Chapter 10: Repairs

Lance walked into the dinning room the next morning, fidgeting with his jacket, sitting at the dinning table, breakfast set out.

The paladins tried to keep a conversation going, though pockets of silence filled the room. "Lance? Are you alright?"

Lance looked up, seeing a plate of food before him. "Oh! Yeah, just thinking."

"About Keith?" Pidge asked, chewing on some gooey pancake thing Coran made.

"I saw him last night." He dropped the info, pushing his plate away. All eyes settled on him, making him feel like he was shrinking. "In my dream. I appeared back at the shack, and I saw Keith sitting under the tree."

"And?" Shiro asked, leaning forward in his chair.

"We talked. We danced in the rain a little. He's so lost, Shiro." Lance's voice wavered, feeling a hand on his shoulder, looking up to see Hunk.

"Is he okay? What did he say?" Allura asked, chewing her lip nervously.

"He doesn't know where he is. He loses track every time they move. Never the same place twice." Lance paused, crossing his arms. "It's been two months for him. Two weeks for us."

Shiro looked upset, glaring at his food, silently cursing himself for not trying harder.

"He's... looking galra, now."

"What?"

"He's purple. He has furry ears, fangs, and yellow eyes. His pupils are still there, but... it was surprising."

"Allura, we need to hurry." Hunk said, worry etched into his face. "I don't like how distant we are now."

Lance stood up, hugging himself nervously, sighing. "I'm going to go someplace alone. I need to think." He mumbled, walking away.

———

Kaltenecker welcomed Lance with a nuzzle to his arm, sniffing his pockets for treats.

"None today, sorry girl." Lance sighed, sitting down, feeling the heifer press her face to Lance's hair, puffing air out her nostrils to ruffle his brown locks.

She mooed softly, nibbling on some grass beside him, looking up at him.

Lance ran his hand down the cow's leg, lost in thought. He rubbed underneath her jaw, scratching her good spot. "I don't know what to do, girl. It's almost like... I need to set up a place for us to meet. We need a plan."

———

Lance leaned against the fence, his mind racing, watching the grass sway with the artificial breeze.

"Okay, how does this sound? Keith asks Lotor to visit a planet nearby, claiming I told him about our new allies being half galra, and how we need to protect them. We ambush with Voltron, take Keith, and skedaddle." Lance looked up at Kaltenecker for approval, getting a bored 'moo.'

"Okay! I'll go tell the team! And I'll bring extra treats tomorrow, girl!" He smiled, standing up.

She lifted her head, watching Lance brush himself off, letting out a soft moo.

"I know, I know." Lance smiled, rubbing her ears, kissing her forehead. "Be a good girl, okay? I'll be back tomorrow."

———

Keith yawned softly, curled up into Lotor's embrace, sleep pulling at his eyelids. He gave in, closing his eyes, relaxing.

"Keith?" Lotor's voice made him open his eyes again, glaring up into the Prince's face.

"Let me sleep." Keith grumbled tiredly, jerking away from Lotor's warmth.

"But... I don't want to be alone. I'm not tired." Lotor lied, touching Keith's shoulder. He didn't want Keith to sleep, knowing he might meet Lance again.

"Be alone. I'm tired." Keith growled, pulling his shoulder away.

"Why are you so rude? You are staying up, that's an order."

Keith grumbled, sitting up. "My body can't go three days without sleep, your highness. I'm moody because I'm exhausted. If you don't let me sleep I'll just pass out."

Lotor frowned, his eyes narrowed. "Fine." He turned on his side, turning the lights off, hugging his pillow.

Keith sighed softly, keeping his back to Lotor, slipping into a deep sleep.

———

The Red Lion roared happily, making Keith's eyes snap open and startling him awake. He looked around, surrounded by stars, the ground beneath him reflective like a mirror. He took a step forward, his footstep sending ripples all around him.

"Red?" Keith asked, looking up to see Red, smiling wide. "You're here!" He ran to his lion, hugging a claw.

Red lowered his head, opening his mighty jaws, allowing Keith to climb up into the cockpit.

"I've missed you so much, Red." Keith sighed happily, running his hands along the wall, walking to the pilots chair, stopping.

Sniffles and shaky breaths were heard from the chair, making Keith hesitate.

He walked to the side of the chair, finding Lance sitting in the seat, curled up, wrapped in his jacket.

"Lan-"

"Keith?" A voice asked softly, fingers brushing over the back of his neck, pushing his hair away from his ear.

Keith didn't even have to open his eyes to know who it was- Loturd. He grumbled in acknowledgment, sitting up, looking back at the prince.

He grabbed a blanket and pillow, covering his ears as he stomped over to the bathroom, shutting and locking the door, grumbling angrily under his breath. He set up his makeshift bed in the shower, finding some cotton balls, stuffing them in his ears so he couldn't hear Lotor, wrapping himself up in the blanket and turning his back to the door.

Within minutes he fell back asleep. All around him was nothingness, though he kept searching for something.

———

He woke up the next afternoon fully rested, but emotionally stumped. No more Lance. He sat up, pulling the cotton balls out of his ears and throwing them away, grabbing his stuff and opening the door.

Lotor was sleeping against the door when it opened, falling back and waking up, surprised. He stood up, clearing his throat, dusting himself off.

"Good morning, Keith!"