dreaming in retrograde

"I... I don't know, Keith. Up until now, you've always been my rival and..." He sighs, frustration creeping up as he shoves his hands through his hair. "It was easier back then. But now that we've gone through so many things, it just doesn't feel the same anymore... you get that?"

Keith shuffles a little on the spot. He's looking at his feet, and there are so many things Lance wants to say, things like stop looking at your feet and look at m—

(He doesn't finish that thought.)

(He doesn't finish that thought, because he's scared — scared of how things change.)

"Y..yeah, I guess I do," Keith answers, after a while. "It's like we're dealing with unfamiliar territory."

Since when did you change so much? Mean so much?

"Exactly!" Lance's face brightens up. "That's exactly it. But now what? What," and he breathes, (and breathes, and breathes, but the air feels all choked up inside,) "are you now, Keith? And what—"

am I to you?

( ☆ )