Here, Lancey Lance

Chapter Nine

"I'd prefer to not pass out from pain again," Lance groaned out.

"I think we'd all prefer that, dude," Hunk said.

According to the team, when Lance passed out, they quickly brought him to the healing pods. They saw his bones shifting but his body stayed the same.

"I think, maybe, you were supposed to finish changing but something happened that stopped it," Pidge said. Lance frowned.

"I think so, too, but I don't know what. I just really did not want to be a cat. I love cats- absolutely adorable little creatures- but I like being a human, thanks."

Allura paced back and forth, a thoughtful look on her face. "Maybe that was the reason you haven't changed fully." The team looked at her in confusion, so she continued. "Think about it. If those pictures were of the cat experiment then that means those were captured prisoners. They were probably so tired from being in the hands of the Galra that they gave up on life.

"They turned to whatever it was they turned into because they gave up. You, Lance, didn't! You had a strong enough will that you can't turn fully."

That made sense. One of the last thoughts Lance had before knocking out was not wanting to change.

"Well," Lance began, "at least I can laugh in the face of any other Galra that questions my change."

Shiro shook his head playfully. "On a serious note, we're all glad you're okay. You gave everyone a scare."

Lance nodded but saw Keith looked pissed. "Are you sure everyone is glad? 'Cause Keith looks pretty upset."

"I'm not mad at you," Keith hissed, throwing his hands in the air. "I'm mad that this happened to you. Damn Galra and their destructive ways!"

Lance laughed at his outburst. "Me, too, man. Me, too." After a moment of quiet agreement he spoke again. "Guys, it's late and I'm tired. Can we go to bed now?"

"Yeah, I second bed time," Pidge mumbled.

Shiro gave the okay and everyone began their trek to their rooms but Lance didn't budge. He let out a shaky sigh, ears pressed to his head. No matter the jokes he made, that experience still scared him. What would have happened had Lance not been strong enough mentally? He would have transformed into a cat. That idea kept bouncing around in his mind. What if? What if? What if?

Everything would go wrong. They wouldn't be able to form Voltron. The Glara would defeat them, take the lions. They would rule over the entire universe and every alien species would have to be imprisoned and enslaved.

What if his body tried changing again? What if it gets worse and it works? He didn't want that. He couldn't have that. They need to find a way to reverse this or something. He needed to find out who began this whole thing.

"Hey, Lance?" Keith's hesitant voice sounded through the room.

"Oh- uh, yeah?"

"You good?"

Keith looked at him in concern. How long had he been standing there? At that point Lance realized how he probably looked; his hand was pressed to his chest, ears pinned, tail curled between his legs. He quickly straightened himself out.

"Yeah, for sure!" Lance scratched the back of his head. "Just- just thinking."

Keith crossed his arms and looked down. "If you want- and you don't have to- but if you want you can sleep in mine and Shiro's room again."

Lance looked up in surprise. "I-"

"It's just," Keith interrupted, "you seem to be worried still and- well, me, too. You don't have to if you don't want to."