I do not own any of the WEP characters
Dedicated to Harmony, my Muse, my friend who brought me out of a dark moment and into the light.
He heard the screams of the unsuspecting children as the laser fire rained down upon them. "Get to the castle!" Keith screamed, protecting a toddler from a laser blast that scorched the ground at his feet. He grabbed his comm. unit and radioed the castle for help. Lance and Allura were at his back trying to protect the small group of children that had gathered for an impromptu picnic with them. Doom soldiers surrounded them without warning, firing their weapons, stunning Allura, Keith and Lance, and rendering them unconscious. As the soldiers moved into collect their prizes, Green and Yellow lions appeared and began firing on them. Dodging the blasts, the Doom soldiers picked up the three unconscious Voltron Force members and dragged them to the troop transport.
Hours later, Keith awoke slowly. Looking around he discovered he lay on the stone floor of a dungeon. Memories of Doom guards kicking him savagely flashed before his eyes. He remembered the feel of them smashing their boots into his chest and the sounds of his ribs breaking echoed in his ears. He tried to sit up and he struggled to breathe despite the searing pain. "Humans are such fragile things." A guard had commented when he placed his heavy boots across Keith's chest and forced all of his weight into the step.
Inch by agonizing inch, Keith drug himself across the cell to where Lance laid, his face pale, and his eyes closed.
With a soft, feathery touch he moved a stray lock of hair from Lance's forehead. Lance released a contented sigh at the touch, even while he slept. Through her long lashes Allura watched Keith study Lance's angular jaw and witnessed his hand hover over the other man's face as if afraid to touch him. Her eyes wandered over Keith's face, marveling at the tenderness and concern that she saw because he thought she was still asleep. Emotion made his dark eyes sparkle even in the dismal gloom of their cell. That must be how it looks when you touch the one you love. He loves Lance so deeply, she thought to herself. She stirred slightly and Keith pulled back his hand, moving it to Lance's shoulder quickly. "Lance, wake up," Keith whispered, shaking him gently.
"Keith?" Allura questioned softly as she sat up. "Where are we?"
"We are in Zarkon's dungeons, Princess." Keith whispered. "Whenever you hear the guards coming, just pretend to be asleep." Allura nodded fearfully.
At last Lance began to stir. He opened his eyes to the concerned gaze of his commander. For a brief instant Lance caught sight of something more in Keith's eyes, before the commander mask slid into place. "You and Allura must escape. I saw a Delta Class Garrison shuttle in the hangar after we landed."
"Yeah I saw it too," Lance struggled into a sitting position. "But we can squeeze a third person into it we will ALL get out of here."
"No. I can provide a distraction so you can escape. You must protect the princess." With difficulty, Keith rose to his feet.
Lance stood with him. "NO! We all go or we don't go at all" His hazel eyes flashed with anger, and Lance stomped his foot. "You are coming with us end of story!"
Allura watched the two men with wide blue eyes. Even when the focus stayed on getting her to safety, she could see clearly they feared being separated most of all. She waited patiently for Keith to make a decision.
Keith closed his eyes for an instant and took as deep of a breath as he dared. Knowing he could not change Lance's mind, he agreed reluctantly since it seemed to be the only way to save his heart's desire.
A few hours later, Lance heard the shuffling of feet. "Down, down!" he motioned, and dove for a spot near where he lay before. Keith did not move, and continued leaning against the back wall, sliding down until he lay amongst the black rubble. Allura pushed her back to the door for fear that her face would give them away. The clanging and rattling of chains grew louder. A long line of shackled prisoners were being lead deeper into the pits of the dungeon.
Long after the prisoners and guards left, Keith still did not open his eyes. Lance crawled silently to his side. Allura could barely see Lance's face. Keith's heart beat sped up when he felt Lance's breath fan across his face and he breathed in the faint scent of leather that always seem to cling to him. Fascinated at the tenderness they displayed towards each other, Allura thought. I can see it as plain as day. I don't know how I did not see it before. They love each other but they are too afraid to share how they feel with the other.
"Keith," Lance spoke in a breathless whisper, "Are you all right?" He rocked back to kneel beside him.
"I'm fine," Keith lied smoothly opening his eyes.
The trio began to hear the hushed tones of the guards walking down the hallway approaching their cell. Keith silently motioned for them to lie back down and pretend to be asleep.
The cell door creaked open. Lance rushed the guards as they brought in the meager scraps of food. Keith lashed out at the second guard that entered the cell. But Keith's punched lacked the power of his norm, so his opponent was only stunned for a second, and landed a hard right upper cut to Keith's abdomen. Keith groaned as his vision swam and turned grayish and he sank to his knees. Allura rushed in with the largest rock she could hold over her head and smashed it into the face of Keith's attacker who then dropped to the floor with a thud. The third guard grabbed Allura by the waist. She let out a muffled shriek and used the rock to hit the guard's beefy hands. Throwing out a string of Drulean curses he released her and she swung on her heel with the rock and clocked the guard in the temple. He dropped to the floor.
"Nice work Allura," Lance praised her.
After a few seconds of silence, each of them grabbed a guard by the shoulders and dragged them farther into the cell. Quickly they began to undress them and put the uniforms over their white flight suits.
Carefully, Lance peered into the hall. Looking right and then left he signaled that the coast was clear. Allura and Keith joined him in the hall and then Keith pushed the cell door closed.
Running and ducking in the shadows the trio crept through the dungeon's corridors. Lance stopped for a moment to make a furtive glance behind him. Allura caught the panic and the grief stricken look on his face before he could hide it and his eyes held the look of longing as he watched Keith who lagged behind. "Come on, Keith, step it up." His whisper was barely audible. Allura glanced back at Keith herself. As he got closer she could see the fine sheen of sweat on his brow and how pale he looked beneath the dark helmet that he wore. She had seen that look before.
He's hurt badly,she thought to herself as they continued to move down the hall. That's why he wanted us to go without him. He didn't want to slow us down.
They froze when they heard the click of lazon blasters being primed. Slowly they turned to face the Prince of Doom himself. "Did you really think that I would let you get away that easily?" he taunted, leveling his gun to Keith's chest. Lance flinched outright, aching to be closer to Keith at that moment. Allura touched his hand and slipped blue lion's key into his palm. Her decision had been made. I just hope this works and they don't waste the sacrifice, she prayed. Please, Goddess, give me the strength to go through with this.
"Trust me." She whispered softly looking deep into his eyes. She turned to Lotor. Taking a step forward, she announced, "Lotor, I will make you a deal."
"You are not really in a position to make any deals, Allura."
"I can make you a deal that you will not refuse." She insisted. "If you let my friends go, I will stay willingly and be yours." She took another step forward.
"Allura, NO!" Keith and Lance cried in unison.
"Agreed!" Lotor grabbed Allura by the arm, and pulled her closer to him. "There is a Garrison shuttle on Platform 3. Take it and go quickly before I change my mind. Do not attempt a rescue. She has made her choice." He motioned with his pistol for Keith to move. Allura took off her circlet and handed it to Keith.
Lance stepped forward and grabbed Keith's arm, pushing Keith into motion. Keith's breathing became more labored as they ran to Platform 3. As he stumbled, Lance caught him and they continued to run. "Hang in there, we are almost there." He put his arm around Keith, pulling him close. Keith tried unsuccessfully to stifle a groan as Lance's arm lay across his shattered ribs.
Finally they reached the shuttle that Lotor promised them. Keith gratefully sank into the co-pilot's chair. "Strap in," Lance reminded as he furiously prepared the shuttle for a fast takeoff. As they rose through Doom's atmosphere, Lance began to hear the harshness of Keith's breathing. Lance glanced over and saw Keith slumped over in his seat. "Hold on Keith. DON'T you DARE leave me now, damn it. Not before I've told you how much I love you!"