Chapter Text
Keith's POV
Keith has never once, in his 18 years of life, ever heard a sound. He never got to hear his dog Cosmo barking, or the sound of rain softly pattering on the roof while he sleeps, not even his own VOICE. When Keith’s mom and dad were married for over a year, they decided it was time to start a family. Newlywed and happy they began trying to get pregnant. After only a few months of persistency, Keith’s mother became pregnant with baby Keith. Unfortunately, only weeks later, Keith’s mother contracted toxoplasmosis, an intense parasite that caused muscle pain and fevers. After a devastating doctor’s visit close to Keith’s initial birth, Keith’s mother was informed of the possibility of Keith being born deaf. Keith’s parents, with little to no money and no way to provide for a special needs baby, agreed on giving Keith up for adoption after he was born.
On the day of Keith’s birth, Keith was immediately moved from the arms of his mother into the waiting arms of Mrs. Shirogane. The family that adopted Keith had a son already. He was like Keith, not in the exact same way but they were both very different from other kids. Due to an accident at a young age, the Shirogane’s son, Takashi Shiro, lost his arm. He now wore a prosthetic that was hidden beneath a sweatshirt most of the time. The same accident also made it impossible for Mrs. Shirogane to have anymore children. Upon hearing this, she did not give up on her quest to happiness, and instantly started researching the steps needed to adopt a baby.
Only days later, Shiro’s mom stumbled across the description for one Keith Kogane. She was made aware, before making a final decision at the adoption agency, the possibility of Keith being born deaf. Unlike most of the parents that considered Keith, Mrs. Shirogane did not hesitate in signing the final forms and nervously anticipating the arrival of her second son.
It didn’t take long for Shiro and Keith to become close. Even when Keith was still really young, he always seemed to draw comfort from being close to his big brother. Even now, on Keith’s first day at a new school, Shiro didn’t hesitate before agreeing to walk Keith all the way to his first class. Keith’s family had moved because their dad had gotten a better job opportunity, and the whole family agreed that change would be good for all of them. And that’s why they found themselves all the wayin Pennsylvania.
Are you good? Shiro signed, to which Keith responded with an eye roll and an exaggerated nod of his head. Keith’s first class was physics which didn’t make him too happy, but regardless, that wasn’t going to stop him from taking thorough notes and staying attentive throughout the whole lesson. Keith knew both ASL and how to lip read, this made it possible for him to understand when another person was speaking, or more specifically, what the teacher was saying.
Keith was really nervous, his hands wouldn’t stop shaking and a cold sweat broke out on his brow. High school. Keith only really had his brother that he was friends with. Kids had always avoided him after finding out that he was deaf. He remembered the harassment he would get in middle school for trying to copy his desk mates notes because he couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying. But high school was a new opportunity for him to make friends that expanded out of just his family. So with a firm nod of his head and a small hug from Shiro, he entered the classroom.
Lance's POV
Lance was pumped for 10th grade. He got to see his close friends Hunk and Pidge again, he also got to finally try out for the football team. Lance loved football, his dad had played it with him all the time when he was younger and he had instantly grown attached to the sport. Lance’s Mom had signed him up for physics first thing in the morning and he was dreading it. As he approached the room he ran into Allura, one of the cheerleaders for his old school.
“ALLURA!” Lance shouted already approaching her. Allura just shook her head tiredly and walked into the classroom, Lance following close behind.
The classroom was very dull. Like most classrooms at Altea High, the desks were arranged in rows illuminated by the harsh fluorescent lights beating down on you instead of just opening the blinds on the windows.
Lance groaned, “Well this sucks.” Allura shot him a nasty look before heading to the back of the class to find her seat. Allura never really liked Lance. You see, Lance had kind of a reputation for flirting with every girl in his line of vision which Allura found highly degrading and disrespectful.
“Hey hey hey pretty lady why so down?” Lance smirked leaning against the desk Allura had claimed as hers.
“Lance you are honestly the worst just leave me alone,” Allura snapped back, already beginning to unpack her notebook and a pencil.
“Whoa I didn’t mean-” Lance started but was cut off by the teacher, “McClain please find a seat, it is far too early in the school year for this.”
“Of course Mr. Iverson, anything for you,” Lance added a dramatic bow at the end of his sentence that had a few people in the class snickering.
“Now, please,” Mr. Iverson grumbled the irritation very apparent in his voice. Lance took that as his cue to finally begin listening and shuffled over to the last empty desk.
Keith's POV
Keith had decided on the seat second to last from the wall in the back so we pressed up against the wall to his right. He liked being able to lean on the wall, it eased him a bit. He was just taking out his pencil when he noticed some commotion around him. The other students were all looking in the same direction, so Keith followed their eyes. What he saw was rather shocking, A tall tan boy with dark brown hair was raising his voice.. At the teacher?? Keith didn’t understand what exactly happened he just watched the kid as he bowed and then walked over to the desk behind Keith.
Keith tensed slightly knowing there was someone behind him, but quickly relaxed when he saw the picture of Cosmo he had hid in his notebook the night before. Cosmo was Keith’s service dog, he was a large german shepherd with all black fur. Keith smiled while directed his attention back to the teacher. He could do this, he reminded himself.
Lance's POV
Out of boredom, Lance raked his eyes over his new classmates. Most of them looked somewhat familiar, that was until his eyes landed on the boy in front of him. The guy was sporting a mullet and some very emo-looking fingerless gloves. Lance couldn’t control the little judgemental groan that rolled off his tongue. Since he was bored, he decided to have a little fun.
“Pssst,” Lance hissed in the direction of the mullet-haired boy. He didn’t even respond, just kept staring focusedly at the teachers every word. What the hell, Lance thought. He was being loud enough for the guy to hear him, was he just being an asshole? Probably, he seemed the type.
In his desperation to get his attention, Lance crumpled up a piece of notebook paper and lobbed it right at the kids head. The guy immediately sat up straight and looked behind him, his face flushed and his lips slightly parted in shock. Lance gasped slightly, this guys eyes were really pretty, way too pretty for someone who is this rude. The guy just turned around and continued his notes.
Lance quickly looked away focusing on getting his pencil out now that the teacher was beginning his lecture. While taking notes, Lance continued to sneak glances at the new guy, that’s when he got an idea. If this new guy was going to be an asshole, Lance could be one right back.