Keith had officially decided that if Lance was going to be an ass about everything then he would be too. He knew it was petty but he couldn't help it and it sort of counted as flirting right? In like, a weird, aggressive sort of way?
Keith had tried to be reasonable and talk to him but every time he went near him the blue paladin ran off or acted as if nothing had happened. It was infuriating.
Hunk thought it was all hilarious of course, and because Hunk knew Pidge knew too. Keith had walked into the dining hall and accidentally bumped into Lance who was trying to balance three bowls of space goo in his arms. As the boy had been quickly trying to explain why he didn't need Keith's help carrying them Pidge had started playing some music over the castle speakers.
"And they called it puppy looooove."
Hunk almost fell off his chair laughing and Lance flushed a deep red, running to the table and hissing at Pidge to turn it off.
"I like this song." Keith had kept a straight (ha) face as he said this, glaring at Lance as the song played on. Lance was blushing so much Keith thought he might pass out if all the blood was in his face, but found it too satisfying to break eye contact before Lance embarrassingly muttered about liking the song too.
This went on for a few days and gradually Keith grew angrier, his passive aggressive comments becoming less passive and more aggressive.
"Hunk, why don't you and Lance go and check the perimeter over-"
"Why doesn't Hunk go and Lance stays. He's prone to running off you might want to keep an eye on him."
Shiro groaned while Lance scowled.
"Oh, shut up Kogane."
Keith raised his eyebrows, shocked Lance had actually spoken to him.
"Oh NOW you want to talk to me? Now I exist? Grow up Lance."
"Go fuck yourself Keith."
Shiro intervened, hands coming to rest on each of the boy's chests as they stepped closer together, air thick with tension.
"That is enough. You two are going to go check the perimeter together and act like Paladins. You are not children and I won't have you acting this way. You need to talk about what happened and sort this all out because we won't be able to form Voltron with you fighting.
Keith deflated, feeling slightly sick. Lance was looking at him with such hate. What had he done?
Lance threw Shiro's hand off him and stormed off. Keith sighed, grabbing his bayard and following after.
"Hey, Lance. Wait up."
Lance was muttering angrily as he walked around the castle. It was only training, learning what to do should they be attacked or shut out of their own castle like that one time when Lance almost died. So there wasn't a huge need to concentrate on what they were doing and Lance was already kicking at the dirt with his boots.
"Stupid fucking mullet man and his dumb ass-"
Keith allowed a meter or so swinging room, in case all the rage that was stiffening every muscle in Lance's body turned to action and he decided to punch him, and called to his team mate again.
"Lance… can we actually talk now? I'm really sick of you acting like a jack ass and ignoring me."
The boy flung his arms up but didn't turn around. "Oh I've been the ass! I was trying to be civil, you're the one that started acting all salty and shit."
"Yeah, well I get like that when I'm being ignored by someone I kissed."
Keith waited, watching as Lance lowered his arms and seemed to deflate, sighing and looking at the ground.
"Sorry. I know I've been acting stupid but… I don't know how to explain it."
Keith shrugged, still waiting for the other to turn around and look at him.
"Maybe you could start with why you ran away?"
Keith could see Lance wince, his shoulders tensing ever so slightly. The blue paladin turned, now looking out to the side so Keith could see his face without their eyes having to meet.
"….You surprised me."
Keith nodded, lowering his eyes as he apologized. "I'm sorry, I thought you felt the same as I did so I just went for it. I shouldn't have assumed; I should have asked first. I don't always think things through and I know that's not an excuse but I just-"
Lance waved his hands in front of himself, quickly interrupting. "No, no, no- I mean, yeah we probably should have talked about it first or something but I did feel the same. I do. I was just surprised."
Keith raised his eyebrows, waiting for further elaboration. Lance was facing him now and he blushed further every time their eyes met.
"I've liked you for a really long time. Like, garrison long, but I didn't actually realize I felt that way until that night when I was helping you. I have a lot of feelings and they're never in between. I either really like something or I hate it. And both those feelings are so intense I sometimes get them mixed up? It sounds stupid but I think when you kissed me it just freaked me out because I don't know what to do with it all."
Keith didn't understand most of the clumsy, rushed explanation but what he did understand was that Lance liked him. That was really all that mattered.
The red paladin stepped closer to his team mate, watching as Lance's eyes grew wide and he backed slightly towards the wall behind him.
"Talking to me about it would be a good start."
Lance nodded, letting out an awkward laugh.
"Yeah…Sorry. We're talking now though so.. progress?"
Keith couldn't help but smile a little at the boy's innocent expression. It was around dusk now and the suns last rays were igniting the tops of the boy's hair and making his dark skin shine with a soft glow.
"You don't have to overthink it. You like me and I like you, despite your many irritating quirks."
Lance huffed out a laugh and peeked up at Keith through his eyelashes as the red Paladin stepped closer. Lance's back was pressed against the wall now and Keith was so close Lance could feel each breath coming from him, soft puffs of air warming his neck and making his skin tingle.
Lance swallowed.
"So what do I do now?"
Keith's eyes flickered down to Lance's lips, as Lance's did the same, and bit his lip, pressing his chest against the others.
"Kiss me." Keith whispered, his words sending a pleasant shiver down Lance's spine, and without a seconds pause he dived.
Lance leaned forward the few inches of space between them, pressing his hungry mouth against Keith's soft lips. He tasted sweet and warm and Lance found his hands pressing against the small of Keith's back before he even realized he'd moved.
Keith had his fingers at the nape of Lance's neck, playing with the soft strands of hair as they pressed against each other in the low light.
When they finally came up for air Lance was smiling so widely he thought his cheeks might cramp, and he looked into Keith's smiling eyes.
"So are we like.. boyfriends now?"
Keith slipped his hand down from the boy's neck, taking his hand instead.
"If you want."
Lance nodded, eyes shining.
"I do. Yes, please, immediately."
Keith laughed, a small bubbling sound and Lance smiled wider at hearing such a beautiful sound come from the usually quiet boy.
"Did that kiss scramble your brain?" The fingers of his free hand came up to brush the fringe from Lance's forehead and the Pilot almost melted from the gesture.
"I think so."
Keith pulled on the boy's hand, tugging him from the wall to walk with him along the perimeter.
"Come on, lets walk it off then. We should probably do what Shiro asked us to do."
Lance followed the boy, unable to keep the bounce from his step or the smile from his face as they walked hand in hand. Keith was so calm about it all, though inside he was like melted butter, all happy and warm.
Lance and Keith walked around the castle's perimeter in comfortable silence, Lance only breaking the quiet to make Keith laugh.
"Hey babe?"
"Yeah?"
"Nothin', I just wanted to see if you'd respond to babe."
Keith laughed and shook his head. God, his boyfriends a dork.
