Accidental Intentions

49 • Friend

Lance regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. Keith had looked so crushed, and Lance needed to do something about it. Even if that meant revealing his biggest secret.

But now he could never get those words back.

The worst part was that he could not even gauge Keith's reaction because his back was towards him. Now it was his turn to wish the ground would swallow him up. Keith being gay didn't mean that he would automatically be accepting. God, he really didn't think this through.

An extended awkward silence later, Keith finally responded. "Bye? As in you're leaving?"

Lance nearly choked on relief. Keith, in his beautiful oblivion, had missed the point! Life did not offer many second chances, and Lance knew better than to waste it. So after a moment of internal deliberation, it was with great intention that he placed a tentative hand on Keith's shoulder.

Keith brushed it away, angrily, but Lance held his ground.

"Can...you turn around? I have something to say and I really want you to look at me right now."

After a tense moment, Keith obliged. His shiny eyes focused on Lance's boots and wrinkle in his brow confirmed to Lance that he was making the right decision.

"I am bi..as in bisexual."

Keith's brow crinkled further before shooting up in surprise, eyes finally meeting his own. "Wait, so you..."

"Love the ladies, there's no denying that. But I'm also super into dudes, but that's not exactly what you would call common knowledge. Not even my best man Hunk knew."

Keith looked like he had eaten too much dairy.

"I...I never wanted you to know, but like, I don't think you ever wanted me to know either. So, I guess what I mean is, yeah, no big deal?"

"So that's why...everything...you just...went with it?"

Lance understood the thought Keith was trying to piece together. Cheeks warming, he chuckled awkwardly. "Ah, yeah. I honestly had no idea--not that it makes it any better. I shouldn't have teased you, I'm sorry. Not my finest moments, right there. So..."

"So."

So what now? Lance wondered. Keith had never betrayed that he had feelings for him. Every moment of physical intimacy the Red Paladan initiated was brought about through frustration. And Lance couldn't claim anything better.

Part of Lance didn't care. Part of him wanted to reach out, grab hold of Keith and kiss him in the hopes that his hunger will be met with equal hunger. It would be amazing, but how long would that last? Lance knew that after a while it wouldn't be enough. He had a lot of insecurities, and he knew that Keith was just sexually frustrated. It wouldn't work.

Both boys were stirred out of their thoughts by Altean cries of distress.

"We should probably..."

"Yeah," Keith agreed all business.

They found Coran cornered by...

"Hold up. Is that a bunny?" Lance lowered his gun.

"It's a Tyin'baur!" Coran corrected.

"It's a rabbit," Keith said, approaching.

"Careful of it's fangs! They're venomou--"

Keith deftly caught the critter by the back of the neck. He poked back it's upper lip revealing a normal set of rabbit teeth. "Super scary."

It was then that the Tyin'baur had enough of the nonsense and attacked Keith with its 3 foot long tongue. Three foot long, fanged tongue.

Luckily, Keith had his visor down. But he held it arm's length away from himself nonetheless. At the same time, Lance sent a shot through its skull.

Eyes wide, Keith slowly turned from the smoking wound an inch from his hand to Lance.

Lance was crestfallen. "I killed the bunny. "

"That was no bunny."

"You're right. It was a Tyin'baur!" Coran exclaimed.

"I killed..."

"Forget the rabbit! What if you had hit me?"

Lance felt a smug grin form on his face. "But I didn't."

Lance had to laugh at the way Keith's mouth kept opening and closing as he struggled for a comeback. He looked like a fish. An adorable fish.

Eventually Keith started to laugh nervously. "That was...an incredible shot."

A warm feeling spread through Lance as Keith complimented him. Lance knew he could get used to this. Being seen not as a nuisance, but an equal, a comrade in arms. A friend. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Keith tossed him the carcass of the deadly bunny to keep as a trophy.

Lance cradled the innocent looking ball of fuzz to his chest, a lopsided grin on his face. He was excited to get to know this Keith. His feelings for Keith may have started as an accident, but there was nothing but intent in his heart now. But whatever it was that was taking root, it would have to be put on hold. Because it wasn't what Keith needed.

Lance had his own issues. But Keith had issues as well. What Keith needed most was a friend. And that's what Lance would be. As long as Keith needed it. And if this friendship should develop into something else, well, he'd be cool with that. But for the moment, it was enough to sit by and watch for that elusive smile.

"We must hurry, young paladins! The Tyin'baurs are a social beast and will come in hoards to avenge their fallen! Let's father what we can and leave quickly!" Coran urged.

"So if we barely fit on the way down here, how are we gonna bring all this back?" Keith asked.

"Oh dear."