Chapter Text
On the walk to the Bridge, Lance made a pit-stop at his room so he looked more presentable than just swim shorts. And, of course he got there late, so everybody turned their eyes on him when he walked into the room.
Awesome...
Allura spoke to him first, "Lance, thank you for joining us." Her tone sounded cold, but Lance could see she was more exasperated than actually upset with him. He smiled at her in return.
"Sorry Princess. I was at the pool when you called." Lance went to stand next to Keith as Allura and Shiro started discussing the next mission.
"The planet we are assisting is named Verilois," Allura showed the team a map of what the planet looked like. It was beautiful and ethereal to Lance. The planet was lush green all over and seemed to be beaming.
"This planet is known for their two suns, so it will be hot once we get down there," Allura turned towards the paladins, and nodded to Shiro.
"They have Galra soldiers stationed around the area that we are going to. It's a small pocket of the planet that has been compromised. The queen wants our help in restoring it and they seem to be a more peaceful race, so we won't have a lot of backup." Shiro gave them a weary smile.
Allura spoke up again, "We will also not be able to use the Lions during this time. Their planet is very sacred to them and the forests that surrounds them. It's going to be a tough battle, but if we can take the soldiers out fast and steady, we should be able to do it mostly unscathed."
Pidge poked her glasses and spoke up, "So, I'm assuming they're like the Olkarians, but more peaceful obviously?"
"Yes."
Keith spoke up beside Lance, "How are we supposed to fight the Galra and keep their planet mostly unscathed?" Keith looked to Shiro and crossed his arms, "Because they basically want us to fight without the aftermath."
Shiro sighed, "I know. It's going to be more difficult than it needs to be, but we have to respect their wishes if we want them to eventually become allies too."
Lance didn’t say anything, but he knew Keith was mostly right about this one. He had a gut feeling that they wouldn't be able to hold their end of the bargain.
Nonetheless, he had to lighten up the mood somehow, hopefully by making Keith annoyed with him instead of his leader and brother.
He bumped Keith's shoulder and looked at him," C'mon Keithy, it can't be that bad. Maybe the suns there could get rid of all your emo-ness."
Pidge snickered and Keith rolled his eyes before nudging Lance back.
"Whatever."
Allura's voice cut through the room again.
"Alright paladins, suit up! We leave in ten."
Lance groaned but followed everybody through the doors. He caught up with Keith silently as they made their way back to their rooms.
The castle-ship seemed to be buzzing as they started to head towards the planet. The Lions seemed to be buzzing with excitement for something to do, so much that Lance could sense it from here.
When they got to their rooms, Lance nudged Keith again, "Might wanna grab some shades for the sun Samurai. It'll probably affect you more than the others."
Keith gave him a bored stare before turning away and muttering about how he didn't need anything.
Lance chuckled and turned towards his room. His smile dropped a little as he entered his room though. Something felt off again, but it wasn't Percy this time. He almost had this- this sense or feeling that something was wrong, or would be.
As he put his paladin armor on he kept thinking, and searching. He didn't know what for, but just a clue for why he was so on edge. it's not like this was going to be one of their harder missions. They had to deal with things like this all the time.
So what could possibly be making him feel this way?
He shook his head to rid the thoughts. He needed to be level headed if he was going to beat some Galra ass.
--
Lance got in his Lion and patted Blue's controls. "Ready girl?"
Blue roared in his head and got ready to take off.
Shiro spoke on the comms, spooking Lance a little. "Alright we're going to land our Lions near the village but far enough away from the fight to interfere. It's a dead spot, so it should be pretty clear where it is."
The paladins all gave their affirmative and followed the formation.
Lance's gut feeling came back, and he frowned.
it was stronger now, and he felt dread coursing through him. He hadn't gotten a feeling like this since-
No.
Skatá.
Shit.
Lance groaned and slammed his head on the back of his seat.
"Of fucking course I figure it out when we're all landing."
His comms crackled and Hunk spoke, "Uh- you good there buddy?"
Okay, the universe must be laughing in his face. What kind of shit day is this?
"Yeah, uh sorry. I'm all good."
The paladins and Allura landed and started walking towards the palace.
It looked like it was made entirely of glass, and looked golden-courtesy of the sun.
The queen- Queen Solyra- (sol-ir-ah) was with them shortly and Allura talked to her about the battle and what would follow afterwards, probably.
This place though, it gave him another odd feeling.
But- more pleasant. There was light everywhere and it seemed to touch even the grass beneath him. And the forest in front of him.
He remembered camp for a moment, where Clover had shown him where she lived in the forest. Where Percy had shown him all the best places for Capture the Flag.
There was a hand on his shoulder and he looked up. Keith has his eyes furrowed.
"What?"
"You looked-"
Lance cut him off and snickered, "Aww, were you worried about little old me?"
He really needed to save his ‘I’m reminiscing on the past’ face for the pool.
"Well yeah, you looked sad."
That caught Lance's attention.
"Huh."
Lance shook himself out of his stupor and forced himself to focus on the mission ahead. The palace still stood, shimmering under the twin suns, and the forest’s edges rustled with life — but the quiet was deceiving. There was something just slightly off
“All right, paladins,” Allura said, “Stay alert. Scouts reported Galra patrols nearby. Be careful, don't split up”
Lance’s stomach tightened, but he focused on his surroundings and followed Keith towards the forest.
Lately, they seemed to be more in tune for each other and Lance absolutely loved it.
The trees seemed to whisper around him as the wind shifted, and he knew the silence was about to be broken.
And then, a shadow moved, fast, but the size of a person.
A soldier.
“They seem to be surrounding us!” Shiro shouted over the comms. “Positions!”
Lance’s heart jumped. He dove into the nearest cover with Keith, their backs to each other. They were ready.
Two Galra soldiers dropped from the trees and rushed at the two of them.
Lance readied his aim, and Keith crouched into a fighting position.
"Ready?"
Lance smirked and aimed. "Born ready."
--
Lance was tired. His movements were slowing.
The soldiers were too close and Lance had resorted to using his Bayard in the sword form. Let's just say there was a reason the gun was his first weapon.
Lance heard Keith grunt behind him and worried.
Keith was slowing down too.
he turned back to the shithead he was fighting and they parried.
But the Galra was smarter, and he pulled a gun.
Lance transformed his Bayard back and shot him before he could get in any more attacks.
But he was too slow.
His gun went off and Keith screamed.
Lance paled and turned towards Keith.
"Shitshitshit. Nononono…. Keith?"
Keith was holding his wound and groaning on the ground. Lance felt it.
A tug in his chest.
He had to act fast, and he did. The other soldier was shot down before Lance could even comprehend that he did that.
He dropped to the floor in front of Keith and held his head up.
"Keith? Keith you gotta talk to me buddy."
Keith's breath was short, and his face was pale.
Lance looked around him for anything he could use to help him. He turned on the comms while still looking around.
"Shiro?"
"Lance? What's wrong?"
"it's Keith." Lance's bottom lip trembled. "I- he's shot, and there's more coming. I can hear them, but Keith he- he's bleeding so much. What-"
"Lance breath, kiddo." Shiro grunted, "Lance, I need you to take cover. For the both of you, okay? Use your surroundings. Find something you can use. We'll be there soon."
The comms went silent. Lance looked at Keith, his face paler than before.
They didn't have more time.
Keith wasn't going to make it to the Lion in time, and that wasn't even counting him having to get Keith there in one piece.
Lance's eyes went blurry and he looked to Keith.
He clenched his jaw. He knew what he had to do. He set Keith on the ground completely, and prayed.
He prayed for the first time in years.
But not to his father.
To the god of prophecies. the god of healing.
"Apollóna, ákouse ta lógia mou. Áse me na sóso ton fílo mou kai dóse mou dýnami.
Apollo, hear my words. Let me save my friend and give me strength.
Lance put his hand over the wound and whispered words to the god of the sun. He prayed and pulled on memories of light. Of happiness and joy.
Him and Percy laughing with Tyson.
Lance with his siblings, in the ocean on Varadero Beach.
The team having a movie night all squished together.
The forest around him responded to his words, and his healing touched everything around him. The light he produced was flickering, and his healing along with it.
He needed more energy.
Lance squeezed his eye shut, as a tear fell from his face. He could feel The Mist around him, and used it to cover the light as much as he could.
It was harder on him to try and heal this big of a wound and try and cover up his tracks. He didn’t even realize there could be Mist in space, on foreign planets that have probably never even heard of the Greek Gods.
Lance poured all that he could give into his healing, and the light around him grew stronger. The plants around him grew stronger, and Lance felt as if someone was guiding his powers.
He opened his eyes as they glowed softly, and whispered to Keith that he would be alright. That he was okay now.
Lance tried to believe it too.
The forest dimmed to its original color and Lance slumped against the tree behind him.
Keith was unconscious at the moment, but the blood had stopped.
He was okay.
Lance was about to close his eyes when something caught his eye next to him.
He moved his head slowly and a soft smile took over his face.
There was no person before him, but simply that of an almost harsh aura, solid enough to be seen as more than light from the sun.
"Akoúo tis prosechés sou, paídi mou. Ta píges kalá"
I hear your prayers, my child. You did well.
--
Lance closed his eyes and waited for the rest of his team to get here.
Keith was still unmoving, but Lance knew he was safe.
He was okay.
And soon, he saw Shiro rushing towards them as fast as he could, yelling at them. Asking if they were okay.
Keith was okay.
But now, Lance needed a nap. That amount of power had drained him physically and mentally.
He closed his eyes just as Shiro was in front of him.
he fell asleep blissfully, knowing everyone was okay.
--
The next time Lance awoke, he wasn't in his Lion. Someone must have carried him and Blue back then, because he was with Shiro in Black
Shiro noticed the movement and rushed over to him.
"Lance? Lance, you with me?"Lance nodded. It was all he could give at the moment. He was about to shut his eyes again, but Shiro held his shoulders steady. His head still bobbed to the side though.
"Lance, Keith looks like he was shot. What happened?"
Lance furrowed his brows. he was too tired to speak. "W'yo'mean?"
"There's no wound Lance, but we heard it. What happened out there?"
Well. His healing must have worked a little too well, huh.
He responded and smiled, but made sure he couldn't understand.
"Lo salvé, Shiro. Lo curé con mis oraciones y mis poderes."
I saved him, Shiro. I healed him with my prayers and my powers.
That seemed to be a good enough answer, because Shiro didn't respond.
Lance took another nap. He deserved it.