The rest of the paladins watched as Lance walked shakily out of his lion's open mouth. No smile adorned his face. No carefree look in his eyes made him seem ok.

He was scared. Very scared.

"... what the heck happened?" Hunk asked.

Lance shook his head, thinking of what words to say.

"... Red... he stopped doing as I said... nothing..."

He scanned his team's faces. He didn't see much concern in there at all. Anger from Shiro, disappointment from Allura and Pidge, and Hunk just stared at him blankly.

"... Well... It's probably just good old Red's time of the month, am I right?" He cheered, forcing a grin. A grin that soon faded into nothing as the disappointed and angry expressions enhanced.

"... this isn't funny, Lance. You need to reconnect with your Lion." Shiro spat, crossing his arms.

Coran flew into the room in a clear state of absolute chaos.

"THEY'RE BACK! THE GALRA FLEET! PALADINS!"

"Damn! How are they finding us?"

"Do you think Zarkon is connecting with the Black Lion like last time?" Pidge suggested. Shiro shook his head.

"No. I and the Black Lion have a much stronger bond now. It must be something else. Hunk, Pidge, Allura, get to your lions!"

He turned to Lance, an unpleasant expression on his face.

"Sort out your lion and help us out there."

He then turned quickly and sprinted to his own Lion, leaving a trembling Lance all alone in the bay.

He turned to look at Red, taking a deep breath, and venturing back inside him.

"Ok, Red, m'boy... We gotta go out and help the others... Please Red?" He cooed, grasping the controls tightly.

"C'mon, not now Red... don't do this now... Move..."

The lion was unresponsive. Silent, just like the Black Lion when Lance tried to bond with it.

The connection he used to feel had disappeared into thin air.

Tears stung the corners of his eyes and he took more deep breaths, commanding himself to stay calm.

"Lance! We need you out here!"

"Why isn't your Lion responding?"

He tried to drown them out. He had to get Red to move.

'You chose me as your paladin... you thought I was worthy... what's changed?'

Silence.

'Red please, I can fix this. I can be whatever you need me to be.'

'... Por Favor... rojo león... por favor...'

"... Red please don't do this!"

"Lance!"

"Get out here!"

"I'm begging you... I have to help! I have to!"

The tears burst their banks and flooded down his cheeks.

"RED PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T CAST ME AWAY! I CAN DO IT! I CAN BE YOUR PALADIN! PLEASE!"

He could hardly hear Shiro's voice over the sound of his own screaming.

"NO NO NO! VIENE TU GATO STUPIDO!"

'Move you stupid cat!

Move you stupid cat!

MOVE YOU STUPID CAT!'

Red didn't understand. This was more than Voltron. More than having an adequate paladin. Lance needed to be part of Voltron... he needed it... And if he was taken away from team Voltron...

He really would be the Seventh Wheel after all.