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Lance and Keith had made their way from the noise to the peace of what was once a beloved tree. Many years earlier, when the tree was home to the most beautiful violet petals, Lance thought of the place as a second home. Whenever he needed space, or a break from the large family, he’d slip away and rest under the branches, shading him from the sun, or complementing the moonlight. Now all that’s left was a reminder of the damage inflicted by the Galra, the tragedy of what no longer was emphasized by the setting sun.
“I missed this place.” Lance mumbled, fidgeting with the edge of his blue sweatshirt’s sleeve. Keith looked over to him. “I know I say that about a lot of places on earth, but this one almost as much as my family. I just… it felt like a place for me and only me. You saw how hectic my family can be. I love them all, but it can be…”
“Overwhelming.” Keith finished for him, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“Yeah. I’m- I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m complaining.” Lance quickly said, realizing his previous remarks might have come off as insensitive.
“No, it’s fine. You’re right, your family can be a lot, but I get why you love them so much. I feel the same with Shiro. Even if he’s being overprotective or worries too much, I know he cares.” They both stood next to each other, gazing at the remains of the tree. Two boys, two bodies, two souls reflecting on what they couldn’t save, despite everything they had over the years.
“Do you ever wonder what our life would be like if this didn’t happen?” Lance asked softly.
“What do you mean ‘this’?” Keith asked in response.
“All of it. The Galra, Voltron, everything. Where do you think you’d be right now?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be standing next to a dorky wannabe sharpshooter.” Keith said jokingly.
“Hey!” Lance smacked his arm. “Take that back!”
“Nah, I think I’m good.” Keith said. Lance stuck his tongue out at him, leading to both of them bursting out in laughter. “Jokes aside,” Keith walked forward and gently brushed his fingers across the trunk. “I wouldn’t have met you.” Keith met Lance’s gaze. “Lance, you are…” Keith took a deep breath. “You are one of- no, you are the best thing that’s happened to me since we left earth. I know I don’t say that a lot, or ever, but it’s true. I know it’s- scary to leave earth again, and I mean- you just got your family back and now you have to leave again, but I want you to know that I’ll be by your side no matter what, because you’ve always been there for me.” Keith stood there, hoping for something, anything, any sort of response from Lance.
Lance stood there in shock. He hadn’t realized anyone could care for him so deeply, let alone Keith. He watched as Keith turned to the tree and started saying something. All he could hear was what Keith said previously, the confession echoing through his head, making him realize it had always been Keith. Always been Keith who he’d wanted to be with, always been Keith who he’d worried about when he was injured, it had always been Keith who he’d loved.
Lance approached Keith, driven forward by his newfound desire. They both made eye contact, a brief exchange before their lips met. It was sweet with a hint of desire, and everything Lance never knew he needed. The need for air overpowered the need for connection, and Lance reluctantly parted his lips from Keith’s.
“Wow. Took you long enough.” Keith said sarcastically.
“Hey! I just realized my feelings, cut me some slack!” Lance said, putting his hands up.
“You just realized? I thought you’d been in love with me this entire time and were just too chicken to say anything!”
“What made you think that?”
“I dunno, the whole rivalry thing, you always being there for me; I thought people only comforted you if they shared some sort of love for you.”
“Wait- how long have you known about your feelings?” Lance asked.
“I dunno, a while? Around the time you comforted me after Shiro disappeared, mainly cuz I thought you liked me back. I was never certain, so I didn’t say anything.”
“Wow, now who’s chicken.” Lance poked his arm.
“Hey- do you want another kiss or not?” Keith jokingly threatened, stepping back.
“Yes. Please. I need a redo- I mean another one.” Lance said casually, trying to hide the fact that he desperately wanted to kiss Keith. A lot.
“Hm…. I dunno….” Keith continued, shrugging.
“Okay Yknow what-“ Lance kissed him again, with no objection from Keith, who wrapped his arm around Lance’s waist, bringing them closer together. When their lips parted again, both their eyes fluttered open, once again meeting each other’s gazes.
“Who knew you could be so romantic, Mr. Sharpshooter.” Keith teased.
“There’s plenty more where that came from.” In one fell swoop, Lance scooped Keith up into his arms princess-style.
“Hey! Put me down!” Keith said, his facing turning as red as his jacket.
“Nah, I’m good. You wanted this, after all.” Lance grinned.
“When I poured my heart out to you I didn’t think I was signing up to being swept off my feet.” Keith said as Lance walked out of the park.
“You didn’t say that, but I know you meant it.” Lance winked, making Keith’s face an even deeper red.
“So does this mean we’re like… dating?” Keith asked.
“I dunno. Do you want to?”
“Wha- why are you so casual about this?”
“I mean, we’ve kissed twice and I’m literally carrying you right now. The only thing keeping us from “dating” is actually asking or putting a label on it.” There was an awkward silence between them.
“Aren’t you… gonna ask now?” Keith looked confused.
“Nah, I wanna hear you say it.”
“Why me?”
“Because I initiated the first AND second kiss, and I’d like to enter this relationship on equal footing, so it’s your turn to take action. Pop the question already.” Lance smiled at him, stopping in place.
Keith took a deep breath. “Lance McClain, will you go out with me?”
“Hm… I du-“ he was cut off by Keith kissing him, similar to how Lance had kissed him earlier. They stayed like that for a while, holding each other’s lips while Lance held Keith in his arms. They part lips again, Lance meeting Keith with a soft gaze. “Of course I’ll go out with you.” Keith smiled, and Lance thought he saw a single tear welling in his eye, before Keith grinned.
“Well, considering how you teased me after I opened up emotionally to you AGAIN, now I’m not so sure.” He said jokingly.
“Excuse me? I will drop you!” Lance tease-threatened.
“You would, but I can tell you don’t want to.”
“Well if you think that, then I guess I’ll just have to carry you forever.”
“Fine by me.” Keith mumbled, thinking no one heard.
“What was that?”
“Nothing!” Keith said, his face returning to the deep red from earlier.
“Haha, I heard that.” Lance grinned.
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.” Keith said sheepishly. He looked back up at Lance. “Lance?”
“Hm?”
“I can’t wait for our first date.”
“Me neither.” Lance placed a gentle kiss on Keith’s forehead before continuing their walk home.