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

Chapter 44 - Bi-Panic

"Lance, a word?"

"Be right in," he told Keith and watched him go inside.

When the door closed and Lance was suddenly alone with Allura, he remembered to be nervous. Up until earlier tonight he'd thought him and Allura were heading towards dating and hadn't really known why that made him so scared and now he knew it was because he was harbouring feelings for Keith. But now he kinda needed to say that to Allura, right? It was the right thing to do, right?

"I've been hoping to speak to you," said Allura. Oh no, was that fancy-Altean speak for 'we need to talk.'

"I need to talk to you too," said Lance. "Allura, I do have feelings for you, I do, b-."

"I have feelings for you too, Lance," said Allura, cutting him off.

Oh no. Oh nononono! Why was she saying this? Hadn't she seen him holding hands with Keith and calling him babe and well, soul-merging with him? Maybe Lance hadn't outright said they were together yet, but it was obvious, right? The writing was on the wall, right?

"Strong feelings," added Allura.

Oh no! Lance couldn't bring himself to stop her. It was happening! He was bi-panicking! He wasn't going to be able to reject her. He wasn't even going to be able to disagree with her. He'd probably nod along and agree to date her and then he'd be dating both Keith and Allura at the same time and he wasn't an expert in what it meant to be bisexual, but he was fairly certain dating a boy and a girl at the same time wasn't what it meant!

"Feelings...," continued Allura, "Of friendship."

Lance blew out a breath he hadn't know he'd been holding.

"When I was younger," Allura continued, "the only friendships I saw modeled by my parents were comrades in battle. I never thought I'd have a friend who I was close to, who I was able to share my feelings with. I just wanted to say I'm grateful."

"Thanks, Allura," said Lance, truly touched. "I feel the same way."

"Keith is a lucky man," said Allura sounding a bit awkward yet sincere nonetheless.

"Do you mind telling him that?" asked Lance. "Because ever since this whole soul-merge thing he's been looking grumpy."

"Is he though? Or is that just his face."

"Maybe," Lance laughed. Then they both ran out of things to say and it felt just a little bit awkward. "So..." Lance held up out his pinky finger. "Besties?"

Allura stared at the finger, confused. "I do not understand."

"It's a good thing. I promise." Lance took her hand and helped her stick out her pinky and hook it with his.

"Alright then," said Allura, looking at their hooked pinkies. "Beasties!"

"Besties," corrected Lance.

"Besties," echoed Allura.

********

Allura and Lance found the others in the Garrison cafeteria, gathered at a table. Hunk had put together a little late night snack.

"Warm milk?" offered Hunk, greeting them with mugs.

"No thank you," said Allura, waving it off.

Lance scanned the table for Keith. When Lance spotted that mullet, it's like his legs sped up without being told. He was amazed at how excited he was to see Keith after only a few minutes apart. Then Keith turned and saw Lance and his face broke out in the biggest smile Lance had ever seen on emo boy's face. Lance was wearing its twin. Lance wasn't thinking straight or maybe he really didn't care, but he walked right up to that boy, tilted his head back, and planted one on him.