TFLN + Overflow!

[the_tailor]

TFLN + Overflow Post!

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[tempredmental]

Then why does it matter so much if I like you or not if you hate me?

[Yeah, Lance... why?]

[the_tailor]

I don't hate you! I never hated you. I want to punch you sometimes, yeah, and I still think you've got a dumb mullet, but I never actually hated you.

[He sighs, pressing his palms against his eyelids.]

I wasn't having any luck getting your attention the normal way, so hey. This worked, didn't it?

[tempredmental]

[Keith self-consciously reached up and smoothed a hand over his hair. What was wrong with his hair?]

That was it? You just wanted attention?

[the_tailor]

...yeah. Go on, make fun of me. I just wanted your attention.

[He fidgets, coming down from the drugs leaving him less volatile than he usually can be.]

[tempredmental]

You have Hunk and Pidge. What do you need my attention for?

[Really. He didn't get it. What was so special about him?

Well, there might be something, but that was completely different, and not something he'd talked to anyone about, yet. And, with Allura's latest rants against Galra, he was starting to get a little nervous about even bringing it up.]

[the_tailor]

You're not Hunk and Pidge. You're... You're always been the boy I...

[God damnit. Lance groans. Maybe he should just thread this as ripping off a band aid. Get it out into the air, get the awkwardness out, hopefully go back to status quo.]

[tempredmental]

Look, I don't know what you want from me, but I don't hate you, and you are important to me the team, and... maybe you weren't that great of a pilot when this all started, but you are now. And... you're a good shot.

I... I guess I've just been worried. [About... well.] So, can we stop all this now? [And he can go back to brooding about everything else without worrying about Lance, too? He needed Lance to be okay, and that meant a little nutty, maybe kind of weird, but energetic, a little egotistical, and upbeat... not mopey and full of self-doubt.]

[the_tailor]

I like you, Keith. I like you. A lot. I'll...try not to instigate crap anymore.

1/2

[tempredmental]

[What...?

Anything else running through his head at that exact moment kind of halted like a meteor hitting a planet's surface.]

2/2

[tempredmental]

[He sputtered.]

D-don't... don't do that. Don't mess with me like that.

[Though, any anger or fire that might have been in those words was still being held back by the shock.]

Re: 2/2

[the_tailor]

I'm not messing with you. Make fun of me all you want.

[tempredmental]

Is that really how you feel?

[Because things might get really complicated really soon, and Keith was nervous.]

[the_tailor]

I'm not expecting you to...feel the same and all that crap. Listen, just forget I said anything,okay? Bether that way.

[tempredmental]

It's not even that, Lance. It's- I... [He sighed.]

It's this...

[He reached back and pulled the knife he carried on his belt, then slowly started to unwrap the cloth from around the base of the blade.]

That place Shiro brought us to, and we met the Blade of Marmora.

[He held it up now, glowing purple emblem and all.]

This is the same symbol. The thing is, I've had this as long as I can remember. I don't know where I got it.

But, now I don't even know who I am anymore. If things change, are you really going to still say that you like me? [Could he take that risk?]

[the_tailor]

[Lance never did get a good look at the blade. He stares at it, takes in what Keith is saying. Ponders it over again.

The feelings don't change no matter what scenario he thinks of.]

Yeah. Yeah, I am. I don't care who or what you are. You're Keith, mullet headed pilot extraordinaire who's got the social skills of a rock sometimes but still manages to be charming without even trying. Nothing's going to change that.


[ooc: since S2 decided that the rest of the team didn't matter re: actually seeing Keith tell them about being Galra (forever bitter about things lmao sorry), should we assume Lance knows already or?]

[tempredmental]

{OOC: This could be Keith telling him? We can fill in the gaps the show didn't reveal.}

[He looked surprised, almost relieved.]

So, you're okay with this?

[They'd been so pushed into thinking Galra was this evil empire that Keith was afraid of everyone rejecting him once the news broke. Sure, he was still the Red Paladin, the Lion clearly wasn't going to reject him if she kept coming to save him like she'd been doing recently, but people seemed to be a little more unpredictable.

And, yes... Lance was right. He had the social skills of a rock. Reading what other people thought just wasn't something he was good at.]

[the_tailor]

If I'm understanding this right, what you mean by the connection with your knife and everything? And you're... Yeah.

[It's confusing, surprising, but mostly? Lance doesn't care. The boy in front of him is the same as he's always been.]

I'm totally okay with it. What's it matter? Nothing's changed, has it?

[tempredmental]

[Had it? Keith wasn't sure.]

Even if it means I'm Galra?

[the_tailor]

Even if it means you're Galra. So what? You could turn purple and sprout kitty ears and I'd still like you just the same. ...though I guess that'd make me a bit of a furry, huh?

[He gives him a light smile.]

I mean it, though.

[tempredmental]

I'm not going to turn purple!

[At least, he hoped not...]

This isn't something new, you know. This is something that's always been there.

[He just didn't know about it.]

[the_tailor]

I know. And that's exactly why I don't think anything different of you. Because you're still the same Keith I've always known.

[tempredmental]

[A huge look of relief passed over his face.]

That means a lot...

[It was like part of the weight he'd been carrying was suddenly lifted. He leaned back against the wall and let himself slide down to the floor with a heavy sigh.]

[the_tailor]

I'm glad. That I can help, I mean. And just...in general.

[He gives him another smile, reassuring if a bit nervous.]

I'm sorry if I just made things awkward.

[tempredmental]

Yeah.

[Not 'yeah, it's awkward', but 'yeah, thanks'.]

Just don't go spreading this around, yet, okay? I kinda wanna tell people on my own.

[the_tailor]

I know. Your secret's safe with me, dude.