futuro inbox

[juniberries]

 

username: ALTEA

✉ ☏ 📷

Comments

[ceruleo]

[ He hesitates before answering. His answer feels selfish in comparison. ]

I.

[ It would be easy to lie and say he's here to help grow the Coalition--but. He can't lie to Allura. ]

I wanted to get better, I guess. To...catch up with everybody.

[juniberries]

Catch up?

[Regardless of everything she’s done, she feels that of all the Paladins needing to catch up...it’s her.

Lance is...she admires him, in a way. He’s been a constant supporting figure for her.]

Lance, you do not need to catch up to anyone on the team.

[ceruleo]

[ He shrugs even though she can't see it, a little uncomfortable. ]

I mean, I feel like I do. Isn't that enough? [ Not feeling like he's made his point, he persists: ] I don't have Pidge and Hunk's tech skills, or Keith and Shiro's leadership ability. I don't inspire people like you do. So I've gotta...figure out how to do my part better. Figure out what I can work on so I can bring my A-game.

[juniberries]

I am not saying you shouldn't seek improvement. We are all still learning what we can do as paladins.

[Lance if she could grip your shoulder now, she totally would.]

But you have inspired me. You are a great Red Paladin, one who would have made my father proud.

[ceruleo]

[ Hearing her say that warms him down to the tips of his toes; he flushes pleasantly. ]

Thanks, Allura.

I came here--[ He feels like he should anchor this in time for her, because maybe he's missing a piece. ]--I came here right after we found Shiro, when we fought Lotor and formed Voltron with Keith in Black. We've got Shiro, Keith, you, me, Hunk and Pidge. That's six Paladins, and five Lions. [ He's not looking to rehash his conversation with Keith, not least of which because he's combed over it twice with the man himself already. He just wants to explain. ] And I felt like--like I should do better, you know?

[ He feels silly explaining it to her, now that the words are out. It was easier to tell Keith, somehow. ]

[juniberries]

[She's quiet for a tick, still ruminating over how long ago that feels.

There's really no knowing in what would happen were she to tell him what's to come for them. At least, in her reality. It's a weird sort of responsibility she's never really thought of having before, so when she speaks she chooses what to say carefully.

But still, she thinks of him, what he's said to her all those times she's struggled with being the Blue Paladin, his reassurance when she doubted herself and her ability:]

It is your desire to do better that makes you a great Paladin, Lance. I cannot imagine piloting Blue without looking to you as inspiration.

[And she doesn't mean it disparagingly this time!! Especially since it's just the two of them & he's behaving.]

You do not have to worry about being replaced, if that is what you're concerned about. You have always been vital to the team, a part of that is why Red chose you.

[It's not hard to read between the lines of what he's saying.]

[ceruleo]

[ He appreciates that he doesn't have to explain it to her, even if having it spelled out like that feels silly. ]

I know we've all got a part to play. I mean, I know it, I just gotta--make it stick. Work on me. I'll get there. [ Warmly: ] For the record, you're a pretty great Blue Paladin yourself.

[juniberries]

I understand; I believe that you will.

[she says that equally as warm. because gee!! things have changed between them.]

And thank you, it means a lot to hear that from you.