Chapter Text
Keith sighed, leaning against the kitchen island. Red sat on the faux granite next to him, flicking her tail against his arm. She was angry that Lance had left so soon yet again. The tiny cat yowled again, crying for her new companion. Keith reached out and booped her nose, enjoying her offended expression.
“What’s your deal, huh? What’s McClain got on you? Turning you into such a softie? What kind of a cat are you anyway, getting all attached like that?” Keith picked up his cat, cradling her like a baby. He scratched her under her chin. Red didn’t protest whatsoever. “Yeah, you’re definitely defective. Probably all that garbage you ate. Or book binding glue, ya little shit.” Red just chirped in response, enjoying the attention. Keith smiled. He’d found a ragged kitten under the dumpster by the fire escape three months ago. He hadn’t expected it to live. Or to be as cute as Red. Or to like him. Nothing, not even plants, seemed to like him. Maybe it was because he and Red had the same teeth.
“What should we do about dinner, huh? How does peanut butter and jelly sound? And you can have cat food. Sound nice?” Red twisted in his arms, and Keith let her fall to the floor. He put the tea kettle on the stove. Might as well have some tea. He turned back to his empty living room. It felt really weird. He was relieved to be alone for a while, but the sudden silence was eerie. His small living space suddenly felt empty and vacant, despite Keith’s efforts to take up as much space as possible with his tools and books.
He turned on his bluetooth speaker and scrolled through the many playlists on his phone. He eventually just decided to let fate decide and shuffled his master playlist. He ended up with “Alone Again (Naturally)”. Are you fuckin’ serious? Keith skipped through and settled for Come Sail Away by Styx. It was random, but at least it wasn’t overly depressing.
Keith pulled peanut butter and bread out of the cupboard and grape jelly out of the fridge. This was what he ate most nights. Or pizza and garlic bread. Or the frozen meals in freezer. Keith considered his life. It really was depressing. Maybe...maybe this would be good for him, being with people. Interacting with people. Socializing...no. No. Pass. People sucked. Just because two had proven not to be completely unbearable meant statistically nothing. In fact, he could probably get Pidge to calculate how little that meant.
As Keith finished making his sandwich, his phone vibrated on the island. Keith glared at it for a moment before realizing he had no idea who it was. Two days ago, he’d know exactly who it was, but now he could only guess. He put his sandwich together and went over to check. He actually had several messages, some of which were from earlier that afternoon.
The first were from Shiro.
S: Akira. I hope you’re doing okay. I’d really like to hear from you, if you’re up to it.
S: Just, whenever you’re ready, okay? I’ve got a lot I want to talk to you about.
Keith flinched. Shiro only ever called him that when he was especially serious. Or when he was emotional. He was hesitant to continue ignoring him. It had been two years since he’d seen his brother, and months since he’d responded to his calls or texts. He didn’t even know why he’d stopped responding. Or how to start up again. In any case, Keith left Shiro on read. Better check the other messages.
The second message was from Pidge.
P: Thanks for not freaking out earlier. I’m sorry I busted in like that. You’re not mad, are you?
Keith didn’t buy for an instant that Pidge was very sorry at all.
K: Nah, I’m not mad. Just next time, bring someone with you, okay? I don’t want people thinking I'm a pedo or anything
P: I’ll come with Lance. Or possibly my friend, Hunk. But I won’t come alone until after April 3 *hint*
K: Subtle.
P: lol
The last text was from Lance.
L: I’m so sorry about earlier. I’ll make sure that it doesn’t happen again. No more surprise visits, I promise. Scout’s honor.
Keith took a bite of his sandwich.
K: You realize you came over for a surprise visit just yesterday right? Remember? You nearly gave me a heart attack?
L: I’m so sorry. I swear I’ll ask every time. I didn’t mean to be so much trouble for you. I’m really, really sorry, Keith.
Keith paused. Lance had referred to him by name. And he sounded terrified of how Keith felt about the entire thing. His phone vibrated as he took another bite of his sandwich.
L: If you don’t want me over anymore, I get it. I won’t blame you.
Keith was so deep in thought that he barely registered Mr. 128 roaring past his open window. Did Lance expect Keith to ditch him? To cast him off as an annoying nuisance? Sure, the guy was loud and maybe a little irritating in how eager he was to talk, but he wasn’t that bothersome. Plus he’d foolishly promised Pidge he’d stick with the guy.
K: No, dumbass. The offer/invite still stands. And stop saying sorry for everything. You don’t need to.
L: Sorry.
Geez, this guy. Honestly.
K: Seriously?
L: Sorry!
L: Omg I’m literally the worst
Keith couldn’t help but laugh. He just knew it was taking everything in Lance’s power not to apologize again.
K: Goodnight, Lance. Get some rest, okay?
Who was Keith to talk? He was rarely asleep before one.
L: Goodnight, Keith. Thanks
What could Lance possibly have to thank him for? For tolerating him? For just giving a shit? It seemed the Holts already did that for him. Plus, didn’t this guy have family somewhere? He had to. Nobody was that loud unless they’d constantly had to shout over other people to be heard. Keith sighed.
After finishing his sandwich, Keith did something he probably shouldn’t have done. He googled the name Nyma. The first suggestion was Nyma Herbert-Rodriguez. The woman was beautiful. Tall, statuesque, with large dark eyes and golden skin. Keith selected News. “Lance McClain Big Cheater! Nyma Herbert-Rodriguez tells all in the Exclusive Interview!” Ugh. “Cocaine Addict Lance McClain! Nyma says ‘He Cheated on me with Other Men!’” Ew. Okay, enough. The most disrespectful thing Keith had ever seen Lance do was forget to take off his shoes before putting his feet up on the couch. And with the abuse Keith’s couch had suffered in the four years he’d had it, Lance’s brand new Sperrys probably felt like a comfort to the poor thing. He decided to text Pidge.
K: Who the fuck is this Nyma person?
P: Oh my god you didn’t
K: Didn’t what?
P: Google his ex
K: You wanna start talking or no?
He could only pray Pidge wouldn’t read into it. He didn’t want to deal with that.
P: Short answer: she’s an evil bitch who cheated on Lance with his best friend from high school, then spread nasty stories about how he cheated on her with other men and how he was a drug addict.
There was a minute’s pause, then another message.
P: It’s not the first time someone took advantage of him. It’s really easy to do. By the time Nyma got to him, I honestly think he was expecting it, so when it all went to hell, he just sat back and watched. That was three months ago.
Keith considered this. He was starting to think that Lance’s latching onto him like a spider monkey was more significant than he’d realized. He felt a squirm of anger in his chest.
P: Afterward, I didn’t hear from him for days. And he hasn’t been the same since. To be honest, if you knew Lance how he was when I first met him, you’d probably want nothing to do with him.
So Lance wasn’t originally as Keith knew him. Keith could see that. Beneath the stunning lack of self-confidence, Lance was probably a massively immature dork-a-doofus who couldn’t be serious about anything for more than a few minutes. Keith could think of a lot of things to say in response. What a cunt and Wow that’s terrible I hope he’ll be alright came to mind. But when he really thought about it, there was only one thing he wanted to say. He worked up what little courage his miserable life had left him with.
K: How can I help him?
P: You’re serious? You really want to help him?
K: I’m serious.
And he was. Keith wanted to help Lance. He had no idea why he cared, but he did.
P: Then just be there.
Keith considered that. Yes. That was something he could do. Just be, and maybe, just this once, that would be enough.