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Lance is a transmigrator. One day for reasons that he can't quite remember, he got isekaied into another world. Laying on the shoal of a river he realised quite soon that he was no longer human or a living being at that point.
Conscious? Maybe.
Alive? Not that much.
His consciousness (and probably soul) were now entrapped in a pristine shining lance, that was abandoned or lost far away from human civilisation. Lance obviously couldn't just walk freely into his bright new future, but he had some kind of "power" that allowed him to push and pull himself slightly. This was his only way to move, even if just a little at a time and in the most inefficient way possible.
He found out quite a lot about himself while being alone. For example he could move just one side of his body at a time, this way he could rotate around. It was useless, but an ability nonetheless. He could also move his body all at once, which was actually also useless since it required more energy, power and time, but the effect was the same (if not worse) as his normal way of moving. One thing that was slightly exiting and maybe useful in some specific cases - was his ability to levitate. It somehow worked if he pushed his whole body up in the air, from many different directions all at the same time, while also trying to pull himself towards the sky. And voila, a levitating Lance!
But most of the time he just keeps walking the simple way, just dragging his body along the shoal.
Was it hard?
Not really. Just tedious.
Did it give him body dysmorphia?
Well, just the amount that being a long pole weapon made of fantasy metal, would give you.
He could still feel his arms and legs and head. He could almost touch his body in that phantom feeling that he has, but it's never enough, never right. At the end of the day, in this new world not only is he lonely, but also not human.
Before Lance was found, he spent days pulling himself along the shallow part of that river, never exiting the water just to get a little bit of help from the water current. He has little to do so he spends his time observing this new world from a quite low point of view, and sleeping. Even if he doesn't need to, he still tries just to let time pass quicker.
On one such occasion he is finally found and picked up by humans.
___
While he can sleep, he has little control over it, one time he slept for something that felt less than an hour, being awoken by some deer that stepped on his new body and pushed him around while drinking and running past the river. The other time he slept for at least a few months if not years, since he awoke in the middle of a harsh winter instead of a rainy summer. Being frozen tightly in place, without any ability to move. It absolutely did not help his already dire condition, so he tried to sleep again.
It was hard and Lance had to realise -in the midst of his panic- that his sleep is mostly dependent on his mental state, he had to calm down, had to "breathe" slowly, he had to ignore the tight, cold feeling around his new body.
The last time he fell asleep he just wished and hoped to awake when somebody finally finds him. But even then he couldn't simply communicate with the humans around him, no matter how much he screamed no one ever heard him, not even the boy that held the lance in his hands with so much care that it bordered with lifelong love and obsession. And those eyes... Lance hates that even after so much waiting he still feels alone.
____
Keith is a cavalry soldier tasked with a mission to bring a message to the hidden clan - The Blades of Marmora.
He and his team had to travel for months to finally reach the valley where the blades were hiding. Once there, there was little for them to do. They found the river and day by day followed it upstream deeper into the valley, higher into the mountains until they had to stop at the river's source.
And then they had to wait for the Blades to come pick them.
While they were still travelling up the stream, Keith was incredibly distracted -after all this was the place where just a century ago "the greatest battle" took place. The great battle between The Galra empire and The Kingdom of Altea. It painted this valley into a deep red for months, making this place into a desert devoid of any life for almost a decade.
It was known by all that there were no relics left, nothing to find or steal, it all was destroyed, simply disappearing with their owners as if nothing ever happened. Not even bodies remained after the battle, only blood that washed away and was long gone. After so many years and with nothing to prove that this battle was ever real, people started forgetting, and stopped believing.
But Keith knew that it was real and he wished to find even just the tiniest thing remaining from that battle even just the tiniest speck of that age, he knew it was real, he knew that there must have been something, just one little thing that stayed untouched, escaping the last magical spell that took the battle far away from this world.
And he was right. Just one lonely thing remained - it's sparkle hidden by the glittering of water, it's form covered by the stones. It was a perfectly preserved weapon, a lance that stared right into his eyes, with the bluest crystal on the opposite side of the speared head. Keith couldn't understand how such a big weapon stayed in perfect condition, unnoticed for so long, for a second he thought that maybe it was lost there recently, but looking just a bit closer made it obvious - this weapon was made by the Altean alchemists... It was a relic from the past, a relic that should not even exist, a relic that now belongs to Keith.
_____
While still travelling with his team Keith fondly observed each detail of his new-found weapon. He cleaned it with care and attention, each evening observing the magical engravings along the weapon.
In was fully made of metal but felt as light as if made of wood. And if legends are to be believed, a true Altean weapon had the ability to change it's form, and aid it's warrior in any battle. But no matter what combination of words, movements or touches Keith tried, it seemed all useless, until he poked himself with the sharp point of the lance.
"Oh damn, Shiro is gonna laugh at me when he sees that i've hurt myself... Great..." Keith cursed under breath.
'Yeah, just great, and now you're bleeding, so nice, so cool.'
Keith quickly turned around, eyes darting all around his tent in search of an intruder. Did the Blades finally come for them? Was there an enemy that they didn't notice?
'My man. What did u hear? There's literally nothing around. Just calm down, patch your wound and go to sleep, it's not like you have anything else to do.'
"Who's there!" He almost screamed, his eyes frantically dashing from one place to another. "What was that?"
...
...
...
Nothig but silence answers his question.
"Did I finally lose my mind? Am I going crazy?"
A long breath left Keith's lungs. A false sense of security settled in.
'Do... Do you hear me?'
"What!? Who is there?!" His voice grew louder.
'Do you hear me?!'
"Wha...? Yes! Where are you, stop playing and show yourself!" Keith was almost screaming, his hands ready on his sword.
A second of silence almost made him doubt himself again, and then there was a voice so cheerful and so loud that he couldn't even hear his own thoughts.
'Oh! My! God! Finally someone can hear me! You can finally hear me! I waited for so so so long that I was going crazyyy!!! And then even after you found me you still couldn't hear me! And I was ready to literally start flying and stabbing people just so that you would finally understand that i was, alive, or something. I'm actually not sure I can be considered alive. But what does it matter!? I'm finally having a conversation with another human being!!! You can't even imagine what all those years of nothing, did to me! I'm so exited!!! -'
"Keith!" A loud voice came from the outside, and a man quickly appeared inside the tent. "Is everything alright?! I heard you scream at someone! Who's there? Where are they?!" Takashi was ready to fight, stepping further into the tent, hiding Keith behind him.
Keith grabbed Shiro's arm trying to calm himself. "Shiro, I- I'm not sure"
Shiro looked at the boys trembling hands and noticed blood. "Did they hurt you? Who was that?"
"Shiro, no, no. There isn't anyone-"
"Then what happened?" Shiro was still holding his sword, his attention turned onto any sound that might be an enemy.
"I- I hear voices... No, just one voice, but I don't know where it comes from..."
'Oh, right, i'm sorry, should have sta-'
"Here it is again! Do you hear it?!" Keith tried to calm down, he tried so hard but the voice that came from inside him, was so foreign and yet so natural...
Oh, it came from inside him...
"No, I don't hear any voices..." Shiro looked extremely worried and it wasn't helping.
'Let me just make it easy'
Keith held his breath, his heart was louder that any cannon, he was almost ready to believe in god or to pass out.
And then he saw movement, slow and almost unnoticeable, he saw how that lance, that Altean relic that he found days prior- gradually lifted from the ground.
And Keith felt his legs loose strength as he fell with his knees on the floor. He tried holding onto Shiro with all of his remaining strength, he really tried to, but then Shiro saw where he was looking, and turned around to see it for himself.
The lance was now standing straight, looking down on them, then there was a soft laugh and after -Keith could only feel rage.
"Ha-ha, I guess there's a lot we don't know about Altean weapons. But could it be that you bonded with it?"
...
There was only rage.
He felt so embarrassed for being so scared and shocked, for loosing his calm and for not knowing such an obvious answer. Yeah, he should have known that it was just a bond with a magical weapon made centuries ago by a great civilisation of which almost no record remains. He should have known, or at least should have stayed calm...
And then there were more voices, more of the party coming to see what happened, ready to fight.
There was only rage.
He was embarrassed for feeling so powerless, he was humiliated by no other that himself.
'Hey man, everything ok?'
There was only rage.
He was stuck with a voice in his head, a voice that was so natural and so foreign at the same time... Yeah, he might have humiliated himself, but at least he had something- someone- to blame.
"I already hate this."
'Oh, man, sorry for that. But while you still hear me, what is "bonding"? Is that cool? Also I can't stand much longer."
The lance fell with a lout thump, clank, wham and any other sound imaginable.
Keith could only tense his body as those unnatural sounds vibrated trough his bones.
_____
It was strange.
This "lance" had a voice, personality, it had memories that weren't from this world. Memories from when it was human.
Nothing like this was ever recorded. For a weapon to have human mind...
Was it possible?
Seemingly yes, since now Keith was bonded to such an anomaly.
Bonding with a weapon isn't uncommon. Quite the opposite actually. Knights and soldiers dedicate their lives to one weapon only, bringing it into every fight and battle, sharing their deepest fears and desires with wood and metal, in hopes that one day it would answer, and would guide them in battle. The weapon doesn't gain a "mind" it can't feel emotions, can't be offended, it can't hold a conversation with it's wielder. It simply guides you while in battle, it becomes your sixth sense. And it requires years of use to bond with the weapon. Something that Keith was trying to do with his own blade for almost a decade, and it's still considered just the beginning.
Hence why he didn't even think about a weapon bond, when a human voice started screaming inside his head, after he slightly cut himself with a lance he had for just a few days.
After some thoughts he, Shiro and "lance" came to the conclusion that it was probably possible because Keith was just obsessed with his new weapon (Keith considers this part of the theory- at the very least - questionable and unproven ) while "lance" didn't care to choose the best warrior and just wanted someone to talk with.
It was loud and too cheerful, too chaotic, too obsessed. Probably justified since, if to be believed, it stayed isolated for years and even deep sleep couldn't alleviate the weight of loneliness.
Also to great notice- Keith found out that the lance could not hear his thoughts, and he could "think" only things that the lance was saying. So at the very least there could be arranged some silence for the both of them.
Also their connection and dialogue could be heard from quite a long distance, at least from his side. The lance could hear only as far as a human could, so Keith couldn't communicate much if his words were too far to hear, while the lance could talk and be heard almost infinitely. They didn't find the limit, but they know it's there since after some time the lance became slightly quieter, and his voice was no longer inside Keith's head, but came closely behind him, from the direction where the lance was left.
Keath didn't have the time or will to analyse the right "voice to distance" proportion, and neither did the lance, saying that it already had enough conversations with the void.
And so now they are here. It's the third day that the cavalry soldiers wait for the Blades, and it's the third day that Keith hears a very obnoxious voice in his head.
'So as I said before, I had quite a big family, many siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, and I had quite a lot of friends and I just can't stand this silence and the lack of movement in this body. Keith! You can't even begin to imagine how it feels to still feel your human body, while being a stick! Keeeeithh, please, my buddy, my man, talk to me'
Keith let a loud sight escape his mouth. This almost felt like torture.
"Yeah you already told me everything about your family and friends and all that fun stuff. But could you give me at least a minute of silence while I'm eating?" He tried to stay calm, but it's quite difficult when your team glances at you, as if you're crazy.
'Oh, you're already eating? I wonder why I didn't know that... Maybe because you never take me out of this stupid tent?!! How was I supposed to know if I can't see what happens outside?! You know, as a matter of fact -I'll talk even more now!-'
"Ughh" Keith tried to close his ears knowing full well that it would have no effect on the loud voice. "All right! I heard you!" He stood up and made his way to his tent, returning immediately with a large lance in his hand. Once back at the campfire he turned it upside down, and promptly stuck the speared head of the weapon into the ground.
'Ouch. You know, you don't need to be so rough!'
"Yeah yeah, now you can look around and just shut up"
Keith tried his hardest to ignore all those eyes and ears that followed his every move and every word, but it was hard.
Shiro had told him to not worry, that the team would soon adapt and eventually everything would go back to normal.
But it's been already too long for his comfort. Keith has never been a people's person, he had a hard time communicating and finding common ground with others. And after months of travel he was finally able to talk with the other soldiers, and not just listen to their conversations. And now he's the crazy one in the group... Again.
Shiro gave him a reassuring smile, and Keith just wanted to disappear.
____
"So, do you have a name?"
'What?'
"You say you were human before, that means you must have a name for sure"
'Oh yeah! Lance!'
"Yeah, you are a lance I can see that just fine. What is your human name? Or is it that you don't have one?"
The silence was a little too long for comfort.
'My human name is "Lance". I know it's funny, but you don't need to be an ass about it.'
"I agree, it isn't funny. I'd say it's poetic. Even prophetic almost."
Keith could feel someone's gaze burning a hole in his face.
'It's not like I chose to be like this! If I could've I would have chosen to be a gun of some kind, or at least a sword'
"A gun? What's that?"
'Well... Right, you probably don't have those. You see, it's like a bow -but better!'
"Is it a bigger -lighter bow?"
'Not... necessarily. In most cases it's smaller, but I think most are lighter. Some - much lighter!'
"Does it shoot bigger arrows?"
'No, there are no arrows!-'
"So it's smaller, lighter, and without arrows?"
'Well yes. It doesn't have arrows, it shoots with bullets! They're smaller, almost like an arrow tip, but also they aren't sharp so you can't stab yourself with those.'
"So, a slingshot."
'What?! No-'
"It's smaller, lighter, doesn't shoot arrows but can let you throw a stone as small as an arrow tip, and most stones aren't exactly known for being sharp enough to cut you. I would have never expected a slingshot to be a better bow, but i guess we did live in different worlds."
'What!? No?!' Lance sounded flustered and shocked. Keith liked that. 'A slingshot?! No! Just no!... I suppose you could interpret it that way but no! It's more like a... hmm... It's like a hand-cannon, A cannon small enough to bring with you but with just as much power!'
"Yeah, I almost believe you, slingshot Lance"
'You!- How dare you!?'
Keith liked it when Lance lost his temper, he liked how easy it was to do, he tried to ignore how strange it was to have this kind of a relationship with a weapon, and he did it well enough to forget that Lance wasn't human.
____
'Stop! Throwing! Me! Around!'
Lance was quite angry. Not the first time it happened during their practice.
Ever since Lance discovered how to change his form from a lance to most other weapons, it became quite easy for them to spend whole days just training.
Keith would constantly invent new moves, new fighting styles.
What it he attacked with a spear first, and then with a sword the next second?
What if he fought with a sword that could become a war-hammer in the moment of impact?
What if a sword transformed into a morningstar while ins- Lance absolutely hated the idea, even more than any of the previous, so much so he made himself into the smallest baby slingshot Keith has ever seen... That thing was not from this world, it was practically useless in battle, and even while hunting small prey...
Keith lost a full week of training, managing somehow with just his old sword, but it wasn't even close to the feeling and progress he got while training with Lance, so he listened to most of Lance's requests, and tried to find compromises with the remaining bit.
But... most of Lance's requests were... strange to say the least.
He'd ask to be treated more gently, for Keith to not swing him uselessly, to not stab him into the earth, to not hit rocks with him... He was an indestructible weapon that couldn't feel pain(as it should be), that wanted to be treated as a human. And while Keith had no problems talking to Lance as it he was human, it was much harder to "use" him as one, while... well, using him as a mace that is supposed to shatter people's bones.
Keith once lost his temper, asking if Lance would need to be covered with cloth as to not be stained by blood.
Lance didn't answer, but the mace in Keith's hand became heavier. They never talked about it again.
Now Lance had another request -to not be thrown. But the thing is, he can now quickly return back to Keith, falling easily into his hands. Even if Lance is "stuck" he could easily wiggle himself out, doing it better and faster than if Keith tried to pull him out. And with the passing of time he now is much better and faster at controlling his "body", being able to fly short distances few times a day, which means he can also adjust himself while flying, to assure that the target gets hit with the tip of the blade. This makes him into an incredible throwing weapon, one that you could never lose.
But for some reason he hates being thrown. Keith can't understand why, since it's not that different from his normal flying... so he's been trying to find a compromise for this request, while Lance keeps saying "no" but without a real bite in his voice.
So Keith it determined to try again.
"You know how great this tactic is! You aren't even opposed to it, you just dislike the feeling of it. That's nothing!"
'Yeah, well, it doesn't matter if it's nothing or not! I still dislike it and you shouldn't do it!'
"And what if I still do it? Will you just leave me in battle with no weapon? I know you would never do that. Just agree to this plan and I promise I won't do it more than once per battle! Please!"
Keith could feel the angry stare that almost promised to cut his throat once he goes to sleep. But Lance still was too soft, too open to the idea. His words and actions had no weight behind him. He couldn't prevent himself from being thrown, and he couldn't allow himself to not return into Keith's hands.
There was nothing he could do.
'Oh, you're right. I can't just leave you alone. But if you don't stop with this idea I will not cooperate during battle, and will make it so that wielding me is at much of a fight as a real one is'
That was something new.
"Oh, so you won't cooperate? As if I ever needed your help to wield a weapon!"
That same moment the sword in his hand slipped down, pulled by it's weight to the earth, stopping just a moment before hitting ground. Keith didn't even realise how loosely he was holding Lance.
But that wasn't a problem at all, he swung the sword in his hand with just as much ease and grace as if it were a feather.
"As if pulling some weight would make a difference, there's just so much a sword can weigh, and you know I could hold even more. Lance, just accept this offer and let's keep practicing."
There was a second of silence, a moment of acceptance, and Keith was already smiling when he felt a hand instead of the sword he was holding.
And then a pull.
And he could feel his body falling into someone else's control, his feet following behind as if lost.
And then he was going in circles around that "hand", another pull, and his chest was first to follow. And a push, that almost made him fall while he tripped over fis own legs, not knowing where any parts of his body were positioned in that very moment.
And when he finally learned the moves, and felt confident enough to take control back into his own hands, he felt another phantom hand lay onto his side, just above the hip.
And they were dancing once again.
He tried to fight it, he pushed and pulled and he tried to throw the sword away, but his hand never opened wide enough and the sword stayed gently in his hand, just as that subtle touch that never left his body.
They we spinning, and running and spinning again, and not once he felt in control of the movement, following the push and pull of someone who was absolutely shining all smiles and sunshine right now. And if he could see him for just a moment, Keith was sure to be blinded that very second.
And then he was roughly pulled and pushed at the same time, making him loose balance and fall to his knees, as his hands were both pulled high in the air, holding the sword as an offering... no, more like an idol to whom he was supposed to pray.
"Lance..." His voice was too soft for his liking "I heard you loud and clear... but can yo-"
He couldn't even finish his thought before a hand softly laid onto his nape, sending a shiver down his spine, that settled somewhere in his stomach as a burning hot lava. Slowly pooling even lower, too low.
"Fine. I guess this is something new that you discovered about yourself recently. Please-" Keith stopped for a second. It was obvious that what he should say is 'Please don't do this again', this was the only right answer. But the words didn't quite settle on his tongue, something completely different flowing from his mouth.
"Please, next time warn me before you do something like this"
There was a silent smirk of victory somewhere right behind his eyes, something he knew was there yet he couldn't see.
Soon after he regained his control, and held the now -weightless sword- in the air just a second too long, which caused a joyful laugh to echo in his mind.
This was good enough of a compromise.