Keith watched Lance sleep and it looked like he slept peacefully for the first time in weeks. He had dropped most of the face cream after Keith had complained about the smell, but he still wore the sleeping mask and had told Keith to get one himself. Keith had promised to think about it… and he actually had. There was new appeal to sleeping in. He had used to hate just lying in his bed doing nothing but now that he had someone to sleep with, he did not want to leave.

So many things had changed.

He looked at his hand. His blue hand with fingers that ended in talons. What bothered him was… how it didn't bother him. For the first time in his life he felt at home in his own skin. His younger self would have called this validation. The reason he had always been standing outside… away from everyone else was because… he was different from everyone else. He was… special.

Keith wished he could have told his younger self that he was less special than he thought and the reason he was always alone was because he was… as Pidge put it… kind of a dick. And that's all he would have ever been without Shiro.

Shiro… Lance… Pidge… Allura… Coran… even Hunk… they all had their own problems… and they had all dealt with them with more grace than he had. They hadn't used others to vent… except Allura but he had forgiven her for that… and Pidge but no one was perfect.

"… do you know… how creepy it is having you stare at me while I sleep?" Lance said drowsily.

Keith blushed.

"How long were you…?"

"For a while now." Lance said and pushed the sleep mask on his forehead: "I was curious how long you could play this watch but don't touch game."

Keith groaned.

"Do you really have to wear that dumb thing in bed?"

Lance grinned and Keith spotted some stubble on his sharp chin.

"Dumb? Baby, this is the greatest invention since toilet paper."

"If we get attacked when we sleep, I can't have my vision imbedded even for a second." Keith said and tried to get up: "We should…"

Lance pulled him back to bed.

"Sleep. We should sleep. Maybe build a pillow fortress."

Keith let himself be dragged back under the covers.

"Lance?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you… think this is a bad idea?"

"No one cares if we sleep in on our day off." Lance said.

"Not this. I mean… this. At the Garrison we were warned not to… get intimate with fellow soldiers."

Lance waved his hand annoyed.

"Yeah, yeah. Getting emotionally compromised and all that. You already get that when you drag punch of half-baked trainees to fight your space war. Anything that allows me to keep going is a plus in my book."

"So this isn't… good? But it is necessary?" Keith suggested.

"Give happiness a chance. You might like it and if you ever start wondering if this is normal, just remember. Ninety-five percent of giraffe sex is between dudes." Lance said.

Keith turned to look at him slowly.

"What?"

"Giraffe is the gayest of all animals. I read that on the internet so it must be true." Lance said.

Keith snorted.

"Or maybe giraffes just can't tell the difference between males and females."

"Ooh, that's a good one. I'll have to use that excuse when I introduce you to my parents."

Keith tried to playfully suffocate Lance with a pillow while he laughed… and then the alarm went off.

"All Paladins gather in the hangar." Coran said through the intercom.

They moved fast. They had their orders and they leaped out of the bed and started pulling on their combat uniforms. Keith had always prided himself for his speed that had only increased after the mutation, but he only beat Lance by a few heartbeats. They rushed to the hangar where Allura and Coran was already waiting for them. Pidge and Hunk followed soon after.

It didn't take long for the Black Lion to fly into the hangar. Despite being heavy enough to knock over tanks by accident, Shiro made the landing graceful. Ten out of ten with a cherry on top, Lance would have probably said. Keith wouldn't have been surprised if he was thinking about it.

When the Black Lion opened to let Shiro out, he didn't come alone. He was followed by two Galras in chains that they could have easily snapped but chose not to. The male Galra was broad and rugged with a fierce facial scar while the female…

The bottom of Keith's stomach fell out.

Lance's eyes darted between him and the female Galra before muttering loud enough only for Keith to hear.

"Well… shit."


At the back of her mind Kroalia conceded that it all had to look like a scene from a fairytale. Being greeted by the princess of a dead race in the presence of the most powerful weapon in the universe. Even the flimsy handcuffs shouldn't have taken away from it but… it was all wasted on her. Al se had eyes for was her son… who wouldn't meet her gaze. She could see herself in Keith… mixed with Trevor.

Trevor…

… she had tried so hard not to think about him in the past seventeen years… but now it made her choke.

She managed to regain self-control and lowered her head to greet the princess.

"At your service, your majesty."

The princess gave her a curt smile. She didn't much care for her. Kroalia could smell it from the princess… but Kroalia didn't blame her for it. The princess was pushing her personal feelings aside to do her duty. Kroalia could understand… and sympathize as a Galra.

"Welcome to my castle." The princess said.

The princess and her head advisor led them away with the Black Paladin in tow. Unlike his princess, the head advisor seemed like the genuinely affable sort.

"If you wish to freshen up a bit before the negotiations, we have quarters prepared for you."

"That won't be necessary." Kolivan said and looked at the princess: "I am ready to begin. Waiting would just waste lives."

"Very well." The princess said and looked at Kroalia: "Will she be joining us?"

"No. I brought her here as a favor. If you wish to speak with the Blade of Marmora, you speak to me." Kolivan said.

"I see. Coran. Show her to her room." The princess said.

The head advisor… Coran bowed.

"As you wish, princess."

The Black Paladin nodded to her when he passed her by. The polite gesture was responded in kind.

"Why don't you come with me?" Coran said.

Coran led her through the castle while humming to himself until they arrived at a guest room… that looked more comfortable than the quarters even their commanding officers had.

"I don't think we'll be needing these anymore." Coran said and opened her cuffs: "This should have everything you need to make yourself comfortable. The baths and the kitchens are further down the hallway. I hope you'll make yourself feel at home."

Kroalia rubbed her wrists.

"I can just go anywhere I like? Do you treat all your prisoners so well?"

Coran stoked his mustache. A habit Kroalia found endearing.

"You're not a prisoner. You're our guest and the Castle us quite capable of keeping our guests safe… and us safe from our guests."

"Point taken. Thank you, Coran." Kroalia said and looked at her room: "Would it… be possible for me to meet… the Paladins?"

"We'll be having dinner together later this evening but I'm sure you'll have no problem finding them roaming around here." Coran said and bowed to make his leave: "Let me know if you need anything."

After memorizing the room's layout for suitable cover spots incase of a firefight and taking in the smell, Kroalia decided to make use of having free range of the Castle. Guest or not she still needed to collect intel, but it was best to be discreet about it. She had no doubt she was being watched and that there were protocols in place to deal with her if she was deemed a threat.

But today… she had her own reasons to be here.

It was a strange thought. It had been… so long since she hadn't acted on orders but for personal matters. Not since that day she had been stranded on Earth. Her ship had been too badly damaged to be repaired leaving her adrift and alone. Terrified. Few things were more terrifying than freedom.

Then there had been Trevor.

It had been sweet. Hiding in his family's ranch and then turning it from a hiding place into a home. If the enemy hadn't found her, she didn't doubt she would still be there. Raising her son… children. With Trevor. Maybe… she still could. What would she say to Trevor when… if she saw him again? Come live with me and be my love? Could two people just… pick up from where they left off?

What would she say to Keith?

She had tried not to think of her son in the past eighteen years. It had been easier that way but… a small part of him had always been calling for her. And now Keith was here. Was this a reward for her patience and struggles… or her punishment?

She was pulled out of her thoughts when she smelled something delicious. A mixture of spices, vegetables and meat all mixed in thick cream. Unable to help herself she followed the trail to the kitchen.

The kitchen was spotless despite the obviously heavy use. She supposed it was all thanks to the cook. The Yellow Paladin was one of those men who was so heavily muscled that he looked pudgy at first glance, but his thick feet were tree stumps and you could have broken stones against the rotund stomach. He had the arms of a powerlifter, but he still handled the knife daintily when he chopped vegetables.

When the Paladin spotted her at the doorway, they stared each other for a moment unsure what to say.

"Uh… hi?" The Paladin said finally.

Kroalia nodded.

"Hi."

The silence couldn't have been more awkward, and they just stood there waiting for the other to say something. They might have waited until judgement day if the timer on the oven hadn't gone off.

"Sorry." The Paladin said and quickly put on mittens before taking a black iron pot out of the oven.

The smell was intoxicating when he took off the lid.

"Good timing. I was hoping to get a Galra's opinion on the main dish." The Paladin said.

Kroalia looked at the food and then at the Paladin.

"You made this for us?"

"Well…" The Paladin said and blushed: "We're supposed to work together, right, and… I know things are a bit awkward. It's easier to get to know people over dinner and… my grandma always said that it's hard to be angry with a full stomach."

"Good thinking." Kroalia said and smiled: "I'm Kroalia."

"Hunk." The Paladin said and pointed at the food: "Would you mind…?"

"None at all."

Hunk got them both plates and served samples of the main dish. It was a bold choice. The taste was strong but not intrusive and went down easily. The meat was soft while the vegetables had retained their texture. A recipe the young man obviously knew well and loved.

"It's excellent." Kroalia said and wished she could have asked for more.

Hunk was practically beaming.

"I'll be sure to let my grandma know. She loves it when new people try her cooking."

They chatted for a while and let the conversation lead her without intrusive questions. You could learn a lot about someone just by listening. Hunk loved his grandmother and had helped her to cook for the whole family after school. He had an eye for detail and had no problem following orders. He was also… unaffected by the war he had been recruited to fight. The bad things just washed over him without marking him.

Loyal. Obedient. Sturdy. A prime example of a soldier.

"I'm looking forward to dinner, Hunk." Kroalia said before making her leave.

"Likewise." Hunk said.

When she walked out of the kitchen, she found a young man… no. A young woman waiting for her. She had a small and slender build that would make her fast on the battlefield. The eyes behind the glasses were sharp and cunning… but her hair was just long enough to grab.

"Kroalia, right?" The Green Paladin said.

"Were you spying on me?"

The Paladin just smiled.

"I have my ways. People call me Pidge."

"Do they? What's your real name?"

"If you knew that, you'd be as smart as I am." Pidge said and then looked around: "Why don't we find a place to sit? I want to ask you a few things."

They took over one of the many rooms of leisure in the Castle. Part of her despised the luxury that the Paladin lived in. It would make a soldier soft but another part of her was happy that there was nothing that Keith lacked. When they sat across each other the light reflected from Pidge's glasses and it felt like she was talking to a machine.

"You know… I'd heard whispers of you." Pidge said: "A rebellion inside the Galra but I could never find anything concrete. I'm guessing the Blade is divided into cells that work individually."

"Where did you hear these whispers?" Kroalia asked.

Kroalia adjusted her voice just to the right level of curiosity and flattery to stroke Pidge's ego. If she had to take a guess at the Green Paladin's weakness, it would be the need to show just how smart and capable she was when it might be the best to keep your mouth shut and play dumb.

She took the bait.

"I've managed to intercept a number of messages from the Galra rank and file. I've also wormed my way into some private message boards."

Kroalia smiled.

"I think I see why you're the second most feared Paladin among the Galra."

Pidge adjusted her glasses.

"Am I now?"

"They say you're a sorcerer who can control nature and technology."

"A technomancer then? I like it."

"I'm sure you do." Kroalia said: "It feels almost like cheating that you also control one of the most powerful weapons in the universe."

"The Galra have a ten-thousand-year head start. Whose really cheating here?" Pidge said and leaned closer: "Well? Was I right?"

"On the mark. It's the safest way to fight a stronger opponent."

An ugly edge flashed in Pidge's grin.

"It must be hard for you. I know how big you Galras are on honor and all you can do is sneak around."

Kroalia just smiled. This was a diplomatic mission after all.

"Hopefully we'll be able to do more than just sneak around now."

"Hopefully." Pidge said and took off her glasses.

Behind the glass curtain… was a worried kid. Pidge might have cast a large shadow but… she was so small. Kroalia couldn't help but feel something… motherly. An urge to protect.

"I've heard… that you save prisoners from the Galra."

"Whenever we can." Kroalia admitted.

"You… wouldn't happen to have… a list?"

"I'm guessing you're looking for someone in particular." Kroalia said.

Pidge averted her eyes.

"My… father and brother."

Oh, you poor kid.

"Are they like you? Technomancers?"

Pidge nodded.

"That would make them high-priority prisoners. Even if we haven't saved them, they would be treated well."

It wasn't much but it was something. Pidge could take some comfort in knowing that her family was most likely alive and in one piece. Kroalia would have liked to keep talking but after getting what she needed, Pidge walked away but even that revealed something about her.

Officer material, Kroalia thought to herself.

Cunning. Goal oriented. Ruthless. Not the most charismatic but results would more than make up for that.

Kroalia continued her search for Keith through the Castle trying to catch his scent… and wondering if she should wait for Keith come to her. Whatever her reasons may have been she had still walked out on her son. Maybe… he needed time to think.

But it might also look like she was avoiding him.

No matter what Keith thought of her, she had to let him know that he and Trevor had never been far from her thoughts and when he was ready… she would be here.

Then she caught the whiff of him. It was faint and mixed with the stench of chlorine. Kroalia steeled herself and followed the trail to the pools. She had never much cared for pools with their oppressive smells and wondered how Keith could put up with them, but she soldiered on.

Not that it mattered.

The young man swimming wasn't Keith.

The Blue Paladin was lean and fit with brown skin. His back was a mess of pink scars shaped like the wings of a butterfly. He waded through the water like a fish and he almost looked like he was flying. There was something beautiful about seeing someone practice a craft that had become second nature to them.

But why was the Blue Paladin's scent mixed with her son's? After a while, all soldiers serving together caught echoes of each other's scent, but this was different. Almost like the Blue Paladin and Keith smelled the same. It had been the same for her Trevor after living and sleeping together for a few weeks but that would mean…

Oh.

It wasn't… uncommon. Unusual bonds were formed between fellow soldiers when they faced life and death together. There was even a joke that when you sent people for a mission in deep space, forty soldiers would go in and twenty couples come out. But it was still a shock to the system. In her mind Keith was still just a toddler.

The Blue Paladin had stopped swimming and stood up in the pool the water reaching all the way to his chest. Despite being so young he already had the promises of lines around his eyes and mouth from smiling and laughing too much but they just made him seem friendly and welcoming. He flashed her a boyish grin.

"Hello."

Kroalia nodded.

"Greetings, Paladin."

The Paladin swam to the edge of the pool and pulled himself out. Water had glued his hair tightly against his scalp.

"No need to be so formal. Call me Lance." The Paladin said and opened a bottle of water: "If you're looking for Keith… well, good luck with that. He's sulking."

"I'm Kroalia… and why do you think I'm looking for… the Red Paladin?"

Lance looked at her with eyes that knew the truth.

"So… you know." Kroalia said.

"I'm perceptive like that and I know Keith well." Lance said.

"I'm sure you do."

Lance started drying his hair to hide that he was blushing. Kroalia took off her shoes and let her feet soak in the water while Lance collected himself.

"No need to be embarrassed. Life is short. I'm glad he has found someone." Kroalia said.

"Lady… life is way longer than you realize if you make bad choices." Lance said.

"Not in our line of work." Kroalia said and looked at the pool: "The last time I saw this much water was on Earth."

"Care to join me for a dip?" Lance said.

"Don't test your luck, Paladin." Kroalia said.

"It has worked well for me so far." Lance said before his voice lowered: "Look… about Keith…"

"What's he like?" Kroalia asked.

"Hmm?"

"My son. What is he like?"

Lance rubbed his sharp chin while thinking about it.

"Moody. Sullen. No sense of humor. Always running away from his problems. He might have a death wish." Lance said and snorted: "And… uh… he's probably the most amazing person I have ever met."

Kroalia splashed her feet in the water.

"Is he now?"

"Don't tell him I said that. He has enough piss in his head as is." Lance said and sat next to her but made sure to keep a polite distance: "If you want, I can help look for him."

"I'd appreciate that, Lance." Kroalia said and let the water wash away the dirt between her toes: "Mind if I sit here for a moment?"

"None at all. It's a free country."

From the corner of her eye Kroalia spied on Lance and tried to figure out what kind of a man he was. Hunk was the ideal soldier. Pidge was well on her way to becoming a commanding officer. The Black Paladin… he was already a legend and if he lived long enough, he would be one of the giants in history. But what kind of a man was her son's… lover?

The Blue Paladin lived in the shadow of his teammates. The unseen sniper. He didn't look like a sniper up close. He had the smile of a boy but his eyes… were sad. It was a new sadness and it was growing like a cancer. In time it would kill him. She had seen that sadness before. When she was still a good, loyal Galra training to serve Zarkon, her drill sergeant had pulled everyone with eyes like that out of line…

… and have the other cadets beat them to death to teach everyone the cost of weakness. Soldiers like Lance would always hesitate when pulling the trigger. No matter how much they were conditioned… some part of them would always be whispering to them that the enemy was a living being with a family and a life.

Or maybe Lance was just homesick.

"You did us all a great service a few months ago."

"Did I now?" Lance said.

"Yes. You took out one of the great heroes of the Galra outside Velka."

Lance… fell still and his cheek started twitching. All Kroalia's fears were confirmed. The sadness wasn't just homesickness. Under the jovial façade, Lance was breaking down.

"Did he… have a niece training there?" Lance said quietly.

"I wouldn't be surprised." Kroalia said and looked at him: "Does it bother you?"

Lance didn't answer and Kroalia sighed. Torture had never been her passion.

"We should split up. If you find him… tell Keith that… I want to talk and… I'll be waiting."

When she walked past him, she stopped and put her hand on his shoulder.

"You're a good man, Lance."

"… Kroalia… Mrs. Kroalia?" Lance called after her.

"Yes?"

"Before you meet Keith… I… you should know that… his father…"

A knife was plunged in Kroalia's heart and an invisible hand twisted it in the wound. Trevor? No. Oh… no. Not Trevor. Her mouth was so dry when she spoke that the words barely came out.

"He… how did he…?"

"There was a fire and he… tried to save people."

Kroalia stood still and her claws dug their way deep into her palms. She didn't make a sound or let tears out. Trevor… oh, Trevor… that brave… foolish man. It… it made sense. He had come to the rescue of someone like her. He would never have hesitated to throw himself into the fire if someone needed his help.

When she was sure that she had mastered herself again, she nodded.

"Trevor was a good man." She said simply.

Before Lance could say anything else that would break her heart all over again, she left. She didn't trust her face not to crumble and she hurried back to her quarters. If Keith didn't want to be found… she wouldn't find him… and she was in no condition to see him now.

… Trevor… goddamn it, Trevor… I guess… we won't be living together in that ranch anymore.

How alone had Keith been? First, she had left him for the greater good… and then Trevor had done the same. They had both left their son alone. Where had she gone wrong? What decision she should have made instead to avoid this?

Kroalia let herself cry and was relieved that she still knew how.

When her tears had dried, all she could do was wait. She sat down to meditate and put to words everything she had found out.

The Black Paladin… a living legend.

Hunk… the good soldier.

Pidge… the future officer.

Lance… a dead man walking.

Trevor…

She pushed Trevor out of her mind. Not now. She couldn't mourn now when there was a war to win… and they finally had the means to end it. After this… when Zarkon was dealt with…

When there was a knock on the door, she rushed to open it, hoping… fearing it would be Keith but instead it was the Black Paladin.

"I hope I'm not bothering you." The Paladin said.

"None at all. Come on in." Kroalia said and made way: "I was hoping to talk to you."

"About what?"

"The Blue Paladin."