Klance :: Not So Different

Sorry

"The castle is under attack!"

Alarms blared as the paladins rushed into their suits. They didn't get to their lions before they were intruded.

"Hunk! Lance!" Shiro shouted through the com as the paladins raced through the castle-ship. "You two get in your lions and attack the Galra outside! Keith, Pidge and I will stay in and attack whatever Galra have intruded!"

Keith and Pidge ran side-by-side a few meters behind Shiro. Keith panicked. "Pidge! They're early! They're three days early!"

"I know, Keith!" Pidge ducked a blast and thrust out her bayard. "Stay by me!"

Keith nodded, arching his bayard down on a Galran sentry. "I got your back!"

Shiro was backed up closer to the arms of Voltron. "Hunk, Lance! How are you holding up!?"

"Doin' good!" Lance called back. "Taking a beating. There's way too many out here, but we got it."

"Good. 'Cause we're getting over flooded in here!" Shiro grunted as he blocked a blast with his arm. "Allura! Shields!?"

"I'm working on it! The shields aren't working! Coran is finding out what's wrong!" Allura sounded as if she was rushing about in the control room, occasionally shouting for Coran.

Hunk shouted. "I found where they're getting in! I'll block it!"

Pidge grunted as she was tossed against a wall. "Quiznak! There is way too many of these guys!"

Keith dodged an arm and hurried to help Pidge. "Shiro, we have to pull back! We're getting overwhelmed!"

Shiro thrust his arm forward, directly through two sentries, then yanked his arm back. "Alright! Come- ah!" Sentries leapt onto him, holding him down.

"Shiro!" Pidge cried, launching herself forward. She yelped, robotic arms grabbing her and easily shoving her to the ground.

Sentries then surrounded Keith and grabbed him.

All three paladins her forced onto their knees, blasters held to the back of their heads.

Heavy footsteps thunked on the hallway floor, then stopped a few meters ahead of them. "I'm here."

Keith looked up, and his ears twitched. The commander... "You're early," he muttered.

The commander grinned. "I am not. I came when I deemed fit. Your time is up. So?"

Pidge looked over at Keith. "Go on." She whispered. "Do it." Keith looked at her, gulping. She offered a smirk and a nod. He remembered what she said the night before. 'I'm a big girl. I can take it.'

Keith gave a short nod, activating his bayard. The red paladin twisted around, hitting the blaster out of the sentry's hands. He stood and swung his bayard down. He flinched at the blood already slipping down her pale cheek and soaking her suit on her arm. Keith shifted his weight into his left foot and swung his right foot directly into her chest.

Pidge cried out as she was flung to the floor.

"Katie!" Shiro shouted, eyes widening.

Footsteps rushed closer.

"Keith!"

Said man clenched his teeth, looking at the commander. "This is my answer. I'm coming back with you."

Keith shouldn't have glanced over the commander's shoulder. His shoulders dropped and his ears flattened the best they could within his helmet. Lance and Hunk were just down the hallway. Lance's eyes were wide, his bayard nearly dropping to the floor. He looked so conflicted and sad, realization slowly dawning on his face. "Keith..?"

Then commander chuckled and stepped closer, snapping Keith's attention away from the blue paladin. "Then come, comrade. Conquer with me for Emperor Zarkon. Come, red paladin."

Keith straightened his posture. "Where's the ship."

The Galran tilted his head back. "This way. Follow me." Keith stiffly nodded, stepping forward. The sentries followed behind him and the commander.

He glanced behind himself to Shiro and Pidge. Shiro held her as he watched after him in disbelief. Pidge smiled and nodded to him, but tears were in her eyes and he couldn't tell if they were from the pain of him kicking her or if she was sad to see him go. Keith ducked his head, then dared to look over and Lance and Hunk.

Hunk was sobbing, like usual, blubbering on, asking why Keith was leaving and asking where he was going. Lance, however, looked like he wasn't going to be missing Keith anytime soon. His blue eyes were dark and narrowed, his brows knitted together angrily. His fists were clenched and his jaw was tight. Lance's nose scrunched and his teeth were bared in a snarl as he caught Keith's eyes. "Lair. Filthy liar and traitor." The venom that dripped from his dark voice made Keith flinch and turn away.

I'm so sorry...

~

Hunk dashed to Shiro and Pidge. "Oh my gosh! Pidge! Are you okay!? Are you hurt- OH SWEET HAWAIIAN FOODS, YOU'RE BLEEDING!"

"Hunk!" Pidge waved her hand. "I'm okay. Just a cut or two, and got the wind knocked out of me." She smiled, but winced as she moved. "I'm going to have a bruise..." She looked up at Lance as he stopped in front of her. She knew he saw by that look on his face. Pidge felt her stomach twist. "Lance?"

The blue paladin's jaw clenched. "He hurt you. I saw it. He betrayed us."

He had to... Pidge's lip trembled, but she didn't let her tears fall. Shiro helped her up. "Let's get you to a pod." Pidge nodded slowly, her head spinning once she stood upright. "We'll talk about Keith once we have everything in order."

~

"He attacked Pidge?" Allura placed her hand on the wall beside her, her other hand over her heart. Shiro stiffly nodded in confirmation. "And he left with the Galran commander?" Another slow nod. "Oh, no... How will we form Voltron? How long has Keith been with the Galra?"

"I don't know..." Shiro stared at the ground.

Allura placed her other hand over her heart. "How... How's Lance? He has to be taking this so hard..."

"He is." Shiro looked over his shoulder at said Blue paladin. His arms were tightly folded and he stood stuff as his unreadable gaze was stuck to Pidge. "He's so... Angry... He feels beyond betrayed and used. I think Lance feels like it's kind of his fault, or like he should have noticed something... But he is taking it very hard."

Shiro turned back to Allura. "What about the castle defenses."

Allura dropped her hands, sighing softly. "Coran and I have fixed them. They work again... Poor Lance... Should I speak to him?"

"No." Shiro shook his head. "He might lash out and hurt you. Lance needs some time to cool down." The princess nodded, looking around Shiro to see Lance, still standing and waiting for Pidge to come out of the pod.