Langst stories

"Hey Pigde, wanna check out this thing I did? Or maybe you'd like to play that game we bought? Oh, by the way, I think Hunk is planning something special for dinner, maybe we can bribe him to-" Pidge stopped him with a sharp movement of her hand, placing it right between Lance and her. She did not want this irritating attention now, not when she wanted to upgrade Rover. She tilted her head to look at the Cuban, and frowned her brows.

"I don't care, okay? Buzz off, you're annoying me,"

Lance didn't say anything at first, only raising his eyebrows and shifting the weight from one leg to the other. Apparently, he wasn't going to leave just yet. He brushed his hair back in a brief moment.

"You know, I think you're the only person in this ship that doesn't adore my presence. Too bad, for I AM pretty charming.." he kept going, and Pidges eye began twitching.

"Lance, I am PRETTY sure nobody here thinks that. Not even Katlenecker!" she spat out, not really caring how harsh her words would sound. Lance frowned, shifting weights again. Then he shrugged his shoulders and began to walk in circles. Pidge knew he was going to say something sassy, and prepared for the outcome to completely silence him. She might have to explain herself for Shiro later, but it would be worth it.

"Duh, of course I know that," Lance said. It caught Pidge completely off guard. What?

"I know that," he said, now turning his head towards her, "- I'm just a replacement until Keith gets back."

Pidge had to blink a few times before she could respond. She was almost certain this was a joke; Lance thought of himself as high as the sky! To himself, he was a god! Where did this come from?

"Lance, what the-"

"Hey, let's have a bet!" Lance cut her off, now smiling like he'd come up with a great idea. She knew that Lances ideas were almost always bad one, but they were fun. Maybe it actually was a joke..?
She nodded in silence, still judging, but less wary. Lance accepted it as good enough.

"We'll bet about Shiros strategy when Keith returns to the castle! What's your thought?" Lance grinned, and it LOOKED genuine, but the question seemed to weird. Well, she only had to answer what came natural, right?

"I think he'll assign Keith to be the leader of the infiltration teams. He's basically been trained to do this for months, so we'll need him where he's best for the team."

"What about the lions? Do you think Keith will pilot Black again? He wasn't half bad when he had to, right?" Lance plopped down onto a chair close to Pidge, and opened his pocket to reveal two lollipops. He handed one to Pidge, who accepted it with a smile.

"The lions.. Well, I think he'd pilot Black, if absolutely necessary. But mainly; no lion. I think he made that clear last time." Pidge shrugged her shoulders, locked her eyes on the lollipop and began to tear the paper off. It was bright red inside. Sweet, strawberry.

"Do you wanna know what I think?" Lance leaned back in the chair and looked up at the castles roof.

"I think Shiro will give Red back to Keith. Of course, Allura will keep Blue since she's made much more progress. Keith is a way better paladin than me when it comes to Red, and we should always have the best possible team available, right? Those two are so great, it'd be a shame to have either of them staying back on the ship, believe me. Also, Shiro definitely favors Keith over me."

"What about you then?" Pidge didn't like this hypothesis.

"I'll just be put on hold. I might be of help for Coran, but we'll see." Pidge was silent.

"Lance, you are wrong. Shiro would never put you off duty like that-" She was disrupted by Lances loud comment.

"If I'm wrong, I'll be silent around you and never do anything to annoy you ever again. I'll even help you find your big brother and dad. I know how much family means to you.." Lance finished the last sentence with the softest voice she'd ever heard. And it hit her hard.

She was silent for a moment, thinking long and hard about her lost family.

"And what do you want, if you win?"

"Not much. I just want you to get me some pictures of my family. You are the only one I can ask for this kind of help, as you're the only tech-wizard we have onboard," Lance grinned. His smile put Pidge a bit more at ease. She turned to look at the unfinished Rover in her lap, then up at the roof before she nodded an agreement to the bet. The Cuban boy smiled, putting the girl at ease.

"By the way, when I'm done with Rover, we can play that game again! We never finished it, did we?"

Lance nodded as he walked towards the door, throwing his hand in the air as a goodbye before he turned his back on her. The feeling in her chest was a bit lighter, but something was smoldering inside her guts.

Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced her ears, making her jump in surprise. It was her intercom. Allura had sent her a short message with the only words written "Keith comes back next month". She was somewhat glad, as they all knew how damaging the Blade was for Keith. Everyone wanted him back to the castle, back to the lions; back to them. Shortly after she received the message, another one popped up. It was read

"The bet will be over in a month." She only hoped that Lances theory was wrong.

…

The corridors were empty. Everyone was walking around in the living room, happy the meeting was finished. They nibbled on Hunks cookies, praising it while glunking down Corans hideous soft drinks.
Pidge stood in a corner with her plate filled to the brim with space cookies that Hunk had insisted she must eat. Apparently, he was betting with Coran who could get rid of the snacks fastest.
She was looking out for Lance. Her eyes searched the room, only to see nothing that looked like a lanky, tall Cuban boy. Until she turned to find him the second before he exited through the doors, on the other side of the living room.
Quickly, she put the plate on a table and ran towards the exit he used.

She had not seen him after the meeting, but when she checked his room, he wasn't there either. In the end, the living room was the only place he could be, since he was so obedient to Shiros wish for having ALL the paladins greet the new aliens after every meeting.

"LANCE!" she yelled the moment the doors swooshed again behind her. Ten feet opposite her walked the blue paladin. He froze from her scream. Her feet walked toward him like a lieutenants; fast paced, aggressively, and brimmed with purpose. She caught up with him in no time as he was still frozen.

"Lance.." Now her voice was soft. It was soft, but also filled with frustration. Slowly, Lance turned around toward her but averted eye contact.

They were both silent.

Pidges hand hesitated when it moved to her hip for the paper she'd stuffed inside the armor. Slowly, she pulled it out and reached the hand out for Lance. It unfolded while in her hand, and revealed to be multiple papers folded multiple times. Lance lifted his head enough for Pidge to see his now bland eyes.

"I am sorry that Shiro did this to you," she said, trembling with frustration.

At the meeting, Shiro spoke about the new plan that he and Allura planned with the Blade and revealed the big picture to the rest of the coalition. Everyone agreed on the terms and conditions, and the plan was set. Then the big bang happened.

"I'd also like an applause for an original paladin to return to Voltron, and wish him good luck as the pilot of the Red lion!" he had said, loud and clear while making everyone look at Keith. Pidge was quick to remember her bet, and stared at Lance.

By the look on his face, he had not been told in advance.

Despite this reveal, he kept his composure well; nobody noticed anything. He didn't object, he didn't tap Shiro on the side for help, he didn't make a commotion. He didn't say anything.
Pidge was sure she was the only one who noticed. Hunk might have a slight idea, but was too busy winning his bet. So was Coran, and Allura and Shiro was busy with the rest of the plan. Keith didn't even look in Lances direction but kept chatting with the Blade of Marmora.

Lance grabbed the folded pieces of paper and unfolded it in front of her.

"That was fast," he chuckled. His lips tightened, and Pidge just wanted to hug him.

"I actually found them a week after we made the bet," she started, "- since we both miss our family, I thought I'd give you these regardless of who won." Her voice was trembling. She didn't like that.

"Lance, I am so sorry-"

"It's okay Pidge," Lance smiled. He tilted his head and smiled.

"I kinda predicted this, so it's not a big deal. I'll go put these in my room, okay?"

His face was so grim. But he still smiled.

She was SO ready to put a fist in Shiros face after this.

…

"We're ready to begin the mission, everybody; to your lions!" Shiro yelled as everyone got up from the couches. Pidge kept rubbing the robot in her lap with a cloth, and refused to stand up. Shiro gives her a look, but she doesn't move.

"Has anyone seen Lance?" Allura asks as she walks into the room. Her paladin uniform is clean, on and ready. Everyone shakes their heads in unison, except Pidge.

"He's probably hauled up in his room playing that game," Keith chuckles. Pidges eye twitch.

"Well, he's not really needed for this mission, so we'll let him be. Come on now, get to your-"

"How much of a quiznaking idiot can you be, Shiro?!"

Everyone is shocked to hear Pidge yell. Now she's standing up in a fighting position, ready to strike. She stares right into Shiros eyes. She's had enough.

"Don't you see?! Lance isn't here! He's gone! He's been gone for DAYS, but you all thought he was off playing video games! You guys are idiots, ALL OF YOU!" Her heart was beating hard, almost like it wanted to jump out of her chest. Her whole body rose and dropped in sync with the beat.

"Pidge, calm down-"

"I WON'T CALM DOWN! Lance made a bet with me about whether Keith would get back Red or not, and I LOST! Lance knew he would lose his spot as a paladin, and you Shiro, didn't even TELL HIM that you'd laid him off!" She sneered at her team leader. Keith took a step closer to her and lifted his hand, like she was some kind of animal he wanted to tame. She was just as dangerous, though.

"Pidge, I thought Lance was okay with me piloting Red? He seemed fine when I asked.."

"Of course he seemed fine! You are the most unstable person in this room; none of us knows what you'd do if he told you the truth! Just think of what you did to Iverson!"
Pidge looked out towards the only window in the living room. She demanded Allura to check the castle for Lances aura, only to find nothing.

"That is certainly strange. All the lions are in their hangars, so he hasn't run off with any of them.."

"Check the cargo ships," Pidge demanded. Allura tapped her buttons, and a screen flew up with a map of all ships in the castle. Allura whispered.

"We are missing one."

Everyone was silent.

"We need to get him back," Keith pleaded.