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“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Keith starts, looking at Pidge. She seems calm, but Keith’s known her for long enough to see when she’s on the verge of a heartfelt meltdown. T-minus ten minutes to sobbing.
“You asshat!” Lance yells, “You made the baby join your cult?”
”Not a baby.” Pidge mutters. “I joined on my own.”
“Yes, yes my baby child you said that, but that doesn’t make Keithy boy here any less responsible!” Lance says, waving a finger at Keith. “For shame!”
“Dude shut up, we’re in the library” Keith says, shooting a glance at the librarian. She’s on her phone, ignoring the argument.
“Miss Payne doesn’t care, Keith.” Lance says, with a quieter tone. “Listen. I just don’t understand why you two have to be so... against this whole thing. It makes me happy, to think the Universe found me the perfect partner, to think I belong with someone. Why can’t it make you guys happy too?”
“Lance it’s not-“ Pidge starts to say, her voice choked up.
“Keith has always acted so fuckin’ high and mighty about this shit,” Lance interrupts, “Like he’s better than us dumbass romantics who hope to be mystically and spiritually matched with someone.”
Keith feels his face go red. He sneaks a glance at Pidge. T-minus four minutes to meltdown. “Lance, please, just drop it. I’m gonna take Pidge to lunch. For the record, though, I don’t need a soulmate to be happy. I’m going to find someone who loves me without any stupid eyeball bullshit.”
Pidge grabs her bag off the chair next to her. “Keith, if it’s all the same, I want to have lunch alone today. I’ll see you later, guys. And Lance, I promise I’m not gonna get condescending. I just... want to fall in love.”
Pidge rushes out of the library, leaving Keith grimacing to himself. Should’ve gotten her out quicker, he thinks. Now she’s gonna have a meltdown all on her own.
“Keith?” Says Lance, his voice suddenly soft.
Keith startles, “Y-yeah?”
“Is she okay?” He looks down, wringing his hands together. “I didn’t mean to get all angry about that, I’m sorry I just-“
“It’s okay.” Keith says with a soft smile. “She’ll be okay. She’s trying out something new for now. She’ll be all right. She’s a tough kid, you know.”
“Yeah but is something wrong? Anything I can help with?”
“Ah...” Keith says, “It’s not really my place. Don’t worry about it, she’d tell you if it was a big deal.”
“Yeah. I hope so. Uh... Since she stormed off... it looks like you have nobody to go to lunch with...” Lance says, eyes trained on the floor.
“Weren’t you mad at me like two minutes ago?”
“Yeah but. It was for a dumb reason. Let me make it up to you, I’ll drive you to any fast food you want.” Lance says, looking up at Keith. “To say sorry.”
When their eyes meet, the world seems to stand still. Even though Keith knows his eyes won’t change color, he suddenly understands what the stupid lovey dovey couples are talking about.
“Yeah. Uh. Okay. Sounds good.”
Keith Kogane is utterly, entirely, and completely fucked.