Summary:

Choices are made, secrets are spilled, and trust is key.

Lance wants to trust these people, Keith still isn't convinced, but, Lance always has been better at reading people than he has. He'll just have to trust in Lance's trust in Hunk and Coran.

Notes:

First of all I want to say that I am SO SORRY for the long wait. I was not intending to take that long, specifically I would like to apologize to Maximilian K on Ao3, to whom I promised this chapter would be up a loooong time ago and I failed to deliver on that. My mom came down for a visit so I didn't get a chance to work on it for a week and then I had to work myself back into it and after finally getting back into the story to a point where I could work on it, I hit a wall. It was bad, I am so, so sorry. Hopefully I won't make you all wait that long again. But, on the upside, progress is made!

~ Evi

"My love, you are not your father. You are your own person." Lance told him simply once he had found a sufficiently secluded spot on the ship, far enough away from the others in the common room so that they couldn't be overheard, but close enough that they wouldn't get lost trying to get back. "What he does, does not define you. Only your actions define who you are. You are not evil, you are not tainted, you are my Keith ." Lance held Keith close to him as he spoke, resting his forehead on Keith's shoulder as his grip around the young Galra's middle tightened. Lance inhaled Keith's scent, his nose buried in the soft fur at the crook of his neck. He could hear Keith's heart pounding against his chest, could feel his blood coursing through his veins. He could sense the stress oozing off of him in waves as it locked his muscles up, preventing him from reacting to Lance's words. He knew that Keith was distraught. He knew Keith was used to other races hating him and judging him, had dealt with the discrimination for a long time, but this was different. Allura and Pidge weren't like those other disliked Keith because he was Galra and wouldn't listen to anything else. They didn't even trust him enough to leave them alone. Lance had heard Hunk speak up for them as they were leaving, and he had really wanted to hug him for it. Bless that boy.

"I can feel the blood flowing through your veins, it is not thick like tar, weighted down by evil deeds. It is not black like ink, soiled by devious thoughts. Nor is it contaminated in anyway by sins you have never committed. It is clean and vibrant, and light as water, because you have not done anything that those people have accused you of." Lance brought his hand up to guide Keith's sulking face to look at him as he stood straight again, his other arm still around Keith's waist. "My love, you are Prince Keith, of the Galra Empire, first in line for the throne, you should have more faith in yourself and more confidence to stand up to someone who soils your name. But if you come to lack those qualities, I will do it for you." Lance smiled.

"Lance, My father has-"

"Yes, your father has done a great deal to hurt an immeasurable amount of people, but that is him, not you. I am marrying you, not Zarkon."

"His blood is my own. How can you say that his blood is tainted and mine is not?"

"Because I know you, you would never do the things he has done, the things he will do, and is doing right now. You are not him ." He paused, looking into Keith's conflicted golden eyes. It may have been hard to notice for someone not familiar with the Galra, but Lance could see the subtle fluctuation in the color, the way they seemed to dim just slightly as the light reflected differently off of them. "And if they can not see that, then I do not wish to be a part of them." Lance's blue eyes shone with all the love in his heart, with all the faith he had in his beloved. With every fiber of his being, Lance believed in Keith. Keith hesitantly replied with a small upward quirk of his lips, the motion causing a small crinkle at the corner of those eyes of molten gold. Lance gave his own back and leaned in to kiss him properly. Slow and careful, making sure that his frazzled fiancé could feel exactly how much Lance loved him. He pressed their lips together, soft at first, just a simple peck. Just enough for Keith to feel them, and then there was a little more pressure, followed by a curious tongue, and Keith was putty in Lance's hands. The stress washed away and he slumped just barely against Lance's chest. His head tilted automatically to the side for a better angle, his mouth opening without much thought on the matter, simply knowing he wanted to be closer to Lance. His tongue poked out hesitantly, prodding at Lance's lower lip, and the other opened his mouth, not needing any other reason than because Keith had asked. It stayed like that for only a couple ticks before Keith felt like himself again enough to assert more dominance. Lance smiled into the kiss, not minding giving Keith the control he wanted in the slightest. He could enjoy the affection either way, but, Keith, he knew, preferred to be be in charge, his Galra genes telling him to dominate, to not back down or submit to anyone. And Lance could get behind that one hundred percent. He relished the sweet, lingering feel of Keith's clawed fingers against his hips as his the other prince pulled them flush against each other. Lance could feel himself slipping, when Keith got like this, it was hard to feel anything but submissive. Hard not to simply melt against his soon to be mate.

His body reacted on it's own, and he could feel the changes taking hold. He felt the ripple of warmth course through him as his body shifted of it's own volition, nearly traitorous since he preferred keeping such intentions to submit so easily a secret from his near mate. His lips felt plumper against Keith's and his fingers were thinning. As they separated, before things could escalate too far, Lance felt Keith's eyes scan over his now very feminine body. Her hips were wider and her chest now sported a few more curves than it usually did. Her butt was just as firm, if not just a bit rounder and a little larger. Lance's eyes were softer under the longer, darker, more pronounced lashes that accompanied her female form. With the new proportions her waist looked thinner and her thighs felt a little thicker. She pouted at Keith, she wanted to keep kissing him. Telling him that he only needed to focus on her. But the real reason she had kissed him was to get him to stop freaking out, which, seemed to have worked. So, she would wait until later for that. Besides, it was best to stop things before they got heated. Lance wasn't good at impulse control, especially when she was aroused, but she did still remember that mating just yet was not allowed. Keith's eyes shown brightly as he looked her over. Lance had noticed early on in their time together that Keith always seemed to enjoy seeing her like this. He liked her male form, but even she had to admit that her female form was nothing short of stunning. Of course it was, it was still her after all.

"You shifted."

"I felt like it." Her voice was higher now, softer. Less of an edge to it, more like the steady song of a single crashing wave, ebbing and flowing against the beach rather than her usual timbre that was more like a tidal wave raging against a cliff face, wild and unabashed.

"I like watching you shift."

"It was not intentional this time. I am sorry you missed it." She smirked and then kissed his cheek once more. "Are you ready to go back?" Keith's shoulders squared as he stood straight once more.

"I believe so."

"Good." She smiled brighter and took Keith's fluffy purple hand in her own. The tan of her skin contrasting nicely with the Galra's soft purple fur. She lead them back into the common room and took their seats once more. She always felt more regal in her female form, something about the dainty hands and the softer features made her feel delicate. She felt like the princess she was supposed to be on Galra, the princess that her people didn't have most of the time. In her male form, she didn't feel that same responsibility. She could goof off or slouch when she sat. She could play pranks and tell dirty jokes or flirt openly. But in this form, in this body, she had an image to maintain. She was more self conscious. More willing to try and appease others. She knew, in the back of her mind, that both side of herself were one in the same. She could act just as she did when she was male while she was female, and vice versa, but the feeling of wrongness that sprouted in her gut when she did stopped her. Her male form wasn't ladylike. And that was fine. He didn't have to be the princess, he was the prince when he was like that.

But, as the princess, she had to remember her etiquette classes a little more closely so as not to offend other races. She had to be more diplomatic since it was the queen's responsibility to settle disputes. Since being promised to Keith she had been given classes on both her parent's responsibilities and on what the Galra expected of their princess. It made things harder, and it cut into her free time, but she understood it. Keith was Galra and male, on Prata Neptunia Lance would either have to make a choice of which role he wished to take, or would have to do both. It was one decision that Lance very much did not wish to make, yet it still hung over their heads. On Galra, when in her female form she was treated differently by the staff, and confused a great many other members of the castle. It was always funny watching someone new flounder around trying to grasp at what new title to use regardless of if she had shifted or not. Many still wanted to call her the prince when she shifted, and she had to actually tell most people that it was fine to address her as either the prince or princess, that she honestly didn't care. Thace and Matt both seemed to get it fairly quickly to the point that it wasn't really all that fun to surprise them with a sudden shift anymore. On Galra, regardless of which form she took she was instructed in the ways of the princess. She was the princess there, even when she was the prince. The empire already had five princes, they needed a princess. Which was where Lance fell. On Galra, it was her duty to one day give Keith kits of his own, and help him rule should he ever take his father's throne. His older half brother Lotor was not fit to be in such a position of power, being half Altean, and rather adverse to picking only a single mate - even if Lance himself did find Lotor quite pleasant company, to Keith's very apparent dismay. Keith's younger brothers; Theron, Zorin, and Nihier all had their own reasons for not taking a mate yet, and so, it was only Lance who could fill that void.

"You look very pretty like that, Lance." Hunk smiled, his brown eyes lighting up as they re-entered the room. Lance felt heat pool in her cheeks at the compliment, and smiled back pleasantly.

"Thank you. I wasn't really intending to change my form, but sometimes my body knows what I want before my brain does." She chuckled faintly as they took their seats once again on the couch. She pulled her shoulder length brown hair the rest of the way over her shoulder to rest against her chin, suppressing the small shiver of pleasure rushing down her spine as it brushed against her gills, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the soft strands.

"I apologize for before, sometimes my emotions get the better of me." Keith mumbled as way of an apology, adamantly looking anywhere but at the two girls still seated across from him.

"No, it's us that should apologize, things got a bit out of control and we were in the wrong." Shiro voiced from his seat, and Lance smiled at the strange little thumb up hand gesture Hunk directed the champion's way. She was very glad that not all of these strange humans were against them. She shook her head and looked over to him, making sure to look him straight in his steel colored eyes.

"We were both in the wrong. The Galra people have done a great many things wrong, but not all of them are as evil as most claim them to be. That being said, I should have reacted a little less" she paused, "hastily, I suppose." She took a small breath before continuing. "I am not used to such open animosity being directed at Keith or myself, and so it did not sit too well with me." She didn't turn her gaze when the smallest paladin scoffed at her. She didn't wish to address her any longer than she had to. Honestly, she wasn't sure how such a spiteful little thing was related to Matt, even if the resemblance was uncanny. While it was true that he was hesitant and guarded around new Galra or beings he did not fully trust, he never would have exploded into such raw and antagonistic emotions. She had known him for the better part of what he called a 'year' and she was willing to bet her tiara that he was still just as friendly before he had encountered the Galra as he was with her personally to date.

"So, did you make a choice?" Came the young woman's voice, the poorly masked bitterness staining her words twisted Lance's stomach into painful knots. Breathing deep, dragging air in through her nose and pushing it out through her gills to feel the thin skin flutter and calm her rising nerves once more, she finally turned to face Pidge and Allura for the first time since re-entering the room.

"We did. My offer of assistance is still open, despite how poorly you have treated my betrothed and I, but we can not agree to staying as paladins." Lance's sapphire eyes roved over Pidge's short flame colored hair, just the same as Matt's was when she had first found him in that dirty prison medical room. Now it was a bit longer, and Lance had to say that she liked it a bit better on the boy anyway. It framed his face nicely now. The pale flesh on Pidge's face was blotched with angry red in an ugly manner as Lance announced their decline. "We also can not accept your request to assist in locating your family." She spoke carefully, watching as the young woman's brown eyes narrowed behind the thick round glass of the contraption she wore on her face - glasses she reminded herself as the word came back to her. Matt had explained them to her a while back, that's right. Obviously, that was not the answer Pidge had been wanting, but it was the answer Lance had to give. Matt was too important to the cause to risk exposure, and neither Keith or herself had had any luck finding the boy's father yet either. She already knew that search was fruitless. If she were to find him, she would surely tell the paladins, but hinging their alliance on such a discovery was ill advised.

"I thought you wanted to help." The short woman spat, her teeth baring to them in a less than intimidating growl. Even Lance's people could vibrate their vocal cords in a more ferocious manner, and they never needed to. She took another deep breath, they didn't know who they were talking to, this little girl obviously was emotionally compromised in this sort of situation, she needed to keep her calm. Lance channeled every bit of the perfect diplomat that her mother had always trained her to be in that moment. She kept her posture straight, her nerves under lock and key, and her emotions in check as she nodded.

"I do wish to help, Pidge, but this is simply not a matter that we are able to assist with. If you need supplies or contact with other resistance groups, I am more than happy to help. If you need a place to stay and rest for a cycle or two, I will gladly find you lodging, but broadcasting across the universe that I am looking for two specific prisoners? Not only is that ridiculous, it's impossible. Not even the Galra keep that close of a tab on them, but it is also dangerous for us. We would be asked entirely too many questions at every step of the way, and then they would probably be moved and their information in the prisoner catalogue would change. The system that your family was put into once taken as a spoil of Zarkon's war is all numbers. There is nothing to differentiate one prisoner from another without physically going to these camps and looking each worker over personally. Which, I am unsure about your ability to do so, but neither Keith nor I have the ability or leisure for that." She settled her declaration with a pointed look that expressed that she would speak no more on the matter and hoped that it would translate into Pidge's native tongue well enough.

It looked to Lance as though she had wanted to say more, as she bunched her tiny little hands into the thick orange cuff of her green and white sleeves, sleeves attached to the outer layer of her clothing. If you could really call it that. All of these paladins were wearing something strange, they seemed close to how the Galra dressed when they decided to be casual, but even more frivolous and brightly colored. Pidge's top layer had a thick green and orange trimmed collar that she seemed to be trying to retreat into as Lance looked at her longer. The only things visible any longer were her narrowed eyes through the obstructing glass, and her hair, sporadic and messy, sticking up in all directions. Lance moved her gaze onto Allura, only slightly envious of the cascading white locks that sat flawlessly against her shoulders. But, she reminded herself, hair like that would only work for her female form and she still greatly preferred her male form to her current one at the moment. Maybe while they were expecting young she would grow it out for a bit?

Allura was looking directly at her and Lance knew she was sizing her up. She looked her up and down, starting with a scrutinizing gaze upon her sweeping baby blue robe and flared, white sleeves that went down to her elbows. Her sleeves were embroidered with sparkling gold scroll up her arms and down the bodice in intricate floral patterns that almost emulated waves. The scroll reached across Lance's chest and back before fading at her waist. The lower the fabric fell from Lance's hips, just under the darker golden sash cinching the fabric closer to her body at her waist, the darker blue it bled into. All the way down to a deep, royal blue pooling at her feet. Only the tips of her gold slippers were visible below her robe. Lance's attire was not dissimilar to Allura's own in her opinion, and so ignored the judgmental stare down she was receiving from the other princess. As princess she had to be more attentive. 'A princess must always be observant Lance, the King will take care of the overt issues, but as Keith's queen, you will be expected to handle the more subtle problems. And always remember to be tactful when meeting new people. Take account of everything from your surroundings to what they are wearing. You can tell much about a person from what and who they surround themselves with, my child.' was something that she had heard many a time from his mother, and by now, it was ingrained into her very being every time she shifted. And so, Lance did, she settled her gaze on Allura's figure and gave her the very same once over that she had just received.

The Altean woman wore similar shades of blue, white, and gold throughout her own gown. The garment itself hugged her frame much more snugly than Lance's own- though when she had dressed that morning, she had been male, and this robe was quite flattering in that form, if not a tad tighter in some places in this one. On her shoulders was a small pale dark blue half cape on top of white sleeves and a bodice of the same shade of blue. Her accents were Gold and the inside of her cape, pink, as well as the hem of her gown. Allura's dress screamed of elegance and tastefully whispered of her position in high society as a princess while Lance's did her absolutely no favors in that same department. She had been dressing to blend in with the crowds of her people that day, not to address a crowd in a public speech, or entertain other ladies of her mother's court. But she supposed that was for the best in this case, even if it did irk her seeing Allura eyeing her as if she was common scum on the side of the road of a third class planet.

"Then I see no reason for you to stay here any longer." The other princess finally voiced, her tone clipped and strained for pleasantry. Lance felt the same, but also hesitated to ask how she expected them to get home from so far away.

"Allura!" Hunk exclaimed, coming to their rescue again. "We can't just-"

"They declined our invitation, there is nothing left to do, Hunk."

"What invitation? You've been chasing them off ever since Keith came out of the Red lion!" the larger boy sounded exasperated.

"The lions chose them, if they had decided to stay I would have allowed it. True, I would have been uncomfortable and distrusting for some time, but I would have also been understanding."

"I don't believe that for a second." Hunk muttered before standing up and reaching a black gloved hand out to Lance, offering to help her up. She smiled and took the offered appendage, accepting the gesture. Nodding her thanks, and giving a quiet affirmation of her gratitude, she rose to her feet with Hunk's help. Coran stood too and took the plate of food that had remained relatively untouched since their arrival and the two lead both herself and Keith out of the room quietly.

"I apologize on Allura's behalf." Coran finally spoke up after they had been directed to the bridge of the large ship, setting the platter down. "She is usually not so," he made a few wild gestures with his hands, and Lance could sort of understand what he was trying to say. "Please, do not hold it against her. The Galra's betrayal is simply still fresh in our minds. To the universe as a whole Altea was destroyed ten thousand periods ago, to us, who were just awoken from cryogenic sleep a few cycles ago, it was very recent. She is still processing how to feel. Now, I am not saying that that excuses her behavior, but I do hope it makes it a little more understandable." Coran gave a small strained smile as he glanced back towards the door. Lance nodded. She did understand, but forgiving her would take a bit longer.

"And I want to apologize for Pidge, she's just a little passionate and sometimes she puts that passion into the wrong things. She's just worried." Hunk sighed, scratching the back of his head as he glanced around the room. "So now, I guess the problem is how to get you home."

"I assume the same way we were brought here is out of the question?" Keith asked. He sounded tired and done with everything, and Lance couldn't help but empathize.

"Well, we can't send you in one of the lions, but we could give you a pod and open another wormhole. Is there anyone you will need to contact beforehand?" Coran asked, his tone picking back up into the cheerful state it had been when they had first arrived. Lance picked up one of the little veggie snacks and took a bite, chewing it as she considered her options. Calling home to tell her parents that she and Keith were okay was probably a good idea, but if they didn't know yet, then it would also cause unnecessary panic. Her parents probably hadn't alerted Zarkon yet either. She knew that they liked interacting with the Galra emperor as little as possible, and, calling to tell him that they had lost his son probably wouldn't go over too well. She swallowed the bite and tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Should we contact The Blade to set up an alliance before we go? Or do you think that would be easier done on the other side?" Lance asked carefully as she turned to Keith, wishing for his input.

"It could go either way, an incoming transmission from an unidentified signal might not be answered right away, and even if it is, you know who is most likely to pick up said transmission and it might cause more problems than solve them."

"True, but making an outgoing transmission to a new signal might be harder to conceal? I suppose we could try to reach the base directly?"

"That won't matter, the lieutenant is in charge of contacting agents and third party alliances, that's why he needed help. We'd be back to quadrant one." Keith made good points, and normally it wouldn't matter, but upon knowing who was on this crew, contacting their spies would be a lot harder. Lance sighed.

"Could you send us with your contact codes so that we can have someone from The Blade get in touch with you directly once we figure this out. Or, at least so that we can send you a code for who to call later on." She smiled.

"What is this "Blade" you keep talking about?" Hunk asked carefully.

"The Blade of Marmora. They are an all Galra resistance group, but they are always looking for others to help in their cause. We have contacts spread throughout the empire. Many are in positions of power and have to be careful of who they speak to, but the majority of them are spread through the galaxies on bases trying to do what they can to sabotage Zarkon's plans." Lance paused for a moment, looking down, then flitting her gaze to the left to survey the endless expanse of space through the main window before returning her attention to Coran and Hunk in front of her. "I believe if your princess could look past what one is, to see who they are, you might find a decent red or blue Paladin with them. I can make no promises, but they would be willing to try should you extend the offer." She finished.

"The Galra of the Blade wish Zarkon out of power just as much as you all do. Perhaps even more." Keith offered. "We don't want the universe to fear us, or see us as evil. It is time for change, but there is only so much that can be done from our side." He lowered his gaze, wringing his hands together nervously. "There is only so much that Lance and I can do."

"You are his son, aren't you?" Coran spoke quietly. A small smile of bitter understanding crossing his lips. Keith went rigid, his fur standing on end, and Lance froze, her eyes narrowing in a sidelong wince as she tried to avoid looking at either of their tentative new friends. It was all the reaction the Altean man needed. Keith's golden eyes lowered in defeat as he looked away.

"I am sorry, but you must understand why we never said-" Keith started, his voice wavering slightly with the fear of being outed to people who obviously had ill intentions for his family.

"Of course I understand." Coran hurriedly interjected, his hands coming up to rest on Keith's shoulders.

"I wouldn't have said anything to us either if I were in your guy's shoes." Hunk offered with a reassuring smile. He grabbed Lance's hand, causing her to look back up to him. "We won't tell the others, this can stay between us for as long as you want it to."

"You would risk such secrets tearing your team apart for us?" She whispered disbelievingly.

"Of course, it's obvious that you want to help, and being the Galra and Prata Neptunian Princes would of course make it difficult to act on any rebellious ideals." Coran answered and Lance felt relief flood her body. A quick look over to Keith showed that he was feeling just the same.

"That's why you can't help Pidge find her family, huh?" Hunk asked quietly. Lance took a deep breath. If they could keep this secret, then what was one more?

"That …" She started hesitantly, "would only be half the reason."

"Lance." Keith's voice sounded worried and she spared his a smile before she continued. "My love, if they are willing to keep who we are from their friends, then it is only fair that we be honest with them." Lance turned her attention back to Hunk and closing her eyes, she took one more calming breath; In through her nose and out through her gills. When she opened them again her eyes were steadied hard on the yellow paladin, determination shining through the pools of deep blue. "We can not help because we can not risk the extraction of Matthew Holt. He is working with the Blade of Marmora as a personal valet to Lieutenant Thace. I personally put him in this position as a way to save his life, and having anyone or anything endanger his position would cause countless lives lost. He is in charge of delivering messages all across the universe and within Zarkon's own private ship." she took a moment to wet her lips with the tip of her tongue and let the new information sink in. "We have been searching for Samuel Holt for quite some time already, and in our positions we can not overtly devote too much energy to it, but even with our many sources, even we can not locate him. There is still the possibility that he is alive, however slim it may be, but we do not know where. We answered Pidge honestly. It is a fruitless search. We know, because we are still trying, even after a full period."

"So you lied about Matt because you knew if you told Pidge, she wouldn't listen and still want to go rescue him." Hunk summarized. Lance nodded.

"Not that he needs "rescuing" in the slightest. He is possibly the safest he could be where he is. Because of the nature of which he was brought on for the lieutenant, no one questions anything he does, so he moves freely. Also, he is a personal friend of mine. I may not have the same sway Keith does while on Glara or aboard one of his father's ships, but I have enough that I can keep Matt safe."

"You said you put him in that position, how?" Coran asked, appearing fascinated.

"Back when the Champion, Shiro, was first introduced into to the arena, Keith and I had been requested to attend the fights, as we often are." She winced slightly while recalling the violent behavior she had been forced to watch on many occasions. "We had been walking through the tunnels just before the prisoners were to be brought through, and I ended up getting separated from him." She paused to make sure they were still keeping up with her story. A quick nod from Hunk urging her on confirmed that they were.

"In my time away from him I stumbled upon a creature of a race I did not recognize being treated for a wound on their leg. This creature was Matthew Holt. I had been working on the practical applications of healing with my water manipulations. -Simply put you infuse your quintessence with that of the water's and then try to resonate it with the being that you are trying to heal.- The shamans of my people are quite gifted at it, and it was believed that with my abilities, I might be able to use this power as well. Finding water on Galra is difficult at best, so when I found the arena physician working on him, I saw it as my chance to practice something that was not blood manipulation. An opportunity that I quickly jumped at. We spoke while I worked, and I quickly grew fond of this being, this human. I did not want to see him sent back to the pits or off to a work camp, so I did what I could. I asked Thace to take him on. He had been looking for help, someone he could trust. And a personal valet who agreed with his vision and could follow orders was the best option. Matthew agreed to help and has now become indispensable to the cause." Hunk and Coran both smiled by the end of Lance's explanation.

"So he's safe then." Hunk affirmed with a relieved breath.

"Yes, and I promise that I would never let anything happen to him." Hunk squeezed Lance's hand lightly in quiet thanks as he smiled at her statement before letting the appendage go.

"A sentiment that the Blade also backs, if he is ever in danger the Blade would sooner risk their own men to save him than let him be captured or killed. They need him." Keith tacked on.

"That's all we needed to know. I'll try to help keep Pidge in check, if she ends up getting close to something I'll be sure to warn you." Hunk's smile was bright and it lit up his face all the way to his eyes.

"Here, we will give you this communications device in case you wish to get a hold of us for any reason." Coran turned and opened a small drawer from under his workstation, pulling a small egg shaped device that was flat on one side, and rounded on the other, handing it over to Keith. "If you need anything, please, do not hesitate to contact us. Hunk and I will gladly do whatever we can to help." the man's smile was contagious and soon even Keith was smiling back as he took the offered communications device.

"Thank you, we will. And if you need anything we will do our best to help as well. Though, I can not guarantee that we will always be in a position to answer right away."

"That won't be a problem at all, should you not answer, this device will record up to three previous transmissions and a small blue light will flash on the flat side to alert you of such stored data. Simply wave your hand over the light and it will play the message." Coran demonstrated as he instructed with another of the small devices, showing them how to activate it and make transmissions and the like. "As long as you hold the device in your hand it will be active until you set it down again, making terminating a connection fast and easy should you be interrupted." Coran smiled, bringing his small lecture to an end. Keith still seemed hesitant, but showed signs of warming up to the strange man the longer they spoke. Lance was hopeful that she had made the right decision of trusting these two with such sensitive information, but if they were to work together, they needed at least some show of good faith. Even if it could only be shared with a few of team Voltron's members. They made their way down to the hangar bay and Hunk guided Keith over to one of the sleek white pods while Lance hung back with Coran a little longer.

"If it becomes an issue, you can tell the others about us and we will understand, even if it means that Princess Allura and Pidge will demand we no longer be allies. Though, if Matt's position is endangered, please do stress to them that an extraction will only serve to put him in far more danger than he would even have been in in otherwise." She knew it had already been said, but felt the need to stress the point anyway. "I have a few ideas on who could be possible replacements for us, but I do not know if they will agree or not."

"Princess, I'm sure whatever help you can give us will be more than welcome. You are already doing more than we ever could have asked of you." Coran smiled, patting her shoulder and Lance felt her chest swell. It was the first time since being on this ship that anyone had addressed her properly, and while she usually had to beg people to drop the formalities, in this case, it helped to put her at ease. She smiled back gave a small half bow, nodding her head to him.

"I couldn't stand by after such an offer as this and not extend my hand. I only wish that I could do more. But as it stands, if there were ever anything tying Prata Neptunia to any sort of rebellion or uprising of some sort, it could have devastating repercussions."

"That's understandable, given your position I'm surprised that you are even doing this much. Zarkon himself must be keeping a pretty strict eye on you."

"He does, but I do have a few of his men wrapped around my little finger." Lance smiled, a small fluttering chuckle slipping past her lips as she held up one of her slender pinkies between them. "I have become quite close with several of the palace guards and other personnel that usually would report directly to Zarkon in the many periods that I have been engaged to Keith. Originally it was only so that I would feel a bit better about being in the palace alone when Keith was needed elsewhere, but in the end, I made many friends."

"Well I would assume that you are much more likable that their average company." Coran joked, punctuated by a spirited laugh that served to make the older Altean sound much younger than Lance assumed he was.

"I would like to assume that is true, yes." She chuckled, her hand coming up to cover her mouth on reflex.

"What are you two laughing about over there?" Hunk asked, his tone feigned stern, but the smile on his lips gave him away as soon as Lance turned her attention to him.

"Nothing much, I assure you." She waved him off, the smile never leaving her lips.

"Oh yes, I'm sure the guards find her much more preferable. What with constantly sneaking out past curfew, or flirting with literally anything that moves-"

"Only if they have a pretty face, and simply for the attention, you know what I'm used to back home, on Galra I have to get creative." Lance shrugged as she interrupted Keith's interjection, her tone rising to something that Hunk might have called teasing, as her eyes dropped to then inspect her left hand; inspecting her nails and brushing at the fine, soft scales that coated her flesh. Not that it lasted long, she soon looked up with a playful smirk when Keith gave a small disgruntled huff before opening the pod hatch and getting into the driver's seat.

"Just get in so we can go home."

"Eager to see how much trouble we're going to be in?" Lance teased as she strolled over the the two boys, giving Hunk one last smile as she entered the vessel as well.

"With any luck, my father hasn't been informed yet, and your parents are keeping this quiet for a bit longer."

"I am certain they did not wish to make that call; 'Yes, Emperor Zarkon? We regret to inform you that both our sons are missing, stolen right out from under the sea, and have no clues as to who could have been behind it, where said assailant could be hiding, or if either of them are even still alive. We do hope this doesn't put a damper on our previous agreement of peace though.' Lance imitated her father as he would have made such a call and the two of them shared a small laugh while Hunk and Coran turned an off shade of white at the implications.

"I really hope nothing bad happened back home for you guys because of us." Hunk offered weakly, only to have Lance wave him off.

"I'm sure everything will be fine, please, do not worry. Whatever happens, we can handle it."

"If you say so."

"I do." She paused then, looking the interior of the pod over more closely before speaking up again. "How well will this pod handle being submerged underwater? If we are to return to the palace undetected we will have to use the tunnels, which, are all flooded." She looked up to Coran, expectantly.

"If you engage the shields it should be fine, as long as no water enters the cabin it will remain in working order." came the bubbly man's response. Lance nodded. She could do that. Just as she opened her mouth next to speak Keith beat her to it.

"No." He simply stated.

"No? You don't even know what I was going to say." She pouted.

"Yes I do, you were going to suggest that I let you pilot, and I still wish to return to the palace alive thank you very much, so the answer is no."

"I am not that bad of a pilot."

"You're still not a good pilot either." Keith finished the argument, reaching over and fastening Lance's safety harness for her before he offered his final good-byes and flew them out of the spacious hangar. Not long after they had left the ship and exited Arus' atmosphere, a wormhole appeared in front of them, just as they had been offered. They could go home. Hopefully they hadn't left too much of a mess.

Notes:

Who all guessed correctly about Matt? I wanna know, even if you didn't get it completely right, I would still love to hear what you all had in mind anyway haha

This was option two by the way, another option that I had played with for a while was actually having Matt being brought into the palace to be trained as a pleasure pet. Lance and Keith finding him after leaving the castle of Lions on their next trip back to Galra, and Lance thinking that he looked an awful lot like Pidge, makes a scene and insists that he wants Matt for himself, even going so far as to say that he wants to train him himself when it's made clear that Matt isn't on the market yet due to being so new. Keith wasn't going to be too on board with the idea, or really notice the similarities to Pidge at first, but he does like spoiling Lance, and so would have done it anyway, and drama ensued that way. But this way, Matt is in a bit of a safer position and has a bit more freedom to move around. (and has a better first impression of Lance and Keith and more easily trusts them)

Anyway, this chapter is a bit longer than some of the others, but there was a lot I wanted to get across.

I really hope the switch in pronouns for Lance from he/him to she/her wasn't too distracting or disorienting at all. (if I missed one, tell me and I'll fix it, I went through and tried to keep everything consistent, but even in my head I sometimes mix them up since I'm more used to writing Lance as he/him)

One thing I hope was clear was the subtle changes that Lance goes through mentally when he shifted. I want to point out that while Prata Neptunia doesn't have specific gender roles, Lance doesn't really have that same luxury. He's an only child, betrothed to a prince of another planet. He can still be King, but he is also expected to be the princess. He has rules and roles both on Galra and his planet now that he has to fill that Keith can't, so he has to learn both how to be the prince, and the princess. To which point, he has made it so when he shifts, it's an unconscious change in attitude. She is still Lance, but she is now Princess Lance, not prince Lance, and so has other duties and responsibilities to attend to, and other personality traits born of other requirements. Some of which, being that female Lance is more attentive to detail and more willing to hold her tongue. While Lance is a pacifist in both forms, in her female form she is more likely to try harder to keep a placating tone and keep things from escalating as best she can. Prince Lance doesn't mind the occasional screaming match, and is more likely to speak up and say what's on his mind than princess Lance. I tried to address that as best I could, but I'm unsure how it came across. If it worked tell me, if it didn't let me know and I will probably try to elaborate later.

~ Evi