The room shared a small gasp and then fell quiet.

Before everyone had walked in, Lance had been furious. He had given it his all to be polite to this spoiled brat of a Prince, but it could only go so far. He looked down at him, treating Lance like some fragile gem to be won over a capable pilot and soldier.

He insulted Lance's scar, saying that his people could remove such an 'ugly blemish' with their technology and restore his face to perfection.

Lance could take all of that. What he couldn't stand for was when Keith was brought into the conversation. The Prince belittled him, mocked his very origin, and even dared to call him a worthless Galra!

He had never snapped at someone so fast. Pissed off and officially done, he turned to try and leave. Right when his feet started moving the door had opened. He felt relief for .5 seconds at the sight of Keith before the Prince roughly tugged him back.

And then….

Several things slowly passed through Lance's minds, moving like a movie scene in slow motion.

First, the realization of lips, cold and bitter, forced to his own.

Second, the way his heart tightened and shriveled, leaving him feeling nothing but a bitter cold.

The third was how he screamed when the prince flashed in his own eyes like some allusion, morphing into the boy from Galaxy Garrison. That night where everything went wrong and nothing was ever going to be the same. The night that still kept him up crying, haunting him both awake and in his dreams.

It was this thought that finally snapped him out of his gaze to fight back, tugging at the Prince's arms. He pressed closer, pushing the boundaries, trapping Lance with his arms. He screamed again and again, muffled by the Prince's disgusting mouth.

He threw his hand wildly. His palm grazed the Prince's ear and ripped off a heavy looped earing. The Prince hissed in response, turning his head in pain. He whipped back around to bark at Lance, but his gaze caught something else.

He barely had time to looked shocked before another fist was cracking his nose in half. Blood followed shortly.

Lance wasn't quite sure what had even happened and took one step back, his spine pressing against a warm chest.

Arms, protective and steady, were moving to still Lance's quivering frame. He didn't need to look to recognize him, the stress slipping from his shoulders.

"Lance," Keith tugged him closer, angry but gentle in the way he stroked Lance's hair and pressed his face into the crook of his neck. "You're okay. I got you."

Lance trembled in his arms for a moment, covering his mouth with his hand as his stomach churned. Bile burned the back of his throat. His eyes were wide and distant, gasping into Keith's shoulder for air. When he finally gulped down enough oxygen, he nodded shakily after a short time.

"Hey, you." he laughs wetly.

"Hello, love." he pressed his lips to Lance's forehead in a comforting gesture. Either for him or Lance, perhaps both of them. Lance focused on the touch, then the word. Had that been it? Keith had taken a long time to think it over, so was that his choice in a cute pet name?

It was absolutely wonderful.

"Let me take care of this." Keith requested quietly. With a brush of his fingers across Lance's face, waiting till he nodded, Keith spoke in a voice so quiet and steady that it made the words strangely more intimidating,

"If you ever kiss him again, I will break your jaw," he promised, his voice still gentle and deadly. "You so much as look at him like the way you were before, and I'll rip your eyes out."

"Keith!" Shiro runs forward. "Sto-"

"What if he wants me to?" the prince drawled, arrogant and untroubled. Even despite the ugly spill of blood from his nose, he couldn't seem to just give this up.

Lance made a gagging sound, voice raw with disgust. "Never."

The Prince grinned, sick and twisted like this was a game. Like it was only a matter of time before Lance would think the opposite.

"Prince Rol, this is highly inappropriate behavior," Allura says. Lance felt almost odd for her to suddenly be on his side, but he knew Allura wasn't cruel. Despite her attitude the last few weeks, he knew she meant well- he just couldn't possibly see things from her side. "Lance is a Paladin of Voltron, and his duty is to stopping Zarkon. Nor has he the time for someone to force himself on to him."

The Prince sneered, "Are you insinuating I went against his wishes? The way he was, he was practically begging for it."

Keith's hand tightened around Lance, bristling. "Shut your mouth…"

"I was simply claiming what had yet to be taken." The Prince continued.

"Like hell, I would even want to be by a creep like you!" Lance was done with the niceties.

With the attitude of a man who always got what he wanted through time, he casually moves back to his throne, "You say that now, but I can provide you with anything you require. Riches, pleasure, I can provide it all- unlike your primitive Galra soldier," he motioned to Keith with disdain.

His eyes were steady, following to his voice, "I don't have a penny to my name, that's right, but it doesn't take a genius to realize that isn't what Lance wants." Keith smiles, "He doesn't care about money or fame, he just wants someone who loves him. Someone who can be there for him, and stand as an equal. Not attempt to bribe him with possessions or force themselves onto him."

As he spoke, Lance lifted his gaze, his eyes wide and adoring.

"He is mine." Keith's low voice was suddenly dark, not as composed as before.

While the room turned to Keith in shock, the Prince raised a curious eyebrow. "Is he now?"

"Yes, he is. So you better make sure I never see you even a foot away from him, or I'll cut off your head and put on a stick for everyone to see."

The Prince was scoffing, "You think a lie like that will keep me from pursuing him?"

"It's not a lie," Lance declares, his voice star struck. His attention was on Keith, mesmerized by him, "I'm his. I'm Keith's, and he is mine."

"Lance," Allura turns to him, eyebrow twitching with an ounce of annoyance that he was bringing this up now.

He ignored her, he ignored everyone. All that mattered was this wonderful man before him. As Keith cupped his face, Lance felt like he would melt.

"Can I?" Keith inquired softly. His eyes were wide, warm, and framed by thick raven hair. To Lance, staring into those eyes always made him feel extraordinary―sort of like his bones were turning spongy.

He was a little lightheaded, but that could have been because he'd forgotten to keep breathing. Again.

With a swelling in his heart, he chuckles, "Like you have to ask now,"

The kiss that followed blended in with their little smiles and Lance swore that his knees were going to give out on him. He loved him. He loved him so much.

When they pulled away, everyone in the room held a different emotion. From disappointment, to angry, to a little joy, it didn't matter to them. What mattered was how they felt.

"Know your place, dumb Prince," Keith smirked at the Prince, happy to hold Lance and show the entire galaxy that he was his. Only his.

"You bring shame to other prince's! Harri would have kicked your ass!" Lance yells. Keith snorts, a bubble of laughter following at his sweet Equivalent and how easilly he could change the mood of the room.

With nothing else to be said, and clearly not getting the treaty, Allura pinched her nose. "We're done here. Thank you for your... hospitality," she gritted her teeth then turned to leave, happy to be done with such a horrible place.

Of course, leaving wasn't much better. The entire walk back to the castle was awkward, to say the least.

"Hey," Keith's hand bumped into Lance's as they walked. A whisper followed, "Are you okay?"

Lance looks at him, trying to quell the obvious panic in his eyes, "I'm okay."

"Did he-" the red paladin chooses his words carefully, "You didn't think of Garrison, did you?"

Lance purposively avoid his gaze, "A little, but it's okay. Thanks for having my back."

"Always."

Keith lifts his hand, uncaring to who stared at them, how disapproving Allura's gaze would be later, and touched his thumb to Lance's lips. Like something precious, he moved his thumb gently along the surface; pressing away the Prince's presence.

Something inside of Lance shifted and came to rest as if it had found its proper place. Similar to a puzzle, he thought. That satisfying joining of two pieces, pieces that were made for each other, aligning as one.

With a sweet inhale, Lance puckered his lips to kiss those calloused fingers. "Thank you."

Sharing a breath, they stepped away, but not by far.

Trailing behind the two, Hunk could hardly breathe.

His eyes were watery, and it was hard to walk. He hadn't thought that…

How long had it been since he had found Lance crying in the closet of their dorm room back at Garrison, traumatized and broken?

Hunk had been the one to listen to Lance cry in the bathroom in the nights that followed, insisting he was fine when he was questioned about it. Just bad nightmares, he would tell him.

But Hunk knew. He was Lance's best friend, of course, he knew.

Something horrible had happened at that party they had attended. That night Lance had disappeared, stumbling back into their room the next morning, eyes bloodshot and heavy. He didn't speak a word the whole day, and then suddenly broke into tears, hiding himself in the closet.

When the Prince had forced a kiss, he could see the event practically playing out in Lance's mind.

He had been two seconds away from pulling out his Bayard and whisking his friend to safety, but then Keith stepped up.

The thing that surprised Hunk the most was Keith's eyes. Sure, he punched a Prince, but he felt it was only a matter of time before their hot-headed red paladin would pull something like that. But the way he held Lance... The tender care and love of the gesture, and the way he asked permission before kissing him after- it made Hunk curious.

Did he know about what happened at Garrison? Or the better question was, did Lance tell him? Did he trust Keith enough to confide in him when he struggled to even slightly mention or hint at it to Hunk?

He knew the answer before even asking the question.

It was then that he realized that these affections weren't something made up from months of being alone. They were real.

And honestly, while the thought was puzzling to Hunk before, only because he never saw it coming, he was happy. He was so glad that Lance found someone. Even just being able to look at Keith with such burning love in his eyes...

It made him spiteful to himself for even agreeing to something as stupid as keeping them apart. He had to talk to Allura later- convince her to change her mind.

He had to.

"Coran." Shiro says as they entered the bridge of the ship, "Plot a course to meet up with the rebels. We're done here."

"You read my mind." he started typing the second he got close to the control panel. The room fell into this dull silence, the tapping of Coran's screen echoing.

The tension seemed almost impossible to cut through, yet they all knew someone had to eventually.

Allura seemed to take that responsibility and spoke, "It is a shame, but it is for the better we move on. We do not need an alliance with people such as the Yalview. What they did was vulgar…" no apologies, no explanation- just a simple, that is that.

"Is that all you have to say?" Keith's voice was barely above a hiss. When Allura turned, she was met with a dark glare, rage threatening to boil out from how much he was shaking. It showed in the way he slammed his hand down against his chair, nearly cracking the metal.

The room flinched.

"What exactly do you deem as Vulgar, Allura?" he demanded. "Was it that they tried to force Lance into something he didn't want to do? Was it how they wasted our time? Which part?"

Allura looked pale, swallowing thickly, "Obviously the part with Lance. It was horrible how they tried to force him into some unwanted relationship-"

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Pidge inquired, his voice steely. Her voice cut through each one of them like a sharp dagger. "It was pretty obvious that the Prince was interested in Lance. It's why you offered Lance in the first place."

Allura lifted her nose a little, a small scowl tugging at her lips, "Well- so what if I did? It would be good for Lance to seek the affections of others considering the paladin rule-"

"You forced him." Keith concluded, "He said no, right to your face, and you still made him. The Yalview and you aren't that different, Allura."

Taken aback, Allura leaned against her controls, "How dare you put me on the same level as those people!"

"Why shouldn't we? You haven't been acting any different from them!" Keith yells back.

"Team." Shiro lifted a hand, "Let's calm down. Bickering isn't going to get us anywhere."

"Will you stop defending her!?" Keith whipped around to snap at him. "What she did was wrong! And Lance paid the price because of it! That Prince put his hands on him! Dared to even kiss him!"

"Keith has a point," Hunk says softly, voicing his opinion for the first time in what felt like years to them all. Lately, he merely stood in the background during these team confrontations.

"Now you are going to his side?" Allura barked at him.

He pursed his lips, "I'm just saying that it wasn't cool to send Lance off with the guy, okay? He gave off some major creepo vibes. We all knew he did. Forcing Lance to spend time with him just because you wanted to separate him from Keith wasn't going to solve anything. You owe Lance an apology."

"I will do no such thing." the princess folded her arms. "I have nothing to apologize for."

Keith looked ballistic, "Are you serious?!"

"If anything, you two should be the ones apologizing. I sent Lance with the Yalview Prince, yes, but he is a Paladin of Voltron. Something so small shouldn't be an issue for him."

Not an issue. The words repeated over and over in Keith's mind. Perhaps under other circumstances, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Lance could brush it off- but that was the thing, to Lance, it was a big deal. It was a huge deal.

And even if Allura didn't know the things Lance had been through in the past- how dare she just step on his feelings like that!

"You take that back right now!" he demanded.

She refused, "What the Yalview Prince did wasn't right, but that still does not allow the both of you to break the paladin code as you did. And in front of all those people."

Keith could fathom it. She was talking about the kiss. Out of everything that had happened, she thought the worst of it had been his kiss with Lance?!

"YOU ARE DEAD!"

Keith was already moving forward; fist held high. Barely able to duck out of the way, Allura yelled when Keith's fist grazed passed her cheek. She fell to the floor, gritting her teeth when his knuckles slammed into her control pad, cracking the glass.

"Keith!' The room began to yell, rushing forward to pull him back. If that wasn't enough, Allura seemed willing to meet him head on, lifting her own fists to smackdown.

"Allura! Keith!" Coran pleaded with them.

"Stop!" Just as the battle was about to carry out, the blue paladin's voice shattered the noise. He stood, his hands shaking and eyes wide. "Just stop it!" Why couldn't they just get along like they used to? When had things gotten so complicated?

"But she-" Keith argues.

Lance shook his head, not wanting to hear it. "I don't care! Just knock it off!" They were in the middle of a war for Pete's sake. This day had been bad enough.

He was just so tired.

"Please stop…" Leaning back in his chair he turned, fleeing from the room when he felt tears build in his eyes. He would never let the team see him so lost and hurt.

To think, a few months ago all he wanted to do was leave Iespion and return to the team, but now he regretted them ever reuniting. It wasn't perfect, but at least there he had people who supported him. People who loved him, and who loved Keith, and just wanted them to be happy.

"Lance!" Keith was calling for him long after he disappeared into the elevator.

-000-

Two hours ago, when Lance had run out of the room, it had left the team feeling cold and empty. No one knew what to say and just went their separate ways. Lance had gone to the pool to cool off, so the team left him alone.

Walking down the halls with her hands in her pockets, mind lost in thought, Pidge sighs. This day had been horrible, and if that wasn't enough, Allura didn't make it that much better when they left Yalview.

She yelled at Keith and Lance. Can you believe that? She was the one who insisted that Lance spend time with that jerk, yet she blamed Keith for being the one to give that Prince the punch he deserved!

Yeah sure, they kissed, whatever. None of that would have happened in the first place if it wasn't for Allura!

Frustrated, she ran a hand through her hair. Everything just seemed so pointless and overly complicated lately. She just wished things could go back to normal, or better yet, everyone just leaves Lance and Keith the hell alone.

Speaking of those two, she lifted her head when she turned the corner.

Keith was there, lingering in front of Lance's door, frozen in place. He looked exhausted, worn out from the last two days, unable to catch a break. He had this look of longing- like he wanted to go inside and see Lance, but the threat of someone finding them, of Allura catching him, seemed to make him hesitate.

Sighing, he turned, freezing when he saw her. Wide eyes and pale, he stepped back.

"I was just-"

She moved past him without a word, "You were just about to go take a nap, right?" she inquired. "I'll tell the others that,"

Following her form with his eyes, he blinked rapidly," H-Huh?"

"A 30-minute nap is probably best. No one would disturb you from it…" over her shoulder, she smiles, "What does it matter to me if that nap so happens to be in Lance's room?"

It took only a few seconds for him to understand what she meant.

His smile was broad and smoldering, taking up his entire face, "Pidge," he hugged her, "Thank you!"

He had never hugged like this before.

"Yeah…" she gripped his shirt tightly, "I- sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" stepping back, he is surprised to see her eyes waver.

"I wasn't a good friend. I didn't know how to think of this so I just- I pushed it aside. I listened to Shiro and tried to think intellectually about this when… when love is something that could never be explained by science. I'm sorry, Keith."

With an expression she had never seen from him before, he lifted a hand to her head, ruffling her hair, "Thanks. It's okay. I know it was kind of hard for me just to ask you to accept something so quickly too. So I'm sorry." With a little smile, he steps back, "You sure about this though? You might get in trouble with Allura,"

"That is only if you get caught, so keep it to 30 minutes," she smirks, jabbing his chest. "Now get going."

"Will do."

-000-

When Lance opened his door, he was surprised to find Keith seated on his bed, waiting for him. He almost tripped, gasping at the sight.

"Keith?" he lowered his voice and quickly closed his door, locking it. "What are you doing here?" he approached him quickly, shocked that he managed to sneak past everyone and right into his room.

Keith pushes off the bed, standing strong and gorgeous in front of Lance. His eyes glide up until they meet his, and suddenly, Lance can't stop smiling. Neither can Keith. So, there they were, smiling at each other.

"Hi." Keith says. He couldn't believe he was actually there. He was afraid it might be a dream so he reached out to test it, gently touching the side of Lance's face. When Lance leans into it, he prays that if it is a dream, he doesn't wake up.

Lance was shining, "What are you doing here you reckless paladin~?" he turns to kiss Keith's palm, "You're gonna get us in trouble."

I was worried. I wanted to check to make sure you were okay."

Lance hummed, "I'm okay. I was pretty freaked out at the time, but I'm okay now." he smiles when Keith lifts his chin to confirm that he is telling the truth. Without saying anything, Keith brought him closer.

"I've got you."

Lance's throat goes dry, "...I know," he lifts his arms to wrap them around Keith's neck. They back up, falling back onto the bed to snuggle.

Murmuring soothing noises, shushing him, Keith settled himself between Lance's thighs and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

"I miss you."

Lance swallowed, "I miss you too."

"No Lance, I- It..." he can't seem to find the words suddenly, "I miss talking to you, going places with you. I miss touching you and seeing you smile. I miss just … sitting next to you. I've never missed anyone or anything that much."

Lance stops him by putting a finger to his lips, "Stop talking so much. You're gonna make me cry." he attempts to joke, but the quiver in his voice points out that he is serious.

"Sorry," Keith tells him. "Are you okay? About what happened I mean- with that Prince?"

Lance nods meekly, "Yeah."

"It's okay if you aren't okay, Lance." Keith whispers

"I'm alright," Lance says quietly, trying to convince himself.

"You're lying,"

Lance tightens his grip on Keith's hands, inhaling sharply. "I…" he chokes off, "I told Allura I wasn't comfortable with it…"

"I know." Keith swallows tickly.

"He just kept trying to touch me. Getting closer and closer, Keith." Lance voice got smaller, on the verge of falling apart, "I hated it."

"Hey, shh, I got you…. Lance, look at me," he says, sounding shaken. Lance reached his hand up to cover his eyes, sobbing into it. He hates that he is ruining this- their one moment in what felt like so long to be together. It sucks. It sucks, and his heart was hurting in his chest the more the clock strikes down their time together.

"Please don't cry." Keith pleaded. He felt desperate, wanting those droplets of water to evaporate with the swirling pain in Lance's heart, "I'm here now. Whatever you need, I'll do it," he assures him.

It took a long time for Lance to answer and when he finally did his voice crackled in his throat, "Stay with me tonight. I-I know we might get in trouble tomorrow but I-"

"I'll stay," Keith smiles. Cradling Lance's head in his hands, he peppers his face with loving kisses, brushing his cheeks with his thumbs. They curl up under the blankets, pressed as close as possible and just talking.

They talked for almost an hour. Nothing really serious, just small talk.

"I'm really been working on my long range aiming," Lance tells him, brading a handful of Keith's hair.

"I should probably work on any part of my aiming," Keith says with a chuckle. "I'm terrible with a gun."

"I'm terrible with a sword."

Keith rolls his eyes, "I would say we should teach each other, but Allura would just say no."

"If we convince Shiro with it though he could vouch for us. I mean, it is for our sake as paladins." Lance smiles at his work with Keith's hair.

"Yeah, but I would get distracted. Wouldn't take it seriously." Keith admits with a sigh. He smirks when Lance gives a questioning look, "You look so good when you get serious." the blush that crossed the blue paladin's cheek was worth the hit that followed.

"You are asking for it, Mullet." Lance snorted.

"I am." Keith agreed. Rolling over a tad, their lips locked together.

After a few seconds, Lance gasped for air, "Can we…?" he trails off, his cheeks growing hot under Keith's touch. They hadn't been together like this for so long, but they both knew how much they wanted the other.

"I would love to," Keith nips at Lance's lips, "But it'll hurt if we don't prepare right? I don't have anything,"

Lance clears his throat a little, reaching his arm over over the side of his bed. Opening the small panel at the bottom, he rummages around in it for a second. Moving blankets and other things, he reveals a secret jar.

He takes it out and places it in Keith's hands. He recognizes it instantly as the very embarrassing gift Tellru had given Lance to celebrate their equivalency. It oddly enough made Keith miss their Coeihn friends.

"Well, there is our lube," he concludes. Lance chuckles, his eyes dried from his tears but puffy.

"I'm waiting, Kogane."

Keith's eyes took on a mischievous glint. They heated. Darkened. And something else. He wasn't looking so relaxed now. In fact, he was looking the opposite of relaxed. He looked…feral.

And Lance was his prey.

Without so much of a word, Lance found his back pressed to the bed behind him. Keith threw his leg over his waist to loom over him. It was suddenly hard to keep their breathing calm, their noses almost touching.

It overwhelming, the others smell alone

"You are sly, love." Keith muttered, moving in.

For a single night, they managed to forget it all. Allura, the paladin code, the war.

A blissful few hours and they were all that mattered in the entire universe.

When Keith fell asleep, Lance propped himself up on an elbow to stare at him. He brushed back his hair, humming a gentle tune.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine~ You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you… please don't take, my sunshine away," Keith's soft breathing brushed his face. Lance couldn't take his eyes off him, his voice barely a whisper.

"The other night dear, while I lay sleeping…I dreamt I held you in my arms. When I woke dear… I was mistaken. So I held my head…" Lance paused for a long time, eventually croaking out, "And cried," Rolling onto his side, he hugged Keith tight, tears stinging his eyes.

He regretted this choice more than anything. He thought he was doing the right thing when he agreed to Shiro's stupid deal. But it hurt.

He had been the one to convince Keith of this, after all, so he had no one to blame but himself.

There was a fear,

Perhaps it was just because Shiro and Allura have been so insistent on this, but Lance had been having nightmares. He dreamed that Keith would lose interest in him after these last few weeks of being apart, and it terrified him.

Having him here with him comforted him, but that fear might not ever go away.

If nothing else, this wasn't to just prove to the team that their feelings were real, it was to prove to themselves. Lance loved Keith, and he prayed and hoped Keith still felt the same too.

A few more weeks, he told himself. Then it is over.

A meet up with the resistance doesn't go exactly according to plan.

With the threat of Prince Lotor still in the air the team fails to notice a certain Red paladin's health beginning to worsen.