Roommates (Klance College AU)

18

Keith laid in his bed, the room swallowed by darkness except for the faint glow of Lance's TV on the Roku screensaver, as he is asleep and can't turn it off. As much as Keith wanted to sleep, he couldn't help but stay awake, thinking of the words Lance let slip from his mouth.

"You're so beautiful."

The words echoed in Keith's mind, as he replayed the following events. It's not like it's a weird thing to say, pointing out the beauties of another person, right? So why did Lance feel the need to laugh it off and change the subject so quickly?

Keith turned over onto his side, the sheets rustling softly beneath him, as he tried to make sense of it all. Was Lance just joking? The ease with which he'd changed the subject had left Keith unsure, but the intensity of the moment, however brief, suggested otherwise.

Keith found himself analyzing every detail of the day, from the uncomfortable encounter in the morning to their lunch at the park. "Wait. Lance couldn't be interested in me could he?" Keith asked himself in his head. Keith looked over all their previous interactions, his eyes widening at the realization. "Shit," Keith hissed aloud as he sprung up into a sitting position on his bed. He looked over at Lance, asleep peacefully in his bed.

Keith's mind raced with questions and uncertainties, his thoughts swirling in the darkness of the room. He couldn't shake the realization that perhaps there was more to Lance's actions and words than he initially thought.

The thought sent a shiver down Keith's spine, a mix of confusion, anxiety, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. He glanced once more at Lance, still asleep, oblivious to the turmoil brewing within Keith's mind. What was he supposed to do?

With a heavy heart and a mind overflowing with thoughts, Keith slipped out of bed, the cool air of the room wrapping around him like a cloak. He quietly made his way to the window, pressing his forehead against the cool glass, gazing out into the night. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions brewing inside him.

He tried to sort through his feelings, attempting to distinguish between what was real and what was merely wishful thinking. Could Lance actually feel something for him, or was it all just a big misunderstanding?

"What are you doing?" A groggy voice asked.

Keith jumped and looked over to see Lance laying half awake in bed, rubbing his eyes.

"I just... couldn't sleep," Keith managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. He quickly turned away from the window, trying to hide the excessive thoughts that filled his mind. Surely, it was written all over his face.

Lance sat up, squinting in the dim light, trying to make sense of the silhouette that was Keith. "You okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern, the sleepiness slowly fading away.

Keith hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Yeah, just... thinking," he finally replied, moving away from the window to sit at the edge of his own bed, maintaining a safe distance.

"What are you thinking about?" Lance pressed gently, sensing that something was off.

Keith pondered for a moment, debating whether to voice his thoughts. The silence stretched between them, filled with unsaid words and unexpressed feelings. "It's nothing."

Lance shifted in bed, the silence between them growing heavier with each passing moment. "Okay," he said softly, sensing Keith's reluctance to share. "Well, I'm here if you wanna talk about it."

Keith nodded his head. "Thanks."

The last thing he wanted to do was to tell Lance about his suspicions. Because if they're correct, then he'd have to reject him and risk ruining the relationship they've been building. Keith also wasn't sure he could bear the thought of hurting Lance like that.

Lance laid back down, though he kept his gaze fixed on Keith for a moment longer, as if trying to read his mind.

The tension in the room hung palpably, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on both Keith and Lance. Each lost in their own thoughts, unsure of what the other was truly feeling. Keith's heart raced as he grappled with his inner turmoil, the urge to confide conflicting with the fear of the consequences.

Meanwhile, Lance's mind whirled with a mixture of curiosity and concern, his instincts telling him that something significant was troubling Keith. But he respected Keith's privacy, knowing all too well that some things needed to be shared in their own time.

Lance but his cheek before forcing himself to say what was on his mind before he could chicken out. "Is this about what I said earlier?"

Keith froze, his heart skipping a beat. The question hung in the air, heavy and loaded with implications. He turned to look at Lance, his eyes searching the dimly lit room for the right words. How did he know?

"I'm sorry, by the way," Lance said. "It just slipped out... and I don't know why I had to cover myself up, but I... I guess it just felt awkward coming from me." Lance paused, waiting for Keith to add anything. When nothing was said, Lance continued. "It's true though. You are very beautiful, and I thought it that moment, you just looked so peaceful... just want a look I'm very used to seeing on you, y'know?"

Keith's mind raced as he processed Lance's words, the honesty in his voice undeniable. Were Keith's suspicions wrong?

The silence stretched on as Keith tried to think of a response, Lance's words hanging between them like a fragile thread.

"Thank you," Keith finally managed, his voice barely a whisper. "I... wasn't sure what to think when you said that. I guess I was just surprised."

Lance let out a small laugh, a nervous, self-deprecating sound. "Yeah, I surprised myself too. But I meant it, Keith," Lance said sincerely. "I'm a little jealous, if I must say so myself." Lance offered a short laugh.

Keith scoffed. "As if. We both know you're well aware of your good looks."

Lance's eyes softened, a serious look on his face. Keith was trying to keep the mood light, but couldn't ignore Lance's reaction. Lance's expression shifted, the seriousness giving way to his more familiar, playful demeanor. "Well, maybe I am," he conceded with a smirk, "but it doesn't change the fact that you caught me off guard, in a good way. I mean, it's not every day I'm left speechless by someone's... sheer tranquility."

Keith couldn't deny this time that Lance, in fact, was trying to cover up his feelings again. So it was settled. Lance has some sort of feelings for Keith that he didn't want the other to know about.

Keith rolled his eyes, giving in to Lance's mask of unseriousness, deciding to act as if he hadn't caught on.