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Figure it out.
Figure it out.
What was Keith supposed to do with that? Figure it out? What the fuck possessed Shiro enough to even think that this was something easy, and fun, a task Keith could figure out with the amount of time he has left.
God Shiro is an asshole.
His brother had waved him out of his room with a bright smile, a teasing tone grating at Keith's nerves like it was routine. And with as much dignity he had left, Keith stormed out of the room with a huff, a tie gripped tightly in his hands. Not tied.
It was a stupid thing really, he should know how to do this simple task that to human standards every man has learned, practiced and perfected by the time they reached their twenties.
His dad taught him once when he was a kid, the man was just about to leave for a holiday party at the fire station, pulling out his dusty grey suit from the closet with a bright smile. Keith had been bouncing around the living room for an hour, watching as his father got dressed. One of his dad's old friend's was babysitting him for the night, the girl laughing amused when Keith jumped at his dad in excitement as he finished tying his tie.
A wide eyed eight year old Keith had marched right up to his father and demanded that he teach him to tie a knot, I wanna look just like you!
They had spent the next twenty minutes doing just that, his dad sharing a fond look with his friend when Keith finally got it by himself. A very messed up, but together, tie. His father was late to his party.
But after his dad passed away before their next Christmas with each other, Keith forced himself to forget almost everything about his childhood. It all hurt too much to try to remember when every time he did, all he wanted to do was pull his dad into a hug and never let go.
So that little moment of knowledge only came back years later, when Krolia and him were sitting by their small lit campfire, sharing a soft smile with each other at the happy memory.
But that didn't mean he could tap into muscle memory and whip out a perfected tie.
Keith grudgingly made his way down the familiar corridor of the castle, New Altea's landscaping coming in through the windows every couple feet he took. The second sun falling close to the horizon, green and pink hills clashing with the pristine white of the rest of the castle.
It didn't take him long to get to his new destination, it was only just a floor down from Shiro's suite.
When New Altea was forged, Allura and Coran were appointed to be in charge of all the technicalities and progress through reconstruction, being the last true Alteans of old that have seen their home planet with their own eyes. And when New Altea was presumed safe, food sources of agriculture and breathable air suited for most of the universe’s occupants, Pidge had made a proposition they build a new Castle of Lions as their home and for history. It was the easiest decision they could have made.
Allura had declared all of Voltron and their closest friends were to get rooms in her new home, but little did he and his other Earth teammates know was when Allura said rooms, she really meant royal personalized suites. Keith had tried to just take a small guest room, the others attempting to convince her as well that they shouldn't take up so much space for other Alteans who actually could have needed it.
Coran had laughed, telling them that their new castle had more than a hundred and four rooms, not including the royals suites and communal spaces. So the paladins did not win their argument, and each got their own suite that they could occupy whenever they visited.
They took up two floors of the top tier of the castle, each one fit with their own closet, living area and fancy as fuck bathroom that Lance had announced his excitement about very loudly. Keith refused to find it endearing, hiding a smile behind his hand at the dining table during their inner team meeting about the reconstruction.
Allura, Coran, Romelle, Shiro and Keith had the higher floor, a secret staircase at the end of the hall leading down to the floor below them. Pidge, Hunk, Lance were on that floor, and Allura had insisted that Krolia take a suite, being a part of their family now, so the Lieutenant reluctantly took a room on the bottom floor with the Garrison trio, the three best friends jumping out of their seats to dramatically cheer.
Hunk and Lance had sung praises at Krolia, being completely extra in front of everybody, the rest of the room laughing at the theatrical display. Pidge had gone for more of the little sister approach, pointing at Keith with a smirk, your mom likes us better! Suck it you alien!
Throughout the years, Krolia had tried to hide her amusement when around the three best friends, but she had made the mistake of telling Keith one night during one of their last minute sparring sessions that she found his friends endearing these days, even if she didn't completely understand most of their random Earth slang.
Keith could guess that they knew how she really felt, but kept it to themselves as they settled back in their seats, beginning another discussion about who got what rooms.
Most of the time, to Keith's understanding, these rooms remained vacant. With Keith and Krolia helping operate the Blade with Kolivan, going on missions for months on end, he never really had time to visit his Altean found family. Hunk traveled more than Keith did these days, going from planet to planet to help bring aliens together with his culinary masterpieces. Sometimes Romelle joined Hunk, but she liked to stay on New Altea with Allura and Coran.
Then there was Pidge, Shiro and Lance. The green paladin was mostly stationed on Earth at the Garrison, holed up in her lab working for hours on end on new projects and gadgets. Keith heard that she was almost done reprogramming Rover 2.0. These last couple days Pidge would curse and hiss at whoever dared walk into her work space. And then whenever she wasn't on Earth she had a room on the Atlas next to her parents, being a representative for most of Earth's support systems along with a more obvious reason of being a former Voltron Paladin.
Shiro had become Admiral of the Atlas, going back and forth from Earth to space wherever he was needed, his now husband Adam had decided to stay down on Earth as a Garrison therapist for the cadets. Keith remembers all the long talks he had with his brother about where he should and shouldn’t be. Shiro didn’t know if it was right to leave his spouse on earth while he was being recruited onto the Atlas more than a couple times a month.
Luckily, the Holt family put in a good word for him, making sure that Shiro was able to do his job just as easily from Earth, and take lots and lots and lots of deserved vacations.
And to Keith’s shock and pride for his former partner, Lance had actually become one of the professors he and his friends used to despise. The Garrison asked him to teach Advanced History to the future pilots and diplomats of the universe. Lance even went above and beyond, choosing to properly educate the cadets on many of the events from the Voltron and Galran War.
He was always stationed on Earth, but did take special Atlas enforced co-op missions, staying as one of the main diplomatic leaders for the Council of the Universe. Keith knew Lance had originally told them no, but after some bargaining the Atlas allowed him to do a few more hands-on assignments. The red paladin took a couple weeks out of the year traveling to different planets, learning different cultures, speaking to the townsfolk and helping families after the war. Lance had ended up attending more important events and extravagant parties than any of the rest of the team.
So these suites were theirs, yes, but barely ever used. Allura understood immensely, and Coran was just happy with whatever time he got with the paladins.
Keith made his way down the steps, passing Pidge and Hunk's rooms to make it to the next door over, a wave of nausea hit him at the reality of what he was about to do.
He brought his hand up to knock on the familiar door, before snapping it back quickly. Yep, he can go through with this gala without looking completely fancy, who needs a tie to appear professional. Goddamn Keith shouldn't have left his Marmoran General robes at the base. At least he knows how to put those on.
The door in front of him slid open with a hiss, Keith's body froze, hoping he still had enough time to run down the hall and ignore his team the rest of the night.
But these days the Universe had it out for him, apparently.
Lance stepped out, looking down at his sleeves as he adjusted the cuff links, his wardrobe for the night being one of the Altean variety, a beautiful dark suit, with translucent fabrics of glitter blue and white draping all over him, flowing all the way down to his feet. It made him look like an ocean god, finally coming out of the sea to grace the sky and land with beams of sunlight, cascading through the alluring crystals hanging from his neck and ears.
His friend always made an effort to wear and collect different outfits and fashions from his excursions to other sides of the universe, Keith knows his closet here was full to the brim with elaborate garbs, not even mentioning the closet Lance had back in his own home. This set Keith had never seen before, and man does he wish he had before now so he wouldn't waste so much time trying to calm his jackrabbit heart from beating out of his fucking chest.
Did Keith mention he looked like a god, a muse, a nearly deadly beautiful weapon of mass destruction that with one cast of his cerulean eyes Keith could neal right over.
He felt his throat close up, his hands becoming uncomfortably sweaty around the fabric nestled there. But despite the new predicament and quite frankly alarming lack of self preservation, Keith brought up his completely useless hands in an instant, stopping his friend from running into him and unfortunately ruining his nice clothes.
The red paladin jumped, reaching back to catch himself on the door frame behind him. His eyes found Keith's, widening in surprise as he caught his bearings.
He watched with suspense as Lance inhaled sharply, letting out a long and dramatic exhale as he shook his head at Keith, waving his hand in the air awkwardly. "Hey, Keith."
Keith blinked, blankly muttering under his breath, a familiar smile forming on his lips. "Hi."
The red paladin blinked back, waiting for Keith to explain why he just tried to give him a heart attack. But Keith wasn't ready for words or syllables yet, so good luck Lance.
"Okay," Lance squinted, crossing his arms over his chest, some of his robes falling down his shoulder, Keith using every part of restraint he had left not to glance at it. "To what do I owe the pleasure this time, Samurai?"
And everything came rushing back, the tie in his hands suddenly weighing one hundred pounds. He looked down at it, staring at the dark red color as if it could speak for him.
"Um-"
"What did you do to your suit?"
Keith averted his gaze away from the tie to give Lance a disgruntled look, only to look back down at his dress shirt, frowning as he grabbed the black suit jacket lightly. He huffed in denial. "Nothing's wrong with it."
Lance scoffed dramatically, reaching out to him to grab his jacket.
"The pocket square is not folded right, the buttons are in the wrong spots completely, and don't even get me started on your shoes." Lance's hand showcasing his outfit up and down to further prove his point. Raking his eyes everywhere on the general's frame, Keith wanted to throw himself out the window. Lance eyed him with distaste, before shooting Keith a baffling look. "And where is your tie?"
And with that, Keith was brought out of his speechless daze, sighing as he brought the tie in question up to shake in between them.
"Okay, Shiro and Allura didn't really give me a choice about skipping this gala, I have to attend. So if I have to go, I thought I could pass while wearing my formal Marmoran armor," Keith explained, the resurfaced anger coming back full force. "But I forgot it back at the base when I was packing and now this is my only choice."
Lance furrowed his eyebrows skeptically. "Okay?"
"Because Shiro insisted that I look nice, and wear a tie."
His friend laughed, an amused smile making its way onto his face before nodding at Keith. "Yeah, that would make sense since it's a coalition gathering in our honour. I would argue Shiro couldn't be more right."
Keith clenched his jaw, giving Lance probably one of his most pathetic glares in history.
He didn't like this, it was stupid and dumb. Couldn't Keith just get away without one, people wore suits without them all the time! Why did he feel it so necessary to do it this time?
"So what's the problem?" Lance urged on, tilting his head to the side. He looked so incredibly fond and natural that it was doing things to Keith's blood pressure.
Just tell him, ask him for help. It's not like Keith hasn't gotten extremely better at it over the years, especially the first few weeks of his return, after spending literal years away from the team, away from his partner. He wasn't afraid of Lance, afraid to ask for help or assistance with anything involving Voltron or the fate of the universe. He actually trusted Lance the most now, spending so much time trying to ignore that fact because whenever he thought about it for too long, Keith had to restrain himself from hijacking a ship back to Earth and kidnapping the red paladin in the middle of one of his lessons.
But this, this was a flaw at him as a person. And yeah, Keith was never against talking about insecurities and lack of common knowledge. But this was different somehow, it was important to him, he just couldn't put his finger on why.
Keith inhaled sharply. Rip it off like a bandaid.
"I can't tie a tie."
Lance's eyebrows shot up. "You can't what?"
"Tie a tie, I can't tie one, I can't," He sighed, admitting defeat and accepting that his dignity will never recover from this, "make it look all nice."
"Keith, you've worn tie's before."
"I know! I know-"
Lance continued, now squinting at his teammate. "Multiple times, before you got promoted in the Blade of Marmora you had to attend all our Earth parties in a suit-"
"Yes! But-"
"-and have had a tie on every single time," Lance finished, looking all the more baffled as seconds passed. "And you're trying to tell me that you've never tied your own tie?"
He feels defeated. "Not a one."
Lance paused, leaning back with an inquired look. He looked down to the tie in Keith's hand before shaking his head. "So who tied 'em for you?"
"Shiro would," He admitted, scowling down at the tie as he cursed his stupid brother in his head. "He always took pride in helping me with it, so I never asked him not to."
"I can't believe this whole time you never fully dressed yourself." Lance snorted.
"Hey now."
But Keith didn't have anymore to add, Lance beaming at him from the doorway. His friend takes immense joy in teasing Keith.
This was normal, something easy that Keith could handle. They've done this before, the little game of back and forth they had continued for years, at every mission, meeting and meal Keith and Lance would stick to the status quo, without a doubt. Teasing and taunting smiles as the other takes the mock in stride.
Lance gave an amused smirk at Keith’s sudden lack of words, but after a second his face scrunched up in thought. "So I don't get it, if he's done it every time before, why not today? He's already here in the castle right?"
Keith bristled. "I asked him, but he said I have to learn by myself, so he won't do it and I have," he looked down to his silver watch in a panic, "shit I only have fifteen minutes now before I have to be downstairs supporting my team and I will not be able to figure out this stupid thing in time to make it look like I'm a respectable general of the galaxy."
"You're not a respectable general of the galaxy."
"Lance."
He has to go. Right now, he should be heading down the stairs all the way down to the ballroom on the main floor, hosting their once a year gala for defeating Honerva. This was the day they put the universe back together, the day they fought in the horrors of Honerva's mind for what felt like hours, battling beings and creatures stronger than every one of them.
The day every member of his team was dragged down into the planet's surface, Keith gave all his strength and energy to stop when he was being left behind above the ground.
Keith was happy about this day, it was an event of peace and celebration. But everytime he remembered their last fight, he just couldn't get the image of Hunk, Allura, Pidge, Lance, sinking down slowly into depths of darkness, each of their eyes filled with fear before they were dragged somewhere Keith couldn’t reach.
But even with his mixed feelings about this day, he still has to go down there, right now, and support his blade members as their General, be there for his old teammates and new family.
"So will you just," He sighed once more, swallowing the lump in his throat as he held out the stupid tie to Lance.
He watches as Lance's face goes from confused to surprised to an almost fond expression. A tiny smile forms at his lips as he shakes his head at Keith, letting their hands touch for a long moment before grabbing the tie from him. "Give me that."
And Keith goes as still as he has ever been as Lance steps closer into his personal space, reaching up with both hands to fit the dark red fabric around Keith's head and shoulders, popping the shirt collar up as he starts to twist the tie into a seemingly automatic pattern for the professor.
Keith was stunned as he let it happen, watching as a light blush settled across his friend's face as Lance shuffled even closer, like he couldn’t help how natural it felt to be so near Keith. His friend risked a quick glance up at him, blue eyes shooting back down to the knot in his grip as he realized he was caught.
Their now shared hallway was silent as Keith held his breath, deciding that waiting this out was a better alternative to shattering this with his stupid need to exhale.
But no matter how hard he tried, how much he attempted to convince himself that it would be stupid right now to continue staring at his old partner, Keith wouldn't look away. Couldn't if he tried.
Lance was everything.
They had been there for each other for years, not once choosing distance over loyalty. And all that time Keith has come to terms with the fact that this was his person. Lance was what he needed to live in the way only fairytales could explain.
His friend has been there for him in combat, during drills and training, this boy knowing just what it's like for Keith to share genetics with the Galra. They have had many fights and arguments, most ending with Keith regretting every huff and growl he would put in, only thinking in the moment that he wanted to be right, wanted to win against Lance’s stupid jokes and obvious bait. He would regret it instantaneously.
But Lance never let that shape his judgement on him, and has said time and time again that his Galran side is what makes him Keith. So, he has never flinched, never mocked, never minded when Keith would get so angry. Keith has even watched his old partner go toe to toe with a diplomat who even dared to sneer at his leader, called him a 'slimy racist noble' and walked out of the room with his head held high.
Lance was patient. He was gentle and kind, moved slowly as if not to scare a wild animal because all he wanted to do was get close and learn learn learn.
And Keith was a fool who would let him get close every time.
Time stood still as Lance made one more adjustment to his work, tightening the tie a little more as it settled in the right spot on Keith's chest. Lance reached a little higher to straighten his collar back to looking presentable.
It was when time started moving again that Lance finally brought his eyes back up to Keith’s, a dazzling sprinkle of stars and galaxies shining back at him. Gentle hands came down to soothe his jacket into place, slowly coming back up as Lance pretended to dust fake grim off Keith's shoulders. Not once willing to break eye contact.
Or give Keith’s heart a break apparently.
"There. Presentable looking, enough I guess,” Lance spoke into their little bubble, looking back down at his work before giving Keith a natural smirk. "Though nothing you wear can ever cancel out that monstrosity you call hair."
Keith couldn't help but cackle at Lance's stubbornness over all these years. "Always with my hair."
"I'll stop giving you shit about it when you finally get a decent haircut."
He shook his head, giving his own grin back. "Admit it, you like it."
"Do not."
Keith hummed.
He will never tell Shiro, but he is glad he made the decision to kick Keith to the curb of brotherly assistance, forcing the general to figure it out on his own. If he hadn’t, then Keith would have never had the opportunity to make his new favorite memory. Forge it from scratch so it can be written into the stars, like it was made of gold and diamonds.
Fuck you Shiro.
He figured it out.
But Keith still thinks there could be more. Even after all this time, he doesn’t think he can walk away with just this for much longer, if not ever again. He needed more.
He could feel it like a sizzle under his skin, setting into his bones and muscles, griping so tight Keith can’t remember a time he didn’t feel this way around Lance. The urgent want to reach out to touch and hold and exist right next to him until Keith stops breathing.
And here he was, now only a foot separating them, this quiet hallway way too far up in the castle. Here he was, with a chance to change the future of his life, taking this charged moment between them and making something more.
Lance’s eyes were the only thing that has ever compared to what Keith has decided is a consistent question. He could look, glance, even glare and to Keith those eyes were always asking him if Lance could come closer, toe the invisible line that they had drawn out in the sand all those years ago. Test how far he can get before they both feel burns from the aftermath. And Keith was ready to finally answer.
“Can I try something?" He whispered.
Lance's eyes widen, a sceptical look crossing his features as he studies Keith. But there’s something else there, a small amount of vulnerability. He looks open and raw, waiting and wanting. Lance doesn't speak, instead giving him a small nod.
And Keith leans in, a hand coming around Lance’s waist, grazing the light falls of fabric as it settles at the small of his friend's back. He places his forehead against Lance's, his eyes falling closed when Lance leaned into the touch automatically.
He feels a weight across his chest as Lance's hands grip his shoulders in surprise, relaxing immediately when Keith pulls him a little closer, his other hand coming to join the first one in a protective stronghold, a small gasp leaving Lance’s lips at the action. But when Keith just couldn’t help it, squeezing him one more time, his friend took the invite eagerly and leaned his whole body into the general.
Keith can smell Lance’s extravagant shampoo and body wash, subconsciously bringing his nose closer to nudge it softly with Lance’s. The boy couldn’t help but laugh, the delightful sound echoing around them.
They sit in this moment for what feels like hours, blissfully letting time go by as Keith tries to catch up on all the years he was deprived of this alluring happiness.
But time doesn’t wait for no one.
Lance’s eyes shoot open, quickly flailing in and out of their embrace. Keith’s arms loosen slightly to avoid getting hit by the professor’s sudden rapid movement. He didn’t want to let go, but maybe he was wrong about this. He could have made the wrong judgement call, maybe Lance only leaned into him because it’s what Keith had wanted.
He couldn’t help the way his heart dropped into his stomach. In a disappointed haze, Keith started to pull his arms away from around his waist, taking a small step back.
But Lance swiftly grabbed his arm, halting Keith’s departure as he pulled the limb away from himself.
Apparently, Lance doesn't seem to catch on to his inner turmoil. He’s too busy as he brings Keith's wrist up to their faces, having to bend and twist Keith's arm a little too restricted to read the silver watch Keith had put on earlier, hoping to add to the human representative look he had going on. Lance mumbled as he read the watch upside down, inhaling sharply.
"Oh my god, you’re gonna be so late!"
And before he can feel any type of relief that Lance wasn't pulling away because he didn't like being that close to Keith, this beautiful ocean god was hauling ass down the hallway towards the staircase, Keith’s arm gripping tightly as he was led down the hallway after him.
Laughter rang in his ears as they bolted down the staircase, Keith having to be extra careful not to trip over Lance’s over the top outfit, but not too much because it was just impossible for him to look away when it shimmered so brightly.
Lance took a sharp turn into another hallway, before pulling Keith into the halo-elevator on the castle.
They were uncoordinated, Keith coming in too fast he collided right into Lance, his friend not expecting it started to fall backwards into the wall. Keith’s other hand came up to steady him, pulling him right back into his chest.
A soft blush settled on Lance’s cheeks as they caught their breath, wrapped in each other's clutches once more. Lance gave a wide grin, his hands gripping Keith’s biceps tightly as he started to lean his body backwards again, this time on purpose to test if Keith could still hold him up even with a little resistance.
Keith smirked back, holding strong as Lance started to completely lay all his weight on him. He kept going enough that even with Keith holding him tight, his head still fell back, neck exposed as another burst of laughter at their antics tumbled out of Lance’s lips.
The elevator dinged loud, letting them know they were about to get to the main floor. Lance pulled himself back up, his eyes shining so much it was blinding how happy he was.
Keith couldn’t get enough of this.
The door slides open, Lance snatching Keith’s hand once more to yank him out, continuing the same pace from before down the corridor.
As they got closer to the ballroom Keith could start to hear the music, tall ceilings above them echoing the sound down into the floor, bright chandeliers hanging dozens of feet above them.
More of New Altea flashed at him as he made his way, the same intensive urgent feeling hit him again, but now he has a Lance, and Keith feels a very different kind of rush. One that implies change and future, so far down the road Keith refuses to try and imagine it with the fear it might never come true.
They get to the double doors that lead to the very large ballroom hosting hundreds of friends and allies from all over the galaxy.
Everyone was there. Hunk had enforced he and his crew were the ones to cater the whole event, the yellow paladin more than likely mingling with the guests near his food tables in the main room. Pidge and the rest of the Holt’s had arrived yesterday, all three of her family members had decided beforehand that they were all going to wear green in support of their youngest. Keith has been dying to know how she reacted to that.
Of course Adam and his incredibly rude husband Shiro were attending, more than likely standing in the middle of the room chatting amongst diplomats with Allura.
Keith knew that Lance’s family had also made the trip to New Altea for the first time, coming down to celebrate Lance for his wins against the war, and accomplishments with the rebuilding of the galaxy over the years.
And, the cherry on top, the reason he needs to be rushing towards his end of the hallway to the entrance the Blade of Marmora normally enters through, Krolia, Kolivan and the eight members of Keith’s special unit had made an appearance for tonight. Along with multiple other representatives for the Galra.
He also knows there are a couple blades stationed all around the castle and ballroom as a secret protection detail that only Keith and Allura know about. But that was mainly to help prevent Allura from freaking out with everyone coming to her home for a peace celebration. And Keith would be lying if he claimed to have nothing to do with the idea coming to be, him too not liking how many incidents could happen with his family all in one place.
War can stop, but it never leaves you, his mother had said. And Keith understands now.
Keith keeps walking towards his awaiting blades. He doesn't want to separate from Lance, he doesn't know when they’ll be able to see each other again.
The man behind him scoffed, pulling at their now clasped hands with a strong tug, bringing Keith to a halt as he turned around to address his old partner one last time before they would have to socialize all night without each other.
Lance grabbed his neatly done tie and yanked Keith forward, placing a very swift kiss on the general's right cheek, grazing the scar covering half his face with a slight tingle. Keith's eyes widened as he turned to watch a very flushed Lance scramble away and towards his own entrance.
"Looks like I'm tying your tie from now on Samurai, I think I do a better job, don't you?"
Keith shook off his surprise as he walked backwards down the hall, letting a secret smile grace his lips so Lance could see his delight.
"I think you might be right."
Lance beamed right back before walking through the double door, Keith heard a grand greeting shouted by one of the nobles, announcing the arrival of the Red Paladin.
With a turn, Keith headed as fast as he could down the corridor, if only to make it back into the ballroom as quickly as possible.
For in there, was a joy he's been waiting his whole life for. And not even the toughest monsters and nightmares from their past could stop him from achieving it.
He smiled as he walked, adjusting his tie.
Lance.