Fins | A Klance Mermaid AU

5.

 In preparation for Shiro's rescue, the four housemates had moved to Allura's dwelling, the old Altean fortress. The inside was full of the advanced technology that the Alteans had created during their long and prosperous reign, and it was all at the disposal of the housemates and their crew. Their crew, as it turned out, was more of a army than a small crew. Keith had heard Lance and Hunk discussing calling on townspeople in the weeks leading up to this night, but he hadn't realized how many there would be. Hundreds of merfolk streamed through the fortress and into the armory, equipping themselves eagerly. Those who had been alive during the GalrAltea war assisted the younger generations with their weapons, chattering eagerly with their old comrades, excited by the promise of battle and ready to restore peace to the ocean.

Keith drifted dazedly through the crowd with Hunk who chatted excitedly with almost everyone he met, introducing Keith who would smile politely and make conversation, but who itched to get out and rescue his brother. The fire that now sat in a vial around his neck burned hot against his skin through the protective wrapping. It didn't help matters that Lance had been avoiding him all night, something which Hunk had caught onto very quickly. All of this pointless conversations seemed to be Hunk's way of distracting Keith from Lance's avoidance. It wasn't helping, but the happy yellow merman seemed to be the only person who Keith couldn't snub, it seemed like kicking a puppy. As he desperately searched the room for a way to get out of the talk of the weather, Keith's eye caught on a young girl floating in the corner whose tan skin and sea green tail seemed to blend her into the scenery and whose pale blue eyes seemed to absorb everything in sight. Muttering an excuse to Hunk, Keith swam towards the girl, wondering what one so young was doing in this huge fortress full of warriors.

For a moment, taking in her razor sharp fins, Keith wondered if this had been a bad idea, but then she noticed him and turned her head expectantly in his direction. Keith steeled himself and went up to her, carefully remembering not to shake her hand, as it was considered rude among the merpeople. "Hi," he said with a smile. "I'm Keith, what's your name?"

"Oh, I know who you are," the girl replied arily, giving no disclosure to her own identity. "Lance has told me all about you, and it's your brother that all this fuss about, isn't it?"

"Yeah, Shiro is my bro- wait," Keith paused and looked at the girl scrutinously. "Did you say Lance?"

"Oh yes," she replied, giving him a familiar blinding smile. "You're all he ever talks about anymore. He'll come home all depressed and of course we coax him to eat and to talk but he never does. It's only when Maman mentions his work, and he'll start talking about it, and then you, and his whole face lights up. He thinks we don't see the way he gets when he talks about you, but we do."

"Oh really," Keith said, caught off guard. "How interesting. And I assume you must be one of his sisters?"

"The youngest," she replied, still not divulging her name. "Maman and the others didn't want me to come, but I have a knack for observation, and I convinced them to allow me to accompany them." Again she flashed that smile, so similar to Lance's, and Keith felt his heart pang. "And look, here he comes now, probably thinks I'm going to elope with you or something." She rolled her eyes.

Keith turned to face Lance and his heart did a flip inside his chest. Lance was with Pidge and they had both been equipped with high tech Altean armour. While Pidge's armour made her look fierce and tough, Lance's enhanced his beauty. He wore a thin shimmering tunic of ultra fine chain mail that hugged his body, making him appear to shimmer with an ethereal beauty that looked beautifully out of place under water. His helm sat upon his chestnut curls and ran down his back, encasing each of the fins on his back in a shimmering, wickedly sharp blade. In his hands, he held a trident that's blades matched the ones on his back. He was dangerous, but beautiful.