Chapter Text
For the life of Keith, he still couldn't remember Lance. Now that he knows what they were, it is almost harder. If Keith were to be honest, he was attracted to Lance. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he looked at the pictures, he couldn’t remember. He really wanted to remember, but just couldn’t. Keith finally knew what Lance was hiding from him, he finally knows what they were; boyfriends, “space ranger partners” (according to Lance’s journal), and almost fiancés.
He finally realized all of the pain Lance is probably going through. Finally knows why Lance had been avoiding him and why he kept this from him. “Nothing,” Keith scoffed. “Biggest liar ever.” Keith’s eyes started tearing up, from what he used to have, from what he wishes he could have, from what he wishes he could remember. He wiped his eyes and got up from his bed, he walked out the door without a second thought. He was going to restore his memories the only way he knew how.
Lance was almost to his room when he heard footsteps. They were loud and clompy. Someone was running. He turned around and saw Keith dashing towards him.
Oh god, confrontation.
He waited for Keith to catch up to him. Before he knew it, Keith threw himself into Lance’s arms. And Keith kissed him. But something was off. It wasn’t like any of the ones they shared as they were dating. It was as if Keith wasn’t all there.
Lance pulled back and away with the kiss. He looked Keith in the eye. Lance hoped he was putting on a stern face, but that all was forgotten when the boy in his arms started tearing up. “Keith, are you ok? Do you still not remember me? ‘Cause if you don’t, I don’t want you to be forcing anything on yourself. Please, if you don’t want thi-” Lance’s voice was soft and understanding, but he was cut off by Keith burying his head in Lance’s chest.
He heard Keith sniffle as he cried, and he took that as a cue to shut up and pull him closer.
Keith didn’t know why that would’ve worked. But what he does know is that he still wants to be with Lance. All Keith was trying to do right now is to control his breathing and to stop crying. But that wasn’t working out all too well.
Lance started to rub small circles on Keith’s back, which was helping. Still trying to keep his breathing under control, Keith took a few deep breaths in. And in the process, he was “accidentally” smelling Lance. He smelled of vanilla and salt from the ocean.
Keith has smelled this before. He tried recalling it. He smelled it every time he woke up, either from a nightmare or just waking up in the morning. He smelled this ever time he hugged, kissed, or was even just near Lance. He smelled it after every battle, every mission. This smell was home, this smell was Lance.
After Keith recalled this, he started to remember everything that was related to Lance. Keith remembered seeing Lance at the Garrison. He remembered saving Shiro with him. He remembered their stupid little fights they both hid behind to hide their feelings for eachother. He remembered all of his first birthday party, with Lance giving him the stuffed hippo and they both confessed their feelings. Keith remembered their first kiss and the all the ones that followed after. He remembered the time they broke up after a big fight they had about five months into dating. They got back together within two hours of breaking up, it was the first time they said “I love you” to each other. Keith remembered all of their dates and anniversaries. The one time the team took a break to go back to earth and he met Lance’s family. Keith remembered it all.
“-eith!” Keith snapped back to reality when he heard his name, and it didn’t sound like it was the first time Lance said it either. “Keith! Are you okay?”
Keith realized he had gone rigid in Lance’s arms, and he relaxed. He smiled. “Yeah, I’m great actually. Lance, I remember.” Keith said, his voice filled with joy and his eyes starting to tear up again.
Lance’s eyes widened. He was shocked and ecstatic. His smile grew wider than Keith had ever seen it. “Really?!” Lance screeched. Keith nodded and Lance pulled him in closer and kissed him. They both smiled into the kiss and the two both started to bursted into a fit of giggles with their foreheads touching. They never let go of each other. “I love you.” Lance sighed. He was so happy, and relieved, and frankly a little out of breath from the kiss.
Keith smiled and blushed. “I love you too.” Keith said as he buried his head into Lance’s chest. Something he always did to hide his face.
Lance laughed and Keith could feel it rumble through his chest. “You have no idea how hard it was to hold back for this long.” Lance said exasperated.
Keith looked up and pulled away slightly. “Why did you?” Keith asked.
Lance sighed. “I didn’t want to stress you out any more that you already were, and I didn’t want to force anything on you. I saw somewhere that if someone loses their memory, then sometimes they don’t feel the same way as they did before. And if that happened with us, I didn’t want it awkward between us.” Lance rambled. “I even had a code name. ‘Operation Chasity belt’.” Lance laughed and so did Keith.
“That’s too bad. Even when I didn’t remember you, which my brain is stupid for, I was still attracted to you. Guess I know why.” Keith joked.
Lance gasped. “You were?” Lance once again was screeching.
Keith laughed. “Even after dating me for over three years, you’re still oblivious to my feeling towards you.” Keith pointed out and laughed.
Lance didn’t have a comeback. So he just pulled Keith in for another kiss. After, he pulled Keith to his chest again. “Keith, pinch me and tell me I’m not dreaming. Because if I am, that would be some cruel torture to wake up to in the morning.” Lance mumbled. Keith pinched Lance’s ass and he let out a yelp. “Oi. Keith, I didn’t mean there.” Lance stated.
Keith laughed, and then he remembered something that was in the box. He blushed. “Lance, I found the ring.” Keith said.
Lance flinched and his eyes widened. His face was red as Keith’s lion. “Uuuhh. Yeah. That was in there wasn’t it.” Lance said shakily. He separated from Keith and a hand found itself at the back of his neck. He was nervous, very nervous. “This isn’t how I was planning on, you know, proposing. Um, I had this whole night planned, on our anniversary. That already passed. And oh god, you might not even say yes-” Lance was rambling again.
And before Lance could continue, Keith planted a kiss on other’s lips. When Keith pulled away, he looked Lance in the eyes and said, “Yes.”
It took a moment for Lance to react. But he smiled no less. Without saying anything, he pulled Keith by the hand back to his room. “Uh, Lance, isn’t our room that way? What are we doing?” Keith asked.
Lance stopped in his tracks. He turned around to Keith and looked at him with pride. “I missed you saying things like that. Our room! Not yours or mine. Ours.” Lance said lovingly.
Keith blushed and smiled. “Yes, I know. And I love you too. But what are we doing?” Keith asked again.
“Oh! We’re getting that ring. Hopefully it fits you, or we’ll have to go to the space mall to get it resized.” Lance was smiling like a little kid. He was just so happy to have his Keith back.
Keith grimaced at the mention of the space mall. It was the smell of the food court, and large crowds, public bathrooms, and not to mention he’s a paladin, if he gets spotted, aliens would swarm like bees. Of course Lance didn’t mind the attention, but Keith did. Pretty much, Keith hated the space mall. But his thoughts were washed away when he remembered he was was going to be putting on Lance’s ring. He would be Lance’s forever. Lance started pulling him again and Keith complied.
They got to Keith’s former room and Lance grabbed the ring out from its box. Lance got down on one knee in front of Keith. Keith laughed. “Lance what are you doing? I already established I would marry you. Why can’t I just put it on?” Keith asked. But he was still had a faint laugh behind his words.
Lance whined. “Keith! I have to do it right! And I prepared this speech and intend to use it. If we don’t do the romantic dinner on the beach, then we will at least have this romantic moment with me proposing properly!” Lance had his puppy dog eyes on, something Keith couldn’t say no to. Keith nodded his head to signal Lance to go on. Lance smiled. “Also, I think my mama would kill me if I didn’t do it properly.” Lance added.
Keith laughed. “Lance, go on, or I’m ripping that ring from you and putting it on myself.” Keith warned.
Lance was offended and it showed on his face. “You would never! I’ll have you know I will put on the best proposal you’ve ever seen.” Lance prodded.
“Lance, I’ve never witnessed any proposals.” Keith pointed out.
“Shut up and let me talk you asshole!” Lance exclaimed.
“The best start to a proposal I’ve ever heard of.” Keith laughed. Lance shot him a glare. “Fine I’ll shut up now” Keith gave up.
Lance gave Keith a little smile. “Thank you.” Lance drew in a breath. “So as you know, we’ve been dating for a long time. And I’ve known you for longer. At first we didn’t get along, but that’s because we were hiding our true feelings. Of course we both know that now, but I love that we don’t have to hide from each other anymore. Keith, I remember seeing you for the first time in the Garrison, you were showing off your impeccable flying skills without even trying and you got out like it was nothing. And then I say your face and remember thinking ‘wow, what a fucking beautiful asshole’.” Keith looked slightly offended and lightly kicked Lance in the shin.
Lance laughed and continued. “That’s when I declared our ‘rivalry’ because you were so out of my league. And when I risked everything and told you my feelings for the first time and said told me you like me back, I was so happy. When you lost your memory, it was one of the worst things I’ve been through. It reminded me again on how much I love you, and how much I want you to be mine forever. And now that you remember me again, I want to waist no time and make you mine forever, and me yours. You are beautiful, smart, unbelievably cute, hot, antisocial, socially awkward, hot-headed, my samurai, an asshole, pilot of the red lion, and my north star and me yours. We always guide each other. We’re a team, and a pretty damn good one if I say so myself. I can’t see myself without you. You’re the first person I’ve ever been serious about. Keith, you’re the one, the one for me. And I know you don’t believe in soulmates, but I do. And I believe you’re my soulmate. For the longest of time, you never had a family, I want to build one with you and have you be a part of mine. I’ve always loved you and I always will. Keith, will you marry me?” Lance said.
The whole time Lance had been looking Keith in the eyes. Keith was crying. Keith nodded and choked out, “Yes!”
Lance stood up and took Keith into his arms. Lance started to cry too. They sat on the bed together and started to calm down. When they both started to stop crying, they picked up the pictures that Keith had left out on his old bed and put them into the box. They both made their way to their room to sleep. Keith was looking down at the ring on his left ring hand. A silver band with intricate swirls that kind of looked ironically like fire, and a small purple gem. Keith was was smiling and fiddling with the ring. “It’s a little big.” Keith said sadly. They would have to go to the space mall to resize it.
Lance smiled. “That’s what she said, or he.” Lance joked. Keith punched him lightly on the arm. They came up to their room and entered. “But seriously, it’s a good thing we have to go to the mall because we’re starting to run low on lube anyway. We should probably stock up while we’re getting your ring resized.” Lance said.
Keith looked skeptically at Lance. “Lance, I remember that we at least had half a bottle of it before that mission.” Keith accused.
Lance blushed. “Your memory is still jacked up, you don’t know what you are talking about.” Lance mumbled.
Keith just looked at Lance again. “No, I do believe that we had half a bottle. And you’re a bad liar Lance,” Keith teased.
Lance blushed even harder. “It was really hard on me without you, ok? I had to do something when I got hard or a wet dream. I couldn’t just leave it like that.” Lance was pouting.
Keith took pity on his boyfriend and layed off the teasing. He walked over to and put his arms around the taller boy. Kissing Lance’s cheek, Keith said, “You ok?”
Melting into Keith’s arms, Lance whimpered. Lance’s head was on Keith’s shoulder. “It was just so hard. I couldn’t even look at you without being reminded of what I couldn’t have. It hurt to even look at you. That’s why I was avoiding you. I’m sorry. Please never do something like that ever again.” Lance mumbled into Keith’s shoulder.
Keith looked at Lance. “I’ll try not to. I love you.” Keith said and planted a kiss on top of Lance’s head. “And it’s ok that you avoided me. I get it, I probably would’ve done the same.”
Keith could feel Lance smile on his shoulder. “Love ya’ too.” Lance mumbled.
“I seem to remember you said when we’d get back to the castle, you’d ‘give me a kiss and maybe more.’ Even though it’s a little delayed, you did give me a kiss, but what about the more part of that.” Keith pointed out.
Lance stared at Keith. “Oh my god! You’re right! And I’m a man of my word, we should do that more part of that promise shouldn’t we.” Lance exclaimed. Lance dragged Keith towards the bed and he happily complied.
Sure enough the two boys slept in the next morning, and Shiro and Matt got their revenge from their prank a month ago.
When they were up and moving at breakfast, Lance told everyone that Keith now remembers him. Lance also showed Keith and his ring off to everyone. Everyone was happy for them, and lucky for Lance and his sore ass, they had the day off to celebrate their engagement.