Chapter Text
It was a normal day, or as normal as a simulated daylight cycle can be, while also being in the middle of a random galaxy during a massive space war.
Lance had been plotting ways to mess with Keith when the lights flickered and a blue swirly portal that looked just like a miniature version of the wormhole appeared in the middle of the common room.
“Guyys??” Lance looked around and realized he had been left all alone in here. He huffed and slowly unfolded himself from his spot on the couch stretching out his sore limbs. Time to find the others.
Not long after all of the paladins were gathered in the common room while Coran ran tests on the portal.
“It’s giving off the same frequency of energy as our teledov but it’s… strange”
“What do you mean by that Coran?”
“Well number one, I can’t be completely sure unless we send someone in there and that's way too dangero-”
“I’ll do it!” He was practically vibrating with excitement as he shoved past Keith to stand in front of Coran.
“Lance what the heck.” Keith glared at him and dusted off his jacket which Lance ignored.
“Shut up mullet.” He turned to Coran, purposefully turning himself away from Keith. “You need more information on it so I’ll go in.”
“But it could be dangerous Lance.”
“Yeah but listen Shiro, it could be more dangerous to let it stay open in the ship.”
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Keith watched as Lance had a rope tied around his waist. He had no idea why Lance had been so stubborn about going into the portal but here they were preparing to send him in. Everyone was suited up but Lance looked ecstatic.
Keith grumbled and crossed his arms. “This is stupid.”
“Y’know Mullet we really need to work on your self talk.” Lance smirked over at him and Keith seethed.
Pidge snorted but otherwise made no noise as she set up the winch system.
Keith growled in frustration and threw his hands up. “I hate you.”
“Boys please.” Shiro sighed, “This is already stressful enough as it is.”
Pidge stood and walked over to Lance and punched him in the shoulder. Keith felt a sense of smug satisfaction as Lance rubbed the spot and pouted at Pidge. Serves him right for being so annoying.
“What was that for?!”
Pidge ignored the question and pointed at the rope. “If you run into trouble, tug on the rope and it will automatically pull you out of there.”
“Make sure to stay on the coms Lance, we don’t need to lose you in there.”
“I got it dad,” Lance grinned as Shiro sputtered in surprise, “don’t stress so much, the Lance master is always careful.”
Keith rolled his eyes at the name while Hunk and Pidge shuddered.
“Don’t call yourself that ever again or I’ll cut the rope.”
“Awe Pidge don’t be so mean to me. Hunk help me out buddy!”
“Nope, I’m with Pidge on this one, I’ll hand her the knife.”
Lance pouted at both of them and Keith almost laughed at his expression. Almost.
“Alright time to go in, wish me luck!”
Without any hesitation Lance stepped through the portal and they waited.
Without any explanation the winch stopped feeding rope out and began pulling it back in.
Without any pauses it whipped out and slapped against the wall as the rope came back.
Without Lance.
Keith whipped around to stare at Shiro’s blank face feeling his anxiety levels rise.
“Don’t panic, the knot could have come undone” Shiro spoke into the com in a steady voice, “Lance? What’s going on?”
Static.
“Lance? Come in.”
“Now can we panic? Because I feel the need to panic now.”
Allura smiled and placed a calming hand on Hunk’s arm, “Breathe Hunk, I’m sure Lance is just pranking us. You know how he likes to play jokes.”
“Yeah, he probably saw an opportunity and decided he needed a laugh.”
“Exactly Pidge.” Allura nodded and watched the portal. “We just need to wait for him to come back.”
Keith wouldn’t put it past Lance to play a joke in normal circumstances but why would he try to convince them to let him go in just to mess with them? He wasn’t stupid or overly mean. Why was everyone being so calm?
Shiro sighed and rubbed his hands together slowly. “Looks like we’ll just have to wait for Lance to come back through.
Four minutes later and there was still nothing. Keith knew there was probably nothing to worry about but he couldn’t help it. Pidge and Hunk we’re sitting on the couch playing an Altean card game to pass the time, Coran was taking measurement and twirling his mustache while Allura watched and Shiro was sitting down watching the portal with his helmet still on, probably listening to the coms in case Lance decided to answer them.
Keith knows that they can’t exactly go in after him but he doesn’t like sitting here waiting. He threw his helmet down on the couch right before he began pacing but even that didn’t settle his anxious energy. When Lance came through again he was going to shout at him. Or hit him. Or both. They can’t have people playing pranks in the middle of a war. There were better things to do.
His train of thought was cut off by a voice coming from inside the portal.
“I hate being the guinea pig. Why do I always have to test out this stupid Teledov thing?” Lance stepped through the portal and continued muttering. “Next time I’m forcing Pidge to do it herself-”
“What the HECK Lance?!” Keith was so angry that he charged forward and began yelling. “Pulling pranks at a time like this is ridiculou- What?”
Lance was looking at him with an expression of pure shock.
That was when Keith noticed that Lance was not wearing his suit. He was wearing khaki shorts, a white and blue short sleeved button up and sandals. He looked… older. Sure his fists were shoved in his pockets and he was slightly slouched but he was not 19 anymore.
Shiro stood, having managed to collect himself first and speak up. “Lance?”
Lance stood up straighter and closed his mouth, which had fallen open when Keith had started shouting at him.
Pidge and Hunk stood beside Shiro looking just as shocked.
Lance seemed to finally recover and looked back just as the portal closed itself with a schloop.
“Oh Quiznak.”
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“So you’re saying Pidge is building a smaller version of the Teledov for..”
“For automatic cross planet transport.”
“Right.” Shiro nodded like that made perfect sense, “And you were the test subject.”
Lance crossed his arms and grumbled. “Against my will.”
“Uh huh.”
Keith spoke up, “Look this is very interesting and I’m sure we’d all love to know more but I want to know where Lance is.”
Lance raised an eyebrow.
“Where our Lance is. Not you.” Keith winced at his tone and amended himself. “I mean-”
Lance laughed “Awe Ba-” He cut himself off, coughed and covered his mouth with his left hand where a golden band glinted in the castle ship's light. “I mean buddy.” He smiled as Keith narrowed his eyes at Lance. OLDER. Lance. This is so annoying.
“That’s not an answer.” Keith crossed his arms and glared at this older, somehow more annoying version of Lance not noticing Pidge and Hunk exchanging mischievous smirks behind Lance.
“Well since I ended up here with you guys I’m assuming he, er, I ended up with you all from my time. No biggie, Pidgie should find a way to reopen the portal for us to cross over again real soon.”
Shiro tapped his chin, “How soon is real soon? We’ve got a couple things coming up to y’know, defeat the Galra and everything.”
Lance smiled, “Ah don’t worry so much Shiro I can fill in until this gets sorted out.”
Pidge pushed up her glasses and frowned “We no longer have a flight suit for you though.”
Lance snapped his fingers and stood up, “Good point. Coran you gorgeous man, which way is the replicator room? It’s been so long since I’ve actually been on this ship I have forgotten my way around.”
Coran brightened up and pulled up his schematics. “Well it's on the fifth floor in the left wing.”
“Ah fabulous.” Lance stretched out and ran a hand through his hair which Keith was still trying to get used to. It was curly and longer than he was used to seeing. He kept getting distracted by the strangeness of it. Lance looked completely different, but also strikingly similar, it was really confusing.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Lance calling his name.
“What did you call me?”
Lance frowned and squinted his eyes thinking back. “I called you Keith? Y’know like, your name?”
“When did I stop being Mullet or some other nickname??” Keith could handle a lot but the drastic difference between this Lance and his Lance was really throwing him off.
“Oh I stopped that a long time ago.” He waved his hand like he was shooing away a bothersome fly, “Jeez I can’t believe I used to call you that.” He bit his lip lightly, “Actually no, I can believe it, I was such a child. Sorry Keith.” He smiled at Keith sheepishly.
Keith was floored. Lance. Admitting he was childish? Apologizing?!
Pidge walked back in and saw Keith still staring forward like he saw a ghost. “You coming with us Keith? Me and Hunk want to see the replicator! I can’t believe there are still places we haven’t found yet!”
Keith shook his head trying to clear his thoughts and followed after them leaving Shiro Coran and Allura in the control room alone.
“You aren’t going with them Shiro?”
He smiled at Allura “No princess, I think it would be best to stay here for a bit longer in case future Pidge gets the portal opened up today”
“Alright number one, but if it would make you more comfortable we can rig up sensors.”