"What in the world was I thinking? Why did I ask Lance to hold onto that painting?" Keith was laying on the bed, staring at up the ceiling. He knew he should be getting ready for the party but it was still a few hours away. He had time. "I mean, he's a complete stranger. Why did I trust him with something so precious to me?"

He covered his face with his hands. "He was so nice though. It just felt so nice talking to him, I wanted to see him again." Keith moved his from in front of his face to his cheeks. "What am I saying? I love Sven but I want to see Lance again. Is that wrong?"

There was a knock at the door. Keith turned his head towards it. "Come in." The door opened and Pidge came in. "Hi Pidge."

Pidge walked over beside the bed. He titled his head and looked down at Keith. "Aren't you supposed to be getting dressed?"

"I will." Keith sighed and looked back at the ceiling. "I just wanted a little time to myself first."

"I understand." Pidge nodded his head and moved to sit at the foot of the bed. "You feel like talking?"

Keith sat up and looked at Pidge. "Are you nervous about tonight?"

"No, why?"

"I am. I mean this all so...I..." Keith's eyes dropped to the floor. His fingers traced idle patterns on the bedcovers. "I don't know if all of this was such a good idea. I know we can't keep doing what we've been doing but it just doesn't feel right."

"Keith you shouldn't worry so much." Pidge patted Keith's foot softly. "Sven has always looked out for our best interests."

"I know." Keith looked back up at Pidge. "It's strange but you're the only one who talks me. Romelle just teases me and Hunk doesn't really talk to anyone. Why?"

Pidge smiled and stood up. He went to stand beside where Keith was sitting on the bed. He leaned in until his face was a mere inch away from Keith's. "You want to know why? Mainly because we both needed a friend." Then he gave Keith a quick kiss on the lips. "The fact that you're so cute was a plus." He smiled and headed for the door. "See you later."

Keith stared blankly at the door. What had just happened? "He kissed me," he whispered. He fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He was in shock. "Pidge kissed me. He kissed me and he thinks I'm cute. Oh man."

Keith stared up at the ceiling. This was just getting so weird. His life was becoming so complicated. First there was the thing with Lance, then Sven had asked him to seduce someone and now there was Pidge. It was too much. He rolled over onto his stomach. "What am I going to do? This is so strange. Why is all this going on now?"

The party was going exactly how Sven wanted it to. Those fools from the Alliance actually thought they were going to catch him. They didn't have a chance. He looked slowly around the room. He spotted Romelle flirting with one of the undercover agents. Oh if only you knew who you were flirting with Romelle.

He spotted Hunk and Pidge across the room. Good, Sven thought, now to start laying down the groundwork for my little trap. He walked over to the couch where Keith was sitting. "I think it's about time for me to introduce you to some people."

Keith looked up at Sven nervously. "Are you sure?"

"Have I ever lead you wrong?"

Taking deep breath, Keith stood up. "Okay. I'm ready."

Sven smiled and glanced around the room, pretending to be looking for the person he was going to introduce Keith to. He's so very trusting. One of the few things I may actually miss about him. "There he is. Now remember what I told you to do."

"Of course. I promise to do my best."

"You'll do fine." Sven lead Keith across the room to where Lance and Lotor were standing. Now he was going to give one of his greatest performances yet. "Lotor, my dear friend. I'm so glad you could make it to the party."

Lotor shook Sven's outstretched hand. "As if I would even consider missing it." He turned to Lance standing by his side. "Have you had an opportunity to meet my cousins? This is Lance. Allura is around here somewhere." Lotor began to look around for her.

Sven clapped a hand on Lotor's shoulder. "There's time for me to meet her later. Let her enjoy the party."

Lotor's gaze fell on the young man standing behind Sven. He appeared to be very nervous. I wonder why? He shook his finger at Sven. "Where are your manners Sven? Who's this hiding behind you?"

The mice were sniffing at the bait. Good. "I'm sorry. Where is my head at? Well this is a relative of mine. You know, why don't I let him introduce himself?"

Keith swallowed nervously. This was it. He wasn't sure which one Sven wanted him to target yet but he was sure Sven would tell him soon. He put on one of his best smiles and stepped forward. "My name's Keith. It's a pleasure to meet one of Sven's friends."

"The pleasure is mine."

"I just remembered something I wanted to discuss with you Lotor. Why don't we leave these two get acquainted while we talk?" As he led Lotor away to talk privately, Sven spoke to Keith over his shoulder. "Now remember to be nice to Lance now."

Keith blinked in surprise. Lance was the one? How could this be any worse? He turned to face Lance. "Quite a surprise isn't it?"

"I would say so." Lance glanced over in the direction Sven and Lotor had gone. They didn't appear to be paying them any attention. He leaned back against the wall. "So did you many questions about the rose?"

"Ummm," Keith rubbed his nose nervously, "no questions, not really anyway." Not that he would admit the truth. He remembered how Lance had given him the rose in the first place.

Lance looked at Keith strangely. "You want me to what?"

"I want you to hold this painting for me." Keith held his breath. He couldn't really take this painting back home. If Sven saw it he would make sure it was destroyed. Actually Sven thought this particular painting had been destroyed all those years ago.

"I don't know. It just doesn't seem right."

"Won't you please consider it?"

Man he sounds desperate. Lance looks around. Suddenly he got an idea. "Okay I'll take it." Keith breathed a sigh of relief. "In return you," he walked over to a nearby bush and plucked a flower, "have to take this. Deal?"

Keith stared at the rose. Lance was giving this to him? He gave Lance a small smile. "Deal."

"This party of Sven's is very...interesting."

Keith chuckled. "I'll agree with that. I don't think I know even half of the people here."

Oh how very interesting. Lance decided it might be good to pump Keith for information. He feels comfortable talking to me. It couldn't hurt to try at least. "Really? I find that hard to believe."

"I don't go out much so I don't meet many people." Keith leaned back against the wall next to Lance. "When I was younger Sven and I moved around a lot. It was just easier to stay by myself."

Lance glanced over at Keith. "Have you known Sven for a long time?"

Keith looked at Lance out of the corner of his eye. "I've known him most of my life."

Lance looked around the room. The party appeared to be finally winding down. Most of the guests had left. Those remaining looked to be getting ready to depart as well. Lotor had somehow managed to get Sven to invite them to spend the night. He was tired and wanted to sleep. Keith had disappeared sometime earlier. Lance had no idea where he had gone to.

"You look tired. Do you want to head to your room now?"

Lance blinked at Romelle. Where had she popped up from? Hadn't she just been talking to Allura? "Yeah, well I am kind of tired. Do you know where it is?"

"Yes of course." Romelle turned away from him and started to walk out of the room. "Follow me."

Lance followed Romelle out of the room. They went upstairs and she lead him down a hallway. Romelle stopped beside a room. "This is your room. Sleep well."

"Thank you." Real nice girl, Lance thought. He opened the door and went into the room. The lights were out. His hand slid around the wall searching for a light switch. "Man this room is dark. Where's the light?"

A match was struck in the darkness. The flame moved towards a candle next to the bed. Once the candle was lit, the figure on the bed turned to face the door. "Is this better?"

Lance stared at them in shock. He couldn't believe his eyes. This couldn't be happening. He was the last person Lance expected to find in his bed. "Keith? What are you doing here?"

Sven stood beside the window, staring out into the night. He turned around to face the person standing by the door. "Hunk, I want you to deal with Romelle. She's become a nuisance."

Hunk felt like jumping for joy when he heard Sven say those words. It was a dream come true. Romelle would finally be getting what she deserved.

"Is there any particular way you want her dealt with?"

Sven turned to face the window again. He crossed his hands behind his back. "I want her out of the way in four days." He uncrossed his hands and looked at Hunk over his shoulder. "Make it as painful as you can."

"It will be my pleasure Sven." Hunk smiled and headed out of the door.

Once Hunk had left, Sven moved from the window to sit on the edge of his bed. His next visitor needed a slightly different approach. He waited in silence for the door to his room to open again. He didn't have to wait for long. A soft knock preceded Romelle's entrance. She closed the door quietly behind her.

Romelle smiled when she spotted Sven on the bed. She walked towards him and stopped by his feet. She kneeled down, placing one hand on his knee. "You wanted to see me Sven?"

Sven resisted the urge to move Romelle's hand off of his knee. He wanted to use her obsession against her. Shoving her away wouldn't help. He placed his hand over hers, giving her a gentle smile. "Romelle, there's something I want you to do. Hunk's time with our little group is at an end. I want you to give him his walking papers."

Romelle's smile grew wider. Sven was asking her to kill Hunk. She would enjoy getting rid of that infuriating man. Soon she would have everything she ever wanted. "With pleasure. May I ask when?"

Cupping his other hand under Romelle's chin, Sven leaned in closer, lifting her face. "In four days. I want you to make sure he feels all the pain this decision is causing me." Then he gave her a brief kiss.

Romelle closed her eyes dreamily. This was wonderful. Soon she would be where she deserved to be. Opening her eyes, she rose slowly to her feet. "I'll get to work on it right away. You can be sure of that." She drifted out of the room. Either thinking of the various ways she could get rid of Hunk or of what she was going to do once he was dead.

Sven waited for the door to close because he wiped his lips. He shuddered in disgust. That woman revolted him, but to get her to do what he wanted he had to play up to her fantasies.

Sven chuckled quietly to himself. Those fools. They would destroy each other for him. His little pawn was probably sleeping with the enemy by now. His little traitor? Pidge would be dealt with personally. It was all starting to fall in place. Soon he would be free to continue his plans.

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