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[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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[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.

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

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.]

[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.

[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.

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.

[So despite himself, Keith is fighting a grin as Lance very blatantly ditches their various minders and entourage and he quite happily lets himself be pulled along. And he looks over at Lance startled by, well, the honesty. But hey okay Keith is quick to nod in full agreement.]

Ugh. I know. I felt more like their prisoner than someone being escorted. Like they think I don't know how to behave in public.

[He kind of does. Sometimes he chooses not to. It's complicated.]

Right? Seriously. Alright, so maybe I'm not exactly the paragon of proper behavior, but I don't need Coran following me around everywhere to make sure I'm acting like a prince should act.

[A slight huff, before he realizes... Oh. Okay. This is his arranged husband to be, not just a friend of his.]

...right, then.

[...not as expected at all. Keith's ears twitch a little before he can stop them. Huh. So...

Then maybe is it okay if he says something like,] Proper is overrated anyway.

[Way overrated. And Keith is bad about it. He tends to get led around by the reactive little heart that he wears on his sleeve... and okay maybe the temper he's still working on getting a hold of. Emotions are hard.]

It really, really is.

[He allows himself to relax a little bit, giving a bit of a smirk. Maybe this guy won't be too awful? Maybe? Hopefully?]

So, Lord Keith...tell me a little about yourself.

I mean... [An awkward shrug from someone clearly not used to being asked that. And maybe he'd get defensive about it and snap at Lance if well, he's just a little hopeful that this Altean Prince isn't going to be like what he thought he would.]

For one thing... it's Keith. Lord sounds weird. I don't like it.

[It's probably something he took a lot of crap for when he was young.]

I don't know what you'd want to know.

Keith, then. And...I don't know. Hobbies? Favorite color? This is our first date, Keith, you can't let me go into this completely blind.

Favorite color?

[Does that even really matter. And normally this emo boy would probably say black or RED LIKE BLOOD but just now looking at Lance and getting a little distracted by those eyes he blurts out,] Blue.

[Wait. No okay.] Does this count as a date? We're already betrothed.

[This is a formality at best. Right?]

But... I guess. I like flying. ...what about you?

Huh, what do you know. Blue is mine too. Maybe we're meant to be after all.

[It's said as a joke, though there's some bitterness in it that he can't fully hide.]

Let's count it as one, since we're not married until tomorrow. As for me... I also like flying, very, very much. Aside from that? Playing instruments. Dancing. Marksmanship. Having a good time.

[Keith is terrible at all those things Lance. Except flying. He's excellent at flying. But he's not exactly musical. ...or good at having a good time.

And he certainly didn't miss the bitterness in that joke.

A frown.]

You don't want this.

[It's not accusatory so much as he's realizing it, and turning the thought over in his head.]

[The statement, simple as it is, causes Lance to freeze in his spot. ...Damnit, he wasn't supposed to be this ridiculously obvious about it. This was exactly the kind of thing he was supposed to be avoiding!]

You've nothing to be concerned about, Pr--...Keith. I fully intend to enter this marriage.

Yeah, but that isn't what I said anyway.

[Intending to. Obeying. Those sorts of things, they're really different than wanting, right?

Keith hesitates, frowning and glancing to the side.]

It's fine. I wouldn't blame you for not wanting it.

[Keith knows what he is, little more than a nobody who happens to have connections enough to the emperor that someone had to figure out something to do with him.]

Look, it's...

[He trails off. It definitely would go against all he's had drilled into his head to just blab to his husband-to-be about how he loathes the idea of an arranged marriage. This is the one thing that he apparently can do for his planet, and if he screws it up, well. What would his father think? What would his people think? Lance is tired of feeling useless as it stands.

But the fact that his only use seems to be to be married off isn't exactly a huge confidence booster, either.]

It's not you. I mean, we just met, you haven't been a total brute and I don't think you are as far as I can tell. I just kind of got hit in the face with the whole arranged marriage thing pretty recently and I'm still getting my head around it.

[Trying to figure out a way to accept it, for everyone's sake.]

I guess... I guess I know how that feels.

[Keith mutters, and maybe just a bit of the defensiveness slips from his posture. If Lance is worried about blabbing, maybe he shouldn't be so much, since the honesty of it is putting Keith as close to "at ease" as he usually is around people he doesn't know.

Or, you know, people in general.]

...did you think I was going to be a total brute?

[That's... weirdly funny. Just because the best he can manage to get people to think about him at home is "quite a bit of rage for such a small container" so.]

No! I mean... I know Galra can tend to be, uh, rough around the edges, no offense. And part of me was fearing the worst when it came to this.

[He gives him a slightly awkward, sheepish smile.]

But you really don't seem like a bad person.

Depends who you ask.

[Keith admits. Most people would be happy to tell Lance how much trouble he is and how he's not worth any of it. But Keith has gotten used to that refrain by now. ...and even that sheepish smile on Lance's face, well... Keith thinks he'd like to see him smiling more.

A plan forms.]

You said you like flying, right?

[And flying is one of Keith's favorite things. So therefore.] Want to get out of here, for a while?

[He's a little surprised by the question, but a grin starts to form on Lance's face.]

Quiznak yes. What do you have in mind?

[Whoops, okay, a prince isn't supposed to curse, but.]

The ship I came in has a couple short range fighters in its hangar. We could borrow one.

[And by the grin on Lance's face, Keith has decided it was the right question to ask. ...more so by the curse. Cute. Altean cursewords are so mild and adorable apparently.

There's a beginning of a grin on Keith's face too as he snatches up Lance's hand and starts leading him back towards where his ship docked]

Ever flown a Galran fighter?

[Because if not, Keith will show him.]

ALTEAN LANCE/GALRA KEITH ARRANGED MARRIAGE AU

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