Stepping Stones~Langst {COMPLETED}

{Chapter 1}

{Date- 19/12/17}

~3rd Person POV~

'Another day another dollar...wait...do Altean's have dollars? Well they'd have to have some sort of space money right? Altean coins?' Thoughts like these had been churning in lance's head for quite a while now. He needed to do something do distract himself from whole Blade of Mamora and lion switch, it seemed this is how he took his mind off it.

Lance had been pretty down lately, well he always was, but now he felt like the illusion of his feelings was cracking and falling. Fast. You're probably thinking 'what's the point in hiding it?' But lance was thinking. 'What's the point in showing it?' He honestly couldn't find one, and you can't blame him. It's next to impossible when you're like that.

The team had somewhat recovered since the decrease in man (and female) power. After their close call with those galran laser cannons, Volton had managed to save yet another planet from the clutches of slavery (surprisingly not the galra.)

But still, none of the team could figure it out. What was Keith going to do to stop that giant reaction? They had all pondered it but many had brushed it aside. Lance hadn't.

Lance sat on his bed twirling a smooth blue green and black spotted rock between his finger tips. The black and green splotches were in surprisingly tight groups. Lance had always thought the contrast of the smoothly flowing black and blue represented a stream of sorts. And the green splotches were trees guarding it. It was just a rock but he loved it. It was his most treasured possession. It held meaning far larger than it's looks. He would never forgive himself if he went anywhere without it.

Suddenly lance's bedroom door flung open with an uneasy force and lance clumsily but carefully shoved the rock into his jacket, placing it in a small zipper pocket inside he sewed on especially for this rock. That's how much he treasured it.

Coran greeted lance with his usual up beat old man attitude "G'day my boy, looking handsome as always." Lance threw on an old smile, as fake as hair extensions, and gave an equally fake reply. "You, my good sir have great taste. What's up?" Lance smiled as he pat Coran gently on the shoulder. It was a weird kinda friend pat I guess??

The moustached man just beamed in return. "Allura wants to see all paladins in the control room, says she's got an announcement"
"An announcement? Couldn't she just call us over the speakers or come get us herself?"
"There's seems to be a disruption in the castles systems– actually Allura will explain this all to you, just go over to the control room before she gets mad. I told you first so you'd have some time to get ready." he gave a quaint smile before leaving lance to get ready. It may have been a small gesture but it definitely had a huge impact. I should probably mention that Coran was the only one to notice lance feeling a bit down.

Lance quickly straightened out his clothes and combed through his hair with his hands. He really needed a shower. He washed his face in the sink before making a few signature poses in the mirror to help get him into the spirit of seeing people. It didn't really work that well but hey, that's what masks are for right?

He stumbled around his room for a few ticks. Listening to everyone's footsteps as they hurriedly stomped past. You see, lance was never actually late by accident. He didn't like his friends getting into trouble, so he stayed back so that even if Pidge it hunk or anyone was a few minutes late, they would go unnoticed by lance showing up way later than them.
After he successfully heard 4 collective shoe stompings he circled round his room 3 more times slowly before making his was out the door and to the control room.

Allura was not happy to see him. Surprise surprise. "Lance!! You're late as always, try and take some initiative for once!!"
"Yeah yeah I know, sorry princess I saw a mirror and just got caught up in my own charm" he finger gunned and winked at Allura while a chorus of sighs and face palming echoed from around him. Lance could tell that their patience was slowly starting to wear thin. But what could he do? If they left him, then they left him, can't be helped.

Allura growled before speaking in a tone lightly sprinkled with disgust and lost patience. "Anyway, as I now have to repeat for a certain paladin-" everyone turned to glare at lance. "-we will be staying on this planet temporarily as the ships systems are bordering on failure. Coran already talked to the inhabitants of this planet and they were thrilled to let us stay here while we fix up our ship."

"New aliens huh? I can work on my skills" Lance winked, striking his usual cocky pose. Groans and eye rolls filled the atmosphere. "Anyway, paladins suit up so we can meet our new friends"
"Do we need to suit up? Couldn't we just meet them like this?" Hunk mumbled.
"Hunk, our paladin armour is a display of our strength, by wearing it we are honouring that strength" shiro spoke up, broad as usual.

"Yeah yeah, can we just get this over with?" Lance just wanted to go back to his room and his rock. He really needed his rock for comfort, today in particular. He quickly shoved his hand into his pocket to make sure it hadn't fallen out of the hidden zipper pocket. Still there, good.

A/N- Hey guys, hope you liked the first chapter. I'm using this fic to try and motivate me to commit to something (updates should be out weekly on Tuesdays unless I change it) and hopefully further my writing skills. Don't like it? Don't read it. I'm not bothered to put up with hate. I'm open to ideas and suggestions if you have any. I hoped you all liked it (I know i already said that but I couldn't think of how to end it so...bananas???)

(Word count: 950. Not including A/N)