(no subject)

[lonered]

[for the_tailor]



[It's... it's been a while. That's really the only thought Keith can safely consider as the mission begins. The Blade and Voltron collaborate, of course, but they've been running in different parts of the galaxy, trying to maximize what resources they have. So it's been quite a while since he's seen the others, since he's been back to the Castle or even closer than a brief video call across the lightyears.

He's had a lot of time to think, really, a lot of time to himself to ruminate on thoughts that he tries his very best to bat away. Thoughts that are wrapped up in emotions and feelings that Keith doesn't really know how to untangle at all. Not surprising. It's never really been his strong suit. As intense as his emotions can be, as volatile, they tend to get the better of him rather than he of them. It's the same old story.

And maybe that's why, he realizes, he always reacted so strongly to Lance. It was too much, too complicated, to try to unravel the varying feelings the other boy drew out in him -- exasperation and confusion, sure, but something warmer and softer, in those rare and precious moments when they were drowning in their own manufactured tension. After some time apart he's finally realized where that tension comes from, on his side.

Which makes things way too complicated. Because how the hell is he supposed to deal with having feelings for Lance, falling for Lance, when Lance... well. When he's watched Lance literally flirt his way through the universe girl by girl. But here's Keith and his stupid traitor heart feeling this way anyway.

He's torn, therefore, when it's him and Lance sent off in the Red Lion on this particular joint mission. Part of him has missed the other so much it's a relief to see him again. Part of him is so twisted up that he doesn't know which way to go. So he focuses on the mission. He's quieter than usual, even. Focus. Keep to their orders, keep to what needs to be done. It's fine.

Until the whole thing goes south. They spring an old and unexpected trap -- a mine that emitted some sort of pulse that knocked most of Red's systems straight out. The landing hadn't been pretty, but Lance had managed to set it down in a way that didn't kill them at least. The planet, the outpost, is supposed to be abandoned, at least. Less good is how chilly is it, and with Red disabled, well, it's getting chillier and chillier. At least they've got the beacon working. Eventually help will come, but it could be a while. And in the meantime... they're alone.

Together.

Keith has gone for silence, because he doesn't know where to begin.]

Comments

[the_tailor]

[Lance would be lying to himself if he said that with every joint mission between Voltron and the Blade, he hadn't wished to be teamed up with Keith. Despite the lingering antagonism between them and the rivalry that Lance would never let die, it was he who probably took Keith's departure the hardest. It was more than just not having someone to make fun of.

No, it was definitely more than that. It was not having someone to be there, constantly challenging him and forcing him to be better than he thought he could be. It was not having a verbal sparring partner who gave as good as he took. It was not having that awkward but sincere confidence in him that the team needed him.

And lately, he'd come to realize, it was not having someone who made his heart race, his palms sweat, and his mind unable to focus on anything but him. This wasn't like any of Lance's constant crushes. It was something more, and it terrified him as much as it excited him.

Of course, out of all the people in the universe he'd end up falling in love with, it was Keith Kogane. Life had a way of laughing at him like that.

It was that fear and excitement that lay heavy in his stomach when he met up with the boy in question for the latest joint mission. It wasn't to be anything difficult, but nothing ever seemed to go according to plan.

The beacon's working, so all they can do is wait. And wait.

Lance can't take any of the silence anymore.]

Sooooooooo... Wanna play twenty questions? Eye spy?

[lonered]

...we're in a lion. The only thing you can spy is... the lion. Parts of the lion.

[Well, death of the party and fun-hater mode is definitely activated now. But still, Keith is weirdly relieved that they broke the silence, and he turns towards Lance to face him, almost surprised.]

I'm not great at those sorts of games anyway.

[Give him something with a little bit of physical skill and a competition and he could handle it. Social icebreakers? Impossible. They may as well have been written in a different language.]

...we could just... talk.

[Not that Keith is good at that either. At all.] I mean, just that it's been a while. So... stuff must've happened, right?

[the_tailor]

Look, there's the grass! And, uh... Rocks?

[Alright, maybe even party pooper Keith has a point here. He does raise an eyebrow when Keith suggests to talk, though, because...huh. Usually he's happier brooding than he is talking.]

Yeah, it's been a while. Uhhh, yeah... Things are sort of routine. Except for that jerk Lotor. It sucks having him onboard.

[lonered]

[Keith's expression flattens at that. Lance, you've proven his point expertly. Thank you. Keith can't help but look a little relieved when Lance actually starts talking and doesn't give him a hard time for suggesting it in the first place.]

...yeah. I mean, his intel has all checked out, and it's given us a big advantage and all, but I don't know if I get his angle.

[Or if he trusts him yet. But that shouldn't be shocking. Keith isn't the trusting type.]

[the_tailor]

Neither do I. I mean, it's weird going from the Galra empire being our sworn enemy to us being all chummy with their new emperor. Plus, he loves strutting around the place with his stupid supermodel hair and ooh look at me I can totally make Allura go ga ga over me, what an idiot. Seriously, though, I bet he's got something planned. He has to. I just can't figure out what yet.

[He grumbles and kicks a rock near his foot.]

[lonered]

Really weird. But... it's given us the break we need. The Blade was sort of at its breaking point, I think.

[They'd had a lot of hard missions, lost operatives. It's not a bad thing they have some time to catch their breath, even if Lotor may have some motivation that they haven't discovered just yet.

Though his lips to press into a line for a moment.]

...are you actually jealous? Of Allura and Lotor?

[So. Still pining for the princess. Well. That makes sense. Doesn't make the sudden twist in his chest any more pleasant to deal with though. Maybe talking was a bad idea. ...and since Keith has no pokerface at all, it's hard to hide that fact.]

[the_tailor]

I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous? Please, if anything, I'm just ticked that apparently all a person needs to get the princess' attention is to have purple skin, white hair, and a stick up your butt. Lot of time wasted there, let me tell you that.

[Sure, Lance still harbors a lingering crush on Allura, but it's nothing more than that. Even with his constant flirtations with her, he's honestly given up a long time ago. And with Keith in his heart now? It'd feel wrong to pursue anyone else at the moment, even if he knows there's no way Keith could feel the same.]

[lonered]

That sounds pretty jealous.

[Which in turn... makes Keith jealous? Oh. That's a terrible feeling. He doesn't like it. It's sharp and heavy and cold and he's got to stop it. It's stupid to be jealous when he has no real right to. Or reason to.

Even if he has these stupid feelings, there's no way that Lance sees him as anything other than a rival and a terrible hairstyle. He crosses his arms over his chest and shrugs.]

[the_tailor]

Okay, maybe a little jealous... She's way too good for him. But she's also way too good for me.

[That last part comes out a little quieter. He hasn't yet picked up on Keith's internal distress, though his natural empathy will probably notice it eventually.]

Honestly, I think that ship sailed before I even got to the dock.

[lonered]

[Keith doesn't think he's had a moment to breathe or think since he made his way back the Castle of Lions, and then, well, left it for the last time when the ship was sacrificed for the sake of, well, existence. And then managing to bring Shiro back -- the real Shiro, the one that he owed so much of everything to. And then the decision to make their way back to Earth.

Home. Even if space has often felt more like home than Earth ever did. Largely because the people he cares about are here. All of them.

And one of them, well, one of them he very much needs to talk to. It's been years for Keith, after all, since he's seen the other. Years and distance and he's never needed to see him more in his life.

They've contacted the coalition, and currently are being housed on a ship while they work out a plan. So he shows up at the room that Lance has been given, lifts a hand after only a moment's hesitation and knocks at the door. Waiting.]

[the_tailor]

[It's almost comical, in some sort of messed up way, how unprepared Lance feels to actually talk to Keith. The boy who's been such an important facet of his life for years has been out of his grasp for so long, and if he's overheard correctly, even longer for Keith.

To say he's missed him would be an insulting understatement.

He doesn't know yet who's at the door, partially doesn't even care, sitting there trapped in his own thoughts again.]

Yeah, come in.

[lonered]

[In fairness, Keith has no idea how to approach Lance at this point either. But he knows he wants to, even if it's been years for him -- it hasn't been that long for Lance. Keith reminds himself of that, but still. That's complicated in its own way. Keith knows he's changed. What if he's changed too much? What if Lance... doesn't want him?

Now that everything has settled, he's nervous. But avoiding things won't change them, and besides. He wants to see him, to talk to him.

So he opens the door and steps inside, waiting for it to swoosh shut behind him.] Hey.

[the_tailor]

[Speak of the mullet, and he shall appear.

Looking at him, seeing that scar on his face-- Lance can't help but wish that he had been there at Keith's side, to help him in whatever waited on the other end of that wormhole.

But he puts a practiced smile on his face.]

Hey yourself.

[lonered]

[There's so much he could say. That he wants to say. He's sorry for being gone as long as he has, he's missed him, he's got so much to tell him. But all the words stick in his throat. Words have never been his best skill anyway. He's better at action.

So that's what he goes with. Without another word he closes the distance between them and wraps his arms around Lance in an embrace that can't quite hidde the desperation in it. This is different too. He's grown, after all. But not that much. Where he'd been just barely shorter than Lance before, he's just barely taller. It's not enough of a difference that he can't lean close to bury his face in the spot where Lance's neck meets his shoulder and finally speak, words muffled to skin.]

I missed you.

[the_tailor]

[Why does something as simple as Keith being an inch taller than him make him want to crumple? It's not because he's jealous (though he is), but rather that this was Keith, his Keith, who had grown up without him.

Lance puts his arms around Keith, lightly hugging at first, but it soon turns into a near desperate cling. Because it's been so long since they've gotten to embrace like that, even longer for Keith...]

Missed you too.

[lonered]

[Keith is way too relieved when those arms come around him in return. It nearly takes his legs out from underneath him, like suddenly even artificial gravity is too much to withstand. Instead he tightens his hold on Lance, clinging just as much as the other boy is clinging to him. He exhales a breath he didn't know he was holding.

After a moment he forces himself to draw back just enough to seek out Lance's eyes with his own.]

Are you okay? After what happened... you're not hurt?

[They're without the castle's healing pods after all, so they're all making do with patching up whatever injuries they collected during the protracted battle. Keith is mostly covered in bruises himself, but that's his normal state of being.]

[the_tailor]

Please... If death couldn't stop me, some purple psychopath sure as heck wasn't going to. Just... You know, same bumps and bruises like normal for an epic showdown.

[It comes out so easily, casually-- Something Lance still hasn't let himself think about. If he jokes about it, that means it's fine, right? It's his main coping mechanism after all.]

What about you, Mr. Big and Buff?

ALTEAN LANCE/GALRA KEITH ARRANGED MARRIAGE AU

[lonered]

[Technically Keith was never really asked if he wanted this. That wasn't exactly how these things worked. Sure he could have pitched a fit and put up a fuss, but what was the point? The decision had already been made. The best way to ease any remaining tensions between the Galra and Alteans was to secure a symbolic union of their people.

And Keith knows full well that he's the perfect choice, as far as the Empire is concerned -- a noble by birth, but orphaned and basically kept in care with Zarkon and the royal family, and therefore entirely expendable. Disposable even. If anything, he's quite sure some of the staff will be relieved to see him go, given that he's not always the easiest individual to deal with, headstrong and stubborn, strong-willed as he is.

So it makes perfect sense. That doesn't mean he's happy about it.

But regardless, here he is, dressed up and ready, dark and unruly hair not quite tamed, but an attempt was made. His clothes are all shades of purple and black, darker than the pale purple of his skin, than the stripes that line his cheeks (like his mother's, he's told), or than the violet of his eyes (in a background of luminescent yellow). His ship is just about docking on this Altea, where he's to meet his intended, a young Altean prince apparently.

The night before their ceremony.

He's told he should be grateful that he has the chance for the introduction before they're wed. Keith isn't exactly feeling much gratitude.

[the_tailor]

[Since his younger years, Prince Lance of Altea had been a complete and utter romantic at heart. His head was filled with fairy tales and stories of adventure and romance, perils and sacrifices, but all leading to a happy ending where the couple would share their love and be wed. He'd often fantasize about his own wedding one day, standing in the castle with the man or woman he'd fallen deeply in love with. Flowers everywhere, music in the air, everything just...perfect. And he'd be with this love of his for the rest of his life.

Reality wasn't so kind.

Sure, Lance knew he was always the expendable of the siblings. Allura was the crown princess, the next to the throne, the important diplomat and, well, just more important overall person. Lance was the kid who got into trouble too much, who happened to have royal blood but often no noble attitude. He was just kind of...there, of no real use. Until now, that is.

He's all dolled up, light make-up bringing out his features and his striking blue eyes, clothing crisp and white and pale blue, accented with gold. A tiara lays upon his head, gold contrasting the white of his hair.

He doesn't really look all that pleased. How could he, when he's been told that he's to marry a Galran noble? So much for all those romantic dreams. Now he'll be the trophy husband of some purple guy. Joy.

Lance ignores Coran telling him facts about his soon to be husband, eyes firmly upon the floor even as he hears the ship docking.]

[lonered]

[Keith hasn't had a romantic notion in his life -- not really. Oh they're there, but he's spent as long as he can remember, knowing squashing them to bits before they could take root. He's not meant for any of that. Who'd want him that way anyway? He's better off alone, and for the longest time his biggest fantasy is just finding a way to fly away from all of this and never look back. But life is funny anyway.

The ship lands and Keith has to be prompted out of his seat and off. But he manages to be mature enough not to drag his feet, manages to walk and almost look like the young noble he's supposed to be. The expression on his face, though, is sharp, impassive but there's no hiding the building storm that lingers behind violet eyes.

Out, to be greeted by the small welcoming party of Alteans, including his soon-to-be-husband. There's one moment where Keith's eyes widen ever so slightly, a thoroughly unhelpful and ridiculous thought of 'he's beautiful' that he banishes, face working its way into a frown. Then he's nudged (not gently) forward by one of his attendants (his handlers, he thinks dryly) and resigns himself to stepping forward, towards the startlingly pretty Altean.]

Prince Lance.... [He begins, dropping a stiff but proper bow.]

[the_tailor]

[So this is the man he's to belong to for the rest of his life. A part of him that he doesn't particularly like right now pipes up that at least his soon to be husband is nothing short of attractive, pale purple skin and striking amethyst eyes (thinking that makes him realize he's read far too many romance novels), sharp features and overall someone that's very pleasant to look at. Or would be, anyway, if it wasn't for the situation.

As it stands, Lance has to muster up all sense of propriety as he bows as well.]

Lord Keith. It...is a pleasure to meet you.

[Not.]

[lonered]

Oh. Yes. ...it's yeah. A pleasure.

[How do words even work right now? Keith isn't entirely sure. This is such a mess really, and he's being nudged again, with a low growl of remember what we discussed, and he glances over his shoulder with a glare sharp enough to slice, and turns back to Lance very awkwardly offers an arm.]

I... we... should... [This time he's poked with a sword. At least it's sheathed. Then again Keith thinks maybe getting stabbed would be easier than this. Look. Look at this pretty thing. This Prince can't possibly be happy about this. He sighs.] ...get to know each other. Maybe you could give me a tour?

[See? Look how well behaved.]

[the_tailor]

[Mustering up all the lessons on how to behave as a proper royal, he nods before taking Keith's arm. Perhaps, out of the view of their attendants, things might not be so bad? Maybe? He can only hope.]

It'd be my pleasure to show you around. Here... I'll give you a tour of the palace.

[lonered]

[Keith is hoping the same thing because this... nothing in the world could be as awkward as this is, could it? So he nods in agreement. Tour of the palace. Sounds good. And meanwhile at least his entourage looks appeased by the fact that their sometimes rebellious charge is behaving and not causing a scene or making problems.

For his part, Keith finds himself sneaking glances at his fiance, who honestly is entirely too pretty. It's throwing him off. A lot.]

I'll follow your lead.

[the_tailor]

Right! So... Uh. You all can leave us to ourselves. We'll have to get to know each other exclusively as it stands. See ya!

[So maybe not completely perfectly proper. But he quickly tugs Keith along before anyone can say anything else. Once they're far enough and out of view, he takes a deep breath.]

Good, I wasn't about to deal with them babysitting us on top of it all.