Lance goes back to his room, hollow blue eyes stared at the ceiling for what seemed to be ages. The droning of his fan was the only sound in the room. Until the sound of his doors cut through the endless whir, Keith emerged, worry and endearment pasted on his face.
He sat on the edge of Lance's bed, discreetly placing a light hand on his leg. Lance didn't notice. If they didn't notice his acting, notice what they were doing to him, why should he notice their attempts to right their wrongdoing.
"Lance, I know you don't want to talk to me, or Shiro, or Allura, or any of the other Paladins after what we've done."
"Yes sir, I don't want to talk."
"Alright, you don't have to talk, you can listen, cry, scream...you get the jist." Keith took a deep breath, how was he going to get through to Lance? The damage seemed permanant.
"I-I know we've done this, I know I played a part in this, but hear me out." For Lance, the words went through one ear and out the other.
"I want you."
"You already have me."
"No...you."
He knew what he meant, he knew exactly what he was refering to, he still stated.
"Clarify."
"I remember the Lance that would try and flirt with every pretty girl he saw, the Lance that flirted with me too, the smug look on his face that showed his confidence."
"I remember the Lance that used to try and make jokes to lighten up a grim situation, it didn't always help, but A for effort."
"I remember the Lance that wanted to be a sharpshooter for than anything, but this Lance is now good in everything, we all appreciated the aspects of that Lance."
"I want that Lance back, I-." Lance still stared at the cieling. Keith stared down, clasping his hands together.
"I loved that Lance." The Red Paladin sat up and faced Keith.
"And I still love you, the sharpshooter that's flawless, the soldier that knows more than me."
"Even if you change...I'll still love you, even if you're emotionless." Keith and Lance were now facing each other directly. A gentle hand on Lance's.
"You don't have to pretend anymore."
That broke both of them. Lance didn't know what Keith had noticed during Lance's changes. So Keith told him.
"I noticed the lack of jokes, I was somewhat relieved, but at the same time, I knew something was wrong. I was the first to notice the change in demeanor, how your words sounded more disinterested and your actions more stiff. Just like a robot."
"I tried to say things to the other members, but they brushed it off as you becoming more mature. I was skeptical of what they were saying, because the Blue Paladin I knew wasn't exactly mature, or stiff, or robotic."
"Lance was pretending, changing for them, not himself, the selfish people who wanted another person to act like a leader in place of Shiro."
"The moment I noticed your brown eyes no longer gleamed in pride, was the moment I felt my heart shatter."
"I was the only person to notice this for a while."
"But then, I realized that I was pretending not to notice, just to fit in with the rest of Voltron, so I didn't seem paranoid." Lance gripped Keith's hand harder, tears were coming down their faces. But the only trait that stayed with Lance through his pretending was his selflessness.
"Don't cry, Keith." He looked up wearily at the Paladin.
The gleam in his eyes had returned, with tears.
But it came back.
