#theyareok

Lance shakes his head, “It’s okay I don’t think I am ready to face my Mami yet.”

They walk in and see Shiro and Allura sitting in the living room watching a movie, it is about midnight and Keith is a little surprised to see them up, they turn around to see Keith and pause the movie, “Keith you are back how was the party?”

Keith shrugs, “Could have been better. I brought somebody home.” Lance steps out of the darkness of the hallway, “Hey guys.” Lance waves timidly then puts his hand back on his hurt arm and does not look them in the eyes.

Shiro and Allura look at each other having a vague idea of what probably happened. Allura stands up, “Lance lets go get some coffee hm?”

Lance nods and follows Allura into the kitchen. Keith watches them go and Shiro walks up to Keith.

“Follow me.” Shiro says.

Keith follows him down to the basement and he sees that Shiro has turned it into a gym, “I didn’t tell you about this because I have not used it as much since my accident but I feel like you could use it right now.

Keith’s eyes zero in on the punching bag hanging from the ceiling and walks straight towards it. Shiro makes him stop to wrap up his hands but then backs away. All the anger Keith had inside of him for Lotor he lets it all out on the punching bag. How dare Lotor hurt Lance like that. How dare Lotor think Keith would ever be afraid of him. That Keith would just walk away when he had Lance trapped like that. All these thoughts running around his head Keith punches more and more. Shiro grabs the bag from behind so Keith can get better punches in. Finally after about ten minutes the anger has subsided Keith is exhausted he sits down and puts his face in his hands. Shiro sits next to him waiting for him to speak.

Finally he lifts his head up but doesn’t look at Shiro, “You know in my record how it says I punched a teacher?” He sees Shiro nod in his peripheral, “It was this gym teacher, Morvok. He always watched the girls when they would run and one day I caught him after school pushing a freshman girl against the wall.”

Shiro puts his hand of Keith shoulder, Keith lets him, “I got expelled but that girl thanked me for what I did and a bunch of other girls confessed that something like that similar happened to them and they got the coach fired.”

“Thank you for telling me.” Shiro says.

Keith turns to look at him, “Up until tonight that was the angriest I have ever been.”

“But you didn’t punch him.” Shiro sort of questions.

Keith scoffs, “I wish I did. I wish I punch him and broke his nose.”

Shiro lowers his hand from Keith’s shoulder, “So why didn’t you? Don’t get me wrong I am glad you didn’t but why?”

Keith look and the punching bag, “I just thought that if I did I would get expelled again and Lotor probably wouldn’t face any consequences and Lance would be alone with him.”

Shiro smiles, “You really care about him huh?”

Keith snaps his attention toward Shiro with a annoyed glare, “Really? That is what you are taking from that?”

Shiro shrugs, “Well.”

Keith gets up, “Me liking him is not the point right now. The problem is some wanna-be model douchebag won’t leave him alone and I can’t beat him up!” He punches the punching bag again.

“What if I am not there next time?” Punch. “Or what if I am too late?” Another punch. “What if Lotor hurts him?” Another. “I’ve been through this before Shiro I know what happened to make Lance so afraid of him.”

Shiro grabs Keith and pulls him into a hug, Keith is crying, “But you were there Keith. You saved him tonight.”

Keith lets himself cry in Shiro’s arms. Keith has not cried in front of anybody in a very long time. He likes Shiro’s hugs.

Keith stops crying and backs away, Shiro looks him in the eyes, “I know you will do all you can to help Lance. We will too. So will Hunk and Pidge and his family, hell we will get his dad’s old army friends if we have too. He will be ok.”

Keith nods and the basement door opens and Allura walks down, “Lance is ready to go home. Thought maybe you would want to say goodbye.”

Keith nods and almost runs up the stairs. He sees Lance putting on his shoes, “Hey.” Keith says.

Lance smiles, “Well if it isn’t my knight and shining armor.”

Keith is thankful for the low light in the kitchen to hide his blush, “You gonna be ok to drive home?”

Lance nods, “Oh yeah I’ll be fine. My Mami is probably worried sick about me last thing I need is to bring a boy home.”

Keith smiles, “Yeah I met her she seems really nice.”

Lance stands up straight, “Oh right remind me to kill Pidge on Monday for that.”

Keith laughs but then it is a few beats of awkward silence before Lance speaks again, “Hey thanks by the way for, ya know.”

Keith looks Lance in the eyes, “Of course.”

Now it is Lance’s turn to blush, “Well I got to go but, I’ll see you Monday?”