"Because I Care About Her" A Plance Fanfic

Chapter 1

Takes Place Right After Voltron Season 7 Episode 3

***
It was a chilly, ice-like planet they were on, but Pidge didn't feel like going back inside right now. Everything had happened so fast that she was still processing what had happened. Ezor and Zethrid were warlords now, Axca had joined the Voltron Coalition, and apparently, three years had passed while they were in that Quintessence field.

It was too unbelievable to be true, almost. Pidge shuddered as she thought back to the way Zethrid had grabbed her by the throat with nothing standing between her choking the life right out of Pidge. It was terrifying. She knew that a lot of their team had been through worse, but it was still a nightmare.

"Is this where you go to rock out?"

Pidge jumped backward in shock. "Oh, Lance," she said, recognizing the Red Paladin coming up behind her. He looked worn out, but who wouldn't after everything they had been through.

"I just, wanted to make sure you were alright. After everything that happened, you know."

Pidge blinked several times over. Lance wanted to know if she was okay? Lance? Why did that surprise her so much? "Oh, no, I'm fine," she insisted, despite how shaken she really was. "I just, needed a minute to myself." She shuddered, only half from the cold.

Lance nodded. "Well, don't stay out too long. You'll freeze." Lance gave her a smile so warm that it almost made Pidge melt. She was once again reminded of that moment, and how Lance hadn't hesitated to protect her.

"Don't you touch her!"

The power of those words as he lunged himself at Ezor shot through Pidge's bones. She had never seen Lance so angry before, so protective...and sweet. Oh, quit it! She told herself. Lance would've done that for anyone on the team. But the way he said it...the emotion in his voice...maybe he cared about her a little more than she thought.

"Pidge! Pidge!" Lance called.

"Huh? What?"

"You spaced out. Are you sure you're alright?" Lance reached out to touch her shoulder, but Pidge pulled away.

"Yeah. Just, just tired. I better go back inside," she said before dashing off.

Lance watched as Pidge hurridly went back to their little camp. He frowned, not at all convinced. That must've really shaken her. It must've been terrifying. It was for him.

Lance didn't know why, but the thought of any harm coming to Pidge horrified him. It made him sick inside. Ezor and Zethrid could have done anything to her, and that made Lance more angry and scared than anything else. That thought overwhelmed him, and he knew he had to do everything in his power to protect her. He wasn't sure why. He could imagine anyone else on the team in the scenario, but it wasn't as terrifying as Pidge getting hurt. He knew she was strong. Pidge had been through so much, but he couldn't even begin to imagine someone actually hurting her.

"Don't you touch her."

He had said those words with such ferocity, such power, and he had meant it. Nobody should dare touch Pidge as long as he was around.