Say You Love Me!

"I Just Want To Protect You"

Shiro's shoulder blades were pinched together in anger. He stopped his pacing to turn and slam his hands down on the dinner table and glare at the paladins.

"You failed so badly- I sent Pidge and Hunk after you."

"Lame." Lance jeered. "We were fine."

"Fine? You were fucked!" He yelled. Keith held his silence, feeling that he had betrayed Shiro. Shiro continued, "Honestly just go get some sleep. I don't want to deal with either of you. Get out of my sight."

The boys left through the bay doors and headed down the hallway in silence. Keith turned on his heel, grabbing Lance by his shirt and pinning him to the wall. "Why couldn't you just take my lead?!" Keith exploded in Lance's face. "You could have let us avoid that whole thing but you didn't listen to anything ever."

Lance shoved Keith off with both hands and fixed his jacket. "Why? Because you just want to take all of the risks?" he retorted.

"Me? You live in some fantasy! Get real man you're not invincible!" Keith's voice caught. He lowered his voice. "I just... want to protect you." There it was- that feeling. Confusion? Lust? No- genuine concern and.... love? For Lance?! The thought seemed so wrong. Lance crossed over Keith and shoved him up against the wall of the narrow hallway, pressing his mouth to Keith's in a deep kiss. It felt so... right.

"Lance..." Keith started

"Shut up Keith! Let me speak!" Lance ordered. Keith's eyes widened and the boy nodded. Lance cleared his throat. "Keith- you confuse me. I always thought that my feelings toward you were pure hatred but... but then things changed and I changed and what I first thought was hate was something else. I think- I love you."

There is was. Three words that hung in the air between them.

"Can I speak now, you big idiot?" Keith glared before continuing. "I don't understand my feelings either. Sometimes I'm sure that I hate you, but I know that I don't. I love you too." Keith pulled Lance in by his collar and kissed him deeply.

A voice interrupted the two boys:

"Well this has gone differently than I had anticipated." Allura stood in the hall, crossing her arms. "Get a room boys." She said as she passed them in the hallway to her room around the corner.

"Well if Shiro is gonna kill us in the morning, we may as well make tonight count." Lance suggested.

Keith pressed his back to the door. "Do you think she saw?" he asked hurriedly. He paused in thought. "Of course she did. I guess whatever we are is out."

Lance sat on the bed. "I don't think that's such a bad thing- that we're such a bad thing."

Keith sat beside Lance and took his hand. "I want you to be close to me- to be safe. Lance, I want to keep you protected."

Lance leaned in and pressed his forehead against Keith's "I want everything for you- I want you to be able to walk away safe from every battle, to have sweet dreams at night and to eat as much cereal every morning in your boxers."

Keith locked into Lance's gaze. "No wonder we never get along." As he spoke, he nudged Lance on the bed and positioned himself above his partner's face. He dipped down and kissed Lance deeply. "How can I protect you if you're trying to protect me?"

Lance grinned devilishly, propping himself up. "Easy. Just get my back in battle."

"That easy?" Keith asked.

Lance's smile faded as he smirked. "I'll cover your front for now."

A/N: Cliff Hanger! Should I continue? Innocent romance or one-shot?