Prompt 1 - Decoration

"Hmm, what is that those creatures are eating?"

"I don't think they're eating anything. Let's move along, kids!" Lance waved his hands in the air, doing his best to keep the group going.

"No, no, they're definitely eating something."

Lance nudged his shoulder into Keith's, but Keith's feet were planted on the concrete path as he continued to tilt his head innocently in order to stare into this particular zoo pen.

Also working against Lance was the fact that all the kids they currently had out on this zoo trip adored Keith, and as such, were eager to see exactly what had captured his attention.

"Its corn stalks!" one of the boys exclaimed.

"Interesting," Keith said with a nod and a tone of voice that implied that this was indeed the most interesting thing he'd ever witnessed.

Lance groaned internally.

"So they bring in the dead cornstalks and give them to the" — Keith paused as he leaned over to read the sign outside the exhibit — "chacoan peccary to entertain them. That's so interesting. Isn't that interesting, kids? How they reuse —"

"Bip bip bip. No, nope. That doesn't sound interesting at all!" Lance pulled both of Keith's arms behind his back and looped his own around them as he peered at the kids over Keith's shoulder. "Who wants a lesson on recycling? No one?" Lance spoke quickly before the kids could even respond. "Great! Let's move on!"

He used his hold on Keith's arms, while noting that Keith was definitely doing that adorable silent laughter thing that shook his shoulders, to finally get his boyfriend moving away from the chacoan peccary — who were all still happily munching on several dead corn stalks.

Hunk and Pidge stared after them in confusion, but sent the kids encouraging smiles. It wasn't entirely necessary. Their group — which had included Keith since his return to college life — volunteered with these kids on a regular basis, which meant the kids were well versed in Keith's and Lance's behavior.

The next exhibit included a large plastic tunnel that ran through a prairie dog exhibit, and Lance grinned as the kids dove into it. Shiro and Matt headed to the other end so someone from their group was at the exit to keep watch as the kids crawled out, allowing Keith and Lance to just hang out by the entrance, providing further supervision as each kid sprinted back towards them in order to repeat the whole experience.

Lance had released Keith's arms, but still had one of his hands within his own. He gave it a squeeze and smiled when he had Keith's attention.

"You ready to head up to the cabin after this? Just the two of us?" Eyebrows may have waggled in this moment, but Lance regularly claimed he had no control over their movements.

Keith smiled anyway and squeezed his fingers in return. "You're sure your Uncle Coran is okay with us staying there for a few days?"

Keith already knew Lance's uncle was okay with it, he'd even had a chance to meet Coran during a cabin trip last summer. But he still felt like covering all his bases. He didn't want anything to disrupt this trip or change their plans. He'd been back to college for two full semesters, plus he'd taken two classes over the summer, just doing his best to try to catch up to where he'd been before he dropped out. And the finals they'd finished only yesterday had taken a heavy toll on their sleep and sanity. He was really looking forward to getting away from everything.

Away from everything but Lance, that was. They'd celebrated their one year anniversary over a month ago, and while it had been fun being back at the cabin with everyone else over fall break this year, this would be their first time back alone. And Lance had made it pretty clear that they were going to squeeze in as many holiday traditions as possible in the few days they had before they had to split up and spend Christmas apart with their own families.

But for now, Keith felt his own grin widen as he watched Lance nod his head.

"Uncle Coran doesn't mind at all. With all his world traveling, I think he likes knowing someone is at the cabin from time to time."

Keith turned his attention back to the kids, and watched as they entered the tunnel for what was likely the third or fourth trip through. He wasn't going to stop them — Shiro and Matt were at the exit after all, it was up to them to break the kids' hearts when it was time to move on. He smirked across the tunnel at his brother, and got a pout in return — Shiro had likely realized exactly what Keith was thinking.

Matt seemed to notice Shiro's pout as well, because then he had a hand around the back of Shiro's neck and he was pulling him in for a —

Okay, time to focus on Lance again, cause as much as Keith had wanted Shiro to just admit to his feelings for Matt, he didn't need to see them kissing. It was bad enough living with the two of them in an off-campus apartment. He enjoyed the mornings when he woke and found Lance cooking breakfast for them in the kitchen. He did not enjoy the mornings he found Shiro and Matt making out against one of the kitchen counters.

"I may have forgotten to mention, there's another request from Uncle Coran for this visit."

Keith raised an eyebrow in question.

"Apparently they have a Christmas decorating contest."

Keith's eyes widened. "Is that why you organized this zoo trip with the kids? I'm not stealing a reindeer, Lance!"

"Keith, please," Lance scoffed. "We're going to need way more than just one reindeer to make the Santa on the front lawn believable."


Prompt 2: Lights

"This one?"

"Nope."

"Over here?"

"Too tall. You wouldn't be able to help me decorate the top branches."

Keith rolled his eyes, but couldn't keep up a glare when one of Lance's arms wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him in close.

They'd almost made it to the cabin when Lance had spotted the tree lot and begged Keith to pull the car over. Keith didn't really think they needed a live tree, especially since they'd only be staying at the cabin for a few days. But then Lance had called him a heathen and he'd laughed but parked the car.

Now he watched as Lance surveyed each tree, particularly fascinated with Lance's process. Keith and Shiro had grown up with a fake tree every year, so he had no experience in choosing a real tree, and he had no idea what specific qualities his boyfriend was looking for. Each tree they passed looked…the same to Keith?

When Lance stopped to examine yet another tree option, Keith reached over and tightened Lance's scarf for him. It was definitely colder up in the mountains than it had been back on their campus, and while Lance was pretty cute with rosy cheeks and a red nose, he didn't want Lance to freeze. Plus, his boyfriend had a tendency to sneak ice cold fingers up Keith's shirt to help warm himself up…

"Keith! This one!" Lance finally declared and Keith tilted his head in confusion as he eyed Lance's choice. It was a pretty green and from what Keith could see, had full branches. But it also barely came up to Keith's waist.

"Is this like a Charlie Brown tree thing?" Keith asked. "Picking out the tree no one else is going to choose?"

"Shhh! The tree will hear you!"

Lance lifted the tree by its small stand and carried it off towards the register, all while speaking sweetly to it, to make up for Keith's transgression. And Keith could only smile at the sight, because for the next few days at least, that boy was all his.


When they reached the cabin, Keith pulled the tree from the backseat of his jeep, while admitting only to himself that the small size certainly made it easy to transport. He followed Lance into the cabin, and then went directly to the back room, where he deposited the tree before pausing to look out the windows. Even with all of the colorful fall leaves missing from the trees, he couldn't get over the sight of the picturesque mountains.

"It's your second favorite view, huh, babe?"

Lance's arms wrapped tight around his middle from behind before his chin tucked into Keith's neck. In return, Keith's hands landed on Lance's arms and he leaned his weight back into Lance's chest before deciding to humor Lance.

"So you think you know what my favorite view is, huh?" he teased.

Lance chuckled into Keith's neck. "Maybe that overpass downtown with the phrase, 'Give me back my stapler' spray painted in red?"

"No."

"That speedo guy who gave us a show when he wiped out on his surfboard at the beach last summer?"

"No, oh my god!" Keith twisted in Lance's hold and went for his lips, kissing him hard despite Lance's continued laughter making the whole thing messy and uncoordinated. He gave up and dropped his head to Lance's shoulder when he felt his own laughter bubble up.

Lance rested his head on top of Keith's hair and rocked them back and forth for a moment, a smile still plastered on his face because he was one of the few (outside of the kids they volunteered with) who could make Keith soft and smiley. Then he remembered what he'd brought for Keith and quickly let go him so he could dig through his bag.

"Here!" Lance pulled out a wrapped present, which he tossed to Keith. "Open that while I grab the Christmas ornaments from the attic."

"You want me to open this now?" Keith called after him, but Lance only sent him a quick grin before he disappeared up the stairs.

Keith tore open the wrapping paper and carefully pulled free a likely handmade red knit sweater. And when Keith held it up so he could clearly see the Christmas tree stitched on the front, his eyes jumped from ornament to ornament, doing his best to take in every little detail that Lance had added to the tree. It was wonderful and soft and looked like it would fit him perfectly. And he was caught smiling stupidly at it when Lance bounded back down the stairs with his arms full of boxes.

"We can't decorate the tree without our tree trimming sweaters on," Lance stated with a small grin as he placed the ornament boxes near their small tree.

"Our?" Keith asked. But he didn't have to wait long for an explanation, because Lance immediately dug a second sweater (this one was Lance's favorite blue color and was covered in small green Christmas trees) out of his bag.

"My mamá made this for me years ago — she made them for each of us, actually — and always makes us wear them when we decorate the tree."

"And you made one for me," Keith uttered softly as he looked back at his new sweater with a sweet reverence.

"Its McClain family tradition," Lance replied, his own face filled with adoration as he watched Keith pull off his hoodie and replace it with the red sweater. The sleeves were a little long on him, and Keith's hair floofed out adorably when his head popped through the top.

Keith had long ago become Lance's favorite view, but this boy kept upping the ante.

He quickly followed and pulled on his own tree sweater. And when his own head was free, he found Keith directly in front of him, waiting for his face to reappear so he could kiss him in thanks.

"It looks really nice," Lance murmured between kisses.

"Thank you, Lance."

Lance smiled in return (he was always smiling around Keith), and then pulled him over to the boxes. They pulled out red ribbon that was long enough to be wrapped around their small tree several times, and Keith was working on that while Lance untangled a string of lights.

"Hey, Keith, do you know what would make your sweater look even better?"

Keith was kneeling in front of their tree, doing his best to get the ribbon wrapped evenly through the branches. He glanced down at his sweater in confusion, quite sure that nothing could improve it.

Keith had his back to him, and when Lance saw Keith's head bow to look at his sweater, he took advantage of the distraction, and dropped one end of the Christmas lights on Keith's shoulder before he quickly began to loop the string of lights around his boyfriend's shoulders.

"Lance!" Keith said with a laugh as he fell back to sit with his feet tucked under him.

"Arms up," Lance instructed, and then continued his work until Keith's torso (with his arms free — Lance wasn't decorating the rest of the tree by himself) was completely wrapped up in lights. He couldn't help his own beaming smile as he plugged the lights in and was met with the sight of a slightly blushy Keith adorned in beautiful white twinkle lights.

"You're ridiculous," Keith said, although his soft tone made it clear to Lance that he really didn't mind.

"No," Lance said, with a small shake of his head as his eyes continued to roam over Keith. "What I am is a very lucky man."

"Lance —"

"Bip, bip, bip!" Lance threw a hand up when he saw Keith begin to rise from his seated position. "Listen, babe, I'm gonna need you to spend the rest of our time up here within two feet of that electrical outlet so the lights will stayed turned on."

"Lance," Keith repeated, eyes already darkening as he scooted closer to where Lance sat beside him. "We don't need an electrical outlet for you to turn me on, babe."

Keith's play on his own words made his breath stutter for a second, but it was the only moment of hesitation Lance had before he dove forward and kissed Keith again.


Later, when Keith and Shiro were at their dad's house to celebrate Christmas, Keith may have scoffed when his dad tried to pull down their fake tree from the attic. And instead, he proudly set up his and Lance's small tree in the living room, especially after Lance had admitted he'd chosen a small one because he wanted Keith to take it home with him.

He watered it daily. And maybe spoke to it a few times, but he also ended up bribing Shiro to never mention that little fact to anyone. Ever.

Plus, it was always purposefully sitting in the background whenever he and Lance Skyped.

And if he was never going to be able to look at Christmas tree lights again without thinking about Lance, he was okay with that.


Prompt 3: Cuddle

When Keith returned to college last January, he'd decided to forgo the dorms and take up Shiro's offer to move in with him in an off campus apartment.

Well, move in with him and Matt. Cause once Matt and Shiro had finally admitted to liking each other, they had decided to also move in together. Immediately. Which might've been fast to an outsider, but made perfect sense to their group, who had all watched the two of them dance around each other over the past few years.

And while living with Matt and Shiro was better than being randomly placed with a roommate in the dorms, sometimes it meant that Keith walked in on Matt and his brother making out in areas of the apartment deemed shared spaces (Shiro was the one who came up with the phrase after he'd walked in on Keith and Lance one time — and yet Shiro conveniently forgot about all the rules that applied to shared spaces whenever Matt was within two feet).

Overall, though, the past year had been a great experience. Any moments of shame he felt now were rare, and usually stemmed from knowing that he'd been pretty close to never trying college again, all because of a few assholes on his former campus.

He was thankful that meeting Lance had inspired him to return to school. And that Lance had been right next to him as he'd registered for classes. That'd he'd stepped foot on a new college campus with his own personal tour guide in the form of his very own tall, lanky, and beautiful boyfriend. Plus, when he joined Lance, Shiro, and the rest of their group at the first Boys and Girls club meeting of the semester, the meeting location was at an actual middle school. And they'd all jumped right into helping with homework or offering an ear to kids who needed one.

Lance remained on campus, sharing a small, upperclassman apartment-like space with Hunk. But he was often found at Keith's place, with books spread out across the kitchen table with Keith as they worked on homework side by side. Or pressed into Keith's side when they had everyone over to watch movies. Or in Keith's bed, blinky and sleep tousled first thing in the morning when Keith begrudgingly had to wake him for class.

There were no roommates or classes to worry about today, however. And Keith snuggled deeper under their blanket and then pulled Lance even closer to him. The sun had woken him, as it did every time they spent the night in the cabin. But, Keith was too in love with the mountain view right outside their window to complain about the lack of curtains. And Lance was smart enough to always burrow into Keith's side with his back to the windows, so he was never bothered by the early morning light.

"Can we stay right here today?" Lance murmured, his face currently pressed into Keith's neck. He shifted himself against Keith, further trapping Keith as he slung a long leg across Keith's own lower limbs.

Keith thought of the list Lance had created that included all the activities he wanted them to accomplish that day, which meant there was a slim to none chance that they'd actually stay in bed together all day. Still, he hummed in the affirmative and trailed his fingertips over the skin of Lance's back.

There was a faint groan of appreciation from Lance in response before Lance's fingers landed in his hair and began to card through the strands, occasionally stopping to scratch at his scalp.

"I know you think I'm kidding, but I'm having serious thoughts about how to convince you to stay here and cuddle with me all day." Lance's lips moved against the skin of his neck as he spoke, which was followed by actual neck kisses that made Keith squirm.

"Consider me convinced," Keith whispered, the shivers racing up and down his spine from Lance's kisses were already driving him insane. He used a grip on Lance's hip to push him to his back so that he could tower over him for a moment. Bright blue mischievous eyes met his gaze immediately. "Do you remember on our first date, when I said I'd like to see how relaxed I could get you on a day when we didn't have any plans?"

Lance's eyes widened in excited response as his breathing quickened noticeably.

"Is this my Christmas present?" Lance asked.

"Nope." Keith's mouth dropped to Lance's chest to leave a trail of kisses, and he reveled in the way Lance arched off the mattress. "Just a boyfriend bonus."

"Boyfriend bonus," Lance whispered as his fingers tightened in Keith's hair for a moment. "I wish we could wake up like this every day."

Keith paused at that, and settled himself on top of Lance, resting his chin gently on Lance's chest as he stared curiously up at him.

"We could if we lived together."

Lance chewed on his lower lip, a behavior Keith recognized that came from nerves. He tipped his head, and wondered if he'd gone too far. He hadn't intended to make Lance uncomfortable.

"I — you'd — you'd want to live with me?" Lance finally said. "All the time?"

Keith pushed himself forward and met Lance's lips, relieved that Lance wasn't feeling discomfort by the suggestion, but was merely surprised. He'd seen this side of Lance before, and while he didn't understand how someone as warm and wonderful as Lance could ever doubt how lovable he was, Keith was determined to prove him wrong every single time.

Keith felt Lance's arms wrap tightly around his back, and a moment later their kiss was interrupted by excited laughter bubbling out of Lance.

"Did — did we just agree to move in together?" Lance asked.

And Keith took a moment to smile down at him, determined to cement Lance's happy expression — the bright blue eyes, wide grin, and flushed cheeks — into his mind before he nodded.

"That's a mcfluffing yes, Lance."

Lance laughed again and pulled Keith's face back to him for another kiss. "We're definitely staying in bed to cuddle today, then. That's the best kind of celebration."


Free Day, Self-Prompt: Ice

"Here, babe."

Keith accepted the small paper cup of hot chocolate from Lance without taking his eyes off the magical spectacle in front of him (not Keith's words, but judging by Keith's captivated expression, it was how Lance was going to describe it to their friends later).

There was a murmured "Thanks" from Keith as Lance dug out the cookies he'd wrapped in a napkin from his coat pocket. Since he hadn't been able to pry Keith away from this event to help him get their refreshments, he'd been stuck carrying it all himself.

He took a bite of his cookie as his eyes moved lazily from Keith's face to the roped off area where the competition was ongoing. Based on his boyfriend's unchanged expression, Keith clearly had no plans to leave anytime soon.

"Do you want the cookie I got you?"

To which Keith responded with: "Are you seeing this?"

Lance turned back to the display in front of them. "Uh, yeah?"

"Why didn't I know this was an acceptable knife hobby?" Keith asked, his eyes still pinned on the men and women who were participating in the small mountain town's annual ice sculpture competition.

Lance bit off another piece of cookie and chewed slowly as he eyed Keith and wondered if his boyfriend was going to begin stocking the freezer in their future shared apartment with giant blocks of ice.

"Lance, we should do this next year," Keith whispered in earnest as his eyes finally focused back on Lance's face for a short moment.

"We?"

Keith nodded, his attention already back on the competitors. "Look at the size of the knife she's using over there."

"Looks a little more involved than just cutting ice with knives, Keith."

"I know, that guy has a saw," Keith whispered in awe. "Plus, you can help fill in on the non-knife parts. That girl's partner has been melting down small sections with a hair dryer."

"So, a year from now, you want us to be competing here together?" Lance watched Keith's gaze return to him, and froze a little when Keith's eyes narrowed in thought.

"You don't think we'll be together a year from now?"

And dammit if Keith didn't hit the mcfluffing nail on the head. Lance did his best not to let his doubts — which had nothing to do with Keith, and everything to do with his worry that Keith would get bored with him — show outwardly where Keith could see them. He didn't want Keith to ever worry that Lance didn't want to be with him.

"Of course I do," Lance responded.

But, it was like Keith had some built-in Lance McClain self-deprecation sensor. Lance couldn't complain about the kiss that Keith would plant on him as one of his first lines of attack. Or the assurances from Keith that usually followed. If these thoughts about Keith wanting to leave him one day were going to appear, he was grateful they were never allowed to fester.

He received a kiss from Keith now, and only felt slightly guilty that his doubts were taking Keith's attention away from the ice-cutting knife show in front of them.

"We should get going," Lance said next, eager to put this small moment where he'd forced Keith to reassure him behind them. "I've still got at least eight more stops for us down here in town."

But Keith didn't move, and Lance watched as Keith continued to regard him closely.

"You keep us pretty busy," Keith finally said, slowly. "You don't have to, you know. I'm not going to get bored with you, or whatever reason you've got to try to keep me so occupied when we have time together."

Mcfluffing. Nail. On. The. Head.

Lance shifted on his feet and fidgeted with his hot chocolate cup, sure that he appeared nervous and awkward and guilty, but unable to stop himself.

"Why do you always fill our schedule?" Keith's head tilted as he asked the question.

"When have I ever done that?" Lance avoided Keith's eyes, and suddenly found great interest in the ice sculpture work in front of them.

"Random weeknights. Every weekend. Spring break. Those two weeks we had off last June between the end of the spring semester and when I began my summer classes. The —"

"Okay, okay."

"I'm still surprised you agreed to a day in bed yesterday, although, you certainly kept me entertained there as well."

While he couldn't seem to stop his fidgeting, Lance also couldn't stop the small smile from pulling at his lips when he caught Keith in his peripheral, purposefully adjusting the scarf he'd been forced to wear to hide all the marks Lance had given him.

"It's just, Lance," — and Lance finally turned back to him and met Keith's steady gaze — "I just have to be with you. If I'm with you, then I'm happy. You've had that effect on me since the start, you know?"

Keith wrapped his free arm around Lance's waist and Lance let himself be pulled in closer while he was busy rubbing a suspicious wet substance away from his eyes. Likely ice scraping cast-offs or something.

"As far as I can get with you," Keith whispered into his ear.

Words that had Lance falling even more in love with this boy every time he heard them. And, yup — okay, those were definitely tears escaping his eyes. He dropped his forehead to Keith's and sniffed before whispering, "I love you, too."

Keith beamed at him, his wide smile an image that Lance wanted to keep in his memories forever. Keith made it so easy to believe the reassurances. So, Lance took a deep breath, wiped away the last of the tears, and returned a grateful smile to Keith.

"So, we're going to take up ice sculpting, huh?"

Keith's attention returned to the competition, happy enough with Lance's response to be finished with the issue. He leaned more of his weight into Lance's side and nudged him before asking, "Do you think that guy would mind me asking where he got the big knife?"

"No one should look this mcfluffing adorable while talking about knives, Keith, seriously. Do you know what you do to me?"

"Thirty-six."

"Huh?"

"You spouted out thirty-six shark facts — yes, I counted — when I took you to that shark exhibit last summer. So, yeah. I know."

"I just cancelled all of today's plans," Lance said, quickly. His insides were beginning to buzz as he tightened his own grip around Keith. "I say we just return to the cabin. Go back to bed."

"Agreed. As soon as this is over."

Lance could see Keith's grin, even if his focus was still forward on the competition. He laughed into Keith's hair and kissed his forehead before saying, "Of course. Wouldn't want to miss what is sure to be an exciting conclusion here."


Prompt 5: Music

"Since you're faster than me —"

"You only admit I'm faster than you when it suits your purpose."

"— you'll do the drop, and I'll keep the getaway car running."

"Please stop calling it the getaway car."

"Keith, focus. We have to time this right."

Keith sighed, but he climbed out of his jeep and grabbed the bag from the backseat while Lance scooted over to sit in the driver's seat.

Lance rolled the window down and said, "He just went out back, so we should have a few minutes before he returns. Now's our chance."

"My chance," Keith mumbled, since he was doing all the leg work. He huffed out a breath before beginning a slow walk up to the farmhouse.

However, he stopped and whirled around a few seconds later when he heard music from the direction of his car. The hand that held the phone out the window — which was currently blaring the Mission Impossible theme song — was shaking from the force of Lance's laughter, as was the rest of Lance, who now sat hunched over the steering wheel, his face an unnatural red color as he wheezed with laughter.

"Lance!" Keith hissed, while he also pleaded with his face to not smile right now, dammit.

"Babe," Lance was very much chortling now as he leaned half his body out the window. "Hurry! We don't have all day!"

Keith spun on his heel away from his ridiculous but oh-so-hilarious boyfriend, and sped towards the farmhouse. He was mere seconds from depositing the bag on the front porch and making a run for it back to the jeep when the front door swung open and Keith suddenly found himself face to face with an adorable, tiny grandmother of a lady.

"Oh, hello young man." She had an easy smile, seemingly unperturbed at finding a stranger on her porch. "What do you have there?"

Keith froze for a few seconds before jerking his arm out towards the woman, offering up the gift bag in his hand. "Its, um, a neighborhood secret santa," he said, hoping that he sounded believable and that she couldn't somehow read between the lines to hear: My boyfriend and I felt guilty for stealing some of your dead cornstalks, so we thought we'd secretly leave a present on your porch.

The woman's smile widened, and although she accepted the bag, Keith found himself still frozen on her porch. How was he supposed to get out of this?

"Oh dear, I've ruined the surprise then, haven't I?" she said with a chuckle as she peeked in the bag.

"You sure did!" Lance said as he appeared suddenly by Keith's side. He slung an arm around Keith's shoulders and Keith gratefully let himself be pulled in close. "We better get moving though, more stops to make!"

"Well, Merry Christmas to you both!"

"Merry Christmas to you as well!" Lance replied cheerfully as he pulled Keith down the porch steps with him. Lance waited till she was back inside before hitting play on the Mission Impossible music again. Then he laughed and sprinted ahead, buying himself a few seconds before Keith caught him.


Prompt 6: Fireplace

"I want you to think very carefully about what you're about to do, Kogane."

Keith's head tipped innocently to the side, and Lance's eyes narrowed in suspicious response.

"I mean it, Keith. I don't think you want to mess with — "

An undignified squawk escaped Lance's mouth next as a snowball smacked him in the face. And as far as Lance was concerned, it didn't matter how much he loved this boy, all bets were off after that.

He ducked low enough for his hand to skim the ground's surface, allowing him to scoop up snow in his own gloved fingers, while also running for the tree line. Then he packed the snow between his palms, all while watching Keith's mischievous grin while he mimicked the actions.

They both used the trees for cover, and Keith's aim was pretty good, but Lance still managed to get several solid hits in. He dodged behind a particularly wide tree, and crouched in the snow in order to quickly begin making a small snowball arsenal. He assumed he'd hear Keith's feet crunching through the snow if Keith tried to get near him.

He didn't count on Keith's apparent cat-like ability to move through snow without any sound whatsoever.

Keith didn't just pelt him with snowballs this time, either. He tackled Lance from the side, and Lance suddenly found himself crushed into the snow with Keith grinning over him. The late afternoon sun broke through the trees to halo Keith's head, and Lance forgot about the snowball he was still holding in his own hand as his eyes admired Keith's pretty, flushed face.

He yanked Keith down by the front of his jacket until their lips met, and eventually forgot about the snowball fight in favor of wrapping his arms around Keith in order to pull him closer. Keith's lips moved perfectly against his own, and Lance let himself get lost in the warm feeling that always filled his chest when he kissed Keith.

He'd kissed Keith in many different places, but here — in the stillness of the winter forest, where the only noticeable sounds were the small noises coming from the two of them — was quickly becoming one of his favorite settings.

Keith was a warm weight on top of him, but eventually the snow beneath him caused him to shiver, and he reluctantly let Keith pull him up out of the snow to lead him inside.


"Wait, you were serious?" Keith straightened his pajama shirt — Lance had insisted they both change out of their snow-dampened clothes and into warm pajamas as soon as they'd come back inside. Lance had changed quickly and sped back downstairs, and now Keith found him crouched in front of the fireplace.

Lance's head turned enough so that he could see Keith over his shoulder. "What'd you expect?"

"I don't know, like, a fake fire on the TV?"

Lance laughed as he added more paper around the logs he had in the fireplace, encouraging the fire to take and spread. "Seriously?"

"Well," Keith tucked his feet up on the couch where he sat, "yeah. That's what Shiro does." He continued when he got a questioning look from Lance. "On Christmas morning, Shiro pulls up one of those fake fireplace apps on TV."

"That's so sad." Lance shook his head slowly, although he was keeping his eyes on the flames. The logs were finally burning, so he added a bit more paper. "So, you've never had a night in front of a fireplace before?" Somewhere in the back of his subconscious, he was aware that his eyebrows were waggling.

"Have you?" Keith asked flatly.

Lance replaced the fireplace screen and jumped up, deciding to ignore Keith's question as his eyes darted around the room. "Okay, we're doing this right!"

"What are we doing?"

"I mean, I don't have a bearskin rug —"

"Oh my god."

" — but I'll be right back."

Lance raced up the stairs and returned a few minutes later, arms full of as many blankets and pillows as he could carry. He began to spread the bedding out on the floor in front of the fireplace (well, sort of in front — fireplace embers were a thing and he didn't think Keith would be too impressed if he was randomly burned throughout the night).

He stood back and surveyed the temporary bed he'd created, one finger tapping his chin. "Okay, you settle in over here, pick out a movie, and I'll grab snacks."

He rushed off to the kitchen, and completely missed the soft look on Keith's face as he surveyed the fireside sleeping arrangement Lance had created for them.

Lance returned a few minutes later, placing a tray with glasses of cider off to the side as he asked, "What movie are we watching?"

"Elf," Keith replied as he pulled the bowl of popcorn from Lance's hands.

"My favorite," Lance said with a grin as he scooted into Keith's side when Keith lifted an inviting arm that helped pull him close.

"I know," Keith murmured into Lance's hair. "Cause smiling is your favorite." He smiled himself when he heard Lance chuckle in response.

Their small decorated tree stood beside them where they sat propped up on pillows. Keith was content, being warmed by an actual fire his boyfriend had built for him. And as he felt his limbs relax, he knew the two of them were likely going to spend the night right here in this spot.

"Hey, babe," Lance said — and his playful tone of voice told Keith he was about to be teased — "make sure you pay close attention to the snowball fight scene. Get some pointers."

Keith used the arm he had around Lance to pull him down into the bedding before swinging a leg over Lance's lap so that he was effectively sitting on him in under ten seconds.

"I won the snowball fight!"

Lance couldn't keep the shock off his face over their new positions. Nor could he keep his eyes from roaming over his stronger-than-he-looks boyfriend. But he still managed a trademark smirk as his hands found their place on Keith's waist.

"Noope. Don't remember. Didn't happen."


Prompt 7: Presents

Keith breathed out a sigh when he woke the next morning. He could hear a low crackling from the fireplace, and while it wasn't the large flames from the night before, he could still see orange swelling in the log that remained. Lance had pulled away from him at least once last night to feed the fire, something Keith wanted to learn to do so that he could help on future nights like this.

They had to leave today, and it would be at least a week before he got to wake up to Lance's face again. He shifted to his side in their nest of blankets, and even in his own continued sleep, Lance readjusted himself so that he remained huddled into Keith's side. Lance's head rested on one of Keith's arms, and Keith tightened the arm he had around Lance's back to help keep him close. He loved how Lance curled into him, leaving him to feel as though Lance trusted Keith to keep him safe as he slept.

"Merry Christmas," Lance said, voice raspy with sleep and eyes still closed.

Lance pressed himself even closer so that he could nuzzle his face into Keith's neck, and Keith smiled as he returned the sentiment, going along with Lance's idea to treat this morning like their own private Christmas.

"I'm gonna make you blueberry pancakes for breakfast," Lance murmured. "But first, I want you to open your present. I can't wait anymore to give it to you."

Keith's fingers instinctually skimmed along the waistband of Lance's boxers. "Is this an actual present? Or am I unwrapping something else?" he couldn't help but ask as Lance's lips began to trail over his neck. It was his weakest spot, and Lance knew it.

Sadly, Lance pulled away from him then in order to sit upright, but he did chuckle at Keith's pout before pulling him to sit as well. Then he leaned over to their small tree and pulled an envelope that he'd stuck in its branches. Keith did the same, pulling a small wrapped box from under the tree and depositing it in Lance's lap. Then he watched Lance run his finger across the top of the envelope he held before handing it over to Keith without a word.

Keith thought about how Lance was being uncharacteristically quiet, and noticed that Lance was chewing on his lip nervously again. So he accepted the envelope with a small smile and enthusiastically opened the tab so he could pull out the contents: a brochure and a formal-looking letter with his name on it.

Although, reading the letter over a few times still didn't make it make sense in his head.

"L-Lance, what is this?" he finally asked in a whisper.

Lance released a breath he'd apparently been holding before the words began tumbling out of his mouth so fast that Keith had a hard time keeping up.

"Okay, so I know you aren't exactly happy with the writing program at our university, especially since your professor only shows up, like, half the time. So I thought maybe you'd like to go to one of those writing workshop weekends? And, um, this one," — Lance pointed to the brochure in Keith's now slightly trembling hand — "is going to have your favorite writer as the guest author that weekend. I mean —"

"Lance." Keith was sure he was about to combust. What had Lance done for him?

"— I think he's your favorite writer? You have all his books in your room, so I sort of assumed. I guess if you buy all his books but secretly hate him, you don't have to go? Or…oh shit, what if someone else bought you all those books and you just kept them, cause you're nice like that? Oh man, Shiro bought them for you, didn't he? And of course you'd keep them, cause obviously your brother would notice if you —"

Keith lunged across the small space between them and wrapped his arms around Lance's neck before kissing him hard — his overwhelming gratitude leaving him speechless and unable to do anything else. Thankfully, Lance stopped talking (and stopped digging himself into a hole of worry) and melted against him in the kiss, softening it instantly by curling a hand around Keith's neck.

"So you like it?" Lance whispered.

"Oh my god, Lance," Keith whispered back before sitting upright again to stare down at the brochure. "This is amazing. I don't even — I mean, this is probably the best gift I've ever received. Thank you."

Lance leaned in to kiss him again, practically beaming in his relief and happiness.

"And he is your favorite author?"

"Yes." Keith couldn't do anything about how wide his smile surely was. "I'm going to bring every book I own of his with me."

Lance laughed as he said, "Well, leave some space in your suitcase for clothes, and maybe for me too. I might stow away with you for the weekend."

"Deal," Keith replied before leaning in to kiss Lance once again.

When Lance sat upright again, he lifted the box Keith had left in his lap and gave it a quick shake. "My turn?"

"No, wait," — Keith tried to pull the box away from Lance. "Mine is dumb after — after this." He nodded towards the brochure he'd dropped.

"I won't think it's dumb."

Lance's soft tone brought Keith's mind back to a whirlpool bath where that same soft tone had kept Keith safe as he opened up to Lance about his past. So, he slowly released his hold on the box and Lance rewarded him with a grin before he tore into the wrapping paper.

"Whoa." Lance's voice was now soft in awe as he pushed aside the paper and then ran his fingertips over the tree that was etched into the lid of the wooden box. He turned the box around in his hands slowly, and Keith watched as Lance seemed to admire the way the tree's leaf-covered branches extended to every side.

Then Keith's eyes fell to his lap, but he distinctly heard a gasp when Lance had likely found the place on the tree where Keith had carved their initials together.

"I just," Keith rubbed a hand across the back of his neck as he paused for a moment. "I know you keep all kinds of things from our dates, and —"

"You noticed?"

"Well, you've got that leaf in your wallet from the first time we went on a run together." Keith finally chanced a look at Lance and watched the pretty brown skin on his face begin to darken with a blush. "I guess that wasn't really a date, but you do keep all those ticket stubs from movies or aquarium trips. And I know you stole a menu from —"

"You can't steal a paper take-out menu!"

Keith's shoulders relaxed and he let himself grin at Lance's indignant tone. "Plus, I know you have a piece of corn husk somewhere in your dorm… And I thought maybe you'd like to keep it all in one place?"

"I would like that, yes," Lance said as he pulled Keith in close and used the shoulder of Keith's pajama shirt to wipe his suddenly wet eyes. "Who knew you could be so sappy?" he whispered into Keith's neck.

Keith pushed the box to the side so he could pull Lance into his lap. "Shut up," he responded with a laugh into Lance's hair.


"I'm not ready to say goodbye to you yet," Lance murmured while squeezing Keith's fingers within his own. Keith had parked his jeep in the parking lot outside of Lance's dorm, where Lance's own car sat waiting for him. But so far, Lance hadn't budged from the passenger seat.

"I'd try to make you feel better by saying its only a couple days till we see each other again for New Year's Eve, but — this does suck."

Lance studied Keith's fingers within his own and chewed on his lip in thought. "Well, what if…" He paused and glanced up at Keith's face. Keith was watching him with interest, and Lance was reminded of how easy things always seemed to be between them. "I mean, it's too late to arrange for this year, but what if we don't separate next year for Christmas? Like, I'll spend a few days with you at your dad's and then you come spend a few days with me at my parents' house?"

Keith responded by using their joined hands to pull Lance towards him for a kiss before saying, "As long as we get a few days to ourselves again, I'm in."

"Oh, definitely," Lance said with a nod and a serious expression. "We should definitely cushion all family trips with a few days to ourselves."

Keith chuckled as he watched Lance's face transform into a smile as well.