[ lance is having a harder time understanding than one would think. it isn't as if the concept of wanting a simple birthday, of desiring simpler pleasures is something completely uncommon to him. true, he tends to prefer to be the center of attention, but he'd feel just as good knowing someone's even thinking of him, let alone making a big deal of it.

it's just that he'd worked it up so much in his head. built it up to be this giant thing for over a month now, wanting so desperately to make it perfect that he... completely forgets all the things that would make it perfect for keith. quiet. lowkey. simple.

and here he'd gone, wasting the entire day away scrambling for something that keith maybe appreciates, but definitely didn't even consider wanting until maybe just now. ]

I'll tell you what. Don't worry about any of this—

[ he takes both the sheath and the knit hat from between them, yes even the weird meat cupcake. those things he sets aside, on the ground by their feet. whether or not keith even wants them... it's fine. this day's about him.

lance retakes keith's hands in his, drawing them up to press a kiss over the back of both. ]

There's like five hours left in the day, right? We'll spend it doing whatever you want, just the two of us.

[ a thoughtful pause. ]

Or I can get completely out of your hair. [ he's self-aware enough to know that he's sort of capitalized a lot of keith's time... okay... ] Birthday boy's wish.