"We are supposed to be talking about YOU," Keith pointed out, trying to distract Lance from the worry he could see growing in those pretty blue eyes of his, "and the best way for you to learn how to use your empathy."

"Uh… huh…"

Well, that attempt to steer the conversation hadn't worked at all. Lance was even more concerned, and Keith could see irritation creeping into his expression, too. "There's something you aren't saying… and that's fine. I just had that whole speech about you and your privacy and everything… but you are saying this is about ME… and I don't like the idea that there is something about me that you don't feel safe telling me. So… yeah. That's where I'm at. You don't have to say it, and I understand… but I want to make sure that if there is something I'm doing that makes you think you can't be upfront with me-"

What?

WHAT?!

"What? No! God, no! Lance… that's not it at all! I swear." He was so good. Lance was so GOOD. How could he possibly understand the jaded, cynical twists that Keith's mind took? Even when he knew better. Even when he felt like shit for assuming the worst. There was no way that Lance would ever get it… and he was such a loyal friend… If Keith told him… Nope.

"You're sure?" He leaned closer, studying Keith's face, "really? Because I want you to feel safe with me and if I can do something that makes that easier, you should tell me..."

"Lance… it has nothing to do with you. Just… my head being… fucked up, I guess. Not used to thinking… it's nothing…"

"Not used to thinking of yourself as part of Voltron anymore?" Lance guessed, his head cocking to one side.

"No, it's not that. I know you guys still see me as a Paladin. I do, too… just… like I'm an exchange student or something… on loan, I guess."

"Alright, then… I won't push. But, if you ever want to tell me, I'll listen, okay?"

He nodded, fighting the urge to scowl. He knew Lance would LISTEN, that was the last thing he was worried about. He was worried about Lance hearing the awful, jealous, mean suspicions he'd immediately had about people Lance cared about, people he trusted.

Loved.

Lance loved Allura.

Keith believed him when he said that he was with him because that's what he wanted. He even believed that when they'd been reunited his and Allura's split was mutual and amicable.

But…

It had been a while… and maybe Allura had realised how lucky she'd been. Maybe she saw Lance and Keith together and… happy… and thought she'd been WRONG. Maybe she wanted him back.

Maybe she wanted him back bad enough to send him away until Keith was called back to the Blades.

It had only taken a few seconds for him to realise how AWFUL it was to think that about Allura. She was… ALLURA! She was, like Lance… (and Shiro, and Hunk, and Pidge- all the Paladins) GOOD. Kind, compassionate, heroic, honorable, HONEST.

What was wrong with his brain that he could think something so awful of Allura?! Even HE knew that it was horrible and creepy and fucked up, and he was the one who thought it!

"Keith? Are you okay, mi sol?"

"Mhmm," he nodded again, doing his best to muster up a sincere smile. "We got side-tracked."

"And not even in the fun way that we usually get side-tracked," Lance teased, reaching out to pull Keith into his arms.

"Are you going?" he asked, voice soft as he hid his face in Lance's chest, letting him slip his fingers through Keith's hair idly. He had no right to tell Lance not to go. Not when he knew how important it was to Lance to get back into the field. Not when he was usually the one leaving Lance and the others behind. Not for any reason, really. He didn't want to be that guy.

"I don't know," Lance answered, "Coran is still figuring things out. They might want me to recover from the explosion first… or they might say no… or that I can keep working on it here… but… you know, maybe? If it is the best plan, it's the best plan."

"It'll be weird to be on the Castle without you here."

"You'll get used to it, Sugarplum… and we have a plan already for when we have to be away from each other for work. That's what I keep reminding myself of." Long fingers caught his chin, tipping his face up so Lance could look him in the eyes. "Video chats, as often as possible. We're stronger than some distance… and you'll get to spend more time hanging out with everyone else, instead of me hogging you all to myself."

"I LIKE spending so much time with you, though! Stop acting like it is some kind of chore for me to be alone with the man that I love- got it?"

"Oof… okay, that one packs a punch, babe! The man that you love?" Lance's face got all tender and he let out a giddy little laugh, "still can't believe that that's ME."

"Are you going to be impossible again?"

"Impossibly in love with you?" he countered, grinning, "always and forever, mi sol. Mi sol. My sun. Center of my universe."

He had to know how hearing that affected Keith. There was no way that he didn't. No way that he was clueless to the way hearing Lance spell out the meaning behind that pet name made Keith melt, going all warm and gooey inside. Because it was sappy and romantic and cheesy, but he MEANT IT… and somehow, he'd made Keith BELIEVE HIM. "I'm impossibly in love with you, too, Starshine," he whispered, voice cracking with emotion, "always and forever."

"I don't want to leave," Lance whispered, something wistful in his voice, "I don't want to miss out on ANY of the time that you are here on the Castle… but I feel better about leaving the others when I know you have their back. So, yeah… I'm kinda conflicted about it."

"I know how that feels." Boy, did he ever! As much faith as he had in the Paladins, it had always been hard to leave them behind and go to the Blade. Ultimately, he knew it was the right decision, but that didn't make it easier to actually GO. He'd worked so hard to make sure his doubts and warring emotions didn't show- partly as a way of guarding himself against getting too attached to the others, but mostly because he wasn't sure how long his resolve would hold if they could see just how big the part of him that wanted to stay was… and that was before he and Lance had become THIS. "Quiznak," he groaned, "leaving is so going to suck now."

"Awww," Lance's nose scrunched up and his expression turned smug as he flashed one of his signature cocky grins, "my boyfriend's gonna miss me. Precious."

"Jesus Christ," chuckled Keith, "you act like that's some kind of victory!"

"Because it IS," insisted Lance, kissing him with enough heat to make his toes curl and his heart sing. "Winning your heart is the best kind of victory."

"I mean, we are literally fighting a war… so most people would be concerned about your priorities…" Flipping Lance onto his back, Keith nuzzled at his throat until he felt Lance sigh and ever-so-slightly crane his neck. That was all the invitation Keith needed- nuzzles turned into hot, sharp, little kisses. "M'not most people."

"Keeeith…" There was a warble in Lance's voice that would have told Keith just how much he was enjoying Keith's attentions, even if the growing erection pressed against his thigh didn't. "How long… 'til dinner?"

"Hours," Keith answered, hands dipping under Lance's shirt to skim up his sides, hot and demanding. "We should make the most of'em… get naked..."