Chapter Text
The living room was warm and cozy, filled with the soft glow of Christmas lights strung along the walls. The faint scent of pine mingled with the aroma of cinnamon rolls baking in the kitchen. Keith sat cross-legged on the floor by the small Christmas tree as Shiro handed him a wrapped gift with a grin.
"Open mine first," Shiro said, settling into the armchair with a mug of coffee.
Keith carefully unwrapped the present to reveal a sleek new leather jacket. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You're kidding."
Shiro chuckled. "It's not just for looking cool. That old one of yours is falling apart."
Keith held it up, already inspecting the fit. "It's perfect. Thanks, Shiro."
Shiro raised an eyebrow. "Alright, your turn. What did you get me?"
Keith smirked, reaching under the tree to pull out a smaller box. Inside, Shiro found a personalized coffee tumbler with a subtle engraved design of stars and planets.
"I figured you could use a better one," Keith explained. "And the design just... fits you."
Shiro smiled fondly. "Thanks, Keith. I love it."
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, basking in the holiday atmosphere, before Keith casually spoke up. "Hey, uh, Lance's family is having Christmas dinner tonight, so I was wondering if he could come over here for lunch."
Shiro tilted his head, a curious smile creeping onto his face. "You and Lance are spending Christmas together, huh?" His tone held a teasing note.
Keith shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, yeah. We're dating."
Shiro froze, his coffee cup halfway to his lips. "Wait. What?"
Keith looked up, puzzled by Shiro's reaction. "We're dating. I thought it was obvious."
Shiro blinked, setting his cup down. "You're dating, and you didn't think to tell me?"
Keith shrugged again. "I didn't think it was a big deal."
Shiro let out a soft laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Not a big deal? Keith, this is a huge deal."
Keith smirked faintly. "Well, now you know. So... can he come over?"
Shiro gave him a pointed look before relenting. "Yeah, he can come over. But you're telling me more about this later."
Keith rolled his eyes, but still smiled. "Deal."
Lance arrived a few hours later, his turquoise pyjama pants clashing with his cheerful Spongebob Christmas sweater. The soft material of his pants swished as he walked in, his usual cheerfulness contagious even in the early afternoon.
"Hey, Shiro," Lance called out, his voice light and full of energy. "Merry Christmas." He waved a hand, offering his signature grin as he and Keith made their way over to where Shiro was sitting.
Lance bounced down the stairs after Shiro had given his reluctant approval, his usual exuberance never dimming. He and Keith sat on the couch, chatting about random things, their voices blending with the soft hum of the radio playing in the background. Keith kept stealing glances at Lance, the glow of the Christmas tree lighting up his features in a way that made everything feel cozy and intimate.
Lance was clearly excited, bouncing his knee under the coffee table. "Alright, come on," Lance said with a grin, pulling Keith gently by the hand as they moved toward the stairs. "Let's exchange gifts, but like... away from Shiro."
Keith raised an eyebrow but followed, his curiosity piqued.
Lance led Keith up the stairs, their hands still intertwined as they made their way to Keith's bedroom. The soft carpet beneath their feet muffled their steps, but the excitement between them was palpable. Once inside, Lance closed the door behind them, a mischievous grin crossing his face.
Keith raised an eyebrow as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "What's the big secret? Is it something embarrassing?"
Lance rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "Nah, nothing too embarrassing. I just thought it'd be better to exchange gifts privately. Besides, you're kind of hard to shop for, Keith."
Keith smirked, leaning back on his hands. "That's rich coming from you."
Lance laughed and pulled out a neatly wrapped box from the bag he had been carrying, and handed it to Keith.
Keith looked at it with curiosity before unwrapping it. Inside were several bottles of essential face washes—different types and scents. He blinked, his lips quirking into a smile. "Face wash? You're giving me face wash?"
Lance shrugged with a chuckle. "Yeah, well, you literally don't have any. It's kind of a problem, Keith." He smirked. "You definitely need something better than hand soap."
Keith laughed, holding up one of the bottles. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll use it. You don't have to tell me twice."
"Good," Lance grinned, pleased. "I thought it'd be useful."
Keith rolled his eyes but smiled, clearly touched by the gesture. "Thanks, Lance. I'll try not to turn into a walking skincare advertisement with these."
Lance laughed. "Just don't get too obsessed with it. Your skin's already perfect."
Keith chuckled and then noticed the second gift Lance was holding. He raised an eyebrow. "What's this one?"
Lance handed it to him, his grin widening as Keith opened it. Inside was a pair of socks—brightly colored and covered with pictures of Lance's face in various exaggerated expressions. Keith's eyes widened in disbelief, and his lips parted a few times before he finally spoke. "Um... what the hell?"
Lance shrugged, his face slightly pink. "Well, you told me you needed socks. Plus, you know, you'll always have a little piece of me with you."
Keith laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're ridiculous, Lance."
Lance smiled, glad to see Keith enjoying it. "There's more, though," he said, reaching into the bag once more. He pulled out a small silver keychain in the shape of a star. "It's for your keys, or whatever. I just thought it was pretty, and, you know, you can carry a little reminder of me around, too."
Keith looked at the keychain, his expression softening. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
Lance grinned and handed him one last thing—a small, simple notebook. "I know you don't always talk about stuff, so I thought this might help. You can write in it, draw in it, whatever. I just thought it might be nice for you."
Keith's eyes flickered over the notebook, and for a moment, he seemed unsure of what to say. But then he looked up at Lance with a genuine smile. "Lance, this is... it's really thoughtful. I appreciate it."
Lance's heart swelled at the compliment, but then Keith handed him his own gift. "Your turn."
Lance eagerly unwrapped it, his curiosity growing. Inside was a small, flat box, and when he opened it, he immediately saw the first item—a worn, but well-cared-for, vintage map. It was an old star chart, the kind that looked like it belonged in a forgotten science book, the ink faded slightly with time but still vivid enough to make out the constellations.
Keith watched nervously from the side, his fingers fidgeting in his lap. "I, uh, know you're into stars and space stuff," he muttered, his voice unsure. "I thought you'd like it. It's, uh, not much, but I thought it was cool."
Lance blinked, his throat tightening. He traced the map with his finger, feeling a lump form in his chest. "Keith," he whispered, eyes flickering up to meet his. "This is... this is incredible. I love it."
Keith visibly relaxed at the reaction but still looked at Lance with an anxious expression. "Yeah? Really?"
"Yeah," Lance said, his voice thick. "This is perfect."
Keith nodded, relieved, but he didn't stop there. He gently pushed another small package into Lance's hands. Lance opened it slowly, almost as if he was savouring the moment.
Lance unwrapped the second package with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Inside, he found a small leather wallet. He ran his fingers over the smooth surface, noting the small engraving on the inside: For the journey ahead.
Keith watched him closely, his expression uncertain, waiting for Lance's reaction.
Lance felt a tightness in his chest as he looked up at Keith, his heart swelling with emotion. "Keith... this is... so thoughtful." He could barely find the words, overwhelmed by the gesture.
Keith gave him a shy smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's not much, really. Just... something to carry with you, you know? In case you need it."
Lance turned the wallet over in his hands, feeling the weight of it—not just physically, but emotionally. It felt like a tangible piece of Keith's care for him, something to keep close, a reminder of the person who gave it to him.
But Keith wasn't finished yet. He reached into the box and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. "And this is kind of cheesy, but..." He hesitated for a moment before handing it to Lance.
Lance unfolded the paper slowly, revealing a handwritten note in Keith's familiar, slightly messy handwriting. It wasn't much—just a few lines—but every word hit Lance right in the chest.
Lance,
I know we're still figuring things out, and things aren't always perfect. But having you in my life means more than I can put into words. You make everything feel a little brighter, even when things are hard. I'm glad we're together, and I just want you to know that I'll always be here, no matter what.
– Keith
Lance's hand trembled as he finished reading, his eyes blurry with tears he hadn't even realized had started to form. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he couldn't speak.
Keith seemed to sense his overwhelming emotions, his nervousness returning. "I know it's dumb, but..." He trailed off, unsure what he was even going to say.
Lance's eyes met Keith's, his heart full. He reached up to wipe at his eyes, trying to hold back the tears. "It's not dumb," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Keith's eyes softened as he watched Lance, and without thinking, Lance pulled him into a tight hug. Keith hesitated for a split second, then wrapped his arms around Lance, holding him close.
"I don't know what I did to deserve you," Lance murmured, his voice muffled against Keith's shoulder. "But I'm so glad you're here. You don't have to give me anything else. Just... you being here is everything."
Keith's arms tightened around Lance, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You deserve more than I can give," he whispered back. "I'm just... really glad we're here, too."
When they finally pulled apart, Lance couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. He had never felt more certain of where he belonged, of who he belonged with. And in that quiet, intimate moment, surrounded by gifts and laughter, Lance knew he'd cherish Keith's gift for far longer than any material thing ever could.
"Thanks, Keith," Lance said softly, his heart full. "Really."
Keith gave him a shy smile, his hand brushing against Lance's. "No problem."
Lance leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Keith's cheek. "You're the best."
Keith's cheeks flushed slightly, but he returned the smile, his eyes shining with affection. "I'm glad you think so."