Star in the Universe

T h i r t e e n

Lance sat at the edge of Lotors bed thinking to himself in the empty room and stared at his bandaged wrist for a while. He slowly unwrapped it to see how well it's healed but also to see what it said now. Carvings in his skin as he could remember the branding burning into him.

He lifted the bandage gause off him and frowned at the markings. It was alien numbers and letters as he recognized it in the same language as Lotors papers on his desk.

He glanced over at Lotor who was sleeping restlessly with his arms under him at his desk. It was the middle of whatever night it was. He couldn't sleep even if Lotor told him he could sleep anywhere. Usually when Lotor was gone he'd sleep in the bathroom, on the floor or if he was lucky on the edge of the bed.

Lance sighed and grabbed a neatly folded blanket and walked over to Lotor draping it over his shoulders and moved some papers out of the way.

"Is there an attack?" Lotor opened his eyes and rubbed his head sitting up glancing at Lance.

"No," Lance chuckled. "You looked uncomfortable sire, but I didn't want to disturb you,"

"Oh thank you Lance," Lotor stood and went to his bathroom to run a brush through his hair and splashed some water in his face to wake up.

Lance felt his chest tighten at the sound of his name by the man he was a slave too. He didn't know how to feel about it.

"Aren't you going to go to bed?" Lance asked and he shook his head.

"I must get back to the others, I rested for a little to long," Lotor pulled his hair back to smooth it out.

"Two hours isn't long, you barely sleep sir," Lance frowned worriedly. He knew the deal stood still but he had to at least pretend to care... Right? He wanted to leave soon and go find Keith. Not for the mission but he liked talking to Keith, another human his age, pretty cool, calm yet rash, it was something else.

"I didn't know you cared so much?" Lotor picked up his sword and reset it at his side.

"I-I don't," Lance crossed his arms defensive.

"Would you like to join me blue? Get out of this cramped room?" Lotor offered and lances eyes widen slightly.

"Wouldn't people think that's weird? A slave with the prince," Lance held his hands behind his back worriedly. Before he didn't care much for what people think of him but then again no one hit him for his status in society.

"Then I'll upgrade you, you'll be my assistant," Lotor smiled gently.

"I could get you new clothes and washed up, but of course according to... Others..." Lotor glanced at lances wrist with dread. "Your technically still a slave so when we get back just act like it incase someone walks in rudely,"

"I didn't know you cared so much," Lance smirked a little.

"Unlike you, I do care," Lotor smirked back, gently sliding his thumb under lances chin and pulled away just as they contacted, making Lance blush softly.

"Shall we go?" Lotor offered his arm for Lance. The human smiled a little and wrapped his arms around the princes biceps and his hands rested around his elbows as they walked out.

"Have the guards been kinder? I've notice less bruises," Lotor looked at him worriedly and Lance laughed nervously.

"You've notice those?" His face heated up in embarrassment.

"Of course, such as you notice mine," Lotor kept his gaze ahead.

"Can I ask where they come from? I know you said training and fighting but..." Lance trailed off looking at the ground.

"I duel many for the throne, those who don't see me fulfilling my fathers duties, but I'm fighting the rebellion, my left wing was shot and I crashed," Lotor explained.

"That sounds scary," Lance whispered. Lotor looked at him and smiled gently.

"I won't lie, it is, the fear of loosing your life everytime you start up your fighter or even walking through these halls... But sometimes you just have to grab a risk rather than let it find you when your vulnerable," he told the human and Lance smiled back.

"Pretty wise for a prince," he gulped.

"And pretty mischievous for a servant," Lotor nodded.

Lance couldn't help but feel relieved of the title rather than being constantly called a slave. Such a dirty word. But servant sounds more useful, and in this place he better be useful if he wants to live.