Chapter Text
Lance couldn't believe it. He had been waiting for this moment for what felt like an eternity. Keith was back.
It was surreal. Lance's mind struggled to process the reality in front of him, as if it might shatter at any moment. He felt weightless, like he was floating in another universe, one where only the two of them existed—a world where he was loved and wanted. The weight of his fears and insecurities, which had been his constant companions since Keith left, suddenly evaporated. It was as if a heavy blanket had been lifted from his shoulders, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Lance felt at peace.
But Keith was still talking, and Lance's mind had to fight to catch up. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus on the words that were pouring out of Keith's mouth, words that seemed both impossibly distant and achingly close.
"I know I left you to take care of the team on your own," Keith was saying, his voice softer, rawer than Lance remembered. "I thought they'd be better off without me. I thought you would be better off. But I was wrong. I see that now, but..." Keith's voice trailed off, his eyes searching Lance's face, as if looking for a sign that he hadn't ruined everything. He stood there, vulnerable, his usual confidence stripped away, and all Lance could do was stare at him with a mixture of surprise, shock, and wonder.
For so long, Lance had imagined this moment, rehearsing a thousand different scenarios in his mind. Sometimes, he would yell at Keith for leaving. Other times, he would coolly dismiss him, pretending that he hadn't spent sleepless nights worrying, wondering if Keith was okay, if he was happy wherever he had gone. But in none of those fantasies had Lance ever imagined feeling this… overwhelmed. The relief that washed over him now was more intense than he had expected, almost frightening in its power.
And then Lance did something he had dreamed of doing for so long. He moved before his brain could catch up to his heart, stepping forward and closing the distance between them. His hand reached out, shaky and unsure for only a moment before he pulled Keith into a hug—tight, firm, and real.
The second their bodies connected, Lance felt like he could breathe again. It was as if all the pieces of himself, scattered and broken in Keith's absence, had snapped back into place. He could feel Keith trembling against him, his breath hitching as he returned the embrace. Keith’s arms wrapped around Lance’s back, not with the urgency of battle, but with the gentleness of someone who had been lost for a long time and had finally found his way home.
Keith buried his face in Lance’s shoulder, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. No more battles, no more teams, no more galaxies to save—just the two of them, holding each other like they never wanted to let go. Lance squeezed his eyes shut, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest.
He didn’t want to move, didn’t want the moment to end, but his emotions were swirling inside him like a storm, and before he could stop himself, he heard his own voice—soft but full of feeling—break through the silence.
"Keith..." Lance’s voice wavered, but he pushed forward, unable to stop the flood of words that had been bottled up inside for far too long. "You're as beautiful as the day I lost you."
As soon as the words were out, Lance froze. He hadn’t meant to say that, hadn’t meant to let that level of vulnerability show. It felt too raw, too exposed. But as the seconds ticked by and Keith remained quiet, Lance began to panic, wondering if he had said too much, if maybe Keith wasn’t ready to hear something like that.
But then Keith pulled back, just enough to look Lance in the eyes. His face was flushed, eyes wide and glassy with emotion. And then, to Lance’s surprise, Keith smiled—a small, shaky, but genuine smile that made Lance’s chest tighten.
"I missed you," Keith whispered, his voice barely audible, but Lance could hear the weight behind those three simple words. "Every day... I missed you."
Lance let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, his heart racing even faster now. For so long, he had been convinced that Keith had moved on, that he had been nothing more than a fleeting memory, but hearing those words—seeing the sincerity in Keith’s eyes—made all the doubts Lance had been clinging to crumble away.
"I missed you too," Lance replied, his voice thick with emotion. He reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from Keith’s forehead, his hand lingering as if afraid to let go. "I never stopped missing you."
Keith’s eyes softened, and for a brief moment, they just stood there, gazing at each other, letting the weight of their shared feelings sink in.
And then Keith did something Lance hadn’t expected. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Lance’s, their noses brushing together gently. It was a quiet, intimate gesture, one that spoke volumes without needing any more words. Lance closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Keith’s presence wash over him, grounding him in this moment.
There was so much more to say, so many conversations that had been left unfinished, but for now, none of that mattered. What mattered was that Keith was here, and he wasn’t leaving again.
And for the first time in a long time, Lance believed it.