Keith knew things would end badly before he invited Hunk to step into his room- it was just a matter of how badly.
Would it end with both of them arguing a little then ignoring each other for a while? Or would it leave them with bruises on their faces like the last time they had a one on one chat?
"So, what is this about?" He folds his arms, keeping his tone even.
Hunk doesn't say anything at first, his eyes trailing around Keith's room. When he finally did, he asked something Keith wasn't expecting, "Did you love him?"
"What?"
"Lance. Did you love him back at Garrison?" He asks this almost casually, like it didn't matter what the answer was in the end, and perhaps to him it didn't. The result was that Keith left either way.
Licking his lips, the red paladin was hesitant to ask, "Why are you bringing this up now?"
"I'm just curious." Hunk says innocently, "Lance made it very clear how he felt about you, and while I thought we were friends back then, I couldn't ever tell how you were thinking. So when you left, I didn't really know how to feel. I wanted to understand, and this is odd for me to say- but I hated you," Hunk shrugged to himself, as if he couldn't believe the notion himself, "I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Lance is awesome and showed you nothing but support and care… so how did things end up the way they did?"
Keith didn't say anything- he couldn't. What could he say that didn't sound like some pitiful excuse?
"And the worse thing- I'm more angry towards myself than at you. Lance turned to me when you broke up- and I couldn't help him at all. And I'm his soul friend- you know? I should be able to help him through this, but I can't- because of you! Isn't that weird?" Hunk is pacing, "You are the only one who can set this right but you are the one who caused this in the first place! You were the one to break his heart and drive him into a little hole. You were the one to make him lose his smile for half a year! You were the one who made him feel so depressed that he flunked his piloting test- his dream since he was, what, five years old?!"
Keith had to cut in, unable to believe his own ears, "He flunked it?" that couldn't be. Lance was a great pilot- second in his class the whole time Keith was there! With him gone it should have assured Lance the top spot! "He told me he was fighter class!"
"He is- barely." Hunk growled. "He only got in because you got kicked out, Keith. But you probably weren't paying any attention to him or his ranking in class because of your grumpy attitude!"
He had to step back and lean against his wall to steady himself. He had no idea… He never wanted- oh god… Flashes of Lance talking about his dream to fly amongst the stars were hitting him hard. He had glowed in those moments- eyes shining with so much hope and belief to his dream. And Keith killed that?
Feeling like he wanted to throw up, he covered his mouth, "I didn't know…"
"Of course you didn't! Jeez! You piss me off!"
"The feeling is mutual-" Keith knew Hunk had a point- he always did- but he pride wouldn't allow him to just stand here and quietly take this. But maybe he should… he deserved it. He deserved all of it.
"Well good for you! Something pisses you off- isn't that a shocker?! Well you don't get to state any opinions right now, mister! You get to just listen. So listen up! You hurt Lance! You hurt him so much that he changed- and not in any good ways. Any confidence he had was shot because of you! He couldn't smile for the longest time! Sometimes he still fakes one to get through the day, but he thinks I don't notice! He doesn't even flirt anymore- that is the weirdest thing for me to miss. Flirting and being cocky was Lance's thing- it made him who he was. He doesn't even try to do that anymore. No- he is too afraid to get hurt to ever try that again!"
Keith grit his teeth a little, each word feeling like a dagger to the heart. He wasn't an idiot- he noticed these changes. But hearing them outloud felt just as bad as seeing them.
"And it all because of you!" Hunk gripped the edge of Keith's shirt, lifting him with no struggle at all. Letting his legs dangled, Keith grit his teeth, forcing himself not to kick at Hunk's chest. It was only in these moments that he was reminded of just how strong Hunk was.
Grunting, Keith asks, "What do you want?"
Venom drips off the larger paladin's voice when he says, "I want you to back off,"
Keith narrowed his eyes, lips forming a thin line, "I'm trying,"
"Try harder," Hunk turns, taking Keith with him, tossing him around like a doll, "Because I want you to listen and listen to me carefully; Lance forgives too easily sometimes. He's done that for as long as I've known him, even for those who really have not deserved it. I understand how he feels most of the time- but I can't ever understand how he can even smile at you after what you've done. But after some time- I think I get it."
"Get what?" Keith pulled at Hunk's wrist, trying to get the large man to release him. It wasn't really working.
"He loved you."
Keith went still, body going limp.
"He loved you so much Keith- god, the guy wouldn't stop talking about you. You were his entire world." Hunk closed his eyes at the memories, "When you guys broke up, he got so sick I thought they would have to take him to the hospital."
"What?" the red paladin grip was slipping, eyes wide and lost, "I... I never heard about that."
"Well, Lance didn't go around announcing it." Hunk grumbled. "And because Lance hates to bring others down. I bet even during all of that, he never wanted you to worry about him."
With a few shaky breaths, the smaller paladin swallowed, "Then what are you asking, huh? That I stop talking to him?"
"No you idiot!"
"Wha- What the hell, Hunk?!"
"What the hell to you! I said back off, not be a jerk! If you ignored him now that would just confuse him even more! Or worse, he might just blindly try to get back your attention to get closure! He is confused right now- ignoring him would just leave him with empty questions!"
"What the hell do you want me to do then?! Ignore him or talk to him!?"
"I don't know!" Hunk roared, "I don't understand anything anymore! I'm pissed at you, Keith! So pissed that I want to kick you into the trash disposal! Just- be not the jerk you! Be the nice you I know you can be!"
"Huh?!"
"I don't know!" he was shaking Keith, "I'm completely winging this here man! I'm not some love guru! I'm just a guy who stumbled into this! I'm just-!"
The two seemed to realize something just then, and their voices died off into a silence.
They were just.. kids. Young teenagers that were tossed into this crazy mess when they already had so many things on their mind.
Lowering Keith back to the ground, Hunk released the collar of his shirt and stepped back, "I want to throw you off this ship, Keith." he admits, "But I've oddly enough come to see you as a friend again during this whole Voltron thing. I guess going through near-death experiences day in and day out can do that to you."
"...Yeah." Keith nods in agreement.
"So, I'm not here to beat you up or tell you to stop talking to Lance."
Keith found that strange, especially since he was just being thrown around a second ago, "But you said to-"
"Back off." Hunk agrees, "And I meant what I said. I want you to chill out and stop pushing Lance into things."
"I'm not pushing him into anything!"
"Yes, you are!" Hunk cuts his voice in half, taking a calming breath "You are taking advantage of him right now." when Keith tried to open his mouth and argue, Hunk held up a hushing hand, "He is distressed right now, Keith. I heard him talking to Shiro- he's conflicted on what he should do."
"He said that?"
"He said he has no idea how he was properly feeling. When someone is like, people tend to take advantage of them by forcing their feelings onto their choices. I think that is what you are doing."
"I would never-"
"Maybe not intentionally, but have you ever stopped to consider that maybe Lance doesn't actually want to get back together with you? That maybe his emotions are just so stirred up from what you use to have that it is clouding his mind? Huh?! Ever think of that? When you are emotional, you do things you never normally would do! Hell, Lance hasn't come to me about any of this! He would come to me about everything back at Garrison- but since Voltron, he doesn't tell me anything that's bothering him…" Hunk turned, "Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention enough- I dunno."
"Hunk…"
"Either way, I don't want Lance to regret anything- so if you are really going to go after him Keith- you better do it properly!"
"Properly?" he asked incredulously.
"Stop pining for him for what you used have. You are both different and in totally different situations now. Instead of trying to just jump into something serious, try starting something new. Talk with Lance- you know? Treat him like you just met him… or something." Hunk's confidence is failing him as he tries to explain what he means.
"I don't know what you want me to do." Keith choked out.
"I don't really get it either." Hunk pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion sweeping through him, "I just want all my friends to be happy. That is all I want."
"Sorry we're not the best at that." Keith says, and he honestly means it.
"That is life, I guess." straightening, Hunk rubs the back of his neck, "I think you should talk with Lance. Like- really talk. And not just about the next steps you two take- I want you to talk about what happened a year ago. Give Lance some closure to why you left. Tell him why you did it."
Keith is cringing, "That is rule one though…"
"Rule what? What is with you and these unspoken rules, huh?".
"No uh- it is just a thing that we agreed to so that we wouldn't argue or feel awkward. Lance decided them. He never wanted to talk about what happened at Garrison." Keith explains.
"Oh… That does sound like Lance." Hunk sighs, "But if you two are going to get past this, I think you are going to have to tell him your side of it."
"I- have no excuse. I made a dumb decision, that was all there was to it." Keith says, "I accepted that a year ago. I honestly never thought I would see Lance again and tried to move on from him."
"How did that work out?"
"Not very well."
Nodding a few times, Hunk sighs, "Well- honestly, I think Lance is the same."
Keith shifted, "Really?"
"Yeah. But don't tell him I told you that." He poked a warning finger to the smaller paladin, "In fact, don't tell him we had this conversation. I don't really get what is going through his mind right now, but he doesn't really want me involved for whatever reason. I think he is worried that I might change as a person or something if I do- so keep this hush hush."
"I will," Keith promises.
"Good…" shifting a little, Hunk awkwardly moves towards the door. With no anger left, his body was starting to fail him from the long battle on the Balmera. "I'm going to bed." Pausing at the door, he points over his shoulder to the Red Paladin. "Remember what I said." he warned, "I'll be watching."
Keith nods, "Yeah… I will-" he clears his throat. "Uh… Thank- you, Hunk."
The yellow paladin nods and leaves.
0000-0000
Three had passed since their mission to the Balmera. Lance hadn't talked to Keith at all and had honestly been avoiding it. For the time being he was trying his best to help Pidge, Hunk and Coran with repairing the castle since Allura was bedridden. It wasn't really working.
"Then you attach this wire and you're done." Pidge says, pushing up her glasses. Lance nods.
"Ohh…" he shakes his head, "Yeah, no, still don't get it. Can you explain it using baby words?"
Pidge grumbles at him, "I don't even understand why I am even bothering to try- you'll forget it in an hour."
"You got me there." Lance nods, "But I like watching you work. It makes me feel like I am friends with a genius."
"You are friends with a genius." She snorts.
"Yeah, but it really makes me realize it, y'know?"
"Right, sure Lance," Nudging him, Pidge continued to work on the console, adjusting things as need be. With the corruption from Sendak's crystal, there were a lot of things in need of repairs/rebooting.
"You think you can fix everything?" Lance scans at her long list of things Coran had given her to look at. Apparently this was only a third of it- Coran was doing the rest.
"Not immediately, but I should be able to get a lot done today." she connects her computer to the server, typing a few things. "You don't have to follow me around, you know."
"There is nothing else to do."
"You could go train?"
"I could…. But I wanna hang out with you~""
When he didn't move, she grimaces, "Are you really that desperate for attention? You a cat or something? Here kitty kitty~" she scratches under his chin. Lance flinches away.
"I'm not desperate for attention- I'm just hanging out with you."
"More like following me."
"Am not.
"Are too~"
"We just haven't been able to hang out- that is all." Lance huffs, "I miss doing that."
Lowering her gear, Pidge nods, "Me too." they nudge each other playfully- like they use to before this whole Voltron thing. It was hard to just act like things were normal- If things could ever be considered normal.
Pidge being a girl never changed anything to Lance- he just missed hanging out with his two bestest buddies. But there was still so much work to do and Lance being neither a computer genius or a master mechanic could only sit by and watch his friends work. It sucked.
He wanted to help, but his average brain wasn't really going to do any good. He would even try training- but training would mean the chance of Keith showing up.
He wasn't willing to try that.
"What was your brother like?" he finds himself asking after a few minutes of sheer boredom.
"Matt?" Pidge inquires.
"Yeah."
"A nerd."
"So, then like you?"
"Nerdier than me." her side glance is a sneer, "But he was sweet. I always looked up to him. And man, he was smart too. Top of his class every year to the point where they bumped him up a grade. Almost two, but he didn't want to stick out too much. You two would have gotten along…"
"Well- I'm sure we will when I meet him."
Pidge gives a little smile at him optimistic nature, "He'll have a hoot when he sees the Castle. My dad might even cry when he sees the engine power this thing has…" she trails off, eyes downcasting. "They would love it here…"
Frowning, Lance can't stop himself from asking, "Do you miss them?"
She lowers her hands, nodding, "Every day."
"We'll find them," with a comforting pat on the back, Lance gives his friend a wide smile, "And then you can show them how you've become a part of an awesome team!"
"My dad always told me I would be a part of something big-" Pidge grins, "Didn't really realize how big until we found Blue."
"I always wanted to pilot the stars." Lance agrees, "Didn't think I'd ever make it this far though."
"Do you think anyone back on Earth will believe us?"
"We'll just form Voltron and prove it to them."
She pushes up her glasses, "Sounds good on paper, but we would probably just cause a worldwide panic."
"We'd be the most popular thing since sliced bread!" he declared before gasping, "We'll have Voltron slice a huge thing of bread. It'll blow their minds."
"Where would we get a loaf that big?"
"Hunk will make it. I'm sure there is a giant sized oven somewhere in the galaxy. Keith can just form the blade and slice slice, done."
"Yeah…" at the mention of the red paladin, she looks away. Lance notices the reaction immediately, dreading what he was seeing.
"You uh-" Lance cleared his throat, "Are still really mad at him, huh?"
"Aren't you?" she counters.
Feeling on the spot, Lance shrugs, "I dunno…" he meant to just avoid the topic, but he felt there was a sliver of honesty there. "I'm not over it- but I'm just kind of numb to it now, I guess."
Pidge sighs, "I guess that would make sense. It is complicated."
"Yeah…"
"He pisses me off a lot, but I'm kind of grateful to him too," Pidge admits.
"You are?" he wasn't expecting that.
"If it wasn't for Keith, we never would have found Blue, and I would have never had a chance to find my family." With a weak smile, she tilts her head back and says, "The guy is still emo and grumpy, and I don't really like the idea of you two ever being alone together- but he isn't all bad."
Lance smiles a little, "Really?"
"Yeah." She narrows her eyes, "But if he ever does anything to hurt you again I'm going to throw him into a cryo pod and send him straight to Zarkon himself."
Lance was shocked, "You wouldn't do that."
"I might. If you mess my friends and you shall feel my wrath." She twirls her Bayard, and Lance isn't quite sure if she is joking right now or not. "But… he seems cool enough for me to let it slide. For now. So if you have something you need to tell him- I will accept the idea of you two hanging out alone."
Feeling as though he had been caught red-handed, though he wasn't sure from what, Lance sputtered, "W-What?"
"I wasn't born yesterday, Lance." She snorts, "I can see the way he looks at you and I want to think I've known you long enough to realize that he's been getting to you."
"He- what? No! He hasn't-"
"Lance." She frowns.
He cuts himself off, body stiff. "…?"
"If you need to talk with him and figure things out- I am okay with that." She repeats, "If something happens from it- well, we'll see. Just know, you got your back covered." Holding out her hand, she grinned, "Kay?"
"Pidge…" feeling emotional, Lance grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze, "Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
000-000
"Hey, Allura." Lance smiled at he entered the room. Sitting up a little in her bed, she gave him a weak and exhausted smile.
"Lance," she says his name like she always done, really emphasizing the A. Lance often found it quite adorable, feeling all warm inside when she called to him.
Chuckling, he tip toed in, "Coran made you some weird soup. Smells weird, but he says it is your favorite."
"Ooh! How wonderful," she claps a little. It is delicate and slow- as if the action is draining her. Realizing it probably was, Lance rushes to the bed. Doing what she did to save the Balmera had pushed her past her limits- leaving her almost at the brink of death. Lance couldn't even imagine how tired she must be.
"Here-" he sits on the edge of the bed, gently placing the bowl on her lap. Smiling at him, she took delicate sips.
"I apologize for now being the best company," she says between sips. "I haven't fully felt like myself lately."
"It is okay." He assures her, "None of us expect you to be on your feet immediately,"
She frowns, "Yes but- I wish to be fully recovered soon. I want to continue our fight against Zarkon." Even just saying his name seemed to brighten the determined spark in her eyes.
"You will- but you need to rest first. You can't do much if you make your condition worse."
" I suppose you are right…" sniffing a bit, she glances at him. "Well, since you are here, how about you tell me about yourself, Lance. We never really have a chance to talk." She tilts her head curiously.
Chuckling, Lance rubs his chin, "Well- I come from a big family. Few brothers, one older sister. Lots of cousins. My mama is the sweetest thing alive-"
"You call your mother, mama? That is precious." Allura comments. Lance flinches a little, often teased for the way he called his mother. While he usually catches himself and changes it to Mom, old habits are hard to break.
"Yes well- she is great. My Dad is great too- a real comedic guy." He pauses, "I wonder how they are doing right now…?"
"You miss them."
"Of course."
Allura nods knowingly, "I grew up most of my life without my mother. I still can't seem to fully accept that my father is gone- though I am comforted by his holographic form."
Lance had yet to ever see King Alfor's holographic form below the bridge, but Allura was always in the best mood after speaking with him, "He sounds like a great guy."
"He is. I'm sure he would have liked you- I should introduce you to him. He has yet to really meet any of the new Paladins."
"We'd love to." Lance grins.
"I am glad to hear that. My Father must be lonely being only able to see me from time to time. He would get along very well with Shiro, I am sure. They share similar mindsets. Oh, but he is a very lovable man like Hunk. It is actually quite funny- Coran often tells me how you remind him of himself when he was younger."
Lance wasn't sure that was a good thing or not, "Really?" he frowns.
"Yes. So seeing you and Hunk get along so well reminds me of them." Allura yawned a little, her voice growing a little drowsy, "Coran has been with me since I was a child. My Father and him were long term friends since they were young- he is like my-" she yawned, "Uncle. He is really the only family I have now. Well, not counting you Paladins."
Lance straightened a little, "You think of us as family?"
"Of course-" she smiled drowsily, and Lance was tempted to end the conversation and let her sleep, but she continued to speak, "I am very grateful to have you all in my life. You are like stars- I would be lost without each and every one of you."
"Allura." Lance says, startled.
"It is true-" she reaches forward, placing a fragile and weak hand on his shoulder, "Your jokes and humor makes these days worth it- I do not believe I could carry on without the smiles you paladins bring. Though, I know I often tell you to be serious, I look forward to each laugh and silly banter you bring."
Reaching his hand up, Lance took Allura's palm into his own, "Thank you, Allura." Helping her lean back he says, "I think you should get some rest now."
"I do not wish to rest- I wish to talk with you." She insists, almost sounding like a child. "I want to know all I can about you and the others."
"You can." He smiles, "You can ask us whatever you want when you are better."
"Oh- but I do not wish to impose." She turns her head a little, almost falling asleep at the action, "My questions are personal- too personal."
"I am sure they aren't that bad."
"I want to know about Keith and you." She looks him dead in the eye. He instantly regrets his last sentence. It was very bad, "I get the feeling this is unwanted though…"
"I-" Lance clears his throat. He shouldn't have been surprised that Allura would catch on, "Kind of? I mean- it isn't that I don't trust you so-"
"Then can you tell me of him?" Allura's hand tightens around his, holding him there. "I want to know why you two separated. I want to know why you cannot love like you use to… I want to help you come together again. I want you both to be happy," her voice is so quiet that Lance has to strain his ears to hear it, "I want to help all of you paladins be happy." he knew it was the exhaustion getting to her- but he knew she wasn't lying.
At her earnest request, Lance couldn't help but falter. He knew she meant every word and truly just wanted to help. It was probably only her exhaustion that was convincing her brain to say these things so openly- especially since she has never inquired about Keith and his relationship before.
"…A year ago, a few things happen," He begins to explain to her, the words coming from his mouth so smoothly. It startles him how easy it is to tell Allura how he feels. Perhaps he felt this way because he did not fear any backlash towards him or Keith would come from her? So he told her everything.
He explained how when Shiro was thought to be dead, Keith lost it. He pushed Lance away, refusing to believe the notion that Lance loved him, and dropped out of Garrison. Lance didn't see him until the Blue Lion was found a year later and Shiro returned.
She listened- never uttering a word until he finished. She just stared, eyes understanding and kind. When he was done, she took a small breath, "I am sorry, Lance."
He nods a few times, "Yeah."
"It must have been so hard-" she reaches forward, brushing a bang out of his face. It was warm- reminding him of the way his older sister would when he was a child. "And how do you feel now? Keith is always around you…"
"It is hard." He admits, "I don't know how to feel. I'm… conflicted."
"I understand." She turns her head away a little, "When I awoke from my pod and realized 10,000 years had passed, I was so angry with my Father…"
Lance wasn't expecting this turn, "You were?"
She nods, "I wanted to stand and fight Zarkon- not just let the universe fall into his hands. My Father though, he took the situation and decided things by himself without even a word of council to me. He put me in a cryo pod and sent off the lions… for 10,000 years people suffered. When I awoke to that fact, I was so… hurt." Her voice cracks and she closes her eyes for a few seconds.
The Blue paladin couldn't believe he was even hearing this. When they first found Allura she had been devastated towards the destruction of her people- but never once had he assumed that she was bitter towards her father for what happened. "I… never knew."
"Yes, well- so many things were happening at the time for me to dawdle on it. How could I even begin to feel about it? I felt betrayed. I knew he meant well, but in the end it simply felt as though he abandoned me. Coran and I were left completely alone…"
"Allura." He reaches out, grasping her hand with both of his now, holding tight. She smiles at him.
"The strangest part of all of it, was that as angry and hurt as I was, when Coran told me there was a way to communicate with him- to see my Father again… I felt nothing but relief. I am so grateful that he is still in my life that I don't know whether to be furious or thrilled that I can talk to him. It is-" she loses her train of thought, "Every time I see him I am just so confused. I want to scream and cry and just- I am not even sure. I wish to just keep him out of my life so I do not have to feel these things- but I'm terrified of losing him again. Oh, Lance. I am just-"
"Losing my mind." He finishes the sentence for her.
They sit in silence, gazes tight to the other, a silent understand shared between them. Lifting a hand to dab a tear at the corner of her eyes, Allura takes a shaky breath, "I never thought we would share so much in common, Lance." She pats his hand. "Thank you for bringing me soup."
He nods a few times, "Any time, Allura." Standing up, taking the empty bowl, he tucks her in. "You should get some rest now.
"I shall-" she tugs on his sleeve, "Will you come visit me again soon? I would love to hear more stories of your life."
Lance grins, "Course!"
Leaving the room, he dimmed the lights as he left. He felt a little lighter as he returned to the kitchen.
Alright guys! To help grow the relationships a little more since we only have a few more episodes in this season, I'm going to add a few extra chapters between the time Allura is recovering to when she gets captured. Of course we'll still have a chapter where the castle gets taken over but we'll have more than just that too :D