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When it came to being chosen as the new paladin for the Black Lion, Keith wasn't exactly excited. But he got over it eventually. It took a while, he'll admit, but he was the leader of Voltron and now he was proud rather than burdened. But now… He was starting to struggle again.
Lance noticed almost immediately when this started. He noticed how Keith pet Kosmo– the space wolf he adopted– more often than typically, almost like he was seeking comfort. And he also noticed how Keith seemed to hesitate when assigning the team with tasks during missions, which is never a good thing. Lance would be lying if he said he wasn't worried, which is why he found himself at Keith's door in the castle.
“Hey, mullet-head!” Lance practically banged on the door, tapping his foot almost comically. Keith answered a second later, confused and clearly tired. He was probably sleeping if Lance had to guess.
“Dude, what the hell?” Keith opened the door enough for Lance to enter, a soft hiss indicating the door had closed behind the other paladin. Kosmo was asleep on the small bed tucked into the wall.
“Look, uhh, I noticed lately that you seem to be..” He looked for the right word, “unfocused? No, more paranoid. And that's a bit concerning considering the fact that you're our leader.” Lance explained, scratching the back of his neck gingerly.
Keith almost died on the spot. “What?” He couldn't even try to defend himself because he was too busy professing the fact Lance had noticed.
"Well, I could be wrong! I could totally be paranoid myself and just looking too deep-” Lance practically rambled. “Look, I just want to be sure nothing is wrong, even if we never quite got along for a long time.” He explained, looking down at their feet almost shyly. “I'd hate to notice something wrong and not say anything.” He didn't say that, but he almost did.
Keith, meanwhile, was entirely baffled. Yeah, he was struggling, but Lance of all people noticed? “I, uh, I don't really know what you mean..” He tried to play it off, but Lance's worried stare made him give up on lying. “Okay, okay. I've just had a lot on my mind lately, especially with… everything.” He looked away and gestured vaguely, as if trying to explain what he meant with his hands.
“... How so?” Lance wasn't taking vagueness as an answer.
Keith flinched internally– he hated having to explain how he felt, it was always something he hated. “.. Just homesick, and I guess worried I'll mess up again like I did at first.” He practically mumbled out the words, stepping back towards his bed with a sigh. Lance followed suit and sat down on the mattress.
“Yeah, well, whatever is bugging you so much will be fine, I'm sure.” Lance did his best at reassurance, offering a lopsided grin like it could fix everything happening. Keith sat down with a scoff.
“You don't get it. I'm the leader, the pilot of the Black Lion and all of you rely on me.” He grimly petted his wolf, scratching lightly behind a fluffy ear. He couldn't believe he was talking about feelings with Lance.
“... Uh, maybe I can help with whatever it is? I mean, I'm your ‘right hand man' as the Red Lion paladin. Have faith in your trusty sharpshooter,” Lance replied, his grin staying as he tried to figure out why Keith was so tense and worried. Maybe it was something to do with Allura, or Shiro? Shiro was always a sensitive topic with Keith. They were like brothers to each other, so whenever something happened to one or the other, it always got tense fast.
"You can't help me, Lance.” Keith stated, looking at the other man firmly.
“Oh c'mon, how can you be sure if you won't even tell me?” Lance clearly isn't taking a ‘no', as usual.
“Because I just know, okay?”
“Just tell me! I want to help.”
“How can you help when you're the reason I'm so tense?!” Keith finally snapped, voice cracking halfway and he immediately cringed internally.
“... What?” Lance was confused. He was the problem? He was sure he did everything correct– he had made an effort of complying with the team, following orders and being the best paladin he could be.
Keith sighed, realizing how he made it sound. He looked down at his lap and mentally prepared himself for talking. “It's not like that. I just..” He had to pause to find his words, but Lance staring dead at him wasn't helping. “... I don't want to mess up and risk hurting you. I want to be perfect… specifically for you, Lance.”
The admission had Lance taken aback. Keith was so worried… because he wanted to be ‘perfect' for him? “... You've been tearing yourself apart for me? Because you don't want to hurt me in any way?.. Keith,” He had to keep himself from rambling about how Keith wouldn't ever hurt him.
Keith couldn't bring himself to respond, too busy looking at Kosmo and fighting the tears that pricked his obsidian eyes. Lance figured it was too much for him. And so, he did what anyone would do– he leaned over and hugged Keith lightly without a word.
"I didn't take you as the kind of guy to worry about someone like me,” Lance teased, but when he didn't get a reaction he got serious again. “No matter what you think, I'm always gonna be here for you, alright? I've got your back. And if you do happen to mess up, well, I'll help you get back up.”
“... Thanks,” Is all Keith could muster, pulling his knees to his chest with Lance still wrapped around him like a clingy child. It was nice to be embraced by someone's arms.
“... Heh, when I say ‘Vol', you say ‘tron', right? Vol…”
“... Voltron.” Keith couldn't help a small laugh as he remembered the first time Lance brought up that chant. They had just earned their first alliance, Lance was drinking some weird drink that apparently worked as a hair ointment according to Coran. He missed being clueless sometimes, but he didn't miss the new relationships he had.
This is all he needed now. To be able to confide in Lance, and have a reliable team like Voltron.