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“Let’s get this straight,” Lance said, clearing his throat. “I hate you, you hate me, but that guy out there will destroy the city, and somehow, we’re the only ones who can stop it.”
Keith scowled, not even bothering to look at Lance, which, rude. It wasn’t like it was his first idea. It was the best play though. He’d felt so irritated for having to knock on Keith’s chambers as his last resort. Damn him for having the most useful powers.
“Oh, you mean you’ve finally accepted I’m stronger than you?”
Lance flicked him off. “Nothing of the sort. I simply believe that, for the safety of the people, we can work together. Just this once.”
Keith rolled his eyes, but grabbed his kit. “Once.”
Damn it all, they were a good team. Lance had gone into battle with half a mind to watch his back from Keith, but the man was protecting the city. He saved Lance from a mistimed shot, but Lance was keeping score. He took out more of the army then Keith had.
When it was done, Lance left Keith.
But he couldn’t get him off his mind. The flame throwing bastard hadn’t so much as spared a glance to the arch mage, yet they’d fought so well. Fire and ice mages were often hereditary enemies.
Lance scowled as he walked the halls of the castle. What was left of it, anyway. The Galran forces had been tough, but they’d won. Keith and Lance had, together. The princess and her people were safe.
There was to be a ball to celebrate.
Lance wanted little less then to go, but it was in his honour. His and Keith’s. but Lance didn’t want to see him. Didn’t want to see the hatred, not when his own feelings had shifted so drastically.
He glared at his robes.
“Get dressed,” his friend, a knight without magic, Hunk, said. He’d been frozen with all the others, leaving only those with magic remaining.
Leaving only Lance and Keith.
Fire and ice.
“I’m not going.”
“You have no choice.”
Lance folded his arms across his chest, very aware of how much he looked like a petulant child. “Watch me.”
Hunk sighed, throwing a glare at the glowing ceiling. Lance had been very proud of his spell to create a permanent reflection of the nights sky on his bedroom ceiling. “Come on, Lance. Do this for Allura, for Altea. I know you hate him, but he’s not so bad.”
Lance’s scowl only deepened. “He won’t show his face.”
“Then there’s no reason for you not to go. Come on, get dressed.”
There were so many people in the ballroom. Lance stuck to the walls, watching. He didn’t want to look around and find Keith, absent. He didn’t even care if Keith was there. Keith, his enemy, rival, ever since their first day of school. Since they’d learned they were opposing mages. The first born in centuries. Lance made it his goal to become the high mage just to spite the fire mage.
Except, there he was, making his way towards Lance. He looked – well. He looked stunning. Because Lance had always thought the man was unfairly attractive, but now it was just rude.
“Congratulations,” Keith said, not bothering to look at Lance.
“You, too.”
Keith scowled, as though his face was incapable of being anything else. “Surprised you’re even acknowledging my help.”
Lance grit his teeth, eyes finding the crowd instead. These were the people they’d saved, happy and healthy. Unfrozen. “I won, of course, but I guess you did help.”
Keith shook his head. “Of course you were counting. You’re always looking for glory.”
Lance turned his icy glare onto the fire mage. “That’s not true. I came to you, didn’t I?”
“As a last resort, I’m sure.”
Lance bit his lip, trying not to admit the truth. He’d gone over so many plans, so many ideas. Any that had a chance of succeeding had all involved Keith. He hoped Keith never found those plans, but the fire mage was a nosy bastard. He was also incredibly powerful and, despite Lance’s attempts to feign otherwise, he was stronger than himself.
“I’m glad to see you enjoying the role as high mage,” Keith said, startling the ice mage. “It suits you.”
He was as frozen as his magic. “You would have been great too.”
The fire mage shrugged, looking completely at ease in the crowd of people. “You’re the strategist, you always were.”
“I am,” Lance agreed, unable to not feel proud of his own strengths. He’d worked so hard to get where he was. “But your magic is so much stronger than mine.” Something Lance had always been jealous of. Fire beat ice, any day.
“Why do we always fight?” Keith’s voice was barely a whisper in the crowd. Lance whipped his head around, watching Keith, but the mage gave little away.
“I don’t know.”
Keith walked off, leaving Lance alone in the crowd.
“I don’t hate you, I don’t think I ever did.” Lance said, without waiting for Keith to properly open his door. He stood, stunned, as the ice mage continued to talk. “Actually, I think I might like you.”
Keith raised an eyebrow, the look sending curious shivers through Lance’s cool skin. “Because we fought together?”
“We make a great team,” Lance said. “And, yeah, I like you. Is that so bad? Can’t fire and ice like each other, just this once?”
Keith took a step closer, the warmth of his skin radiating. He reached a hand forwards, clasping hot fingers around icy cool ones. “Finally.”