Keith was a space pirate. He knew this. He was unemployed, spent most of his days on his ship, and on occasion stole from people. He stole a lot when he was a kid and didn't have the money for things. He tried to only steal from businesses that were well-off, who could afford the loss. Now, if he had to resort to stealing, it was exclusively from super rich and obnoxious people. Folks who have never had to beg for scraps, who view people like Keith as less deserving of life, as pathetic. Keith would try for a few units of space currency. If he managed to get actual objects, he typically sold them. Money was more useful than objects, especially since he moved a lot. He could use money to get things like supplies. Objects were of little use other than as means to an end.
Another thing that made Keith feel like a pirate was his ship. Sure, it was not a sea-farring ship, but he travelled space with it. He took up odd jobs. He became well-tuned with the Red Lion, especially when he had to get out of situations quickly. She was reliable. Sometimes, when Keith was staggering back into the pit at late hours, the smell of alcohol or the alien equivalent on his breath (clothes as well depending on the night), he would sit and stare at her beauty. Sometimes, on these nights, Keith swore he felt as if the ship was alive. As if The Red Lion could communicate to him, telepathically. It was probably just the substances he had consumed talking though, right?
Except Keith believed in the telepathy a little more now. The Red Lion seemed to respond to Keith's anguish and Shiro's distressed state. The planets, in all their mystical glory, went by faster than Keith expected. Soaring through the excess materials coming off of the planets. The Red Lion's navigational system said it would be 2 days until they landed on the planet, but it took a day and a half. It was not much numerically, but for Shiro's sake, in the world of Shiro's deterioration, it meant a lot. Shiro was not eating as much as he should. His breathing was labored, each breath seeming to strain Shiro's entire system. Shiro could utter words staggeredly. Breathing them out rather than saying them. He was in pain; he briefly described it to Keith as his circulatory system being on fire. His skin felt like lava was being poured onto it. Yet Shiro's temperature was cold. He moved his flesh arm more. It took too much mental energy from him to move his other arm. Keith got the Red Lion to scan Shiro every so often. It was not the best medical technology, but it could tell him which systems were not functioning up to par.
Keith stared at the big planet before him on the second day as they flew to it. The planet was an array of blues and white. The land was blue, the water was blue, the foliage, the air. There did not appear to be any sort of buildings apart from the main building. That was the coordinates he had received. The planets he passed seemed empty, no signs of life. Intelligent life, that is. There was definitely some flora and fauna on the planets. The only planet that was habited was the one in the Red Lion's sights. Big blue. The Fountain of Youth planet. Keith figured someone either lived on the planet currently or there used to be someone. He had dealt with enough people, explained his story too many times. Justified himself enough. He pondered, however, the possibility of whoever lived on this planet and the help they could be. Keith had been under a lot of pressure when with the Alteans. Even with Shiro in the crypod, he had been stressed. They didn't exactly like him at the beginning. What if this person was the same? What if these people, if there were multiple, were looking for a fight? The Red Lion was in good condition now, but Keith would not be able to fight off a whole civilization. Or even if it was 5 people. Shiro in his state would not be much help.
As they descended, the clouds became thicker. Hues of blues danced and whipped across the front of the ship, flying past. Once they broke through the cloud barrier, Keith gasped involuntarily. Below him was an ocean of glittering blue water. He was headed straight for the biggest land mass that the locator had found. There were trees that glowed with an ethereal light, in greens and blues and browns. Some pinks. There were pathways amongst the trees and lakes and rivers. All leading to the exact location the Fountain was said to be. As Keith lowered the Red Lion down just above the trees, he saw along the horizon a building. A temple? A Castle? Keith was not sure how to describe it. The building was as big as a Castle. Situated at a clearing in the forest, with a lake nearby. It was made out of a pale grey stone and clay combination. Vines and various other plants decorated the building in a way that looked natural. The building must have been here a long time. The plants ranged in colors, hues sizes, and some of them glowed. The place seemed like a haze dream. Leading up to the castle building was a long pathway made out of the same material as the castle. The pathway was clear and was wide enough to fit The Red Lion and then some.
The Red Lion landed safely on the pathway leading to the entrance of the building. Nothing or no one shot at them, so that was a good start. Keith took a second to focus himself. He scanned the surrounding area for signs of life and to see if the atmosphere was breathable. According to the Red Lion, the air was similar to Earth's, and there was a humanoid person approaching the ship from a distance. Non-threatening. Keith was both relieved and put on-edge. Relieved he was not alone doing the ritual. On edge because while the lone person approaching the ship seemed peaceful, that could change. He would have to explain his story again, using up precious time that Shiro did not have much of.
He straightened out his clothes and ran a brush through his hair. Shiro smirked at him.
"Wanting to impress?" Shiro asked slowly through a few breaths.
"Well, yeah. I want to look like I deserve the help this person can give."
Keith had been telling Shiro about everything and describing it to Shiro. From Shiro's place in the back, he could not see much out the front of the ship.
As the figure came closer, Keith thought about how utterly human this person looked. The only difference he could see at this distance was the clothes. The person was masculine presenting. Keith made a note to ask about pronouns later. They wore a long azul robe that had a deep V neck. Along the chest and on the shoulders were thick lines of gold. Two lines of gold made a belt-like appearance, dipping into V's at the front. Underneath, from what Keith could see, they wore light blue clothes. Their hood was up and over their face. Even though they had this robe on, Keith could see their human-esque hands and feet. The silhouette was human.
"They look human, but I'm not sure." Keith reported to Shiro.
"Scan?" Shiro suggested.
Right. Keith's ship had the capability to scan folks outside of the ship too for health things. The person was close enough that the scanners could read them, but far enough away that Keith did not feel he needed to leave the ship just yet. The scanner took a few seconds. The person was human but there was something off that the machine picked up on. There were two extra genes that could not be identified. He thought may it was the scan messing up - it was a scanner but it was bought second hand and sometimes needed to be turned off and on again to actually work. Keith went through that process, but the results were the same. And the person was close to the ship. Keith got a slightly better view of the person. They looked mysterious, as they had not dropped their hood yet. It reminded Keith of religious figures out of stories.
Keith had read a lot of stories during his time with the Blades. On missions where his skills were not needed, or during their long travels through space, Keith liked reading. He could escape from the world he lived in. He could be anyone. A teen falling in love for the first time. A Captain of a fleet. A pirate on a ship way back when technology was non electrical or powered by magical means. A spy working to uncover government secrets. He could be anyone. He could choose who he could be. Pretend to be someone else, someone with different cards dealt to them in life. He could imagine being in a different universe, a different time, a different body. He could read about things that already happened, events and technology that realistically could happen. About impossible futures, at least until proven possibly possible. Keith could find a little piece of himself in every book, in at least one character. He liked many different genres, but as his time had passed with the Blades, he had grown lonely. He read more and more romance novels. Or novels where there was romance that powered the plot alongside another genre. This liking made his heart yearn for a romance like in his books. He believed in love but was skeptical he would find it. He read about men who were attracted to men. The Blades were chill with queer identities, many of them out in the open. Some had tried to flirt with Keith, but he was just not interested with any of his coworkers. He did not think he could grow to love any of them, and certainly had not felt love at first sight.
That was one thing Keith found utterly astounding about romance novels and whatnot. Love at First Sight. What a joke! How could you like someone just at first glance? Without knowing their likes, their dislikes, their biases, their bigotry, what kind of food they ate, how they looked when they laughed really hard. Little things that Keith associated with falling in love. And that was how he imagined it. Literal falling. There was no "first sight", one had to travel to that point. Had to fall, possibly hurt something or someone. He never really understood how people just KNEW they loved someone. Or could love someone based on first interactions. Until now.
Keith quickly brushed through the unruly nest on top of his head. Had he forgotten to brush it often during their journey? Keith changed shirts twice, pants once. Shiro, in his tired and barely-conscious state, smirked at him. Unbeknownst. Keith figured that this person would be coming onto the ship; it was a long walk he made from the building to where Keith had parked. He wanted it to look presentable. He turned to Shiro, taking a breath.
"Does the Red Lion smell weird?"
Shiro smirked; Keith pouted.
"Well," Shiro breathed, "I would not use 'nice' to describe the smell. Maybe 'homey' or 'definitely lived in'?"
Shiro and Keith were both surprised he was able to say an entire sentence. Despite the joy and hope that filled Keith with Shiro speaking full sentences, even being snarky with him, Keith grimaced.
"I want this… person… er, being… or, guardian or whatever to have a good impression of us!"
Keith's ears were full of heat.
"If you say so." Shiro smiled knowingly.
The Red Lion alerted them that the person was at the entrance. Keith looked panicked at Shiro.
"What if they don't want to help us?" Keith asked.
"Answer." Shiro mumbled, closing his eyes. Keith took a deep breath, then went to the pilot's seat. He pressed on the communication button that let him talk to people outside.
"State name and purpose," Keith barked into it. He winced; he should be less on the offense.
"Shouldn't I be asking that of you?" The person said. They sounded male, and to Keith's surprise around his age. His head suddenly felt lighter. It took him a moment to respond, to put together a sentence that would convey their situation. God, this person's VOICE was intoxicating.
"We, uh, come in peace. My friend is injured. Badly. We are seeking help." Keith managed to put together.
"Then you've come to the right place." There was a grief behind the charm in this person's voice. "Please, come down so you may explain your situation."
Keith paused, trying to calculate whether he could trust this person. He was biased, in that he was feeling something he had never felt before for a person. He had only experienced this in books, in movies, through the lens of someone looking in or self-inserting.
Hair fixed again, mind buzzing with potential, Keith lowered the ramp to exit the ship.
He awkwardly descended the ramp. How could he walk in a way that said he was tired, but also could put up a fight, but also was desperate for help?
The person under the hood seemed to be sizing Keith up and down as he approached. They both stopped about 6 feet apart. Keith was too mesmerized by this person to think about what vibes he was giving off. He knew he wasn't exactly the smoothest - in personality, interaction, or dress - but he hoped that this person was at least a bit intrigued, if not impressed. The person took their hood off, which Keith perceived to be in slow motion.
He was stunning. Sapphire eyes bored into Keith's soul, sparking in the light of the planet. Filled with mystery and a hint of something magical. Keith felt exposed, like he was out on display for a moment. But he liked it, in a strange way. He WANTED this boy, this complete stranger to know everything about him. To learn the story behind those dazzling eyes. The lashes framing those piercing eyes were long, which Keith thought wasn't fair. His tawny skin glistened; Keith was thankful for the amount of control he had. While his body was tired, he could control his actions. His mind though… He imagined pulling this boy into the ship and doing things Shiro would have to be kicked out for. He imagined holding hands with this boy, kissing him, living with him. Kissing him. His lips were turned into a smirk - seductively? - pointed at Keith. A mischievous smirk. A confident one.
"The name's Lance," He put forth his hand, a body part Keith had not found enticing until this moment, this person was offering to shake. He took it a beat later, awkwardness pouring from him. "I am the guardian of the fountain. It is my job to help you weary travellers on your journey to recovery. And protect the fountain from being removed, destroyed, etcetera."
Lance looked Keith up and down again. His gaze amused and hungry at the same time, a boyish grin on his face that made Keith's heart leap to his jugular.
"What's your name, Mr. Mullet Man?" Lance asked. Keith stared blankly. Seeing this beautiful boy, the weight that he had made it to the Fountain of Youth, was weighing on him. He fought to appear alert and awake, only slightly worried that Lance was not as benevolent as he appeared. Lance waited expectantly. Was that worry that crossed his face?
"I, uh, you can call me," Keith yawned, "Kogane."
Lance looked him up and down again.
"Mullet it is."
Keith opened his mouth to respond but Lance beat him to it.
"You must have travelled a long way. How about we fly to the Castle on your lion-like ship? I can inspect your friend and then I can put you up in a room."
Keith looked back onto his ship, to where Shiro was. He couldn't see him from where he stood. He looked back to Lance.
"The ritual…" Keith trailed off. Lance got where he was going.
"Yes! I can preserve your friend long enough for you to prove yourselves worthy."
Uh, what? Keith thought. He thought that the last 3 stops were all tests. That they would signal to Lance that they sent him on this journey because Shiro deserved to be healed. They did not come all this way, to get this fucking close only to be sent away, for Shiro to die. Keith, tired from shitty nights' sleep from worrying about Shiro. Keith, tired from the length of their journey. Keith, who had to tell his story multiple times. Keith, tired from watching his brother slowly dying. Keith, tired of putting himself and others in danger. Keith, so tired that he snapped.
"Worthy?!" Keith exclaimed. "Have we not proved that already? My brother is dying. I have been all over the galaxy, we almost didn't make it. We were attacked on the Altean ship. We barely escaped. We crashed on a planet that luckily had gear to fix our ship. We were robbed. Shiro is almost dead. What test do I have to do?! What do I have to give?!"
Lance smiled sadly at Keith.
"Your all." he replied simply. Keith was ready to pull his mullet right off.
"Why can't anyone give me a straight answer!" Keith exclaimed, frustrated. He had a long journey getting here and was tired of the cryptic bullshit.
"Oh Mullet," Lance said, fluttering his eyelashes "Nothing about me is straight."
Keith groaned, turned around, and ascended the ramp. Hoping Lance couldn't see the heat spreading in his neck, the diverting of conversation. Half way up, he looked back to see that Lance had not budged.
"You coming or are you walking?" Keith barked at him. That was harsh. He softened his features awaiting Lance's answer. Hoping Lance took his rudeness as him being tired after a long journey. Lance took in Keith's expression, the tired and flushed face, and the ship.
"Travelled a long way, huh?" Lance said thoughtfully.
"Yeah…" Keith started, but their eyes met and Keith got lost in them. Lance offered a sympathetic smile. He joined Lance and they entered the ship.
Lance directed Keith on where to land in the building complex. They parked in an open yard near the back, a forest lining the back of the building. The building could be compared to an Earth castle, but with technology. The walls were made of clay bricks, ridden with moss and vines crawling the spaces between bricks. The windows were made of force fields that Keith recognized. The place itself was huge, as if it was built for a king and his servants. There had to be three floors to the Castle. Many rooms, each filled with mystery. Each would fill Keith with more questions. About Lance, why he was here alone, how he ended up here. Surely this place got lonely. There were multiple courtyards within the complex; Keith could see the blue-tinted foliage and flora from above in The Red Lion. So much space, yet Lance seemed to be all alone.
Did Lance have a family? Friends? Keith thought
While Keith drove, Lance examined Shiro. He was responsive but barely conscious. Keith explained that their cryopod had broken at one of their many stops. Upon landing Lance told them that he had enough magic himself to keep Shiro alive for a day or two. Keith whipped around, finding the room spinning with him.
"Why?!" Keith demanded, although his tone was on the verge of a yawn.
"Oh, Mullet, you look exhausted." Lance remarked.
"I. Don't. Care." Keith stiffly replied. "I can do the ritual."
Keith bolted out of his seat; his vision and the room swam for a moment. His hand instinctively reached out and grabbed his pilot chair to stabilize himself.
"You need to be in a good state of mind. Currently you are exhausted from your trip. You have likely been going off of adrenaline and the need to save your friend, Shiro here."
Lance approached Keith, the two of him reaching out and putting a hand on Keith's shoulder. Keith felt his ears heat up and hoped that they were not red. The two images of Lance danced around before merging together.
"Trust me?" Lance asked. "You need to rest. Especially for the ritual."
Keith grimaced.
"Plus, if you don't, I will not tell you where the fountain is. Did you see the labyrinth that is my house? Only I know how to get to the fountain."
Keith yawned and nodded. He was not in a state to try and argue. The demand for sleep was descending upon him brutally and Keith could not keep it at bay. While he imagined how cute it would have been to be held by this beautiful stranger, he wanted to be awake when in his arms.
Little robots greeted them as they exited The Red Lion. That answered Keith's question about Lance being alone, yet it filled him with more questions about Lance's life. Lance sent a few robots into the ship for Shiro. The group struggled to carry him, so Lance had to send more. Meanwhile, he focused on making sure Keith was able to walk. Lance kept a very small distance between himself and Keith. Probably just as a precaution. Not because Lance was also flustered at making contact with Keith. Lance led him through the halls, Shiro and the robots close behind, and to a hallway lined with bedrooms. Keith was a zombie by the time he got to the room Lance designated as his. He did not take in the lavishness of the room, he did not bring his clothes from the ship. Shiro was put in the room next to Keith, which, Lance showed him, had a cryopod. Keith stayed until Shiro was situated. Keith kicked off his shoes, through his jacket onto a chair. He removed his shirt, added it to the pile. A descending whistle brought his attention back to the other man in the room.
Shit, Lance is still here, Keith thought. He crossed his arms. Faced Lance.
"What are you doing?" Keith slurred.
"Making sure you actually get into bed. You know, as your host." Lance replied smugly. He bowed theatrically. "I am at your service."
Keith, waking up a little from the exposure, looked from Lance to the door. Lance got the memo, he did not adhere to it.
"Nope. Not until your Mulleted head is upon that pillow."
Keith scoffed, but it turned into a yawn. He grumbled as he got into the huge bed. Keith was on his side and did not see Lance approach. A hand was placed onto his head and he nuzzled into it, letting the darkness take him. Finally.
Keith could not remember the last time he had a sleep this good. He rolled around the bed, taking in how soft and comfy the sheets were. He was on a cloud and did not want to return to land. So he didn't. Keith stayed in bed until his brain drove itself up the wall with worry about Shiro. Surely Lance would have informed him if something happened? Keith figured he could trust Lance with the safety of himself and Shiro. Why would Lance heal him and then kill them? Or worse? The past visitors were not captured or anything.
Keith climbed out of bed just to be sure. He creeped over, shirtless but with his pants on, to the room adjacent. A breath released as his sight focused on Shiro snoozing away inside of the cryopod. His brother looked calm, peaceful. Almost healthy. His white hair glowed in the dim light of the pod, a reminder that he was still sick, still had that poison coursing through his veins and attempting to swallow him whole. Shiro could dye it back to black, right? He could move on from this whole ordeal, return to work. Return to Adam.
Keith stalked back to his room. He could sleep one more hour.
The next time he woke up, he immediately was aware of another presence in his room. Lance was lounging in one of the chairs in the room, occupied on an electric tablet. Very similar to the Altean technology but also had a hint of human tech. When Keith shifted, sapphire eyes flicked up to meet deep violet ones. He wondered if there would ever be a time he would be used to those magnificent eyes, full of fun and mischief. He hoped that day never came.
"Did you sleep well?" Lance asked. Keith groaned, both from his body waking up and annoyance, nodding. Lance smirked. "I've heard worse."
Keith stared at him. He did not understand that comment. Lance sighed. He set down his tablet and approached Keith, grabbing a piece of clothing that was hanging off of the chair's back. Keith hadn't noticed it before and it certainly was not there when he was awake earlier.
"I came to deliver you some clothes. So you can get your own while not wearing ones you have slept in."
Lance plopped the clothes down on the bed, sitting down. Keith raised the covers slightly, checking to make sure that he adorned the same clothing items from when he was awake earlier. He sighed in relief.
"How are you feeling?" Lance asked. He scanned Keith's body, as if checking visually for marks or something to indicate his level of sleep. His general well-being. Keith kept the covers as high as he could, although one of his arms was on top, preventing him from covering his chest completely. Keith averted his eyes.
"I, uh, have been worse." He muttered. Lance had the robe from yesterday on. The one on the bed was similar, except it was black. Lance smirked a little.
"Well, Mr. Mullet who still won't tell me his name, I will leave you to put this on since you don't seem comfortable with me in the room," - did Keith sense disappointment in his voice? - "and I will await your presence in the hall. A little tour suit your fancy?"
Keith nodded. Lance took this as his dismissal and left the room. Keith waited until he was gone to release a breath he was well aware he was holding. He slipped out of bed and into the robe. When did Lance take his clothes? Sometime during his nap. The big question was if Lance had a washing machine. He had robots and a cryopod, surely he had something to wash his own clothes. Speaking of clothes, how did Lance get them? Was Keith supposed to bring some sort of payment? He was not told about any exchange or trade. Did Allura and Coran forget in the midst of everything? The boys were there for almost a week, so it is not likely they would forget to mention a payment.
A small knock on the door brought Keith's attention back.
"You out of bed yet Mullet?" Lance called from the other side. Keith, robed up and awake, scurried over to the door and opened it, revealing Lance.
"Yeah, just tired and slow." Keith offered. Lance's face melted a little in sympathy. Lance started walking, gesturing Keith to follow by tipping his head. Keith obliged; the place was a labyrinth. Lance led him silently down a hall and to one of the courtyards. Flowers bloomed at each corner, multiple shades of blue and deep purple. Keith stopped in the doorway; stunned by Lance's silhouette against the lighting and the flowers. His stomach flopped and something inside of him fluttered erratically. His heart, his stomach butterflies, or maybe his actual stomach out of hunger. Lance seemed amused by Keith's wonderment.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lance asked.
Yeah you are, Keith almost said. Instead: "I guess."
This made Lance chuckle.
"Maybe you will feel better after some breakfast?" He gestured to a picnic table that had pancakes, berries, and purple liquid inside glasses. The table had two meals set up. Lance sat down, looking at Keith expectantly. Keith took a second to take it all in, eventually sitting down and eating. Lance was watching him quizzically.
"You know," Lance started through a mouthful of pancakes, "you were a spitfire yesterday. Now I can barely get a sentence out of you."
Keith knew why. He was less focused on the feelings he felt for Lance and was more questioning the existence of the Guardian of the fountain. He seemed so ethereal yet so utterly human. Also, Keith was well rested and had more control over himself. The weight, the fear, of Shiro dying was off his chest. He could breathe.
"Travel." Keith stated dryly. Eying the weird purple liquid he could not identify. "It's been a long journey."
"Mhm," Lance's tone was skeptical. He scarfed down his breakfast, downing the purple liquid. It probably wasn't poisonous. "And you are prepared for the ritual?"
Keith nodded; his mouth was full of berries. He kept his eyes trained on Lance though while he ate.
"You know the components?"
Keith swallowed before responding. "Yep. Some Alteans words, a dance, and 'love transfer', whatever that means."
Was that a glimmer of excitement in Lance's eyes?
"You got it, Mullet."
"Can you stop calling me that? I'm more than just my hair." Keith scoffed.
"I'd like to find out those parts," Lance said with a wink, enjoying how Keith turned the color of his ship. "What can I call you if you won't tell me your name?"
He sighed and told Lance his name.
"Keith." Lance said, his voice and expression far away. Keith finished his food.
"Yeah. Now where are my clothes?"
Lance looked down, scratched his head.
"Well, did you want to wash the, er, clothes still on your body?"
Keith swallowed. "After we retrieve clothes from my ship. I can change there."
"Oh!" Lance said. As if he hadn't thought about that. "Yeah, of course!"
Robots entered the courtyard through the doors and carried away the dirty dishes. Lance and Keith stood up at the same time and left with Lance leading the way.
"So… how did you, uh, get here?" Keith asked, his voice faltering. Lance raised an eyebrow at him. "Like, were you born here, or brought here? The Alteans kinda explained about the Fountain of Youth's origins but did not explain why there was a guardian or how you got the position." When Lance did not answer a few beats later, Keith sensing the energy change in his aura, he continued on with more questions. "Or… who are these robots? How do you get food? Why is this building so big?"
Lance perked up a bit.
"The robots are Altean tech." He answered. But it left Keith with more questions. "They make and produce the food. I do have a garden in another courtyard that I tend to."
"How are the robots powered?" Keith asked. Lance paused before answering.
"Quintessence." He replied curtly.
"And my other questions?" Keith pushed. He saw the walls go up, Lance retracting his emotions, his personality. The slight glow Lance seemed to have dimmed ever so slightly.
"It's big so that the… fountain… can stay hidden and the robots can catch whoever tries to steal or destroy it."
There was the damn pause before 'fountain'. Why the pause? Keith wanted to ask but feared he was already overstepping a boundary. It did not prevent him from giving Lance a look to ask for more information. Lance sighed.
"Look, Keith, there are some things that I can not answer."
"Can't answer, or won't?" Keith countered. Lance did chuckle at this.
"I feed you and point out how dull you have become. Of course that fire was going to return." He said more to himself than Keith.
They walked in silence for a few minutes before Keith looked anxiously at Lance. The guardian noticed the subtle movement of Keith's body and returned the gaze. They kept eye contact despite Keith wanting to look away.
"Are you… lonely?" Keith asked.
Keith liked being alone. But he also liked having the option of interacting with people. When he was with the Blades, he could be alone when he wanted or be social. Sailing around on The Red Lion, he was always travelling to different planets, meeting different species and people. He always had the option of being with people, even if he liked being alone. But being forced to only interact with people when they come to you. Desperate, dying people. People who were not going to stay after you saved them. Not being able to leave your planet, being surrounded by Robots… Keith couldn't imagine living like this.
A sadness filled Lance's eyes. His small smile faded away, his aura shrinking again. A moment later, his eyes brightened and he offered a weak smile.
"I have my robots to keep me comfortable," he said.
"That's not an answer," Keith pointed out.
"I get to help people who are sent my way," Lance tried.
"But they leave. And you don't know when the next ones will arrive," Keith thought out loud.
They arrived at the door to the outside. Keith stopped and faced Lance. He wasn't looking at Keith. Lance sighed.
"Yeah… it is lonely. But someone has to, uh, protect the, er, Fountain."
Keith crosses his arms, shifting his weight.
"That's another thing. Everyone I have talked to seems to stumble over the word 'Fountain". Why?"
"Go get changed." Lance's voice shook. But he was sad, not angry. It was more of an order. Lance ending the conversation.
Inside the comfort of The Red Lion, Keith took off his robe and clothes, keeping an eye on Lance through the cameras the ship had. Lance's composure collapsed completely. He crossed his arms, slouched, leaned against the mansion's outer wall. He ran his hands through his hair. Keith noticed subconsciously when he woke up, but now he got distracted by Lance's beautiful hair. He shooed the thought of running his fingers through Lance's hair away.
Lance did not seem to have a good situation. Someone had to protect the fountain, but why did it have to be Lance? Or, why did it have to be ONLY Lance? Lance seemed godly, but he also seemed Human. Or part Human, part Altean, at least. The only part-human-part-Altean probably.
He carried the robe over his shoulder, having changed into his actual clothes. His usual black jeans and black v-neck shirt. Keith put some dry shampoo in the mop on top of his head. Briefly brushed his teeth.
Lance was back to his composed self when Keith exited his ship. Lance seemed to like the view; heat spread in various parts of Keith. The two were silent.
"In order to do the ritual, I need to know where the fountain is," Keith stated, breaking the silence.
"Before I say something, I need you to promise not to freak out." Lance stated. Whenever people asked this, the thing they are about to tell you typically makes the receiver freak out. But Keith promised to anyway. Lance escorted Keith to the laundry machine with his dirty clothes - it was very similar to one on Earth - and then to where Shiro was. He pointed out a countdown on the machine. It was the machine preparing Shiro's body to have magic done. It was going to take another day.
"I'm not mad." Keith said, and it was true. "As long as it is not going to kill him, I will stay here for as long as it takes."
Lance smiled softly. Keith thought about what Lance had said about the process. He raised an eyebrow at Lance.
"So, does this mean we have been proven to be worthy?"
Shiro and him had been worthy. Lance explained that the other folks from his previous stops to get here had contacted him, telling him that the boys were worthy. Keith tried and failed to discreetly wipe a tear from his eyes. His arms twitched. He wanted to hug Lance out of pure joy. But that would be weird. Lance noticed unfortunately. It said so over his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yep," Keith said tightly.
"You don't sound okay," Lance looked concerned. He was valid in his concern; most people would probably be more expressive with their joy. Keith smiled a little and averted his eyes.
"I think that's the first time you have smiled. It's nice." Lance said quietly. Keith looked at him, and now it was Lance's turn to be shy and withdrawn.
"So…." Keith looked around the room. It was not as lavish as his, but seemed like a mixture of bedroom and medical room. He forced himself to relax. To be more casual. "What do you do to pass the time in this castle of isolation?"
"Well, I read. Watch television. Play games. Garden. Practice my flight skills. Cook. Talk to Allura and Coran sometimes. When I have guests, I try to serve their every need and make the experience as pleasurable as possible, since most of them have people dying."
Keith had no clue how to respond to that; he nodded his head to let Lance know he heard. Lance was very casual about the way he mentioned people coming to him, dying. Did it happen often? Of course people sent Keith and Shiro here, but were there other ways to find the fountain? Keith had not heard of people needing to be cleared by Allura and Coran. He knew about people needing to be worthy and whatnot, but he did not expect to encounter as many people as he did along the way. Others seeking this service, this life-saver, might have gone different routes. Possibly easier, or incredibly difficult journeys. Keith's gaze wandered to Lance, whose focus was on Shiro. Lance as the guardian of the fountain has had to watch desperate people come to the fountain only to find out they are not worthy. He likely has helped people through the grief of losing someone. Keith could not fathom it. The Galra also have been trying to find the fountain. Were any successful? Did Lance have to fight them off? Is that why he is holding information from them? Did Lance know Keith was part Galran? Keith had so many questions still, more unanswered. Instead he, awkwardly, asked:
"Does the Fountain require much maintenance?"
"The... Fountain… is taken care of enough to sustain itself." Lance smiled, a secret glimmering in his eyes. He chose his words wisely. Keith sensed that Lance was not going to be giving away secrets or information about the Fountain, so he left it at that.
Lance's slight glow had returned to his aura; it made Keith want to reach out and touch this beautiful person with him. He wanted to know more about him. Why wasn't he open about the Fountain if Keith and Shiro had already been proven worthy? Keith examined Lance. He was inviting; legs open, slight goofy small on his face. But he was also blocking Keith off; crossed arms, eyes, although very sparkling, conveyed a sense of guarding. Lance knew Keith was worthy, but there was information being held back from him. Keith uncrossed his arms, placing his hands in his pockets.
"You said we have to wait until tomorrow to heal him?" Keith asked after a long pause in conversation. God, it must be so lonely and boring here.
"Yep." Lance sighed. His eyes flicked to Keith briefly before continuing. "The pod is preparing his body. Humans are a bit odd; other races can just be healed immediately, but Humans have something on a molecular level that prevents their bodies from healing without preparation. The cells attack the new, foreign quintessence."
Lance stood up and walked towards Keith. He placed an arm around Keith.
"If you were in Shiro's position, I would have no clue what to do, since you are half galran."
Well, Keith thought, that's one less question on his mind.
Lance looked for a reaction out of Keith that never came.
"Ah, so you already knew. Good, I would hate to have to break it to you." Lance started leading Keith out of the room and Keith followed Lance willingly. Where was he taking him?
"Since we have so much time together, want to do something?"
"Uh, maybe?"
"Love the decision making skills," Lance teased.
"Shuddup" Keith murmured.
"Anything you want to do?" Lance asked.
"Um…" An idea came to Keith. He was nervous about the ritual he had to do. While he practiced for days, it had been days since he was with the Alteans. Who better to correct him on the ritual than the Guardian of the very Fountain? "Can I practice the ritual for a little bit?"
"Sure! I am the expert." Lance looked down at Keith's body then back up to his face. "Plus, I would love to see you dance."
Chuckling at the shade of red multiple parts of Keith were turning, Lance removed his arm to open the door. In the hallway, he grabbed Keith's hand - did Keith's heart jump? - and led him through the Castle. They zoomed down many hallways, up a set of stairs, ending at a big set of doors. The wood had intricately carved patterns that consisted of mostly foliage and symbols Keith did not recognize. Lance caught him staring and said they were Altean. Lance opened the door.
His room was more extravagant than the room Keith was staying in. The entire right wall was a bookcase, packed to the brim with novels. Many had worn down spines and faded covers from being used. No dust could be found, except on the top of the bookshelf. To the left of the entrance was a door that led to a bathroom. From Keith's vantage point, he could see a massive bathtub, shower, sink, toilet, and closet for the towels. Lance certainly did not spend his time cleaning. Bottles and bars and laundry all had its place and that was out in the open. His bed was in the middle, also adorned with some clothes. So Lance did have some more human-style clothes. His ginormous four-poster bed had deep blue sheets and matching pillows. Across from the bed was a television and a few gaming systems from various planets. On either side of his bed were doors leading to a closet. They were open; clothes hung in a walk-in closet that had some natural light coming in. There was a very interesting smell to the room, something earthy.
"I guess they wanted you to have everything in here, since you're alone for long periods of time." Keith muttered in awe at the whole place. It made him feel very small. His space in The Red Lion was smaller than this single room in Lance's castle. Lance flopped on his bed, letting Keith's hand go and turning to face Keith in the process. He looked around his room with a mixture of peace and longing.
"Yeah…" Lance sighed, frowning slightly, "A big castle for one person."
Lance sat up and looked at Keith expectantly. Stuffing his emotions away.
"What?" Keith said, crossing his arms. His ears were still hot from earlier.
"Well? You wanted to practice." Lance said nonchalantly.
"Right…" Keith muttered. Took a deep breath. He struggled the first time he tried to recall the poem that Allura and Coran taught him. Stuttered on the words. With some prompting from Lance, he was able to recall the phrases. At the end, Keith paused, staring at Lance. The two marks on his face, the ones that told Keith that Lance wasn't completely Altean, which typically glowed inwardly, were now softly glowing outwardly. Curious.
Keith continued on to the dance. He was used to memorizing moves and sequences due to his time with The Blade. However, there was a set of eyes on him, ones that made his skin burn and his insides melt. Eyes he wanted to impress. Eyes he wanted to stare into forever and get swallowed up by. Eyes he wanted to be the reason they closed, be the reason Lance couldn't control whether they were open or closed. Keith shook the thoughts out of his head. He had to go through the motions a few times before going full out. Winded, Keith looked to Lance for approval. The other boy was watching with a smug, dazed, and distracted expression. Keith snapped twice, catching Lance's attention. The Guardian blinked twice, shaking.
"Oh, you got it," Lance commented.
"OK. Any way to practice the love transfer?"
Lance looked away, scratching the back of his neck.
"Uh, yeah, there's, uh… something you need to know."
Lance's whole demeanor had changed. While he was intensely focused on Keith, he was relaxed and, if Keith could admit it to himself, dazed by him. Now that Keith brought up the Love Transfer, he hunched his shoulders, not looking at Keith, head bowed meekly.
"Well?" Keith said after a long pause. Too long.
Lance took a long breath, muttering something that, even in their close proximity, Keith could not hear. Keith crossed his arms expectantly.
"The love transfer is that you have to kiss the fountain." Lance finally admitted.
"That's easy." Keith stated. Kiss some crumbling, non-human object? Keith was expecting something more intrusive. Like giving up a kidney, in a more magical, metaphorical sense. All he had to do was this simple task? He almost laughed at it. But something stopped him. The build up, the way Lance was acting. There was more to it than this.
"Yeah… except there's one small thing you should know." Lance was looking down at his lap, not meeting Keith's gaze.
"Well?" Now it was Keith's turn to pull teeth. "What is it?"
It looked painful for Lance to admit.
"The Fountain isn't a fountain." Lance slowly said.
Keith stayed silent, hoping Lance would explain.
"The Fountain of Youth is a person… It's me… You have to kiss me."