"Red alarm, red alar- Hello paladins of Voltron. I'm afraid your princess is unavailable right now. However, if you would like her back, please bring Keith Kogane and Takashi Shirogane to the main arena, I suppose we could make a deal. Thank you."

A faint buzz was heard from the speakers as Keith bolted up, clearly having a panic attack. He put his hands in his head, his breathing uneasy.
"K-Keith?" Lance stuttered, rubbing circles on his back.
"I can't- I can't go to them..." he mumbled, shaking his head.
"Love, you need to calm down."
"How am I supposed to calm down! Galra soldiers are on this ship, looking for me and Shiro!" He yelled, the stress getting to him.

Lance knew this wouldn't end well, he needed Keith to get his emotions under control before he changes.
"Keith, I know. But getting stressed isn't going to help the situation." He reasoned, calmly.
"But- ok..." he sighed, sitting back into the blue bed, trying to steady himself.
"Deep breaths," he coaxed.
"Y-Yeah." The smaller male whispered, doing as he was told.

"Alright, I'm calmer now." Keith nodded, standing up. Lance wearily stood up with him,
"Are you sure?"
"Y-yeah, c'mon," he nodded, walking towards the door.
"Keith! Are you crazy?!" Lance half-yelled, causing Keith to turn around.
"Lance, it's me they want. They've already broken Shiro, so like hell Im letting them get him again." He started,
"Keith-"
"I'm not putting all of you in danger because of me, especially you Lance, I love you and I don't want any harm to come to you because of me." He said sternly, going to leave again.
"Keith, you don't have to do this..." The taller male grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him.
"I'm sorry Lance, I'm doing this to protect you," and with that he was gone.

Protect. The word echoed in the boy's mind as he stared at the door where Keith had ran out. Protect. The one word he had longed for since this mission had started, the one thing he missed: protection. But he didn't want it now, no, he wanted Keith. But here he was, gazing after his lover, fighting back tears that where threatening to fall.
"Keith..." he mumbled, before hearing a rumbling growl from the main hall. Keith.

The boy had ran out of Lance's room, pushing back tears with determination. He kept telling himself it was for the best, pushing any thoughts of Lance into the back of his mind. He had skidded to a halt, realising he was in the hall... Surrounded by Galra soldiers. Quiznack! He mentally yelled, trying to walk back, only to bump into the chest of one of the tallest there.
"Hello Keith Kogane." He chuckled darkly, grabbing the boy's hands and quickly cuffing them behind his back while he struggled in vain.
"What do you want?!" He yelled back frustrated, he could feel himself transforming.
"To put it simply, Prince Lotor wants to see what secrets he can rip out of you." A deep, menacing voice answered. Causing a shiver to be sent down Keith's spine.
"Of corse he did want Takashi as well, but after this I'm sure his highness will be quite satisfied with you." Another voice commented,
"W-What?" He mumbled, finally noticing that he was fully transformed.
"Yes, you are quite curious." A loud, low growl came from the back of the boy's throat.
"I'm not-" he felt something hard hit the side of his head, causing him to cry out in pain before everything became black.

Lance had ran out of his room, only to be stopped by Pidge.
"Whoa, buddy, slow down." She mumbled, rubbing her head from where Lance had ran into it,
"S-Sorry." He stuttered, trying to get round her.
"Lance what's the rush? Where's Keith?" Her voice got slightly sterner and worried towards the second question.
"Did you not hear what was said?"
"Yes, that's why I'm currently trying to find my helmet, now answer the question."
"Keith went to go give himself in." Lance said quickly and angrily,
"What?!" She yelled, "is he insane?"
"That's what I said, now help me look for him." He pushed her out the way and continued to run, causing Pidge to follow behind.

The two finally got to the main area. Stopped in there tracks by the sight in front of them... Nothing, it was empty.
"L-Lance?"
"He's gone! He's quiznacking gone!" He yelled, tears fuzzing up his sight.
"Lance-"
"Pidge get the others, now!" He commanded, his voice waving. She nodded quickly and left him alone. As soon as she was gone, he let himself crumble to the floor.
"K-Keith you idiot..." He mumbled in between sobs. Lance stayed like that, sitting in the doorway, his head in his hands.

"Lance?" The stern but caring tone of Shiro echoed around him, pulling him from his mind.
"Y-Yeah?" He mumbled, standing up and wiping his eyes.
"Is it true what Pidge told us?"
"If you're talking about Keith, then yes." He nodded,
"Why would he-" Hunk began before being interrupted,
"Protection." A small whisper came from the boy in blue.
"What?" Confused glances where shared around the team.
"He's doing it to protect us." He said slightly louder. "The thing he needs to understand is that he needs protection too."

"Well team, I think it's our job to give him that protection." Shiro nodded.
"Yeah, mission save Keith," Hunk smiled.
"-again" Pidge added smiling.
"Is in action." Alura and Koran chimed in together. Lance looked up at the group and smiled.
"Let's save the insane alien."