allawander:

Lance:  Their one-sided rivalry kind of died down after, you know, Keith was declared dead in space. And then once Keith’s back (and doesn’t even remember him, wtf), things just aren’t the same. The Keith that came back is honestly kind of scary, and the idea of riling him up doesn’t hold the same appeal as it once did. Weirdly, Lance kind of ends up being someone who holds Keith back when he gets into grey moral territory, like a really annoying conscience.

“Oh yeah, sure. We’ll kill all the guards who are just doing their jobs. That’ll go over well.”

“Slow down, Mr. Stabby. I think there’s a way out of this situation that doesn’t involve impaling people on sharp objects.”

Of course, there are times when he is immensely grateful to have Champion!Keith and all his Arena experience on his side, but he’s not about to admit it.

Hunk:  Hunk can be pretty suspicious of people he doesn’t know, and even if he saw Keith around the Garrison, they never really introduced themselves. His initial impression is basically, “Yeah, i feel bad for this guy, but he also seems super dangerous. Maybe we should keep our distance?”

Then Voltron happens and they get to know each other a bit more, and Hunk figures out that Keith is actually a pretty good guy who wants to do the right thing, but his perception of what “the right thing” actually is has been warped by his time spent in captivity. After that, he tries to engage with him a bit more, to help him calm down a bit and enjoy life again.

Pidge:  Unlike Shiro, Keith didn’t get amnesia as part of the PTSD package (his mind found other ways to protect itself), so he’s able to tell Pidge more about where her family might be, along with how he tried to protect them when they were captured together. Keith put himself through hell trying to keep the rest of the crew safe, and Pidge will never forget it.

Keith is dangerous and riddled with scars, both physical and mental, but he is also her fucking hero. There’s not a lot she’d hold against him. And honestly, they’re both very pragmatic people. Remember that Pidge is the first paladin we see outright kill someone face-to-face in battle (RIP Haxus). If Keith thinks that killing some otherwise innocent guards will save lives in the end by letting them move faster and more freely on a mission, she’ll keep it in mind as an option even as she searches for alternatives.

She understands better than either Lance or Hunk that Keith isn’t trying to be cruel; he’s just very used to making hard choices in situations where there is no “everyone lives” option. He’s seen what the Empire is capable of and is willing to do whatever is necessary to put an end to it.