"You're the one that got us together?"
"Look-"
"At the start"
Lance's eyes flicked over
"He thought that you two were in on it, like it was a prank or something. Because Axca knew about it and left to basically 'force' you into asking him out. Now, he still holds it against her."
"Like it's a punishment?"
"No. But.."
"Did he want to date me?"
"Yes"
He stared at James
"Does he, now?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I know.. How it might seem.."
He shook his head
"But he really does like you, and he really likes dating you, and even just spending time with you"
"How do you know."
"He tells me most things, and most of the time if he doesn't tell me something directly, I can work it out"
He frowned and pulled his legs tighter.
"You gotta understand. We've been friends for at least 15 years. There's not really anything he can hide from me and it's the same for me. I can't hide things from him, even if I wanted to"
"I.. Don't think.."
He shuddered
"I'm not up to.. To what he wants. You are. And that standing in front of me, it's hard. I don't know if.."
"You just need to talk to him. Like a proper, full-on conversation. Because he's got a lot to say, so it might be difficult for you to start talking. But he needs to hear this, and it's going to help you if you say it."
He huffed, and dropped his head against the wall.
"I don't, like you."
"You don't have to"
He held his hands behind his neck.
"Why the hell are you so good? It's hard to compete with."
He hummed
"Sorry"
"No, no. I-"
He sighed
"I shouldn't have said that"
"It's better to get it out in the open, rather than internalise it."
He glared at him and he chuckled.
"Right. Well, he's in the lounge if you want to to talk."
"I- Yeah"
He sighed when he stood up and slowly made his way down the hall. He paused at the doorway before stepping in. "Well, that didn't go as planned."
"That didn't do anything he wanted to happen. Sorry, I shouldn't have called you."
"I don't.. You shouldn't have, it was a dick move. But he wants to hide away forever and never address this. So, some good must have come from it"
He stilled when he reached the doorway. Keith was right there, pressed against the wall, slowly patting red.
"Oh"
Keith shut his eyes and slowly opened them. He stepped over his legs and slid down next to him.
"How much did you-"
"I'm sorry."
"No"
"I'm not, I don't.."
"No, no. Shut up"
He pressed a hand against his mouth and he sighed.
"Am I.. Am I enough for you?"
He pressed his palms against his eyes and gave a pained noise.
"I was.. Talking to Axca a couple days ago. And.. I was trying to work through things, trying to figure out how to tell you I- how to tell you I wanted to date James too. And- I-"
He groaned into his hands.
"Yes. So I don't know why I feels like I need to date James. I'm probably just being selfish, and greedy."
He sighed
".. Would dating James make you happy?"
He froze and turned to face him. Lance glanced at him and shook his head.
"Are you happy now?"
"I.."
"Like, dating me?"
He blinked to clear his thoughts and opened and closed his mouth.
"I'm never 100 percent happy. This year, has been horrible, but I don't think it's been 100 percent bad either. You, help. James, helps. As much as I don't want her to, Axca helps. But I dont know if that counts as being happy."
He hummed
"I'm sorry you have to put with me."
"I don't have to, but if I didn't want to, I wouldn't have.. I.."
He held his hands behind his neck and nodded.
".. Do you need me to allow you to date James?"
"I was going to.. Ignore that, you.. It makes you feel.."
He interlocked their fingers and his words died in his throat. He placed their hands on his lap.
"Do you want to?"
"Yeah.."
"And you would date both of us? But we need to work out the details?"
His mouth went dry and he nodded.
"Do you need me to say that you can?"
"I.. I don't know, Axca said everyone needs to be okay with it."
"Well.. I guess, I could share you"
He blew a laugh through his nose and leaned his head on his shoulder. He brushed hair out of his face and rubbed his thumb across his temple.
__
"So, guidelines?"
He sighed
"I don't want to.. Know what you do. Like anything, it'd make me feel weird."
"I don't mind"
"Okay"
He frowned
"What about planning, and like time clashes or whatever"
"Oh, Um.."
"What if, you just go with the person who made a plan first. And if there's a clash you go, oh I've already got plans then."
"Yeah, okay"
"Who finds out?"
"I don't know, this is basically it. Who else needs to know?"
"Maybe Matt?"
Keith nooded and he scowled.
He leaned into his side and hooked his chin on his shoulder.
"Anyone you would want to tell?"
"Allura"
"Sounds good."
"What happens at school?"
He sighed
"Axca."
"If you only want a couple people to know, who is Keith's boyfriend at school? I don't think it can alternate either, because someone will piece it together."
They all went silent and Keith stilled. Lance glared at the floor. James glanced at him.
"Lance"
His eyes shot to him and he gave a smile.
"What?"
"No, it makes sense Keith. If he doesn't want to see us together, It'd probably kill him if he had to see it everyday. Besides, he's got more free time. I'm not free most of the time. And when I am I'd probably be on the field anyway. You guys can just hang out"
His eyes fell closed and he pressed a fist against his head and he whispered.
"Thanks.."
He smiled
"No problem"
He frowned
"Okay.. Is that good with you?"
"Yeah.."
"Is there anything else?"
Keith shrugged
"Okay sweet, James, do you mind?"
Keith scowled and she laughed as he stood up and walked away. He sighed
"You okay?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You seem.. Off. I don't know, tense? Hostile, maybe."
"Sorry"
"I heard you before. Sorry you don't like James and that you're stuck in the middle of all this."
He hummed
"Yeah"
"Thank you. You didn't have to do this"
His hand twitched and Keith squeezed it slightly.
"Are they planning for something?"
"Not sure.."
"Is anything coming up?"
He shrugged. Lance chuckled and hugged his arm around him. He sighed and let his eyes fall closed.
"You know.."
Hearing him speak brought him back to the present, even though he had to strain to hear through his mumbles.
"It gets lonely sometimes, not seeing anyone. I'm not part of any of the social cues. And if someone changes how they look, I don't know. I can be told but I won't know. Apparently James dyed his hair red"
"I don't think I've ever seen it not red"
He groaned into his hands.
"It must've been ages ago"
"Maybe he just forgot"
"I don't even know what you look like. At all"
He hummed, rubbing his thumb against his arm.
"Like Sokka I guess."
He laughed
"What?"
"I kinda look like Sokka, blue eyes, brown hair and just, I don't know, warm."
He huffed
"You know I'm only going to be thinking of Sokka whenever I think of you right?"
"That's fine, better than nothing"
He shook his head then laughed.
"Wait, so. When you said you liked Sokka, was that just plain narcissism?"
Lance chuckled
"No, I don't think so. He's just a cool character"
"Mmm, sure"
"I'm serious! He's a good character, it doesn't mean anything"
He hummed, his lip tipping up.
"Ok then Sokka, what makes you any different to Lance?"
"Lance is less cool than me"
"Yeah"
He scoffed, shoving him. He laughed
"That was such a quick answer. You didn't even think about it?"
"Don't need to. He's friends with a fire prince and essentially a water princess, a giant flying bison, the avatar, a blind rich girl who creates a whole new form of earth bending. He was fighting people more powerful than him, multiple times, one of which he's got a broken or fractured leg, and never gives up and keeps going back to fights and at least trying to win. He's smart, quick witted and funny"
"I'm smart"
He shakes his head.
"No, no. You needed my help to do equations within the first couple weeks of meeting me."
"Okay but that's math. No one's good at math."
"I'm good at math"
"Mmm, you don't count though"
He huffed
"Uh huh. You must be dating a ghost then"
He sighed
"Dig me a grave so I can pass on peacefully"
"Nah, you get a hole in someone's backyard"
He laughed
"What? Just a random person's house?? That's so rude"
His hand hovered in the air for a little then moved to cup his cheek, his thumb rubbing across it. He leaned into it and smiled. All potential words rushed away from his brain and he stilled. He chuckled softly and placed a hand over Lance's.
"Did you lose it?"
"I.. Can I.."
He hummed, smiling.
He moved his hand to rest against his cheek and he exhaled a breath. A shiver ran down his spine at the touch.
"Can I kiss you?"
He sighed and smiled
"Yeah"
He leaned forward and pressed their mouths together. His hand moved to his hair and he ran it through his fingers. He rubbed his thumb over his cheek. Keith drew back and dropped his head.
"I'm sorry.."
Lance held his shoulders.
"Are you okay, what happened"
"It's still.. I can't.. I'm sorry"
"It's okay, it's okay"
He dropped his head into his chest and he wrapped an arm around his middle. He rubbed circles with his thumb. "You could have said no.."
"But I, wanted to. I just didn't think I'd still be a problem"
He hummed
__
Over the past couple of hours he'd melted into the couch. He gave a heavy sigh and sunk deeper. The door opened and his head turned the towards the noise. Lance laughed as he stepped into the lounge.
"How long have you been sitting there?"
"Years"
He laughed again
"Well then come on old man, you need to move your bones before you forget how"
"Mmm no.. I'm happy to just waste away here"
"It's forecast to rain we should go outside"
"What? No, why would we go out if we know rain is coming?"
"Have you never been outside in the rain?"
"No..? I don't think so"
"Oh come on. Its fun."
He held his wrists and tried to pull him up. He barely moved.
"Fuck, how strong are you"
A slow smile spread across his lips.
"I can just, like, cement here?"
"No no no no"
"Ah- it's too late. Gravity is increasing, its so difficult to fight back"
He collapsed onto his side and grinned when he gave an exasperated sigh. Thunder rattled the room and he glanced around.
"Come onn."
"Nope, can't. I'm stuck here forever"
He huffed
"I'll make you a coffee."
He frowned
"Like a good, cafe-style, coffee. Topped with foam and everything."
"Okay. Okay."
He pushed himself up and sighed.
"Okay."
He grinned
"You get it after"
"What, why?"
"You get one, and you'll want it after. Trust me."
He frowned
"Fine"
He stood up and he took his hand, and lead him out, laughing.
He groaned when he stepped out of the cover, rain falling onto his hair and down his face. Water slipped in between his shirt and his skin. Lance laughed, pulling him further out.
"Don't be a wuss. Some water never hurt anybody"
"Water hurts witches"
"Are you a witch?"
"I'll let you know if I start disintegrating"
"Sounds good"
He pulled his hand away and hugged his arms to his chest.
"This is cold and miserable"
"You just gotta enjoy it!"
"I don't think I-"
Lance kicked a puddle towards him and he froze. He stepped away, laughing.
His hands fell onto his shoulders
"Do you get dizzy?"
"Uh, no"
He grabbed his hands and pulled him around, sometimes leaning back on his weight to spin more. A laugh escaped his mouth and Lance grinned.
"I told you!"
He huffed
"I'm going to get a cold."
"We can worry about that later. You can go back to being a grumpy old man soon, but out here you're having fun."
He giggled and Lance slowed as his face lit on fire. Light shattered the sky, followed by a rumble of thunder.
"Can you see light? That was so cool!"
"What? I don't.."
"There was lightning"
"Oh, I don't think I can but I was distracted"
Lance laughed.
"Tell me when it happens. I want to know if I can.."
"Okay"
"Lightning!"
He stopped spinning and Lance pushed his arm up to point to the sky.
"It was just there"
"Lightning"
He pushed his arm
"Lightning!"
"Wow! It was.."
"There."
"Oh, yeah basically"
"Lightning"
His eyes shot to him, following his arm to the sky.
"I don't think-"
A flash of lightning lit the street
"Uh- you-"
He grinned
"Yes!"
"What the crap! What did you do?!"
He grabbed his shoulders and shook him a little. He tilted his head and smirked
"I'm a witch"
He scoffed
"No. How did you.. That was amazing!"
"It's easier if it's closer but essentially, the air is.. Sharper. I don't know the actually word for it but I can fell the electricity gather right before it happens."
"That is so cool!"
He laughed
"You don't need to tell me anymore. That's all I wanted to do."
He spun until he stumbled and Lance caught him. He straightened.
"Thanks"
"No problem"
He rested an arm over his shoulders.
"Kiss me?"
"Are you sure? Is it okay? I-"
"Just do it you idiot"
He rose up on his tiptoes and their mouths pressed together. His hands twitched and hugged them into Keith's sides. He sucked in a breath and pressed against him more. His fingers ran through his hair and his thumbs pressed into his skin through the thin shirt. He gasped and slipped back, grabbing his wrists and pulling them away. His heart was beating so loud he could hear it in his ears. His words barely came out as a whisper.
"I think it's time we go back inside.."
He gently pulled an arm from his grip. He rested it on Keith's face and stroked his thumb across his check.
"You are so warm"
He spluttered a laugh and shook his head.
"Yeah, I bet you are too"
He raised up his hand and his knuckles brushed against his check. He burned under his skin and he chuckled.
__
He sat against the couch, trying to merge with his hoodie. Lance shuffled around in the kitchen and he heard cupboards opening and closing. He chuckled to himself and stood up, stretching a little. He leaned against the doorframe with a smile on his face.
"Hey love, I don't know where anything is. Can you get the coffee out?"
"What did you call me?"
Lance burned up and his hands stilled.
"That was.. Uh- I don't know why I said that."
He scoffed and pushed himself towards him. He placed a kiss against his check and tapped his palm against him. "No, it was cute"
He crouched down and reached to grab the packet. He placed it on the bench and jumped up to sit on it himself. "You malfunctioning there, love?"
He exploded into fire and pressed his hand against his mouth.
"Stop"
He laughed and swung his legs.
"You're going to kill me.."
He hummed.
He sat with his legs tucked under him, sipping at the coffee.
"Does that mean it's good?"
"Well yeah, especially considering what you had to make it."
The doorbell rang and he sighed, putting the coffee next to him. He pushed himself off and walked towards the door. He opened it and James smiled.
"Hey, you're wearing the hoodie"
He frowned
"When did you stop just entering the house, and start like knocking or whatever."
"Dunno, do you mind?"
He stepped back and James closed the door behind him. He pressed his finger into his forehead.
"So grumpy.."
He shoved his hands in the pocket and shrugged. Axca bounded up.
"Did you bring it"
"Sure did"
"Does it work?"
"No clue"
"What are you guys doing? You've been conspiring for a couple weeks. I know you were on the phone with him and something was more expensive than you thought"
"We're not quite done conspiring, so you can't know yet"
He placed a hand his head and ruffled his hair.
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