Chapter Text
‘Local desserts…’ Liliana mused as they walked through the dusk lit city streets, Lance occasionally getting waylaid by well wishers and gratitudes. ‘First question. Do you prefer hot or cold?’
‘I don’t mind either, really.’ Lance waved off the little boys who had had him sign their soccer ball.
‘Okay, what about fruity desserts? Or something simple?’
‘I don’t mind something simple, like ice cream, though maybe non-alcoholic. Gotta set a good example.’ He winked and Liliana couldn’t help giggling.
‘Do you like coffee?’
‘I love coffee.’ Lance leant towards her, his eyes sparkling like she had just started speaking his language.
‘Then I think I have the dessert for you.’
‘Is it Tiramisu? Because I do like it, but it doesn’t like me, for some reason.’ He screwed up his nose at the reaction that had had him trapped in the Garrison bathroom for a few hours the first and only time he had tried it.
‘Simpler. And I hope it won’t have any adverse effect on you.’
‘I handled space goo for a stupidly long time, I think my stomach has steeled itself now.’ He couldn’t help but flex slightly, realising he might have talked himself down by even alluding to his prior gastric distress and wanted to talk himself up again. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘A simple affogato.’
Ten minutes later, Lance found himself seated outside a small cafe with a pretty stemmed bowl filled with vanilla gelato, and a cup of steaming hot espresso. ‘This is really how they do it? You swear? Because I don’t want to make an ass out of myself with the locals.’
‘I promise you.’ Liliana poured the espresso over her gelato first, to show him she wasn’t leading him astray. ‘Affogato literally translates as “to drown”, the melding of two after dinner classics. The hot, the cold, the bitter, the sweet, the contrast of colours. It’s incredibly popular.’
‘Well, you didn’t steer me wrong this far.’ He took a small breath before pouring the coffee on top, watching the edges of the gelato melt into the dark liquid. ‘Here goes nothing.’ He muttered, before taking a spoon of both and bringing it to his lips. He had to admit, the scent of creamy coffee had his already full stomach rumble in anticipation, not to mention his tastebuds salivating in preparation. Yup. She was right again. He closed his eyes and moaned softly, the combination of the flavours playing over his tongue in a new yet familiar way. When he opened his eyes again he found Liliana looking at him in gentle wonder, her own spoon still sitting in her dessert as she watched him enjoy the dish.
‘This is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.’ Lance spoke around the food that remained and immediately shovelled another bite in, the gelato melting on his tongue rapidly as the coffee acted as a caffeinated chaser.
‘If affogato is the best thing you ever put in your mouth, I’m telling Hunk, because he will be insulted six ways til Sunday.’
Pidge’s voice made Lance choked down the bite he held before he turned to see both her and Keith returning from their date, their clothes worse for wear than when they left, a picnic basket in Keith’s hand that didn’t hold hers, and their hair stood out at all angles.
‘Don’t tell Hunk I said that.’ Lance frowned at her. ‘You know he’s a top shelf chef but have you ever tried this?’
Pidge laughed. ‘Lance, I’m Italian, I grew up with affogato. Actually, I grew up stealing affogato because Mom didn’t want us to have caffeine and decaf is a dirty word in the Holt household.’
‘Decaf can have its place.’ Keith argued, and Lance couldn’t help but notice the soft look he gave her.
‘Yeah, and that place is the bottom of the trash can, according to my folks.’
‘So break tradition when you two have kids and let them have it with the banned drink.’ Lance waved his spoon between them before going in for another bite, meaning he missed both Keith and Pidge panicked expressions as his suggestion they have children.
‘I think that’s our cue. Enjoy your evening.’ Keith said rapidly and pulled Pidge away from the table.
‘Have a good evening.’ Liliana called after them, Pidge turning back with a small wave, before she gave Lance her attention again. Lance and her dessert, that is. ‘Do you think they’re serious enough to be considering children?’
‘Those two? Not right now, I don’t think. Or I hope not. Kinda fast if they are because they haven’t been together a week yet.’
‘That was what I thought too.’ Liliana dropped her chin onto her hand with her elbow on the table. ‘I was starting to think you knew something I didn’t.’
Lance looked up at her and away from his food, finding her expression thoughtful and incredibly cute, and he stumbled over his words. ‘Uh…I just know how long they’ve both been pining over one another. I guess the kids comment just slipped out.’
‘It happens.’ She shrugged. ‘I know there have been multiple occasions I’ve put my foot in my mouth without thinking.’
‘Happens to the best of us.’ Lance grinned as he finished the last of his affogato. ‘But enough about them, I gotta say that this is probably the best night of food and company I’ve had in a long time.’ He leaned back in his chair, one arm over the back in what he hoped was casual but maybe a little intriguing.
‘I agree, thank you for asking me.’ Her voice softened as she poked at her remaining gelato coffee mix, almost melted enough to be a drink alone. ‘Honestly, there hasn’t been a lot to celebrate since the arrival of the Galra, and you’re responsible for the fact we can sit here together now, enjoying peace and safety. So, thank you for that too.’
Her simple yet sincere statement touched Lance, and he sat up again, the mood more serious than he had anticipated, and his cheeks flushed, her words warming him. ‘I mean, yeah, but, we all played a part. It wasn’t just me and…yeah.’ He scratched the back of his neck and laughed nervously. ‘Can I ask something?’
‘Anything.’ Liliana leant forward, concerned by how serious he had suddenly become, wondering if she had soured the so far pleasant mood.
‘Because we’re not really here in our official capacity, do you mind if we don’t talk about that, like not as paladin and envoy. I’ve been having a great time, but as Lance. I don’t get to just be Lance so often since we got back to Earth.’
‘You have been incredibly busy, it’s understandable you would want to enjoy being yourself and just relaxing instead of posturing constantly in front of officials.’
Lance let out a small sigh. ‘That’s it, exactly. I don’t mind showing up as the multiple galaxy saving hero, waving and smiling for everyone, but I’m just a boy from Cuba who got a lucky break that led to something bigger than…well, anything any of us could have imagined. And sometimes that boy from Cuba just wants a nice meal with a nice girl and a little peace and quiet.’
Liliana’s heart clenched at his admission, giving him a warm smile. ‘If it helps you, if I can be that girl, then I’m happy to oblige any time.’
‘You might regret that.’ He laughed. ‘I can be pretty needy.’
She smiled confidently. ‘I think I can handle you.’
‘I bet you can.’ Lance murmured, then cleared his throat, realising that might have been a little forward or, well, weird of him. ‘Do you want to do something after this?’
Liliana was surprised by his question. She wasn’t sure what else there was they could do now they had eaten. ‘If we can come up with something, sure. Did you have something in mind?’
As was the case most of the time, Lance did, in fact, have nothing on his mind.