#when he has to like tug at his shirt collar / pendant thing??? like dude are you okay

[legendarceus]

this is what happened after the to be continued right

i’m so normal about the ending of this episode

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt 109

109

109

   “Relax. It’s Mami”

Keith had forgotten how to walk. Like when you’re being examined by a doctor and they tell to you walk normally but in that exact moment you have no memory of this walking normally business

“It’s because it’s Mami. What’s if she hates me?”

Lance swatted Keith hand away from here he was trying make his jacket collar sit properly

“Dude, you are the son she always wanted. I’m the son she got stuck with”

“But I got her son pregnant. I took your virtue...”

“You mean you railed my arse into next year as you knocked me up? I’m pretty sure she knows how that first bit works”

Lance was stressing now they’d arrived. He’d been stressing picking them perfect flowers, the stressing when Keith had to pull over so he could throw up. He was nervous, Lance was stressed, this was going to go great

“Babe, you’re getting cranky”

“Because she’s my mum... do you know how I worked to sleep through not having this conversation?”

“I knew you were faking!”

“I’m weird enough... oh, god. I hope she doesn’t ask how I’m supposed to give birth. I don’t even know how it’s going to come out!”

  Keith hung his head. They weren’t even out the car park and they were both acting like fools

“You wanted to see Mami. We’re going to see Mami”

Lance whined softly at him, tugging on Keith’s left arm

“I know... let me nervous”

“I’m nervous too. I’ve still got work after this an a fear I’m about to be orphaned again”

“Mami’s not going to keel over!”

“I didn’t say she would. I meant more like she’d boot me to the curb and take her walker to my head”

Lance nodded, an action that wasn’t exactly reassuring

“Babe!”

“What? I could see her doing that, but not to you”

“Your reassurance fills me with confidence”

“Mami loves you, it’ll be fiiiiiiine”

  It was fine for Lance. He’d had 45 years with Mami. Keith also had the suspicion his boyfriend had jerked off in the shower. Lance didn’t usually take 10 minute showers, not unless they were fooling around. Having a vampire for a boyfriend did give him the advantage when it came to shower sex. None of this not so sexy freezing his arse off. He missed shower sex... Now Lance was dressed neatly in black skinny jeans, a white dress shirt and cardigan. Keith dressed also in black skinny leg jeans, though he wore a black button up shirt and his leather jacket... he kind of looked ready for his inevitable funeral.

  Signing them in, Lance managed to spell his own name wrong. Starting with a “K” instead of an “L”. Yeah. This was going to be a long trip. He’d already walked into the doorframe, after pulling instead of pushing. Keith scrubbing his face with his hand in secondhand embarrassment, then feeling his stomach bottom out once they got to the sign in book. Lance didn’t seem to have noticed that Luis was signed in. Keith didn’t know if he could possibly keep his temper if Luis so much as breathed. Not with how protective of Lance he was feeling. He’d fucked up so badly, and was determined not to let Lance feel like that again.

  Following Lance through the centre, Miriam was sitting at one of the activities tables playing cards with Luis and a man he didn’t recognise by name, but knew from his looks exactly who he was. Marco. The middle brother. Okay, so it might be wrong, but if Lance ever grew older he hoped he looked more like Marco than Luis

“Mis hijos!”

Mami dropped her hand of cards down, Luis sighing. Marco pushing his chair back as he rose to his feet. He was smiling... smiling wasn’t awful? Lance stalled beside him, mumbling softly

“Marco...”

“Been a while baby brother... Time’s been kind to you”

“I didn’t know you were back”

  And just like that Lance was on guard again

“Mami talks about this place so much that I thought I’d see if for myself”

“Marco!”

Luis scolded his brother, the way he said the man’s name said it all

“Would you three stop it. Keith, so good to see you again. Come sit by this old lady. These two cheat at cards”

Fucking awkward as fuck. Without Lance explaining that “mijo” was a contraction of “mis hijo” he wouldn’t have got what the extra “s” was on about.

  Towing Lance around the table, Keith snagged an empty chair for his boyfriend. His Mami hadn’t really said hello to Lance, Lance looking very lost as Keith sat him between him and Miriam purely to keep him from sitting closer to his two brothers. Marco asking

“Sooooooo, who’s this?”

He even sounded like Lance. Like an older Lance. Dressed casually, Marco seemed to be “beach bum” personified with his Hawaiian shirt over his blue single, and his black board shorts. Around his neck was a single necklace, a ring and small carved surfboard pendant on the chain. Mami smiled proudly

“This is Keith. Isn’t he handsome? Our Lance snagged a good one when he snagged him. Keith, this is Marco. His not as cranky as Luis but he has his moments”

  Marco held his hand out, Keith forced to take it, his fingers nearly crushed in the firmness of the handshake. Marco definitely testing him. He wasn’t about to be scared off. He was there to see Miriam, with Lance, who really needed his mother right now. Marco released his hand, eyes on Lance

“Damn, man. You haven’t changed a day. Bet you love looking like that. I turn my back and you’ve gone and got yourself a boyfriend”

“Marco, you leave Lance be. He’s only been out of hospital a couple of days and doesn’t need you being bratty”

  Marco raised his hands in defeat, shaking his head. He really was so much like Lance that it bordered creepy  

“Didn’t mean anything by it. Just saying dating a vampire isn’t everyone’s thing. It’s been years, Mami”

Casting a glance to Lance, Mami’s flowers seemed in danger. Plucking the bouquet out of Lance’s hands, Keith placed it on the table, before taking Lance’s hand in his

“It’s fine. I know about Lance being a vampire. I’m a Vatican approved Vampire and Werewolf hunter based here in Platt”

Two could play this game. Luis crossed his arms, feathers ruffled as he was knocked down a peg

“That’s a thing?”

“Yep. I don’t scare easily, though Lance isn’t scary at all, are you, babe?”

  Lance stared down at their hands. Maybe Keith was taking it too far by not letting himself be bullied. Mami didn’t care

“Keith has been so good for Lance. Plus, he’s such a hottie. All the ladies here are in love with him and Lance. Both of them very patient with us old geese”

“Some of us have all the time in the world”

Lance pushed his chair back at Luis’s comment

“Sorry, I need to use the bathroom”

  That could have gone better. Keith should have followed him, but Mami gave him a look that told him to stay put as Lance walked away

“Must you antagonise him? Both of you. That was unacceptable. Marco, I thought you’d know better. Now, I’m disappointed in both of you. Keith, would you mind bringing those flowers along. I can see it in your eyes that you and Lance have something you need to tell me”

Luis wasn’t happy

“You see them more than you see us... Marco tried to see you last week and now we find out Lance was in hospital. You owe us an explanation”

“Your brother was in an accident. The details of which I don’t believe I should tell you lest you hold it over him. I’m old and I’m tired, Luis. You all used to be so happy when you were younger. Marco, I’m sorry, dear, but you’re as much to blame. Now, you can come back tomorrow. Keith and Lance have to come to visit, it’d be nice if the next time we all see each other if you could make the effort to be mature. We could have had a nice game of cards. Keith would make an excellent strip poker player”

  Miriam winked at him. Keith felt kind of weird about being designated the family stripper. Mami didn’t let anyone hold her back... and any thoughts of feeling bad about interrupting the game went out the window when both brothers had gotten snarky

“Sorry, Keith, maybe next time, bro. I’d love to know how my brother snagged you”

Luis didn’t look pleased but that wasn’t unusual nor was it his problem. His problem was his pregnant boyfriend that couldn’t deal with this not so touching reunion

“Lance will be in my room, no need to fret”

   Lance was indeed in Mami’s room. Sitting on her bed he was staring at family photo. Shuffling over with her walker, Mami sat herself down next to him, Keith awkward as he held her flowers

“You didn’t run far”

Lance snorted at his Mami

“Sorry. I wasn’t expecting to see Marco after so long”

“He’s staying with Luis at the moment. Something to do with that job of his. Now, I know you and Keith are hiding something from me...”

Miriam took the photo frame from Lance, smiling as she ran her fingers over the glass

“... you kids were always such trouble. Always getting into scraps and coming home with bruises... Those days are my fondness memories...”

“That one was taken in Cuba, wasn’t it?”

Mami nodded

“Shortly before we left... Do you remember it?”

“I remember Aunt Sarah calling all of Gerald and praying for our souls... It was the first time I heard Veronica say “fuck”, but I’d already started to forget before the bite”

Mami chuckled

“Veronica had some very strong opinions of moving here. She’s still as stubborn and wild spirited as she was as a little girl”

“Veronica ran the household like an army general, Mami... I remember times when you had no idea what to do with her”

“But we never stopped her from being herself or encouraging her. Now, tell this old bird what’s going on. Both of you look more jumpy than a cat with worms”

  Keith wasn’t sure what that had to do with things, Lance sighing at his Mami

“Mami, you know how I’ve been going through some stuff since I fed on Keith... well... something else has happened”

“You can’t fool me into thinking it was just an accident. Now spit it out, I’ve only got so long in this world and I’d like to hear what you have to say before I pop off the mortal coil”

Lance sighed again. Usually Mami was much softer but he knew she was worried about her baby boy

“Well... I’m pregnant”

Mami let out a chuckle, Lance looked kind of hurt. Keith finally moving over to place the flowers down on Mami’s bed, feeling overly protective of his boyfriend

“It’s not a joke, Mami. Lance is a special type of vampire... that’s why he was in hospital at VOLTRON”

  Mami placed the photo down beside her, before placing her hand on Lance’s

“My dear boy... at this stage I thought nothing in the world could surprise me... Has Coran confirmed it?”

Lance reached for Keith’s hand, Keith half hugging his boyfriend as he answered for the both of them

“Yeah... Lance had a bad reaction to contraceptives and when Coran tested his blood. He’s had an ultrasound and has another in a couple of days...”

  Mami squeezed Lance’s hand, his boyfriend still wouldn’t look at her

“Now the both of you have baby jitters... My sweet boys. A baby is nothing to fear. You should have seen Lance’s father. He was beside himself, a mess of excitement and worry. He didn’t know what to do. Things were very different then. You got on did what you had to do around it, but he was very careful. Worried I was made of glass. Absolutely infuriating, I’ll tell you”

Tearfully Lance asked her softly

“How are you okay?”

“Lance, you’ve been a vampire a long time now. I’ve seen many things and met many people. This baby might have come as a shock, but you’re my precious son. We’ve come this far together. How far along are you now?”

Keith forced himself to ease back, to let Lance say whatever it was he needed to tell his mother

“About 5 weeks...”

“Ah, still very early, and very early for you to find out. And you want to keep it?”

“I... yeah... I think but I nearly lost it once”

“Close calls can be quite scary. I nearly lost Rachel... but you, you were always a fighter. As soon as you could move you were off and moving, my little Lance”

“You never told me about Rachel”

“Ah... it was harvest season, I collapsed in the heat. Jorge was beside himself... You worry too much about me, and not nearly enough about you. How do you feel?”

“Tired. I’m sick of throwing up, but Coran says I have to keep eating for the sake of the baby”

   Mami moved her hand from Lance’s to wrap her arm around him, Lance leaning into her as she kissed his hair

“He’s a wise man, that Coran. Always been happy and always been very proud of you. He’s told me all about the soft spot he has for you. You better be listening to him”

“Yes, Mami. And Keith...”

His Mami let out a soft chuckle

“How is the dad to be? I expect you’re feeling first baby jitters more so than Lance here”

“He is. He’s doing all he can, but I lost my shit at him earlier”

“That’s because it’s a very emotional time for the pair of you... You need to talk. You might feel awful about the things that need to be said, but there’s no room for misunderstanding when there’s a baby to consider. Jorge and I got into some pretty bad fights, he was convinced he’d drop one of you on your heads or leave you in the chicken pen. He was wonderful when you kids were little. You all made him so happy. You made me so happy. Has the morning sickness started?”

“Not really... just, you know, I can’t eat without it coming back up”

“Ahhh... yes. You’re rather limited with your diet. Growing a baby takes a lot of time and patience. Some days you feel like the world is against you. Some days you don’t want to move at all. Some days you’ll find the smallest of things bringing you to tears, but it’s all worth it to hold your baby for the first time... I’ll never forget holding you. You were so active, then so quiet when you came out. After 4 kids, you practically walked out the door... There wasn’t any of this pelvic floor business when I was birthing you. Now, when’s this ultrasound?”

“On Tuesday... do... can you be there?”

“I can, if that’s okay with Keith. He’s the one who’s going to be there more than I ever could”

“Don’t say that... Mami... I’m so sorry... I... fucked up everything and... I... wasn’t going to tell you until after the scan and I’m scared I’m going to lose it... I’m not normal”

“You stop that, you hear me. You’re my precious boy with a heart too big for this world”

“But... won’t this make things complicated?”

“You leave that to me. I might be old but I can still whip your siblings into shape. Never underestimate an old woman and her slippers”

  Lance snorted, nuzzling into his Mami

“I still live in fear of those pink slippers of yours. I’ll never forget the time Rachel poured nail polish on the mat in the living room...”

“That girl was a terror. The stories I could tell. Her sneaking out to see her latest boyfriend. She never thought we knew until your father nailed her window shut”

“I remember that. She came in through my room...”

“And you both got the slipper for it. You’re going to be okay, mijo... and you too, Keith. This baby might not have been planned, but you’ll grow together, learn together. I feel it in my waters”

  Keith didn’t have these stories like Lance did... He felt out of place. Krolia didn’t know, and he doubted she’d be supportive, like Mami was. He found himself asking

“How do you stop being scared?”

“That one takes some time. Take day step at a time, and don’t forget to love each other along the way. All couples fight. No couple is as perfect as they seem, but it’s what you do after you fight. There’s nothing more important than an apology. Don’t let the things fester between you. And when you’re in doubt drawn comfort and strength from each other. You see the best in each other that you yourself might not think is there. My son found happiness in you, and you and in he. Things won’t always be easy, but approach them as a team and your troubles won’t be so bad. You’re a kind man, Keith. You remind me of my Jorge. I bet you’ve been panicking over this as hard as Lance, feeling like you’ve done something horribly wrong. You haven’t. You’ve made an old girl like me happy by showing this one he’s not the monster he thinks he is. Heavens knows how stubborn he is”

“He is pretty stubborn”

“All of them were. Now, come here and give me a hug. You look terribly uncomfortable standing like that”

    *

Mami always gave the best advice. Working her magic on both of them. Lance holding Keith’s hand with both of his as they walked back to Shiro’s car. When he’d seen Marco interacting with Keith, he’d felt jealous. Luis wouldn’t touch Keith with a ten foot pole and then some, Marco shaking his hand as if it was his right. Resting his head against his boyfriend’s arm, he felt better for seeing Mami. He hoped Keith did too... He’d really lost his shit at him before and was mortified over all the yelling he’d done.

  “I wish I didn’t have to get back to work”

“I wish you didn’t either. You didn’t even have time to take a nap”

Keith sighed at him. His boyfriend had something to say and wasn’t saying it to him or to Mami. Lance guessing what it was

“You’re thinking about Krolia, aren’t you?”

“Why didn’t Mami ask about her?”

“Because she knows that’s your business. She wants you to feel ready to talk to her when the time is right”

“I don’t know how I’m going to tell her”

“We can do it together? Or we can have Mami there? Or if you want you can talk to her alone. I’ll support what you choose”

“I don’t know what to choose”

“Then think about it. Let me know when you know, or if it happens, I won’t be mad”

“You were pretty mad this morning”

Lance blushed in shame

“I was a total shit to you. I really wasn’t cool at all”

“You have a lot going on”

“Not as much as you do. It’s hard seeing you scared and I know you close down, but it...”

“Was hard?”

Lance nodded

“Yeah. I mean... like whenever we’re together we’re always touching, and then you didn’t want to touch me there and I freaked out thinking that you were done with me”

  Keith sighed, pulling Shiro’s keys out his pocket

“I’m not done with you. I’m just... caught in the past”

“I know. I shouldn’t have lost it at you because you were trying to respect me”

“And you should have pointed out I was being a douche”

“It’s okay now”

Keith bumped him lightly with his hip

“You totally jerked off, didn’t you?”

Lance’s cheeks burned harder. Yep. He couldn’t deny it

“Yeah... didn’t really help but whatever”

“What do you mean it didn’t help?”

It’d been more of a chore than pleasure, just something to get rid of the throbbing between his legs

“The reason I want you touch me is because it’s you. I look at you and my body reacts... you’ve turned me into a total pervert”

“I’m sorry I’m not ready”

Keith didn’t need to be sorry, the vampire simply wished he’d been able to tell Lance sooner. Maybe if he hadn’t been a self centred butt nugget he would have?

“It’s okay. My dick totally has a mind of its own...”

“Would blood help? Fresh blood. Coran said...”

Coran needed to stop putting ideas in Keith’s head, and let Keith work his own thoughts and feelings out first

“Coran says a lot of things. Let’s head home and go from there”

“Babe...”

“Keith, there’s today and tomorrow, then we’re going to see Coran again... and we can talk to him then... until then, please stop worrying so much about blood”

  Keith pulled away from him, Lance seemed to have stepped on some mental landmine. Clenching his fits, his boyfriend stared down at the ground

“Keith?”

“It’s my baby”

Yeah? Who else’s was did he think it was?

“Yeah, babe. It’s your baby”

“So why is it okay for you to rely on other people’s blood and not mine? Why is my blood never good enough... even when you’re carrying my baby you won’t let me help you”

Oh...

“Babe, it’s not like that”

“But it is. Some stranger’s blood is keeping you alive and moving... why can’t it be mine? Why is someone else’s blood better than mine? You only feed on me when your a bat or in heat... why won’t you let me help you?”

  Using a little of his speed, Lance moved to stand in front of Keith, taking his face in his hands

“I can’t feed on you consciously because you are my world. You. If I feed to much, or too often, you’re going to be sick... You’re not my pet, you’re my partner, and you take care of me so fucking well... When I have fresh blood I’m an arsehole with way too much energy. I’m scared to feed on you because I’m in love with you”

“You say you know I won’t hurt you... but I know you won’t hurt me. I want to help. I want to give you my energy... I want... my blood to... be good”

Keith was breaking his heart now

“Your blood is good. Your blood is so good. You’re so good... but what if I fed on you too much? What if because of me you can’t work? What if me feeding on you leaves you weakened and you can’t protect yourself? And what if I can’t stop?”

“But you do... when we... you do... I don’t... want you having to live a half life off other peoples blood when you’re growing our baby... I want... to be wanted”

“You are wanted. You are the single most wanted man by me in existence... I know you’ve been like this a while, offering me your blood, but you’ve been bottling up how much it annoys you, haven’t you?”

“Sometimes I think about it... but I guess... I guess seeing your family really made me think about blood... family isn’t about blood... but today... I want to be your boyfriend you can rely on to be there. I don’t want you think I’m going to leave you alone like your brothers... I want my blood to be more than our baby”

Lance sighed softly, leaning up and kissing Keith on the forehead

“I know this is hard for you. But... I’m... I worry that if I feed on you I won’t be who I am anymore... that my ego will slip out of control and I won’t be the man you love anymore. I know you want to support me. I know you’d offer me your neck in an instant... and I know you trust me... but you’ve seen how fresh blood can affect me. I practically pounced on you when you fed me in my first heat and your hips were sore for days. I love you and your blood... but I get it more now than ever. You don’t want your baby surrounded by a strangers blood... that’s what it really is. You humans are so fragile, babe. You can’t feed me what I need for days. Vampires get too hungry, that’s why most pets are weakened or why their not the only pet belonging to their master”

“Then... then how... how do I help you?”

“We can talk to Coran? He’s the only one I know who we can talk to about all this. Maybe if we tell him what’s been going on in our heads, he can help us figure it out?”

  Keith threw his arms around, Lance pleasantly surprised by the affection

“I just want to be in our baby’s life”

“Dude, you will be. Who’s hand do you think I’m going to be holding when it comes to getting this little out of me? You can break my heart and chop me into a zillion little pieces and I wouldn’t deny you access... Even... even if you have to leave, for work or whatever, I’m going to be taking videos and telling them all about their daddy. You lost your dad too young, but that doesn’t mean the same will happen to you. They will know you and who you are Keith Kogane. I will never ever let them forget you”

Keith sighed softly at him

“Thank you...”

“Sometimes you just need to hear the words...”

“Yeah...”

“You’re so much better with your words these days. I’m proud of you”

“I’m lucky to have you”

“I’m the lucky one... and you should probably let me go now. You’ve stirred up the monster”

  Keith sniffled as he chuckled, pulling back

“I’m going to make it up to you... when we know it’s okay”

“I’m counting on it... and counting the places I expect to be bent over”

His boyfriend turned beet red, adjusting himself as he tried to turn away. They we’re definitely weirdos for popping random boners in the car park of a nursing home

“That’s not fair”

“Sure it is. You can make a list of all the things you want to try”

“Shut up. You’re making it worse”

Lance started towards the passenger side door of Shiro’s car, throwing over his with a wink

“Just remember to think of me when you’re jerking off at work”

Keith groaned at him, very awkwardly shuffling to the car. Both of them were stupid horny lived up idiots, and Lance was not helping things at all. The ultrasound couldn’t come sooner.