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He pulled on a pair of skinny low rise black jeans, - those were nicer than leggings right?
He shrugged on a grey shirt, looking down at his bed seeing his cropped red jacket laid out, was that too predictable? He ran a gloved hand through his fringe, groaning.
Why was this so hard!
Going back in his closet, crawling around till he found a red pair of knock off converse, he had found at the space mall. They were comfortable at least, but was that too much for a date? Should he just wear his everyday boots?
What was Lance wearing ?
Was this even considered a date?!
No…
No right? Lance would have said it was a date, so he doesn't need to panic so much, this was just an outing between… friends? Not real rivals? Leader and second in command?
Ughhh, why did people have to be so difficult?
Nock, Nock, Nock… Nock. Nock.
Shit!
Keith grabbed one of the pairs of shoes tugging them on, glancing at the mirror before huffing, hastily pulling his hair into a pony tail, glaring at the ebony fringe falling around his face.
Son of a-
“Keith! ‘You there? You didn’t forget right?… I swear if I leave and find him the damn training room again-“
“Oh calm down, I'm right here.”
Keith said, leaning up against the now open door frame.
“Oh wow… I uh mean- I’m surprised you even own real jeans. With how often you wear leggings and all.”
Keith glared, “We’ve had this talk lance. Leggings are practical!”
Lance smirked, his shoulders easing, as they fell into familiar banter. “They don’t even have pockets! How is that practical? You don’t even have a variety.”
Keith pushed off the door frame following beside Lance, “They have variety! Two are black, one is midnight black, violet black, gray” he counted on his fingers.
Lance snorted, falling into step with Keith was second nature. Like it or not Keith was his leader, one he would follow into battle or otherwise without question.
Didn’t mean he wasn’t gonna argue though.
“That is not variety! Those are all black, and grey.. I guess. But still! Leggings?”
“They’re practical-“
“Mmm… no pockets, Sooo”
“Ugghh! Better than your-“ Keith flipped his hand around trying to find the word, "everythin’!”
Lance gasps “how dare you! You know many people and Aliens alike, love my style!”
“Ohhh, I’m sure sharpshooter” the self claimed nickname rolled off Keith’s tongue mockingly.
Lance couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of him, Keith laughed with him, knocking their shoulders together.
“Come on, everyone else is already at the carnival. Apparently it’s free entry, Coran gave us tickets for rides and games, I wonder if there’s a shooting game? You think they’d let me use my own gun?”
“What ya’ can’t win, without cheatin’ ? What kinda second in command are you?” Keith knew he was smiling dumbly. He had barely glanced away from Lance as they walked from the castle towards the large bustling carnival.
“One who.. uses his resources, duh. Oh woah! Look, they have a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel! Dude! Wait a second, is everything floating? Yeah it is! Why-“
“The people use magnet powder they find in the soil to run the rides, leavin’ them floatin’ a few inches over the track.”
“Well, Well, look at you paying attention during the briefing”
“One of us had too.” Keith said, his tone light, almost playful.
“Oh please don’t act like I’ve not been the one sneaking you files after the briefings. Mr. Leader of voltron.”
Keith shudders at the nickname, “Eugh, don’t remind me. I thought ya promised a break from the stress of leading voltron. Because it was ruinin’ my skin? Or somethin'"
“The stress is ruining your skin! Just look at that dryness-“
A tan hand pointed at Keith’s face, bright purple painted nail tapping away on different spots, left cheek bone, right under eye.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Keith knocked the warm hand away from his face, feeling his cheeks flush red. He hoped Lance would blame it on the red tinted sun.
“Oh look, a shooter game!” Keith said not meeting Lance's eye, as he pointed towards rows of vindor’s, the second one closest to them was a game of shoot the stack of balls down.
“Hm? Oh Yes! Come on! I wanna try” Lance pumped his arm in the air before grabbing the shorter’s wrist tugging him along.
Keith felt his lip twitch, seeing his second in command so excited. A muscular green skinned man leaned against the counter, long white hair pulled into three buns lining his head.
“Well I’ll be, I take it you two are part of that Voltron thing making storm?”
Voltron has been fighting for the last six years, this guy is just hearing about them? Lance brushed away the thought. It was space, time moved weird. He should be used to it.
Lance slid his jacket down halfway before raising the sleeve of his t-shirt, a blue voltron symbol, branded into his bicep.
Keith shrugged, raising his t-shirt up a half inch just enough to flash the brand on the inside of his hip, a red voltron symbol stark against the pale mussel.
“Well, would ya look at that! Good to see folk taking a break from all that work. Two tickets for one shot, ya got what it takes? Knock one ball down ya get a small bunagrif plush, two down and win your very own plush life size version of magnetic rock! Even has a small bag inside with two lats of magnetic powder. And if ya get all three down you can pick from any of the prizes hanging above! We’ve got gigantic flowers, fishalif,-”
Keith snorted, leaning against the pole of the tent, listening as the man talked, glancing around at the misshapen poorly made plushes.
“-Stumpy four legged red maw beast”
Keith glanced up, a red hippopotamus plush was hanging right behind the counter, it was about three feet big, the stitching was off and large buck teeth crooked but it was an earth hippo.
Fuck it made him tear up just looking at it.
Memories of childhood bubbled up towards the surface, his father had given him a small hippo plush, Keith had taken it everywhere, slept with it every night, even when he was in and out of foster homes, it never left his side.
After meeting Shiro the older paid someone to fix the undone stitching, and after Shiro got sent into space it only became more important to him. But getting shot in space himself hadn’t exactly been planned, the plush was still on his bed on earth.
Left behind.
Lance slamming two tickets down broke him from his head. The man behind the counter dropped a poorly made gun on the counter. Lance shifted his shoulders before bringing the gun up.
POW
The left bottom one fell over, leaving the right and top sticking together.
“Ah better luck next time kid! But ya get a small prize! What ‘I’ll it be?”
“What!? This game is totally rigged! The laws of physics say that it should have fallen! You totally glued those together!” Lance said, glaring at the cans.
The man shook his head, smiling mischiefly. He walked over and pulled the top bottle off before letting it go, it snapped back in place easily.
“Magnets” Lance and Keith muttered.
Lance brighted “Hey, can I use my own gun?”
“Hmm, I suppose so, two more tickets kid.”
Lance smiled triumphantly tossing two tickets on the floating counter before grabbing his bayard before shifting it to a sniper. Soft blue light glowed from its ports, reflecting a soft glow onto his face. He looked like holding a gun was second nature, shooting was as easy as breathing.
“Woah kid!” The man said, taking a step back.
Keith smiled fondly, seeing the deadly determined look on the other's face, one of a man who had years of experience under his belt.
Lance took a breath, holding it.
BANG
All the bottles fell down, leaving a black burn mark against the wall.
“Yes!” Lance pumped his fist in the air.
“Wah?! Ah that’s cheating!”
“You said he could use his own gun. One would think the legend of Voltron would have told ya to not mess with a sharpshooter.” Keith said amused, pulling his eyes away from the stuffed hippo.
Wonder if I could talk Lance into getting it for me? Hmm but he’d probably want me to do his half of the chores for it… but it’d be worth it.
But with the glare the guy is giving Lance he feels like they won’t get to play again.
Damn.
“I won by your rules! Now give me the hippo!” Lance growled, leaning towards the man, his palms on the counter.
“The what?” The man looked at Lance like he was dumb.
“Ugh! The red maw whatever the hell you called it! That thing!” Lance pointed towards the hanging hippo.
“Fine, Fine. Just get outta here kid. And take ya furball boyfriend with ya.” The man grabbed the large plush down, handing it to a slightly flushed Lance.
“No problem, dude.” Lance said, glancing away. Holding the stupid looking plush with care. “Come on Keith, let’s go find a pretzel or something"
Lance dragged Keith and the plush away from the vendor. Spotting odd food stands near the left, “hey, is that hunk? Oh thank the stars, come on let’s go to that one.”
Keith followed silently along, if asked he would vehemently deny pouting.
On the down side the plush was lances on the upside it would be easier to win it from him.. maybe a stupid bet? Lance liked those. So all hope wasn’t lost, so he had no reason to pout…. Which he wasn’t.
Mostly.
They had come to a stop in front of a large stand, steam billowing out the sides, a large man was calling out orders like a Sargent behind a stove… Hunk?
Lance looked towards Keith excitedly, but his brows furrowed as he saw the pout on Keith’s face, Lance glanced from the plush in his hand before going back to Keith’s face. Keith’s purple eyes never leaving the hippo.
“Ah I almost forgot!” Lance let go of Keith’s hand, rubbing the back of own neck, “this is for you, I saw how bad you wanted him, he’s been the only earth looking creature I’ve seen in years… and Shio had mentioned you liking them I think, so I don’t know… just uh, here.” Lance stuttered, handing the plush to Keith. Feeling less sure about his gift the more time passes without Keith saying anything.
Fuck did he want the misshapen fish-bird thing?
Sniffle
Lance blinked out of his spiraling thoughts, Keith was clinging to the plush, hiding half his face in it in the red fabric. Sharp chipped black painted nails gripped the soft fabric.
“Keith? Mullet? You okay?” Lance didn’t know what to do, he’s only seen Keith cry a few times, and even then Keith acted like he wasn’t, curling as small as possible and trying to keep silent.
Lance swallowed, gently grabbing Keith’s shoulder tugging him behind the food stands, out of sight.
He led Keith against the wall, using his body as a shield, blocking him from view. Lance reached up, carding his hand through Keith’s bangs, “Oh, Gatito. Breath, tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours”
“‘M sorry… just alot.”
“It’s okay, good a lot?”
Keith nodded quickly. Lance smiled brightly, “I’m glad, I was worried you didn’t like him for a second there”
Keith huffed a laugh, slowly relaxing his grip on the stuffed animal. Now he just felt embarrassed, He leaned up wrapping a hand around Lance's shoulders, hiding his flushed face in Lance's neck.
“Thank you Lance”
Lance swallowed, “of course, I’d do anything for you, and I have, I mean hell I’ve wiped out planets full of bad guys, winning a rigged carnival game is a cake walk now. You feeling better?”
Sniffle, “yeah, I owe you one.”
“Yeah, yeah, now come on, let’s find something to eat, I think I saw something resembling a pastry on the menu, looked like a catbird? Man what is with this planet and mixing birds with stuff?”
Keith snorted, resting his head against Lance's shoulder, lancing their fingers together. “I’d like a pastry, thanks. For everything. I-I wouldn’t have gotten half as far in life without you, hell I’d probably be dead in a prison planet, so, ugh” Keith pressed his face into lances shoulder harder till white lights flared behind his eyelids.
“Just, thank you. For putting up with me.”
“Right back at you.” Lance tilted his head down resting it on Keith’s. His chest felt warm with fond pride. “Now let’s go find something to eat, and find a roller coaster, Ya know my mom used to take me and my siblings to the fair every summer-“
They walked back towards the stall, waiting in line as Lance talked about his past, something fond but bitter swirling around his words, like a warm memory tainted by the cold reality. But every time Lance looked down and saw Keith listening intently, the words became warm again, like sharing the most important peace of himself with Keith made the saddening reality worth it.
Just knowing Keith was there beside him the whole time made every shitty thing they had all lived though worth it.
“Oh hey guys! What’s up?” Hunk said, wiping sweat from his forehead with a rag.
“Hey hunk, thought allura said we should be enjoying the fair not working it.” Lance said snorting.
Hunk waved him off, “ah you know me and rides don’t mix, plus all of the games here are rigged so I thought I’d help behind the counter, speaking of, you two hungry? Our bread just got done”
“Whatever you think is best, oh and throw in two of those bird cat pastry looking things.” Lance said, rocking back and forth slightly, built up energy itching to be used.
“You got it dude, oh Keith cool uh? Hippo?, you win that at a vendor?" Hunk said looking down at him, an impressed lit to his voice.
“Nah, Lance won it for me. Though he blew a hole through the back of the stand” Keith said, a proud smile on his normally stoic face, though every year he got closer to expressing his feelings freely.
“Ah- crap I gotta get back there- you’ll have to tell me all about it when we get back. Have fun on your date!” Hunk said quickly, sending Lance a proud thumbs up before sitting the bag of food down, and walking back behind the stove.
“Huh?” Keith felt his face scrunch in confusion.
Lance quickly grabbed the bag of food, tossing a quick bye and thank you over his shoulder.
He led them to a bench just out of the bustling traffic with a wall at their backs, and a view of all the entrances. Lance sat out small boxes of food splitting them out.
“Lance?”
“Hm?”
“Why did hunk call this a date?”
“Uhh… because…it is one..?”
“Is it?!”
“Well… yeah. I mean I thought so, I did ask you if you wanted to go to the carnival with me… and me alone, like a date. I thought you knew, and that’s why you agreed, oh qiznack did I read this all wrong!?”
“Oh… I didn’t know it was a date” Keith said, sharp fang biting into his bottom lip in thought.
“Ah… guess I should have been more clear huh? Sorry about that. Don’t worry it doesn't have to be one, we can just keep this day going as friends. No worries” Lance rubbed the back of his neck, not meeting Keith’s eyes, feeling bubbles of humiliation and guilt rise in him.
“No.”
It felt like a bucket of ice water got poured on him. “..What?” Lance asked.
“I don’t wanna keep today going as friends, as long as there’s a chance it can be more.” Keith said, trying to keep his hands from shaking. Give him a blade and he’s fine but ask him to talk about feelings… well you see what happens.
Lance glanced at Keith, hope blooming in his chest, “…really?”
“Really.”
Lances nodded, a smile returning to his face. “Okay. Cool. So Keith Kogane, would you like to finish our carnival day together as a date?”
Keith snorted, “Lance dumbass Mclane, I would love to finish our day together as a date.”
Lance laughed, a loud bright relieved sound lighting up the street. “Look at you remembering my middle name.” He bumped their shoulders together, feeling relaxed. Well as much as one could with training like theirs, they were still in public after all surrounded by anyone and everyone.
“How could I forget, it’s your name in my phone.” Keith jokes, taking a bite out of the soft pastry.
“Pfft, That I believe. Oh wow, these are good. Ya know I say it all the time but thank the stars for hunk. We all would have starved if it wasn’t for him.”
Keith nodded in agreement. Humming around the sweet pastry.
“Ah damn. I’ll be right back. Gotta piss. Stay right here” Lance leaned down kissing the crown on Keith’s head. Before jogging off towards the bathroom, missing the bright pink burn taking over Keith’s face.
“Asshole” Keith muttered, he had just gotten over his blush from learning that this was a date. He took a large bite, giving him something to do besides get lost in his thoughts.
“Excuse me cutie do I know you?” The voice was teasing as though it already knew the answer.
“Hm?” Keith looked up, biting back his confusion. A tall four armed blue skinned man had large tusks, and yellow ringed eyes, dark blue hair perfectly in place even with the wind blowing around them, One of the white horns still broken.
“Prince Kalin, it’s been awhile. We met during the blades diplomatic meeting.”
“Ah that’s right, I was terribly disappointed to learn you had left that group. Especially after not taking my offer. The position is still available for you.”
“I am not going to be a bodyguard your highness”
“Ah,ah,ah. Personal bodyguard. You’d be with me all the time, What an honor.”
Keith forced a smile though it felt more like a grimace. What was with this guy? They had barely spoke for three minutes like a year ago. Damn Romuln’s and their amazing memory.
“Right. I didn’t know your people visited planets so far away.”
“It’s my sister's birthday, you remember her right? You humans have bad memory after all.”
“Yes, I remember Queen Taleea. She just had her coronation right?”
Oh he remembers ex princess taleea, bratty, narcissistic, views galra as nothing more than pets. He’d be happy to never step foot on that frozen planet ever again.
Kalin nodded, taking a sip of something in a metal cup. Using his left had to wave the words off. “Yes, but let’s talk about you. Leader of Voltron. Chief of the wolf blade group. Many titles. Very impressive. Especially for someone of your stature, and breed.”
The comment made Keith bristle. “Thanks. Shouldn’t you be with your guards?”
Kalin waved him off again, like his question was silly. “I simply told them I was going to speak with you.”
“Ah” Keith gritted out. Damn it, where was Lance when you needed him?
Kalin huffs a laugh, “still not a man of many words huh? Ah no matter, your beauty makes up for it.” He reached out, tucking a strand of ebony hair behind Keith’s ear.
Keith dug his nails into his left palm, the other brought his pastry up biting into the green berry filling.
“Uh excuse me, I’m sitting there.”
Kalin and Keith look over, seeing a slightly fuming Lance tapping his foot over and over.
“Lance” Keith breathed out, feeling relief seeing the taller.
“I don’t think we’ve met. Prince Kalin of Romula.” Kalin stood up standing roughly a foot and a half over Lance. Kalin was still growing into his hight, at only eighteen he still had a long way to go.
It made Keith’s eyes roll in annoyance. Fuck space and there love of making tall people.
“Lance Maclane. Second in command of Voltron. Ya know the Voltron. Savors of the universe”
Lance walked around him, standing slightly in front of Keith.
“I know of it. My dear friend Keith is the leader of it.”
“Mhm. Keith. Cariño. How do you know Este imbécil?”
“We met a year ago when the blade wanted a treaty with their people. Though he can’t stay long I’m sure his gourds are looking for him. It’s his sister's birthday after all.” Keith said, glancing at Lance's hand resting on his bayard.
“Well it’s been a pleasure. But I’m sure you have to go.” Lance said, he knew he was being rude but this was his date with Keith! Everything had to go right! And this guy was fucking it up!
“Hm I suppose so. I’ll get my guards to get you my number. Do think about what I said. The position is always open to you. Though do leave your things at home…Call me.” Kalin winked before walking off towards the back vendors.
“So that went-“
“What did he say to you? Why does he know your number? “ Lance asked, spinning around to face Keith.
Keith tilted his head, “he’s been trying to get me to be his ‘personal bodyguard’.” Keith used air quotes around the words. “And all the blades numbers were in a file given to them, but after I left my number changed so he won’t be able to get in touch.”
Lance seemed to deflate after that. “Oh.. good.”
“What, jealous?” Keith asked, teasingly.
“Maybe? ‘that something you're into?” lance shrugged, falling back into their dynamic easily.
“Maybe. ‘S long as it’s you” keith said, leaning forward by a hair, glancing up under his lashes,
Lance bit the inside of his cheek to stop the dopey smile from gracing his face, before that could happen he grabbed the front of Keith’s shirt tugging him forward. Their lips crashing together heatedly, Lance tried to put all the feelings he couldn’t put into words in the kiss.
Keith blinked before melting into it, his eyes fluttering closed. He dropped the last small bit of his pasty back into the box, using his now free hand to wrap around Lance's neck keeping him close.
A moment later they broke apart, both flushed pink, lance licked his lips chasing the sweet taste of pastry and something distinctly keith. The half glaran swallowed glancing away biting his bottom lip to stop himself from tugging the other back in.
“We should, uh finish eating and go find a roller coaster.” Lance said, grabbing his food.
Keith nodded, “Ya know I've never been on a roller coaster? Never been to fair either,”
“Really? Huh, well I’m glad I get to be the one showing you.”
“Me too.”
Lance shoved another bite of food in his mouth to stop himself from kissing Keith again.
Keith gently rubbed at the soft fabric on the plush next to him mindlessly as they finished up eating. Afterward they collected their trash before tossing it into a hovering bin nearby.
Keith picked up the hippo plush holding it protectively, Lance laced their fingers together with his free hand. Excitedly leading them towards one of the hovering roller coasters.
-
Hours had passed, the red sun was starting to set and the planet started to cool. A soft blue moon taking its place in the sky cooling down the air.
They had rode almost every ride there, Turns out Keith loved them, and Lance had been filled with so much nostalgia that he had teared up, overwhelmed by reality. But Keith had brought him back down gently without a second thought.
They were waiting in line for the ferris wheel, slightly out of breath from running though the park all day. Excitement buzzing just under their skin.
Lance look down at Keith watching the breeze ruffle ebony hair. A shiver racked up Keith’s spine, he never had done well in the cold.
The sound of ruffling fabric made him look up seeing Lance taking off his jacket. “Huh?”
Plop.
Lance dropped the slightly ratty jacket on Keith’s shoulders, the jackets shoulders have noticeably been stitched over and over, along with bullet holes in the sleeves, but it was the last piece Lance had of his family.
“Lance? Why are you-?”
“You're cold right? I think you left your jacket at the castle. And we both know your body hates even the slightest breeze. You think that’s because of the whole galra thing?” Lance pondered, mentally taking a picture of Keith in his clothes.
It made the older look… younger more their age. Like they hadn't been hardened and forced to grow up too fast by war. Like they didn’t know torture or the feeling of taking someone’s life with out the thought that they had a family waiting for them.
Keith swallowed, the smell of sea salt and caramel was weaved into the fibers, a scent that clung to Lance no matter what. One that brought extreme amounts of comfort and familiarity.
“Probably. Why do you think I picked the desert? The daytime was nice but ya have to get inside by seven O’Clock or freeze. Can’t say I miss the garrison's sixty degree hallways either.”
Lance laughed. “Yeah I feel that. It was a big change from the coast. But I wanted to be a pilot more than anything… can’t say I’d change much, it’s how I met you after all. Spitfire.”
Keith smiled as they climbed into the metal basket, handing their tickets to the man beforehand. “I’m glad we met too. This was really fun Lance, Thank you.”
Keith leaned his head on Lance's shoulders, Lance leaned down kissing Keith’s head. “Anytime, Amor. Somos uno en lo mismo. Solo tú y yo, paral siempre.”