffed his chest at the praise she gave him.

“Oh, wow. Keith…that was amazing!”

Both of them were breathing heavily but they were grinning. Lance hadn’t let go of his hands, something that Keith noticed immediately but didn’t call her on it.

He liked holding her hands in his own.

And then Lance put a hand to her middle and gasped and Keith’s smile disappeared.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he put an arm around her shoulder and peered at her as she blinked slowly.

“Sorry, just a little hungry.” She answered back.

‘Ugh, nice one Lance. I’m sure he’ll believe that’ came the sarcastic reply in his head and Keith blinked in surprise before he decided to try something out and tried to speak to her in his mind.

‘Yeah, not a very good excuse. If you’re in pain just say so you idiot.’

The look of shock that she gave him had him grinning back smugly. So it had worked.

Lance opened and closed her mouth before she pouted and peered closely at him.

‘Did you read my mind?’

‘I did’

Lance’s eyes widened. ‘Whoa…how?’

Keith glanced down at their still joined hands and tilted his head at the matching bracelets they both wore.

‘You’re mother said that the closer our bonds grows, the more the bracelet will let us do. Eventually we’ll be able to read each others minds, feel each others pain, and feel each others presence.”

It looked like the blood had drained from the princess’s head.

‘I-I didn’t know that…I’m sorry’

Keith frowned, confused, ‘Why?’

Lance laced her hands together and looked to the side, ‘I’m sure you don’t want me in your head. I can be…a bit annoying sometimes.’

Where the hell had she gotten that idea?

“Lance. Look at me.”

Lance took a deep breath and turned to look at him. Keith gripped her face in his hands and looked at her fondly, “You’re not annoying. Whoever said that is an idiot, as for the whole mind thing…I don’t mind.” He grinned and shrugged as he tapped her temple, “If anything I can tease you both outside and inside.”

Lance snorted and laughed.

“Ready for round two?” she asked with a smile.

Keith rolled his eyes, “You’re tired Lance, and you’re not suppose to be exerting yourself,” he pointed out.

Lance wrinkled her nose at him, “Yeah, I know. But its my last day in Cloyetera, I want to spend it laughing and dancing with everyone.”

Keith’s face softened and gave her a look of understanding, “Ah, that’s right. Fine,” he relented and offered her his arm and after taking a deep breath, led them back to the center where everyone was to her surprise, “But no fancy moves.”

Lance sent him a bright smile that had his heart beating a little faster. The hell was that he wondered.

Lance pulled the skirts of her dress and still grinning at him, did a curtsy, “ I am in your hands red paladin.”

Keith snickered and took her hands in his as he began to move them into a slow dance.

Unbeknown to him the rest of team Voltron were looking at them with a grin.

“Oh man,” Pidge said with a shake of her head, “Please tell me I’m not the only one who sees the obvious chemistry there.”

Hunk was looking wide-eyed at the red and blue paladin as they danced through the crowd, Lance having grabbed a bit of cake from one of the tables before taking a bite and then offering Keith some. The red paladin made a face and Lance twirled away from him, before taking another piece of the cake and tapping Keith’s nose when she came back.

Keith glowered but allowed Lance to feed him the cake anyway. His eyes widened briefly and Lance said something that had him rolling his eyes at her.

Hunk gestured to them wildly, “How can you not?! I thought I was imagining things, but now…Keith has never acted this way. Like ever.” The yellow paladin tapped his chin and turned to Shiro, “Has he?”

Shiro looked up from where he’d also been watching his fellow paladins dance and shook his head slowly, “Never. And the sad thing is, I don’t think he’s even aware of his real feelings.”

“Ah, young love,” Coran, said with a nostalgic sigh.

Hunk gestured back to his friends with a wild look in his eyes, “Look at them! Keith can’t even keep his eyes off Lance!”

Allura’s lips were twitching upwards into a smile, “What about Lance though? How does she feel about Keith?”

Everyone frowned and turned back to observe the red and blue paladin. Both of them were still dancing, though it looked more like a slow waltz at that point. A few amazons giggled when the two paladins danced near them and Lance sent them a wink that had them swooning. Keith frowned and twirled them away, but not before Lance blew the Amazons a kiss that had them giggling.

“Lance…is a bit hard to read,” Coran mumbled as he took a zip from his drink.

“Ok, guys.” Pidge said determinedly, “We have to do something.”

“Pidge,” Shiro warned, “Let’s not do anything. For all we know, they’re just really good friends.”

Allura let out a snort that wasn’t lady like in the least as she turned to the black paladin, “Oh Shiro, you poor thing.” The others laughed while Shiro looked confused, “All right. We won’t meddle.” Pidge and Hunk let out audible whines at this, “For now. We shall observe. Perhaps they’re not as dense as we think they are.”

The others seemed appeased by this and they settled down in their seats as they continued to watch over Keith and Lance.

“Ready?” Keith asked the next day as they were preparing to leave. It was mid afternoon and after a nice breakfast, Lance had gone back to her room and packed the things she’d be taking with her. She’d changed out of her toga and put on a simple pair of jeans, a tailored blue western shirt that she’d rolled the sleeves to her elbow and some black and white converse. When Keith had seen her, he’d been pleasantly surprised. Lance simply shrugged and said that since she’d visited Earth a few times, she’d brought back a few clothes with her.

Satisfied that she hadn’t forgotten anything, the others came and helped her take her luggage back to the castle. Most of the Amazons followed after them, most of them carrying bags or boxes that were gifts for them all.

Shiro and Allura were directing the Amazons on where to put the items, helping them out when they got lost.

Hunk in particular had expressed his joy at having been allowed to bring a bunch of ingredients back on their trip. No more space goo for a while he declared to everyone’s amusement.

The science and engineering department had given them all a transparent bracelet of their own with a few modifications. Apparently the things could hold your clothes in them? They could talk to each other through them of course, it could take pictures, and apparently if you scanned something with it, you could materialize it later on. Now that was pretty cool.

They had demonstrated by scanning a few books and then materializing them next to the originals. Pidge was quite happy with the transparent bracelet and had been playing with it all morning.

Coran had been allowed to take the clothes he’d worn during the festivals along with a few more that Adina and Harley managed to make.

Lance tapped her chin as she looked around the luggage that she’d brought and nodded slowly. “I think so.”

“One more thing,” a voice said behind them.

Keith and Lance turned to see Queen Lexi in a long black dress, her black hair braided down her back and carrying a thick book in her hands, which she passed on to her daughter.

Lance let out a breath at the weight but held it firmly in her hands as she peered down at the book.

“It’s to help you with your powers. There’s a few training methods that I wrote in there to help you master your powers. It has a bit of everything in there, after all I still think you have a few abilities you haven’t unlocked yet so in case you do, this book will come in handy.”

Lance hugged the book to her chest and looked at her mom gratefully, “Mom, thank you for this. I promise I’ll keep up my training.”

Queen Lexi regarded her daughter with a wry smile, “You’d better young lady.”

“We’re all ready to go.” Shiro announced as he made his way over to them, “Just waiting for you guys.”

Keith and Lance nodded before the blue paladin enveloped her mother in a hug and stepped back towards the castle.

Keith bowed his head respectfully but the queen brought him in for a hug to which he awkwardly returned.

“We’ll take good care of your daughter your highness.” Shiro promised as he looked the queen in the eye, “You have my word.”

Queen Lexi smiled before there was screech and suddenly Nyx landed in front of them. The giant mount walked to Lance and nuzzled her face on Lance’s cheek.

“Oh, Nyx my beautiful bird,” Lance praised before she gave Shiro the best puppy eyes she could muster, “Oh can I take her please?”

Shiro hesitated and looked over at Allura who was making their way over to them. The Altean princess looked at the griffon and bit her lip in worry.

“If it’s the size you’re worried about, then it’s no problem.” Lance responded before letting go of Nyx, “Nyx, you know what to do girl.”

Nyx took a few steps back before there was a blinding light that had them shielding their eyes before they glanced back and looked down to where Nyx now stood, the same size as a house cat.

The mount flew and perched herself on Lance’s shoulders before both mount and rider sent pleading looks to the Altean princess.

Allura sighed in defeat, “Well all right, just don’t let her eat my mice.”

Lance grinned and Nyx let out a happy sound.

Reyna, Cesti, and Adina gave Lance one last hug that had her off her feet before stepping back from the castle.

Lance and the others waved one more time and then the doors closed and Lance released a sad sigh.

A comforting hand was placed on her shoulder and she glanced up at Keith, “They’ll be fine.” He suddenly grinned as he steered her to the bridge, “Ready for an adventure Blue Paladin of Voltron?”

Lance snickered, “So ready Mr. Mullet.”

Chapter Text

“One does not seek love,' she told him, 'it should find you all on it's own” 
― Barbara Lieberman, The Treasure of Ravenwood

Chapter 9

“Lance?”

“Yeah?”

“Is that a giant moth?”

“…I think so.”

“Oh.”

“…”

“Are those fangs of his dripping acid?”

“Mmm, the floor is letting off some smoke when it hits the ground…so yeah probably.”

“We’re gonna die aren’t we?”

“Mmm, I’m going to shoot it.”

“What?!”

“It’s in the way,” Lance reasoned.

“Well, okay yeah, but what if it attacks us?”

“Then we grab the crystal that we need and run for our lives.”

“Dude!”

Lance threw her hands up in frustration, “Look, the Akhenaton’s need this crystal to power up pretty much their whole colony and the only thing standing between us and that crystal is this giant moth.”

Hunk’s mouth twisted to the side and he bit his lip in worry as he lifted his head from their hiding spot behind two sets of boulders to peer at the giant purple like moth thing that was hovering in front of the crystal orb that they needed to collect.

It was suppose to be an easy mission. Just go into the dark sewers where the Igukers, some kind of worm like alien creature, had escaped with the Akhenatons’ source of power, retrieve it, and bring it back to restore their power.

Shiro, Pidge, and Keith were in their lions above the surface protecting the Akhenatons in case any of the Galra came back.

When Team Voltron had gotten a distress signal from the planet Boabee, they had gotten there in record time to help them out. Unfortunately for them it was a planet full of alien like creatures that looked a lot like giant spiders to Lance.

She absolutely hated any form of insect. Wished they would all die in a fire, preferably by her. With a flamethrower.

The planet was dark, wet, and cold. It smelled like someone had left a bunch of eggs out in the sun, and even though all of them were wearing their paladin armor, the smell still permeated through. Lance instantly disliked the whole planet.

 As they made their way to the town, it only got worse. The houses were made out of mud and a whole lot of spider silk. As soon as Team Voltron made it to the center of the town, they heard clicking and skittering before a horde of giant spiders came out to greet them and stood up on their legs so they were towering above them.

Lance fainted, Hunk looked like he was ready to piss himself, Shiro looked a little green, Keith had taken his bayard out and was inching his way over to Lance, and Pidge looked like she wanted to cry.

“Are you the paladins of Voltron?” one of the spiders hissed. Lance who had been getting up with the help of Keith promptly fainted again when she heard the spider speak.

Giant spiders that talked? What’s next? They’ll fly?

Lance had to give the black paladin some credit, he looked like he wanted to vomit from the spiders’ breath, heck she and the other paladins took three steps back, but Shiro just gulped and after clearing his throat, found his voice, “Yes. Are you the Akhenatons that sent out the distress signal?”

The Akhenatons were black and sleek. Instead of the usual eight legs that the spiders on Earth seemed to have, these had sixteen legs, six eyes instead of eight, and they talked. Yes, Lance hated this planet.

One of the Akhenatons nodded its head, four of its legs/arms? Placed in front of its chest, the look would have normally made anyone else look meek but on the Akhenatons? Nope. It looked like it was rubbing its arms together, ready for its meal.

“Please,” it rasped out, “Come this way, we’ll take you to the queen.”

Shiro nodded and beckoned his team to follow after them. Lance took her Bayard out and was looking around frantically, Keith was trying to distract her with conversation but it didn’t seem to be helping. Pidge hung back to walk with Hunk who was in the same state as the blue paladin as they followed after their leader.

Coran and Allura were back in the castle (so lucky Lance whined) watching over the scanners in case the Galra decided to come back.

The Akhenatons led them to a cave dimly illuminated by the fireflies that were stuck in the ceiling with cobwebs. Lance scanned the passage, the arch of stone above them more than fifty feet wide, shadows writhed and she swore she could feel eyes on them.

A warm hand on her shoulder made her jump and Lance raised her Bayard in defense but lowered it once she saw it was only Keith. The red paladin was looking at her in concern.

‘You’ll be fine’ he said in her mind.

Lance took a shuddering breath and nodded.

‘Sorry, it’s just I really really hate spiders.’

Keith snorted in her mind. ‘The fainting made that pretty obvious’

Lance pouted. ‘I didn’t faint! The smell knocked me out’

The excuse sounded weak in her own head and judging by the red paladins doubtful expression, he hadn’t believed her either.

‘Relax, if they try anything I’ll just stab them with my sword and get you out.’

Lance smiled and patted Keith’s hand in gratitude before turning back to stare at the path ahead while Keith stuck close behind her watching everything with a weary eye.

After a few more winding paths, they found themselves in a room full of cobwebs that strangely enough made the room look elegant. Lance and Hunk let out a whimper when they glanced at the ceiling and saw an Akhenaton perched on the corner of the room in its spider web. The thing was bigger than the other Akhenatons they’d seen so far. It was black with patches of pink at the tip of her legs.

The queen probably.

Noticing their presence, the spider twisted its head just like the owls on Earth do; Lance and Hunk huddled together, and crawled her way down. The skittering and clacking of her feet making the hairs on their skin stand.

“Welcome Paladins of Voltron,” the spider said, her voice beautiful and pleasing. “Welcome to our home, you’re here to help us?”

Shiro took a step forward and made eye contact, “Yes, the distress signal said you were having problems with the Galra?”

The spider nodded her head as she lowered herself, “Yes, the Galra have been here a few times. They hadn’t been much of a challenge what with our defenses. However, just a few days ago some of those Igukers came and took the crystal that powers the whole place and we’ve been left completely unprotected.”

“Igukers?” Hunk asked with a tremor in his voice. “Umm, what are those?”

One of the other spiders passed a tablet to them and the paladins hovered over the device to look at the creatures. They were kind of cute actually. They looked like caterpillars but with thick purple and orange fur and the size of a poodle.

“These are the things that took your power source?” Pidge said, a hint of doubt in her face.

“Yes,” the queen nodded, “Disgusting creatures really. Very dangerous.”

The paladins looked back at the tablet and frowned.

“Do you know where they headed?” Shiro asked taking charge.

“Yes,” one of the Akhenatons said, its voice raspy, “There’s a sewer that leads to their lair deep in the forest. They live underground and usually don’t come up to the surface much but with the Galra attacks, they must have been spooked and come to investigate. They like shiny things; we tried to stop it but it was too strong and we were a bit preoccupied with the Galra.”

“All right then. A few of us will stay here with the Akhenatons while the others go down into the sewers to retrieve the crystal.”

Go down in the sewers and deal with cute little caterpillars or stay here and deal with the Akhenatons? The choice was a no brainer.

Lance’s hand shot up, “Me! I volunteer to go!”

Hunk raised his hand up after her, “Uh, same here. Those Igukers don’t look all too dangerous and no offence but,” he glanced at the spiders around them and lowered his voice to a whisper, “I’d rather deal with them than stay here with these guys.”

Keith looked between the two paladins before stepping forward, “Then I’ll go as well.”

The queen shook her head, “I’m afraid the entrance will only allow two to enter. After that its entrance will close for a while. We ourselves can’t go but the Igukers shouldn’t see you as a threat. You’ll be fine.”

Shiro tapped his chin as he considered his options before coming to a decision, “All right, here’s what we’re going to do. Hunk and Lance will go down to the sewers and retrieve the crystal while the rest of us will get on our lions and stand watch in case the Galra come back.”

Keith opened his mouth to argue but Shiro stopped him with a look.

Pidge gave a devilish smirk to the yellow and blue paladins as she pushed her glasses up, “Think you guys can handle some little caterpillars?” she teased.

Lance scoffed and placed an arm around Hunk, “Me and Hunk got this! We’ll show those caterpillars whose boss, isn’t that right buddy?”

Hunk brought his other hand around Lance and laughed, “Oh yeah dude, they won’t see it coming!”

Pidge rolled her eyes but grinned, Shiro mirroring her expression.

The queen straightened herself before looking between Lance and Hunk, “I wish you luck young paladins.” And then two gray wings spread behind her and Lance was so done. She needed off this planet as soon as possible.

She tried to keep her face clear of emotion, which wasn’t her strong suit, but no one seemed to figure out that she was internally crying so she called that a win.

Keith still looked like he wanted to argue as he looked between Hunk and Lance with a frown. Over the past few weeks, those two had gotten along too well in his opinion. It’d all started when Hunk let Lance help him out in the kitchen where they made one of the best soups he’d ever eaten in his life and declared right then and there that they were best friends.

Since then, the two had been at the hip and for some reason that bothered Keith. Lance still spent time with him during their training sessions but she spent most of her time with Hunk or Coran.

Apparently she really liked his stories. Even volunteered to go help him clean the healing pods just so she could hear more of his stories of when he was young. They’d even tried cooking together. That had been a total nightmare.

Coran always seemed to want to experiment with ingredients and Lance was more than eager to join in. The batch of food that they had made…Keith shuddered. He still had nightmares about it. He and the rest of the team had spent the next week in bed.

So yeah, Coran and Lance cooking together? Bad idea. Lance and Hunk? Total masterpiece.

Sometimes Lance went off with Pidge when the green paladin made an invention that looked interesting to the Amazon princess.

Maybe she thought Keith was boring? All he did was train after all. And when he wasn’t training, he’d be eating or sleeping. Maybe he should try doing something else they could both do besides train? Don’t get him wrong, he was glad that the rest of the team was getting to know Lance but he also didn’t like sharing.

Keith shook his head; this wasn’t the time for him to be worrying about his friendship with Lance. They had a mission to do, and that came first. And considering the fact that Lance had already fainted twice, he wasn’t too eager to let her away from his sight.

“I still think I should go,” he protested.

“Keith,” Shiro said with a frown, “Hunk and Lance can do this. You, Pidge and I are needed to fight off any Galra that come in. Don’t worry,” he turned to Hunk and Lance and tapped his helmet, “Make sure you keep your comms on, just in case.”

Hunk and Lance gave him a two-finger salute before they followed after one of the Akhenatons and were gone.

“You’re pacing Keith,” Shiro said in amusement, “Calm down.”

Keith glanced up at the screen where both Shiro and Pidge’s faces were being displayed inside the Red lion. The three of them were inside their own respective lions as they stood guard as they waited for Hunk and Lance to come back with the crystal.

Keith had only managed to sit still for about a minute before he got up from his seat with a huff and began to pace around the cockpit.

The red paladin gave Shiro a heated glance before going back to his seat with a huff.

“They’ll be fine Keith,” Pidge said with a roll of her eyes, “You’re just jealous because you didn’t get to go with Lance.”

Keith felt a blush form on his cheeks because damn it she was right. And she knew it.

A few weeks ago, Keith had discovered that he liked Lance. More than liked her in fact. It had happened during a mission where they had infiltrated a Galra ship in order to save some prisoners that they had taken from one of their allied planets.

Keith had gone ahead and had split himself off from the rest of his team. One of the Galra had taunted him and damn it, Keith had let his temper take over and chased after him.

He noticed too late that the Galra was leading him to a trap and when he’d figured that out, he had been surrounded.

He’d tried calling for the rest of his teams but they must have been too far because all he got back from the comms was static. Keith fought as best he could, but it was clear he was outnumbered.

One of the Galra got a good hit and managed to stab his hand, Keith dropped his sword to the floor and staggered back when something heavy hit his head. He thought he was going to die, there were too many of them, and there was no one to blame but himself.

And that’s when Lance showed up to the rescue. The Amazon princess had taken one look at Keith before her features turned to something cold. She flung the Galra away from him with a roar and ran to his hide before taking a stand in front of him.

The Galra got to their feet and attacked with a battle cry as Lance let her Bayard transform into a gun before she started shooting them down in a frenzy. Lance was laughing up a storm, blood splattered on her face, a sadistic grin on her lips as she stood over Keith and all he could think was that she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

And that’s when it him.

He liked Lance.

And he had absolutely no idea how to act around her now.

“Hey mullet,” Lance said.

Keith instinctively looked up in a daze. Oh look, all the Galra were dead. Did he pass out?

“Let me heal those injuries of yours.” And then she was crouched in front of him and god; even being covered in Galra blood didn’t diminish Lance’s original scent. She smelled sweet and Keith really wanted to take a good long whiff but that would be weird so he held himself back.

Keith swallowed thickly and held absolutely still as Lance put her hands on his hand and then on his head healing both injuries within minutes. He didn’t even breathe.

“There,” she said with a smile as she leaned back and offered him an arm, “Almost lost my favorite mullet there.”

Keith’s mind came to a halt. Her favorite?

“You okay Keith? Hello? Earth to Keith.”

Somehow he found his voice and managed a convincing scoff, “I’m fine.”

Lance frowned as they started making their way back to the others. “You seemed a little out of it for just a second there. Your attention span was even shorter than mine.”

Keith snorted, “If that were true, I’d be truly worried.”

Lance stuck her tongue out at him and god damn it, that was adorable. Keith needed to talk to someone. He didn’t know what to do about this.

When they’d gotten back to the castle, Keith made a beeline to Shiro who was just exiting the black lion and ignoring the startled gasp that his friend let out, dragged him to his room.

“Keith what’s wrong-“

“I think I like Lance,” he blurted out.

The sound of a crash outside the room snapped both their attention to the door before the doors swooshed opened to see a slightly guilty Pidge standing there with her tablet abandoned on the floor.

“Oops?” the green paladin muttered.

Keith narrowed his eyes, “How much did you hear?”

“Everything,” she mumbled trying to look apologetic. Internally she was doing a little dance and fist pumping as she shouted I knew it!

Keith felt the urge to grab a pillow and scream into it. So he did.

While their friend was having a crisis Pidge turned to Shiro, “You owe me a months worth of bacon.”

Shiro made a face and scowled. Great there went his bacon.

“What am I going to do?” Keith cried as he started to pace around the room.

“Here’s a thought,” Pidge said sarcastically, “Tell her.”

“This is no time for jokes Pidge!”

“I’m being serious!”

“Ugh, you’re no help!” Keith turned his frantic eyes to Shiro, “What should I do?”

Shiro made an effort to look like he was thinking and Keith was starting to look hopeful when Shiro turned his black eyes to Keith, “I agree with Pidge. Just tell her how you feel.”

Keith scoffed, “Have you seen her? She flirts with girls! There’s no way I’m even in her radar!”

Pidge and Shiro exchanged glances before turning back to their friend.

“I’ve seen her flirt with guys though…besides I’m pretty sure she likes you too.” Pidge said with a shrug.

Keith whipped his head to her, his eyes impossibly wide, “What gave you that idea?”

Shiro lifted his hand as he started to name a few examples, “The way she looks at you. She always tries to get your attention. She smiles the most when she’s around you…”

“She blushes when you get close to her,” Pidge added.

Keith frowned as he tried to remember if any of those things even happened but for the life of him he couldn’t. Lance acted that way with everyone, he wasn’t special…”I don’t see it,” he muttered.

Pidge rubbed at her face in frustration, how dense was this guy?

Shiro raised an eyebrow at him, “I think you’re giving up because you don’t want to take the risk. I know you treasure the relationship that you both seem to have right now and you don’t want to ruin that. But Keith,” Shiro made sure Keith was looking at him, “This could be the best thing for you both. Just tell her. She might surprise you.”

“I…I don’t know…”

“We’ll help you out Keith, we got your back.” Pidge said sincerely. Shiro nodded beside her as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Keith sighed and smiled, “Thanks guys. I’ll think about it.”

Back in the present Keith frowned at his two friends.

Pidge shook her head at him in annoyance, “I still don’t know why you haven’t told her how you feel about her,” she muttered.

Shiro nodded as he looked back at Keith, “Instead you turned into a spluttering idiot every time you’re near her before making up an excuse or running away. Its no wonder Lance has been spending more time with Hunk or Coran lately.”

Keith scowled. He couldn’t help acting that way; every time he saw Lance he’d have a brain fart and lose all manner of speech. He’d been spending more time in the training rooms lately, it let him vent out his frustrations.

Thankfully, he was still able to teach Lance hand-to-hand combat like he’d promised her without too much difficulty. Although there was that one time he pinned her to the ground and unbidden images of what he could do to her in that position entered his mind and he’d let out a strangled yelp that only made Lance look at him weirdly.

“I’m just saying,” Keith, said with a pout, “Lance already fainted twice. She hates all types of insects, what if she faints again while they’re battle if she sees another insect?”

Shiro tilted his head as he allowed a small smile to grace his lips, “Then she has Hunk to cover for her.”

Keith threw his hands in the air, “You mean Hunk who looked ready to piss himself?”

Pidge snickered, “But he didn’t. They’ll be fine.”

Keith still looked unconvinced and Shiro sighed, “Let’s check in with then shall we?”

The red paladin straightened in his chair as he tapped the button on the side of his helmet to listen, “How you guys doing?” Shiro asked.

“Any cute caterpillars?” Pidge teased.

“You guys okay? Do you need me to come help?” Keith added.

“We’re doing fine Keith.” Lance said in a dead pan tone, “No caterpillars unfortunately.”

“Although,” Hunk cut in, “We did find a lot of arachnid limbs scattered around. The place smells worse than the surface if you can believe it, but otherwise we’re doing okay.”

Shiro turned to Keith with an arched eyebrow that only had the red paladin bristling, “That’s good. Keep us informed.”

“See?” Pidge said with a grin, “They got this!”

Keith frowned, he had a feeling Hunk and Lance were about to stumble into trouble sooner rather than later.

 The entrance to the sewer was almost completely camouflage with the vines but the Akhenaton leading them knew his way around the place and led them to the entrance with no problem. The thing looked skittish and kept jumping at anything that moved.

Lance knew the feeling.

As soon as it revealed the entrance, it practically flew away at an amazing speed leaving the two paladins alone. Shrugging, Hunk and Lance moved the vines out of the way and stepped inside. As soon as it did, the entrance closed behind them with a tough layer of mud.

The two paladins glanced at each other and began to crawl their way through the sewer until they got to a bigger opening where they could walk on their feet.

It was eerily quiet. The place smelled worse than the surface, a few arachnid limbs lay scattered around the floor, which had them wrinkling their noses.

“So far so good,” Lance muttered while looking around.

“No sign of any cute caterpillars either,” Hunk mumbled back, his hands on his Bayard.

“Shame.”

“I know right?”

The two walked in silence once more before they made it to an archway with three paths.

“Right,” they both said at the same time. And then grinned.

There was a bit of static from their helmets before Shiro’s voice was heard.

“How you guys doing?”

“Any cute caterpillars?” Pidge teased beside him.

“You guys okay? Do you need me to come help?” Keith intercepted.

Lance rolled her eyes and tapped the side of her helmet, “We’re doing fine Keith. No caterpillars unfortunately.”

“Although,” Hunk cut in, “We did find a lot of arachnid limbs scattered around. The place smells worse than the surface if you can believe it, but otherwise we’re doing okay.”

“That’s good, keep us informed,” Shiro said before the transmission cut off.

It was sometime after that they reached the end of the tunnel where they finally spotted the crystal in a hole. Unfortunately a giant moth like insect was hovering in front of it and it didn’t seem to be moving anytime soon. The place was covered in wet mud but there were plenty of boulders to hide them from view.

The ceiling was covered in these pretty colored crystals that gave the place a rainbow hue. Hunk wanted to take one back with him, he’d started to collect things that looked interesting during their adventures as a paladin of Voltron

“So, can I shoot it?” Lance asked as she started to lift her Bayard.

“Dude, we can’t! What about using your powers to bring it over here?”

Lance blinked and slowly grinned as she gave Hunk a good pat on the shoulder. “Oh my god. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because you’ve been wanting to shoot something since we got here?” the yellow paladin suggested.

Lance smirked, “Oh you know me so well buddy. Okay,” she turned back to the moth and inched her head upward, “Let’s see if this works.”

Lance lifted her hand and concentrated. The blue crystal wobbled on the ground and Lance grit her teeth. “Come on, come on,” she muttered.

Beside her, Hunk was biting his nails anxiously as he whispered encouragements to his friend. “Come on buddy, you got this,” he whispered.

Lance frowned and as the moth turned away she made a come hither motion and the crystal zoomed past until it landed in her palm.

Lance and Hunk grinned and high fived each other silently before they started inching their way out.

Once they were a good distance away, they let out sounds of relief and Hunk contacted the others through the comms as Lance pocketed the crystal in her armor, “Shiro, we got the crystal. We’re heading back.”

“Good job guys, we’ll see you in a bit.”

“Hunk?”

The yellow paladin turned to regard his friend who had stopped, his finger hovering over the button to turn his comm off. “What is it buddy?”

“Do you feel that?”

Hunk stopped walking and that’s when he felt the vibrations in the ground as something rushed to them.

“Guys? What’s going on?” Shiro asked through the comms.

Neither of them answered as they raised their Bayard in front of them when they saw them. Three Igukers varying in color stared back at them curiously.

“Aww,” they both said.

The Igukers were the size of a cat and they were adorable. That is until they released a shrieking sound that had the two paladins stumbling back in shock.

“Guys? What was that sound?”

“Lance! What’s going on?”

“Are you guys okay? Answer us!”

And suddenly the caterpillars grew in size until they were towering over them before there was a crunching sound and their heads split four ways, their enormous mouths filled with ring after ring of razor-sharp teeth.

All three of them barreled toward them, their bodies surging and twisting in a horrifying manner.

Hunk shrieked and slipped on the reeking mud before Lance gripped his forearm and pushed him forward.

Their teammates were yelling at them through the speakers but they didn’t have time to answer back. Both of them hurtled down the length of the sewer, shooting out randomly with their Bayard. Most of their shots missed but those that did hit seemed to do no damage anyway.

The sound of something screeching made them run faster as the sound of wings flapping was suddenly heard coming toward them.

The moth.

Lance was really regretting not bothering to memorize the pathway; there was a fork in the pathway and Lance and Hunk veered sharply to the right.

They didn’t dare glance around, there was another fork and they veered to the left almost slipping on the mud as they ran.

The walls around them seemed to shake with the thunderous movements of the worms. The moth was getting closer; they could hear the sound of its wings and the shrieking noise it let out as it came after them.

Lance flung out her arm and threw the three worms a few feet away from them before she redirected Hunk to another fork where she could hear a familiar sound.

“Lance! What do we do?” Hunk cried as he ran beside her. His pants were starting to become heavy and would start to slow down soon.

“The water, I hear water coming from this way! If we can lure them to the water I might be able to electrocute them!”

Three shrieking roars had them picking up their pace until they noticed the enormous pit that opened before them. It was half full of water but it should be enough, Lance put an arm around Hunk and flew them to the other side of the pit just in time for the worms to come barreling down the path.

All three of them stumbled into each other and slid into the pit. Lance let go of Hunk and placed her palms on the ground as she released a mighty shock of electricity that traveled all the way to where the worms were squirming in the water.

Three inhuman shrieks followed after, the worms twitching and trying to scramble away. The smell of something burning also made them choke but Lance continued to release her electricity into the ground until finally, finally the worms stopped moving.

Of course, that’s when the moth appeared in front of them and Hunk yelled out a ‘oh come on’ before Lance got to her feet and threw another lightning bolt at the moths face.

The thing screeched before it hastily flew away.

Hunk slid down the wall and released a sigh of relief, “Oh man. That was way too close. Dude, you were awesome!”

Lance grinned as she put her hands to her knees and took deep breaths.

“Guys!” Shiro’s distant voice yelled. “What’s going on? Answer me!”

“Lance! I swear to god if you don’t answer me, I’m coming over there myself!” Keith shouted.

Hunk shakily brought his hand to his comm and after a few breaths answered back, “We’re fine. Just a bit of trouble with some worms but Lance totally kicked butt by electrocuting them so yeah…we’re all good.”

“We have the crystal guys,” Lance said as she pulled Hunk to his feet, “This time we’re definitely on our way back.”

Three sighs of relief answered them back before they cut off the connection and started heading back.

“Oh, by the way,” Lance said cheerily as she reached into her pocket and tossed something small at Hunk, “Got you a present.”

Hunk barely caught the item in his hand before he put a hand to his chest, “You got me a yellow crystal?” His eyes got all teary and he blew Lance a kiss that she pretended to catch, “Dude.”

“You’re welcome, I got five more for the others and one for me,” she said with a grin. “Now let’s get the heck out of here.”

 Keith placed his hands on Lance’s shoulders tightly as he looked her up and down. Both Hunk and her had gotten back from their trip in the sewers and already given the crystal to the closest Akhenatons who took the crystal and rushed back inside the cave where the queen was.

As soon as the others saw them, Keith had practically sprinted out of the red lion and rushed straight for her.

“Oh, god,” Pidge moaned as she pinched her nose, “You guys stink!”

Lance snorted, “Nice to see you to Pidge,” she muttered.

“Are you okay? Hunk said you used your electricity!” Keith said as he removed her helmet and checked for any injuries.

Lance laughed as she patted his hands, “I’m okay Keith. Relax.”

“She was so cool!” Hunk said dancing on his feet, “You should have seen her! She barbequed those worms!” Hunk made a face, “It was kind of disgusting, but really cool too!”

Shiro clapped them both on the shoulders all looked at them with a smile, “I’m very proud of the both of you.”

Hunk and Lance beamed.

“Ugh,” Pidge groaned, “You guys need to take a shower!”

Hunk and Lance glanced at each other and grimaced. Both of them were covered in head to toe in mud, some green sort of goo was clinging to their helmets and okay yeah they definitely needed a shower.

A low humming sound suddenly covered the whole town and they all watched as the place suddenly turned brighter and an orange barrier surrounded the place.

“It looks like our job is done here, everyone back to your lions.” Shiro said as he started making his way to the black lion, the others following close behind him. “Allura will be speaking of an alliance through video message.”

“Ugh, I’m taking a two hour shower,” Lance said once they were back in the castle as she took a delicate sniff at herself and grimaced. “See you guys later!”

“Ugh, right behind you buddy,” Hunk, muttered as he caught up to his friend.

Keith frowned after them and completely missed the look Pidge and Shiro were giving him as Pidge shook her head and said she’d be in her room.

With nothing better to do, Keith made his way to the training room where he spent the next few hours battling gladiators.

It was already dinnertime when he made his way to the kitchen, a towel draped on his shoulders as he used it to wipe the sweat away.

Everyone else was already gathered at the table, everyone but Lance.

Keith frowned, “Where’s Lance?”

Hunk looked up from where he was making food to glance at him, “I think she’s still in her room sleeping. I’ll bring her a tray of food in a bit.”

Keith blinked and scratched his cheek awkwardly, “Uh, that’s okay. I can bring it to her.”

Everyone glanced up at him and Keith bristled, “What?”

“Oh nothing,” Pidge smirked impishly, “Just thought it was nice of you to do that.”

“So nice,” Shiro added with a grin.

Keith scowled and picked up two plates of food and started making his way over to his friends room.

He could feel everyone’s stare on his back but he ignored them.

Coming up to her room, Keith lightly tapped her door with her food and waited for a response. After knocking three more times, the door slid open and Keith walked inside to see Lance sitting on the floor with her knees up to her chest, an art book in her lap and a set of headphones over her ears.

“Lance,” Keith said, dropping down next to her and placing the plates beside him. “Dinner is ready.”

Lance jumped and turned her head to him before lowering the headphones down to her neck. “Keith? What are you doing here?”

Keith pursed his lips, looking sheepish. “You were missing dinner.” He said lamely.

Lance laughed and put down her sketchbook before taking the offered plate from her friend. “Oh, this smells so good,” she moaned, “No fair, Hunk made this without me.”

“He thought you were sleeping,” Keith mumbled as he settled down next to her and leaned back on Lance’s bed as he began to eat.

“Ah,” Lance said around a mouthful of food, “Makes sense. Oh right, I have something for you.”

Lance shot to her feet and began to rummage around her room. Keith looked at her in curiosity and tried to read her mind but Lance sent him a scolding look.

“Here,” she said handing him the red crystal that she’d taken from the sewer, suddenly feeling self-conscious under Keith’s watchful gaze. “You said you were collecting rocks from every planet you visit so I thought you’d like this.”

Keith held out his hand and Lance placed a red crystal in his palm. “You remembered?” he said, his voice low.

“I remember everything you say.”

Keith smiled and felt a little giddy at those words.

“Do you like it?” she asked as she took her seat next to him on the floor.

Keith ran his hands over the crystal and nodded. “Thank you Lance. I can’t believe you had time to get this while also running away from those giant worms.” He teased.

Lance snorted, “Well, I’m just that awesome after all. No big deal really.”

“It has a hole,” Keith remarked.

Lance whipped her head at him and gaped, “What? No way!”

She took the crystal from him and brought it to her face to peer at him closely. When she did indeed find a hole she whined.

Keith chuckled beside her, “It’s okay Lance. I still like it.”

“I wonder if the others have holes on them too,” she muttered.

“Others?”

Lance nodded absentmindedly, “Yeah, I got a few more for the others. I already gave Hunk his, I’ll give the others theirs later.”

Keith’s shoulders drooped a little at the revelation, that’s what he got for thinking he was special…

An idea suddenly struck Keith and he quickly shot to his feet, effectively startling Lance, “I’ll be right back. While you wait, take out the blue crystal, you have one right?” At Lance’s nod Keith smirked and left the room.

Confused, Lance got to her feet and took out the blue crystal that to her dismay also had a hole and grimaced.

Keith suddenly burst into the room, his breathing heavy as he briskly walked over to Lance and took the blue crystal from her hands in one swift move. Keith turned his back to her and fumbled with something before he turned back around and stuck out his hand.

“Here, I want you to have this.” His eyes looked determined but it was clear he was nervous by the way his hand shook.

Lance opened her palm for him and Keith dropped the red crystal in her palm, a string threaded through it, making wearable.

Lance stared in awe. “Oh.”

“And I’ll take the blue one,” Keith was blushing, he knew that but he gripped the blue crystal in his palm as if afraid she’d take it from him.

Lance smiled at him softly before turning around and handing him the bracelet, “Put it on for me?”

Keith took the necklace and draped it around Lance’s head hoping that she didn’t notice the slight tremor in his hands. She had a nice neck…

Satisfied, Keith stepped back as Lance turned around, her hand around the crystal. “Okay, your turn. Turn around mister.”

Keith snorted but complied as Lance placed the blue crystal around his neck. It felt nice. He was just happy that he’d managed to give Lance a gift this time instead of the other way around.

“Want to hang out with me for a bit?” Lance said with a quirk of her lips.

Keith’s heart beat a little faster but he managed to nod, “Yeah,” he breathed. “I’d love to.”

“Good,” Lance grinned as she turned to retrieve the iPod her father had given her all those years ago before scrolling through the list of movies she had stored in there over the years, “Have you seen Zombeavers?”

Keith tilted his head, “No…I don’t think so.”

Lance grinned, “Good. It’s terrible. Make fun of it with me.”

Keith laughed and leaned closer to peer at the tiny screen, his eyes glancing at Lance every few seconds. And if he took a few whiffs of Lance’s perfume then at least there were no witnesses.

Chapter Text

“Only TRUE friends got your back when you're down. No matter the situation.”

Chapter 10

Keith was being weird Lance noticed.

At first it wasn’t very noticeable, small things like saying he was too busy training to take part in their weekly movie night. Or he was too tired to eat dinner with everyone else.

Lately though, he’d been refusing to train together like they usually do. He’s been a little snarky with everyone, even Shiro who was just concerned about him. He seems agitated, like something’s bothering him but he won’t talk to anyone about it.

He keeps disappearing every once in a while only to return with something long sleeved.

Shiro tried talking to him but Keith just said it was nothing to worry about. Hunk and Pidge tried talking to him as well but he just walked out of the room. Allura and even Coran were ignored and Lance was downright avioded. If she came within a feet of him, Keith would bolt in the opposite direction.

She had a sinking suspicion what his problem was but she’d need to talk to Keith and ask him in person in order to make sure. The extra layers of clothes that he’d been wearing were another hint, but the real clicker was his scent.

Lance was good at many things, and one of those things included her high sense of smell. And lately, her friend has been giving off a familiar scent that she’s encountered quite a few times. She hadn’t been sure at first, when she first met him he had the scent of a human but there was another underlying layer hidden that she’d brushed off at the time.

Now though, the scent has gotten stronger and so familiar that she immediately understood Keith’s sudden change in attitude.

Back in Cloyetera she remembered reading about hybrids and how the stronger side usually took over. Lance herself is a hybrid; half Amazon and half human. She got most of her Amazon qualities, with the exception of her height, so clearly her Amazon side was stronger.

Judging by Keith’s strange behavior and the extra layers of clothes, his other side was winning.

Thinking back, Keith had said that his mother had walked out on him and his father. He doesn’t remember much of her but according to his father, his mother was watching him from the stars. At first Lance thought that she had died, so does Keith in fact, but now…

Plus, there’s that double edge dagger that his mother left behind for Keith and it all makes sense.

Keith…is half Galra.

The color was spreading Keith realized with dismay. Making sure he locked the bathroom door, Keith turned back to the mirror and grimaced as he turned his head upward to gaze at his neck. The blotch of purple was spreading, most of his arms were already purple and to be honest he was starting to freak out.

Ever since the fight at the Balmera planet where the scanner had not rejected him when he'd placed his hand on the scanner on the door and had the door open for him,  Keith had been suspicious. Those doors were Galra tech, only a Galra or something Galra made like Shiro’s robot arm could open those doors. And yet…they had opened for him. He hadn’t mentioned it to the rest of his teammates at the time because they were in the middle of battle but Keith never forgot about it.

Then when they were fighting against Zarkon, he had told Keith that he fought like his Galra soldiers. Keith had been so angry at the time, it’s why he’d ignored Shiro’s orders and rushed straight at Zarkon.

Because it couldn’t be true…right?

Wrong.

The purple splotches on his skin started to appear just a few weeks ago. At first, he’d brushed it off because it was just a little dark spot at the corner of his elbow. A few days after that another spot appeared on his hip, then his other arm. And now…the majority of his back and most of his stomach was purple, with the exception of a few splotches of white from his pale skin.

He’d tried to hide the splotches with extra layers of clothes but that wouldn't be much help anymore. Not to mention the other symptoms that he’d been feeling. He’s been particularly jittery with all this pent up energy. He feels like he can go on a sparring match againts Zarkon himself.

He’s hungry practically all the time but he makes sure to eat at night when the others are asleep so as not to arouse suspicion.

He’s been spending more and more time on the training deck just to get rid of some of the tension that he’s been feeling. His sense of smell has increased as well, something he’d rather do without honestly. Everyone on the team has a distinct smell to them that he’s able to sniff them out individually. Although it has been useful in helping him avoid Lance.

The others had left him mostly alone with the exception of Shiro but Lance has been particularly persistent. Any other time, he would have gladly welcomed her presence. Heck, most of the time he yearned for her attention but ever since the purple splotches have started appearing, Keith had been avoiding the amazon.

She would try to read his mind and then she would know. It was hard enough keeping his emotions in check as to not make the mood bracelet give him away but that's taken some effort as well. Keith couldn’t handle anyone knowing of his condition. He couldn’t tell any of his teammates about what was happening because surely they would hate him. All of them had something against the Galra, Allura and Coran had their whole planet and its people destroyed by the Galra, Pidge’s father and brother had been taken by the Galra and she was still looking for them, Shiro had been taken during a mission and had his arm modified with Galra tech after he’d lost his arm in the arena where they would make him fight for his survival, Lance had her home planet attacked again and again because the Amazons refused to side with Zarkon and his army, and Hunk…well he didn’t know what the yellow paladin had against the Galra, but surely he must hate them after what his friends had been through thanks to them.

Keith sighed in frustration as he smashed the mirror in front of him to pieces. His hand was bleeding but he didn’t seem to care. Nothing could hurt as bad as imagining what his friends reactions would be if he told them that he was Galra, or at least half Galra like he suspected he was.

They would hate him.

They were his family and he loved them all and that’s exactly why he couldn’t tell them the truth. They’d probably leave him just like everyone else in his life…

A sudden growl disrupted his thoughts and Keith couldn’t help but grimace. He was hungry. Again. Thankfully, it was the middle of the night so he’d be able to get a quick snack without anyone noticing. Running a hand through his hair, Keith turned on the facet and let the water run through his injury; he’d have to bandage this soon.

After carefully picking up the broken glass and dumping into the trashcan, Keith put on his red and white jacket along with two more sweaters to cover the rest of the splotches on his arms and started making his way to the door when a sharp pain made his kness buckle.

What the hell?

Keith put a hand on his stomach and doubled over as his skin suddenly turned sweltering hot. What was happening? A prickling sensation on his hands made him turn his face in horror to see purple fur starting to appear at the edge of his palms. His nails seemed to grow until they resembled claws instead of normal human nails.

Keith shook his head slowly as he backed further into the room. No. This wasn’t happening. He thought he had more time! A sob broke through and Keith clenched his eyes shut when a sudden bang on his door made him open his eyes wide.

“Keith! Open this door right now!”

Lance.

Lance was here.

He’d been so focused on himself that he hadn’t smelled Lance making her way to his room.

“Keith!”

Keith looked around in fright. He couldn’t let her see him like this, she’d hate him.

“I-I’m busy Lance!” he stammered out before clearing his throat, “It’s the middle of the night, go back to sleep.”

The banging on his door stopped and Keith almost heaved a sigh of relief before Lance sighed in annoyance from the other side and said in a firm voice, “I’m coming in Keith.”

Keith ran to the door to try and block her but the door swished open and Keith stared at Lance in horror as she took him in.

Keith wanted to cry as he backed away, Lance had seen him.

Any minute now she was going to look at him in disgust and alert the others.

Despite himself, Keith felt a tear trickle down his cheek as he closed his eyes, scrunched up his shoulders, and waited for Lance to say something mean to him.

One could imagine his surprise when two arms suddenly enveloped him in a hug instead.

“You idiot,” Lance muttered into his neck, “You should have come to me sooner.”

Somehow, Keith found his voice, “You’re not mad?” he whispered.

Lance shook her head as she tightened her hold on him, “Why would I be mad Keith? This is not your fault.”

Keith wanted to desperately hug her back but he had to make sure, “You don’t hate me? Even though I’m part Galra?”

Lance loosened her hold on him to stare him in the eye, “I could never hate you Keith. You’re still you. So you’re part Galra, big deal. You’re still the same Keith who was fanboying over me telling him I was an Amazon; you’re still my best friend. Nothing will ever change that Keith.”

Keith felt himself tremble, was Lance serious? Could he believe in those words?

He must have been thinking pretty loudly because Lance gave him a fond smile as she brought her forehead to his and let her mind mingle with Keith’s.

Keith took a startled breath as a comforting energy washed around him as Lance projected all her emotions to him.

Acceptance.

Fondness.

Protectiveness.

‘Of course I do mullet. You’re still my best friend. And nothing will ever change that.’

No longer having any doubt Keith brought his hands around Lance and hugged her tightly as he buried his face in her neck. And if a few tears slid down his cheeks and wet Lance’s shirt, neither of them said a thing.

After a while, Lance pulled back and Keith almost whined before she brought a hand to his face and frowned. “You’re burning up,” she remarked.

Stepping out of the embrace completely, Lance lifted his hands up to examine the purple fur and claws hummed to herself.

"I know you're not much into doing your nails but jeez, trim these will you?"

Keith's mouth twitched at the joke and he felt himself relax.

“How are you feeling?”

Keith sighed, “A little hungry. A little hot. A tad embarrassed. The list goes on.”

Lance’s lips quirked in a smile as she nodded to herself before placing both hands on each side of his face. A moment later her hands glowed green and Keith felt the soothing energy wash over him; he no longer felt uncomfortably hot and the sharp pain ceased to something tolerable. The cut on his right arm closed and Lance wiped the blood with the edge of her shirt.

“When you came in,” Keith began nervously as he licked his dry lips, “You made it sound as if you knew this was going to happen.”

Lance nodded as she stepped back and took a seat on the floor; Keith followed her example and curiously watched as his friend leaned back on her hands and stared at him thoughtfully.

“When I first met you, you had the scent of a human but there was a hint of something else that I wasn’t sure of until recently. Your smell started to change, and the whole extra layer of clothes wasn’t helping your case either,” Keith winced he’d forgotten about Lance’s heightened senses, “I was trying to tell you but kept avoiding me,” Keith winced again as Lance arched a brow at him in amusement, “I figured it’d be a matter of time. I was just falling asleep when your smell suddenly heightened drastically and I immediately rushed over. You forget that I’m half human and half amazon.”

Keith couldn’t help but grimace as shame washed over him, perhaps if he’d talked to Lance sooner all of this would have been easier to deal with.

Lance took a hold of his right arm and produced a nail cutter from the pocket of her shorts and started trimming the claws.

“Plus,” Lance continued with a shrug as she continued with her work, “This happened to Diona as well.” Keith looked up in surprise at that, “Notice how she has those blue splotches on her face?” At Keith’s nod Lance continued, “She’s half Amazon and half Cyan and one day her whole skin turned blue and she grew two extra arms and well you can imagine how freaked out she was.”

Keith nodded slowly and suppressed a shudder; at least he hadn’t grown any extra limbs…

“Anyway, most of the amazons are half something and sometimes the side that’s stronger starts to take over and our appearance changes. When that happens, we would send a few women off planet to bring back suppressant pills. It keeps us from turning and that’s how we dealt with it.”

Keith looked up at her with a hint of hope, his eyes looking almost purple in the light, “Suppressant pills? Do you know where we can get some?”

HIs friend finished trimming his nails on his right arm and Keith silently handed her his left arm so she could do the same to that one as well.

Lance smiled and nodded. “We can usually get some at the swap moon or as I dub it ‘The Space Mall’.”

Keith looked down at the ground as he stared down at the purple furred hands in front of him, “Do you know if there’s any near us?”

Keith couldn’t see it but Lance grinned as she finished trimming the claws on his left arm before she got to her feet, “Yup, and we’re going right now. Unless you want to wait?”

Keith immediately shot to his feet and gripped her arms, “No! I want to go now. I-I don’t want the others to see me like this.”

Lance stared at him quizzically, “Did you think we’d be mad? That we’d ask you to leave?”

Keith’s body stiffened and he averted his eyes to the side, “They’d hate me,” he whispered, “I didn’t want to lose my new family.”

Lance’s eyes softened,” Oh Keith, that would never happen. We all love you, we wouldn’t hate you.”

“Oh yeah? What about Allura?” he asked defiantly.

Lance rolled her eyes and huffed, “Allura…would not take it well sure, but with time I’m sure she’d loosen up. She needs to learn not to discriminate against a whole race for the actions of a few anyway. As for the others…I have absolutely no doubt that you being half Galra will make them see you any differently and if they do,” Lance grinned and put both hands on her hips and even in her black shorts and blue tank top and wearing those ridiculous blue lion slippers she still managed to look fierce, “Then they’ll answer to me.”

Keith wanted to laugh but managed a snort instead.

Lance put a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezed, “Its up to you if you ever want to tell the rest of the team. Either way, I’m on your side and I’ll back you up. Just say the word.”

“Thanks Lance,” Keith said with a small smile, “I really appreciate it.”

Lance sent him a peace sign and Keith rolled his eyes at her fondly, “No problem. Now let’s go before the others wake up.” She was halfway to the door when she remembered something and turned around to face him. "There's just one thing I want you to promise me though." 

Keith blinked and scrunched his eyesbrows together, "What is it?" Lance was looking at him so seriously he felt that he should be prepared for anything.

"If you ever pop out some Galra ears I have first dibs to pet them." Keith's jaw dropped and Lance pointed a finger at him and pouted, "I'll be seriously pissed if you let someone else touch them before me. Heck, I'm pretty sure I'll cry."

Keith couldn't help it, he laughed. Lance crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. The red paladin put his hands up in defense and wiped a tear from his eye, "I promise. You have first dibs."

Lance seemed to be appeased because she smiled and turned to the door once more.

Keith caught her arm and sent her an incredulous look, “You’re going in that?” his voice did not squeak, he swears it.

Lance looked down at her clothes with a frown, “Yeah. What’s wrong with it?”

Keith let out a strangled cry, as he looked her up and down, “Lance, those shorts are way too short. And…” his eyes widened as he hastily looked away with a tint of red on his cheeks as he croaked out the rest of his sentence, “Are you not wearing a bra?”

“Nope.”

Keith wanted to cry. There was absolutely no way he was going to let her venture outside where there are plenty of people who can ogle her in her state.

The red paladin released a sigh and pinched his nose, “Lance go get changed right now.”

Lance crossed her arms, “What? But why?”

“Now Lance.”

“You’re not my dad!”

“Lance,” he said with a warning note in his voice.

Lance huffed and threw her hands in the air as she whined, “God, you never let me do anything. Fine! But you change too then, take those extra layers of clothes off, you look ridiculous.”

Keith’s lips twitched upwards and Lance grinned at him in return before he started to laugh. Looking satisfied and a little too proud of herself, Lance nodded to herself and left his room before declaring that she’d meet him at the hanger where she would prep a small cruiser for them.

Keith was still smiling when the door closed as he shook his head and started taking the two extra jackets off him. Thank god for Lance, he really was lucky to have her as a friend. If he ever lost her…Keith shook his head. No. That wasn’t going to happen, he wasn’t going to lose her. Or anyone else on the team for that matter.

He didn’t like the idea of keeping something this huge a secret from the others but he wasn’t ready to face them. Not yet. But maybe one day he will, and when that happened Lance would be at his side. She’d promised him.

Walking into his closet he pulled out a black t-shirt, some jeans and a red hoodie that had a hood before planting his feet on his white and black combat boots and exiting his room.

The castle lights were dimmed which was normal since this was a time for sleep. Normally he would have trouble walking around in the dark but for some reason everything looked crystal clear. Maybe it was a Galra trait. At least this could actually be useful in battle.

Keeping his footsteps as quiet as he could, Keith made his way to the hanger where a small light alerted him of Lance’s presence.

As Keith neared the Amazon princess he released a sigh of relief at her attire. She’s discarded her pajamas and put on some black jeans, a blue t-shirt, a black sweater and her signature black and white converse.

Keith caught a delicious scent and he felt his mouth water.

Noticing his presence Lance turned her attention to him and gave him a little wave.

Keith took another whiff and licked his mouth, “Please tell me that’s for me.”

“Of course,” the amazon princess said, tossing a grin in his direction as she stepped inside the small cruiser. Her brown hair was done in a high ponytail making her blue eyes pop out and Keith had to stop himself from staring. “Although, I did take a few bites,” she added sheepishly, Keith cast her a small glare, “It was good! You can’t really blame me.”

No he suppose he couldn’t Keith thought with a sigh. He shrugged and took a seat next to her before strapping in. Lance pushed a plate of beef casserole to him before pushing a few buttons on the dashboard, making the shield close over them as Lance started the cruiser.

Keith settled back on his seat and began to eat as Lance opened the hanger doors and veered the ship out into space.

The swap moon looked like any ordinary mall on Earth that Keith was honestly a little disappointed with how normal it looked. It was a pretty large shopping mall; then again it was located on a moon so maybe that’s why.

Thankfully, it was mostly empty though that was probably because of the late hour. Nevertheless, Keith put up his hoodie to cover most of his face. It was very bright and filled with many types of shops, it even came with some pop sounding music blaring over the speakers, it was clean and spacious and Keith didn’t know where to begin looking. Lance walked over to where the directory was and after looking over the list, Keith didn’t know the language so he was just shifting on his feet, his friend nodded and steered them in what he assumed was the right direction.

Along the way, Keith noticed different types of aliens try to get their attention; some of the things did look a bit interesting though. Keith had to drag Lance away from a stall selling face creams although she did yell at the shop owner that she would be back.

There were quite a lot of clothing stores around the area, a place that he assumed was a restaurant judging by the booths in front of it, a shop were they were selling different types of weapons…perhaps he’d check that out later.

A hand on his wrist snaped him out of his thoughts as Lance dragged them to a giant white shop that had the smell of disinfected so strong it made both paladins wrinkles their noses in distaste.

Along the shelves were bottles of vitamins, protein powders, and other stuff that he couldn't read since they were in another language. A green alien man waved them over from the counter with his four arms and both he and Lance make their way over to him.

Upon closer inspection, Keith noticed that the man had three eyes instead of two with a puff of black hair making him look young.

“Something I can help you with?” he asked, his voice surprisingly deep.

Lance stepped forward and put her arms over the counter as she gives the alien a charming smile that Keith was instantly jealous of.

“Yes there is actually. We’re looking for some suppressants for my friend here, do you happen to have any?”

“Indeed we do,” he said happily as he took out a tablet and pushed a few buttons, “Race?”

“Half Galra and half human,” Keith answered as he shoved his hands in his pockets and took a step forward.

The alien, Kusunoki his nametag said, looked up at Keith with surprise before nodding to himself and typing a few things on the screen. “I see,” he said as he rubbed his chin in thought, “That’s new, I’m afraid I’ll have to take you to the back to take a physical so I can make the appropriate pills for you.”

Keith hesitated and pursed his lips as he exchanged glances with Lance, “Will that take long?”

“Ah, no more than half an hour as you say in your Earth terms.” Kusunoki said with a chuckle “The physical will take about ten minutes but the making of the pills will take a little longer. Luckily for you, I have all the ingredients with me.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, would it be all right for you to give us a years worth of them?” Lance asked with a smile, “Just in case.”

Kusunoki three eyes widened before looking over the two of them thoughtfully, “It’s no problem,” he said slowly and arched a doubtful look at them both, “But it’ll be quite expensive, can you pay?”

Lance dug through her sweater before making an aha sound and produced a small pouch jingling with coins and placing them on the counter. “I assume this will be enough?”

Kusunoki’s four arms reached for the pouch and hastily opened it before letting out a surprise shout, “My word…”

“And while you’re at it,” Lance continued with a fluttering of her lashes, “A few vitamins for Galra would be much appreciated.”

Kusunoki looked at her in shock before a wide grin spread over his features and he bowed and chuckled, “Why yes of course. I’ll even add some vitamins for yourself, no extra charge.”

Lance put a hand to her chest and Keith grinned, “Oh aren’t you a dear? You don’t have to do that.”

“Oh, no I insist milady,” Kusunoki said with another bow and wink/winks? “Anything for a lovely lady such as yourself.”

Lance gave the alien a wry smile, and changed her accent to something British, “You’re too kind. That would be lovely.”

Keith dug his elbow into Lance’s stomach, “Enough already, jeez.”

Lance laughed well naturedly before patting Keith on the head, which only made him scowl at her, “All right fine, you ruin all the fun. Well then,” she glanced back at Kusunoki who was looking at them with a smile, “I’ll be back in half an hour?”

Kusunoki nodded.

“Ok then,” Lance turned to Keith and gave him a hug before whispering into his ear, “If you need me just call for me in your head, I’ll come with guns blazing.”

Keith snorted and laughed, “I’ll be fine Lance, just try not to get into any trouble.”

Lance had the audacity to look scandalized at the comment, “Me? Never. I’m practically an angel.”

“Lance,” Keith said with narrowed eyes.

Lance turned her back on him before waving goodbye at him, “Yes yes, I’ll be good. Promise.”

Lance was hungry. And bored. Maybe this place had a good restaurant around the area. One of the older Amazons who had been to a swap moon before had brought back some food with her last time and Lance had thought it was good at the time.

She didn’t remember how it all looked like, but she remembered its scent. Perhaps if she was lucky, she could find it and buy two trays for both her and Keith to enjoy.

With an objective in mind, Lance let her nose guide her through out the mall and started walking.

It was on the sixth restaurant that she noticed a familiar scent and Lance made a beeline in the direction.

The Clean Chestplate Tavern was anything but clean- the floors were sticky, the furniture was a mixture of cheap tables and chairs, and the air smelled of grease.

Despite how it looked, it had quite a crowd so it must be doing something right. After waiting for a few minutes in line, Lance went up to the counter and ordered something called Bubbles and Spice that was really a fancy name for eggs, a piece of ham, tomatoes that were blue, and what she was pretty sure were sausages and potatoes although one was red and the other was pink.

Finding an empty table, Lance made her way over and dug in. Her eyes widened a second later, this…was not bad. The tomatoes were especially delicious. She immediately ordered two more to go.

All too soon, she had finished her food and was looking around the crowd when she noticed him. He was wearing a dark hood but she could still see the long limbs, the light lavender skin and the long silver hair cascading over his back with a single forelock hanging down his face, but more because he stood out amongst the rest of the crowd.

She had a feeling that he’d put on the hood as to not attract any attention but had gotten the opposite reaction. Aliens were openly staring at him but the man didn’t seem to notice or maybe he just didn’t care.

Three plates were already set out before him, empty save for the stranger looking items on the plate that she swore moved and some of the tomatoes.

Lance hadn’t realized she’d been staring until his gaze shifted and collided with hers. His eyes were blue with yellow sclera around them, noticing her staring he arched a delicate silver brow at her and Lance grinned.

She got to her feet and pushed through the crowd before taking a seat at his table across from him.

“I don’t remember inviting you to sit with me,” he said in amusement.

“Oh you did, your eyes say a whole story,” Lance said with a grin.

“Oh?” the main said in amusement. “And what did they say?”

“They said and I quote, ‘Lance you have permission to come sit at my table and convince me to eat the food that I ordered because I obviously have no idea what I’m leaving behind’ and I of course could not deny such a blatant call for help so here I am.” She said with a grin.

The man at the table chuckled in amusement, his eyes twinkling in the light.

“Well?” Lance questioned him, her blue eyes moving from the man to the food on the table in front of him, “Aren’t you going to finish it? The tomatoes are the best.”

The man glanced at his plate before looking back Lance with a wry grin. “You’re not going to leave me alone until I eat these tomatoes as you call them aren’t you?”

“I will stay right here and document this wondrous event and be ready with an ‘I told you so’ when you find how delicious they are.” Lance replied as she put her hands under her chin and beckoned to the plate, “Well, go on. I have my lines all ready, just waiting on you.”

The man laughed and picked up a fork and making sure Lance was watching, stabbed one of the blue tomatoes and stuffed it in his mouth. His eyes widened and Lance grinned as the man finished swallowing and groaned at her expression. “Oh don’t say it…”

Lance took a deep breath and whispered back to him, “I told you so.”

The man groaned and Lance laughed as she pretended to show him a picture, “Don’t worry, I took a picture so you never forget this wondrous event, you can even frame it.”

The man snorted and flicked a strand of silver hair back when it fell into his face, “You shouldn’t have really.”

Lance put a hand to her chest and grinned, “I absolutely had to. Why, one could say it was my duty.”

A lizard like alien with green scales and a yellow apron tied around his waist walked by the table before placing down Lance’s orders in a bag before her and scurrying off.

A light touch in her mind informed her that Keith was ready to go and Lance got up with a sigh.

“Leaving so soon?” the man asked with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“I’m afraid so, my companion is waiting for me. It was very nice to meet you Mr…”

“Lotor,” the Galra replied smoothly, “Call me Lotor.”

“I’m Leah but everyone just calls me Lance. It was nice meeting you Lotor, take care!” and with a last wave over shoulder Lance picked up her bag and exited the tavern and made her way to Keith, unaware of the lingering gaze watching her go.

When Lance made her way over to him, Keith was pleased to meet her back in his human form. Those pills that Kusunoki had made for him worked fast, the purple splotches were gone, the fur was also gone and he was pleased to know that his temperature had magnifically cooled down to his regular human temperature.

He was still very hungry though, but as long as his appearance didn’t change again he was okay with that. The four-armed alien had given him six bottles, three that carried his suppressants while the other three carried vitamins for he and Lance at no extra charge.

Keith couldn’t suppress a grin as Lance looked him up and down in satisfaction. “Well don’t you look handsome?”

Keith was secretly pleased by the comment and tried to hide his embarrassment with a scoff but judging by his friends’ giggles he wasn’t fooling her.

“I brought us some more food,” Lance said with a proud grin as she held a plastic bag with two trays.

Keith arched a brow at her, “More food? You’re going to get fat.”

Lance screeched and took a step back, “You take that back!”

Keith just grinned and began to walk away.

“Keith? Not funny, you’re practically jinxing me here!”

Keith chuckled and let her trail after him.

 It was almost six in the morning when the two made it to the castle. The ride back had been a bit crowded what with all the gifts that Lance insisted they get the team.

Why they needed a cow was a complete mystery to him though.

That Earth store they’d passed had practically shoved the creature at them and Lance had gotten attached immediately.

The cows name was Kaltenecker and it had a serious staring problem. It hadn’t stopped looking at Keith for the duration of the ride back and the red paladin was seriously starting to get offended.

Lance released another yawn as she parked the white cruiser in its usual spot before turning the engine off. Seeing Lance yawn made him involuntary yawn as well, come to think of it they had left in the middle of the night, it was natural that they be sleepy.

Lance unbuckled her seat and turned to the side as she rummaged through the bags before finding the two trays of food and setting one on Keith’s lap.

“If I’m getting fat, then so are you. Eat.”

Keith snickered and Lance sent him a glare that had him quickly opening the tray and stuffing his mouth with whatever food she got him.

“It’s good,” he remarked as he took another bite.

“Oh I know, I have excellent taste after all,” Keith couldn't see it but he could practically feel Lance's smug grinning beside him.

For a while they just sat there eating in companionable silence until Keith cleared his throat.

“Before we go back, I just wanted to thank you for what you did, I understand that you didn’t have to but I’m glad you did. Thanks Lance, for having my back.” He said with a smile.

Lance looked at him softly and Keith feelt his heart pick up, “Anytime Keith. I’ll always have your back.”

Keith quickly looked away in order to hide the blush on his cheeks because the look Lance was giving him was just too much for his heart. Unwillingly, Shiro and Pidge’s words rang through his head.

‘Just tell her you feel’

Maybe now is the right time…

“I’ll always have your back to you know,” Keith began as he awkwardly scratched his cheek. “No matter what, I’ll support you and be there when you need help.”

There isn’t a response so Keith rushed on ahead.

“You’re really important to me, more than you even realize and-“ Keith’s breath catched as Lance leaned on his shoulder. “I just wanted to tell you that I like you. Like really really like you.”

Still no response.

Keith scratched his head in frustration and he closed his eyes tightly before practically yelling his next words, “In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you!”

When there was still no response from Lance, Keith opened his eyes slowly only to see Lance’s sleeping face inches from his own.

Keith slumped in his seat and let out a sad sigh. Of course this would happen. He has the worst luck.

Still…

Looking at Lance sleeping isn’t so bad though.

She’s pretty cute when she sleeps.

Keith’s face flushed as Lance pressed herself closer to him before letting out a little smile.

Keith’s face softened and he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before he could lose his nerve and he leaned his head ontop of Lance's before slouching a little lower on his seat to get a better position.

So his confession wasn’t heard, fine then. Maybe the timing wasn’t right after all, but as his eyes roam over Lance’s sleeping face, all he could think was that he had plenty of time to try again.

Next time, he’ll make sure Lance is awake.

But for now, he’ll enjoy this little moment between the two of them and have himself a good sleep next to the girl he loves.

Chapter Text

“Why must this be so mortifying? Oh, that's right. Because its my life.” 
― Tessa Dare, Romancing the Duke

Chapter 11

“Aww, aren’t they cute?”

Someone snorted. “I’ll say, now move so I can take a picture before they wake up.”

“Pidge,” a weary voice said, “You’re not going to use this to blackmail them right?”

A pause. “No.”

“That pause is not reassuring in the least.”

“If you’re going to take a picture, would you mind sending me a copy?” A voice with an accent said.

“Ah same here, I’m making a scrap book and Keith here always bolts in the opposite direction when I try to take a picture of him. This will be nice to embarrass him with-err I mean it’ll look nice on the scrapbook.”

Somebody snickered. “Right…I’ll get those sent to you by this afternoon.”

“Umm,” a hesitant voice mumbled, “I’d like a picture too, if that’s okay.”

“Sure thing,” there were a few more clicks and Keith stirred in his seat before nuzzling more into the warmth that was radiating below him.

“Aww,” five voices cooed.

“Keep it up Keith! These shots are gold!”

“Is he sucking his thumb?” an amused voice said.

“He hasn’t done that in years!” a voice exclaimed, “Pidge! Send me a picture of this!”

An amused chuckled answered him, “Looks like you’re finally onboard with this Shiro.”

“W-what? I just didn’t want to be left out!”

“Ah young love,” a chipper voice said, “Why, I remember when I was young and would often fall asleep with my lover,” a nostalgic sigh, “Those were the days.”

“By the way,” a voice interrupted, “Is that a cow?”

Silence.

“No one said anything so I was wondering if I was seeing things but dude, that’s definitely a cow!”

“Is that what that creature is?” a chipper voice said, “What does it do?”

“It produces milk,” an amused voice said.

“Astounding,” a voice with an accent said.

“Anyone else get the feeling the cows giving them the finger or is it just me?”

There were a few chuckles after the statement and the person who spoke before whined.

“Too loud,” Keith mumbled in his sleep.

“Everyone shut up!”

A yawn, “Five more minutes mom,” a sleepy voice mumbled under him, “I’ll clean my room later.”

There was movement underneath him as the person below him began to shift and Keith whined and pulled them closer, “Don’t go,” he whined, “It’s cold.”

Someone started cackling in the background before there were a few more clicks and Keith scowled as he began to open his eyes.

“Shh! Everyone act cool, he’s waking up!”

Keith blearily opened his eyes and squinted at the sudden light and rapidly blinked as his eyes began to adjust to his surroundings. Sudden movement made him turn his head to see the rest of his teammates doing a pose?

Shiro was standing with an arm on his hip and pointing at an imaginary friend? Had to be because Keith couldn’t see anyone in front of his friend. Hunk seemed to be frozen with his hands in the air. Maybe he was doing the Y.M.CA?

Pidge was tapping away at her tablet with Allura and Coran hovering over her and rubbing their chins and nodding their heads like they were agreeing to something the green paladin said. That tablet wasn’t even on though… And the four mice on Allura’s head were juggling something between them.

“What are you guys doing?” he asked with a raised brow.

At his voice, his friends jumped and turned to him as if they just noticed him, “Keith!” they all exclaimed.

Keith gave them a suspicious look and repeated his previous question, “What are you guys doing?”

“Umm, exercising?” Hunk mumbled when it looked like no one was going to answer.

Everyone gave the yellow paladin a look of disbelief and Hunk threw his hands in the air, “Well you guys didn’t say anything!” he hissed.

Pidge snorted. “Well I wasn’t.” the look she gave Keith had him on edge, “I was taking pictures,” she grinned impishly, “You guys are adorable! I have so much blackmail material!”

For a moment Keith looked confused before the body curled up next to his shifted and he immediately understood.

“I-it’s not what you think!” he stammered out, Lance whined and Keith immediately put a hand on her head and stroked her hair until she settled down. Noticing what he’d done, his face turned red and he cast worried eyes at his friends who looked like they were trying very hard not to laugh. Everyone but Pidge, she started cackling as soon as he made eye contact with her.

As soon as she did, everyone else joined her and Keith felt like hiding in a hole and never coming out. Unfortunately, all the noise must have been too much because Lance yawned and slowly sat up as she looked at the rest of their friends with sleep-deprived eyes.

Lance narrowed her eyes at the funny faces she received in returned and pouted petulantly, “What are you guys doing?”

“Enjoying the weather?” Hunk offered sheepishly. At the scowls he received in return the yellow paladins put his hands on his hips and cast them all a glare, “Well if you guys aren’t going to come up with anything don’t be mad at me for at least trying!”

“We were coming to wake you up?” Shiro offered as he ran a hand through his white bangs and looked around the rest of his teammates for support.

At their leaders look all five of them nodded their heads vigorously. Lance looked at them with unconvinced eyes.

“You’re all liars, I heard clicking.” Lance mumbled as she stretched her arms out and began to step out of the cruiser.

Pidge scoffed and averted her eyes. “You must have been dreaming.”

“There’s a camera in your hands…”

“Doesn’t mean I was using it.”

“The lights green and you’re pointing it at us…”

Pidge stared blankly at Lance before she wiggled her fingers at the Amazon and did her ghost voice, “This is all a dream,” Hunk muffled his chuckles by covering his mouth, “You’re so sleepy, go back to bed.”

“Pidge.” Shiro said in amusement.

“A t the sound of my voice your eyelids will begin to droop.” Pidge continued.

Allura and Coran watched with wide smiles. Keith’s lips were twitching upward and Hunk was doubled over muffling his laughter. Lance was staring at Pidge with a grin as she shook her head in disbelief.

“Pidge.”

“Ooooo,”

“Pidge, stop. It’s not working.” Shiro said between chuckles.

Pidge dropped her hands to her side, “Aww man. That usually works.”

“Yeah,” Hunk snorted beside her, “In movies.”

Lance lifted her hand and the camera flew from Pidge’s hands to Lance who took it gingerly in her hands. “Hey!” Pidge scowled.

As Lance began to scroll through the pictures, Keith leaned down to take a look at them and blanched. There were dozens of pictures of him and Lance huddled together. His head was resting on Lance’s head while his other hand wrapped an arm around her waist. There was a picture of Keith sucking his thumb that he bowed would meet its end soon. A picture with Kaltenecker chewing on Keith’s hair, as he lay oblivious in his seat. And another picture with Kaltenecker the cow laying her head on top of Lance’s head where Keith swore it was grinning at the camera.

“Aww,” Lance cooed beside him, “These are adorable! Send them to me!”

Pidge blinked her brown eyes in surprise. “Really?”

Keith cast his friend a worried look, “Really?”

Lance nodded with a wide grin and did a provocative pose that had them all groaning, “If you wanted to take pictures of me,” Lance said with a husky voice and winked, “All you had to do was ask.”

Hunk pinched his nose, “Buddy, I love you I really do, but please stop doing that pose.”

Lance pouted beside Keith and handed Pidge her camera before Keith had a chance to delete that god damn photo.

“By the way,” Shiro asked as he cast a suspicious look over the red and blue paladin, “Where were you guys?”

“Yeah,” Pidge said beside him, “You guys missed Shiro’s annoying wake up call with his new favorite whistle.”

Shiro looked offended, he thought the paladins loved the daily breakfast announcement. Hunk put a comforting hand on his leaders shoulder and shook his head at him. “Dude, no one likes it.”

Shiro looked quite miffed at the news and crossed his arms over his chest.

Allura giggled beside Coran and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “I quite enjoy it, don’t worry.”

“Oh, I bet you do,” Lance mumbled underneath her breath.

Shiro seemed to be appeased for the moment if the wide smile he sent the Altean princess was any indication. Pidge rolled her eyes at the two and cast a suspicious look over Keith and Lance. “So? Where were you two?”

Lance and Keith shared a look silently having a conversation in their heads.

‘Well?’ Lance asked in her head. ‘What do we tell them?’

Keith chewed on his lip and cast a worried look over their friends who were waiting for a response.

“Keith?” Shiro asked firmly.

Lance cast panicked eyes to her friend. ‘Crap, that’s his dad voice! Think of something quick!’

Keith’s mind was a total blank though.

Noticing this, Lance inwardly sighed and turned weary blue eyes to Shiro. “Tampons,” she blurted out. “We went to buy tampons.”

Shiro and Keith blanched as Pidge burst out laughing. Hunk made a face and Allura and Coran looked confused.

“What’s a tampon?” Allura whispered to Hunk.

Hunk looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here as Allura repeated her question to Shiro who was avoiding eye contact.

After a while the black paladin cleared his throat and cast a weary glance over his two paladins, “In the middle of the night?”

“It was an emergency,” Lance smoothly replied, “So much blood. Rivers of it really,” Shiro looked green and Pidge doubled over holding her stomach as she continued to laugh, “And Keith was wondering around the hallways so I took him with me.”

Keith shot Lance an annoyed glare but quickly cleared his face of any emotion as Shiro and Pidge turned to regard him suspiciously. “It’s true,” he croaked out before clearing his throat, “It was an emergency.”

“Oh yeah?” Pidge asked him as she got to her feet, “Where are they then?”

Lance and Keith blanched and cast a weary eye over the items they’d bought at the swap moon. Lance put both hands on her cheeks and gasped so loudly anyone could tell it was fake, “Oh my god.” She said in a surprisingly shocked voice, “Keith! We forgot the tampons.”

“Oh no,” Keith deadpanned. “Whatever shall we do?”

Lance clicked her tongue, “Oh well. On the bright side, we got a cow!”

Shiro looked unconvinced, “Lance,” he said warningly, “The truth.”

Lance huffed, “But dad!” Shiro did not appear to like his new nickname and made a face, “It’s the truth.”

The black paladin made a face as he stared down the blue paladin whose will was beginning to crumble by the second. Keith sighed and decided to address his friend, “The truth is I wanted a change of scenery and Lance decided to come with me.”

The others looked at him in surprise as Shiro rubbed his chin thoughtfully as Keith continued; “I haven’t exactly been in a good mood if you haven’t noticed.”

Pidge snorted and rolled her eyes, “Oh we noticed.”

Keith cast the green paladin a glare before turning his blue-gray eyes to his longtime friend, “I needed to cool my head and Lance was just helping me out. So don’t be mad at her, she was just trying to be nice and take my mind off things.”

Shiro cast worried eyes to his friend, as he looked him over. “And are you okay now?”

Keith let out a whoosh of breath and nodded, a small smile on his features, “Yeah. I’m okay. And,” he looked over the rest of his team and bowed slightly to them, “I’m sorry for my recent behavior, you guys were just trying to help and I brushed you off. Can you guys ever forgive me?”

Hunk let out big fat tears and rushed forward to engulf Keith in a big hug. The others rushed in and Hunk opened his arms to let them all in the group hug.

“Of course we forgive you dude! We’re just glad you’re back to your moody self.” Hunk cried as he swung the whole group around.

“Moody Keith is better than angry Keith any day.” Pidge muffled out where she was squished between Shiro and Allura.

Shiro ruffled Keith’s hair in affection as Hunk put them down on their feet, “I hope you know that you can come to any of use if you ever need to talk Keith. We’re a team, we’ll always have your back.”

Keith nodded absently.

“Now then,” Coran said with a clap of his hands, “How about some breakfast to celebrate?”

“Oh! I’ve just the thing!” Lance said excitably as she ran back to the cruiser and rummaged around the bags until she found what she was looking for. Kaltenecker and the rest watched in confusion except for Keith who had a pretty good idea on what his friend was looking for. Lance hid something behind her back and walked up to Shiro with a huge grin.

The black paladin for his part was looking more and more tense the closer Lance got. Last time the blue paladin had given him a gift; he’d opened the box to reveal a small orange and blue venomous snake with two heads. The thing had launched itself at him before the Amazon princess deftly snatched it from the air and cradled it to her chest.

Pidge had shouted in excitement, Hunk had yelped and hid behind Coran who looked quite interested in the creature, Allura backed away and cuddled her four mice who were freaking out, Keith actually went to pet the thing and Shiro had transformed his arm into a sword.

Safe to say, Shiro had kindly asked Lance not to give him any more gifts for quite a while.

“Someone told me that you absolutely adore this,” Lance cast her eyes to Keith who rolled his eyes at her, “So here you go!”

Lance shoved a medium size box in front of Shiro’s face that had him stumbling backwards before he deftly took the box in his hands and let out a gasp. “Is this?” he stammered out. Were those tears in the corner of his eyes or was Lance seeing things?

The others crowded around him to see what had their leader so teary while Lance stood to the side looking damn proud of herself.

“Mac and Cheese?” Pidge snorted. “Really?”

Shiro cast offended eyes to the green paladin who took a step back and raised her arms in defense. Allura and Coran looked confused, Hunk looked like he was already thinking of ways to make the mac and cheese fabulous, and Keith was casting worried eyes at Shiro who had started trembling.

“Shiro?” Keith asked as he waved a hand in front of the black paladins face, “You doing okay?”

“Hunk,” Shiro hoarsely whispered, “Can you make this for today?”

Hunk beamed and took the box from his leaders hands and gave him a two finger salute, “Don’t worry buddy, I got this!” the yellow paladin stated and began making his way to the kitchen before shouting over his shoulder, “Lance, come help me out!”

Lance stood up straight and gave him a salute as she marched to her friend. “You got it!”

Kaltenecker followed after her with a few bags in her mouth, she cast a glare at Keith who looked ready to get down and dirty right then and there, and left the room.

Coran clapped in delight and followed after them, “Paladins! I’ll help out too!”

Allura and Pidge followed after them, the green paladin explaining what mac and cheese was to the Altean princess until only Shiro and Keith remained.

“You sure you’re okay now?” Shiro asked him when they were the only ones left in the hanger. “I know its been a slow week with hardly any Galra attacks and you tend to get restless with nothing to do, but I’d really like you to tell me what’s been going on with you.” Shiro put his arm on Keith’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. “I’d like to help with whatever you’re going through.”

Keith turned to look at his friend and leader, the concern in his eyes making him feel guilty.

Keith sighed and felt the urge to fidget as Shiro stood patiently by his side and waited for him to answer. Lance’s comforting presence invaded his mind in concern.

‘Are you okay?”

Keith got fleeting images of what Lance was seeing through her own eyes, mostly her talking with Coran and Hunk as the yellow paladin handed them both some aprons as he started giving out directions.

‘Yeah, I’m fine. Go back to cooking.’ He thought back to Lance.

Lance made a humming noise in his head before she focused her attention on her current task and left his thoughts. Her presence still lingered at the back of his head though, always there if he ever needed her.

“Shiro,” he began, swallowing thickly as Shiro turned to look at him. “There is something going on.” He paused and looked down at his arms, the lack of claws and purple skin making him want to smile as he remembered how Lance had accepted him without fail even as he was beginning to turn Galra right in front of her. Lance sent him an image of himself with purple fluffy Galra ears and her petting them before Keith shooed her away and Lance left his mind again, her laughter echoing in his mind. “There is something going,” he said again, his heart hammering in his chest as Shiro regarded him in concern, ”But it’s not something I’m comfortable talking about.” Shiro opened his mouth and Keith rushed ahead, “Not yet at least.” He turned pleading eyes to his long time friend and willed him to listen, “But when I am, I’ll make sure to tell you. I promise. I just need some time.”

Shiro was silent for a while as his intense gaze roamed over him but Keith stood straight and stared him in the eye. After a while Shiro nodded slowly and smiled, Keith felt the tension in his shoulders lessen at the look, “All right then. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here to listen.”

Keith smiled and nodded as he released a sigh of relief, “Now let’s go before we start hugging each other.”

Shiro laughed and followed after him to the kitchen where the others could be heard even from all the way to the hangers, “So,” Shiro began as he cast teasing eyes to his friend, “Did you enjoy your date with lance?”

Keith tripped on his feet and stammered, “W-what, it wasn’t a date Shiro!”

“Right.”

“Shiro!”

“I’m just saying, you guys looked awfully comfortable in each others arms.”

"That was an accident!”

“And you did leave in the middle of the night, I saw the logs, you two left around two in the morning. Awfully long time for a walk.”

Keith spluttered incoherently beside him and Shiro laughed so hard he almost missed Keith’s mumbled words, “Although I did confess to her.”

This time it was Shiro who tripped on his own feet as Keith hurried past him.

“Keith! Wait, what did you say? You did what? Keith!”

The red paladin just chuckled and left his friend stumbling behind him.

“Keith!”

When they got to the kitchen Hunk was stirring something in a pod as Coran and Lance took out another pot and started filling it with water. Pidge was typing away in her laptop while Allura was clapping to whatever her mice were doing.

It seems Kaltenecker had left the bags of gifts for the rest of the team on the table before disappearing to who knows where. Hopefully not his room Keith thought with a grimace.

Just as Keith and Shiro sat themselves on the table, Hunk began to sing.

“I want to be the very best, like no one ever was dun dun dun-“

The paladins looked up with a grin as Hunk whipped around, took of the spoon he was using to stir the mac and cheese and pointed at Lance who was dancing on her feet.

“To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause!”

Lance twirled around and pointed at Pidge who grinned and shot to her feet, “I will travel across the land, searching far and wide-“ she pointed to Shiro who put both hands on his hips and continued with a surprisingly good singing voice, where she left off.

“Teach Pokémon to understand, the power that’s inside,” Shiro pointed at Keith who looked uncertain.

“Pokémon?” he said with a shrug.

“Boo!” his teammates yelled.

“You were suppose to shout it out Keith!” Lance said with a pout.

“Keith,” Shiro mumbled with a shake of his head.

“At least he knew the words,” Hunk mumbled sheepishly.

Pidge pushed up her glasses and cast Keith a look, “Yeah, that’s true. Its something.”

Keith crossed his arms, “Standing right here you know.”

“We know,” the paladins said dismissively.

“I’m so confused,” Allura mumbled as Coran applaud and called for an encore.

When the Hunk declared that the mac and cheese was done, Shiro was the first one out of his seat to get a bowl and pour its contents onto his bowl before sitting down on the table and practically scarfing down the food like a starved man.

The others cast him worried looks but when it looked like he was in no danger of choking on his food they left him alone to get their own food.

Allura and Coran seemed to like the mac and cheese and asked for seconds. Hunk and Lance were debating on how they could have made it better as Pidge voiced her own input every now and then when she looked up from her laptop.

Keith looked around at his family and smiled to himself. This had been nice. It had been a while since he’d made time to hang out with his friends, what with the whole turning-into-Galra fiasco that had him freaking out.

When he was ready he’ll make sure to tell them all about him being a half Galra but for now at least he had Lance to share his secret with.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Frowning, Keith turned to Pidge who was grinning and typing away in her laptop as Shiro and the others turned to see what that noise had been about.

“Pidge, is it done?” Shiro asked with a hopeful look.

Keith and Lance shared a look. “What’s done?”

Hunk turned to answer them as he swiveled in his seat, “Well, apparently Shiro remembered something about how he escaped when the Galra took him prisoner when he was sleeping. According to him, a Galra helped him escape!” he said with wide eyes.

Allura scoffed in her seat and crossed her arms, “Lies. All Galra are evil, Shiro must have remembered wrong.”

Coran put a comforting hand on the princess and tried to settle her down.

Keith flinched at her tone and Lance gave his hand a slight squeeze as she tried her best not to glare at Allura.

Pidge was looking over the data as she typed a few more things before glancing at the red and blue paladin, “Shiro said the Galra who helped him inputted coordinates in his Galra arm, we weren’t sure so he had me do a scan just in case.”

“And?” Shiro asked eagerly as he pushed his empty plate away.

Pidge nodded, “Looks like you were right Shiro. These are coordinates, which means,” she cast wide eyes at the group, “We may have Galra allies.”

For a moment there was absolute silence as they all took that in.

Allura was the first to voice her opinion on the matter. Galra were not to be trusted, but then Hunk reminded them that Zarkon used to be the Black Paladin before he turned evil. The black lion wouldn’t have chosen someone who they didn’t trust.

Shiro argued that the Galra who had helped him escape was another prime example that not all Galra were bad. Ulaz, the Galra who had helped him escape, had plenty of opportunities to kill him in his weakened state but chose to help him instead.

Keith agreed that not all Galra should be trusted immediately but they should at least check it out and get proof.

Lance and Hunk agreed that they should check the place out just in case. Pidge and Coran also agreed to Allura’s dismay.

After what felt like forever, Allura finally agreed to check out where the coordinates led but urged them to put on their armor and be ready for anything.

“If I sense anything wrong,” she stated with cold eyes, “I’ll turn our weapons against them immediately. No arguments.”

Shiro sighed but nodded his consent.

Allura cast them all a firm nod before declaring she was going to put on her own armor in case they got into a fight and left in a huff, Coran following after.

The five paladins split up and went to their respected rooms to change into their battle gear before heading up to the deck where Allura and Coran were already waiting. Coran shot them a little wave while Allura said nothing. She’d put on her pink and white body suit armor, attached her whip to her belt, and pulled her long silver hair into a tight bun as they all made their way to her.

“Ready?” the Altean princess asked them as she cast her blue eyes on them.

Everyone nodded back and Allura sighed before she left her position of leaning on the wall to make her way to the center. “All right, brace yourselves for a wormhole.”

There was a blinding light that had them all shielding their eyes before a giant wormhole opened up in front of them and Allura and Coran steered the ship towards it.

“Here we go,” Lance mumbled beside him. “You ready?”

Keith moved closer to her and nodded back, his face set in determination, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

And then they made it to the other side and they all gasped as the wormhole closed behind them.

Chapter Text

“Discover the truth about your underlying psychic gifts and not only stop thinking of yourself as crazy but also empower yourself to make a major difference in the lives of others.” 
― Catherine Carrigan, Unlimited Intuition NOW

Chapter 12

When the glow of the wormhole they’d just come from disappeared, everyone gasped at the sight before them. The space they now hovered in was surrounded with huge chunks of crystals floating around the area. The crystals gleamed a greenish blue but no matter how much they looked around the area that was all they found. No base, just crystals.

“Pidge,” Shiro asked coming up beside her, his black eyes trained on their surroundings, “Is this the right place?”

Pidge looked insulted as she regarded her friend and leader, “Of course it is,” she said with a huff, her eyes scanning over her computer just to double check the coordinates, satisfied that she was right (of course she was), she answered, “My decryption is solid thank you very much.”

Shiro grit his teeth. It’s not like he doubted Pidge, she was never wrong, but to come this far and find nothing? Maybe they were missing something?

“Coran,” Lance asked the advisor as she came up behind him, “Anything on the scanners?”

Coran twirled the end of his mustache before looking through the readouts on the screen in front of him with a frown. After a few minutes Coran slowly shook his head at her.

“Nothing.” He announced sadly, his shoulders slumping, “No sign of any activity at all, living or otherwise.”

“Maybe we’re missing something?” Keith asked shifting from foot to foot, his hand on his Bayard in case he needed it.

Lance lowered herself to the floor and sat cross-legged as she looked back at the screen with a frown.

“We have to be,” Hunk muttered as his eyes roamed around the crystals with a frown, “There’s something about those crystals that make me a little weary though.”

All eyes turned to him and Hunk shifted in his seat at the sudden attention he was receiving.

“What do you mean?” Pidge asked her friend with a frown.

Hunk tapped his chin with a frown, “I don’t know, there’s just something about them that I don’t like.”

Coran’s eyes widened, “Of course!” he shouted, as he turned to look at the others, “These are xanthorium chunks!”

“And those are?” Lance asked impatiently when Coran didn’t continue.

“Ah yes, they contain highly unstable nitrate salts. One little bump can blow us straight to Wozblay!”

Hunk bit his nail anxiously, “So in other words, stay far far away from those crystals, got it.”

Allura finally spoke up from her position at the helm, “We’ve checked it out, but now, it’s time to move on. There’s clearly nothing here.”

“No,” Shiro stated as he locked eyes with Allura’s stubborn eyes, “There must me more to this. I can feel it. I propose we wait.”

Allura looked ready to argue, but Keith cut her off. “It wouldn’t hurt to wait for a bit. We came this far, we can spare some time.”

Allura scowled and cast them all a glare, “Fine!” she practically yelled, “But I’m telling you, this is a waste of time!”

Lance suddenly shot to her feet and all eyes turned to her in concern.

“Lance?” Keith asked his friend as he came to stand beside her, “What’s wrong?”

Lance didn’t answer, merely tilted her head to the right before she let out a growl and ran out the room in a hurry.

Everyone looked startled and Keith was about to go after her when the sound of an alarm started ringing, making them all jump in surprise.

Allura turned to her advisor, “Coran, what is it?”

“There’s an intruder in the castle!” Coran yelled over his shoulder.

“How can someone just sneak into the castle?” Hunk cried as he shot to his feet.

Allura brought up the big screen and started looking over the cameras placed in the castle with a scowl, “I knew coming here was a mistake! There,” she pointed at a screen on the right, “he’s on level five.” Her eyes suddenly widened, “Lance will be making contact in just a few seconds!”

Keith didn’t wait to hear anymore as he sprinted out the door, the other three paladins hot on his heels.

“I have eyes on him,” Lance reported through the comms, “I’m making contact!”

“Lance, stay sharp!” Shiro ordered.

“Keep eyes on him Lance, we’re heading your way!” Keith yelled, his pace picking up speed.

“Hold it right there!” Lance shouted at the intruder.

A tall lithe figure in a black hood stood before her, at the sound of her voice the intruder turned to look at her and Lance scowled. The guy was wearing a mask, she’d always relied on facial expressions when she was in a fight, people gave everything away with their expressions, it made fighting them easier if she could see their face.

Oh well.

Lance aimed her Bayard at the intruder and started shooting; the intruder was fast, he dodged every blast she sent his way as he made his way to her. She only managed to singe the corner of his cloak before he was within three feet in front of her.

Lance grit her teeth, fine then.

She put her Bayard away and took out the two daggers at her belt and engaged in combat. The intruder took a blade of his own and parried her attacks. As the man aimed his dagger to her shoulder, Lance crouched and landed a solid kick to his stomach that sent him sprawling.

The Amazon princess was on him before he could get to his feet but managed to roll away from the punch she was aiming at his face. The punch made a small indent on the floor, but the blue paladin was not deterred.

Lance palmed away her daggers and sent punch after punch at the intruders face, all he could do was block but the sheer force of her punches had him stumbling back.

It seemed the training Keith had given her in hand-to-hand combat was not going to waste at least.

Four sets of footsteps made themselves known as they approached them but Lance paid them no mind. The intruder however tilted his head at the newcomers and Lance took her chance to grip his mask and pulled him down before kneeing him hard on the stomach.

“Lance!” Keith yelled, his Bayard in the form of a sword, ready to help if she needed it.

The intruder gasped and Lance gripped the back of his cloak and threw him against the wall. Shiro and the others aimed their weapons at him and Lance took out her Bayard and aimed at him when he managed to evade her friends and stopped him in his tracks.

“Give it up,” she said, her weapon at his head, “You’re clearly outnumbered.”

Shiro and the rest of the paladins formed a circle around him; their weapons aimed at him and the intruder slowly brought his hands up and surrendered.

As the intruder began to sit up, Pidge went around him and put him in handcuffs, when he moved his face to Shiro, the man jumped.

“It’s you,” the intruder mumbled, his voice surprisingly modulated, “I’ve found you.”

Shiro’s eyes widened and he stepped forward as he brought two hands to the intruders face. The masked man nodded slightly and Shiro took his cue and removed the mask.

Shiro gasped and took a step back. “Ulaz?”

The man in front of them was clearly a Galra what with his light purple skin, yellow eyes, and small patch of white hair in the middle of his head.

Ulaz opened his mouth to speak but before he could Allura ran over, picked him up by his collar and slammed him on the wall.

“Who are you?” she yelled, her voice cold.

“Wait,” Shiro protested as he came to her side, “It’s him. This is the Galra that set me free.”

Allura cast him a doubtful look but set Ulaz on his feet.

“You’ve come,” Ulaz, stated, a hint of relief in his voice.

Everyone but Coran gathered around a white room within the castle and surrounded the sitting Galra as they looked at him curiously. Allura had put handcuffs on his feet as well and Shiro sent her a frown.

“I don’t think this is all necessary,” he said.

Allura’s eyes never left Ulaz, her eyes cold as she stared him down with a sneer, “I will not have some quiznak-ing Galra soldier on the bridge of my ship!”

Ulaz let out small sigh as he looked the Altean princess in the eye, “If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already.”

Hunk and Lance winced, comments like that weren’t going to help the poor guys case.

He didn’t say it haughtily; he said it as if he was simply stating a fact. Allura bristled in front of him and took a step forward, “If you’re trying to win our trust, I assure you, you’re failing miserably.”

Ulaz ignored her and turned his gaze to the blue paladin, Keith marched over and blocked his view from her, his pose protective.

Lance moved her head to the side and gave Ulaz a grin that to everyone’s surprise, he slowly returned.

“Except for you,” he murmured, “I believe I might have met my end at your hands if you were serious.”

Lance snickered and Allura sent the Amazon princess a glare, which she chose to ignore. “Lucky for you, I wasn’t trying to kill you. There was an easier way to take you down but I’ve been itching to hit something.”

Ulaz winced and mumbled so low that if it wasn’t for Lance’s good hearing, she would have missed it, “Well, you certainly got a few good hits. I’ll be feeling them for a while.”

Despite the situation, Lance laughed and Allura huffed in her direction. Lance was surprised she wasn’t foaming at the mouth yet, “Stop making friends with him! He’s a Galra!”

“I don’t think he’s that bad honestly,” Lance said with a shrug of her shoulders. Allura looked betrayed while the other paladins looked surprised at the statement. Shiro sent the blue paladin a small smile of gratitude.

“My people and I are trying to win a war. A war we’ve been fighting for many decades,” Ulaz said, his golden eyes shifting to Shiro. “When the witch Haggar took an interest in you, we knew you were important.”

Shiro frowned, his white bangs falling on his face before he pushed them away, “What makes me so important though?”

“To be honest, I don’t know,” Ulaz, answered. “But when Zarkon’s second in command took a personal interest in you, the only thing we could think of was to get you away from her reach.”

“I never did thank you for helping me,” Shiro said with a smile, “Thank you.”

Ulaz inclined his head at the black paladin.

Allura narrowed her blue eyes, “You keep mentioning ‘We’,” she said suspiciously. Her eyes widened and her hand strayed to the whip at her belt, “Are there more of your kind on my ship?” she hissed out.

Ulaz’s eyes drifted from Keith to Allura in a move so fast that no one else caught it. But Lance did, she hoped her slight shake of the head was read and it must have because Ulaz kept his mouth shut.

Pidge took a small step back at the Altean princess’s tone and looked at her wearily.

Keith flinched behind Allura but no one seemed to notice, their attention on Ulaz. Lance gave his hand a light squeeze as she came up beside him; Keith squeezed her hand back and sighed deeply.

Unbeknownst to them, Ulaz watched them in interest from the corner of his eye.

Reassured that Keith was all right, Lance stepped forward and shook her head at Allura as she crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s the only one here. If there was anyone else I would have noticed.”

Ulaz nodded, “Your friend is right. I am the only one stationed in this base. My comrades and I are called the Blade of Marmora.”

Hunk raised his hand, “Umm, what base? There’s nothing here.”

“That’s because this place was a trap,” Allura snapped with a roll of her blue eyes. “We’ve scanned everything here and there was no sign of anything. A perfect place to ambush us, especially if we’ve taken a closer look through those crystals.”

Ulaz looked at the Altean princess with the patience of a saint and began to explain, slowly and accurately which only infuriated her all the more, “The base is hidden, now that I know that it is Shiro who has come, you are more than welcome to our outpost. Just head to the center.”

Pidge quirked a dubious eyebrow at him, “Behind all the xanthorium clusters?”

Ulaz shook his head, “Right in front of it. In a hidden pocket of space time.”

Allura made a face and turned to the speakers at the ceiling, “Coran, are you hearing this?”

Coran hummed, “I am picking up an anomaly on the screen. I suppose it could be a cloaked base.”

Ulaz nodded, “Just head straight. You’ll see.”

Allura scoffed and looked down her nose at him, “If you think you’re going to get me to destroy my ship by heading there, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Shiro frowned and spoke up beside her, “We came all this way searching for answers. Are we really going to turn back now?”

Keith frowned beside his friend, “Shiro, you know I trust you, but this doesn’t feel right.”

“The Galra could have planted fake memories in your head,” Pidge said and looked away when Shiro looked at her in betrayal.

“Oh come on guys, that would be so evil of them,” Hunk said with a frown and then bit his lip, “Although I suppose they are.”

Shiro looked at his fellow paladins in obvious hurt as he tried to reason with them, “Ulaz saved my life. Without him I wouldn’t even be here.”

Allura bit the inside of her cheek as she regarded the black paladin before turning to Lance, “Read his mind,” the princess stated.

Lance looked at her in surprise, “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Allura said, as she turned back to glare at Ulaz, “Read his mind. I trust your word over his.”

Lance frowned and bit her lower lip, “I’m not very good at that. I’ve been practicing with each of you but I’ve only been able to get snippets.”

“You can speak with Keith just fine though.”

Lance narrowed her eyes, “That’s because Keith and I have the mood bracelets, we’re bonded to each other, it makes reading each others mind so much easier.”

“Then try harder,” Allura insisted.

Lance bristled and Keith put a comforting hand on her shoulder as he cast Allura a look, “Enough. She’ll get what she can so stop pushing her.”

Allura looked down at him but Keith held her stare as the rest of the paladins looked at them anxiously. Shiro looked ready to step between them in case things got out of hand but finally Allura gave Keith a firm nod and turned her gaze back to Lance, her expression a little less angry. “Please Lance, just try your best.”

Lance hesitated a split second before nodding.

Sighing, she took a step towards Ulaz who was looking at her wearily. Once she was in front of him she crouched to his level, removed her helmet, and placed her hands on either side of his face before leaning her forehead against his. Keith bristled and marched over so he could keep a close eye on them.

Shiro and Pidge shared a look and rolled their eyes at his friend.

“Just try to relax, I won’t look at anything else. I just need to see if that base you talked about is real.”

Ulaz lifted his yellow eyes to her and nodded. Lance smiled and closed her eyes, Ulaz followed her example and everyone waited with baited breath as Lance tried to read his mind. A spark lit at the center of her chest, spreading quickly up to her brain as the usual need to use her powers reared its ugly head.

It’s why she tried not to use her powers too much. Once she did she felt like reading more and more peoples minds until she knew every little detail about them. The need to get information so strong it was suffocating.

The bond with Keith had lessened that need, but sometimes it wasn’t enough and she’d try to peak at the other paladins mind before she stopped herself. She’d been practicing due to Shiro and Allura’s insistence but when she tried she would push too hard and leave her teammates with a migraine.

Recently, a new ability had made itself known to her. She‘d discovered it by accident really. It happened about a week ago when Hunk and Pidge had been arguing about some experiment that they’d been working on. The two hadn’t stopped arguing for hours and Lance had been beyond tired of their arguments and told them to shut up and go to the bed.

And then the oddest thing had happened, their eyes had gotten this glazed look before the two shut their mouths and silently got to their feet with this blank look on their face and left the room. Confused, Lance had followed them and to her shock they each went to there rooms, got to bed, and closed their eyes.

The sound of their snoring soon followed. Lance was so shocked she stumbled out of their rooms in a panic. Had she done that? She must have, but how?

A glance at her transparent bracelet told her that it was only three in the afternoon. Keith’s thoughts were buzzing in colors so he must be taking a nap after his training session. Shiro and Allura were probably on the deck while Coran was out cleaning some of the healing pods.

Maybe it was a fluke she thought. She’d quickly left the hall and made her way to her room where she stayed for the rest of the day. Hunk and Pidge woke up a few hours later with no memory of what had transpired and were back to their normal selves that she’d released a sigh of relief.

Since then she hadn’t tried using her powers and prying much into her friends minds was a big fat no. When Shiro and Allura asked her to practice on them she pretended that it hadn’t worked but in reality she hadn’t even tried.

Ulaz’s body tensed and Lance’s thoughts drifted back to the present as he hissed through his teeth. Ulaz made as if to move away but Lance gripped his face harder, “Don’t try to resist, it’ll hurt if you do. Just focus on me and show me the base.”

Lance silently prayed that she didn’t hurt him and focused on his thoughts. A warm, fizzling sensation filled her mind, sending her pulse spiking and Lance took a shuddering breath. Keith’s intense stare seared the back of her head but she let her mind drift away from him and focused on Ulaz.

An image flooded her mind, spilling in until she thought she might choke. Keith gripped her shoulder in support and Lance took comfort from him. An imagine of Ulaz coming and going to his base by going through the xanthorium chunks flooded her senses until it wasn’t Ulaz seated on the cruiser, it was her. She was seeing through his eyes she realized; she steered the ship straight through the xanthorium chunks with no fear or hesitation and that was all Lance needed.

Slowly, as to not hurt him, she left his mind and opened her eyes with a shuddering breath. Ulaz gasped in front of her and opened his eyes to regard her in astonishment.

“Well?” Allura questioned, her tone a little snotty in Lance’s opinion.

Keith threw a glare at the Altean princess before bringing his attention back to Lance who was taking slow breaths. “You okay?”

Lance took a while to answer, the need to go back in Ulaz’s mind and search through more of his memories making her slow to answer. When she felt that the need was mostly gone, Lance lifted her face from where she had buried it against Keith’s shoulder. When had she done that? And got to her feet with Keith’s help before she turned to Allura.

Keith’s brows drew together, and his lips parted with something he wanted to say. Lance gave him a reassuring smile and after a moment, he only nodded and turned back to the others.

“He’s telling the truth. His base is just on the other side. He’s alone so there’s no need to be alarmed,” she added when Allura looked ready to argue.

“All right team,” Shiro said with a nod of thanks in Lance’s direction, “Get ready. We’re going through those xanthorium chunks.”

“Princess?” Coran asked over the speakers, “What say you?”

Allura bit her thumb but nodded in defeat as she tilted her head at the camera and nodded, “Do it.”

“All right everyone, approaching the xanthorium chunks in five, four, three, two,” Coran gasped.

Allura was immediately on her guard, a hand on her whip, “What it is Coran?”

“Putting it on the screens,” he replied.

The screen on the right turned on and everyone looked at the imagine before them in awe. Colors of yellow, blue and gray passed them in blurs as the castle went straight ahead.

“Amazing,” Pidge mumbled. “They’re folding space.”

“Like a space taco,” Hunk added with a grin.

Lance groaned, “Great, now I’m craving tacos.”

Hunk sheepishly scratched his cheek, “Sorry buddy. We’ll make some later.”

Lance grinned and sent him a wink; “I’m holding you to that.”

“Paladins!” Allura snapped at them, “Focus!”

“Sorry,” Hunk mumbled.

Lance rolled her eyes and patted Hunk on the back before turning her gaze back on the screen. Finally reaching the end, the scenery changed from the blur of colors to a blue ship with circular rings around it.

“Welcome to the Blade of Marmora Communications Base Thaldycon,” Ulaz said from his seat. “Now if you’d be so kind to release me from my bonds, I need to send a message to the leadership and inform them that I’ve made contact with Voltron.”

Allura looked at him skeptically but turned to Shiro, “Go with him. Make sure to keep an eye on him. I’ll be staying here.”

“Oh!” Hunk said as he jumped to his feet, “Can we go too?”

“Yeah!” Pidge exclaimed with a huge grin, her eyes practically shining in her excitement, “Me too! I want to see how they make the space pocket!”

Lance laughed, “You guys go ahead, I’ll stay here to protect Allura and Coran.”

“My, how dashing lady Lance! You’re far too kind!” Coran’s chipper voice said through the speakers.

Lance looked up at the camera and gave it a peace sign.

Coran chuckled in amusement.

‘You sure?’ Keith’s voice echoed in her mind.

‘Yeah, I’m still a little tired after that whole mind reading thing,” she answered back.

Keith’s brows furrowed and he looked at her in concern. ‘I can kind of feel it’ he stated.

Her confusion must have shown because he answered, ‘Your fatigue. I can stay if you want.’ He offered.

Lance shook her head and placed a hand on his shoulder, ‘No. You go, I’m sure you have questions for Ulaz. I’ll be fine.”

Keith frowned but nodded as his mind left her own. It wasn’t until Keith’s presence disappeared from her mind that she noticed the silence around them.

Lance turned her head and saw everyone looking at them expectedly. Ulaz looked extremely interested in them both.

“You guys done flirting in your heads now?” Pidge sarcastically asked as she rolled her eyes.

Keith flushed beside her but Lance nodded and sighed dramatically, “Yes. I suppose we are. For now.”

Keith spluttered beside her and tried to cast her a glare to which Lance answered with a wink in his direction. Shiro and Pidge shared amused looks before they started making their way to the door with Ulaz hot on their heels, Hunk gave his friend a last wave and followed after them. Keith hesitated at the door so Lance gave him a little push with her powers.

A startled gasp left his lips at the sudden move and he sighed in defeat, “All right, I get it. We’ll be back.”

And then he was gone.

The Blade of Marmora base was definitely impressive Keith thought as he looked around. It was much more sleek than any other bases or battle cruisers that they’d seen up to this point.

There were no extra rooms since Ulaz had stated before that this place was only suppose to station one person at a time. Pidge was thrilled to look around and study the layout of the place with Hunk inputting his own comments every now and then. Shiro was talking with Ulaz about a few more things about the Blade of Marmora.

Making sure that Lance was still fine, he continued roaming his eyes over the base.

The glint of Ulaz’s sword caught Keith’s attention again. It reminded him of his own blade that he had received from his mother, although with a few differences. The bent blade shape looked more efficient, allowing for more force without needing to angle the wrist too much.

“What’s that weapon that you carry?” Keith asked as soon as Shiro went to check out whatever Hunk and Pidge were pointing at at the other side of the room.

Ulaz regarded him silently before reaching for the blade at his belt and handed it to him. Keith took the blade in his hands and examined it closely.

“Every member of the Marmora carries a similar weapon. It’s a ceremonial dagger, I suppose you could say it’s our signature item.” Ulaz explained.

The bent blade certainly looked like Keith’s own dagger; it even had the same crystal marking at the hilt. Had his mother been part of the Marmora?

“You look dehydrated,” Ulaz said, his eyes trying to convey something that Keith didn’t understand. Ulaz tipped his head to the door on the side and Keith blinked, as he understood.

“You doing okay Keith?” Shiro asked him as he began to make his way over to them.

“Uh, yeah. Just a little thirsty.” He admitted, “Ulaz has some water so we’ll be right back.”

Ulaz started walking and Keith hastily followed after him with a last wave at his friends. As soon as the door closed behind him, Keith had his hand on his weapon. Better to be ready in case anything happens.

Ulaz led them to a small room that consisted of a counter, two chairs, and a shelf of different items. A few water bottles, some pills, and a few rolls of bandages.

Ulaz made his way to the shelves and opened the glass to draw a water bottle, which he tossed to Keith. The red paladin caught it with ease and regarded it suspiciously.

“What is it?”

“Water.” Ulaz answered before making his way to one of the chairs and taking a seat. He looked at Keith expectedly and Keith sighed before taking the other chair.

“You’re a Galra.” Ulaz stated.

Keith flinched at the statement but nodded in resignation.

“Your teammates do not know.” Ulaz continued.

Keith shook his head.

“Everyone but the blue paladin. Your mate.”

Keith frowned, “Mate?”

Ulaz’s eyes blinked in surprise as he regarded him, “You are not together?”

Keith slowly shook his head, his right hand twisting the cap on the water bottle anxiously.

“Shame. You two are very good together. Excellent chemistry.”

Keith flushed and he cleared his throat uncomfortably, “You mentioned mate. What is that?”

Ulaz leaned back on his chair and began to explain, “A mate is a special bond between two people, it is considered to be higher than any bond between two married individuals. We Galra consider mates to be very important, we don’t mess with each other’s mates. Its wrong. When you have a mate, you are able to sense them no matter how far they are.”

Keith looked at Ulaz in awe and he pursed his lips before asking his next question, “How do you know if someone is mated to someone though?”

Ulaz pointed at the spot between his collar bone and neck, “When you choose a mate, we Galra give them a mark right here. We bite our chosen mate with enough force to break skin and your mate does the same to you. It’ll leave each other’s scent on you both. That’s a clear sign to any Galra that that person has a mate and cannot be claimed. No matter what.” He gave Keith a look that almost made him fidget but he reined himself in, “You should declare your feelings to the blue paladin before anyone else catches her eye. Or them on her.”

Keith’s jaw dropped as he tried to think of a response to that. He decided to change the subject instead as he cleared his throat and leaned forward, “How did you know I was a Galra?”

“Your scent,” Ulaz answered, “Any Galra close enough would be able to tell. It took me a moment longer to notice though, there is another scent underneath.”

“Human. My father was human,” Keith explained as he looked over his shoulder to make sure his teammates weren’t making their way over to them.

Ulaz frowned, “You’re appearance is strange though. Even if you are a hybrid, you should still look like a regular Galra.”

“Oh that,” Keith said with a hint of a smile, “Lance, the blue paladin, helped me out and got me some suppressant pills. She got me a years worth of them.” He glanced at his arm and extended his palm as he recalled the changes that had been happening to him just a few weeks ago, “I was already turning. My hands started turning purple and my nails grew to claws. But Lance,” Keith smiled softly, “She helped me. If it wasn’t for her, I might not be on the team anymore. You’ve seen how Allura acts around any Galra.”

Ulaz’s face softened, there was a hint of a smile there, or maybe it was just a trick of the light because when Keith blinked Ulaz had his poker face back, “I see. That was nice of her. Anything else that you’ve been experiencing?”

Keith thought back and nodded, “Yeah. My appetite has grown exponentially. I have all this pent up energy that I don’t know what to with. I’ve been spending most of my time in the training room just to get rid of it but it doesn’t seem to help much. And,” Keith hesitated, and unscrewed the water bottle before taking a big sip of water, “Feelings. I’ve been…having some strong feelings. Over pretty much everything.”

Ulaz nodded, his yellow eyes blinking slowly, “That is all normal behavior. There is no need to fear.” Keith released a sigh of relief and Ulaz continued, “We Galra feel very deeply. Which is why we must always be careful not to let them take over our senses. Meditating seems to help. Or talking it out with someone else. Everyone has a different way of coping with their feelings, you simply have to find a way that suits you.”

Keith clenched his jaw; he already had anger issues before becoming a paladin of Voltron, now they were going to be enhanced? Great. Just what he needed.

A warm hand was pressed to his shoulder and Keith blinked away his thoughts as he regarded Ulaz who was looking at him with all the patience in the world, “Fear not, you have allies to help you out. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind knocking you off your high horse if you ever go overboard.”

Keith snorted. Isn’t that the truth. Lance would probably slam him on the ceiling and leave him there until he calmed down. Shiro would take him to the training room and let him vent out his frustration until he was satisfied.

Ulaz was right. He had people he could depend on if his anger ever got the better of him.

“There’s something else I wanted to ask you about,” Keith said, his hand going to his belt to pull out the dagger his mom left him all those years ago.

Before he could, the sound of alarms throughout the base had them both shooting to their feet and running out the door where Shiro, Hunk and Pidge were looking around in alarm.

Ulaz ran to the viewport and brought up the big screen before he turned angry yellow eyes at them, “You were followed!”

Shiro looked startled. “What?”

For a second Keith contemplated the thought of Ulaz turning on them but they didn’t have time to argue. He turned his attention to the big screen and saw another one of Zarkon’s ro-beasts heading their way.

“We have to get back to the ship,” Shiro declared.

“Hold on,” Ulaz said as he reached into his black body suit and pulled out what looked like a flash drive and handing in to Shiro, “These are instructions on how to reach the Blade of Marmora headquarters.” Shiro took the flash drive in his hand and closed his palm over it, “Before you go there, find out how Zarkon has been tracking you. If you lead him there, everything that we have worked for will be lost.”

Shiro nodded and started making his way to where they had stationed the red lion. Keith and the others followed after him before Keith took his seat inside Red and his three friends huddled around him. Keith pushed a few buttons, took hold of the two thrusters, and steered Red back to the castle.

“I knew we couldn’t trust a Galra!” were Allura’s first ones to them when they brought up the video feed inside Red.

“It wasn’t him,” Shiro said frowning.

Allura scoffed, “How can you be so sure?”

“Enough you two,” Lance snapped at them as she walked over to Allura’s side so she could see the rest of her friends through the video feed. “That doesn’t matter right now. What are we going to do?”

“Why don’t we just wait patiently for it to go away? Hunk asked them, “It shouldn’t be able to see us because of the xanthorium chunks right?”

Shiro let his eyes roam over Hunk before replying, “Everyone get to your lions but don’t launch. I don’t want to risk fighting it unless we have to. We’ll wait and see what it does for now.”

Everyone nodded before the screen turned black and Lance started making her way to Blue’s hanger, Allura’s bad mouthing of Ulaz following her most of the way. Lance grit her teeth, if Allura kept this up, the Amazon princess wasn’t going to care how cute Allura was, she was going to smack her across the face.

Blue’s roaring laughter echoed in her mind and Lance grinned. At least she wasn’t the only one who thought Allura needed a good smack to the face.

Finally reaching Blue, she waited patiently as the blue lion lowered her head before she opened her jaw and Lance climbed in and made her way to the cockpit where she took her seat and put both hands on the thrusters. As soon as she was settled, Blue closed her jaw and lifted her head and both paladin and lion waited patiently for further instructions.

The sound of footsteps brought Lance’s gaze to Blue’s screen to see Shiro, Pidge, and Hunk making their way to their own respected lions.

One of the hanger doors opened and the red lion flew right in before settling itself next to Blue.

Keith’s face appeared at the corner of her screen and Lance turned her blue eyes to him, “Did you get the answers you were looking for?”

Keith’s mouth twisted to the side, “Some. But not the most important one. The alarm sounded just as I began to ask him about the dagger my mom left behind.”

Lance nodded slowly and shrugged, “I see. You’ll just have to ask next time.”

Keith snorted and slouched in his seat, “Yeah right. As if Allura will want us making anymore contact with Ulaz.”

Lance rolled her eyes, “Then we can just go in a cruiser ourselves in the middle of the night and go to him if the need calls for it.”

Keith’s lips twitched upwards, his eyes twinkling in amusement, “Yeah? You’d disobey your beautiful Allura?”

Lance grinned and gave him a flirtatious wink, “For you? Anytime.”

Keith fell off his seat in shock and Lance and Blue laughed in amusement. Keith’s hand came back on the screen as he gripped the back of his chair for help as he struggled back to his seat. Lance took great joy in seeing that dark blush on her friends face, “Y-you c-can’t just s-say that!” he stammered out.

Lance tilted her head, the glare of her helmet making her squint, “Why?”

“Because!”

“Because is not answer Keith. Come one. Use your words. I got you a dictionary for a reason.”

“J-just because!” he insisted.

Lance huffed and crossed her arms, “Well, its true. I’ll always be on your side, no beautiful Altean princess will change that.”

“Lance,” Keith choked out.

“What are you guys talking about?” Hunk asked curiously as his face popped up on the left side of her screen. Pidge and Shiro appeared on the bottom of the screen after him. Pidge was looking at them suspiciously while Shiro looked a little concerned over Keith’s red face.

“Are you guys flirting again?” Pidge asked with a grin.

Keith immediately denied it, which only made the green paladin more suspicious as she looked between the two.

“Keith? You doing okay?” Shiro asked the red paladin whose blush was just beginning to recede.

“Yeah,” his voice came out muffled so he cleared it, “Yeah, just Lance teasing me again.”

“Aww man,” Pidge whined as she threw her head back, “And I missed it? No fair. Lance makes Keith do the most interesting expressions.”

“Pidge,” Shiro warned, though the crinkles at the corner of his eyes gave away his amusement.

“Paladins!” Allura barked at them. “Pay attention to the robeast!”

Shiro cleared his throat, “Right. Sorry about that princess, guys focus.”

All eyes turned to their own screens to see the gray robeast flying just outside the xanthorium chunks in search of the castle of lions.

“We should be safe as long as we’re hidden behind the space pocket,” Pidge commented, her brown eyes tracking the Robeasts movements.

The robeast stopped and opened its mouth before a purple light glowed out of it and it aimed the purple glow at the xanthorium crystals. The paladins watched in bewilderment as the crystals started getting sucked inside its mouth.

The robeast closed its jaw and opened it again to shoot a purple laser along the cluster of xanthorium crystals causing them to explode.

“Guys?” Hunk nervously said, “I think it knows we’re here.”

Shiro narrowed his eyes, “Hold…”

The robeast moved to the center before it opened its mouth again and launched another beam of purple light straight at the castle.

Everyone grunted at the sudden impact.

“Direct hit!” Coran shouted over the speakers. “It definitely knows we’re here!”

“Coran!” Allura shouted, “Put the particle barrier up!”

“I’m on it princess!” the advisor replied. A moment later, the particle barrier surrounded the castle and the shots that were aimed at them didn’t cause as much impact as the previous shot.

The robeast opened its mouth wider and began to suck in more crystals, everyone let out shouts of surprise as the castle began to get sucked in as well.

“Paladins!” Allura shouted over the speakers, “I think its time to launch!”

“Right!” Shiro answered before he turned his attention to his fellow paladins on his screen, “Guys, form Voltron!”

“Right!” four voices answered back.

The hanger doors opened and as one they all flew upward in sync before the usual pull they always felt when they formed Voltron pulled at them and the lions started aligning themselves until they formed Voltron.

The robeast began to open its mouth before Shiro steered Voltron out of the xanthorium crystals and landed a solid punch to the robeast, sending the purple beam upwards when it was sent flying a feet away.

The space fold suddenly disappeared and Ulaz’s ship flew away from the battlefield.

Allura glared at the ship, her eyes burning a mark at the back of it, “I knew we should never trust a Galra!”

The paladins didn’t have time to look back at Ulaz’s ship as they landed more punches to the robeast.

The robeast shook its head and started flying towards them again. Shiro grit his teeth, “Let’s light that thing! Fire lasers!”

“Right!” Keith and Pidge answered before they started shooting lasers from the arms they had control of. The lasers hit the robeast dead on and the paladins grinned before the robeast opened its mouth and started sucking in more crystals.

“Guys, it’s gathering more ammo!” Lance shouted.

The robeast opened its mouth and a red light was shot their way. “Move, move move!” Shiro shouted.

Voltron barely managed to dodge the attack but the robeast kept firing at the crystals around them causing them to explode which in turn had Voltron flown a feet away.

The paladins grunted at the impact as they tried to steady themselves. The robeast wasted no time and flew straight for them just as they were beginning to regain their balance, “Hunk, Lance, give me full reverse boosters!”

“On it!” Hunk and Lance shouted and a moment later the boosters came out and they steered Voltron backwards. A purple light suddenly engulfed them and everyone grunted in surprise as they began to be pulled towards the robeast.

Shiro grunted and tried steering them away to no avail. “I can’t break free,” he gritted out.

Keith narrowed his eyes, “I’ll make him let go.”

A small dagger formed on the left arm that Keith piloted and as they began to near the robeast, Keith made the arm plunge the dagger on the machine.

The robeast let them go and Voltron threw a punch that sent the thing away from them before they flew themselves away, hiding themselves within the clusters.

“We have to maintain some distance. It keeps trying to suck us in.” Shiro stated.

Pidge frowned and turned to Lance, “What about crushing it? Like you did back in Cloyetera? Think you can do it?”

All eyes turned to the Amazon princess and Lance gnawed at her bottom lip as she considered it, “Maybe,” she finally said, “But I’d need some time. Last time I had my mothers help, but I’ll do my best.”

“All right then,” Shiro said, his gaze on Lance firm, “We believe in you Lance. Try your best.”

“Don’t overexert yourself,” Keith added with a frown, “We’ll try our best to cause it some damage.”

Lance gave them a two-finger salute. “Understood.”

“Coran and I can offer you some cover fire so you can concentrate,” Allura added as her face appeared on their screens. Her blue eyes were set in steely resolve and Lance gripped the thrusters in her hands. “Good luck paladins.”

Lance snorted. No pressure.

“All right team, here we go!” was all the warning Shiro gave before he steered them towards the robeast who was still looking around for them.

Once they were within a few feet of it, Shiro steered Voltron behind a cluster of crystals just as Allura and Coran started firing from the castle. Thoroughly distracted, the robeast went after them and Lance lifted her hand towards the machine and felt within herself for her powers and concentrated.

The sheer force that she drew out of herself almost made her smile, she was suddenly giddy with excitement. She could do this.

“Lance!” Allura shouted over the speakers, “Hurry!”

Shiro steered them behind the robeast and had Keith and Pidge throw laser beams at its back. The robeast turned away from the castle of lions and focused its attention on them. It opened its giant mouth but Lance gripped her palm and the thing froze mid-motion.

Lance grunted. This thing was strong. Feelings of doubt began to seep into her and with a gasp she lost her grip on the thing and the robeast threw a purple beam at them.

If it weren’t for Pidge bringing up the shield and taking the hit, they would have been obliterated.

She could hear the muffled shouts of her teammates echoing at the back of her head when she heard it. It was faint but coming closer. Lance frowned. This voice…her eyes widened as she realized Ulaz was coming back with a suicidal plan forming. She could read his thoughts and she let out an annoyed grunt before she looked back at the screen and searched for his ship.

There!

“Ulaz?” Shiro asked in shock as he finally noticed his friend, “What are you doing?”

Images of Ulaz flying his ship straight into the Robeasts mouth and then opening a space pocket inside the thing appeared in her mind and Lance rolled her eyes.

Men.

Honestly.

Ulaz’s face appeared on their screens with a forlorn on his face. “I’m sorry team Voltron, but the universe needs you more than you know. You cannot perish here.” His face took on a determined edge and Shiro’s eyes widened as he realized what his friend was about to do as he slowly shook his head at him. “No,” he whispered, his voice pleading, “Ulaz please!”

Ulaz closed his eyes and steered his ship towards the robeast, “I’m sorry.”

An overwhelming need to protect surfaced within her and Lance turned her steely blue eyes to Ulaz’s ship and made it stop its descent.

“Oh no you don’t,” Lance said with a scowl, “You’re not dying on my watch.”

Ulaz’s wide yellow eyes looked at her in shock but Lance focused her attention back to the robeast and willed it to stop as well. She wasn’t aware that her eyes were glowing a bright blue as she tilted her head and brought her arms up in front of her, curled them into fists and began to spread them apart.

The temperature inside Blue’s cockpit dropped and Lance was stunned to see a puff of air where she released a sigh. Was Blue helping her? The following purr after her statement answered for her.

Yes. Blue was helping her by sending Lance a bit of her energy to help stabilize her. Sparks of electricity lit the tips of her fingers and she wolfishly grinned.

Lance felt a bubble of hysterical laughter at the back of her throat but willed herself not to let it out.

Her friends already thought she was weird; no need to add breaks into psychotic laughter in the middle of a battle to that list.

There was a creaking sound as the metal began to stretch out from the robeast, Allura and Coran fired beams at the back of the Robeasts head and that had everyone else jumping back to the fray. Pidge and Keith fired beam after beam at the robeast who was starting to twitch.

“Holy shit,” Keith breathed as he looked to Lance to the robeast in a daze. The sight of her in this state had his heart tugging with an overwhelming string of emotions and Keith knew that part of the reason that he’d fallen head over heels for the Amazon princess was because of this. People tended to underestimate her because of the way she always cracked jokes even on the most dire of situations, but then she showed her strong size and left everyone speechless. Much like Ulaz was staring at her now Keith realized with a grin.

“Language,” she scolded him through clenched teeth and Keith felt the urge to laugh.

Really? She was scolding him for his use of words now? In the middle of a fight?

Damn. Keith really loved this girl he thought ruefully.

“Holy fuck,” Pidge said in awe, and even though Shiro and Lance scolded her for the comment, the black paladin couldn’t help but silently agree with the statement.

“Come on, buddy!” Hunk silently cheered, “You got this.”

Almost there. Just a little more Lance thought with a grunt. Her hands were already shaking with the effort it was taking to hold off both Ulaz’s ship and the robeast.

“A little help would be much appreciated,” She snapped at the screen where Ulaz’s face was still looking at her in astonishment.

That seemed to finally startle him out of his stupor as he sent her a firm nod and fired his own ships lasers at the robeast as well.

The robeast began to shake, as if it was glitching inside a video game. Lance let out a roar and spread her arms apart as the robeast suddenly split in half before Shiro steered Voltron towards it and gave it two solid kicks towards a cluster of xanthorium clusters with the help of both her and Hunk and everyone watched as the robeast exploded until there was nothing left.

The cheers that followed were lost to her as Lance slumped in her seat. Too much. She’d used too much energy. She numbly wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead; she ignored the shaking of her arms, and let go of her hold on Ulaz’s ship. As soon as she did, fatigue began to take over and she closed her eyes.

Just for a few seconds...she just had to rest her eyes…

The minute Lance’s presence disappeared from the back of his mind, Keith realized something was wrong.

The red paladin brought his gaze to the right corner od Red’s screen to where Lance’s image was still being projected and he gasped.

Lance had passed out in her seat, her head lulling to the side.

“Lance!” he shouted. “Are you okay?”

Lance didn’t even stir.

Keith tore his eyes away from the unconscious princess with some effort and looked to Shiro who was looking at the blue paladin in worry.

“Shiro!” he yelled to his friend, “We have to get back to the castle!”

The black paladin nodded and gave the order to head back to the castle, which took a little too long in his opinion. Then again, they only had one functioning leg at the moment but whatever. Shiro convinced Ulaz to follow them back, the Blade hesitated but in the end he agreed and followed behind them to Allura’s displeasure.

As soon as they were within distance of the castle, they all split up into their individuals lions and Keith steered Red over to the Blue lion before clamping Red’s paws around her fellow pride mate. Everyone else was already patiently waiting for both paladins as Keith made Red place the blue lion beside them before Keith shot to his feet and all but ran out of the red lion.

Blue already had her jaw opened for him and Keith sent her a small thank you before he dove right in.

Lance was still slumped over her seat when he reached her and Keith placed a hand on her forehead before letting out a frown. She was a little too warm for his taste, but she was breathing and that was enough to make some of the worry he was feeling die down just a smidge.

Keith removed each other’s helmets and placed it on the floor. Carefully gathering her in his arms, Keith made his way out of the Blue lions mouth were he was met with seven worried faces.

“How is she?” Coran anxiously asked, his mustache twitching.

“Is she breathing? Oh man, please tell me she’s breathing!” Hunk wailed.

“This all happened because she wasted precious energy on saving a Galra!” Allura hissed as she glared at Ulaz who was standing a few feet away.

If he heard her, he didn’t show it.

“Princess!” Shiro snapped at her, “Enough! What Lance did was very heroic, this is no one’s fault.”

Allura rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything more.

Pidge got to her tiptoes as she tried to get a view of her friend; “Is she going to be okay?” the worry in her voice was evident.

“I-I’m not sure,” Keith mumbled as he looked down at Lance’s sleeping form. Her tan skin looked pale and beads of sweat still lingered on her cheeks. Her hair lacked its usual shine and Keith frowned.

Coran placed a hand on the Amazon’s forehead and frowned, “Hmm, she feels a bit warm but other than that I think she’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure there’s no need to put her in a healing pod?” Hunk asked as he brushed a lock of hair away from her face.

Coran smiled lightly at the gathered faces etched in worry and nodded, “Yes, I’m quite positive. A good nights sleep will do her wonders. She might sleep for a few days to replenish her energy but she’ll be all right.”

Everyone let out a relieved sigh before Keith adjusted his hold on her and started making his way to the blue paladins room.

He was almost out the door when a warm hand on his shoulder had him pausing. Ulaz lifted his hand from Keith’s shoulder as soon as he had the red paladins attention.

Allura made as if to intervene but Shiro’s arm blocked her path.

The Blade’s gaze drifted to Lance’s sleeping face and his gaze softened, “When she wakes up, will you thank her for me?”

“You can thank her yourself,” Keith replied instead, “We both intend to keep in touch. I have many questions left to ask, and in case you don’t feel like answering,” he smirked, “You’ll be dealing with her. And trust me, she’s not the nice one.”

Ulaz blinked at him slowly before his features contorted into a very small smile, but a smile nonetheless, “Very well,” he said, and reached for a piece of paper from his belt and placed it on top of Lance’s stomach, “That’s my personal code of numbers if you ever need to reach me. We Blades of Marmora hardly give out our information, but I suppose I can make an exception this time.”

Keith sent him a grateful smile before the voice of Shiro had Ulaz leaving his side to talk to the black paladin.

As soon as the doors whooshed open Keith walked through them and made his way to Lance’s room. After passing a few hallways, Keith came upon a white door that swooshed opened when he put his palm against the scanner. The lights in Lance’s room lit up as soon as he stepped inside.

His friends’ room looked completely different from his own bare room. Her sheets were blue unlike his own plain whites in his room. On the far right side of the wall was a well-known poster of J. Howard Miller’s ‘We Can Do It’, where she’d found that poster Keith had no idea.

Her iPod was on the desk with Pidge’s headphones still plugged into them. A few books were in a neat pile next to the device.

His gaze went to the three creatures in the room and the red paladin widened his eyes.

Crouched in the middle of the room was Nyx in her cat like size and Kaltenecker the cow standing a few feet away with the double-headed snake that Lance had given Shiro as a gift but had refused to take, perched on Kaltenecker head. Keith raised an eyebrow at them, how the heck had they gotten inside?

There was a knock on the door before the doors opened to reveal Allura and Pidge out of their armors and back to their regular clothes.

“What are you guys doing here?” he asked suspiciously.

Pidge rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “To help you take off her armor,” she answered as if it was obvious.

Allura gave him a teasing look, “You weren’t planning on undressing her yourself were you?” the Altean princess faked a gasp and covered her mouth, “How scandalous.”

Keith glared at them both and reined in his embarrassment as Allura opened her arms for the blue paladin. Keith handed her over and turned his back as Allura and Pidge began to remove Lance’s armor.

Keith busied himself by having a stare down with Lance’s cow. The red paladin had to admit; Kaltenecker had a damn good poker face.

“Okay we’re done,” Allura called over his shoulder, “She’s all yours.”

Keith turned around just in time to catch Lance’s limp form from Allura as she all but tossed her to him and scowled as the princess and Pidge gave him a sheepish grin.

Shaking his head, Keith moved the sheets away and gently lowered Lance to the bed before bringing the blankets up to her chin. Lance let out a sigh and tucked herself deeper into the blankets. Keith snorted and reached forward to move a few strands from her face.

“Idiot,” he mumbled as he sat on the edge of the bed, “Stop making me worry.”

Allura and Pidge shared a look and slowly left the room to give him some privacy.

Nyx flew herself to her owner and lay down beside Lance’s head. Kaltenecker and the two-headed snake gave him a dirty look and shuffled closer to his friend.

If the obvious worry they were projecting wasn’t evident, Keith might have flipped off that damn cow.

Satisfied that Lance was in good company Keith reluctantly left the room and went to look for Shiro.

Keith found his friend up on the deck, his gaze on the screens were Ulaz’s ship was currently flying away.

“Ulaz left?” Keith asked as he moved to stand beside his friend.

Shiro nodded, his gaze still on the screen where Ulaz’s ship was still visible, “Yeah, he went back to the Blade of Marmora Headquarters to report back. He says he’ll meet us there once we find out how Zarkon is tracking us.”

Keith nodded absently and followed his friends’ gaze, “I see.”

His friend turned his gaze to him, “How’s Lance?”

“She’s out like a baby. She’s completely exhausted,” he bit the inside of his cheek and tapped his head, “I can hardly feel her presence in my head. Its weird.”

Shiro gave him a smile and patted his shoulder reassuringly, “She’ll be all right. Lance is strong, if it wasn’t for her, Ulaz might not be here with us anymore.” Shiro’s eyes turned teasing, “Once she wakes up, I’m sure she’ll sing to you telepathically in no time.”

Keith flushed and groaned, “I really wish I hadn’t told you to that.”

Shiro just laughed and Keith joined in after a minute.

“Do you really think Zarkon is tracking us?” Keith asked his friend.

The doors to the deck opened and Allura walked over to them in three quick strides. “We cannot know for sure,” Allura, said quietly as she regarded Shiro with a frown, “Only Ulaz knew our whereabouts.”

Shiro turned to look at her in disbelief, “You don’t really still think Ulaz gave us up do you?”

Keith stood defensively next to his friend as he turned to Allura, “Yeah, he’s right! For all we know Zarkon has been looking for the Blade of Marmora and we just happened to be there when he got a lead on one of its members.”

Allura’s mouth turned into a thin line before she answered, “Regardless, we cannot stay here anymore. It’s time to move on.”

“We should go meet up with the rest of the Blade of Marmora members,” Keith suggested.

Shiro shook his head, his face set in determination, “No. Not yet. Not until we find out how Zarkon found us. We can’t risk losing the allies we have in this war.”

Keith and Allura nodded.

“Until then, we’ll wormhole somewhere new and wait for Lance to wake up in case we need her help.”

“Understood.”

Later that night, as everyone was already sleeping Keith found himself in Lance’s room. His friend was still sleeping soundly, her slight fever mostly gone as she dozed on. The three animals in the room gave him a weary look but when he just leaned back on Lance’s bed they left him alone.

Keith slowly took out the dagger that his mom had left him and took of the bandages wrapped around the hilt to reveal the purple crystal marking and frowned.

What if the reason Zarkon was able to track them was because of his dagger?

Keith couldn’t shake off the bad feeling that this was somehow related to his dagger.

If that were true, what would he do?

He’d have to leave wouldn’t he?

He would he thought firmly.

If it would keep his teammates safe, he’d leave.

A soft sigh had him turning his attention back to Lance who had turned over and curled herself into a fetal position.

Keith reached over and placed the stray lock behind her ear and watched her silently.

He’d leave the team if Zarkon was tracking them through his dagger, but he seriously hoped he was wrong. 

Chapter Text

“I'd be staring at you and thinking, I should ask, I should ask, I should ask; do you want to be in a stable monogamous relationship for the rest of your life?” 
― Sachin Kundalkar, Cobalt Blue

Chapter 13

Pidge realized that following week that a worrying Keith was an annoying Keith. She knew he was worried about Lance, heck all of them were, but Coran had already told them more than twice that Lance was just sleeping and she would wake when she was well and ready.

Pidge understood that. Even Hunk who tended to worry the most out of everyone understood that. Keith…did not seem to understand though. Apparently he had spent the night in Lance’s room watching over her. Creepy right? Pidge thought so.

Pidge only knew because she caught him coming out of her room on the second day. He had black circles under his eyes and his clothes looked wrinkled, he hadn’t even changed them from the day before!

Then during breakfast, he’d simply picked up his food and taken it back to Lance’s room where he spend the rest of the day there, only coming out during dinner time to retrieve his portion of food and disappearing inside the blue paladins room once again.

When Shiro found out his friend was going to stay inside the Amazon’s room again he decided to stay in there as well. To watch over them he said, a guy and a girl should not be in a room by themselves he insisted. Regardless of the fact that the girl was unconscious, actually no, all the more reason not to leave them alone.

When Hunk had found out that both Keith and Shiro were having a sleepover at his best friends room, he whined and thrown what Pidge could only describe as a small tantrum and changed into his pj’s and showed up at the blue paladins room that night, teddy bear and blanket in tow.

Things had only escalated when Allura found out. The Altean princess had thrown a fit and stated that three males in an unconscious girls room by themselves was not something she would abide in. She’d shown up in her nightdress and a mug in one hand on the third day. Coran had shown up a few minutes afterward in an orange onesie, butt flap and all, stating that he didn’t want to be left out.

Pidge herself had been unceremoniously dragged out of her room by Hunk, tablet and all, kicking and screaming against her will. The yellow paladin had simply told her that this was a good bonding moment and refused to budge.

And that’s how Pidge found herself on the fourth night, squished between Hunk and Allura on the carpeted floor in Lance’s room. Keith had not been happy with all the extra bodies in the room if the glare he gave them all was any indication. The green paladin threw her hands up, it wasn’t her fault they were all crammed inside Lance’s room.

She’d been dragged against her will thank you very much. It was already a tight fit what with Kaltenecker the cow taking half the room; in truth they could all probably fit just fine if Shiro would just grow some balls and scoot over to where Nagini and Nagg, the two headed snake that Pidge had taken the liberty of naming, was curled up on the floor watching them.

She didn’t know what his problem was with the two headed snake, sure it’d launched itself at him upon first meeting him but that was no excuse. It was probably just excited to meet him, or he was probably tired due to the fact that Zarkon and his army kept finding them. They hadnt had much time to sleep with the entire running they’d done over the past few days. Pidge was used to getting little sleep but even she was starting to run on fumes.

The previous day they’d gotten a distress call from the Olkarion planet after Pidge had done a scan of some spores that she and the rest of the team had found while they were fixing parts of the ship. The green paladin smiled, she still thought it was pretty cool that they’d managed to send out a distress signal through spores!

After a lengthy discussion it was decided that they would go check out the planet where the distress signal was coming from and hope they didn’t have to form Voltron because Lance was still out of commission.

Apparently, the planet was full of insect-like humanoids that according to Allura and Coran were a proud class of engineers, builders of vast cities that could change shape at their own whim. Pidge instantly loved it, the technology they had was amazing!

When they got there, they were surprised that the signal wasn’t coming from the city but the forest instead. Keith seemed to like it; he had a thing for nature apparently. At least a new mission seemed to distract him from worrying over Lance too much.

Pidge shook her head, honestly, why the red paladin hadn’t confessed his feelings to Lance yet was a complete mystery to her. It was obvious to anyone that Lance clearly felt the same, heck even Hunk and Coran admitted that all Lance seemed to talk about was Keith this and Keith that whenever she hung out with them.

Pidge’s favorite quote from Lance that she learned from Hunk was ‘Did you see him? He was all sweaty and his shirt was clinging to his body just right. I HAD to leave! For sanity’s sake!”

Not to mention the googly eyes she made whenever she looked at Keith. Pidge was pretty sure everyone but Keith had noticed her longing looks.

Pidge seriously hoped that if she ever had a crush on someone she wouldn’t be this obtuse about it and just tell the person instead of just dragging it out like her two friends.

If those two didn’t do anything about it, Pidge was going to take matters into her own hands, for sanity’s sake.

Anyway, once they met the Olkari people who were hiding in the forest, they were soon informed that the Galra had taken their leader Lubos captive. Team Voltron was able to sneak inside where he was being held captive only to find out that Lubos had actually betrayed his people by providing weapon designs to the Galra Commander.

They’d taken the little asshole back to his people where Shiro ratted him out to Pidge’s sheer pleasure. The Olkari people had not been pleased, but at least that seemed to spur them on in rebelling against the Galra.

Unfortunately, the Galra had also finished making their weapon and wasted no time in using it. Pidge and the rest of the paladins engaged the new weapon that looked like a giant black cube while the rest of the Olkari were busy taking back their city from the rest of the Galra.

The giant cube seemed to be tougher than they realized though. Whenever they cut it in half with their lasers the thing only seemed to multiply into smaller cubes. Pidge and her green lion had been knocked out and thrown back into the forest, if it wasn’t for Ryner, the new leader of the Olkari giving her advice Pidge would have never figured out how to make the bond between herself and her lion stronger.

Finally knowing what to do, Pidge had rejoined the battle and beaten those cubes by firing shots that shot out vines that wrapped around the cubes, making them unusable.

Fucking awesome right?

The Olkari people had managed to take back their city and the rest of the Galra had fled bringing the battle to a close. Upon returning to the castle, Coran had sadly informed them that Lance had not woken up yet.

Keith had deflated and started heading out of the room when the alarms had gone off. Zarkon had found them again.

Pidge was too tired for this shit. Allura had been able to make a wormhole and gotten them out just in time but Zarkon had found them four more times after that. Pidge was ready to slam her face on the wall. How the hell did that guy keep finding them?

Was it a tracker? Shiro asked the same thing but Allura just shook her head, she looked drained, if there were any trackers on the ship they would have known. At least they’d gotten some reprieve at night; everyone huddled up in Lance’s room but they were too wound up to go to sleep. Keith looked jumpy, probably all that coffee he’d drank earlier, and had taken the position of leaning against Lance’s bed. Nyx had settled herself on the red paladins lap and made a cooing sound whenever he stroked her head.

He didn’t sleep in pajamas apparently, only slept in whatever he was wearing which consisted of a black t-shirt and some gray pants. Hunk who sat beside him was wearing a yellow oversized shirt and some white loose pants, had his legs stretched out before him, his teddy bear on his lap with the blanket draped over his shoulders.

Allura who was wearing a long purple nightdress had her feet curled under her, sipping her tea every few minutes. Coran was watching them all with a wide smile that was bordering on creepy. Shiro was casting glances at Allura but no one but Pidge seemed to have noticed.

Man, if Lance were awake she would have given Pidge a look and the green paladin would have understood the meaning behind it immediately. It seems no one else had noticed the growing attraction between those two either. Pidge shook her head, two more idiots who refused to tell each other how they feel.

“So,” Hunk cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him, “Did you guys know Lance talks in her sleep?”

Everyone looked surprised at the comment, even Keith.

Pidge looked up from her tablet and quirked an eyebrow, “Like she mumbles in her sleep?”

Hunk shook his head, “Nope. I mean she literally speaks in complete sentences. All you have to is ask her a question and she’ll answer.”

Pidge’s eyes widened and Shiro cast her a weary look, “Really? Very interesting.”

“Shall we test it out?” Coran asked the group in excitement.

“What should we ask though?” Allura asked as she swept her long silvery hair over her shoulder.

“Something simple.” Shiro suggested as he cast stern eyes in Pidge’s direction. The green paladin pretended not to see.

Keith frowned and turned his body around to look at Lance who had curled up in a fetal position, her face facing them. “How are you feeling Lance?”

For a second nothing happened, then Lance sighed and mumbled out, “Tired.”

“What’s your favorite color?” Shiro asked curiously as he brought his knees to his chest, making the loose black shirt he was wearing wrinkle even more.

“Blue,” Lance mumbled.

Pidge turned angry brown eyes to the black paladin, “Those are way too easy, even I knew them! Let me try!” Pidge turned to the blue paladin and tapped her chin thoughtfully before voicing out her question, “What do you think of Shiro?”

Lance snickered and everyone looked at each other with wide eyes, “Space dad,” she mumbled, Keith started laughing and Shiro made a face before Lance continued, “Took his whistle.”

Allura choked on her tea and started laughing as the rest joined in. Shiro’s jaw dropped and he started crawling his way over to the slumbering paladin, “Lance!” did his voice just break or was Pidge hearing things? “Where did you put my whistle? Tell me!”

Lance scrunched up her eyes and mumbled out a small no. Shiro looked like he wanted to cry, which only made the rest of the group start laughing.

Shiro turned his black eyes on Pidge and made a face, “Hey Lance, what do you think of Pidge?”

“Small,” she mumbled, Pidge bristled and was ready to throw a pillow at her when she continued, “but feisty. I like her.”

Pidge huffed. Well, at least that wasn’t too bad.

“What about Hunk?” Coran asked in his chipper voice. How the man could possibly still be in a good mood at this time of night was beyond her.

“Great hugger. Good cook. Best bro.”

Hunk cast teary eyes at his friend, “Aww, I love you too buddy!”

“What about Allura?” Hunk asked next.

“Beautiful,” Allura giggled into her hand and Keith bristled, “But she needs to chill. Too wound up.”

Amen to that.

“What about Coran? What do you think of him?” Shiro asked.

Lance let out a dreamy sigh, “That mustache,” Coran looked damned pleased with himself, “So pretty. Good storyteller. Best uncle.”

“Why Lady Lance!” Coran beamed as he put a hand to his chest, “I’m quite honored!”

Pidge cast a look at Keith and grinned before voicing out her next question, “What do you think of Keith?”

Keith jumped in his spot on the floor but his eyes turned to look at Lance which such intensity Pidge was afraid he’d set Lance on fire.

After what seemed like forever, Lance smiled sweetly and let out a wistful sigh, “Favorite person in the world.”

Keith turned absolutely red at the declaration but everyone else just cooed and wolf whistled at him. Okay, so maybe having this little sleepover hadn’t been such a bad idea after all. Not to mention the fact that the blue paladin’s room looked pretty cool compared to hers. Pidge especially loved that ‘We Can Dot It!’ poster hanging on the wall. As discreetly as she could she took a picture of Keith’s red face with her tablet and grinned. Lance was going to love this.

“Okay guys,” Shiro said after they’d all settled down, “Why don’t we all try to get some sleep now, we don’t know when Zarkon will find us again, we need all the rest we can get.”

Everyone seemed to sober up at that and Hunk passed out a few pillows from Lance’s closet and handed one to each of them before they all settled down and got as comfortable as they could get in such a tiny room and tried to sleep.

Nyx settled herself on Keith’s chest, Kaltenecker lay down on the floor as Nagini and Nagg slithered over to Lance and curled up.

Lance shifted in her bed and let out a little laugh, “Shiro will never find that whistle.”

That had them all cracking up all over again and Shiro audibly whined and crawled his way over to Lance and tried making her talk but the Amazon princess just turned her back on him.

Man, Pidge couldn’t wait for Lance to wake up. She brought the comedy relief even when she was sleeping.

Lance woke up surrounded in warmth, dimly aware of being in her room. The soft fabric of her blue blanket covering her was familiar, Lance let out a sigh and cuddled deeper into her cocoon of warm blankets.

Her body felt strangely sore, like she’d been in a certain position for so long that it made her muscles ache. What had happened? She remembered fighting that Robeast along with the rest of the paladins, Ulaz included, she was pretty sure they’d beaten the thing.

Lance groaned, she’d probably used too much power and passed out again. Awesome. The blue paladin turned so she was facing the ceiling and blew a breath upward sending a few brown strands flying and gingerly got up as she stretched her arms high in the air and let out a groan of appreciation when she got several satisfying pops in her back and shoulders.

Lance cast blue eyes around her room and blinked slowly when she came face to face with Kaltenecker the cow and the two-headed snake that she’d gotten Shiro as a present. The sound of flapping wings was the only warning she got before Nyx perked herself on her shoulder and nuzzled her cheek.

“Aww, were you all worried about me?” she teased as she brought a hand up and scratched Nyx on the top of her head. Kaltenecker let out a sound that sounded like a snort and the snake just hissed but slithered its way to her lap.

Lance frowned and took a delicate sniff around her room. Keith’s scent was the strongest but she could clearly smell the rest of the teams’ individual scents as well. Had they all spent the night here? How long had she been sleeping anyway?

Lance felt a yawn coming on as she gingerly got to her feet and began to make her bed, the three animals in the room watching her curiously. Its as she was lifting the pillows that she noticed two pictures hidden underneath. Curious, Lance picked them up and a small smile bloomed on her face at the sight of Keith sucking his thumb and the other picture had a blushing Keith. She flipped the first one over and chuckled at Pidge’s hastily written message on the back.

‘Thought you might like these. Don’t tell Keith! -Pidge’

Lance was going to definitely frame this she thought with a smile. Lance ran a hand through her short locks and grimaced at how oily it felt. A sniff at her armpits made her wince, okay it was definitely time for a shower.

Her stomach let out a loud growl as she stepped inside the restroom to turn the facet on. Some food would be great as well. Taking the quickest shower of her life, Lance stepped out and wrapped a blue towel around herself before she walked back to her room and bent down to open the drawers and pick out some clothes.

In the end she decided on some firm fitting jeans and a striped black and white v neck t-shirt and her brown boots. Lathering on some lotion, her skin looked dry, she put the red crystal necklace that Keith had given her around her neck and walked out her room.

The three animals exited with her but went the opposite direction from where she was going on. Where the heck was everyone? What time was it anyway? She could still feel Keith’s presence at the back of her head but it was subdued. Maybe he was tired?

It seemed everyone was on the ships deck; feeling a little nice Lance rummaged around the cabinets and finding what she wanted she smiled and made seven cups of coffee before placing them on a tray and making her way to the ships deck.

As she began to get closer she could already start to pick out the rest of her teammates voices. It sounded like they were arguing about something. Lance caught snippets of Zarkon and tracking them before she stood before the doors.

Noticing her presence, the doors swooshed open and Lance walked in to see the rest of her teammates scattered around and talking amongst themselves.

“It has to be the black lion,” Pidge insisted as she cast weary eyes at Shiro, “You always have to reign her in and try to get control whenever Zarkon is around.”

“There’s no point in debating this further,” Allura said in a tired voice, “Zarkon is clearly tracking us through me.”

There were a few shouts of disagreements at this but Allura cut them all off as she took a seat on the podium and turned angry blue eyes at them all, “Why would that be so hard to believe? Zarkon’s forces showed up on Aron only after I awoke.” Allura sighed wearily and Coran put a comforting hand on her shoulder, “It’s clearly me.”

Keith sighed from where he was leaning on a chair and spoke, his voice oddly quiet, “It’s not you princess. It’s me.”

Everyone cast him weird glances.

“Because?” Hunk asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Keith looked to the side and cleared his throat as he stammered out his answer, “W-well, I just think Zarkon must have imprinted on me or something during our fight.”

Yeah frickin right Lance thought as she leaned back next to the doorway and watched them all with narrowed eyes. Keith probably thought it was because of his dagger. Lance didn’t think that was it though. She couldn’t help but silently agree with Pidge about it being the black lion.

Pidge crossed her arms and yawned, “I still think it’s because of the black lion.” She mumbled under her breath.

Coran tapped his chin as he regarded her, “But that’s only when Zarkon is nearby. No paladin has ever been able to connect with a lion from that vast of a distance.”

“I have to agree with Pidge on this one,” Lance said from her position, “It’s definitely the black lion.”

Everyone jumped as all eyes turned to her

“Y-you’re awake?” Keith gasped, his eyes bright and happy as he practically flew to her side.

“Buddy! You’re awake!” Hunk cried as he ran over to give her a hug only to stop when he realized she was carrying precious cargo.

“Oh man,” Pidge groaned, her eyes widening with happy tears, “Please tell me that’s coffee.”

Lance released a small yawn and nodded, “Thought you all might need this.” She said as she lifted the tray and handed a mug to everyone.

“You’re okay? Does anything hurt? What’s my name?” Keith asked as he hovered around her.

Lance giggled and pushed his mug towards him, which he eventually took at her prodding. “Yes, I’m okay. Nothing hurts, just sore muscles. And your name is Keith. Are we good?”

Keith made a face but nodded reluctantly as he took a sip of his coffee. A hand clamped on her shoulder and Lance turned to see Shiro giving her a warm smile. “Glad to have you back Lance. We missed you.”

Coran and Hunk wrapped her in a tight hug that had her crying uncle.

Pidge punched her lightly on the shoulder and gave her a wicked grin before she leaned in to whisper, “Did you enjoy my present?”

Lance snickered and pinched the green paladins cheeks to her dismay, “Loved it.”

Keith looked back and forth between them and cast them a suspicious look but remained silent. He had black circles under his eyes like the rest of her teammates. Had these guys not slept at all?

Lance smiled as she took a sip of her own coffee and placed the tray on one of the consoles, “Is it weird that I want to go back to bed?”

Keith blinked and scowled, “You’re not going back to bed. Do you have any idea how long you were out?”

“Not really,” she admitted quietly. She shivered and rubbed her hands up and down in an effort to warm up, “How long was I out?”

“Almost five days,” Keith said with a grim expression. He handed his mug to Shiro who took it with a confused frown before he quickly took off his jacket and handed it over to a startled Lance. “You’re cold,” he stated quietly, “Put it on.”

“Oh.” Lance blinked slowly and took the offered item in her hands before she put it on. It was a little big on her but it was still warm so she wasn’t complaining, “Thanks Keith.”

Keith cleared his throat awkwardly and mumbled a small ‘no problem’ before taking his mug back from Shiro who discreetly gave him a thumps up. Keith pretended not to see that as he moved closer to Lance and tucked a gloved hand in his back pocket.

“Anyway,” Keith said with a huff, “I’m glad you’re awake. We were all worried about you.”

“Keith more than anyone,” Pidge mumbled under her breath.

Lance smirked.

As soon as Keith moved closer to her his presence in her mind flared up with a happy feeling and she became overly conscious of him. The sound of his heartbeat seemed to echo in her head and his smell flared up. Lance leaned in close and took a good whiff, Keith always gave off this woodsy and musky scent, if she focused she could barely smell a hint of black pepper which was weird but she really really liked it.

Keith’s heart quickened and Lance grinned, “Keith,” she made sure her voice was a little husky, “You smell fantastic.”

Keith made a strangled noise and someone awkwardly cleared their throat as Pidge began to laugh. Lance cast her eyes to the rest of her teammates and gave them all a wink that had them all smiling widely.

“Allura,” Lance exclaimed upon seeing her sweaty complexion as she briskly walked over to her side, “You don’t look so good.”

Allura cast her a tired smiled but turned her body slightly as Lance put her hands on her shoulders and sent the Altean princess a bit of energy. Allura released a sigh of gratitude and moved her long hair to the side to give Lance a better vantage view. “Thank you Lance. Unfortunately, since the fight with the robeast Zarkon has been finding us again and again,” the princess twiddled her thumbs and released another sigh, “I’ve used up quite a bit of energy making wormholes but I’m sure that I’m the reason Zarkon has been finding us.”

Lance gave her shoulders a light squeeze and shook her head as the rest of the paladins crowded around them, “I don’t think it’s you. It’s probably the black lion,” Allura furrowed her eyebrows and looked ready to argue but Lance cut her off and sent another ripple of energy to her, “Zarkon has been alive for more than a thousand years right?”

Coran nodded slowly, “Then isnt it possible for his bond with the black lion to still be strong?”

The others frowned but slowly nodded as they thought it over. Lance looked around her teammates and frowned, they all looked completely drained. She’d been out for almost five days! Had they been running away from Zarkon that long? When had they even slept? All of them seemed to have circles under their eyes.

“You all look like crap,” she stated.

Pidge rolled her eyes and huffed, “Well excuse us for not having time to sleep like someone we know,” she cast an accusing glare at Lance who simply grinned in return.

“You should all head to bed,” Lance insisted, as she looked them over, “Especially you Allura.”

Shiro sighed and ran a hand through his white bangs, “Lance is right. We should all head to bed, when we’re all rested we’re going to take the fight to the Galra. They’ve been chasing us from Galaxy to Galaxy. Us coming after them will be the least thing they’ll expect.”

Lance grinned and clapped her hands in delight, “So the hunter becomes the hunted? Nice.”

Pidge walked over to her seat and waited for the screens to pop up before she started tapping away, “As it happens I took our list of our current Galra attacks and analyzed it both for commonalities and abnormalities among the attack sites. I was hoping to create an algorithm that would, within a statistically acceptable margin of error provide a target-rich Galra environment, color-coded, of course because what are we animals?”

Lance glanced at the rest of her teammates and was glad to find that she wasn’t the only one wearing a confused expression.

Pidge typed a few more things before she brought a giant picture of the solar system on the screen for them to see.

“So…”Lance said slowly, “It’s a Galra finder?”

Pidge turned to look at her and pushed her glasses up as she began to explain, “Well “finder” would indicate that it locates Galra, whereas it would be more accurate to say that my model predicts their likeliest-“

At everyone’s still confused expression Pidge huffed and threw her hands up, “Fine. It’s a Galra finder.”

Hunk nodded, “Now that makes more sense.”

Keith moved his gaze to the solar system on the screen and frowned, “So, where are the Galra?”

Pidge looked through the picture and pointed at a planet on the upper right, “The closest ones appear to be in a planet called Taujeer.”

Shiro nodded and turned his gaze to the rest of them, “Then that’s where we’re headed. Everyone should get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ll find that Galra fleet and take it out.”

Everyone nodded back and began to head out.

“By the way Lance, where’s my whistle?”

Lance almost tripped on her feet as all eyes turned to her. The blue paladin looked to the side and cleared her throat, the color seemed to have drained from her face, “Uh, what whistle?”

Shiro cast her a look and Lance looked away, “You know what whistle.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Lance.”

The blue paladin made a face and turned to face her leader, “It’s lost forever.”

Hunk looked to the heavens and mumbled a small ‘thank you.’

Pidge snickered beside the yellow paladin.

Keith’s lips quirked up just a bit from his position of leaning against a chair and Allura and Coran exchanged amused smiles.

Shiro pouted but let it go as he turned to the red paladin.

Lance released a relieved breath and waited patiently at the door for Keith to finish his conversation with Shiro.

The others exited with a last wave in their direction.

“Are you okay?” Shiro asked the red paladin, his voice concerned.

Keith avoided his eyes and shrugged, “Yeah, just tired.”

Shiro opened his mouth to say more but Keith walked past him and started heading towards her. The black paladin cast her a look and Lance gave a subtle nod. Shiro’s shoulders relaxed and he gave her a grateful smile before Keith stood next to her and Lance turned on her heels and walked out as soon as the doors opened.

“You okay?” Keith asked, he was trying to watch both her and the path ahead so he wouldn’t trip. Lance didn’t need to look at his face to know soft concern would be there. The red paladin was great at many things, mysterious and unpredictable being one of them but Lance had learned to read his expressions over time and right now he was trying very hard to distract her from asking him questions about his behavior.

It’s a good thing Lance didn’t know when to take a hint.

“Are you okay?” she countered.

The hall was quiet enough for her to hear his fingers tapping anxiously over his leg. “Just tired I think.” Then, after a moment he sighed, “Ok, truth is I’m worried.”

Bingo.

“About your dagger?”

“Yeah. I really think Zarkon is tracking us because of me.”

“And what makes you think that?”

Keith let out a frustrated noise before answering, “It’s something he said when I fought him. He said ‘You fight like my Galra soldiers.’ What if he tracks his soldiers through their weapons? I could be leading him right to us because of the dagger my mom left behind for me.”

“Not likely. But I suppose we can’t rule anything out.”

“Exactly. If I’m the reason Zarkon keeps coming up after us…”

Lance narrowed her eyes at him when he didn’t continue. She delved into his mind and stumbled back in shock when he conjured up a wall to keep her out of his thoughts. Keith never hid anything from her. Why start now?

Keith looked up at her, his expression guilty but determined and tried to walk past her but Lance shot an arm out and held onto it tightly, “What are you planning Keith?”

Keith opened his mouth to answer, but decided against it as he shook her hold on him and took a few steps back. “Nothing. I’m sorry; maybe I’m just tired. I’m going to go to bed, maybe that will clear my mind.” He turned on his heel and started heading to the elevator that would lead to the halls where the rooms were located when he turned back, “I really am glad you’re awake Lance. I missed you.” And then he was gone.

Lance wanted to desperately follow after him but maybe that would push him farther away. She raked a hand through her hair and sighed before she turned in the opposite direction and went to make herself some food.

When Keith was ready to talk, he’d come looking for her.

For now, she’d give him space.

It took her several long seconds to realize Keith was up to something. She was hovering around the milky edges of sleep once again when she felt an itch at the back of her mind. A part of her had been expecting it, even though her body had settled down on the bed with a book settled on her chest, her brain was still active, curled around Keith’s mind without his knowing.

Slowly, so as to not alarm him, she edged closer so she could see through his eyes and gasped. He was packing she realized. His thoughts swirled around in a frenzy as he began to pack his meager belongings in a white duffel bag.

Uncertainty.

Determination.

Sadness.

Firm Resolve.

And then he strapped the duffel bag to his armored shouldered, looked back one last time, and exited the room.

Lance was on her feet seconds after; she quickly shoved her feet in her boots and all but ran to the hanger doors where they kept the lions and the small cruisers in case they didn’t need their lions. It’s a good thing she hadnt changed her clothes or else she would have taken longer.

The sounds of her footsteps were the only noise heard, everyone else remained blissfully asleep. Last she checked, it was almost nearing three in the morning, she’s slept another five extra hours after waking from her five-day nap.

Finally reaching the elevator, Lance pushed the button repeatedly and tapped her leg anxiously as she waited for the darn thing to show up. When it finally did she all but flew inside before pressing the button for the hanger doors, the last floor inside the castle.

As she waited Lance delved inside Keith’s mind again and looked through his eyes to see…Allura?

Well well well.

Looks like the princess had the same idea as Keith.

Idiots the both of them.

The elevator doors opened and Keith let out a surprised gasp as he finally noticed her in his mind. He tried to put a shield on his thoughts but it was too late.

She was already here.

Lance walked through those doors in a brisk walk and cast a glare at both her friends who at least had the good fortune of looking guilty.

Keith stood frozen, his duffel bag in his arms, as he took her in.

Allura’s eyes widened as she took a step back.

Both of them were in their armor, dark circles under their eyes. Keith’s face was drawn in thought, his mouth set in a grim line as Lance stopped a few feet away from them.

Keith brought his hands up slowly, his tone placating “Lance-“

“So you were just planning on leaving without telling anyone?” she cast a glare at Allura before turning to Keith, “Without telling me?”

Keith closed his mouth as his eyes flickered to her as he tried to think of something to say. Lance opened up her mind to him and let her emotions blast through to him.

Hurt.

Betrayal.

Sadness.

Keith flinched as if struck and Allura cast him a worried glance as she turned back to Lance, her voice oddly quiet, “We just want to make sure,” she began to explain, “If Keith and I are the reason that Zarkon is tracking us then we have to leave.”

Lance turned her blue eyes from Keith to Allura and glared, “And you didn’t think about telling us?”

Allura opened her mouth but Lance shook her head, “We’re a team. We’re supposed to do things together, if something like this is bothering you, we would have gladly tested it out. Sure, Shiro might have needed a bit of convincing but he would have agreed eventually.”

Allura bit her cheek and looked down on the floor. Lance wasn’t done yet. “What if it is true? What if Zarkon is tracking you both? Were you planning on dealing with him and his army on your own?”

Keith rubbed the back of his neck as he looked back at her. “It’s not a solid plan Lance,” he started as she turned her gaze to him, “I’m sorry I hid this from you, but we need to do this.”

Lance looked back and forth between her two friends and pinched her nose in annoyance before throwing her hands up in frustration, “Fine!” Keith and Allura relaxed, “But I’m giving you twelve hours,” Keith furrowed his eyebrows and looked ready to argue so she flicked his nose, “Twelve hours, and if you’re both not back by then I’m coming over there myself and dragging you both back kicking and screaming if I have to, got it?”

The two shared a look but nodded.

Lance closed her eyes and released a breath, “Okay. I’ll keep the others from going after you, but please,” she cast them both worried eyes, “please be careful.”

Allura took her hands in her own and gave them a squeeze, “Thank you Lance. We’ll be careful.”

Keith threw his duffel bag inside the battlecruiser before he walked back to her. Allura looked at them both before declaring that she would be waiting inside for Keith when they were done. “I’m sorry,” he said, Lance crossed her arms over her chest, “For not telling you. And I’m sorry about blocking you from my mind earlier-I was scared you’d tell Shiro,” he said quietly, his hand reaching for hers before deciding against it and letting it fall to his side again. “But we’ll be back. And we’ll be careful. I promise.”

Lance looked him over, her gaze assessing before she nodded. “Okay. Just don’t hide things from me again. Please.”

His hand reached for her own and Lance unwound her hands from her chest and let him give her hand a slight squeeze. “I promise.”

Keith turned back to the battlecruiser and before Lance could stop and overthink her decision, she locked an arm around Keith’s neck, turned him back to her and pulled him into the most long-awaited kiss of his life.

Keith let out a gasp in surprise before Lance plunged her tongue into his mouth and showed him how well she could kiss.

Keith let out a moan and put his arms around her neck.

Before he could try and reciprocate, she pulled back and had to hide a grin as Keith’s lips followed after her with a whine. She placed a hand on his lips to keep him from kissing her again, “You better come back, because I’m not done with you yet.”

Keith’s eyes fluttered open, dazed, and blinked slowly until they settled on Lance. “What?” he mumbled.

Lance grinned impishly and gave him a slight push towards the battlecruiser where Allura was currently watching them with a huge grin. She looked like she wanted to squeal. Lance winced; she seriously hoped the princess didn’t let out a squeal. Not that would be embarrassing.

Keith all but fell inside the cruiser and Allura had to help him right himself in his seat and put his seatbelt on for him before Lance backed a few steps.

Keith shook his head and opened his mouth to say something before deciding against it and gave her a firm nod, “When I come back, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“I can’t wait,” Lance said, her hands clasped behind her back.

Keith looked down, and when he looked back at her, his lips were pressed tight together. It made her feel boneless and giddy at the same time. His mind was a blur of colors and lights as images fluttered through his mind, too fast for her to follow.

And then she was seeing herself.

She was seeing herself with the lights in the hanger room reflecting off her chestnut hair, her face flushed and glowing. Her breath hitched, she didn’t know she could look like that. She was beautiful. Was this how Keith looked at her?

‘Yes’ he answered in his mind. ‘You always look beautiful.’

Keith grinned and Lance blushed.

“I’ll see you around, Princess Leah.”

“See you around, mullet.”

And then the hanger doors opened and they were gone.

“Holy fuck.”

“Keith.”

“That was-Jesus.”

“Keith.”

“Please tell me I’m not dreaming.”

“Keith.”

“Jesus fucking Christ! Allura, pinch me.”

Allura did something better, she slapped him across the face.

Keith yelped and put a hand on his throbbing cheek.

Allura cleared her throat delicately and cast a teasing grin at the red paladin who was still looking wide-eyed, “So,” she started, Keith tensed beside her, “How was that kiss?”

For a while they both sat there in uncomfortable silence before Keith finally huffed and tried to speak, “It was-Lance was- holy fuck.”

Allura giggled beside him and patted his knee, “Well, at least now you can tell her how you feel instead of just looking at her longingly like an idiot.”

Keith spluttered beside her, his face turning red all the way to the tips of his ears, “No I wasn’t.” he protested.

Allura snorted beside him and grinned, “Please. Everyone’s seen the way you look at her, figures Lance would be the first to do anything about it.”

Keith turned to glare at her and she grinned.

“I can’t wait to tell the others,” she mumbled under her breath. “I so won that bet.”

“What was that?”

“Oh nothing. Just mumbling to myself.”

Keith looked at her suspiciously and turned his eyes back to the front and slowly started to grin.

Lance had kissed him.

And it wasn’t a dream!

Calm down heart.

Don’t break into dance he chided himself. You’re terrible at it.

He hoped this little side mission of theirs wouldn’t take too long, he already missed the blue paladin. Her presence was still at the back of his head but the farther away they got, the more it disappeared.

He didn’t like it.

Just wait till I get back Lance. I’m going to kiss you back like there’s no tomorrow he promised.

It was almost nine in the morning when Shiro called them up to the ships deck. Pidge and Hunk still looked tired but the dark circles under their eyes had lessened.

Coran was wearing his usual purple and gray uniform as he waited for them on the ships helm, upon noticing their arrival he turned over to them and tapped a few things on the screen before him, “We should be reaching Taujeer’s orbit soon.”

“Good,” Shiro said taking his usual seat at the front, “Raise the particle barrier up. Scan for Galra.” Coran nodded and Shiro looked around the gathered faces before frowning, “Where are Keith and Allura?”

“It appears one of the pods launched in the middle of the night,” Coran announced as he cast them a suspicious glance.

Hunk frowned, “Keith and Allura? That’s surprising.”

“They’ll be back,” Lance mumbled from her seat.

All eyes turned to her and Shiro narrowed his eyes at her, “You knew?”

“I kind of found out but yeah. I already talked to them.”

Shiro frowned and turned back to Coran, “Contact that pod.”

Coran nodded and pressed a few buttons on the screen hovering over him, “Princess, Keith where are you?”

After a minute, Allura’s voice answered back, “Exactly where we should be, far away from the castle.”

Shiro gripped the armrests of his seat, “What? Why?”

“We must know if we are the ones Zarkon is tracking,” the Altean princess replied.

Pidge nodded to herself from her seat, “They’re isolating the variables. Well, two variables in this case.”

“Pidge is right,” Allura said through the speaker, “If Zarkon finds you despite my absence, then we will know with perfect certainty that we are not the one’s he’s tracking.”

Shiro raked a hand through his hair in frustration and shot a glare at Lance, the blue paladin waved, “Splitting up the group will only make us far more vulnerable. Come back to the castle immediately.”

For a few seconds there was no answer, then Allura’s sad voice cut through the speakers, “I’m sorry Shiro but I cannot do that.”

Keith spoke up after the princess and Lance straightened in her seat, “If Zarkon does find us, I can pilot us to safety. We’re in wide-open space with plenty of room to maneuver.” The four paladins exchanged a look before Keith continued, “Plus we’d be able to outrun him. Pidge did add that booster rocket.”

Coran’s orange eyebrow shot up, “That things still on there?”

Pidge grinned mischievously from her seat.

Shiro shot up from his seat and slammed his fists on his chair, “We need both of you back here now!”

Something suddenly slammed into the castle and everyone screamed as the castle alarms started ringing. Lance cast her eyes around to make sure her friends were all right before she turned her gaze to the castle advisor.

Shiro took hold of his chair to steady himself and looked to Coran, “What’s going on?”

Hunk looked up at the screen that Coran just displayed and gasped, “We’re in some sort of debris field.”

Coran let out a grunt and steadied himself before he looked back on the small screen displayed before him, “I believe it’s coming from Taujeer.”

Allura’s voice cut through, her voice frantic, “Coran what’s going-“ and then her voice cut off and all they heard was static.

Coran turned his eyes to them, “Some kind of radiation from the planet is interfering with the communications!”

Lance shot to her feet, “But Keith and Allura are fine right?”

Coran bit his lip before Shiro cut in, “Move the castle away from the planet and reestablish the link. Everyone else get to your lions.”

Everyone nodded and shot to their feet as they started making their way to the hangers.

About five minutes later, all four lions exited the castle and started maneuvering around the scattered debris from the planet Taujeer.

“Look!” Hunk shouted, “There’s some kind of insect ship over there!”

“I see it,” Shiro answered, “Everyone, make you’re way over there.”

Three voices answered back. “Understood.”

As all four lions began to descend on the planet, a large grub-like humanoid alien started heading in their direction. It had four arms; a pale greenish-skinned body that looked a lot like those sumo wrestlers that Lance had seen on TV before.

“I don’t see any Galra,” Hunk said as he looked around the crumbling planet.

Lance sent a smug look at Pidge from her screen, “Looks like that fancy Galra finder doesn’t work. Nice try Pidge.”

The green paladin growled but didn’t say anything.

Shiro landed on the planet first and exited the black lion to meet up with the Taujeerian.

“Thank god you’re here,” it said once Shiro was a few feet from him, its voice sounded oddly robotic, “I am Baujal, the leader of the Taujeerians. The Galra just destroyed our ships engine and left.”

“Rude.” Lance scoffed from inside her lion where she was listening.

Pidge turned a smug look to the blue paladin. “So the Galra were here. Lance.”

Lance made a face but said nothing. Hunk and Pidge snickered from inside their own lions.

“They’ve taken everything,” Baujal continued, oblivious to the three paladins’ conversation, his singular ‘eye’ flashing whenever he spoke, “We must evacuate everyone from the planet before it dissolves completely.”

“How long do we have?” Shiro asked.

As if in answer, the planet let out a rumble and a few pieces broke off before they started floating upward.

"Not long," Hunk anxiously answered.

“We’ve known for years that our planet would lose its outer layer. We’ve constructed a small colony in a nearby moon to wait out the shedding process.” It gestured to the insect like ship behind it with one of its arms, “But then the Galra attacked and they robbed us of our vital resources. They only left us one working engine, stranding us here.”

“Not anymore,” Shiro declared. “We’ll save your people.”

Baujal looked back at the black paladin then at the lions behind him, “I have heard of the legend and valor of Voltron.” It spread two of its arms out and lifted its head at the lions, “Five brave paladins dedicated to-wait. I count only four lions here. Are you not Voltron?”

“Umm, almost.” Lance answered uneasily from inside the blue lion.

Baujal turned back to Shiro, “Where is the red paladin?”

Shiro bit his cheek, “He’s not here, but we can still help you.”

Baujal turned his face to the ground, his robotic voice sounding almost sad, “I would feel better if all five paladins were gathered.”

Shiro arched an eyebrow and started turning his body towards the black lion, “Dully noted. Pidge, Hunk take a look at the engine and see if you can get it to work.”

“Piece of cake,” Hunk happily said, “We’ll get it working in no time.”

There was another loud rumble before a piece holding the Taujeerians ship in place broke off and two of the legs from the ship broke off from the ship making it tilt to the side.

Lance and Pidge’s jaw dropped.

Shiro winced.

Hunk looked at the ship with wide eyes before he said in a small voice, “Would you settle for upright?”

Well this was awkward.

Don’t get him wrong, Keith was glad for the company but after Allura was done teasing him over the kiss that Lance had planted on him before they left (still couldn’t believe that actually happened) the both of them had dissolved into silence.

Allura kept braiding and unbraiding her hair anxiously beside him while Keith desperately tried to think of anything else besides the blue paladin. It was a bit of a struggle really.

He tried looking outside but there was nothing but the blackness of space around them and staring at it got boring all too quickly.

Then he’d let his eyes wander and his eyes would zero in on the mood and transparent bracelet latched on his arms and his thoughts would go back to Lance.

Not to mention the blue crystal necklace around his neck that Lance had given him as well.

Everything seemed to remind him of the Amazon princess and Keith wanted to bash his head in.

He had to stay focused in case Zarkon came after them.

If he were anyone else, he’d probably be rolling around in bed and letting out the biggest squeal of his life over what transpired between him and Lance but he was Keith Kogane. Red paladin of Voltron and pilot of the red lion. Keith would never act like a schoolgirl mulling over his first crush so he settled for doing a little victory dance in his head. Summersaults and all.

At least that was done in the privacy of his mind.

Wanting to break the silence, he turned toward Allura who was braiding her hair for the sixth time, “We’ve been here for hours,” he said as he looked at the time, “Still no sign of Zarkon.”

Allura crossed her arms and sighed, “At least I don’t have to wait alone,” she mused silently, “You have to understand. I would never forgive myself if I’m the reason Zarkon is tracking us. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I led him straight to you and the rest of the paladins. We face such a dire threat from the Galra. ”

Keith frowned, “Well not all of them seem bad, it seems some of them are actually willing to help,” Allura glared at him but Keith continued, “We need all the help we can get.”

“I don’t believe that. All Galra are evil, and any who try to offer help are probably just luring us into a trap.”

Keith silently fumed in his seat; he wanted so desperately to tell her that he’s a Galra. Half-Galra but still. He’s here, and he’s fighting against Zarkon and his army. Instead he bit the inside of his cheek and took a deep breath. Patience yields focus. If he were to tell her now it would only make things worse and Keith didn’t feel like spending however long it takes to test their theory with the both of them yelling at each other.

After a steadying breath Keith turned back to Allura who was frowning in her seat, her arms crossed over her chest defensively, “It just seems crazy to lump everyone together.”

Allura didn’t say anything more and they dissolved into another awkward silence. Allura stubbornly looking outside and Keith playing with the blue crystal around his neck.

It’d only been a few hours but already he wanted to see Lance.

To hear her laugh.

To have her sing to him in his mind whenever she was in a good mood, which was pretty much all the time.

To see her pouting at him whenever he refused to tell her how he guessed the right card from the stack of cards they had found in one of the stalls at the swamp moon.

Keith found himself smiling in his seat, his hand clasped tightly around the blue crystal, unaware of Allura’s piercing gaze.

He hoped this experiment ended soon so he could go back to Lance and the others soon.

He hoped they were all right.

“Assuming we can get the ship back up, the repairs will still take some time.” Pidge announced a few minutes later as she and the other three lions hovered above the Taujeerians ship.

“Which is something we don’t seem to have much of,” Lance muttered darkly.

“We need to slow down the shedding,” Shiro muttered, “But how?”

“Maybe we could stitch it together?” Hunk slowly suggested.

The others frowned at him from their respective screens. “What do you mean?” Shiro asked patiently.

“That new green lion weapon causes vegetation to grow right?” At Pidge’s nod, the yellow paladin grinned, “Well, what if we aim it at the cracks on the planet? The vines could act like stitches.”

Understanding began to dawn on them and Pidge eagerly leaned forward, “The stitches might hold longer-“

“-If we freeze them.” Lance finished with a grin. Pidge smirked back at her and nodded eagerly.

Shiro looked between his teammates and smiled, “Sounds like a plan guys. Pidge, you and Lance buy us some time while Hunk and I will try to lift this ship upright.”

“You got it!” Lance said with a grin.

“No problem.” Pidge said as she cracked her knuckles.

“We got this dude!” Hunk exclaimed.

The four of them split up, the blue and green lion heading over to the worst cracks in the crumbling planet while Hunk and Shiro placed their lions under the Taujeerians ship and began to slowly lift it up.

They worked in silence for a few minutes, Pidge releasing vines into the cracks before Lance showed up with the blue lion and froze the vines to keep it in place.

Shiro and Hunk’s grunts could be heard over the speakers just as the ground where the yellow and black paladin stood began to crumble. Pidge and Lance flew their lions over and fired vines at the cracks before freezing them over.

“Thanks guys!” Shiro grunted out as the ship began to slowly lift from his side.

“We’re doing it!” Hunk cried.

The Taujeerians released mighty cheers from inside their ship as soon as it stood upright once again.

Shiro wiped his forehead from inside his helmet before turning his black eyes to Hunk’s own black eyes, “All right Hunk, time to work on those engines.”

About ten minutes later, Hunk put down his Bayard, the big energy cannon, to his side and released a tired sigh. “All right, it’s not pretty but it should hold.”

Lance looked back at the Taujeerian ship where Hunk had used his Bayard to seal the damaged areas from inside the blue lion. Two red lines curved around the ship where Hunk had melted the damaged areas together making them hold.

There was another rumble that sent Hunk and Shiro to the floor and Lance turned her blue eyes to see a Galra ship firing at them. The Taujeerians ship began to ascend slowly just as the Galra ship threw another purple laser at the ground scattering debris in the air.

Lance let out an annoyed grunt, “The Galra are here.”

“Hunk,” Shiro said once he was back inside the black lion, “Take the yellow lion and hold up the ark. If it falls into the acid, the Taujeerians are doomed.”

Hunk flew the yellow lion to the side of the ship that was tilting dangerously close to the acid and let out a grunt, “Not to mention the guy beneath them,” Hunk said as he made the yellow lion plant its claws into the ground, “Which would be me in this particular scenario.”

“Lance, Pidge we need to draw the Galra’s attention to us. Fire your lasers at it,” Lance and Pidge nodded and flew their lions towards the giant Galra ship, “Coran, I need you to fire back at the Galra ship with the castle weapons.”

“I’m on my way!” Coran shouted through the speakers.

Keith was just beginning to turn and ask the princess if he wanted to play a game of tic-tac-toe to relieve some of their boredom when Coran’s loud voice spoke through the speakers, startling them both, “Keith, Allura are you there?”

Allura scrambled forward, “We’re here Coran. What is it?”

“Zarkon is definitely not tracking us through either of you.” Coran replied.

Keith and Allura exchanged hopeful looks.

“How do you know?” Allura asked.

There was a bit of static before Coran’s voice was heard again, “Because you’re out there, and a Galra fleet just showed up here!” the advisors voice turned urgent, “We need you here now!”

Keith didn’t need to hear more and leaned forward to steer the ship around.

“We’ll be there in two dobashes.” Allura announced.

Keith grinned and pushed a few buttons on the screen, “Even faster than that.”

Allura leaned forward, her expression curious, “What is that?”

“It’s a booster fuel Pidge added to this pod,” Keith answered before he clicked the button. As soon as he did the pod grew warm and they were ejected from the pod with a scream as the ship blew up.

Keith and Allura screamed as they were thrown in opposite directions. The red paladin turned on the jets on his back on and tried to slow himself before he hastily looked in all directions for the Altean princess.

A scream was heard to the right of him and Keith made the jets on his back head in that direction.

“Allura!” he screamed as he began to near her, “Take my hand!”

Allura stretched out her arm and after a bit of maneuvering, Keith managed to clasp her hand and pull her close to him as they finally came to a stop.

The two exchanged a look and said at the same time, “We cannot tell Lance.”

“Oh, good,” Allura smiled, “You agree.”

Keith snorted and looked back the remains of the pod they were just in and grimaced, “Yeah, I don’t think she’d be too happy with us.”

Allura followed his gaze, her mouth set in a thin line, “Does your radio still work?”

Keith released one hand from around the princess waist and tapped his helmet but all he got was static, “Now what?”

The two exchanged a look and nervously looked around but all they saw was the blackness of space. After a few seconds Allura turned back to him, “Perhaps you should try calling for the red lion.”

Keith frowned, “But we’re so far away from the castle!” he protested, “It won’t be able to hear me.”

Allura’s gaze turned firm, “It wouldn’t hurt to try,” she insisted.

He had to admit, she had a point.

Keith blew out a breath and closed his eyes and concentrated with all his might.

Red? If you can hear me, we can really use some help.

Nothing.

Come on girl. I really need you to answer me. The others are in trouble. Lance…is in trouble. Please.

For a minute there was nothing, but then a purr answered his call and Keith’s eyes snapped open.

“Red!” he shouted.

Allura startled in his arms, “Did it work?”

Keith was about to answer when a loud roar startled them both in place.

Keith turned his eyes where the noise had come from and slowly grinned at the red spot he could see coming closer and closer.

Red was coming!

“They’re aiming the ion cannon at the ship!” Shiro shouted over the speakers, “Pidge, Lance attack the Galra ship with your lions jaw blades!”

Lance and Pidge nodded and split up, the green lion went to the right and the blue lion went to the left, as they neared the giant Galra ship they activated the blades on their lions jaw and stabbed a line on both sides of the ship.

Shiro and the black lion headed straight for the ion cannon and released their own blades before striking the platform that was holding the cannon. The ion cannon tilted to the side and instead of firing the ship, it fired at one of the frozen cracks that Lance and Pidge had stitched together.

The crack reopened and large pieces of rock went flying straight at the yellow lion that was holding the Taujeerian ship.

Hunk’s eyes widened, “Rocks!” he grunted out, “Big big rocks heading my way!”

Lance threw them to the side with swipe of her hand, “I got you buddy!”

Hunk released a sigh of relief and gave her a thumbs-up.

The Galra ship started firing more beams at the black lion when Coran finally appeared and started returning fire with the castle weapons.

Lance let out a shout, “Way to go Coran!”

“Perfect timing Coran!” Shiro shouted in relief, “Hunk, what’s your status?”

The yellow paladin looked around anxiously before answering, “Just trying not fall into a pit of acid!”

“By the way,” Coran shouted over the noise, “The red lion kind of ran away?”

“What?” four voices exclaimed.

“It’s fine!” Coran replied, “Probably…”

The Galra ship released even more beams and aimed both at the Taujeerian ship and the castle of lions.

“We’re being overwhelmed!” Pidge shouted over the chaos.

“I can’t hold it any longer!” Hunk shouted.

“Hunk, you have to! If you let go, the Taujeerians will die!” Shiro yelled as he and the black lion ducked under the laser beams firing in their directions.

Hunk let out a groan as the yellow lion began to slide towards the acid, the Taujeerian ship tilting with it. “Come on, come on!” he cried. The Taujeerians could be heard crying and screaming from inside the ship and Hunk let out a fierce yell as he tried to keep the ship from falling.

And then the strangest thing happened, the yellow lion’s eyes glowed and it let out a roar before new armor appeared and covered the yellow lion.

“Whoa!” Hunk happily cried as he looked to one of the screens on his side where it was showing a full display of the yellow lions. “Armor claws! Awesome!”

The yellow lion turned on its blasters from the top and further lifted the Taujeerian ship. “Okay, guys I can keep this thing from falling, but I need your help to get it back up!”

“We’re on our way!” Shiro answered.

The three lions maneuvered around the laser beams still being fired by the Galra ship before taking up positions around the yellow lion and pushed the Taujeerian ship upward in an effort to get it upright once again.

The ion cannon turned on once again and Lance shouted in warning, “The ion cannon looks to be back online!”

“Shit!” Pidge grunted out, “Its aiming right at us!”

“Language,” Shiro grunted out, “We have no choice but to hold our positions, we’re almost there!”

“Oh man,” Hunk cried as he looked back and forth between the Taujeerian ship and the ion cannon that was now aimed at them.

Coran was firing back with castle weapons but they didn’t seem to be doing much damage.

Lance suddenly gasped and whipped her head to the side, her mouth contorting into a wide smile, “Keith!” she cried.

“What?” the three paladins shouted back as they looked around.

The red lion appeared from the right before releasing its jaw blade. Keith avoided the beams fired his way and headed straight for the ion cannon. Just as the ion cannon was about to fire, the red lion’s jaw blade completely snapped it off and it went crumbling down into the acid pond.

Lance and the other paladins released mighty cheers before Shiro’s voice cut over them, “Good to have you back Keith.”

Keith’s voice was heard over the speakers, “Its good to be back.”

“Is the princess with you?” Pidge asked.

“Are you guys okay?” Lance asked.

“Uh, Keith?” Hunk asked, “A little help over here?”

“You got it.” Keith replied, “On my way guys!”

The red lion flew over to where the other lions were waiting and Shiro grinned, “All right guys, no time to get comfortable. Form Voltron!”

“Right!” four voices answered back.

The four lions shot to the sky as one and before the knew it, Voltron was formed.

The Galra ship started turning its weapons to the Taujeerian ship before Shiro spoke up, “Looks like we’ll have to meet it head on guys! Form sword!”

Pidge and Keith brought the arms they were piloting together and formed the red sword.

“Wait,” Lance said through the screens, “Will the sword be able to cut through an entire battle cruiser?”

“It’ll have to!” Shiro shouted back.

“Wait,” Keith said slowly, “I think my lion is trying to tell me something.”

“Yeah, mine too,” Lance said as she looked around.

“I can feel it too,” Pidge replied.

“Same here,” Hunk said.

“Then do it!” Shiro shouted.

The four paladins grabbed the hilt of their Bayard’s and turned it to the side, as if they were turning a key.

There was a glowing light and suddenly the sword that Voltron was brandishing doubled in size and turned blue.

The five paladins grinned viciously and lifted the sword high up in the air just as the giant Galra ship headed for them. Together, they brought the sword down and cut the ship all the way down the middle, as if they were cutting butter. It was so easy.

The Galra ship blew up behind them in a mighty explosion and everyone started cheering.

And then Shiro gasped, “The Taujeerians!”

Hunk looked for their ship through their screens and let out a shout when he found them, “They’re starting to fall!”

“How the fuck are we going to help them? They’re engines are shot!” Pidge exclaimed.

Lance threw her an angry glare, “Language young lady!”

Pidge threw her an angry glare and Keith chuckled in amusement.

“I have an idea guys. Follow me,” Shiro said as he started turning them back to the Taujeerian ship, “And Pidge,” the green paladin turned curious brown eyes to her leader, “Language.”

Pidge growled low in her throat and Lance laughed.

Together they flew Voltron over to the Taujeerian ship and slowly started to lift it up in the air. The Taujeerians screams turned to cheers as Voltron started flying them towards the moon they had readied in case their home planet ever started shedding.

“We did it!” Hunk cried as he threw his hands in the air.

“Good work everyone!” Shiro happily said as they reached their destination and started heading back to the castle of lions.

“I’m so sorry for leaving.” Allura said when they all arrived. The princess had her hands clasped in front of her and was looking down on the floor.

“Me too,” Keith said from beside her, his tone apologetic, “We thought we were doing the right thing.”

Allura glanced up at them and turned her eyes to Shiro who was listening with arms crossed, “But clearly you were correct, Shiro. We are always stronger together.”

Shiro’s lips turned into a thin line before he turned to look at Lance who was watching from behind him, “It’s all right. I suppose Lance was right, you had to test it out. You had to know.”

Lance took a step forward and crossed her arms over her chest; “At least we know that Zarkon isnt tracking us through you two.” She arched an eyebrow and looked at Allura and Keith in suspicion, “Although, I do wonder what happened to the pod you two took.”

Allura and Keith avoided her stare.

Suspicious.

“The fact that the red lion came to help Keith from so far away is a vital piece of information.” Shiro said as he tapped his chin in thought. “We now have proof that a paladin and it’s lion, can in fact, connect over a far greater distance than we realized.” Shiro cast his eyes downward, his expression a little sad, “Which means we finally know how Zarkon is tracking us. It’s through the black lion.”

There was absolute silence as they all took that in.

Lance clamped a comforting hand on Shiro’s shoulders and gave it a squeeze, “Which means we know how to solve the problem. You simply have to strengthen your bond with your lion Shiro.” Lance grinned and cast him a teasing smirk, “You’ll be fine, you’re pretty cool when you want to be. Just be yourself. The bond between you and the black lion is going to be fine.”

Shiro’s mouth twisted into a small smile and he gave the hand on his shoulder a squeeze. “Thanks Lance.”

The blue paladin shrugged, “Although, the bond between you and your lion is nothing compared to mine and blue’s though.”

Pidge huffed and rolled her eyes, “Please, you and the blue lion have nothing on us.”

“Uh, hello?” Hunk piped in, “My lion grew armor for me! Clearly we have a stronger bond than all of you.”

Keith snorted and crossed his arms, “Please, my lion went looking for me a whole galaxy away. Clearly we have a stronger bond than all of you combined.”

That started a whole new argument as everyone spoke over each other as each of them listed examples of why their bond was stronger than the others.

Shiro looked over his fellow paladins and smiled. He sent the blue paladin a grateful nod and Lance beamed. Shiro was feeling much better. Lance was right, all he had to do was strengthen his bond with his lion and they’d be fine. He was confident he could do it, like the Amazon princess said, he could be pretty cool when he wanted to be.

With the others distracted with their argument, Keith took the chance to grasp Lance’s hand in his own and pulled her towards the doors so they could get some privacy.

Allura watched them go with a smile and waited a good thirty seconds before quickly making her way to the center and bringing up the castle monitors until she found the blue and red paladin heading to the kitchen.

Noticing her absence, the other paladins plus Coran curiously made their way over and watched as the princess made the screen showing the blue and red paladin bigger before anxiously looking up at the screen.

“Princess?” Shiro asked in confusion, his gaze going from Allura to the screen where Lance and Keith were being shown. “What are you doing?”

“Shh!” the princess hissed.

Pidge’s eyes widened in realization, “Oh my god.” She breathed as the others cast her worried glances. “It’s finally happening isnt it?”

Allura nodded eagerly, her eyes never leaving the screen.

Pidge started dancing on the tips of her toes as she looked back at the screen with a wide smile, “Oh my god! This is going to be good!”

The three males in the room looked at both women in confusion before Hunk’s eyes widened next and he started trembling. “Oh man,” he groaned out, “Is Keith going to?”

Allura and Pidge nodded.

Hunk let out a squeal that had Shiro wincing before he too started dancing on his feet. “Oh my god. Oh my god. It’s happening!”

Coran finally seemed to understand what was happening because he clapped his hands in excitement and cast eager eyes on the screen.

“Guys?” Shiro asked, a worried note on his voice, “What’s happening?”

“Shh!” his four friends hissed at him.

“Shiro, just shut up and watch!” Pidge scolded him as she took his hand and steered him closer to the screen.

Shiro was so confused.

Twelve hours was a short period of time to be apart, but it wasn’t short enough for Keith not to feel as though he wasn’t missing a vital part of himself at the sight of Lance when they made it back to the castle. As soon as his friends were distracted, he had taken a hold of Lance’s hand and, ignoring the warmth he felt at the touch, guided her away from the others and to the kitchen where they could talk.

“H-hey,” Keith said once he let go of Lance’s hand and she looked up at him in curiosity. The blue paladin opened up her mind for him and let the flow of emotions flow freely towards him: relief, joy, and a longing so deep that it had Keith’s arms trembling at his sides.

“Hey,” Lance said softly. She looked a bit tired after their battle and Keith fought the urge to embrace her tightly. He missed her but he needed to talk to her.

Taking a deep breath, Keith took a cautious step forward and smiled when she didn’t pull away. He wound his mind with hers, the colors blue and red mixing together until they turned into a very beautiful purple. Lance’s breath hitched as he slowly showed her his own emotions: relief, longing, love, and a hint of uncertainty.

He wanted to touch her. Press her against him. He’d missed her. He’d missed Lance so much.

Cautiously, he lifted a hand and Lance’s blue eyes followed it before closing when they settled on her cheek.

A spark of electricity shot around them and Lance’s eyes shot open wide. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered and began to pull away but Keith wasn’t having it, he brought his other hand to her cheek and pressed their foreheads together. Lance blinked at him in surprise and almost whispered out her next words, “It doesn’t hurt?”

Keith shook his head and smiled at her. Lance slowly smiled and placed her own hands on both sides of his face and Keith’s breath hitched. His heart quickened and he bit his lip as he stole a glance at her.

Lance was eyeing him with such love in her eyes that Keith started trembling.

‘Let me touch you. Please, please let me touch you-

Could he? Could Lance hear his thoughts right now? Would she reciprocate? Or would she pull away? His body strained with the effort it took to hold back and he glanced at Lance one more time. Her hair was floating with the static from the electricity that was wrapped around them, her face looked flushed and her eyes were beginning to glow a warm blue.

Keith licked his suddenly dry lips before he finally spoke, “Marry me.”

Lance startled in his grasp but didn’t pull away.

“I can’t make flowery speeches,” he continued, “And I wouldn’t even if I could. I have a bit of a temper and my manners aren’t all that good, I doubt that will ever really change honestly. I’m not the most attractive guy out there and I’m certainly no prince, but if you’ll have me, I promise you, I’ll make you happy. I’ll always have your back, and if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I’ll be there. And if anyone ever hurts you, then I’ll go fuck him up myself,” Lance let out surprised laugh at that and Keith grinned, “After you’re done with him first of course. I love you Lance. And I’d really, really like you to marry me. What do you say?”

The silence that followed made him nervous but his eyes never strayed from Lance’s own beautiful blue, as she looked him over, her eyes a little misty.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “I don’t like flowery speeches, and if you ever make one to me I’ll just laugh at you for it. If your temper ever gets out of control I’ll leave you floating in the ceiling while I watch and laugh at you. You drive me insane Keith. You’re the bravest, most oblivious, and bravest person I know and sometimes I can’t seem to catch my breath when I look at you because god you’re amazing. I don’t care if you’re a prince, I don’t need a prince,” she squeezed his face in her hands and Keith took a shuddering breath as she continued, her voice determined, “You’re all I need. I’ve met hundreds of people and aliens in my life, but none of them could ever compare to you. I love you Keith.” She grinned and pulled at a stray lock of his hair, “Mullet and all. Of course I’ll marry you.”

And then Keith surged forward and planted his lips on Lance with such urgency that the electricity around them grew brighter.

Keith had spent weeks, months really, agonizing over all the time he’d spent not kissing Lance. Their bond ignited, surging with renewed strength. Lance trailed her fingertips softly over the red paladins knuckles, her touch soft and warm.

A cascade of emotions drifted back and forth between them and Keith trembled as he cradled Lance’s head and pulled her closer to him.

Only when the need for air became evident did they part, their breaths heavy as they looked at each other. Lance’s face was flushed, her lips looking a little swollen and Keith surged forward and planted his lips to hers once again. He couldn’t help it. The way she looked…she was asking to get kissed.

Lance laughed through the kiss as the thought drifted to her mind and Keith growled and sucked on her lower lip, grinning victoriously when Lance released a moan.

Of course, Lance got him back a second later when she sucked on his tongue gently and Keith’s eyes shot open. Lance opened her eyes after him, her eyes teasing as she sucked a little harder.

‘I really hope that you haven’t kissed anyone else like this’ he thought with a pout.

Lance laughed in his mind but remained quiet.

Keith did not appreciate the lack of answer as he narrowed his eyes at her.

Someone coughed loudly but they didn’t seem to notice as they continued to kiss. The coughing grew more frantic and Keith and Lance slowly parted to turn and glare at Shiro who was looking a little embarrassed.

Behind him stood Allura, who had taken out a camera and was snapping pictures at them.

Pidge tried to look exasperated but her lips kept twitching into a smile.

Hunk and Coran had tears running down their face and were looking at them happily. Coran even took out a tissue and blew his nose loudly before sniffling a little more.

Noticing that he had their attention, Shiro cleared his throat once again and began to speak, his face a little red, “While I’m very happy for you two, if you could umm, tone it down a little that would be great.”

Keith cast him a glare, “Do you know how long I’ve waited to kiss her?” he demanded.

Shiro jumped in place.

“I’m not stopping now,” Keith declared as Lance started laughing beside him and pecked him on the cheek.

Allura squealed and started jumping up and down, “Congratulations!”

Pidge snorted and grinned cheekily, “About time. Now if you could tell us which one of you made the first move that would be great.”

Lance and Keith exchanged looks before Lance lifted her hand in the air, “I kissed him first.”

Pidge and Allura cheered and Coran and Hunk whined. “Pay up!” the two women declared.

Shiro looked at his teammates in shock, “You guys bet on them?”

Allura snorted as Coran all but shoved a few coins on her palm, “Of course we did.”

Pidge snatched the coins from Hunk’s palm and grinned, “We knew our Lance had more balls than Keith here.”

Lance snorted and started laughing as Keith started spluttering in place.

“I hope you two intend to share your winnings,” Lance said with a teasing grin.

The two women shared a look and shrugged, “Eh, why not? It’s thanks to you we won anyway.”

Lance beamed as Coran swept her in a hug, “Oh congratulations my dear! We must plan for a wedding immediately!”

Shiro balked, “They’re too young!”

“Says you,” Lance said as she stuck her tongue out at him, “I turned eighteen a week ago.”

“What?” six voices exclaimed.

“It’s no biggie, just another year older,” Lance said with a shrug.

Hunk barreled his way over to her and gripped her shoulders hard, “No way dude! We’re throwing you a party! And I,” he said with a huge smile, “Will be making you cake! No arguments!”

“We must plan for a wedding and a birthday!” Allura said excitably.

“We need decorations!” Coran added.

As the rest of the team started talking amongst themselves, Keith stepped beside Lance and took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze.

“I love you,” he whispered lowly.

Lance intertwined their hands together and leaned closer to him, “I love you too, mullet brain.”

Chapter Text

“Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” -Bo Derek

Chapter 14

Shiro did not get paid enough for this. In fact, he didn’t get paid at all. He did his job for free.

Waking up the rest of the paladins every morning at seven a.m. sharp for morning breakfast and training regimens after?

Free.

Making sure Coran and Lance didn’t poison them with their food experiments?

Free.

But also necessary.

Checking up on his teammates and see how they were doing?

Also free.

Giving Keith and Lance “The Talk?”

Not something he wanted to do. In fact, he really really didn’t want to. But it was a necessary evil that must be done as soon as possible because the looks the red and blue paladin kept giving each other spoke volumes.

When Shiro had pulled them both aside and sat them down on the kitchen table and told them what he wanted to talk about, it did not go well.

Keith looked absolutely horrified.

Shiro was partly horrified himself as well.

He didn’t want to do this either.

It was awkward for both parties.

And no one was comfortable.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Pidge and Hunk had all but bolted from the kitchen so fast it astounded him.

Now if they could run like that during training, that would be great.

Coran had started laughing and had run off to get some educational videos that he had stashed somewhere.

Allura turned a little red and discreetly left the room with her mice.

And Lance…

The second the words left his mouth, a wide grin spread across her features and she looked ready to make someone’s life miserable.

In this case, it was Shiro’s life.

The black paladin wasn’t going to lie. As soon as he saw that devilish smirk, he’d wanted to bolt from the table and hide in his room.

Don’t get him wrong; Shiro liked Lance.

He really did.

And she made Keith happy, which made her all the more likeable in his opinion.

Shiro hadn’t seen Keith this happy since the day his friend got chosen to play Peter Pan in his school play and gotten to fly around the room via wires.

But among all the other paladins, Lance was…eccentric.

Not that it was a bad trait.

Honest.

But it did make him want to pull at his hair in frustration sometimes.

Not to mention the fact that Lance loved to endlessly tease him.

Shiro had yet to forgive her about his whistle.

He’d found that whistle on one of the first planets that they’d saved during one of their missions and he had treasured that thing as if it were his child.

It made him feel important, like a true leader (or coach) and it made getting the attention of the other paladins much easier.

Lance had refused to tell him about its whereabouts.

In truth, giving Keith and Lance ‘The Talk’ might have secretly been a way to get back at the blue paladin, Keith being an unfortunate sacrifice, but now it looked like the tables had turned.

His unease only grew when Lance took out a notepad and pencil and leaned back on her chair to get comfortable.

“What’s that for?” Shiro asked her with a frown as he took a seat across from the red and blue paladin.

Lance gave him a sweet smile that had him break out into a nervous sweat before replying, “There’s just so much information you know. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

That was bullshit.

Shiro had learned early on that when Lance smiled like that it only meant trouble.

Beside her, Keith smashed his head onto the table and let out a whine before throwing Shiro an angry glare.

“I already know all about sex Shiro! I got the talk back in middle school, I don’t need a reminder.” The red paladin cast him pleading eyes and Shiro almost, almost, gave in. He’d always been weak when it came to Keith.

The two had known each other since they were young. Both of their parents had known each other for years and eventually Keith and Shiro had become friends. Shiro liked to think of Keith as the little brother he always wanted but never got. After Keith’s dad died, Shiro had been looking after him like his own son. The both of them entered the Garrison together to become pilots and even though Keith’s only friend in the whole place was him, he’d been proud of Keith.

Now, not only was Keith the red paladin of Voltron, the Galaxy’s greatest defender, but had also gotten engaged?

Shiro couldn’t be any prouder.

This was Keith; the kid who thought hitting people in the face with a ball was how you made friends only to be disappointed when he was later avoided like the plague. He’d come a long way since those awkward teenage years.

Shiro shook his head at his friend, “This is just a reminder, and for all you know Lance doesn’t know a thing about sex.”

Someone snorted.

Shiro turned to regard the blue paladin and almost bristled at the ‘poor you’ look she was giving him.

The black paladin arched a brow, “Something to say Lance?”

Lance dedicatedly cleared her throat and shook her head, a Cheshire smile aimed at him, “Nope. Go on, tell us all about sex Shiro.”

Keith groaned.

Shiro straightened in his chair. Right. Best to get this over with. He reached a hand under the table and took out a pickle and a box of condoms.

Keith’s groan got louder.

Lance leaned forward, her blue eyes impossibly wide. Almost innocent.

It didn’t fool the black paladin for a minute.

Shiro cleared his throat and began to speak, his voice clear, “Now then, when a man and a woman get certain urges-“

“They start bumping uglies!” Lance shouted from her seat with a wide smile.

Keith choked on his own spit.

“Lance.”

“Yes, Shiro?”

“Please let me finish.”

Lance nodded her head and leaned forward, her hands under her chin and beckoned for him to continue.

“Anyway, when a man a woman get certain urges, they decide to have sex. The way that happens is for the male to put his penis in the woman’s vagina.”

Lance nodded sagely and started writing down notes on her notepad.

Keith leaned in to take a closer look and snorted.

Shiro felt his eye twitch.

“Okay,” Lance said as she placed her pencil beside her, “Go on.”

Shiro picked up the pickle and took a condom from the box and began to demonstrate how to put it on. Demonstrating how to do this would end this conversation and so Shiro was eager to get it over with. What should have taken no less than five minutes lasted a whole hour.

Keith looked like he stopped breathing at some point and Shiro had to double check his pulse just to be sure his friend was still alive.

Lance was a force to be reckoned with.

She just kept asking question after question that had both males in the room turning red. Shiro had no idea what the blue paladin was writing in her notepad but she hadn’t stopped since he began his talk.

Shiro answered to the best of his ability, he wasn’t going to back down and let the blue paladin win.

Lance smiled wider, had she read his mind he idly wondered, and began to ask about certain scenarios.

Eventually, she started talking about positions and Shiro almost fled to the safety of his room once again when she asked him what his favorite positions were.

Keith was looking up at the ceiling with a dull gaze; probably praying to every deity there was for the table to swallow him whole.

When it was finally over, Lance got up and stretched her hands high in the air; a satisfied smirk on her face as she looked over both males slumped over the table.

“That was very educational, Shiro. I learned so much today.”

And then she patted him on the head and Shiro felt like crying.

She’d so won the battle and she knew it.

Lance ripped off the piece of paper she was writing on, folded it in two, and tucked it under his arms before she pecked Keith on the cheek and started to leave the room.

“I’m going to go hang out with Hunk, see you both later!” And then she was gone.

Slowly, Shiro got up from his slumped position and curiously opened the paper only to bristle.

Lance had drawn a picture of both he and Keith slumped over their chairs with Lance herself standing triumphantly on the table, flashing a piece sign in victory. On the bottom she’d scribbled down something else and Shiro squinted as he tried to read what she wrote.

‘Nice try Shiro. This was fun, anytime you want to challenge me to something just let me know! I might just give you that whistle back!- Love, Lance.

That little vixen had won.

“Your fiancé is terrible.” Shiro blurted out.

Keith snorted and slowly sat up, his blue-gray eyes looking at him in amusement, “You’re just mad she turned the tables on you.”

Shiro got to his feet and tucked the drawn picture in his back pocket, it was a good drawing, and started heading to his room.

“Let me know when we arrive at our destination,” he said with a tired sigh. Keith gave him a last wave before Shiro disappeared into his room.

As soon as he was inside, he took off his clothes until he was just in his black boxers, took out the secret stash of coco puffs that he’d hidden from the others, opened it up and laid on his bed and started eating.

He was going to get the blue paladin back for this he swore silently, just you wait Lance.

“Ladies and gentleman, we’ve arrived at our destination!” Coran announced over the speakers a few hours later. Within minutes the rest of the team had arrived at the bridge where Coran had brought up a screen with various pictures.

Shiro shot Lance an angry glare that only had her smirking before he made his way to the front to get a better look at the screen.

One of the pictures had a younger version of the castle advisor with somewhat longer hair while he grinned at the camera, a few stalls behind him.

The other three pictures had some aliens with four arms looking quite devious.

“Coran,” Allura said with a huff, “You’re not suggesting going into one of those disgusting swap moons. The last time you went, those space pirates took you for everything you had!”

“Space pirates?” Pidge asked with a grin.

Lance shared a look with Keith, “Did we see any space pirates on our last trip?”

Keith shook his head beside her, “Not that I saw.”

“Shame,” Lance with a pout. Hunk patted her shoulder.

Coran’s eye twitched at the interruption and cleared his throat to get their attention again, “Anyway, the Unilu were traders and pirates that roamed the galaxies and dealt in black market goods.”

The castle advisor brought up a few items on the screen as examples before continuing, “Of course, you have to bargain with an Unilu. And boy did they know how to bargain!”

“So we need to stop by and find some Teleduv lenses for the ship?” Hunk asked curiously.

Coran nodded, “While Shiro is busy bonding with the black lion, the rest of us will go down the swamp moon and look for the Teleduv lenses.”

Lance leaned close to Allura and grinned, “So while you guys go look for the lenses, I’ll take Allura shopping for something sparkly.”

Coran cut between them and cast the blue paladin a glare, “This isn’t shopping! I can’t allow Allura anywhere near those filthy, lowballing Unilu hoodlums!” he finished with a cross of his hands over his chest.

Allura turned pleading eyes to Coran, “But I’d love something sparkly.”

Coran turned away, “Look, you’re the only one who can operate the castle and besides you should be resting.”

Lance turned pleading eyes to Coran, “Oh please, can she go? I promise I’ll protect her.”

Allura saddled next to Lance and gave Coran her best puppy dog eyes, “Oh please Coran? Lance will watch over me!”

Coran seemed to consider it and after a while he sighed and nodded. “Fine, but make sure to stick close to Lady Lance.”

Allura squealed and wrapped Coran in a hug, “Oh thank you!”

Lance turned her blue eyes to Shiro and slowly smiled.

Shiro almost took a step back. Almost.

The Amazon princess clasped her hands behind her back and leaned in close to the black paladin, “And just to make sure nothing happens to our fearless leader, I’ll have my pets keep watch over him.”

Shiro paled.

Pidge scrunched up her face, “How will a griffon, a cow, and a two-headed snake keep him safe?”

Lance tapped the green paladin’s nose and expertly dodged the punch aimed in her direction, “You mean Nyx who can shoot lightning bolts, Kaltenecker that can fly-“

Keith whipped his head around to look at his fiancée so fast he was surprised he didn’t get whiplash, “She can fly?”

Hunk frowned at him and gave him a nod. “Uh, yeah. Lance and I go flying on her sometimes.”

Pidge turned accusing eyes at the yellow and blue paladins, “Why wasn’t I invited to this?”

Hunk shrugged, “You were busy?”

Pidge huffed and crossed her arms over her green shirt.

“Anyway,” Lance said with a glare, “We also have Nagini and Nagg who are not only poisonous but can grow at any size they want.”

“What, what?” Shiro screeched.

Lance winked at Shiro and shot him with a finger gun. Keith stood next to her trying not to laugh. He wore a red jacket over his black shirt, his black hair partly mused as if someone had run their hands over it repeatedly, probably Lance.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder and Shiro jumped in place, “So don’t worry Shiro, you’ll be in good hands.”

The smile she gave him was innocent, but to Shiro’s eyes it looked like Armageddon had come early.

Hunk whispered to Pidge, “Are Shiro’s legs shaking?”

Pidge snickered and whispered back, “Big time.”

Hunk smiled a little, “Awesome.”

Coran stomped his foot on the ground repeatedly and the others fell silent. “Now then, we must ready a pod for this mission. We need to find the scaultrite lenses, and just get out.”

Lance started running ahead, “Shotgun!”

Hunk screeched and started running after her, “What? No, you have to be in the pod bay to call shotgun!”

“Since when?”

“Since forever! That’s shotgun etiquette. I wrote the book.”

About fifteen minutes later, the rest of team Voltron was squished inside one of the small pods heading for the swamp moon. Lance and Coran were at the front seats while the rest of the team members were grumbling at the back at the lack of space they had.

Hunk had a pout on his face and was glaring at the wall in front of him. Keith and Allura were squished together and looking uncomfortable.

Pidge looked ready to strangle someone where she sat squished next to Hunk.

“Hello? Back passengers?”” Coran said through the speakers, “Can you hear me?”

“Oh, its so comfy up here!” Lance said with a laugh, “Extra leg room, heated seats, oh man!”

“Stupid Lance. Stupid Shotgun.” Hunk mumbled under his breath.

Keith snorted and smiled.

“Oh, its not too bad,” Allura said with a wince as she tried to move her arm to her lap, only to elbow Keith in the face in the process.

Keith let out a whine and glared at her and Pidge just snorted.

“You were saying?” the green paladin said sarcastically.

“Now, these swap moons are very dangerous environments. So be on your toes.” Coran continued through the speakers, “No weapons or communication devices of any kind! Also, I’ve brought along some disguises.”

Everyone’s eyes shot up at that and they looked at each other with a wince.

“Uh, Coran?” came Pidge’s muffled voice through the gas mask she was wearing, “These Unilu swap meets look an awful lot like a regular mall.”

Coran tapped his chin and turned to look at them with his one eye. An eye patch covered his other eye, his normally smoothed orange hair was spiked up and he was wearing a black and gray trench coat. “It does seem to be a little cleaner than I last remembered.”

He cast an eye over the rest of them and appraised their outfits.

Hunk had shoulder blades with spikes on it, his face covered by hockey mask, and wearing kneepads with spikes on them as well.

Pidge had a gas mask covering her whole face and a bandana wrapped around her head, covering her brown hair. She was wearing shorts while her legs were wrapped in bandages.

Keith was wearing half a mask that covered his eyes, a brown cloak and spiky shoulder pads.

Lance and Allura had been given some fake glasses and some black cloaks covering their whole bodies. An orange bandana was wrapped around their head, obscuring their hair from everyone.

“Still, be vigilant. The Unilu are cutthroat wheeler-dealers. So keep your hands on your coin satchels.”

Hunk lifted his hands and turned his body around to look at the satchels attached to his hips, “Uh, my satchels are empty.”

“Good, “Coran said.

Keith let out a dramatic sigh, “Let’s just get this over with.”

“Yes, right.” Coran said with a nod, “Everyone, fan out and search the area for any Teleduv lenses.” He turned his head and pointed at an object in the distance, “We’ll meet by the giant ticking clock here in one verga. And princess, stay close to Lady Lance!”

Allura nodded her head and Coran stepped away and made his way to the farthest stores in the mall. As soon as he was gone, the four paladins plus Allura shared a glance and slowly began to rid themselves of their disguises and dumped them into the closest trashcan.

Keith turned to Lance to ask her if she wanted to look together when Pidge made her way over and clutched the blue paladin’s left hand and cast him a glare.

“Oh, no,” Pidge said as she adjusted her glasses, “You had her all to yourself for the last few hours, its’ my turn to hang out with Lance.”

Keith frowned and opened his mouth to protest only for Allura to saddle up to Lance and clutch his fiancé’s right hand in her own. The Altean princess cast him an apologetic smile and clung tighter, “Coran said I should stick close to Lance, so that’s what I plan to do.”

Lance looked at both girls clutching her arms with a grimace and turned apologetic eyes to Keith. “Sorry Keith looks like I have my hands full. I’ll see you guys later.”

Keith sighed and tucked a stray hair from his fiancé’s face behind her ear before giving her a small smile, “Stay out of trouble,” he mumbled.

Lance gave him a grin but promised nothing before Pidge and Allura started herding her in a random direction.

Hunk and he shared a look before shrugging and started heading together to a random location.

About fifteen minutes later, the women of team Voltron had found no sign of any Teleduv lenses whatsoever. Pidge was starting to get irritated, they hadn’t found what they came for yet and she desperately wanted to go to the bathroom.

Only problem was that she didn’t read alien and didn’t know which room to go into. The aliens coming out were no help either. What sex was a slug anyway? In the end she just decided to hold it in.

Lance and Allura kept stopping whenever they saw something shiny and weren’t even trying to look for the Teleduv lenses.

Pidge looked around with narrowed eyes and started searching for her companions when she spotted a familiar brunette doing finger guns at a couple of alien girls who giggled. Pidge rolled her eyes and marched over there in a huff.

“Can I interest you in the latest Earth fashions? I have a new selection since you’re last visit.” An alien with light gray skin who was wearing some rapper clothes, an area fifty-one hat, and some bling on his neck and shoulders asked as he looked over at the Amazon princess with a leer.

Pidge picked up her pace until she was right beside her friend and started pulling on her red long sleeve, “Lance, come on! We have to get back at the ticking clock in a forty-five minutes.”

Lance gave her a smile and gestured at the store, “But Pidge, wait, look at all this crazy Earth stuff this alien is selling!”

Pidge scoffed as she looked inside the store, “We’re suppose to be looking for the Teleduv lenses, and you’re looking into the one store we know for certain won’t have-“ Pidge’s eyes widened and she let out a gasp, “Oh, my gosh! Is that the Killbot Plasm one? The first journey into to the depths of the demon sphere?” Pidge’s brown eyes grew even brighter as she let out another gasp and picked up another box as Lance looked at her in amusement, “Oh! Mercury Gameflux Two! With the original power glove that gives you infinite lives if you touch the index finger to the pinky!” Pidge hugged the box to her chest and gave it a squeeze, “We have to get this! How much is this?” she asked the alien.

“Twelve hundred GAC.” The alien said blandly.

Pidge scrunched her brows together and turned to Lance, “Is that a lot?”

Lance crossed a hand over her chest and tapped her chin with her free hand, “Well, compared to what we have, which is none. Yes, it’s a lot.”

Pidge muttered a curse, “What happened to the money we won from that bet?”

Lance gave her a weird look; “I bought some customized shirts for everyone. They should be ready in half an hour.”

Pidge felt like pulling at her hair and took hold of the Amazon’s hand and started dragging her away, “We have to find some money! Come on!” she looked back at the alien watching them in boredom and shot a finger at him, “Don’t sell that game!”

“By the way,” Lance said as she let Pidge drag her, “Where’s Allura?”

Pidge stopped in her tracks so suddenly that Lance bumped into her. Pidge rolled her eyes and shot her a look, “I thought you were suppose to be watching her!”

Lance huffed and took her arm back from Pidge’s death grip, “Relax. I can smell her. She’s close.”

The two paladins walked from store to store, Lance stopping and sniffing the air a few times before nodding to herself and making a beeline to a store that was selling jewelry. The Altean princess was inside, her face plastered to one of the glass cases looking over at a golden necklace with such longing, it made Pidge roll her eyes.

“Come on Allura,” Pidge said as she started tugging the Altean princess’s white and purple dress, “We have to find some money. There’s a game I want to get.”

The Altean princess’s pointy ears perked up at the word ‘money’ and she looked at her with a wide smile, “Yes. I agree. We should find some money because I’m not leaving this place without that necklace!”

Pidge made a face, “Where do we find money though?”

Allura tapped her chin in thought before sighing, “I am not sure. Lance, what do-“

Lance was nowhere inside the store. Pidge sighed deeply and rested both hands against her cheeks, dragging the skin down and let out an exasperated sigh. Is this how her mom felt whenever Pidge disappeared from her sight whenever they entered a store?

The green paladin took hold of Allura’s hand lest she disappear on them again, and started marching them both outside the stall to look for Lance who had disappeared.

Again.

Weren’t these two the adults in this situation?

Pidge should not be looking after them. It should be the other way around.

Fortunately, the Amazon princess had not gotten very far. She was standing a few feet away, her arms crossed over her red long sleeved shirt before tucking both hands in the inside back pockets of her black jeans.

Pidge marched over to her in a brisk walk; Allura almost tripped on her lilac heels, and punched her in the back. Lance didn’t even flinch. Curse her thick skin.

“Lance!” Pidge practically screamed at her, “What are you doing? We need to find some money fast!”

Lance didn’t even budge, only continued to stare.

The green paladin followed her gaze and frowned, what was so interesting about a dirty looking bar? The place looked like trouble and the occupants inside looked even worse. Some of the aliens looked like they were ready to throw a punch if someone so much as talked to them.

Others were playing what looked like pool and others were playing in a corner playing darts.

Pidge didn’t see what was so interesting about that.

“Hey Pidge,” Lance said, a mischievous grin starting to form on her lips, “Ever heard of a hustle?”

And just like that, Pidge remembered why she loved the blue paladin so much.

How had it come to this Keith thought with a frown. He gave the chain wrapped around his ankle another experimental tug and growled when it didn’t come off.

This wouldn’t have happened if Hunk hadn’t felt the need to taste every dish they had on this goddamn stink fess that called itself a restaurant.

Honestly, Keith had thought the dishes on display were free samples as well so he had kept quiet as his friend sampled everything in sight.

Unfortunately, just as they were about to leave an older looking Galra with a scowl on his face and a dirty apron wrapped around his waist had come up to them with a bill demanding they pay for the food they ate.

Hunk had apologized and admitted that he thought they were just free samples only for Sal, the owner, to narrow his eyes at them before taking hold of both the yellow and red paladins collars and dragging them to the kitchen inside his restaurant where he chained them both to the nailed down stations inside to pay off what they owe.

Keith pouted, he hadn’t even done anything.

Hunk let out a sigh where he was standing in his own station still washing dishes, “Already tried that dude. Doesn’t want to come off.”

Keith threw his hands up in frustration and dropped the plate he had been washing onto the ground in the process. The plate smashed onto the floor with a deafening crack and both paladins winced as a purple-headed Galra popped his head in, took a look at the smashed plate, and glowered at both paladins.

“You just added to your sentence,” Sal grumbled before disappearing back outside.

“You can’t do this to us you asshole!” Keith screamed at the owner of Vrepit Sal’s only for his scream to be ignored.

Keith kicked the robot chef at the front in frustration.

Hunk turned to look at the elderly blue lady with the long beard who was washing dishes on the ground with a bucket, “So, how long have you been working here?”

The elderly lady looked up at him, her hands slightly trembling as she continued to do her job, “Sal brought me here when I was a little girl.”

Hunk and Keith looked at each other with wide eyes. “Oh boy,” Hunk mumbled nervously. “Are you sure Lance can’t come and help us out?”

Keith sighed and leaned back on the sink before crossing his ankles, the chain rattling at the movement, “Already tried. Whatever she’s doing, it’s keeping her busy. Mostly she’s laughing too much in her head to even notice my voice.” Keith frowned and looked to the side as he tried to hide a smile, “Probably causing some trouble.”

Hunk grinned as he wiped his hands with a yellow rag, ”Lance? Oh most definitely. But remember, Pidge and Allura are with her too.”

Keith paled as his eyes grew impossibly wide, “Oh my god. Pidge and Lance together? They’re probably destroying public property.”

Hunks own eyes grew wide and he turned a little green, “Oh my god, you’re so right. Those two combined only means trouble.” The yellow paladin suddenly gripped Keith’s shoulders and shook him, “We have to get out of here! Who knows what those two are destroying!”

“Maybe Allura will keep them in line?”

Hunk looked at him like he was an idiot, “Dude, Coran’s not with her to tell her what to do. Her only companions are Lance and Pidge, and trust me, those two can rope anyone into doing whatever they want.”

Keith could not deny that fact.

Allura had probably already been converted.

Poor thing.

Keith gripped the yellow paladins hands and gently pried them off his shoulders before heaving out a sigh, “Okay, but how do we get out of here? I still say we should just battle our way out of here, I don’t mind punching a few aliens here and there.”

Hunk looked at the red paladin like he’d lost his mind and Keith bristled and huffed, “Well, what’s your idea then?”

Hunk tapped his chin and looked at the sponge he was using to wash dishes, “Maybe we can scrub our way out of here?”

Keith gave him a droll stare and Hunk’s cheeks turned red, “Well it was just a thought,” he mumbled under his breath.

The robot chef at the front started shooting out lightning and twitching before it collapsed on the floor with a thud, smoke coming out of it.

Sal leaned in to check what that noise had been only to let out an annoyed shout at the crumbled chef on the floor. “Oh great, now who will be my sustenance preparer?”

Hunk perked up and spoke, “Un-cuff us Sal. We got this.”

Sal let out a snarky laugh as he looked them over, “You two?”

“Trust me. I’m an enthusiastic gourmand with an incredible palate and my friend here knows how to follow my exact orders.” He gestured to the robot on the floor with a grimace, “Also, your robot is dead on the floor.”

Sal rubbed the small purple beard on his chin, “Hmm. That last part is true.”

With another annoyed grumble, the Galra owner un-cuffed both paladins before cuffing them to the crumpled robot on the floor to Keith’s annoyance, “All right, work.”

Hunk cracked his knuckles and patted an uncomfortable looking Keith on the back, “We got this buddy.” A blue machine on the wall popped out a new order and Hunk took the scrap of paper with a grin, “Ok, now watch this!” the yellow paladin frowned and Keith leaned in to get a closer look only to make a face at the scribbles written there in another language, “I can’t read this.” He turned to Keith and the red paladin shook his head. Hunk shrugged his shoulders and tossed the note to the side, “Oh well, we’ll improvise!”

Keith quickly gathered the knives and some spices that his friend pointed to and hastily passed them to him.

The red paladin watched in amazement as Hunk quickly chopped a few vegetables, fried some weird looking meat and tossed it into the air expertly, before cutting the meat in small portions and placing it on the plate that Keith passed him.

Sal leaned in to peer at the completed dish with a scowl as Hunk began to sprinkle something on the dish, “Do you smell how the tanginess of tuber masture really brings out the charred flavor of the palmogoren fillet?”

Sal still looked dubious but straightened up from his slouch and lifted his hand to pull at the pull chain attached to the ceiling to call in the order only for Hunk to smack his hand away. “No, no we won’t be using that,” thank god Keith silently thought, that thing released a loud horn like noise that was really irritating, “Let’s just say, number forty-four your order is up.”

A petite blue alien lady with pink ears glanced up from her seat before smiling and making her way to the front to pick up her meal and taking it back to her seat. “Enjoy your meal!” Hunk yelled at her.

All three males curiously looked on as the blue alien lady cut the meat in a smaller portion before picking it up with a fork and placing it in her mouth.

The alien let out a moan and brought her hands to her cheeks before smiling widely.

Sal looked on in astonishment and pointed a purple-fingered claw at her, “What did you do to her face? It’s cracking.”

Keith snorted and rolled his eyes.

Hunk jabbed him on the ribs before answering, “She’s smiling! She’s enjoying her meal.”

And then Sal did one of the strangest things Keith had ever seen; he smiled. The Galra gave Hunk the next order and the yellow paladin grinned before pulling Keith close to him. “Okay buddy, let’s provide some sustenance!”

“Man, you ladies suck.” An alien male with green skin and three eyes said as it slung an arm around Lance’s shoulder and pulled her close. The green paladin bristled and cut between them before Lance punched the shit out of this guy. Not that she could blame her; the little sleaze ball kept eyeing the Amazon princess with a look that had the green paladin on edge.

The green alien male backed away and threw a glare at Pidge as she stood protectively beside Lance but made no other move besides that.

Allura was leaned over the pool table, her tongue sticking out in concentration as she hit the balls with one of the cues she was holding and let out a disappointed sigh when none of the balls went inside the holes.

“Looks like we’re winning ladies,” a red snake-like humanoid alien said, its yellow eyes looking them over with a grin.

Lance grinned, as if she were waiting for an opportunity to play her trump card, which she had. “Let’s do double or nothing.” She pointed at the green skinned alien and then at Pidge with a grin, “You versus her.”

Pidge looked up sharply, “Lance, I’ve never played this before. Are you sure?”

The blue paladin gave her a secret look and Pidge furrowed her brows as she tried to decipher the meaning behind the look her friend was giving her. Lance clamped a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze, “You’ll be fine Pidge. Trust me.”

Pidge still looked dubious but she picked up a pool cue as the red snake alien, Ulavi, racked the balls. The third alien that looked more like an oversized orange slug with an eye patch broke the balls and Pidge watched as the balls ricochet off each other and rolled to a stop.

Across the table, Allura gave her a thumps up, Lance smiling encouragingly beside her, and suddenly Pidge understood the Amazon’s plan.

The green paladin grinned and circled the table before leaning forward with her cue and struck. Three striped balls flew across the table in different directions, far away from the holes before they mysteriously rolled to the closest hole and sunk.

The three males’ eyes bugged out of their heads.

“Was that okay?” Pidge asked innocently.

Ulavi rubbed his eyes, “Yeah,” he croaked. “That’s fine.”

Lance was grinning, the proud grin of a woman who’d gotten exactly what she wanted while Allura was trying to muffle her laughter with her hand. Lance must have clued her in on the plan.

The game continued for the next few minutes, Pidge’s shots mysteriously making their way into the holes thanks to Lance turning them in the right direction with her powers. Every now and then, Lance let some of the green paladins shots miss their marks as to not arouse suspicion.

In the end, Pidge pocketed ninety-five GAC, which wasn’t nearly enough for what they needed so Lance suggested they play darts.

The males, wanting to win back their money, agreed immediately.

Not surprisingly, Lance dominated the game and pocketed another ninety GAC.

By then, most of the bar occupants had wandered over and had challenged them to various other games.

Allura and Lance wholeheartedly agreed, a couple of drinks in their hands, and Pidge grinned viciously as they kept winning game after game. They didn’t even have to cheat on some.

Ulavi made a rumbling noise deep in his throat but challenged them to another game.

They only had ten minutes left until they had to meet back with the others back at the ticking clock and get the game and necklace that Allura and Pidge wanted.

Pidge turned in her stool so she could get a better view of her friends who were playing a board game with six other aliens a few tables away. There was a crowd surrounding them, some of them taking bets on the side to see who won in the end. Pidge took a drink of her cold milk, she’d asked for a cold one and they’d given her milk, Lance almost bust a gut when she saw what they’d given the green paladin to drink.

Apparently you had to be a certain height in order to order any kind of alcohol. Pidge was off by a few inches! It didn’t help that Lance and Allura refused to share their own drinks with her as well. The Amazon princess had gotten a blue drink with smoke coming out and it smelled really sweet. Allura got some red drink that had her staggering; it smelled of pineapple and lemonade.

The sound of numerous gasps had the green paladin making her way over to the gathered crowd to see what the big fuzz was about.

All eyes were on Lance; mixtures of horror and surprise aimed her way. All eight players had a few cards in their hands, another deck with facedown cards sitting next to them. Pidge turned to Lance to see her with a mischievous grin on her lips; two rolls of dice in one hand while the other hand carried her five cards.

“You’re not serious!” Ulavi said, his cards trembling in his grip, “If you play Chitzoni there’s a fifty-fifty chance that he’ll attack all the opposing armies and bring you victory in one fell swoop sure, but if you roll an eight or lower, he’ll turn on you instead and obliterate your army.”

An octopus looking alien slammed one of its tentacles on the table, his red eyes raking over Lance with a leer, “She’s bluffing!”

From across the table, a buff alien that looked a lot like a magickarp on steroids shook his head back and forth, “She wouldn’t dare…”

The other aliens in the gathered crowd-about a dozen of them-smirked and snickered at the discomfort the other players were feeling.

Allura just watched their friend, a stunned expression on her face, and watched in silence.

Perhaps she knew the rules to this game Pidge thought.

Lance looked she was enjoying the attention, it looked like she was trying her best not to start laughing maniacally and freak everyone out. Instead, the blue paladin leaned forward and shot them all a broad smile, “That’s just a risk I’m willing to take.”

The gathered crowd gasped and the other players in the table started shaking in their seats.

Ulavi licked his mouth and narrowed his yellow eyes at her, “Do it then. If you dare.”

Lance’s smile turned wicked and she raised a fisted hand in the air before opening her palm and dropping the two rolls of dice on the table.

The only sound heard was the melancholy song playing through the speakers, as the crowd grew quiet.

Everyone surged forward and watched with a burning look as the dice continued to roll. Some of the other players looked like they were praying, Allura had a death grip on her drink, Pidge tightened her grip on her glass of milk before deciding to chug it down in one go.

The dice rolled one, twice, and stopped.

Everyone leaned forward and Lance started laughing like an evil villain from a Disney movie as the players threw down their cards with a curse.

Some of them even started crying in their seats.

Allura let out a sigh of relief and gave a still laughing Lance a tight hug. Pidge let out a whoop of joy and ran to her friends’ side.

“So how much did we win?” the green paladin breathlessly asked when she made it to their side.

Lance looked back at Ulavi who was staring at his deck like it had offended him and gave him a sly smirk, “Tell her. How much did I win?”

The red alien gritted his teeth and mumbled something under his breath that Pidge couldn’t hear.

“I’m sorry,” Lance said, not looking sorry at all, “What was that?”

Ulavi slammed his hands on the table before rising to his feet and shouting, “Eighteen thousand GAC!”

Pidge’s eyes almost bugged out of her head as she stared in shock. Holy Shit.

Someone suddenly slammed into her and Pidge lost her grip on her now empty glass of milk and gave a shout only to stop midway as the glass stopped its decent and hovered in the air a few inches away from smashing into the floor.

“Here you go Pidge,” Lance said as she returned her glass to her with her powers.

The crowd gasped.

Ulavi shot to his feet again and pointed an accusing finger at the blue paladin, “You cheated!”

Lance blanched and the color seemed to drain from her face. Oh crap.

This wasn’t good.

This wasn’t good at all.

The rest of the players shot to their feet as well and began to surround Pidge and her friends as they threw shouted insults at them.

The three women from Voltron shared a look before nodding. Time to go.

Lance shot to her feet, gripped the edge off the table and threw it at the crowd.

“Run!” she shouted.

Pidge didn’t need to be told twice.

A fight soon broke out, the other patrons of the bar wisely taking cover, while the bartender tried to stop all the nonsense. Pidge could have sworn she saw him take out a shotgun and aimed it anyone who came close to him.

In the chaos, Lance managed to swipe the bag of money from the floor and pulled Pidge and Allura to the closest exit.

Someone grabbed hold of Pidge’s collar and the green paladin let out a yelp as she was ripped away from her friends. Lance and Allura stopped in their tracks, dodged the punches and chairs aimed their way, and punched the tentacle alien holding onto Pidge so hard she swore she heard something snap.

Despite the chaos, Lance was laughing her head off. The Amazon princess looked like she was having a grand time slamming bottles onto people heads, knocking a few aliens with a stool, at some point she even grabbed Ulavi and swung him around like a sword.

The phrase ‘Hit a motherfucker with another motherfucker’ came up in her head when she saw both her friends throwing bodies around.

Pidge couldn’t help but laugh alongside her; Allura was punching anyone who came within three feet of them but she was laughing hard too.

Man, Pidge thought with a sly grin, if Lance ever had a bachelorette party she hoped it went just like this.

At one point, someone slammed a chair over the Amazon’s head and everyone gasped.

Lance just turned around and glared before throwing out a punch that sent the alien through a few walls.

Pidge winced. Best to not tell Keith that.

Finally finding the exit, all three women surged forward and closed the door on the still furious crowd and took a few deep breaths.

The crowd was still pounding their fists at the door but Lance seemed to have no trouble keeping it close with one hand.

Her short brown hair looked like a rats nest, her red long sleeve shirt had a few cuts but she wasn’t even sweating. She was still smiling widely as he gripped the bag of coins in her hands.

Allura’s long silver hair looked no better, her dress had been cut to make running away easier and her bare tan legs were showing but she too looked giddy with excitement.

Pidge straightened up her askew glasses and winced when she saw that the sleeve of her yellow and green shirt had been ripped. Her short brown hair felt a little wet but she’d had a great time.

“So,” Lance said with a smile, “Shall we go finish our shopping?”

Pidge seriously loved the blue paladin she thought with a grin.

“I said over medium!” Hunk shouted as he shoved a piece of meat to Sal’s face and shook it, “Does this look over medium to you?”

Sal was standing ram rod straight, his eyes looking up at the ceiling to avoid the angry glare that the yellow paladin was directing at him, “No chef.”

Hunk threw the meat onto the floor and Keith let out a laugh before Hunk’s black eyes zeroed in on him. Oh crap.

“If it ain’t perfect, it’s not coming out of this kitchen! Keith, on your feet and get to work!”

Keith straightened up and gave the yellow paladin a salute before rushing to get the plates and spices for his friend. The blue bearded alien lady was going back and forth with piles of dirty dishes in her hands.

Sal was rushing back and forth and taking orders from the huge crowd they’d gathered. Keith felt a spark of amusement from Lance and he tried to zoom in and get a visual to find out what the fuck had her in such a good mood before Hunks eyes met his again and Keith surged forward to place the finished items on the plate.

Sal had un-cuffed both of them quite a while ago but Hunk refused to leave just yet.

The yellow paladin gave the finished products an assessing eye before declaring that they were good to go.

“Sauce me!” Hunk yelled and Sal appeared beside him in a flash, a yellow bottle in his hands that he handed over to Hunk.

“Now you’re getting it!” Hunk yelled as he threw the bottle behind his back and easily caught it without looking back before he smeared a good portion on the plates before him. “Bon appetite!”

The crowd let out a round of applause at the show and Keith silently clapped along. Was cooking always this fun? No wonder Lance and Hunk liked to do it together. That also explained all the laughing those two did whenever they were in the kitchen by themselves.

Perhaps he and Lance could try cooking something together sometime…

A fat blue alien male with dark blue ears seated on one of those scooters old people use to get to their destinations, this one hovered, appeared and got in the yellow paladins face as he narrowed his eyes at him, “I got you pirates!” he declared as he cast a glare at Keith as well, “Where are your friends?”

Oh crap.

A mall cop.

Hunk let out a yelp and stumbled back before turning to Sal, “Don’t forget what I thought you! Those are the fundamentals of cooking!”

And then he leaped forward so high he stepped on the blue aliens face before he was on his feet and running.

Keith let out a startled laugh and stepped on the mall cop as he was getting to his feet and tried to catch up to the yellow paladin.

The mall cop let out a yelp and tried to get on his feet.

Time to find the others and get the fuck out of here.

“Look!” Keith shouted as he pointed ahead, “There are the girls!”

Hunk turned to look ahead of them and sure enough all three women from their team were there coming out of a store with bags of merchandise in their hands.

"How come it looks like they got in a fight?" Hunk yelled to him as they began to get closer. Keith narrowed his eyes, he didn’t know but he was going to find out.

The sound of shouting had both paladins turning their heads to see about a dozen burly aliens with bruises all over their bodies come running. One of the aliens looked around before pointing an orange finger at Lance and the girls.

“There they are!” he screamed.

The crowd surged forward and Lance laughed as she put both hands on her hips. “You’ll never take us alive!”

And then Pidge gripped the Amazon’s wrist and started dragging her away, Allura hot on their heels as the crowd began to chase after them.

Hunk and he shared a look before picking up speed and catching up to his fiancé who was still laughing, and the rest of their friends.

“What did you guys do?” Hunk yelled in accusation once he caught up to Allura.

The Altean princess gave a small shrug and refused to say anything.

Suspicious.

Keith picked up his pace before he took one of the bags that Lance was holding and intertwining his hand with her now free hand.

“What did you do?” the red paladin asked as they turned a corner in an attempt to lose the crowd.

Lance sent him a pout that didn’t fool him for a minute, “What makes you think I did anything?”

Keith opened his mouth to answer but someone shouted over him.

“It’s the brunette! She cheated!”

Keith gave his fiancée a droll stare and Lance’s lips twitched.

Pidge let out a shout of laughter where she was running on Lance’s other side. The green paladin was gripping two boxes to her chest, one of her sleeves in tatters.

Allura’s dress was cut showing her bare legs and Lance looked no better.

“Get back here you pirates!”

Lance turned around to see a blue alien in a flying scooter yelling after them and shot Keith a grin.

“What did you guys do?”

Keith shut his mouth with an audible click.

“Guys!” Allura shouted frantically, “It’s a dead end!”

The rest of the paladins turned to look ahead of them only to see that she was right. The escalators were in the opposite direction, right where the crowd of burly aliens with bruises on them was waiting for them.

Lance grinned and surged forward as she pulled Keith along.

“Everyone jump!” she shouted.

“What?” they screeched.

“Trust me, I won’t let us fall!” Lance shouted over her shoulder.

The other four shared a look before picking up there pace and jumped over the railing with a shout.

The crowd of burly aliens slid to a stop and threw them a vulgar gesture that had them grinning.

Lance spread her arms out wide and was laughing up a storm as the rest of her teammates screamed.

“Lance!” Keith screamed as he shook the arm he was gripping in his own hand.

Hunk covered his eyes as they neared the ground and screamed.

Allura put her hands around her dress and followed his example.

Pidge gripped the boxes in her hands tightly before shooting a glare at the blue paladin.

“Lance!” Pidge screamed as she tried to maneuver in the air to get closer to her and Keith. “Do something!”

They were almost about to be turned into pancakes when a force suddenly slowed their descent and they landed on their feet.

Hunk kissed the ground and mumbled a small thank you to the heavens.

Allura let out a warning shout that had them all turning to see the mall cop hot on their heels.

With a scream, they resumed their running.

“Hey look!” Pidge screamed breathlessly, “It’s Coran!”

Sure enough, the Altean advisor was just coming out of a store, a bag cradled to his chest when he finally spotted them.

“Dude!” Hunk shouted at him, “We have to go!”

Allura gripped his hand when he stretched it towards her and all six of them picked up their pace as they shoved aliens to the ground in their haste to get away.

“Look!” Keith shouted as he pointed ahead, “There’s the exit!”

As one they all neared the gate and looked back to see the mall cop slid to a stop in his scooter.

“That’s right you pirates! And don’t let me catch you in my jurisdiction again!”

“We got the lenses!” Coran shouted once they made it back to the castle of lions.

“Where’s Shiro?” Keith asked as he looked around.

The doors to the bridge opened up and in came Shiro with Nyx, Kaltenecker and Nagini and Nagg hot on his heels.

The black paladin threw a smirk at Lance before reaching down and cradling Nagini and Nagg to his chest.

Lance narrowed her eyes and huffed.

Keith let out a laugh before turning to his long time friend, “So did you find a way to bond with your lion?”

“Yes,” Shiro said as he rubbed Nagini on the head, “And we should get moving. We’re headed for the blade of Marmora headquarters.”

“I’ll plot a course!” Coran announced and quickly left.

“By the way,” Shiro said as he looked over the women in the team, “What happened to you guys? You look like you got into a fight.”

Lance smiled at him so wide her white teeth showed, Allura and Pidge quickly placed their hands over the Amazons mouth to keep her from talking.

“Nothing.” Pidge and Allura said.

Shiro gave them a droll stare before pinching his nose and letting out a long-suffering sigh, “Was it illegal?”

The women shared a look, silently having a conversation with each other before finally shaking their heads.

Keith leaned in close and took out a piece of…wood? From his fiancé’s hair and raised a brow at her.

Lance blinked her eyes innocently and took the piece in her hands, “Now how did that get in there?”

Allura and Pidge covered their mouths to hide their snickers.

Shiro opened his mouth to question them again before the Amazon shoved a black shirt at him. Shiro caught it with one hand before spreading it wide and let out a scowl. “Really Lance?” he turned the shirt over and everyone laughed at the words ‘Space Dad’ written there.

“It suits you.” Lance said with a smile.

Shiro looked up at the heavens as if asking what he did to deserve such teasing from the blue paladin. Lance handed the rest of the team a shirt and everyone laughed at the words written there.

Keith’s shirt said ‘Mullet.’

Pidge’s shirt said ‘Tech Expert.’

Hunk’s shirt said ‘Best Bro.’

Allura’s shirt said ‘Princess.’

Coran’s shirt said ‘Best Uncle.’

And Lance’s shirt said ‘Sharpshooter.’

“I guess we better put the rest of the bags away,” Allura said as she gripped the golden necklace around her neck with a smile.

“While you’re doing that, I’m gonna hook up the game Lance and I bought!” Pidge said as she looked around in excitement.

“Yeah!” Lance exclaimed with a fist in the air, “Let’s get this baby set up!”

Pidge took out the cables and looked around the room to see where they could plug the game in, “Where can we…How do…”

Pidge and Lance’s eye twitched.

There was nowhere for them to set up their game.

Pidge let out a blood-curling scream, “No!”

Chapter Text

“The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.” 
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Chapter 15

“Coran, how soon until we reach the Blade of Marmora base?” Shiro asked from behind the castle advisor.

Coran let out a hum as he tapped a few things in the monitor before him. Allura was standing at the center, both arms stretched at her sides as she guided the ship. Pidge and Hunk were standing beside her, expressions curious.

Keith himself was seated on one of the chairs to the right of the Altean princess, his expression serious.

“Based on the coordinates that Ulaz gave us,” Coran began, “We should be there in fifteen dobashes.”

Pidge shook her fisted hands up and down in excitement as she turned to Hunk, “I can’t wait to see it! I mean, they were able to fold space-time and that was just at an outpost!”

Hunk let out a moan as he put a hand over his stomach, “Mmm, the space taco. It left us too soon.”

Pidge made a face at him, “Well, sure, but my point is, imagine how amazing their home base will be!”

Hunk grinned at her, “Exactly! It could take on any shape. Like a space jelly donut!”

Keith shot them a glare from his seat, “Guys! This is a serious mission. Focus!”

Hunk and Pidge jumped in place and shot him a nervous look.

Shiro turned to look at his friend, his eyes narrowed, “Keith. Why don’t you go and get Lance, we’ll be reaching our destination soon. She should be here.”

Keith furrowed his brows but got to his feet and started heading to the doors. From what he could sense, Lance was at the training room so it shouldn’t take too long.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder just as he reached the door and Keith turned to see Shiro eyeing him in concern. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been a little on edge since we started making our way to the Marmora base.”

Keith sighed and raked a hand through his black hair, “Sorry. Just a lot on my mind I guess.”

Shiro didn’t look convinced but nodded, “Go check on Lance,” his eyes turned teasing, “I’m sure that will make you feel better.”

Keith shot him a glare but didn’t deny it.

Lance was hovering cross-legged in the middle of the training room, about twenty steel plates that weighed more than sixty pounds hovering around her in midair. Her hands were on her knees, her eyes closed and her short chestnut hair floating around her. Every now and then blue sparks of electricity shot from her fingertips.

She was wearing black leggings and a blue strappy back sports bra that Keith immediately liked.

“Lance.”

His fiancée tilted her head in his direction but didn’t open her eyes.

“Coran says we’ll be reaching the base in fifteen minutes. You’d better come to the bridge.”

This time, Lance did open her eyes and the red paladin got his first look at those beautiful blue eyes that he loved so much look over him with a frown.

Her mind curled around his in question; Keith tried to hide his anxiousness from her but he probably didn’t succeed if the frown she gave him was any indication.

“Don’t freak out.”

Before Keith could question her on what she meant, he let out a surprised yelp as Lance began to raise him up in the air until he was hovering next to her.

“Just relax,” she said to him as he flayed his arms around in a panic, “I won’t let you fall.”

It took a bit of doing, but in the end Keith managed to sit cross-legged in front of Lance who was looking at him with a grin.

The red paladin let out a huff, “A little warning next time.”

Lance had the audacity to laugh at him and Keith felt his lips twitch in amusement. Okay, so maybe it was a little funny.

“You’re agitated,” Lance stated as she looked at him curiously.

Keith couldn’t help but deny it; Lance rolled her eyes and leaned forward to place her index finger between his eyes. “This little frown always gives you away.”

Keith sighed and took hold of her hand to give it a squeeze. “Just a little anxious about reaching the base,” he admitted as he ran his fingers over her knuckles, “Maybe this time I’ll actually get answers about this blade that mom left me. Maybe she was part of the Blades.”

“Maybe Ulaz will be there,” Lance added helpfully, “Or maybe their leader knows something about it. It can’t hurt to ask.”

Keith gnawed on his lip. “Yeah, hopefully someone knows something.” He glanced around the still hovering steel plates and turned back to Lance who was peering down at a big book. The red paladin squinted and upon closer inspection, noticed that it was the book that Lance’s mom, the queen of Cloyetera, had given to her before they departed all those months ago. “So, what are you doing?”

Lance gestured to the steel plates with her left hand, “Training.”

Keith nodded absently and poked at one of the steel plates hovering a little too close to him. The thing didn’t even budge.

His fiancée placed the thick book in her lap and flipped a few pages before pointing at something. Keith leaned forward to get a closer look but frowned at the scribbles written there in another language. “According to this book, my great-great grandmother had the ability to put a protective shield around her body that would put the user in a deep sleep.”

“A deep sleep?” Keith asked with a tilt of his head, “Like snow white kind of sleep?”

“What’s a snow white?”

Keith waved his hand, “You know like in the Disney movie where this evil witch gave this girl a poisoned apple that put her in a deep sleep with the condition that only her true love would be able to wake her up.”

Lance looked quite interested, “Really? Fascinating. Sounds romantic.”

Keith frowned, “I don’t think the girl appreciated eating a poisoned apple that put her in a deep sleep.”

“Details.”

Keith snorted, “So is it like that?”

Lance tapped her chin and flipped to the next page, “Kind of? This protective shield covers the users whole body. It starts from the tips of their toes all the way to the top of their head. The user has to set a condition that will wake them up though.”

Interesting. “What kind of condition?”

“It can be anything really. For example, the user can put the condition that once they’re in a safe place they’ll be able to wake up. Or the presence of a certain someone will wake them from their deep sleep. Look see?”

Keith leaned forward to look at the pictures and saw a picture of a woman slightly glowing with her eyes closed. There were a few words written next to the picture and Lance flipped the page and began to read. “According to this, my great-great grandmother was a spy on the run that knew she was going to get caught sooner than she expected. Just as her enemies were closing in on her, she hid herself in a shed and started putting the shield around herself. It uses all your energy; just as the doors were ripped open, my great-great grandmother collapsed in a deep sleep.” Lance flipped the page again and Keith eagerly leaned forward to hear more, “Her enemies tried everything to wake her up. Burning her, stabbing her, drowning her…at some point they tried to just bury her alive but nothing worked. And what was more surprising was the fact that no harm came upon her. The shield perfectly protected her. She just slept on, oblivious of what was happening around her.”

Keith’s eyes widened, “Whoa. Pretty cool. How long did she stay like that?”

Lance skimmed ahead, mumbling under her breath as she read ahead, “It says here that she stayed like that for three years!” Lance and he shared a wide look, “At some point, her husband’s people found her and brought her body back to him. As soon as he came within a few feet of her, she opened her eyes and embraced him.”

“Holy shit,” Keith expertly avoided the punch aimed his way as he looked Lance over with a quizzical look, “Can you do that too?”

His fiancée tapped her chin, “My mother seems to think so. I’d have to try it at some point just to be sure though.”

“I’ll gladly help out.”

Lance snorted and tapped his nose to his annoyance, “You’re just hoping I put the condition of you kissing me to wake me up.”

Busted.

He shrugged good naturedly, “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

Lance laughed and smiled, “Want to see something cool?”  

Keith gestured to the floating steel plates, “Cooler than this?”

“Definitely.”

Lance took her hand from his grip and hovered her two hands in front of her lap. At first nothing happened, but as he continued to stare, something began to form between her palms.

“Come on, come on,” Lance muttered under her breath.

It was a sphere Keith realized with a jolt. A blue transparent sphere, the size of a snow globe really, that had appeared.

Lance wiped the small bead of sweat from her forehead and gave him a cheeky grin. “Pretty cool, right?”

Keith clapped his gloved hands together and Lance laughed, “I’ll say. What is it?”

The blue paladin tilted her head as she considered her answer, “I think it’s a shield.”

“A shield?”

“Yeah, I can make it bigger.” She scratched her nose and let out a nervous laugh, “Well, this is as big as I can get it so far. It used to be the size of a marble. Anyway, I tried punching it, stabbing it, even hit it with one of my lightning bolts but it didn’t even crack.” His fiancée leaned forward eagerly, her expression excited, “Imagine if I can make it bigger! I could shield the whole team from any incoming attacks!"

Keith found himself smiling, her joy was contagious. He was already feeling better, just like Shiro knew he’d be once he saw Lance.

Speaking of Lance, she was still talking and making wild gestures with her hands as she pointed at things from the book. Noticing his intense stare, his fiancée stopped abruptly and gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’m rambling aren’t I? Sorry, I must have gotten carried away. It’s annoying right? I’ll stop now.”

Keith placed his elbow on his knee and put his chin on his fisted palm, his face serious but his eyes teasing, “Well, I think you’re purr-fect.”

Lance’s jaw dropped.

“Are you an astronaut? Because I can see stars in your eyes.”

Lance’s lips twitched.

Keith fluttered his eyelashes and gave her a coy smile, willing himself not to break character, “Are you an omelette? Because you’re making me eggcited.”

Lance threw her head back and started laughing, the steel plates around them twitching. Keith grinned, even as Lance lightly punched him in the shoulder. The small blue sphere that she had created dissolved into dust just as her concentration broke. “Keep that up and I might drop us both by accident.”

Keith gave a one handed shrug, “I’ll catch you in my arms.”

A blush crept down her neck and she cleared her throat.

Keith was getting good at this flirting thing he realized with a grin. Before he’d met Lance, he would have never talked like this to anyone. He would have died from embarrassment at just the mere thought of it. But now, after meeting the Amazon, he didn’t mind it so much.

Although he only did it in front of Lance, he didn’t think he’d ever be ready (or willing) to do it in public in front of other people.

And if he ever did it in front of Pidge…he’d never live it down.

And if he did it in front of Shiro…forget about it.

“So are you done with your training?” Keith asked as he leaned his arms back only to remember that he was hovering in the air and the action might make him fall. Luckily for him, Lance didn’t let him fall to what would have been a pretty embarrassing drop.

The blue paladin hummed to herself before pointing a finger to one of the stools in the left corner of the room where a stopwatch sat on top of it. Lance made a beckoning motion and the stopwatch flew to her hand.

“I’ve been at this for almost forty-five minutes. I suppose I can call it a day.”

His eyebrows shot up, “Forty-five minutes? Lance, that’s awesome!” he reached forward and ruffled her hair. The action had her smiling widely; he’d learned back in Cloyetera that Lance liked to be praised, add in a pat to the head or a slight ruffling of her hair and you’d get a wide smile in return.

Keith leaned forward and Lance met him halfway, their lips connecting softly.

With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer. Her right arm went around him. Keith eagerly leaned in more and felt his thoughts slide away.

He was suddenly too warm, too everything.

Her breath was a soft murmur against his skin.

Sparks of electricity shot forward as Lance trailed her hands through his hair. Despite how much she teased him for having a mullet, the Amazon couldn’t seem to stop herself from running her hands over his black hair.

Keith didn’t mind, a little hair pulling never hurt anyone.

The Amazon princess seemed to love it when he did it to her after all. Now if she could grow her hair a little more…

The blue paladin laughed in his mind as the thought drifted to her. In retaliation, Keith nibbled on her lower lip and Lance released a needy moan that had him smiling.

Kissing Lance never got old. In fact, it was one of his favorite past times, he could kiss her all day and never get tired of it.

Unfortunately for him, his teammates did not seem to appreciate it (except for the Alteans, they seemed to love it) and let out loud groans whenever the two of them started a make-out session.

Lance insisted that they were just jealous.

Pidge assured them with a roll of her eyes that they weren’t.

Lance insisted they were in denial.

If it lasted too long or got a little loud, Shiro would come and break it up to Keith’s annoyance. The black paladin could be such a prude.

Lance pulled away first and Keith almost whined at the action. “We have to get to the bridge, I think our fifteen minutes are up.”

It took a pathetically long time for his thinking to change directions, from the make-out session that he and Lance just had, to the mission they were about to start once they reached the Blade of Marmora base.

Keith let out a loud groan but sighed in defeat. “Fine.”

He was not pouting like a five year old, he swears it.

Lance began to slowly lower them to the ground, the steel plates and the book included, until their feet touched the ground.

The blue paladin stumbled and the steel plates fell with a resounding thud as Keith caught his fiancée in his arms before she could fall to the floor.

“Sorry,” she mumbled onto his black shirt, “Guess I used a little too much energy.”

Keith gripped her shoulders and looked at her in amusement, “Piggy back ride?”

Lance blinked at him, the corners of her mouth tilting up, “Oh, my god yes.”

The red paladin released a small laugh and turned around before crouching, “Climb on.”

Lance didn’t need to be told twice. With an eagerness that didn’t surprise him, Lance hastily clamored onto his back and placed her hands around his neck. “Giddy up horsey!” she lightly hit him on the sides with her legs and Keith rolled his eyes but complied.

“Stop squirming Lance! If you fall I won’t be carrying your carcass back.”

Lance snorted and lightly bit him on the shoulder, “Please, you so would.” She poked his cheek and Keith turned his head in an attempt to bite her finger only to miss, “Because you love me,” she sang as she leaned a little closer.

Keith suppressed a shiver and tilted his head to the side so he could cast an annoyed brow at her.

Lance’s chin was perched on his shoulder, her blue eyes shining in the light as her chestnut hair fell to the side. She was looking at him with a sweet smile and his irritation melted into fond exasperation.

They passed the kitchen and walked along the white hallway, the lights bright as they made their way to the bridge where the rest of their teammates were waiting for them.

“And know how it rains, and know how it pours,” Lance softly sang against his shoulder, “I never could feel this way, for anyone but you...”

Keith laughed even as Lance bit his shoulder in an attempt to make him sing along. “Moby?”

“Yes,” Lance said, humming under her breath. “It’s a good song.”

“I know,” he grinned, his face lightning up at the sight of Lance’s face nestled into his neck, still singing softly under her breath.

If only it could always be like this he thought. But they both had responsibilities, they were paladins of Voltron and they had been given the task of taking down Zarkon and his army.

Plus, Lance would one day become queen back in Cloyetera and lead the Amazons.

Still…having moments like this was nice. Before Lance had joined their team, everyone had been pretty wired up. Keith most of all. He’d always be off in the training room, always tense and serious, hardly talking to his teammates.

All he would think about was the mission.

It was his sole purpose.

He didn’t have anything back on Earth.

His father had died when he was in middle school and didn’t have any relatives for Keith to be handed over to.

He’d been in foster care for a while but it never really worked out.

They’d always return him.

If it wasn’t for Shiro and his family adopting him in high school he might have gone crazy.

He and Shiro had joined the Garrison during their last years of high school and sure he hadn’t made any friends there but he was okay with that. He still had Shiro and that was enough.

But then Shiro had disappeared in a mission and presumed dead.

His whole world turned apart right then and there and eventually he got himself kicked out of the Garrison.

To distract himself from the loss of his friend, Keith had focused on the strange frequency that he had accidentally intercepted.

That’s when a small cruiser crash-landed on Earth and Keith had found Shiro again. That’s how he met Pidge and Hunk; they had seen the crash as well and had gone to investigate.

Once they’d gotten Shiro to a safe place, Keith had been overjoyed, his friend was back!

His friend had told them about the Galra and how they wanted something that was located on Earth.

Keith told them about the frequency and that’s how they found the yellow lion inside one of the caves.

Hunk had been the only one able to turn it on and that’s how all of them found themselves taken to space where they found Allura and Coran in a healing chamber.

With the Alteans awake, Keith was given a new mission, a new purpose and he dove right into it.

Thinking back on it, he couldn’t help but wince at how he used to act. He was always so serious, he’d get so angry at his teammates whenever they joked around while on a mission but now he realized that it was just their way of coping.

Meeting Lance changed him.

She’d been able to make him smile, and laugh.

God, it had been such a long time since he’d laughed. It was nice. Everyday he was thankful for meeting the Amazon princess and even more thankful that she’d agreed to marry him.

Keith knew he wasn’t the most attractive guy out there, and he didn’t get jokes all that well but Lance seemed to love him despite all his little flaws.

Everyone on the team seemed to love her as well.

With her around, his teammates were openly smiling more often.

Even Shiro was smiling, despite all the teasing Lance did to him.

He loved Lance.

And she loved him.

When they finished their mission and they defeated Zarkon, he was going to take her with him and travel the universe and show her everyday how loved she was.

“Oh Keith…” Lance murmured, her voice breaking a little.

Keith stopped in his tracks and blushed. Had she heard all that?

Lance kissed him on the cheek and clung tighter, “Oh yes. I definitely heard.”

Great. Now he was feeling embarrassed. He was such a sap.

Lance laughed, “Well I happen to love this sap.”

Keith smiled and stopped before the two metal doors leading to the bridge. “Looks like we’re here.”

“So it seems, perhaps after this you and I could have some alone time?”

Keith’s heart stopped. Was she insinuating…

The doors to the bridge swooshed open and Keith practically staggered inside. The rest of their teammates turned to greet them and frowned.

“Keith?” Shiro asked, taking a step forward in his direction, “Are you okay? You’re looking a little red.”

“Umm,” was all he could manage.

Lance jostled him and he crouched down so she could get off.

Pidge snorted, her brown eyes teasing, “It was probably Lance’s fault.”

The blue paladin grinned and shot a finger gun at her, “Bingo.”

Hunk and Allura chuckled in amusement and Coran wiggled his eyebrows in Keith’s direction that only had him turning redder.

“Lance,” Shiro slightly scolded, his body turning to the Amazon, “Stop teasing him. He can’t handle it.”

Keith bristled even as the rest of his teammates gave confirmations of their own. A tap to his mind had him turning to look at his fiancée.

‘We’ll talk later’

Damn straight they will.

“The base is in range.” Coran announced.

All eyes turned to the castle advisor at the front.

Shiro crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, “Take us in slowly.”

“Umm,” Coran nervously mumbled, “That might prove a tad difficult.”

Hunk gasped beside Pidge, “Is that a black hole?”

“No, no no no,” Coran said with a shake of his head, “It’s two blacks holes. And a giant blue star.”

Before them were two black holes with a giant blue star in the middle. The sheer brightness of it had all of them shielding their eyes.

Hunk made a face, “That’s not better.”

Pidge stepped forward, her eyes on the two black holes, her expression serious, “No kidding. Just inside one black hole the temperature is one millionth of a degree above absolute zero. But, just outside of that, its hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius.”

Hunk made a sound of understanding beside the green paladin, “I get it. So it’s like when you try to nuke a frozen burrito in the microwave, and it comes out scorching hot on the outside, but it’s still frozen in the middle.”

Lance released a moan, “Great. Now I’m hungry.”

“Guys,” Keith warned them, “Focus.” The red paladin turned to the castle advisor, “Coran, where’s the base located?”

Coran looked back on the blue screen before him before tapping a few buttons and zooming in on the giant blue star. “There,” he pointed at three black spots, “In between those three deadly celestial objects.”

Pidge made a face, “The perfect defensive position.”

“Or the perfect trap,” Allura added with a scowl. Her blue turquoise eyes were narrowed as she looked at the screen. She’d changed into her pink and white armor, her long silver hair tied in a tight bun so she could be ready for anything.

The yellow paladin shot a nervous look around his teammates, the orange cloth wrapped around his forehead slightly tilting at the side, “Yeah, I’m with Allura on this one. Maybe we shouldn’t like, go in there at all?” he suggested nervously as he played with his fingerless black gloves.

“What?” Keith snapped, his black eyes turned to slits as he glared at Hunk, “This is the whole reason we came out here! We have to go!”

Lance placed a comforting hand on her fiancée’s shoulder and Keith took a deep breath. “Calm down. They get that, they’re just being cautious.”

Keith slumped and sighed, “Right. Sorry. But we have to go,” he insisted with a pout.

Hunk waved away his apology and offered him a big smile, “No worries dude. We should be careful though.”

“Right.” Keith offered him a small smile before turning to look at Shiro who was watching everyone, “So, what do we do?”

Before the black paladin could say anything a strange purple symbol appeared on the screen and a robotic female voice spoke, “Identify yourself.”

Shiro narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his black jacket, “Open a hailing frequency, Coran.”

The castle advisor nodded and leaned forward to do what their leader said. After a few more taps, Coran turned to Shiro and nodded.

Shiro nodded back and turned to the screen before him, “We are the Paladins of Voltron, sent here by Ulaz.”

Everyone waited with baited breath to see how the Blades of Marmora would respond. After what felt like an eternity, the symbol on the screen changed and the robotic female voice was back, “Two may enter. Come unarmed.” And then the screen turned back to the giant blue star sitting between the two black holes.

Allura narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her armor, “Why would they insist we come unarmed?” She turned to look at the black paladin at the front, “Shiro, this doesn’t feel right.”

Shiro frowned but turned back to the screen, “I know. But we’ve come too far to turn back now.”

“Besides,” Hunk added helpfully, “If they try to do anything to us, Lance should be able to see it coming.” He nudged the blue paladin on the ribs, “Right buddy?”

Lance tapped her chin, “If they’re within a certain distance yeah. I should be able to read their thoughts and if they come aboard the ship, I’ll definitely know.”

“They’ve sent us a route to the base,” Coran announced from where he was peering down at his screen, “We’ll have to move fast though, because of the solar flares it’ll only be open for another varga. After that, the entrance will close for two quintants.”

Hunk gasped, “They’re going to close it for two years?”

Lance giggled as the green paladin gave Hunk a droll stare, “Two days.”

Shiro nodded and walked up to his longtime friend, “Keith you’re with me. The rest of you will stay here and guard the ship while Keith and I take the red lion down.”

Lance gave him a mock salute, “Don’t worry Shiro. The ship is in good hands.”

Shiro gave her a reassured smile, “Thanks Lance. And while we’re gone, no food experiments with Coran.”

Coran’s shoulders drooped and he kicked the ground with a pout as Lance turned indignant eyes at the black paladin, “But dad!”

Shiro’s eye twitched at the name, “No Lance. Don’t make me send you to your room.”

Lance’s jaw dropped even as Pidge started laughing and she turned to glare at Allura whose lips were twitching, “Mom! Do something!”

Shiro choked on his own spit and Keith had to fight the urge to start laughing as Allura simply shrugged her shoulders and shot the black paladin a grin, “Sorry Lance. Listen to your father.”

Shiro shot accusing eyes at the Altean princess as everyone began to laugh at his expanse. The black paladin pinched his nose and prayed for patience, “You guys are terrible.”

Pidge and Hunk grinned. “Please. You love us.”

“Unfortunately,” said Shiro, exchanging looks with Keith who shrugged his shoulders, “Anyway, you ready to go?”

“Ready when you are.” Keith said.

“Then let’s go.” Shiro said, and began to walk to the metal door before turning back to Lance who was giving Keith a goodbye hug, “And Lance,” the blue paladin turned curious blue eyes at him, “Put a shirt on.”

Lance rolled her eyes, “Goodbye Shiro.”

Minutes later, Shiro and Keith were both boarding the Red lion and making their way to the Marmora base. Both of them had changed into their paladin armor, Keith was in the pilot seat while Shiro stood beside him leaning forward.

So far so good Keith thought as he maneuvered Red on the route they’ve been given.

“Keith, is everything all right?” Shiro asked as he turned to regard him.

Keith didn’t even turn to him, his eyes trained on the monitor before him. “I’m fine.”

“You almost blew up at everyone over there. You’ll have to control your emotions if you’re going to lead this team today.”

Keith let out a nervous laugh, his eyes briefly looking at Shiro before turning back to the screen, “You’re joking right?”

Shiro shook his head, “if anything ever happens to me, I want you to take over and lead Voltron.”

Keith made a face and he gripped the controls in his grip a little tighter, “You and I both know that Lance would be much better suited for that role. She’s a princess, she’s been trained to lead people.”

Shiro frowned as he looked him over, “While I agree with that, Lance has already turned me down.”

Keith whipped his head to look at his friend, “She did what?”

“She thinks you should do it. Lance and I both agree that you have lot of potential, so if anything ever happens to me, you’ll take over and Lance will be more than willing to help you out.”

Keith scowled. A part of him wanted to bash his head in. He didn’t want to be a leader. He wasn’t cut out for that. That role should go to Lance, at least the Amazon princess already how to lead with all the training she’s had to do in order to take over the crown and rule the Amazons back in Cloyetera.

“Why are we even talking about this?” Keith asked as he tried to change topics, “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

Shiro clamped a hand on his shoulder and Keith turned to look at his long time friend with a pout, “It’s just in case. I need you to get focus. When you and Allura ran off, you put us all in jeopardy so if you’re going to be a leader someday, you need to put your head on straight.”

Keith sighed; it was no use arguing against Shiro when he got all serious like this, “Sorry. I’ve just had a lot on my mind.” He allowed himself a small smile, “Lance helps though.”

“So I noticed,” Shiro said, a teasing smile forming and Keith let out a relieved smile, thankful that the topic had been successfully diverted. He wasn’t going to become leader. Nothing was going to happen to Shiro and if something did, gods forbid, he’d make sure that Lance took over the position.

His fiancée was a goofball but she knew when to get serious. Lance was strong, everyone on the team already loved her, and she’d make a fine leader.

Better than he ever could.

“I’m glad she makes you happy,” Shiro continued, oblivious to his inner musing, “But could you tell her to give me back my whistle already?”

Keith smirked, “Not a chance.”

Shiro pouted, his bottom lip wobbling, “Oh great. She’s converted you too.”

Keith laughed.

The Red lion suddenly started shaking and both paladins let out shouts of surprise. Shiro took hold of the back of the chair and gripped it tightly as to not lose his balance. “What’s happening?”

Keith let out a grunt and tried to steer the Red lion, “It’s one of the black holes! It’s pulling us in!”

The Red lions alarms were blaring in warning from the inside and Keith let out a frustrated growl as he tried to get control back. He turned on the boosters on the Red lions back hind legs and used the floating rocks as leverage and jumped from rock to rock until they successfully managed to get away from the black hole that had been steering them in.

Keith let out a relieved sigh and wiped the small bead of sweat on his forehead and willed his wildly beating heart to calm down, “We did it. We’re out.”

Shiro let out a relieved sigh of his own and smiled at him, “Good job Keith.”

Keith beamed at the praise.

“Over there!” Shiro pointed with an armored hand. Keith followed his gaze to see a particularly giant black asteroid shaped like a curved animal tooth that was floating around. It had spiky edges at the top and from he could see, purple lights flashing out from what he assumed were windows.

The red paladin steered Red towards it and landed safely on top of the giant rock. Shiro and he exited and frowned upon seeing nothing but a flat black surface.

Keith exchanged a confused frown with the black paladin, “Is this it? It looks like a plain asteroid.”

The ground a few feet from them started rumbling before the ground began to part. Keith and Shiro both took defensive stances only to relax once they saw two Blade of Marmora members appear from the parted ground.

Both Galra were dressed in nothing but black body suit armor, a black cloak around their heads, and a black mask with three glowing circles, two where the eyes would be and a third purple glowing circle where their nose would be.

One of the Blades was tall and lean, the ceremonial sword strapped to his thigh while his partner looked pretty bulgy, two daggers on his back and the ceremonial dagger strapped to his right hip.

Keith and Shiro exchanged another look before they started walking towards the two Blade members.

All four of them stepped inside what Keith could only describe as an elevator and waited in silence as they began to descend. Keith had his arms crossed over his shoulders while his friend tried to look less threatening.

Keith couldn’t see it because of their masks but he was pretty sure the two Blade members were looking at them. He could practically feel the intense mistrust they were emanating from where he stood.

The elevator stopped and everyone waited as the giant metal door slid open and Keith’s eyes widened at what he saw. There were about twelve Blade members in front of them, all of them wearing the same dark body armor, black cloak, and black mask with the three purple glowing circles. At the sight of them, all twelve members formed two lines and parted so Keith and Shiro could walk in the middle to make their way to another Blade member that was standing on a podium, his arms clasped at his back.

When Keith and Shiro were within a few feet of the Blade member standing at the podium, he began to speak.

“I am Kolivan.” He said, with a slight tilt of his head in their direction, “Leader of the Blade of Marmora.”

Shiro stepped forward, his black and white armor glinting from the lights hanging overhead. Above them was that strange purple symbol that looked a little curved that had appeared back on the ships monitors.

“I am Shiro, leader of the Voltron and the black paladin,” he gestured a hand to Keith who inclined his head, “And this is Keith, the red paladin.”

Kolivan didn’t move and Keith couldn’t tell what expression he was wearing because of that mask but Keith was starting to get annoyed at all the stares he could feel at his back from the rest of the Blades.

“I know who you are,” Kolivan said, his voice a little deep and muffled under the mask. Kolivan stretched an arm out and another Blade climbed the three steps before stopping at his side. “Ulaz has informed us.”

“Ulaz?” Shiro asked, his eyes lightning up.

The Blade at his side removed his mask and some of the tension seeped from both paladins at the sight of a familiar face. Light purple skin, yellow eyes, and a small patch of white hair in the middle of his head, Ulaz looked a little skinnier but still the same.

Ulaz inclined his head at them both, “I’m glad you could make it,” his head tilted to the side, face curious, “I assume you found out how Zarkon was tracking you?”

“Yes,” Shiro answered, “We’ve dealt with the problem. There is no need to worry.”

Kolivan moved his head from Ulaz to both paladins before turning his head forward, “You were told to come unarmed.”

Keith glared and stepped forward, “You also told us to ID ourselves. The lions are about as close as we come to an ID.”

Shiro spoke up after him, his voice a little angry, “If anything happens, believe me you’ll be happy to have the Red lion on your side.”

“I imagine we would. However, I wasn’t referring to your beast,” Kolivan replied, his head lowered.

Before Keith even noticed, a Blade member ran up to him, lifted his right arm and twisted it before hitting him on the back of the knee and sending him to the ground. The Blade twisted his arm behind his back, put a knee on his back and snatched the small dagger that was left to him by his mother.

Shiro yelled out his name and tried to help but another Blade stepped in front of him and blocked his view.

“He has one of our daggers,” the Blade pinning him down reported. The Blade pressed his knee harder into his back and Keith suppressed a groan as the blade leaned close to her and hissed at him, “Whom did you steal this from?”

Ulaz took three steps forward, his face anxious, “Wait! You don’t understand!”

Kolivan lifted a hand and Ulaz shut his mouth.

Keith turned his head to the side, his voice angry, “I didn’t!” he snapped at him, “I’ve had this all my life!”

The Blade holding him down scoffed “Lies!”

“Can you corroborate your friends statement?” Kolivan asked Shiro, “Does this blade really belong to him?”

Shiro looked confused as he looked back at his friend, “I-I’m not sure.”

Keith tried to move his face to look at his friend but the Blade holding him down refused to budge, “Shiro, you know me. You know I would never steal it. I’ve had this knife as long as I can remember.” His black eyes turned pleading, “I’m not lying.”

The Blade at his back tightened his hold on Keith’s arm, “We can’t trust anything he says.”

Kolivan lifted his head, his voice determined, “Our organization is built on secrecy and trust. You two should leave. Now.” His voice left no room for argument.

The Blade holding Keith down loosened his hold and got to his feet. The red paladin threw a glare at him and rubbed his now sore arm as Shiro stepped beside him to inspect if he was okay.

Satisfied that his friend was all right, the black paladin threw an angry glare at the leader of the Marmora, “We came her to form an alliance, but clearly we’re not welcome here.” Shiro threw one last glare at Kolivan before turning his back to him, “Come on Keith, we’re leaving.”

“Not without some answers,” Keith said, not budging from his spot as he turned back to look at Kolivan. “This blade belonged to my mom. I need to know, was she a member of the Blade of Marmora.”

“Your friend is right,” Kolivan said, completely dismissing the red paladin, “It’s time for you to go.”

“Answer me!” Keith yelled taking a step forward.

The other Blades tensed and reached for their weapons. Shiro stood closer to his friend and eyed the rest of the Blades wearily.

For a moment Kolivan just stood there in silence and Keith let out a growl and took another step forward before Kolivan spoke, “You seek knowledge? There’s only one way to acquire knowledge here.” He waited for dramatic affect, “the trials of Marmora. If you are successful, you may keep the blade and I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability.”

“Survive?” Shiro exclaimed walking back to Keith’s side to grip his shoulders, “Keith, this is crazy. If they’re not going to help us, then we’re leaving.”

Keith turned narrowed eyes at his friend, “I’m not going anywhere. I have to do this.”

He needs to know about his mother. Was she a Blade? Why did she leave her weapon behind? Did she intend for him to follow in her footsteps? He doesn’t know, but he’s so close to learning the truth. If he has to go through these trials to find out then so be it. Keith wasn’t leaving.

Kolivan tilted his head to the Blade that had been holding Keith, “Antok, give the boy a blade.”

Keith turned around to see a big boned Blade a good feet taller with a tail handing him a weapon, Keith reached forward to take it but the Blade tightened his grip on the blade and leaned closer to hiss at him, “We shall meet again.”

Keith glared at him, “Can’t wait.”

“There are two things that could happen at these trials,” Kolivan said and Keith turned his attention back to the Marmora leader, “Knowledge or death.”

Okay, so perhaps Keith wasn’t as skilled as he thought he was.

After making him change into a full black body suit similar to what the Blades wore, Keith was taken to a room with black metal walls with bright lights and only one door at the far end.

Keith only had to wait seconds before a Blade member appeared from the ground where the floor split up. The Blade had launched himself at the red paladin and despite landing a few good hits, Keith was clearly outmatched.

“Forfeit the blade and this will all be over.” The Blade said to him as he twisted Keith’s arm behind his back.

“I refuse,” Keith hissed back.

The Blade kicked him away from him and gestured to the door. “Then the pain continues. You are not meant to go through that door.”

Keith bristled but kept himself from launching at the Blade. Lance and Shiro had repeatedly reminded him about keeping his temper and check. If he didn’t he would get himself into a lot of trouble.

Taking a deep breath the red paladin cautiously walked past the Blade and made his way to the door.

Upon reaching the next room, Keith almost turned back. The new room…looked exactly like the previous room he’d been in.

This time, two blades rose up from an opening in the ground and took defensive stances. Keith took a defensive stance as well and gripped the blade that he’d been given just as the two Blades ran at him.

“Lance is going to be so pissed,” he muttered under his breath as he parried blow after blow that the two Blades were throwing at him.

Not surprisingly, Keith lost.

These Blades of Marmora were fucking skilled.

Still…despite the fact that he lost the fight they repeated the same thing that the previous Blade had said about him not meant to go through the door but he ignored them and went anyway.

This was getting fucking annoying.

Keith had lost track of how many rooms he’d gone through but he was so fucking tired. The last fight he had, there were about twelve Blade members. Or at least he thinks there were. He’d lost count when they all sprinted at him.

Keith’s whole body throbbed, he was pretty sure that he would have bruises.

Lance was definitely going to be pissed when she saw him.

What would Lance do?

Break everything apart until she found a way out probably. Split open the floor where all the Blades kept coming out of or electrocute all the Blade members until they talked even though she could just read their minds.

Wait…

Break everything apart?

Split open the floor?

Keith looked back at the door with weary eyes. He’d kept trying the door all this time, despite the fact that all the Blades told him he wasn’t meant to go through it.

His eyes went to the floor.

He hadn’t tried going through there…

He shrugged, it couldn’t hurt to try.

As soon as the next batch of Blades began to rise from the ground, Keith ran ahead and slid down the shaft just as it began to close.

He fell to a slide and he hissed at the movement but thankfully it didn’t last very long to reach the ground.

The new area was empty, no signs of any Blade members whatsoever.

Keith let out a sigh of relief as he staggered forward, a hand over his chest. Everything hurt. Every step forward only made his wounds throb, his vision began to get blurry and Keith rapidly blinked his eyes to stay awake.

Perhaps a little nap wouldn’t hurt. That floors looks nice and inviting, it looks cool.

With another groan of pain Keith crumbled to his knees and fell to the floor. He tried to get up but thought better of it and just decided to lie there.

A little nap then. Just to rest up before the next fight.

“You did it buddy.” A familiar voice said in the background.

“I’m so proud of you Keith,” A feminine voice said.

Keith blearily opened his eyes to see both Shiro and Lance crouching before him with proud smiles aimed at him.

“Need a hand?” Shiro asked looking down at him.

Keith reached his hand and Shiro took it firmly in his own before pulling him to his feet. Lance was at his side immediately, her hand cupping his face and looking at him in worry.

The red paladin gave her a pained smile and placed his hand on top of Lance’s, “How did you get here? Shouldn’t you be back at the castle?”

For some reason, he couldn’t catch a scent of Lance’s perfume. Maybe he was just really tired?

Shiro stepped next to them to answer, “Pidge and Hunk managed to find a way to get inside and Lance volunteered to come.”

Lance nodded as she stepped back, she was wearing her blue and white paladin armor but she’d taken her helmet off so her chestnut hair was visible, “You did good Keith. They showed me the videos of your fight. You ready to go back now?”

Keith furrowed his brows, confused, “What are you talking about?”

Shiro placed an armored hand on his forehead and frowned, “You’re obviously not feeling well. Just give them the blade and we’ll go back to the castle. You don’t have to go through anymore trials.”

Lance nodded beside the black paladin, “He’s right Keith. Just give them the blade and we’ll all go back.”

Something was wrong here. Lance would never tell him to give up his blade. She’d supported his decision in finding out the truth about his blade and his mom, she would never say this. Something was obviously wrong here, he could feel it.

“I can’t do that Lance. We talked bout this remember?” Keith shook his head at his friends and took a step back, “I’m not done here. It’s important that I-“

Shiro arched an eyebrow, “Keith, it’s just a blade.” His voice sounded incredulous, “It doesn’t even look like it’d be good in a fight.”

Keith took another step back and balled his fists together.

“You don’t understand Shiro. This belonged to my mom.” Keith began to explain, “I need to know if she was a Blade herself. And if she was, why did she leave? Did she want me to follow in her footsteps?”

Lance scoffed and Shiro rolled his eyes.

“Keith,” Shiro began, his voice soft as if he were speaking to a toddler, “You’re a paladin of Voltron. That’s all you need to know.”

“Shiro is right,” Lance said, her blue eyes trained on him with an intense stare, “We’re your family. I am your family. Or at least I will be. Once we get married. Aren’t we enough?”

Lance looked like she wanted to cry and Keith felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. Lance should never cry, and especially not because of him. Shiro placed both of his hands on the blue paladins shoulders from behind her and turned pleading eyes to Keith, “Don’t you care about us? I thought we were family?”

“Of course you are!” Keith shouted, his hand reaching for his friends but both of them took a few steps back, “You’re both important to me. Everyone on the team is, but guys,” his eyes turned desperate as he tried to make them understand, “I have to do this.”

Lance let out a sob and Keith staggered back as the blue paladin turned angry eyes at him, “You clearly don’t think of us as family. Please,” she begged and Keith’s eyes widened as a few tears ran down her cheeks, “Come home Keith. Come back with me.”

Keith slowly shook his head and his voice broke, “I can’t!” he had to know. He was so so close.

“Yes you can Keith!” Shiro snapped at him, he was breathing hard and the look of betrayal on his eyes made Keith’s heart clench painfully, “You just refuse to. All you have to do is give them the knife and this will all be over!” Lance began to cry harder and Shiro pulled her to his chest as he glared at Keith, “How can you be so selfish?”

This was wrong. What were his friends saying? Lance had said that she supported him, why was talking like this? And Shiro…he always had his back. Why was he turning his back on him now when Keith needed his support?

“I’ve made my choice,” Keith said firmly and the look of utter despair that his friends gave him nearly destroyed him.

Lance lifted her head from Shiro’s chest, her eyes stricken. Shiro’s arms trembled from where he was holding the blue paladin and looked at him as if he didn’t know him.

“I thought you chose me,” Lance whispered, her voice broken. The blue paladin wiped the tears from her eyes and sent him a glare so fierce Keith was afraid she might strike him but instead she just got out of Shiro’s embrace and wiped all emotions from her face and gave him a blank look.

As if she were looking at a complete stranger.

“Then I guess we’ll go,” Lance said, her voice cool, “It seems we’re not wanted here. You always seemed to like doing things alone anyway, haven’t you?”

The words cut deep and had him trembling.

He didn’t want to lose Lance. Or Shiro.

Perhaps this was a mistake after all.

Shiro put a comforting hand on the Amazon’s shoulder and started to guide her to the exit. He threw a glare at Keith, “I’m so disappointed in you Keith.”

Keith panicked and he reached a hand out to stop them from leaving but Shiro pulled himself and Lance away from his reach without looking back and kept walking.

Keith began to run, screaming both of his friends’ names but no matter how much he screamed and ran he couldn’t reach them. Shiro and Lance kept retreating farther and farther away from him until a bright light engulfed them and they disappeared.

Keith covered his eyes and let out a last scream but no one answered back.

When he opened his eyes, he was in a familiar room. In fact, he was back on the shack where he and his dad had lived out in the dessert.

Same wooden walls. Same old TV perched on a coffee table in the corner of the room. That same ugly red couch that had sprints on it making everyone who saw on it uncomfortable.

The white drape covering the windows because they hadn’t had time to go buy curtains.

The same three books on a small shelf

But what struck him the most was the man standing in the center of the room, his back to him. The man was taller than him, leaner with big strong arms that used to carry him from room to room with ease.

Same brown jacket, black pants and same sneakers.

The man turned around and Keith gasped.

It was his dad.

He looked like an older version of Keith; only difference was that his dad had brown hair with small bangs and brown eyes. There was an old scar across one of his eyebrows and he was smiling at him.

“Dad?” Keith whispered as he took a hesitant step forward.

He looked so real. But he couldn’t be. His dad had died a long time ago. He couldn’t be here looking healthy and smiling at him.

“Welcome home son,” he said in his southern accent.

Keith felt the urge to cry. Everything felt so real, his voice, the way he stood with one hip jutting out, his stance casual. A part of him wanted to rush forward and embrace him but he refrained. This couldn’t be real.

A sudden rumbling from outside made the whole room shake. The sounds of shots being fired startled him. What was happening outside?

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing.” His father says before smiling and pointing at the couch, “Don’t you want to catch up with your old man?”

Of course he did.

The sound of explosions and more rumbling made him turn his head to the window. What was happening? Why wasn’t his father concerned?

If he could go over to the window he could just lift the white drape and find out what’s going on outside.

Fuck it.

Ignoring his fathers’ shout, Keith rushed forward and hastily lifted the white drape to peer outside. His eyes widened.

The Galra were here on Earth.

He could see people running around in a panic, screaming when one of the Galra’s came after them.

Keith squinted and leaned forward to see…the rest of his teammates?

All of them were out there escorting the civilians to safety as Lance tried to keep the Galra at bay. Where were their lions? Why were they fighting on foot?

A familiar scream made him turn his attention to the sky to see a spear pierce through Lance’s stomach. The Amazons let out a schoked scream and began to fall from the sky. The others screamed her name before Hunk barreled his way over in the direction she was falling.

The yellow paladin had tears running down his face but he kept blasting Galra after Galra with his Bayard as he tried to reach the blue paladin who had crashed into the ground so hard she left a crater behind.

Keith couldn’t breathe.

Just as the yellow paladin reached his friends side, a robeast suddenly appeared and threw one of its red beans at them.

Hunk threw his body on top of Lance’s to try and cover her but it didn’t matter. The blast hit them dead on and Keith fell to his knees as the dust cleared and he saw a blue sphere dissolve into dust, Lance and Hunk unconscious.

Pidge let out a broken scream and fired at the robeast to no avail. Shiro ran to her side and scooped her in his arms, his eyes frantic.

Allura and Coran fired beams from the castle but five more Robeasts appeared and destroyed the particle barrier surrounding the castle.

“I shouldn’t be here,” Keith, mumbled out in shock, “I should be out there helping them.” He threw a punch at the wall and closed his eyes, “If I had helped them, Lance and Hunk would not had gotten hurt.”

Keith staggered to his feet and started heading for the door.

“Don’t you want to know about your mother?” his father asked from behind him. Keith’s hand stopped inches from the door and he hesitated, “Don’t you want to know the truth? You’re mother will be here soon. She’ll explain everything.”

The screams outside turned frantic and Keith swiveled his head to the window.

Keith reached for the door again and his father shot to his feet, “If you go out that door you’ll never know the truth. You’ll never know about your mom!”

The words hurt.

After everything he went through, he would never know.

But if he stayed, he’d lose more than he would gain.

The choice was easy.

Keith gripped the knob in his hand and turned back to his father, “Goodbye dad.”

With one last glance at his father, Keith opened the door and covered his eyes as a blinding light shone before him.

Keith woke up with a groan. What the hell happened?

He was lying on the cold floor he realized. Familiar set of footsteps started making their way to him and with another pained groan, Keith slowly got to his feet to see Shiro in front of him looking at him in concern.

What the hell?

Keith looked around and noticed he was still in the previous room he’d decided to take a nap in. There were no people running around screaming. No Robeasts. And the rest of his teammates weren’t fighting like their lives depended on it.

The building began to shake just as Shiro was helping him to his feet.

What the fuck was happening?

“It was an illusion Keith!” Shiro yelled to him, “None of it was real!”

An illusion?

“Call off your beast!” Kolivan shouted as he ran toward the two paladins.

Red was doing this? The only reason she’d be attacking the base was if he was in danger. Was he?

A hand to his wrist showed him that Lance was worried. A whole lot of pissed off and probably ready to storm the place judging from the colors that the mood bracelet was showing him.

“Get out of our way!” Shiro shouted at Kolivan, “We’re leaving right now!”

The black paladin placed himself in front of Keith, ready to defend him if the need called for it.

Ulaz tried to reason with his leader but Kolivan wasn’t listening.

“Not without leaving the blade!” Kolivan shouted back.

Keith looked around in a panic as the rest of the Blade of Marmora soldiers began to circle them, their weapons drawn.

“The boy couldn’t wake the blade, clearly he’s not worthy,” Kolivan continued, “The blade stays here.”

The Blades took out their own weapons and Keith narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t take another fight right now; he’s too weak from the trials. A glance at his friend showed his that Shiro would stay and defend him, regardless of the fact that they were quite outnumbered.

Keith knows that Shiro is a better fighter than he is but he wouldn’t be able to take on this many Blades.

The bulky Blade soldier, Antok, rushed forward and Shiro turned his prosthetic metal arm into a sword and intercepted the attack.

The other Blades rushed forward and Keith let out a shout to get their attention.

“Just take it!” Keith shouted as he practically shoved the small dagger in Kolivan’s direction, “It doesn’t matter anymore. I know who I am.”

He’s a paladin of Voltron. Half human and half Galra. He’s Keith Kogane. And no dagger was going to change that. He’d find the answers his was looking for another way. He had plenty of time.

“All of us are fighting against Zarkon and his army, we need to come together and fight,” Keith continued as he looked over all the Blades in the room, “If that means I have to give up this dagger then fine, fuck it just take it. It’s a small price to pay.”

And then the oddest thing happened. The dagger suddenly became warm and Keith turned his attention back to it to see it start to glow. The dagger grew in size until it settled into a curved blade similar to the weapons the rest of the Blades carried with them.

There were a few collective gasps in the room.

“The dagger-“

“He’s awakened it!”

“But that means…”

Keith couldn’t see their expressions because of the masks they wore, but he was pretty sure they were all in shock. They weren’t the only ones either. Keith was right there with them.

“You are Galra,” Kolivan stated, his voice in awe.

Shiro’s eyes widened.

The base stopped shaking.

Had Red stopped?

Kolivan raised a hand in the air and the Blades put their weapons away. “How?” Kolivan asked him.

Keith looked confused. How what?

“We Galra have a very high sense of smell. And yet we couldn’t detect any hint of Galra in you. How did you do it?”

Ah.

“One of my teammates helped me get my hands on some suppressant pills. I’ve been taking them for a few weeks now.” Keith explained. Shiro was looking at him with narrowed eyes, probably deducing who that someone was.

“I see,” Kolivan said with a nod to his head. The leader of the Blades turned back to Shiro, “It seems we’ve much to discuss with the Paladins of Voltron.”

Shiro blinked, his expression turning hopeful, “Then you’ll join us?”

“Yes. It seems I must apologize for our actions. Trust is a very hard thing to earn in these hard times but it seems you have proven your worth.” Kolivan stepped forward and offered Shiro his right arm, “The Blades are at your disposal. We accept this alliance.”

They did it Keith realized. A part of him couldn’t believe it even as he saw Shiro shake Kolivan’s hand with a relieved smile. Keith let out a relieved sigh and slowly settled himself to the floor and watched in amazement as his new curved blade went back to its original size.

“Keith of Earth,” Kolivan said as he made his way to him, “You have passed the trials. When we have time, I shall answer any questions you have. I would also like to express my thanks to your fellow blue paladin.”

Keith blinked in surprise. “Why?”

Ulaz stepped forward and Kolivan placed a hand on his shoulder, “For saving my comrades life. Ulaz has told me of the blue paladins heroics.”

Shiro and Keith winced before the red paladin awkwardly scratched his neck, “She might be a little pissed when she sees me in my current state. I’ll try to calm her down before you can speak to her.”

“Understood.” Kolivan said.

“Let’s go home,” Shiro said as he extended an arm toward him, “I’m sure the others are worried out of their minds by now.”

Keith took the offered hand with a smile. He was so ready to go back home and get back to Lance. That illusion that he’d had over Lance and Shiro had left him a little rattled. He just wanted to go back home and hold his fiancée close to him.

“I shall be going back with you,” Kolivan stated, “So will Antok and Ulaz.”

Shiro nodded, “Right. It’ll be a tight fit but that should be fine.”

Keith let out a breath making his bangs sway as he began to walk with Shiro’s help to get back to Red.

“The Red lion stopped attacking!” Coran shouted over his shoulder.

The rest of team Voltron halted in their tracks where they had been on their way to the hangers to reach their own lions.

“Does that mean Keith’s not in danger anymore?” Hunk asked anxiously as he looked over at Lance.

The blue paladin looked absolutely livid. Her eyes were glowing a dark blue, her hands were shaped into claws with sparks of blue electricity shooting out at the ground, her chestnut hair floating in the air.

She couldn’t sense Keith’s mind because of the distance but the mood bracelet allowed her to feel the red paladins pain as if it were her own.

Keith was hurt.

And that was unacceptable.

Allura briefly glanced at the Amazon princess before turning her attention back to the screen, her eyes narrowed, “Lance. Calm down.”

“I am calm,” Lance stated, her voice subdued. Pidge gulped and cast her a weary eye. The blue paladin was calm. Despite the way she looked, which only made her all the more scarier.

“Princess,” Shiro’s voice sounded through the monitors. Everyone snapped their attention back to the screen to see the Red lion flying back to the castle, “We’re coming back. And we’re bringing back someone you’ll want to meet.”

The transmission cut off and Coran turned to look at the others with a huge smile, “They’re all right!”

The rest of the team let out shouts of joy but Lance just turned on her heels and started making her way to the hangers to greet them.

The rest of team Voltron hurriedly followed after her in a brisk run.

When they all got there the Red lion had just landed and they eagerly waited as the door in the Red lion opened and out came its occupants.

At the sight of Keith limping forward with the help of Shiro, Lance immediately rushed forward and embraced him.

Keith gave a pained groan and Lance put it at arms length. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Keith gave her a small smile and tightened his hold on her, “Nothing I’m sure you can’t handle healing.”

Lance let out a weak smile and kissed his cheek, “You had me worried you idiot.”

Keith winced, “Sorry about that. Got myself in a bit of a fight.”

Lance blinked at him in surprise before she delved into his mind and quickly found out what had happened. As soon as she did Lance let out a low growl and turned angry blue eyes at Kolivan and Antok.

Shiro stepped in her path and put his hands in the air to show her he meant no harm, “Lance, let us explain-“

Lance didn’t let him finish. Before anyone could stop her, the Amazon princess had launched forward and gripped Kolivan by the throat before slamming him into the wall.

Everyone released shouts of surprise and the bulky Blade member reached for his weapons and went after her. Lance threw him on the opposite side of the wall without even looking.

Keith was a little pleased about that.

He didn’t much like Antok. He was kind of a dick to him.

Ulaz reached for his weapons but knew better than to go after the blue paladin at her current state.

But they did need this alliance and right now Lance was messing that up for them.

The leader of the Blades let out a strangled choke and gripped the Amazons hand hard.

Lance didn’t even flinch.

“You had your people hurt him,” Lance hissed at him.

“Lance,” Shiro said stepping beside her, “Put him down. Keith willingly underwent those trials.”

Keith got to his feet with a wince and placed a hand on Lance’s shoulder, “He’s right Lance. They’re not to blame. I could have stopped anytime, but I chose to continue.”

Lance narrowed her eyes before she huffed and released Kolivan.

The leader of the Blades let out a few coughs and slowly got to his feet. Antok and Ulaz quickly made their way to him.

Antok looked ready to fight the Amazon if the stance he was given was any indication.

Lance let out a few electric bolts shoot out from her fingertips and the Blade scoffed and put his weapon away.

Lance threw another heated glance at Antok but made her way to Keith and placed her hands on his shoulders to begin healing him.

Everyone released sighs of relief and Pidge and Hunk took the chance to check up on the red paladin.

Kolivan stepped forward and removed his mask to reveal an older looking Galra with light purple skin, a long scar running down the left side of his face he had patches of red on the top of his face and his white hair was braided down his back.

The leader of the Blades took a kneeling position in front of Allura who was looking at him with narrowed eyes, “Princess Allura, its good to see that the rumors are true.” Kolivan said as he began to rise to his feet, “You are alive even after all this years.”

Allura tilted her head and Coran put a comforting hand on her shoulder and some of the tension eased, “So is Zarkon. Can we consider you our ally in this fight against him?”

“Yes,” Kolivan said as he turned to Keith, “You have already accepted another Galra into your ranks it seems. I am pleased to know that.”

Allura looked at him in confusion as Keith suddenly tensed, “What are you talking about?”

Antok tilted his head in confusion, “The red paladin. He is half Galra. Did you not know?”

“Wait, what?” Hunk asked as he looked back at the red paladin in confusion.

“Keith is Galra?” Pidge asked as she blinked in confusion.

Allura narrowed her eyes at the Blade members, “This is no time for jokes!”

“It’s true,” Keith mumbled.

All eyes turned on him and Keith resisted the urge to fidget. Lance was still crouched behind him healing his injuries but she was tense. Shiro stepped beside them and took a protective stance next to them.

The three Blade members looked back in forth in confusion.

“But you’re not purple!” Hunk exclaimed, “If you were Galra, wouldn’t you be purple and have those fluffy ears?”

Keith sighed as he averted his eyes.

“Keith? Would you like me to explain?” Lance asked him from behind.

Keith shook his head but sent her a grateful smile, “No its okay. It’s better that I do this,” he turned back to the others who were still looking at him in shock, “The truth is I was starting to turn purple. Remember those last two weeks when I was in a bad mood and kept putting on more layers of clothes?”

Hunk and Pidge nodded.

“That’s when it started happening. It started of slow but then one day it suddenly grew worse and I began to grow claws.”

Shiro’s eyes widened in realization, “The day you and Lance left in the middle of the night.”

Keith and Lance nodded. “Lance could sense what was happening and she helped me through it. She told me about these suppressant pills. That’s why we left, we went to the swamp moon and after taking a test one of the aliens there specifically made the pills for me.” Keith scratched his neck awkwardly, “They work pretty fast, and I went back to normal pretty quickly. Lance got me a years supply.”

The others began to nod in understanding and Keith loosened a breath. So far so good.

The room went silent as the others scanned him from head to toe. The silence seemed to stretch too long and Keith began to get nervous. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

‘They had to know sometime. Give them a little more time to process’ Lance said in his mind.

Hunk looked back and forth between Antok and Keith before finally breaking the silence, “So…does this mean that if you’d turned full Galra you would have had a tail?”

Keith’s jaw dropped and he blinked slowly at the yellow paladin.

Lance grinned and crossed her arms over her chest as Keith got to his feet, “I was honestly just hoping he got some really cute Galra ears so I could play with them but a tail? Now that’s interesting!”

Pidge hummed as she looked him over, “But the possibility is still out there. If you stopped taking the pills would you change to a Galra immediately?” the green paladin turned to look at Lance, “He didn’t grow any ears?”

“Nope.” Lance answered with a sad sigh.

“Shame.”

“I know right?”

“At least he looks healthy,” Shiro added with a smile in his direction, “Although I did notice that your appetite grew, perhaps it’s a side effect from almost turning into a Galra?”

Coran nodded sagely as he twirled the end of his orange mustache, “From what I know of my time with Galra back in the good old days, they always did seem to have larger appetites.”

Hunk gripped Keith’s shoulders and leaned into him, “Dude! Are you eating enough? You’re not starving yourself are you?”

Keith blinked in surprise. He couldn’t believe how quickly his friends had accepted him. Maybe he’d been worrying for nothing. Lance gave him a slight nudge on the shoulder and Keith allowed a small smile to grace his features as the blue paladin intertwined her hand with his.

The three Blade members zeroed in on their joined hands and shared a look between themselves.

Allura was oddly quiet, her expression blank as she turned her attention back to Kolivan who began to speak again, “We have been informed from one of our spies that Zarkon and his witch Haggar are starting to suspect something, which means we’ll have to move our timetable up and ready ourselves for our next move.”

Shiro turned to Kolivan, all business, “How soon do we need to begin?”

“As soon as possible,” Kolivan said. 

Chapter Text

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” 
― Anonymous

Chapter 16

Okay, it was official.

The Blade of Marmora members absolutely adored Lance.

A part of Keith wanted to be surprised but he couldn’t.

Because this was Lance.

And everyone always loved Lance within minutes of meeting her.

Although, getting a beat down from the blue paladin wasn’t exactly the way Keith imagined the blades to become friends with her.

After Kolivan met with Allura and officially declared that they had entered into an alliance, the leader of the Blades had brought over about a dozen more Blade members. Allura didn’t say anything but her lips tightened at the sight of them and she cast a look at Lance.

‘Keep an eye on them’ Allura thought to Lance who relayed the message to the rest of their team.

Hunk looked a little nervous but he straightened himself and declared that he was going to make some snacks for their guests before leaving the room.

Pidge turned to Ulaz and began to ask him how they managed to hide their base with the help of the two black holes and was deep in conversation.

Allura, Coran, Shiro, and Kolivan headed for the bridge to begin forming a plan.

The dozen blade members plus Antok made to follow but Lance insisted she give them a tour of the place.

Shiro had cast her a suspicious look but could find nothing wrong with giving the Blades a tour so he said nothing and went with the others.

Keith gave him fiancée a suspicious glare and followed after her as she began her tour. By the time they reached the kitchen, most of the Blade members had all removed their masks and even began to ask questions when they got curious.

Whenever he and Lance looked at each other or even bumped hands together as they walked, the Blades would dissolve into excited whispers.

What’s up with that?

It’s not like he and Lance were making out or anything.

It’s when they got to the training room that the Blades actually perked up, so did Lance if the wide smile she showed was any indication.

Since Keith was more familiar with the training sequence, he went up in the glass room overlooking the training room and started level one.

The Blades defeated it easily and so Keith changed it up to level five where four blue holographic gladiators equipped with two long swords, Japanese looking helmets, and full-body armor.

Keith had never been to this level before, he’d made it to level three but he had yet to defeat the two robot gladiators that appeared on that level.

The thirteen Blades took out their weapons and rushed towards the gladiators. The way they ran made Keith think of the Naruto manga, but he had to admit, it did make them run fast.

Unfortunately, the four gladiators were tough opponents and after fighting them for a good solid twenty minutes the Blades were getting tired.

It’s at this point that Lance suggested that they all spar together instead. The Blades vs Keith and her. Keith whipped his head to see Lance give him a winning smile and Keith had to bite his lip in order to not burst into laughter.

Figures Lance was still pissed at the Blades for beating him.

The Blade members said they didn’t mind, heck Antok looked ready to fight already. When he’d removed his mask it was to reveal a furry purple face with yellow eyes, really thick purple eyebrows that Lance seriously wanted to wax, she’d told this to him in confidence, and small pointy purple ears at the top of his head.

All fifteen of them made their way to the middle of the training field before the Blades went to the far right and Lance and Keith went to the far left. The giant holographic timer on the wall counted down from five and everyone began to prepare themselves.

Keith took out his new dagger and willed it to change to its new curved blade while Lance took out her Bayard and changed it to a small pistol before taking out a small dagger and twirling it in her left arm.

As soon as the timer reached zero, everyone rushed forward at once.

Antok rushed at Keith and threw the first punch. The move was almost too quick to follow but the red paladin ducked and skirted out from Antok’s shadow. The two moved away from the others who were still fighting and Lance made sure to give them some privacy.

The rest of Blades were impressively fast but Lance was faster. She blocked a series of blows before landing a hard punch at the ground that had the Blades dropping to the floor. Lance took out her Bayard and quickly shot them in the chest to keep them down.

Five of them managed to get to their feet though and they rushed to the Amazon princess. The first Blade member that reached the blue paladin was a woman, same purple skin, furry ears on the side of her head but at least her eyebrows looked fabulous.

The woman rushed forward, her blade pointed at Lance who easily dodged to the right and aimed a solid kick to her chest. A loud thud was heard as the woman Galra was knocked onto her back. She was only down for a moment, before jumping to her feet.

Lance backed away and waited as the other four reached the woman Galra and all together rushed at her. Lance smiled, her left hand hidden behind her back where bolts of lightning sparked, ready to shock the Blade members before Antok was suddenly thrown on top of them with a grunt.

Lance turned to see Keith panting, blood dribbling from his lips but he didn’t seem bothered by it. He looked smug.

The Amazon princess grinned and inched her way over to Keith just as the Galra were getting up.

“Hand-to-hand?” Keith asked beside her.

Lance glanced at him from the corner of her eye before nodding and tossed her weapons to the side. Keith turned his blade back to its normal size and tossed it to the side as well.

The Blades who had gotten up looked at the corner where both paladins had discarded there weapons and repeated the action.

Hand-to-hand combat it is.

Antok let out a loud growl, purple blood dribbling from his lips before he roughly wiped it away and charged at them both. Lance swiped his feet from under him and Keith took the chance to knee him in the stomach.

Antok gasped and Lance hefted him in the air and tossed him to the wall. The same woman Galra from before rushed the blue paladin only for Keith to move in front and block the woman’s attack by crossing his arms above him.

The woman growled and three more Blade members came to lend her a hand. Lance intercepted them and did her best to block their attacks; she wasn’t as skilled as Keith when it came to hand-to-hand but whatever punches she did land made some damage.

The fight lasted for quite a while and when they had finally called it to an end it was to a small applause from the rest of their teammates plus Ulaz and Kolivan.

Keith and Lance had been victorious of course.

Keith could feel new bruises starting to form; even Lance had a small bruise on her shoulder.

Keith caught Lance’s eye and only had seconds to brace himself before she launched herself at him and wrapped her legs around his middle. Keith staggered back but he held on firmly so he wouldn’t topple backwards.

“A little warning would have been nice,” Keith muttered into her hair.

Lance grinned, “Now what would be the fun in that.” She lowered her voice and whispered into his ear, “Feeling better?”

Keith snorted, all too aware of everyone watching them, “Just a bit.” He mumbled back.

Lance laughed and Keith allowed himself a small smile.

As soon as he did, the rest of the Blade members gasped in awe and started whispering back and forth.

Keith slowly lowered Lance to the floor and was secretly pleased when she didn’t leave his side before he turned his attention back to the whispering Blades.

Keith could only get a few snippets but he did manage to catch a few words. The word inamorata came up a lot though.

“Okay, what the hell has you guys so excited?” Pidge asked with narrowed eyes.

Shiro smacked her lightly on the back of her head and Pidge scowled and muttered under her breath.

Kolivan simply cast his yellow eyes to the blue and red paladin and watched them intently. “It’s nothing bad I assure you,” he began,” It’s just, we’ve never met two inamoratas before.”

Allura narrowed her blue eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, “And what pray tell is that?”

Ulaz gestured to Keith and Lance, “It’s them. I believe inamorata in your term means soulmates.”

Everyone blinked.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

And then everyone began to talk at once.

Soulmates?

He and Lance were soulmates?

Lance and he shared a look and then looked away.

It was amazing what miraculous shades of red the human face could muster.

Stammering nervously under her breath, Lance turned to him and gave him a shy smile.

Cute.

Finding himself in yet another battle with an oncoming blush, Keith discreetly eyed his fiancée and lifted the corner of his lips and smiled.

Lance and he were soulmates.

Holy crap.

He knew he’d jumped the gun when he had asked her to marry him but deep down he knew that it was the right choice.

He’d had flings before but he never really dated anyone, never felt the need to actually get to know them.

And meeting Lance…the two had automatically clicked.

He turned his head to look at Lance, and a shiver ran through him when he found that she was already looking at him too.

Their shoulders were pressed together, just slightly, but he suddenly felt like he was on fire.

Someone loudly coughed and there went Keith’s good mood. Lance shot a glare at Pidge who gave them a sheepish smile and pointed at Shiro who scowled.

“It’s very rare to find one’s soulmates so we were just a little surprised,” Kolivan continued when the chatter died down a little, “You both give out this certain glow when your within feet of each other.”

“If you guys were to mark each other,” Ulaz piped in with a small quirk of his lips, “The glow will intensify.”

“What do you mean mark each other?” Shiro asked with a frown.

“Yeah,” Hunk mumbled nervously, “That sounds kind of painful.”

Ulaz quickly explained and Shiro promptly turned red before he cleared his throat, “Yeah, no marking each other okay.” Keith shot him a glare, “At least whenever anyone is around.”

Keith frowned.

Well yeah, it’s not like he and Lance were going to mark each other right in front of everyone.

“You guys are simply adorable,” the woman Galra said with a smile, “And your choreography, its so nice. By the way, my name is Xylian I hope we can become friends.”

Lance blinked before a huge grin spread to her cheeks, “Same here. You weren’t too bad out there.”

“Yeah but you guys were better,” a lean Galra male with a short silver ponytail added as he joined them, “You guys didn’t even talk and you knew what the other would do.” He reached his hand forward and Keith awkwardly shook it, “The names Jonaz.”

“It’s damn impressive if you ask me,” A petite Galra female said as she sauntered over to them, her tail swinging back and forth behind her. “The names Leylee.”

There was a sarcastic grunt in the back before Antok limped over, his tail twitching in irritation before planting himself in front of Keith.

Antok glared at him and Keith glared right back before Antok lips turned into a wolfish grin and he stuck his hand out towards Keith, “Not bad Kit. Not bad at all.”

Keith’s glare slightly lessened as he reached a hand to clamp Antok’s purple furry one in his own. “You too.”

“Aww,” Hunk exclaimed, “You guys are friends now.”

Both Keith and Antok made a face and immediately denied it but that only caused everyone else to laugh; even Allura managed a small smile.

Three days later, Keith found himself in his room staring at the ceiling while he lay in his bed. Tomorrow, everyone was going to be splitting up to go on separate missions. Keith was going to go with Hunk and enter the belly of a devouring creature known as a Weblum which are apparently the source for scaultrite, a material that’s essential in building wormhole generators.

Lance had thrown a small fit at the fact that she wasn’t going on a mission with him. However, the Amazon princess perked up when she found out that Shiro and Pidge were going with her on their own side mission to free a Galra prisoner that they needed.

Lance gave a sly smirk at the black paladin who took a step back.

“Well,” Lance said with a shrug of her shoulders, “I suppose I can tease Shiro to clear some of my boredom. You’ll help me right Pidge?”

The green paladin looked absolutely devious as she looked at Shiro in a contemplative way.

Shiro had good reason to be worried.

In the last three days, Allura had downright avoided him. She still came to eat with them all during their meals times but she made sure to sit as far away from him as he could.

Coran and Shiro assured him that she just needed some time.

Just yesterday, Allura had asked for Hunk to pass her the salt and everyone frowned. Hunk was three seats away from her, the salt was closer to Keith so he reached for it himself and began to hand it over to her when she flinched.

Keith lowered his arm, dejected.

Lance looked ready to smack the Altean princess but refrained. Shiro put a comforting hand on Allura’s back and the princess tensed for a good two minutes before snatching the salt and resumed eating.

At least having the Blades over to discuss their plans had distracted him from the fact that Allura was still avoiding him.

Most of the Blades gravitated to Lance who was more than eager for the attention. She and Leylee had become close, Leylee teaching her some type of Galra Morse code that he was pretty sure they were using to talk about him. In fact, Keith was pretty sure they were talking about him if the giggles they sent his way were any indication. Lance had the rest of the Blades laughing at her jokes within minutes and even freaked them out when she brought out her pets.

They absolutely loved Nyx and were eager to ride her, Kaltenecker just glared so they admired her from a distance, as for Nagini and Nagg…they were completely freaked out by them.

As soon as the two-headed snake grew as tall as the ceiling, the Blades scrambled so far back they tripped over themselves.

Pidge and Lance started taking pictures immediately and even Kolivan and Ulaz looked a little pleased at their fellow Blades actions.

Shiro immediately scolded them both as Coran laughed, his mustache twitching at the movement.

Keith was silently laughing from his position on the wall and Hunk looked a little green.

Once they explained to the Blades that the snakes wouldn’t harm them did things settle down. One by one the Blades went up to the snakes and lightly pet their scales.

Another hour later and once again, Keith found himself remembering the briefing they’d had about their plans.

“I think we’ve got something here.” Shiro had murmured as he gazed at the holograph of Zarkon’s ship. Keith along with the rest of the paladins and the rest of the blades were all looking at the same thing in wonder, “It’s dangerous, and there are a lot of moving parts but if we coordinate everything just right-“

“Zarkon’s reign will come to an end and the savagery that’s poisoned the universe can finally be cleansed.” Kolivan added, his face solemn as gazed at the holograph before them. “You’ve done it Shiro.”

The black paladin shook his head with a smile and stuck his hand out, “No, we did it together.”

Kolivan gazed at the offered hand for a second before clamping it in his own.

Allura just stared at them with a frown while Coran cast her a worried look. “As long as we all stick to the plan it should work,” Allura added, her voice still mistrustful.

Shiro looked at her in disappointment.

“It will work,” Kolivan added firmly, “Perhaps then you will learn that not all Galra are as bad as Zarkon.”

Allura turned her gaze to Keith who was standing at the side and frowned, her purple earrings swaying at the movement, “I hope not.”

“I was right to trust you all,” Ulaz said from beside his leader.

“So what’s the plan?” Hunk asked with a yawn. The yellow paladin had fallen asleep three hours ago and had only just woken up.

Lance spread her arms wide and grinned at her best friend, “The plan is amazing,” she declared, “First, we infect Zarkon’s ship with a virus.” She pointed at the holograph of Zarkon’s ship, “Then, we make an extra large wormhole and lure Zarkon and his ship inside of it, zapping it a bajillion light years away,” she pressed a few buttons and the ship disappeared through a wormhole before she twirled away and pressed another button and the ship reappeared on the opposite side of the room, “then, when he pops up on the other side, Voltron will kick is butt!”

Lance executed a few moves along with some background noises that sounded a lot like those comic book bubbles that appeared when a fight was going on before she finished with a curtsy and the others lightly clapped.

Hunk whistled lowly, “So this is it huh. We’re really going to do this.”

Everyone looked solemn as they looked at each other.

“I guess the question is,” Pidge added, “When do we strike.”

Coran brought up another screen, “In order for our plan to succeed, we’re going to need quite a few things. For starters, we’re going to need enough materials for a big enough wormhole to lure Zarkon into.”

“Am I sensing a trip to the space mall here?” Hunk asked hopefully.

“I’m afraid not,” Coran said with a shake of his head, “This is going to require far more scaultrite than we can find at the space mall.” Hunk deflated as Coran turned to regard everyone, “Everyone will have to split up and take a different task. Hunk, Keith you two will be in charge of gathering more scaultrite.” The two paladins nodded, “If any of us fail, the whole plan fails.”

“Shiro, Pidge and Lance will be infiltrating a prison with the help of the Blades in order to retrieve an engineer by the name of Slav who has developed gravity-bending technology that can create pockets of space-time.”

“Sweet,” Lance said with a smile, “Sounds fun.”

“Just don’t end up in jail,” Pidge added with a meaningful look at the blue paladin.

Lance scoffed, “Please, I’m an angel.”

Bullshit everyone thought.

Lance scowled and huffed. Hunk lightly patted her on the back. “It’s okay buddy, I believe you.”

“All right then team,” Shiro said as he looked over the gathered group, “We’ll start this mission first thing in the morning. For now, I want everyone to head back to your rooms and get a good night’s rest.”

The meeting had ended hours ago and Keith still couldn’t find any form of sleep. Groaning pathetically, he ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. He was in need of a haircut soon. With a huff, he got to his feet, stuffed his feet into his black and white boots and was about to head out when he glanced over at a picture on his desk. It was a picture of Lance and he in one of the first missions she’d gone with them when she joined the team.

The picture had both of them in their paladin armor, helmets off; Lance had a huge grin and an arm around an awkward looking Keith who was giving a shy smile at the blue paladin.

He’d never been fond of getting his picture taken.

Lance had insisted they both take a picture to remember their first mission together which had consisted in saving five kidnapped kids that the Galra had taken in order to make the townspeople finish making the weapons they had refused to make.

While Shiro, Hunk, and Pidge had engaged combat with the battlecruisers, Lance and he had gone on Nyx to look for the kidnapped kids.

They’d found them in record time and taken down their kidnappers with ease.

The townspeople had been so thankful that they had thrown them a party in thanks.

That’s when Lance insisted that Pidge take their picture and after a bit of grumbling from the green and red paladin, the picture was taken.

Keith still remembered that day as if it was yesterday.

“Hey, Pidge,” Lance waited as Pidge looked up from her conversation with one of the townspeople, an orange skinny alien that looked like an elephant that could walk on its hind legs to look at her, “Take a picture of me and Keith.”

Pidge lifted a brow, a small smirk crossing her face, “Sure, if you can get him to smile.”

Lance pulled an arm around Keith who had been slowly backing away and pulled him close to her, oblivious to his attempts at escape, “Come on Keith, this picture is for you.”

Keith narrowed his eyes and tried pulling away only to groan in frustration when his effort offered no results, “What on earth makes you think I want one?”

“Because,” Lance insisted, her blue eyes serious, “I want you to know that you have friends that care about you. I saw your room,” she said quietly, and Keith briefly tensed, “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be by your side, and I will make it my mission to fill that room of yours with so many memories that you’ll throw me a huge party in thanks.”

Keith’s eyes grew wide and he felt a flush spread to his cheeks, “Y-you, d-don’t say cheesy stuff like that.” He mumbled under his breath.

Lance briefly stuck her tongue out at him before her face melted into a victorious grin. Keith’s breath caught in his throat at the sudden wave of camaraderie ship and happy feelings emanating from the Amazon’s mind to his and Keith gave a small shy smile in return.

Pidge quickly took the picture with a grin and despite Keith’s insistence that he didn’t want the picture, it somehow made it’s way into a frame, standing proudly on his desk.

Keith smiled at the memory and glanced at the picture one more time before exiting his room.

As he wondered the dark hallways, he began to hear muffled voices coming from the living room. Frowning, Keith turned directions and started walking over there instead.

“This frickin goblin is adorable.”

Keith furrowed his brow, that was Lance’s voice.

Keith stood outside the doors leading to the living room for a good five seconds before deciding to head in.

It was mostly dark; the only source of light was the huge screen that his friends were seated in front of.

Pidge, Hunk and Lance were are all crammed on the couch playing a video game on a huge screen. After the Blades came over, Antok and Leylee thought them how to plug in their video game and let them borrow a few more. Lance and Pidge had been ecstatic and all but bolted to the living room to play.

“I thought you hated the goblin,” Pidge added as she made her character slash at a skeleton warrior that was in her way.

Lance made a face and gripped the controller in her hands, “I don’t hate anyone.”

“Not even the Joker?” Hunk asked he turned to look at his friend. The yellow paladin was in his pajamas, which consisted of an oversized yellow shirt and some brown slacks. He was currently hugging a blue bowl of popcorn to his chest and taking a handful as he watched the blue and green paladin play.

Lance was wearing some black shorts along with a blue tank top and had her legs tucked under her. Her blue lion slippers rested on the floor, every now and then she’d turn her head slightly to the left and Hunk would feed her some popcorn.

Pidge was seated to Lance’s right in a green sweater over a dark green tank top and wearing black gym shorts with two orange stripes at the corners sitting cross-legged, her tongue sticking out in concentration.

Lance faltered and her character, a tall fairy woman with brown hair and Valkyrie armor took a hit from one of the Skeleton warriors. Pidge made her character, a bulky man wearing a loincloth and carrying a hammer, run back to help her and quickly destroyed the skeletons giving the Amazon some trouble. “Okay, yeah I hate the Joker,” Lance added at last as her and Pidge’s character began to run on the now clear path, “I mean, Batman is just protecting his city and then this clown just decides to screw up his day! Who does that?”

“A jerk,” Hunk added around a mouthful of popcorn.

“A scumbag,” Pidge added helpfully.

Lance nodded vigorously, “I know right?”

Keith snorted from where he was leaning against the wall and all three paladins quickly waved at him before turning back to the screen, “You know about Batman?”

“Uh, yeah,” Lance added with a frown, “Hunk taught me all about him. He’s amazing!”

Keith laughed under his breath and walked more into the room to sit on the floor before leaning against the couch that his friends were currently occupying, “Okay, so you hate the Joker. That’s good. What about Darth Vader?”

Lance frowned as she made her character go to the weapons shop, “That’s Star Wars right?”

Keith nodded as he turned to look at her.

“I still haven’t technically seen any of the movies but from what Hunk and Pidge have told me, he sounds like a douche.”

“He is,” Keith, Pidge, and Hunk added with a nod of their heads.

Lance grinned and allowed Hunk to feed her some more popcorn, “But like I don’t know,” she added around a mouthful of popcorn before swallowing, “I’d have to see the movies in order to properly hate him you know.”

“Okay,” Hunk added as he swung his legs up and down, “What about Zooey Kaliee?”

Lance scowled, “Oh I hate Zooey Kaliee.”

Pidge and Keith grinned at the scowl Lance was showing.

“Any particular reason why?” Pidge asked eagerly, her brown eyes turning mischievous.

“Because she- and then I just-arrrh!” Lance huffed and turned to Hunk, “Hunk, you tell them. Tell them all about that she-devil.”

Keith grinned. She-devil?

Hunk put a comforting hand on Lance’s shoulder and took out a snickers bar that he unwrapped before placing it in the blue paladins mouth. Lance’s tense shoulders relaxed as she began to chew and Pidge snorted.

Hunk cleared his throat, “So apparently, this Zooey Kaliee-“

“She-devil,” Lance muttered under her breath.

“Stole all of Lance’s cookies.”

Pidge gasped as if scandalized.

Keith raised a brow, “Did she?”

Hunk nodded vigorously, “Oh yeah. My best friend here,” Lance waved from beside him, “Offered her some cookies and instead of taking one-“

“That-that hag!” Lance stuttered in rage.

“Don’t worry buddy, I got this,” Hunk said seriously as Lance settled down, “That girl took the whole tray and ate the cookies under a tree.”

Keith’s lips twitched as Pidge let out another gasp. “She didn’t.”

“Oh she did,” Hunk said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “She gave Lance a half eaten muffin in exchange.”

“Never returned the tray either,” Lance added with a sniff.

“That fiend!” Pidge exclaimed in anger.

“It’s barbaric,” Hunk added with a frown.

All three of them glanced down at him and Keith blinked as they waited for him to contribute. “Umm, that she-devil?”

“Yes,” Lance added with a grin, “That darn she-devil.”

“Whose a she-devil?” a familiar voice asked from the doorway.

As one all four of them turned to see Shiro, Allura and Coran standing in the back looking at them in interest.

Shiro was wearing a black rumpled shirt with some gray slacks, his feet barefoot.

Allura was wearing a long dark purple nightdress, white slippers and Shiro’s black sweater draped over her shoulders.

Lance gave the black paladin a subtle thumps-up that had him blushing.

Coran was wearing a red onesie, some orange slippers and an orange blanket in one arm. Talk about a fashion disaster.

“This girl that stole all of Lance’s cookies,” Hunk replied from his seat.

Allura gasped, a hand covering her mouth as her eyes turned wide, “She didn’t.”

“She did.” The four paladins said at the same time.

“I hope you got her back at least,” Coran added as he began to make his way over to the sofa chair to the right of the long couch that the others were occupying, “Because stealing someone’s cookies is simply unacceptable.”

Lance and Hunk grinned, “Oh trust me she did.”

Shiro cast her a worried look before sitting on the love couch to the left, after hesitant second Allura sat next to him, “Why am I suddenly worried about this girl?” Shiro asked the blue paladin.

Lance pouted beside him and looked back at the screen where Pidge’s character was waiting so they could start the new quest, “Relax. I just gave her a laxative.”

Shiro frowned before slowly nodding, “Okay, so not too bad then.”

“Except it gave her explosive diarrhea,” Hunk added with a small smile.

“While we were all training in our griffons,” Lance added with a snicker.

“For a whole week,” Hunk lastly added.

“I might have accidentally overdosed,” Lance added sheepishly.

Coran threw his head back and started laughing, Allura joining in right after and that had them all bursting into laughter.

“The teacher was so mad,” Lance said between giggles, “Zooey kept asking to go to the restroom but the teacher refused and then well, oops. Accident. My only regret was that the griffon suffered for it too. Poor thing.”

“You’re terrible,” Keith said between chuckles.

“I mean she got me back,” Lance added with a frown, “When we were like thirteen she stole my underwear and hanged them up in the center of the city where everyone could see them.”

“Oh my,” Coran said, “Were you embarrassed?”

“Not really?” Lance said with a tilt of her head, “I mean most of the comments were pretty good so I just floated right up there and declared that they were mine so-“

Keith choked on his own spit and Shiro had to lean forward to pat his back.

“-You know, it wasn’t too bad,” Lance said with a grin, “And I do love attention.”

Everyone laughed because they couldn’t deny it. Lance did love attention. Soon enough they settled into silence and Hunk passed the bowl of popcorn around.

“So what kind were they?” Allura asked after two full minutes of silence.

This time it was Shiro who choked on his own spit; Keith patted him on the back before settling down on the floor again.

“Oh you know,” Lance said with a wicked grin, “It was mostly strings and it came with a black bow.”

Shiro and Keith turned a little red even as Allura nodded, her face oddly serious, “Fascinating. We absolutely must go shopping together."

Pidge grinned next to Lance, “Count me in. Not for the underwear shopping but just take me with you, you guys will definitely get in trouble.”

“Hey!” both princesses scowled.

“What exactly did you guys do when we went to the space small?” Keith quietly asked Allura.

The Altean princess tensed in her seat but took a deep breath and answered with not too much difficulty, “We had fun. Lots of fun. Besides, us girls must never reveal our secrets.”

Keith and Shiro frowned.

Hunk nudged Lance with his shoulder, “You’ll tell me right buddy?”

“Sure thing.” Lance immediately said.

“Lance!” Allura and Pidge snapped at her.

“What?” Lance asked with a frown.

“You’re telling Hunk?” Pidge asked with a pout.

“Uh, yeah. He’s my best friend. I tell him everything.”

And cue the fist bump between the yellow and blue paladin.

“Well, that’s not fair,” Keith, added with a scowl.

“Keith Wilhelm Kogane-“ Shiro began.

“Wilhelm?” Pidge snorted.

“I told you that in confidence Shiro!” Keith shouted in embarrassment.

“-are you pouting?” the black paladin finished with a grin.

“No,” Keith said with a huff, “Just thought I’d let Lance know that if she doesn’t tell me what happened at the mall, something might happen to her face mask supplies.”

Lance cast him an accusing finger and Pidge had to cover for her while her character was being attacked, “You leave my beauty routine out of this!”

Keith grinned, “You know, your mom and I had the most interesting conversation with your childhood scrapbook.”

Lance paled.

“I’m a particular fan of your eight year old haircut.” Keith said with a grin, “In fact, your mom gave me a few pictures before we left…”

“Shut up Keith.”

“Make me.”

“You’re the worst.”

“You love me.”

“Oh my god, get a room!” Pidge groaned as she threw a handful of popcorn at them both.

Lance looked from Pidge to Allura with a serious expression, “After much deliberation, I think we should tell the others what happened at the mall after all.”

Pidge let out a long-suffering sigh, “Oh my god, you’re weak!”

Lance threw her hands up and gripped the green paladins shoulders and shook her, “He has pictures of me Pidgey! Pictures!”

“They can’t be that bad-“Allura began.

“I had a bowl cut Allura, a bowl cut.”

Allura cast her sympathetic eyes, “That still doesn’t sound too-“

“At one point I tried to mimic Reyna’s haircut and ended up shaving one whole eyebrow and my whole bangs. It was devastating.”

Allura turned to the green paladin, face serious, “Pidge, I believe its best we talk.”

Pidge threw them both popcorn and crossed her arms with a huff, game forgotten. “I refuse.”

Hunk cast his eyes to the green paladin before shrugging, “Okay, did I ever tell you guys about that time in the Garrison when Pidge came to class in just her-“

“Okay I’ll talk!”

Keith chuckled and Shiro and Coran shared a high-five as Hunk gave the women a sweet smile.

Lance suddenly grinned, “Instead of telling you,” she began, “Why don’t I just show you?”

Coran blinked in surprise and leaned in eagerly, “Lady Lance, you can do that now?”

“Why yes I can Sir Coran.” Lance cracked her knuckles, “So sit back and relax. Oh and if anyone of you start getting a massive headache and start to hear a ringing noise, it’s probably nothing.”

Shiro immediately sat up straighter, “Wait, what?”

“Here we go!”

Everyone immediately tensed at the sudden intrusion in their heads but with Lance’s coaxing they began to relax. At Lance’s cue, everyone closed their eyes and eagerly waited as Lance scrounged over her memories to look for the right one.

It was fucking cool, it was like scrolling through a handful of pictures but instead of being pictures they were memories. Keith and the others managed to get a few snippets of it; there was one where a younger version of Lance and Reyna were laying in bed and laughing, one where a young man with caramel skin and baby blue eyes swung a younger version of Lance around while five other boys who looked like Lance were making a sandcastle in the back, Queen Lexi sitting among them adding shells, and one where Reyna and Lance were twirling in circles with their arms spread out as it rained in Cloyetera.

Reyna was in most of her memories which made sense since they were both best friends but Keith hoped that Lance told him about all those memories one day too.

‘I will, we have all the time in the world’ Lance reassured him in his head.

Keith smiled and then gasped along with everyone else as Lance finished scrolling through her memories and found the right one.

The scenery suddenly changed to the brightly lit swap moon, pop music blaring through the speakers and they watched as a few aliens walked around shopping. The scenery changed again until they were in a bar that had seen better days.

There was a blue skinned bartender with a long face and a small beak as a mouth mixing a few drinks for a customer behind the counter.

There were a few burly aliens playing games in the corner while others just sat there and drank their drinks in stony silence.

Some were even hand wrestling a few tables away.

It’s when Lance mentioned the word ‘hustle’ that Shiro tensed.

“Tell me you guys didn’t…” Shiro said in disapproval.

Pidge snorted, “Oh you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

They felt sparks of amusement coming from Lance as she and the other two began to play games with the aliens.

It’s like all of them were Lance. They were seeing through her point of view. Everything she felt, smelled, or did, they all felt it as if they were she.

It was awesome.

It was like being inside a kid’s head Keith thought. They could feel and see everything that Lance wanted to do which was pretty much to cause trouble.

She was always chipper, but not in a creepy way like Coran.

Keith grinded his teeth when that green skinned alien and three eyes draped his hand over Lance’s shoulder for the third time. Everyone could feel the Amazons growing irritation that she had felt at the time as she steeled herself to not make a scene. Thankfully, Pidge had intervened and stepped in to Keith’s relief.

It’s after this that things started to get more interesting.

Coran was laughing quite loudly as Lance and the others began to win game after game.

He seemed to enjoy the looks of despair the aliens got whenever they lost a game and a whole lot of money.

So did Lance apparently. She was biting her cheek really really hard so she wouldn’t burst out in laughter.

When Pidge was handed milk to drink instead of alcohol, Shiro had let out a sigh of relief and cast disapproving eyes at both princesses who pretended not to notice.

The others laughed and Pidge sent them all a glare from her seat.

It’s as they reached the final game that Keith and the others leaned forward in their seats, their eyes still closed as they looked at the cards Lance had in her hands as if they were in her body.

Lance had some good cards but her win all depended on whatever numbers the dice rolled to.

As the other players began to doubt her, they didn’t think she’d risk playing that ultimate card, Lance felt the urge to laugh once again.

She simply smiled widely and threw the dice in the middle of the table and watched as everyone leaned in and waited for the verdict.

Just as the last die began to roll to a stop on a lower number, Lance used her powers to turn it to a higher number and finally let out that villainous laugh that she’d held herself back from doing as the other players threw their hands on the table with a scowl and started crying in their seats.

Shiro released a sigh of relief, “That wasn’t too bad. I don’t know why you guys didn’t want us to know.”

“I was hoping for something juicer,” Coran mumbled in disappointed.

“Same here,” Hunk added, “I mean I’m still not totally cool that you guys swindled the people here but I was expecting something like property damage.”

Allura grinned, “Oh, we’re not done yet.”

Pidge snickered in her seat, “It gets better.”

And boy were they right. Lance accidentally showed everyone that she had powers and the players still seated in the round table began to throw accusations at them. Lance threw a table at them as she gripped Allura and Pidge’s arm and began to herd them to the nearest exit.

After Pidge was snatched away from them, things got even more chaotic.

Everyone in the bar joined in and Keith watched in awe as Lance, Allura, and Pidge handed themselves beautifully.

Shiro even shouted in approval when Lance and Allura punched the tentacle alien that had snatched Pidge away from them.

Hunk and Coran shouted in excitement as Lance picked up a lizard like alien and branded him like a sword as she swung him around to knock aliens down.

Allura joined her and picked up a random alien to swing around as well, Pidge was throwing bottles of liquor at anyone who came close to her but she was laughing.

It was pure pandemonium and Keith seriously loved it.

That is until someone slammed a chair over Lance’s head and the room grew silent. Keith knew the blue paladin hadn’t felt more than a mosquito bite but he still felt pissed at the thought that someone would want to hurt Lance.

Keith felt sadistic satisfaction when Lance punched the alien so hard he went through a few walls.

The memory soon ended when Lance, Pidge, and Allura escaped through the exit and the Amazon showed them the huge bag of coins that she had managed to snatch.

“The next time we go to a mall, I’m coming with you guys,” Shiro said sternly, he looked liked he’d aged over the past few minutes, “You guys got into a lot of trouble.”

“Bah,” Coran scoffed in his seat, “I did worst things in my youth. Let them have their fun.”

“At least they had fun,” Hunk added sheepishly.

“And that explains that piece of wood I found in your hair,” Keith added with a scowl in Lance’s direction.

Allura cleared her throat as she turned to regard Keith with a small hesitant smile that had everyone grinning, “Well, she got him back. Punched him through a few walls if it makes you feel better.”

Keith slowly grinned as he nodded, “Yeah, I guess she did.”

“You know,” Shiro added thoughtfully, “I think brandishing some of the aliens as swords was kind of smart.”

Lance smiled widely, “Shiro, are you saying you approve?”

Shiro blinked and made a face, “I wouldn’t go that far-“

Allura snorted beside him, “He approves.”

Pidge spread her arms wide, “And that’s all that matters.”

“We should play a game,” Hunk adds out of nowhere, “Or like play a movie.”

Shiro slightly frowned, “I don’t know, we have separate mission tomorrow. W need all the rest we can get.”

“But dad,” Lance whined with a pout, “It’s only eight thirty! Let’s do something fun!”

The others join in and begin to beg as well but it’s Allura’s puppy eyes that did him in. With a resigned sigh, Shiro finally agreed to a movie.

Hunk was on his feet seconds after, “We need snacks!”

Lance cast a meaningful look to Keith and Allura and went after her friend, “And popcorn! We need more popcorn!”

The others seemed to take the hint and declared that there were things they wanted to get as well before they all hurriedly left the room until it was just Keith and Allura.

The Altean princess wanted to get a cup of tea but Coran insisted that he would get it for her.

Keith knew exactly what his friends were planning and he appreciated it but Allura didn’t seem to be in a talkative mood. It was just awkward silence for a while, neither of them willing to break the silence first. But they had to; they couldn’t stay like this forever. It’ll affect the team if they left things as it was.

“I’m sorry,” Allura finally mumbled.

Keith whipped his head up to look at her before casting his eyes downward, “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hidden it from everyone. It’s just-“

“You were scared of how I’d react,” Allura quietly stated, her arms around herself in defense. “And you were right to be scared, the way I reacted- the way I’ve been acting-I’m sorry.”

Keith looked to the side, “It’s okay. I-understand. After everything that the Galra have done to you, it’s only right that you hate them.”

Allura nodded minutely, “They killed my people. My father. Everyone I ever cared about…I can’t forgive them for what they’ve done but-“ Allura took a deep breath and when she spoke next her words sounded croaked, “I know you didn’t do those things. I know that. You didn’t even know you were Galra until a few weeks ago, you must have been terrified.”

Those last words were said softly, as if she had just realized how he must have felt all those weeks ago.

“Whenever I see you now, I see you as one of them. Purple skin, purple furry ears, yellow eyes…I know you don’t look like them because of the suppressant pills but I can’t help it. And every time I look at you or any of the Blades, all that hatred suddenly seeps forward and it’s all I can do to not let it take over. But it’s not fair to you, or any of the Blades.”

Her eyes met his this time and he could practically feel her shaking as she berated herself to not flinch, “Shiro and Coran have talked to me and they have both reminded me of all the things you’ve done as a member of Voltron. All the good that you’ve done. Not once have I ever felt any distrust from you, you’ve more than proven your loyalty to this team time and time again.”

Keith licked his suddenly dry lips and Allura bowed her head, a few stray hairs falling in front of her face. “So I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. It’s going to take me a little while longer to get rid of all the hate that I have but I really hope…”her voice shook and she turned pleading eyes to him, “That we can remain friends. Because I think of you and the rest of the paladins as my family now, and I don’t want to lose anymore family. I don’t think I can stand it.”

Keith smiled, a small smile but it was a smile, “Of course Allura. I forgive you, of course we can still be friends.”

Allura let out a huge sigh of relief and wiped at the tears at the corners of her eyes before smiling at him, “Thank you Keith. You won’t regret it.”"

There was a sudden commotion from the kitchen that had them both turning their heads.

“Okay, but like, why can’t I go back yet?” Hunk asked in confusion.

“You idiot,” Pidge harshly whispered, “Because those two idiots need to talk so we’re giving them some privacy!”

“Oh,” Hunk mumbled, “Okay, but like, how long is that going to take cuz the popcorn is ready and I refuse to eat them cold.”

Lance’s chuckle could be heard before Shiro and Coran’s voices drummed them out by whispering quite loudly to keep it down.

Allura and Keith shared a look before the red paladin turned his head towards the kitchen and shouted back, “Yeah, uh we can hear everything you guys are saying.”

The kitchen grew silent.

“For the record, I blame Shiro.” Lance replied back before she and Hunk reemerged from the kitchen, both of them carrying bowls of popcorn and some M&M’s.

Shiro rolled his eyes as he settled own next to Allura, a bowl of cereal in one hand and a bag of some kind of candy in the other, “I wasn’t loud Lance. The blame should go to Pidge and Coran.”

“What?” Pidge squawked as she settled herself next to Lance and Hunk, a bag of gummy warms in her grasp, “I take offence to that! Coran’s at fault.”

At that moment, Coran walked into the room with a dramatic twirl. How he did that without dropping any liquid from the two cups of tea in his hands was a mystery. The castle advisor put and arm to his chest and stretched the other to the side, “Lady Pidge is right, twas I, whose to blame!”

Keith snorted as all eyes turned to Lance.

“You’ve been teaching him Shakespeare?” Shiro asked as he blinked in surprise.

Lance waved a hand dismissively, “For the record I was just reading out loud and he just happened to be there. Even I don’t get Shakespeare.” She looked like that irked her for some reason, “I don’t know what I’m reading half the time.”

As the others settled down in their own seats and Coran passed Allura her cup of tea, Lance slid down from the couch to take a seat next to Keith on the floor. A scent vaguely of cinnamon wafted into Keith’s nose as Lance pressed their shoulders together. Turning away, Keith had to fight the urge to grab a fistful of Lance’s shirt, bury his face against her chest, and inhale deeply.

Jesus Keith. Calm yourself.

“So,” Pidge asked curiously, “Did you two settle things?”

It took him a good few seconds to notice that she was talking to him and Allura. If it wasn’t for Lance’s poke to the cheek, it might have taken him longer.

Allura and Keith shared a look and smiled.

The Altean princess tucked a hair behind her ear and pressed Shiro’s jacket closer to her, “Yes. I believe we’ve settled things.”

Shiro softly smiled at her and Allura turned a pretty shade of red before she awkwardly cleared her throat and took a handful of popcorn from Hunk.

“It must have been awkward,” Hunk, mumbled around a mouthful of popcorn, “Was it? Oh gosh I bet it was. You know because he’s part Galra and all that stuff with your family.”

Lance snorted and patted her friend’s knee, “Hunk, take some M&M’s, preferably the green ones since they’re the worst.”

Pidge made an indignant noise and lightly kicked the Amazon in the head, “They all literally taste the same!”

“No they don’t,” Lance argued back, “Plus, they offend me.”

Keith snorted, Shiro looked like he wanted to argue and Coran looked amused. Hunk stifled a smile but took most of the green M&M’s to Lance’s delight.

Keith smiled.

In the end they decided to watch Lilo & Stitch, how Pidge even found that movie is beyond him. Then again, this is Pidge he was talking about. Tech expert, and super smart.

The three aliens in the room certainly seemed to love the movie.

Lance and Allura were eagerly leaning forward to find out what happened next, blindly taking some popcorn.

Allura even took Shiro’s bowl of cereal by accident but the black paladin kept quiet. Every now and then glancing at her from the corner of her eye.

Coran had gotten out a handkerchief and was blowing his nose quite loudly at pretty much everything.

When Stitch landed on Earth and started laughing like an evildoer, Pidge snorted and joked that that’s how Keith made his way into Lance’s life.

Lance choked on her popcorn but started laughing, her smile wide even as Keith scowled in Pidge’s direction.

By the time the movie was drawing to an end, even Keith was bobbing his head and silently humming under his breath with the music in the movie.

Coran had gotten up a while ago and tried executing some of the dance moves. Lance joined him and everyone erupted into laughter when they started dancing to Elvis playing in the background. Hunk tried to mimic some of the moves and even Shiro and Allura got up to dance to the ending credits. Somehow, Lance was able to drag him to his feet and made him dance.

Pidge eagerly took pictures of everyone from her seat. She refused to make a fool of herself but she did sing along with them.

If you could call it that.

A thrill ran through him, born entirely of doing something completely stupid, and the grin he was receiving from Lance made it worthwhile.

Chapter Text

“Never ignore the elephant in the room. That’s rude; play with it and introduce it.” 
― Donna Lynn Hope

Chapter 17

It was finally time.

After a fun-filled night with the rest of the occupants in the castle, it was finally time for them to start their separate missions.

After the night they had, everyone had knocked out and fallen asleep in the living room. Keith and she cuddled up next to each other on the floor, their legs intertwined together. Hunk passed out on the couch with Pidge practically sprawled on top of him, her right leg dangling mere inches away from Keith’s face.

At least she remembered to take off her glasses this time.

Coran had passed out in the sofa, which he reclined, his loud snores drowning out the sound of the engines from the ship.

Shiro and Allura had fallen asleep on the love couch, the Altean princess curled into Shiro’s wide chest. It’s safe to say that Shiro didn’t sleep all that much when the woman he was crushing on was using him as her personal pillow.

Lance had woken up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and had to rub the sleep from her eyes to see Shiro sitting ram rod straight on the couch, Allura’s loud snores muffled into his chest.

He kept putting his arm around her shoulder before deciding against it. He did that at least four more times before he finally noticed that the Amazon was awake and watching him.

Lance had given the black paladin a wide smile and if looks could kill, Lance would be a pile of goo on the floor.

Shiro was so lucky that Lance was such a good person, because if she weren’t Lance would have woken everyone up and started singing ‘Allura and Shiro sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G’, but she was, so she settled on a few pictures and ignored the colorful array of curses that Shiro was thinking her way.

Jeez.

For someone who disapproved of Pidge and Keith’s everyday bad-mouthing, he sure knew quite a few words himself.

A sailor would be proud.

She couldn’t wait to mess with him during their own mission.

She was going to have so much fun.

At seven a.m. sharp, Shiro woke them up to the sound of a loud horn coming from a conch shell that he was blowing air into.

He looked like Christmas had come early.

She did not appreciate that smug look he sent her way.

The thing looked to be around sixteen inches; it was pink with pointed tips at the edges.

Who in the hell had given Shiro a frickin conch shell?

Yes, she had cursed.

It’s what happens when one is woken to the sound of a large horn. Lance almost thought they were under attack.

Heck, Keith took out the dagger he always stashed under his pillow and looked ready to defend them.

The others woke with a startled yelp, Pidge fell of the yellow paladin who was flailing his arms around and looking around in a panic, Pidge landed right on top of Keith and Lance who let out shouts of their own.

Lance got an elbow to the face and Keith got kicked in the jaw.

Coran woke with a loud snort and Lance feared he might have choked but he just sent the black paladin a glare of his own. Allura was the only one who woke up with a wide smile, going so far as to stretch her arms wide in the air and actually thanked Shiro for the wake up call. Shiro grinned and bashfully ran a hand through his hair.

Those two were definitely made for each other.

Lance had a feeling that Allura was the one to give Shiro that shell.

As Shiro and Allura shared good morning pleasantries and long longing looks, like seriously just get together already, Lance and the others shared a look and swore that that shell would meet its end soon.

Keith yawned and ran a hand through that mullet hair of his. He was in need of a haircut soon. Despite sleeping on the floor, her fiancée still looked hot. Like I just woke up from the floor and yeah I have carpet markings on my face but damn I still look this good.’

It was so not fair. Lance was pretty sure her hair looked like a rat’s nest, hopefully better than Pidge’s hair, that thing looked like it had been spiked up, in fact she looked just like Edward Scissorhands.

Not that it was a bad thing. She loved that guy, but Lance didn’t think she could pull off his look like Pidge seemed to be doing.

“You need a shower,” Lance declared as she pinched her nose and waved her hand to ward off the non-existent smell, Keith scowled, “I bet I can smell your stench from the bridge. Now shoo, take your shower before I choke.”

“Stop with the dramatics,” Keith muttered as he flicked her forehead, “Besides, it’s all probably coming from Pidge.”

Pidge scowled at the wall and shot an accusing finger at it, “Hey! I took a shower three days ago!”

Hunk took pity on her and directed her in the right direction. Pidge flushed in embarrassment.

Shiro shot the green paladin a disapproving look and crossed his arms, “Pidge, please go take a shower.”

Pidge huffed and picked up her glasses with the help of Allura and placed them on her face, “You’re all just jealous.”

Lance grinned but it was Coran who spoke, his voice already bright and cheery despite the god-forsaken hour, “Yes, not all of us can get that baby smell you seem to emit.”

Hunk and Lance snorted and started laughing; even Keith managed a muffled laugh as he began to make his way to his room.

Allura bit her lip and looked to the side and Shiro tried to keep a blank face but his lips were trembling.

Pidge looked ready to murder someone.

And that was Lance’s cue to leave the room before she became Pidge’s victim.

As Lance walked through the still darkened halls to her room, Coran had yet to turn on the castle lights, she hummed a little song to herself.

‘Stay with me, why don’t you stay’ she softly sang under her breath. Keith had pretty good taste in music it seemed. Every now and then when they had some down time Keith and her would lie on the floor of his room and Keith would let her into his head where he had an infinite amount of music stored up. He knew the lyrics to pretty much every song that he liked in there and Lance was one of the few that he actually shared his music with.

He’d even admitted that he secretly liked musicals.

And yes, High school musical counted, Keith knew the words to every song in the movie.

He had made her swear not to tell anyone that little bit of information, even Shiro, but mostly Pidge. The green paladin had enough dirt on him thank you very much.

After a few more winding paths, Lance made it to her room, fixed her hair and picked up some jeans and a tank top before darting back to Keith’s room that was just five doors down from her.

As soon as she stepped inside, Lance let out a satisfied smile at her surroundings. She had made good on her promise to fill Keith’s room with a bunch of memories and a few more things that Keith had an interest in.

The walls that had been bare since her first joining the team now had posters. There was one poster on the right with the words ‘Do you believe?’ and a picture of a big foot as a sign of Bigfoot.

The poster next to Keith’s bed was all in black with the words ‘Mothman is Real.’

Apparently, he had an obsession about all those kind of things. He insisted that Bigfoot was real, the same thing for Mothman and crypts.

Lance wasn’t sure about any of those things but the more Keith talked about them, the more she began to believe that they were real. They all sounded so interesting.

And then Lance would add in a few more details that she herself had heard from her father and small mysteries that had happened in Cloyetera.

With another glance at the room, Lance made her way to Keith’s bed and sat on the red satin bed sheets that she had gotten him. She had found the lion slippers for the rest of team thanks to Coran’s help but so far no one else seemed eager to wear them.

Keith only wore them in his room, kept him warm he said.

A glance at the desk revealed three framed photos. One of her and Keith in their paladin armors, one where Pidge had taken a picture of Keith sleeping on Lance’s lap while she sat on the couch and played with his hair. The last framed photo had a picture of the whole team doing some kind of pose as they all smiled at the camera.

The sound of the shower being turned on caught her attention and Keith’s mind curled around her in question. Lance curled her own mind with his, hesitant.

‘Lance? What’s wrong?’ Keith asked in her mind.

Taking a deep breath, Lance quickly stripped off her clothes before she could lose her nerve and made her way to the bathroom where Keith was already showering.

She made no move to hide her arrival, if the running feet hadn’t alerted Keith that she was coming in then her chaotic thoughts did.

Noticing her presence, the gray metallic door swished open and Lance briskly walked inside only to almost trip on the tile floor at the sight before her.

Keith had opened the sliding door and was openly staring at her in shock. Lance would have made a joke or some slight teasing but she was too busy staring at her fiancée in obvious arousal.

Keith…was well endowed it seemed.

And very pale, like so pale that Lance felt the urge to take him to the beach and make him lay on the sand just so he could get a tan.

But holy mama…Keith was handsome.

The red paladin in question turned beet red and Lance slowly grinned, “Careful Keith, if you keep blushing like that you might just make Red jealous.”

That seemed to snap him out his stupor and Keith closed his open mouth and tried to clear his throat while he discreetly gave her a once over.

Lance spread her arms wide and slowly turned around in a circle to give him a better view.

She worked out. She knew her body looked great.

His eyes closed to half-mast and he smirked, “What are you doing?” Somehow his voice managed to sound both aroused and demanding at the same time. As if to prove that he wasn’t the least bit bothered by her bursting into the bathroom he went back to lathering himself in soap with the washcloth, all the while his blue-gray eyes trained on her.

“I…” that was a good start. At least her mouth was still able to form words. Her thoughts on the other hand…not so much. But it’s not her fault! If anyone ever had a very naked Keith standing in front of them while he was lathering himself up with soap then they wouldn’t be able think coherently either.

This was a new step for the both of them, despite all the intimate moments that they’d had, all clothes had been kept on.

Neither had ever seen the other completely naked before, it was a whole new territory for them but Lance was one hundred percent sure that they were more than ready for this step.

Swallowing once, Lance shook her head and willed her mouth to speak, “I w-want to shower.”

Smooth Lance. The stuttering was a nice effect.

Keith quirked an eyebrow and he moved a wet lock away from his face, “I’m not done yet.” He stared at her as if in challenge, waiting for her to come up with something to say as he continued to lather himself.

Were his movements slower or was she just seeing things?

Lance took a step forward and Keith’s eyes followed the movement with such intensity that she almost began to fidget in place.

"W-with you!" That seemed to catch him off guard.

“W-what?”

“Yes! We’ll be saving water…and…um that’s always good. So I’ve heard at least. Plus, couples shower all the time and stuff right? Right. We’ve both know each other…for a while now…and I know this is a big step in our relationship but…we’re going to get married one day...and so…yeah.” Towards the end of her sentence her voice trailed off into a small mumble of embarrassment.

She blamed it on the fact that his legs slightly parted and she could tell that his dark hair was natural. Not that she ever doubted it but confirmation was always good.

“Lance.”

The Amazon princess jerked her head up to see Keith giving her a shy smile, his face as red as a tomato. She was pretty sure she looked the same but it was nice to know that she wasn’t the only one feeling shy at the moment.

Keith slid the shower door wider and Lance grinned and began to unclasp her red crystal necklace when Keith’s voice halted her movements.

“What was that?”

Keith looked to the side before clearing his throat and turning back to her, “I said leave it. It…looks good.”

So cute!

Ignoring the knots in her stomach Lance breathed through her nose and began to walk over to Keith who was still watching her.

In the back of her head she knew that stepping into the shower with your significant other was bound to be a bad idea. The whole thing screamed sex. And as much as Lance wanted to take that big step with Keith, now was not the time.

They both had separate missions that they were about to head into. It’s the fact that they weren’t going to see each other for a few days that had prompted her to take this next step with Keith in the first place.

Well, okay that was a lie.

She’d wanted to do this for a while longer than that but the separate mission thing was a good excuse to try it out.

Lance stepped into the shower and slightly shivered at the warm water pooling at the bottom, her shoulder brushing Keith’s chest.

The shower room was definitely roomy, so Keith and Lance both had enough room but Lance opted to stay close. Keith moved slightly to the side and allowed her to wet her hair and face, her heart thundering in her chest.

“I’ve never done this before,” she admitted as she turned to look at him. Her gaze easily found his; it’s hard to miss the force of that stare when it’s aimed at your back.

Keith pressed the soap into the cloth and made a turning motion. Lance obliged and turned around as Keith began to slowly clean her. His moves were hesitant at first but then they became relaxed as he continued his ministrations.

“Neither have I,” he replied after a while, his hand idly stroking her spine while the other was still covering her neck with soap. “Never really wanted to but…you’re the exception.”

Lance flushed and admitted the same thing.

With her back done, Lance turned around and Keith took a sharp breath. Smiling gently, Lance cupped his cheek with one of her hands and took his other hand that was still clutching the cloth covered in soap and pressed it to her chest.

Keith swallowed and his eyes briefly met hers before they took on a determined edge and he began to wash her breasts.

Lance almost moaned but figured Keith wouldn’t be able to handle that so she busied herself with putting some shampoo on her palm before putting it in Keith’s hair. The red paladin released a satisfied groan when she began to massage his scalp. Lance grinned and smiled as Keith stared at her with that hooded gaze of his and that half smile that she’d always loved.

And then the two of them just stared at each other in wonder, the water had changed to something a little colder but neither of them seemed to notice. Lance was feeling way too hot at the moment thank you very much. A hand wrapped around her wrist and she was jerked forward into a kiss.  

A shiver went up her spine as that talented mouth took control and she was pulled closer. One hand around her waist while the other cupped her face. Lance’s nails raked down Keith’s back slowly, memorizing each vertebrae as she ran a hand through his wet hair.

Lance let him have control for a little longer before she took control and pressed closer, her tongue slipping into his mouth. His hand went down to the wet skin of her thigh and Lance groaned into his mouth.

Their thoughts mingled together, colors and whispered promises going back and forth. The mood bracelet still wrapped on their wrists was ranging from color to color.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

That’s all either of them could comprehend from the others thoughts.

Lance wrapped a leg around Keith’s hip and the red paladin growled before hefting her up and leaning her on the wall, Lance’s other leg wrapped around Keith’s hip as he continued to kiss her.

Keith’s mouth left her own and he lightly bit her neck. Lance released a moan at the sheer pleasure that move enacted and she could practically feel Keith grinning.

“Sensitive aren’t we?”

Lance raked her nails harder on his back and bit his shoulder. Keith moaned and stiffened when Lance began to squirm in place. Her mouth caught his pulse, feeling it flutter in obvious arousal. Her lips jerked closer to his and Keith hissed at the unexpected pleasure as she buried her face into his neck to give him a few love bites.

“Sensitive aren’t we?” she teased back.

Keith scoffed and was about to retort when Shiro’s booming voice was heard outside.

“Keith, why is your room locked? Hurry up or you’re going to miss breakfast!”

Keith groaned and sighed in disappointment as he lowered her to her feet. “He can be such a pain sometimes.”

Lance grinned and pressed a kiss to his shoulder before she picked up his shampoo.

“Two-in-one?” she screeched, her hand waving the white bottle in great offence. “You know these are lies right?”

Keith huffed out a laugh and shook his head in amusement before he took the bottle from her hand and poured a good amount on his palm to Lance’s horror. “Deal with it princess. It’s all I have.”

Lance huffed but allowed him to wash her hair, “I can feel my hair slowly dying already,” she muttered under her breath.

Keith snickered, his hands gently washing her scalp, “You know how my hair is always so soft?”

Lance quirked a brow in curiosity, “Yeah?”

“It’s because of this baby right here.”

“Lies.”

“True story.”

“We shall see, and if my hair isn’t as baby soft as your is, I’m smacking you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“That, my dear Keith, is a promise.”

He could not believe that had happened.

Lance and he had showered together.

Naked!

Duh Keith, a little voice mocked him from his head, that’s how showers work you idiot.

Keith scowled but the expression didn’t last very long in his current mood.

Holy fuck.

That had been amazing.

He’d be lying if he said he hasn’t imaged Lance naked on more than one sex dream. But holy shit was the real deal so much better than anything he could conjure up.

Lance with her beautiful brown skin. Her long limbs. Those beautiful blue eyes. That cute little nose and those soft lips. Not to mention those damn curves! And that tight ass.

Because yes, Keith had looked. How could he not?

He hadnt been brave enough to cop a feel yet, but fuck had he wanted to. And boy, he finally did.

Wait.

What if this was just another dream?

Keith’s eyes widened in horror and he pinched himself.

He yelped.

Well that definitely hurt.

Must be real then.

“Are you going to stand there naked all day or are you going to get dressed?”

Keith turned around at the familiar voice and had to swallow twice.

Lance was standing in the middle of his room, hands on her hips as she just stood there in a dark blue tank top and some black underwear that Keith immediately took a liking to.

Those legs…

She wiggled her eyebrows and looked him up and down as she bit her bottom lip, “I mean, I don’t mind. I’m enjoying the view but I will, under no circumstances, let you leave the room.”

Keith sure was glad that he’d kept up his training.

He was proud to say that he had a six-pack.

His body looked and felt great but having Lance confirm it made his chest puff with pride.

Lance sighed before she suddenly grinned at him, “Okay then. Be a good boy and raise your hands in the air. Guess I’ll have to dress you myself.”

“…You’re kidding.” Keith frowned as Lance continued to grin at him.

“Either you get dressed or I’ll dress you myself. Your choice.”

Keith hesitated, but the glint in Lance’s eyes left him no doubt that she would follow through with her threat. Reluctantly, he raised his hands in the air and Lance picked up the black shirt that he’d placed on his bed and brought it down over his raised arms.

Before she could, he swiped the red boxers from the desk and quickly put them on. Lance pouted and handed him his jeans and watched while he put them on.

“What about you?” he asked as he began to put on his black and white boots.

“I’ll get to it, I’m enjoying the show,” Lance replied sweetly.

“What if someone comes?”

“The door is locked, besides Hunk has seen me like this plenty of times.”

Yeah, but Hunk doesn’t want to jump you. “Get dressed,” he groaned out. He couldn’t think coherent thoughts while she looked like that. Plus, a part of him wanted to just miss breakfast all together and faze Shiro’s wrath so he could have his way with her.

Not that Lance would mind if the current look she was gracing him with had anything to say about it.

Lance simply rolled her eyes and began to shimmy into her jeans, her wet hair dripping drops of water onto the floor.

Keith picked up his red towel and walked behind her and began to dry her hair. He was secretly pleased that she smelled just like him now.

Turning to face him, Lance lifted the blue crystal and Keith took the hint and lowered his head so Lance could put it on him.

Keith swiped his black fingerless gloves from his desk and put them on before he could forget.

“There,” Lance said with a smile as she took a step back, “Now we’re ready. All I need are my boots from my room before I head to the kitchen. You go on ahead.”

Keith gripped her wrist and she turned back to him, her expression curious, “I’ll go with you.”

After what the two had just shared he didn’t feel like parting ways with her yet. Besides, after they were done eating breakfast with the others he wouldn’t be able to see her for a few days anyway. Better to enjoy these last few moments before they had to part.

Lance grinned and she laced their hands together before she began to tug him towards the door. She’d slipped on her blue lion slippers but instead of looking ridiculous she looked absolutely adorable.

Getting to her room took no time at all and Lance quickly switched from her slippers into her black boots.

Keith was already turning before she caught his hand in hers and shoved a bottle of lotion in his face. “I put my hair at risk with your shampoo so it’s only fair that you try out my lotion.” His discomfort must have showed because Lance laughed and poured a good amount of lotion into her palm and waited for him to stretch his hands in front of her so she could put some lotion on him. “Trust me, it’s so good for your skin. Not only that but it smells really good.”

It did smell good.

But he wasn’t going to admit that.

“I can’t wait for us to put on face masks together one day.”

Keith groaned, “Lance, I love you. I really do. But please don’t make me do that.”

Lance laughed, the sound pleasant, “One day I will. You can count on it.” She took his hand in hers and steered him to the door where she began to drag him to the kitchen, “Now onto get breakfast!”

Keith shook his head.

This girl was going to be the death of him.

When they finally got to the kitchen everyone turned to greet them only to stop and stare at them.

Pidge made a face, “You guys were messing around, weren’t you?”

Keith tensed and allowed Lance to drag him to his seat on the table where the others were already seated. Trying not to give anything away, Keith gave her a blank look, “What makes you say that?”

“It’s that love bite.” Shiro answered, his face torn between wanting to scold him and laugh at his expense.

Keith’s eyes got wide and he looked himself over before Hunk had mercy on him and pointed at his pulse, “It’s right there dude. All red and swollen looking.”

“I think it’s adorable,” Allura said as she took a bite of her bacon and smiled at him. Her silver hair had been braided into a tight bun and she’d changed into her pink and white armor. In fact, the rest of the paladins had already changed into their armor as well.

Her four mice were perched on the table as they nibbled on whatever food Allura gave them from her plate.

“Indeed,” Coran chirped after her as he leaned forward to examine the red paladin closer, his right hand twirling the end of his orange mustache, “A very good love bite indeed.” He turned to the blue paladin and gave her a thumps-up that only had Keith groaning and the others laughing at his expanse, “Very nice Lady Lance.”

And then Lance being Lance got up from her seat and bowed as she blew kisses at everyone.

How embarrassing.

As Keith put a gloved hand over his pulse in an attempt to hide the hickey that the blue paladin had given him, Lance suddenly shot up from her seat and turned to Shiro and began to sniff him. The black paladin looked perturbed and leaned back on his chair as the blue paladin got into his personal space.

Keith and the others looked on in confusion even as they continued to eat their breakfast, which consisted of bacon and eggs.

‘Lance?’ What is it?’

‘He just smells…like Allura.’

Keith’s eyes widened before he snorted out loud. “About time.” He mumbled under his breath.

Lance got to her feet with a satisfied grin and shot a smirk at the Altean princess who was avoiding eye contact. “So, you and Shiro huh?”

Allura turned beet red and Shiro awkwardly cleared his throat as the others began to piece things together.

“Oh,” Pidge said as she finally figured out what they were talking about, “Took you long enough.”

Hunk turned red as he gave Shiro a scandalized look, his lips twitching.

“We didn’t do anything!” Shiro immediately said, his voice high at the end. Allura sipped her tea as calmly as she could as Coran leaned into her personal space, his mouth set in a smile so wide it was looking homicidal.

“We just kissed a little,” Allura finally said, her blue eyes mischievous.

Lance giggled and immediately took the seat next to the Altean princess, “Oh, who made the first move? It was you wasn’t it? Shiro is such a prude.”

Keith leaned in, a conspirator’s grin on his face. “It probably was Allura. Wasn’t it?”