A/N: I do not own Voltron, its characters or settings. Anything new is mine.
Thank you to Failte, RedLion and yamatoforever for reviewing.
Failte: I was worried I might have gone on and on about Lissa's past a bit much, but I thought it necessary for the story. Glad you liked it. I think character development Is important, though it's easy to get carried away with it, too. Hee hee.
RedLion: I think people who are in love tend to act pretty crazy, jumping to conclusions all the time thanks to the intensity of their emotions. Lance can see Keith and Allura's love because he's on the outside of it, just as Keith and Allura can see what's between Lance and Lissa. It's funny how things like that happen. Plus, it's fun to write about!
Yamato: Don't worry; Fire Storm is an honorable creature. He'd never try to kill Lance. Oh, he'd threaten him and intimidate him, but never actually hurt him, since he knows Lissa loves Lance. Plus, he doesn't have venom… No, really, Fire Storm will only do what he thinks is just, and killing an innocent man is not in his nature. But he will try to put an end to their relationship to save Lissa from disgrace or even more lethal consequences. Unfortunately for Fire Storm, he's not as clever as he likes to believe.
Keith remained silent until Lance had finished talking. The story was not a pretty one, he had to admit, and he knew Lance had to be feeling an unbelievable amount of pain. He was surprised the other pilot had managed to keep such a secret, but he was beginning to realize that the sarcastic behavior Lance favored was a shield for a much softer interior. Keith could sympathize with the other man, because he knew a thing or two about forbidden love.
Allura. She was everything he'd ever wanted in life, and nothing he could have. She was kind and honest and caring, and she stood up for what she believed in no matter the cost to herself. How could he not love her? But the fact remained that she was royalty and it was her duty to marry a prince, which Keith would never be. He was a pilot, a soldier, nothing more. But he could be there for her, and he always was. He offered her a shoulder to cry on when she was hurt, an ear to talk to when she was frustrated, and support in any way she needed it. She was his sun, his moon, his heaven, and his hell. And it seemed Lissa was Lance's reason for living, as Allura was Keith's.
Keith sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Man, you've been through hell."
"Yeah, and last time I checked, I was still there," Lance muttered.
Keith frowned and said, "I know she gave her word to stay on Arus until it's safe for Prince Ower to return to Alcon, but I could always order her to leave the planet."
"No," Lance said sharply. "Don't do that. I'll be fine."
"You sure? You seem awfully distracted, and now that I know the truth, it's not hard to see why. If your attention isn't on being part of the team at go time, that could be dangerous," Keith replied, his voice serious.
"Hey, when I'm in uniform, you'll have my undivided attention," Lance swore, suddenly worried Keith might send Lissa away.
Keith studied him for a moment and then sighed. "Look, I know you didn't ask for advice, but I'm still going to offer you some. Lissa sounds like an honorable woman. I know you loved her, but she made her choice to join the Legion years ago, and I think you should respect it."
Lance stared at him in surprise. "What are you saying?"
Keith tilted his head and frowned. "I'm saying that you're still in love with her, and it seems to me that if you got the chance, you'd talk her into dropping out of the White Riders."
Lance's hands clenched into fists as defensive anger stirred within him. "You're damn right I would! I love her, Keith, and I'd give anything to keep her with me."
"That's pretty selfish of you," his captain quietly responded. "It seems to me that if you loved her, you'd do what's best for her."
"How do you know what's best for her?" Lance demanded, desperation entering his voice as he realized the other man was probably right. If he loved Lissa, he'd want her to be happy…
Keith held up his hands and said, "I don't. But she does, and she chose the Legion, Lance, whether you like it or not."
Lance stared at him in torment and then closed his eyes as agony rolled through him. Keith was right, of course. Lissa had chosen to join the Legion of her own will, no matter her feelings for him. He should respect her decision. Sighing, he opened his eyes and said, "You're right. She made her choice. She has what she wanted. I need to forget about her, to get on with my life," he said, before slowly walking out of the courtyard without a backwards glance.
Keith watched him go in silence and then his thoughts turned to Allura and he gave a bittersweet smile as he said, "If you can figure out how to do that, I hope you tell me."
Lissa was feeling bewildered, lost among the myriad of emotions she'd been experiencing all day. There was joy over her reconciliation with Lance, sorrow over the loss of his love, bitterness of her choosing the Legion so many years ago, and regret because she knew the decision could never be reversed. One didn't just resign from the White Riders. On a brighter note, Fire Storm had been amazingly quiet during her recounting of her love affair with Lance, though she sensed the Familiar was not pleased. He had deigned to enter the Castle of Lions, going directly to her room, and attempted to warn her not to throw away her allegiance to the Legion for something so fleeting as love, but Lissa had halted his speech by informing him that she had no intention of deserting the Legion. To do so would bring death to her and dishonor to her family.
So now her friend lay curled in her lap, watching her with grave eyes. There was a companionable silence between them, and though she normally found solace in his presence, she was feeling restless. She decided to roam the halls, and Fire Storm let her go, sensing her need for privacy, and thinking now would be the perfect time to seek an audience with Lance.
Lissa hadn't been walking long when she ran into the Princess Allura. The other woman's color was unusually high, and she thought she heard the princess muttering something about Prince Ower and peacocks when she crossed paths with her.
"Princess Allura, whatever is the matter?"
"That idiot Ower tried to feel me up," Allura hissed, so annoyed with the cad's behavior that she failed to consider who she was speaking to. "I slapped him, and he seemed surprised I'd mind. The man thinks he's god's gift to women!"
"Yes, he does," Lissa agreed, humor in her voice.
Allura looked at her in thoughtful silence, noting the strained expression on the other woman's face and, before she had time to reconsider her words, she said, "I don't know if you know this or not, but Lance still loves you."
Fire Storm found Lance with ease, for the pilot had migrated to the rec room and was sitting there brooding when the snake slithered in. Lance immediately stiffened and gave him an unfriendly glare, which Fire Storm wholeheartedly returned. The Familiar knew Lissa would not approve of him interfering with her relationship with Lance, but the Familiar's duty bound him to protect her from all harm, and this man was definitely dangerous to her.
"I will not waste time with pleasantries," he growled, his voice ringing in the small room. "I have come to warn you to keep your distance from Lissa."
Lance waved a hand at him and said, "Save it, snake. I have no interest in pursuing your mistress."
Fire Storm cocked his head to the side, ignoring the man's rude tone, and studied him intently. It was apparent Lance believed what he was saying. How very interesting, and odd. "Then I shall refrain from lecturing you and say only this: Even if Lissa were to bear love for you in her heart, an oath to the White Riders is binding for all eternity. The penalty for desertion is death. Remember that," he added, before turning and making his way back to Lissa's room.
Lance watched the snake leave, frowning. What did he mean 'even if Lissa were to bear love for you'? Had she said something to that reptile? He was her Familiar, and undoubtedly confided in the creature. Maybe she did love him! Lance leaped to his feet and made his way to the door, but just then Pidge and Hunk walked in, and the two annoying cronies exchanged a grin when he tried to push past them.
"What's your hurry?" Hunk grumbled as Lance elbowed him to one side.
"Oh, lover boy is probably running off to see his little honey," Pidge laughed, causing Lance to halt and glare at him.
"Watch it, half pint," he snapped.
Pidge just gave him a cheeky smile and then held out his hands in front of him, making an imaginary chest, and said, "I'd be that jumpy to, with a hottie like her paying attention to me."
Lance growled and stepped towards Pidge, but Hunk put out an arm to stop him, so Lance settled for a threatening, "I mean it, Pidge!"
"Look, man, he knows you love the girl," Hunk barked, ignoring Lance's look of embarrassment. "He's just giving you a hard time about it."
"And I'm sure Lance has been hard since she got here," the little nuisance laughed, causing Hunk to gape and Lance to blush.
Lance stared at them in dismay; appalled his feelings were so apparent to everyone. Not knowing what to say, he turned on his heel and marched from the room. He was heading for Lissa's rooms when the castle alarm went off. Of all the damn rotten luck!
Lissa stared at Allura, stunned. She didn't know what to say. The only way the princess would know about Lance's feelings for her was if he had told her! Then again, it was possible that if Lance had told Allura about their past, the other woman might have mistakenly assumed he still loved her. She stepped forward to ask Allura how she knew that Lance loved her, but then a loud alarm went off, startling her and causing the princess to frown.
"What the hell is that?" she asked.
"The alarm. A Roe Beast has been sighted."