CHAPTER TWO: Take me to your leader
As promised, the next day the paladins depart on their separate missions. It's a somewhat somber affair, with a lot of standing around and prolonging the inevitable.
It's not like I'll never see them again. It's just for this mission.
But still, there's something about splitting apart like this that just seems so wrong. Voltron is just such a large part of who they are now.
In the end, it's Lance that makes the first move towards getting in his lion.
"You guys can stand around some more, mourning how you won't see my face for the entire length of this mission if you want to. I'll understand." Lance smirks, climbing into Blue.
"Mourning? I think you meant appreciating." Pidge says as she gets into her own, because she can't not.
Hunk just shakes his head and starts getting in his lion after a small wave in Lance and Keith's direction. "Good luck you guys."
Then it's just Shiro and Keith.
"Remember what I said before. Be careful." Shiro claps Keith on the shoulder.
"You too." Keith says, trying to convey how much he means it.
Keith stands watching the other team's lions leave the hangar and head toward Adrik.
"Come on Mr. Grumpy Pants, get in your lion, we got a planet to defend!" Lance says over their comm and Keith tries not to smile but does as he's told.
What a dork.
Forty-five minutes later, Lance and Keith land on Avira. It's an incredibly dry planet, and Keith has a horrible moment where he thinks it looks exactly like his little shack in the desert before he dismisses the thought. Never again. Besides, it's obviously nothing like an Earth desert. For starters, the sand is a very light green color and there are tropical looking trees dotted throughout the landscape. It's not a very flat planet either, with what look like mountains in the distance.
As they get closer, Lance comes over the comms to comment on the architecture.
"Their houses look like tents."
Keith thinks that tents isn't quite right. Their buildings are all varying sizes with flat roofs. They remind him of farmers market tents from back home, so maybe Lance is on to something, but these buildings have solid walls. They also appear to be stacked on top of one another, with ladders leading to the upper buildings.
The weird part is that Keith has yet to see anyone who would live in these.
"Do you see anybody?" Keith asks.
"No, let's land and we'll see if they break out the parade for us."
They find a relatively open spot to touch down just a short walking distance away from the buildings. Keith climbs out of his lion and takes his helmet off after his suit tells him there's enough oxygen for him to breathe. He walks over to join Lance.
"So, no parade then?" Lance asks, stretching.
"Guess not."
They start walking towards what appears to be the main portion of the little village.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Keith calls, peering into windows.
Suddenly, there's movement as a short figure with what looks to be too many arms runs across the square.
"Wait! We're the paladins of Voltron. We're here to help you." Keith takes a quick step in its direction.
The figure stops and turns to look at them and Keith gets a better look at them. The figure looks male, with wide shoulders and intricate pastel clothing that only covers from the waist down. Also, he, Keith is assuming he, has four arms.
"You are the paladins of Voltron?" The accent is easy on the ears, very smooth.
"Yes, we're answering your distress call. Can you point me in the direction of your leader?" Keith suddenly has flashes of cheesy alien tv shows where a little green man says "Take me to your leader!"
Lance flashes him a smile like he knows what Keith just thought.
The alien seems to be considering them closely. Eventually he raises one of his four arms and beckons them to follow him. "This way."
Keith makes eye contact with Lance, who just shrugs and turns to follow.
The alien leads them through the village to a more secluded sections of buildings that are much large than the ones they first saw. Now that they're up close, Keith can see how all of the buildings have what look like glass molded into them. It makes them all shine as the light hits it.
"What is your name?" Lance asks, sliding up next to their guide.
"Rhaegar. What is yours?"
"I'm Lance. That guy with the angry face is Keith. Where is everyone else?" Lance says admiring the buildings as they pass.
I don't look that angry, Keith thinks self-consciously.
"They are in hiding. We do not know when the Galra will attack and we did not know if Voltron would appear. They will most likely come out now that the brave paladins are here." Rhaegar says, somewhat flirtatiously, Keith notes, inexplicably annoyed.
Great, just what we need, more aliens to flirt with Lance.
"Are we almost to who's in charge?" Keith breaks in.
Lance shoots him a weird look he can't decipher.
"Yes, that building up ahead is where our queen lives. She was dearly hoping Voltron would come."
The rest of the walk into the palace is made in silence. The 'building' ends up being more like a palace. It's much taller than the other buildings and is more brightly colored though still pastel.
Rhaegar leads them into the palace and down a long hall where several other villagers give them appraising looks as they pass. Finally, they make it to the throne room. The large, heavy doors are opened by guards in tight fitted silver armor.
"My queen, I present the paladins of Voltron." Rhaegar announces respectfully, bowing low.
Keith and Lance just stand there, unsure of the protocol but earnest none the less.
The queen stands from her throne and makes her way down the few steps towards them. She gives them both long looks.
She turns to Lance.
"My, aren't you handsome."
What is with the aliens on this planet. Leave him alone.
Before Keith can even begin to analyze that thought, Lance is answering in his usual manner.
"Thank you, your highness, but I could not possibly be near as attractive as you."
Gag.
The queen turns to Keith and frowns.
"You, not so much."
"Hey I don't—" Lance starts. Keith cuts him off.
"Your highness, we are the paladins of Voltron. We're here to help."
It's not until much later that Keith realizes Lance was going to say something just then.
The queen resumes a more authoritative air.
"Ah, yes. Thank you for coming to our aid, we are very grateful. We do not know when the Galra will attack but we have intel that it could be within the next couple of weeks."
Weeks? I'm never making it back to the ship.
"For now, we just ask that you help prepare our people for the coming fight and remain on call for when the day arrives. Until then, we will show you to your room. Rhaegar, if you will."
Wait, room, singular?
Lance and Keith follow Rhaegar out of the room. Keith is still trying to figure out what the queen just said. She did say room, singular, right?
Rhaegar leads them down a long hallway and down several turns that Keith is sure he will not remember in the morning. Soon enough, they arrive at a solid wooden door.
Rhaegar gives a little bow and then walks away, pastel clothing swishing as he goes.
Keith and Lance share a somewhat strained look.
Keith turns the knob on their room, yup, singular, and tries not to have a heart attack.
There's one bed.
Author's note:
Ah yes, bed sharing, my favorite trope. There ain't nothing original in this fic, just enjoy it. Yes, two chapters in one day. Gotta start somewhere.