Lance came to work that Saturday ready to give Keith his full, undivided attention. Since the party on Wednesday, Keith had been in a terrible mood around Lance, and Lance had no idea why.

Yesterday, they had been trying to come up with a better working schedule for themselves since they would be starting runway training soon. Alfor had given them, along with Lotor and Allura, the leisure to make their own schedules. It was exciting.

So when Keith sat him down to try and figure that all out, Lance did his best to be relaxed and sweet, like Keith wanted him to be, right?

Nonetheless, Keith ended up storming out.

For no reason.

Lance was utterly confused, and had sat at home that night trying to figure out where he went wrong.

Was it so bad to just want Keith's approval?

He sighed as he opened the door slowly to the studio, praying Keith would have a smile on his face.

Instead, he found a red faced Keith, frowning at his camera as he fiddled methodically with his dials. Lance nearly choked when he looked his friend over.

Keith's hair was in one of the highest ponytails Lance had ever seen. It practically dangled over his forehead, like a fishing line caught on something in the water.

Lance had seen Keith wear ponytails before, they were nice too. A few different styles, but never... This.

"Don't." Keith gritted his teeth at Lance's choked expression.

" I-i-" Lance stuttered, trying to keep his composure. He really didn't want a fight.

"I can't-" he finally gave in, doubling over as laughter bubbled from his shaking chest. " Oh- oh my god, Keith what the fuck-"

Meanwhile, Keith's face was ten shades redder, his eyes enraged, and eyebrows arched. He was infuriated. 

This was his punishment for breaking into Pidge's dorm... Matt's too. Just because they both had long enough hair.

Keith understood the embarrassment, both of them deserved that much, fine.

But Keith felt like it was more personal on his side. Almost like Pidge knew exactly why this would be worse for him than Matt...

"Oh woww. I haven't laughed that hard in foreverr." Lance wheezed, finally coming over to Keith. "Why, may I ask-"

"Pidge made me." Keith sighed.

At least Lance wouldn't be seeing his baby photos, or embarrassing childhood moments.

"Hah, I don't care why," Lance chuckled. " I was gonna ask, why your forehead is still so pale?? " He laughed again, pushing the ponytail out of the way to expose Keith's usually pale forehead. Instead, it was utterly pink.

"Or... Not." Lance grinned childishly, peering at Keith's forehead.

Keith frowned, crossing his arms and trying to push Lance away. He was too warm, and his hands too soft. Fucking long ass eyelashes.

Keith finally succeeded, stumbling away and scowling. "Shut the fuck up, at least my head doesn't look like a dorito, don't decapitate someone with that chin of yours, asshat."

He waited for Lance's blue eyes to turn icy with rage, but instead they softened even more. The boy began to laugh.

"Oh my fuck, that- that's like the funniest thing you've ever said!!" He exclaimed in delight. Keith watched him in shock.

"And, I happen to like my chin very much, thank you." Lance then said, lowering his voice seductively and wriggling his eyebrows as he rubbed his chin, inching towards Keith.

Oh hell no. Keith thought as he backed up more. He was being attacked.

Suddenly Lance chilled out, his phone vibrating in his jean pockets. He innocently checked the notification.

Then his jaw dropped. And his cheeks turned pink. Then he cleared his throat, and smiled sheepishly, quickly tapping away at his phone.

He finally glanced up at Keith. "And here, I thought my day couldn't have gotten any better than that." He gestured at the limp ponytail atop Keith's head.

Keith frowned. "Huh-"

"You look just like baby Olly!! So chubby and cuteee~" He cooed, eyes wide, glued to his phone.

Keith felt his heart stop. "B-baby..?"

" Yess, what were you? Two? Three? Oh my god, you had the smallest feet!! "

Keith's shock quickly turned into rage and panic, as he lunged for the phone, snatching it from Lance's hand to see his imessage conversation with the one and only.

Pidge.

All of the photos. Emo Keith, little league Keith, toddler Keith...

"I saved them all, so don't try me." Lance said flat out, snatching the phone back with a half smirk, half glare.

Keith felt his heart crumple. Pidge-

The betrayal he felt was surreal. But at the same time.. She had kept her promise hadn't she?

"Fuckkkk." Keith said, running his hands through his hair. He pulled the hair band out, snapping it onto his wrist, ignoring the pain.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." Keith said to himself, shaking his hair out like Kosmo, as Lance continued to scroll through his phone grinning.

You've got to me kidding me. In one day, in one fifteen minute period... My crush manages to see me at my lowest point, in every stage of my life.

Then his eyes widened. He didn't just think that right-

He hadn't meant to use that word.

It was just an infatuation.

He glanced up at Lance, his bright blue eyes wide in delight, his adorable nose wrinkled in laughter.

Just an infatuation...

Right?

__

"Fuck you, Pidge." Matt mumbled, as he tore the hair band out of his hair, combing it out with his fingers. Matt had spent a few extra hours at GAE, doing extra studying on the protocol.

Nobody asked him too, Lena had told him twice before she left, to just go home.

And heck, he didn't even want to read it.

But even more, he didn't want to go home.

Or face Shiro.

But it was almost 7 p.m now... The sun was setting, and it was the prettiest orange Matt had ever seen.

He pulled out his phone to call a taxi, ready to go home and hope Shiro had forgotten they needed to talk.

"You won't be needing that."

Matt glanced up at the source of the voice.

Shiro.

Leaning against his white jeep, aesthetic against the sunset, wearing a black suit and tie.

Matt's cheeks turned light pink, as he sighed. "You weren't going to make this easy for me, were you?"

Shiro walked over to him, lifting a brow. "Huh?"

Matt gestured at him. "Your clothes- uh, well.."

Shiro chuckled. "Oh, I had a board meeting today. With some Nasa correspondents." 

Matt's eyebrows skyrocketed. "NASA?!"

Shiro laughed. "Yeah, Nasa."

" What was it about? A mission? Space? Do we have a new breakthrough or something?? "

Shiro sighed. "Matt, chill out. I'm gonna tell you all about it, 'kay?"

Matt nodded slowly.

"So," Shiro slipped his hands into his pockets. " I noticed somethings been up with you, the past few months. Pidge said you would explain to me what's going on? "

Matt groaned. "Uh, yeahhh. About that, first of all, something's been up for a while now... And second, don't ever give Pidge baby photos of Keith, that's totally messed up."

Shiro chuckled. "Ah, duly noted." He smiled sheepishly. "You realize I had to know though right?"

Matt shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

" So, what's been up? "

Matt found himself staring off into space, the sun a bright ember now against the horizon.

This is what you've been practicing for in front of the mirror.

Just say it.

You're moving on anyway.

Don't feel guilty.

Don't say it.

Don't.

"Shiro, I-i'm sorry." Matt said, feeling the rush of emotion bombard him. Years of emotion. Pent up frustration.

" For what, Matt?" Shiro said softly, placing a hand on Matt's shoulder.

The tears were coming. Hot and fast, alligator tears rolling down Matt's cheeks. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to stop the flood.

"God, I hate crying in front of people." Matt sniffled as Shiro stepped closer. " It's just been so long, and I never talked about it and-"

"And I know." Shiro said abruptly.

Matt stopped sniffling. "Wha-"

"I, uh. I'm sorry too. I've known you liked me." Shiro's face was red too now.

Matt's eyebrows furrowed. "B-but why-"

"I didn't want to lose you Matt. I don't want to lose you. I can't."

Shiro clenched and unclenched his fists, nervous. "You're my best friend Matt, and learning that you liked me didn't really change how I saw you, but I figured if you weren't telling me yourself...you weren't ready for that conversation yet. I respected that and I decided, I guess it's weird.."

" But I decided to wait for you. "

Matt stared up at Shiro. He bit his lip before punching Shiro in the stomach, more tears coming with each half hearted punch. "You dumb ass! You- you, sweet, kind... dumb ass-"

Shiro pulled Matt into his arms. "You're a dumb ass too. Waiting all that time for me, and not saying anything."

Matt snotted on Shiro's suit. "Yeah, well clearly I didn't need to."

"...are you mad at me for not saying anything?"

" No. " Matt glanced up at him. "We both hid what we knew to keep our friendship the same. How can I be mad at you?"

" I don't know. Just wanted to be sure. " He sighed, resting his head on Matt's. "We gotta work on the whole secret thing."

"Mhm. Promise from now on we tell each other everything. Immediately." Matt said.

"Or...whenever we are ready." He smiled down at Matt.

"Ok." Matt smiled back. "I promise."

" Then so do I. "

"We still best bros?" Matt asked, grinning sheepishly.

"Always." Shiro said, hugging Matt tighter.

"I...I uh." Matt stumbled with his words.

Why am I still so scared of rejection?

Shiro paused, before nodding against Matt's head. "Don't say anything Matt. I can read you like a book."

" Oh-"

Shiro smiled at his best friend. " I love you too."

And with that, they slipped into Shiro's jeep and rode off, the sky a dimming lilac over their heads.

"Soooo, wanna tell me about that Nasa conference now?"

"Heh, thought you'd forgot about that."

" Me? Never. "
_____________________________________________________________________

hiya! As always I hope you enjoyed :))

qotd: [HARDBALL] who should have spoke up first? Matt saying he liked shiro? Or Shiro saying he knew 👀

it's an opinion ofccc cause I wanna see how you guys think!

honestly I think it's sweet that they both sacrificed their own security to keep their friendship and each other intact

more klance coming yay!!

(Trying to match profile pictures with me anyone ^^😏)

see ya!! 💕