Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Keith was silently walking the halls to get to his room when he accidentally knocked someone’s books out of their hands. Keith turned with an apology on his tongue, but of course, the universe seemed to target all its hate on him once again.

It was Lance, on the ground trying to gather all the books Keith just knocked from his arms.

Keith saw there was a journal underneath his right foot so he leaned down to pick it up, it was a journal for Space Science with Shiro.

“Here” Keith said, holding the journal out so Lance could grab it.

Lance looked up and for a moment he had an expression of unmistakable gratitude, until recognition crossed his face.

“Were you the one who hit me?” Lance asked.

“It was an accident,” Keith mumbled as Lance snached the book from his hand.

“Like anything is an accident with you” Lance replied coldly.

As Keith watched him storm off he wondered, What did I do to make him hate me so much? Though Keith quickly brushed the thought off, continuing to room 408.

Five long minutes of pushing past people and traveling up stairs Keith finally made it to his destination.

Room Sweet Room

In one corner was a bunk bed, the top dirty and messy, the bottom clean and neat. On the other side of the room was a large dresser with one side vomiting out clothes. The rest of the room was fairly organized, not that James helped but Keith straightened the room best he could.

Keith quietly closed the door behind him, noticing that James was sprawled on the top bunk asleep. He set down his books quietly, then flopped onto his bed. Keith didn’t even care about his roommate at this point, he was exhausted so why couldn’t he be a little careless?

Tomorrow Keith will have no work, and the same for the rest of the weekend.

He is ready for a break

Chapter Text

“Kill it!” Lance shouted to Pidge and Hunk as he lifted his shield to block the beast’s attack. 

“We’re trying y’know!” Pidge snapped back at Lance. 

“I’m really low health! Does someone have a health elixir?” Hunk cried from the bushes behind Lance. 

“Your health is only halfway Hunk! Man up and fight if you want one!” Lance shouted, charging at the beast again. 

“But health drains fast when you don’t have armor!” Hunk whined. 

Then put it on! Lance thought furiously, rearing back for another attack from the beast. 

“Listen Hunk,” Lance said, keeping his voice as calm as possible. “You still have that Invis Charm right?” 

“…Yeah, why?” Hunk hesitantly asked. 

“Throw it to me.”

“What?!” Hunk cried. 

“I can shoot him down if I have the charm on, and let's face it, compared to you two I have the best aim. Especially from a distance.” Lance replied, with a voice of reason. 

“Wouldn’t it be smarter to have us two distract it while you shoot?” Hunk asked. 

Because one of you is too wimpy to come out of their hiding place! Is what Lance wanted to say but, for the sake of his friend, he instead replied, “Because then I risk losing one of you” 

“Gah! I’m done hearing the two of you argue back and forth!” Pidge called from the other side of the beast. “Hunk just give Lance the fucking charm!” 

“Swear jar!” Lance yelled to Pidge before turning back to Hunk. 

Hunk hesitated before throwing the necklace at Lance’s feet, “Just make sure you give it back” Hunk cried before retreating farther into the undergrowth. 

Looking down at the charm Lance quickly scooped it in his hand and clipped it around his neck. Instantly his hands, along with the rest of him, disappeared. 

Lance threw his bulky sword aside and reached for the  blaster he kept tightly pinned to the belt around his waist. Raising it slowly, he aimed for the beast’s heart, put my finger on the trigger, and breathed in and out. 

When Lance pulled the trigger it seemed that time had slowed,  Pidge was seen mid attack, Hunk was starting to grip the ground as hard as he could, and the beast was on its hind legs beating its chest like an angry gorilla. 

The moment the blast hit the beast it stopped for a second then it collapsed in. “Man why didn’t it wor-” Lance started. 

But then the blast expanded and expanded until all you could see was white then a huge light shot up to the heavens and came back down resulting in a massive explosion. 

Pidge and Lance were nearly thrown back into the forest, and Lance swore Hunk was hanging onto his bush for dear life. All that was left of the beast  was its head in the center of the clearing, and a bunch of blood on us. 

Pidge was the first to run over to the beast’s head to inspect it. Hunk went over more slowly, probably confused about what just happened. 

Lance lay sprawled on the ground for a few more moments before he shot up to his feet, racing to see the damage he had done. 

Hunk was looking at the beast’s head with a starstruck expression and Pidge was surly calculating how much the gross head would fetch. 

By the time Lance had reached the both of them, they were already looking at him with twin expressions of confusion and awe. 

Before Lance could say anything Pidge spoke up, “ What. The. FUCK.” 

“Swear jar.” Hunk said automatically. 

Pidge looked at Hunk with one of her bitch faces before turning back to Lance with that same face. 

Lance squirmed under Pidge’s gaze for a few more seconds before he broke, “What?” he asked. 

“Where did you get a gun like that? As far as I know you don’t ever go on missions alone. So, where did you get a gun like that?” Pidge stated with her arms crossed and a pissed off look. 

“I traded for it!” 

Pidge and Hunk both looked at each other with blank expressions before Pidge said, “Yeah, and unicorns are real. Now tell us where you really got it.”

“I’m telling you guys the truth!” Lance exclaimed. 

“Maybe he’s telling the truth.” Hunk said carefully. 

“There was no way he had enough GAK to buy a lethal weapon like that!” Pidge exclaimed to Hunk. 

“It was selling for free” 

Pidge looked at Lance with bewilderment, “There was no way someone would just give away a weapon like that, and for free no less!” She paused a second before accusing, “Unless you stole from our cut!” 

“ Please, if I were gonna steal from you guys I would do it in front of you besides, who wants to deal with an angry gremlin?” 

Pidge still looked unamused while Hunk–the beautiful, amazing angel –took pity on Lance. 

“What if he’s telling the truth, Pidge?” 

Pidge wasn’t moved. 

“Pidge I don’t care if you don’t believe me! Use your DIY Lie Detector if you really need to, but don’t get revenge on a guy who is  innocent!” Lance said, he was starting to panic as he knew what the hands of this tiny girl could do. 

Pidge looked between Lance and Hunk’s faces, sighing she said, “Fine” but before Lance could express his relief Pidge continued, “On two conditions.” his face immediately fell. “We all have to find the seller aand I still get to do my lie detector test.” 

Lance frowned at her second condition but then shrugged, if it bought him his innocence then he was all for it.

Chapter Text

Keith was bored out of his mind when someone knocked on his door. Keith didn’t think much of it, James had a bunch of friends who come over all the time.

Before he could give it a second thought he shouted, “James won’t be here this weekend!”

“Not, here for James.” A muffled voice said through the door.

Keith instantly recognized who was there, he’d know that blunt voice anywhere.

Keith begrudgingly got up to open the door, and indeed standing there was Shiro.

“What is it, Shiro?” Keith asked, wanting to get straight to the point.

“I was thinking since Adam is visiting his family and I’m not doing anything this weekend…” Shiro trailed off.

Keith raised a brow in question, “And?”

Shiro rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “We could spend some time together?” he continued shyly.

Keith frowned at his adoptive older brother. “U-unless you're busy! No pressure!” Keith frowned even harder.

Shiro squirmed under Keith’s intense gaze before he asked, “Did Adam put you up to this?”

“...maybe” Shiro replied hesitantly.

Keith sighed, “You're lucky I’m bored out of my mind.”

Shiro beamed, “Great! I had something I wanted to do together.”

“Fine, as long as I get to keep our wolf for the weekend.” Keith said.

Shiro’s smile immediately dropped, “...alright,” he hesitantly agreed.

Keith’s lips quivered upward, he could practically ask for anything with Shiro in this state. “And a slice of the cake you’re making for Adam.”

Shiro’s mouth dropped in shock, “How did you-”

“I’ve seen you make anniversary cakes, you're not subtle, I bet even Adam knows.” Keith deadpans.

Shiro sighs before regretfully saying, “Fine.”

Keith smirked, “Let me grab my hoodie and I'll be right out.” and with that Keith shut the door.

Being Shiro’s brother had its perks sometimes

Chapter Text

“Ow!” Lance exclaimed before ripping his hand away Pidge’s Lie Detector. “Are we sure this thing won’t fry my insides?”

“It won’t if you hold still!” Pidge gritted through her teeth. Lance stiffened, Pidge didn’t sound the least bit kidding.

“Relax, buddy. She isn’t serious, Lie Detector’s only read your pulse.” Hunk said.

Lance relaxed a bit and hesitantly gave his arm back to the short redhead at Hunk's words. Pidge muttered something neither Lance nor Hunk could understand.

"There! Now let's see what you have to say!" Pidge said when she finished hooking up Lance to the Lie Detector. 

"Do you really need to be sure?" Lance asked, finding this situation completely ridiculous. 

"You want me to take your word, then this is what it's gonna take." Pidge replied stubbornly. Lance rolled his eyes but let this continue for her sake. 

"Alright, first question," Pidge started, "did you steal my laptop last summer and lose it?" 

"It was an accident," Lance grumbled quietly. 

"And I still don't forgive you." She replied 

"Alright!" Lance stood up abruptly leaving Hunk and Pidge stunned, "If all you're gonna to do is taunt me then we're done here." 

Lance started to reach for the wires but Pidge grabbed his arm before he could do so. "I'm sorry," she gritted out hesitantly, " I'm still a bit mad about that, just sit back down." 

Lance lifted and eyebrow, "What's the magic word?" 

Pidge looked up at him with puppy-dog eyes, "Abracadabra?" 

"Nope." Lance said popping the 'p'. 

Pidge sighed before mumbling the word. 

"What wad that? I couldn't hear you." Lance said smuggly. 

"Isaidpleaseyouassholenownextquestion!" Pidge rushed out. 

Lance smirked and sat back back down, he knew that very few people could get the girl flustered and he was proud he was one of them. 

Hunk, seemingly proud that they made up on their own, asked the next question. 

Chapter Text

Keith's POV

You know how I said being Shiro's brother had its perks sometimes, well, here are those other times where it's not so great. 

We entered his small apartment he shares with his boyfriend and from the first glance it was a mess, clothes strung all over and half eaten ramen packets, I wondered what the place would look like if Adam were here to keep the place organized. 

I plopped on the couch to avoid seeing anymore mess only to see him holding up a helmet looking object with some wires. 

"A VR Game" I said, unimpressed. 

"Me and Matt had some fun with it and I thought that, maybe, if you tried it you might have some fun?" Shiro said, "And Matt knows the store owner and he got a discount on some extra headsets we have no idea what to do with."

I sighed, "You are so fucking lucky I am this bored." I bite through my teeth. Great, Amazing, not like that won't bite me in the ass later.

Shiro is like one of those puppies where they give you one look and you just know it isn't a matter of if but when you cave, everyone does it eventually and that pisses me off sometimes. Once you give him what he wants though that itching feeling of guilt immediately dissipates and your left with the thought 'guess I'm doing this now.' As soon as the headset hit my hands that was exactly how I was feeling. 

"So how do these work?" I asked. I turned the headset over a few times to get a couple of different angles. 

"I'm nearly seven years older than you, and your asking how a VR headset works? I have no idea how that happened." Shiro barked a laugh before showing me how to hook up the game we're playing. 

"It's called keeping myself occupied with things that actually benefit my life. Like work, or school. If I'm lucky I could read a book sometimes, but that's about it." I replied. 

"And here we are ladies and gentlemen, the perfect answer on how to completely destroy your social life." Shiro said in an overly silly sports announcer's voice. 

"Don't mock me, you aren't much better. Your whole social life is Adam, Matt, Me, Allura, and occasionally Mom and Dad." I jabbed at him. 

"I happened to notice that I have a boyfriend and you don't, so there's that." he jabbed back. 

"Wow, hitting at my sexuality, but you know I don't care for that." I said in a mocking voice. 

"You won't be saying that when your all old and wrinkly alone." Shiro said, unfazed. 

I scoffed, "Whatever." 

Shiro rolled his eyes before getting back to setting up the game. I curiously peeked at the cover when Shiro set it down. 

A wizard, thief, and archer were the three main characters it seemed from first glance. The title read "World of Mischief" with a subheading of "Choose your own adventure, newly added Sidekicks!"

"What kind of game is this exactly, Shiro?" I ask. 

"You'll see in the introduction video!" He replied cheerfully. 

"Introduction video?" I echoed. 

"The game has a tutorial for new players with zero experience. It mostly finishes once you reach the second level but it'll continue to pop up every now and then." He explains. 

"Great, being treated like a baby by a noncorporeal being. How amazing." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. 

"It's not so bad, well it is, but it's a bit more amusing when you have Matt by your side." Shiro chuckled, recalling his own experience. 

I hummed, "True. Matt makes almost everything less torturous." 

"Maybe that's why you and Katie are friends, because when it isn't you guys, you enjoy ruining people's happy moments." Shiro deadpans. 

I grinned, "What do you think we talk about when you old people aren't around?" 

Shiro shivers, "And now that's all I'm going to think about when I see you two together." 

I smirk, "Now, let's get this game started." I said, pulling the headset over my forehead and settling it firmly over my eyes.