lonered | (no subject)

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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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[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.]

[Oh, heck. Lance is already liking this guy already. He can't even bring himself to complain about the sudden hand holding as he follows along.]

No, but that'd better be an invitation to teach me.

What else would it be?

[Keith glances back at him. Come on, little prince, stay with the program here. But there's an excited light flaring in bright violet eyes. This... is so much better than wandering around with a stuffy boring royal nodding as facts about architecture or gardening.

He slows as they approach, voice low.]

Most of my... er... escorts are probably getting settled in. There'll be a sentry by the ship, so we'll just have to slip by it. We can just say I want to show you a star chart or something.

Sounds good to me. And I'm good at being stealthy! You have no idea how many times I've snuck out of the castle. It's basically an art.

[He tries to keep his voice low as well, though he definitely is excited.]