Chapter Text
Keith had been looking for a turntable for a while now, so when he saw an ad for one pop up, he immediately clicked on it. He was scrolling through Kijiji when he happened upon it, hope once again washing over him. An hour, he had been sat there, and had yet to find a decently priced working turntable. A lot of people were selling ones that were vintage, or antique, but they weren't meant to be played. 'Then what's the purpose?' Keith thought to himself. He looked closer at the ad, pleased to see it wasn't another broken overpriced one. It was cheep, and the seller said they were looking to get rid of it, not because it didn't work, but simply because they had no use for it. Keith quickly sent a reply, stating that he was interested in buying it. He also made sure to include the word 'turntable', as much to Keith's disdain, the seller had only labeled it as a record player. In Keith's eyes, the difference was important. the record player itself was a cool blue colour, but Keith figured he could spray paint it red later on.
The next day, Keith gets a reply from the seller of the turntable, giving him a phone number to text.
[Keith K] Hello, is this Lance?
[XXX-XXX-XXX]: Yes! I presume you are the guy asking about the record player?
Seeing the text got through, Keith goes ahead and saves Lance's number. The name reminds him of someone, but he can't put a face to it. He shrugs to himself and sends back a reply.
[Keith K]: The name's Keith.
[Lance the turntable seller]: That's a strange name! Not bad, but strange
Keith wasn't sure if he should be offended by this, so he chose to ignore it. Relieved to see a new message appear, he hastens to reply.
[Lance the turntable seller]: When are you looking to buy?
[Keith K]: As soon as possible. I don't have anything tomorrow afternoon, and it's a Saturday. Will that be okay?
Keith doesn't usually use completely perfect grammar, but he still thinks that first impressions are important. In texting, at least.
[Lance the turntable seller]: Sure! I'll have it ready for 2?
[Keith K] Sounds good. Around where do you live?
Keith had searched with the 'near you' tag on, his brother has a car but he wasn't sure how far he was willing to drive. It occurred that his previous statement sounded a bit strange, and thought about sending a follow up text to clarify, but a small vibrate from his phone interrupted this worries.
[Lance the turntable seller]: oops! i almost forgot about that!!! I'll send it to you!!!!
'He uses a lot of exclamation marks, doesn't he' Keith thinks to himself when he sees a new message pop up with an address and about seven more exclamation points than needed. He quickly discovers that their houses are close, probably even walking distance. He stretched and after sending a quick word of thanks, stood up to get changed for work. He works at a bar a few blocks down, getting the tiring night shift every Friday. Grabbing his bag, he headed out the door, dreading the long night ahead of him. He wished his friend Pidge was of age, that way he wouldn't be alone at least. They were still 17 though, a year too young to be serving alcohol. Not that this hadn't stopped them drinking at many different parties. For the rest of the night he's be there alone, wiping down glasses, and serving drinks to thirsty customers. It wasn't the ideal job, but his brother was familiar with the manager, and it payed enough along with the occasional job from the mechanical assistance place he sometimes works for.
He doesn't remember getting in last night, only now does he find himself collapsed on the couch, cheek pushed uncomfortably into the fabric. He groans, lifting himself up to check the time. 1:15. He's awake immediately, frantically jumping through a quick shower, getting dressed, and tying his hair up into a ponytail. He grabs his wallet and is out the door before the clock even gets to 1:45. For Keith a few years ago, this would be considered a record, but recently he's been waking up late and rushing to get ready even faster than today. Keith checks and rechecks his phone multiple times, as if the address will suddenly change. He arrives after a fifteen minute walk, right on time. The house is huge. 'Spoiled rich white kid?' He wonders to himself as he walks up to the door. He rings the bell, and from inside he can hear muffled yelling and thudding footsteps. The door swings open to reveal a tall boy with short brown hair and tan skin. 'Huh, guess I was wrong' he muses. He's unsure of the other males heritage but he guesses Spanish or Portuguese. The boy standing there looks about his age, but wow, was he good looking. Keith catches himself before he spends too much time admiring the taller male. Lance. This must be Lance, right?
"Um, I'm here for the record player you were selling?" It comes out as a question, and Keith hates himself for not being better in social situations.
"OH! Wait? Keith?!" Of all responses Keith had imagined, he did not expect Lance to seem to recognize him.
"Uh, yeah, that's me."
"No, but like, Keith? Keith-from-Garrison-High Keith?"
"Well I did go to Garrison, yes."
"Oh my god, it's you. Wait you don't recognize me?" Keith tries to recall, but he can't think of anyone called Lance. He really wishes he could just get his turntable and leave, he hated running into people he was supposed to know.
"Uh, did we share a class....?" Lance seems exasperated, and somehow the comical expression triggers a memory for Keith.
"Oh wait! You! You were the one always making a scene in Iverson's class!" So that was him, Keith laments remembering the obnoxious teen who sat next to him in chemistry.
"Dude, we literally sat next to each other, how could you forget me? But yes, that was me. I used to be such an obnoxious kid." Lance smiles fondly, until another head pokes around the doorway.
"Used to?" The older looking person snorts, voicing Keith's thoughts. He must be a brother of Lance's.
"Daniel! Go away!" Keith chuckles at the whine in Lance's voice.
"Why, little bro?"
"I have a turntable to sell, and you are interrupting." He says 'you' very pointedly, glaring at his brother.
"I didn't look like you were selling anything. Look more like flirting to me." Lance's face turns beet red, and Keith can feel his heating up too.
"Daniel!" Lance all but screams, pushing his brother away.
"Okay, so the turntable." Lance says, trying and failing to keep the blush off his cheeks. He brings said record player out, putting it on a conveniently placed table. Keith's eyes go wide seeing the brand of the item for sale.
"Hey, are you sure you wanna sell this? And for this price?" Keith knows he could have walked away with a costly high-end turntable, but the thought of lying to Lance gave him a bad feeling in the bottom of his stomach. Seeing Lance's confusion, he continues his rant.
"This is a super expensive model, it could go for double- probably even triple what you're selling it for now! Where did you even get it?" Lance balks, but quickly regains his composure.
"Wow, I had no idea. But the price is fine as what it's at. I-I got it from m-my abuelo." Lance rubs the back of his neck awkwardly, but Keith is too enraptured by the mechanism to notice his discomfort.
"Where did he get it?!" Keith tries to calm down, but the significance of the object makes it impossible.
"I don't know, sorry." This time Keith notices how genuinely upset Lance looks, and he hurries to change the subject.
"Hey! That's okay, but are you sure you want to sell it for so little?"
"Yeah, yeah. What I listed it for is fine, right?" Lance looks down at the turntable directly for the first time, a look of fondness crossing over his features. Keith watches with curiosity, noting how long Lance's eyelashes really are. He looks away quickly, hoping the blush gracing his cheeks isn't too obvious to Lance.
"Yeah, that'd be great." They make the exchange after that, but before they can say their goodbyes, Daniel walks out, picking up the turntable in one swoop.
"I'll carry it down to his car for him!" He's started down the steps before Keith has time to protest.
"It's not a car!" Keith says, then turns back to Lance.
"Uh- I guess I'll just go then." Keith sees what he thinks is a hint of disappointment on Lance's face. He is quick to dismiss the though when Lance sticks out his tongue and gives what Keith considered to be a rude goodbye.
"Well then, seeya, Keithy-boy!" Keith just scowls and mutters something about not calling him that under his breath. He doesn't actually mind it all that much, other than the fact it makes him blush a deep red colour. He throw one last goodbye over his shoulder and walks to go find Daniel, who's waiting patiently next to Keith's motorbike.
"Nice ride."
"Uh, thanks." Keith is very proud of the motorcycle he fixed up for himself, but getting a complement from Lance's older brother was a bit strange.
"You shared a class yeah?" The question takes Keith by surprise, but he answers anyway.
"Yeah, not that I remember it much. What's it to you anyway?" Keith wasn't sure why he was being so uptight about it, but something about Daniel made him wary. Said guy just chuckles.
"Hey now, no need to get so defensive." He raises his arms up slightly to show he means no harm. "Lance's just working through some things right now, and you seemed to do a world of good for him. Just curious." He shrugs, as if to say it doesn't matter. 'Going through things? What things?' Keith wonders, his face making his confusion clear.
"My point, is that he likes being around you, even if he's a little shit about it. You should find an excuse to come back sometime."
"How would I even do that? We barely know each other!" Keith is shocked, but he finds himself not hating the idea. Sure, Lance is annoying as fuck, but he's a pretty funny guy.
"Hmm. Never mind then, thanks." Why is he thanking Keith? Keith just utters something between an apology and thanks as he loads the record player onto the back of his bike. Daniel reaches out his hand, and it takes Keith a moment to realize it's for a hand shake. He clasps his hand in Daniels and is pulled into a half-hug, half-handshake ordeal that ended with a firm pat on the back. Enough of a pat that Keith didn't feel his wallet slip out of his back pocket. When he's released he mounts his bike and saying one last goodbye to Daniel he rides off.
It's not until much later that Keith realizes what's missing. Much later. In fact, it's Sunday evening when he's getting ready for another night shift at the bar that he goes to reach for his wallet. After searching his house twice to assure that it's not there he sits down to think. He'd ashamed to say he hasn't left the house since Saturday, but it makes it easier to look. Is it possible for it to have fallen out while riding back from Lance's? This normally wouldn't be a big problem, just a slight hindrance. But today, when he has to go to work at a bar with past problems of underage workers, some form of identification has to be on you at all times. He curses quietly, wishing that Rolo, the meddlesome teen from a few years ago, had picked another store to wreck havoc in. It had been a nightmare, everyone else immediately background checked to make sure they were over 18. He was glad that Canada started younger than other countries, making it easier for a nineteen year old college dropout like himself to find work. He sighed and got back to the problem at hand. He decides that texting Lance couldn't do any harm, so he picks up his phone. Despite the predicament he's in, he snicker when he sees Lance's contact name. He really needs to change it. But to what?
[Keith K]: Hey, I've lost my wallet and was wondering if it had fallen out around your place somewhere?
Keith rereads the text and then sends it, hoping for the best. While he waits, he changes Lance's contact name. He giggles, blushing at the new nickname.
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Omggg I was wonderin who's it was....
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: I was actually abt to text you lol
Keith was filled with relief, and laughs at how much Lance's grammar has changed. He hurries to reply, smiling for no reason.
[Keith K]: Oh thank god
[Keith K]: Is there anyway I could get it back tonight? Specifically in the next half hour?
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Uh, maybe? Why the rush?
[Keith K]: Need it for my job
[Keith K]: It has my ID
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Where do u wrk? I could drop it off if u need 2 be there soon?
[Keith K]: Would it be too much trouble?
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Nah man i got u covered
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: What's the address???
Keith hastily sent back the address and even though he wasn't Christian, or religious at all, he thanked god for Lance.
[Keith K]: maybe i should add an a word meaning helpful in your contact name
Realizing what he's just said, he hurries to follow up with another text.
[Keith K]: wait ignore that
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: AWWWWW <3333 YOU LOVE ME!!!! <3
Keith blushes up to his ears, and has to remind himself that Lance is joking around.
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Wait
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: What am I saVED AS NOW?????
[Keith K]: Asshole
It wasn't a complete lie, he was telling the truth, just not the entire truth.
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: KEITHHHH :((( U BROKE MY HEART
Still blushing, Keith snorts, and scrambles to find an excuse to leave the conversation. Totally because Lance was annoying, not in fear that'd he say something ridiculous, right?
[Keith K]: You'll get over it
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: HOW COULD U??????
This was followed by many sorts of emojis, and Keith reflexively covered his face. People passing on the street must of thought it weird, but Keith couldn't care less. He was so incredibly happy talking to Lance. Wait. He turned an even darker shade of red as the implications of it set in. He had a suspicion f where this was going, but chose to ignore it, turning his attention back to his phone.
[Keith K]: I'm almost there, I'll text you when I get inside.
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: UGH FINE :((( tell me where 2 find u tho
Keith sighed and walked the rest of the block to the bar in silence, alone with his thoughts.When he arrived, he slipped in and threw on a name tag, going over to find the manager in her office.
His manager was a beautiful woman with long silver hair and an accent from somewhere he couldn't quite place. Even though he had come to terms with the fact he was gay years ago, even he could appreciate that she certainly was good looking. She could be painfully strict at times, but Keith knew she really was nice under all that. This was a different sort of bar though, so being relentlessly hit on by men at the bar wasn't something that happened often. The last time it had happened was when a drunk man mistakenly stumbled into the wrong establishment.
"Hey Allura." His manager looks up at him and smiles.
"What's up Keith? You don't usually stop by here."
"Yes well, there's someone I need to meet up with before- don't give me that look" Keith paused, trying to ignore the knowing look Allura was giving him, "He needs to drop off my wallet." He went on to give her the full details as quickly as he could, knowing she'd text his brother something suggestive otherwise.
"Anyways, I need to meet him, could you tell whoever's there now I'll be few minutes late?" He's out the door before he can be berated for not knowing his coworkers names.
[Keith K]: Hey, can you come in the front door when your here?
[Keith K]: Thanks again
Lance walks in then, looking around for a familiar face. Before he can get to him, Keith sees Lance being hit on by a muscular man with a leather jacket. Keith doesn't know why, but seeing Lance be hit on upsets him, so he hurries to Lance's side.
"Sorry, this guy isn't a customer." Keith apologizes to the man as he leads Lance into the back room.
"You know, I almost thought he was you, with that jacket." Lance smirks as Keith's face turns into a frown.
"Keep up the snide remarks, and I'll hand you back to the guys out there. Some of them aren't as gentlemanly as they let on." Lance balks, before giving a reply that Keith can barely hear.
"You didn't know it was a gay bar? Oh my god, I'm sorry. I should have told you before." Keith's apologies tumble out, ashamed of himself forgetting to mention it earlier.
"Dude, it's okay. But.... does this mean you're..." Lance trails off.
"Yeah, gay. Sorry if it bothers you."
"Bothers me? Why would it-"
"Hello boys!" Allura's voice cuts off Lance, though he immediately lights up when he sees her.
"Well hello." Lance wiggles his eyebrows, and if he hadn't been flirting with Allura, Keith might have laughed.
"Hello, you must be Lance, Keith's friend." Keith tries to forget the evocative way she says friend. Lance doesn't seem to mind, continuing on to use an awful pickup line.
"I seem to have lost my number, can I have yours instead?" This goes about as well as Keith thought it would, which wasn't great.
"Sorry, but we have enough staff here and aren't hiring." Somehow, Keith feels that if not for Allura's stone cold tone, Lance would have persisted. Receiving a notification on her phone, she says goodbye and walks swiftly back to her office.
"She's really pretty, huh." So. So, Lance was straight. Keith had figured this, there had been many rumors of him being a womanizer back in high school. Somehow, he was still slightly disappointed, though he did his best not to let it show on his face.
"Well, I'm pretty sure she's in a secret relationship with my brother, so good luck."
"No way! Aw man, your bother is really lucky." Keith just hummed at that, not sure how to respond. Thankfully, Lance pulled Keith's wallet out of his pocket then, and he didn't have to.
"This is yours then?"
"Yeah, sorry for the trouble. I don't know how I managed to lose it."
"Probably was Daniel." Lance mutters, more to himself than Keith.
"Sorry?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Okay well, uh, I need to repay you somehow" Keith continues, cutting Lance off before he can even start.
"How about we go out for drinks sometime? I'll pay." Then realizing what was more prominent to himself than anyone else, he added on.
"I mean, not here, obviously. It could be another bar, or even not a bar! We could go for coffee instead, I know a good place-"
"Keith." Keith looked up, suddenly aware of his rambling. He clamped a hand over his mouth and whispered an apology.
"Coffee sounds good. I'll even let you pick the place. Surprise me." Keith just stared, and when Lance's reply finally registered, he smiled and nodded. No matter how many times he told himself not to get his hopes up, his heart just wouldn't listen.
'So this is what a crush it like', he thought, his heart suddenly hurting a bit.
It was the next Thursday after when Keith finally worked up the courage to ask Lance out for coffee. In a totally not date like way. Just two old high school friends, having coffee, in a totally platonic way.
[Keith K]: Hey I was wondering if your still up for coffee?
Keith wasn't expecting to get a reply back right away, but he did.
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: I was wondering when you'd ask! When r u thinkin?
[Keith K]: Tomorrow afternoon? If you're free?
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: I don't have any classes then, so that would work. don't u hav class tho?
[Keith K]: I dropped out.
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Ohhh makes sense then
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: So where should i meet u???
[Keith K]: I thought you said to surprise you?
[Keith K]: I'll pick you up, if that's okay with you?
[Annoyingly Adorable Asshole]: Sure!! I like surprises ;))))
Oh god, why did Lance have to use the winky face? Keith decided not to respond. Instead, he texted Pidge to update them on the situation.
Keith switched to his chat with Pidge, and carefully typed out a greeting.
[Keith K]: Hey
[Pidgeotto]: what do you need this time?
Pidge knew Keith too well, he didn't just talk to them unless he wanted something, or he was bored out of his mind.
[Keith K]: wow rude i can't just say hello
[Keith K]: I don't need anything but i thought i'd tell you something you would eventually find out anyways
[Pidgeotto]: Oh? what's that??
[Keith K]: You know the guy from high school I told you about?
[Pidgeotto]: ooooo you gotta date???
[Keith K]: yes but no
[Keith K]: He's straight and i'm only doing it to pay him back
[Pidgeotto]: awww don't worry everyone's straight til they're not
[Pidgeotto]: so? you goin to the coffee shop you like??
[Keith K]: Yeah... but it's tomorrow and i really don't want this to be the last time I talk to him, y'know?
[Pidgeotto]: awwww, so sweet
[Keith K]: shut up and help me
[Pidgeotto]: that's not very nice
[Pidgeotto]: i'm sure you'll figure something out
[Pidgeotto]: just talk to him
[Keith K]: that was really not very helpful
Keith sighs, shutting his phone off and plugging it in. He doesn't have work tonight, so maybe he'll be able to finish his book. Or maybe he'll just be to nervous to do anything at all. As if to prove this point, another message makes Keith jump.
[Pidgeotto]: I can feel you worrying from here and it's distracting
[Pidgeotto]: It'll be fine, if he's agreed to it then he obviously doesn't hate spending time with you
Somehow the rare words of encouragement from his friend made him feel better, enough so that he eventually went to bed at a reasonable time.