Hunk was 11 (almost 12) years old, lance was 10. Hunk had just been made fun of and pushed down into the dirt when Lance ran in and protected him. Even though Lance went home with bruised arms the color of the stars, he stayed positive. Hunk and Lance quickly became close.
When he was 13, Lance moved away to his tío's house for a year when his abuelo needed care. When he came back, he saw that Hunk was the positive one instead. Lance was actually scared of people and he flinched if someone raised a fist in his direction. Hunk was shocked. What had happened to his best friend? It turned out that Lance was abused by his tío and moved back early to seek counseling. Lance was a mess and Hunk realized that it was his turn to be the strong one. He helped Lance through middle and high school while fighting down his own insecurities. Lance was so grateful and he tried his hardest to keep from hurting himself, but he slipped up and started that habit. It continued for his last year of regular school and through the Garrison before reaching team Voltron. Hunk has been there for all of it and plans to continue to be until lance feels better, or so help him God he will haunt the ever loving fear out of Lance.

Pidge thinks that their friendship is peculiar and she still tries to get the two to tell her how they've done it.