lonered | (no subject)

[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.]

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[It's not a bad view, so Keith certainly appreciates it, Lance. Thank you.

He's not exactly nervous, but there is a sort of fluttery anticipation that's twisting around in his stomach at the moment, and he moves to stand.]

Blankets are back here? [He'll... he'll go get those.]

[You're welcome, sweetie.]

Yep. Just toss em down, make them look all nice and comfy. I don't need anything fancy, just as long as my bare ass isn't being banged on cold steel. Or whatever magical metal these girls are made out of it.

[He grabs a small, half empty bottle, stretching and walking back over.]

...romantic.

[Keith deadpans at him, but that's just to hide the continued swarm of butterflies currently doing combat aerial maneuvers in his stomach. He finds the blankets and makes fairly short work of getting them spread out.

Comfy, ish. Anyway.

Sometime they'll have to do this right. In a bed. Soft lighting. Maybe some music? Who knows. Not Keith. But he reaches a hand out towards Lance as he approaches. Beckoning.]

Just wait till I really bring my romance game, mi amor. You'll be swooning.

[He pads over, dropping the bottle onto the blankets before taking Keith's hand and moving in to give him a solid kiss. Not too hard, not desperate, but still deep. This may not be the ideal first time place, but it doesn't mean he can't at least try to put across how terribly deeply he feels for the other boy and make it romantic in that sense.]

...I don't swoon.

[He does blush though, and will be ducking his head to hide the fact that he's doing exactly that right now. Shut up. It's not his fault. Lance is pretty charming okay?? He can admit it.

Also Keith might like the pet name thing more than he will ever admit.

But luckily he does't have to do much thinking because there's Lance and now they're kissing, and that's wonderfully distracting, thank you. Something in Keith eases, and he steps in closer, wrapping an arm around Lance's waist, hand settling at the small of his back.]

You most definitely will be.

[He keeps up the kiss for a good while, taking his time in tasting Keith even with the faint lingering of his own release in his mouth. Stuck as they are right now, he's just treating it like they have all the time in the world. Before long, he's pulling Keith down to the blankets at their feet, seating himself down next to him.]

I'm all yours, gorgeous. Whatever you want...you've got it.

[They do seem to have a fairly good stretch of privacy -- probably more than they'd be likely to get on the Castle anyway, so hey. There's that. And if this is how they're going to pass the time, Keith is all for it.

But Keith lets himself be pulled, scooting closer even as he is.]

All mine, huh?

[Yeah, okay. Keith likes that. A lot.]

All yours. Every inch of me.

[With another small smile, he nuzzles against Keith's jaw. Despite them being naked in a metal lion, he feels oh so very warm, and he loves it.]

Then good.

[The nuzzling is sweet, and Keith lets himself be swayed by it. He leans in to kiss that smile on Lance's face, shifting closer, rising up on his knees to urge Lance to lie back into the blankets.]

And I'm all yours. Fair?

Sounds good to me.

[Lance goes along with it, laying back upon the blankets, looking up at Keith with something akin to awe. Like he really, really can't believe this is happening.]

[Keith can't believe it's happening either. There's no way that he's actually this lucky. For a long moment his gaze just sweeps up and down along Lance, along the whole scene, like he's committing it to memory.]

Wow... you...

[Okay Keith. Try this. Try words. He moves to settle on his knees on the blankets, swallows and manages to get out,] You're beautiful.

Aw, come on... Compared to you...

[He leans in, brushing their lips together. Oh, Lance is going to cherish this night for the rest of his life. He already knows that.]

Compared to me what?

[Keith murmurs, leaning in to meet that kiss, almost shyly now. Okay. So they're actually going to do this.

This is a first for Keith, okay? But he's determined to do it right, to make this good for Lance.]

Compared to you? You're gorgeous. You don't even have to try.

[He smiles and kisses him again, a little firmly this time with purpose. It's a first for Lance as well, but he's more than eager, even if he's a tad nervous.]

[Keith laughs like, okay, that's a pretty great joke, Lance. Gorgeous is definitely not a word for him. Keith knows that; he's been the weird kid with the messy hair for his entire life.

But it's nice that Lance says that anyway.

He leans in to meet that kiss, and then another and another as he shifts closer, urging Lance to lie back on the blankets.]

[Weird kid with messy hair? Okay, so Keith's hair is still totally a mullet, but Lance likes it anyway. And he really does honestly see Keith as absolutely beautiful. He hopes he can get Keith to believe that.

Lance does as asked, reluctantly separating from Keith's lips in order to lay down. He smiles up at him, only a tiny bit nervous. He trusts Keith.]