\ Day 7 /

Keith found himself scribbling that on his own arm with some ink during Lance's medical treatment for his eyes. An entire week had passed and honestly, they didn't feel any closer to getting back to the team. He wondered if they were having any luck on their end. How would they even start to look for them?

Did they even realize they had been sucked into that portal? If not- what must they be thinking? That he and Lance just vanished out of thin air? Pidge could probably just look through the security cameras… if Galra ships had those.

"Tellru," He hears Lance say as the Doctor removes his bandages to smear a little bit more of the weird goo onto his wound.

"Yes?" she inquired.

"I really, really, need a shower," Lance pleaded with her.

"I'm not sure what a shower is," she admits.

"A bath. Making myself not smell," he is trying anything to make her understand.

"Not smell? … Oh, I see, did you mean a cleansing?"
"…Yeah, sure." Lance nods vigorously.

"I suppose it has been a while since you were able to cleanse your form. Hmm…" she says something to the Doctor. Without tearing his gaze from Lance's wound he seems to wave her off, saying something. She smiles, "As long as you are careful and redo your bandages as soon as soon as you are out of the water, then you should be fine,"

Lance pumped his fist a little, grinning, "Yes!"

"Then I shall have the cleansing areas prepared for Keith and you," she turns.

Lance stammers, "W-Wait, both of us?"

"Yes,"

Keith doesn't say a word from where he is, his face already feeling hot. Lance and him- in a bath together?

His instant thought was of common Earth bathtubs. Lance and him would be squished together in those? Naked?!
The thought was dizzying.

"..." Lance is forcing a little laugh, "Uh… How does that uh- like-"

"He is your pure," Tellru says

"Wellllll-" he draws the word out, his voice getting small and squeaky, not sure how to explain to her how embarrassing this way, "You see the thing is- It is just- how big is this bath?"

"Well the cleansing area, or bath, as you call it, is an entire room,"

Lance lets out a big relieved sigh, "Ooh!" They could handle room-sized. Room-sized meant plenty of space to be away from the other, "Okay, so will it just be us in there?"

"To give you your privacy I will ensure that you two are the only ones there," Tellru pats his shoulder.

"Awesome, thanks," he gives her a thumbs up.

Keith honestly didn't want to go take a bath- especially with Lance in the same room as him, but he was starting to smell. So he gulped down his pride and padded down the hall with Lance, towel in hand.

When they entered the bathing area, both were amazed by the sheer size of it. It was like a bathing house, the bath looking more like a pool the longer they stared at it.

"Nice," Lance enters one of the changing rooms, relieved to peel out of both his jacket and Paladin undergear.

With a towel wrapped expertly around his waist, he stepped out of the room and into the water, "Okay Keith, you stay on your side, and I'll stay on mine,"

His grumbling echoed across the room, "You don't have to tell me twice,' That didn't mean he couldn't quickly glance from time to time- making sure to look at nothing more than his face just in case- at Lance from time to time to make sure the guy didn't trip and hit his head on the concrete. For a guy who had been clinging to him for an entire week straight, Lance was pretty quick to toss him aside when it came to his skin care.

Not that it upset him or anything… He just didn't understand how the look of his skin would be that important since Keith has never cared about it either way.

He kind of enjoyed how Lance depended on and trusted him.

Yet right now there wasn't an ounce of discomfort coming from the blue paladin. Keith, who had never really liked the water for certain reasons, wouldn't be able to move if he was blind and surrounded by it. Lance had been petrified this entire time but now he was as calm and relaxed as anyone could be.

Wasn't he afraid of stumbling into a deep end or drowning with his vision how it was?

He was just humming away in the corner of the bath, scrubbing his back with this content little smile.

"You doing okay over there, Lance?" Keith kept his eyes focused on his own section of the bath, deciding that since he was here he might as well clean himself. The soap smelled weird. Not terrible, but he just couldn't place it.

It matched the food they served on this planet- it was unlike anything from Earth. Not bad, not good, just different.

"I'm peachy, Mullet," Lance sings.

"Who says peachy anymore?" he questioned.

'I do, so don't judge it."

After at least 10 minutes, Keith got out, holding the towel tightly to his frame, "I'm getting out," he told Lance, "Don't stay for too much longer,"

Lance was bobbing his upper body up and down in the water, grinning like a made man, "Okay~"

Rolling his eyes at the childish paladin, Keith trotted over to his changing room. Stepping inside, he heard a knock coming from the second door in the room. Knowing that door lead out towards the hall, he approached it cautiously. Peeking it open, he saw Tellru.

"Hello, Keith." she holds something out to him, "I forgot to give you both these before you left for your bath," she handed him two sleeveless shirts and some pants that matched their jackets. "I ended up sewing an entirely new outfit for you both,"

Having never gotten something like this before, Keith wasn't sure what to say, "Oh… thank you, Tellru. You didn't have to,"

"I insist,"

Smiling at her, finding he was starting to enjoy her presence, he took the clothes, "Thanks, I'll go try them on now,"

"I'll wait out here,"
Closing the door, Keith quickly dried off and put on the clothes. They fit him perfectly, with a lot of excellent detail going into every inch of the outfit. A little touched Tellru would do this for him, he turned to go show her.

Realizing he forgot to give Lance that new pair of pants and shirt, he turned back to go sneak it into Lance's room, "Lance, hey!" he calls into the open pool as he moves down the hall to the other changing room. His voice echoed, but there was no reply, "Tellru got us-"

As he opened the door, someone began to yell frantically, "Wait wait! Don't come in!"

Already swinging it open, Keith dropped the clothes, eyes growing wide at the sight. Lance had put on the blue jacket, but there was no undergear…

Managing to zip it up halfway before Keith came in, Lance was tugging violently at the bottom of it, desperate to cover his lower body as much as possible.

Barely able to hide his crotch from view, he was pressing himself against the wall. His face was red, mouth opened wide and stuttering incoherent things- something about him wanting Keith to leave.

But he couldn't.

He was too distracted by legs.

Long, smooth and slender legs that were pressed together by the knees. They were shaking slightly and flushed a delicious red from the heat of the bath water. Keith discovered Lance was the kind of guy who shaved after gawking at him like a pervert for a decent 30 seconds.

He also discovered that he found legs to be very attractive. He had never thought that before so maybe it wasn't legs in general... but Lance's legs alone that he found attractive?

He wasn't sure

"I said get out!" Lance yelled, chucking whatever he could in where he hoped Keith was. Having to have soap smack him in the face before getting into gear, he stumbled back and slammed the door, "S-Sorry!" he stammered.

Running back to his own room, he charged through it and into the hall. Running right into Tellru she grunted, "What is the hurry?"

"N-nothing," he squeaked. "I like the clothes- they are nice- I gave the other ones to Lance- kind of- I dropped them on the floor!" feeling dizzy from his red face, Tellru had to steady him.

"Alright then… lets just, sit down," she brings him to a bench, "The new outfit looks marvelous on you. Does it fit alright?"

Keith nods dumbly his mind filled with; legs legs legs. "They're great."

When she smiles, Keith feels warm. That is the kind of smile she often gives Ruru and Keith doesn't understand why that makes him happy. No one besides his Father has ever smiled at him like that.

"Hopefully they will fit Lance as they did with you. I know he was a little taller than you- but I worry I might have made the pants too long," she says.

"I'm sure they'll be fine,"

His legs were, unsurprisingly, the first thing Keith thought about when he saw Lance again, and even though he knew Lance couldn't see him, he turned to hide the red in his cheeks.

Lance hit him when he walked out, thankfully fully dressed, "Didn't know you were a pervert, mullet," he growled.

"I'm not!" he argued.

"What just happened says otherwise!"

"What just happened?" Tellru inquired, "What is a pervert?"

"A peeping tom" Lance accuses Keith.

"...I'm not sure what the translation of that is to my people," Tellru admits,

"It doesn't matter," Lance huffs, "Thank you for the new clothes,"

"I am glad you like them. I was worried I would make them too big, but they seem to fit nicely," she says in a cheerful voice, "I am glad I was able to get them to you today. Ruru will be thrilled since it is her special day~"

"Special day?" Keith wonders.

"Yup!" Tellru giggled.

Putting his anger with Keith to the side, Lance was curious, "What's with your happy mood?"

"Ruru's birthday is today,"

"It is?! Why didn't you tell me sooner!? I don't have a gift for her!" Lance gasped.

"You do not need one. She has actually requested that you simply show up to her celebration." Tellru says with warm eyes, "She has never invited anyone to her birthday celebrations before- so I am thrilled she wishes for the two of you to attend."

"We'll definitely go!" Lance grinned.

"You do realize that means you have to travel by Kever, right?" Keith inquired.

Lance's hand shot forward, grabbing Keith's hand in a death grip, "What?" he whispered weakly.

"We'll have to go on the bug again to get to the lower districts."
'…Noooo," Lance whimpered.

"Hey, you are the one who agreed to be Ruru's babysitter and forced me to join you. We'll have to start taking the Kever a lot more."

Lance made a pitiful noise all the way to the Kever transportation station. "I don't like bugssss,"

"I know," Keith chuckles a little.

"I apologize if it is not to your liking. We are so used to them I forget that to some cultures it may seem odd," Tellru says.

"It isn't your fault…" he sniffs, "How old is Ruru turning today anyway?"

"Well, I'm not sure how our ages different since we are different races, but to my people, she is turning six,"

"Six is a big age," Lance smiles.

"Too big," Tellru sighs sadly, "She is growing up too fast."

"They say all kids do," Lance smiles. "I wonder what we should get for her," he ponders, "What do you think, Keith?"

"..."

"Keith?"

"Huh?" his hands grows hot against Lance's, "W-What?"

Lance pulls his hand away like Keith's touch burns, "Were you staring at my legs again?" he demanded.

Keith was spluttered, confirming he was doing just that, "W-What? No! No no- I was just- you um-"

Throwing his fist around a little to hit the red paladin he yelled, "You little perv! Get away! Don't touch me!" he yells. "Tellru! Tellru!" he calls for her. She pauses to give him a long stare.

"Yes, Lance?"

"Can I hold your hand instead?"

Tellru wasn't expecting the question and shifted her gaze a little, "I… suppose so?" she held it out. Lance took it after a try or two and shuffled next to her. She stared down at him with wide eyes and then turned to cover her mouth. She seemed to want to giggle at the situation but didn't want to embarrass him.

Keith, on the other hand, wasn't sure whether to be upset or find the situation funny. Lance was so small compared to Tellru that with him walking side by side with her- holding her hand, he seemed like a small child.

Like a mother and son going for a stroll.

On the other hand, though, Keith felt upset that he was no longer the one to hold Lance's hand. It was a strange feeling that he wasn't sure how to put into words.

Shaking it off, he straightened and followed after them. It didn't take long to meet up with Ruru and Dravla.

They were both waving to them. Dravla seemed to pause, peering at Lance holding Tellru's hand.

He ugly laughed very hard.

"Lala!" Ruru was running towards them as fast as she could with her leg braces.

"Hey, Dravla. Hey, Birthday girl!" Lance held his arms out and went down on a knee. The small Coeihns ran into his arms, giggling.

"Lala! I new age!" she says into his neck.

Lance chuckled, "I can already feel you growing taller," he lifts her up and spins her. She cheers and then leaps at Keith. He catches her with a smile, bending a little to let the small child on his back.

It was their routine for Keith to give a piggyback ride to Ruru lately.

"Hello, treasure," Tellru greets Dravla.

He hugs her, ("Why were you two holding hands? He looked like your own child,") Dravla giggles fondly.

Tellru rolls her eyes, ("Something about Keith staring at Lance's legs seemed to upset him so he requested to hold my hand instead. I couldn't say no,")

("That is adorable. Oh, Keith is looking this way. Act like we aren't gossiping about him,")

("All you do is gossip, treasure,") Tellru kisses his cheek and turns back to the others. "Okay Ruru, are you ready to celebrate?"

"Celery!" Ruru says

"Celebrate," they all correct her.

"Celebrass!"

"Close enough," Dravla nods.

"So, what are we doing?" Lance inquires, "Are we having this celebration at your house?"

"Yes, but there are still a few things we need to get," Tellru explains, "But one of them is on the other side of the kingdom. I wish they would build a Birthday shop closer to the Lower districts." She sighs. "We'll have to travel all the way over there."

"If you two can head back to the house with Ruru, Tellru and I can go fetch her cake," Dravla says.

"That sounds like a plan," Lance snapped his fingers. "Right Keith?" When he didn't get an answer, he repeated, "Keith?"

"They are staring at us," Keith suddenly says, his voice low.

Lance paused, realizing that Keith hadn't been paying attention to this entire conversation. He was looking at something else- something around them. "Who is staring at us?"

"The Coeihns,"

Lance couldn't see them, but now that he was focused on it- he felt eyes on him. Several different gazes looking at him. It was creepy, "Like an uh- like an awed kind of stare or any angry stare?"

"Angry stare."

"Tellru?" Lance inquired, wondering if they perhaps looked strange. Tellru looks to the crowd then sighs.

"Pay them no mind."

"They are just being nosy," Dravla insists.

"What's with them? Do they have a problem?' Keith sounds ready to bash some heads in.

"In a way," Tellru say calmly, "It is something that you both are most likely not aware of since you are of a different race."

"What does that mean? Why are they mad?" Lance frowns.

Tellru is hesitant, "Well…" she clicks her teeth together a little, "If you want me to be honest then...They question why you have not claimed your mate yet,"

Lance sputters and trips, flustered from what Tellru said and that Keith had to catch him at the same time. "What?" he demanded hoarsely

"You claimed Keith as your pure- which would mean you intend to take him as a mate." Tellru explains blankly, "I thought this was obvious,"

Keith's hands released him and he stepped back just as Lance did, "Excuse me?!" Ruru, who was still on his back, blinked at everyone in confusion. She really didn't understand anything they were talking about- which Lance was relieved about.

"N-No! That isn't what I intended when I won!" Lance insisted, "I just- I wanted to save him because he is my teammate!"

"So your mate."

"No! Not mate. Teammate."

Lance couldn't see her expression, but he felt nervous when she didn't speak for a while, "…Ah," she snaps her fingers as if she realized something, "I see. So, then your kind takes more than one mate!"

Lance felt his mental state crashing. "…Huh?"

"You said you were lost from your team- whatever that is. So then the reason you cannot lay with Keith is because the others are not here and all wish to take him? How very daring- Truly your kind must delve deep into your pleasuring methods," she sounded almost embarrassed and Lance could just picture her fanning herself.

Dravla makes little-flustered noises, "I had no idea," he whispers

Lance was screaming, "NO! NO NO NO! T-That isn't it! That isn't what I meant! We don't-"

"Do not worry- I will respect your culture's traditions and if anyone should ask I will explain to them properly." Lance could hear her patting something, and it didn't take long for him to realize it was Keith's shoulders, "To be adored and fawned over by so many- truly your attraction must be grand. I commend you."

"Oh my god…" Keith sounded ill, "No."

"Is that not how things work in your world?" Dravla inquired.

"No!" Lance suddenly snapped, "Definitely not! That isn't how things work at all!" he yelled, stepping back and covering his face, "Stop talking about this!" he pleaded. Thank god he couldn't look at Keith right now- he wouldn't be able to take it.

"But then what is a teammate if not to be a group of mates?" he could hear Tellru saying to Keith.

"We told you, that isn't what a teammate is," he grunts angrily.

Lance stepped back a little when a few forms rushed by him. Realizing there was a crowd within the Kever transportation station he panicked, realizing he had stepped back far enough to move into the crowd. He bumped into at least two Coeihns and stumbled. His heels clicked against something sounding like metal. Not sure what it was, he shrieked when the ground moved below him. Dropping to his knees for some peace of mind that he wouldn't fall flat on his face, he yelled, when his hands touched something slimy.

Oh god, was he on a Kever?!

He recognized the sound- HE WAS! He was on a bug! "Keith?! KEITH!" he shrieked in fright, waving his hands around to get rid of the slim on them. Gross gross gross.

Keith turned at the sound, "What the hell are you doing, Lance!" he was starting to sound distant.

He would later learn that he had managed to step onto a Kever platform that had just started to leave the station. Keith had tried running after it but was quickly losing ground with the fact that his leg was not yet fully healed, Ruru was still on his back, and the Kever's gaining speed.

Lance started screaming in a panic, waving his arms around wildly like a child about to go on a rollercoaster for the first time.

"I got him!" Dravla must have run ahead and leaped up to the back of the Kever. Climbing it, he pushed through a few Coeihns and put a hand on Lance's shoulder, "Don't worry friend,"

"Dravla!" he cheered, feeling like some knight in shining armor had come to his rescue. He gripped at his elbow, holding it tight. "Thank goodness…"

Dravla smiled at him then looked back at the quickly retreating others, "Might as well make this work! We'll grab the cake! We'll meet up with you two later at the house!" Dravla called to Tellru and Keith.

Keith didn't like that idea, but with the Kever disappearing out of sight had had not choice but to trust Dravla with Lance's safety. "Fear not, Keith," Tellru pats his back, "You can trust Dravla. He is not the 5th champion or right-hand man to the King for nothing," she winks a little.

Nodding, Keith adjusted Ruru on his back, "Well… let's get ready for a party."

0-000

"You must be more careful from now on, Lance," Dravla told him, "What if you had stepped in front of the Kever instead of on it? You would have been crushed."

Feeling like he was getting a lecture from his Father, Lance sighed, "Okay. Yeah, I know. Sorry…"

"No harm was done," Dravla pats his back. "We should take this moment as a chance to get to know each other," he concludes, "Tellru told me that you were a- was it a paladin? For Voltron?" he sounds like he is just humoring Lance.

"It's true," he insists. "Voltron is real,"

"Voltron has always been a child's tale here." Dravla shrugs a little, "I grew up listening to them, but it would be quite a sight if what you said was true. I would be very happy to see it in person. How did you get separated from them?"

"Galra," Lance sighs. "Weird Magic mumbo jumbo,"

"I see. I hope you are able to get back to them soon,"

"Me too. How are uh- things with the King going? I don't really know everything that you do but I heard things have been busy,"

"Yes… Conflicts are growing worse with each day in the North and South." He pauses, "But do not worry, I'm sure they will pass with time,"

"Yeah…"

Not that he hadn't grown to trust Dravla; Lance just wasn't too confident without Keith around. He had gotten used to his constant presence that it being gone felt… empty.

When the Kever pulled to a stop they stepped out, Dravla leading Lance around by his arm. Lance felt like he was being escorted through some fancy part with how his hand draped around Dravla's bicep.

But jeez, this guy was huge!

Lance was positive he didn't even fully come up to his shoulders. Maybe his Torso at the most?

"Are you considered tall, Dravla?" he inquired hesitantly.

"Common height, really," Dravla says. "Tellru is a little small for most people- But no, I am definitely not considered the tallest. You should see the King. I come up to his elbow."

"Holy hell…" Lance made an ugly face, "I'm in a world of giants,"

Dravla chuckles a little, "Then your world must be a world of midgets,"

"Apparently," they share a laugh as they turn into the next street.

"So, you guys have cake…" Lance found that kind of funny. Despite being a whole galaxy apart, the Coeihns managed to share similar traditions with Earth.

"Do you have cake?"

"Yes, which is weird. Though I'm expecting this cake to be kind of funky or something. There is no way your cake is exactly like the cake we have," he is positive about this- but he was proven wrong. The cake smelled and tasted exactly like the kind of cakes of his world. It was insane!

Was Cake really this kind of universal thing? That is awesome!

"I love cake," Lance says as they grab Ruru's cake and head out.

"As do I." he pauses, "How about a drink?" Dravla inquires and stops them in front of a small little building buzzling with a few people, "I've always loved this cafe,"

"Sure," Lance smiles. Allowing Dravla to lead them in, they went to a seat more towards the back of the dining room.

It was almost humiliating how Lance had to jump up to the booth, his feet unable to touch the floor. They dangled in the air the whole time the waitress took their order.

He wasn't sure what anything on the menu was, so he asked Dravla to pick something for him. When the Waitress left, Dravla turned to him with a little smile.

"So why didn't you tell me about the whole Team sharing your pure, thing?' he inquires.

Lance sputtered, "B-Because that isn't how it works! Tellru just misunderstood," he insists.

"So then what is holding you back from claiming Keith? He is your pure after all,"

"He- I don't own him," Lance mumbled angrily.

Dravla clears his throat, "I did not mean that to say Keith was an object- simply that he is your mate. You claimed that he was to almost every Coeihn within the city that day you beat the five champions."

Feeling a blush creeping up his cheeks, Lance muttered, "That isn't how things work where I am from. You don't just- you date, you know? You don't just mate with someone by winning them or whatever. If you like someone you take them out on dates to get to know them and then if you really like them, you marry them. You know, marriage."

Dravla's long pause made him realize he confused the Coeihn, "So this dating...What exactly is that?"

"You go out together. You um… go for walks and go out to eat, see movies. Dating is what you do when you don't know if you love someone and want to find out if you do,"

'And Mariage?"

"Marriage," he corrects, "If you do love the person you dated, you marry them. This means you spend the rest of your lives together. That is when you have, you know, sex,"

Dravla rubbed his chin, "Then you are married?"

"What?" he questions, "No. No way,"

"But you are no longer pure. So doesn't that mean you are married if you are unpure?"

Lance lowered his head a little, "Well- some people in my world don't wait for marriage. I didn't mean to-" he hated talking about this, finding it awkward, like he was trying to explain to his own parents, "I didn't mean to lose my virginity. I was at a party and didn't realize there was alcohol in the punch… stuff happened," When he woke up that morning, Lance had been horrified to figure out what had happened.

Dravla's voice was quiet, "... Do you regret it?"

Lance bit his lower lip, his voice soft, "Yeah."

Dravla patted his back, "I am sorry to hear that. One's first time should be considered precious and with someone you love,"

Lance nodded numbly, agreeing with that.

"But I am still confused,"

"About what?' Lance wasn't sure he wanted to hear this.

"Why have you not married Keith yet?"

Lance slammed his head on the table, "Dravla! How many times do I have to explain this? We aren't- I don't- Keith is a friend!"

Dravla didn't say anything for a while. When he did, he hummed, "I think I understand now,"'You do?" Lance didn't really believe him.

'You do?" Lance didn't really believe him.

"You are in denial," he concluded. "You do not yet realize your feelings for Keith. Poor little blue champion," he sounded so pitying as he patted Lance's head,

Lance swatted his hands away, yelling, "I give up trying to explain this to you!" why were his ears burning right now? Why was he so embarrassed?! He didn't understand!

("Here you boys go,") the waitress returned with a smile and placed the two cups in front of them. Hearing the sound, Lance reached out slowly so as to not tip it over. Barely able to find the handle, he brought it closer.

Lifting the cup towards his lips, he jumped when a large palm gripped his wrist, "Wait," Dravla commanded. Slipping the cup out of Lance's grip, he lifted it away.

Lance could hear Dravla sniffing it- then a pause- then the sound of pouring liquid, "Hey-" he frowned, realizing Dravla was pouring his drink into something else- or on the ground. "That's mine-" The sickening sizzling noise that followed might keep Lance up all night, "W-What is that?" he inquired.

"Hey-" he frowned, realizing Dravla was pouring his drink into something else- or on the ground. "That's mine-" The sickening sizzling noise that followed might keep Lance up all night, "W-What is that?" he inquired.

"...Nothing," Dravla whistled innocently.

"Dravla," he frowns.

"It's a plant,"
"A plant? What do you mean?"

"Someone has poisoned your drink."
"How do you know?" Lance gasped.

"Well- It is really just a guess, but considering the fact that I'm pouring it into this plant and the plant is shriveling up- yeah, it is poison. More of a slow acting acid really…" he whistled a little, as if this was just his usual Tuesday, "Had you drank this you wouldn't have noticed till it was halfway down your throat. By then it would have been stuck in your stomach."

"Jeez... Someone tried to poison me?" Lance stammered, "W-Why?"

"Good question," Dravla slammed his fist against the table and rose. The sound splintering wood made the entire cafe go quiet, ("Someone seems to have poisoned my friend's glass. Would that person care to step forward and explain why?") He asked in a cheerful, yet eerie voice. No one moved, most eyes wide with shock.

Waiting with a slowly cracking patience, Dravla tipped the last of the liquid into the plant and placed it gently on the table. "We're leaving," grabbing Lance's wrist, he tugged him towards the door. Lance barely managed to grab the cake in time, tripping after him."

"Wait-" Lance grunted as they shot down the street and around the corner, "How did you- the poison!" lance would have never guessed that was what it was, "How did you know about the poison?"

"I've had my own fair share of assassination attempts," Drava grumbles angrily, "I recognized the smell of that acid. It's nasty stuff,"

Lance didn't like the sound of that. "Did you… So then, you knew that acid? Did they put it in your drink like that?"

"Once, yes,"
"Did you swallow it?"

"When I get a drink I always tended to savor it as long as possible and hold it in my mouth- Tellru always tells me not to. But it was lucky I did and caught the poison in time. I got out of that with my still intact and with just a slightly burned tongue. But... I haven't really tasted food quite the same since then,"

Lance felt like he was going to throw up.

Grateful that they ran straight for the Kever, he didn't mind getting on the bug this time. The bug meant they were going back to the lower district. That they were going back to Keith.

"Are you alright?' Dravla asked after 5 minutes of tense silence. Lance can't answer. Patting his head, Dravla tells him, "I'll get you to Keith,"

Those words seemed to open the tight feeling in his chest and he nods. He wanted to get to Keith.

He wanted to be near Keith.

He was being super clingy right now, wasn't he? Oh, but he didn't care. He wanted to hug him and hold his hand and just- make this terrible feeling go away. This helplessness to situations and danger.

It made him feel pathetic.

15 minutes later and they were off the Kever and making a straight B-line for the house. Bursting in, Dravla slammed the door shut, locked it, and then peeked out the curtains to the street outside. With a deep glare, he scanned the area. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, for now, he stepped back.
"Dravla?' Tellru was slowly making her way down the hall. "You are back so soon? How did it-" she paused at the look on his face, "Did something happen?"

"Keith?" Lance was making his way down the hall, not stopping to chat. He had a mission. His thoughts were consumed with Keith keith Kieth- he heard him in the kitchen.

"Lance-?" the second his voice got close Lance threw his arms out. Snatching Keith around the shoulders, he hugged him tightly. Keith stumbled

Squeezing him with all his might, Lance sighed- relieved. "Hey…"

"Hey?" Keith asks, "You're uh- I don't usually hug people…" he sounds flustered.

"Sucks, I'm hugging you till I feel better,"

"Don't tell me you were that upset about the Kever?"
"It wasn't the Kever," Lance whispers.

"Then what was it?" Keith's hand trails up to cup the back of Lance's head, giving it a reassuring pat. It was grounding enough to wash away the whirlwind of anxiety and fear tossing around inside of Lance's chest.

"WHAT?!" Tellru was roaring down the hall. Dravla must have told her. "Lance!" she slides into the room, gripping his shoulders and turning his face towards her. "Let me see. Did you drink any of it? Are you hurt anywhere?" she fusses, talking so fast that he isn't sure of everything she is saying. It reminds him of his Mama.

Keith is confused and looking between them for an explanation, "What?" he asked, "What happened?"

"Someone attempted to poison Lance's drink with a form of slow-acting acid," Dravla says. Keith grips the side of Lance's head and turns him towards him.

"What?" he hisses, "Don't tell me you drank any. Open your mouth. Who did it?"

"I didn't drink any…" Lance feels timid with everyone panicking over him. Hesitantly, to give them peace of mind, he opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue. Seeing no damage the two nodded numbly.

"Why would someone try to poison you?" Keith isn't stepping away from him. In fact, Lance dare say he is holding him a little tighter, his arm wrapped protectively around his waist. Lance liked the feeling of it there- like it was meant to be there.

"It could be many reasons," Dravla sighs, "As for which one for this attempt- who knows,"

"Lala?" Ruru is tugging on his pant leg.
"Hey there, birthday girl," he forces a smile, "Sorry for the commotion. Oh but uh- we got your cake!" he pointed to her. She doesn't seem to even bat an eye at it, hugging his leg tightly.

"Lala Okay?" she asked.

"I'm okay, sweet pea."

"Do you need to leave?" Tellru asks gently, "It is alright if you wish to go back to your apartment if this was too overwhelming."

"No, it is okay. It is Ruru's birthday," he insists. "We should celebrate,"

"Are you sure? We can leave," Keith tells him.

"I'm fine. I want to celebrate her birthday. We already got the cake," he holds it up, and he means it. Yeah, it was scary- but now he was here with Keith and everyone else. The fear had long since left.

Glancing at each other, everyone nods and the party begins. There is weird music and odd party games.

Like, throw the chair at a wall.

That is what the game is called. There are a lot of chairs and whoever throws the chair at the wall the hardest wins. Keith really liked that game.

"So tell me, Lance, what do you do one the days of your birthday?" Tellru inquired, curious.

"In my world, we throw little parties like this and sing a little song," Lance says.

Ruru's clapping for him, "Sing?" She pleaded

He couldn't say no to that, "Of course, anything for you sweet pea," He cleared his throat and sang, drawing out the notes and making it as dramatic as he could, "Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday dear, Ruru~ happy birthday to you~" when Lance finished, he didn't notice that the Coeihns were staring at him in awe.

"A-again! Again!" Ruru yelled, eyes sparkling

"I was not aware you were a singer, Lance," Dravla says in amazement.

"Eh- only a little," Lance shrugs.

"Sing! Sing!" Ruru is still yelling.

"I'll sing again only if Keith joins me," Lance told her.

"What?" Keith choked on his drink.

"He is probably a really good singer," Lance insists slyly.

Like a targeting system, Ruru's gaze locked onto him. "Keef,"

"No," he frowns

"Keith," Dravla says eyes just as wide and excited. Was this man secretly 5?

"Wha- no Dravla,"

Tellru chimes in, smirking "Keith,"

"You too? I don't sing-"

They started chanting for him, trying to edge him on. Lance joined, lightly tapping the table, "Keith! Keith! Keith!

After a while- and with large puppy looks from Ruru, and Dravla- who had the most pathetic puppy dog look of them all- Keith agreed.

Lance could have died where he sat when his voice echoed in the room. It started off quiet, shy and timid, but grew as Ruru began to clap and smile. Keith was a singer, no doubt. A little rusty from lack of practice, but if he put in a little work- he would sound as beautiful as church bells.

Halfway through the song, Keith cut off. "You said you would sing too," he accused Lance when he trailed off, so caught up in the beautiful chime that was Keith's voice.

"Oh- Oh yeah! Okay, start over. Here we go," the two start again, and Lance attempts to make it cool by harmonizing with Keith as much as possible. They don't sound too bad together.

Lance wondered if he could ever convince Keith to go Karaoke singing with him someday.

By the end of the song, the little family was cheering for them.

Ruru wraps her arms around their shoulders, smiling like there was no tomorrow. Touched by the idea of having more than just her parents to celebrate such an important day like this, she smiles brightly. "Love Keef and Lala," she tells them, and despite not knowing them long, she means it. She means it as all children mean it, never needing to know a person long or know much about them to adore and care for someone.

"Ruru," Lance says fondly, "I love you too, sweet pea,"

They party for hours, going all the way until Ruru fell asleep in her chair. Tucking her in for the night they said goodnight to Tellru and Dravla and return back to their apartment.

Which is a weird thing to say. This little place they have been staying at is apparently theirs' now.

He has an apartment with Keith.

Lance never thought he would have something like that, but he did. It wasn't that bad, honestly.

Fluffing his pillow, Lance says, "You can have the bed some nights, you know," he realized he had taken the bed every night since they arrived.

"I'm fine- you use it. You are still recovering," That night, after the assassination attempt, he pushed the couch a little closer to the bed. Lance refused to let himself think that it was adorable- but the thought lingered like a fungus.

"So are you,"

"I have a single injury and some bruises. You had it a lot worse than me," Keith says in a tone that means there was no negotiating this, "You sleep in the bed,"

"Alright," Lance holds his hands up in surrender, "Fine…" rolling around a little in an attempt to find a comfortable position; he turns over to his side. Knowing Keith would be directly to his right, he wondered if he should say something. He wanted to say something.

Anything to break this awkward/angry tension that seemed to be building between them ever since the assassination attempt.

"Hey…"

"What?"

Lance purses his lips, struggling. Deciding to go for a more teasing approach, he says "So how many times did you stare at my legs today?"

"Wha- Lance!" Keith yells, startled. "I didn't stare that much!"

Lance found that interesting, "But you do admit you stared a little?"

Realizing his words, Keith clamped his mouth shut, "T- you know what I meant," he grumbled darkly. Lance could just picture him blushing, hiding his face within his blankets. "I didn't mean to walk in on you, okay? I got freaked out and just wanted to give you the pants. This is technically your fault for not locking the door."

Lance scoffed, "My fault? You ever hear of knocking before entering?"

"I don't usually live with people, so no, I don't know that rule," Keith insisted.

"That is no excuse! It is common curtsy! And it wasn't like you left as soon as you came in! You stood there!"

"I couldn't help it! Your legs were ho-ooooooooooooooooooo-!" he drew the letter out, his voice growing softer and softer with each passing second.

"...t?" Lance finished with a jump in his heart, "You think my legs are hot?"

"I didn't say that," he denied quickly.

"You totally just did!" Lance accused,

"Nope, didn't do it," Keith turned to face the other side of the couch, "Good night, Lance!"

"Keith," Lance says. He doesn't reply, "Keith. Keith. Keith Keith Keith? …. You think my legs are hot, Keith." Lance was almost tempted to pull them out from under the blankets and show them off to test the theory, but that felt a little… it was treading in waters he wasn't sure he would be able to handle. "Okay fine, pretend to be asleep. But I know the truth. You think my legs are hot," he huffed and pulled the blankets up to his chin. Feeling kind of pleased that Keith found a part of Lance attractive, he smiled into his pillow. "Good night, Keith,"

Hey Guys, I can't believe I forgot to mention- For those who don't know, I have a TUMBLR. And i have

ART FOR THIS STORY- On that page. I'm Smiles4Voltron! :D Thank everyone!

PS: Super IMPORTANT NOTE: Just for a heads up, the next few chapeters wont' be too thrilling. There will be moments, but overall, it is more of a cute fluff thing between Lance and Keith fora while. Then things will kick up and there will be nonstop action- I promise.