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musicanddancingthroughlife · 5 years

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Langst/Klance -- Pierrot

Okay guys, I know I forgot to upload something last week but this is like. My longest chapter yet, I guess. It is Klance, which I haven’t written in a while, and it’s probably super rough cause I hate myself and won’t go back and edit, but hey, have. Other than that, I hate myself and that sums up a lot of aspects of my life right now.

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“Hunk? Hunk, where’d you go? All right, so Coran isn’t as good of a cook as you are, but I think by now we should be used to that, there’s no need to run from it.”

Lance stopped short when he heard loud sobs and that too quick breathing that signaled Hunk’s anxiety attacks. Lance didn’t hesitate, though. “Hey, Hunk? Can I touch you, buddy?” His friend shifted under his mess of blankets, shivering and shaking. Lance swept him up into a hug, holding close for a few minutes before he grasped one of Hunks’ larger hands in one of his own. He settled their joined hands on Lance’s chest, Hunk instantly using lance’s heartbeat to steady his gasping breath.

It took several minutes, but Lance sat patiently, whispering reassurance and comfort in both English and Spanish. Once he was sure Hunk was calmed down, he pulled back into a tight hug, letting Hunk weep into his neck, uncaring of how the tears were dampening his clothes and making him uncomfortable. “Wanna talk?” Hunk nodded, but it was still a while before he said anything. And when he did, Lance felt his heart stop.

“Lance, what am I doing here? I’m not a pilot like you guys; I don’t even like flying. How can I save the universe if I can’t even do basic flight exercises like today’s?” And with that, he burst into a fresh wave of tears.

Lance contented himself with rubbing Hunk’s back, letting him cry out his insecurities and frustration, but he didn’t let that stop him from trying to assuage those fears. “Come on, man, you’re one of the two smartest people on our team! 50% of our brain power! Maybe something like 33% if we’re really gonna count Coran, but let’s also keep in mind that you’re the reason we’re not dying of starvation or too much exposure to goo, so at the very least, you deserve more credit than that. And you’ve come so far! Yellow is lucky to have you as her pilot! And you’ve got some of the top skills in the training rooms, don’t you? You’re just behind Shiro and Keith!

“And come on, it’s not like you’re the only making mistakes! Remember last week when I accidentally used those weird pellet gun things and shot Shiro in the ass? And what about when I was racing Keith and wound up making both of us crash into the ground? Was that stupid, or what?” Lance belted out a laugh, cringing inwardly when it sounded just a little too loud, but thankfully Hunk didn’t seem to notice. He just let out a weak giggle, but Lance could see that there were still tears in his eyes. That was fine. He had plenty of stories to entertain Hunk with.

Keith was annoyed. Why was he always the one having to track down Lance when he wandered off? It’s not like Keith was his keeper or anything. Hell, he didn’t even like Lance!

…Okay, maybe that was a lie, because what wasn’t to like? Honestly, Keith was just as infatuated as he was irritated, even at that moment, which was impressive because at that moment, Keith felt more horrified at what he was hearing. First, the very idea that Hunk was doubting his worth on the team, was ridiculous, and he wished that he knew what to say in order to make him feel better, but at least Lance was handling that okay. Keith just wished it wasn’t at Lance’s own expense.

At first, he was just surprised at hearing Lance recount those stories, stories which made Lance look like an idiot who can’t do anything right. He was pleased to hear that Hunk was seeming to cheer up, but he also knew that Lance’s laughter wasn’t completely honest. There was a tinge of pain to it. Lance normally tried to avoid reminders of those moments, and here he was, voluntarily sharing them, just to help a friend.

More laughter spilled from the room, and Keith bit his lip. Lance’s laughter was sounding more and more broken as he continued sharing stories. Thankfully he had begun reminding Hunk of all the good he had done, both before and after Voltron, but the tears in Lance’s voice were starting to hurt him. Thankfully, it was really only a couple minutes later when Hunk and Lance stepped out of Hunk’s room, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. Keith felt a pang in his chest.

“Keith!” Hunk’s eyes were rimmed with red, but the beaming smile he gave Keith told him that Lance had succeeded in making his friend feel better. “Did you need something?”

“Coran and Allura wanted me to tell you guys that we’re ready to have dinner, if you want to join us.” His eyes drifted over to Lance, and found himself amazed by how Lance was able to mask the pain in his eyes. Sure, Keith could still tell, because he was actively looking for it, but no one else would have any idea. How did he do that? Why would he do that?

Hunk quickly ducked under Lance’s arm to clasp a large hand on Keith’s shoulder. “Well, let’s get to it, man, I’m starving!” And Hunk began to drag Keith away, leaving Lance behind to follow. Keith glanced back, but when he did, he just saw Lance flash a wide grin at him, and then Hunk was pulling him around a corner.

The next time he saw Lance was a few minutes after he and Hunk had seated themselves, when he quietly slipped into the dining hall. He was just a little too quiet while they ate, but nobody else seemed to notice, and that’s when Keith resolved to keep a closer eye on his sharpshooter.

“Lance! You’re not nearly fast enough!” Lance’s concentration broken, Pidge managed to catch his foot with her katar. Startled at the unexpected catch, she accidentally shocked him, and Lance yelped in pain, crashing to the ground.

“Oh my god, Lance, I am so sorry!” Pidge started to rush over, but Allura stopped her before she could.

“Lance!” she snapped impatiently, “get up, now, and try again!” Lance was amazed. She wanted him to what? He just got shocked with who knows how much electricity! Hunk and Keith stared in shock, first looking at Allura in disbelief, then at Lance, still on the ground, trying to breathe through the pain coursing through him, and finally at Shiro, begging him to do something. He stepped forward.

“Allura, come on, we’ve all been training for hours. We’re exhausted.”

“You guys are fine. Go get some rest. Lance still has a lot of work he needs to do, and he’s never going to improve if he doesn’t stop wasting our time!” These last words were focused on Lance, who squeezed his eyes shut, shooting hand rhythmically flexing and relaxing. He felt a stab of shame in his chest. Of course, she was right. He was the weak link. He was behind everybody else in hand-to-hand, hell, even Pidge just took him down! They were never going to get anywhere with him being such a baby about training.

“Allura—” Shiro began, but Lance cut him off.

“No, she’s right.” Lance shakily got to his feet, small gasps and grunts escaping him as he forced his wobbly legs to support his weight. “I can do better, just let me go again.”

Shiro looked less than impressed. “Lance, you can barely stand. Let’s just call it a day and we can hit it hard in the morning.” And hell, Lance wanted nothing more than to be able to take a break. He wasn’t positive how long they had been going so far, but he knew it was at least a couple of hours – usually they train hand-to-hand for two, taking turn so everyone could rest, and so that they could each practice with varying styles and techniques. Then they would take an extra hour in the shooting range, and then move on to team building exercises before finishing for the day. Briefly, he wondered how long Allura wanted him to continue practicing.

“There, you see? He gets it, at least.” Oh, he got it all right. He was a failure, as usual, and he needed to work harder to catch up, to not bring his friends down. People could die if he wasn’t good enough. Lance gritted his teeth, preparing himself to go again. “Come on, Pidge, I won’t make it as easy on you this time.”

“Actually, I believe Coran needed both Pidge and Hunk for a project today, so if you two would go get showered and then meet with him, that would be fantastic.” Allura’s face was set, decisive. Pidge and Hunk were done for the day. Lance blinked.

“Okay… Shiro, will you run through it with me again? I know I can get it.” He really didn’t, but he wasn’t going to stop until he did, so it wasn’t like he had any other choice.

“Lance, I need Shiro so we can plan our next course of action. Got that, Shiro?” Her voice was hard and unforgiving, but still, Shiro hesitated, looking back at Lance almost questioningly. Lance shook his head. “It’s fine, Shiro, I’m sure Keith will help me?” Keith stepped forward, but Allura spoke up again.

“Honestly, Lance! Keith spends too much time training as is. You are the only one who needs the extra practice, stop trying to guilt the others into staying behind to help you. Keith, I don’t want to see you anywhere near the training room until tomorrow, when we are in fact scheduled to train.” The look in her eyes dared Keith to argue, and Lance knew him well enough to know that he needed to step in.

“Don’t worry, Princess, I can do it on my own. More fun to have company, but you’re right. Keith deserves a break.” Lance couldn’t look them in the eye. Not only was he going to struggle with the training itself, but now he was going to be isolated from his friends for who knows how long. What a day.

Keith clenched his fists, anger rushing through him. Lance was trying just as hard as any of them! In fact, he was trying harder than most of them! This was ridiculous, and he had no idea why Allura was acting the way she was. Like Lance needed a punishment or something! But with Lance agreeing with her, Keith couldn’t see how he could stay behind to help him with the combination.

“Lance, if you need to see the combo again – though you really shouldn’t, seeing as Shiro and Keith demonstrated it numerous times for you and you would have it if you had been paying attention – you can recall it on the databases here in the training room. You will practice until you get the combo, and until either Shiro or myself can confirm that you know it.” And without another word, she swept out of the room, calling to the other paladins on her way out.

Slowly, hesitantly, Pidge and Hunk wished Lance good luck, before they left to find Coran. Shiro look sympathetic, but ultimately, there wasn’t much they could do. Especially where Lance was willing to just put in the extra time. Already, he was gulping down some water, shuffling and shifting to allow his feet to find the beginning stance. Keith wanted nothing more than to stay behind, to offer some help or advice or dammit, even just some company! Lance needed people, and to cut him off from everyone like this was unnecessarily cruel. But before he could even offer any encouraging words, Lance was moving his way through the combination, slowly mapping out each step. Keith sighed, but then he followed the rest of their friends out of the training room.

Hopefully Lance would be okay.

Of course, none of them saw Lance again until way after dinner. The other paladins had long since headed to bed, but Keith had been unable to sleep and was in the middle of debating whether it was safe to go to the training room or not when Lance came stumbling out of it. Trailing behind Allura, he looked beaten and exhausted. His hair and clothes were soaked through with sweat and Keith suspected he was favoring his leg. Meanwhile Allura looked smug, pleased with the knowledge that her slowest paladin was improving, that they were that much closer to defeating Zarkon. Lance slowly shuffled towards the kitchen, but Allura stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she questioned.

Lance frowned. “I haven’t eaten yet…”

“It’s far too late to be making another mess in the kitchen,” she looked at him disapprovingly, and Keith felt anger rising to the surface. “It’d be best if you slept instead. Eat in the morning.” Keith gaped at her, but he was unnoticed by the two of them. Really, that just meant that once Allura had turned Lance towards the direction of their bedrooms, Keith was in the perfect position to see the pained resignation cross Lance’s face.

Before he even realized it, Keith had retrieved some light food from the kitchen and was knocking on Lance’s door. He left the foot on the floor, where Lance would hopefully see it, and then scurried around the corner as quickly and quietly as he could. He heard the door open, there was a few seconds of silence and then some rustling before the door shut again. When Keith peeked around the corner, the food was gone.

Only a couple days later, and Keith was again frustrated about Lance. It looked like he still hadn’t recovered fully from that long night in the training room, and he couldn’t understand why. Shiro had been really careful in making sure that nothing like that happened again, but that didn’t stop Allura from pushing Lance’s limits as hard as she could get away with when Shiro wasn’t looking. But despite this, Lance still looked so tired all the time.

That night, at dinner, Keith kept a close eye on Lance. He seemed normal, though tired, and it wasn’t until after dinner that he realized Lance wasn’t retiring to his room like most of the rest of the paladins were. Instead, he headed to the training room. Keith camped out outside, bored out of his mind, but more determined to find out if Lance was really okay or not. Lance logged a good three hours before he finally came out of the locker room exit. He was breathing heavily, gasping for air, and muscles loose and trembling, but otherwise seemed unharmed. Keith forced himself to relax as he followed Lance down the hallway from a distance. Lance gulped down a water pouch, and then set off to the Lion Hangar, where Pidge was still absorbed in her latest project.

“Pidge.” It was quiet, and the reaction was slight, but Keith still recognized how Pidge flinched and her shoulders shot up to her ears. “When are you going to go to bed?”

“None of your business!” Pidge spat, and Keith was more than surprised at the venom in the girl’s voice. Lance only sighed.

“Pidge. You need to sleep. Please.” Was this why he was so tired? He was trying to make sure Pidge was getting to bed? Keith looked at Pidge critically. If that was the case, he really wasn’t doing a good job. But, he realized with a pang, that wasn’t his fault. No one else was trying to get Pidge to sleep at all, and it was obvious she desperately needed the rest.

“Fuck off, Lance, I don’t need a babysitter.” Lance flinched, but refused to back down. “Come on, just one night. You haven’t slept more than a couple of hours in who knows how many days.”

Pidge narrowed her eyes. “Have you been keeping tabs on me?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Well no one else is and the only people who really care are who knows where and I’m trying to find them, so leave me alone.”

There were a few moments of silence where Keith wondered if he should intervene. Before he could, Lance spoke up again. “I know you have nightmares, Pidge.” Pidge froze. “Come on, did you really think I wouldn’t notice, kid? You’re pushing yourself too far. Keep it up and you won’t control when you collapse from exhaustion. You’ve gotta sleep at some point. At least this way, you’ll have more control over when and how.”

Pidge shook her head, but even Keith could tell that her eyes were glazing with tears. “Pidge, come on. I’ll stay with you. You don’t have to worry about nightmares. I chase nightmares for my siblings all the time.” Lance’s hands fisted briefly, then relaxed again. Pidge looked up at Lance pleadingly. “Would you really stay?” she asked hesitantly.

Lance bent down without another word, scooping her up into his arms. “Of course I will. If Matt can’t be here to do it for you, then I’ll gladly fill in for him until he can, don’t worry.”

When Keith saw them the next morning, Lance looked even more exhausted than before, but Pidge was obviously more relaxed and clearheaded.

Everyone expressed their joy at Pidge getting rest, and they praised her for finally taking some time to herself.

She didn’t mention a single word about how Lance basically had to force her to finally get some sleep, or that he was the whole reason she felt comfortable for doing so in the first place.

And no one else seemed to notice how Lance was so tired he could barely keep a handle on his emotions during training that day.

In fact, Keith suspects it was because of that loose grip on his emotions that the disaster that was training really occurred.

“Lance, come on, really try here! Everyone else is working so hard, and they’re doing great, just try a little harder for us! We’re a team, and we can’t be that if we have to drag you along on missions.”

Keith knew, okay, he knew that Shiro was under a lot of stress. He was still young, only a little older than them, and he’d suffered a lot of trauma that no one should ever have to go through. But, really? Lance was so tired, and he was trying so hard, and he was doing so much for all of them. He didn’t deserve this.

Lance, though, merely looked up at Shiro from where he was laying on the floor, eyes bleary and unfocused. Shiro clenched his jaw, visibly willing himself to dredge up some of that incredible patience he’s always preaching at Keith about. “Lance, if you won’t take this seriously, then we have no reason to keep you on as a paladin. I’ve been trying to defend you from Allura, but honestly? She’s right. You need to work harder and take this more seriously, and if you can’t even do that then I don’t know why you’re bothering to stick around.”

Keith glanced around for help from Pidge and Hunk, but they were far on the other side of the training room, and hadn’t noticed what was happening yet. Keith slowly stepped forward. “Shiro, maybe we should…” Shiro barely glanced at him when he walked past, all but racing out of the training room, leaving Lance an overtired and emotional mess on the floor. At first, they both just sat there in silence, but then Lance visibly steeled himself, taking a deep breath and choking back tears. And when he finally staggered to his feet, wiping his eyes clear of any moisture, Keith felt like his heart might break.

“He’s right, it’s fine. I’m going to go take a breather, and I’ll come back to try again after dinner, I think. I need to get this right.” For a moment, Keith couldn’t breathe, his heart and soul ached so much for this sad, lost boy in front of him, but before he could gather his thoughts enough to speak, Lance had taken off.

He didn’t see him again until very late in the night, or early in the morning, depending on your perspective. Keith had been heading to the kitchen to get a water pouch, but instead barely managed to stop himself from walking into Shiro having a panic attack. Keith was more surprised by that than by the fact Lance was talking him down from it. He had Shiro’s hand clutched against his own chest, helping him to time his breaths, and he was gently chattering away about his family, joking with Shiro as if it wasn’t a one-sided conversation during which the other participant was having a full-scale attack. It was impressive, but when you looked closely, it wasn’t hard to see that Lance’s hands were trembling, and there were tears in his eyes.

Some time later, it was evident that Shiro was too tired to notice any of those things, as he instead broke down into tears once he’d calmed down enough. Lance stayed with him the entire time, and Keith kept a silent vigil over his friend. The two of them didn’t retire until the day castle had begun shifting into its day cycle. And if anyone else noticed that Lance was starting to look a little less vibrant, a little less happy, a little less excited about life, they didn’t say anything. Lance appeared to wish to just brush it off, and Keith was content to bide his time.

But that wasn’t going to last too long.

“I don’t know how to help you, okay!” The quiet that followed that outburst was just as loud. Keith couldn’t bear it. Lance should never look this depressed, this dejected. “Lance.”

There was silence, Lance refused to glance up and acknowledge Keith, so he tried again.

“Lance. Please. Look at me.” Another few seconds of silence before Lance shook his head weakly. Feeling the pain in his chest tighten, Keith tried again. He had a vision of Lance comforting and coaching Hunk through a panic attack, Lance running himself ragged training for Allura’s peace of mind, Lance’s willingness to sacrifice his own sleep to ensure Pidge slept, the trust and faith he placed in Shiro, despite consistently feeling that Shiro didn’t even like him, forget about trusting him.

“Just. Please. I just want you to be honest. Be you. Please, just be selfish for a few minutes. I promise, I’ll still be here. I don’t… I don’t need you to be anything but yourself. Please.” Still silence. “You’ve done so much for all of us, and I need you to know that even if you didn’t stretch yourself so thin for all of us, we would all still love you. We would still value you. You’re our friend. None of us knew what we were getting into, but we do all know that none of us would be here without you. We wouldn’t have even found Blue, we would’ve give up, I don’t know what exactly, I just know that we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, and that we can’t do this without you!” Keith’s voice went soft, and Lance stood frozen, looking back at Keith with a shocked expression. “I can’t do this without you, Lance, and I can’t stand to watch you push yourself so hard and get no credit or appreciation or even a thank you. You’re worth more than that to me, and I know you’re worth more than that to the others, too.”

Lance’s lower lip trembled. “I can’t not help them, Keith.”

Keith stepped forward, placed gentle hands on Lance’s shoulders, carefully pulled him into a hug. “I know, Lance, I know,” This close, he knew to keep his voice quiet, murmuring directly into Lance’s ear. “I love you for that, but you can’t push too hard too fast. You deserve better, and we want more than that for you. I promise. Just talk to us, we can be there for you, just like you’re there for us. I’ll be there for you, if you’ll let me.” Keith felt his face flush, but he forced himself to stay put. Lance needed him more, right then.

They stood there for several minutes, no sound save for Lance’s quiet sobs and Keith’s hushed reassurances and promises.

“I’ll try.”

#langst #klance #lance mcclain #keith kogane #vld #vld fic #voltron #voltron fic #voltron legendary defender #fluff #emotional hurt/comfort #hurt/comfort #no triggers i think #mywriting #jessi rambles

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voltronfanwritings · 4 years

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Hey everyone! So, I realized that fanfics have gained a lot of attention, sooo, I’m going to be sharing my Klance fanfic. It’s between Keith and Lance from Voltron. Kinda cheesy because it’s my first, but yeah. Please enjoy it and expect more to come! :)

KLance Fanfic (AU): You

~ “I can’t believe you, Lance.” Pidge said, muttering under their breath, tapping rapidly on the computer. “I mean, it’s not like I really messed up.” Lance paused to look at Hunk. “Did I?” Hunk nodded. “Going out, getting drunk as hell and then coming back late, expecting us to believe that you're sorry after “accidently” ruining Pidge and I’s project.” Lance sighed and then smirked. “First off, I am really sorry for doing that, I was drunk and was not able to control myself. But, it was fun though. I met,” Lance started, then did a dramatic gag. “Mullet head. Keith.” Pidge stopped her typing. “What the fuck?!” Pidge whispered to Lance. They were in the college’s library and they were lucky or Pidge would have screamed. “And, you're acting out why?” Lance looked at Pidge with a confused look. “Don’t act stupid. Hunk and I both know you have a massive crush on Keith Kogane and I know that you were exhilarated to see him last night at the club.” They sighed. “You may have known that he was going. That’s why you went in the first place, right?” Lance’s face was filled with blush. He only kind of expected Pidge to call him out like that and quickly snapped out of being dazed. “N-no!” Lance stuttered. “It was never because of him. Shut up!” Pidge smirked. “Whatever you say.” They said, obviously not believing Lance’s words based on his tone. Pidge began to stand up and make a motion to Hunk. “We have to go work on our project. Get better at lying in the meantime.” Just before leaving the table, Pidge looked back and Lance and said one last comment. “Also, there’s you man. Might wanna start up a conversation before you totally blow it later.” Hunk waved a goodbye at the flustered Lance, who flicked off Pidge behind their back. Keith sat down across from Lance, ignoring the fact that he was there and began to read the book in his hand, jotting down notes as he read. “Hey, Keith.” Lance whispered. “Mullet.” Keith looked up. “What is it Lance? I’m not in the mood to be bothered by you today?.” Lance scoffed. “Well, Mr. attitude, can’t a friend say hi to his emo mullet-headed friend?” Keith closed his book. “Lance, if this is about last night, which I barely remember, I suggest you leave it alone. Also, I’m not your friend.” Lance rolled his eyes. “I mean, we’ve known each other for years, so, I can call you my friend.” Lance smirked a little, trying to refrain from full on smiling. “Plus, seeing drunk Keith was kind of exciting.” Keith began to feel flustered. “Y-you were drunk too! I’m pretty sure you were a hot mess yourself, so, don’t come at me for anything.” Lance took Keith;s book and read the cover. The deepest and darkest. “I should have known.” Lance said, handing Keith back his book. “Such an emo title for such an emo dude.”

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Lance somehow ended up in Keith’s room after the unexpected library meeting between himself and Keith. They were just talking, normally. Not in a rivalry way, but in a friendly way. It made Lance a little uneasy. “Damn, I’ve been hanging out with Keith for way too long.” Lance thought, smiling a little bit when dozing off from Keith’s voice. “I mean, I wouldn’t leave even if I had too.” “Lance! Lance!” Keith snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Oh, hey! Sorry. I dozed off for a minute.” Keith looked down before speaking again. “You're probably thinking about all those girls.” Keith muttered just loud enough for Lance to hear. “Not at all. The exact opposite actually.” Lance replied, which made Keith look up, eyes widened. “What did you say?” Lance looked at Keith’s eyes and bit his lip to avoid drooling at the amazing sight. “I said, mullet, that I was thinking about the exact opposite actually.” Lance got closer to Keith, realizing that they were practically breathing the same air. Smelling the same aroma. Feeling the same chills down their spine. “T-then what were you thinking about?” Keith stuttered, blush filling up his cheeks. “You.” Their bodies got closer and their lips touched, breathing each other's air. Keith would wrap his arms around Lance’s neck, deepening the kiss, his face continuing to heat up. Lance smirked a little when he saw Pidge in the cracked door filming. Hunk was by their side, chuckling. They finally broke the kiss, one that felt like forever, and just stared at each other. Lance began to laugh a little, then his little laugh turned into a loud chuckle. “What? What’s so funny?” Lance stopped laughing and smiled. “Because you look weird when you're flustered.” Keith’s face became an even brighter red and then he punched Lance in the arm playfully. “So, are we boyfriends now? And, can I still call you Mullet?” Keith smiled and nodded. “I will only allow you to call me Mullet since you're my boyfriend now.” Lance got closer to Keith and smirked. “Can I...kiss you again?” Keith smirked and held Lance’s hand. “Of course, you can.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End of Fanfic (sadly, you’ve reached the end)

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nobodys-pearls · 5 years

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Altea Drive Ch 6

I usually post the AO3 link but I thought I should post it in this format as well :)

Summary: adashi au full of fast cars, mysteries, and dramatic irony. Also lots of background klance, because I have no self control

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Keith ran a hand through Kosmo’s fur, brows pinched together in thought. He was sitting on the floor, back resting against the couch, while Kosmo nuzzled into him. Shiro watched him from where he was sitting at the kitchen table.

“This is connected to Zarkon,” Keith said firmly, his violet eyes burning. Shiro shifted in his chair.

“Keith, we can’t know that for sure -” Keith’s head quickly turned to look at Shiro.

“My parents were legendary on Altea Drive, my mom was the champion , and the police told me that she lost control of the car and drove into the lake.” Keith’s voice cracked, and he furrowed his brows further, going back to looking at the floor. “It doesn’t make sense.” Shiro was silent for a moment. Keith had never told him about his parents’ death. All Shiro knew were the things he could piece together.

“Did the police -?” Shiro sighed. This wasn’t easy. “Did they find anything in the - well, the -?”

“Autopsy?” Keith asked, a bitter smile on his lips. Kosmo nudged Keith’s hand with his head and Keith began petting him once more. “They found nothing unusual with my dad. And my mom -” Keith paused. Shiro could see the pain in his eyes. He was tempted to stop the conversation for the night, but he knew this was important to Keith, so he waited. Keith turned his face away from Shiro, looking out the window. “They never found her body.” Shiro’s breath caught in his throat. “They wrote it off as a drunk driving case.” Keith clenched his jaw. “I know it wasn’t . She never drank.” Shiro ran a hand through his hair and leaned forward in his seat, looking down at his hands. This was all so complicated. No, if all of this meant what Shiro was beginning to think that it meant - this was a conspiracy, a conspiracy that’s been haunting Keith for seven years.

“You believe me, right?” Keith asked, his voice quiet. Shiro could feel Keith’s eyes on him, and he looked up. The moment he met Keith’s gaze he stood. He thought about what Pilot had told him about his brother, about how there was a case that he’d been working on before he died.

“Keith,” Shiro began clenching his fists. “I think I do.” Keith’s expression turned hopeful, and he moved to stand as well.

“Then let’s do something about it.” Shiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Keith -”

“Shiro, come on , we can’t just sit around, not after everything we’ve learned.”

“Keith, this happened years ago. Zarkon is still in prison, we don’t have any evidence -”

“Then let’s find some!” Keith argued. “Shiro, I can’t just let this go.” Shiro sighed.

“I know you can’t, but we need to play this safe -” Keith scoffed and crossed his arms.

“What has safe ever gotten you, Shiro? You still lost your dad, you still lost your arm, you lost the Paladin, you lost a piece of your life -” Keith stopped when he saw the expression on Shiro’s face, his eyes widening slightly. Then he furrowed his brow and looked away. “You know what not being safe got you? Me .” Keith paused. “Do you regret that?” Shiro opened his mouth to respond, but Keith quickly left the room, his head down as he stormed down the hall.

“Keith!” Shiro called after him. Then he heard the door to Keith’s room slam shut. He sighed, moving to sit down again. Kosmo appeared at his side, sitting against his leg. Shiro placed a hand on Kosmo’s head and he heard the gentle thump of his tail. A small, tired smile graced Shiro’s lips.

No. He didn’t regret it. He never would.

Maybe Keith had a point, but Shiro’s point still stood. There wasn’t much they could do about it. There wasn’t much Shiro could do about it. He was just a guidance counselor. He was supposed to help others reach their full potential, to help others move forward in life.

He wondered what would happen if, for once, he decided to help himself. To be the hero.

The thought scared him.

“Keith, wake up,” Shiro said, knocking on the door. He heard a groan in response. Shiro scoffed and leaned against the door. “Mrs. Han dropped off her dough sticks and I’m not making you go to school today.” The door suddenly opened and Shiro stumbled forward, catching his balance.

He looked down to see Keith rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair messy and sticking up in odd places.

“Soy milk too?” Keith asked, and a small smile spread across Shiro’s lips.

“Of course.” Keith nodded his head, and then he seemed to remember what had happened last night and his expression darkened.

“Shiro -” Shiro held up a hand to stop him.

“Let’s eat breakfast,” Shiro said. “You’re not going to school today, but we are going somewhere.” Keith looked at him in confusion.

“Where?” Shiro’s smile widened a little.

“Altea Tech.”

“Finally!” Lance yelled, throwing his arms wide and basking in the sunlight. “¡Estoy en casa!” Hunk smiled and shook his head, closing the car door of Shiro’s Subaru.

“Thank you for letting us tag along, Mr. Shirogane,” Hunk said, and Shiro closed his door as well, putting his hands on his hips and looking at the green space in front of them. The weather was nice today - probably one of the last warmer days until winter came. College students were lounging outside on blankets, some were throwing a frisbee, others were walking to class and laughing with their friends.

“Of course, Hunk. As juniors you guys get to have a few days to use as college touring days, and I haven’t used any sick days yet, so I thought why not spend one?” He glanced over at Keith, who was standing a few feet ahead of them and looking at the quad. He couldn’t see his face, but Shiro guessed that he was trying to take it all in. He wondered if Keith’s parents ever took him here.

“Woah, check that out!” Lance yelled, quickly moving to sling an arm around Keith and point in the direction he was looking. Two girls were working on what looked to be a homemade rocket ship. They set it on the ground, making sure that it was stable, and then they looked at each other and grinned. A moment later one of the girls hit a button on the controller in her hand and the rocket shot up in the air, rainbow-colored smoke pouring out of it as it spiraled up into the sky. People on the quad looked up, some of them beginning to clap.

“Amazing,” Hunk breathed, adjusting his headband as he moved to stand on Keith’s other side. “And your parents worked here?” Shiro finally got a look at Keith’s face when he turned to answer Hunk.

“Yeah,” Keith said with a smile. Shiro’s gaze softened, and then he clapped his hands together.

“Where do you boys want to start?” Lance grinned and grabbed Keith’s hand.

“This way!” he declared, pointing in the direction of the building with the large, glass windows. Keith began to blush, and when Lance caught the look on Keith’s face his cheeks heated up as well, but then he quickly turned and tugged Keith along. Keith didn’t protest as he followed Lance through the quad. Shiro heard Hunk scoff as they watched them.

“Maybe Pidge was right, he does have a crush on them both,” Hunk mused, and Shiro raised an brow. Something about that sounded familiar -

“Both?” Shiro asked, moving to stand next to Hunk, locking his car. Hunk’s eyes widened and he looked at Shiro.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about something Pidge told me.” Hunk rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Shiro’s gaze. “It’s too bad that she couldn’t come, since she’s a sophomore.” Shiro nodded his head. He still didn’t know Pidge all that well, but he did know her parents, and Colleen would never let Pidge skip school. Then he thought about something.

“Hey Hunk, how did you and Lance become friends with Pidge anyway?” Hunk’s eyes widened again and he put his hands in his pockets.

“Oh, well, uh, Pidge was the one who wanted to start the, uh, astronomy club. She overheard me and Lance talking to Adam - Dr. Wadley - after class one day and, um, brought up the idea.” Hunk let out a nervous laugh. “I wasn’t really on board with it at first. I didn’t think I’d have time, but Lance was able to convince me.” Shiro smiled.

“Are you happy? With the club, I mean.” Shiro saw Hunk’s small smile.

“Yeah, I really am. It feels - right.”

“¡Oye! ¡Vamos!” Lance called from where he and Keith were waiting by the building, on the other side of the quad. Keith nudged his ribs and said something, and Lance rubbed the back of his neck, saying something in reply. Shiro scoffed and shook his head. Then he looked back at Hunk.

“Ready?” Hunk beamed, tightening his orange headband.

“Let’s do this.”

Shiro had never toured Altea Tech’s campus before. He had to admit - it was beautiful. Most of the buildings had a modern feel to them, with big windows and shiny metal scaffolding and colorful murals on the walls. People passed them by with different projects held gingerly in their arms - rocket ships and high tech laptops and models of planes and cars. Lance watched as one guy walked past with a small turbine tucked under his arm.

“So cool!” Lance said with wide eyes, drinking it all in. Keith was too busy looking at the building they had stopped in front of. It was dome-shaped, painted white. Above the entrance was the name of the building: Altea Tech Public Observatory . Hunk whistled.

“We have to go in there,” Hunk said, and Lance nodded his head, looking back at Shiro.

“Yeah, why not?” Shiro said with a shrug of his shoulders, and they all made their way inside.

They found themselves standing at the edge of a large, circular room. The ceiling was high and rounded, with a rectangular shaped opening where they could see the blue sky. And in the center of the room was a large telescope, silver and shiny and unlike anything Shiro had ever seen before.

“No way!” Lance said, walking towards the center of the room. He looked back at Hunk and grinned. “You seeing this, man?” Hunk nodded his head and moved to join him.

“Oh yeah,” he breathed. Lance grabbed on to his sleeve.

“We have to go here,” Lance said, his tone more serious this time. Hunk clenched his fists.

“We’ll make it happen.” Shiro felt like he should say something, tell them that they shouldn’t get their hopes up, that they’re still early on in the process to be making any big decisions, but then he noticed the way that Keith was shoving his hands in his pockets, looking at the telescope with a furrowed brow.

“Is everything okay?” Keith didn’t pull his eyes away, still deep in thought, and then he seemed to register that Shiro had asked him a question. He turned to look at Shiro, then back at the telescope.

“It’s just - this place is familiar. My mom took me here, a lot, I think.” Then they heard the door behind them open, and a pair of footsteps that quickly came to a halt.

“Are you four touring the campus?” a deep, somewhat gruff voice asked. Shiro turned to see a tall, broad shouldered man standing by the door. His silver hair was braided and fell down his shoulder. He had a scar that ran vertically across his face and through his eye. He was wearing a black button down shirt with a purple tie, and he was watching them with a measured, guarded gaze.

“Yeah, we’re planning on applying here,” Lance said, grinning as he walked up to the man and offered his hand. “The name’s Lance. I’m planning on joining the aeronautical engineering program. I’m going to design the best planes you’ve ever seen,” he said with a wink, and Keith put a hand on his forehead, shaking his head. The man just raised an eyebrow, seeming to size up the boy in front of him. He didn’t accept Lance’s hand, and a moment later Lance dropped it, giving him finger guns and walking back to stand next to Keith. “That’s okay. The Lance charm can’t work on everyone,” he said, still with a grin on his face. “At least, not right away.” He shot Keith a wink and Keith scoffed, crossing his arms.

“You can be impossible sometimes, you know that, right?” Keith said, and the man turned to look at him.

“Wait,” the man said, his eyes widening slightly. “Keith?” Keith quickly turned to look at him, his gaze wary. His tightened his arms around his chest.

“Yeah? How do you know my name?” The man straightened his posture.

“My name is Kolivan.” There was something hard to read in his gaze. “I knew your mother, Krolia. We worked together, for a long time.” Keith’s lips parted slightly in surprise, and he took a step forward.

“You knew my mom?” Keith said quietly. Then he furrowed his brow. “Then you knew my dad too, right?” Kolivan nodded his head.

“I was introduced to him. Your mother and I worked in the physics department here. Now it’s just me running the department,” Kolivan explained, his expression grim. “Your mother would take you here a lot, when you were younger. She told me that this was your favorite part of Altea Tech.” Keith blinked at him, trying to process it all. Then he clenched his jaw and looked away. Shiro could tell that he was throwing walls around himself, just like he did when they first met. This couldn’t be easy for him, having a stranger tell him things about himself and his mother. Shiro caught Lance looking at Keith in concern. Then Kolivan smiled. There was some bitterness to it.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Keith. Your mother was an incredible woman - strong, bold, a little rough around the edges, for a time,” Kolivan said, a flash on amusement in his eyes. “And then she met your father, and he softened her a little, gave her a new direction. He’s the reason she came to teach at Altea Tech, and convinced me to leave Galra U with her -” Keith’s eyes widened at that.

“What about Galra U?”

“Your mother and I used to teach there, what feels like a forever ago. But then we -” Kolivan stopped. “It wasn’t the right fit for us, anymore.” He looked at Keith with interest. “I’m guessing your mother never told you that.” Keith looked down at the floor, his gaze far away.

“There’s a lot that I don’t know about my past,” Keith finally said. He furrowed his brow, moving to clench his fists. Frustration simmered behind his eyes. Shiro could tell that it was time to go.

“Let’s keep moving, guys,” Shiro said, looking at Kolivan. “There are still some things we haven’t seen yet.”

“Yeah, Mr. Shirogane’s right,” Lance said, still looking at Keith in concern. He reached out his hand, but then he pulled it back, nudging Keith’s shoulder instead. “Hey man, ready to go?” Keith seemed to remember where he was, and he slowly looked up at Lance before looking away.

“Yeah, let’s leave,” Keith decided. He headed for the door, and right as he was about to pass Kolivan he stopped and said, “thank you, for telling me those things.” Kolivan nodded his head.

“If you ever want to talk again, you know where to find me.” Keith nodded his head once, and then he opened the door and left. Lance and Hunk looked at Shiro, waiting for him to say something.

“Go ahead, I’ll meet you two outside.” Lance nodded his head and the two of them made their way outside, closing the door behind them.

“So you’re his guardian, I’m assuming,” Kolivan said. Shiro straightened his back. Kolivan smiled his bitter smile. “He’s been dealt a bad hand in life. But he seems strong enough to rise above it.”

“I know he is,” Shiro said firmly. Then he paused, thinking over his next words. “What happened at Galra U? What made you leave?” Kolivan raised an brow at that.

“Why do you feel the need to know?” Shiro furrowed his brow.

“Because I used to go there, because I’m having some of my students apply there, because -”

“Because something happened to you while you were at that school, and you can’t explain it?” Kolivan asked, and it was like he’d knocked the air out of Shiro’s lungs. “I can see the guilt in your eyes, the shame, the uncertainty.” Then he shook his head. “But if you are hoping for answers, I have none to give you.” Shiro clenched the fist of his prosthetic arm, and let out a deep breath. Then he met Kolivan’s gaze and smiled.

“I’m sorry to have taken your time.” Kolivan looked at him for a long moment, and then he looked past Shiro, at the telescope behind him.

“Just because I don’t have the answers, doesn’t mean that they don’t exist,” Kolivan said. “Keep seeking knowledge, because sometimes it’s knowledge - or death.” Shiro’s eyes widened at his grave tone, and then he nodded his head, walking past him and towards the door. He put his hand on the door and stopped. He felt like he should say something, but instead he shook his head and pushed the door open, stepping back out into the sunlight. He looked to see Keith, Lance, and Hunk standing in front of a statue of some man on a horse. Lance had an arm around Keith’s shoulders and was pointing something out on the statue. Hunk started to laugh and Shiro could tell that Keith was holding back his smile. Shiro’s gaze softened and he moved to join them.

“I mean, what kind of name is Barnabus Boyle the Seventh? Are they trying to tell me that six of his ancestors had that name and they still thought that it was a good idea?” Lance observed. Hunk held his sides as he continued to laugh. “Hey, I think I see a smile there, mullet,” Lance teased, and Keith gave him a gentle shove, laughing and shaking his head. Then Keith noticed Shiro and his smile fell. He looked down at the grass, kicking a rock with his shoe.

“Hey, Keith -” Shiro began. He knew that Keith didn’t want his sympathy, but that didn’t mean that Shiro couldn’t offer his support. He wanted to say something -

“Shiro?” a voice asked from somewhere farther behind him. He turned to see Allura standing in the middle of the green space. She was wearing a pale blue dress today, and her hair was down. He met her gaze and she beamed, waving at him. Then she made her way across the quad and towards them, coming to stand next to Shiro and linking her arm through his. “What a lovely surprise,” she said, a smile still on her face.

“Allura!” Lance said, grinning. “What’s up?” Shiro looked between the two of them in confusion, and Allura shot Lance a look. Lance’s eyes widened slightly.

“How do you two know each other?” Shiro asked. Keith looked at the two of them in interest as well, crossing his arms. Lance laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I stop by Alfor’s sometimes. Blue’s an old girl, so I need to fix her up pretty often, and Allura gives me a good deal.” Lance shot finger guns Allura’s way. “The Lance charm is hard to resist.” Allura rolled her eyes, putting her free hand on her hip.

“It’s really only because I plan to steal his car away from him someday. Blue’s a classic,” Allura whispered to Shiro, but seeing Lance’s offended expression and the way Keith was hiding a laugh behind his hand he assumed that they all had heard her. Allura winked at Lance and then looked at Hunk. “I feel like I should admit that I’ve met Hunk as well.” Hunk’s eyes widened and Allura gave him a small smile. “I drop by his father’s auto shop every once in a while - we’ve become good business partners. And I also stop by his mother’s bakery - she makes the most delicious scones.” Hunk looked at the ground bashfully.

“Small world, I guess,” Shiro finally said. Allura smiled at him, and there was a flash of mischief in her eyes.

“Smaller than you think.” Then she pushed her hair over her shoulder, her arm still linked with Shiro’s. “So I’m guessing you’re all touring the campus? It’s a lovely day for it.” Shiro nodded his head.

“I think we all needed a break, and it’s good to visualize your goals, so -” Allura smiled.

“Always the pragmatist, Shiro.” Then she looked at Keith, Hunk, and Lance. “I can’t wait for you three to call this place home.” Shiro saw their hopeful expressions and winced.

“Well, Allura -” Allura gave his arm a gentle squeeze and smiled.

“Always the pragmatist,” she said again, a little quieter this time. Then her eyes widened slightly. “Oh! I’m already running late. My old college roommate and I promised to meet up here today, and Romelle always teases me when I’m late to things. Everything’s just been so busy with the new shipments and we’re upgrading our server at Alfor’s -” Allura laughed, shaking her head. “I won’t bore you with the details.”

“Did you end up hiring the guy you interviewed?” Shiro asked. Allura nodded her head.

“He’s a gem. He goes to Galra U, actually, and he’s been a big help with our new upgrade. If it wasn’t for him I’d be even busier than I am,” Allura paused, deep in thought for a moment. “And yet I cannot help but feel like there’s something I’ve forgotten to do -” Then she looked down at where her arm was linked through Shiro’s and her eyes widened. “Shoot!” She unhooked her arm from Shiro’s. “I need to -” she cursed under her breath, checking her watch. “I don’t have time -” she looked back up at Shiro. “I need you to do me a favor.” Shiro raised a brow.

“Sure, anything for you, Allura.” Allura smiled, putting a hand on his cheek and dropping it back to her side.

“I need you to tell Adam that we’re not dating.” Shiro heard Lance make a choking noise, and Hunk nudged his ribs, shooting him a look. Keith just looked at Shiro in confusion.

“Wait, Adam thinks were dating?” Shiro asked. Allura giggled and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

“What am I going to do with you, Shiro?” Then her expression became serious. “Yes, you need to tell him that we’re not together. I’m living my best single life, thank you very much.” Shiro opened his mouth to respond, but Allura was already leaving, giving him a wave and a smile. “Good luck! Take him out for coffee or something!” With that she was gone, Shiro blinking as he watched her go.

“So you two aren’t dating?” Lance asked, and Shiro looked at him in confusion.

“What?” Shiro shook his head. “No, never. She’s like a sister to me.” He saw the look of relief on Lance’s face and continued to watch him in confusion.

“Maybe Adam won’t be so spacey and sad now,” Lance told Hunk, leaning into him and giving him a nudge. Then he noticed Shiro looking at him and his eyes widened. “Because he likes Allura!” he blurted out, and Hunk’s eyes blew wide, quickly turning to look at Lance. Lance seemed to realize what he said and began to laughed nervously, waving his arms a little. “I mean, no, well, Adam - Dr. Wadley -”

“Oh,” Shiro said, wondering why his voice sounded so small. He almost felt - disappointed? He remembered the crush he had, what felt like a forever ago. But he’d gotten over that, right? He had other things to focus on, he had his life with Keith and Kosmo, and he didn’t have room for more.

And he liked someone new.

He shook the thought away and smiled, Lance still looking flustered and Hunk shooting him a disapproving look.

“Well, someone will have to break it to him that Allura is ‘living her best single life’,” Shiro said with a laugh. But then he considered it. He wondered - if Allura knew that Adam liked her, maybe she would go for it. They would be good together, a power couple for sure. But why did that make Shiro’s insides feel all - weird? He decided to laugh again and began to walk across the quad. “Come on, we should finish the tour.” He caught Keith looking at him, his arms crossed as he watched Shiro with a calculated gaze, but then Keith shrugged and followed him.

“Fine by me,” Keith said. Lance started to say something, but then he slumped his shoulders in defeat, keeping pace with Keith. Hunk sighed and put a hand on his forehead, bringing up the rear.

“I want to visit Galra U,” Keith said as they were heading back to Shiro’s car. They had toured what felt like every inch of campus, looking through all of the academic buildings and dining halls - they even managed to check out one of the dorms. A nice senior student had offered to show them around. Shiro could tell that the three of them had fallen in love with the place. It made him happy, but worried, too. He was hoping that they weren’t putting all their expectations into one place. That’s why Keith’s sudden request caught him off guard. He turned back to look at Keith in surprise. Lance and Hunk looked surprised as well. Keith crossed his arms, looking away from them all and at the ground. Shiro’s gaze softened - he had an idea why Keith wanted to go. He opened his door.

“Sure, let’s do it. Are you two okay with that?” he asked, looking at Hunk and Lance. It seemed like they had remembered what Kolivan had told Keith as well. Hunk nodded his head, but Lance looked at Shiro suspiciously.

“This isn’t some trick to get me to apply there, right? You didn’t plan this -?” Lance began to ask, and Shiro laughed.

“I’m not some super villain, Lance.”

“I’m still not ruling out that you’re an evil clone,” Keith said with a shrug, and Shiro sighed and stepped into his car.

“Thanks, Keith,” Shiro said, and he caught Keith’s grin in his rearview mirror and stuck out his tongue, waiting for him and Lance to pile into the back, Hunk claiming the passenger’s seat.

“You know, that might be a good theory, Keith,” Lance said, and Shiro could feel Lance’s gaze as he began to pull out of the parking lot.

“Yes, because all evil clones drive a Subaru and work as a guidance counselor,” Shiro said dryly. Hunk laughed.

“I don’t know, it’s a good cover story. You could be living a secret double life.” Shiro met Keith’s gaze in the rearview mirror, both of them widening their eyes a little, and then they began to laugh. “Hey, what’s so funny?” Lance asked, and Shiro could hear the pout in his voice.

“Shiro’s too boring for that,” Keith assured him, but he found Shiro’s eyes in the mirror again and smiled.

Galra U was definitely very different from Altea Tech. Where Altea Tech was full of light and glass and made up of airy, modern-looking buildings, Galra U had towering buildings made of darker stone. The place spoke of tradition and discipline. Its corners were filled with shadows.

Shiro remembered it well.

Although he’d only spent two years at Galra U, while he was here it felt like a lifetime. He found himself missing the Garrison most days, but he always managed to shove that want down.

He couldn’t go back. It was too far from home. Galra U had offered him a scholarship. This was the best option, after losing his dad. It was the safe option, and Shiro didn’t want to tarnish his father’s memory by doing anything other than what was safe.

So he sucked it up and spent his last two years at Galra U, and it turned out alright in the end. He managed to excel in all his classes, even though the professors seemed to have it out for him. He got his degree in psychology and managed to get his masters the year after. He was able to move on with his life, and follow through with the path he’d chosen for himself.

Everything had been predictable. That is, everything except that one day during his junior year, when he’d been so run down with classes and his part-time jobs that he ended up in the infirmary.

What had started out being a bad day turned into a bad night. It led to the end of the Paladin. It was the night of the crash.

“Is it just me, or does this place give off some scary vibes?” Hunk asked quietly. Lance had his arm linked with his friend’s, nodding his head in agreement. Keith scoffed and moved past them, walking past the entrance gate and towards the closest building. Shiro shook his head, storing away the memories better left forgotten, and gave Hunk and Lance a smile.

“Come on, guys. I’ve heard people say that this place looks like Hogwarts.” Lance looked past Shiro and at the campus, narrowing his gaze.

“Yeah, maybe when Voldemort had taken over and Snape was Headmaster.”

“He-who-should-not-be-named!” Hunk protested, and Lance let out a laugh and began to lead the two of them forward, in the direction Keith had gone in.

“If we get cursed or hexed here you’ll be getting a call from mi abuelita, Mr. Shirogane,” Lance called over his shoulder. Shiro scoffed and shook his head.

“I’ll take that risk,” Shiro replied dryly, moving to follow them. He spotted Keith and saw that he was talking to someone he didn’t recognize. He looked like a student. He was wearing a dark gray button-up, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his long silver hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He was holding on to the handlebars of his bike as he talked to Keith, looking down at him and smiling. Then he seemed to notice that he was being watched and picked up his head to see the three of them approaching.

“Oh, hello. I’m guessing that this is the rest of your group?” the young man, Shiro figured that he had to be in his early twenties, asked Keith. Keith nodded his head, looking impatient.

“So you know where the physics department is?” Keith asked, crossing his arms. The man’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He was probably caught off guard by Keith’s bluntness. Then there was a flash of amusement in his eyes.

“Yes, after going to school here for almost four years I definitely hope that I do.”

“So?” Keith asked, and Shiro moved to stand next to Keith, giving the man a polite smile.

“Sorry, he’s just very - excited,” Shiro explained. Then he gave Keith a pointed look. Keith looked at him and shrugged.

“What?” Shiro sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, and the man laughed.

“It is quite alright. Living amongst my peers, you get used to a lack of formalities in conversation,” the man explained. “I appreciate that he gets straight to the point.” He looked back at Keith. “I’m actually headed in that direction, so you and your friends can follow me if you’d like. I make an excellent tour guide.” Keith furrowed his brow, seeming to size him up.

“That’d be great,” Shiro decided to answer for him, reaching out his hand for the man to take. “I’m Shiro. These are two of my students - Lance and Hunk - and my brother, Keith.” The man looked down to see Shiro’s prosthetic arm, and then he looked back at Shiro again, seeming to analyze his face. Shiro was about to drop his hand when the man took it, giving him a firm handshake.

“My name’s Lotor. I’m a senior here at Galra U. I’m double majoring in computer science and environmental science.”

“Computer science, huh? That’s what Pidge wants to do,” Lance said, nudging Hunk. The man - Lotor - looked at him in confusion.

“What is a ‘pidge’?” he asked, and Shiro let out a somewhat forced laugh and let go of Lotor’s hand.

“That’s quite a combination of majors. Any plans after college?” Shiro asked. Something in Lotor’s gaze became serious.

“I want to save the world. I want to make up for the destruction that my - that people have caused, in the past,” Lotor explained, his smile looking somewhat strained. “Anyway, let’s get you to the physics department.” He began walking down the paved path, still holding on to the handlebars of his bike. He looked over his shoulder to see if they were following, and then he pressed on. Keith went down the path first, then Hunk and Lance. Shiro brought up the rear, but soon he found himself walking in step with Lotor, the other three lagging behind and having their own conversation.

“You used to go to school here,” Lotor said, and Shiro looked at him in surprise.

“Um, yeah, how did you -?”

“It’s the way that you look at the place,” Lotor said, a slight bitterness in his tone. “Like it’s wronged you somehow.” Shiro’s eyes widened further, and Lotor laughed, gesturing to the academic building on the right. It was where all of the math classes were held. “I mean, Professor Sendak’s exams are the worst, right? I could imagine that it would leave any alumni with some not-so-happy memories.” Shiro laughed, feeling more at ease as he nodded his head.

“Yeah, you don’t even want to know the things I drank in order to stay awake and study,” Shiro confessed, rubbing the back of his neck. Lotor laughed behind his hand, and then his expression became more thoughtful.

“What’s it like? Being out of school? Living the life that you’ve made for yourself?” Lotor asked. Shiro thought for a moment, the question catching him off-guard. The life he made for himself? If he was being honest, it didn’t really feel like his own, in some ways. It still felt like he was waiting for something, but he didn’t know what that something was.

“I would savor this last year,” Shiro ended up saying. “Because once you have to create your own budget -” he shivered and Lotor laughed again. Shiro smiled. “But seriously, it’s pretty good. It’s different, and uncertain, but -” Shiro looked back at Keith, who was swatting Lance’s hand away and hiding his grin behind his hair. “Some pretty great things can come out of it.” Lotor adjusted his grip on the handlebars, looking down at the sidewalk.

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” he said quietly, and then he stopped his bike. “Here’s the building you were looking for,” he declared, looking back at Keith. Shiro looked at the long building in front of them. He hadn’t spent too much time inside, there wasn’t really a need to, but he remembered passing it every morning during his runs. “All of our science buildings are connected, and our research labs are on the lower levels.”

“It’s much smaller than what Altea Tech has,” Shiro could hear Lance mumble under his breath to Hunk. Then Lance raised his hand. Lotor raised a brow, looking at him in confusion.

“Uh, yes?”

“Does Galra U have an aeronautical engineering program? Or an aerospace engineering program?” he asked. Lotor gave him a polite smile.

“No, I’m afraid. We don’t quite have the budget, yet. But my -” he suddenly stopped, looking like there was a sour taste in his mouth. “The Galra U president is trying to expand the academics that we can offer. So hopefully we will have both soon.”

“Altea Tech already has both, and even more programs,” Lance pointed out, and Lotor’s eye twitched.

“Lance,” Shiro warned, but Lotor held up a hand.

“It’s okay, we’re well aware of Altea Tech’s many strengths.” Lotor paused. “There was a time when Galra U was able to compete, but complications occurred,” he explained. “But I’ve always held the belief that our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. I believe that Galra U can rise again.”

“See, that’s some optimism right there,” Hunk said, nudging Lance’s ribs. “I like it.” Lotor laughed, and then he looked at Keith with a measured gaze.

“Why did you want to see the physics department? Is that what you want to major in?” Lotor asked. Keith crossed his arms, looking away from him.

“No, my mom used to work here as a professor.” That seemed to pique Lotor’s interest. His eyes flashed.

“Oh? And who was your -?” Then his phone began to ring and he quickly pulled it out of his pocket, checking the caller ID. Shiro could’ve sworn that his face became a few shades paler as he saw who is was. Then Lotor looked up at them and gave them a sheepish smile. “I’m afraid that this is where I leave you. Enjoy the rest of your tour.” He moved further down the path, bike in tow, and picked up the call. “What is it, witch?” Shiro thought he heard Lotor hiss as he walked further down the path. Soon he was hidden by a line of bushes, and was gone.

“He was kind of weird, wasn’t he?” Lance asked.

“I think he’s an alien,” Keith said seriously, and Lance nodded his head, his expression grave.

“Maybe he was trying to abduct us.”

“Guys, don’t joke about that,” Hunk said, looking nervously at where the bushes hid the rest of the path.

“He wanted to steal our bodies!” Lance yelled, throwing his arms in the air and making his way towards Hunk. Hunk shut his eyes and swatted Lance away.

“Seriously! Not funny!” Hunk protested, and Keith began to laugh, holding his sides. Lance looked back to grin at him and continued to poke Hunk’s stomach. Shiro scoffed and shook his head.

“Did you guys want to go into the building or not?” he asked, and Keith stopped laughing, looking serious.

“I want to go in.” He began making his way to the door. Lance stopped pestering Hunk and threw an arm around his shoulders.

“You know that I love you buddy. I would sacrifice myself to the alien overlords for you any day.”

“Maybe, unless you were too busy making heart eyes at Keith,” Hunk mumbled. Shiro let out a surprised laugh and quickly covered his mouth with his hand, but the damage was done. He turned to see Lance looking at Shiro with wide eyes, his face red. Shiro held up his hands in surrender.

“I heard nothing,” Shiro said quickly. He caught Hunk’s gaze and then turned around. “I should catch up to Keith,” he said, quickening his pace to meet Keith at the door. He could hear Lance and Hunk arguing behind him, and he bit back his smile. “So you think your mom worked in this building?” he asked once he’d caught up to Keith, who was waiting for them by the door. Keith shrugged.

“I mean, she taught astrophysics at Altea Tech, so this is the best bet.” Keith furrowed his brow, looking like he was thinking something over.

“What is it?” Shiro asked. Keith furrowed his brow further, but then he took a deep breath and relaxed his shoulders.

“When I was in the observatory, it was kind of like I could feel my mom’s presence, like she was there. The same thing happened at Alfor’s too. I remembered things, I remembered being with them. I was hoping -” Keith paused, tightening his arms across his chest. “I wanted to go in here and see if I could find that feeling again.” Keith kicked a rock on the ground. “It’s stupid -”

“Hey,” Shiro said, putting a hand on Keith’s shoulder. “It’s not, okay? I think your mom would be happy that you’re here.” Keith looked up at him with wide, unknowing eyes, and slowly nodded his head.

“Yeah, I think so too.” Then he clenched his fists and opened the door, stepping inside. “Try to keep up, Lance,” Keith called over his shoulder, and Shiro heard Lance make a noise of protest behind them.

“Why am I the one being singled out?” Lance asked, and Hunk patted his shoulder and moved past him to step into the building, Shiro stepping inside as well. Lance shook his head. “Él me está dando la lata hoy,” he said dryly, but there was a fond smile on his lips.

Shiro didn’t know how he ended up losing track of them. One moment Shiro was looking through the window of one of the chemistry labs, watching as someone in a lab coat and goggles began to pour a dark green liquid into a flask, and the next Keith and Lance were gone, Hunk the only one left standing next to him, giving him a sheepish smile.

“They wanted to go on ahead,” Hunk explained, rubbing the back of his neck. Shiro gave him an unamused look. Then he sighed and shook his head.

“Those two -” he paused, looking back at Hunk. “Lance isn’t -?” he stopped again, trying to find the right words. “You can’t tell Keith I told you this, because he might actually murder me in my sleep, but - he really likes Lance.” Hunk nodded his head, not looking like this was news to him. Shiro didn’t expect that it would be. “And I don’t think he’s really been interested in anyone before. He tends to be pretty closed off.” Shiro stopped again, worrying at his lip as he looked through the glass window. “Lance isn’t going to break his heart, right?” He was met with silence for a long moment.

“I’m -” Hunk exhaled. “I’m not sure, Mr. Shirogane. Lance can be all over the place with his emotions sometimes. He has a lot of love to give, which is one of his strong suits, but it can also cause some hurt, to himself and to others.” Then Hunk ‘s gaze became more serious as he looked through the lab window. “But he cares about Keith. I think he’ll do whatever he can to protect him, and his feelings.” Shiro looked at Hunk, giving him a small smile.

“That’s good to hear, thanks Hunk.” Shiro paused. “And you can call me Shiro, at least when we’re not at school. I think we’re there.” Hunk grinned at him, nodding his head. Then Hunk seemed to remember something.

“Since we’re on the subject of relationships,” Hunk began slowly. “What Lance said about Adam - Dr. Wadley - about him liking Allura -”

“Hey!” Lance called, and they both turned their heads to see Lance standing at the other end of the hall, waving his arm. He hurried down the hall and towards them. “I told Keith not to but he insisted and then he managed to break the lock and I tried to follow him but he’s a slippery one so I thought I should -” Lance said in a rush, and Shiro’s eyes widened.

“ Lance, ” he said firmly, and Lance stopped, quickly closing his mouth and looking at him with wide, panicked eyes. “Where is Keith?” Lance gave him a sheepish smile and looked over his shoulder, pointing to the doorway at the end of the hall that read, Hallway to Experimental Labs: Restricted Access Only . Shiro swore under his breath and moved past Lance and Hunk, heading down the hall.

“You two stay here,” Shiro instructed. Lance began to protest, but Hunk put a hand on his shoulder and he stopped, slumping his shoulders. Shiro made it to the door, looking down both ends of the hall, and opened it, stepping inside.

It looked like a normal hallway. It was long, the ceiling was lined with florescent lights, the floor was made of beige tiles. It looked liked most of the other hallways on campus, and yet Shiro had never been here before. He doubted many people had. Shiro was surprised that the door was unlocked, but when he thought about it it wasn’t all the unsurprising. You didn’t break rules at Galra U.

As he continued down the hall he spotted a door that was slightly ajar, the lock looking like it was broken. Shiro pinched the bridge of his nose and took a moment to think. He read the small sign next to the door. Records . That explained why Keith broke in, he was probably hoping to find information on his mom. He checked this hallway, making sure that it was empty, and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, the only sound that could be heard was the whirring of the computer, the glow from the screen barely illuminating the corner where it stood. Then Shiro could hear a rustling coming from further in the room - the room was a lot longer than Shiro expected. He pressed further in, walking between two rows of shelves. Then he saw a small circle of light at the other end, light the flashlight on a phone, and the rustling grew louder. He walked forward quietly. There was a shadowy figure, but he couldn’t tell if it was Keith. Then he bumped into a box that was sticking out from one of the shelves and let out a quiet curse. In that moment the light turned off and the rustling stopped. Shiro clenched his fists and stepped forward.

“Keith?” he dared to asked. Nothing. Then a breath later a light shined in his eyes, and he held up his arms, taking a step back.

“Shiro?” Keith asked, and the light was directed away from him. Shiro blinked the spots from his eyes and looked at Keith, who was standing in front of him with something tucked under his arm and -

“You had your knife with you the whole time?” Shiro asked, his voice a few notes higher than usual. Keith shrugged, lowering his knife. Shiro’s eyes widened. “Where were you even keeping that?” Then they could hear a pair of voices coming from the entrance to the room.

“Why is the lock on this door broken?” a voice asked.

“Nothing else seems disturbed,” another voice said. Then there was a sigh. “With all of the money put into this project, I can’t believe that we haven’t gotten proper security -”

“That’s not important right now. Check the back room.” The voices stopped speaking and Shiro could hear footsteps coming their way. He grabbed Keith’s arm and took him to the back of the room where the two lines of shelves ended, taking a right and moving to hug the wall. He stopped them and they listened. The footsteps seemed to be coming from where they had just been. He led Keith up the wall and back towards the front of the room, holding his breath. He could see lights moving around on the other side of the room. The door they had come through was clear. He quickly moved Keith through the door and practically dragged Keith into the lit hallway, his heart pounding.

“We need to leave. Now ,” Shiro said, and Keith nodded his head, jaw clenched. They hurried down the hall, back the way they’d came, and opened the door back into the main lab space. Thankfully no one was there. Shiro took a few steps and peered down the hall to see Hunk and Lance standing where Shiro had left them, having a serious conversation about something. “Hunk! Lance!” Shiro called. Both of them whipped their heads towards Shiro. Their eyes widened slightly when they saw his expression. “We’re leaving,” he said. They took a look at each other, and then they hurried to join Shiro and Keith. The four of them made their way out of the building and into the sunlight, and then they made a beeline for the car. Shiro hadn’t realized that he was holding onto Keith’s sleeve the entire time until they reached the Subaru. He let go of him and unlocked the car. They all hurried inside. He turned on the engine and pulled out, going as fast as he dared through campus and back on the road. He didn’t realize how tightly he was gripping the wheel until his hands began to hurt. He took a long breath, slumping his shoulders a little. He glanced at Keith, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat, and he finally saw what Keith was holding under his arm. It looked like a thick file.

“Did you steal that?” Shiro asked, Keith turned his body away from him and towards the window.

“It has my mom’s name on it, so it should belong to me,” Keith mumbled, and Shiro let out an exasperated noise.

“Keith! You can’t just - you broke into - I know you never listen to me but this is -!” Shiro began, shaking his head and letting out a laugh of disbelief.

“I do listen,” Keith protested.

“No, you don’t !” Shiro argued. “You just keep pushing and pushing me but this is too far! You can’t just make rash decisions like this! You could’ve gotten caught, you could’ve gotten Lance or Hunk in trouble! They could’ve called Altea Tech and told them that you trespassed, and then any chance you had of going there would be gone .” Shiro took a deep breath, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel. The car was silent. He felt a stab of guilt, but he refused to back down. Keith needed to understand. “Our deal is off,” Shiro said quietly, and Keith shifted in his seat to look at him.

“Shiro -!”

“No! You don’t get to try and change my mind. You’re not allowed to go to -” he looked in the rearview mirror, seeing how Lance and Hunk were listening to their conversation with wide eyes. “You aren’t allowed to go there anymore.”

“This isn’t fair!” Keith protested. “You know how important it is to me!”

“ You are important to me, Keith! You’re more important to me than this mystery you’re trying to solve!” Keith clenched his jaw and turned back towards the window, saying nothing more. Lance and Hunk kept silent as well. Shiro sighed and looked at the road.

Maybe he was being too harsh, but he was so angry right now. He hadn’t been this angry since - it was then that he realized how fast he was driving, that they were flying down the highway, and his eyes widened. He quickly eased up on the gas and they slowed. He heart was beating fast. He couldn’t let his emotions take control of him like that.

He managed to steady his breathing as he drove them home, dropping Lance off at Hunk’s house.

“See you later,” Lance said quietly to Keith, but Keith didn’t say anything. He just kept looking out the window. Hunk put a hand on Lance’s shoulder and they went inside.

“Keith -” Shiro finally said as he drove them back to their apartment. He could hear the tiredness in his own voice.

I don’t want to talk,” Keith said, and Shiro sighed.

“Please, Keith -”

“I wish I never met you!” Keith yelled, his tone ragged, like he was holding back tears. He faced more towards the window and hugged his arms to his chest, the file tucked against him. Shiro felt like throwing up his lungs. His throat burned, but he swallowed it down.

The drove the rest of the way home in silence.

Shiro had to pick up some things that he left in his office. He knocked on Keith’s door, letting him know where he was going, but he didn’t get a response. By the time Shiro made it to the high school he felt like he’d swallowed five bricks. All he wanted to do was sleep, and to pretend like this day never happened. He thought today would be good for Keith, that it would good for them to take a break. But Shiro always managed to make the wrong decisions. He should’ve realized that this one wouldn’t work out any better.

Dora wasn’t at her desk when he made his way to his office. He wasn’t surprised, classes ended a little less than an hour ago. He unlocked his office door and found his briefcase sitting on his chair. He sat down, taking a moment to check his emails, and then he stood up, holding his briefcase and making his way out of the guidance department and down the hall. His footsteps seemed heavier than usual. He ran a tired hand through his hair. How was he going to fix this? They’d never fought like this before. This was his fault -

“Shiro?” a voice asked, and Shiro turned to see Adam standing in the doorway of his classroom, looking at Shiro in confusion. Today he was wearing a dark orange sweater vest with integral signs stitched in with white thread.

“Hey, Adam.” Shiro said, hearing how defeated his voice sounded. Adam furrowed his brow in concern and took a step forward. He reached out a hand but stopped, adjusting his glasses instead.

“Are you okay?” Adam asked, and Shiro scoffed.

“I’m better than ever.” Adam’s brow furrowed further and he crossed his arms.

“Shiro,” he began, a warning in his tone. Shiro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Keith and I - we got into a fight,” Shiro explained, and Adam’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “And it - it went too far.” Shiro laughed, a hollow, sad laugh. “And I don’t know what to do.”

“Hey,” Adam said, taking a step forwards and into the hall. He put his hands on Shiro’s shoulders and waited for Shiro to meet his gaze. He looked at Shiro for a long moment, and then an idea seemed to pop into his head. “Meet my dog.” Shiro looked at him in confusion.

“What?” Adam smiled, letting go of Shiro’s shoulders.

“Remember when I told you about my corgi? I’m going home to feed him. How about you come along?” Adam asked. Shiro continued to look at him dumbly and Adam’s cheeks heated up. He looked away, fiddling with the hem of his sweater vest. “I mean, only if you want to. I’m not trying to kidnap you or -” Shiro let out a laugh, and then he smiled.

“No, I mean, yeah, I’d love to meet your dog.” Something shined in Adam’s eyes as he beamed at Shiro.

“Okay, I just need to grab my briefcase. Wait here,” Adam said. Shiro watched as he went into his classroom, closing the door. Shiro could’ve shown he heard what sounded like a cry of victory coming from inside, and a moment later Adam was back in the hallway with his briefcase, locking the door to his classroom. He cleared his throat and began walking down the hall. Then he stopped and turned to look at Shiro, who was still standing where he was, watching him. Adam smiled and something fluttered in Shiro’s chest. “Are you coming?” Shiro watched him for another long moment, and then he broke into a smile of his own, moving to join Adam.

“I like your sweater vest,” Shiro observed. Adam laughed.

“Why thank you.”

Shiro didn’t know what he was expecting Adam’s apartment to be like, but once he saw it he knew that it was a perfect fit. It was simple and organized. There were a few bookshelves built into the wall. The kitchen had a cute orange tea kettle on the stove. The couch was a dark brown, worn leather one. The place looked lived in, and cared for.

“Attie!” Adam called as he walked further into the apartment, putting his briefcase on the coffee table next to the couch. Shiro could hear the patter of paws coming from what must be Adam’s bedroom. Adam’s bedroom. Shiro tried to ignore how that simple fact made his cheeks heat up. Suddenly a small corgi bounded into the room. Adam kneeled on the floor and the corgi managed to wiggle into his arms, licking his face. Adam laughed and snuggled the dog closer. “Dork,” he said fondly. Then he turned to look at Shiro, who was watching with wide eyes, his face burning now.

They’re so cute. The thought snuck to the front of Shiro’s mind before he realized it. Then Adam lifted his corgi in the air, like he was presenting him to Shiro.

“This is Atlas, or Attie, as I like to call him.” The name sounded familiar, like he’d heard someone else use the name before, but not for a dog - but Shiro figured he was just remembering when Adam was talking about his dog back at Alfor’s. It did feel like a long time ago. The dog - Atlas - wiggled in Adam’s grip, wagging his tail and panting as he looked at Shiro. Shiro smiled and moved to join Adam on the floor, folding his legs under him. Adam handed him over and Shiro held the corgi in his arms, the corgi immediately licking his face. Shiro laughed.

“Kosmo isn’t much of a licker,” Shiro explained, scratching Atlas behind the ears. Atlas booped his nose against Shiro’s, and Shiro smiled. Then he met Adam’s gaze. Adam was watching, his lips parted slightly and a rosiness in his cheeks. Then he quickly adjusted his glasses and moved to stand.

“Want some tea?” he offered while Shiro continued to pet Atlas on the hardwood floor.

“That would actually be great, Adam, thanks,” he said, smiling up at him. Adam’s blush deepened and he turned as he headed for the kitchen, saying something under his breath. “What?” Shiro asked.

“Um, is mint okay?” Adam asked, filling the tea kettle with water.

“It’s my favorite, actually,” Shiro said, and Adam nodded his head once, reaching up to grab his tea bags, which he seemed to keep on the top shelf. Shiro had a good view of Adam’s shoulders. They were broad. The muscles in his arm flexed as he got his hand around the box, and Shiro swallowed and look away. Atlas was now laying in Shiro’s lap, his head resting on Shiro’s knee. Shiro began to pet his head, smiling down at him.

“I was going to suggest that we sit on the couch, but it looks like Attie has already decided where we’ll sit,” Adam observed, coming back to sit across from Shiro. Shiro laughed.

“I feel like I’ve been chosen,” Shiro confessed, and Adam laughed behind his hand, watching his dog, who seemed to have fallen asleep.

“I’m tempted to say that you should be honored, and that Attie is very picky, but that wouldn’t be very true,” Adam confessed. “He’s kind of a hoe.” Shiro’s shoulders shook with laugher.

“Kosmo gets along with everyone too, but Keith’s definitely his favorite,” Shiro explained. Then his smile fell. He left Keith in his room, maybe he should check on him -

“I know that analyzing people is kind of your job, but would it be okay if I took a shot at it?” Adam asked, and Shiro looked at him in surprise. Adam was looking at the floor, fidgeting with his sweater.

“Go ahead,” Shiro said, finding himself waiting for Adam’s answer, ready to hang on every word. He wasn’t used to this. Adam took a breath and met Shiro’s gaze, a small smile on his lips.

“You’re impossibly hard on yourself,” Adam began, and Shiro held his breath. “You want to do right by Keith, by everyone you care about, but you constantly second-guess your decisions. You’re patient, and logical, and loving -” Adam took a shaky, nervous breath, leaning towards Shiro. “But you don’t think that you’re good enough, and I wonder what it’ll take to finally convince you that you are, that you’re even more than that,” Adam said. Shiro looked at him with wide eyes, and realized that he’d stopped petting Atlas. He opened his mouth to say something, but he was at a loss for words. Then he let out a short, surprised laugh, and shook his head.

“Are you sure that you didn’t get a PhD in psychology as well?” Shiro asked, and Adam smiled.

“Not to my knowledge.” Adam stopped, looking thoughtful. “I just felt like someone needed to tell you that you’re doing a great job, Shiro. We’re still young, we’re still trying to figure out what we want from life, and yet you’ve dedicated yourself to helping others figure out their purpose. You’re helping raise a teenager into becoming who he’s meant to be. It’s - a lot.” With that the kettle began to whistle and Adam moved to stand once more, walking over to the stove. The whistling stopped. Shiro furrowed his brow, scratching behind Atlas’ ears as he waited for Adam to come back. He was sitting back down a few moments later, two mugs in hand. He offered one to Shiro, and Shiro took it gratefully. He watched Adam blow on his own mug, steeping the bag that rested inside. Shiro thought about what happened earlier today, about how Keith’s mom was connected to Galra U, about the restricted room full of files, about all of the things that didn’t quite add up in Shiro’s life.

The things that he was afraid to face.

“Adam,” Shiro began, his voice quiet. “If you knew that you had to do something that’s dangerous, something risky, but you also knew that it would help people you care about - would you think it’s worth it? Even if it could put them at risk too?” Adam let out a short laugh, what almost looked like a secretive smile on his face as he looked down at his mug.

“I’m not quite sure if it’s worth it, in the end,” Adam confessed. “I’m not sure if you can know that until it’s over. But I will say,” he paused, looking up at Shiro. “Sometimes you don’t have a choice. It’s something you just have to do.” He stopped again, looking back down at his mug. “My brother was the one who taught me that.” Shiro looked at him in interest.

“I didn’t know you have a brother.” Adam’s jaw clenched.

“Yeah, but he’s not around anymore,” Adam explained. Then he looked up at Shiro and smiled. “I guess my point is that older brothers can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, they can set a pretty high standard, but a lot of the time we can’t help but look up to them. And we hate disappointing them.” He waited for Shiro to understand.

“Oh,” Shiro finally said. Now it was his turn to look at his own mug.

“There’s a good chance that Keith’s more mad at himself than he is at you,” Adam explained, taking a sip from his mug. “Just make sure to check your shampoo bottles when you get home - last time I was mad at my brother I replaced all his hair care products with mayonnaise.” Shiro let out a surprised laugh, and Atlas woke up, his tail thumping against the floor as he watched them.

“You didn’t,” Shiro said, and Adam grinned behind his mug. Shiro gave him a nod of approval. “I wouldn’t have thought you were the vengeful type,” he teased. Adam shrugged.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Shiro thought about that, realizing that Adam was right. Outside of their jobs what did Shiro really know about Adam?

“Well, I know some of the most important things,” Shiro offered, his knees bumping against Adam’s as he shifted a little on the floor, being careful of Atlas. He didn’t realize how close the two of them were sitting. “I know that you’re kind, and hardworking, and that you give good advice, even when people don’t seem to want it.” He gave Adam a dry smile and Adam scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You also care a lot about your students, and they love you - and respect you - which isn’t an easy combination to have,” Shiro continued. “You’re patient too, but you don’t second-guess yourself like I do. You’re steady. You’re someone people can depend on, that I have found myself depending on,” Shiro stopped, his eyes widening slightly as he looked down at Atlas’ sleeping form. Everything he said about Adam was true, but he never really gave himself a moment to consider all of those things. He reminded Shiro of someone else he was just beginning to get to know, another person who made his heart beat faster than normal. He met Adam’s gaze, and saw that Adam was looking at him with wide eyes. His face heated up.

It looked like he had a type.

The next moment Adam was moving closer to him, leaning in, slowly. Atlas squirmed out of Shiro’s lap and made his way back into Adam’s room. Shiro looked up and met Adam’s eyes, then down at his parted lips.

“Shiro,” Adam said, sounding a little breathless, a little unsure. Shiro licked his lips and kept watching him. He found himself putting a hand on Adam’s chest, and then balling his sweater vest with his fist. That brought Adam closer, until they were almost nose to nose. “Shiro,” Adam said again, even quieter, like his voice was about to break. He moved his head slightly to the left, and Shiro could feel one of Adam’s hands resting on his thigh. Shiro nodded his head slowly, still looking at Adam’s lips. It was like Adam had his own gravity, pulling Shiro in. All of those feelings that Shiro tried to ignore - that initial attraction, the way Shiro liked the way Adam’s smile formed, the way he laughed, the way he looked at Shiro and seemed to really see him - Shiro had tried so hard to keep it professional for Keith’s sake. No, for his own sake.

Because he was afraid of the risk. He was afraid of the rejection. He was afraid of having another person leave him.

But maybe, just this once, he didn’t have to be safe.

Or maybe, Adam was the safety he’d been searching for.

“Adam,” Shiro breathed. In that moment he remembered Pilot, although it was hazy amongst all the other thoughts running through Shiro’s mind. He’d almost kissed Pilot, too. He liked Pilot, too.

But it was Adam who was here. It was Adam who had always been here.

“Wait,” Adam said suddenly, and it was like a bucket of cold water had been poured on Shiro’s head. He let go of Adam’s sweater, and Adam pulled away, moving to sit back down. His cheeks were redder than usual as he ran a hand through his hair, avoiding Shiro’s confused gaze. He looked at his hands in his lap, and then finally at Shiro. “What about Allura?”

Shiro’s heart clenched painfully in his chest. Right, Allura. He’d almost forgotten about what Lance had told him. “The two of us aren’t dating,” Shiro explained. Adam’s eyes widened, and Shiro felt like he’d swallowed tacs.

“But at Balmera’s -” Shiro shook his head.

“We were just catching up. We’ve never dated and we never will date, so -” Shiro took a deep breath. “I won’t be mad if you ask her out. She did say she likes being single, though,” Shiro added, a bitter smile on his lips. Adam continued to look at him with wide eyes.

“Allura?” Adam asked, not seeming to understand.

“Lance told me that you like her,” Shiro explained. “But don’t be too hard on him, he didn’t mean to say it.” Adam let out a small noise, his mouth open slightly in shock, and then he shook his head.

“No, Shiro -” Then Shiro’s phone buzzed. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and his eyes widened as he read the message at the top.

“I - I need to head back,” Shiro said, quickly moving to stand. He began looking around the apartment for his stuff. Then he remembered that he didn’t bring anything in. Everything besides his phone and his keys he’d left in his car, and his car was parked outside next to Adam’s. He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I -”

“Hey,” Adam reaching out to grab Shiro’s wrist. Now he was standing, too. “It’s okay.” Adam searched his eyes, looking at him in concern. “I just need you to know that -” Then Adam stopped, seeing Shiro’s frantic expression. He took a breath, a sad smile on his face. “Nevermind, it can wait.” Shiro gave him a grateful smile in return, even though he still felt like his insides were being twisted by Keith’s knife, and he felt something nudge against his leg. He looked down to see Atlas staring up at him, his tail thumping against the floor. Shiro scratched behind his ears and then he made his way to the door, opening it. He stopped in the doorway, turning to face Adam, wanting to say something. Adam had his mug in his hands, and what looked like an almost pained expression on his face. “I hope everything’s okay.” Adam said, and Shiro nodded his head once.

“Me too,” Shiro said quietly, and then, a breath later, “thank you, for talking to me. With that he walked into the hall, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the wall for a moment, running a hand through his hair.

He was such an idiot. He’d fallen in love with two guys, two guys who both had their eyes on someone else. His father was right - being safe was the best option. It was the only option for Shiro, at least, especially when it came to love. Then he lifted his phone to read the message again. He wasn’t sure if being safe was possible when it came to Keith, however. He took a breath and headed for his car, pulling his keys out of his pocket. Keith had sent him a simple message, one that left Shiro’s mind racing with question as he drove home.

I think my mom’s alive.

#adashi #adashi au #altea drive #adashi fic #adam vld #shiro #takashi shirogane #lance #keith #hunk #klance #pidge #allura #lotor #voltron #voltron fic

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shastelly · 5 years

Text

Summer - March Klance Prompts from MonthlyKlance - Day 24

Day 24 of March in May...yep...I will not give up!

Also this is some serious fluffy nonsense just so you know before you start :). The paladins need a vacation :)

Day 24 – Summer

"Where did they even find those jackets?" Keith asked bewildered.

"At the space mall." Shiro answered in a similar state of disbelief.

"I fear we may have pushed them too hard." Allura stuttered.

"It does seem some downtime might be in order." Coran nodded flinching as Lance pulled out a blonde wig and put it on for the next "scene" in the musical the youngest paladins had decided to put on for their amusement.

"Lance isn't good as a blonde." Keith commented. "The poodle skirt fine, but the wig is just off."

"I'm not sure whatever it is that Pidge is wearing is much better. How many socks did they stuff in her shirt?" Shiro blinked.

"More than Lance's." Keith answered.

"You'd think Hunk would have taken off the headband, it doesn't match his jacket at all." Allura puzzled.

"I'm having trouble keeping track of which part they are playing at which time." Shiro admitted.

"I'm pretty sure Pidge is Rizzo. Lance is Sandy and Kenickie. Hunk is Danny and Frenchie and maybe Marty. I'm really unclear on the other parts. I think they keep forgetting to change clothes." Keith muttered, earning a surprised look from Shiro who didn't think he'd ever seen Grease before.

***

"Lance, does dance rather well though." Coran pointed out as he was switching wigs between playing Sandy and Cha Cha.

The others hummed in agreement, trapped watching the youngest three sing and dance their hearts out. To be honest for an impromptu musical with no instruments, sets, scripts from memory and a cast of three they were really doing a pretty good job.

***

"Are those real cars? Pidge!" Shiro hollered over the revving engines, before Hunk and Pidge flew off down the hall in their race.

Keith laughed.

***

"Is the message of this show that you should change yourself to match your friends?!" Allura asked outraged.

Shiro and Keith were not capable of responding given Lance's appearance in the black leather outfit.

***

Coran had happily joined the end song and the four of them were giggling and singing about always being together.

Shiro, Allura, and Keith sat watching them dance away, clapping mechanically.

"So, vacation?" Shiro asked still staring straight ahead.

"Vacation." Allura agreed.

"Leather." Keith muttered watching Lance dance away.

***

And so, a week later…

"I have an announcement." Allura stood at the head of the table after dinner. "As it turns out we have no scheduled missions for the next three days and we are near a resort planet that I used to visit as a child called Sabra."

"What?" Hunk blinked.

"I have arranged for us, barring any emergency of course, to have rooms at the very same resort I used to visit. And no worries, Coran went and made the reservations himself to assure that it is still as nice as it was ten thousand years ago." Allura smiled at them.

"Actually, it's nicer. Apparently, it was rebuilt recently and is the best of the hotels on the shore." Coran assured.

"Shore?" Lance asked in awe.

"Yes, the resort sits on one of the planets many oceans. Each has a different color. This one is lavender and was always my favorite. The entire planet survives on revenue from visiting tourists. It is considered a non-conflict zone; no weapons are allowed on the planet. Oh Coran, is the carnival still on the beach?" Allura asked a childlike gleam in her eyes.

"Yes, indeed Princess, bigger and better than ever."

"A beach? Ocean? Carnival?" Lance's eyes blinked open and closed like a doll.

"I think you broke Lance," Pidge snarked.

"I am soooooo excited!" Hunk grabbed Lance's arm which seemed to snap him out of his shock. He in turn grabbed Hunk and they were soon screaming and jumping up and down.

"Oh, I need swim trunks? Coran?" Lance stopped jumping and turned dramatically to Coran.

"No worries, there is an entire section of resort wear in the castle storage, you may come and choose what you like." He answered with a dramatic twirl of his moustache. "I will, of course, be able to provide guidance on what is really fashionable."

Lance jumped up and he and Coran were off and ranting about packing for the trip for everyone.

"Don't worry guys, I'll keep an eye on them." Hunk offered with a wave and headed after them.

As it turns out someone should have had an eye on Allura as well.

"Exactly what is in here?" Shiro asked exasperated as he lifted the universe's heaviest suitcase/trunk into the shuttle they were using.

"Industrial size hair dryer." Pidge muttered trying to cram another of the princess’s cases into the back.

"A princess needs to be prepared for all circumstances." Allura answered primly batting her eyes before laughing and helping pack another huge trunk into the shuttle.

"Is there a weight restriction?" Hunk asked in awe.

"This is fine." Coran nodded. "You should have seen her mother pack for vacation." Coran shook his head then. "We had to take three shuttles to fit the family and their luggage."

"Sounds fair." Lance smiled at Allura. His own trunk was much smaller, but still twice as large as any of the others. Lance had on a huge pair of blue sunglasses, a white button-down shirt and blue and red shorts that hit near his knee. He'd managed to find some kind of Altean sandals that were brown and wrapped around his feet and ankles.

"Shut up, tourist." Pidge snarked. She was wearing a green t-shirt and long khaki shorts and the Altean equivalent of flip flops.

"Be nice you two." Hunk's own bright yellow tank, white shorts, and flip flops made them the post card for beach travelers.

"Are we ready?" Coran laughed, his own blue and orange striped attire looked like a bathing suit from the 1800's or something. He even had a blue hat to go with it.

"Shotgun!" Lance yelled.

***

Two varga later…

They had parked the castle in an asteroid belt, hidden from sensors and well protected. The planet had assured them it would be safe to orbit, but they were unwilling to leave it unmanned like that and they had all deserved the vacation. However, the three varga shuttle ride was turning out to be a little much for them all in a single shuttle, crammed into two rows of seats due to someone's excessive packing.

"I called shotgun. It isn't fair." Lance complained for the fifth time from the backseat where he was shoved between Keith and Hunk. Pidge was sitting on Hunk's lap her legs stretched over the top of them.

"Sorry, Lance, the grown-ups got the front seat." Allura echoed back, not sounding the least bit sorry.

"Like you are so much older!" Lance huffed.

"At least 10,000 years." Allura quipped.

"That does not count. Keith, quit touching me!" Lance elbowed his neighbor.

"Exactly how am I supposed to do that. We are packed right against each other." Keith growled elbowing back.

"Would you quit! I'm already dying back here. Shiro, are you sure you can't turn up the air? I have a Pidge blanket." Hunk whined.

"It's all the way up, Hunk, and we are freezing up here. Coran matches his hat." Shiro sighed.

Coran did look an interesting shade of blue just then.

Pidge shifted in her sleep tickling Lance's legs with her shorts. He laughed loudly and jerked at the sensation, elbowing both Keith and Hunk in the process. The other two boys snarled. Hunk shoved Lance so hard he ran into Keith again. Keith jabbed a sharp elbow into Lance's stomach making him pitch forward and sliding Pidge's legs into the back of the seat in front of them.

"STOP KICKING THE SEAT!" Shiro was close to losing his shit.

"Ow." Lance breathed giving dirty looks to both Hunk and Keith.

Pidge snored and rolled back over onto all of them.

Lance scooted back and spread his elbows and legs as wide as he could pushing against the other boys.

"Enough with the man spread, Lance." Hunk griped shoving his leg over and leaning on him.

"I'm squished. You guys keep pushing me around." Lance growled.

"Then stay in the middle." Keith stomped on his foot.

"OOW!" Lance yelled and drove an elbow at Keith's middle, which he blocked and pinched Lance's arm. "OWW! QUIT! You guys are being jerks!"

"IF YOU DON'T QUIT FIGHTING BACK THERE I SWEAR I WILL PULL THIS DAMN THING OVER!" Shiro yelled from the front seat.

Keith, Hunk, and Lance all shared a look before they burst out laughing at him. Shiro groaned.

Pidge sat up and yawned, "Are we there yet?"

***

The resort and beach were everything that Allura had promised. The resort hotel stood fifty stories high, reflective glass windows covered the building. The pale purple water of the ocean washed onto the shore in waves that had Lance and Hunk yelling about surfing. The white sands of the beach were pristine and stretched as far as they could see. When they landed the pod several different types of aliens all dressed in the same crisp white uniforms rushed out and began moving their luggage. Allura said that they had condos reserved along the beach. They were given three small vehicles that looked like hovering golf carts. They received a map of the resort with locations and times for activities and a reminder that there was a feast planned in their honor for that evening.

Shiro loaded into one cart with Allura and Pidge. Coran tried to take the wheel on the next, but Keith beat him, which prompted Lance to take the third wheel with Hunk at his side and challenge Keith to a race. Unfortunately, or fortunately as it may be, the carts were very slow, and the race was a pathetic tie.

Allura and Pidge took the first condo, Shiro and Keith the second. That left Hunk, Coran and Lance in the third.

Lance walked in enjoying the beach themed decorations, of course it was all in purples and not blues, which he would have preferred, but they were soft colors with bright white accents and wave designs over everything, even some oddly square shells. He noticed two beds and a couch in the main area.

"I call the couch." He announced making it sound like a preference, and not a preemptive move to avoid being stuck with it, as the youngest in a family of five this was not an unusual arrangement for him. Hunk gave him a grateful smile aware of what he was doing.

"Oh, good choice." Coran crowed. He pressed a button and the couch cushion lifted to float about five feet from the ground and fluffed out to look like a cloud bed. "These are supposed to be wonderful to sleep on, though, I'll admit I don't relish the idea of floating in my sleep."

"It's great." A huge grin split Lance's face and he rushed over to the other condo to tell Keith and Shiro about it.

***

At the banquet that evening, there was a huge bonfire and lots of food, dancing and music. Hunk said it was like a Luau. Lance said it was like a family beach party. The others just thought it was fun. There was some sort of beverage in a red coconut looking thing that Shiro objected to at first, but after a brief discussion with Allura he allowed.

Lance took a sip and smiled, "It tastes like a Pina Colada!"

"Why do you know what that tastes like?" Keith frowned.

"My sister-in-law used to let me drink a little of hers, not a lot, just a taste." Lance sipped happily. "This tastes almost exactly like the ones my brother would make."

Hunk sniffed and sipped tentatively, "It is good."

"Please don't get carried away, no more than three or make that two for you Pidge." Shiro frowned unsure if this was the proper thing to do.

"Shiro, you are not my parent. You are like an older brother. Act like it, be a bad influence once in a while too." Keith grinned as he sipped.

"Yeah, be the older frat brother that rolls you over, so you don't choke on your vomit after he gets you to drink way too much." Lance offered.

Hunk, Pidge, Keith, and Shiro stared at him.

"What? Am I the only one that had a life?" Lance chugged the rest of his drink and smiled, "I'm dancing." He rushed back out to where others were already dancing around the bonfire.

Hunk shrugged looking at the others, "He's not wrong, we are social rejects."

"I wasn't." Shiro objected quietly.

"Yes, but what are you now, Space Dad." Pidge snarked.

Shiro glared at her, downed his drink, and laughed, "Dancing." He walked away to join Lance, who looked surprised but happy to have Shiro grab him and spin him around.

"Huh." Keith offered.

"It does look like fun." Hunk decided.

"Where are Allura and Coran?" Pidge asked before spotting them lounging at the bar watching the two dancing paladins. Pidge waved them off and headed over to the Alteans. She was not dancing.

"So, may I have this dance?" Hunk asked offering Keith his hand.

"Why not?" Keith smiled and they both finished their drinks before heading out to join the other two dancing.

***

Lance woke the next morning sleeping on a cloud. He smiled and stretched. He'd danced with everyone he thought, so many smiles and laughs and new dances and Pina Colodas. He found himself grinning in realization that he had not gotten that drunk and did not have a head ache or naseau this morning, the alien booze must not have been very strong.

He lowered his bed back to the couch and slipped on a hoodie. The morning was gray and looked chilly. He didn't bother with shoes. He went out to beach and walked along the edge of the water, watching the water come and go and walking in and out of it. Leaving footprints in the white sand. The colors were wrong, but it reminded him so strongly of home that he half expected his mama to call him to breakfast. He closed his eyes thinking of the many mornings he had woke before everyone else and done just this, ever since he was deemed old enough to be trusted to stay out of the water when no one else was around.

"Lance?" Keith's voice was quiet, but Lance still jumped.

"You really want to give me a heart attack, don't you?" Lance shook his head, wiping tears on the sleeve of his hoodie. Keith was dressed in workout clothes and had probably been running as he was sweating and panting a bit.

"No. You okay?" Keith frowned.

"Yeah, just really reminds me of home. It's good, but sad too." Lance sighed. "I wonder when we will get to go home again or even if we ever will."

"We will." Keith stated like it was a fact.

"You can't know that. Zarkon has been in power for ten thousand years, do we really think we're going to beat him in a year or two and go home?"

"Sure, Voltron hasn't been around all that time. We kick his ass and then go home." Keith smiled slyly.

"Sure." Lance shook his head.

"Seriously though, we have the weapon he has always feared and there has to be a reason. He knows we can beat him. We will get back home. It might take a while but we're going." Keith put an arm around Lance.

"I like that you're sure." Lance offered. He wasn't quite convinced, but it helped that Keith seemed to be.

"Tell me something you used to do on the beach? Something we could do today?" Keith pried.

"Well, sometimes in the summer we would have sandcastle building contests, Mami would judge them." Lance smiled at the memory and the crazy things he and his siblings had created.

"We can do that." Keith nodded. "I've never done that before."

"You've never built a sandcastle?" Lance asked shocked.

"Lance, this is the first time I've ever been to a beach like this." Keith gestured to the horizon. "It just keeps going. It's amazing really."

Lance took several moments to recover, "Okay, so we are building sandcastles, then I'm teaching you to swim in a current like this, and then we are going to make some surfboards. Oh, and we have to bury you in the sand." Lance rattled off happily.

"Bury me?" Keith raised his eyebrows and frowned.

"Don't look at me like that. You cover up like half of the person with sand or maybe up to their neck, depending on what you are doing. You can just make it look weird like a head in the sand, or make them look like something else, like a mermaid or something. It feels cool and it's fun and you've never done it so you're trying it. Also, we have to hunt for seashells, do they have those here? Well even if they don’t, we can still hunt for them and then we'll know."

Keith smiled in amusement as Lance continued rattling off important things to do as one by one the others joined them. The sandcastle contest was something to behold. Pidge had declared that picking teams sucked and had them draw straws. Team one was Keith, Pidge, and Hunk. Team two was Lance, Shiro, and Coran. Allura was the official judge, as obviously a princess knows a lot about castles according to Lance.

Team One's castle was huge, easily eight feet tall at the peak of the highest tower. It bore a striking resemblance to Cinderella's castle, though not enough to worry about a copyright. Pidge had created a draw bridge that opened and closed and installed some kind of luminescent shells to the interior to give lighting. Keith had gathered shells and layered them on the towers to act like tile roofs. It was overall very striking.

Team Two's castle looked like a flying alien city. It wasn't as tall only about six foot at the top of the central spire, but the towers were decorated with glass and there were spirals of glass in different colors that shot up throughout the castle. Pidge argued it was cheating. Lance argued it was just hot sand and why shouldn't they make it since they had Shiro on their team.

Allura declared it a tie over their bickering and told them to come to lunch. She had a picnic delivered to the beach and they sat on blankets and ate something that looked like peanut butter and jelly - if the peanut butter was made with beans instead of peanuts and the jelly was bacon flavored.

After the meal they all laid out and took a nap. It was crazy to relax like this and it had really been too long. Pidge had started to creep away to a laptop, but Allura caught her by the wrist.

"Pidge, everything needs to recharge sometime, even you. Give yourself this time and when you get back you will be more prepared and will work faster." Allura begged. "We can't work ourselves to death; there is no one to take our places."

Pidge paused pondering what Allura had said and then nodded, curling back up on the blanket and snuggling into Hunk's side. Allura allowed herself to relax again. This was something they all needed.

The swimming lessons commenced after. Keith wasn't a bad swimmer and Lance only had to rescue him once before he listened to his fellow paladin about the dangers of the undertow. Hunk splashed right along with them as did Allura. Coran, Shiro, and Pidge stayed on the shoreline. Pidge said she was part robot and water was bad for her. Shiro waved his own anchor of an arm as an excuse and Coran simply laughed and said they couldn't teach an old warbraxlian like himself any new things. Lance was an amazing swimmer and Keith had a hard time keeping his eyes off of him. He even challenged the princess to a race. He lost, but he claimed her shifting into something with flippers was cheating anyway.

Keith was shocked at how exhausted he was when he came out of the water and how heavy his body felt. Swimming in the ocean was really a lot more tiring than a pool, Lance had been right. Lance grabbed him a towel to lay down on and declared it was time to bury him, so he could take a nap.

When Keith woke to a mermaid tale and breasts he had to clamor out of the sand and chase Lance around the beach for a while until he caught him and dragged him back to the towel and declared it was his turn. Lance complained he would have been fine with the mermaid body, but Keith gave him the body of a middle-aged man with a beer gut. Pidge carefully documented both, though the boys were not yet aware of it. They would be when she needed something.

They were making preparations for the evening meal when an alarm sounded on a device Allura was carrying. She frowned and tapped at it, before sighing and turning to the others.

"I'm sorry everyone, but we will need to cut this short. There has been a Galra fleet detected in the vicinity of an alliance planet. We need to get there and be ready to defend them if needed." Allura smiled sadly at the paladins, to their credit they all nodded without complaint. She was proud of them. "Let's have everything packed and be in the shuttle as quickly as possible. I would like to wormhole out tonight."

The packing went smoothly. They had all been aware that this was a possibility and had made accommodations to allow for quick pack ups.

Crowded back in the shuttle on the way to the castle, Lance leaned his head against Keith's shoulder, "How was your first beach trip?”

“It was good.” Keith smiled softly.

“Sorry we didn't get to go surfing or hunt sea shells." Lance frowned

"It's okay." Keith shrugged. "There wasn't anything we could do."

"I know, but I guess we did a lot." Lance suddenly quirked a smile, “We can go surfing and hunt sea shells when we get home.”

"I would like that. I could see myself living on a beach someday." Keith smiled over at Lance.

"Oh yeah, maybe we could be neighbors?" Lance smiled thinking about his dreamhouse on the beach.

Keith hummed and turned so that his violet eyes were staring straight into Lance's ocean blues, "Maybe we could be closer than that."

"Oh yeah?" Lance blinked and licked his lips, before grinning mischievously, "So roomies, huh?" Hunk choked on laughter and Pidge swatted him in the back of the head, but Lance just laughed at the frustrated look on Keith's face, before leaning back against his shoulder and closing his eyes.

"I could find room for a mullet in my dream house." Lance muttered as his breathing slowed and evened into sleep.

Keith smiled down at him and wondered what he was getting himself into.

#voltron #monthlyklance #monthlyklance march 2019 #klance #fluff

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braveleader · 5 years

Text

*insert catchy klance meta title here*

IT’S FINALLY HERE. Some of you might have read my post earlier today when I said it was three pages long and how I hadn’t gathered all my screenshots nor explained them yet. Well… Now it’s 14 pages long and I rambled a lot. But here we are.

To contextualize this; I was brainstorming while re-reading various Klance Metas and theories a few days ago (because I’m unsurprisingly thirsty for Klance) and noticed what seems to me to be an important detail that people weirdly enough never focused on as far as I’ve seen. (Remember that it might be an enormous reach)

If you’ve watched New Girl, you’ll probably understand where I’ll be going with this along the line, but for those of you who haven’t, here is a quick summary. (Spoiler Alert, I guess.)

All the way back in 2011 during the first season of New Girl, an episode that Ness (Nick + Jess) fans probably still cherish to this day, came out. If you’re wondering where the fuck I’m going with this and what the hell this has to do with Klance, please don’t give up yet, you’ll see my point.

So, in 1x05, Jess’s best friend, Cece, talks about how if a someone is into you, their feet would point toward you. (“And did you see his feet? A guy’s feet point at what they want. His feet were pointing right at you.”).

Later in the episode, Jess can’t help but look at Nick’s feet, and his feet keeps following her every time she turns around him. Funnily enough, Nick and Jess ends up being the endgame couple of the show. Foreshadowing? Hell yeah baby.

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking “yeah, whatever, it’s probably not true.” Because, that’s exactly what I did think. But with my recent brainstorming, I went looking for answers.

And answers I was given.

Judy Dotton (American Author, graduated from Harvard and all that) did some scientific research about sexual behavior and all the science behind flirting and according to her: “Feet typically point in the direction they want to go, so if someone’s feet are pointed toward you, that’s good. If they’re pointing away from you, that’s bad. If someone’s feet are pointed in toward each other, it’s a good sign, since it’s a subconscious attempt to shrink in size and appear harmless, approachable…which may very well mean someone likes you, a lot.”

And you’re probably there: “CELINE WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING WITH THIS DAMNIT.”

Well, patience yields focus my little paladudes.

So another source, to go with:

According to Psychology Major Hanan Parvez: “What a person’s foot does can be the most accurate clue of their emotional state. The more distant a body part is from the brain, the less aware we are of its movements and hence the less we are able to manipulate it. So our feet often give away our true feelings […] it is interesting to note that even before the person orient [their] body in the direction [they] want to go, [they] orient [their] foot. That is to say, foot pointing precedes body orientation. Body orientation, prolonged gaze and foot pointing are sure signs that a person is interested in you. They’re literally asking to be approached. […] two people totally interested in each other […] each of them points their one foot forward towards the other person. If only one of them is interested in the other one, you’ll only see one foot stepping forward. Of course, the person who is interested will be the one who assumes this foot forward position.”

Another one for the road, because I’m nothing if not generous:

“The feet serve as a direct reflection of a person’s attitude. The key is recognizing where a person’s feet are pointed. When the feet are pointed directly toward another person, this is a sign of attraction, or at the very least genuine interest. If, on the other hand, the feet are pointed away, or toward the exit, that is a sign that attraction probably is not there.”

Okay, now we’re going to the juicy part.

There’s probably a lot more scenes that could work for my demonstration, but these ones are “big moments” in the relationships and/or personal stories of the characters, so here I am my dudes. I decided to work only with screenshots starting from season 3 up to season 7 (mostly because it’s the only episodes I had on my laptop for reference). You might also want to take into account that fluidity in cartoons and anime is harder, since there’s ultimately less frames, therefore, details such as those can really be more observed in important scenes, where, well every detail is important. But it’s definitely still here. (That’s why I really worked with one on one emotionally charged scenes, or ones with a third intervener.)

Not to jump the boat or anything but Lotura had more one-on-one scenes in the span of two eps than A//urance did in the whole of the show.

Let’s go chronologically until the juiciest of them all, shall we?

Can’t believe I’m saying that, but I’m going to talk about A//urance a lot, in order to, hopefully, shut it down.

Starting with the scene in 3x02 (Red Paladin) where Lance gave the blue bayard to Allura (a scene, that was ultimately cut short by Keith’s actions lzkajea)

Looking away from blue, Lance notices Allura who just entered the hangar in her new paladin outfit. Where we could have been given Lance’s point of view, like in a lot of scenes having to do with Keith, which would have given, you know, that kind of romantic atmosphere, we’re actually a few steps closer to her and a little on the right. If we look at Allura’s feet, she’s clearly posing in her outfit, but her left foot is pointing at ‘us’, not Lance. Which might be explained by the mentioned fact of her posing. But also, by maybe in fact that she isn’t, at this point in time, attracted in any way to Lance. But moving on to our blue boy:

it’s clearly another story. We’re looking over Allura’s shoulder this time, and we know that Lance used to face blue, but he didn’t just turn from the waist up to look at Allura, he turned his whole body, and his foot is pointing at her, not us. We all know Lance has/had feelings for Allura, and genuine ones. This position confirms it.

As early as the beginning of season 5 it takes another turn. Allura is about to get feelings for Lotor in the upcoming future (as season 5 is the first part of the seasons 5+6 arc). We know it now, didn’t know then. But that’s beside the point. When Lance unlocks the Altean Blade, Allura joins him in the training deck. If Lance’s feet aren’t pointing to Allura, it’s only because he’s still assuming a “fighting” position. Allura is not. And her feet are definitely not pointing to Lance.

Indeed, as she gets closer to him, her feet are still forming an angle, definitely not pointing to Lance. If you take the time to look at the angle, even if her feet are apart, the overall angle is still mostly narrowed. Now, a few seconds later, she brings her feet closer to each other, and like the following screenshot shows, this movement, made the angle even wider. If we’re going the metaphorical road, we can see this wider angle as somehow a wider gap between them. Maybe the foreshadow of a certain distance, a separation? Moving on?

Now. We get to the fun part (nope, sorry, still A//urance, but I promise the Klance talk is coming) as we’re getting closer to the “present” timeline.

The end of season 6, after the revelation of Lotor’s actions when Allura throw him across the room led to well. That hug. (And my boy Keith interrupting the moment like the amazing beautiful boy he is… anyway.)

If after reading the last 1400 words without quitting, and you remember one of the quote I mentioned earlier (“If only one of them is interested in the other one, you’ll only see one foot stepping forward”) this is exactly what seems to be happening here. Lance’s feet aren’t pointing straight to Allura, they’re more like pointing around her (if that makes sense) while Allura’s feet are pointing straight at Lance, and not only that but she also has one foot forward, as if she’s about to walk even more into Lance.

And finally, the one scene that really, really made me tilt:

Many of you out there proved throughout Lance’s general body language and the Macross theory that it’s more the end of A//urance than its beginning. (And for that, I want to thank you all for your amazing-ness). But I’m here to add to the mess.

Not. A. Single. Time. Does Lance turn his feet, or his full body, toward Allura. It could have easily been done to prove their endgame. But it wasn’t. On the contrary, Allura is the one completely facing him, both her feet pointing to Lance, and adding to that, the infamous step forward.

My boy Lance is clearly moving on, his feet are like a 90° angle away from her, only his head is turn toward her. It’s literally the proof that when he’s moving on, she really starts liking him (as in, liking him as more than a friend).

And now, you’re telling me, how the fuck is talking about A//urance for ten years a Klance meta?!

WELL.

Now, I’m telling you, screw chronology.

Time to dig deeper. The following screenshots are of the scene following the A//urance hug, when Keith is being is awesome badass self, saving my Klance heart. These four screenshots are only a few frames apart, and I really want you to observe Lance’s positions throughout all of them.

It’s really subtle, and if you don’t like digging, you wouldn’t notice it: but Lance moves his feet before his whole body… Once again, if you didn’t go crazy with all the information yet and remember the quotes, one specifically say that your feet will move before your body. Not only that, but foot pointing will happen before you’re facing the person with your body. One of Lance’s foot is clearly pointing to Keith on the hologram/screen thingy.

If you catch my drift, Lance is attracted to Keith, he barely appeared that Lance had already turned to face him. For reference, if you scroll up and now look at Allura, you’ll realize that she takes a few frames to turn to Keith, and her body turns before her feet or at least, a somehow exact time (i.e. she’s not attracted to Keith). Those exact feet used to point to Lance for the first three screenshots it’s only once Lance if fully turned toward Keith, only his heels needs to be touching the ground for him to assume his final position (aka alike in the fourth screenshot.)

… I should probably stop there, you know, not overwhelm anyone with information…

Nah.

My dudes, look at this. In the first screenshot, since they know it’s Keith, we can definitely see that Lance’s feet are pointing to Keith. Not only that, but he has a foot one step forward from the other, he’s not slightly turn on the side, which would play on perspective, no, he’s full on facing where Keith is going to get out, and his foot is definitely one step forward.

In the second screenshot, Lance approached Keith with the infamous “bigger”, “cooler” and grizzled” words following each other to form some A+ flirting. Now, you’re understanding the concept. And you clearly see that once Lance stopped walking, he didn’t just stop, simply, no he still has a foot moved one step forward toward Keith. Both of his feet are clearly pointing to Keith.

To end this fourteen page long ramble on feet (I swear I don’t have a foot kink lkeazjaez), I want to introduce you once again my fellow paladudes, after all this patience, to the scene, the scene of them all, the embodiment of kick out of the bonding moment.

The following four screenshots.

Keith’s feet are not only pointing to Lance: they are following every single one of his movements, alike the amazing Nick Miller did before him following the movements of Jessica Day, here is Keith, in all his beautiful gayness. And the object of his attention, one Loverboy Lance, his feet pointing right back at him. Do I need to say more?

Do I need to display even more the kick energy flying out of this scene? Do I really?

Or I could be reaching.... A lot. (If you want any link of the original quotes, ask me, I’m too lazy to embed them.)

#klance #keith #lance #klance meta #klance theory #laith #keith kogane #lance mcclain

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awkwardedgygirl · 5 years

Text

Voices- Part 2

Hi. So on Valentine’s Day I wrote a Klance soulmate au. I wanted to rewrite it from Lance’s point of view so I did. I want to say that this side is a lot darker than the cute one I wrote on valentine’s day. Lance is being bullied and at one point he almost commits self harm. if you have triggers to that please don’t read this. I might continue this too.

When Lance was young his Mami told him all about soulmates, how they are the one the universe chose for you as your perfect companion and when you meet them you feel this amazing connection and never want to be away from them ever again.

Lance went to school that Monday excited about one day finding a soulmate and daydreaming about the day it happens he does not notice James walking towards him until he is pushed into a locker. Lance knew that if his soulmate was here they would have stopped him.

At lunch that day Lance is telling his friend Hunk all about what his Mami told him,

“It is so amazing Hunk! One day we meet somebody who we are meant to be with forever and they are perfect.”

Hunk is excited too, “Yeah my older sister just got her soulmate connection, she says that she has drawings that she didn’t do appear on her and she can write back!”

Lance smiles, “That is so cool! I hope I have a cool connection like that!”

Lance gets up to go use the bathroom and while he is washing his hands James walks in and locks the door. Lance turns around, “Let me out.”

James laughs, “You are delusional to think you would get a soulmate.”

Lance shakes his head, “You are wrong. Everybody does.”

James walks towards him, “Not you Lance you don’t matter, nobody likes you, your soulmate won’t even like you.”

Lance is getting angry, “Shut up James! My soulmate will like me and they will stand up to you!”

James laughs, “Well until that day comes,” James grabs Lance and goes into one of the stalls, “Oh good,” James mocks, “They didn’t flush.”

For the next few years James torments Lance every day telling him his soulmate does not want him and they will hate him. Around year five Lance believes him.

Years later on Lance’s eighteenth birthday as he is walking a song pops is his head,

“My father took me into the city.”

He’s back!

“Ugh I wish.” Lance says.

Ummm hello?

Lance looks behind him to see who is talking to him and he notices nobody is there, Lance realises it is in his head, “Hello?” Lance says timidly.

Oh my god you can hear me!

Lance rolls his eyes, “Well duh you are in my head.”

Lance hears a deep laugh in his head that makes his stomach do a weird flippy thing, “No I am not in your head, well I mean I guess I am but I am real too!”

Lance is skeptical, “Why should I believe that? Maybe I am just going crazy?”

“No I am real,” the voice pleads, “I am at the gym right now listening to Welcome to the Black Parade which is why you are singing it. I heard you sing happy birthday to yourself last night. Happy birthday by the way.”

Lance’s cheeks redden, “Thanks.” He mumbles.

“I promise you I am real.” Lance feels the plea in those words.

Lance sighs, “Ok so what is it then?”

“I think this is our soulmate connection.”

Lance’s heart stops. Fear from everything he has been told builds up inside him. “You don’t want me.”

Lance hears the panic in the voice, “No I do I promise.”

Lance shakes his head, “No guy trust me if you met me you would not want me. I’m sorry you got such a shit soulmate,” just then Lance sees James walking towards him, “I have to go now goodbye.”

“No wai-” The voice gets cut out when Lance is pushed to the ground.

A week passes and nothing really changes for Lance, he is still being pushed around by James everyday and has tried to not listen to music so he doesn’t bother the guy in his head. But one night after school while he is trying to cover up some bruises so his Mami doesn’t freak he forgets and is singing a song in his native language.

“That was beautiful.” The voice says.

“Thanks.” Lance says timidly.

“So you speak Spanish?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.”

Lance does not know why he wanted to keep the conversation going but he knew that he liked the feeling of the deep voice in his head, “My family is from Cuba, we came here when I was young.”

Then the boys begin talking, about where they are from and Lance thinks maybe they can at least be friends.

“Dogs or cats?”

“What?” The voice asks.

Lance laughs, “Just asking you important questions I have to know who I am talking too.”

“Hmmm dogs I guess. You?”

Lance shrugs, “Eh I prefer cats but some dogs are ok.”

“I feel the same about cats.”

Lance likes talking about nothing in particular with the voice. He soothes him and makes him feel like maybe he is not alone.

About two days later when Lance is walking home from school he cuts through a parking lot and sees James and his goons sitting on their truck. He prays he isn’t seen.

“Hey asswipe!”

Lance walks faster. He hears them jump off the truck and run towards him. Lance runs but they are too fast. Somebody grabs him and puts him in choke hold and he is face to face with James.

“Where are you going?”

“I am just going home James leave me alone.”

“No no you see this is where me and my friends hang out,” The hold tightens, “and you coming ruins it.”

“I’ll find a different way home from now on let me go.”

James tsk, “Well that doesn’t change that you are here now does it.”

Lance feels a blow to his gut and he falls to the ground in a heap and after to many blows for Lance to count he is left there alone bleeding.

That night Lance is on the floor of his bathroom spiraling, he holds something in his hand that he knows is bad but he does not care. He wants the thoughts to stop.

There is a very faint, “What is happening.” but Lance does not process it. He moves the bad thing closer, the bad thoughts get louder.”

“NO.” and voice yells in his head. “That is not true. None of this is true. Don’t listen to it please.”

Lance stops. He woke him up. He is such a terrible person.

“No it’s ok don’t worry.”

A tear falls, “No it is,” Lance looks at the clock, “three in the morning and I woke you I am so sorry.” Lance begins spiraling again.

“Don’t worry about me tell me what is wrong.” The voice sounds stern.

Lance does not deserve this attention, “I just have these thoughts sometimes but don’t worry.”

“You are my soulmate of course I will worry.”

Lance looks at the bad thing is his hand, “I already told you. You don’t want me.”

“Well that is for me to decide isn’t it.”

Lance says nothing.

“Look,” the voice sighs, “my life has not always been easy and it seems like yours hasn’t been either. I always found comfort in knowing I had a soulmate and I want you to feel that comfort too. I don’t care if you just want to be platonic soulmates or you never want to meet. Just know that I will always be here for you.”

And at that Lance smiles, “Ok.”

Lance feels relief wash through him, “Are you ok now? Do you want to talk about it?”

Lance shakes his head, “No I am ok go back to sleep.”

They say their good nights and Lance gets up off the bathroom floor and throws away what he was holding. He did not add any more injuries tonight.”

Lance feels really good when he wakes up the next day. He gets into the shower and turns on his favorite playlist.

“Cause I ain’t no Hollaback Girl, ain’t no hollaback girl.”

Lance hears a sleepy groan, “Really?”

Lance squeals, “Sorry.”

Another groan, “No it is fine. Go on.”

Lance looks around, “Well I can’t now.”

“I hear you sing all the time.”

“Yeah but,” Lance blushes, “I am showering.”

“So?”

“So? SO?” Lance flails his arms, “Excuse you sir I am naked.”

“Umm I can’t see you?”

Lance rolls his eyes, “Well I can hear you and it is weird.”

“Well what do you want me to do? You were the one singing.”

“Ugh just listen to something else.”

“Ok ok!” Lance hears faint grumbling about being woken up then Fall Out Boy begins to play in his head.

“Better?” The voice asks.

Lance smiles, “Yes thank you.”

Lance continues to shower and thinks about the conversation they had last night. Nobody has ever been able to pull Lance out when he was that deep. Not his best friend and not even his sister.

Lance steps out of the shower and begins to dry himself off, “Did you mean it?” Lance asks.

“Yes.” The voice says right away.

Lance feels a warmness in his chest that he has never felt before, “Ok ummm cool.”

A low chuckles vibrates in his head that Lance feels in his spine, “Yeah.”

Lance looks at himself in the mirror, it is a little foggy from the shower he just had but he can see his reflection staring back at him saying, do it you coward. Lance lets out a deep breath, “My name is Lance by the way.

“Mine is Keith.”

Lance smiles, “Huh. I like that name.”

The voice- Keith response in a deep drawl. “I like yours too.”

Lance is standing in the bathroom smiling like an idiot and looks at the time to see he is running late, “I have to go but I will talk to you later Keith?”

“Yeah bye Lance.”

And LAnce leaves for school, feeling the happiest he has felt in a long time.

Over the next few months Lance tries to open up more to Keith. He tells Keith about his problems with self esteem but not about James. Keith tells him about his parents and Lance feels sad for him but Keith tells him not to worry.

Lance is laying in bed one night in January thinking about his day at school, it wasn’t too bad, but talking to Keith during lunch made it a good day. LAnce decides that he wants to know what Keith looks like, “Hey Keith you awake?” He tries to whisper.

“Yeah.” Keith’s voice rumbles.

“Would you ummm,” Lance tries to center himself, “would you like to video chat?”

Automatically, “Holy shit yes!”

Lance laughs, “Ok cool me too.”

Lance gets out of bed to grab his computer and turn on his bedside lamp. He adds Keith on skype and while he is waiting for the call he is fidgeting with his hair and clothes trying to look semi presentable. It starts ringing and Lance’s heart is beating out of his chest. He hits accept.

Before Lance can even process the hotness that is Keith he hears, “He’s beautiful.”

Lance gets flustered and lets out an awkward laugh, “Well thank you, you aren’t so bad looking yourself.”

Lance sees Keith’s amazing face go red, from something he said!

“Oh god you heard that?”

Lance tries to act nonchalant, but he has never been called beautiful before, “ ‘fraid so.”

“Ughh,” Keith groans, “this is going great for me.”

Lance feels that warmness in his chest again, “I agree.”

“So not to like kick a gift horse in the mouth or whatever but why did you decide to video chat?” Keith asks.

Lance ponders that for a second, wondering if he should tell the truth, he decides too, “Honestly?” Lance sees Keith give a nod, “I wanted to see if you were as hot as your voice sounded.” Lance tries to hide his blush in the low light of his room.

He sees Keith raise an eyebrow, “And? Final verdict?”

Lance joking raises his fingers to his chin rubbing an imaginary beard, trying to act cool, “So far all the signs point to yes.”

Keith laughs and for the first time Lance gets to see him laugh, “I appreciate that.”

And just like that a new tradition starts. They talk all day in their heads and at night they video chat. Lance does not know which he loves to do more but he knows he never wants to stop.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching Lance knows he wants to do something. He wants to surprise Keith with a present that says, “Hey I know I am a self-conscious little shit but you are so nice and hot and I think I may want to spend the rest of my life with you in a way I am not quite sure yet.”

And for the record no he does not think that is a lot to ask of a gift HUNK.

If fact he finds the perfect gift but he just needs to figure out how to get it to him.

“Hey Pidge.”

Pidge does not look up from the computer they were messing with, “Yes Lance.”

“Hypothetically is there anyway for you to find out where someone lives by their first name and their, oh I don’t know, skype username?”

Pidge looks up, “Hypothetically?”

Lance looks sheepish.

Pidge shrugs, “Yeah probably.”

Lance smiles, “Really?”

Pidge nods.

Lance runs to sit next to them, “Ok so that wasn’t hypothetical.”

Pidge fake gasps, “No.”

Lance nods excitedly, “Yeah I want to send a gift to someone but I don’t know where they live.”

Pidge sighs, “Okay Lance give me the info.”

Lance has never been more excited.

On Valentine’s Day Lance is at school feeling really excited. He sent out the present about a week ago and knows that it should be arriving today. Him and Keith skyped last night and Lance got to wake up to seeing Keith sleeping soundly on skype. He hangs up quietly and makes sure not to listen to any music so not to wake him. Lance is at his locker grabbing stuff for his morning classes. The hallway is mostly empty and Lance is lost in his own thoughts when his locker door is slammed shut.

“What are you looking so happy about?” James sneers.

“None of your business James.” Lance snaps.

James eyes get meaner, “The fuck did you say to me?”

Lance is pulled into the bathroom and is pushed on the floor, “Do we need to go over this again Lance. You are nothing. No one likes you and you will die alone.”

Lance stands up furious, “That is not true.”

“And why is that?”

“I-” and Lance almost tells him. He almost tells James about Keith, about his soulmate, but he doesn’t because he knows he will never tell Keith about James.

But, James figures it out, “Oh what Lance you got a soulmate connection?” James pushes him again, “You think just because you have a connection to somebody that they actually want you? You are nothing Lance and they will soon see that.”

Lance feels a blow to his ribs, “They don’t want you.”

Another blow, “They don’t care about you.”

More blows, “You are nothing.”

Spit falls onto Lances face and he is left there lying on the dirty bathroom floor all alone.

Tears begin to fall when you hears, “I hope you have a good day Lance.” from his favorite voice in his head. It reminds him that James is wrong. Keith does care about him and he can prove it. Lance gets up off the bathroom floor and runs out of school.

After about a six or seven hour bus ride Lance arrives at a small town in Texas. He stops by a local pizza place and heads over to the apartment complex. When he arrives at the door he sees the package he sent is sitting on the stoop and he leans down to pick it up. His heart is beating really fast and he knocks on the door and,

No answer.

Lance checks the time on his phone and decides Keith is probably at work but will be home soon. Keith wouldn’t mind if he let himself in.

Using skills he would rather not discuss Lance gets himself into the apartment and sits on the couch.

“How could I forget Valentine’s Day?” Lance hears Keith question.

Lance thinks back to his day and looks around the tiny apartment, “I didn’t.” Lance says out loud.

Lance starts playing a game on Keith xbox and waits.

After about ten minutes he hears the front door squeak open.

“Ummmm,” Keith questions, “Can I help you?”

Lance pauses the game and takes a deep breath, his heart is beating out of his chest, he stands up and gets to see Keith face light up.

“Lance!” Keith runs over and engulfs him in a hug, Lance loves it but the bruises on his ribs don’t.”

“What? How? What are you doing here?” Keith stutters.

Lance is wincing from the pain, “Can’t breathe.”

“Oh sorry.” Keith puts him down but does not completely let go, “What are you doing here? How did you get here and better yet how did you get into my house?”

Lance blushes, “Oh ummm, I wanted to surprise you and I have this friend who is really good at finding out information and ummm I broke in.”

Keith laughs, Lance loves hearing that laugh in person, “It doesn’t matter I am so happy you are here.”

Lance wraps his arms around Keith and buries his head in his very broad chest, “Yeah me too.”

#klance #klance fanfic #voltron #Voltron legendary defender #Self conscious lance #bullying #self harm #ValentinesDay #soulmate au #cussing

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bazzledazzled · 6 years

Text

I’m not going to lie to you I am 100% pulling these headcanons from the spam of messages i sent @waywardpadaleski but I saw Voltron Hogwarts AUs floating around and I decided to make headcanons because I love this idea ive also doodled stuff and may post some or write something just not rn

OKAY SO

pretty much the houses just go with their lions— but lance is special snowflake im sorry i know i sound like one of those uber annoying lance stans that shove da boi down everyones throats i cant help it i love him but bare with me this makes sense

Okay so Keith is in Gryffindor because ofc he would

Pidge is Slytherin

Hunk is Hufflepuff

Allura is totally a Ravenclaw

What about Lance, you ask? Well u know how JK Rowling said that there’s things called “Hat Stalls” where people took longer than 5 min to get sorted???

Ye well Lance is one of THOSE

It would work with canon if you think about it because he kinda is stuck between the red lion and the blue lion and like-- I know keef is the same way with the black lion but shush

SO ANYWAYS

the sorting hats dilemma is that he’s smart and has the means to excel in Ravenclaw, but at the same time he’s outrageously brave like a Gryffindor

(MY BOI IS SMART FITE ME)

So the hat doesn’t know what to put him in

Then the sorting hat comes to the conclusion that while he could do great in Ravenclaw, he wouldn’t reach his full potential unless he was a Gryffindor (*COUGH* LIKE CANON)

Sooooo-- Pidge is like a year or two behind Hunk, Lance, and Keith because y’know, shes younger and stuff and she kinda gets into the group because of her older brother

THATS RIGHT MATTS HERE

So Matt is a Ravenclaw and him and Shiro are besties ofc

(Shiros Gryffindor sorry I forgot to mention it)

Matt was also a Hat Stall because when i was thinking about his house i couldn’t decide between Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Gryffindor

But he’s Ravenclaw cuz it fits in with an Adashi thing im gonna bring up later

ANYWAYS

Shiro is also Keith’s older brother, they’re not biological siblings, its just Keefs dad was friends with shiros parents and when he passed away the Shiroganes adopted him

Shiro is ANNOYED because Keith and Lance are always fighting with each other in the commons and he just wants to read his book in peace

Now here comes the Adashi

Okay okay so Adam is Ravenclaw

I know we barely know anything about Adam (*glares at s7*) BUT based on stuff and how the fanon Adam is, I’m saying he’s Ravenclaw

So anyways

Let’s get to Quidditch because that’s part of the Adashi part of this AU

Keef is a Gryffindor Seeker because like-- he go vroom

I lowkey am making Lance a Keeper not only cuz he would be good at it but also cuz of those cheesy shirts that say things like “He’s a Keeper” and “She’s a Catch”

Shiro is a Chaser

Pidge and Hunk I think would be Beaters???? Idk

OH! James Griffin is also a Slytherin Seeker byeeee

Adam is the Ravenclaw Keeper

Headcanon is if theres one thing Lance and Adam have in common, its that they can make people flustered very easily

So ya know what Adam does, much to Shiro’s annoyance???

He flirts with him

Whenever they have games that are Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor Adam will flirt with Shiro, winking at him, yelling stuff across the field, making Shiro so flustered he can’t throw straight (pun intended)

One time Adam gets Shiro so flustered he drops the ball

Matt, a Beater, high fives him

OH! Also Allura is a Chaser and she’s like the best Chaser in the school FITE ME

Okay thats enough of quidditch

Okay so as for family lineage and stuff

Shiro, Lance, and Hunk are muggleborns

They just are

Shiro’s parents knew about Magic because of keef and were surprised when they found out Shiro was a wizard

Lance is the only wizard in his family and he gets homesick a lot because he’s the only one who goes to Hogwarts and he misses his siblings and stuff

But he always brings niece and nephew home stuff from Hogsmade that he thinks they’ll like

Hunk, Lance, and Shiro meet because Hogwarts started a club during the summer for Muggleborns where they can meet and talk about concerns with Hogwarts and magic and stuff with other muggleborns that are older

So Lance and Hunk soon become really close friends and Shiro is kinda their advisor and stuff

Anyways

Keith is a Halfblood, which makes sense because i mean he’s half galra on the show so

His mom was a witch, and idk if im going to have her run away for something or die?? I mean I kinda want her to run away cuz of something so they can be reunited but i have no idea what it would be unless this was during the time of harry potter and it had something to do with Voldemort but i kinda want to stay away from all that so ye

Pidge and Matt are purebloods

But they’re not the stuck up purebloods

They’re literally the Weasleys

Sam has a fascination with muggle technology that Pidge and Matt share

So like, they have a lot of fancy tech

Pidge and Matt snuck a DS on campus and play Zelda at meals

Allura is probably a Pureblood but shes way less snooty, maybe even compared to her parents

As for teachers

Coran is Herbology teacher or something???

Alfor is Defense against the Dark Arts maybe??? I don’t know either him or Zarkon

Haggar is obviously the potions teacher

ANYWAYS

Everyone hates Lotor cuz his parents are teachers and he’s a teachers pet

But back to Haggar in potions

So she’s like the slytherin head thing or whatever they were

so yknow she’s biased

and it doesnt help that her son is also slytherin

(also Zarkon is a Gryffindor sorryyyyy)

(This also could play into keith or lance’s story by them being compared to Zarkon or something and it unsettling them)

(This just in-- I think Zarkon should be the voldemort)

(oh shoot im getting sidetracked with imagining zarkon as voldemort and lance as harry potter)

(help)

ANYWAYS

So ofc she sees that Lance and Keith are always at each others throat

and makes them potions partnets

because it makes it easier for them to get in trouble because they keep fighting and then she can take points from gryffindor

ANYWAYS

The one day they are tasked with making Amortentia, right??

Oh god this is so mcfreaking cliche im sorry

So Keef and Lonce are there, both tired from studying or something so already they’re cranky and half asleep

So they’re making the potion right?

And lance just coughs, a look of disgust on his face

“What?” Keef says. Lance plugs his nose.

“U stink, Keith.” And throughout potions class Lance keeps complaining that Keith smells really bad or something or he used too much cologne idk

Ofc like Pidge is in that class and shes snickering

Lance turns to her like “WHAT IS IT PIDGE”

She asks him if he knows what the potion is supposed to do

He’s just like “It makes people fall in love with u.”

“Yes but what else?” Both keith and Lance stare at her blankly. She explains that when u smell it you smell what u love most

Both keef and lances eyes widen

For the first time in forever they’re quite the entire period

Keith has a gay panic

Lance has a bi panic

they are disasters

Shiro confronts pidge after that day

“Pidge what did u do to keef and lonce they’re broken”

Pidge is all like, “Excuse me????”

“They’re being nice to each other.”

Hunk, who is also there, just snorts

“Pls explain this to me,” Shiro says, exasperated

Pidge explains the Amortentia scene

Shiro just laughs because of course they were in love with each other

(it lowkey reminds him of him and Adam)

(okay now i have theories that the reason why they made Adam shiro’s boyfriend is because its meant to mirror OTHER ships in voltron *cough* KLANCE and its foreshadowing or something i mean adam does look like lance and shiro and keith are sorta similar)

(shut up candy back to the AU)

Hunk admits that Lance has had a crush on keeth for like ever but he keeps saying its just a rivalry thing

Actual conversation between the two:

“And what’s up with his hair?? It’s like straight out of the 80′s and he has all the bangs over his eyes like an EMO like why is he trying to hide his eyes?” Lance blushes because he’s thinking about how beautiful Keefs eyes are. “Like why? Why is his hair like that i dont understand?? And what does he do to it why is it so soft???”

“You’ve touched his hair?”

“Yeah I was trying to see if I’m taller than him yet” Hunk was just confused but then Lance kept talking about keiths hair and he let it slip when it was like, almost 3am that keiths hair made him look pretty and lance would never be able to make that look good on himself, then immediately said something about the one time keef blew something up in first year because hes an idiot as a coverup

So hunk has known for some time

Even when lance didn’t know

So for the next couple weeks keith and lance act kinda weird around each other

because they don’t know how to handle feelings

they mostly avoid each other, standing on opposite ends of the room and glaring at each other

but of course that doesnt help them at all because for some reason they share a room

(oh my god they were roommates)

The rest of the boys in the room are angry because of all the sexual tension its giving them anxiety and they started sleeping in the commons

I actually have no idea who the other three boys would be because one of them couldnt be shiro because hes older and everyone else is in different houses so

At one point keith just blurts “Whats wrong with you?”

Lance gets all defensive because he takes it in a different way than Keith meant and thought Keith was saying he was flawed or something and he was broken and...

heres the langst

Lance just starts to get upset and is yelling saying nothing is wrong with him and he almost starts to cry because he’s just so confused and doesn’t know whats going on and he feels like hes not good enough for Gryffindor and

He has a lot of emotions

And he says all this, starting to ramble through tears, pouring all of his emotions out

Keef is shook

he doesn’t know what to do Lance never acted like this in front of him before and he’s never seen lance like this, so self conscious and doubting himself

Keith doesn’t know how lance could even think these things because in his eyes-- lance is perfect

Lance has always been so much better at magic than he was

and He’s so confident and such a good Keeper

He gingerly touches Lance’s shoulder.

“Lance I--” Keith doesn’t know what words to say, but apparently he doesn’t need to say any

Lance wraps his arms around him, burying his face in his shoulder, sniffling

Keith is surprised at first because u know keef

He doesn’t know how to react when someone hugs him

He gently hugs lance back, resting his head on Lances and running his fingers through his hair

Lance calms down, his breathing slowing and seeming more relaxed

when he does, keith tries his best to tell him how great he thinks lance is and how hes jealous and all that

Lance pulls away, rubbing his eyes.

“You mean it?” Keith nods solemnly, not looking at Lance. Lance touches his cheek, causing him to look back up, his brows knit together in confusion

Lance doesn’t know why, but he kisses him

(*klance fangirl in me starts screaming*)

and just??? the moment feels perfect to both of them? This was someone they always thought of as a rival, were always jealous of, and were always thinking about. They never truely understood their feelings for each other, until now

Shiro doesn’t comment when they walk into the dinning hall the next morning holding hands

But Pidge sure does

Okay im trying to think of more headcanons involving people other than Shiro, Keith, and Lance because i love all the characters and they deserve attention

Hunk makes friends with two other Hufflepuff girls

he he he yall know who it is

SHAY AND ROMELLE

MY GURLS

Shay and Romelle have been friends since they were first years and Shay yelled at Lotor for making fun of Romelle

they’ve been besties ever since

Hunk meets Shay and Romelle in Herbology because in like maybe 5th year or something Hufflepuff house was taught Herbology with the Slytherins. Every year before that it was either with Ravenclaw or Gryffindor so he would pair with Lance, Keith, Allura, or Shiro

Pidge was a year or two bellow him so they didn’t have classes together in case u were wondering

For the specific thing they needed a group of three and even though Hunk is a pretty nice guy and can make friends with everyone, everyone sorta had their trio

Because ofc he can find a PARTNER that was left out of their group of three, but suddenly they’re paired off in threes and there’s no sad loner who has no friends.

Shay and Romelle have an opening in their group

Hunk goes to work with them

They’re honestly the cinnamon roll squad and when Hunk introduces them to his friends Lance and Pidge immediately nickname them that

Hunk quickly falls in love with Shay

Like deeply in love

He’s always complimenting her and laughing at what she says

Romelle keeps trying to tell Shay that he likes her but Shay just goes “he’s just a nice person, Elle”

The Yule ball comes around ofc

and at this point Lance and Keith are dating

This is probably around.... Sixth year I want to say?

So here’s the line up

Keith and Lance go to the dance together

Shiro asks Adam in like this grand way and Adam is just like “wait we weren’t going together before??”

Matt doesn’t have a date but he invites Pidge because she threatened him (she wants to take pictures of Klance and Adashi acting cute and coupley to use as blackmail and Matt supports it)

Hunk starts freaking out because he really really really wants to ask Shay but he doesn’t know how

Lance gives him a pep talk, saying that she obviously likes him of course she’ll say yes

Hunk is still nervous

Lance is all like “C’mon asking your crush out isnt that bad if she says no she says no, but if she says yes then you get an awesome date.”

“Says the one who had a crush on his boyfriend since second year and covered it up as a rivalry.” Lance looks offended.

“You need to stop hanging out with Pidge.”

Lance decides to be Hunks wingman and starts asking Shay things like “You planning on going to the Yule Ball?” and “What do you think of Hunk?” He sees that she is very much interested and repots this to Hunk

He helps Hunk come up with a way to ask her

And its like the sweetest thing Romelle is in on it and she gives some stupid excuse as to why she cant study for herbology with them

then her and lance hide behind a bookshelf, giggling

Hunk gets super flustered

But he manages to ask her

Shay also gets really flustered

But says yes

oof okay thats three of my big ships canon now for the fourth.

When Hunk first introduces Allura to Romelle, her first thought is “Her. I want to date Her.”

Now Lance and Allura have already come out to each other as bi disasters

It actually happened when Lance got with Keith and they were talking about him, doing facials (they take care of their skin with each other fite me)

And Lance is just like “Yeah so I guess I like guys and girls” and allura is like “YOU CAN DO THAT” and lance is like “yeah????” and hes not sure if shes being biphobic or what and hes scared for like 0.1 second

and then allura just goes “Oh my god lonce i think i like guys and girls too”

And then they just start laughing

I guess I should also mention that they dated at one point too???

I don’t think it would’ve been super long, but probably around 3rd year they dated and thats actually probably how Allura got introduced to the Squad??

Lance first saw her when he finally joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team

He got picked to be a Keeper the second year

So their first game is against ravenclaw

And he’s pretty good for the most part

And then all of a sudden he sees allura flying towards him and she looks so beautiful and how can she be so beautiful and--

She just scored a goal

and he was staring dumbly at her

So Lance and Allura’s relationship kind of developed like it did in the show with Lance flirting with her and Allura being annoyed to them becoming friends and eventually mutual crush

Allura’s actually the one to ask Lance out

They date for a while and theyre actually a really cute couple

(I may be a hardcore Klancer but I do find Allurlance cute on the occasion)

But after a bit... it kinda fades away?? I don’t know they just start to feel like when they kiss its not... not how they thought it would be??

They slowly start to realize that they kinda just want to be friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend

It just adds stress that they don’t want and they want to be able to tell each other anything without having to worry about stuff

so they break up soon after they start dating

sadly

but they dont?? feel too broken up about it???

The feeling was mutual

Plus they like each other much more as friends than romantic partners

They’re like the ultumate brotp

Now they give each other facials every thursday

anyways

so allura finds out that she has a crush on Romelle

and who does she go to?

Ofc its lance hes a successful bi with a boyfriend

So he pretty much teaches her how to flirt

like seriously he teaches her how to flirt

And Allura makes it her duty to flirt with Romelle at every possibly oppertunity

Making Romelle freak out because how is she supposed to read this does she want to date Allura or????

They don’t really go any further for a while, its just allura slipping in little things every now and again or blowing kisses at romelle in the stands as she scores a goal

When the Yule ball rolls around, both Allura and Romelle dont have dates (Lotor asked Allura to the dance because they kissed one time in a game of spin the bottle and she responded with judoflipping him)

But they have fun

Everyone has fun actually

Its amazing and fluffy

(i feel like i should write a snapshot of this so i can finally write a fic that isnt centered around klance)

And a slow song comes on

Hunk and Shay awkwardly dance with each other, blushing brightly

Lance and Keith have their heads pressed together, Lance kissing Keith’s nose as they dance and making keith so flustered he stumbles and they both fall to the floor laughing

Adam and Shiro are that couple everyone is jealous of because theyre so perfect?? Like they have matching outfits and they dance gracefully and they kiss at just the right moments??

Pidge and Matt are god knows where probably videotaping the whole thing

And Allura kinda jokingly goes, “Well I guess then we should dance too.” And Romelle surprises her by taking her hand, pulling her onto the dancefloor

and freaking allura is actually really flustered and she’s blushing, having a hard time looking at Romelle

(romelle is having a hard time looking at her to fsajndvjhaio)

They’re both blushing.

At the end of the song theyre much closer to each other than they started

They look up at each other

And then Romelle squeezes her eyes tight and kisses allura

It barely lasts for a second

Allura is shook

Romelle is in Lesbian Painc

Allura is in Bi Panic

Nobody seems to have noticed

but both girls are dying

And then allura just timidly asks, “Can you-- can you do that again?”

Pidge walks up to them kissing and just goes, “Oh thank god I thought I was going to have to force you two to kiss”

Because pidge oversees everything and knows everyones crushes that theyre too stupid to see

I feel bad for pidge i don’t really know what big moments she should have???

I feel like shes a trouble maker though

Not like cruel pranks or something

But she likes to play jokes on people

A lot of the times that person is Lance

A lot of the time Keith is in on it

I also feel like eventually Allura and Romelle start to join her??

She recruits them for some big thing

Idk what

Its probably like a surprise for either Klance’s anniversary or Adashi’s

And they love this way of life

Romelle betrays the cinnamon roll squad and goes to the dark side

Also a little more about pidge

She was almost a Hat Stall

Her two houses were Slytherin and Ravenclaw

But at like 4 min and 43 seconds the hat announced slytherin

her family is actually a mix of slytherins and ravenclaws

her dad and brother are ravenclaws

her mom is slytherin

OH AND BEFORE I LEAVE

Lances rivalry with Keith started because Keith bought the last of the candy he wanted on the train

And during like 7th year when they’re cuddling or something and Keith is like “why did u start this rivalry” and lance says it’s because he took the candy and Keith is SHOOK and goes “I would have shared if u asked”

and yeah i may add but heres most of the headcanons i came up with

#voltron #klance #adashi #hunay #romellura #allumelle #what is their ship name???#pidge gunderson #hogwarts au #takashi shirogane #adam #lance mcclain #keith kogane #hunk garrett #shay #harry potter

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livinoon · 5 years

Text

pairing: keith/lance

Instead of working on my own story, I wrote this instead because klance is nice. This sorta takes place after the season 2 finale i think?

We Make a Good Team

Shiro had vanished without a trace. Voltron’s last big fight with Zarkon was victorious, but the team was left without a leader. Weeks and months went by. The castle of lions seemed much quieter after that.

Lance knocked softly on Keith’s door. He heard Keith’s footsteps. Lance shifted back a step. His shoulders tensed, but he took a deep breath to steel himself.

Keith opened the door. His face was knotted in irritation, but when he saw Lance who was suddenly looking down at the floor, Keith raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Keith cleared his throat. “What is it?” he asked softly.

Lance lifted his gaze and tried to read Keith’s guarded face. Then Lance sighed. No point in beating around the bush. “Are you…are you okay?” he asked outright.

“I’m fine, Lance,” Keith grumbled. He clutched the door, which was partly closed.

Lance shifted his weight, not wanting to leave. He knew Keith would be dodgy. He just didn’t know why it made him so nervous.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to be okay all the time you know,” Lance said. “Shiro’s missing. He’s our leader. It’s scary not knowing where he is or if he’s okay. I mean I’m definitely scared,” Lance continued. “I just - I mean I just wanna be here for you...you know…if you wanted to talk about it, but y-you don’t have to.” Lance pulled back.

Lance looked back at the ground, realizing he was talking too much now. Keith probably didn’t want a lecture about feelings. Keith was probably trying to avoid this type of conversation specifically.

“Look, I’ll just go. You can forget I said anything,” Lance murmured. He could practically feel Keith’s eyes burning holes in his forehead.

Lance turned to leave, and Keith took his hand.

“Wait, Lance,” Keith said, quickly letting go of his hand. “You don’t have to go.” Then he sighed and pulled his hand through his hair. “I am really worried about Shiro, actually,” he said after a long pause.

Lance blinked in surprise. He didn’t expect this out of Keith. What the heck should he say? He wasn’t prepared for this.

Keith’s shoulders tensed as Shiro’s name lingered in the air. He looked away and just sighed again.

Then Keith inhaled sharply. “It’s just really hard not being able to do anything. No leads. No trace of him anywhere. I’m just angry and...scared too, I guess... And I feel bad for not being around much for the team,” he said. His tone had lowered to almost a whisper.

Just hearing Keith say this much made Lance feel relieved somehow. He wished he hadn’t resented Keith for avoiding the team. His chest suddenly ached. Keith was thinking about them after all, Lance realized. Man, he felt like such a jerk.

“It’s okay, Keith,” Lance said. “Everyone already understands. We were just worried.”

Keith’s shoulders relaxed. “Thanks,” he said with a small smile.

Lance was really not expecting that. His smile. Lance’s cheeks suddenly felt hot. He scratched the back of his neck nervously.

“So, uh,” Lance began, trying to think of something, “Do you wanna take a walk?”

He knew it was a long shot, but…

“Sure, that’d be good,” Keith said. He shut his door and walked with Lance down the hall.

They wandered some of the castle’s many hallways. They went to the second floor since no one else was up there. It was quiet except for the low humming of the castle’s energy. The windows to the outside stretched wide and put billions of blue stars on display. The hallway glowed blue from all of them.

Lance calmed down a little bit. He looked over to Keith who stared straight ahead. Keith had left his jacket behind and was wearing the usual black t-shirt and utility belt. It made him look so serious compared to Lance’s light blue hoodie. He caught himself looking at Keith’s arms a little too long. Lance didn’t understand why but he struggled to think of something - anything else to say.

“Pidge and I finally got that video game working, by the way,” Lance blurted out.

“The one you got from the space mall?” Keith raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Lance said with a chuckle. “It took us forever.”

Keith rolled his eyes playfully. “Is it good?” he asked.

Keith’s gentle expression made Lance’s stomach do a flip.

“Nope!” Lance replied with a bright and cheerful grin. “It sucks!”

Keith laughed and shook his head. His hair got in his eyes.

Lance smiled at him and felt some sort of wistfulness. He got lost in thought and didn’t realize he continued to smile until Keith looked away shyly and cleared his throat.

“So, uh, did you play a lot of video games back on Earth?” Keith asked.

Lance stuffed his hands into his hoodie. “Until I got into the Garrison, yeah.”

“Yeah,” Keith echoed.

“Man, it’s so weird to say ‘back on Earth’ isn’t it? We’ve been gone so long now,” Lance vocalized in reflection. “So many people are probably still wondering if we’re even okay.”

Keith’s smile faded as he thought about it. Home was so far away. Was it even home for him anymore? And no one was worrying about him, he knew that. Shiro was most likely the only one who would, but was he even a-

“What is it?” Lance asked, but he then realized what Keith was probably thinking.

“Nothing,” Keith said flatly. Then he exhaled sharply and looked away.

Lance felt a heavy wave of guilt. He said the wrong thing.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Lance trailed off. He couldn’t figure out how to say what he wanted to say. The words tangled themselves up in his head.

Then Lance stopped. He realized that Keith was beginning to cry. His hair partly covered his face, but Lance could see huge tears welling up in Keith’s eyes, and he stood as stiff as a board, fists clenched at his sides.

Lance’s worried face softened a bit.

“Hey,” Lance said quietly. “It’s okay. You can cry. It’s a lot to handle.”

Hearing him say that made Keith break down. A huge sob shook Keith’s chest. He began to cry and he felt like a little kid, and he couldn’t stop. He felt like an absolute mess. But Lance came over to him and hugged him close. It made him cry harder.

Keith just felt so powerless about everything. He wished he knew what to do. He wished that they were stronger in that final fight against him. They weren’t good enough. He wasn’t good enough. There must have been something he could have done to prevent it. He felt so guilty for losing him. But then again, the rest of the team probably did too. He wasn’t alone.

Lance held him tightly not saying anything, and Keith didn’t try to pull away. Keith relaxed and focused on the stars behind them. Lance closed his eyes and rested his face on Keith’s head.

A small spark in Lance’s chest lit up. Everything suddenly made sense in this moment with Keith, and at the same time, nothing made sense. All the same, the feeling bubbled up like a hot, fizzy feeling. He loved how it felt. He felt so happy and so relieved. It was overwhelmingly warm.

They stood together for a long time. Keith realized he had been holding back so much, and just hearing Lance tell him that it was okay somehow struck a chord and released all the pressure. It felt like a river finally able to flow freely. He could breathe easier. He stepped away from Lance, wiping his eyes and sniffling.

“Are you alright, buddy?” Lance checked.

“Yeah,” Keith whispered, looking down at his shoes all embarrassed.

The spark in Lance’s chest was a blazing fire now. That overwhelming feeling took over. It bubbled up inside.

“Good, cuz, we’re still a team, right?” Lance’s voice caught in his throat. Before he knew it, his eyes began to prick with tears. Lance rushed to wipe them away, but the tears came on stronger. He cursed to himself and covered his face with his sleeves. This was not what he wanted at all. He was supposed to be supportive.

Keith looked up and saw. “Oh, don’t you cry!” he said surprised.

“I’m not!” Lance shouted in objection, but he was struggling to stay composed. More and more tears streamed down his face, but he tried to laugh it off. “Space allergies, am I right?”

“You’re something else, Lance,” Keith said, unable to hide a smile. Then he looked away, his eyes darting to the side. He held his arms out. “Here,” he said sternly.

“I’m totally fine!” Lance affirmed with a cracked voice. It was unconvincing.

Without a second thought, Keith pulled Lance into his arms albeit rather awkwardly.

“Don’t be like that,” Keith said. “You can’t put up with my breakdown but not let yourself cry. That’s not really that fair,” he murmured.

“Well, yeah, but still,” Lance blubbered. “I don’t wanna make things weird.”

“Lance, if you weren’t making things weird, I’d be worried,” Keith said.

Lance laughed into Keith’s shoulder. He softened in Keith’s embrace. He felt relieved, silly, but relieved. At least Keith understood. Keith accepted things as they were. Lance was really grateful for that.

“Thanks,” Lance said after a moment. He rested his chin on Keith’s shoulder and fiddled with his hoodie sleeves behind Keith’s back. His words were tangled up again. There was so much more to say...or maybe there wasn’t. Lance just held onto the feeling that was making his chest feel hot and fizzy.

They both stepped away to face each other again. Keith crossed his arms and rested his weight on one foot.

“What upset you?” Keith asked. His unwavering eyes met Lance’s eyes.

Lance messed with the ends of his sleeves even more. “Uhh…” was all he could manage. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling.

“You can tell me,” Keith added. “It’s okay...is it Shiro?”

Shiro was part of it, but that wasn’t the reason Lance felt that huge flare in his chest. He didn’t cry because he was sad or upset. It was something else. It was sweeter.

Lance didn’t know what to do with his hands. He decided on clasping them behind his head, trying to appear as nonchalant as was possible in this situation. He closed his eyes.

“I dunno, man. I just... I’m just relieved. I’m glad you let it all out. I was worried about you,” Lance said carefully. He opened one eye to see how Keith took it.

Keith cracked a small smile. “You were worried about me?”

His eyes. Lance couldn’t look away.

“Yeah,” Lance confessed. He could feel his cheeks getting hot again.

Keith stepped forward and in one swift motion, before Lance could even realize what was happening, Keith was gently pulling his waist forward and kissing him. Lance’s arms fell down around Keith’s neck.

“What was that?!” Lance cried without thinking, blushing harder than he thought was possible. His heart pounded and wanted to break free. He was frozen in place. He looked at Keith and saw that he was blushing too. Keith’s face was bright red, but he was smiling.

Lance found the words.

“Oh my god, I’m in love with you!” Lance blurted out. The words consumed him like fire.

Keith stood tall, his dark eyes studying Lance for a second. His shoulders shook with laughter. He laughed with his whole body like a huge weight had been lifted. He smiled so warmly it was hard for Lance not to melt to the floor.

“I can’t believe it took me so long to...to kiss you,” Keith gasped. He sighed with relief. He kept smiling. That smile.

“Lance,” Keith said, “I…”

“What? You couldn’t resist all this?” Lance said in attempt to regain his cool. He gestured at his whole body but his long hoodie sleeves flopped around ridiculously.

Keith laughed again. “You dork,” he said as he nudged Lance’s chest playfully. His hand lingered there.

“I love you, Lance,” Keith said sincerely.

Keith’s eyes showed his sincerity. Lance smiled brightly. He couldn’t help smiling so wide. He knew deep down now that things were going to be just fine. He threw his arms around Keith’s neck one more time.

“We make a good team,” Lance said.

Keith chuckled at that. He pulled Lance closer.

#klance fanfic #klance #aaaaaaaaaaaaa #just let me be a nerd about them please #my writing #keith/lance

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maplecatra · 6 years

Text

Racing Raindrops

Hey y’all! I just wanna say that I’m so happy to have been in this fandom as long as I have. It’s been a wild ride and I’ve loved every second of it. I love how the langst community was able to bring people together and how different ships are generally tolerated (shhhh). It’s nice being in such a supportive and loving family and I’m glad I get to be here. I love all of y’all so much. Without further ado, the Fic. Happy Birthday Lance!!!!

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2,142 words, no trigger warnings, Klance and Langst

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Lance watched as the rain slowly slid down the windshield. It was a warm day on the planet, and though gloomy Lance found something peculiarly beautiful in it. He would have been outside but they weren’t allowed to leave, seeing as the atmosphere was dangerous to humans. Lance didn’t care anymore.

He wanted to be out in the rain on Earth, listening to the clamor inside the house as his family got ready for dinner. He could almost smell the garlic wafting out of the windows as he sat on the porch in the chilly air, his brown fluffy hair getting soaked. He could almost hear his mother calling him back inside with the warning that he would get a cold. He could almost taste the garlic bread and fettuccine as he ate as quickly as he could, eager to be outside with the stars. He could almost feel the weight of the flashlight in his hand and backpack on his back as he snuck out to meet up with his friends in the middle of the beach, coming back smelling of smoke from the bonfire and a dopey grin on his face.

He felt tears well up in his eyes. He was there again. He was in his old family home. And then something in him broke. He couldn’t cry here, not in plain sight of the other paladins. Not when they were only a lion away, some still in the motel. All of them had their comms on just in case and he could hear their calm breathing. He couldn’t cry, not now, not now not-

And then a huge sob ripped through him. He couldn’t handle this anymore. He couldn’t be strong anymore. He tore his helmet off and threw it to the side then curled up in reds seat, grabbing his hair and practically tearing it out. He needed to be home.

He needed home.

He needed the garlic bread that his family made from scratch. He needed the bonfires that would last all night and stain his clothes with the smell of smoke and make his eyes itch. He needed the beach, her calm waves as he broke down and told her everything that hurt his heart and the waves that listened. He needed the rain.

The rain and the waves were his friends, the sky and the stars were amazing, breathtaking even, but the beach was his home. The beach was the one who held him in her warm and salty embrace. He knew the sea, knew how to tell a rip current from the regular waves. He could remember clearly the smell of the sea foam and the sound of the waves breaking against the shore.

He needed the gentle sunrise brushing against his eyelids, encouraging him to get up and face the day. Here in space he was woken up by alarms. Here in space he didn’t feel like getting up at all. Here in space he wasn’t welcome. Here in space he hid behind his mask because no one wanted to see the broken person who was there.

He had been shaped by veradero and the warm current lapping against his ankles. He was a piece of sea glass, shaped by the gentle push and pull of the currents into something that is unique in itself. But traveling to space brought something else out. A sort of sharp edge.

He heard someone sobbing, probably himself. He didn’t care anymore. All he wanted, no, needed, was the sand. SometHing in his gut was pulling him back to Earth, making his stomach twist and come out his throat. The universe was too much for him right now. His friendships were slipping away like sand in an hourglass, everyone around him not trying to put in emotional effort or commitment.

He kept pushing people away accidentally, but he couldn’t help it. He wasn’t used to these feelings of general unease and these self esteem issues since he never had them back on Earth. He was always “cool guy Lance,” the one you got in touch with if you wanted to go night swimming and still be safe. So he kept up that appearance because he was used to it. It would be weird to shift from someone fun loving and happy go lucky to depression and anxiety riddled, right? He couldn’t just switch, it would be weird.

It wouldn’t just be that, it would be selfish to drag other people into his problems. For now he cried. He could hear his soft sobs mixed with the gentle pattern of rain against the windshield. At one point or another he had started talking to himself, something he had learned in 4 grade from his brother who struggled with social anxiety.

He knew most of the thoughts he was having were selfish. Everyone wanted to see their family again and some of them didn’t even have family to go back too. That was part of the reason why he never went to anyone, he was so scared of what might happen. He was always scared it seemed. These days the day mixed with night as his eyes never stayed shut for a long enough time to sleep. His skincare routine was the only thing that kept him rooted, that and the collection of “prizes” in the back kitchen of red.

The rest of the paladins didn’t really consider the gifts that the alien children make for them as prizes. Hell, most of them don’t even take the time to connect with the locals. Lance did. Every planet they went to he shook hands with every alien that wanted to meet him. He signed thing for all of them. Keith was one of the only other ones to do this. He collected souvenirs from all the planets. But the thing Lance loved the most were the kids. They would give him scribbled letters saying things like “you’re my hero” and “thank you so much” in scribbled languages that Lance had taken the time to learn at least some of, using the lions translators.

And his thoughts drifted back to something a kid had said on the last planet they had freed. The kid had said, with a bright smile on his face and some sort of green teddy bear clutched in one of his right arms “Thank you for letting me be who I am! All the kids used to make fun of me because of my darker skin but now that your a hero they don’t make fun of me anymore!”

Those were the moments he lived for. Another sob tore through him and made him cough with its intensity. He was sobbing grossly by the time his thoughts brought him back to where he was. He was still quietly crying to himself but he started to find a sort of peace in the windows outside. Red had dragged his gaze there and made him stare at the rain. Most likely Red was trying to help by giving him comfort but it made him cry a little harder as he remembered a game he used to play with his family. Racing Raindrops, for when he was stuck inside with his cousin and they had nothing better to do, so they raced raindrops.

Then suddenly, his lap got a lot heavier. A half galra and his space wolf was teleported straight into Lances lap, surprising him. Keith stumbled through his words before finally settling onto some that seemed good enough.

“I never knew you felt like that,” Keith said, surprised.

Lance turned away and tried to quickly wipe away his tears, frustrated.

“I heard you over the comms when Lucy woke me up. I’m sorry Lance,” said the boy currently on Lance’s lap. Lances face was still turned away when he heard a dull thump. He looked down to see Keith, who had slidden off the chair. For the first time in a while Lance actually smiled and laughed. And Keith looked so enchanted by that sound, like he wanted to keep it in a bottle. But the laughing soon returned to light cries again and all Keith could do was struggle up and pat the others back awkwardly. Red switched another seat to the front, a couch. They fell asleep snuggling on the couch after spilling every last detail with eachother. In the morning it was still raining, and to boggy to go anywhere so they talked again. They talked about life and about what encouraged them to go to space. They talked about the stars, not up close, but the stars back on Earth. Lance talked and talked and talked about Veradero.

“Must be a beautiful place.” Keith said wistfully “I’d love to go.”

And Lance turned to him with a wide grin and said back “You totally can! I’d love for you to stay with me.” And so they talked again. About expectations and life, of extra miles and video games they used to play to pass the time. Then, Lance looked out the window longingly.

“Hey, do you wanna race raindrops?” Lance said, in the most innocent voice Keith had heard.

“Sure, why not” he replied.

And that’s what led them up to next, hands folded together, faces flushed red as Lance leaned in for another peck on the cheek. They had been racing the small droplets sliding down the glass and Keith had been winning. Without thinking Lance had pressed a kiss to Keith’s cheek in order to distract him. And he didn’t lose his drop thanks to Red. Lance won by default, but his giggle was so cute that Keith forgave him. They talked and kissed the second night, held in eachothers’ arms. All of them left for Earth the next night. It was a long journey and almost over. They went to Cuba first, seeing as it was the closest and they wouldn’t get to spend time with their families after they met up with the Garrison. Lance jumped out of Red as the lion purred him along.

His mom screamed when she first saw him. Then started breaking down and hugging him as hard as he could. His dad was a delayed reaction. He called to mama asking her who was in the yard. Then recognition dawned on him as he took in Lance, the jacket that used to be his. Veronica was next. Practically sprinting outside with a baseball in her hand, she was ready to throw down with whoever made her mom scream. She saw Lance and tackled him immediately. The rest of the family all came around and various reactions were displayed.

The rest of the paladins looked on awkwardly but with smiles on their faces. Then, Lance ushered them forward. He introduced each and every one of them. When Lance forced Keith forward by poking at his back he explained to everyone that Keith was his boyfriend Keith felt a shiver go down his spine. And Lances entire family hugged them all tight and told them to stay for dinner. So they did. Hunk helped Lance’s mom out with cooking and Shiro played with the younger kids. Veronica and Allura were talking together while blushing and Lance was definitely gonna set them up later. And Lance turned back to his partner as he finished setting the table and kissed him quickly, flustering Keith.

After dinner it was a peaceful night. Lance had voted to meet his other friends the next day and then leave the third. He stepped outside and took a deep breath of the calm night air. He looked up at the stars, the ones he so frequently stared up at when he was younger. He felt Keith sit on the porch next to him.

“Do you regret it?” asked Keith

“What do you mean?” Lance responded

“I mean going into space. You have a family here that love you and if you had stayed you might have been able to spend more time with them. It’s hard isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s definitely hard. It makes it all worth it when I meet the fans though. The kids always look up to me and that pushes me to work harder and to be the best. C’mon, let me show you something.” And with that Lance grabbed his boyfriend by the hand and dragged him over to the beach. It was beautiful in the day, but breathtaking at night. As Keith slowly took it in, the stars reflecting onto the waves, Lance rushed ahead and splashed in the water. Keith joined him a moment later, smiling. Lance was grinning like an idiot when he splashed Keith. They had a small water fight, splashing around in knee high water getting their pants soaked. They giggled and pressed their foreheads together.

“Do you regret it?”

“Not a second”

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kurara-black-blog · 5 years

Text

Terror Of The Ancient Noah Mask

Date: 02/12/18

Words: 2048 *snorts*

Warnings: Klance, Inuyasha AU, Crappy.

Tag: @moonsworllld ; @xarphay ; @skydisneylover ; @mutantgurls ; @spooky-the-owl

A/N: I love Inuyasha, I love Voltron. I love Lance. his is not very good, but I really wanted to write it~

This is episode 11 of the anime!

With his bicycle ready to go, Lance carefully looked around him, trying to spot any red in the middle of the green forest. He was alone, thankfully, no signs of the hothead nearby. With a short relieved sigh, he started pedaling with everything he had, which was a lot, mind you, in direction of the well.

Sadly, Lance didn’t have much luck.

“Wait a second, idiot!”

Lance was able to stop before he rolled over the boy, although a part of him told him he should have just rolled over that annoying dog. Said dog was standing there, looking like the angry bastard he was, violet eyes flashing with a temper.

“You’re going back to that weird world?! Are you trying to run away?! We have shit to do!”

“Oh, out of my way, mullet dog! I have exams to take and I can’t afford to miss them!”

The fact was that Lance had to keep his grades up if he wanted his Exchange Program to go on without any difficulties. He was already risking a lot by not attending class for so long, and maybe Mr. Shirogane was destroying his reputation with all the weird diseases he used as an excuse. Because life couldn’t be hard only in Feudal Era, no, it had to be hard in his world too.

“Well, fuck that! I’ll destroy this so you can’t run away anymore!” Keith—the half-dog—grabbed a large rock, ready to destroy the wooden well. Lance didn’t hesitate.

“Keith, sit!”

Keith stubbornness was no match for Lance’s consecutive commands of “sit”, the boy falling face first on the floor, the rock falling on top of him. He groaned, cursing Lance in between his groans of pain.

“Who said I’m running away, dog?! I’ll be back in three days! Stay here!”

With that, Lance was gone inside the well.

“Why didn’t you bring the dog man with you?”

“No way, that mullet head is impossible to deal with! It was a bother to even come here without him stopping me!” Shoving the last bit of food in his mouth, Lance huffed, “Talking about coming back, Mr. Shirogane, I am glad you worry so much, but can you not throw sake in my head next time?”

The old man only laughed heartily, petting the family cat, Black. Lance smiled softly, it was hard to be angry with the man. He reminded Lance of his own grandpa, all wise eyes and cheekily knowing smiles. Finishing his meal, Lance thanked Mrs. Shirogane, Mr. Shirogane’s daughter, for the food, messed Tsuna’s hair, Mrs. Shirogane’s son, washed his dishes and went to his room to put on his uniform.

It would be a long day at school.

At least his hair didn’t smell like sake anymore.

After a very embarrassing conversation with his friends about his really bad health, and an even more embarrassing encounter with who could be the cutest boy in school about his very poor health, Lance could say with absolute certainty he was done.

“You’re dating Inai?!”

“No.”

“I think he likes you!”

“I know, Taira.”

“Well? Don’t you want to date him?”

“I’m not really interested in dating right now.” It was a complete lie, of course. It is not that Lance didn’t want to date, it is because how could he explain to his boyfriend or girlfriend the reason they couldn’t go out in the next month it’s because he has to go back in time to collect pieces of a super powerful glass ball?

Yeah. No.

Ushijima Amari, Akagawa Taira and Yuhara Natsumi were three kind and funny girls that were glued at the hip even before Lance came in the picture. They had promptly welcomed Lance in their group, and he was forever grateful. He hated feeling like a fish outside water.

Staring at the honestly horrendous slippers Inai Hachiro gave him, Lance wondered if the boy was somehow related to Mr. Shirogane, remembering the old man’s weird medicines and whatnots.

“Could it be… that you are already dating someone?”

“No, no, no! Nope. Not dating. Single as they come.”

“Then, then! What’s your type?”

Lance sighed, knowing they wouldn’t shut up unless he gave them something to satiate their hunger for gossip. He loved the girls, but they could be pretty annoying when they wanted. Not as annoying as Keith, but almost.

“Someone who’s not violent or selfish… Also, someone accepting and affectionate.”

The complete opposite of Keith, go figure.

While Romelle prepared some herbal medicine for a sick villager, Keith grunted. Hot pain pierced his spine every time he tried to get up. That rock really did a number on him.

“Keith, stop laying around and go find information of the Jewel fragments.”

“Shut up, you old witch! Go eat some grass!”

Keith swore that day, laying on the floor of the old priestess’ house, that he would punch Lance in the face as soon as that boy came back from his world.

“Can I sleep here today?” Tsuna asked, interrupting Lance’s studies.

“Of course, if you don’t mind the lights being on.”

That day could, at the very least, be called weird. A sudden fire in one of the deposits, Mr. Shirogane getting hurt and being found passed out with sacred seals all over his face and even inside his mouth, then suddenly one of the firemen trucks taking off like a madman was driving it. As if it wasn’t enough, Mr. Shirogane had recovered the conscience for enough time to mutter some random words about the Meat Mask and how no one should touch it.

Lance surely didn’t blame the boy for not wanting to be alone.

“Something weird is happening, I think. Grandpa wouldn’t do something so weird.”

The older boy opened his mouth to agree, but the sudden noise made him change his plans. Grabbing the flask were he kept the Jewel fragments—it was an instinct to immediately search for them when something happened—, Lance threw himself on Tsuna, protecting him from pieces of what once was a wall.

The basket of a firetruck was struck inside his room, and from it came out something. A creature made of melted blackness, with no defined form. It seemed to leak away and yet gravitate towards its center, that center being a white mask in the middle of the blackness. Painted eyes stared at Lance, carved smile sending shivers down the boy’s spine. The creature’s voice came, smooth and monotone.

“The Jewel… give me… the Jewel…”

“A demon! In this time?” Lance thought, eyes widening, “Must be the jewel’s presence!” As soon as he reached that conclusion, the boy lifted Tsuna in his arms and ran. He had to get out of that house. He had to get Keith. He had no means to fight at the moment, dressed in his cotton pajamas and comfy slippers. He should’ve brought his bow.

He would do that if he survived to see a next time.

Lance did not stop running when the monster attacked, dogging to the best of his abilities. He was glad Mrs. Shirogane was visiting her father in the hospital, he really didn’t want to think what would’ve happened if she was. Stopping for a moment, he put Tsuna down. His bleeding hand-when had he cut himself?—left a trail of blood on the boy’s shirt, but they didn’t have time to worry about it.

“Tsuna, I need you go to the well and get Keith.”

“And you?”

“I’ll distract it until Keith gets here. Please, Tsuna! Go get Keith!”

With that, Lance started to run in another direction, attracting the monster’s attention to him. All he could do was to hope for Keith to come quickly.

If anyone asked, Keith was not anxiously expecting Lance’s return while staring intently at the bottom of the well. He was not.

“How about of going after her instead of staring at the end of the well?”

“Shut up, stupid fox, isn’t it time for you to go to bed?”

“I’m just saying, you should go after her, you know, actually be productive?”

“Pidge, you have five seconds before I kick you back to where you came from.”

The damn fox just smirked, amused by the dog’s temper. Keith opened his mouth to growl out some insult when his nose picked up a familiar smell and his head snapped to look back at the bottom of the well. Pidge looked at him puzzled.

“I can smell… Lance’s blood.” Pidge widened her eyes, staring at what to her was just a normal well. Keith didn’t waste time, preparing to jump inside, “Pidge, go back to Granny Romelle, I’ll go find Lance,” Without giving her time to answer, he jumped.

“… That idiot is so in love with Lance.”

If anyone asked, Keith would admit being a bit surprised at finding the boy that Lance lived with crying while trying to open a hole in the well’s floor. Not sure how to deal with kids, Keith smiled cockily, hoping his show of self-confidence would somehow calm the boy down.

“What’s the matter? You seem troubled.”

In a few minutes, he was jumping from rooftop to rooftop, the boy on his back. He could smell Lance’s blood clear as day, even with the overall weird smell that world had. The hanyo disliked the smell a lot, Lance’s smell wasn’t made to be tarnished with blood, his own or otherwise. Keith could feel a growl trying to rip through his throat, whatever made that boy bleed would bleed twice as much.

He almost sighed in relief when he saw the boy alive and relatively well.

“Sankon Tessō!”

With his claws he opened the way by slaying the strange glob monster in half. Getting near Lance, he let Tsuna get down, who immediately hugged the blue-eyed boy.

If anyone asked, Keith was not glad the boy was ok.

“Don’t worry, Tsuna,” Lance said, trying to make the boy stop crying, “Keith will help us now.”

“Dunno about that.”

“What do you mean, mullet?” Lance soft gaze rapidly turned into a glare.

“I may help if you apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot!” Keith pointed accusingly at him. “You almost destroyed my back with your sit command and now you’re asking for help as if nothing happened?!”

“Oh, that! Well, I’m sorry.”

“You aren’t being sincere!”

“Just help us already, mullet dog! That thing has a fragment and I can’t fight right now, so stop whining like a kicked puppy and fight!”

“Who are you calling a kicked puppy, stupid boy?!”

Their fight was cut short when the monster’s body came together again. Lance informed Keith about the mask being the center of the creature, the half-demon taking out his sword, ready to fight despite his last fight with the Cuban. It’s not like Keith was actually planning to leave the humans to fight the demon alone. The mask did had a fragment of Jewel.

“I am the Meat Mask… centuries ago, I was carved from the tree trunk that received a fragment of the Jewel… I have been devouring people since then… I want a body… a body that won’t deteriorate quickly…”

Lance shuddered, muttering about creepy masks and stupid glass balls. Keith let a growl finally get out at seeing the boy’s fear.

“I don’t know how many people you’ve devoured until now, but you’re way too fat!”

To think all it took was a swing of the Tessaiga to end it all. The mask was gone in a flash of light, the fragment falling in front of them. Lance was quick to grab it and put in the flask with the rest of the fragments.

“Hey.” Lance turned to look at him, bluest blue eyes soft and thankful, “You okay?”

“Thank you, Keith.”

“Tch, whatever.”

If anyone asked, that was not a blush on Keith’s cheeks.

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

“Hm?”

“Take us home? I have exams to take and Tsuna has to go to school too.”

“What am I?! Your horse?!”

“Oh, c’mon, mullet dog! Just take us home before I get late!”

“No!”

“Keith!”

Tsuna could only watch as Keith begrudgingly let Lance hop on his back, the two still bickering.

“Tsuna, come on!”

“I’m coming!”

#voltron #inuyasha #inuyasha au #clara writes #voltron lance #vld lance #vld pidge #vld keith #original character #klance

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jenanigans1207 · 6 years

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Til the Universe Do Us Part [2] |Klance|

Summary: Allura was always saying it was important to learn the cultures of the planets they were visiting. Lance never really cared. That is, until his actions were seen as an unintentional marriage proposal to Keith. And Keith’s actions were seen as an acceptance. Suddenly they were married by the King and their marriage was, well… legit.

On that planet anyways.

Lance tried to reassure himself with the fact that the marriage couldn’t be upheld anywhere else in the universe. But word travels fast and suddenly the fact that the Leader of Voltron and his right-hand man were married had been whispered in every corner of the universe. And everyone else seemed happy about it. Thrilled, actually.

As more people were willing to join the coalition because of this, Lance realized it wouldn’t be as easy to get out of as he expected. And that he would actually have to treat Keith like his… husband.

Oh, quiznak.

Find it on Ao3

Chapter 1

---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.---.

At some point, Keith had fallen back asleep. It was a reprieve from the pounding in his head and he had nothing else to do. When he woke up again, Lance was awake and looking at him. There were no lights on in the room, so it was only illuminated by the rays of the sunrise streaming through the blinds that covered the window. It made the world seem soft and hazy, as if Keith were viewing it through some sort of veil.

Lance's mouth was twisted down into a frown as he surveyed Keith. Keith felt strangely vulnerable as he sat there silently, waiting for Lance to say something.

Finally, he spoke. “What happened?”

Keith wasn't sure what he had been expecting. That was the first thing he wondered when he woke up. Still, he felt a little deflated. “You saved my life.”

The frown found its way back to Lance's mouth and Keith found himself mirroring it. “I obviously didn't do a great job, you're all bandaged up in the hospital.”

He raised a hand up to touch the bandage that was around his head. The pressure of it was slightly comforting against the pounding in his temples. He smiled wryly. “Have you seen yourself? You're definitely in worse shape.”

Lance looked down at himself and the bandages that were circling his torso. “The others?”

“I don't know,” Keith admitted. “But Shiro was in here earlier and didn't say anything, so I'm sure they're fine.”

“Shiro was here?”

“Yeah, along with one of the Ansognians. He looked important and Shiro kept calling him ‘your highness’.”

A smile spread quickly across Lance's face and he ran a hand through his hair. “Oh yeah, look at us being visited by royalty. I expect no less!”

Keith scoffed at Lance's ego and pressed on. “He said something about a union ceremony that's happening tomorrow.”

“Union ceremony?” Lance echoed. “Union of what?”

The shrug Keith gave in response sent a spike of pain coursing through his body. He reached a hand up to brace it against his shoulder, surprised. “I don’t know,” he said around ground teeth. “I assume it’s them joining the coalition.”

“You don’t seem to know much today, do you?” Lance replied, but it wasn’t unkind. A ghost of the smile that had been there before was still on his lips. It was soft and Keith felt that haze covering the world again. It felt too good, he knew, sitting here with Lance in this hospital room. He should be stressed, he should be demanding to be released so he can check on the others, on the Lions--so he could go back to saving the universe like he was supposed to.

And yet, he was content to lean his head back into his pillow, letting his eyes fall half closed and just look at Lance in this soft, dreamy light. He was content to just be the two of them, for now, recovering together. He was more than content to pretend, for the time he could, that there was no war--nothing waiting for him. It was just him and Lance and a room that felt like it was filled with a little bit of magic.

“Why do they need to have a ceremony to join the coalition, though?” Lance had leaned his own head back into his pillow, seeming to feel the same sort of peace Keith did. “Nobody else had a big fuss when they joined.”

“I don’t--” Keith started to say, letting the word ‘know’ die on his lips, lest Lance would make fun of him again. Still, Lance shot him a grin, knowing how that sentence was going to end.

Carefully, Keith turned on his side so he was facing Lance. He bunched the pillows under his head in a way that put as little pressure on it as possible but still supported his neck. His painful shoulder was off the bed and after a moment, he was relatively comfortable. The blankets were draped over him lightly, but he felt snug and warm and at peace with the world. He could feel his eyes sliding shut, but he wasn’t ready to fall back asleep yet.

“Hey,” He said, and he could faintly make out the way Lance turned his head to look at him. “Why’d you do it? Why’d you save me?”

“Why did you save me?” Lance retorted, his voice a soft whisper.

Opening his eyes all the way, Keith tried his best to really focus on Lance. “How did you know?”

Lance narrowed his eyes, the expression covering his face insisting that he always knew when it came to Keith and honestly, he did. “Same reason.”

Keith doubted very strongly that it was the same reason, but he didn’t contradict. Lance probably saved him because he was the leader. Because Lance was a good person. But Keith? He saved Lance because he couldn’t imagine his world without Lance in it. He couldn’t imagine anyone else at his right hand.

Still, he liked thinking that maybe, just maybe Lance saved him for the same reason. He let that thought fill him as he fell back asleep.

-------

The Ansognian comes back near the end of the day, his formal attire gone. Instead he is dressed in something that resembles Earth clothes and Keith has to keep himself from commenting on how strange it looks. The Ansognians looked relatively like humans, similar to the way Alteans did, but their skin was more of a rosy pink--much like the color of Lance’s cheeks when he blushed.

Startled by his own thoughts, Keith shakes his head, regretting it instantly. He hunches over in bed, hands gripping at his temples, desperate for the pain to go away.

“Black Paladin, are you alright?”

“Keith,” Lance says, his voice almost indignant. “His name is Keith.”

“Keith,” the Ansognian repeats gently, “are you alright?”

He takes a few deep breaths in through his nose slowly. The others remain quiet, waiting for him to respond. After a few moments, he feels the pain in his head dull to more of a thrum at the back of everything and less of a sharp pain taking over his senses. “I’m fine.”

“Are you both up to coming somewhere with me? I have something I would like to show you.” The Ansognian looks from Keith to Lance who is sitting upright in bed, the sheets already thrown off his lap, one leg dangling off the edge. “I’m sorry,” he says as he surveys Lance. I have never properly introduced myself or learned your names. I am Antione, King of Ansognia. He is Keith, I have gathered. And you are?”

“Lance.”

“I would like to thank you, Lance, Keith, for saving our planet. The story of our planet is one I would like to tell you, if you would come with me, of course.” Antione, although looking out of place in his casual clothes, seemed very friendly. Plus, who were they to deny the request of a King?

Keith pushed his own covers off, moving slowly until he was standing at the side of the bed. He had to place a hand on the bed for a moment until the room stopped spinning around him. He took a tentative step forward and, upon feeling okay, continued to walk until he was at Lance’s bedside. Lance moved slower, the cuts along his torso making movements hard and painful for him. Keith struggled to watch.

Antione waited patiently for them to right themselves before leading their way out of the hospital. Ansognia was an absolutely gorgeous planet, Keith realized, outside of the areas that had been destroyed by the battle. In the distance, everything looked like lush rainforests and he could hear water rushing from all sides. The air was slightly damp, but the cool, wet feeling was a relief against his skin.

The sun was setting and the light was becoming hazy and soft again, giving Keith that feeling of tranquility he desired. The sunset, unlike on earth, was purples and greens, but it was still stunning. He looked around as they walked, noticing the way the colors here seemed richer and more saturated than anywhere else he had ever been.

“Ansognia is beautiful,” He commented and noticed Antione smile. “I’ve never seen somewhere so beautiful.”

“That is very kind of you to say,” Antione says. “I have, unfortunately, not been to any other planets, so I have nothing to compare it to. But I’m partial to Ansognia as well.”

Lance was falling out of step with the rest of them, lagging a few steps behind. Keith paused and turned to look at him, but Lance averted his gaze.

“Our planet has existed peacefully for millennia,” Antione began as they approached a narrow path leading into the trees. Keith wondered if this was the story he had wanted to tell them. “But it took two very powerful beings to set that peace into motion.”

They started down the narrow trail, their path becoming more difficult to navigate. On a normal day, Keith would be able to maneuver it with ease. However, his concussion was messing with his senses--especially his vision--and he found it harder to navigate than he wanted to admit. Lance, behind him, seemed to be having similar issues.

After a few steps, Lance tripped, stumbling forward. Keith jumped into action immediately, capturing Lance’s shoulder and stopping him from smashing face-first into the ground. Once they regained their balance, Keith grabbed Lance’s wrist and went to sling his arm over his own shoulders.

Lance started to pull back, halting the motion. “What are you doing?”

“If I don’t do this,” Keith hissed back, tugging on Lance’s arm again, “You’re going to fall on your ass and embarrass us in front of royalty.”

“You just need to use me as support and don’t want to admit it,” Lance accused, but he relaxed his arm and allowed Keith to bear some of his weight.

“You can say whatever you want, but I’m not the one who almost just wiped out.”

Antione had stopped and was waiting for them with a fond smile on his lips. As he watched the way they interacted with each other his smile seemed to grow wider. He didn’t comment on it, but Keith noticed the way his gazed lingered on Lance’s arm around his neck and the way their hands were gripping each other.

“These two beings gave up everything they had for our planet,” Antione picked his story up where he had left off with no further ado. He turned and continued down the path, his voice carrying so they were still able to hear him as they clumsily tried to make their way behind him. “They fought side-by-side, each willing to die for the other. Life, as I have said, is the most precious gift. And yet, they were willing to throw it aside for each other. To us, our people, there is no bigger honor than to have someone value you like that.”

Keith could clearly see the parallel Antione was trying to draw between these greater beings and the two Paladins, he just wasn’t sure why it mattered. He tried to think of a polite way to ask, but opted to stay quiet instead.

Lance, on the other hand, gave it his best shot. “So they remind you of us?”

“Did you not just each lay your lives on the lines for each other?”

“Well, yeah, we did,” Keith replied, sounding reluctant.

“Heck yeah, we did.” Lance sounded much more sure of himself. “And we would do it again, right, Keith?”

A temple seemed to rise up out of nowhere in front of them and it’s sudden appearance saved Keith from having to respond. The temple was not what Keith would have expected if he had been told where they were going. In his mind, temples were old, covered in moss and crumbling at best. At worst, they weren't even upright anymore. But this wasn't anything like that. It was gloriously maintained, and as magnificent as a palace.

Antione was stopped near the entrance, his eyes trained on Keith. He was acutely aware of the fact that Keith had not answered, but instead of asking for confirmation, he took a different route. He was entirely unmoved by the appearance of the temple, continuing conversation as normal. "And would you say you two have bonded?"

"We had a moment," Keith said. He didn't look to his right, but he felt Lance freeze and avert his gaze at the mention of their bonding moment. "At least, I remember us having a moment," he amended and Lance gave him a little shove, drawing a smile out of Keith.

“You can see, then, why you two remind me of our saviors, Aaron and Artemis.” Antione turned to look at the temple then.

Lance and Keith, following his gaze and really looking at the temple for the first time, were stunned into silence. They leaned into each other as they came to a stop, taking in the sight. The temple was made of white marble and decorated with carvings and statues. It was a powerful sight, and yet it seemed to exude the same tranquility of the rest of the planet.

“Aaron and Artemis,” Antione said, gesturing to the two statues that flanked the doorway. “They were powerful in their own right, but it was the bond they had with each other that allowed them to conquer anything.”

They started moving again, their steps still clumsy but now in sync with each other. They continued to lean onto each other, each helping keep the other upright and moving. The inside of the temple was just as spectacular, filled with different depictions of Aaron and Artemis. The pictures seemed to tell a story of the two of them arriving on Ansognia, fighting with and for each other and eventually turning the planet into a place of peace and prosperity. Keith wondered if that was how the universe saw Voltron.

Lance pushed off of Keith to get closer to the murals on the wall. Keith let go of him fully but followed him closely out of instinct alone. “Can you imagine if someone painted depictions of us?” Lance murmured, more to Keith than anyone else. Keith hummed quietly in response. “I mean, the impact they must have had…”

“Is the same impact you two have had on us.”

“You mean Voltron,” Lance corrected, almost automatically.

“Well, yes,” Antione said, “and, no. All of Voltron helped save us, but you were the two most responsible for saving my people. You were the ones on the ground fighting with them.”

The look on Lance’s face was easy for Keith to read. Neither of them would have been on the ground if Red hadn’t failed. But they didn’t have to choose to stay on the ground, they could have gone back up in Black, but they didn’t. Lance glanced over his shoulder at Keith, their eyes meeting. A moment passed and Keith could feel Lance reading his train of thought. When he looked away, he looked a little more at ease.

“Our entire society is founded upon the bond Aaron and Artemis shared for each other, do you understand that? We try to treat each other with respect and lead peaceful lives. We show our affection by giving our most precious possession to them. Life on Ansognia is good only because we believe in a strong connection to each other, like our saviors did. And now, here you two are, appearing from nowhere, sacrificing yourselves for the other. Your life, your most precious gift--you give it away so freely for each other. You came to us when we were in crisis and reminded us of that on which our society was born: love for each other.”

Keith can feel the warmth in his cheeks. He knows Antione means the kind of love and bond shared between teammates, which he and Lance did have, but it was still awkward to hear. He and Lance had started off as rivals and progressed to begrudging friends, yes, but still they never verbalized anything about that friendship. Even if they both knew they were friends, they never officially addressed the fact that they had progressed to that and he was sure they never would. They had a relationship that was give and take, push and pull, opposites attract and it worked for them.

Lance’s own cheeks were tinged a slight pink and Keith was immediately struck by the way the color matched Antione’s skin. He turned his attention elsewhere, looking around the inside of the temple. It was just one large open room with nowhere else to explore, but there were enough paintings on the walls that he could spend hours looking at them all. Carefully he ventured away from Lance, secretly desperate to put some distance between the two of them.

He could feel the weight of Antione’s eyes on his back and it made him uncomfortable.Antione seemed very observant and Keith was afraid of what, exactly he was noticing now. If it were anything, though, he didn’t say. “That’s why we’re honored to host the ceremony for you tomorrow. We will drop the suits off in your hospital room either this evening or tomorrow morning.”

“Suits?” Keith asked.

“Of course,” Antione sounded confused, “Do you not wear suits for the ceremony back on Earth?”

The mention of Earth sent a twang through Keith’s heart and he refused to look at Lance because he could already picture the expression on his face and knew it would break his heart. He wanted to explain that they didn’t do ceremonies like this on Earth. That, before their recent escapades in Voltron, he had never heard of a coalition at all. But he didn’t want to offend Antione or to downplay what was clearly an important event for them. “We do,” he said instead, “i just didn’t realize you had suits out here.”

Antione smiled before glancing through the open doorway. “Oh!” He said suddenly, “I’m late for a meeting! I’m so sorry to dash like this. Can you two find your way back on your own? I don’t want to rush you out of here!”

“It’s basically just a straight line,” Lance said, his tone a little too casual.

Keith jumped in, covering his tracks, “We’ll be fine, thank you.”

“I’m so honored you two are sharing this next step with us,” Antione said before parting, his voice full of an emotion Keith couldn’t quite place. “Tomorrow, two becomes one.”

Antione disappeared just as quickly as the temple appeared before them. Keith was left with his words echoing in his head, a weird feeling twisting in his stomach.

“Why does he talk like that?” Lance was leaning against the mural now, most of his weight on one of his shoulders. “That whole ‘two becomes one’ thing? I mean, I’m glad they’re joining the coalition and all, but they’re making this a really big deal.”

“Yeah,” Keith agreed, that feeling in his stomach making him uneasy. “It is kind of weird.”

“And we have to dress up for it?”

“It will be quick and painless,” He crossed the room to stand next to Lance, a hand outstretched. “And we want to stay on their good side, so don’t say anything like that to them. Now c’mon, give me your arm so we can head back.”

Lance glowered but gave his arm to Keith anyways, glancing away as Keith draped it over his shoulder and took off back along the path.

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onpointedfeetandbrokendreams · 6 years

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Klance week day 4: Free Day

Keith has always considered himself as a simple person. Every day he wakes up, drinks his coffee while reading the latest news on his favorite manga, takes the bus, goes to work at his step-brother’s research lab and struggles to do something useful and productive for at least eight hours. In the evenings, sometimes he goes out with his colleagues or his friends, then he cuddles up with his cat to sleep. He is lucky to have a job he loves, to have Shiro and the others, to have his little space to call home. He is happy.

This is why he really doesn’t know what he did to deserve his peaceful routine being disrupted by some random guy with definitely too flawless and too perfectly tanned skin and definitely too blue eyes.

“Every morning, Shiro, every morning he takes my same bus and he doesn’t seem to have any intention to stop it!” Keith complains as they walk towards the cafeteria for their morning break.

Shiro chuckles. ”I didn’t think you would have an issue with having to look at a handsome guy every day.”

And Keith wouldn’t have problems with that. Really. If it wasn’t that the guy in question doesn’t just take the bus. He bloody dances on the bus. From the moment he jumps on, wearing his stupid, big, blue headphones, he can’t seem to stay still for a single second of the entire ride. Either he bounces his leg or he tilts his head in time with whatever music he is listening to or he taps with his fingers on every available surface.

“Shiro, you don’t understand, I swear he did a pirouette today while he got off the bus. A pirouette!! Who even does that??”

“I do understand, Keith, you told me at least five times. But why does it bother you so much?”

They hear a loud groan coming from one of the offices they are passing in front of. “Is he talking about the dancing guy again?” Their friend Pidge asks, appearing from the door to join them.

“He is,” confirms Shiro with a knowing look.

“You would talk about him too if you saw him! How can someone be so annoyingly cheerful this early in the morning? All I ask is to take my bus in peace, I need my little bubble of quiet before I came here to work, otherwise, I’ll be in a bad mood all day.”

“Have you ever not been in a bad mood?” Asks Pidge, a look of sincere curiosity on their face.

“Ha ha very funny. Shut up,” replies Keith, nudging them with his elbow.

“Keith, come on, it can’t be that bad!” Shiro says in his usual calm voice. It usually has the power to soothe him and make him feel better but today he is particularly frustrated, so not even that works. He sighs. “Maybe I could change bus? Take the earlier one?”

“You’d have to wake up basically at dawn and you’d arrive here before the lab is even open!” Pidge says and Shiro agrees:

“They are right, you know?”

“Gh, fine,” Keith relents.

He changes the topic, then, afraid that if he doesn’t, they would start teasing him again like they did the previous week, saying that maybe it’s just him to be annoyed because he is too aware of the other man’s presence for some reason. Which he is not. Everyone else on the bus hates him. He is sure.

Keith resolves not to think about him for the rest of the day and he manages to make some progress on his current project. Maybe he can do it. He can take the same bus as that wanna-be dancer and ignore him, turn around, close his eyes and not see his incessant, frustrating jiggling.

The following morning he feels regenerated by his decision. He sits and waits, but when they reach the guy’s usual stop, he isn’t there. Keith raises his brow in question and suppresses the pang of disappointment in his chest at the thought that he won’t be able to test if his plan worked.

As the bus departs again, he hears fumbling near the back door. He looks up and sees the annoying man there, running to try and knock to signal the driver to stop. His face is flushed from the exertion, his clothes and hair disheveled as if he got ready in a hurry.

The sight makes Keith’s breath hitch in his throat.

When he manages to snap out of it, the bus has already picked up its speed. He looks out of the window and can’t help the triumphant smirk on his face.

For a moment, it looks like the other man is glaring directly at him but that can’t be right, it surely is only an impression.

“Why are you so happy?” Asks Pidge at lunch

“No reason...” He replies, still smiling.

They don’t look very convinced but they don’t push, just keep glancing at him suspiciously until it’s time for both of them to go back to work.

In the evening, he takes the bus feeling so completely relaxed that he doesn’t notice the figure hopping on and approaching him. “What’s your problem, dude?”

“Hm? Are you talking to me?” He asks before registering exactly who is the person in front of him.

“Of course I’m talking to you, mullet.”

“I... Don’t have a mullet. And I don’t have any problem. Why are you asking?”

“Sure you don’t,” the guy says sarcastically, his arms crossed and a brow raised. “I saw you cheer this morning when I lost the bus. I don’t need your negativity in my life, okay?”

Keith is trying to remain impassive but this man really gets on his nerves. “And I don’t need to see your shows every morning,” he retorts.

“What are you talking about?”

“What am I talking about? Do you realize that from the moment you get on the bus you can’t stop dancing around?”

They are so caught up in insulting each other that they don’t realize they are yelling until the bus stops and the driver himself orders them to get out because they are bothering the other passengers.

“Great. Now what, genius?” The man asks.

“Thanks to you, I’ll have to walk for miles to go home,” Keith says, tiredness and worry taking the place of his rage.

“Well, me too, so… Would you mind walking together? I hate being alone and I‘m not completely sure about which way to go because I just transferred here.”

“I guess... As long as you don’t dance.”

The man bursts out laughing. “Why do you hate my dancing so much?”

Keith hates that he has to force his lips to remain downturned. It’s not his fault, the guy has a really nice laugh, okay? Doesn’t make him less annoying.

When he doesn’t reply, the other continues:

“I’m Lance, by the way… And I can… Try… Not to do that? If it really bothers you so much?”

This makes Keith stop. He raises his eyes to look at him and sees that Lance is biting his bottom lip, with a vulnerability and an uncertainty in his expression that he would have never thought possible for a person like him.

Maybe he doesn’t know what kind of person this Lance is.

He must be staring, because Lance deflates and moves to start walking alone, muttering something that sounds like “I’m sorry.”

Keith thinks that he is an idiot.

“Hey, Lance, wait! I’m sorry too. It’s not only your fault that we got kicked out,” he calls, quickening his pace to reach him. “I’m Keith and I… May have overreacted a little about the whole… Dancing thing?”

Lance turns and offers his hand for him to shake. “Well, then nice to meet you, Keith. Shall we start over?”

“Yeah, okay… That would be nice,” Keith says, only a little hesitant.

The grateful smile that Lance gives him is blinding.

Maybe having to walk home won’t be that bad after all.

#klanceweek #klanceweek2018 #klance #klance fic #keith kogane #lance mcclain #shiro #pidge #vld #voltron legendary defender #day 4 #free day #voltron fic

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it-has-the-gay-fanfiction · 6 years

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"you know, i was joking when i suggested you jump into the lake and see if there really is a giant squid, and i’m still not sure why you needed to take your clothes off to do this" From the Harry Potter thing...Klance, pretty please!

{I can totally see this for Klance! I’m love you :)) Sorry this took so long, school got hectic. I also kept changing what I wanted to do with this, but I finally decided on something! Also super sorry this is super short, anyways, hope everyone enjoys!}

Despite being in different houses, Lance and Keith still managed to find time to spend together. Sure, to the rest of the school, they may still seem like they were bitter rivals to the end, but their rivalry had taken on a somewhat fond tone in their third year. Now in year four, the two were unlikely friends, with Lance being a Slytherin and Keith being a Gryffindor and all. Sure, they weren’t really rivals anymore, but they still took competitions way too far, at least ninety percent of the time they did anyway. This would be one of those times…

It had started off a few hours ago, this dumb fight between the two. Lance was convinced that there really was a giant squid in the lake and Keith… well, not so much. The argument started at breakfast and it was now way past evening curfew. So why was Keith sneaking out? Lance asked him to, something about proving his point. Keith ducked behind a corner as one of the professors patrolling the halls walked by. He sighed and hurried outside to where Lance asked him to meet, luckily not seeing any more patrols. Keith looked up at the sky as he stepped outside. The full moon was high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the grounds, light enough that Keith would be able to find Lance no problem, but still dark enough that they wouldn’t need to worry about getting caught. He looked around before spotting Lance standing under one of the trees on the lawn. Keith made his way over to the lanky Slytherin. “What’s this all about, Lance?” Keith asked in a hushed tone once he had stopped beside the other.

Lance smirked, “I’m going to prove that there is a giant squid in the lake.” He grabbed onto Keith’s hand and started dragging him in the direction of the lake. Keith sighed and allowed himself to be dragged behind the overexcited Slytherin.

“Why don’t we make this interesting?” Keith grinned as they stopped a few feet in front of the lake.

“Interesting how?” Lance turned to Keith and raised an eyebrow.

“A bet. You interested?” Keith tilted his head and looked up at Lance as he tucked some of his hair behind his ear.

Lance smirked, “Hell yeah I am. What are the terms?”

Keith hummed and tapped a finger to his chin, “Loser has to take the winner out on a date.” He ducked his head to hide his blush from Lance. Lance laughed and nudged Keith.

“You really willing to make that bet?” Lance asked. Keith nodded hesitantly before looking up at Lance again. “Alright then, you’re on, pretty boy! I’m so going to find the giant squid and then you’ll be taking me out on our next Hogsmeade trip.” Lance grinned and pulled off his shirt. Keith watched in shock as Lance then proceeded to take off his sweats and boxers.

“W-what are you doing?!” Keith shrieked and averted his eyes.

“Uh taking off my clothes to jump in the lake, duh. Keep up, Keith.” Lance snorted.

Keith shook his head, “Y-you know, I was joking when I suggested you jump into the lake and see if there really is a giant squid, and I’m still not sure why you needed to take your clothes off to do this….” Keith’s hesitance shone through in his voice. “Plus… the mermaids and other magical creatures in there are going to see your junk and I don’t think they will appreciate that.”

Lance laughed, “Too late Keithy boy!” Keith looked up just in time to see Lance run into the water, completely naked.

Keith sighed and wrapped another blanket around Lance’s shivering form, “You’re really stupid, Lance.” He wrapped an arm around Lance and rubbed his arm to get him warm again.

“M-maybe so, bu-but I found the s-s-s-squid d-di-didn’t I?” Lance stuttered out through his chattering teeth. Keith rolled his eyes and shot Lance a fond look before moving them closer to the fire in the Gryffindor common room.

“Yes you did and I’m very proud of you, but you’re really cold now. So, unless you want me to take you to Madame Pomfrey I would suggest shutting up and snuggling up with me so I can get you warm again.” Keith’s cheeks warmed, he never was the most subtle when it came to these types of things, but luckily for him, Lance only let out a chuckle and pressed into Keith’s side.

“Aw, y-yo-you do ca-care.” Lance gave Keith a big grin and a chaste kiss before curling back into Keith’s side. Keith’s blush flared, but he just smiled fondly and held Lance closer.

So maybe the two seemed like rivals to everyone else, Keith and Lance knew in their hearts that they couldn’t have been farther from that.

#ithasthegaywrites #hikarimitsuko #klance #klance fanfiction #keith #Lance #hogwarts au

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thecowardlycreative · 6 years

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Fandom: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Pairing: Klance

Summary: Lieutenant Keece, officer in the Rebel Galran military, has severely overestimated his knowledge of Alteans. Because Lance is in the corner, curled around a clutch of eggs and how did this even happen? Now he's on his own while Lance is knocked out on some weird Altean oxygen deprivation trip, with eggs and then babies to look after and no idea how to do any of it. (AKA 'Alteans are too much like humans,' thought the fanfic author and then this monstrosity was born.)

Words: 4591

Notes: This is the weirdest thing I have ever written.... This is long and I didn’t bother to re-italicise everything once I pasted it into tumblr. For a proper, formatted version, follow the link.

There was a terrifying moment when Lance’s body shifted to accommodate him.

“The benefits of being a chameleon race,” said the Altean with a sly grin, face flushed and pupils huge. “Gotta make sure the key fits in the lock.” And he started pressing kisses to Keith’s stunned face. “It’s what makes us reproductively compatible with most species,” he said between kisses but then he moved a little and his insides brushed against Keith and the Galran forgot to pay attention to anything at all.

So, really, Keith shouldn’t have been surprised when he woke in the night and found Lance in a corner, back pressed to the safety of the wall and insulated from the floor by layers of blankets, curled around a clutch of three eggs. But he was. He was stunned. He just stood there, staring down at his partner sleeping peacefully, his face beautifully highlighted in the light from Altea’s twin moons.

“Reproductively compatible…” he echoed dumbly as the true meaning of those words actually sunk in.

What the fuck? They’d only had sex once. Just how fertile was this guy? And shouldn’t there have been some discussion before actual eggs were laid? Even a ‘hey, Keith, how do you feel about kids?’ At least Lance’s insistence on making sure they were serious before they had sex made sense now, though he could have done with being a bit more vocal in his reasoning. That had to be a first. A time when Lance wasn’t vocal enough.

But when he opened his eyes to a sleepy half-shutter, Lance didn’t show even an ounce of guilt. He just reached out a grabby hand towards the vague purple blur he could see in the dark and shifted a little closer to the eggs.

“Keith…” he mumbled, still hazed with sleep. “Cuddle. Warm. Come.” And, despite everything that he’d put him through, despite all his shock at recent events, despite his own disbelief that this was happening, Keith was still incredibly weak to anything remotely Lance-shaped. He settled in against his partner, curling himself against his chest, toes touching, the eggs nestled between them, safe and warm.

“I don’t understand,” said Keith eventually, his voice loud in the still room and forehead resting on his lover’s shoulder. “You’re a man?”

Lance bristled. “So what? You think I’m worth less just because I don’t have mammary glands, or something?”

“No, that’s not what I —” Keith took a deep breath. “Male Galra can’t give birth. I didn’t… How did this…? Why didn’t you even ask me?”

Lance cocked his head to one side, heavy lids blinking slowly. “I did?”

“You really didn’t.”

“I said, ‘I need to be sure you know what you’re committing to before we do this.’ And you said, ‘I promise you, I know exactly what I’m doing.’”

There was a heavy silence for a few ticks before Keith ducked his head and swore. “I didn’t think — it hadn’t even occurred to me that this was a possibility! I’ve never… I didn’t know.”

“Oh,” said Lance and it might have just been Keith’s imagination but it seemed like he shuffled away a little.

“Lance…” Keith tried to ignore the pleading tone in his voice as Lance’s eyes glazed over and went cold. “Lance, no. I… Just because I’m… surprised doesn’t mean I’m — I want to be with you. That’s all I want. I just want to be with you and, as long as I am, I’m happy with anything. Don’t shut me out.”

“That’s not enough,” said Lance quietly. “You can’t just be there for me. You’ll have to be there for them, too.”

Keith frowned. “I’m bad with kids. I don’t know how to talk to them. Shit, I don’t even know how to talk to adults. But I don’t hate them. Not in the slightest. And if they're anything like you, I know I won’t be able to keep myself from loving them.”

And when Lance smiled, that cocky smile, that first smile he’d ever used against Keith back when they barely knew each other and all Keith knew was that this Altean drove him up the wall -- the one he’d used when he’d cocked his hip to one side and said, “What kind of Galran name is Keith,” in a smarmy voice -- he knew that everything would be alright.

“You love me,” grinned Lance. It wasn’t a question.

Keith sighed and gave in. “I do,” he said, nuzzling against his partner’s neck. “Not entirely sure how it happened but I do.”

“I love you, too.” Lance pressed his smile against Keith’s mouth but pulled away from him before he could respond and curl him into his arms. “You’ll have to tell Shiro I won’t be going into work for a while.”

Keith groaned, ears flattening against his head. “He’ll kill me. Run me straight through with a sword.”

“No he won’t. He likes you!”

“He’s still the captain of the royal guard, Lance. I doubt he takes well to unannounced sick days. And what am I supposed to tell him. ‘Sorry, I accidentally knocked up your apprentice’? That’s not gonna go over well.”

Lance just laughed against Keith’s throat, his lips planting tiny unconscious kisses between puffs of air. “It’ll be fine. I told him we were gonna start trying and, I’m pretty sure I mentioned this, he likes you. Thinks you could stand to relax a little but he admires your proactive-ness and hardworking-ness. You’ll be fine.”

Keith groaned again. “Alright but if I never come back, you’ll just have to pretend I said ‘I told you so’.”

He tried to pull Lance closer against him only to be reminded of the eggs between them by a gentle ‘clack’.

“I’ll need you, Keith,” Lance said gently as he ran his long fingers over the eggs, checking for cracks. “I probably wouldn’t survive this alone.”

Then he laughed softly when he looked up to see the Galran’s aghast expression, ears flat and eyes narrowed and cheeks the palest purple he’d ever seen them.

“Don’t have mammary glands, remember,” Lance said, flicking his partner on the nose, “gotta feed the little ones somehow. Male Alteans… well, they basically convert their blood to baby formula; start pumping it full of essential nutrients. ‘Course that means there’s less space for oxygen but hey, that’s what I’ve got you for. A big purple husband to scare away the things that would eat me while I’m all sluggish and slow.”

“We’re not married,” Keith mumbled on reflex before the rest of Lance’s words filtered through his brain. “You mean, they’re going to drink your blood? That’s… that’s…”

“Cool?”

“Morbid.”

“A little bit, yeah. But we’ll do fine. We’ll be perfect and so will they and we’ll be a family all together.” His eyelids started to droop closed again. “A family all of our own. A mini Keith! Our… children.”

And all Keith could do was run his hands through Lance’s hair and feel the eggs pressed against his belly as he took a deep breath and tried to prepare for the coming weeks.

***

True to his word, Lance got weaker. He also ate a lot. It seemed every moment he wasn’t asleep, he was either eating or asking for food but whenever Keith returned from the kitchen to find a slothish Lance, he always found that the nest had grown in his absence, so he must still be moving at least a little.

At first it was just the nest itself. It got thicker and gained a bit of a rim like a bird’s but then Lance dragged chairs over and turned them into walls, rendered with blankets and pillows, and stretched a sheet overhead to make a roof to turn it more into a den than a nest. Then came the traps and tripwires made out of ordinary bedroom belongings — a shoelace and a bottle of soap and a necklace and a scarf all turned into weapons — that spread out from the den like veins until it came to the point where, every time Keith returned, requested food in hand, water bottle tucked under his arm, he had to wait in the doorway for Lance to crawl out and guide him through the maze.

The Lance Keith had known until now was gone. Gone was the shiny, bright, bubbly man who smiled when he wanted to cry and laughed when others needed to hear it. And in his place was some sort of barely sentient creature. He never moved unless he had too. His breaths were unnaturally deep and slow. Even his blinking was slow. He still smiled. When Keith crawled in next to him, not quite able to stretch out in the nest that didn’t accommodate Galran body sizes, and curled around his partner seeking any sign of the man he loved, Lance’s face would stretch into a slow smile, eyes closed in comfort. It was a warm smile, content, but not really the same.

“I miss you,” Keith whispered into his hair one night and prayed Lance wasn’t awake to hear it. He didn’t think he could explain missing someone who was right there in his arms.

***

Keith’s children were perhaps the ugliest things he’d ever seen. Pink and hairless. Even with tightly closed eyes he could see where their eyeballs bulged from their skulls and their heads were crowned with stubs of flesh that would become ears. Their ribs were too pronounced, like Keith had seen on prisoners of war suffering from starvation and mistreatment, and their spines protruded from their backs into stumpy little naked tails. Their mouths were gummy except for two long incisors that they sunk into whatever part of Lance was closest, though he tried to guide them towards the inside of his bicep so that he could cuddle them to his chest. Even doped out of his mind on oxygen deprivation, Lance was always going to cuddle his children.

Keith left the room when Lance ate the third egg. He’d known it was going to happen. Early in the nesting, when he’d still been mostly cognizant, Lance had explained that at least one egg in every Altean clutch never hatched, was never even fertilised, and was usually eaten by the birthing parent when the others emerged. It was some survival tactic — investing energy when it was plentiful to reserve for when it wasn’t. To be honest, beyond the fact that Lance was going to eat one of his own eggs, Keith didn’t pay a lot of attention. But perhaps he should have because when three weeks had passed and the children had grown into their own eyeballs and spines and ribs (though remained hairless), their sharp incisors fell out and Keith had no idea what they were supposed to eat now. Lance was at peak-vegetable. He was beyond giving advice. So Keith had only two options: stay where he was and watch his children starve or leave the den and get help.

It wasn’t a particularly hard decision. He would have to leave again soon anyway for food and water.

***

Shiro’s prosthetic felt too heavy on his shoulder, as it did most mornings. The joint pinched as he lifted the bag of training staffs from their hook on the wall. He allowed himself one grimace before he moved on. There wasn’t much he could do about it. This was just the way it was in the morning, before his skin had had time to wake up and his joints stretch out and his muscles get used to carrying weight again. He gave the junction between skin and metal a quick massage as he cast a glance around the training room, looking for anything else that needed setting up before his guards came in for their morning warm-up.

Maybe he should at least ask Hunk to make a prosthetic he could take off at night, give himself time and air to recover. The trouble with that would come if they were ever attacked in the night. Would he be able to get his arm on fast enough to take his place as a leader in their defence?

His musings were interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open on soft hydraulics and Shiro turned to see a Galran standing there, tail flicking irritably and looking like he’d just rolled out of his own grave. It was Lance’s partner, not that he’d recognised him immediately in casual clothes and with purple-bruised bags under his eyes.

“Lieutenant Keece,” said Shiro, allowing all his surprise to show in his voice.

The man’s heels snapped together on what Shiro was sure was muscle memory alone and he dropped into a bow, forearms stacked one on top of the other, wrist to elbow and held out in front of him like a tray. It was a salute the rebel Galra had adopted since splitting from the Empire. Designed to show they meant no harm, it was specifically designed to make it difficult to draw a weapon.

“Captain,” he replied, his Altean barely accented. No doubt that was Lance’s doing. The boy had a way of teasing people into bettering themselves. “Good morning.” And then the man Shiro had only ever heard called ‘Keith’ by his apprentice (and whatever the story was behind that, he didn’t need to know) just stood there, shifting awkwardly as if he wanted Shiro to speak instead.

So the captain took pity on him and spoke.

“How’s Lance?”

He stiffened. “Lance is… as well as to be expected, I think.”

“Yes, I understand I owe you some congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“They hatched healthily, I trust?”

“They did. A boy and a girl.”

“I’m glad. Have you thought of any names yet?”

“Not yet.”

By the ancients, this was like pulling teeth. Although the lieutenant had finally stopped awkwardly shuffling, his tail falling into a steady metronome swing behind him, so maybe that was a good sign.

“It’s actually about the… the children that I’m here,” said Keith and Shiro gave a sigh of relief.

“If Lance needs more time off, I’m sure we can arrange that,” Shiro said preemptively.

“Thank you, that might be needed, but it’s not about that. I… Well, I just didn’t know who else to ask. I don’t know many Alteans and it didn’t really seem like the sort of thing to ask the princess.” He paused. The shuffling began again.

Shiro couldn’t know it but Keith was battling down images of the captain in Lance’s position, sloth-like and dopey and not at all prepared for battle, and the idea was so contradictory to Keith’s image of him that it really did not sit comfortably in his head.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to feed them!” he said at last. “Their teeth fell out and Lance isn’t really… awake enough to ask. Sorry if this is weird.”

It was so weird, Keith was sure. They’d barely had five conversations in the whole history of their acquaintance and here he was, having clearly just rolled out of bed, asking about baby food of all things. But it’s not like he had much choice. This wasn’t exactly a problem Galra tended to face.

Shiro almost laughed. Of course this was the problem. They just wouldn’t be Keith and Lance if they didn’t have at least one major failure in communication for every endeavour they attempted. But he didn’t. The poor kid — and how was Shiro only just realising how young he was? — looked like a spooked animal. So he just crossed the room so he could put one hand on his shoulder.

Keith looked up at where Shiro’s eye scales — entirely black until the light hit them and they reflected almost purple — twisted a little as he smiled.

“I’ll tell you what,” the captain said, “I’m just about to run my squad through morning training but if you meet me in the kitchens in an hour, I can help you put something together.” The lieutenant didn’t reply and Shiro prodded him. “Okay?”

He finally nodded, small and childlike. “Alright. Thank you, Captain.”

“No problem whatsoever.”

***

The children weren’t eating. Of course they weren’t eating. That would just make things too easy for Keith. They’d sniff the strange green goo that Shiro recommended and go so far as to stick their tongues into the red goo that Lance’s friend Hunk, who had happened to be passing through the kitchens at the time, recommended but they wouldn’t actually eat. They just cried and tried to escape the den and scratched at Lance until he moved enough for them to burrow in under his arms.

Keith felt like he was on the verge of tears, himself.

He alternated between trying to force liquids into Lance to make up for the huge amount of blood he must have lost over the last three weeks, failing to get the kits to eat, and eating for himself. Time was hard to gauge in the den but it didn’t really matter anyway. Days were irrelevant when Keith never slept. Sometimes Lance woke up enough to open his eyes and Keith needed to be there and ready to jump on the chance to get some food into him.

But the children… they were the biggest problem. The kits would not eat and Keith was starting to get scared. Should he ask Shiro again? But it wasn’t like Shiro had children so he had probably never faced this problem before. He could ask Lance’s mother but that had to be a last resort. The woman was terrifying.

He was woken by a small foot in the stomach and realised he must have drifted off at some point. He’d dropped the spoon full of green goo and now it was smeared all over his chest. But that wasn’t exactly a surprise. No, the real surprise was the sight of his son, eyes still squinted shut and skin an irritated red as his fur started to push through along his spine, gently licking at the goo.

It was the spoon, Keith realised distantly. They didn’t like the spoon.

He had unimaginatively named his son Akr and his daughter Larsk until Lance woke up properly and could give his input and Akr whined when Keith lifted him off his chest and put him back on the ground.

“I’m sorry, I know you must be hungry,” Keith murmured, “Just let me wash this off and I’ll get you some fresh stu— Larsk!”

His daughter was making another break for the entrance of the den and Keith had to rapidly wake up enough to scoop her up in his hand.

“Stay,” he told her, plopping her down next to her brother.

Lance gave a soft groan in his sleep and rolled over. He’d been looking better the last few days. His face wasn’t so pale, the colour was coming back to his eye-scales and Keith couldn’t resist placing a small kiss against one before he crawled out of the den, pushing a clumped up blanket into the opening to keep Larsk from making another attempt at getting into the trap-filled bedroom.

Finally, finally, they were eating. Tiny little licks at his goo-covered fingers, stumpy, still mostly-naked tails wriggling in delight. And Keith couldn’t help his smile at the sight.

He lay with his back pressed to Lance’s. Needing to at least feel him breathing as he lay so still. And right there, with the sound of his breaths in the quiet of the den and his children finally satisfied, Keith felt like he could sleep for the first time in days.

Keith was headbutted awake. His still-blind daughter, eyes squinted shut and skin a rash-covered mess, was pawing at his face. Her fingers hadn’t quite decided if they wanted to grow Altean nails or Galran claws but, whatever they were, they threatened to tear at Keith’s skin.

Larsk whined, tiny tears slipping free of her scrunched up face, and without thinking, on instinct alone, Keith started licking at her ears. The whines stopped. Blissful silence for what felt like the first time in days as Keith soothed his daughter’s inflamed skin by assisting her new hairs stab through with his rough Galran tongue.

Akr was chewing on Lance, his gummy mouth biting a line down one of his ears. Keith plucked him off with one hand and cradled him to his chest. He was wriggling in seconds. It seemed like they’d both inherited Lance’s hyperactive personality in their own ways — Larsk’s escape attempts and Akr’s squirming. Keith scooped some more green goop onto his fingers for Akr to keep him entertained and went back to grooming his daughter. She’d started whining again the second he stopped.

Yet despite all this trouble they brought him, and all the fear that came with his ignorance, despite his exhaustion and the fact he seemed to be forgetting what life was like before he had two mostly-hairless worms to care for, forgot that the world still existed outside the den, Keith still hadn’t lost that sense of calm fulfilment that had engulfed him before. He loved his hairless worms. He hadn’t really meant to — been terrified that he wouldn’t — and yet here he was pressing tiny kisses to Larsk’s ears between licks and stroking Akr’s cheek with one finger as he ate. His children, their weird mix of Galran and Altean, furry and smooth, Keith and Lance, they were his in all their ugly glory. And when Larsk actually opened her eyes and blinked up at him with irises the colour of the cosmos, all navy and black and a deep bruised purple, Keith knew he was already a goner.

***

The next time Keith woke it was gentle. There was no crying, no whining, no feet kicking into his organs or determined gums biting into his flesh. He woke slowly and peacefully to the sound of humming and the sensation of soft kisses against his cheeks. He smiled and, though the kisses stopped, a warm bubble began to form in his chest. He knew that humming voice and those soft fingers that traced circles on his ribs. And, when he opened his eyes, it was to a familiar blue -- deep and layered like the sea; so dark they were almost black in the shadows and a brilliant royal blue in the sun -- and the equally familiar, electric blue eye-scales that rested below them. Despite the still-sallow shade of his skin and the bags beneath his eyes and the ribs that sat too close to the surface, Keith didn’t think he’d ever seen a more beautiful Lance than one that was fully conscious for the first time in just under two months.

“Good morning, my grumpy Galra boy,” he said with a soft smile, Akr wriggling in his arms against his chest.

Keith had only got so far as to return the smile when Lance spoke again, continuing his kisses from before. One on his nose. One on his lips.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” he said. “You saved me. You saved all three of us. You kept us alive. Thank you, Keith.” Another kiss to the bridge of Keith’s nose. “You did that all on your own.”

“I asked Shiro for help,” Keith admitted in a mutter, trying not to crane his neck up for another kiss.

Lance laughed. “I’m sure he was very helpful. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m damn sure you saved my life over these last couple of months.”

Keith frowned, his lips moving to form the words again and again without ever getting there before he finally replied. “What would you have done… if I had…?”

“Walked out?” Lance suggested, all traces of his smile gone. Akr babbled softly and Lance bounced him almost unconsciously. “Left me the moment you realised what was happening?”

Keith swallowed and nodded.

Lance didn’t reply in words. He just turned to look at the remains of the third egg, just shards of broken shell in a corner of the den, with his eyes cast down. Keith hadn’t had the heart to touch the pieces. It hadn’t seemed right, somehow.

“Oh,” said Keith and Lance gave a bitter smile.

Keith felt a little sick. The idea that Larsk or Akr could have been eaten before they were properly alive just because Keith was surprised and unprepared… it felt undeniably wrong. At least, in this instance. Now that he had met them, grown to love them, he couldn’t imagine any other path.

“I was only trying to thank you,” Lance said, lying down next to his partner, his wriggling son still held firmly in his arms. “You didn’t have to break out the hard questions.”

Keith threw one arm over them both and pressed his forehead against Lance’s shoulder, an echo of their very same positions at the beginning of all this. They were only missing…

It was then that Keith felt the gummy mouth bite firmly into his ear.

“Ow! Larsk!” he startled, reaching behind him to hoist her over his shoulder and into their embrace by the scruff of her neck.

There was half a second of silence before Lance was laughing, laughing so hard he shook and snorted.

“I can’t believe… you named our daughter… ‘girl’!” he said between guffaws.

Keith’s nose twitched irritably and he coiled his tail around his own leg. “I didn’t want to decide without you….” he grumbled.

“Aww!” Lance cried, pressing yet another kiss to his partner’s forehead. “That is so cute! And what did you name this one?” He nodded down to the kit in his arms with a knowing smile.

He heard Keith’s response perfectly fine the first time but made him repeat it just because it made him laugh even harder. Only Keith would blank on temporary children’s names to such an extent that he ended up calling them ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ for a month.

“‘S’not that funny,” Keith mumbled, snatching Larsk off his shoulder as she attempted yet another escape from her parents.

“It is pretty funny.” Lance’s grin was the sun. “But what about… Ari,” he lifted Akr a fraction in his arms, “and Lara, instead.”

“Altean names?” Keith said, peering Larsk in the face dubiously.

“With Galran inspiration,” finished Lance.

“What if they’re trans? Won’t such gendered names make that awkward?”

“Then they can pick again. Or ask us to pick again if they want a name specifically from their parents.”

Keith peered at Larsk -- Lara again; at her big, stormy eyes and her toothless mouth and the ridge of purple fur that had finally finished growing out over her head and down her spine, at the tanned skin beneath it and the hardening patches below her eyes that hinted at the scales to come. She gave him a gummy smile.

“Alright,” he said at last, much softer than he’d been meaning to. “Lara and Ari.” Lara giggled in his hold.

“She looks just like you,” Lance said equally as softly, one hand ruffling the mane that darkened around her head.

“He has your eyes,” Keith replied.

Lance shuffled minutely closer to Keith, letting the arm around him fall into the hollow of his waist and his nose brush against the Galran’s neck. “They’re so beautiful, Keith,” he said. “So perfect.”

“They were hideous a month ago,” Keith replied out loud. In the safety of his own head, he said something completely different.

They ought to be. They’re half you.

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