Requested by ForeverKikicarpenter

What had happened to the lights?

Why couldn't Lance see his surroundings?

Where was he? Was he...? Yes. He remembered now - he was in galra hands now.

But why couldn't he see? He could feel his eyelids opening and closing, but... He couldn't see.

"Hello?" He asked quietly. There was no response, nor was there an echo. He must have been in a small space, then.

Over the next few days, he had some food brought to him and fed to him by silent pairs of hands. He didn't ask questions and his helper didn't offer any answers.

It had been awhile now, and while he hadn't gotten used to his lack of sight, he was adjusting. He could manage. Sometimes, he felt over his eyes, attempting to figure out what happened. He felt scars there, slight indents in his skin that told him enough that he was terrified. Terrified of what his team would say, what they would do now that he couldn't see to fight.

He didn't want to think about that, but without visuals to distract himself, he was left with nothing to do but think.

That was, of course, until Haggar started visiting him.

Every day, she would blast him over and over and ask him questions about the paladins. She wanted him to turn on his team, but he wouldn't. He just wouldn't.

So he would wake up in complete darkness, pain rooted deep in his chest, and cry. He would weep silently until all of his pain had gone away, and he was all cried out. Then he would sit and listen.

He had begun to time the sentries rotation timing. He was unsure of himself, but if it was a chance to escape, it was worth using his energy to memorize.

Eventually he could tell exactly when sentries would come around. He could hear their mechanical, robotic footsteps outside his door every day.

He was ready to escape, and soon. It would be hard, especially because of his status as a paladin. But he couldn't stay trapped here any longer.

So he decided to run the next time Haggar came to interrogate him. He would run, hopefully faster than her and her guards, and get out.

The only major flaw to his plan was that someone beat him to it - or so he thought.

He heard running footsteps, about four pairs. That seemed like a prisoner being chased by Haggar and the two guards always by her side.

But then someone started to cut through the door to his cell. He heard the scraping of metal against metal as someone cut a hole in the door.

He cowered back, realizing who the four pairs of footsteps really belonged to. His team.

But he didn't want them to see him like this! He... They would hate him. He wouldn't be able to fight, or see where they were going. He wouldn't be able to help them fight the galra anymore.

He hid in the corner next to the door. If all they did was look inside, maybe they wouldn't see him.

"Lance? Lance, oh my God! We found you!" It was Keith's voice that told him they had seen him. Luckily, they hadn't seen his eyes yet...

"K-keith..." Lance couldn't contain his sob. They were going to hate him as soon as he lowered his hands, then they would see his eyes...

"Lance, are you okay? Well, I know you're not, but did something happen to your eyes?" Why was Pidge so goddamn perceptive. Lance shook his head.

"N-no... They're fine..." There was an awkward silence, then a large warm hand rested on his arm.

"I know what you sound like when you lie, Lance. You're my best friend in the world. Please, just show us what's wrong." He didn't understand. When he saw it, he'd take it back. Nobody would want to be Lance's friend anymore.

Slowly, Lance lowered his hands, earning a gasp from Hunk. He wrapped him in a big hug.

"What's going on? We need to go before we're discovered." Shiro, the voice of reason, had apparently not seen Lance's eyes. If he had, he wouldn't want to take Lance with him.

Hunk released him his hug and helped him stand up. Shiro and Pidge gasped and Keith wrapped him in a tight hug.

"What did they do to you?" The red paladin whispered. Lance started to shake.

"Y-you don't hate me?" He asked, tears starting to stream down his face.

"Why would I ever hate you?!"

"Because... I'm weak, and u-useless..."

Shiro and Pidge joined the hug circle.

"We all love you Lance. You're not weak, you're perfect." Hunk whispered. Lance smiled despite the tears.

"Th-thanks..."