He scratched red’s head

“Fine”

“I heard from Shiro-”

“I don’t care what you heard. I don’t want to talk about it”

“At least let me give you a hug”

“I’m fine”

“Come on, don’t be such a baby”

She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. His head dropped onto her shoulder and he sighed.

“I hate school”

"What happened?"

"People threw stuff at red, I hit my head on a locker and everyone thinks I'm worthless and if they find out about my eyes I'll be even less use to them"

"Pricks. You shouldn't care what they think about you"

"It's not like anything I do changes their opinions. I'm just the stupid lonely guy, despite having plenty of friends and being one of the smartest. On top of that I'm the rule breaking weird kid who brings a cat to school and lets it sit on my shoulder like the pathetic person I am"

"Hey, stop."

"All of you think I'm useless too. You don't think I can do anything since I lost my sight. Mum thinks I'm incompetent, you always have to dive in and save me and dad.."

"Just because you have to depend on others doesn't make you useless"

"Sure feels like it."

He shrugged away from her embrace

"Hey. No, wait. You can't just leave all this brewing, you should talk it out"

"I don't know how"

"At least.. Distract yourself for now"

"I don't feel like talking about anything at the moment."

"Come on. I know you. If you go back to wallow in your room now, you'll spiral into days of hurt and quiet. Please. Just do something with me. Watch a movie, make some food, just sit in company"

"Watch a movie."

"That was automatic, sorry. We can have it drone on in the background, okay? We don't have to pay much attention to it"

"I don't care, do whatever"

__

She ran her fingers through his hair, not really noticing the scene in front of her. He jolted on her shoulder and his fingers clenched.

"It's okay, it's okay"

He shot up and gasped, heaving for breath.

"Hey, hey. I'm right here"

He squeezed her hand, tight.

"Fuck. They're- It's back again. And I can feel it here."

He dragged his fingers down his temple. She grabbed his wrist and rubbed her thumb over it.

"It's gone. There's not any left. The doctors got it all out"

"Axca. I can feel it."

"No this is just what happens when the nightmares return. You remember the pain of the glass but it disappears after a few hours or days. We've checked. The first couple times this happened we rushed to ER to get it fixed. There's no glass left in your eye. The doctors got it all out the first time."

He slumped against her shoulder again.

"I hate it"

"I know. I'm sorry"

"Mm"

"So.. You and Lance huh?"

He sunk deeper into the couch.

"I don't want to talk about it"

"What? Why?"

"Cause it was a mistake. I'm not enough and I'm definitely not in the right mind set right now."

"You don't have to be enough. He likes you, messes and all"

"I know.."

"What about you? Do you like him?"

He sighed and shurgged

"There's no right way to answer that"

"I don't think you would let someone you didn't like kiss you"

__

The door opened and he jumped, hitting his head on the table.

"You okay? Why are you moping?"

"Hey V"

She sighed and sat down under the table next to him.

".. I kissed someone"

"Aw yeah! Are they cute?"

He huffed a laugh

"Yeah"

"2 points for Lance!"

He laughed and raised his head up to rest on his palm.

"Is it anything serious?"

"I dunno, we didn't.. It wasn't really clarified. I mean he knows I like him and we kissed but we didn't really.. Talk about anything else"

"You should ask! Do you have a way of contacting them?"

"Yeah I've got the sister's number.. But that's kinda awkward.."

"Just wait til you see them face to face again"

He sighed and dropped his head onto his knees.

"I think asking about it is better than being left in the dark and assuming something"

He made a frustrated noise

"You'll figure it out"

She stood up and got to the door

"Hey Lance."

"Yeah?"

"You said he by the way"

His face burned

"I didn't- are you sure you didn't mishear?"

She quirked her eyebrow He ducked his head

"Don't tell"

"Hey, it's okay. I wouldn't, I'm in the same boat as you"

He choked

"Don't tell~"

She left with a wink. He chuckled and sighed, leaning his head back against the table leg.

'Hey, sorry my brother's an idiot'

'What do you mean?'

'Do you not know?'

'Depends on what it is..'

'Mmm it's safer for me to assume that you don't know, so, I can't tell you'

'No no no. You have to at least give me something after that'

'.. Do you have a sibling and can I have the number?'

'Sure, why'

'That way you won't anything you're not supposed to'

'Hey, this is Axca, Keith's brother. Lance gave me your number'

'Ah, so that's his name, I'm Veronica'

'Look, My brother's an idiot'

'Oh yeah?'

'I don't know what Lance knows and I'm pretty sure I know what Keith wants him to know, which is nothing. But that's not fair, for either of them'

'What isn't he supposed to know.'

'Okay so, Keith didn't tell me directly but I know. I can tell but I don't know if he knows himself'

'What is it? I won't tell Lance :)'

'Keith likes him'

'Awe yeah! I knew it! Okay, they need to talk this out, they're both being dumb and blind and you're right, it's not helping either of them'

'Haha yeah, they should meet up but Keith's busy for the next couple days, and it won't help if he doesn't know what he's supposed to talk about'

'Okay, keep me updated. Tell me when he's free, should I tell Lance that it's only a coincidence that Keith's not available, he'll worry about it, he's just like that'

'Sure if you think that will help'

__

"Alurraaa"

"I'm trying to work here Lance"

"But it's been a couple days and I haven't heard from him, he hasn't even been to school. I know Veronica told me not to worry about it but what would she know?"

"Okay, I'm going to leave you to your gay panic. It's giving me war flashbacks"

"Noo, please"

"Okay darling, but you should feel accomplished."

"What? Why?"

"It's obvious you fell head over heads for him, and I didn't even have to do anything to set you two up"

"Nevermind, you can leave me alone now"

"Oh? You no longer lonely? Good, leave me alone"

__

"You okay?"

His voice barely made it out from under the covers.

"Fine"

"I brought you lunch"

"Thanks"

His hand left the bed, outstretched and waiting.

"You can't eat it there"

His arm flopped down and hung off the bed

"Come on, come out to the lounge"

"It's fine. I'll probably eat something later"

"You said that at breakfast"

He huffed

"I'll come soon"

"Hey, its later"

"I just need to sleep off the nightmares"

"That's not how it works"

"Come on, it usually passes after a few days. I've got a couple more and I should be good"

She sighed

"I'm gonna go find a movie to put on, you good if I invite one of your friends over?"

"Sure"

'Hey Lance'

'Hey'

'Would you want to come over for a movie?'

'How come?'

'Ik you and Keith have things you need to talk about, and I think it's gonna be another week or so before he leaves the house. So this is probably your best chance for a while'

'Oh, yeah. I'll see if I can'

"You look miserable"

"Nice to see you too"

"Um, Axca wanted me to check if you're coming to watch the movie"

"What movie?"

"We're watching Tangled!"

"Tangled"

He huffed

"Of course. I can quote that whole thing"

"Really? I know about half of the lines"

"She plays it all the time"

"You.. Haven't been at school recently, are you alright?"

"Ah, sort of. There's just.. Something I have to deal with.."

"Right, well I'm glad your blanket burrito is helping"

He laughed

"My what?"

"You know, blanket burrito. You're all wrapped up in the blankets. Blanket burrito. That's what my family calls it"

"It sounds nice"

Axca knocked on the open door

"Hey, movie's starting, get your ass downstairs. Lance, drag him if you have to"

"Yeah, yeah. He doesn't have to drag me"

__

He sat on the couch, curled up into himself. His chin resting on his knees and an arm holding it all tightly.

"This is the story of how I died"

"Are you gonna do that for the whole thing?"

"Yep you have to deal with it since you put it on, not singing though."

"Oh, boo"

"Sorry boys, I don't sing"

"Let's just assume that everyone in here doesn't like me."

"You should know that this is the strangest thing I've ever done!"

"I have.. Magic hair that glows when I sing!"

"Is there any chance I'm going to get super strength in my hand?"

"I just listened to the sound of complete and utter betrayal and followed that."

"You weren't kidding you know it all, she really must play it a lot"

"What? You liar"

He snickered

"I have no idea what you're talking about"

"He's the one that plays it all the time."

"I do no such thing"

"It's one of his favourite movies"

He huffed and leaned his head against Lance's shoulder.

"What's not to love? Maximus is the best"

"Uh huh. Well, I'm going to get more snacks."

She stood up from the couch and gestured to Keith and then pointed to Lance and mouthed 'good luck'. Lance knew she wasn't going to be back soon.

__

His body rose and fell, in time with his quick shaky breaths. His eyes were clenched shut and his eyebrows furrowed Lance gently loosened Keith's hand and rubbed circles along his fingers. He relaxed slightly on his shoulder but jolted and drew in a sharp breath. His fingers twitched and Lance pulled his hand away.

"Sorry"

"Oh.. Yeah, me too"

He sat up and rubbed his thumb on his palm.

"No, I- I've just, been meaning to talk you"

"About what?"

"Okay.. Like, so we kissed right?"

"Yeah? You okay?"

"I dunno.. Was it more than that?"

"More, you mean like dating?"

"Uh, yeah I guess"

"You want to?"

"I- Why did you kiss me? You don't really.."

"What?"

"You don't.. You don’t seem bothered by anything"

"Sorry"

"I haven't seen you for a couple days"

"That wasn't on  purpose."

"So you.."

"I like you"

"You like me?"

He chuckled and shook his head, a soft smile pulling at his lips.

"I wouldn't kiss you if I didn't like you, well, not by choice"

"Okay, would you like to go out with me?"

He scoffed

"That wasn't obvious?"

"Just- yes or no"

"Uh, yes"

"Hey, uh.. Were you having a nightmare before you woke up?"

"Oh. Yeah, that happens sometimes"

"What was it about?"

His fingers tightened around his knee.

"Nothing"

"Did I help at all, with the.. Circles?"

"Yeah. You did"

"Good. That's good"

Red jumped onto Keith's lap and instantly stretched out and flopped down. Keith laughed and scratched her behind the ears.

"I think she's jealous that you're taking all of my attention"

Lance's hand moved to cradle his cheek and his thumb pressed against his bottom lip. He melted against his touch and turned his head.

"Can I.."

"Yes"

He tipped his chin and felt his lips.

Lance drew back to inhale sharply and Keith huffed.

"Oh yeah, you react to my piercing, don't you?"

"I get.. Dizzy"

"I can take it out if you want"

"No"

He gave a quick kiss and pulled back again.

“No. It’s a good dizzy”

“Your stomach squirms and you can't think and sometimes you forget how to breathe?”

“Exactly, how do you know that?”

“I’ve had my fair share”

“You get flustered? I don’t believe it”

“Believe what you want”

He tugged on his shirt and their lips met.

“Unless I get proof, you do not get flustered”

“Oh? Well you’ll just have to see then”