(Three Vargas later)
Lance-
Well, that had been just about the most awkward three hours of my life.
Shiro had wanted to talk with Keith about his life with the Blades but he had also wanted to talk with me about going behind his back.
So, he had called upon Allura to talk to me about how I shouldn't have been impulsive blah, blah, blah…
I didn't really pay attention to what she was saying because I didn't like to be reprimanded nor did I want Keith to be sent back to his home with the Blades.
Luckily, Shiro also missed Keith and wanted to talk to him so I suspected that Keith would be allowed to stay, for a little while at least.
Then, Hunk had rushed in, glancing between Keith and me with the most annoying glint in his eyes.
Still, he had acted surprised and talked with Keith about all that had been happening.
Then finally, Allura had released me from my talk and the five of us went to the mission room to start planning for Pidge's rescue. Coran was there, too, helping with very strange suggestions.
Keith had said the winning idea. "What if I rode in the Red Lion with Lance and then you guys dropped me off where I can sneak into the Galra ship. With my blood and training with the Blades, I can get through the ship quickly and then set off a minor distraction before getting Pidge."
"Do you think a distraction is a good idea?" Shiro asked.
"If I did it in the control room, then yes, because no one would be thinking about it potentially being a distraction. Plus, it would be faster than sneaking around the guards. Trust me, it is so much less work."
"I think that is a wonderful idea," Allura said.
"Probably the most likely to succeed," Hunk said. "I think we should do it."
"If Keith is here then, we might as well use him," Coran remarked cheerfully.
"Keith," Shiro warned me, "I cannot lose you. So, please, you must make it back safely."
Keith nodded solemnly, Then, he turned to me, "What's your opinion?"
"Me?" I asked. Keith nodded. "Um," I said slowly. I didn't want to lose Keith but having him here was my idea so I couldn't completely protect him. And I couldn't show my desire for his safety very openly. "I think that would probably work."
"Then we are all in agreement," Allura said. "Keith will sneak in, set off a bomb, and then we rescue Pidge."
After that, our meeting had been adjourned and I had spent an hour sitting in my room thinking about my stupidity.
Why had I decided to put Keith in danger? Why had I thought that this was a good idea?
Sure, I had wanted to see him, but he was risking his life to fix my mistake.
I heard a knock at my door and stood to open it. Keith stood before me.
He wasn't wearing his Jacket, only that grey t-shirt. I wondered if he had gone to his old room.
"Keith," I said as I gestured him in.
"Hi, Lance," he said with a weak smile.
"What is it, Keith?"
"I'm bored and tense. And a couple months apart can really change a person, so… Tell me about yourself."
At first, I was shocked, but then I felt my face relax as I went to sit on my bed and Keith followed, sitting beside me.
"Okay," I smiled, "but only if you tell me about yourself in return."
"Deal."
(Six vargas later)
Pidge-
WHAT THE HECK.
I told them to come back later. As in, quickly.
I was trapped in a stupid prison cell without any food and I was cranky.
I had already been questioned. Twice!
Both times the druids had come, dragged me out of my cell (though, let it be known that I put up quite the fight), and strapped me to a vertical table. There, they had questioned me profusely, but why would I give information up to them.
They were starving me.
And my stupid teammates were taking their time and smelling the roses.
When I hadn't given the druids the information they desired (I may have insulted them and laughed in their faces), they had electrocuted me.
Still, I had remained silent.
Where are you guys? I thought, frustrated. I really just wanted to go home. I wanted to eat, to sleep without worrying, to just feel safe.
I knew it hadn't been that long, but I also knew that the Galra were unpredictable and I couldn't count on being kept as a hostage.
Every time the druids returned I feared that they were taking me to my death.
I worried that the paladins had been distracted. Or hurt. Or caught.
Lotor could have come to attack.
The Green Lion could have been taken, and, though I didn't want to admit it, the Green Lion was more important than me.
Gently, I touched the rough skin, on my forearm, from where I had been electrocuted the worst.
Please, I thought desperately, I'm trapped here. I have no water nor food. I really need you guys to save me.
Keith-
My heart was racing as we flew towards the Galra ship.
I was wearing the Red paladin armor once again, and, strangely, it felt like coming home after a long vacation.
I rested my hand on the back of Lance's pilot chair as we flew through in the Red Lion. I wanted to touch his shoulder but I thought that would be awkward and weird.
Unless, of course, I somehow found the courage to tell Lance how I felt, and he felt the same way. But, that was never going to happen.
As we flew, I could almost feel the lion responding to my movements and worries, but that could have just been my own anxieties. I couldn't stop staring at Lance.
I knew I should have been nervous about entering a Galra ship, but I was more nervous about Lance sitting within a few inches of me.
"You ready?" Lance asked suddenly.
I inhaled deeply, trying to answer.
"You know it is okay to say 'no,' right?" he whispered calmly.
"Yes, I know," I replied quietly.
I looked out at the approaching Galra ship. A couple of drones flew around sporadically and waves of purple energy seemed to emit from within the ship.
"Lance?"
"Hm?" he replied.
"I-I—" What was I going to say? That I had strong feelings for him and was worried I wouldn't make it out of this mission? There was no way I was going to be able to say that to him. "I'm ready," I told him, with false determination, instead.
"Keith, I trust you. You can succeed and make it out of there alive. And then the others will save Pidge."
I nodded. "Okay. Yeah, you're right."
We neared the Galra ship. I heard Shiro's call for me to leave like a distant echo.
I turned to leave, ready to get off of the lion to enter the ship, when I felt Lance's hand on my wrist. I turned back to look at him, the rest of my body paralyzed.
"Keith, you aren't allowed to die, okay?" He had genuine concern in his eyes. "I don't care if you think you are expendable. You aren't. So, don't die."
"Okay," I said, nodding. I wanted to say more but my throat constricted. Lance released my hand and I turned away to leave.
"I'll see you soon," I called to Lance. "Go destroy the ship!"
"I won't destroy the whole ship until you and Pidge are safely on board a lion."
I smiled and launched out of the Lion, ready to enter the Galra ship.
Notes: Hi. I'm twelve hours late because I wanted to add an extra PoV mini-chapter in here. I want to thank Crystalwolfey! That was a wonderful idea to add a chapter Pidge's PoV. Thank you!
If anyone has any ideas for suggestions please leave comments. I would love to hear ideas for what I could do better or differently. :)
