Lance spied Shiro speed walking down the corridor and stepped out, grabbing his attention.

"Uh, Shiro? I was wondering if-"

"Not now Lance."

"But-"

"Not now!"

Shiro must have seen the hurt look on the former Red Paladin, because he took a second to calm down and explain.

"Look, a planet just sent a distress signal. Galra forces are trying to recapture it, and they need our help. I'll talk to you later."

He started walking again, more purposeful.

"But Shiro-"

"Later!"

Lance watched him get further away, and eventually, out of sight.

He was going to ask what he could do to help, but, it seems that he wasn't needed.

If the team needed help, surely they would have asked for it. Yeah? Yeah. They would have.

He wasn't needed. He needed to stop thinking that he was. Now that he was no longer a Paladin, he was no longer of any use to anyone.

It would be better if he just stayed in his room and didn't come out. All that anyone seemed to have for him was impatience.

He wandered back to his room and curled up on the bed, sitting in the fetal position with his head hidden.

The Castle alarms went off, but he didn't react. The occasional shudder of the structure indicated attacks, and quite violent ones too, but Lance didn't move.

He was scared. He was upset.

He wondered if Shiro would come and see him like he said.

He wondered if they were realising what a terrible paladin he was, now that Keith was back.

Tears started falling faster than he could dry them and he smothered his face in the blanket, hating the sobbing that was starting to escape his mouth and hating the shaking that took over his body.

After almost an hour of constant alarms and shaking and constant, unending fear... the battle ended, and the castle was peaceful once again.

He waited for Shiro, but he never came.

Of course he didn't. Why would he care?

Lance didn't know if even he cared anymore.