"i heard you and keith giggling it up in the living room earlier," allura commented in a hushed tone, both lance and allura were getting a ride from shiro to their houses, he was driving up front, lance and allura sitting in the back.

"he kneed me in the balls," lance replied in a sort of accidentally playful tone, "and then he laughed," he added, placing a hand over his chest and acting as if he was hurt.

"wow, way harsh," she said with a brief shake of her head, she gazed out of the window for a bit before turning back to the boy, "wait, how did his knee get down there?"

"allura, don't question me and my ways," he said in mock-serious tone.

"ah," she got out before shiro interrupted her saying,

"which house is it?" he asked lance, slowing down the car so that he could stop when needed.

"oh, a couple more ahead," he informed the black and white haired male, who drove ahead a little before lance piped up, "right heres fine," he said. shiro stopped the car and lance opened the door, stepping out, "get it," he whispered to allura gesturing with his eyes toward shiro who wasn't really paying attention, but when it came to peoples pining, when did he?

"shush," she said with a small laugh as lance shut the door, beginning to head over to his house. once he heard the car drive off he stopped on the sidewalk letting a sigh fall from his lips, in reality, he didn't want to go home. yes, he loved his family, and they weren't bad people, but it was tiring. everything was tiring, school was tiring, practice was tiring, getting home to clean and cook food for his siblings was tiring. he just wanted to... rest, but he wasn't sleepy although going to sleep and not waking up sounded alright. he sat down onto the sidewalk, taking his school bag and placing it in his lap. i don't want to die, but i wouldn't mind it. he thought looking up at the dark sky, the light pollution only allowed a couple stars to be seen, so he counted those stars over and over eventually becoming sleepy. he gave another sigh before shutting his eyes, the peace only lasted a couple minutes because a certain voice brought him right back down to reality.

"lance?" the voice asked. lance opened his eyes fixing them towards the direction from which the sound came from. it was keith? he was wearing a sweatshirt, the hoodie pulled over his head.

"keith?" he responded.

the other boy took off his hoodie and headed over towards lance, he was right, it was keith. "what're you doing?" he asked looking down onto the tanner boy, the street lights shining down in back of him, making the few strands that were astray from his ponytail glow. wait, he has a ponytail? fuck, that's hot.

"um, i'm just sitting here," he replied dryly.

"well, yeah, but- wait do you live on this street?" he asked crouching down so that he was eye level with lance.

"i live on the corner," lance answered, gesturing towards his back, "that way," he said, "you?"

"i live on that corner, that way," he replied gesturing in the opposite direction.

"wait, no way, because there's like a church there, or whatever," lance said, his tone picking itself up to it's normal 'lance' tone, if you would.

keith let out a sort of dull laugh, "yeah.." he said lowly, taking a seat across from lance, "i live above the church," he said studying the other teens face.

"there's an upstairs to that?" he asked furrowing his brows slightly.

"yep," keith said simply averting his eyes from lances face, to the grass and pavement behind him.

"that's crazy, who do you live there with?" he asked.

"um, myself," the ravenet replied softly.

"you live alone? but you're only like- what?- nineteen?" lance asked cocking his head to the side a bit, attempting to make eye contact, eye contact that keith seemed to be avoiding. besides keith avoiding eye contact, this felt natural. this being- them. talking like this felt normal, although they never had done it. anytime they talked it'd be pure banter. lance liked the change, although he'd enjoy the bantering back after he was out of his tired mood.

"my mom's friend is the pastor at the church, she owns the building," he said finally making the eye contact lance had been trying at, "she's letting me stay there,"

"where's your mom?" lance asked cautiously. keith didn't reply for a second, and when he did it was simple and soft;

"dead,"

both lance and keith averted their eyes once again, lance didn't know why but it was although he could feel the aching in keith, his own heart broke a little. it wasn't fair to lose parents at such a young age, it wasn't fair at all, and god knows how long keith has been parent-less. it could've been recent, but then again it could've not been and keith could've spent nearly his whole life alone, it hurt lance. it made him regret taking his parents for granted, and although he was right, he did need a break, but the thoughts of moving out vanished. he didn't want to leave his mother, and he could tell keith didn't either when she was taken so prematurely. the atmosphere felt thick, as if someone should speak but no one wanted to.

lance eventually broke the silence, "i'm sorry," he said quietly.

"it's alright," he said, "it was a long time ago, when i was young," so it was when he was younger.

"seriously, that's rough, i'm really sorry, keith," lance said.

keith let out another one of those dull laughs, "don't get all sentimental on me now," he joked softly. the tanner boy smiled a bit. the air was quiet once again, the sound of crickets and other insects was prominent. the air smelt refreshing and keiths presence simply tied it altogether. hm, i am getting a bit sentimental, aren't i? maybe it's just my mood. he thought.

"um," keith said lowly, "shouldn't you get going? to your house, or something?" he asked.

"i already told my mom i was gonna be out late, and probably come home really late, she's probably already asleep, she trusts me to come home in one piece so," he said with a small laugh in an attempt to lighten the mood, and judging by keiths slight smile, it worked.

"well," he began, "would you like to come over, for some- i don't know, coffee or something?" he asked furrowing his brows with a playful smile, as he stood up from the spot he was sitting in.

"really?" he asked taking his school bag by the strap and standing as well.

"yep," he replied lightheartedly.

"sure," lance said with a half smile, throwing the bag over his shoulder.

"great, then lets go-.. prettyboy," he said adding the last part as he pivoted on his heels to begin walking. lances heart nearly imploded, his cheeks heating up a noticeable amount, is he flirting with me? no, he likes shiro? wait, what the fuck.

"hey, hey, that's my nickname for you," lance replied as if unaffected by the nickname.

"well, should i go back to fuckboy?" he asked.

"nooo, just something else, like.. papí," he suggested.

"in your dreams," keith replied rolling his eyes a bit as they started walking towards the church on the corner of the block. "and warn me before you're going to speak spanish," he said in a mock-serious tone.

"fine, what about kitten?"

"too kinky,"

"daddy?"

"i'm going to uninvite you to my house,"

"lancey poo,"

"are you fucki-"

"handsome,"

"okay, that ones not that bad," keith admitted, "i'll use that one for now," he said crossing his arms over his chest as they walked.

"nice," lance whispered then looked over at keith who was giving him a sort of 'what the frick lance' face. "what?"

"oh, nothing, it's not like your whispering to yourself or anything," keith said simply looking up at the sky. "so," he said changing the subject, "tell me about yourself, handsome~" he said adding the nickname in a much different tone than the rest of the phrase.

lance cleared his throat a bit, "well," he began.

---

a/n: woAH i just typed this all out rn and i should be asleep but i got a little boost of inspiration so, yay,

any predictions?