Chapter Text
It started off like any other day. Get up, drive to school, sit through the ass load of boring lectures, crack some jokes, drive home. It should have ended like any other day too; waste time surfing the web, not even glance at the homework due on tuesday, and then go to sleep. But y'know, the universe has a god awful way of shoving shit in his face, Lance mused.
Instead of going straight home, he went to Hunk's birthday party. It was being held at a space-themed laser tag venue, and god damn he may be in his senior year of highschool but no one is fucking old enough for this shit. Plus, Hunk was one of his best buds. It was a given he went.
After he had successfully reigned at the very top in rankings for individual scores, each time pushing his team to first (come on , no one beats Lance with a gun); he had begun to drive home.
And then, it had been a typical teenage oh-shit-I'm-almost-out-of-gas-why-didn't-I-fill-up-yesterday panic, and he was pulling into a gas station.
His detour should’ve just ended there. But after revving up his engine and making to pull out of the parking lot onto the road, his passenger door is suddenly yanked open and a raggedy (but good-looking, Lance realizes with an afterthought) teenager throws himself in the seat, gasping for air.
"Drive!"
Whoever this kid was, he was not gonna be taking orders from him; fuck all if he was the president's son or whatever shit. Also, he was too damn young to be the victim of a hijacking. Murder? As if. He'd come back from the dead and continue his life even if he died. But then again, Lance thought, this guy doesn't seem hostile.
"What the fuck--Who the fuck are you!?"
"Did you not hear me?" The boy's voice rose in hysteria, underlined with frustration. "If you don't floor it, your car will be absolutely smashed! And probably, so will you!"
A chorus of muffled shouts sounded from somewhere behind his car, and the kid cursed. The voices didn't sound happy. Somewhere in the background, glass shattered.
"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Don't you know how to drive? With a car like this, you can't tell me you just love to mosey on down the road like a goddamn geezer," he taunted. "What is this? Just a bit of daddy's money and mommy's rules?"
"I'll show you geezer, mullet-head!"
Lance put the pedal to the metal, and as gas flooded his engine, his car jerked onto the road. He shot down the asphalt, muttering under his breath about some stupid-ass white kid getting into a goddamn prissy bitch-fight. In his rearview mirror, the shape of a mob of angry teenagers retreated, raising fists in the air and hollering something they couldn't hear.
"I'm not white, I'm Korean."
"Korean my ass; your skin's still pale as fuck, delinquent."
"Delinquent seems like it's too big and advanced a word for you to use." The random teenager relaxed as the two of them sped further and further away from the gas station, but his mouth was just as sharp as it was before.
"Y'know, for being someone who saved your sorry ass back there, you aren't being any sort of damn thankful," Lance growled. The boy just huffed, crossing his arms and facing forward.
Lance took this time to really examine the kid; he had dark hair and was wearing a red leather jacket. He had on some sort of fingerless gloves, which were probably aimed to make him look cool, but only really managed to make him look like a tool. His eyes were something, though; even in the pitch black night and the lack of illumination on the country road, they reflected the light from the waxing moon and the dashboard prettily.
"The name's Keith," he said, leaning his head on the back of the passenger seat. "And those guys back there were about to beat my sorry ass dead."
"Lance. And why?"
"... The ringleader's girl to followed me around all night at this stupid party instead of him."
"Ah," Lance murmured, haltingly. "That... you didn't even do anything?" Keith threw his hands up in the air.
"Nope. But honestly, I don't get what kinda girl can be with a guy like that," he rested his chin on his hands and leaned towards the window. "Like, there's gotta be a point to where if she was looking at other boys, hers must not be that impressive." Lance's brows knitted together. Yeah, imagine being chased by a couple of dudes because a girl's actually paying attention to you. Sucks.
"Well, whenever you see him next, you're gonna die."
"I have no problem taking on just him and a few other of his dumbass 'friends'," Keith said, emphasizing 'friends' with a mocking tone; "It's that entire gang that'll do me in. He had like ten people. I may be good, but even I know I can't handle ten at once."
Lance just continued to drive, watching the darkness pass and glancing at the time. It was just past 1 am. Damnit.
"Look, I need to get home, so where do you live?"
"Uh... There's no way I can go back to my apartment. They'll be there and waiting..."
"Are you saying I picked up a stray and now I have to feed you?"
"... You don't have to feed me."
"Whatever, give you a bed?" He didn't answer. "Don't you have anyone you can call? Mom? Dad? Sibling?" When Keith shook his head to all of these, Lance looked back to the road, sighing inwardly. "Not even a friend?" Keith just shrugged. He felt kinda bad for the guy. He should probably be worried that this guy was gonna shank him in the middle of the night, but for some odd reason, he felt like he could trust the guy, mullet or none.
"Fine, you can stay at my place for the night." And with that, he turned the car down the next street, and headed home.
{--+--}
"Mom! I'm home!" Lance walked in the door, shrugging off his coat and tossing it on the rack. He heard his mother shuffling around somewhere upstairs.
"Hello, dear! How was Hunk's party?"
"It was fun! I got first place in all the rankings. My team won each time."
"Ah, I'm glad to hear that!" The voice was muffled by the walls. Keith stood awkwardly in front of the door, eyes flicking around. All in all, the house was very nice; it was spacious, decorated nicely, and obviously kept in good order.
"Also, I brought a friend over. He'll be staying the night, if that's alright."
His mom walked down the stairs, coming forward to regard her son and his 'friend.' "Who is this? I haven't seen him before."
"Oh, this is Keith. He's in my history class."
"Well... alright. Just remember to fall asleep at a decent time."
"Mom... it's already 1:30 am."
"Then have a good night, dear," she said, waving off the two boys and heading back into her room. Lance motioned for Keith to follow, and the two ascended the flight of stairs.
"Okay," he whispered, "the first thing you have to remember is that my mom's a really light sleeper. So no midnight snacks, no goofing around. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters, who are all younger than me and all probably asleep. Except for Pierce, maybe. He likes to stay up and play Smash." Lance led the way into his room, which was surprisingly more tidy than Keith had pictured. His mom must not tolerate much clutter, because he was almost completely sure Lance was a messy person.
"You can sleep on the floor, I'll get you a change of clothes if you want and also a mattress."
"It's fine, you don't have to worry about the clothes. And..." He paused awkwardly, rocking backward on his heels for a bit. "...Thanks."
"No problem. Though, you do owe me." Lance walked back into the hallway, opening a sibling's room (carefully) and disappearing into it, a second later dragging a twin size mattress behind him (not so carefully). He laid it next to his bed, wiping his hands together. Keith stood by the door, watching him assemble it.
"Last touch." Lance whipped a pillow at Keith while he was in the middle of sitting down, and it knocked him right in head, causing him to jerk forward.
"Ow! What the hell was that!?"
"Shhhh!" He put a finger to his lips. "The kids are asleep!" Keith grumbled something under his breath, but flopped onto the mattress nonetheless; letting out a sigh as the lights went out.
It didn't take him long to fall asleep, even if the kid was in a foreign environment; Lance briefly wondered what he's been through to not have any family, and barely any friends. But seeing that perpetual frown relax into something more innocent made him think that maybe Keith's just had a bad hand in life. Maybe.
{--+--}
Lance opened his eyes and became acutely aware of the sound of heavy breathing, one that wasn't his; he turned towards the noise and saw Keith's hunched figure. His eyes were squeezed shut and sweat glistened on his brow; a few more seconds of observation, and Lance figured he was having a nightmare.
He at first opted to just leave the guy alone; but it got worse. Soon, he was grunting in his sleep, and twitching. Lance stepped carefully out of bed, tiptoeing and crouching next to Keith, raising a hand to shake his shoulder. Whatever he was dreaming about, it was intense.
Without even a tap, he jerked awake, slapping away Lance's hand and backing away in a daze.
"Wh..." He looked a bit disoriented, blinking first at the person in front of him, and then around the room. His shallow breath filled the silence.
"Uh. You looked like you were..."
"Y-Yeah." He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Happens sometimes. It’s fine. Sorry for bothering you.”
Lance pursed his lips, remaining there for a second longer; then headed back to his own bed. When he glanced back at Keith, he had turned his back to Lance, and curled into an even tighter ball.
Not for the first time that night, he wondered just who the hell this mullet-head was.
{--+--}
“Augh!”
Keith’s short yelp woke Lance; but he didn’t get time to even open his eyes before two weights landed painfully on his chest and legs. His siblings had come to wake them up.
“Ugh! Get off!” Lance pushed blindly at the little bodies, and when the kid on his chest had stopped suffocating him with a pillow, he retaliated by snaking his arms around and tickling his assailant. Child’s laughter erupted from on top of him, and he smirked.
“No! No, no, no!” More shrieking laughter. “Lancey, Lancey, stop! I’ll get off, I promise! I promise!”
“Are you sure?” He lifted his youngest sister off of him, flashing her a triumphant smile. “Marie, promise me.”
“I promise, I promise!” She wriggled in his grip, and he rolled over and slid her carefully onto the floor. He glanced at Nancy, at his feet, and made a move towards her; upon seeing this, the girl hopped onto the floor with a squeak. The threat of tickles always gets them.
Lance looked over to where Keith was sleeping, and--correction, had been sleeping; he could only make out a mop of mullet hair under his other sister and one other brother. He winced in sympathy.
“Diego, Alex; get off him, or else I’m gonna tickle you.” He swung his legs off his bed, and darted into the fray; he got Alex under the arm and Diego by the side. They both screamed with laughter, dispersing to reveal a very tired, very annoyed Keith.
“Alex, Marie, Nancy, Diego, Pierce! If you’re doing what I think you’re doing, you better not be!” Lance’s mom’s voice sounded from somewhere down the hall, and all at once the kids were gone. Keith was left sitting up slowly, groaning. Lance couldn't stop the laughter that erupted from him, at the sight of Keith's hair. It was sticking up horribly in every direction.
“Sorry about that… It’s been a while since I’ve had anybody sleep over so… I kinda forget that they do that.” In response, the guy just gave him a withering look.
“Boys! Breakfast!”
Lance jumped up instantly and raced down stairs; Keith followed more slowly. His mom had made an absolute feast for them; scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast; even breakfast sandwiches and omelets. Keith stared wide-eyed at the huge table, and the ring of kids around it; Lance took a seat in a larger wooden chair, and motioned for his 'friend' to do the same.
“Sorry I didn’t properly introduce myself last night; I’m Valerina Diaz, Lance’s mother.” She held Keith in a very firm handshake. “Help yourself!”
Keith watched the family tuck into the plates of food, amazed at their… well, everything. Vivacity, amicability, and organized chaos. He’s never really been around kids, so he doesn’t know how to handle them; and this experience was definitely foreign to him. Lance noticed Keith's empty plate and hesitation, and without a second thought, started to shovel out food for him.
“C’mon man; it’s not every day one gets to experience the absolute culinary excellence of Casa De Diaz!” At this, Keith shook his head and snorted softly, but gratefully dug into the food nonetheless. And it was certainly good; the best he’s had in a long time. Not that he's had much to compare it with, though.
“So, um… Who are you?” One of the kids spoke up from across the table. It was the youngest girl, Marie.
“Ah, I’m… My name’s Keith.”
“Yeah… But what are you to Lance?” This time, it was the oldest brother of the kids that spoke up, looking over his glasses to gaze at the stranger. Lance cleared his throat.
“Pierce, don’t be rude to our guest. He’s is my friend, in my… history class . ” He emphasized ‘friend’ very clearly, and at this, the kids at the table all turned their eyes on Keith. Keith fidgeted under their stares, opting instead to chew on a piece of toast.
“Yeah, but big bro,” The oldest sister, Nancy, chimed in, “you never bring home any friends… Are you sure you two aren’t dat--”
“ALRIGHT,” Lance interrupted, clearing his throat; Keith jumped slightly as his silverware slammed into the table. Needless to say, he was very, very confused.
“Kids, it’s time to leave Lance and his friend alone now, okay?” Mrs. Diaz smiled from the other end of the table, but it was absolutely frigid. Lance coughed. Keith stared down at his eggs, turning his fork over in his left hand. Pierce continued to fix him with a calculating stare.
{--+--}
“What the fuck!” Lance drove carefully around to Keith’s apartment, peering out the window at the mysterious cars parked in front of it, and the obvious hostile teenage revenge group posted outside his door. He had originally thought the guy lived in some random-ass shady apartment complex, but he was surprised by how average and even nice the place around here was. Since Keith looked like a grunge-lord, he was expecting his house to be some kinda victorian gothic castle or something.
“I told you they’d still be here.” Keith looked absolutely miserable.
“Just who the hell did you get mixed up with? The highschool mafia?”
“How the hell should I know! I just showed up for a damn good time and then I get this shit!” He glared out the window as they drove away, letting out a frustrated sigh. “What the fuck…”
“Is there seriously no one you can call?” Lance gave him a sideways glance, and Keith just sank into his seat, sighing.
“... I don’t have any parents. I have an aunt back in Korea that pays for everything here, my uncle over there is super rich or something… My one friend is at an internship at NASA, so I can’t bother him, and the other one has home trouble. So I can’t do anything about this.”
“Then… I guess you can stay with me, for the time being.” At this, Keith’s head jerked up; he gaped at Lance.
“I-I mean, I’m totally grateful, and I’ll accept the offer, but I don’t even know you dude. And like, I mean, that’s weird?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Ugh. What a fucking mess…”
Lance gripped the wheel harder, grimacing slightly, thinking about his siblings. Tell me about it.
{--+--}
The two teenagers had sat Mrs. Diaz down after they came back, fully explaining the scenario (but leaving out the part that they just met) and detailing Keith’s situation. Of course, Lance’s mother was completely sympathetic, and the kids were brought out and lined up.
“Alright! So from this day forward, Keith will be an honorary member of the Diaz family!” Keith looked down, frowning slightly, as Lance’s mom addressed them.”You will treat him as such, and of course, try not to bother him too much.”
“Momma!” Marie raised a hand. “How long with Keith be staying?” Lance heaved forward with a barely disguised fit of laughter, upon hearing his sister’s mispronunciation of Keith. She had changed the ‘th’ into a ‘ph.’ Keith elbowed Lance in the ribs, hard. Leave it to Lance to be inappropriate.
“Indefinitely! Until his house is done being renovated!”
“Oh! What’s it gonna look like? Can we see it when it’s done?”
“You’ll have to ask Keith about that one, Alex! But later,” she added, as he opened his mouth again. “Alright, no more questions for now! Introduction time! Marie, start!”
“I’m Marie! I’m 5,” she said, holding up six fingers, “and I love horses and playing racecar!” She had bright eyes and a thick head full of dark, curly hair. She was also missing her two front teeth.
“I’m Alex! I’m also 5!”
“He and Marie are twins,” Lance whispered into Keith’s ear.
“I love winning and dogs!” He was just like his twin sister, with dark curly hair, but his teeth were still there. “I also love playing racecar, but only when I win.”
“I’m Diego!” The next boy down the line waved at Keith. Keith gave a small wave back, and Lance let out a snort. "Um… I like… food.”
“And how old are you?” His mother prompted, gently.
“I’m 8!” He had full, chubby cheeks, and a warm smile. He was the spitting image of Lance’s mom.
“My name’s Nancy,” the eldest girl said. Her hair was the lightest brown of the bunch, and also very straight. She also had the darkest skin of the bunch, leaving out her mom. “I’m 12 years old and my hobbies include beating up boys that break Lance’s heart.” She fixed Keith with a very pointed stare. Lance sputtered, starting forward.
“For the last time, Nancy, I can take care of myself!”
“No you can’t! Remember that time in 10th grade when--”
“Let’s not talk about the past! Seriously! Let’s not!” He waved his hands frantically, running forward to put his hand over her mouth. They struggled in the background as the last kid introduced himself.
“I’m Pierce.” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, causing them to flash. “I’m 15, at the top of my class, and if you think you can outsmart me,” he paused, looked over Keith. “You can’t.” Keith felt a chill run over him, and he frowned at the kid, then turned his attention back to Nancy and Lance. Just what the hell was up with this family? What did they think he was doing, spying or something? It's not like he was the one in that so-called highschool mafia.
“A-Anyway, why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself!” Mrs. Diaz gestured for Keith to stand, so he did, awkwardly.
“Uh… Well, I’m Keith.” His eyes flicked to Lance. “I’m 17, and... “ Shit! An interest, a hobby, something-- “and I like to fly.”
“Fly? Like, as in a bird?”
“No, what if he’s superman!”
“Stupid Alex, he’s not superman! He’s tiny!”
“But Marie, superheros at his age look funny like that!”
“No, I mean fly as in pilot. I plan to enroll in the Garrison,” he said with an edge, the twin’s harmless comments ticking him off slightly. Lance stopped struggling with Nancy and looked over at him, his face overcome with some odd expression. Wonder? Surprise?
“Alright! Thank you all, for the wonderful introductions. Lance, dear; I have some errands for you to run.” Mrs. Diaz clapped, and the kids ran off to different corners of the house. She produced a piece of paper and handed it to Lance, causing him to groan loudly. “It’s just a list for some groceries.”
“No, it’s like, a 3 hour long haul.”
“I’m sorry, did you have plans for the rest of the day?” Lance opened his mouth, then closed it, then pocketed the list, frowning.
“C’mon, Keith,” he said, walking out the door. Then, over his shoulder; “I’m getting other food I want too!”
“No more than $10 worth, hun!” The door shut, and Keith was once again pulled into that blue car.
“Alright, well; you’re ‘part of the family’ now, as mom said, so… Welcome to grocery shopping for the familia de ocho,” Lance grumbled. He reversed the car out of the driveway, then shifted gear into drive; and just like that, they were on their way to the grocery store, which was apparently hell to Lance.
Keith was grateful for the brief reprieve from the kids' attention, closing his eyes and leaning back in the passenger seat. The last (not even) 24 hours had been an absolutely shit show so far, and now he was running to the store with Lance, as part of the family as an 'honorary member.' Just how the hell does he manage to get himself into these kinds of messes?