Author's Note:

Hello all and welcome to this long overdue chapter. Since this series jumps about the timeline, I've skipped on ahead to the Paladin's early days back on Earth. As you'd expect, this looks at some very important things that have to be sorted between Lance and Iverson. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Chapter 14

Earth, but it wasn't in the state they'd been expecting.

Effectively conquered by Sendak, their home planet's freedom had been reduced to a single Garrison base, and a measly amount of scattered people who'd evaded death or capture.

They'd been forced to leave the lions behind, and sneak down to the planet in a stolen Galra fighter, managing to meet up with Garrison fighters and reaching Earth's last stronghold.

Lance glanced around, finally finding himself with time on his hands.

After their arrival, they'd been rushing from one thing to the next, going from fighting Galra to sitting through a debriefing as they got up to speed on what had happened in their (far longer than planned) absence. That had left little time to themselves, but now, Lance finally had just that.

So, he wandered the base.

They had been given clearance to go pretty much anywhere, despite Admiral Sanda seemingly not trusting them, so he'd wandered, wanting to know the layout of their new base.

Eyes followed him as he walked, people whispering, apparently not realising he could hear them, but he kept going. They'd expected as much, Sam Holt had effectively told them everything about the Paladins of Voltron after all, so they were definitely going to attract attention.

The whispers continued.

"Hey, is that one of the Paladins?"

"Definitely, that has to be the blue one."

"But I thought that alien princess was the blue one?"

"He's wearing the blue armour."

"Yeah, but I heard that he'd moved to the Red Lion because Kogane ended up piloting the Black."

"So why the blue armour?"

Lance rolled his eyes, since Allura had her own armour, they'd kept their original sets for their own ease, unfortunately, it seemed to be confusing everyone else.

"Isn't he the dumb one?"

That comment caught his attention.

"He's mute, not dumb, but yes, I think that's him."

"So, he's the homeless kid that got caught up in it all, are we really putting our hope in someone who hasn't been trained."

Lance scowled, the stuck-up twit, did he really think they were in a position to be picky? Half the people on the base weren't trained, but they were still pulling through. Besides, he'd been taught by Shiro, not to mention Keith, Allura and even Coran, add his combat experience and he was probably a better pilot than most here, except maybe the MFE pilots, he'd only seen footage, but they had skill.

"Get back to work!"

Iverson's voice barked at the gossipers, and they swiftly dispersed, fearful of the commander's displeasure.

Once they'd gone, the man sighed, "I'm sorry about that, you'd have thought this war would've given them more sense."

Lance simply shrugged, while their comments had been annoying, he was willing to let them slide, he was long used to proving himself through his actions and they couldn't afford to create bad blood between each other.

Iverson stared at him in silence, as if wrestling with something, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, a messenger ran up.

"Commander Iverson, Paladin Lance, they want you both at another strategy meeting."

Iverson frowned but answered, "Understood."

The meeting had quickly deteriorated.

It had been initially called to discuss how best to implement the Paladins and begin planning a way to defeat Sendak. Unfortunately, Sanda had once again pressed her idea of surrendering the lions, leading to the, currently calm, but icy argument between her and Princess Allura.

Personally, Iverson didn't understand why she so believed it would work, from everything he'd seen of Sendak's invasion, and all he'd heard from Sam, and now Shiro and the others, he was certain handing over the lions was the last thing they should do. Sendak wouldn't just say thanks and go home, he had control of most of the planet and the lions were their best chance at changing that, why leave a subjugated planet that had surrendered its greatest weapon? It was obvious that he'd simply continue his conquest once he had Voltron.

But she just couldn't see it.

Perhaps it was desperation, causing her to not think things through fully, desperation caused by the knowledge at just how outgunned they were.

"Handing over the lions is not an option, and it never will be!"

Princess Allura was now on her feet, leaning over the table as she stared Admiral Sanda down.

For her part, the admiral stared back unflinchingly, "And once again, I ask why an alien should assert her authority on Earth's affairs."

Shiro attempted to calm the situation, "Admiral, I understand your thinking, but Sendak will not leave Earth when he has the lions, he wholeheartedly follows the Galra Empire's desire for conquest. As far as he's concerned, the only other option is his own death."

"The lions are our only bargaining chip." Sanda reiterated, "We have nothing else left with which to fight Sendak."

"Admiral." Iverson entered the argument, hoping to help her see reason, "I agree with Shirogane and the Princess, we can't surrender the lions."

"Commander."

The admiral's voice held a note of warning, but he wasn't backing down now, "They have more experience fighting the Galra than we, plus, they have faced Sendak personally. I believe them when they say that he will not abide to any agreement to leave Earth alone."

A chime sounded from further down the table, and all eyes turned to Lance, who'd used his headset to make the sound. Now he had their attention, he quickly displayed symbols to express his opinion and Keith nodded firmly, "Lance is right, Sendak's character aside, why would any general with this much of an advantage abandon a planet he'd effectively conquered. He holds all the cards and all we've got is the fact he doesn't know Voltron is here yet."

Lance projected more symbols and this time Sam spoke, "Agreed, while the MFEs are effective, they don't have enough power on their own to win this war nor make much impact on Sendak's forces, and since the Atlas cannot fly, Voltron is our only method of fighting back."

Lance projected a few more and Iverson nodded, "We need the lions Admiral, we don't have the resources to make more MFEs and Sendak will not surrender, we cannot give him Voltron."

Sanda glared, "Commander, I fear you are letting your personal feelings influence you, Lance may be your son but that doesn't mean you must agree with everything he says."

Many of those present gasped, and a deathly hush fell.

For his part, Iverson briefly shut his eye, even as he felt everyone else's fall upon him, and then stared pointedly at Sanda, who quickly glanced around, realising what she'd inadvertently done.

"WHAT!"

Pidge's shriek echoed through the room, startling everyone as she shot to her feet and pointed at Iverson, "You're Lance's dad!"

Her exclamation caused an uproar, as the majority of the Paladins demanded an explanation, even as Shiro attempted to calm them down. Coran was giving the Commander the dirtiest glare possible from his position behind the princess while the other Garrison officers, who'd been in the know, shifted awkwardly.

Despite all this, Iverson focused his eyes on Lance, completely blank on what to say or do, on how to handle the boy finding out in this way.

The Red Paladin, remained motionless, shocked, until he suddenly stood, and shot out of the room, his exit bringing everything to silence.

Iverson watched the door shut behind him.

Thanks to the sudden revelation, the meeting had all but collapsed.

Knowing that continuing was pointless, a halt had been called, and the Garrison officers had quickly vacated the room, Admiral Sanda seemed initially inclined to stay, but had read the mood and also left.

Only the Paladins, Coran, and Iverson remained, and Shiro sat uneasily between his team, and the Commander.

Team Voltron were all giving Iverson looks of various degrees of anger (with Coran's being most deadly, closely followed by Keith's), but the Commander's gaze was fixed upon the door Lance had left through, as it had been since the boy had fled. Shiro knew that there was more to this story than everyone was assuming, so he took the initiative and spoke.

"Commander Iverson."

As if shocked, Iverson jerked and glanced at him, and Shiro spoke gently, "What Sanda said about you and Lance, is it true?"

Iverson shut his one eye, and gave a sad sigh, "Yes."

"Then why the hell have you been letting him live on the streets!" Keith practically shouted.

"Keith!"

Shiro shot him a stern look, silencing him, then faced Iverson once more, his voice gentler, "Iverson?"

The commander opened his eye, "Because I didn't know he existed until the day you returned to Earth the first time Shiro."

He stared at the table as he continued, "Lance's mother was forced into an absolute low, and she started doing about the only thing she thought she could to survive." Here, he gave them a meaningful look, "I don't think I need to spell out what I mean by that." He looked down once more, "Years ago, when I was far younger, I was celebrating a promotion, had too much to drink, and I'm sure you can guess what happened."

Shiro closed his own eyes and nodded, "I see." He glanced up, "I'm guessing you found out after the Blue Lion left Earth."

Iverson nodded, "Lance was near your crash site, so, as per protocol, we took him in and took a blood sample to test for anything of note or potentially dangerous. Of course, he escaped with you all and left in the Blue Lion. During tests of his blood, Dr Williams noticed something about his DNA, since there's DNA records of all Garrison personnel, all she had to do was test it against mine and discovered the biological connection."

"So, why haven't you told him yet?"

It was Hunk who'd spoken, his look of anger having turned to one of compassion, and Iverson shook his head.

"With the invasion, there was no good time when you'd first arrived to tell him, not without everyone bearing witness, and after that…" He sighed, "I didn't know how to start, I'd just worked up the courage to ask to speak to him about it, but then this meeting was called."

Shiro glanced at the rest of the team, Hunk and Pidge seemed to have mellowed, as had Allura. Keith's expression was unreadable, but Coran still looked disapproving.

Suddenly, Hunk stood.

"I'm going to find Lance."

"No."

Everyone stared at Keith, clearly confused by his answer, but Shiro had an idea as to his thinking.

"But, why not?"

At Hunk's question, the Black Paladin simply looked at Iverson.

"You should go and find him."

With a grateful nod, Iverson swiftly stood and left, the moment the door closed behind him, Pidge rounded on Keith.

"What are you doing Keith, surely Iverson is the last person who should be speaking to Lance right now?"

Keith shook his head, "No, this is something they need to sort out between themselves sooner rather than later."

His eyes grew distant.

"It's a conversation that's years overdue already."

Lance hid, tucked away in a corner of one of the hangers, his headset abandoned at his feet.

The moment he'd left the briefing room, he'd searched for somewhere to hide and think, normally he'd retreat to Red, but he was well out of reach on one of Saturn's moons, so he'd found this hidden corner instead.

Iverson was his father.

He'd long since stopped wondering about who his father was, considering it impossible to ever know, and was content with never finding out, assuming it would be someone he wouldn't want to be with anyway.

But now he knew.

How had they worked it out? What could they have possibly done to discover it? Memories of Pidge's lessons on DNA came to mind, and he remembered that they'd taken some of his blood, right back when Shiro had crash landed. That must be how they realised. But how long had Iverson known?

Why hadn't said anything before now?

Lance shook his head, when could he have said anything. Everything since their arrival had been a blur of combat, introductions, briefings and meetings, there hadn't been time for anything else other than talking about the war, and it wasn't exactly a topic that could be easily broached.

He leaned back heavily against the wall.

Now what? He barely knew the man, only knowing him through stories told by the others and the various meetings they'd been at. He'd hardly spent any personal time with Iverson.

But he was his father, surely, they could make time?

He shut his eyes.

He wanted it, so badly. There was an ache inside him, one he'd ignored and pushed down for so long he'd forgotten about it, but looking back, it had always been there. It had been alleviated slightly by Shiro and Coran, but now it returned in full force, demanding his attention.

A desire for a father.

"Lance."

His eyes shot open, and he looked up at the man standing near him, clearly nervous and afraid.

Iverson…his father.

"Can I sit with you?"

The question was tentative, a far cry from the commander's usual confidence, and Lance considered, then slowly nodded.

Carefully, Iverson lowered himself to the ground beside him, and also leaned back against the wall. They sat in silence, a tense, awkward silence, neither one sure on how to begin.

Eventually, Iverson spoke, "So, I guess I should explain…"

Lance tapped his arm and shook his head, cutting the man off. He then tapped the side of his own head, and Iverson nodded.

"I see, you're already sure as to how it happened."

The boy nodded, then pointed between them and then forward.

The Commander smiled in understanding, "I understand, let's focus on the future."

Lance smiled back in response.

There was no point dwelling on the past, it wasn't like anything was any one person's fault, stuff happened, and it brought them along their separate paths, it didn't really matter at this point.

They sat in silence once more, both shifting awkwardly and wanting to ask the same thing, but having difficulty working up the courage to do so.

Lance lifted his hands, then dropped them, trying to work out how to communicate what he wanted to say, he glanced at Iverson, then back at the floor, still unsure as to what to do.

He knew what he wanted to ask, he knew the feelings he wanted to express, but without words, he had no idea on how to do it. For one of the few times in his life, he really hated his inability to speak.

He wanted Iverson to be his father, properly.

But how to ask?

Movement beside him caught his attention, and he saw Iverson, holding out an open hand, as if to shake it. He looked up at the man's face and saw hope in his eyes.

"Lance, I want to try and be a father to you, but only if that's what you want. If not, can we at least shake hands as friends."

Lance looked down at the offered hand, then smiled as a way to express himself came to mind.

He took Iverson's hand, but instead of shaking it, he moved it up to his head, and used it to ruffle his hair. He then released it with a smile and moved to his knees, opening his arms. Iverson stared a moment, then obliged, pulling Lance into his arms and gently stroking his hair.

Lance grinned as his dad hugged him.

PS-There we go, and I hope the whole thing worked well. The next chapter or two might focus on Lance/Iverson father/son stuff, but Paladin fluff will return. Please let me know what you thought, and I'll hopefully update soon.