Lance Alone

Part 19 (Keith)

Keith met Lance's family, and then his extended family, and then all his neighbors--who stretched into a confusing mix of cousins and brothers and sisters and half-uncles and nieces. They were fascinated by his paladin armor, his bayard. Lance's grandmother insisted he needed a good haircut and chased after him with scissors. One of Lance's nephews snagged his blade from the Blade of Marmora and swung it around a few times before Keith could grab it back.

"Lance and I used to sword fight all the time!" he cheered, "he's so good! He'd only let me win some of the time."

"Come in, I didn't let you win. You're really good!" Lance insisted.
"Yeah, but I'll never beat you at shooting cans off the porch. Lance can knock 'em over at 100 yards, every time!" The little kid pantomimed a gun and *pew pew pew*ed the both of them. Lance doubled over, pretending to be shot. Keith just kind of stared at the kid.
"Come on, Keith. You're supposed to play dead," Lance whispered.
"Yeah, I shot you! Pew pew!" Keith looked to Lance, and then grabbed his side.
"Oh no, I've been--wounded?" Keith bent over and got on his knees. The kid looked delighted, jumping up and down.
"Yeah! I got them!" The little kid cheered and ran into the kitchen to grab more garlic knots. Lance pulled Keith to his feet.
"His favorite game is cowboys and aliens," Lance explained. "Come on, the balcony is probably less crowded."

They walked out towards the balcony, where the crowds were fewer and it was quieter. The sun would be rising soon this way, but the water was still inky black.

"You have a... really great family," Keith admitted, "I can see why you wanted to come back for them."

Lance didn't know what to say.

"I think if I had a family like them, I never would have left," Keith continued, "I mean, the way they look at you... no wonder you're so self-centered. They shower you with affection."

"They don't all the time," Lance leaned against the railing and felt the sea breeze on his face, "There's so many little people that it's easy to get lost. Everyone's always fighting for attention."

"But still," Keith shrugged, "You can tell by the way they look at you that they love you. I wish I had a family like that."

Lance had never seen him look so... lost. And lonely. It made him feel almost sorry for Keith. He nudged him with his elbow. "Come on, cheer up. After meeting you, they'll probably adopt you as their son."

Keith didn't cheer up, though. "I came back to get you to rejoin Voltron, but how can I ask you to leave these people again?"
"Well, you could always beg," Lance leaned his chin on his hand, smirking at Keith.
"What?" Keith jumped. "Nope. Not doing that."
"Then I guess I'm staying here forever."
Keith grumbled under his breath. "Fine!" He threw his hands in the air, "I can't do this without you, Lance. I just--I need you, okay? Please--come back!"
Lance raised an eyebrow. "You didn't actually have to beg, dude. I'll come back."
"But your family--"
"Oh, give me a week and I won't want to talk to them ever again," Lance laughed, "they're fun now, but living with them all the time? They're like this twenty-four seven. Besides, having a family likes them reminds me why the universe needs defending."
And to Keith's surprise, Lance hugged him. Keith relaxed slowly, trying to figure out was going on. And he slowly lowered his arms, hugging Lance back.
When they realized what they were doing, Keith pulled away from him, and immediately crossed his arms again.
"If I didn't have to beg, you shouldn't have told me I had to beg," he mumbled.
Lance looked up to the stars, watching them twinkle and flash. A shooting star skidded across the sky. Lance shut his eyes and made a wish, but Keith didn't look up at the stars. He just watched Lance, the wish forming on his lips. And he smiled.