"It's official. I'm in Hell."

Lance let out a huff as he slumped against one of the many seats lining the walls of the grand ballroom.

Pidge let out a chuckle from beside him. "You say that every year, quit being so dramatic. Not many people call the annual Gathering of the Gods 'boring'."

"And every year is worse than the last!" He let out a sigh before continuing. "I wish Hunk was here with us. Stupid 'no half-gods' rule."

"What, you want him to suffer with you?"

"Yes!"

The forest god laughed at his response. "Maybe you can convince Shiro to try and talk to the council about it. I'm sure Allura and Coran would be on your side."

"Shiro's busy enough as is, he already has to deal with all these rumors about the Galra starting to revolt." He said, turning a glare towards one of the furry purple gods that was busy laughing at something it's companion had said.

"I'm sure they're just that," Pidge assured, "rumors. You know how people are."

Lance finally pulled his gaze away from the Galra to gaze at the floor. "I hope so, for everyone's sake."

A moment of silence passed between them before Lance felt an elbow jab into side. "Don't look now, but I think someone's had their eye on you for the past hour or so."

Lance's head snapped up, frantically scanning the room. "Where?"

"Idiot!" Pidge hissed, jabbing him again, causing Lance to let out a low whine, "I said 'don't look now', that means be subtle!"

"Sorry…" He slumped his shoulders and went back to scanning the crowd, calmer this time.

"He's on the left by the door, leaning against the wall with a glass of… whatever that is. Let's just hope Dionysus didn't spike everything again… Black tux, red tie, black mullet-"

"Wait a second, you mean Keith!?" Lance snapped his head to the left and sure enough, there stood the God of the Underworld himself, just as Pidge had described.

"I don't know, I guess?" Pidge responded with a shrug. "You know him?"

"Unfortunately. He's Shiro's half-brother but he rarely ever comes to the gatherings, he's too busy ruling the Underworld. I'm pretty sure he's half Galra on his mother's side; acts like one too, the guy's a total jerk!"

"How so?"

"We've only talked a few times, but even so, last time he didn't even remember who I was!"

Pidge gave a low whistle. "That must have been tough for ya."

"I don't need your sass, Pidge, I'm being serious! Who forgets people that easily!?"

"Maybe he's got a memory problem or something. Relax, it was just one time."

"But still!" Lance crossed his arms with an angry huff. "The guy acts like-... I dunno, like he's-..."

"Emotionally constipated?"

"Exactly!"

Pidge hummed in thought. "I wonder why he's been staring at you so much…?"

Lance turned to look one more time, only to see Keith just barely looking away, turning his glare to something on the other side of the room. "Probably trying to pick a fight or something."

"Or maybe he likes you!" The other god teased, a shit-eating grin spreading across their face.

The older god blanched. "Oh my god, Pidge, don't even joke about that. Besides, I'm pretty sure the guy hates my guts."

"If you say so."

"What do you mean by that!?" Lance demanded.

"I mean that you're over-dramatic and probably just reading too much into the situation, as always," Pidge responded with a shrug. "Why would he hate you if he didn't even remember you?"

"He probably forgot about me because he hates me or something, I dunno!"

"That doesn't make any sense," Pidge pointed out, shaking their head. "But anyways, I'm gonna go get some punch. You want some?"

"No thanks," Lance responded, " I think I'm gonna go for a walk outside and get some fresh air. It's too stuffy in here."

"Suit yourself." With that, Pidge stood and disappeared into the crowd.

Lance stood as well, giving himself a second to stretch before heading outside, quietly thankful Keith didn't seem to move from his spot to try and talk to him.

As soon as he was outside, he instantly felt better. As much as he loved people (growing up the son of Demeter herself along with having 4 siblings did that to you), he had never been a fan of huge crowds. It was nice talking to a few people, but having that many at once could get suffocating.

There were a few people meandering about outside, but this year's Gathering of the Gods was being held in his hometown of Altea, so he knew the area pretty well, and knew exactly where to go to get some solitude.

Lance headed into a small forest, emerging only a couple minutes later into a small clearing with a lake on the other side.

It was times like these Lance truly loved being the god of Spring. The season followed him wherever he went, and as he gazed out across the clearing, full of fresh green grass and flowers just starting to close their petals in the sunset and fireflies dancing with their reflections across the lake, he knew it was a sight he'd never tire of.

But as he approached the lake, choosing to settle himself under a gaping willow tree, he swore for a moment he felt like he was being watched. He briefly wondered if somehow it was Keith again and he chanced a look around, seeing nothing but the clearing and the forest behind him. The sensation was gone as soon as it came and in the end, he decided to brush it off as nothing more than paranoia.

He sat under the willow tree for what felt like hours as he enjoyed the breeze and the changing colors of the sky. Once the sun had fully set, he stood up once more and was about to head back before people began to worry when he heard the sound of horse hooves and wheels approaching.

He turned around and sure enough, heading straight for him was a small red chariot pulled by a single black steed with matching red eyes that almost seemed to eerily glow in the dark. As soon as it was close enough, it pulled to a stop and from the chariot stepped a tall figure cloaked in a dark hooded robe. At the height they stood at, the person was clearly a Galra.

Alarms started going off in Lance's head and he instantly knew this couldn't be anything good.

The hooded figure approached him, his face unidentifiable in the dark. "I'm sorry about this," they said in a voice Lance couldn't recognize, and before he had time to turn and run, something struck him across the back of the head.

The last thing he registered was falling ungracefully into someone's awaiting arms as everything went black.