Chapter Text
July, the worst part of the summer and Keith Kogane was stuck on a bus with ripped seats and a broken air conditioning unit. His foster family shipped him off to a camp until school started again. Now he was stuck in Arizona in the 107 degree heat, staring up at a large sign welcoming him to his month in hell.
‘Welcome to Camp Canyon!’
The camp was named after the nearby lake Keith knew he’d find himself forced to swim in. He begrudgingly stepped off the bus, dragging his small suitcase through the hot sand. He crossed the threshold, dread filling his bones as he heard rowdy boys and screeching girls.
He pressed forward, stopping in front of a far too bubbly woman who sat at a simple plastic table. She had deep skin, newly dipped in the sun. She wore a pink shirt with the matching camp icon. Her long white hair was pulled back into a fluffy ponytail.
“Hello! Welcome to Camp Canyon! I’m Allura, the assistant director! Can I have your name please?” She had a soft accent he couldn’t quite place.
“…Keith Kogane.” He said bluntly, watching the craft group in the center of the common area. He could already feel sweat beading on his neck. He was beginning to regret his choice of jeans and sweatshirt.
“Ok Keith! You’re in the Lions cabin! You have 3 cabin mates and they’ve all already checked in. I hope you have a wonderful summer!”
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Keith dragged his case to the cabin. It was on the edge of the campground, overlooking the large lake. He pushed the creaky door open to be met with the welcomed sight of an empty cabin. Luckily, it was large enough that they didn’t need to squish kids into bunk beds.
He dropped his suitcase next to the last empty bed and curled into the hard mattress. He hoped the other kids weren’t too awful and that his counselor wasn’t a dick. He stared up at the ceiling when he heard the door open.
“HUNK! Get your ass in here!” A tall boy cried back into the field before making eye contact with Keith. He had short hair the color of caramel. He was perfectly sun kissed with freckles dancing over his shoulders and cheeks. His eyes were as blue as the ocean, deep and overwhelming, full of passion and mystery. He smiled slightly, showing off his gap in his front teeth. He stuck his hands into the pockets of his cargo shorts.
“Hi, I’m Lance”
‘…shit’
When he stared blankly unresponding, Lance continued speaking
“Shiro told us we’d get a new camper, but I totally didn't believe it because it’s been just the three of us for like 4 years” He smiled awkwardly, shrugging his shoulders.
“I’ve gone here since I was a little kid, but I turned 14 over the summer. Hunk is also 14 but Pidge is 13. Those are the others in our cabinmates.”
He rambled as the door opened. A taller boy with dark skin walked in, panting slightly. Behind him was a much smaller person, their hair pulled into a messy bun.
“Lance, Shiro wants us to behave at dinner tonight and said if we do he’ll get us extra swim time” The taller boy explained while Lance whooped happily.
Keith awkwardly watched the group, already feeling like an imposter. He figured he could tough it out all summer alone, but seeing the kids happily talk together made him long for friends. The taller boy noticed him.
“Oh! Hey, I’m Hunk and that’s Pidge.” He nodded over his shoulder at the other kid. Keith nodded slightly.
“I’m Keith.” He said softly, shrugging. “…who’s Shiro?” He asked, knowing there were only 3 other kids in his cabin and they all stood in front of him.
“He’s our “teamwork leader” or whatever other bullshit the camp calls him. Really he’s just supposed to make sure we don’t kill each other.” Pidge shrugs, climbing onto the bed closest to the front door, sprawling out with their phone.
Keith leaned close to Lance and whispered, “Is that a boy or a girl?” Lance just shrugged unhelpfully.
Suddenly a man appeared, he was very tall and muscular, with a strange white fluff. He looked at the other kids first, not noticing Keith.
“Hey, the new kid should be here soon, so be nice.” He gave them a stern look before his eyes floated to Keith.
“Oh! Welcome to the Lion Camp! I’m Shiro, your Destiny Leader!” He beamed while Keith heard Pidge snort.
“Ok friends! Let’s head to the dining hall!”
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The dining hall was bustling with kids of all ages. Keith sat next to Lance with his tray of chicken strips and salad. He silently picked at food while the others talked together.
“Not hungry?” Pidge asked, looking at him quizzatively. They sipped the overly sweetened lemonade. “I know the first time here is overwhelming and stupid but it’s not so bad when you get to know it.”
“I figured…I’m just not great at making friends.” He admits, not sure why he felt sheepish.
They shrug, “We’ll be your friends. We can be trauma bonded when we get attacked by the big ass bugs at night.” They joke, making Keith smile slightly.
“Is Shiro a hard ass?” He whispered conspicuously. Pidge just shrugged.
“Sometimes, he’s pretty chill though, remembers being a teenager”
Keith didn’t say much else during dinner, tuning out the racket of the dining hall. Eventually they walked back to the cabin, Shiro rattled off what the plan was for tomorrow. Keith chose to ignore him, favoring to examine the camp.
Other counselors ushered their kids into the cabins, the young kids yawned wildly while older teens chatted happily. His eyes floated over the lake Lance seemed so excited about, he wondered when he would have to admit he couldn’t swim.
Eventually they made it back to the cabin. Soft string lights lit up the cabin as they brushed their teeth, changed into their pajamas, and climbed into bed. Shiro rattled off some rules about lights out, no phone, and no being loud.
He left not long after, telling them all to have sweet dreams. Keith curled into his bed, sighing softly at the buzz of insects outside the window. He rolled over and was startled for his eyes to meet Lance’s blue ones.
“Good night Keith…it’s ok if you’re scared of the dark, the lights stay on all night. And it’s ok if you get homesick, I cried my entire first night here years ago, so don’t be embarrassed.” He smiled gently, making Keith’s breath hitch ever so slightly.
“Good night Lance.” He whispered finally, eyes fluttering shut.