Summary: “And the Lance who knows exactly who he is and what he’s got to offer.” He finished, finally turning to look at him. The soft ocean-blue eyes that met him immediately took him off guard. Why did Lance have to be so beautiful? Beautiful and unavailable, he reminded himself
Come on, Keith. Say it! This is your last chance. He did not say it. In fact, he did not say anything at all. After that sentence, he just stopped completely. The only thing he managed to do was smile at him, trying his best to convey the message with his eyes and body language. You are my universe.
The smile he got back was so fond and loving, almost as if… No. There was nothing there but friendship. He had chosen to give his heart to someone else. Someone strong and alluring. Someone Keith could never measure up to. Whom would you pick – the depressed orphan or the beautiful princess? The answer seemed obvious to him. This was what made Lance happy, and for that, Keith was grateful. At least one of us got what they wanted in the end.
What should have happened in Season 8: Episode 1 - Launch date.
THERE, NESTLED AGAINST HIS PULSE by hiuythn | 17/17 Chapters
RATING && TAGS: Teen and Up Audiences // alternate universe — soulmates + first words && last words soulmates au + canonverse + rivals to friends to lovers + slowburn + angst with a happy ending
SUMMARY
"Found you!" Lance says, vaulting over the back of the couch. He lands with a soft thump that bounces Keith up in his seat. "Hey, I've got a question for you. You don't have to answer it, but, uh, have you met your soulmate?"
"No," says Keith, "I haven't."
I shouldn't.
EXCERPT
He stays silent.
Because that way, his soulmate will never find him, and no one will look at him like that anymore.
And it works. They’re too confused and they falter when he simply nods, when he does nothing but look blankly at them as they wait for him to say whatever words line their soft skin, and eventually, they leave him alone.
The only people he talks to are the instructors, with their rings shining on their fingers and their marks brazenly displayed.
He’s fine with that. He is.
MY COMMENTS
Let me tell you something, I was genuinely terrified when I read this fic. I kept on scrolling up and checking the tags and convincing myself they’re going to be okay because “It isn’t tagged Major Character Death, they’ll be okay.” This was a life-changing experience holy shit and their development from their “rivalry” to their friendship to lovers transitioned so smoothly and you bet I’m in love with the writing. This fic was terrifying, but believe me when I say they’re okay—they will be okay.
It’s been awhile, I’ve been super busy between school and appointments but, to that anon awhile back, I have been working on that prompt! The only thing is, it’s getting a little long so I decided to post part of it so you guys can tell me what you think and I can work on it while not leaving you completely hanging! Thank you for being so patient!
Tags: Klance, pining!keith, jealous!lance, James (kinda), very lowkey allurance (I won’t put it in the tags)
Warnings: very light swearing, otherwise none
Prompt: klance fic where Keith starts showing interest in James trying to get over Lance since he and Allura started dating. Bonus points for jealous!lance and pining!keith
A/N: so Keith kind of uses James but a little differently...my boys still hung up on Lance...at least in this part... About 1.5K words
(I didn’t watch season 8 so sorry if the timeline is a little off canon) (also I call Lance the blue Paladin because he wears blue, same goes for Keith and red)
“I think he’s like the future”
“Lance? Why Lance?”
“I just don’t want...I just...” Keith spared a glance at Lance. He found wide, curious blue eyes and slightly open lips, waiting for an answer. Keith spoke softly next,
“I just don’t want Lance to never see his family again.” Keith looked at Lance again, this time finding his eyes blown to size of the moon and his jaw on the floor.
“And...he’s a great pilot. And a great person, a great Paladin. A great friend. He says I’m the future but...I think it’s him.” Lance spoke up now,
“Keith, I-I don’t know what to say.” Lance was suddenly in front of Keith, so close, when did he get so close? Keith could swim in those eyes he thinks. Has Lance gotten closer? Yes definitely, how long has he been staring at Lance’s lips? He hopes Lance didn’t notice. No, Lance is looking at Keith’s lips too. Oh. Lance is moving closer now, Keith can feel his breath on his own. His eyes are closing-
“Kogane! Get up. Shiro wants to see you.” Keith felt a foot on his shoulder and quickly met the floor with his face.
“Thanks, James.” Keith said dryly. He looked up at his assailant. But what caught his eye lie beyond him. Two figures he recognized well. One possibly more than the other, a certain Paladin wearing (shining, really) in his new blue garrison uniform. Next to Allura. Standing awfully close, he might add. And laughing. Keith liked Allura, she’s driven and intelligent and most of all, compassionate. Her and Lance had that in common. They were perfect for each other. Keith groaned. When he stood, he noticed Lance on his way over to him and Allura heading in the opposite direction.
“Hey, Keith!” Keith tensed, he and Lance hadn’t been as close as they had been in the past...Keith wanted to spend time with Lance, he did! But he’s dating Allura and they’re a good couple and they’re happy. Lance is happy and Keith doesn’t want to ruin that for his best friend. How did he end up here? He always liked Lance, possibly maybe had a small crush on the man since they were young but love is a strong word. A very, very strong word. That describes exactly how Keith feels about Lance. So yea, Keith was tense. All he could muster was a tight smile and dodgy eyes. Which, of course, Lance noticed.
“Was James bothering you? I never did like that guy.”
“No, no he’s fine. I’m just tired.”
“Are you sure? ‘Cause I can take care of him, if you know what I mean.” Lance exaggerated a wink at Keith. Keith huffed, a smile threatening his lips. Lance lit up at the ghost of amusement on Keith’s face.
“He’s okay, Lance. But thank you.” Lance’s face went soft for a moment, but quickly formed into...disgust? Confusion? Both?
“He’s....okay? What do you mean he’s okay?! That guy is a psycho!” Oh. Well Keith may have told him about James bullying him when they were younger. Lance’s feelings are justified. Keith was about to tell Lance that him and James had cleared it up, even though their relationship is still rocky but that’s on account of James being a dick so, it was different. But, Lance wasn’t done.
“I mean he-he’s arrogant, ignorant, ungrateful, cocky, he’s a bad dude, Keith!” The blue Paladin was now pacing back and forth in front of Keith. He understood why Lance wouldn’t like the guy and he understood that Lance was protective of his friends but even this was a little intense.
“-rivals to friends and you cannot be friends with that guy!” Lance threw his hands up before they slapped down to his sides for dramatic effect. That part caught Keith’s attention.
“Rivals to friends? Lance, are you jealous? Do you...do you think he’s replacing you?” Oh Keith has been smug before but nothing compared to this moment.
“Wha-? No! I’m just saying, you have a tendency to-you know-make friends with your enemies and you can’t be friends with him!” Keith loved the attention but he also wanted to know why Lance was so bothered by this. He knows Lance had some problems with insecurity about belonging before but Keith thought he was past that. Not to mention all the times Keith straight up told Lance he belongs with Voltron. And, more importantly, with him. As his right hand man. Keith decided to push him gently, using his smugness as a cover.
“Oh? And why not?” He thinks Lance broke. But, only for a moment. Lance shook his head, his brown locks moving like waves with the movement, he must’ve just washed his hair with how much the light bounces off of it and how soft it looks and now is not time, Keith.
“I just told you! But don’t worry, Keith. I got your back. I will fulfill my flight partner duties and won’t leave your side until this phase passes.” Lance rolled his eyes but quickly regained his determined composure. Now he had his hands firmly resting on Keith’s shoulders, it suddenly feels warm in here, doesn’t it? Keith swears he can feel the Paladins breath on his lips...
“Lance! Are you ready for lunch?” Saved by the Allura. Lance quickly turned to her, yet Keith’s left shoulder still felt a solid pressure that kept him grounded after the moment of too-close but not-close-enough proximity.
“I’m always ready, Princess!” Followed by a wink that might have killed Keith in a different way, one he would’ve liked, had it been directed at him. Lance was facing him again, with a stern half-serious expression.
“I will not leave your side starting tonight.” He thought for a moment. And, as if Keith wasn’t smitten enough already with bashful Lance, Lance just had to scratch the back of his neck and look ever so slightly downward with a dumb -adorable- blush that murdered Keith yet again.
“Make that tomorrow, I’m having dinner with Allura tonight. But never fear! Lance will be there!” And with that, he was gone.
This was not a good idea. Keith knew that. He knew it was petty and shallow. Did that stop him? No. Because Keith also knows he is a sucker for Lance and, by extension, Lance’s attention. So, precisely two hours after Keith was left standing alone, he happened upon a defenseless James. Laying on a bench, with his phone held directly above him. It was too tempting to not kick him over and, well, old habits die hard and Keith did indeed kick him over. Which earned him a “what the hell, man?” And for some reason, impulsivity struck again and before Keith knew it he was telling James when and where to train with him tomorrow and promptly walked away. Why? He had no clue. Absolutely no idea. He thinks about the ocean.
And now Keith is in the middle of training with his childhood bully when he hears a strained and cracked “wha-?” to the side of the training area. Keith definitely hadn’t been holding back this whole time waiting for Lance to arrive, but, he does have some extra energy all of sudden so why not put it to good use to whip James’s feet from under him and send him straight on his back. Keith definitely isn’t showing off. But he spares a quick look over, he sees Lance with an expression that’s somewhere between astonished and mad and it sends electricity to his stomach. Satisfied, he helps James to his feet and holds his hand out to thank him for a good round. However, the moment James took his hand genius struck again and Keith pulled him into a hug before thanking him and high tailing it out of there, straight past a dumbfounded Lance to the water station. Keith’s ears were pounding and his face was certainly a tomato by now. Why? Why has he done that? Keith what the fuck??? James probably thinks he’s insane and Lance, oh god Lance. He doesn’t dare look behind him. Luckily, he doesn’t have to.
“Hey Keith.” Lance’s voice pierced through the panic.
“Hey Lance.” Keith began slowly, coming back down to earth. His body slumped down momentarily from the weight of an arm across his shoulders. It was comforting. Lance had always been comforting.
“How about a friendly wager?” Huh?
“Huh?” Lance’s arm slide from its position, leaving Keith cold but he then turned Keith’s whole body around to face him. Lance was far too close for Keith’s health.
“You and I. Sword fight. Tonight.” Well that put some images in Keith’s head that he quickly pushed away.
“You want to duel me?” Lance eagerly shook his head. Oh, those beautiful locks.
“Why?”
“What? You afraid I’ll beat you?” Keith knows he shouldn’t be egged into this but, he is a sucker for Lance. And for competition. Keith smirked, narrowed his eyes for effect.
Ao3 Link // Team Voltron winds down after a long day, Keith confronts some feelings.
The ache of the battle still echoes in their bones, in the edges of their cuts and the slow gait of their return. With great effort, Keith removes his helmet. He rolls his shoulder, slowly cataloguing all his aches, both old and new. One by one, so does the rest of the team. He’s swiping a hand across his face when he catches Lance’s eye, notices a smirk on his tired face.
“What?” He says, wary.
“Nice helmet hair, Mullet,” he says, laughing now. Keith scowls at him, hands shooting up to his head. Lance walks up to him, pulls his hands away to ruffle Keith’s hair. The bite of his smirk doesn’t reach his eyes, fondness burning in them as Keith backs out of his reach.
“Really, Lance?” He says, but it’s too late. Keith’s hair sticks up at several odd angles. They all take a beat to look at each other before bursting into laughter. Keith breathes out a sigh, and he can’t help but to join. Their laughter rings throughout the halls of the Castle, and the stress of today slowly seeps out of their bodies. They stop every so often, only to start again when their eyes meet. He’s not sure when it happens, but eventually Coran suggests an old Altean concoction he’d had in his youth. Well, whatever constitutes youth for Coran. Breathless, tears at the corners of their eyes, they all agree. They take the time to change out of their armor and meet back up in one of the unused spaces of the Castle. Keith is still pretty skeptical of the drinks, but grateful all the same. He sinks into one of the far couches in the lounge, letting the buzz wash over him. It weaves in and around the soreness that still lingers.
They’re drinking too much, probably. Keith watches as Lance strolls over to Pidge and Hunk, the pair chatting over something on Pidge’s tablet.
“Pidgeon! Do ya think we can hook up some Earth tunes? Coran needs to be shown the light,” Lance says, a little too loudly while throwing an arm over her shoulders. Smiling, she slaps him off.
“Who do you think you’re dealing with, an amateur? Gimme two seconds,” she says, reaching out for his phone. Quickly, she hooks it up to the Castle’s loudspeakers. Immediately, a song Keith doesn’t recognize plays. Lance whoops, immediately falling into the beat. He rolls his body, singing along. He pauses to take another sip before pulling a delighted Coran into the middle of the room.
“This Queen of yours is quite talented, Lance! Are all human queens so vocally endowed?” He says, and Lance laughs.
“Of course, Coran!” They dance for a bit, and the song ends. Lance walks away, opting to talk to Hunk again. Keith is content to watch, holding onto his drink. Suddenly, he lights up as Whitney Houston blares through the Castle. I know this one, Dad used to play it for Mom. Laughing faces, clumsy feet but steady hands.
Lance grabs his first victim, Pidge, and twirls her across the floor. Hunk quickly moves furniture out of the way for them, most likely in an attempt to hide from Lance’s attention. Drunk as he is, Lance manages to sing along to the song while leading a half-resistant Pidge. And he sounds good, too. Keith notices that Lance has relieved himself of his jacket, having rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. He looks relaxed, at ease, beaming as he drags Pidge around the lounge. He’s pushed his hair back, longer now than how he’d worn it when they first joined Voltron. Keith jerks his eyes away, face warm. He shakes his head, exhales, looking around the room. His eyes meet Hunk’s, and he’s looking at him with a knowing grin, brows raised. Keith rolls his eyes, taking a pointed sip from his bright purple drink. He looks up, and Hunk is suddenly right there. Keith jolts, nearly spilling his drink.
“So,” he starts, an old conversation that Keith’s more than familiar with.
“Hunk,” he says, warning. The alcohol sits warmly in his stomach, buzzing through his veins. Keith feels warm all over, on the cusp of admission.
“I’m just saying-”
“I uh, didn't know he could sing. That’s all.”
“Sure, ” he says, skeptical. Blessedly, he drops it, giving him one last look before moving back to the other side of the room. Keith runs a hand through his hair, settles deeper into the couch.
Lance is relentless, belting now. Pidge frees herself from his grasp, plopping herself down on the couch next to Keith. They share a tired smile, and Keith lifts his cup up to her. She grins and shrugs. Keith’s eyes wander back to Lance, who, as a testament to his charm, manages to pry Shiro away from the wall. Appeasingly, he sets his drink down and allows Lance to lead him across the small space of the lounge. Something - anxiety, anticipation, whatever the hell he should call it - curls in his gut as he watches them dance. He should go now, turn in for the night. Shiro’s laughing at something Lance is saying, and this is his chance. He moves to leave, just a small lifting off of the couch, but that’s all it takes.
“Keith!” He exclaims, releasing Shiro and striding towards him. Shiro retreats to Allura, and they launch into a conversation he can’t hear.
“Nope, Lance, I will no-,” he starts. Then Lance is there, his hands moving for Keith’s, and Keith is too slow. Dumbfounded, he finds himself being the one twirled around by Lance now. They’re close, maybe too close, and Lance is too loud. Their chests nearly touch, and Keith fears Lance can hear the beating of his heart. Lance’s hands are warm, one in Keith’s and the other on his waist. Distantly, Keith wonders if this song’s always been this long.
“Ohh, I wanna dance with somebody!” He sings, spinning Keith out. Nerves roll under his skin, curl in his gut. His feet are slow and clumsy beneath him, but Lance isn’t deterred. Lance leads with a gentle urging, a press of his hands that stands as a stark difference to the insistence of his tenor. Despite himself, Keith begins to ease into it. He looks down at his feet, then back up at Lance’s eyes, a tentative smile on his face. “I wanna feel the heat with somebody!” He pulls Keith back in, somehow even closer than before. Keith’s heart leaps to his throat, and he exhales sharply. Lance’s eyes meet his, different now than before. Something burns behind them, sparking in the space between them. He stares back at Lance, eyes blown wide, inhibition gone with the drinks he’d downed. A breathlessness takes him, unfamiliar, and he wonders how he must be looking at Lance right now. “Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody,” and in dizzying contrast to his belting moments before, he breathes, “With somebody who loves me.”
Oh.
His heart’s still hammering even as Lance directs his gaze to a politely declining Allura. The song changes and Keith sits back down on the couch, grabbing his drink a little too tightly. He’s warm all over, and he wills his nerves to calm as he stares down into the liquid. Maybe, perhaps, Hunk was onto something.
Summary: Keith gets covered in amortentia, and Lance smells him - accidental declarations are made.
Word Count: 2,215
Excerpt: “Look at that, in his seventh year and he can’t even get a simple pepperup potion right!” he crowed, and then watched Keith out of the corner of his eye, whose back had tensed as soon as Lance’s big mouth had opened, eagerly awaiting his reaction.
Keith whirled around, now directing his glower at Lance (Lance practically swooned under it, Pidge noticed in mild disgust, the amount of delight on his face at having Keith’s attention was sickening). “Well at least I can ride a broom,” Keith snapped back, “What was that move you pulled during last week’s game? The one when you rammed headfirst into a goal post?”
My Comments: Really cute! The author made a great choice in having Pidge narrate the story, both for her observations of the current scene as well as her exasperation at having had to deal with both boys’ pining for seven whole years. The whole declaration part is so fluffy, and the bickering beforehand is an absolute gem.
