#jealous!lance

(I didn’t watch season 8 so sorry if the timeline is a little off canon) (also I call Lance the blue Paladin because he wears blue, same goes for Keith and red)

“I think he’s like the future”

“Lance? Why Lance?” 

“I just don’t want...I just...” Keith spared a glance at Lance. He found wide, curious blue eyes and slightly open lips, waiting for an answer. Keith spoke softly next,

“I just don’t want Lance to never see his family again.” Keith looked at Lance again, this time finding his eyes blown to size of the moon and his jaw on the floor.

“And...he’s a great pilot. And a great person, a great Paladin. A great friend. He says I’m the future but...I think it’s him.” Lance spoke up now,

“Keith, I-I don’t know what to say.” Lance was suddenly in front of Keith, so close, when did he get so close? Keith could swim in those eyes he thinks. Has Lance gotten closer? Yes definitely, how long has he been staring at Lance’s lips? He hopes Lance didn’t notice. No, Lance is looking at Keith’s lips too. Oh. Lance is moving closer now, Keith can feel his breath on his own. His eyes are closing-

“Kogane! Get up. Shiro wants to see you.” Keith felt a foot on his shoulder and quickly met the floor with his face.

“Thanks, James.” Keith said dryly. He looked up at his assailant. But what caught his eye lie beyond him. Two figures he recognized well. One possibly more than the other, a certain Paladin wearing (shining, really) in his new blue garrison uniform. Next to Allura. Standing awfully close, he might add. And laughing. Keith liked Allura, she’s driven and intelligent and most of all, compassionate. Her and Lance had that in common. They were perfect for each other. Keith groaned. When he stood, he noticed Lance on his way over to him and Allura heading in the opposite direction. 

“Hey, Keith!” Keith tensed, he and Lance hadn’t been as close as they had been in the past...Keith wanted to spend time with Lance, he did!  But he’s dating Allura and they’re a good couple and they’re happy. Lance is happy and Keith doesn’t want to ruin that for his best friend. How did he end up here? He always liked Lance, possibly maybe had a small crush on the man since they were young but love is a strong word. A very, very strong word. That describes exactly how Keith feels about Lance. So yea, Keith was tense. All he could muster was a tight smile and dodgy eyes. Which, of course, Lance noticed. 

“Was James bothering you? I never did like that guy.”

“No, no he’s fine. I’m just tired.”

“Are you sure? ‘Cause I can take care of him, if you know what I mean.” Lance exaggerated a wink at Keith. Keith huffed, a smile threatening his lips. Lance lit up at the ghost of amusement on Keith’s face.

“He’s okay, Lance. But thank you.” Lance’s face went soft for a moment, but quickly formed into...disgust? Confusion? Both?

“He’s....okay? What do you mean he’s okay?! That guy is a psycho!” Oh. Well Keith may have told him about James bullying him when they were younger.  Lance’s feelings are justified. Keith was about to tell Lance that him and James had cleared it up, even though their relationship is still rocky but that’s on account of James being a dick so, it was different. But, Lance wasn’t done.

“I mean he-he’s arrogant, ignorant, ungrateful, cocky, he’s a bad dude, Keith!” The blue Paladin was now pacing back and forth in front of Keith. He understood why Lance wouldn’t like the guy and he understood that Lance was protective of his friends but even this was a little intense.

“-rivals to friends and you cannot be friends with that guy!” Lance threw his hands up before they slapped down to his sides for dramatic effect. That part caught Keith’s attention.

“Rivals to friends? Lance, are you jealous? Do you...do you think he’s replacing you?” Oh Keith has been smug before but nothing compared to this moment.

“Wha-? No! I’m just saying, you have a tendency to-you know-make friends with your enemies and you can’t be friends with him!” Keith loved the attention but he also wanted to know why Lance was so bothered by this. He knows Lance had some problems with insecurity about belonging before but Keith thought he was past that. Not to mention all the times Keith straight up told Lance he belongs with Voltron. And, more importantly, with him. As his right hand man. Keith decided to push him gently, using his smugness as a cover.

“Oh? And why not?” He thinks Lance broke. But, only for a moment. Lance shook his head, his brown locks moving like waves with the movement, he must’ve just washed his hair with how much the light bounces off of it and how soft it looks and now is not time, Keith.

“I just told you! But don’t worry, Keith. I got your back. I will fulfill my flight partner duties and won’t leave your side until this phase passes.” Lance rolled his eyes but quickly regained his determined composure. Now he had his hands firmly resting on Keith’s shoulders, it suddenly feels warm in here, doesn’t it? Keith swears he can feel the Paladins breath on his lips...

“Lance! Are you ready for lunch?” Saved by the Allura. Lance quickly turned to her, yet Keith’s left shoulder still felt a solid pressure that kept him grounded after the moment of too-close but not-close-enough proximity. 

“I’m always ready, Princess!” Followed by a wink that might have killed Keith in a different way, one he would’ve liked, had it been directed at him. Lance was facing him again, with a stern half-serious expression.

“I will not leave your side starting tonight.” He thought for a moment. And, as if Keith wasn’t smitten enough already with bashful Lance, Lance just had to scratch the back of his neck and look ever so slightly downward with a dumb -adorable- blush that murdered Keith yet again.

“Make that tomorrow, I’m having dinner with Allura tonight. But never fear! Lance will be there!” And with that, he was gone.

 This was not a good idea. Keith knew that. He knew it was petty and shallow. Did that stop him? No. Because Keith also knows he is a sucker for Lance and, by extension, Lance’s attention. So, precisely two hours after Keith was left standing alone, he happened upon a defenseless James. Laying on a bench, with his phone held directly above him. It was too tempting to not kick him over and, well, old habits die hard and Keith did indeed kick him over. Which earned him a “what the hell, man?” And for some reason, impulsivity struck again and before Keith knew it he was telling James when and where to train with him tomorrow and promptly walked away. Why? He had no clue. Absolutely no idea. He thinks about the ocean. 

 And now Keith is in the middle of training with his childhood bully when he hears a strained and cracked “wha-?” to the side of the training area. Keith definitely hadn’t been holding back this whole time waiting for Lance to arrive, but, he does have some extra energy all of sudden so why not put it to good use to whip James’s feet from under him and send him straight on his back. Keith definitely isn’t showing off. But he spares a quick look over, he sees Lance with an expression that’s somewhere between astonished and mad and it sends electricity to his stomach. Satisfied, he helps James to his feet and holds his hand out to thank him for a good round. However, the moment James took his hand genius struck again and Keith pulled him into a hug before thanking him and high tailing it out of there, straight past a dumbfounded Lance to the water station. Keith’s ears were pounding and his face was certainly a tomato by now. Why? Why has he done that? Keith what the fuck??? James probably thinks he’s insane and Lance, oh god Lance. He doesn’t dare look behind him. Luckily, he doesn’t have to.

“Hey Keith.” Lance’s voice pierced through the panic.

“Hey Lance.” Keith began slowly, coming back down to earth. His body slumped down momentarily from the weight of an arm across his shoulders. It was comforting. Lance had always been comforting.

“How about a friendly wager?” Huh?

“Huh?” Lance’s arm slide from its position, leaving Keith cold but he then turned Keith’s whole body around to face him. Lance was far too close for Keith’s health.

“You and I. Sword fight. Tonight.” Well that put some images in Keith’s head that he quickly pushed away.

“You want to duel me?” Lance eagerly shook his head. Oh, those beautiful locks.

“Why?”

“What? You afraid I’ll beat you?” Keith knows he shouldn’t be egged into this but, he is a sucker for Lance. And for competition. Keith smirked, narrowed his eyes for effect.

“Alright. 6 o’clock. Here, we duel.”