Lance and Shiro have their first kiss one day on movie night. The others already went to bed. They stop watching and talk to one another. The talk gets a little deep and Shiro admits "I just feel so lonely. Everyone acts like there's a sheet of glass between me and them because I'm the leader." "I guess I understand that. I'm pretty lonely too. No one seems to have time for me anymore." Lance replies, with a sad chuckle. They look at each other silently and without thinking, lean in and kiss.
omg.... that is so quiet and sweet....
like, theyve been casually spending more time together, just talking. lance goes to shiro sometimes when he wants to talk things over about his role on the team, but he starts to linger from time to time. shiro goes out of his way to check in on lance and the things that they talk about, touched that he feels comfortable enough to confide in him, and privately proud of the way lances eyes light up when its clear that he listened and remembered the things that lance said, that he cares enough to check in on a personal level
lance doesnt know all that much about shiro, though, not outside of the public record anyway, which he may or may not know an embarrassing amount about. he knows that shiro was an unstoppable record breaker, and maybe makes some self depreciating comment about shiro not knowing how a particular problem feels, or that he surely never had such a thing happen to him, only for shiro to pause before telling him that, well, that isnt quite true.
its not that shiro is cold or distant. hes a warm and caring leader, to everyone, just... more private, after what hes gone through. less carefree than he used to be, even if that good heart is still intact. the paladins clearly dont know pretty much anything about his personal life back on earth, so when shiro opens up with little stories or confidences of his own, lance almost feels like hes dreaming
they dont hang out or anything. theres still that layer between them, comfortable as comrades and even friends, now, but not exactly close. there are more little smiles between them, though, more back and forth on the comms, all of those little ways that they start to pay more attention to each other as they feel this whole thing out... theyre both feeling a little out of place, and it feels natural to want to gravitate towards each other, but i imagine theyre both a little unsure
the team tries to make time for small group activities and moments of rest, when they can. they all know that they can get caught up in the war effort, and that a tired and stressed mind is much less sharp. besides, theyve got to keep their bonds strong for voltron, and sometimes they simply need to put their burdens down for a 90 minute film.
the garrison trio is unruly and excited to finally find ppl that they can show disney and classic action/scifi films to that hasnt actually SEEN them before, all it took was finding aliens from off planet first. they have a lot to work thru, and while the tradition started in simpler, easier times, its one that they hold onto for so many reasons
but omg once the movie is over and theyre left to their own devices.... its like, all of those little chats that they have, but now theres really no reason to go rushing off on their separate ways. things get deep, they open up, and ur so right, maybe they dont realize it but they can sense the loneliness in the other, and their conversation inevitably turns towards it
i think in that silence they were probably looking at each other in the tvs glow, finally piecing together the dots. all of the little moments between them, and the way that ache suddenly doesnt seem so potent when they sit so close like this...
shiro and lance meet right in the middle, on equal ground, a soft and curious touch of lips. lance cant help gasping when it registers, breaking the kiss, and shiro lingers, starts to pull away, but then lance is kissing him again.
still careful, but more forward in his curiosity, lifting one hand to cup shiros jaw and tilt him closer, and the soft hum of approval that he gets in response just makes his heart flutter. theyre both grinning and blushing when they pull back, and its a little awkward because theyre both flustered and trying to explain themselves, stumbling starts and cutting each other off until they both just laugh, and the tension drains out of the moment
of course they have to talk about this thing between them, whether it was just a lonely kiss or something more, something to keep to themselves or something to share.... but either way they have it, they cant exactly deny that they want each other, not anymore. shiro gently takes his hand while they talk, and lance gets that wiggly little sappy smile as his heart melts, the look on his face turning shiro to mush in return