Allura heaved herself up onto the deck of the boat and she saw Lance dizzily stumble forward, helping her up. Federico stood too, obviously anxious. Lance handed her a towel as her tail split and she smiled at him as he worried over her, all mumble-y and sweet.

"We won," she said to no one in particular. It was true- after an intense, bloody battle between Zarkon and Lotor, the prince was able to get a one-up and ended up slaying his beast of his father. The battle between the Galra and the Mers stopped then, everyone just drifting.

They'd all expected Alfor to be the one to battle Zarkon, not the Galran's own son. But the outcome was the same either way- the Mers won the war. Not only did that mean that the Galra were no longer able to pose a threat, it meant that Lotor would take over the throne and, as he'd promised, make new alliances with the mer community to help create a peaceful ocean.

It was the best political win the Mers had seen in years. They only hoped that the peace wasn't an empty promise, but Allura was confident. She'd said hello to her father and explained to him what had happened, how'd they'd come just in time, how Lance had sacrificed himself, and Alfor was speechless. Allura assumes that she'd have to have a longer talk with him wen she got home.

For now, he had the issue of telling the McClain-Sanchez's that their son, his nephew, was no longer a mer.

Lance beamed at Allura, then said softly, "I knew we would." She noticed that he'd been crying. She didn't ask.

After changing in the cabin downstairs, Allura sat down on the bench next to Lance, looking out over the ocean ahead of them. Federico yawned, "All set?" Lance nodded, leaning into Allura. His trident was on the ground at his feet.

"I can't be your personal guard anymore," Lance murmured, smiling, and Allura nodded sadly.

"I don't think I could find anyone better than you, Lance," she said boldly, "But second best will have to do." Lance let out a low chuckle.

"I guess so... You'll come visit me, right?" Worry sank into his voice. He didn't try to hide it.

It was Allura's turn to laugh, astonished, "Of course I will! And your parents will too, as well as Hunk and all of your other friends. You're still a part of the village, Lance." She paused, then added in a posh voice, "Besides, human-mer relationships are very important in diplomacy." Lance stifled laughter.

"I guess that's true," he admitted, tilting his head back to look up at the stars. Was what Lotor said about Keith true? He wouldn't lie about that, Lance was sure. Inamorato. True Love. Soul Mate. Keith was...?

Lance smiled to himself. If that really was the case, then he was even more sure that his decision had been a good one. He'd have chosen it even if it weren't for Keith- sometimes being noble meant sacrifice for the greater good anyways.

"We'll be home by 6 if I really push it," Federico informed the two friends as the wind picked up around them, water spraying in their wake. Allura and Lance curled up against each other, Lance shivering in Keith's soaking wet shirt and a pair of Federico's shorts. They fell asleep slowly, each wondering what life would be like now.

...

"Text me your address when you have time and I'll make sure to come visit when possible. And don't worry, I'll help you get on your feet- we don't want you working at McDonalds your whole life, right?"

Federico hugged his nephew tightly, rubbing his back before pushing him gently into the cab and closing the door behind him. Lance rolled down the window and the two heard the cab driver grumble something about wet clothes on his seats. Lance and Federico ignored him.

"I'll see you soon, Lance. Take care." Lance waved as the cab pulled away, looking out the rear window until his uncle disappeared from sight. Settling against the seat of the cab, Lance gave the cab directions to the Holt beach house, rubbing his bracelet worriedly.

He'd said goodbye to Allura at the harbor, and more than a few tears were spilled even though he knew this really wasn't goodbye, he just wasn't going to be seeing her until all this business was sorted out. He'd see her, his parents, Hunk, and probably Alfor in just a few days to talk about the transition. That's what Allura had said anyways.

For now, he was just supposed to wait at home, trying to figure out what the fuck he was going to do for the rest of his life. Federico had said high school night classes, college, and then a job, just like everyone else, just a few years older. Allura chimed in that Alfor would put as much money as Lance needed for education in his account, which was kind of a daunting idea, but it made sense.

Everything was scary now. Before, it had just been an experiment. He could easily just dive back down to the ocean. But now, the ocean to him was the same as the ocean to a human. No more gills to let him breath underwater, no more tail for him to swim with, no more luminescence. And it was irreversible.

Now, he was officially a human. A real-life, air-breathing human capable of drowning and walking the Earth as no one special. It was too overwhelming to think about all at once, so Lance blocked the thoughts from his mind and looked out the window to the scenery outside.

He was nervous for no reason to see Keith again. Maybe it was because of what Lotor had said. Maybe it was because Keith was all he had here besides the rest of the household. Keith was his rock, his anchor, and he didn't want Keith to be disappointed in him if he thought that Lance had made the wrong decision.

"I'm taking a left here?" The cab driver asked, picking something out of his gums with a toothpick. Lance nodded, realized that the driver couldn't see him, and then confirmed it aloud.

They were on the street of the beach house. Lance's hands were shaking, a nervous habit of his, as he gave the driver the cash that Federico had given him. He climbed out of the car shakily, staring up at the giant structure.

To his left, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon, casting the sand dunes in orange and the sky in pink. Lance could just go in- he knew where the spare key was- but he decided that knocking would be better. At least then, someone could see him, talk him down, calm him so that he could make sense of this mess.

Lance's fist quaked as he knocked on the door, surprisingly loud in the silent neighborhood. He remembered that there was a doorbell, so he rang that too. Hearing a muffled bump and footsteps behind the door, Lance bit his lip. He had an impulse to run away into the ocean, but that life was over. This was his new life.

Keith wasn't the one to open the door. It was Shiro, hair messy, wearing a t-shirt and plaid boxers. He was mid-yawn as he opened the door, but snapped to attention when he recognized Lance, however pathetic he looked, standing there, dripping wet, freckle-less.

Lance took one look at Shiro and broke down, stumbling forward to sob into his friend's waiting arms, not paying attention as Shiro slowly brought him inside, rubbing his back and hushing him as Lance cried into his chest.

Shiro was honestly bewildered. He had no idea what was going on- why Lance was even here in the first place, let alone why he had legs again, why all his freckles had disappeared into the smooth, monochromatic brown of his skin tone, why the tips of his hair were white. But he recognized that Lance would start talking soon, if not to Shiro, then to Keith.

"Keith!" Shiro called over his shoulder, hugging Lance tightly as he full-out bawled. There was the thumping sound of feet up the carpeted basement steps, and then Keith emerged, looking annoyed.

"What?" He started to say, agitated, but then he noticed the scenario and he rushed forward, opening his arms as Lance pulled from Shiro and fell into Keith's warm hug, resting his head down on Keith's shoulder and burying his nose in his neck. Keith looked at Shiro questioningly, but Shiro shook his head, looking just as confused.

"Hey," Keith said softly, "hey, what's the matter, love? Hm? What's going on?" He led Lance over to the couch and gently sat him down, pulling Lance's legs up onto his lap to cradle him.

Lance tried to talk a couple times, but everything was incoherent through his crying. After a few minutes, he settled down and was able to talk normally.

"Allura and I went to the war front and- and- and Lotor needed Quintessence and so I gave him all of mine but that means that I'm n-not a mer anym-m-more." Keith inhaled sharply. He realized why Lance's freckles were gone.

"A-and my uncle is a human too, we thought he was in Hawaii and I was adopted and my parents are royal 'cause I'm Ally's cousin," Lance choked, starting to cry again. Keith thumbed away his tears, rocking his boyfriend gently.

"It's okay, babe, it's all gonna be okay."

...

hey guys :) sorry for not updating in a few days like I said I would, Ive been in bed with a nasty cold

Also, woah, 40k reads!! Im mind-boggled. You guys are the best.

Qotd: favorite movie? I don't think I've asked that, I'm just wondering because I just watched both Kingsman movies and I'm in lOVE

I'll see you again soon! Love you!