Klance: Truth or Dare

Part 11

Lances heart was beating fast, and his mind was spinning. He needed to think, but his thoughts were unsteady, like someone had thrown them into the blender and turned it to full power.

Keith. Lance had just given him a lapdance. It had been enjoyable. He was attracted to him. He liked him?

No. Maybe.

Yes.

He found Keith incredibly attractive. But it was more. The way he talked, the way he laughed, the way he always threw himself into the front lines of the fight. His face, his body, even his goddamn mullet.

And with a pang, Lance realised he had always liked him. He closed his eyes and pushed his face into the back of Keith's hair. It smelled like flowers and sweat, of salty sweetness which made his heart race.

How could he ever have fallen for this idiot? And even more important, how could he ever expect Keith to feel the same?

Even if he hadn't antagonised Keith since they first met, Keith would still be way out of his league. Keith, with his extreme skills in everything, his frosty exterior, his respected position as Shiro's right hand man, his flawless beauty...

No. Lance would rather spend the rest of his life in silent agony, than ever admit his feelings to Keith. To admit Keith could do everything, including winning his heart. To be humiliated by admitting his love to a boy who could never love him back.

And Keith wouldn't want to be friends anymore. If you could call them friends now, that is.

And so the game continued, both boys unknowingly sharing the exact same thoughts.

Lance was so deeply in thought, that he didn't hear it when Shiro called his name.

"Lance?" he repeated.

Lance lifted his head. "What?" he said, a little sharper then he had intended. Pidge snorted into her hand. He threw her a deadly glance.

"I asked you, truth or dare?" Shiro said.

"Come on guys, my turn was seconds ago, can't you pick someone else?" Lance sighed, sounding exhausted.

"Uhm, that was like ten minutes ago. Keep up, bro," Hunk said.

Lance blushed. "Oh, uhm.. I'm sorry. I was... In thought. Truth, I guess."

Lance decided it was time to stop doing stupid dares, no matter how much he enjoyed them. It was unfair to Keith, to pretend to hate him, while doing those things.

He felt tired. Confused. Lonely.

Shiro seemed to consider him for a while, looking deeply into his eyes. Lance could see a trace of worry, and calculation, like he was predicting what would happen next.

He saw a flash of certainty in Shiro's eyes, just before he spoke. "I want you to tell me the three things you like most about Keith."

There it was. The truth. Inescapable. Undeniable. Irreversible.

Lance could only buy time.

"I don't even think I can name one thing I like about him."

A lie. Lance could name a thousand. His face. His hair. His body. His skills. His bravery. His intellect. His humor. The way he walked and the way he laughed. How he could sacrifice himself in an instant to save even his worst enemy. How he always knew just what to say to make him shut up when he was annoying, and to make him laugh when he was down. He he could make him feel important and insecure at the same time.

Time was running out.

Lance took a deep breath, feeling the binding on his wrist tighten painfully.

"Lance? Just try to say something." Allura encouraged him. "It doesn't matter."

It did matter. But Lance had to.

"Okay. Here we go," he sighed.

Keith turned around on his lap, which made everything a hundred times worse. How could he say these things to his face?

"One. I like your... Appearance." His face flushed.

"What?" Keith asked, frowning.

"He's trying to say he thinks you're hot," Pidge assisted.

Keith's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Shut up, Mullet. This is hard for me. I just say these things for lack of things I actually like about you."

"Oh." Keith's shoulders drooped slightly, but Lance didn't notice.

"Two. I like how... Courageous you are. I just mean-," he added, seeing the look on Keith's face, "-you always impulsively throw yourself into the fight. It's a bit stupid really. Immature."

Keith raised his eyebrows. "Wow, gee, thanks."

"You're welcome," Lance smirked. "And third, I guess I don't mind the bickering between us. You can actually deliver a good burn from time to time."

Lance leaned back. He had totally handled that with grace. Keith didn't suspect a thing. And it wasn't even a lie. He might have understated some things, nuanced them, but it wasn't a lie.

The wristbinding seemed to agree with him, for it loosened itself.

"Wow, that was actually the nicest thing you have ever said to me," Keith joked. "You'd almost think you have a secret crush on me."

Lance crossed his arms. "I do not! Shut your face."

"Wow, calm down. I was only joking. We both know I'm not really your type anyway. You usually tend to prefer people with longer hair, more feminine, if you know what I mean," Keith said, not entirely succeeding in keeping a sulky tone from his voice.

Lance huffed."Pffff. The fact that you're a boy isn't the reason I'm not interested in you, Mullet."

Keith looked confused."It isn't?"

Lance shrugged. "Nah, there are many of other perfectly valid reasons why I despise you. Your hairstyle, for example."

"I thought you just said you liked my appearance," Keith sneered teasingly.

That was it. Keith had done this to himself. Lance was going to have him do the chicken dance. To make him do handstand, wearing nothing but a pink bikini. Let him sing the entire Bohemian Rhapsody. It was hard to choose really.

"Keith, truth or dare?"

Keith's eyes narrowed. He must have seen Lance's mind working, thinking up ridiculous dares, for he said: "Truth."

Lance's brow furrowed. Then a look glanced over his face. A malicious look, which made Keith recoil slightly.

"What do you think about me?"

It was a spur of the moment decision. Lance needed to know. To know for sure. If Keith didn't like him, that was okay. If he knew, he could move on. And still, a small part of him, a tiny part of his soul, thought: But what if, maybe, he could like me back?

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Heyya guys. I'm so sorry for taking so long. I've been a bit busy with school and friends and my romantic life. (I know, who knew I had one) But I hope your still like this chapter. Please vote or comment, I always appreciate it when you guys tell me what you think. I love each and every one of you. Have a good day.

Love,

Me.