Lance's POV

I groaned, slouching down against the counter of the Starbucks. This fucking sucks. After the sleepover with Allura yesterday I've been so stressed out. First I found out there's a killer on the loose not even ten minutes away from where I live and then I found out that the victim is my ex girlfriend!

I barely got any sleep last night because I was stressed making sure all my doors and windows were locked. Any noise scared the shit out of me and I was jumpy all night long.

"Lance?" Allura asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, 'Llura," I said with a yawn. "I'm just super tired. I couldn't sleep last night."

"Is your insomnia back?" Allura asked. I smiled at her, forgetting about the murderer momentarily to be thankful that I have such a great friend. After the breakup with Rolo I couldn't sleep because I had trained myself to be aware at all times, never knowing when Rolo would start the abuse.

"No, I think it's just the nerves," I said. "There's a killer out there and he might strike again. It just makes me anxious." Allura looked at my sympathetically.

"Don't worry darling," Allura said, rubbing my back soothingly. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Ahem," I spun around to see Shiro and Keith standing at the register. Shiro narrowed his eyes at the hand on my back while Keith only glowered at Allura. "Sorry to interrupt the love, but I need to have a word with Allura."

"Interrupt the love..? Oh!" I exclaimed, and then I started to laugh. "Oh no, I'm not actually dating Allura. That was a joke."

"..A joke?" Shiro asked, looking at Allura. Allura nodded fighting off a grin.

"Sorry 'bout that," Allura said. "We were in the middle of movie marathon when you called."

"Yeah! You called at the good part!" I cut in. Shiro stared at me in bemusement.

"Lance, you covered your eyes during the entire fight scene," Allura said, poking my side teasingly. "You couldn't handle all the gore."

"Shut up," I said, batting off her her hand. "It's not my fault blood is gross. And that one guy got his head bitten off!"

"There wasn't even any blood!"

"It was still gross." I said, crossing my arms and sticking my chin up childishly.

"Wait, so you and Allura aren't banging?" Keith asked, his face bright.

"Ew, gross!" Allura said. "Lance is like a brother to me!"

"And she's like that one unbangable chick that you hang out with for charity," I said, pointing my thumb at Allura. Allura gasped in offense and slapped my shoulder. "Ow! I was just kidding. Sheesh!"

Allura laughed. "That's so rude, McClain. So rude." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Keith and Shiro tense at my last name and share a look.

"So, what did you want to talk to Allura about?" I asked. Allura gave me a knowing look.

"Oh they already know the answer to the question they were going to ask," Allura said.

"What? Allura, stop being cryptic." I said.

"Actually, Allura, we need to speak to you about another matter," Shiro said. "E molto importante." (It's really important) Allura nodded.

"Sorry Lancey, I'll be right back okay?" Allura said before walking away with the two hotties. I see them speaking but they're too far away for me to hear. I see Allura pale and then she begins talking really fast.

And I'm left to wonder what their conversation was about.

___________________________________

It's later, when I'm closing up that Allura brings it up. "Hey Lance?" she calls. I hum and response. "Have you heard from Rolo lately?" That stops me in the middle of what I'm doing and I turn back around to face her in surprise.

"What do you mean?" I asked her wearily.

"I just...heard he might be back in town." Allura said. "And I'm worried he might try to come after you again. Have you heard from him?" she asked again.

"No, I haven't seen him since the hospital," I say.

A few months after the first beating Rolo got really mad. I don't remember what I had done that day, I just remember him thundering down the stairs to the kitchen and throwing me against the wall.

He took out a knife and plunged it into my thigh, slapping me when I screamed in agony. He kept on hitting me even as I was fading from consciousness from the blood loss. I don't remember much of what happened that day.

I remember waking up in the hospital, Allura by my side sobbing. "What's wrong princess?" I had asked, my voice hoarse. She gasped and looked up.

"Lance!" she cried. "Oh, I was so scared!" she threw herself at me, hugging me tightly--but gently--and sobbing. I petted her head and soothed her.

"It's okay 'Llura, I'm okay," I said. "What happened?"

"You weren't picking up your phone," Allura said in between gasps. "So I went to your apartment and found you lying in a pool of your own blood. You were so beaten. I called 911 and they brought you here."

"I'm so sorry you had to see that," I said.

"What happened to you, Lancey?" she asked.

"Rolo got mad at me," I said. Allura gasp and covered her mouth in horror.

"Lance! You told me the beatings stopped!" Allura said. "You said it was just one time! You promised if he did it again you'd leave!"

"I didn't think he'd do it again," I said.

"How long?" she asked, her eyes bore into mine, daring me to lie to her.

"A few months," I relented. She gasped.

"He's been beating you for months?!" she screeched. I nodded sheepishly and averted my gaze. "Lance! How could you not tell me?" She sounded so betrayed, I felt the guilt bubble up in my chest.

"I thought that it would be okay...I thought maybe he was just going through something, you know? We've been dating for so long.."

"Lance..." Allura said. "I can't believe you didn't tell me. I would've helped you!"

"I'm sorry, 'Llura," I said. "I'm so sorry..." Tears began to flow down my face. Alura wiped my tears away with her thumb and I flinched as she brushed over a bruise. "How bad is it?" I asked her.

"Three broken ribs, a knife wound to the thigh, internal bleeding, you're covered in bruises, and the doctors had to set your nose 'cause it was broken," Allura said, her eyes reflecting in sadness. "Is it normally like this?"

"No," I said. "Usually he just hits me a little," I shuddered against myself. "It's never been this bad before..."

"Lance.."

"I'm okay Allura." I said. "I'll be okay. Thanks for saving me."

Allura's eyes softened. "I would do it again. I love you Lancey."

"I love you too 'Llura."

__________________________________

I laid in my bed, staring at the ceiling. So, Rolo was back? I don't think he'll come at me. The police were looking for him for a while after I was admitted in the hospital. They never found him, and they said that if he was smart, he'd stay away.

Still the anxiety made it almost impossible for me to sleep. I turned over to see the clock. It was only eight thirty. I could invite Allura over, she understood why I was so nervous. I picked my phone up off the dresser and dialed her number. No one answered.

Damn, now what? I definitely don't want to go out, not with that killer on the loose. And I don't know who else to call, but the silence of my house is slowly suffocating me. I knew that if I didn't talk to someone soon a panic attack would definitely occur.

I scrolled through my contacts searching for someone to call when a name caught my eye. After a second of staring at it I pressed call and held my breath.

"Lance?" Shiro answered. I let out a breath. "Are you okay? Why are you calling?"

"I...I just...uh..." I fumbled for words while my breathing accelerated. I couldn't get enough air. I was about to have a panic attack! Shit!

"Lance! What's happening?" Shiro asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I'm sorry I just...needed to talk to someone and Allura wasn't picking up," I said as I sucked in a gulp of air. "I'm sorry..."

"Lance, are you okay?" Shiro asked again, his voice heavy and serious.

"I...I think so?" I said, not sounding sure enough to even convince myself. "I just...was scared."

"Scared?"

"It's nothing, it's stupid," I said. "I shouldn't have called, I'm sorry."

"Lance, calm down. Take deep breaths, it's okay," Shiro said. I tried to obey but my lungs felt like they were shrinking. "I don't feel safe leaving you alone right now. Keith and I are coming over, okay?"

"O-okay.." I said, taking in another breath of air, but it wasn't enough to satisfy my greedy lungs.

"Alright, we'll be there in a few minutes," Shiro said and I heard scuffling on the other end of the phone. "Okay Lance?"

"Okay." I said.

"Alright, we'll be there shortly," Shiro said before the line went dead. I took a shuddering breath.

"Okay Lance, calm down. They're coming, stop being paranoid. You're safe. Rolo can't find me. Breathe," I said to myself. I forced myself to get up and put on actual clothes and sit in the kitchen. I tapped my foot as I waited.

My doorbell ringing startled me and I jumped up and raced to answer the door. "You guys are quick," I said as I opened the door only to freeze as a stranger greeted me. "Oh..I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else."

"I'm sure you did," the stranger laughed. He had long white hair and I vaguely recognized him but I don't know where I've seen him before.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Oh how rude of me," the stranger bowed deeply. "My name is Lotor." he said before smiling at me. I don't like that smile, it looks crazy. "And you, pretty blue, are coming with me."

It all went black.