Lance propped himself up on his elbows, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "You know, Keith, sitting here next to me like this… people might start talking."
Keith groaned and covered his eyes with his arm. "Why do you always have to say stuff like that?"
"Because it's true!" Lance shot back, rolling onto his side to face him. "I mean, come on. You, me, the dramatic sparring, collapsing on the floor together. It's practically the beginning of a space romance novel!"
Keith peeked at him from under his arm, unimpressed. "You're ridiculous. Y'know that?"
"Yes, and yet," Lance said smugly, "you're still here."
That earned him the smallest huff of a laugh. Barely a sound, but Lance caught it, and his heart did a stupid flip. He sat up, smugness dialed up to maximum. "Was that a laugh, Kogane? Did I just make the galaxy's most serious paladin laugh?"
Keith rolled his eyes, trying to smother the smile tugging at his lips. "Don't get used to it."
"Too late, already did." Lance leaned closer, grinning. "Admit it, you're warming up to me."
Keith looked away, his face turning a little pink. "Maybe you're… less annoying than usual."
Lance gasped dramatically. "Less annoying? Wow. I'll take that as the highest of compliments. Should I frame it? Have Coran write it in the Paladin records?"
Keith shook his head, but he was actually smiling now, and Lance couldn't help but laugh too. For the first time in forever, the space between them wasn't full of rivalry or sharp edges. It was… comfortable.
And then the door slid open.
Both boys turned at once, freezing like guilty kids caught sneaking cookies.
Shiro stood there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but his raised brow said plenty.
"What… exactly are you two doing?" he asked slowly.
"Uh-" Lance scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over himself. "Sparring! Yeah, just a little, uh, post-mission training. You know? Team bonding. Totally professional." He gave his brightest, least convincing smile.
Keith stayed on the floor, glaring at Lance like 'you're making it worse.'
Shiro's lips twitched, like he was fighting a smile. "Mm-hm. Team bonding. Right."
Lance glanced at Keith, then back at Shiro, cheeks burning. "Yep. Nothing weird here. Just two paladins. Bonding. Like normal guys do."
Keith groaned and dropped his head into his hands.