Voltron oneshots

Langst

"Alright! Another win for Voltron!" Hunk shouts animatedly as he wraps an arm around Keith's shoulder, shaking him as he cheers, "Did you guys see how Keith dodged that laser beam when one of the Galras tried to sneak up on him? Keith, buddy, that was amazing! You totally flipped them!"
Keith laughs as he takes off his helmet and brushes Hunk's praise off. "What? No, come on! Are you kidding? Were you even present when your Lion completely crushed that rock and saved the entire village? Because I was and it was out of this planet, man."
"Okay, guys, but I think I speak for everyone that the best part was when we formed Voltron and we completely destroyed that Robeast because Shiro's plan was on point!" Pidge cuts in, grinning behind her shoulder to meet their leader, "If it hadn't been for your quick thinking, the battle would have taken a lot longer."
Shiro chuckles from his place besides Y/N and waves the compliments off with a hand. "No way. The plan was a success because your plants held the Robeast long enough for us to make a move, Pidge. You have been improving a lot since the day we found of about your Lion's power."
Lance watches from the sidelines as he stands besides Y/N, a few feet away from the team. He smiles fondly as he hears them cheer and praise each other, their adrenaline and enthusiasm that always come from a winning battle still running through their blood.
"Wait, wait, but did you guys notice when Lance -" Keith's sentence is suddenly cut off when the Prince of the Royal Family from the Kingdom they just saved clears his throat abruptly, catching everyone's attention and making Keith's proud grin to dim, replacing it with a frown.
"On behalf of my people and my Mother, I would like to express our gratitude towards the brave Paladins of Voltron who saved us today and forevermore, for it is their duty to defend and serve this Universe from the claws of evil." The Prince says, voice high and powerful.
He stares into each of the Paladin's eyes before they fall on Y/N. "Miss, please, as a thank you, allow us to escort you and the entire team to our Castle in order to present you an exquisite and well deserved banquet in your honor."
Y/N smiles and opens their mouth to respond but Lance's voice beats them to it.
"Sure, dude!" He shouts happily, walking a few steps until he's standing beside Y/N and Shiro. "A banquet is always appreciated! I mean, Voltron really kicked some serious ass today if you know what I mean." Lance can hear the way his team groan and chuckle at his words, too used to Lance's cocky facade and he can feel Y/N's playful smack of their hand on his ribs.
Lance's grin fades when the Prince stares down at him unamused and something inside him drops unpleasantly.
"Blue...Paladin, of course." The Prince says, a bore and uninterested tone on the back of his tone as he forces a rigid polite smile, "While I agree with you on the fact that Voltron surely won this battle by their own hands, I have to ask..."
He pauses, letting his words linger in the air as he takes a step towards Lance and clicks his tongue.
"Why are you on the team? I'm sure that your ... talents, if you even have some, can be of much assistance back in the Castle."
Lance's smile falls and he hears the way someone behind him takes a sharp intake of breath but Lance doesn't bother to turn around to found out who exactly.
"Well, I am the Blue Paladin. I have to be where the team is, of course." Lance says, mouth twitching in what he hopes to be a smile but ends up being a grimace.
The Prince clicks his tongue once again and shakes his head as if in disappointment. "Ah, my apologies, Blue Paladin. I had just assumed that you were just filling the spot for the time being until the true Blue Paladin claimed the title."
Lance doesn't need to turn around to know what's happening behind his back. He can feel the tense air that has settled on the team. He can hear the hard shallow pants from Hunk's end as the Yellow Paladin tries to suppress the urge to lunge at the Prince. He can hear the soft faint sound of Shiro's arm activating itself along with Keith's bayard. He can even feel Pidge's deathly glare that goes through him to get to their target that is the Prince.
He feels the grip of Y/N's hand on his suit tighten and the way their hand find its way until it's resting on his shoulder.
But the Prince doesn't. He doesn't see, feel or sense any of what Lance does because they are not his team, they are Lance's.
The Prince continues.
"No offense, Blue Paladin, but I had actually thought that Y/N here was the rightful Paladin for the Blue Lion. Having their leadership and power aside, they seems to be such a good fit for the title."
Lance doesn't disagree.
"Of course, I might be wrong. After all, there must be a reason why you are fighting besides Voltron itself. I speak out only because I believe your talents have been blurred by being surrounded by such powerful people and I'm merely concerned about the efficiency in future battles, thinking that your efforts may not be good enough -"
Lance can't even come up with a response because suddenly there's a body rushing past him and then Keith is standing there, pressing his Marmora Blade against the Prince's neck.
"Would you like to say that again? Just to make sure I have the right motive to make you regret those words?" Keith hisses, face inches away from the Prince's.
"Keith." Y/N calls, sharp and with a hidden warning, "Step back from the Prince, right now, Young Paladin."
"But Y/N -!"
"Right now."
Keith growls but ends up taking a step back, his scowl deep in his face as he glares at the Prince from a distance.
"Prince Yult," Y/N says, voice tight and on edge as they releases Lance's suit and takes a step forward, "While we appreciate your hospitality, you have no right to -"
"Miss Y/N, if I may?" Lance cuts off, quiet but firm as he raises his chin high, staring at her evenly.
Y/N stares right back, eyebrows furrowed in confusion before they nods.
"Prince Yult." Lance addresses respectfully and waits until the royal nods at him before he continues, "I can understand your confusion about my position as a Paladin and your concern around the topic. My team's talent and power is unmeasured and it's not something anyone can live up to."
"Lance..." Keith mumbles behind him but Lance continues.
"Which is why I must ask of you, not to doubt my team's efficiency based on their one weakness that is me."
"Lance, that's enough." Shiro snaps, low and dangerous but Lance doesn't stop.
"Rest reassured, your highness." Lance smiles, tight and forced, "That Voltron shall continue winning more battles and I will not be a liability to the team."
"Buddy, come on, stop -"
"Now, if you excuse me, your highness." Lance says, cutting Hunk's plead short, "I shall take my leave. I'm sure the rest of the team would love to meet the Queen, but I sadly need to go back to the Castle and stand guard."
Lance doesn't wait for an answer. He turns around, ignoring the way Keith reaches out to him and how the rest of the team calls his name.