Lance had awoken at the crack of dawn before Tellru had arrived with the doctor.
Jostled awake with a nightmare, one not nearly as bad as the others, he steadied himself with the fact that Keith's arm had slunk its way around his waist.
It is warm and firm, loosely gripping the end of his shirt.
Lance doesn't move.
He lays there and listens to the quiet inhale and exhale next to him, memorizing the sound of Keith's chest rising and falling. He had never seen Keith asleep before, and like every moment before, he wished his sight was better.
He wished he could see if Keith's natural glare lingered even in slumber or if it softened into something peaceful.
Knowing he wouldn't know until his sight returned- if it ever did, he slowly peeled the red paladin's arm off of his waist. Keith muttered a little in his sleep but quickly stilled.
Lance felt cold as he sat up.
The morning air tickled his skin as the rising sun reflected through the blinds and onto his body. He couldn't see this of course- he could only assume.
Shifting to the end of the bed, Lance sat at the edge of the mattress, his hand trailing to his eyes. He tapped them gently, anxiety bumping around in his chest
When they took off those bandages… would he be alright?
The Doctor could not assure improvement if the damage went too deep, so this might all be for nothing. Would a cryo pod even be able to heal him?
He was often told the eyes were one of the most delicate things of a person's body.
Though, through these last few days, Lance felt like everything about the human body was delicate. His entire body had been so sore- aching with each pull of his muscles. It had been a strain to just walk a few days ago.
Granted, the ache had numbed with time, but Lance could still feel the bruises along his arms and fingers. Did they feel worse than they looked? Keith assured him that they were healing well, unlike the wounds to his torso.
The slash at his side was still fresh- startling him awake from time to time when he turned too fast in his sleep.
Punches and blades were too entirely different things to heal from.
Eyes were different too.
Tilting his head, he sighed, heavy and morbid. If his eyes turned out to be just as bad as before… what was he going to do?
Who could he protect if he was blind?
He couldn't… they would need to find a new paladin.
They would need someone better than him.
"Lance?" A foot nudged his side. Lance turned his head a little, reaching out to grip Keith's ankle.
"Did I wake you up?"
"No," he wiggles his toes, "What are you doing up?"
"Thinking," Lance lifted Keith's ankle and placed the red paladin's leg over his lap. Keith folded his second leg over it, using Lance as a leg rest "How is your leg?" With everything Lance had forgotten that he hadn't been the only one injured by a Druid. Keith didn't mention it much so he assumed it didn't hurt any more with that weird healing paste the Coeihns put on their wounds
"It's fine,"
"That's good." His hand trailed a little, circling Keith's heel and up the underside of his foot to his toe. Keith squirmed a little; ticklish.
Lance snorted, "Tickle tickle," he tickled his toes. Keith tensed and buckled his knees.
"Don't," he snorts.
"Didn't peg you as ticklish," Lance moves his hand up and down the bottom of his foot. He rubs it a little in a kind of massage.
Keith seemed to enjoy it so Lance continued, "I'm not ticklish,"
"I think you are…"
Keith hummed a little when Lance massages his heel. Focusing on the task Lance made sure to give Keith the best foot massage he could manage. It was the least he could do honestly for everything Keith has had to do for him these last few days, "Today's the day," he says softly.
There was a long pause before Keith inquired, "Will you be alright?"
Lance wondered if his smile looked as fake as it felt, "Course I will."
"Lance…" He wasn't expecting Keith to sit up and put a hand on his shoulder, "You'll be alright,"
"I just said, of course, I will,"
"You will," Keith assured him.
Lance bit his lower lip. He attempted to tease Keith, to mock him- something to avoid how nervous he felt- but he couldn't. He could only nod.
"Of course…" there was a long pause. One that was too long and awkward for the both of them to feel comfortable. "Um… sleep well?"
"Yeah,"
"Cool,"
"You? Any nightmares?"
"A little one… nothing new," he tells Keith. Busying himself Lance messed with his toes. "Your toes are so little,"
"Stop messing with them," Keith tried to swat his hands away, "Sto-" a laugh bubbled from his chest. Lance adored it.
Falling back onto his pillow, Lance shifted to hold Keith's legs in place, mercilessly tickling to the bottom of his feet. Keith turned and slapped him to the point where he snorts. Lance ugly laughed hard, "You snorted! You snort!"
"Shut up!" Keith grabbed his shoulders and tried to roll him over. Lance's body fell back and the two rolled along the mattress.
"Snort snort," Lance mimicked a pig, "Piggy Keith!" his hands found Keith's sides and he squeezed them, poking wildly till Keith snorted again.
"Stop tickling me!" Keith commanded through his giggles.
"Never~"
Keith tried to curl into himself, hoping to leave less room for Lance to grab him. "Lance-ahahah HAH!" he smacked him again, his face reddening and laughter growing worse when Lance pressed a little weight onto his chest.
Cackling like a Disney villain, Lance brought his hand up to Keith's chin. Keith tries to squish Lance's hand between his chin and shoulder to get him to stop.
When Keith turned his head, delicate lips grazed Lance's cheek.
He shivered.
They both froze at the sensation and leaped back.
With blood rushing to his ears, Lance lifted his hand to his cheek, hoping to rub away the feeling. Keith was oddly quiet across from him. Well no, there was nothing odd about it. It was the perfect amount of silence considering what had happened yesterday when they… kissed.
They even frenched it out!
Lance hadn't really thought he would take it that far but when he had found himself in the moment he couldn't help himself. He had wanted to… He couldn't believe he was even thinking this, but he wanted to taste Keith!
He still did. God, he still did! How could he still want that? How could he have wanted that the first time, especially with this mullet wearing jerk!?
A jerk who turned out to be a little more… nicer, than Lance would have first thought.
The feeling was bruising to his heart.
"Um…" he cleared his throat.
What could he say? They kind of just went right to bed after they made out so the could avoid the conversation- but they should talk about this. It was one thing in front of the Coeihns, but they had done it alone too.
There was no reason for them to kiss a second time yesterday but they did. Lance could try to play it off as him just wanting to assure Keith's first kiss was a good one, which is what most of what that was about, but it felt wrong to just leave it there.
Especially because he wanted to do it again.
"Man," he patted his stomach, "I sure am hungry- are you hungry?"
"...Yeah." Keith answered in the one-word response, which he often seemed to do when he was unsure of what to say or embarrassed.
Shuffling off the bed Lance made his way across the room to the storage unit. It was kind of like a fridge in how it was cold but it was more of stone than metal. It was very strange.
Opening it, he grabbed some juice and one of Tellru's handmade meals. Moving it to the small fire, he placed it on the platform to warm up.
Neither of them spoke.
Lance messed up, didn't he? He shouldn't have kissed him that second time. They talked like nothing was wrong when it was through but now that time has passed well…
Lance hated to think about it.
He could care less if Keith didn't talk to him before- or if they hated each other… or avoided each other. Now the thought was…
Well, to be blunt, he didn't want that.
"Hey so- what should our plans be for today?" Lance pushed for conversation. He talked needlessly, like he always did to get a smile from himself or from the others around him. "I mean, of course, we are probably going to watch Ruru, but maybe we can take her somewhere? Like the park? Or-" hearing the small metal canister beginning to shake, he reached for it.
"Hey!" Lance almost screamed when Keith yelled a little too close to his ear and grabbed his wrist. Not even realizing Keith had made his way so close to him, Lance leaped up, startled. "Jeez- watch it!" he yanked Lance's hand away from the boiling metal- which would have severely burned his hand had he not bothered to put on the protective glove first.
"Oh… sorry," Lance mumbled. Allowing Keith to pull out their breakfast he followed him to the table, shuffling close behind him. "Sorry,"
"I know."
They ate in a humiliating atmosphere of judgment and regret. It was horrible.
Why did Lance kiss him? Twice? Why did he do that?!
He had only just begun to pound his forehead into the table in frustration when Tellru knocked on the door. When they opened it she greeted them curtly then turned to Lance, "It is time,"
He knew what she meant.
His bandages.
The Doctor gave him many details on his eyes that Tellru had to translate. Most of them were things he already knew but from what he could tell, there had been progress to the damaged skin.
Pulling off the bandages, Lance took a shaky breath, "So just… open them?"
"Yes," Tellru says, "Slowly. If it hurts, keep them closed."
"Okay…" he was hesitant. He tried multiple times, thinking that it was like a bandaid and he should just snap them open. But at the last second he always stopped himself. "I uh-" he chuckled weakly. "Keith?" he whispered, not even sure why he was calling for him.
"I'm here," he tells him, "Open them, Lance."
And he did.
Keith had knelt to a knee next to him, watching with baited breath. When Lance's eyelashes fluttered, they opened, revealing a clouded over dark blue that he had missed the day they shut.
"Lance," he breathed out,
"What can you see?' Tellru inquired cautiously.
Lance blinked once, then twice, mouth forming a thin line. Everything was blurry, horribly blurry, but light was definitely able to get into his eyes, "You are all blurry- I can't really see any of you, just one big blurr," he was positive he would get a headache from all of this.
The doctor inquired something and Tellru asked, "Can you see colors?"
"..." Lance shivered and inhaled like he was about to cry, "Yes,"
"That is an improvement," Tellru praised. His eyes were getting better.
They were healing.
Lance inhaled sharply, blinking rapidly. There was a chance...
Suddenly, there was a different color from before. It was bright, sticking out like a sore thumb. Not expecting it, Lance lifted his hand. His finger brushed a nose- "Keith?" he cupped his face.
"Yeah?" He had inched a little closer to Lance, examining every detail of his face and relieved to see that some of the torn skin had begun to heal.
"Your eyes…" Lance murmured.
He frowned, "What about them?"
"I can see their color," Lance bring's Keith's face into both of his hands like an amazed child, leaning closer to examine them better. "Keith- I can see your eyes,"
"Excellent," Tellru said with relief and told the doctor. He smiled, nodding vigorously and saying a few words to Tellru, "The treatment is definitely working. We still cannot guarantee your full sight just yet, but even the smallest step is still a step,"
Lance was still so entranced with Keith's eyes to really hear her and nodded. He had just never really paid much attention to Keith's eyes before. "I can see the color… Keith, look at them. What do you even call this color?" he tells him breathlessly. They were beautiful. He laughs- broken and quiet. "This just might be my new favorite color,"
Keith nods a little, sucking in a little breath, smiling softly, "Okay you weirdo,"
"We now know the procedure is working- so we will continue to use it. Hopefully, the process will continue to show results," she began reaching for bandages.
Lance held off on letting her put them on. He wanted to look at Keith as much as possible. It felt like a crime that he wasn't able to continue before he had to put on the bandages.
It was time to start the day after all and Tellru had to get to work.
"I can't thank you enough Tellru," Lance tells her as they walk down the steps, towards the Kever's.
"Think nothing of it. It was the Doctor's remedy that is helping you, not me,"
'But I never would have gotten this far without your help so… thank you," he says honestly. She pauses to clap a hand on his shoulder.
"It was my pleasure, Lance. You have aided me greatly these last few days by watching Ruru and giving her companionship."
"I still don't understand how she doesn't have any friends," Lance shakes his head, "She is an amazing girl,"
"Her braces make her seem weaker to others- children are strange. I was not liked very much as a child myself- only because I was always smarter than the others in my class. Dravla was more popular, though- his Father was the 5th champion then, so people often approached him." she clears her throat, "Oh but, I am positive she will show everyone in time how strong she is. She is very resilient, you know,"
"I can tell," Keith smiles, "What exactly are you doing today, Tellru?"
"Common business-" she cuts herself off, her face morphing into disgust. A Coeihn was approaching them. Keith felt he had seen him before but couldn't quite place it. He wore large armor that he recognized from many of the guards around the castle.
When this Coeihn approached them, he grumbled darkly to Tellru, "Tellru," he says
"Rashra," She greeted just as coldly.
Lance recognized the name and subconsciously reached for Keith, wrapping his arm around his shoulder. Startled at how the grip almost felt… protective, Keith blinked wildly at the blue paladin.
Lance couldn't help it. This was the guy that had put a claim on Keith… and almost got him.
The thought alone pissed him off enough to lift his middle finger up at the guy.
Considering that Keith was the only one who seemed to react to the action, Lance could assume this planet didn't know what it meant.
Rashra spoke a few words, and Tellru replied calmly and robotically. They didn't share pleasantries by any means, but it seemed to be at least something business related.
Keith would notice Rashra glance to him from time to time- each glance making Tellru bristle a little and snap her fingers angrily at him to catch his attention.
She looked ready to punch the guy by the time he left.
"What did he want?" Lance frowned, his arm never once leaving Keith's shoulders.
"I've been summoned to a meeting in an hour. Something has happened towards the coast. You need not worry yourself over it. But this will cut my time in half. We should hurry to my house."
"We can get there by ourselves," Keith assures her, shifting his shoulders a little under Lance's arm, "You go and do whatever it is you need to do. The more business you can get the done the more time the King might have- right?"
"Indeed. He will even be here at this meeting so I shall attempt to speak with him on seeing you both while I am there,"
"That would be great Tellru, thanks," Lance grinned and waved her off. When she left, he turned his attention to Keith when he cleared his throat.
"...Gonna let go of me?"
"Huh?"
Keith's finger tapped Lance's wrist… his arm was still wrapped around Keith's shoulder in a side hug.
Lance wasn't sure if he should feel embarrassed or not, almost feeling like the question was a challenge, "...No?" he says slowly, drawing the word out.
He was sure Keith was raising an eyebrow at him. Usually, one to take the bait and shove Lance's away, Keith kind of just shuffled his feet, "Oh…"
They started walking, Lance's arm snugly over Keith's shoulders, hip to hip. It would be less awkward if Keith also wrapped his arm around Lance- but he didn't, so it just kind of hung behind them oddly.
He was so awkward sometimes.
When they arrive at the house, Dravla is waiting on the porch for them. His gear is already on and he is peeling the skin off of a few pieces of strangely shaped fruit. "Morning Boys," he greets.
"Hey Dravla," Lance waves a little, "What'cha doing?"
"Thought you would both like to try some fruit! This is a rare kind found outside of the Kingdom. They are a little peculiar, though. The outside of the fruit is poisonous, but the inside is actually quite healthy for you- how strange is that?"
"Are you trying to feed us poison?" Keith frowns at him.
"I'm peeling it so it won't kill you," Dravla says, "You both came at a perfect time, though- I was just summoned for a meeting,"
"So was Tellru,"
"Oh, then it must be the same one. Can you go get Ruru for me while I'll finish this up?"
"I'll get her," Keith slowly slips out of Lance's grip without a word and steps inside.
When he is gone, Dravla starts to hum. "So… How have you been?" There is this undertone that Lance is wary of.
"Fine." he says stiffly, "Why do you ask?"
"Well- I just wanted to see how Keith and you were lately- especially after yesterday,"
Lance turned away, startled, "W-What is that supposed to mean?" he blushed.
"You two kissed," he says bluntly, "Or did you forget?" Dravla tugs Lance's arm to make him sit down. He hands him a piece of fruit a second later.
"...Of course I didn't." Lance takes an angry bit of it, swooning a second later at the delicious taste. "This is good,"
"Told ya,"
Munching on it, Lance kicked his legs a little, "Sorry you had to step in because of us yesterday," he says quietly, "You didn't get hurt, right?"
"Of course not. I am just sorry you had to go through that. My people haven't made the best impression… They are really kind people, some of us are just rough around the edges…" he pauses, "We have many rules that not all of us agree with and the Arena- well, only the fowl criminals and murders go there. It isn't often that someone like yourself stumbles within our borders. It is hard to decipher friend from foe- so I apologize. I hope you can forgive my people,"
"It is okay, Dravla. I've been through worse fights… I get it. Honestly, I've moved past that whole Arena thing- it is Keith who is still angry with it."
"He has every right to be. Honestly, I wish the Arena could be the only thing you have to deal with- but of course, there are still assassination attempts and those of the older generation who dislike the fact that you are here."
"Yeah… But, we fixed that yesterday, right? With the uh… the k-kiss?"
"Well they are still staring," he shrugs as he lifts up a few pieces of fruit. Lance groans.
"Why?"
"They will until Keith is unpure- that is just how it is. They can't help it. There will be doubt until the deed is done,"
"It's ridiculous,"
"Well- Tellru told you the means in which to make them look away for a while," he says innocently. "You just pucker up and maybe add a little tongue-"
"I don't need you to explain it!" Lance squeaked. Lance wasn't sure he could handle kissing Keith again after their little… moment, the night before. "B-But… Uh… Tellru said something about gifts. Gifts to give Keith, right?" he swallowed.
"Did she? Gifts could work,"
"What exactly would I give him?"
"Small tokens of affection. I for one love when Tellru gifts me hand-written letters," he gushes a little, "She has quite a way with words,"
"I can't really see- so writing isn't really an option. Plus, I was never one for Poetry. What else is there?"
"Get him sweets, embrace him in public- that should be easy for you since you are both always holding hands anyway," he wiggles his eyebrows.
"I- that isn't-" Lance turns away with a blush," Don't read too much into that," he commands.
"That is kind of hard,"
"Shut up," he muttered.
After a little chuckled, Dravla says, "Oh, would you mind running to the store for us while we are gone? Ruru is going to be a part of a production of sorts at her education facility-"
"Her school?"
"...If that is what they call it in your world then yes, her school. They are holding a small little performance and she is playing a being that has this blue dress for an outfit." he hands him some money, "Would you mind going to get it? She knows what it looks like"
"Leave it to me," he smiled
Smiling, Dravla rose when Keith returned with Ruru. "Okay Ruru, you behave now. Lance agreed to help you get your dress so show him the proper one- and don't try to trick him into getting you those weird glowing pink shoes you've been asking for."
She smiles innocently and nods.
"Glowing pink shoes?' Lance gasped as they go to grab her shoes, "Those sound fancy!"
Rolling his eyes Dravla steps towards Keith.
"Keith," Dravla pulls him to the side, "When you go to town today, keep a close eye on Lance, alright?"
"I was going to do that without you telling me to," he huffs.
Dravla chuckles, "Of course. Just- make sure you both do not consume anything unless it is given to you by us for now. We can never be sure what someone will try. When in crowds keep Lance at a close distance. I think after yesterday things should cool down a little- but there can always be more than one reason someone tries to have him killed…" He pats his shoulder, "You'll do fine though I'm sure," grabbing his stuff, he threw his bag over his shoulder, "Thank you again, Klance!" he bows his head to them.
"No problem- wait, what?" he frowns, "What did you just call us?"
"Klance., You know, it is what is sounds like when you mix your names together. Tellru told me about it,"
"You just added a K in front of Lance," Keith points out with a scowl, "There is no mixing with that,"
Dravla rubs his chin and hums, "If you say so. See you in a few hours,"
When he left, they helped Ruru get her shoes on and set off. Needless to say, Ruru did try to convince them to buy her pink glowing shoes.
Lance said yes.
Keith said no.
There was a long argument on the pros and cons of having Pink glowing shoes. Lance thought they were the best thing to have, but Keith didn't understand how essential they were.
"Keith, look at them, they are pink and glowing," Lance holds them up.
"I am, and I still don't see how they are useful,"
"THEY ARE PINK AND GLOW! How much more useful do you need to get!?"
"You can't even see them!"
"I don't need to- I already know they are amazing!"
"Dravla said not to get them, Lance,"
"I'll buy them for her- Tellru paid me a few days ago for babysitting," he stuffs his hands into his pocket.
"She doesn't need them!"
"I disagree! If I would love my own pair then she definitely needs them!"
Keith took the shoes away before Lance could say another word, "No,"
"Dream killer!" Lance called to him, "Keef has betrayed us, Ruru," he drops to his knees dramatically. Ruru fakes a sob.
Keith just rolls his eyes at them.
Knowing how could convince Keith to let him get the shoes, Lance turn to go through the rest of the store. It wasn't hard to locate Ruru's dress. Lance couldn't see it, but Keith said it looked like a princess dress. Placing it into the basket, Lance toured the rest of the store.
Running his hands along the shelves, he pauses at a certain type of fabric, "What are these?" He asked Ruru, hoping she would know the english word for it. Keith was currently busy going over the store's boots.
"Mitt,"
"Mitt?"
"Mitt mitt,"
Not sure what she meant, he says slowly, "Mitten? Like a glove?" it didn't feel like a winter type of fabric, so he slipped it over his hand. It was definitely a glove. "What color is it?" he asks, knowing she had learned a few.
"Black,"
"Black gloves…" Lance wonders if this kind of thing would make a nice gift. It was suppose to be something that would make Keith happy- right? So then..."Perfect," he grinned, hiding them out of sight when Keith started to come back. It was a struggle to try to buy them without him noticing, but teaming up with Ruru made it possible.
They both snickered as they walked out of the store.
"What are you two giggling about back there?' Keith asked suspiciously over his shoulder.
"Nothing," they respond with matching Cheshire smiles
Waiting for a few blocks, he knew he should give the gift to Keith soon when he started to hear Ruru giggling excitedly, unable to contain herself. "Give give," she insisted, tugging on his sleeve.
Alright, calm down," he chuckled.
"What?" Keith inquired.
Pulling the little bag out of his pocket, he handed it to Keith, "Here,"
Hearing the sound of the ruffling paper, he knew by Keith's silence that he had opened it, "Gloves," he says.
"Tellru said she was never able to figure out where they put your old ones- so I thought you might like new ones."
"Oh...," Keith says and places them one.
"So, do you uh… do you like them?" Lance feels oddly nervous.
"Yes," he can hear the smile in Keith's tone, "Thank you,"
"Look nice!" Ruru grins brightly.
"Well then- good," Lance grinned and walked forward. Keith quickly followed, walking side by side with him. Though lance couldn't see it, Keith was staring at his hands, admiring his new gloves. He didn't really ever get gifts- so receiving one was a pleasant surprise.
Not to mention, he was really starting to miss his gloves.
Shuffling a little closer to Lance, knowing they were entering a crowded area, Keith recalled what Dravla has said before.
Keep him close.
Then uh… well, maybe it was alright too do what they had been doing before?
He wrapped his arm around Lance's neck and tugging him a little closer. Lance was a little startled a first but didn't say much on it when he sensed the presence of others passing them.
Slowly, but surely, Lance lifted his arm to wrap around Keith's shoulders, refusing to be as awkward as Keith had been about this before. His arm felt too strange to just be hanging around, so might as well make this feel comfortable.
Neither of them say a word about their position, arms hooked over each other tightly. They liked it and didn't want any mention of it to break the moment.
"Lala!" Ruru tugged on his sleeve.
"Yeah, sweetpea?"
"Play?" she inquired.
"She wants to play on the playground over there," Keith says.
"I don't see why not," Lance smiles, "Go ahead!" he waves her off. She cheers and runs off. Keith and him end up moving to the surrounding fence, Keith watching her quietly as Lance listens to the sound of children and talking parents around them.
"Hey…"
"What?" Keith asks him.
"So you really like the gloves?"
"I do."
"Good," he smiles a little, his hand slowly slithering down to Keith's hand, feeling the material, "They are soft but I think they should last a while,"
Keith doesn't reply instantly, his pinky slowly trailing up to graze Lance's wrist, "They will. Thanks for thinking of me, Lance,"
With a lump suddenly forming in his throat at the gentle touch, Lance's lips form a little smile, "You've done a lot… I've been pretty useless lately,"
"You saved me from the Arena, Lance," Keith disagrees, "You've done more than I ever could or have yet to do," his eyes trail over the bruises still ugly and swollen on Lance's fingers. "...You've done too much for me," caught in the sight, his hands move up to Lance's face. Hesitant fingers brush over Lance's bruises, his expression tight and dark. "It's my turn now to watch over you, Lance,"
"Um…"
It was hard through the bandages, but Keith could see the warm red blooming onto Lance's face. Startled by it, Keith pulled his hand away, feeling just as flustered, "O-Okay? So just- if there is trouble, let me handle it."
"Sure…" Lance coughed a little into his hand. In truth, he should rely on Keith more. Keith could see, and the injury on his leg was healing well- leaving him in little pain. Keith could handle any threat that came by, probably.
Of course Lance hated to just sit by and allow someone else to protect him- never wanting someone to get hurt for him.
Keith could take care of himself, and easily take care of anyone around him.
But Lance couldn't help but worry…
And not just about threats that wanted to kill them.
He worried about threats that wanted to do… other things. Things to Keith.
Lance could feel them- the eyes of the older Coeihns. They were watching them… Correction, they were watching Keith. They were wondering why he hadn't been claimed yet… some perhaps even wanting to claim him for themselves. It made his blood boil with a foreign feeling. Not quite sure how to describe this bile in the back of his throat, he asked with a thick voice, "Are people staring at you?"
"Always," Keith says absentmindedly.
It made him angry- the idea that Keith and him couldn't just live in a peace until they could get off of this planet just to go fight a war to save these people from a bigger evil!
… Okay, so maybe he had lied to Dravla a bit. Lance was still upset a little about the whole Arena thing. That had been a pretty terrifying time for him! He thought he would never see Keith again and would die!
Sure the Coeihns grew on him a bit and he definitely didn't blame all of them for that time, especially since many of them actually seemed to really like him and praise him for his efforts, but you couldn't blame him for being a little mad still, right?
They had treated Keith like some… potential Sex object.
"I don't like them staring at you…" he admits, lifting his arm to place it on Keith's shoulder. Keith is a little surprise to hear him just announce such a thing.
"There isn't much we can do about it,"
"Yes, there is." Lance disagrees, "Tellru told me I just have to convince them…"
"Convince them?" Keith wasn't sure what he meant, "Well- if you can, then go ahead, I guess. Don't really know how you would do that but you can try you best-"
Visibly shakened by Keith's agreement, Lance straightened his spine. Not sure if Keith realized what he had just agreed too, he licked his lips. "You mean uh...Are they staring at you right now?" a strange sensation overwhelming his senses.
"I told you before they were."
"Are they still staring?" he opened and closed his palms, anxious yet excited.
"Yes Lance, jeez-" he grumbled.
"Good." using the arm that was still wrapped around Keith shoulder, Lance trailed his fingers up from Keith neck to his chin. He gripped it and turned it towards tim. As he did this, Lance reached down with his second hand to perch it on Keith's hip. When he attempted to question what the blue paladin was doing, Lance kissed him.
It was wet, bruising, and oh so delectable.
When Lance pulled away, face still only inches from Keith's, he inquired again, "Are they still staring?"
Keith was slow to respond, his voice quiet and unfocused, "Um- w-what?"
"Are they still staring at you?"
"N-No. What was-?"
"Then it worked." Lance grinned.
Keith was freaking out, "W-Worked? What worked?! What- what was that?" he reached his hand up to trailed his thumb against his lip. Blushing madly, he snapped his hand downward to frantically remove Lance's grip from his hip, "You kissed me!" he stated the obvious, not sure what else to do.
Only feeling nervous then, Lance chuckled timidly, "Oh well, Tellru told me I would have to kiss you to keep Coeihn eye's off of you. I just assumed she meant I would have to do it a couple times a day or something... It's the only way besides downright having sex with you to show everyone your my um… equivalent, or whatever."
Keith stepped away from him, struggling to control the reddening of his skin and fluttering of his heart, "Give me a warning next time you do that!" he yelled.
Lance flinched a little, nodding, "Yeah, sorry," he says honestly. After a small pause, his whispers, "Did you… dislike it?"
Keith froze up. He panted, staring at this strange Cuban boy before him. He had asked that so… earnestly. He couldn't help but stammer the truth, "N-No. I just- wasn't expecting it."
Lance shuffled his feet a little. The skip to his heart must have been affecting his mind because he asked, "Then, did you like it?"
Keith had long since lost his composure, "W-Well… a little,"
"Are the still staring at you?" Lance wasn't sure what was coming over him. He spoke these words with every ounce of confidence he had, despite knowing what they would mean. He was just so surprised to Keith being a fumbling mess- stuttering and shaking…
Someone please tell say that he was blushing.
Lance could die happy to know he had gotten Keith Kogane to blush.
"Keith," he says again when the other didn't answer, "Are they still staring at you?"
"S-some…" he took a shaky step back when Lance moves closer. One step, two steps- Keith's back hit the fence behind him. He gasped as the blue paladin placed both his arms by the side of his head. Realizing he had been pinned, Keith turned his head the other way and bit his lip- Lance's breath felt hot against his ear.
He was so close.
Too close.
Why wasn't he pushing him away? Why couldn't Keith's stupid heart shut up for a couple seconds to let him think!?
"Keith,"
"...What?" Keith whispered.
"If this is too much… T-tell me to stop," Lance croaked.
Keith didn't.
"Then I'm not stopping…" Lance wondered if he was already closing his eyes and waiting. With that exhilarating thought, Lance leaned forward. Keith was surprisingly very eager when their lips met and pushed into Lance full force.
Pleased when Keith hummed into the kiss, Lance could feel one of Keith's hand trailing up to cup the back of his neck, using it to steady them both.
Though this kiss was more chaste than their last one, the warmth was enough to make their legs shake.
Lance couldn't help but push his luck a little and sucked Keith's bottom lip roughly. Keith gasped.
Pulling away after a little to nibble the swelling lip, loving the way it made Keith shiver, Lance husks, "Just a warning- I'm going to do that whenever they stare at you, okay?" the more the Coeihns saw this the more they would leave them alone. He wanted all these eyes off of Keith immediately. It was that soul thought alone that allowed Lance to keep his confidence during this whole exchange.
It wasn't till Keith agreed with a quiet and very awed, "Okay," that he began to realize everything he had just done.
Not once, nooooo, he had kissed Keith Kogane twice today. And thank goodness for that because that was amazing. And Keith even kissed back!
"Okay?" He repeated. Keith took a few seconds to reply
"Don't make me say it again…" he whispered. It was shy and timid and Lance thought it was the cutest thing in the entire universe. "I-It's just to make sure the coeihns mind their own business… right?" It was an excuse.
"Of course," Lance agreed anxiously, willing to go with anything at this moment if it meant he could kiss this red paladin again, "It's just a show…" he leaned in a little. Their lips brushed- they both shivered.
"An act," Keith's breathing quickened.
"I completely agree," Knowing they were both lying, Lance almost found it funny that they couldn't just admit this was something. Of course he wasn't sure what that something was, but it was definitely something… different, from what they had before, "So tell me… are they looking at you?"
He was positive Keith didn't even both to look around before saying, "Yes,"
Ready to pull him forward and kiss him again, the two froze when a voice called to them
"Keef! Lala!" Rudy was calling from the playset. Recalling that they were technically on babysitting duty, the two paladins leaped away from each other.
"Y-yeah?" They stammered
"I found a leaf!" she declares. The whole ground was covered in them from how windy the day was, had she really interrupted them just for a single one she probably found on the ground next to every other leaf?
Inhaling to calm himself, Keith forces a smile, "Good job, Ruru,"
"... Leaf make cooties go byebye!" she giggled smugly. It was her Father's laughs in every form. The little mini Dravla, she totally interrupted them on purpose!
"Why you…" Lance grumbled to himself. He was glad he didn't end up buying her those pink glow shoes! She just messed up his makeout session with Keith- ….
W-With Keith.
He was about to make out with Keith.
Willingly.
Wait no- he technically already did! N-Not anything long, mind you, but there was still lip to lip contact! And a little t-tongue! And Keith still tasted like- well, he couldn't describe it. Him? How do you describe someone who just tastes like himself? Wonderful and strong and oh so intoxicating.
Oh… Oh no. Oh no no no no, what was he doing?
"RURU, WE'RE GOING HOME!" Lance cupped his hands around his mouth and belted into the darkness. In his panic, he rushed them all back to the apartment and they played a weird board game in utter silence till Tellru and Dravla got home.
"Hey," Dravla knelt down to lift Ruru up.
She said something to him without a second of hesitation.
Dravla gasped dramatically, "You two kissed again?"
"Ruru!" They yelled.
Tellru was already clapping, "Oh well done you two! I'm very happy with the progress you two have made~"
"Little snitch," Lance accused Ruru who giggled innocently. She was just like his little sister at home! It kind of made him happy at how nostalgic this felt, but anger still lurked in the shadows.
In the end, they shared dinner with them and left back to their apartment. Really, with nothing much to do it was more of like Lance and Keith were on some… small vacation. Days were passing so quickly.
What day was this? Day 11?
Lance wasn't even sure anymore.
What could he possibly do but wait anyway? They couldn't just force their way to the outer world communication area- wherever that even was. Tellru probably purposively didn't tell them so they wouldn't even try to attempt it- which Keith totally might.
He forgot to even ask if Tellru had gotten a chance to speak with the King today. Hopefully, she did and managed to arrange something.
If not they would just have to wait…
Together.
...Would they have to kiss every day? He wouldn't mind that.
But Keith…. ?
This might be harder than he first thought.
"K-Keith?" he stammered nervously as he fluffed his own pillow,
"Yeah?" he asked cautiously.
"If I…" he swallows, his throat stinging at how sore it was, "If I stepped too far today, I-"
"No," Keith quickly cuts the thought down as they lay down… together, in the same bed. Cause that was a thing now. Now need to ask it, Keith just did it… Which Lance kind of liked, "No it was fine," Keith pauses and takes a moment to fiddle with the sheets, "I didn't mind,"
"You didn't?"
"Yeah. You aren't- that bad of a kisser,"
"...Really?" Lance says quietly- excited.
Keith nods a little.
Lance was grinning. "You kinda suck," Keith threw a pillow at him and he laughed, "If it makes you feel better, I think you are getting better,"
Taking a second to realize they have kissed at least 4 or so times since arriving at this world they buried their faces into their pillows.
"You think?"
Lance nodded numbly, "Definitely- honestly… I probably wouldn't mind doing it again," his voice sounded muffled through his pillow.
"Oh… C-Cool," Keith stammered, voice equally as muffled. "...Me too."
They didn't say anything after that, their hearts going crazy and minds thinking too deeply on the softness of the other's lips.
What kind of pit have they dug for themselves?