Chapter Text
listen. obviously keith fights with lance. they're both stubborn mules, like children who both want to get their way.
but do you think he's letting anyone else talk to lance that way?
no way.
so when he comes back from living on the back of a stupid space whale for two years (never mind the fact that's it's apparently only been three months?), he doesn't stand for the shit lance is putting up with.
pidge and hunk are still pretty solidly on lance's side, but something is different about shiro, and allura is wrapped around lotor's finger. not even pidge and hunk were as vocal as he was about standing up for lance.
the first time he hears allura doubt his abilities in the form of "this is a little above what we have taught you—" keith cut allura off.
"lance was the top politics analyst in the garrison. i think he knows a thing or two about how to help the coalition."
he didn't truly wait for any reactions before he left, but he was satisfied in hearing allura shuffled papers over to him.
and when his own brother, who had returned crueler after capture, muttered "if you'd work a little harder—" keith wasn't having any of it.
"lance works plenty hard as is," he fought, arms crossed defensively. "everyone make mistakes and it does no good to keep harping on him."
all the while, he's teasing lance left and right and lance can't really seem to get a pin in what's happening.
eventually the team seems to understand. pidge and hunk come around to it, sticking up for lance more. there would probably be an emotional night where the two apologize to lance for how long it took them to realize. the two would probably spiral, saying that if keith had never come back they probably wouldn’t have noticed enough and how terrible they were at being friends—
but lance would stop them, hug them, forgive them. just like he always does.
then, of course, they find out that shiro is a clone. and once shiro is back, with the memories of his doppleganger, he makes it his ever priority to show lance that he is a good soldier, a good spokesperson, a good friend. they spend more time together, and lance gets over this innate nervousness and becomes infatuated with his hero again.
and, when all is right with dynamics in the ship again, keith can finally go back to giving lance the rivalry he deserves.