Keith talks to Hunk about his mother. A short battle with Lotor leaves the Red Paladin suspicious and finds an unexpected visitor to his room.

Keith was lost in his thoughts throughout the debrief, barely acknowledging Shiro as he gave Allura a detailed recount of what happened. Too many things were shooting around in his mind, from imagining what happened to his mother, clear that Zarkon had wanted to shake him, to make the paladin unstable. In the forefront of his mind was the thought of disembowelling Prince Lotor the slowest way possible without him dying, all the while causing him extreme discomfort. Keith hadn't realised the debriefing was finished until Lance had nudged him, snapping his head up noting the uneasiness in the blue paladin's eye, raising a brow in return faking confusion to Lance's obvious concern.

"Do you wanna talk?" Lance asked, Keith did but Lance was not the one he needed to speak with. He was still yet to speak with Thace and it seemed that he would have to wait a few more days until Kolivan would allow it.

"Thanks, Lance, but I'm good."

Lance nodded before leaving the red paladin staring after him. If Keith was being honest with himself he needed someone to confess to, not someone who would stay quiet and attempt to understand like Shiro or would be exceptionally blunt like Lance. He needed someone who was both fascinated and honest about his situation. Keith found his eyes landing on the dark-skinned Yellow Paladin, Hunk had been the first to accept him for who he truly was other than Pidge herself, but the girl was still spending almost all her own company with Matt and Keith didn't want to diminish any time she could have with him. Keith bit his lip in temptation watching the yellow paladin converse with Coran, both their eyes sparkling with interest at what was peeking between Hunk's fingers. The red paladin dug his claws into his palm before lifting himself from the sofa and approached the two happy comrades.

"Keith." Hunk grinned before shoving a small slug-like delicacy at him. "Have a taste, it's kinda salty."

Keith dunked under the teen's arm quickly shaking his head, pushing Hunk's arm away.

"No way."

"Aw, no fun." Hunk pouted jokingly at him before slurping up the delicacy himself.

"How can we help you, Keith?" Coran asked noting the tense look on the paladin's face.

"I was wondering if I could talk to Hunk?" Keith asked motioning to the yellow paladin whose face was glazed over in a dream-like state.

"About what?" Hunk licked his fingers hungrily before turning serious at Keith's self-consciousness. "Sure Keith, let's talk."

The duo ended up in the red lions bay, Keith seemed at ease when he was near her, her presence always soothed his never-ending thoughts. Hunk sat by his side watching the red paladin in wonder, Keith was never one to just talk, sure he spoke about his worries but they were usually for the whole group to hear, so being picked to listen to Keith's own personal woes had Hunk feeling a little honoured.

"So what's up, Keith?"

"You remember the Robeast?"

"Well yeah, it almost killed you like ten minutes ago." Hunk rose a brow as Keith's head turned his yellow irises finding Hunk's brown.

"I think it was my mother."

"Woah, your mums a Robeast?" Hunk mouth dropped open, remembering the large beast's enormous arms, it's hand almost crushing the Red Paladin to death. "That's cool! I mean…"

"It's okay Hunk." Keith quirked a smile turning back to his lion, staring into the hollow eyes reminding him of the Robeast.

"So when Lance screamed your name."

"She knew it was me and she stopped."

"Other than the fact your mum is an evil robot now, that is amazing." Hunk was waving his arms around in admiration. "Despite all the programming they must have done she still managed to override it."

"Do you think there's a way to get her back?" Keith spoke quietly, that was the one question that haunted him since they entered the Castle.

"I wouldn't have a clue," Hunk placed his hand to his chin in thought before he clicked his fingers with a snap. "But I think Pidge mind be able to find out."

Keith was unexpectedly yanked forward and hauled through the ship until they reached the green lions bay.

"Pidge!" Hunk called out, pushing Keith in front of him propelling him towards the girl and her brother. the Red Paladin sighed, if he knew Hunk was going to bring him to Pidge he would have come to her first.

"Hey, guys." Pidge waved, "What's going on?"

"Sister?"

Lotor strode towards large Robeast, they had yet to leave the deserted planet and with his generals busy the Prince had time to speak with his sibling. The Robeast didn't move, powered down and seemed to Lotor's dismay it would stay that way.

"I know you are angry, I can feel the hate pulsing from you." The Prince smiled a little as he came to a stop by the machines foot. "I knew you wouldn't kill him, I'm not a fool. I know what father's plan is. I do not intend to follow out his demands."

Lotor gandered a glance up sighing in disappointment as the hollow eyes stayed lifeless.

"I know we didn't always get along but I thought you dead." Lotor laid a hand to the cold metal as he clenched his other hand. "I don't know if father ever told you but I was banished for keeping your little secret from him. But I did not know you had offspring with the fleshling."

Lotor let out a chuckle a happy one, one that he hadn't sprouted in millennia.

"To keep something like that from him, I'm impressed. I am saddened to think you couldn't have trusted me with it. He is a remarkable fighter, Keith is it? He has caught fathers interests, as well as my own. I will honour my duty to your sister, as I always have."

Lotor sighed gazing to the hills in the distance, closing his eyes letting his other senses enhanced.

"I'm glad to have you back Nara. I have missed you dearly."

Lotor sat in the commander's chair hands clasped together in thought. If Lotor was able to get Keith alone, talk to him, scheme with him, manipulate him then perhaps his plan would work. Zarkon needed Keith, he was the heir, an easily manipulated heir. Lotor needed Keith to take his father's place, a puppet King to which Lotor would pull the strings. But handing over the red paladin to his father would be signing his own death warrant. Lotor would also have to deal with his mother, Haggar would not lay down the power she had, she would not stand betrayal to her Emperor.

"Lotor we're ready to launch."

"Excellent." Lotor shook himself from his thoughts turning on his heel to address the general. "Track down Voltron, I need to get on that ship."

"A Galra ship has pinged our location," Coran announced spinning round to face Allura.

"Who commands it, Coran?"

The screen popped up before the advisor and he blinked once before snapping back to the Princess.

"Prince Lotor."

"He has changed tactics." Allura frowned. "Why is he pursuing?"

"What shall we do?"

"Let him find us. We'll let the paladins confront him but be ready to worm jump."

Paladins to your lions, Lotor has found us.

Keith snapped his head up when Allura's voice bounced around the room, the Galra's name caused rage to build inside him, his eyes narrowed, slit with venom. He stood from his place and stormed from the room with the Yellow Paladin hot on his heels.

The battle was short and terribly unplanned on Lotor's part, fleeing the battle as soon as the first ship was destroyed. The others didn't seem fazed as if it was just another battle won but Keith and Shiro were wary, confused to why Lotor bothered to attack and worried that they were playing right into the Galra's hands. Keith didn't know if he was going crazy but he continuously glanced over his shoulder, sensing that something was watching him. The Red Paladin showered hoping the water would flush away his suspicions. Since the one-sided battle, he had an inkling that something was amiss. Drying his lightly furred chest as he walked to his room, Keith sighed with relief, unable feel the strange presence anymore. He threw his towel around his shoulders as he entered his room and instantly froze at the body casually laid out on his bunk.

"I was wondering when you'd return."

Lotor rose from the bed and despite priding himself on his fast reflexes he wasn't expecting the paladin to pounce and pin him down, arm pushing against his throat, eyes threatening to crush.

"How did you get on the ship?"

"Like anyone else would. I flew in on a lion." Lotor kept his cool, he would not show the slight inkling of fear that sped down his spine. "I am here only to talk."

"Then talk." Keith snapped ferociously, pushing vehemently against the Galra's windpipe.

"Very well." The Galra wheezed, "I am here on behalf of myself, not Zarkon. I wish to help you in bringing him down."

"What?" Keith loosened his hold in bewilderment and was further taken by surprise when Lotor didn't take advantage of his lapse in judgment.

"My father, your grandfather-"

"-He is not my grandfather," Keith spoke with malice.

"Well, grandfather or not he has lost the true sense of what he planned. He is doing more bad than good and I am always clearing up his mess."

"And what makes you think I, we need your help?"

"I am not doing this for you or myself." Lotor ensured he kept his eyes glued to the others watching the emotions swirl rapidly. "I am doing it for Nara."

"And you think I believe you?"

"I do not expect you to," Lotor spoke, his authority and position seeping through. "Loyalty is something I pride myself with, loyalty is key to leading a race. I am loyal to my sister and my people."

Keith could see the seriousness pulsing from Lotor as he spoke of loyalty, the way his eyes sharpened and his mouth thinned with passion. The red paladin moved away, releasing the Prince from his grip and stood, eyeing the Galra with a cautious glare hoping he hadn't just made a grave mistake. Lotor, in turn, rose, rubbing his neck gently before grooming himself over.

Keith grasped the man's wrist roughly when he made a grab to his side, internally scolding himself for letting even a slither of what the Galra sprouted affect him in such a way. Lotor warily brought his hands in front of him, only speaking when Keith released his harsh grip.

"I believe this is yours."

Keith's eyes widened as Lotor uncurled his fingers to reveal his dagger, the Marmora symbol etched in its handle seemed to stare at the paladin. Keith delicately plucked the dagger from the man's hands and gently ran a finger over the blade.

"Why?" Keith muttered looking at the man confusingly.

"Why? Do not think I didn't know about my sister's secret club." Lotor chuckled in spite. "Despite all the information Nara leaked, it was never enough. Zarkon is always three steps ahead."

"If you knew about what she was up to why didn't you tell Zarkon?" Keith's head was muddled, everything was being twisted, Lotor was offering to overthrow his father. The paladin was well aware that the Galra clearly had a plan of his own, to what endgame he was unsure.

"At first I found it humorous." Lotor settled on the boy's bunk. "Watching her sneak away after a meeting. Then I was simply impressed that she had kept it a secret from both Zarkon and my mother. For how long we will never find out but after he banished me I let it fester. Father knows nothing of loyalty, he is the definition of deceit."

"You really want to help us?" Keith sat beside the man, analysing him critically, there was an ulterior motive that was clear, Keith just had to figure out what it was.

"I do."

Guys! I made a Voltron video!

watch?v=jU6GfV5l_5w

GUYS!