"I really can't stay," Lance said, looking out the window as he tugged on his coat.

"Baby, it's cold outside," Keith replied from his seat on the sofa.

"I gotta go away." The blue-eyed boy told his boyfriend sternly. It was getting bad out.

"Baby, it's cold outside," Keith said again, stretching his arms up. Lance watched his sweater ride up and gulped.

Steeling himself, he turned away. "This evening has been..." he trailed off, looking for the right word.

"Been hoping that you'd dropped in," Keith informed Lance, getting up and walking towards him.

"So very nice," Lance finished.

"I'll hold your hands they're just like ice," Keith said softly, intertwining their fingers together.

"My mother will start to worry." That was true- Lance's mother was terrifying when angered.

"Beautiful, what's your hurry?" Keith kissed the back of Lance's hand.

"My father will be pacing the floor." Lance could practically hear his father lecturing him about safe driving in the winter.

"Listen to the fireplace roar," Keith replied, gesturing to the fireplace. It did look nice.

Lance turned away, chiding himself. "So really I'd better scurry."

"Beautiful, please don't hurry." Lance melted a little bit at the pet name.

"Well, maybe just a half a drink more," he admitted, and Keith dashed to the small table where whiskey and a few glasses stood.

"I'll put some records on while I pour," Keith informed Lance happily.

"The neighbors might think..." Lance started nervously. He didn't want Shiro getting the wrong impression- he lived in the apartment next to Keith's.

"Baby, it's bad out there," Keith reminded him, concerned, as he looked out the window at the heavy snowstorm. He handed Lance a glass of whiskey and Lance sniffed at it tentatively.

 "Say what's in this drink?" He asked, wrinkling his nose. 

"No cabs to be had out there," Keith pointed out absentmindedly, stroking Lance's cheek with the pad of his thumb. 

Lance sighed, eyes wide, "I wish I knew how..." 

"Your eyes are like starlight now," Keith whispered, smiling shyly.

Lance grinned, pulling away as his cheeks grew warm. "To break this spell," he concluded, looking pointedly at Keith as he pulled on his beanie. 

"I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell," Keith grinned as he pulled the beanie off again. 

Lance rolled his eyes, laughing a little and smoothing down his hair. "I ought to say no, no, no sir," he told Keith, poking his chest with every 'no'. 

"Mind if move in closer?" Keith replied, putting his hands lightly on Lance's waist and pulling towards him until their noses touched. 

Lance let his eyelashes flutter shut. "At least I'm gonna say that I tried," he sighed, letting his forehead fall against Keith's.

"What's the sense of hurtin' my pride?" Keith asked, smiling again. 

Lance came to his senses again and pulled away, searching for his coat while saying sternly, "I really can't stay."

"Baby, don't hold out," Keith insisted, surreptitiously closing the closet door. 

"Baby, it's cold outside," they said together, eyes locked.

"I simply must go," Lance tried again, forgetting about his coat and heading towards the shoe rack.

But before he could get far, Keith grabbed his hand and pulled him back, whispering, "Baby, it's cold outside."

Lance kissed Keith's cheek but shook his head. "The answer is no," he said firmly. 

"But, baby, it's cold outside!" Keith pleaded. 

Lance laced his Adidas patiently, ignoring Keith as he stood beside him. "The welcome has been..." he searched for the right word, straightening. 

Keith threw his arms around Lance's neck, hugging him tightly and saying, "How lucky that you dropped in," his voice muffled.

Lance chuckled. "So nice and warm," he finished, hugging Keith back.

Keith pulled back, pouting adorably. He pointed at the windowpane again. "Look out the window at that storm!" he tried desperately. It wasn't safe to be driving.

"My sister will be suspicious," Lance said, remembering the last time he'd been with Keith a few minutes past when he'd said he'd be home and Veronica's doubtful glare at his excuses.

Keith placed a kiss on Lance's jaw, mumbling, "God, your lips look delicious."

"My brother will be there at the door," Lance told Keith dubiously, reminding him that Marco had Keith's address.

"Waves upon a tropical shore," Keith replied, which was a bit weird but Lance disregarded it, continuing with his family.

"My maiden aunt's mind is vicious." It was true- his mom's sister had once seen Lance playing with a girl at the playground and had immediately rushed over, asking Lance if he wanted to have her over for a playdate. 

Keith ignored him, reaching up to kiss Lance slowly. He tasted like candycanes.

"God, your lips are delicious," he told Lance bluntly, sinking back down onto flat feet. 

"Well, maybe just a cigarette more," Lance said sarcastically. Neither of them smoked.

"Never such a blizzard before!"

Lance huffed indignantly, "I've got to get home," he told Keith sternly, eyes hardening. 

"Baby, you'll freeze out there," Keith groaned, holding Lance's cold hands to his chest. 

Lance remembered that he needed a coat, but, as he looked around the living room of Keith's apartment and didn't see it, he turned to Keith. "Say, lend me a coat?"

Keith shook his head wildly. A coat wouldn't help Lance out there- "It's up to your knees out there!"

"You've really been grand." Lance decided to just go without a coat. 

"I feel when I touch your hand," Keith said as he still held Lance's fingers to his chest.

"But don't you see?" Lance asked incredulously, about to give Keith a piece of his mind, but the drama queen interrupted.

Faux-wounded, Keith clutched his heart. "How can you do this thing to me?" He asked.

"There's bound to be talk tomorrow," Lance said sourly, thinking of how much Hunk and Pidge would pester him.

"Think of my life-long sorrow!" Keith continued with his antics.

"At least, there will be plenty implied," Lance sighed, shaking his head. 

"If you caught pneumonia and died!" Keith howled. 

"I really can't stay," Lance said one more time, but he felt his will dwindling. A night with Keith, curled up by the fire with soft kisses and dancing to Christmas music and falling asleep under the same blanket, sounded nice, he had to admit. 

"Get over that old out," Keith said, blowing a lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes off his face. 

Lance paused, then, finally, gave in. He smiled playfully at Keith and they said in unison, "Baby, it's cold outside."