Lance and Keith's senior year is finally coming to a close. Their days are numbered at Altea High and soon the two will be released into the world as adults. Well, almost adults. Lance is downright thrilled about graduation and it's almost all he can think about. Understandable, as he does have a promising future ahead of him.

Keith, however, is insecure at the idea. He always hated school, and it wasn't until Lance that he grew more comfortable with going to school everyday—looking forward to it even. And with his boyfriend being the outstanding student he is, Keith finds himself trying harder too; taking those C's and rare B's to A's with rare B's. But Keith has never really given much thought to his future, some part of him never thought he'd make it this far. What is he going to do with himself? Lance seems so excited and so sure of himself, and Keith has an awful thought. What about them? What will that mean for their relationship? What if Lance goes off to college, meets new people, drifts away? And who is Keith to stop him?

"The honors ceremony is tonight!" Lance beams. "You're coming right?"

"Of course I'm coming." Keith rolls his eyes and takes Lance's hand in his own as they walk down the busy city street. The weather is warm and spring is finally making its first appearance of the year. It's a Friday afternoon, and the boys decided it was a great day for ice cream. So when the last class ended, they hopped on Keith's motorcycle and went uptown.

Lance pulls Keith into the ice cream shop and continues to babble as they order. "I applied to a couple schools, have you sent in any applications?"

Keith looks away and the employee behind the counter holds out their ice cream, momentarily distracting the conversation. But when they leave and start down the street again, Lance looks at him curiously.

"Have you decided what you want to do?" Lance asks noticing the way Keith is looking anywhere but him.

"Not exactly."

"That's okay, you don't need to have your whole life figured out. Maybe you should send in some applications in the meantime, just in case." Lance smiles warmly. And while Keith knows he's being supportive and trying to help Keith keep his options open, he feels a ping of hurt and anger in his chest. He doesn't want to think about this. He loves Lance, and who cares what life looks like X years from now. He has Lance right now, in the present. And he's going to focus only on the time that matters: time with Lance. Future be damned.

Keith reaches out and takes Lance's free hand in his, single minded and pouty. Lance beams at him in return and plants a kiss on his cheek which immediately melts away Keith's cold exterior. It leaves Keith a wreck because what is he supposed to do if he doesn't have Lance? He likes the person he is when he's with him, if Lance is gone, he'll lose that part of himself too. And he's not ready to part with either one, in fact, he'll never be ready. But what if it's inevitable? Lance's life is different from Keith's—he has a future.

Keith pulls his hand away from Lance and shoves it in his pocket. Lance pretends not to notice the brooding aura that surrounds the boy, and it's for that reason he drops the subject of graduation or anything that follows. His Keith senses are tingling and he can tell something is off. He won't push it for now, he doesn't want to upset the moment. Lance moves in closer to his boyfriend so they're brushing shoulders as they walk and he feels Keith relax.

Lance has learned a dynamic with Keith that works. And he always tries to be extra patient because he knows that Keith has issues he's working through and struggling to sort out. While Keith has never explicitly said anything, Lance has picked up that Keith had a very rough childhood and there is some leftover unresolved effects. Keith has never talked about it or acknowledged it, but one day when he's ready, Lance will be there, ready to listen and support him.

That evening, Keith stops by a flower shop on his way to the honors event. He grabs the fullest and most beautiful bouquet he can find and worries if they are good enough for Lance. His boyfriend deserves the best, and he fears someone else will give him better. He pays for the flowers and drives slower and more careful to keep them in exquisite shape.

He finds a seat in the dark auditorium and searches the reserved seating below for Lance. His eyes land on that pretty coco hair and he feels himself ease at the sight. His boyfriend is dressed in a nice button up and jeans, and Keith grins.

The principal walks up to the podium and clears her throat nervously. "Welcome, and thank you for joining us this evening as we honor these wonderful students. This is one of our best graduating classes yet!" The audience breaks into applause and she smiles waiting for it to simmer. "We would like to give each student a moment of spotlight this evening, you all deserve it." She smiles down at the section of reserved seating for them all.

They start in alphabetical order calling up the students who's last names start with A and work their way to Z. Keith yawns as each student crosses the stage to receive their awards, medal, and shake the principal's hand. As they walk, the vice principal announces a little about the student and their plans for after they graduate.

"Hunk garret! With a passion for cooking, he plans to attend Voltron University and join their culinary program."

"Pidge Gunderson! With a love of robotics and technology, she's attending Alfor University for Aerospace Engineering."

Keith tunes in only for their friends but he's growing bored, just wanting to see his boyfriend walk more than anything. What are they going to announce for him? Lance hasn't made any decisions about where or what he wants to do. Maybe he'll declare undecided as a handful of others did.

Lance McClain! With a love for space and science, he's attending Alfor University for astrophysics."

Keith's stomach drops. Drops through the floor. Through the ground. Through the mantle. Pops out the other side of Earth and soars off into space. What did he just say?

Lance struts across the stage with a wide grin and shakes hands with the principal eagerly as he accepts his awards. His picture is taken and he smiles handsomely before walking off the stage to sit down. Keith feels like he is going to throw up, it's happening, their lives are diverging and he's helpless to stop it. Lance is walking off the stage and out of his life—he just knows it.

When the event ends, Keith scrambles to exit the auditorium, feeling like he's suffocating in the enclosed space. He stumbles outside and finds himself gasping for breath. After calming, he decides to wait there for Lance, too afraid to go back inside. He sits on the curb clutching the flowers.

Several minutes passed before Lance walks out talking animatedly to Allura, a girl with long silver hair and beautiful dark skin. Keith recalls her walking across the stage announcing she is also going to Alfor University. A pang of hurt shoots through Keith and he feels the wind escape him.

"Oh, Keith, there you are!" Lance waves goodbye to Allura and joins Keith on the curb. He lets out a gasp, "You got me flowers?"

Keith hands them to Lance, forcing a weak smile. Lance takes them and marvels at their color and fragrance. "I love them. Thank you." Lance leans forward to kiss Keith but Keith turns away stopping Lance cold. "What's wrong?"

"You didn't tell me you made up your mind about what you want to do." Keith speaks carefully.

"I was going to tell you earlier, but I thought it would be better as a surprise." Lance is apprehensive, he can tell Keith is on the verge of being most definitely not okay.

"Better for who?" He snips, cocking his head and scoffs. He stands and starts walking away.

"Where are you going?" Lance starts after him, agitation getting the best of him. "Look. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Well you did." Keith answers in a clipped tone that doesn't sit right with Lance.

"What's your problem? What's this about? No way you're this mad just because I wanted to surprise you..." Lance grabs his sleeve and Keith spins around quickly ripping his arm away.

"Fuck off." Keith's eyes spark with a fire that melt Lance's patience away.

"No, I want to know why you're so fucking mad. Why are you acting like I just kicked your fucking dog?!" Lance gets in Keith's face.

"Piss. Off."

"I love you, but sometimes you are so-" Lance runs his hands into his hair and grabs it angrily, messing it in the process.

"So don't!" Keith blurts before his brain can catch up to his mouth. Then with more clarity, he says, "So don't."

Lance blinks at him, utterly stunned. They'd never really fought before. After the incident with the football game, they never really had any major disagreements. Sure they'd bicker or get annoyed with each other occasionally, but that was all the normal stuff. They were still able to come back from all that because they never mattered. But this? This was different. They'd never fought like this. Lance wasn't even sure they knew how to actually fight. Until now. But, if this is their first time fighting, how will they know they've gone too far?

So don't.

That's how. Lance can't decide how to respond to that. Should he say something worse, hurt Keith back? Or should he stay silent? Should he reach for Keith and try to pull him into an embrace?

Keith's eyes flash with almost a look of regret and he walks away. Lance watches as Keith starts his motorcycle and speeds away. Leaving Lance clutching the flowers at his side, completely at a loss.

Keith lays in bed that night, staring up at the dark ceiling, trying to make out shapes and silhouettes in the texture. He can't get the image of Lance's hurt expression out of his head. He had overreacted, there was no question there. But maybe it's for the best they end things now. The longer it goes on, the more it's going to hurt later. Hurt Keith anyway—Lance will be fine. Lance is strong, independent, and he looks at everything with bright eyes that bring light to everything they gaze upon. Keith just grew too addicted to Lance looking at him.

Keith closed his eyes, disturbed at the way he could only see Lance's silhouette in the texture of the ceiling. Things will feel better by tomorrow.

Keith sits up quickly at the sound of his alarm. He calms and shuts it off, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Reaching for his phone, he opens it to read his good morning text from Lance—no messages. Normally, Lance wakes up earlier than Keith because he's captain of the debate team and they have meetings every morning. He stares at the screen in mild confusion until last nights events come back to him. Right.

Keith sulks back into his bed and pulls the sheets over his face to hide himself away. He lays there for a while, curled in on himself and wishing the world away. But when he pulls the sheets down, the world is still waiting for him, and the alarm clock lets him know that time has not stopped. Realizing he will be late if he keeps this up, he stands and gets ready. Because that's all he really can do. And as he brushes his teeth and showers, and dresses, nothing quells the dull ache in his chest.

When Keith's finished getting ready, he walks back into his room and climbs under his sheets once more. His last fleeting attempt at willing the world away.

Lance wakes up and his first thought is, 'Keith and I had a fight and Keith's mad at me.' Which isn't exactly a great start to his day. He struggles going about getting ready for the day, telling himself he won't let his relationship rule his life. He can't give up on his responsibilities and put a pause on his life just because Keith and him aren't in the best place. He has himself to think about, take care of, look after. But then, he finds himself curling back up into his bed and texting the Vice President of debate and telling him he won't be able to make it for todays meeting.

Percy texted him back a little worried.

Are you okay? You haven't missed a meeting like ever.

Lance reads the text and sets his phone away. He grabs his pillow and smooshes it over his face trying to muffle the tight pain in his chest. There's a light knock at the door and Lance wipes at his eyes, "Come in."

His father walks in and reads the room rather fast. "You okay? Normally you're leaving by now."

"Yeah I'm fine, just decided to skip debate today is all." Lance says quietly.

"Did you and Keith have a fight?" His father asks.

Lance nods and swallows a painful lump in his throat.

"Are you two still together?" He continues.

"I think so." Lance's voice breaks.

"Well..., I'm sure everything will be okay. You two will work it out." His father comes and sits next to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Your mother and I were always on again and off again. We had arguments like you wouldn't believe. I mean, waking up the whole town kind of arguments. Your mom was so headstrong and stubborn. She once busted the windshield of my car with a bat."

Lance looked at his father horrified. "No way. Mom?"

"Oh yeah. She really did a number on that car." His dad speaks wistfully with a smile.

"How did you two stay together? Weren't you mad?" Lance asks quickly.

"Oh, I was furious. At first. I was walking circles around my car and then I looked at her and I started laughing. I said 'what the fuck Carol' and she started laughing too. I don't even remember what we were arguing about. I guess I realized that I loved her so much that everything else just seemed petty and stupid in the grand scheme of things. That years down the line I'd be laughing about it with our son and any anger or resentment I felt at the time wouldn't matter. I guess that's why we don't fight as much anymore, or at least with not nearly as much energy. We kind of came to an understanding that neither of us were going anywhere and there was nothing to prove."

Lance stares at his father in thought.

"Take as much time as you need son. Give it a shot, and if it doesn't work, that's okay. We'll take the punches as they come." He gives one last pat on Lance's back and leaves.

Lance gets up and finishes getting ready and leaves the house with a newfound energy. The dull pain in his chest released and turned into a more light fluttery feeling. He is going to chase after Keith whether he wants him to or not. He isn't giving up until he gives it all he has.

Lance makes it to school, his determination unwavering. And it isn't until after third period that Lance sees Keith. He is walking with his head down and his earbuds in. And then Lance begins to waver. What if Keith really doesn't want to see him? But then those eyes trail up until they're on Lance. And Lance, he's on fire under Keith's gaze, burning up from the inside out. Lance holds his stare and he thinks maybe this is their chance to talk, but then Keith's eyes withdraw and his boyfriend(?) shoulders by.

That dull ache returns to Lance's chest and he feels like tearing inside himself to get it out. But then he decides it's for the best, the school is crowded and it would be impossible for them to get any privacy. Later.

After school, Lance goes to practice where he finds himself struggling. His head is clouded with thoughts of Keith and how to fix this, the distraction leaving little room for playing football. He's passing the football back and forth with Hunk and speeding out of the school parking lot, Keith passes by, not even sparing a glance. Lance tracks the motorcycle with his eyes until the football hits him square in the jaw sending him on his back. Bad time not to be wearing his helmet.

When he came to, his teammates are all standing over him. Julian extends his hand, helping Lance up. "Dude, it's already bruising."

Lance reaches up and touches it with a sharp wince. "Shit."

"You're distracted. It's that fight with Keith, huh?" Julian claps him on the back giving him a friendly shake.

"You heard?" Lance rubs the back of his head.

"The whole school is talking about it. The school's #1 couple breaking up. You two are even voted the number one couple in the yearbook." Julian grins.

"Oh god," Lance whines.

"Ah you'll be fine. You two will work something out." Julian pulls him into a headlock and ruffles his hair. The team joins giving him friendly punches and ironic slaps on the ass.

It's dark by the time practice is over and Lance drives home. He eats, showers, and changes into his pajamas before curling up in bed. Several times he rolls over unable to fall asleep, only thinking of how little he accomplished today as far as fixing things with Keith.

Finally, he has enough and throws his sheets off himself. He slips into jeans and a shirt and quietly opens his window. He sneaks out onto the roof and shuts the window behind him, edging towards the tree. How the hell did Keith do this?!

He takes a deep breath and grabs on tightly to the branches and eases onto it, praying nothing snaps—including his neck. He inches his way down and breathes out in relief when his feet meet the grass. And then he's running. Two blocks away, Keith is peacefully sleeping in his room and Lance is fixed on ruining that.

He makes it to the cute blue house with newly blooming flowers planted around it. He circles the house until he makes it to Keith's window and starts climbing. He makes it barely off the ground before he realizes there's no way he can climb this. That's when he gets an idea.

He sprints into the backyard and opens their shed pulling out a ladder. He tries to be quiet, failing a few times with making a ruckus. Finally he's dragging the ladder to the side of the house and positioning it. He climbs up, crawls onto the roof, and shuffles to the window. He peaks in at first to find it dark, only a small light illuminating from a phone. He squints seeing Keith laying in bed scrolling through pictures of the two of them. What a fucking drama queen, he thinks as he taps on the window. He watches Keith freeze and those eyes dart toward the window. Lance points, signaling to open it.

Keith looks bewildered as he slides open the window. "Lance? What the fuck are you doing? How the hell did you even get up here?" Lance climbs in and Keith leans out the window. "Is that our ladder? What the fuck?" He looks at a Lance shutting the window.

Lance opens his mouth but finds no words. He really should've planned better, this is really impulsive. Then he's looking around Keith's room. He's gonna break something, he swears it. He makes eye contact with several breakable objects but backs down from destroying any of them. That one looks expensive, can't break that. That one is kinda cool, not that one.

"Lance, what are you doing?" Keith huffs.

Lance finally just thinks 'to hell with it' and slides a bunch of papers and pencils off Keith's desk sending them to the floor.

It's quiet a moment. The two boys staring at the mess on the floor, and then Keith is looking at Lance in all his ridiculousness and starts laughing. Lance is offended at first, this is him making his stand, this is his statement! But then he's looking at Keith and watching that beautiful laughter spill out and bless his ears. And then he's laughing too.

"What was that about?" Keith finally asks.

"Um, I'm mad...? I think." Lance smiles guiltily.

"Yeah, I can tell." Keith says