Since it was the middle of the week, Salina's wasn't too busy.  There were a few couples on the dance floor and only half the booths were full.  They were able to snag a large round booth that fit all of them.  A waitress came over and batted her lashes at Dante.  They ordered a few appetizers and everyone got a drink, except Keith.

            "He's the designated stick in the mud."  Lance whispered to Darcy.

            "I heard that, Lieutenant."  Keith said.  "You just earned yourself a few more laps tomorrow."

            "Wanna go another round on the Judo mat?"  Lance challenged him.

            "You're on."

            Allura was sitting on the other side of Darcy and whispered in her ear, "You can just feel the testosterone levels rising."

            "How long before they start grunting and beating their chests?"  Darcy whispered back.

            "What are you two giggling about?"  Lance asked.

            "Girl talk."  They said in unison.

            "Your Highness?"

            They all turned to see a small, middle aged woman with hair dyed bright red.

            "Yes?"  Allura asked.

            "I'm Salina, I wanted to welcome you to my establishment, all of you.  If there is anything I can get you, please let me know."  She curtsied.

            "Thank you, Salina.  It's nice to meet you.  You have a wonderful place here."

            "I'm just glad to see you are able to get out and enjoy yourself.  Have fun."

            "Thank you," Allura said again, before the woman turned and took her place behind the bar again.

            Keith patted Allura's hand, "I'll be right back.  I see someone I need to talk to."

            "Who is that?"  Hunk asked, indicating the woman Keith had gone to talk to.

            Allura turned to look, "Oh, that's Paton Lacko, she's the chief of the new police department Keith started here in town."

            "How come he never introduced us to her?"

            "Why Hunk, I do believe you're smitten."  Allura teased him.  "Why don't you go over and have Keith introduce you."

            "Maybe I will." 

            Pidge slid out of the booth so Hunk could leave.  They all watched as he went over and said something to Keith, then acted surprised to see him talking to someone.  Keith introduced him and Hunk took the hand she offered and brought it to his lips.
            "Smooth."  Lance commented as he took a sip from his drink.

            Keith made his way back to the table, a grin on his face.  "Looks like Hunk made a new friend."

            "Come on," Allura  pulled on Keith's arm.  "Let's dance."

            The four at the table watched as Keith and Allura, and then Hunk and Paton, took to the dance floor.

            The waitress set a beer down in front of Lance.

            "I didn't order this."  He told her.

            "The lady at the bar sent it, with her compliments."  The waitress pointed to a curvy blonde who held up her own drink in response.

            "Oh, damn.  Excuse me, Darcy." Lance picked up the beer and followed Darcy out of the booth.

            "Who's that?"  Darcy asked when she slid back into the booth.

            Pidge rolled her eyes, "That's Danya."

            "Did they date?" 

            "No.  There was this festival in town a couple months ago and she came up and started flirting with him.  They talked for a while and then she turned out to be a complete moron.  She's been sending messages up to the castle.  I think she just wants to be able to say she's dating a member of the Voltron Force."

            "I guess you're kind of celebrities around here, huh?"  Darcy asked.

            Pidge shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with the question, "I guess.  But now you're a member of the Force. You'll have every guy in the village beating on your door."

            Darcy let her gaze drift over to the bar and felt more than a twinge of jealousy.  Lance was leaning on the bar, the beer untouched at his elbow.  Danya trailed a finger up his arm.  She watched as Lance took her hand and placed it on the bar.  Danya turned her angry look to their table, then back to Lance. He smiled, patted her hand, and walked back to the table.

            "How'd it go?"  Dante asked when Lance slid in the booth beside Darcy.

            "I think I got through to her.  She's a sweet kid, just not my type."

            "She looks pretty pissed," Pidge said.

            "She can't seem to take a hint.  Maybe I was a little rude to her."

            "What did you say to her?"  Darcy asked.

            Lance busied himself with his drink.

            "What did you say?"

            "Nothing really.  Anyone else want a drink?"
            "Yeah, I'll take another one."  Darcy said.

            Lance slid out of the booth and went up to the bar.

            "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to visit the little boy's room."  Pidge slid out of the booth.

            "And I think I'm going to go visit the brunette at the bar."  Dante slid out after him.

            Darcy sat and watched.  Keith and Allura were dancing closely, just enjoying being together.  People throughout the club were watching and pointing at their Queen and her husband.  Hunk and Paton had found a secluded table to sit and talk.  Suddenly a bleach blonde head blocked her view.

            "Who do you think you are?"

            Darcy looked into the angry face of Danya, "I'm Darcy Barlow.  I don't think we've met."

            "Bitch."  Danya spat out.  "You come waltzing in here thinking you can steal my man.  What makes you think he wants your scrawny ass when he can have me?"

            Darcy's mouth fell open, "Are you for real?  What are you talking about?"

            "I'm talking about Lance."
            "I thought I felt my ears burning."  Lance came up behind Danya, a drink in each hand.  "Leave her alone, Danya."

            Danya turned to Lance and placed her hands on his chest, "Come on, Lancey, I know you want me."

            He took her hands in his.  "I tried being nice, Danya, but apparently you can't take a hint.  You're a nice girl, but there is nothing between us.  There will never be anything between us.  Now leave me and Darcy alone."

            Danya's nostrils flared, "That was your last chance, Lance.  You are such a loser."  She turned to Darcy.  "Good luck with him."

            "What was that about?"  Darcy asked a red faced Lance.

            "Well, uh," he rubbed the back of his neck.  "I couldn't think of an easy way to let her down."

            "Lance."

            "I kinda told her I was dating you."

            Darcy shook her head, "I wondered why she wanted to scratch my eyes out."

            His face lit up, "Would you have fought her?"

            "No!  What is it with men and women fighting?"

            "It's hot."  Lance slid in beside her.

            "You're sick."

            "No, it is.  Ask any guy."  He reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

            She stiffened under his touch.

            "I still unnerve you?"

            Darcy tossed her head back and looked him in the eye, defiantly.  "No."

            "I think I do."  He let his hand slid down to her neck.  A bolt of heat raced through her.

            "You're pushing it, Lance."

            "Good.  You look beautiful tonight."

            "You're not so bad yourself."  She told him.

            "I think we should go out more often."  He massaged the back of her neck.

            "Are you asking me out?"

            He leaned toward her.  She closed her eyes, feeling his breath on her cheek as the hand on her neck tightened.

            "Hey guys!  Where is everyone?" Caleb slid into the booth.

            Lance swore under his breath.

            Darcy felt her face turn bright red, "They're around here somewhere.  Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

            She slid out of the booth and walked quickly to the bathroom.

            Lance reached into his pocket and pulled out a half empty pack of cigarettes.  "Good timing, Caleb."

            Keith and Allura returned to the table.

            "How'd everything go, Caleb?" Keith asked as he sat down.

            "Just fine, Captain.  Everything was clear."

            "Where'd Darcy go?"  Allura asked.

            "The bathroom."  Lance answered as he blew out a frustrated stream of smoke.

            Allura pushed open the door to the bathroom and saw Darcy sitting on the couch, her elbows on her knees, her chin on her fist.

            Allura sat beside her, "Are you okay?"

            Darcy looked up at her, "Yeah I'm fine.  Lance told some girl that he and I were dating so that she would leave him alone."

            "Danya?"

            "Yeah."

            Allura shook her head, "That girl is an idiot.  Is that what's really bothering you?"

            "I think what bothers me more is that I didn't mind when he told her we were dating."

            "Darcy, do you want me to have Keith say something to Lance?"

            "What?"

            "If he's coming on to strongly and making you uncomfortable, Keith can talk to him."

            Darcy looked at her, "No, it's not that.  It's just…"

            Allura waited a moment to see if Darcy finished her statement.  "You really like him, don't you?"
            "If we're going to work together, we can't pursue it."

            "You are both professional soldiers, I don't see why you can't have a relationship and still work together.  You both know the difference between work and play."

            "I don't think it would be a good idea."

            "Darcy, I think you should know that in all the years I've known Lance, I have never seen him like this.  He really likes you."

            Darcy nodded.

            "Is this about Lt. McCormick?"

            Darcy looked at her sharply.

            "Keith had to look into the allegations in your file."

            Embarrassment and anger coursed through her. "What do you know?"

            "Keith didn't think the comments fit you, so he looked into the allegations.  He knew Lt. McCormick, he was a year behind Keith at the Academy.  Apparently, he was a jerk at school and only received the commanding post because his uncle is a high ranking Garrison official."  Allura took Darcy's hands in hers. "No one believes what McCormick said about you."

            "Does Lance know?"  Darcy whispered.

            "He has read your file, but I don't think he knows the details."

            "Did he know McCormick too?"

            "Yeah.  Apparently they were both suspended for fighting once."

            "With each other?"

            Allura smiled, "Yeah.  Keith said Lance gave him two black eyes."

            Darcy returned her smile.  "Good."

            "Come on, let's go back out there before they send Pidge in to find us."

            "But this is the ladies room."

            Allura stood, "Doesn't matter.  They once sent him in to the ladies room to find me when I took too long talking to someone.  Well, they didn't send him in so much as push him in."

            Darcy laughed, "I think I could write a best selling book with all the stories I've heard from you guys."

            Allura raised her eyebrows, "Maybe it could be a romance."
            Darcy rolled her eyes.

            "Be nice to me, I could give you enough dirt on Lance to write an entire volume about him."

            "I'm going to have to take you up on that."

            When they returned to the table, Lance and Keith were the only ones still seated.

            "Where is everyone?"  Allura asked.

            "Well, it looks like Hunk and Dante both found someone to talk to and Pidge and Caleb found a free pool table."  Keith told her.

            "Come on," Allura grabbed his arm.  "I see a dart board."

            "Since when do you know how to play darts?"  Keith asked as he followed her.

            "Since Lance started teaching me."

            "Are you okay?"  Lance asked Darcy."

            "Yeah, I'm fine."  She assured him.      

            "It seems like I'm asking you that a lot."

            "I think it stems from the effect you have on me."  She muttered.

            "Is that good thing?"  He asked.

            She took a deep breath throwing caution to the wind, "It could be."

            A grin spread across his face, "Really?"

            She couldn't help but smile back, "Yeah."

            "Come with me."  Lance slid out of the booth and offered his hand to her.

            "Where are we going?"

            "Just come with me."

            She took his hand and let him lead her through the bar and out a side door, through an alley and finally behind the bar.

            "What is it?"  Darcy asked when they came to a stop beside a large tree.  It was cold out and she wrapped her arms around herself.

            Lance slid his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders.  "I don't want anything to interrupt us this time."  He slid his hand up her neck and into her hair.

            Darcy felt her heart racing and heat spread through her.  She slid her hands up his back.

            "Are you really sure?"  He asked her, a smile on his lips.

            Unable to speak, she nodded.

            She tasted beer on his mouth and felt the hardness of his body as he pulled her against him.  He groaned her name as he placed small kisses along her jaw and down her throat.  She moaned and arched her neck in response.  All rational thoughts escaped her and all she could think, feel, was him.

            Lance pulled back and looked down at her, "I want you."  He whispered.

            Her heart stopped and all the breath rushed from her lungs.

            "I want you, but I'll wait.  We can wait until you're ready."

            Darcy leaned forward and rested her forehead on his shoulder.

            He rubbed his hands up and down her back.

            "You're awfully quiet."  He commented after a moment.

            "You've dumbfounded me."  She whispered.

            He shook with silent laughter, "You have no idea what you do to me, do you?"