#piing

Keith perked up, sitting upright and almost bumping the back of his head with the girl behind him.

Lance? His Lance? His lanky childhood best friend was dating a guy and apparently got dumped on their anniversary? That Lance?

Keith subtly leaned their way, straining his ears to catch every detail of their conversation. It can’t be his Lance, right? Because that means a douchebag hurt his best friend and that doesn’t sit well with him. It doesn’t sit well with him at all.

“Really? You don’t seem sympathetic at all.”

“What? Me? I-I’m just… I mean it’s bound to happen. They’ve been together for, what, three years now? How many times have they fought and took breaks in their relationship? Not to mention the parade of girls Ethan had been seeing for the past month. So yeah, i think at this point, a break up is inevitable.”

“Like I said, you don’t sound sympathetic at all.” Yeah. This close, he can definitely hear a smile in her voice.

Keith was shaking now. That dickturd, Ethan, cheated on his Lance?

“I just think that Lance deserved better.”

“And that better is you, I’m guessing.”

“Yeah. What’s wrong with me?” Keith arched at brow at that. He was tempted to turn around and assess the girl, see if she’s good for Lance-

“Here’s your iced mocha, babe.” A man with black and white hair, approached his table and placed a small kiss on the top of his head before sitting comfortably across him. The man gave him a questioning look when he didn’t immediately sucked on the straw of his drink.

He shook his head at him and placed a finger on his lips, signalling the man to keep quiet. The man across him shrugged and continued drinking his coffee.

“Nothing is wrong with you. But have you thought of Lance considering a relationship just after breaking up with his BOYFRIEND for THREE YEARS? And or maybe he’s not into girls? Have you thought about that?”

“Ok first of all, who said anything about a relationship? I just want to be there for him in this trying time of his life. And if he wants some cuddles and kisses, who am I to deny that? He deserves all the cuddles and kisses! And second, Lance is bi so i have a 50% chance.”

Keith nodded. He nodded at the part where Lance deserves all the cuddles and kisses part. Another look from his boyfriend and he finally picked up his cup and took a sip of his drink.

“Whatever you say. But i’m guessing it’s my duty as your wingwoman to tell you that Hunk and Pidge are throwing a party just for him.”

“What are you saying?” Keith was chewing on his straw. Damn, he knows where this chick is going with this and he didn’t like it.

“Not now, Shiro.” Keith hissed at his boyfriend when he started whispering something at him. This is important, dammit.

“I’m saying, if you want to give the cuddles and kisses, then you better drag your ass to that party and look hot as hell.”

“Oh god, really? What time is the party? Shit, i gotta get ready. Will you help me?”

“I already set up my makeup kit and thought out your outfit.”

“Aah! I love you!”

“I know right.”

The girl behind him practically jumped off her seat, bumping Keith’s chair as she forcefully pushed the chair back. Keith was too busy thinking of ways to torture the Ethan guy and racking his brain for Lance’s address to turn around and curse at the girl.

“What was that about?” His boyfriend, Shiro, who was now sweating a little, asked. The heat made his face a little red, making the scar on his face stand out more, which was hot by the way.

“Remember my friend Lance?” Keith took a long sip, his hand hovering near Shiro’s hand. 

“Hmm, isn’t he that friend of yours since you were nine?” Shiro gingerly took Keith’s fingers and played with them, his calloused hands a familiar feeling on his.

“Yeah, that’s him.” Keith tangled their fingers together, loving the way his hand was being covered by Shiro’s larger ones, loves the comfort it brings. “I heard that he broke up with his boyfriend last night. It was pretty rough, babe.”

“What happened?“ Shiro asked, lifting his drink with his prosthetic hand while his other hand played with Keith’s fingers. 

“Turns out the guy he was dating was seeing other girls, and that they broke up on their anniversary.“ Keith wasn’t aware that he was gripping too hard on Shiro’s hand, but Shiro didn’t mind. If he were to describe Keith to anyone, he would use the word intense, and he doesn’t use that word much to describe anything.

“So what’re you planning?“

“I don’t know yet. But I want to see if Lance is doing fine.“ Keith looked up to meet his boyfriend’s gray gaze, putting on those puppy eyes that he was sure Shiro was weak to, “Is that ok?”

Shiro chuckled at Keith, not really sure if he doubted Shiro’s considerate nature or if he thinks that the puppy eyes are the answer to everything. “Of course it’s ok, Keith.”

“Good,” Keith sighed in relief, “because I need your help. I’m not really sure where he lives.”

“Wha- You want to go to his place now?” Yup, Keith was intense.

“Of course! Who knows what he’s doing now?”

“Keith, babe, it’s 3 in the afternoon. I’m pretty sure he’s still in class.”

“Shit, you’re right.” Keith bit at his lip, trying to figure out a way to check up on Lance.

“Why don’t you just text him? Or message him?” Shiro gripped at Keith’s hand for comfort. 

Keith mumbled something low, almost whispering to himself.

“What? I can’t hear you, babe.”

“I don’t have his number and I’m not friends with him on facebook!” Keith exclaimed, turning red all over. 

“Ok ok, calm down!“ Shiro leaned his way, letting go of his hand and placing it on his cheek, turning it his way. “I’ll find a way to contact him, ok?“ Shiro smiled, feeling Keith relax beneath his fingers. “Now, why don’t we gather our things and head to class. You go learn about physics and I’ll ask around about Lance. Sound good?“

“Yeah. Yeah ok.“ Keith smiled back at Shiro, leaning further in to place a sweet, chaste kiss on his boyfriend’s lips. Shiro’s got this.

Shiro doesn’t got this. 

He wanted to sound confident but Shiro knew that finding a person’s address, especially one that he’s not acquainted to, was going to be hard. He’s asked some of the few sophomores he knew but they either looked at him funny or said that he should just message him or something. He was getting desperate because it was almost 5 and he still doesn’t know Lance’s address. Keith’s class ends at 5 and he was planning on visiting Lance right after that.

Shiro was about to give up but then he remembered a conversation he had with his friend, Allura. Something about a moisturizer-

“I am an idiot.“ He fished out his phone from his pocket and dialled Allura’s number.

“Hey Shiro, what’s up?” Allura picked up on the third ring.

“Allura, hi. Uhm, do you know someone named Lance? I remember you mentioned him when we were buying stuff in the drugstore that one time.“

“Oh Lance! Of course I know him, why do you ask?“

Shiro scratched the back of his neck, not really sure how to ask about lance’s address. “Uhm, I heard he broke up with his boyfriend-”

“Ugh, Ethan. God I hate that guy. Who would break up with someone on their anniversary? That’s just plain rude and cruel. And what he did to Lance? He didn’t deserve that. I want to strangle him with his own intestines and gag him with his castrated dick.“

“That was quite an image, Allura.“

“Why do you ask? What do you want from my boyfriend’s bestfriend, Shirogane.“ 

Ah, Allura was also intense. He forgot how protective she is with her friends.

“Nothing! Well, not me but Keith, my boyfriend. He wants to check up on him, see if he’s doing alright.“ 

“Keith? Why would Keith want to check up on him?“

“Well, they are bestfriends.“

“Hmm, really?“

“Yeah, they’ve been friends since they were nine, Allura.“

“I don’t know. Lance is in a pretty vulnerable state right now. Why don’t you guys just ask him tonight? Hunk and Pidge are throwing a party for him in Pidge’s family cabin.“

“Uhm, Keith wanted a one on one conversation with him, I think. A party would be too noisy for that. Can’t you just tell me his address and consider that favor you asked me during freshman year paid?“

“You and your favors. Fine, fine, I’ll text you his address. But you guys better be perfect gentlemen towards Lance or else.“ The threat in her voice was there.

“Or else what?“ Shiro jokingly challenged.

“Or else I’ll make sure every date you have with your boyfriend ends up with blue balls. Toodles, Shiro.“

A knock on the door startled Lance. He jumped off the counter and placed the book he was drawing on on the table in front of him and headed to the door. Of course he had to avoid stepping on the scattered clothes of his and his roommates on the floor, and a few controllers they thrown on the floor last night when they tried to console-

Nope nope nope. He’s not thinking about that. Nope. Not today Satan.

The knocking on the door was beginning to annoy him. Geez, three knocks was enough. 

He heard whispering on the other side of the door. Lance thought it was one of his roommates, Hunk or Pidge, forgetting their keys again. He opened the door and a plastic bag met his face.

“What?”

The plastic bag was lowered and he was surprised to see Keith. His childhood friend Keith who apparently grew a mullet, and was wearing a cropped red jacket. Beside him was his boyfriend, Shiro. Standing in all his glory, clothes always too tight and the surface of his prosthetic arm glinting at him. They were both smiling at him and all Lance could do was gape at them.

“Hi Lance.“ Keith nervously smiled at him, his dimples showing as he fiddled with the plastic bag.

“Hi.“ Lance replied. “Not to sound rude or anything, but what are you doing here?“ Oh god, that sounded rude. Nice going Lance.

Keith closed up like a clam and gave a panicked look at his boyfriend. 

“Hi Lance. I’m Shiro.“ Shiro pushed his arm out for Lance to shake.

Lance took it, giving it a firm shake. “Oh I know who you are, Takashi Shirogane.” Everybody knows Shiro, c’mon now.

“Yeah. Keith and I are here to give you this.“ Shiro took the plastic bag from Keith who was twisting and pulling at the poor plastic bag. Shiro offered it to Lance who took it and inspected its contents.

“Ice cream?“ Lance arched a brow at Shiro and Keith.

“Yeah. Ice cream fixes everything, right?“ Keith looked at Lance, hoping that the situation wasn’t as awkward as he thinks it is.

Lance’s shoulders slumped in realization. “So you heard huh?”

“Uhm, can we come in, Lance?“

“You did brought me ice cream.“ Lance opened the door further, allowing the two to step in the apartment.

“Sorry for the mess. My roommates and I played video games ‘til four in the morning.“ Lance sounded sheepish while kicking the stray clothes, controller and crumbs away from the carpet. “Make yourself at home, I guess. The couch is relatively clean, so you guys sit on that. Here’s the remote,“ he handed Keith the remote to their TV and switched it on, “if you want to watch something. I’ll just put this in the freezer ‘cause it’s kinda melting.“

“Oh, sorry about that. It’s pretty hot outside when we bought it.“ Shiro laughed, placing a hand on Keith’s hunched shoulders. The way Keith relaxed under Shiro’s touch was amazing to watch, the way he went pliant with just a hand on his shoulder. 

Lance hurriedly looked away.

“Do you guys want something to drink? Water, coke, juice?“ Lance asked, opening their refrigerator and placing the ice cream in the freezer. He studied the various canned drinks and the carton of orange juice that was still half full. 

“Juice sounds good.“ Shiro replied. 

“Okay. Orange juice sound good?“ Lance asked, pulling out two glasses from the dishwasher and wiped off the moisture that formed in the glass.

“Sounds good, Lance.“ He heard Keith replied from the couch.

“Orange juice it is.“ Lance mumbled to himself. It’s a good thing his mother taught him how to be hospitable or else there will be just silence. God this was awkward.

Lance poured out the orange juice on the two glasses and placed them on a tray along with some crackers that Hunk kept in a jar. Lance carefully made his way towards the couple who sat comfortably on the sofa. He placed the tray on the small coffee table and hesitated for a second. He made a quick decision to sit on the carpeted floor across the two with the table separating them. Lance ignored the funny look Keith gave him, and waved off Shiro’s offer to sit on the sofa next to them.  

He shifted on the floor so his back was to them and that he was facing the TV. He felt uncomfortable staring at happiness right in the face with the couple sitting closely together. He pretended to look interested on the infomercial about bear attacks. The noise from the TV was a mild comfort for Lance, because that meant he didn’t need to talk.

“How are you holding up Lance?“ Keith asked.

Lance refused to turn around and see the pity on both their faces. “I’m doing good. My morning classes are kicking my ass but I manage. I got an A on a paper I did while on a Monster-coffee concoction Pidge made. I’m pretty sure god high fived me when I finished that paper. She was cool.”

Lance expected a laugh or a giggle but he heard none. That joke always worked! 

“No I meant you and your-“

DING!

His timer rang and Lance bolted to the kitchen. He didn’t care if he was unnecessarily too energetic to get the cookies out of the oven. He’ll do anything, ANYTHING to not talk about what happened last night.

He opened the oven door and took out the tray. Even through his oven mitt hand, he can feel the heat. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air with scents of vanilla, chocolate and over all goodness. Oh goody, Lance thought, another topic for conversation.

“Are those cookies I smell?“ Keith and Shiro made their way to the kitchen and saw the tray of baked heaven.

“Whoa, these smell good Lance!“ Shiro’s eyes sparkled once he saw the cookies.

“Heh, thanks.“ Lance smiled, fighting off the blush that was claiming his face, ears and neck at the compliment.

Keith, on the other hand, had other things in mind. 

“You’re stress baking.“ 

Lance refused to acknowledge Keith’s statement and focused on transferring the cookies on a separate tray with a spatula.

“They’re chocolate chip cookies. My mama used to bake them for me and my siblings when we were kids, and she later taught me how to make them.“ Lance’s hands were shaking but he was glad his voice didn’t waver.

Shiro noticed the tension between his boyfriend and Lance. he stared at the two and decided to keep the conversation going.

“Really? When did you learn to bake?“ Shiro was trying. Lord knows he was trying.

“When he was nine.“ Keith answered for Lance. He was clearly mad now, and he was gritting his teeth with the way Lance was ignoring him. “He started baking since he was nine and he invited me to their house to try them. Since then, he stress bakes whenever he’s sad or angry or just overwhelmed. Aren’t I right, Lance?“

“What are you talking about, Keith? I bake whenever I feel the mood to do so, or if I have the money to buy ingredients.“ Lance gave off a shaky laugh.

“Oh yeah? Well stress baking is when you bake too many things!“ Keith gestured at the batch of muffins cooling on the corner, a tray of cupcakes with icing on the table, and a whole sliced chocolate cheesecake near the stove. “So I’m going to ask again, how are you holding up?”

Lance banged the spatula against the table, the clang of metal against wood was almost painful to hear amidst the silence that followed. 

“Why the hell are you so worried!“ Lance was close to screaming, his voice taking on a liquid note.

“Because I’m your friend! Isn’t worrying my job?!“ Keith exclaimed.

Lance scoffed at that, “Oh because you’re such a good friend.” Lance said bitterly, his voice gaining a cruel tone. “Tell me Keith, when was the last time we hung out, huh? Or the last time you talked to me? Hell, tell me when was the last time you approached me just to talk and not because you needed something from me. Tell me Keith!” Lance didn’t mean to let his voice grow loud, but he can’t help it. If given the choice between being sad and angry, he’ll choose anger over sadness every time. It was easier to be mad than to open yourself up and cry. 

“I-I-“ Keith stuttered.

“That’s right, you don’t remember.” Lance didn’t wait for Keith’s answer. The fact that he didn’t have an answer on hand was an answer by itself. “Maybe four years was far too long for you to remember, huh? Oh, so that meant you abandoned me when you got together with Shiro. What a great friend you are, Keith. No offense Shiro.” That heated blue gaze of Lance’s was momentarily focused on Shiro and he was struck with a cold feeling. He could feel the fury behind those blue eyes, but most of all he could feel the hurt in them.

“And now you’re acting like those four years of ignoring me didn’t happen, like we’re back to being besties just because you feel sorry for me. News flash, Keith, I don’t need your pity. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me just because you felt like it’s your job or obligation to do so!“

Keith gasped, feeling every word pierce right through him. 

“Look,“ Lance took a deep breath, “I know you came here with good intentions, and this isn’t what you expected our reunion would be. But, I don’t appreciate you demanding things from me when you don’t have the right to that information, not anymore. You understand me, Keith?“

Keith numbly nodded, feeling like a piece of shit. Lance was right, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Keith felt Shiro’s hand on his lower back, forming small circles to calm him down.

Shiro cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the two. “Well before you kick us out, do you mind sharing some of those cookies?” Shiro knew it was stupid, but he was sure that it was the right amount of light hearted humor to break off the tension that was clogging the room. “And maybe a slice of that cheesecake?”

Lance couldn’t help himself and laughed. He smiled at Shiro, wishing he’ll see the gratitude in his eyes, “Of course. I admit I baked far too much.” He gave a shy smile at Keith, “Which one of these you want, Keith?”

“We could make some ice cream sandwiches with those cookies. We don’t even need to let the cookies cool.“ Keith replied. He felt unsure on how to talk to Lance after his outburst.

“Oh you’re right! Let me grab the ice cream real quick.“

It was like a switch was flipped, like everything was fine again.

“I bought the vanilla flavored one.“ Keith returned Shiro’s touch, leaning against him and placing his hand on his waist.

“My favorite!“