He huffed through his nose and shook his head.

"Your cooking could never be that good. It might be that bad though"

He flicked a plastic spoon at his head and he snickered.

"Keith"

"Hmm?"

He turned around and saw their joined hands. He chuckled

"You stealing everyone from me now?"

She scoffed

"Hey"

"Hi"

"Mum said I have to go home"

He hopped off his seat and wrapped him in a hug. Axca dropped his hand and he squeezed his arms around him.

"I hope everything turns out okay"

He hummed and sighed into his hair.

"I wish you could stay longer. I'll miss you"

"I miss you already"

He laughed and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Should I expect to see you at school, or would I have to come over after"

"I don't know yet. Come over anyway"

"You guys are so sappy"

He scoffed and poked a finger into her neck. She covered it. Lance squeezed him again and stepped back.

"I'll see you later"

He smiled

"Yeah see you. Get home safe"

"I will"

He kissed his forehead and left.

He walked back to the stool and caught James' smile.

"What?"

He hummed and turned back to the search for food.

"Nothing. You just said 'see you"

"Oh"

He huffed

"Guess so"

He heard a slight chuckle. He rested his face in his palm and smiled.

The sound of the sizzling pan brought him back. He was chopping something and when he finished he tipped it into the hot pan. He glanced at him and smiled.

"What?"

"Haven't seen you for a while. Forgot how pretty you are"

He snorted and turned back to the pan to jostle everything a bit.

"As if you could forget"

He hummed

"I would if I could"

He turned over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

"You want to?"

"Only when I'm mad at you"

He chuckled

"It's so hard to be angry when you're just there looking like that."

"Don't let my beauty blind you Superstar"

He scoffed and shook his head

"As if"

He hopped off the stool and wrapped his arms around his waist. He rested his chin on his shoulder. James laughed and pressed a kiss to his head.

"What are you making?"

"Omelette"

He hummed

"Smells good"

"Did you just come over here to ask what was in the pan?"

"Wanted to hug you"

He drew in a breath and let it go.

"You're warm"

"You're just cold. Hey, do you mind putting some bread in the toaster?"

"Only if you come with me"

"Nope, can't. I have to make sure it doesn't burn"

"Then no. I'm stuck here"

He laughed and pulled him closer.

"Didn't know you had superglue"

"It's the power of love"

He kissed his forehead

"I'm good with that"

He twitched

"Actually it's just because of gravity"

He chuckled

"Gravity huh?"

He hummed and buried his face in his shoulder.

He set the plate down and grabbed cutlery. He walked around to the chairs and sat down. He cut off a piece and ate it.

"It's good"

"You made that for yourself?"

"Well no. I made it for Keith but he's not here. I have taken up the burden of eating it and have no choice but to force it down. I just hope I don't choke"

He scoffed and sat next to him. He ate a piece.

"You're so dramatic"

He nudged his leg

"How is it?"

"Well I didn't grow a second head. So decent but not the best"

He laughed

"I bet you're holding yourself back from saying what you really feel because it's that good and you know I'll never let you live it down."

He raised an eyebrow and put another piece in his mouth.

"Maybe it's bad and I'm lying to make you feel better"

"Can't be that bad if you're going for more"

He scoffed. He flipped him off and stole another piece.

He was pushing around a piece and frowning. He tapped his knuckles on his cheek.

"What's going on in your head, huh?"

"I think.. That's it.."

"Hmm?"

He frowned

"Can't eat anymore"

"Okay"

He grabbed his hand and rubbed his thumb across his skin.

"You still hungry?"

He shrugged

"Anything you wanna do?"

"Sleep"

He laughed

"You just woke up a couple hours ago"

"There's no such thing as too much sleep"

He hummed

"Sure. Well I have to clean up. I'll be 10 minutes if you can wait."

He huffed and rested his head on his arms.

"Or I'll just sleep right here"

"Or that. Right. Why didn't I think of that?"

He stood up a took the plate with him.

"Tell me something"

"Hmm?"

"Random fact. Go"

"Blobfish don't have bones. They look like normal fish on the bottom of the ocean. The pressure holds them together"

He hummed

"I've heard that one. Try again"

He scoffed

"Cockroaches can survive at least 2 weeks without their head"

"Gross"

"They can also survive radiation"

"Here's your daily radiation"

He tapped a banana against his head and he groaned.

"No thanks. I don't want to be poisoned"

"You don't even know what it is"

"It's a banana. Anything else would be actual radiation"

He hummed

"Okay"

"Are you done yet?"

"Yup"

He lifted his head

"But you gotta eat this first"

He held it out

"Nope. I'll just wither away here"

He chuckled and placed it down.

He grabbed Keith's hands and pulled him up. Keith stumbled and James wrapped an arm around his back to steady him.

"Jerk"

"You're already falling asleep"

He glared at him and he smiled.

"Come on"

He dropped onto the bed and he chuckled. He huffed into pillow.

"Mind if I join you?"

He lifted his arm. He hugged him into his chest.

"Shouldn't sleep with glasses on"

He groaned and rolled backwards.

"I know"

He took them off and handed them to James. He leaned back and put them on the dresser. He wrapped his arms around his middle. He sighed into his hair.

__

His headphones blocked out most of the background noise. His fingers ran across the guitar strings. He paused a couple times to write something down. The door slammed open and he jumped. He spun around and pushed them off his ears.

"Ma wants you"

"Okay, did you have to open that so loudly??"

"She said it's urgent"

"In a minute. I'll just finish up"

"Now. Lance"

He huffed and turned back around. He scooped up the loose papers into a pile and put them on his desk. He put the guitar back in it's case and put it in his bed. He stood up and stretched then made his way downstairs.

"What did ma need.."

He came into the lounge and stilled when he saw Keith. He had his legs crossed and was watching Nadia play with Red.

Lance walked in and he grinned.

"Hey"

"Hi.. What are you.."

"I texted you"

His eyebrows furrowed and he pulled out his phone. 3 texts from Axca's number

'Hey are you busy? It's Keith btw'

'There's a carnival up not too far from here. Wanted to take you'

'I'll come over and find out'

"Huh. You did. Sorry, I was.. Busy. Are you wearing my hoodie?"

He chuckled and threw up a peace sign. His fingers twitched.

"Nadia, you know where ma is? Rach said she needed me."

"Nope!"

Keith ruffled her hair

"I doubt you know where anything other than my cat is"

She laughed. Lance smiled.

"Uncle Lance!"

He bounded up and launched himself at Lance. He caught him automatically.

"Sylvio-"

"Marco says you're looking after us while the adults go out"

"What? Today??"

"Rachie said she already told you"

"Rachie said ma needed me. Where is she?"

"Kitchen!"

He huffed

"I'll be back soon"

"Uh huh"

He gave a mock salute and smiled. Lance scoffed.

Keith stood up and Red opened her eye to watch him.

"Where are you going?"

"Just stretching my legs a little."

She frowned

"Don't worry I'm not leaving."

He crouched down and ran his finger through Reds fur. She purred and lay back down.

"I trust you to protect Red while I'm gone"

"Yes sir"

She bowed her head slightly. He tapped her head.

"Good kid"

He left the room

"Vero. Hey"

"Yo. Didn't know you had glasses. Nerd"

He huffed

"They help me see. And Lance knows now. About the eye thing"

"Has he come down from his room yet?"

"Yeah.. The ah, little kid said Lance might have to babysit while the adults are out"

She hummed

"Usually happens. What's the problem?"

He huffed and rubbed his hand behind his neck. He lowered his voice to a whisper.

"I was gonna take him out to a carnival today. Since we.. Haven't really had a date"

She snorted into her fist.

"I'll sort it"

"I think they're in the kitchen"

"Yup"

She walked off and he went back to the lounge.

"Does it have to be today?"

"It's just gonna be for a couple hours, we need to get some shopping done"

"I'm pretty sure I did it last time. Can't you get Marco to do it?"

"Don't throw me under the bus!"

"Marco can't. He's coming with us and getting some driving practice in"

"What!?"

"No arguing. Get ready."

"Well then why not Rachel.."

"Why do you want to get out of this so bad. Its just a few hours"

"Well. I was really busy I- I won't be able to work on anything if I have to watch over the younger kids.."

"I'll do it"

"Vero-"

"I can baby sit them. I'm not going anywhere and don't have anything to do. It's just a few hours right?"

"Okay, that's settled. Honey, do you have the keys?"

She hung an arm over his shoulder and walked him out.

"You owe me."

"What. So you didn't do that out of the kindness of your heart?"

"Nope. I did it because Keith asked me to. You better not be going back to your room."

"I'm not, but what else would ma believe"

"You're all grown up. You've got a date and you're lying to ma. Wow. You've changed"

He scoffed

"You probably came out of the womb lying"

"No doubt about it. When did you find out about the date?"

"A minute before I found out about the baby sitting"

"10 bucks and bring something back for me"

"Uh huh"

She chuckled and turned back to the kitchen to grab a snack.

He stepped into lounge.

"So why did you come here?"

"It's a surprise"

He hummed

"Well, I'm just gonna go change. I won't be long"

Nadia scoffed

"Don't believe him"

"Nadia!"

"You take sooo long Uncle Lancey. He's doing make up or something. Nothing else takes that long."

"I am not!"

Keith chuckled. He shot him a look.

"You even take longer than Rachie. Didn't know that was possible"

He picked up a plushie from the floor and chucked it at her head. She fell backwards

"Shut up."

He disappeared. Keith snorted

"Are you okay?"

She giggled and stuck a thumbs up in the air.

"You cold or something?"

He glared at her and tucked his chin down into the jacket. He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Nope"

She scoffed

"Liar"

Keith chuckled and he frowned at him

"You got some serious sass for a 6 year old"

"6 and a half"

"Six and a half."

She stuck her tongue out

"You got some serious sass for a grandpa"

Keith snorted

"I am not that old."

"More than double my age"

"Ah yes because the world revolves around you."

He pointed at Keith.

"He's triple your age"

"Mm doesn't count. You sure you're not older than him, uncle fossil?"

They both laughed. He threw a plushie at both of them. Keith caught it with a smirk. Nadia shrieked when it hit her in the face.

"We should probably go before you end up killing someone with plushies."

He wiggled it a bit and his face twitched.

"What? I thought you were on babysitting duty"

"Nope. Its Vero's turn"

"Boo. She's boring"

"Would you prefer to get sneak attacked?"

He threw another plushie and her and she dove out of the way. Red scampered up Keith's arm. Keith threw one back at Lance and it hit him on the head. He scoffed and raised a hand to it. He grinned

"How's that for a sneak attack?"

His legs carried him across the room and he stopped right in front of him.

"Very sneaky."

He poked a finger to Red's head. He chuckled.

"Oh yeah"

"Where'd you even find this anyway?"

He pulled at the collar.

"Nadia showed me"

"And did you ask for it first or was it random? You're notorious for stealing jerseys"

He hummed and tilted his head to the side.

"Would it make any difference if I asked for it"

His eyes flicked up to Keith's and his voice dropped to a whisper.

"You look good in it"

He smiled

"I know"

"Cocky."

He pulled the collar down and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. His hands twitched in his pockets. He drew back and snapped his hands away. He look a step backwards. Nadia was staring at them.

"Oh shit."

"Are you allowed to do that?"

"Nadia-"

He crouched down next to her. She whispered into his ear.

"Are you allowed to kiss boys?"

"Yes. Just not at home. So you can't tell anyone okay?"

"Does that mean I can kiss girls?"

"Not when you're six but yeah, if you want to."

"Okay"

Rachel snorted. His eyes shot up and she was leaning against the doorway.

"I knew it."

"You can't say anything-"

"Either you're not as subtle as you think, or maybe it's twin telepathy. But I knew it."

"Rachel-"

"I know not to say anything. Who do you take me for? A snitch?"

He sighed and pressed his fingers together.

"Well maybe, but not about you. And not about something important like that"

"Why is it important?"

She picked her up and settled her on her hip.

"Because baby.."

She tapped her nose

"Mama would be very cross if she found out"

"Why?"

She hummed, pretending to think for a bit.

"It's like when you and Sylvio go out into the garden and play with bugs. And then you bring some back inside. You hold them in your hand saying 'these are the pretty little friends I found in the dirt'. Mama doesn't little the pretty little friends you found in the dirt and tells you to go put them back and wash your hands."

"It's sad when she does that"

"Yes. Lance has found a pretty little bug in the garden and he's snuck it inside. As long as mama doesn't find out, he gets to keep it. It's up to us to keep it a secret. That means we can't tell anybody because we don't know who will tell ma. Can we do that?"

"Yes!"

He sighed

"Thanks Rach"

"No problem. You'd do the same for me, except I wouldn't slip up that much"

"I take it back."

"I take it back too"

He scoffed and shoved her.

"You ready to go?"

"Uh, yup."

He smiled.

"Didn't know you were a twin"

"Always have been. She's older by 12 minutes"

"So are you the baby of the family?"

"Technically no. But I'm still counted as one of them"

He hummed

"Shame"

He flicked his head and he snickered.

"What's up with the jacket?"

His eyebrows furrowed and he turned away.

"Nothing.."

He scoffed and poked a finger into his head.

"Uh huh"

His face got warmer and he grabbed his hand. He let it drop and he glanced behind him.

"You're allowed to be embarrassed"

He paused and ducked down. He ran his fingers through the grass. Keith huffed and joined his hands behind his head.

"It's not just that.."

He smiled and walked in front of him. He crouched down. He glanced up then dropped his gaze back to the ground. He brushed a worm off onto Keith's knee. He huffed.

"Bug boy"

"Nadia's gonna call me bug boy or something similar because of Rachel's story"

"Yup"

Lance's fingers twitched and his smile faltered.

"You're scared"

His eyes shot up and he smiled.

"You're scared and it's okay. And it's completely understandable."

"How'd you know?"

He leaned forward and rested their forehead together.

"I'm inside your head"

"You are not"

"Am too"

"What am I thinking"

"Keith is so smart and cool and pretty and I wanna kiss him"

He scoffed

"Sure"

"Well you are now"

"Uh huh"

"You're thinking, that you can't wait for cotton candy and to beat me in some games and lose to me in some games. You're thinking about bugs and food and whatever you're hiding under your jacket. You're thinking about the rain and the sun and school for some reason. You're thinking about which selected few games we will play in order for you to win them all. You're thinking about the roller coaster and the ferris wheel and the bumper cars that we will be too big for."