Chapter 34: Lance

The blue paladin held back his laugh when he saw Hunk and Keith walk into the locker room. Lance had also just returned and was changing out of his suit when the other two arrived covered in grey mud and black ash.

He let a smile slip as he asked, "Did you two get in a mud fight?" He picked up a towel to hand to Keith, but he walked around and grabbed his own towel from a shelf before heading into the showers. Lance' eyes followed him as he went.

Hunk walked over and took the offered towel. "Thanks."

"Is he avoiding me?"

Hunk sighed. Lance could tell he thought Lance's and Keith's connection wasn't real, but what started as a connection had given the two rival paladins a starting point to know the other and build a friendship they never expected to share.

"I don't think so, but for once I don't care and I'm not going to worry about it."

"Well if you're not going to worry can you tell Lux to let me have my friend Hunk back?"

Hunk removed his helmet shaking his blond hair loose. "Lance, this is me and my decision, but I will admit Lux agrees, which feels nice to be on the same page. It's not my place to stand between Keith or Pidge for that matter. So I'm staying out of it and letting events unfold on there own."

Lance was shocked, but it wasn't by Hunk's proud declaration, but the change in his blond hair to a light brown and then darker until it turned chocolate color. His fair skin also gained color and his body became a rounder shape from the lean build of Lux.

"Hunk!" Lance couldn't help yelling as he rushed to hug his friend. It had been so long since he had seen him with his own eyes.

Hunk gave an awkward hug in return. "Lance?"

Lance took note that he still only came to Hunk's stomach and saw Waverly's long wavy black hair across his shoulder, but he pulled away and smiled up at Hunk before he turned to open a locker with the open door facing Hunk. He pressed a button inside, which turned on the mirror. "See you're back to your old self."

Hunk walked towards the mirror, taking in his reflection before wrapping Lance in a huge hug. "I'm back to myself." He put the blue paladin down when he started to cough.

"I'm happy for you, Hunk," Lance said when he caught his breath.

He watched Hunk look him up and down, which wasn't hard when Hunk was a foot taller than him. "Wait, why aren't you changing back?"

Lance shrugged not trusting his voice. He would give anything to not be Waverly.

"Well, don't think too much about it. This is a good sign. It means it's not permanent and everything will return to normal soon."

"I don't think we will ever have normal ever again." Not wanting to discuss the subject further he walked out of the locker room. In the hallway, he noticed he was now also covered in grey clay. Not wanting to return to the lockers, he headed towards the bathroom by his quarters to shower.

Dinner was awkward as usual, with Allura glaring at Keith, who ate silently avoiding making eye contact. She was upset with the days earlier events, which she hadn't forgiven Keith for his recklessness.

Hunk tried to break the tension with small talk, which Lance and Coran joined in on, but the three of them couldn't lighten the mood. Hunk ranted about the wind-board he had got from the last planet they visited. Lance smiled remembering how Hunk had been against them originally but was now vigorously vouching for their necessity to their cause. He had a good reason after he explained, he wouldn't have been able to reach Keith otherwise on the volcanic planet, Keith had crashed on. However, his story didn't help Keith's case.

Keith nodded occasionally and even cracked a smile at one point. Lance knew the two had been trying to mend their friendship, which had been coming apart because of the issue with their perception. He understood Keith's reason's for disliking and not trusting Lux, but Lance never thought both of them would get so defensive. Since Hunk was back to himself, Keith seemed like he had lowered his guard, but watching them both Lance couldn't help think that there conversation seemed forced between them.

When Lance saw the two come into the locker room something had changed. Hunk was more confident and sure of himself, but there was something in Keith's eye that unsettled him. Lance felt the paladin's situation had taken a toll on all of them and was a constant battle between them and their lion. However, each lion was different and some put up a bigger fight. Lance felt he and Keith were experiencing the brunt of this battle from their lions. Waverly was only enforcing Lance's weaknesses and shortcomings and he refused to accept it. He avoided looking at his own reflection and continuously took selfies to reassure himself that he was still Lance and not the young helpless girl. The more he tried to distance himself the more Waverly pushed back. Although, his fight with Waverly was a game of pass between them. Keith and Radar was a constant battle for control resulting in a lot of rage from both sides.

Hunk had called Keith out on it and Lance had seen it, but in some moments it seemed like Lance was talking directly to Radar and couldn't even recognize it as Keith. The Keith that came back from that desolate planet seemed in control, but Lance couldn't help but wonder at what cost? He kept picturing Keith backing away from him without saying anything. Two weeks ago, Lance would have thought nothing of it. Keith on a regular base tried to avoid him, but now he would check up on him. He didn't always strike up a conversation but would stay long enough to determine everything was fine before leaving. Lance thought in Kieth's own way it was him showing he cared.

Keith has always been guarded even with those he was closest too like Shiro, but although it seemed like Keith was returning to his old self, Lance didn't think that was a good sign. It could have been Waverly's influence, but when the table went quiet it made Lance think back to home when the ocean was quiet and the wind still before a hurricane would strike. Lance could feel the hurricane was coming, but he couldn't even guess at the damage it was going to cause. Thinking about the harboring future, Lance lost his appetite. He stood up to leave and Hunk's head shot up at him.

"Not in the mood for gumbo? I'll grab the pot pie or would you prefer the lasagna. It's more of a jello texture to the noodles and the beef is more gamy and tastes more like chicken, but I'll put both on a plate for you to decide."

Lance sat back down as Hunk cleared his plate and went to the kitchen to bring something new out. Lance smiled and set to work picking and prodding the wobbly noodles.

After several minutes, Keith spoke up. "Lance, if you don't want to eat it. Then stop picking at it," he said, somberly.

"Sorry," Lance said. He took a bit and smiled, glad Keith was still talking to him.

When Keith finished his plate he stood up to leave. "I'm going back down to the hangar. Lance if you're done can you come with me?"

Allura and Coran both turned surprised at Lance, who jumped out of his seat. "Absolutely!" Lance could feel the Alteans' eyes on him, but he followed after Keith before Hunk could put another dish in front of him.

He expected Keith to start talking and explaining what had happened or his reason for distancing himself when they were alone, but as the door closed behind them, Keith stayed silent. Lance then thought he might want to put some distance between them and the others, but the whole walk didn't change. When they reached the hangar doors, he was certain Keith would talk to him, but that wasn't the case. Keith didn't even turn to look at him.

Lance remained in the doorway as Keith walked to the center of the hangar. He crossed his arms and stared up at the Red Lion ignoring Lance completely. He copied Keith, folding his arms and stood in the doorway waiting for Keith to say something.

"You don't have to stay," Keith said, after several minutes of Lance standing in the doorway.

"What?"

"I asked if you would come with me because you seemed like you wanted to leave. I thought it would be a good excuse."

"A good excuse," Lance's eyes started to blur and he wanted to yell at Waverly for making him feel this way. "That's it. Do you not want me around anymore."

"Yes." Lance was shocked by Keith's unhesitating response and the blow caused him to physically take a step back. "I mean it's not you, Lance."

"Are you really giving me a cheap break-up line, about how it's not you, it's me. Really, man."

"That's not what I'm trying to do."

"Then what did I do wrong," Lance's whole body trembled and he clenched his hands into fists to try to make it stop. He fought back against Waverly's childish emotions, which overpowered his own anger.

"Nothing."

"Wow, I must say you're making a lot of sense, Keith."

"It's Waverly. When I'm around her. When I'm around you. I can't focus. My concern is for you and I can't concentrate on anything else."

"I didn't realize I was such a problem."

"Lance, you aren't. You're a good friend even though I don't say it," Keith bowed his head.

Lance sighed, giving up on his anger as he let Waverly's concern take over, "Friends talk to each other, but you seem to do the opposite and close everyone out."

Kieth shrugged, "I guess it's habit."

Lance walked into the hangar to stand alongside Keith. "What happened on the planet?"

Keith hung his head lower and turned away from Lance as he shrugged again. "Honestly, I don't know. I thought Radar and I were getting closer, but sometime in the middle of searching for Shiro, I realized we hadn't gotten closer, I had just been acting more like him. I was letting Radar's feeling drive my own. Then when I crashed, Radar wouldn't let me out of the lion. He was trying to protect me but I knew he couldn't. Radar has his own opinion on things and for a second I thought maybe I should trust his call, but I couldn't do it. I ended up pushing him, and any mutual trust or loyalty I built was shut down in that instant when Radar lost power."

Lance looked up at the Red Lion and the yellow glint in his eyes. He looked down at his small hands and Waverly's petite body. "Maybe that's what we need to do."

Kieth turned to Lance with his arms still crossed, shaking his head confused, "What are you talking about?"

"This is our lives. They had their time and made their choices now it's our turn."

"They're just trying to look out for us."

"Look out for us or themselves? Because this," Lance held his arms out to his sides, "isn't helping anyone."

Keith shrugged. "I wouldn't say nothing helped. We're friends aren't we?"

"No, that happened before with the memory flashes, which weren't so great either, but there was a purpose. What is the purpose of making us look like them? to make us hate each other like they do?

"They don't hate each other."

"Really, you much not be seeing what I am because you're hostile with everyone. Hunk, who only wants to help people is fighting with you and Pidge, who seemed only interested in herself and not helping anyone else out, but she had made it clear when started Voltron her plan was to help her family. What's your excuse?"

"Shiro is my family, Lance, not you!"

Neither one of them said anything. Lance lowered his head unable to look at Keith without crying. He felt Waverly eating away at him. Her emotions winding and strangling him, not able to do anything to make the feelings stop.

"This is my decision, Lance. I know Radar agrees because he protects his family first."

Lance lifted his head towards Keith. The pain of losing Keith was gone. He was right, Keith was in control. Lance could feel Waverly's pain subside and turn to worry for her brother, which made Lance confused. Keith was himself, but that only left one unanswered question.

He slowly walked up to Keith and asked, "If that is your choice why am I still seeing Radar?" Keith's eyes went large and he stepped away. Lance continued, "It's the decision you agree with, but it's not your decision. It's your excuse. There's a difference and it shows."

Lance left the hangar and when the doors closed behind him he felt his legs give out. Pain ached through his whole body, emotions, and mind. He pushed Waverly's feelings aside and tried to make Waverly disappear, but it only caused her presence to grow stronger. He had stopped talking to her since this event had started, but as he lay crumpled on the floor he reached out and said, "Please stop, Waverly."

Suddenly, the pain ceased. He could still feel the lingering effects, but it was like the world had gone still. He could feel Waverly's presence behind all the emotions and said, "I'm sorry." Then Waverly retreated taking with her the pain she had caused him, but she wasn't completely gone. Lance could still feel her presence if he reached out. He looked down at his hands and realized they hadn't changed, but he let out a grateful sigh. It was a start.

Kestle:

Hi, Y'all, I had a hard time figuring out how to end this chapter, so I'm sorry for the long wait. I decided also since season 3 starts with Keith. I would start getting into season 3 with Keith so I had to adjust Lance's chapter a little.

Also, I'm not sure if any of you read my last note under Voltron: Lion Origins, I had been stuck in Chicago, but a lot has happened since then. I'm not sure if I'm sharing too much, feel free to tell me to stop talking so much in the comments, but after Chicago, I went to see the play Hamilton and my boyfriend proposed after. So I'm engaged now :) I also recently adopted a dog before I went to visit my brother and have been taking care of him. I am also in the process of getting a new job and possibly moving. So on top of planning a wedding, looking at venues, interviewing, which I'm supposed to visit the company at the end of this week, and possibly moving, which also means looking for a place to stay, I finished this chapter :) Yeah! But I'm going to be a little busy.

So I want to say thank you for reading and your patience. Your comments mean a lot to me. Green thank you for your comment last chapter and Sunny Lighter I love your advice and comments.

I'm still planning on writing, but I wanted to explain so you all don't think I abandoned the story. I never thought it would be this long, but I'm so excited for what's to come both with this chapter and my life and needed to share.

Thank you all for reading and please don't forget to comment :)