A Space In-Between (Shidge/Klance AU)

22- Lotor's Change

Katie gave an awkward giggle. "Surprise, we're not dead!" she cheered and placed her helmet down onto a nearby chair. Shiro gave her a deadpanned look of somewhat disapproval. "Well how would you have put it!?" she asked. Keith had to hold back a laugh. 

"I would have at least hug the guys first! They already see that we're not dead. There's no reason to state the obvious," Shiro retorted, crossing his arms. Katie furrowed her brows in anger. She looked ready to bite someone's head off. Keith was beginning to wander how much Shiro nagged her since he last saw them.

"You guys fight like an old married couple," Lance said and snorted at the sight. Though, the only ones who paid him attention were Keith and Mrs. Holt.

"Well I panicked! At least I didn't say 'Sup nerds!' That's something Lance would say!" Katie bellowed and glared in Shiro's direction. Lance said something about not bringing him into their fight, but Keith didn't listen. All he could see was Lotor approaching them with a look Keith had never seen before: Surprise.

He shook Lance's arm with haste. Lotor had spotted Katie and Shiro, causing him to pick up speed. Lance took notice of him and began to freak out. They desperately tried to subtly get the lover's quarrel to stop and have the two pay attention to the upcoming horror. 

 By time Mrs. Holt took notice of him, he'd already ceased Shiro's and Katie's wrists. "Great job Keith. You managed to recover the maiden and her chosen spouse," Lotor acknowledged, misinterpreting the entire situation. 

"My chosen what!?" Katie roared, overfilling with caged anger she was unable to let loose due to Lotor interrupting her verbal fight with Shiro. Lotor snickered at her reaction. "First you send me away to another universe and now you mock me!?" she continued, raging flames in her eyes.

"Calm down, small one," Lotor said, enjoying her struggle. He pulled her up off the ground and dangled her over his shoulder. "Struggle all you might, but there is no resistance. Right, Lance?" Lance shivered and held an expression of pity. 

"You're despicable. Those poor soldiers...," Lance muttered and moved closer to Keith to where he was shielded by his boyfriend. Normally Lance would be the one protecting Keith, but when it came to Lotor, it gave the taller male chills. It was the only time Keith could feel like the braver one. Though this time Lance did it so he could draw his dagger without the king noticing. 

"Yes, indeed. Now as for you two newly captured criminals, I have special placements for you. Madame Pidge gets her own room with guards watching her every hour of the day along with a wish of her choosing. For the broad man, Pidge decides his fate. Sounds natural, right? I owe her for using her as a guinea pig when she only had my kingdom in mind," Lotor explained, putting the two down.

Keith and Lance stood dumbfounded. Mrs. Holt, who had seemed to be itching to strangle Lotor, also shared their expression. Her stance relaxed and Lance put away his dagger. "What exactly is your plans with my daughter?" the woman asked, peering at Lotor with cold eyes. She spared no mercy for those who mess and truly anger her daughter. That was obvious.

"You're her mother? A guard in my compound? No, you're in disguise. No doubt enraged and trying to save your daughter! How noble of you, but I simply wish for us to be friends. The lot of us," Lotor answered and took Mrs. Holt's hands. "Fear not for your beloved daughter. I have seen my bad ways and turned against them. I simply wish for friends like her's." Once again, Lotor struck out with interpreting what was happening.

Keith gave one look towards Shiro and Pidge and he could think of one word to describe them at that moment. Dead. Katie looked like she was ready to fall over from shock while Shiro leaned against the wall in disbelief. Lotor's change was great in the short time period they were gone. 

Though, it could be an act to trick them all. Keith hadn't confessed to being associated with either Katie or Shiro, but Lotor may have figured out by his softness towards the two and the faces he made when their 'disappearance' was brought up. On top of that, he did watch the generals drill his misdeeds and wrongdoings into his head during their meetings.

Anyone could change drastically after that.

Katie hobbled to Keith with her head downcast. "What the Pidge happened while we were trapped in the Common Era on Earth?" Katie questioned Keith as she shook him violently. He felt like a toy being shaken by an angered child. "Why is Lotor acting like a good, decent person!?" she interrogated. 

Lance placed a hand on her shoulder and she stopped. "I have to compose myself," she whispered. Lotor turned to her words and smirked like it was the opening he'd been looking for.

"You can use the bath house to do that! In fact, we were having a few guests come and use it too! I think you'll find their company familiar," he squawked with a nerve-wracking stare. "It is Shiro's own adopted sister and your friends."

Katie looked at him with pure skepticism. "What is your game? What do you want?" she asked, marching up to him. He crossed his arms and chuckled like something she said was funny.

"That's quite the temper you have. Well, I have no game. I already said my reasoning: I want friends," Lotor said and waved a dismissive hand. "Toot-a-loo now! I have king work to do."

Shiro broke out of his marble-like state and watched him go. When Lotor gave one last look back, Shiro made sure to stand protectively near Katie. The king's eyes narrowed in something similar to spite and he walked away. 

"Allura and them are coming here? That reminds me! Did you guys receive your lions? Do you know how Emerald is without me?" Katie rambled, turning to her friends.

"Last I saw, she was fine. The only lion we had yet to gather is the black lion. Though, it'll be hard to find him without help. This castle is huge," Shiro replied, tearing off his armor to reveal his normal clothes underneath. Mrs. Holt and Katie did the same. 

"We'll have to do that after the baths. Oh, I wander what technology and magic will be involved with the bath house!" Katie cheered.

---

"This is not what I meant when I said 'technology and magic'!" she shouted, gleaming up at the upturned bath that managed to keep all its water inside.

Well I returned to school from my winter break today. 
It was just as horrible I as remember it... P.S. I was so tired I didn't edit this properly. 

-ThatOneServant, the bored child standing on the table, out!!!