Chapter 12

At about 8 o'clock, Lance received another message from Keith.

Can't make it tonight. Work issues.

Lance almost chuckled at Keith's vague way of saying he had hero shit come up. Which actually worked perfectly for him.

No worries, kitten. We'll catch up later ;)

Don't call me that

This time Lance did laugh.

No need to be embarrassed kitten.

He imagined the blush on his hero's cheeks as he warned, Lance

Message received Keithy

You're impossible 😒

Lance almost dropped his phone.

That's just another way to say I'm fabulous

But to the more important point. Did you just use emojis? 😳🙌🙌

No

I literally am staring at the proof that says otherwise

Goodbye Kance

He sighed heavily as he typed out, fiiiiiiinnnnnneeee ttyl

Lance had his own job to prepare for after all.

This was stupid.

Perhaps one of the stupidest things Lance had done in his whole villain career.

Not that he really had a choice. Lotor refused to sell the painting otherwise. And Lance really didn't want to go through the hassle of finding a buyer on his own. That could take months. A one night job was a more cost effective way to spend his time.

Even if it did leave him feeling a little anxious.

Lance checked the time on the dash of his dark blue villain mobile — well after midnight. The vehicle was one of the sharpest cars he owned and had been heavily modified by Hunk and Pidge. Most of the time it was street legal. But right now? Not even a little bit.

The body had shifted into a more dangerous shape. The rises on the side obviously hiding hidden artillery.

So. Lance maay have seen one too many Batman movies. His hidden cave and car were a testament to that.

But his nerdy friends were right there along with him and were excited about the prospects of tinkering without someone looking over their shoulder.

More Pidge than Hunk.

Hunk very much liked to stay within the clear lines of the law. While Pidge went off her own moral compass. The things that she thought were fine were a little different than what society set as a standard. Probably why she never gave Lance as much of a hard time about his profession.

But both were still friends with him even after finding out what he was doing. So they each weren't quite as innocent as the world thought they were.

"Alright, Bebe," Lance spoke out loud, "run the plan by me again."

"Of course, Blue," the computerized woman responded.

The AI for his car was one of Pidge's more recent installments. She got sick of all the mechanic work that Hunk had been able to do and needed to add her own touch.

Bebe was born of both her and her elder brother, Matt's, genius brains.

Lance wasn't convinced that Pidge had gotten permission before she copied the program over to his car.

But he wasn't about to complain.

"Mr. Nheim's instructions are as follows: infiltrate his father's underground base. It's an abandoned mill fifteen miles out of the city."

"How are there even any abandoned mills around anymore." Lance made a face.

"Mills were popular in the fifteen hundreds. Since then, people have occasionally repurposed them." Bebe answered him even though it wasn't a question. "This particular building falls under that category. Though it was foreclosed on fifteen years ago and never lived in again."

"Huh." Lance nodded, impressed by the car's ability to get background info. "Thanks, Bebe, that's pretty helpful, actually."

"Happy to help, Mr. Blue."

"Got any ideas on the best way to infiltrate the joint?"

"One moment." The car fell silent for a minute before, "according to the most recent blueprints, there is a cellar on the westside of the building. It would be a good place to start."

"Awesome! Thanks!" He patted the dash affectionately. "I think we're going to get along great, Bebe."

"Let me know if there is anything else I can do to assist you."

Lance turned his lights down and flipped a switch to camouflage his car. "Not unless you can somehow scan the building for heat signals or something." He mumbled as he pulled up to a seemingly empty building.

Was this really the place? Seemed deserted.

"Scanning."

"Huh?" Lance's attention snapped to the large touch screen interface built into the console.

His screen showed a loading sign for a few seconds before what had to be the layout of the building in front of him appeared. It showed a two story building with three levels underground including the basement. There were three red blobs on each lower level. One on the top floor.

"It appears there are a total of ten heat signatures within the building."

"Well. That should make it easier to avoid them now that I know the number I'm working with." He patted the dash once more. "You're seriously the best, Bebe."

"Thank you Mr. Blue. Stay safe."

He paused. "Are you… actually a real person?"

"No. The Queen programmed all my base reactions. I then learn the more I interact with you."

He furrowed his brow. "The Queen?" Relations hit him. "Pidge literally programmed you to call her The Queen?"

"The Queen knows all."

He snorted. "Helluva a lot more than I do, that's for sure."

He left the car, shutting the door softly behind him.

It didn't take him long to find the cellar on the backside of the building. He cautiously peeked in the nearest window.

Three guards playing a game of cards. Not far behind them was a door. That had to be the one that led to lower levels.

He carefully pulled out his keys and hit the car alarm.

The men jumped up. All three bolted for the cellar door.

Lance hid around the corner. As soon as they were hauling down the street to find the source of the noise, Lance turned it off and snuck into the open door.

He made quick surveillance of the room. Nothing seemed particularly out of place so he went straight to the door and made his way down to the next level.

The second floor was vastly different than the one above it.

Where the other level had looked like a creepy basement cellar - this one was far from it. It looked like an expensive lab that the government would have its hands on. Not some mob boss.

Not that Lance claimed to know where the government stuck its hands.

Not the kind of business Lance liked to be involved in. He had his own code of ethics after all.

There were cages all along the wall furthest away from him. A few housed different kinds of animals. Cats, maybe a few dogs. It was hard to tell from his current position. One person wearing a lab coat stood in front of it.

The other two both examine something on a table nearby.

Lance contemplated taking the time to investigate.

What he needed could be on this floor. But more often than not, the best things were always hidden deeper.

He shrugged and figured he'd just work his way back up from the bottom.

Thankfully the stairs were right across from him so he didn't have to worry about the possible scientist. He just quietly made his way to the next door.

The third lower level was just as high tech as the second.

He wasted no time in loading his gone with a knockout agent. One that should put them to sleep for a few hours. More than enough time for him to get in and out with what he needed.

He shot the guards before they even noticed he was there.

They each slumped to the floor. Not even knocking over any equipment as they went. Not that Lance was bragging about how good of a shot he was or anything.

"Now," he commented to himself as he studied the room, "if I was a super secret drug, where would I be?"

His eyes roamed over the containers across the room. There was… a lot of vials in there.

Probably would have been a good idea to get some more description of the drug he was looking for. Not exactly a comforting thought.

A bunch of tubes were on display next to a microscope the doctors had been looking through.

Lance eyed it curiously.

Could it really be as simple as that?

Sure as shit, he leaned over and it read - Quintessence.

Well. That was a weird name. Sounded like something Lotor would come up with.

He really hadn't been sure how he was going to decipher the exact drug that he needed. So he was taking a wild guess here. Lesson learned, next time he'd have to ask for a little more clarification.

But that made him curious about all the other 50 million viles that were in the room.

Were these all the same drug? Different strings of it? Or new ones altogether?

He trailed a finger over one of the doors, catching movement out of the corner of his eye. Ducking quickly into a corner, he cautiously peered out.

Red Midnight stepped into the room and Lance's breath stopped.

What the hell was he doing here?

Keith's brow furrowed as he noticed the bodies on the ground. Lance hadn't moved them from where they fell. So it probably looked pretty strange.

Lance couldn't help it as, "Uh, what the fuck." slipped out of his mouth.

Keith's attention snapped to him. "Blue?" He seemed extremely confused.

"What are you doing here?" They both said at the same time.

Lance felt a little bit of tension leave his shoulders. He could do this. He could pretend that he and Keith weren't fucking. "I'da dressed a little more to impress if I knew I'd be seeing you tonight, Red." He purred as he stepped out of his terrible hiding place.

Okay. Maybe he couldn't.

Keith watched him quizzically. Probably trying to figure out who exactly he was talking to. The criminal Blue or his possibly new… okay they still hadn't exactly clarified that yet.

"When do you ever show up for a job in anything less than your best, Blue?"Keith challenged.

And oh if Lance didn't like that. Keith complimenting him as Red? Oh yes. Please, more of that.

"I always try to look a little extra special for you, Red." He leaned back against the counter. He lifted himself up onto the surface behind him, mindful of all the equipment.

And the specific item he needed off to his left.

Keith quirked a brow. "Is that so?"

"Always."

"And what, exactly," Keith took a step forward, "would knowing I'd be coming change?" Another step. "More eyeliner?"

Lance snorted. Quickly clearing the amusement from his features he said, "no. Mascara of course." He fluttered his eyelashes.

"As if you need it."

And damn if, Keith as Red wasn't smooth as fuck. Who knew?

"Careful, Red," he spread his legs purposefully. He took great joy in the way Keith's yellow eyes dropped to his lower half. "Might start giving a guy ideas."

Keith struggled to pull his eyes up. "You're a bit far from the city tonight, aren't you?"

"Thought I'd go stargazing." He shrugged.

"In a basement?" Keith challenged, "alone?"

"Figured I could find a date along the way." He pointedly looked Keith up and down. "What about you, Red? Didn't think hero's were allowed this far from home."

"I'm looking for something."

Lance couldn't stop his eyes from flickering to the vial.

Keith of course saw it. He narrowed his eyes. "Don't you dare."

His gaze snapped back and forth between the vial and Keith, gauging if he could snatch it before Keith grabbed him.

Keith grabbed him while he thought of it.

Though… grab probably wasn't the right word.

His hero had indeed grabbed Lance's biceps to keep him in place on the counter. But he had also stepped right up into Lance's open legs. His galra form was wider than his human, forcing Lance's legs open even more.

And fuck if the position wasn't doing something to him.

He inhaled sharply as Keith pressed even further into his space. "I'm going to ask again, and I want an actual answer this time, Blue." He leaned in, breath fanning across Lance's face as he quietly asked, "what are you doing here?"

"I'm on a job."

A straight answer. Just, probably not what Keith meant.

His hunch proved right as he watched his hero frown. Keith's left hand trailed from his bicep to the middle of his shoulders. The hand trailed down his spine as he tilted his head.

And, that mother fucker.

He knew what a sucker Lance was for those fucking ears.

The aforementioned appendages twitched cutely as Keith blinked innocently. "Wanna be a little more specific, Blue?"

"Don't think I do, Red." Lance breathed as his hands came up to rest on Keith's chest. An attempt to ground himself that quickly backfired.

Fuck, Keith was ripped.

"Please tell me we aren't here for the same thing."

"Don't think I can do that either." Lance chuckled. His heart hammered from their proximity. And probably the adrenaline. The familiar dance they were about to be thrown into mixed with their new dynamic.

"Am I going to have to handcuff you?" Keith lifted a challenging brow.

"Oh," Lance barely kept from outright moaning. "Please do."

Keith seemed to flush at that. His purple cheeks lit up in magenta. Fucking adorable.

"But I need to finish this job first." Lance smirked as he hiked his legs up and placed them on Keith's chest.

He pushed back as hard as he could. Keith stumbled back enough for Lance to launch at the vial. He knew exactly which one he needed. He purposefully grabbed five of them. To be extra cautious.

Keith was on him a moment later.

Lance squeaked at the feel of his hero pushing him back against the counter.

"Give it here."

"No can do, Red, dear." Lance huffed. He wiggled, trying to get into the position he needed.

"Stop that."

"What?"

"Wiggling like that?"

He quirked a pleased brow. "Why? Turning you on?"

He didn't give Keith a chance to answer before he was using the distracted window to twirl out of his hero's hold.

Keith growled and reached for him.

Lance knocked his hand away, twisting to tap his hero in between the shoulder blades. Keith stumbled a few steps. His hero spun around and glared at him.

"What's the matter, Red?" Lance purred seductively. "You're a little sloppy tonight."

Keith tackled him to the ground.

The pair exchanging elbows to the ribs.

Knees to the thighs.

And all other kinds of blows that wouldn't cause any real damage, but could still give the advantage. Lance managed to slip two vials into his pocket as they sparred.

Though rolled around on the floor may have been a more accurate statement.

They'd never stayed this physical before.

Their fights never went this long before. But fuck if it wasn't hot.

Keith's large hands pressing his hips into the ground.

Only for Lance to wrap his legs around Keith's waist and throw his weight to the side so he now sat on top of Keith.

A low growl left his hero's lips.

Lance shivered as he leaned over him, hands on either side of his head, caging him in. "Fuck, Red."

"Want to…?" Keith mumbled barely loud enough for him to hear. If Lance wasn't mere inches from his lips, he would have missed it completely.

Lance openly groaned. He didn't have the same restrictions in public as Keith did. The whole city already knew how smitten he was. But still — he tried to stay in line for Keith.

"Fuck, yes." Lance breathed back, hips settling more fully on Keith's hips.

A sharp intake of breath from his hero. Like he was taking the air right from Lance's lungs into his own. Like he needed it. Lived off it.

Barely. Lance was barely staying in line.

But goddamnit if it was anyone other then Keith, Lance wouldn't have tried nearly as hard to stay sane. To be good for the sake of Keith's reputation. Because Lance had long stopped caring about his. Past the 'player' persona he had long engraved into that suit - he had zero fucks to give about how the public saw him.

Yet another perk of being the villain. He didn't need to be any certain way.

Keith's hands landed on his hips. Thumb circling distractedly.

And Lance had to fight the temptation to give into his desires.

If he tied Keith up right here and had his way - well, the public would obviously blame him. The only problem was how Keith would come out of this whole deal.

And the teeny fact that his closest friends and his mother knew his alias.

And surprise surprise, thinking of his mother was the mood killer he needed to clear his head.

Lance sprung off Keith, ignoring the frown of disappointment. He quickly upholstered his gun - the not fun one - and shot Keith with a weak stunning agent. Normally it wouldn't be enough to do more than hold Keith for a few seconds - but he assumed his hero would get the message.

He took note of Keith's right hand clenched in a fist.

So he'd gotten a hold of one, huh?

Lance said nothing of it as he leaned down, placing one hand on his hero's chest. The other on his throat. Purely for show. There was a chance this whole thing was being recorded and Lance hadn't thought he'd be running into anyone so he hadn't taken the time to scramble the signal.

A poor decision, it turned out.

But maybe Keith had had the foresight he didn't.

"You better come to my house as soon as you're able." He whispered against Keith's ear. "I'll be ready when you get there."

He felt Keith's throat bob under his hand.

He pulled back and blinked innocently at him. "Understood, Red?"

"You're going to regret this, Blue."

He shuddered as that gravel tone tore right through him. "Oh. I hope so."

Lance licked his lips purposefully, basking in the way those yellow eyes followed the motion.

And then he slapped him with a stunning agent.

Keith gasped and Lance couldn't resist rolling his hips one last time before springing off his hero.

Such a pretty picture he painted, unmoving on the ground. But Lance knew from last time that his formula wouldn't last very long. So he made his exit, throwing a two finger salute over his shoulder.

"Later, Red."

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!