There was a small irritable whirring that pulled Lance from his sleep. His head was like lead as he lifted it from where it was resting. The dim lights from above were enough for him to close his eyes as soon as he opened them. He tilted his head back with a groan.
"Shit." he groaned. The pounding in his head was new. "What the hell happened." He wasn't expecting a response, much less movement coming from right next to him. It was enough for him to open his eyes and look down.
Curled up next to him with her head resting on his lap was Pidge. There was a cut on her temple and dried blood covered the one side of her face, but that was the extent of her injuries that he could see. It seemed like she was waking up, slowly that is. But that was fine she could take her time while he figured out what had happened.
There had been a purple beam and then nothing. He took in his surroundings for the first time since regaining consciousness and the realization made his blood run cold. They were in a galra cell.
The others! Where were they? If he had to guess they were in their own cells somewhere nearby.
"Lance?"
Pidge's voice drew him back from his thoughts. He turned his attention to her. "Are you okay?" He asked.
Pidge nodded, sitting up. "I-I think so." she replied, taking in the dried blood on her hand. "What the hell happened?"
"The Galra captured us."
"The purple light….."
"You remember?"
"Just the fight." Pidge glanced over at him before looking at her hands resting in her lap. "Nothing…Nothing else."
Lance placed his hand over hers. He sighed in relief when she didn't flinch away from him. "It's okay you'll remember eventually."
She shook her head "I still stand by the fact that I think it's better if I don't remember."
Lance nodded his understanding, but both of them knew that she didn't sound convinced with the statement.
Hours passed. Pidge had fallen asleep, her head resting against Lance's shoulder. It wasn't a very deep sleep because Lance could feel her jerk awake at every little noise. Lance rested his head against the wall behind him, his mind going a mile a minute. His thoughts ranged from figuring out how to get both him and Pidge out to wondering how the other's were fairing. They even drifted as far as wondering if the castle had gotten away.
He had just been about to drift off when their cell door slammed open. Instinct took over and his arm went protectively in front of Pidge. She didn't say a word next to him and he could only imagine the look on her face as she stared at the Galra who had burst into their cell.
"Move." One of the Galra said.
Lance didn't move his face stone cold, his body as still as a statue if they were going to take Pidge they were going to have to kill him first.
"Final warning, Paladin." The galra spit the last word.
Lance felt Pidge flinch behind him. The movement only strengthened his resolve to not move.
There was no time to react, before Lance found himself jerked to the side. His head slammed against the wall before he was forced to his knees with an arm twisted behind his back. His immediate reaction was to lunge in order to get back in front of Pidge. Pain raced up his arm as the Galra jerked him back down to his knees. Lance pushed against the Galra's hands but they didn't budge.
"No!" Lance yelled as they reached for Pidge. He Lunged one last time. It was a feeble attempt as he barely moved at all.
Pidge screamed as they dragged her from the cell. She managed to get an arm free as she fought them. With her eyes wide she reached for him, her panic all over her face.
'Lance!"
In response he surged forward, his efforts were met with the Galra who had been holding him down striking him in the head. Lance crumpled to the ground face first. He could only watch helplessly as Pidge was dragged from the room while his vision faded to black.
Was it hours? Days? Lance didn't know how much time had passed before he finally woke up. All he knew was that the back of his head was on fire and there was a figure curled up in the corner of the cell.
He sat up, his head spinning with the movement. He was gonna kill the galra when he got out of this cell. The others would probably share the same sentiment.
"Pidge?" His voice was gentle, but even he didn't miss the flinch that radiated throughout her body. "Pidge?" Lance said again.
"Yeah?" This time she sat up. Her face was downcast, and Lance couldn't get a good look at it from the shadows and the angle she held it at.
"Are you okay?"
Silence.
"Pidge?"
"Yes."
That's all she said, that's all that Lance could get her to say. He settled down next to her and for a split second she stiffened as if worried about what he was going to do. But as quickly as it came it went away.
Several more minutes passed before anything was said again. Lance had jumped from Pidge's voice as he had come accustomed to the silence. He had been so focused on calming his mind that he hadn't heard what Pidge had initially said.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Lance said, barely above a whisper.
"This has happened before." Pidge replied. "Hasn't it? To me, To you, To the others."
"Yes."
Pidge turned to him and this time he could see her face clearly. Minus the cut on her temple from their initial capture, there were several new cuts and bruises. Some of which had been bleeding, now there were only trails of dried blood.
In the center of the cuts, bruises, and blood were two brown eyes wide with fear. Pidge grabbed Lance's arm. The dried blood that had been caked onto her hands flaked off onto Lance's armor.
"They didn't believe me. Even after I told them I didn't know what they were talking about. I told them that I couldn't remember."
Her voice was shaky and Lance could tell that she was on the verge of tears. "Pidge-"
Her grip on his arm became tighter, "Lance, why can't I remember!" A sob broke free then and she pulled away. Bringing her knees up to her chest she curled in on herself. "I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be on earth."
After that it was nothing but broken sobs. Lance reached for her and pulled her into his chest. She didn't pull away, in fact she melted into him, her body going limp.
Lance's heart was in a million pieces. His arms wrapped tighter and he tucked his face into her hair. Her sobs had quieted but she was still shaking.
"I'm sorry Pidge." Lance whispered. This never should have happened. He should have left Pidge in the castle. Safe. Not here in a cell. There's no way on earth that Lance was going to forgive himself for this.
A few seconds later he realized Pidge had fallen asleep in his arms. He didn't dare to move. He wanted to make sure whatever sleep she was able to get in this hell. It didn't last long though. The next thing Lance knew his cell door was opening.
The same two Galra were standing just outside the cell. Lance looked down at Pidge and miraculously she hadn't woken up. The galra didn't have a chance to say anything before he gently moved Pidge from his arms to the floor, making her as comfortable as he could.
He exited the cell his head held high. They weren't going to get a chance to lay a hand on him before he had a chance to unleash his wrath on them. After that, if they survived, He didn't care what happened to him.
Just as long as Pidge lives.