Constellations

Burden

"Lotors invited us to join him on his ship after we take flight again," Allura smiled at the team as everyone was eating breakfast.

"Really? We're leaving so soon?" Hunk asked confused.

"Yes, the people are safe and the alliance is stable, Lotor and I believe we should move forward," Allura explained as she sat down with her hands clasped over the table and a soft smile. She glanced at lance sadly as he ate silently and had his jacket covering his arm. Lotor told her what happened and she was thankful he helped her paladin.

"Lance may I speak with you for a tic?" Allura smiled at him. Lance hasn't been the same but she didn't blame him, it must've been overwhelming for something so important to be taken and for what she's done...

"Yea no problem princess," lance got up and she walked over to guide him outside. His grip wasn't to strong over her hand as it almost felt like lance wanted to let go but knew he'd be lost in empty air if he did again.

"What's up?" Lance pulled his hand back as they stopped and shoved it in his pocket.

"I wanted to apologize, it was rude of me to pilot the blue lion without your consent and not to be as supportive with your new life style," Allura put her hands behind her back as she was sincere.

"Honestly Allura I think it's for the best, I'm useless to blue, I get lost in the halls," Lance laughed a little to cover up. "I won't be any good in the battle field, blue chose you and I respect that,"

"Your not worth any less to us lance, your still a paladin by heart, and a friend to all of us," Allura touched his upper arm gently.

"I don't know what purpose I hold then Allura, I can't even help coran on the castle, I'm sure it's not just for my opinion either," Lance snorted sarcastically as he smiled forcefully, he couldn't see but he knew she'd still need a smile to convince her.

"I'm not giving up on you lance," Allura frowned.

"Glad you haven't yet," he raised an eyebrow.

"What you said with Shiro and his prosthetic and your situation lance, you do know yours is more complicated than an arm," Allura said gently and Lance pursed his lips.

"I'm sorry for yelling like that at you both," lance sighed.

"I know, it's just your damaged nerves are difficult due to it also connected to your brain, not to mention the damaged tissue where the scarring is..." she hissed softly to herself as Lance frowned.

"I get it," he urged as Allura caught on and nodded.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine Allura, I'm all for support of you guys, I don't want to go back to earth with this war still going on," lance sighed and smiled again at her.

"I'm glad you agree, let's go finish breakfast, I'm sure everyone has questions about the empires meeting we'll be attending," Allura giggled walking back as lance followed back into the dinning room.

"Wait there's a meeting?"

———

"Welcome Paladins, I'm glad you all made it," Lotor saw the Paladins walk in as he was speaking to his generals next to his throne with guards lined along the walls.

"Prince Lotor, I'm honored you invited us," Allura nodded as Lotor noticed lance holding onto Pidge as she had her hand over her shoulder for him.

"Ah Yes Long time no see," Ezor smirked and cocked her head at lance. "Hey handsome," she smirked.

"Hunk another girlfriend?" Lance teased as hunk shook his head smiling as he knew who she was aiming for.

"So Lotor this meeting, we all going? Who's going to be there?" Shiro asked suspiciously as Lotor swiped away some files.

"I would like you as the leader as well as the princess to attend but everyone is welcomed, if not I will provide you with anything otherwise," Lotor walked over to them.

"Oh thank god," Pidge groaned as she was dreading the meeting.

"We will all go," Allura smiled nodding and the smallest paladin whined making a face.

"Later suckers," Ezor winked sitting on the stairs Acxa stood behind her with Narti and Zethrid.

"Hey lance wanna hang with us during the meeting?" She called smiling as a few of the Paladins glanced at him as he snorted.

"Maybe later Ezor," lance laughed at her.

"You actually know them?" Keith asked him in a low tone.

"Yea, kinda what happens when your left behind, you make friends," lance said sharply back and Keith felt a sharp pain of guilt strike through him.

"Whatever, just don't get attached to the pretty faces," Keith shot back and lance rolled his eyes.

"Wow she's pretty?" Lance gasped sarcastically with a fake large smile. Keith looked back at him glaring as lance waved his hand in front of his eyes unamused.

"Don't be mean lance, you know he already feels bad," Pidge said quietly as Allura and Lotor were talking.

"For what?" Lance made a face confused.

Pidge, hunk and Keith looked at him with wide eyes. Did lance not remember it all? Keith looked at the two and shook his head frowning. Telling them to say nothing as he rather keep the burden to himself.

Lance was already pissed at the universe, Keith didn't want lance to hate him instead....