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Written on your skin

Chapter 3

Summary:

Keith finds direction in his life and Lance smiles more.

Notes:

LAST CHAPTER HOLY SHIT!

Happy new year! I hope you've enjoyed this ride!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Lance sprints across the hot concrete in bare feet until he reaches the cool grass. He hates running in his speedos, but he feels that if he didn’t his skin might burn right off. He breathes a sigh of relief when he finally reaches the shade where the rest of the swim team is sitting.

 

“You’re late.” Allura, his captain, doesn’t even look up from her clipboard.

“Sorry. My mom couldn’t find her shoes.” Lance reasons.

“Alright, but don’t think that just cuz youHOLY SHIT!” Allura’s mouth drops open. Her eyes quickly move up and down Lance’s exposed body, taking in the numerous bruises there.

“What on earth happened to you?” She holds up her hand to her mouth in a gasp.

“I-“

“Hunk have you seen this?” She doesn’t give Lance a chance to explain before she’s calling his best friend over. Hunk looks up from where he’s slathering sunscreen on to one of their younger members.

“Oh fuck” He breathes. He makes nervous eyes contact with the young boy in front of him.

“I mean… Oh… Oh dear, that looks real…” He leaves his post and scuttles towards Lance. He takes his jaw in his large hand and turns it so he can closer examine Lance’s black eye and bruised jaw.

“Dude, what the hell?”

“It’s no big deal.” Lance snaps and pulls out of Hunk’s hold. He looks over to see Allura’s concerned expression and how she grips her clipboard tightly. Her eyes keep darting to the bruises on his thighs.

“It’s nothing.” Lance softens. “I was just play fighting with Emile and he’s gotten a lot stronger than I thought. We were pirates… he had a big stick…” Lance sighs. “I’m fine. I promise I’m fine. Nothing hurts. I just wanna swim.”

Allura swallows any other questions she has and nods.

“Alright team! Get in the pool and warm up. You know the drill.”

 

Lance dives in and immediately feels his anxieties wash away with the water. The water fills his ears and blocks out any noise, including his own thoughts. It’s quiet. Swimming had always been a relaxing activity for Lance, even with the pressure of a race. He misses the mornings where he could run down to the beach to clear his head, but now all of his worries pile up throughout the week until they can be released on a glorious Saturday morning. He takes long, languid, strokes until he hits the opposite end. He pops up with a gasp and pauses to catch his breath. He leans his forehead against the cool tiles and breathes in the burning smell of chlorine.

 

“Hagpf!” He cries as something yanks him under by the ankle. He struggles before he’s wrapped in strong, tan arms.

 

Hunk pops them both up and spits a stream of water in his face.

“Hunk!” Lance splutters. His friend giggles.

“Stop brooding.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.” Hunk’s eyes narrow. He drops his voice so it just barely bounces off the surface of the water. “I know these bruises aren’t yours.” His tone is serious.

“You dunno.”

“Emile is all noodle. I know he can’t do this.” Hunk explains. A grin comes across his face. “Are you in love with a rowdy boy?”

Lance scoffs. He slips underwater and out of Hunk’s grip, then pops up just out of reach.

“My soul mate and I are both very sensitive and troubled people.” He dramatically points at his chest. Hunk snorts.

“Lance, you cried when you ran out of Pringles once. You’re not deep.”

 

Lance blinks at him several times before he pouts and crosses his arms.

“Maybe so.”

 

 

Days pass and the bruises fade. Keith stops tip-toeing around Shiro and it feels like his life returns to some sense of normalcy. He listens to his soul mate rant about skin care, and they talk about how they’ve never seen snow. His soul mate will openly tell him how much he likes him, and Keith learns to believe and accept his sweet words.

 

But he starts to feel that words are not enough. The absence, which at first had been a blessing for anxious and socially awkward Keith, now mocks him. His bed feels cold at night.

 

It’s a lazy Sunday and Keith is lounged across the sofa. Matt and Shiro are in the backyard and the smell of charcoal and grilled meat drifts through the back door. Keith doodles a palm tree on his thigh for his soul mate who says he misses his old home.

 

Looks like my old beach

 

Haha I just drew a basic palm tree

 

Well it’s good.

 

Thanks

 

No problem babe

 

Keith draws a couple of hearts around his soul mate’s message.

 

Hey I don’t want to freak you out

 

The tone of Keith’s afternoon rapidly shifts. He eyes the incoming message warily.

 

But have you thought about your plans after you graduate? Like will you go to university? Did any courses interest you? I realise that open day was pretty traumatic for you, but did you see anything interesting before it went bad?

 

Keith pulls his knees up to his chest. He really hasn’t thought about that much at all. That night had been such a whirlwind of emotions with his initial guilt and shame turning into feelings of intense love and gratefulness. He had barely remembered what was supposed to happen that day.

 

I honestly have no idea. I haven’t thought of it since.

 

Anything look interesting?

 

I dunno. I was always good at science and maths.

 

Do you like those areas?

 

Not really. They’re ok. I always got As

 

Have you thought about art at all?

 

Keith scoffs.

 

I’m not good enough for that

 

BABE! HOW DARE YOU!

 

Keith smiles and rolls his eyes.

 

You are absolutely good enough! Do you like drawing?

 

I dunno. I used to draw a lot. I love drawing for you. I never even considered it as a career

 

Why don’t you?

 

I saw the student’s work there. I don’t think I’m good enough. That’s ok! I’m just happy drawing simple stuff for you.

 

What if I prove you’re good enough?

 

Keith squints in confusion.

 

How would you do that?

 

It’s my birthday in 10 days. And I know what I want.

 

Keith beams. His birthday! He’s never been able to celebrate a birthday other than Shiro’s or Matt’s before. He wonders if his soul mate will have a big party, or a huge dinner with his whole family? Then Keith feels sad, knowing he won’t be able to do anything from where he is.

 

Oh you do, do you?

 

YEAH! So the day of my birthday I have a big swimming race

 

Uh huh

 

And I of course wear speedos.

 

Yeah… I’m picturing it now ;p

 

Good. I look amazing btw. But obviously they show a lot of skin

 

They would

 

So I want you to draw me a really cool art piece on my thigh for good luck. Like the greatest temporary tattoo ever.

 

Keith reads the message repeatedly. The sentiment is lovely, but the pressure is making his heart race. Everyone would see it. And it wouldn’t be spur of the moment art, it would have to be something he’s painstakingly planned and created just for his soul mate.

 

I couldn’t do that

 

Sure you could! For me? Please?

 

Keith feels his resolve weakening. How can he be so helpless for a boy he’s never met?

 

It’s my birthday remember :(

 

Keith crumbles.

 

What would you even want?

 

I dunno! Haha it’s a swim meet! Something with fish? OHH! Or a mermaid?

 

Ok ok

 

He can’t believe he’s actually going to attempt this.

 

Everyone will love it. I’ll prove it to you.

 

Tell me if you don’t like it so I can wash it off on my end.

 

Impossible. I know I’ll love it.

 

“God,” Keith falls back on the couch and smothers his face in a cushion.

 

 

Shiro comes home from work a few days later and finds Keith sitting at the kitchen table. There are pieces of paper all around him and pencil shavings dusted everywhere. Keith doesn’t even look up when Shiro approaches. Shiro assumes that he is studying for an upcoming test or exam, but instead sees drawings and various printed images of sea life. He skeptically raises an eyebrow as he looks over Keith’s shoulder. The younger boy is engrossed in his work, sketching a couple of loose drawings of mermaids and shells.

 

“Drawing?” Shiro asks. Keith jumps and loudly gasps. He throws his arm over his paper.

“Been a while since you’ve drawn anything.” Shiro leans back and crosses his arms. “What’s the occasion?”

“It’s for my soul mate’s birthday.” Keith mumbles. Shiro nods and picks up a piece of paper with one of Keith’s drawings on it.

“Shiro, no…” Keith whines.

“No no, it’s good, it’s cool.” He looks at the koi fish, before he picks up a paper with different types of coral and seaweed on it.

“What’s with all the marine life?”

“He’s a swimmer, and he loves the beach so…”

“Ah, I get it. So he’s turning 18 yeah?”

“Yeah,” Keith bows his head and begins to sketch some more.

“Alriiiight, legal.” Keith can hear the smirk in Shiro’s voice.

“Bro, stop.”

“Ok, ok.” He laughs.

 

Shiro takes a seat at the table and flicks through several of Keith’s discarded drawings. There’s a lot of fish, some plain, and some detailed like beautiful mandarin fish. There’s a few different species of sharks, and a decent amount of mermaids and mermen alike. Shiro casts his eyes up again to watch Keith dutifully continue to draw. He sticks his tongue out of his mouth and knits his eyebrows together in concentration.

 

“Keith?” Shiro leans his head into one of his palms. Keith hums.

“Do you ever get lonely? Do you ever wish you had friends?” He asks. There’s nothing patronizing in his tone, it’s merely a curious question. Keith frowns.

“Matt’s my friend.” He states. He then puts down his pencil and looks up with a trace of panic.

“Matt’s my friend, right?!”

“Yes, yes, don’t worry, he’s your friend.” Shiro chuckles. Keith breathes out a little sigh of relief before his attention travels back to his drawing.

“I just wondered if you maybe needed some friends your own age. Or at least… more than you have now.”

“I’m fine, Shiro.” Keith rolls his eyes. “I’m better than I have been in a long time.”

“I know.” Shiro pouts. “I still worry about you though.”

“Well don’t. Now help me make a choice…” Keith flips two images around to face Shiro.

“Now do you think I should draw a more traditional mermaid? Or to represent how gay I am, should I go with the merman?”

 

 

Keith continues to work on his soul mate’s gift throughout the following days. It’s nice to have a project to put his attention and energy towards, and Keith is surprised at how much fun he is having. He plays with different compositions and motifs. He thinks about creating a traditional Japanese koi fish tattoo, but ends up deciding to go with a more contemporary style. He creates a design with a merman, but instead of the traditional sleek tail, it has spines coming off of it like a lionfish. He lounges against a rock with a come hither look, and there is coral in the foreground and shark silhouettes in the background.

 

Creating the design is the easy part. Now Keith agonises over colouring for days.

“Bro! Give me your leg!” He demands, stumbling into Shiro’s bedroom late at night.

“My what?” Shiro stutters, but Keith is already dumping a crate of art supplies onto his sheets.

“I need to practice colouring but I can’t draw on myself or else he’ll see. So I need your body.” Keith explains like it’s obvious. Shiro rubs his temples. He flops back on the mattress with a groan.

“Fine, fine, but don’t use anything toxic.”

“Of course not.”

 

Keith tests a variety of mediums from watercolours, professional body paint, primary school markers, expensive copic makers, and even some makeup. Shiro dutifully lays still and doesn’t question anything. Keith hums to himself as he works and it makes Shiro smile.

 

 

It’s my birthday tomorrow!

 

I know. Hurry up and go to sleep so I can get to work.

 

Fine! Fine. AUGH I’M SO EXCITED

 

Seriously if you don’t like it please tell me

 

You shut your face. I’ll love it.

 

Alright, alright.

 

Night, babe

 

Night soul mate.

 

 

Lance is giddy when he wakes up in the morning. He slept in just his briefs, so when his alarm goes off, he whips off his blankets in a rush and immediately looks at his legs. He sees a large dark patch on his thigh and leans forward with anticipation. It’s hard to make out in the dim light, but Lance smiles when he sees the deep wash of blue that fades out into his skin. He beams at the bright greens and pinks and the delicate lines. He skips to the bathroom.

 

He squeals when he sees it in the mirror properly. Interestingly enough, the drawing is oriented so that it points towards Lance. He chuckles when he imagines his soul mate attempting to draw it upside down, but finding it too difficult. That’s ok, this way Lance can admire it every time he looks down.

 

He beams at the beautiful colours of the merman’s tale and lets out an excited gasp when he sees the sharks. The more he looks at it, the more he sees.

 

I love it! It’s so phenomenal and perfect! I can’t wait to show it off! Lance scrawls on his arm.

 

It’s really ok?

 

Lance is surprised at the quick reply. His soul mate should still be asleep, but he wonders if he was up waiting for Lance’s reaction.

 

Yes! It’s wonderful! You’re wonderful! <3  Lance draws several hearts.

 

I’m glad you like it. Happy Birthday soul mate. Now go kick some ass at your swim meet

 

I will! They won’t know what hit them! Wish me luck!

 

Good luck sweetheart

 

Lance’s stomach flips.

 

Thanks babe <3

 

 

Lance struts confidently to the marshaling area in his speedos like he’s walking down a runway. The sun is hot, but he is looking hotter. He wears his brand new Ray ban sunglasses (a gift from his brother, thank you very much Tony.) and tosses a small towel casually over his neck.

 

“Alright guys, never fear, Lance is here to humiliate those other clubs.” He smirks. Allura beams at him.

“Excellent! Your freestyle race is up first, then we’ll be…” She trails off. Her eyes dart to Lance’s thigh.

“What is that?” She bluntly points at it.

“You like it?” Lance plonks his entire leg up onto Pidge’s time keeping table. She squawks as swimmer’s ribbons and timetables are covered by Lance’s long leg.

“It’s temporary, I promise. It’s my good luck charm!” Lance explains. Allura looks at it closer. Even Pidge seems curious as she stands up from her post to get a better angle.

“It’s beautiful.” Allura comments. “It looks like a painting.” She smiles.

“Is this supposed to be you?” Pidge points at the merman. He’s slim with short, brown hair, but that’s where most of the similarities stop.

“I dunno.” Lance laughs. “Maybe? I didn’t ask.”

“Well I appreciate your spirit, Lance.” Allura claps him on the shoulder. “I’m just worried about you getting in trouble. We are a Garrison run event, and students aren’t supposed to-“

“UH UH! NO WAY!” Lance slams his leg down and holds up his hands. He thumps his fist against his chest.

“It’s my birthday! I’m 18 years old! I have a rad tattoo from my hot boyfriend! No fucking teacher can touch me today!”

 

Lance snatches his timetable and stomps towards the smaller pool to warm up.

 

“Boyfriend?” Pidge and Allura look to each other for an explanation.

 

 

After annihilating his completion, and with a belly full of cake, Lance is thankful for the quiet of the evening. He’s spent the entire day being spoilt rotten by his friends and family, but he can only take so many hugs and waggling eyebrows while someone mutters “Ah 18, so legal now huh?”. He beams at his leg again before he starts to write.

 

“It’s beautiful!” “Yo dude, that’s a dope tat” “Whoa it looks like a watercolour painting!” “Who did it? Could they design a tat for me?” “The merman is hot. Is it supposed to be you?”

 

I mean you would get a tattoo of yourself

 

Mmmm only if you’re there too. Also these are all the lovely things that people said about your art today. Would you like to hear more?

 

Oh jeez

 

“Wow it really suits you?” “Why is it upside down? Is that so you can admire it the most? That’s really cute.” “I really like that merman. I’ve never seen one like that before.” “I want a Disney movie about this merman.” “Wow! It really looks like water!”

 

Stop! Stop! I’m getting flustered.

 

Good

 

Lance laughs and rolls onto his stomach. When he lies like this it feels more intimate somehow. Maybe because he’s so loose and relaxed, and he pulls his arm mere inches away from his face.

 

Babe, thank you so much. This was more than I could possibly have expected.

 

Lance chews on the end of his marker. It’s well worn now, and he thinks it really needs replacing by this point. He’s shocked it still has ink in it.

 

Babe I don’t wanna push you into anything. You do what you want to do, but if you’re not going into art because you don’t think you’re good enough? Well I’m here to tell you that you are 110% good enough. I hope this let you see how amazing you are.

 

Lance sighs. There’s a bit of a pause, but he doesn’t stress. He meant what he said, and if he came across as too serious or heavy handed? He doesn’t care. His soul mate needed to hear it, even if the difficult subject matter makes him uncomfortable. He’s improving, but he knows that compliments are still difficult. Lance hums and closes his eyes. They sting still from chlorine.

 

Thank you very much. That’s… a lot to take in.

 

Are you ok?

 

Yeah, yeah I am :) And I really did have so much fun planning this for you. I didn’t expect to enjoy it, but I really did. It was hard but I liked it!

 

Yay!

 

Lance is elated. He sits up onto his elbows.

 

I dunno if it’s because I liked drawing, or I just like doing things for you.

 

Both?

 

I dunno. But I know that I love doing things for you… which is why… I might have gotten you another gift.

 

Lance shoots straight up. He presses his hands to his cheeks and stares wide eyed at the wall. More?! He feels like his heart can’t bear it.

 

WHAT!

 

Now look if you don’t want it that’s fine. You don’t have to do anything. I’ve just been thinking about it a lot and I want you to have it.

 

Lance’s mind is churning at an alarming rate. What on earth could it be?

 

It’s ok. If it’s from you, I know I’ll love it.

 

His heart is in his throat.

 

Ok but don’t freak out.

573-8245-4003

 

Lance falls off of his bed.

“WHAT?! WHAT?!” He screeches on the floor as he wildly kicks his legs into the air.

“ARE YOU MCFUCKING KIDDING ME?!” He tugs at his hair and manages to clamber onto his feet. He dives for his marker.

 

IS THIS YOUR FUCKING PHONE NUMBER?

 

Yeah

 

“FUCK!” Lance throws himself backwards and covers his face with a pillow. He screams. When his throat is raw, he dares to grab his marker again. He can’t believe this. He can’t fucking believe this.

 

I LOVE IT! THIS IS THE BEST! HOLY SHIT!

He swallows but the spit in his mouth just won’t go away. He’s so thrilled, but also pissed off because how dare his soul mate out courage and romance him!

 

I thought about giving you my skype but that just gave me heart palpitations! I had panics just thinking about it! I can’t believe you’re braver than me.

 

Oh no skype is too much! I would die. I’m sorry!

 

Don’t be, don’t be.

 

Lance looks at the numbers again and a relieved laugh bubbles from his chest. He recognizes this number pattern.

 

Your number is one from my country. That means we live in the same country! The same state even! I’m so happy and freaking out!

 

You don’t have to call or do anything with it if you’re not ready. I just wanted you to have it.

 

Bitch shut the fuck up I’m calling you before I lose my nerve.

 

And Lance slams the numbers into his phone and hits the call button before he can second-guess himself. It’s only on the third ring that his actions finally come crashing into him. Holy shit what was he doing?

 

But it’s too late. On the fourth ring there is a click and then the distinctive noise of someone breathing on the other side.

 

For the first time in Lance’s life, he is stunned into silence. He opens his mouth but only air comes out. After several seconds of struggled frustration… he starts laughing. Laughing at the ridiculousness of all this. Laughing at the irony that Lance can talk to complete strangers about nothing on the bus, but can’t even say hi to the boy he’s in love with. He laughs at his patheticness, but also at what an amazing opportunity he’s been given.

 

There’s laughter on the other side and Lance finally starts to loosen. He pulls his knees up to his chest and tenderly cradles his phone. He bites his bottom lip and widely smiles.

 

“Hey babe,” He softly greets. There’s a strangled noise on the other end of the receiver.

“God, go easy on me. I just got the biggest butterflies.”

Lance gasps. It’s a voice. Deep and a bit rough. He’s ashamed at how the low tones go straight to his groin. He breathes deeply.

“Holy shit,” He laughs.

“I know. This is…”

“Wow, uh-” Lance sniffs. His voice becomes thick with emotion.

“Are you ok?” His soul mate sounds quiet and concerned, and that only makes Lance feel more overwhelmed.

“You’re real.” Lance splutters. He wipes his eyes. When had he started crying?

“Yeah. You too.” The other boy laughs. It’s a small noise in his chest.

“Sorry you just… you have a voice and…and…like you’re there! I was sure, but then part of me still wondered if maybe I was just crazy, or if this was some weird-“

“Aliens. I thought aliens.” His soul mate interrupts. Lance laughs louder and his pulse starts to slow. He sniffs, but thankfully his tears are drying. His voice returns to where it usually sits.

“But you’re there.” He sighs.

“Yeah… you too.” And Lance is sure that he is smiling.

“Thank you so much for not being a voice in my head. I think I would have lost my mind if that was the way our soul link manifested.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Did you hear about that one couple who could like feel each other’s pain? How fucked is that?! You wouldn’t even figure it out, you would just think you had a tumor! Or that couple who would swap bodies? Which sounds cool, but then you’ve seen your partner naked already, so your first time would just be weird? Like ‘ah yeah, this is cool, but I’ve masturbated this body, so whatever’. Like in hindsight I think we got really lucky and…” Lance becomes self-aware. He groans and rubs his face.

“Sorry, sorry, I ramble when I’m nervous. And I’m… crazy nervous right now.” He laughs.

“It’s fine. Really.” And Lance believes him. “You have a nice voice.” Lance flushes.

“Yeah you too.”

Lance and his soul mate laugh again. His entire mind has gone blank.

“I’m so sorry babe, I’m just really overwhelmed by all this and I don't know if I can talk much longer.”

“Me neither.” The boy laughs. “I’m shaking so much it’s insane. I had to put you on speaker because I couldn’t even hold my phone.”

“That actually makes me feel-“

 

“Oi! What was that screaming all about?” Lance’s mum bursts through his door. Lance fumbles with his phone, but thankfully catches it. His eyes are wide and he frantically waves her away

“Mama! ¡Nada! Estoy bien! Me paré en un lego.” Lance hisses.

“Bien, bien, iré.” His mother groans

“Buenas noches.” Lance softens.

“Dulces sueños. Feliz cumpleaños!” She blows him a kiss and exits the room. Lance sighs and flops onto his back when his door clicks closed.

 

“Sorry about that.” He laughs.

“You uh…” His soul mate squeaks. “You speak Spanish?”

“Oh yeah. I’m Cuban. Did I not mention that?”

“Oh…um … oh fuck…” He laughs. Lance listens in disbelief.

“What is this? What is this reaction?”

“Nothing! Nothing!” There’s an awkward cough and more laughter.

“Did I just get hotter to you?” Lance teases.

“Mi alma gemela~” He purrs. He laughs when he hears he soul mate splutter on the other side.

“Fuck, shit, don’t do that” He hisses. “I’m not ready for that. It was just really cute, ok?”

Lance chuckles. He files this bit of information for use at a later date, but for now he thinks he should leave before he can do anything horribly embarrassing.

“Ok, ok, listen I do really need to go. Because I feel like I might pass out.”

You might pass out.” His soul mate scoffs. “It’s ok. Me too. I almost passed out then, so I think I need to lie down.”

“God,”

“Ok I need to go. This is getting bad. I’m completely losing it.”

And Lance has to admit that he finds it endearing how this formerly cool and calm voice is stuttering and squeaking all over the place.

“It’s ok. Alright, babe. Goodnight. Thank you again for my…” Lance sighs. “Really amazing gifts. You made this day so perfect and amazing.”

“It’s fine. I’m glad they made you happy.”

 

They stop and just listen to the sound of the other person breathing. Lance knows he needs to hang up, but it’s a struggle. He wishes he could ask his soul mate to keep talking as he falls asleep, but that sounds ridiculous.

 

“Happy birthday,” The other boy breaks the silence.

“Sweet dreams, babe.”

 

And then there’s a dial tone.

 

Lance’s room is suffocatingly silent. Lance tries to drown it out by drawing blue hearts on his wrist. Red hearts appear along with a message.

 

Thank you. You sound really cute.

 

Lance almost dies.

 

 

They don’t call each other again, at least… not yet. The experience is so weirdly powerful that both boys admit they probably couldn’t handle it again so soon. Keith had been exhausted afterwards and he realized his breathing was incredibly shallow. He couldn’t stop trembling.

 

Should we text?

 

Fuck that.

 

Keith laughs.

 

I can talk to anyone with texting. I can only talk to you like this.

 

If we text then I become just a guy. That’s what you’re feeling?

 

God you’ll never be just a guy but… I dunno. This is special… I like it. I like that something I do here… affects you over there. Does that make sense?

 

Yeah yeah it does. It’s ok. I feel the same way.

 

Haha we can work up to it. Maybe exchange photos?

 

God, not yet. I know you’re hot, I can just tell. I’ll fucking die. I can still hear your voice.

 

Haha gaaaaaay

 

Oi

 

But me too. You’re voice is so low and sexy wtf. I think I got hard just listening to you.

 

WOW

 

Oh come on, like you didn’t almost ruin your shorts when I started speaking Spanish.

 

WOW WOW OK HO BOY! GOTTA GO!

 

Aw c’mon

 

LMAO BYE

 

Babe! No I’m freaking out now

 

You’re fine. I do have to go though.

 

What could be more important than discussing how much I arouse you?

 

I’m looking at art school applications

 

BABE! WHAT?! REALLY?! :D

 

Yeah I guess you got to me.

 

Holy shit ok ok I’ll go!

 

Haha ok

 

Byeeee <3

 

Even though Keith was starting to feel a bit awkward, he isn’t lying. He has several art school applications on his computer and is casually… very loosely sketching on the table in the attempt to start building up a portfolio. Keith isn’t getting his hopes up… or at least that’s what he tells himself.

 

He’s decided to do his best. Build a portfolio, submit it, and then see what happens. If he get’s accepted anywhere? Cool, he’ll deal with that when it happens, but if he doesn’t? Well… then there’s really no harm done. He never thought of art as a career before, so why would he think of it now? This should be relaxing… right?

 

Keith is trying to not put too much pressure on himself. He’s trying to just have fun with it, but he’s feeling the stress and excitement mount. He draws his soul mate’s tattoo design on some watercolour paper and paints it. Funnily enough, he thinks it looked better on his skin, but he’s still happy with it.

 

He does several self portraits because he’s gotten so used to drawing himself for his soul mate that he feels quite comfortable doing it now. He draws several cartoony looking surfer bros with bright smiles and brighter sunglasses. He intends to pass them off as character studies. The professors don’t need to know that they’re all him perplexing over what his soul mate looks like.

 

He’s colouring several of the surfer beach scenes with gouache when Shiro starts snooping through his papers.

“Oh wow,” He picks up several of the still drying pieces of paper. Keith glares at him.

“This is really beautiful. Very cute. I could see these on postcards or something.” Shiro oohs and ahs.

“Thanks.”

“Wow, really nice, very nice…” He sets the drawings down. He places his hands on his hips and surveys the whole table, his eyes roaming between sketches and completed paintings.

“Very nice, very nice.” He stops. With a short exhale, he claps his hands together.

“Alright! Pack this shit up!” He announces.

 

Keith looks up mid-inking with a scowl.

“What?”

“We’re having company over tomorrow night so we need to clean this place up.” Shiro smiles. There’s an excitement to his voice. Keith snorts.

“Matt isn’t company.”

“It’s not just Matt.” Shiro starts to pick up the empty drink cans that have been left around the place.

“We don’t need to impress your tutor friends either. I’ve seen how they live. It’s way worse than this.” Keith shudders when he remembers the mould encrusted pizza boxes.

“It’s not work people. It’s Matt’s sister and her friends.” Shiro calls over his shoulder.

 

Keith drops his brush and abruptly stands. His eyes are wide and his nerves are all wound tight.

“What?” He barks. “Why are we having a bunch of 14 year olds over?” He eyes his brother like he’s lost his mind. Shiro continues to happily pick up dirty dishes off the coffee table.

 

She’s 14, but her two friends are both around 18.” Shiro walks to the kitchen with a smirk. “They’re your age.”

“I don’t understand, why are we-“ But then, like a train crash, Keith abruptly, painfully, understands. His thin frame is filled with humiliation and rage.

 

“YOU’VE SET UP A PLAY DATE! THAT’S WHAT THIS IS!” He tugs at his hair and seethes. “This is a play date you’ve set up because ‘poor Keith can’t make friends’! No!” He crosses his arms over his chest. He’s retreating into himself. Shiro knows how to read the signs and immediately hurries over.

“Keith,” He coos.

“I don’t want any part of it! I won’t be pitied!” He blinks back tears. “I…I said I was fine! I don’t need you or Matt or anyone else to-“ He jerks out of Shiro’s hold, but Shiro follows. He places his hands on his shoulders.

“Keith, Keith, I’m not…” But Shiro has to sigh. Keith is right. He does pity him. He worries that he’s lonely and has no support system. He worries that Keith bottles up whatever feelings he’s unable to share with himself and just never processes them. Shiro has been… relieved at how Keith has reacted to having a soul mate. Honestly, he’s been shocked at the transformation. Keith smiles more and he has a drive again. He laughs. Actually laughs, and has opened up to someone.

 

If Keith could change this much from just some anonymous messages, than how much could a real friend impact him?

 

“I’m sorry.” Shiro admits. He knows he should have consulted Keith before this.

“I guess… I saw how much you’ve really opened up and enjoyed yourself with your soul mate…” He rubs his face. “I thought that… if you could make a friend or two… things could only get even better.”

“But Shiro, I’m not good with other people. Like there’s a reason I’ve never had friends…” Keith has trouble getting the words out. It feels like there’s an obstruction in his throat.

“You couldn’t make friends because the kids at that school were assholes!”

 

Keith freezes. Shiro rarely raises his voice and it’s almost never at other people.

“I failed you by sending you to that school. I thought it was the best thing for you. You were smart and they had the best programs, but I just…” He flops into the dining chair. He keeps his gaze down so Keith can’t see his expression. Can’t see the shame and guilt that he carries with him every time Keith gets anxious in a crowd, or stays home from some event where he’ll be forced to met new people. Shiro’s guilt spikes every time he comes home to find Keith listless on the couch. Expelled from school and his permanent record tainted, so he would have difficulty getting in anywhere else. No prospects, no ambition, Shiro hadn’t improved his life much at all.

 

“I just want to make things right for you again.”

Keith glimpses how hard these past few years have been not just for himself, but for his brother as well. Carrying the burden of brother and parent has been difficult. Keith softens. He cards his fingers through his brother’s undercut.

“You’ve made things more right for me than I could have ever possibly imagined.” He sighs. “You didn’t fail me. Shut the fuck up.” He flicks his ear. Shiro flinches.

“They’re really nice, Keith.” Shiro grabs his wrists. “I promise. It won’t be like last time.”

“How do you know?” Keith sighs. He steps back. “How do you know? Have you met them?”

“Matt vouches for them.”

Keith scoffs.

“And!” Shiro raises his voice purposefully. “There’s a reason that 14 year old Katie is friends with two 18 year old boys.” Shiro explains. Keith cocks his head with interest. He waits.

“When Katie started transitioning, of course lots of kids didn’t know how to handle it. Like... what do you mean their friend was a girl now? Things started looking bad, but these two guys… Matt says she barely even knew them,” Shiro laughs.

“He says she kind of knew one from robotics club, but had never seen the other one ever in her life. Anyway!” Shiro gets back to his train of thought. “They stepped in and stood up for her. Sat with her at lunch so she wasn’t alone, and invited her to the movies and stuff.”

Keith chews his bottom lip in thought.

“They’re good guys. I trust Matt. Just meet them.”

 

“Fine.”

 

 

“Hey,” Pidge speaks up as the trio lounges beneath the shade of an oak tree. Hunk and Lance have come from a particularly draining chemistry lab and are trying to relax before they have to go to a physics lab after the break. The sun is warm, but the grass is cool. The shade above them is dense and the area around them is miraculously clear of anyone kicking soccer or footballs around.

 

“You guys wanna come to Matt’s friend’s place with me tomorrow night?”

Lance and Hunk crack open an eye. Hunk rests his head on his arms, whilst Lance uses Hunk’s stomach as a pillow.

“Will there be pizza?” They both ask.

“Yeah.”

“Ok.” They shrug, then try to resume their nap.

“You guys gotta look nice. Be ready by 6:30 so I can pick you up.”

Lance hums, but Hunk snores underneath him.

 

 

Hey wanna hear something really humiliating?

 

Do tell.

 

My brother has organized a blind play date for me. Like he’s invited some teens over to our house… in the hopes that I will befriend one.

 

Yikes. Oh man. Does he know them?

 

NOPE! Friends of friends thing.

 

Oh man. Oh man. Ok. You gotta think positive.

 

I’m trying!

 

When is this going down?

 

Tomorrow.

 

Shiiiiiiiit.

 

What?

 

Listen babe. I know you can do this. You’re cute and sweet and nice, I know you can get through this. Unfortunately I’ll be at a friend’s place tomorrow so I won’t be able to message you while this is happening. I don’t know the hosts so I can’t startle them by having messages appear on me. I promise I will message before bed to see if you’re ok.

 

No, no I get it. I can’t exactly message you in front of them either. I can’t look like an even bigger weirdo.

 

You’re not a weirdo. You’re lovely <3

 

MMMMMMMM ok. Anyway what’s this thing you’re going to?

 

I dunno. Some gathering I was invited to?

 

And you don’t know the host?

 

Nah. I don’t know who will be there.

 

And you’re feeling…?

 

Excited? Hoping to make new friends?

 

God I wish that were me. How are you real?

 

Sorry! Sorry.

 

No it’s ok. Maybe your positive attitude will rub off on me.

 

You know it! Whoo those teens! Karate chop some boards in front of them! Toss your sexy mullet in their faces!

 

It’s not a mullet!

 

It is! But it’s cute so I’ll accept it!

 

 

“This is what you’re wearing?” Hunk, in his button up and slacks gestures to Lance. Lance… in a tank top and black skinny jeans… and snap back. The arm holes of his tank top are extra large so that his ribs and sides of his chest are visible. Lance scoffs.

“Um, I look fantastic, so back off?” He shrugs.

“You look like a frat boy.”

“Actually I look like the expensive frat boy who fucks the goth kid. Get it right.” He moves past Hunk to go through the front door and wait on the porch. Hunk follows.

“I guess it’s a memorable first impression.” He chuckles.

“Hunk, baby,” Lance pats his arm. “With a smile like this I could show up in a potato sack.” And he beams. Hunk imagines a sparkle coming off of his teeth.

“You’re the worst.” He lightly shoves his friend.

 

A white sedan pulls up shortly later. An older boy, who looks remarkably like Pidge, waves from the driver’s seat. Pidge sticks her head out of the window.

“Get in you fucks we’re late!”

Hunk and Lance clamber into the back seat.

 

“Matt it’s been ages, how are you?” Hunk politely makes conversation as they pull away from Lance’s house. Lance rummages in his pocket for his phone and shoots his mother a text to say that he’s left.

“Oh well I’m editing my thesis draft, so you know…every moment I prey for the sweet relief of death and genuinely ponder how I can get away with burning down my entire school…” Matt says in one effortless breath.

“But yeah alright. You guys?”

Hunk and Lance exchange nervous glances.

“Yeah man,”

“We’re fine.”

“Cool, cool, great to hear.”

 

They take the rest of the ride in comfortable silence. Pidge plugs in her phone and blares some 90’s boy bands because she knows it will get Lance and Hunk in a good mood. Lance tries his best to do the choreography in his seated position.

 

“Hey, so…” Matt turns down the volume right in the middle of a chorus. Lance is flabbergasted and makes drowning noises in the middle of his dancing.

“Hang on, stop pouting, I’m telling you guys important stuff.” Matt laughs.

“The person’s house we’re going to tonight is my good friend Shiro’s. I know him from the university. He’s really cool, and I love him, so treat his place with respect you little gremlins.” Matt warns.

“You literally stopped at his house once just to take a shit because you didn’t think you’d make it home.” Pidge glares. Hunk tries to suppress his giggles, whilst Lance loses all professionalism and just cackles. Matt turns red.

“N…Nevermind!” He stutters. “Do as I say! Not as I do! Anyway!” Matt clears his throat.

“Shiro is 25 and an adult, so treat him as such. He also has a little brother called Keith. Keith is 19. He’s a bit rough, but he’s a good kid. Kind of awkward, especially around new people, so be nice.” Matt looks in his reverse mirror.

“Lance! Repeat what I just said.”

“Wha? Buh…EXCUSE…?” Lance blusters. “Why are you picking on me?!” He squeaks.

“Because Hunk is a sensitive teddy bear who is incapable of hurting anyone.” Pidge turns and explains.

“That’s true, I am in tune with the feelings of others.” He nods.

“I’m nice! I’m sympathetic! Kids love me!” Lance shrieks. “What is this-?!”

“Keith is hot! And Lance-!” Matt makes pointed eye contact with Lance via his reverse mirror.

“You get fucking weird around hot guys! Don’t get weird! Don’t pick fights because you can’t handle what your dick is saying! Just be cool, ok?”

“I DON’T GET WEIRD!”

The entire car groans. Never has Lance felt so victimized.

 

“I’ll behave! I promise!”

 

 

“Sounds like they’re here.” Shiro peers through the blinds at the sound of gravel crunching. Keith sits in a permanent state of fight or flight on the couch. Tight and panicked. He’s shoved his hair into a ponytail because it felt like it was suffocating him. He’s in a dark shirt and dark jeans. He’s not confident enough to match colours, but black matches black yeah? His eyes dart towards the door at the sound of approaching footsteps.

 

“Give me your hat.”

“What?! No!”

“You look like an asshole, give me your hat.”

“Hunk!”

 

Voices are heard squabbling on the other side of the door. Keith actually smirks a bit at this exchange. All fears flood back into him though when someone knocks.

 

Shiro waves Keith to come over. Keith violently shakes his head. Shiro waves more frantically, but Keith just digs his nails deeper into the couch.

“Keith, it’ll…” Shiro whispers.

“Shiro the knock was to be polite, you gave me a key to this place, remember?” Matt’s voice teases. Shiro groans. He paints on a smile and opens the door.

 

“Hey, sorry, I was just getting something. Hi!” Apparently Shiro is also nervous. He steps to the side and lets Matt walk through. Matt gives him a fist bump, before he struts through the room like he owns the place. He’s soon at the couch and tousling Keith’s hair.

“Ponytail, cute.” He smirks.

“Don’t!” Keith hisses as he tries to fix his messed up fringe. Matt laughs and throws his feet on the coffee table.

 

“Hey Katie, I’m Shiro. We’ve met at least once I’m sure.” Shiro chuckles. “And you’ve met Keith, yeah?” He gestures over his shoulder to where Keith and Matt sit. Keith does recognize the small girl from a handful of interactions. Trapped at the university at various times, or a graduation here or there. She holds up a hand.

“Yeah. Hey man.” She casually nods her head. Keith nods back.

“Hey,” Oh god, is that what his voice sounds like?

 

A stranger now walks through the door. He’s a large boy, (18? Really?) with dark skin and a square jaw. Keith would actually be interested to see an arm wrestling match between him and Shiro… and he’s not sure that Shiro would win. The boy wears what Keith assumes is the infamous hat, and stands at Shiro’s height as he shakes his hand. Shiro blinks at him for a moment, seemingly just as surprised by his presence.

“Hey, I’m Hunk.” The boy introduces himself. Shiro remembers what he’s doing and shakes his hand back with a smile.

“Shiro. Hi, Matt’s told me about you. And this must be…” Shiro looks past Hunk to see the last person come through the door.

 

He’s tall and slim with glowing, tan skin. His short brown hair looks feathery soft, and his legs appear to go for miles. His smile is astonishingly bright.

 

Ok… Keith might get off the couch for this kid.

 

Keith clambers to his feet and tries his best to look natural in his own home. He’s barely breathing when he mumbles his name to Hunk and Hunk almost crushes his fingers in a friendly handshake. Keith then turns robotically to the new boy.

 

“Hey, I’m Lance. Wow, your hair’s great. Mine’s awful because Hunk took my hat so now I have hat hair, but nothing to show for it.” He laughs. Keith dies.

“Keith.” Is all he manages to wheeze out when they shake hands. Lance doesn’t comment though. Instead he moves to walk towards the couches where Hunk, Matt and Pidge have set up.

“You ok so far?” Shiro mumbles as he walks past. Keith nods.

“Alright, let’s go hang out.” And he puts his hand on Keith’s shoulder, partially to support him, partially to prevent him from running and hiding in his room.

 

“What’s on the agenda?” Pidge asks. She’s already found of bag of chips that Keith has no memory of setting out.

“Video games?” Matt offers. He looks to Keith and Shiro. Keith nervously perches himself on the end of the couch between Lance and his brother.

“Yeah, sounds good.” Shiro shrugs.

“What’s in your arsenal?” Lance leans towards Keith with a smirk. Keith’s mind goes blank.

“M…my what?”

“What games do you have?” He laughs. Keith is again stunned at the sight of that smile. And collarbones… and cleavage… wow ok, so Lance might be the prettiest guy Keith has ever seen and it is not helping his nerves at all.

 

“I like fighting games.” Keith blurts. Lance nods.

“Cool, cool, what do you have?”

“Uh like… Street fighter, and Marvel vs Capcom. Some silly indie things, uhhhh, smash bros, then-“

“Whoa, you got smash bros!” Lance interrupts him. Keith nods.

“That’s my game, man!” Lance starts poking Pidge in the back where she sits on the floor.

“Oi! Keith says they have smash bros! Hook it up and toss me a controller.”

“Oooooooh,” Hunk leans forward. “Who are you going to play?”

Pidge tosses up two controllers. Lance passes one to Keith.

“You up for it?” He offers.

Keith wordlessly takes it and nods.

 

The starting menu plays and Keith and Lance select their characters. Lance makes a beeline straight for Samus, whilst Keith thinks a bit before choosing Shulk. Matt goes to join, but Hunk leans over to him.

“Listen, you really don’t want to get in on this.” He warns. Matt looks skeptical.

“Keith is good, but I’ve played with him before.”

“I’m not warning you about Keith.”

Matt looks over at his little sister. She very solemnly shakes her head at him. He puts down his controller.

 

They choose a stage and wait for the starting timer.

“So Keith,” Lance’s friendly grin morphs into something more sinister. “Would you prefer to be cremated or buried after I murder you this evening?”

“Wha…?”

But Keith barely has a second to react before his character is flung off the stage. A shocked laugh escapes him. His nerves start to calm down as another primal emotion begins to take its place. Competitiveness.

“Oh ok. So that’s how we’re doing it.” He exhales and leans forward in his seat.

“Let’s see if you can touch me this time”, Lance laughs.

 

 

Keith’s anxiety disappears in a bout of swearing, yelling at his controller and frustrated grunting. Lance has beaten him for the sixth time.

“I don’t understand!” He throws himself on the floor. “I’m really good at this, I SWEAR!”

“Oh I believe you. You’ve lasted longer than almost everyone.” Lance peers down at him with that infuriatingly cute smirk.

“DO NOT MOCK ME!”

“Keith, seriously, Lance has won tournaments before. The challenge is not to beat him, but to survive long enough that you might actually get to play.” Hunk explains. Keith groans.

 

“Play me in Soul Calibur!” He demands.

“Alright,” Lance shrugs.

Keith slams in the new game and tosses Lance the controller.

“You’re really worked up,” Shiro laughs.

“Shut up,” Keith hisses. This just makes him laugh more.

“I’m sorry Lance, but I have to beat you in this. My pride is on the line.” Keith explains. He runs his fingers through his long fringe. Lance watches the movement with great interest.

“I get it, but I’ve never played this, so it won’t be an honorable defeat.” He leans comfortably back on the couch.

“I honestly don’t care at this point.” Keith chuckles. They choose their characters and Keith lets Lance choose an arena.

“This one has less spikes,” Lance observes as he hits x.

 

The fight starts and Lance is KOed before he even touches his controller. Keith falls back with a huge sigh of relief.

“Was it good for you?” Lance teases. Keith blushes and quietly picks a new stage.

“D…do you wanna play again? You’ve never played, so I’ll teach you how if you want.” His quiet personality is back and Lance smiles wider. He nods.

“Sure, Keith. Show me how it’s done.”

 

 

Keith walks Lance through the controls and some of the easier combos. Lance laughs brightly when he manages to land a super attack. Keith passes his controller to Pidge who plays a few rounds against Lance.

 

They cycle through several games. It turns out that Lance is also supernaturally gifted at Mario kart, but at least he doesn’t beat everyone by as large a margin. Shiro and Matt scream over Rocket League, before Hunk gets excited and pulls out the pieces for Rockband.

 

“Shotgun drums!” He claims. He automatically tosses the mic to Lance, then offers Keith the guitar.

“Wanna be in our sweet band, Keith?” He winks. Keith laughs and takes the guitar.

“Alright, but I hope you guys can keep up.” Keith presses on the keys and selects the hardest mode for himself. Lance lets out a low whistle.

“What are we doing?” Keith starts to flip through the songs. Lance almost tackles him when he scrolls past Journey’s Anyway you want it.

“JOURNEY! JOURNEY! JOURNEY! That’s what we’re doing!” He rapidly points. Keith is startled into selecting the song.

“Jesus Lance, Journey is pretty hard are you sure-“

 

“ANY WANT IT! THAT’S THE WAY YOU NEED IT! ANY WAY YOU WANT IT!” Lance jumps onto the couch and launches them into the song. Keith’s fingers scramble to start picking out the main melody. Hunk smirks over on the drums and nods.

“He’s a theatre kid.” He smirks.

“Ah,” Keith laughs.

“ALL NIGHT! AAAAAALLL NIGHT! Oh every night!” Lance jumps off of the couch. He starts to dance around his band, shimmying his shoulders and tossing his head. He bumps his hips into Keith until he laughs and messes up his fingering.

“Stop!” He bumps Lance off of him.

Lance sticks his tongue out and makes his way over to Hunk for the chorus. They both lose all sense of key as they scream into the microphone. Despite his antics, Lance is actually remarkably good at singing. He skips around the room and offers his mic to Pidge. She flat out refuses, but Matt grabs it and warbles out the final line of the chorus.

 

“Alright, guitar solo! Take it Kei….Holy Shit…” Lance gasps. Keith is intensely focused on the tv as his fingers move with lightning speed. “Perfect!”s and “Excellent!”s dance across the screen.

“Hell yeah!” Lance jogs closer and stares in admiration. He claps loudly when the solo slows down.

“Keith that was crazy!” Hunk looks up from his drumming. Lance whistles before he starts to wail into the bridge. He winks at Keith and spins on his heel.

 

 

Shiro, Matt and Pidge perform an underwhelming version of Paramore’s That’s what you get before they all call it quits. The pizza arrives and most of the group is quiet as Matt entertains them with his laptop and the internet. Keith is shocked that Lance laughs the most, even at the obscure stuff that no one but Matt himself understands. Pidge almost consumes an entire Hawaiian pizza, whilst Keith holds his lonely cheese-less pizza by himself.

 

“Keith, bro, why is your pizza naked?” Hunk looks over his slice of supreme stacked with toppings.

“I’m lactose intolerant.”

Hunk and Lance both gasp like Keith has just admitted to being terminally ill.

 

“But I brought stuff for desert! I thought we could make smores!” Hunk whines as he opens his backpack, and sure enough, it is stuffed with cookies, marshmallows and chocolate. Keith clicks his tongue.

 

“You got dark chocolate?”

“Uh huh!”

“Then I can manage.”

 

After pizza, Shiro leads everyone into the backyard. Keith grabs his leather jacket and Shiro slips on a hoodie. It’s surprisingly cool out on this cloudless night. There’s a metal barrel cut in half, and Shiro begins to fill it with dried wood. He drops a match into it and soon there is a healthy fire going. Hunk and Pidge run around the yard in search of quality marshmallow sticks. Shiro and Matt start to set up the graham crackers and chocolate. The only one not busy is Lance, who presses himself closer to the fire. He rubs his arms as goosebumps appear.

 

“Keith, take a stick,” Pidge shoves a bunch of twigs in his face. He flinches back, then picks a long one with some green still on it. Hunk passes him the bag of marshmallows and he continues to pass it around the fire until everyone has one.

 

Matt likes his marshmallows only warmed, whilst Shiro likes his well roasted.

“The secret ingredient is carbon.” He smiles as he places his black marshmallow between two pieces of chocolate. Pidge is too short to comfortably blow out her marshamallow, so she just waves it rapidly in the air hoping that that will put it out. It does work, but not without making the others nervous.

 

“Just ask Lance to blow it out,” Matt suggests.

“I don’t want you putting anything on fire near my face.” Lance backs away.

“This works fine. As long as the structural-“ But Pidge’s marshmallow was more melted than she expected. With the frantic waving about, the flaming, goopy ball of sugar goes flying… and it grazes Lance’s elbow.

“MOTHER!” He shrieks and frantically rubs his elbow on his pants. The bad thing about flaming marshmallows is that they’re sticky. The molten ball of sugar sticks to Lance’s skin and he hisses as he frantically tries to rub it off.

 

“Oops.” Pidge watches helplessly.

“Hold on bro,” Hunk runs over with a bottle of water and pours it on Lance’s elbow. He hisses.

“Feel better?”

“Yeah, but now I’m wet and burned.” Lance pouts. Pidge makes him a double marshmallow smore to make him feel better. He happily munches it and all seems to be forgiven. However the goosebumps on his skin are still there, and he shivers with every breeze.

 

“You cold, Lance?” Shiro asks around a mouthful of chocolate. Lance gently laughs.

“Ah yeah a bit. It’s ok next to the fire though.” And Lance creeps forward some more. Pidge snorts.

“Lance, you’re practically in the fire.”

“I told you that outfit was a bad idea.” Hunk shakes his head. “But noooo, you gotta take every opportunity to show off your body.”

“Worth it.” Lance smirks through chattering teeth.

Shiro chuckles. “Here,” and he starts to slip out of his hoodie.

“I got it,” Keith quickly rushes to Lance first and pulls off his jacket. He offers it to Lance.

“Pre-warmed, so it should feel better.”

“Won’t you be cold?”

“Nah, I’m used to it.”

And Lance can’t tell whether his cheeks are hot from the fire or the way that Keith smiles at him. He clears his throat as he gratefully takes Keith’s jacket.

“Thank you.”

 

They stay outside until all the marshmallows are gone and the front of Lance’s shirt has finally dried. He holds Keith’s jacket close and smiles at him every time they lock eyes. Keith stutters and turns back to Pidge to talk about her robotics club project.

 

 

When the fire is down to coals they head back inside. Shiro announces that he’ll make hot chocolate for everyone.

“Keith, come help.” He orders.

“What? Aw man,” And Keith toddles after him.

“Wait,” Lance catches his wrist. Keith whirls around with wide eyes. Lance holds his jacket out to him.

“Thanks for this. I don’t need it any more if we’re staying inside.” He smiles. Keith wordlessly takes it and proceeds to the kitchen. His jacket now smells… like coconut. What kind of aftershave did this boy use?

 

Keith starts to crush pizza boxes as Shiro pulls mugs down from the cupboards. He places two saucepans of milk, one soy and one not, onto the stovetop and waits. Keith leans next to him and lets out a long breath. He feels exhausted.

 

“I’m going to suggest that people can stay the night. You ok with that?” Shiro speaks quietly. Keith nods. He’s appreciating the quiet moment away from stranger’s glances.

“You can uh…” Shiro begins to spoon hot chocolate into the mugs. “Have Lance in your room if you want.”

Keith cracks open an eye.

“What are you suggesting?”

“I-I’m just saying, that you twooooo really seem to be hitting it off! Maybeeee-“

“Shiro!” Keith hisses and holds up his hand with the two little hearts on it. “I am involved with someone!”

“Ok, ok.” And Shiro winces as Keith slaps him in the arm.

 

 

“Hey, Lance! Buddy! You’re doing great! Keith really seems to like you.” Matt claps Lance on his shoulder and leans into him. His breath smells a little like beer.

“I told you you had nothing to worry about!” Lance throws his hands up. “I! Am a perfect gentleman.” And he gives a little bow.

“Maybe you’re just not as attracted to Keith as we thought?” Pidge offers. Lance’s eyes widen maniacally and he laughs for a long time.

“NOPE! That’s definitely not it.” He wheezes.

Because holy shit did he almost faint when Keith had offered him that jacket. And the fact it was still warm? Lance hates how that had made his heart skip a beat.

 

God, he’s so weak for pretty boys. Especially for this dark-haired boy with long lashes. God, why did he look so much like his fantasy image of his soul mate?

 

 

Shiro and Keith emerge with steaming mugs and hand them out to the group. Keith and Lance graze fingers, though neither of them mentions it.

 

“Hey, so Keith and I were just talking and we’re totally fine if you guys wanna stay the night. It’s Saturday tomorrow so we have nowhere to be. And Keith and I both have double beds, and there’s obviously the couch too.”

“And sleeping bags.” Keith adds.

Hunk and Lance both exchange looks. It was late, and they really are in no hurry to go home.

“Yeah, alright.” They reply in unison.

“Shotgun Shiro’s bed!” Matt throws his arm up. Shiro rolls his eyes.

“Couch is mine!” Pidge follows.

“Lance, you can crash with Keith then.” She smirks, wide and knowing. Keith sheepishly smiles. Lance looks frantically between the two of them.

 

“OH! Uh…” His voice jumps up an octave. “I think I’d be more comfortable on the floor?” He wrings his hands together. “Sorry! It’s nothing personal! I just kind of have a boyfriend, so I would feel weird-“

“I wasn’t suggesting-“ Keith emphatically holds his hands out.

“No! I know you weren’t!” Lance reassures. Both boys are practically glowing red.

“Sorry,” Lance rubs the back of his neck and laughs. “We’re just kind of long distance, so sleeping with another guy even in a platonic sense-“

“It’s ok.” Keith nods. “I totally get it.”

 

Keith understands, completely. And he would feel weird sleeping next to someone as attractive as Lance as well. But he still lets out a small sigh of disappointment. It’s just a fluttering in his chest.

The hot ones are always taken. He chuckles.

 

“I’ll stay on the floor with Lance.” Hunk claps his friend’s shoulder. “Can’t be ditching my buddy. But we can all stay in your room, Keith.”

“Yeah, yeah, bros slumber party.” Lance laughs.

“Alright.” Keith agrees.

 

Keith helps Hunk and Lance prepare their sleeping bags on his floor. He gives them pillows and extra blankets, as well as a lamp. Lance looks around the room and notices how tidy it is. His room is always such a disaster that he thought it was a teenage boy thing. Either Keith is an outlier or he owes his mom an apology. There are a few trophies on Keith’s dresser, and there is a vintage Bruce Lee poster on his wall. Lance smiles at the couple of plastic UFO’s and X-files DVDs on Keith’s bookshelves. He pokes one of the flying saucers and it topples to the ground.

“Shit, sorry! Sorry!” Lance squeaks.

“God, Lance. Can’t take you anywhere.” Hunk steals one of Lance’s pillows.

“You’re fine.” Keith picks up the figure and places it back in its spot. “Happens all the time.” He says quietly. He smiles at Lance, who just smiles back. He casts his eyes down to Keith’s arms and chest, then abruptly yanks them back up.

 

“Hey nerds,” Pidge pokes her head in. “We’re gonna watch The Princess Bride before bed. You in?”

There’s a murmur of agreement and all the boys shuffle back out to the living room.

 

 

Keith sits between Matt and Lance, which might be a mistake. The movie has only reached the part where the dread pirate Roberts is engaged in a battle of wits with Vizzini when he feels his eyes get heavy. His breathing slows and he slumps left onto Lance’s shoulder. He abruptly wakes up when he makes contact.

“Sorry,” He whispers.

“It’s ok.” Lance quietly chuckles. “I’ll talk to you to keep you awake.”

“You don’t have to.”

“No, I’m hilarious, you’ll love it.” Lance winks. Keith supposes he wouldn’t mind Lance whispering in his ear some more.

 

“You know the older I get,” Lance murmurs in his ear a few minutes later. “The more I realise that Buttercup is a little shit.”

Keith laughs and has to agree. Lance laughs at the TV extra loudly when Buttercup throws herself down a hill after her lover.

 

“What is it about this movie…” Lance whispers to him again when the characters enter the fire swamp. “That makes it so timeless? Like look at it. It looks like shit. They’re walking on carpet right now. That’s a dwarf in a rat suit… so why is it so good?” He ponders. Keith smiles and shrugs.

 

“The true love is the friends they made along the way.” Lance sings in his ear. Keith loudly snorts with laughter.

 

Keith is barely paying attention to the movie anymore. He finds himself just waiting for Lance’s next comment. Whether it’s some genuine reaction to the film, or some stupid Vine reference.

“Hi, welcome to Chili’s” He murmurs under his breath when the characters storm the castle and Keith almost loses it.

 

The movie hits its climax, but Keith is looking at the boy next to him. How he eagerly sits forward in his seat, even though he knows exactly what’s going to happen. There’s a bright smile on his face, and his hands are balled…

 

His hands…

 

Keith stares at Lance’s left hand and the world stops. The movie fades and the other’s reactions are silenced. At this moment there’s just Keith, his thundering heartbeat… and the two little love hearts on Lance’s hand. One red… and one blue.

 

Keith stops breathing. He’s screaming at himself that’s it’s just a coincidence. It has to be, because there are 7 billion people on this planet and his soul mate can not possibly be on this couch next to him. Keith tries to look away, but he can’t deny how familiar they are. He can’t pretend like that’s a common drawing to find on teenage boys’ hands.

 

With trembling fingers and shallow breaths, Keith reaches into his back pocket. He has to be certain. He has to know. Is the universe miraculous or just cruel? He pulls out his red pen.

 

Lance? He writes on his hand.

 

He looks over at the boy’s hand next to him and loudly gasps… because there… is his handwriting looking back at him.

 

His gasp must have been louder than he thought, because Lance’s attention is back on him.

“What?” He follows Keith’s gaze to his hand.

“Oh shit, did I get a mess…?”

 

Now it’s Lance’s turn to freeze. Because on his hand, in his soul mate’s handwriting… is his own name. He stares at it with a confusion he hasn’t felt since the first time he woke up with graffiti on his arm.

 

“I don’t understand.” He whispers. “Why-?”

He looks up to ask Keith, but his jaw drops when he finds the other boy staring back at him. Silent tears pour down his cheeks.

 

Keith moves his left hand from behind his back. His holds it up in clear view. Where Lance’s name is written plain as day, and two little hearts dance on his thumb. Lance’s eyes widen and his breathing stops. He hasn’t noticed that Matt has stopped the movie and the others are looking now.

 

Lance jerks his arm around until he sees the burn on his elbow from Pidge’s marshmallow. It’s a large red mark, and might blister in the morning. He snatches Keith’s arm and pulls him close.

 

Keith has the same mark on his elbow.

 

Lance looks into Keith’s face just a breath away. He looks at his fine features, his dark, long hair, and listens to him breathe.

 

“Babe?” He whispers.

 

Keith shatters. He falls forward and sobs loudly. Matt and the others jump back. Shiro starts to scurry forward, but Hunk holds him back.

 

Lance rushes to scoop Keith into his arms. He presses him against his chest and lets the other boy heave and snot into his neck. He grips on to the back of Keith’s neck so tightly that he’s worried he’ll leave bruises. Keith continues to wail right next to his ear.

 

“I don’t… know why… I’m crying…?” He manages to get out, but it sounds painful and raspy. Lance chuckles and squeezes him tighter.

“It’s ok. It’s ok. I’ve got you.” He closes his eyes and buries his face in Keith’s neck. He breathes the scent of him in. Feels the warmth and the weight of the boy against him.

“I can’t believe I’m touching you.” He whispers and he feels Keith sob a little harder.

 

“Uhhhhhh,” Pidge stares dumbfounded. Matt scoops her up and darts out of the room mumbling “Leaving, leaving, leavingleavingleaving” the whole time. Hunk and Shiro sprint after him. Keith and Lance know they’re truly alone when they hear a bedroom door shut.

 

Keith’s sobs eventually quiet into sniffles. Lance gives him one more squeeze before he starts to separate. His eyes are watering now. With some space between them, Lance seizes the opportunity to fully take in the boy in front of him.

“You’re so fucking pretty, holy shit.” Lance sniffs and wipes his eyes. “I can’t believe it. I’m so happy it’s you.” He laughs. Keith wipes his nose on his sleeve and smiles.

“I really like your hair. Do you mind if I…?” Lance wraps his hands around the back of Keith’s neck.

“No, no, go ahead.” Keith breathes deeply. He’s trying to get a grip after his sudden outburst, but Lance’s touch is not making it easy.

 

Lance tugs out his ponytail and lets the hair spill around his shoulders. He begins to card his fingers through the soft locks.

“Holy shit, you’re so pretty.” He whispers. “Sorry, I keep saying that. I know I made fun of your hair, but I love it. It really suits you.”

Lance twirls a strand in his fingers and beams.

“You’re so hot it made me angry when you walked in.” Keith states. Lance blinks at him before he bursts into laughter. He throws himself onto Keith and the two almost fall back onto the couch laughing. Keith manages to hold them up. Lance turns his head to speak into his ear.

 

“My name is Lance and I’m your soul mate.” And Keith feels him smile against his skin.

“I’m Keith.” He whispers.

 

The two hold each other on the couch for some time.

 

 

“Sooooo, how long do we have to be in here?” Pidge looks at the others currently hiding in Shiro’s bedroom. Hunk has his ear pressed to the door in an attempt to hear what’s still happening in the living room. Shiro lies back on his bed, whilst Matt fidgets next to him.

 

The door clicks and Hunk frantically crawls back. He acts casual when the door opens and Keith is standing there. His eyes are still red, but at least his voice no longer sounds hoarse. Lance stands just behind him.

 

“Hey,” He starts. “Uh, I’m fine, sorry about… all that.” He waves towards the living room.

“But I’m really exhausted, so I think I just want to go to bed now.”

The others nod and respectfully move to their spots for the night.

 

Hunk follows Lance and Keith to Keith’s room, but doesn’t hesitate to lift his sleeping bag into his arms. He makes pointed eye contact with Lance as he shakes his head and walks back towards the living room. Lance chuckles at his friend’s clear discomfort.

 

Keith takes off his pants and pulls on a pair of pyjama bottoms. He tries to avert his gaze as Lance slips off his tank top and peels off his jeans. Keith is not very successful. He slides into his bed, and Lance begins to enter his sleeping bag. Keith starts.

 

“Hey Lance,” His voice is soft in the quiet room. Lance looks up.

“Yeah?”

“Before… when you…” Keith nervously tucks a stray hair behind his ear.

“When you said… that you had a b-boyfriend…”

“Oh!” Lance sits upright. “Oh I was talking about you!” He beams. Keith grins back. He opens up his blankets and flicks his head.

“Then get your ass in here.”

 

Lance doesn’t have to be told twice. Both boys giggle as Lance practically dives in. His cold hands rest on Keith’s hips and their legs automatically tangle together.

“Hang on, I have to see if my drawings of you were right.” Lance lifts up the blanket to peek underneath them. Keith fidgets under his gaze.

“They were absolutely not!”

“Oh yes I was! Look at these abs!” Lance’s hand splays over Keith’s stomach. “I knew you’d be ripped.” Lance smirks.

 

Keith takes Lance’s hand off of his stomach and knots their fingers together. He wiggles closer until their noses are touching.

“You sure I’m not a disappointment?”

“Babe, of course not. I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

“I’d like it better if your lips were on me” He smirks. Lance splutters.

“So demanding!” He gasps, but then he’s leaning close and trying not to smile too wide.

 

Keith’s lips are impossibly soft. Their first kiss is short and innocent. Lance tenderly lets his fingers graze Keith’s jaw, and Keith smiles into it. They’re both gigging when they pull away. Keith shyly drops his gaze out of embarrassment from how much he’s smiling. Lance lifts his chin and kisses him one more time.

 

“Stay there.” Keith rolls to the side of the bed to grab something off of his windowsill. He rolls back with a red marker in hand. Lance wiggles as Keith draws a heart on his chest.

“Ah it tickles when you do it.” He squirms, but then he stares in awe as the drawing appears on Keith’s chest in real time. He grazes his finger over it and the depth of their connection sinks in. Lance places his whole palm over the drawing and feels Keith’s heartbeat. He kisses him again. A bit more forceful this time.

 

“Let me write something.” Lance takes the marker from Keith’s hand. Keith leans on his elbow and gestures to his body. Lance waggles his eyebrows as he moves in.

 

Hot as hell   Lance writes along his abs. Then Lance looks down to see the same phrase on his stomach.

“Aw, thanks Keith. That’s so flattering.”

Keith rolls his eyes.

“Oh my god you are actually like this.” He sighs.

“Excuse me, that is no way to talk to your soul mate who, in your words, is ‘hot as hell’” Lance boops his nose.

“You do talk a lot.” Keith chuckles as he grabs the back of Lance’s neck and pulls him down.

 

Their lips crash together and Lance hums into it. He tangles his fingers in Keith’s hair and opens his mouth. Keith eagerly reciprocates and wastes no time in tasting Lance’s tongue. He grabs a hold of Lance’s hips and pulls them flush together. Lance squeaks, then sighs into his mouth. They pull apart, but not enough that they can still taste the other’s breath. They both smell like chocolate and campfire smoke.

“Hey,” Keith pants. He trails a hand down Lance’s face. Lance closes his eyes and leans into it.

“I don’t want to do anything tonight. I just really need to be close to you. Is that ok?” He asks honestly. Lance turns and kisses his palm.

“Of course.” He beams. “I’m not really … experienced… so I’d probably die if we went further than making out.” He hides his face in a pillow. Keith finds it adorable and kisses his ear to coax him out.

“I won’t push you.”

“Thanks.” Lance nuzzles into his chest.

“But I am going to kiss you stupid.”

“Oh I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 

Lance giggles as Keith swings his leg up and straddles him.

“Take a big breath, because I’m not coming up for a while.” Keith teases.

“Impossible,” Lance scoffs. Keith raises an eyebrow.

“Because every time I look at you, you take my breath away.” He beams.

Keith flushes down to his collarbones.

“Oooooohmy god. You are the worst.” And true to his promise he falls down and kisses Lance until he is gasping. He runs his tongue along Lance’s as far back as he can reach, so he’s practically devouring him. Lance whines when Keith shifts his hips and greedily nibbles his bottom lip. Keith gives his ear a quick bite and it makes him squeak. Keith laughs evilly.

 

“Don’t make fun of me.” Lance pants.

“I’m not.” And Keith, looking down with his dark hair all tousled around his face, and his lips swollen to a pretty pink, knocks the wind out of Lance. The boy on top of him stretches so his abs stretch and flex, and his hips wiggle on Lance’s groin.

 

The younger boy groans and covers his face with his hands.

“Sorry.” He mumbles. Keith chuckles and grabs his wrists. He pulls his hands away.

“What for?” He smiles. It’s too much.

“For being hard.” Lance pouts. “I’m sorry, you’re just super pretty and-“

“Lance,” Keith sighs. He grabs one of Lance’s hands and pulls it against his equally hard crotch. Lance gasps at the heat of it.

“You’re not the only one that’s reacting. I’d be insulted if you weren’t feeling anything.” Keith leans down once more and presses their chests together. He lazily, but deeply kisses Lance.

 

“I can suck you off if you want?” He looks up with fluttering dark lashes. Lance trembles violently underneath his touch. He shakes his head.

“No. I want your mouth to stay up here with me.” And he forces Keith to deeply kiss him again. Keith moans when Lance’s grip gets more daring and he squeezes his ass.

“Lance,” He gasps.

 

Lance takes the opportunity to turn them over so that he is on top of Keith. He hitches Keith’s leg over his hip, and lets his hand wander down to explore Keith’s thigh and ass. Keith wraps his arms around Lance’s neck and pulls him closer in approval. When Lance’s lungs are burning he pulls away with a pop of his lips. His chest is heaving and he has to restrain himself from grinding against his soul mate’s soft thighs.

 

“You’re perfect.” He pants. Keith greedily keens up and tries to capture his lips again.

“Hold on, hold on,” Lance smiles and picks himself up onto his elbows. Keith pouts underneath him and it almost breaks his resolve.

“I need to ask you something, stop looking at me like that.” Lance laughs.

“Better be important.” Keith grins and bites his bottom lip. Lance watches the way it rolls out of his mouth looking wet and glistening. It makes his voice tremble, but he carries on.

“I want you to go on a date with me on Sunday. A proper date, where I call you my boyfriend and take you out to dinner and junk.”

Keith blinks up at him. His cheeks turn a deeper pink and he winds his arms around Lance’s slim waist. He pulls him down until their foreheads are touching.

“I’d like that.” He beams.

“Yeah?”

“Mmmm.”

And Lance closes the remaining inch between them until they’re kissing again. He cups Keith’s jaw and slows their kiss into a sensuous dance that leaves their chests aching.

 

They both promise to actually try and sleep, but it just turns into the big spoon always kissing the little spoon’s neck and whispering sweet nothings into their ear. They manage to finally grab a few winks when Keith drapes himself across Lance’s chest, who holds him close by the waist.

 

They wake up in the morning and both laugh as they instinctively check their bodies for messages.

 

 

“Do you have to go?” Keith grabs hold of Lance’s tank top and tugs him into one more kiss.

“Yeah, my mom will worry you know?” Lance whispers and tucks a lock of hair behind Keith’s ear. Keith grabs his hands and kisses along his knuckles.

“You can stay another night. If you want I mean…” Keith drops his hand and starts to wrap his fingers in the belt loops of Lance’s jeans. Lance picks up his chin and kisses him chastely.

“I gotta go home. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.”

“I think we’ve had enough absence.” Keith smirks and he kisses Lance a bit more forcefully. Lance hums and after a moment, opens his mouth to let Keith properly kiss him. He pulls at Keith’s hair and licks into his mouth.

 

“They’ve been doing this for 30 minutes.” Hunk stands in the front doorway and sighs. Pidge taps her foot impatiently.

“You go over there then. I’m not stepping a foot into that disaster zone.” She huffs. Matt looks across the room at Shiro. Shiro throws his hands up and sighs.

 

“I only live 30 minutes away,”

“I know, but now that I’ve got you it’s a lot harder to let you go.”

“I told you I was charming.” Lance smirks. Keith reaches up and tugs on the brim of his cap. He places it on his own head and grins.

“And I said you were arrogant. Guess I was right too.”

“Babe, you wound me.”

“Mmmm, call me that again.” Keith leans up onto his tippy toes and is about to reach heaven once more when a weight pulls him back down to Earth. A hand on his shoulder pushes him back down and pulls him away from Lance’s warm chest.

 

“Alright, Keith. I think you’ve kept your boyfriend enough. You’ll see him tomorrow.” Shiro tries to keep his voice level and soothing. Keith huffs and crosses his arms. He’s clearly not impressed.

 

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow. And I’ll message as soon as I can.” Lance leans forward for once last kiss. Shiro clears his throat.

Lance steps back and nervously rubs his arm. He doesn’t meet Shiro’s gaze.

“Uh, Shiro! Thanks for uh inviting me over. It was lovely meeting you and I had a really good time.”

“Good time? Is that Keith’s nickname?” Pidge snorts. Matt flicks her ear. Shiro rolls his eyes.

“It was great meeting you, Lance.” Shiro steps forward and shakes his hand. “Both as Lance and as the boy who has made my brother so happy these past few months.” He smiles. Lance giggles and scuffs his foot on the ground.

“Well Keith makes me really happy, so I should really thank you for bringing us together.”

“I think we’re even.”

 

Lance blows kisses as Pidge drags him out the door. Keith wears a shy smile and pretends to catch one.

 

 

See you tomorrow Keithy babe <3 I miss you already.

 

Keith laughs at the message on his arm that appears almost immediately. He runs towards his art supplies and gets to work on a new drawing. His old drawings of Lance actually hadn’t been too far off, but now he has the means to make something more accurate. He sketches quickly on his inner forearm, then starts to draw his best Lance. Complete with cute ears that slightly stick out, his upturned nose and dazzling smile.

 

He draws a frame of hearts around it and captions it:

 

Perfect boy <3

 

Ok you are absolutely doing that on paper and giving it to me because that is phenomenal. Honestly babe, how did I get so lucky?

 

Keith truly feels like the lucky one. He lazily smiles and draws a fresh hangman board. It takes Lance a while, but he eventually gets it.

 

You’re wonderful?

 

Keith rests his head on the dining room table and sighs. Why can’t it be tomorrow yet?

 

Shiro walks over and plonks his head on top of Keith’s. He sighs deeply.

“I told you the play date was a good idea.”

 

And Keith groans, because he knows this statement is bound to make it into Shiro’s best man speech.

 

Notes:

AUUUUUUGGGHHHHH I hope you guys liked that! This was my first long form fic in so long and I really had such a great time. I'm hoping I can do more in the future!

As usual I'm irrevocably-delicious on tumblr if you wanna hit me up.

Notes:

Hey hope you're having fun! Next chapter won't take long and after Keith receiving so many unwanted marks, we're gonna start the next part off with Lance being very concerned and confused.

Also shameless flirting.