Chapter Text
Thinking back, this is exactly why Keith hadn’t wanted to tell Lance how he felt in the first place. They ran in the same friend group, having been introduced to each other by said friends, and while the two of them hadn’t been particularly close to begin with, he felt telling Lance that he had feelings for him would ruin the dynamic their group had.
Now, three years after they’d first met and a year after they’d dated, things were just… weird.
It’s not like it had been a nasty break up.The main reason they’d started dating when they had was because Keith had been too late in his application to be accepted into a six month exchange program for school, and they weren’t going to have to worry about the weight that would put on their relationship. A month before the exchange was due to start, someone dropped out, leaving a spot open for the next available applicant. This was four months into their relationship and Keith had already accepted the fact he wasn’t going and was more than happy to stay in the country. Lance was not about to let this opportunity pass Keith by.
So they ended things and Keith went to spend six months in South Korea. Three months in, he found out through the friend who’d introduced them, Shiro, that Lance had started dating a girl named Nyma. The two were still together when he’d returned, and Keith had moved on romantically from Lance and was happy to see him happy with her.
That was when Keith noticed how awkward things were with him around. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve the looks Nyma was giving him, but she did not seem to like him one bit. He figured it had something to do with a conversation between her and Lance he’d overheard. She’d been venting to him about her worries that he was going to break up with her for Keith. Keith had gotten a kick out of that one. Nyma was literally everything Lance looked for in a girl; tall, blonde, shapely, model pretty, and most importantly, laughed at his jokes.
That fact didn’t stop her from draping herself all over him any time Keith even so much as glanced in their direction for the better part of two months, a fact that made not only him, but their friends slightly uncomfortable as well. Lance could barely keep his hands to himself as it was.
Shiro had told him that while the clingy part wasn’t different, the extreme extent of it was something new for her, and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her jealousy.
“She has nothing to worry about,” Keith told Shiro.
Shiro raised an eyebrow at him and gave him a once over. “Are you alright?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well over him or not, it can’t be easy seeing Lance with someone else.”
“It’s really not a big deal. Lance and I were only together a short while, and we’re still friends. I’m happy for him,” Keith replied, even if deep down, he knew it was a lie. He’d always have a little place in his heart for Lance.
“You don’t have to keep it to yourself. It’s okay if you’re hurting.”
“Shiro, it’s been almost a year, I’m fine, really. Now go before you’re late for your date with Allura.”
A few days later, Keith ran into Lance waiting for Nyma on his way home from class, the first time they’d actually been alone since he got back.
“Hey Keith,” Lance said. “It’s been a while.”
Keith rolled his eyes and smiled. “We literally saw each other two days ago.”
“Yea but I mean… we haven’t really talked in a long time.”
“You’ve been busy with Nyma and I’ve been busy with school, so it's only natural that when we see each other it's with all of our friends as well.”
“Look, Keith-”
“Lance!” Nyma called from across the street. When she crossed over she kissed him and then looked over at his companion. “Keith,” she said curtly.
“Nyma,” he replied in kind.
“Lance will you go and grab some coffees for you and I? I’ll get us a table out here.”
“Sure babe. See you Keith.”
“Later.”
Once Lance was safely inside and out of hearing range, Nyma turned to Keith with a glare. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but he’s mine. You’re never getting him back.”
This was the first time him and Nyma had ever spoken one on one, and he was overwhelmed by the feeling of hatred he was getting from her.
She continued before he could respond, “you may have had a thing once, but Lance is back on the winning team and he is never going back. He loves me, and he will never love you.”
Keith laughed. “Has he ever actually told you he loved you?” When she didn’t answer he said, “that’s what I thought. Not that I care since that ship sailed a long time ago, but the fact that you’re so jealous over something that isn’t even there means you’re not confident he feels as strongly for you as you do for him. We’re just friends now, so do me a favor? Stop hating me for something that doesn’t even exist. You’re making the whole group uncomfortable with your jealousy. Good bye Nyma.”
Keith was on a high after telling Nyma off. Nothing was quite as satisfying a feeling as watching someone fail to come up with an appropriate response. Once that high wore off, Keith was left with a giddy feeling in his chest at the idea Lance didn’t love Nyma.
Oh fuck.
This revelation made things feel way more awkward when the whole group hung out, but he wasn’t sure if it was just him. Suddenly all the things that had make Keith have feelings for Lance came rushing back the more time they spent in proximity to each other.
Lance seemed to be none the wiser and it didn’t look like Nyma had told Lance what had transpired between the two of them.
Shiro pulled him aside again after they had all hung out.
“I thought you were totally over him.”
Keith couldn’t help but think about the times where Pidge would say ‘I came out to have a good time and I’m feeling really attacked right now’, but instead responded with, “we literally had this conversation a week ago. What makes you think I’m not?”
“Are you kidding me? You’re making the same lovesick eyes you used to make at him before you guys started dating.”
“I have done no such thing!” Keith said but he could tell immediately Shiro knew he was lying. “Okay so maybe the other day I realized I’m not quite as over him as I thought. Doesn’t mean I’m going to try and steal him away or anything.”
“God I wish you would,” Shiro replied quietly. Then, realizing he’d said it out loud said, “shit, don’t tell Lance I said that. Nyma’s nice enough but she just doesn’t really fit into our group that well.”
Keith gaped at Shiro for a moment before regaining brain function from hearing Shiro even say just the word ‘shit’ and replied, “well I have good news for you. Nyma and I had a little conversation and I don’t think Lance is quite as into her as we’ve all been lead to believe.”
“What do you mean?”
Keith brought him up to speed on their conversation, then said, “come on Shiro, you’re supposed to be the observant dad of the group. Have you heard Lance say he loved her once since they’ve been together? It’s been like six months and he hasn’t said it, and we all know how fast Lance falls. He’s verbal as all hell about it too.”
“Holy fuck Keith, you’re right.”
“I know I am. Also, stop swearing, it's weirding me out.”
Shiro smiled. “Allura is going to flip her lid when she finds out.”
“This whole role reversal thing is kinda freaking me out, but I have to ask you, is that a good idea? Allura isn’t exactly subtle.”
“Hunk is really the only person who wouldn’t make a huge deal about this. Have you talked to him about this? He is Lance’s best friend and all. He might actually already know this and also know why. Maybe he can help you take Lance back.”
Keith sputtered out a reply of, “did we not already go over the fact I’m not trying to do that? Even if they break up, I’m not just going to swoop in and try to take him back like that. If he decides that’s what he wants, then fine but it’s not going to be immediate. I’m not going to actively try and hurt either of them. Even if Nyma deserves it.”
“I still think you should talk to him. See what he thinks about it.”
“And there’s dad Shiro again. Good to have you back.”
“I’m serious. If Lance isn’t really that into Nyma, we should try and figure out why. Normally I’m against meddling like this, but I care for the both of you.” Then Shiro added, “plus if I never see Nyma’s tongue in Lance’s mouth again it’ll be too soon.”
“Fine, fine I'll talk to Hunk. Just make sure Allura doesn’t say anything since we both know you’re going to tell her anyway.”
Shiro tried to deny it, but Keith gave him a knowing look and he replied, “I’ll make sure she doesn't talk to anyone. Pidge is going to be so pissed when she finds out she was out of the loop though.”
Turns out, Pidge already knew. Or at least, made the connection that while Lance was physically all over Nyma, he had yet to declare his affections for her in the same way he had with Keith.
He’d tried to corner Hunk alone in his apartment but Pidge had a habit of being places she was least expected. She’d decided to come walking into their conversation without a moment’s hesitation when she’d heard Lance and Nyma’s names.
Keith was sitting in front of them trying to wrap his head around this. “So you’re telling me both of you knew and haven’t done anything about it?”
“Well it’s not so much that we haven’t done anything and more that Lance told us not to,” Hunk explained.
Upon seeing the confusion etched on Keith’s face, Pidge continued, “a few months ago, Hunk told Lance that he didn’t look happy with Nyma and Lance put on that face he does when he’s trying to lie and told him that he was happy, he was just going through some non-Nyma related stuff at the time he didn’t want to disclose to either of us. He seemed fine a few days later, but yea, the idiot still hasn't told any of us that he’s madly in love with her which is surprising since he literally messaged us at four in the morning when you guys said it.”
“Please stop bringing that up. It’s hard enough to see him with her when he’s clearly not happy.”
Pidge gave Keith a look that he knew meant trouble. “So you hate seeing them together? When did you catch up with the rest of the class and realize you still loved him?”
“Shut the hell up Pidge. That isn’t what matters right now.”
Hunk spoke up. “But you do still love him?”
Keith could feel the heat rising up his neck and ears, but crossed his arms and looked away from them.
“Oh Hunk, he has got it baaaaaaad,” Pidge teased.
“Dude, it’s okay. You aren’t very good at hiding these things. We’re rooting for you either way. Nyma used to be nice, but that stopped like, a month in.”
“So what made her change so quickly?” Keith asked. He noticed Pidge’s face turned from teasing to serious and turned to look back at her fully. “Pidge, what’s wrong?”
“There’s one more thing you should know actually. I don’t even know if I’ve told Hunk.” At the mention of his name, Hunk turned his full attention to her. “Or maybe you already know
or figured it out or what, and I’m not even sure if I’m totally right about it…”
“Pidge, what is it?” Keith asked.
“I don’t even think Nyma is being faithful to Lance.”
Keith was taken aback by her words.
Hunk hardly looked surprised by this news and sighed. “I don’t know for certain but I saw her hanging out with that Rolo guy once or twice. I didn’t think anything of it, but now that you mention it, they seemed a little too cozy.”
Pidge swore under her breath. “I was really hoping I was wrong. But I saw a message she got from him and without being too explicit, I don’t think they were just going to get
coffee.”
“Shit. What do we do guys?” Keith asked. “I wasn’t going to get involved, I just wanted to know what you thought, but this bitch is playing with our friend and we need to stop her.”
“No Pidge, we cannot blast her into space,” Hunk said when Pidge’s face lit up.
“Hey, that was a onetime idea and it was a damn good one at that,” she replied indignantly.
Keith really didn’t want to get too involved in this. It was bad enough he said he was just going to ignore them and let things play their course, but now he’d caught (or re-caught), feelings for him and that was going to make any part he played in breaking them up even worse. They would have to be really careful with this one.
“Pidge, what’s the likelihood you could remotely hack into her phone to find out when she and Rolo are hanging out next.”
Pidge snorted. “With her security? I could do it in my sleep.”
“What are you planning Keith?”
“The most cliché getting someone to break it off tactic in the book; we’re going to catch them. Oh, but Pidge? Just, uh, make sure it’s a safe for work kind of meeting if you can. We want them to break up, not to completely break Lance’s heart.”
“No promises. Shit like that can change quickly, but I’ll try my best to make sure it’s in a public setting,” she replied. “Wait if we’re going to hack her phone, why don’t we just make it so texts meant for Rolo go to Lance instead?”
Keith shook his head. “That could seriously backfire on us. He could end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and next thing you know, he sees the two of them getting it on.”
“Guys, are you sure we should be doing this? I know we’re worried for him, and I’ve already said that I’m more than happy to have Keith and Lance hook up again, even if you guys were so cute it was sick sometimes, but if Lance finds out what we’re going to do…”
Keith and Pidge looked at each other, knowing Hunk was probably right. “So what do we do then?”
Hunk sighed. “I hate to say it but I think we should just tell him that we think she’s being unfaithful. You know, honesty is the best policy and all.”
“Well I hope you’re volunteering then, because I am literally the last person Lance should be finding this out from,” Keith replied.
“I was thinking Pidge actually. You’re never very serious with Lance, and when you are he actually listens to you. I would be the one doing it, but I think this is better off coming from someone who isn’t his best friend.”
“Me? Why not Shiro?”
Keith snorted. “I can see that going over just wonderfully. ‘Lance I’m worried about you, and I think you need to have a talk with Nyma,’ ‘don’t worry dad I know how the birds and the bees work’. Yep. Having someone who might as well be the group father talk to him about it would be perfect.”
“He makes a good point.”
Pidge huffed. “You guys know I’m not very good with feelings and shit.”
“Neither am I,” Keith said.
“You’re also not the one who Hunk has dubbed the perfect candidate. If I try to tell Lance, there’s a fifty-fifty chance I’ll get frustrated trying to let him down easy and just blurt out ‘ we think Nyma is cheating on you! ’”
“Do you guys dislike her that much that you’d think something like that just to break us up?” A voice from the doorway said.
Keith then remembered they were at Hunk’s apartment. Which Lance more or less had free roam of going in and out of. Turning to look and Hunk and Pidge, he could see they had forgotten that fact as well, matching expressions of surprise on the both of their faces. Lance wasn’t looking at them though, he was busy glaring at the floor, eyes red. Had he been crying?
“Lance, we – ” Pidge tried to explain but couldn’t find the words.
“How long have you been there?” Hunk asked quietly.
“You know, I knew you guys weren’t a huge fan of her, but I figured you’d be happy that I was happy. Hunk, you’re my best friend and you’re here with them just talking about me behind my back. Pidge, we’ve known each other for years, and yes, you blurting that out would still be better than this,” he said, not even bothering to look up at them while he spoke. His head snapped up to look at Keith when he spoke again. “Keith, you don’t even fucking know her. You think you can just come back and hate on whoever I’m dating at the time? That’s fucking low. I thought that we were better friends than that, with or without a history together. But I guess you’ll all be happy to know she broke up with me. Something about how she can’t be with me if I can stay friends with an ex who still loves me.”
Keith’s face heated up, but before he could say anything Pidge stood up, “you’re right. We weren’t a huge fan of her. But we were happy that you were happy, and she really wasn’t that bad at first. Why is it though, do you think we were going to tell you? Because we want to see you unhappy? No, it’s because we’re your fucking friends, and that’s what good friends do. I’m sorry Nyma broke up with you, but we really did believe she was cheating on you, so no we aren’t upset about that fact. She doesn’t fucking deserve you.”
Lance stood in shock for a moment before regaining his composure. “That doesn’t fucking give you guys the right to do this.”
“Lance we were just trying to help,” Keith said, putting a hand on Pidge’s now shaking shoulder.
Lance scoffed. “Yea, I know they were. You though? With what Nyma told me, I’m not so sure of your intentions.”
“Excuse me?”
“You couldn’t just let me be happy, you had to come waltzing in and trying to win me back.”
Well that answered the question on what parts of the conversation he’d missed.
“Are you fucking kidding me Lance? You think I’m that fucking self-absorbed and shallow that I would try and ruin your relationship just for the chance to get back with you? Nyma was nothing but hostile with me and I hadn’t even done anything! You’re going to believe the girl who broke up with you over your friends? I think you’re forgetting we were friends before all else.”
Hunk tried to intervene. “Guys come on, let’s just sit down and talk about this.”
“No Hunk, if Lance has something more to say, I say let him say it however he wants.”
“Me? Broken up now or not, we weren’t when you had your little conversation with Nyma the other day.”
“You mean the one where the second you were gone she fucking threatened me?”
“So you’re saying you didn’t tell her that I would never love her?”
“It’s the truth!”
“And how the fuck would you know?”
“Because I know you!” Keith shouted. Taking a deep breath, he spoke more quietly saying, “I know you Lance, better than most people, and with one look I could tell you didn’t love her. Because I know what that looks like. You used to look at me like that.”
“Fuck you Keith,” was the last thing Lance said before he turned and stormed out of the apartment.
The three left in the apartment stood in stunned silence before Keith sighed shakily and sat down, putting his head in his hands.
“He just needs some time to cool off. Between being broken up with and then overhearing this, it was probably a bit too much. He’ll bounce back in a few days at most,” Hunk said, but both Pidge and Keith could tell it wasn’t going to be as easy at that.
Two weeks later, and Lance had yet to even acknowledge Keith’s existence. This was more than a little concerning seeing as Shiro had reminded them of his Bachelor party that was to take place the following weekend, and both he and Lance were in the wedding party, Keith being best man.
“Allura made me promise no strippers. Can you believe that? As if I would hire strippers. Me . The gay one.” Keith said to Shiro.
“Yea that’s more of a Lance thing to do,” Shiro replied. Then remembering that was a touchy subject added, “sorry.”
Keith sighed. “It’s alright, and too true. It’s not me with the problem right now; we’re all just waiting on Lance to hopefully move past this. He’s totally back on terms with Hunk and Pidge though, so that’s something. But enough about that. Just make sure you are dressed and ready to go out on Friday night at seven. We’re doing dinner and then the real party will start.”
Come Friday, Keith wasn’t even sure Lance was going to show up knowing he’d be the one planning tonight, but sure enough, Lance showed up with Hunk at his apartment shortly before 7. Hunk acted as a buffer for them during the short time they had to wait for Shiro, discussing plans for the night with Keith while Lance sat and listened.
“I’ve talked to the bar already and set up a tab, so the four of us can drink as much as we want without worrying about paying. Tipping is up to you, but know I’m leaving a hefty one at the end anyway,” Keith explained.
“Awesome dude, but let’s hope Shiro doesn’t get so wasted he doesn’t remember the night,” Hunk replied.
“I’ll try to keep him in check, not that he’ll really need it. Last time we went out he ended up carrying my drunken ass home. He is the ‘dad’ for a reason.”
Hunk let out a laugh but the conversation died there without Lance to help keep it going. Thankfully, Shiro showed up a few moments later and the four of them headed out.
Dinner went off without many problems, Keith having set it up at one of Shiro’s favorite Japanese restaurants where they got a start on their drinking with a little sake. Lance seemed to open up a little more as dinner went on, going so far as to have full on conversations with Hunk and Shiro, but he was still much less focused on Keith as a whole.
Once they got to the bar, Keith marched right up to the bartender and ordered the strongest thing they had. There was no way he was going to make it through the night with Lance if he was sober. Lance seemed to have a similar idea as he ordered the same, Hunk and Shiro watching on, giving each other wary looks.
Four drinks later, Keith and Lance had practically forgotten they were even on bad terms.
“A round of shots for the groom!” Keith cried to the bartender who handed them over. Keith brought them over to the table they had set up and said, “A toast! To Shiro and Allura, the best pseudo mom and dad we could ask for!”
“Hear hear!” Hunk and Lance cheered clinking their glasses together.
Shiro shook his head, but smiled and took the shot with the rest of them. “I think I’m going to head to the bathroom. Be back in a moment.”
“Dude, you’re gonna break the seal!” Lance called out to him. Shiro continued on anyway.
“Are you guys hungry? I could totally go for some onion rings right now,” Hunk asked. Lance nodded fiercely and Keith shrugged his shoulders as if to say ‘yea I could eat’, and Hunk got up to ask the bartender about ordering some food, leaving the last two of their group alone at the table.
There was silence between them for a moment until the drunken part of Keith’s brain took over and blurted, “I miss you.”
Lance’s eyes widened and Keith clapped a hand over his mouth, but took it away quickly and explained, “I mean I miss hanging out with you and actually having you pay attention to me. Wait shit, that’s still not right. I wish you would stop being so angry with me.”
“I’m not.”
Keith blinked. “What?”
“I’m not angry with you anymore? Like obviously I’m still not happy with what happened, but now I’m just upset with myself for being such a dick. You were right; I know you guys were just looking out for me. I was just so pissed that you guys were talking to each other instead of to me. That being said, I, um, actually already knew she was seeing that guy behind my back. I had for like a week. She came back smelling like him a few times, but told me it wasn’t anything like that, they were just friends. Then that day I told her to tell me the truth and she broke up with me, so I went to find Hunk and then I walked in on the three of you talking and I just… blew up.”
“Lance, it’s okay.”
“No it’s not. I’ve been ignoring you for weeks now and that’s not cool. I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven. Mostly. I’m still a little annoyed that you would think I’d actually try and win you back by breaking you up with your girlfriend, but I also understand why you said what you did. It did look a lot like that’s what we were doing.”
Lance was silent for a few moments before he quietly said, “ were you trying to win me back?”
Keith shook his head. “I was just trying to look out for my friend.”
Disappointment flashed across Lance’s face for a moment, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. “Thanks Keith,” he said and then leaned over and hugged him. It took Keith a moment to get over the surprise and hug him back, but it felt good to be talking again.
“Holy crow, it took long enough,” Hunk said, sitting back down at the table with a basket of onion rings in hand. “Guess we should have gotten you guys drunk sooner.”
“Yea, yea, just pass over the rings,” Lance replied, unwinding his arms from around Keith who immediately missed the contact.
Shiro came back soon after and said, “so who’s ready for another round?”
All three of the other men whooped in response.
An hour later, Keith was definitely not the one keeping Shiro in check. Shiro had to coax both him and Lance off the bar where they’d tried to dance, and Hunk had to keep Lance from falling face first onto the ground when they jumped down. Still, Shiro smiled watching his friends finally having a good time together, free of any anger.
“Dude,” Lance said, staring at Keith intensely. “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Joe Jonas?”
“What the fuck Lance,” was Keith’s reply.
“No seriously! You look like him circa Camp Rock days! The hair, the outfit… gimme a second, we have got to test this.” Lance pulled up a picture of Joe Jonas and showed it to Keith.
“I don’t see it.”
“How? You guys have like, the exact same mullet! Hunk! Shiro! Please tell me I’m not crazy, and this looks exactly like Keith.”
He showed his phone to the aforementioned men, and both of them looked from the photo to Keith and back again.
Hunk spoke first. “He does kind of have a point.”
Keith gaped and Shiro added, “maybe not the in the face, but the hair and the style of clothing are definitely similar.”
“I expected Hunk to agree with his best friend, but you Shiro? How could my own flesh and blood betray me like this?”
“Keith what the hell, since when are you related to Shiro?” Lance asked.
“Lance, you’ve asked me that like, five times since we’ve known each other. He’s not actually my brother, I just lived with him and his parents for a while.”
“Oh shit, you right.”
Keith rolled his eyes, but laughed.
Lance watched him go from laughing regularly to practically dying from it, clutching his stomach and tears forming in his eyes from laughing so hard. Lance felt his stomach clench a little and his heart beat faster seeing Keith so unabashedly happy.
“Keith it wasn’t that funny, careful before you hurt yourself,” Shiro warned, but the smile on his face gave away his real thoughts. It had been a while since any of them had seen Keith smile so genuinely.
“Sorry, I’m like, way drunk right now,” Keith replied when he was able to catch his breath.
“You? Nooooo,” Hunk replied sarcastically. This sent all four of them into uncontrollable laughter, and Lance put his arm around Keith’s shoulder to steady himself.
“Dude, me too. How much have we had to drink?”
“Dude I seriously don’t know.”
“ Dude .”
Keith and Lance looked at each other for a moment, all laughter gone, faces flushed from drinking as well as being so close. Lance’s face was leaning closer, and the rational part of Keith’s brain told him to pull away so he did, much to Lance’s disappointment.
“Hey Hunk, what time is it?” Keith asked.
“Summer time!” Lance sung out.
“Just past midnight.”
“Damn I really wanted to stay out till dawn but I think I got drunk too fast,” Keith said, still with Lance’s arm wrapped around him. He gasped suddenly. “ Guys we should totally go to McDonalds .”
“Was that part of your master plan for the night?” Lance asked.
“Not even a little bit, but it sounds really good right now. Originally we were supposed to stay here till last call then like, go watch the sunrise or some shit, but now that I think about it, it’s a little gay.”
“Keith, my buddy, you are the gayest person I know. And I know myself.”
Keith stared at Lance with wide eyes for a moment before whispering, “holy shit, you’re right, I’m so fucking gay.”
Hunk and Shiro shared a look and an eye roll before turning their attention back to their two drunk friends.
“Hey guys, how about we go get McDonald’s and then we can head back to wherever Keith decided we’re staying tonight?” Shiro offered.
“Sounds good to me,” Hunk added.
The other two whooped and Keith handed his card to Shiro to pay the tab, telling him to tip generously before they left the stale air of bar. Keith felt immensely less foggy once they were in the fresh air.
A block or so away from the bar, Lance had fallen in stride with him. Keith made sure to keep his hands in his pockets, unsure he could keep them to himself otherwise. Lance had other plans and looped his arm through Keith’s, shoving his hand in his own pocket to lock them in place. Keith looked up at him and almost tripped when he saw Lance’s beaming smile directed at him.
Neither of them said anything and Keith looked away with a blush when Shiro turned to look at them and gave him a knowing smirk.
Weren’t there rules about this kind of thing? They were exes and Lance had only been broken up with and cheated on two weeks prior.
“Why are you doing this?” He asked.
Lance glanced up at the stars for a moment before looking back down at him. “Doing what?”
Keith narrowed his eyes. “This,” he said gesturing to their linked arms, “as well as back at the bar. You got that same look in your eyes as the day we first kissed. I don’t want to be your drunk rebound.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep my boundaries. I just missed this. You. Us .”
“Lance…”
“I understand if you don’t want this. I was nothing short of nasty to you the last month, and things were just weird ever since you got back.”
Keith was silent as he struggled to find the words to explain his thoughts. His arm was suddenly colder and he looked to see Lance’s arm no longer through his, hands in his own pockets.
“No wait Lance, that’s not-”
“You don’t have to explain yourself. I get it.”
Keith grabbed a hold of his arm and stopped them both from walking. Shiro looked back at them and nodded, understanding that they needed a moment. Him and Hunk walked to the end of the block to wait for them.
“I need to explain myself. I miss us too, but it’s not going to be this easy. You can’t just expect to not speak to me for two weeks, have a drunk reconciliation and then be fine. What’s that rule for after a breakup? One week for every month you were together? You guys were together for like, six months right? That’s six weeks and it’s been three, so wait another couple of weeks, then we can see about things.”
“So what you’re saying is that you’re not saying no?” Lance asked, smile getting bigger with each moment.
“I’m saying talk to me in like two and a half weeks.”
“In that case, you wanna be my date to the wedding?”
“What? I thought I just said to wait.”
“Yea but tonight is the bachelor party right? And the wedding is three weeks from tomorrow, or uh, I guess today seeing as it’s after midnight but anyway, that’s exactly the right amount of time!”
Keith looked at his phone and sure enough, the wedding was roughly six weeks after his break up with Nyma. “I wonder how Allura’s family will take that. The best man and one of the groom’s men attending the wedding together as totally non-platonic dates.”
“You use big words when you’re drunk, you know that? But is that a yes I’m hearing?”
Keith blushed and looked down, but nodded. Lance jumped up and cheered, running up to Hunk shouting, “Hunk, my man! I have a date to the wedding!”
Hunk congratulated Lance and the two made their way forward to McDonald’s, Keith caught up with Shiro.
“A date to the wedding eh?”
“Shut up. You were rooting for this.”
“Honestly, I’m really happy for you. In all the years I’ve known you, the time you were with Lance was when you smiled the most. I hope that’s the case again.”
Keith had to fight a smile down, if only to disprove Shiro’s point, but he knew it was true. Lance was insufferable at the best of times, but he really was a good person.
“I’m sorry if tonight has turned into a night less about you than I’d wanted.”
“Don’t worry about it. Allura and I have a whole day devoted to just the two of us in a few weeks, and seeing you two getting along is more than good enough for me.”
The whole time they were at McDonald’s, Keith was catching Lance looking at him, a goofy smile plastered on his face. He accepted that the blush was going to remain on his face the whole time and stopped trying to fight it, even indulging Lance in returning the smile every so often.
In the end they didn’t make up to see the sunrise. Keith had rented out a hotel room since his place was too small to hold everyone, and he knew that Allura had claimed her and Shiro’s apartment for the bachelorette party. There were two double beds and a pull-out couch to sleep on, and Keith had said he didn’t mind taking the floor. None of the rest of them would have it, and in the end, Hunk and Lance ended up sharing one of the beds, leaving the other bed for Shiro and the couch for Keith.
Keith knew his sporadic insomnia was bound to hit him at the worst of times, and an hour after everyone else was asleep and snoring soundly, Keith was staring at the ceiling, still buzzed despite the greasy food and copious amount of water they’d consumed.
In the steady sound of snores, he heard one of the beds creak and footsteps padding over the carpeted floor and into the bathroom.
He wasn’t sure who it was, but the memory of Lance leaving their bed practically every night to use the toilet, a sliver of light peeking through the cracks between the door and the wall came back to him and he sighed, squeezing his eyes tight and willing himself to stop the memory before it continued. He felt an ache in his chest when the toilet flushed and the footsteps came back out into the room. A weight on the mattress made him jerk to the side in surprise and he watched as Lance crawled into the empty bed space next to him.
Surely he had to be dreaming, but the breath that fanned his face and solid weight assured him it was no dream.
“What the hell are you doing?” He whispered.
“Hunk keeps kicking me,” Lance whispered back. “’sides, you’re a way better bed partner and the fact you’re awake means your insomnia is kicking in.” He yawned and adjusted himself to be more comfortable. “You always did sleep better with someone else.”
Keith opened his mouth to retort, but he knew Lance was right and upon closer inspection, Lance was already asleep again. He’d always been envious of his ability to fall asleep anywhere and everywhere at the drop of a hat.
“G’night Keith…” Lance mumbled in his sleep. Keith smiled despite himself and for a moment, pretended they were still together in Lance’s apartment, and brushed the bangs out of the sleeping Lance’s face.
“Goodnight Lance.”
He woke up to Lance’s arm around his waist, a picture message from Shiro of him and Lance asleep on the pull-out, and a text reading:
Pidge (10:23am)
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
He ignored the text, and saved the picture to folder hidden deep within his phone.