Chapter Two: Well, This Is...

"Interesting," Lance commented, reading the name off the list. "Who the hell is named Keith anymore?"

"Uhh... Keith Urban? Keith Richards?"

"Keith Yandle!" Pidge suggested. Lance couldve gotten whiplash from turning his head around so fast.

"Who?"

"Hes a hocky player? Defense for the Florida Panthers? Seriously- how is it that I know more about sports than you two?"

"Uh, I watch sports, okay? But normal ones, like baseball. And soccer."

"You're so lame. He plays for our state, Lance."

"I don't care. He has a dumb name. Just like my roommate, apparently."

Lance streched out the crick in his neck while they walked to his room. The 5 hour drive had been bumpy, cramped and exhausting- but he got to go on a road trip with his best friend, so he wasn't too unhappy with it.

Pidge had left yesterday with Matt, coming down with their dad- who happened to be a professor at the university- so Hunk and Lance had driven the 350 miles on their own, and pulled into the small Altea parking lot on Hunk's old VW, unloaded their belongings and were now trying to figure out where their rooms were.

"This is... okay. 24B. Im here, and... it looks like 26B is right across from me! Dude, score, we wont be far away at all!"

"Hell yea!" Hunk shouted, holding Lances suitcases in one hand and his in the other, while Lance strugged with the lock. When he finally got it open, he stepped into a blank room with the bare necessities- two beds, a desk, and an en suite. It was pretty fancy, for a college dorm, but with the school itself being as fancy as it was, he figured it made sense.

Lance had Hunk dump his suitcases on the bed- yes, plural, he wasnt going to live like an animal thank you (plus, he didn't want to be doing laundry every day)- and he walked over to Hunks dorm to help him with his things.

**

When Shiro saw Matt across the courtyard, he ran off to him, leaving Keith alone with a duffle bag on his shoulder and his phone in his hand. He left without telling Shiro. Probably not the best idea, but Keith was tired and wanted to find his room as soon as possible, so he could put his small amount of belongings away and take a nap. Possible meet his roommate.

When he found room 24B, he was a little unnerved to find it unlocked, and even more unnerved to find that there was nobody in the room, however, his roommates things were- two (two? really?) suitcases were sitting on the bed closest to the door, along with a backpack and a laptop case. Who was this guy? With three bags? Who needs that many clothes?

Keith set his duffle on the bed and opened it, putting his shirts and pants and throwing them into the drawer that slid out from underneath his bed.

Just as he settled down onto his bed, ready for a nap, the door burst open and a voice was projected into the room.

"Alright! See you later Hun- oh. Hey! You must by my roommate! Keith, right?"

Keith sat up and saw a boy standing before him, probably around his age. Keith wasn't blind- and he could see that this guy? His roommate? Was hot- like, extremely so. He had caramel colored skin, dark brown hair that fell across his forehead, and extremely sharp nose and jawline, and the deepest, bluest eyes Keith had ever seen.

Keith was absolutely fucked.

"Uh... yea. Hi. Im Keith." He started a bit awkwardly. Why couldn't he ever talk to guys? Why couldn't he ever talk to hot guys? Pull yourself together, Keith.

"Lance," the boy smiled, extending a hand. Keith took it and wished he hadn't. Lance's hands? Extremely strong. He has a nice grip. And they're smooth- does he moisturize? He probably moisturizes.

When they pulled away, Lance gestured to his bed. "Is this cool? I just kinda threw my stuff down. Do you have like? I don't know? A bed preference?"

Keith felt himself smile. He's sweet too. I'm totally fucked. "No. This is fine."

Lance smiled back and started unpacking. Keith laid back down and closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep-

"So, what are you studying?"

So much for rest and relaxation.

"What?"

"Like? For school. What are you studying here? What's your major?"

"Why do you care?"

"Jeez-" Lance said, holding up his hands in defense. "Just trying to make small talk."

Keith rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Sorry, I didn't-- I didnt mean that to sound, like, harsh. I just- I've never really 'made smalltalk'."

"Oh. Its cool, man."

"... I'm studying Astrology and Space Exploration."

"Dude, cool! I'm studying Astrology too. Maybe we'll have classes together."

"Yea. Maybe. What about your other major?"

"Psychology."

"Oh, cool. That's what my brother is studying. Says it's a load of work though, so good luck."

Lance laughed. Is it possible to know what your favorite sound is after only just hearing it for the first time?

Wow. That was gay.

"Thanks. I uh- just so you know I might not be over here too much because my best friend is literally right across the hall and he makes, like, the best brownies I've ever eaten. I'll steal you a couple when hes not looking."

"Thanks." A beat. Ask the personal question? Or no?

Better to piss him off now so they could request a new roommate before either of them settled in too much.

"So," Keith started, watching Lance as he put away his shirts, much neater than Keith had. "Why didn't you room with him? If hes your best friend? I mean- not that I'm not super thrilled, but?"

"Oh, yea, no. He requested a room with our other friend. They're both taking the same course and they're the perfect Small-To-Large size ratio so it works pretty well. Plus I could never handle Hunks three am tinkering. Too noisey." Lance wrinkled his nose before grabbing his bath stuff and putting it in the bathroom.

Keith shrugged. "Tough outta luck," he mused, remembering Shiro's words. Secretly? He was pretty glad to have Lance as a roommate. Yea, he was a bit loud, but he was cute. So it balanced out. Plus, conversion seemed easy with him. Keith was never good at conversations- especially maintaining them at a comfortable topic or not making things too weird. Lance seemed honestly quite perfect for conversation. Keith wondered why he wasn't in public speaking. Or a sport. He looked like the right body type for baseball-

"-ith?"

"Hu?"

"Uh, I was wondering what kind of music you liked? Because, like, I like to blast mine and I wanted to know how similar our tastes are," he laughed. "Its not like, rap or anything like that. Its mostly Abba and Beyoncé and a little Ricky Martin, but like, if that's weird I brought headphones."

He listens to Abba and Beyoncé? Maybe theres hope. Maybe he is gay... and Ricky Martin? Can he speak Spanish? I will absolutely die if he speaks Spanish.

"Uh, my tastes a little different? Abba is good, I guess. My brother loves them. So I like them, by like, default? But if I had to choose on my own, I would say I'm more of a... The Killers, Elton John, ACDC fan."

"Rock and Roll, I can live with that. Alright. Sounds good." He tossed Keith another thousand-watt smile and Keith could barely function.

"Anyways, I'm all settled in so I think I'm gonna see if Hunk needs help setting up. I told him not to buy the bookshelf from IKEA, but he's very persistent. See ya' later, Keith."

"Have fun with your IKEA bookshelf."

**

The door slammed open so fast that Hunk actually jumped as he faced Lance.

"Jesus Christ, bro I-"

"Its official, I can't do this. I'm fucked."

"What are you talking about?" Pidge asked, sitting on the top bunk. They got bunk beds? No fair.

"My roommate. Hes hot. Like, I would be fine if he was average, 7/10 hot- I could've kept it in my pants. But he's, like, Greek god hot. Adonis level hot. Your brother's boyfriend level hot. A solid 20/10."

"Well, see- you're talking to a lesbian so I really dont understand."

"He's like, if Scarlett Johansson and Heidi Klum had an Asain love child who also could probably beat me up in a dark alleyway. And I would let him."

"... You are fucked."

"YEA! I can't... I cant do this. I cant like, fucking, spend time with him? I cant be his roommate? What if he's nice and funny and amazing and he likes Rocky Horror? I cant not fuck him if he likes Rocky."

"Well, I guess you're just unlucky?" Hunk provided, smiling as he drilled a screw into the bookshelf.

"No- I'm gonna have to go on a bunch of dates and fuck a bunch of really nice ladies and gents in order to get him off my mind."

"You share a room with him, Lance. Where do you expect you'll be able to fuck these conquests?"

"... I'll figure something out, I guess. But really, what option do I have? I'll go crazy if I have to be around him all the time and not get any. Oh shit- I totally forgot- we share a bathroom together! We share a fucking bathroom, Pidge! Hes going to be half naked in front of me at least ONCE and I am not prepared for that! What if he has abs, Pidge, I'm going to cry-"

He flopped onto Hunks bed and threw an arm over his face.

"You're being a drama queen," Pidge sing-songed, smiling.

"I am not being a drama queen! He's has stupid pretty hair and really nice purpley eyes and stupid gloves and- ugh- you know how bad I am around really pretty people, Pidge."

"Then why dont you just, not view him like he's attractive?"

Pidge and Lance turned to face Hunk, who was dusting off his hands and admiring his work as he spoke. "I mean, what if you think of him as a competition? A rival? And all your- conquests or whatever- are you one-upping him."

Lance stood for half a second before grinning ear to ear. "Hunk! Youre a geinus, and I love you!"

"I know."

"But, Lance, how do you know this guy isnt gay? Or bi, or pan or whatever," she added as almost an afterthought. She had an eyebrow raised like she knew something, but Lance dismissed it.

"I don't. But I'm not dealing with the collateral damage of hitting on a straight guy and then having to share a room with him for a year. No thank you."

Pidge held up her hands, a silent surrender. But the smirk still remained. "Im just saying, dont give Keith too little credit."

"... How did you know his name?"

Her brows furrowed before she continued. "You said his name this morning, remember? We had the hocky arguement?"

Lance's smile returned. "Right. Must've slipped my head. Anyways-" he turned to Hunk. "I'm going to try and bag as many people on this campus I can, you can be sure of it, okay? You're looking at Lance Fuckin' McClain- Ladies man and mans man. Eat your heart out, Altea University."

Pidge rolled her eyes. "Gross."

Hunk sighed before pulling a weak smile. "Please use protection."

**

"I said 'have fun with your IKEA BOOKSHELF,' Shiro!! Why cant I talk to cute boys who smile like the sunshine?"

"Thats gay, and you're pining."