Thread by @Astro_Latte

Holiday post-canon klance thread where Keith is stuck on Earth and forced to celebrate Christmas with Lance even though he’s grumpy about it. 🎄☃️

Keith wakes to the sound of people talking about him, which is the first hint that he should probably stay asleep. The smell of antiseptic and the scratchiness of the sheets is what clues him into being a Garrison hospital room.

Groggily, he opens his eyes and his vision blurs around a figure that looks like Shiro, that guy Shiro's dating that Keith always forgets the name of, and another person his brain can’t connect to a name. He knows him though, Keith is sure of it.

Keith is just on the edge of passing back out when he makes out the words “Mission...poisoned…sick….healing pod...Earth.”

Right, he’s on Earth.

He was poisoned during a relief mission gone badly. Very badly.

Shiro is the first to notice that Keith’s awake and instantly goes into annoying dotting mode, zooming to the side of his bed. “Hey, Keith...can you speak?”

When Keith tries, his mouth feels like it’s full of cotton balls. He also wants to throw up.

Keith misses his wolf.

Shiro turns around and apparently there's a fourth person in the room. A doctor. “As far as we can tell, the substance was a sort of poison that targets the brain. He’s not at risk of any permanent harm, we caught it before it attacked anything that might be crucial."

"It sounds like a but is coming," Shiro says and the doctor sighs.

"BUT while our medicine is fighting the poison, it is still there. The healing pod has done all it can. Now it just needs to pass through Mr. Kogane's system.”

"How long will that take?" Boyfriend Of Shiro asks.

Keith should really learn this dude’s name. Shiro seems to like him a lot. Apparently he was on the ATLAS with them and everything.

Not that Keith could name anyone on that crew outside of Team Voltron, to be honest.

“Four weeks,” the doctor says, but it sounds like a guess.

“FOUR WEEKS?” Keith blurts, sitting up so fast his brain spins like a top. It may actually fly out of his head, he isn’t sure.

Then there's a heavy hand on his chest, easing him back down against the pillows. The fourth person in the room.

“Easy, mullet.”

...mullet?

Keith squints, trying to focus his vision so he could look at the man.

He’s in a Garrison issued uniform, with the top few buttons are undone. His brown hair is tousled like he’s been, tufts brushing against his right ear where a silver hoop piercing sits on his earlobe.

The man turns to Keith with a lopsided grin, and instantly it occurs to him -

Keith has no clue who the fuck this guy is.

Keith’s eyes rest on the azure marks that sit on the man’s cheeks, framing his blue eyes. He’s handsome, Keith will give him that.

“Are you Altean?”

The man’s eyebrows fly up towards his hairline, smile wiped clean from his face. "Um, no?"

"Then why do you have those marks?"

"Keith...you know why," he says, slowly. "You were there."

"There where?" Keith demands. "I don't even know you."

Shiro and Boyfriend Of Shiro both look at Keith before slowly turning back to the doctor, who sighs.

“AND his memories may be a little muddled while he recovers.”

The doctor tells them that until Keith regains his full health (and memories apparently) he shouldn’t be left alone and definitely not go back to the Blade Of Marmora outpost.

Apparently that's where he lives when he's in an amnesiac with brain poisoning.

It takes a moment to remember Keith has a hazy memory of what the outpost looks like - purple, dark, full of other blade members. He can't picture a home, though. Or even an apartment.

His nose wrinkles.

Does he really live where he works?

When the doctor leaves, Shiro and Boyfriend of Shiro stand nervously with Not Altean Guy mumbling sometimes Keith can't hear.

"Shiro..." Keith tries but his mind is the inside of a lava lamp. He doesn't know why Shiro is the only one he remembers.

He doesn't know anything.

"...can't stay...renovation....La-"

Not Altean Guy shrugs, arms crossed over his chest. He glances over his shoulder, and when his eyes meet Keith's, something hums in his chest.

Da-dum.

"Yeah, I got him," he says, the easy smile back. It doesn't reach his eyes. "I got him."

Not Altean Guy makes his way over to Keith’s bed, flopping down in the seat at his bedside. Keith narrows his eyes, unsure whether he can trust this guy. But it looks like Shiro does, and Keith knows he trusts Shiro.

So he can trust this guy too...right?

Not Altean Guy takes a deep breath, in through his nose and out through his mouth. Like he’s bracing himself for something.

Then he leans over, hand outstretched.

“It’s not every day you get to start over with someone,” he jokes, the sparkle back in his eyes. “Name’s Lance.”

Keith frowns, trying to will his brain to cooperate by force of will. Clearly, they’re supposed to know each other, but the name LANCE doesn’t do anything for his memory. There’s no file under LANCE.

No feelings.

No pictures.

No memories.

It's just...blank.

A blank slate.

Still, he takes Lance’s hand. It's warm.

“I’m Keith.”

"I know," Lance’s smile ticks up into a mean smirk. “I’m not the guy who lost his memories, dude.”

A spark of irritation shoots through Keith's spine. The face he makes must be funny because it’s enough to make Lance laugh.

Keith meets Lance in the lobby. Red and green streamers decorate the ceiling, with colorful fairy lights pinned to the doors' top.

The festive decor follows them outside, illuminated with blinking lights, vibrant ornaments, and brightly colored signs along the street.

“Lucky for you to crash land back here during Christmas time,” Lance explains, digging into his jacket for his keys once they’re in the parking lot. He pauses, raising an eyebrow at Keith. “Uh...do you remember what Christmas is?"

"Yes, Lance."

"Just checking!"

They walk to Lance’s car.

"Knowing you, if I had to explain it, you’d get caught up in the details. Like wondering why people put trees in their houses or the whole Santa thing.”

“I mean, it IS kind of weird.”

Lance unlocks the car. “Well, so is losing your memories, weirdo.”

The car ride to Lance’s apartment is quiet except for Lance strumming his hands on the steering wheel to the holiday music floating from the radio.

Keith recognizes the song, as if some part of his subconscious will always know the lyrics to Jingle Bell Rock.

Lance appears carefree and lose but the pinch in his brow says otherwise. He doesn't know why his instinct was to check that. Like its normal.

Keith feels awkward not remembering who Lance is, especially since he'll be staying with the guy.

They must've been close...are close?

“So, what DO you remember?” Lance asks at a red light and Keith shrugs.

“I know I work with the BOM to help people.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And live in space with my mom, who is Galra. Oh, and my wolf.”

“We can’t forget the cosmic space wolf.”

"And Shiro, Pidge, Hunk...someone else…"

Lance stares at him like hes trying to unlock telepathically. And if Keith knew telepathy before, he definitely doesn't now.

"Lance."

Lance perks up, hopeful. "Yeah, Lance!"

"No, I mean Lance." Keith motions at the road towards the light. "Light changed."

"Oh...right, yeah."

They pull up to Lance's apartment. It's small, but the trim is covered in colorful Christmas lights.

"Bad thing about the desert," Lance pouts. "No snow."

"I think I grew up in the desert."

Lance smiles. "You did!"

Keith doesn't know why but Lance's smile makes him smile too.

That night, Lance sets up each side of his L-shape sofa with blankets & pillows. It sits in the living room across from where a pine tree is airing out undecorated.

"Gotta get that good pine smell before decorating," Lance explained. To Keith, it smells like a car air freshener.

"Don't you have a bed to sleep in?" Keith asks after Lance leaves the bathroom, fully moisturized and wearing a spa mask.

Lance shrugs. "Figured I keep you company incase something bad happens."

Right. Keith has poison running through in his body.

"You can use the red toothbrush in the bathroom," Lance tells him, fluffing his pillow and turning away from him.

Keith steps into the bathroom and glares at the red toothbrush sitting on the side of the sink.

Wait...did Lance have all his guests use the same toothbrush?

"Don't worry, it's fine," Lance calls from the living room. "I can promise you nobody else has used it."

"Did you read my mind?" Keith demands, careening his neck out of the bathroom "Is this an Altean thing?"

Lance's voice floats over the back of the sofa. "Not Altean."

Keith isn't entirely convinced, but uses the toothbrush anyway. It helps his mouth feel less fuzzy.

By the bathroom door he spots a pair of blue slippers and red slippers.

"Do you have a roommate?" Keith asks casually when he flops back on the couch next to Lance.

Lance is already wrapped in a blanket burrito, but wiggles around his body like a worm. It's silly and pulls an easy laugh from Keith's chest.

When he's facing Keith, he raises an eyebrow. "Why'd you ask?"

Keith shrugs. "Saw the slippers."

Lance's shoulders jump up to his ears, the blanket tightening around him. He chews his lip, considering his answer.

The hesitation is odd for a yes or no question.

"He comes and goes," Lance settles.

"Will he be cool with me staying here?"

"Sure."

Keith leaves it at that.

He settles into the cushions, taking a deep breath to relax. Even though he’s slept at the hospital, something about Lance’s apartment feels homey.

Almost familiar.

“Hey.”

Keith looks over his shoulder to see Lance. Their eyes meet across and Keith’s heart jumps.

Da-dum.

"Do you really not remember me?”

Keith stares actively trying to place Lance’s face to something, anything in his mind.

“Sorry,” Keith whispers.

"Do you remember Voltron?

Keith squints. "Vol...tron?"

“Ugh! Did NOT need that deja vu.” Lance groans, turning over. "Goodnight."

Keith is just on the cusp of sleep when it hits him.

Giddy, he crawls across the sofa and shakes Lance awake. "Lance!"

Lance groans, pushing up his sleep mask. "Whaissit?"

"I remembered the other person!" He beams, face hurting from smiling. Does Keith usually smile this much? It didnt feel like it.

"Yeah?" Lance asks, way more awake.

"Yeah!" Keith nods. "Coran!"

Keith isn't sure how Lance does it, but somehow he kicks him back across the couch.

The next time Keith wakes up, it's to the smell of bacon and sounds of Christmas music coming from the kitchen.

Between the verses, he can hear Lance's humming then

"Simply having a wonderful Christmas time~"

He's singing.

Da-dum.

Keith pretends to be asleep a little longer.

Keith learns that Lance is an instructor at the Garrison a few days into his stay when he realizes Lance hasn't gone to work.

"Its winter break, man!" Lance tells him, stretching his arms above his head as he sprawls on the sofa. His shirt rides up his midriff and Keith blushes.

Lance finishes his big stretch, and Keith is almost too distracted to hear him say, "So, you're stuck with me."

"Until the poison flows through my system?"

Lance snorts. "Yeah that, but it sounds so emo when you say it."

"Do the things I say usually sound emo?"

"Sometimes."

Keith leans his head back, trying to remember why he would be like that.

Slowly he's starting to put together pieces from his life and some are definitely sad — like his dad dying or losing Shiro but there are happy parts too — like finding his mom and meeting Hunk and Pidge.

There's still some holes missing, like the poison is corrosive and the memories are cigarette burns on old film.

He still doesn't know what a Voltron is or how Lance fits into his life.

"Are we friends?" Keith asks Lance. It's blunt, but feels natural on his tongue.

Lance pulls his knees up to his chest and rests his chin in one knee. He purses his lips together, and it's the same pained expression from the other night.

Apparently yes or no questions are not Lance's strongsuit.

Eventually he shrugs. "I think we are."

Keith raises an eyebrow. Lance turns back to the movie they're watching. It's one of the hundreds of Christmas Carol adaptations.

If Lance wasn't sure they were friends, then so why is he doing this?

His subconscious instinct, the one that tipped him about Lance's trouble expression, tells him to let it go. And Keith does.

For a few days.

A week after Keith was discharged, the doctor gives him permission to venture outside for fresh air and light exercise. At the recommendation, Lance quips.

"Light exercise? The dude fights robots on max level for fun!"

What kind of person was Keith before the accident?

Lance brings Keith to the holiday markets downtown. There’s no snow, but it’s cold enough to need a jacket. Luckily, Lance lets him borrow an extra one from his closet.

“Thanks,” Keith says, surprised by how well it fits. Lance shrugs.

“It was just hanging around.”

Clearly, Lance is a Christmas Person. Their basket is filled with ornaments for the tree and gifts for his various family members. Keith’s only “known” the guy for a week but has heard more family members' names than he knows people.

Did Keith know his family?

“You did,” Lance says, after picking up a handcrafted gift for one of his aunts. “But there’s A LOT of McClains. Too bad you’re going to have to relearn everyone’s names.”

Lance laughs, and Keith feels his chest tighten.

Da-dump.

Da-dump.

They decorate Lance’s tree while sugar cookies bake in the oven. The apartment smells like a gingerbread house and Keith is cozier than he’s ever felt.

“Comfy?” Lance asks, handing Keith a cup of hot chocolate.

“Mm.”

Lance laughs. “Always so talkative.”

Da-dump.

Da-dump.

Lance surprises Keith with a small box one morning. Keith slowly unwraps it and sees a stocking with his name on it.

“It’s nothing big, but figured since you’re going to be here for Christmas…”

A memory jolts through his mind. “I...haven’t had one of these since my dad died.”

Lance glances away, scratching the back of his head. "I know. We talked about it before you left."

"I thought we weren't friends?"

Lance's face looks pained. "That...that doesn't mean we didn't talk about stuff."

Keith gently holds the stocking in his hand. "...thanks, Lance."

Lance grins and it's the brightest thing Keith can remember seeing. It warms his insides like hot chocolate. It makes his stomach twists like candy.

One look at Lance and Keith is floating.

How could Keith's brain forget Lance? Sitting infront of him, Lance is larger than life.

Lance reaches out and takes Keith's hand, like its an instinct. Like he's done it a thousand times before.

Keith meets his eyes and his heart beats in his ears.

"Keith...I..."

"....HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS!" Blares Lance's phone and they jump away from the other, staring.

"Uh...sorry lemme get that..."

Keith nods. "Sure."

Lance snatches his phone from the coffee table and climbs upstairs to the bedrooms are. Keith's never been since it felt weird to be in someone else's space.

He thinks of Lance's roommate. Never here.

Does he have a stocking?

Keith climbs up the stairs, and it hits him.

There's just one bedroom up here.

Wouldnt Lance's roommate need a bedroom?

The bedroom door is cracked open and Keith sees Lance sitting on the bed, phone to his ear and hand tugging at the ends of his hair.

Keith’s heart lurches.

"...doing well…."

Keith holds his breath, not wanting Lance to hear him.

"...No….he still doesn't remember….I know, Shiro."

Through the door, Keith can see a framed picture on Lance's endtable. It's a photo of Lance and...

Keith's head spins, his vision blurs.

"...Keith?"

Lance glances at the door. His face looks like its through a kaleidoscope of color.

The back of Keith's mind bursts with sensation. He knows what Lance's skin feels like, his lips.

"Keith?"

He's out before he hits the ground.

(To be continued tonight! Stay tuned...)

@threadreaderapp unroll

PART 2 is here:

https://twitter.com/Astro_Latte/status/1342612131062157314