Chapter Text
The paladin of the Red Lion had been held captive by Galran soldiers for a period of sixteen days. It was long enough. Lance had curled himself anxiously into a corner of the medical examination room.
Allura crouched before him, a safe distance away, and gave him a pitying look. “Lance. I know this must be difficult, and the last thing I want you to do is recount the horrors you faced – but this is very important.” She looked at him with deep pity and concern.
“K-kay,” he managed out, arms gripping tighter around himself.
“Lance,” she said, her voice soft in her fancy accent. “Did the Galra use you… sexually?”
The paladin began to cry, curling on himself. “I’m sorry,” he sobbed, turning his face into the wall and shuddering. “I didn’t want to at first,” he protested, his voice distraught. “But…but…” He dissolved into sobs that wracked his whole body.
“Shh,” Allura said quietly. “It’s okay. I know. That’s why I had to ask.” She closed her eyes apologetically. “Lance… Your addiction…”
He sobbed. “Addiction,” he spat the word like it was a curse.
“A cruel word for it,” she said quietly. “But it is an addiction. A psychophysical one.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “There are two options, Lance. There’s a radical Altean surgery we used to use, for rescued Galran prisoners. It would remove your ability to feel desire, or hunger, or enjoyment. You…wouldn’t be able to be addicted.”
He shuddered. “And I wouldn’t be able to enjoy anything in my life ever again?”
She sighed. “Yes. But you would never need to…”
Lance just shuddered, keening low in his throat. “What’s the other option?”
She sighed. “We have Galran allies. A member of the Blade of Marmora could…”
Lance licked his lips, and then seemed to recoil violently at himself. “So the Blade pimps its members out so I can suck their dicks?” He hissed furiously.
She winced a little. “No,” she said quietly. “You won’t have to… perform any acts,” she replied. “The Blade would merely… provide you with the fluid your addiction requires. In a clinical setting. Which would be delivered to you in a sealed, inconspicuous container.”
Lance gave a bitter laugh, wiping at his face. “No, thanks,” he said quietly. “I pick option three.”
Her face wrinkled up in confusion. “Lance, there is only two…”
He shook his head fiercely. “Option three. I’m going cold turkey.”
“What is a turkey?” She asked, confused. “Why is it cold?”
He shook his head. “It’s an Earth expression,” he replied. “It means I’m going to break the addiction by starving it out.”
“Lance,” she said, anxiety twisting in her stomach. “That’s dangerous,” she replied. “I’ve seen people who’ve been without Galra for a single movement. They were practically wild animals, desperate for…to… well, you know.”
“That was only a movement. It’ll take longer than that.” He stood up unsteadily, hands shaking violently. “I’m going to my room.”
She let him go, biting her lip. She didn’t know how to convey the seriousness of his situation.
The Galran anatomy had developed in a strange way. Their… She flushed as she thought about it. Their sexual fluids were highly addictive to other species. In the early days of the war between Altea and Galra, the Altean armies had discovered that there were certain Galran sects taking prisoners of war and…purposefully making them addicts, for the service of their soldiers.
It seemed like it was a practice that had lasted ten thousand years. Poor Lance…
She took a deep breath and headed to contact the Blade of Marmora. They would know how to help.”
…
Keith looked up from the strategy maps as the communicator chimed. He gave Kolivan a concerned look, as their leader headed over to answer.
It was Princess Allura. She looked exhausted, and her lip was red where she’d been worrying it with her teeth. He started to approach the screen so he could join the discussion. “Kolivan,” she began. “I need to have a serious, confidential discussion with you about a personal matter of one of the paladins.”
Keith found himself kicked out of the strategy room. But he didn’t go far. Something was happening with the Paladins. What if it was Shiro? What if something had happened to him.
He scrambled to his feet when Kolivan left the chamber, looking at him with fierce determination. The leader sighed and gestured for him to follow, leading him back to… his own room in the barracks?
“What’s going on? Is someone hurt?” He demanded.
“Nobody is injured,” Kolivan answered. “But the Red Paladin has been incapacitated.”
“Lance?” He felt burning panic in his chest. “What happened?”
Kolivan sighed. “Allura asked me to keep the information confidential,” he answered. “But you are being sent to the castle in order to ensure that Voltron is still able to be assembled, and I believe you ought to be informed.”
What had happened to Lance that he couldn’t pilot their lions any more? He clenched his fists tightly. “Kolivan.”
“You recall, when you first asked me to educate you in what you needed to know as a half-Galra,” the leader begun.
He frowned. “What about it?”
”You recall when I advised you that sexual relations with non-Galra were banned by the Blade…?”
Keith felt sick. “No…” he breathed. Not Lance…. “Did he…? Was it…?” He didn’t want to ask the question.
“The Red Paladin has only recently been recovered from captivity under Galran control.”
He clenched his fists tightly. He wanted to rip them apart, how could they do that to Lance? “Can I…?”
“The Red Paladin has rejected Allura’s suggestion for the assistance of one of the Blades,” Kolivan answered seriously. “As a member of the Blade of Marmora, you must follow our tenets.” He glanced and leaned forward, saying quietly: “but we have no such jurisdiction over the Paladins of Voltron.”
Keith looked at him, startled. “Are you telling me to make him—” He couldn’t finish, feeling disgusted.
Kolivan looked equally disturbed by that suggestion. “Of course not,” he replied. “Nor do I think you could be so heinous. But if the two of you come to a mutual decision…” He just gave him a pointed look. “Pack your things. We’ll reach the rendezvous in two vargas.”