Caving (Original by Sketchy_girl)

Chapter 6

Lance sat on Keith's lap, holding onto him like Keith was his new found hero and Lance was the damsel in distress. Except, not as dramatic. Even though Lance was in distress. He was being forced to go to another one of those strategy meetings that Shiro (still salty about season 5) held. Even though he tried to convince Shiro he already memorized the tactics, he said "it wouldn't hurt to review." So Keith dragged Lance along with a promise of a cuddle session afterwards. 

"Ugh," Pidge groaned sending a disgusted face towards Keith and Lance. "I know you too are a couple now, but do have to do all that couple bull right here?" She whined. Lance turned away from her putting his nose up in the air, closing his eyes giving her a snotty attitude.  

"You're just jealous you don't have a boyfriend yet." He said playfully.

"Oh please. Once there's a man that is better than my computer, then maybe I'll get into a relationship." She said with a chuckle. Lance let one out too.

"Alright you two," Shiro interrupted. "Allura summoned us for a reason. Let's give her our full attention." With that, the group complied, and turned their attention back towards Allura. She drew in a breath before continuing. 

"As we all know, the Galra seem to be re-grouping," She didn't get a chance to continue before a thick atmosphere covered the room. It was completely different from the previous light mood. There was a nervous sweat that washed over her before she opened her mouth again. "That could mean two things: there is a new leader that has taken operation of the Galra. Or . . ." Her voice trailed off. She did not wish to admit what this could mean for Voltron. For the Paladins. After all of their work, their sacrifice. Everyone's sacrifice. She did not want to admit it, but there was uncertainty. And it was her job to make it known. "Zarkon may still be alive and well enough to keep his rein." Lance felt Keith shift in discomfort. Keith was not prone to take the truth, especially with something like this, so quickly and silently. Lance knew he was on the edge to blurt out and speak whatever argument against it that was present on his mind. 

"Though, that is very unlikely." Shiro piped in before anyone went to any unneeded assumptions. But, Lance knew it was more for Keith's sake.

"It is still a theory. There is not enough data to be completely sure. It is more likely that the Galra have another leader. Which would also mean that there was heir to the throne. But I have no idea who." Her voice grew quiet before she said, "Or who would want to make a heir with him." Sadly, the other paladins were too far lost in their thoughts to be able to hear. Everyone were trying to piece together the data in their own way. Trying to figure this out with their own thought process.

"Well," Lance began, "if there is a new leader, or if it is Zarkon taking back control, then we'll take him down. We are the paladins of Voltron, aren't we? The only thing that can take down Zarkon and protect the universe." Lance felt like it was his job to lighten the mood whenever something like this came up and disturbed the paladins. Always his job to lighten the mood. Keith let out a sigh.

"Lance is right," Keith admitted. "If we are meant to take down the Galra then we will." The other paladins nodded in agreement. This was only a draw back. They will defeat the Galra. At least that was what they had going through their heads. They had no idea what was to come. They had no idea that the paladins were to soon find who this new leader is, and find that they may be even worse than Zarkon. 

-*-

A couple days later and the paladins have been whisked back into battle. They had arrange plans to infiltrate a Galra ship and gather as much information as they could that explained the Galra's recent activity. They had not expected so many drones and Galra on this ship. Right from the start their careful planning was put to waste. For some reason Green's cloaking device had stopped working once she was near the ship. The Galra notice they were there before they had a chance to put the plan in full action. 

"Fuck!" Lance shouted as he avoided a Galra drone just in the nick of time. He hadn't even seen the thing until it was almost on top of him. Lance quickly shot it before it had a chance to get back up. 

"Language, Lance." Shiro said over the coms. Of course Shiro would be the one to scold Lance at a time like this. 

Once a space dad, always a space dad. 

"Sorry," Lance said quickly shooting more drones before they could get a jump on Lance. For some reason, there were a lot more drones then there usually were. "Is it me, or are there more of these guys?" He wanted to confirm he wasn't going insane.

"Yeah. There are defiantly more." Hunk responded. He sounded tired and out of breath. Lance worried for him. He feared that his friend couldn't last much longer. They had been beating away at these thing for what felt like a good forty five minutes. Lance was feeling the toll himself. It was becoming increasingly harder to hold up his gun. The bruises and cuts were starting to sting his skin, but if he gave out then he knew he would get more than a couple bruises and cuts.  

"We just need to hold a on little longer." Shiro said over the coms reassuringly. Lance opened his mouth about to respond in agreement, but nothing came out. He was cut off suddenly to something hard hitting his back sending a wave of pain through his spine. Lance felt the air leave him. His gun flew out of his hands, disappearing into the abyss of metal feet. Lance let out a small squeak trying to gather the air back into his lungs. His limbs didn't want to work as Lance tried to scramble towards his bayard. He wasn't ready to die yet. If he was, he didn't want to got down without a fight. 

"Lance?" The feet were coming closer. Lance could faintly hear Keith through the coms, calling out to him. He opened his mouth to respond, but he was left gaping soundless like a fish. "Lance? Are you there." Keith asked more urgently. "Lance. Please respond." He sounded desperate, close to yelling. 

". . .K-" He managed to squeak out, but as soon as he had, something hard slammed his body further into the floor. It lingered on his back, heavy and threatening. He felt fingers wrap around his helmet, promptly pulling it off. Lance's brown bangs, dripping with sweat, fell into his eyes. There was a crashing sound off to his side, he was guessing it was his helmet. He mentally cursed. That was his only form of communication with his team. He had to get it back. 

"My, my. Would you look at what the lion dragged in." Lance gasped when he felt fingers grab harshly at his hair, yanking his head up. He knew the voice behind him. He's heard it before.

"L-lotor." Lance said breathlessly, but there was nothing but hatred in his voice. 

"Pleasure, blue paladin."

"LANCE!"

To be continued

A/N: I honestly have no excuse. I have no reason for this late update. I'm so sorry! To tell you all the truth, my next update may be even farther away. I'm sorry again. I hope you enjoyed at least. And I want to thank you all for your patience. 

Kuron is a fake ass bitch that will never be space dad. I'm sorry. I'm salty.