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oh, when i'm out of place
when i'm losing faith
you're the one that never lets me roam
“The dumb one!”
“Oh, you big dumb-dumb.”
“I just don’t want to be stuck here for eternity with Lance.”
You know what? Lance is done.
He’s so done. He’s done with being the butt of the jokes, he’s done with being seen as nothing but the stupid one of the group, and he’s done with feeling like he doesn’t belong.
Lance listens to his team complain about Bob and how much of an ass he was for exactly five ticks before he turns off his coms, falling back into the pilot seat with a grunt. He leaves Red on autopilot and closes his eyes, simmering in his anger.
He’s mad, okay? He’s allowed to be mad at all the false accusations thrown at him. He knows he’s more than a goofball, he knows his worth. He knows he deserves to be a Paladin of Voltron.
…Does he?
Honestly, Lance is fine with some random alien spewing shit about him. They don’t know him, they haven’t seen what he can do. It doesn’t matter. People judge you all the time, there’s nothing Lance could’ve done. No, what sucks is that there wasn’t a single peep from his team. No one bothered.
If any of his teammates were insulted—if Allura’s leadership was doubted, if Hunk was called too soft, if Pidge was underestimated, if Keith was attacked for his Galran heritage—Lance would defend them in a heartbeat. He knows his team and he loves his second family. He’d defend them to the universe and back.
So why wouldn’t they do the same for him?
Red sends him a concerned thought, prodding at his mind carefully. Lance shrugs. “I’m fine. I’m just angry.”
He hugs himself tighter. His voice is wavering. “I’m just angry that they don’t care.”
Oops. Saying it out loud hurt more than he expected.
His vision starts to blur and he feels his heart rate increase, like he’s panicking even when there’s no one there to watch him break down. He sucks in a breath to try and keep it together, but then he sees the little light on Red’s screen, showing that the rest of the team is still chatting away, and Lance realises that nobody noticed he was gone and it’s just—
A sob claws its way up his throat. The tears fall.
Lance shakes silently in his seat. He doesn’t know why he can’t let it all out and just scream—it’s not like anybody but Kaltenecker is going to hear him—but he can’t. He struggles to keep it together, to be as quiet as possible and take up as little space as possible. It feels like his team is going to magically appear in Red and chastise him for crying because why are you being so dramatic? It’s just a joke. Don’t take it so seriously.
Okay, his team has never actually said that, but Lance can hear it anyway.
Red gives him the mental equivalent of a warm hug. It reminds him of his mami, back when he was home and she would wrap him up in her arms, tell him how no one can judge him for who he is or who he should be, because he's Leandro Álvarez-McClain and nothing can beat that.
His heart cries and grasps desperately at the memory of his family. His mother, a fierce woman who never left his side and supported him every step of his way. Luis and Marco, who probably caused him to suffer through hundreds of bruises, but also patched him up every time. Rachel, who judges him the way an older sister would while giving him solid advice that always makes him feel better. Veronica, who went through hell and back with him, promising that one day they’ll fly across the universe together.
His family, whom he might not see even if they successfully return to Earth.
Great. Now he’s homesick too.
Is it even worth it? Showing up now? He’s been gone for who knows how long. Lance can barely remember how Sylvio and Nadia look like, God. His family might not even recognise him.
Lance jumps when he hears a beeping sound. He glances at his screen and sees a blinking purple light. Keith’s requesting to call him on a private line.
Normally, Lance would jump at the opportunity to talk to Keith because, well, it’s Keith. The one whom he’s admired since day one, who comforted him and pushed him to reach his greatest potential, who sometimes gives him the softest looks that has Lance’s heart going all fluttery.
Keith, who wanted him out of the game show, not because he thought Lance was capable enough, but because he couldn’t stand Lance’s presence.
It stings. It stings so much.
“Decline,” Lance whispers. Red frowns at him, but Lance can’t give a shit. “Decline it. Please.”
Red listens, because she still cares for Lance, for some reason. The purple light disappears. It’s quiet for about thirty seconds before the call request comes in again. Even though Lance can’t see Keith’s face, he can still picture the frustrated little pout on his face as he stubbornly clicks on the call button.
It makes him smile fondly.
It makes his heart hurt.
But who cares? Because even if Lance thinks that Keith is the future of the Voltron Coalition, even if he believes in Keith and will follow him to the ends of the universe, Keith will never do the same. Keith will keep going up and up and achieving things thought to be impossible, and all Lance can do is sit at the sidelines and watch him go.
Keith will never wait for Lance to catch up. Neither will the rest of his team.
Lance declines again. He does it three more times before Keith finally gives up and stops calling.
The quiet is peaceful, yet the silence is oppressive.
Lance is so thankful that they don’t have any plans to stop on a planet for at least another week.
Coran said that this is going to be one of the longest driving periods with no rest. It was that or take a detour and have an extra week added to their schedule, and nobody really wanted that.
Besides, Lance doesn’t think that he can face his team for a while. Not unless he wants to break down again.
He still chats with the team. It’s not like he’s completely reclused. He just… makes less jokes. Speaks only to share facts and information that might be vital to their journey. It makes his skin itch, and there’s dozens of times where he catches himself before making a funny comment, but it’s fine. His team, as a result, doesn’t make fun of him that much now. He doesn’t give them the chance to. He makes sure everything he says is correct, and if he doubts it even in the slightest, he won’t say it.
It’s fine. It’s not Lance, but it’s fine.
Kosmo teleports into his lion regularly to transport meals and little messages that the team likes to pass to each other. Sometimes, it’s just one large post-it note with all their comments or doodles littered on it, written in different colours to differentiate who wrote what.
Green, yellow, purple, red, orange and pink. There’s even a few juniberry doodles drawn by Romelle using Allura’s pink pen, who proves to be a much better artist than Allura.
There’s no blue on the post-it.
They’re on their third day of travelling through the vast nothingness of space when Kosmo appears in Red. It’s not his regularly scheduled time, so Lance isn’t really prepared for a lap full of fluff and cosmic dust. He laughs as he’s squashed under the weight of Kosmo’s body, giving him an affectionate rub behind the ear.
“You’re not supposed to be here. Are you trying to irritate Keith again?” Lance asks the wolf. Kosmo turns his head towards him, and it’s then that Lance notices the little post-it note stuck on Kosmo’s head. He frowns and plucks it off. Before he can do anything else, Kosmo disappears with a poof.
“Weird,” Lance mutters. He looks at the post-it and tenses.
Written in a familiar red, blocky handwriting, can we please talk? call me when you can. shiro and krolia aren’t with me.
Why did Keith want to talk to him? Shit, did Lance do something wrong? He tries to think back on the past few days. No, he’s sure he’s finished every practice assigned to them. He’s been in formation the whole time too.
What if…
No. Keith wouldn’t kick him out of the team. Lance is necessary to form Voltron. Keith wouldn’t put the universe at stake like that. He’s much too responsible, and also it’ll be a really stupid move.
Unless he’s found a replacement. Or maybe Shiro wants to pilot Black again, now that he’s properly back. And then Keith will want Red, but Allura’s definitely keeping Blue, so…
Kosmo appears again, giving Lance a second heart attack. There’s another note on his head, which Lance picks up a bit reluctantly. Kosmo licks his hand affectionately before disappearing.
forgot to mention: you didn’t do anything wrong. i know that’s what you’re thinking. but don't worry, just call me when you can.
Goddamnit. Keith knows him so well.
His finger hovers hesitantly over the call button. A quick glance at the screen tells him that none of the team have their coms on, but they’ll still be able to see it if Lance privately calls Keith. He grimaces.
But Keith…
“Do you see this shit, Red?” Lance mutters, waving the post-it in the air. Red sends him an amused huff. “I know right! Stupid Keith. Making me feel things and shit.”
Red doesn’t give him any time to prepare. One second, Lance’s screen is blissfully blank, and the next, Keith’s profile lights up on the screen.
“Red!” he gasps, completely and utterly betrayed. “I was gonna do it!”
Red says something along the lines of no you weren’t. Lance cannot believe this. The audacity of his lion.
He can’t argue with her further because Keith is accepting the call. The screen fizzles out for a bit before Keith’s face appears. He has a pretty neutral expression on, but it melts into a warm smile when Lance waves tentatively.
“Lance,” Keith greets, something akin to relief in his eyes, “it’s so nice to hear from you. How have you been?”
Okay, weird. Keith isn’t one to go for the formalities. “I’m—doing okay,” Lance replies haltingly. “Why did you want to call?”
Keith seems to flounder a bit at the question, like he wasn’t expecting it at all. “Uh. I just wanted to see how you’re doing. You’ve been a bit distant lately.”
Oh shit. “Have I?” Lance feigns innocence. “I suppose it’s all the flying. Plus the nerves. You know, I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that we’re actually going home.”
He thinks it sounds believable enough. Keith watches him carefully as he speaks, so Lance flashes an extra blinding smile in hopes that it’ll get Keith to drop it. He does, thanks to some sort of miracle, and nods. “Okay. You’ll tell me if anything’s wrong, right?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Lance assures, as if the gorgeous boy in front of him isn’t the cause of half his distress. “But I will. Can't hide anything from the team leader!”
“Shut up.” Keith rolls his eyes. There’s a pause, where Keith does nothing but grin fondly at Lance. He looks adorable, chin perched over his clasped hands, his pupils dilated and round. He honestly—looks kind of like a cat. It’s really, really cute.
“Anyway…” Lance starts, getting shifty under the weight of Keith’s stare. “Not that I’m not loving the special attention or anything—” Keith blinks, seemingly snapping out of whatever daze he was in earlier— “but aren’t you going to check up on the rest of the team?”
“Oh.” Keith averts his eyes, and even from the slightly shitty quality of the screen, Lance can see the redness of his cheeks. “Um. I sent Shiro and Krolia to do that. Shiro’s with Hunk and Krolia should be with Pidge. It’s for—you know, efficiency.”
Keith is such a terrible liar. “Wow. The leader of Voltron is lending me his precious time? Me, specifically? I’m honoured.”
Keith gives him a funny look. “Why wouldn’t I check up on you? You’re my—” He cuts himself off with a cough. His cheeks turn even redder. “My… right-hand. Obviously you’re special.”
I just don’t want to be stuck here for eternity with Lance.
“Am I?”
Lance means for it to sound teasing, but it comes out doubtful and wary. Keith must think that this is just Lance being his usual brand of insecure (the amount of times Keith has seen him at his lowest is honestly embarrassing at this point), because Keith suddenly has that determined, serious look on his face. It’s unfair because Keith got two extra years on that space whale, so he looks unfairly attractive making that face now.
“Of course you are, Lance. You’re you. You’ll always be special to me. I—uh, and the rest of the team, of course. We wouldn’t be where we are—the universe wouldn’t be where it is right now without you.”
It’s such a whiplash from what he said at the game show that Lance can’t. He can’t believe him. He scoffs, except it sounds so bitter and unlike him that Keith frowns even harder.
“I’m serious, Lance,” Keith says. His words fall on deaf ears.
“I get it. Thanks for the pep talk, Keith.” Lance says, and then he waves cheerily. “Well! It’s been a nice talk. I think I should go check up on Kaltenecker, see how she’s doing and all. See you!”
He hurriedly ends the call, then lets out a dramatic groan and sinks into his seat. He drags his gloved hands over his face.
I just don’t want to be stuck here for eternity with Lance.
Does Keith ever mean anything he says?
It sucked so bad when Keith said that. Everyone was saying nice things about each other, things that Lance obviously thought were true. And then he went ahead and chose Keith, poured out his heart in front of an audience that probably doesn’t even exist, smiling like a lovesick fool. And then Keith had chosen him and for just a second, Lance’s heart soared. He positively melted, only to be slapped in the face with Keith’s harsh glare and harsher words.
It makes him feel pathetic. He follows Keith around like a lost puppy, while all Keith is trying to do is get rid of him.
All the confidence boosts. The late night confessions. The breakdowns, the helpless sobs, the warm hugs and words of comfort. Did they mean nothing?
Lance sighs. He puts Red on autopilot, then gets up, stretching. The least he can do is actually go visit Kaltenecker. She must be so lonely down there, just chewing on hay and doing whatever it is free cows from a space mall do. Plus, it’ll provide a welcome distraction from his unnecessary thoughts. Also, Hunk requested more milk. So it’s a no-brainer, really, for Lance to make his way out of the cockpit and into Red’s main body, where Kaltenecker resides.
He just about makes it out of the cockpit, hand hovering over the handle, when there’s a flash from behind him and a ‘poof!’ sound. Lance’s body goes rigid.
He doesn’t dare turn around. Maybe if he shuts his eyes and prays hard enough, this will all be a bad dream and Lance will still be alone in his lion.
“Lance.” Nope, no, no way. Lance refuses. Nuh-uh. He’s stronger than this.
“Lance, please.” Nope. He won’t let his resolve melt so easily. That’s so pathetic.
“Lance.”
Ugh. Stupid, stupid Keith and the absolute chokehold he has on Lance. Who gave him the right? Seriously, he’s somehow got Lance wrapped around his finger. It’s not fair.
Lance turns around begrudgingly, his arms crossed over his chest defensively. He pictures himself right now and almost laughs. He bets he looks like Keith right now.
Speaking of Keith, there he is in all his glory, in the middle of Red’s cockpit like it’s nobody’s business. How irresponsible, honestly! Sure, the lions are sentient and all, but like…
Oh, who’s he kidding. Lance doesn’t give a shit about formation in the slightest. Keith smiles and Kosmo wags his tail excitedly before he disappears, leaving the two of them alone. Unfortunately.
“…What are you doing here?” Lance asks cautiously.
Keith tugs off his helmet and Lance does the same, not really trusting his body right now. The two headgears clatter to the ground.
Keith crosses the room silently, stalking towards Lance with an intent in his eyes. Lance shrinks in on himself. When Keith’s barely inches away, Lance laughs shakily. “I still… have to feed Kaltenecker,” he says weakly.
Keith holds onto his shoulders, effectively keeping Lance from running away. He stares at Lance and— oh, he’s doing that thing again. That thing where he searches him with nothing but his eyes, and it makes Lance feel completely vulnerable, like he’s being stripped of all his walls as he falls mercy to Keith’s gaze.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Keith finally whispers, his breath fanning across Lance’s face. Lance swallows the lump down his throat.
“I told you. There’s nothing wrong,” he replies. It’s hard to keep his voice from wobbling when Keith is so close, seriously, has this guy ever heard of personal space?
“You’re lying to me.” Keith frowns, looking so upset that Lance almost caves in. “Lance, please. I just want to help you.”
“You can’t,” Lance mumbles lamely. “It’s not something you can solve.”
IjustdontwanttobestuckhereforeternitywithLance
“Let me try,” Keith begs, and Lance finally loses it.
He shoves Keith away with a rough thrust of his arms. Keith goes flying backwards, clearly not having expected that. By the time he rights himself back up, Lance is already out of the room.
“Lance!” Keith calls, banging on the door that just got slammed into his face. “Lance, come on!”
“Can’t hear you over the sound of Kaltenecker enjoying her meal!” Lance yells back childishly. He can hear Keith groan. The banging noises increase in volume.
“I will break this door down, McClain. Don’t even test me,” he warns. It sounds like a legitimate threat, one that has Lance reconsidering for a slight second, but then he remembers that they’re in Red and Keith would never do that. He smirks to himself.
“You wouldn’t,” he calls back. Keith’s answering growl, a clear sign of his frustration, makes him feel a little guilty. But it’s whatever.
“Lance.” Lance stiffens at how helpless he sounds. “Lance. At least tell me what caused you to withdraw from us.”
“I’m not… withdrawing.” The lie falls short.
“You are. I’m not the only one who noticed. Hunk started a Truth or Dare game yesterday and you didn’t even turn on your coms. You don’t make jokes anymore. You don’t speak about anything but battle strategies and plans for our journey. You’re like a robot, like another brainless soldier in this war. I can't figure out why. It’s driving me insane.”
“Please,” Lance scoffs, “enjoy your peace while it lasts, won’t you? I’m fine.”
“I’m not at peace if there’s something wrong!” Keith shouts. He bangs a fist on the door. The sound reverberates, echoing through the room. “God, Lance, can’t you see that I care? I’m trying to help. Why won’t you let me in?”
Maybe because it’s you who made me put these walls up.
Maybe because I can’t let you crush my hopes and feelings again.
I don’t want to get hurt again.
“Give up, Keith.” His words are harsh and firm. “There's nothing you can do.”
“So there is something wrong?”
Damn it. “No.”
It’s quiet now. Lance can picture Keith chewing on his lip and thinking to himself, trying to piece everything together. He closes his eyes and leans against the door with a huff. Finally, Keith is speaking up again. It’s soft and tentative, like he isn’t sure if he’s allowed. “…Is it something I did?”
Lance’s answering silence probably tells him everything. There’s a defeated sigh from the other side of the door.
“I’m sorry,” Keith whispers. Lance’s heart screams. “I don’t know what I did, but I never meant to hurt you. I’ll make it up to you. Even if you won’t tell me what’s wrong, I’ll do everything I can to make it right again. I promise.”
His words are earnest and sincere. Fuck.
Lance stands up and goes to unlock the door, mentally whacking himself. Stupid Keith. Stupid Keith and his ability to make Lance listen to everything he says. Stupid Keith for being the boy Lance fell in love with.
Lance sees Keith scramble to his feet, holding his hands together nervously. He looks hopeful. Slightly wary, but hopeful. Lance shrugs lamely.
I just don’t—
Don’t want to be stuck here—
Lance—
“Did you mean it?” Lance whispers, his eyes directed to the ground.
“Um… mean what?”
“The game show,” Lance clarifies. He hears the way Keith sucks in a sharp breath, and he knows that things are finally clicking. “Did you mean what you said?”
“Lance… I—”
“Because it makes me feel so stupid.” He laughs hoarsely. Now that he’s started, he can’t seem to stop. The words spill out of him like bile rising up his throat and he spits them out like acid. “It makes me feel stupid, putting my heart out for you, in front of the entire team, only for you to smash it to pieces.”
He hugs his arms around himself. “And it’s like—I don’t care, okay? I know I’m dumb and whatever—the goofball, the brainless. It’s not like I care. It’s just some random alien who doesn’t even know me.” His eyes sting. “But the fact that none of you disagreed. The fact that not one of my teammates—the people who know me best—tried to defend me at all.”
He looks up, seeing the horror displayed on Keith’s face. Good. “I thought you of all people would at least try to defend me. I’m not saying you have to, but… you’re the only one… the only one I ever go to when I feel shitty about my abilities. You listen to me at my lowest and tell me, every single time, that I’m worth more than I think. But how can I believe you when you don’t mean what you say?”
He hopes it stings. He hopes his words hurt as hard as he’s hurting right now.
“You’ve got it all wrong, Lance,” Keith says sharply. Lance scoffs and looks away.
“Seems pretty clear to me.”
“I meant what I said.” Lance flinches and Keith rushes to correct himself. “As in—I meant it when I said I’d choose you. But I lied. I didn’t choose you because I wanted you gone. Not at all.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“It’s not, because I was lying. Because no stranger, not even some fucked up alien game host, should know how I truly feel about you. Not until you’ve heard it first.”
Keith takes a deep breath. He stands up straighter and looks Lance in the eye, his voice confident and unwavering when he says, “I chose Lance. He’s the team’s support system, and the one who’s always been there for all of us. He’s the glue that keeps the team together. He’s… my right-hand, and the person I look to the most when I’m struggling to lead. If it’s anyone who can get people to trust him and stop an intergalactic war, it’s Lance. No doubt about it.”
Lance’s body trembles with the effort and holding his sobs in. Keith opens his arms, a quiet offering, and Lance is helpless to do anything but fall.
He tucks his face into Keith’s neck and shakes silently, held together by strong arms and soft kisses into his hair. Keith rubs his back soothingly, swaying them back and forth, never letting up on his embrace.
“I’m sorry, Lance,” he mumbles as Lance cries harder. “I didn’t ever want to hurt you. You’re not dumb, or stupid, or anything else the alien called you. You’re our team’s sharpshooter, our glue. You keep everyone going with your smiles and jokes. I’m so sorry.”
“Keith,” Lance gasps, clinging onto him tightly. Keith hugs him twice as hard.
“I’ll talk to the rest of the team. And I’ll make it up to you. But please, Lance. Come back to us.”
Come back to me.
Lance nods, his tears finally slowing down. He melts into the unwavering support of Keith’s hold, letting all of his pent up sadness bleed out and evaporate. It leaves him feeling drained and exhausted, but even as he’s unable to hold himself up anymore, Keith’s there to keep him steady.
When Lance pulls away, Keith wipes the tears from his cheeks tenderly. Despite everything, Lance still finds himself blushing at the soft gesture.
“I was thinking,” Keith starts after a while.
“Dangerous,” Lance croaks, chuckling, even when his voice comes out worn. Keith rolls his eyes, a smile gracing his lips.
“Yes, I know.” His eyes shine with amusement. “But I was just wondering if… if I could join you for a while?”
Lance freezes. He stares at Keith with wide eyes, unable to believe what he thinks he might’ve just heard. “What do you mean?”
“Ever since Shiro came back, Black has been willing to let him pilot her again. He’s in there right now, actually.” Keith huffs, glancing out the left window to where Black is flying smoothly. Lance follows his gaze and indeed, Shiro is sitting in the pilot seat. “It’s only temporary. I’m still the leader and whatever. But I can talk to both Black and Red, and they both agreed that I should… accompany you, for a bit. Just until we land at our next pit stop, maybe.”
“You’re serious?” Lance asks. “This isn’t—this isn’t just some sort of pity act because I cried all over your shoulder?”
Keith laughs. “No. I’ll only do it if you want to. After everything, I understand if you’d rather be alone, but I just thought I’d put the offer out—”
“Yes,” Lance interrupts. His eyes shine with a fresh wave of tears. “Yes, yes. I want you to stay.”
Keith beams. And with a surprising amount of tenderness, he cradles Lance’s face in his hands and presses their foreheads together.
Lance’s heart sings. He nuzzles his nose against Keith, unable to stop grinning. He places his hands on Keith’s waist and pulls him just that bit closer. Keith sucks in a breath.
“Can I..?” he asks, his eyes darting down to their lips, mere inches apart.
“Yes,” Lance breathes as his eyes flutter close.
They press their lips together, and it’s like the universe stops moving.
Keith kisses like fire. He’s gentle with it, but there’s no denying the barely restrained desire in his kiss, the way he pushes against Lance eagerly, consuming and unforgiving in what he takes. He kisses with a drive and passion that’s so Keith, like he only has one goal in mind.
And Lance falls to his burning kisses helplessly, providing Keith with everything he wants. He follows Keith’s movements, matching his flow easily. Their lips slide together and it’s so perfect, like the universe was created just for this moment.
There’s no one else right now. The universe can crash and fall and burn to cinders around them, and the only thing Lance will remember is Keith’s searing kisses and the delicate touch of his hands on his cheeks.
When they pull apart, it’s only for a mere second before Keith is diving back in, trailing scorching lips against Lance’s jawline. Lance pants quietly, losing himself to the sensation and going dizzy with desire. He’s provided himself for Keith to take, and now that Keith’s had a taste, he seems determined on absolutely ruining Lance.
Lance’s hands fly up to where Keith’s lay, and he laces their fingers together, grasping tightly. Keith pulls back, his eyes dark and pupils dilated. Despite the heated sounds that he made earlier, he stares at Lance with the most adoring expression on his face.
It makes Lance feel worshipped. Like he’s something to be admired. Like he’s someone to be loved.
He probably looks just as sappy right now, but he can’t give a shit. And sure, this doesn’t erase the whole breakdown he had earlier, but it sure as hell is a bonus. Lance can definitely get used to this.
“We have approximately four more days to spend together,” Keith says, his words laced with a promise that has Lance shivering under the implications. “Is that okay?”
“I don’t think you realise just how okay I am with this,” Lance mutters. Keith giggles and it’s the most gorgeous sound Lance has ever heard.
They both tense when Red says something. It sounds a little bit like an insult, but there’s a fondness lying underneath it, as well as what seems like excitement. The two paladins share a smile.
With their hands interlocked, they make their way back to the pilot seat. If they adjust it, it’s easily big enough for the two of them to sit side by side. But Lance has other ideas. He sits down and spreads his legs, then tugs Keith over, making him sit in the space between his thighs. He squeezes to make sure that Keith’s stable, and Keith’s face goes so red that even from the back, Lance can see the tips of his ears changing colour.
Lance just grins to himself, reaching around Keith’s waist to hold onto the controls. He tucks his chin over Keith’s shoulder to keep him in place. Keith huffs and crosses his arms.
He doesn’t move away.
“Thank you,” Lance says quietly, brushing a kiss on Keith’s neck. Keith relaxes into his touch.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he replies. “I won’t hurt you like that ever again. I’ll tell the whole universe that I love you. No shame about it. You won’t ever have to doubt my love for you.”
Lance laughs, positively melting. He holds onto Keith tighter. “I love you too.”