Roommates (Klance College AU)

27

Keith spent his Saturday laying in bed, not doing anything besides scroll through his phone or eat store bought cookies and crackers out of the boxes. It was the first time he didn't bust himself with studying and school work; he couldn't get his mind to focus properly enough to do so.

Lance was away for his first day of work at Sanjay's Tailor Shop. He found out a few days ago that he got the job, and was basically bouncing off the walls, thrilled. He was full on vibrating in excitement before he left that morning, which had earned a chuckle in response from Keith.

As the hours dragged on, the dorm room felt unusually quiet without Lance's constant energy and chatter. Keith found himself missing the background noise of Lance's laughter or the sound of him humming tunelessly as he moved around the place. He hadn't even fully realized how accustomed he had grown to Lance's presence, how it had slowly become a comforting constant in his life.

Every now and then, Keith would glance at his phone, half-expecting a message from Lance about his day at work, but the screen remained disappointingly silent. He couldn't help but wonder how Lance was doing, if he was enjoying his first day, or if the excitement had given way to nervousness or overwhelm.

To distract himself, Keith tried to read a book—Lance's book—but the words blurred before his eyes, his thoughts stubbornly circling back to Lance. Eventually, he gave up and just laid there, staring at the ceiling whilst deeply lost in thought. It was odd, he realized, how quickly someone could become such an integral part of your life that their absence was felt so acutely.

Keith ended up falling asleep to his thoughts, the soft sound of his own breathing filling the room, a stark contrast to the usual lively atmosphere when Lance was around. In his dreams, Keith found himself wandering through the bustling streets of a city that felt both familiar and alien. The vivid dreamscape was painted with the vibrant hues of shops and stalls, each one more colourful and enticing than the last. It was as if his subconscious had conjured up a world where every corner held a piece of Lance's enthusiasm and zest for life.

Keith spotted Lance through a big window in the distance, standing inside Sanjay's Tailor Shop, his face lit up with that infectious smile of his. As Keith approached, he could see Lance animatedly talking to a customer, his hands moving with expressive gestures as he described the intricate details of a suit he was working on, even though non-dream Lance didn't know how to sew. It was clear that Lance was in his element, his usual charm and confidence shining through even in this dream-version of reality.

Feeling a sense of relief and happiness at seeing Lance so content, Keith called out to him. But as dreams often go, the moment he tried to reach him, the crowd between them thickened, and Lance seemed to move further away, always just out of reach.

Despite his efforts, Keith couldn't close the distance between them. The dream shifted, morphing the environment around him, yet his focus remained unwavering on Lance. The bustling city faded into a serene beach, the transition smooth like the blending of watercolors. The sound of waves gently crashing against the shore replaced the city's cacophony, and the scent of saltwater filled the air. Lance was there, too, but this time, sitting on the sand, looking out at the ocean with a peaceful expression.

Keith recognized this beach. It was the same one captured in a photograph of his mother, before he was born, as she joyfully ran towards the ocean. She had a big, happy smile on her face; genuine happiness. His father had snapped the picture during a trip—the very trip, Keith had been told, where he was conceived. Despite never having met his mother, that photograph was precious to him, a treasured link to her.

In his dream, Keith approached Lance, noticing the way the setting sun cast a warm glow on Lance's features, highlighting his smile that seemed to hold a world of stories. In this dreamscape, there was no rush, no crowd to separate them, just the quiet companionship that spoke volumes of their bond.

Keith suddenly jolted awake to the sound of the door closing loudly.

Lance hissed. "Sorry! Didn't realize you were sleeping," he whispered. "Go back to sleep, don't mind me."

Keith hazily watched as Lance took off his work shoes and pulled his pants off. He changed into a random, old hoodie of his, staying in just that and his pair of blue, plaid, Fruit of the Loom boxers.

Keith blinked slowly, adjusting to the dim light filtering into the room. The vividness of his dream still lingered in his mind, painting his reality with the emotions it had stirred.

Keith watched as Lance walked into the bathroom, his movements slow and deliberate, as if trying not to disturb Keith further.

The sound of running water from the bathroom filled the quiet room, a soft, soothing background noise that gently nudged Keith further from the edges of sleep.

A short while after he heard the water shut off, and saw the bathroom door creek open, Keith found himself sitting up, leaning against the headboard. Lance walked out with a light pink mud mask rubbed on his face, his short bangs clipped back out of the way.

Lance caught Keith's gaze, a sheepish grin spreading beneath the layer of mud mask. "Oh, you're still up?" he asked. "Sorry for waking you."

Keith shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched Lance move about the room. "No, it's fine," he said. "I was just... dreaming."

Lance, noticing Keith's softened expression, hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the edge of Keith's bed, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. "About what?" he asked, his curiosity piqued, the warmth in his voice filling the room.

Keith considered telling Lance about the dream, about the tailor shop and the beach, about the vividness with which he had seen him. But something about the intimacy of the dream made him hold back. Instead, he opted for a much simpler answer, one that wouldn't expose the full depth of his feelings. "Just some random stuff," he replied, his voice casual but warm. "You know, the usual dream weirdness."

Lance nodded, his eyes still curious but respecting Keith's privacy. "I get that. Dreams can be wild," he said, and then his expression brightened as he seemed to remember something exciting. "Speaking of wild, you should've seen the shop today! It was crazy busy, but in the best way. I helped a customer pick out fabric for a custom dress, and I was told I have a natural talent for it!"

Keith felt a genuine smile spread across his face as he listened to Lance's enthusiastic recount of his day. It was infectious, the way Lance's energy and happiness could light up the room.

"That sounds amazing, Lance," Keith said sincerely. "I'm really happy for you."

Lance's face glowed with pride at the compliment, the pink mud mask cracking slightly as he grinned. "Thanks, Keith. I really think I'm gonna enjoy working there."

"That's good," Keith said.

"Yeah," Lance said with a warm smile. "Well anyways," he began as he stood up and walked over to his own bed. "How was your day?" He sat himself down on his bed, leaning his back against the bed frame.

Keith shrugged. "It was fine," he said. "I just stayed here all day."

Lance offered Keith a small smile as he grabbed his book from then end of his bed. "Well, I hope you relaxed nicely." He opened his book to his saved page and began silently reading it.

Keith sighed as he laid back down in his bed, thoughts from his dream filtering back into his mind.