Hidden Messages [Klance AU]

17: He Used to Be Mine

"W-what did you just say?"

Lance was stunned. Alfor's anticipating smile remained.

"I said—" Alfor quipped, "— that Keith found out you're a mer."

Lance stayed frozen. Well, of course I know that's what you said, Lance thought, I'm just stunned.

"How— how did you—" the mer stammered, confused. Wait— what are you doing? If you act like it's not true, he has no way of proving you wrong! Lance took a deep breath.

"I- I mean—  what's a mer?"

"Lance," Alfor scolded.

"Who's Lance?" he blurted. Too far, too far! Lance shouted to himself. Alfor raised an eyebrow as Lance continued to chuckle nervously. A moment later the older man smirked.

"Don't try to play that game on me, boyo! I knew you were a mer from the moment you walked in!"

What?! How did he—

"H- how?" Lance asked.

"Well, first, you smell like the ocean. From where I'm standing I can smell it!" Lance lifted an arm to smell himself. He hadn't even realized— and now that he thought about it, Keith, nor anyone else, said anything about it.

"— and second," Alfor continued, gesturing to his own cheek, "you didn't hide your marks too well." Lance looked down, and sure enough, his cheek marks had appeared again when he got nervous, forgetting to hide them. He looked up to Alfor.

"Wait— how did you, how did you know.. about the marks?"

"Well..." His boss smiled once again. A white glow emitted under his eyes. Two v-shaped markings appeared on Alfor's cheeks. "They don't teach you much about our history, do they?"

Lance's jaw dropped.

"You— you're a mer?!"    

"Yes, my boy." The Altean began wiping up Lance's spilled drink with a dishtowel. "I'm surprised your father never told you about me though. He doesn't even have any photos of me around, does he?"

Lance was even more confused now. "N-no?" He stammered, although his thoughts were saying quite a lot more.

"Ha, of course he doesn't!" Alfor laughed, the corner of his eyes creasing. "Now, I should probably explain. You appear to be in a bit of a crisis. Sit down." He put a hand on the younger mer's shoulder. The latter complied, sitting with a shocked expression still on his face.

"Let's see... where do I begin.." the now known mer mumbled.

"How 'bout how you know my father?" Lance asked, "And why you live here instead of in the ocean?"

"Of course. I'll start from the beginning. Have you ever heard of Queen Melenor?"

Lance froze, just as he had begun to calm down a bit. Queen Melenor? Of course Lance had heard of her. She was a huge figure in Altean history— legends say that she had the powers of the cosmos. No one actually knew what that meant, of course, but what every mer did know was that she helped to defeat King Zarkon when he— along with his Galran army— took over the Altean rule. That was thousands of years ago, though. What did it have to do with Alfor's story?

At Lance's surprised look, Alfor knew his answer, and continued, "Yes, good. I'm glad they're at least still teaching part of that story. I'm sure you've heard that she had the 'powers of the cosmos,' as they transcribed in every legend. Well,  sorry to burst your bubble, boy, but that's not quite true. Sure, she had powers, and could fight extremely well, but she had just the same abilities as any Altean queen." A fondness filled Alfor's lavender eyes while he spoke.