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It hadn’t always been this way. It’d started, as they usually did, with a glance. A longing look. Appreciation. It had been two teenagers stealing each other and deciding they could make something of their own.
Things progressed without help. Glances between classes, sitting beside each other at lunch break. Secret glances when no one was looking turned to secret kisses, stolen at night when no one was the wiser.
It was both heaven and hell. It was perfect and the single worst thing. It was love, it was hate. It was rivals, lovers, two boys who didn’t know what they wanted, who were who they were. It was teenagers, trying to work out who they were to each other.
The Garrison had quite the strict policy on student romances. It had quite the strict policy on faculty romances too, but they were more readily negotiated. Students were not there to fraternise, as Iverson would say. They were there to learn. Any student caught in a relationship with another would risk severe consequences. Demotions, no training, harder tests.
Still, despite it all, cargo pilot Lance risked it all for fighter pilot Keith. There was something about the quiet, angry soul that drew him in. Lance had wanted to be Keith’s friend, at first. He’d wanted to learn from someone as skilled as Keith, but they’d gotten closer.
Too close.
They were in far too deep to stop now. Stolen kisses, whispered words. Keith was everything Lance wanted. He was so good. It was their first relationship, and Lance wanted it to be his only.
Keith’s life was complicated, Lance knew this. Knew how hard things were. Lance was able to call his family, but Keith had no one. He had Lance, and he had Shiro, but it wasn’t enough. Lance knew. Still, he tried to fill some of it.
“You’re going to get caught,” Hunk said, glaring at his roommate. Lance hadn’t told him anything, there was no reason for Hunk to be suspicious. Far as he was concerned, Lance was a chronic smoker.
Honestly, the Garrison would prefer the students to chain smoke then to date.
“I’ll be fine,” Lance said, rolling his eyes. He snuck from the dorm, down the halls. Keith, as a fighter pilot and Shiro’s protégé – no, Lance was not jealous, not when he knew the boy more then deserved good things – got his own dorm.
It made sneaking around far too easy.
Keith opened the door in his pjs, looking far too adorable to be lawful. Lance greeted him with a firm kiss, delighting in the way Keith stumbled before he wrapped his arms around Lance and returned it.
“I wasn’t sure you’d make it,” Keith said, pulling back enough that their foreheads were touching and they could speak. It had been almost an entire week since Lance had been able to sneak out, a week too long.
“For you, I would do my homework early.”
Keith rolled his eyes, fond expression landing on his boyfriend. “I see.”
“Hunk thinks I’m smoking.”
The fighter pilot raised an eyebrow, making him look desperately hot and Lance’s heart was weak as it was. “Smoking?” he hummed, stealing another kiss. “Yes, preferable to having a boyfriend.”
Lance scowled as they pulled back. He hated having to sneak around, hated that loving this beautiful boy was so wrong. “Messed up priorities.”
“I have some news,” Keith said, dragging them towards the bed. Lance went willingly, he would follow this man anywhere.
“Is it good news?” Lance asked, tilting his head. At Keith’s continued silence, he dragged another kiss from him. This made Keith react finally.
“Technically, not my news. The Kerberos mission has been announced.”
Lance blinked. He’d been following along with the project, all the students had. They were all working to have the same opportunities in their future. Lance was hoping Shiro would get to go, but Keith wasn’t so sure. Apparently the most impressive pilot wasn’t in the best physical condition for flying. Not that Lance knew the true details, only what Keith had allowed him to know.
Keith bit his lip. “Can you keep a secret?”
Lance looked pointedly between them.
Keith huffed. “Fair.” He paused, taking Lance’s hands and running soft circles into the skin. “So, you know the Holts? Matt and Sam are going.”
“Obviously,” as if there were any other choices. They were the brainiest people at the Garrison. “And the pilot?”
Keith was doing a terrible job of not smiling and Lance knew exactly what name would come out of his mouth before he’d even said it. “Shiro.”
Lance grinned, claiming Keith’s lips once more. “Is he excited? That’s amazing!”
“It is, and he is.” There was something in his eyes though – something sad. Lance couldn’t have that.
“Adam?”
“Less happy,” Keith said. “Why can’t he be happy for Shiro?”
Lance really didn’t know the ins and outs of their relationship, but he knew it was complicated. More complicated then his own, for sure. “And, you?”
“I’ll miss him,” Keith agreed, voice dropping, uncertainty creeping in. “But, this is what he’s worked for. I’m not alone,” he added, a squeeze of their joined hands. Lance smiled. He’d never have believed anyone if they said this boy was physically affectionate, but he loved it.
“Damn right.”
Sneaking around wasn’t the worst part, it turned out. No, the worst part was when the Kerberos team vanished. When they were declared dead.
Lance didn’t care who’d seen him, he needed to find Keith.
His boyfriend was in his room, pillow clutched to his chest. He threw a dark, dangerous glare at Lance as he entered.
“Get lost.”
The venom was far harsher then Lance had heard directed at him, but Lance knew this wasn’t Keith, it was pain. So, he merely closed the door and moved to the edge of Keith’s bed.
“I said get lost, Lance. Or are you too dumb to listen?”
He ignored the jab. Just the week before, Iverson had yelled at him in front of the class, calling him an idiot. Keith ad almost blown their cover he’d been so angry. So, he knew this wasn’t his Keith. This was hurt.
“I heard you,” Lance said, keeping a low, careful voice. “I didn’t think you should be alone.”
Keith scowled, glaring daggers at the bed. He wouldn’t even look up, but Lance knew it was because he didn’t want Lance to see the tears. “Maybe I do.”
“No, you don’t. Come on, Keith. I know you.”
A growl rumbled through Keith’s chest, low and broken. It pierced Lance’s heart. He shifted closer, daring Keith to push him away again. He didn’t, he sank into the warm arms, tucking his head against Lance’s chest, fingers clutching at his dampening shirt.
It was so rare to see Keith so broken, but Lance knew how much Shiro meant to him. He knew how much he couldn’t lose him. Shiro was the only parent Keith had left.
Keith was alone now.
“He can’t be gone, Lance. He can’t.”
Lance just rubbed circles on Keith’s back, there wasn’t anything he could say. Nothing would make this easier, Keith just needed to hurt, to know that he wasn’t alone. Lance was there.
“He’s too good a pilot, something happened. Something went wrong. He’s not gone.”
Two weeks later, Shiro wasn’t the only one missing.
Keith disappeared, got himself kicked out, left Lance in the dust.
Left Lance alone at the Garrison, forever in his shadow. A fighter pilot who’d only been given the chance because Keith left.
Lance’s heart wasn’t sure which was worse.
And then, he’d seen the damn mullet. He’d recognise him anywhere. Keith, who’d left Lance’s heart, crushed it, was rescuing Shiro.
Not on Lance’s watch.
Keith had been shocked to see Lance. More then. He’d been unable to find words, but Lance just grabbed Shiro and dragged him out.
They didn’t talk. Lance just kept his broken heart locked in a jar where Keith couldn’t hurt him more.
Then suddenly they were fighting a war, and the hurt, the pain, it didn’t matter. No when Keith’s life was at stake. Not when he’d been blown up saving Coran, not when he needed to help.
They were still a good team.
“Lance.”
“No.”
They stared at each other, alone in the training room. Sweaty, covered in new bruises. Stronger. Two weeks into the travels and Keith wanted to talk now? Lance didn’t want to hear fake apologies. He didn’t want Keith to break his heart all over again.
Despite it all, Lance wanted to forgive it all. He just wanted Keith. He wanted him in his arms, solid and warm. He wanted to see Keith smile, to be the one to put it there. He wanted Keith to say it was all a mistake, that he missed him, that they should try again.
He’d had so many chances. Keith had been hurt, he’d felt alone and he’d chosen to break Lance’s heart. The one person he’d had left. That was his choice. Lance would’ve stayed by his side, but Keith hadn’t given him that chance.
Deep down, a part of Lance had always known it couldn’t be forever. Someone like Keith would never be with Lance. He wasn’t someone who got to keep the boy. It hurt more, knowing he’d be stuck in space, watching the man he loved with others. Stuck in this team, caring and fighting with him, when he couldn’t have him.
“Lance.”
He turned away, unable to hear Keith’s voice crack. “Please, don’t, Keith.”
When had he ever listened though? Keith stepped closer, reaching tentative fingers forwards. “Lance, please. I just – I need to apologise.”
He gritted his teeth, fists clenching. He glared at the ground, knowing if he turned now, saw those purple eyes with the pleading expression, he’d cave. He wanted to punch something. “For who, Keith? For you? So you can feel better?”
“That’s not fair.”
He laughed, a dark, cruel and choked sound. He ran a greasy hand through sweaty hair. “Not fair, he says. Not fair is my boyfriend leaving me without a word. Leaving me alone, when I knew how much he didn’t want to be. Damn it, Keith. I loved you, and you just – you left. And I know why, ok? I just.” He broke, shoulders slumping as the tears began to form in his eyes. “I just wish you’d told me.” The last part was barely a whisper, eyes closing.
Keith stood there, just – stood there. Lance could feel him watching him, but he didn’t dare turn. “I wanted to, and I was going to, but-” he took a breath. “When I punched Kincade, I didn’t have a chance. I didn’t want to lose you, Lance. You I never wanted to lose. I love you.”
Lance felt his heart break more. He didn’t turn. “I don’t know what you want from me, Keith.”
“Nothing,” Keith’s words were too fast, too rushed, desperate. “I mean, I don’t expect anything. I know you deserve better, Lance. You do.”
“I do,” he agreed, but his heart wasn’t in it.
“Give me another chance, please. Let me earn your trust again.”
Lance finally turned, eyes lancing on Keith. He saw the honesty, the raw hope in his eyes. “I need some time, Keith.”
Keith’s eyes hardened, like he’d expected the answer, but he looked determined. “I know, and that’s my fault.” He took a tentative step closer, daring to lift one of Lance’s hands in his own. “But, I love you, Lance. And I’m going to prove that to you.”
Lance wanted to let his heart hear the words, he did. “I want to believe you.”
“I know. Let me prove it.”
“One chance. You get one chance, Kogane.”
One chance was enough, of course. Lance had fallen for Keith so hard at sixteen, at nineteen they were stronger then ever. Between fighting the war, they managed to find time for each other. Safe together, in the quiet of the night.
The team all knew and supported the pair. They were the couple who were so much stronger together. Lance never wanted to leave Keith’s side, where he belonged.
And then, they were back on Earth. It was almost surreal. After six years in space, they were home. The war was over, somehow. They’d done it. They’d won.
There was still so much left to do. So much to clean up. The team would make a pit stop on Earth, see their family, before they set out again. They needed to help those who couldn’t help themselves, to protect people.
Lance walked from the castle with Keith’s hand in his. Matching bands were etched onto their fingers, glowing and proudly displayed. Lance wore a ring as well, around his neck on a chain. Keith chose to wear a bracelet.
Their marriage had only made them stronger.
Introducing Keith to Lance’s family was everything. Finally, Keith had it all.
The Garrison called for a debrief, because they couldn’t allow a strange spaceship to arrive carrying cadets, they’d declared dead and not demand the full story. The news reporters, who’d initially had a field day when they’d discovered not only had Shiro returned, but the cadets as well, were pressing for questions. The Garison wanted to gain back their control over the situation.
Shiro found Adam, more importantly. Lance held Keith’s hand, watching the moment the two broke down. When Adam took Shiro’s hand, when he started crying. They would be ok.
The team sat in the conference room, watching the Garrison team. Lance kept close to Keith, the security and safety, familiarity of the action his only comfort. It was stiff, cold and sterile in this room, unlike any of the peace treaties they’d enjoyed in space.
“You can’t expect us to just allow you back after you left,” Iverson, who, like the others, had just assumed they’d want to resume their mundane lives since returning.
Lance could laugh at how wrong he was.
“Like anyone here wants to ever come back,” Keith said, looking at his team. They’d all agreed to go back to space. It was where they belonged.
Iverson levelled a glare onto Keith. Once, Lance might’ve felt threatened, but he was the Red Paladin of Voltron. He’d faced far worse.
“Ah, the drop out, you held so much promise.”
Lance slammed a fist to the metal table, startling the audience. Hunk flinched at the noise and Pidge jumped, he hurried to shoot them apologetic glances. Keith remained perfectly level, watching Iverson.
“You never get to talk to him like that, ever. This man saved the universe. There’s more worth in his little toe then your whole body.” Sensing that Iverson was about to make a comment, Lance continued. “And, no, I’m not the dumb one. I’m so much more then that. Shut up, or I’ll let Keith punch you.”
Snickers went around the room. Keith rolled his eyes, but Lance could feel the tension slipping from his fingers.
“Let, huh?”
Lance grinned, settling back into his seat with Keith at his shoulder. “Too much?”
“Perfect.”
Iverson looked ready to blow a gasket. He narrowed in on the joined hands. Lance grinned, flashing their glowing quintessence tattoo – an Altean ritual, thank you, Allura. They’d had the most incredible ceremony and Coran had been in tears. They all had, really.
Instead of just rings, which could get lost or damaged, they’d linked their own quintessence together. Forever belonging to each other, no matter how many star systems apart they were.
Lance’s mother would kill him if they didn’t have an Earthly wedding too, but that was just formality.
“Oh, yeah, we were fraternising as cadets, guess you should’ve kicked me out too.”
“Would’ve saved a lot of heartache,” Keith said softly.
Lance just stood, dragging Keith with him. “I think we’re done here.”
Keith followed, at his side where he belonged, hand in hand. They left Iverson and the other officials spluttering, demanding to know more, but this was so much better. Who would’ve thought a forbidden romance at school would lead to incredible adventures with his soulmate?