On their first date, Keith asks Lance where he wants to go.
"Your second favourite coffee shop," Lance replies without skipping a beat.
"Why second?" Keith questions, hiding a smile.
"Because I don't want your first favourite to be ruined if this doesn't go well," he's answered immediately - the words almost rehersed, like they've been said before. "I wouldn't want to spoil it, if you decide you don't like me."
It's said with firmness - shutting down argument before it can even be pondered - and Lance's expression is blank. So Keith nods, and does as requested.
They go to a quiet place with lots of couches, art hanging on the walls and music playing in the background. They order their drinks and pick a spot in the corner, chatting amiably as hours pass unnoticed.
Needless to say, the date goes well. So they schedule another at the same place. Why not, right? The coffee was good, and the menu is extensive. Not bad, for second favourite.
And two dates becomes three becomes four becomes ten, until the coffee shop is just the place to go when they meet up.
After work, before class, on the way home from an afternoon spent running errands. They develop preferences, ordering the same thing until the baristas just know to have it ready.
They celebrate birthdays there, events, milestones. Order pastries and tea and exchange gifts with blushing faces. Confessions of love are made and accepted, repeated, remebered. Emblazoned forever in the smell of espresso.
It's where they share big news, idle gossip, personal facts. Where Lance is introduced to Shiro. Where Keith meets all of the McClains.
It's the place they can go when home becomes boring. When the weather is cold or rainy. When they just want a good cup of joe.
It gets to the point where Lance will send a text with just a time, because Keith doesn't need to know which place. He'll walk in and there he is - already sitting in their corner spot with two drinks waiting and a smile sweeter than them both.
And a day comes when a year has passed, and their anniversary is upon them, and Keith asks Lance where he wants to go.
"Your second favourite coffee shop," Lance answers coyly, but Keith takes his hand and suggests something else.
Which has Lance intrigued and nodding, obediently closing his eyes when Keith gives the instruction. But when he opens them again he finds himself sitting in a very familiar corner spot. And he glances back at his boyfriend with a curious grin.
"I lied," is all Keith says, causing Lance to tilt his head in confusion.
And Keith takes his hands, stepping around the table with rosy cheeks.
"On our first date" he explains in a whisper, "when you asked to come here..."
"Your second favourite coffee shop," Lance supplies, but Keith shakes his head.
"We never went to my second favourite." And he steps closer, biting his lower lip as he goes on. "Because despite what you said - about not wanting to ruin my first - to not spoil it for me - I already knew I liked you. I wasn't worried that you'd tarnish anything, and it broke my heart that you thought you would. So I took you to my favourite. You deserved nothing less."
Lance is at a loss for words, staring unblinkingly back into eyes he's come to adore.
"But, to be honest with you," Keith continues, playing with Lance's fingers now, "I was kinda hoping we could stop calling it that."
"Calling it what? Your favourite-?"
Keith nods, and then suddenly he's sinking to one knee, grinning when Lance gasps in surprise despite knowing what this gesture entails.
"Lance, love of my life," he begins, holding that intense blue gaze even as it starts to blur with tears. "I've known you would be the one ever since that first date. And every date after has only reminded me how head over heels I am for you. You've made me see how precious it is to spend time with someone you care about. How simple it can be to bask in their presence without even needing to speak. How enjoyable a cup of tea can be when it's shared with someone you love. You're my favourite person, and this is my favourite coffee shop, and I want nothing more than to keep coming here with you, again and again, until we grow old and tire of this corner spot. So Lance-"
And he reaches behind him, taking a decorative silver ring from his pocket that he holds up for his beloved to see. Several people look over with hands covering their mouths, but neither notice. There's only them in this small forever.
"-how about we make this place your favourite coffee shop as well?"
And Lance laughs - sounding like a sob as wet tears spill over his cheeks. But he's nodding, murmuring 'it already was' softly under his breath.
"Marry me," Keith grins, to which Lance responds with a cheeky: "If you insist."
Keith stands, wrapping him up in a tight embrace as the onlookers applaud, and Lance beams when Keith slips the ring over his finger - making sure to tease him about his proposal later on. But for now all he can do is laugh and cry and hug this absolute cheese of a man.
But he still kisses him, and the baristas bring over the orders they know by heart. But neither notice - too preoccupied with one another as they return to their seats clasping hands and staring fondly into each other's eyes.
They're perfectly content to just sit together in their corner spot, in love and happy for it at their favourite coffee shop.
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