Why *i* thought Keith was gonna end up with Lance, and not Allura

A thread bc I'm bored

Confirmed things about Lance's endgame:
-he'll be someone's 1st choice
-wont be a rebound
-hell get what he needs, not what he wants
-hell end up opposite to where he started
-he needs someone who's self assured bc he needs self assurance
-its slowburn
-it's a natural progression

If his endgame is KEITH:
-he'd be Keith's first choice
-he wont be a rebound
-he'd get what he needs
-he'd end up opposite from where he started (girl>boy, rival>lover)
-he'd get self assurance
-it'd be slowburn
-itd be natural

With ALLURA:
-hes her 2nd choice & a rebound
-he got what (who) he wanted
-he didnt stay where he started from (became more respectful)
-he semi got self assurance
-its kinda slowburn but only one sidedly
-natural only one sidedly

And now let's dig deeper into this :D

How is K/L slowburn and A/L isnt?

Tldr
KL started off at odds, being "rivals", but their relationship QUICKLY got better after the bonding moment in s1. They became good friends in S3, their bond grew stronger, and it remained strong til the end. The attraction would be mutual.

Here's a good description of a classic slowburn. It's slow, mutual, usually not so obvious, and hidden under the surface, the emotions getting exposed at the very end

With Allura it isnt slowburn. It's kind of slowburn on Lance's side, as in his feelings were there since the start (though everyone knew it), but Allura's werent. She didnt like him for 6 whole seasons, even chose another man over him after 6 seasons,

only to randomly show interest in him in the 7th season with no build up. She knew Lance liked her and felt bad because she knew she didnt like him back.

LM: "I don’t know if Lance knows what he needs. I know what he might look for, but what he might look for is not necessarily what he needs"

Lance at the start wanted a girl whod laugh at everything he said, whod stroke his ego, who's pretty and who likes to compliment him (Nyma)

He at first liked Allura only because of her looks, but later on learned to like her because he realized how strong and amazing she is in general. He always liked her and wanted her to like him back. She was always someone who he WANTED, but... is she someone who he needs?

Allura isnt the only smart and courageous person. There is someone who is actually PUSHING Lance to be a better person

Lance is always there for Allura to help her out, help her bounce back to her feet & move on with more confidence than before. She comforted Lance before- by words
But Keith is someone who doesn't just reassure him by words, but instead PUSHES Lance to DO his better.

Keith is there for him. We know Lance missed Keith after Keith left for the BoM. Lance isolated himself, trained and played games alone. Keith pushes Lance to do his best by making him the second leader for the team, he makes Lance feel important bc

he knows Lance's insecurities and his worth. They are there for each other.

"he will end up opposite from where he started"

He started off from being flirty guy who liked girls' attention. He started from Allura. Him starting to respect girls and others in general is the opposite from where he started. But also him ending up with Keith is too.

Not with a girl, but with a boy. A boy who was his rival at the start. The opposite of rival is a lover.

Basically, rivals to friends to lovers trope

Lance is not Allura's first romantic choice. That is shown after she found out Lance liked her but still kissed Lotor, a whole 6 seasons into the show.

Lance would be Keith's first choice.

"He needs someone who's self assured bc he needs self assurance"

The only person who Lance willingly went to when he was feeling insecure and vulnerable was Keith. Keith is self assured, especially after spending 2 years with his mom; he knows who he is.

Allura isnt as self assured. She needs someone to be there for her and help her be self assured. While Lance is there helping her become more confident, he's pushing himself down while also pushing her up. They BOTH need self assurance. Together, it wont work

Take them in s8, Lance was always reassuring allura about problems, and he probably didnt want to stress her out with his own problems, so he stayed quiet...

Lance doesnt get back the self assurance he helps Allura gain, & he doesnt even go to her for self assurance & instead builds his feelings up. unless she goes to him.

Keith is there to help Lance & give him self assurance by actions, & sometimes words. But it helps Lance a lot.

In s7&8, Keith reminded Lance that he wasnt just the 7th wheel, that hes the teams 2nd leader and his right hand man. He reminded him that he isnt just the sharpshooter. He pushes Lance to be a better leader, a better person.

He willingly makes Lance the leader even though Shiro & Krolia are there. He trusts Lance and knows what he's capable of.

Unlike Kuron in past episodes, Keith listens to what Lance has to say and considers it. There is trust and worry between them.

Lance was always Keith's first choice, and for a good reason. He is his stability, his impulse control and his friend. And for Lance, besides being his reassurance, Keith is his future.