Read Drums and Cats :: Are You Okay?

"So why do you work out?"

"To pick up girlfriends"

He smirked

"Why do you work out?"

"So my bones don't break when I'm punched"

"And so you can punch back?"

"Yeah, so it hurts them instead of me when I punch back. Carrying boyfriends might be a good reason too."

"As if."

He scoffed and shoved him

"Get off Jamie"

"Jamie? Been a while since I heard that"

He rolled his eyes and turned back around. Allura smirked.

"Get off"

"Say it again?"

"No"

"Say it. Its cute"

"I'm not saying it ever again now"

He rolled his head to the side

"Sure"

He tapped his free hand and he held it up.

"Here. So you can see when you lose"

He scoffed and put them back on.

"You're such a dick"

"So, your flirting isn't obvious"

He twitched and turned back around.

"When you both took a drink. Was dating your ex again a past or present thing"

"You're so nosy"

She hummed

"So present then"

James moved to the floor and glanced at Axca.

"Did anything happen with Lance?"

He frowned and pushed her hand down. It touched the ground and he stood up.

"I should.. Yeah"

He left the room.

"Did anything happen?"

"I don't know. Don't see him much"

"You better ask one of them"

"Hey"

"Hi, is this.. Your room? I didn't want to.. Intrude into anyone's space"

"Yeah it is"

"So, who won?"

"Oh, me but um.. I think she let me win. She wasn't fighting anymore"

Keith sat down on the bed next to him and wrapped his arms around his waist. Lance ran his fingers through Keith's hair.

"You okay?"

"Are you? Technically you ran off"

He hesitated

"I asked you first"

He laughed

"Uh huh"

He sighed and rested his cheek on his shoulder.

"What's up?"

"I think, Allura noticed there was something going on with me and James. And.. I can tell she cares about you a lot but she also likes playing matchmaker.. She asked if anything happened with you.. I just- I didn't know what to say."

"I don't think I remembered to tell her we were dating"

"Didn't you also want her to know I was... Dating both of you?"

"Yeah but it's.. Well it was only recently. I don't.."

He sighed

"I don't know how to say it"

"Do you want me to try?"

"I think you'd be more likely to"

"Okay"

He dipped his head a little

"The alcohol might help a bit. I don't think Matt knows for sure that me and James are dating again, but he probably guessed."

He hummed

"Are you okay?"

"They're a lot. Your friends. And like seeing James is making me feel a bit bad."

"Sorry"

"No- Don't apologise."

He sighed and rested his cheek on his head.

"I shouldn't.. I don't think I should complain about James to you. I don't want you to feel bad"

"I'd probably want to know when there's an issue though. So I can try and work through it"

"You shouldn't have to. You shouldn't change your relationship just because I'm uncomfortable with it. That's a-"

"Stupid reason? Yeah, probably. But I want you to be comfortable around me. Since you.. Don't have that much else."

"Don't change for me. You've dated people before. You'll date people after, don't change who you are for a couple months with me."

His eyebrows furrowed and squeezed him.

"I overheard you with your dad earlier. Seemed like you were really hurt by it"

"I'm fine."

"You disappeared for 5 hours and you were playing constantly for like 3. You can't honestly say that you're fine."

He sighed

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really.. I don't know how to get it out into words"

He rubbed his thumb across his hand

"What happened?"

"Punched a wall"

He frowned and traced around his knuckles.

"I'm.. Dad was being really mean.. I think it- Its always been there.. I just, I didn't want to realise it. He's always been.."

He glanced at him

"You came out to him, didn't you?"

He sucked in a breath.

"Yeah, it was.. Pretty scary and.. I don't think I'll see him around anymore. I don't know if I want to"

"Why won't you see him around?"

"Well, he was here for me. The other two kinda hated him. And.. I told him to fuck off and didn't want him around in case he hurt someone."

He hummed and rubbed his thumb across his bruise. His hand twitched and he stopped

"Does it hurt?"

"I.. Don't know"

His frown dipped

"Okay"

"Was that.. The only thing that was bothering you. Love?"

He scoffed and he chuckled

"Shut up.."

He rocked him a little

"Ohh but it's cute"

"It's embarrassing"

He huffed

"You came out to a room of people"

"Well, I mean, some of them already knew"

"You came out to half a room of people"

He laughed

"How you feeling about it?"

"I don't know, I feel like it's easier to come out to people who are part of the community, and if everyone else is saying what they are, why not?"

He hummed

"I think I'm gonna go back, if you're okay. Gonna watch a movie or something. You staying here? Or gonna come hang out?"

"Oh. I dunno. Probably stay here for a bit."

"Okay, join us when you're ready"

He stepped away and Lance held onto his hand. He paused, glanced at their hands, then back to Lance

"You okay?"

He frowned

"Sorry"

His dropped his hand onto his lap.

"What is it?"

"Nothing- it's probably stupid."

He sat back down on the bed.

"I do stupid stuff all the time, I'm not one to judge"

He chuckled

"Sorry. Must have forgotten. I don't remember what it was"

He hummed and rested his cheek on his shoulder.

"We should.."

He squeezed his hand and he smiled

"We should go on a date. Like to a carnival or arcade or a picnic or something"

He chuckled

"Can't believe you just suggested that"

"What? Why?"

"You don't like going anywhere that isn't your couch. Let alone out of the house"

"Shut up. I mean it. It'd be nice, besides, you'd enjoy it right?"

"Well yeah, probably. Would you?"

"Dunno, I thought I didn't like the rain. We would just have to find out"

He scoffed and shoved his shoulder.

"Dork"

He smiled and rubbed his thumb across his hand.

"You okay now?"

"Yeah, I think so."

He hummed

"Well, I'll be going off to socialise. If you stay here for the whole movie, I'm gonna come back"

He smiled

"Maybe I should just stay here then"

He laughed and kissed his cheek.

"Don't miss me too much."

He leaned against the couch with his eyes closed. Axca glanced at him and pulled a face. James smirked and shook his head.

"He can see now you know"

She scoffed

"His eyes are closed, besides he would have reacted."

"Oh don't let that fool you. He can see through his eyelids"

He tried to hold back a smirk. She glanced at him and mouthed 'cheater'.

She turned to James and mouthed 'the glasses work too well, we should destroy them before he finds things out that he's not supposed to'.

He chuckled 'Yeah, like what happens when we're alone'

"Don't flirt with my boyfriend."

He scrunched up his nose

"Don't flirt with my sister."

"How is that worse"

"She doesn't even like guys."

He wrapped his arm around him

"Oh, don't worry. There's only enough kindness in my heart for one Kogane"

He rolled his eyes

"Unfortunately for you that Kogane is Axca"

He scoffed and swatted his head. He laughed and kissed his cheek. He leaned away and grinned.

"You smell"

He hummed

"What of?"

"Loser"

"Really? I'm the loser here?"

"Well it can't be me"

"Okay Mr Sit-Alone-Everyday. At least I have friends"

"I have friends"

"Doesn't count if you're dating. And don't say Matt because you've kissed him. Pidge doesn't count either, family relation."

"Allura"

"Congrats you have one friend"

"Oh shut up. I don't like people, that's different to being a loser"

"Whatever you say.. Loser."

He shoved his finger into his cheek and he laughed.

"I need to talk to her actually"

"Who, Allura?"

He hummed

"Go pick a movie, I'll be back soon"

"Okay, but you don't get to complain about my choice."

He held up his pinky and Keith scrunched his nose.

"Really?"

"I'm not letting you go until you accept my deal"

He rolled his eyes

"You're so childish"

But he linked their fingers anyway and James smiled. He stepped back and he moved away.

"Don't die"

"Hope you pick one Axca likes, for your sake"

"Maybe I'll pick a bad one to spite you"

He walked away and flipped him off without turning around.

He hopped up onto a relatively clear area of the bench and swung his legs

"Hey champion."

He glanced at her and hummed a greeting. She gracefully moved around, sorting herself another drink. She got near the door.

"Allura."

She turned back.

"I know you let me win, so that barely counts"

"Well, we can have a rematch. See if its a fluke?"

His eyebrows furrowed.

"You were right before"

"What about"

"Me and James are dating."

"Okay"

"And.. I'm pretty sure he would have told you, he just forgot, at least he said he did. But.."

He closed his eyes

"Lance and I are also dating"

She paused for a couple seconds.

"Oh. Cool."

He glanced at her

"Were you expecting me to say something else?"

"Maybe?"

He sighed and held his legs still.

"I get the feeling that Lance is a little complacent with his feelings. I don't think- I kept asking if he would be okay with it and he said yes but.. He doesn't really like James anyway."

He looked to the floor and frowned. He glanced at her.

"Can you just.. Look after him? You probably know him more than I do, so if he seems down, I'm sorry if it's my fault. I'm trying to fix the not-knowing problem, but I think that mainly comes with time and hanging out together"

"Yeah. I'll look after him, but you should too"

He smiled

"If I'm around I will"

"Well, I'm gonna go congratulate him"

He chuckled

"He's in my room last I knew. Second door to the right in the hallway"

He nodded towards the doorway.

"Thanks"

He walked up to him and huffed

"Have you not picked yet?"

"It's hard to choose"

He scoffed

"Yeah right, you probably don't know which ones Axca likes and which ones she hates"

"She won't give me any clues!"

He glanced at Axca and she gave a winning smile. He laughed.

"Well then. Good luck"

He leaned back pretending to leave and James caught his wrist.

"Why don't you help"

He crouched down next to him

"Because, Jamie, I know which ones she likes."

"I know you're saying that to mock me, but you still said it, so I count that as a win."

He hummed and tapped his knuckles against his cheek.

Pidge balanced their arms on his shoulder and he glanced up. They gave a tired smile and their face was a little flushed.

"Why not that one?"

"Which one?"

They grunted and circled their hand around. He stood up and went to the shelf

"Cruella?"

They hummed. He glanced at Axca and she shrugged. He frowned and looked at Keith.

"Sure, it's a good movie"

"Good movie to fall asleep to"

He scoffed

"I'll fight you"

"You can't even stand up without help. You're not allowed anymore drinks. Expect for water or juice."

"Bleh"

He laughed and stood up.

"Matt, you're just uneducated"

"I'm very educated, thank you. I don't wanna watch a fashion movie"

"Oh, so you have seen it"

He rolled his eyes

"It's obvious"

"Does she kill dogs. Yes or no?"

"No."

Keith grinned

"Yeah sure, you haven't watched it."

He sighed

"Okay fine. I saw it once. Its decent"

He scoffed

"You too much of a nerd to admit you watch good movies?"

He shoved him and he rocked back a little. Their arms slipped and they glared at him.

Their head rested on his shoulder. He scoffed and ran his fingers through their hair. They mumbled something and dropped their head into his lap and wrapped their arms around his waist. He hummed and mindlessly traced his fingers along their head. She leaned her elbows on the back of the couch and scoffed.

"Don't tell me you're dating Pidge as well"

He laughed

"No. They just get cuddly when they're tired"

Matt turned around

"As well? Who..? You.."

Keith twitched and shared a glance with Axca. She frowned. He hummed and looked at the floor.

"James and Lance"

His eyebrows knotted together and glanced at James. He shrugged.

"And??"

".. Yeah"

Allura placed a hand on his shoulder and he glanced at her. She frowned and tipped the corner of her mouth up slightly. He frowned. Matt turned back to the film.

"Weird"

He flinched and drew in a breath. He pulled his legs up but Pidge whined and squeezed him. Axca scooted back and pressed against his leg. Red jumped up and pressed her face into his neck. All he felt was numb, he could only remember how to breathe.

He blinked back into existence near the end of the movie. He caught James' eye first. He was frowning at his lap and he looked down. His hands were moving in an all-too-familiar rhythm and he pulled them away. He glanced up again and James offered him a small smile. He frowned and linked his hands behind his neck. He leaned to the side and rested on his elbow.

"You okay?"

He hummed. Matt turned around

"What's up?"

He glanced at him and frowned slightly.

"Headache"

He sighed and stood up.

"I'll get you some water"

He gave a small smile. James waited until he left the room and whispered.

"You're not fine. I can tell"

He tapped his nose and he exhaled a laugh

"I still think its weird."

He leaned his head on the couch.

"Like I don't think he reacted badly, just.. He said what I was thinking. It kinda.. Shocked me a little"

"Didn't seem like a little"

He tapped his knuckle against his leg. He gave a quiet laugh.

"Yeah."

He smiled

"Even if we didn't make that song together, I'd know it's your panic song. I know it helps you calm down."

He flicked his forehead and he laughed.

"You're so full of yourself"

He sighed and hovered his hand near his cheek.

"You gonna keep talking or this is a no Matt allowed type of conversation"

He snorted and reached his hand out. He wiggled his fingers slightly.

"Yeah no singles allowed"

He raised an eyebrow and held onto the cup for a few seconds.

"I spit in it"

He handed it to him

"Oh perfect, just how I like it"

He scoffed and he drunk the whole thing. Matt hesitated and frowned

"You didn't have a headache"

He stilled

"You think so?"

He leaned against the arm of the couch

"Oh please. I may have not known you for 15 years, but I still know you."

James smirked and he frowned and kicked him.

"Easy to read, I told you"

"Sorry. If I gave a bad response."

"It wasn't.. It.."

He poked his head

"Uh huh. Then why the anti-Matt talk. And the drumming. And the frowning"

"I'm frowning because it's my birthday"

"Okay"

He pressed his palms against his eyes.

"It wasn't a bad response.. But, I've been thinking it's a bit weird too. I don't get it, and it's confusing. I've probably liked multiple guys at once in the past I just never noticed.. And then the accident and the nightmares, I wasn't thinking about anything like that."

"You get nightmares?"

He dropped his hands and shot him a look.

"I mean, yeah, course you do"

His eyebrows furrowed

"I.. Thought I told you. Did I forget?"

"You shouldn't have to tell me. It should have been obvious"

"Yeah. But it's not like you pick up on obvious things easily"

He shut his eyes and turned away. He laughed and shoved his shoulder.

"It's okay. I'm dumb sometimes. Insult me all you want, I don't care"

"You should."

"Hey."

He grabbed his wrist