Chapter Text
Keith
The balcony was quiet.
Then again, anything would have been quieter compared to the reunion downstairs. When Shiro had told him about it, Keith was just happy to see his friends–family, at this point–again. He didn’t expect there to be people from Garrison, old classmates, alumni, even some staff. After he gave himself thirty seconds to survey the area for any paladins, He made a detour to the balcony immediately. He was going to be forced inside at some point, so might as well hide out while he can.
He braced his hands against the railing, the metal cool against his skin, when he heard the door creak open. He sighed, turning around to greet the stranger that infiltrated the only quiet space left in the building–
“Hey mullet, long time, no see”
Lance.
He hadn’t seen in months. He looked just the same, boyish and good. His hair was a little longer, it fell into his eyes and Lance kept running his hands through it. He’d done it twice in fifteen seconds that they were just staring at each other.
“Mclain,” Keith said, nodding at him before turning right back around.
“What? No hellos? I missed you?” Lance complained, walking forward and settling himself next to Keith.
“I didn’t miss you,”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it,”
Keith rolled his eyes. He didn’t say anything back, because he knew Lance didn’t need him to talk much to make a conversation. Soon enough, Lance was talking again.
“So cowboy, you’ve clearly been traveling a lot,”
“First of all, I’m not a cowboy,” Keith snapped, “And yes, I have to travel, It’s literally my job Lance,”
“What even is your job? All I know is that you travel through the states on your bike and wear cool helmets and gloves and get paid for it,”
“I’m in charge of maintaining communication relays between the intergalactic bases in the states,” Keith said, deadpan. It wasn’t as cool as it sounded, it meant constant travel, never staying anywhere more than a couple days and long long stretches on the road. He loved his bike, but living on it wasn’t easy.
“So, living the dream life then,” Lance commented, albeit a little awkwardly, like he didn’t know how to continue the conversation on normally.
“What about you? I haven’t heard anything about ‘Mr.Motivational Speaker’ doing anything significant,” Keith teased, doing air quotes.
“Well, I talked to Shiro and I’m basically supervising an alien foster system,”
Keith was shocked, “What?”
“Yeah, we’re still in the first stages but I want to try and find homes for all those alien kids who don’t have family or a planet," Lance beamed, clearly proud of himself. "Hunk helps out but it’s mostly me,”
“Lance, that’s really…” Keith’s voice trailed off, he didn’t know how to express to him that this was something life changing. He knew that if he had something like this when he was in the foster care system–someone like Lance–he would be a different person. He definitely wouldn’t be hiding away on a balcony at a reunion.
“Thanks,” Lance said anyway, saving him from finishing his sentence. At that moment, Lance did look a little different. Older, sweeter and proud. He was a paradox, walking around like he hadn’t aged a day and like he aged five years all in one.
Keith wanted to jump off the balcony.
“So…” Lance laughed awkwardly,
“So?”
“Just…so,”
“You’re so annoying, Mclain,”
“Back to last name basis, again? Come on, Kogane, we’re better than this, you know you missed me” Lance winked,
“You know, I was planning to stay here for a while, but I think being on the road is calling to me”
Lance pouted, “Don’t do that to me, I missed my friend,”
Keith paused, Lance had sung the word friend like that’s not what he really meant, and his heart dropped. He looked away before his expression could betray him, If Lance wanted more he’d make the first move, that’s just how he was. There was no point in getting his hopes up. Thankfully, before he had to try and think of a response, the balcony door creaked open again.
Pidge poked her head out, “What are you two doing out here? Neither of you even said hello to anyone! Quit hiding and come inside,”
Keith and Lance glanced at each other, grimacing together before letting themselves be dragged inside.
Lance
The hall was chaos. In the best way possible, but still just…chaos. Hunk had taken over the kitchens, and though he’d decided that restaurant life wasn’t for him a few months ago, he was (un)surprisingly good at it. Pidge had hacked into the old speakers and was blasting music from at least two decades ago. His old classmates were mingling, swapping war stories like gossip.
“Keith! Lance!” Hunk’s voice managed to carry over the sound of the speakers as he made his way towards them, behind him trailed Allura and Coran. Hunk reached the first, grabbing both of them in a bear hug.
“My boys!” He beamed, Lance tried his hardest not to blush. He started calling Keith and Lance that after he confessed about his crush, something about association with each other would plant seeds in Keith’s head? Either way, he’d stopped when Lance briefly dated Allura, but he was back on it now since they had broken up.
“It’s been so long, you guys, and you’re both so thin. Do you not eat unless I’m here to feed you?”
Keith muttered something unintelligible, his face crushed against Hunk’s chest due to the hug. Pidge managed to pry them both out of Hunk’s arms, and they both shot her grateful looks.
“Allura!” Lance grinned, sweeping her into a short hug. She gave him a smile, likely relieved that he wasn’t moping. She was beautiful, yes, but she wasn’t his. Not anymore. Once he let go of her, Allura gave Keith an even shorter hug.
“Keith, It’s good to see you,”
“Yeah, you too, princess,”
Lance eyed them suspiciously, there was no way Keith liked Allura, right? He was fairly sure he was as into guys as he was, if not more, but Lance wasn’t always the smartest. He swore there was something between them on the balcony, enough that he had a fleeting thought about finally trying. Keith said he was going to stay, so what was the harm in giving it a go? They’d managed to stay friends while saving the universe, so surely, they could survive a potential fluke in their relationship!
With that mindset, Lance nodded to himself, he could do this. He could try. It’s what he was best at anyways.
Yet, the night rolled on. Someone dragged Lance away to dance, and he complied, a little tipsy from whatever fancy champagne Shiro had put out.
He was still swaying when the music softened and Shiro clinked his fork against his cup. The room silenced. Years later and everyone still looked up to him, and likely will for years to come.
“I’m glad everyone could make it,” Shiro started, “But I do have something to say, because this isn’t just a reunion,”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, everyone was a little confused. Shiro called for silence.
“Let me explain, the Garrison is starting a new branch, for an intergalactic rescue corps, and I want you to help train the first class,”
Though he said it like he meant everyone, he was really looking at the paladins. Who had managed to group together when his speech started.
“Teach? Us? Teaching? As teachers?” Pidge said suspiciously, swatting Hunk away as he tried to pry the glass of champagne out of her hands.
“Yes,” Shiro said fondly, “Six months of courses, I want each paladin to have an area of expertise and I’d like alumni to come as visiting experts, at the end we’ll have specially trained cadets in case the need rises for another generation of heroes,”
It took a little convincing but eventually the paladins agreed. Hunk and Pidge took tech and engineering, co-working with their areas of expertise. Allura and Coran claimed diplomacy and etiquette. Yet, before Lance or Keith could claim something, Shiro spoke up again.
“Keith, Lance, I’d like you guys co-leading field training. Keith, you’re the perfect paladin to teach these cadets how to fight efficiently, in any situation. Lance, I want you to keep it real, let those cadets know how it is to fight out there.”
“Yes, Shiro,” both of them intoned, not really seeing any flaws in his plans.
Shiro’s grin turned mischievous, “One more thing, Garrison gave us a house. Large enough to be used for all the teachers,”
All the paladins groaned.
“Think of it as dorms, for old times sake,”
They agreed. But Lance’s heart was racing, this was his chance. His chance to win over Keith.
He wasn’t going to mess it up.