Chapter Text
Lance wasn’t sure when something changed. He didn’t eat something offered to him during one of the diplomatic banquets they frequented or hit his head during one of the training sessions. But as of late, he found himself getting up earlier in the morning and going to be early at night. He took the time to exfoliate as usual but was usually the first one to greet Hunk in the morning. At first, Hunk was a little skeptical and seemed worried about the change in behavior but eventually it became the norm for him.
Maybe he thought it was something temporary.
Maybe it was or maybe it wasn’t.
To be fair, Lance didn’t know and he didn’t care. He liked waking up early in the morning even if there was no birdsong or vast sky to greet him. The emptiness of space with only the decaying light of stars and various galaxies greeting him and reminding him that he was so far from home. A dull ache in his chest being soothed by the sound of humming and sizzling guiding him to where Hunk was.
And he could talk to him.
Talk to him about home or about their training or the places they’d been.
They could laugh or bemoan their experiences only to start up another conversation which would eventually be impeded by the other members of their family. And then it hit him.
Family.
Sometimes, Lance would glance around the table as the others continued eating their meals. Pidge would be fiddling with something only to perk up when someone mentioned their name. They’d talk with mouthfuls and possibly choke on their tongue or their food if they weren’t careful. And Hunk, ever so helpful, would pat their back and try to make sure they were breathing before turning back to listen to a story Coran was regaling them with. Allura would listen attentively and glance to Shiro from time to time when he gave her a look.
A look that made her eyes crinkle at the corners and her lips quirk upwards, and Lance would notice that their princess had smile lines. After all of the sorrow and despair she endured she was developing smile lines because they were making her happy. His gaze would come back to Coran as the man continued his story while twiddling his mustache and making grand hand gesture. But his gaze would flick to each of them, the brightest of smiles on his face.
And then there was Keith.
When Lance turned to look at Keith, he saw him listening and interacting. Sometimes he would ask Coran a question or give an affirmation that he heard something Pidge would say. He’d nod to Hunk and shake his head when Shiro piped up. Share a knowing smile with Allura when their eyes met and she’d quickly look away, averting her eyes from the Black Paladin as much as possible until she was sure that no one was looking at her.
And then Keith’s eyes were on him.
Lance couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten angry with Keith. Yelled in his face, called him a drop out, antagonized him for one reason or another. He could recall it but the familiar surge of aggression and bitterness wouldn’t arise. The warmth around them and the feeling of happiness around them was too precious to break apart with something as silly as this rivalry.
Keith smiled at him with mirth shining in his eyes and a light incline of his head as if beckoning Lance to rejoin the moment in front of them.
They weren’t sure how long it would last.
Lance wasn’t sure what had changed.
But as he gave another look to the other members of his family, he smiled.
As long as they were here, he didn’t care whether he knew or not.