Chapter Text
Days like this made Keith wonder why he'd joined the military. ‘Family fun days’ were supposed to “build relationships” and let your loved ones see part of the life you couldn't really tell them about. Great concept and all, but Keith only had his adoptive parents who didn't live nearby. It generally made the annual family picnic a lesson in patience. Mandatory fun they called it.
He'd generally meet and greet for a total of ten seconds, then find somewhere to hide until they could leave for the day. The one good thing was not having to be in uniform. The bad thing was it was midsummer in the desert and not even he was crazy enough to work out to kill time, not that he could with his rib still cracked... Instead he hid in a shaded area near the air conditioned building where the ‘picnic’ was happening. Smoking. It was too damn hot to be smoking. He was mostly just holding the cigarettes only occasionally taking a puff.
He'd been here for an hour with four to go. He sighed. Maybe he'd get heat stroke and get out early.
He was contemplating the pros and cons of his master plan when his cell phone went off. He looked down at it startled. A text from Lance showed asking where he was.
Keith shook his head, but typed back.
~Hiding.~
Three dots danced and he received a reply.
-well stop hiding and get ur ass out here. Need you to settle a debate btwn me and the gremlin. I'm right just so u kno-
~... Whatever it is I'm sure she's right and you're wrong.~
-haha. Promise, this time ull agree w/me-
Keith rolled his eyes.
~Fine, where are you?~
-YAS! Victory shall be mine!!! By the food, where else?-
Keith got up and dusted himself off. He meandered his way into the main building, eyes adjusting slowly to the darker lighting inside. Everything was green for a while, but he eventually made out the trestle tables that held snacks to tide people over until lunch.
Keith winced as a child gave a particularly high pitched shriek. It made him remember last year when he'd been voluntold to help out with an inflatable obstacle course. He shuddered as he recalled a five year old that had kicked him in the shin for no reason. At least this year he wouldn't have to deal with bratty kids, although Lance and Pidge could qualify...
He scanned the crowd and made out Hunk with ease. He slipped into the circle quietly, listening as Lance and Pidge raged at each other, too involved to notice Keith. Hunk gave him a sympathetic look and waved hello. Keith smiled and waved back.
“Finally! Keith, you've got to resolve this! Hunk refuses to take a side!” Lance's voice was still in ‘shout’ mode and Keith winced at the volume.
“Dude, calm down and tell me what's up.”
Pidge growled “He wants us to all go camping in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere to “appreciate nature” or some ridiculous nonsense.” Pidge made the air quotes and everything. “Nature doesn't have a wi-fi connection and I want nothing to do with that.”
Lance spread his arms wide “Come on Pidge! It would do you good to get out of that cave you call home. You'll have fun hating it! Cmon Keith back me here!”
Keith blinked. “Actually, I’d love to do some camping.”
Lance beamed “Told you he'd be on my side!”
Pidge flipped him the bird and glared at Keith “You traitor. Why are you so into survivalist things?” She complained.
Keith grinned “Think of it as a training exercise for the zombie apocalypse.”
She groaned but nodded “Fine, I'll go on the stupid camping trip. But I won't enjoy it and half my pack is going to be sunscreen.”
“The other half had better be water if we're doing desert camping.” Keith replied thoughtfully “And don't underestimate how cold it gets at night.”
Pidge pouted. Lance shook his head “I argue with her for half an hour and get nothing, you say it would be fun and she gives in just like that! I'm sensing favoritism Pidgey.”
She stuck out her tongue. “It is favoritism dipshit. He watches conspiracy theory shows with me. And believes in aliens.”
Keith nodded solemnly. Lance turned to Hunk “So you game big man?”
Hunk grinned “Sure.”
Lance scowled “Why couldn't you have said that before?”
Hunk shrugged “‘Cause I wanted to know if Keith was interested. It wouldn't be fun if it's not all four of us.”
Keith swore he felt his heart clench and he swallowed, throat suddenly dry. The fact that Hunk so easily thought of him as a necessary part of the group. Keith felt unshed tears prickling at the back of his eyes, damn Hunk was a good person.
They spent the next couple of hours planning their future trip. “We should probably wait until it's not so hot.” was Hunks sensible input. Keith managed to get Pidge more interested by wondering if they could bring some scanning gear and see if they could pick up alien radio chatter. That idea had Pidge more gung-ho than Lance.
“Would Shiro want to come?”
Keith grimaced. “He'd probably be interested but we don't take vacations together. Bad things always happen.”
“Oh come on it can't be that bad.” Lance scoffed. Keith looked him dead in the eye.
“Yes Lance, it can.”
Pidge piped up “Believe me, those two on vacation together creates a disaster zone. One of them always ends up in a hospital, they've been arrested twice and I still don't know how that car wound up in that tree.”
Lance blinked. “Wow. I am so going to need the full stories one of these days because…Wow. That image…”
Hunk nodded “Okay, Shiro is staying home.”
Keith nodded “It really is for the best. Anyway, I'm going to grab something to drink, anyone else thirsty?”
Pidge sniggered “I bet Lance is.” Keith eyed his friend. Sometimes people baffled him. What was so funny about someone being thirsty?
Lance cleared his throat and said “Yeah, I'll take a water or something.”
“Pidge, Hunk?”
They both shook their heads no. As Keith turned to leave he heard Pidge say “Or something.” under her breath. Weirdos.
He made his way to the coolers and pulled two water bottles from it. He turned to make his way back when he heard his name.
“Keith!”
Nope, he didn't mistake that voice. Derek came up to him and clapped him on the back.
“I see you're not hiding anymore! You and McClain have been having a good time, it's amazing considering how much you hate these things.” Keith blinked at him. Derek continued smiling but his eyes were tight. Telling him about their camping plans probably wouldn't be a good idea. He'd been very jealous about Keith's continued interaction with Lance despite the fact that Keith had told Derek he wasn't sleeping with him. A tinkling laugh sounded and Keith saw Sarah, he hadn't noticed her with Derek there and he swallowed slightly.
“Derek's been jealous. He says this, McClain, is stealing his friend away. I have to admit I resent him too, you haven't been by in too long! You're the only one of Derek's friends that is even partially civilized!”
Keith ducked his head to the side embarrassed. Sarah had always been kind to him and he'd felt guilty every time Derek had brought him home for dinner or as part of a group of friends.
“I'm not that civilized…” Keith mumbled.
“I know!” Sarah exclaimed “That just shows what cavemen the rest of them are!”
Keith forced a weak grin. “McClain and I have a mutual friend and grew close the last couple months. I'm not trying to ditch Derek for him.”
Derek glared in Lance's direction but turned back to Keith with that tight smile. “I won't believe you unless you come over this week for dinner!”
Sarah clapped her hands “Oh yes! Please Keith! The kids would be so happy to see you again!”
Keith felt his stomach drop as he nodded “Sure, that sounds great. Let me know when you want me.”
Sarah reached out and grabbed his hand beaming affectionately. God he was a piece of shit… “Good!” She released his hand “We’ll let you get back now, it was good seeing you!” Keith waved good bye as Sarah dragged a reluctant Derek away.
Keith swallowed hard and closed his eyes. This was not the time for a break down. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath, then headed back to his friends. He tossed a bottle at Lance who caught it easily and opened his own bottle. He drank half of it down and forced his attention back to the conversation. No one seemed to notice that his smile was forced.
Lance's phone ringing woke him up at three am. He groaned as he answered it, not bothering to look at the caller ID.
“Sup?” He said groggily. There was a pause then “Lance?”
“Keith? What are you doing awake at…” Lance checked his clock “0315? Holy shit man! Please tell me you slept some, we’re supposed to do training maneuvers in like, three hours.”
There was a hollow sounding laugh. “Nope, haven't slept, sorry I woke you… Go back to sleep, I'll try to get some sleep. See you in a few.”
“No wait!” Lance sat up. “There's no way I believe you're going to sleep. And I'm awake now so tell me what's up.”
There was an uncomfortable pause on the phone and another hollow laugh. “I don't know, I just needed to hear someone and Shiro is so judgemental…”
Lance snorted “He’s not judgemental, he just wants you to be healthy and happy.”
There was a slowly released breath then “Yeah. He's a good person like that.” Lance thought he heard a car honk in the background.
“Dude, where are you? Why do I hear cars?”
Another pause, Lance hated that he couldn't see Keith, most of what he said was with his body. This was like half a conversation. “I don't really know. I think I'm still in my neighborhood. I was kinda just wandering, couldn't run with the rib…”
Lance growled, frustrated. “Find an intersection and let me know. I'm going to come pick you up.”
“You don't-”
“Yes I do. So find an intersection.” A huff of laughter.
“Yea, sure.”
Lance quickly threw on a pair of pants and his jacket over his bare chest. He grabbed his keys and left his apartment heading for his car.
“Got that intersection?”
“No, but apparently I'm in a park?”
“What park Keith?” Lance reeled in his patience, getting any information out of the other pilot was worse than pulling teeth.
“Mounds View.”
“Holy shit Keith! That's half in the desert and nowhere near your neighborhood!”
“Yea… Apparently I walked more than I thought…”
“Well, stay put, I'm on my way.”
“Yeah…”
Lance put the phone on speaker and drove. There was silence for a while then Keith said “Should I hang up?”
“No.” Lance snapped “I don't trust you to stay put until I get there.”
“Technically I could still wander off, even while on the phone.”
But if he wandered off while on the phone Lance would at least know he was still breathing, not that he was going to share that fear out loud anytime soon.
“Please, for my peace of mind, don't wander and don't hang up.”
“Mk.”
There was silence on the phone as Lance drove. He was in a bit of a panic and still not really awake, and god only knew what Keith was thinking or feeling because he sure as hell wasn't talking about it.
It took half an hour to get to Mounds View Park. Lance was there in fifteen. He looked around the sorry excuse of a park, with its dingy playground and sad lone picnic table. It was the picnic table that caught his eye. They weren't usually lumpy. He walked forward and said uncertainly “Dude are you lying on the table?”
He heard a chuckle in front of him and through his phone. He hit the end call button and walked over. Keith was staring at the sky. The moonlight softened his features, hiding the stress he'd been under. He turned his head to stare at Lance and grimaced more than grinned.
“You really didn't need to come get me you know, I'm just in a weird mood and need to know I'm not the only one alive.”
Lance shook his head. “Yeah, I really did need to come. Do you want to talk about it?”
Keith sighed “Why do you always ask that?”
Lance shrugged “Because sometimes it helps to talk and I'm always here for you if you need me.”
Keith turned to look back at the stars and shifted over on the table, patting it. Lance followed the unspoken command and slid in next to him, glad he'd zipped his jacket up, he would've been freezing without it. Lance couldn't help but be hyper aware of the warmth of Keith's body pressed along his side, they were squeezed tight together to fit on the table.
“I know you are.” There was an odd note in his voice that Lance couldn't identify. Keith seemed to be in a fey mood and Lance was having difficulty reading him at all.
“I hate when he touches me.” Keith sounded odd, too calm and matter of fact. Lance tensed “He's always so gentle. It would be easier if he wasn't.”
Lance didn't know how to respond to that, what words could he use? He couldn't think of any so he just reached over and squeezed Keith's hand, hoping the touch would help ground him and wouldn't remind him of those soft touches he hated.
“Everytime I think ‘this is it, I'll break it off and won't feel like scum anymore’ he starts with the soft touches and the words that twist me right round his goddam finger. I know he's manipulating me. I know this isn't healthy and yet…”
Keith broke off into a hopeless laugh “-and yet I keep letting him do it to me.”
Keith rubbed his face with his free hand. “His wife likes me.”
Lance blinked rapidly at that one. “He… he's introduced you to his family?” What kind of sick fuck was this guy?
Keith's chuckle was a little unhinged “Yup. I'm supposedly a friend of the family. I'm more than a friend to Derek and so much less than a friend to Sarah… There are times I wish I could just leave. Run away and never come back. Leave this shit behind. I'm such a goddamn coward… if I wasn't this thing would've been over a long time ago.”
Lance rolled onto his side so he could look down at Keith, he hated the tears that flowed from eyes that didn't seem to be taking in what they were seeing. He had to let go of Keith's hand, and reached out to touch Keith's cheek. Keith flinched back violently, eyes suddenly wide and breaths coming quickly.
“Shit! Sorry, I should've asked you first.” Lance pulled his hand back quickly. Keith shook his head, knocking it against the table in his vehemence.
“That's not… It’s not you. He… He always does that… strokes my cheeks… when he's… When he's convincing me to do something…” he laughed a bit soggily “I used to find it comforting.”
“Dammit…” Lance muttered, he took a shaky breath of his own and sat up. Keith was still laying on his back and Lance turned to pull at Keith's hands. Keith followed the motion sitting up reluctantly. Lance tugged Keith towards himself and into a hug, careful to give him the option to escape if he felt the need. He didn't. He surged forward and the dam burst, violent sobs wracking his body. Again he was weirdly silent about his sorrow. All Lance could do was hold on and rub circles on his back until he cried himself out.
“I wish I could do it for you.” Keith looked up at him and he just looked tired.
“But you can't. I know. I know Shiro would love to intervene and get him out of my life. But it's something I have to do or I'll resent you.” Keith shook his head. “I shouldn't be allowed to feel that way, you're a great friend. But I would.” He dropped his head so his forehead rested on Lance's chest. “I'm a terrible person…”
“You aren't.” Lance squeezed Keith tight. “You are allowed emotions, even the bad ones.”
There was a long sigh and then Keith pulled away. Lance wanted to chase his heat but let him go.
“C’mon. We should get home… we've got to be at work soon.”
Lance nodded. “Are you going to fly today?”
Keith shook his head. “Even I'm not that reckless. If I took something up today I'd probably end up dead. And not because I'm suicidal, just… pilot error.”
Lance let out a relieved sigh. “Thank god. Now can I convince you to let me drive you to work?”
Keith nodded. “Yea. That's probably the safe thing to do.” His eyelids were drooping.
Lance drove them to Keith's place first where the dark haired man took a quick shower, he came out of it looking a bit more awake and with chattering teeth, and changed into his fatigues.
Lance then drove them both to his place where he started a pot of coffee before taking a much longer shower. He returned to the living room only half dressed as the scent of coffee was too much for his addicted little heart to resist. Keith was asleep on the couch and Lance smiled fondly at the dark haired man as he poured himself the elixir of the gods. He finished getting dressed and bent to wake the other man up. He grabbed two travel cups of coffee and hustled a distinctly groggy Keith back out to the car. Keith was asleep in the car within seconds and Lance had them to formation twenty minutes early.
Keith's power naps hadn't done him much good but the coffee helped him wake up enough for formation. He grimaced at the bitter taste and Lance wondered how he took his coffee normally. Lance went to him straight after formation and Keith slumped into his side with a groan. Lance chuckled and put a supporting arm around his waist. “Come on hotshot. Let's go let someone know you're in no condition to fly today.” Keith nodded weakly and Lance noticed Poole glaring at him out of the corner of his eye. He longed to make a rude gesture at the man, but restrained himself. He didn't need to cause Keith more trouble.
Their CO wasn't happy with Keith's condition. He gave them both an hour long lecture about how soldiers needed to keep themselves ready at all times. Lance tuned him out and was amazed Keith didn't fall asleep at parade rest. Keith was dismissed to ‘go take care of himself and stop throwing off your sleep schedule Kogane!’
Lance made his way to the hangar and reveled in the beauty and speed of the fighter jets.
Derek caught him before he was able to take his officially sanctioned nap. He was radiating anger and jealousy but Keith was so goddamn tired he just felt numb. Derek wasn't focused on that though.
“What the hell was that?” He growled eyes flashing. “You were draped all over McClain like a desperate little whore. And you two arrived together this morning. Why the fuck were you together? You said you two were just friends!”
Keith looked dully up at Derek. “We are just friends. I called him this morning because I needed to talk to a friend and when he found out I hadn't slept yet he offered to drive me in. Apparently he doesn't want his friends dying in sleep induced car accidents.”
Derek stiffened still radiating anger. Keith wasn't good at reading people but this anger seemed slightly different. “You can always call me.”
Keith shook his head. “That's the thing. I can't always call you.”
He rubbed his head, it was pounding with the need to sleep. “We need to break up. This shit isn't fair to me, to you or to your family. I'm not letting you choose me over them because I'm not choosing you. I can't do this anymore. Tell Sarah we got into an irreconcilable fight and delete my number.” Keith registered shock on Derek's face before turning on his heel and heading towards med bay. Shiro was going to be pissed at him for winding up there again, twice in two weeks.
He heard a snarl from behind him and a strong hand gripped his arm, pulling him back. Derek's face was full of rage and hurt, Keith knew he'd feel guilty when he wasn't quite so numb. Keith's body moved automatically, if sluggishly, to release him from the unwelcome grip. Derek yelped in pain, incredulity washed across his features, then the anger was back.
He lashed out and Keith was too slow to dodge. He felt a ringing in his ears and lost his balance as the blow connected in a slap to his ear. Keith was too disoriented to escape Derek's grasp this time. He was shoved against the wall, still dizzy, as Derek growled “You can't just end it like this! You love me, I know you love me! You just want to hurt me because of how much I've hurt you. I get it, but you're not leaving me for that fuckboy McClain!” and then he was desperately kissing Keith.
Keith kept his lips pressed tight as Derek tried to force his tongue inside the dark haired pilot’s mouth. Adrenaline finally started pumping through his veins and with faster, crisper movements he broke Derek's hold on him. Derek hit the floor clutching himself, Keith had put a lot of power behind his knee and Derek would probably be limping the rest of the day.
“Delete my number.” Keith's voice had never been colder. He spun on his heel and hurried to the med bay. Halfway there the reaction set in and he stopped, shaking uncontrollably. His breaths came in short gasps and he lost track of time.
“Hey are you okay?” The voice was familiar but Keith couldn't focus on it.
“We should get him to the infirmary.”
“Help me with him.”
Keith was lifted between two people, he wanted to fight the grip but his limbs didn't respond to his mental screams. He was moved but unable to register where. A cool voice spoke words he didn't recognize and he felt a sharp pain in his arm before unconsciousness took him.
Lance made his way to the infirmary assuming Keith had been stuck there all day. He waved at Shay, smiling at the sight of the woman Hunk refused to admit crushing on. She didn't smile back, instead she made her way over with a worried look on her face.
“Keith told me you're giving him a ride home today?” She asked quietly. Lance nodded and she sighed running fingers through her hair. “We had to sedate him so I'm grateful for that… It would be better if someone could spend the night with him. We're worried about him…” Shay looked at him seriously “I can't break client confidentiality Lance, but he needs help. Try and get him to tell you or Shiro what happened today. He wouldn't tell any of us.”
Lance blinked at Shay, then nodded. He didn't know how Keith had gone from falling asleep on his feet to needing to be sedated but he was going to try and find out. “I'll let Shiro know and see if Keith won't let one of us keep an eye on him tonight.”
Shay relaxed slightly “Thanks Lance. The meds we gave him are nothing to take lightly. He’ll probably be pretty groggy and fall asleep quickly.”
Lance nodded “Just give me some instructions and we'll take care of him.”
Shay gave him one of her sweet smiles and wrote down instructions for him. Keith was upright and mobile, but Lance could tell he had to fight to do anything. Lance asked if Keith would prefer Shiro or Lance to babysit him. Keith's face scrunched up in a way that was really too adorable and emphatically went with Lance.
Lance felt an uncontrollable smile tug at his cheeks and helped Keith to his car. He stopped by his place and grabbed what he'd need for the night and tomorrow. Keith was nodding off in the car when he returned. Lance reached over to stroke his cheek, paused remembering why that wasn't a good idea, and ruffled Keith's hair instead. Keith let out a sleepy noise of protest and Lance chuckled starting the car back up again.
Keith's apartment was small and utilitarian. He didn't have many keepsakes or unnecessary items littering the place. Lance looked ruefully at the couch and sighed, it didn't look very comfortable.
They both got ready for bed, taking turns in the bathroom. When Lance came out he saw Keith sitting on his very big, very comfortable looking bed and sighed.
“Where do you keep spare blankets and pillows?” He asked. Keith looked at him that cute wrinkle on his forehead appearing in his confusion.
“You aren't sleeping with me?”
Lance blinked rapidly. “Err… I thought I was going to sleep on the couch?”
Keith shook his head. “It's awful. Just come here.” Lance swallowed slightly and walked over to the bed. He sat down gingerly on the side Keith wasn't on and heard a small snort from Keith. He was blushing. He knew he was blushing. That state wasn't helped when warm hands pulled him down, and galaxy eyes stared sleepily into his own. Keith's lips were curled slightly and Lance felt frozen. Keith was the one that pulled the blankets over them and turned off the bedside light.
Lance lay there stiff as a board unsure of what to do. He wanted with all his being to reach out and pull Keith into an embrace but Keith wasn't his to cuddle. He heard a soft sigh and warmth was pressed up against him. Keith's face was pressed up against Lance's chest and he felt his breath stutter. Keith made a happy, sleepy sound and said “Missed this. Missed you.” Then after a quiet pause “Broke up with him today.”
Lance was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to sleep with the thrill that went through him like a live wire at Keith's words. He reached out and pulled Keith tight against him, moving his head so his face was buried in Keith's hair a grin on his lips as he kissed the top of Keith's head.
“Night.” Keith mumbled.
“Good night.” Lance whispered to the already slumbering pilot.
Waking with Keith in his arms for the second time Lance smiled contentedly. This felt so right, and last night he'd said he'd missed Lance, that he'd broken it off with Poole. Lance felt hope coursing through him.
He didn't know how long he stared at the man as he slept but Keith eventually began to stir. Groggy purple-blue-gray eyes blinked up at him, soft and warm. He mumbled something incomprehensible and curled in closer to Lance. Lance chuckled softly and pulled away, adoring the grumpy noise Keith made in response.
“Come on sleepy head. Shay told me that once you wake up you need to stay awake or you won't sleep tonight. Keith huffed out a breath, obviously unwilling to stay awake. Lance reached out and tilted Keith's face up by the chin so he could see his eyes again.
“Besides we need to talk.”
Keith processed those words slowly but eventually nodded. With a look of determination he pushed himself up into a seated position and growled in disgust as his arms wobbled.
“God… whatever they dosed me with sucks, I feel like there's a block between my brain and my body. It's worse than when I was dead on my feet yesterday.”
Lance let himself admire the half naked man before sitting upright himself. He noticed the appreciative look in the other pilots eyes as he took in Lance's own half naked state. A happy sound came from him and Lance raised an eyebrow.
“See something you like?” He asked teasingly.
Keith had a soft smile as he responded “Nope. See something I love.”
Lance felt gut punched. When he recovered he threw himself forward tackling Keith. The other man laughed and protested as his arms gave out and he was smashed unceremoniously into the mattress. Lance manipulated the other's body so he was lying flat on his back instead of awkwardly half turned into the mattress.
“You love me.” Lance was grinning hugely. Keith nodded. “Good.” And Lance leaned down and kissed him, deep and long, savoring his taste after so long. He broke the kiss and Keith made a noise of protest trying to chase Lance's lips. Lance kept him pinned and said “I love you too.”
Tears welled in Keith's eyes and he tried to turn his head away from Lance. Lance used that to blow a raspberry on his exposed neck. Keith turned back to him, tears forgotten in his outrage. Lance's grin somehow got wider and Keith huffed out an amused noise.
“You are ridiculous.”
“But you love me!” Lance sing-songed happily.
“I do.” Keith looked up at him with shining eyes. “I don't know how you can love me after how fucked up I’ve been… but you were all that kept me sane these past few months.”
Lance wriggled a bit so Keith had his arms back and wasn't quite so squished by his weight. He leaned in and breathed against Keith's neck. “I decided that first morning to wait, to hope that one day you'd be ready and want me back.”
Keith shivered slightly and Lance began kissing him lazily, not with any intent, just exploring that lovely expanse of skin. He really did have an obsession with Keith's neck.
Lance paused what he was doing and pulled back to look Keith in the eyes. “You aren't ready for another relationship.”
Keith made a distressed sound and used his newly freed arms to pull Lance closer. Lance smiled “I know, I know. But you aren't. You were in a damaging relationship for years, you need some time to ground yourself before just jumping into another relationship.”
Keith harrumphed “Can't we just work on it as we go? That's how most people do relationships.”
Lance reached up slowly, watching for a flinch. Keith did when Lance's hand neared his face. Lance pulled it back and nodded to himself. Keith looked guilty and crestfallen. “You don't need to be perfect or fully recovered. There will be things that pop up in a relationship no matter how healthy it is. But you need some time. I think you know that.”
Keith sighed and let his head fall back against the pillows. “Yeah. I do…” he gained a mischievous glint to his eyes. “But my time to figure myself out can start Monday. We can have the weekend at least?”
Lance smiled down at him. “That sounds like a good compromise.”
Keith made another of those happy noises and levered himself up to kiss Lance hungrily. Lance let that continue for a while then pulled back. Keith gave a frustrated growl, eyes blazing.
“Come on, time to get up and get some breakfast.”
Keith moaned and wiggled provocatively “But I want you…” he whined and Lance froze, mind going down a “R” rated path for a moment, then he leveled a look at Keith, who was trying to look innocent.
“You'll have to try harder than that. I know what you're really after. You want to go back to sleep after.”
Keith giggled and Lance grinned, then Keith looked up at him with that mischievous look and said. “I suppose I can try harder.” He leaned up close to Lance's ear and whispered “Did you know that ever since that night, every time I've had sex I imagined it was you?”
Lance shuddered. Nope he hadn't known that. But, God was he glad he did now. He reined himself back in and scrambled quickly off Keith and out of the bed. He heard Keith cursing softly as he made his way to the kitchen. Keith followed after him glowering slightly. Lance pulled him in close and said “We have the entire day, don't be so impatient.”
Keith, in an act of extreme maturity, stuck his tongue out.
“So, important things first. Where's the coffee?”
Keith gave one of his huffing laughs. “I don't own any. I don't particularly care for it.”
Lance gaped, trying to process those words. “No… Coffee…” Nope his brain was not computing. “What kind of heathen are you?”
Keith shrugged. “Shiro agrees with you. The fact that I'm in the military and not addicted to caffeine is more than a minor miracle.”
Lance shook his head. “We need to get dressed and go out. I don't have blood I have coffee and I will die without it.”
Keith’s eyes were laughing but his face was deadpan “Well, I'd hate for you to die before I got what I wanted from you. We should get breakfast too, I don't wanna cook.”
Lance ruffled Keith's hair. “Sounds good. We can grocery shop for the rest of the weekend, stop by my place to pick up some things, then come back here and not have to leave until Monday.”
Pidge groaned loudly and dropped her head onto the table with a loud thunk. “Why is the pining between you two worse now?”
Lance grinned at his frustrated friend “Because we aren't bothering to hide the fact that we are mutually pining.”
Pidge raised her head and leveled a glare at him. “I don't understand how you two are mutually pining. You know you want each other, just date and put yourselves out of my misery.”
Lance raised an eyebrow. “Didn't realize you were such a romantic Pidgey.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “The sexual tension between you two is super annoying! Especially since you aren't exactly good at keeping your hands off him. It's such a weird dichotomy and makes my head hurt.”
Lance shrugged. “He needs some time. He’ll let me know when he's ready. Then we’ll go from handsy with sexual tension to one of those gooey couples you groan at.”
Pidge groaned. “I hope for better from Keith. The guy was in a secret relationship for years…”
“But that relationship wasn't with me.” Lance said smugly. “And I still don't get how that asshat kept quiet about it. Keith is beyond amazing and deserves to have his partner brag about him.”
Pidge gave Lance a measuring look. “You know he thinks you're pretty awesome too right?”
Lance snorted. “Yup. I know. He's actually better than you'd think at giving compliments, he's so blunt you know that he believes absolutely what he's saying. I promise, I'm over the damage Nyma dealt me.”
Pidge nodded. “Good, cause you were always too good for that bitch.”
Lance smiled. “She's the reason I know Keith needs time, jumping into another relationship doesn't let you deal with the damage, even in relatively pleasant mutual breakups.”
Pidge sighed “Fiiiiiine. But it's still really annoying.”
Lance's grin became predatory “If you wanna talk about annoying, how about Hunk and his continued refusal to acknowledge his feelings for Shay.”
Pidge nodded. “Okay, I'll give you that's more annoying than the you-and-Keith drama. Maybe we should talk Shay into making the first move.”
Lance jumped to his feet. “Pidge you little genius!” He exclaimed. “That should work! She's got to be sick of waiting for him! Let's go invite her for coffee and start hinting.”
Pidge's grin was devilish. “Hell yeah, I’m in!”
Keith was curled up in Lance's lap on Keith's couch, which wasn't uncomfortable at all the sly little minx, watching a movie. Lance was idly stroking Keith's side not really paying attention to the movie, more interested in the warm body he was cuddling. Keith looked up at him with happy, sleepy eyes and said “Hey. Wanna go out on a date next Friday?”
Lance raised an eyebrow “Sure you're ready?”
Keith nodded firmly. “Before you ask, my psychologist agrees that I'm more grounded in myself. I’m tired of our weird limbo, I want you Lance. I want you as my partner. We'll figure the rest out together like any other couple.”
Lance had to do a bit of awkward maneuvering to kiss Keith, but he managed it. “Then yes. I'd love to go out on a date next Friday. And I'd love to be your partner.”
Keith's smile was radiant as they gazed into one another's eyes. “You realize you have to plan the date since you asked me, right?”
Keith snorted “Yup. Already got it planned. It's going to blow you away.”
Lance cocked his head to the side “That sounded like a challenge. I'll have you know when it's my turn to plan our date I'm going to blow you away even further.”
Lance knew he'd never grow tired of Keith's unrestrained laughter.