Two days. That's how long they spent in the healing pods.

Lance was the first one out. When he stumbled forwards and fell into Hunk's waiting arms he was a bit dazed and confused but recovered relatively quickly. The whole team was there, including Matt. They all smiled and crushed him in loving hugs before telling him, "God you smell!"

Thanks Pidge.

He pulled himself from everyone's embrace and let his gaze fall to Keith's resting face, light purple spots dancing over his skin. He was still, eerily so, but if he looked close enough he could faintly make out the rise and fall of his chest.

He hesitated there for a while. Not that he didn't want to shower and get his skin care routine back on track ASAP, but Keith… He still hadn't woken up yet and Lance knew he shouldn't have been worried but…

"Allura?" Lance started softly, Pidge pinching her nose and waving her hand in front of her face behind him as he spoke.

"Yes, Lance?"

"Why did I wake up first? Was Keith worse…" He didn't even want to finish the sentence. Of course he was worse off. He already knew that, he had seen him after they had been rescued. It was a stupid question to ask in the first place.

"The pods work with the energy that your body gains through rest and food, it seemed that Keith was lacking in those things much more than you so the pod had to replenish that before it could start healing him. According to the read outs he should wake up in roughly…" She turned to Shiro and he mouthed a word to her. "One earth hour." She spoke the word as if it didn't fit in her mouth.

"Are you sure?" Lance asked. He knew that he really needed to clean himself up and he definitely wanted to see how everything had scarred over, but he had to be here when Keith woke up.

"Yes Lance, I am certain." Allura answered.

"Don't worry buddy." Hunk chimed in from his side. "If Keith shows any signs of waking up I'll come get you." Hunk gave him a winning smile and Lance knew that he would be true to his word.

"Plus, you don't want to smell like ass when your boyfriend wakes up." Pidge struck in helpfully. Lance narrowed his eyes at her.

"Pidge I thought that-" before Shiro could start his dad rant Lance butted in.

"He's not my boyfriend." Lance crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

"Oh yeah?" Pidge challenges, taking a step closer with a teasing smile. "Then what is he?" Lance could feel his face heating up and he prayed his dark skin tone would cover his blush.

"He's my friend obviously."

"Mhm." Pidge gave him a knowing look, as if she knew anything. Lance stuck his tongue out at her and she did the same.

It was strange how at home it made him feel to be bickering with Pidge, Shiro looking at the two of them with slight disappointment and Hunk smiling nervously off to the side. It was strange how much it felt like they were a family up here in space with the Alteans on board of a massive castle-spaceship.

It wasn't strange though, how relieved that Lance felt to be back with them.

…

After showering and cleaning himself off Lance allowed himself to get a clearer look at his carvings. Standing before the mirror in only his boxers he turned to the side to look at his left shoulder. He could faintly make out which lines had been made by Keith's gentle strokes and which ones had been carved by the jagged edges from the original cuts. However, it wasn't very obvious and if he wasn't looking for it he wouldn't have noticed at all.

He ran his finger tips over the mark. The skin was a shade lighter than the skin around it and the lines were slightly raised.

They were a part of him now, and they would be for the rest of his life.

Starlight, gentleness, and Raegela.

He felt, for a moment, that he wouldn't mind. Something akin to a sigh of acceptance left his lips, but it didn't match the sinking feeling of dread that settled in his stomach. Where did that come from?

Something was wrong.

The dread grew and then it was replaced with agonizing fear. The feeling made his stomach churn and his heart race and his palms sweat and he honestly thought that he would throw up if the feeling didn't stop soon.

Without another thought Lance was hopping on one foot while he yanked his pants up and grabbing his shirt as he sprinted from the showers.

…

It started out like he was floating. Hovering on a cloud. Warm darkness.

It was… empty.

But it was okay. It was a nice kind of empty. Something that had no rhyme or reason but was relaxing nevertheless.

And then it wasn't.

Then it was cold. Still dark but with a dull purple glow to allow him to see the things around him. He recognized the prison cell. His stomach dropped.

He didn't want to be here.

An angry sound assaulted his ears- the scratching of metal on metal. He tried to block his ears but there was an invisible barrier keeping him in place.

A door opened.

Lance.

He tried to speak but he couldn't, it was like he had no voice.

Lance!

Lance didn't move from the doorway. He stood there, staring blankly through him.

A hand appeared on Lance's shoulder.

no.

Lance's face twisted in pain.

No.

He tried to move towards him again but he was still stuck in place, no matter how hard he struggled. Lance's face contorted in agony and his eye began to swell as if he had been punched. Scratches made a bloody trail down his cheek and he let out a soundless scream.

No!

He pushed and yanked and struggled against the thing keeping him from his Kalan. It was beginning to give.

Lance collapsed to the floor and his shirt dissolved off of his shoulders. A Galra hand carved into his skin from the darkness around him and this time he could almost hear Lance's voice.

He pushed against the barrier with renewed vigor.

"Lance!"

"Keith, wake up!" Lance's voice shattered the image before him and his eyes opened for real.

He was in the Castle of Lions. The room with the healing pods. More specifically, he was situated in Lance's arms where he had fallen from his healing pod. The rest of team Voltron (+ Matt) was there as well and every eye was on him.

"Keith, do you know where you are now?" Lance asked softly. Keith pulled his eyes back to the man who was holding him. There were no scratches or bruising or… shirt… to cover his chest. Brown skin flooded his vison, along with pale, slightly raised scars. He felt relief wash away the worry he had been feeling and slumped into his hold.

"I'm-" His voice was choked, as if his body was still in the dream. He coughed, cleared his throat, and nodded. He steadied himself on his own feet before taking a step back from Lance.

He was a little dizzy and he felt like all of his limbs were still asleep but he ignored it in favor of glancing at the other occupants of the room.

While their gazes had been on Keith only a moment ago, they were now on Lance and his bare shoulders and back. Lance had his shirt clenched in his hand and his chest was heaving as if he had just been running.

"Were you having a nightmare?" Lance asked, closing the distance that Keith had just created. Then he turned his body to face Allura, who was standing in the group behind them. "What happened? Can you have nightmares while you're in the healing… pod." What had started as a confident sentence trailed off weakly when he noticed where everyone's attention had gathered.

No one was speaking. There was nothing for them to say but it was obvious what they wanted to say.

What did they do to you?

The silence grew. Lance worried his lip momentarily as he scanned each expression, searching for something in their gazes.

The silence persisted to the point that it was almost unbearable, but then Shiro cleared his throat and nudged Allura who blinked and shot him a questioning look.

"Can you have nightmares while in the healing pods, Princess?" He restated the question and Keith could see her slowly start to get back to herself.

Lance put on his shirt as she spoke. "Well, yes. It is possible to have nightmares and dreams while in the pods, but it isn't very common. I have seen it happen before, but we didn't open the chamber for her and she calmed down and didn't even remember it when she awoke." Allura turned towards the pod controls and absently fiddled with some of the read outs, Shiro looking over her shoulder.

Pidge and Hunk shared a frightened look but didn't move from their spots. Matt frowned and stared at where Lance's carvings were. Coran's features were tight and he seemed to be holding an internal war with himself over whether or not to come closer.

Lance was staring at his bare feet, ashamedly. His hair was damp and he smelled fresh. He must have been in the shower not long ago.

Speaking of which, Keith could really use one.

He nudged Lance's shoulder with his own, grabbing his attention. In a low voice he said, "They are just worried." Lance peeked back at the others. "Now, where were the showers again? I smell like a plag."

"You're right." Lance gave a weak smile. "You do smell like a plag."

"Hey!" Keith gasped and shoved his shoulder playfully.

Lance smirked and shoved him back before announcing, "Guys, I'm gonna take Keith to the showers."

"Sure you are." Pidge smiled softly at him before winking. Hunk gasped and Matt chuckled. The awkward moment was over.

"Ugg, you are insufferable." Lance rolled his eyes and started to make his way out of the infirmary.

"I bet you can't even spell insufferable." Pidge shot back.

"Well I know that you can't spell it without 'u.'" Lance smirked. Keith could tell that he was mentally hi-five-ing himself for that one.

"Ooo!" Hunk slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Ha, he got you Pidge." Matt raised his hand for Lance to hi-five as he passed him. Pidge pouted but no more snarky remarks left her mouth.

The two made it out to the hall but stopped when Allura's soft voice rang out behind them, calling their attention back.

"Keith, there are some clothes ready for you in the shower room. The head of the Blade, your father I believe, will be meeting with us in 3 vargas so you have ample time to get ready."

"Wait, he's coming here?!" Keith shared a glance with Lance. Allura nodded her head in answer.

"While you were healing they sent a transmission asking to meet and discuss an alliance. I agreed."

"Oh." Well at least he knew that he had gotten through to them. Even if he suddenly had much less time with Voltron than he originally thought. He tried to ignore the disappointment that washed over him.

There was an audible gulp that originated from Lance. "Is he leaving with them?" A stiff silence fell over the group once again. Allura frowned.

"I'm sure that he has duties back on-"

"Wait! I almost forgot!" Pidge broke in. She raced forwards and grabbed Keith's hand, dragging him out of the room behind her.

"Whoa!" Keith stumbled but ultimately found his footing. "Where are we going?!" He glanced over his shoulder and saw Lance, his brows furrowed and his mouth opened slightly, just as confused as Keith.

"When we were on the Galra ship before you saved me from that druid you said something and I have to see if my hypothesis is correct." Pidge said spitfire fast as she tugged him around a corner.

Well that explains nothing.

Keith looked back and saw that the others were following them, running to catch up.

"Pidge come on, slow down!" Hunk huffed from the back of the group. Surprisingly she did slow down, but only because she had gotten to the place she had been running to. Keith didn't recognize the door that they stood before and he raised an eyebrow at Pidge for an explanation. It wasn't Pidge who answered.

Allura stepped beside Keith. "The red lion's hanger? Pidge what is this?" Pidge hopped from one foot to the next in excitement.

"I think that he's the red lion's paladin!"

Almost in perfect unison everyone shouted, "What?!" Keith, being one of the loudest.

"No, really! He said that he felt a pull while we were close to it at the ship, that's got to mean something, right?" Pidge gave them a toothy grin as she typed in a passcode to open the door.

Keith bit at his lip. He had said that hadn't he? But… to be a paladin of the Red Lion just because he felt a pull… That was crazy. It could have just been nerves or indigestion. Even now, as he felt the gentle tug on his consciousness he blamed it on complications from the healing pod.

"Pidge, I don't know…" Keith tried to warn her that she was wrong, that she was getting everyone's hopes up for nothing and they were going to be immensely disappointed if they kept this up.

"Just- come on, just try it." Pidge begged with big eyes glossy behind her glasses. Keith couldn't help but to fall for her puppy dog eyes.

With a sigh he caved and she led the way with a whoop of victory.

The Red Lion was huge- no actually. It was even bigger than huge, it was ENORMOUS. Keith had to crane his neck up just to see the top of it and its dark red particle barrier. With a crawling sensation on the back of his neck he couldn't help but to feel as if it was watching him as much as he was watching it. The others stayed further back as Keith continued on until he was about a meter away from the giant shield around it.

What now?

"Um… hi?" Keith stuttered out awkwardly. Nothing happened. He turned back to the rest of the group and shrugged. They sent him a gesture that meant, "Get closer!"

He took a step forwards and waited for something to happen. Still nothing. Keith hung his head. He knew this was going to happen, and now everyone was expecting something impossible of him.

"Look," He whispered so none of the others could hear him. "I don't really know how paladins are chosen or why but I know that everyone else thinks that it's me that you want… and I don't know why. I'm rash and I fly into things head first without thinking and sometimes I'll get angry over the smallest things. The only team I ever worked with isn't here anymore and the thought of losing these guys too," He peeked over his shoulder, momentarily taking in all of the anxious and expecting faces of the family behind him. His family. "I can't even imagine losing them…"

"I want to protect them. I want to make sure that they are safe and that Zarkon never lays a finger on them. But I know that I can't do that from the Blade headquarters. I care about all of them so much and I'm afraid that if I can't stay here I'll lose them, and I'd never be able to forgive myself." Keith placed both hands on the particle barrier before he rested his forehead against it as well. He was suddenly quite tired. "So, whoever you choose has to be strong enough to keep my family safe."

Half a second passed and nothing happened.

Then everything happened at once. The particle barrier broke down and a roar entered his mind as the Red lion lowered its massive jaw before an extremely shocked Keith. Cheering erupted from behind him and before he knew it he was wrapped up in multiple sets of arms.

"Keith! you're the red paladin!" Lance practically screamed in his ear. Faintly he could hear an, "I knew it!" From Pidge who was buried somewhere in the group hug.

"I-I-I am?" Keith felt the question leave his lips as he still couldn't quite believe it. He was the red paladin? No, that didn't sound right.

"Yes Keith, the Red lion has accepted you to pilot it!" Allura's voice was more excited and relieved than Keith had ever heard it. The group released him with laughs and cheers, Lance being the last to let go.

"This means that you can stay right?" His eyes were wide and worried. Finally, Keith understood.

He was the Red paladin. And now that he had a lion to pilot he would be able to protect Voltron- and in turn, the universe. But now he had the power to keep his family safe, fighting by their side.

Of course he was going to stay. He nodded his head and Lance pumped his fist in the air.

"Keith," Shiro's voice grabbed his attention. "Why don't you take the Red lion out for a test drive. Red's waiting for you, after all." Keith's head snapped back to the ginormous lion who was, indeed, waiting for him.

"Okay."

He walked into the lion.

…

After one of the most exhilarating (and shortest) flight of his life Keith returned the Red lion to his bay and went about cleaning himself up before his dad arrived. Allura had said nothing about Thace, but Keith assumed that he would probably be here as well.

After his shower he made his way to the kitchen where he found Hunk, Coran, and Pidge. Hunk was preparing the food while Coran was in charge of manning the oven- which seemed kind of like a fake job to keep him from actually helping but Keith didn't say anything. Pidge was by Hunk's side, trying to get a bite of whatever he was making. Hunk just swatted her hand away.

Keith made his way over to the counter, leaning against it.

"Hey Keith." Hunk said when he noticed him.

"Hey."

"If you're here for food you'll have to wait because it's not done yet and we have to have enough for when the Blade gets here."

"No, I was just wandering. Didn't really have anywhere else to be after all."

"Okay cool. Maybe you could keep this gremlin off of me." Hunk pushed Pidge away with his hip as he stirred something pink in a giant bowl.

"Aw, come on! Just a little?" Pidge whined, standing on her tip toes trying to reach.

"You had 'just a little' two scoops ago." Hunk remarked. Keith cracked a smile.

"Hey Hunk?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know where Lance is?"

Pidge stopped trying to get at Hunk's food and Hunk stopped trying to push her away. They both looked at him in surprise for a moment before they gave him matching evil smirks.

Keith suddenly felt his face flushing.

"Oh Lance?" Pidge smiled. "I don't know." She lilted, her eyes looking at the ceiling as she brought her hand to her chin in 'thought.' "He might be in 'crush town.'"

"Or admirer lane." Hunk chimed in.

What does that mean?!

"Or-"

"He's in the dining hall with Allura, Shiro, and Matt. She is teaching the boys about etiquette." Coran said, cheerful as always.

"Aw Coran!" Pidge complained.

"Yes, yes, I know it was all in good fun but give the poor boy a break." Coran said before he turned back to the oven. "Also, are these supposed to catch on fire?"

"What!" Hunk rushed over to the oven and Pidge grabbed the bowl that he tossed on the counter and ran. "Pidge get back here!" He shouted. Keith quickly left the chaos of the kitchen and made his way to the dining hall.

The walk there was quiet, just him and his thoughts. For the first time in a while the quiet didn't bring on the broken feeling of missing Aubr and Chorrol. He had finally accepted it. He was… at peace with what happened on that mission.

Instead it gave him time to try and work out how he was going to ask one of the humans about courting traditions.

He had decided that, despite being closer to Pidge and Hunk, he would ask Shiro. He seemed to be the most responsible and reasonable and he knew that he wouldn't blab about it to the others. Plus, he was the oldest. Maybe he had experience with courting and would be able to better explain the inner workings of it.

Although, with the way that Lance spoke about it, it was almost like the humans didn't take courting nearly as serious as the Galra did. Once Galra were fully mated they never took another partner. Even in the rare case that a Kalan is found after already being mated most can't leave their other mate. If they were to try they would most likely succumb to bond break and die. And a bond break death is not a way anyone should have to die.

There are two ways that bond breaks kill- Fade and Rage. In the fade, a mate would stop eating and drinking and fade away slowly, until their ribs are showing and their fur starts to fall out (Or if they have scales they dull and become soft) and their voice is scratchy from never talking again.

The rage is more violent and much faster. It usually starts with symptoms akin to a severe panic attack and can include vomiting, extreme shaking, and uncontrollable crying and screaming. This usually evolves into a rage where the mate would attack and kill anything in sight with no concern about pain or their own death. Some of the stronger Galra have taken their own life after the first stage to prevent hurting anyone else.

Keith shivers as he recalled how he had once heard the screams of a blade member after their mate was killed in a battle.

And then he remembers the way Ulaz's bond break had gone. Keith had been very young when it happened so it was the first time he had ever seen a bond break. He hadn't understood why his uncle had stopped eating and drinking and when Kolivan brought him to see Ulaz he stopped outside the door and crouched down to Keith's level.

"Keith, I need you to understand something. Ulaz is hurting. He's hurting a lot. He misses his wife so much and he might not be here tomorrow. He's going to be different when you see him and if there is anything that you want to say, you need to say it to him today. Got it?"

Keith had nodded his head and grabbed Kolivan's hand, suddenly afraid of what was happening to Ulaz.

The door slid open and there he was, lying in bed looking with dead eyes at the opposite wall.

"Ulaz, it's me, Kolivan. Keith is here too. He insisted on seeing you."

Ulaz gave no response. Keith craned his neck to look at Kolivan, worry dancing in his eyes. Kolivan sighed and let go of Keith's hand before giving him a small push on his back.

"Remember what I told you." He said lowly before going to sit in a chair further away to give him some privacy.

Keith watched him go before turning back to the shell of his uncle. He was afraid. He was afraid to even touch him because he seemed so shattered already. Keith glanced back at Kolivan one last time before taking a hesitant step forwards to the foot of his bed.

It was a two-person bed.

"Ulaz?" He said quietly. Ulaz didn't even blink just continued to stare at the wall. If he even recognized Keith, he didn't show any signs of it.

"Uncle Ulaz?" He tried again, louder. Still nothing. Keith could feel his own tears welling up as he slowly moved around to the side of the bed. "Please say something," Keith whispered. When Kolivan had said that he was sick he didn't expect this. This was worse than being sick.

He looked back at Kolivan who had his face in his hands and his elbows on his knees.

This frightened Keith more than anything he had ever seen before. Kolivan never let his stoic face crack. And here he was doubled over and vulnerable.

Keith felt the tears begin to fall.

He turned back to Ulaz. His face seemed hollow and his eyes were sunken. He looked like he hadn't eaten or even moved from here in a while.

Keith crawled up into the bed, forcing his short legs up and onto the cushiony mattress. He sat on his legs directly facing Ulaz.

"Why won't you say something?" He sobbed. He wiped at his tears. "Please!"

Nothing.

Keith latched his arms around Ulaz's waist and cried into his stomach.

"What are we g-gonna do if you leave? Who's gonna play blocks with me? Who's gonna t-take me on rides out to see the stars? Who's gonna be my Uncle?!" Keith could feel his claws digging into Ulaz's skin but he didn't care. Let it hurt. It was only fair with how Ulaz was hurting him right now.

"Who's gonna take care of Jestice?" He whispered. All he could think was 'please snap out of it.' And that was when he felt a weak hand on his back. He held onto Ulaz tighter. He wasn't ready to go yet. Kolivan couldn't make him.

"I will… little one." Ulaz's hoarse voice grated in his ears but in that moment, Keith couldn't think of anything that sounded better. He pulled his face out of where it had been wetting Ulaz's clothes with his tears and met his gaze. It was still broken and dull, but there was a small light flickering in his yellow eyes. Keith's lip wobbled and he sobbed more.

Kolivan was by their sides a tick later. "Ulaz?" Ulaz didn't speak but he did turn his head and meet Kolivan's eyes.

"Thank the Above." Kolivan whispered the prayer with every ounce of gratefulness in his body and wrapped both of them up in a hug.

It was possible to survive a bond break, but even if one does, they are never the same. The way that a mate dies (Or if a mate leaves- but that's not survivable) does affect how severely the other half is affected. If it's peacefully in their sleep, the break is unlikely to take hold. But if it is in battle as it so often is these days, the rage bond break is more likely to be induced.

And then there is the Kalan bond break. Which is wholly un-survivable and said to drive mates insane. If Kalan have telepathic connections and one's consciousness is also a small part of the other's mind, then when one dies that consciousness goes with them. Because their mind is also the others, the surviving mate literally loses their mind.

When Keith had been learning about mating and bond breaks that teacher didn't touch much on the Kalan side of things because of how uncommon it was to find one. But Kolivan had explained to Keith after Ulaz's bond break what it would be like for him if Thace ever died or vice versa.

Kolivan had taught him most everything he knew about Kalans after all.

By this point he had reached the dining hall and was standing before the door. He wanted to talk to Lance. It was like there was this pull in his chest and every time he thought about Lance it throbbed. Should he just go in in the middle of the lesson? Or should he just wait out here?

. . . . .

He was never very good at waiting anyways.

When the door slid open Allura's soft slightly irritated voice met his ears. "Lance, are you even paying attention?"

"Huh?" Was Lance's intelligent response. His head had been turned towards the door, watching as Keith walked in. But when Allura called his name he spun around fast enough to get whiplash and blinked owlishly at her.

Allura let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed a hand down her face. Shiro put a hand on her shoulder and chuckled softly. (Matt gave jealous eyes at the two of them. Which of them he was jealous of, Keith couldn't tell) When he looked up he caught sight of Keith.

"I think we found the distraction." He told Allura quietly and nodded his head towards Keith.

"Uh. Hi," Keith said awkwardly. "Can I talk to Lance for a tick?" He didn't want to limit his time, however, with the glare that Allura was giving him he was beginning to doubt he would get even that.

He was right. "No, he is in the middle of a lesson on etiquette. Perhaps you should join these two?" She threatened. As much as Keith wanted to talk to Lance he knew he wouldn't be able to do much under Allura's watchful gaze so he shook his head and took a hasty step back towards the hall.

"No Keith! Don't leave me with this monster!" Lance called after him dramatically. Keith felt the tug again and almost came back, but he caught a glimpse of Allura's face and decided that he didn't want to be in there any longer.

Suddenly though, he didn't have a choice.

"Actually Keith, come back here." Allura commanded.

Nooooo

Keith hung his head and obeyed.

"Sit there, beside Lance." She said it innocently enough, but she wasn't fooling anyone. They knew she had a card up her sleeve. He sat tentatively on the edge of the seat, waiting for her next order. "Lance, any time that I find you aren't paying attention I'm going to tell Keith an embarrassing story about you."

Lance narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms before huffing out a breath of air and letting a smirk fall on his face. "I don't have any embarrassing stories. Especially none that you know."

Allura's polite princesses smile turned evil in the matter of a moment. "Keith," She addressed him directly, ignoring Lance as he lurched forward in his seat. "On planet Arus, where the Castle Ship sat for 10,000 periods, they threw us a party in honor of the lion queen. As the party commenced Lance mingled with the locals. They offered him food and drink and he accepted, but there was a bowl on a table with-"

"No! Allura don't!" Lance shouted, his eyes going wide as he realized what story she was telling. She talked over him.

"A bowl on the table and what Lance thought were cups. You said it looked like a "punch bowl," correct?" Her smile was wicked. Lance put his hands together and looked up at Allura with pleading eyes.

"Please don't finish the story, I'm begging you! I'll pay attention I swear!" Shiro and Matt both laughed at him as Allura stuck her nose up in the air, a real smile on her face now.

"Wait, I wanna know what happens." Keith was now on the edge of his seat for a different reason.

"Then I guess you'll have to try your best to distract Lance. Maybe then he will learn that there are reasons he needs to pay attention." She directed the last part at Lance. "A Blagort governor wouldn't take kindly to being ignored."

Keith could do that. He would get the end of this story.

"One rule for you Keith, you may not outright interrupt me. This is still a lesson after all." Keith nodded.

The lesson commenced. Keith gave Lance a small moment to regain his composure as Allura droned on about proper posture. Keith felt his eyes drifting closed every time that he tried to pay attention to her and finally decided that Lance could use a distraction.

He scooted his chair over until he was directly beside Lance. He nudged him.

Nothing. He turned and made eye contact with Allura, who had taken notice of the two of them. She raised an eyebrow at him as if to say, "You'll have to try hard than that, Keith."

Keith leaned in closer to speak quietly into Lance's ear. "Hey," he said. He garnered no response, yet again.

He slouched back in his chair and thought up a new game plan. Little things like that weren't going to do it.

Then it hit him. He remembered something that Chorrol used to do to Aubr when she wasn't paying enough attention to him.

He reached over, pointer finger extended, hovering a centimeter from Lance's shoulder. He leaned in close to whisper in his ear again and said, "I'm not touching you."

Lance didn't make any crazy outright movements but Keith could see him clench his jaw. He must know this game.

A victorious smile graced Keith's lips and he moved his finger down Lance's arm, still not touching him. His whispered the same phrase in his ear and moved his finger all around. He could see Lance's concentration slowly faltering.

After half a dobash of this he took the final step. "I'm not touching you." He whispered again, but this time he shoved his finger directly into Lance's bicep.

"Are you kidding me!" He lost his composure and turned to face Keith, jabbing his own finger into Keith's chest.

"Ahem." Allura cleared her throat. "Lance drank from the 'punch bowl' and the Arusians all stopped the party and went quiet."

"No! I didn't mean it! Don't listen to her, cover your ears." Lance shot up from his seat and pushed his way in front of Keith as if it would prevent him from being able to hear Allura.

"The Arusian king then informed us that when an Arusian dies they turn into a liquid, which was collected in Lance's 'cup' and then poured together into a 'punch bowl' with other Arusians who had died throughout the period. They then have a ceremony where they 'return the bodies to the planet.'"

Lance had collapsed back in his chair and was trying to hide his face with his hands.

"So, in short, Lance drank a dead alien and got kicked out of the party," Allura finished. Matt was trying to hide his laugh and failing miserably while Shiro held an amused smile on his face.

Keith snorted and smiled, nudging Lance with his elbow. "What did it taste like?" He asked, his question verging on cruel.

"Not you too! I don't even remember I was so mortified." Lance mumbled into his hands. Keith smiled at him sympathetically.

"Now, back to the lesson. Lance," He pulled his face from his hands, his cheeks a darker color than the rest of his skin, and looked at Allura. "You did better than I thought you would." He pouted his lip out, obviously not phased by the small praise at the moment, still very embarrassed.

"And Keith," He met her gaze. "Good job."

For the rest of the lesson Keith sat silently and chose not to bother Lance anymore. He seemed like he was actually trying to pay attention and despite Keith wanting to hear more embarrassing stories, he didn't know if Lance could take any additional embarrassment.

After a varga the lesson was over and the Blade was due to arrive at any moment. Everyone gathered in the docking bay to wait for them.

When they arrived Kolivan led a small group of four Marmorites out of the ship, Thace at his heels just like Keith had assumed he would be.

Keith had to force himself not to run to his dads and hug them. It was hard, he had missed them and he had wanted their comfort ever since becoming captured by Zarkon's army. However, he knew that Kolivan was in diplomat mode right now and wouldn't appreciate any such gestures while there was still business to be attended to.

So, he waited for them to make their way over to his group and stood in place once they reached him.

"Princess Allura." Kolivan bowed his head, the other Marmorites following suit.

"Commander Kolivan." She bowed her head as well. Kolivan's eyes flickered over to Keith before returning to Allura.

"Before we begin negotiations may I have a moment with my son?" Kolivan asked. Keith's eyes widened, his ears snapping to attention. He must have misheard him because Kolivan wouldn't risk showing a vulnerability right before an alliance meeting or otherwise. Maybe after the meeting he would have come to Keith and talked but not now…

"Of course, take your time." She said. Kolivan and Thace walked Keith away from the others who began to approach the remaining Marmorites.

Once Kolivan had deemed them far enough away he put both hands on Keith's shoulders and took a long look at him. Thace broke the moment taking Keith into his arms, Kolivan folding them both in his embrace.

"You're giving us too many heart attacks, you're gonna kill us at this rate Keith," Kolivan said somberly.

"Sorry." With a sigh they both released him.

"So," started Thace with a smirk, "Which one is it?" He gestured back towards the main group with his eyes as he raised an eyebrow. Keith glanced over and caught Lance's gaze. His blue eyes quickly turned away after being caught.

"The scrawny one then?" Kolivan chimed in. Keith narrowed his eyes.

"He is not scrawny." Keith protested. They both laughed at him.

"Already so protective," Thace commented.

"And he seems very interested in you," Kolivan added. Keith shook his head slightly.

"Humans don't have Kalans or anything close to it. They can take more than one partner and even if they do become mates they can break it off and find someone else and-"

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. If humans take mates at all then you'll be fine." Thace comforted him with a hand on his shoulder. Keith gave him a disbelieving look but said nothing more before turning to look back at Lance, who's eyes had already made their way back to Keith. "You two act like you've already started courting."

"Dad!" Keith snapped his head back, his face flushing. Thace put a gentle hand on his face, touching the pale skin.

"It is strange. Seeing you like this," he said lowly. Kolivan put a hand on Thace's shoulder.

"We must begin negotiations soon."

"Yes… yes you are right. Let's go." Thace pulled his hand back from Keith's face and smiled at Kolivan. "There is room for you in the ship after negotiations." Thace commented over his shoulder at Keith as he walked away.

"Actually-"

"Keith, we've discussed this, you are needed at the Blade. You can not do anything here." Kolivan stopped him.

"No, really. I am." Keith pushed. Kolivan gave him a hard look and Thace sighed.

"You are needed here doing what exactly?"

"Piloting the red lion." Keith answered, feeling the excitement over take his voice as he remembered the brief flight he had taken earlier.

Thace narrowed his eyes. "You told us they didn't have a pilot for the red lion."

"I hadn't been back to the Castle to see the lion yet. He chose me." The two of them shared a look.

"So, Voltron can be formed?" Keith nodded his head. They shared a second look. This time Keith was sure they were also sharing silent words. They each gave Keith a disbelieving stare before walking back towards the group again.

"I suppose that is a valid reason to stay," Kolivan mused.

Keith bit his lip to stop the smile that threatened to split his face. When they rejoined the group Allura led the way towards the command room for negotiations. Keith stayed close to his dads and the other Marmorites, but Lance wormed his way between the others and grabbed at his sleeve, indicating that he wanted him to fall back.

"What did they say? Are they letting you stay here on the castle?" His eyes were wide and innocent. Hopeful and worried.

Keith nodded and Lance let out a whoop. His smile was contagious and soon Keith was also grinning ear to ear. In his peripheral Keith saw some of the others eyeing them but he didn't pay them any mind.

"Yes!" Lance threw his arm over Keith's shoulders and left it there as they walked. It was considered a friendly gesture and Keith let himself bask in the physical contact with his Kalan. It felt like his arm was made to fit around his shoulders.

Pidge turned back and fake gaged at the two of them and Keith saw Lance stick his tongue out at her. Hunk nudged her and she turned back.

The negotiations between Voltron and the Blade of Marmora went smoothly and soon there was a brand-new alliance between the two of them.

For Keith, it felt more like they were bridging the gap between his two families. The one that he had been raised by and has always loved, and the one that he stumbled across accidentally and fell in love with in the blink of an eye.

It had all started with a mission gone wrong, changing his life forever. And for the first time in a while fate decided that his life would be changed for the better.

He stared at Lance, who was laughing loudly at one of Hunk's jokes while they ate the food Hunk had prepared in honor of the Blades earlier.

Keith couldn't help but to think that the future looked as bright as his blue eyes.

Hey all! I am back with the final chapter of this installment, but worry not. There will be another story for this series which I will have up within the month (lol that's a while sorry)

I think that I'll call it "What is Love Anyways" and will be heavily focused on how Lance and Keith handle their feelings. I don't think it will be as long as this one but it shouldn't be super short either.

ANyways, leave me a comment if you liked this (Or if you didn't tell me what you thought wasn't very good)

I am so thankful for every one of you lovely people who came with me on this journey, even if you are just now reading this.

So, this is to all of you readers-

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart thank you so much for being here, and goodnight!