Alfor Altea

Yesterday, 8:03 p.m

IMPORTANT- READ NOW

Recipients

>> Lance McClain 

>> Keith Kogane

-------------------------------

Dear Lance and Keith,

        I apologize beforehand for the news I am inclined to tell you. Please contain your emotions, as it will not change the subject of the matter, as I can not change the subject of the matter. I have tried. 

I have been notified that as the agency's popularity rises, the public wants a taste. So I have promised photos, from all the lines coming next month. They must be sent out to my associate by midnight on Sunday.

       If that is not clear to you, I mean I need you two to finish a side project by that deadline- so I can return to my associate with the new documents. I apologize again for the short notice, but if you do not finish in time, you will not get the finalized Youth Line assignment or outfits, and will be reassigned a line next season. I do apologize once more for the inconvenience and wish I could give more time. Other lines will be receiving this email, but in turn, if everyone does as planned- Altea Modeling Agency will grow and business will be very successful. May God be with you both. 

                                                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                                                             Alfor Altea

----------------------------------------

Lance closed the email. "I need a coffee." 

He groaned, running his hands through his hair. He had woken up at 6 a.m, too early, to an urgent phone call from Keith to check his emails.

Who checked emails anymore???

And now he had to go into work, not get his deserved outfits, and work his ass off for random ass pictures for random ass people. 

Keith was probably gonna be already pissed too. 

Not to mention Lance was already late.

But fuck Keith, Lance needed coffee. Now. 

Romelle was at her usual post, serving a customer, smile on her face. She glanced up and immediately perked up at seeing Lance.

"Lance!" 

Lance shuffled over, winking at every girl he passed by. Only one smiled back, but that was more than zero.

He leaned across the counter to talk to his friend. 

"What brings you here?" She asked sweetly, checking her watch. "Shouldn't you be at work?" 

 Lance smiled sheepishly. "...yea..." 

She shook her head as she started preparing Lance's usual, a caramel macchiato to-go style. "Lance, Keith's gonna kill you.."

"Don't worry bout it." He grinned.

She pursed her lips. "You guys were doing so well too." 

Lance raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" 

She slipped a lid on Lance's coffee, "I saw you two last night after the show." Her blonde hair was curlier than usual.

Lance's cheeks heated up as he looked away. "I was meeting Kosmo." 

"Mhm." Romelles eyes sparkled as she laughed. "Whatever you say. Just get there as soon as possible. We don't need a bloodbath on our hands." 

"Sure thing." Lance nodded at her before passing her his payment and grabbing the coffee. He turned on his heel and left for his car.

...

Keith sat on his stool, turning the dial on his camera lens over and over. He couldn't express the feeling in his chest at the moment.

Rage?

Not strong enough of a word.

He ran a gloved hand through his hair. Was it really so hard to be on time?? 

Plus, this two day deadline. He knew Lance had gotten the email, which meant one thing.

It didn't matter to Lance. None of this did, if time and time again he can just show up late and not do his work. Keith's hands turned to fists.

Finally after an hour, Lance opened the door and walked in, a half drained Starbucks coffee in his hand. Keith couldn't have looked more mad.

Lance stopped mid-step when he saw Keith's expression. He placed his stuff down.

"Ok, listen man. I woke up late and-" 

"I. Don't. Want. To. Hear. It." Keith couldn't look at Lance. He turned away and slid his camera around his neck. 

"Go change." He said, still not looking at Lance.

Lance shuddered. He was sure Keith was about to blow, but he didn't need to be so rude...they had all day. 

He slid into the back room and picked out a reasonable first outfit- a short white tank top with a blue lion and roses adorning the sides, along with jean capris and a loose gray beanie. He ran his fingers through the strands of hair peeking out from under the hat, to make them curlier even though the strong breeze outside had done most of the work for him.

He kept on his Adidas and entered the main room where Keith was still sitting. The camera was up to his eye when Lance walked in and he put it down. 

"About time." Keith muttered, causing Lance to furrow his brows. Keith's attitude was starting to get on his nerves.

Lance waited for Keith to finish setting up his filters or whatever it was he was paying such close detail to.

"Hurry up Keith, you're rushing me but you aren't even ready." It was a dig, but also a joke. Lance should've made that part clear. 

A scary flash appeared across Keith's eyes as he looked up. "I was ready, but somethings I have to do right before the shoot."

Lance bristled. "Well don't get an attitude with me, Mr. Perfectionist, I tried at least to be here." 

Keith was standing up now, fists balled. "You tried? Is that your excuse now??" He stalked forward. "Does it never dawn in your thick skull that just trying isn't going to get our work done?? Do you even care about this?" 

Lances jaw dropped. He walked up to get in Keith's face. "I care about my job more than you do. This is my life." He meant it, and was upset Keith even questioned that.

Keith rolled his eyes. "If you care about your job so much, maybe you should try harder to keep it." He spat.

Lance pushed Keith away harshly. "I'm done, I'm not working with you." 

Keith pushed him back. "Don't push me." His eyes were defiant and mean.

Lance didn't care, if it was a fight hothead wanted, it was a fight he'd get. This wasn't high school anymore. 

Lance threw the first punch, and Keith wasn't ready. The fist connected with Keith's jaw. Lance glared. Keith held his jaw and then spat in rage. He punched Lance in his stomach, and it was too fast to dodge. As Lance doubled over in pain, Keith pushed him down and started hitting Lance's nose, straddling the taller boy. Lance dug his nails into Keith's arm, the blow to his stomach was causing him to start bringing up the coffee. 

Suddenly there was another arm, then two, four. Allura and another guy, pulled Keith off of Lance, who was still swinging. The boys assumed this guy was Lotor.  Lance sat up and held his hand to his bleeding nose. Keith rubbed his jaw. They glared at each other.

Alfor came in after, eyes wide. "What is all this??" 

"They were fighting.." Lotor said, his voice smooth and calm as he held Keith back.

Alfor frowned. "Figured." 

He seemed to consider something before speaking again. "Since you two can't keep yourselves professional I want you out of my building." He shook his head. "Now you have only one day to work on the project." 

Lance's anger melted away. "But-"

"But nothing. I want you two to think about your actions and come back whenever this is resolved." Alfor shook his head and left. 

Allura immediately rushed to Lances side, checking out his nose and scolding him, all while complimanting his outfit.  Keith roughly pushed Lotor off of him and without meeting anyones eyes, grabbed his bag and left. 

Lotor slipped his hands in his pockets and waited as Allura gave Lance a hug and told him to head home. The mans fists were still balled as he walked out the room. 

"Sorry Lotor," Allura started as the two closed the door of the studio. "You didn't need to come along, really." 

Lotor shrugged. "I wanted to. I was curious about your friends." He smirked.

Allura cringed. "Well those two have never liked each other, but apart they're much better." She tried for a smile. 

Lotor nodded. They had reached their own room now, and Narti was waiting for them. She glanced up at them from her camera.

"Good thing you two are back, we have a lot on our schedule to finish in time for the deadline." She checked her watch. 

Lotor turned to Allura and held out his hand. "Ready?" 

She placed her hand in his and nodded. "Yup." 

...

Keith parked his motorcycle in front of his apartment and cut the engine. He couldn't feel the pain in his jaw anymore, due to how mad he was. 

He slipped off his shoes and slumped next to Kosmo on his bed, the dog making room. Keith called Shiro.

"Hey Keith, something wrong?" 

"I got temporarily suspended from Altea," he paused. "Can we hang out?" 

Shiro's sigh was heavy, but he didn't ask what happened.  "You want to go ahead and go to the movies? I can take a few hours off of work." 

Keith said that would be fine and hung up. 

A text from the group chat brought him back to reality.

Why couldn't Lance just be normal, and do his job?? 

And the fact that he had the nerve to throw the first punch. Keith cracked his knuckles, now they only had one day left and most likely at least twenty decent photos....

Keith let himself stress over it until Shiro showed up. 

They left Kosmo at the door and headed to the theater in Shiro's jeep. 

Keith made it five minutes before Shiro asked about the suspension.

"Soooo, what happened?" 

Keith stared at the other cars as they flew down the highway. "Doesn't matter." He yelled above the wind. "I can go back tomorrow." 

"Isn't that assignment due by midnight tomorrow?" Shiro questioned. When Keith didn't answer he got the point.

"It was Lance wasn't it?"

Keith waited until they pulled into the parking lot of the cinema. "We fought okay?? He threw the first punch, but I busted his nose." 

Shiro noticed the bruise on Keith's jaw. "Why-"

"He's always late okay?? So of course I got mad. Not my fault he's so fucking sensitive." 

Shiro got out of the car, and Keith followed. 

"You two need to-" 

"Shiro I get it. I dont need someone to tell me again that we are childish or imsufferable. I already know. Can we just not talk about it?"

Shiro and Keith had been going to the movies once a month for as long as Keith could remember, and it was the main time they hung out. Keith didn't want to think about Lance at all and ruin it.

Shiro understood and nodded. "Well if you don't hurry up I'm going to beat you in there." He was already quickening his pace. 

Keith laughed. "Ok, boomer." 

Shiro frowned. "I'm only 32..."

"Still older than me." 

________________________________________________________________

Hey heyyyyyy :)

Ima start working on my next chapter too so u guys can get that!

(Group chat chapters is coming soon lol i always love writing those, so fun)

Hope you enjoyed this!!

Qotd: favorite thing about this fanfic?

Aotd: probably u guys and ur comments :)

I LOVE Y'ALLLLLLL

<333333333