"Lance. Baby. It's all right. Come back to me."

Lance woke with a jolt, straining to sit up... but he couldn't, because Shiro's arm was locked tight around his waist. He took an unsteady breath, trying to focus on Shiro's eyes, but the rapid thud of his heartbeat kept threatening to drag him back to the darkness.

"There you are," Shiro murmured, holding him even tighter, grounding him with the heavy, just-right pressure of his prosthetic arm. "Bad dream, love?"

Lance nodded, swallowing hard.

"I was piloting the red lion… something bad happened…" He shook his head. "I don't really remember." He moved his hand up around the back of Shiro's neck. "Did I wake you up?"

"No. I had a bad dream too. I was just holding you, and then you were mumbling in your sleep, and you looked upset…"

Lance pressed even closer to him so he could tangle their legs together.

"Want to tell me about your dream?"

"Is it okay if I don't? I'd rather just… y'know. Be with you."

Lance felt a thrum of warmth somewhere near his center- a nudge of affection and comfort he was sure Shiro had sent his way. Something about the notion nagged at the back of his mind, but not loudly enough to eclipse his desire to surround himself with their bond.

He glanced at the viewscreen in the wall; they still had hours before they needed to be up.

He tucked his head underneath Shiro's chin.

"I'm really glad you're here, Ashi."

Shiro pulled him in close with both arms. Their bodies came together under the blanket, bare skin meeting bare skin.

"I'll keep the bad dreams," Shiro murmured, "if I always get to wake up like this."

"Mm. Maybe we won't always have them. Maybe we'll have so many good nights, the bad dreams will stop coming."

"Oh, baby..." Shiro's hand cradled the back of Lance's head. "This is why I need you. You make me think about beautiful things…"

He left the thought unfinished.

Lance waited for a beat, then lifted his head to see Shiro's face and found his eyebrows drawn together in contemplation.

"Shiro?"

"Lance… are you trying to connect to my mind right now?"

"No… not on purpose, but…"

Oh.

This was the nagging thing.

Lance was sure he'd been able to feel Shiro a moment ago… but that should've been impossible right now. They'd all agreed to drop their connection to one another for the time being.

"...But I think I felt you too," he finished. "A minute ago, when-"

He had to pause and close his eyes, because Shiro's hand was sliding down toward the small of his back, and Shiro's mind was telling him exactly how good it felt to be the one touching him.

"...How?" Lance managed, shivering.

"Lance…" Shiro's hands were firm and insistent on his body. Shiro's lips were on his cheek, warm and searching. "You feel like Keith feels… you're right at the edge of my mind…"

Lance melted against him, tuning in to the connection Shiro was describing. It was true, he was experiencing this moment from two directions- the physical sensations of Shiro's hands and mouth moving over his bare skin, and the way it felt for Shiro to be the one touching him.

You're right here. Shiro's words appeared inside his mind like stars, lighting up the dark. Did Keith bring you to me?

Not on purpose, Keith answered. Lance felt the physical pressure of him all of a sudden - his solid chest against his back, his warm hand on his hip - along with the metaphysical presence of him, so tender and comforting behind his closed eyelids. Must've happened last night, Blue.

Is it permanent? Shiro asked him, and Lance could taste the flavor of the question: ecstatic, hopeful. Shiro wanted. Wanted him right here, like this, for always.

I don't know. Keith's lips touched the rim of Lance's ear. "I hope so, Lance," he whispered aloud, his hand traveling slow and heavy under Lance's belly button.

Lance found that he couldn't answer. Not out loud anyway. He was too busy trying to withstand the steady flood of emotion and intention he could feel from them. He could step into their minds - into their hearts - as easily as he could draw breath into his lungs.

It was like bonding all over again… which was precisely how they wanted it to be. This wasn't a concession, designed to ease his doubting mind. They wanted him like they wanted each other: fully, permanently, without reservation or hesitation.

It was enough just to know it, Lance realized. It was enough to feel the certainty of it in this moment. Even if this didn't last, he knew he'd never forget what it felt like to be deeply, perfectly wanted.

A tear splashed over the bridge of his nose and onto his pillow.

They held him tight between their naked bodies, sharing comfort that blanketed and warmed them, like summer sunlight on a sandy shore.

Thank you, he told them. I love you.

"Say it out loud,"Keith murmured.

Lance shivered in response.

He could feel the command in Keith's words, though he'd said them so quietly, and he found that he wanted this from Keith- not because he liked to be coerced, but because Keith's urgent insistence betrayed his desire, along with his strength. His fire. Lance wanted those things from him, as deeply as he wanted whispered words and gentle kisses.

So even though the impulse to communicate telepathically was strong - what could be more intimate than speaking lover-to-lover, mind-to-mind? - Lance obeyed.

"I love you,"he said… and then he held tight to Keith's hip as the reason for his gentle demand became clear. He was in an echo chamber again, experiencing the words from Keith and Shiro's point of view, with an added dimension he hadn't anticipated. It was intimate for them to feel his mind's intention, but equally so for them to hear the sound of his voice- light and smooth and comforting, treasured by each of them in different ways, adding shades of meaning and depth to the words that couldn't be conveyed without the air in his lungs or the movement of his lips.

Speaking aloud brought the words to life in this world- the one where their bodies touched.

"I love you, Blue." Keith's lips moved along his shoulder as he spoke.

"I love you, Lance." Shiro's voice was like chocolate- dark and rich and sweet.

Lance had never felt closer to them… and it still wasn't enough.

Shiro laughed, soft and low and rumbling, and then kissed his lips.

"I can fix that, baby."He lifted Lance's chin with his knuckle. Their noses brushed together. Lance opened his eyes and found Shiro looking back at him, his irises amber-warm in the barely-there light.

"Fuck me slow?" Shiro asked him. "You and Keith?"

Lance fit their lips together with a stifled cry, losing himself in the layers of Shiro's meaning.

Shiro didn't make such requests lightly.

He was saying: I need you. I want you. You make me feel like no one else ever could.

He was saying: I'd let this part of myself fade away, and you brought the whole of me back to life.

He was saying: I can give myself over to you. I'm safe with you inside me.

He was saying: I want to feel your cock while I come.

"Anything," Lance breathed, between slow, desperate kisses. "Anything for you, Ashi."

Shiro's willingness and want filled every corner of his mind. Shiro's arms encircled him and held him, and then rolled him over, reversing their positions. It had become a routine all three of them treasured, for Keith to use his hands and his mouth to open them up, to make them slick and sensitive and ready.

For Keith, it was worship, and that was exactly how it felt.

Lance pulled Shiro's knee between his thighs, spreading him open for Keith's mouth.

He felt it, too, when Keith's tongue pressed inside, and he and Shiro rocked their bodies together, sharing the pleasure of it. Their kissing was slow, almost experimental, each of them getting used to the metaphysical connection that made every touch of their lips and noses and fingertips exceptionally intense. Lance found himself revisiting Shiro's sensory memories of their bonding, seeing himself through the lens of Shiro's mind- stronger and lovelier and more graceful than he'd ever imagined himself to be.

He brought his hand to Shiro's face and touched the corner of his mouth with one fingertip as they kissed, just to feel him move and sigh in one more dimension. Shiro made one of his favorite sounds - one that meant yes, please, I want this - so Lance made a tiny space between them, giving Shiro just enough room to kiss and lick at the pads of his fingers. Shiro opened his eyes while he did this, and Lance saw adoration there, just as surely as he saw the golden gleam of his irises, like cresting waves in a summer sunset.

Shiro nuzzled into his palm, then pulled Lance's index finger into his mouth, caressing with his tongue the same way Keith was doing. He fed lance an impression while he did this - the distinct pleasure he felt when Lance's cock was in his mouth, along with the spike of arousal that came with tasting his cum at the height of his climax - and Lance let go of a wounded sound, as if Shiro were performing the act at this very moment.

Shiro tucked Lance's finger into the pillow of his cheek and smiled.

Feels pretty when you're in my mouth, Shiro's mind told him. Your perfect cock. Feels like heaven when you fuck me.

Lance shivered, rocking his hips, letting the head of his dick glide against Shiro's taut stomach.

I won't last if you keep that up, Ashi.

Shiro opened his mouth so Lance could see his tongue curl around his knuckle before he pulled him deep again.

You don't need to last. You just need to be here with me.

Lance knew this was true. Shiro really and truly wanted to give himself over this way, but underneath his need for sex and closeness, for the safety of the intimate life he'd always envisioned for himself, fear and uncertainty lingered. He'd been violated physically in more ways than any of them could stand to examine, and even though he'd escaped similar sexual torment, it had been a narrow miss in the early days of his capture. That terror hadn't left him, Lance knew. There was a chance it never would.

"I'm here," Lance told him, stroking the flat of his tongue with the tip of his finger. "Always right here for you."

Keith appeared over Shiro's shoulder. He nuzzled behind Shiro's ear, flooding Lance's mind with approval and affection.

"We've got you, Shiro. We'll do it just right for you."

"We'll be good," Lance told him. "So good for you."

Shiro pulled Lance's finger away from his mouth. He pressed Lance's hand to his cheek and nodded, his lashes fluttering lightly.

The word Ready passed between the three of them, binding them together.

Lance saw the flicker of fear in Shiro's eyes when Keith penetrated him, because he was holding Shiro close, kissing his face, murmuring sweet things-

"We've got you, Ashi, it's all okay… Keith loves you so much, he's gonna take such good care of you…"

...But that fear vanished in an instant as his words took hold. Shiro's expression softened, and his body relaxed, and Keith made a low, rumbling sound that Lance had never heard before, though he knew immediately that it signaled satisfaction and approval.

"That's it, Shiro." Keith stole heated glances at Lance while he moved his mouth up the line of Shiro's neck. "That was just right. You did so good, letting me in."

Shiro groaned from somewhere deep, tightening his grip on Lance's wrist, still keeping Lance's hand pressed tight to his cheek.

Want you, his mind told them both, and then his eyes fell closed and his mouth fell open, because Keith had started to thrust.

Lance felt that instinct, too - he could feel the weight of Shiro's pleasure trying to force his eyelids closed - but he fought to keep his gaze locked on Keith.

Keith, who was soft and patient and predatory all at once.

Keith, who had his hand around the front of Shiro's throat, protecting and soothing him like no one else ever could.

No one except the two of them.

That's right, Keith's mind told him. He nosed his way toward Lance's hand to kiss at his fingers. You and me, Blue. We've got him.

Lance lifted his head to meet him for a sweet, breathy kiss.

You and me.

He felt that those words had never been more true.

He felt Shiro's insides tense and tremble as Keith thrusted toward his center.

...And a while later, when Lance was pressing himself up against Shiro's broad, scarred back and nosing gently at his cheek, over his shoulder, he spoke those same words to chase any lingering fear from Shiro's mind.

"It's you and me, Ashi. We can do this, right?"

Shiro nodded and breathed out a whimpering sound. His skin was hot, his hair in disarray across his forehead, his body tense and hard, wound tight with the anticipation Keith had worked into every inch of his being.

"Please, baby…"

Lance lined himself up and pressed inside, sliding through the slick sweetness of Keith's release.

"Oh, Ashi…"

Lance kissed him: his neck, his burning cheek, the corner of his open mouth. Keith was there, too, mirroring each kiss, wrapping his fingers around Shiro's cock.

"Lance- need you-" Shiro made a grab for his arm; Lance wrapped it around his chest and held him tight.

"Yeah- tell me how-"

"Hard," Shiro begged, his fingers digging into Lance's forearm with bruising force. "Deep- YES-"

Lance was thrusting, keeping their bodies almost locked together, his impending climax simmering hot and heavy at the base of his spine as Shiro's pleasure washed over him. He closed his eyes and buried his face in Shiro's neck, watching himself with Shiro through Keith's eyes instead: his lean frame conforming perfectly to Shiro's sculpted build, his knuckles turning white where his hand was intertwined with Shiro's prosthetic, his mouth mumbling praise and promises and scattered syllables of pleasure against Shiro's pulse point. Shiro tensed and shivered and moaned in return, grinding back to meet him until he was wound too tight, until the words YES and PLEASE were exploding behind his closed eyelids, just for Lance-

That's it, love. These words were from Keith, precious gifts freely given. See how he needs you? See how we both do?

Lance could see, though his eyes were squeezed shut and his mind was burning up with the heat of Shiro's pleasure-

"Lance-!"

Shiro gasped out his name as he fell hard into climax, and Lance tumbled right after him, though he managed to go on looking through Keith's eyes all the while.

That was a lucky thing, too, because the last thing he saw before he lost his mind entirely was the wide, euphoric smile on Shiro's face.

Keith could tell something had shifted in him when his wristband buzzed him awake the next morning. He'd been sleeping soundly on Lance's chest, and when he tilted his chin to breathe in Lance's scent, he wasn't immediately overwhelmed by the need for sexual contact. He still wanted sex with Lance and Shiro, but he didn't feel viscerally compelled to initiate it. He felt calm and content, and he found himself enjoying the almost-stillness of their intertwined bodies without needing anything about their configuration to change.

He looked at Shiro, who was sharing Lance's pillow, still fast asleep with his face tucked close to the other side of Lance's neck. He looked at Shiro's hand, which was resting on top of his own in the center of Lance's chest, his broad palm and long fingers almost eclipsing Keith's entirely, as if he were sheltering it. Keeping Keith safe, even in his sleep.

Keith decided to endure the vibration of his wristband for as long as he needed to, because he couldn't bear the thought of moving his hand just yet.

He pressed his thumb up against the pad of Shiro's pinky instead.

Shiro gifted him with gentle pressure and a sleepy smile in return.

Rogan. He didn't bother opening his eyes. Sometimes I can feel you right before I wake up. Like you've gotten into my dreams or something.

Better dreams? After we were together last night?

Yes. Much better.

Keith stroked Shiro's pinky with his thumb.

I feel more calm. The urges aren't so strong anymore.

Yeah. Same for me. It feels good. Even better than before, I think.

That was a relief to hear. Following through with this bond had been a massive leap of faith- something Keith could never have asked Shiro or Lance to undertake, no matter how badly he'd wanted it. He needed to know that they were happy. He needed to know that it had been the right choice.

Of course it was, love, Shiro told him. His eyes were open now. I wanted this as much as you did.

I know. It's just so… powerful. I mean, I fused our minds to Lance's last night. I know we can't be sure, but it feels permanent to me. It feels real. I think I felt him in my dreams last night, too.

Shiro moved their hands until they were palm-to-palm, then let their fingers interlock.

This bond is everything Lance has ever wanted. You know that. We'll figure out the rest.

Keith squeezed his hand.

But what if I make a mistake? What if I do something I can't take back, and it turns out to be the wrong choice? What if I'm not the right person to have this kind of power?

Shiro's smile was soft. He radiated a sort of gentle approval that told Keith his doubts were appropriate, but ultimately unwarranted.

Rogan… you're the Black Paladin. You've held the fate of the entire universe in your hands more than once. You can handle it. And if you can't for some reason, Lance and I will be right here.

Keith gave a tiny nod.

Keep me in check, Shiro. Don't let me fuck it up.

Lance opened his eyes then. He slid his hand around the back of Keith's neck, urging him to lift his head.

"Red?" He shook his head a little. "Don't be worried, okay? Please?"

Keith kissed him, softly.

"My worries woke you up?"

"Yeah. They're loud. No more, okay? I trust you. Everything's okay."

Keith reached up to brush Lance's hair away from his forehead. He lingered there, tracing over his eyebrows with his thumb.

"You feel all right? After everything last night?"

Lance smiled. "Can't you tell?"

"I'd rather hear you say it. I'm not going to read your mind all the time just because I can. You're entitled to your own thoughts."

Lance nodded.

"I've never felt better."

"And the bond? Are you… craving sex?"

Lance looked thoughtful. He was toying affectionately with Keith's hair.

"Not like before. It's… quieter."

"Maybe we should try to hold out," Shiro suggested. "See how long we can make it?"

Lance frowned at him. "But… we have time before breakfast, right? I mean, I still want to. Don't you?"

Shiro fit his hand underneath Lance's ear and pressed their foreheads together.

"Of course I do, baby."

Keith felt the gentle nudge of arousal and affection Shiro was sending to Lance, and he felt the coil of uncertainty at the back of Lance's mind start to unwind.

"We need to know we can function without it," Keith said gently. "Especially if any of us are going to scout out the Marmoran outpost."

"But before then?" Lance asked, turning to him. "Before any of us leave here?"

"Yeah. Of course. We'll make time. And Allura understands now, remember?"

Lance's relief - and his affection for Allura - bloomed in Keith's chest like flowers opening for the sun.

"Right," Lance murmured. "Okay. So…" His expression brightened. "Hey! We could do yoga! Until we need to meet the team, I mean."

Shiro and Keith nuzzled at his cheeks in unison, and Lance giggled freely, returning the pressure as best he could.

"Brilliant," Shiro told him. "Let's get cleaned up."

One painfully brief shower later, the three of them laid down on their backs in Lance's simulated studio and held hands in the spaces between them. Lance, at the center of it all, let his eyes fall closed as he drew in a slow, calming breath, and Keith and Shiro did the same, as if Lance could direct the very air to inflate their lungs. They breathed together - inhale, hold, exhale; inhale, hold, exhale - until their lips and fingertips tingled with relaxed anticipation.

Lance let go of their hands and drew his right knee up to his chest, synching his breath with the satisfying extension of his muscles. He moved deliberately through a series of familiar stretches… and Keith and Shiro moved right along with him, silent except for the sounds of their breathing and the comforting hum of their essence at the edges of Lance's mind.

He guided them onto their stomachs, pressed their palms to the floor, and arched them upward in a graceful bend, tipping their chins toward the ceiling.

He nudged them into a deep lunge, steering their arms high above their heads.

He brought them up to stand and anchored them in place, pressing their feet into the floor while he took three steps back.

He wanted to watch them move.

He extended his arms backward, and they moved their arms too- deliberately, expansively, like birds on the verge of taking flight.

He wasn't controlling them, of course, but their shared mindspace let him guide them almost instantaneously, so that an outside observer would've seen them moving in perfect synchrony.

Near-perfect, he amended, watching them complete the gesture. They moved harmoniously, but not identically. Shiro looked solid and sturdy, like a deeply-rooted tree in a partnered sway with the wind. His feet were perfectly spaced, and his arms angling toward and away from his body exactly as Lance meant them to.

Keith was different. He was like water: fluid, graceful, lovely. His strength and power were evident, but channeled into something more like art than exercise. His feet were set a bit too wide, and he overextended each of his movements, as if he had some message or emotion to convey, and he could only do it with the arch of his spine or the angle of his fingers.

He was dancing.

He was perfect.

He stepped out of his stance, turned around, and walked up to Lance. His cheeks were crimson.

"I'm not." His eyes were dark, like the evening sky in a storm. A lock of hair had come loose from his short ponytail; Lance reached up to tuck it behind his ear.

"Babe-"

"I'm not perfect. You shouldn't think that."

Lance's mouth turned up in a soft smile. "Try and stop me."

Keith scowled, but there was no anger behind it. There was something else, though. Something Lance couldn't define yet.

"And all that other stuff-"

"Perfect," Lance murmured. "Graceful. Beautiful."

Keith's cheeks reddened even further.

"Hey." Lance rested his hands lightly at Keith's waist. "What's this about? I'm not trying to embarrass you."

"I know that. It's just… I feel…"

He let out a frustrated breath, though he took hold of Lance's forearms and gave him a gentle squeeze. Lance was about to start delving more deeply into Keith's emotions on his own, but then Keith surged forward and kissed him.

It was startling - hard and a little messy - and all too brief, in Lance's opinion. Keith didn't really pull away from him; he just broke the kiss and lingered, his cheeks still on fire, his gaze averted.

It wasn't embarrassment, exactly. It was more complex than that. Keith's thoughts and feelings were laced with self-doubt, like he was armed and ready to shatter Lance's idealized image of him…

But Keith also loved that image. Treasured it, even, like he was longing to prove that he could live up to it. Hearing Lance speak to him like that infuriated and encouraged him, tormented and… aroused him.

"Oh," Lance whispered, taking in Keith's pained expression with fresh eyes. "Oh, babe-"

"I-"

"Shh…"

Lance pulled him into a tight embrace. He nuzzled into Keith's hair and locked eyes with Shiro, who was hovering close by, patiently giving them space.

"Keith." Lance lightly kissed the rim of his ear. "You're perfect, to me. I'll tell you anytime you want."

"That's not-"

"I'll tell you how graceful you are, how I could watch you move all day-"

"That's not what I-"

"How pretty you are… so, so pretty-"

"Lance-"

"And so good. Always. So strong and perfect and good-"

Keith made a muffled sound as a shiver ran through him. He grasped at the back of Lance's shirt and buried his face in his neck, and Lance felt the twin pinpricks of his canines tease across his sensitive skin… along with the unmistakable hardness of Keith's cock pressing into his hip.

"That's it, love." He tightened his arms around Keith's middle and mouthed at the back of his neck. "It's okay. I like it when you tell me nice things too. I don't always feel like I deserve it, either… but I trust you. You should trust me, too."

Keith's teeth scraped stinging lines of pleasure toward Lance's throat.

"I'm trying," Keith whispered. "I want to."

"Good." Lance nipped back at the line of his neck. "Such a good boy for me."

Keith let out a stifled whine. His hips rocked forward in a barely-restrained grind. Lance bit his lip and resisted the urge to grind right back.

"Red, babe... is this the bond?"

"No." Keith's breath was hot against his cheek. "It's because… um. It's because of how you're making me feel. It's because of you."

Lance held him tight.

"Do you still want to try to wait? To have sex?"

"No. But… yes. We have to. Right?"

"If we can. At least until after the briefing."

Keith let out a breath and went lax in his hold. Lance kissed the side of his head.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to get you worked up-"

"I know that, it's not your fault, it was stupid-"

"Hey." Lance held him even tighter. He planted his feet and rocked him slowly from side to side. "It's not stupid. Everything's fine. Just sway with me."

Keith didn't argue. He let himself be moved.

Lance looked at Shiro and found him watching, wearing an approving smile.

That was Shiro, Lance thought. Selfless in all things. Shiro was used to being the one to comfort Keith, but he was just as happy to let Lance try, to give the two of them space to grow closer.

Selfless. Wise. Perfect.

I won't fight you on that, Shiro's mind told him. Not while you're busy being entirely spectacular.

Lance gave him a smile, then took a slow, contented breath. He loosened his hold on Keith and moved his hands to rest on his hips while they rocked each other back and forth.

"See?" He moved his hips with a little more purpose, guiding Keith to match him. "Almost like dancing. I love how you move, babe."

That same ripple of conflicted emotion ran through Keith. He craved the praise, but not deeply enough to overcome his instinct to push it away.

"I can... sway," was all he managed to say.

Lance lifted his head to look at him. He moved one hand slowly up Keith's side, then slid it over his shoulder and along the length of his arm. He found Keith's hand and held on tight, guiding him into a fair approximation of a partnered dance position.

"You can do so much more than that," he said. "Don't you want to know what it feels like?"

Lance tried to gently nudge the movement into Keith's mind, to guide him through the simple steps… but Keith's mind went dark, as if a door had swung shut and blocked out the light.

Keith pulled his hand from Lance's grasp and threw both arms around his shoulders instead, pulling him into another close embrace.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I do want to, I just-"

"It's okay." Lance kissed his temple, his cheek, his neck. "It's fine. I'm sorry I pushed."

Keith's mind lit up with gratitude and relief.

"You didn't. You were… perfect. I'm just-"

"Really good at swaying," Lance interrupted. "Thank you for swaying with me."

He meant it. It was almost a relief, learning that Keith had hangups and insecurities that hadn't been cured by the magic of their bond. They were on equal footing again, holding each other up as they navigated new and intimidating obstacles.

There was no rush. They had the rest of their lives to soothe each other's hurts.

"Dance for me?" Keith asked quietly. "For us? Please?"

Lance rubbed his nose into Keith's hair, behind his ear.

"Anything for you."

He gestured for Shiro to join them. They slipped easily into a snug, three-person embrace, and then Shiro went on holding Keith while Lance made his way over to the control panel.

He went over a few options in his mind, ultimately deciding that he could probably remember most of the steps to the last exhibition routine he performed before moving to the Garrison: a mix of ballet technique and contemporary moves he'd choreographed himself. He'd danced it a few times after he'd become a cadet, whenever a low grade or a flight error had left him feeling inadequate and nostalgic for the path he'd given up- though he hadn't practiced dancing at all since he'd become a Paladin.

He could picture the moves, though, and there was a song in the Altean database with the same tempo and mood as the piece he'd chosen for that routine so many years ago.

He tapped through the database folders until he found the track he was looking for and added it to the audio queue.

He moved back to Keith and Shiro and gave each of them a kiss.

"I used to be really good," he said honestly. "But it's been a long time now. I'll probably mess up a lot, but…" He shrugged, smiling. "I know you're gonna love it anyway."

"We will," Keith confirmed. "It'll be great."

"Don't hurt yourself for our sake," Shiro said. "We're already impressed."

"I won't. I promise. Just give me a sec to try some things out."

He put a few yards of distance between them, running through the sequence of moves in his mind. He'd taken gymnastics, too, back then, to add variety and difficulty to his routines- and a year ago, he would've been so caught up in his desire to impress, he probably would've risked all his most challenging moves and ended up with a broken wrist or ankle for his trouble.

Not today. He looked over at Keith, who was holding Shiro's hand, keeping Shiro's arm secured tight around his shoulders.

They'd all come a long way.

He stretched his neck, rolled his shoulders, and then tipped into a leisurely cartwheel. The motion felt good. Easy and familiar.

He took a couple purposeful steps and fell forward into a walkover. That felt good, too, so he strode forward again and did several in a row. He tried it backwards, and then he tried it in each direction one-handed. He moved through roundoffs and handsprings with no difficulty whatsoever. He'd expected to find this much more challenging after so much time away… but training and fighting had strengthened him in ways he could barely fathom, both in body and in mind. He knew the movements by heart, and he had everything he needed to carry them out.

He turned toward Keith and Shiro and slipped into third position, straightening his spine, positioning one arm in a line away from his chest.

"Play music," he called toward the ceiling.

He rose up tall onto the ball of one foot, extended one arm and one leg behind him in a graceful arabesque, and reached toward Keith and Shiro with subtly beckoning fingers… and then he started to dance.

Keith realized his mistake as soon as Lance started moving to the music.

Lance was perfection, and Keith wanted him. He felt the ache of it so deeply, he found himself pressing his hand over his abdomen, staring, wide-eyed, while Lance flowed and swept and leapt through space.

"That right there?" Shiro murmured, squeezing his hand. "What you're feeling right now? That's how he feels when he watches you, too."

"God, Shiro," was all Keith could manage to say. "Look at his hands."

"I promise you, I am."

"Did you know he could do this? I mean, I knew he danced, but this? Why didn't he say anything before?"

"You mean, why didn't he make sure everyone knew how brilliant he is?"

"Uh... yeah. That."

Shiro chuckled. "Listen to him. How he's feeling, I mean. Pay attention right before he exaggerates the movement… there."

Keith felt it: a swell of emotion that Lance channeled into the sweep of his arms and the bend of his spine, full of intermingling joy and heartbreak.

"Oh. It's-"

"Personal," Shiro finished. "Wouldn't have occurred to him to boast about it, or even bring it up. He loves it too much. He loves it genuinely. Privately. He… well, I think he loves it the same way he loves you."

Keith sniffed a little. "And you." He swallowed hard, trying to ease the tightness in his throat. "Shiro… how are we supposed to make it through this briefing?"

"Mm." Shiro moved behind him and wrapped both his arms around him. He pressed his cheek to the side of Keith's head. "We'll make it through because we have to. We have to win the war. We have to get Lance back to Earth so he can dance every day."

Keith nodded, locking eyes with Lance as he slid onto his knees and reached toward them.

"Yes," he said. "We do."

Keith led Lance and Shiro to the meeting room with a renewed sense of purpose. He knew the beginning of this briefing might be rough, but getting it over with meant there would be no more secrets between the three of them and the rest of the team, which, he hoped, could ultimately bring all of them closer together. They had asked Hunk and Allura to share the news of their bond with anyone who wasn't aware yet, so that task was done; he just needed to make a statement and handle any potential fallout.

You'll be great, Lance told him, resting a hand on his back as they approached the meeting room.

We'll be right here, Shiro added, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

Keith paused just outside the door, letting the physical contact soothe him. He could do this. For Lance and Shiro. For the good of the team.

For himself, too. Their bond was private and personal and messy, ill-advised and altogether complicated- and it was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He could be a better friend, a better fighter, a better leader than he ever had been before, now that Lance and Shiro were by his side. And if the team couldn't understand that - if they were too worried about the risks, or too upset about the selfish nature of the decisions Keith had made - well, they'd be justified, and Keith would just have to do everything in his power to prove himself to them all over again.

He nodded at Shiro and Lance, then stepped through the door with his head held high-

"SURPRISE!"

Keith stopped short, instinctively flinging both arms out in front of Lance and Shiro as his brain struggled to process the wholly unexpected scene before him. The entire team was there, standing around the table in the center of the room, cheering and gesturing in their direction-

"I told you guys we shouldn't yell," Pidge said, looking exasperated. "They're totally freaked out-"

"Nonsense!" Allura chirped, positively beaming at them. "They're surprised! That's the point! I researched surprise parties quite thoroughly, Pidge-"

"Maybe we should explain?" Krolia suggested, looking concerned, gesturing to the banner that was hanging above the buffet table at the back of the room. "We wanted to celebrate your bonding-"

"Or engagement?" Hunk interrupted. "We weren't really sure what you'd want us to call it-"

"Guys," Keith sputtered, letting his arms fall back to his sides. "What… when…?"

He stared at the banner. It was a long, green rectangle with white lettering that read Congratulations, Keith, Lance, & Shiro in elaborate script, and though it somewhat resembled party banners Keith had seen on Earth, something about it looked organic, almost floral. There were other similar decorations strewn about the room, too: vines with white flowers climbing the walls and the backs of the chairs, floral centerpieces along the midline of the table. There were cylindrical lanterns hovering in the air, glowing from within like captured stars. The color scheme was largely green and white, which made the room feel more like a garden patio than a meeting room inside a skyscraper, and all of it reminded Keith of-

The waterfall, Lance and Shiro confirmed. The grass… your flowers...

"I asked Callos for some help," Allura explained, approaching them hesitantly. "I didn't tell her why, and she didn't ask… she was so happy to help in any way… I hope it's all right?"

Lance let out a great, hiccuping sob and threw himself into Allura's arms.

"You're throwing us a party?!" he wailed.

"Well… yes." Allura beamed at Keith and Shiro over his shoulder. "We haven't had much to celebrate as of late. We're overdue, don't you think?"

She giggled as Lance lifted her off her feet and squeezed her tight, then approached Keith and Shiro once he'd set her down, holding out her hands like she wasn't quite sure how to proceed. They embraced her in unison, though, caught up in their shared affection for her. Keith could feel an ache behind his eyes that meant he was close to tears, and that might've alarmed him in the past, but not now. He had Lance to thank for it - Lance, who felt so deeply and so much more openly than Keith had ever learned to. Lance, who was a part of him now, a warmth in his chest that was burning right through the ice around his heart.

"Thank you, Princess," he murmured. He pressed his lips to her cheek before he stepped away from her.

"Such wonderful news," Coran proclaimed, moving close to them, though he kept his hands clasped behind his back. "I officiated many an Altean wedding ceremony in my day, you know. Earned myself quite a reputation for my interpretation of the sacred oaths. Even had a bride plead with me to shorten my oration, she was so overcome with emotion…" He looked positively misty-eyed at the memory. "Anyway. I hope you'll consider my expertise if you decide to hold a more traditional ceremony?"

Lance giggled. Shiro cleared his throat.

"Uhm," Keith said. "We haven't exactly talked about… any of that."

"When we do, though," Shiro cut in, "you'll be the first to know."

"Excellent! Wonderful!" Coran finally unclasped his hands and showed them his palms. "Might you consider including me in your circle of chosen family?"

Keith blinked. "Our… what?"

Allura rested a hand on Keith's arm.

"Coran explained it to me. The ritual we performed together yesterday."

"Yes," Coran confirmed. "King Alfor was aware that bonded Galra can become confrontational about physical touch with people outside their families. Zarkon, of course, invited the rest of the original Paladins into his circle of chosen family, along with anyone else who was close to Honerva, including… well, including myself."

"Of course," Keith said. "I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a name for it. I'm still learning."

"The concept doesn't translate well to Altean or English," Krolia chimed in. "'Chosen family' is a fair approximation, but it doesn't necessarily convey the trust required. When the Galra consciously extend invitations of physical touch, we're deeming someone worthy of the affection of our mates and families, and entrusting them with the responsibility of preserving and strengthening our bonds. It serves a practical purpose, yes… but a deeply symbolic one as well."

Keith felt a nudge of approval from Shiro and Lance. He opened his arms to Coran.

"Family?"

"Family," Coran confirmed, sounding more than a little choked up. He stepped forward so Keith, Shiro and Lance could wrap him up in a close hug. Keith wasn't sure whether he might've become aggressive if Coran had decided to touch Lance or Shiro without his permission, but he knew it would've bothered him. Before bonding with Lance and Shiro, he wouldn't have enjoyed being embraced by Coran either, even under the most appropriate of circumstances. But things had changed. Lance liked being hugged, loved knowing he was accepted and cared for. Shiro enjoyed demonstrations of loyalty and respect.

Keith felt what they felt, and when he pressed his palm firmly into the center of Coran's back, the show of affection was genuine.

Pidge was next in line, and Keith found himself caught up, enjoying platonic touch in a way he'd never really experienced before, except maybe with Shiro. He hugged her sincerely along with Lance and Shiro, letting himself enjoy the softness of her hair against his cheek, and he lifted her off the floor into a crushing, swinging hug before he let her go, smiling in response to her musical laugh.

What an unexpected discovery it was, to find that he could inspire joy in others.

Romelle was the last to approach them, and she did so only after an encouraging nod from Allura.

"I… I know I don't know you very well," she told Lance and Shiro. "I would not be offended if you chose not to include me at this time." She looked at Keith. "You saved my life. You helped me learn the truth of what happened to my people. I trust you as much as I ever trusted my own family-"

Keith pulled her into a close embrace. Lance and Shiro followed suit.

"You were fighting to take down the Empire before you even know what it was," Shiro told her. "Of course you're our family."

"You're one of us," Lance said. "No question."

"Oh," came her barely audible response, before she relaxed in their arms and let out a small sigh. Keith found himself wondering what it must mean to her to be touched and held, after everything she'd lost. Did she and Allura bring each other the kind of comfort he'd found in Lance and Shiro?

He hoped so.

"Oh!" she said again, at full volume this time. "Allura has something else for you as well!"

Her cheeks were rosy pink when she stepped away from them and retrieved three small boxes from the table. They were rectangular and made of a polished, dark-colored wood, with delicate silver clasps and hinges. Romelle handed them to Allura, and Allura stepped forward to give one to each of them. Keith looked closely at the lid of his box and saw that it was expertly engraved with his initials in English script.

"I looked into Olkari wedding traditions," she explained. "They don't exchange rings, but they do court and celebrate their engagement when they decide to marry… and the betrothed do give each other gifts. They wear them most of the time, but… underneath their clothes." She cleared her throat, looking mildly embarrassed, and altogether pleased with herself. "So. You may open these in private, after we celebrate."

"The boxes alone are stunning," Shiro told her. "They look hand crafted."

"They are. Callos and I made them together, along with what you'll find inside."

Lance made a sniffling sound. "You made these? Allura…" He rested his hand on her upper arm. "Thank you. This is- I mean, all of this is just- you didn't have to, and it's so-"

"Perfect," Keith supplied, smiling fondly as Lance dissolved into tears again. Luckily, Hunk was there to console him with a bear hug, which Keith enjoyed almost as much as Lance.

These were his people.

This was his family.

He wiped at the corner of his eye and nodded at Allura, and then at his mother.

"Perfect," he murmured again.

The celebration was a joyous affair. Hunk had prepared remarkable approximations of their favorite desserts and breakfast foods: waffles with sugary syrup in Shiro's honor, seasoned rice and eggs for Lance, apple pie for Keith, and, of course, chocolate ice cream. They all shared plates of food and delicate glasses of fizzy, fruit-flavored drinks, talking about the traditions they missed, and the ones they planned to start once they were lucky enough to find themselves in celebratory circumstances again.

Eventually, all the food had been eaten, and the laughter had started to die down, and everyone had settled comfortably around the table to continue quiet conversations. Coran was talking to Hunk, who had his arm draped casually around the back of Pidge's chair. Allura and Romelle were speaking quietly with their heads bent close together, looking at each other like they meant to memorize every detail of the other's features. Lance was in Shiro's lap with his arm around Keith's shoulders, toying with Keith's hair, trying to convince Krolia to take a sip of fizzy drink.

"I have indulged far too much already," she said, scowling at her syrup-stained plate, the only remaining evidence of a waffle she'd devoured with impressive enthusiasm.

"Mom has a sweet tooth," Keith said. "I saw it in her memories. She got addicted to sugary foods on Earth."

"I was not addicted. I was simply unused to the chemical composition of Earth foods. The Blades are trained to eat only for nutritional purposes."

"She gained twenty pounds eating my dad's apple pie."

Krolia broke into an uncharacteristic smile.

"You saw that memory?"

"I did. More than once. Figured it was something you thought about a lot."

She raised her hand to tuck a lock of hair behind Keith's ear.

"I had no taste for apple pie until I was carrying you, my love."

Keith's heartbeat tripped over itself. He pictured the memory again: his father wearing oven mitts, pulling a pie out of the oven and setting it on the table in front of his mother, who looked soft all over and impossibly content…

His father kneeling down beside her to rest his head over her heart, and then her stomach…

"Oh."

He shared the memory with Lance and Shiro, who responded with a flood of comforting, melancholy energy. Lance slid off of Shiro's lap and settled onto Keith's instead, draping both arms around his shoulders.

"You looked so pretty," he told Krolia. "And fierce. My brothers always told me my mom looked fierce, too, when she was pregnant with me."

Krolia gifted them a quiet laugh.

"I suppose I must have been. I remember feeling very protective… but content, too. Keith's father was a force to be reckoned with in his own right."

"I thought it would've been lonely, being away from your people during that time," Shiro said. "But you were so happy."

She nodded.

"I was. I had years of peace that most members of the Blade only ever dream about. It was the happiest time of my life… until now."

Keith stayed silent, letting her words settle. He knew what she meant. This love he'd found should've been impossible, unattainable in the midst of the greatest war that had ever been waged. But Lance was warm and solid in his lap, and Shiro's hand was strong and sure around the back of his neck. They were as real as anything he'd ever known. They'd brought light to the darkest parts of him.

And they'd done that for Krolia, too… because this was what she'd been fighting for all this time. She'd been fighting to give him this chance at the sort of life she'd given up.

At the sort of love she'd lost.

Lance sniffled. He brought one hand up to wipe at the corner of his eye.

Krolia tilted her head.

"What is it, my son?"

He let out a tiny sob, though he was smiling.

"It's Keith. I feel what he feels."

"He is distressed?"

"No. It's not like that."

He slid out of Keith's lap and put his arms around Krolia's shoulders. She was so tall, he barely needed to bend at the waist to hug her.

"I think Keith and Shiro are the best family anyone could have," he told her. "They have been for me, so… they will be for you, too. And so will I."

She nuzzled affectionately into his hair, catlike, and seemingly indifferent to the public nature of the display.

"I learned all I need to know of you both from Keith's memories. The Blades would say that you are kraftenovas."

Lance straightened up and looked at her, then at Keith.

"Star-forged is a decent translation," Keith told him.

"Long ago, on Daibazaal," Krolia said, "our ancestors discovered a sort of metal that could not be broken, or molded, or changed in any way. It was regarded as a sacred part of the planet, fortifying our tallest mountains, guiding the currents of our rivers and oceans. Factions arose eventually- those who devoted themselves to protecting the natural state of the planet, and those who continued to try to shape the natural world, or abuse it, to suit their selfish purposes. Thousands of deca-phoebs passed… the war began… and those protectors, the Marmoraxen, were among the first to resist Zarkon's rule. They established a base at the foot of one of those mountains, inside a cave that was fortified by the sacred metal… and then one day, when they were meditating, preparing to train for the battles ahead… the walls of the cave began to glow."

"Like your blades," Shiro murmured. His thumb stroked affectionately behind Keith's ear.

"Yes. Daibazaal granted the Marmoraxen permission to hone the sacred metal in defense of the natural world, and in defense of peace… but that was not easily done. It took their most brilliant scientists deca-phoebs to develop the necessary technology, because the metal would only yield to heat and pressure unlike anything that had ever been replicated in a laboratory."

"Star-forged," Lance mused. "Extreme heat and pressure- like the center of a star?"

"Correct. And even then, the metal did not behave the way other metals would have. It could be honed, but not shaped. The blade-makers said that the shapes of our weapons were already there, waiting to be revealed. If they attempted to deviate from the path the metal had chosen, their instruments would fail. All that heat and pressure could do nothing but reveal the beauty and elegance within the metal. There were no jagged edges, no flaws in form or design. The metal never broke or brittled, never yielded to suit a selfish or sinister purpose. It only grew more beautiful. Deadly, yes, but only in its utility. In its form, it remained lovely. Sacred."

Krolia reached up to lay her hand on Lance's cheek.

"My three sons," she murmured. "Your trials have only honed your elegance, your compassion." She met Keith's eye. "Kraftenovas," she said.

He took hold of her hand and squeezed it, overcome.

He let Shiro guide his chin and kiss his mouth, right there in the middle of the meeting room.

He tilted his head and licked at Shiro's tongue, eager to direct this summer storm of emotion toward someone who could share and understand it.

He joined Shiro in a fit of giggling as applause and whistling broke out around the room.

"Carry on," Hunk cheered from across the table. "Don't mind us!"

"Yeah!" Pidge chimed in. "Show us how it's done! Don't be shy, Lance!"

Keith sighed, letting deep-rooted tension inside his chest start to unwind. All three of them had mostly regained their sense of boundaries when it came to physical intimacy, in that they could remember what was expected of them in mixed company. It still felt unnatural, though, to deprive themselves of each other… which was why Keith guided Lance back into his lap and pulled him down into a bold, heartfelt kiss. He nuzzled at Lance's cheek to another chorus of applause, lingering close while Lance and Shiro kissed each other- close enough that the boundaries between kisses broke down, their lips all touching sweetly before they opened their eyes and pulled away.

"Huh," Hunk mused, his eyes bright, his arm still resting around the back of Pidge's chair. "Okay. I get it now."

"Get what?" Pidge asked, eyebrows raised.

"The whole three-person kiss thing. Kinda hard to picture if you've never seen it."

"It's lovely," Allura said. "And I wish we could take more time…" She trailed off, deferring to Keith, who nodded. It had been generous of her to delay their meeting for as long as she already had. He doubted any of them would be in the mood for celebrations once they'd established a plan for the mission that was looming.

"Thank you, Princess," he said sincerely. "Thanks to all of you. This means a lot, and I hope we'll have more time to celebrate soon… but, yes. We should start talking about our next move."

He felt Lance's distress, a heavy weight that settled in his stomach as their teammates straightened up and readied themselves for the briefing.

I don't want it to be over, Lance's mind said, his eyes wide and red-rimmed from the joyful tears he'd shed today.

Nothing's over, Keith told him silently. It's all just starting. He clasped his hand around the back of Lance's neck. Fierce, remember? Show me how fierce you can be.

Lance let out a watery giggle. He held Keith's face with both hands, traced his cheeks with his thumbs, and then fit their mouths together in a close, fierce kiss.

That's it, Blue. Keith held him tight with both arms. There was no applause this time, but they were still safe here with their chosen family. Just like that. I've got you.

And I've got you, Lance told him, pulling away with the barest scrape of his teeth over Keith's lower lip.

He slipped out of Keith's lap and into the chair Krolia had brought for him. He sat tall with his hands folded on the table in front of him, his chin tilted proudly upward, his expression serious.

Keith felt pride fill his heart.

"Okay… thank you, everyone," Allura prompted, calling the meeting to order. "I have an update from the Olkari. They're currently crafting us a ship large enough to house one of the lions and three of their smaller fighter jets. The ship will be completed later this afternoon."

Keith blinked. Later this afternoon. That was… soon.

"We just need to decide who will go," Allura went on, "and when."

"We'll need the green lion," Pidge said. "For the cloaking capability. So I'll be going, obviously."

"So will I," Krolia said. "I may be able to help you enter the base, and if any of the Blades are still there…"

Allura nodded.

"Agreed-"

"I should go," Lance volunteered. "I can fly one of the jets. Offer long range support."

"Ah… yes," Allura said. "That would be ideal, but we'll need more fire power-"

"I'll go," Keith and Shiro said in unison.

Allura frowned, staring between them.

"I… I had thought you might've discussed…" She cleared her throat. "We can't spare you both."

"What?" Shiro's voice slashed through the air like a knife, and his distress cut Keith deep. "Are you grounding me?"

Allura raised her hands in a calming gesture. "Certainly not. The matter is open for discussion, but please, Shiro, understand... this mission is incredibly risky. I'd never agree to it if we had any other option. If something were to happen out there… we cannot afford to lose both of our Black Paladins."

"I…" Shiro's face twisted, as if he'd been cut by the blade of this conversation too. "Then I should go, my arm is an asset-"

"No," Keith said quietly. He met Shiro's eye, pleading silently for him to understand. "Kosmo is the asset we need. You know what he can do, and you know I'm the only one who's trained with him." He risked a gentle touch: his knuckles resting against Shiro's arm. "We need you here with Black, backing us up."

"Keith, I- I can't-"

Keith saw tension at the corner of Shiro's mouth, sensed a disturbing tide of emotion starting to swell inside him. He tried to help Shiro fight against the undertow, and he felt Lance doing the same, but he knew it was only a temporary solution, which meant it was no solution at all.

"Sorry," Shiro managed, turning back to Allura. "I'm sorry, Princess. Please continue."

She shook her head, looking infinitely sympathetic.

"There's no need to apologize. I share your apprehension, but we have very little to work with here. Difficult decisions must be made." She folded her hands in front of her. "I propose that Pidge, Krolia, Lance, and Keith undertake this mission. The rest of us will remain here-"

"Wait." Hunk was shaking his head, looking about as disturbed as Shiro. "This doesn't feel right. I get that we can't send the whole team and all the lions straight to the base, but can't the rest of us find some kind of middle ground? What if they need us? What if something happens, and we could've helped, but we're too far away?"

Allura shook her head, looking pained.

"I'm sorry, Hunk. We have no way of concealing the other lions. We must protect them until we know what we're up against."

A heavy silence fell, entirely at odds with the cheerful decorations still strewn around the room. Keith looked at Shiro, hoping he could find some way to reassure him.

Shiro was staring down at the table, looking utterly lost.

Shiro.

He didn't look up, but he shook his head a tiny bit.

Not now, Rogan. Please.

His mind went dark. Keith winced at the discomfort of it; more and more, losing his connection to Lance or Shiro felt like losing a physical part of himself.

Allura let out quiet sigh.

"I think we're in agreement. Keith, you and your team should prepare to leave as soon as the Olkari vessel is ready, most likely by dinnertime this evening. Are there any further objections to consider?"

Keith shook his head, along with almost everyone else at the table. It was a solid plan. The best they could come up with, under the circumstances.

And yet he knew exactly why Shiro was silently falling apart.

Keith would rather cut off his own arm than walk into a fight without Shiro or Lance.

They were part of him. He needed them like he needed his hands, or his eyes, or his restlessly-beating heart.

And he'd rather blind himself than send them into danger without him.

"Right," Allura was saying. "Thank you all. Our circumstances are not ideal, but I have faith in each one of you. We will succeed if we take care of one another." She squared her shoulders, nodding to herself. "You may be dismissed at your leisure."

Keith turned toward Shiro again… but Shiro was already out of his seat, heading quickly for the exit.

"Red." Lance was out of his seat, too, holding his hand out for Keith. He was composed, but Keith could sense the agitation he was trying to bury. "We need to go after him."

Keith grabbed Allura's gifts - the three small wooden boxes - and then let Lance pull him toward the door and into the hall.

Shiro was nowhere to be seen, but Kosmo appeared in front of them, rowling mournfully before nuzzling at their clasped hands.

In a flash, the two of them were standing inside the simulation room, which was brightly lit and cavernous in its natural state.

Neither of them noticed that, though, because they were too busy staring at Shiro, who was sitting on the floor underneath the control panel, hugging his knees to his chest and shaking from head to toe with silent sobs.

"Shiro-"

"Ashi-"

They let go of each other and scrambled to his side. Keith set the wooden boxes down on the floor so he could lay his hand on Shiro's hot, tear-stained cheek.

"Shiro, sweetheart-"

"How?" Shiro choked out, his face crumpling, his lashes blinking a new stream of tears onto Keith's hand. "How am I supposed to let you go?"