Chapter Seven: Call #83
Keith is sitting on his bed with Mana in his lap again. Ever since Mana met Lance, the child tries to be there for every call. He has met Nadia and the two became instant friends.
"Go ahead and hit the call button," Keith tells Mana. Tiny hands hit the green button on the screen and the two of them wait.
Lance is already waiting when the phone rings. He opens it up and waves with a brilliant smile. Over the past month, he has grown use to seeing Keith and the little lookalike. "Hey my two favorite people!"
"Hi!" Mana waves enthusiastically. "Today I get to watch people fight!"
"He's going to watch me train some of the new blades," Keith says. "Mom is going to be with him since she also wants to watch." She is just supervising really.
Lance smiles and waves back. "Watching people fight sounds exciting. Especially watching Keith. I love watching him work up a sweat." Grinning deviously, Lance nods. "Sounds exciting. Tell mom I say hi." He has started calling Krolia mom solely to watch Keith turn red.
Keith does and turns away from the screen. "I wanna tell her!" Mana yells and raises his hand. Keith moves his legs, making Mana also move up and down.
"You can tell her." Keith tickles Mana's side. "But you also need to behave for her."
Lance watches Keith tickle Mana and the little one bust out laughing and he aches to be there with them. "Yup gotta be good for Krolia or no tv tomorrow!" Lance playfully threatens with a sigh. "You two make my heart explode on the daily."
Keith loves how natural the threat was. It's almost like they are actually their own small little family. "You make my heart want to explode on the daily."
"No exploding! I'll behave!" Mana clings onto Keith tightly.
"We aren't actually going to explode, it's okay." Keith combs his hand through Mana's hair. "It's our way of saying we're super happy."
Lance chuckles and nods. "Like Keith said, my heart is just so full of love." He watches Mana cling and pouts a bit. "You know kid, I'm pretty jealous of you. Keith gives the best hugs. Well, maybe second best. Hunk is still pretty much the hug master."
"Hunk?" Mana parrots. Keith has told him a bit about the others but not enough for him to remember names.
"I'll give you a lot of hugs the next time I see you," Keith says.
"You had better." Lance points and gives a serious face before laughing. "And I'll do the same for you. All night long if you want." He raises an eyebrow playfully. "Kisses too, if you really want."
"Also, Hunk is my best friend. You will have to meet him sometime. Makes the best food ever and give the best hugs."
"Of course I want kisses," Keith mumbles, his cheeks growing red again. Lance just likes to hear him admit it.
"Better than the chefs here?" Mana asks, eyes wide.
"Totally better chefs than there. He is like...intergalactically famous." With a shrug and proud smile, Lance waves a hand. "When you visit, I'll buy you both a fancy dinner from his place. As much as you want ok?"
"Okay!" Mana bounces in Keith's lap. "I want lots of sweet things!"
"He hasn't had cake before. We don't make anything that sweet up here," Keith informs. Most Galrans don't like eating too much super sweet pastries.
"Then i will make sure Hunk makes all the best ones when you guys come to visit!" He sighs and rests his head on his hands. "Did you know this is my favorite time of the day?"
Keith smiles softly. "This is my favorite too," he says softly. He doesn't tell Lance his worry about when their schedule calls become really early this time around.
"Keith!" A high pitched girly voice sings. A female Galran flops onto Keith's bed. "Are you coming to the training room soon?"
Lance jumps at the sound of the extra voice. He watches a girl come into view and he can't help it, he is jealous. Look at her! On Keith's bed with him. God how Lance wished that was him. "Am I keeping you from work?" Lance swallows his envy and looks back to his love.
Keith shakes his head. "This is Giolke, she just wants to hurry up and get started." He then turns to the female Galra and tries to push her away. "We have another hour, go back to your group."
"But I want to make sure I get time with you Keith." She giggles. "You are the best after all. Well the best that I want to work with anyway. Isn't that right Mana?"
Lance doesn't like this at all but he keeps a pretty good face. "So I get to chat with you guys for at least a bit more. Does that mean I should turn on the tv. So long as Mana is promising to be good anyway?"
"Kolivan is far better than I am," Keith says. "And next time, please do not barge into my quarters. Knock and wait for permission."
Mana scoots as far as he can away from Giolke without leaving Keith's lap. "Tv?" He asks, instantly brightening up. He knows better than to ask for it every single time, but he loves it. "Yes please!"
Lance isn't sure he likes anything he is seeing. But at least Keith seems annoyed too right? "Right on buddy. Let's see what we can find." He flips through then finds a cool kids show about space ninjas and stops it there. Not sure if he should interrupt, Lance just smiles and waves at Mana.
Giolke pouts and puts a hand on her hip. "I mean, the door was practically open. And sure, Kolivan is good but he doesn't have the...i dunno fire you do." She gives him an obviously flirty smile. "But sure. Next time I knock and wait like a good girl."
Keith sighs and rests his cheek against Mana's head. "My door was not practically open, it was just not locked." He smiles softly at Lance, not at all seeing the flirty smile from Giolke.
Mana waves back and cuddles into Keith while watching.
Lance just ignores the girl in Keith's room to watch both Keith and Mana as well as whatever was going on in the show. (In case Mana wants to talk about them.)
"Ok well, see you in a little less than an hour. You have fun with your little one."
"Bye," Keith says. Once the girl is gone, he sighs with relief. "I don't understand why I get so much attention from the new group of Galrans." He moves his legs to shift Mana a bit.
"Because you are hot as fuck?" Lance responds without a moment of hesitation. "I mean, honestly. Have you not looked at yourself recently?"
Keith blushes and whines as he looks away. "I don't need to when you keep reminding me." Hus heart beats fast in his chest.
Lance laughs then sighs. "Well i would kiss you all over but its too far away. So instead, I just have to tell you." He cuddles into the pillows and sighs heavily. "I miss you so much i hate it."
"I'm sorry," Keith frowns. "But on the good side, I might be able to visit in a few weeks. Once all the basic training is finished here, Acxa and them are taking the new recruits on small missions so it gives me time off."
Lance lights up. "Really?!" He basically jumps in place. "I would love that. So much." His smile is basically glowing, glowing brighter than the marks on his cheeks.
Keith smiles widely. It's estimated to be four to five weeks from now but it's still soon! "Is there anything I should bring with me? I think I missed one or two birthdays in the family."
"Bring you! All of you! And be ready for me to absolutely cover you in kisses and steal you away for at least a day. And I'm going to get you and I a hotel. And as for birthdays, we are way more about celebration than gifts at the McClain house. So be ready for a party." He is grinning wildly at this point and dancing around.
Keith can't stop smiling. "I'll be ready to be stuffed to the brim again."
"Can I come too?" Mana asks, realizing what they are talking about. "I wanna see Nadia and the tv!"
Keith combs his hand through Mana's hair. "We'll need to get permission first. I can't just take you out whenever I want."
"Oh I'll gladly stuff you." Lance chuckles then his smile grows when Mana speaks. "Nadia has been wanting to meet you too! So I know our side would be more than happy to have a visitor." He looks back to Keith and smiles again. "But one day is just us."
Keith smiles and nods. Hopefully the family wouldn't mind taking care of another kid. "Your family really is very Galra loving."
"My family loves to see everyone happy." Lance shrugs as though that is pretty normal. "And hey, another kid to keep the kids occupied? Guarantee they will be pleased." He laughs and leans in. "Especially since that means no repeat of last visit for them."
Keith laughs. "Hopefully we didn't traumatize anyone, though I was probably louder than you." His cheeks turn slightly red. "They really weren't upset though, right?"
"I got teased plenty for it." Lance rubs the back of his head and smiles a bit while blushing. "But they meant well. They are happy. Vern keeps asking when the wedding is." He laughs loudly and shakes his head. "I've already told her if it all keep up I'll let her know sooner rather than later." Despite his confident words, Lance blushes more with each word.
Keith feels his heart do flips. Lance wants to get married. "Honestly, I hope it happens soon too," he says softly. He fiddles with Mana's shirt to keep himself from exploding with happiness.
Lance looks up and his eyes are watering with joy. "You really mean that?" He smiles brilliantly at Keith. "If so, I...I might die from excitement."
Keith bites his lip and nods. "I'm also dying from excitement." His heart is ready to fly out of his chest. He loves Lance so much. "We should have it in space."
"Get the whole family out there? Oh man sounds like a riot." Lance laughs. "And Hunk's place will cater, of course, but he will be busy being the best man."
"Who should be the ring bearer and flower girl? Mana and Nadia?" Keith can see that being very cute. They would probably want to walk together instead of separate.
"Probably. Sylvio is 'too cool' for that anyway." He smiles playfully. "Two rows of best mean or what? How does that work for us?" Lance honestly isn't sure if there is wedding party etiquette. He wasn't convinced he'd ever end up married.
Keith chuckles. "I think we can just have whoever we want. Definitely Hunk with Shay and Veronica with Acxa so... best... best friends?" He shrugs.
"Deal. 100%." Lance it literally glowing with how excited he is. "Red and blue for colors? With a bunch of black...obviously." He doesn't realize that means he's actually planning it.
"I like that idea," Keith agrees. "Lions and space themed everything?" It would be amazing to see everyone in their paladin colors again. "Both of us in suites?"
"God yea." Lance gets dreamy for a second. "You look so damn good in a suit." He sighs heavily and licks his lip before catching it between his teeth. "So this is happening in like...tomorrow right?"
Keith chuckles. "I wish. Definitely soon though." He shifts Mana again. "What do you want more, watch tv or watch me fight?" He asks the small child.
"I wanna watch you fight!" Mana answers. "But can I still bring the com?"
"Soon." Lance says dreamily. When he realizes how much time as passed though, he gets a bit sad. "Probably shouldn't watch tv there. Might be distracting. But I'll be here with the tv next time!"
"Promise?" Mana asks and claps excitedly when Lance says yes.
"I'll text you when I'm done and maybe Mom will send you some pictures of me teaching." Keith picks up the communicator and brings it closer. "Love you."
"Promise." Lance smiles brilliantly then sighs. "Love you too baby."
Keith and Mana wave Lance goodbye before turning off the communicator. He picks up Mana and carries the young boy to the training room he was assigned. Krolia is already there with most of the new recruits. She takes Mana and goes to sit in the corner. Keith walks to stand in front of the group and introduces himself for anyone who doesn't know already. He goes over the proper stances and how to hold a knife. He also demonstrates a few simple self defense moves, with the help of Giolke who volunteered to help. The training session ends without too much trouble, maybe one or two accidental scratches.
