Explore the world, one post at a time
Chapter 2 ——- Later that afternoon ——-
The door hissed open and Shiro walked in, taking in the sight. Training bots littered the floor around Lance, who was trapped between the wall and his own cracked shield. The last three bots ran forwards, each firing their guns towards the blue paladin. As the shield splintered, there was a loud clatter as Lance hit the ground, bayard spinning away from him across the sleek, metallic floor. “End training sequence,” he wheezed, clutching his abdomen and rolling to lay on his back, panting heavily.
Impressed, Shiro walked over and crouched down next to Lance. “You’ve really improved,” he commented with a smile.
Lance didn’t immediately reply, instead opting to turn his head away from the older paladin. When he did speak, it was only after he managed to slide a fake smile over his face. “I guess,” he panted, sitting up. “But I’m still not as good as you or Keith.”
Frowning, Shiro stood up and offered his hand to Lance, “Hey…can we talk?” he asked apprehensively, brow furrowing.
Lance accepted his hand and hoisted himself up. “Sure, what’s on your mind?” Lance replied, wandering over to the bench. Sitting down, he picked up his towel, draping it over his neck, and snatched up his water bottle, taking a gulp before turning his attention back to Shiro.
Tentatively sitting next to him, Shiro turned to face Lance, looking troubled. “Did I - did I do something wrong?” he asked.
Lance lowered his water bottle in surprise, “What?…why would you think that?” he replied, feeling annoyed with himself. He had tried so hard to act normal, but it seemed like the others were starting to catch on.
“Well, there’s several things,” Shiro began slowly. “Ever since I’ve returned to Voltron, you’ve been avoiding everyone.” Lance opened his mouth to interrupt, but the older man held up a finger to silence him. “You’re always excusing yourself to get away from us, and when you can’t find a reason to leave, you put on that stupid fake smile thinking no one will notice. Keith already told me that you weren’t like this before I returned. In fact, he said that you guys were closer than ever. I mean, I know that since Keith and I got together, we really haven’t had time to spend with you, so is that it, or is it just me?”
Tensing up, Lance attempted to explain away his recent behavior, but it was all to much. Even as a child, bottling up his emotions usually led to him breaking down. Tears began to sting the corners of his eyes and he sat up, desperately looking for an exit. “I’m fine,” he choked wiping his eyes.
Shiro hadn’t know what to expect from this talk; he had, of course, hoped that Lance would open up to him, but he thought that Lance might try to change the subject, or even lie. However tears were not on that list and he immediately tensed up. “Hey, wait Lance I didn’t mean to-” he trailed off lamely. Shaking his head, Lance walked towards the door, “I need to shower,” he choked out, leaving a very confused Shiro to contemplate what just happened.
—— That night ——
Night had once again fallen over the castle ship. In his room, Lance lay motionless on his back, left arm draped over his face. He had been crying off and on for the last few hours, and as a result, his eyes were red and puffy. With a sigh, Lance sat up, running his fingers through his hair. He supposed he should have expected this. As much as he wanted to be able to hold everything in like Keith, he just wasn’t that type of guy. Perhaps that was why Keith liked Shiro so much. Their black paladin really was amazing; he was strong, and stoic and it was hard not to feel safe around him. In fact, when they first met, Lance had fallen pretty hard.
Lance buried his face into his pillow and sighed. It’s not as though that crush ever really went away, but from the very beginning, Lance was hyper aware that he was nowhere near good enough for Shiro. Come to think of it, he really wasn’t good enough for Keith either. Keith was loyal and cool and Shiro was calm and intelligent and they just seemed to be the perfect match. Then there was Lance, a skinny little nobody who wasn’t even really good enough to be in Voltron in the first place
Just as Lance let out another sigh, there was a soft knock on the door. Nearly jumping out of his skin, Lance looked at the earth clock on table next to his bed; 1:00am. Who the fuck is knocking at this time at night? Lance thought incredulously. When he didn’t immediately get up to answer, Lance heard Keith’s muffled voice through the metalic doors, “Lance, I know you’re awake, I can hear you sighing from down the hall.”
Lance’s heart leapt into his throat and he scrambled out of bed, opening the door and there was Keith. Clad in black plaid pajamas,the red paladin stood in front of him, lips pursed and arms crossed. “Keith,” Lance breathed, face heating up, “What are you-?”
Keith held up a hand to interrupt, “What the hell is your deal, Mclain?” Keith asked irately.
“I don’t know what you-?” before Lance could finish, Keith stepped inside the room, pushing Lance hard onto his bed, looking angry.
“I don’t know if you hate me and Shiro, and at this point, I just don’t care, but your mood is affecting everyone and you need to-” Keith began hotly, his hands clenched into to fists. Tears welled up in Lance’s eyes and he finally blurted out what he had been hiding all this time, “I love you,” he whispered.
Keith froze, shock written all over his face, “You lo-.”
Lance continued, “I love you, Keith, and not just you. I love you and Shiro so much that it hurts. Things were fine at first, I had given up on Shiro and I was hiding my feelings for you and it wasn’t supposed to go any farther than that. But then Shiro left and you changed! I tried to be there for you, tried to make you happy, tried not to let my feelings get in the way, but you were so angry!” His voice shook and tears began to fall freely. Now that he had started, he just couldn’t stop and the flood gates opened. “You snapped at me every time I opened my mouth and you lashed out at everyone and it hurt so much. I really didn’t realize how much I loved you until that moment and everything went to fucking shit!” he sobbed, sitting up on his knees to face Keith, who’s mouth fell open in shock. “And then Shiro came back and we were all overjoyed - me included - and that hasn’t changed, Keith. I’m so relieved that he’s back and that he’s safe and I’m so glad that you two are happy together because I love you both so much and that’s all I want for you both!” Keith opened his mouth again but Lance shook his head, voice growing louder, “Does it hurt that you guys never talk to me anymore? Yes! Does it hurt everytime I see you kiss? Yes! But you guys are happy and that’s what matters to me so I’m fine, Keith. I’m completely fine so get the hell out of my room!” Lance yelled getting up and shoving the red paladin back through the doors.
Keith stumbled backwards and just gaped at him, completely at a loss for words, but before he could so much as blink, Lance choked back a sob, “Just…go back with Shiro, Keith.” And with that he shut the door, leaving the red paladin in complete and utter shock. Previous Ao3 Link