A/N: I do not own Voltron, nor any of its characters. Lissa, Fire Storm, and the Legion of Light are all mine, however, as are the White Riders.
P.S. Thanks to RedLion and yamatoforever for reviewing. I do so love feedback! And opinions are appreciated.
Lance immediately spun around, his hand going to the laser pistol that he always wore in the waistband of his pants, hidden beneath his ever present jacket. He paused, more then a bit perplexed, when he saw that there was no one around. He glanced over his shoulder at Lissa, wondering if her presence was truly driving him mad and causing him to hear voices. He wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. She'd always had a soul encompassing effect upon him. He hesitated a moment, not wanting to ask her if he'd imagined that voice or not, because if she hadn't heard anything, she was going to think he was insane, and probably flee from him without a backwards glance.
Fortunately, he was saved from his little dilemma when Lissa turned around and tiredly said, "Please stay out of this, Fire Storm. It's none of your concern."
"I beg to differ," the voice said again, ringing in the air with the volume of a thunderstorm. "Anything that threatens you is of concern to me, and I can tell this man is a danger to your peace of mind."
Lance frowned as he tore his gaze from Lissa and once more looked around, searching for the speaker. "Hey, pal, I suggest you mind your own business. But for the record, I'd die before I'd ever hurt Lissa."
"Your words mean nothing to me, boy," the voice bellowed, and Lance's head moved in the direction of the sound until he was finally able to locate the speaker.
What Lance saw left him feeling a little surprised, and infinitely amused. For all it's thundering, the gargantuan voice belonged to the tiniest white snake Lance had ever seen. It was no longer then his arm, and as slender as one of his fingers. Its head was crowned by two small white horns that made its visage somewhat noble, but it was hardly a threatening creature.
Lance smirked down at the beast, but before he could say anything, Lissa's voice rang out, her words sharp. "I'll not have you interfere in this, Fire Storm. I know Lance from a time before my service in the Legion, and his quarrel with me is immune to your Familiar's oath to protect me."
The snake continued to glare at Lance balefully. "Indeed? That may be, but if his attitude continues to be so hostile towards you, I will not be responsible for my actions."
Lance's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh, and I'm sure I wouldn't want to be around if you got angry."
The snake merely stared at him, but Lissa said, "Lance, please, don't antagonize him. He's overprotective as it is, without your juvenile behavior to encourage him."
Lance immediately stopped smiling when he heard the pleading tone in her voice. As upset as he was with her, and as ungentle as he'd been with her thus far, Lance really didn't want to hurt Lissa in any way. He just wanted to talk to her, to find out why she'd left all those years ago without saying goodbye. In his heart, he'd always known she would be leaving him to join the Legion of Light. It had been her dream since childhood, and few were fortunate enough to be called to serve in the illustrious ranks of the White Riders, yet she had been chosen when she was still a child.
When Lance had met Lissa, she'd already known she was destined to serve in the Legion, and one of the iron clad rules the Legion had was that its members be pure in every way. Mind, spirit, and body. And while the Legion of Light consisted of the finest warriors in the universe, the White Riders were its most elite unit. White Riders were allowed to have no ties, nothing to interfere with their service to the Legion. When they took the Oath to serve, they severed all connections to family, friends, and the past, as if their life before had never been. Their loyalty was unwavering, even in comparison to the other members of the Legion. White Riders had only their Familiars, their steeds of war that were bonded to them on the day they took the Oath.
Lance had known this, but he'd expected to see her one last time before losing her. When she never showed up, he knew she was gone, most likely forever, and he'd never gotten to tell her the true extent of his feelings. That he'd never love another woman as long as he lived.
Since this creature was her Familiar, he had to treat it with respect, if only for her sake. The Familiar was the one thing that was constant in a White Rider's life. The loyalty of those noble beasts was legendary. Lance had heard stories of how the bond between a White Rider and a Familiar bordered on the divine. That a Familiar was the source of a White Rider's power, and that if either a White Rider or a Familiar was slain, their bonded died as well.
Lance ran a hand through his hair and sighed, his voice tinged with regret when he said, "Look, I'm sorry if I seem to be threatening towards Lissa. It's just, well, we go way back, and there are a lot of unresolved issues between us. My feelings are getting the better of me, and it's hard for me to control my temper, but I swear to you that I mean her no harm."
The snake glared at him in disdainful silence for a moment, but its golden eyes were thoughtful, almost as if it were reading his mind. Perhaps it was. He had no idea about the powers of the Familiars. He must have passed whatever test the beast was conducting, for it suddenly nodded its head and said, "Very well, it seems you are an honorable man, and I can trust you to keep your word. Besides, milady seems to be most confident that you mean her no ill will, and her judgment has never failed us."
Lance blinked at the animal in surprise, but the snake turned and slithered away through the grass before he had time to say anything. He slowly turned back to Lissa, frowning thoughtfully. "That was your Familiar?" he asked, his voice puzzled. "I always thought they were bigger, since they're supposed to be the steeds of the White Riders."
Lissa's sad expression was momentarily banished by a mischievous grin. "Yes, well, the Familiars secrets guard themselves."
They stood in companionable silence for a moment, staring at each other as past memories danced between them. Lance moved closer to her and said, "I meant what I said. We really need to talk."
"Not now, Lance," Lissa said, shaking her head. "I'm tired from the trip here, and seeing you again after all this time isn't exactly relaxing."
Lance didn't like the way that sounded, and he was scowling as he moved even closer to her. "If not now, then when? How do I know you won't simply vanish over night? What if your lord and master decides he wants to leave before we get a chance to talk? I wouldn't be surprised if Allura throws him out of the Castle of Lions before the night is over."
Lissa smiled at him and said, "I promise to remain on Arus until we've had a chance to talk. You have my word. Prince Ower is not in a position to order me to leave, it is my duty to see to his safety, and for now I think he's safer on Arus then Alcon, at least until the civil wars there are settled. We won't be going anywhere anytime soon. I'll visit you in the morning, but for now I need sleep."
Lance wanted to argue with her, because his emotions were roiling within him and threatening to explode at any moment. But he could tell she was tired, he could see the weariness in her eyes and the way her shoulders seemed to slump beneath the weight of her sword, so he simply nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," Lissa whispered, and then she did something that caught Lance by surprise. She stepped closer to him and placed a hand on his cheek, her eyes gentle and searching as they met his. "I've missed you so. I never realized until today how empty my life has been without you."
Lance was stunned and confused by her admission. To hear that she'd missed him, just as he'd missed her, was like a dream come true. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to shout with joy, to never let her out of his sight again. But before he had a chance to react, she pulled another one of her infamous vanishing tricks and was gone. He was tempted to follow her, but he knew that would be selfish. She'd promised to see him, and he knew her to be a woman of her word. She'd looked so pale and worn, as if she hadn't rested in days, and so he reluctantly made his way to his own room, so that she could have a moment's peace.
But damn it all, it wasn't easy. He'd forgotten how difficult being in love was. Poets liked to write pretty lines about how love was gentle and sweet. And sometimes it was. Sometimes it inspired a person to be the very best they could be, so that they were worthy of their love, or so they could protect the one they loved from danger. It ignited a selflessness and kindness that was awe inspiring. But it was also violent and urgent, it consumed a person so completely that it could drive them to madness. It could become a person's reason for living, or dying. The power of love was unrivaled by anything else in the universe, and Lance knew that better then most.
A/N: In the next couple of chapters, Lissa is going to be doing a great deal of reflecting, and Lance is going to be taking a stroll down memory lane. There won't be much present interaction between the two, but I promise it won't take long. Just necessary background building…Sigh.