The Color of Life is Red

The Hatred and The Love

Shiro and Coran entered the apartment with a warm hello and handfuls of food. Lance welcomed them and helped set up in the kitchen with Shiro.

Lance glanced at him through the corner of his eyes as he opened one of the opaque plastic bags. "You haven't been here in a while."

Shiro's hands stopped for a second. He gritted his teeth, "Well, I'm here now." He picked up a small tupperware.

Lance leaned one hand on the table and the other on his hip. He rolled his eyes, then returned them to Shiro, "Why are you here? You don't support him."

He didn't stop what he was doing, avoiding Lance's harsh gaze. "I never said that."

Lance's chest burned with anger. He stepped around the corner of the table and shoved Shiro's chest, "You told him he was wrong. That I corrupted him."

Shiro's voice gained momentum, "You fucking did."

"You left him to feel like shit!" He lowered his voice, but the intensity remained, "He looked up to you, he still does." He jabbed his fingers into his shoulder, "You wanna hate me? Fine. Screw you. Just don't hurt him."

Shiro pushed Lance back a few steps in anger. "You convinced him to kill people for fun, not to survive."

Lance leaned into his face, "I convinced him to fight for justice, not selfishness." He eyebrows furrowed, framing malicious eyes of deep blue. "You've got a terrible opinion of me, but Keith loves me. You don't have to like me, but stop being an asshole."

"You don't get to tell me what to do," Shiro spat out.

Lance spoke through his gritted teeth, "Then leave."

They fought with their eyes for a minute, waiting for the other to give in. When Shiro's gaze finally faltered, Lance stepped back and left him to the food, stomping into the living room.

Coran sat next to Pidge on the leather couch, talking with his hands. Keith watched their discussion with confused eyes from the armchair. Lance strode over to him, tucking a few strands of hair behind his ear. He sat down on Keith's lap and wrapped his arms around his neck, letting his feet dangle over the armrest.

Keith hugged him with strong arms and kissed his head. "What's up?"

Lance took a long breath, "I just got into a heated conversation with your old partner."

"Oh," his smile faded for a second. Then, brought his hands down to tickle Lance's sides.

Lance laughed playfully as he struggled for mercy. "Keith!"

Keith's tickling ceased and he brought a hand up to Lance's face. He nuzzled their cheeks together and rested his eyes. "Don't hate him too much."

Lance hugged him tighter, "I think I hate him just the right amount."

He kissed behind Lance's ear, "Whatever you say."

"Coran, can I ask you something?" Lance leaned his elbows on his knees as he sat in a dining chair. His fingers laced together and he stared at the ground.

Coran took another bite of his slice of cake, letting the fork dangle from his fingers when he did. "Of course you can."

Lance turned his head to check on the others in the Living room. Shiro and Pidge were messing around with cards and Keith laughed at them. He returned his eyes to the floor. "Is Shiro good to you?"

The fork clinked onto the table as Coran set it down and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He locked eyes with Lance and crossed his legs, "Yes, he is."

"Are you sure?" His eyebrow lowered in anxiety.

He flashed a sweet smile, "I think I'm pretty sure." He reached over to pat Lance's back, "He's a good man. He's just been through a lot."

Lance averted his gaze, "That isn't an excuse to be an asshole, though."

The hand on Lance's shoulder drifted away. "You're right."

Lance turned his head back, "Then-"

He was stopped with a hand, "But he's doing what he thinks is right. I don't have to agree to stand by him."

An ache pulled his chest in and his eyes stung, "Why would you stay with someone like that?"

"Well," he picked up his fork again and took another bite, "You would stay with Keith through anything. It's the same way."

Lance rolled over his words in his mind. Coran was gentle and caring. He would do anything and everything to make sure everyone was alright. But Shiro was spiteful and selective. Lance didn't see a reason for the hatred that he received. Shiro disliked him from the beginning, dumping him on Keith. He didn't expect them to fall in love, though. Was loving Keith a good enough reason to hate him?

Lance took in a frustrated breath and fluffed his hair, "Yeah, you're right."