Chapter Text
+++
[you] Hey Allura
[Allura] Shiro! OMG are you okay? I was getting so worried!
[you] it's not Shiro. It's Keith. Shiro's brother.
[Allura]. Oh. Is he alright? It's been a week and I haven't heard anything.
[you] Shiro's okay. He's still in recovery. They put him in an induced coma after the operation to help the swelling go down. We thought he'd be awake by now but the doctors are monitoring him and they keep saying he needs more time to recover.
[Allura] Did something go wrong with the operation? Is that why it's taking so long?
[Allura] I'm sorry that was very personal. You don't have to answer that.
[you] No it's fine. Shiro would want you to know, that's why I thought I'd text you. Nothing went wrong and the doctors all seem really pleased with how well it went. But this is a brand new procedure and it's never been tried before. They underestimated how long it would take for his body to adapt to the implants. Especially the neurological attachments.
[Allura] so he's really fine? He's okay?
[you] yeah he's okay, they just don't know how long they need to keep him under for. But we're hoping he'll wake up in the next couple of days.
[Allura] I see. Thank you for telling me, Keith. I really appreciate it as I know I'm not family.
[you] sure
[you] hey… I know Shiro might hate me for telling you this but… ever since he started texting you he's been loads better
[Allura] what do you mean, better?
[you] Before… he was just going through the motions. He wasn't really happy or hopeful. But then he started talking to you, and it was like… something just changed. He stopped hating himself. He stopped believing the accident ruined his life for good. He started laughing and smiling again.
[you] He started that IG account and he's been so excited about it. He still has bad days but he bounces back. I don't know what you said to him but… you somehow gave him a whole new perspective
[you] Honestly… I've never seen him this happy. Even before the accident.
[you] I guess what I'm trying to say is… thanks. I feel like I have my brother back because of you.
[Allura] Thank you, Keith. That's very sweet of you to say.
[Allura] I hope Shiro doesn't hate you for telling me
[you] guess I'll find out when he wakes up
+++
[you] hey princess
[Allura] Shiro?
[you] yeah I see Keith's been texting you from my phone
[you] but it's me
[you] your friendly neighbourhood cat whisperer
[Allura] how are you?
[you] hopped up on pain meds. Sleeping a lot
[Allura] you had me worried there for a bit
[you] yeah sorry. In my defence I was in a coma though
[Allura] so I heard
[you] you're soek oiekdiwokdfk kdfow
[Alllura] …what?
+++
[you] omggg I knocked out on the pain meds
[Allura] what were you trying to type?
[you] I have NO IDEA
[you] I'm completely out of it
[Allura] why don't you just get some rest and text me when you're fully conscious
[you] you're so smart and beautiful
[you] I awnt feiowa to kdwo akjfoea
[Allura] …ooookay I'll text you tomorrow
+++
[you] I know I texted you yesterday because I can see all the messages but… I can't remember any of it
[Allura] it's okay you were pretty out of it
[Allura] how are you feeling today?
[you] getting better. I'm off most of the meds so I feel less woozy. And I can get up and walk around my room.
[you] my stump is REALLY hurting though
[Allura] is it… supposed to?
[you] They put a titanium pin in the bone so I'd be a bit worried if it didn't
[Allura] ouch
[Allura] when will you get your arm fitted?
[you] Hopefully in the next couple of days
[you] don't worry I'll send you a pic :)
[Allura] speaking of pictures…
[Allura] sent you a picture: meandjuni.jpg
[Allura] she's getting really friendly and now she climbs all over me
[you] so perfect. So adorable
[you] the cat's pretty cute too
[Allura] lmaoooo Shiro stop
+++
@just_lance started a group chat
@just_lance added @itspidge, @hunka_burning_love, and @only_the_moon_understands to the group chat
@just_lance changed the name of the group to "Hook a sister up!"
@just_lance okay I think we all know why we're here
@itspidge uuuummmmmm WHAT?
@hunka_burning_love yeah what is this. No offence but we don't even know you
@just_lance guys! This is an intervention!
@just_lance my sister won't stop talking about Shiro. And you confirmed he keeps talking about her. We have to get them together!
@hunka_burning_love Wait… you're Allura's brother, right?
@hunka_burning_love Is this some kind of matchmaking scam?
@just_lance What? NO! I'm serious! Allura deserves love and happiness and I'm going to make it happen for her
@itspidge By sneaking around behind her back and messing around in her life?
@just_lance I'M DOING THIS OUT OF LOVE!
@only_the_moon_understands why in the EVER LOVING FUCK am I in this group chat?!?!?!?!
@just_lance you're Shiro's brother. You're our direct line to Shiro. We need you to convince him to go along with our plans
@only_the_moon_understands ??????????!!!???!?!?!???!?!?!????
@itspidge there's no "we" in this situation. This is all your idea
@hunka_burning_love yeah I'm not sure I feel comfortable with this. I mean I'd love to see Shiro happy… and he does talk about Allura a lot… in a very fond way
@hunka_burning_love I dunno where I'm going with this
@just_lance so you're in?!?!
@hunka_burning_love aawwwwww what the heck. I can't resist true love!
@itspidge HUNK it's not "true love" they've never even been in the same room as each other
@hunka_burning_love so? You can love someone without being in a room with them. You can tell if you like someone just by talking to them!
@only_the_moon_understands I'm leaving this group
@just_lance NO COME ON!
@just_lance Keith… ma man… ma buddy… you want Shiro to be happy right?
@only_the_moon_understands I'm neither your man nor your buddy
@just_lance but you're Shiro's brother! You of all people should want him to be happy! And have a chance at looooooovvvvvveeeeeee
@only_the_moon_understands don't say love like that
@hunka_burning_love yeah come on Keith don't you want to help out Shiro? You've heard the way he talks about her, wouldn't it be great to get them together?
@only_the_moon_understands uuuuugggggghhhhh I can't believe I'm gonna go along with this
@just_lance YES THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
@just_lance okay Pidge. Are you in or out?
@itspidge I'm in. But only because I love a good scheme
@just_lance ALRIGHT!
@just_lance my plan is this: I'm going to sound out Allura and see how she feels about Shiro. Keith, you do the same on your end. Then we need a plan to force matters
@only_the_moon_understands why is my job snooping? I'm terrible at snooping! Shiro's gonna know I'm angling for something
@itspidge so just angle. If he likes her he'll start gushing as soon as you ask and we'll have proof
@only_the_moon_understands Shiro's not like that. Anyway he already told me he likes her
@just_lance WHATTT?!!?!?!?!?!!??!!?
@just_lance and you were just sitting on this highly important fact??!?!?
@only_the_moon_understands What was I supposed to do, cupid? Tell a bunch of strangers on Instagram that my brother likes a girl?
@itspidge Did he say "like"? What was his wording exactly? How deep does the rabbit hole go?
@only_the_moon_understands I asked if he liked her and he said 'maybe a little bit'. I didn't get more out of him than that
@itspidge That's way too vague. What does 'maybe a little bit' even mean?
@hunka_burning_love Yeah I'm with Pidge on this one. Keith ma man you gotta get us more deets
@only_the_moon_understands How exactly am I supposed to do that?
@just_lance Get Shiro drunk and pump him for information
@itspidge dude he's in a HOSPITAL on a highly controlled clinical trial. He's not allowed to get drunk
@just_lance try and set him up with other people!
@itspidge Again: hospital. Confinement. Not allowed visitors.
@hunka_burning_love why don't you just hang out with him and chill and maybe subtly bring it up and see what he says?
@only_the_moon_understands It'll never work. Shiro needs to be attacked directly otherwise he'll pretend to be innocent. And if I ask him directly he'll get suspicious and wonder why I care
@hunka_burning_love Don't you guys ever talk about this stuff?
@only_the_moon_understands not really
@just_lance that's so weird. I've told Allura about every crush I've ever had since I was 9
@only_the_moon_understands Well good for you but Shiro's not like that
@only_the_moon_understands Anyway we don't even know if Allura likes Shiro
@just_lance I'm pretty sure she does
@itspidge 'pretty sure' ain't gonna cut it either dude. We need confirmation
@hunka_burning_love yeah come on Lance. That's not enough to go on. We can't toy with Shiro's emotions like that. You have to find out if your sister likes him first
@itspidge it should be easy since you're apparently soooo close
@just_lance I didn't say that! I said I told her about MY crushes, not the other way around!
@only_the_moon_understands looks like it's you that needs to go snooping then, CUPID
@just_lance can you please stop calling me that? I'm just a concerned citizen trying to do my part to make the world a better place
@only_the_moon_understands Yeah well unless you can get some confirmation that your sister likes Shiro, I'm not going along with this. He just lost his arm and had major surgery, he doesn't need to get his heart broken on top of that
@just_lance You know what? FINE. Challenge accepted
@only_the_moon_understands It's not a challenge dude
@just_lance I SAID CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
+++
[Lance] Hey so quick question, are you into Shiro?
[Allura] What are you planning you evil genius? I don't trust you
[Lance] Nothing! I just noticed you were really worried last week while he was in for his surgery
[Lance] Is that cos you LIKE HIM like him?
[Lance] you can tell me
[Allura] No I can't. Because (a) you have a big mouth and will blab to everyone you know, and (b) you will tease me about it forever
[Lance] I can see why you like him. I mean he's super hot
[Allura] …not even gonna touch that
[Lance] but you want to, right?
[Allura] Ugh Lance why do you even care who I like?
[Lance] Because you're my sister, and I love you. And I don't want you to be lonely. And if there's someone you like I think you should go for it
[Allura] Well there's no one and I'm not going to go for it, so you can drop it
[Lance] Come on, Allura. You talk about him all the time! I know how you get when you like someone
[Allura] Lance, please. It's not like that. He's a very good friend but… we've never even met in real life! And he only talks to me because he's stuck in hospital and he's bored and he doesn't have anyone else to talk to
[Lance] Oh come on. I'm sure that's not true
[Allura] Please just drop it? Shiro's very sweet but that's it. We are JUST FRIENDS.
[Lance] fine. Fine. I believe you
[Allura] Lance…
[Lance] What?!? I said I believe you!
+++
@just_lance GUYS we have a problem
@only_the_moon_understands is it you and your attitude?
@just_lance that's hurtful but I'm gonna let it slide
@just_lance Allura won't admit she likes Shiro
@itspidge Maybe because she… doesn't like him?
@just_lance No! She definitely likes him!
@just_lance I know how she gets when she likes someone. I KNOW she likes him
@itspidge Oh come on!
@only_the_moon_understands So basically… you have nothing
@just_lance The only reason she won't admit it is because she thinks your brother is only talking to her because he's bored
@only_the_moon_understands How about you just admit that this whole idea was a bust. Your sister doesn't like my brother. End of story
@only_the_moon_understands Now if you don't mind, I'm going to leave this group and then go and encourage my brother to stop talking to a girl who's NEVER GOING TO LIKE HIM BACK
@just_lance Keith! No, please, come on! I can prove she likes him! I just need more time!
@only_the_moon_understands GOODBYE CUPID
@just_lance C'mon! I'm serious. How did you know Shiro liked my sister? Huh? You must have been able to tell
@just_lance You know your brother and you know what he's like and you can TELL when he likes someone. Right?
@only_the_moon_understands Ugh… I guess
@just_lance Well, Allura is the same for me. I KNOW when she likes someone. She talks about them a lot and she gets all happy and flustered. And that's how she gets about Shiro
@just_lance Sooooo… if we all work together, we can get proof that she likes him
@itspidge Not to throw a spanner in the works, but we also need more deets on how Shiro feels about Allura
@only_the_moon_understands uh-uh. No way. He already said he likes her a bit, I'm not going to push any more until we know this is going somewhere
@itspidge Alright fine. We get the info on Allura first and then we decide how to proceed. Agreed?
@hunka_burning_love Awww this is nice you guys! We're working together to bring two people together! I feel all warm and fuzzy inside
@just_lance Me too, Hunk. Me too
+++
[you] So now that I'm a bit more awake, tell me: what did I miss while I was out?
[Allura] lol well… Juniberry will sit in Lance's lap now
[Allura] You missed four selfies from me which you obviously need to catch up on
[Allura] and I'm meeting Dr Haggar next week! My manager is coming along too
[you] Oh wow sounds great! Hope it goes well
[Allura] How are you feeling? Still in pain?
[you] it's loads better. Plus the doctor just came round to tell me that tomorrow is arm day
[Allura] You mean… it's getting fitted? Tomorrow?
[you] Yup. Tomorrow!
[Allura] YES ARM DAY IS FINALLY HERE!
[Allura] You must be so excited
[you] I am. I can't wait
[you] They keep telling me not to get excited but… I can't help it lol
[you] They think I might not be able to use it straight away. I'll have to get used to it and practice
[Allura] but still… it's pretty exciting
[you] it's VERY exciting
[you] I can't wait to show you a pic of my new arm
[Allura] I can't wait to see it
[Allura] aaaaaaawwwww… I'm so happy you're getting an arm!
[you] Hey I gotta go. But I'll text you tomorrow and let you know how it goes
[Allura] Can't wait :)
+++
