#lance and keith neck to neck more like lance and keith lips to lips

[mushed-kid]

having an arch nemesis is kinda gay tbh. what’s he arching? his back?

[autisticlancemcclain]

“The Exoxins are very…” Coran purses his lips, searching for the word. “Particular, let’s say.”

Hunk cocks his head. “In what way?”

“They’re quite fixated on personal appearances. They have been known to refuse alliances in the past when diplomats don’t meet their… aesthetic expectations.”

Before Keith can make a slightly mean joke about keeping Shiro on the castle, then (it’s been too long since he has been humbled), Lance snorts. Without bothering to look up from his doodling, half slumped over his station on the bridge, he says, “Well, we better send Keefers. Only way we’ll get a guaranteed alliance.”

“Okay, asshole, real funn — wait.” Keith blinks. That’s not the insult he thought it was. “Did you just — are you flirting with me?”

Lance flicks brown eyes up to meet his, eyebrows raised, amused smirk on his face. “Have been for a year now, thanks for noticing.”

Keith’s jaw drops. He feels a blush climbing up his neck like he’s a fuckin’ kettle, boiling from the bottom up, because what.

“What.”

“Keith.” The rampant redness on Keith’s face must give Lance pause, because he finally turns his whole attention towards him, straightening up from his seat and facing him head on. “I thought you were just ignoring me. You’re telling me your dumb ass has just been — what, completely oblivious to it?”

“I’m not obvious,” Keith argues, strained. He’s well aware of the snickering behind him and chooses to ignore it. “Usually your flirting is horrible and obnoxious and gets you rightfully punched, so excuse me for not noticing.” He waits a beat, and then tacks on, “Or tied to a tree.”

He’s gratified to see Lance’s smug demeanour crack at the mention of the Nyma incident.

“That was four years ago, dipstick. I was seventeen. It doesn’t take away from the fact that you are so thick headed that you are incapable of taking a hint. Did you think I kept finding reasons to be shirtless around you for fun?”

Keith sputters. He had noticed that Lance was shirtless around him an awful lot, but in his defence he was putting his braincells more towards memorizing a broad back and a glittering belly piercing rather than, like, puzzling out why the fuck Lance wasn’t wearing a shirt.

“I thought you were — hot, or something!”

Lance grins wolfishly. “You think I’m hot?”

“Go fuck yourself!”

“Is that what you want to see?”

Keith makes a hoarse screeching noise in the back of his throat. It is echoed behind him, by all of his friends, actually, but for entirely different reasons, and he hates them all and they are all written out of his will.

Lance slowly stands from his seat, soundlessly stalking over to where Keith stands, leaning against a wall. Keith considers braining himself against a hard surface so he does not half to deal with Lance stupid sexy leer and sparkling eyes et cetera.

“‘Cause if it is,” Lance murmurs, placing a hand next to Keith’s head and leaning in close, “all you had to do was ask, baby.”

“I am going to kill you with fire,” Keith croaks.

Lance chuckles. “Sure, caliente.” He kisses Keith’s cheek and saunters back to his chair. Keith considers asking his lions to help him change his bayard into an anvil and chucking it at Lance’s face. It does not help his situation.

“Well,” Coran says awkwardly, after what can only be several minutes of charged silence. “the good news is that if we send you both that alliance is as good as guaranteed.”

[sherale-writes]

"Do you even- even understand."

Keith watched as Lance's hands raised up, hovering shoulder level, almost cradling his own face. Blue eyes wide, shimmering with unshed tears.

"Out there-" Lance's voice choked, hands trembling. "Out there you-"

Even as he stood there, even as Keith watched Lance's body hunch forward, tears falling like stars from his eyes, he felt frozen in place. Never had he wanted Lance to cry, to feel such misery over his actions. Yet somehow, every time, when he chose to act first and think later, it always had an effect on Lance that made his stomach twist in guilt.

"You-!" Lance's voice shook, lips trembling apart, hands now shaking as those star drop tears raced down his cheeks like shooting stars.

Keith stepped forward, and when Lance did not step away or swipe at him, he took another, more still until his arms wrapped around the other's body, holding him as Lance trembled and cried in his arms.

"You bastard!" Lance sobbed, hands clutched to Keith's clothes. "I hate you!"

But the words weren't true, and he knew. Keith knew that in Lance's agony, he only said such things because he was growing tired of feeling scared for Keith, of feeling like every moment Keith was gone, it would be the last time Lance saw him.

"I love you..." Keith murmured, stroking a hand over Lance's hair, his neck and shoulder becoming wet. "I love you so much."

Lance's fingers twisted in Keith's clothes, a sob choking any words he had on his tongue. He just held on, and hoped, and prayed, that this time wouldn't be the last either.

[jiveyuncle]

"Lance," Keith sounds breathless. "Back when we found my lion - the glowing symbols. What did you say about it?"

Lance is still staring hard at where Keith's hand rests on the control panel's screen, face scrunched in disbelief. "That is was written in code?"

Keith shakes his head. "No, no, about the Galra not being able to find it because of something to do with quintessence."

Lance's brow furrows further as he tries to recall what all he said so long ago, then his eyes flick up to meet Keith's. "Um? They were directions - quintessence infused." His lips purse as he tries to list everything. "The inscriptions would only be revealed in the presence of an Altean."

Keith removes his hand from the panel and the stars wink out. He strides toward Lance, mind racing. "Lance," Keith exhales. "I saw similar symbols back on Earth. Back when Hunk, Shiro, Pidge and I found the Green Lion in the cave."

Lance's eyes are flicking rapid-fire between Keith's, "But I wasn't there with you that time."

Keith grips Lance by the arms, hands squeezing tight. "Then why did the cave still light up?"

Lance almost looks as if he's stopped breathing.

Keith shifts his hold from Lance's arms, to hold his face. "The whole time I've been amazed at how much a couple of aliens look like us humans," Keith presses his forehead to Lance's, "but maybe I should've been thinking about how much we look like you."

And Keith can see it - in Lance's face - the moment the full meaning of everything clicks, and then Keith's being crushed in a bone-breaking hug. A wet laugh finds its way into the crook of Keith's neck. "Allura and I weren't the only ones to survive."

Keith raises his arms to squeeze Lance back just as tightly and buries his nose in his hair. "I think we're gonna need another look at the cave back on Earth."

A little glimpse at the Humans-are-the-crossbreed-descendants-of-Alteans-that-fled storyline reveal. I tried to layer so many hints and foreshadowing throughout the fic, and the reveal was just so satisfying to write. Idk if it’s been done before (probably) as I joined this fandom wayyy late but this AU is clogging all my brain space. I’m feral. If you ask me, I will scream your ear off about how this fills a ton of plot holes in canon and strengthens some of the choices made by different characters. Actually, I’ll rant about it on the next post since it’ll be the last batch of artwork for the fic. I’m so excited to draw more stuff within the AU. I just have so many thoughtsssss about how everything connectsssss ahhh

Fic: Sure and Indelible on AO3:

[detroit-become-dyke]

for @klancekisszine's D/WTIYS <3

(I'm following from @thatsgoodweather)

Incredible art by @/_lucidverse_ on IG:

Keith and Lance lay on the indigo grass of the newly liberated planet, their elbows splayed behind their heads, resting gently against each other. Keith’s long hair filled the space between them, tickling the top of Lance’s head. The pair gazed up at the stars as they so often did together. Trying to find home.

“I think it’s that way,” Lance pointed just above the horizon behind him, his index finger fully obscuring Keith’s vision.

“What makes you think that?” Keith postured, playfully knocking Lance’s hand aside.

“I don’t know…” Lance trailed off. “I just…feel it.” Lance settled back down onto the grass and let his eyes wander, no longer fixed on the faraway Earth.

The two sat in silence for a while, simply enjoying each others’ company. “Hey, what do you think those stars look like?” Keith prompted, a lightness in his voice that Lance was noticing more and more often.

“What stars?” Lance asked without really looking. And then he saw them. The constellation filled the sky’s zenith, a broad expanse of galaxies and nebulas and stars and planets. And it looked…just like them. “Its–it’s us!” he exclaimed, sitting up straight, his head tilted straight back, the slender line of his neck flexing.

Keith sat up on one arm so he could better see his boyfriend. Eyes sparkling and smile wide, Lance lay back down on the grass, reaching one hand out to Keith as he did.

“You see that little curlicue?” Lance pointed. “That’s the tip of your bangs that never stays in place!” Keith followed the line from Lance’s finger and laughed.

“And that smattering of stars? Those are my freckles!” Lance continued.

“And our lips–our lips…” Lance quieted down, a smile still playing on his lips. “We’re kiiiissing.” Lance teased.

“As if we haven’t kissed a hundred times already.” Keith pointed out.

“Only a hundred?” Lance pouted.

Keith rolled his eyes.

“How about a hundred and one?” Lance proposed, sitting up again and pulling Keith with him.

“You’re insufferable,” Keith breathed, even as he leaned in close.

Their eyes closed the moment their lips brushed together, Lance’s arms coming up to rest on Keith’s broad shoulders. Keith’s own arms wrapped around Lance’s midsection, holding him tight–a promise to never let go. In the middle of that grassy indigo field, the two boys kissed with sweet passion. And in the middle of the constellation above–the very stars that echoed their kiss–in the middle was a supernova.

[gilyoungroach]

(screenshot because im dumb lols thank u smmm @soulreapin )

Keith hated missions on humid planets. Especially ones with environments similar to that of Earth's jungles. Sure, he lived in the desert for most of his life, but the desert air was light and dry on most days. Jungles on the other hand were sweaty and moist, the atmosphere weighing heavier than he could bear.

He extended his bayard towards a bush of foliage as he heard a loud groan behind him. It was obvious who it was as he was alone with the last person he'd ever want to be trapped in a moist forest doing physical labor along side.

"I'm dying over hereeee!" The paladin moaned as he dragged his feet through overgrown roots.

Keith snarled in his direction, "We have no choice Lance, just get over it." He felt the same way as the boy, the thick atmosphere really getting to him and pulling at his last strands of patience.

"Keith why can't we go back and play it off as if we came up short!"

"Because this is a mission. Now, help me cut through these damn bushes."

Keith turned back towards the plants that were oozing strange goo more and more with each swipe of his blade. He could pick up small mutterings from behind him--most likely Lance mocking him.

Shoving his arm under a large leaf, parting it to the side he took a step forward but paused when he heard Lance take in a large breath.

"Shiro said to keep our armor on." He reminded sternly, turning to look back at the blue paladin.

Lance groaned as he dropped his helmet to his side, arms resting on his hips. "Can't you give me a break? I'm suffocating in this thing!"

Keith furrowed his brows at how disobedient Lance was being. He could ruin the entire mission with how selfishly reckless he was acting. It wasn't like he was the only one dying. All of the paladins were parted throughout the alien jungle, searching for a strange mineral that the citizens swore was enchanted.

"That's too bad. Put it back on bef-" His scolding was interrupted by a loud yelp.

Lance clapped his gloved hand on the back of his neck as he dropped down to his knees, bayard falling to the floor as well.

"Lance! You idiot what's wrong!?" Keith moved away from the plant he was stabbing, kneeling to Lance's side. The boy had he head dropped down as he groaned.

"I- I don't...something bit.."

Keith resisted the urge to slap himself in the face in annoyance, overwhelmed by concern for the fallen paladin.

"Shiro! Lance was bit by something get over here!" He spoke into the coms, voice filled with worry.

It took a few moments before Shiro's voice buzzed back. "That child..I told you guys to keep your armor on! I'm on my way over with Pidge."

Keith grabbed Lance by his shoulders. "The others are coming. Does it hurt?" The boy didn't respond so he continued, "Lance!" He shook his body.

"Quit shaking me.." Lance looked up at his worried face. "I'm.."

Lance's eyes went from slack to splaying as wide as physically possible. There was a purple trace to his dark brown eyes. Keith waited for him to continue speaking but he just stared as if Keith's face was the only thing left in the world.

"Lance?" Keith spoke, "Are you there?"

Lance visibly gulped as he raised a hand to Keith's face. He wanted to shift away but something in his chest kept him grounded.

"Keith.."

"Lance?"

Lance leaned forward as he let out raspily, "I wanna kiss you." His eyes flitted down to Keith's lips.

Keith's eyebrows shot to his hairline, now painfully aware of their lack of proximity and Lance's burning palm on his cheek. The boy's proclamation left him speechless, and yet he didn't pull away, as if he had been waiting for this moment for his entire life.

He knew deep down he would have swapped spit with Lance at that moment, in the humid alien jungle. He would have thrown his helmet off completely disregarding the possible dangers; He would have done it if it wasn't for the sudden voices from the other paladins' interruption.

"Keith! Lance!" Shiro's voice rang from behind them, and Keith shoved the suddenly love stricken boy away with a careless amount of force.

"What's wrong with Lance?" Pidges question directed all of the paladins' gaze towards the boy who was sprawled out on the floor.

"I don't know.." Keith answered, the blush conquering his face hidden by his helmet.

Shiro squatted down by Lance, lifting him up by the shoulders. "Where was he bitten?" He asked, not looking away from Lance.

Lance on the other hand, was staring at Keith. Their eyes meeting the moment he sat up.

"Earth to Keith..." Pidge spoke, waving her hand in front of his face.

"Oh, he had his hand covering the left side of his neck."

Shiro nodded, investigating the bite. It was a glowing purple, a concerning color for a wound as it could be the sign of a strange alien venom. "We should get him to the castle. Maybe Coran knows what it is." He said as he lifted Lance up, arm over his shoulder.

Lance, ignoring Shiro's aid, threw himself towards Keith like a damsel in distress. All of the paladins had the same reaction--utter confusion.

"Okay, what the fuck?" Pidge spoke first as she watched Lance basically koala himself onto the brooding teen.

Keith sputtered out a response as he held Lance in his arms. "I don't know he's been acting like this since he got bit.." As if Lance acting like this wasn't enough, him acting like this in front of all of their friends.

After many unsuccessful attempts at prying Lance off of Keith, many of which almost ended in someone getting bit, they decided it was best to leave Lance draped over him.

They walked back in silence--well almost silence, because the entire treck back to the castle consisted in Lance whispering sweet nothings into his ear.

"You're skin is so pretty I wanna bite it.."

"Thanks." Keith coughed out.

"I wanna hold your hands, I love your hands they're so large and your fingers are so long..I wanna see them-"

"Lance." Keith sputtered, face growing hotter with each comment.

Pidge stared back at them in disgust and a twinge of the urge to puke everywhere. "What kind of bug even does this?"

--

"It's a love bug!' Coran spoke enthusiastically.

The paladins were sitting at a table waiting for Coran's deduction--most at least. Lance sat in Keith's lap, arms slung desperately over his shoulders. They had left their armor in their hangers, so Keith's red face was left mercilessly on show.

Shiro eyed him with pity, "How long until the effects wear off?"

"That my dear paladins, I cannot answer."

"Why not!?" Keith spat out, his heart rushing faster at the idea of Lance being in love with him for an unknown amount of time, even more so because he had found himself almost liking the new affection.

"Yea! Why not!?" Lance yelled as well, most likely not understanding at all but following whatever Keith had said.

Coran sighed, "The Love Bug changes from plantary system to planatary system, there's no rhyme or reason behind their attributes. We'll unfortunately have to wait."

"So we're waiting until bite to wears off or until Keith dies of embrassment?" Pidge joked, "My votes are on Keith's early demise."

She glanced at Hunk, waiting for him to join in on the lighthearted poking, but instead, his eyes were focused on the blue paladin that was struck by an alien's cupid arrow. His face was cringing painfully with each move Lance made on Keith, as if a guilt was punching him in the gut.

Lance reached a hand up to Keith's jaw, pushing it to face him. "Where are you looking? I'm over here handsome." He purred with a smirked.

Keith felt like puking, not because he was disgusted but because Lance's entire being, every gesture, every love struck smirk, every dilation of his pupil once Keith made eye contact with him, was causing his stomach to flip and flood with butterflies.

"Lance you-"

The love struck boy suddenly craned his face up, landing a huge smooch on Keith's chin, and then another on his cheek.

If smoke could physically burst from his ears, it would have with how much heat Keith's face was producing. His brain spun uselessly as he let Lance pepper more and more small kisses on his face and neck.

"Lance!" Shiro yelled, pushing up from his chair. Pidge started dying with laughter, and to her left, Hunk let out the loudest, stressfilled sigh a human could possibly produce.

--

Quarantine hadn't boded well. They had all mutually agreed to lock Lance in his room until the bug's venom left his system, but it resulted in him wailing for Keith as he pounded and clawed at his bedroom door. It would have been cruel to leave him alone any longer, and with Keith's consent, he was let free.

But Keith was gravely reconsidering the decision as the moment he was out, he latched onto his arm, whispering drunk words once again.

Keith retreated to the training area. He couldn't stand the other paladins watching Lance act like an idiot, especially when Keith was the victim of his idiocy.

"I want to touch you again, please." He begged from his spot on the training deck floor. Keith had forced him to sit down a few hours ago as he set up.

Keith almost got stabbed in the stomach, completely thrown off guard by Lance's pleas. "Lance you can't say that when I'm training. You can't say that ever!" He snarled as he sliced into the metallic abdomin of the training bot, it decomposed into a hologram as the castle announced the next stage.

"But I love you!"

The robots acended from the floor as Keith held his sword firmly, his grip tightening til his fingers turned white. "Lance. Shut up."

"I can't help the way I feel!"

'Yea, because of that damn poison,' he thought in response, charging at the attack simulation.

"Please I just wanna feel your lips on mine! I wanna hold your hand, and hug your waist until the end of time! I wanna-"

"Lance." Keith spoke with ragged breaths, his face covered with an embarrassing red, "Please, shut up."

The castles automated voice silenced Lance's light footsteps, Keith hadn't even realized Lance was walking towards him until he felt warm lips on the back of his neck, revealed by his tied up hair.

A strange concoction of mirth and anxiety shivered up his spine as he spun around to face Lance. "You- I- Stop doing that!" He cupped the back of his sweaty neck that was tingling from Lance's touch.

--

The night didn't go well either. Once again, putting Lance in his room caused a tantrum and destruction so alternatively, Keith let him spend the night it his room.

Another decision that he regretted as the monent he slipped into bed, Lance jumped in with him, arms circling his waist. "Lance, I told you to sleep on the floor."

"How can I sleep so far away from you? It physically wounds me to be apart when you're within my reach."

"..Whatever." He huffed out, shoving his blushing face into his pillow.

Lance pulled their bodies closer together, shoving his face into Keith's slightly damp hair. (He had also asked to take a shower together, but Keith fervently refused the offer) His arms enclosed him, hands teasing the hem of his shirt. Keith felt a scream bubble in his throat but he swallowed it down.

"Sweet dreams my samurai.." Lance spoke with a soft voice as he put his lips on his shoulder one final time before passing out.

Keith, on the other hand, remained awake the entire night, staring at his dark wall until his eyes unfocused. Consciously aware of every movement the boy behind him was making, every breath that hit his nape, every sleeping nuzzle into his hair.

How could he sleep when a man he apparently is criminally attracted to was glued to his back?

The morning came both too soon and took way too long to approach. Keith's eyes throbbed from the lack of sleep, but all the pain went numb when he heard a small grunt from behind him. Lance rose from the bed, rubbing his eyes.

"What..." He slowly grumbled out, his voice a thousand octives deeper from drowsiness. His hands slowly came down from rubbing his face as he eyes shot open, head craning painfully slowly to Keith. "I-"

Keith shoved him off the bed, face red as a tomato. He winced when he heard a loud thump as Lance made contact with the floor.

"Ugh....Keith! What the hell man!?"

He was obviously back to normal.

"Why am I-" He was about to ask but suddenly interrupted himself, "Oh my god..."

Keith watched his slow approach to realization from atop his bed. His face grew even redder as the boy came to remember his mistakes from the past day.

"Keith, oh my god..." Lance's face was matching pigment of blood rushing red, his hands coming up to cover his features. "Fuck oh my god I'm- I'm so sorry."

Keith didn't know how to react. Cry? Laugh? Punch him in the face? All of the above?

Lance stood to his feet as he started pacing around the small room. "Shit. Fuck. Jesus.."

If Shiro was in the room he would have told him to watch his language, but he wasn't. It was just Keith and Lance, alone, left to deal with the aftermath of a strange love potion.

"I don't know what came over me, I just saw you and felt all of my urges lose rationality, the need to hold you, kiss you, touch you, they just exploded! Fuck I didn't mean to, I know you wanted none of that I'm so sorry. You can punch me if you want, actually you don't even need to I'll just eject myself into space-"

"Lance. It's...It's okay." Keith interrupted his spiraling rant, "I didn't...I didn't even hate it...that much.." He admitted, hiding his face with his gloved hand.

"You- I-"

"I'm saying I like you idiot. If anyone should be sorry it's me. I- I took advantage of you when you couldn't even control yourself..." Keith replied, ashamed of his actions.

Lance walked towards him, caging him between his arms as he pointed a long finger back and forth between them. "You. Me. You-"

"I'm sorry.."

Lance laughed, eyes scarily wide open as he tugged on Keith's shirt, connecting their lips together, "I- Fuck I like you too.."

Keith let out a laugh in utter disbelief. "What?"

"I've liked you since I saw that shitty mullet at the Garrison." He laughed again, physically on cloud nine.

"Kiss me again, do it before I throw you." Keith grinned, and before he could continue Lance tackled him, lips crashing into eachother.

The End byebye

>3<

[girlboypersonthingy]

Let’s Dance!

Voltron (+Matt!) x reader that one super soft time that you danced together AND AND AND the song you danced to 🥹❤���‍🔥

Side note: I will always write the reader as gender neutral but some of the song lyrics use she/her pronouns so…sorry about that :,(

LANCE 💙

You had just finished training with Keith and Shiro and you were exhausted. Those boys pushed you hard because they know you can do it and they want to make sure you can always protect yourself. You sigh as you walk slowly through the halls, tilting your head side to side in an attempt to stretch your neck. As you turned the corner, you could hear music and hilariously bad singing (more like shouting) coming from the blue paladins room. A smile creeps up on your face as you approach the open door way, the music loud now. You stand in the door way, arms crossed as you watch the taller boy twirl around his room. He shouts out the lyrics, making dramatic faces and wild hand movements. As he turns, he notices you watching which yanks a stunned squeal from his mouth.

“Having fun?” You ask with a dorky grin, walking into his room. He exhales with relief, putting a hand to his chest. “Geez, (Y/N). I thought you were Keith.” That comment ripped a laugh from your mouth. “What? Can’t let big bad Keith see you dancing all pretty?” You reply as you approach him. “First of all, Keith is not big and bad. And secondly…you think I’m pretty?” His once normal smile turned into a mischievous grin, his eyes half-lidded as he wiggles his thin brows. You laugh again, this time it was more of a giggle. He always made you feel this way, all giddy and excited and blushing. “Of course. You’re gorgeous, Lance.”

His smile falters a bit, his heart beating faster now. “Really?” He speaks softer now and you’re barely able to hear him over the music. “Huh?” You shout before he just shakes his head and grabs you by the wrist. You smile like a lovesick goofball as he pulls you in and your chests meet, his arms quickly snaking around your waist. You stare up at him as you both laugh and sway to the music. Then you lean your head on his shoulder, wrap your arms around his torso tightly and close your eyes, your smile never fading.

Lance isn’t quite sure how to keep it together now. He can smell your shampoo and he can feel you breathing against him and oh my god was he in love with you. Suddenly, his hands begin to travel south, softly grazing over your butt and you pull back with wide eyes and an open mouth. “Excuse me! You better watch it, lover boy.” He quickly brings his hands back up to a more appropriate place on your back as a chuckle leaves his lips. “Sorry. Moment of weakness. You just have that effect on me, (Y/N).” You go back to leaning into his shoulder as you continue to sway with him.

KEITH ❤️

You turn off the shower and hear music coming from the room next to yours. As you wrap yourself in a towel, you listen and think the song sounds kind of familiar. The song comes to an end but then starts again. This makes you smile a bit as you dry off and quickly get dressed. You approach the door next to yours and knock. The song stops just before the door opens, Keith in the doorway.

“Hey.” “Hey yourself.” You fiddle with the hem of your shirt as you look at Keith then back into his room. He watches you and sighs softly. “I mean, if you wanna come in you can, but my room is a mess and-“ You don’t even let him finish and instead scurry in and plop down on his bed. He nods and turns to see you hogging up his entire bed. “Why’d you stop the song?” He shrugs, standing still. “Do you want me to play it? I thought you came in here to talk or something.” You nod, rolling over so that you were now on your stomach, your chin resting in your hands. “Yeah, I like that song and apparently you do too since you’ve had it on repeat for a while now.” This brings a small, shy smile to his lips before he forces it away. He goes to resume the music, leaning against his wall with crossed arms in typical Keith fashion.

You smile as you listen to the lyrics, wiggling your feet in the air to the beat. You look up and see Keith now mouthing the words and bobbing his head to the beat. Your smile was uncontrollable now, his cute gestures making you rise to your feet and close the distance between you. “You’re cute.” You blurt out before taking one of his gloved hands in yours. He tries to fight back a smile, his cheeks turning red. “No.” He responds bluntly as you gently pull him into a hug. He sighs, but it’s a comfortable, relaxed kind of sigh as he feels the warmth of your embrace.

His hands very slowly and carefully come up around your back, tightly squeezing you to his chest. You let out a soft “hmm” as he squeezes, making him think it was too hard. He goes to pull away but you keep him against you. Your arms quickly find their place around his neck and you hide your face there. As you breath nervously, it tickles his neck and causes him to gasp slightly. Now as you went to pull away to look up at him, he held you tightly in place, not wanting you to see his probably really dumb but also adorably shy and blushy face. He was so stiff, breathing shallow and quickly. He loved feeling you up against him like this but he didn’t know how to act.

Slowly, awkwardly you both begin swaying to the song. His hands stay glued to their spot on your upper back as yours gently begin to play with the hair covering his neck. He just can’t keep up the stubborn, quiet, bad boy act with you. At this point, he’s a smiling, blushing mess. He has always had a soft spot for you. You just make him feel safe and seen and validated. He continues to mouth the lyrics now that you are literally too close to even see his face…but you can feel his jaw moving ever so slightly. He’s too cute.

PIDGE 💚

You sat beside Pidge on the floor in their dumpster fire of a room. You didn’t mind though, they always made room for you to sit or lay comfortably with them. You had earbuds in that Pidge had actually made for you since you’d mentioned to them how much you like music. You were stoked when they gave them to you and now you always have music playing. Pidge was typing away on their laptop, the clicking noises and the music faintly coming from your ears were the only sounds in the room at the moment. Pidge smiled a bit as they realized you were listening to a playlist they had made for you.

They began softly humming along as they continued to code, fingers tapping quickly along the keyboard. You notice Pidge glance over at you so you pop an ear bud out to see if they were trying to talk to you. They weren’t talking but their humming made you gush with love for them. You’d never mentioned it but you thought their voice was so nice and soothing. You scoot yourself closer to the small paladin, gently pushing one of the ear buds in their ear before you lean your head on their shoulder. You’d think Pidge would be annoyed and shoo you away so they could focus, but instead they lean against you as their typing slows slightly.

You are humming together for a second before Pidge suddenly pushes their lap top away to turn and face you. They were kneeling on their knees now, admiring the way you watched them move towards you. You smile brightly at each other before they tackle you into a hug, making your laugh ring out. You put one hand back on the floor behind you to brace yourself and rest your other hand on their back, hugging them to your body tightly. Pidge continues to hum as they rub their hands up and down your back, their eyes closing. You take your hand from behind you and gently rub Pidge’s hair.

Suddenly, you’re up on your knees too, both of you holding onto the other as if this would be the last time you’d ever see or touch each other again. You began swaying back and forth to the song playing in your ears as Pidge continued to rub your back and you let your hands roam their short hair. “I’m surprised you pushed your work aside for me. That’s so unlike you.” You mumble into their shoulder. “You are just as important as everything else I have to do right now, (Y/N).” You feel your heart swell as you bite your lip at their sweet words. “Also, you’re sooooo freaking needy. I’m kinda used to it now.” You frown and lean back to look at them. “You’re a brat.” You pout and try to pull away, but they start laughing at your reaction and that makes you smile and melt back into their embrace once more.

SHIRO 🖤

You walk through the halls of the castle looking for your favorite person- Shiro. You checked the training deck only to find Keith and Lance training and totally not goofing off together. You checked the kitchen only to find Hunk and Pidge laughing and trying whatever new thing Hunk has cooked up. You pass Allura in the hall and ask her where Shiro may be. “Mmm did you check the observation deck? Every so often, he goes there to be alone and reflect.” Your face drops. “So…should I not go bug him then?” The princess smiles sweetly at you. “You should definitely go check on him.” You smile back at her and soon, you’re nearly running to where you knew he would be.

As you open the door, faint music hits your ears and you see Shiro sitting on the floor, in some sort of yoga position as he softly sings along to the song. “Hi.” You say just loud enough to be heard over the music, causing the man to turn and look at you. “(Y/N)! Hey. What’s up? Everything okay?” He starts to stand but you put your hands up. “Oh yeah! I’m fine…just…found myself missing you, I guess.” He gives you a lovely smile as he sits back on the ground, throwing his arms open for you. “Come here.” He begins to laugh softly as you full on sprint to him, throwing yourself into his arms and against his chiseled chest. A throaty “ugh” leaves his mouth as you hum with content at being wrapped up in his arms. “I’ll never get tired of you doing that.” He speaks clearly to you as you bury your face into his shirt and breath in his scent.

You’re straddling his lap now, your hands coming up under his arms and around his back. Often when you two hug, he lets his hands innocently roam your body. He’s not trying to cop a feel, he just likes to feel every curve of you. It lets him know you’re really real. So, he lets his hands wander down your back and onto your thighs and then up your arms. Soon, his hands rest on your face as he gently pulls you away from him, wanting to get a good look at you. His eyes look tired and he is barely smiling. “You okay?” You ask softly.

He doesn’t respond, instead he stands up, grabbing you by the waist as he lifts you up with him. He’s holding you like a parent holds their child who is too tired to walk on their own…but he was the tired one. “Shiro, put me down.” You order, but he ignores you, holds you tightly and begins to sway to the music. You can’t help but smile and hold onto him. As your legs wrap around his waist, your forehead soon meets his own. His eyes are closed, but yours stay open as you watch his lips move. He’s singing ever so softly, his voice smooth and deep as he rocks back and forth with you.

Soon enough, Shiro feels your legs start to slip off him and your hands loosen their grip on his shoulders. “(Y/N)?” He leans back to look at you and gasps as you nearly fall from his arms. You were dozing off to his sweet singing. He chuckles softly as you open your sleepy eyes. Finally, he begins walking to your room to lay you down for a nap. Maybe he’ll join you.

HUNK 💛

This was a very rare occasion where you found Hunk NOT in the kitchen and instead, he was helping Pidge clean up their room. He said it was good to clear the area in order to clear your head, as well. Pidge didn’t agree with that, but they appreciated the help anyway. Hunk put on some music as they got to work, sorting the trash from the old plates of food goo from the pieces of technology that Pidge needed still. You poke your head in, finding yourself bored and also intrigued by the music playing.

“Whoa, looks like the galra blew this room up.” You tease as Pidge lays on their bed, acting all exhausted and dramatic. “Right?! That’s what I said.” Hunk replies, making Pidge groan in protest. “It’s not that bad. I know where everything is and it’s MY room so why does it matter?” You saunter in slowly, watching as Hunk attempts to pry the younger paladin off their bed. “C’mon, Pidge. I swear you’ll feel so much better and clear headed once your room is clean.” “I’ll help, too.” You respond cheerily. “Good, you two deal with it then.” And now Pidge is checked out, their face deep in their computer screen.

Hunk sighs and looks to you, smiling a bit. You smile back and walk closer to him. “I like this song.” You speak before he nods in agreement and begins to do a silly little dance. Your smile only grows wider as you watch him, nodding along to the beat. “Okay, dancing Queen!” You joke as he holds his hand out to you. Your smile fades slowly and suddenly you can hear your heart beat over the music. Was he…trying to dance with you?

As you slowly rest your hand in his, he snaps his fingers to the beat and wiggles his hip. You nervously sway back and forth as he steps closer to you, holding both of your hands now. You weren’t great at dancing, but Hunk was such a good lead, you didn’t know he had such good rhythm. He pushes you away from him then pulls you back in then twirls you around, making you suddenly relax and start to smile again. Why were you so nervous? It’s not like he was necessarily a great dancer, but you didn’t want to look like a dork in front of him.

As you two laugh and sway together, Pidge just looks up at you and groans. “Ew. Can you guys not be all cute in front of me?” You throw your head back as you laugh at their comment and suddenly, you feel your feet slip out from under you. You accidentally stepped on an old plate covered in food goo and you went tumbling backwards. Almost like a cheesy romcom movie, Hunk lunges forward and saves you from the fall very gracefully, dipping you in his arms. You stare up at his shocked face, a blush growing on yours. His expression quickly softens as you reach up to rest a hand on his warm cheek. “My savior~”

ALLURA 💖

Occasionally, you liked to go to the training room late at night when everyone else was resting or doing other things. You like to be alone and focused, not worried about the others watching you or trying to give you advice. You also like to play your music and just vibe by yourself. Tonight was one of those occasions. You kept restarting level three of the training simulator, not wanting to push it too hard but wanting to keep your heart rate up. You hear the door behind you slide open with a whoosh and you are pleasantly surprised to see Princess Allura standing in the doorway, pink pajamas hanging off her tall body. Suddenly, you’re knocked on your butt by the training bot, causing you to groan in pain and Allura to giggle at you.

“Hey. Why are you up so late?” You stand and rub your butt as you walk towards her slowly. “I was just going to ask you the same question.” She replies with a forced smile. “I like training alone. I get nervous with everyone standing around watching me.” She nods and steps into the room. “But what will you do in the heat of battle when you’re surrounded by the enemy, (Y/N)?” You shrug and look away from her. “In the heat of the moment, I’m sure I’ll figure it out. Now, you answer my question.” You rest your hands on your hips as you raise a brow at her, watching her frown. “I’m just…worried. I can’t seem to fall asleep.” She reaches for your hand just as the song changes.

You give her hand a gently and reassuring squeeze before an “ooh!” leaves your mouth. “I love this song.” You tell her as you loosen your grip on her hand and rub your thumb over her knuckles. She couldn’t bring herself to look at you as tears formed in her eyes. She was so tough and strong and resilient, but she felt like she could really let her guard down around you. As you notice her lip quivering, you are quick to grab ahold of her other hand, pulling her closer to you. “Oh, Princess. Don’t cry.” Those words make her loose it, a soft yelp coming from her as she begins to full on cry in front of you.

You pause, unsure of what to do now. You’ve never seen her so distraught. “Come here.” You pull her up against you and hug her tight, rubbing soft circles on her back. Her arms hung at her sides, her wet face against your neck as her shoulders shook with each sob. You begin softly singing the words to her, meaning every word with all of your heart. Slowly, she seems to calm down with a sniffle and a sigh. “What can I do to make you happy again?” Your voice is at a whisper now, your hands reaching for her face. You want to pull her back and look at her.

“No. Just…hold me.” She keeps her face hidden in your neck as her arms come up around your waist. Her wish was your command. You hug her close again and continue to sing to her, gently swaying to the music. As you feel her relax and slump against you, her feet start moving along with yours. “Everything will be okay. I promise…I’ll always take care of you.” Sure, she was way stronger and smarter than you, but you’d do anything for her. Anything.

MATT 🧡

You and Matt were both scheduled to leave for an important mission tomorrow. Except…you weren’t going together. He was going one way, you were going another. You had been stressed and down about it all day, trying to bury yourself in your work and distract yourself with music as to not be consumed by sadness. Although you were gonna miss him endlessly, there were just more important things to focus on right now. But he could feel it, feel the worry and sorrow radiating off you.

“(Y/N).” He calls out, you don’t look at him. “Hey. Everything is gonna be fine. Before you know it, we’ll be together again.” Matt jumped slightly as you pushed yourself up from your chair fast and angry, making the chair fall back behind you. “I just don’t get why we can’t stick together! I just want to be with you always. I NEED to be with you or how will I know if you’re okay? H-how will I know what’s happened to you if you go missing?” After thinking about the words that just left your mouth, you turn away from him, tears threatening to fall down your cheeks. It would be silent now had you not started playing music. As much as you hate to admit it, if something ever did happen to him, you’d rather be there to witness it than to be left worried and confused and wondering what went wrong.

“Whoa, hey. Come on, now. I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.” Before you know it, he’s turning you to face him with a sort of sad smile on his face. “And so can you. We’re gonna be fine, honey.” He quickly wiped your teary eyes before just holding and examining your face. He was literally scanning your face, you could see his eyes shifting, his smile slowly fading. He just wanted to keep that image of your slightly sad but beautiful face in his head. He wanted to be able to metaphorically look back at that image in his head because…he was scared, too.

As he felt his eyes begin to sting and his throat start to close up, he pulled you you into a hug hard and fast. His shaky hands were holding your head to his shoulder, your arms tightly wrapped around his waist. You both cried for a moment and you began taking mental notes of this moment with him. You noticed the way he smelled kinda woodsy and musky, the way his breath sounded in your ear right now, the way his hands were freezing cold even through your clothes, the way he is still trying to pulling you in closer. As you both inhale and exhale together, your embrace loosens. His hands slowly fall down your body, eventually stopping on your lower back.

You start to sway to the music, your eyes closing as you lean into him more. After a moment, Matt starts to follow your movements and now you can’t help but smile a bit. There’s literally not enough room between you for you guys to be dancing, you’re both totally stepping on each others feet. You don’t mind, you wish you could be even closer. You wanted to crawl into his clothes and sink into his skin. You start to hum softly into his neck, enjoying this soft, sweet moment.

“Matt…” He pulls back to get a good look at you. “Promise you’ll come back to me?” His heart aches at your words, but he forces a smile and hugs your waist tightly before lifting you off you feet and spinning you around. Little goof doesn’t even set you down right away, he just looks up at you with hopefully eyes, melting at the way the light is glowing behind you.

“I promise.”

[sukoshininja]

Cornered

This wasn't how he thought he would die, torn apart and mauled to death, Lance reflected as he turned down an alleyway only to be faced with a dead end. 

"Fuck!" Keith yanked fistfuls of his shaggy mullet.

Lance reached out for him. If this was going to be his last moments, he might put his timidness aside and grab hold of Keith. There had been small moments, flickers, where he thought the future he wanted with him might be possible. Something about the corner of his lips when Keith smiled at him, the softness in his eyebrows. Lance never dared to make that push forward, afraid that his own feelings were influencing what he wanted to see. He couldn't stand to lose what relationship he did have with Keith. But none of that mattered now.

They were going to die. Together. Gruesomely.

"Keith," Lance gently captured Keith's wrists, easing them from his hair. "Keith, come on. Stop. It's alrigh--"

Keith shook him off, hands forming into combative fists at his waist as he turned his back to Lance. "No, it's not! Everything is messed up! Just, mmm--argh!" He kicked the wall angrily, most definitely breaking some toes.

The howling was growing louder. They didn't have much time.

Lance could feel tears forming, hot and ready to spill. This isn't how he wanted it either.

He had wanted to shoot his shot after graduation, when they would have normally parted ways. Sure, they could have kept in touch, being inseparable friends throughout college, but Lance knew they would get busy with their own lives. It couldn't last forever. Unless Keith felt the same. But Lance had been too frighted of the ways it could go wrong to find out.

But circumstances being what they were Lance realized he would never get that chance.

Keith's muscular back heaved under his black shirt from heavy breathing. Lance approached and hugged him from behind.

Keith did not react.

"I was gonna ask you out, you know," he whispered softly as he laid his head on Keith's shoulder. "And then, after a couple years, I was going to ask you to marry me."

Keith stiffened.

Lance didn't need an answer, he just needed Keith to know. It was enough.

"Fuck me!" Keith exclaimed, angrily, whirling around and slamming Lance into the wall. He pinned him there, one hand wrapped around his neck, his fingers squeezing tight as he growled, "Of course you had to fucking say something now!"

Lance gave him a sad smile. He actually told him.

Keith's snarl was only growing angrier as his eyes flashed dangerously. He slammed his other hand into the wall, next to Lance's head as he towered over him. "I should have known better than to let you get close to me. Fuck! This is what I get?"

It was, more or less, the reaction Lance had expected. He had never had much hope to begin with. But at least his feelings were heard. Lance was at peace with it.

"Fine! I will take what I can get while I can," Keith declared as he towered over him, his grip on his neck shifting.

Lance braced himself, but he did not look away. At least in his last moments, Keith's full attention would be on him.

But the strike did not land as he anticipated. It wasn't until Keith pulled away, blood dripping from his long canines that Lance realized what happened.

The guy had bit him! Right where his neck met his shoulder.

"Wha--" but Lance wasn't able to finish forming his question before Keith's mouth was on his, kissing and licking aggressively. As Lance's eyes slipped closed, he could taste the salty tang of his own blood as Keith's tongue pushed into him. Keith's kiss was like a fire, scorching, spreading, and deadly. Lance couldn't think, his mind going blank as Keith moaned into him.

"That," Keith purred, his voice deep and distorted, Lance's bottom lip between his teeth, "was for me."

He bit down, drawing more blood.

Lance was too breathless to notice.

Keith gently cupped his face, stroking his cheek with his clawed thumb, unexpectedly tender after that violent display. He was taller, way taller than he should have been. His proportions were off, changing as Lance watched. "If I asked you to close your eyes, would you?"

Lance looked into his glowing yellow eyes. He did not understand what was happening, but he was not going to miss a second of it. He shook his head.

Keith chuckled, sounding more like a rumbling lion than a boy. He pressed a kiss to Lance's forehead.

With that, Keith withdrew, turning his back to him and facing the on-coming creatures. "When you change your mind about...us, I want you to know I understand."

And then he became something that wasn't human at all.

my whumptober masterlist

[bluedemon1995]

“I want you and I know you want me too.” Enjoy!

Keith bites his lip, almost drawing blood, wanting desperately to butt in but knowing Katie would want to speak for herself. So, despite how much he wants to do so on her behalf, he keeps himself in check, somehow. Keeping his eyes on Katie, he’s taken by surprise when Lance stood abruptly, moving fast enough that he actually knocked his chair over.

“I don’t think so buddy, in fact, I know so. Go on, anda, sal de aquí. She does NOT”, at this point he slaps his hand on table and continues, “want you. I’m her bestest friend. I would know! And let me tell you, she doesn’t need some guy with a stick up his ass who thinks he knows everything!”

Keith froze, feeling vindicated by Lance’s take but also completely surprised at how strongly Lance rebuked Griffin. Why was his response so strong? Since when did Lance dislike Griffin? What was he missing? He eyes, tracked to Katie, as they always seem to do late, not wanting to miss Katie’s response? He bit his tongue a little more and managed not to say anything to Griffin even though he wanted more than anything for her to agree with Lance.

Not Griffin, please. Please. Heart pounding, he could feel his muscles tense. Like he was bracing for impact. Quiznack!

Katie sighed, replying firmly, “Lance, not your place!”

“What?! You’re not saying I’m wrong! You aren’t pining for him. He doesn’t make your race. Nor are you flushed and pining for just five more minutes of his time. In fact, James is always so full of himself, exactly what you hate. And I think you are-!“

“Lance!!! Stop, seriously.” She ran a hand through her longer hair, pulling slightly and then squaring her shoulders. Redirecting her gaze to James, she starts, “James, um, yeah, so, funny enough, I actually had no clue you were interested. I, well shit, I feel really unprepared for this. I honestly, don’t know what to say. But having this conversation at a full dinner table in the middle of the mess hall, well, this is probably not one of your better ideas.”

Griffin stands and takes a few steps closer to Katie, coming around the table to sheepishly state, “Yeah, I didn’t really think this through.” He grabs his neck and crouches down so he’s right next to her chair and I feel my fingers curl tightly in a fist.

Griffin continues, with no idea that I’m desperately trying not to act on the desire to punch him, repeatedly.

His eyes cut to me, then go back to Katie. He continues earnestly, “I’ve been feeling this way for a while and I, needed you to know how I’ve been feeling. I did NOT mean to put you in a tight spot or anything. I’m sorry. I’m usually way smarter than this, I swear. How about we table this for later? Maybe we can have a private dinner and maybe drinks?”

Keith blinks, when the fuck did his hand move to her chair? He didn’t think he could refrain from hitting him if he actually touched her.

Katie smiles and nods shyly. Shyly? What the hell? What does that mean? I look to Hunk and mouth, “What the heck?”

Hunk shrugs but doesn’t look too concerned. At this point, Katie’s alarm goes off and we all know it’s time for her to head back to the lab. Keith tries not to look too relieved. No actual date was set. Katie is rushing around throwing out her mess, with Lance practically in her pocket. What was he telling her now?

Keith waits for a few minutes, trying to formulate a plan. He shoves the rest of his burger in his mouth and stands, going to the conveyer belt for dishes on the opposite side of the room. He has to move. No time to lose, not now.

Suddenly he shoved back and pulled into an alcove. Straightening, he meets Griffin’s hard look in kind. They size each other up, and Keith resolves to not say a word. He doesn’t owe him anything now.

“Why couldn’t you just stay gone man. I had a plan. Isn’t there a ship that needs blowing up or some people that need saving?”

Keith looks up, “Look, I actually don’t have anything against you personally. Not anymore.”

Griffin smiles, relaxing at those words. Until Keith continues, “So you see, this actually has nothing to do with you. And if has everything to do with the woman I’m in love with. So, yeah there probably is a ship that needs blowing up or some people that need saving out there. But right now, I’m here on a purely selfish mission, to save myself.”

Luckily Cosmo appears so he continues, “So, hopefully that clears things up for you.”

He quickly moves with Cosmo at his side. He’s trying to think, but he can’t seem to focus. All he feels is panic. He’s too late. He’s missed his shot. He feels like he can’t breathe. He wants to scream and break things but fuck, he’s past temper tantrums. Making his way to his room on autopilot, he’s trying to think back and determine if Katie ever seemed like Griffin was something she was interested in.

Suddenly he stops at the hall where his room was to see Hunk, Lance and Shiro standing at his door. Hunk is looking at him, with pity? Damn, he was too late. He stops, right in the hall and staggers against the wall. Closing his eyes, he tries to pull himself together. But Shiro grabs him and pulls him into his room, “Hey, stop. Whatever you’re thinking just stop.”

Lance leans agains the now closed door. “Stop babying him Shiro. Look, I just put myself in the line of fire for you. It better be worth it, so tell me straight, are you back, and are you back for Pidge?”

Keith startles, he can feel himself start to deny but no, he’s done running. Done pretending that he was just a friend. Running only hurt him. He stands, looking Lance eye to eye. “Yeah. I’m back and Katie, well, I don’t know how she feels but, I, I love her.”

Keith braces for the questions, the threats.

Silence. Huh?

Hunk smiles and in two steps has him engulfed in a spine crushing hug. “Thank God! It’s about time buddy. Okay, what’s your plan? Should I make her favorite dishes?”

As he’s released, he looks at his other two friends, who are both smiling and looking relieved. Keith looks down and sees Cosmo, wagging his tail with a seemingly inquisitive look as well. Oh. Guess he was the only one surprised by his feelings.

Hours later, Keith is dressed in his best black jeans, black t-shirt, black boots and his current favorite leather jacket. He has an extra helmet and is sitting on his bike outside of the lab. After some well timed calls, he knows she should be heading out now and her car is currently in the shop. So while Matt was supposed to pick her up (and at his request in the far end of the parking lot) but hopefully she would be open to a ride.

He sees her wave to her interns and turn to the lot Matt was supposed to be in. He takes her in, knowing she was oblivious to what he saw. Her hair was haphazardly pulled back and she had on her leggings with a flannel and her worn in boots. But more than that, Keith could see the smirk that never failed to pull on his own emotions. He saw that even though it was late as hell, all of her interns were with her, not because she demanded but because they wanted to help her, see her genius at work, hell she was probably the only senior staff member who broke rules regularly. He knew for sure; her staff were the only ones in the Garrison who dressed down, wore jeans and tshirts with puns or whatever they wanted. Because she pushed. She fought. And damn if that wasn’t sexy as hell.

He took a breath, calling out, “Hey short stack.”

Keith saw her laugh, and even though he couldn’t actually hear it, he knew what it sounded like and damn, he wanted all of her. All her laughs. All her smirks. All. Of. Her.

She sauntered over, taking her time. “Dude. Did you just join the Blades because their uniform fit your aesthetic?”

Keith grinned. He liked the way her eyes moved up and down him. Score another one for Lance. He was going to rent a car and dress up but Lance said no. Instead, he pulled his hair back and dressed him like a kid. Obviously, he knew what hit Katie’s buttons.

He took a deep breath, “So I know Matt was going to pick you up, and he could still. But I was hoping you’d wanna take a ride with me.”

Katie stood, just beyond his reach. He wanted to haul her up to him, hold her and tell her how much he wanted her. Always. Even when he was oblivious to his own feelings, even when he was fighting them. But it had to be her choice. Always. But damn, he wanted her.

Katie slowly nodded, “Yeah, a ride sounds good. Let me go and get a jacket.”

Now he did reach out, grabbing her hand and slowly pulling her closer. When she was right in front of him, he shook his head. “No need.” Shrugging out of he jacket, he swings it around her shoulders, “Wear this. I’m good, I run hot anyways. So, you in?”

Keith’s hands reflexively tightened on the jacket pulling her infinitesimally closer. So close he could feel her body heat, smell her shampoo and see her bite her lip. “Yeah, I’m in Kogane.”

Keith grins, “Yay.”

Laughing, Katie pulls her arms though the sleeves and grabs the helmet on the seat. Keith moves to help her with the strap and quickly get on the bike, pulling his helmet on as well. Reviving the engine, he waits until her arms wrap around his middle and then takes off.

First, he drives, rather aimlessly until he finds himself on his way back to his shack. Or well the shack he used after Shiro disappeared. Stopping and stretching, he couldn’t help loving how she looked in his jacket, or how when she raised her arms, he could see the skin of her belly. He took an instinctive step forward.

He reached for her hand, “Katie, it’s time. Fuck Griffin and his shitty timing. I was doing this from the day I landed. I want you and I know you want me too. But I don’t just want your body. I want it all, your body, your mind, and your heart. I want it all.”

He knew he was intense. He knew he was possessive. He knew he had a laundry list of issues. But, if anyone could handle him, it was her. Always her.

[shatterinseconds]

New Year’s Eve

Klancemas ‘22 day 31

Lance glares at Keith all night. If Keith has taken notice, he has made no acknowledgement of how Lance tracks every movement he makes. Which isn’t difficult in a room with only six other people. Lance is just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Ever since they had their makeshift holiday party a week ago, they also decided to have a New Year’s Eve celebration, which Coran and Allura were more than willing to participate in as well. They threw on a classic Altean movie with no subtitles for background noise, having no access to proper New Year’s Eve broadcasts—at one point, Lance did try to watch the movie and was immediately lost when the tentacle creature appeared out of nowhere. Eyes glazing over as he sat on the couch, the chatter around him indiscernible, he began to form his revenge plan.

Because Keith kissed him at that holiday party and Lance hasn’t been able to return the favor. All week he has caught Keith smirking at him when he knows Lance is looking, and it’s only fueled the fire more. Keith shouldn’t be able to get away scot free with kissing Lance under the mistletoe like that. And Lance will show him exactly what it felt like.

Now, as the timer Pidge set up starts to count down from sixty, Lance walks over to Keith, a purpose to every step. Keith converses with Shiro, none the wiser to his presence, but Shiro is. When he sees Lance approach, he sighs and subtly excuses himself much to Keith’s confusion.

That gets cleared up pretty quickly. “Hey, Mullet,” Lance growls when he is directly behind Keith. Keith spins around with wide eyes before he narrows them in skepticism. 

“What do you want?”

Three. 

“I’ve come to return the favor.” 

Two. 

“What fav—” Reaching for him, Lance doesn’t let Keith finish.

One.

At the stroke of midnight, Lance drags Keith into his arms and kisses him. He feels Keith breathe out a soft ‘oh’ across his lips before his hands find their way under Lance’s shirt, warm hands pressed against his bare skin, to draw him closer. Suddenly, Lance dips Keith, continuing to kiss the living daylights out of him, while Keith laughs, moving to pull Lance even closer until they’re flush which only causes them to tumble onto the couch. Lance breaks off the kiss, chuckling as well, as he buries his face into the crook of Keith’s neck and long hair, which tickles his nose. He is only partially aware that he straddles Keith and has an audience.

“Listen, we’re all happy for you morons, but this is not how I wanted to start my New Year,” Pidge mutters in annoyance, which only causes them to laugh harder. Keith’s lips are kiss-bitten, red and a little swollen. Streamers and confetti rain around them; Keith looks beautiful, hair wild against the couch cushions and mouth stretched wide in happiness. 

“Happy New Year, Keith,” Lance says.

Keith reaches up to draw him back. “Yeah, Happy New Year,” he replies as he kisses Lance again.

Lance’s plan is truly a success.

[adobedragon]

Pidge skated a tongue over Lance’s lower lip and muttered, “Is that coconut?

His breath hot against her mouth, he laughed softly. “Coconut lip balm. Like it?”

Her fingers wound around the hair at the nape of his neck and she pulled his mouth to hers. “Uh-huh.” They were on the little couch in the Atlas’ junior officers’ lounge, taking a small break from a long day of running through survey logs for this sector of the universe, searching for any trace of Honerva and her robeasts.

But two Paladins, in the throes of new love, left alone in a quiet corner of the Earth’s most advanced battleship, were like powerful magnets, unable to resist each other’s pull. She’d gone from sitting primly at his side, sipping coffee, to sitting on his lap and exploring the different ways that one could kiss someone. They were both wearing their Voltron Garrison uniforms, and she was finding that sitting on someone’s lap while wearing boots was light years from comfortable. This, however, was a small sacrifice in the service of science. Pidge, always the consummate researcher, was taking the study of Lance’s mouth very seriously.

“Oh, no,” said a voice behind them. “Get a room, you two. Or go make out in a Lion.”

Pidge squeaked in surprise and her teeth banged against Lance’s. Turning, she found Hunk standing in the lounge’s doorway, a coffee mug in hand and a surprisingly sour expression on the usually cheerful Paladin’s broad face.

“If I’m not stumbling over you two going at it, I’m tripping over Keith and Shiro.” His boots thumped on the floor as he went to the coffee machine and poured himself a hot cup of java. “It’s like Paladin mating season around here.”

“Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed,” said Lance. “Go call Shay. That’ll make you less salty.”

Hunk’s face was structured for cheer and the gloom that lengthened his genial visage startled Pidge. Realizing she was still on Lance’s lap, not the best position to address a friend’s distress, she reseated herself on the couch beside him.

A little smile twitched her lips as Lance tugged at the bottom of his uniform’s shirt, covering his obvious arousal. A reminder that she needed to visit the Atlas’ infirmary for birth control. So far, they’d managed to restrain themselves from going that far, both hoping for a more romantic locale for their first time together, something other than a cramped bunk on the Atlas or a Lion’s cockpit.

Lance, ever the consummate romantic, had a plan. “My brother told me about a B&B in Matanzas, back home. The perfect romantic getaway.”

At the rate this war was going, she’d be eighty years old before it ended, though, so better to prepare in the event they lost control.

Lance’s arm looped around her shoulders and she snuggled against him, eyes on Hunk.

“What’s up, buddy?” asked Lance. “Trouble in paradise?”

“I just got off a vid-call with Shay,” Hunk said. “She says her grandmother is planning her…” Hunk reached to his head and fiddled with the ends of his yellowy-orange headband. “I can’t remember the word, but it’s a Balmeran coming-of-age ceremony. At the conclusion of this ceremony, she will be considered an official adult and able to be courted by eligible Balmeran males.”

“Well, there you go, pal,” said Lance. “That’s your opening. You can finally tell her how you feel and do some courting.”

Hunk’s face somehow lengthened even more. “Balmerans, guys. I’m not Balmeran.”

“That does present a problem,” agreed Pidge.

“No,” said Lance. “Love is love and you two are definitely into each other.”

Mouth set in a sad curve, Hunk stared at them with worry in his dark eyes. “But—”

“Nope,” Lance cut him off. “No ‘buts.’ Look at me. If I hadn’t made my move, it might have been James Griffin sitting here next to the prettiest girl genius in the universe.”

“What?” said Pidge. “James Griffin?”

“Yeah, him.” Lance shrugged. “He was always asking me, ‘Is Pidge seeing anyone?’”

“Get out!” Pidge smacked him on the leg. “How come you never told me?”

“Right. Like I’m going to tell you the competition is into you.” He pointed at her face. “And you don’t have to seem so thrilled to know this.”

Feeling mischievous, she smirked. “Well, he is cute and an MFE pilot.”

“I’m a Paladin of Voltron!” Lance’s voice squeaked at a frequency that probably made dogs howl. “That’s better than an MFE pilot. Tell her, Hunk. Tell her that’s better.”

Hunk held out his hands, palms out. “I, uh, this is getting messy. I need to bake something. Cooking therapy.” With that he sidled quickly out of the lounge.

Aside from the clomp of Hunk’s boot-heels on the floor, no sounds of nearby interrupting people could be heard, so Pidge turned and climbed back into Lance’s lap, only to find him staring sullenly at anything but her.

“What?” she said, setting her hands on his shoulders and giving him a firm shake.

“You were into James Griffin?”

She swept her gaze up and down the contours of his angular face, taking in every familiar detail, every line that made up his face, calculating, and coming to a strange conclusion, though she might be wrong. Her calculations regarding the human equation often were.

“You’re jealous of James Griffin.”

“‘Well, he is cute and an MFE pilot.’” Lance quoted, his voice pitched to match hers.

Her view of him shrank in her narrowed eyes. “Years,” she said, giving him a shove with both her hands. “For years I’ve watched you flirt with every girl who entered your radius.”

His mouth quirked in a nervous combination of frown and smile. “That was different. They were nobody. I didn’t know or respect them.”

He shrank to a thin band of brown skin and blue eyes as her gaze narrowed with more irritation. “You flirted with Allura. Endlessly. You went on a date with Allura.”

“I, erm.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I did. That date, Allura shooting down any romance between her and me, was one of the best things that ever happened to me.”

“Oh?” Really? Now? After months of showing real interest in her, calling her beautiful, now he was going to admit she was just a rebound, a second choice? Her heart lurched with disappointment.

“If I hadn’t gone on that date, I might not have acknowledged how I felt about you. If I hadn’t gone on that date, Allura wouldn’t have told me you loved me and I wouldn’t have had the courage to take a chance with a girl so out of my league.”

“She said what?”

Lance’s extremely mobile face moved from sweetly melancholic to entirely too smug. “She said you love me. That’s why you bought Allura a dress. Bartered a rare video game for it.”

“That was an awesome game.” Pidge sighed.

He reached to her face and gave her nose a little tweak. “When this is over, when we’re back on Earth, I’m going to find you a copy and we’re going to play it. Maybe at the B&B that Luis suggested.”

“I think,” said Pidge, running her fingers along his jawline from pointy chin to his ears, “we’ll be doing a lot more than playing video games.” And she got back to her comprehensive study of his lips.

~~~~~~~~

A quicky sequel to "Turn Over a New Leaf."

[kseniyache]

Number 5 for Sheith!

I missed you!!!💖💖💖

Hi! Awww, thank you!

I wrote a piece for this request. But I should warn you that it's a painful one because of non-reciprocal feelings. And also this fic can be considered a continuation of another one of mine.

Keith clenches and unclenches his fists nerviosly. Once, twice. Inhale and exhale. A decisive step — and the words come out of him in a rehearsed phrase.

“Shiro, I want to talk to you.”

Shiro looks up at Keith, it takes him a moment to focus. Immediately a smile touches his lips, “Of course. What happened?”

Keith glances at Pidge and Lance, who are looking at something on the tablet.

“Not here.”

Shiro nods knowingly and gets up from his seat, although his eyebrows are slightly frowning.

They walk in silence — Shiro is slightly behind — and Keith uses this time to once again gather his courage. It’s Shiro, he’ll understand me. He said that I should open up.

Finally they reach his cabin, the door closes behind Shiro, and he stands in the middle of the room with his arms crossed. There was a worried expression on his face. But he is silent and waits for Keith to start talking.

“Shiro…” Oh, quiznak, how difficult it is! “Do you remember, we talked… a month ago?”

Shiro squints, remembering something.

“We talked about my feelings for someone,” Keith adds uncertainly, and a flash of understanding appears on Shiro’s face, he nods, encouraging Keith to continue.

Keith licks his lips. He’s standing just a few steps away from Shiro. Maybe he shouldn’t talk, maybe he just should kiss Shiro right away? The way he imagined hundreds of times in his dreams. How does it feel to kiss Shiro? Keith swallows and can’t help but look at Shiro’s lips. Just for a moment. One agonizing moment… Keith looks up and looks Shiro in the eye. Come on, tell him! It will be fair!

“I want… I wanted…” Keith forgot the prepared phrase. He feels his heart pounding wildly against his ribs, like a bird in a cage.

Shiro takes a step towards him, holds out his hand. He probably wants to help somehow, but Keith desperately waves his head and takes a breath, and then almost screams, “It’s you!”

Shiro froze. He frowns again—he doesn’t understand. But something in the expression of his eyes makes Keith act more decisively.

“It’s you, Shiro, you. The person I was talking about. It’s you. There has always been and always will be only you. Shiro…” Keith chokes with emotion. He said it, said it. The fear has suddenly disappeared, now Keith is ready to act. He feels euphoria, adrenaline is boiling in his blood. He comes close to Shiro, almost touching his body and throws his hands on Shiro’s shoulders, clasps Shiro’s neck with his palms and pulls him down. Keith’s lips open slightly, he is ready to touch them to Shiro’s lips. Eyes are closing. Keith is struggling to find a foothold, it seems to him that now he will just fall to the floor from an overabundance of emotions. Well, if Shiro falls with him… he won’t mind.

Keith touches Shiro’s lips quickly, passionately and completely clumsily. He feels resistance, because Shiro, frozen, does not help him. But Keith has been waiting for this moment for so long that he hardly notices anything. He reaches out to Shiro, presses his whole body against him, tries to open Shiro's lips so that he kisses him back, and at the moment when Keith is almost ready to believe in his happiness, Shiro suddenly pulls away. This is such a strong movement away that Keith does not immediately understand what is happening.

Shiro looks at him with all his eyes, his lips are parted, and he is breathing heavily, just like Keith, but…

Keith’s hands drop, he feels that he is flying into the abyss.

“Keith… I… Oh, quiznak!” Shiro runs his hand through his hair and keeps his eyes on Keith.

Keith immediately understands everything. He was wrong. Shiro doesn’t feel the same way about him. A wave of shame covers Keith. He was in a hurry. He made hasty conclusions. Why did he kiss Shiro at all? He could only speak, words were enough…

Keith turns away, feeling his face flush. Oh no, no, no… What had he done?

A warm hand rests on his shoulder and Shiro’s voice, slightly shaken, but so soft that it hurts his heart, says, “Keith, I'm sorry, I had no idea…”

Keith wants to throw his arm off his shoulder, wants to yell at Shiro and drive him away, or even better — to turn back time and make sure that this kiss never happened. But he froze, it seems even his heart stopped beating. It just died…

“I’m sorry, Keith,” Shiro continues. He tries to calm Keith down, but with every word the gap between them grows. “But I’m afraid I can’t respond to your feelings. For now, anyway,” he adds a little quieter after a pause.

“It’s all… right,” Keith replies in a barely audible voice.”You just said I had to explain myself…”

“Yes, but I didn’t think you were talking about me!” Keith hears the echoes of panic in Shiro’s voice and grins mirthlessly.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

“You don’t disappoint… ever, Keith.”

Something in Shiro’s voice, some kind of crack, makes Keith turn to him and look into his eyes again. Oh no, he didn’t want to hurt Shiro. He just wanted to ease his own pain a little.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

“It’s fine,” Shiro replies, opening his arms slightly, and Keith falls into the arms of his friend and mentor with relief. Stars, make sure that they remain friends despite this terrible incident. “And you forgive me… This is all too sudden. You’re the last person I’d want to hurt.”

“I know.” Soon Shiro leaves, and Keith lies down on the bed and looks at the ceiling. Waves of pain, then shame, then hope goes through him. Shiro didn’t say it would never happen. Keith smiles, touching her lips. Shiro said, “So far, anyway.” So — Keith turns on his side, curling up into a ball, — he still has a chance. He closes his eyes. “I’ll wait. Until his I can’t love you back yet turns into I already love you.”

[autisticlancemcclain]

The door creaks open, and Keith is three-quarters asleep and his limbs are heavy. But he manages anyway to lift the corner of the blankets, inviting, and smiles as Lance rushes to curl up under them without bothering to take off anything more than his armour.

“W’lcm back,” Keith murmurs, tongue thick in his mouth and head heavy on the pillow. Despite the sleepiness pulling at his limbs he manages to wrap himself tightly around his Lance, arm under his neck and around his waist like he likes it, pulling him close to his chest and under his chin. He presses his nose to Lance’s hair and breathes deeply, relishing in the smell of flowers and sunshine, feeling it settle in his lungs sweeter than any air. “Missed you.”

“Good,” Lance responds, somehow energetic enough to be cheeky, and Keith manages an amused huff. “I’m glad you were miserable too.”

Keith traces mindless spirals on the taut skin of Lance’s belly, relishing in his tiny shiver. His shoulders relax. His eyes droop shut without his permission.

“Mm. Miserable is a big word. I was fine, actually.”

“Liar,” Lance whispers, breath puffing hot against Keith’s neck. The arm he has wrapped around Keith’s back tightens, and he presses a lingering, open-mouthed kiss to the hollow of Keith’s throat. Keith is too tired for it to go anywhere, but it’s — nice.

“Yeah.”

“You tired?”

“‘M barely awake, sweetheart.”

He can feel the curve of Lance’s grin. “Stayed up to see me, though.”

Keith’s own lips quirk up to match. “‘Course.”

Lance’s breathing starts to even, matching Keith’s, and Keith starts to drift, able finally for the first time in days to sleep with the weight of Lance pressed against his body and the feel of his heart beating chest-to-chest with his.

“Love you, Red.”

Keith breathes out, slowly, hands going slack, mind getting dark. The last thing he registers is Lance’s hair tickling his neck.

“Love you too, Bluebell.”

[kidgetrash]

Oh wow, somehow I totally kissed that! Some stuff I agreed with, some stuff I didn't, but I enjoyed every bit of reading it regardless! Ok... most common argument and who says I love you first?

Most Common Argument?

Between these two, the crew often don't know if they're actually having an argument or just sassing one another! They will argue the pros and cons of sweet vs salty popcorn as passionately as if it were life or death. Pidge will tell Keith he's crazy for thinking the sequel is better than the first movie, which will lead them to loudly debate every single plot point that outweighs the other. But they love it!

'You're doing it wrong.'

'No, YOU'RE doing it wrong.'

'That doesn't even make any sense, I'm not the one doing it.'

'Which is why YOU'RE doing it wrong!'

But as for big arguments, boy howdy, do these two go off! And for both of them it's the safety of the other. Even if it wasn't their fault, even if it was Keith doing some risky manoeuvre, even if it was Pidge not paying attention and nearly tripping, YOU MUST BE MORE CAREFUL! WHAT WOULD I DO IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU? It takes some time before they both realise they're worried about the exact same thing. But that doesn't stop them. They get so angry, so fired up, honestly the team didn't know Pidge had it in her to get angry enough to go toe to toe with Keith in the raging stakes. Their fights can last for days, the whole crew walking on eggshells as they slam cabinets, ignoring one another, snapping the head of whoever dares talk to them.

But eventually they miss one another, the one who started the argument apologising. Keith will meander sheepishly into Pidge's office/lab and make his way through the layers of burning steam she was putting off at his presence. He'd just stop beside her and rub the back of his neck.

'So, I might have overreacted, and I'm sorry.'

'Might have?'

'Definitely. I'm just...I don't want anything to happen to you. I'm scared I might lose you.'

She turns in her seat and looks up at him, finally worry showing through instead of anger.

'Stupid emo.' She gets up and wraps him in a tight hug. 'With you there to save me, what could ever happen to me?'

As for Pidge, she approaches things a little differently.

'Hey!' She'll march into whatever room he is in, regardless of who he is with.

'What?' It's the first thing they've said to one another for days and he feigns absolute disinterest, because he already know where this is going.

'My room, now!' And she turns on her heels and leaves, not even bothering to check he's following.

He sighs, puts down whatever it was he was doing, and heads out of the room with an eyeroll at whoever else might be in the room, and if it's Lance he will get a; 'oooooo Keith's in trouble!'

Keith knows he is, but he really doesn't mind, because he knows when he gets to Pidge's room he's about to get absolutely dominated by his tiny girlfriend in some of the best angry sex ever.

Once it's all over, and they're lying in bed, the covers, and most of the room actually, in absolute shambles, themselves a tangle of arms and legs, that she will look up at him with her bottom lip trembling.

'You know I only got mad because you were stupid, right?'

'I know.' He kisses her forehead tenderly. 'And it was warranted.'

'But still, I didn't have to get that mad. I didn't have to yell at you as much as I did.'

'I think I probably deserved it. Maybe not the spanner you threw at me, but the yelling, sure.' He smiled at her and that was her undoing.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she pressed her lips together to try and quell them but couldn't. And when she spoke her voice was so choked up it broke his heart. 'It's just, when I thought I lost Dad and Matt, I felt so empty, like my whole world shattered. I can't bear the thought of losing you like I thought I lost them.' She gave in to her tears then, Keith holding her close and shushing her.

When she finally calms, he rolls onto his side, putting her on her back beside him. He strokes her cheek, kisses her tears away, and gives her the most sincere look.

'We don't live normal lives, there's always going to be danger, and I will always put myself in positions you don't want me to,' she opened her mouth to argue but he pressed his finger to her lips, 'but it's only because I would give my life for you. To keep you safe I would give up everything I have. I would literally die for you.'

She pushed away his finger. 'But, I don't want you to die for me. Can't you fight and live for me instead?'

Keith physically started at that. He hadn't actually realised that that was an option. He figured sacrifice was all about giving up your life but, it dawned on him, that there were other kinds of sacrifice. Like giving up what you thought was a given and changing your ways.

'You know?' He leaned down and kissed her softly. 'That actually seems like a much better idea.'

Who Says I Love You First?

Surprisingly, it's Keith! It just kind of...slipped out! They were just sitting on Pidge's bed, curled up watching a movie, and she turned and kissed him softly with no prompting. It completely threw him for a loop. He thought they were just watching the movie when suddenly she has his brain fritzing and his stomach flip flopping, his heart is racing, and it was just a kiss! She gave a simple little hum when they parted, planning on going back to the movie, having got her fix, but he caught her cheek with his palm, keeping her facing him. He studied her in a way that had her giving him a look of amused curiosity.

'What?' She whispered, their closeness guaranteeing he would hear her.

'I love you.' He just stated it out of thin air, his words almost as much a surprise to him as it was to her.

Her cheeks flushed, and she blinked rapidly. It was her turn for her brain to short out. 'Wow. I mean, yeah!' She shook herself mentally. 'I love you too!'

She all but threw herself at him, knocking him onto his back as she hugged him tightly. He couldn't help the grin that slid onto his face. He hadn't meant to confess, not now, he had figured he would do so in some romantic setting, but that was when he realised it didn't really matter where they were, so long as they were together it was the most perfect place in the world.

I wrote this at 7am after a shockingly bad night and the pain meds aren't taking the edge off! I hope I didn't make too many mistakes and that you like it!

All the ship memes are done now (or waiting to be done!) but if you have any other ideas/questions that you want me to have a go at, hit me up!

[ivorygotnobars]

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you guys like 7k of engaged Klance fluff as a series appetizer <3

Chapter 1: Eye of the Storm

Some Time Before: Lance POV

Heavy rain drowned out the chime of the entry bell as Lance thundered into the intimate cafe front of the Patisserie. His sudden arrival sent a brief tremor through the warm ambiance, rattling glass displays into the heart of the cafe. Water dripped from his soaked suit, trailing behind him as he made a beeline toward a small group occupying an amber-lit lounge area.

A long industrial seating counter separated the main shop from the lounge, currently cluttered with piles of books and binders. They were scattered haphazardly, spilling onto nearby coffee tables and velvet gold-trimmed couches.

No one noticed his entrance, already having tuned out the storm into little more than background noise. All, except his gorgeous fiancé ; who sat perched at the counter, stylus hovering over a data pad. His head turned sharply, drawn in by the sudden commotion. Irritated, narrowed eyes blinked into bewilderment at the sight of Lance—every step sputtering like an engine in all his waterlogged glory—Almost unsure of the image he saw before him.

And what an image it must be, Lance thought, acutely aware of the crumpled wreck that was his suit. Like he had yanked it mid-cycle from the wash; hair limp, clinging to his forehead in a damp mess, all to the heroic intro music of leather shoes squelching in a tone-deaf rhythm.

The frantic energy and irritation that brimmed right beneath Lance’s soaked skin dissolved, exchanging his trembling from the cold for anticipation. The forced smile he’d held for what felt like ages eased—melting away the storm he’d carried with him, the frustration, the bone-deep exhaustion. Overjoyed, he’s actually managed to catch one Keith Kogane off guard.

He didn’t wait for Keith to brace himself before letting the full weight of his exhaustion drop unceremoniously over his fiancé ’s shoulders.

Keith jolted with a grunt.

Dampness transferred into his shirt and across his back. Though instinctively, he tilted forward, adjusting to steady the deadweight slumped against him. One hand gripped an arm dangling loosely over his shoulder, while the other braced firmly against the back of Lance’s thigh.

Lance enjoyed the subtle pull of Keith’s muscle at his chest and the firmness of his grip, slacking further into his forbearance. He littered lazy, gratified greetings wherever his lips could reach across Keith’s shoulder and the back of his neck—but mostly met his mob of hair that faintly smelled like burnt tires, carrying the distant memory of the Garrison’s training floor. 

He only slightly cringed when he pulled back, a few stray strands stuck in his mouth. Though couldn’t justify even moving his neck an inch away from the radiant warmth that felt like hovering frost-nibbled fingers over a fire pit.

Despite the scowl and furrowed brows etched in place—sharp as ever—Keith uncharacteristically, didn’t complain or shove him off. Instead, he slowly glanced over his shoulder doing little to hold back the gleam in his eyes that sparked in wonder.

And really, that’s all Lance needed to know how much he had been missed these past few months apart.

“Well, would you look at that,” Lance’s voice strained, holding back a breath he seemed to be still trying to catch. “Made it just in the nick of time.”

Keith’s eyes narrowed, a smirk twitching the corners of his mouth. “Is that what you say two and a half hours late to all your meetings?”

Keith’s fingertips trailed from his wrist, up to pluck at the faint itch at his lips before threading through Lance’s damp hair, playfully shaking it out, scattering droplets in every direction and across the counter.

Lance scrunched his nose. He could only imagine the tangled monstrosity Keith’s tousling left behind. Though any snide remark or concern for his hair slipped right off his tongue as Keith leaned sideways, grinning smugly, his amusement practically dancing in his eyes.

Something familiar brimmed at the edges of Lance’s awareness, teasing him with its inescapable radiance. I love this man, he thought, I just want to marry him already. Not that he’d say it now—not when Keith looked so unbearably pleased with himself at making a mess out of him.

His arms sneaked around Lance’s hips, still bearing the brunt of him, though the warmth that sunk into his hair was gone, replaced by the dowsing cold of his own suit pressing further into the small of his back. A shiver plunged down his spine, just as Keith peeled him away like a piece of sodden paper.

“I didn’t think you were coming,” Keith admitted, his voice gentle with a hint of incredulity, as he eased Lance to the seat beside him.“It sounded like the meeting was going to run longer than expected.”

“Yeah, but I never said I wouldn’t make it,” He declared. His grin a little crooked. Now seated, he had to arch a bit awkwardly with arms still clung around Keith’s shoulders, “Better late than never, babe!”

Lance’s eyes wandered across the room, shifting slightly to ease his posture and to take in the busy hive of workers around them, nose-deep in varying tasks and conversations. With a raised brow, he added, “ Doesn’t seem like there’s much cake testing going on though.”

His gaze caught on their wedding planner–Dawn. Who stiffly stood beside the Garrison’s PR rep, Aoife, and a towering man he assumed was the pâtissier catering their wedding. His tallness exaggerated by the height of his toque and a curled mustache that looked straight out of a lineup of ancient cartoon villains…Truthfully, man made it work though.

The three loomed over a corner booth, pouring through large books and—blueprints?

He took in the clutter around them again and gestured. “What’s with the half-a-library covering this place, anyway?”

“Apparently, we can’t pick the flavor until figuring out the design and how it’s supposed to hold up. Something about density and temperature affecting flavor integrity.” His lips pursed in that uncertain way Lance had come to expect when he couldn’t decide if something was absurd or one of those ‘normal’ things people just accepted without question.

“Who cares! As long as it tastes good, it can look like a goddamn weblum! What are we supposed to hire an architect for the cake too?”

His fiancé chuckled, and the sound tickled Lance’s chin, settling something in place, like a keystone he hadn’t even known had been off-kilter in the first place. “Hope not, we’re already waiting on enough permits as is.”

Lance tilted his head back, yielding to that settled something, the arch in his brow softening. Taking in every detail like a man taking his first bite and realizing he’d been starved. For the first time in weeks—maybe longer, his thoughts slowed, and the familiar taut buzzing under his skin quieted. The world at large snapped into focus, with a wonder that tightened at his throat.

He couldn’t seem to pin it down—the millions of small, impossible-to-name things that made up this …. this …just this …He wanted to bottle it, frame it, keep it, yet the more he tried, the more it seemed to slip through his fingers like a moment turning into a memory.

“Lance?” Keith’s voice broke through his haze, steady and amused.

Lance opened his mouth to respond—only for a sharp tone to shatter his focus, his thoughts slipping from him drawing him instead to the back corner of the room.

“It’s. A. Mess.” Aoife spat each word, voice low and serrated, slicing straight through the ambient warmth of the room. “Not to mention mechanically impossible. We need something more stable. Respectful .”

Her icy stoicism clashed sharply with Dawn’s ferocity, that the air all but crackled between them.

Caught in the crossfire, the patasiere cleared his throat, in an attempt to moderate the escalating tensions. “The concept is certainly, certainly…ambitious.” He remarks in a careful tone. “However, this is merely a rough sketch of course. The logistics can be refined—the latticework may appear fragile, but I assure you with the right sugar—”

“I’d like to hear at least one—ONE design idea from you today, that doesn’t look like it’s meant to entomb something!” Dawn interjected loudly, her small stature, having no problem overpowering the presence of the man twice her size.“I’m telling you, the tower concept is perfect! They add height , grandeur , drama! A perfect way to serve the guests without compromising the presentation! It’s the utmost symbolic representation of the towering heights of love and-”

“This is exactly the problem.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Dawn sneered, " I forgot this is a wedding , how inappropriate to have any mere reference of love and hap—!”

“Would you stop yelling !”

“Would you stop interru-”

“At least a dozen cultures in attendance believe tower structures are relics of oppression. Relics of war and violence . Which some of them have just lived through and it would be egregious and offensive to be welcomed to a celebration when the cake is a reminder of their devastating losses.” Aoife went on, sounding as though scolding a child. " And you want to start dismantling them in front of the guests to serve? That’s a dozen more outraged at the blatant omen of fractured unity.”

She lifts a book from the table. “Now this,” she shoves it open inches from Dawn’s face, nearly smacking her with its flying cover. “ It’s classic, elegant, and most importantly dignified .”

Dawn’s eyes flashed with boiled-over frustration, “Well, this wedding is on Earth .” She grabs the center fold of the book and begins to try to rip it from Aoife’s hands though it doesn’t budge. “My clients are both from Earth —we are not catering to every single superstition in the cosmos!”

Typically, Lance would throw in a suggestive comment about their rivaling energy, maybe teasing their own up-incoming marriage after all of this. But after a rather l o n g, grueling couple of months enduring intergalactic tensions over treaty terms—capped off by the draining flight he’d just taken halfway across the known universe—he wasn’t in the mood for it.

Though Lance couldn’t hold back his disbelief at the scene, as the two women started fighting over the book. Neither holding back their strength.

Considering their build difference and Aoife’s military background, he was impressed with Dawn’s resistance.

Somehow the assistants, don’t bat an eye at the altercation, tuning it out like the storm outside.

“There are plenty Earthian cultures with similar views!”

“EARTHIAN IS NOT A WORD!”

Aoife flinched back from the echoed scream in her face, however, gave no other indication of letting go of the book.

Lance pressed his forehead to Keith’s shoulder, rubbing at the aching pressure building behind his eyes.

“You can’t tell me this isn’t giving you a headache?” He knows how sensitive Keith’s hearing is— if he was feeling the pinch in his skull, Keith’s head had to be rattling by now! He didn’t look it, though, and just shrugged, bobbing Lance’s head with the gesture. “Think at this point I’m used to it.”

“Should we stop them?”

“Already tried,” Keith replied wearily. “It’s easier to just wait and let them tire themselves out.”

“ Two hours —and they’re not worn out yet?” On a side note, Lance quirked his brow up at his fiancée “And since when have you started trying to apply to sainthood? I’ve seen you get impatient with a toaster. ”

“Gives me time to work on my report.” He gestures to his data pad.

Lance gave it a distasteful look. One thing he certainly didn’t miss from working directly with the Garrison was the never-ending paperwork. So much as you thought of giving a command or not giving one, it needed to be locked-in to a paper trail, or else you get the ‘so-tell-me-about-your-train-of-thought-here’ meeting.

Straightening in his seat, Lance turned his attention back to the tug of war. “Well, I’m here for some damn cake.” He rolled his shoulders, getting himself ready to project at least some authority over this situation, “Cover your ears, babe.”

He let out a sharp, piercing whistle that echoed through the chaos.

It’s not the most diplomatic approach to get the room’s attention, but it got the job done.

Following the silence, a flash of lightning lit up the windows, accompanied by a rumbling growl of thunder from outside. A very satisfyingly, unexpected display of drama, leaving a few assistants gawking at him with just a tiny bit of awe.

Lance sat up proudly, and wrestled with his features at his own surprise at the timing and a swell of vainglory that was hard to cap.

“Now that I have your attention,” he said, leaning into the moment, “how about we keep it simple and have the cake be regular-cake-shaped: three-four tiers with extra slices in the back for distribution time?”

He glanced at Keith, who uncovered one ear to raise a hand in support.“I second that.”

After a pregnant pause, Lance lost the battle with his smirk as no objections were raised. Order restored —it was a rare win to get a speechless crowd these days!

Of course, It didn’t last.

Aoife released her grip on the book, having Dawn bungee back, stumbling back a meter, nearly falling on her ass. Never one to be caught off guard for too long, Aoife stepped forward with military precision and snapped into a rigid salute before him.“Pleasure for you to finally join us, Colonel. We weren’t expecting your return from Tzerlan for another month. We hope the negotiations ended favorably.”

Oh god, this again . He thought, grin growing tight as he forced a breath through his nose, “Lance is fine, " the words already a tired reflex on his tongue.

Besides, he could barely call himself a ‘Colonel’, and they all knew it. Just another infuriating reminder of the Garrison’s grip on their lives rather than an honorable or earned title. Even here, even now— in the midst of planning for his own wedding.

“And we’ve still got about a month or so left before we can wrap up this sect,” his voice steadied, working in a lighter and more casual tone. “We’re just on extended recess for the next like-40 hours- or so, thought I’d pop in, help with the cake…maybe take back that Wedding Binder, and get through some more finalizations on my side of things. Getting things back on track and all.” Lance winked at his fiancé, a knowing smile passing between both their lips.

It really wasn’t as simple as he made it seem. It took favors, careful maneuvering, and some major ass-kissing over the last two months to pull it off, and he had already maxed out the legal number of court absences he was allowed for the year so he didn’t have that to fall back on anymore.

Not that the Generals and reps of Peace and Sanctions hadn’t been lenient with certain dates and situations— cake tasting , however, certainly didn’t count as an exception or a medical emergency- which, on record, is absolute bullshit. Especially with this potential threat to intergalactic reverence!

He was kind of mad he didn’t think of that while drafting his proposal.

It was just, he was finally looking forward to something a little more lax and fun. Keith always swore he didn’t like any type of cake, an unheard-of phenomenon that Lance just had to challenge, with an arrangement of cakes from a world class baker. Seriously when would they get another chance like it! And he couldn’t miss such a revelation. A milestone!

And with just a couple hours to spare really, he wasn’t going to let some stupid design choice stop them now!

“So if we’re all finalized here, I say let’s get on to the next part.”

“HOLD— hold, hold. Hold-on a moment,” Dawn blinked, still recovering from her struggle with Aoife.

“How long did you say you’re staying for? Two days?” She blinked between him and Keith, eyeing them with a look that definitely wasn’t pleased that neither of them notified her of this.

Lance sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. To be fair. Lance barely knew if he was even going to make the meeting at all.“I didn’t know until last night. This isn’t exactly a long vacation.”

“You leave tomorrow, then?”

“Just after midnight….tonight.” He clarified just in case she thought to squeeze him in somewhere else. He still needed a couple hours for the commute back.

“Carlo!” Dawn’s voice rose as she called out over her shoulder. “See if Threading can fit Lance in right now for his suit fitting!”

Right now? Like… right now , right now?

Keith’s head snapped up, but before Lance could protest, Aoife chimed in, her voice low and measured.

“Just wait on a moment,” she started, “ Before you start dragging him out the door maybe consider his insights on the intercultural nuances.”

Lance looked to Aoife, gratitude outweighing his annoyance at her ‘Colonel’ comment from earlier.

“She’s right!” He cut in, just as another voice interrupted.

“Got Lora on the phone—would Paladin McClain be able to get to Italy within the hour?”

Dawn’s response was swift, cutting off any chance of protest. “Yes, he will!”

Lance’s stomach dropped. Italy. Now?

“We can run those details remotely,” She waved off Aoife with her hand passive aggressively inches from her nose, “ Right now the suit takes priority.”

“Dawn, I don’t think flight control is going to give me clearance for that kind of speed planet-side.” He tries, though the countering look that flashes in her eyes makes his arms drop to his sides in a half-hearted gesture of defeat.

“If you can get here from across the universe in just a few short hours, I’m sure it can take you minutes from here.”

Okay…admittedly that was a weak argument to begin with.

“We’re already behind on your suit, and it’s already hard enough to get you here with all your scheduling conflicts. I don’t want to waste you on a meeting like this. Go now, and we’ll have the cake drawn out by the end of this meeting!”

End of the meeting? Wha-So he came all this way and they weren’t even going to get any cake at all?

He had to admit, he liked Dawn, he liked that she fought for them, trying to balance what they wanted with what the Garrison demanded. But right now? He could hardly stand her.

“So,” Lance tried to hold back his disappointment and frustration, “We’ll need a second meeting for this? Isn’t that a bit excessive?” He shot a glance over at Keith, whose gaze flickered downward, shoulders dipping just enough for Lance to notice. Heart going heavy it—tipped something over in Lance.

All in all, in his mind, he knew he shouldn’t make a big deal about this…but all he could feel was the years’ worth spent juggling work and wedding planning, of the constant back and forth commute, Dawn and Aoife’s ear-grating bickering, and the weight of the endless wedding binder. When was the last time either of them even held a conversation that wasn’t about this stupid wedding that was more and more a publicity stunt for the Garrison than anything else at this point?

He was tired. He was irritated. And he just wanted one nice moment with his fiancé . Just one nice evening, eating cake together, and hopefully watching one perfect slice change Keith’s life. Was that really so hard to ask for?

“You know what? No.” His voice rose, firm and honed to an edge. “We’ve already settled on dates and a timeline. I know I’m holding us back on a few things, but you also can’t just keep adding more dates to the schedule because you two care more about arguing with each other than actually getting things done!” His resolve settled in with the fire behind his words. “I’m staying.” He exhaled sharply. “If that’s what it takes to keep you guys on track, and finish this to completion, then so be it. You think Keith here has endless time at his disposal too? We’re seeing this through— now .”

Keith placed a firm but gentle hand on Lance’s shoulder. His gaze met Lance’s wearing an expression he could probably draw from memory by now. Solidarity. “Lance has a point.” Keith certified.” We can’t keep adding more meetings every time something doesn’t go exactly as planned. Like you said, it’s already hard enough to coordinate our schedules and right now you have both of us here.”

Lance could melt. He could dissolve and be condensed, absolutely nothing left of him but a puddle of love and affection. However, Dawn didn’t give him a chance to even test the theory.

“There won’t be a second meeting.” Dawn settled. “The cake samples are already all freeze-preserved. There are enough slices for each of you to take with you. The flavor can be decided on in your own time.

“And as for the design…we’ll be sure to finish it by the end of today. But you’d be saving us a lot of time by getting your measurements and inputs out of the way with the tailor. And I’d like to get some more buffer room for you in case we need any last-minute alterations… Regarding any future delays…” She paused.

If Lance’s frustration was a wildfire then hers was a solar flare.

“It might be worth suggesting to the Garrison to send in someone a little more competent and a lot more efficient…for this sort of thing.”

Aoife who had already started to pale at Lance’s reproach, now appeared like how Lance imagined a polar bear might look after its job security was threatened.

“On my mother’s memory, once you reverse the preserving process, it will taste as if you’ve plucked it from my very hands!” The patissier chimed in rather unhelpfully.

“Great.” Lance remarked. Yet another moment stolen by duty, and responsibilities.

Just wonderful.

He started to lift his hand to pinch at the bridge of his brows when the patissier caught it and clasped both of Lance’s hands in his own. Lance barely registered what he was trying to do until his mind finally made sense of the frantic handshake.

“I have to just say before you go, it is such a pleasure to meet you most of all Mr. McClain! Truly, truly, tru~ly a great great honor! I was just telling your fiancée how you saved my village during the—”

“Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Dawn cut in, her tone clipped. “But right now, we’d prefer to respect Mr. McClain’s time.”

Lance blinked, a half-formed retort already rising to his lips before he caught himself. “It’s alright, Dawn!” He said with a sheepish smile. Like a second skin, Lance slipped into his public figure persona, matching the man’s enthusiasm with a firm grip. “Think I can afford to get to know our star chef here!”

He laid thick the compliments and gratitude, which he found easy enough, given that he had been excited to try his cakes.

Before long, Lance got to hear how cool he looked taking down a destroyer drone that targeted a remote village during the Galra attack, way back when.

The man’s voice trembled recalling the helpless fear, gutting him as he yelled after Garrison fighter jets streaking just ahead towards the major nearby city. Too far to help his family and neighbors as they dodged enemy fire.

It wasn’t unlike the countless stories Lance had heard before, yet he couldn’t stop the prickling behind his own eyes, just as the patissier’s tears fell, raw and reflective. The intensity of the moment, however, might have been slightly abated by the man’s iron grip; which was starting to bite painfully into Lance’s skin.

Despite still being a bit damp from the rain, he pulled out his pocket square and offered it to him. Briefly, wondering if it sounded arrogant to joke about signing it for him after he was done—though at that point Dawn was already shoving him out the door.

Umbrella in hand, Keith trailed after, announcing that he’d walk Lance to his Lion to keep him from getting soaked again. And Lance tugs him out the door before anyone could point out the extras in the umbrella stand at his feet.

With the swiftness of a flicking switchblade, Keith popped open the umbrella, and Lance was at the ready, swiping it from his hand before he could hold it steady, like a true gentleman.

Keith’s expression flickered wide, before shifting into a type of tentative levity that didn’t quite hold the same familiar fire Lance was used to seeing when he did something unexpectedly chivalrous—it felt distant, muted.

Lance watched him for a beat longer, sensing the way Keith settled into his touch, but he didn’t lean into their interwoven hands. Just a bit worrying— usually clinging extra hard to the excess of Lance’s heat when his hands were that cold.

Lance tightened his grip just a fraction as they moved deeper into the storm and the early winter air.

Really, he should have been nagging Keith by now for not bringing a proper winter jacket, so they could have waddled their way back huddled beneath it. But he looked less open to any of Lance’s usual antics for tonight.

In general, Keith was more prickly when he was cold, and maybe Lance was a bit too tired, himself, to try to tease those quills with any real finesse.

Especially in that downcast gaze of his staring light-years away, with a dimness of dwindling embers. Despite his presence feeling like standing next to an open flame— steady and easing, doing a much better job shielding them, than Lance was on his side.

An ache drilled itself a pit into Lance’s chest.

He subtly tilted the umbrella more to Keith’s side—a small automatic gesture that somehow made him feel just a bit more pathetic. As if this was all he could do right now.

He’d been the one who pushed more heavily to make their wedding this big, grand thing, insisting they deserved nothing less. And though Keith had his own reasons for agreeing to it, here he was—flailing while Keith quietly held everything together, never once complaining. Not-a-once.

All Lance had done was complain…and miss half the meetings, stuck on the other side of the known universe…it’s why he had so badly wanted to plan something special-something just a little memorable. But now, even that felt like another hollowed-out promise.

That was getting a bit too common for his liking these days. Guilt drilled deeper further down to the pit of his stomach. It felt like it might hollow him out completely.

He gathered some of his thoughts as they halted at a signaled crosswalk, watching the blinking red light reflecting off the wet road, expelling a rather loud breath—Not entirely sure what was about to come out of his mouth.

When in doubt, start with the basics.

Keith was already watching him expectantly. Just the sight of him framed by the backdrop of cascading rain from the umbrella’s edge, made the words spill out a bit easier in their small, intimate bubble.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, giving Keith’s hand a gentle squeeze, hoping it carried some of the weight and sincerity he couldn’t quite express. “I keep dropping the ball on you, leaving you with all the heavy lifting.

“I know it’s unfair, I know it’s a lot…so thank you for being so great and keeping everything on track. I wanted to express that better, especially today, but instead, I’m stuck playing catch up and probably going to bore you with cultural theories instead for the next couple of hours.”

He managed a small smile before adding, “But I do promise I’ll make it up to you too somehow. Once this sect is over I’m going in one hundred and twenty percent! I swear it!”

When the pedestrian light turned, Lance nudged his fiancée forward, noticing a faltering hesitation in Keith’s step.

“Where’s this coming from?” He frowned, eyes narrowing, searching his face.

Okay…so maybe Lance’s rambling hadn’t quite hit its mark. He tries again, channeling his Keith-speak. “You…just look like you’ve been ejected out of the wrong end of a wormhole, and I know it’s because I haven’t been here to help you steer through…all this.”

Lance honestly couldn’t tell if that landed any better, but the subtle twitch in the corners of Keith’s frown felt like a small victory in the battle against words.

Keith shakes his head, his gaze holding a bit more focus than before. “We’re both managing what we can. Even if we’re not always working at it side by side, we’re still steering through accordingly.

There’s a stubborn intensity in his tone, a quiet insistence that Lance knew well. Trying to command away Lance’s concerns before they dig in too deep.

“And you don’t have to kill yourself either trying to keep promises I don’t need from you. I don’t need one-twenty percent. "

“Then what do you need?”

Keith’s frown deepened glaringly. Lance is almost convinced he’s going to say ‘nothing’ which Lance already has his answer to that. Bu—llshi—t.

He shrugged, surprisingly, with mostly a real answer on hand. “Just be here when you can and take care of yourself.” His tone wasn’t particularly warm, and neither was his gaze as it zeroed in on Lance’s soaked clothes with something close to contempt— like he was on the verge of ordering him to strip and hit the showers— and not in a sexy way. No, in the increasingly familiar, mother-hen way that crept its way into Keith’s demeanor sometime after the war.

Not that Lance would dare point it out. That was one hill he refused to die on—only partly out of self-preservation. Mostly because of how endearing his fretting was. Not even the cold, damp weight of his suit could smother the warmth it stirred in him.

Keith’s attention flickered back to his face pointedly, eyebrow arched prophetically. He nudged Lance for good measure, signaling that he had enough of any serious talks for today. “Besides if anyone looks like they’ve just came out the wrong end of a wormhole— it’s you.”

If he had a free hand Lance would have immediately ran it through his tousled hair, recalling how someone made a mess of it earlier. “Really, I think the whole ‘battle-worn hero making a grand return to his beloved’ look suits me, actually .”

“Hmm,” Keith mused, his gaze flickering over him, unimpressed. “Who won, you or the hurricane?”

Lance scoffed, leaning in with a roguish gleam. “I made it here, didn’t I?”

Keith’s eyes darted to his lips, a fleeting motion, but Lance, being the simple man he is, did not need a second invitation. He whirled in front of his fiancé closing the distance between them; capturing Keith’s mouth with his own.

Keith was usually all teeth. Toying and nipping wherever he could sink them. Now it’s not so relentless or unrestrained. It was slow—lingering, desperate.

Electricity battered down Lance’s spine; lighting a fire that burned through his torso and into his hands. He wrestled with the urge to pull him closer, trying not to press his clammy clothes against him in the cold. But Keith didn’t seem to care.

He tugged Lance flushed against him, holding tight, seemingly oblivious to the chill probably soaking through the shirt beneath the open folds of his lightweight jacket.

The world around them muted a bit like this. Reduced to the gentle sound of water running somewhere around them; warmth bleeding where gale and rain couldn’t claw its way between them.

Pulling back just enough to look into Keith’s eyes, Lance grinned, mischief overcoming him. “See? I won.” His voice dropped to a whisper, rich with reverent, already leaning in for another—then another. “For you, I’d cross the universe every day if you asked me to.”

Keith brushed his thumb along Lance’s jaw, a sound rolling out of him, like a purr of an engine rumbling past Lance’s parted lips. He licked over the warmth it left behind, savoring its distinct taste of resonance.

It was a far cry from where they began, a thought that swirled briefly before Keith angled to rest their foreheads together, disarming him of any further thoughts entirely.

“I’m glad you’re here—”

Lance’s ringtone cut savagely, and rather rudely interrupting him, like an obnoxious alarm clock capsizing them out of a dream. He reached for it, seriously considering just chucking it out of sight, when a flash caught in his periphery— not lightning.

Looks like some tabloid scored themselves a cover photo ; and from the irked sidelong glare on his face, Keith noticed too.

Though they weren’t necessarily concerned about paparazzi money shots—aside from the general annoyance. It usually meant an added surprise to their schedule from their friends at PR-A la Garison. No doubt perfectly overlapping his lunchtime—and Keith’s dinner—once he got back to the Tzerlans.

Awesome .

With a deep sigh, Lance begrudgingly pulled back, unable to find his earpiece in his pockets. He tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder, freeing at least one hand to lazily smooth down the more errant strands of Keith’s bangs reluctant to sever the connection from the moment entirely.

“Yes, Dawn.” He chirped sweetly; irritation clawing up his throat, sharp and tangible, like a round seated in its chamber, ready to lash out.

“You forgot the Binder.”

Lance groaned, swearing under his breath. “Seriously?”

“I can grab it for you.” Keith offered, unsurprisingly able to hear the other end probably as crisply as Lance’s own ears.

More surprisingly, apparently so could Dawn.

“YOU’RE STILL NOT AT YOUR LION!”

Lance stuppered, rubbing at his lobe, which burned like it had been punched. “I-ah-I’m about to launch right now actually.” He winced. Definitely, not believable . “Just… parked a little far off. You know, city life and giant lions don’t mix well.”

He tries to end the call, but Dawn holds him to lecture about being respectful and to call after the tailor gets everything he needs from him.

Lance barely registered much else before noticing something like ash floating in the air. His gaze flickered upward, and his focus slipped entirely as he interrupted abruptly— something about signal interference with his lion before cutting the line.

“Holy shit, it’s snowing!” He blurted, all his frustrations forgotten as he dropped the umbrella. Thick clusters of flurries spiraled around them, erratic and alive. Keith looked up, just as a strike of lighting lit up behind the cloud.

Lance watched Keith’s lips part slightly, his eyes reflecting the pale glow of the lightning. Thrill struck him like a live wire as a distant memory surfaced—a planet far from here, where they’d last encountered snow together…Or at least, something with its resemblance. However, the coal-like lumps there had been underwhelming. Nothing like the delicate, crystalline patterns he had once seen on Earth.

Something he’d vowed to show Keith in person one day. What were the odds of the timing? And lightening! He sent a quick thank you out to the universe for handing him the perfect chance to stage a comeback.

Lance set the umbrella down. “Give me your hand,” He instructed and was only given a puzzled look once it was in his grasp. He turned it palm out and gently lifted it into the air to let the snow gather in his palm.

He spared only a fleeting thought for any more cameras lurking about; deciding to let them take as many pictures as they wanted. The damage was already done, and he’d like the memento anyway.

“What are you doing?”Keith asked, his tone caught between distrustful and exasperated, as Lance settled behind him grabbing his other arm.

“Obviously I’m too hot,” He jeered, lowly. Tilting his head to nuzzle his cheek against the side of his hair; his breath warm against Keith’s ear. “It’ll melt the second it gets near me.”

Lance could only see the tail end of the curl of his mouth as Keith gave a small snort. “That’s your excuse?”He leaned a bit further back and tilted his head to give him a knowing look.

“It’s not an excuse; it’s the laws of science,” Lance said matter-of-factly, “Now do you wanna see some real snow or no?”

There was a moment of pause, in which Keith just gazed at him. His expression shifting to something unreadable and searching. As though starting to shift through those dusted memories himself. Lance could see the recognition catching up as he turned back to the sky, another sharp flash of lighting brilliantly illuminating the storm clouds in the distance.

“I didn’t know that could happen,” Keith murmured, tone somewhere between wonder and suspicion.

Feeling a bit devilish, he bit back a laugh, “Wow—hey, do you think the clouds are plotting something?” He asked, tone grave.

Keith slid him a flat look, deadpan. “Dunno, should we go interrogate them?” A lopsided smile sneaks its way past his dry humor, and a faint exhault escapes him, curling into smoke.

Without another word, he settled, resting his head against Lance’s jaw. Letting himself be used as a personal snow catcher, rather content with taking the role if the wide grin spreading about him was anything to go by.

Lance guided Keith’s palms out invitingly; however, most of the snowflakes whirled past, rather shy or apprehensive about settling on the skin.

The quiet moment stretched, and not a single flake found itself yet in their grasp. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Keith lamented after a while. Breaking through the stillness with a half-hearted sigh.

“Yeah, but I don’t think Italy has snow— or fiancé ’s right now, so I’m not much in a hurry.” Lance grinned, tilting a bit of pressure against his partner’s temple. " Why? Trying to get rid of me, already?”

“Trying to save you from Dawn’s wrath actually, when she sees tomorrow’s papers.”

Lance sucked air through his teeth, as one really large cluster spiraled past, evating their reach. “I happen to have a lot of experience with firecracker personalities. Getting married to one actually.”

“Might be harder than you think. I don’t think you’re her type.”

“Ouch, babe. Way to kill a man’s confidence,” Lance said, faining injury with a wince. “Here I thought I was a universal taste.”

“A universal pain in the ass.” Keith huffed.

“Okay, now you’re just fishing.” Lance raised an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his lips. “But fine, I’ll bite ‘cause you’re cute. " He made a show of clearing his throat. “That’s exclusively all~ll your’s baby—happy?”

Keith’s lips twitched, “Hmm, doesn’t usually take so much effort to pry something like that out of you. What gives?”

“Excuse you! Are you implying I’m easy?”

“No…just really, really charming.”

“If you’re trying to distract me with sweet talk, just know—it’s working. You’ll never get rid of me now—”

Finally one landed right into their waiting grasp at the hollow of Keith’s hands. Lance guided them to take a closer look at the feathery cluster, that looked so light and airy, appearing like it was about to float away in the wind.

They leaned in, catching the light, showing a glimmer of fragile entanglement of glassey shapes around the outer edges of the melting mound. They watched marveling, and he could feel Keith go still, holding his breath, as if he was afraid even the slightest exhale would risk disturbing it, making it vanish all that quicker.

When it disappeared, Keith turned to him with a wide expectant grin—bright and open, like a kid wanting to be swept up again, ready for another spin. It was impossible not to be drawn into it, his own pretenses melting away like the snow dissolving against the heat of his skin. Until everything made sense again. Until everything felt easy and simple again. Just the two of them, in the cold snow.

Lance couldn’t resist obliging, reaching out with open hands for them to try again, the snow orchestrating its escape around them. Still, they managed to catch a few more delicate flakes that lingered for only a heartbeat— there and gone again.

“They look like the paper ones,” Keith said. Referencing the paper snowflakes they made with Lance’s cousins for their art project.

“Much nicer than the cotton balls, don’t you think?” A knowing smile tugged at his lips, his voice light with the double meaning that he trusted Keith to catch. " What did you think they looked like?”

“I don’t know—like white sand maybe.”

“I used to think it would look and taste like powdered sugar,” Lance admitted. “Imagine my disappointment when it was just cold and hard to catch, but…think it grew on me.” With that, he tilted his head back sticking out his tongue, breath curling into the cold air. Keith stared at him for a beat and followed suit. Not even a second later, he made a noise of surprise triumph. “Ah-y cau’gh one!”

Lance joined him, calling in his own muffled noises of victory, mentally noting how much more easier this was than trying to catch them with their hands. When his gaze drifted down, the sight of Keith grinning widely, with his tongue sticking out, was too much. Uncontrollable laughter took over, spilling in a cloud of breath as he tightened his arms around Keith, shaking both of them with the force of it.

Keith shifted in his hold, now facing him and pressing his cold nose into his neck; huddling there, the last of his resistance crumbling as he visibly quaked against the relentless cold.

Lance tried to warm him, his hands darting up and down his arms and back, his breath concentrating steam to his pink ears. He didn’t even mind when Keith pressed his fingers at his armpits, holding them down firmly to trap in whatever heat he could seal.

He knew he was probably making it worse, all things considered. And knew he’d have to be the one to pull them apart— because if it were left to his stubborn fiancé , he’d keep them there until historians unearthed their ice-encased bodies.

Still, Lance didn’t move right away. The moment feeling too short, and tomorrow too near.

“Sorry, we didn’t get to try the cakes together.”

“We’ll eat them together next time,” he replied easily. “It was more about coming to see you anyway.”

Keith hummed, “I know.”

Lance shifted slightly, starting to pull back, regretting it already as the air bit savagely in the spaces that used to be Keith. He didn’t linger after that, pulling them hurriedly against the wind toward the direction of his lion—barely remembering the umbrella at their feet.

He tried to preserve some heat in his fiancé ’s hands, blowing puffs of breath into one before focusing attention to the other as they walked. Occasionally, pressing a quick kiss to his iced tips—minutely aware of where they’d just crawled out from and not caring in the slightest.

In his own way, Keith seemed to distract him too. “Do you actually remember where you’re supposed to go after this?”

Lance blinked, almost wanting to be offended. He’s not that scatterbrained! “Uh—yeah, totally. To the tailor’s, obviously.”

“Address?”

“Okay, maybe not totally .” He remarked. He hands over his phone for Keith to record himself in his voice notes.

“What would I do without you?”

“Probably left holding over an entire country,” Keith teased, handing him back the device.

xxx

He’d dropped Keith off as close to the patisserie as he could without drawing Dawn’s attention, keeping humor present in their conversation until the moment came for goodbye

Which wasn’t really a goodbye. They’d see each other home soon enough and fall asleep in each other’s arms. A month would pass, and they’d do the same for many more nights.

He rubbed his thumb absentmindedly over the familiar rough texture of his engagement ring. Only to notice it glowing, the feel of it pulsing under his skin just barely distinguishable under the hum of Reds flight—but there it was. And Lance held it receptively.

[cielpansyhive]

Find the Word Tag

Thank you for the tag @chromehoplite & @griever-bit-my-finger

I took 5ever! (Yes, more than forever lol!) But this was fun! I felt like giving a bit more context, so I went with more than just the sentence with the words in it. (I'm also realizing I need to use some words more often by how much I struggled with this.)

My words from Chrome are never, wrong, sin and mouth-

Never:

Sebastian bruised Ciel’s hip with his hold on him. Violet and plum burst under his fingers. “I’ve never despised anything more than you. Not even God,” he shoved Ciel’s head in the puddle. Ciel thrashed about choking on the dirty water.

Wrong:

“Wow, he’s amazing!” Hunk exclaimed as if they didn’t all just watch him hit the glass multiple times.

“You think uh, we should give him a floaty?” Lance suggested. “Seems kind of wrong to watch him struggle and not do anything.”

“He has to get used to it,” Keith crossed his arms. “I hate it too, but isn’t it better he’s adapted in here so if anything happens out there, he can take care of himself?”

Sin:

“You like my voice that much?” Sebastian spoke lowly into his phone. Ciel swore he could feel his breath hot against his ear.

“It’s sinful,” Ciel slurred. He wrapped a hand around his dripping length. His breath hitched as he slowly stroked himself. “Like velvet…” he mused.

Mouth:

That face, expressionless, peaceful even, like a corpse. Keith couldn’t stop shaking. He leaned against railing. He nearly dropped his cigarette before it reached his mouth. How could he feel the blood on his hands when they weren’t attached to his body? Like his patient he wasn’t whole.

My words from Griever are Look, Dark, Above, and Whisper-

Look:

“You want him?” Ciel confirmed. The look in Sebastian’s eyes said it all. He didn’t care how the man’s soul would taste. He just didn’t want to perish.

Dark:

Something wet seeped into Lance’s flight suit where he was kneeling. His eyes widened horrified. “Quiznak, is that blood?” he glanced down to see a growing dark pool surrounding Keith. He looked back up to Keith, the arm clutching at… “Keith, are you?” Keith’s lip quivered and tears prickled his eyes.

Above:

His breath hitched as a tongue traced up his neck. Little by little feeling was coming back to his body. His back was pressed into a bed with muscled thighs parting his own. His hips burned and oh…he clenched down, a whine left him. He heard a deep groan above him. He sucked in a breath as his hole was stretched. His nerves were overfiring, oversensitive, as a dull ache made itself known.

Whisper:

“L-lance?” his voice was barely a whisper and he was struggling to keep his eyes open. His arm tremored so fiercely that it fell from his lap. His face pinched and he gasped for air.

-

I’m tagging all fellow writers! Your words are light, blood, hold, time