There has to be an After for Us ~ (shadam / klance)

Chapter 2 - What to wear when you're expecting to leave your body

"How's this for a séance outfit?" asked Lance, doing a little twirl.

"You didn't seriously invite me to your room to watch you change, did you?" asked Keith. He realized too late what that sounded like. Luckily Lance was oblivious.

"I'm not hearing a yes or a no," teased Lance, still spinning slowly around.

"That's not an outfit, it's just your Altean pajamas," said Keith.

"Yeah! It's a slumber party!"

"I'm confused –"

"You often are."

"Is it a séance or a slumber party?"

"It's both," said Lance. "Duh!"

"How is that a duh? Nevermind. Look, I don't think we should be calling this a séance or dressing special," said Keith. "It feels disrespectful."

"Then why are you dressed special?" asked Lance.

Keith very nearly blushed. He looked down at his clothes. "I'm... not?"

"Yeah, you are," said Lance. "You're dressed all emo like you're going to a séance."

"These are just my regular clothes," said Keith.

Lance shook his head. "Colour exists, Keith. You should try including it in your wardrobe sometime."

"I'll keep that in mind," said Keith. He'd had his favourite red jacket, but he'd left it in the Castleship before he'd left for the Blade. Likely its atoms were contained in the diamond crystal now. Even if it had survived, it was likely too small.

"Oh, that reminds me," said Lance, rummaging back inside his closet.

'Please don't let him change in front of me,' thought Keith. 'I really can't handle that.'

But to his surprise what Lance pulled out was his red jacket. "Here," said Lance, holding it out. "I went past your room when we were evacuating the castle and it was just sitting there on your bed all sad. I grabbed it thinking you might want it back."

"Thank you," said Keith, holding it to his chest more like a security blanket than a jacket.

"Probably not going to fit over those big arm muscles you grew though," said Lance because he can never not talk. "How much do you think you can bench press?"

"I... don't know."

"Yep. I'm pretty sure my growth spurt will come along any day now," said Lance, stretching his natural lengthy body upwards. "Not that the ladies have ever complained."

Keith felt his heart sink then immediately felt disappointed with himself. Wasn't he long over this crush? He wasn't a boy anymore and it seemed clear Lance was strictly hetero.

"Do you think the Princess likes me?" asked Lance, out of literally nowhere.

"She tolerates you," said Keith. "We all do."

"No, likes me likes me."

Startled, Keith looked at Lance's face, but Lance was looking down at the ground with a bit of colour in his cheeks.

"I...don't know," said Keith, feeling like a robot.

"She's been giving me these looks...," said Lance.

'Like you would recognize a significant look,' Keith thought, bitterly, but then he kicked himself. Lance would notice a look if it were mutual.

"Veronica said she likes me, but I don't know." Lance got quiet. "Keith, can I tell you something?"