Hello I come from your Fanfic " Cant put a label on love" from AO3 I like it btw. It says there to yell at you here but I decided to instead ask you something. What is it with the yelling thing? Like at least ten different authors from different fanfics told me to yell at them on tumblr. Is that like a joke I don't get? I don't wanne yell at you! And why would I, I like the stuff you write. So yeah what's with the yelling??!
Hi!!
Okay so I'm gonna be honest - I'm gay and yelling = communicating with my friends mostly, lol. Plus it gets your attention! :D not a lot of people come talk to me when they're on my AO3, I just wanted to have a fun way to get someone's attention.
Thank you for being here and I'm glad you liked my fic!! ❤️
“No way,” Keith whispers, staring down at the test. It was the third test he’d taken. Tests couldn’t be wrong three times, right? “No way!”
There’s a knock on the bathroom door. “Keith?” Comes the voice of his worried alpha. “Is everything okay? You’ve been in there for a long time.”
The omega jumps into action, grabbing all the evidence off the counter and shoving it into the drawer they hardly touched, except to throw random bathroom related crap in. “I’m fine!”
“Are… you sure? If you need help, I can-”
“No!” Keith yelps, too quickly. He winces, closing the drawer carefully. He didn’t need to give Lance any clues. There was no way his alpha was going to find out he was pregnant like this. They had been trying for well over a year - this had to be absolutely special! Taking a test and showing it to him was good, but… Not enough.
The omega opens the door, abruptly stopping himself from colliding with Lance’s chest. He clears his throat, tilting his head up slightly to look at him. “Uh. Hi.”
“Hey,” his mate’s eyebrow quirks, a smile tugging the corner of his lips up. “What’re you up to?”
“...Nothing.” Keith smiles innocently. “I’m gonna go out for a bit, okay?”
Lance blinks. “Oh. I can come with you, if you want…”
“Nope!” Keith grins, leaning up and giving him a kiss. “No, you stay here. It’s your night to make dinner and laundry needs to be done. I’ll be back in a couple hours, tops.”
“Babe,” the alpha whines, catching him by the waist and ducking his head to kiss the side of his face. Keith leans into the attention for a moment, then huffs and gently pulls away from his mate. Lance’s pathetic, sad noise is almost enough to make him stay. But if he stayed, he would crack and tell him the news.
Definitely not. Lance deserved the world. This was going to be a celebration. “Don’t ‘babe’ me,” Keith laughs, swatting his hip as he maneuvers himself around his mate. “I’ll be back soon! This isn’t the end of the world.”
“I’m gonna die!” Lance huffs dramatically, trailing after him.
Keith rolls his eyes, grabbing his keys and slipping into his shoes. “I highly doubt that you’re going to die, Lance.”
“I could! I could waste away from lack of exposure to… to…”
“To?” Keith repeats, throwing an amused look over his shoulder.
“I dunno,” he admits, sheepish, rubbing his neck. “Your scent? Your presence? All of you?”
“You’re sweet, but I’m still going out. Don’t burn the house down while I’m gone.”
The alpha perks up. “Will you come back if I burn it down?”
Keith whirls around, pointing at him. “I swear to God, Lance McClain, if I come back to find my perfectly good house burnt to the ground, I will sell you to the freaking gypsies.”
Lance blinks owlishly at him. “Do gypsies even exist anymore?”
“I will find some! Behave yourself.” He huffs, unlocking the front door. “I’ll be back. I love you.”
“Love you, too! Text me when you’re on the way home.”
Keith smiles, closing the door behind him and walking to his car. Now to find a baby store…
*
Two hours was definitely not enough. Keith got lost in the giant baby supply store, pushing a cart around and staring in awe at all of the tiny clothes. Were babies really that small? There was no way he had ever been so tiny. Well, okay, he wasn’t very big now - but that was the whole secondary gender thing.
The smells in this place were very overwhelming. He needed to find something that didn’t attack his senses and made him calm. He wanted their baby to smell good and be comfortable as well. So Keith found a small hippo stuffed animal. The body was a grey and blue blanket, fuzzy and soft smelling.
Keith also found a tiny green onesie with “If you think I’m cute, you should see my daddy” on it in big black letters. He figured it was the cutest way to tell Lance that they were expecting. Plus their baby was going to have two daddies - they were going to have to fight for the title of cutest dad. For now, it could be Lance. For now.
“Did you find everything alright?” The clerk at the checkout counter asks, delicately folding the items and ringing him up.
Keith smiles, nodding. “I did, thanks.”
“I hope you don’t mind if I ask, but how far along are you?”
The omega blushes. “Oh, um… I just found out today. I wanted to tell my mate and make it special. We’ve been trying for a really long time, and… now I’m here.” He beams.
The clerk smiles brightly. “Congratulations! If you two want to come back and sign up for our registry later into the pregnancy, I’d be happy to help you. I hope everything goes well tonight!” She hands him the bag.
“Thank you,” Keith grins. “Have a good day.”
The next stop is for an ironic card (there was already going to be so much sap, he didn’t want to overload it with more) and a bag to wrap everything in. He was honestly so excited - he even stopped to wrap everything in the store parking lot and sign the card.
When he got home, the porch lights were already on and dinner was made.
“I’m home,” he calls, carefully setting the sleek black bag aside so Lance wouldn’t see it quite yet.
“In the kitchen,” Lance calls. The omega slides his shoes off, creeping into the kitchen and setting the bag on the dining room table as he passes.
“Hey,” he greets, walking over and wrapping his arms around his back, nestling his face into the top of his spine. “Sorry I was out for so long.”
“That’s alright.” Lance smiles, turning off the stove. “Did you have fun?”
“I did.” He hums, rubbing his cheek on the scent glands on the back of his neck, purring softly. Lance smelled like home. Clean laundry and Hispanic spices and the aftershave he used. He smiles against his skin. Finally, their home was going to be growing in size.
“Is dinner ready?” He asks, pulling away and happily accepting the kiss Lance gave him.
“Not quite yet.” The alpha sets the lid on the pot. “It still has about twenty minutes.”
Keith bounces on the balls of his feet. He couldn’t keep this in anymore- he was going to explode. “I have something for you.” The words come out in a rush of breath, and he sucks in another.
Lance chuckles, looking down at him, his ocean blue gaze fond. “Is that where you went? Keith, our anniversary isn’t for another three months, and our birthdays have already passed.”
“No, just- come with me.” He takes his mate’s hand, tugging him into the dining room and flipping on the light. He waves in the direction of the bag. “That’s for you. You should definitely open it.”
“If I must,” he sighs dramatically, laughing when Keith squawks, affronted. “I’m kidding! Come sit with me while I open it.”
“Duh,” the omega mumbles, trying to contain himself. It was very difficult. The excitement was literally boiling inside him, ready to explode like a pressure cooker if Lance didn’t hurry himself up and open that stupid bag. “Hurry!”
“Okay, okay!” Lance laughs, sitting down and pulling out the white tissue paper. “Really, babe, you didn’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I did.” Keith grins, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.
Lance shakes his head, smiling, and sets the tissue paper aside. “Okay, let’s see… card first? That’s how you usually do it, right..?”
“No,” Keith shakes his head. “Not the card. That’s last.”
The alpha snorts. “Yes, dear. Got it. What’s even in here..? Oh, look, it’s green.” He reaches in, pulling out the onesie. It unfolds in his hand and he blinks. Keith grins, bouncing in his seat, watching as the cogs slowly start turning in his mate’s brain.
Lance stares at the little outfit, his eyes widening. He scans the words once. Then twice. Then another time. “Keith?” He squeaks, looking over at his mate.
The omega grins, waving a hand. “Keep going! There’s more stuff.”
It takes hardly any time for Lance to pull out the little plushy and the card (which read “who is a dad?” on the outside, and “you. You is a dad.” on the inside. Along with a cute little heart and an I love you from Keith). It was obvious the alpha was rushing, because once the contents of the bag were all on the counter, Lance turns all his attention on the omega.
“You’re pregnant?” He breathes, leaning forward and holding onto his hands.
“Yeah,” Keith answers, amused. “I would’ve thought that was obvious by the baby clothes and card.”
“You’re pregnant.” He whispers, dropping to his knees in front of him. Keith blinks, looking down as his mate wraps his arms around his waist and nuzzles his belly. “When did you find out?”
“Today. When you knocked on the bathroom door.” Keith chuckles, carding his hand through Lance’s hair. “I wanted to do something special.”
“We’re going to have a baby,” Lance sniffs, leaning forward and kissing his belly, dropping his head on his thigh and looking up at Keith.
“Yeah.” The omega blushes. “Finally. After all those stupid treatments and trying for so long.”
“It was so worth it,” Lance grins. “I told you that you weren’t defective. I knew we could do it. We should schedule a doctors appointment - check everything out and make sure you and the baby are both healthy.”
“Lance, I literally just found out.” He huffs.
“So? I want both of you to be safe. I want to protect both of you.”
“Sap.” Keith coos, tugging him back up and pulling him into a kiss, cupping Lance’s cheeks. “I love you.” He murmurs against his lips.
“I love you, too.” Lance sniffs. “I’m definitely going to tell everyone about this after the doctor’s appointment.”
“I expected you to.” Keith laughs, pulling away and pecking his forehead. “That’s alright. My alpha has to gloat a little bit.”
The alpha puffs himself up, grinning. “Hell yeah. Gotta show my beautiful mate off. Look at you go. You’re growing a human inside you.”
Keith grins, his instincts preening happily. Yes. Yes, he was. Their baby. He was finally, finally starting their family.
The two curl up on the couch to eat dinner, talking and laughing. Keith ends up laying on Lance’s chest, his mate brushing his fingers over his sides and back, cooing to him. The omega falls asleep like that, content and happy to start the next chapter of their life exactly like this.
*
Hey guys! This is the sequal to Unconditional. The fandom is making me kinda sad lately, so I wanted to post some cuteness to cheer myself (and hopefully some of you guys) up. Come tell me what you thought of s7! Let me know if I can write anything to cheer you up/make you happier than you already are!
jasmine; what mythical creature do you wish actually existed?
lavender; soundcloud or vinyls?
primrose; what book does everyone right now need to read?
lunar mist; do you like wearing other people’s shirts/jackets?
bird of paradise; what was the best thing that happened to you this month?
gardenia; what’s a promise you’ve recently made to yourself?
lion’s fairytale; would you rather be the sky, the ocean or the forests?
whirling butterflies; would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
marmalade skies; do you plan your outfits?
apricot drift; how do you feel right now?
everlasting daisy; what’s the last dream you remember having?
queen’s cup; what are you craving right now?
lavender dream; turn ons/offs?
water lilly; when was the last time you cried? why?
lily of the valley; did the one person who hurt you most in your life apologize?
winterberry; do you bite or lick your ice cream?
honey perfume; favorite movie ever?
desert rose; do you like yourself?
snapdragon; have you ever met or seen in person a celebrity?
night owl; how many countries have you visited?
heliotrope; have you ever been in a castle?
creams and sky; what’s the craziest/bravest thing you’ve done?
lantana; what’s on your mind right now?
pumpkin patch; what’s your zodiac sign?
tulip; name 5 facts about yourself.
daphne; do you believe in karma?
queen of the meadow; ever been in love?
wisteria; whom do you admire and why?
angel’s face; what was your favorite bedtime story as a child?
remember me; did you make someone laugh today?
iris; do you believe in ghosts?
lilac; if you could go back in time which time period would you visit?
caramel kisses; would you want to live forever? why/why not?
primula; what makes you sad?
rain lily; was today typical? why/why not?
queen anne’s lace; who do you trust the most?
lady’s slipper; what did you have for breakfast today?
forget me not; do you have any regrets looking back in your life?
lunaria; what’s your favorite fictional universe?
violet; favorite tv show?
sunflower; share a favorite quote.
snowdrop; what does your ideal day look like?
tiger lily; do you have any hobbies?
peony; share a small random book passage that means something to you.
tea rose; what’s something you always wanted to do but were too scared?
honeysuckle; do you usually date people your age or older/younger?
sweet pea; who means the world to you? why?
love in the mist; best books you’ve ever read?
foxglove; who is your favorite cartoon character?
magnolia; coffee or tea?
crown imperial; would you rather be extremely rich or extremely loved?
snowflake; are you a dog or a cat person?
bell flower; what is your biggest addiction?
cosmos; do you ever think about the galaxy?
moonflower; what’s your favorite color?
freesia; do you have a good relationship with your parents and siblings? why/why not?
sundrop; are you a morning or a night person?
poppy; have you ever dealt with a mental illness?
clover; how would your friends describe you?
dandelion; do you consider yourself and extrovert or an introvert?
lilly; what’s something you love watching/reading but you are too embarrassed to admit you do?
anemone; describe yourself in 3 words.
lotus; best memory as a child?
angelonia; what is your eye and hair color?
dahlia; do you like crystals?
buttercup; if you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
baby’s breath; what’s your hogwarts house?
calendula; biggest pet peeve?
blanker flower; would you rather go to a cocktail party with your best friends or stay home and read a book/watch a movie with your pet?
blazing star; share a secret.
carnation; would you rather live longer or happier?
petunia; who’s story is your biggest inspiration in life? why?
bluebell; do you wear glasses?
nymphea; forest or river?
orchid; do you like exercise?
pansy; do you like poetry?
morning glory; any special talent that you have?
Hello! I am back! I wrote a completely new Alternate Universe that... I don’t think it’s ever been done before. This is only part one of many.
So this is my baby. I love it dearly. Please enjoy with me.
If you don’t want to read the full thing here, you can find it on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18105458
***
Why are there so many songs about rainbows And what’s on the other side — Rainbow Connection
As far as Lance was concerned, there was only one side to a rainbow.
At least, that was what he had been taught. You see, he’d grown up on the one side of the rainbow - the one with the light and the color and the beautiful arches stretching over the city, as far as the eye could see. He lived in a city with buildings made of crystal, made for light to refract off them and fill the world with color.
The people themselves were bathed in color - dressed in beautifully colored clothes that complimented their rich and luxurious skin tones, hair that caught the beautiful colors of their world and took it as their own. Their eyes were luminous and their smiles bright. It was as though whatever had created them had harnessed the sun and the colors of the rainbow it had made their home to write them into being.
They learned in school about how to take these colors and put them to use; how to harness the power they’d been gifted and use it to better the world around them. Lance had chosen blue. It was the sweetest of the colors, cool and refreshing. They used it on the bodies of water around them, purifying and healing with it. Many citizens who wielded blue became nurses or midwives or caretakers. They were sweet and gentle and curious beings.
This curiosity was both a blessing and a curse. It often got Lance into trouble as a child. When he got older, he sated his curiosities with the vast collection of books in the city library and archives. He also went on excursions past the city lines when it got to be too much, but nobody knew about those. Not even his best friends.
But after he’d read all of the books he could get his hands on, after he’d learned about the same things in a hundred different ways in a hundred different author’s words - Lance got bored again.
It wasn’t until one specific librarian had noticed him sulking in the stacks that he had been given one particular book.
This was the day Lance McClain’s life changed.
***
“You really shouldn’t do this, Lance.” Hunk hisses for the third time that afternoon.
“Yeah, you said that.” Lance rolls his eyes, looking over at the yellow wielder. Hunk was nervously folding Lance’s basket of unattended clean clothes. He tended to fuss when he was anxious.
“I think it’s cool.” Pidge pipes up from where she was lounging on his bed. The green wielder was scrolling through her datapad.
“We don’t even know if what that book said was true - it’s a hundred years old!” Hunk insists. “I’m almost certain that it’s just some elaborate plan to kidnap unsuspecting victims!”
Lance rolls his eyes, packing a water bottle into his backpack and zipping it closed. “And what if it is true?” He challenges. “If it’s true, then there’s a whole other world beyond the borders of our city! I want to see it.”
“Of all things, why did you have to be blue?” Hunk bemoans, folding a shirt a little too aggressively. Pidge snorts.
“I’ll be back before school tomorrow.” Lance huffs. “And remember - I’m sleeping over at your house, Hunk.” He winks. “Bye!”
“Please be careful!” Hunks calls after him as he slides out the window.
“Bring me pictures!” Pidge hollers after him.
Lance grins, slinging his bag over his shoulder and heading toward the setting sun.
***
There are rumors of a place far beyond our borders — a place devoid of light and color and beauty. I have only heard of it twice, in hushed conversations and fearful whispers behind closed doors. Those who know of it call it the Monochrome, or the other side of the Rainbow.
It is said to be a place where the evil are cast out, but there is no evidence of this. I have looked extensively into our justice system, and there is no sign of anyone ever coming close to sending people there. It would be considered inhumane in our leader’s eyes.
Although many people seem to be afraid of it, I have not heard of any threats or worrying behaviour from the Monochrome and its people. As the devout scientist and explorer I claim to be, it is my duty to not only find this place, but learn everything I can about it and its people.
Wish me luck.
— Dr. C. Wimbleton-Smythe, Over the Rainbow
***
As the light faded from the sky, drained from vivid golds and pinks and oranges and replaced with silver and gold and navy of the richest kind, Lance found himself venturing farther from the city than he had ever been before. It was thrilling, but he couldn’t decide if that was a good feeling or not. He knew his mother was going to kill him if she caught wind of what he was doing, but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.
He wasn’t paying much attention to the things around him. Or he didn’t until he realized that the colors of the sky were duller than they had been minutes ago. Upon closer inspection, he realizes that the color around him was fading. Muting itself. He looked down at his own skin, at his own clothes, and felt oddly out of place. He seemed a little too bright, a little too intense for this place.
Lance stops in a clearing in the trees, looking around. The ground drained from a muted green to a dull, drab grey. It bled into the trees, into the sky, into the land that stretched for miles before him. It doesn’t even occur to Lance to take the pictures Pidge wanted.
The color was gone, replaced with shades of grey and blacks and whites. Lance pulls out the journal he’d been given by the library, grinning and leafing through to the bookmark he’d left.
“The Monochrome.” He breathes, his fingers brushing over the yellowing pages.
“What are you doing here?”
The journal snaps shut between Lance’s hands and he jumps, whirling around to look at… a boy.
Well, not exactly a boy, he looked to be about Lance’s age. But that was where the resemblance stopped.
He was shorter than Lance, his arms crossed over his chest and his brow furrowed. His stance was defensive, his lips turned downward in a scowl. He looked angry, but that’s not why Lance found that he couldn’t breathe.
This boy was breathtaking in a way that Lance had never seen before. His skin was pale and unblemished, almost glowing in the dim moonlight. His hair was the color of ink, looping around his face in soft waves that brushed against sharp cheekbones.
Lance couldn’t quite make out the color of his eyes. He guessed they were some form of grey, because they were softer than the rest of his features, however wary and angry they were.
“Uh…” He chokes, after he remembers to breathe. What did he say to someone who looked so different yet also made Lance’s heart thump hard in his chest?
“What,” the boy repeats, stepping closer toward Lance. “Are you doing here?”
“I’m exploring.” Lance declares after he’d gathered his wits about him. “I read about this place in a book - I thought it wasn’t real! But, wow, look- it is! You’re real! Wait till Pidge hears about this, she’s gonna be so psyched! Can I take your picture?”
The Monochrome boy gives him an incredulous look, some of the defensiveness draining from his posture. “Excuse me?”
Lance grins, then extends a hand. “Hi, I’m Lance. I’m a big fan.”
His eyes flick from Lance’s hand to his face, uncertainty flickering across his face. He takes a step forward after a while, reaching forward and taking his hand.
The Monochrome boys touch is… well, normal. Lance wasn’t quite sure what he had been expecting. Cold? Calluses, maybe? Anything but the soft, warm grip that slid into his own, shaking his hand firmly. It’s gone as soon as it had come.
“Uh… Keith. I’m Keith.” He - Keith - says, the wariness giving way to confused curiosity. “What… are you doing here?”
“Exploring.” He says, holding the journal aloft. “So you guys aren’t a myth. There’s more than one of you, right?”
The apprehension is back. Keith edges away, picking at the hem of his shirt. “Why do you wanna know?” He asks, his expression pinched. “You aren’t a spy, are you?”
“What?” He blinks, looking down at his vibrantly colored self. “No! Besides, if I was, I would be the worst spy in the world. I don’t fit in here at all.”
Keith relaxes again, smiling faintly. How Lance — or anyone, for that matter — could have thought these people were cold and threatening was beyond him. Keith had the nicest smile he’d ever seen.
“No,” the Monochrome boy concedes. “I guess you don’t.”
The two of them stand in awkward silence for a moment before Keith clears his throat. “Well. It was nice to meet you, Lance, but I should…”
“Can I come back?” Lance interrupts, blushing faintly. “I mean… I know it’s probably weird I’m here. But nobody knows you exist! Or… I don’t think that anyone does.”
Keith smiles faintly, tilting his head to the side. “Why are you so interested in my people?”
Lance thinks about this a moment, brushing his fingers over the old, leather bound book that had taken him this far and brought him to Keith. He wasn’t quite sure why he’d come, let alone why he was so interested. There was just something about Dr. Wimbleton-Smythe’s genuine curiosity that had resonated with Lance.
He wanted to prove that these people were worth knowing about. Nobody deserved to be a long-forgotten myth. Especially not when they still existed.
So he answers honestly. “I’m not sure yet. But I’d like to find out.”
This makes Keith give him a wide, crooked smile. Lance finds he’d like to document that smile. “Okay.” The Monochrome boy agrees. “You can come back.”
“Thank you.” Lance breathes. “I can’t- thank you. Tomorrow? Here?”
“Tomorrow,” Keith agrees, tucking his ebony hair behind his ear, a hint of that smile tugging at his lips. “Here.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” Lance grins. “Bye, Keith.”
“Goodbye, Lance.”
***
I have reached the part where our two worlds collide. The color has faded, like something has sucked the vibrancy away from this stretch of land. At first I thought it may be sick, but upon closer inspection, the foliage seems to be in peak condition.
This is a phenomenon that I have never seen before, and I can only hope to meet someone from this land who may explain it to me. That said, I have decided to stay on the edge of this land, in case these people are as hostile as they have been proclaimed to be.
I am optimistic and hopeful toward the future of my research and adventures.
— Dr. C. Wimbleton-Smythe, Over the Rainbow
***
“Pics or it didn’t happen,” Pidge scoffs the next day at school, leaning back in her seat and munching on her sandwich. It was one of the rare times she wasn’t typing away at her screen.
“I told you,” Lance groans. “I forgot! Plus he didn’t seem like the type who would’ve wanted his picture taken. I was being respectful!”
“It was safe though, right?” Hunk worries, not even blinking when Pidge reaches over and takes a handful of his chips. “He didn’t seem… I dunno, aggressive?”
“What? No! No, he was… Well, I mean, he was worried at first. But he was nice!”
“Did he seriously not have any color?” Pidge leans forward, her hazel eyes intense. “Like - just black and white? Like one of those weird pictures they keep in the museums?”
“Weird… pictures? Museum?” Lance blinks.
Pidge nods, pulling back and giving him a bored look. “Yeah, like the ones nobody goes to anymore? They have this weird section with black and white pictures.”
Weird pictures. Weird black and white pictures. As far as he knew, the cameras here had never been black and white. Maybe… maybe-
“Pidge, I need you to take me to the museum. Right now.”
“Now?” She asks incredulously. “Right now? In the middle of lunch?”
“In the middle of school?” Hunk yelps.
“Yes!” Lance springs out of his chair, packing up his bag haphazardly. “Right now, I have to go!”
“This journal is making you crazy.” Hunk says warily. Pidge only heaves a frustrated sigh, grudgingly packing her own bags. “Fine. But if I fail chemistry, it’s all your fault.”
“I can live with that. Now come on!”
***
The museum desk clerk looked bored out of her mind when she gave them their passes. “The exhibit is that way.” She points, popping her gum and tossing her bright pink hair over her shoulder. “Have a wonderful day.”
“Come on!” Lance walks as fast as he could, his long legs eating up the ground under him and basically leaving his friends behind. Which seemed to be fine with them; they were going to explore other places of the near-empty museum.
Sure enough, the black and white exhibit was tiny, but it was there. And right before the hall, there was a massive portrait and a plaque that read; This Exhibit was Founded by the Research of Doctor Coran Wimbleton-Smythe.
The man was a regal, expressive creature, with wild orange hair and an impressive mustache. He had a wide smile, mirth and wisdom twinkling in his blue eyes. He looked like he had seen the world and found beauty in all of it. Even in the Monochrome.
A thrill runs through Lance. He wanted to be just like Dr. Wimbleton-Smythe.
With a reverent, hopeful breath, Lance walks into the room that had long since been forgotten and looked over.
The walls held big black and white pictures, full of life despite the colorlessness. Coran seemed to be in every single one of them, vibrant still despite the lack of pigment. He had his arm thrown around a beautiful woman in one, his head thrown back in laughter, a drink in one hand. The woman was grinning, staring off just past where the camera was aimed. The plaque on the bottom read Midsummer Festival, circa 20XX.
The next picture was of a family, drawn close together, arms around one another. The mother was cradling a baby. At first glance, they seemed somber, but Lance had seen that expression on Keith, and somehow he knew that these people simply took everything seriously.
The room was filled with similar pictures. There were weddings, celebrations, funerals, or simply people going about their day to day lives. Dr. Wimbleton-Smythe had taken these people and painted them in the same light as the ones from Rainbow City. They weren’t different at all.
***
The people here are more lovely than anyone I have ever seen in even that of my own home. I find their lack of color to be more appealing than that of my own people. Their beauty is not found surface deep, but instead found in the kind way they treat each other and the loyalty that holds their society together.
I have found that the people in my own home, while they may be derived from heavenly color themselves, are vain and condescending toward that which they do not understand. And, as such, I have found that they do not understand the people of Monochrome.
There is such a deeply rooted fear of the unknown in my people. It closes their minds and hearts, poisoning their reasoning and clouding their judgement. I wish they would only get to know the lovely people in these towns to love them just as dearly as I do.
Dr. C. Wimbleton-Smythe, Over the Rainbow
***
“There’s a museum exhibit with pictures of your people.”
Keith looks up, surprise writ on his face.
They were sitting under a tree, the only one standing on the in-between. Keith had suggested they do it, after Lance had revealed he’d brought snacks and the Monochrome boy had admitted to never having tried the things Lance had brought.
“There is?”
Lance nods, giving him a small smile. “It isn’t very big, but… It’s there. Dr. Wimbleton-Smythe instated it a really long time ago. I guess nobody has bothered to take it down.”
Keith blinks, then tilts his head to the side. “How do you know about him?”
“Oh!” Lance turns, pulling the journal out of his backpack. “The librarian gave this to me after I read all of the books in the library.”
Keith snorts. “You read all of the books in the library?”
Lance smiles sheepishly, turning to hand him the book. “Yeah. I was a pretty hyperactive kid. It was that or get into more trouble than it was worth.”
The Monochrome boy chuckles, shaking his head and looking down at the book. A bit of hair falls into his face, and Lance has the urge to push it away from his face. He’d always been an impulsive boy.
Keith looks up when Lance’s fingers brush over his cheek and ear, his eyes wide and his gaze slightly awed. For a moment, they stare at each other, unable or unwilling to break eye contact.
But then Lance pulls his hand back, a brilliant red blooming over his cheeks. “Sorry.” He says quietly, glancing away from Keith.
He only looks up when a thumb brushes over his cheek. Lance jolts, surprised, and turns to see Keith with that same awed expression. It occurs to him then that Keith had probably never seen color — or at least not color as vivid as this before. So he leans into the boy’s touch, letting him trace over the slowly fading blush.
“Why aren’t you scared of me?” Keith whispers, looking up at Lance, his gaze troubled. Upon closer inspection, Lance realizes that his eyes are a muted purple, like some sort of smoky amethyst.
“Should I be scared?” Lance asks, just as quietly.
He gets a smile and a little shake of the head before Keith is pulling his hand away. Lance wants to pull him back, hold his hand there. But he doesn’t, instead watching as porcelain fingers brush over yellowed pages.
“I can’t read this.” He admits after a moment, looking up at Lance. “I don’t read this language.”
Lance laughs, taking it back. “Do you want me to read it to you?”
His heart flutters when he gets that crooked, happy grin for the second time. “Yes, please.”
***
I have fallen in love.
It isn’t with a woman, or a man, or anyone in between. No, I have fallen in love with this culture and harmony. These people feel like home. It hurts me to think that I have to go back to Rainbow City, but I also feel at peace with my decision.
The people who raised me need to know who these lovely, monochromatic people are. They need to hear from one of their own that these are not people who need to be feared, let alone casted out for the way they were created. I — we — owe it to this beautiful group of people to understand.
I have fallen in love. Irreversibly, irrevocably in love.
— Dr. C. Wimbleton-Smythe, Over the Rainbow
***
The sixth time Lance visits, Keith falls asleep against his chest.
Lance was reading to him, the sun still in the sky. Keith had settled under his arm to see the diagrams and sketches that filled the empty spots in the pages. Somewhere along the way, his eyes had grown heavy and he had fallen asleep against the boy from Rainbow City.
He hadn’t noticed, not at first. But when Keith stopped asking questions or making Lance pause a moment so he could study the sketches, he trailed off and looked down.
The Monochrome boy had his cheek pressed against Lance’s collarbone. His thick eyelashes brushed over his cheekbones, his lips parted as he breathes, soft and even. His hand was curled, his knuckles pressed against his cheek and holding on loosely to the sweatshirt Lance had thrown on.
He was lovely.
Lance could see where the Doctor had been coming from. Then again, he had seen it since the first time he’d bumped into Keith. And to think, before this journal, Lance hadn’t even known that someone as beautiful as the boy on his chest had existed.
He brushes a hand through inky locks, not daring to move an inch in case he disturbed Keith.
And after his foot fell asleep and the chill from the setting sun started to creep from the floor into his bones, Lance realized he might just be a little bit in love.
***
“My mom wants to meet you.”
Lance looks up from divvying out the fruit he’d brought, his eyes wide. “I… Excuse me?”
Keith looks away, rubbing his cheek in a gesture Lance had come to realize meant that Keith was being shy. “She… I’ve been talking about you, and… she wants to meet you.”
“You talk about me?” Lance squeaks, not quite able to compute. Keith talked about him! He could sing praises to the heavens, run a thousand laps around the city fountains, die happy in this exact moment.
And then he realized just what Keith had said, and his elation turns to slight fear.
“Your… mom wants to meet me.” He repeats, after Keith nudges him with a worried call of his name. He must’ve been unresponsive.
“Yes,” the Monochrome boy nods, biting his lip.
“When?” He asks, his voice faint.
“Um…” Keith smiles, shy. “Today? She said I could invite you to dinner. So.. want to come to dinner?”
Lance stares at him, his eyes wide. The silence drags for a long, terrible minute, before Keith pulls away, his face falling. “Unless you don’t want to, that’s okay- I get it. I’m- I’m me, and… that’s okay.”
“No!” Lance reaches over, taking his hands, shaking his head quickly. Oh, heavens, stars almighty, he was an idiot. “No. I’m sorry, I just- you caught me off guard. Of course I want to come to dinner. Thank you for inviting me.”
The Monochrome boy looks down at their hands, then back up at him, his smile hesitant. “Yeah?” He whispers, squeezing Lance’s fingers hopefully.
“Yeah.” Lance whispers back, taking a chance and leaning forward, pressing a soft kiss to this beautiful boy’s flawless forehead.
***
Krolia Kogane was the single most terrifying woman on this side of the border, Lance had come to realize.
He and Keith had made the trek into town, past a few dozen curious faces and polite smiles (he was certain he’d be met with hostile stares and terrified mothers pulling their children away. That’s what Keith would have been greeted with). They’d walked through the town, right to what seemed to be the biggest house in the whole place.
Standing in the doorway was Krolia Kogane, cutting an imposing figure as her son lead a Rainbow City boy up to her and into her house. And now she was sitting across from him at their kitchen table, her gaze inscrutable.
“So,” she starts, and he snaps to attention. “Keith tells me you’ve been visiting him.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lance replies hastily, then clears his throat and adds, “He’s very nice.”
Krolia gives him the slightest of smiles. One of Keith’s smiles. “He is, isn’t he?” She looks toward the stairs, where Keith had disappeared to get one thing or another. She turns her gaze back to him, then sighs. “I don’t know what you know of our history, Lance, but the Rainbow folk haven’t exactly been the most friendly.”
“Yes, ma’am. I… I know a little of it.” Lance nods solemnly. He hesitates a minute, then lifts his gaze to hers. “I’m sorry.” He says softly. “I don’t want to hurt Keith in any way. I… I really like him.”
Keith’s mother studies him a moment, then smiles and sits back. “You look at him the way my husband used to look at me.”
And again that bright red blooms over his cheeks, warmth settling in his chest. He looks toward the stairs. “I really like him.” He says again.
The three of them spend the evening making traditional dishes and swapping stories. Tonight was the first night Lance heard Keith laugh without restraint and the first night he wanted to pull him close and kiss him.
At the end of the night, he gets that chance. They’re lingering on the border, standing in their perfect little in-between. Keith is stalling, dragging out their goodbyes with soft thank yous and his fingers twined around Lance’s.
When there’s a breath of silence, a moment with their eyes locked and the silence heavy around them, Lance leans forward.
Keith’s lips are soft and gentle, his breath stalling between them as his brain catches up with his body. His arms reach up, wrap around Lance’s neck. Lance puts a hand on the small of his back, pulling him against his chest and kissing him like it was the only thing in the world he wanted to do. Because, in all reality, it was.
They part with the promise to see eachother again the following night. And the one after that. And the one after that.
When Lance leaves, all the colors around him seems dull without Keith by his side.
***
“I think I’m in love with him.” Lance says one afternoon, when all of his friends are hanging out in his room.
Hunk looks up, surprise flickering over his face. Pidge’s typing stops.
“What?” His best friends echo, almost in sync with one another.
“You haven’t even known him that long,” Hunk protests.
“We haven’t even met the guy!” Pidge huffs.
Lance rolls over on his bed, blinking at them. “Do you want to meet him?” He asks.
That night, Lance asks Keith if he wants to meet them.
“Will they like me?” Keith asks, worried as he looks up at Lance. They’re curled up in Keith’s bed, back to their usual reading sessions (or, rather, Keith’s daily naptime before dinner).
“Of course they will.” Lance smiles, smoothing his hair down and kissing his forehead. “I like you. They’re bound to like you — we have similar interests.”
“Okay,” Keith concedes after a moment of long and hard thought, snuggling back in. “Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
***
It wasn’t going well. Keith was flighty and nervous the moment he saw that there was three of them. He flinched when Lance took his hand, apologizing softly when he sees the concern on the Rainbow Citizens face.
Hunk was anxious as all get out; he had done some research himself, but of course he hadn’t borrowed the journal from Lance. All of the feedback he got painted Keith — sweet, soft, beautiful Keith — out to be a cold hearted monster.
Pidge had her own suspicions. This was displayed after tense introductions when she leaned over to Hunk and murmured, “He looks like a ghost.”
They hadn’t seen it, but Lance had seen his Monochrome boy crumble. He had felt fingers tighten on his own, heard the soft exhale.
“Pidge,” Lance says, aghast. “He can hear you.”
She has the decency to look sheepish. “Sorry.”
After an hour of agonizing small talk and mediating from Lance, he’d given up and told the group he was getting tired and that they should probably head home. But once they’d started off, he hung back.
Keith holds it together for a few minutes after they’re out of sight. But then his lip starts to tremble and his fingers twitch.
“Oh, Keith,” Lance breathes, pulling him against his chest, just in time to catch a weak sob against his shirt.
“I’m sorry.” He gasps wetly. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, no. It isn’t your fault. You haven’t done anything wrong. I forgot… just how much my society has been taught to pretend yours doesn’t exist.”
He feels Keith try to form words, and he feels his heart break when all he comes up with is another sob. So he holds him, until the tears are dried and he can kiss those trembling lips.
“I want to take you to my parents.” He whispers, stroking his cheek, brushing away the tears. Keith looks up at him, smoky eyes wide and dewy. “I want to show the world — my world — just how much I love you.”
“You do?” Keith asks, and smiles.
“I do.” He tilts his head up, pressing his lips against his forehead and lingering there.
“Tomorrow?” Keith whispers.
Lance smiles against his skin and nods. Tomorrow.
***
A life well spent is, in my eyes, one spent devoted to easing the suffering of others. I believe I have had a good life. A wonderful life, even. Though I was unable to change the minds of many people, those who listened made a great difference, and I hope that one day, it may change this world for the better.
My life as I have known is nearly over. My bones are fragile, my health even more so. The rest of my life may be spent in a bed, but I am surrounded by loved ones and filled with happiness.
I hope that you, my dear reader, have gained something from listening to the ramblings of an old man. I hope that your life is filled with as much wonder and beauty as I was able to find. I wish you well, in your studies and your happiness.
Dr. Coran Wimbleton-Smythe, Over the Rainbow
***
The walk through town stops many people, gathers much attention, earns stares and murmurs from people who happened upon them. But Lance walked proudly, Keith at his side. And Keith was glowing, hardly paying attention to the people around him as he took in all of the color with childish wonderment.
“It’s so beautiful,” He had said in hushed tones the moment they entered the city.
“Not as beautiful as you,” Lance had answered.
Now they were stepping into his house, into Lance’s life. With his many brothers and sisters, with his mother cooking dinner at the stove, with the house full of the memories he’d carried with him for his entire life.
“Lance! Where have you been? I need you to come help with dinner, Veronica is-” His mother rounds the corner, then stops, her eyes falling on Keith.
Lance steps forward, Keith’s hand in his. “Mom,” He says, with a voice that promised them both an eternity of tomorrows and an abundance of love. “This is Keith.”
Daily reminder that I’m constantly blown away by the sheer amount of talent and positivity in this fandom and how kind it’s been to me re: my own writing
You guys are all stars ⭐️
actually kinda funny to me that fanfiction is known as a hobby for cringe 13 year olds because personally over half of the fanfic authors i know are married 30 year olds with mediocre admin jobs they attend to inbetween posting chapters of their latest gay sex epic adventure
Somewhere along the way fanart become worth more than fanfic to fandom.
Artists have Patreon accounts where people pay real money to view their art early or to access special pictures like scraps or tutorials.
Whereas writers are expected to produce more and more, faster, for nothing in return. No one wants to see our “scraps” and writers who do provide Tips and Tricks often get crap for “policing” how people write.
And it falls into the prevailing notion that somehow writing is something easy, something anyone can do.
This isn’t an attack on fanartists. You deserve to receive some sort of compensation and accolades for your work. And so do fanauthors.
Writing fic is hard work. Yes, anyone can type out a story, same as anyone can pick up a pencil to draw, but what makes the difference, what makes a good piece is the experience and talent of an author. It’s all the stories no one saw, it’s all the writing books we’ve read, it’s the classes we have attended, all rolled into a package that works weeks, months, years to bring the fandom their fic. Yes we write for ourselves but we also write to contribute to fandom - just like artists do.
We’re just the same - artists and authors - and we deserve the same respect for our work.
Hello! I am back! Sort of. Well, I updated State of Broken Things so I guess that means I’m back??
You can find chapter three here
Tell me what you think!
I missed you guys
Aoede: favourite music genre, artist and lyric?
Asteroid: thoughts on rocks and gems?
Aurora: do colours have meanings for you? what is your favourite colour and why?
Bestla: do you have a favourite norce god?
Comet: do you have any allergies?
Celestial: favourite celestial object?
Constellation: what is your zodiac sign and birthstone?
Eclipse: if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Extra Terrestrial: do you believe in aliens?
Gravity: what makes you happy when you’re feeling down?
Light Year: if you could travel to one place in time, where would you go and why?
Lunar: favourite word for or way of describing the moon?
Meteor: what’s something your passionate about that makes you light up?
Milky Way: you’re one in a billion! who is one in a billion in your life?
Nebula: do you like clouds? cloud watching?
Nova: what’s something new you want to try?
Orbit: who are the closest people in your life?
Red Dwarf: do you think stars are cool!?
Phobos: something you are afraid off?
Satellite: what do you surround yourself with that brings you joy?
Solar: what is your favourite way to get cozy and warm?
Supernova: do you like hot weather?
Shooting Star: if you had one wish, what would you wish for?
Triton: planets have cores, what is at your core?
Yellow Dwarf: bright white or soft white lighting?
Zenith: look directly above you, what do you see?
Shallura request: medieval au where Knight Shiro is hurt and Good Witch Allura heals him. The are rumors that Allura "bewitched" him into servitude. (Really Shiro just likes running her errands. The smile she gives him is worth all of the gossip.)
Thank you for making me practice my Shallura writing! I hope you like it!
***
Shiro had known of the dangers he was going to face when he signed up to be a knight. Well, not so much signed up than went through all the training and quests to get the title - but you get the point. He had also especially known that the quest he was going on was a death mission, one meant to save his kingdom but not himself.
When Shiro had stared into the maw of the hulking, enraged dragon, he knew his end had come. Even with his longsword driven straight through its heart, the magnificent creature was still fighting with the last bit if energy it had left. It went down with a piercing scream and Shiro’s right arm.
The knight only lay in the dirt a few moments. But he knew that his time had come; his arm was severed and he was bleeding more severely than he had ever known any man to survive. His world went dark and he didn’t expect to live.
Looking back on it now, Shiro found that he had been quite silly to think that Allura, both his keeper and his lover, had been an angel. Those who had seen her surely thought so, and he would claim her healing powers were close enough. But Allura was simply a humble witch who practiced healing in her spare time.
She had given him his life back - quite literally - and was even working on trying to create an arm for him. He was very flattered (and also worried; the townspeople were known for riots and general misbehavior), but told her every day that he was content enough to be in her presence.
The looks the people gave him when he went on errands with her were definitely reproachful and wary. It made his stomach hurt to think that they might try to harm his lovely Allura.
***
“The people are lively today.” Shiro comments dryly, after the second person had thrown some sort of nasty comment their way. They always consisted of accusations that Shiro had been enchanted by her wicked charms and kept for her own desire.
“Don’t mind them, dearest.” Allura responds airily, tossing her silver tresses over her shoulder and giving him a fond smile.
Her smile always brought him down to the present. Shiro always found himself relaxing whenever one was shot his way. But today, anxiety and worry clouded his emotion.
“I just wish they would stop and think for a moment.” He murmurs, taking her hand in his.
The witch glances over at him, her sparkling eyes amused. “Yes, well. We can’t always get what we want, darling.”
“I know.” Shiro sighs, letting go of her hand as they approach their cozy little house. It was simple, nothing like the castle he had practically been born into, but it was definitely home to him. Allura’s presence was everywhere - in the herbs drying and hanging from the rafters, in the little stones scattered in odd places, in the many pots and vials she used for simple tonics and potions.
He found that this little hovel gave him the calm and happiness he had never known could exist, especially with another person. It was well worth all the looks and nasty comments if he could come home to this every day.
Allura slips off her shoes, closing the door behind them and casting a simple spell to ward off the hateful people of the village. “Are you hungry?”
Shiro forgoes his answer for tugging her back toward him and whirling her around. He smiles at her wide-eyed surprise, tilting her head up and pressing a kiss to her parted lips. Allura squeaks, but after his actions catch up with her, she winds her arms around his neck and returns the kiss.
“That doesn’t answer my question.” She breathes once they had parted, eliciting a laugh from the former knight.
“When am I not hungry?’ He teases. The witch rolls her eyes, gently extracting herself from his grip and kissing his knuckles.
“I know,” she murmurs. “You are like a hollow pit.”
“Or maybe I just love your cooking.” He grins, watching as she walks away. He takes in her silvery hair, her beautiful curves. The dirt on her feet, the threadbare dress she wore. She would look lovely in jewels, Shiro thinks wistfully. If only he could give that to her.
As he’s considering all the possible ways to give her some precious jewels (legally, mind you), Allura looks over at him with a smile. “Well?” She asks. “Aren’t you going to help me?”
“Yes, dear.” Shiro coos, crossing the threshold to help his beloved.
Sure, being a knight had been his life’s dream. But being the local witch’s lover? Now that was something he hadn’t ever seen coming. Nor would he give it up for the world.
Requests are still open!
Air Shiro is back in action!!
BLACK LIVES MATTER. FREE PALESTINE. reny | 24 | sometimes a writer | they/she | brown eyed sevika supremacy
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