Don't Ask, I'll Never Tell

Glowing Eyes

Lance's heartbeat didn't slow to its normal pace until he was flying with Blue over the Altean ship. He sighed and fell back in his chair.

"That was a close one." He breathed. "I don't know how long this can go on. I mean, Keith's been dealing with this for about a month now and he actually trusted me enough to tell me. ME! Of all people."

The gears whirred in response.
Lance clenched his fists until his knuckles went white. "I know, right? But what can I do about it except keep my mouth shut?" He cursed under his breath. "What if the other Paladins DO find out? What then? What can I do?"
Lance was met with a low hum from the engines.

"Maybe Keith was right. Everyone on the team has their own reasons to hate the Galra. What makes either of us think that it would be any different if they find out that Keith..." Lance paused for a moment. "Keith... I had no idea." His voice came out in a hushed whisper. "I really AM clueless." He mumbled. He sniffed and wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket.
___________________________

When Lance was certain that his eyes were no longer red and puffy from crying, he went to return Blue to the hangar. As Lance left, a voice alerted him to another presence. Lance stood with his back to Blue, preparing to jump into action if the sound proved to be something sinister. However, it took mere moments before Lance relaxed again. He knew that voice well.

"... I know it's stupid." Keith continued to no one in particular. "I don't even know why I'm still here. I wonder if you've finally given up on me too."
Lance tiptoed alongside Blue to find Keith standing before Red. Keith's hand hovered over the lion's metallic surface, hesitated, then dropped back down to his side.

"I know Lance says I've done all these great things but that's because I had to. I mean, I know how important all this is and I don't want to screw it up, you know?" Keith bit his lip. "Lance seems to have this high opinion of me but I just don't get it. He's so much better around people than I am. He seems to make friends wherever we go. He's so irritating with his jokes and his loud voice. But when he smiles, I know it's genuine. He actually cares about what people have to say to him. And I guess that's why I don't find him as intolerable as I used to."

Keith watched Red expectantly as if waiting for a response. He sighed when Red remained stoic. "Look at me, talking to a lion." He mumbled. "I'll bet the other Paladins would think I'm crazy if they knew." He let out a laugh but the joy didn't show in his eyes.

Lance felt a pang of sorrow to see him like this. Clearing his throat, Lance stepped out from his place behind Blue.
Keith, who was deep in thought, didn't notice at first. However, the moment he caught sight of Lance from the corner of his eye, he jumped and let out a small squeak. Keith immediately covered his mouth in growing embarrassment.

"Lance?!"

Lance, knowing how distressed Keith must have been in that moment, decided to do what he does best.

"I didn't know you felt that way about me." Lance said with a hand over his heart and a smirk on his lips. "Don't tell me you're falling for me."

Keith, whose face went from pink to bright red, crossed his arms and scowled. "Don't flatter yourself. I just said I tolerate you."

"Might as well be a love confession coming from you." Lance teased.

"Anyway, what are you doing out here?"

"I could ask the same of you." Keith replied.

Lance moved to stand closer to him so that they could talk. "Your suspicions are becoming true." Lance muttered into his ear.

Keith's eyes widened.

"I heard it straight from Hunk. Pidge has been doing some digging and she found purple hairs in your bedsheets. She suspects Galra."

Keith, attempting to hide his shaking hands, hid his hands under either arm while keeping his arms crossed. "What did you say?"

"What could I have said? I just played dumb. I suggested that it could have been something else but I don't think Hunk bought it. In other words, they're going to find out whether we like it or not."

Keith glared at the floor. "I know. That's what I was afraid of."

"What should we do?"

"You don't have to do anything. I knew Pidge would figure it out eventually. She probably already knows. It's only a matter of time."

"Before what?"

Keith sighed. "Before I am deemed an enemy of Voltron. Before everyone on this ship hates my guts because of my bloodline."

"That's not--"

"Save it, Lance." Keith replied forcefully. "I know WHAT I am." Keith said the word 'what' as if it tasted putrid on his tongue.

"Keith..." Lance pleaded.

Keith glanced up and, for a moment, his eyes softened when he saw the hurt in the blue paladin's eyes.

"For once in your life, couldn't you let someone help you? Who knows? Maybe it will all work out in the end." Lance flashed a small grin.

Keith couldn't help but return the grin and shook his head slightly. "Lance, you're so annoying sometimes."

Lance's grin widened. "I heard. Now it's time for us to figure this out. But maybe it would be best to go somewhere where no one can overhear us, yeah?"

Keith nodded.

Without warning, Lance seized Keith's hand and dragged him away from Red. As they left, Lance couldn't help but look over his shoulder at the Red lion. He didn't know why he would feel compelled to do so. It was as if something was calling him to do so; asking for his attention--no. Demanding it.

As he turned to watch the Red lion, Lance couldn't help but notice, in the eyes of the red lion, a slight glow that hadn't been there before. Lance shrugged it off as a mere trick of the light. After all, the Red lion had already been inspected multiple times. There was no way that it could be working now. And if it was working again, what could have caused the sudden change? Lance pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind. He was thinking too deeply into the matter. It's just a trick of the light, nothing more. Isn't it?