As Cold as Fire [VOLTRON Keith X OC]

Almost-kiss

Before heading to the Blade of Marmora, we decided to take a night first, and so we begrudgingly walked back to our rooms. Tying my hair up into a braid, I slipped into my bed, pulling the covers over myself and squeezing my eyes shut. I was exhausted and just wanted to fall asleep, but the trains of thought racing through my brain let me do anything but. I thought of our adventures at the space mall, my mind venturing to Allura and our newly-amended relationship. Of course, it didn't take long for my mind to stray to Keith Kogane. His dancing tufts of black hair, his mysterious purple-grey eyes, his rare bursts of laughter.

Maybe the Paladins were right, and I did like him. But it doesn't matter either way. We were just friends, and he didn't think of me anymore than that. Ruining our friendship was the last thing I wanted to do.

I checked the time on my alarm and sighed. Two am. Realising I wasn't sleeping any time soon, I got out of bed and started roaming the halls of the castle. After a few minutes however I hear footsteps. I tensed, grabbing the hilt of my dagger as I started tiptoeing down the corridor. The footsteps got closer, probably just around the corner, and they didn't seem relaxed. If anything, they sounded fast and tense.

Intruder, my instincts sang.

Suddenly the footsteps stopped. I freeze. On the count of three I decide to jump around the corner and attack.

1

2

3

All hell broke loose. I tackle the person who apparently decided to tackle me at the same time. We fall to the ground, throwing kicks and punches blindly in the dark. I raise my dagger but they knock it away. We're wrestling fiercely when I deliver a punch to their face.

"Ow!" he grunts. I pause, recognising the voice instantly.

"Keith?"

His fist stops inches from my own face. "...Riley?"

We stayed in that position for a few moments as we finally allowed our eyes to adjust to the dark. I begin to make out his stupid mullet.

"What the hell were you thinking?" I snapped. "Walking around all sneaky like that! I was ready to kill you!"

He frowned from beneath my grip. "I could ask you the same thing," he retorts. My lips part and close when I realise he's right. I can tell he smirks in satisfaction, annoying me.

"At least I don't walk like a burglar."

"At least I don't carry a quiznaking knife with me all the time."

I raised an eyebrow. "I literally caught you with one yesterday."

"Not in the middle of the night!"

We fell into silence that turned heavier by the second, until we realised we were still on top of each other. I get up quickly, clearing my throat.

"How come you're awake?" I asked. He shrugged.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Are you nervous about going to the blade of marmora?" I ask softly. He brushes me off quickly.

"No, of course not."

I decided not to push any further. He shifts uncomfortably. "I should... get back," I mumbled.

"No," he suddenly blurted. I turned around to glance at him. "I-I mean, if you're not tired, we could just... I don't know..."

"Talk?" I asked in confusion. He nodded sheepishly.

And so we talk. And as we talk our conversations get deeper and more emotional. We talk about Voltron and missions and pressure. We talk about Shiro and the paladins and Allura. We talk about how Allura's trying to be better to me and how Shiro met Keith. We talk about Keith's life in the garrison and Tara back in Altea. We talk for hours and by the time we pause, we realise we had walked into Keith's bedroom, lounging lazily in his bed.

Together.

At what now seemed to be 5am.

"You seem sleepy..." Keith observed. "You should go to bed."

"What, you worried about me Kogane?" I joked with a yawn.

He scowled. "I'm serious, princess, you should go."

I stop in my tracks. "Did you just call me princess?"

"No."

I started laughing. "Yeah you did."

"No, I said... sundress."

"I'm in a tank top and trousers filled with multiple weapons," I reminded him dryly.

He huffed in frustration. "Just go!"

I fiddled with a piece of my hair, pulling at it with my pinky. "Actually, I was thinking, I could just... sleep here?"

Keith Kogane turns blood red within seconds. "What."

"What?" I asked defensively. "I meant like a sleepover, I can't be asked to go to my room. Get your mind out of the gutters, emo boy."

He manages to heat up even more. "My mind didn't even go there! Sure, you can sleep here."

We stare at each other for a few minutes. Neither of us make any move to lie down.

"On the bed?" I clarified. He shrugged. "What about you?"

"I guess I'll sleep on a mattress," he said dismissively, getting up.

"Don't be stupid Kogane, it's freezing. We can sleep in here, it's fine." He takes a deep breath, then nods. He lied down, making me brave enough to lie down next to him on his right. We pulled the duvet over and turned silent.

From the close proximity I can feel the heat of his body through the covers, warming me up. We had turned the lights off, so it was completely dark, but I could make out his violet eyes wide open. Staring right back at me. His hair is fanned out on his pillow, and he wore nothing but thin jeans and his black t-shirt. His warm breath tickles the tip of my nose when we both shuffle closer without thinking. I can feel his legs against my own, his hand absent-mindedly resting on mine. And then, I'm not sure if I was hallucinating or not, but our faces inch even closer. His eyes bored into my stare, and I have no idea if he can tell I was also staring back. In the mystery of the darkness, his eyes are the only thing I can see.

His lips could be millimetres away from mine. The shuffling of the covers beneath us told me they were edging closer. Or maybe it was the small voice in the back of my head hoping they were.

I could almost feel them. The heat between us is apparent. But neither of us move away.

But just as I'm about to find out, we're disrupted by a blaring alarm.

Allura's voice rings through the speakers.

"Paladins, report to the bridge immediately. We will arrive at the Blade of Marmora in a few doboshes."

"Hours?" Keith asked with an annoyed yawn.

"Minutes," I clarified dismissively. Had I imagined the last few moments? At first I thought I did, but when we resentfully get up Keith is blushing just as much as me. We avoided eye contact and hurriedly cleaned ourselves up before going to the bridge.

So I hadn't imagined it.

Keith and I had almost... kissed.

sorryyy i know its short, and that its been a long time but ive just lost all motivation lately 😭 anyways i'll try update more frequently again, and don't forget to comment what u think below :3