man i feel like I could easily write 15 000 words about this haha. Trying to make this idea small is hard, but let’s give it a go.
“So what do we do? We’re a paladin down now.” Pidge states. It’s a topic they’ve been dancing around. Shiro is gone, and yes of course they will find him again, but until then they can’t just… not form Voltron.
“Keith takes black. Yeah ok, so that’s resolved.” Pidge continues.
“Are we honestly…” Lance starts to interrupt.
“But there’s STILL five lions.” Pidge shoots Lance a look. She knows he wants to argue the leader Keith point, but that’s another discussion.
“We need another paladin.” She concludes. The group all stare at each other, not sure of what to suggest. The air is stale.
“I….” Allura starts. Coran grabs her arm protectively. She turns to him with an understanding smile, pats his hand, and steps out of his grip.
“I will fill in.” Her commanding voice rings in the Lion’s hangar. Hunk nervously wrings his hands. Keith looks skeptical.
“Princess, we need you to…”
“Who else do we have?!” Allura implores. “No one knows the lions like I do. I’m already a part of this team, so it’ll be easier for me to bond than some outsider!”
The others all share a look. It had to be Allura. Of course it did. But it was a shame that it had to come to this.
“Who will you pilot?” Hunk moves the discussion forward. Allura smiles and taps her chin thoughtfully. Her eyes move around to look at all the lions. She sighs at a fond memory.
“My father was the red paladin, and if Keith is piloting black then…” Allura steps towards the red lion. She smiles and places her hand on its barrier. It vibrates under her touch, but does not break.
“It just seems logical.” There’s fondness in her blue eyes. She leans forward and places both palms on the barrier.
“Of course there is the issue of the red lion being the most temperamental so…” Allura laughs. The barrier doesn’t budge under her. Still keeping her out. Keith shakes his head.
“She doesn’t like it when you call her that.” He sings.
Allura winces. She pats the barrier gently.
“Ah, sorry girl. I didn’t mean it.” She coos. “I understand how important your paladin is. I know how much you need to trust them. I don’t want to push, but please… please I need you to…” Allura pauses. Her mouth goes taut. She stares at the giant beast in front of her trying to sense it. She leans against the barrier with a frustrated sigh.
“How did you do this, Keith? I can tell this isn’t working at all.”
“I blasted myself out of an airlock if you must know.”
“Guys, guys,” Lance holds up his hands. “You’re going about this all wrong. For blue and I…. it was like love at first sight!” Lance saunters over to where Allura stands.
“Your lion is your lady, and she has to know that you are going to love and respect her. You can’t grovel, you gotta woo her.” Lance stands next to Allura.
“Mind if I show you?” He grins. Allura rolls her eyes.
“Oh yes please. Demonstrate for all of us.”
Lance rises to the bait. He clears his throat.
“Hello Red, you look radiant as always. Would it be ok if I spent the evening with you?” He raises his hand to knock on the barrier.
He immediately falls through. With a vibration and a crackle, he stumbles into the red lions perimeter. He catches himself before he eats cement. He turns to beam at everyone. They look on with disbelief. Particularly Keith.
“See!” Lance exclaims happily. His voice sounds distant and crackly inside the barrier. “Just like that!” He turns to shoot finger guns at the red lion. “Thanks red, you’re beautiful. i love you. Ok Allura, if you just want to…”
Lance bumps against the barrier.
He stares at it in confusion. He tries to step forward and bumps against it once more.
‘What…?” He whispers.
“Oh no…” Allura stares. Pidge’s eyes widen. Keith starts to look manic.
Allura, Hunk and Pidge all touch the barrier. None of them can get in.
And Lance can’t get out.
Lance starts to push harder against the barrier.
“Guys, I can’t…. how do I…?”
“Lance, Lance…” Allura shakes her head. She holds his gaze through the barrier.
“She’s chosen you.”
Lance’s chest goes cold. He turns over his shoulder to look at the monstrous lion. The red glow around him is bright and hurts his eyes. Nothing like the soothing aura of Blue.
“What?! No! No! Nononono! Blue’s my lion! I’m not giving her up!” Lance beats on the barrier. it flickers underneath his fists.
“Let me out! Keith! Come talk to your lion! Get me out of here! Tell her I can’t do this! I WON’T do this!”
“Lance, it’s ok. I’m coming I’ll…” Keith smacks into the barrier. So confident that it would peel away for him, that he hadn’t even tried to slow down. He rubs his knee that collided and hisses. He raises his hand to the barrier and pushes. It firmly pushes back.
“Lance…” He breathily whispers. Lance places his palm opposite Keith’s, so they look like they are touching, but the barrier crackles firmly between them.
“I can’t get in.” His breath shakes with emotion. “She wants you. She’s chosen you.”
Lance blinks away tears.
“B…but Blue. Blue’s mine. No one can….”
Soft footfalls echo across the hangar. Allura has taken off and runs towards where Blue stands. At a full sprint, she charges forwards and Blue’s barrier easily dissolves around her.
“Alright!” Alurra gives a victorious cheer. Blue lurches forward, opening its mouth ready for Allura to board.
Lance’s heart breaks. He falls forward. Keith worries his lip and presses himself as close to Lance as he can. Hunk and Pidge wisely walk away.
“Lance. Lance, I’m so sorry.” Keith whispers. His voice rattles in the comms of Lance’s helmet.
“But out of everyone here…Red has chosen you. She needs you. Can’t you feel her?”
“But she’s yours, Keith. She’s yours and you’re hers.” Lance’s voice trembles. He looks up into Keith’s face.
“I know. And she’ll always be mine so….” Keith swallows. “I’ll need you to take really good care of her. She’s trusting you, Lance. I’m trusting you.” Keith looks up with glassy eyes. Blue may have let Allura in, but here Red was actively locking her own paladin out. A surge of sympathy courses through Lance.
“Keith, I’ll…”
Metallic whirring causes lance to turn. Red has bowed down and opened her mouth wide, inviting Lance in.
“You have to go.” Keith states and turns to leave. Lance goes to grab him, but his hand smacks painfully against the barrier.
“Keith wait!” He calls. Keith pauses. His eyebrows knit together and he waits. Lance steps back from the barrier with a frustrated sigh.
“If I…If I could hug you I would.” He announces. Keith’s eyes widen.
Writing request. Klance. Mutual pining. Supportive mechanical telepathic cat-parents.
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konekorambles 