Burn | Klance

3 - For Better Or For Worse?

Everyone needs some sort of escape. A way to cope. Everyone, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've been through or what you're going through, everyone needs something to escape life from. Lance found himself needing escapes more and more often nowadays. Today was definitely one of those days.

It surprised Lance to find that on this floating castle he had multiple opportunities for escapes. He could train, he had his room, he had so much technology, he had a kitchen, and more importantly, he had the lounge.

Lance was quite fond of the lounge. Not many others went there unless there was a group. No one really just sat and did things there. Then again, you could argue Lance really didn't either. He just enjoyed sitting there and relaxing. He just liked to sit and just be. For some reason he couldn't think while in the lounge. All his thoughts blocked and simply blank. He adored the lounge.

Lance found himself walking his way to the lounge. His argument with Keith a few days ago had been embarrassing and difficult to handle. He needed to stop thinking about it and what better way than the lounge?

He shouldn't be walking while on his makeshift space phone, he tends to run in to things, but he didn't really care. He had the way to the lounge mapped out perfectly in his head and remembered. It was second nature to him. So he didn't notice the difference until he came around the corner of the couch and looked up before going to sit down.

Keith was here too.

Lance's immediate reaction wasn't anger, but he couldn't tell why. Instead he was startled as to why Keith of all people would be here. His expression shocked. This must have been visible to Keith for his expressions and body language changed as well.

"Oh, sorry. I can leave." Keith deadpans as he starts to stand up and put his phone in to his pocket.

"No!" Lance stops him, "It's Ok. You can stay."

Lance isn't quite sure why he allows Keith to stay. The friendship between the two was still questionable and thick in the air. Although something inside him didn't really want to be alone. Another part of him wanted Keith. So the two compromised.

Lance sat a few feet away from Keith on his right. The two aimlessly payed attention to their phones, not really caring or noticing. The two were too busy thinking about the other. Some thoughts good, others bad. The point was, things couldn't stay like this. It had to stop.

"Listen-"

"Hey-"

They both started their conversations at the same time. Lance sighed and let Keith go first. Keith got the signal and began to speak.

"Listen, I just want to apologize for what I said a couple days ago. It was rude and uncalled for." Keith is sincere with his statement.

"No, man. I've really gotta apologize for how I was acting. I was being completely self-absorbed and didn't think about your perspective. I'm sorry." Lance was slightly awkward in his statement. It wasn't often he behaved this mature and really didn't know how to go about it. He wasn't sure if Keith believed his statement but he hoped for the best. He just didn't know how to express himself without humor.

It's that sliver of silence that cuts through them again. Why is it that silence always wiggles its way in to their conversations? It made things off balanced and left far too much room for thinking when no one truly needed to make time for that. Keith spoke what was on his mind, not caring of what it would mean.

"I do care." Keith mutters.

"What?" Lance turns to Keith, confused. He simply doesn't understand.

"I do care. What you say, I care about it." Keith admits lightly. Suddenly Lance can't control what comes out of his mouth.

"Why?" He half chuckles in his statement. As if it were common knowledge that everyone should dismiss whatever stupidity came from Lance's being.

"Because you have good ideas sometimes." Keith is sincere once again. There's no hint of tease or judgement, there's just truth and Lance finds comfort in it. There's that break of silence once again as neither of them know truly what to say. Lance wings it.

"I think you're an amazing leader and I don't think you deserve all the stress you have on your shoulders." Lance has trouble looking Keith in the eye when he admits this. Why was he admitting it? It's very possible that Keith could use this moment against him. He had all the right to and all the opportunities as well. So, why not? Why did he speak?

Keith shoots a half smile at Lance. It's not often Keith smiles let alone a genuine one. It's only half but it's nonetheless real, and that's what sets Lance off. He smiles bright back, filling the other half with his half smile. The two see the glisten in each others eyes and suddenly they look happier as well. They are happier.

"You're not half bad, Sharpshooter." Keith states.

"You not too bad yourself, Samurai." Lance shoots back lightly.

It was this moment that changed it all. It was this moment that changed how they saw each other. They would never be able to pin point an exact moment or thought that forced them to this conclusion, but they knew things were going to change. A single question remains. For better or for worse?