#klanceweek2019

days 1 & 2: destiny/realization

after an awkward conversation about facial scars and glowing marks, there were... other questions that needed answering.

Klance Week Day 4: Cuddling

I had to ask myself whether I wanted to go soft and domestic with this or angsty. Apparently it’s an angst kind of day. Specifically Langst. Because why not. I am now, and always will be, a DramaQueen.

@klanceweek

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             The first time, Lance was sobbing, his grip on Keith’s shirt weak but desperate as he shook and poured all his tears into Keith’s chest. Lance’s mother had called Keith in a panic after finding Lance doubled over in the juniberry field, crying so hard he could barely breathe. She said that she’d called the person Lance seemed closest to, that as much as it hurt her, this felt like something he’d carried with him from a place she’d never so much as glimpsed. Keith somehow understood, and it felt like dumb luck that he was close enough that Kosmo could teleport him right there in a second. He carried Lance up to his room once the shaking stopped, and lay there holding him well into the night.

             Lance couldn’t explain why he’d started crying, except that he figured it probably had to do with Allura. Deep down, both of them felt like there was more that was hurting, though neither of them could say what it was. Maybe it was just like Lance’s mom said—something he’d carried with him from somewhere far away.

             Keith wound up staying on Earth for a while. To help with the farm work, he said, and get away from all the political drama up on Daibazaal, which was partly true…neither he nor Lance spoke of the other reason, but he could see that Lance was grateful, and that meant he was welcome to stay. Kosmo was happy enough with it, too.

             The second time, it was more peaceful, both of them exhausted after a hard day’s work and a hearty meal, stumbling up to the same room and curling up together without a second thought. Keith was technically set up in the guest room, and the bed was a little small for the two of them, but something about being wrapped up in each other’s arms made them both feel warm and content.

             They didn’t really talk about the first time, didn’t come back to what made Lance break down the way he did. Didn’t talk about the fact that Keith steadily began sleeping in the guest room less and less, preferring to stay with Lance instead. They didn’t talk about things that they didn’t entirely understand, even though it all still hung between them constantly. Even though it was always on their minds.

             The third time, Lance woke up shaking, his chest constricting as he reached for Keith in the dark and held on until he could breathe again. Keith held on, too, utterly silent and steady as Lance clung to him, though his heart was pounding.

             He didn’t know why, but he asked Lance about his dream. Lance shuddered in his arms and replied in a quiet voice.

             “I couldn’t see anyone’s faces. You were all gone.”

             And finally, they talked about it.

             How Lance had isolated himself for a long time without even realizing it, how he’d made himself content with being in the background so much that he forgot how to thrive around people, how he’d stopped letting himself want things to the point where he didn’t know if he wanted anything. How the emptiness had hit him out of nowhere, when all he saw in the field he’d planted was someone else, someone he loved that wasn’t even around to appreciate them.

             “I made my life revolve around her, and being with her, and now I don’t know who I am.” He shuddered as he spoke, and Keith felt a warm tear fall against his nightshirt. “I don’t know who any of you are.”

             There was a long moment of silence, then Keith asked, “How can I help you?”

             “I don’t know,” Lance said. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

             Keith took him by the hand that night, and they went for a walk in the fields, under the cool light of the moon. They sat together in the juniberry field and talked a little more. Lance eventually decided he wanted to clear out a section of the field and plant other things, a flower for each member of the team, so they could all be together and it would feel less like he’d be swallowed up in the endless sea of pink. Keith heard him laugh again for the first time before they walked back to the house, their linked hands swinging between them.

Hey everyone, this is your new mod speaking! I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful week with all of you, and I can’t wait to see what amazing things you all create!

Speaking of which, here are the prompts for our week:

Day 1 (June 2) - Destiny / “... You just had to say that, didn’t you?”

Day 2 (June 3) - Realization / “Seriously? Again?”

Day 3 (June 4) - Victory / “First, let’s put down some rules...”

Day 4 (June 5) - Cuddling / “Did you seriously just quote a meme?!”

Day 5 (June 6) - AU / “Well, that was unexpected.”

Day 6 (June 7) - Domestic / “Did you just vocally keyboard smash?”

Day 7 (June 8) - Free Day / “That sounds like it’s easier said than done...”

Make sure that anything that’s NSFW is placed under a “read more” and tag any trigger warnings. Also, when you post your works, make sure to mention @klanceweek and use the tag #klanceweek2019 so that I can reblog them!

Day One: Destiny/ “…you just had to say that, didn’t you?”

Summary: Keith is a three year Cast Member with the Walt Disney Company and is pretty much immune to feeling embarrassed or intimidated by any of the guests that passed through his attraction. That is until a very, very cute boy comes through and turns him into a babbling fool. Keith thought that he was free from facing the cute boy ever again, until he finds out that the very same guy is a Cast Member just like him.   

Klance Week Day5: AU--arrange marriage

I haven’t been all that happy with some of the execution of my stories, but pushing myself to write a little every day has been important anyway--it’s been a long time since I haven’t struggled to get 100 words down, and with these challenges I’ve actually been inspired enough to write past my 500-word minimum. It’s still not much compared to a lot of other writers, I think, but it feels good anyway. Eventually I’ll figure out how not to be too overwhelmed by editing. For now, have the unedited stuff.

@klanceweek

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             In another life, Lance wouldn’t be a prince. He wouldn’t have meetings to attend, expectations heaped upon him fit to weigh him down into a certain role. As the youngest of five, he wouldn’t be expected to take the throne or take a position in the military like his other siblings; he didn’t have a list of responsibilities a mile long. That didn’t make his current predicament much better, however.

             As the youngest of the royal five, Lance was expected, in a sense, to take a diplomatic position…a position that involved leaving his family and his home to be married off to some other prince in a foreign country. Someone he’d never met and knew absolutely nothing about.

             Well, okay, not absolutely nothing. He had a name, and a general idea of how his new home country was going to operate. Prince Keith lived in a country known mainly for its strong military, and both Keith and his elder brother were expected to serve in one way or another. Both held high positions that befit their royal status, though Lance couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the exact rank. He just knew it was enough to have his parents beaming at him about having a husband capable of protecting him.

             Lance, on the other hand, was all ready to hate his fiancé. Not that it was Keith’s fault, exactly, but he was unfortunately part of the larger theme of helplessness and uselessness that Lance felt surrounding the whole marriage. Keith had a position, something he was good at, and would continue to be good at even after the wedding. Lance was expected to be a pretty trinket on Keith’s arm, a strategically-placed figure to show the alliance between the two kingdoms. He would do it, of course, because he loved his country, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

             He decided to live up his last few days before the wedding—and maybe he was also avoiding his fiancé, just a little. The royal family had traveled all the way here for the wedding, and afterwards, Lance would go back with them to live his new life.

             Until then, he would be playing darts in his favorite tavern, enjoying a few days of anonymity and freedom.

             He always snuck out to this tavern when he needed a break, and as a result, the regulars here had come to enjoy his company, and he had developed quite a skill for throwing darts. He’d gotten so good, in fact, that whenever he showed up, people got a glint in their eye and many tavern-goers would stand up to try and knock him off his throne. So to speak. No one had ever actually succeeded. Lance supposed it would be a small consolation, to leave the country with his title intact.

             Round after round, he remained undefeated, two nights passing without anyone so much as touching his record. It wasn’t until his last night, the night before he was to be married, that someone new stepped into the tavern. Someone he didn’t recognize, with dark hair and indigo eyes and a scar on his cheek. Their eyes met, and the stranger smiled. Lance felt goosebumps prickle upon his skin.

             He put on his most charming smile. “You look like a guy who likes a challenge. Care to try beating me at darts?”

             The man raised a brow, his smile turning playful. “What’s in it for me if I win?”

             “I’ll buy you a drink.”

             “And if I lose?”

             Lance shrugged, grinning back. “You buy me a drink.”

             The stranger agreed, and they spent the next couple of hours playing—best two out of three, as agreed. Lance won, of course, but the stranger certainly gave him a run for his money. It was the closest game Lance had ever played, and it felt good to be challenged. At the end of it, the stranger bought him a drink, and they both sat down at a private table. It wasn’t a bad last night of freedom, in Lance’s opinion.

             “You have a very good eye,” the stranger said. “Have you ever considered archery?”

             “I was able to dabble a little,” Lance admitted. “But it’s not something I get to do often. Not something I’ll be able to do much of, after today…”

             The stranger frowned. “Why not?”

             Lance sighed, and gave a rueful smile. “I’m getting married tomorrow. Getting ready to spend the rest of my life as a pretty accessory.” He took a swig of his drink, grimacing at the bitter taste. Or maybe it was just his bitter feelings.

             “Why do you think that?”

             Lance shrugged. “What else am I good for?”

             “That’s up to you to decide, Lance,” the stranger replied. Startled, Lance looked up at him, eyes going wide as he realized just who he was looking at. They’d never met, but he’d seen portraits from time to time.

             His future husband was staring right back at him, a gentle smile on his face.

             Lance immediately frowned back. “You…what are you talking about?”

             “This whole marriage thing is supposed to be mutual,” Keith said. “I don’t want you to be miserable with me, so I don’t expect you to just sit around and look pretty, if that isn’t what you want.”

             “Isn’t that what your family expects?”

             “Maybe.” Keith shrugged. “But I was hoping for a partner.”

             His smile was warm, and welcoming, and Lance found it warming his own heart. He slowly smiled in return, remembering their game not that long ago, and imagining being challenged like that every day.

             “So…archery, you think?”

             Keith chuckled. “I think my brother would be really impressed with your skills.” He laid a hand over Lance’s, and the two of them leaned in a little closer.

Klance Week Day 6: Domestic

Story of my life: start rambling about how I feel like I’m improving, and the next day tries to test me. Today’s piece is more short and sweet, but I guess that’s okay. It’s here and that’s what counts.

@klanceweek

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             They’d been living together almost two years when Keith realized that he no longer needed to ask what to put on the grocery list. Oh, they would still shout at each other across the hall, “Are we out of toothpaste?” or “Check the date on the sour cream and tell me if we need more.” But other details were no longer a question, no longer new, no longer something to learn.

             He no longer had to ask Lance what his favorite brand of shampoo was, or where to find the face masks he put on each night; he wrote those down without thinking. Hell, he even knew where to find them in the store.

             He knew other things, too, like how much sugar Lance liked in his coffee, that he liked to take spoonfuls of ice cream right out of the carton before putting it back, that he considered fabric softener a necessary expense but often forgot to use it. He knew intimate things that they once took time to explore, like how Lance liked kisses just behind his ears or how it drove him crazy when Keith laced their hands together while they were in bed. Knew that when Lance found him cooking dinner, he would hug Keith from behind and earn just a little shiver; knew how much he loved the small touch of a chocolate kiss on his pillow whenever Lance made their bed.

             At one time, he imagined such familiarity mean that a couple was becoming complacent with one another, that their relationship had ceased to be exciting. But he supposed when he thought about it now, there was a little thrill in the realization that he and Lance had fallen into each other’s pace.

Klance Week Day 3: “First, let’s put down some rules...”

I had some trouble coming up with something to do with this prompt, but I think it turned out pretty nice.

@klanceweek

             “First, let’s put down some rules…outside time for at least an hour, he can’t just laze around all day. His haircut appointment is at three, so please make sure he’s got all his energy out before then. No snacks after dinner, no matter how much he begs…what?”

             Keith’s brow furrows, his mouth forming a little bit of a pout in response to Lance’s humoring smile. He’s not sure what that or the raised eyebrow is about, but Lance soon explains, following a chuckle.

             “Sorry, it’s just…you didn’t strike me as one of those dog parents.”

             “What’s that supposed to mean?” Keith asks. Next to him, Kosmo seems to take some offense as well, his large head rising from the dog bed next to the couch. Lance holds his hands up in surrender.

             “No, no, sorry! That came out wrong,” he amends. “Just…some people are happy if their dog has a walk in the afternoon, some people are content with their house not being destroyed, and some people have every second scheduled. You struck me as an afternoon-walk kind of guy.”

             “I don’t have every second scheduled…” Keith frowns a bit, scratching Kosmo behind the ear. The big husky mix leans into it, his tail thumping happily against the bed. He is utterly oblivious to his dad’s personal dilemma.

             “You’re not nearly that bad, promise,” Lance assures him. “This one guy I sat for literally had a workout schedule, and like five different vitamins for his dog to take. I’m not even sure the dog needed any of those.”

             “…yeah, okay, I’m not that bad,” Keith agrees. “Just as long as Kosmo is healthy and happy, that’s all I care about.”

             Lance smiles. “That’s all that matters. Don’t worry, you called the best in the pet-sitting business. Kosmo and I are going to have a great day together, aren’t we, buddy?” He reaches over to scratch behind the other ear, and Kosmo’s tongue lolls out in delight.

             Keith would be lying if he said the sight doesn’t make his knees go a bit wobbly, his heart flutter a bit. Shiro always did say that the way to Keith’s heart was through Kosmo, and as much as Keith rolled his eyes over it, he knew it was true. He loves his dog, and anyone who loves his dog at least half as much is definitely boyfriend material.

             He knows the thought is all over his face, because Lance is giving him a smug look again. As if he knows exactly how attractive he is.

             Keith clears his throat, effectively breaking the moment. “Okay, well, I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Be a good boy, Kosmo.”

             The dog tilts his head, and watches curiously as Keith stands up to leave. On a whim, he turns around and looks at Lance, then speaks before he can change his mind.

             “Oh, and one last rule,” he says.

             “Which is?”

             “You can use my personal number only once for non-Kosmo related purposes.” A pause. “You know. If you wanted to…go out sometime. After this.”

             Lance grins. “Only once. You got it.”

Klance Week Day 2: “Seriously? Again?”

I had fun with this one.

@klanceweek

             All in all, Lance could say he enjoyed his job as an EMT. He got to be the first on the scene to save lives, or trade dumb stories with the people who had some unfortunate luck (he could relate). Sometimes he had to comfort terrified kids, and it always crushed him when someone couldn’t be saved, but he knew it was part of the job. The moments where everything went absolutely right made everything worth it.

             And then there was Keith.

             “Seriously? Again?”

             Lance scowled at his boyfriend-of-six-months as he set a broken nose, which was already turning purple and blue and swelling a horrible amount. Keith did little more than wince as Lance set the break, which said something about just how often he broke himself into pieces. Lance wasn’t sure his heart could take much more—technically, he wasn’t even supposed to be on the calls where his significant other was involved, but apparently after the first three incidents, the other EMTs figured having Lance around to scold Keith for his reckless behavior might solve the problem.

             It was helping. Sort of. Not really.

             “At least it wasn’t the motorcycle this time?” Keith said, receiving an unimpressed look in return.

             “I’m overflowing with joy,” Lance replied. He finished setting Keith’s nose and handed him an ice pack, which Keith dutifully put over his black eye.

             “Lance, I’m sorry.” To his credit, Keith did sound and look sorry, but Lance was still a little too steamed to respond right away. He set about disinfecting Keith’s scraped knuckles (apparently Keith had been in a street fight, and a terrified passerby had called in) and let his boyfriend carry on.

             “I’ve been trying to be less reckless, I really have,” Keith continued. “But I can’t promise that nothing will happen.”

             Lance’s anger deflated a bit. He knew that was true. And it wasn’t like he was ever going to ask Keith to give up certain things, his motorcycle in particular, no matter how dangerous he knew it was. Keith built that motorcycle with his brother, after all. It was special to him.

             Fighting was still way too reckless, though, and Lance opened his mouth to tell Keith that, but Keith spoke first.

             “If it’s any consolation, I didn’t start the fight,” he said. “I did try to walk away.”

             Lance looked at him. “What happened?” he asked at last.

             “Some asshole was harassing this girl—date gone wrong or something, I don’t know.” Keith shrugged. “He was being really pushy. I tried to guide her out of the way, and he got pissed off. Broke my nose. Soon as the girl ran off, I hit back.”

             Lance sighed. His shoulders slumped. “Well…I guess you can be forgiven for a noble gesture.”

             Keith smiled. “Yeah?”

             “Yeah.” Lance smiled back, then leaned over to (very, very gently) kiss Keith on the cheek. “You drive me crazy, but you’re a really good guy, and I love you. Besides, in this case…I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

             Keith chuckled. “You’d have cussed the guy out, too.”

             “You know it, babe.”