Chapter Text
They’re almost done downloading the information for Pidge, when the door crashes inward and galra guards burst through. Shit.
“Lance,” Keith calls over his shoulder without looking behind him, “you might want to hurry up.”
“I’m trying, just give me a second we’re almost there.”
Keith pulls out his bayard turning it into a sword, which he raises in anticipation. “I'll do my best.” He runs charging his way down the hallway. Three against one, great odds, Keith thinks sarcastically.
The first guard is fast, but he's hesitant and Keith uses this to his advantage, slashing his side bad enough he meekly scurries away. Keith knows not to worry whatever the galra due to cowards is worse then whatever he would.
The other two sadly aren't hesitant at all.
Slashing his sword in front of him, Keith manages to nick one of the galra in surprise. The guard turns redirecting his attention to Keith. He smirks, pulling out his own sword that’s several inches longer.
Keith manages to block the blow, the galra has more force, but Keith’s faster. He gets in several small gabs distracting the guard. He's making progress, but it’s slow, and he can already see the other Galra guard's approach.
“Lance,” he huffs annoyedly over his shoulder, “hurry up and get the fuck over here.”
“One second, we're almost there.”
Hearing footsteps behind him Keith groans, great he thinks, another one.
He slashes at the galra’s side and hopes he’s distracted him long enough.
Turning, he steps toward the other guard who pushes against his sword with his own. The guard steps forward and Keith braces his stance. He's always played dirty, knowing the way to win is the element of surprise. He raises his arm and in the moment of the galra's confusion he slams the back of his elbow into the guard's face hard enough he falls to the ground.
Keith sighs heavily, turning to meet the original guard, barely managing to block the enemy's swipe.
“Okay, okay.” Lance calls footsteps picking up in the distance. “Got it.”
Pulling out his bayard it transforms into a gun. Lance breathes deeply bracing his gun with his left hand. He allignes the shoot over Keith's shoulder where the taller Galra chest is. Lance pulls the trigger, hitting where he suspects the galra's heart is. The guard's arm slowly slacken and he wobbles falling backwards with a deep thump. Lance smirks, not sharp-shooter his ass.
“Finally.” Keith huffs letting his sword arm lower, but it's still tense and poised in front of him.
“Yeah, yeah, I hear you. It’s a good thing sharpshooter's here to save your stupid mullethead.”
Keith rolls his eyes. “Don’t refer to yourself in the third person. What are you, a fourth graders who’s trying too hard to be cool?”
“Ouch.” Lance raises his hand to his chest as if the words hurt him, “I'll have you know, I was a very cool fourth grader. In fact there was this one time with-"
“Lance,” Keith cuts off, “we don’t have time, more guards are coming.”
Poking his head around the corner, Keith can see a galra guard running towards them.
“My time to shine.” Lance smirks raising his gun.
Stepping in front of Keith, Lance pokes his head around the corner. Raising his gun he jumps into the halfway, shooting the galra square in the chest. God space guns are the best, he thinks.
He turns to Keith, smile wide. "I've always wanted to do that, mission impossible style.”
Keith steps around him walking quickly down the narrow steel hallway. "While now you've done it, so if we could hurry it the fuck up."
"I'm Keith,” Lance says in an annoying falsetto, “and I like to take the fun out of everything, cause I'm an emo fingerless glove wearing loser who can never be happy."
Tightening the grip on his sword Keith breathes deeply in and out, he's not going to hit Lance. He is not going to hit Lance.
"Can you shut up?"
Lance turns as if he's speaking to someone beside him. "What did I say he's no-"
Keith leans over Lance, putting his hand over his mouth. "Shhhh" he whispers and motions with his other hand around the corner where he can hear the deep thump of footsteps.
Lance calms, stilling and Keith looks at him warningly before slowly pulling his hand away.
Two galra guards turn down the hallway, Keith curses when he notices there's nowhere to hide.
He takes several steps backwards, freezing when he hears something behind him. Slowly he turns to look over his shoulder, cringing when he sees more guard's coming from the other direction. Fuck.
Keith completed the turn facing the way they came, sword raised expectantly.
"Well here's your mission impossible fantasy. Good luck getting out of this."
"Keithy you should know by now not to doubt my abilities." Lance turns till his back is a couple inches away from Keith's.
Raising his gun, Lance smiles. "Bring it on purple space gremlins."
Keith rolls his eyes, but tightens the grip on his sword and shuffles widening his stance.
The guard's approach quickly and Keith raises his sword, starring determinedly.
Hitting the first guard's sword, Keith grits his teeth struggling to push back against the other's strength. They manage to use this against him, circling his sword downward. Keith slackens his hold and let's him, waiting till he has the opportunity, he holds and then drives his sword forward, impaling the guard's stomach. The guard stumbles backwards placing a hand to his side.
Before Keith can step forward and finish him off, another guard swipes upward towards him and Keith shifts on his feet, raising his sword to counter. He struggles to find an opening in the enemies perfect stance. Keith can hear the original guard’s steps behind him. Drawing his arm away from the guard he swings backwards hitting the first guard in the stomach with the but of his sword. He doubles over stepping backwards.
Keith turns towards the other guard who managed to nick him in the shoulder, a small trickle of blood running down his arm. Keith can hear another guard’s approach, he knows he won’t be able to fight so many at once. He steps backwards back running into Lance.
“Lance, a little help.”
Lance turns raising his gun over Keith’s shoulder to fire at the approaching guard.
“Thanks.” Keith huffs.
“What did I tell you, don’t doubt the mastermind.”
“Yeah, cause you're the mastermind here.”
“What can’t hear you,” Lance raises one hand to cup his ear, using the other to fire at another guard over Keith’s shoulder, “I'm a little busy saving your ass.”
Keith chuckles, swiping at a guard.
Sensing movement, Lance turns to see a guard raising a sword above Keith’s back. Lunging forward, Lance raises his gun aiming at the guard. He fires as his body slides towards keith. The guard falls, but not before his sword swipes cutting along Lance’s side.
Lance looks down. "Fuck"
"What?" Keith asks voice rough and heavy, as he stabs the galra in front of him.
Lance presses a button on his suit opening the charter of the Comms. "Do you think we could hurry up a bit?"
Pidge's voice echoes through his helmet, "We're trying our best out here -" her voice crackles before dissolving into mind numbing static.
Keith turns, "Lance what's wrong? Oh my god!" Lance is holding his side blood slowly pumping through his fingers, trailing down his side.
"I know my beauty can be startling sometimes."
Lowering his sword, Keith steps towards Lance hands extended to help, but they stay hovering awkwardly in the air unsure what to do. "Lance you're bleeding."
"Thanks for telling me I hadn't noticed." Lance's voice is bright as ever, but there's a weight behind it as if he was carrying the sun.
"It's like a lot."
Lance removes his hand from the wound looking at the red that glistens on his fingers. Whimpering, he places his hand back on his side applying pressure.
"I know it's gonna be a bitch to clean. It's not like we have washers in space."
Moving to Lance's left, Keith wraps his arm around Lance's shoulders, careful to avoid the wound.
"Can you walk?"
Lance scoffs, taking a step forward before wincing, scrunching his face in pain. "Fuck that hurts."
Lifting his hand, Lance inspects the wound through the slashes in his armour. It's thankfully a clean cut, but it runs across the width of his side. "Must be deeper than I thought."
Keith looks over, worry evident in his eyes. "Don't lift your hand, you have to keep applying pressure. We don't need you bleeding out on a galra ship.”
"Ohhh Keithy, my buddy, my pal it almost sounded like you might care about me for a moment there."
Keith sighs tightening his arm around Lance trying to walk as fast as he can. "Don't be a dumbass."
"So," Lance huffs struggling to catch his breath, "you're saying you don't care about me. Here I am dying"
"You're not dying." Keith replies lips tight, tone firm as if he could command it to be true.
Struggling to keep up with Keith’s hurried steps, Lance sways. "and here you are being rude to me on my deathbed."
Keith sighs frustratedly. "Of course I care about whether or not you die," he said the word bitterly as if the very mention of it was painful, "you're a good paladin. We… the team needs you."
Lance doesn't say anything and the silence drags almost as heavy as his weight for several seconds.
Stumbling, breath loud and ragged, Lance swerves into Keith. Keith stops allowing Lance to huff in short deep breaths. Turning, he can see the pain in Lance's scrunched features. He's biting his lip, struggling not to let out a whimper at every step.
"Lance," Keith says desperately.
Staring down at his feet in horror, Lance speaks in a deceptively even tone. "I don't think I can walk all the way back to the lions. Just go ahead first it's faster you can get to the lions and if there's time," lance shrugs, hoping his shoulders don't shake, "you can come back and get me."
"Lance." Keith's voice is heavy and commanding, "you're going to make it. We're almost there."
"I can barely walk. I'm only slowing you down and if the galra come this way-"
"Lance!" Turning, Keith draws Lance to his side so he could look him in the eye. "I'm not leaving you to die on an enemy ship. If the galra do come you won't be able to protect yourself."
"Are you doubting my abilities?” Lance jokes but his tone is off, tilted by fear, “Which one of us is called sharp-shooter?"
"Lance," Keith repreminds, "I'm not leaving you here."
"Well,"Lance's voice, is angry, breaking in shakes and underlying fear. "I can't walk so it's not like-"
Keith leans closer to Lance placing his arm under Lance's knees, hosting him up into his arms so Lance is leaning against Keith's chest bridal style. "Who said you needed to walk?" Keith says, tone bitter and final.
With Lance in his arms he can walk faster. "Are you escorting me, I know I'm pretty but I'm not a lady."
Keith rolls his eyes and picks up his pace. Lance was starting to sound tired eyes fluttering between open and closed.
"I hope whatever Pidge wanted ends up being important, cause if it's just for one of her weird robot friends she finds I'm gonna be pissed. It better be like something-" Laces words slowly grow quieter until they stop entirely.
Looking down, Keith doesn't see Lance's sky blue eyes, but rather his closed eyelids. Fuck. "Lance." Keith says, voice desperate and raw. No response.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
"Lance!" Keith pats Lance’s cheek several times. When Lance slowly opens his bright blue eyes, Keith doesn't stop his sigh of relief. "You have to keep your eyes open."
"Don't wanna." Lance whines, eyes already starting to drift close.
"Hey," he gently pats Lance's cheek again, running his fingers through Lance's short hair, "we're almost there okay you've just got to stay awake for a couple more minutes."
Keith can see red and blue in the distance. He's going to have to leave blue. He knows it's dumb it could risk everything they've worked for leaving a lion on a galra ship, but he just doesn't have time for anything else.
"Why don't you tell me something? I know you love to talk."
Lance groans attempting to shift his weight nuzzling his face into Keith's chest.
"Come on I bet you have something funny to say. I won't even make fun of you this time."
He's so close only a couple more steps until they reach red. There's a basic first aid kit inside, he can bandage Lance then fly to the castle.
They're almost there.
Lance reaches his hand running it along Keith's cheek. "You have a scar there."
Keith raises his eyebrow looking down at Lance quizzically, but he doesn't say anything because Lance is talking, and his beautiful eyes are open.
"Where did you get that?"
Keith shrugs and Lance's body raises with him. "Don't know, I've had it since I was a kid."
The scars a faint white line across his cheek, light enough it can only be seen up close.
Keith notices Lance's eyelids start to slacken. Shit. He needs to think of something, they're almost there. "Why?"
"Just didn't know. Want to know all about you."
Keith glances over at blue scared to leave her in galra territory, but he thinks she'd rather have her paladin safe.
Entering red, he lays lance in the seat next to his. Lance won't let go, grip tight on his shirt and Keith had to pry his fingers off of him. He leans over, turning on red and putting her in auto pilot.
Keith runs to the back of the ship, grabbing the first aid kit.
"Keith.” Lance groans, rolling his head along the headrest side to side.
"I'm here, I'm here." Keith pants making his way back to Lance.
He kneels down in front of him.
Lance grabs his shirt again, though his grip is slack "Stay."
Keith shakes his head, refusing to let the panic into his voice and the tears from slipping down his cheeks. "I'm here okay. See, I'm not going anywhere."
Relaxing, Lance flops back against the chair.
"Okay, let’s see what we're working with here." Keith says, praying for his hands to stop shaking.
Gently Keith rests his hand over Lance's. Lance looks up at him, tears building in his fearful eyes, but he nods at Keith to continue. Forcing his gaze downward towards Lance's blood soaked trembling hands, Keith squeezes his eyes shut and prys Lance's weak grip away from the wound. Lance groans softly as more blood trickles through his fingers. Fuck. The drying blood was now mixing with the slack and shiny running down the side of his armour.
The cut is clean, but it's deeper than Keith hoped and Lance had already lost so much blood. Far too much blood.
"Lance, I'm gonna need you to scoot forward." Struggling to drag himself towards Keith, Lance groans. Resting his hands on Keith's shoulder, he's able to steady his weight.
"This is gonna hurt." Keith pours rubbing alcohol over the wound. Lance tightens his grip fingernails digging painfully into Keith's shoulders, whimpering.
"I know, I know."
Lance relaxes body leaning forward trying to rest on Keith. "Woah we're not done. I've still got to bandage you."
"Shit" Keith whispers, now that he has a clear view of Lance’s cut.
Lance giggles, leaning forward.
Pulling out the gauze, Keith gives himself a second to breath, before he leans forward and begins wrapping it around Lance. He struggles not to flinch every time he whimpers.
"Hurts."
"I know, I know. I'm trying my best here."
Sticking out his tongue, Keith leans closer to Lance struggling to wrap the gauze around his torso.
Lance reaches forward trucking Keith's bang behind his ear. "Purple."
Keith frowned, Lance must be more out of it than he thought. "What?"
"Your eyes they're purple. Never noticed."
Keith tries to calm his heart, that's exhilaratingly like crazy. Focus, he thinks angling himself so that even with Lance leaning on him he can properly wrap the bandages.
Looking up, Keith’s hands stall; Lance is staring at him, eyes wide with fear.
"Hey you're gonna be okay. We're almost there. We're on our way to the castle. Okay?"
Reaching forward, pain in his face Lance tucks the same strand of hair behind Keith's ear, It must have fallen in front of his face again. Lance cups Keith cheek in his hand running his thumb up his cheekbones. "Pretty," his voice is both fond and assuring, yet soft as if the very thought is painful.
Keith stares at Lance struggling to breath. He's delusional. Definitely out of it. Keith goes to pull back but the ship rocks alarms blaring, red lights flashing. Fuck. He thinks as his body slams into the wall. They've been hit.
Lance groans head flopping side to side, eyes half open. Frantically struggling as red teters trying to protect her paladin, Keith stands strapping lance to his chair.
"Lance!" His voice is raw and desperate, but he doesn't care, doesn't have the time to. "Keep your eyes open."
Another blast rocks the ship and he struggles dragging himself into the pilot seat.
"Shit, shit, shit." They’re far enough away that there are only two small galra ships after them, but lance doesn't have any time for delays.
Keith puts his bayard into red, turning. Closing his eyes he breathes deeply hoping he can channel his desperation through to her.
Opening his eyes, he turns diving between the two ships, hoping to avoid their blasts.
A groan comes from his left and he tightens his grip on the wheel. "Sorry."
He turns red, slashing the ship with his blade. It falls from the sky, but he's struck from behind by the other. Whipping around he lets red take control hoping her instincts will carry them through.
When the ship falls from the sky, Keith let's himself sigh in relief, redirecting the path back to the Castle.
Turning, he sees that Lance's eyes are closed. Fuck.
He pushes forward full force on the throttle.
He can see the castle. He checks Lance over one more time and struggles not to let the hot tears run down his cheeks. There's still a chance, they're almost there. Lance. Lance's gonna be fine.
He lands red in her hangar. As quickly as possible, he unclips himself and runs over to lance.
"Lance!" He screams. Nothing. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. "Lance!!!"
He unclips Lance's seat belt and places his arm underneath Lance's legs and hosts him up into his arms. Lance groans.
Keith almost slumps forward under the weight of his relief, Lance is breathing. He's still alive.
Tightening his grip Keith starts running. Healing pod. Lance needs a healing pod.
His feet pound, his breath is ragged, but Lance is breathing. He's gonna be fine. He draws lance in closer and he hums nuzzling into his chest.
Keith struggles to open a pod with one hand, but after several seconds he manages.
Lance is gripping his shirt tightly. Keith struggles to pull Lance's hands off, with nothing to hold he whimpers, hands flopping lifelessly to his sides.
Gently Keith eases Lance's feet to the floor, using all of his strength to push him into the pod and slam the door.
Keith rests his palms against the glass, giving himself a couple seconds to breathe.
With the adrenaline leaving his body, he slumps forward in exhaustion. The tears began to fall surprisingly warm against his cheeks.
He turns letting his back drag against the glass until he's leaning his head back against it, sitting on the floor. He gulps in air, struggling to breath around the tears lodged in his throat.
After a few minutes he finds the energy to push himself off the floor. Walking towards the exit, he turns looking back at the pod. He needs a way to get the Comms working to alert the team.