Listen to me
He wouldn't kiss Keith, he refused. It was too clicé, even for Lance. It happens in every story, in every movie, in anything romanticized. Two people would hate each other, or pretend to hate each other, fight, get drunk and kiss, then try to avoid the topic. Lance wasn't going to kiss Keith, but Lance knew there was a feeling of desperation to feel Keith's lip against his own. Keith's hands cupped Lance's face, their foreheads pressed together. "Listen to me. You are a part of this team, nothing is going to change that. No one is ever going to replace you, they wouldn't even come close to your skill level. I know you don't believe in yourself but everyone else does, we all trust you." Keith let go of Lance's face and pulled him into a tight hug, neither of them flinched when Lance's crutches fell to the floor. "It's time you start believing in yourself, I need you. I need you to believe in yourself." Keith whispered only loud enough for Lance to hear it. Lance's breath caught in his throat, something about the hug felt strangely intimate yet so comfortable and familiar. Keith moved to let go but Lance tightened his grip, "thank you!" Lance's voice betrayed him, it was shakey, uneven. It almost sounded like he was crying, "Come on, sharpshooter." Keith said with a smirk and a wink as he pulled out of the hug.
A similar smirk played on Lance's lips, "Oh you're on mullet!" Keith handed Lance his crutches and started to walk backwards never looking away from Lance. After getting his crutches comfortable Lance made his way to follow Keith, he had gotten relatively comfortable using his crutches so catching up to Keith was pretty easy. Keith's smirk turned to a genuine smile as Lance walked beside him. "When did you get so good at pep talks?" Lance laughed, and Keith felt a squeeze in his stomach. Lance's laugh was loud, it wasn't a particularly nice laugh but it was so genuine. It showed none of the bad feelings that he had felt only a few moments ago, it made Keith sick with fondness. "There's a lot you don't know about me McClain. I'm a mystery that you'll never solve." Keith teased then there it was again, the tightness in his chest, the fondness in his heart when Lance laughed. Lance paused to continue laughing, Keith couldn't deny the rush of blood against his cheeks. Lance's eyes were no more than a line on his face, his cheeks lifted high from his wide smile. With Lance's eyes hidden Keith could finally appreciate Lance's golden-tanned skin and his dark freckles were suddenly so visible in the sunset. "Then call me Sherlock Holmes because I'm going to solve that mystery!" Lance declared between his laughter.