The entire way to meet up with Allura, Coran, and Hunk, Pidge had noticed Keith had been quiet.
When she looked over to check on the red Paladin, she noticed he was staring at his watch. She wondered when Keith had ever gotten a watch? Not recalling him wearing it before, Pidge just chalked it up as something else that was different about him.
Not to say it was terrible he was different, it was just something she needed to adjust to. He seemed… gentle, since the last they had met.
His eyes didn't hold as much rage as she recalled. While he usually seemed to fold his arms and quietly mop in the corner, he appeared to be more engaging with everyone.
Not minding and actually welcoming the more expressive red paladin, Pidge busied herself by keeping her eyes on Keith, noting how many times he lifted the watch a bit to look at the underside of it- which was something he did often. There must have been something written at the bottom of the clock, but she didn't know what.
With the way he would smile like he had his own little secret, she figured it had something to do with Lance. It always had something to do with him.
She decided not to say anything and leave it be.
It was kind of sweet.
When they arrived at Yalview, it didn't take long to meet up with the others. Allura seemed to be losing her mind. The Yalview's were expecting a lot out of a treaty between the two of them.
Hunk seemed similar with the Princess and was on his last leg. He was trying his best, but the Yalview appeared to be a very stuck up kind of people, and even his home made desserts didn't melt their hearts.
"I don't know how much longer this will take," Allura admitted to them, exhausted and rubbing her eyes. "Perhaps even a few days?"
"A few days?" Shiro shook his head, "We are supposed to meet up with the rest of the resistance in two days time, and I would have preferred to be there early."
"I know, as would I." Allura nods, voice apologetic. "I will do my best to ensure we keep with our schedule."
"Yeah Shiro, we're doing our best, but these Yalview guys are not making it easy." Hunk lifted a hand. Shiro nodded, understanding.
"Maybe they will be more willing with all of us here." he offers. "We can even offer to show them Voltron."
"That could help." Allura agreed. "For the time being they have asked us to-" Allura yawned, "Beg your pardon." She turned away to cover her mouth.
"Maybe you should get some sleep?" Coran offered softly.
"I am fine." Allura gave him a small smile. "This is what my job was, after all. I will secure a treaty with the Yalview, and then we shall continue to the resistance."
"Is their alliance that important?" Pidge raised an eyebrow.
Allura hesitated, "No, I suppose not. However, we cannot turn down any chance to strengthen our forces." With that said she turned to pull out a few sheets of paper to show Shiro, explaining how much had already been said and what he could add in to win the Yalview's favor.
Pidge let them do as they needed, never one for the politics of their job. Keith and Lance didn't seem to be too into the conversation either considering they hadn't- oop wait, they're gone.
Not to any surprise to her, Pidge discovered that while Allura was explaining to Shiro the problem with the Yalview, Lance and Keith had run off. They had been so quiet about it that no one had taken any notice.
Pidge found herself ditching out, all the same, not wanting to stick around for Allura's long lecture on Yalview history.
She went looking for Keith and Lance instead.
Despite how much they tried to abide by everyone's request, Pidge found them, hidden deep within the castle, below one of the staircases. They hadn't noticed her when she walked by, but she could see them.
Pulled close and nuzzling into each other, they were staring up at the starry expanse above, absorbing every blissful second they could before going their separate ways again.
It was… surreal.
Pidge couldn't help but stare, mesmerized by the pure tenderness that swam in their eyes. They were talking, murmuring quietly to each other about nothing and everything.
Keith would look at Lance like he's the best thing to ever happen to him. Like he is so full of love he didn't know what to do with it. So he would reach up to Lance's face and brush his thumbs against his scar so it had somewhere to go.
"What?" Lance inquired at his attention.
"It's slowly fading."
"The scar?"
Keith nods, "Yeah."
"They tend to do that with time. Probably won't leave for a long time though so I won't be scar-faced forever,"
"You have a handsome face, scar and all," Keith murmured, scooting forward to place his lips on them.
It makes the breath catch in Pidge's throat at the way Keith can so openly adore something so searing to Lance's once immaculate face. And Lance just smiles, welcoming Keith's affection towards it, like the scar made him even more beautiful than before.
"What are you thinking about?" Keith inquired his thumbs sweeping the delicate skin under his eyes.
"You," Lance tells him intimately.
"What about me?"
"That I miss you,"
Keith inhales, gulps, and replies with a weak voice, "I miss you so much,"
Pidge stumbled back, and fell into the hall in shock. She had felt… moved, by what she had just witnessed. Romance movies, books- none of them had ever left her feeling anything, but something about those two merely sitting there, talking to each other- it made her feel more that she had ever felt before.
She was torn between the notion of what the team had decided and wanting nothing more than these two to be together forever and bless the galaxy with the spark of passion that burned in their eyes.
What in the world were they doing to these two?
With a massive inhale, she tiptoed away to let them enjoy this single moment. She didn't know where else to go so leaned against the wall and thought about what she could do to make it up to them, genuinely wanting them to forgive her for what she had done.
"Hey, Pidge," Lance called down the hall, a good pace ahead of Keith as if that would hide the fact that they weren't together just now. "You okay? You look troubled."
She pushed up her glasses, "Just thinking. You know I'm not a people's person, so getting these Yalview guys to like us sounds like a hassle."
"I'm with you there." Keith stepped forward, glancing out the window at their castle.
"Guess we'll have to figure it out together." Pidge offered a small smile. He looked her over, his dark eyes taking in the softness of her gaze. He smiles back, nodding.
"Yeah." he seems a little surprised, but welcomed her attempts, "I got your back, Pidge."
"And I got yours," she swore, catching the two off guard for her sentimental statement. Before they can even ask what brought that on she is turning. "Come on; we should probably get back."
To no one's surprise, Allura seemed to realize they had been alone together before they returned and was already scolding them when they came back into the flight deck.
Pidge attempted to say something to lessen the blow, "They were just helping me with a project." she insisted. Lance and Keith look at her in shock.
"I seriously doubt that." Allura scoffs at Pidge. "You left after them! Meaning they had a few minutes where they were alone!"
"Oh no." Pidge fakes a gasp, "They were alone? How scandalous for two teammates to simply leave the room together after long missions and probably wanted to rest. Bad Keith. Bad Lance." she playfully batted their shoulders. "No rest for you two. You must work yourselves to exhaustion. Give me 20 pushups as punishment. Go Go Go!"
Lance and Keith glance at each other, then back at their small techno wiz. Lance is slowly grinning, moving down to his knees. "Well, if you say so-"
"Lance, Lance, you don't have to-" Shiro holds out his hand to stop him.
"I'm sorry I wanted to go sit down, it'll never happen again." Keith was falling to his knees, flattening his palms to the ground to move into a pushup position.
"That's right! Rest is for the weak!" Pidge cackled as they started to do pushups.
"Pidge!" Allura scolded, "Paladins please- you don't need to- no pushups!" she says, not realizing they were all joking. "You can rest. Rest is important!"
"Ah yes, it is indeed." Coran lifts a finger, trying not to snicker. "But Pidge is right! You two both left, and we had no idea what you were doing. So even if you two passed out in the lounge area to get some shut-eye, you know the Princess' rule! Shame on you paladins! Shame!"
"Coran, no!" Allura shakes her hands. "I-I didn't mean it like that!"
Lance couldn't contain it anymore and rolled onto his side, laughing. Allura's face darkened, her cheeks flushing.
"Are you all mocking me?" she turned wildly when even Hunk laughed. "You are! Aren't you?
"And what is so wrong with that?" Lance snorts.
"This is a serious matter!"
"You freaking out we left or that we are laughing at you?" Keith inquired.
"BOTH! You shouldn't have been together!"
"We were alone together for a few minutes, and it isn't that big of a deal. Are you saying you can't be alone with one of us? Or Shiro? Or Hunk?" Lance rolls his eyes.
"It is different with you two!"
"Yeah cause we actually care about each other," Keith grumbles. It shocks everyone, even Lance. When Allura turns to him, Keith's expression remains calm.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" she hissed.
"It's exactly what it sounded like. Lance and I care for each other, and none of you care for us." he pauses, "Except for Coran."
"Pidge is cool too," Lance adds in quickly.
Keith nods, "Yeah, Pidge is cool." he points to her, "You're cool."
She smiles, pointing back. "You're cool too."
"Keith." Shiro cuts in, "That isn't true." he looks hurt Keith would even assume that.
"Well, you aren't exactly showing me otherwise, Shiro." Keith barked at him.
"I can't believe you two would act like this," Allura scolds them. "Running off, ignoring your duties as paladins. I cannot understand why you two would go against your duties so that you-"
"Why?" Keith speaks up, forcing the room to give him their attention, "Is it that odd to believe we would find your rule stupid?"
"Oooohhh~" Lance snickered, covering his mouth.
Her face flushed in a fury, narrowing her eyes dangerously.
"You have no right to speak to me that way!" she snapped. "I am your Princess!"
"The Princess of what!? You are no princess with how you act! More like a stuck up spoiled brat!" Keith fired back. Allura's face twisted in rage.
"How dare you!"
"What are you gonna do!? Banish us? Take away the lions? Good luck forming Voltron without us! Face it Allura, you have no power over anything! You aren't even technically a Princess anymore. You can't change the fact that no Altea means no royalty!" the room suddenly silenced at that last statement, Allura immediately looking hurt. Keith, on the other hand, was trembling in anger.
As bitter as it was, Pidge couldn't help but find a sense of truth in those words. No Altea meant no Kingdom… no royalty. Allura was no longer a Princess. Just one of the last Alteans alive. It was a somber thought.
"Uh… Keith. Come on, that was a little uncalled for." Lance said softly, reaching for him, wanting to coax him to apologize. Keith brushed him away and stomped off towards the training deck, grumbling words under his breath.
The silence was crushing before Coran cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Well." That had gone from joyous to a lousy time real fast.
Allura turned and stepped around him, moving to the other side of the room. Watching her, he sighs. "The Yalview are waiting for us…. T-This will be a mission of tact," Coran said with a strained smile. "Diplomatic and what not, you know." he said. Allura covered her hurt look professionally, taking a deep breath.
"We'll need to look our best," Allura says, deciding to let Keith join them later and carry on, "I wish we could avoid the dresses and fancy attire and get right now to business, but we'll have to play their little game. Your clothes should be in the changing rooms. Dismissed." She said, turning without a word and going to the main panel. Shiro walked up to her as the others vanished into the common room.
"I'm gonna go get Keith," Lance said as he waved, leaving Pidge and Hunk to look at the clothes.
"Good luck." Hunk called. Lance nodded. He found Keith in the training room, but he wasn't training. He was curled up in a ball leaning against the wall.
Lance approached slowly, his voice cautious, "Sweetheart?"
Keith's shoulders tensed, "I didn't mean to say that." He insists, " I w-was just so mad…"
"Shh… It's ok." Lance says, understanding. He sat down next to Keith, who instantly leaned against his shoulders. He ran his fingers through Keith's hair. "I got you…" Keith nuzzled close to him as if he was trying to hide in his jacket. For a moment, Lance thought Keith was crying, because it sounded like he was.
When he looked down, he found Keith's eyes were dry. He didn't often cry, Lance realized. Yet he could get close.
He could collapse from heartache and sorrow, but tears were very rare.
As Keith's breaths started to even out, Lance tilted his chin up to look at him. "Hey, sweetheart. Are you ok now?" He asked.
"No," Keith said, voice raw and bitter.
"Why not?" Lance brushed away a strand of hair with his thumb.
"Everything!" He moaned pathetically, dropping his forehead to Lance's shoulder. "Everything's not ok, and it sucks..." Lance rocked him back and forth, unsure of what to say.
"You know," He said after a while. "We have to go to this super fancy meeting and dress really nice. I haven't looked at them yet, but I can't wait to see you in it." He smiled. Keith looked up at him, pursing his lips.
"You know I hate dressing up."
"I love it."
"I know." Keith rolled his eyes, a smile following.
"So let's get going so I can see you all fancy- Oh! Wait a sec!" Lance stopped Keith from getting up and fished a tissue out of his pocket. "You got a little snot… there." his finger moved around Keith's face.
"That's my forehead, not my nose."
"Oh is that what that is?" Lance smirked as Keith giggled, swiping the tissue from him.
"You're so weird." He said as he blew his nose.
"You love me."
"I do, yes." Keith smiled up at him, cheeks a little flushed. Lance cupped his face and drew him close, kissing him softly. Keith responded immediately, wrapping his arms around his neck, tangling a hand in his hair.
Tongues wrestled, and hands wandered, a gasp leaving Keith as Lance's hand traveled down his back and under his shirt.
"I love you so much, sweetheart." Lance rasped by Keith's ear, voice low and sending goosebumps across the red paladin's skin.
" I… love you too…" Keith said breathlessly, his grip on Lance's hair tightening as soft kisses were pressed to his neck.
"We should get going," Lance said, starting to pull away.
"W-wait." Keith hugged Lance close, "One more."
Lance was drawn in by those eyes, tugged into another kiss. He sighed sweetly, tracing the bumps of Keith's spine. They could have stayed like that forever, but were drawn back to reality soon enough.
"We better get going," he says again, stressing it this time.
Keith averted his gaze with a slouch of his shoulders, "I guess."
"Hey, look at me." Keith did. "We'll be fine." His confidence in that sentence seemed to be enough to give Keith a little.
"Yeah." He agreed. They stood and walked hand in hand to the standard room, Lance immediately going to the clothes that were laid out on the couch.
No one said a word upon Keith's return, so he went to get dressed.
"Is this what we are wearing?" Lance lifted one of the outfits they had been brought to wear at dinner. His eyes sparkled. "Oooh~ I can do this~" he grins.
"Glad you can." Pidge grumbled, lifting her own outfit, "Ugh…. Are we even meeting the people we need to tonight?"
"We'll be meeting the King and Queen, along with their son the Prince." Coran nods.
"Meeting a prince, huh? I have both good and bad experiences with that," Lance admits.
Keith laughs.
-000-
Pidge had decided to get dressed away from the boys and join Allura in her room to get dressed. As she buttoned up the dress, she looked at Allura. The Princess seemed to be lost in thoughts, and Pidge figured it must have been from what Keith had said.
Pidge knew that if this stupid Paladin code could be put to rest than everything would start to go back to normal.
Strategically speaking the best person to go to was Allura. She was the most prominent instigator of this, and as Keith and Lance's friends, Pidge felt like it was her duty to try and get the Princess to cut them some slack.
They were doing what she asked, despite not wanting to, so she could give them a break and not yell at them for every little thing they did. It wasn't helping any of them regrow their bond anyway.
She took a deep breath and steeled herself before speaking, "Hey Allura, can we talk?"
Looking over her shoulder, smiling like nothing was wrong, despite witnessing her shriek at Lance and Keith an hour before, she motioned for Pidge to continue.
"What is on your mind?" Allura inquired, always enjoying chatting with Pidge, especially since she was the only other girl upon this ship.
"I was just- a lot of stuff has been going on lately."
Allura's eyes downcast and she nods, "Yes," she agrees. "But, I am here to talk about whatever you wish to."
Pidge perks up, happy to hear that, "It's about Lance and Keith,"
The princess's eyes narrowed, turning and glaring at the floor, "What about them?" she asked.
Pidge swallowed thickly.
"I was just thinking- they've really been trying to put their relationship on hold," Pidge starts, "I just noticed that you- no, I noticed that we seem to be putting a lot of pressure on them. We expect them to instantly bounce back into the way things used to be, and instantly reconnect with all of us- and I think we need to give them time,"
A mix of emotions flitted past her eyes, but Allura eventually purses her lips, nodding, "Yes," she agrees, "I suppose we have been a little pushy lately,"
"Exactly my thought. So I was thinking, maybe we could all- I dunno, tone it down a little? They have been trying hard,"
"I know they have," Allura says softly, "However… There is still an issue with them."
"Their relationship," Pidge guesses
"Yes, that," Allura grumbles.
"Why is that a part of the paladin code anyway?" Pidge inquired.
Allura doesn't answer her, and seems to avoid it instead, "Because it is,"
"Well I mean- does it still have to be? We aren't your average paladins so, does every rule really have to apply to us? Is this just because they are… guys?" Pidge questions her.
Allura scoffs, "Of course not. It is not gender that is an issue, and it will never be. As Paladins of Voltron your soul focus should be stopping Zarkon."
Pidge lowered her gaze, nodding numbly, "I keep hearing that…" Seeing the stubborn look on the Princess' face, Pidge realized she wasn't going to get her to change her mind any time soon. She hoped at least she convinced Allura enough to at least let Keith and Lance have a few hours of peace and took her leave, excusing herself to go back to the others.
When she arrived, Allura following after her, everyone seemed almost ready to join the Yalview royalty for dinner.
"You all look wonderful!" Coran clapped.
"I feel kind of stupid." Hunk mumbled.
"It is just for tonight team." Shiro tugged at the collar of his shirt, finding it tight. "We can put up with this for a few hours."
"We look ridiculous." Keith stared down at himself, not exactly one for something so flashy or tight. The others shared similar disapproval for their get-ups, except for Lance. Of course Lance would be fine with these.
He strolled in with a swing to his hips and a smirk pulling at his mouth, "Fellow Paladins," he greeted them, giving a slight bow. His gaze falls over Keith, eyeing him up and down like he was staring at priceless art, "Keith~" he says sensually, enough to have Keith quivering in his boots and the blood rushing to his face.
"Lance," Allura warns him.
"I simply said his name." Lance smirks a little, "We all look great!"
"If you say so." Pidge rolls her eyes.
"Come along everyone. We shouldn't keep the Yalview waiting. Don't want some other reason for them to dislike us and use it against us not to sign the treaty." Lifting her dress a little she started a quick pace down the halls. The others follow, feeling stiff and itchy in their clothes.
"This night is going to be horrible." Hunk concludes.
"Let's try to stay optimistic." Shiro gave a weak smile, almost tripping over his own pants.
Keith struggled behind them, finding it difficult to walk in his own shows. Unlike Lance, who looked like he belonged in the outfit. He was flipping his hair and lifting his nose high. He looked great, and he knew it.
Keith knew it.
He shouldn't have chosen to walk behind Lance. This was a fatal error on his part.
Lance had to be doing it on purpose- there was no other way his hips would be swinging with such purpose with each step he took. He never normally walked like that, but it was suddenly as though Lance pictured himself on some sort of cat walk and was strutting down it, showing his outfit off well with the curve of his own beautiful frame.
What's more, his belt covered pants hugged his ass perfectly. As he stepped forward, they loosened just enough, then formed snuggle back to place as his other foot swung forward. Hug, loosen, hug, loosen, hug- Forcing himself to tear his gaze for the enticing sight, Keith hoped to merely look at the back of Lance's head.
That plan didn't follow as he hoped when he realized Lance was glancing at him over his shoulder, smiling sly. As Keith assumed before, all of this was on purpose. Lance knew how it would affect him and was just waiting for Keith to fall for the bait. It was unfair…
No doubt Lance agreed to this outfit specifically for their butt-hugging abilities. He probably practiced that hug-promoting movement before even stepping back out to greet them, assuring his victory before Keith even realize there was a threat.
Yup, Keith was falling for him all over again.
With a dreamy sigh, he followed Lance, lured in by the smell of soap and vanilla.
He hardly even noticed entering the Yalview kingdom and being approached by the King and Queen. Lance had that strong of an effect on him.
"Welcome, Paladins of Voltron." The King extended out his hand. "We welcome you to our home and hope you enjoy your stay with us."
The Queen bowed her head, "We are happy to have you all join us for dinner."
"The honor is ours." Allura smiles back. "We still have so much to discuss."
"Yes of course, but who can discuss anything over an empty stomach." the King patted his round belly, motioning for them to follow them through the royal halls. Pillars line the pathway, each one encrusted in glittering gold and silver. The King alone wore dazzling jewels across his body and crown, his nose held high.
Keith wasn't much for chatting with people like these royals but was willing to give them a chance at least. Lance never judged anyone by the first appearance, so he wanted to follow suit.
At least he tried to. It was tough to keep an open mind when the Yalview Prince strolled in. An elegant cape followed behind him, his smile charming yet his eyes off-putting. Keith decided he instantly did not like him.
"Paladins!" he says a little too loud, surprising them all. Like he thought he should be the constant focus of everyone's attention, he sauntered around the room. He spoke to them all one by one, starting with Allura. "Princess, nice to see you again." he took her hand and kissed it. She gave a weak smile.
"Prince Rol." she says with fake enthusiasm. She obviously had already grown a heavy dislike towards him, and Keith wasn't shocked as to why. The way he spoke just held this odd tone. He knew he had power over them right now and this treaty revolved around him agreeing to it. He had what they wanted and he was going to sap them of everything they had before he would be willing to give it.
As Prince Rol made his way to Keith, he paused, eyes narrowing a bit. Disdain dusted his features. "What a bizarre smell." he stuck his nose up to it.
Keith didn't move. He wasn't sure what the Prince was referring to.
"You are Galra," the prince notes. Could he figure that out through smell?
Keith frowns, straightens his spine and nods, "Half Galra. Is that a problem?" he practically challenges.
"No. I simply never imagined a Galra piloting one of Voltron's lions."
"He's one of our best pilots." all attention turns to Lance when he speaks up. "You'll never see another pilot as fast or quick thinking as he is, your highness." he smiles, warming Keith's heart with his praise. Keith struggles to contain the bubbly feeling he felt.
Then, the Prince was moving. He was stepping towards Lance with a small intrigued look in his eyes. He took Lance's hand and lifted it. He suddenly kissed it as he had with Allura, something he didn't do with anyone else.
Everyone gawked at the sight.
A bubble of laughter, awkward and unsure, came from Lance's mouth as he took his hand away. "Uh- Hi there."
Keith couldn't describe it. The feeling the coiled in his stomach. It was dark, making every fiber in his being burn with a loathing. How dare the Prince do that. He was only grateful Lance had been wearing gloves so that the Prince's putrid lips didn't touch his perfect skin.
"Shall we head to Dinner?" Shiro seemed to be sensing the growing tension and like a knife, cut through it to save the Prince's very life. Which Keith was very close to ending.
Painfully. With little mercy.
The Royals turn to their leader and nod their head. Prince Rol took a little longer than he should have, smiled at Lance, then followed his parents. The dinner was awkward to say the least. The food was bizarre, and despite Allura's pointed look, it was a struggle to scarf it down.
They left the political talk to Allura. She seemed to talk well to the parents, yet the Prince hardly batted an eye. Since he was next in line to the throne, the King and Queen were leaving the treaty up to him, letting him decide on the matter for his future rule.
This made Allura's job ten times more difficult as the Prince was too caught up in talking about himself to even listen to what was happening with Zarkon out in the Galaxy.
The paladins were little help. She had some hope that perhaps the Prince might just listen to Lance though, as he seemed to have taken an interest in him.
"Lance, perhaps you could tell the Prince about your encounters with the Galra." She offered. He glanced up at her, shrugging.
"Sure…?"
Prince turned to Lance, smiling in a way meant to be charming, "Or even tell me a little bit more about yourself, Blue Paladin. Perhaps even your name~?" he cooes sweetly.
Lance hardly glances up from his strange alien salad, "Lance," he states robotically.
"Lance." Rol cooes.
Keith's fork grinds against his plate then snaps into two. The reaction was startling enough to quiet the room.
"My bad. Broke my fork." Keith grumbles stiffly, his eyes dark.
If looks could kill, the Prince would have keeled over already from the way Keith's dark eyes bore into his skull, threatening to rip off his head with his bare teeth.
So dinner went great.
Allura would have liked to say.
By the end of it she was exhausted, no closer to that treaty. She was starting to think it just wasn't worth it at this point, but thought she would at least give it one more hour. When the King and Queen offered a tour she nodded.
"That would be great."
"I'd love to check out your tech." Pidge lifted a hand.
"I'd like to have a word with your chefs." Hunk smacked his lips together, the bitter taste of dinner still making him shiver. It would simply not due to have food as bad as that being served to the general population.
"Perhaps one of your paladins could accompany me?" the Princes offers. "I can show them around the castle's garden."
"Of course," Allura agrees, thinking nothing of it at first. It's only when his gaze flicks over to Lance that she pauses, "Oh…" She was uncertain, to be honest. This Prince obviously had other intentions than just friendship to their Blue paladin but- wait. Wait a minute, that's it!
She wanted Keith and Lance to separate, so what better way to do that then to get Lance interested in someone else?
The opportunity to get Lance to spread his wings to new people since one had already taken a fancy in him was too hard for Allura to miss. Lance just needed a push to realize his feelings for Keith were false. Spending time with a charming Prince might just do that.
"Lance can accompany you," she smiles.
"What?" his head shot up, startled. "Me?"
Keith is quick to say, his gaze shooting back and forth between the two rapidly, "I can accompany him. I'll do it."
Allura shakes her head, "Lance would be the best choice."
Not looking too happy with this idea, Lance slowly turns his head to the prince. The look in the Rol's eyes made him uncomfortable and he takes a few steps to Allura. "Um…" he whispers quietly, making sure only she could hear him, "I'm not too comfortable with this, Allura," he admits, "I don't really-"
"Lance," she cuts him off, 'You are a Paladin of Voltron. This task is to strengthen our allies to defeat Zarkon. Surely this is simple enough for evenyou to do,"
"Hey," Keith narrows his eyes at her, not liking her tone with that statement.
Feeling his blood run cold, Lance lowers his gaze to his feet, "I… okay," he agrees softly.
Keith rushed forward to stop this, ready to blow up in Allura's face.
Lance calms him with a hand to his shoulder, "Hey, I'm the people's person, remember? I can do this." the fake confidence was something Keith felt like Lance showed way too often. It hurt to see him put on a smile and walk towards the Prince.
"We shouldn't dawdle, Blue paladin," the Prince smiles. Lance glances back at the team, his gaze locking with Keith's for a second longer. Looking almost disgusted with the idea, he swallows the feeling down and walks after him.
"Princess, I don't think this is a good idea," Pidge says, already getting a good idea to what she was up to.
"Yeah, how could you just let them walk off like that?" Keith demanded. He stepped forward but Shiro's hand pressed against his chest and he was forced back.
"It is a tour, Keith. Why are you making such a big deal of this." she looks away, avoiding his eye contact. It was apparent this was more to her- a secret plan, and Keith sure as quiznack wanted to call her out on it.
"It'll be fine." she waves it off. "This is for the sake of the treaty."
"Is it?" Hunk inquired. His question lingered, but it held truth. They all knew Allura too well and knew when she was hiding something, or at least trying to. There was more to this, and they all had a feeling to what it was.
Allura didn't answer and just walked away to join the King and Queen. Everyone eventually followed, except for Keith who lingered by the doorway. He stared down the hall Lance had disappeared down, feeling worry pull at his gut.
He wanted to think it would be okay, but if he had learned anything, terrible things always happened to them when they were separated. Always.
So for the next hour, he agonized over the blue paladin, thinking of every horrible scenario that could occur. Death, sudden attack, the Prince getting too handsy- he wanted to punch something.
If that Prince so much as even touches Lance, this whole Kingdom was going to go down in flames!
"Hey." Pidge's soft voice catches him by surprise. She stands next to him, looking up with wide eyes. "I'm sure Lance is okay."
Surprised she came up to comfort him, he nods weakly. "He's tough."
"He is. Besides, they know who we are, so they wouldn't dare hurt him." Pidge smiles. Keith nods weakly.
"I… I'm not worried about them hurting him. It's more of-" how could he describe how he felt. How he always felt this way whenever someone so much as even looked at Lance. It felt so primal, if he had to put a name to it.
Every inch of him would scream when someone got to close. No words could describe the plummeting feeling. He felt like this isn't normal for most people. It was far beyond over protective.
Lance had told him it was called possessive, but even that felt like it fell short to how he felt. Well, whatever it was, it was both a blessing and the worse kind of torture imaginable. He just wanted Lance to be safe and to be somewhere he could constantly see.
He knew that was a lot to ask, especially as paladins, but he could still hope.
So he was left to fret. Folding his arms, pacing back and forth, and listening to this dull tour of the Yalview Kingdom from the King and Queen. When the hour struck, he was booking it.
"Okay, it's been an hour." Keith stepped in front of Allura, eyes narrowed. "If we don't leave soon we'll miss our meet up with the rest of the rebellion." It was a valid point, even if it was just an excuse to get Lance back with them and away from the creepo Prince.
"He is right, Allura." Shiro says softly. As much as it would be nice to have another ally, they couldn't risk the position of their other ones for people who wouldn't give them a straight answer.
She sighs, nodding her head. They would have to try again a different time. "Let's gather the others and go."
Keith quietly pounded his fist, ready to get the hell out of there. He rushed ahead of the others in search of Lance. He turned that place up and down, demanding each guard to tell him where the Prince had gone. Some didn't know, some gave him a straight answer, and some avoided the question.
Either way, he eventually tracked them back to the throne room, which connects to the main hall. The Guards stationed there suddenly moved their spears in front of his face, blocking the path.
"You cannot enter." They proclaim. Keith lifts his head slowly, challenging these men with his gaze.
"Why not?" he demands gruffly.
"The Prince has given strict orders to let no one disturb him." One says.
"Not disturb him..." Keith's hands were itching, rolling into tight fists, "Disturb him from what?"
They didn't answer him. Like they even needed to; Keith already heard enough to know he wasn't going to let it stand.
Overprotective Equivlanet mode; ACTIVATE!
With one solid kick, he snapped the two spears in half. The guards in question gawk at him, the motion knocking them back enough for him to step between them, bracing his hands to the two steel doors.
He threw them open before the stationed guards could even blink.
"Sir you can't-!" they were trying to stop him from going in, and it took only a moment to realize why.
For a moment, he had met Lance's eyes. He was turned towards the door, walking towards it to leave. He seemed flustered and angry, his teeth grinding together. His features softened when he saw Keith, quickly replaced with shock when he was tugged back a moment later.
It was as though the universe was putting everything in slow motion, torturing Keith with each second.
For whatever reason, Lance had tried to leave, and when he had, the Prince had grabbed him. He turned Lance's head, tugged them together with an arm around Lance's waist, and then...
Then, their lips crashed together in a brutal kiss.
Keith felt the blood drain from his face as his feet froze up. Pidge gasped behind him, eyes widening in shock.
"Hey, what's the hold up-" Hunk trailed off. "W-What?" his breath caught at the sight.
Tunnel vision hit Keith hard, eyes focusing on those grotesque lips pressed to his Equivalent's.
HIS equivalent's.
HIS Lance.
The wavering control Keith held cracked like glass.
Keith is a pretty easy going guy.
He only asks you leave him alone when he wants to be alone.
You never threaten his friends.
Don't mess with his Mamora blade.
And never, EVER, touch Lance.
Simple enough, right?
I think the Yalview Prince didn't get the memo.