"Well, being nervous is normal in this kind of conversation." Shiro understood very well that, especially for someone like Lance who was likely not used to this kind of thing, it was likely a pretty nerve wracking experience.
These kinds of deep conversations were hard for those experienced with them, let alone someone who clearly seemed out of his depth with such a topic. So, the older paladin figured he might as well take the lead. That and Shiro figured the worst that could happen was that they remained good friends if nothing else.
"Even Keith and I are close, but even our relationship isn't as close as the one I've grown to share with you. I don't get into the habit of sharing my personal space with anyone. I haven't allowed anyone to get this close...Ever since I lost my ex-fiance, Adam...But somehow you became the exception to that rule."
A soft sigh left him then, and he shifted a little to look back at Lance, wanting to show that he meant every word of it. In all honesty, he'd recognized these feelings for a while now, but he'd hesitated to even allow himself to think about such a thing.
"I told myself I'd never let myself love anyone again... And for the longest time, I did just fine with keeping my heart closed off to those kinds of feelings towards anyone. But then I started to get to know you, and I mean truly know you...Not just the surface level of knowledge I have with the other paladins, but... Something much deeper than that. I let you into my heart without even realizing it and before I knew it...I ended up falling in love with you. I tried to deny it or get rid of these feelings, but they just keep coming back stronger each time, and as much as I want to be stubborn and keep denying it, I can't."
Shiro hated feeling this vulnerable, around anyone else he probably would have just kept quiet and not said anything at all, but Lance yet again proved to be the exception to that rule. After all, they'd grown to know one another more deeply than anyone else in the castle, and Lance deserved to know the truth.
"I know it probably sounds like some stupid cliche, and I guess in a way it is, but...I can't keep lying to myself or you anymore. I don't expect you to feel the same way about me, it's completely understandable if you don't."