#torally fair if that's your opinion

[waldwasser]

Now I know why I never go into the main ff14 tag anymore... less than two minutes to find the first 'this is why DT SUCKS11!!!!1!!' post -_- I just want to share nice fanart dang it!!

[wlreports-blog]

India's Best Leaders - Amit Somaiya, CEO, IMS People

India's Best Leaders 2019

India's Best Leaders - Amit Somaiya, CEO,  IMS People

Years of working in the industry, your contribution reflects versatility and volubility. What has influenced your decision making process at various stages?

An entrepreneur goes through various cycles during the course of setting up his business.  I am not certain whether these cycles have a common pattern amongst different entrepreneurs, but in my case, I first experienced the influence of ambition at the time of start up of our business.  All my decisions and judgement were highly influenced with the ambition in accomplishing the goals I had.

India's Best Leaders - Amit Somaiya, IMS People My decision making during the second phase of the growth of the business (once the business was moderately set up) was influenced by persévérance. At the current stage where the business is today where the brand is now well established and there are a number of accomplishments to our credit, the decision making process is influenced by the vision of creating a master piece for the future. A project or an accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career? One of our major clients had decided to part away from us and stopped availing services after a 3 years relationship.  This decision of theirs, so we believed, was based on erroneous assumptions.  Both the contract as well as the relationship were extremely crucial for our business.  The relentless pursuit to meet the client and their stakeholders, reengaging them, and successfully enrolling them for the future has been extremely fulfilling and significant.  Today they continue to avail services from us and are the largest buyer of our services. How do you integrate corporate philanthropy or corporate social responsibility as a part of your business strategies? Giving back to the society is a noble as well as an important activity that corporates ought to practise.   However, it works best when one integrates such social cause along with their business strengths and/or practise.  IMS has a large pool of talent working for them.  These youngsters are energetic, full of life, and equally enthusiastic to make a difference in the society.  Channelizing their energies in the field of social work is one of the business strategies that IMS has adopted.   What has been your driving force or philosophy in life? “Be the cause in the matter“ The above has been my mantra over the years.  Challenges are a part and parcel of life.  Any business is mired with breakdowns and difficult situations.  I have always observed that blaming a situation or the circumstance is merely an excuse to shift the responsibility.  Being the cause in that matter and taking appropriate action (whether they bring success or not) always ensures genuinity of one’s cause. Eventually you do get success. What are the other philanthropic works you are involved in? I am involved with an organization called “MAD” (Making a Difference).  With this organization we support children on the street in both urban as well as in desolated rural areas with clothing during winter. We also carry out programs for supporting child education as well as sponsoring education costs for children whose parents are unable to afford school fees. Besides the above there are other smaller programs associated with reducing the use of plastics. How do you define success and how do you measure up to your own definition? I believe success is about making a positive contribution to one’s vision.  Success is not a destination; it is the journey which one embarks on, can face various hurdles, come across various twists and turns, but what stands out is their progress of this journey.  The mere fact of persevering and continuing relentlessly in the direction of one’s vision, is success. My success journey is on.  I therefore never feel of having arrived in life, or at the final destination of my vision.  As I progress the vision takes new shape and form and the journey continues. In your opinion what is the most significant aspect of leadership? When a leader is able to make himself entirely redundant within his team. This I believe is the most important aspect of an accomplished leader.  Undoubtedly a leader needs to practice many virtues; being just and fair; a person of integrity; mentoring and guiding people; as well as a visionary in his field.  However, I believe that the leader has accomplished the most when his team (with his support, guidance and mentoring) are able to stand up and function in his absence, as effectively as they would have done during his presence.  This is a single most significant aspect of leadership. Your perception of an empowered society. How far your industry has / can contribute for the same? I believe the society is empowered when they have freedom of choice. The recruitment and the staffing industry researches on opportunities and presents them to their candidates.  This provides a choice to the candidates to decide on how they would like to shape their future careers.  The staffing industry plays a vital role not only in keeping the engines of the enterprise running, but also empowering individuals to shape and control their careers. PERSONAL GRID One thing you wish to change and one thing you wish to retain about your industry? One thing which I would really like to change about my industry is the ‘dogmatic’ attitude that I have seen in many recruiters about their respective business models.  It is imperative that with the change in times, advancement in technology, change in customer needs and behaviour, one also should modify their business outlook in the right direction.  I have seen quite some firms who have failed dramatically just because of a dogmatic view of how their business should be. The consultative nature of our business model, making strategic contribution to an organization's development would be the key features which I would wish to retain for our industry. One thing you have to let go off as an entrepreneur/leader? If one wants to succeed as an entrepreneur they would need to let go of their ‘pessimistic’ view about their business, situation or life.  This would be one of the single most show stopper for any entrepreneur. Whom do you owe your success to? There are a number of people whom I would like to acknowledge for the success that I have accomplished in my life : All of my employees who are the foundation of our organization their relentless pursuit and dedication is truly commendable. My various business mentors who over the years have ideated with me, lent support to my thoughts and contributed to my wisdom and I would like to give a special mention to Joost Kreulen and Jack Unroe. My parents for giving me the strength, imbibing me with integrity, and my uncle Ashok who truly invested and made me believe in my vision and that I could accomplish my dreams. Finally and most importantly my wife Toral and my children Vatsal and Hritika.  Their love and selflessness gave me the strength to withstand the most testing times especially my wife to whom at times I turned for wisdom and who has been my steadfast partner ensuring that I don’t run off course and I am able to accomplish my vision. Best thing about your job? ‘The best part about my job is, that I can make, and am able to, make a difference to people’s life’. A message from you to all the future entrepreneurs/leaders? My final parting message for other entrepreneurs is a quote from Werner Erhard which I would like to mention over here “It is important that you get clear for yourself that your only access to impacting life is action. The world does not care what you intend, how committed you are, how you feel or what you think, and certainly it has no interest in what you want and don’t want. Take a look at life as it is lived and see for yourself that the world only moves for you when you act.” - Werner Erhard Read the full article

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

WAD 92 FULL DRAFT

Keith wasn't sure if he was feeling better or not, yet he and the rest of team were now sitting on the floor medical room as Lance tried his best to fill them in "So, Toral is an Altean?" "Yep. She's got the marks and all, but she's not like Allura and Coran. She's a giant pain in the quiznak and has enough attitude to sink a ship" "Lance, are you sure she's Altean?" "She's has the same marks as you, Coran and Lotor do" "But couldn't she be like you and the boys?" "Possibly. Anyway, like I said, she will only talk to Allura, which is why I don't know much of anything" "I can't believe you'd do something as reckless as to head out alone. What would you have done if something happened?" "Relax. It wasn't all that dangerous. Picking herbs was even worse, and Wuzos... never again" "It certainly sounds like you've been busy" "You have no idea. Anyway, what do you all want to do? She's awake. I checked on her when I brought her food earlier" Keith knew Lance had slipped out during the night, but had assumed he'd gone to the toilet, not made the rounds "I hope you didn't mess my kitchen up. It took vargas to get all those notes off the cupboards" "Sorry Hunk. I'm not as good with space ingredients as you are. There was a lot of trial and error making soup for you guys. Oh, Coran, I'm sorry but your control panel is just as bad. I couldn't remember everything, so I wrote it down... and Keith, you're probably going to have a heap of unread messages..." "It's fine baby. You made it work. Our immediate problem is Toral" "Problem is an understatement. So what do you want to do?" "We should go talk to her" "Did she say who her target actually was?" "It would have been so much easier if she had. She's worse than a whole squad of Iverson's... no I take that back. She's worse to talk to than Slav!" Pidge giggled as Lance crossed his arms and pouted "Just you wait" "Allura, what do you want to do?" "I feel we should talk to her before our condition declines again. Ryner warned it would be one of the side effects" "Great... because I don't feel bad enough as it is" "It's ok Pidge. The worst of it's over, and how bad can it be compared to all that coughing you were doing before?" "Do not even go into that. I can't believe you didn't drink anything" "What can I say? Keith definitely did enough drinking for the both of us" "But you're the whole reason we went to the gala" Lance's face fell a little, so Keith rose to his feet "It was Toral's fault, not Lance's. Let's go meet her, and see what she has to say" "What about the boys?" "They should be safe enough in the hallway outside the cells. There's nothing for them to pull down, on or out... and even if they crawl, there's nothing they can hurt themselves on. Not like in here" "Or Lance can stay here with the boys" "Nope. No. Uh-uh. Not happening. I am not letting you all talk to her and find out what the quiznak everything was about without me. So do not even think of sidelining me Shiro, or I will kick your arse" Shiro growled, but unlike the day before, Lance stood a little straighter "Do not think for one tick that I can't smell that you're in pain and lashing out because of it. I can smell everyone's pain, and I know you're all struggling with your alphas. I know because I have the same struggle with my omega far too often. Now I'm giving you all a free pass, because honestly you've all been less than pleasant to be around while you've been sick, but I'm a nice person, and I'm not going to hold it against you. Shiro. I know you're a strong alpha, and I know you're probably struggling just as hard as Keith, no offence Pidge and Hunk, but maybe you should cut down on the growling. I'm tired of it. I really am" Hunk gaped at Lance, while Pidge hid her laugh badly with a cough "Seriously. I'm in some kind of heat. I don't need this from any of you right now..." "No wonder he's moody" Whispering to Hunk, Pidge earned herself a glare "Alphas who whisper can just stay up here. And alphas who continue to whisper won't get to look at the really cool tech when they get better" "There's tech?! You didn't say there was tech" "Ryner has it. And it won't be returned until I ask for it back. So I suggest you behave yourself Pidge, or you can kiss seeing it goodbye" "Keith! Tell him he can't do that" "I'm not getting in the middle of this" "But you're the leader of Voltron" "And because he was sick, I made the call that it shouldn't be stored on the castle in case Toral escaped" "Pidge, he has a point" "Hunk, no! You're supposed to be on my side" "You know I would love nothing more than to tinker on tech with you, but we don't know anything about it, or Toral" "We do know that she poisoned hundreds of people just to get at one target" "If she's Altean... that could mean there are more of them out there" Lance shook his head, dashing Allura's hopes "I had the same thought, but Allura, I get the same feeling from her as I got in the rift and that. I get the feeling there's something not quite right with her" "Do you think she could be related to Honerva?" "Not to Honerva. I mean, not like a clone, but maybe to the rift. I don't know, and it's giving me a headache trying to figure all this out... I guess, in the end, I'm just saying be careful and don't rush to believe everything she says" "I will keep that mind"

Shiro seemed to hang back from the group as they made their way down to prisoner cells at a snails pace. It was a great idea to go before they got worse, but that was in theory. In reality... In reality they were progressing frustratingly slow, and Lance already looked out of breath as he kept an arm around Keith's waist. His husband had be hurting mentally and physically, especially knowing that he could fall pregnant as an egg could form, though here was nothing for it to embed into. It really wasn't fair on him, and Keith was pretty much certain this heat had been stressed induced. Especially after Lance had filled them all in on what making the antidote required. That combined with his husband's determination to help everyone poisoned, and keep Voltron running the best he could had him so incredibly proud of him, and he hated himself for doubting his mate had the strength. Lance had stepped up and had been more of leader during his phoeb at the helm, than he'd ever been. Or at least that's how it felt. He was also slightly annoyed at his husband for taking their sons with him, but that might have just been his own jealousy bleeding over. Lance would never hurt their boys, but it was a hell of a lot to take in. In the end, he continued his mental grumblings all the way down to level housing the prison cells.

* Toral was everything Lance said and more. It might have the fact Keith was older than when he'd come into space, but he had absolutely not patience for Toral, though she reminded him so much of someone that it nearly sent him crazy trying to remember who. The girl was loud. Opinionated. Pushy. Prone to fits of hysterics and over exaggeration... And that was all from trying to get her name out of her. He was exhausted already, and Allura seemed to be in the same boat. She looked tired and drawn as she pinched the bridge of his nose. They hadn't wanted to play the fact they already knew her name, or that they'd poisoned her, which by they, he meant Shiro. Though he wasn't sure how it was even supposed to work with Lance in the room. Finally proving too much for his husband, Lance snapped again "Toral. You told me to bring you to Allura. I have brought to Allura. This is Allura, and this is the rest of Voltron. Now, you said you'd talk only to Allura, so go ahead and talk, but there is no way we are leaving her alone anywhere near you" Toral rolled her eyes, but at least sat up on her bed "How do I know she's Allura?" "Because I told you I would bring you to her and I did. Also, you ran the whole freaking gala. You had to have seen her doing the rounds, or are you as dumb as you seem?" "When I get out this cell..." "You'll what? Try and shoot me again? You know you don't have a chance" "Lance, will you please stop antagonising the prisoner?" "Shiro, you can't talk to her. She's too stupid to understand" "I'm not stupid. I'm just not going to talk while he's in the room" "See. Lance, you should leave" "Not Lance. You. I don't want to talk to you" "Me?" "Yes. If you want me to talk, he has to go" "Can I ask why Shiro has to go?" "Because he can't be trusted" Shiro looked like he'd been slapped, but somehow pulled himself together "Fine. I'll be waiting in the hall"

Toral waited until Shiro was gone from the room before jumping to her feet and brushing herself off "I thought he was never going to leave" "Why don't you like Shiro?" "Because he can't be trusted" "How do you know I can?" Toral grinned, crossing to stand in front of Allura "Because you're Allura" "I thought you didn't believe us" "I knew it was her the moment I saw her. I mean, what kind of daughter doesn't even know her own mother?" "Mother?!" "Allura!" "Don't look at me! I've never had a child, let alone... I'm sorry Toral, you have the wrong woman" Seeing Allura so flustered, Keith almost wanted to laugh. The Queen had blushed bright red, and was making frantic movements with her hands as she tried to deny it. Laughing Toral seemed to think this was all some kind of game "I assure you, I am your daughter" It was Lance who clicked before he did "You're from another universe, aren't you? Did you come through the rift?" Another universe? He'd had enough rifts and alternate universes to last him a lifetime "You're not as dumb as you look. My name is Princess Toral. The Daughter of Empress Allura, Princess of Altea, and Emperor Lotor, Leader of the Galra Empire" "What?! You're Lotor and Allura's daughter! What are you doing here?" Toral's smile only grew, before suddenly dropping as the girl turned away from them "Toral?" "I come from a universe where my mother is dead... and... Altea is the only thing protecting the universe from falling. We do not have lions like yours, but we do have Paladins..." "Do they know you're gone? That you're here? Lotor must be worried" "Lotor's the whole reason I'm here. My mother tried to take me and escape, only when we were escaping, we got separated and I when I opened a wormhole, I came through here... and I can't get back. No. I won't go back, not when Lotor is walking around free!" "Lotor's the reason you're here? I don't understand" "My father and your husband, Lotor, he's not a good man... he "allowed" the planets under his control to function as they'd always had, but once their resources ran out... he made examples of them all..." "Lotor isn't like that. Not in this reality, here he is our friend" "He's only your friend to your face! Has he never done anything to make you question him? Has he never done anything to show his true colours?" Keith looked to Lance, his husband wrapped his arms around his waist as he gaze fell. Lotor had done plenty to hurt them... "He has! I can see it on your face!" "Toral, even if Lotor isn't all he seems, we can't act without knowing the full story. Like you. How long have you been in this universe? Where did you come out? What happened to your ship? How did you know about us and Allura? Why did you plan the gala? And more importantly, how? And why isn't Shiro trustworthy? You've only just met him..." "Lotor was at the gala that night. Your friend left you all to meet him in secret, but I couldn't get close. Lotor was supposed to be poisoned! Only, because of your friend, he never left his ship" "Your plan was awful and people died because of it. As far as I'm concerned, you can stay in here" Placing her hand on Lance's arm, Allura looked to Lance with a soft smile "Lance, she's a child. We cannot just leave her down here, not when we still don't everything" "We know enough! She poisoned hundreds! We could only help a few of those! She nearly killed all of you, trying to get Lotor! She nearly took my husband away. She nearly killed the father of my kids!" "Lance, she had her reasons" "Are you serious right now?" "If she is who she says she is, then we need to help her. She has no one else" "I can't... I can't do this" Shaking off Allura's hand, Lance turned from Toral's cell. His husband shrinking in on himself as he did "What's the matter Red Paladin, running away" Lance's eyes flashed, spinning back to Toral, he fixed her with an icy glare "You say you know what it's like to lose people! You saw my kids! You tried to kill my husband! You tried to take their father away! So if you really know what it's like to lose people, then think about someone other than yourself for once! Do you have any idea how many people lost someone they cared about because of you! How would you feel watching the person you loved die right in front of you! You say Lotor is bad, well you're worse!" As Toral began to cry, Lance stormed away. Keith didn't even bother excusing himself as he rushed after his husband.

Catching up with Lance in the corridor outside the cells, his husband was just lifting Laneith into his hold from Shiro's as Keith burst through the door "Lance..." "I can't... Keith, I can't" "I'm not asking you to, baby" "Did something happen?" Moving to wrap his arm around Lance's waist, Keith nodded "Talk to Allura about it. Lance and I need to talk" Lance tensed in his hold, but allowed himself to be lead away from Shiro.

* Instead of heading up to the medical room, Keith lead Lance back to the nursery. His omega had kept his lip firmly trapped in his lip the whole walk. Sitting Lance down on the bed, he lifted Kelance from him, placing their son on the floor before lifting Laneith and setting him down next to his brother. The pair were confused, but the promise of adventure soon had them preoccupied as they crawled away "I know. I know I shouldn't have lost it at her. You don't have to say it" "I wasn't going to" "Keith..." Pulling Lance backwards, Keith settled them down so they were laying face to face. He knew Lance would regret blowing up the moment it happened, so he didn't need him piling the guilt on "Here, just take a few ticks to calm down" "I don't want to calm down" "Really?" "I don't know if I can. It's just... none of this is going how it went in my head and I don't know what to do anymore" "Tell me about it" "No, you're still recovering" "So? You've been doing everything alone, and now you're in heat too. If you can't vent to me, who can you vent to?" Lance gave him a half smile, reaching out to cup his face with his left hand "God. I missed you so much" "I know you did baby. I feel so bad that you had to take on so much while we were sick" "It... it was alright. I mean, not that you were sick, but I felt like I working towards getting you better and I was so busy, I didn't have time to stop and think..." "I find that hard to believe. I know you're always thinking way too much" "You're an arsehole, you know that" Keith snorted "Yeah, but you still love me" "I do. It's just, I waited so long for you all to wake up, and everything I've done since seems to be wrong according to someone. I knew you'd all be feeling bad, so I wanted to keep us together, you know. We all worry about each other, so I thought everything would be ok if we stayed together and I could be there for you all, and like we'd be able to just... it's stupid. I know I build these things up in my head, I know I do" "You missed us and just wanted to keep us safe" "Exactly! When I saw Toral, I just got so mad all over again. Keith, I've seen you dead, I've brought you back before and you nearly died again. It was so scary" "I know baby" "She nearly took you away. She nearly took you all away! It's not fair! When do we get our happy ending?! I'm so tired. I'm tired of my family being hurt!" Overwhelmed by his emotions, Lance grabbed him tightly "I just want to be happy! I just want us all to be happy! I know you guys can't control how pissy your alphas are, but it felt like everything I went through meant nothing!" "No baby. Not nothing" "That's how it feels! My best friend was more concerned with the fact I messed up his kitchen then the fact I had to kill to save you all!" "Hunk was only joking. You know he can never ever stay mad at you. We're all grateful baby" "Then why does it feel like everyone thinks I'm stupid for wanting to be with you all! I hate this! I hate being an omega! I'm so tired of feeling stupid!" "Lance, you're not stupid. Stressed and emotional, yes. And exhausted. You're supposed to be resting, but you were off making sure Toral was alright, even if you don't like her. I don't care what anyone else thinks, but I am so proud you're my mate. That you're my omega. You're my husband and I love you. I know you don't think anyone sees how hard you try, but I do. Even before we got together, I saw. I love you and I love that strength of yours" "I..." "You don't need to try and protest against everything I saw" "Keith... I'm just so tired" "I know you are. I know. And I don't care what the others want, today I'm being selfish and we're going to spend it together" "But they..." "There's 5 of them. And two of us. If we can manage, they can" "There's four of us..." "But there's two us that are going to take a nice hot shower. When's the last time you had time to actually enjoy a shower?" Lance groaned "I can't even remember" "I'm going to wash your hair, and you're going to wash mine. If you're good and let me pamper you a little, I might let you use that face cream on me" "The face cream is in the other room... but a real, proper, hot shower sounds amazing" "Good" Kissing Lance's forehead, his mate sighed against him "Is it really alright to be selfish?" "As the leader of Voltron, I'm saying it definitely is" "Isn't that an abuse of power?" "Probably. I don't know. I'm making this up as I go"

Moving from the bed to bathroom, Lance helped him strip, before he did the same for his husband. Despite being in heat, there was barely any slick down his thighs, which probably only added to Lance's pain. Ushering him into the shower, his mate wrapped his arms around him before the water had even begun flowing. Nuzzling and mouthing against his neck, this shower was now taking a left turn he hadn't expected "Lance" "Keith..." The breathy way Lance panted his name went straight to his crotch, sliding his hands down Keith's back, Lance grabbed him firmly by the arse, massaging, as he ground against him "Baby..." "I... I can't help it..." "Mmm... I'm not going to complain" "Perverted alpha" "When my gorgeous husband is throwing himself at me, how can you expect me to say no?" Lance blushed brilliantly, either that or he was flushed with arousal, both ideas pleased his alpha so he happy either way. Gently nuzzling at the Lance's face, his mate lifted his head so he could push a soft kiss to his lips "I know you're hurting baby, so we'll take it slow" "What about you?" "I think we could both use a little release, and reassurance. Come here" Lifting Lance by his arse, Keith pinned him up against the shower wall as reached for the omega's body wash. Pouting Lance watched him pouring body wash into his hand "Should I have started with your hair first?" "No, but I'm starting to cramp" "Is it bad?" "Not yet... but I think I know a way that we can both get what we need" "And what do I need?" "Me to behave?" "I didn't know you knew how" "That's mean. I've been on very best behaviour until today" "Then I guess you deserve some reward for all your hard work" "Damn right I do" Lifting his hips, Lance tried to sink down on his erection, but found himself unable to thanks to the slick that was finally beginning to run from him with a needy whine, his mate rocked up against him "Keith, please" Placing the body wash bottle back on the shelf, Keith readjusted his hold on Lance, finally sinking into Lance's heat as he did. Clawing at his back, Lance hissed as he arched his back, clamping down as he did "Oh god... Keith..." "Stop squirming" "But it feels so good" "You are supposed to be behaving" "I am behaving..." Keith smirked as he thrust up, his hands moving Lance's chest as she began to wash his omega down. He loved the feel of Lance's smooth skin beneath his finger, and knowing he his husband was safe after his huge adventures. Rocking lightly as he washed Lance, he ignored washing Lance's crotch, letting the soapy water pool as Lance moved to palm his own erection "Mmm... Keith... I don't think I can last long" "Neither do I. That's why we're taking it as slow as possible" "But I want your knot" "I promise to knot you if you stop wriggling so much" "Keith, wriggling is part of sex" "Oh, are you saying I don't know how to make us both feel good?" "I'm saying I can't calm my omega down" "That's no good. I still need to wash your hair" "Fine. You do that and I'll just do this" Riding him slowly, it took all of Keith's will power to remain focused on washing Lance, and finally washing his hair. When he pulled out of Lance, his husband glared as him "Turn around, I need to wash your back" "Keith, it hurts now. I'm serious" "Ok baby... I didn't mean to actually hurt you" "I know, but... it really does now" Maybe he'd taken his teasing too far, but once he knotted Lance, he was probably going to collapse. He'd thought he'd feel better for longer, but maybe he'd pushed himself a little too hard as his head was starting to pound. Taking him by the hips, Keith nudge back into his mate, this time letting his alpha surge. With his alpha in control, his pace was brutal, Lance crying out each time he hit his sweet spot. It only took a few doboshes, and after over a phoeb without sex, Lance finally came hard down the shower wall with a long mew, before immediately starting to purr as Keith's knot popped. As predicted, his knees couldn't support him, so they both slid to the floor in a tangled panting heap. Wrapping his arms around Lance, the alpha rested his forehead against his mates back, as his seed continued to paint inside his mate white. They definitely should have done this in bed, as they were going to be stuck here for a while now "Keith" "What is it baby?" "I'm so sorry..." "What? Why?" "I can smell you... you're hurting" "It's just a headache" "But we're stuck here now" Kissing Lance's nape, a shiver ran through his mate as his breath hitched "I honestly can't think of anyone I'd rather be stuck with" "I should have ignored the pain" "No baby. I wanted you too, I never want you to hide your pain from me" "Why? Going to kiss it better?" "Maybe" "My lips are sore" "Are they really?" "Yeah... maybe you should kiss them better" Turning in his hold, they shared several long and deep kisses. Lance breaking the kiss with a soft hum as he took Keith's hands in his "We should have ditched everyone sooner" "Nah. I know you would have kept worrying like crazy if we had. It's fine" "You know, you're amazing. No one has ever understood me like you do" "Same baby. Though I'm still learning" "We both are"

* Trying to nurse a feverish Lance while battling a fever of his own, Keith was left wondering if he was going crazy. Lance insisted on checking on Kaltenecker and the chickens daily, even leaving food out for Six, but other than that, his husband refused to leave the nursery. He was mad at the rest of the team, and so incredibly moody that Keith had pretty much kept mouth shut unless Lance asked him a direct question. He knew his husband couldn't help it, and that his "heat" was to blame, but when Lance would burst into tears or start yelling randomly over seemingly nothing, he couldn't keep up. Laneith had pushed himself up, and used the wall to take one very shaky step, which lead to Lance sobbing for half a varga over wanting another baby, before snapping and trying to scratch  up his arms because he couldn't even have his heat right. Given how shit Keith was actually feeling, he felt like he needed someone else there, to help Lance with what he was feeling... and to give him a break from his husband. He felt guilty for feeling like he was suffocating, but it was getting harder and harder to keep his temper to himself. He just needed a tiny bit of space. Even if it was only 5 doboshes. Just 5 doboshes so he could sort out everything he was feeling and figure out how to juggle everything...

Having suppressed it the best he could for last three quintants, he should have been able to hold out for what was the last day of Lance's heat... but he snapped and he was left feeling like the biggest jerk in the universe.

Waking up both twins screaming, Lance was laying beside him, watching them without moving. His eyes were wide and red from the tears drying on his face, as chewed on his nails. Angered over Lance just watching their clearly miserable boys, his alpha roared to life and Lance copped it all. Throwing back the blankets, he stalked over to the Kelance's cot, finding both boys in the same one. Lifting them out, Laneith had blackening eye, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that Kelance had hit his brother. Holding them tightly, he turned and glared at Lance "What the fuck!? Are you fucking deaf? Laneith is hurt and you don't even care?" "L-Lanei..." Keith cut him off "Yes. He's in pain and you don't even care, do you! All you care about is this heat of yours and avoiding everyone else. So what if Allura did something you don't agree with, it's not the first time. Get over it already" "She tried to kill you" "I am well aware of that fact, and right now, I think it would have been preferable to you sulking nonstop!" "So you'd rather be dead than put up with me?" Lance sounded so completely broken, and hearing it like that, he desperately wished he could take it back. Pushing himself up, Lance stumbled from their bed "Lance" "No..." "What do you mean, no?" "I'll leave" "I didn't tell you leave" "You don't want me" "Don't turn this into something it's not" "I'll go..." "Lance. Stop this" "Stop what?" "Stop acting like this! Your moods have been all over the place for the last few quintants! I can't even keep up, and nothing seems to help!" "I'm sorry my body is fucking messed up!" "I know it is! You don't need to keep telling me!" God his head hurt, and his chest from coughing. Readjusting his hold on the boys, he tried to swallow down his temper "The boys could have been seriously hurt. If you aren't coping, maybe we should ask one of the others for help?" "Or I should just go..." "Go where?! You won't even leave the room if it's not to check on the animals! You're smothering me! You're smothering the boys! And you don't even care!" Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Without bothering to put his boots on, or change from shirt and sweats he was in, Lance stormed from nursery, leaving his messed up scent behind. It was nauseating. Instead of sour strawberries, it smelt like a whole basket of rotten fruit because his body just didn't know what scent he should be releasing.

Watching the door close, Keith flinched as if it had slammed. He shouldn't have said any of that, and he felt physically ill over the things he'd said. He'd just needed a few doboshes, and now he'd run him out of the nursery completely. He was a quiznakking idiot.

* Lance stopped in at the bedroom next to the nursery to grab his communicator, before taking off again. He knew his moods had gone to complete shit since Keith had knotted him. It'd felt right at the time, but now it was like his body wanted to be knotted like a normal heat, but at the same time, his omega was rejecting his alphas touch, leaving him feeling sick each time Keith tried to help with heat, and it was scary as hell. Scarier than taking on a whole pack of Wuzos. He didn't know what to do or say to Keith, his omega was out of control with panic, and he didn't want to talk to the rest of the team because he didn't want to see another alpha. Yes, he was mad about Allura's decision over Toral, but right now all he could think about how he was being betrayed by his own body again. He didn't want to see his friends and "react" to them, even if it was highly unlike it would happen.

Fleeing the castle, Lance ran all the way down to the house he was supposed to be living in with Keith. Finding the lights on, his heart had dropped when he'd seen Hunk and Pidge in side. He'd wanted to find some kind of solace, not to be reminded he didn't belong in that house. He just needed somewhere he could wait out the rest of his heat and someone he could talk to. That's why he'd grabbed his communicator. He wanted Krolia. He wanted his own mum, but he couldn't call her, so he wanted his second mum. He just wanted someone to hug him and tell him that he wasn't himself right now, but it would all clear up when his heat passed. Doubling back towards the castle, he veered off the path, and ducked behind the bushes between the terrace the castle sat on, and the way to the house. Sinking down against the closest tree, he opened his communicator and requested a video call with Krolia.

It seemed like only ticks before Krolia answered, rubbing at her face like she'd been sleeping "Lance?" Her voice was sleepy. She'd definitely been sleeping... "Mum..." His lip quivered, and Krolia was instantly alert "Lance, what's wrong?" "Everything!" Wailing the word, he stuffed his hand against his mouth. He didn't want the others finding him "Lance, honey, what's wrong?" "Krolia, I messed up. I messed up and Keith hates me. I don't know what to do anymore" "You're not making sense. Start at the beginning" "I... I'm in heat, and it's wrong. I wasn't trying to hide it from you, but so much has happened, and everyone's been sick and now they're getting better but we aren't talking" "Take a few deep breaths for me. Do you want me to come see you?" "You're busy" "Never too busy for you. Though it's been movements since you messaged me" "I'm sorry. It's been so busy. Everyone got sick, and I had to take care of them" "Keith was sick?" Quiznak. He hadn't even told her that her son was sick, or that he'd nearly died "They were poisoned... but I wasn't because I didn't drink it. They're recovering, the Olkari made the antidote, but Keith and I just had a huge fight. He's sick, and I'm in heat, but it's wrong" "You said that before, what's wrong?" "I might not be able to have kids... and I'm so fucking scared. My body is messed up and when Keith touches me, I feel sick. I can't tell him. He's trying to look after me and the boys and he's recovering. I can't talk to the rest of team, not while I'm in heat" "Lance, what do you mean you might now be able to have kids?" "You know how I can do that weird thing with quintessence. It damaged... it damaged my womb lining... I'm supposed to have surgery, but I'm too scared. I agreed like I was ok with it, but I'm really scared Krolia... I want to give Keith more kids, but what if I only ever feel sick when he touches me?!" "Lance, where are you?" "Olkarion" "I can be there in a few vargas" "What about your job?" "I'm only training Galra soldiers at the moment. It's not like they can't get someone to cover" "Mum... I'm scared" "I know you are. Do you know when you're supposed to have surgery?" "Once my heat passes. It's the last day today" "So tomorrow?" Tomorrow was way too close for comfort. Shaking his head, he tried to reject the fact that he couldn't stop time "Please don't tell Keith. He's so sick, even though he's recovering" "I'm not going to tell Keith. Is anyone up at the castle?" "Um... Allura, Coran and Shiro. Keith is with the boys" "Hunk and Pidge?" "I don't want to talk about it" "I just don't want to be shot down" "I can come get you..." "Honey, you're too upset to be piloting" He liked the way Krolia called him honey... even if it made him miss his mum even more "P-probably... but, I really want to see you" "And you will. One wormhole and a few vargas, and I'll be right there" "Ok... I'm not on the castle" "Then where are you?" "Hiding in the forest near the castle" He sounded pathetic. No. He was pathetic "What's the best way to find you?" "Near the path to the house" "You just stay there, and I'll come find you" "Thank you mum..." "We'll figure this out. Stay safe, and I'll see you soon" Ending the transmission, he didn't care if Lotor had heard everything. He hadn't mentioned Toral, or anything bad. Everyone was recovering, so even if Lotor pulled a dick move, they'd be able to pilot their lions. He just had to sit and wait... and keep his mouth shut. Drawing his knees to his chest, he buried his face against them, focusing on remembering how to breathe.

Lance figured he must have fallen asleep, because when he woke, Krolia was there. It might have been kind of creepy that she'd watched him sleep, but he couldn't care less as scrambled across and threw himself into her hold "Mum!" "Lance" Her voice was soft and full of love. Just what he needed "Mum... I've missed you so much" "I've missed you too. And Keith. And my grandsons. How are they?" "They're crawling and they're getting teeth. Laneith tried to walk the other day" "Oh my. I've missed so much" "I've missed you!" Pulling and poking him so he ended up sitting in her lap, Krolia took his hand "I want you to tell me everything" "It's a long story" "I don't mind" "And it's not that interesting" "Because teaching at the Galra academy is all that interesting" "You guys have an academy?" "Lotor insisted on starting proper education for the young Galra. On races and people and the true history Zarkon tried to cover up" "Wow..." "It's not that interesting. I want to hear all about it adventures" Taking a deep breath, Lance let himself get carried away by word vomit. Spilling every last detail, even things he hadn't told Keith. It felt good to get it off his chest, and especially to Krolia. Finishing up, he was relieved that Krolia was mad about Toral as he had been. They'd been sitting outside so long now, it was now night and he was sure his heat had finally tapered off. With his face buried against Krolia's neck, he let out a long and shaky breath "Mum, what do I?" "Is your heat over?" "I think so" "Then we should go talk to this doctor. I'm not having you operated on, unless I know he is fit to do so" "Won't Keith be mad?" "We're only going to talk to him, and then we can talk to Keith together" "Maybe I should just have the surgery and not tell him until after" "Do you want to do that?" "I don't want to be scared and I don't want to fight with him, or hurt him again" "Keith probably regrets all he said. It's like you said, alphas can't always control their second dynamic when they're ill" "But he said I was smothering him" "Lance, what you're going through right now is scary. You're allowed to be confused, and he knows you can't help your emotions. You've been out here all day, which is probably enough time for him to have calmed down. What is it that you want to do? Do you want to talk to the doctor? Or do you want to try and talk to Keith? I've taken a few quintants off, so I'll be here if you do decided to go ahead and have the surgery" "Really?" "Yeah. It sounds like you need all the help you can get. 4 angry alphas is not my idea of a fun time" "It's not. I love my "pack"'of alpha's... but brushing things off all the time is hard" "I'm very proud of you. You handled everything so well, and if it wasn't for your heat, I feel you wouldn't have broken down. You've come so far Lance. Never forget that" Rising to her feet, Krolia kissed his forehead "Where to?" "The hospital. You're right. This is my body and I need to do this for me before I talk to Keith. Once we have the surgery booked, we can figure everything else out" "That's my boy"

Krolia held his hand all through the long wait at the hospital, and then through his appointment. By special request of Ryner, time had been freed up for him pretty much every day for the next two movements. Confused by all the medical babble, he found himself agreeing to return bright and early the next morning for his surgery, something he was still shocked over once they finally left the hospital and made their way up to the castle. Given the hour, Lance was sure the kitchen would be empty, so he volunteered to make them both something for dinner, which Krolia enthusiastically accepted.

Walking hand in hand, into the kitchen, Lance stopped short at the sight of the whole team sitting around drinking what seemed to be hot chocolate. Squeezing his hand, Krolia moved from his side as Keith jumped to his feet "Mum?! What are you doing here?" "Can't a woman plan a surprise visit to see her sons and grandsons?" "Of course you can. It's wonderful to see you Krolia" Allura smiled warmly at Krolia, while Lance's stomach dropped. He wasn't ready for this "So, now we know where Lance was. Why didn't you let us know?" "We started talking and before we knew it, it was dark" Coming around the kitchen counter, Keith wrapped his arms around his mother "I've missed you" "I missed you too, mum" "Well you could have called or messaged. I can't believe the twins are starting to walk" "One step hardly counts" "You guys never told us that! When did this happen?!" At least Pidge was excited to hear the boys were becoming even more mobile "Of course it counts! And you were all poisoned! I never would have guessed that was the cause. You should have called me to moment you became sick" "Lance filled you in?" "Lance filled me in on everything. He'd had quite the big adventure" Keith frowned as he pulled back from Krolia "Mum, why are you really here? Did Lance ask you to come?" "No, he didn't. I offered"

Annoyed by the accusation in Keith's tone, Lance nudged closer Krolia "Well, seeing you're all here, I suppose there's no time like the present. Mum's going to be helping out, because I'm having surgery first thing tomorrow morning. I'll probably be out of commission for a couple of days, and honestly, you all need someone who's not sick to help out" "Lance, you're having surgery?" "Yeah. It's fine. I know you all know that my body is wrong" "You're having surgery, tomorrow?" Keith sounded mad, but Lance wasn't in a particularly forgiving mood. After all, his emotions were still messed up from his heat "Yeah. It's fine. Mum's here now. She'll be able to look after you, and take care of the boys for you and help out around the castle" "Shouldn't we talk about this?" "Why? It's organised, and mum is gong to come down to the hospital with me in the morning" Clearing his throat, Shiro placed his mug down "Lance, you can't just take yourself off the team like this" "I'm not taking myself off the team, I'm putting myself first. My heat is over, so I'm having it done while mum's available to be here. Right, mum?" "Yeah. I told him he should go through with it. He doesn't deserve to feel as he has been, and we talked with the doctor, he seems very capable. Lance is going to be just fine. Anyway, we came up here to get something to eat... all this peace, but the Galra still can't get their food supplies right" Hunk immediately offered "I'm happy to make you something" "Lance said he'd cook, didn't you" Hunk looked at him, trying to figure out how to protest without seeming rude. Now he'd said what he needed, he really didn't want to be in the kitchen any longer "Oh. I shouldn't mess up the kitchen, and Hunk's a much better cook. Why don't you catch up with everyone? I can make your bedroom up for you" "Lance, stay and eat" "No, you catch up with Keith. I'll just see you later" Krolia pulled him against her "You're all extremely lucky to have Lance, yet you're all acting like he's a burden" "No we aren't" "Then you know how sick he's been, and how much pain he's been in?" "How could we? He and Keith have been down in the nursery" "Because he's in so much pain and confusion from his heat. You cannot be mad at him for something he cannot control" "Mum" "That's all I'm going to say. I want you to eat, you haven't eaten all day" "It's fine. Besides, I just remembered I'm not supposed to eat before surgery" "If you're not going to eat, neither will I. We can make up for it after your surgery" "The hospital food sucks" "Depending on how you feel, we could go off world" Lance had the feeling Krolia was intentionally baiting the others, though none of them were biting. When no one immediately voiced their concerns about him not eating, Krolia lead him from the kitchen "I'm sorry. I'm just so mad" "It's fine. They're all recovering" "Not at that. You need to eat" "I haven't been able to really eat because of my heat" "That's beside the point. You should eat. Do you have food in your room?" "No... maybe... or the nursery" "Then let's go to the nursery. I wouldn't mind seeing our boys" "Keith will probably come and check on them" "We'll deal with that later, and for now, I will stay with you. I don't need my room as this isn't going to be that long of a visit" "I'm happy to make your room up" "Or, you could take that time to rest" "Mum, thank you for coming" "Thank you for having me"

* "Lance, look at them! Hello my handsome boys! They're so grown up" "They've got their second and third teeth coming through, and they're super determined to be involved in everything. Laneith pulled himself up and tried walking the other morning. They really missed Keith when he was sick" "What happened to Laneith's eye?" "Kelance hit him. I put them in the same crib together after I changed them. I thought they were crying because they were being fussy, so I forced myself not to go to them right away. But when Keith woke up, he lost it..." "I know, you told me. And I know you've both been working hard on your marriage, so I'm sure things will settle back down once his alpha calms. They all smell so bad, I'm surprised you can stomach it" "Well I love them. You do crazy things for the people you love" Krolia carried the boys over to the bed, flopping down and laughing as they twins pulled at her ears "They're so cute! But those are mine! They look so much like Keith" "Yep. Other than the marks" "But they're still adorable! Yes you are! I should bring you into my classes, then maybe something interesting would happen" "I never pictured you teaching" "It's only combat classes to those wishing to take the path of being a solider. It's an extra class that not everyone takes" "That's a good thing, right?" "Maybe. It would be easier if Lotor just came out and said everything he was planning" "Do not even make me think about him right now. Toral is supposed to be his and Allura's daughter, and she does my head in. Right now, I just want to curl up with you and the boys" "Not until you eat" "And they need to be fed" "I think they're too interested in my ears to worry about food right now" "They've been eating solids lately. The first time Keith..." Lance paused, his heart hurting at the thought of his husband. He'd definitely hurt him, after hurting him without even realising... he'd only wanted to help, but Keith hadn't even felt able to actually talk to him about it "Lance, Keith will come round" "He shouldn't have to come round. He's sick and I made it worse" "You were only trying to help" "By making him feel like he couldn't even talk to me... anyway, I was going to say the first time we gave them solids, it was a complete mess" "Keith was just as bad. Try getting banana out of your hair" "That would have been adorable" "He was adorable... he is..." "Mum. I messed up, didn't I?" "No. You had a small fight. You can't help your emotions, especially when you're supposed to be in heat and things don't turn out right" "I still feel bad" "You can feel better and find some food" "You're lucky I brought down some stuff I made. Keith gets really picky about what he eats when he's sick. You wouldn't believe how bad he is at taking care of himself. He doesn't want anything crunch because it hurts his throat. He doesn't want anything mashed because it feels funny. He doesn't like the food goop because it feels like jelly. So I've been mostly making soup and stews... it's. it exactly healthy, but I have some cheese twists. It's basically cheese and pastry" "That sounds nice. My son married well" "Because I can cook? Keith said he could cook, but he's never cooked for me. You know, before he got sick we had a huge fight and went on holiday to try and work things out. Things were better, until today... or I thought they were" Pulling out the container of cheese twists, Lance snagged a couple of bottles of water before carrying the lot over to the bed and climbing up beside Krolia "I must have looked like a total slob today. I didn't even get dressed properly" "You're fine. Which baby do you want first?" "Laneith. His teeth aren't as bad as Kelance's" "Do you have any cream for your nipples?" "No. I've been thinking about just expressing and using bottles. I love breast feeding, but my nipples are just too sore and they both have super sharp teeth" Stripping his shirt off, he saw Krolia looked to his breasts, letting out a small whistle as she did "That's got to hurt" "It's fine. I love them too much not to feed them" Accepting Laneith, his son wanted to go back to Krolia until he realised it was dinner time. Latching onto his nipple, it seriously felt like his boy was trying to bite straight through it "You probably won't be able to feed after surgery" "They've got formula, and solids. I'll need to express anyway. Coran said I should go straight into a pod after surgery, but I'm wondering if I should, or if I should let it heal naturally. It's quintessence damage, so I guess we won't know until after the procedure" "I'll be there for the whole thing, and waiting when you wake" He wanted Keith there with him. He wanted Keith to be the first thing he saw when woke up... but his husband probably wouldn't even show up "Thanks mum. Anyway, you should eat. We have to be down there early"

The boys refused to settle down in their cots for the night, so Lance wound up sleeping with Krolia curled around him and the boys. It wasn't as nice as being held by Keith, but it definitely beat sleeping alone. Thanks to his fears, he took forever to fall asleep, and being the awesome mum she was, Krolia covered for him when Keith came to check in on the boys. Keith was mad she'd come, but soon he was spilling everything to Krolia about what he'd been going through and how crap he'd been feeling. It was a total invasion of privacy, but it helped to know he regretted what he'd said that morning. With the tiniest bit of tension leaving his chest, his breathing finally evened out, and he fell into a fitful sleep that seemed over before it began.

In the morning, Krolia woke him. Keith was going to watch the boys while she took him down. Of course he was disappointed his alpha wasn't going to be there, but he supposed Keith wasn't ready to talk to him. Showering, he left both rings on the bathroom counter before making sure he was completely clean both inside and out. He couldn't stop shaking with nerves, nearly sliding when it came time to get out of the shower. Some how Krolia knew he needed her, and was there catching him before he even really fell. Carrying him into the nursery, he found Keith there. His mate looked like he hadn't slept at all, and looked away when he looked to him, hopeful for even some small sign that they were ok. Not finding it, he forced himself to dry and dress casually. Picking something that would be easy enough to get back on after the procedure. With Krolia hovering between them, nothing was said as he finally started towards the door. It seriously felt like his heart was breaking. He wanted to turn and run to Keith, and beg him for forgiveness, and in return his alpha would tell him everything was alright. With tears in his eyes, he rushed from the room, continuing to run until he reached the outside world, where he let out a mournful howl. As far as he was concerned, because his feeling were still messed up, his husband had just made things between them exceptionally clear, and all the work they'd done over the last two phoebes had been for nothing. What was the point of even going through all of this? He wanted to be happy and healthy, and his heat had sucked nearly as much as when he'd presented, but if he didn't have an alpha... why? And why was it so stupid that his secondary dynamic could crumble the confidence he'd built up so easily and mockingly? Not looking back or waiting for Krolia, he forced himself on, jogging the whole way down to the hospital.

By the time Krolia arrived, he'd been prepped for surgery. His eyes barely open as he caught sight of the purple blob that knew was her. Not wanting to fight, or to feel the terror filling his chest, he willingly gave into the darkness pulling him down, and was completely out of it before they even wheeled him into the operating room. He'd wanted to at least tell Keith one more time he loved him, just in case something went wrong, but that wasn't his last thought. His last thought was "maybe it would be better if he didn't wake up".