mutual pining + training
im loving this kinkade + lance shit...
lance and ryan training together starts as just training. they’re both snipers, who can learn from each other. plus, sniper training can get quiet and boring without company.
in the beginning, they both enjoy a quiet companionship. they set up next to each other and take turns shooting down the training drones. sometimes one of them will take out more than one while the other watches silently
ryan is the first to breach the silence. lance takes out three drones with one shot, and jumps when he hears a soft “nice one, sharpshooter,” from behind him
lance laughs it off, and ryan can’t help but smile at the man
things get more talkative after that. lance will look over and see ryan lining up a shot, and offer a “little to the left, kinkade”
“call me ryan” he says, adjusting and taking the shot accordingly. lance can’t explain why this makes his heart flutter
ryan finds himself shooting less, watching more. watching lance shoot is like watching art in action. the way his body stills, leading up to a shot. the steadying, deep breath he takes. even his quickly set-up shots are breathtaking, the way he moves quickly but still manages to relax his muscles before the shot. not that his bayard gun has any kickback, but they both know he wont be a paladin with a magical weapon forever
lance tries to ignore the very handsome man watching his every move while he shoots. he chalks it up to ryan wanting to learn new techniques
eventually, lance suggests they train with the new set of training bots - coran helped engineer them
seeing lance use his broadsword is.... an entirely new kind of breathtaking
while he’s sniping, lance is still, calm, cool. when he’s fighting with his sword, he is all quick movements. he’s smooth, lithe. poetry in motion.
when lance watches ryan kinkade fight a training bot for the first time, he expects him to think like a sniper and get knocked on his ass
instead, his jaw drops when ryan is incredibly smart and sneaky, faking out the bot better than he’s ever seen anyone manage.
ryan tries, and fails, not to blush when lance tells him he was incredible
they’re running sniper drills one day, and lance can’t seem to make a shot. neither of them knows why, but eventually ryan places a hand between his shoulder blades. lance stills, and makes every single one of his next 5 shots.
that’s just the beginning.
lance notices ryan’s shot is a little out of line, but instead of saying anything he puts two fingers on his wrist and pulls gently. just a centimeter or two.
things carry on like this for a while, fleeting touches accompanied by stolen glances at one another
lance makes a particularly incredible shot one day
he’s all giggles, practically bouncing. he turns around, and ryan is right there, and then
ryan’s lips are on his. they’re soft, and warm, and lance is leaning into his touch. his arms are around ryan’s neck, and ryan’s hands are pressed against his back. lance is on the tips of his toes and ryan is leaning down to meet him.
lance pulls away when they back into a wall. he hadn’t realized he’d been pushing, but then ryan is sucking air between his teeth and rubbing the back of his head.
lance promises to kiss it better
he does, several times over
training is a lot less shooting, from then on
