Chapter Text
Blaring alarms where invented by the devil himself. That Lance is sure of as he slammed his hand down on the offending device, that threated to drop onto the ground to be lost forever under his bad. Constantly making that stupid ringing noise.
He would have to move if that was the case. Ditch the entire apartment.
But that was pre-shower-pre face wash- pre-coffee Lance talking.
Moving apartments would mean uprooting Rosa, and he wasn't about to do that. At 8 years old she had to deal with quite a bit.
Her parents got divorced because her father came out as Bi-sexual. Her mother was remarried to an absolute prick named Lotor. Then having to change schools twice due to bullying. Add on to the fact that she lost half her family when Lance came out because his family couldn't handle him being anything but straight.
Honestly, that little girl deserved more than he could ever give her.
“Lance~!” Allura. He hasn't even showered yet. Lotor better not be here. He might have to move if that rich bastard entered his apartment.
“Shh Mom! It's still early!” Rosa bless her heart tried to whisper.
Lance just shook his head with a smile and grabbed a shirt, heading for the kitchen.
“Don't worry my little flower, I'm up.” He said moving about to start coffee and eggs. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No, Mom has a meeting to go to,” Rosa said sliding into one of the bar stools.
“Yes, I'm sorry for showing up earlier than usual. I was going to text you.” Allura said.
Always so beautiful no matter what time of day it was. If he could have stayed with her forever he most certainly would have.
“It's fine. I have a free day anyway.” Lance said waving off her concern. “Coffee?” He held up the fresh pot before pouring his own.
“If you don't mind. I was in such a rush this morning.” She huffed. “Someone in our western branch decided they would hire not one hacker but three!”
Lance hummed and set up one of the 3 travel mugs she left at his apartment, for emergencies just like this.
“Oof. How long do you think it will take to fix?” Lance asked pouring the milk and sugar just like she preferred. She would rather have it as a milkshake, but Lotor frowned upon that.
“Hopefully it will be fixed by the end of the week, but I never know until I see the damage,” Allura replied shaking her head, and hummed happily at the coffee as he handed it over. “Lotor is going to be away all week for a work trip, I know it's not your week but do you mind taking Rosa?”
“Not at all.” He moved into a shitty 3 bedroom apartment so that he could always have her over. He was very thankful that Allura was understanding and fought for him to have the right to spend time with Rosa, to have her stay with him. Even when the court thought he wasn't the best option.
“Wonderful! I will have someone drop an overnight bag off for her later today. I know she has clothes here, so it will just be school uniforms.” Allura leaned down to kiss Rosa on the cheek which made the little girl squeal with giggles.
“What about dinner on Thursday?” Rosa asked. Their big fancy family dinner was every Thursday. Lance could never get Rosa on Thursdays because of it. Stupid Lotor.
“Oh….well Lotor won't be around this week, but I will try to make time for just you and me, alright?” Allura said pushing her hair to the side.
“Can Pappa come?” Rosa asked looking to Lance hopefully.
Allura hesitated, Lance was not meant for the rich high-class restaurants Allura went to. Lotor didn't even like him dropping Rosa off at her boarding school because his car had a bit of rust on it. Luckily Lance didn't care much for the fancy restaurants anyway.
“Nah, I am ok here. I wouldn't know what fork goes with which knife anyway.” Lance waved off the offer.
“I could show you!” His daughter insisted.
“But then you would miss mommy-daughter time. It's very important after all.” Lance replied as he prepped the eggs.
Rosa huffed. “Fine. But we are doing a mani-petty Friday after school!”
Lance chuckled, “You very lucky I have a standing reservation.” He poked her in the nose and smiled at Allura.
Allura gave him a sad smile and then nodded towards the door.
“Alright little flower, I have to go talk to Mom about some adult stuff. Watch the eggs for me alright?” He said as he clicked the stove off.
Rosa nodded and locked her eyes on the pan as he stepped away.
“I'm sorry,” Allura said quietly when they got to the door. “She shouldn't have asked that.”
“No, it's fine. She was probably trying to get us back together.” Lance rubbed the back of his neck.
Allura sighed and then dropped her forehead on his shoulder. “Why couldn't I have made this work?” It wasn't the first time he had heard it.
After all, she divorced him. Even after he told her that he still loved her just the same.
“It's fine. I know it was hard on you.” Lance replied rubbing her arms.
“But you lost everything! Your family, your wife, and the courts almost took your daughter away!” She wouldn't cry, Allura was too strong for that, at least at the moment. When she got home later tonight she would.
“But they didn't. And you are with someone who can give you the world. I could have never done that.” She chuckled and gently smacked his arm as she pulled back.
“You hate Lotor.” She said.
Lance shrugged not denying it. “But you love him. And he gives you both a life you deserve. I could never compete with that even if I tried.” He nudged her a bit. “Go on. Kicks someone's ass.”
She laughed and nodded, before going to her toes and kissing his cheek. “I will always care for you. And Lotor will never be able to take our friendship away.”
Well, he tried and failed. Lance thought. The only thing Lotor couldn't control was Allura’s friendship with Lance, and Lance would forever hold that over Lotor’s head. No matter how petty it made him seem.
Allura pulled back and gave one last goodbye to Rosa before stepping out to go deal with the mess one of her underlings made.
He took a deep breath and then went back to Rosa, quickly clicking on the stove again. “Look at that! The eggs didn't burn under your watch full eye!”
Rosa giggled. “Can we have Nutella on toast as well?”
Lance hummed and pulled open a cabinet. “You in luck little lady. I have some left.”
She cheered and he set the Nutella on the counter.
Once breakfast was over, he sent her off to her room to set her things down while he showered. He would do his full routine when he got back from dropping her off at school. Perks of working from home. Well, perks of being a writer. He could work anywhere.
Once showered and dressed, he knocked on Rosa’s door.
“Ready for school?” She nodded and grabbed her backpack.
He grabbed his keys, wallet, and phone before they were off. They made it down to the parking garage where he kept Blue, his four-door sedan, he had since he graduated college. Can't get a new car when your family owns half the dealerships that are in your price range after they disowned you after all.
No matter, Ol’ Blue has been through her fair share with him and he wasn't going to give her up that easily.
They made it to drop off just in time. Luckily they weren't the last ones as Lance helped Rosa out of her seat, just as a bright red motorcycle pulled up behind them.
“Sammy!” Rosa called out happily when she saw who was getting dropped off.
The little boy pulled his little helmet off and grinned at her. “Hi, Rosa!”
The man he was with got off the bike and helped the kid get out of his tiny riding gear. Honestly, it was very cute.
Rosa waited patiently for her friend before running up to him once he was out of his leathers.
“Good morning, Mr. Kogan.” She greeted and Lance eyed the rider.
“What have I told you about calling me that?” He groaned removing his helmet and suddenly Lance wished he had been earlier or later or told Allura he couldn't take Rosa. Cause damn.
Lance did not need a hot motorcycle guy running around his head. Not not. Not ever.
“Mr. Shiro says its polite,” Rosa replied.
“And he is right. Just call me Keith. Like I have told you countless times.” The man said.
Sammy grinned at Rosa. “Daddy always says to be polite.”
Keith rolled his eyes and then nudged both of them with the side of his foot gently. “Alright trouble makers go to class. You are late enough as it is.”
“Will you be picking me up?” Sammy asked hopefully.
“Your Daddy will be. I have a late night.”
Sammy looked disappointed but nodded and waved his goodbye.
So Keith’s kid was cute and he was partnered. Because of course, he was. Lance huffed and went around to his driver's seat once Rosa was in the school.
He went to start up Blue, but of course, she choose that exact moment to crap out and not turn over.
“Please just be the battery.” He muttered popping the hood and tossing it open. When a billow of gray smoke came out at him. No, not the battery.
He coughed and waved away the smoke before going to his phone. He would have to call a tow to pick him up. And would never hear the end of it from Lotor. Just what he needed.
“You alright?” Keith asked helmet under one arm leaning on his left leg, his head tilted to one side, looking like a cute lost puppy.
Lance wanted to scream.
“Car won't start. Have to call a tow.” He said holding up his phone.
“I can look at it.” Keith offered. “I know a thing or two about cars.”
Lance eyed him but it was either gorgeous Keith or call a tow to the shop Hunk worked at. “I have a buddy who works at a shop…..but if you want to look at it till he gets here I won't stop you.”
Keith nodded and went to his bike. “Let me move my bike to a parking spot. I'll be right back.”
Lance brought his phone to his ear as watched Keith move the bike to the parking lot.
“Red’s Automotive, this is Shea speaking, how can I help you?” Shea, the amazing Shea. He loved her so much.
“Hey Shea, it's Lance.”
“Oh hey, Lance! Looking to schedule an oil change? It's about that time.” Lance inwardly winced.
“Uh no. Not this time. Blue kind of died on me at Rosa’s school. Was hoeing Hunk could come tow her to the shop.” Lance replied as Keith came back, already under the hood looking it over.
“Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. I'll send Hunk over right away. The boss isn't in yet, but Matt’s here.” She was probably working out how many customers they had on the document that morning.
“I can call someone else….” He offered.
“Don't you dare! They will charge you an arm and a leg!” Shea hissed at him, and then shouted Hunk’s name and spoke rapidly away from the phone. “He will be there in 15.”
“Thank you, Shea.” Then hung up.
He went up to Keith nervous about what he was going to find. “Something easy?”
But the grimace on Keith’s face showed no it was not easy. “I can't tell. It has to be lifted. But I think it might be a burst oil line.” He held up his hand revealing a bit of oil on his fingers.
Lance groaned. “Great. Well, thank you for looking at it. It will give my buddy a starting point. He will be here in 15.”
Keith shrugged. “I can stay put. I have no place to be.” He whipped his hand on a towel he must have had from the bike.
“Oh, you don't have to.” Lance waved him off.
“Two security guards are watching us right now. I know they won't mess with me.” Keith replied.
Lance looked around him and gulped when he saw the security guards. Both of whom had a problem with Lance.
“This day just keeps getting worse.” Lance moaned dropping his head on the roof of the car.
“I Keith by the way.” Keith offered up his hand.
“Lance.” Lance shook it. At least he had someone pretty to look at while his world was ending.
Lotor would use this as the perfect reason to cut all ties with Lance.
“You drop Rosa off a lot?” Keith asked.
“Her mom typically does it, but the husband tries to avoid me doing it,” Lance replied shrugging. “How bout you?”
“Only when Shiro leaves too early for work.” Great, Lance didn't even know this Shiro and he was already jealous of him.
“Well, the bike setup is cute.” Lance pointed out with a cheeky grin.
Keith snorted. “I wouldn't let him ride with me if Sam didn't have even half that stuff.”
“I've always wanted a bike. But I think I would fall over the first day.” Lance said shaking his head.
Keith looked ready to say something when the yellow tow truck honked and Hunk waved from the front seat.
“Hunk! My man!” Hunk got out and then paused, looking at Keith.
Keith gave a small wave. “Oil lines busted.”
“Again!?” Hunk rushed to the engine and groaned. “Lance, buddy, it might be time.”
“Hell no! Do you have any idea what I would have to go through to get a new car!?” Lance growled.
“Lance, this is the 5th oil line this year. And last year it was the breaks catching on fire. And the year before that-”
“Ok! Ok! I get it!” He huffed. “Just can you get her on the road for a couple more months?”
Hunk rubbed the back of his neck. “I can certainly try. But I think it's time you start looking for a new car. I’ll load her up and then we can go to the shop.”
Lance nodded and grabbed his things in front of the front seat. And anything else he couldn't leave behind.
He knew the drill, it would be a whole day process to repair the hose.
Keith stepped away giving Hunk space to work. “I’ll um head off then.”
Lance nodded. “Thank you for sticking around.”
Keith nodded and waved to Hunk who called something that Lance didn't hear before the motorcycle started up.
Once Blue was loaded Lance slid into the front seat and dropped his head in his hands.
“Shea can bring you home.” Hunk offered.
“I have to pick Rosa up later.” He muttered. “Allura has some big security breach.”
Hunk winced beside him. “I'll see if Shea can help you pick Rosa up.”
“I can just order a Lyft service or something,” Lance muttered.
“I'll talk to the boss. See what we can do.” Hunk replied patting him on the knee.
When they got to the shop, Lance trudged in and sat in the first empty seat, Shea would drive him home, but she needed to get approval from the shop owner.
Lance wasn't having a good day. And he knew it literally could not get worse when his phone started blaring the impearl march ring tone.
He groaned and the older man next to him chuckled. “Wife calling?”
“Ex-wife husband.” He replied as he hit the answer button. “I'm not in the mood to be yelled at Lotor.”
The posh man huffed. “Your car broke down in front of Rosa’s school. I got a call.”
“And I'm at the shop now getting it fixed. I have rides to pick Rosa up. You go back to whatever bullshit retreat you're at.” Lance growled out.
“Look Lance I know you don't like me,” Lance snorted, “But I do want what is best for both Rosa and Allura.”
“If you-” He stopped took a deep breath and looked to Shea, “I need to step out a moment.” She nodded and he stepped out of the shop.
“If you think you going to take them away from me, you have another fucking thing coming.” Lance snarled. He had never really cared for Lotor or his family’s money.
“Lance, please calm down, Allura made that very clear the last time we had this argument,” Lotor replied. “I can get you a new car. No strings attached. It will not be high-end, but I know the reason why you can't get a new car is because-”
“You know jack shit!” Lance yelled.
“Fine. But I know you can't get a new car. Please let me have it dropped off at your apartment, and rid of that old one you have been so desperate to keep alive.” Lotor replied.
Lance was about to snarl at him again, tell him where he could shove the new car, but Lotor spoke up again.
“Allura told me to get it for you. Your name is on the lease, I just need a few papers signed and it's all yours. She knows how much of a strain that car has been. We picked out a newer, more updated version, the same color. It's more gas efficient and will take one more thing off your plate.” Lotor explained.
“Allura signed off on it?” Lance asked.
“Yes. I am sure she was simply in too much of a hurry this morning to tell you. I would have waited but after I got the phone call……”
Lance sighed and rubbed his face. “I still don't like you.”
“Something we can agree on other than keeping Rosa and Allura safe, then.” And with that, Lotor hung up.
“That looked rough.” Lance took a deep breath and looked to see Keith standing there. His biker jacket is now replaced with a mechanics over a shirt.
“Ex-wife husband,” Lance muttered. Keith raised an eyebrow. “It's just about as complicated as it sounds. What are you doing here anyway?”
“Oh….um I work here?” Keith offered up.
“Are you sure? That sounded like a question.” Lance snipped back.
“Well, I own the place.” Keith replied with a shrug, “But I also like working on the cars.”
Lance started at him. “So when you said you knew a thing or two about cars…..”
“I know a thing or two about cars.” Keith gave him a small smile. “And we found a much bigger issue with your car than originally thought. The underside of your engine block is wearing away due to rust.”
“Well, it's a good thing I have a new car waiting for me.” He said bitterly. “Someone will be by soon to take Ol’ Blue to the junkyard.”
It was miserable losing his car, he was going to replace her a few years back, but with everything that happened, it became impossible to do.
“Really?” Keith asked skeptically.
“Really.” Lance shook his head.
“Does this have anything to do with the complicated phone call?” Lance shrugged and then nodded. “Aw, well I can give you a lift home.”
“Shea was going to….” Lance said unsure.
Keith shrugged. “I have to head home anyway, and according to Shea you are on my way home.”
Lance eyed him. First Lotor now this guy? Was it a mess with Lance's day? That had to be a holiday right?
Although the prospect of riding that bike behind the hottest man alive…..
“Alright. Thank you.” Lance agreed.
He may have just met Keith but he could have sworn his eyes lit up just a bit. That was weird, this guy has a boyfriend at the very least possibly a husband, definitely a kid. And he seemed happy to give Lance, practically a stranger, a ride home?
A…ride….home….in close corners….on a motorcycle.
Lance could feel his cheeks heating up and his ears starting to flush.
Stop it! He scolded himself. You can not do this yourself!
“Let me tell Hunk to lower the car so you can empty it out and then I can take you home.” Then he paused. “Though I don't think all your stuff will fit on my bike…” And was that disappointment?? “Maybe Shea should take you home….” That was a disappointment.
“Hunk! Hunk can bring it over! Or I can come back. It's not like I have anything super important that I need right away anyway.” Lance said. Keith looking disappointed was just like when he told Rosa she couldn't have an ice cream bar after dinner. And he hated that look. It made him feel like the bad guy.
Lotor was the bad guy. Not him!
It took him about 10 minutes to unload the car, most of it was trash anyway, and put things in bags to place in the back of the Hunks truck.
“We had a good time girl.” Lance ran his hand along the frame. Tears welled up in his eyes. “But you took care of me, and I tried hard to take care of you. But unfortunately, the time has come.”
He sniffed and stepped away.
“You ok?” Keith asked eyeing him with concern.
“Yup, I'm good. Ol’ Blue was just my first car. And we have been through a lot together.” Keith eyed him but shrugged.
“Here.” Keith handed him a helmet.
Lance was about to follow when Hunk grabbed him by the arm and with a mischievous look leaned in.
“Save a horse……ride a cowboy.” And then pushed Lance towards Keith, completely red. He slammed the helmet on to prevent Keith from seeing the deep blush but sent Hunk the finger.
He had known Hunk too long if he was already picking up on Lance’s developing crush on Keith. He had known the guy for less than 2 hours how was he already developing a crush!?
Lance might have to kill Hunk. Lance’s secrets will go to Hunk's grave and then his own.
But when Shea winked at him, he knew it was going to be a grave for two.
“Have you ever ridden a motorcycle before?” Keith asked tossing his leg over the seat.
“I rode….a horse once.” The blush deepened. Causing Hunk to burst into laughter having been in hearing range. He had to go back into the side.
“Well, it's not the same,” Keith muttered giving Hunk an odd look. “Just hold on to me and try to follow my movements. So that we don't tip over.”
“I hate you.” Lance hissed and got on as Keith instructed.
Keith chuckled, “I'm sure I can fix that.”
Was that flirting!? Lance didn't get the chance to figure it out before Keith pushed the bike out of the parking lot. Forcing Lance to hold on tightly.
Lance eventually felt comfortable enough to offer some sort of directions, but Keith either wasn't paying attention or didn't care because they ended up on one of the steeper streets, which scared the daylights out of Lance. So he held on tighter because if he was going down, Keith was going down with him. And another time Keith found a really pretty lookout point while he was checking directions, Lance took a few photos because it was rather pretty and would be a waste if he didn't.
Finally, though Keith got it right and they ended up in Lance’s parking garage.
He spotted Acxa standing next to a car and huffed, as Keith pulled into the spot next to it.
“Acxa.” Lance greeted taking off his helmet.
She eyed Keith for a moment, then looked at him. “I thought you would be back sooner.”
“Took the scenic way home.” He replied shrugging as she tossed him a set of keys.
She glanced back at Keith who just raised an eyebrow at her.
“Right. Lotor sends his regards. And sent an envelope of money for Allura and Rosa’s night out on Thursday. Can you make sure Allura gets it?” She held up the envelope.
“I'll make sure she gets it.” Taking the item. “I would offer you to come in, but I don't want Lotor thinking he can pop in anytime.”
She smiled and nodded. “I understand. It was nice to see you again Lance.”
He sighed. “Can…..how….”
“She's good. She hasn't told anyone. She’s safe.” Acxa said quietly.
Lance cleared his throat and nodded. “Thank you.”
“She misses you.”
“Thank you Acxa.” He turned on his heel and looked at Keith, trying to hide the tears behind the helmet he was no longer wearing.
“Lance?” Keith asked.
Lance shook his head. “I'm fine. Would you like to come up? Something to drink?”
Keith hesitated.
“Or not! I know you said you had somewhere to be. Its fine.” He handed back the helmet. “Thank you for the ride!” Lance bolted for the elevator.