Half awake

Traveling with Voltron to help defend the Galra empire seemed like the best course of action. Sitting around at a base in meeting after meeting wasn't Lotor's way, yes he knew it was important, but he would rather rule from the front lines, speak briefly to generals over the short video held meetings- or just his new selected advisors. He had his own ship docked at the castle of lions, which would prove to be more than helpful in battles if Voltron alone couldn't take the heat. He had his own room on the ship, and after everything that happened between them, Galra, Voltron, His ship, Zarkon... it only made sense that he be part of the team. They were quite the amusing bunch, and he felt like they truly were friends at this point. Allaura even smiled at him from time to time. There were no more hard glares unless he suggested something dangerous, but everyone treated everyone that way. Other than missions, it was smiles all around... they were good company in dark times.

Especially the red Paladin, who, as he had yet to extract the story from, for some reason bared the blue armor. He knew that Lance had once piloted the blue lion, but why not change uniform? A story for another day.

It was late in the evening, despite the fact they were in space, everyone seemed to have a set sleep schedule. Lotor, who was standing in the console room, wasn't having any such luck. Sleep didn't come easily to the prince... or the king, now, as he was. Emperor. Ruler. His blue and yellow eyes focused out on the stars, looking past reflection in the altean glass as he viewed the stars.

"Lotor?" Came a frail and sleep trudged voice from behind him, along with the sound of someone possibly rubbing their eyes. The Galran glanced over his shoulder at the speaker, Lance, and partially turned his body to face the boy, who was clutching a pillow to his chest.

"You should be resting."
"And...? So should you."

The pair stared at one another blankly for a moment before Lotor turned his attention back towards the vastness of space before them. "Were you unable to sleep?" He drew out cautiously. Lotor knew somethings were deep with the Paladin, though he was the most troublesome and clumsy, he was also the most insecure and morale complex. Traits that often shadowed one another. While Lotor didn't exactly pity the boy, in fact, he admired Lance, he did feel a part of something in his stomach as the boy turned his gaze up to him. There was sadness in those eyes. A sadness Lotor knew all too well. Self-doubt.

"I see." The man said, needing no further explanation than that look. Lance's eyes widened and his brows furrowed.

"See what? I didn't even say anything!" He whined both hands wrapped tightly around his pillow now, and then his eyes averted Lotor's, going to the ground. "I didn't think anyone else was up. Normally no one is, but I kinda forget you never sleep."

"Sleep is hard to come by for some. Seems tonight you're having more trouble than usual. Would you like to..." The man cleared his throat kid speech, earning an accusatory glare from the shorter male for the awkward pause, "... confide in me? I am as good with my ears as I am my words."

"... I dunno, your words are kinda lame. I can't understand half of what you say when I'm awake, so right now I can barely English, Lord Legolas." Lance said with one hand on his hip, a smile appearing for the briefest of moments before fading once more... "Sorry, even my jokes are lame right now."

"It's quite alright, you're tired, and obviously you have large personal bothers floating through your mind. Better here than on the battlefield." The taller male encouraged, gently placing his hand on Lance's back, "You and I both like to watch the stars when we can't sleep." he pointed out, looking at Lance's reflection and meeting the boy's eyes once Lance finally looked up again. The red Paladin squeezed his pillow against him once more, eyes meeting with Lotor's.

"Why can't you sleep?" He asked softly, eyes changing from sadness to worry. Lotor wished the boy wasn't so easy to read, it would make it a lot easier to deny him an answer if he didn't know if Lance actually cared. This human was particularly good at drawing out people's emotions, consulting them, and letting them confide in him. So far Lotor had only been able to do that for Allaura, but he hoped he could have a chance in the future with the others... to show he cared, at least that he saw them as friends. Here it was the other way, for now.

"Nightmares," He admitted finally, giving a small sigh, "I'm haunted by my past misdeeds or acts done upon me. I have lived for a very long time, my childhood is chiseled into my mind. Zarkon did not yet hate me those years. Training was brutal, and all I wanted to do was please my father, and when I realized that was impossible..." he trailed off and glared at the ground, fists clenched, "I played along, trying to make plans, to leave, to take over. But with nowhere to go and no resources for an uprising all you can do is play your part until you finally have a shot."

Lance had scooted closer to Lotor's surprise when the Galra leader huffed out a breath and looked back to the earthling, brows furrowing as Lance slowly, hesitantly, reached out and grabbed his hand. "You did what any person would have. A good person, who just wanted to make it out. I can't imagine the things you went through... being his son sounds like the hardest job that has, or will ever exist." He drew out slowly, scuffing his slippers against the ground, "You're a really decent guy."

Lotor had to bite his jaw to prevent a smile at that. It was touching, and few things sincerely got to him in such a way. Lance was the first to say that. Not 'You're not so bad,' or 'Eh there's worse out there," ... it was sad that was the only compliment he had really ever received. "Why can't you sleep?" He asked back instead, glancing at their hands as Lance finally pulled his back.

"Homesick again." He mumbled into his pillow, resting his face on it, both arms tightening around it. "My family knows I'm okay thanks to commander Holt by now but... I still haven't seen them since we were suddenly blasted out into space by a giant robot cat, no offense to Blue."

"Would talking about Earth help?"

Lance looked up at Lotor sheepishly, pouting, "There's a lot to talk about. Once you get me started I won't stop until I've said all I know."

"That's fine. Let's go to your room. Perhaps getting it all out of your kind and into the open will clear your head enough to sleep." Lotor suggested and gestured with his hand for Lance to lead the way, and he spoke as he started walking, already explaining rain, and the ocean, and how the water cycle worked, hands moving about just as frantically as his words. They reached his room and Lance had barely taken a break to breathe, shutting his door behind him and Lotor and sitting on his bed, patting it for the man to sit next to him as he scooted against the corner, curling up under the blankets and still avidly speaking. Lotor didn't mind one bit. He loved it. He loved the way it sounded, such complicated systems and diversity, such a simple-minded way of explaining, yet keeping all the important details that brought the mental images to life... how he had a bittersweet smile as he fondly spoke of his planet, eyes occasionally locking if he wasn't focused on his hands.

After a while Lance began to speak much slower, yawning, turning, and eventually falling asleep mid-speech, head turned to the side and breathing slow. Lotor smiled at the sight, shaking his head with a silent laugh as he carefully stood from his spot, pulling the covers up over Lance more and walked towards the door, pausing in the entryway to look at the Paladin over his shoulder. He was endlessly glad he did because he stayed long enough to hear the last words of Lance's earth lecture.

"I can't wait for you to see it too."