Keith flipped his knife with a smirk and threw it at his target. Dead center. For the twentieth time in a row. He went to retrieve his knife when he overheard a whisper followed by a loud laugh. Keith turned with a casual spin of his knife and asked, "What?"

Brad covered his mouth, but his shoulders were still shaking. Chad got a hold of himself first, though he still had to clear his throat and his lips continued to twitch with laughter. He finally managed to say, "You don't need to try so hard to impress him. I'm sure Lance is already aware of how good you are with a knife." Keith raised an eyebrow and cocked a hip. Chad's jaw worked sideways and he scrunched his face trying to hide his smile. "Come on, Keith. Don't act so oblivious. We were starting to take bets about when you two would finally admit your feelings."

"Two people is hardly a betting pool."

Chad smirked. "Who said it was just us?"

"Wait," Keith said with a growing sense of dread. "Who all was involved?"

Brad answered through his laughter, "As though we'd out them." Keith felt his ears burn. Brad teased, "Don't be like that, kid. We're happy for you two. Now we don't have to watch such painful awkwardness and ridiculous sexual tension."

"It was almost as bad as when Adam and Takashi tried to hide their relationship from the rest of us."

"Chad," Brad hissed under his breath.

Keith winced and turned away. Throwing his knife without looking, he heard it sink into the wood. Chad apologized, "I didn't mean anything, Keith."

Keith nodded once and folded his arms. "I know. I... I try not to think about them... and everyone else."

"We've survived despite the odds stacked against us," Brad said encouragingly. "There's no reason to doubt they haven't as well."

"Hey!"

Keith looked up as Lance jogged toward him. Coleen stood in the shadow of the ship with crossed arms watching them. Smiling, she turned and went back inside. How close were the ships to being finished? Then Lance distracted him by bumping shoulders. "Wanna go to the lake, Keith?"

Keith opened his mouth to answer, but looked over where Ulaz and Thace were quietly working. Thace smirked and glanced at Ulaz with a raised eyebrow. "What do you think? Should we let the kits play?"

Ulaz grinned and gestured away with his chin. "Go on, children. Have fun." Keith and Lance shared a smile and started jogging. Ulaz called after them, "Be back in time for the evening meal!"

Keith called over his shoulder, "We will!"

They picked up speed, turning it into a race. When they finally hit the sand, they started shedding their clothes. Keith hopped as he struggled to kick free of his pants. Then Lance caught his foot in the fabric and flailed his arms wildly. A shouted scream ended almost immediately as he fell on his face.

Keith laughed in surprise and Lance glared spitting out a mouthful of sand. Keith looked ahead to the lake with Lance pushing to his feet a few steps behind him. The shimmering water was alluring. Something they knew and trusted. Something familiar from home.

"Oh my god! Blue!" Lance exclaimed breaking out in laughter.

Before Keith could ask, the sun was blocked by the underside of the blue lion. She leapt over them at a full run and jumped into the lake. A wave spread out in all directions. Keith barely had time to curse, "Oh shit!" before they were both knocked back onto the sand. As the water receded, Keith heard Lance start to giggle. He turned to look and saw Lance curled up on his side holding his stomach and shaking with laughter. God, he was so cute.

Keith sat up and brushed the sand off the back of his arms. He sensed Red's disgruntlement and looked over his shoulder where she sunbathed where the prairie met the beach. Blue emerged from the water with a feline smirk and waded toward them. Then she laid in the lake, her glistening metal steaming in the sun. Red twitched her tail in annoyance.

Lance sat up and asked, "What's got her so peeved?"

Keith stood and reached for Lance's hands. Pulling him to his feet, Keith answered, "She hates water." As if to prove his point, Red hissed and laid her ears back. Laughing, Keith said, "Come on. Last one to Blue has to do a belly flop!" Then he turned and took off toward the water again.

"Cheater!"

Keith barked a laugh, the water slowing him down as it came up to his waist. Taking a deep breath, he dove forward and started swimming. When he surfaced, Lance was doing the breast stroke beside him. They were neck and neck, but Lance quickly gained the lead with his longer legs and experience swimming in the ocean. Time for drastic measures.

Lance slapped a hand on Blue and used his other to push back his wet hair. Panting, he crowed, "I win, mullet! Get ready to-" His words stalled when he looked over his shoulder to a pristine blue lake without Keith. "Keith? Keith, if you're trying to get out of your end of the race... Keith, come on, man. Stop playing around."

He pushed off of Blue and scanned the water. "Seriously, Keith. Where did you-" He screamed as a hand wrapped around his ankle and yanked him underwater.

He clawed back to the surface and sputtered for air as Keith's laughter came from somewhere to his right. Lance pushed his hair back a second time and coughed. Lunging for Keith, he challenged, "Oh, you think you're a funny guy, huh?" Keith couldn't dodge before Lance put his hands on the top of his head and shoved him back underwater. He let go and back kicked. When Keith surfaced with a gasp, he flipped his hair back.

He swam toward Lance with a lazy breast stroke and a smug grin. "I bet that's the first and last time I'll get the jump on you, sharpshooter."

Lance sputtered and started back floating to hide a blush. "You look like the cat who got the creme, mullet."

He felt the water move around him as Keith came within a foot treading water. "Meow," Keith teased, reaching out to lightly dig his fingertips into Lance's side.

"Yeep," Lance exclaimed and curled up reflexively. Keith laughed and Lance wrapped his arms around him. Pinning Keith's arms to his sides, Lance kissed his nose. "You are impossible."

Keith kicked, pushing harder into Lance's chest, and kissed Lance's lips. Lance closed his eyes and kicked harder to keep them both afloat. Sighing, he smiled. Their third kiss. When he stopped to breathe, Keith's eyes were half lidded, that same smug look plastered on his face. Lance put a final soft kiss on Keith's jaw line and whispered, "Don't think this gets you out of that belly flop, Keith."

Then he swam around Keith back toward Blue, leaving him to flounder in shock before following. Blue curled her tail for them to grab onto. Lance boosted out of the water and used the gaps in the metal as a climbing wall. The lions were so weird. As hot as it was under the sun, touching them should have burned like a sun baked car, but Blue didn't hurt them at all. Even Red, with the power of fire at her disposal, was only as warm as a sunbathing cat. Living metal.

Lance flopped down on her back, Keith rolling up beside him a few seconds later. Lance's eyes were drawn to Keith's stomach. His muscles flexed and relaxed as he tried to catch his breath. Water droplets glistened, making Lance blush, and Keith's abs crunched up as he sat with one bent leg. "I never should have challenged you to a swimming competition. You'll always beat me in the water."

Lance sat up and hung his legs over Blue's side. Rubbing his neck, he countered, "I'd never win against you on land. Well," he smiled to himself, "except that one thing."

Keith scooted closer. "And what is that?"

Lance lifted his chin in a proud smirk. "First kiss was mine."

Keith quirked an eyebrow. "Um, yeah? Because I kissed you. Last night. On the floor of the crystal chamber."

Lance tsked and waved a finger. "Not true. I kissed you months ago."

Keith bit the corner of his lip and tilted his head in disbelief. "I think I'd remember if you kissed me."

"Wait." Lance's smirk fell and he held out a hand. "You don't remember? Seriously?"

Keith shrugged above crossed arms. "What exactly should I be remembering, loverboy?"

Lance scrunched up his face and huffed, "I mean, it was a crazy time, but I didn't think you'd forget!"

"Hey. Calm down," Keith said and reached out. "I'm sorry, okay. There's just... a lot of stuff I'm dealing with. So..." Keith looked up with that adorable way he had and asked, "When did you kiss me?"

Was Keith actually letting him win this one? Lance felt hot all over the longer they held eye contact. He folded his arms and looked away admitting, "I kissed you on the galra cruiser... when they took you away from me that first time."

There was silence from Keith. Lance tensed up and moved to stand. Idiot. Of course Keith would forget such a disappointing experience. Then there was a gasp behind him. Keith grabbed his arm and asked, "That? I thought it was an over zealous hug!"

Lance groaned and fell onto his back. "Well, I mean, it wasn't up to last night's standard, but yeah. I kissed you and I was afraid you were never coming back. But you did... and there was nothing. I thought you didn't feel the same... even though Pidge said you were different with..."

"Lance, it's okay. I'm sorry, alright." Keith sighed and ran his hands down his face. "I do like you. A lot. A lot more than I know how to say." He groaned in frustration. "Why is this so hard? All the physical stuff was easy compared to this!"

Lance looked over at Keith's tomato red face and asked, "So all that with the princess?"

"Huh? Allura?! Wh- Oh! Oh, god, you thought-" Keith frantically shook his head. "No. Absolutely not. She's just a friend. The hugs... and wanting to protect her... it's second nature. We had this connection." Keith frowned into his lap and wrung his hands. "Alteans are sensitive to the energy flowing through the universe and touch is their way of communicating with it. And I..." Keith ended his rant with a deep breath and he closed his eyes. Kneeling, he put his open hands on his thighs and took several more even full breaths.

Lance had seen Thace do that. Oh! Oh, this was it! Quickly sitting up, Lance put his fingertips on the back of Keith's hand and said, "You can tell me anything. I won't judge. You know I won't." When Keith opened his eyes, Lance saw a moment of doubt before it was smothered. His stomach clenched and he gently embraced Keith. It wasn't just alteans who communicated through touch.

Keith exhaled and let his full weight fall forward into Lance. After a moment, he began, "Ulaz says I should be more open... but Thace tells me to take my time. Lance... I'm scared you'll reject me if you know."

"I'm not going anywhere, mullet."

Keith sat back on his heels. Looking at his hands, he asked, "Why is it so easy to talk to you?"

Lance gave a weak half smile and reached for Keith's hand. He squeezed. Keith turned, hanging his feet beside Lance's, and let his head fall onto his shoulder. "My dad was... everything when I was young. We lived out on the edge of town. If we lived any further, dad would have been kicked from the fire station. And it was just us.

"When my mom left, dad took some time off, but I was still small. He went off the grid. He took me and we vanished with only a hurried letter to his boss. We lived out in the desert at his hunting cabin. Me, him, and our dalmatian, Yorak. It was great. He home schooled me, taught astrology. Every night, we'd sit on the roof and look at the stars. I thought it'd always be like that." Keith frowned into his lap. "Then I got sick. I barely remember those first few days. I went to bed with a headache and woke up quarantined in the children's hospital upstate.

"The doctors couldn't explain it. Fever off the charts. Body aches similar to advanced tetanus. Sensitivity to any light. The only one allowed near me without a full hazmat suit was my pop because he'd already been exposed. They were afraid an epidemic was close. When they sent samples to the CDC, my dad was absolutely furious. The doctors wanted security to remove him. Since he was technically at risk of spreading my unknown disease, they couldn't. But in the end, he didn't get sick and my symptoms began to improve on their own."

Lance recognized those symptoms. Hell, he'd experienced them at less than full strength when Ulaz had vaccinated the cadets. That explained why Keith hadn't been affected. Keith sniffed and wiped his nose before continuing, "The hospital had drained all of my pop's life's savings. We lost our house. One of my dad's friends let us stay with him. We'd surrendered Yorak to the care of the other fire fighters at the station. My dad went back to work. Then the fire happened." Keith closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. "It was bad. A gas leak led to an explosion. The building was compromised, but my dad was determined." He looked over with tear filled eyes. "I was trapped inside, Lance."

He wiped his eyes with the heel of his palm. "I remember the heat and smoke. It was too dark to find the exit. Then my dad wrapped me in a fire blanket and picked me up. Next thing I knew, I was in the ambulance with an oxygen mask on my face. My dad had given me his respirator, but the smoke... Fifty feet. Fifty feet and he..."

"Oh god." Lance covered his mouth as his blood ran cold. "Keith... I never knew."

Keith shook his head and looked at the horizon. "No one did. The orphanage acted like it never happened. They tiptoed around me like some wild animal. So I acted in kind. I was nothing but trouble. Ran away a couple times before they put me on their 'flight risk' list. I blamed my mom for leaving us, my dad for dying... and myself for surviving. I'd lost everything. I was alone and I wanted to die," he pulled his knees to his chest and hugged them, "until Shiro found me."

Lance could hardly breathe. Why hadn't anyone told them Keith had been through so much? He squeezed his eyes shut and put his forehead on Keith's shoulder. Hugging him, he asked, "Shiro was the one who brought you to the garrison, right?"

Keith sniffled, "He asked to speak to me after I sort of... stole his car. We had a couple conversations. He asked the orphanage to see my file. They thought he was asking to adopt me." He scoffed, "They actually told him I was a poor candidate for a first time parent. He was livid. I didn't even know he was at the home until he found me. All he said was that I was coming with him and he grabbed my hand. The orphanage staff tried to stop him and threatened to call the cops, but Shiro was beyond negotiating. Like, he couldn't form sentences longer than three words without yelling or cursing. The entire drive he kept muttering about how fucked up the foster system was. He made a couple phone calls and we never went less than thirty miles over the speed limit.

"We pulled into the garrison close to sunset and Shiro told me I was staying with him and his boyfriend for a while. I don't know what strings he pulled to get permission. I think he may have actually kidnapped me, legally speaking. Pretty sure the cops showed up at one point. The other teachers sided with Shiro, though. After threatening to report the foster center for misconduct, he went through with the adoption. Fifty letters of recommendation later, I was officially in Shiro's custody. When they got married, Adam added his name, too. They promised to take care of me." Keith looked to the sky with distant eyes. "I miss them."

"You guys were always so close. Why didn't you tell us?"

Keith winced. "It was bad enough that Shiro favored me without the social stigma of my past. I only wanted to fit in and be like the rest of my class." He stretched and laid with his hands behind his head. "James found out from Sanda that day I punched him. He apologized. I could tell he was really upset by what he'd said. I forgave him and we moved on. He never mentioned my parents again. The next year, Coleen and Sam..."

Keith covered his face. "I was thirteen when Takashi was admitted into the hospital for a radical new treatment program. He sent me to the Holts' for the summer. After a couple weeks, I couldn't handle it and I ran. I had to be with him and Adam. I made it all the way to the hospital, but the front desk called security. They found Adam in Shiro's room and he sat with me in the lobby until Sam and Coleen came to pick me up. God, I scared them so bad. Coleen was crying when she found me."

Keith rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. "She was so distraught, the receptionist thought I was her son. Instead of correcting her, Coleen held me tighter. She took me outside to wait in the car while Sam dealt with the situation I'd created. She told me never to run away again. I cried all the way home. Matt and Pidge had fallen asleep on the couch. They woke up when we came in and we spent the whole night playing board games until the three of us fell asleep on the floor in the living room. It was one of my first memories of what it was like in a normal family."

Lance waited to see if Keith would say any more. Then he said, "Coleen is a great mom, but it's nice that you her mother you, too."

"Too?" Keith was looking at him with blank confusion.

Lance said slowly, "Krolia? She cares a lot about you."

Keith's eyes widened and he stammered, "Oh, that, uh... she's-"

"I know, Keith," Lance whispered. "I know you're part galra, so you don't have to hide it from me."

Keith closed his eyes and held his breath. After an unbearable silence, he sat up and moved so they were back to back. Letting his head fall against the nape of Lance's neck, he asked, "When did you find out?"

"I mean... I saw your knife. It's just like their swords." Lance tipped his head back to rest against Keith's hair as he cursed under his breath. "Then, the night before the castle left with Allura, Blue showed me something. It was disorientating and confusing at first... but then I saw your dad and... I recognized him from an old picture you had. He knew about Blue. He knew he had to keep her and you and your mother safe from everyone." There wasn't an answer. Turning his head, he asked, "Have you spoken to her about any of this?"

"Who? Coleen?" Keith turned so they were cheek to cheek.

"Krolia and the other blades," Lance answered. "She should know about what happened to your dad."

"She knew I was an orphan," Keith answered. "Sort of surprised me, but I think Thace and Ulaz told her."

Lance frowned and shook his head. "But you aren't an orphan."

"No, my mom is a blade. Thace and the others know her."

Lance's own confusion was starting to build. Turning, he clarified, "Keith, we know her. Krolia." Keith paled, silent and still. Lance's pulse started to quicken and he spun to hold Keith's arms. "You did know she's your mother, right? Mullet, say something."

Keith opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He put a hand to his forehead and started hyperventilating. "Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Krolia's my mom?! Lance, I- I... I can't breathe. I can't breathe!"

"Shit! Shit, I'm so sorry!" Lance hissed. "I thought you knew!" He cupped Keith's face in one palm and instructed, "Deep breaths. Come on. There. Keep going, Keith." Of course, that didn't help his own nerves. He saw his hand shaking and quickly dropped it. Putting his forehead to Keith's, Lance whispered, "You okay?"

"I... I'm not sure," Keith answered. He sat silently until his fists slowly opened. "Lance, I don't know... she never... Please, Lance... tell me what to do. I need you to help me with this. Are you sure Krolia is my mom?"

"I'm positive. She and your dad were with Blue in some cave. They were hiding from the government. Keith," Lance insisted, "think about everything we've been through, everything Krolia has done for you. Is there really any doubt that what I'm saying is wrong?"

Keith took another deep breath and ran his palms over his thighs. "No, you're right. Of course you are. Fuck, my hands are sweating. I think I'm still in shock. I- wait... do you feel-"

His words ended as Blue abruptly stood and turned. Lance was thrown sideways by her movement and he screamed as he was tossed. He free fell to the water below as Keith screamed his name. The force of the water was a painful slap to his entire body when he went under. He nearly gasped and lost what precious little air he'd managed to gulp. Only his self discipline kept him from exhaling in panic. Instincts took over and he quickly oriented himself and started swimming toward the surface.

Another impact in the water near him made him look over where Keith was recovering from a feet first pencil dive. Frantically looking around, his eyes locked on Lance and his pupils seemed to narrow into slivers like a cat. Then he paused, every muscle in his body tensed as he focused on something only he could see or hear or... something. He whipped around, then back quickly burying fear. He wrapped his arms around Lance's waist and kicked hard, forcing them to the surface. Lance helped as he was able, but his lungs were already starting to burn when they breached. Lance gasped and coughed and Keith switched his grip to keep their heads above water. "La- Lance, get to shore! There's something und- Ah!"

They both went back underwater and Keith's arms were ripped away. Lance reached out on reflex, turning to find him, and saw Keith being dragged underwater. A strange creature, small and almost reptilian held his legs and another similar, larger creature gripped Keith's arm. He writhed, trying to free himself, but more creatures appeared from the lake bed. As Keith shoved against the one he could reach, another grabbed hold of his free wrist.

Lance wanted to scream Keith's name, their eyes locked in shared fear and panic. He swam deeper, chasing after them, even as Keith was swallowed up in darkness. Then the other creatures were there. Lance realized his mistake too late and two of the creatures grabbed his ankles. He was yanked around until the surprisingly strong creatures turned and swam fast after Keith.

Lance struggled vainly, his grunts and groans the only sound in the muted depths of the lake. He needed to breathe! The pressure hurt his ears and his lungs were close to their limit. His chest convulsed against his will and he refused to open his mouth. If he did, he'd be dead. He closed his eyes and covered his mouth with his hands. His body jerked. The black of unconsciousness was sneaking in, adding to the darkness of the lake bed.

The creatures looked at him. Oh god, they were going to eat him! Lance redoubled his resistance even as one acme toward his face. Slightly webbed hands held his cheeks, pushing his hands away from his mouth. Lance couldn't fight, the last of his spasms fading with the lack of oxygen. The creatures open mouth came towards him.

Bright lights flooded the darkness and the lizard beings darted away in fright. Lance was limp in the water, barely able to recognize the large shape coming toward him. Blue's open jaws surrounded him. The water quickly drained and Lance landed hard on his stomach. He coughed, vomiting up and expelling water he wasn't aware he'd breathed in. The lion was in motion, not that he would have been able to push against her g-force. He lay there shivering, trying to get his bearings.

Blue was freaking out. Her paws pounded hard against the ground. She was really hauling wherever she was headed. Then the motion stopped and Lance slid on the floor. He curled up, covering his head with his arms on reflex, as he gently rolled into the wall. Then there was light again. Natural light. Blue was shaking, no... growling. She was enraged.

A hand touched him and Lance flinched violently, throwing a wild punch. They caught his arm, dodging easily, and Lance saw the concerned face of Brad. He focused on their face. Their lips were moving. It looked like they were saying his name. Asking him something. Lance shook his head and stood, leaning into Blue. He stumbled toward the exit, Brad's hand resting on his arm in case he needed it, and shouted, "Thace! Krolia! Help! Someone, please, they took him! They took Keith!" He tripped and fell to his knees. Lake water from his hair dripped onto the dry soil as hot tears started falling from his eyes. "They took him! They took him, oh god!"

Vibrations made him look up in time to see Krolia fall to her knees beside him. She put her hands on his shoulders, forcing her lips to move slow. Lance still didn't know what she was saying, but he knew what she was asking. He shook his head and said past hysterics, "We were attacked! We'd been talking about you and his dad when suddenly he got all weird. Blue jerked and I was thrown into the water. Keith jumped after me and then there were these things. These... lizard things dragged him under! They dragged us both! But Blue reached me in time! Oh, god!"

He was hyperventilating and shaking. He hugged himself, but it didn't help. Rocking, he struggled to breathe, but it was too much. Keith had been there and then he wasn't and oh god, he was dead. He sobbed and covered his mouth.

A blanket was thrown over his shoulders and he turned wide eyes to Coleen. She knelt in front of him and pulled the blanket tighter around him. She was pale, her lips a tight line as she struggled not to panic as well. Looking around, Lance saw that Thace and Ulaz were talking with Brad and Chad. The two humans nodded and started sprinting toward the lake. Krolia took a deep breathe and then spoke to Coleen. They scanned the horizon and then Krolia stumbled, catching herself on Thace's chest as he returned. Relief flooded her expression. How?! What could possibly help in this situation!?

Coleen tapped his hand and began signing, "You need to calm down. You're in shock and panicking."

Lance held eye contact and nodded. He knew that. But how could he calm down!? "Coleen, I lost him!"

She gently held his head in her hands, wiping her thumbs along his cheeks. With one hand, she signed, "We nearly lost you both, but you made it back to us. We'll find him." She nodded resolutely, waiting for him to release the panic gripping his chest. Pulling him to his feet, she opened her mouth. Lance saw Ulaz look toward them before approaching at a jog. He took one look at Lance and instantly made a decision. Lance let himself be lifted and cradled in the medic's arms. He was still shaking when he passed out.