" Hello, Lance,"
If Lance had experienced fear before, it paled in comparison to the feeling coursing through his veins.
Arms were moving around his frame; a hand held so tightly to his mouth that not even a scream could be heard past his own ears. In a split second reaction, going completely off his instincts, he made a grab for the vase that was seated neatly next to the sink for decoration.
He shattered it into the face of the person behind him. When he turned, he was horrified to realize it was Rashra.
This cockroach of a Coeihn was still around?! Lance couldn't even understand how he managed to get into the Kingdom, but with everything that had happened, he should have understood that being a Coeihn himself, or least half of one, it wouldn't have been that hard to sneak in.
Making a break for his Bayard, Rashra beat him to the punch, snagging Lance's arm and throwing him back. Sliding against the porcelain floor, Lance tried to get to his feet but was dragged back when Rashra grabbed his foot.
He yelled, cut off quickly when Rashra covered his mouth. He punched and kicked, fighting with everything he had.
Rashra was physically stronger, making it easy to grip Lance's arms with one hand and pin them behind his back. Pushed towards the side of the room, he lifted his feet and pressed his heels to the wall to stop himself from being forced against it.
He tried to bite Rashra's hand which was almost impossible with how tight his grip was around his chin.
"Squirmy little thing, aren't you?" Rashra snickered into his ear.
"Let go!" Lance's scream was muffled, so he kicked, purposively making sure to hit anything he could to make noise.
For a moment, Rashra's hand left his mouth, slipping under Lance's shirt instead.
He wailed, "No! No!"
A chuckle brushes his ear, cruel and making his blood turn icey. Rashra's finger is slipping upward, circling a nipple.
Lance curved his spine, throwing his head back as hard as he could, slamming the back of his skull into Rashra's nose. It almost made him see stars, but it was sufficient enough to make Rashra lose his balance.
They both slide, crashing to the floor in a heavy heap.
Rashra bodily pinned him down, mostly by accident, and then there was knock on the door. The door handle turned, but Rashra seems to have locked it before entering.
("Blue champions?") It ones of the guards. Lance screams before Rashra reacts fast enough. There is a frantic turn of the handle this time, the knocking becoming thick bangs. The guard is yelling on the other side, probably trying to figure out what is going on. This was followed by the guard calling down the hall, then the frantic pounding of feet.
"Shut your mouth," Rashra growls.
"Get off of me!" Lance snags Rashra around his horn, tugging them to the side. Rashra grunts. Taking Lance's wrists, he pushes them up to pin them above his head. Lance fights when Rashra tries to press his knee between his legs, kicking them against the Coeihn's stomach. Whenever Rashra sought to bring his wrists together, to hold them within one of his palms, Lance wiggled his arms to make it difficult, slipping from Rashra's grip if he loosened it even slightly.
"Lance?!" Keith must have been called over and was banging on the door. Rashra turns his head at the sound, growling.
Lance calls for him, tears prickling his eyes.
"Lance, what is happening?! Lance?"
There is a massive slam, and Lance realizes Keith is trying to break down the door.
Knowing it wouldn't be long till he did so, Rashra lifted Lance and pulled him against his chest. Turned to face the entry way, Rashra raised a blade to his throat just as Keith kicked the door down from its hinges.
Running in, he stops cold, his eyes widening in horror.
A few others Coeihns ran in after him, their swords drawn, tensing at the sight before them.
"Rashra!" Tellru peeked over Keith, the blood draining from her face.
Keith lifted his hand towards his Bayard and stepped forward.
"Ah ah," Rashra scolds, pressing the blade a little closer into Lance's skin. Cut lightly, blood drizzled down the skin of his throat, pooling at his collar bone.
Lance struggles to breathe, trembling in the hands of this psychopath.
"You wouldn't want him getting hurt, would you?" Rashra sneered viciously tightening his grip enough for Lance to feel like his rib cage might crack in half. "If you don't want his pretty little head torn from his body, back up," Rashra commands. Keith visibly bristled, slowly forcing himself to inch back.
"I will kill you," he swears.
"Out of the room," Rashra smirks. The group slowly, unwillingly steps from the room, Keith standing helplessly at the door, his hands gripping his Bayard so hard Lance thought they might break. "Good,"
"What is your plan here, Rashra?!" Dravla demands, "You have nowhere to go! You can't win this,"
"I don't need to win- you and your stupid family made sure of that," Rashra narrowed his eyes, crazed and dangerous. He lifts Lance's chin enough, sliding his tongue along the side of his face. Lance turns away, inhaling sharply. It felt disgusting… wrong in every way imaginable- like a snail has just slivered up his cheek.
"Rashra!" Keith almost ran forward, held back by Dravla.
"W-Why are you doing this?" Lance whispers, holding back a sob.
"Because you took away my victory," Rashra growls. "So I'm going to take away whatever I can from you. Whether that be your life or otherwise."
Keith roars from the doorway, his gaze ballistic, morphing into something deadly, "You try anything, and I'm going to rip you apart!"
Rashra smirked smugly, finding a challenge in that threat.
"How exactly will you do that?" he muses, pressing his nose to Lance's neck, mockingly teasing Keith by inhaling Lance's sweet scent. Lance bit back a whimper, digging his teeth into his bottom lip enough to make it bleed.
"Don't touch him!" Keith demanded roughly
"Or what? You can't exactly hurt me without harming your precious Equivalent," His gaze turns to Lance, "And it seems you two made it official. What a great couple. Too bad that Keith over there had to be saddled with someone as defenseless as you,"
"You shut your mouth!" the red paladin snaps, almost lifted off his feet by a few Coeihns to prevent him from heedlessly running into the Bathroom.
Flinching when Rashra inched closer, Lance held his breath, some putrid smell emanating from the scum's mouth. "How about you brush your teeth?" Lance grunts at him.
"How about I cut out your tongue?"
"Can it be my nose instead?" Lance hisses weakly, "That sounds better than having to smell whatever deceased thing you are,"
"Lance. Lance, please, don't antagonize the lunatic with a sword," Dravla pleads softly.
Lance felt afraid, of course, he did- but something felt okay about the fear all the same. Keith was there, he could see him, and that fire in his eyes gave Lance some sort of courage to get through this.
"You should listen to your friend, Lance. Who knows what this lunatic, might do," Right as he finished, Lance felt slimy fingers curling along his belt buckle. He almost bucked his hips to try and shove the appalling hand away but held still when the blade pressed closer to his neck.
With death looming only a few centimeters away, his eyes could only watch as Rashra slid off his belt and circled the zipper of his pants.
"After all, I'm still pissed off when Keith stabbed me in the back. I have to have some way to get back at him," he snarled. When Rashra's finger flick against the button of his pants, popping it open, Lance starts to panic.
"Stop it!" he yells, curling into himself to attempt to hide his body as much as possible
"You son of a bitch!" Keith's roar of rage could make even the most solemn soldier flinch.
In the haze of his mind, clouded by fear and the urge to throw up, Lance thought of several things at once. The insults Tellru and Dravla were cursing out, Rashra's voice against his ear, Keith's desperate gaze against his- and confusion.
A struggle to understand how anyone could be like this- could be like Rashra. There was a large list of things Rashra had done… how could he have even done a single one?
"Haven't you done enough?" he cries, startling them all, "Dravla- your own people- Kac'ela-! Don't you have any compassion at all?"
"No, I suppose I don't," Rashra smirked wickedly. He didn't even hesitate. How sick was this man? Lance didn't know- he didn't want to know. He just wanted this all to be over.
"Lance,"
There is a sudden pause before someone steps forward. Turning to her the moment she got closer, Rashra held the blade steady to Lance's throat. Tellru doesn't even blink; her eyes are distant.
"...What do you mean, Lance?"
"W-What?" he stammers.
"Just now, you said Kac'ela's name," she tells him. "What did you mean by that?"
Lance goes pales, his heart dropping to his stomach with dread. That's right… Tellru had been close with Manson's Equivalent Kac'ela. If he recalled correctly, Dravla had even mentioned them to be as close as siblings. He could hardly bring himself to tell Manson- how could he possibly tell Tellru? "I…" he looks away, his mouth dry and voice raspy. He couldn't bare to tell her something so horrible. Rashra did it for him, cackling.
"How strange- here I would have thought you would have gossiped to the entire Kingdom by now. Or at least would have told them," he snorts. Tellru's eyes lock on him like a homing beacon, his jaw set and her gaze steely.
"Tell us what?" she challenges.
"How do I say this?" he fakes sympathy, tilting his head, "It was such a tragedy when Kac'ela died- truly a horrible day for the Kingdom."
Dravla glances nervously to Tellru before saying, "It was,"
"I wonder who let those Traveks get so deep into the Kingdom in the first place?" Rashra inquired innocently.
"Take this seriously!" Lance snaps at him, seeing the realization come over Tellru's eyes, "If you are going to do this than admit to properly!"
Rashra narrows his eyes down to Lance, the blade slicing delicately along his cheek, causing the area to bleed. Lance flinches, his body freezing up. He hears a choking sound from Keith, who looks ready to jump out of his skin to get to them.
"You did everything," Lance says harshly, knowing Tellru at least deserved the full truth. "Kac'ela, and even Dravla! You let those Traveks in to kill Kac'ela and have been trying to kill Dravla for years now. You even tried to kill me,"
"It was you…?" Dravla lowers his sword in utter shock. He quickly raises it with a newfound animosity. "It was you," his voice seems to drop two octaves.
Rashra looks ready to take a bow, "Guilty as charged,"
It was another guard turn now to hold Tellru and Dravla back, barely managing to hang on and stopping them from simply lunging at the traitor.
"Kac'ela was kind- he did everything for his people and you- you took him away from us!" Tellru sobbed, lurching forward to try and break free from the guard's grasp. Tellru looked up to yell more, to spit curses at Rashra' disgusting face, but she cut off. Something shined in her eyes, and all her movements stopped.
Lance found the sudden calm in her eyes surprising, and noticed every other member of the guard, even Keith, seemed to look relaxed suddenly. Not sure what it could mean, Lance hears a voice speak up from behind him.
"So it was you, was it?"
A voice so cold, it made Rashra's entire body freeze with fear, breathed against their ears
Out of nowhere, Rashra's arms were forcibly tugged away from the blue paladin's form. Turning sharply, both of them were surprised to realize the King of the Coeihns was responsible.
Manson, with a look that Lance would never be able to forget, had some how managed to get into the room, took Rashra's arms, and pulled them from Lance by force. He took care to hold Rashra's arm, the one hold the sword, far to the side.
"Go, Lance," Manson eyes seemed almost dead to the world, his words dripping with so much venom that Lance visibly shook. As he shakily crawled forward to get away, he spotted some sort of second door that Manson must have entered from. It was behind Rashra, so there was no way for him to see it.
But, that didn't make sense in Lance's mind. He was positive there was only one door when he walked in here.
He would learn later that this mystery door was a secret passageway that leads to a series of tunnels below the Kingdom. Every room had this, in case the castle needed to be evacuated.
Without much else to think of after that, Lance scrambles forward, tripping into Keith's awaiting arms. Keith doesn't hesistate to pull him from the confrontation, murming sweet and soothing words into Lance's hair, hoping to quell his trembling form.
Lance happily pushed his head into Keith's chest, hoping to drown out the sound of rushing feet and the Coeihns lunging for Rashra.
They didn't kill him, despite Tellru and Dravla looking ready to mawl his limbs off his body. Manson commanded he be taken to the dungeon, where his crimes would be decided from there. No one could go against him, and he was hauled off, away from them for good.
At least Lance hoped it was for good.
"Lance," Tellru rushed to their side, "Are you okay?" she examined the cut along his chin. "I- I'm so sorry. I don't know how he managed to get into the castle-"
"It doesn't seem too strange. No everyone is aware of his betrayal, so it would have been easy for him to sneak in without notice," Dravla sighs, his jaw tight with rage. "We should have been more cautious since we didn't confirm he was dead or not,"
Lance didn't want them to blame themselves for what happened and shakes his head, "I should have been paying better attention to my surroundings," he tells them. He was so caught up in the notion of love and Equivalency, he was completely oblivious to the fact that Rashra had snuck into the Bathroom. It should have been easy for Lance to hear the creaking noise, but he was just too distracted.
"The only one at fault here is Rashra," Keith concluded, reaching down to take Lance's hand. His voice grew softer when he says, "Let's get you home," Lance follows, pressing close to Keith's side and nuzzling into his shoulder,
"Do you not wish to stay to see what Rashra's punishment shall be?" Dravla questions them.
"Lance has been through enough today," Keith concludes, "He should go home and rest."
Slowly peeking up at him, Lance can see something hidden away behind Keith's eyes. Something he wasn't saying out loud...
Like he didn't want Lance to be around Rashra anymore than he had to.
"Yeah," Lance agreed, deciding it would be best just to go home. He could talk to Keith then, after all. Tellru and Dravla understood, waiving them off.
Not even remembering walking back to the Kever, Keith shoved his way through the crowd to get Lance a seat. Kneeling in front of him, uncaring to who watched, Keith lifted a hand to Lance's arms. "You're shaking," he notes.
Lance stares down at himself dully, "Am I?"
Keith nods and takes off his jacket. Reaching up, he drapped it over Lance's shoulders, keeping eye contact with him the entire ride back. Lance felt numb, if he had to be honest. He had been assulted, and that he petrified him, but the worse part was seeing the looks on Tellru and Dravla's face they realized the full extent of what Rashra had done. He couldn't erase it from his mind; the pure horror of it. How were you suppose to look a murdereer in the eye anyway?
Letting Keith tug him to his feet when they arrived, he followed him like a lost puppy to the apartment. Keith was quick to have them kick off their shoes, guiding Lance through the bed.
He settled Lance on the edge of their shared bed and just… stood there.
He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do right now. Hug, kiss, talk, smother with affection…? What was the correct response? What if Lance didn't want any of that right now? Keith wasn't used to having to comfort people during things like that. He was just so angry! He wanted to stay with Lance but he also wanted to storm back to the castle and cut Rashra's head off!
"Lance, are you- do you need- can I do anything?" Keith pants. Lance doesn't say anything for a long time- similar to the entire ride back up here.
He shakes his head.
Keith drops to his knees in front of him, looking up to meet his eyes. He wanted to do something to help- to get Lance's mind off of it. It wasn't good to just ignore something this big either though so…
"Keith," Lance's fingers slowly come forward, cupping his face, "I'm okay. You don't need to stress yourself over this,"
Startled, Keith doesn't hesitate to pull Lance into his arms. He had been terrified. Lance was the one that should have been terrified, and he should be the one that was being comforted, but Keith felt like his world was shattering the entire time he was in Rashra's grasp.
"I thought something-" Keith inhales sharply, running his hands up and down Lance's arms to just assure himself that he was here and that he was okay. "I couldn't save you. I couldn't get to you. I'm so sorry, Lance," he chokes.
Tears build in the blue paladin's eyes and he shakes his head, "No, Keith I-" his voice cracks, "Just the fact that I could see your face made everything okay, you know? If I was in there alone I-" He pulls Keith back against him, sobbing into his shoulder. Keith leans against the bed to cradle him, hushing him with a gentle voice.
It made Lance honestly believe that perhaps now they could finally be at ease with this- at least on this planet anyway. Zarkon was always out there, but here, right now, he could just cherish Keith. He did have to worry about interruptions or threats.
"I-" Keith swallows thickly, the vow coming out with a solemn voice, "I'll keep you safe, Lance,"
"I know you will," Lance whispers, "I'll keep you safe too,"
They talked, whispering into each other's ears of their hopes for when the team showed up. Lance confided that he loved this planet and that he was afraid of what would happen when they got back to the team.
Keith didn't fully understand, and neither did Lance- he just didn't want things to change.
"They won't," Keith tells him
Lance nods, but doesn't seem to believe him entirely. Assuring him with a gentle kiss, Keith they discussed other things- like what Ruru would do if they left. Who would Dravla and Tellru have to nanny her? They might just have to go back to having multiple different ones if Ruru wasn't accepting of them.
They laughed, cried a little more, then stared at each other. It was quiet, more intimate than anything Keith could fathom.
"Lance," He brushed his thumbs to Lance's cheeks, running them over the scar on his eyes. He treasured these scars.
As horrible as it was, is what lead them here. If it wasn't for the scar, Keith wasn't sure if they would be where they are now.
He loved it, even if Lance thought himself ugly from it. To Keith, it made Lance all the more beautiful.
When Keith didn't say anything else, Lance raises his eye brow, "What?" Leaning up to kiss the scar, Lance bats him away timidly, blushing. "What?" he repeats the question.
"Nothing. I love you," Keith tells him
"I love you, too,"
Sprawling themselves over the bed, content enough to just lay there in each other's arms, Keith watched the sun slowly lower till it eventually set and he realized Lance had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He couldn't do the same.
Lifting the blankets up to cover them, making sure Lance didn't get cold, his thoughts were tortured with the events at the castle.
He couldn't just let something like that go. Rashra was still there. They didn't kill him, just took him away to decide a punishment for later.
Rashra had gone too far. He threatened his friends, him, and now Lance. He had to pay.
Keith sat up when the clock struck three in the morning. He slowly looked over at Lance, who was curled in a bundle within the blankets, one arm tossed over Keith's waist. Leaning down to kiss his forehead, loving how soft Lance's skin was, he slipped out from below his arm.
Knowing Lance wouldn't approve of this other wise, Keith quietly got dressed and made for the door, planning to return before Lance ever awoke.
He didn't want to do anything to Rashra at the time with Lance there in the castle- but he couldn't just let this matter slide.
He was going to see that piece of scum and finish this.
With that thought, he jumped on the first Kever he could and made his way to the castle. It wasn't too hard to get in from there and make his way down to the dungeon. Illuminated with candles, he was surprised to find only one guard stationed down there.
When he went to question them, a presence appeared behind him.
"I figured I would find you down here," a voice catches him by surprise. Turning, he finds Tellru leaning against the dungeon walls, her gaze cold and set.
"Same could be said about you," Keith tells her. "I'm just surprised that you are down here and Rashra is still alive."
"It isn't easy," she assures him. "But I'm not the only one he's hurt. I want us all to get in whatever we need to before we end this."
"Then we're doing this?" the sound of steps could be heard before Dravla arrived, Manson at his heels.
"Dravla…?" Keith asks.
"I got my own bone to pick with that guy," he says, "Not to mention…" he didn't feel like he even had to explain why Manson was here.
"Treason alone is enough for execution," Manson says with a chilled voice, "But Rashra made this personal."
Taking each other their faces, the group seemed to come to a quiet agreement before they moved down the hall as one. Moving past the single guard, which Keith assumed was placed there by Manson's request to make this discreet, the entered his cage. He had been chain to the wall, his face bruised and beaten already just to get him down here.
Lifting his head to watch them enter, his snorts, "Well if it isn't the mighty King and his happy band of followers. Here to give me my punishment?"
"I would always give a criminal a trial under normal circumstances," The King says, "But you've already admitted to your crimes- so I see no reason for one. Your punishment shall be death, Rashra,"
The smirk in his eyes pissed Keith off. "Death? Is that all?" he snickers. "So tell me, how will you do it, your highness?"
Manson didn't answer for a long time but looked back to Tellru and Dravla. They nodded to him, and he turned to Keith, "You can be the one to do it, Keith," Manson tells him. Keith turns so suddenly, caught off guard.
"What?" he gawks at him. "But he is the one who- to your Equivalent… "
"And he almost did the same to you, and then some," Manson says. "To me, it does not matter how Rashra pays for his crimes, merely that the deed is done. Though I would gladly end him with my own hands, I owe you and Lance the lives of my entire Kingdom and my son,"
"We all do," Tellru agrees, "Which is why you can do it… but only if you want to,"
Back at the apartment, that was all Keith wanted- he wanted to end Rashra's life and get rid of him for good. Without much though his feet were moving on his own, approaching Rashra.
Without a word, Keith lifted his bayard as he walked towards the scum before him. With a swift strike, he could pierce Rashra in the heart. Was that too easy? Was that just the right amount in this case?
What would Lance do?
Lance had the chance to kill Rashra before but stilled his hand. Of course at the time he didn't know all the things Rashra had done, but would that have changed anything? Lance at his core was a kind person who wouldn't try to kill if he could avoid it. Even know he was aware that Lance tortured himself over the lives he naturally took when they fought against Zarkon.
If he was here and given a chance, would he kill Rashra? Keith wasn't sure. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling himself right now. He was so confident about coming here and ending his life, but now that he was, he didn't know what to do.
It didn't feel right. At least, not by his hands.
If Lance knew what he was about to do, would have thought poorly of Keith? Would he think less of him? He was aware that Lance wouldn't kill Rashra, that wasn't even a question. Lance was too kind to take his life. Maybe rough him up, but never kill.
Keith wanted to be someone Lance could be proud of, and he worried that if he did this, he wouldn't be able to look him in the eye anymore.
Lowering his blade, he sighed, "I can't," he looks away
"What is wrong?" Tellru inquired
"I've already stained my hands since coming to this planet," Keith opens and closes his palm, his eyes distant, recalling when he had killed that Coeihn before when Lance had been taken, "With Lance there, no less. I can't go back to him, look him in the eye, and tell him I let my anger lead me to kill someone again. Even if he deserves it, and even if I want to, I can't."
Tellru's voice is soft when she says his name, reaching out to pat his shoulder.
"Coward," Rashra choked between the silence, "Letting me go so freely," he smirks, mocking Keith.
"I didn't say that," Keith's tone is dark. "I won't kill you, Rashra. That doesn't mean I don't have something else in mind. Tellru, Dravla and the King can do whatever they want to you. You hurt them the most… but I'm not leaving till I'm satisfied."
Curious, Tellru's hand slips from his should and watches him move around Rashra, switching his bayard to his left hand.
"There is a saying in my world," he tells the others as a matter of factly, " An eye for an eye, is how it goes. Lance was injured on endless counts since coming here- but the largest one that haunted him was the injury to his eyes." he gripes the back of Rashra's skull, pulling it back. "I could beat you, choke you- do all the things you've had done to Lance, but none of those seemed to stay with him long. His eyes were different." he lifts his bayard towards Rashra's face. "Knowing you worked for the Galra puts you on the same level as them- so I see no reason you can't take the punishment for what they did,"
Rashra's eyes widen in realization as the blade comes closer.
Steeling himself, Keith thought back to how terrified Lance had been while he was blind. How clingy and desperate he was for assurance. It made his heart ache to recall such things, edging him on for what he was about to do next.
"This is for Lance," he growls darkly, slashing his bayard forward to cut a jagged line from one of Rashra's horns to the other. Rashra screamed in agony, attempting to turn his head away and ruin Keith's aim. Stepping closer, forcing Rashra to turn his head towards him, he slashes at the other eye.
He had never been close enough before to actually watch or consider the damage he does to an enemy. Usually, it was a cut and go kind of attack during missions.
It made his stomach churn to watch the injury appear, but he didn't stop. He wouldn't stop till he was done.
Seeing that he managed to lacerate both of his eyes, Keith stepped back to watch a sickening orange substance drip from them, pooling on the floor below.
Turning back to look at the others he wasn't that surprised to see their expressions calm, almost satisfied with the display; these were a people of war, after all. Bloodshed, gore, death, they were normal to them.
Rashra's wails of agony echoed, leaving Keith feeling numb. Looking down at his bayard, watching the blood slide down it's slick frame, he tosses his arm to the right, splattering the wall with the substance to clean his own bayard of it.
Closing it and attaching it back to his belt, he watched Rashra roll onto his side, calling curses and other insults blindly towards Keith's direction. Stepping back, he let the others step forward for their own revenge.
He didn't leave until it was done.
They had broken evey bone in Rashra's body, impaling his arms, his legs, they left him alive as long as possible, forcing him to feel every torturous attack until he died of blood loss. Then, they took his body down and burned it, assuring there wasn't even a single trace of his being.
Keith didn't know what he was supposed to feel with this. Satisfaction? Joy? He felt nothing. Honestly, he assumed that perhaps he felt some sort of relief that it was finally over.
When everything was said an done, Tellru embraced Keith, holding him close and patting his head. She thanked him, but he didn't feel like he deserved it.
A second later, Dravla embraced him too, and Keith felt warm and comforted in their arms. "It's over," Dravla tells him, like he is assuring Keith of this. He nods numbly, embracing them back
"Are you going home?" Tellru inquired. Was he just supposed to go back after all this? He wanted to...
"I need to get back to Lance," he says. Tellru stops him from leaving, motioning down to his clothes. Keith grimaces at them, and asks Manson if there were any clothes he could borrow since his were bloody.
Manson gives him some of his old ones from when he was younger, patting Keith on the back, "Rest well, my friend. If there is anything you need, do not be afraid to ask."
Keith nods, thanking the King back. "You don't need to do that- we're okay,"
"I insist. I found my love's murderer today and am... well, I feel a little bit at peace. WIthout you and your Equivalent, Rashra would have still been wandering the streets, and I might have never known he was the one responsible. Thank you, Keith. When I see Lance again, I'll thank him too,"
Without much else to say, Keith took his leave.
It was a little later than he expected when he finally sauntered out of the Castle, fresh clothes on his body and bathed to hide the smell and look of blood on his person. Seeing that twilight was upon him, knowing it wouldn't be long till dawn, he booked it home.
Scrambling up the steps, he slipped into the apartment, stopping cold to see Lance sitting up in bed, staring out the window. The light of dawn washed over him in a gentle glow, illuminating his smooth skin and soft hair.
He turns, his eyes shining through his smile at the sight of Keith. "There you are," he says.
"I- sorry," Keith kicks off his shoes, "I was just-"
"Don't tell me," Lance lifts his arms up to embrace Keith. Stepping into them, falling back to lay on the bed, Lance kisses his hair, "I don't want to know."
"Lance…." Keith nuzzles into him. "I didn't-"
"I know you wouldn't kill him," Lance cuts him off, startling Keith.
"Y-You do?"
"I know you, Keith. You'll do what needs to be done, but you aren't a murderer. You are better than Rashra," Touched beyond words, Keith holds Lance closer, "I also know you probably wouldn't just let him go without some sort of revenge either. I don't want to know what you did. I want to put it behind us."
"As you wish,"
Lance nods, 'It got chilly without you here,"
"Have you been awake long?"
"No."
"Are you mad I left?"
"No." Lance pecks his cheek with a kiss, "I kind of expected it. It's fine,"
Rolling them over, Keith pulled Lance upward to kiss him, running his hands through chestnut hair. Lance melts into the embrace, lifting his arms to wrap around Keith's shoulders.
"Will-" Lance gasped between them, "Are we good now?"
"What do you mean?" Keith pulls away to stare at him.
"Rashra's gone, the team is probably on their way- I know Zarkon is still out there but- are we good now? Can we just be together now and be happy?"
Keith's heart swells, "Of course we can," he kisses him once more, soft and gentle, "Now that I have you, Lance, I'm never letting you go,"
"I'm holding you to that, Kogane," laying in bed for a few moments, Lance suddenly lifts his head, recalling something, "Do you remember a few weeks ago…. a little bit after that assassination attempt? You said we would go watch the sunset together," Lance murmurs against his neck
"I did," Keith recalls, "I say this is our perfect chance,"
Rising, the two tip toed out of the apartment, up the stairs, to the top of the apartment complex. Hand in hand, they sat towards the railing, letting their feet hand over the edge as they cuddled close, a blanket tossed over their shoulders
"I'm still waiting for that honeymoon," Lance whispers within the silence. His voice travels, waves of warmth kissing Keith's skin.
"I'm still planning. I want it to be perfect,"
"Take your time,"
Keith nods, then clears his throat, "But um… You won't laugh if it turns out to be stupid or something, right?"
"What do you mean stupid?" Lance inquires.
"I told you, I'm not good with Romance. So what I plan might be dumb or something,"
With a sweet laugh, Lance rests his head on Keith's shoulder, "I won't laugh," he promises, "I'll love whatever you do, Keith,"
Enjoying the view when the sun finally peeked over the horizon, Lance hums, "It's beautiful," Keith agrees, gripping Lance's hand tightly. "Hey," Lance gives a little tug to his shirt, "Who's clothes are these?"
"Manson's,"
"These are a little small to be Manson's,"
"From when he was younger,"
"Probably from when he was a child. You are wearing his baby clothes," Lance snickers.
"These aren't his baby clothes," Keith rolls his eyes.
"Have you seen how tall that guy is? He reaches almost 7 or 8 feet tall. Keith, these are his baby clothes. He probably wore these when he was under ten-years-old."
"That doesn't make him a baby," Keith concludes unwilling to admit he was as small as some Coeihn children. Hopefully tall Coeihn children.
"I honestly can't wait to see Shiro amongst these guys. He is super tall, so it will be funny that he is going to be considered short," Lance tells him
"Wait till they meet Pidge,"
"Ruru is gonna think Pidge is a kid just like her!" Lance laughs, throwing his head back. Keith joins in, patting his stomach. Letting their giggles die off, Keith leaned down to kiss Lance. Smiling, the blue paladin raises his eye brow, "What was that for?"
"Nothing in particular. I just like to kiss you,"
Lance swoons, "I like to kiss you too ya flirt,"
"So says the flirt,"
"You love it when I flirt," Lance disagrees.
Keith frowns, "Not when it is with other people- which is who you usually flirt with,"
Lance makes a dramatic gasping noise, "The only one I've flirted with since coming to this planet has been you," he jabs his finger into his chest.
Keith considers that "And... hopefully I'll be the only one after we leave... right?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Lance muses, nipping his bottom lip, "Of course I'll only flirt with you," taking Keith's face into his hands, he brought them together to share a blissful kiss.
Sitting there till the sun fully appeared into the sky, Keith and Lance walked back in to have some breakfast. Keith would watch Lance, mesmerized by him. He seemed so at ease, his face gentle and eyes warm.
Keith loved him so much. It made his heart hurt sometimes.
He was glad this thing with Rashra hadn't affected his mood. Or perhaps he was just trying to push through it and ignore the fact that it happened? Keith honestly wanted to do that same.
Keith wanted to make sure that smile never left Lance's face. He just wasn't sure how to keep it around.
"What should we eat today?" Lance inquired as they returned to their apartment.
"I'll make it," Keith offers.
Feeling like he couldn't get enough of the blue paladin to satisfy him, and hoping he never felt satisfied, Keith attempted to be romantic. He needed to learn so he could plan out that honeymoon properly.
Recalling the things Lance had done for him a few weeks ago, he pulled out the chair at the table for Lance when he went to sit down.
With the blanket still draped over his shoulders, Lance blinked at him curiously. Smiling he sat down, letting Keith push his chair in. Insisting he would make breakfast he quickly got to work, buzzling around in the kitchen.
He could feel Lance's eyes on him, smiling at him. He wanted to be a good Equivalent- one that was fun, easy to talk to- someone Lance could enjoy being around. Lance enjoyed being around him, right?
Finishing the food, he took their plates to the table, wondering if there was any way to make this breakfast a little different. Dravla has said it was always good to mix it up a little sometimes. Try new things...
"Oh uh…" Placing Lance's plate down on the table, Keith searches the room frantically. Not sure what he was up to, Lance tilts his head when Keith finds what he is looking for and places it in the middle of the table.
Revealing it to be a small candle, he lights it and sits down, scooting his chair in and clearing his throat. He stares at Lance expectantly, almost hopefully.
Lance just blinked at him, eyeing the candle. Since Keith never did anything like this, he wasn't quite sure what to make of the moment. "Um..."
Keith quickly explained, "I just wanted today to be nice. Just um-" he clears his throat, feeling nervous, "I'm horrible at this. I told you it would be dumb- sorry."
Realizing he was trying to get into the 'Romantic' feel of things, Lance smiles. "You're cute,"
Keith frowns, "I'm trying,"
"It's working," Lance assures him, "Candles always make things romantic,"
"They do?"
He shrugs, "Probably. I think they do, so I believe you're doing an excellent job, sweetheart,"
Biting his lower lip, Keith nods nervously. It was incredibly cute in Lance's eyes to see him trying so hard with this, and he couldn't wait to see what exactly Keith considered romantic.
Knowing he seemed unsure, Lance tells him, "It isn't that hard to be romantic. You don't have to go all out or anything. Just… little things. I mean, if you want to do big things, do big things, but little things work to,"
"What's considered a little thing?" Keith wonders.
Pondering that thought himself Lance explains, "I suppose it is just any way for you to show you love the other person. You want them to feel special. Like... " Lance got up to retrieve a writing untensil from the counter and returned to grab a napkin. Making sure Keith didn't see what he wrote, he scribbled a quick note, folded it, then slide it across the table to him.
Curious, Keith takes it and opens it up.
(" Do you even realize how amazing you are to me?)
" Like that," Lance concludes, "It's simply, small, and it-" he trails off to stare at the look on Keith's face. To Lance, he hadn't thought too deeply on that note and just wrote down the first thing that came to mind. It made him blush to see Keith's expression- pure joy, like Lance, had just gifted him the entire world.
"I think I get it," Keith murmurs, bringing the letter close to the chest before sticking into his pocket for a keepsake.
Swallowing thickly, his heart hammering, Lance nods, "G-Glad I could help," he stuffs his face with breakfast to avoid any more sudden embarrassment. Keith was just too cute.
Not wanting to go out that day, especially with Keith's protectiveness in full kill mode at the moment after what happened, Lance didn't mind spending the day at the apartment.
They spent their time curled together, snuggling or having sex.
Keith at one point insisted that it wasn't sex, which made Lance very confused.
"Then what do you call this?" he inquired quietly between them, cheeks flushed and breathing short.
"Making love," Keith nods his head proudly, so insistent and proud to have said this.
Lance wasn't sure whether to laugh, swoon, or cry- This paladin was unbelievably amazing.
He even wondered if this was the start of their Honeymoon since they were spending so much alone time together- and well, he kind of figured this is what a married couple kind of did.
Keith quickly told him no, saying that he would let Lance know when that started. He insisted that he wanted it to be perfect, just like how Lance made that date a few weeks ago perfect.
It made Lance's chest flutter with anticipation and he agreed to wait. He thought today great just being able to be with Keith- so he was pretty excited to see what Keith would do for their honeymoon.
...Which was a weird thing to say.
But hey, the day went great.
Till Keith was an ass and bit him again.
Right while they were, as Keith says, making love, he bites him! Several times!
Lance will never admit that he moaned or that it was somewhat of a turn on to him, even if it kind of was, because the bite marks he left were ridulous.
"Lance," Keith says
Lance turns away from him, hiding himself under the sheets to conceal his body.
Keith gave him the most pitiful look Lance had ever witnessed, "I'm sorry- I just- I dunno what came over me. I just did it,"
"You bit. My. Nipples," Lance sniffles at him, lifting his hands enough to peek at his chest. Perfect Keith teeth indentations surrounded his nipples, leaving reddening circles around both of them. "In fact, you've been biting a lot lately, mister!" Lance sits up to reveal his neck, showing the eveidence.
Keith scratches his head, looking like some sort of kicked puppy who ripped a shoe apart. He bows his head to Lance, apologizing again, "I just do it- I don't even realize I do it till it's already said and down," he tries to explain. "I can't control it,"
"Well then let me give you incentive; bite me again without asking and no more sex," Lance grumbles. As much as Lance might like it, he preferred his skin to be nice. Biting had to be limited to something that only happened every so often.
Looking horrified, Keith nodded, "I'll try-I mean, I promise." he looks determined to make sure this was seen through, and Lance wondered if he could actually pull it off. He busies himself with counting the bites, totallying it up to seven; his nipples, a few on his neck, and one on his thigh.
"How would you feel if I just went biting you all willy nilly?" Lance huffed.
Keith stifles a laugh at the word.
Lance tries to be mad, but hey, willy nilly is fun to say. "I asked you a question," he smirks a little, nudging Keith. He shrugs in response.
"I dunno,"
"Then let me try it," Lance sits up, his resolve found. Keith is caught off guard, suddenly looking timid.
"Right now?"
"Right now,"
Keith gulps, glancing down at himself, "W-Where?"
Lace shrugs, "I dunno. Give me your wrist," Deciding that Keith had given him a few strange bite marks, he might as well test it out somewhere not too noticeable. Suddenly seeming smaller, Keith slowly extended his wrist to Lance, watching with baited breath as he settled next to him.
Brushing his lips against the skin, hesitant, Lance opened his mouth around the area. Feeling the skin against his teeth, feeling unsure about this, he bit down lightly at first, not sure what Keith could find so compelling about.
Not wanting to hurt Keith, but definitely wanting to leave his own mark, he glanced up at him, curious to his reaction.
Lance ended up choking when he saw Keith's shoulders trembling; his face set ablaze- looking so turned out by just a simple bite alone. D-Did he actually enjoy that?!
Amazed, but also confused, he eyed Keith wearilly. He was trying to cover his face with his other hand, his cheeks flamming all the way up to his ears. "Did that feel good?" Lance inquired weakly.
Keith can't trust his voice and shrugs.
Lance knows better than that, and leans back down to his arm, letting his teeth travel a little higher this time. Choosing around his bicep, he bit the area a bit more firmly then that last, watching in awe as Keith came undone before him, abandoning himself completely to the feeling.
A low sound tore from the back of Keith's throat when Lance pulled back, almost sending him over the edge. His entire body felt electrified as he moved up to Keith's neck, pushing back his hair to reveal his slender, unbitten neck.
Keith faintly called his name, almost pleading for him to do it, and Lance happily obliged, chomping down on the junture between Keith's neck and shoulder. The Red paladin cried out, trembling beneath Lance's fingers.
Sweet. Parlog. Keith didn't like it, he loved it!
Lance didn't have much interest in bitting others, and being bitten had it's charm for a little while, but if he could get this kind of reaction from Keith, he should have been doing this from the start.
So Keith had a thing about biting, and being bitten apparently. That was cool, that was fun, that was… Let's face it, Lance was giddy about this. There was totally a word for liking stuff like this too, but Lance couldn't recall it off the top of his head. Either way, he had found some valuable information he could hence forth use to his advantage.
"Keith?" Lance leaned over him, smiling down at his panting Equivalnt. Clutching the side of his neck where Lance had bitten, Keith shivered, "Am I weird?" he inquired breathlessly.
"No," Lance tells him, "Well, maybe, but not for that. Everyone has different tastes and whatever- you should embrace this new side to you~"
Keith looks unsure, shyly asking, "Does that mean I can bite you when we make love?"
Adoring that he still and would forever refer to sex as that, Lance shakes his finger at him, "I said it was okay for you to like it. I'm a different story. I like it sometimes. You still gotta ask before you do it," he says, pointing at Keith warningly.
Keith nods, shifting closer to wrap his arms around Lance's frame, tugging him close.
Smiling at him, Lance snuggled close.
This was fantastic.
It was such an experience to learn these little things about each other. The idea of them still discovering more, and growing to learn those things together was so enticing that it made Lance's heart pound.
Content to just stay like this forever, Lance knew it wouldn't last.
The two were surprised when they heard a knock on the door a little while later. Leaving Lance to the bed, kissing him once before rising to his feet, Keith quickly tossed on a shirt and some pants before he went to the door.
When he opened it, he wasn't that surprised to find Tellru on the other side.
What he wasn't expecting was to see her so out of breath.
"What's up?" he asks, tensing, fearing a whole new problem.
"W-We just got… a message," she lifts her head to smile, "A ship, one from outside the planet, wishes to land here. The woman on the line said her name was Allura and that she is looking for her missing paladins."
Keith and Lance look at each other, grinning from ear to ear.
The team had found them
It's almost over. ;-; There is one more chapter guys. One more chapter, and then this story is done. Can you believe this?
Reviews:
AirenLag: Oh my gosh, I'm sorry but also not sorry! XD Taking the life span of others through my writing is my secret hobby apparently! XD haha thank you so much for reviewing!
Guest: ahaha XD Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that! You are welcome for compromising your health!
Devil Wolf Girl: The other paladins are going to be in the next chapter, yup :3 It's going to be a roller coaster of a ride, that is for sure!
Pinkdoughnuts: He dead now! He's all dead now, it is good! Don't worry! Thank you so much!
Ewink18: Aww, Ewink, thank you so much. That means a lot to me, and thank you so much for the support. I'm super sad this story is ending, but hopefully you all like every other story that I post as much as you liked this one :3 I love getting your reviews and talking to you! Thank you!
KnightOwl247: Second thattttttttttt
Adrianna Agray: I always have a curveball up my sleeve. Always XD It ends in the next chapter, so hopefully you like this story to the very end!
Thecolorfulmonster: THANK YOU! You are so sweet and i'm so glad you like the story, the characters, the smut, and all the other goodness! It has been such an honor getting your reviews and talking to you, and each review you send makes me so happy! So thank you! Klance or Leith! I don't even know! XD If I was told Leith, I probably would have gone with that ship name when I first started all this, but everyone said Klance, so I got used to that one XD So I'm probably sticking with that one
Deathlord-92: I"M DONE WITH RASHRA TOO! THE TEAM IS COMING! :D Also, oh my gosh no I didn't get your review before! Thank you so much for saying all that lovely stuff ;-; You are so sweet and that has to be one of the best reviews I've gotten. I'm sobbing at everything you said and screencapped it just to save it and look at it. You are amazing, and taking the time to write all of that is just so touching. Thank you, truly, thank you. And you saying it is better than all those other fanfics is just- ahhh- it's killing me! I love those fanfics, so thank you!