Don't Ask, I'll Never Tell

Race You!

Keith awoke to the gentle twittering of the planet's songbirds. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up before turning to the sleeping Paladin beside him. "Lance," he whispered. "Come on, wake up." Keith gripped Lance's shoulder and shook him gently. "We have to leave soon."

"But it's sooo eaaaarrrllly..." Lance whined in his half asleep state before curling into a ball. "Just ten more minutes."

Keith chuckled. "Fine," he moved to stand. "I guess I'll just have to leave without you... oof!" His foot caught on something and his hands shot out to catch himself. He turned around to find Lance gripping his foot.

"Don't go." Lance mumbled. Keith tried to pull his foot away only to have Lance tighten his hold. "Stay."

"You're such a pain." Keith huffed after giving up and sitting beside him.

Lance yawned and sat up. "I know." He rested his head on Keith's shoulder and closed his eyes. He hugged Keith's arm as he began to drift off once again.

The corners of Keith's lips turned up in a small smile. "Trying to make sure I don't leave you?"

"Mm-hm"

Lance's hair tickled Keith's nose as he leaned his head to rest on Lance's. "Don't worry. I won't. I'll carry you if I have to."

At this, Lance melted into Keith's lap. "Carry me." He said with his arm draped over his face.

Keith shook his head in response to Lance's antics. "That wasn't an invitation. You still have to pilot your lion."

"Quiznak." He muttered.

Keith laughed softly. "Alright, bud. That's enough dawdling. Time to stand up." He held both of Lance's arms in an attempt to help him to his feet.

"No." Lance's knees buckled in defiance.

"Lance, don't go limp. Don't you dare--Dude! Come on! I already said I'm not gonna carry you!" Keith struggled for a moment under the sudden weight before regaining his balance. "So this is how it's gonna be." He swung Lance's legs over his arm to carry him better and turned to walk in the direction of their lions. "Why do I put up with you?"

"It's 'cause you love me. No one can handle the Lance charm." He winked.

"I could drop you right now. See how well your Lance charm works then."

"But baaaabe."

"Lance..." Keith warned.

Lance smiled. "Te adoro..."

"I'm warning you..." Keith tried to sound stern.

"Mi tesoro," he said dreamily.

Keith released him, allowing Lance to fall with a dull thud. "Ow! Hey!"

Keith couldn't hide his smirk. "Whoops. Looks like my hands slipped."

"I'll get you for that!"

"You'll have to catch me first, darlin'."

Lance scoffed. "Oh please. I could run circles around you. Give me a real challenge."

"Not so tired anymore, are ya?" Keith observed.

"I'm always ready to win."

"Oh, sure. I'd like to see you prove it. Race you back to the ship?"

"Oh, you're on, Mullet!" Lance dropped a nearby tree branch into the grass in front of them to use as a makeshift starting line. "I hope you're prepared to lose." He got down into his racing stance.

"Ha, funny. I was gonna say the same to you." Keith followed Lance's example and got down into his racing stance as well. "On the count of three. Ready?"

Lance nodded with determination. "One."

"Two..."

"Winner gets a kiss from the loser!" With that, Lance booked it toward their lions leaving Keith in the dust.

Keith sprinted after him. "Hey! That's a false start! You can't do that!"

"I just did!" Lance called over his shoulder just before closing the door to the blue lion. It wasn't long before Lance took to the skies.

Keith rushed to his lion and dove to the pilot's seat. His hands hovered over the controls. He wanted to win, but losing didn't seem so bad now that he thought about it. Keith stretched and leaned back in his chair. Oh well, he could allow Lance a couple seconds of a head start. After all, he was a good sport and, as such, he had to lose sometimes. Even if he was losing against Lance.

He watched the Blue lion shrink into the size of an ant in the sky before he launched himself after it.