"Thank you."

Keith paused what he was doing and turned to face his visitor. "Matthew? Shouldn't you be with Shiro and Pidge?"

Matthew shrugged, shuffling closer. Looks like Allura and Coran dug around for some Altean clothing for Matthew and Samuel. "I was, but Katie got upset for some reason when Shiro came in and vanished. No idea what happened. Shiro walked in, then; BAM! Katie's angry and disappears."

"Oh." Keith tugged off his gloves. "Yeah, she's more heartbroken than angry."

Her brother raised a brow and crossed his arms. Matthew squared his shoulders and raised his chin. "Yeah? What'd Shiro do? He may be my best friend, but I'll deck him one if he breaks my kid sister's heart."

Keith raised his hands. "Shiro didn't do it on purpose! I don't think. I don't even know if he know that she likes him, but I think he figured it out." Matthew's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak. "Yes, Pidge likes Shiro. She's liked him for a while. Yes, she's a little young for him, but she's the one pining after him. Anyway," Keith sighed softly, "after I left and after she got out of the pod, Shiro asked her something, so she thought he was talking about Allura, so she's avoiding him because she doesn't want to be hurt anymore than she already is, not letting him explain. She did tell him why she's upset, though. She felt forced into it, and hasn't spoken to him, since."

Matthew's arms dropped. "Huh... I hate drama." Keith smiled and nodded. "Especially with girls. I never thought Katie would have this kind of drama. She was always to wrapped up in her tech to notice any guys."

"Yeah." Keith picked up a staff and held it out for Matthew. "Wanna train? It may be helpful if you plan on staying out here a little longer."

"Dude!" Matthew's eyes lit up and he grabbed the staff. "Awesome! But you're gonna have to teach me how to use this. I don't have a clue. Katie wouldn't let me in here."

Keith grabbed a staff for himself. "We'll learn together. Although, I'm sure Lance is better with a staff."

"Should we find him?" Matthew studied the staff and twisted it in his hands. "And has he wielded a staff in battle before? How do you know if he's better with a staff?"

Keith flushed and covered his mouth with his hand as dirty thoughts suddenly flooded his mind. Well, we had sex, that's how I know; was just one of those thoughts.

"Because I know how to use a lance."

Speak of the devil.

An arm slung over Matthew's shoulder and Lance grinned. "Which is another word for 'spear.' They're pretty similar, but a staff is only short range. Throwing them doesn't do much and won't do much damage."

Keith sighed. "Would you teach us before Matthew explodes?"

Lance snickered, then looked down at Matthew. Man, he was excited. "Alright, so! First thing's first!" Lance jumped back and rubbed his hands together, his eye sparkling. "I need a nap!"

As Lance turned to leave, Keith snatched his hood and dragged him back. "Nope. You're teaching us."

Lance whistled. "So demanding. I like it."

Matthew chuckled at the two, lowering his staff.

Keith scoffed and shoved a staff into Lance's hands. "Be useful."

"Okay, okay." Lance shrugged off his jacket and tossed it to the side. He rolled up his sleeves and held up his staff. "Alright. I may be a little rusty, haven't done this since I was little, but I remember at least the basics. Staffs up."

~

Keith panted softly, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "Basics? Really? That was basic?"

Lance chuckled, shrugging. He didn't even break a sweat. "We started with basics. But then Matthew got good real quick."

Keith glared. "I didn't. And you had me spar against you, 'Master Lancer.'" Lance burst out laughing, holding his hand out for Keith to take to help him off the floor. "I'm clearly not skilled with a staff." He took Lance's hand.

"Clearly." Lance nodded, then heaved Keith up to his feet. "You got worn out, quickly. Not fight often with the Galra?"

"No." Keith groaned, looking up at Lance. He then slightly deflated at the bandage eyepatch. "I-I did work out when I could. I just couldn't train those few months."

"So you lost your touch."

"Did not!" Keith snapped, squeezing Lance's hand. "I just need to train more!"

Lance snickered, placing his other hand on Keith's waist. "Alright, okay, you just need to train a little more to catch up with me." Keith raised a brow as he was drawn closer. "The entire time you were gone, I've been training, especially after I lost... This." Lance tilted his head left, gesturing to his left eye. "I realized I needed to get stronger. Especially since you were gone, then I lost half my sight, and I needed to be stronger and faster to make up for that. So I started with the staff."

Keith's eyes widened and he shoved Lance. "You liar! You said you haven't handled a staff in years!"

Lance laughed, keeping his balance. Keith then furrowed his brows and pressed his hand against Lance's chest. "Whoa... You have been working out... How much have you been working out and how much have you been eating?"

The blue paladin shrugged. "Went from four hours a day to seven hours a day of training and working out by myself, and two hours a day training with the group, and I eat about twice as much as usual."

"And you were already a pig."

Lance snorted. Keith rolled his eyes. Lance chuckled, threading his fingers through Keith's and gently squeezing Keith's waist. "Hey." Keith looked down, not wanting to look back at that bandage. "Keith? Keith, look at me."

The red paladin's fluffy ears flicked back, pressing firmly against his head. "I can't..." He muttered. "Your eye..."

"Do you hate it?"

"No!" Keith jerked his head up, eyes widening. "No, I don't! I just- I can't help but feel like it's my fault!"

Lance smiled and pulled Keith against him. "It's not. This isn't your fault. You weren't there, you didn't shoot at me or attack me. You didn't even know. How can it be your fault?" Keith gulped, but was silent. Lance leaned down. "You wanna know what is your fault?" He raised a brow and smirked. Keith blinked. "It's your fault I'm alive. It's your fault I'm in love with you. It's your fault I want to be stronger and better."

Keith slowly began to smile and relax. "You're an idiot, Lance." His arms slid up over Lance's shoulders and his fingers tangled through Lance's hair. "Kiss me, you jerk."

"Can do." Lance grinned, then leaned down further, pressing his warm lips against Keith's.