Chapter 6

"Bye Keith," Lance waved as Keith left to go meet with Chorrol before he turned to Z. "Let's do this." Z rolled her eyes with a smile before stepping into her apartment-like room.

"Alrighty, welcome to my humble abode. You want anything to drink before we start talking like girls at a sleep over?" She walked into the kitchen as she spoke over her shoulder. Lance had a momentary flash back to the horrible drink he had with Keith and shuddered.

"Do you have any water?"

"Mhm." She grabbed two and made her way back to Lance. Her place was much different than Keith's. Though the kitchen living room combo was the same, her bed was also on display in the corner. The only other door in apartment leading to what Lance assumed was a bathroom.

She sat herself on one of the two chairs she had by the table in the kitchen and Lance followed her lead, grabbing the water she passed to him as he plopped down.

"Okay, now why don't you tell me how much you know." Z hummed as she leaned back comfortably and sipped at her water.

"Hm. I mean… I don't know a lot. I know that Galra have like- mates for life I guess. And mate-marks which I still don't quite understand. And they don't really care about what sexuality you are… uh…" Lance racked his brain for answers and the longer he thought about it the faster he realized that he didn't know much at all. "Keith didn't know what dating really meant or what boyfriends meant. So. Yeah. I think that's it." Lance grabbed his water and took a sip.

"I thought that-"

A sudden thought came to mind, "Oh! And I know that Galra have soul mates... Right? What were they called again?"

"Kalans. They are very rare and not to be taken lightly."

Lance leaned forward, a furrow in his brow. "Obviously. I mean- If humans had soul mates they wouldn't have to date in the first place. Just search them out and be happy. Happiness shouldn't be taken lightly."

The smile that Z sent him was much more knowing than it should have been and had Lance wondering what it meant.

"Lance, why don't you tell me about Keith? He's the reason you want to know all of this, right?" Lance felt his face flush just a bit before a soft smile joined his dark cheeks.

"Yeah. Uh, well, Keith and I… I don't even know where to start." Lance let out a little chuckle, placing his elbows on the table so he could rest his chin on his hands. "I was the first one to see him and I immediately tried to shoot him- I'm really glad I missed. Despite that he still saved my life. Me, a total stranger who had just tried to put a laser though him. All of this crazy stuff happened and he didn't have a lot of reason to trust me or help me but he just kept coming back. He saved me for the second time once he joined us on the castle of lions. He pushed away my insecurities and comforted me when I needed it most. He tries so hard to protect us."

Lance took a sip of his water, clearing his throat before continuing. "He's so strong. He wouldn't say it out loud but he was willing to sacrifice everything for us. For me. When he got separated from the team and found us in the middle of stealing the red lion back he dropped everything to save Pidge. He fought with me to make sure she was safe. In those cells…" Lance took a small breath, still not fully capable of talking about the next part without preparing himself.

"When I got my carvings, he broke out of his shackles to get to me. He… He was exactly what I needed in that moment and I don't even know how to describe what it felt like to be held by him. It was like… Like if I was hidden in his arms the universe couldn't touch me." Lance gazed at the far wall for a moment, his mind swimming.

There was a pregnant pause before he continued. "He just makes me so happy, you know? I know you saw what the galra did to me right after you got us out and I guess that's why I find it so easy to talk to you about this."

Lance unbuckled his chest piece and unzipped the back of his suit, turning to show Z the carving on his skin.

"I know, that you know, that this wasn't what was there before."

He glanced over his shoulder to see Z's reaction. Her eyes were wide and her lips formed a small 'o' as she reached out before pulling her hand back.

"It's beautiful." She said, her voice quiet.

"Keith did it." He zipped his suit back up but left his chest plate on the floor. It was heavy anyways. "He offered to change all of the carvings. I can't read Galran, but just knowing what was on my skin was… It made me feel wrong. And Keith changed all of the words to something that made me happy. Now I the thought of having this carving on my skin forever isn't unbearable."

Another sip of water as he tried to remember what Z's question was in the first place. He knows that he tends to ramble but it usually isn't this bad.

"He just does so much for me. Without a second thought. He's learning a whole new language for fu- goodness sake. Just because I miss home. That boy asked around the ship- probably being teased and lied too- to figure out the 'proper way' to ask me out. Then he went and used my native tongue to do it. He's the sweetest, most caring, badass person I've ever met."

Lance let his own words sink in, the heat on his face making a return. He had never really said any of this out loud and thinking about it now he can't believe that he didn't realize how much he liked Keith sooner. He covered his face with his hands.

"Dios… I'm such an idiot." He looked up at Z who was giving him the softest yet most smug look he had ever seen on her.

"You're not an idiot."

"No, really, I am. It took me so long to figure it out and I've known the whole time I just was too dense to think it could be something more. Ugh. I didn't even have a thought about it until yesterday with the crystals and-"

"Wait, what happened yesterday?" Z stopped his rambling.

"Yesterday? Those crystals that we're all here to discuss, yeah they have mind control and it basically turns people into Zombies."

Z raised an eyebrow. "Zombies?"

"Lifeless things? It makes people do whatever the controller wants but without the person really being there. It's like they just zoned out."

"And Keith was like that?"

Lance rubbed his face. He wanted to get this off of his chest but he didn't want anyone else to know. He knew that Keith hadn't meant to do those things… He just wanted to kill him… yeah.

Screw it, he can tell her. She'll keep it between the two of them.

"You can't tell anyone about this next part okay." He waited for Z to confirm her secrecy before continuing. "The Galra controlling him was telling him to kill me but he was doing weird things instead. He was… mouthing at this spot." He raised a hand to his neck. "He told me after that it was the Galra mate marking spot. While he was still under I was able to get him to stop. It didn't work so well when I pushed him off of me but… Okay, you're going to think I'm crazy. Keith said it wasn't crazy but I think he was just being nice."

One breath to pause for suspense. "I kind of… thought really hard that I wanted him to stop and pushed that feeling and then he did." Lance waited for her reaction. For her to call him weird and laugh. He should have known that Z wouldn't do that to him.

"Lance, how about I tell you about the Galra now? Everything will start making sense."

Lance nodded his head taking a drink from his half empty cup as he leaned back in his chair, prepared to shut up and listen.

"Let's start with the mate mark." She raised her hand to the joint of her neck and shoulder. "When galra are courting they end their courtship by either going their separate ways, or marking each other. This basically seals the deal. It creates a soul link to the other person so that you are together in a way that normal people aren't."

"So, it makes you soul mates? I thought that only Kalans were soul mates…"

"Yes and no. With a Kalan, they already have a soul link- but it's called a soul bond. This is stronger and offers other things, but we'll get to that in a minute. Before a Galra can create a soul link they have to court for at least one Phoeb but can court longer if they would like. During the first movement of courting either member must find a gift for the other. It doesn't really matter what, just so long as they would enjoy it. In the second movement they explore each other's strengths and weaknesses so that they have the chance to grow as a couple. Third movement they participate in a ceremonial fight, determining the dominate partner, though this can change at any time. Finally, in the last movement either partner fights their mate's parents-"

Lance's eyes went wide as he cut in, "Wait, wait, wait. You mean that I have to fight Thace and Kolivan if I court Keith?" Lance could handle finding a present and fighting Keith and whatever else she had said but fighting the leaders of the Blade of Marmora?!

"Well… yeah I guess so. Do humans not do that?"

"No!" Lance let his head thunk solidly onto the table with a sigh. "What happens when they beat my ass?"

"Generally, it doesn't matter who wins or loses, but the parents decide if you should be allowed to mate the other due to the outcome of the fight. If you fought hard and gave it your all then you would probably be fine. It's like a test to make sure that you are able to protect their child."

Okay that's not as bad as I thought.

"Anyways, that's the basics of Galra courting. Back to the Kalan."

Lance lifted his head up, lazily resting it on his hand once more.

"When some one has a Kalan and in turn, a soul bond, they are able to share thoughts and emotions telepathically."

…wait a second…

"The bond between them is so strong that they are able to share pieces of their souls, and that's how they can communicate. But this can backfire…" Z trailed off for a moment, making Lance scoot to the edge of his seat as he waited for her to continue. "Should a Kalan be rejected by its other half then they would die from soul break. In regular mates it is called a bond break and though it is survivable, it also has adverse effects. With Kalans it is never survivable."

"Z." Z met Lance's gaze. "Do you have to be pure galra to have a Kalan?"

"No."

"Does… how do you know if you have a Kalan? How would you be able to tell?"

"Well, being able to speak to someone without actually talking is one way. Pushing emotions; the affect of an empathy bond is another. And then the general feeling of being drawn towards someone."

Lance didn't know what to say anymore.

Could it be true? Was it actually possible for his soul to be bonded to…

Suddenly his anxieties began to hit.

Great, you've trapped a wonderful person with you forever. He'll probably hate you for that. Stuck with you even when he finally wants to leave. Who would want to listen to you talking all the time anyways? Hiding how you really feel. Keeping me hidden…

"Z?" his voice came out weaker than he wanted it. She sent him a warm smile that only made him feel a little better. "Do Kalans always love their other half? Or when they find out who they really are… Are they just disappointed?"

Z's smile changed into a frown as she reached across the table to grab Lance's hand and hold it between her own.

"Your Kalan loves you so much, and I don't think that anything will ever change that."

Lance looked at their hands as he thought.

He really needed to talk to Keith.

"You want to talk to him now don't you?" Z asked as her lips curled up. Lance nodded his head and they stood from the table and began to make their way back towards Keith's apartment where he and Chorrol were sure to be.

They had almost reached the door when Lance felt a sudden sinking in his stomach. He recognized the feeling as that which he had felt last night when Keith had been having a nightmare.

That was all the warning he needed to know something was going wrong. He charged forward, about to start pounding on the door when it opened for him, Chorrol standing above him with a panicked look on his face.

"Where's Keith?" Lance demanded, Z right behind him as he pushed his way inside. He didn't need Chorrol to answer because he immediately caught sight of him sitting on the couch, unharmed.

"What happened?" Lance sat beside Keith as he asked him. He got no response. Not even a head turn in his direction.

"We were talking and everything was going fine but then he grabbed his head and stopped everything. He went blank like that right after- I was about to go get Kolivan or Thace. I don't know what's going on I can't figure it out. He was here one second and then the next-"

"Okay Chorrol, we get it. Calm down." Z went to Chorrol's side, rubbing her hand up and down his arm as she spoke softly. Chorrol's eyes were wide and he was obviously distressed, but he took a breath and tried to get a grip on himself.

"Keith?" Lance spoke once more. Still nothing. Suddenly he was reminded of the time that Keith had been under control of the crystals and he understood what was happening. "Guys." He got their attention. "I think it's alright. The crystal that Keith was possessed by had to be cleansed and the Genopian who took it said that, 'we would know when it was happening.'" He raised a hand and rested it against Keith's back, trailing it in small circles. The sick feeling in his stomach began to ease.

"Are you sure?" Chorrol asked as he sat in the chair beside the couch. He rested his hand on the side closest to Keith, as if he wanted to touch him but didn't think he should.

"We're all right here Keith." Lance whispered. The small group stayed like that for a long while. Chorrol sitting in the chair, tapping his foot and clicking his nails together impatiently. Z, standing at the edge of the room and watching over everything. Lance, sitting by Keith's side and Keith staring straight ahead at nothing, hardly even breathing or blinking.

And then, as he broke out of his trance, Keith let out a soft groan and brought his arms around his stomach. Lance leaned forward to catch his eye but they were squeezed closed.

"Keith?" At Lance's voice Keith's eyes opened. "Hey. They cleaned your crystal just now. You've been zoned out for… a while."

Keith blinked and then looked up. He met Chorrol and Z's eyes before leaning back.

"I'm sorry." Keith said softly.

"Why?" Lance asked with a smile. Keith just looked away.

"All required personnel please proceed to the command room for the briefing."

Everyone in the room shared a glance before moving towards the door. As Chorrol and Z exited Lance grabbed a hold of Keith's arm, pulling him back for a moment.

"What was that?"

Keith frowned and looked to the floor. "I wish you didn't have to see that."

Lance was confused. Keith was upset because he had been under control of something that he had no power over and he was sorry that Lance had to see?

"I… I don't…"

"I hurt you when I was like that. I did… Terrible things. I almost…"

"Marked me." Keith's head moved so fast that his hair swung harshly into his eyes. "If that's the terrible thing that you were talking about I think that you should forgive yourself."

"But… Lance." Keith turned his whole body in Lance's direction, squaring his shoulders to him in a way that said 'he meant business.' "If I had marked you then-"

"We would have been mated, blah blah blah." Keith seemed surprised as his eyes widened. "Look. Z just told me about galra mating rituals or whatever. She also told me about Kalans." Lance grabbed Keith's hand. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"T-t-tell you what?"

Lance rolled his eyes.

"Don't play dumb you know what I mean. I've been thinking I was going crazy but it turns out I'm just crazy for you." Lance didn't realize how smooth he was being until the words were already out of his mouth and Keith was blushing. There was a sigh of defeat released from his lips before he let go of Lance's hand and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Look. I didn't know if it worked both ways. I'm only half galra and you're human. This is a galra thing and I thought… for the longest time I was sure that it didn't work on both ends like it was supposed to. I didn't want to tell you because I wanted you to have a choice and I didn't want you to love me just because I would die if you didn't."

How did I get so lucky?

"And you're sure that its not because you were disappointed when you found out it was me who was your Kalan?"

Keith gave him the most horrified look he had seen yet. "Absolutely not!" He grabbed Lance's hand with a soft growl. "Lance. I love-" The word slipped from his lips and he stopped momentarily, as if he hadn't meant to let that particular word out. However, he regained his composure and continued. "You mean the world to me and I'm honored that you are my Kalan."

Slowly Lance brought his arms around Keith's neck and buried his face in his shoulder. "You mean the world to me too." He muttered unintelligibly. Keith's warm hands wrapped around his shoulders and the feeling of heated affection washed over him, melting into the center of his chest and spreading out to the rest of his limbs. He could feel the tingle all the way to his toes.

They stood there for a solid dobash. Lance breathed in the best feeling in the world while in Keith's arms and he tried to pushing his own feelings out like Z said that he could. When Keith's arms relaxed even further he knew that he had succeeded.

"Guys." Z's voice broke their moment. "You're going to be the only ones not at the briefing at this rate. Let's go."

Chorrol's fluffy ears popped around the corner and he snickered at them.

"Come on Ziana. They were having a bonding moment." Z let out a low growl and Chorrol took off down the hall with her at his heels.

They followed after her, hand in hand.

…

The meeting was long and drawn out. Lance had been expecting such but as they approached hour 3 he began to wonder if they would ever be able to leave.

"I am sure that I have seen the affects of these crystals on other planets. Four that I can name! We need to go back to Genopia and learn more about these things and their weaknesses." The rebel leader- Palui- said with as much conviction as the other 11 times he had said it. Lance had been keeping count.

"They don't have any weaknesses. We've told you. Nothing can snap out of it unless the crystal is returned to the original owner." Keith was beginning to get frustrated as he clenched his fists tightly together across the room from Palui.

"Tell me again how you broke out of it then?"

"I didn't, Lance got the crystal back to me."

"And how did you do that if he was hard wired to kill you?" Palui turned his attention to Lance now, who let out a tired sigh.

"I got Keith to stop long enough to get to the galra controlling the crystal."

"How?"

"I just told him to okay?"

"But you just said that there was no way to snap people out!"

"It's different with me and him!"

"How!?"

"Because he's my Kalan!"

The shouting ceased suddenly. Keith was holding Lance's shoulder as if to keep his from leaping over the table at Palui while Palui had collapsed back in his chair. Lance didn't want to look at the others so he just sat back down and fiddled with the seams of his armor.

"So, it is possible but only in impossible cases." Palui had a hand over his eyes as he sunk further down his chair.

"We don't need something like that to defeat these crystals." Kolivan's no nonsense voice rang over the assembly.

"But if we must fight against the very race we are trying to save it will make things difficult." Allura's lilting voice joined Kolivan's and together they sounded like true leaders. Lance didn't know how they were still talking about this with a calm head. He just wanted to get back on the castle, get in his PJs, and go to bed. Maybe bring Keith with him…

Cuddles did sound nice…

"Exactly my point. Maybe the Genopians have some secret neutralizing device. They were able to break your bond after all." Palui gestured to Keith vaguely as he turned back to Kolivan.

There was a moment or two of a thoughtful silence and then Pidge chimed in, Matt by her side.

"Let's just go back. What's it gonna hurt?"

"I agree." Lance quickly stood, seeing an opportunity of escape. Hunk seconded the motion and within a minute the paladins and everyone who wasn't a direct leader had been dismissed. That left Kolivan, Allura, and Palui to drone on endlessly at their own expense.

Hunk, Pidge, and Matt were further ahead. Behind them Lance was on Keith's left, Chorrol on his right as they headed towards the castle of Lions.

"That was ridiculous." Lance muttered to himself, glad to be free.

"Yeah, Palui really likes to beat a point to death until he gets his way, but you get used to it."

"I don't know Chorrol, that guy is crazy."

"Pot meet Kettle."

"Hey!" Lance shoved Chorrol playfully and noticed that Keith had fallen behind. He turned around and saw that Keith was a few paces back. "You coming?"

"You know, I'll be there in a second. I just want to grab something before we go."

"I'll wait for you by the castle." Lance continued on with Chorrol, joking softly. "What do you think he's doing?

"10 GAC says he's going to go get Pippy."

"The hippo? I don't have 10 GAC."

"A favor then. Winner gets to ask a favor whenever for whatever they want."

Lance narrowed his eyes. "Deal." Keith wouldn't bring his hippo on the ship, right? It was safer here and he was probably just grabbing something like his own clothes or PJs. It was a safe bet and Lance was sure that he would win.

"Nice, I'll start thinking up your 'favor.'" Chorrol smiled evilly and rubbed his hands together.

Now what in the world could that mean? Lance gulped as they took the last few steps to the castle ship, turning to wait for Keith.

"So, Lance…"

"Hmm?"

"You and Keith?"

"…Yeah?"

"You know about Kalans and all that so…?"

"So? Chorrol, what are you trying to say?"

A wide smile curled onto Chorrol's lips as he leaned closer. "Are you courting?" Lance felt his face begin to warm as he stuttered out an answer.

"W-Well, I only just found out…"

"And what do you think?"

"About Keith being my soul mate?"

"Yes!" Chorrol was by his side, shaking his shoulder in excitement.

"I think… It's pretty nice."

"Pretty nice?" Chorrol questioned him with indignant surprise. It made Lance reconsider his words for a moment. Pretty nice couldn't even begin to describe what he was feeling right now. Pretty nice was a B+ on a big test. This warm feeling that had settled in his heart and the absolute and complete happiness he felt when he thought of Keith was so much more than… nice.

"No." Lance raised his gaze to meet Chorrol's. "I think it's one of the best things that has ever happened to me."

For the first time in a while Chorrol stopped speaking. He leaned back with a large grin on his face.

"It looks like you own me a big fat favor." Chorrol gestured over Lance's shoulder, prompting him to turn around.

Keith was walking towards them with a satchel hanging off of his shoulder. Hanging half out of the opening was the head of a gray hippo with yellow button eyes. Lance pouted at Chorrol.

"Damnit."

"What are you guys doing?" Keith asked when he was within speaking distance.

"Oh nothing." Chorrol said, nudging Lance with his elbow and giving him a wink. Lance caught on and gave him a crooked grin back.

Keith narrowed his eyes at either of them but didn't fight them. "Let's get going then."

Lance waved bye to Chorrol and started towards the ship that would bring them back to the castle. Keith and Chorrol said their farewells, giving a brief embrace before going their separate ways. The jealousy was much easier to curb now that Lance knew Keith was his and his only.

Keith joined him in the ship and they traveled back to the castle. Once inside they greeted the others who explained that they were going to bed.

"Yeah, me too. I'm exhausted." Lance stretched his arms over his head.

"Oh hey, Lance?" Pidge's curious voice called his attention.

"Hmm?"

"In that meeting you said you were Keith's Kalan, what does that mean?"

Lance peeked over at Keith and saw his cheeks heat up.

"Yeah, I heard that too." Hunk added from behind her. Matt just raised an eyebrow at either of them. Keith gave Lance a shy shrug that translated to, 'It's up to you if you want to tell them.'

"It's the galra equivalent of a soul mate. Anyways goodnight!" Snatching Keith's hand and pulling him down the hall Lance tried to ignore the sound of Hunk's surprised shout of 'hold on' and Pidge's amused wolf whistle.

They rounded a turn and Keith tugged him back a bit to slow him down. "You know she isn't going to let this go." He said with a smirk.

"Yeah but I don't want to go through her interrogation right now. Let's just… You're staying the night with me, right?" Lance cocked an eyebrow, wondering momentarily if Keith had been thinking that at all or if this was breaking some sort of Galran courting rule.

"Can I?" Keith seemed excited by the idea, almost surprised that Lance had even brought it up.

"Yes. Obviously. Do you need to get anything from your room?"

"Not really." Keith gestured to the bag hanging from his shoulder with the hand that wasn't gripped in Lance's. "I got everything I needed back on the base."

"Good." Lance lead the way to his room with a bright smile on his face. He stepped into the thresh hold and dropped Keith's hand so that he could grab some clothes from his Altean dresser. He was about to run to the bathroom to change and get ready to sleep when he noticed Keith out of the corner of his eye. He seemed almost lost.

"Keith?" Keith snapped his gaze towards Lance with an open expression on his face, one that was hard to read. "You okay?"

Keith nodded and set his bag down at the foot of the small cot-like bed. He pulled out Pippy and held her, just looked at her with his lips held in a taunt line. Lance frowned and placed his clothes on the small desk that Coran had shown him how to pull out of the wall. He sat by Keith's side but Keith continued to stared at his hippo plush.

"That doesn't seem like an okay face." Lance commented, waiting for a response. When he didn't get one he leaned back on his hands and stated off-handedly, "If staying the night breaks some Galra code or you're uncomfortable or something, you don't have to stay." He hoped that he had kept his voice from betraying the slightly disappointment he felt. Then he wondered if Keith could feel it through their link and if it was even worth trying to hide.

"I want to stay its just…" Keith lifted up Pippy's stubby arms and moved them around as he mulled over what to say next. "It's strange. Last night I dreamt everything went so horribly wrong and I lost-" He choked up a bit and cleared his throat. "It's like I walked straight out of my worst nightmare to the best day dream I could ever imagine." Keith finally turned so that he could see Lance's face once again. "Do you get it?"

Lance smiled. "Yeah. I do."

They shared a tender moment with tender smiles and tender feelings. Lance let himself get lost in Keith's amethyst eyes as affection swelled in his chest.

"Let's get ready for bed." Lance grabbed his clothes back off of the desk and waited for Keith to dig out some sleep ware of his own. He set Pippy at the head of the bed before they left.

When they returned their armor was put away and drowsiness was beginning to set in like a soft fog on a cool morning.

Keith collapsed on the bed first, grabbing Pippy and rolling her into his arms before rolling onto his side and facing the wall.

Lance pouted. He had been expecting at least a little enthusiasm for cuddling, but it seemed the only thing Keith intended on cuddling was her.

Come on Lance. Don't get jealous of a plushie. Keith is probably just new to the whole cuddling concept. Or maybe he just doesn't want to overstep any boundaries… Should we talk about that?

Later. Sleep now, worry about all that relationship stuff later.

Lance thought having a soulmate would make this whole 'first date' phase of do's and don't's easier, but he was wrong. It would seem every relationship, no matter how destined it was to be, had to be talked about and communicated with the partner.

Lance sat on the edge of the bed and tried to decide how to go about this. There wasn't a lot of room to begin with and now Keith was taking up most of it.

"Scoot." Lance pushed at Keith's back. He rolled over until his hands were touching the wall and half of the bed was open. Lance took that opportunity to pull the covers up and slide under them, struggling a bit when they wouldn't budge.

Keith was on top of them.

"Keith are you getting under?"

"No, I'm already warm."

Okay then, guess he would have to work around it. No biggie, right?

He managed to get under the covers but his knees made them hover just above the mattress, letting a cool draft of air under the blanket.

He groaned.

"Keith can you lift up for a second."

As soon as his name left Lance's lips a fleeting feeling of embarrassment invaded his mind, but it was snapped back the moment he registered what it was.

"You know that there is no reason to be embarrassed?" Lance laid on his side to face Keith and was met his scrunched shoulders.

"I was hoping you didn't catch that…" He muttered. Lance rolled his eyes.

"Have you ever cuddled before?" Lance asked.

"Obviously not." Keith retorted, raw with defensive embarrassment.

"Well don't worry about it then. It might be more comfortable though seeing as this bed isn't very big."

"Actually." Keith finally rolled over. It took a few short, calculated turns to do so without crushing Lance but he managed to finally look him in the eyes. "Can I get on the outside?"

Without a word Lance pulled himself off of the bed and waited for Keith to crawl out. He left Pippy in the top corner, above either of their pillows. Once he was out Lance climbed in and got comfortable under the cover. He stopped moving and looked expectantly up at Keith who was biting his plush lower lip and rolling it between his fangs.

"Here." Lance held his arms out for Keith to fall into. There was a hint of skepticism in his eyes but he eventually folded and like an uncertain cat he cautiously approached. He stayed on top of the covers as he fell into Lance's outstretched hands. He settled and the longer he glared directly into Lance's face the darker his cheeks got. He eventually turned onto his other side so that his back was to Lance's chest and he pulled Lance's hands into his own and cradled them to his own chest, finally seeming satisfied with the positioning.

Lance hummed contentedly as Keith's warmth radiated off of him in waves and said softly into Keith's hair, "Goodnight."

"Dulces sueños." He whispered back, making Lance's mind sing as he drifted off into an easy slumber.

Thanks for reading so far! luv yall