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the-kittens-of-vol-tron · 2 years ago

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First Chapter! Previous Chapter!

AO3!

Chapter 11: Leaving Too Soon

Summary: The plan to catch who captured Keith is put into effect. Lance dreams of something daunting. (I did add a POV for a random side character for some effect)

Word Count: 2,689

Trigger Warning: - Murder - Reliving Injuries (Happens in a Dream)

Lance’s POV

He stared up at the dark ceiling. His mind raced a mile a minute. The necklace sat around his neck. Heavy. Energy radiated through the room.

Lance,

This is a protection necklace. Each Knight has their own. Please wear it at all times. It is connected to you through your blood.

Best,

Honerva

A protection necklace? Why would he need that? Wasn’t the armor enough? His sword? Why did she make this? And why would she need his blood for that? He tried to silence his thoughts, pressing a soft kiss to Keith’s head. The Prince remained unmoving on his chest. His breathing is slow and even.

He wanted to sleep himself, just pass the time till he could talk to Keith again.

He wasn’t even sure why he was this worked up about it. She was acting a bit weird around him and the questioning was…intense. Plus, whenever new equipment was being introduced Coran was the first to tell them. He didn’t mention a protection necklace.

Keith stirred slightly. His face scrunching up in uneasiness.

Lance frowned down at him, this was new behavior. He shook ever so slightly, his breathing becoming a bit heavy. “Keith?” He whispered, running his hand through his hair.

Keith squeezed his eyes tighter, his body moving a bit more.

Lance held on to him tighter, “Keith?!”

His eyes snapped open, pushing himself upward in a frenzy.

“Easy,” Lance moved with him, holding his wrist gently. “Just breathe, you’re awake.”

The Galran looked at him, his eyes filled with anxiety. “You’re here.” He said in a breathy tone. His eyes scanned him up and down.

“Yeah…I’m here.”

Keith dropped his head, looking at Lance’s hands. “Sorry.”

“Why are you saying sorry?” He did his best to keep his voice light. His body safe.

“I just…I thought you were dead. Kinda freaked out.”

A pang of guilt vibrated through Lance. “I’m not dead. I’m here…with you.”

Keith nodded, his eyes still cast down.

“Hey…can you look at me?”

He slowly lifted his head, meeting his eyes.

Lance sent him a soft smile, lifting the other boy's right wrist. Placing his hand over his heart. “Feel that? I’m alive.”

Keith stared at his hand. Seeming to only watch the way Lance’s chest rose and fell with each breath.

Lance squeezed his wrist slightly, “I’m still here with you. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Okay.” He didn’t seem convinced.

“Come here,” he gently pulled the other boy toward him. Coxing him to lie down again. Pressing Keith’s head against his chest. “Just listen.”

Keith made a small grunt of acknowledgment, letting his body go lax on Lance. He wrapped his arms around the Prince, holding him tightly. Silently vowing to never hurt him like that again.

---

“Thirty-seven.”

“Hm?” Krolia asked, turning her attention to the soldier.

“He’s switching between two styles of fighting. It’s subtle but,” Lance squinted his eyes at the Galran. He needed to get closer to be sure. The balcony was a bit high up for up-close details.

“Would you like to test him?” Kolivan asked.

Lance nodded, “may I?”

“Just don’t kill him,” Krolia said with a sigh.

Lance felt a small smirk on his face. “I won’t. You actually set the boundary.” He quickly made his way down toward the soldiers. He headed toward thirty-seven. What was his name? Garrick.

He stopped in front of the soldier, keeping his posture relaxed. His core opened. “Thirty-seven.”

The soldier stopped, looking at the knight with uncertainty. “Sir?”

“I want you to fight me.”

The soldier raised his eyebrows in confusion. “Uh…why?”

Lance smiled, he didn’t blame his reservation. Everyone was told they were doing a “training” check. To make sure everyone was “up to par.” And if he was a traitor to the Galran empire. He was most likely trying to figure out why he was singled out. What gave him away? “I want to see something, that’s all.”

The soldier shook his head, probably thinking he was some sadistic bastard. “I’m not going to fight you.”

Lance nodded, turning his back. He didn’t even make it a step before he yanked his sword out, rotating to swing it at the soldier.

Garrick fumbled a bit but managed to raise his blade just in time to collide with Lance’s.

Lance could feel everyone’s eyes on them. He didn’t mind the added pressure. The sooner he cracked Garrick, the sooner he would know if he had the right person. He pulled back and swung again, not aiming for anything vital.

Garrick stepped back, his left foot sliding some as he braced himself for the next swing. Lance stepped forward, pushing his opponent back more. He quickly stepped off to the side, letting the purple blade stab the air besides him.

So far everything was good. He hasn't used any styles from Zarkon’s training. Lance had studied a pamphlet over breakfast, he had them memorized. I need to push him more. He ducked under another swing, kicking his leg toward Garrick. Sending him to the ground.

Garrick growled, baring his teeth some as he scrambled back up. His feet wide apart, both hands holding his blade. His body trying to be as big as possible. More of a scare tactic than a good defensive strategy.

Lance smiled to himself, bingo.

Garrick lunged at him and Lance put his sword back in its holder. Grabbing the hands that held the blade with his left hand. Pushing them to the left as his right foot kicked his legs to the right. Sending him on the ground with a hard thump.

Lance immediately pressed his knee on his back, between his shoulder blades. Holding Garrick's own blade against his neck. He leaned down, whispering in his ear. “You made that too easy for me, Garrick.”

The Galran bared his teeth, pushing up against the knight.

Two guards ran toward them, “we can take it from here Knight McClain!”

Lance moved some so they could handcuff him before he stood all the way up. Pulling the neckline of his undersuit down a bit. Was it always this hot outside?

---

“Ugh!” Shiro pressed his head against the table. “He won’t crack.”

Lance’s jaw was tight as he looked through the double-sided glass. He hadn’t been given clearance to do any actual interrogation. Just watching others. So he found himself pacing the glass. Almost as if he was stalking his prey.

He didn’t blame the Emperor for not giving him clearance. He didn’t completely understand the Galran laws and he might petrify the poor boy. While he may be a traitor to the Galran Empire he was still a kid. Someone who was dragged in when he was too young to understand or form his own thoughts.

“Are we sure he’s even a traitor?” Keith asked, clearly annoyed this was taking so long.

Lance gave a stiff nod, “yes. But these techniques aren’t working. He might have been given training on Galran interrogation techniques.”

Shiro lifted his head off the table, “what are you implying?”

“I’m not saying your interrogation tactics are bad but he might just be numb to them.” Lance moved to the table. “Do you have a list of the Galran’s that were captured earlier?”

Shiro activated the hologram, pulling up the list of prisoners. Lance scrolled through the list, he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. But he would know it when he saw it. “Prince, when you were captured did you see anyone? Or hear any defining features?”

Keith shifted forward, his eyes scanning the list. “No. I couldn’t move my head to see anything. But someone did interrupt Sendek. And they said ‘Vrepit sa.”

“What Zarkon used to say?” Shiro asked.

Keith nodded.

Lance smiled and closed down the list. He would have kissed Keith if they were alone. “I need to speak to the Emperor, I have a plan, it just might not be conventional.”

---

Garrick’s POV

Key jingled slightly as footsteps approached his cell. He chewed on his inner cheek. He hadn’t said anything during his interrogation. He denied everything, but how was that knight able to see through him? What gave him away?

The footsteps stopped in front of his cell, and an unfamiliar Galran Guard faced him. “Come here.” His voice was low, grave. Not a voice he recognized.

He stared at the guard, making no attempt to move closer. He didn’t know him and he didn’t feel like being questioned anymore.

The guard glanced down the hallway. Before whispering two words. “Vrepit sa.”

“Vrepit sa,” Garrick moved closer as quietly as he could. “Who are you?”

The guard unhooked the keys from his belt loop. “Someone who is following orders from higher up.” He unlocked the door. “They’re pulling the mission back. Gather everyone in the castle and meet me in the courtyard in ten minutes.” He opened the door, ushering Garrick out.

His stomach sank, that wasn’t the way to do things. Sure he didn’t get orders from the higher-ups but he knew they were supposed to die before they left the mission. Anxiety grew in his chest. “Why?”

The guard looked at him, the upper part of his face covered by a helmet. “Sendek is dead. New people are taking over. I can get you out tonight or you can face trial and be sentenced to death. You pick.”

Garrick looked down the hallway, completely empty. “Sorry, I just have a weird feeling in my gut.”

The guard gave a small nod, “these are just our orders. Ten minutes. Vrepit sa.” He closed his cell and moved down the hallway in the opposite direction he came.

Garrick swallowed and ran the other way. The universe is smiling at him by making every hallway empty. Free of other guards. He quickly gathered the eight other members. Telling them he would explain everything once they were out of the castle walls.

They made their way to the courtyard, with only a couple of minutes to spare.

“Where is he?” Someone asked.

Garrick shrugged, “give him a second.”

As if on cue the guard stepped forward, a smile on his face. “Vrepit sa.”

“Vrepit sa,” they all whispered.

“Is this everyone?” The nameless guard asked.

“Yes,” Garrick replied. “I was the only one in the batch tested today. They were all scheduled for later this week.”

The guard’s smile widened, “come here, Garrick. I have to tell you something.”

Garrick obliged, pushing down the desire to run away.

The guard leaned forward, whispering in his ear. “Just some life advice. Next time your gut is telling you something is wrong. Listen to it.”

He heard a gasp before he realized what was happening. They were completely surrounded by soldiers loyal to Kolivan. And the nameless guard wasn’t Galran. He was the Altean Knight. They were quickly surrounded, begging forced on their stomachs as cuffs were placed on them.

Garrick stared at the knight, “Alteans aren’t supposed to play dirty!”

The knight tilted his head some, stepping forward slightly. Kneeling in front of him. “You’re right. But you touched my prince. I don’t play nicely when you do that.”

He was lifted off the ground, the guard's hands tight around his upper arms. He didn’t even have the energy to scream or fight back. He fell right into their trap.

---

Lance’s POV

His footsteps echoed off the metal walls as he walked. He had no idea where he was. He hadn't been in this part of the castle before.

He was alone. No voices. The only sound was his footsteps echoing through the air. He was heading toward the end of a hallway. A bright light filled the exit. He was maybe sixty feet away when he heard something. A giggle?

His body stopped, his feet glued to the floor.

Laughter. A woman talking. Sounds he hadn’t heard in years.

He bolted forward. Did the hallway get longer? He shook his head and pushed his legs more. The exit slowly getting closer, and closer and-

Screams filled the room, begging and pleading. He couldn’t make out what they were saying but they sounded scared. In pain. Not again, not again! He needed to help them. He wasn’t the same helpless kid he was fourteen years ago.

He finally reached the exit, his eyes adjusting to the bright light. His vision filled with red. His nose was immediately attacked with a rusty smell. His family lay in a motionless heap on the ground. Keith stood over them, his sword in his hands. The silver and blue decorated with blood.

Keith turned some, looking at him over his shoulder. “Hey, Lance.”

His knees shook, his chest trying to pull as much air in as he could. “What did you do?!” He didn’t recognize his own voice. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the Alteans on the ground.

Keith turned to properly face him. He looked like Keith but something was off about him, In a different circumstance he would have been able to identify it. But not right now.

“You seem mad at me.” The Prince took a couple of steps toward him. The tip of the sword dragged on the ground. “I don’t know why you would be. You’re the one that said I didn’t kill them.”

He snapped his eyes toward the Prince, opening his mouth to try and reply but instead a familiar pain blossomed in his abdomen. His own sword plunged into his gut. He gasped, trying to swallow the red liquid that moved up his throat.

He begged his arms to move, to shove the other boy away. To escape. Run away. Deal with the guilt that he couldn’t save them. Not then and not now.

Keith placed his free hand on Lance’s cheek. His thumb smeared the blood that trickled out of the corner of his mouth. “You’re pathetic. And you and I both know you’re not worthy of your title. But there is one thing you need to know.”

He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Lance’s cheek. An intimate gesture clashing with what was happening. His lips were right by his ears, his breathing light. “This is all in your head.”

His body shot upward, his hands grabbing at his stomach as his lungs ached for air. A hand was touching him. Grabbing his shoulder as another voice filled the room. “Lance! Take a deep breath, you’re okay.”

He reached for the hand, shoving it off his body as he tried to get off the bed. Everything was ringing. His body felt tense, almost as if electricity was moving across his skin. No matter how many breaths he took, his vision was spotted. His heart pounded in his ears. His mind is trying to grasp what just happened.

His knees hit the floor, and he found himself scratching at his shirt. Peeling it off his sweat-soaked skin. Why was everything so hot?

He stumbled toward the balcony, the cold air immediately wrapping around him. He slumped on the railing, his fingers white due to his grasp. Every so slowly his breath began to calm. The buzz feeling slowly dimmed out of existence. Leaving a faint ring sound.

His body shivered some and he found himself sitting. Hugging his knees as he pushed his face into them. Trying to stop his mind from cycling over the dream. "You’re okay. He didn’t kill them. You’re okay.” He mumbled over and over in Altean.

A ghost touch brushed his arm, a soft voice calling his name. “Lance…?”

He flinched, despite knowing the source.

The touch disappeared, a body sitting next to him. “I can leave if you want but…I wanted to check on you.”

Lance let himself fall to the side, his head resting on Keith’s shoulder. The Prince rested his own head against Lance’s. Sitting in silence for a bit. “Bad dream?” He asked.

“Yeah.” His voice was breathy and he squeezed his eyes shut. Trying to get the image of his family out of his head.

“Did you want to talk about it?”

He shook his head no. He couldn’t ever tell Keith about that.

-----

Oh noooooooo poor baby </3

Thank you for reading!