#i like building my own little universe with all these intricacies but i dont want to make reading it a chore either

[perenlop]

oughhh i got some SF ideas but i worry it veers too close into "reading diamond storm/bugs of petalroot is necessary to understand this" territory and i'm trying very hard to stick to avoiding that.

[wingsofvoltron]

Part 4 of my the astronomy Lance headcanon shindig. Links to the first three parts are at the bottom. (Also, I realized that it formats incorrectly on mobile. I’ve tried to fix it but nothing works so sorry if the switch between past and present tense is a little jarring.) 

And then it clicked. It was like two and two were finally coming together to equal four. The last piece of the puzzle had finally been put into place and Lance was able to see the whole picture.

The questions had been for him.

The “Tell me”s had been for both of them.

But the “Why don’t”s? Those had been for Keith.

Back on the Galra ship Lance had thought the “Why don’t” was to help him focus. To make sure he got the prisoners out before the ship blew. He had been wrong.

The “Why don’t” was so Keith could focus. It was so he wouldn’t worry that Lance would still be on that ship when it blew.

Because…

And the “Why don’t” after they had been beaten by Lotor. He had been sure it was to bring the team’s spirits up. But once again he had been wrong.

It was so Keith could continue being the leader that they needed. He had felt like he let the team down and he needed something to pull him back. Lance’s voice had been that something.

Because Keith…

All of the soft smiles. All of the playful flirting. All of the long nights staring at the hologram of Earth. All of the breakdowns. All of the questions, “Tell me”s, and “Why dont”s…

All of the everythings...

It had all been because…

Because…

Because Keith loved him.

And the craziest part was that Lance loved him too.

Two steps. That’s all it takes.Two steps and Keith is right there.

Lance is in love with his eyes. Full and vast.

Lance is in love with his smile. Small and secret. Just for him.

Lance is in love with his voice. Low and smooth.

Lance is just in love.

And the only way he knows how to tell Keith just how much he’s in love is to place his hand softly under Keith’s chin, raising Keith’s face so blue eyes meet indigo.

Lance has devoted a great deal of his life to understanding the stars. He has spent hours pouring over books and scouring the web. Long nights have been devoted to understanding the data archives in the castle. He likes to think there isn’t much in the universe that he either doesn’t know or can’t come to understand.

But as he gazes longingly into Keith’s deep iris’s, seeing galaxies filled with mystery and wonder, Lance knows that no matter how much he studies, no matter how hard he looks for the the answer, he can never be able to explain the intricacies of the stars in those eyes.

Nothing is said. No movements are made.

A beat passes. Two.

Hearts ram against ribs.

Three. Four.

Lips connect, slow and soft. Gentle. Almost hesitant.

There is an insecurity rising in Lance, an uncertainty that comes with any major movement in an unknown direction, but it’s muted the moment hands are snaked around his neck, pulling him closer, fingers lacing into soft brown hair.

It’s perfect. He’s perfect.

And Lance finds himself believing that everything is going to turn out in his favor.

Life becomes a lot brighter for Lance.

There are no more questions. There are no more “Tell me”s or “Why don’t”s. There is simply Keith. And that’s really all Lance needs.

Lazy days are spent in the lounge, Lance laying on the couch, Keith on top of him, ear pressed to Lance’s chest.

“Hear anything good?”

“Hmm…the big bang. Over and over again.”

A breathy chuckle. “Really?”

“Yeah, Starboy, really.”

Busy days are spent on the training deck, sparring sessions and team building activities alike.

“C’mon, Starboy. I know you can do better than that.”

Dodge, jump back, and fire. The gladiator falls.

“Ha! New personal best! Betcha I looked pretty cool!”

A lopsided smirk is sent his direction. “Cool? No. Hot? Well…”

His face turns red and it isn’t from the intense training session.

Keith laughs at his embarrassment, patting Lance on the shoulder as he passes. “Don’t go supernova on me now. We’ve got work to do.”

Nights are spent in a mess of blankets.

“Whatcha thinking about?” Lance asks, eyes still closed. He can feel the tenseness of Keith’s body against his own. His shoulders are a little too tight, his breathing a little too strained.

Keith doesn’t answer, but Lance doesn’t expect him to. The same conversation happened the previous night. And the night before that.

Instead Keith says, “I want to know more about comets.”

And so Lance opens his eyes, pulls Keith closer, and starts to talk. He doesn’t stop until Keith is asleep.

Lance expected the pull away to be gradual. He expected Keith to fade from his life. He expected it because that’s just how things went for him. Happiness was a welcome experience, but often brief. This time should be no different.

But it wasn’t gradual. It was quick. One minute Keith was there and the next he wasn’t.

There was no warning. There was no conversation. There wasn’t even a glance over his shoulder as Keith left the castle for the last time.

So when the others asked him if he knew Keith had been planning to leave, if things were going to work out between them, if Lance was going to be okay, Lance could only stare at the door that had closed behind the person he loved the most. He could only stare and repeat the same sentence over and over again.

“He doesn’t need me anymore.”

One more part to go until this headcanon is finished. Prepare yourselves!

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 5]