The Joker

Chapter 2

Needless to say, nobody believed him.
Allura just shook her head stubbornly, after almost believing Keith. Level 27 seemed too far stretched for her to take it seriously.
Pidge simply doubted that Lance, as Keith had insisted, was able to run faster than Keith for a full half an hour.

Hunk had chosen her side because he had seen Lance in gym class and had seen Lance struggling with English classes back at the Garrison.

In Gym, Lance had apparently always been bragging about his skills, while constantly failing to dodge an easy ball thrown at him in dodgeball.
Shiro, as he trusted Hunk's knowledge about the blue paladin, since Hunk had known Lance since childhood, sided with the obvious choice.
And Coran? Coran had remained silent throughout the whole conversation.

A fact that made Keith wonder.
Or rather would have, if he had noticed it. If he was not so angry at the rest of the team for simply not believing him, after they had practically forced him to find out something about their fellow blue paladin.

So Keith decided to follow Lance once again.
He did not have any prove for Lance's behavior. Nor did he know more than what he had found out during one night.
And because he had stayed awake that one night, Keith was unable to attend the training lessons.
Instead he got some of his much needed sleep.

When the night came along, Keith went on ahead, before Lance would start his speed running.
Keith had realized that since he himself was not able to catch up with Lance long enough to ensure he was not seen in the process of breathing and surviving, he would just walk to the place, Lance had unknowingly shown him the day prior.
So, there Keith was. While the rest of the team still had dinner.

Because he was alone, Keith took his time to walk through the library. Not that he understood a single word that had been written there, but that only impressed him even further.
Why was Lance hiding such a skill?

Even if he would somehow believe that learning Altean was not that impressive, Lance would always put his skills on shelves that were way higher than Lance himself could ever reach.
Knowing languages was amazing.

Not everyone could do it and especially if Lance, the same guy who messed up in fighting and flying missions was able to achieve such a skill-
Suddenly a thought hit Keith.

Except for- if Lance not only believed that learning Altean was not impressive at all- if Lance actually believed that skill was a basic one – if Lance believed everyone else might have already mastered it -
if Lance thought this skill was unnecessary or barely basic standard even?

Allura was Altean, Coran was Altean. And they were the only ones left.
And neither of them was unable to communicate with them.
So were the Galra.
So were everyone they had met until now.

Keith's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Lance kicked open the door. He was breathing heavily and just for a moment Keith was startled.

Almost did he ask what Lance was doing here. Almost had he blown his cover.

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Keith watched him again.
He listened to Lance reading and talking to himself. He watched as Lance took a look on his watch and started training.

He started of at level 5 again.
But he stopped at level 29, instead of level 27. Keith hadn't even realized how fast the time moved forward.

Lance might not be fighting, but his dodging and his movements were fluid like water.
Again, Keith had the feeling Lance was dancing through all of this training. As if he was parcouring or break dancing.