Klance Fic Recs

Welcome to my Klance fic rec blog! I only rec fics I consider 10/10 stars, whether it's for their high caliber writing style, character interactions, or ability to provoke intense emotions. Happy reading!

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: i’m always in this twilight (link to podfic: here)

Author: iwouldgetaniguana

Podficcer: Shiloa

Rating: T

Summary: Ever since Shiro’s disappearance and Keith’s supposed rise to leadership, Keith and Allura have been spending a lot of time together – but Lance will be dammed if he lets Keith sweep Allura off her feet when Lance has been trying so hard to do just that. Who the hell does Keith think he is, anyway?

Five times Lance stopped Keith from “hitting on” Allura and one time he figured out why.

Word Count/Podfic Length: 7,744 (56 mins, 35 sec)

Excerpt: “As the battle’s Champion of Victory,” Head-Councillor Ulloum says to Allura, her voice booming out over the crowd of pointed yellow heads, “the first dance is yours. Who would have the honour of accompanying you?” she asks, bead-like eyes looking to the other Paladins.

Allura gives Keith a surreptitious glance.

“Um,” Keith stiffens, eyes popping out. He coughs. “I – I would be –”

“I would of course be honoured, Princess,” Lance announces, bounding forward to step in front of Allura and offer her his hand. He glances past her shoulder at Keith, but he just looks away, and something twists in Lance’s now-persistent chest ache.

My Comments: Highly recommend the podfic! It really brings out the (very strong already) characterization--the way Lance thinks is so believable, especially with the amount of miscommunication he not-actually-deliberately stirs up. Hunk and Allura play excellent roles as side characters and voices of reason when Lance continues to pick a fight with Keith over nothing. The final scene is so, so fun to read after the secondhand embarrassment that exudes from the rest of the fic! :D

[vld-klance-recs]

Based on the prompt: “Where do you want me to kiss you?”

Author: bittenred

Rating: T

Word Count: 1,549

Excerpt: “You know,” Lance says conversationally, tucking his hands behind his back, “this is like, second-best case scenario. A part of me maybe worried that you were going to tell me I just had something on my face, like last time. Because you like to torture me, apparently.”

“You make it easy.” The warmth in Keith’s stomach spreads up to his chest, out towards his fingers. He chuckles, shifting his weight, knowing that he’s standing really close. Maybe too close, but maybe not close enough, either. “What’s the first-best?” he asks.

My Comments: This is the first tumblr fic I’ve recced. It’s short, but every word of it is tailor-made to make your heart pound. It’s warm and soft and intimate in all the best ways. The teasing and flirting is very much Klance, and I couldn’t get enough.

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: you’d fly with me (link to series: here)

Author: eugyne (AreteNike)

Rating: G (series rated T)

Summary: It's a year in space before Lance admits aloud that he does not, in fact, hate Keith.

Warnings: Langst, anxiety, blood

Word Count: 6,634

Excerpt: "Keith," says Lance, standing in the training deck doorway. "You hate me after all, don't you."

"No?" Didn't they get this sorted out yesterday? Keith spares him a glance before he brings his bayard down on the gladiator's shoulder and ducks away. "What makes you think that?"

"You're just…" Lance waves a hand at him and doesn't continue.

"I can't read your mind, Lance." Keith finishes with an upward slice, and the gladiator clatters to the ground. He doesn't start the next round, though he's barely started training; instead, he puts his bayard away and heads over to join Lance at the door.

"I mean…" Lance scratches his head. "You're just very casual about this friendship thing."

Keith frowns. "Isn't friendship supposed to be casual?"

My Comments: Oh, wow, I loved this fic. I haven’t read the sequel yet (mostly because I didn’t know it existed until I started writing up this rec), but I can’t wait to see more of this universe. It’s a whole bunch of scenes of Lance and Keith pretty much just talking, getting to know each other, bonding. The scenes range from light-hearted, fluffy ones, to heavier material. It’s difficult to not get more invested in their friendship/budding romance the more you read. I also loved the sort of different (and refreshing) approach that the author took to their characterizations. Overall, two thumbs up!

[vld-klance-recs]

Hey! Long time, no see. It’s been about four months since my last rec was posted, so I wanted to post an update. In the wake of season 7 (maybe because of it, maybe not, I don’t know), I lost most of my interest in reading Voltron fic. Fortunately, over the last few days, some of it seems to have come back. I honestly can’t say how permanent that will be, but hopefully I can keep up a semi-regular posting schedule (for future reference, I tend to post once a week, on Friday at 6pm PST).

Also in those four months, this blog’s follower count has grown astronomically. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I love being able to share this fandom’s amazing talent with as many people as possible, which is why I decided to create this blog. I’ve had an author reach out to thank me for reccing their fic after they received a sudden burst of lovely comments on it, and it absolutely made my week. So thank you for the support!

And one more thing: look out for the rec coming later today! <3

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: deep

Author: razzrheaa

Rating: E

Summary: They fuck outside. On Keith’s bike.

Word Count: 3,945

Excerpt: Fingers tight in his hair pull him up and around and he opens his eyes wide to meet the sharp blue sapphire of Lance's gaze. Lance's eyes are blazing bright crystals over his red cheeks. He gives Keith a small nod. “You just say the word, and we'll stop, okay?”

Keith closes his eyes and swallows. The movement pulling against his taught throat is new and strange and exhilarating. He nods as much as he can against the hold.

“Good boy,” Lance says and proceeds to finally get on with it with a punctual shove of Keith's face into the front console.

My Comments: They, uh… both have piercings. It’s really hot. Honestly, this fic checks off almost everything I love to read in smut. Dirty talk that is more than just… there, but actually contextually fits and amps up the story? Check! Realistic, tangible emotion? Check! It was actually pretty difficult to find a SFW part to excerpt, but hey! There was one there. Barely. :D

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: Jealousy Thy Name is Lance

Author: RandyDowager

Rating: T (but there is sexual content)

Summary: “I heard that you like someone,” he admitted. Wow, it hurt to say it out loud.

Word Count: 8,110

Excerpt: Lance caught sight of Keith laughing when Coran dipped him like a heroine in a musical, and even upside-down it was enough to make his heart jump. When he curtseyed farewell to the Altean man and made his way over, Keith was back to scowling and no amount of persuasion or taunting could make him join in.

“I don’t dance,” he insisted, pulling his arm out of Lance’s grip and stubbornly folding them.

“You scared, Samurai? Come on, even Shiro is trying.”

Amusement sparked in Keith’s eyes, sort of violet under pink lantern-light, as he glanced over at Shiro’s one-man shuffle. Still, he shook his head. “I don’t dance.”

My Comments: Not only is there fascinating world-building in terms of the planet and people involved with this fic, but the author also perfectly captures that nerves/attraction combo that comes after realizing your crush on someone is requited. Both aspects of the story completely sucked me in from the beginning, and didn’t let go.

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: A Perfect Fit

Author: TheQueen

Rating: T

Summary: Are you considering taking the cure? Find your soulmate after all these years?”

“Why would I do that?” Keith says, blunt as ever.

On the other side of the screen, Lance gasps quietly.

“W-well...” The reporter stammers clearly surprised. “Why wouldn’t you want your soulmate?”

Warnings: Minor Character Death, Langst

Word Count: 5,522

Excerpt: The price--the cost of lycanthropy--is simple. To be bitten is to lose your soul mark.

When the world was made, it is said God or nature or magic or evolution split the human soul and placed them into two bodies. When these two bodies united, the soul was complete. The person made whole again.

A werewolf needed no soulmate. They had their wolf. In all ways that matter, the wolf became their soulmate, completed their souls, and strengthened their bodies.

To a young man like Lance, just barely 18 and with nothing to lose and so very tired of watching his world die, the price is something he’s more than happy to pay.

My Comments: This story is so interesting. It’s set in New York City after war on Earth with the Galra. There are werewolves. And pack bonds. And soulmarks. It’s a super imaginative setting, and I’d love to read a full AU of this world, but even just getting a snapshot of it in this fic is absolutely incredible!

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: running with your eyes closed

Author: perfchan

Rating: M

Summary: Being lost versus feeling lost. Remembering versus imagining. Time versus distance. Leaving things left unsaid versus not saying what he means.

Having the courage to close the gap versus the realization that someone needs to bring him back.

When a solo mission for the Blade takes an unexpected turn, Keith is left stranded. When Voltron’s alliance with Lotor and Shiro’s strange behavior have mixed everything up, Lance is left wondering where he fits into this new team dynamic. This is a complicated story about time and space and fighting and persevering, and the simplicity of connection.

Warnings: violence, Langst (insecurity), nightmares, brief implied off-screen self-harm (not Keith/Lance)

Word Count: 36,571

Excerpt: “Shush, you!” Lance says, chest so flush with his that Keith can feel the rumble of the words. He mumbles, “Talk about having a bonding moment, now this is having a moment. ‘Don’t get along,’ you gotta be quiznacking kiddin’ me, I swear,”

They stay like that for a beat longer. Keith tries not to memorize the feel of Lance’s hair tickling his face, how his arms fit snug around his chest. He tries not to deeply inhale the way Lance smells--soapy and citrus-y and a little sweet. He tries to not let himself get used to the feeling of warmth that’s blooming within him and making it hard to think.

He tries. He tries because, by then, he had already made the decision to leave.

My Comments: The build up in this fic is composed of sweet memories and wistful dreams of Lance and Keith managing to get along, which haunt both of them as they work to find each other. I love the use of alternating POV in this fic, as it feels fully necessary to explain the scope of all that’s going on at either end of the story. Which is a lot. And the plot itself is really interesting (the planet Keith is on is so cool!!), with reveals I didn’t see coming. Whenever I’m looking for a “post-season __” story, this is exactly the type of fic I’m looking for.

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: Cereal Sweepstakes and Other Bad Ideas ft. Lance McClain

Author: ruralfishingcat

Rating: T

Summary: After winning a free session from a cereal contest, Lance decides to visit Voltron Skydiving. Unfortunately, there's only one employee working at the time and he has a stupid mullet. And to make matters worse, Lance seemingly can't escape interactions with him.

Warnings: some Langst (insecurity)

Word Count: 50,340

Excerpt: “Uh, buddy, you know I love you and all, but if you don’t clean up your mess in the kitchen I’m giving your bed to the squirrels,” Hunk said.

“Okay! Jeez,” Lance said with a huff and stood, cracking his back. “And we wouldn’t have squirrels camping outside our apartment if someone didn’t feed them all the time!”

Hunk looked distraught. “It’s not my fault they love my soufflé!”

“Squirrels shouldn’t even know what soufflé is! This isn’t Ratatouille, Hunk!” Lance scooped up the milk jug and headed toward the fridge.

My Comments: God, this fic is so much fun. I spent most of it smiling like an idiot, because the humor is so in tune with Lance as a character. And there’s 50k of it O_O

Seriously, this author’s dialogue is fantastic. I especially loved Hunk and Pidge (and Shiro!)’s obvious attempts to set Lance and Keith up, only for Lance to remain totally oblivious :D

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: 'Shiro and Keith's Kickass Fighting Techniques' by Lance McClain

Author: skyestiel

Rating: T

Summary: 'And, really, it’s a pretty brilliant idea. Until Shiro’s Kickass Fighting Techniques quickly becomes Shiro and Keith’s Kickass Fighting Techniques.

That’s when things start going downhill.

Because soon enough, the bulleted list consists of more than just fighting techniques.'

or: Lance starts with one role model and ends up with two, a myriad of confusing emotions, and a notebook filled with condemning evidence which Hunk must never see

Word Count: 11,660

Excerpt: “You ready for another round?” His sparring partner has returned and, Lance notes, with impeccable timing. “Not gonna lie, though, I'm pretty worn out.”

Lance peeks at the dueling star pupils. Keith manages to twist Shiro's arm behind his back and now Shiro is the one being taken down, Keith sitting astride the back of Shiro's thighs, chest nearly close enough to press against Shiro's back and-

“Nah, I think we can call it quits.” Lance beams and his partner fixes him with a strange look.

“Okay... see you around,” he calls with a half-hearted wave.

It isn't until Lance returns to his room and looks at his reflection that he notices. Shit. His face looks like a fucking tomato.

My Comments: This fic crafts a really interesting portrayal of the Garrison backstory, combining original interpretation with elements from canon. We get to see how Shiro and Keith meet, the formation of Lance’s obsession first with Shiro and then, fairly quickly, Keith, and the disastrous repercussions of the Kerberos mission, all told from Lance’s surprisingly self-contained POV (even Hunk, as exasperated as he already is, doesn’t know all of Lance’s thoughts regarding Keith).

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: Today, anew

Author: MemeKonVLD

Rating: M

Summary: “Lance.”

Lance’s eyebrows furrow in concern for a second before his whole face goes gentle and open.

“Hey buddy, everything okay?”

Keith nods. Then shakes his head, then opens his mouth to let out a noisy sob before he’s hugging the air out of Lance, grip vise tight.

Lance hugs him back. That’s one of the great things about him— he doesn’t— he doesn’t need explanations for things like this. He doesn’t make Keith jump through hoops, the way other people might— he’s just— he just knows what Keith needs in times like this. No façades, no posturing.

(Or: the one where Keith is trapped in a time loop. A time loop from hell.)

Warnings: temporary major character death, major angst, blood, injury

Word Count: 5,910

Excerpt: The dreams don’t stop, either. Like clockwork, every night a retelling. Every night a way in which his relationship and Lance’s could’ve gone differently, if only Keith had done things differently, in some way. None of them are big, sweeping gestures. They are all tiny things, they are all the things Keith would’ve wanted to do— the things he didn’t do because he was scared, because he was nervous—

—because he thought he’d have time .

Those are the worst ones.

My Comments: I’ve been looking to read a heavier, darker approach to Voltron for some time, and this fic fit the bill perfectly. After reading the summary I still didn’t necessarily know what I was getting into, so please heed the warnings; however, if you’re looking for angst (still with a happy ending!), make this your first stop. The writer’s style tends to leave things implied, which I absolutely loved, yet it does not back away from harsh depictions of grief and survivor’s guilt in the aftermath of a loved one’s death.

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: Eyes Over Here, Mister

Author: amillionsmiles

Rating: G

Summary: Despite what his track record might look like, Lance understands girls, okay? Keith has Bad Boy written all over him—the dude sleeps with a knife, for Pete’s sake, and seems partial to black T-shirts when he isn’t in the Garrison uniform. Throw in a guardedness that could pass off as “mysterious” and a pair of dark eyes that could turn soulful in the right lighting and also if you could, like, get the guy to even look at you in the first place—

“Do you think I could work a mullet?” Lance asks Hunk.

“Absolutely not.”

OR: four times Keith completely ignored Lance, and one time he didn't.

Word Count: 1,808

Excerpt: “Hey, that was some pretty awesome stuff that you did in there! Like the barrel roll? Good stuff. One of my favorite maneuvers—I’m on the pilot track too, you know. Maybe we could hang out some time, swap notes...” He moves to nudge the other boy with his elbow, a conspiratorial look on his face.

(Because call Lance a “goofball” or “uninspired” or whatever, but whenever he wants something, he wants it wholeheartedly, and certified pilot is the current dream.)

But Keith shoulders past him like he isn’t even there, leaving Lance gaping in outrage.

“Did he just—did he just ignore me?”

My Comments: This fic is exactly what you want in a one-shot. It’s got excellent character moments and snapshots of backstory, and does just enough to make the fic feel resolved. A nice, calming read.

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: polaris

Author: VaraderoBeach

Rating: T

Summary: Keith looks down at the stereotypical red solo cup in his hand, filled with some liquor he found in the fridge. Someone named Rolo had put in his hand almost an hour ago. At first, he hadn’t had any of the mystery liquid out of fear of the unknown, but the second he saw Lance he chugged half of it’s contents. It’s fruity, but sour.

Keith looks up from the cup as he brings it to his lips again. His eyes, almost as if they’re trained to do so, find Lance. Lance is speaking to the short girl — Katie, he thinks is her name, but he isn’t positive — and the larger man he knows to be Hunk. He and Hunk have physics together. They’ve never spoken. Lance laughs at something Hunk says, and Keith finds himself smiling into his cup. He hates it and downs the rest of the cup’s contents, and then grimaces at the taste.

Keith decides he needs a refill.

Warnings: underage drinking, anxiety

Word Count: 6,513

Excerpt: When he exits the cafeteria, he turns down the nearest hallway and leans against the nearest wall to ground himself. He thinks that maybe, if he smoked cigarettes, he would want one right now. But he doesn’t, so he pulls out a pack of gum from his pocket and chews that instead. He doesn’t know why looking at a boy makes his heart race and his blood boil and the hair on his arms stand on end. The only other time he feels such raw emotion, such adrenaline, is in the simulator. He decides the boy gives him anxiety. He decides the boy isn’t worth his time. Not by a long shot.

My Comments: A really introspective take on Keith developing an infatuation with Lance (which of course leads to more). There's something about the writing style that's different, and I don't know. I like it. The fic explores Keith’s experience with anxiety, which seems to drive the focus of the writing in an unconventional way.

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: The Patrulian Zone

Author: Shiverslightly

Rating: E

Summary: Lance logs in to Oriande, the dating app known for easy hook ups with no strings attached. Finding Keith, he gets exactly what he signed up for.

So how come suddenly, it doesn't feel like enough?

Word Count: 17,498

Excerpt: 

Slowly, so slow it might as well be happening in slow motion his friend turns around. Long hair pulled back in a ponytail and far less disheveled than the last time Lance saw him. But it’s definitely the same Keith.

In a tight fitting, deep burgundy suit with black button up underneath, the top few buttons open, he’s positively devastating. His shoulders are almost up at his ears, violet eyes glued to their feet as his arms cross over his chest and Lance forgets how to breathe.

He doesn’t let himself notice how beautiful Keith is, doesn’t acknowledge the urge he has to run a tongue over the pale sliver peeking through his open shirt, doesn’t flashback to that head thrown back on his shoulder, hand wrapped around that delicate throat. Lance hates how his heart picks up at the sight of him.

Picks up in anger, he tells himself.

His eyes narrow, his voice turning low, icy. “Yeah, we’ve met.”

My Comments: Keith, here; he's guarded. He's afraid to let anyone close, and it makes for some aching moments when you can tell that he wants to. And poor Lance, struggling to keep himself detached. I'm a sucker for smut-with-feels, and that's what this fic is.

[vld-klance-recs]

month-long hiatus

Hello, everyone. This next month (May) is going to be really busy for me, so I've decided to temporarily stop posting. I'll be back in June, just in time for season 6! <3

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: Lonely in love

Author: Warmybones

Rating: M

Summary: He could go, avoid all the temptations that made his breath shorten and his gaze linger for too long, but he felt warmer with Keith. Safer. He belonged right beside him, filling the cracks in his armour and keeping him from crumbling.

Even if he was the one crumbling on his leader’s sheets.

Word Count: 2,110

Excerpt:

Keep it together, Lance, keep it together.

But his words didn’t work on himself. Not like they did on Keith. He breathed in deeply, pressing harder against his eyes in a weak attempt to soothe the aching in his chest, the pulsing in his head. It was painful to know that his words were powerful enough to easily reach Keith, to make him succumb sweetly until he was willing to listen, and to know at the same time that he was powerless.

He couldn’t reach to Keith like his words did, couldn’t touch him like his words were allowed to.

My Comments: This is one of those fics that you try to read as slow as you can, just so you can savor every gorgeous, quotable line. My emotions were in tatters as soon as I started reading it, and each new paragraph just frayed them more (in a very, very positive way).

[vld-klance-recs]

Title: accidentally in love

Author: shukagari

Rating: G

Summary: Keith gets covered in amortentia, and Lance smells him - accidental declarations are made.

Word Count: 2,215

Excerpt: “Look at that, in his seventh year and he can’t even get a simple pepperup potion right!” he crowed, and then watched Keith out of the corner of his eye, whose back had tensed as soon as Lance’s big mouth had opened, eagerly awaiting his reaction.

Keith whirled around, now directing his glower at Lance (Lance practically swooned under it, Pidge noticed in mild disgust, the amount of delight on his face at having Keith’s attention was sickening). “Well at least I can ride a broom,” Keith snapped back, “What was that move you pulled during last week’s game? The one when you rammed headfirst into a goal post?”

My Comments: Really cute! The author made a great choice in having Pidge narrate the story, both for her observations of the current scene as well as her exasperation at having had to deal with both boys’ pining for seven whole years. The whole declaration part is so fluffy, and the bickering beforehand is an absolute gem.