A/N: Again, heavy on the emotions. I'll edit this seriously tomorrow morning. I'm crashing now cause it's past midnight which means it's past my bedtime.
Chapter summary: In which the mice know things, Shiro also knows things, Coran does have a temper, and Lance is not fine.
22: Raw Emotion
Allura retreated the grand stairway in the foyer and sat down on one of the steps midway up, a cup of nunvill in her hands. A hoverbot floated by with several Altean treats. She couldn't resist snatching a couple of the sweets on sticks; they were her favorite. The little Arusians seemed to gravitate to Hunk and Pidge because they were the most relatable of the paladins.
The Altean mice scampered up her skirt and sat on tittered at Allura's lap, mentally lecturing her for her choice of words.
The princess blushed and pursed her lips in a sulk. "I wasn't going to say it out loud," she mumbled. The pink mouse sniffed at her and Allura sighed. "Alright, fine. It's because they're the shortest."
The blue squeaked and hopped on the green mouse's shoulders, patting its stomach and miming stuffing its face with food.
"Yes, that does sound like Hunk," Allura said laughing. "He has a heart as big as his stomach."
The blue mouse waved to get her attention then made a lovely, feminine expression accompanied by a slew of mental images that had the princess sitting ramrod straight.
"Pidge is a what?!" Allura gasped.
She leaned forward, teetering precariously from her step and stared at her green paladin. Pidge was squatting with a group of Arusian children, Rover hovering loyally over his -her?- shoulder. Rover's green glow flashed in a pattern as if it was speaking, or beeping as it were. Whatever it "said," it made Pidge laugh.
Allura thought about everything she knew about Pidge so far. The green paladin's full name was Pidge Gunderson (or was it?), he was a genius (definitely true, something like that can't be faked), his father and brother had been part of Shiro's crew and been captured by the Galra (the black paladin had confirmed that himself), and Pidge had a hard time surviving without something called "caffeine." Whatever that was.
It struck the princess that she didn't really know her paladins as well as she thought. The may work together as a team towards a common goal, but they barely knew anything about each other on a personal level. All things considered, Pidge could be female and no one would have been the wiser. It was all so distant, professional, and slapdash. The only real relationship in this whole mess was between Lance and Keith and even that was questionable at best.
Speaking of, where was Lance? Allura looked around for her brother and didn't see him right away. Come to think of it, Keith wasn't anywhere in the foyer either. Immediately, Allura's eyes narrowed and she stood, gathering the mice into her hands and setting them on her shoulder.
"Coran," she called.
Her advisory skipped across the floor at her summons, avoiding two Arusian children who ran into his path as he went. "The party is going well so far," Coran said, his face lit by a huge smile. "I did notice Pidge slipping some of the food into his bag when he thought no one else was looking. But considering Hunk does that all the time, I guess I shouldn't worry," he added, chortling happily.
"Where's- Wait. Pidge was what?" Allura asked, turning back to the green paladin just in time to see him dump a plate full of snacks into his backpack. The princess furrowed her brow and glanced at the blue mouse on her shoulder. "You're absolutely sure?" she asked.
The mouse nodded enthusiastically and Allura hummed in disbelief. "I'll have to get to the bottom of this," she murmured.
"Hm? The bottom of what?" Coran asked, glancing between the princess and her mice.
"Nothing!" Allura said quickly, looking straight at her adviser like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Coran gave her a look and Allura bit her lip. "It nothing right now," she said. She shook her head. "We'll discuss this later. Have you seen Lance?"
"Ah," Coran said, his bright smile returning. "Finally ready to show your brother his little surprise?"
"Y-yes," Allura said, searching the foyer for her brother. "Have you seen Keith?" she asked after a moment.
Coran hesitated. "He was trying out some of the nunvill with Hunk last I saw," he said slowly. "Why?"
"Because I can't find either of them," Allura said seriously.
Coran's smile slipped from his face and he too gave the room a full once-over. "You're right," he said. "They're both gone."
"Find them," Allura ordered, her voice curt. Her advisor turned to her in surprise. "Find them and bring Lance to me," she insisted.
"And if I find Keith with him?" Coran asked, studying his princess's expression carefully.
"Then make him wish he never touched my baby brother," Allura said. "If he wants Lance, I expect him to work for it. Nothing comes for free. Lance is worth more than some common whore."
Coran nodded. "It shall be done," he said. "Please inform Shiro that I'll have to cut our delightful conversation short. Also," he added after a moment of thought, "would you mind if I borrowed your furry companions?"
"My mice?" Allura asked, placing a finger on one of her friends' heads. "Why?"
"They may be able to help me narrow down where Keith and Lance are," Coran said. "If we split up, we can find them more quickly."
It made sense, Allura thought. She glanced at her friends for their permission and was pleased when they nodded. They hopped into her cupped hands and moved in her advisor's.
"If you find Keith and he's with Lance," Allura said to her mice, "you have my permission to bite him."
Coran snorted when the mice saluted the princess. "Alright then," he said to his new search companions. He strolled confidently over to the far wall of the foyer and knelt down so the mice could easily hop to the floor. "Each of you take a hallway," he said. "Come get me if you find our two missing paladins, alright? As for the biting part," he winced, "better wait on that until Lance is gone, alright? Wouldn't want him getting mad now would we?" The mice shook their cute, furry heads and Coran chuckled. "Very well then. Off with you. I'll give an extra treat to the one who finds them."
The mice squeaked and raced down the different hallways as fast as their tiny feet could carry them.
Allura laughed into her hand as she watched her advisor give orders to her mice. He did know she could hear their thoughts, right? She knew he'd asked them not to bite Keith until Lance was out of the picture. She decided not to say anything because honestly, she agreed that would be the best approach.
"I don't like this."
Startled, Allura turned to her black paladin. She hadn't even noticed him walk up to her. She must be slipping. "Don't like what?" she asked curiously. "The party? Are you not a party person?" She smiled sympathetically. "Don't feel bad. Not everyone enjoys them. I'm sorry it's making you uncomfortable though. Feel free to retire if it gets to be too much for you."
Shiro shook his head and turned to look out the main doors down the main entryway in concern. "I don't like having our defenses completely down like this," he clarified. "Everyone coming and going without question…" He sighed through his nose. "It just doesn't seem safe."
"The Arusians are peaceful creatures," Allura said gently. "They mean us no harm. Besides," she said, watching a pair of Arusians fall over themselves laughing, "they have the right to see the inside of the Castle that's been on their planet for 10,000 years. Maybe it will help them see that I'm not a goddess after all," she said wryly.
Shiro snorted despite himself. "I don't think that will go away anytime soon," he said, looking at the princess in sympathetic amusement.
Allura rolled her eyes and stuck out her lower lip. "I don't like being worshiped," she admitted. "It's too weird. It makes me feel like I'm supposed to be perfect. I'm not."
"No one's perfect," Shiro said gently. "I don't think anyone can be."
He smiled at the princess who returned his smile with the faintest hint of color in her cheeks. That was a surprise. Shiro fought back his own mounting blush to stare back out at the moonless landscape of Arus. The stars and lights from the Castle were bright enough to illuminate the area close to the Castle but beyond that, it was too dark for his human eyes to see clearly. Keith would probably be able to see in the dark better than any of them.
"Something doesn't feel right," he muttered. It was too dark. Maybe it was his instincts from his captivity kicking in or maybe it was his dislike of dark places, but something just didn't seem right. He had a feeling this was going to be a long night. "I'm going to go check the perimeter," he said. "Let me know if you need anything, your highness," he said.
Then with a formal bow, he turned and made his way outside. He was surprised to see Pidge standing by the main doors, tipping what was probably his third platter of snacks into his backpack. He smiled.
"You know too many sweet will give you cavities," he teased.
Pidge froze and looked down guiltily. "Yeah," he said.
Shiro's smiled faded. "Hey Pidge, are you alright?" he asked.
The green paladin hugged his backpack close, a flush coloring his cheeks. "Don't tell Allura, but…"
Shiro studied his friend closely and understood. "You're leaving," he said grimly.
Pidge grimaced. "I have to," he said, lifting his eye to stare at the black paladin directly. "My father and brother are still out there. They could be held captive somewhere, or slaves, or who knows what else. I can't just stay here and do nothing knowing that! I…" Tears brimmed Pidge's eyes. "I just… I just can't. I'm sorry."
Shiro crouched down in front of the green paladin and placed his hand on Pidge's shoulder. "I understand," he said sadly. "Believe me, I do. I wish you would stay but I won't stop you from leaving." He squeezed Pidge's shoulder in a comforting manner. "I won't tell Allura unless she asks." He stood and pulled his hand back. "Good luck Katie," he said and stepped out into the cool night air of Arus to begin his perimeter check, missing the startled gasp from the green paladin.
He was, in a word, furious. He prided himself on having a good control of his temper. He couldn't remember the last time he blew up in anger, although it probably had to do with Lance in the kitchen. But what he felt now was more than just anger. It was indignation, disgust, disapproval, and shame for the young prince.
Lance was held against the wall, imprisoned by Keith's body, and shaking. The prince's head was tilted back in a show of submission and the red paladin's mouth was clamped down on the Mark. His eyes were closed in what could have been pleasure, had the fear and sadness not been so plainly visibly on his face.
I made Coran's blood boil.
To make matters worse, Keith hadn't let go of Lance even after Coran had arrived.
"Remember when I said to wait until Lance was gone before biting," Coran said, noticing the way Keith's ears twitched, "ignore that order. Bite him now."
Coran stood back and watched as Allura's mice hurried across the floor to the couple. The fat green mouse sunk its teeth into the red paladin's ankle eliciting a sharp yelp. The other, smaller mice climbed up Keith's leg underneath his fabric of his pants and proceeded to bit his leg.
Caught off guard by the intrusion of ticklish fluffiness and stinging needles in his legs leapt away from Lance and flailed about, trying to stop the pain. He smacked his pants and wriggled his legs, and shook his feet in his numerous attempts to escape the pain.
Lance, however, made no move to run. He didn't do anything after Keith released him except sink limply to the floor and hang his head to stare at the floor. Coran ignored the red paladin's plight in favor of carefully pulling Lance to his feet and looping a supporting arm around the prince's waist. Together, Coran guided his prince away from the still flailing halfbreed to the main foyer. He wasn't surprised to see Allura running towards them trying very hard not to look as horrified as she probably felt.
When the princess placed her hands on either side of her brother's face, she brushed her thumbs over the blue scales at the corner of Lance's eyes. Instantly, Lance blinked back to himself and stood up straight.
"Fine," he said quickly. "Fine, I'm fine. It's nothing." His hand moved up to cover his Mark before he caught himself and held his arm stiffly by his side.
Allura looked directly into her brother's eyes and pressed her thumbs against the blue scales once more and Lance twitched, calmly reaching up and removing his sister's hands. "I'm fine," he said again.
"You're a horrible liar," Allura said. "Coran," she said without taking her eyes off of her brother, "make sure Keith stays here. If he asks for Lance, tell him we're busy."
"Understood," Coran said, executing a slight bow.
The princess turned her hands in Lance's grip and tugged him. "Come with me," she said softly. "There's something I should have shown you when I first saw it, but I didn't." She spoke as they walked. "I think we both need this right now."
"What is it?" Lance asked, regaining some of his usual personality.
Allura flashed him a smirk and Lance suddenly wasn't sure about this. "I'm scared," he said flatly.
"Don't be," his sister said playfully. "You'll love this."
"Now I'm really scared," Lance said.
Allura just laughed and pulled him along. It took a moment for him to recognize their destination. "The holodeck?" he said in confusion. "Why are we here? What about the party?"
"It'll be fine without us for a tock or so," Allura said. "Coran is a great host. You know that."
"Um, about Keith-"
"Don't mention his name right now," Allura snapped. "I'm still mad at him for that display back there."
Lance blushed, gulping nervously. "I… He… I may have…led him on."
"That doesn't change anything," Allura said. "I will not accept him as a legitimate suitor for you until he properly courts you."
Lance laughed breathlessly and squeezed his sister's hand. "You realize I'll hold the same level of respectability from your potential life partner."
The princess blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said quickly.
Lance gave her a look from the corner of his eye then actually looked at her, surprise causing his mouth to drop open. He snickered. "You don't know," he said.
"I don't know what?" Allura demanded. "What do you mean?" Lance just snickered and rolled his shoulder, preening smugly. "Lance!" the princess said. Again, Lance ignored her in favor of laughing. "Fine," she huffed. "Keep your secrets from me." She smirked. "But I bet you can't keep them from Father."
Lance stilled and glared at her. "That's not funny," he said coldly.
Allura's smile just softened but it was someone else who spoke.
"No, it's not."
Lance froze, his blood rushing from his face and leaving his hands and legs cold and tingly. It couldn't be. He swallowed.
"But it is true, is it not?"
The prince turned around slowly and felt his heart pound painfully in his chest. There, standing on the pedestal in the middle of the holodeck, was King Alfor just as Lance remembered him.
"This isn't funny," Lance said, shaking his head in denial. "Allura stop. This isn't funny. Stop this."
"Lance. Lance!" Allura cried, grabbing her brother's shoulders and holding him in place. "It's not a trick. It's real. His mind was stored in a memory core."
Lance was staring at her like a lost child, too scared to believe what he was seeing and hearing. He began shaking his head and attempting to retreat when Allura cupped his face, brushing her thumbs over his scales, sending what calm she could to her brother through the contact.
Lance was hyperventilating. "I finally accepted it," he whispered. "I finally accepted his death. Why wo- Why would you do this to me?"
"Lance," the king said gently, sadness in his old eyes.
"You abandoned us," Lance said in a small voice, squeezing his eyes shut and bowing his head. "You told me to put Allura in the cryopod. I only did that because I thought it was temporary. I wouldn't have done it if I'd known you were planning on leaving us behind."
The holographic memory of King Alfor gazed at his son sadly.
Lance shook his head, refusing to wipe away the tears from his eyes. "Then you threw me in there and I…" He broke away from his sister's gentle grasp and faced his father with all the hurt fury of an abandoned child. "You left us! You left us! Why did you do that? You…" He clenched his fist. "You had no right to do that to us. You didn't even ask us. You didn't give us a choice! Why? Why?!"
The memory of Alfor stood before his two surviving children and could not find the right words to say. "Would you believe me if I said I just…" The once great king of Altea broke off under the weight of his child's pain. "I already lost most of children," he said. "I couldn't bear the thought of losing you too."
"Then why didn't you just come with us?" Lance begged, moving towards his father's image. "Why didn't you join us after you hid the Lions and landed the Castle here? You could have. You could have!"
"Yes, I could have," Alfor said. "But I would have been dead when you woke."
Lance stilled, pressing his lips together as he stood face-to-face with his Father. "What do you mean?" he demanded.
"I didn't want you to know," the once great king said wearily.
"I want to know," Lance said. "I need to know."
"We both need to know," Allura said, joining her brother. "We deserve to know."
Alfor gazed at his children, proud and heartbroken. "The massacre of your siblings," he began, "my…my children." His voice broke. "I did not escape unscathed.