As the realization hit him, made him look around. Yet even as he tried to find Keith he was not there. His gut felt queasy and he felt worried sickly now for Keith. After all, he had been one of the people who had been there for him, even when he had been not been physically.

"Um...Keith he...Where is he?" His voice held urgency and this made Lance explain that Keith ended up following Lotor's ship.

This made him fear what would happen to Keith and he worried sickly for the other. This really was not something that he liked at all and he could just hope that he would come back. Hopefully it would be with Shiro.

"I do have to wonder how this virus ended up in the ship?" Allura asked and he winced at this. His body shuffled closer to Wally and his mouth felt dried suddenly.

"I- Well I do kno-know ba-but um..."

"Dickie bird come on we won't be mad at you. Wasn't your fault surely." Wally reassured and he felt his cheeks heat up slightly.

"Well Shi-Shi's robo arm wou-would be at fau-fault for this..." His voice softly answered but he knew that they would want to know how he knew. This was why he mumbled softly the answer that he had been the one who made it.

Everyone stared at him at this but Pidge, Coran, and Wally looked interested more then surprised. It was making him fidget and he knew he would have to explain more. It was not easy but he came not too far as it was Allura who pointed out that they would need to destroy the essence field or else they would be even more screwed.

Allura seemed to be tense and he knew why. The female seemed to feel conflicted and he could just guess that Lotor has charmed her. Making him softly try to make her feel better. It had worked a bit and he was glad to see that he made her have a little smile.

That he ended up making Allura smile made him feel better too. It made him feel less like he had done something wrong. The thing was that he still had done things when being with Lotor and he could never change this.

But he also knew that he couldn't had done anything else as he did got forced to help out. But soon his thoughts were disrupted by someone calling on his mind. The voice sounded female and soothing. It was wanting him to go somewhere.

"Um ca-can you ha-hear this?" He couldn't help but ask but it was apparent that he was the only one that could hear this strange voice. A thing that was making him nervous.

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Richard had not even realized that he walked somewhere, and even as he realized he just continued to walk towards a direction. There was no one that managed to make him stop not even Wally who called out for him to ask where he was going.

He continued his walk. But soon he ended up in a familiar ship that he had seen before....the blue lion. Why he was there he had no idea and he was puzzled about the calling that he had heard on his mind.

"Why are we here and how did you know about this place, Richard?" The tone of Wally was pure astonishment and he glanced at the other and then shrugging as he couldn't know himself why he was here.

"Da-Did you ca-call me here, buddy?" He mumbled softly and slowly approaching. It was just that he couldn't help himself. As he was in front of the lion and putting his hand on top of the head it activated with a roar.

A shiver went through him at the feeling of belonging that he got now that it activated. His eyes were wide and he swallowed as he felt that this meant that he was the chosen one. He could hear blue tell him that he was now the blue Paladin but he came not too far as he heard Wally say something.

"Well guess I got my answers why you went here, you got called by her didn't you?"

"Mhm ya dun know why though..." He shyly answered and giving the robot a timid smile. He couldn't even register what was happening afterwards in his daze.

First he got put into an armor and soon a bayard was put into his hands. His gaze went over to Wally who gave him a heated look. It made him feel his cheeks heat up and it was not helping that the older of the two said that he found that he looked hot in an armor.

"But why me?" He blurted now out. It was now that he was really realizing what had happened and he could feel his insecurities come back with this.

"She must know that you needed a purpose and I know like you do that you are still not saying what is bothering you. Meaning that you felt like you aren't a hero anymore which isn't true. And your perfect for the blue lion." Wally gave him a sincere and soft look with a hair ruffle.

It made his heart flutter, his stomach feeling the butterflies and his face felt even more heating up after that was said. Because it was true and he should have know that Wally would realize this as the male knew him since they were 9. It shouldn't be surprising that the other would know about this.

"Well we better get going now or else Lotor could be here at any moment." Allura said and Wally gave a kiss on his temples. Then he was picked up and soon he found himself into the cockpit of the lion, but not without his best friend wishing him good luck. Maybe he should call him now boyfriend, lover even maybe? He wasn't sure and he would have ask what Wally and him were like. But this was for later as he knew he had to concentrate on this. His gaze looked around and he felt nervous. As it looked way different then to what he was used to fly.

Richard closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting his instincts taking over.

"Okay I can do this." He mumbled nervously.

After he said this he felt suddenly like he knew what to do. It was as if his instincts were telling how to do things. This was the first time since ages that he felt confident. He felt none of the insecurities. It was as if that part never had been with him and he knew it had to do with the lion choosing him.

It felt like he was hugged by someone and making him feel comfortable.

"Guessing you try to tell me that we are partners and that you will be there for me, huh?" He softly said as feeling his lips twitch up at the purr that he heard on his mind.

"Well I will try my very best to make sure that we both survive this." It was a promise that he would make sure to hold on to. Blue was now a part of his life as anyone in his life he won't let anything happen to her.

A heavy sigh went out as he started to be now in front of what they were planning to destroy. He was starting to feel on edge but the blue lion helped to sooth a little bit of his anxious feelings that he got right now.

'Okay come on you can trust them...' He thought and taking a deep breath. He knew he had to trust these people and Wally was trusting them. The only one who he knew semi well were Lance and Keith. And the only one here right now was Lance and he could try and trust them.

"You sure about this?" Lance voice cut through his thoughts and he couldn't help but scowl at this.

"Let's just destroy this and get this over with. He did lie to you guys and you can get back for lying to you all." He answered grumply and on his mind he added to get back for all the pain the bastard had not just caused him but countless others.

He took another breath as he started to look at the gate that Lotor could never get or god knows what this bastard would do. His hands shook slightly and when they counted down and when it was down to zero he pushed and awed at the power beam that was shot out.

As he stopped shooting he could help himself but say out loud how badass this was and obviously Lance agreed with him. It made his lips twitch up and he really found himself in his element.

"Guys Lotor is here any seconds what's the plan?" Pidge voice cut through and he wondered this too. Had they even a plan? Oh god he hoped they had or else they would be so screwed. His body shivered out of fear of the people he cared of being caught and used once again by Lotor. But not just them but himself as well.

"Well we don't have the black lion to form Voltron and we are lucky that the castle of lions is active, by the way thanks Dick. So, we just have to wing it." Lance voice made him feel his lips shyly twitch up as he felt the fuzzy and warmth spread through it. He also could feel a slight heat on his cheeks.

"It-It was no problem...So uh I was wondering how do we form Voltron? I-Well ya know with me never have flown something like this." He could feel his nervousness grow again and couldn't help but had to ask this. It was important or else it would not have been going well.

"Okay, that makes sense. Just follow our lead and trust us, okay?" This time it was Hunk who had soothing tone to probably reassure him.

They were all kind and this kindness surprised him, as he was still not used to this. Their kindness was something that was genuine and not like it had been with Lotor. It made him feel the same warmth from before. It was a thing that made him know why Wally trusted them. But would he be able to trust them?

Yes he had to or else all would be going badly and the fear to make Lotor get them and force them like he had once made him feel a determination. He would not let this person any longer harm anyone, even when it would kill him.

"Well I can try, but...." He trailed off as taking a deep breath. It was obvious that what he was trying to tell.

"Like with what happened to me and it's not really easy to trust you guys. Not all as I know Lance and Keith and Lancy ba-but um..." He soon snapped his mouth closed, realizing that he had rambled and feeling his cheeks flush once again.

"Hey Dickie bird, I know it's hard and your anxious and all but I am certain that you will do great and kick Lotor's ass." Wally's tone was reassuring, soothing and a kindness that made his heart skip a beat. He could feel his lips even smile more at the last part.

"Oki Walls will try..." His voice was timidly said and he slipped slightly into his younger age. Luckily he realized this and managed to pull himself out before he got deeper in his child's mindset.

"Back to the topic.

"The last time we fought Lotor, we had five ships and Lotor had two, and he still kicked our butts. This time he's gonna have three ships, and we only have four and the castle. Does- Does anyone see where I am going with this?"

"Zip it Hunk, no one's interested in your math equations. Especially the once that add us in taking a beating."

"Lance snapping at Hunk won't change the fact that he pointed out a good point. I know for a fact that Lotor is an amazing flyer but also we have advantage."

"Like who? You said it yourself Richard that I have pointed out a good point."

"Well you have me. I was trained both flying, combat and I had been getting him more then once when training. He won't expect me to join and fight against the person I once had been forced called Master." His voice showed that he was confident about this and he was sure that he could do this.

Then a rapid beeping and red lighting were suddenly starting and making him know that they arrived. Three red dots appeared and his body tensed. They are here and he was pretty sure that it will end up in a fight.

"Sorry guys to interrupt but we got inoming."

"Guy's they're here."

He puffed his cheeks out and wanted almost say no shit Sherlock but held it in.

"Hold your positions. Let Lotor make the first move." Lance voice once again said something in a tone that reminded him whenever his master had wanted him to do something.

It made him tense up more and shiver. Of course he knew that this wasn't Lotor but it was not mattering. Wouldn't it be for blue he would have almost had a flashback.

"Just do me a favor and not let him persaud ya'll." His voice was grim yet also there was an undeniable hatred now that the ships come closer. He knew that it could be possible but he hoped desperately that they would not believe whatever Lotor would tell them.

It would be so easy to attack one of the ships but he couldn't. The purring of blue also soothed his anger a little bit and making him thank the ship. Even when it was a ship it was alive and had a mind on its own.

"Fuck I forgot to add that these three ships can turn something like Voltron can. So there might be a way for them to go back to the quintessence field even without the portal." His voice was quivering and he hoped that they weren't too mad at him for forgetting something like this.

"And you just now thought to tell us about this?" The princess deadpans and he couldn't help but shrink down and fear for punishment. That made him apologize instantly and he almost slipped miss out.

"I-I am stressed okay! I hafta fight the person who was my abuser, so not my fault that I forget things like this. Jus-Just don't be mad at me." His voice quivered even more and slightly higher. It was clear that this was upsetting him and he would have freaked out. Wouldn't it be for Wally who intervened and making the situation calmer now.

"It's alright. Surely you can tell that it's hard for Dickie."

"Fine but next time try not to forget something like this Richard." The tone was final and he relaxed more but also wasn't sure that he was forgiven. There could be still punishment and he hoped that it would not be as bad as Lotor's was.

Then they arrived and he heard Lotor try to defuse the situation with lies. It made him angry and also feeling his body tremor. It was just that he knew that talking it out won't work. He felt sick to the stomach at the manipulations and enough was enough.

"Sorry grape shit, you won't get me on my side ever again. Not after you forced your loyalty on you, forcing me to do these horrendous things, hitting me when I failed, dragging me to this dark room. And worst of all manipulating me in thinking that you really cared for me. I will never be your puppet anymore." He growled out and knowing that Wally will ask some questions but right now everything just bursted out of his mouth. It was not even intended but he couldn't help himself now.

A bat glare was also added towards the ship that he was sure Lotor was in and he so wanted to shoot but held it in. But it was nearly impossible as he tried to make him look like a liar, but luckily both Wally and Lance butted in making him feel warmth.

He wanted nothing more then hug Wally and now he missed that the male was not with him. But he knew that the other would had not been ablet to join in here. But the last straw was when hearing him try and bs himself out of the situation. Rage bubbled up in him and he snapped.

"You enslaved countless Alteans. My sister's brother Bandor, died because of you! Romi lost her family because of your selfishness! You are no better than your father!" His voice was pure rage but even as he was feeling the rage in him, Richard had not shot.

At some point the others realized that Lotor was not going to be reasoned with and so a fight started to break out. They all stayed close together as everyone pushed forward...
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(Author can't write fighting scenes so will skip it sadly. >-<)

Their won had been not easy and it felt like hours that they won but the price was the castle. It was the only way that it wouldn't had ended up in a massive explosion. For him the decision had been clear but it was clear that the others had called the castle home.

It had been a sad thing but it was better then having many lives lost by this explosion that would had happen. But his mood was grim more because of Lotor defeated and dying. His heart stung and he wasn't sure how to feel about this. He mourned for this person even after everything he had done. A thing that came with his abuse and this was something that he knew and could not change.

He also felt the urge to harm himself again but pushed it aside. It would not go well with others being here and he was not wanting to worry anyone. Talking about Wally both had not yet time to really be able to talk more about what his childish behavior had been.

Another thing that made his mood worse was that Shiro was in critical condition. Even with Allura managing to bring his soul back there was a risk of the body rejecting the soul. This alone made him fear about losing his older brother/father figure.

There was also that he felt not really free but shouldn't he feel free now that his captor was dead? God he really was conflicted now and adding with the fact that he hadn't seen his family for 2 and a bit more years was also not helping. His heart ached to want them and worse he wanted his Tati so badly right now.