The planet's name was Rusterio. Simple enough, as it seemed. Able to sustain life, pleasant scenery, and the most welcoming to nomads and travelers. The skies, in particular, were kind to the eye, with the luminous pinks and greens that stretched out far across the horizon. Another thing that Rusterio was well known for, all across the galaxy, was it's fair trade. The paladins, alongside Allura and Coran, had found this planet as a possible source of use, as in Rusterio, anything was fair game. They could get some really high-quality tech, and maybe even a bit of magic, along with their visit.
Keith wasn't opposed to the idea, but he had been a bit more shut-away than usual. His training had subsided in favor of exercise in his room or reading the few books he had on board. In particular, Shiro had noticed his absence and questioned the other team members about it.
"I haven't noticed him acting too unusual, no. He's always been kind of withdrawn, but if you think something's wrong, you should definitely go talk to him." Hunk responded, drawing his brows together in a serious frown. Shiro let out a small sigh, his shoulders slumping.
"I'm just worried he's falling into something similar that I did a few years ago," Shiro confessed, running a hand through his hair.
"What do you- Ooh. Oh, that thing." Hunk nodded in understanding. Shiro had struggled with the fact he liked guys before but had come to embrace it, and the entire team had their suspicions about the idea of Keith being the same way. Other than Lance, of course, who was clueless, and Pidge probably knew but didn't really care. "Well, if you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask!" Hunk smiled cheerily, clapping Shiro on the shoulder, "I'm gonna go see what Pidge is up to before we land on that new planet. Later."
"Bye, Hunk." Shiro gave him a smile and a wave, and Hunk was gone. Shiro took a deep breath and turned back towards his room to go prepare for their mini-mission they'd be going on shortly.
Once the entire team was prepared and out with Allura, the tense aura became even thicker between Keith and the others. He was stuck, with nobody he felt comfortable with talking to, in the middle of space. Everyone was dressed casually, as the planet was comfortable enough to not be on their guard at all times, so at least Keith could be angsty enough in his dark clothing.
"This planet is nice. I'm sure it's nothing to be worried about." Coran assured Allura, who still seemed on-edge from their previous mission, which hadn't gone quite as planned.
"I agree. The air is fresh and skies clear. This feels like it'll be a good day, don't you agree, Keith?" Allura cooed gently to the taller figure, who was slouched over on the outside of the group.
"Yeah. Sure." He agreed nonchalantly, letting out a soft sigh and letting his eyes wander elsewhere. Despite his silent protest, he followed along with the group, who interacted with the life that inhabited the world. Allura seemed enchanted with a small group of travelers that were also there, and Coran followed her as she was whisked away by the friendly creatures. The five paladins stuck together at first, continuing on into the village with mixed emotions.
Hunk was drawn to anything with a shine or positive aroma. Keith preferred the weapons, and Lance to the clothes. Shiro seemed more interested in the people, the travelers, and Pidge tried to reign all the boys in.
"Lance, come check these out!" Hunk called from the opposite end of the row, where a multitude of booths and miniature shops were hooked up. Lance raised his head, abandoning Keith temporarily to shuffle over to Hunk, who was standing over a glass case. Lance cocked a brow curiously, his eyes trailing over the row of gemstones and rocks. Hunk pointed down to a row of regular looking pebbles.
"I've only ever heard about these! They're so cute!" Hunk purred happily.
"They're rocks. What's so cute about 'em?" Keith drawled, showing up on the opposite side of Lance, who was drawing his fingertips over the glass.
"They're special, Keith. These stones are rumored to read parts of you, like your personality and stuff." Hunk slid the glass aside and picked one up gingerly. "If you rub it against the right spot on your body, it'll tell different things about you. I'm pretty sure your wrist tells your sexuality, and your temple tells your zodiac sign." Hunk pressed the rock to his wrist, and it simply glowed black and white. Hunk wasn't surprised he was straight, but he was curious to see what Keith's was.
"Let me try. It's probably fake, anyway." Lance scoffed and pressed it to his wrist, gently rubbing it back and forth until it was glowing brilliantly; Shades of pink, purple, and blue.
"Bi, huh?" Hunk smiled. Lance was stunned; It was real, and he'd just come out to his best friend in a way he'd never expected. He simply placed the rock down, trying to play it cool.
"Whatever. Everyone knows these rocks are just a trick! It's all fake." Lance laughed, "Um, hey, Keith! Did you try?" Lance set the rock down and turned to Keith, who had immediately shoved his hands behind his back and was blushing intensely. A halo of colors was circling Keith, coming from the rock he held behind his back.
It was glowing rainbow.
Keith's face was flushed, quickly averting his gaze from Lance's as he shoved the dimming rock back into its casing. "Lance is right. These things are just a fluke." He spun around, hands shaking, and started off in the opposite direction. Lance looked over at Hunk brightly, the small dimples that so often appeared on his cheeks deepening as he grinned. Hunk snorted, shaking his head, but couldn't help the twin smile he was sporting.
"Go get 'em, tiger." Hunk gave Lance a gentle nudge, nodding over to a quickly retreating Keith. "He needs you."
Lance hadn't expected it, but before he even knew it, his feet were carrying him after the red paladin. Keith turned a corner and came to a stop, unaware of the person following him, and pressed his back to the brick wall. He slid down it, taking a deep breath and relaxing his shoulders in an attempt to suppress any panic. How did that just happen? This was the worst timing, I can't believe they know, I can't believe- Lance. Lance's rock. Oh my god. Keith was shaken from his daze by a shadow being cast in front of him, craning his neck to pinpoint his eyes on the worried face of Lance McClain.
"I'm sorry it had to happen this way. I know it certainly wasn't ideal for me, either." Lance breathed after a beat of silence. He gingerly stepped forward and plopped down in the dirt a good foot away from Keith.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Those rocks are fake, Lance." Keith insisted.
"Then why are you moping back here as if you've just seen a ghost?" Lance snorted, his own fingertips trailing a mark over where the rock had pressed against his wrist. "Keith. It's okay. We're okay. I mean, we have Shiro, and Hunk is obviously already cool with it. What's there to be worried about anymore?" His voice was breathy as if he'd just come to the realization of his own words himself.
"A lot. There's a lot to be worried about for me." Keith paused, "There's a lot I could lose." His eyes traveled down to his own hands, which were clasping his jacket tightly. He'd hate me. He'd hate me, I know it. Everyone always lies, or leaves, or dies. I can't let that happen again.
"I know that feeling." Lance chuckled, "I know that feeling every day. Every day you guys go out there with me, fighting like this? I'm terrified. I'm always scared, you know? But this... This thing, we don't have to be scared of it anymore." Lance scooted over and bumped shoulders with Keith, who finally brought his eyes up to see Lance again. "I like guys. You like guys. So what? We're in space, fighting aliens and monsters and the Galra Empire. It's not like back on earth, or back at the Garrison." His voice had gone gentle. "We can just..." Lance's face flushed.
"We can just...?" Keith finally spoke up again.
"We can just be, Keith." Lance hummed.
"That's surprisingly deep for someone who broke a lamp two days ago and blamed it on Pidge."
"You ruined it. I was trying to have a bonding moment here."
"So you do remember, you little-!" Keith's eyes widened and he shoved Lance, who proceeded to shove him back, and so on. The two scuffled in the dirt for a moment, and Keith came out on top. (Haha, get your mind out of the gutter, rat.) He pinned the other male down to the floor, one hand down on the center of his chest and the other up as if ready to defend himself if Lance tried anything. However, Lance didn't struggle. In fact, he seemed to relax into it, as if he'd never been more comfortable.
"Guess that makes you Nala, doesn't it?" Keith purred, leaning down closer to Lance, who broke out into a grin.
"Did you just make a Lion King reference? Now, of all times?"
"Hell yeah."
"If I'm Nala, does that mean I've got to kiss you now?" Lance joked with a beaming smirk.
"I-I mean, yeah?" Keith's ears reddened.
"Wait, are you serious? I'm allowed to d-"
"You're ruining it. Do it before I change my mind."
Lance moved Keith's hand from his chest in one fluid motion and pushed off the ground. Lance was now sat upright, with Keith straddling his hips, and Keith slid his arms around Lance's neck. The brunet moved forward shakily, leaning up and slowly pressing his lips against Keith's. Lance couldn't push out of his head how wonderful it felt to be pressed up, here, against his rival; his crush; Keith.
Lance was the first to pull away breathlessly. Keith took that blissful, soft moment to observe Lance's face, wanting to capture the memory there for as long as he could. The way his eyes crinkled at the edges ever so slightly, and the ever so faint freckles that tinged his upper cheeks and chin. His lips were slightly chapped, and there was a small split down the left side of his bottom lip from chewing on it nervously. Keith pulled one hand back and rested it against Lance's jawline, the soft curve meeting a sharp edge and pressing into his palm. His skin was soft, almost as if it was unreal. The red paladin was pulled from his daze by a familiar voice.
"Keith? Lance?" The high-pitched voice of Pidge came rolling through the air and over them, both instantly jumping apart like nervous children having done something bad. She looked a bit shocked but didn't seem upset in any sense of the word. In fact, her expression was almost illuminated with satisfaction. "We're meeting back up at the ship. Allura found what we needed, and Hunk got some weird rocks. We're still looking for Shiro, though, but I have a pretty good idea of where he could be." She seemed to be thinking out loud, ignoring the flushed faces and pink lips of previously romanced boys. Pidge turned on her heel, calling back, "You can smush faces later. We're on a mission, alight?" With that, the young girl padded off, leaving Keith and Lance in the dust.
"Was I that obvious?" Keith asked quietly, snorting and pulling himself up. He brushed down his black pants to remove any dirt and extended his hand to Lance. He took it gladly, Keith's smile brimming back up to the surface.
"Was I?" Lance asked in response, straightening out his shirt and interlocking their fingers once again. "I'm glad to see you smile again. It's been a while, with all your moodiness lately."
"My moodiness? You mean avoiding my feelings? Dude." Keith pulled Lance forward and out of the dark lane between shops, into the light and away.