Disclaimer: Voltron belongs to WEP.

Haggar stood in front the mirror, thinking of her lost youth and beauty. At one time Haggar had been very beautiful. She had been slender, her wavy auburn hair falling down to her waist, her skin soft and pale, and her eyes were an expressionist deep green. But all that beauty had been lost the day she pledged herself to her dark master, Daibhidh. Her soul forever the property of the foul demon, traded for the magical powers of a high priestess. Her beauty was the price she paid. Even her long time familiar, Paka, had been forever changed. The once sleek black cat, with eyes that matched Haggar’s, had been deformed into a hideous mutated cat. However, the powers she received were not nearly as strong as the deceitful Daibhidh. Agonized over her lost beauty, Haggar became resentful and the desire to destroy anything of beautiful bloomed within her. It wasn’t merely things that were outwardly beautiful that she detested, for those things she could easily destroy. It was things that had a deep inner beauty angered Haggar the most. For that kind of beauty was much harder to destroy. The image in her mirror changed at her will revealing the one thing she hated above all else – a love that was deep and pure. The angry woman scowled at the image of one who held so much love in his heart for another. The love was unrequited, but the love was so strong that it held an amazing beauty, and Haggar was determined that the love would never be known. A broken heart and a destroyed spirit were anything but beautiful. Haggar smiled as she formed her plan, not only would her latest spell destroy something of great beauty – it stood a chance of destroying the Voltron force as well.

The cool evening breeze brought much relief from the sweltering heat of the hot summer day. One by one the members of Voltron force had been making their way to their quarters. The only three that still sat outside, in the garden, were Keith, Allura, and Lance. Lance sat on a bench on the far side of the garden, watching Keith and Allura who sat there talking quietly. Though Lance couldn’t be certain in they were intentionally or unintentionally leaving him out of the conversation, not that he really minded, as he really didn’t feel like talking. Though, he couldn’t deny, even to himself, that he was jealous, jealous of Allura who seemed to so easily captivate Keith attention. However, all the brown haired man cared was that Keith was happy – that was all he ever wanted was for his best friend to be happy. However, as Haggar cast her spell all of that changed.

Lance’s normally soft brown eyes hardened as he stared at Keith and Allura. A cold rage filled him as he watched Allura whisper something into Keith’s ear and he responded with soft laughter. Time passed, as it always does, but Lance wasn’t really sure how much time had passed as he had been too lost in his own angry thoughts.

Allura stood up, straightening her dress as she did. “Goodnight, Lance.” she waved over to the silent man. She bent over and kissed Keith on the cheek.

'Damn, slut.’ Lance thought coldly. ‘Hanging all over Keith like that… not that I blame her one bit…’ Lance’s gaze wandered over Keith’s body. ‘He looks so damn sexy in the moonlight.’

A few minutes later Keith stretched and stood up. “Goodnight, Lance.” Lance glanced up, startled from his thoughts, once again, as Keith spoke to him. “Try not to stay up too late.”

Lance watched as Keith turned to inside, drinking in the sight of Keith’s firm ass, accented by the tight pants he was wearing (though thinking more of seeing it with nothing covering it). ‘He should be mine…and tonight I will make him mine.’

With only the light from the moon to see by Keith made his way through his quarters. The moonlight reflecting off his pale skin, as he stood by the bed clad only in his boxers, his clothing already discarded in the hamper in the washroom. He pushed back the light cotton cover and crawled into bed. He laid down on the soft bed and pulled the light blue sheet over himself. He closed his eyes and allowed sleep to over take his body.

Lance moved swiftly and assuredly through the quiet halls of the castle. His brown eyes gleamed with a predatory gaze, as he made his way through the shadows. His thoughts fixed one thought, and one thought only, capturing his prey.

Lance stopped before the Keith’s door, he punched in the code on the keypad to unlock the door. A code he knew as well as he knew his own. The door soundless slid open and Lance moved swiftly into the darkened room. He paused beside the bed looking at his quarry. Keith’s raven black hair accented his pale skin, skin that looked even paler and softer in the moonlight. Lance reached out and brushed his fingertips lightly over Keith’s cheek. The feathery touch unnoticed by the sleeping captain.

Lance pulled his fingers back and quickly undressed. He stood stark naked next to the bed a half hard erection was evidence of his fiery desire. Lance pulled the sheet off of Keith, letting it fall to the floor in a messy pile. Lance smiled to see that Keith still remained asleep, not wanting the other man to awake until he was ready for him too. Lance climbed swiftly unto the bed, his legs straddling Keith’s thighs, though their flesh barely touched.

Keith stirred slightly as he sensed another’s presence in hovering over him. His dark eyes opened slowly, clouded with sleep as he looked up at the darkened figure.

“Wha…” Keith started to say as it took him a moment to recognize who was there with him, which only served to add to his confusion. “Lance?”

“Shh.” Lance whispered, as he clamped one hand over Keith’s mouth.

Keith struggled to pull away, but found that he was effectively pinned to the bed by Lance’s weight. Keith flinched as Lance’s hand wrapped tightly around his right wrist. His eyes were wide as he stared up at Lance, or at least some thing that resembled Lance. All Keith could do, in his position, was stare up at Lance, he tried to look into the eyes of his best friend eyes, to look for a clue as to why this was happening. However, he found it nearly impossibly to see the other man’s eyes in the dark room.

“Are you going to be quiet?” Lance asked. His voice was cold and dark, so unlike his normal voice that Keith barely recognized it.

Keith managed a slight nod and the hand was removed from over his mouth. “Lance, what are you doing?” Keith asked, despite the fact he agreed to be quiet.

Lance reacted with lightening fast reflexes, the palm of his hand connecting against the side of Keith’s face with a resounding crack. “I ‘told’ you to be quiet.”

Keith blinked in shock, his cheek stinging. He couldn’t believe that Lance had struck him like that, or for that matter he couldn’t believe that Lance was doing this at all. It wasn’t as though they had never fought, they had a number of fights but never during any of those fights had they ever even attempted to injure one another. All the fights they ever had never lasted long and they both felt bad about fighting after all was said and done.

“You are not the one in charge here, ‘I’ am.”

“Is that what all this is about? Whose in charge?” Keith asked in disbelief.

The question was only answered with another crack across his cheek, and Lance’s blunt fingernails digging into the soft flesh on the underside of his wrist.

“Lance…”

“I told you to be quiet.” Lance said, clamping his hand tightly around Keith neck.

Keith struggled against the tight grip, for the first time in his life he was afraid of Lance. Keith’s eyes watered slightly with pain gasping as tried to catch the breath his body was being deprived of. Keith’s eyes began to roll back in their sockets before Lance finally loosened his grip enough for the Voltron captain to draw a shaky breath. Keith coughed as his lungs were once again allowed precious oxygen. Lance’s hand still rested against his throat.

“You going to be quiet now?”

Keith nodded slightly, this time he intended to do just that, fearing the consequences if he didn’t.

“Good boy.” Lance said, stroking Keith’s injured cheek in what could almost be construed as a gentle caress.

And just as quickly as that moment of tenderness was shown it was once against replaced by the hard torturous touches. Lance wrapped his belt tightly around Keith’s right wrist and hauled Keith’s arm up to loop the belt around the headboard of the bed. Lance kept the end of belt held tightly in one hand, to keep Keith from being able pull his hand away, while he grasped Keith’s other hand. Lance hauled Keith’s left hand up and tied it tightly with his, already restrained, right hand.

Lance sat back and it was then Keith noticed one detail about his friend that he hadn’t before, Lance was naked.

Keith opened his mouth, to once again question Lance’s actions, but quickly closed it again swallowing the words before they could be spoken.

“Did you actually think you cold keep on flaunting yourself around in front of me and not pay the consequences?” Lance question.

“What are you talking about?” Keith asked.

Lance raised his hand as though he were going to strike Keith, once again. Keith drew in a sharp breath as he prepared himself for the hit. But it never came, instead Lance patted Keith’s cheek roughly.

“Don’t pretend that you don’t know. I know you know. And you just keep on… doing what you do to torture me.” Lance said. “But it ends now. Now I will make you pay.”

“For what? C’mon, Lance, I really don’t have any idea what you are talking about? Whatever it is you think I did… or whatever I did, to hurt you, I am sorry. I would never do anything to cause you pain.” Keith said. His voice was calm, and the sincerity in his voice genuine.

“No.” Lance said. His voice was quiet and he shook his head rapidly, causing his brown hair to fall into his eyes. “You’re lying. You don’t care how I feel.” Lance stared down at Keith with cold, hard eyes.

“Lance, you know I care. You’re my best friend.” Keith said. Normally he had always been able to reason with Lance, even when Lance was acting irrational and doing his own thing even in the heat of battle. Keith was finding that trying to reason with a very insane Lance ranked right up there with all the great impossibilities that plagued mankind.

“Shut up.” Lance snarled, striking Keith across his already bruised cheek. “You’re just saying that to save your skin. Well not this time buddy boy. I’m just going to take what I want… what should be mine.” Lance stroked one hand over Keith’s bare chest, then leaned over his restrained prey and captured Keith’s lips with a crushing kiss.

Keith’s whole body stilled with shock and disbelief. His mind barely registering the fact that Lance’s lips were forcing his own lips apart. Nor, did his mind want to accept the feeling of Lance’s tongue sliding into his mouth, laying claim.

‘This CAN’T be happening… it can’t… not Lance…’ Keith thought. Trying to convince himself, despite the sensations, mostly of pain, that rolled through his body, that this was nothing more then a nightmare.

‘Oh, but it is/’ A dark voice in the back of his mind taunted.

‘No…Lance wouldn’t… he’s my best friend…’ Keith told the voice.

‘He’s my best friend.’ The voice mocked sarcastically.

‘SHUT UP!’ Keith yelled at the annoying voice. He didn’t want to accept what was happening, what Lance was doing, for the moment he accepted it, it meant the destruction of the one thing he held dearest in his heart. His friendship with Lance. And once that was gone it would leave a gapping hole in his heart. It would tear away a piece of his soul.

After several minutes the kiss broke, both men gasping to catch their breath. Keith could see into Lance’s eyes. Wide, lust-filled brown eyes stared back at him and Keith felt a sharp pain tear through his heart as his mind accepted what was happening. He closed his eyes tightly to hold the tears, which burned in his eyes, at bay.

‘Told you so.’ The voice mocked with laughter.

Keith felt a moment of relief was Lance climbed off the bed. However the relief was short lived when Lance once again climbed back onto the bed, straddling Keith trapped body, only this time he held his pocketknife in his hand. Keith’s eyes widened as he stared at the silvery blade. The blade seemed to almost sparkle in the moonlight as Lance teasingly moved the knife back and forth over Keith.

Keith gasped as the blade tickled across his throat, the touch so feathery light that it didn’t leave so much as a mark. Lance grinned darkly as he traced the tip of the blade down over Keith’s muscular chest, coming to a stop at the waistband of boxer shorts. Keith stared at Lance with wide eyes, begging Lance to stop, to stop before things went too far. Lance smiled at the fear that was filled Keith’s eyes, taking sadistic pleasure in knowing he was the one that invoked that fear. Lance lifted the waistband of Keith’s boxer, sliding the knife under the thin material. Keith closed his eyes, breathing in quick gasps through his nose as he felt the smooth side of the blade rest against his skin for a moment.

“Open your eyes.” Lance demanded.

Slowly Keith obeyed the command, though refused to look at Lance.

“Watch what I do.” Lance commanded. His voice was like ice, firm and cold. When Keith didn’t immediately follow Lance’s command, Lance squeezed Keith’s thigh in a hard grip, hard enough to form an instant bruise. “I said watch.”

This time Keith’s eyes traveled down to look at what Lance was doing. Lance flicked the blade up, in a lightening fast movement, slicing the elastic band of the shorts. Lance slide the blade further down on the cotton material, and sliced it once again. Keith stifled back a gasp as the blade slide down, yet again, not able to help thinking how much damage a slip of the blade could inflict now. The movement of the knife paused for moment, and Keith prayed that Lance was reconsidering his actions, even though deep down he somehow knew this was far from being over. Lance flicked the knife once again, it was the same lightening fast movement, but this time there seemed to be more caution behind the action.

Lance shoved away the material, leaving Keith laying naked beneath him. In the same quick movement he used with the knife Lance’s hand moved to cup Keith’s velvety balls. “Mine.” Lance claimed possessively.

Keith blinked at Lance, even though he knew this was going to take a ‘sexual’ turn, it still came as a shock to him. Even though Lance always had a reputation of being very sexual active chasing after anything… and not just the females. Keith still couldn’t believe that Lance would go after him that way, they were best friends, had been best friends for years. There was no way Lance could keep it a secret that long, after all Lance was never able to keep anything a secret from him for long.

“I have wanted this for so long and now I am just going to take to it.” Lance said, as one of his hands slid between Keith’s legs, a single finger tracing Keith’s hole.

“Lance… don’t…. you can’t mean…” Keith stumbled over the words.

“Can’t mean what? That I want your body?” Lance asked. “I’ve wanted it for years and now I’m just going to take it.”

“Lance… please don’t do this.”

“You think you can just go flaunting yourself around in front of me and not pay?”

Keith opened his mouth to respond but before he could he felt one of Lance’s long fingers invade his body and all he could manage was a wounded groan.

“Damn you’re tight.” Lance said, though the soft was almost said more to himself then to Keith.

“Please don’t…” Keith begged. Though his pleas feel on deaf ears and Keith knew that, knowing that sent shudders through the young captain’s soul. ‘This has to be a spell of Haggar’s… Lance wouldn’t… he wouldn’t hurt me… Lance wouldn’t… wouldn’t r…rape me.’ Keith thought desperately, wishing he could believe that. Though, with each passing second it became harder and harder to believe that this was anything but Lance’s choice.

Keith groaned in pain as a second finger forcefully entered his body, in a cruel preparation for worse to come.

Lance pulled his fingers back. “Can’t you just keep quiet?” He questioned angrily. He knew the further things progressed the more noise Keith would undoubtedly make, and that noise may bring someone ‘coming to the rescue.’ Lance pulled away from Keith for a moment and found something to use as suitable gag. Keith winced as Lance tied the gag into a knot, tying a few strands of hair in as well.

“There.” Lance said triumphantly. “Now, you’ll be quiet.”

Keith just narrowed his eyes at Lance. A part of him wanted to strike out and kick Lance, but he knew if he did that it would only make things worse. Lance adjusted the pillow to behind Keith’s shoulder so that the dark haired man was up enough to watch all that was happening.

“Mmmm… so beautiful.” Lance whispered, as he brushed his fingers through the hair alongside Keith’s temples. “So beautiful and all mine.”

The only thing Lance regretted about gagging Keith was he could no longer lay claim to Keith’s, very kissable, lips. Lance dipped his head down, pressing hard, nipping kisses on Keith’s throat. Lance’s hands roamed all over Keith’s muscular body, taking great pleasure in the feel of the tremble flesh beneath his fingertips. Lance’s lips trailed down along Keith’s body, stopping just above one nipple. Lance lifted his head slightly, frowning to see that Keith was staring up at the ceiling and not watching.

Lance pinched the nipple harshly, rolling the little nub of flesh between his thumb and forefinger. “I told you to watch.”

Slowly Keith obeyed rolling his head down to watch what Lance was doing. He wished he didn’t have to watch, at least if he wasn’t looking he didn’t have to accept it was really his friend there doing these things to him.

Lance grinned, a toothy crocodile grin. He lowered his head once again and lapped his tongue over the abused nipple. He sucked the flesh until it hardened in his mouth. The almost gentle sensations quickly took a turn for the worse once again, Keith took a short, sharp breath through his nose as Lance bite down. The bite was hard enough to draw blood. Lance pulled his head back, a faint trace of blood on his lips. Lance didn’t even lick the wound to ease the sting of the bite before proceeding to the same thing to the other nipple.

Lance trailed kisses and nips down along Keith’s body pausing only when his lips reached their goal. Lance’s flicked out his tongue and ran it up along the entire length of Keith’s flaccid cock. Lance’s own cock already stood at full attention and was rock hard, not to mention demanding a release. Lance speed up his actions licking and sucking a Keith’s balls for what felt like hours to Keith, but in reality was only several minutes.

Lance smiled in satisfaction as Keith’s cock hardened into a partial erection. Lance took the hardening flesh into his mouth, sucking it as his fingers played with Keith’s balls. Keith’s frustrated groan was muffled by the gag as his body responded to the unwilling pleasure brought on by Lance’s talented hands and mouth. Lance grinned in satisfaction from around his mouthful as Keith’s hips bucked up against his mouth.

After several, long, agonizing minutes Keith’s body shuddered as he came hard. A soft, muffled cry could be hear from around the gag. Keith leaned his head back against the pillow, and the tears he had been trying so hard to hold at bay finally broke free, coursing their way down his cheeks.

Lance sat back, licking his lips. He didn’t seem to notice, or just didn’t care, that Keith was crying. “You taste even better then I thought you would.”

Lance changed his position slightly then dipped his head down once again. Lance’s head nestled between Keith’s legs, his tongue snaking out to lick Keith’s tight hole. His own saliva mixed with Keith’s seed was the only lubrication that Lance intended to use. Lance licked the surface of the tight hole, his tongue occasionally darting inside, invading Keith’s most private place.

Lance quickly sat back onto his knees, his erection was demanding a release and there was only one place he wanted to ‘release’ and that was inside Keith. He wanted to fuck Keith so bad that he didn’t want to waste time on preparation, or on the ‘little’ detail that Keith was not exactly willing. Lance hauled Keith’s legs up, leaving Keith’s ass exposed. Lance gripped Keith’s hips tightly as he positioned himself, his fingers held such a tight grip that finger shaped bruises were already beginning to appear.

Lance glanced down at Keith, wanting to see Keith’s black eyes as he forced himself upon Keith. But, Keith was laying with his eyes closed, not moving, seemingly not even breathing.

“Open your eyes.” Lance demanded.

Keith slowly shook his head. He didn’t want to see this happen. Feeling it was happening was bad enough, but he didn’t want to have to see Lance doing it. In his heart he felt if he saw Lance doing this it would destroy the last shred of their friendship. That was if anything was able to survive at all after this. That invisible line of ‘having gone to far’ had been passed long ago and Keith already doubted he could ever forgive Lance.

“Open your eyes.” Lance demanded again only this time his voice was more of a growl.

Again Keith shook his head, closing his eyes tighter.

“Open your damned eyes or I will use my knife to cut your eyes out and then you’ll never have to worry about opening them again.”

Slowly Keith opened his eyes not wanting to find out if the threat was serious. If circumstances had been different Keith would’ve laughed and told Lance that the threat he gave made him sound like Lotor.

Lance grinned wicked as he watched those black eyes carefully as he pushed the head of his erection against the tight hole. Keith took a deep breath through his nose, but before he could even brace for the pain Lance lunged forward. Keith’s eyes widened and his whole body trembled with pain as the length of Lance’s erection became embedded into his ass. Fresh tears swam in Keith’s eyes as the intense pain clung to his body, he was sure he had felt something tear deep within him. Lance pulled back and rammed himself forward again… over and over again. He pounded himself into Keith’s inanimate body.

Lance bit his bottom lip, hard enough to draw a faint trace of blood, to keep from screaming in pure pleasure as he came deep within Keith. As Lance pulled out Keith could feel warm blood and hot cum trailing along his ass and thighs.

Lance dropped down on the bed beside Keith, his head resting against Keith’s chest as he tried to catch his breath. It was then that Lance’s world began to crumble around him… as he felt as though he was just awakening from a horrible nightmare.

Lance laid perfectly still for a moment, hoping this was still part of that nightmare. Hoping that the trembling body beneath him was not his best friend… or at least not the man who had been his best friend. Lance raised his head slowly and looked at Keith. Looked into the wide, tear filled and wounded black eyes. The reality of everything stabbed Lance through the heart like a dagger heated by hell’s flame. Lance scrambled to sit up.

“Keith… I… I… oh, God… I never… I wouldn’t…” Lance stammered. He couldn’t find the words to say, knew there wasn’t words that could be said. “I would never mean to hurt you…”

A dark voice seemed to taunt Lance. ‘But you did hurt him. And hurt him in the worst possible way.’

Lance tried to shake the voice from his thoughts, even though the voice had only told the truth. “I would rather die then hurt you.”

Keith turned his head away. Even though this sounded more like the Lance he knew he didn’t believe the words that were being said… his mind barely even registered what the words even were.

Lance moved to untie the knot of the gag, his hands trembling so badly that the knot was impossible to undo. He noticed his pocketknife on the nightstand and grabbed it. Lance moved to cut the fabric of the gag away, but the look in Keith’s eyes stopped him. Keith’s eyes were wide and frightened and held no trust for Lance to cut the gag away without causing him more pain. Lance set the knife back down and moved to undo the belt that held Keith’s hands trapped.

The belt had left bright red marks on Keith’s wrists, though fortunately the belt had been soft and didn’t cut Keith’s flesh. Keith’s arms felt like led weights as he tried to move them. He tried to remove the gag, but to no avail, the knot was far too secure. He grabbed the knife and cut the fabric away, almost cutting himself in the process. Keith yanked the gag away, not even flinching as it took hair with it.

“Keith… I….” Lance started but was cut off by Keith.

“Shut up.” Keith mumbled, as he stumbled off the bed. He collapsed to his knees.

Lance reached out to gently touch Keith’s shoulder. A gesture in the past that was one of support, a lending of strength, but now all it did was cause more pain.

“Don’t touch me… don’t ever touch me again.” Keith cried, and Lance instantly pulled his hand away.

Keith pulled himself to his feet and stumbled as he blindly made his way over to his dresser. He fumbled through the drawers to get a pair of light gray, with a red stripe along the side of leg, sweat pants. Keith stumbled to the door, he didn’t know where he was headed all he knew is he wanted to get away from Lance. Keith stumbled out the door, leaving a very shaken Lance sitting on the bed.

Keith stumbled along the hallways, moving as quickly as he could, wanting to get as far away from Lance as he could. Suddenly, Keith connected with something big and solid, something that was very much alive. A startled scream locked in Keith’s throat. He was afraid it was Lance, that Lance had somehow gotten in front of him… or just someone else who wished to do him harm.

“Keith?” a heavily accented voice questioned.

Keith stilled for a second he glanced up for a moment, looking at the dark haired man. The concern he could see etched in Sven’s azure eyes was enough to finish Keith, and more tears began to course their way down his cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” Sven asked concernedly, in all the time he had known Keith he had never seen him this upset.

“Lance….” Keith started to say, his voice trembling.

“What about Lance? Is he hurt? Were you both attacked?”

Keith shook his head, his lips moved wordlessly for a moment. “He… he attacked….me… he r..ra…raped….”

Sven’s eyes widened in surprise, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t believe that Lance would ever do anything to harm Keith. But from how Keith looked it was obvious he had been attacked, and Keith wouldn’t lie about it being Lance. Sven carefully slide his arms around Keith and drew the younger man towards himself. At first Keith resisted then gave in to, he wrapped his arms around Sven and buried his head against Sven’s chest, breaking down in soundless sobs. Ever since Keith had known Sven they had always been close, in fact Keith always thought of Sven as kind of an older brother since Sven was three years older then him.

“Sh, I’ll take you to see Dr…”

“No… no… I don’t want…. I don’t want everyone to know…”

“The bruises on your face will be hard to hide.” Sven reasoned.

“Not that… I mean….”

Realization dawned on Sven. “You don’t want everyone to know you was raped.”

Keith nodded slightly. He hugged on tighter to Sven hoping that simple act could just make the nightmare go away.

“I will help you get cleaned up then we will see about dealing with this. Okay?”

Keith nodded limply and allowed Sven to lead him away down the hall.

It was just barely after dawn and the entire Voltron force, as well as Allura and Coran, all sat around the long table in the conference room.

Lance sat at the far end, as far away from everyone, especially Keith, as he could get. The young space pilot wished he could just curl up in a corner somewhere and die for he had nothing left to live for. His whole life had been destroyed when he committed such a barbaric act, did the one thing he would never want to do – hurt Keith.

Keith was sitting quietly next to Sven, for some reason his oldest friend was the only person he felt safe to be near right now and was leaning heavily on his friend for support. He felt a little better after a very long, hot shower and putting on a fresh change of clothes. The sweat suit he wore now was actually one of Sven’s, and was at least one size to big, which were far more comfortable then his own jogging pants. Keith barely said anything, leaving Sven to explain what Keith had told him before, or at least what Keith was willing to allow everyone to know. Even the times the Voltron captain did speak his voice was a barely audible whisper and Sven would have to repeat what Keith had said. Lance didn’t speak a single word in his own defense, after all he had no defense he had all that was being said and so much more.

“I just don’t believe it.” Hunk said. Even though everything that had been said was obviously true, the large bruise on the side of Keith’s face and Lance and Keith silence were all the proof needed to prove it was true.

“I do.” Allura said with so much convection everyone stared at her in surprise. Allura blushed slightly. “I mean… Lance never follows orders he is always giving Keith a hard time.”

“That’s just the way Lance is.” Pidge piped up. Up until now the youngest member of the team had been quiet as he tried to make sense of all that was being said. Even though he no doubt this attack took place he was positive this had nothing to do with Lance’s past behavior. “He don’t mean no harm… when he does that, that is.”

“Well, obviously last night he meant harm.” Allura said.

“For now we can lock Lance in one of the cells in the dungeon, while he awaits a trial.” Coran stated.

“Who cares about a trial?” Lance mumbled. “I did it and I should be executed right here and now. “

Everyone was quiet for a moment, not knowing how to react to Lance’s sudden outburst.

“This has to be a spell of Haggar’s.” Hunk stated, as though nobody else had even thought of that. He looked at Lance. “Nobody is going to kill you because of a spell that wicked old witch cast.”

“Why would she want to cast a spell to make Lance hurt Keith?” Allura questioned.

“Because of the disruption it’s causing.” Pidge replied to the princess’s question. “If there was an attack now…”

Hunk cut Pidge’s sentence off. “Don’t even say it.”

Everyone knew it didn’t need to be said, the consequences of an attack right now were well known by everyone in the room. And they all knew that saying it would be like inviting trouble.

“Until we can learn the cause of this attack, I think our best course of action will be to lock Lance in a cell, for everyone’s protection.” Coran said, speaking as though Lance was not sitting in the same room. “We do not know if the effects of the spell have worn off completely or if he will attack again.”

‘And just who would I attack? I attacked the only person that matters to me already…’ Lance thought to himself.

“Hunk. Pidge. Would you escort Lance down to a cell?” Coran asked.

They both nodded and stood up. They approached Lance with caution, almost afraid he would attack them, or at least try to escape.

Lance slowly stood up from his chair, his eyes cast down on the floor. He didn’t look at Keith as he walked past the dark haired man, not wanting to see the pain and anguish in Keith’s black eyes.

After Lance had been taken from the room Sven guided Keith out. They paused before the door to Keith’s room.

Keith shuddered and took a step back from the door. “I… I can’t go back in there. I just can’t, Sven.”

“S’okay, you don’t have to then.” Sven told him as he guided Keith away from the door.

Back in Haggar’s lab…

The old witch ginned in satisfaction to see her spell had done its job. The beauty of love Lance had for Keith was gone. The beauty of their friendship, destroyed. Haggar laughed, a cold evil laughed, as she looked at the two devastated souls in her crystal. With the two members of Voltron force so spiritually destroyed throwing the rest of the team into chaos, there would be no trouble in destroying Voltron once and for all.

A few minutes later Keith was sleeping soundly on Sven bed, with the aid of a mild sedative the doctor had given Sven for Keith.

Sven stood back, silently watching Keith sleep. He had known Keith for so many years that he no longer even remembered how long he had known him, and ever since he had first met him Keith had always been like the brother he never had. And during the time he known Lance he had became close friends with him as well. He couldn’t stand to see two people he cared so deeply about suffering the way they were. He decided he had to do something to reverse the evil spell that Haggar had cast.

Leaving Keith asleep on the bed, knowing Keith would be asleep for hours, Sven slipped undetected out of the castle. He had heard rumours that the old women who lived on the north side of the lake had magickal powers and prayed that she could help them.

The beauty of the morning went unnoticed by Sven as he made his way quickly to the small cabin. He pounded insistently upon the door.

An old woman wearing a dark blue cloak answered the door. “Can I help you young man?”

‘I sure hope so.’ Sven thought to himself before answering her question. “Are the rumours that you have magickal powers true?”

“Is that anyway to greet someone?” she questioned with a smile. “An introduction before asking such a question would be nice.”

Sven extended a hand to the old women. “Sven.”

“Andariel.” she said, accepting his hand in a firm handshake. “And, yes those rumours are true.”

Sven breathed a sigh of relief. “I…” he started to say but Andariel cut his sentence short.

“I know why you are here, you need my help to save your friends.”

“How did you know?”

“I could feel your soul crying out for the help when we shook hands.”

“Oh…”

“Come inside young one.” Andariel stepped to one side allowing Sven to enter the cabin. “I believe I know of a potion that will be able to help your friends. I just pray that my magick along with the strength in your friend’s soul is enough to counteract the evil of the spell that was cast upon him.”

Sven looked around the cabin as Andariel made her way to her small alter. As she began to chant, in a language Sven had never before heard, his attention was drawn to what the old woman was doing. He couldn’t see what all she was mixing her cauldron, and wondered if he even did want to know. The only words she spoke, that he recognized were at the end,

“…so mote it be.”

Andariel turned and handed Sven a vial that contained a glowing blue liquid.

“What is it?’ Sven asked cautiously as he held the vial up to look at it.

“It is a potion to keep your friend safe, to keep the evil spell from invading his thoughts and actions.”

“But… it’s a little too late for that.” Sven said sadly. “The damage has already been done.”

Andariel smiled and shook her head. “No, my young friend, at the time you give him this potion the damage will not yet have happened.”

“What? How is that possible?”

Andariel held up a card that portrayed a cloaked figure hold a clock. “It is a time card. It’s one of the few that still exist. It can only be used this once.”

“And you’d use it to help me?”

Andariel smiled, a smile that made her look years younger. “Yes, because you and your friends are destined for greater things.”

Sven open his mouth to asked what she meant but Andariel continued before he could even speak.

“You must get your friend to take this before the tragedy occurs. I can only send you back to one hour before it happened… the rest will be up to you.”

Andariel chatted a few words, again in a language that Sven did not recognize. Colours of many shades, some he could not even begin to describe swirled around him, dancing to an unheard tune.

The next thing he knew he was standing alone in his dark room.

“Now how am I supposed to get Lance to take this?” Sven asked himself in a whisper.

He remembered that Keith, Lance and Allura had all still been outside when he had gone to bed. Sven hurried outside, praying that’s where Lance still was.

“Sven, what are you doing back out here? I though you’d be sound asleep by now.” Keith said as Sven burst out into the garden.

Sven glanced at Keith, seeing Keith’s face free of any bruising, his black eyes sparkled with life. Sven couldn’t help but smile to see his dearest friend was okay.

“Is something the matter?” Keith asked after Sven had been silent for a few moments.

“No… yes… it’s complicated.” Sven said, glancing back and forth between Keith and Lance.

“How so?” Lance asked, approaching where Sven stood.

“It is what will happen if you don’t take this.” Sven held the vial out to Lance.

Lance regarded the vial with curiosity and mild trepidation. “And why would I want to take that?”

“Because believe me… you’ll like it far better then the consequences.”

“Oh?” Lance question, there was note of anger in his voice. “And just what will you do to me if I don’t?”

“It’s not what I’ll do if you don’t… it’s what you’ll do.”

Keith moved from where he sat to stand by his two friends, leaving Allura sitting alone and very confused.

“Why does he have to take it? Just what is it you think he’ll do?” Keith asked.

“It’s best you don’t know.” Sven said. “Please take it, Lance.”

“You still haven’t told us why. Or how you know what will happen if I don’t take that… that stuff.” Lance said.

“I have seen the what will happened. A spell of Haggar’s….”

“Is the princesses in danger?’ Keith asked glancing back at where Allura sat.

Sven shook his head, he leaned in closer to Lance and whispered in Lance’s ear. “If you don’t you’ll ‘hurt’ Keith.”

Lance’s eyes widened slightly at the words. He couldn’t believe that any spell of Haggar’s could possibly make him hurt Keith… but at the same time he didn’t want to take any chances. Lance took the vial from Sven.

“What?” Keith questioned, looking at his two friends. He knew whatever Sven had just told Lance had made up Lance’s mind.

“Don’t worry about it.” Sven said.

Lance removed the cap from the vial and drank the contents in one big gulp. He was surprised at how sweet the liquid taste. For a moment he felt no different then he had before, then lights began to flash in front of his eyes and the world around him began to spin. Before anyone had a chance to react Lance crumbled to the ground.

“Just what was in that?” Keith questioned, as he quickly dropped down by his best friend’s side.

“Salvation.” Sven whispered.

Keith gathered Lance into his arms, as he knelt on the ground next to him. “Are you okay?”

Lance opened his eyes part way. “I’ll okay as long as you’re okay.”

“What do you mean?”

Lance smiled at Keith. He raised his right arm, despite how heavy it felt and brushed his fingertips over Keith’s cheek. “I love you, Keith.” Lance whispered.

“I love you too, buddy, you’re my best friend.”

“I don’t mean that kind of love… I mean ‘love’.” Lance whispered before dropping into unconsciousness.

Keith blinked as he looked down at his friend. Lance’s confession of love startled him. No one had ever told him that they ‘loved’ him, or at least not such a serious confession. Many of the women he had slept with in the past had said they loved him but the words had always been glib. Keith didn’t know how to react to the confession. Nor did the young captain know the extent of his own feelings towards Lance. Though he knew that he wanted to find out. He knew if there was nothing more then feelings of friendship and brotherly love that it would leave their friendship unchanged. Keith hugged Lance closer and sat silently as he waited for Lance to wake up again – he somehow knew there was nothing about Lance’s unconscious state to worry about.

Sven stepped back smiling to see that Andariel’s magick had worked against Haggar’s. And that at least one good thing may come out of the terrible events that had transpired… Keith and Lance might at long last find love.

Haggar howled with fury as the image faded from her crystal. Only one image remained… an image of Sven.

“Damn him for his interference.” Haggar said, her voice was almost a growl. “He shall pay… pay dearly for what daring to interfere with my spell.”

Haggar stormed away from the crystal as she began to imagine all the ways she could make the blue lion pilot pay for what he did. All the ways she could destroy him… make him wish he had just let his friends suffer in agony before their inevitable death.

~ The End ~