FIRST OFF SO SORRY!
I totally meant to drop this the day of the new season, but I watched the new season and I had so many mixed feelings I really did not have the proper feelings to work on and edit this chapter before posting it. Then of course when I had the motivation I got sick for a couple days, and then to top it all of my power went out for over 48 hours because of a huge storm on the west coast!

HOWEVER! My power returned yesterday, and I have the new chapter ready before Christmas.
So happy early Christmas everyone!

ENJOY!

Chapter 21

The strength had been drained from him and he could feel the cold setting in. Keith almost wished for the fire to spread from upstairs, but then he remembered what Lotor had dumped on him, the smell stifling.

He had adjusted the chains and had his way with him again, using the belt to whip his back, he might've been bleeding. There was sore spot on his cheek that wouldn't go away. It was the usual Lotor punishment, but this time Keith was too zoned out to notice any of it.

Lotor hadn't even said anything when he left; he simply tightened the chains again as far as they'd go to let his arm stretch, and then turned off the light.

Keith knew then, that Lotor was finished with him.

All that was left was for him to die.

VvVvV

The helicopter landed on a fairly snowy pad. The pacing slow as it landed. "I'll stay with the helicopter so we'll be ready with the escape route— you guys find Keith," Romelle said. Her voice was hurried. She knew the danger of the situation. But she was smart, staying with the pilot and their only way home.

Lance and Shiro nodded to her.

Jumping out of the helicopter, the two make a dash through the snow to the cabin.

"He'll be okay, he will be okay," Lance said a few times over. He took a solid breath, his breathing growing more erratic as he continued the dash to the cabin. The pilot explained that Lotor had come and gone from that cabin on both occasions when he showed up, the first time coming with a very unconscious Keith. That had not eased the worries of both Shiro and Keith in the slightest.

Shiro made it to the cabin, the door unlocked as he got inside. He was out of breath his hands on his knees. "Keith?! Keith!" Shiro looked around the small wooden establishment—Lance doing the same as he walked inside without bothering to take his snowed boots off. He wrapped his hands around his shoulders. It was cold. Almost as cold as outside.

Looking to the side of the place Lance spotted the fireplace. A blanket laid on the ground in front of it. There were no embers, but sticking his hand in the ash Lance noticed the fire wasn't as cold as the rest of the cabin. Like a spark had been there only a few hours earlier.

"He's not here!" Shiro said in a panic as he searched the rooms again. Besides the open layout of the living room and kitchen, the one bedroom and small bathroom, there were no other places to look. "Was this all some wild goose chase!?" Shiro put a hand to his head. "Was this all for nothing? Lotor lying to us from the beginning in order to take Keith away forever!?"

Lance rubbed his chin. Despite how confident Lotor was, the way he acted when they were about to arrest him. He was a little in a panic, and if anything, he was willing to send them here to not let Keith die. Lance didn't think Lotor would just lead them here without any other evidence.

Picking up the blanket, Lance noticed on the ground there were bits of black hair. There was no possible way that could be Lotor's.

Lance glanced toward the bedroom, taking a look, besides the double bed and closet there wasn't much to the place. But the mat, it had crumples to it. Lance bent down and rolled it back, a cellar door under the fabric.

"Shiro get in here!" Lance yelled. Pulling up the cellar door with a shove a dark room underneath them laid silently. Lance didn't even use the ladder as he made a straight jump into the basement.

Shiro started his decent down the ladder.

The room was pitch black and Lance didn't have time to find the light switch. Grabbing his phone he turned on the flashlight, and was met with the very sight he was horrified of coming across. He dropped his phone the light turning off.

"Lance? Gosh I can't see a thing, where's the light switch—oh wait I think I got it. . ." Shiro trailed off as he was met with the same sight.

He was done up in chains, his hands pulled back far reaches onto the beam above. He was only in underwear showing off his many scars—all most likely curtesy of Lotor. Somewhere along the way his cast had cracked, leaving the bruised purple to his arm to shine through.

Keith's eyes were closed, not even slightly open. A long scar still bleeding ran across the side of his cheek.

"Keith. . ." Shiro said, walking slowly toward him.

Lance didn't have time to panic. Looking around the area he noticed a switch to the chains, he cranked it and they instantly fell loose. Shiro was the one to catch Keith, but their friend was unresponsive. "He's so cold, and gosh is this gasoline." Shiro held Keith tight, shedding tears with the unconscious boy in his arms. "We have to get him help. . .Lance. . . what is that?" Lance looked up, a smoke engulfing the roof above the cellar.

A fire? But the fireplace was cold, and they were in snow territory up in the mountains.

Lance's face lost colour as he looked toward the light switch. It must have triggered something.

"Shiro we all need to get out of here, now!"

Shiro tried to budge Keith but the chains were stuck. Held tight to the beams and not coming undone. "I can't, Lance, the chains, how do we get them off? Is there a key. . ." Shiro felt the panic and so did Lance.

This had been a trap, it always had been.

Lance took a deep breath.

"I'll try and put out the fire, you try and untie Keith."

Lance climbed up the ladder, he knew there was no cell service and by the time he'd get to the helicopter it'd be too late. He'd have to move fast.

When Lance reached the top he spotted the flames growing. The whole entire side of the kitchen burning through, and growing bigger. Lance's stomach sank, the stove looking to be the cause, but Lance knew there was a bigger reason behind the whole situation.

"Fire extinguisher, extinguisher? No why would Lotor keep an extinguisher when he's trying to kill us?" Lance tried to think of something, but besides maybe trying to keep throwing buckets of snow on the growing flames he didn't know of any options.

The fire grew closer, nearing the entrance door.

Lance looked back into the bedroom. There was a window, just large enough that Shiro and Lance could escape through.

Lance doubled back and shut the door to the bedroom to hopefully stifle some of the flames. He looked down into the cellar. "Shiro, how are you making out?" Lance yelled down.

"They're not coming off, and I can't find any key, any luck on your end?" Lance looked back, the smoke leaking through the door he'd just shut. This was getting bad.

Think!

If Lance was Lotor where would he hide the key? Where could it. . .Lance's eyes locked on the closet.

Rushing over Lance threw the closet door open and strung on a string from a hanger was a key hidden inside a dark jacket.

It was like it was some sort of psychotic game for Lotor.

Jumping down again, Lance rolled his ankle slightly as he landed, but he was quick to recover, letting out a small yelp. "I have the key," he said, rushing over. Shiro grabbed it from Lance's hand and was quick to unlock Keith's wrist.

Lance took a good look at Keith's face, even now he was still beneath the light. This was super bad.

Coughing, Lance looked up and noticed the growing smoke.

"We have to hurry."

The two grabbed Keith and put each arm over a shoulder. Climbing up Shiro passed Keith over to Lance up top, the room now was filled with so much smoke it was hurting Lance's eyes. But he kept his grip on Keith.

Pulling him over to the window, Lance tried to open it, but of course it wouldn't open. There wasn't even a hatch for it, the window wasn't meant to be opened. Lance would have tried to look around the room for something, but it was getting harder to see. So he did what any sane person would do, he punched the window and let it shatter.

Glass stuck in his knuckle as he pulled back.

"Lance!" Shiro cried as he came from the ladder.

"We don't have time," Lance said, as he grabbed Keith's arm. Shiro did the same, the three of them maneuvering outside the broken window and into the banks of the snow. When they finally made it outside the two were out of breath.

"We're outside," Lance mumbled as he turned and saw the cabin going up in flames. The roof now catching on fire.

"Hey Keith?" Shiro tried tapping Keith's cheek. But it was no use. He wouldn't even stir. That was seriously bad. "He has a really weak pulse," Shiro mumbled after grabbing his brother's wrist. "Come on, lets hurry to Romelle!"

Walking a bit slower through the snow this time, Shiro carried Keith in his arms. Lance having draped his jacket over top of the unconscious boy like a blanket.

When Romelle saw the group, she was quick to aide them in bringing Keith inside the helicopter, the pilot instructed to fly for an emergency hospital before it was too late.

VvVvV

It was a bit nosier than Keith thought heaven would be. There was a lot of beeping. And blurred lights, it was hard to see. Better hide back in darkness.

"Hey I think he's awake Takashi." It was Adam's voice, and he wasn't dead, was he? Keith didn't want to think about that.

"Keith? Hey buddy. . ." that was Shiro's voice. Keith opened his eyes again, the light hurting slightly, but he blinked away the pain. Shiro was looking over him.

"Shiro," Keith said, he tried to smile, but he wasn't sure if it came through.

He wasn't dead, he was okay. Lotor really hadn't killed him. Unless Lotor had killed all of them, but no, it didn't seem that way.

Keith closed his eyes again. His whole body felt numb, I guess numb was better than the pain he'd already suffered.

When Keith did open his eyes again, it wasn't Shiro beside him, it was a boy with nice brown hair. "Lance," Keith mumbled.

He'd been staring out into space, but when Keith spoke Lance instantly smiled. "Keith, you're awake!"

Lance got off his chair and moved so his arms were resting on the hospital bed so Keith could see him better. "I was a little scared there; you were suffering from hypothermia pretty badly." Keith tried to move his hand, Lance grabbing it. Keith felt the softness to the bandages.

"Your. . hand. . ." Keith mumbled out.

Lance pulled back, he chuckled. "Oh this, I might have broken a window to save you, don't worry though, think about yourself."

"Myself. . ." Keith had never been told that before.

Keith let some tears slip from his eyes. "Hey, hey? Why are you crying Keith?"

He shook his head, as if to get rid of the tears, but they just kept coming. "I'm just, so glad. . .to be with people I care about."

Lance dropped a hand by Keith's cheek. "I'm glad for you to Keith, you're safe now."

It took Keith ten more days before he was allowed to leave the hospital. A new cast was placed on his arm, and he was put on a few medications to help with his pain. He'd have to be careful, and still recover over the next few weeks without any strenuous activity.

An arrest warrant was placed for Lotor, but he had yet to be found. Haggar had disappeared before her trial as well.

Not trusting the police, Adam arranged for some people from the military base to stand by as full protection just in case something were to occur, but Lance kind thought it was a little unnecessary at this point in time.

So after everything, things were just kind of normal for Lance. He still went back to the apartment, and the land lord had started showing Keith and Lotor's place after Shiro gave Keith's notice. Lance wasn't sure if he should stay, but in the end he decided he'd stay till his semester was over, mostly because he didn't have anywhere else to go, and the rent was still affordable. Sometimes he'd wake up though, and think he'd hear screaming from the other apartment. But no one was there, no one lived there, and Keith was safe.

Lance visited Keith bi-weekly, with his friend still recovering, not just physically, but mentally in a lot of ways. Adam and Shiro providing the support he needed.

It had been almost a month since they'd rescued Keith—and today happened to be the day Lance was going to spend the day while Shiro and Adam were gone.

Lance was working on some homework on the couch, while Keith sat and watched TV.

"So I hear your cast comes off tomorrow?" Lance asked to confirm.

Keith nodded. "Coran's coming here to do it for me."

Not going back to the hospital was probably a smart idea. It was a bit of a risk bringing Keith in the first place, but one they'd taken the chance on with Keith's life at stake.

Keith reached over for the remote, Lance passing it to him. Keith turned off the TV.

"So I've applied for school in September," Keith said, bringing it up nonchalantly.

"What! Really!" Lance went over and pulled Keith in a hug. Lance pulled back quickly though, remembering the personal space thing. "Oh sorry."

Keith shook his head. "No it's okay. . .it felt good actually. It's scary at first thinking about it, but like. . .how do I explain it, I feel comfortable with you Lance, I trust you." Keith rubbed the side of his cheek. "I actually. . .I kind of, well you see. . .I was wondering what we are?"

Lance tilted his head. "What we are?"

Keith nodded. "You come over all the time, and even though it's not always talking it's nice. But it feels different from friends. I don't know, maybe it's because I've never had a proper friendship."

Lance reached and touched Keith's cheek. "Keith, I'm whatever you need me to be. A friend, or more, I'm here for you. . .you don't have to be alone anymore."

Keith's face turned a shade red. He nodded, as Lance pulled his hand away.

Rubbing his fingers together Keith took a breath. "Next week, can you take me to your campus. . .and show me around. . .if that's okay?"

Lance smiled. "Yeah, I'd really love if we did that."

"And maybe. . .can we hold hands. . .just cause I'm getting used to things again, and crowded places are a little. . .I'm not sure, never mind. . ."

Lance reached and grabbed Keith's hand.

"Whenever you want to hold my hand Keith, I'll be there," Lance said.

Keith squeezed Lance's hand. And for the first time ever, Keith actually felt a smidge of happiness towards his feelings for another person, and the possibility that there were people out there that actually loved him for him.

So hope you enjoyed the last chapter!

I have plans for a one-shot sequel that will take place a few years into Lance and Keith's relationship, and that fic will resolve the Lotor stuff more soundly, but that probably won't be out for a while unless there is a lot of request for it!

Anyway appreciate all you people who've read my story. And Voltron is sadly over (in mixed resolutions) but we still all have fan-fiction for it, so lets unite in our love for cannon divergence and the fics people write/read to continue the Voltron legacy.

Kudos my friends! And thanks for reading!

LOVE YOU ALL!