Chapter Text
The paladins have been exploring the galaxy. Going between Daibazaal, Earth, the Karthulian System, Kerberos, and more. They haven’t been back home since that day at the Garrison, the day this whole ‘defending the galaxy’ thing started. The six of them decided it was about time to stop by Earth again. To see family, the oceans, and all that they do not get to experience in space.
For a second, everything stood still. The air seemed heavy. It was hard to understand what the feeling in the air was. All Lance could tell was he needed to cleanse the vibe. It was easy to see that the others felt the same. Pidge, instead of leaning back like usual, is holding their arm, seeming to want to fold in on themselves.
“Keith, who are you gonna see?! Some friends? Any special lady friends?” Lance teases, slinging his arm over Keith.
The half Galra shoved him off, “No, lance. There’s nobody for me to see.” The red Paladin turned his head, finding something to keep him busy.
Lance froze on the spot, face cringing because of the brutal delivery of that line. Though he was trying to hide it, you can see a shadow of pain on Keith’s face. Lance couldn’t imagine what it was like. Somehow, then Lance felt the closest yet furthest he has ever felt to Keith.
How did Keith do this all by himself this whole time? To Lance, his family was everything, his inspiration to get better, his reason to keep moving on. When he thought of this, his heart sank, the aching returning, strong as ever. This happened whenever he thought of his family nowadays. Closing his eyes, Lance hopes to calm his now rigid breath. His father’s eyes came into view. Hate flooded the man’s brown eyes as he looked down at his son. Another pair of eyes appear, his mom’s. Her fear and disappointment were visible. He hates when his mother looks like that. He swore no one else would make her use that look again. And here he is, causing it himself. He felt resented, not only by his family and the world but himself too. They look at him like he’s broken, a monster. Maybe he is? He has to be. If he’s causing people this much pain and anguish. So, it’s established. He’s a monster. He can, at the very least, attempt to hide it.
“It was all a joke, guys. You know I can’t rob the women of me like that.”
This was something only he could know. It needed to be buried deep and never let back out. And that will be okay, of course. He is bisexual anyway. He can just make sure he falls for a woman, for his family’s sake.
The sound of an announcement interrupted the spiral of thoughts Lance was having.
“We will land on Earth in just a tick, paladins!!”
He looks over at Keith, who has his usual nonchalant resting face. Lance can’t help but long for Keith to look at him with those eyes void of judgment. Someone that accepts him although he was the monster he is. Someone that felt no resentment while setting eyes on him. And Keith would benefit too, maybe? He would have someone to talk to, monster or not. So an idea came to him. “Looks like you are coming with me then.” He dragged on the sentence.