Chapter Text
Keith's eyes are closed, dark lashes kissing pale cheeks. With each slow breath, his chest moves up and down. Lance counts how many breaths he takes in a minute.
It's times like this that Lance finds his heart aches the most.
Because as much as he wants all of this to be his, because no matter how much it seems like it is, it isn't. Even this memory will be gone and Lance is worried that some day in the future he won't know Keith, won't know his smile and laugh, his violet eyes and dark hair--won't know that his favorite color is red or that has a huge fear of spiders.
(Somehow that fact doesn't change across the worlds.)
Lance is afraid, more than before, of what the future holds.
It had been a few universes since Lance had spoken with Coran, a few universes since Lance became terribly afraid that in his universe, he isn't loved or wanted like he is in the others.
(Lance wonders if he'd rather feel the loneliness of being loved and forgotten or of never being loved at all.)
Lance had also become akin to no longer writing down and counting the worlds. Coran had told him that doing so only made the waiting seem longer. He isn't sure how many worlds have passed since then, and he isn't sure how many more he'll go through.
Lance is pulled out his thoughts when Keith shifts slightly, turning onto his side. Lance is met with a face full of hair as Keith snuggles up against his chest. He chuckles softly, bringing up his arms and wrapping Keith up.
Lance feels his eyelids drooping and he lets himself drown in the warmth coming from Keith's body.
He falls asleep to steady breathing and the undeniable scent of the one he loves most, in this world and the next, and every one after that.
///
"Lance? Lance! Shit, Lance, c'mon, wake up--"
Lance's eyes shoot open, and the first thing he sees is dark violet eyes staring into his own.
"Oh, thank god, you were shaking and you weren't waking up and--"
Lance stares at the face before him, pale skin and pink lips, thick lashes, a mop of black hair, incredibly messy--most likely due to fingers being run through it anxiously.
Lance grins, propping himself up onto his elbows and leaning forward to touch his forehead to the other's, "I love you, Keith."
Keith grunts, eyes darting to the side and avoiding contact with Lance's, "You scared me."
Lance hums, taking Keith's hand in his, not taking his eyes off of Keith, "Sorry."
Keith stares at their hands, sighing as he entwines their fingers and looks up at Lance, "You okay?"
Lance nods, shaking Keith's head up and down with his as he does.
"Positive?"
Lance rolls his eyes, "Who are you, my dad?"
Keith huffs, "I'm not Shiro."
And for a moment Lance's heart stops beating because the name sounded so familiar Shiro? Shiro? Who's--
"Lance?"
(Lance sees a flash of a warm, smiling face--a scar across the nose, a tuft of white hair
shiro )
"Sorry, still a little sleepy." Lance yawns comically, earning a small smack from Keith who complains of morning breath, and he forces himself to shove the uncomfortable sensation in his mind and chest away.
"It's nearly noon," Keith informs Lance, arms crossed as he sits up on the end of the bed. Lance grumbles, rubbing at his tired eyes.
"So?"
"You have class at one." Keith looks unimpressed as stares at Lance.
"Shit!" Lance groans, collapsing back onto the bed.
Keith sighs, crawling over the bed so his face hovers over Lance's, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Lance stares at Keith's mouth move as he speaks and then grins, "If I wasn't okay, would I do this?"
Lance supports himself on one elbow as he brings up his other hand and places it at the nape of Keith's neck, tugging the man closer. Keith makes a surprised squeak but allows himself to be pulled down. Lance smiles against Keith's lips before kissing them, and he feels Keith's body relax..
Keith hums into the kiss and Lance bites his partner's lips, grinning when Keith's mouth opens immediately. Lance kisses Keith slowly, letting his tongue aimlessly run along the sides of Keith's mouth, his heart thrumming when Keith shivers at the ticklish feeling.
When they pull apart, Keith's lips are red and swollen and his cheeks are a deep pink. Lance feels pride swell in his chest because he’s the one who made Keith look like this. He wishes he could capture this moment forever.
Keith ends the moment when he pinches Lance's cheek, earning a startled yelp. Keith laughs as he sits back up, and Lance finds any anger he has subsiding as he watches the other boy's face light up, a smile spreading across his cheeks along with dimples that dot the ends of it
"C'mon," Keith stands, offering a hand, "You have to shower."
Lance takes the hand and immediately tries to pull Keith back into bed, but Keith sees it coming and continues standing, feet planted firmly on the ground.
"Damn it," Lance grumbles under his breath.
Keith laughs at his disappointment, tugging at Lance's hand and humming when he finally swings his legs over the edge and stands up.
"Shower with me?" Lance takes both of Keith's hands in his, bumping his nose against Keith's as he gives his best puppy dog look.
"You know, just because it's noon doesn't mean there won't be other guys in the shower," Keith states, sighing as Lance's expression drops, "But, fine, I guess it's whatever." Keith mumbles something about looking forward to having their own shower but Lance ignores it in favor of cheering and planting a quick kiss on Keith's cheek.
As Keith follows Lance out of the dorm and to the bathroom, hand in his, Lance almost forgets the unpleasant feeling from earlier.
(Almost.)
///
The rest of the day seems to blur by.
Lance sees faces and can't recall names but piece by piece, things fall into place.
He runs into Shiro, who for some reason congratulates him. Shiro pulls him into a hug and Lance chest feels lighter after that. He doesn't know what Shiro congratulated him for until he sees Hunk later in class, who asks whether he's excited to be moving into an apartment with Keith.
Lance states that, yes, he is extremely excited, and asks whether Hunk will be there when they move in.
"Of course, buddy!" Hunk grins, patting him on the back, "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Lance grins when Hunk pulls him in for a hug, rolling his eyes as his friend goes on about how he can't believe how fast "his little Lance" is growing up and a bit of the unpleasant feeling from earlier starts to float away.
///
"So, Lance, you and Keith are really going for it?"
Lance squints at the small green gremlin in front of him, two coffee cups in their hand, and the name Pidge comes to mind.
"I'm studying," Lance huffs, going back to staring at his books as Pidge laughs, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from Lance.
"Studying? Sounds fake, but okay."
"Let me live, Pidge."
Pidge snorts, "You know, one of these latte was for you, but I guess if you don't want it..."
Lance stares at Pidge, groaning, "Pidge, please, I love you."
Pidge rolls their eyes, handing one of the cups to Lance and humming at the grateful look on his face.
"You're the best, gremlin." Lance takes a sip, sighing into his drink happily.
"I know--hey, I said quit calling me that!"
"What, gremlin?" Lance teases, laughing as Pidge tries to reach across the table to smack him.
"One day, I'll have long arms, and I will beat you up." Pidge huffs, settling back into their seat.
Lance grins, gesturing to himself as he speaks, "Like you could ever beat this gorgeous face up."
"You're gross," Pidge crinkles their nose, taking a sip of their drink.
"Hey, that's mean!" Lance fakes offense, bringing a hand up to his chest, "You wound me."
Pidge sighs, quickly standing and pushing the chair in, "Okay, you're embarrassing, bye."
"Aww, Pidgey!" Lance laughs as he calls after them.
Pidge sighs, turning around briefly, "I'll see you on Saturday."
Lance minds races and he quickly recalls that Saturday is when he and Keith will be moving. "Oh, right!"
Pidge rolls their eyes, "You two are perfect for each other."
"Hey! What does that mean?"
Pidge chuckles, shaking their head, "You gross nerds make each other happy, and we're all happy for you."
"Aww, Pidge! You do care about me," Lance grins, blowing a kiss towards them.
"Whatever," Pidge quickly turns and stalks away, but Lance catches the embarrassed blush coloring their ears.
(Another piece of Lance's unease floats up and up and up and disappears.)
///
"Oh, Lance, Coran and I are absolutely thrilled to be helping decorate." Allura grins over her cup of tea.
Coran sits besides her, twirling his mustache, "You youngsters sure have grown. Makes an old man like me get all teary eyed." Coran sniffs a bit and Allura rolls her eyes.
"Anyway," Allura smiles, "We're glad you and Keith have decided to take this step, and we support you one hundred percent!"
Lance feels his face heat up, and he grins, "Thank you."
"Now," Allura claps her hands together, "Back to the important things. What color drapes for the bedroom? Red? Or blue?"
Coran hums besides her, "Wouldn't a nice lavender be best?"
"Oh, that's perfect!" Allura quickly scribbles some notes down and Lance smiles, sinking back into the couch
Coran glances at him and grins, and Lance feels something bubbling in his chest. The feeling isn't unpleasant at all, but instead calms his heart.
The walls of Allura's home are pink and white and Lance feels safe within them.
Lance feels the unease slowly slipping away.
///
It's six pm on Friday when Lance flips his laptop open, clicking on the Skype icon and searching for the right chat. Keith is currently in one of his Physics labs, and his roommate is off at some party, leaving Lance alone and with the urge to make a call.
He makes sure his video camera is turned on before clicking the dial button, humming at the tone that plays. It only takes a few moment for the call to be received and Lance grins at the face that pops up on his screen.
"Lance!"
"Hi, Sophia," Lance smiles at the excited grin on his little sister's cheeks, "What's up?"
Sophia shrugs, leaning back so her face isn't so close to the camera, "Nothin'! Mama thought you'd be calling so I've waiting by the phone!"
Lance nods, humming, "Where is mama?" Not that he wasn't happy to see his little sister, but he had called because his heart had given him an inexplicable need to see his mom.
Sophia grins even wider, "Giving a scolding to Ralph."
Lance chuckles, "What did he do this time?"
"Sneak out after dark!" Sophia giggles, "Mama said he's turning more like you every day."
"Hey!" Lance huffs, "I only sneaked out, like, two times."
Sophia snorts, "That's not what she says."
"Anyway," Lance clears his throat, "What about abuelito? Where's he?"
Sophia hums, "Out in the backyard with Rosie. Counting stars or something."
Lance nods, smiling as he recalls doing the same thing with his grandfather when he was younger.
"Wanna go say hi?" Sophia doesn't wait for an answer and Lance can tell she's on the move based on how the camera shakes. The family had invested in a tablet just so that they would have a way to video chat with Lance.
"Oh! It's Luna!" Sophia exclaims, switching the camera to face a small Russian Blue cat. The cat purrs as she rubs up against Sophia's legs, making the girl laugh. "I think she misses you."
Lance coos at his laptop, "My princess, give her a kiss from me."
Sophia bends down so she can pat the cat, and she gives her a small kiss on the top of her head, earning a quiet pleased meow. "There!"
"She's such a good kitty," Lance sighs as Sophia zooms in on Luna's little pink nose.
"Oh, she's walking away," Sophia states, following the cat as she pads towards the patio. Sophia scoops her up before opening the door and stepping outside.
"Abuelito, Lance called!"
Lance can't see much in the dark, but he can hear quiet scuffling as Sophia hands the tablet to his grandfather. He hears footsteps and then the lights go on, and he sees his grandfather's face, as well his littlest sister's.
"Ah, Lance!" His grandfather smiles, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening as he does.
"Cómo estás, abuelito?" Lance chuckles when Rosie tries to reach forward and grab the tablet.
"Bien, bien," He laughs lightly at his granddaughter's actions. "We all miss you."
Lance nods, sighing, "I miss you, too."
"Come visit soon," He says, "Before your mama goes crazy."
Lance chuckles, "I will."
Sophia's face pops into the corner of the screen and she says something quickly to their grandfather.
"I think your mama wants to talk to you," He nods, handing the tablet back to Sophia. "Ah, y felicitaciones. Para tú y el hogar nueva de tu novio ."
Lance smiles at his grandfather, "Gracias, abuelito."
Sophia's face soon fills the screen again and she chatters on about how school is going and all the local drama as she steps back into the house.
The tablet is soon taken into another pair of hands and Lance is met with the warmest, kindest face he knows.
"Mi hijo," His mother smiles at him, hazel eyes soft, the faintest signs of her age beginning to show in the wrinkles on her cheeks.
"Mama," Lance grins, his cheeks beginning to ache from all the smiling.
(Although it's a pleasant ache, one from great happiness.)
"How is everything? You haven't called in so long!" His mom frowns, shaking her head, although Lance can tell she's only teasing.
"It's been a week, mama." Lance states, chuckling.
"Nonsense! A week without seeing my baby boy is far too long."
Lance feels his heart lighten at his mother's words, "Keith and I are moving tomorrow."
His mom's expression shifts to one of fondness, "Oh, my boys, I'm so happy for you two. Be careful not to burn the apartment down!"
"We won't!" Lance insists, huffing at the way his mother laughs.
"Well, I'll have to visit soon!" His mother nods, "As soon as you boys are settled, alright? I'll bake your favorite dessert!"
"Arroz con Leche?" Lance asks hopefully.
"Of course!" His mom grins as she nods.
"Good, because no matter how many times I try, I can never make it like yours." Lance sighs.
"That's because I'm your mama!" Lance's mother states, "Nothing beats your mama's homemade cooking."
Lance nods, sighing, "I miss you."
His mother nods, "I miss you too, my baby boy."
Lance stares at his mother on the screen, and though the video quality isn't the best, he can count the small wrinkles that have started to form on her forehead. Her hazel eyes shine warmly, and her wide smile never falters. The dimples on her cheeks mirror that ones his little brother has, and his heart fills up to the brim with fondness.
There's a loud clang in the background and his mother sighs, shaking her head, "I swear, that little brother of yours..." She stands, the camera shaking as she does. "I'm going to go deal with him. Make sure you and Keith get a good night's rest!"
Lance chuckles at his brother's antics, "Tell Ralph I'll talk to him later, alright? And go easy on him. Remember what I was like when I was his age?"
His mother laughs, "Oh, you speak as though you're not still as rambunctious."
Lance crinkles his nose, frowning, "I've matured!"
His mother shakes her head, though she smiles fondly, "You're still just my baby blue boy, and you always, always will be."
Lance has a feeling of familiarity shoot through his veins at those words, but it disappears when another clattering sound is heard in the background of the call and his mother sighs.
Lance laughs, "I'll call you later, mama,"
His mother huffs, "You better!"
"Love you," He says, blowing a kiss into the camera.
His mother grins, pretending to catch the kiss in her hand, "I love you, too. Stay safe!"
Lance nods, saying a quick goodnight before his mother cuts the call off, surely about to go scold Ralph.
Lance chest always feel lighter after talking to his mom, and tonight, it feels lighter than ever before.
Lance shuts his laptop and stands, deciding to order pizza for himself and Keith. He reaches for his phone, a smile still plastered on his face.
Lance forgets every feeling of unease he had felt in the last week, and the feathery feeling of happiness in his chest remains.
///
Saturday morning finds Lance and Keith standing outside their new shared apartment, key in hand as they glance at each other and their friends.
"Go on!" Allura grins from where she stands behind them, gesturing with her hands for them to get on with it.
Keith takes a deep breath and glances at Lance, who winks at him. Keith rolls his eyes and the two unlock the door together. They push it open and step inside. The walls are barren and the only thing in the main room is an old couch and TV set.
"Okay! Let's bring up all the stuff," Shiro begins directing the rest of them. Hunk and Pidge struggle with a mattress, Allura easily brings up three boxes of trinkets to decorate the apartment with, and Coran manages to drag two suitcases full of clothes up the single flight of stairs.
Lance and Keith set to work on putting the boxes in the right rooms, too worn out to completely unpack. They'll do that in their own time, once their friends are gone and they're alone with each other.
Once everything has been brought into the apartment, the group collapses in the living room. Shiro passes out cups of water, telling everyone that they did a good job.
"Oh, right!" Hunk shoots up from where he lays on the floor, "Cake!"
"Cake?" Lance glances at Keith, who just shrugs, equally as confused.
"We made you guys a cake," Hunk announces.
"Well, Hunk made it, we just helped decorate it." Pidge informs from where they sit on the floor.
"I put it in the fridge, I'll go grab it now. Hunk, Pidge, can you clear the coffee table? Lance, that means you have to take your feet off of it." Shiro scolds the boy before walking to the kitchen.
"Yeah, yeah..." Lance sighs, swinging his feet off and sinking down further into the couch. Keith hums, scooting over so he can rest his head on Lance's.
Shiro returns quickly and sets the cake down onto the table. Lance sits up so he can see it properly, and when he does, his heart nearly beats out of his chest.
And then, for some inexplicable reason, Lance starts to cry. There's a heavy build up of feelings in his chest and they overflow, salty tears dripping onto his jeans. He doesn't know what to do, so he just sits there, letting the tears fall.
The others look at him with fond expressions and Lance's entire body feels like it's glowing. He feels every ounce of anxiousness slip away, he feels the stars and planets aligning, feels how they look when they put on a beautiful eclipse.
"You okay, buddy?" Hunk asks from across the table. Shiro is smiling at him, a warm familiar look that Lance can't quite comprehend but one that makes him feel light. Allura stands behind him, giving his shoulder a small squeeze. Pidge rolls their eyes, but Lance can sense the sentiment coming from them. Coran stands besides Shiro, a grin on his face.
Keith squeezes Lance's hand, a gentle smile on his cheeks.
"I'm--I'm fine." Lance sniffles, staring at the cake in front of him. "Really, just--" And Lance doesn't know how to explain himself, doesn't know why he's crying, besides the fact that he's never felt so loved and warm in his life.
"I love you, guys." Lance states, wiping away snot and tears. Pidge crinkles their nose, calling Lance something like an ugly crier, and earns a light nudge from Hunk.
"I know I speak for all of us when I say we love you, too." Shiro smiles, nodding as he speaks.
And with every single warm smile in the room lighting up his heart, Lance understands the meaning of the words on the cake.
(With Keith besides him, hand in his, a small smile dancing across his cheeks, Lance almost bursts into tears again.)
Shiro begins cutting up the cake, handing out pieces and sighing when Pidge shoves theirs into Hunk's face. Coran politely declines, saying he has to watch his sugar, and Allura opts to share her slice with Shiro.
Keith looks around the room before his gaze falls on Lance, and Lance's chest fills up with warmth. Keith gives Lance's hand another squeeze, humming.
"This is our home." Keith states, nodding as if he still can't quite believe it.
Lance laughs under his breath, leaning forward to kiss Keith quickly, "Yeah."
Lance pulls back, blue eyes meet violet, and he smiles.
"Home."
///
(In red and blue frosting, the cake reads:
Welcome Home.)