Accidental Intentions

47 • Consequence

Life had been...dull.

Lance had refocused on important things like training, bonding with Blue, he had even started an Altean lesson with Pidge. However when the lesson proved too hairy for his tastes and he had left in a hurry. And yet, all his efforts to redirect his attention, it revealed more and more and emptiness that left a bad taste in his mouth.

McMullet kept to himself. Yeah, he was present for meals and engaged in savior-of-the-universe discussions. He participated in group training and bonding exercises. But if it wasn't Voltron related, Keith was either off training on his own, or nowhere to be found.

Lance could understand why Keith needed his space. 

Lance could understand why Keith needed his space. But even though he understood, Lance missed that spark of fire in his dark eyes when he ticked him off. But that wasn't what Voltron needed. It wasn't what Keith needed. What Keith needed was a friend. But Lance had made a promise.

After he had made his apology, Keith never approached him. I'm fact, he avoided him like the plague, confirming Lance's fear: Keith hated him. And honestly, Lance didn't blame him. He had given him so much grief, both intentional and unintentional. So he kept out of Keith's way. However sometimes avoidance proved difficult to play off as natural.

Lance was eternally grateful that Allura had encouraged Pidge to go to the Lauxesa system to check out a lead on her brother's whereabouts. He needed the break from her incessant teasing. Unfortunately, Allura's condition was that she not go alone. So Hunk went with her. Leaving Lance to dodge around Keith without his best friend. So he found himself taking another Altean lesson. This time fully dressed in armor, bayard in hand, and keeping a channel open with Blue so she could feed him correct answers. But he found that he actually didn't need her help that often as he seemed to have a natural talent for the complicated pronunciations. After all, this wasn't the first time he learned a new language.

"Ah! There's my favorite sharpshooter!" an enthusiastic voice startled him.

"Coran!" Lance jumped, finger pulling the trigger. It hit the door right above the Altean engineer's head. Lance tried to pull off his best innocent face.

"Yes, 'tis I!" The Altean gestured grandly with his arms. "Learning Altean, are we?"

"I-uh, yeah! I figured I'd learn a little. You know, impress the ladies," Lance rolled with it, wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh dear," Coran looked supremely concerned. "I'm afraid there is only one lady left to appreciate your effort. Wouldn't you rather learn a language that's spoken by more than two people?"

This hadn't occurred to Lance. He was learning a dying language. And completely unnecessary, since both Allura and Coran spoke English better than he did.

"Hey, we'll start rebuilding the Altean culture once we defeat Zarkon," Lance laid a comforting hand on Coran's shoulder. "In the meantime, sounds like team Voltron has a secret code!"

"Fantastic idea!" Coran clapped his hands together once. "From now on each Paladin will take one Altean lesson a day. And Allura and I can practice with you over dinner!"

"Every day?" Lance began to regret his words. The lessons were long and dangerous.

"You're right! The best way to learn a language is through total immersion!"

Lance could swear he could see sparkles in his eyes. "Anyway, you were looking for me?"

"Ah, yes! We are a bit low on fresh food, I'm afraid. But lucky for us, the planet we're on has loads of the stuff. Problem is, it also has loads of terrifying predators. That's where you come in!"

"Loads of terrifying predators? Sounds like a job for a sharpshooter," he flashed Coran a pair of finger guns.

"Right! I'll grab the harvesting supplies, and you grab Keith," Coran dashed off down the hallway.

"Wait why Keith?" Lance called after him.

"So we have a melee fighter, of course!" Coran's voice echoed off the corridor, leaving Lance.

"So I'll just...'grab Keith.'"

Sure. No problem.

Gathering his notes, Lance made his way to his room. He was fine until he deposited his stuff on the desk. Because now he had another mission. Sliding the door open, he lingered in the doorway. It was right over there. Just a few steps away. All he had to do was walk over there, knock, say a few words. It was so simple.

If only he could find the courage to will his feet to move.