the_tailor: (17)
Lance ([personal profile] the_tailor) wrote in [community profile] insideoflight2018-07-20 04:55 pm

For [personal profile] padadin



[The journey back to Earth hadn't been an easy one. The lack of wormholes, constant Galra attacks, lack of help from the coalition who mostly thought them dead, and run down pilots and lions hadn't made for a smooth journey. It was almost a miracle they even made it back to their home planet. There was excitement among the paladins for being back on their home planet, yes, but it was undercut by the tension of a perhaps inevitable Galra invasion.

So maybe things weren't as perfect as Lance had hoped it'd be.

He'd gotten in contact with his family as soon as he could, at least, and that brought him some level of comfort. Until things were sorted with the Garrison, though, they were pretty much stuck here in the desert for now, so no reunions just yet.

That left Lance's focus back on Voltron. His team. And a certain boy--no, man now--who was back with them.

He had been trying to bury the feelings, sparks to all out wildfires, he'd had for Keith for some time now. And for a little while, it seemed like he'd finally gotten over him. Allura had his heart instead, even if it was one sided. But with him actually back and in close proximity, Lance was coming to realize that he was an idiot for thinking it'd ever go away that quickly.

It wasn't something he knew how to deal with. Sure, pining after the girl of the month was one thing. Pining after Allura, different, yes, but still. But pining after a boy, especially someone like Keith? It wasn't something Lance had truly had to face before and not just brush off as okay, just another crush. And it frustrated the hell out of him, because it wasn't like he had anyone he could just go to for advice about it. Heck, he shouldn't even need advice, he thought. He's an adult! His big bi crisis is over, right?

But he's still at such a damn loss.

It isn't until one campside chat that he realizes that maybe, just maybe, he does have someone he can go to for advice. The former Garrison cadets have been sharing some random stories from their past at the academy, and Shiro's mentioned a previous flight partner of his, Adam. The name rings a bell, but it isn't until after dinner that Lance remembers where he's heard that name.

Society in the world had thankfully progressed to a time where people didn't feel it was necessary to stay in the closet, even if they were well known. That the Garrison's golden boy, Takashi Shirogane, had a long term boyfriend was just another random bit of trivia. Albeit, it was a bit of trivia that Lance had always taken to heart. Because how cool was that? Not only was his hero a person of color, but he was queer like him, too. It was nice. It'd actually helped him a little come out of the closet himself to begin with.

Maybe he did have someone to go to about all of these messy boy feelings. But considering they were about Keith, he'd have to really, really keep that bit anonymous, considering the extremely close friendship between him and Shiro.

Lance waits for an evening where Shiro's in good health and good spirits to approach him in his tent after dinner, trying to calm his nerves.]


...Hey, Shiro, you in there?

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Recovery has been slow and painful, and his mind still gets messy some times, but Shiro is getting there. The trip to Earth has been long, and everyone has been anxious to get home already, Shiro included. But part of him also appreciates the time he gets to get himself together before seeing Earth again, an Earth that considers him dead. Before seeing his family...

They're wonderful, and he cries while he talks to them. He's dying to hug them asap, but they need to solve the situation with the Garrison first before flying around Earth... at least it means he doesn't have to see certain people again, like Iverson, and other assholes that thought he couldn't do it because of his illness, and... him

Better not think about it now.

He's in his tent now, meditating and trying to enjoy the smells of Earth when Lance arrives. His voice is soft when he answers.]


Yes, buddy, come in.

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[He returns the smile, honest even if kinda tired. Also a shrug.]

Hanging in here. It's good to be back, smelling Earth alone is already comforting. And you? Was the talk with your family good?

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
I can only image how hectic it was, how many family members you had again? [Rhetorical question, teasing Lance for his family stories. What a crazy but lovable bunch. A nod.] It was a shock for them, to see me how I look now, but I'm alive, so they didn't care. [Because of both dying in space, and his illness. This is better than the condition he should actually be in right now.] I didn't give them all the details because that will require a face to face conversation, but they got the idea.

[You don't say you were a slave over the phone...]

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Understandable. [Shiro isn't sure how much he'll tell them when the time comes. He'll think about it later.

But huh? That's some reaction there. Uh-oh, Shiro's expression starts showing worry.]


Lance? Is there anything wrong?

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nothing is wrong, Lance says, but there's obviously something going on. Somthing he doesn't want to discuss? Shiro can't even start guessing, so he just stays patient. If this isn't easy for Lance, then he must give him space and support to get through it.]

Lance, you can talk to me about anything. I'll do my best to help, but I make no promises. What happened?

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's not secret, no, but hearing Lance saying it bluntly like that still takes Shiro by surprise. Both his eyebrows raise and wow, ok, where is this go--

Ah.

Something in his chest aches at the memory of Adam and how they ended. Honestly? No, he doesn't want to talk about it. But he sees where this is going, and understands what Lance needs. Guidance, support, someone to rely on. And Shiro wouldn't never deny that anyone, but especially not to his team.

So he'll try to talk about it without going into much detail. He can help without going extra personal on this.]


You're right, I used to have a boyfriend. I'm bisexual. I never hid it, because it's not something to be ashamed of. But I know it can be hard and confusing to understand those feelings. [He tilts his head a bit.] Do you want to tell me about those thins you're going through?

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[He nods with a little a smile - yep, he is! Is that surprising, he wants to ask, but then Lance keeps going and he can only frown. That sounds- well. Yikes. Worrisome to say the least.]

Lance, you don't have to tell the team about your sexuality if you don't want to - that's yours and only yours. If you want to share, we'll be there for you, and if you don't, that's also okay. But please don't feel like you have to play along anything. You just have to be yourself.

[But ok, now the other things are out in the open, what comes next Shiro does expect. A boy, huh? So it's either Hunk or Keith. Total opposites, but both good fits for Lance.]

Liking a boy isn't a problem. Being nervous about what to do with your feelings is, regardless of who you like. And that's natural. Lance, if this person was a girl, what would you do with those feelings?

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I have no idea where you got that idea. You're fine the way you are, Lance. You can be goofy and you also chase girls, but you don't have to be only that. You aren't.

[He doesn't know if he likes guys? So no Hunk, Shiro is gonna guess, or at least unlikely. This points to Keith, and oh boy, poor Lance. Shiro feels bad for reasons totally unrelated to sexuality. It adds a hard level bonus to this whole deal.]

Why isn't it an option? Expressing interest, I mean, no using your bad pick-up lines. [Sorry Lance (not).] Knowing someone's also into guys doesn't automatically mean they'll be into you. Sooner or later, the time will come where you have to decide if you want to know the answer, or just forget about it. It shouldn't be different from confessing to a girl.

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-21 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, that confirms Keith then. A long time? So this was a thing back in the Garrison too? Go figure. Lance has been pulling Keith's pigtails all along. For a moment, Shiro considers telling Lance that Keith also likes guys, but maybe that information can wait a bit longer after all. You don't always have the privilege to have inside info in advance, so Lance should learn to deal with this kind of situation first.]

Lance. Listen to me. Forget about the flirting and the pick-up lines. Just be nice. Hang out and bond with him, make your relationship grow. Achieve that special connection. This isn't just about guys, but about dating in general.

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-22 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
He's not going to punch you, and I think you know him well enough by now to know that.

[And if he won't be creeped out either, but Shiro can't promise things won't be awkward either, so he doesn't comment on that.]

Lance, you don't have to confess now. Or ever, if you don't want to. But you don't know if you have a chance or not because you don't know what's going through his head. Please, consider what I said: build up a bond and see where it takes you. You don't have to feel defeated before you've even tried.

[personal profile] padadin 2018-07-28 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not a bother. I'm always here to lend an ear for my team. And if this works out, I bet it would do Keith some good.

[No point in hiding the name anymore. So yes, he approves of this potential relationship.]

[personal profile] padadin 2018-08-03 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, Lance, honey...]

I wouldn't call it obvious but you aren't exactly smooth either, Lance.

[personal profile] padadin 2018-08-08 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
I think so, but I make no promises. He hasn't mentioned it to me, at least.

[And we all know Keith isn't the best at noticing these things...]