Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Blaring alarms where invented by the devil himself. That Lance is sure of as he slammed his hand down on the offending device, that threated to drop onto the ground to be lost forever under his bad. Constantly making that stupid ringing noise. 

He would have to move if that was the case. Ditch the entire apartment. 

But that was pre-shower-pre face wash- pre-coffee Lance talking. 

Moving apartments would mean uprooting Rosa, and he wasn't about to do that. At 8 years old she had to deal with quite a bit. 

Her parents got divorced because her father came out as Bi-sexual. Her mother was remarried to an absolute prick named Lotor. Then having to change schools twice due to bullying. Add on to the fact that she lost half her family when Lance came out because his family couldn't handle him being anything but straight. 

Honestly, that little girl deserved more than he could ever give her. 

“Lance~!” Allura. He hasn't even showered yet. Lotor better not be here. He might have to move if that rich bastard entered his apartment. 

“Shh Mom! It's still early!” Rosa bless her heart tried to whisper.

Lance just shook his head with a smile and grabbed a shirt, heading for the kitchen. 

“Don't worry my little flower, I'm up.” He said moving about to start coffee and eggs. “Have you eaten yet?” 

“No, Mom has a meeting to go to,” Rosa said sliding into one of the bar stools. 

“Yes, I'm sorry for showing up earlier than usual. I was going to text you.” Allura said. 

Always so beautiful no matter what time of day it was. If he could have stayed with her forever he most certainly would have. 

“It's fine. I have a free day anyway.” Lance said waving off her concern. “Coffee?” He held up the fresh pot before pouring his own. 

“If you don't mind. I was in such a rush this morning.” She huffed. “Someone in our western branch decided they would hire not one hacker but three!” 

Lance hummed and set up one of the 3 travel mugs she left at his apartment, for emergencies just like this. 

“Oof. How long do you think it will take to fix?” Lance asked pouring the milk and sugar just like she preferred. She would rather have it as a milkshake, but Lotor frowned upon that. 

“Hopefully it will be fixed by the end of the week, but I never know until I see the damage,” Allura replied shaking her head, and hummed happily at the coffee as he handed it over. “Lotor is going to be away all week for a work trip, I know it's not your week but do you mind taking Rosa?”

“Not at all.” He moved into a shitty 3 bedroom apartment so that he could always have her over. He was very thankful that Allura was understanding and fought for him to have the right to spend time with Rosa, to have her stay with him. Even when the court thought he wasn't the best option.

“Wonderful! I will have someone drop an overnight bag off for her later today. I know she has clothes here, so it will just be school uniforms.” Allura leaned down to kiss Rosa on the cheek which made the little girl squeal with giggles. 

“What about dinner on Thursday?” Rosa asked. Their big fancy family dinner was every Thursday. Lance could never get Rosa on Thursdays because of it. Stupid Lotor.

“Oh….well Lotor won't be around this week, but I will try to make time for just you and me, alright?” Allura said pushing her hair to the side. 

“Can Pappa come?” Rosa asked looking to Lance hopefully. 

Allura hesitated, Lance was not meant for the rich high-class restaurants Allura went to. Lotor didn't even like him dropping Rosa off at her boarding school because his car had a bit of rust on it. Luckily Lance didn't care much for the fancy restaurants anyway.

“Nah, I am ok here. I wouldn't know what fork goes with which knife anyway.” Lance waved off the offer. 

“I could show you!” His daughter insisted. 

“But then you would miss mommy-daughter time. It's very important after all.” Lance replied as he prepped the eggs. 

Rosa huffed. “Fine. But we are doing a mani-petty Friday after school!” 

Lance chuckled, “You very lucky I have a standing reservation.” He poked her in the nose and smiled at Allura. 

Allura gave him a sad smile and then nodded towards the door. 

“Alright little flower, I have to go talk to Mom about some adult stuff. Watch the eggs for me alright?” He said as he clicked the stove off. 

Rosa nodded and locked her eyes on the pan as he stepped away. 

“I'm sorry,” Allura said quietly when they got to the door. “She shouldn't have asked that.” 

“No, it's fine. She was probably trying to get us back together.” Lance rubbed the back of his neck. 

Allura sighed and then dropped her forehead on his shoulder. “Why couldn't I have made this work?” It wasn't the first time he had heard it. 

After all, she divorced him. Even after he told her that he still loved her just the same.

“It's fine. I know it was hard on you.” Lance replied rubbing her arms. 

“But you lost everything! Your family, your wife, and the courts almost took your daughter away!” She wouldn't cry, Allura was too strong for that, at least at the moment. When she got home later tonight she would. 

“But they didn't. And you are with someone who can give you the world. I could have never done that.” She chuckled and gently smacked his arm as she pulled back. 

“You hate Lotor.” She said. 

Lance shrugged not denying it. “But you love him. And he gives you both a life you deserve. I could never compete with that even if I tried.” He nudged her a bit. “Go on. Kicks someone's ass.”

She laughed and nodded, before going to her toes and kissing his cheek. “I will always care for you. And Lotor will never be able to take our friendship away.”

Well, he tried and failed. Lance thought. The only thing Lotor couldn't control was Allura’s friendship with Lance, and Lance would forever hold that over Lotor’s head. No matter how petty it made him seem. 

Allura pulled back and gave one last goodbye to Rosa before stepping out to go deal with the mess one of her underlings made. 

He took a deep breath and then went back to Rosa, quickly clicking on the stove again. “Look at that! The eggs didn't burn under your watch full eye!” 

Rosa giggled. “Can we have Nutella on toast as well?” 

Lance hummed and pulled open a cabinet. “You in luck little lady. I have some left.” 

She cheered and he set the Nutella on the counter. 

Once breakfast was over, he sent her off to her room to set her things down while he showered. He would do his full routine when he got back from dropping her off at school. Perks of working from home. Well, perks of being a writer. He could work anywhere. 

Once showered and dressed, he knocked on Rosa’s door. 

“Ready for school?” She nodded and grabbed her backpack.

He grabbed his keys, wallet, and phone before they were off. They made it down to the parking garage where he kept Blue, his four-door sedan, he had since he graduated college. Can't get a new car when your family owns half the dealerships that are in your price range after they disowned you after all. 

No matter, Ol’ Blue has been through her fair share with him and he wasn't going to give her up that easily. 

They made it to drop off just in time. Luckily they weren't the last ones as Lance helped Rosa out of her seat, just as a bright red motorcycle pulled up behind them.

“Sammy!” Rosa called out happily when she saw who was getting dropped off. 

The little boy pulled his little helmet off and grinned at her. “Hi, Rosa!” 

The man he was with got off the bike and helped the kid get out of his tiny riding gear. Honestly, it was very cute. 

Rosa waited patiently for her friend before running up to him once he was out of his leathers. 

“Good morning, Mr. Kogan.” She greeted and Lance eyed the rider. 

“What have I told you about calling me that?” He groaned removing his helmet and suddenly Lance wished he had been earlier or later or told Allura he couldn't take Rosa. Cause damn. 

Lance did not need a hot motorcycle guy running around his head. Not not. Not ever. 

“Mr. Shiro says its polite,” Rosa replied. 

“And he is right. Just call me Keith. Like I have told you countless times.” The man said. 

Sammy grinned at Rosa. “Daddy always says to be polite.”

Keith rolled his eyes and then nudged both of them with the side of his foot gently. “Alright trouble makers go to class. You are late enough as it is.” 

“Will you be picking me up?” Sammy asked hopefully. 

“Your Daddy will be. I have a late night.” 

Sammy looked disappointed but nodded and waved his goodbye. 

So Keith’s kid was cute and he was partnered. Because of course, he was. Lance huffed and went around to his driver's seat once Rosa was in the school.

He went to start up Blue, but of course, she choose that exact moment to crap out and not turn over. 

“Please just be the battery.” He muttered popping the hood and tossing it open. When a billow of gray smoke came out at him. No, not the battery. 

He coughed and waved away the smoke before going to his phone. He would have to call a tow to pick him up. And would never hear the end of it from Lotor. Just what he needed. 

“You alright?” Keith asked helmet under one arm leaning on his left leg, his head tilted to one side, looking like a cute lost puppy. 

Lance wanted to scream. 

“Car won't start. Have to call a tow.” He said holding up his phone. 

“I can look at it.” Keith offered. “I know a thing or two about cars.” 

Lance eyed him but it was either gorgeous Keith or call a tow to the shop Hunk worked at. “I have a buddy who works at a shop…..but if you want to look at it till he gets here I won't stop you.”

Keith nodded and went to his bike. “Let me move my bike to a parking spot. I'll be right back.” 

Lance brought his phone to his ear as watched Keith move the bike to the parking lot. 

“Red’s Automotive, this is Shea speaking, how can I help you?” Shea, the amazing Shea. He loved her so much. 

“Hey Shea, it's Lance.” 

“Oh hey, Lance! Looking to schedule an oil change? It's about that time.” Lance inwardly winced. 

“Uh no. Not this time. Blue kind of died on me at Rosa’s school. Was hoeing Hunk could come tow her to the shop.” Lance replied as Keith came back, already under the hood looking it over. 

“Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. I'll send Hunk over right away. The boss isn't in yet, but Matt’s here.” She was probably working out how many customers they had on the document that morning.

“I can call someone else….” He offered. 

“Don't you dare! They will charge you an arm and a leg!” Shea hissed at him, and then shouted Hunk’s name and spoke rapidly away from the phone. “He will be there in 15.”

“Thank you, Shea.” Then hung up. 

He went up to Keith nervous about what he was going to find. “Something easy?” 

But the grimace on Keith’s face showed no it was not easy. “I can't tell. It has to be lifted. But I think it might be a burst oil line.” He held up his hand revealing a bit of oil on his fingers. 

Lance groaned. “Great. Well, thank you for looking at it. It will give my buddy a starting point. He will be here in 15.” 

Keith shrugged. “I can stay put. I have no place to be.” He whipped his hand on a towel he must have had from the bike. 

“Oh, you don't have to.” Lance waved him off. 

“Two security guards are watching us right now. I know they won't mess with me.” Keith replied. 

Lance looked around him and gulped when he saw the security guards. Both of whom had a problem with Lance.

“This day just keeps getting worse.” Lance moaned dropping his head on the roof of the car. 

“I Keith by the way.” Keith offered up his hand. 

“Lance.” Lance shook it. At least he had someone pretty to look at while his world was ending. 

Lotor would use this as the perfect reason to cut all ties with Lance.

“You drop Rosa off a lot?” Keith asked. 

“Her mom typically does it, but the husband tries to avoid me doing it,” Lance replied shrugging. “How bout you?”

“Only when Shiro leaves too early for work.” Great, Lance didn't even know this Shiro and he was already jealous of him. 

“Well, the bike setup is cute.” Lance pointed out with a cheeky grin. 

Keith snorted. “I wouldn't let him ride with me if Sam didn't have even half that stuff.” 

“I've always wanted a bike. But I think I would fall over the first day.” Lance said shaking his head. 

Keith looked ready to say something when the yellow tow truck honked and Hunk waved from the front seat. 

“Hunk! My man!” Hunk got out and then paused, looking at Keith.

Keith gave a small wave. “Oil lines busted.” 

“Again!?” Hunk rushed to the engine and groaned. “Lance, buddy, it might be time.”

“Hell no! Do you have any idea what I would have to go through to get a new car!?” Lance growled.

“Lance, this is the 5th oil line this year. And last year it was the breaks catching on fire. And the year before that-”

“Ok! Ok! I get it!” He huffed. “Just can you get her on the road for a couple more months?” 

Hunk rubbed the back of his neck. “I can certainly try. But I think it's time you start looking for a new car. I’ll load her up and then we can go to the shop.” 

Lance nodded and grabbed his things in front of the front seat. And anything else he couldn't leave behind. 

He knew the drill, it would be a whole day process to repair the hose. 

Keith stepped away giving Hunk space to work. “I’ll um head off then.” 

Lance nodded. “Thank you for sticking around.” 

Keith nodded and waved to Hunk who called something that Lance didn't hear before the motorcycle started up. 

Once Blue was loaded Lance slid into the front seat and dropped his head in his hands. 

“Shea can bring you home.” Hunk offered. 

“I have to pick Rosa up later.” He muttered. “Allura has some big security breach.” 

Hunk winced beside him. “I'll see if Shea can help you pick Rosa up.” 

“I can just order a Lyft service or something,” Lance muttered. 

“I'll talk to the boss. See what we can do.” Hunk replied patting him on the knee. 

When they got to the shop, Lance trudged in and sat in the first empty seat, Shea would drive him home, but she needed to get approval from the shop owner.

Lance wasn't having a good day. And he knew it literally could not get worse when his phone started blaring the impearl march ring tone. 

He groaned and the older man next to him chuckled. “Wife calling?”

“Ex-wife husband.” He replied as he hit the answer button. “I'm not in the mood to be yelled at Lotor.” 

The posh man huffed. “Your car broke down in front of Rosa’s school. I got a call.” 

“And I'm at the shop now getting it fixed. I have rides to pick Rosa up. You go back to whatever bullshit retreat you're at.” Lance growled out. 

“Look Lance I know you don't like me,” Lance snorted, “But I do want what is best for both Rosa and Allura.” 

“If you-” He stopped took a deep breath and looked to Shea, “I need to step out a moment.” She nodded and he stepped out of the shop. 

“If you think you going to take them away from me, you have another fucking thing coming.” Lance snarled. He had never really cared for Lotor or his family’s money. 

“Lance, please calm down, Allura made that very clear the last time we had this argument,” Lotor replied. “I can get you a new car. No strings attached. It will not be high-end, but I know the reason why you can't get a new car is because-”

“You know jack shit!” Lance yelled. 

“Fine. But I know you can't get a new car. Please let me have it dropped off at your apartment, and rid of that old one you have been so desperate to keep alive.” Lotor replied. 

Lance was about to snarl at him again, tell him where he could shove the new car, but Lotor spoke up again. 

“Allura told me to get it for you. Your name is on the lease, I just need a few papers signed and it's all yours. She knows how much of a strain that car has been. We picked out a newer, more updated version, the same color. It's more gas efficient and will take one more thing off your plate.” Lotor explained.

“Allura signed off on it?” Lance asked. 

“Yes. I am sure she was simply in too much of a hurry this morning to tell you. I would have waited but after I got the phone call……” 

Lance sighed and rubbed his face. “I still don't like you.” 

“Something we can agree on other than keeping Rosa and Allura safe, then.” And with that, Lotor hung up.

“That looked rough.” Lance took a deep breath and looked to see Keith standing there. His biker jacket is now replaced with a mechanics over a shirt. 

“Ex-wife husband,” Lance muttered. Keith raised an eyebrow. “It's just about as complicated as it sounds. What are you doing here anyway?”

“Oh….um I work here?” Keith offered up. 

“Are you sure? That sounded like a question.” Lance snipped back. 

“Well, I own the place.” Keith replied with a shrug, “But I also like working on the cars.” 

Lance started at him. “So when you said you knew a thing or two about cars…..”

“I know a thing or two about cars.” Keith gave him a small smile. “And we found a much bigger issue with your car than originally thought. The underside of your engine block is wearing away due to rust.” 

“Well, it's a good thing I have a new car waiting for me.” He said bitterly. “Someone will be by soon to take Ol’ Blue to the junkyard.” 

It was miserable losing his car, he was going to replace her a few years back, but with everything that happened, it became impossible to do. 

“Really?” Keith asked skeptically. 

“Really.” Lance shook his head. 

“Does this have anything to do with the complicated phone call?” Lance shrugged and then nodded. “Aw, well I can give you a lift home.”

“Shea was going to….” Lance said unsure. 

Keith shrugged. “I have to head home anyway, and according to Shea you are on my way home.”

Lance eyed him. First Lotor now this guy? Was it a mess with Lance's day? That had to be a holiday right? 

Although the prospect of riding that bike behind the hottest man alive…..

“Alright. Thank you.” Lance agreed.

He may have just met Keith but he could have sworn his eyes lit up just a bit. That was weird, this guy has a boyfriend at the very least possibly a husband, definitely a kid. And he seemed happy to give Lance, practically a stranger, a ride home? 

A…ride….home….in close corners….on a motorcycle.

Lance could feel his cheeks heating up and his ears starting to flush. 

Stop it! He scolded himself. You can not do this yourself!

“Let me tell Hunk to lower the car so you can empty it out and then I can take you home.” Then he paused. “Though I don't think all your stuff will fit on my bike…” And was that disappointment?? “Maybe Shea should take you home….” That was a disappointment.

“Hunk! Hunk can bring it over! Or I can come back. It's not like I have anything super important that I need right away anyway.” Lance said. Keith looking disappointed was just like when he told Rosa she couldn't have an ice cream bar after dinner. And he hated that look. It made him feel like the bad guy. 

Lotor was the bad guy. Not him!

It took him about 10 minutes to unload the car, most of it was trash anyway, and put things in bags to place in the back of the Hunks truck. 

“We had a good time girl.” Lance ran his hand along the frame. Tears welled up in his eyes. “But you took care of me, and I tried hard to take care of you. But unfortunately, the time has come.” 

He sniffed and stepped away.

“You ok?” Keith asked eyeing him with concern.

“Yup, I'm good. Ol’ Blue was just my first car. And we have been through a lot together.” Keith eyed him but shrugged. 

“Here.” Keith handed him a helmet. 

Lance was about to follow when Hunk grabbed him by the arm and with a mischievous look leaned in. 

“Save a horse……ride a cowboy.” And then pushed Lance towards Keith, completely red. He slammed the helmet on to prevent Keith from seeing the deep blush but sent Hunk the finger. 

He had known Hunk too long if he was already picking up on Lance’s developing crush on Keith. He had known the guy for less than 2 hours how was he already developing a crush!? 

Lance might have to kill Hunk. Lance’s secrets will go to Hunk's grave and then his own. 

But when Shea winked at him, he knew it was going to be a grave for two. 

“Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before?” Keith asked tossing his leg over the seat.

“I rode….a horse once.” The blush deepened. Causing Hunk to burst into laughter having been in hearing range. He had to go back into the side. 

“Well, it's not the same,” Keith muttered giving Hunk an odd look. “Just hold on to me and try to follow my movements. So that we don't tip over.” 

“I hate you.” Lance hissed and got on as Keith instructed. 

Keith chuckled, “I'm sure I can fix that.” 

Was that flirting!? Lance didn't get the chance to figure it out before Keith pushed the bike out of the parking lot. Forcing Lance to hold on tightly. 

Lance eventually felt comfortable enough to offer some sort of directions, but Keith either wasn't paying attention or didn't care because they ended up on one of the steeper streets, which scared the daylights out of Lance. So he held on tighter because if he was going down, Keith was going down with him. And another time Keith found a really pretty lookout point while he was checking directions, Lance took a few photos because it was rather pretty and would be a waste if he didn't.

Finally, though Keith got it right and they ended up in Lance’s parking garage. 

He spotted Acxa standing next to a car and huffed, as Keith pulled into the spot next to it. 

“Acxa.” Lance greeted taking off his helmet. 

She eyed Keith for a moment, then looked at him. “I thought you would be back sooner.” 

“Took the scenic way home.” He replied shrugging as she tossed him a set of keys. 

She glanced back at Keith who just raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Right. Lotor sends his regards. And sent an envelope of money for Allura and Rosa’s night out on Thursday. Can you make sure Allura gets it?” She held up the envelope.

“I'll make sure she gets it.” Taking the item. “I would offer you to come in, but I don't want Lotor thinking he can pop in anytime.” 

She smiled and nodded. “I understand. It was nice to see you again Lance.”

He sighed. “Can…..how….”

“She's good. She hasn't told anyone. She’s safe.” Acxa said quietly. 

Lance cleared his throat and nodded. “Thank you.” 

“She misses you.” 

“Thank you Acxa.” He turned on his heel and looked at Keith, trying to hide the tears behind the helmet he was no longer wearing. 

“Lance?” Keith asked.

Lance shook his head. “I'm fine. Would you like to come up? Something to drink?” 

Keith hesitated.

“Or not! I know you said you had somewhere to be. Its fine.” He handed back the helmet. “Thank you for the ride!” Lance bolted for the elevator.

Chapter Text

Rosa wanted to show off the new Blue to everyone and forced them to leave earlier the next day. 

Everyone she knew who passed by exclaimed loudly: “Look at my Papa’s new car!” 

Lance tried to leave. Tried to drive away but then Rosa would say they had to wait for Sammy. Sammy loved cars and would be excited to see Lance’s new one. 

Guess he takes after Keith in that department then.

Thankfully , Sammy showed up on time today. Except he wasn't with Keith he was with an older white-black-haired man. A long scar ran across his nose, but otherwise, he was rather handsome. If Lance had seen him before Keith this man would have earned his crush instead. 

It's true what they said, pretty people end up together.

“Sammy! Sammy!” Rosa called waving over her friend. “Come look at my Papa’s new car!” 

The boy in question skirted out of his father's hands and ran up to Rosa to look at the car. 

“Sam!” The man huffed out. 

“He’s fine. Rosa has been showing everyone and their mothers.” Lance said with a smile. 

“Lance right? Keith told me about you.” The man greeted offering up a hand. “I'm Shiro.” 

“Dad! Can I go to Rosa’s house tonight!?” Sammy asked looking up at the big man. 

“You have to ask her father first, you know it's not polite to invite yourself over to other people's houses.” Shiro scolded gently. 

Suddenly both 8-year-olds were on Lance. 

“Can Sammy come over!?” “Can I come over!?” 

What were the chances he would see Keith again? 50/50 right? Although if he was partnered with this man, and had a kid…….

He mentally slapped himself. No, you fool! Keith is in a relationship!

“Um ya, that's fine.” He has doomed himself. “We can do pizza and a movie.” 

Both kids cheered and ran into the school. 

Shiro chuckled. He handed Lance a bit of paper. “Keith will come get him around 8, on his way home from work.”

Internally screaming, Lance squeaked out, “Sure, ya, that's fine.” 

Shiro nodded and waved goodbye before stepping into the large black SUV. They probably got it to carry around Keith’s bike when they go on family outings. Probably went on a lot of them. They probably had a camper and took whole weeks off and-

Lance needed to stop holy ground coffee batman. That was not an ok line of thinking. 

Ok, he had some stuff to do today. First grocery store. He had his list, he knew what he had to get. Then he could go home and write a few chapters. Deadlines coming up and all that. 

Except once he was done shopping, unloaded all the groceries, and sat down at his computer he realized truly how lonely he was. Maybe he should start going on dating apps. 

Allura always encouraged it. But he thinks she feels bad for abandoning him when everything was going to shit. 

Times like this he wished he could blame her. 

And that was how by the end of the day he ended up with a pair of kittens. One blueish gray he named Azul and a rusty brown one he named Samurai. 

As he was looking over the two kittens getting used to their new environment he knew he was probably going to die alone eaten by these two. Rosa prefers Lotor’s financial stability over his unstable ass. 

Setting the two kittens into the bathroom while he went to go pick up the kids and pizza he felt he had both made the best choice and the worst choice. 

But that was alright, when Rosa was at school or her mom’s house he wouldn't be as lonely and it might be good for him to have something to take care of 24/7 other than himself and Rosa on the weekends. 

What he was not expecting was Rosa’s solemn words when she saw the kittens, despite her initial excitement. 

She placed her little hand on his knee, while Azul hung in her other arm looking a bit squished but otherwise ok. 

“Papa, I think you need to date.” She said. 

“What?” 

“That's what Mama says. She says you are lonely and need to date someone. She was worried that you would start adopting cats.” She looked down at the kitten. “She was right to be concerned.” 

And then Rosa and Sam brought Azul and Samurai to the couch to start the movie. 

Lance just gawked at her. She was too smart for her good sometimes.

While they watched their movie, Lance tried to get a bit more work done. Making up for the time he had spent picking out the kittens. 

As the movie was wrapping up he cleaned up plates and set a blanket on the two sleeping kids. Just as there was a knock at the door. 

Tossing a towel over his shoulder he went to answer it. 

“Hi, Keith.” Lance greeted allowing the other into the apartment. “Movie just finished. But Sam is asleep….”

“That's fine, I have a car tonight,” Keith replied shrugging. A sharp meow drew their attention to Samurai looking up at them. “You have a kitten.” 

“2 actually,” Lance replied picking him up. “This is Samurai, and his sister Azul is sleeping with Rosa right now. Do you have any pets?”

“1, big German shepherd husky mix,” Keith replied shrugging. 

“That's a lot of fur,” Lance replied allowing Samurai to climb onto his shoulder. 

Keith chuckled and nodded. “Yes, it is. So if you ever need fur removal advice…”

“Go to Hunk. Go it.” Lance joked. But Keith looked a bit hurt so Lance had to fix it. “I'm joking. I have had pets before. But I will ask for recommendations.” 

Keith nodded. “Well, you will need my number for that.” 

He handed Lance a bit of paper just like Shiro had earlier that day, except unlike Shiro, Keith’s hands were clammy when they accidentally touched. 

“Oh, I already have Shiro’s number,” Lance said, if he was going to be a homewrecker at least he would try to not make it obvious. At least he would try not to be cruel about it. 

“OK?” Keith looked confused but didn't take back the paper. So Lance internally shrugged and pocketed it. “Text me…or call….or don't….up to you.” Was he nervous!? 

He freaking better be! Keith was looking to cheat on Shiro! Should Lance say something? Oh, but he liked it when those violet-gray eyes were on him. 

2 fucking days. He had known Keith for 2 fucking days. 

Maybe he should go drinking with Matt and Hunk. Never a good idea, but it would probably be better than wallowing in his self misery. 

“Right…ok…ya…..I will text….or call….” Lance replied. They watched each other for a moment before Azul made her presence known and drew both their attention towards her. “Right, Sam. You should….”

“Yes, sorry, I'll take him.” With gentle hands Keith lifted the boy, he squirmed for a moment before recognition set into his sleepy mind, and passed out again. 

Lance walked him out. “Good night.” Lance waved and Keith waved back. 

He shut the door, and gently thumped his head on the door. Shutting his eyes in the process. 

“Papa?” 

“Just a moment.” He called back. 

He was completely and utterly fucked. 

Lance made his way to Rosa and picked her up. “Sam just left with Keith. But it's time for you to go to sleep.”

“Can Azul and Samurai sleep in my room?” She asked. 

“Not tonight, they are still too young to wander around at night. But soon they will be old enough and then they will.” He replied picking up the kittens as he carried his daughter to her room. 

“Ok……Papa?” 

“Yes, my little flower?” He asked tucking her in. 

“I love you.” She hugged him and he held back tears, she was just so cute!

“I love you too.” He let her go and snuggled the blanket. “I'll see you in the morning, sleep well.”

Lance shut off her light and dropped the kittens in the bathroom. They will know where the litter box and their food is soon enough, but for the first few nights the bathroom would be their home at night. 

Just like Rosa, he couldn't wait till they could join him at night. He knew they might not but the thought of having another being in his bed again was such a nice thought. Even if they were just kittens keeping his toes warm. 

He was going to just toss his phone on the charger and call it a night, but the paper with Keith’s number on it, was stuck to the screen.

He looked at it, talking was harmless right? Well harmless to Keith’s relationship after all. Not so much to Lance’s ever-growing crush. He reasons it was just after 9, Keith would probably be in bed, snuggled up with Shiro, and wouldn’t answer his phone. 

Just a quick message so that Keith has his number. No big deal. No harm. He had both their numbers now. And Keith knew he had Shiro’s. And tomorrow if Shiro drops Sam off he will tell Shiro, that he also had Keith’s. 

Save himself. That way if they don't like it then it can stop right then and there. No harm in that? Right?

Before he could doubt himself any longer he typed out a quick, “Hey this is Lance, Rosa’s dad.” And hit send.

He tossed the phone to the other side of the bed, terrified that he might actually get a

PING

Lance would not say he darted across the bed. No. It could have been Allura, telling him that she would be stopping by in the morning, or his editor reminding him of a deadline. 

No way was it-

“Keith.” He breathed out the name that his phone was showing, alerting him to a new message. 

Was Keith texting him, while lying in bed with his partner!? 

Lance ran a hand over his face. Friends. That's all they ever could be. Friends. At the very most. Nothing more. Hopefully nothing less. 

Lance swiped open the message.

Keith: 

Hi. I’m in the garage right now. Bad signal. So if I don't answer that's why.

Keith’s at work!? Instead of in bed?! 

Me:

Why aren't you home!? In bed!? Sleep is very important!

Lance understood the irony of the fact that he, himself was not asleep. But he also didn't think Keith would text back so quickly.

Keith:

I am home. I have a garage at home.

Lance still wanted to smack him. 

Keith:

Besides you up to.

Me:

This is not about me. 😣

Cause it was not! This was about Keith. Obviously. But if he's home then Shiro didn't know he was texting Keith. When did Lance’s life get so complicated?

Oh, right the day he came out as Bi-sexual. 

He sighed and shook his head. No use bringing up those thoughts. Not after all these years. At least not willingly. 

Keith:

Ok. Can't sleep?

Me:

No! I just…. I saw your number when I was putting my phone away for the night and so I texted you so you would have my number. 

Keith:

Right. Well I have your number now.

Me:

Yes. Yes, you do.

Lance tossed the phone away again. Figuring the conversation was over he wanted to slam his head through a wall because now Keith probably thought he hated him and that was so incorrect. Ugh, why did Lance ruin everything!?

Not only was his own life on the line, but the entirety of Shiro and Keith’s relationship was as well. And what about Sam!? Oh dios mio, he should not have texted Keith at all.

PING

Keith:

PICTURE SENT

I'm working on my bike right now. She needs a better seat, not used to having a full-grown adult on the back of her.

The picture revealed the red bike with no seat. A new seat leaning against the bike was more comfortable looking than the one he had ridden with Keith on. 

But wait, Shiro didn't ride the bike with Keith?

Me:

Shiro doesn't ride with you?

Keith:

No? Shiro has its own bike.

Oh, that made sense. Of course, Shiro had his own bike. Duh. 

Me:

Oh right.

Wait then why do you need to change out the seat? If Sam is the only one who rides with you.

The answer was not immediate. Whether it was due to a lack of signal or Lance overstepping, he didn't see the message come through. 

Keith:

So that you can ride with me.

Chapter Text

Lance never saw the message. He awoke to both his phone and alarm blaring. 

His alarm because he had to get up. His phone because his editor needed him in the office for an emergency. 

So getting Rosa ready for the morning was very rushed. He felt bad that they didn't get a real breakfast but he made sure to give her a few extra dollars to get breakfast at school along with her lunch. 

“Sorry little flower, work emergency.” He said hosting her out of the car just as Sammy ran up. He glanced over to see Shiro giving him a smile and a wave. Lance waved back then his phone blared with the imperial march and he groaned. 

“Is that Lotor?” Rosa asked.

“Unfortunately so. Now run along, I have to get to the office.” He waved his last goodbye to Shiro before practically bolting into the car and hitting the answer button. 

“I just dropped Rosa off, what could you possibly need?” Lance asked as he tried to stay within a safe speed limit as he left the school grounds. 

“Allura was in an accident,” Lotor replied, quietly. 

It was simply due to experience that Lance did not slam on the breaks which caused his accident. Instead, he had the mindset enough to turn off the road and into a parking lot. 

“What!?” He all but shouted, once he parked the car. 

“She was on her way to a meeting and was hit in the driver's side by a distracted driver. She was rushed to the hospital just half an hour ago.” Lotor explained. “They called me to let me know. They are confident she is alright, but….”

Lance rubbed out his hair. “Shit. I had a work emergency. What do you need me to do?”

“As of right now, there isn't anything either of us can do. I will keep you in the loop though.” Lotor replied. “But I am pretty sure dinner tomorrow is canceled.”

It was probably Lotor’s attempt at humor, but it only pissed Lance off. 

“No shit. Send me which hospital she’s at. I will try to take Rosa in tonight after school. I know Allura will like that.” Lance replied. 

“Of course. I will be coming back tonight as well if you need me to take Rosa…” 

“Rosa is fine. If she wishes to go with you that's on her. But as of right now, she is safe. Let's just worry about Allura.” His editor chose that moment to call in. “Shit. It's James.” 

“Take it. I'll text you the hospital and put you on the visitor’s list. I will let you know of any changes.” And with that, Lotor hung up. 

“Lance!” James cried through the car speakers. “Where are you!?” 

“I am on my way. I was just taking an emergency family call.” Lance grits out as he pulls back onto the road and the highway. 

“How long till you get here?!” James demand. 

“I'm about 25 out. I'm going as fast as I can.” Lance replied. 

“Ok! Ok.” James was panicking about something. “I'll talk to you when you get here.” 

Lance often wondered if the universe had it out for him on days like today. When everything went to shit. Especially when he got a phone call from the school.

“Lance McClain.” He answered as he rushed out the car door and into the publishing building. 

“Mr. McClain, this is Nurse Stacy,” Lance inwardly groaned. “Rosa seems to have come down with a fever, is there any chance you can come pick her up?”

“At the moment no. But I can have a friend get her. Hunk Garrett should be on the verified pick-up list?” He asked showing his ID and sighing as the secretary called James.

Stacy hummed and then agreed. “Yes, I see him listed.”

“Good. I will call him and see if he can pick her up. It might not be for another hour though.” He replied. Hopefully, Hunk can get out of work and bring Rosa to the shop to sleep in the back room.

“Of course. Rosa is just sleeping now.” Stacy reply. 

“Good, thank you for the call.” He hung up just as James came down to greet him he dialed Hunk’s number. “Another family emergency.” He muttered to James as they walked to his office. 

Hunk picked up on the fourth ring. “Hey, buddy!”

“Sorry, Hunk, no time for pleasantries. Rosa has come down with a fever at school and I'm dealing with a work issue. Can you go get her? I know it's last minute but….” 

Hunk sighed. “Allura is still in her meetings?” 

“She’s in the hospital.” A gasp on the other end. “Look I don't have all the details, but right now….I just….”

“It's alright. I'll talk to Keith and I'll bring her to the shop. Shea can keep an eye on her till you can come get Rosa.”

“I owe you big time. Thank you Hunk!” Lance let out a sigh of relief. 

“Course. Now go deal with whatever shit your editors about to give you.” And hung up. 

Lance looked to James as they sat down. “So you can see the morning I have been having.” 

James nodded. “Yes. I'm sorry.”

“It's just one thing after another that's all, what seems to be the issue?” Lance asked. He thought his last book was doing pretty well. 

“Well, the publishers were looking to do a familiar expo on you. Show your readers you are more than just a name.” James explained. 

“Ok? I like my privacy but I wouldn't call that an emergency.” Lance replied. 

“They want to do a background on your family. Your entire family.” James answered. 

James was one of the few who knew Lance before, during, and after everything went down. And though he would not classify James as a close friend, they worked well together. James had every opportunity to drop Lance as an author but stuck with him through everything. Even taking on the publishers to allow Lance’s deadlines to be lengthened. 

Lance gapped at him. “I don't have any family.” 

“I know. I tried to explain that to them. They were rather insistent though.” James rubbed his forehead. “Look I have been dealing with this for almost 2 days now. I have tried everything I could think of but they are determined. You are one of our best authors, and they think it would be good for the company as well as your books to publish a piece on your family and how to came to be the person you are today.” 

“James it's been 7 years. I haven't spoken to them in 7 years.” Lance replied. 

“I know that. I can act as your go-between. If they do not agree we can not make them, but I will make sure you have as little contact with them as possible if they do agree.” James replied. 

Lance gripped his right wrist. Sometimes the memories brought back the physical pain. “They won't agree.” 

“I still have to ask them. I did try to get out of this.” Lance nodded. 

“I know you would have tried everything. Just, just don't make me have to talk to them.” Lance muttered.

“I have already looked into hiring a bodyguard just in case.” Lance wanted to protest that, he didn't need protection. “Just in case. If we have a repeat of the last time you saw them, I might not be able to keep your position here again.” 

Lance hated that it made sense. “Fine.” 

“Oh good. I already picked one out. I want you to meet him today, and see if it's a good fit. If not it will give us plenty of time to locate another one.” James’ shoulder all but collapsed this had been a huge stress on the man's shoulders. 

They only had to wait a moment after the buzz to the secretary before a tanned man stepped in. He wore a well-put-together suit and looked ready to both protect the president and go to his funeral. It was a bit unnerving. 

“Lance this is Adam West. He served 10 years in the military before honorable discharge. I made him aware of your situation with your family.”

“Great more people to know that my family sucks,” Lance muttered but stood and reached out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Pleasures all mine. My Husband reads all your books. I didn't tell him who my new client was, but I was wondering if I could get a signature?” Adam asked, and the upfront attitude of it made Lance laugh. 

“I'm sorry, I never get used to that. I have no issues with that. Your husband has great taste.” Lance replied. 

“His ego is too big, please don't tell him that,” Adam said but he was smiling so Lance knew it was all in good humor. “I come from a Hispanic family as well. Though they needed some time, they eventually came around. I understand how hard losing them was.” 

Lance shrugged. “Well, I thought it was going to go better than it did. Anyway, I don't care for this whole bodyguard thing.”

“I am simply here to ensure your well-being if you see your family. I was given the hospital reports, from the last time, I will do everything in my power, to prevent that from happening again.” Adam answered firmly. 

Lance snorted. “Well let's hope you don't have to try too hard. I would feel bad if I sent you back home injured.” 

“Nothing my husband hasn't seen before,” Adam assured. 

“You win James. He can stay.” Lance said waving about a hand. The imperial march started playing. 

“Ex-wife?” Adam asked. 

“Why does everyone think that?” Lance muttered answering the phone. “Good news?”

“Yes. She had to go into surgery to repair her right arm, a concussion, a broken ankle, and a few shards of glass had to be removed from her face. Bruised ribs from the airbag. All in all the doctors say she is ok. The surgery went very well, and now she is on bed rest.” Lance let out a sigh of relief.

“Dios mio, good to hear. I won't be able to bring Rosa to see her tonight.” Lance replied. “School called saying she had a fever. Hunk picked her up.”

“I see. You should have called-”

“You are dealing with Allura, I will handle Rosa.” Lance snapped angrily. 

Lotor was quite a moment. “Fine. Probably best to let them both rest for the night then. What was the work emergency?”

“I might have to deal with my family,” Lance growled out. 

Lotor sighed. “I can make some calls.” 

“I was already given a bodyguard if it comes down to it. I should go though, Rosa probably wants to go home.” 

“Of course.” 

He hung up and tapped the phone to his forehead. 

“Ex-husband?” Adam tried. 

“Ex-wife husband,” Lance replied. 

“Really?” Confusion about that answer was not unfamiliar. 

“It's complicated. I have to go pick Rosa up. When does this start?” He waved to Adam while looking at James. 

“After I speak to your family. We will determine where to go from there depending on their answer.” 

Lance nodded, “Well see you around Adam, Let hope your services aren't required.” 

“I try not to be too hopeful in my line of work,” Adam replied.

“Probably for the best.” Lance agreed.

It wasn't even 10:30 yet when he pulled into the auto shop's garage. Red’s Auto stood out in big bright red lettering. The cleanest thing in the joint, but Lance had liked to come here long before he got his first car. His family had their service guys at their shops, but Lance liked the atmosphere of Red’s.

He sighed and got out, ready to bring Rosa home, ready to eat a good lunch. He was starving. And ready to just not have to worry about anything outside of his apartment walls until tomorrow. 

Lance went into the shop waiting room and was quickly greeted by Shea.

“How is she?” He asked.

“Warm, a little stuffed up, but Keith went out and got some kid's medicine and that seemed to help. As did a breakfast sandwich.” Shea replied.

“Ugh, I should have noticed she wasn't feeling good. I was in such a rush this morning.” Lance dropped his head to the countertop. 

“Hunk told me there was an emergency at work.” She replied. “And that Allura is in the hospital.” 

“I'm sure Hunk is dying to know. I don't feel like repeating it.” He muttered. Shea was quick to jump out of her seat. 

“You are aware I do not run a daycare center right?” Lance tilted his head to look at Keith. 

“I know. Was kind of an emergency.” Lance replied. 

“Seems like you have had quite a few of those this morning,” Keith said setting the paperwork he was holding down on the counter.

“More than I would care to admit to,” Lance mutters in return. “I think I fell asleep on you last night.”

Keith hummed. “It was late.”

Lance suddenly realized Keith might have texted him this morning. “Wait! You didn't text me this morning did you!?”

“No?” Keith replied. 

“You did!” Lance flipped out and tore his phone from his pocket. And right there, was a good morning text from Keith. “Fuck, I'm sorry. I would have responded on a normal day.”

Keith shrugged. “It's fine. When Hunk said he had to do an emergency pick up for Rosa because you had a work emergency I figured you had a pretty good reason for not replying.” 

Lance snorted. “Still I'm sorry.” 

Just then Hunk burst into the waiting room. “What happened to Allura!?” 

“Easy big guy. Lotor says she is ok. She was just in an accident, she came out with minor injuries all things considered.” Lance explained. 

“Really!? Oh, I've been worried sick all morning.” Hunk collapsed into a chair. 

“Whose Allura?” Keith asked. 

“Wife.” Lance didn't see the tensed shoulders. “Sorry, ex-wife. It's been a hectic morning.” 

“Allura divorced him after he-”

Hunk slammed a hand across Shea’s mouth, it was a good thing they were dating. 

“It doesn't matter,” Hunk replied. “What was the work emergency?”

“The publisher wants to write an expo on me,” Lance said. 

“That's awesome!” Hunk cried out removing his hand from Shea’s face, but earned a glare. He would be making her dinner tonight.

“And they want to interview my family,” Lance replied. 

“As in not just Allura and Rosa?” Hunk asked concerned. Lance nodded. 

“Damn.” Was all Hunk replied with. 

“My editor even called in a high-level bodyguard to prevent anything from happening. If my family for whatever reason agrees.” Lance shrugs. 

“Wait. What's going on? Bodyguard? Why do you need a bodyguard?” Keith asked. 

Lance forgot he was there. “It's a long story.” 

“It was a long story and I was there!” Hunk cried. “It was truly a tragedy.” 

“You are being dramatic,” Lance said when he saw Hunk whip away a tear.

“Am not! Being dramatic would be telling every customer who comes in here to boycott the Santos Auto Sales!” Hunk replied. “Dramatic would be refusing work from their shops.” 

“You do that anyway.” Lance pointed out.

“I don't think I'm dramatic enough on this.” Hunk muttered in his defense.

Keith though decided to take it one step further. “I'm not doing anything for dinner.” 

Hunk’s mouth dropped and then audible clicked shut, it was Shea’s turn to slap her hand across his mouth. 

Lance gapped at him. The boldness. The audacity. What about Shiro!? What about Sammy!? 

Lance started at him for so long that Keith side-eyed Hunk and then went back to Lance. 

“Or not, I mean you don't have to share…..” The ridiculously horrendous disappointed look came back. 

God was torturing him. For having a major crush on a guy who is probably married and has a kid. That is what this was. 

“No! I mean, yes I am free for….dinner. Rosa will sleep all night, but- I mean not tonight if you are another night works maybe a weekend….” 

“Tonight is fine. I can bring Chinese. Sweet and sour ok for Rosa? It's Sammy’s favorite.” 

God was going to smite him. And Lance would probably appreciate it. 

“That's fine.” Lance squeaked out. 

Keith gave a slow nod and then stepped away. “Well, I should get back to work. See you tonight at let's say, 5:30?”

“Sure.” 

Keith nodded and went back to the shop. 

Lance all but fell to the floor when his legs gave out. “I'm going to hell. I'm so going to hell.” He muttered to himself. 

Hunk offered to help him up, but Lance refused. “Just need a moment.”

“Did we just watch Keith ask out Lance!?” Shea hissed out. But he could hear how happy she was. 

“No! No! He- No!” Lance hissed back at her. “Not a date! Not a date! Not a date!”

“I think it may be a little bit of a date,” Hunk replied holding out his fingers.

“No! Absolutely Not! No! Nononononono!” Lance was completely and utterly fucked. “It might be a date.” He all but wailed. 

“I can't tell if he's happy or upset about that,” Shea said looking at Hunk. 

“A little of both I would say. He had the same reaction when Allura asked him out.” Hunk replied, with a shrug. 

“I'm going to get Rosa. Do a little bit of shopping and go home. Then I am going to work on my book. Yes. Work on my book until my not-a-date-date with Keith happens.” Lance muttered. 

“You got this!” Hunk said smiling and slapping him on the shoulder. 

“Ok but what it-”

“Go!”

Chapter Text

Lance paced. 

He sat down.

Stood.

Paced some more. 

He eyed the clock. 15 minutes. 

15 minutes until his not-a-date date. 

Maybe he really should call Shiro. 

He started at his phone, Shiro’s contact already pulled up.

No! Not yet! It's not confirmed to be a date. Keith didn't say it was a date. Hunk did. Although Hunk is typically pretty good at seeing stuff like that. Only when it came to Lance, which is why it took him almost 2 years to ask Shea out. They will be getting married next spring. 

If he called Shiro and told him then he didn't do anything wrong. 

But if he didn't call Shiro and this was a date and it went well then at least Lance had a good night. 

Oh, that was so selfish! He grabbed the phone ready to hit dial when the doorbell rang. 

Keith was early. 

Probably for the best he shut the phone and set it down to go greet him. 

“Hey,” Lance said taking a bag of takeout and letting Keith in. 

“Hey. I was able to get some extra fortune cookies.” Keith said. “Figured Rosa would like them.”

“She will. She’s still asleep. Ate a bit for lunch when we got home, but her fever spiked for a few hours. So she's just resting now.” Lance replied setting the bag down and grabbing some plates.

“I can go. I know how important it is.” Keith said.

Because you have Sammy, Lance thought.

“I had a lot of younger siblings growing up. A little fever like this is nothing.” Lance said shrugging. “But she will love the sweet and sour chicken for lunch tomorrow. Thank you.” 

He went about putting it in the fridge. 

They worked setting up the plates together before Keith followed him to the large table, sitting next to him. 

“Sammy was worried when Rosa left early,” Keith said. 

“I'm sure. They are close.” Lance agreed.

“Yes. Shiro thinks one day they will get married.” Keith said cheekily. 

“My little girl!?” Lance gasped. “Not in this lifetime!” 

Keith smiled. “I'm sure Sammy won't hurt her.” 

“Your right. He won't. I can not promise she won't hurt him though.” Lance replied popping a bit of General Tso chicken in his mouth. 

Keith snorted. “I'm sure. She’s a tough kid.” 

Lance tapped his fork in his rice. Only to recall the reason why Keith came over. 

“Her mom and I divorced when she was 2. Allura and I had been together for 8 years. Since our senior year of high school way. We had good years together. Rosa was the best thing that ever came out of our relationship.” He smiled thinking of the happy times, the good times, before everything went to shit in a handbasket.

“A little family sounds nice,” Keith replied. 

“It was. My mom loved Allura. So did my dad. And Rosa was their little light. My siblings loved doting on her, we were never without a babysitter in those days. And my older siblings who had kids were more than happy to give us second-hand clothes, toys, and things like that. We weren't broke or anything. Allura took over Altea Tech a couple of years back when her father retired, and my 4th book had just been released. But you know kids, they grow out of things so fast.”

“Shiro only just started buying first-hand things for Sam,” Keith replied in understanding. “What happened?”

“I….I had a crush on a barista. He….nothing was ever going to come out of it. He was cute, and we laughed. He remembered my order, little things like that. Harmless. At the end of the day, it was nothing more than a little crush that I broke out of and he moved to another city. He asked me to go with him, and I said no. Firmly. Maybe a bit harshly. But it was like workplace flirting, like when you connect with someone at work but that's all it is.” 

Keith nodded but didn't say anything. 

“He took it badly and started cussing me out. Saying I was leading him on shit like that. I made it very clear when he made any more serious moves on me than a wink that I was not interested. I made it very clear that I loved my wife and my daughter. And I would never, never, do anything to put them into a situation where I would hurt them. Right from the get-go. I thought they understood that.” 

Lance huffed. He had stopped getting upset at that part but it was the next bit that was hard. That was always hard. That only got harder as time went on. Time never made this next part better. Never. No matter what anyone said. It never got easier.

“Before he moved, he went and got a new car. Specifically from one of my family dealerships. He was dealing with my older sister, you met her girlfriend the other day. He saw a picture of me on her desk and started cussing me out to her. She tried to keep it under wraps and keep him quiet, but my dad walked by and saw the commotion. I got a call the next day.” He took a deep breath. 

“Harmless flirting. There's no such thing. Someone always ends up getting hurt. Always. When I woke up I was confused, not sure why the entire family was sitting in the living room. Looks vary from disgust to pity to concern to fear. I didn't know what was going on. Still, didn't until my dad broke my wrist.” He gave a small shrug.

“He beat you?” Keith breathed. 

“Yup, pretty harshly too. Concussion, a broken wrist, 3 cracked ribs, and even ruptured a disk in my back. He was wearing his steel-toe boots that day. Got some lovely little screws and metal bars in my back to show for it. He's a smoker as well so go a few cigarette burns on my shoulder blade. It was pretty rough. And the entire family watched. No one did a thing. They all knew why he was doing it. Hispanic people do not take kindly to those who are not straight. And they saw what I did as cheating with a guy.” Lance shook his head. “Guess in a way I kind of was.”

“But it does not earn you a beating like that.” Keith bit out, anger in his voice. 

“Ya well, it's what I got. Once he was done, he said I was no longer a part of the family. Locked all my bank accounts he was attached to. Health care is gone. Anything that his name was on was taken away. Luckily I paid for my car myself, his name was never on the lease. And I had a bank account of my own from my books. I was even in the process of switching over to Allura’s insurance at the time. So it wasn't a complete loss.” 

“You still lost your family. I know how close Hispanic families are. That….that much have been horrific.” 

Lance gave a bitter chuckle. “Being disowned by my family was like they cut my heart out, and ran it over with a steam roller. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, I still have Allura and Rosa. I will always have Allura and Rosa. Always. My mom called Allura 2 days later, after she had been able to say the words to someone, never me, not anymore. But all the surgeries were done I was back home. My mom told Allura what had happened. Everything. I was….I was going to. Once the shock of everything you know wore off?” 

He took a deep breath. The shock never worse it just simply got buried with time. He would sometimes drive past the grounds his family owned, just to see his siblings. If they ever saw him they turned their backs on him. 

“I was going to tell her, tell her I loved her. Tell her I would never hurt her. I would never leave. That she was my-” He covered his eyes with his hand, tears had started to come, slower than they used to, maybe time did heal, take the pain away. “She didn't say anything. She dropped divorce papers on my desk while I was working, and just walked away. She gave me the keys to this apartment, rent control, and everything, and said I needed to be out of the house by the end of the week. Then she took Rosa, and went to her father's house.”

Keith took his hand in his own. “You don't have to continue.”

“Well, you might as well hear the rest.” Lance chuckled whipping his eyes. “You already got the fucked up bits.” 

Keith gave him a gentle smile. 

“I left, wasn't much I could do. But I made sure I fought for the rights of Rosa. And Allura despite her being upset with me, made sure I did. She made sure I had health care, insurance, things like that. She made sure that there would be no child payments, she could afford to take care of Rosa on her own, and she knew that if she took anything out of my books and checks, I wouldn't be able to live. I wouldn't be able to take care of Rosa. Despite being angry with me, she was still fair about the divorce. And after a few months, we were even able to go back to being friends. Well until Lotor came into the picture.” He sneered at the name.

“The guy who gave you the car?” Lance nodded.

“Snooty piece of shit. He’s one of those multi-millionaire people as well. So he ran in the same circle as Allura did anyway. But he was ready to take everything from me. No more Rosa. Child care payments. No more insurance. No more apartments. Nothing. All because Allura’s name was on it. He wanted to cut me off from both of them forever. And he almost did. But Allura spoke to her father and realized what Lotor was doing and she put her foot down pretty quick after that. He still bothers me from time to time, but nothing like at the beginning. It was like kicking a dead horse. And he loved to kick.” Lance shook his head. “Anyway here we are today. So you know the rest.” 

“I didn't know you were a writer. Anything I would know?” Lance was starting to like that about Keith. He took the least important details to a story of pain and misery and made them the most important. 

“Maybe. I think I have a few copies.” He stood and went to his bookshelf. Locating one he pulled it out and handed it to Keith. 

“Wait. You write the Lion Chronicles!?” Keith cried out then snapped his jaws shut and looked sheepishly towards Rosa’s room. “Sorry.”

Lance chuckled, “She could sleep through a war. And yes, I do.”

“My brother got me hooked on these. You are so signing my collection.” Keith hissed out. 

Lance chuckled. “You know you are not the first first to say that to me today.”

“Well, they're amazing! I'm surprised more people don't ask for you to sign their books.” Keith said looking over the cover. 

“I'm ok with people not,” Lance replied rubbing the back of his neck. “I'm working on book 8 right now.” 

“No! Really!?” Keith looked so excited.

“Hmm ya. And the prequel. It's been a pretty popular demand on the post board online.” He shrugged. 

Keith turned bright red, clutching the book to his chest. “You do not read those!” 

“Sometimes. I always like to see whose theories are right. Or at least close. And the ship names. Those crack me up.” Lance laughed. And it felt good. After telling the story of how his life went to shit.

“Oh my god.” Keith hissed. “Whose the closest!?”

“I don't know, someone who goes by the name CaptinWhiteLion. But they're still way off, just the closest by default.” 

“CaptinWhiteLion is my brother.” Keith hissed out between his teeth. 

“No!” Lance had to cover his mouth so as not to burst out laughing. 

“Yes! He is crazily obsessed. Honestly, if he knew who you were, I guarantee he would bug you every day all day.” Keith nodded aggressively. 

“Well, it's a good thing he doesn't. But tell him to keep up the good work. He earned the title of CaptinWhiteLion. He's good at protecting my books. Maybe I should hire him as a bodyguard instead of the guy they got on me now.” Lance said as he dug into his now cold rice. 

“Bodyguard? Wait for the expo?” Keith asked. 

“Ya, they want my family to do some interviews, things like that. But my Editor thinks the publishers are going to make us interact. They don't want me to get beat up again. So bodyguard. But he's a good guy from what I have seen. I'm not too worried about it though.” Lance shrugged.

“Well I'm going to have to buy it, maybe get you to sign it?” Keith asked hopefully.

“If you want. We typically hold a signing after something is released anyway. But I guess I could do a personal one.” He smiled and was about to wink, but then the idea of Shiro waiting at home, caring for their son, deflated him a bit. 

Reminded him so much of his past. He hoped Keith would learn from it, and be stronger than Lance had been. 

“Papa?” The two men turned to see Rosa rubbing her eye, a stuffed lion in the other hand. 

“Hey little flower, how are you feeling?” Lance asked scooping her up into his arms. 

“Better. Hungry. Hi Mr. Keith.” Rosa waved to Keith and he waved back. 

“Mr. Keith brought you some sweat and sour chicken. Do you want some of that? Or something else?” Lance asked. 

“With the cookies and egg rolls?” She asked hopefully. 

“Hmhmm! He even got you extras.” She grinned at that. 

“I want that!” She said. 

“Alright. Let me heat it, go sit next to Mr. Keith.” She nodded and ran over to Keith as Lance went about making her up a small plate. She was only 8 after all. 

“Is that Papa’s book?” She asked looking at the book Keith was still holding. 

“It is.” Keith agreed. 

“My favorite is the 2nd book. I like the red lion the most.” She held up the stuffed lion she was holding. 

“Ya? I like the red lion too. My brother likes the black lion.” Keith said gently. 

It made Lance a bit sad. He was taking this wonderful man away from his son. And Keith was instigating it. Lance just wanted to hold onto that a little bit longer, even if it was selfish and unkind. 

The timer went off for the microwave and put on a smile. If Keith noticed it was faked he didn't say anything. 

“Here you are little flower.” He said setting the plate down.

“Yum!” She dug in with ease and after a few bites looked at him curiously. “Will Mama be here tomorrow night so we can go to dinner?”

Right. She doesn't know yet.

“Rose, Mama was in an accident. She's ok, but she’s in the hospital right now. Lotor is looking after her, along with a lot of doctors. We can go see her tomorrow though, if you feeling up to it.” Lance explained. 

He didn't know how much she understood, but he was most certainly not expecting her reply. 

“Like….like when Grandpa was mean to you?” She asked quietly. 

Lance choked up. “Sorta.” 

“Oh….” She clenched her tiny fists around her fork. “You're not going to leave her are you!?” She demands. Tears welled up in her eyes. 

“Never,” Lance said quietly. 

“And you won't let Lotor leave Ethier!? I know you don't li-like hi-him…..” She hiccupped as tears flowed freely.

Lance moved quickly around the table to scoop her up into his arms. Keith moved so that he had more room to do so. 

“Lotor would never leave. Not you, not Mama. He got Papa a new car remember? And remember how angry Mama got when he tried to cut you off from me?” She nodded. “If he didn't leave then, he won't leave now.” 

“Promise?” She sniffed. 

“Promise. You can smack him if he does. How does that sound?” She giggled through her tears. 

“I'll smack him for you Papa.” Lance smiled at her and kissed her head. 

“I will not encourage such violence. But if he tries to leave…..” He smiled. 

“I'll take care of it, Papa!” She said firmly. 

“I know. Now why don't you finish your dinner? I'm sure Mr. Keith is looking to go home soon.” 

Rosa looked to Keith and then to Lance. 

“But…I thought he was staying.” She looked so confused. “Like the first time, Lotor came over to Mama’s house.” 

Both men went bright red. Embarrassment is the leading factor. 

“Uh….no Keith has to go home. He has to tell Sammy that you ok.” Lance said. 

“Oh! Right. I didn't say goodbye before Uncle Hunk picked me up. That makes sense.” She looked at Keith as she was set down. “You will stay next time, right? We can read book 2 together.” 

Keith still bright red nodded. “Only if your Papa says it's alright though.” 

“I don't see an issue,” Rosa muttered digging back into her food. 

“I'll walk you to the door.” Lance offered. 

Keith nodded and followed suit. Handing back the book, “Thank you, I had a good time. I think Rosa is right though, we should do this again.” 

“What? Talk about traumas over Chinese takeout?” Lance joked. 

“Well, I have a fair share. And we can do Korean Barbeque next time.” Keith said smugly. 

“Oh are you cooking or are we going out?” Lance asked. He didn't even get the chance to think about it when a grin formed over Keith’s lips. 

“Well, it might be safer to go out. If we stay here Rosa might hear her Papa moaning.” And with that, he winked and left. 

Lance wasn't sure how he got to bed that night. Keith’s words were still pretty much affecting him. So much so that when Azul and Samurai jumped up to join him, he called Hunk. 

“He did not say that!” Hunk howled. Shea joined him as Lance had been put on the speaker about 30 seconds into Hunk realizing what the the conversation was going to be about. 

“He did. And I just froze. Who says stuff like that!?” Lance hissed out careful not to move the kittens too much or wake Rosa up. 

“A Korean who knows what he wants.” Shea snickered. 

It took a lot of willpower not to bolt upright. “He's Korean!?” 

Lance heard Hunk land on the floor he was laughing so hard. 

“Half Korean. His mom was from Canada.” Shea replied. 

Lance’s intrusive thoughts broke through. “If we could have kids they would be the cute little mother fuckers!” 

“You did not just say that!” Hunk whispered. Probably because he can't breathe right. 

“Fuck your right. I can't. Jeez. I feel so guilty.” Lance rubbed his face and then petted Azul as she lay on his chest. 

“Guilty? Why? It's not like your cheating.” Hunk said. 

“Not me. I just…..I don't know how ok I am with everything is all.” Lance replied. 

“Dude, I have to tell Keith when you stop by. He's been at the shop way more since he realized how close we are. It's been really weird.” Hunk said. 

“Where does he normally work? I thought he owned the shop?” No Lance was confused. 

“He does. But he normally spends his days at his motorcycle shop. Red’s Bikes. Red’s Auto was his dad's. I normally run it when Keith’s not there.” Hunk replied nonchalantly. 

That explained a lot. Lance always thought Hunk was pretty high up on the food chain. 

“Got it. Ok.” He knew he was going to hate himself for this one. “So…what does Shiro do?”

“Shiro? Ummm, physical therapist for military veterans. He used to be some top pilot but got injured pretty badly.” 

Of course, Shiro was not only super hot but super helpful. And the army!? What the hell was Lance thinking trying to compete with that!? Uh duh, he couldnt and should be trying to!

“I'm so fucked.” He muttered. 

“Only if Keith’s BBQ Korean goes well.” Hunk cackled and Lance hung up.

Wasn't Hunk aware that Keith was married? Why was he encouraging this!? Ridiculous.

Chapter Text

Lance hung back as Rosa went to see Allura. He would go in, in a moment, but he knew how scared Rosa was about everyone leaving Allura because she was in the hospital. He would have to mention that Rosa remembered Lance’s little family altercation just in case it came up in the future. 

His phone pinged. 

Keith:

Sent a Photo

Kosmo wanted to wish you guys luck.

Keith had sent a few photos of the dog since yesterday but seeing the large creature curled up in blankets was adorable. 

“What are you smiling at?” Lotor asked. There went Lance’s happy mood as he pocketed his phone. He would have to show Rosa later. 

“Just a dog picture from a friend,” Lance replied, not looking at Lotor.

“Keith?” Lotor asked curiously. 

Lance whipped around to face him. “Wha- No! Ho- No!”

Lotor chuckled. “Relax. Rosa was talking about him when you went to the bathroom. She seems to like him. And I've met him a few times. Good guy.” 

Lance huffed. “He met Acxa when she dropped off the car.” 

“I see.” Lotor was quite a moment. “Have you spoken to your editor?” 

“They strangely enough agreed,” Lance replied. “James called me this afternoon with the news.” 

There was a pause in the conversation as Lotor hummed before he decided to break that peaceful moment. “What are your thoughts on California?” 

“What?” Lance gave him a confused look. 

“I know you have a hard time with living in this town, your family is massive-”

“I am not moving to California.” Lance hissed. “You are not-”

“I'm thinking of moving to California. A new branch opened up my father wants me to run it on my own. Completely, alone. I am still thinking about it, but if I go, they're coming with me. And I know you will follow. So I ask you again, what are your thoughts on California? It might be good for you to move out of this town.” Lance stared at him.

“You are serious.”

“Your current arrangements will also be applied. I think it would be healthy for all of us to be frank.” Lotor replied with a shrug. “Nothing is set in stone and the building is currently being built so this isn't happening this year. Possibly sometime in the next 2-3 years realistically. Plus I wouldn't be moving anything until the building is fully staffed and a proper housing and schooling situation is set up. Altea Tech has a branch nearby actually so Allura would be closer to home than she is now. Think about it.” 

Lance eyed him. “And if I say no?” 

“We will cross that bridge when we get there. For now, it looks like someone wants your attention.” He nodded towards where Rosa was waving him in. 

Lance eyed him a moment longer, before opening the door and stepping in. 

“Hey, Allura.” He greeted sitting in one of the chairs. Rosa climbed into his lap to lean better on the bed. “How are you feeling?” 

“Like I got hit by a truck.” She laughed and her eyes softened. 

“You scared me,” Lance said. He knew she was trying to add humor, and quite frankly he appreciated it, but he had still been so scared he was going to lose her. Permanently. 

“I know. I'll try to avoid getting t-boned in the future.” She smiled again, but her eyes were sad. “I left you while you were like this.” 

“You were hurt. And I forgave you.” Lance muttered. 

“I shouldn't have.” She replied. Lance handed Rosa his phone so she could play a game. 

“Your right. But it all worked out.”

“You have Mr. Keith now.” She grinned at him. 

“Does everyone know about that!?” He asked. 

“Anyone who believes an 8-year-old.” Lance side-eyed Rosa. The little snitch. 

“But really, I shouldn't have left you. I….” she looked away, her hands tightening on the white blankets. “I shouldn't have……I was looking for an excuse.”

Lance narrowed his eyes at her. “I don't understand.” He saw her eyes fill up with tears and decided that Rosa needed to go get some hot chocolate. He trades his phone for Lotor's.

“Papa?” She looked up at him when he handed her off to her stepfather.

“Go get something to drink. I have to talk to Mama for a moment.” He then made a move to pull out his wallet. “And why not a candy bar? I know Lotor won't buy it for you.” He winked handing his daughter a few bills and nudged her along.

Lotor eyed him wearily but left when Lance nodded.

Lance sat back down, his arms crossed waiting for more explanation. 

When Allura stayed silent he prompted. 

“Excuse for what?” He asked. But a bad feeling was starting to settle in the pit of his stomach. Acid was starting to rise in his throat. All around he probably wasn't going to like what she had to say. 

“I was looking for an excuse……to divorce you.” She wished. “Without being the bad guy.” 

Lance’s eyes went wide. “I'm going to need a bit more reasoning than that, Allura.”

Fat tears were rolling down his cheeks. “I shouldn't have accused you of cheating, for harmless flirting, when……..” She swallowed hard. “When I cheated on you first.” 

His entire world stopped. She…..cheated on him? And was looking for a reason to leave him? 

“I never cared that you are bi! Never! But your family made it so easy to- to blame you and-” She stopped. Whipping her eyes, probably trying to prevent them from getting into her bandages. Not that Lance cared. 

“What?” He whispered. “When?” 

When did she cheat on him? Was Rosa even his!?

“About a year before we divorced. It was a retreat. I…..I had been thinking about divorce for a while….and 2 drinks gave me the confidence to accept an offer.” 

Lance wanted to move. He wanted to get up and rant. He wanted to do something. But all he could do was sit there and gap at her. 

A year!? A whole fucking year!? He had his little trifle for maybe-MAYBE- 3 months! But a year!? 

Oh, he would have a lot to process later. He would have a lot of thinking to do later. Things would make sense as to why Allura did all the things she had done for him over the years. 

But all he could wonder was who? 

“Who?” He asked, quietly. Because if it was one of his friends, someone he knew, anyone he knew……Lance might shatter. 

“Lotor.” She muttered. “He was at the retreat with his-”

Lance held up his hand. Stopping her mid-sentence. He didn't need to know the details. Not now. Maybe eventually. If he could ever get over the shock. 

He was quiet for a moment. He knew there wasn't anything he could do now to fix things. But while he was at home with their 1-year-old, Allura had gone off with Lotor. He had loved her so much and still did. 

“What did I do wrong?” He asked. 

“I'm sorry?” She asked. And she fucking should be.

“To make you want a divorce. What did I do wrong?” He repeated. 

“We…we had been together for so long….I felt like we weren't connecting anymore. I wanted to be more. And…..I wanted to do more.” Allura said.

“I would have supported you!” He said a bit harsher than he meant it. At least right now. Shock was still very much in his system. He didn't want to blow up on her in the hospital. 

“I know! Just….your book wasn't doing well and I didn't want……” She bit her tongue and looked away. 

Lance cracked his neck angrily. “You thought I was going to hold you back. You thought that I-” he stopped his eyes burning with hot tears. Oh, he did not have long. “You thought I wouldn't fit in with all your rich friends.”

This time he did stand. The shock was slowly being replaced with anger. Real harmful anger. 

“Lance-”

“No! No! I- I have to leave. I-” He took a deep breath. “I need some time.” 

“Rosa..”

“I need to be alone right now. Have Lotor take her home.” And with that, he whirled on his heel and left the room. 

He crossed paths with Rosa and Lotor. Just another reason for Lance to hate him. Wonderful.

“Papa?” Rosa asked.

“You going home with Lotor tonight? Papa needs some alone time,” he said trying to keep his voice level. 

“Lance?” Lotor knew Lance would never give up time with Rosa. 

“She told me.” That was all he said, Lotor was smart it didn't take him long to figure out what Lance was talking about. 

With that, he left. He would have preferred to bring Rosa home, but he genuinely had no idea how he would handle her being around him right now. He would rather have her safe than blow up on her by accident. 

He made it to his car before the tears started. 

Of course, there was no reason for her to have told him. Now or ever. There was nothing he could have done to prevent the divorce or get her back if she was already dead set on it. But the thought that Allura had cheated on him, and then accused him of cheating of being a disgusting homosexual-

He slammed his forehead on the steering wheel. 

There was no way he was going to be able to drive home like this. 

He would probably get into an accident. 

Reaching for his phone he hit the first number, completely thinking it was Hunk.

“Lance?” Not Hunk. But Keith….Keith sounded really good right now. 

“I….” He covered his face with his hand. “I need a ride home.” He said trying to keep the tears and sadness and anger from his voice. But the concern in Keith’s voice told him, it had worked. 

“Where are you?” Keith asked already shuffling about.

“3r-rd level parking garg-garge at th-the hos-hospital.” Lance said no longer able to keep the tears back. 

“Do you want me to stay on the line?” Keith asked the click of his door and the jiggle of his keys came through. “It will take me about 15 minutes to get there.”

Lance thought about it but shook his head. “N-no it's fine.” 

Keith sighed. “Ok, stay put I'll be right there.” 

Lance hung up and tossed the phone away, trading it for the box of tissues he carried around in the car when Rosa was sick. Not that she had gotten much use out of it. But he was glad to have it.

Lance knew it had been a bit of time, but his tears were starting to run dry, and now all he could do was stare at the concrete wall in front of his car. The tap on his window broke his concentration or lack thereof. He tilted towards the sound to see a concerned Keith. 

Keith motioned for the window to be rolled down but Lance had different ideas. He opened the door and stepped out. 

Without a care, he grabbed Keith and pulled him into a hug. 

Now at any other given point in time, Lance would have thought of the following. Is Keith ok with hugs, or even Lance randomly bursting into his personal space? Keith is married and has a kid, this may be taken the wrong way if seen by someone else. Holy shit I am hanging Keith!

But nothing like that was a thought process for Lance. Not as the tears started up again. Not as the pain resurfaced. Not as he felt Keith hesitantly wrapping his arms around Lance. Not as Lance’s knees started to give. Not as they sunk to the ground. 

Keith held him and rubbed his back, whispering soft nothings that everything would be alright. He didn't ask why Lance was so upset. He only asked if Lance wanted to go home, to which Lance nodded.

Keith helped him into his car. “I am going to call Hunk to come pick up your car. Does he have a spare key?” 

Lance nodded. Hunk always had a spare key. Lance lost his own quite a lot. 

Lance could hear Keith on the phone with Hunk, and by the way, Keith had to keep pulling away the phone from his ear, Hunk was probably yelling. Lance couldn't seem to care though. Everything he knew was destroyed. 

He would have done anything for Allura, and she simply didn't want him to make her look bad. She classified him as dead weight, like a fishing weight caught in the greens he was cut loose. 

It hadn't mattered to her that he loved her. It hadn't mattered they had a daughter together. It didn't matter that his family had just disowned him. 

Nothing about it had mattered to her except for how her status quo looked to other people. 

Lance didn't even know Keith was in the car till it started up. “I know you want to go home, but why don't we stop for something to eat first? I know a great little ramen shop just up the street.” 

Lance snorted out a huff of a laugh. But nodded. Keeping silent. 

Keith drove in silence. He let Lance pick out his order on the mobile menu and had it set up to be taken out. 

They picked it up and Keith drove him home. 

It was domestic bliss that Lance hadn't had in so long as they set out the meal at the table. It was nice. Lance tried not to think about how Keith was probably with Shiro when Lance called him. 

Was Lance the reason they were going to get a divorce? Could Lance be their Lotor?

“Hey,” Keith nudged his foot with his own. “You don't have to tell me what happened, but you need to talk to someone.” 

Lance nonverbally shrugged. Fully aware he was right. 

He finished eating grabbing Azul and Samurai before curling up on the couch. Keith followed sitting at the opposite end, resting his cheek on the back of the couch as he faced Lance. 

“Allura cheated on me.” Lance finally said, quietly. “A year before we divorced. She used the reason my family gave as an excuse to leave me.” 

Keith probably didn't know what to say to that. But telling Keith didn't change the fact that Lance still hurt. Despite already being divorced, already separated from Allura for the past 6 years it still hurt. 

He still loved her. Despite all she had said. Despite how she had acted. Despite her not listening to him.

He had listened. He had asked the appropriate questions. And he had left telling her he needed time to think. Nothing he had done today, was the incorrect way of handling the situation. 

At least not to Lance. 

However, he didn't want to blow up at her. Or Rosa. And he didn't want to go to jail for beating the shit out of Lotor. Simply wasn't worth it in the end. 

“Rosa was only a year at that point.” Keith finally said. 

“Ya. Allura had been on a work retreat when it happened.” Lance muttered playing with Azul's paw while Samurai lay across his lap. Both kittens were aware enough to know something was wrong with their human. 

“I am sorry,” Keith replied. 

Lance shrugged. “This whole time I thought it was my fault. I thought- I was blamed for everything. But she had been thinking about divorce for a whole year before she found out about my little thing.” He snorted. 

“None of this was your fault. Your family shouldn't have abandoned you. Allura should have stood by your side. I wo-” He didn't get the chance to finish his sentence when Hunk burst into the apartment. 

“Lance!?” he cried spotting Lance on the couch and was on him in seconds. The kittens have enough brainpower to scramble out of the way. “Oh! I was so scared! I even asked if Allura had died!” 

Lance hummed and let Hunk hold him. Lance’s heart ached because before hugging Keith this would have been the best thing in the world. Now all he wanted was for Hunk to let him go so he could wrap himself around Keith again. 

“What happened?” Hunk asked finally pulling back. 

Lance lowered his eyes. “She cheated on me a year before we divorced. And was looking for a reason to do it.” 

Hunk gasped. “That bitch!” 

“Easy buddy. It's not worth it. Not anymore.” Lance patted him on the arm, but he was so tired. 

“What are you going to do?” Hunk asked. 

Lance shrugged. “Probably nothing. At least at the moment. I'm tired, I think I might go to sleep.” 

Although he made no move to get up. He was pretty comfortable right where he was. He had the best view. A view he obviously couldn't keep but one he would enjoy nonetheless. Keith’s purple eyes were so pretty in the light. 

But Keith wasn't his. And would never be his. 

“I can stay.” Hunk offered. 

Before Lance could interject, Keith spoke up. “You have an early start in the morning. I can stay.”

Hunk eyed him. “You sure?” 

Lance wanted to cry again. But for a whole different reason this time. 

“I think I can afford to take the morning off,” Keith replied. 

Hunk was still weary but nodded. “Alright. Should I tell Shea?” 

“You will tell her with or without my permission,” Lance replied with a small smile. 

Hunk huffed but didn't deny it. “Let me know if you need anything alright?”

“Thanks, buddy.” 

With one last hug, Hunk left. 

“You want to move to your room?” Keith asked. 

But Lance shook his head. “I'm alright.” He tugged the blanket up to his chin. 

He wasn't sure when he fell asleep, and quite frankly he hadn't meant to. He had meant to tell Keith to go home. Be with his husband. But instead, he was lulled awake by Keith talking on the phone.

“No, I'm going to stay the night……if you could that would be really helpful…..he just seems stressed…….I don't blame him either…..” Keith chuckled. “Yes tell Sammy I will pick him up from school….ok thanks……ugh gross love you too.” Lance snapped his eyes shut when Keith moved back to the couch. 

He barely opened one eye to watch as Keith snuggled back into the couch. 

Once Keith was settled, Lance opened both eyes. “You can go home.” 

Keith started but shook his head. “Nah just needed to make sure Kosmo was fed.” 

Lance hesitated. But he was already down the rabbit hole of self-destruction. “Shiro is alright with that?” 

“I prefer to take Kosmo with me, but Shiro is fine taking care of him.” Keith replied with a shrug, then fiddled with his phone and showed Lance. “See?”

It was a video feed of the dog in his cage. Shiro’s legs moving in and out of the frame while little Sammy followed his father. 

Kosmo didn't seem the least bit worried as Shiro poured food into the dogs bowl. 

Lance will completely and utterly blame it on the fact that he was already going through an emotional day. That he would probably get upset over a cat video then. 

But he honestly couldn't take it. Not after everything he had been through. Not after everything he had seen. Not after everything he had told Keith. 

Tears came up.

“What's wrong?” Keith asked concerned. About Lance. Not about his husband or his kid. About Lance. 

“You need to leave,” Lance said quietly. 

“Huh?” Keith was confused. “Lance I don-”

“Go home. Go home to your family. You have seen what cheating does and I will not be a part of that. Not for someone else.” Lance shouted getting off his couch. “Now leave!” 

“Lance I think-”

“Leave!” He shouted. 

Keith looked so hurt, and Lance couldn't look at him. 

“Just go. Please. I don't want what happened with me, to be your outcome as well. So just go. And…..and never come back.” Lance didn't watch Keith leave, but he heard him. 

He heard the sigh. He heard the shuffling of Keith putting on his shoes again. He heard the door open. There was a pause. Keith was probably looking to say something, but thought better of it and left. 

Chapter Text

Lance did not get up the next morning. He didn't get breakfast. He just barely got up to use the bathroom. He didn't take a shower. He didn't wash his face. He didn't change his clothes.

Instead, he lay in bed, staring at the wall. He went in and out of dozing, but for the most part, he just lay there. 

At some point, he checked his phone to find it dead. Instead of charging it, he set it back on his nightstand and turned away from it. His kittens lay with him, he was both grateful and upset with himself that he got them an automatic feeder. 

It would give him a reason to get up if it was manual. At least right now he didn't worry about them starving if he couldn't get himself out of bed. 

Lance didn't know how long he lay there. He had blackout curtains, so he couldn't base it on the sun. He used his phone as an alarm clock so there was no help there. 

What he did know was that there was banging on his door at some point. 

He wanted to groan and roll over. Ignore it and never leave his apartment. 

He was miserable. 

He got whammed so many times in 2 days. First the thing with his editor. Then Allura’s accident. Then Rosa got sick. And then Allura told him she cheated on him. Then Keith.

He buried his face again. He wanted Keith for himself, but he couldn't be selfish. 

Not when Keith had a good thing going. Better than anything Lance had anyway. No use in Lance ruining that for him. 

The banging increased.

Finally, he gave up and got up. Grabbing his rob, but only putting a little effort into tying it off. By the time he made it to the door, it was untied again. He just shrugged and opened the door. 

“If this is a robbery, I don't have anything worth stealing,” Lance said as he opened up.

Revealing Adam, looking terrified and angry all at the same time. 

“Oh thank god your alive,” Adam said checking him over. 

“If you call this living. Sure.” Lance said stepping aside to let Adam in. “I'd offer a drink but honestly that sounds like way too much work.” 

He flopped down onto the couch staring at the spot Keith had sat last night. 

“I have been calling you all day,” Adam said sitting in the chair next to the couch. Good, Lance didn't want him sitting in Keith’s spot. Not that it would ever really be Keith’s spot. 

“Phones dead. Didn't bother putting it on the charger.” Lance muttered bringing Azul up to his chest. The little blue kitten purred as she lay in his hands. 

“Well, your entire family agreed to do interviews,” Adam said. 

Oh, that's why he’s here.

“Oh…..”Lance muttered. “So I have a full-time bodyguard now?” 

“Something like that.” Adam agreed. “What happened to you?” 

“I think the technical term is heartbroken, but that would require a broken heart. I think it's more like a shattered heart at this point.” Lance explained. 

“I didn't know you were in a relationship,” Adam replied. 

“I wasn't. Just….I think he's married or at the very least in a relationship.” Lance said shrugging. “I couldn't do that to him. Not after everything.” 

“I'm sorry to hear that. Cheating never has any solid ground.” Adam replied. 

“No….no it doesn't. It just hurt people.” Lance said, Samurai made his way to Adam and the man picked him up.

“When was the last time you ate?” Adam asked. He seemed concerned. 

“Some time last night? After I got home from the hospital.” Lance shrugged.

Adam sighed. “Lance it's almost 8 at night.” 

“Oh….” But he wasn't that concerned. He wasn't hungry anyway.

Adam seemed far more concerned though. “You're a mess. Come on.” 

The older man removed the kittens and helped stand Lance up. 

“I'm fine,” Lance said trying to pull away. 

“Bullshit,” Adam replied. “Now it's my job to keep you safe, even from yourself. So you are going to shower, I'm going to order dinner, and then we are going to talk. Even if it's not about whatever happened, we need to go over how we are going to handle your family.” 

Lance just let Adam tug him along. 

“What about your husband?” Lance asked and Adam watched him get fresh clothes together. 

“Honestly when I told him you weren't answering your phone he got worried. He made me come. Well, he made me come earlier than I wanted to. I was going to give you till tomorrow.” Adam replied with a shrug. 

“You married a good one,” Lance replied. 

“I know. But sometimes I want to strangle him.” 

Lance smiled at that, “Aw so romantic.” 

“Damn straight.” And they shared a smile. “Now to shower. Where’s your phone?” 

“Night stand,” Lance said waving in the general direction. 

While Lance showered, Adam plugged in his phone. No way was Adam going to not have some form of communication with Lance. 

Lance stepped out of the bathroom, feeling marginally better, well until he saw the messages on his phone. 

Not that he read them. He saw some from Allura, and a missed call from Lotor because he couldn't text to save his life. Another from Hunk, and……

“Keith….” He breathed. 

Lance sagged. He didn't want to read any of those.

He took his phone off its charger transferring it to the one by the couch. 

“Can you look at my missed messages? I don't want to see some of them but I'm sure the others are important.” Lance asked looking at Adam who raised an eyebrow but took the phone. 

“Who are we avoiding?” 

“Keith and Allura,” Lance muttered curling in on himself. “And Lotor, but I should probably listen to whatever message he left.”

“Keith?” Adam asked sounding confused. 

“Ya, the guy I told you about. Stupid fool.” Lance whipped his tears away. Damn, he was starting to wonder if one could ever cry out all their tears. 

“Allura just sent a bunch of apologies. Hunk is concerned and will be stopping by tomorrow after work. Someone named Pidge texted you about a movie night?” Adam was quiet for a bit then sighed. “Keith is apologetic but confused. And by his texts, I would say he has every right to be confused.”

“Why? Because I won't let him cheat on his husband?” Lance asked bitterly. 

“Erm….no I wouldn't say that…” Adam replied a bit hesitantly, but there was a knock at the door. 

“What is it? Bug Lance night?” Lance snipped tossing away his blanket and picking up Samurai. He was not in the mood for more people. Hell having Adam here was too much. 

“It might be food,” Adam said. 

Lance huffed but answered it anyway. “Alright, what do I owe you?” If Adam ordered food he didn't know how much it was.

“Lance!” 

On a scale of 1-10 on how out of it Lance was, today was about an 11. Lance was hoping tomorrow would be better once he was done processing everything, but honestly, today was not tomorrow and he was very much out of it.

So Lance was not thinking when he saw Shiro of all people standing in his doorway. 

“Hard. Pass.” Lance said and shut the door. “I'm done with today. Leave me to die.”

And then grabbed both kittens and went to his office. 

He was not going to deal with Shiro. If Shiro wanted answers he could go talk to Keith. Lance was done. 

He was over the lying. The cheating. The drama. He was done with romance. He was done with people. 

He didn't want to see his supposed family. He didn't want to see Keith (he wanted to see Keith). He didn't want to talk or even think about Allura. Lotor could go burn in the fiery pits of hell for all Lance carried about. 

Rosa, his sweet little flower deserved a have a father who wasn't such a fuck up. 

Maybe he had run out of tears because he could no longer cry. He was a bit angry, though. Why him? Why must everyone drag him threw the mud? 

Was it so much to ask, to be able to work, to see his daughter, to have someone who he could share things with? Was it too much to ask to not have to worry about the drama?

He set the kittens on their tower and went to his desk. Maybe he should take a vacation. No….not without Rosa.

Maybe he could move? Ya, that was probably a good place to start. He had money now, a lot of it since Allura paid for his current apartment. 

“Lance?” 

“I'm not in the mood. Please just go away.” Lance called as he sifted through houses that looked promising. 

Adam didn't take no for an answer he opened the office door and stepped in, holding a plate of food. 

“Lance, I want you to meet someone,” Adam said, in such a way that left no argument. 

Lance glanced up, trying to convey how truly tired he was with everything. 

“Lance, this is my husband, Shiro. You have met our son, Sam.” Adam said clearly. 

Shiro looked confused as to what Adam was doing but shrugged. “Had I known who you were I would have asked for an autograph when we first met.”

Lance just kind of stared at him as Adam set the plate down. 

“I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding.” Adam went on. 

“You two…..are married,” Lance said. 

“Correct.” Adam agreed. 

“But Keith drops Sam off at school,” Lance said he was having a hard time processing anything today. 

“Correct.” Adam agreed. 

“Give me a moment, my brain has been traumatized quite a bit in the last few days.” Lance rubbed his forehead. “So Keith is…..”

“My brother. He drops Sam off when I can't do it. Adam leaves the house long before Sam has to be at school so he is never able to do it.” Shiro explained. 

The wheel currently running Lance’s brain was running slow.

Shiro went to say something but Adam spoke first. “He will get it.” 

And Lance did get it. He suddenly stood up dropping his chair on the ground and scaring the kittens right out of the office. 

“Holy shit Batman! I can ask Keith out!” 

“Yes, yes you can,” Adam replied. 

“Oh, but I yelled at him yesterday. Fuuuucckk.” Lance tugged his hair and dropped to his knees his head dropping on his arms. 

“Don't worry, he knew you were going through some stuff. Now Shiro was nice enough to bring over his shepherd's pie, with Caribbean spices. I recommended you eat, sign his books, and then we can talk some more. How's that sound?” Shiro nodded excitedly in the background.

“Ya, ok I can do that.” Lance took one bite of the food and moaned. “Damn, that's good.” 

Shiro puffed up with pride and Adam slapped him. 

“How many books do you want signed?” Lance shuffled around his desk for a pen as he held the fork between his teeth. 

“All of them,” Shiro said suddenly dropping every single book Lance had ever written on his desk. 

“Shit…..” Lance muttered around the fork, taking another bite. He pulled his seat back up and between bits, he signed every book. “Anything extra you want?” 

Shiro beamed. “You do what you think is right.” 

Lance chuckled but shook his head. “Alright….” 

He went about signing like he normally did. He was adding little drawings, phrases, and personalized notes. Shiro got the whole treatment. 

Once he was done he reached into a draw and pulled out a set of bookmarks.

“Typically these are only given out to the big VIP guests and would cost a mint for anyone else. I don't get it the publisher thinks it's good for the brand.” He said shrugging and tossing a few into his favorite ones including book two….the one about the red lion background. 

He traced his fingers around the lines red lion. Keith likes this one. 

He cleared his throat and handed the pile back. 

“Now you can brag to all your bookworm friends, that you got all your books signed for one of your shepherd's pies.” Lance joked. 

“Ya everyone will be super jealous,” Adam replied with a smile. 

“I'm not telling anyone! They can fight me!” Shiro snipped. “Plus they would try to steal them from me.” 

Lance chuckled and then really looked at the pile. “You have….them all.”

“Huh?” The two men looked at him. 

“You don't just have the Lions series you….you have them all. All the books I’ve ever written.” Lance muttered looking over the cover of his first book. 

“Of course, I enjoyed them all,” Shiro replied. 

Lance picked up the first book he had ever written. It didn't sell too well, but it was a love story he wrote for Allura. The Princess and The Lunar Flowers. A space travel book about a lonely princess in a castle-like ship. 

“I just haven't seen this one in a long time is all,” Lance muttered. “I got rid of my copy about 5 years ago.”

“But it was your first book,” Shiro replied. 

“It was a piece I wrote for Allura that just sorta sold.” He replied handing it back. “My first book was about my ex-wife. Couldn't keep that around even for sentimental reasons.” 

“You loved her.” It wasn't a question. 

“I did. Still, in some way, do.” Lance replied. “She was my whole world for a long time. I guess I just wasn't her's.” 

“Keith likes your books.” Shiro pointed out. 

“Rosa likes the 2nd book, they bounded over it when he was over the other day,” Lance muttered. “I shouldn't have yelled at him.” 

“Well in all fairness you were under the impression he was married to Shiro and that you were going to cause them the same pain you went through.” Adam pointed out. 

“You did not!” Shiro cried. 

Lance shrugged. “Anyway enough of my mistakes, what are we going to do about my wonderful family?” 

Chapter Text

Lance sat on the trunk of his car. Hunk said that Keith wouldn't be at the shop for another few minutes, but that was alright. Lance was enjoying the cool air. After dealing with the details of his parents being interviewed and possibly having to talk to them the last 2 days, it was refreshing. 

He had wanted to text Keith, but he didn't know what to say. He had a feeling, “Sorry I thought you were married to your brother and assumed I was going to to turn you into a cheater,” just wouldn't read correctly. 

So he waited for Keith to show up. He had a meeting at the publishers in a couple of hours, but it was more details he wasn't looking forward to going over. 

Adam was great though, he understood perfectly where Lance would hesitate and came up with solutions that would allow for safe interactions. Adam assured him that until this expo was released he would be at Lance’s side for pretty much the whole thing. 

Shiro and Sam even joined him sometimes. Rosa would be coming over this weekend, Lotor knew well enough to leave Lance alone for the time being, and Allura’s last text said that she would wait for him to be ready to talk again. 

Fat chance. 

The revving of the motorcycle parking next to him brought Lance out of his daydream. 

“Hey.” He waved when the engine cut out and Keith took off his helmet. 

“Hey.” Keith gave a weary wave back. 

Lance hopped out of the car, shifting feet. “I'm sorry I yelled at you.” 

Keith hummed and shrugged. “You were having a stressful day.” 

Lance snorted. “Ya. But I shouldn't have taken it out on you. That was a doofus move.”

Keith shrugged, looking down at his helmet. He was quiet, but Lance had gotten very good at getting him to talk. 

“Look, Keith, I don't know how to go about this. I haven't…….” He paused and whipped his hands on his jeans. Damn was Allura the last person he asked out? 

He used to be so smooth about this shit too. 

Keith raised an eyebrow. Confused, but giving Lance a chance to speak. 

Internally Lance screamed. Maybe Keith was just to go for him. He was so pretty! And smart and shit! What was Lance?! A writer who has sold a few books? A mess with a daughter and a mess of an ex-wife situation?

But! But he had made up his mind and Adam was waiting for the report back, fully confident Keith would say yes. Shiro had been no help, demanding Lance ask Keith out over text as soon as possible. Adam had luckily been able to veto that suggestion. 

“Do….out…..shit….wouldyouliketogooutwithme!?” Lance all but shouted. His eyes pinched closed, his ears being hugged by his shoulders, and his hands clenched tightly. What was he, 12?! Jeez!

Keith was quite a moment, longer than Lance would have expected, so he cracked open an eye to see Keith dumbfounded. 

“One more time,” Keith asked. “I didn't get it the first time. Try breathing between your words.” A small smile was starting to creep along the edge of his lips, that bastard knew what Lance was trying to ask. 

Lance groaned and dropped his face into his hands. Maybe he should have just texted as Shiro had recommended. 

“Would you like to go out with me? On a date. Possibly dinner, maybe a movie. I think there's a fair happening two towns over. Oh, but I have Rosa this weekend. Shit oh, I did not think this th-” Keith’s hand was warm on his lips, Lance was too busy rambling to notice Keith had moved in front of him, a gentle smile resting on his face.

“I am ok with going on a date with you. And I do not mind if Rosa is there.” Keith said gently, before taking away his hand. 

“Oh…..” 

Keith then blushed and looked away. “I thought we were already dating, to be honest.” 

Lance wanted to die, so he settled for dropping his head on Keith’s shoulder and chuckling to himself. 

“That is my fault. I thought you were dating Shiro or even married to him.” Lance muttered. 

Keith hissed. “Ew. Why? He’s my brother.”

“Because I didn't know he was your bother. I just knew that you were sharing drop-off duties with him.” Lance muttered. Keith let him stay resting on his shoulder.

Keith hummed. “Is that why you blew up about cheating? And not wanting to be the reason my relationship failed?”

Lance nodded but didn't say anything. It was so dumb now that he had all the information. But at the time, it had been something he truly believed. And it was terrifying. 

“Well congratulations, you were wrong and we have a date to set up,” Keith said gently nudging Lance in the side, making him squirm and move away from the offending hand. 

Lance glared but sighed in the end. “Never been happier to be wrong.” 

Keith chuckled. “I guess this is a good thing to be wrong about.” 

“Guess so.” Lance shifted on his feet. “Would you be free to do dinner tonight?” 

Keith thought about it for a moment but then nodded. “Ya, I'm free tonight. I thought you wanted to go to the fair with Rosa as a date.” 

Lance shrugged. “We can do both.”

“Both?”

“Both.”

“Both are good.” 

Lance grinned. “Good. I will set up a reservation and send you the location. 7 sound alright?”

“7 works. I will have to have Shiro feed Kosmo. But it's not the first time I have asked out of nowhere. What about the kittens?” 

“Automatic feeders. They will be fine.” Lance said smiling then frowned. “You're ok with dating someone with a daughter and a whole bunch of baggage right?”

“I'm ok with dating you, and everything else is just extra excitement,” Keith replied. 

Lance had to hide his face again. “Jeez, how did you become such a smooth talker?” He knew he was only saved by the bright red look because of his tanned skin, but he knew it wasn't completely hidden.

Keith shrugged. “Learn from the best, Loverboy.” 

And then walked away like he hadn't just dropped a nickname that Lance hadn't heard since middle school. Hell Hunk didn't even call him that and Pidge hadn't even thought about poking fun at the nickname in years! Allura didn't even know about that!

How the hell did Keith know that nickname!?

That question was going to piss Lance off all day because before Lance could demand an explanation his phone rang. 

The trilling didn't stop until he answered it. 

“Lance McClain.” He said gritting his teeth but making his way to the driver's seat. 

“Lance, are you on your way?” Adam.

“Yes, I'm on my way. Though I wish I had 15 more minutes.” He hissed bitterly. He was cornering Keith at dinner.

“Oh? What did Keith say?”

“He said yes and then decided to walk away without-” He was not going to tell Adam. “Neverminded. I'll ask him later.” 

“Right…ok…well we are going over questions for your parents today,” Adam said. 

“Ugh fine. I'll be there in 20 minutes, give or take.”

Adam agreed and that was that.

The questions were a pain. Lance already knew the answer to most of them. Like “Where did Lance grow up?” or “Was Lance a creative child?” or his favorite “What do you think of Lance making books referring to LGBTQ+ ideas?” A close contender was “What do you think of Lance being bisexual?”

Over all none of the questions were complete winners in his book, but the publisher loved them, and James was weeding out the really bad ones. 

Adam was a comfort, standing behind him and offering moral support. 

Before the meeting ended he did ask if he could have someone joining him for the in-person questions. He was hoping Keith could join them that way at least he wouldn't feel so bad if he had to be driven home. Then he could just snuggle with Keith and pass out in bed. 

Oh, that sounded perfect. Maybe he would do that anyway.

James agreed, the publisher took a bit longer to agree, but eventually said it was right as long as there was a contract saying Keith would not talk about the expo before it was out. 

Lance highly doubted Keith would pay much attention to the questions. But he agreed and would talk to Keith about it later. After he got his answers that is. 

“You want Keith to be there?” Adam asked concerned as they walked out of the conference room. 

Lance shrugged. “I want them to see that I am doing ok, even if I'm not.” 

Adam hummed. “You think we could sneak Rosa in?”

“I refuse to let them see Rosa. If they cared about her at all they would have kept some line of communication open.” Lance hissed bitterly. He would not give them something they once cared about if the family wasn't going to care about him at the same time. “They do not deserve her.” 

Adam snorted but nodded. “So your date…”

“I already made reservations at the Korean BBQ place,” Lance said proudly. 

“Very nice. Sammy likes it there. We go at least twice a month.” Adam said. “Good food, and great staff.”

“I was going off reviews. But I glad they are right.” After all, Lance wanted to get back at Keith for his comment about Korean BBQ, and now was the perfect opportunity. Serves him right, you don't mess with Lance like that, he had siblings and a lot of them. 

Adam probably didn't understand the implications of such a harmless restaurant, but Lance was not going to let it go. No way. 

“I think I'm going to go to the café next door. Get some writing done.” Lance mussed. 

“Lead the way,” Adam replied holding open the door. 

Turned out the café was a good idea, for about 2 hours. But Lance should have known, that all good things must come to an end. 

“Lance?” 

Lance stiffened. His fingers hovering over his key bored. He felt Adam shift the rustle of his book being adjusted but he didn't react, ok with following Lance on situations. 

“Lance I just want to talk. You haven't been answering your phone.” Allura said. He was glad she was doing well enough to be moving around. But a glance outside told him she had a driver today. Rosa would be in school right now. 

Though Allura was probably on her way to pick Rosa up now, it was about that time. He had seen a text from Keith letting him know that he was picking up Sammy and then heading home to get changed and shower. 

Lance looked up at her, resting his elbows on the table. “What do you want me to say? We are no longer married. I'm angry but it no longer matters.” 

“Lance, I just wanted to talk.” Allura tried. He could see her eyes flicker to Adam, she knew who he was and what he was there for. 

“You might be ready to talk, but I am not. You hurt me. But you got everything you wanted all wrapped up in a neat little bow. I am just a loose end you finally cut away.” Lance replied shutting his computer. 

“It was never like that.” Allura tired. 

“Yes. It was. And if you are going to lie to yourself, maybe you are not as ready to talk as you thought.” He stood and wrapped his latest pastry before tossing his now very cold coffee. “I always wondered why you did everything you did, now I know it was out of guilt. When I'm ready to talk I will come see you. Until then, just stick to our normal routine with Rosa.”

“She was upset you left her,” Allura said. 

Lance hung his head with a sigh and then looked at her. “And how upset was she when you took her from me for almost 2 months while the divorce was going through?” 

With that he left, the soft thump of Adam shutting his book told him the older man was following. 

“A different café then?” Adam asked as they walked. 

“Not today.  I want to go home. I have to get ready for tonight anyway.” Lance said tucking his computer in his bag. 

“I'm sure Shiro is more than delighted to help Keith.” But he said it with a wince. 

“I can dress myself for a date. I was married to one of the most powerful women at one point.” He said smugly. “Go help, Keith. I'm sure he will need it.” 

Adam chuckled. “I'm going to make sure you get home first then I'll go help them.” 

Adam kept his work, making sure Lance got home safe before hooking up once and waving goodbye. 

Lance stood in front of his wardrobe and came to the shocking conclusion, he had nothing to wear. 

And he meant that literally. 

All his good jeans were in the laundry. He had two beat-to-hell jeans he had worn around the apartment. His shirts were, for lack of a better term, all graphics t-shirts. 

All the clothes he had once worn to parties with Allura had been slowly weeded out for favor in the world of comfort and mobility. And since he worked at home only really having to go into the office once maybe twice a month, he did not get any office-based clothes either. 

“Well, shit.” He muttered. 

He quickly dialed Hunk's number for a video call hoping that Shea and Hunk could give him a hand. The moment green shifted in the video though he was ready to hang up and not answer the phone.

“Lance! My man! What did Hunk’s unofficial secretary do to earn such a conversation?” Pidge asked grinning.

“I was looking to talk to Hunk. Is he there?” Lance asked. 

Pidge held up the phone revealing a sheepish Hunk covered in flour and dough. 

“It bread making night and it's not going very well,” Pidge said coming back into the screen. “So you get me instead.”

Lance grimaced. 

“Damn, dude! I can help! I'm pretty smart!” Pidge was right, they were pretty smart. But they were not fashion forwards on anything. 

“I have a date and I need help picking what to wear,” Lance said through grit teeth. 

“Wait. Hold up. There is a lot to unpack in that one statement. You have a date!? And you can't find something to wear? Who are you!?” Pidge cried. And Hunk cried out in the background. Probably for Shea as she took the phone from Pidge’s hands a moment later. 

“Who asked who out?!” Shea demanded as Hunk popped up in the background still fighting with his problem child of bread dough. 

“I asked him out,” Lance muttered. 

“Him!?” Pidge cried. “Man, why am I getting all the important details second handed! You should have called me. Why didn't you tell me?!”

“Relax Pidge, I was going to tell you at movie night. Things just…. happened and it was all very chaotic.” Lance replied waving his hand about nonchalantly. 

“Allura getting into an accident and then telling you she used your family’s homophobia to divorce you because she had a proper affair, is not something to be nonchalant about.” Hunk scolded. 

Pidge huffed. “Again, I am hurt I am the last to find out. Who's the lucky guy?”

Lance hummed trying to dig out a button-down shirt of some kind. He could have sworn he still had one!

“Keith.” Hunk supplied for Lance. 

“Keith!? Your boss Keith!?” Pidge shouted.

“Volume,” Shea muttered. “And yes.” 

“The same Keith who-” Hunk quickly shut them up. 

Drawing Lance’s attention. “Who what?”

“Nothing!” Hunk cried and then bushed Pidge out of the frame leaving Lance alone with just Shea who shrugged. 

“I think that will go very nicely with your black jeans,” Shea said gesturing to the dark blue button-down Lance finally located.

“You think so?” Lance asked eyeing it. He hummed and tossed the shirt on the bed. Then started digging around for the jeans she had mentioned. He knew exactly which ones, and he knew his ass looked great in them.

Honestly, Lance didn't buy jeans that didn't make his ass look good, but the black pair where special. They were just a bit tighter in all the right places. 

“Tie?” He asked and then quickly found out, “Never mind I don't have any that survived.” 

Shea chuckled. “You don't need a tie anyway. Now shoes.”

Lance shuffled around and then realized he only had three pairs. “High tops, boots, or sandals?” He asked. 

Shea laughed, “High tops. I didn't realize your wardrobe dropped so much.”

“Neither did I,” Lance replied getting dressed out of sight of the camera.

“Ok! Let's see the outfit!” Hunk said finally returning from wherever he had taken Pidge. 

Lance was finishing up the last button when he stepped back into the frame. “So?”

“Hot damn!” Hunk cheered. “It's been so long since you dressed up that I almost forgot how well you cleaned up.”

“Oh stop. Do not have much of a reason to dress up these days.” Lance replied. 

He looked at himself in the mirror and all he could see was that guy who tried too hard to remember all the names of party plans for charity events. Who tried so hard to be perfect for Allura. Tried and tired and-

He tore off the shirt and tossed it in the trash. He didn't want to be that guy anymore. He wants that guy anymore. He never was that guy no matter how hard he tried. 

Lance couldn't hear his friends crying out. He just looked for a new shirt tearing it all away until-

He slammed his hand on the end button and sank to the ground. His knees under his chin and his hands in his hair. 

Why did he think this was a good idea? Keith didn't like him. No, he was humoring Lance. 

No one wanted to be with Lance. 

He curled in on himself. Lance could hear his phone going off but he just couldn't answer it. He was broken. She had finally broken him. 

Lance wasn't sure how long he sat there, long enough that he should probably text Keith and cancel. Saying something came up. Try to be confident about it. 

But in reality, he was just running away. Running away from Allura. Form Lotor. Form his family. From Keith. 

“Lance?” He jolted. Panicking when he heard his name being called. He looked around and started cleaning. Someone was here. Someone was in his home. It was so dirty-

“Lance?” His bedroom door opened and he suddenly burst into tears.

“I'll clean it! I'll clean it!” He cried out trying to shift all his fallen clothes into a pile hiding them from the intruder. 

“Stop…Lance….look at me.” Lance’s chest was tightening, he needed to clean. He needed to-

Hands took his own up and away from the mess on the ground, forcing him to look up at who had entered his space. 

“Keith?” Lance whispered. 

“Hunk called me. Said you were worrying him.” Keith said. 

Lance swayed a bit on his knees. “How….why are you here?” 

“Because Hunk was worried about you,” Keith repeated.

“But the date- oh I missed our date! I'm sorry! I- I lost track of time!” Lance started to panic all over again.

“Lance you didn't miss our date, Hunk was just worried about you. He says you hung up after tearing your shirt off. He asked me to come check on you.” Keith explained.

“Oh….” Lance looked down at himself, just his jeans had survived the rampage. 

“Do you still want to go out for dinner?” Keith asked.

Lance looked around his room. “I don't think I have anything to wear.” 

Keith chuckled, “Well it's a good thing because other the pizza I brought would have gone to waste.”

“You… brought a pizza? We were supposed to go out!” 

Keith shrugged. “You seemed to be having a panic attack. I took a guess and got a pizza.” 

“We were supposed to get Korean BBQ!” Lance whined. 

Keith started at him and then burst into laughter. 

“Shut up!” Lance huffed. 

Keith shook his head and helped Lance up. Oh, Lance wished he had not had a panic attack, Keith looked so good. 

Lance pouted. 

“What?” Came the question as a shirt was put into his hands. 

“You got all nicely dressed and now we are eating pizza at my dinner table,” Lance replied slipping into the shirt. 

“Adam made sure I didn't show up in something dirty,” Keith replied tugging Lance’s hand to the kitchen. 

He huffed but followed. 

Lance got out the set of plates and some glasses where for the soda Keith had also gotten, while Keith un-boxed the pizza and set it out on the table. 

Lance set the pizza slices out on plates while Keith poured the drinks. Lance was happy it wasn't beer or wine. Allura had liked wine and his dad had drank enough beers for two. 

They sat and ate in silence for a bit, till Lance’s curiosity got the better of him. 

“So you called me Loverboy this morning.” 

Keith eyed him, shrugged, and shook his head. 

“Where did that come from?”

Keith swallowed and hummed. “Well, it was your nickname in middle school.” 

“Ya, but how did you know that? No one knows that, well Hunk does but that's it.” Lance shook his head. 

Keith eyed him a moment then set his pizza down. “We went to the same middle school.”

Lance gapped at him. “No, we did not.” Lance was pretty sure he would have remembered Keith. 

“Yes, we did. Went to the same high school too. Pretty sure we had classes together as well.” 

“No! Oh shit!” Lance tried to rack his brain trying to figure out if anything stood out in the middle-

A stab of pain went through his brain, causing him to hiss and grab his head. 

“Lance?” 

“Sorry, I'm fine. I just don't remember you.” He shook his head as the pain left. 

Keith gave him a sad smile. “It's alright. We are here now, so it's not a problem.”

Lance winced but nodded. “Ya, I suppose we are.” 

“On a different note, how's the expo going?” Keith asked. The change of topic was nice, but it made Lance wonder, Hunk had been acting weird when Pidge had asked about Keith and now Keith was acting a bit strange. 

But Lance let him have it, he would eventually get his answers, he always did after all. 

“It's going alright. Would be better if my family hadn't agreed to participate though.” 

“They are going to be interviewed?” Lance nodded. “Jeez.”

“Ya, I did get permission for you to be there…if you are free of course.” Lance pushed and pulled his glass, thinking maybe that was a bad idea.

“If you want me to be there, I will be there.”

Chapter Text

Lance couldnt sit still. He was pacing. Siting down. Pacing some more.

His parents just entered the parking lot.

Adam stood behind him looking intimidating which was nice. While Keith sat next to him. Offering both moral and physical support when Lance decided to reach out for it. 

Keith tugged him back into the seat. “Want a distraction?” 

Lance hesitated but nodded. 

“Would you like to be my boyfriend?” Keith asked. 

Lance started at him but slowly ever so slowly nodded as a grin crept up on his lips. “We've only gone out 3 times at this point.” 

Keith chuckled, “So?” 

“Boyfriend…” Lance tested it with a smile. “I like that.”

“Good because I don't plan on ever letting you go,” Keith said taking Lance’s hand into his own. 

“You a dork.” Lance huffed debut was still smiling. Boyfriend. Keith was Lance’s boyfriend. 

“And you're an ass.” Keith joked. 

“Only to you.” Came the humor-filled snip. 

Lance felt a touch on his shoulder and looked up to see Adam looking at the door. He turned to see his mother, father, two uncles, his aunt, and even some of his siblings standing there. 

He swallowed so hard it almost hurt.

James, bless him, decided to step up first. 

“Mr. and Mrs. McClain, right this way.” James stood between his family and Lance, creating an effective barrier. 

Lance still tightened his grip on Keith’s hand. 

His father though stopped in front of Lance. 

Adam set himself up just in case. Ready to pull Lance out of the way and do his job. 

“Lance.” He said staring down his son, or at least his disowned son. 

“Sir,” Lance replied, sounding far braver than he felt. 

His father’s eyes traveled to Keith and then they narrowed. “I heard Allura divorced you.” His eyes flickered back to Lance. 

“She did.” Lance agreed. Not for lack of trying apparently. 

“I also heard she got remarried. A good man that Lotor, a good role model for Rosa.” And then he walked away. 

But Lance couldn't breathe. He could only think about how his father had been keeping an eye on Allura and Lotor, on how they took care of Rosa, but him? 

“Hey,” Keith pulled Lance’s hand to his chest. “Follow me.” He said. 

Lance followed his breaths and holy shit, Keith was onto something. 

“I think I should start therapy,” Lance said when he could breathe right. 

“That might be a smart idea.” Keith agreed.

Lance didn't know why his family had come, they hardly answered any questions. Anything related to Lance’s sexuality was ignored. Anything about after he was disowned was left unanswered. 

3 hours in and Lance had enough. 

He stood and walked to where the interviewer sat, clearly at a loss as to what to do. 

“Why did you even come here? You could have saved us all a lot of time if you just didn't show up. You disowned me! You abandoned me! And now you what? Want to see how much worse you can make my life?!” He snarled. 

Adam stood next to him, Keith’s hand in his own. 

The staff stood, waiting for something to happen. Adam was tense, ready to act. 

His father stood, stepping towards him. Adam shifted, ready. Keith leaned on his right foot ready to drag Lance out of the crossfire. 

“We came here to talk.” His father said. 

“Well, you are doing a bang-up job of that.” Lance hissed back.

“We came to talk to you. Not the reporters.” Lance glared at him. 

“Talk?” Lance gripped out. “Or fight?”

“Talk. Privately.” Lance started at his father but looked at James. 

“I need a moment.” James hesitated but motioned for the journalists and publishers to leave the room, leaving Lance, Adam, and Keith starting down the McClain family. 

“Privately means-”

“I know what privately means. They stay or this does not happen.” Lance replied bitterly. 

His father eyed Adam and then glared at Keith. Ok, there was something there, but that was for a later conversation. 

“So…talk.” Lance hissed out. He didn't feel like another beating, another pull into the family who had practically destroyed him when they had kicked him out. He owed them nothing. He hated how long it took him to come to terms with that. 

It was tense for a long time. It was his mother who stepped forward. 

“We came to apologize. When your Abuela died her last wish was for us to reconsider your spot in the family. And it took a long time to come to terms with it. We have been trying to learn and understand. We were angry, you behaved immorally not only as a man but as a husband, not only betraying your wife but with another man-”

“I never cheated on Allura! Never!” Lance shouted. “Not once did I act in a way that would be harmful to my marriage, to my family, or my daughter. Not once!” 

“Lance-”

“No! Allura cheated on me! Long before we devoured. When Rosa was one! She cheated on me! Not flirting. Not going on a date. No, she full on cheated. With Lotor. On me. So no. You do not get to criticize me for cheating.”

“Allura would never-” His father tired. 

“She told me. She told me the other day. You can ask her yourself. I'm sure she would tell you.” Lance hissed. “Now if all you wanted to do was tell me how I messed up I am leaving.” 

“We didn't know.” His mother said setting her hand on her husband's arm. 

“Neither did I. Allura was looking for a reason to leave me. Well, congratulations you gave it to her.” Lance snapped. He turned on his heel. Adam was close to him and Keith was next to him.

“So what? You're just going to run away with him again!?” His father shouted. 

Lance paused. Again? 

Slowly he turned to look at the older man. “Again?”

Keith was tense next to him. Already urging him out of the room. However, Lance ignored him. 

“Run away with him again? What the hell are you talking about?” Lance repeated. First of all, Lance had never run away from home, unless you count the time he went to the convenience store without telling anyone to get a treat for himself. Second, him? Who was this him? Third, again? 

“Oh, that's right you forgot. I guess beating the gay away really does work.” It was Adam’s turn to jolt, his eyes flickering between Lance and his father. 

With a sick sense of pride, his father continued. “You ran away when you were just 13 years old with that very same boy. Gone for 4 weeks! But boy when I got my hands on you…..well, I was fairly pleased with the amnesia that the doctors said probably won't go away. You forgot all about your little trite and came right back home, none the wiser.” 

Lance started at him. 

That couldn't be right. Lance didn't even know who Keith was! But Hunk knew….Hunk had stopped Pidge from saying something the other day. Pidge was a year younger than them but had moved up a grade because they were so smart. 

Lance didn't know Keith, he didn't know Keith at all. Keith was a new fixture in his life, one he was happy to have, but new nonetheless. 

“I guess the doctors were right.” His father replied. “Your memories did never come back.” 

Lance though couldn't focus. He…no that was impossible….right? Completely impossible. There was no way, Lance missed Keith even with amnesia. No way! It would make more sense that Lance simply did not know Keith than amnesia. 

And all caused by his father? It wasn't……

His breathing started to speed up. He was sure that anything else would send him over the edge. And his father seemed to know it. 

“Why do you think we were so quick to disown you? Hmm? I thought I beat the gay right out of you but instead, you went off and had a little gallivant with some barista boy. No wonder Allura wanted to divorce you.” 

Panic was setting in. That Lance could say for sure. However, anger was also present. 

And completely override the panic. Because the next thing he knew, Lance was on top of his biological father slamming his fists into his face. 

He was panting and it felt so good just to let it out on the man who caused him so much pain. 

“Fuck you! Fuck you! I hate you!” Lance was screaming as he kept punching. 

He knew people were trying to pull him off, but honestly, he just didn't care. 

The bastard deserved it and so much more. 

Finally, though, Adam got his arm hooked under Lance’s armpits and tore him away. 

“I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” Lance screamed as he tried to go back to attacking them. “I hate all of you! Fucking pieces of shit!” 

Adam was successful in removing Lance from the room, and Keith followed them out. Lance found out later that Keith had been held back by Adam from continuing the beating. 

But that was alright, because as soon as Adam set him down in the car the panic started to rise again, and all the anger dissipated. Causing him to promptly pass out.

Lance awoke sometime later, though he wasn't sure how long he had been out, it had been long enough for Adam and Keith to get him into his bed. Which meant he had probably been out for about an hour, minimum.

Lance didn't like that he felt better after beating his dad, but he did. What he didn't like the idea of was what his father had said. 

Amnesia? He did remember a time he had been in the hospital when he was around 13 he had been in a car accident. He was pretty beaten up and was lucky it was the end of the school year because it took him another week to be able to walk properly again. 

His mom had said they never caught the person who hit him and at 13 Lance had no reason to doubt them. 

But now…. he could see it. How careful Hunk had been that summer. How Pidge hadn't been allowed to be alone with him. How his family looked at him. How he had tried so hard to be the perfect son, taking on all possible responsibilities he could. 

He had known he was bi-sexual at the time but knew better than to say or do anything about it. It had taken years for his family not to tiptoe around him. He had tried so hard to be everything they wanted him to be. 

He tossed his arm over his eyes. How could he have been so stupid? Even just a few days ago, he hadn't even suspected.

There was a soft knock on his door and he felt the kittens move around him. Lance hadn't even been aware they had been there. 

Gently Keith pushed open the door holding a tray with a bowl and what looked like a sandwich on it. 

“Hey,” Keith said not stepping any farther into the room. 

“What he said……is it true?” Lance asked. Hunk would probably be the only other person who would fully know. But Keith would know as well. 

Keith hesitated but nodded. 

“Fuck.” Lance hissed, pushing his hands into his eyes out of frustration. Tears were once again making themselves present. “Fuck!” 

Keith hesitantly stepped closer setting the tray on the nightstand. He sat on the bed, letting Samurai into his lap.

Lance finally removed his hands and looked at him sitting up on the bed. “What happened?” 

“Before? Or after?” Keith asked, still not looking at Lance. 

“Both.” 

Keith sighed. “I am not sure where to start. Is it better to start with the after and end on a sad note? Or start in the beginning and end on a happy note?” 

Lance hesitated. “You won't leave after right?”

Keith shook his head. “I won't leave you unless you tell me to.”

“The beginning then.” Lance replied quietly.

Chapter Text

Keith was not a fan of human interactions. Except Shiro, but Shiro was an exception to a lot of Keith’s self-imposed rules. 

Keith was just fine sitting in the corner of the lunch room, by himself, left alone and away from the throngs of students around him. He didn't like it when teachers tried to push him to interact with his peers. He didn't like it when they made him do group work. 

He hated group work because he would either be stuck doing the entire project or no one would listen to him. Then proceeded to get an F because they didn't understand what the assignment was. Which he felt was understandably upsetting. 

However, like his classmates, his teachers never listened saying he had to speak up more, be nicer, and try and communicate. Which only ended up angering him more.

Keith knew punching kids in the face was not the proper way to communicate but honestly, it was the only time anyone ever listened to him, probably out of fear. 

He didn't mind though. He no longer had to do group projects, he wasn't forced to join group activities. And everyone in the lunch room stayed away from his corner. 

Well almost everybody.

“Is someone sitting here?” He blinked and looked up to see a boy with the brightest blue eyes and tanned skin looking at him with curiosity. Behind him stood another boy who looked ready to piss himself, and a girl(?) peeking out from under the first boy's elbow, looking curious but also worried. 

“Um no?” Keith replied. He eyed the tables around them they had gone a bit quite probably mentally getting ready to watch a fight. 

“Sweet!” The boy sat right next to Keith while the other two sat across from them. “Cash and his buddies took our spot, something about the windows, but this was the only spot left open.”

The boy was rambling but he offered Keith a cookie from his lunch. And he then handed another two to his friends.

“Dulce de leche cookies. My Mama makes them. They're pretty good. I always try to snag a few for Pidge and Hunk. I could grab you one too for tomorrow if you like it.” The boy said a smile on his face. 

Keith eyed the cookie, it looked pretty good and was probably better than the cardboard gram cracker cookies he got from the school with his meal. 

“Thanks,” Keith replied.

“Oh! I forgot!” The boy said as he chewed a bit of his sandwich. “I'm Lance! What's your name?” 

“Um, Keith.” He replied. 

Lance started at him, and Keith inwardly winced. Was he going to leave now? Panic started to set in. Instead, a grin broke out on Lance’s face. 

“Wait! You are that guy who was beating up his group mates!” Lance cried out. 

“They weren't following directions,” Keith muttered causing Lance to laugh some more. 

“Amazing! I just work with Hunk and Pidge on all our team projects. But I know that is not an option for everyone.” Lance said taking a sip of his drink, some Cuban drink Keith recognized from Adam. “Anyway we should sit together from now on. I don't want to mess with Cash more than I have to.”

“Agreed,” Hunk said nodding. 

“I could take ‘im!” Pidge said making the other boys laugh. 

“I'm sure you could Pidgeon, but let's try to avoid that alright?” Lance suggested. 

Keith took a bit of the cookie and hummed. It was really good!

“Told you,” Lance said smugly. 

Keith looked away, he did not want to tell Lance he was right. 

Keith sat in silence for the rest of lunch, but Lance made sure to get his opinion on everything so Keith had to pay attention to the conversation around him. It was…..nice. 

Lance wasn't overbearing of his personal space. Hunk, once he realized Keith wouldn't beat the shit out of him, was pretty cool. Pidge was a little much, but in a different way than Lance, they were just a lot.

Keith found himself enraptured with Lance. His voice was nice, even when it broke a little bit. His eyes reflected such joy and happiness. His personality was pleasant to be around. When that smile got turned to Keith, it was like standing in front of the sun on a nice day. 

Keith could stand in that forever and be perfectly content. 

When lunch was over Lance hugged him and told him they were going to the library after school to do their homework before going to get ice cream. Keith was more than welcome to come. 

But Keith didn't have any money, so he shook his head, thanking Lance for the invitation. 

Lance beamed again. “Another time then. We try to go on Fridays, but Pidge just won an award. So think about it for Friday ok?”

Keith nodded dummy watching Lance run off to go with Hunk and Pidge. 

Keith wanted to join them, but he couldn't. They were in different classes. Which Keith thought was illegal now that he liked being with someone. 

That night when he got home Shiro greeted him with burnt grilled cheese. 

“You need to learn how to cook,” Keith said lifting the blackened bread and cheese.

“Don't even. I'm ordering pizza.” Shiro grumbled. 

“Is Adam coming over?” 

“Not tonight. He had a meeting to go to and won't be back till pretty late.” Shiro said as he waited for someone to pick up.

It was a scary thought when the local pizza joint knew your phone number. However, Shiro could not cook. Not to save his life. 

“Anything interesting happens at school today?” Shiro asked setting the phone down. 

Keith thought about Lance and his cheeks heated up. “Maybe.” 

“Oh ho!” Shiro grinned. “What happened to get that kind of reaction?”

“A boy came and sat with me at lunch. His name is Lance, and he invited me to go study and get ice cream with them on Fridays.” Keith summarized. Figuring Shiro did not need to know about how Kimmy K was going out with someone from a rival middle school. 

“Did you make a friend?” Shiro asked hopefully. 

It would be the first friend Keith had made who was his age. He mostly spent his time with Adam and Shiro and their friends. 

“I don't know yet. But he was super chatty.” Keith huffed. 

“Really? And you didn't walk away?” Shiro knew better than anyone, if Keith didn't want to talk to someone he simply wouldn't.

“I….I didn't mind listening to him. I'm not sure what the importance of an influencer is but Lance seemed to like it.” Keith shrugged. 

“Is that so? Will you be sitting with them at lunch from now on?” Shiro asked. 

“I don't think Lance will let me sit by myself anymore,” Keith replied. “Hunk and Pidge were pretty cool. Hunk wants to be a culinary engineer and Pidge wants to rule the world, but will settle for running the IT department in a big company.” 

“And Lance?”

“He wants to go to space. And become a marine biologist. And work in Africa helping build homes. And travel around the world. And- I lost track after that, to be honest.” Keith replied shaking his head. “Hunk says he should be a writer because he has so many ideas.”

“He sounds like he is a very interesting person.” Shiro hummed taking out his wallet so that he could pay the delivery person. 

“And he has decided I am worthy of his time.” Keith dropped his head into his arms with a groan. 

Shiro chuckled, “You worthy of people’s time. The debate is whether or not they are worthy of yours.” 

Keith peeked out of his arms to look at his older brother. “Your full of shit.” 

Shiro scolded him for cursing but went to get the door when the doorbell went off. “Go put your school bag away, pizza is here.” 

Keith nodded and hopped off his seat dragging his bag upstairs and tossing it next to his desk. 

He kind of wished he had stayed after with Lance, but that was ok, he would probably see him tomorrow at lunch. 

And he did!

Lance sat right next to him without any hesitation the next day. Chatting about this and that while Pidge went to get her hot lunch. Hunk slid into his seat setting his bag on the table. 

“I thought you bought lunch,” Lance said gesturing to the pizza in front go Keith. 

“Normally I do. But we had leftover pizza from dinner.” Keith replied shrugging. 

“That's cool. I don't get leftovers. I have a pretty big family so we typically eat it all.” He laughed and nudged Keith. “You should come over, my Abuela would love you.” 

“She would tear him apart.” Hunk reiterated. 

“Same thing! Abuela makes the best pork sandwiches.” Lance said handing out the cookies. He even gave Keith an extra one when Hunk was distracted by Pidge sitting down. Lance winked and went back to his meal. 

It went on like that for weeks. To the point that Lance would wait outside the principal's office whenever Keith got into trouble. 

“What did you do this time?” Lance asked as they walked to the sidewalk. Shiro was already waiting for him, Lance’s sister was waiting for him. 

Keith shrugged. “Telling the teacher they are wrong is not ok.” 

Lance howled with laughter as Keith gave him a small smile. Lance tried to stop laughing when he saw the disapproving look from Shiro but ended up snickering into his hand. 

“I'll see you tomorrow Keith!” Lance waved as he walked away. Then stopped and ran back to Keith wrapping him in a hug. “Don't get into any more fights.” 

With that, Lance ran back to his sister leaving Keith frozen. He didn't even let Shiro hug him. 

But a smile crept on his lips and a blush filled his cheeks. 

“Ok, hot shot let's get going,” Shiro said gently nudging Keith into the car. 

It was at dinner that night with Adam that Keith asked an important question. 

“How….how did you know you liked each other?” Keith asked not looking at the older men. It was embarrassing enough. 

Shiro was slow to answer but Adam set his fork down to pay attention.

“Well, at least for me, I was always happier when I was around Adam. Even when he pissed me off.” Shiro said slowly. 

“Oh….” Keith nodded. He knew what being gay meant. Shiro had explained it to him the first time Adam had come over. Keith never really understood the appeal of women anyway, they were too shrill and smelled weird. 

But he didn't care for guys either, they were loud and abrasive. 

Keith also didn't favor people all that much so that might also play a part in his opinions towards things. But he had also never really thought about a romantic partner, he was in 8th grade, and he didn't need to worry about that at the moment or ever if what Shiro said was anything to go by.

“Keith…do you feel that way around anyone?” Adam asked. 

He hesitated, not sure if he was ok talking about this. If anyone would understand it would be Shiro and Adam. So he nodded, still not looking at them. 

“Is it Lance?” Shiro asked.

Keith felt his ears heat up, but he nodded again. 

“Ok…. that's ok Keith. There is nothing wrong with that.” Shiro said gently. 

“I know that!” Keith huffed and then looked back down. “I just…I don't know what to do about it.” 

“You don't have to do anything,” Adam replied. “If you don't want to do something no one is making you.”

Keith thought about that for a moment. “But…..if I don't say anything….can I still get hugs from him?” 

“Lance seems like a pretty tactical person. I highly doubt you could get him to stop.” Shiro replied with a chuckle. 

Keith nodded. “Good. I like his hugs.”

He smiled to himself at the memory of the goodbye hug that day. It had felt so safe like he belonged in that hold. Like he should have held Lance longer. 

“How would I know….if…..he liked me back?” 

Adam snorted. “That is a tricky question. But if he gives you more attention than anyone else or treats you like your special that would be a pretty good indicator.”

“Lance brings cookies to lunch. Dulce de leche cookies his Mama makes and he always gives me two. Hunk and Pidge only get one.” Keith said. “Does that mean anything?”

“It might,” Shiro replied. “But until he says something, do not jump to conclusions. I don't want to see you get hurt.”

“Lance won't hurt me!” Keith cried out defending his friend.

“Maybe not on purpose. But it could still happen. So just be careful alright?” Shiro said a touch of worry in his voice. 

Keith didn't understand why Shiro was giving him such advice, but he figured it was better to take it and not need it than need it and not have it. Shiro always knew best, so Keith wasn't about to say no to it. 

So he nodded. “Can I bring Lance in one of your drinks Adam? He says his Mama hasn't gotten a new case yet and he likes them.” 

“Which ones?” Adam asked. 

“The ones with the pineapple,” Keith said.

“If I have any more, I see no problem with that.” Adam shrugged. “Is Lance Cuban?” There was worry in his tone as well. 

“Ya, I think so. He talks about visiting family there over the summer break all the time.” Keith replied. “He said he would even bring me back one of those ocean hearing shells.” 

Adam sighed and made sure Keith was looking at him. “Keith, I want you to know, that not all Cuban families are accepting of gay people. If Lance likes you back something might happen to him if his family found out.” 

“Like….what?” Keith would protect Lance. Even from his own family. 

“Well, he could be disowned, or hurt. It depends on his family.” Adam replied carefully. 

“I will protect him then! And we can be his new family!” Keith said firmly. 

Adam sighed but nodded. “Ok. But if Lance does like you, he may not be able to do anything about it. Please keep that in mind.” 

“I will wait for him then,” Keith replied nodding.

And that was that. No matter what Shiro or Adam said the matter was closed in Keith’s mind. 

If Lance needed protection Keith would give it. 

If Lance needed somewhere to live, Keith would make it happen.

And if Lance needed time, Keith would wait for him. 

Chapter Text

“I like cookie dough ice cream.” Lance said it was one of their last Fridays. School was going to be over in about 2 months, but Lance was leaving for Cuba in a few weeks, so he would miss the last weeks of school.

“I like cotton candy,” Keith replied. “Do you want to try some?” 

Lance nodded and took up a spoon to try Keith’s ice cream and put it in his mouth. “Mmm! That is good. Do you want to try mine?”

Keith shook his head. “No thank you, cotton candy is the only one I can have because it's dairy-free.” 

Hunk hummed. “I didn't know you had a problem with dairy.”

Keith nodded. “Ya, it's a bummer. But I got used to it.”

“So you can't eat cheese?” Lance asked curiously. 

“Not unless it's dairy-free,” Keith replied. 

“That sounds gross,” Lance answered with a scrunched-up nose. 

“Ya, I'm not a fan of it.” Keith grinned as Pidge sat down their mint chocolate chip in a cup as well as a cone. They had dropped too many cones to not have a cup.

Hunk liked the twists, typically he got the lemon vanilla twist, but today he was trying a new flavor. Oreo and cream. With really big chucks of Oreo. 

Keith wanted to try it, but he didn't feel like spending the rest of the weekend not feeling good. Especially since Lance was supposed to come over tonight for a sleepover. 

“Are you excited to go back to Cuba?” Hunk asked looking at Lance. 

“Ya! My Tio is going to teach me how to surf! And I'm going to be able to go to the beach every single day!” He looked to Keith, “And I have to get Keith a big conch shell.”

“Bigger than the one you got me?” Hunk asked, and Keith tried not to show how much that hurt because it meant Keith wasn't special.

“If I can. I want to get you the biggest conch shell I can find. That way, even when I go to Cuba you will know I'm going to come back.” And with that little Keith’s heart broke. 

It was the first hug he had started, but Lance hugged him back nonetheless. 

Keith was the first to pull away, but mostly because his ice cream was melting.

Lance smiled at him, and was like a warm summer day. Perfect. Everything was right with the world. 

They goofed off for a bit longer, all their ice creams now finished. Hunk’s moms were the first to show up and they looked at Lance. 

“Do you need a ride home, Lance?” 

“No, I'm going home with Keith.” He then hesitated. “My dad doesn't like it when you drop me off.” He sounded so sad.

But that was Keith’s first hit maybe Adam had been right. 

“I know. But I just want to make sure you get home safe.” She said. She gave Lance a bitter smile. “You know you always have a bed at our house. Just remember that.” 

“I know. Thank you.” Lance smiled up at her. That was Keith’s second clue. 

Matt came and got Pidge being a senior he was able to drive now. 

“Hey, kid.” Matt ruffled Pidge's hair. “You two need a ride home?”

“Shiro is coming to get us. Lance is spending the night at my house.” Keith said.

“OK then.” Matt waved goodbye leaving Lance and Keith alone. 

They were quiet for a bit, but Keith decided he should say something. At least so that Lance can decide if he still wants Keith around. 

“I…” Keith hesitated fiddling with his fingers. “I think I like you.” 

Lance blinked at him. “Like a friend?” But there was so much pain in those three little words.

“More than a friend.” He whispered back. 

Lance had tears come to his eyes but he pulled Keith in. “I like you more than a friend too.” 

Keith wanted to feel happy because he was. But Lance looked so sad. 

“What's wrong?” Keith asked hugging Lance back. 

“I can't like boys. My Dad says it's wrong and unnatural.” Lance muttered. “I wish I could though. Cause I like you.” 

Keith thought about that for a moment. Lance wouldn't live with his father forever, right?

“So I will wait for you. Till you ready. And in the meantime, we can hold hands and get ice cream and hug and have sleepovers. Just like we do now.” Keith replied stubbornly. “We just won't do it around your family. How does that sound?”

Lance sniffed. “You would wait for me?” 

“Forever and ever. I promise. And if anything ever happens, I will protect you.” Keith said. 

Lance pulled away brushing away his tears and a small smile rested on his lips. “Ok. I look forward to it.” 

Shiro picked them up sometime later.

“Sorry guys, my meeting ran later than I thought it was going to.” He apologized. But neither boy was too concerned about it. 

Not as Lance reached over and took Keith’s hand. Not when he rested his head on Keith’s shoulder.

Not when Keith and Lance were in Keith’s bed, snuggled together.

The world around them didn't mean anything. Because Keith had Lance. And he would protect him forever. Because who would Keith be without Lance?

Keith tightened his grip on Lance holding him closer. He knew this wouldn't be happy forever, but right now it didn't matter. When the trouble came he would protect Lance. 

Too bad he thought he would have much longer for that to happen. 

Shiro left early the next day, with some emergency at the office, honestly, Keith wasn't sure what Shiro did, just that he worked in the military. But he took a lot of meetings and seemed pretty high up on the totem pole. 

That meant they were home alone when Lance’s father showed up to bring Lance home. Too bad they thought that Veronica was coming to get him because they answered the door holding hands. After all, Veronica was ok with it. Lance’s dad on the other hand wasn't. 

He tore Lance away from Keith, forcing his son behind him. “Stupid homo, we don't fucking do that.” Mr. McClain snarled grabbing Lance’s bag and then pulling Lance by his upper arm. 

It looked painful and Keith ran after them. “Don't hurt him!” Keith cried out. 

The bigger man glared down at him. “Don't infect my son with your gay propaganda.” He snarled.

Lance cried out in pain as his father wrenched his arm again. Practically dragging him to the car. 

But there was nothing Keith could do.

Well, nothing Keith could do at that moment. He gave a firm stomp and watched as Lance was driven away, begging with his eyes for Keith to help him. 

Keith was not about to let this stand. He had made a promise. 

He stomped right back into the house and went to Shiro’s room. He knew it wasn't right, and he knew Shiro was saving for a ring to ask Adam to marry him, but Keith didn't care. He located the jar he knew Shiro kept his cash in and took it back to his room. 

With a quick count, he found more than he thought, almost 2 grand. Keith felt bad because they deserved a nice wedding but Keith was on a mission. 

He packed the biggest bag he could find. Making sure to have plenty of clothes and the knife his mom left him. He made sure he had a sweatshirt a jacket and lots of socks. He knew he would need socks. 

Keith also didn't know how much Lance was going to be able to pack and Keith was not going to risk it. Folding a blanket on top of his clothes and making sure the mass majority of the money was at the bottom, with just enough left to get two train tickets. 

Keith knew where he wanted to bring them, he just had to get them there first. 

Keith hesitated but decided to write a note. Tell Shiro he was sorry that he took the money and promised to pay it back one day, but right now he needed to go protect Lance. Save him from whatever his family was about to do to him. 

Once he wrote that he realized he would probably need a first aid kit. Luckily Adam was pretty good about keeping the one they owned updated.

So Keith emptied it into one of the side pouches of the bag and stepped out the front door. He would have to walk to get to Lance’s but that was alright. He knew all the back ways. He knew where people would look for them. 

Keith and Lance would just have to make it to the next town's train station. It was a bigger hub anyway, so it would be easy to get tickets to where he wanted them to go. But Keith would have to move fast, he didn't know when Shiro was going to be home. And he didn't know if Adam would stop by. 

Neither would let him do what he was about to do. He was going to do what needed to be done. 

That meant getting Lance away from his family and onto a train. 

It was moments like this where Keith was glad to have never had friends. He had done a lot of exploring through the towns and had found good backways to anywhere he wanted to go. 

Keith crept up behind Lance’s house making sure to hide the bag, no use in it getting stolen. He would hate himself then, at least he could eventually give the money back if he still had it and Shiro found him before he was able to pay him back.

He knew which window was Lance’s and crept up on it. Peeking in he spotted Lance on the bed, so he gently tapped the glass startling the boy. 

Lance drew up and his eyes went wide with surprise before rushing over to the window and opening it up just a bit. 

“Keith! What are you doing here?!” He hissed, his eye was black, and he had a split lip but otherwise, Lance looked ok. 

“I promised to protect you remember? Go pack a bag real quick. I'm out by the trees. If you have any cash grab it, but be quick.” Keith said. 

“Where are we going?” Lance asked. 

“I'll tell you once we are moving. It will be quicker that way.” Lance hesitated but nodded. 

Keith was quick to run back to his pack and waited for Lance to join him. 

“I had about 200 saved up,” Lance said showing him the money. 

“Good. Let's go. I want to get some distance before we stop ok?” Keith said offering his hand. 

Lance eyed it but nodded and took the offered hand. Following after Keith.

“You seem to know how to run away,” Lance muttered. 

“I used to do it a lot after my dad died,” Keith replied looking both ways before tugging Lance across the road.

“Oh, I'm sorry.” Keith shrugged. 

“It's been a few years,”  Keith replied. 

It was getting dark by the time Keith let them stop. “We need to get to the train station, just a few miles down the road. But I want to look at that eyed.”

Lance winced when Keith gently touched it. “It's fine. Not the first I have gotten.”

“I should have been faster,” Keith replied rubbing his thumb across Lance’s cheek. 

“I don't think you could have been any faster.” Lance smiled at him. 

Keith went to the first aid supplies and was pleased to find a cold compress. “Just keep this against your eye, just in case.” 

Lance hummed but did as he was told. 

Keith was both very relieved and very paranoid when they got to the train station. They didn't have to wait too long for their train to arrive which was nice, but Keith still looked over their shoulder as much as he could without drawing suspicion. 

He made sure Lance looked around as well, making him look like a tourist seeing all this for the first time. He was so it helped, but Lance listened to what Keith told him.

Within the hour they were on the train. Keith made Lance sit on the inside and put their bags in the third seat so no one would join them.

“Do you want something to eat?” Keith asked. “The café car is about to close.”

Lance nodded. “Whatever they have is fine.” 

Keith nodded and took out a few smaller bills, not wanting to draw attention to the larger 20’s or 50’s. 

He managed a sandwich they could both have half of and two hot chocolates, as well as two apples. Overall, it was pretty good, but Keith knew Lance probably wanted his Mama’s food.

“I know it's not much,” Keith said pulling out the tray and setting the items down. “But it will keep us going till the morning.”

Lance picked at the sandwich but eventually ate it. 

“I'm sorry. I would have brought you somewhere else if I thought it was going to be safer.” Keith said. 

Lance shrugged. “It's fine. As long as we are together right?” 

Keith smiled, but he knew it didn't reach his eyes. “Right. So we are going to a house my dad owned. Technically it's mine, but Shiro’s name is on all the paperwork. We don't live there because Shiro’s work is in the city. But the electrical and water work. It's pretty isolated, and it will take them some time to figure out where we went. Typically I ran away to the woods when I was younger. Shiro will try their first.” 

“What are we going to do after that?” Lance asked. “We can't work yet.” 

Keith shrugged. “My dad didn't trust banks. Theirs a box I would need to find. That will set us up pretty well until we can get jobs. I can reopen his car shop, and you can start working on books!”

Lance giggled, “Sounds like a good plan.” 

“I told you I would protect you,” Keith said setting his hand out for Lance to hold. He took it and all was right with the world. 

Keith would have to remain vigilant for a while, but he figured after a year he would be able to send Shiro a letter, let him know where Keith was. Tell him they were alright. 

But not yet. It was too soon. 

Keith didn't want Lance’s parents to know. If that black eye was anything to go by, Lance’s dad would not take kindly to Lance running away. 

They were able to get some sleep that night, while the train was quiet around them. In the morning, Keith bought them Danishes, some more pieces of fruit, and 4 water bottles. He would have to find a cheaper place to buy food, but right now they could refill the bottles at the train station before they left. 

Once they arrived at their destination, Keith located a convenience store. “We are about 3 miles from the house.” 

Lance nodded and they picked out travel-ready meals. Mostly ramen noodles and canned chicken. Keith told him there was a river with fish near the house and a farm stand where they could buy produce. Anything better would have to be bought at the supermarket a mile from the house, but Keith knew there was a bike at the house so he wasn't worried about that. 

Lance seemed sad still so while he wasn't looking Keith bought a package of Oreo cookies. Nothing like his mother's dulce de leche cookies, but it might smile at him. Which would make everything worth it in the end. 

They were careful to avoid any major roads in case Shiro did catch on faster than Keith thought. Eventually, they made it to the house. 

“Wow.” Lance looked around at how big it was. “It's massive!” 

Keith shrugged. “My dad built it with his own two hands. My parents wanted a big family.” 

“But all they got was you and Shiro?” Lance chuckled.

“Technically Shiro is my foster brother. He just took me in when his parents died in an accident. Luckily he was 18 at the time.” Lance winced. 

“Sorry. Here I am dragging you across the country, all for a little hand-holding.” Lance looked down at the ground. 

“It's alright. I can't wait for you if you are in danger. And I said I would protect you.” Keith grabbed his hand again. “Now let's go pick a bedroom.”

They made their way upstairs and Keith showed him all the rooms that had beds in them.

“We can share, or you can have your room. Or we can have a bedroom we share as well as our room. It's up to you.”

Lance paused though looking into a doorway. Keith walked back to him and found he was looking into his mother's study. It had a massive set of windows with a seat built into the base. 

“Go ahead.” Keith encouraged. 

Lance hummed and stepped in. “I've always wanted a window like this. With a book and a tea or something.” He laughed as he climbed up. 

The view was something else. It looked over the river on the property. Keith had memories of sitting here looking out just enjoying his days. He looked over to Lance and found a better view. 

The sunlight threaded through Lance’s hair. His blue eyes shone. He looked more at peace in the one moment than the entire time Keith had known him. 

“I think I like boys and girls,” Lance said quietly. 

“That's ok,” Keith replied shrugging. “I mean I only boys, girls are kind of weird.” 

Lance chuckled and looked at him. “My parents think it's disgusting. So I try to hide it.”

“You don't have to hide from me,” Keith replied. “I even enjoy your flaws.”

“Flaws!? What flaws!?” Lance screeched out making Keith laugh. 

“Doesn't matter to me. I think you are perfect.” Keith replied resting his head on his folded arms to look up at Lance. 

Lance glared a moment but eventually gave in. “Fine. I like your hair, even if it looks like a mullet.”

‘“I do not have a mullet.” Keith scowled. 

“Face the facts, my man, you have a mullet.” Keith rolled his eyes, he didn't mind. As long as Lance was smiling and happy. 

“Do you want to go swimming? It's not the Cuban beach you were excited about but it's still nice.” Keith offered.

Lance looked back to the river. “Maybe tomorrow. It's kind of been a long day.” 

Keith knew it wasn't even lunchtime. But he knew where Lance was coming from. 

“Alright. We can just relax today. Put our stuff away.” Keith replied. 

Lance nodded. “We can share a room.” 

Butterflies filled Keith’s belly, he couldn't help but smile at that. He liked laying in bed with Lance. He was so comfortable to sleep next to. He knew from Adam that there were other things they could do in bed together, but honestly, Keith was ok with just laying next to each other. 

They were 13, they didn't need anything more than that. Not yet. One day, but not today, not this week. 

And Keith was ok with that. 

He helped Lance unpack and then showed him how much stuff he had grabbed. Telling Lance that they could share if Lance ran out and they couldn't get to a laundromat any time soon. 

They had ramen for dinner, Keith promising better meals to come. They watched the stars on the roof before going to bed for the night. 

Their routine went on like that. Lance stayed home to fish, as he was able to sit there long enough to catch something. Keith went into town and bought the basic items they would need. 

They watched the stars at night. Read books from around the house during the day. Sometimes they swam when the sun was high. Sometimes they lay in the grass. Keith added a seat to the bike so Lance could sit with him comfortably and they went for rides. 

“I will get a motorcycle one day and then we can fly!” Keith said as they were riding along one day. 

“Sounds dangerous,” Lance said, but he was smiling. “But that's ok.” 

At some point, Lance got a library card and they were able to do some studying, making sure to keep up on their math and science. They got disks so they could learn languages and textbooks to read from. 

It was just something to keep the time. Nothing more than that. 

The money was going alright, and Keith was able to take odd jobs around town so they even earned a bit of money. Lance was able to get a pretty steady job as a babysitter for a more prominent family in town.

So life was good. Not grand, they still had to fish a lot. But they were happy. Life was simple. 

For four weeks they were ok. Too bad Shiro found them. 

“Keith it's time to go home,” Shiro said once they were both sat down. 

“No! Lance will be in danger if we go back!” Keith cried out. Not aware of how right he was by that statement.

“You 13, neither of you can live on your own. So go pack your bags.” Shiro shooed. 

Keith wanted to protest some more but Lance tugged on his shirt. “We had a good ride. Someday it will be a permanent one. We still have to learn to fly on a motorcycle after all.” 

Keith hung his head and sighed. “Alright.”

They packed their bags and cleaned up any food remnants so that animals wouldn't do unnecessary amounts of damage. 

“Someday,” Lance said bumping their hips together. “Just not yet.” 

“Alright, Loverboy. I'll build you a big house with lots of windows with seats and a wrap-around porch.” Keith declared. 

Lance smiled. “Ill hold you to it.”

Chapter Text

Keith was able to hand Shiro back a pretty big stack of cash. Not the full amount but he knew how much he owed Shiro and would pay it back as soon as he could. 

“That was very dangerous of you.” Shiro scolded after they dropped Lance off. Keith wanted to stay and protect him, but Shiro was firm on going home. 

Some regrets never left though, that was Keith’s biggest regret for a long time to come. 

“His father beat him because we were holding hands. I was just protecting him.” Keith huffed out.

Shiro sighed. “Keith, I know why you did it, but I can almost guarantee it's about to get a lot worse for Lance.”

“Then we should call the police! Someone needs to protect him.” Keith argued. 

“I have done everything I can, Keith. While you were gone, I tried to get the police to look into the parents. But without evidence that the kids are being harmed, there is nothing the police can do.” Shiro explained. 

“What about now then? If we call the cops now, Lance can prove it.” Keith replied. “You know I am right.” 

Shiro rubbed his forehead. “Fine. We will drive over. See what is happening. If nothing suspicious is happening we drop it. Ok?”

Keith could live with that. 

He was jittery the whole time over and he wanted to be wrong. Oh god, he wanted to be wrong. 

Unfortunately, he wasn't.

He saw Lance lying in the middle of the road, his father standing over him. 

Keith tore out of the car before Shiro had the chance to stop it already dialing the emergency line. 

“Get away from him!” Keith screamed running towards Lance. Not letting this brut anywhere near him anymore. 

“Oh look the little fag who turned my son gay.” He sneered, ready to smack Keith, but he spotted Shiro on the phone and thought better of it. 

Keith though was far more concerned with the bloody mess that Lance was. He was barely breathing. Blood covered what little of his face Keith could see. His right arm was a mangled mess. His left leg was broken. 

Keith didn't want to touch him, but he whispered to him.

“You're going to be alright. It's ok. Help is on its way. I won't leave you again. Please be ok.” 

“What happened?” Shiro all but demand. 

“Hit and run. Did not, get the license plates.” Mr. McClain said. 

“Bullshit!” Keith screamed at him. 

“Well if he wakes up you can ask him yourself.” The older man replied. 

“If!? IF!? He will wake up!” Keith screamed but went back to Lance when he heard sirens getting closer. 

When the ambulance arrived, Keith couldn't go with Lance, but his mother did. His father stayed behind for questioning. 

Hit and run they kept saying. Over and over again. 

Keith knew it was a lie. A bloody stupid fucking lie. 

But all he could do was cry into Shiro’s chest because it wasn't fair. Lance didn't deserve this kind of treatment. Not from anyone! Especially his own family. 

Keith wasn't allowed to see Lance again. He got information from Hunk. Lance had no memory of his time with Keith. The last 2 months were nothing but a blur to him. 

Which honestly sucked for Keith, but he kept his word. Even if Lance didn't remember it. 

He would wait for Lance, no matter how long it took, even if it was their next life. 

Lance didn't come to school for the rest of the year, Hunk said he had gone to Cuba, but Keith suspected that his family was trying to keep Keith and Lance as separated as possible. That was ok, when Lance returned in the fall, Keith would be there in the shadows protecting him. 

Keith would ask Hunk about how he was doing and decided that when they got to high school, he would leave Lance’s favorite candy in his locker. Just a piece, just a little thing that Lance would think fell out of his backpack. 

All summer he worked to pay Shiro back it was only 300 dollars but Keith wanted to make up for it. Then once Shiro was paid back Keith started saving. Every single penny got put into a savings account. 

He pinched every dollar so he could save as much as he could. 

He was going to get Lance a house with large open windows and a large porch. He wanted to get Lance a beach even if it was by a lake. He wanted a large library area for Lance to read. He wanted a garage for their cars. A workspace for himself. A workout space in the basement. 

Keith was determined to give Lance his dream home. Hunk thought he was a lunatic, but that was alright. It made the hurt better when he saw Lance smiling with other people.

He never ended up getting his conch shell Lance promised him, but that was also ok. At some point, he printed out a photo of one and taped it to the spot where he would have put it. That way if Lance’s memories ever came back he had a place for it. Just in case.

It was over burgers and sodas from the local shop that Hunk told him about Lance’s university choice. 

“Altea?” Keith repeated and promptly looked it up. Disappointed to find they didn't have a mechanical engineering program.

“Keith I think it's time you let him go. It's been 4 years.” Hunk said trying to get through to Keith, not for the first time.

“I made a promise,” Keith replied. 

“But Lance doesn't know about your promise. He doesn't even know who you are. Please for your well-being, move on.” Hunk begged. 

Keith huffed. He wasn't trying to be stubborn. He had genuinely tried to let Lance go, but it never worked. He had tried dating, and that always crashed and burned within days. He tried letting go of his memories, but the pain was worse trying to let go than it was holding on. 

“I am fine Hunk,” Keith replied. 

His friend didn't seem to believe him but knew better and seemed to let it go. It would be brought up as the next big achievement Lance had. Keith liked hearing about Lance succeeding though. It was nice to know that he was doing well and that people were still there to support him. 

Even if those people were not Keith. He would silently cheer on Lance from the shadows. Always ready to step in, but never needing to. Which he was fine with as well, Keith didn't want Lance in any sort of danger. 

University was hard, but like in a way Keith felt good for all his achievements. He enjoyed the challenges put in front of him and thought it was hard balancing school and work. Hunk still found a way to hang out with him and give him updates on Lance. 

School was going well for Lance which was good to hear. What was not so nice to hear was that he was dating a girl by the name of Allura. 

Keith knew it was bound to happen, Lance dating but that didn't mean he liked it. 

“Can I see her?” Keith asked. Might as well see his not-so-competition-competition.

“Don't do this to your self man. Please don't make me show you,” Hunk begged. 

“Please?” Keith even tried the puppy dog eyes, but they always came out more like an innocent glare. 

Hunk sighed heavily. “Might as well, you would probably go hound Pidge, and they are not in the mood to be dealing with this at the moment.” 

Hunk pulled out his phone and scrolled a bit before handing it over to Keith. 

The photo was of Lance, as wonderful as ever. His eyes were a bit more dulled than what Keith remembered but other he looked happy. He had one arm around the girl's shoulder who he was going to assume was the girl he was dating. 

She had long white hair, and tanned skin just like Lance, though Keith may be biased, however, he thought that Lance was far too good-looking for her. She was leaning over and kissing his cheek in the photo. 

He handed back the phone. “He looks happy.” 

Hunk hummed. “He is happy. Now why can't you be happy?”

Keith shrugged. “Abandonment issues?” he offered up. 

Hunk groaned. “Please see a therapist first of all. Second, do not tear yourself up over this. Allura makes him happy. She is smart and beautiful, and she comes from a lot of money. Lance likes her. It's almost sickening actually.” 

“I could make him happy,” Keith grumbled. 

“And you did. Even when you weren't around you were all he ever talked about. But he is happy again with Allura.” Hunk was trying to be nice, even Hunk’s patients had to run out at some point. “Look, I am not saying these things to upset you. I want you to be happy. And you know Lance would want you to be happy as well, even if it wasn't with him. OK?”

Keith knew Hunk was right. If the roles were reversed, Lance would want Keith to be happy, even if it wasn't with him. 

Keith couldn't let Lance go though. There was always something in the back of his mind telling him if he stopped waiting for Lance, then he would never get his chance. That same little voice made sure he knew his time was coming, all he had to do was wait a little bit longer. 

“I am happy,” Keith replied.

“You think you're happy,” Hunk answered. 

That might be true, but Keith didn't mind. He was ok with where he was. Shiro and Adam were getting married in a few months. Then Adam would be moving in since they had an actual house instead of Adam’s apartment. 

His apartment was closer to his work, so they were looking to get a place that was more in the middle but they didn't want to move until Keith was done with school. He was planning on moving out anyway when he graduated and had a job. 

It was his second year that Shiro sat him down.

“We found something in your dad's old records. Buried deep.” Shiro said, sliding a dust-caked folder in front of him. Adam was making coffee for the three of them at the moment.

“The house? We already know about the house.” Keith replied. 

“Not the house. He owned an auto mechanic shop. It's still under his name, and he left it to you.” Shiro explained, tapping the folder in front of Keith. “The lawyer just contacted me, saying he completely forgot about it and was cleaning out his office when he found it.”

Keith opened up the folder and read through it. “This….its the abandoned shop?” 

Shiro nodded. “And it's yours. Just like that house. You can sell them if you want.” 

Keith looked over the shop and its location. It was just outside of town but he knew exactly where it was. He also knew it had a small house on the property as well. 

If he sold the house, he could use that money to start up the shop. Living and repairing the house there. 

He would need mechanics, which would be easy, Hunk would join him while he worked towards his culinary engineering degree. It would give him a good start. 

“I have some thinking to do,” Keith muttered and stood up. 

He made his way to his car, every penny was going towards Lance’s dream house, so he wasn't able to get the bike yet. That wasn't to say he didn't have one already picked out. 

He drove to the abandoned shop and looked through it. The outside would need lots of work, and the equipment is probably just a look at. The bones of the place were solid. The plumbing despite the years was still in good shape from what he could see. A few windows would need to be replaced.

Otherwise, it looked doable and Keith liked doable. 

He made his way to the small house and was pleased to find it was in equally good condition. There was even room to expand on it. 

So over the next couple of weeks, Keith added a minor in business to his degree program. He started looking for realtors to sell his dad's house. Wanting to get the most he could out of it. 

Keith had never wanted to sell the house but now that he had the shop he would try to set up a mechanics shop there again. It would be hard work, but like with school he was looking forward to the challenge. 

The house on the property even solved his housing problem to the point that he had a feeling he would be moving out sometime next year. Allowing Shiro and Adam to start looking at houses for themselves. 

Then when he told Hunk about his plan his oldest friend was bored one hundred percent. They were even able to get Matt involved. Both figured it would be a temporary gig until Keith found more permanent employees. 

Keith was not delusional to think they would work with him forever anyway. 

So he worked. Hunk would join him sometimes. Matt would bring over a friend from his actuarial job to look over the equipment. 

Keith would work on the house getting it up and running just as much as he worked in the shop. Which was to say not much on, either considering his newly minted workload with his business degree. 

Shiro and Adam were a huge help. They would take the time to help him look for a plumber or an electrician to look into something. When he was at class they would stick around the house to make sure the work got done.

Once his dad’s house sold Keith was able to start working on things. Putting up new siding on both the shop and the house. A new roof for both. 

He worked relentlessly on both only taking breaks to study or go to class. 

Before he knew it Hunk was breaking some bad news to him. It was their last year before graduation, Keith had greatly underestimated how much work he could do with classwork, and Hunk was fidgety. 

“Out with it already,” Keith said as he nailed down a baseboard. Pidge was helping him pick out colors. This meant Lance was helping pick out colors because Pidge was sneaky like that. 

“Lance is going to ask Allura to marry him when they graduate.” Hunk finally said. 

Keith sat back on his heels and looked at his friend. “What?”

“Lance already picked out a ring and has it all planned out.” Hunk went on. “He….he is super excited and nervous but ya he's going to ask Allura to marry him.” 

Keith blinked but gave a slow nod. It made sense. Lance always wanted to marry and have a family, similar to the one he had grown up with. 

“I see….” Keith nodded and went back to work. 

“That's it?” Hunk said dumbfounded by the lack of reaction from Keith. 

“What do you want me to do? Scream and break something? If that solved my problems 12-year-old Keith would have had way less of a hard time.” Keith replied lining up another bored before sending nails through it. 

“I was hoping for a bit more of a reaction, ya.” Hunk agreed. 

“As long as Lance is happy. Besides I have this place now. I don't have time to be worrying about Lance.” Lie. 

Keith thought about Lance in everything he did. He picked out the new windows based on Lance's preferences. He built secret passageways, and inlaid shelving units for books. The kitchen was well designed by Hunk with Lance's inspiration. 

The colors were being picked out by Lance. All the furniture Keith was planning on buying for the house was going to match the color scheme with maximum comfort in mind. The wrap-around porch that was being built right now was so Lance could sit outside to watch the stars. 

Not to mention, Keith may or may not have had several houses started in Cuba so that Lance could fly down to the beach anytime he wanted. Keith wasn't there yet so it was ok to. He was preparing for when the time came, he would be ready. That little voice was constantly telling him to keep going, that it would all work out in the end.  

By Hunk's shake of his head, he knew, Keith was lying.

“Ok, whatever you say, man. It starting to stress me out arguing with you about it.” Hunk replied. “You win, I won't bother you about it anymore.” 

Keith snorted. “Only took you 8 years.” 

“I underestimated how stubborn you can be.” Hunk shook his head again and then chuckled. “Sometimes I think back to before everything happened. How happy the two of you had been together. How he snuck you an extra cookie. How you would let him mess with your hair? You never let anyone touch your hair. How you would bring him sodas and sweets that Adam let you have.”

Keith nodded in agreement. “I figured you knew about the cookies.” 

“Of course. I never miss the location of an extra cookie, especially Lance’s Mama’s cookies.” Hunk agreed. “I'm sorry everything went down the way it did.” 

Keith hummed. “I hold onto what I have left. Even if they're all just memories now.” 

And that was that.

Allura and Lance got married and Hunk sent him photos. 

Keith saved a few he liked, but his favorite was a candid photo of Lance. An open bay window in front of him. The sunlight shone perfectly. He was fixing his tie in the photo, but he was more focused on the landscape around them. He looked good, really good. 

It was a photo that Keith framed tucking it away in his bedroom, where no one would find it. When Keith was having a rough day, he would look at it. Then imagine that was Lance at their wedding. A wedding that was full of dreams and hopes. 

Hunk gave him Lance’s first book. 

It was good, but Keith could tell it was written for Allura. It screamed how much he loved her. Keith wanted to burn it, instead, he added it to his bookshelf. 

If that was the only book Lance ever published, Keith would always have it. 

Luckily it wasn't. Keith might have still burned it if the Lion's series didn't come out. Those were much better written. Full of action and adventure. With hints of a gay romance between the two main characters that was never really confirmed until the 5th book. 

Keith loved every second of it. 

His shop was doing fantastic and the house was perfect. He had his motorcycle and life was good. A bit lonely but good. 

Keith ended up with a dog. Yorak loved going to the shop and hanging out with Hunk. He liked it when Matt gave him treats and when Pidge would stop by and give him half of her sandwich. 

Yorak made things less lonely. It was good to have the pup around, he grew bigger than originally thought, but that was okay, too. Keith had the space, and he enjoyed large dogs anyway. 

It had been 3 years since Lance and Allura got married, not that Keith was counting but Hunk had simply placed a baby shower invite on Keith’s desk before walking away. 

Lance was having a baby girl. And Keith knew she would be spoiled rotten.

Chapter Text

Hunk snagged a photo of Lance and Rosa for Keith. The little girl was rather adorable. She had Lance’s eyes and a lighter tone hair than his own. She was a happy baby from what Hunk told him and that made Keith happy. 

Rosa was the same age as the little boy Shiro and Adam were looking to adopt, which Keith was both excited and nervous about.

What if the two became friends? That was going to be dangerous for Keith. 

It was alright in the end. It just meant he could be around Lance without being creepy. Which he wasn't! He wasn't creepy! 

Ok, the photos were a bit creepy. But they were gifts. Hunk gave them to him. He didn't go out and take them himself. He was gifted the photos. 

“I think I should open up another shop.” He said one night. 

Hunk had made them all dinner. Pidge raised an eyebrow. Both Shiro and Adam were supportive. Matt was ok with it, as long as he didn't have to repair any more holes.

“If you think you can handle it,” Shiro said. 

“I want to put one a few towns over. They only have one auto shop and it's not very good.” Keith mussed. “Plus it's in the same town as the school Sam would be going to.” 

“Aw, Uncle Keith is already soft for the little guy.” Hunk cooed. It earned him a napkin to the face. 

“I am far more flexible than Shiro or Adam,” Keith said.

Shiro chuckled. “Well, it's good to keep in mind in case we need help with pick up and drop off.” 

“Speaking of jobs, I was able to finally set up the bodyguard firm I have been working on,” Adam said. 

“That's awesome!” Pidge cheered. “Now I can say I know the men in black.” 

“I was hoping you could run the office.” Adam mused. 

“Work for the men in black!? Even better!” Pidge fist pumped into the air. 

“Some more good news, the 9th book for the Lions series is coming out,” Hunk said. 

“Really!? When!?” Shiro asked. Not aware that Lance wrote those books. Lance used his mother's surname instead of his last name for his published works. For privacy's sake.

“2 months I believe. It's in the final works last I heard.” Hunk shrugged. 

Shiro was practically vibrating with excitement for the rest of the meal. Hunk never told anyone where he got his information from, but Keith knew. 

Keith had always known. He always pre-ordered the books. Not wanting to wait in ridiculous lines to get his hands on the next book. 

He wasn't as big of a fan as Shiro though. Shiro stood in lines. He went to events to try and get them signed, but it never worked he never got there in time. For that, Keith felt a bit bad, if Hunk just told Shiro who Lance was, it would probably have been pretty easy to get all his books sighed. Keith had forbidden it though. 

He didn't want Shiro to know that tabs were still kept on Lance even after all this time. Only Hunk knew. Though Keith figured Pidge might have a clue. They were good like that.

Ten books. Lance has released 10 books. He was doing pretty well for himself. Every book was in the top ten best sellers for months before another book replaced it. 

When things were all said and done, Keith was proud of Lance.

Keith started going to a café recently. For 3 reasons. 

The first reason was because Hunk recommended it and it had pretty good food and coffee. 

The second reason was that it was in between his original shop and the new one he was opening, so it was easy to pop in and take a quick break between his travels. 

The third reason, and one he could have never foreseen was Lance liked the café as well. 

Lance wasn't always there when Keith was, and he knew he wasn't always there when Lance was. However, the chance to see him in person at all was a big deal to Keith. 

He would stay longer if he saw Lance there already or make sure he had a reason to stay put when he saw Lance come in after him. 

It made him snort when he saw the infamous Loverboy title come into play when Lance started flirting with the barista. Keith didn't blame him, the server was cute. 

Not Keith’s type and Hunk would argue no one was Keith’s type unless they were Lance. But his fluffy black hair and green eyes were nice to look at. He had a slight build to him and a gentle smile. 

Lance easily flirted with him. Nothing too serious and when the guy got a bit handsy Lance immediately backed off saying he was married and thought they were just playing. When the guy started to get a bit more forceful Lance fled.

Keith was quick to step up when the guy tried to follow. 

“Leave it,” Keith said sternly getting between the employees and the door. 

“He's a giant tease!” The barista snarled. 

“His wedding band is clear to see and it's obvious that he didn't mean anything,” Keith growled out. He no longer wanted to go to this café and would tell Hunk to boycott it as well. 

“Like you don't like him either. I saw the way you were watching him!” A jab to Keith’s chest. Keith inwardly sighed but was quick to twist the man with his wrist bent behind his back.

“I recommend you drop it before I see to it that you get fired for sexual harassment.” Keith hissed out. 

“You can't do-” Keith tightened his hold. 

“I can and I will,” Keith muttered. 

“Ow! Fine! Fine!” The barista said giving in. 

Keith let him go gathered his things and walked out. 

Frustrating as it was, Keith was still going to hold up his promise.  Protect Lance, even if Lance didn't know it. 

Well protect Lance as much as he could, there was only so much Keith could do when it came to Lance’s family. 

It was a good thing he was at the gym when Hunk told him about Lance's family disowning him. Though Keith suspected Hunk had waited on purpose. 

“Disowned?!” Keith snarled. Lance’s family, despite what they had done to him, was everything to him. Losing his family was like losing half himself! Keith snarled and punched the bag again. 

Hunk winced but kept talking. “Allura is divorcing him, stating he cheated on her.” 

Keith whipped around. “Lance never cheated!” 

“I know that! And you know that! But Allura is from a very traditional family. She saw it as cheating and sees no way past it.” Hunk said. 

“And Rosa?” Keith asked. If Allura was Lance’s world, Rosa was his universe. 

“Allura took her, I'm not sure what's going to happen. Lance is a mess right now.” Hunk shook his head. “It took me an hour this morning to get him to eat breakfast, and even then he only took a few bites.” 

“And his family?” Keith asked. 

“Just like last time,” Hunk replied softly. 

Again. They beat him again. All because of some silly flirting. Keith spent the next two hours destroying the punching bag. Then the following half hour getting patched up by Shiro after he broke through his hand protection and bloodied his fists. 

“What exactly brought on this anger?” Shiro asked as he wrapped Keith’s knuckles. 

Keith stayed quiet. But Shiro kept pushing. 

“The only time I have ever seen you this angry was with Lan-” Shiro stopped as Keith’s cheeks heated up. He wasn't looking at Shiro. “Keith. What happened.” 

“Hunk has been keeping me updated on Lance’s life,” Keith admitted quietly. 

“Are you serious? Keith that is not healthy!” Shiro all but shouted. 

“Don't even bother. Hunk’s been on me for years about it.” Keith hissed back. 

Shiro dropped his head with a sigh. “So what happened?”

“He was accused of cheating on his wife with a male barista at a café. His family found out and disowned him. His wife is divorcing him.” Keith replied. “But he did not cheat! I saw it! He did not cheat and he was very clear.”

“You saw it,” Shiro repeated. 

“Lance liked the café I used to go to. Which to be fair I didn't know that before I started going.” Keith explained. “I saw a few interactions. They were…..harmless. Anyone could see that.” 

“Hey,” Shiro nudged Keith’s jaw up. “Are you upset because he was hurt or because he didn't do it to you?”

Keith scoffed. “I know where I stand with Lance. It will never happen. Not again.” He shook his head. “Thanks for….” He held his hand up and left.

Keith bought Lance’s other books, the others were one-offs, things he did to refresh his mind, and ideas for the Lions series. So far he was on book 10 of the Lions series, reportedly with 5 more to go, and he held 9 more books that were completely unrelated. Another one was coming out this weekend and Keith was ready to sit in one of the bay windows with it. 

The bay windows he built for Lance. 

The bay windows that never got seen by Lance. 

The massive library Lance never got to enjoy. 

The house that Lance never got to have. 

The home Lance would not be allowed to take. 

Yorak whimpered looking up at him. 

He ran his fingers through the fur. Yorak was getting up there in years, but Keith didn't know if he could replace him any time soon. He had been eyeing a puppy in the local shelter who was named Kosmo. And it was recommended that new dogs be brought in with the older dog to learn the ropes. 

“Would you like a friend?” Keith asked.

Yorak whined again, gently licking Keith’s hand. 

“Ok.” That night Keith went to pick up Kosmo. 

Yorak and Kosmo got along wonderfully, all while Yorak taught Kosmo the ropes. Where to eat. Where to go to the bathroom. Who gave the best treats and best belly rubs. Who at the shop they could bother. 

For two weeks. 

For two weeks the puppy played with the older dog.

For two weeks the puppy learned from the older dog. 

For two weeks. 

But Yorak passed away in his sleep after just two weeks. At almost 10 years old. 

The vet said he was too big to live longer than 8, so Keith was more than happy to have those extra years. 

Kosmo was sad to see his friend leave, but he stayed by Keith’s side the whole time. It helped if Keith was being honest. And it helped that Yorak had taught the pup about everything before he passed.

It made the transition easier. 

His phone went off that night. 

“Hey, Shiro.” He greeted fixing himself something to eat. 

“I can't bring Sammy to school tomorrow.” Shiro sounded heavenly panicked. Like he was trying to hold it together, but was failing. 

“OK?” It wasn't the first time Keith had been asked to bring little Sammy to school. 

“Can you bring him? I know it's a lot to ask but-” Shiro was rambling, just like every time he asked for Keith like he hadn't bought a secondary shop on the simple reason of bringing his nephew to school every so often. 

“I can bring him to school Shiro. It's not that big of a deal.” Keith replied. 

“I…with the loss of Yorak….” Shiro tired. 

“I am fine. The pup is helping. I think the old boy was holding on long enough to help me train this one.” Keith reached down and petted the pup’s head. “I can bring Sammy to school.” 

The next morning, after suiting Sammy up they were off. His nephew did love the bike, but Shiro worried he might want one for himself before he was big enough to lose the training wheels on his bike. 

Keith thought it would be great to be riding around with his nephew when he was old enough to get his license. 

He pulled up behind a blue car. Lance was helping Rosa get out of the car, but Rosa got excited to see Keith knowing her friend was with him. 

Sammy started to get excited as well.

Keith rolled his eyes behind his visor and helped his nephew down before removing his riding gear. Rosa waited patiently before running up to them. 

He told them off when they wanted to stick around chatting. He had to get to the shop after all. Keith watched as Lance’s car didn't turn over. Didn't even sputter. 

“You alright?” Keith decided to take pity on Lance, he knew Hunk would probably be more help getting the car to the shop anyway. 

Poor Lance, looked about 2 minutes away from crying. 

“Car won't start. Have to call a tow.” He said holding up his phone. 

“I can look at it.” Keith offered. “I know a thing or two about cars.” 

“I have a buddy who works at a shop…..but if you want to look at it till he gets here I won't stop you,” Lance said, inwardly Keith rolled his eyes. Ya he does, he works for me part-time. 

But he didn't say that instead, he said, “Let me move my bike to a parking spot. I'll be right back.”

Shea would be able to get Hunk mobilized, but to Keith, it was still a little funny that things were playing out the way they were. Of all the things that could have happened, Lance was right back with him, even if it wasn't romantically or permanently. He would know where Keith at least worked.  

“Uh no. Not this time. Blue kind of died on me at Rosa’s school. Was hoping Hunk could come tow her to the shop…….I can call someone else….Thank you, Shea.” Then hung up. 

Keith looked over the engine and found oil in all the wrong places. A quick look under the car and he figured it was a busted hose. Though he couldn't be too sure without lifting the car.

“Something easy?” 

But the grimace on Keith’s face showed no it was not easy. “I can't tell. It has to be lifted. But I think it might be a burst oil line.” He held up his hand revealing a bit of oil on his fingers. 

Lance groaned. “Great. Well, thank you for looking at it. It will give my buddy a starting point. He will be here in 15.” 

Keith shrugged. “I can stay put. I have no place to be.” He whipped his hand on a towel he had from the bike. That was true, technically he wasn't expected to be anywhere till about noon.

“Oh, you don't have to.” Lance waved him off. 

“Two security guards are watching us right now. I know they won't mess with me.” Keith replied. They had tried. Once. And only once. 

Lance looked around him and gulped when he saw the security guards. 

“This day just keeps getting worse.” Lance moaned dropping his head on the roof of the car. 

For you, but my whole week just got a little bit brighter.

“I Keith by the way.” Keith offered up his hand. 

“Lance.” Lance shook it. 

Chapter Text

“And well you know the rest,” Keith said waving his hand about. 

Lance didn't know how to react. This whole time, Keith had been waiting. Not ever sure that Lance would join him. It was honestly very sad. 

He didn't hesitate as he brought Keith into a hug, burying his face into Keith’s shoulder. 

“I'm sorry I made you wait so long,” Lance muttered. 

Keith simply held him. Though now that Lance heard the story it made sense that Keith was so open to Lance holding him. A lot of things made sense. How calm Keith was. How open he was. How much he just simply accepted and moved on. 

Even Allura hadn't been so open. Even Allura hadn't accepted everything that was Lance. 

But Keith did. Keith accepted and waited. He had been waiting since he was 13 years old. He had made a promise, and he had kept it the entire time. 

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Keith whispered hugging him back. “I would have waited a whole lifetime if I had to.” 

“You didn't have to though,” Lance replied shaking his head. 

“No….but I wanted to. I knew you would find your way back to me someday.” Keith said. 

“How?” Keith shrugged. 

“I don't know. I just did. And I was right.” A gentle smile rested over his face. 

“What about my family?” Lance asked quietly. 

“I'm right here. Adam and Shiro are as well. And Rosa. And Hunk. And Pidge. We are your family, now and forever.” 

Lance couldn't help the tears. 

Eventually, Lance leaned against Keith’s chest while he ate the meal Keith brought him. 

“I have to move out,” Lance muttered. “I am not sure where I will go though.” 

Keith hummed. 

“Maybe I can sleep in Hunk’s guest bedroom till I find a new place.” Lance tossed out, and Keith scoffed. “Or maybe…..I'm not sure.”

“Why not come live with me?” Keith offered. 

Lance blinked up at him a bit dumbfounded. “With you?”

“Sure. I have the space.” Keith shrugged a bit. 

“What about Rosa?” Lance asked. 

“I have the space. It's a pretty big house. If you want, you can come by tomorrow, and take a look. If you don't want to that is up to you.” Keith replied. 

“Would we…share a room?” Lance fiddled with the blanket. 

“Do you want to share a room?” Keith replied. “We don't have to. You can have your room, use it as an office or sleep or whatnot. It's up to you.”

Lance shrugged. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. Keith had known him for so long, but Lance had only known Keith for a month maybe two. And now Keith was offering to live together?

“Like I said, you don't have to. It's completely up to you.”

“I can look though, right?” Keith nodded. 

“I think you will like it though.” 

Lance eyed him wearily but agreed.

Which is how he found himself a little confused in a parking lot for a garage. Red’s Garage. 

He called Keith. 

“Hey, are you here?” Keith asked, it was early but the shop was already open. Keith though sounded like he was making something on the stove. 

“I don't think so. I think I got the address wrong.” Lance muttered. “I'm in front of an auto shop.” 

Keith chuckled. “There should be a little driveway on the righthand side of the building. Go down that. And if anyone gives you a hard time tell them I sent you, alright?”

Lance looked to the right side of the building. “Can you stay on the phone?” 

“Sure.” 

Lance set the phone in its holder on his dashboard and crept forward. He got a few looks from the employees but no one stopped him.

“This is stressful,” Lance muttered, but Keith heard him and laughed. 

“Your find. Just keep going.”

Lance drove for a few minutes huffing as he did. Then the tree line broke, and a huge gray house stood in front of him. 

“What the cheese….”

“Come on Loverboy.” Keith hung up only to appear in the doorway. 

What the fuck.

Lance drove a bit further up, parking next to Keith’s old jeep, and got out looking around. 

“This is where you live!?” 

Keith smiled. “Yes. You can appreciate the outside if you want but you might want to eat breakfast first. I made cinnamon buns.” 

“Cinny buns you say?” Lance said and Keith tugged him along.

The inside of the house was far more impressive than the outside. Large bay windows. Small rugs. The furniture was neutral and earth-toned, perfectly matching the greens, blues, and grays on the walls.

Lance reached out to touch one wall that was a particularly nice shade of blue. “I like that color.”

“I hope so. You picked it out.” Keith said snorting drawing Lance’s attention. 

“No, I didn't.” 

“Yes, you did. I built this place for when you came back to me. Massive library. Sun room. Wrap around the porch. Even a pound in the back with fish and a beach. Of course, I added in a training room in the basement and a workshop in the garage, but um ya.” Keith rubbed the back of his neck. 

“You built a house for…..me? And you didn't even know if I would come back to you?” Keith shrugged. “You are a fool.”

“Talk to Hunk, I'm sure he can give you some pointers for insults he's already used.” Keith hummed and then handed him a cinnamon roll. It was still warm and gooey and that first bite was heaven. 

Lance snorted. “Where do you think he got it from?” 

“Anyway, go ahead and look around. I have to go check in on the shop. I should be back in about an hour or so.” Keith said.

“I thought you had the day off.” Lance didn't want to say he was upset about Keith leaving, but it bothered him a bit.

“I do, I just want to check in and make sure my business is running ok. I may have the day off but it's my business. I still have to check on it.” Keith was pulling on his shoes as he spoke. 

“I guess that makes sense….” Lance muttered. 

“I'll be right back. Don't worry. Just look around and eat cinnamon buns.” Keith then stepped out the front door leaving Lance alone in the house. Kosmo had even gone with him.

He sighed and decided to look around. That was what he was here for after all. And if he could snoop on Keith a little bit, all the better.  

After all, snooping was one of his favorite pastimes when he used to go home for the holidays. 

Cinnamon bun in hand, Lance decided to start in the living room. Which was pretty boring, not even a gaming device, just lots of books, Lance would fix that with his multiple setups. But the bay windows were nice and open and the view was something else.

Lance would admit, that Keith knew how to pick where to build a house, or repair a house. Lance could see himself sitting in a window reading a book, or writing one of his own. Or even Rosa sitting in his lap, as he read to her. It was a nice thought and one he would enjoy if it came out as a reality. 

He moved throughout the house locating a workout space in the basement, which made him roll his eyes because it was such a Keith thing. Taking a bit of his cinnamon bun, he made his way up the stairs, eyeing the photos that were on the wall.

“Who knew Keith would be such a sentimental person?” He muttered. 

Looking around the bedrooms, he found a few empty but they were pretty decent sizes, so he wouldn’t be cramped if he agreed to move in. But when he found Keith’s bedroom, the snooping started. 

Finishing off his cinnamon bun, a sneaky grin appeared on his face as he kept in. He still had time before Keith would be coming back, so he snooped through the drawers hoping to dig up some black mail. 

Not that Lance would abuse it, but it would be nice to have something on Keith. That would be nice to have. 

He was digging through a drawer when his eyes fell on an empty spot on the dresser. Well, not empty but a piece of paper that was very old rested in a frame. 

In handwriting clearly from a much younger person was written, “Conch Sell from Cuba”. 

As far as Lance was aware Keith had never been to Cuba. So why would Keith have a handwritten note so clearly marking an area on his dresser?

He picked up the frame with furrowed eyebrows. 

Then a weird image came to him. 

“I will bring you back a conch shell! The biggest one I can find!”

He gasped and touched his forehead, a memory of him telling a younger Keith about his summer plans came back to him. 

Once the floodgate was opened though, everything came back.

Lance gasped and dropped the framed paper, completely ignoring the fact that it was now shattered on the ground as he took a step back. 

Memories of sneaking into back rooms in the school with Keith to spend a moment alone. The little chats they had for homework. 

He remembered Keith's promise. The promise to keep him safe. How Keith took him away from his family and brought him somewhere safe. Their time fishing and working for locals. Riding on the back of the bike. The questions about flying on a motorcycle.

The fear when Shiro had found them. The pain of seeing-

Lance covered his mouth his eyes slamming shut as tears came to them. He had to leave. 

He needed-

He needed out.

Bolting down the stairs he shoved his feet into his shoes, not caring if they were on the right or not. Then wretched the front door open to a Keith already reaching out to open it. 

“Lance?” Keith was worried about Lance suddenly crying and looking like a mess. 

Lance couldn’t speak all he could remember was the pain. The happiness that was taken away from him. The time that he had with Keith. 

Lance pushed through Keith and to his car, Keith yelling for him to come back. But he couldn’t.

He was too overwhelmed, the memories all flooding back like that. He was halfway home when he realized he didn’t know what he wanted to do.

Lance pulled off the road and into a small lot and took out his phone. 

The pain from his father beating him made his eyes shut again. 

He needed that to be closed. He needed that part of his life finished. He never got the proper closure for any of that. 

Lance dialed a phone number.

“Adam?”

Chapter Text

Keith didn’t know what had happened. First, he decided to do a walk-through of his house, to make sure nothing had happened that had hurt Lance. It also might help pin down what had driven Lance to such hysteria while he had been gone. 

He found the conch shell note with broken glass around it but no blood, so that was good. He took the time to clean it up, if nothing else then to make sure Kosmo didn’t step on it. 

Then Keith tried to figure out where Lance went. Especially when there was nothing else out of place. Just the broken frame. 

Trying Lance’s phone he got only the voice mail. 

Keith went out to the shop to see if anyone saw what direction Lance had gone. 

Once he found that out, he took off on his bike trying to locate where Lance may have gone. 

Which wasn’t easy considering going this way brought him to so many places that Lance might have gone it was hard to determine where Lance might go. 

So Keith landed on going back to Lance’s apartment. It was a safe bet until his phone rang and he had to stop on the side of the road. 

“Lance!?” He hadn’t even looked at the ID, hoping a panicked Lance had called him for help. 

“No….” Shiro said slowly. 

Keith inwardly cursed. “Shiro, now really isn’t a good time.”

“Adam just got a call from Lance,” Shiro said. 

“What!? Why!?” Keith was agitated now. How was he supposed to help Lance if he didn’t even know what was going through his mind? How was he supposed to protect Lance if he didn’t know where he was!?

“All I know is that Lance asked Adam for his parent's new address,” Shiro said. 

“Why?” It was confusing to Keith, it was probably just as confusing to Adam. 

“I don’t know. But Adam took off as soon as the call ended.” Shiro replied.

“Where?”

“They haven’t moved.” With that, Keith hung up the phone and took off. He knew where he was going.

Keith sped to Lance’s parent's house. On a normal day, he simply enjoyed the wind. Right now though there was in dire need to get to the house, he didn’t care who saw him. 

He spotted Lance’s car in the driveway and Adam’s truck parked on the side of the road. 

He heard shouting when he parked behind Adam. 

Keith didn’t even remove his helmet, just taking enough time to remove the keys and bolt up the driveway. Removing the helmet as he ran. 

Keith didn’t bother knocking he ran into the house and found Adam helplessly trying to hold Lance back. His father just simply glaring. 

“Lance!” Keith cried running to his side. 

“Great now there is more of them.” The older man groaned. 

“You fucking leave him alone you piece of shit! This whole time- this whole time you fucking piece of crap! I hate you!” Lance screamed, trying to force his way past Adam. 

Keith wasn't sure what happened before he arrived, but it looked like Adam had only just gotten there before he did. 

Lance though, was livid. 

“You tried to kill me! Your fucking son! All because what!? I like boys just as much as I like girls!? That's fucked up!” Lance screamed. Keith didn't disagree, but Lance was accomplishing nothing this way. 

“Lance stop.” Adam was trying. Keith could tell, but it wasn't working so he tried to get Lance to look at him instead. 

“Lance, it's time to go,” Keith said trying so hard to get Lance to stop fighting them just as much as he was fighting his family. 

“You not our son! Not until you give up the unnatural nature of your relationships!” Lance’s father shouted back. 

“Then what!? You still all looked at me like I was a monster! Treated me as such! When I had no memory of why!” Lance had all the right to be angry. Keith, in any other situation, would condone it, probably even help. 

However, this was not the environment for that to take place. Lance needed to calm down, not lash out. He needed to be better than the people who hurt him. It hurt yes, but Lance didn't need more terror in his life. Not after everything he had been through. 

Keith and Adam were having a hard time getting a good grip on Lance, it was probably all the adrenaline that was allowing Lance to be so strong, but Keith wouldn't mind seeing that again. In different contexts that is. For now, he just needed to get them out of there. 

Well until he heard the click. 

Keith glanced behind him to see who he assumed was an Uncle of some kind, with a gun in his hand. With all the commotion and yelling no one else seemed to notice. 

The gun raised, pointed right at Lance’s head. 

Keith watched in almost slow motion as the trigger was pulled back. He reacted without thought jumping Lance to push him to the ground. 

The pain echoed in his shoulder long before the sound echoed in his ears. 

He collapsed on the ground half on top of Lance. Grunting with pain, he could feel his blood starting to fill in the fabric fibers in his shirt. 

Great, now Keith could add getting shot to his already extensive list of injuries. The one injury he was ok with never getting. 

But for Lance? To protect Lance? Keith would take it. 

Keith had nothing to lose. Sure Shiro and Adam would be upset he was dead and Sam would miss him. But they would have each other and would move on, eventually. Lance had Rosa, he had to stay alive for his daughter. 

Keith? Keith didn't have anyone. Well, he had Kosmo, but Kosmo would be taken in my Shiro and would be just fine. 

“Keith!” Oh so now Lance snaps out of his anger-filled rage. He could hear Adam on the phone already, probably emergency responders, but that was as far as his focus could go. Especially when Lance’s hands were suddenly on him. “Shit Keith!” 

“Fine…I'm fine.” Keith said going to wave Lance off, but that sent a wave of pain through his being, and forfeited the move almost as soon as it started. 

“You were shot! You are not fine!” Lance cried, pressing something against the wound, by the lack of a shirt Keith was pretty sure that's what it was. Not that he was going complain, shirtless Lance was a treat. One he would hold in his memory forever.

“Better than you getting shot,” Keith grunted going to sit up, much to Lance’s displeasure. 

“Ok and!? You still got shot!” Lance was very attached to the idea of Keith getting hit with a bullet. 

“Adam is calling-” He grunted as Lance reapplied pressure in his now sitting up position, “.....for help.” 

“But that's still like 7 minutes out! You can still die from-”

“I won't die,” Keith said, as Adam knelt behind him and moved Lance’s hands just a bit to look at it before allowing Lance’s to reapply pressure. 

He spoke quickly into his phone and Keith got the feeling that the injury was way worse than he wanted Lance to know. He shifted his shoulder again and this time felt a grinding. 

Oh yes, much worse than he thought it was. 

Lance’s family was freaking out around them, but one glare from Adam and they were mostly kept at bay.

“So….what made you remember?” Keith asked dropping his head onto Lance’s shoulder. He was shot and bleeding and in pain, sue him. 

“That paper you wrote Cuban Conch on,” Lance replied. “Something about it…I don't know triggered my memories.” 

Keith hummed, groaned, and tried to relax. No use in tensing up the area to cause more pain after all. 

“Needed a place holder…..” Keith grumbled.

“For something I forgot to get you?” Lance scoffed. 

“I knew you would remember one day,” Keith muttered. The sounds of sirens were starting to get closer. With the pain meds, which would make Keith loopy and sleepy, but at least he wouldn't feel the injury anymore. 

“And if I didn't?”

“Then I would just wait till our next life.” Lance snorted. 

“Who knew Keith Kogan was such a romantic.”

“Only for you,” Keith replied easily enough. 

“We should go on a date then,” Lance said as the slams of the ambulances and Adam ushering in the paramedics filled the room. 

“Ya…we should.” Keith agreed. 

Before they could hash out the details though, Lance was removed and a parametric took his place. Lance tried to get back to Keith, but Adam didn't let him. Which was fine, for now. 

Keith wouldn't be able to hold much of a conversation anyway after that needle was stuck in his arm. It was only because he knew of the pain relief afterward that he didn't fight the needle. The whole time though he held eye contact with Lance. 

Adam answered questions about medical health, medications, history, and things like that. They asked Keith questions but he didn't look away from Lance. It was easier to deal with things as long as he knew Lance was there. 

They were loading him into the ambulance when Adam stopped them. 

“We will meet you at the hospital.” He said. 

“My bike….” Keith tried. 

“Will be taken care of. We will meet you at the hospital. Shiro is already on his way.” Adam replied. 

Keith nodded dumbly.

The ride-in was spacy for Keith. He tried to stay awake, but it was hard. So instead he drifted in and out of dreams of Lance. Sometimes they were on the beach. Sometimes reading. Sometimes sitting on the swinging bench. 

But always with Lance. 

When they got to the hospital he was rushed to surgery. His shoulder blade had been shattered and bone fragments had to be removed. 

That meant more dreams of Lance. So Keith just went with it. Shiro would take care of everything else. He always did. 

So Keith drifted into his dreams. Lance on his left side, but the tiny hand of Rosa in his own. The three of them watched Kosmo run around them as they walked. He could not place where they were, but it was warm and soft. And he was happy. 

He looked down and caught a glimpse of a ring around his finger, Lance holding a matching one. Peace came over Keith’s mind. It was such a good time. 

Everything was right with the world, and to Keith, at that moment nothing could go wrong. 

“Keith…” Lance’s voice drifted to him so he looked over and a gentle smile was on Lance’s face. “Keith…..” Lance’s mouth didn't move though. “Keith……” 

“Lance?” He asked. 

“I love you….” Lance said this time his lips moving. 

“I love you too,” Keith replied. 

“...Keith….time…to….wake…up…..” It was the disembodied Lance voice again. 

Wake up? He wasn't asleep. He was walking with Lance, happy and content. 

“Come on….Keith….you can…..do it….” There it was again. 

“I'm not asleep-” He tried and then felt pain in his shoulder. He hissed and reached up, pulling his hand back he found blood. “What the…”

“You killed me.” Keith’s head shot up with a trickle of blood running down Lance’s face, a bloody hole in the middle of his forehead. “I am dead because of you.”

“No…no…I was…I-”

“You promised to protect me!” Lance screamed at him. The peace vanished, as suddenly the ground disappeared from under his feet. 

“They shot me because of you! Because I fell in love with you! Because you're a boy!” Keith tried to cover his ears, but one arm was not corroborating at all. 

“No! No! No! I tried! I tried!” He yelled. 

“Not hard en-”

“Keith!” Keith jolted awake painting, sweat running down his face. His eyes frantically zipped around the room, looking for anything till they landed on Lance, alive, and concerned looking.

“Lance?” He croaked. He looked around some more seeing it was dark out now. “What-what time is it?”

“Almost 9,” Lance replied. “Your surgery went well, they were able to get the bullet out and do some repairs on your shoulder blade.” 

“Oh….” Keith nodded, but his mouth was a bit dry. “Water?”

Lance nodded and poured some water for him, offering up the straw, that Keith took willingly. If nothing more then so that he didn't have to hold the water and then potentially drop it with the meds still in his system. 

“Thanks,” Keith muttered closing his eyes. “Shiro and Adam?” 

“Went home a bit ago. Doctors said you might not wake till morning. I got special permission to stay.” Lance explained. 

“Mmm….I'm tired.” Keith muttered. 

“You just slept for the last 6 hours,” Lance replied with a huff. 

“The drugs…..still working,” Keith replied. But he patted the bed and scooted over so that Lance could lay next to him. “Those chairs are not comfortable to sleep on.”

“I can't get on the bed with you!” Lance hissed. 

“Says who?” Keith asked cracking one eye open. 

“Everyone!” 

“I'm not everyone. Come on.” He pats the bed again. This time with a sigh, Lance got up and moved to the other side of the bed before getting on next to Keith. He carefully laid down so that he wouldn't disturb anything and Keith wrapped his arm around Lance’s shoulder. 

“Mmmm better,” Keith murmured.

Keith was not the biggest fan of hospitals, but at least he could stand them. Lance was a jittery mess the entire time. Not that Keith blamed him hospitals had become a place for pain and bad news for Lance. 

“You should go home, at least to take a shower and feed the kittens.” Keith offered, his right hand rubbing the back of Lance's hand. One would think Lance was the one injured with how much Keith was comforting him. 

“Hunk is looking at them. I don't want to leave you.” Lance muttered but jumped when the door to the room opened. It was Shiro but it might have well been a ghost for how high Lance jumped.

“Hey, Shiro.” Keith greeted his hand tightening a bit to keep Lance in his seat. 

“How are you feeling?” Shiro asked eyeing Lance but then looking back to Keith.

“Like I got shot.” Lance flinched dramatically, definitely blaming himself. “Any word on when I can leave?” 

“I spoke to the doctor, they want to keep you one more day to make sure no fever or infection sets in. However, they seem optimistic that you will have a successful recovery.” Shiro explained. 

Keith groaned. “Great.”

He looked at Lance. “You have to go home. As much I would rather have you by my side, at least go home tonight.” 

“But-”

“No, go home. Lay in your bed. Eat food that isn't from the hospital cafeteria.” Keith cut him off. “I will be alright here.” 

Lance chewed on the inside of his lip. “I….I……”

“Lance…..would you rather go to my house?” 

Lance tensed, but his cheeks heated a bit. 

“Shiro? A moment?” Keith said, Shiro nodded and stepped out. “Lance?”

“Can I…..can I move in with you?” Lance asked nervously. 

“I offered,” Keith replied. 

Lance hesitated a moment. “I've been thinking about it. I just….I don't feel safe at my apartment anymore.” 

“Ok…I won't be able to help you pack. At least not for some time.” 

“You think Adam will help?” 

Keith smiled and nodded. 

Chapter Text

Lance whipped the sweat off his brow before plopping himself down next to Keith. His arm was still in a sling but he held out a water bottle for Lance. 

“Thanks.” Lance took it gratefully and took a drink. “I have a lot of stuff.” 

Keith chuckled. “I know.”

“I need it all you know. My skincare routine alone has its box.” Lance said patting one of the boxes next to them marked with the aforementioned items. 

“I am aware.” 

“And the cats! Kosmo better not eat their food.” Lance huffed out.

“He won't.” Keith gave his boyfriend a side-eye. “Your whole apartment is boxed up and now you're having second thoughts?”

“I'm not. But I figured you would see all of this and start to question your position on me moving in.” Lance replied. 

“Lance, I built my house with you in mind. I knew a long time ago what I was getting into.” Keith chuckled nudging Lance with his shoulder. 

“You are willing to give up two of your rooms?” Lance asked. 

He had laid in bed all morning before Shiro and Adam had shown up thinking about this. Wondering what he would do if Keith suddenly changed his mind. 

“I'm giving up one room, and hopefully sharing my own,” Keith replied shrugging then winced. The motion probably tugging at his injury. “Although I know that might take some time.” 

Lance fiddled with his water bottle. “I know Rosa is excited to see Kosmo more often.”

Keith snorted. “He's going to get fat with the treats she gives him.”

“Yes but with Sammy and Rosa running around I'm sure he will run off those treats in no time,” Lance replied with a grin. 

They sat in silence a moment longer before Lance got up again. “Well, I might as well bring down the rest of the boxes. I'm sure Shiro and Adam are wondering where I am.”

Keith chuckled. “I'm sure.” He reached out and grabbed Lance’s hand pulling him into a kiss. “Go get 'em Loverboy.”

Lance felt the heat rise on his cheeks, something that he was trying to avoid around Keith but it was getting hard the longer they were together. 

“What took you so long?” Adam asked setting a box labeled kitchen near the door. 

“Water break,” Lance replied shaking his water bottle. 

“Does water break include kissing?” Shiro asked wiggling his eyebrow at Lance. 

“I-what-no!” Lance sputtered making both of the older men laugh.

“Relax we saw you two. We are just messing with you.” Adam joked with a grin. 

“You are an ass,” Lance grumbled as he started moving the boxes towards the door. Once there was no more room to put boxes the three of them would carry them down to where Keith was waiting with the truck.

Azul and Samurai had already been moved to Keith’s house so that they wouldn't run out of the apartment while they worked. 

So all around it was a good day of work. One filled with laughter and good food. Hunk stopped by with Shea and Pidge even offered a hand for an hour.

Which meant like all good things in the past few months, it came to a halt. 

Lance stepped out of the apartment building to see Lotor and Allura standing awkwardly next to the moving truck. Keith still looked calm but Lance could tell he was tense, it didn't take long before Adam joined him as they made their way to the moving truck. 

“Lance,” Allura spoke up, a small smile on her lips. 

Lance just sighed. “Did my email not come through clearly?” He asked setting the box down. 

“It, it did yes. I just…I just thought we could help?” Allura offered. 

Lance sighed. “Look as much as I appreciate your help, I made it very clear I was no longer available for social visits.” 

Allura’s lip gave a bit of a wobble, she looked on the verge of tears. 

Lance had always hated seeing her cry. 

“Allura,” He said softly. “Words can not express the gratitude I have towards you. For all that you have done for me. But you also hurt me a great deal. I am working to get past it but it will take time.” 

She nodded and stepped back. “I understand.”

They were about to turn away when Lance stopped them. “I do miss you as my friend though. And I am willing to keep that friendship alive if you are willing to understand that I will need time to forgive you.”

Allura nodded hurriedly. “I miss you as my friend as well.”

Lance gave her a slow nod. “Alright. Well if you're here to work, we need help moving the boxes into the truck. Keith is currently on the lookout so it's taking a bit longer to load things up.”

“Of course.” Allura nodded and rolled up her sleeves, nudging Lotor to help as well. He was far more reluctant but followed her lead. 

Later that night, Lance invited Lotor and Allura to stay for dinner. It was supposed to be Adam and Shiro but their babysitter had to leave early. 

“Thank you for having us. This was a very nice afternoon.” Allura said as they all leaned back stuffed and tired from the long day. 

“Any friend of Lance’s,” Keith replied shrugging one shoulder now. 

“Lance, there was another reason we stopped by,” Lotor said slowly. 

Lance raised an eyebrow. “Of course there was.” 

“It's about the move to California I was telling you about.” 

“You said that was 2 or 3 years out.” Lance bit out. 

“It is. However, there have been some….unexpected issues come up. I have to move out there sooner than I had initially thought.” Lotor explained. 

Lance eyed him then Allura. “OK?”

“I will be going with him. The branch that had all the hackers is located there and so I have to go over and see some personal changes.” Allura added. 

“2-3 years! That's-”

Lotor held up his hand. “The school that we wanted to enroll Rosa in is a middle school. And is very specific about who they enroll. It's a long long process to get any student enrolled. We have decided that if you, both of you, are ok with it that is, to leave Rosa here with you. Of course we would like her to fly to us on long weekends and for a few weeks in the summer, but for the most part she would be living with you.” 

Lance’s jaw dropped. He would have his little flower full time? No running around? No coordinating? No more trying to fit in plans at the last minute.

“Would this be until middle school starts?” Keith asked, gently taking Lance’s hand in his own. 

“No.” Allura let out a breath. “We love Rosa a great deal, obviously, and I do want to set up times where she will come see me, come live with us. She will have her room and everything like that. However….” Allura paused. “I'm pregnant.”

Silence. 

Lance was still trying to process having his daughter permanently. He hadn't even moved onto the implications of Allura being pregnant. 

“Lance-” Lotor tried. 

“He needs a moment to process,” Keith said and Allura nodded in agreement. 

Lance’s brain reset and he jolted. “Pregent!?” 

“Yes.” Allura nodded.

“Holy cheese batman! That's fantastic!” Lance grinned like an idiot. 

“We thought you might like that. But with the new baby, we fear Rosa might feel forgotten so we figured it was best that she stays with you. We will set up a schedule where she will come over, and she can visit any time she wants, but we figured this was the best course of action all things considered.” Allura explained. 

“I….That's wonderful.” Lance said softly. “Thank you for telling me. When do you need an answer?”

“As soon as you know. We want to make the transition as smooth for everyone as we possibly can.” Lotor said. 

Lance nodded. 

Goodbyes were said pretty shortly after that. 

“I never planned for Rosa to be a permanent resident…” Keith muttered as they shut the door. 

“It's a lot to ask of you I know but…” Lance hesitated. 

“Oh, I never said no. It just means I have to add onto the house.” Keith replied smiling. 

“She….”

“If you want her here, I am more than fine with her being here,” Keith said. 

Lance flung open the front door running to the railing. 

“Allura!” He shouted. She looked up to him surprised. “Yes!” 

Allura smiled back at him and nodded. “We will be in touch then!” 

Chapter Text

1 year later:

“Keith! Keith!” Rosa screamed as she ran into the kitchen. Laughs echoed through the house as she screamed. 

“What? What!? Where is the fire!?” Keith cried lifting her when she jumped him. 

“Papa is being weird!” Rosa hissed into his ear. 

“How so?” Keith asked adjusting her so that he could put the cinnamon rolls into the oven. A stable in the Kogan-McClain household every single Saturday. 

“He’s-”

“Rosa you keep your mouth shut!” Lance called as he made his way into the kitchen. 

Rosa screamed and tried to hide on Keith’s back. “You acting weird Papa!” 

“Am not! Now let's go get ready for the day alright? Keith is making breakfast.” Lance tried to pull her off of Keith who chuckled and tried to release the monkey-like child. 

“She can stay.” Keith offered.

“She knows too much.” Lance huffed. 

Rosa laughed still trying to cling to Keith. 

“Ya! Papa has a fancy ring!”

Keith blinked when Lance froze. “Fancy ring?” 

“That's enough Rosa time to go upstairs.” 

“Ya! Like the one Lotor gave Mommy before they got married!” Rosa cried out still avoiding Lance’s reach. 

Lance though gave up after that hanging his head. 

“Lance?” Keith asked confused, but also a little suspicious. “What fancy ring?” 

“Ugh, it was supposed to be a surprise. Rosa, you are so grounded!” Lance huffed as he stomped out of the kitchen.

“Keith?”

“Hmm?” Keith mused looking at her as she leaned over his shoulder. 

“Am I grounded?” 

“Hmmm….. probably not,” Keith replied helping her down. 

Lance came back a moment later as Rosa climbed her way up onto a bar stool and poured herself a cup of juice. 

“Here.” Lance shoved a box into Keith’s chest. Keith didn't let it drop but had to force down a smile when he opened the box. 

“You're not going to do it correctly?” Keith asked cheekily. 

“Well I was but someone spilled the beans!” Lance glared at Rosa who innocently drank her juice. 

“I guess this would be a bit awkward if you did then.” Keith chuckled as he reached into one of the upper cabinets, the ones Lance never goes into, and pulled something out. 

Then opened it for Lance. “Will you marry me?” Keith asked. 

Rosa giggled but was quick to silence herself, her little blue eyes quickly darting between the two of them. 

“You fool, of course, I'll marry you,” Lance replied as Keith pushed the silver band with one blue gem onto his finger. “But you have to wear my ring too.” 

Keith couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the matching ring Lance had gotten him, except his gem was red instead of blue. 

“I think I'm going to have to put it on a chain. Don't want it to break at the shop.” 

“Well, I suppose that's alright.” He leaned in to kiss Keith. 

It was peaceful for about 30 seconds before Rosa spoke up. 

“Am I still grounded?” 

The End